A/N: Okay! So. Fun fact: I actually had about three chapters written around the time I finished the last chapter, and they were just... boring. An absolute snoozefest where nothing really happened for about 10k words. Sure, some talking and some minor character development here and there but mostly just filler, in large part because I had this particular plot point I was trying to write towards and I couldn't actually make it fit. So in the end, I had to cut it and about 90% of everything I wrote. Fun times! Hhhhahh.

The upsides, however, are numerous. I now have two more chapters finished (and I actually like them), an actually interesting continuation of the storyline, and also basically a shittonne of SQ interaction. I think we've all deserved this after around 70k words. Also writing it is so much fuuun.

Aaaaanywhoey, a previous iteration of the last chapter involved Emma getting really pissed off and crushing a tree into splinters. Just putting it out there. Also I'll try to avoid gaps in uploads like this one but by now you can expect it from time to time when the plot isn't cooperating. In any case, thank you for all the lovely comments and please enjoy :)

Chapter 25

Emma didn't get a lot of sleep that night. She tossed and turned in bed, fading in and out of dreams she couldn't remember afterwards. Her thoughts were a jumbled mess and all she could really focus on was waiting for the night to end. The more she thought about that argument with Regina weeks earlier, the more she wanted to finish what she had started back then: get the wand, get rid of her magic, and stop whatever was threatening the town and herself. Among all the other things she didn't know how to feel about – Regina, in particular – that goal was a clear beacon in her mind.

She got out of bed early enough to at least get a decent breakfast, and then left on foot for Gold's pawnshop. The chilly morning air and the quick walk did wonders for her mood and when she arrived a few blocks away where she'd meet Regina, she was eager to go see Gold.

Regina poofed in with a cloud of smoke in an alley nearby a couple of minutes after Emma had gotten there.

"You're here early," Regina remarked, a little surprised.

Emma gave an easy shrug. "Woke up early. Besides, I want to get this done."

"Well then. No need to drag it out longer than necessary."

The doorbell jingled when they entered the pawnshop. Mr. Gold looked up from behind the counter, regarding them with a curious expression and a faint smile.

"The sheriff and the soon-to-be mayor. It has been a while," he greeted them, putting down the little metal trinket he had been polishing. "What can I do for you?"

When Regina didn't take the lead, Emma stepped forward. "We want the Black Fairy's wand."

Gold paused a second before responding. "The Black Fairy's wand. That's a rather powerful magical artifact, I'd say." He turned around to take down some other shiny trinket from one of the shelves, busying himself. "It must be something important if you need a thing like that."

"It is," Emma said. "That's why we're here."

"May I ask what you're going to use it for?"

"Nothing that concerns you," Regina said.

Gold chuckled. "Oh, I find that hard to believe. When something happens in Storybrooke – especially if it involves either of you – it tend to affect all of us." His smile grew a little sharper as he turned to Emma. "Even if it's just your own magic that is problem, dearie."

Emma met his eyes with a level stare, saying nothing.

"But I can appreciate wanting to keep your privacy," Gold continued lightly. "So how about a trade? You answer some questions about a different topic, and I won't ask more about the wand."

"Depends on the questions."

"We have a mutual... acquaintance." He said the word with clear distaste. "A certain pirate. I'd like to know what's going to happen to him."

"He's going to face justice."

Gold chuckled again. "I do hope so, but considering our district attorney is locked up in the asylum at the moment for murder, I can't help but wonder exactly what kind of justice he'll face. Unless you're planning on going back to the old ways."

Emma shrugged. "We're working on it. I'm not going to let him out just because he decides he wants to be a hero again, if that's what you think."

"I doubt you would, but others might."

"If the council decides differently, it's out of my hands." She felt dirty just saying it, but it was what it was. "Get to the point."

Gold put his hands on the counter and leaned towards her, just a little. "As long as he stays in town, he's a risk; you've seen that many times. If he were to leave, however..." He shrugged. "No more risk, no one to hunt, no one gets hurt. Safer for everyone, don't you think? One less problem for you, for me, even for him."

