David winced as the blinding light that had encompassed him faded away. When the cluttered room came back into focus, he noticed a grandfather clock in front of him. It's ticking, the only sound as his head whipped around in search of Emma.

"Not again" David croaked out defeated.

Rushing back through the narrow winding paths with haste and no sense of direction. Paths that broke off in various directions, bringing a sense of disorientation. This desperate pursuit only brought him to a dead end. Hopeless- he sighed pausing just long enough, to realise his wife hadn't followed him.

Making his way back to her, he frowned upon seeing how calm she was. Snow remained still, her eyes distant. An arm outstretched, as if holding onto some invisible string.

"What are you doing?" David looked back with a suspicious glare "We need to find Emma"

"I found her," she responded bluntly.

"We need a plan, if this is going to work" David stated, animating his hands as he spoke.

"A plan?" she looked at him eyebrows raised.

"You heard Glinda" he sighed.

"I am not sending my daughter off to fight the wicked witch "She paused fear in her eyes as she pictured it "I'll take care of Zelena"

"Snow" said her name with disappointment in his tone "You're talking about premeditated murder".

"I can't do it again "Her voice rose, silencing him and they locked eyes.

It was at that moment he felt crippling despair, like an echo from the past. The Castle crumbled around them-the Black Knights closing in and they had to let go of her. In order to save Emma-save everyone-they had to let go. Believing she would find them. Now as he looked into her eyes, that hope was absent.

"Glinda told us Emma is to fight another battle, Zelena offered to change her fate, tell me which one of them is truly wicked?" Snow asked.

"You can't even see who the villains are anymore" he whimpered out with a grief-stricken expression.

There was silence for a moment as neither Snow or David wanted to budge on their stance, glaring at each other.

"You want to use that cuff, restrain me?" she accused.

David felt another rush of grief; the closer he seemed to get, the further away he felt from her. A love that transcended realms and time-finding each other through it all and only now, did he falter.

"The person I know-love is gone" his voice broke "I can't trust you"

"You're the one keeping secrets" she accused stepping forwards.

"No, you did that first" his hand outwards pointing, his words caught in his throat. "Emma told me what happened to James; you didn't think to mention that," he said, hands firmly on his hips.

Snow scoffed before turning away, her hands gripping her cloak pulling it tighter around herself.

"So I'm the villain, for stopping a man who kidnapped my daughter, before threatening to stop at nothing, until he took your life" she looked up at him pointedly waiting for his response.

"The Snow White I know, would never kill, if there was another way" his eyes soft and pleading he reached out for her hand, but she pulled away.

"The Snow White you know" she scoffed, begging to chuckle deliriously "I know her, I know the kind of sacrifice and risks she took, always finding a way through all this mess- just trying to stay clean" shaking her head.

David turned to face his wife with a sympathetic expression "Please, there is another way"

She shook her head with disappointment in her eyes before disappearing in a twirling cloud of magic. His hand reached out longing, but there was only air beneath his fingertips.

Emma walked briskly, her breaths rapid and heavy as she made her way through the long dark halls of the castle. The now cursed locket around her neck hummed with the Dark One's magic. Tugging slightly, as if caught on something. She could sense her mother's presence like a looming shadow. Knowing she wouldn't be able to wander far. Almost at the end of her rope- 'literally. Emma came to a stop. Even while standing still, her heart rate continued to rise.

Abruptly she turned into a small courtyard with her eyes on a large decaying tree at its centre. With no one around to nurture it has become frail, the leaves so dry. Crumbling to dust when they broke free of the branches and fluttered to the ground. Sitting on a small bench, Emma looked down at her palms. Her inability to access the energy flowing within her, was becoming a desperation. But the more she tried to cling to it, the more out of reach it was.

"Emma?" with one word Snow said so much. Scowling her-while relieved and concerned all at once.

Anger weighed her down; Emma couldn't even bring herself to look up, focused on accessing her magic. Snow stepped closer, sitting down beside Emma, her brow furrowed. They sat in tense silence. With each second passing Emma grew more frustrated, knowing those disappointed eyes were staring at her.

"I know, ok" Emma eventually spat out.

"You can't wander off Emma, this world, the castle, is dangerous" her voice strained as she watched Emma closely.

"I said, I know" Emma's voice rose, a tiny white spark escaped her palms.

"You know' she nodded exasperated "and yet you continue to disregard everything I say"

It felt like they were back to exactly where they were when the curse first broke, but now this distance was clouded in darkness. Without any light to guide them, there was no way back.

"What do you want from me?" Emma's voice lowered and she looked up at the tree.

"I want to know what happened, me and you- there's something different" her voice pleaded as her hand reached out gripping Emma's.

