There was a tense silence at the dwarfs home, Emma dragged her feet making her way past the front window, absentmindedly sweeping the glass that had shattered from her outburst. Her gaze was distant, but a ray of sunlight reflected off a piece of glass, shining brightly into her eyes. Pausing, she bent down, picking up the large shard carefully, glaring at her own reflection.
With Killian and the Dwarfs mining for fairy dust, only Emma and Elsa remained in the home and hadn't spoken since their fight. The buzz of energy that usually faded after using magic had only intensified. Breathing heavily Emma closed her eyes for a moment in an attempt to calm herself.
Upon opening them again, she gasped seeing Zelena standing in front of her, the shock forced a small burst of light out of her palms.
"Emma" Zelena couldn't hold back her surprise "You have magic. you broke the barrier spell." Zelena frowned, her hands outstretched delicately feeling for the remnants of the magic in the air.
Emma eyes wide, dropping the broom "Witch! what do you want?" Raising her hands to strike.
All the energy that had built up in her fizzled out abruptly and Emma gulped, backing away slowly to the door, while Zelena smiled, stepping closer.
"Everything alright, dear?" Zelana's tone was mocking..
Emma failed to even conjure her shield, She thought that layer of protection would be guaranteed, at least and her eyes widened in despair.
"Maybe you can help me find something" Zelana grinned. "Little blade, would have your mothers name on it?"
"I will never let you take the dagger" Emma's voice shook, as she attempted to threaten the more powerful witch.
"Brave" Zelena reached out her hand taking Emma's; she inspected her palm as it sparked with uncontrollable energy, Zelena didn't even flinch. Emma's desperation to ignite the power inside her only exasperated things. Unable to focus her emotions, it fizzled out.
"You're all alone" Zelena stated a hint of sympathy in her voice "they will always leave you" Zelana's smirk was absent for a moment looking into Emma's eyes, their solemn expressions matched.
A burst of ice-cold wind struck them both as the door crashed open, Elsa charged into the house hands outwards."Get away from her," Elsa demanded while forcing the temperature to drop, while icicles flew towards Zelena, leaving tiny cuts all over her face.
Zelana's face contorted before she waved her hand across it, the blood vanished and her scars healed.
Elsa wasn't backing away and neither was Zelena. Flicking her wrist, she sent a wave of energy towards the girls. Raising her hands, the air beneath Elsa's fingertips froze creating a barrier of ice protecting them from the attack.
"What are you?" Zelena yelled; her anger causing her voice to break.
The wicked witch stepped back for a moment, her eyes wide, before she gritted her teeth.
"You better leave," Emma warned, but her hands still shook, unable to control the energy inside her.
"You may be a powerful sorcerer," Zelena looked Elsa up and down, "but you're holding back"
"I can still stop you," Elsa stated, her arm outstretched at her side firmly in front of Emma in protection.
Zelena rifled through a small sack she had tied to her hip, pulling out a vial of potion she popped the lid, before reaching back into the sack revealing a spinning needle.
"What are you doing?" Emma's voice shuttered, her eyes wide as realisation sunk in.
"I always come prepared" Zelena chuckled, pouring the contents of the potion over the needle.
Elsa turned looking at Emma, gesturing for her to run just as Zelena waved her hand, sending a pulse of energy that stunned Elsa for a moment.
"No, wait." Emma reached forward but she couldn't move fast enough, the needle had already pricked Elsa's finger.
Emma clenched the shard of glass still in her hand, swiping forwards, cutting through Zelena's arm. It was too late, Elsa took a deep breath and her body went stiff, she crumbled to the ground, eyes closed.
"That hurt, you little bitch". Zelena yelled, glaring at Emma with disgust.
Emma squatted beside Elsa propping up her head, a grief washed over her and she let out a horrified gasp. Her hands began to glow bright, heat radiated out of them, she quickly recoiled back clenching her hands to her chest.
"You're magic, it's so unique, like your friend's, and yet you're completely helpless," Zelena said through a snicker, slowly coming closer.
Emma exhaled sharply getting up from the ground, a determined expression through teary eyes, she was ready for a fight.
"Get away from us," Emma glared at Zelena, as another burst of white light escaped her hands, tearing through the ceiling. Right past Zelena's face, she turned looking at the destruction.
"All that power is wasted on you." Zelena stated, with jealous disdain.
Emma clenched her hands, finding it hard to breathe as she tried to back away, but there was nowhere left to go, no cards left to play, but one.
"Snow White, Snow White, Snow..." Emma glared at Zelena as she said the words, a small smile appeared on her face.
"Calling for mommy," she paused, grinning. "Good, that's just who I was after".
Zelena's hand burst into Emma's chest, causing her to heave in agony just as Snow White appeared, standing by the dining table. Zelena reached her hand forward, ripping Emma's heart out, it glowed bright in an array of colours, vibrant red with a white light pulsing through it.
A heartbroken look settled in Snow White's eyes upon seeing Emma's heart as it beat loudly in the hands of the wicked witch. "Emma!" Her voice broke as she screamed out.
"You're going to help me, willingly or not," Zelena threatened, turning to Snow with a grin.
"Mom, no!" Emma felt a numbness through her whole body, her magic, her strength, ripped out of her. "Don't let her control you".
"Shut your mouth, brat. Stay still." Zelana instructed calmly with a chuckle.
Emma's jaw closed tight, her body no longer under her control; she felt hollow as if someone had reached inside her and was controlling her like a puppet.
"How... I-" Snow stuttered, realising the barrier spell had been broken, that despite all her efforts she still failed to protect Emma, this brought forth a bitter anger.
"Really shouldn't leave such precious things, alone, unprotected." Zelena smiled, holding up Emma's heart in one hand, the other she placed over Emma's shoulder, pushing her forwards, using her as a human shield.