Regina let out a mocking scoff. "Since when would you be content with just letting him leave?"

"Of course I'd rather have a more permanent solution, but perfection is often an difficult goal to reach. We have to make do with what tools we have at our disposal."

"Something tells me you're not talking about convincing the council," Emma said.

"Consider it a friendly suggestion from a concerned citizen, Sheriff. There are plenty of ways to make someone leave Storybrooke." He rounded the counter, walked over to another shelf, and picked up a small wooden box. Placing it down on the counter, he opened it, revealing a black wand. "And I'm always happy to assist the Sheriff's Department in any way I can, of course."

Joining them, Regina picked up the wand and inspected it for a few seconds. "It's the real thing." She replaced it in the box and picked it up. "Any other helpful tips you'd like to share?" she asked Gold.

"I think I said what I needed to say," Gold said, looking firmly at Emma.

When they returned to Regina's study, Emma's body practically hummed with impatience.

"So, how do we do the spell? How long will it take?" she asked.

Regina gave her a curious look. "You don't know?"

"I wouldn't have asked if I did."

"Do you remember anything about the spell, or who told you about it?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "Seriously, this again? We don't have time for that."

"Emma, it won't take–"

Slamming her hand down onto the wand's box, she snapped, "we're doing this now. Take out the wand."

Regina studied her for a few moments, unfazed by Emma's outburst. "Fine. I'll cast the spell myself then, if that's alright with you."

"Yeah, yeah." She shifted uncomfortably, her muscles increasingly tense, ready for action. She was this close to getting it done and every moment she waited made the wait even more excruciating.

With a puff of purple smoke, Regina summoned the wand and held it up in front of Emma. "Are you ready?"

"Yes," Emma bit out. "Should I take off the bracelet or–"

Instead of answering, Regina placed her free hand on Emma's bracelet. A twitch of the black wand, followed by purple and white smoke blended together, enveloping her wrist, and the bracelet was gone. Regina closed her eyes, her brows furrowing, and let the hand on Emma's bracelet slide down to lightly clasp Emma's hand. "Tell me if anything feels wrong and we'll stop."

Emma grunted a response, and then it began. White magic shot out of every part of her body, making her skin tingle and itch.

"You can feel your magic leaving your body, right?" Regina murmured. "You should feel a slight sensation in your skin."

Emma nodded. "Yeah, I'm feeling something. I think it's working."

"The final part might be a little more intense, so be ready for that."

"What final–"

A strong shiver tore through Emma's body, matching a blinding flash of magic leaving her body and going into the wand. Then the light dimmed, the tingling died down, and the magic was gone.

Regina opened her eyes. "Are you alright?"

Emma nodded slowly, trying to shake her mind back in some semblance of order.

"Try to use your magic. Summon a flame."

Holding up her free hand, palm up, Emma attempted to summon her magic, but she couldn't find a hint of magic there to use. "It's gone."

Regina let out a soft breath and gave Emma's hand a soft squeeze. "And how do you feel, in general?"

"I don't know?" Emma shrugged. "Normal, I guess?" In hindsight, it all seemed a bit overblown.

"What do you want to do with the wand?"

Emma gave Regina an odd look. "Give it back to Gold, or stash it away in your vault, maybe?"

"What about your magic? What if I could reverse the spell and put your magic back?"

"As long as it doesn't hurt the town, I don't really– I mean, it'd be nice to have my magic back but..." Emma left off with another shrug. "Where are you going with this?"

Regina's expression grew more tense and she narrowed her eyes, still watching Emma oddly carefully. "What if I faked the whole thing?"

Emma blinked, more and more confused. "What?"

"What would you do if I said I had made up the whole spell and you still had your magic, and this wasn't the real wand?"

"I'd ask why, and what you were planning. Then I guess we'd have to do the spell again, for real this time."

