Summary: Snow White becomes the dark one, alone she searches the Enchanted forest for Emma but the temptation to use magic is to strong, quickly she descends into darkness
A few days earlier
The streets of Storybrooke were cold and empty, as residents hid from the current crisis, a black swirling vortex tore through the streets. It was seeking someone; anyone it could exploit to grow its power until it destroyed all that is. Running headlong into danger, their bodies tired and weary, was Snow white and the Prince.
"You're too late, he's gone". Belle said her face a blotchy red as tears streamed down her cheeks.
"What now"?
"The darkness it will take a new host" Belle said.
"A new dark one, what will happen to them"?
"They will be reborn, in our realm".
As Belle explained they couple turned to each other each thinking the same thing, suddenly there was silence, and the darkness homed in on their fears and doubts. The once chaotic and directionless twisted swirl of pure evil had its target, flying towards them with precision. In moments it began swirling around David as he continued forwards his eyes dark and longing.
"No, charming"
Instinctively Snow White pushed him to the ground and out of danger, however the darkness stayed forming a circle around Snow White completely surrounding her, it whispered coaxing her to stay. She stood motionless as the circle became tighter, until there were no gaps. Now no longer able to see her loves face, all the light in her life was gone. Snow White was in the dark, but the feeling was familiar as she got ripped from one realm and taken to another, reliving the terror her heart ached.
Snow White squeezed her eyes shut, only to find even worse horrors behind her eyelids as memories resurfaced, each one felt like a small puncture to her heart. The stable boy, the dwarfs, a prince, a glass coffin, the wardrobe, the curse broken, just a day ago watching Emma get ripped out of her life again. Everyone she lost and found. Every sacrifice, every good deed that went punished, all these phases of pain and joy throughout her life and her body and mind felt them all. These choices all leading to this moment, now tainted with something darker, but powerful creeping into every corner of her heart. After an eternality in this nightmare, it suddenly stopped, her eyes opened, she was staring at her reflection mere inches from her face, on a gold platform surrounded by mirrors.
"No, it can't be"
Looking downwards, grasping her cloak she held the black material in her hand bewildered, sure she was wearing her cardigan a moment ago. This ensemble was a dark black with silver trimming, it felt familiar but as she looked up at her reflection a stranger stared back. It was Snow Whites face, but she could have sworn it smiled at her slyly. This armour, similar to the one she made herself while on the run, living in a tree, only this fit better. Not made of discarded materials and sown together patches like her old bandit gear, but a perfect fit formed with magic. Snow White was now the Dark one and she gasped in horror.
"Oh, don't need to act surprised, it's just us here dearie".
The platform she stood on began to move upwards, revealing the world above, an enchanted forest with lush green fields surrounded by mountain peaks. Standing before her on the glossy green grass with blue birds fluttering about, was Rumpelstiltskin smiling.
"What have you done?"
"This exactly what you wanted, isn't it"
"No, I would never want to be you"
"You can't lie to me, after all, I am you, sort of"
"I don't want to be this, a dark one, I could never."
"You knew in your heart, this was only way, to get back to the enchanted forest, to find Emma"
It was like living a dream, a nightmare everything was familiar but it was arranged the wrong way, a place that was once her home, seen in a new light. The dirt roads she had ridding down many hundreds of times, now riddled with scorch marks and dead trees. However, the sun shone bright, and the breeze still smelled of boysenberries and fairy dust.
"I can find her, without magic; I remember how to ride horseback"
"Optimism that always helps right".
Rumpelstiltskin moved closer his tone sarcastic as he mocked Snow White, but her eyes where on the field ahead. A heard of brumbies became silent anticipating her next move, they looked up from the grass, they had been grazing on. As she approached, they all galloped away intuitive enough, to sense the dark magic.
"I'll walk"
"Seems a bit slow dear"
"I'm not listening to you; I will never give into the darkness."
Snow white sighed, storming off towards the field refusing to engage further with this echo of Rumpelstiltskin, but the road ahead was long and hard.
"There is a much faster option"
"You want to trick me"
"No tricks, if you can picture it, you'll be there, just like magic" He said waving his arms about mocking himself.
Averting her eyes and focusing on the horizon, she walked along a streams edge hoping to find a nearby village and some help. After walking many miles, she didn't feel any fatigue or hunger as if not feeling anything at all, but she continued. Darkness came and still she did not waver or tire, but her mind wondered the temptation to use magic unrelenting. Rumpelstiltskin appeared again sitting on a rock in front of her, pretending to yawn as if bored.
"You'll never find her in time"
"I know you, you want me to hurt someone, I won't do it"
"Really, you would risk your daughter's life, to keep your good name".
"I'll find her, I always do"
"That's the thing about losing something precious, when you find it again its unrecognisable, time is unforgiving, you can't ever truly get back, what you've lost".
"Stop it"!
"Is it going to be another fifteen years, so much could happen, she could grow up alone, become a mother herself, in that time".
