Author's Note: Hello all. Here it is, my first Once multi-chapter story. This is the first story I've ever posted that isn't practically complete. It's all mapped out so as I get time it will get finished. Promise. But I was worried my characterisations would be off once the new series starts and I didn't want it to feel too jarring to read. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or any of its characters. I am just writing this for fun.

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Chapter one

It was Merlin's idea. His whole attitude changed upon finding out that Emma was the product of true love and had inherent powerful light magic linked to that.

He had questioned them for hours about Emma, her life, her experiences, her loves and pointed out that Emma had only started accessing her magic when she finally felt love for Henry and her family. Now she has found a separate soul to love, one of her choosing, who isn't bound to her by blood. Such ties can be very strong but are often easier to manipulate. In his years studying magic Merlin had discovered a way to do just that, and through such a manipulation he could use Emma's own light magic to weaken and destroy the Dark One. Of course all magic comes with a price.

"So they won't love each other anymore?" Snow asked.

"More than that they won't even remember the other exists. Everything related to their love will be consumed by the spell," Merlin replied frankly.

"So, what? The entire relationship between Emma the pirate just evaporates?" Regina asked.

"From one standpoint I suppose. Yes," Merlin agreed with a shrug. "The trouble will come with accessing that love, at the moment it'll be smothered under the Dark One's influence. Actually you know what, forget I said that. I know exactly what to try. So shall I begin?"

"No. I don't know," Snow said, she looked around the room. Everyone had matching frowns. It was no surprise that saving Emma would mean sacrifice, but was this the right thing to do? Why was her daughter always separated from the people who love her?

"What choice do we have?" David asked. "I'm seriously asking here. This seems, I don't know. Too much."

"Too much? I'm surprised you're daughter's existence has a limit on it dearie," Gold said, stepping forward from where he had been lurking at the back of the group. "And to answer your question there is no other choice. It's this or leave miss Swan as the Dark One, until someone destroys her and takes the power for themselves." Gold sounded almost sympathetic, almost.

"That's not happening," David said firmly.

"Then this is it I'm afraid. Though if I may make a suggestion?" The former Dark One turned to Merlin, who raised his eyebrows at him. "The Captain hasn't always been the reasonable man he is now and sadly most of his development has been in effort to impress Miss Swan. He may react badly if he wakes up to discover chunks of his memory are missing. Miss Swan may also notice something is amiss." He threw in at the end. David ground his teeth at gold's dismissal of Hook's journey from villain to hero.

"So what is your suggestion?" Merlin asked.

"While I was under the dark one's influence I created a curse that also transformed love into powerful magic. Although having seen your work I realise mine was very crude in its method," He said. The whole room tensed. He couldn't be about to suggest what he was going to suggest. "But it's great strength came in those under the curse being completely accepting of their condition."

"Condition?" David snapped. "You made sure everyone was miserable."

"Actually, Regina did that," Gold replied. "The curse itself merely formed this town from her whims." Regina shuffled a little uncomfortably.

"I know of your world changing curse Rumplestiltskin," Merlin said, his tone conveying that he didn't think it was something Gold should be proud of. "If you had taken more time and care in its development you could have avoided so much disruption. But you are correct. I believe it has an application here."

"No." Snow said forcibly. "I will not lose my daughter again. There's no need to replace all her memories. Can't we just, I don't know fill in the gaps?"

"You really want to come up with something to fill all her missing memories of the pirate, you know they've not just been holding hands right?" Regina said with a knowing smirk.

"So we leave those particular ...gaps as gaps," David said hurriedly looking queasy. "We'll just explain to her what happened."

"I'd advise against that," Merlin said. "This is magic has never before been attempted. I can't guarantee how successful it'll be. If it is successful, leave all as it is. Do not risk her attempting to reverse it to regain what she has lost. I suppose there's no such objections to applying Rumpelstiltskin's curse to the Captain."

"There's no way Hook will agree to that," Charming said.

"Then we shan't give him the choice," Gold said.

"Is that what this is? Your final revenge. You are loving this aren't you? Not only does your enemy lose his happy ending, his true love, but you get to turn him into...into...what? A coward again?" David demanded. Gold sighed.

"I know it's difficult for you to accept but I'm not the man that couldn't forgive the pirate, not anymore," Gold said. His statement may have had more weight if he'd managed to say the word pirate without the slight sneer. "The curse transports a person to the realm without magic and creates enough of a life around them to allow them to accept it. A place to live, some history, work. It doesn't have to be a torture, it can be a new start. This is an opportunity. And one I am suggesting to help not harm. Anyway you're forgetting I'm not the one casting this spell, the Sorcerer is."

They all turned to Merlin, who was watching the whole exchange with great interest.

"You can make sure he's happy?" Snow asked.

"No one can guarantee happiness your Majesty," Merlin replied. The decidedly unhappy silence filled the room again. "But I can give it my best shot," He said with a smile. No one smiled back, but Merlin clapped his hands in satisfaction anyway.

"Right so Emma will stay here in Storybrooke with a few substitutions in her memory and Captain Hook will be cursed to a new life in the realm without magic. I think that's actually going to work fairly neatly. Here we go." He raised his hands in a series of complex motions.

"Wait. Wait," David said. "We haven't decided this is what we're doing."

