AUTHOR'S NOTE: I know this may be off to a bit of a slow start, but don't worry! Lots of Cora/Emma/Regina action coming up soon.
Critiques/reviews/suggestions are much appreciated!
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Emma sprinted towards Regina's mansion with Snow on her heels, desperate to catch up with the looming mob that had surely beat her there. In the mass amount of confusion just after the curse broke, still consumed with shock of meeting the woman her roommate had suddenly transformed into- her mother, Regina had not been on the forefront of her brain, but as soon as she had heard the news of what was happening at the mansion she went into full-blown panic mode. She didn't think, she just ran. She didn't think about what she would do when she got there, didn't think about why she was so intent on protecting Regina or how she would react. Just before they rounded the last bend before being in sight of the mansion, Snow reached out and snagged her arm, yanking her to an abrupt stop. "What the hell!" she snapped, "We have to go!"
"Emma, please just wait one minute and listen to me, okay? Do not run blindly into this. There is no telling what is going on there or how Regina is acting. I know her. She's powerful and pissed off. In all likelihood she's regained full use of her powers and is capable of turning us all into cockroaches with a twitch of her finger, don't forget that she is the one-"
"Stop." Emma cut her off forcefully, pinching the bridge of her nose with her eyes squeezed shut. "Just stop. I know that. But I need to see her, I need to know, I will not let Henry lose the mother he's had his entire life."
"Emma, she's the evil queen! I don't want her to die either but we must be smart about this. We need a plan."
"Find Regina, stop the mob, that's the plan." Emma turned and continued briskly walking towards her destination. Snow opened her mouth once and closed it again, thinking better about what she was going to say, and silently followed her daughter, eyebrows drawn, both worried but also a tiny bit proud of the noble bravery Emma was showing.
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The sight that greeted them upon reaching Regina's was not what either of them expected. Many angry Storybrooke citizens were there, yes, but they were anti-climatically milling about the edge of the property, bickering amongst themselves about what to do next.
"What's going on?" Snow demanded. Grumpy was the first to come forward. "We can't get in. Some crazy bitch with a magic barrier. There's no getting through it, we've explored all sides, it's a full circle around the house.
Emma had stopped dead, just staring at the barrier. She could see through it, but just barely. It was foggy and swirling, like a funhouse mirror. She could see two figures on the front stoop of the house. Squinting, she stepped directly up to the edge of the barrier, trying to make out Regina and who the other figure might be.
"Careful," Grumpy said, watching her, "It'll burn you and shove you back if you try to go through it." Emma continued staring as if she hadn't heard. Snow stepped up next to her, also trying to make out the figures, a deep frown upon her face. "Grumpy, who is that? Who's with her?"
"We don't know," he responded, "She just showed up out of nowhere. Only got a brief glimpse before we were thrown back. Dark hair, doesn't look much unlike the evil witch to be honest, older maybe."
At this Snow whirled around to face him, eyes wide. "No…" she breathed out, horrified. "No, it can't be… She hasn't been seen or heard from in so many years, before the curse was even enacted!"
"What?" Emma said, snapping out of her concentration, "Who? Who is it Mar- Snow?"
Snow met her daughters gaze, obviously frightened. Emma had never seen that look in her eyes before- it was unnerving.
"If I am correct, and I believe I am, she is a force twice as evil and cruel than Regina ever was. Her mother." She paused, glancing back at the barrier. "I don't mean to sound dramatic, but if you were afraid for Regina before, you'd better be terrified now, because this news is not good for anyone."
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Emma stepped away from the barrier and left the circle of the crowd, leaning against a nearby tree and bending over, face buried in her hands. All this fairytale stuff was really taking it's toll on her. It was one thing to deal with Regina, the mother of her child, the witch she knew, however vaguely. It was a whole other animal to also deal with her mother. Emma had trouble imagining Regina ever even had a mother. She couldn't get that line from the Wizard of Oz out of her head. That's her sister- she's even worse than the other one!
Snow gave her daughter a few minutes, conferring with James who had appeared on the scene, sword in hand. Together, they stood in front of the crowd and called for everyone's attention.
"Everyone, please take a moment to listen," Snow began, "Now, I know tempers are high and everyone wants revenge for what has happened to them, believe me, nobody understands as well as I. But there is nothing we can do here. Especially if Cora, Regina's mother, has returned, it is in all of your best interests to make yourself scarce. As I expressed to Emma, if you thought Regina was bad, she is nothing in comparison to that monster. Trust me, I know her, I've witnessed it." Grumbling broke out among the group, still hyped up and ready for action. Snow raised a palm in the air to quiet them. "Please. We may be stuck in this strange land, but I am still, in all intents and purposes, your queen, and no one has suffered worse from this curse than my family and I. I would make a strong suggestion, for everyone's safety, that for now, you all go home, go be with your loved ones now that you may be reunited with them. Rash force will do us no good here." Grumpy snorted, and Snow shot him a stern look. "Let us all take today to organize ourselves. Tomorrow we shall reconvene and come up with a rational plan of action, when I do hope everyone will have calmed down a little. If I know these two," she gestured towards the mansion, "they will keep each other occupied for a while anyway."
As Snow finished, the crowd slowly and reluctantly dispersed, not altogether appeased, but not about to argue either. Soon the only few left were Snow, Charming, and the dwarves wandering about. Snow was neither surprised nor bothered by this. The dwarves would always stick near to her side, and they were loyal to her word. James squeezed her hand before she parted to approach Emma. Putting a hand on her back soothingly, she paused, uncertain what to tell her daughter who was looking more distraught by the minute.
"I don't know what to do." Emma said, finally straightening again, looking at her mother with an unreadable expression. Strangely, all she wanted to do was talk to Regina. She may be the "evil queen", but at this point, she was the only familiar thing Emma had to cling to, except for perhaps Henry who was safely tucked away with Ruby and Granny at the moment, and she couldn't very well go seeking comfort from him.
Snow was conflicted as well. Finally deciding she needed to at least prepare her daughter for what they might be up against with the pair inside the barrier, she opened her mouth to speak only to be cut off by an exclamation from James.
"Snow! I think you might want to come see this."
Snow turned, seeing James squinting through the barrier, and stepped towards him, gently guiding Emma with her. She would soon wish she hadn't.
"I can't see anything."
"I know it's tough to see, but if you look carefully… is that Regina in the air?"
Snow's lips flattened into a tight line, suddenly knowing exactly what must be happening.
"I'm afraid Cora isn't the gentlest of mothers," she said darkly.
Emma's eyes snapped to Snow, suddenly furious and re-energized. "Isn't the gentlest? She looks like she's torturing her!"
Snow looked up at her regretfully. "Yes, I imagine she is."
"I've got to help her!" Emma turned back towards the house and walked purposely towards the barrier, not heeding the warnings that exploded out of both of her parents mouths. She reached out and tapped the blurry line with her hand, feeling an intense heat radiating from it.
"You cannot get through it," James said, putting a hand on her shoulder, "The magic is too strong, even if you try you will likely not survive the consequences."
"Give me your sword," was Emma's only response. James looked at Snow, who shrugged, before handing her the sword in his hand.
Emma backed up a few steps, sword out in front of her, before suddenly running head first into the barrier. She heard James and Snow's shrieks of "No!", then her own scream as her entire body immediately broke out in intense pain, as though she were being burned and stabbed everywhere at once, and then- silence.