As the green mist dissipated, the three women found themselves at the center of The Queen's spell room.

Zelena gave herself a quick tour as she walked around the room, taking in the details of the carved stone walls and all the potions and rare ingredients that lined them.

Turning slowly to face her sister, Zelena asked "Well, well Regina.. I'd say it's been quite some time since I've been to your spell room. What naughty things have you been hiding in here..?"

"Naughty things?" Regina laughed, "I'm not hiding anything Zelena, naughty or otherwise. Just ask Emma, she'll tell you."

"Oh, I'm sure..." Zelena said, her words dripping with sarcasm as she smiled.

Confused at first with the banter between the sisters, Emma's face suddenly reflected the moment she caught on to the sarcasm, blushing and giving a sly smile as she remembered what happened between Regina and herself the last time they were alone in the room.

Regina rolled her eyes at Zelena's accusations. "What I do in my spell room is MY business. I don't have to tell you anything."

"Very well sis." Zelena complied.

"Now then, shall we get on with it?"

"Yes, of course." Regina replied.

"Excellent!" Zelena exclaimed loudly.

"So.. how do we do this exactly?" Emma asked.

"We will perform a sortve 'merging' ritual.'" She continued, "The spell will require us all to be balanced with ourselves, as well as each other.. that includes our emotions and magic."

"Ok, and then what??" Regina asked.

"...and then, the two of you will be linked together." Zelena explained.

"Linked? What does that..?" Emma asked, feeling a little uneasy about the spell.

"It means, my dear, that you and Regina here, are going to be linked in mind, soul and magic." Zelena explained, "It also means you will be able to tap into each other for strength and power."

"Mmm, interesting," Regina replied staring at the floor, finger tip tapping at her jaw line as she thought a moment. "However, I do wonder what the negative side of this is Zelena. There must be one."

"Well, yes, of course.." Zelena looked on nervously.

"Ok.. and??!" Emma replied, "What's the risk Zelena?"

"Erm.. well.." Zelena started, "To be honest.. because you, Emma, would be tapping into the power and magic of my dear sister here.. the risk of the dark magic completely taking over is quite higher."

"Well then, what's the point, Zelena??!" Regina asked sternly, "We're trying to avoid Emma turning dark!"

"Well, yes, I know, but -"

"Ha!" Regina's sarcastic laugh cut her sister off mid sentence, "There are no 'buts' or exceptions of any kind!"

"Regina.." Emma spoke softly to The Queen, gently touching her arm, "Let's allow her to finish, please? We have no idea as it stands, how to beat this demon. If Zelena knows of a better way..."

"Emma." Regina answered, "I am not willing to risk your life in the process!"

"Well, it's a good thing I am." Emma replied, "after all, it's my life. Is it not?"

"Emma please.."

"No."

Turning to Zelena, Emma continued, "Zelena, please continue."

"As I was saying.." Zelena spoke, "There is the unfortunate draw back of possibly growing dark. However, if your heart is strong enough to endure it, my dear, then you will be ok. And as it stands now, this may be the only way to defeat Chernabog."

"Alright, then it's settled." Emma decided, "How do we perform this thing then?"

A wicked smile crept over Zelena's face as she answered, "Ahhh.. that's where you come in, Regina."

The Queen raised an eyebrow, concerned.

"Sister, I'll be needing you to lift that pesky protection spell you placed on your heart."

"Excuse me?!" The Queen replied, "and just exactly why do you need me to do that?"

"Well, you see Sis, your heart is the main source of power for this spell. Without it, Emma will be powerless against the demon."

Both The Queen and Emma shared a look of concern at Zelena's words.

"I don't know... maybe -"

Zelena spoke over Emma's words, "Don't worry love, your Queen won't suffer any harm from this."

"Alright." The Queen agreed, "Ill do it. But I swear on your life, Zelena.. if any harm comes to Emma over this, it will be head on a stake outside this castle!"

"Pish-posh, Sister! We don't need all the dramatics.."

The Queen, growing angry, stepped forward in an effort to further demonstrate her point when Emma stepped between them. Facing The Queen, Emma spoke once again softly to her "Regina. It's going to be alright. Zelena is our only hope with all of this. She is your sister, and after all, you did say that you knew she could help.."

"Perhaps," The Queen countered, "But at what cost, Emma?"

"I know." Emma started, "But it must be done Regina. You and I both know this. The truth is, We don't have to like it, but we do have to do it, if we ever want to defeat this thing."

Taking a moment to process her thoughts, The Queen gave Emma a knowing nod, "Alright. Let's get this over with, shall we?"

The Queen turned to her sister, "Zelena, where's my heart?"

"Right here." With the flick of her wrist, a small, metal box containing the heart of The Queen materialized in Zelena's hand.

Taking the heart from her sister, Regina placed it on the tall stone podium where she often concocted her many spells and potions. The Queen took a deep breath into her chest, closed her eyes and with a wave of her hand over the top of her heart, the protection spell was lifted.

The Queen opened her eyes again, meeting Zelena's bright green eyes dead on.

"Is it lifted then? The spell?"

"Yes Zelena, it is."

Smiling, Zelena replied, "Fabulous!"

