Dark Hearts - Short Version

Chapter 7

They all met inside Mary Margaret's house: David, Emma, Regina, Henry and Killian. Regina was sitting on the sofa. After the prevous night's events, she chose to stay as far as possible from Emma.

Emma gazed at them, one by one, paler than ever. She was still dressed as the Dark One. For some reason, she was reclutant to hid her looks, even if she wished it. Maybe she grew used to wear that skin. It's been years, after all.

She cleared her voice.

«It won't be pleasing.» she said.

David leaned a hand on her shoulder smiling at her, even if he was tensed. Henry gave her and encouraging smirk.

The Dark One sighed, trying to calm the furious beat of her heart. She moved her hands, palms up, towards them. Mary Margared and David took a second to understand, but then they held her hands. Henry was the bridge between David and Regina. Killian held Regina's hand and Mary Margaret his hook. Emma nodded, satisfied. She gave Regina a worried glance, then she sighed again.

«I'm not asking you if you're ready, because I'm not.» she said. She shut her eyes and, finally, she cast the spell. He memories materialized as a big black sphere of smoke at the center of the circle they were creating. The smoke extended into tentacle-like shapes that moved towards each of them, except for Emma. The Savior looked at it, scared and tensed. She gazed at Regina.

«You can break the circle. Touch the smoke.» she said, still loking at the brunette.

Regina just glanced at her before touching the dark smoke in front of her, letting memories fill her mind.

Gideon disarms her. Emma tries to use her magic against him, but the Queen's spell stops her. Her hand shakes, but she reacts to Gideon's attack, which she has seen a thousand times in her visions, and dodges the sword. She manages to kick him right in his belly and he falls on the ground. The Queen gets furious and chokes her with her magic. Emma is suffocating and Gideon is standing up. Her sight gets darker.

Regina appears behind the Queen. She stares at Emma, she looks in her eyes. She rips out her heart. Emma understands, the panic she wasn't feeling until that moment assaults her. She tries to stop her, but it's too late. Regina crashes her heart. She and the Queen fall on the ground. Emma, free from the spell, cries out her pain, but Gideon is standing up again. He lifts his sword but Emma jumps on him and grabs it from his hands. She slices him all the way through, then she runs to Regina, she tries to awaken her, uslessly.

The set changes.

Emma in inside Zelena's house. The witch has two very dark circles around her eyes. She looks devastated.

«It's impossible.» she tells her. Emma gaves her a dark stare.

«Do it.»

The scene changes again.

Emma is preparing what looks like a potion inside Regina's vault. Zelena comes in bringing some objects, ancient artifacts, a wand. The two of them prepare everyting, then they share a gaze. A few moments later they evoke their powers activating a devastating spell.

«Go!» Emma yells at her above the magic, strong wind. Zelena nods and disappears with her green smoke. Emma jumps into the whirl and she appears in the Enchanted Forest, thirty-seven years before.

Regina leapt up from the sofa, her eyes full of tears. She stared at Emma, opening her mouth as if she wanted to say something to her, but the words didn't exit her lips.

Emma stayed silent, her stare low, tears wetting her face. Henry was staring at her mouth-agape.

«You... shouldn't have done it...» Regina whispered finally, still staring at her.