A Place with No Name
Chapter1
She hit the woodland floor with such force that it knocked the breath from her. Curling up into a wheezing ball, she hugged her knees to her chest. After several long seconds of gagging, her breathing and heart rate starting to slow to a more manageable level. Now that the immediate need to breath had passed, she could focus on her surroundings.
She became aware of the nettles beneath her right cheek, the damp sticking of leaves against her throat. Pressing against the cool, wet earth, she tried to sit up amongst the moss-covered undergrowth. Blinking against the bright spots of light that filtered down from the thick treetop, she tried to get her bearings.
Emma tried to focus, to sort the jumble of threadbare memories that filled her mind. The last thing she remembered…
Gold stood across from her, his face blood stained and exhausted. He reached forward over the glass-topped counter, taking her trembling, pale fingers.
"I can only save one of you and Snow has made her choice."
The Savior blinked at him in confusion. Storybrooke was filling with fire and death around them and Emma had come here to simply take Henry and run. It wasn't the noblest of intentions, but one that would surely save her little boy. The last of her family. The last of Regina.
"Mary Margaret is dead, Gold. I'm just here for Henry."
For the first time since she had met the wicked imp, he looked truly sorry. "She made this bargain a long time ago dearie. And I always honor my bargains."
Pain exploded in bright, beautiful swirls as the world was torn away. The pawnshop crumbled around them, debris flying around them in manic bursts of color. She tried to pull her hands free, to shield her face and eyes from the newly freed projectiles. But Rumple held on even tighter, his nails cutting crescent moon shapes into her palms.
And suddenly all she could think of was Regina. She had been brave in the end, shielding Henry with her hands and body as smoldering brickwork rained down. Emma could still hear his screams as he watched the life fade from rich brown eyes, clinging to his mother as Emma tried to pull him away. The sheriff had reached them far too late to be anything other than a witness.
In those last moments something heart wrenching had passed between them. Unspoken, but wonderful if it had happened anywhere but in that instant. Emma had held the dying woman close, whispering into matted hair as Regina choked. In that last second between life and whatever lay beyond it, the Sheriff had kissed the brunette goodbye. The Mayor had sighed softly, breath escaping into Emma's parted lips.
Raising her green eyes to the brunette's, nothing stared back. Regina's face was eerily still; the eyes filled only with unshed tears.
1-1-1
She stared down at her hands. Blood still clung to her nails, Regina's blood. Emma lifted her arms to take in her clothes, realizing that she was covered in burns, blood and tears. Nothing was making chronological sense, but she was struck with the sudden, pressing need to find Henry. Heaving herself onto unsteady feet, Emma tried to stand. Vertigo and nausea greeted her, giving her only an instant before she fell to her knees retching.
The blonde called weakly for her son. Her voice echoed off the lonely pines, drowning out after only a few feet. The sunlight was starting to dim, heralding the night. Frustration made her eyes prick with unshed tears. She had escaped the final moments of Storybrooke's end, only to be flung away from her son, to another, strange realm.
It took her hours to get free of the trees, crawling slowly as her strength returned. Darkness pulled at her surroundings, bathing it in inky black. As she stumbled from the closely-knit tree line, she stumbled into a deserted road. Light, artificial light, bloomed in the distance in an orange tinted dome. A town, or something similar beckoned.
Emma sighed, her battered body begging for sleep.
Instead, she walked on into the night. She was the savior after all.
1-1-1
Her eyes opened and she was instantly filled with dread. Another day had dawned, another lifetime in her self-made hell. Coming to this world was meant to be her salvation, her happy ending. Instead, she had spent the last six months wondering what had gone wrong with Rumple's curse. Claustrophobia was starting to cling to her every thought, smothering in its intensity.
She rolled over, her gaze finding the gray-lit windows. Regina had a fairly busy day ahead of her. Every day was fairly busy, but with no true challenge, it was nothing more than a way to fill the endless hours. The infinite days. She closed her eyes tightly, willing her thoughts to settle, to smooth out into something resembling sanity. Happy or not, at least she had her victory over Snow. A small comfort, but one that still sparked a pleasant tingle in her gut.
