This story is set post frozen storyline, but before the next adventure starts. So, Belle is still oblivious to Rumple's betrayal, Regina is still mayor, Henry hasn't discovered the empty books in the mansion, and Hook and Emma never went on a date. Regina agrees to help Emma sharpen her magic skills. A slight mishap traps our girls together until someone can come find them. Emma begins to realize she really is the key to break the curse, but not in the way she thought. Early chapters are rated K but later chapters will be rated M for sex between consenting females.

Chapter 1

Emma's long legs moved slower than Regina's as she trudged along behind the smaller woman. Regina agreed to help Emma hone in on her magic skills, but only if they did it away from the bustle of the town. She figured it was safer to keep Emma's amateur accidents out of the city limits. They decided on the large foyer of the abandoned mansion. It was far enough away from town, but also afforded some shelter since the cold Maine winter had settled into Storybrooke. Once in the great hall of the mansion, the two shucked their winter coats and rolled up their sleeves. Emma glanced at Regina as she fluffed her hair into a mirror hanging on the wall and checked her make up. Emma couldn't help but roll her eyes and grin. Damn woman was so vain. It was just the two of them there. Regina caught Emma's condescending smile through the reflection and gave her best evil queen glare. But it's effect was somehow lost on Emma, who just smiled bigger and shook her head as she turned away.

"So," Emma said as she rubbed her palms together in an attempt to warm them up. Although they were inside, the mansion had no heat, and a stinging chill was still in the air. "Where do we start?"

Regina turned and walked toward Emma until they were standing near the center of the room. "Well, I suppose we need to first determine how far along you actually are. Blindly blasting white energy at a snow monster isn't really an appropriate gauge."

Emma bit back the urge to scowl at the woman's infuriating ability to pick at her and swallowed her pride. "Okay," she said as she shrugged her shoulders. "How do we do that?"

Regina lifted her head high knowing she just got in a free jab. There was something about irritating the Savior that just amused her so. "We see if you are able to control your energy bursts, no matter where the threat is coming from." Regina took five big steps backward and readied herself. Emma don't know what was to come but spread her feet shoulder width apart and crouched slightly. Regina looked at her questioningly. Emma nodded to indicate she was ready and took a deep breath.

With that Regina thrust out her arm and flicked her wrist toward Emma as a bright purple ball of energy flung from Regina's palm, hurling toward Emma. Emma's eyes widened, and threw up her own arm, flinging out an equally bright white ball and intercepted the purple one when it was only a few feet away. Emma looked over at Regina in shock. Regina pursed her lips into a small smile, raised her eyebrows and cocked her head slightly in acknowledgment. But without warning she quickly flung another ball toward Emma, then another right after. Emma deftly deflected both shots. Her chest heaved with both adrenaline and excitement as she looked back at Regina, smile forming on her face. Regina simply smirked evilly, and Emma knew she was in trouble. Suddenly Regina was sending a barrage of purple energy balls toward Emma, some moving straight toward her, some curving around to the side and coming in at different angles.

"Shit," slipped out of Emma's mouth as she furiously flung back at the incoming magic. She was successful at deflecting most of them until one that Regina had sent around the side went unnoticed, and it struck Emma with a force strong enough so send her flying and skidding across the floor.

As Emma shook her head and moved to a sitting position on the floor, she felt Regina come walking over. Emma put her hand behind her neck and looked up at Regina, suddenly seeing what it must have been like to kneel before the queen. It was humiliating and degrading. And just a little bit arousing.
Regina felt bad for hurting the sheriff, but only let her look of concern show for a split second before crossing her arms over her waist. "Oops," she muttered as a smile pulled at her lips.
Emma chuckled and shook her head. "Yeah, oops." She smiled up at Regina, gazing into soft chocolate eyes. There was something there that Emma hadn't previously noticed. Normally the queen's eyes were cold or angry. What she saw this time was something bordering on...affection. Emma broke their gaze and pushed herself to her feet.
"Again?"
Regina nodded and slowly walked away.

They had been at it for about an hour, Regina lobbing energy at Emma, Emma countering with bright orbs of her own. Emma got hit a few more times, but it was obvious Regina had toned it down a bit. The energy was only enough to knock Emma off balance, not send her hurtling through space like the first time. Finally Emma was winded and had had enough of this particular game.

"All right, all right," Emma held up her palms in resignation, breaths heaving. "I yield. Lets say we take a break from that." She dropped her arms and walked over to Regina.