Regina rolled her eyes, "Ok Zelena, you've had your fun. Now please, do as you said and help us."

Taking her sister's heart in her hands, Zelena nodded and gestured to Emma and The Queen to join her at the podium.

"We must focus every ounce of our energy into Regina's heart. Her heart will serve as the main power source in all of this. However, it is important to remember, drawing too much power from any source can drain it completely of its power. That's where the balance comes in. Regina's Heart is no exception to this."

Zelena paused to make sure the women were paying attention before she continued, "What's more, is understanding how to maintain the perfect balance between Dark and Light magic. Emma, you must never draw any Light Magic from Regina's heart. Doing so could cause Regina's heart to turn completely black, and tip her over to the Darkness. You must only use your own Light magic to counter the balance of the Dark Magic within you and Regina."

Emma took a long breath in as she processed Zelena's words.

"Also, you must remember the main source of life and power in Regina's heart is her ability to wield Dark Magic. Drawing out too much of it from her heart will also disrupt the balance and cause grave consequences for you both."

"So we must work together to always maintain the balance..." Emma said quietly to herself.

"Yes, exactly." Zelena said, "Is everyone ready?"

Making direct eye contact, both Emma and The Queen nodded.

Zelena closed her eyes and began a quiet chant, causing a bright green glow to surround The Queen's Heart.

Emma began to feel a bit uneasy as the glow began to shine brighter, seemingly causing The Queen to wince in pain.

"Mmm.. maybe we should stop," Emma exclaimed nervously, "It's hurting Regina!"

"No, it's alright.." The Queen explained through gritted teeth, "I'm.. I'm ok."

Emma was not convinced, as she watched The Queen hold onto the stone podium for support.

Zelena's chanting grew louder, as the bright green light now encircled them all.

Then suddenly, the light was gone, including the fire of the candles in the room. The women were surrounded by complete darkness now.

"Regina..??"

"Emma!"

Slowly, the candles relit themselves, one by one, returning their soft glow back to the room.

As the room became brighter, Emma and The Queen slowly glanced around the room. To both their surprise, Zelena was gone.

The Queen's eyes darted from the spot where Zelena had been standing, back to the stone podium. Her expression was nothing short of a panic.

"What is it?" Emma asked, "what's wrong?"

"My heart.." The Queen answered, "Its not here, where is it?!"

Regina closed her eyes and placed her hand on her chest, over the spot where her heart should be. A soft purple glow encircled The Queen's hand as it sat over her chest.

The Queen smiled, slowly opening her eyes again, "Ah, it seems my sister returned my heart before she deserted us."

"Well, that's good." Emma replied.

"Yes, it is."

It was that moment when The Queen had a moment to really take in what had changed. It was that moment, that left her almost speechless.

"Emma..."

"Yes? What is it?"

"I was hoping you could tell me,"

The Queen continued, "Are you alright dear? How do you feel.."

"I feel fine, really.."

The Queen searched Emma's face for any noticeable signs of wrong doing, or sorrow.

"Mmm.." she thought, "..something's.. different."

Something was very different indeed.

The once golden locks of curls that flowed passed Emma's strong shoulders were gone. In it's place, her hair displayed the color of a white winter's frost, tightly wound at the back of her head.

Emma's complete stature had changed. What was once always a warm, welcoming stance, took on something much colder, darker. Her face, though still just as beautiful, fell expressionless against thin, ruby red lips that had noticeably changed from the soft, fleshy pink they once where.

"Do you... feel any different?" The Queen asked again.

"Mmm well," Emma began, "I do feel assured, confident. I feel... powerful. Like the energy inside me is bursting to escape."

"I see." Regina replied.

The Queen knew this feeling all too well. It was the darkness, trying to take over. Like a drug, the initial feeling was all-powerful, tempting, addictively delicious.

Emma held out her hands, palms up, and concentrated hard. Seconds later, a fiery orb took shape in her grasp.

The Queen knew something was off, not quite right. But she fought it, buried it. After all, Emma was the source of the light in her life.

As the orb grew brighter, hotter, The Queen could see Emma's tense expression grow. Every muscle in Emma's body grew noticeably tight, as she struggled to keep the orb lit.

Then suddenly, Emma closed her hands into tight fists, and the orb was gone.

A smile crept over Emma's face now, as she moved her body closer to The Queen.

"Are you alright?" The Queen asked, still concerned.

"Oh, I'm better than alright, Regina.."

The Queen raised an eyebrow, "Oh?"

Emma placed her hands on The Queen's hips, roughly pulling Regina's body into her own. The flesh of Emma's hands, still burning hot from harnessing the fire orb, felt like white hot flames on Regina's hips.

Although The Queen's concern for Emma remained, this fresh new powerful confidence that now exhumed from the blonde, aroused The Queen like never before.

The reaction of Emma's fiery hot hands on her hips made The Queen jump, grabbing Emma's face, pulling it inches from her lips.

Further arousing The Queen, she could feel this new powerful energy pouring out from Emma's body as she spoke warm words into Emma's mouth, "Show me, Emma. Show me what it feels like for you.."

The Queen then crashed her mouth onto Emma's lips, fueling the heat between them.