The Heart of a Swan

When Emma Swan falls through the portal to the Enchanted Forest she is all alone. Her struggle to get home takes longer than she anticipates and she finds herself in the company of a pirate, Captain Hook. But something is different about her. She isn't the same person as she was in Storybrooke. When the two worlds collide unexpectedly they soon learn the truth and fight to get her back and save Henry.

Emma Swan opens her eyes and starts to cry with joy. Sitting in front of her, alive and well, was Henry. She had thought she lost him after everything. There is a commotion of voices behind her as the people start to remember who they are. They all sound relieved and a little frightened, but Emma doesn't care. All she cares about is her son.

Henry wraps his arms around her neck, "You did it! You woke me up and you broke the curse. I told you."

Emma laughs into his hair, "I should have believed you, kid." She sighs and pulls back to cup his face between her hands, "I thought I lost you. I am so sorry."

Henry shakes his head, "its okay. You believe me now. That is all that matters."

Emma grins and glances out the window. Her smile fades and her eyes widen as she sees the purple smoke heading their way, "What the hell is that?"

Henry jumps up and looks out the window, "I don't know. Something bad I think"

Emma grabs him and pulls him close. She closes her eyes as the smoke crashes into them. It felt heavy and for a second it was hard for them to breathe. The smoke slowly starts to fade and is soon gone. Emma looks around to make sure everything is ok and takes Henry's hand.

She starts to move towards the doors, "We need to figure out what the hell is going on here."

They walk into the street and see a group of people surrounding Snow and David. Emma stops silently behind them when Snow says, "Right now, I am going to find my daughter."

Emma closes her eyes for a second, "So it's true."

Snow spins around and smiles. She walks closer and puts both hands on Emma's face then hugs her, "You found us."

David slowly walks towards them and reaches out to touch Emma's hair and falls into the hug as well with tears in his eyes. Emma didn't know what to do or what to say. She knew she should feel happy, but this was not what she had expected. Her parents were from a fairy tale that she read when she was a child.

Henry breaks into her thoughts, "Grandpa?"

They break apart laughing and David pulls Henry to his side, "I suppose so."

Leroy speaks out, "What do we do now?"

Emma shrugs, "I don't know, but I have a feeling I know who to talk to. Mr. Gold."

Snow nods, "Ok, but what about this." She motions between herself and Emma, "Shouldn't we talk about…about everything."

Emma shakes her head, "No, not yet. We can do that later with a glass of wine or bottles. I need to find out why Mr. Gold double crossed me. I need answers from him."

They see a crowd of people run out of an alley and towards…something. Emma wasn't sure what. Archie runs up to them, "They are going after Regina. They are gonna kill her. We have to stop them."

Leroy scoffs, "Can we watch instead?"

Henry yells, "NO! She is still my mom."

Emma looks at the crowd of people standing behind her, "He is right. We can't let them hurt her."

Regina sits in her cell an hour later looking at the mark on her hand. How had all of this happened? She had won. The curse had done what she wanted it to do. Separated Snow from her true love. And then Emma came around and everything went to hell. Now she was stuck in this stupid cell and something horrible was after her. Something no one could ever escape.

The lights start to flicker and Regina stands up slowly walking towards the door, "Hello? Is anyone out there?"

She jumps back as the wraith flies menacingly toward her and starts to suck out her soul. David runs in and yells, "Hey!" And throws a chair at it.

The wraith stops what it is doing and turns to fling the chair and David away. It then waves its hands at the desk making it slide towards him and turns back to finish its task. Snow finds an aerosol can and lighter and walks over to the wraith, "It's my turn."

She sprays the can at the lit lighter and flame flies towards the wraith. The wraith flies away from the flame and out the window and they all sigh with relief. Snow looks at Regina, "Did I…?"

She laughs sarcastically, "Kill it? No, it went off to regenerate. But it will be back."

David scowls, "Then let it. It's not after us, it's after you."

Snow's eyes widen, "David!"

David shrugs, "Once it gets her we are safe."

Emma shakes her head, "No. I promised Henry that I wouldn't let anything bad happen to her."

Regina smiles slightly, "He really asked you to keep me safe?"

Emma nods and David sighs, "Fine. How else do we get rid of it?"

Regina looks at the mark on her hand, "There is no way. Unless…we send it through a portal."

Emma bites her lip, "Where the hell are we going to get one of those."

Regina grins, "I have Jefferson's hat. And now that magic is back…"

Snow sighs, "Ok, lead the way."

Emma watches as Regina tries to make the hat work for the fifth time but nothing happens. She hears the wraith and the doors bang open. Emma watches as David swings at it with the broom that he was using as a torch. Snow is busy pouring alcohol on the banister.

