A/N: this is a short fic (about 10 chapters) based on a prompt from the 50th favourite-er of my first ever fanfic, Missed SwanQueen Moment S1 (check it out if you haven't already!) The prompt will be revealed at the end but for now I will say the beginning part is a reconstruction of the events of the first episode in season two.
Update links will be posted on twitter: SwanQueenUKFF
Regina flinched and stared at Emma. A pulse of magic had shot through her at the blonde's touch. Wide eyed, the two women looked at each other momentarily before their attention was drawn back to the hat spinning wildly in front them.
"It's coming!" Charming yelled as the wraith turned its attention to Regina, the target.
As the black shape loomed up, Regina twisted around, fear etched across her face as she realised she had no magical abilities to defend herself. As the wraith lunged, the brunette felt herself knocked aside, a flurry of blonde hair in her peripheral vision. The wraith disappeared into the pulsating portal but not before it could wrap a hand around Emma's ankle.
"No!" cried Snow moving towards her newfound daughter. But Regina was quicker. Her hand shot out and grabbed onto Emma's arm as she tried to pull the blonde from the wraith's grasp. Her muscles screamed in protest as she clung on, the power behind the portal causing her to shake. Unable to resist, she lost her balance and fell forward, both she and Emma tumbling into a purple and then black abyss.
Regina felt the heavy weight pressed against her body lift and fuzzy words reached her ears. She stirred, slowly opening her eyes and looking around. Emma lay beside her, seemingly unscathed but unconscious. Turning her head, Regina caught sight of two figures standing over them and hastily scrambled to her feet. Flexing her fingers, she felt the familiar pulse of magic shoot through them and smiled with relief at the knowledge she had her power back.
"It's the Evil Queen," Aurora breathed turning to flee but Mulan grabbed her hand, stopping her.
"How did you get back here?" the warrior questioned, drawing her sword as she looked the familiar woman up and down, taking in her strange attire.
"A portal," Regina replied shortly, eyeing the weapon and knowing it was enchanted to deflect magic, including her fireballs. Her best hope of getting away from her two questioners would be to play nice so she and Emma could start figuring out a way back to Henry. Back home.
"Haven't you done enough damage?" Mulan asked. "What more could you possibly want in this wasteland?"
"We didn't intend to come here," Regina snapped. "Emma, the imbecile, fell into the portal behind the wraith and I got pulled in too." She waved her hand to indicate the still unconscious blonde on the floor as she spoke.
"So you did bring the wraith," Aurora said. "You killed Philip."
"Unintentionally," Regina shrugged.
"What's going on?" came a familiar voice from behind Regina. Emma got to her feet and dusted off her brown leather jacket and black jeans. "Who are you guys?" she asked, coming to stand beside the brunette.
"Mulan and Aurora," the warrior introduced, sensing the blonde was not an enemy. "What are you doing travelling with the Evil Queen?"
"Unplanned trip, literally," Emma shrugged. "Can you point us in the direction of the nearest portal?"
Regina laughed darkly. "It doesn't work like that Miss Swan," she said. "It's going to take some time to get what we need to return home."
"Then let's get started," said the blonde, setting off away from the small pile of debris they had landed in.
"Wait!" cried Mulan as Regina walked after the blonde. Both women turned. "You must come with us," the young woman said, sounding braver than she felt.
Regina laughed. "I don't think so," she said. "We need to get back to our son."
"Your son?" Aurora asked, frowning at the use of the plural possessive pronoun.
"I don't care who you've left behind, I'm required to bring you in, by order of Queen Cora."
"Queen who?" Regina asked, her eyes widening.
"Queen Cora has reigned over the small area of the Enchanted Forest your destructive curse left unscathed," Mulan explained. "She requires all newcomers to appear before her. I must take you there."
Regina hesitated and then nodded mutely and walked back towards the two women. Emma's jaw dropped. She had never seen the Mayor of Storybrooke submit to a single order.
"Regina?" she asked, hurrying to catch up with the brunette. "What the hell are you doing? What about Henry?"
"I need to see Cora," she said, following Aurora and Mulan as they made their way out of the ruined castle and down a path towards a narrow road, Regina picking her way daintily in her high heeled shoes.
"Why?" Emma asked.
"She's my mother."
Mulan tied Regina and Emma's wrists together before she and Aurora mounted their steeds at the edge of the road. Regina eyed the third horse with temptation but decided against asking if she could ride too. Instead, Mulan, secured the ropes to her saddle and they set off, the two newcomers being tugged along behind. The group walked in silence, Emma's head reeling as she tried to process the information. Judging by Regina's face, questions weren't welcome.
It took little over an hour to reach the spit of land leading to the rocky outcrop, upon which was a cluster of wooden houses and a small market square over which Queen Cora ruled. The walk had been simple enough but the countryside they passed through had been desolate. It looked to Emma as if a fire had swept through the kingdom, killing everything in its path and leaving a burnt, dead landscape. She hadn't seen any sign of life. No animals, no other humans, not even a tree.
As they stepped over a faint grey line on the earth, a strange, unfamiliar feeling washed over Emma. By the raised eyebrows on Regina's face, she had felt it too. Magic. Once over the boundary, grass covered the ground, trees surrounded the small encampment, and the bleats of sheep and the snorts of pigs reached Emma's ears. Whatever had happened to the destroyed land they had walked through, this area was different. It was alive.