A faint smile suddenly spread across Regina's lips and she chuckled. "You guess we'd have to do it again? It sounded pretty urgent before." She took her free hand and guided Emma's free hand to rest against where her bracelet had been. "Do you feel it?"

Emma did feel it. The edge of the bracelet, still circling her wrist. "You just made it invisible?" Emma looked down on her wrist and then up at Regina again. "You faked it. What– why?"

"What do you want to do now?"

"I want to know why you faked it!"

"What about the wand?" Regina held it out towards her. "And the spell?"

Emma let out a grunt of frustration. "I don't care about that; just stop being all mysterious and shit and tell me what's going on!"

"Good." Still holding Emma's hand, Regina guided them both to the living room. Only when both of them were seated in the sofas did she let go. "That should mean the conviction spell is gone." She moved her fingers, making the bracelet visible again.

Emma wasn't sure if she should be angry or not. Mostly, she was just confused. "The what? A conviction spell?"

"I think the reason you were so dead set on using the wand and going ahead with that spell was a spell of conviction. Think magic of belief, but projected onto someone else, intensifying a belief or a goal they have until it's the most important thing for them to do. I didn't consider it until you sounded just as sure yesterday with only parts of your memory back as you had done back the last time we talked about the wand."

"Conviction magic is a thing now?" Emma sighed and flopped back against the sofa, rubbing her forehead. "Why didn't you tell me about this earlier?"

"It's not well known or understood. I'm not even sure if it can be learned or if it's something you're born with. The only thing I'm reasonably sure of is that it can be broken by completing whatever it is the spell wants you to do. So I had to make you believe you had used the wand and lost your magic." Regina cleared her throat. "I'm sorry for deceiving you – again – but I would have told you afterwards either way."

"Yeah," Emma mumbled. She adjusted the bracelet around her wrist, trying to figure out how she felt. There had been a lot of trying to figure that out lately, and she wasn't getting much better at it. She didn't feel nearly as impatient as before, at least. That weird urge to get the wand was completely gone. "Do you know who would've put that spell on me?"

"No. Do you remember anything about who told you about the wand?"

Emma thought back to their argument, to where she had gone before that, but it was still pretty muddled. "Not sure. I went to see Nova, but she wasn't the one who told me. Maybe she gave me directions to someone else." Looking up, she noticed Regina smirking at her, a little more smug than usual. "What?"

"You didn't just tell me to shut up and trust you."

"Huh." Emma thought about it some more. It all felt increasingly silly when she thought about it. "Guess you're right. But the bracelet, you said it wasn't permanent. And the town is in danger as long as I've still got my magic, isn't it?"

"None of this is really an exact science, but I think as long as you keep an eye on it – and make sure to tell me if your magic starts acting up more – it should be alright a little while longer. I don't know about the danger to the town, though; you were the one who told me about that after you returned from our mysterious spellcaster. So I'll let you decide what to do there."

Emma rubbed her neck, thinking back some more. She remembered the danger to the town just as well as she had a couple of hours earlier, but it didn't feel nearly as urgent. After all, she didn't even know what kind of danger she was worried about. "Yeah, I think the conviction spell might have done that too," she muttered. "I really wish people would stop throwing weird mind spells on me."

Regina's smile dimmed a little, but she didn't say anything.

"Anyway," Emma continued before the tension between them could build. "If the magic stuff isn't that urgent, let's go talk to Nova and see if she remembers anything." She could really use some fresh air.

Regina and Emma stepped out of Regina's car near the convent. It was still pretty early, and not a lot of people were out and about yet. Looking up at the convent, Emma tried to remember more details from her conversation with Nova that day. They had been outside, talking about... something. She couldn't remember what, though. Then Nova had gone back into the building and Emma had left.

"Wait," Emma muttered. "Come on." Following tendrils of memories she could only vague piece together, she hurried over to a corner of the street nearby. She squinted into the distance, trying to remember where she had gone. Something fell into place, and she looked down on her hands. A smile began to pull on her lips. "I poofed somewhere. I think I know where, kind of." Looking to Regina, she added, "are you up for a field trip?"

