I have to say, I didn't plan on this going where it went. I wrote the first page last night and then set it aside because I had no idea where it was going and I felt it was far too short to post as it was – barely 300 words.

But I liked the idea so I sat back down to work on it this morning and…this happened. Totally unexpected but I loved the idea and ran with it.

As always, enjoy!

And please let me know what you think too!

~The Last Ronin~

x-x-Emma-x-x

I don't know how long I stay with my family before I have to get out of here. It's probably only a few minutes but it feels like its been hours. As much as I want to stay, want to really meet my little brother, I just can't. The panic has been building all afternoon, ever since the well, but I've managed to keep it walled away. Without the adrenaline brought on by fighting Zelena, by…without the chaos, I finally feel that wall cracking at an alarming rate.

The blood drains from my face as a piece of that wall gives way and I rush from the room, tears already filling my eyes. Vaguely I hear people calling after me but I ignore them. I can't be here. I have to get away. Somewhere else. Anywhere else.

I run.

I'm not sure where exactly I'm going but eventually blurry shapes and colors fill my vision as I rush through Granny's, a nauseous tightness clenching my stomach at the smell of her cooking, at the sound of people gossiping happily. I ignore it all, my hands shaking as I pull my key from my pocket and try to fit it into the lock on my door. Damnit. Damnit. Damnit! The key slides home and, twisting viciously, I yank the door open and dive inside, slamming the door shut behind me.

And I fall apart.

Alone at last, I sink to my knees, my arms wrapped tightly around myself, and curl forward until my forehead touches the ground, a strangled sob bubbling from my throat as the emptiness overtakes me. It's gone. I gasp for air around another sob but my lungs refuse to work…I can't breathe. It's gone. Frantically I feel around inside me, trying to find something…anything, any small shred of evidence that contradicts what I already know to be true but the search is futile. It's gone. It's gone. It's gone. It'sgoneit'sgoneit'sgone…

My magic is gone.

Tears pour down my cheeks and I sob. Despite my arms trying desperately to hold it at bay, the emptiness inside slowly spreads through me; a cold void coursing relentlessly through my veins. Pins and needles follow behind, goose bumps rising on my skin, and shivers wrack my body as a chill settles over me. My teeth chatter and a metallic taste fills my mouth as I accidentally bite my tongue.

Just as quickly as it came, the chill vanishes…mostly…leaving behind this vile feeling that's terrifying in it's familiarity. I know this feeling, I've felt it my entire life and a litany of words flash through my mind…words which still don't even come close to describing this feeling.

Orphan. Unwanted. Alone. Unloved. Bastard. Trash. Different. Worthless…

Hundreds of others parade through me in an endless cycle and I scream, clawing at my skin, trying to tear those words out of me. Something warm and red begins to run down my arms but the words…the words don't stop and I lurch to my feet, the panic resurfacing. My clothes quickly vanish as I hurl myself into the shower, turning the water to it's hottest setting. I have to get rid of these disgusting words that cover me. I grab a washcloth and begin to scrub at my skin, harder and harder until the water running down the drain has a pink tinge to it. No matter how hard I try I just can't get rid of this feeling…this emptiness.

With a sob I hurl the cloth against the wall and sink to the floor. I hug my knees to my chest and stare blankly at the water still streaming down around me. The words continue to slowly brand themselves upon my body, my heart, my mind…my soul and as time passes, the water growing cold, a sort of numbing acceptance takes over. This is me. This is my future.

I stand and shut off the water before stepping out into the small bathroom. Not bothering with a towel, I swipe at the frosted mirror, clearing a small peephole. I stare at my reflection, a part of me aware that the sudden rapid fall in temperature should be disturbing but it doesn't bother me and I don't pay it more than a thought. No. This is me…the real me. The color begins to leech out of the person staring back at me, eyes turning an icy blue as her skin and hair turn white as snow; the real me.

The water on my body freezes and falls away, revealing a racy blue dress that is probably not something a woman my age should be wearing but I don't care. It makes me feel…well, nothing. Slowly I lift my hand, staring at the pale skin and I feel like I'm finally seeing myself for the first time. This is the real me. This is the real me, the me I've known about my entire life but was never able to fully embrace.

Confident. Beautiful. Powerful. Magical.

New words surface and drape over me; armor against the outside world and all who would try to hurt me. The last word though, strikes a particular chord within me and as I take in my new appearance a multitude of ice crystals grow out of thin air and begin to dance around me; tiny spirits celebrating my existence.

And I laugh.

Zelena had wanted to strip me of my magic but she failed. All The Wicked Witch has succeeded in doing was reveal my real self: the one who has been smothered my entire life. Like so many others before her, the witch saw only the person on the surface; she never bothered to look deeper. Sure on the surface my magic had been warmth and light and love due to the circumstances of my birth. But the circumstances of my life had fostered a very different kind of magic within me; a powerful one that has never been able to fully manifest.

Until now.

Ice trails after me as I stride from the room, remnants of who I once was. New purpose fills me as I open the door and briefly I pause to look back over the room I've occupied since coming back to Storybrooke. For a second a spark of longing burns within me but it's quickly frozen by the cold magic now coursing through my veins. This isn't me anymore…never really was.

Turning back I step through the door and let it all go.