Chapter one: Portals and Curses
"Henry!' Emma struggles violently at the guards gripping her either side, her e is and thick, her hair slaps her face as the wind from the portal thunders with the brute force of a blizzard. Tears sting her eyes blurring her vision as she watches a blackened figure being ordered through the portal, along with her son. Her pare- No! She wouldn't call them that. Not anymore. The word "parents" suggested warm smiles and not cocoa every night, not banishing your only child to some unknown realm - But hey, each to their own. Back to the scene. The royal couple stand clutching each other with solemn faces as if feeling bad for the banishment. They'd claimed that this was best for the kingdom, the child could never be the true king. Hatred rushes through Emma's veins, the fires of hell themself root deep within her heart and turn it into a stone cold pit of darkness she swears her parents will be thrust into one day. The portal sucks in the figure and her son and disappears without a trace, the only evidence of the previous gale are the few leaves that fall gently to the ground. Emma fixes on one, watching its slow descent. "This can't be real," she insists to herself. Her empty heart beats slowly, as if lying in wait for the onslaught of rage and emotion sure to come when she realises the reality of the situation. She shall never see her son again, never feel his soft cheeks or small gentle smile. Her arms ache for his warmth, the guards let her go. Without the support Emma falls to her knees, unable to find the strength to stand. A sob heaves in her chest, the sound barely human. "We did the right thing…" the king whispers to his queen.
"Yes. We did." The queen responds without a hint of remorse.
Emma shakes her head, banishing the thoughts of "that" event. "I need to focus!" She snaps to herself, smoothing down her dress in frustration. The cold walls of her dark castle echo her words, they sound hollow and empty, as everything has been since that day. "Not for long." She assures herself, "I'll have him back… Henry…" Her chest tightens, her emotions dangerously close to bursting. With a dark look Emma walks to the window to glare at her parents little castle. "Just you wait… your kingdom will be worth nothing! You'll beg on your knees for mercy!" Her fist clenches and she storms out of the room, her heels clip loudly, the sound of impending change.
Baelfire carefully picks his way over the ruins of his village, his feet instinctively treading the path that no longer exists under the rubble. The house next to him smoulders, letting off thick black smoke to add to the dark smog now over the city. The flame inside crackles, barely visible now that it has been left to burn for a long time. The village around him lays in ruins, yet all this destruction and not one dead body is visible. Bay's feet crushes an object, alarmed he steps meekly off of it, worrying he had spoken too soon. He frowns at the grey helmet crumbling into silver dust. These helmets belong to Emma's Scouts (as people call them), lifeless entities that at her command destroy villagers - or at least, this is the story spread by the royals. Bay knew better, Emma had created them to search for her son, if he ever returned to the enchanted forest. Bay's eyes finally land on the hut that he had once shared with his father, the cowardly Rumpelstiltskin and his mother. This had been before his mother had decided she'd had enough of his father and tried to run away with a pirate, only to be stolen back and locked away in a castle. Bay looks sourly at the hut and the bad memories it came with, picking through the rubble his hands find something smooth and metal, after pulling it out he finds a small silver wire horse that his mother had made him for his 5th birthday. He had loves this horse, he smiles fondly.
"Strange to see a man smiling at the ruins of his home."
Bay startles at the sudden voice behind him. Emma stands a feet behind, donning a black dress that follows her curves, her long blonde hair tumbles down her half-exposed back. The dress glints a little in the sunlight, catching on the sequins. She looked both beautiful and deadly. The grey Ashe had already startled to settle on her hair, like grey snow, the whole effect had Bay sitting there stunned and at a loss for words. He then shakes his head to clear these thoughts, him and her could never happen.
"Strange to find the criminal back at the crime scene." He retorts, earning the ghost of a smile. They'd been in love once, but Emma had long shut her heart off from such things as love. She no longer felt for him. "I've found a way to get to our son, and strip your father of his power and control." Emma says this slowly and carefully, one small slip up could screw the deal. Bay hesitates momentarily, feeble hope rising in his chest. Yet he knew from his father that deals such as this always come with a price. "How?" He finally asks, her eyes fix on him debating, how far could she push him? "A curse will send us all to the realm where Henry is, and strip your father of his magic as well as me." He blinks and frowns.
"But I cannot save your mother. Merely put her out of her misery. The curse requires the heart of what you love most." Horror flashes over Bay's face, sharp and painful. Deep down he knew that this was probably for the best… Emma watches the emotions playing over his face, seeing their final destination before he himself could see it. He would consult his mother. With a flick of her wrist she disappears in a cloud of black smoke, leaving behind a silver glove and box. Bay stares at them, and picks them up gingerly, already knowing their uses. He decides that he must consult his mother.