Emma's heart sank. The truth was although she was able to remember the hour she lost with her father. It seemed impossible to regain the connection with her mother. Too grim to think about, another subject surfaced in her mind.

"I heard you and Dad; I'm the only one that can stop Zelana" Emma looked up at her with determined eyes "I can stop her with good magic, no one has to get hurt"

"No" she stated it like a fact, shaking her head "I won't let you" her hand squeezed Emma's gently.

Emma looked at her with a frown. Her eyes searched desperately for the person she knew. But any sense of the hope and the strength she usually carried, was absent in her mother's eyes.

"I'm the saviour; you can't change that" Emma stated firmly.

"Maybe I can," Snow said, her eyes distant as she looked ahead.

Emma's mouth gaped open, surprised to hear such a cold bitter tone from her mother, looking into her eyes now. Snow White didn't seem angry or stressed but relaxed. The power of the dagger had brought a sense of calm that was terrifying to witness.

"You can't seriously be considering Zelena's offer?" Emma stammered out.

Letting out a small patronising chuckle to this question she locked eyes with Emma, looking her over in awe-Snow's eyes welled with tears. Softly brushing aside, the long blonde hair behind Emma's ear.

Snow breathed out trying to calm herself, her voice softening "Tell me what happened on your birthday, I can feel it, we lost something"

"The time loop, "Emma sighed "I watched you die, right before my eyes, turned to dust"

"Dust" she gasped.

"I used a magic hourglass, changed it" Emma voice broke "but it came with a price"

Snow's jaw clenched and Emma could see it in her eyes-replaying it all in her head, the pawn shop, the hourglass, the surprise party for Emma's 16th birthday. All a perfect tragedy of events, leading to this.

"One hour had to be taken from your past every time you went back?" Snow stated it like a question.

"Yes" Emma words in a whimper upon seeing the darkness in her mothers eyes only increase, upon hearing this.

"One of those, was an hour I spent with you, I think it was the day-I arrived in Storybrooke" Emma paused, closing her eyes "it wasn't the moment we met but, when we connected".

"Emma, why didn't you tell me?" she turned to her a bitter sense of betrayal in her eyes.

"What's the point, it's gone-I screwed everything up" Emma stated defeated

"No, you have always had to much on your shoulders, I failed you" Her voice broke her hand reached out to Emma's cheek "I won't again"

"Don't you get it, going back changing things, it's not the answer" Emma stood up abruptly as she said it. Staring at her mother but she could tell her words were not getting through. Nothing could penetrate the darkness around her heart.

A raven swooped down gracefully landing on Snow White's shoulder. The bird turned its head squawking in her ear. Holding out her hand gesturing for Emma to be quiet as she listened closely. Emma looked away as footsteps approached and she saw father enter the courtyard breathless.

"What are you two doing?" David's eyes focused on Snow but there was no relief, no longing in them, just fear.

Emma bit her lip walking over to him, she could sense his desperation to get her out of danger. Right now that danger in his mind-was Snow.

"I'm sorry" Emma stated sheepishly, standing beside him.

He placed a gentle hand on her back, signalling all was forgiven-he was just glad she was ok. Both of them looked towards Snow. Watching as her eyes went wide, while the raven continued to squawk.

"Is she talking to a bird?" Emma's tone had a blatant sense of animosity towards her.

"Of course, it's ok she does that" David explained while a small smile flickered across his face.

"Can anyone learn how to do that, or do the birds choose?" her tone mocked.

"Emma…" he sighed, placing his hand to his temple.

"What, I was just curious" She looked up to him with a sheepish grin.

"Why did you take off?" he asked, folding his arms over his chest.

"I heard you guys fighting"

"Emma, we weren't fighting" he sighed defeated and Emma knew he was lying to himself and to her.

The raven suddenly flew off and Snow made her way over to them. Her eyes wide with fear as she looked upon her family, hesitating before she shared.

"It was a warning" She said, her frustration clear in her voice.

"Warning, about what, who sent it?" David asked, stepping forwards.

"Regina, she's still with the Merry Men, Zelena's army of flying monkeys took off suddenly towards the homestead"

"Elsa is there, we need to go now" Emma said, her eyes pleading for her mother to take them back.

Snow White was paler than ever, shaking her head, telling Emma no. That it wasn't her duty or burden to save anyone.

"If we don't go together, I'll find a way on my own" Emma stated defiantly.

"I know," She sighed bitterly.

A grey cloud of magic sprung up around them in seconds they transported to the field beside the homestead. Bright red flames were engulfing the house. Knights clashing swords with dwarf axes. Flying monkeys swooping down their claws latching onto anyone they could and flying off. Arrows flew across the sky as the Merry Men attacked. Amongst the utter chaos was Mulan. Charging headlong through the warzone, her longing eyes focused on the glass coffin where Elsa lay.