Dark Swan Rising

It's All a Manipulation

Emma grinned from ear to ear as she watched Lily talking to Regina.

Oh how I'm glad that I got a hold of Lily before that wretched witch, she thought, exhilarated. It'll send her on a wild goose chase, looking for me. It's a pity, she noted, that it appears Mary Margaret and David haven't a clue about Regina's plan. It's as plain as day, Emma realized.

Five minutes later, Lily was walking across the street to meet Emma.

"It's done," Lily spat. "Now help me find my father."

Emma shot her a fake look of sympathy before she shook her head.

"Our deal is not yet finished," she reminded her childhood friend. Lily tried to interrupt, but one raised hand from Emma made her close her mouth again. "We agreed that you'd distract Regina long enough for me to get what I want. So," she continued, her voice growing confident, "until I do get it, our deal isn't finished."

Lily gave her a look of anger. "You brought me to town for this," she questioned, anger growing in her voice. "So far, it hasn't been worth the visit."

"But it will be," Emma gently reminded her. "Now, go 'help' Regina to find me. Lead her to the wishing well in two hours. I've something I need to do first." With a flick of her wrist, Lily disappeared, and Emma knew she would do what was necessary.

In the meantime, Emma had some catching up to do with her parents. She walked down the street in her blue jeans, white shirt, and red, leather jacket. How she hated wearing this.

Just a few more hours, she thought to herself. And then the fun begins.

She strutted into Granny's and everyone turned to stare at her, either fear or sympathy in their eyes. Emma gazed at the dartboard, which was empty, and felt mixed emotions battering her. Grief, desperation, lust for revenge, desire to avenge Killian's death, and anger at her mother for causing his death.

For a brief second, Emma could feel herself breaking through the darkness.He died to save me. He was being a hero. MY hero. Before she could stop herself from proceeding with her plan, the darkness took back over. No, it sternly reminded her. If Mary Margaret hadn't have been stupid enough to fall for Zelena's plan, he would be with you right now.

She pushed away the thought, and carefully met the eyes of everyone in the diner before walking up to the apartment. When she reached room number three, she knocked on the door before walking inside. Her parents were sitting on the couch to her right with baby Neal between them.

"Hey..." she muttered, glancing at the floor, knowing they'd think something was wrong. And she was absolutely right.

They immediately sat up, alert and aware. "What's wrong?"

Emma didn't meet their gaze, relishing their foolishness. "I... don't know," she started. "With everything that's been going on between me trying to fight off dark temptations and Excalibur going missing-" she didn't get to finish her sentence.

"Excalibur is missing," David yelled. "Since when?!"

"Uhh, I think last night. Regina didn't tell you?"

Anger lit David's eyes as he stood up. "Of course not," he snapped before remembering the fragile state his daughter was in. His voice dropped, apologetic. "Sorry, I just can't believe Excalibur is missing..."

"Anyways," Emma continued, "As I was saying before you interrupted me, between fighting dark temptations and figuring out that Excalibur has gone... If I search deep enough within myself... I can feel the darkness win. I don't know how much longer I can fight it."

-

It was with those words that Snow saw her daughter's eyes turn a slightly darker shade and she pulled her hand up. She stared in horror as David started gasping for air, falling on one knee. Snow stood up and began rushing at her, only to be swatted aside with a wave of Emma's other hand. Her back smacked into the counter and pain shot up her spine.

"EMMA PLEASE," she yelled desperately. "LET HIM GO!"

She watched helplessly as Emma's eyes widened. "It's... not... me," she gasped.

"YOU CAN FIGHT THIS!"

Emma's face filled with strain as she pulled her hand back and David began gasping for air. Snow rushed to his side, hugging and kissing him, before noticing that Emma had collapsed as well, her eyes alit with pain from fighting the darkness. Before either of them could make a move toward her, she disappeared in a cloud of gray smoke.

"David," she gasped. "Whoever has Excalibur made her do this. We have to find her before..." she trailed off. Without another word, they grabbed Neal and rushed out the door, handing him to Red. They began their search.

After forty unsuccessful minutes, Snow got a phone call from Robin Hood. She answered the phone, concerned when they heard him gasping, out of breath. Through the gasps he said, "Emma... spotted at the well... she's in some trance... needs help..."

-

Emma couldn't help but smirk. Everything was going according to plan. Her parents believed someone was controlling her, and Regina was about to see what dark magic was really like.

"SWAN," she heard Regina's voice yell. Emma whirled around, pretending to alarmed. Lily trailed behind her, muttering, "I told you she'd be here."

"Regina," she said, her voice desperate. "Someone has Excalibur. They tried to make me kill David!"

"How convenient," Regina retorted, shoving her. Emma fell back and stood up again. "I know you're lying. I know that you want to hurt us."

Before Emma could defend herself, she heard another voice enter the fray.

"Regina, leave her alone!" It was Snow and Charming. The two soppy love birds that hugged each other whenever something bad happened, even if they weren't the ones being affected. Emma thought back to how they didn't try to stop Emma from stabbing Killian. They'd just hugged each other, only coming over to her to pull her away from him.

Emma glared at them. "You two," she snarled, all of her hatred laced in those two words.

Regina stared at them triumphantly. "See? She's not on our side anymore. Which means we need to start treating her like a villain."

Snow and Charming refused to believe it. "No, this-this is the doing of whoever has Excalibur," Snow stuttered.

A smile creeped up on Emma's face. "Actually," she stated, "Regina is quite right."

They stared at Emma, despair filling their eyes as they immediately hugged each other. Her hatred burned stronger.

"I am so sick of you. Of all of this," she spat. "I won't have it. Not anymore. There is truly no Savior in this town anymore."

Regina stared at her, dumbfounded. "Then why bring us here?"

A soft chuckled caused Emma's shoulders to bounce. "Don't you get it? Dark Ones never do anything without getting in return. It's all a... manipulation. Isn't that what you said, Regina?" she snickered. "You see, I needed you away from town. Not long, but long enough for me to get what I need. I'm not the only one doing this, you know."

Triumph rushed through Emma. "I wouldn't tell Henry about this, if I were you."

Regina stepped forward, threateningly. "And why would I keep this from him?"

Her smile fades to be replaced by a grim look. "A broken bone is nothing on a broken heart. A wise man told me that, not long ago."

She shook her head to get rid of the memories that were about to make her become emotional.
"Now, Lily, I believe you have a father to find."

Emma appeared next to Lily before they both disappeared, leaving Regina and the Charmings dreading what Emma needed in Storybrooke.