"Come with me," Mulan instructed after she untied the end of the rope and whispering something to Aurora who scuttled off with the three horses.
Regina and Emma followed the warrior through the village, ignoring the stares of the peasants who emerged from the wooden huts to stare in awe at the sight. The Evil Queen and an unknown woman, both dressing in peculiar clothes, walking behind Mulan towards their current Queen's residence.
"Wait here," Mulan ordered as they reached the foot of a stone staircase, rising to a small castle.
Regina nodded and Emma sat down on the bottom step, resting her weary legs.
"You didn't tell me your mother was Queen," the blonde said quietly as soon as Mulan was out of earshot.
"She wasn't," Regina replied as she tried to straighten her pant suit and look vaguely respectable. "Not here anyway."
"What's she like?" Emma asked.
"You think I'm bad," Regina said, shooting a pointed look at the blonde.
"Great," Emma grumbled, slipping off her boot to massage her sore foot. "What happened to this place anyway?" she asked, gesturing to the wasteland beyond the small settlement.
Regina looked slightly awkward.
"Oh," Emma said. "Your curse."
Regina nodded but said nothing.
"How come this corner wasn't touched?" the blonde asked. As she observed the area, she could tell the tiny haven the survivors had set up was little more than 500 metres wide in each direction. A narrow strip of farmland scattered with livestock ran around the edge and small patches of crops grew between the dwellings.
"I have no idea," Regina mused. "The Dark Curse was supposed to destroy everything in the kingdom. Nothing should have survived."
"Charming," Emma noted.
"I had my reasons," Regina defended.
"Whatever they were, I don't think they can justify the misery you inflicted on everyone in Storybrooke for the past twenty eight years," Emma countered.
Regina glared at Emma before turning her back to the blonde and looking out over the village. Several groups of people were clustered throughout the area, talking in hushed voices as they watched the two women waiting at the foot of Cora's castle.
"She's ready for you," Mulan's voice said from behind them.
Regina turned instantly and passed Emma on the steps, who was trying to wiggle her toes back into her boot, wincing as a blister pressed against the tight leather. The blonde jogged after Regina, catching up just as they entered a large wooden door, where the brunette stopped dead.
Emma peered past the brunette's shoulder to see who stood in the modest entrance hall. A slim woman, wearing a black gown with her hair pinned up on top of her head was waiting patiently, a peculiar smile on her face.
"Welcome home, Regina," Cora smiled, opening her arms wide as she saw her daughter.
"Mother," Regina nodded curtly, making no move to step into the embrace.
"It's been too long dear," Cora said, walking towards the woman who stood rooted in the doorway and wrapped her arms around the frozen figure. "And who's your friend?" Cora asked as she spotted Emma standing just behind the brunette.
"She's not a friend," Regina replied.
"Oh?" Cora said, raising her hand and flexing her fingers.
"NO!" Regina shouted, stepping in between Cora and Emma.
Cora frowned but lowered her hand. "If she's not a friend, why do you want her alive?"
There was a pause. Emma's heart beat rapidly against her ribs as she waited for Regina's answer. "Because she's the mother of my son," the brunette admitted reluctantly.
Cora raised an eyebrow. "What sort of a weird world did your curse transport you to?" the older woman asked as she looked between the two women.
"Not like that," Regina sighed. "It's complicated ok?"
"But I have a grandson?" Cora asked, her face alight with hope.
Emma frowned. She hardly knew this woman but she was sure she didn't want her anywhere near Henry.
"Yes," Regina replied. "And we need to get back to him as soon as possible. Do you have any magic beans?"
"No, I'm afraid not. The Dark Curse destroyed them all. There are no objects capable of making a portal left here now."
"Damn it," Regina said, turning to looked at Emma who was wearing a confused expression.
"What does that mean?" Emma asked.
"It means it's going to take us a little time to return home."
"But this is your home Regina," Cora cooed. "You must stay and join me in my castle. You will be a princess, the heir to the kingdom."
"The heir to this tiny corner of a ruined land?" Regina asked, eyebrow raised. "No thanks, I'd rather get back to the town I rule and my son."
The brunette turned to go but before she could step through the door, the heavy wood slammed shut, the bang echoing off the cold stone walls.
"I don't think so, daughter," Cora laughed lightly from behind her. Regina spun around, her eyes narrowed at her mother. Emma moved forward to stand next to the brunette. Her fingers were tingling with an unfamiliar sensation.
"I've been trying to find a way to reach you for twenty eight years. And now you come back to me of your own accord. There is no way I am letting you go."
"You're not letting me go?" Regina asked with a laugh. "Need I remind you who taught me all I know?"
"The same man who taught me, dear," Cora said with a smile. "We know the same spells, we know the same tricks. The only difference is you're rather out of practice."
Regina gritted her teeth and raised a hand. Concentrating hard, she felt a warmth spread down her arm as a fireball erupted in her palm. She grinned as she drew her arm back. "Not too rusty apparently," she mocked as Emma stared wide eyed at the flames dancing in Regina's hand.
Cora looked momentarily surprised but covered it quickly with a sneer.
"You've been back here five minutes. Do you really want to fight me already, Regina?" Cora asked.
"No," the younger brunette replied as she grasped Emma's hand and a cloud of purple smoke enveloped the two women.
Thoughts?
