She sat on the ground, covered in dirt. She took a deep breath. It was over now.

But everything was gone. So much that she had needed was gone.

Regina stood up, her legs shaking. She looked at her hands, hot and charred from the spell. She could see the magic leaving. And she could feel it, too.

She looked out at the main street. It was filled with ash and dust, but the last of the smoke was clearing. The battle was over.

Emma was unconscious on the ground, several meters away. Still in her grip was the sword used to kill Cora. A spiral of sensations overcame Regina. She felt Emma's grip on her hand, tight and unmoving. She felt the soft, golden magic that she summoned to power herself and Emma. She felt the air move as Emma readied the sword, and she felt the dash of warmth and beauty as the golden light shot through the sword. She felt the relief and the horrible anguish of seeing her mother melt away into nothing.

That was when, completely drained of energy from the spell, she had fallen to the ground.

Regina stared at Emma's unmoving body. She looked peaceful, but Regina knew that there would never be peace inside her again. Regina wanted to run to Emma.

But she had to put this all past her. If she walked back now, she would not be able to get out again. Her eyes reddening, she gulped as she took in one last view of the small town. One last view of Emma. She turned around towards the town's exit.

She began to walk.

Emma woke up from her sleep to find herself in the middle of the main street of Storybrooke, right next to where Granny's used to be.

Henry was gone. He was ashes. Floating through the air somewhere close. It had been a week and it Emma still felt like she would be able to walk down the road to Regina's house and see him. And in that moment in which Henry was sent to dust by Cora's forces, the war had begun.

It was over now, but it didn't feel anything like a victory.

Emma noticed she was still holding her sword. Knocked out by the spell she had performed with Regina, she was still holding it, even as she woke.

And suddenly Emma's heart began to race as she remembered Regina. Emma looked around. She was not there.

Emma dropped the sword and ran.

She ran, her body completely exhausted, her legs weak and her throat rough and dry. She ran past the edge of town, down the only road she knew Regina could be on.

Finally, there was a figure. It was walking slowly, a shrouded silhouette front of the sinking sun in the horizon.

Emma called out to it. It continued to walk, but Emma kept running.

"Regina," Emma called once more. Perhaps it was just the harsh wind but her eyes were wet now.

As Regina turned around she tried smile. It was a smile full of anguish, of wet eyes and quivering lips. Emma walked up to her.

"You can't."

"I have to go, Emma."

"Why?" Emma pleaded. "Why do you have to go?"

"What is there left to keep me in Storybrooke, Emma? Everything is gone. Everyone else made it to my world. There's nothing left here for me. My m - Cora is gone. The war is over. Henry - he was the only one that could save me, Emma. I loved him so much. And he's gone, too. And so I have to go." Regina looked at Emma with weak, red eyes, tears leaking out. "That's all it is, Emma. I just have to go."

"Can't I save you?"

Regina looked downwards and her face was overcome by even more pain.

"I have to go on my own." She looked back up at Emma. She nodded her head to one side. "I'm sorry Emma, please, I have to save myself somehow."

"But it's not fair," Emma cried, tears trickling down her cheeks.

"Please, Emma," Regina pleaded, "just let me go. Just let me walk away. I have to do this. I have to."

"I can't."

Regina shook her head, her eyes closed, trying to ignore Emma's begging.

"I can't," Emma repeated.

"Emma, please."

Emma felt something strange at that moment. There was a realization as she looked up into Regina's eyes for that final time, a realization despite all her heart's wishes to have Regina be with her for ever long. She took a step closer to Regina, her mouth open and teeth clenched together.

"Can you please hold me?" She pleaded to Regina. Regina let out a sob and then, even though she had tried to resist, she was pulled in. She stepped to Emma.

The embrace was one of deep, unknown understanding. The magic was long gone but there was still a golden warmth. Emma wished it could last forever.

"Regina!" Emma called out.

She ran down the barren road, heart and lungs aching and stinging.

She ran until she could not run anymore.

And then she walked.

She walked until at very last she reached the highway. It was a great expansive place and she could see for miles in all directions.

There was no one.

So many thoughts and wishes were rushing through her head. She was supposed to find Regina. She was supposed to see her face. At least one last time.

She had to. It was supposed to happen.

She looked out into the distance and it was all she wanted. It was all she was picturing in her mind.

She looked out into the distance but there was no one there.