"You're right. But regardless of what you decide I am doing this. Such an opportunity to remove the Dark One from existence may not appear again. Stand back." Merlin started mumbling incantations and immediately they felt magic surging within the room.

"No wait. Wait!" Snow cried out. But Merlin was no longer listening and as the magic swirled around them Snow turned and gripped Charming's arms around her. Oh Emma. She thought. Please forgive us. Please let this work. Please let them both be happy. I can't lose my daughter again.

Don't be distressed fair lady. Merlin's voice soothed as if inside her mind. While magic cannot be created from nothing, the depth of love is infinite.

...

Emma laughed as she looked at Killian. He looked completely exhausted, sat with his back against the wheel and his legs stretched out across the deck of the Jolly Roger. She'd been waiting for such a moment. He was always on guard, always thinking ahead, years of dealing with Pan and hunting Rumpelstiltskin giving him plenty of defenses against her manipulations. But in this state he had no chance of standing against her and she'd finally get her way with him. No more games.

"What happened to you?" She asked as she moved to stand over him.

"Your parents and Regina have taken a personal day. Whatever that is," He said opening one eye to look at her reaction. She didn't give one. What did she care about what her family were up to? They had shown they were absolutely no threat to her. "But apparently what that means is that they cannot be contacted," Killian continued. "Which also apparently means I am the town's next port of call for all issues, problems and crises." Emma laughed.

"When did that happen?" She asked. He shook his head.

"I have honestly no idea. But after arguing bloody zoning laws for Belle, mediating the dwarves latest row and chasing thieving lost boys through the woods, I'm going to find whoever it is encouraging it and ruin them."

"I think that somebody is you," Emma said rolling her eyes

"Ah brilliant, because you can consider me ruined."

"So what you're saying is, in this state, I could take advantage of you?" She'd meant to sound menacing but as so often happened with him it came out too soft and teasing.

"Aye my Love. I am completely without recourse and quite at your mercy," He replied, letting his head bump back against the helm. She watches him for a moment leaning back in the sun. His dark hair shining with stripes of auburn matching the scruff on his face, his muscles forced into a rare state of relaxation.

Well damn. Emma thought. I'm not sure I want to do anything now most of the work's been done for me. There'd be other opportunities to beat him. This decision had nothing to do with how cute he looked, or how relaxed she felt swaying on the deck chatting with him. It definitely had nothing to do with how she wanted to take care of him.

She stepped quietly next to him and felt a pleased little thrill when he flinched in surprise as she sat down at his side. Their heads and shoulders lean together as if they're just any other normal couple. Hands find each other and fingers curl together. For one blissful moment the only thing Emma feels is warm and safe and at peace.

But she doesn't know their love is like a beacon for the magics building in town, latching onto their happiness a wind suddenly swirls around them, billowing clouds of white and gold growing and churning. Emma and Hook were both on their feet instantly, all calm forgotten.

"What is it?" Killian asks. But Emma has no answer for him. It was like parts of herself were being shaken loose like leaves on a tree. Killian must have felt something too because he grabs her arm tightly his face full of alarm.

Emma suddenly felt like she was being torn in two. Her power was draining out of her, causing her to need to focus her magic to hold onto it, but then she feels Hook's grip slide away from her arm as the storm tries to pull him away and she turns to grab him, the wind somehow blowing between them, pushing them apart. Panic seizes her chest as she feels the power start to drain from her again.

Choose Emma, a voice said. You can't keep both. You have to choose. Emma screamed into the wind in frustration. Every time she concentrated on stopping her power draining away, her fingers would start sliding on the leather of Hook's jacket. Choose. Emma's mind froze, rebelling at the thought. She was the all powerful Dark One why should she have to lose anything? That moment of arrogance allowed the storm to take hold, she could feel her power pouring away like a siphon as Killian literally slipped through her fingers, his voice calling out her name.

So Emma chose. Almost without thinking she let go and threw herself at her pirate. Instantly she felt her magic disappear, no not all her magic just the darkness, something was left, something warm and bright. His arms immediately wrapped around her and held her up as she went limp, her strength fading away with the darkness that had wrapped itself around her heart for so long. She thought it would leave a hole inside her but instead she felt the warmth fill her to the brim as the light and love that'd been held back by the darkness surged forward and outward.

She looked up and her eyes met the clear blue of his.

"You're beautiful." He said, his face full of wonder.

She nearly whispered it back but caught herself in time, that's just not something you say to a random man you don't know. Even if it's true and you appear to be hugging him for no apparent reason. So she smiled instead and he matched it with one of his own.

Emma knew she should stop embracing this guy and work out where she was but she'd never felt this happy, the sudden absence of darkness was causing her to feel giddy and his arms were strong and warm.

She slowly became aware that the strange magic was still whirling around them. How had it removed the dark one from her? Whose magic was it? She absently pulled away from the handsome stranger to reach into the magical storm trying to see if its power felt familiar. When she tried to turn back she found the clouds had rolled over them blocking him from view.

...

Author's note: Hope you enjoyed this first chapter . It'll be all change from here. I really wanted Emma to have the same sort of choice Rumple did with Bae, but make the right choice. I'll go a little bit more into her feelings in later chapters. Please leave a review and let me know what you think.

Thanks for reading.