Dagger Day
Chapter 3
Cracking Curses
note:
Thank you so much for reviews, I'm sorry in advance for every chapter that will be posted a bit late. Therefore I am truly sorry this one came up so late …
It will happen a lot, let's be honest.
I have a very big exam coming and my work schedule is going to be a killer until Christmas.
For the orthographic reviews, first, thank you Guest ^^.
Second I will change the errors as soon as I think of it.
And third I feel I need to explain some choices:
"Owe" instead of "Oh" is actually on purpose because of the sound of it...
I like to read out loud what I write so it sounds real … Therefore I sometimes write as I hear.
The suspension marks … are my bad, we do it that way... in France.
It might happen again, I'm sorry if it does, I'll try and remember that ^^.
Thanks for the "waste", my bad, I wrote too quickly !
I tried to mend every mistakes, even from the first chapter, I'll try to do better from now on !
Long live SwanQueen and honey bees.
ooooo
Emma looked at the woman getting to the door. The boy looked sadly at her.
- Please ? Can you come ? Even only for a day ?
He said.
Emma pouted. Thinking. A day. Where was the harm ?
But what if they were psychopaths ? What if they were some kind of elaborated serial killer prank ?
Emma didn't believe in anything, didn't trust anyone. Why would she trust them ?
oOo
The "Welcome to Storybrooke" sign made Emma smile.
"Really ?" she thought.
She would have to ask Regina if she had chosen that name for a particular reason.
She sighted. What was she doing here ?
She had to call Cole to give him back the contracts she wouldn't be able to collect this week. A week.
Why had she agreed on a whole week ?!
She parked across the street fronting the big white house in front of which Regina had parked her black Mercedes. The mere sight of the house provoked a chill down Emma's spine.
Regina got out of her car and walked towards her while Henry was running inside the big house, leaving the front door open.
Emma slowly cut out of her own car.
- Miss Swan … May I ask you to watch over Henry while I go liberate Belle ?
- Just like that ?! You trust me with your son ?!
Regina smiled. Both amused and sad.
- You're the only person in the whole Universe I would trust blindly with our son, Emma.
She simply stated, already walking down the street.
- Henry will show you around the house. His bedroom is upstairs. Don't wait up for me, I'll join you at Granny's dinner.
She added, not turning around.
Emma watched her walk a bit before deciding to enter the house.
- Henry ?
She called from the doorstep.
- Upstairs !
The house was amazing. Freaking clean but, amazing. She joined the boy and leaned his bedroom's doorframe.
The boy was concentrated at his desk. Writing or drawing.
- What are you doing ?
- I'm writing down everything mom said so I don't forget it ! And maybe we even could add it to the book …
- We could …
oOo
At noon Regina walked in the dinner and smiled at the sight of mother and son eating the same old burger with a chocolate milkshake.
She vaguely told them about Belle and Gold. She had dump Bell at the pawnbroker's shop and basically said "sorry" as an explanation for everything.
And she had warned Rumplestilskin not to take measures against her because she knew where his son, the biological father of her own son, was living.
- And that's it ? He went for it ?! Didn't you say he was very dark or something ?
- He is the dark one. Well … at least for now. It's complicated. He was my mentor, he … We have a long background, him and me. Anyway, I also promised him to try and make a memory potion for Belle, to get her memories back, I think I can do that rather easily this afternoon and, maybe I should try to make one for you, Emma, too. If I have my memories maybe you can get yours back too …
- And the dragon ?!
Asked loudly a disappointed Henry.
- We're not going to see the dragon this afternoon ?!
- Oh, well …
Regina closed her eyes, she looked tired.
- Yes, yes, of course we're going to see the dragon, dear, but … Maybe not so soon. I was thinking of tomorrow, or maybe even tonight. I would like to see if I can actually free her while we're there.
- Free the dragon ?!
Almost shouted Emma.
- Yes, well … Not as a dragon, of course, not now that there's no magic around … But, look, even if most of the time she's not very nice when she's around, she is or at least used to be my friend and I owe her. I owe her a lot. And also, it would solve one very important problem …
- What now ?!
