The battlefield was empty of survivors. The chain, crusted in blood and magic, slipped from her fingers, into the dirt. Regina collapsed, her knees hitting the hard dirt painfully before she crumpled over herself. This was it. After everything she'd been through, after every life she'd watched slip from her hands, she could finally let go and sleep.

"Is it over?" Regina gasped, turning to the voice. On the ground, Emma lay on her back, blinking through the blood in her eyes.

"Shouldn't you be dead?"

"Might, just." Looking down the shredded armor, Regina noticed the bloodied sword still fiercely clutched in her hands, shaking under her grip. Of course she's still alive, even after that last blow. Emma Swan was too stubborn to stay down and die.

However, it wouldn't be long now. Proving her right, Emma coughed, rolling her head to side as it tore through her. When the fit had subsided, she shut her eyes, breathing out slowly. Regina could hear the crackling in Emma's breath. It was hard to be angry with her, but she'd promised.

'Dammit Swan .'

Giving in, Regina crawled her way over, dragging her body that last three feet to the Savior on one arm. She, herself, was exhausted, and in pain to the verge of crying out, but Emma didn't need to know the extent of her damage. They'd both promised to make it back to Henry and Roland if the other couldn't.

It seemed both of them would fail this time.

Hissing, she grabbed her side. Regina could feel that there was a broken rib, or two. Her foot was fractured, and the growing dark bruise on her abdomen told her she had only a little while longer to live.

Somewhere, she was bleeding. Probably her right leg.

Pressing her forehead down onto Emma's shoulder, she breathed out, almost laughing at the situation. The woman had moments to live, but she still let one hand go from around the sword's hilt, and reached up to touch Regina's head, holding her steady.

"Did we win?" Emma asked her quietly, blinking up at the blue sky.

"It's over. We won."

"We did good, yeah?"

"We did."

Emma laughed, shutting her eyes as she finally relaxed her grip. Her hand slipped from Regina's head, falling down to beside her. "Good. Then...they're safe. Everyone is..."

"They are," Regina agreed, straining in effort as she reached over to clutch the fallen hand. "Emma, I'm sor-"

"Don't," Emma breathed out, squeezing her hand. Under any other circumstances it was a poor effort. To Regina, after this war, after everything Emma did in that that battle, it was extraordinary. More than anyone else would have managed. "I...still Miss...Swan...to you...Majesty."

Regina chuckled, rolling on her side to lay her herself against Emma's body. "Miss Swan, then. It was an honor."

"You're not...so bad either." Regina smiled, shutting her eyes as she listened to the daughter of her once-enemy breathe out her last breaths.

"Regina."

"No."

"Regina."

"Let me die," she rolled, burying her face away. "Just…" her hand reached out, sliding on the sword. She must have fallen asleep, because the sword was cold against her fingers, the blood dry.

"Regina!" Her eyes snapped open, turning to look up at the incessant buzzing wings, and the glimmering sky. No. That wasn't the sky.

"Seriously?" she asked. "I can't even die in peace without you coming here to gloat?"

The Blue Fairy kneeled down beside her, smiling at Regina with pity. It was always pity with her. Pity and bad timing. Regina groaned, shutting her eyes as she tried to lift her arm and push the fairy away.

"You're out of magic."

"It was worth a try."

"You don't have long, Regina."

"Then heal me or leave, bug."

"You're injuries are beyond my help. I'm sorry."

"No you're not." Regina breathed in sharply, blinking as she looked to her side, down Emma's body. The woman's chest had stopped moving. Great. She didn't want to see this, not after everything. She didn't need Emma's corpse the last thing she saw. The blonde hair matted with blood, her lips cracked and grey.

"Regina, I didn't come here to argue. There is something I can do, something else."

Opening her eyes again, she peered up as Blue blocked the sun with tiny frame. Her wand was held in her grip loosely, ironically highlighting her to look every inch the Fairy Queen, haloed by the sun's backlighting. "I get a wish?" Regina laughed bitterly. Ignoring the sharp pain as she rolled her head back. Her shoulders shook with laughter, rocketing pain through her chest. Beside her, Emma remained still. "It figures that the only time I get a wish is when I have minutes to see it work."

"It's your only wish. But after everything you've done, we're willing to break the Laws to make this wish count."

"What do you get out of it?"

"Pardon me?"

"Fairies don't grant wishes without getting something out of it. What do you get out of it?" When Blue hesitated, she rolled her eyes tiredly, curling up against herself. The move was painful, pushing against bruises. "I'm not making a wish."

Blue frowned at her. "You saved all the lands, Regina. You saved everyone."

"So did Emma, and she didn't start this. Where's her wish?"

"We don't blame you for that. It was an accident."

"It's always on the verge of death that people forgive past transgressions." Sighing, she focused on the annoying woman before her. "Still, of all people, I would have thought I would be very low on your list to thank. Maybe a shiny gold medal, a nice funeral pyre-"

"Regina! I'm offering you the chance at happiness, a chance to win and stop this all from happening." Regina went quiet, looking up at her. "The fairies are in agreement: we'll break the High Laws for you but you have to make a wish that counts. It has to be true, something that above all else, you want."

"You want me to make a wish? That's even more suspicious if you ask me."

"Don't be ridiculous. We don't want you to die without a chance."

Regina snorted. "A chance. Where was my chance when I was a little girl crying out for help?"

"Any wish," Blue deflected. "Whatever you want, we'll grant it. But you have to say it out loud. You have to tell me what you want."

Closing her eyes, Regina pressed her cheek against the still shoulder. All she wanted was to sleep. She wanted to be back home in bed, her arms wrapped around her family. But they were all gone. Dead is dead, not even fairy dust can bring back those who'd passed over. Not back to the way they were.

Blue pushed closer, leaning down to hover right over Regina. "You're tired, aren't you? You want this all to be over. But you're the Queen. You had a kingdom to rule, and before that, a chance at happiness, but it was all snatched away before you could truly have it. You can fix that."

"No."

"You can!"

"I can't. I can't do this. I can't fight." Blinking furiously, she looked up. Everything burned. But the anger she'd clung to had long turned to ash. She just wanted sleep now. "Please, I don't care anymore. Just...let me…"

"Do you not understand what I'm offering you?"

Regina sighed. "A wish."

"Against the High Laws. Do you know what the High Laws are Regina?"

"Yes."

Blue paused, her lips pursing. "What do you want, Regina? Do you want your family, a chance at a happy ending, to live?"

Regina laughed, Blue's words dripping over her like acid. "Oh please, you know exactly what I want, bug. Was there ever a little boy or girl who cried out for a wish that you didn't already know?"

"I know your wish, Regina. And I know how much and how long you've suffered, wanting it to happen. It ate you alive the moment your heart broke for Daniel. Here's your chance, Regina. Are you really going to give it up?"

Regina paused, studying the fairy carefully. "What trick are you pulling?"

"I won't make you ask for it. I can't. If you truly don't want it, then I will leave and grant someone else's wish. But if you do, if you want this more than death, then say the word, Regina and it's done. This will all be over."

Shutting her eyes, Regina felt the inner struggle pull over her, raging war until she finally gave in. "Okay," she whispered. "I'll make the wish."