"Don't you think I would be there, but I can't, I don't even know where she is".
"You know, you saw the markings on the door".
"Arendale"
In a blink the dark one no longer stood in a field but was strolling the streets of Arendale, with a smile she could not hide. This feeling was undeniably good, how could it not be, now much closer to the missing kids and with a simple thought. Magic, even dark magic it wasn't so bad after all, she told herself breathing deep embracing this moment.
"Another one, just appeared in the street". A man called out from the castles tower.
"Who is it"? Cora asked trying to see but the figure standing in the street disappeared.
In another blink Snow white was inside the gates of the castle and just as they had before, everyone gathered outside suspicious. One face stood out in the crowd and Snow White frowned, her heart racing as there eyes met.
"Cora, no... what are you doing here"?
"Me, I'm simply helping protect these people from intruders".
"Do they know you're the queen of hearts, what you have done"?
There was silence amongst the crowd now, as they carefully watched the exchange between the two, Cora stepped closer.
"If you're looking for our visitors from your world, they stole some of our supplies and left".
"You lie, what have you done to them?"
"Snuck out the window actually, kids… what can you do".
"I bet they saw right past your act, the real you".
"I've changed, but I'm not the only one, what happened to you dear Snow"?
Cora smiled intrigued by this turn of events, she had not a flicker of concern in her expression, but there was recognition in her eyes, she knew exactly what Snow wanted.
"Where is she"?
"Your daughter, Emma I assume".
Snow White didn't reply simply glaring at the Queen, with venous hatred, never before had she felt such burning desire to end a life. Cora smile grew wider noticing the bloodthirst in her eyes and the hesitation, taking her time she stepped closer.
"I thought as much, I told you, she ran away".
"I don't believe you"
"I can prove it, I noticed her necklace, it used to be yours, all you need is to cast a locater spell, should be a simple task, for the Dark one".
Cora smiled then seeing the horror on Snow Whites face hearing those words, but it was true, and it wasn't something she would stop denying herself.
"Locater spell, how does that work"?
"Like all magic, you must feel not think".
Snow White didn't reply turning away focusing on the task ahead, her thoughts went back to before Emma's birthday party, when she found the old locket in her apartment. Knowing it had somehow found its way back to her when she needed it, just like the Storybook had. Hoping the silver chain would make for a perfect gift, as she excitedly wrapped it up. Then her hands gently lifting Emma's hair out of the way, when she latched it around Emma's neck at the party, this meant she was still wearing it and as it once belonged to Snow, she could find it again.
The Dark one smiled holding her hands up, as if there was a bow between them and in a cloud of purple magic one appeared. Breathing deep letting her fear guide it, she pulled back the string tight holding it in place, before finding the right direction and letting it fly.
THUD
"What the hell was that"?
A tall man in a tailored suit frowned, before getting up from the counter, walking through his small shop smiling at his patrons. Wanting to investigate the sound outside, as he reached the door it was obvious, a large black arrow imbedded in the wood. The Lou market was one of the few bustling areas left in the kingdom, with many entering on a busy night, he could see anyone with a bow and walked back inside. Only to almost slam into a woman who appeared before him, her face pale, and eyes dark.
"What is this place"? Snow White asked, her tone disgusted.
"This is my store, I'm Malvern, can I help you find something"?
Looking him up and down with distain he was too smug for a man clearly profiting from a time of peril for the kingdom. Eventually she turned away letting out a sigh, the store was empty now and it was abundantly clear Emma wasn't there. Turning around viewing the shelf in front of her eyes noticed a very familiar object, that she knew to be Killians hook, something that could only be taken by force.
"This belongs to a boy I know, why do you have it". Snow white said pointing towards the hook.
"All items are procured through fair trade". He responded sheepishly.
"Just tell me where, the person who sold you this, is"?
"I'm sorry, I don't know, they were just passing through".
"Where did they go"?
"I don't tend to ask questions, bad for business".
Snow White grew impatient and with a flick of her wrist the door to the shop flew off its hinges and crashed to the ground. He reached out expecting her to strike him, but she turned around watching the other shoppers flee from the store.
"Look my mistake, you can have it, no charge, it's hard to tell a thief from an honest man these days".
"Oh, I disagree, I find it easy, to see a person's intentions".
Now walking around the shop her eyes caught other items of interest including a Red cloak, stepping further into the aisles her heart racing. In front of her hanging off a dusty coat rack, was a red leather jacket; she grabbed it with both hands holding it tight.
"You knew those kids?"
A black arrow appeared in aisle, it hovered in the air with magic, Malvern looked at it puzzled for moment before it flew across the shop. Piercing the man in the shoulder, he stepped backwards crying out in pain, as the dark one stepped closer.
"Where, are they"?
"I can't tell you anything, I'll go out of business if I give up any names".
"Maybe then, you can make an honest living".