"I will kill you," Snow's voice was breathless; her words barely audible as if caught in her throat.
"No need for threats," Zelena smirked with a shrug of her shoulders. "Fetch me something, then you can have her back".
"What do you want?" Snow became flat, her earlier composure gone; a desperation took over giving her tunnel vision.
"A heart for a heart," she grinned, gently pulling back Emma's hair, before placing her hand around her neck, "get me Regina's, I'll return Emma's". Zelena grinned at this game she was playing.
Emma tried to yell but it was muffled as her mouth remained closed, while Zelena's grin widened seeing Snow White's despair, waiting for her to make the next move. Just as Snow opened her mouth to talk, a voice outside gave her pause.
A cloud of purple magic appeared in the front of the house, the Evil queen and the prince emerged bickering with each other.
"Magic isn't that simple David, if I don't know where I'm going, I can't just poof us there!" Regina yelled mockingly.
"Oh, I'm sorry," He retorted sarcastically. "I'm used to running from fireballs, never thought much about how it worked".
"Well at least," Regina yelled exasperatedly, "I got us here." Before frowning confused with no one else in sight.
"Where are they?" David's voice whimpered as he turned to the doorway, heart racing as he sensed something wrong.
Just behind the door Emma twitched at the sound of her father's voice, all that she could do was produce a muffled cry, unable to move or speak.
"Here's your chance, looks like they found us." Zelena mocked, with a laugh.
Emma continued her muffled groans as Snow White slowly stepped closer reaching her hand out, placing it on her cheek.
"Everything's going to be ok, I promise." Snow stated firmly, giving Emma a small smile.
Emma nodded. She felt safe in knowing her mother would protect her but at what expense? Zelena rolled her eyes as she watched the mother and daughter interact.
"Emma, open the door for your mother," Zelena commanded.
In a jerky movement Emma stepped to the side reaching for the handle and opening it, her expression pained as her body moved without her consent. David and Regina both let out a deep breath, relieved to see Emma in the doorway, until Zelena emerged behind her, holding up her heart like a prize she'd won.
"Emma no… no," David stuttered as he ran forwards as he did, Zelena's hand tensed slightly around Emma's heart, causing her to scream out in agony.
"Stop it, I'll do it…" Snow yelled defeated, "don't hurt her," her hoarse voice as she followed them out the door.
David paled; he stepped forwards fist clenched. Snow put her hand out gesturing for him to stay, to let her handle this, her eyes warning him of the stakes.
Zelena rolled her eyes impatiently watching this exchange. "You're hesitating, I thought you'd love the opportunity." She chuckled pausing, "Don't you want revenge?" Zelena smiled wide; her eyes sparkled with joy.
Snow White expression changed as her fear became anger. The thought of retribution wasn't quashed as it usually would, but welcomed as she locked eyes with Regina.
"What's going on?" Regina's voice was alarmed looking around at everyone's vacant expressions before her eyes went back to Snow who stepped closer "Snow... what are you doing?" her tone fearful upon seeing Snow's hatefully distant expression.
Emma squirmed under the witch's grip, her yells muffled her eyes wide in fear, only fuelling Snow White who was now standing in front of Regina. In one quick motion, she punched through Regina's chest, hand clasped tightly around her heart.
"Stop" Regina gasped but the word got stuck in her throat as she wheezed, no longer able to talk.
Regina's heart felt cold in Snow's palm, causing a shiver to rise up her spine, she yanked back her arm, but it wouldn't budge. When Zelena tore Emma's heart out it was quick, this was agonisingly slow with Regina's protection charms holding it in place. Her eyes wide in horror, Regina could feel her magic folding under the power of the Dark One.
Like cords slowly snapping one by one, while Regina heaved helplessly, the blood vessels in her head bulging as she strained underneath the pressure. Snow locked eyes with Regina unwillingly to look away, her lips curled into a smile and with one final tug, she ripped out the evil queen's heart.
"You did it," Zelena called with joy, stepping closer.
Holding a stunned Regina's heart in her hands, Snow White turned towards Zelana, her eyes distant, not even offering Regina an apologetic look.
"Let Emma go, then you can have it," Snow stated firmly.
"It's a deal." Zelena grinned, her hand clasped around Emma's arm tight pushing her forwards, before letting her go. "Walk over to your father, Emma," she commanded.
Emma remained silent, her eyes red walking past her mother into her father's welcoming arms.
"Emma," he whispered relieved, his hand cradling her head he held her close to his chest.
"Now then," Excitement in Zelena's eyes, as she stared at her prize still in Snow's hand, "Regina's heart, give it to me".
"At the same time." Snow stated firmly.
The air was tense as they stepped closer together, reaching out and swapping the hearts over slowly and carefully, maintaining eye contact. Once Emma's heart was in her hand, Snow White stepped back quickly, relief washing over her. Before she turned to her family, watching as Emma marched forwards, fists clenched glaring at Zelena.
"Emma, no, get back!" David tried to hold on, but Emma was already out of reach.
"We can't let her do this," Emma yelled as her anger erupted.
A veil of white light burst out of Emma, encompassing her family and knocking the wicked witch to the ground. The translucent shield was unstable, buzzing like a radio with a bad signal.
"More trouble than you're worth," Zelena spat glaring at Emma. "There are simpler ways to control the dark one".
The wicked witch disappeared in a cloud of green magic; her threat had everyone looking towards Snow White, one question on their minds.
"Where is the dagger?" Regina asked, her tone void of its usual venom.
Snow White was silent, ignoring Regina's question, her eyes inspecting Emma's heart closely, sensing a dark magic. Unlike Regina's heart, there were no blackened spots, but a slight shimmer of green that was quickly spreading.
"No, she cursed it!" Snow gasped.