Sliding out of bed, the brunette made her way slowly to the massive walk-in closet that dominated her bedroom. Regina opened the too-white doors to reveal rows upon rows of darkly colored skirts and blouses. Muted grays and black littered every inch of her closet. They suddenly struck her as looking like darkened, stained ghosts. The brunette's hands fell away from the doorknobs, dread filling her stomach.
Frustration sparked into a bright rage. With a scream, she lunged forward to tear the clothes form their hangers, throwing them into the plush cream carpeting. Clawing and kicking, she tore apart the shoe racks, wood splintering. The tortured metal hangars bit into her hands and arms, drawing blood. The rails came away with screeches.
Finally, Regina was spent, her anger receding, but not completely. Several long, cruel minutes passed as she sat, legs folded beneath her gasping frame, fighting back new tears. She would never have her happy ending, and instead, she would be stuck living the same day, the same life, and in the same prison day after day.
1-1-1
Storybrooke was much the same, however small differences tugged at her. The sign above the tool shop was too new, the familiar chips and cracks were gone. The faded letters were bright and sharp in the morning sun. Smooth and sparkling, Main Street was devoid of the potholes and crevices that the last harsh winter had brought. Snow was a fantastic leader, but bureaucracy was not her strong point. Bits and pieces had fallen through the cracks, something Regina had never allowed.
But all that was gone. Everything was…new. And it was whole. None of the destruction she had witnessed only hours before marred the picturesque town. Granny's stood tall and well kept. The Sheriff's station was eerily still, as Emma could just make out the wild west style sign that stood proudly in front.
The town's lone gas station was to her left, and the Sheriff slunk towards it. Walking into town bloodied and filthy was only going to bring questions, particularly from her parents. Her parents. Emma froze at the thought of Mary Margaret, seeing David cling to her as they were both taken by the fire that had erupted from the town's library. Glass had swirled around them like some beautiful tornado as the magical furnace roared.
She staggered closer to the deserted gas pumps. The blonde was starting to lose her concentration again. Emma jogged around the wooden structure, sliding along outer walls before finding the public restrooms. Looking around to make sure no one was watching, she lifted her foot to kick hard at the locked door. The handle came away with a muffled pop.
Slipping inside, her nose wrinkled at the smell only public toilets could produce. It took her several seconds to face the mirror. The reflection staring back at her was unrecognizable. Blood matted her hairline, turning the blonde locks a deep maroon. Swollen and purple, her left eye had starting to bruise brightly, the darkened skin inching down into her cheek. Soot clung to her eyelashes and eyebrows, turning them white. But it was her eyes that stood out. They looked haunted and exhausted.
Emma turned on the sink, lowering her battered and blistered hands to the cool stream of water. It was bliss. Lifting the liquid to her face, the blonde took long minutes to wash her numb features. The water came back bloodied and streaked with black shades of grime. Her teeth ached as her hands moved over her mouth, her jaw sore in a way that made her wonder if she hadn't cracked a crown.
Looking up, she tried to stifle the need to flinch. Dirt had actually hidden away the worst of her injuries. She looked away, trying not to remember exactly how she had come by them…
Fire filled the sky, embers swirling as the surrounding buildings took light. Sheriff Swan tried not to focus too hard on the screams. If she did, she'd be able to pick out the voices of her friends, her family, and Cora's army. She wanted to careen out into the night, to save what was left of her adopted town. Instead, she turned back towards the tragedy unfolding in what was left of Granny's diner.
Four of Cora's guards stood between her and her parents, the four men flanking Regina's terrified son. She felt more than saw Storybrooke's Mayor behind her, the brunette radiating magic in a way that made Emma's heart hammer in fear. The blonde knew it was only a matter of seconds before the Evil Queen destroyed absolutely everything in sight, taking her son and walking away from whatever mangled flesh and stone remained.
