They had been walking through the jungle for what seemed like hours, at least to Emma. It was hot, steamy, and raining. "So much for the rain being refreshing," thought Emma as she picked her way through the dense foliage. Regina had conjured a barrier around herself and was for the most part dry. Emma's magic had fizzled and died with her sinking mood. The former queen who was quietly stewing offered her no protection from the elements. Emma knew this was her fault. Regina had told her more than once; magic was not a toy to be played with frivolously. Beyond emotion, exactitude and attention were of the utmost importance.
"Can we stop now," Emma asked pathetically.
"No, Miss. Swan, we cannot stop," huffed Regina. "Two things need to happen right now. One, you need to figure out what you did, and two, we need to figure out where we are. Has either of those things happened?"
"No," Emma sulked.
Emma wanted to tell her that she was hungry, but her stomach made that point clear as it audibly growled. Regina had already slapped delicious looking fruit out of her hand informing her it was poisonous. She also informed Emma she would have known it was poison if she had read Botanical Magicks; a book she was given to study three months ago. Regina paused to speak to Emma, once again, but whatever barb she had in store quickly died away as she looked at her companion. Emma looked like a half drowned kitten, her sweat slicked hair hanging limply around her head. Her once white tank now had streaks of dirt and a tear at her hip where a scratch sluggishly wept blood. Emma cringed ready to accept whatever reproach Regina was about to give.
Regina let out an exasperated sigh, "Let's go; I think I hear water." She grasped Emma's hand and began to gently pull her along.
2 Hours Earlier…
She had done it! Emma had teleported herself to Regina's home. Well, more or less to Regina's, five houses away still counted. She couldn't wait to tell Regina, she had made it across Storybrooke with no mishaps. Emma could imagine wiping that know-it-all look of the former queen's face. She had been meeting Regina three times a week for magic lessons, for the past six months. Their routine was like clockwork at this point. Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday they met for lessons, followed by dinner with Henry.
Teleporting was the first thing she wanted to learn and Emma had asked Regina to teach it to her the first day. Regina told her she would learn to teleport in time. For the past six months Emma harrumphed through protection spells, grumbled over levitation spells, nearly blew up half of Storybrooke learning minor potions. Regina hadn't been particularly pleased with her that day. She told Emma baby Neal could've done a better job, and she wouldn't have needed to rebuild the back half of her home. After that incident, Regina then moved their lessons to a magical red schoolhouse in the woods, far enough to keep the residents of Storybrooke safe. Emma complained about the little red schoolhouse in the woods. She asked Regina to make it look more badass. She told Regina it looked like she was going to kindergarten, to which Regina said, "Good that's the look I was going for."
Two weeks ago Regina informed her they would begin the basics of teleporting Emma practically vibrated with happiness. She had to calm herself after flowers began spontaneously blooming everywhere. However, she was then further disappointed when she discovered Teleporting 101, did not mean she would be teleporting. The basics of teleporting first involved conjuring items in the same room, then items not in same room and then progressed to conjuring items located across town. Finally, when they had moved to physically teleporting, to Emma's dismay, it was only for short distances. Each time Emma tried to push further and faster Regina reined her in. She had told Emma once she became more attentive to what she was doing, she would be able to go further. As it stood, Regina didn't want to be responsible for the Savior materializing in a brick wall.
Emma sauntered up to 108 Mifflin, and entered without knocking. Regina exited her study, purse in hand.
"Hey, Regina, guess who teleported here from the Sheriff's Office," Emma crowed.
"I don't know, baby Neal?" Regina quipped.
"Ha, ha, no. I did. I did it! You were wrong. I teleported from across town, to your house. And I didn't end up in a wall like you said I would. So how do you like them apples," Emma smugly stated.
"That is quite impressive Emma. So you appeared precisely at my front door?"
"Well, not precisely," Emma stated.
"Oh, just inside the gate then," Regina asked.
"Not exactly," Emma hedged
"On the sidewalk?"
"Maybe a little further."
"Across the street?"
Emma shrugged and shook her head.
"Miss. Swan, could you even see my home when you materialized?"
"Of course I could," Emma indignantly huffed. "I could probably see your house from space."
"Just how far away did you appear?"
"Five houses down," Emma grumbled."
Regina shook her head, and tiredly looked at Emma.
"Then you did not teleport here, Miss Swan. I have already told you not to venture beyond a mile. Have I not? Yet you refuse to pay any heed to my instruction. It seems I should tell you the opposite of what I would like you do for you to do what you should."
"But I can do it! I just…"
"Enough!" Regina barked. "I can not teach you if you will not listen. What has to happen for you to understand the gravity of what I am trying to teach you? I have had enough for today. Good day, Miss. Swan. Please show yourself out."
"But wait," Emma exclaimed. As she grasped Regina's arm they both vanished in a puff of white smoke.