Asked Emma rolling her eyes. Regina smiled.
- Your friend Lilly.
- What ?!
Regina smiled again.
- I thought about it and if I remember well, Lilly should know I'm telling the truth so. If her mother, which means Maleficent, the dragon, finds her I would hope she could at least make you believe if the dragon thing doesn't work. And in any case, both should know about each other.
- I don't get it …
- I know.
Answered Regina before she was cut by the arriving of the panicked waitress.
- Hello madam mayor ! I didn't see you right away, I'm sorry I …
- It's perfectly fine Ruby. Would you, give me my usual if you please ?
Regina's tone was very sweet and nice. Emma saw the incomprehension in the young waitresses' eyes.
- Hem, ya. Sure. Right away, madam mayor.
- Oh !
The doorbell had rang. The gasp that followed it came out of a small woman with short black hair. She was now looking at them three, blushing. A dear in flashlights.
Regina rolled her eyes.
- That's your mother.
She whispered to Emma.
- Sn … Mary-Margaret, will you join us, if you may ?
The woman darted small gazes around, making sure she was the only Mary-Margaret here.
- Hem … yes. Hem. Okay. Hi Henry.
- Hello miss Blanchard ! I'm sorry I wasn't at school today, but mom and me were in Boston we went to find Emma, my birth mother.
- Oh.
- And she's your daughter too actually.
Added Henry.
Regina closed her eyes and bit her lip, smiling.
- Henry !
Said Emma and Snow. Then looked at each other, both surprised.
- What ?! It is true !
- Henry, dear … Can I ?
Asked nicely Regina.
- Ya, whatever.
The mother smiled and was unable to suppress a quick affectionate caress on her son's cheek. The scowl left his face right away, replaced by a shy quiet smile. A glint of pure love burst in both Emma and Snow's chests and stomachs at the sight of it.
- So … Mary-Margaret … As much as I want to go through another well deserved yet very annoying apology, I don't really do that willingly. Therefore you will have to satisfy yourself with "sorry". And now that, that's settled we can talk of what really matters … Which is the subject of Emma being your daughter, and afterward, we'll go find Charming.
- What ?
Asked again Snow, not followed by Emma this time.
- Again ? May I finish ? Because I really am starting to grow tired of telling the story … It is the third time today, after all. Going on fourth.
And so the story went on. And Snow White's face colour was accordingly matching her name at the end. She shook her head and looked at them. She looked really terrified. But she didn't move.
Well, Regina had to admit, no matter what she could think of the woman, she was brave. Truly brave. She'd always been. A small sparkle of pain and regret seized Regina's heart. She could have done so much differently with this girl. Okay, she was a girl herself at the time, but she could have been a great big sister instead of an evil step mother …
- I'm sorry I ruined your life in the process of ruining mine, Snow.
Said Regina in a sore and honest tone, almost too low to be heard.
A loud moment of awkward silence passed.
Which Regina decided to break, eventually.
- So ! You know what, Henry … You were right. I think we should skip the rest and go see Maleficent, we'll deal with the rest later. Belle, Neal, Lilly, David … It can wait until later, what do you say ?
- Yay !
Regina smiled widely. Her heart messed up with contradictory feelings of loss, love and regret. She was glad to have her 10 years old son back, she had missed so much of him these past few years. But she missed her grown up Henry too, the one that knew what she had done for him. And she missed Emma, she even missed Snow, the one that had grown to care for her again. She missed Robin too.
Regina frowned.
- Robin …
She whispered.
- Oh no … Who's Robin, now ? Another victim of your wonderful mood ?
Regina frowned at Emma's question.
- My boyfriend.
She said.
Why hadn't she really think about him before now ? She asked herself. Was it because she had been sent back to so long ago in the past, where he wasn't there ? Or was it something else ?
- Your what ?
Said a round English accent. Another one. She had something with English men … Emma too, by the way.
She thought.
Back to it, Regina, she admonished herself.
Oh, boy, Graham.