"Weren't we here to speak to Nova?"

"We can do that later if we need to." Emma opened and closed her hands a few times, remembering the way her magic twisted and curled around her fingers when she had used it that day. "I think I remember where I went after I saw her, and I don't want to lose it. Do you think I can still poof if I take off the bracelet for a moment?"

Regina didn't look particularly thrilled. "I can try to help you stabilize it, if you really think poofing there would help."

Emma nodded and carefully pulled her bracelet off. She was about to focus her magic when Regina took her free hand in her own, linking them together. The warmth of her hand was in stark contrast to the chilly morning air.

"It's easier to reach your magic this way," Regina explained. "Whenever you're ready."

"Right, yeah." She handed the bracelet over to Regina and then focused on the magic in her free hand even as it began to pour out of her palms and wrists. With the parts of her magic she could still control she reached out, following an almost faded memory, like a faded inscription in an old, eroded stone. Finally, her memory and her surroundings all fell into place, and she released her magic with a clench of her fist.

They appeared in a cloud of white smoke in the outskirts of town. It wasn't somewhere Emma usually went, so it took a while for her to realize where she was.

"The bracelet," Regina reminded her.

Emma was suddenly painfully aware of the rising discomfort in her arms and the increasing flow of magic from her to Regina, and after some fumbling, she managed to slip the bracelet back on, letting out a sigh of relief when the magic stopped.

"Do you know where to go now?" Regina asked, taking in the area around them.

"This way, I think." She gestured vaguely.

They walked together in silence for a while through the sparsely populated outskirts of Storybrooke, nodding in passing to the occasional jogger.

"You know, despite everything, that illusion stuff you pulled with the wand was pretty neat," Emma said.

Regina scoffed, but she sounded more amused than anything else. "I suppose. It's just a parlor trick, really. Pretending to summon the wand meant I could create a fake one even as the real one was still in the box. Touching your hand meant I could siphon off most of your magic during the spell so you wouldn't feel any hints of it. The rest was just a simple illusion spell and a fancy light show."

"Pretty elaborate for a parlor trick."

"Well, I had to make it look real."

Emma shrugged, a smile tugging on her lips. "I just figured I didn't need that fancy magic to convince."

Regina looked almost insulted. "Don't be ridiculous. Would you really have believed me if I had just waved the wand around a little and told you that was it?" She scoffed again. "You know what magic is and you know how it feels. The only reason I could fool you like that is because of the bracelet and the fact that you hadn't seen this kind of spell before."

"Oh." Emma shot Regina an odd glance. She hadn't exactly expected such a forceful response. Another thought hit her and she began, "then why–" before realizing where that was going and quickly snapping her mouth shut.

"Why what?"

Shoving her hands deeper into her jacket pockets, Emma hesitated. "Why– how did you manage to do the memory spell on me? Wouldn't I have noticed that too?"

"I did it while you were sleeping," Regina said after a few seconds, her voice quiet and stiff. "And I think using your own magic made it less obvious."

They fell silent again, walking together a few feet apart as that far too familiar awkward tension took over between them.

"Other side of the street, I think," Emma murmured, half speaking, half thinking out loud when the road took a sharp turn. "We're pretty close now."

A few more blocks, and Emma began recognizing more and more. Then she abruptly stopped.

"Are we here?" Regina asked, looking at the houses around them.

"I'm not sure." Emma crossed the street again and jogged up to one of the houses nearby, first frowning up at the entrance and then down at the street itself and back from where they had come. "I think this is it."

Regina gave the house in front of them a critical look. "Well, you've been here at least once before."

"That's the problem." Emma looked up at the front door of Vickers' house, still covered in police tape. "I think this is where I went after I talked to Nova, but since I went here with Mulan too... maybe I'm just mixing it up."

"Mulan did say someone saw you talking to Vickers before, though, and you never mentioned her to me. Sounds pretty plausible to me."

"I guess there's only one way to find out," Emma said, walking up to the porch of Vickers' house.