Malvern clenched his fist causing sharp visceral pain to surged through his body, his blood began to drip onto the floor.
"You're wasting your time, whoever owned that jacket, is dead".
Another two arrows flew into his legs, and he screamed out in agony falling to the ground while Snow White stood over him, he began crawling over behind the counter hoping for mercy. Just as he stopped, going as far as he could crawl another arrow went through his foot and into the floor, locking him in place.
"You your, The Dark one"
"I'm not leaving here, until you tell me everything".
"Please, I don't know much".
Another two arrows flew into his abdomen, and he gasped out in pain, blood draining out of him, forming a puddle on the floor.
"The knights, camp at the top of the mountains they come down every week, trade me whatever items they have for a few enchanted objects, spells, sometimes ale, whatever they want, I don't ask them how, where they got the stuff".
"The children they took these things from, you didn't think to ask, if they were, ok?".
"I didn't really give it much thought".
Snow white turned away then walking back to the entrance of the store her eyes on the mountain in the distance, noticing a glow from a fire near the top.
"Wait please, are you going to leave me like this, I'll die"?
"I haven't really given it much thought".
Walking out into the street, she looked around every establishment worst then the last, either selling organs or curses to unsuspecting buyers. Letting out a scream, the dark one attacked, forcing all who remained to flee the area in terror, as carts where overturned and objects began to spontaneously combust.
"Tasty isn't it, the darkness"
With a smirk across his face Rumpelstiltskin leant against the front of the store as he watched everything unfold. Breathing heavy Snow White stood in the centre, of the now abandoned street watching the faces of terrified people fleeing from her. The only sound now a wind chime swinging in the breeze, as she looked over catching her reflection in the tiny mirrors, that dangled from it. Her eyes filled with hate, while her face was sprinkled with tiny splashes of blood on her cheek.
"What, have I done"?
"You're wasting time dearie"
"I need to stop, rest, this is not what I intended, I'm not this"
"Dark ones don't need rest, or sleep"
"Of course not, it's in dreams you will lose your heartaches"
Wiping the blood from her cheek with a cloth as she looked forward to the mountain, wondering what she would find.
"I can get there, without magic".
After hours of trekking through the forest, she could feel the warmth of the campfire surrounded by a jolly group of drunk knights. The hike hadn't hindered her pain though, seeing the pleased expressions on the faces of people who very well might have killed today, she clenched her fist.
"Where do these freaks come from". A man said getting up from his seat glaring at her.
"This is the Princes territory, get out of here".
A wave of blue magic flew towards her, a barrier spell she chuckled as it washed over her, sending a few knights standing nearby unconscious, having no effect on her. The Dark Ones eyes surveyed the group, desperately searching, hoping to see a sign, of Ema. Ignoring the yells and of the knights as the charged forwards, she walked towards the tents, were the rest of them slept.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing".?
A man yelled as he sat on a small stool attempting to remove his armour and rest, however his leg was badly injured and the chainmail coated in blood.
"I'm looking for my daughter".
"Well, she wouldn't be in that tent, maybe Philips though"
Another walked over pulling out a sword as he approached, he raised it to her back, but she turned around before he could strike. Waving her hand the sword disappeared, but he still lunged forwards, that was when she noticed his blackened fingertips.
"Your hands, you've got frostbite".
"So, what's that got to do with you".
"It's summer, tell me, where is the girl that gave you that wound".
"Sure" he chuckled.
"Be much more corporative with his heart in your hands". Rumpelstiltskin said, appearing by the fire.
"Shut up, I would never…" Snow White
"Who are you talking to, are you crazy?". Another knight said.
"Quiet I need to think"
Suddenly and without the dark one vanished against her will, reappearing in the centre of a maze, with no one else in sight.
"Who summoned me"?
Yelling into the void there was no response, but a glimmer caught her eyes as a small bit of light reflected out of the bush. Peering into the green wall before her, she saw a face and dark hair, one she recognised. Coated in dirt and some dried blood barely resembling the boy she knew.
"Killian... what happened to you"?
Reaching into the bush she grabbed hold of his leather jacket, trying to pull him free. the vines held tight making it impossible, frantically she placed her finger on his neck. Sighing with relief upon feeling his pulse although faint.
"You're wasting time dear, Emma's not here"
"Quiet"!
"Get the dagger and go"
Stepping back she let go of Killian, before raising her hands up feeling the life of the plant in her hands, screeching underneath her grip. With a flick of her wrist the stems and vines shredded to pieces freeing Killian. Stepping forward she wrapped her arm around him just before his unconscious body crashed to the ground, seeing his battered body caused her to cry.
"Where is everyone else, Killian...?"
There was no response just silence as his body lay still, then she noticed the vines surrounding them where covered in poisonous thorns.
"I've got to get you out of here, somewhere safe"
Notes: Posting two chapters this week, just cause - next chapter Emma wakes up alone, to realise things aren't what she thought and she must escape