- Graham ?! Mean … Sheriff ! What are you doing here ?
- Lunch break, madam mayor.
- Owe. Good, good, well, carry on.
Emma smiled, understanding. Regina looked embarrassed. Well, annoyed would be more accurate.
- Well, maybe you should come, actually, Graham, right ? I mean, we're going to visit a dragon so, having a gunned man couldn't be too much …
Regina rolled her eyes.
Typical Emma Swan. Involving another stranger into everything.
- Fine, you may come, but I warn you, sheriff … If you so much as try to harm my friend, I'll kill you again.
- Again ?!
Asked everyone.
Regina pouted.
- Don't you want to see a dragon ? A real live dragon ?
- Yay !
Answered Henry again stretching both arms over his head in a victory gesture. Which brought the same stupid love smile over both his mother's faces. Which in its turn made Snow White frown.
This whole situation was weird and she had a class full of kids to attend to.
- I have work to do … And actually, madam mayor, I'm not really sure that taking your son out of school will …
- Orh, for gods sakes, Snow, will you cut the princess thing already ! You are coming with us dear, that's an order !
Cut angrily Regina before she went on mumbling for herself mostly.
- There, she managed to annoy me … Five minutes ! Five minutes and you managed to ruin my day ! How do you even do that ?!
Emma and Henry smiled openly. Graham hid his own smile in a shy cough.
This was going to be interesting.
- Stop calling me Snow please … It's weird …
Tried Mary-Margaret.
- Tell me about it !
Answered Regina already walking out the dinner.
Emma and Henry looked at each other and couldn't hold a laugh.
You had to admit, even when you didn't want to believe it … They did look a lot like Snow White and the Evil Queen.
oOo
As they entered the library Emma's frown was too settled to ever go away it seemed. She had the worst déjà vu feeling melt with total incredulity.
Regina ordered Graham to stay upstairs to operate the elevator. Her look meant for everyone not to even try to think to argue. Which they didn't. She quickly explained how the thing worked and they went in the elevator. All three woman silent and looking deep in thoughts. Henry was looking terrified and excited both at the same time.
They walked carefully out when the elevator loudly stopped at the bottom.
Regina ordered very firmly Henry to stay behind. Emma walked next to her, instinctively placing herself between Henry and any harm that could come. Regina noticed it and smiled.
- So … Where is it ?
Asked Snow, whispering. She looked positively terrified.
- She.
Merely answered Regina, whispering too.
It was dark and dusty and Regina cursed herself for having cast her friend in such a dirty place. She would ruin her shoes, no doubt about it.
She decided to help the things up and make their presence known.
- Maleficent ? It's me … I'm with Snow White and … Oh crap, she doesn't care about it. I know where your daughter is and I want to free you …
A windy like sound shrilled. Or rather, not windy, more like dust moving through dust. And another loud sound echoed.
A breathing.
A big and warm breathing.
Breathing of fire.
- Crap !
Regina had only time to push Emma aside and jump towards the giant moving shadow that came out of nowhere. She fell and rolled on the floor.
Definitely a dragon !
It was the only shaped thought Emma was able to formulate after the dragon appeared.
She seized Henry and ran with him towards the elevator, tossed him inside and shouted to Graham to take him up. The boy wasn't too happy about it but she didn't leave him a choice. He shouted after his mom, who answered him to just do as he was told and that she would be fine. Emma didn't really have to try too hard to convince Mary-Margaret to join him.
She turned back to search for Regina.
What was they thinking ?!
A dragon ?!
Who goes to see a dragon ?!
Said dragon was breathing fire in the direction of a spot on the wall. Constantly. Emma wondered rather naively, she found, if she had to inhale. Otherwise it could last forever.
- Regina ?!
- I'm fine ! Hot, but fine ! I'm in a cavity in the wall ! You ?
- I'm fine ! And, I believe you ! And you're insane ! It's a dragon Regina ! A dragon !
- I know ! I know ! Sorry ! I didn't really think through it !
- I figured !
While they were arguing Emma tried to find a way closer to the beast and the spot where Regina was hiding.