Emma looks down at Regina, "You better hurry!"

Regina twirls the hat angrily, "I am trying! It isn't working. Magic is different here."

Emma watches the flames burst up and jumps back, "We don't have time for this! We need that portal! NOW!"

Regina scowls up at her, "What do you think I am trying to do?! Something is wrong!"

Emma kneels down and touches her arm. She opens her mouth to say something but the hat opens up into a portal and Regina gapes at her. David swings this torch at the wraith and it is sucked into the portal, but before it falls completely through it reaches out. Emma sees this and pushes Regina out of the way. The wraith grabs her ankle and she falls through with it.

The last thing she hears is Snow and David yelling, "NO!" and everything else turns black.

Snow tries to jump in the portal, but is too late. The hat closes and all she manages to do is ruin it. She kneels down screaming and crying. She just got her daughter back and now…She didn't know if she would ever be able to see her again. David jumps over the banister and kneels next to his wife. She falls into his arms and he looks at the hat.

Snow looks up at Regina, "Where is she?"

Regina shakes her head, "I don't know."

Snow stands up and walks towards Regina, "Where the hell did you send my daughter?!"

Regina glares at her, "I told you I didn't know!"

David grabs Snow, "Snow, don't. We will get her back. There has to be a way."

Snow pushes him away, "You planned this didn't you? You wanted to get rid of Emma and now you have."

Regina shakes her head, "I didn't do anything!" She pushes her hands out and both Snow and David fly against the wall, "You can blame me all you want, but I did nothing. It isn't my fault your daughter pushed me out of the way." She smiles and branches come out of the wall cutting off their breathing, "But now that I have my powers I can finally get rid of YOU!"

Henry runs in, "Mom? What are you doing?"

Regina turns to him and the branches let go, "Henry? What are you doing here?"

Ruby runs over to Snow and David making sure they are ok. Henry looks around, "Where is Emma?"

Regina smiles sadly, "She went through the portal. I don't know where she is. I am so sorry."

Henry pushes her away, "No you are not. You really are the evil queen! I never want to see you again! Stay away from me!"

Regina gasps, "But Henry…where will you stay?"

David stands up, "With us. Let's go."

They walk out and leave a crying Regina behind.

Emma wakes up in the dirt. She slowly sits up, touching the back of her head. She was in some sort of dimly lit cave. She stands up and looks around. There was no way out. She leans against the wall and sighs. Where the hell is she? She thinks of Henry. Was he ok? She needs to get back to him.

A noise from the other side of the cave startles her, "Who is there?"

A woman with brown hair steps out and smiles, "No need to be afraid. My name is Cora. I can help you."

Emma steps forward, "Why are you down here?"

Cora shrugs, "I am being punished for the crimes of my daughter. She caused the curse that ravaged this land."

Emma gasps, "Regina…"

Cora nods, "So you have met her. Trust me; the apple has fallen far from the tree."

Emma frowns, "What is it with your family and apples?" She shakes her head at Cora's confused look, "Never mind. I need to get back to Storybrooke for my son, Henry."

Cora smiles, "I can help you. I need to get there myself and if you let me I have a plan that will free us."

Emma grins, "Then you have yourself a deal. One problem. How do we get out of here?"

Cora holds up her hands, "Magic."

Emma tilts her head, questioningly, "If you have magic, why haven't you escaped?"

Cora sighs, "There is a lot you don't know yet. Don't worry, I will let you in on all my little secrets soon enough. First you must tell me your name."

Emma smiles, "Emma Swan."

Emma didn't trust this woman, but she would do anything to get back home. If that meant becoming allies with Regina's mother, so be it. When the time came she would find a way to get rid of the woman. Until then she was willing to do anything and everything she needs to do. Emma listens as Cora tells her the plan.

A/N: The beginning is very similar to the show with a few exception, but from here on out everything is going to be different. Emma is in the Enchanted Forest all by herself and with Cora as an ally. Uh oh bad things are sure to happen, but that is for later because the next chapter is going to skip ahead a couple years. Yes, years. Don't worry you will find out what happened to Emma while she was with Cora all in due time. I only tell you this as a warning so next chapter you aren't freaking out wondering if I have lost my mind.

Anyways, I hope that you enjoy this new story. It is kind of a slow start, but it will get better. I already have lots of plans for it. It is hard to start a story. Especially when i already know what i want to happen in the middle of it. My brain sometimes thinks ahead of time instead of at the beginning. I will try to get another chapter out within a week so please be patient. :)

Review and tell me what you think and what you are looking forward to or hoping to see.

XOXO