"We have been going in circles, did Cora tell you anything helpful?" Emma breathes out.
"Nope, she is taunting us." Regina states.
David and Snow stand a meter away as if scared to interfere; Robin and Henry follow their example in no hurry to move forward. Gold however rushes through them to stand amongst the former evil queen and former savior/dark one.
"Well I for one am not waiting for something to come through this door! If I must be here then at least we can move onward quickly." Gold staggers out as he lifts his hands to blast through.
"What the hell!" He shouts. He looks confusingly at his hands, lift them and tries again, nothing.
"What is it Rumple? A simple door holding you back?" Regina utters. She lifts her hands to try but like Rumple nothing.
"I guess it's not just me then." Gold states.
"What seems to be the hold up?" David questions, Snow gives him a look that silences him.
"Magic doesn't work in this realm. Well not all magic, just common or 'possessive'" Emma quotes with her hands "magic. Only the magic of a 'god' or guardian will work." She states quietly as though nervous she has spoken at all.
"And how would you know this Miss Swan?" Gold inquirers.
Emma looks at her shoes, shrugs her shoulders and looks up, "I just do."
In that moment the door blast open and everyone turns around, startled to see Cora Mills smirking.
"She's right." She utters walking towards them as they make a path.
"And how do you know this Mother?"
"Oh me?" She points to herself, "Well I married one when I died, god that is, he made me part god to fulfill some duties." She states proudly.
"You're Hades new bride. He's been looking for one." States Emma.
Everyone looking back and forth at them confused as to how Emma attain her knowledge.
"And you" Cora says, pausing to look her in the eyes and turns towards the door, "shall we?"
"What?" Snow says with anger, "she what?"
Cora walks up to Snow looking her down then turns to Emma, "you're enchanted! The ring Hook gave you is enchanted for you to love him like you do another."
"I don't believe you!" Emma walks through the door.
"Oh you will soon enough."
Going through they see a nightmare, different realms mush together to create their biggest fears. Emma walks faster trying to isolate herself from the others.
"Emma where are you going? We must stick together, hun." Snow calls to her daughter with worry.
"I just need a moment to breathe and think before we continue… Please." She walks away, hand on the ring around her neck.
Henry ever so curious "so what are guardians?"
Cora laughs lightly at that "they are the only ones higher than gods, more authority. Gods are powerful, immortal but guardians are boundless, meant to protect any and all realms."
"So why are there no stories of them?"
"Well guardians are also selfless; they work in the shadows, so to speak, they don't take credit for their heroic deeds. Being married to a god means having to understand both since a god must obey a guardian even if that guardian has been a mere mortal for twenty years. Well only one that I know of who has that kind of story and still they must obey them."
"Why?" Henry ask.
"Henry enough." Rumples mutters.
"No it's alright, he is the author, he should know. You all should know."
Regina stares at her mother, wondering what and why this is of importance to them.
"Time is different for a guardian and about twenty years ago lived one, and but their time for you would be two weeks was maybe a century for them and certain reams. They created a golden age in the realm they landed in, and sought as sole ruler. Then they became a guardian, in their time they aligned the gods and guardians and created a council of guardians for all the realms. They say they became their leader, although they preferred to be seen as an equal. They were an orphan and their last home was the worst, lived months with the Lions and bares the mark of all three of them, the lion, the witch and their son. That was how they entered through their first portal on their journey, stumbled into one really. "
"Narnia?" Henry asks.
"Yes Narnia."
Everyone so engross in the story not realizing Emma standing behind them, hands shaking as she clues in to the story.
"They defeated the lions alone, in the land without magic. When they returned they had to burn all evidence of a portal, of the house, only keeping the memories of Narnia and other realms as dreams to help them with the nightmares of their reality. Apparently a couple of years ago their memories were restored as more than just dreams."
"Why erase them?" Regina intrigue.
"It's said there was a mission back in their world."
"He was a prophet?" Rumple questions.
Cora nods her head and continues "They kept the memories of the land they grew up in, months of being tortured by the lions in ways that make you wonder how they survived. They were beaten, flogged and electrocuted, only orphan to survive by all three; they took out two of their bones by electrocuting them."
"Why?" Rumple mutters, "wait two? as in?"
"Wings. Yeah, that is why they wanted to break em, but they couldn't, not really, though the son was really close, it's said he was the worst. He would…."
"Enough!" Emma shouts calmly, "I'm sure the details are damaging, the guardian would not want anyone to know. You properly shouldn't."
"You're right." Cora says looking down.
"Well lets go, we wasted enough time." Emma says walking pass.
Minutes pass walking through a narrow pathway, walking in twos, Regina nervous at Emma's side, worrying for her friend.
"Emma…What was that back there?"
"Nothing, I just don't like that story." Emma responds sharply. "Besides we are here to save Killian, that story will not help with that."
"You were barely paying attention, what about it has you panic, and don't try lying to me."
Emma stops and looks at Regina, she looks behind them to see how much space is between them and the others and leans in to whisper.
"I grew up an orphan in the land without magic, know a thing or two about the story I rather not discuss."
"Emma if you know something," Regina pauses "at least tell me why this story is of importance. My mother wouldn't have bought it up otherwise, she always has a reason for things." She signs.
"I wouldn't know. Maybe the witches prophecy of the 'bearers' curse through deception of enchantment was real after all." Emma whispers almost unheard by Regina.
"What? She never mentioned a curse."
"Nothing, please just give me a minute." Emma says as she walks away.
"Emma!" The former queen shouts, worry clear in her eyes.
"Let her go Regina, maybe she's realizing this is a waste of time." Robin says as he reaches for her hands.
"More like a waste of a life." Cora mutters. Everyone turns to look at her. "What! If she gives her heart to the pirate she'll die."
"Let me guess, it's because love is weakness?" Regina says with a bite.
Cora laughs, "No child, haven't any of you been listening? The ring is enchanted to make her love him like she loves another, she doesn't love him. And only few people in all the realms have been able to perform that spell. Unless it's broken it will drain her." She says seriously.
"And why should we trust you? Why would you care?" David shouts.
"I have my heart now, and besides both Hades and I believe that the enchantment must be broken, she can't…" A male voice interrupts their ears before a man appears,
"What my wife is saying is that helping your daughter defeat 'this' death is the least we can do in this matter." Realizing who it is all precede to bow accept Emma.
"The least? Why would it matter?" Rumble inquires.
"Not of your concern." Hades shouts.
"Why are you interfering?" Emma utters as she moves closer "You can't interfere unless it's of high importance and your presents is demanded."
"It appears it is. Please," he draws his hand leading to another hallway "walk with me, I shall explain everything." He lowers his head in respect and she walks in said direction, speaking to her family before disappearing from view.
"I will back shortly." She glances at Henry then Regina before exiting.