- You still think we shouldn't kill it ?
- HER !
Emma rolled her eyes.
- Emma ! Just go ! Take care of Henry, I'll … take care of Maleficent.
- Oh, ya, sure, I'm gonna leave you to be a dragon's dinner !
- Emma, why don't you ever do as you're told ?!
- It's a foster child thing, now shut up and tell me what I'm supposed to do !
Emma only had time to finish her sentence and Regina to roll her eyes before they both realised the fire had stopped.
And Maleficent had turn her big disgusting reptilian smile to Emma.
- Oh crap.
Emma had never ran that fast. And was never as terrified. Or as hot.
And she never said that much bad words in such a short amount of time.
She took shelter behind a big rock while the cave was illuminated with raging fire. The sound was terrifying and beautiful at the same time. She gasped as a hand caught her arm. Regina smiled at her and nodded towards the door of the elevator Graham had sent back down.
Emma nodded too and the two woman started running side to side.
The floor of the thing was warm and the sound of the burning stone underneath their feet kept ringing as Emma was trying to catch her breath. She looked at Regina who was looking at her feet, frowning. Her expensive shoes were ruined. Emma doubted it was the only worry the woman had.
- You alright ?
- Yes, dear. Thank you. And yourself ?
Emma rolled her eyes, she thought of the time when they had to run because the ice bridge was collapsing down their feet. It was after she had brought Marian back and ruined Regina's life. Regina wasn't much more of a talker right now.
- Seriously, woman, I know I already told you that, but you're a sociopath sometimes … You need to chill out Regina ! You look just as pissed off as when I brought Marian back !
Regina looked at her in shock. And the door opened to show a happy Henry that ran to them. Graham and Snow looked rather relieved too.
- What did you just say ?! Emma !
- What ? Oh, I'm sorry madam mayor if I insulted you, I thought we were passed that since we are drinking buddies … I thought you could be honest with me when you're scared, you know !
- No Emma, I was terrified … But, you … You remember !
- Why ? Yes of course I … Oh god ! Yeah ! Yeah I do !
Emma smiled at Regina. Henry looked up to his mothers, frowning. A wide relieved smile stretched over Regina's face and she pulled Emma into yet another hug.
- Gods … I thought I had loose you forever …
Emma closed her arms on Regina's back.
- Hey ! Outch !
Complained Henry in the middle.
- Sorry kid … We just survived a dragon and a dark curse, so … Outch !
Emma frowned at Regina who had just slapped her arm.
- What was that for ?!
- You almost died ! Twice ! You disappeared into thin air, you turned yourself into the dark one ! and there ! Why didn't you leave when I ordered you to ? Why don't you ever listen ?!
- Snow White is my mother.
That was a crappy reason but it had the wanted effect. Regina lost her words, rolled her eyes and smiled. Then shook her head.
- Hem … Sorry but …
Oh, yeah, right. Graham and Snow looked at them. Frowning.
- Do they remember ?
Asked Henry.
- Remember what, lad ? Will someone finally explain to me what exactly is going on ?! Madam mayor ?
Asked Graham.
- No, they don't.
Said Emma.
- Oh, good, then. Cause, I don't either …
His little disappointed pout was so cute it pulled the same smile from both his mothers again. This time they looked at each other knowingly. Which was really comforting when Regina came to think of it.
- It's weird to be back in time, but it is kind of good if only to see him back at this size ! He's so cute !
- Exactly what I thought, dear.
Henry rolled his eyes.
Being "cute" to your mother wasn't exactly every ten years old boy's dream. Not even if there was two of them.
- So … Your majesty, what do we do now ?
Asked Emma Swan.
- The hell if I know ! You're the savior, figure it out !
Answered the Evil Queen. Regina.
oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
I'll try to update before next weekend.
However I can't promise because I have an exam on Friday so …
And also, I wasn't sure about the dragon right away but, I think I'm much like a ten years old boy sometimes, so I couldn't wait to write Maleficent !
Can you blame me ? I used to be a huge True Blooder … Still am.