Green eyes tracked her parents wearily as Snow slid forward, her face hardened in a quiet anger that Mary Margaret had never possessed. Emma was still struck by how different this version of her mother was from the mild-mannered best friend she had lived with for so many months. Sword lifted at shoulder height, the blade blinding in the fire-lit dimness around them. Fierce.
And in an instant, the room exploded in motion. David thrust forward, his body lengthening smoothly as his weight followed the gleaming steel. His wife was nothing more than a blur of motion as two of the guards disappeared into a bloody pile of armor. The guards for their part were far too slow in their reaction, their gestures clumsy and sluggish. Heavy armor held them back, useless in close combat such as this.
The one closest to the Sheriff swung at her in a shaky arch, his sword skimming along her leather jacket, tearing fabric and skin. Emma continued to propel herself forward, the barstool she somehow found in her too pale hands connecting with his faceplate. Pain vibrated up into her arms as the armor gave way, the guard sagging uselessly.
Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Regina plunge purple stained hands into the sole remaining soldier, something that looked a lot like hateful glee disfiguring the brunette's features. Henry eyes bugged at the sight, his mouth slackened in horror. Gathering him up tightly, the breath escaping him in a painful gust, Emma turned them away from the Mayor's now gargling victim. Their eyes caught, a darkened understanding passing between them.
Emma couldn't stop herself from shivering, a sickly sweet sensation tickling her libido. She clamped down on the bright spark of need. Regina was achingly beautiful even in cruelty. And not for the first time, the sheriff found herself wanting anything and everything those dark eyes promised.
Looking around frantically, the blonde tried to shield the young boy from the growing fire spreading along the red leather booths. Following the long, straight line of tables, she froze as she caught sight of her mother. Henry whimpered as her fingers tightened, knotting into his thin sweatshirt. Charming was on his knees as Snow stared vacantly into the restaurants charred ceiling. A shortened axe was buried deep inside her chest, its double-headed blade almost disappearing between the brunette's delicate ribs.
Emma's knees almost gave way, shock punching her square in the stomach. It took several; precious seconds for her to tear her eyes away. David was already coming apart, his breath coming in agonized gasps. The sound tore at her heart, picking apart what little love she had found in Storybrooke.
She went back to searching, pleading with the fates for a way to get her son and maybe what was left of her family, to safety. Weak light filtered in through the wide windows that flanked the swinging double doors that led out into the war torn street. The doors themselves were actively melting, the heat warping the corrugated metal with ease.
Taking a deep, settling breath, Emma lifted Henry's trembling body. She wanted to reassure him, to let him know that all of this would simply fade away into the coming dawn. It would have been a lie. Instead, all she could offer him was a few moments of safety at the expense of his sanity. She stole a quiet kiss, brushing his hair with soft lips.
Pain flared in her aching shoulders as she chucked the trembling boy through the window, the glass exploding out into the street. Regina screamed something, her voice rough with worry as the brunette launched herself after her son. The Savior started to follow, but staggered to a clumsy halt. She turned back slowly. Charming still sat cradling Mary Margaret, his eyes never leaving the woman he had spent almost his entire adult life finding.
"David."
He didn't move. She swallowed against the painful lump lodged in the back of her throat. She tried again.
"Dad."
He finally looked up, his face awash in devastation.
"Go. I can't be without her." David looked around, tracking the smoke and dancing flames that were quickly filling the small store. He looked back at his daughter, trying to muster a reassuring smile.
"I'm not strong enough without her." He bent down to kiss his wife's head, burying his nose in brunette locks. His muffled voice barely reached her. "I'm sorry."
Emma turned away as tears threatened. Anger had started to replace her overwhelming sense of loss. She had lost one parent through violence and another through an unwillingness to go on. The blonde wasn't sure she wouldn't end up hating the man if only for the fact that she'd eventually need to tell Henry that his grandfather had merely given up.
