Until the tenth sunset
Prologue
The dark clouds advancing at speed through the sky, tinting the forest with the color of the night. After two days of incessant walking, the female quartet decided to stop for a rest before continuing the search for the ashes of the closet, which was in the Cora's possession.
Snow, Aurora and Mulan slept while Emma, awake, was the lookout. Mulan had insisted to stay on guard, however, Emma knew how much the warrior was tired, and for this reason persisted in the idea of staying awake for first. Mulan didn't question too, since she was exhausted from two days of travel. So Emma had been with the first round of surveillance.
Yes, she was tired too. Yes, she wanted to sleep too.
But...
The thoughts that surrounded her mind prevented that sleep dominate her.
She was worried about Henry. When she would get back to see him? When she could hug him again? When she would look into the eyes of her son and say "I came back for you. I will not abandon you. Never again".
To return to her son, she could do anything.
Anything.
The Swan Princess closed her eyes, listening to the rustle of the forests' leaves.
Two days...
It had been two days that she, Snow, Aurora and Mulan traveled tirelessly. It had been two days since Emma managed to get the compass in the beanstalk. It had been two days since Emma abandoned Hook in the beanstalk.
Hook...
In the end, she had left him behind. For fear. For too afraid to trust and be deceived again. She had sympathized with the pirate, although she did not show it outwardly. And it was for this reason that she got off the beanstalk without him. She could not take a chance and discover that she was wrong about him. It was better to run away and leave it forgotten in a corner of memory.
Emma's eyes widened when her ears caught sounds of footsteps approaching from the camp.
Nimbly, glancing at the three women who slept, Emma stood upright and began looking for the place where the sound originated. Cautiously, she stepped forward, pulling from her pocket a silver knife that Mulan had given to her so she could defend herself.
Her thoughts flew to Hook.
Are those footsteps belonged to the pirate? He had crawled through her, looking for revenge? He would try to take her compass?
Instinctively, the free Emma's hand fell into the pocket of her tattered red jacket, her fingers pinching the compass in an act possessive and protective. No one would take it. Nobody would prevent her from returning to Storybrooke and Henry. Nobody.
Emma went further, determined to attack the invader that moved through the shadows of the trees.
"I know you're there, Hook! Give up!" She ordered quietly to the shadows, her hand holding the silver knife "I'm sorry for abandoned you, but I had my reasons. I will not deliver the compass. I need to get back to my son".
A wind aloof did Emma's hair swing, and she felt a chill climb for her spine.
"Sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not your charming pirate" a female voice expressed in a sarcastic tone behind her.
Emma turned nimbly. Her eyes expanded to denote Cora stop ahead. For a moment, her hand shook and she hesitated. She looked toward the mother and the two traveling companions sleeping. It was better to scream for help. Cora was a powerful and dangerous enemy.
"I would not this if I were you" Cora followed Emma's look, outlining a half smile "Waking them will only hinder the conversation I want to have with you".
"Go away, Cora" Emma ordered, pointing the knife towards the Queen of Hearts "I'm not going to give you the compass".
"You really want to fight with me?" The witch raised an eyebrow "You know you'll end up dying. And if you die... You will never return to your precious Henry. Poor child..." She sighed "He'll spend his whole life wondering what happened to his dear mother... So lonely...".
Swallowing, Emma dropped the knife.
"What you want, Cora?"
"Talk to you".
"I will not hand over the compass to you" Emma warned in a small voice "No matter what you tell me".
Cora smiled sarcastically. She advanced slowly, circling Emma.
"Maybe yes. Maybe not. Who knows?" The witch's hand touched the shoulder of Emma "Maybe you'll change your mind after listening me. I propose a... Deal.
Emma's eyes narrowed doubtful.
"A deal...? Who are you now? Rumplestilskin?"
"Oh, child, the Dark Lord is not the only one who can propose agreements" Cora laughed "And I guarantee you will be very interested in my proposal".
Emma's heartbeat sped up. She looked back toward Mary Margaret, thinking to call her.
"And why should I make deals with you?"
Cora joined her hands, widening a predator smile.
"Because this agreement can take you back to your son. Your beloved Henry".
Silence. Emma studied Regina's mother, oscillating between the urge to listen her and the wanted to stab her.
"Why should I trust you?"
"Because a deal is a deal. Especially those sealed with magic. They cannot be undone".
A cloud hid the full moon in the sky, making the forest plunge into total darkness.
"And what is your deal, Cora?"
"A challenge".
Emma arched an eyebrow. She didn't want to continue that conversation, however, Cora had told her that it could bring her back to Henry. And Emma could identify when a person was lying. And Cora wasn't.
"Challenge? What kind of challenge?"
"Hmm..." Cora looked up, as if it were a kind of psychological game "A challenge to be fulfilled until the tenth sunset, starting from tomorrow".
"And what do you want me to do?" She questioned breathing heavily.
Cora smirks, and Emma feared any idea what went through the witch's mind.
"This is the deal, sweet Emma: you have to make someone fall in love with you. You should get a true love's kiss until the sunset of the tenth day. If you win, I will give the ashes to you and I will give up to go back to Storybrooke".
Emma swallowed, the beating of her heart becoming more audible.
"And if I fail?"
"If you fail, you will hand me the compass. And..." Cora sighed, a macabre shine crossing her eyes "Your heart will belong to me".
The silence reigned.
Emma touched her chest, feeling her heart beating decided.
Ten days.
Ten days to get a true love's kiss, the most powerful magic of all.
If she could get it, she would have her son in her arms. David and Mary Margaret, or Charming and Snow, whatever, could be together again. Cora would not try to get in Storybrooke. Never more. Henry will be safe.
"Will you accept?"
Ten days.
In ten days, her life could return to normal.
"I... I don't know..." Emma stammered "How can I be sure that you aren't deceiving me?"
"I think you can tell if I'm lying or not. So, will accept my deal? Will embrace the unique chance to return to your beloved Henry? You will free him from the ghost of abandonment?"
Henry.
Henry lonely.
Henry abandoned.
The feeling when Neal abandoned her returned. The eternal feeling of having been abandoned by her parents filled the Swan girl. It was too bitter.
Emma squinted, the horrible agony growing inside her.
MaryMargaret...Mulan...Aurora... I'm sorry...But I need todo everythingin my power toget back tomy son. I can'tleave himagain.
The eyes opened.
She wondered nothing. She didn't hesitate.
For Henry.
"I agree".