"Very well Savior, if you can't take any more of my onslaught," her tone was serious, but the teasing in her eyes and half grin have her away. Emma gave a half hearted scowl back before she too smiled.

"Well," Emma put her hands on her hips as her breathing recovered. "Lets try something else. Something less...taxing."

Regina pondered that for a moment. "Alright. You seem to be doing better at individually deflecting magic. Lets see if you can't use that to form a barrier."

"A barrier?" Emma inquired.

"Yes, a barrier," Regina looked at Emma like she had three heads. Did she really not know what a barrier was? Regina shook her head and raised her arms up, palms out. Emma couldn't help but notice the bottom of Regina's shirt pulled out of her slacks as the woman stretched, revealing just the slightest bit of smooth flesh underneith. Regina closed her eyes, and slowly purple lightening struck out the top and cascaded around the two women. The sheeting purple light settled along the wall of the room and across the ceiling and floors until they were completely encased. Regina opened her eyes and observed her work with a satisfied smile. She looked over at Emma who was grinning stupidly. "A barrier," Regina proclaimed.

"So what, this keeps people out?" Emma asked as she walked over to the closest wall. The magic hummed and sparked slightly as Emma reached up close, but never touched.

"Well, you certainly nailed the concept of what a barrier is," Regina spat sarcastically.

Emma rolled he eyes and slumped her shoulders a she turned to face Regina. "Regina, you know what I mean. I know what a barrier is, but what's so special about this one?"

Regina cocked her head. "It's magic," she replied, purposefully vague. She held back a snicker as she could feel the annoyance pouring out of Emma. God, she loved this game. Regina decided not to push the sheriff any further. She didn't want a full blown fight on her hands, just some playful banter. "It is a barrier to magic. As long as we are inside this wall, no magic can penetrate. We, in here can use magic, but outside magic won't affect anything in here or the integrity of the barrier itself." Emma nodded and pursed her lips in understanding. Regina closed her eyes again and raised her arms. The barrier slowly receded the way it had come, and disappeared back into the outstretched fingertips of the dark haired queen. Regina turned away from Emma as she tucked her shirt back in.

"It seems simple," Regina said, her back still to Emma. She didn't see Emma raise her arms. "But it's actually quite complicated." She didn't see Emma close her eyes. "You have to be very careful because if you don't know what you're doing you could-" it wasn't until Regina turned back around that she saw the white light cascading out of Emma's hands, much I'm the same way Regina had done it. Regina's eyes widened in shock. "Emma! No!" But it was too late. The white magic surrounded the room, and once encased, sent a blast at Emma, effectively knocking her to the ground again. Regina ran over to make sure Emma was alright. When she saw that the blonde was fine, Regina's anger took over. "You idiot! What do you think you're doing?!"

Emma shook the disorientation away for the second time that night and scrambled to her feet. "I was just doing what you showed me! Barrier spell, right?"

"I hadn't finished giving you instructions yet! I never told you to try casting it yet, you have to be careful! This spell could easily go wrong if you-" Regina stopped mid sentence, hoping that the worst that could happen didn't actually happen. She slowly looked up at the white magic surrounding her and stood upright. She swallowed hard as she opened her palm and attempted to form an energy ball. When nothing happened, Regina tried again, more vigorously than the first time.

"How come you didn't get thrown back like I did? Regina?" Emma became slightly alarmed when she saw the terrorizing look the queen was giving her.

"Because I didn't do it wrong," was all she said, blazing eyes never losing Emma's.
Emma swallowed hard, intimidated by both the intensity of Regina's stare and the implication of her statement.

"What-what do you mean? I did it wrong?"

Regina turned her body until it was fully facing Emma, stare never wavering. "If you had waited until I was done explaining, you would know that you have to bend the magic a certain way, or you'll trap yourself."

Now Emma was really nervous. "Trap? What do you mean, trap?"

Regina shook her head slightly. "You did it backwards. Now instead of being impenetrable by magic, everyone on the OUTSIDE can use magic, but no one on the INSIDE can," Regina spoke softly but firmly.
As realization started to hit Emma, she started to feel a bit dizzy. "Oh no."

Regina walked over to a small table in the corner of the room and leaned her weight on both palms. "Yes, uh oh. "

Regina's calmness was a bit disconcerting. Emma thought surely there were times Regina wanted to kill Emma, but this time she might really do it. "What does that mean? Regina?"

Regina turned slowly to face Emma. The anger was gone and replaced with dejection. "It means, Miss Swan, that we are trapped in here with no magic, no way to get out, and no way to send for help."