Throwing herself through the shattered window, Emma flew from the fire-filled restaurant. Glass nicked at her hair and hands. She landed with a crunch, feet sliding along the slivers of debris. Regina had already helped Henry to his feet; her hands brushing over him, knocking free glass and still-glowing embers. The brunette pulled the boy close, hugging him tightly to her as she kissed the crown of her head. Her lips resting on the same spot Emma's mouth had graced only minutes before.
They looked up as the Sheriff walked towards them. The Mayor glanced behind her, eyes scanning for Charming, finding only the ruined carcass of a building. Henry's voice was soft and scared.
"Where's Gramps?"
Emma locked eyes with Regina as she answered.
"He'll catch up with us later." Something unspoken passed between them as the Mayor shook her head in angry disbelief. The brunette had never pegged the shepherd for a coward.
Henry looked between them before nodding slowly. He knew better, but had seen too much already. The young boy merely burrowed into the blonde's jacket as he tried to shy away from the world around them. Regina slid closer, hesitantly wrapping her arms around Emma's waist to hug their son between their blissfully warm bodies. Curious green eyes trailed over the brunette's closed face, aching to decipher this oddly timed gesture of affection.
But as always, it was probably for Henry.
After a few, hard won seconds, they made a beeline for Town Hall where whatever was left of Storybrooke's citizens were gathering. The small family never made it. As they crossed Main Street, jogging passed the now crumbling hardware store, a gas main exploded. The concussive force swatted Emma into the side of the Post Office, debris pummeling her as she felt the brickwork beneath her give way.
She lay dazed for several minutes, burning bits of Storybrooke raining consistently. Ash was starting to cover her like freshly fallen snow, hiding away the worst of the bloody mess her body had turned into. The distinct sound of tearing metal made her scramble weakly. What had once been a fire escape came sliding down the side of the building behind her.
Emma closed her eyes tightly, lifting her hands in a feeble attempt to protect her grime covered face.
It seared into the meaty part of her hands, giving off the faint scent of roast pork. The Sheriff tried not to gag as her mouth watered automatically in response. She shoved at the grating, fighting and struggling against the weight of it. It took her far too long to get out from beneath it. She tried not to focus too much on her blistered white hands as she crawled from through the wreckage and back towards the street.
After several tries, the blonde came onto her feet, teetering and unsteady. Green eyes tracked along the broken road, biting back panic as she searched for Regina and their son. It was the sound of Henry screaming that drew her up the street. Her legs wanted to buckle painfully, but she pushed on, desperate.
She would never forget his face. Every time she closed her eyes, from this day to her last, she would see his face pulled tight with screaming. His hands, his thin, finely boned fingers bloodstained, cupping his mother's face. Regina kept trying to slide up and onto her elbows, but her upper body kept collapsing back onto the frightened boy beneath her.
The blonde sheriff limped faster, an eternity passing before she came to them.
Emma pulled the struggling brunette off their son, her body screaming at the added weight. She turned the Mayor over, pulling her into a cruelly intimate embrace. Regina's eyes were filled with so much, but her lips were set in a determined, thin line. The blonde marveled at how expressive Regina's eyes could be. And ached to see them reflecting remorse and fear.
"Regina, I…wish we had more time."
The Mayor smiled at the blonde sadly; knowing that nothing but loss now passed between them. Emma, overwhelmed, pressed her lips into matted hair, offering any comfort she could.
"Save him."
Emma pulled away, eyes locked on the face inches from her own. Rich brown eyes turned to look at her precious boy, the child that had rejected her in favor of the blonde. Regina loved him still. She was strangely happy at the prospect that she would die loving him.
"I love you Henry." It was starting to dawn on the boy what was happening, that fate was stripping him of any chance to salvage his relationship with his adopted mother.
"Mom, please. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry."
The brunette reached for him, only to have her fingers fall short. Emma's gaze snapped up to the Mayor's face. Features slack and eyes empty, she realized that Regina had passed in that moment, her life leaving at her son's words. Her tears dropped heavily into raven-colored hair, creating starkly clear streaks.
Emma kept her close, rocking slowly, taking in her scent as Henry's sobbed beside her.
