The pair were quick to jump when they heard footsteps come to down the staircase, they pulled away from each other and rushed off to do other things.
"I hope you've found something Regina, at least one thing that could help us fix this." Zelena huffed.
"Not quite," Regina began, glancing over her shoulder at the red head. "But, I have an idea that might help, we can use some kind of blood magic. I'll speak to Gold and see if he can let us have a blood sample, that way, we can find out if he has any relatives here that aren't well, Henry or Gideon."
"Sounds like a good idea. What would you like me to do?" Emma asked, following Regina and Zelena into another part of her vault.
"You, Hook and David go to the clock tower, that's where all the magic happens." Regina insisted, inclining her head downwards.
"Got it." Emma smiled, heading off.
"What about me?" Zelena questioned.
"You're with me, we're going to the library, but not yet. I need your help with something." Regina walked over to a shelf that was filled with all kinds of relics from different realms. She picked up a small vase and then using one hand she reached in and pulled out a purple vial, this vial contained dark magic. "Zelena, I want you to take this. Just in case, in case this becomes a little harder."
"What do you mean?" Zelena tilted her head in confusion.
"It's the last vial of black magic that I have."
"Wait," Zelena took the vial in her hand, she raised it to her face and shook it slightly. "Black fairy dust?"
"Yes. After Fiona was destroyed, I came across it in Gold's shop, its basically some of her ashes, but I believe it contains some of the strongest magic I have ever seen. I think that, if we use this, we can stop her, once and for all. All we need to do is visit the well." Regina smiled at Zelena.
"Got it." Zelena grinned. "Our first trip there?"
"Yes. Then we can go to the library." Regina continued, heading out of her vault.
Emma stood outside the station once again, she could hear Killian's voice from the other side of the door, she slowly opened it and headed straight for her office. She needed coffee.
"Emma, lass." Killian said as he approached her.
"Hook." She replied, tucking her flowing hair behind her ears.
"Any news?"
"Regina has a plan, I just really hope it works. However, it is a good distraction from life right now." Emma mumbled.
"Don't worry, babe. We'll get there." He winked and then turned to leave.
Emma rolled her eyes and then headed to the coffee machine, she figured she had time to just pause for some time before gathering her father and husband and taking them to the clock tower.
"Emma. I just got a text from Belle, they've figured out how to summon any descendant of the black fairy. They just need Gold's blood. Well I say they, I do mean Regina. Gold is there with them right now. So they are coming here." David uttered as he stepped inside Emma's office.
"That's great," Emma stuttered between sips of coffee. "Shall we wait in the main reception?"
"Yes. Good idea." David agreed, turning around and leaving.
Emma heard her phone bleep, she glanced down. It was from Regina. On my way to the station now, hope you're okay.
Emma smiled, replying. Better now, thank you.
Killian poked his head around the corner, catching Emma smiling at her phone. "Who was that?" He asked in a stern mannerism.
"Just Henry, he sent me a picture of him and Violet." Emma tried not to roll her eyes, instead she faked a smile.
"Okay." Killian sighed and left.
Emma swallowed hard, lying to Killian was never the best decision, but she felt like it was best for now.
Regina, Zelena, Belle, Gold and Alice stumbled into the station, Emma watched as they piled in, throwing books and tomes everywhere. "I hope this works," Emma groaned, coffee in hand. "Considering all the mess you're making."
Regina glanced upwards, her eyebrows narrowing. "Chill Ms Swan, it's nothing a few spells can't handle."
Emma laughed, leaning against a podium.
"So, what have you got?" David asked.
"Well, I've mixed Gold's blood with this, it's a strong magic, fairy dust and some water from the well, now all I need is to use my magic to hopefully cast the summoning spell, and if it works, all of Fiona's children should appear here. I didn't realise that Henry could appear here too, but, by the looks of this spell, only her children should. So no Henry or Gideon randomly appearing." Regina licked over her lips before glancing down at the book for the spell. She closed her eyes and began uttering a few words while dropping the vial on the floor.
A black mist appeared almost suddenly, surrounding the station with its smoke, leaving the people inside almost choking on its contents. After a few moments the smoke cleared. On the floor appeared a young girl, who couldn't have been any older than eighteen, she was dressed in a royal red robe.
Emma peered at Regina, who looked almost distraught to see the girl.
Alice took a few steps towards the brunette on the floor and she knelt down. "Hello. I'm Alice." Her voice softened the tension in the room.
"Alice… be careful." Hissed Hook, he reached out to try and grab her, but she fought back, pushing him away.
The girl remained hidden, hiding her face within her robe.
"I'm not going to hurt you," Alice continued, tucking her rags between her legs as she shuffled closer. "For you see, where I'm from, the flowers talk, and you can eat the weirdest things, you can be small, you can be big… And you can even have tea! Lot's of it."
The girl dropped her barriers and faced Alice, her eyes a crimson red. "I'm Helena."
"Helena. A pleasure." Alice offered Helena her hand and they both stood up.
Helena gazed around the room. "Where am I?"
"Storybrooke." Emma replied.
"What sort of name for a kingdom is that?" Helena questioned, her eyebrow raising inquisitively.
"Curious, huh?" Alice mentioned. "Me too."
"How did you get here, Helena?" Regina blurted, her hands resting firmly on her hips.
"I.. I was in Wonderland, I heard stories of that place… My mother told me all about it. I wanted to check it out for myself, ever since she left… I almost found comfort in it. When I was there, I stumbled into Alice, and she offered to help me find what I was looking for. We came across a magic bean, which my mother said would lead me to her if I ever needed her, and this is where it took me. I'm sorry Alice, I didn't remember you at first, must have been the mild concussion I seem to have." Helena's voice was sweet, almost innocent.
"Who is your mother?" Gold asked, stepping closer to the young girl.
"Fiona, she is a fairy. That's all I know, she gave me up when I was young. She never really wanted me, but. I happened…"
"Mhm." Gold replied.
Helena smiled with a hint of hesitation.
"Emma, can I talk to you, in private?" Regina asked as she walked over to Emma.
"Sure?"
Regina lead Emma away from earshot. "I think she is lying. The only thing we know for sure is that she is Fiona's daughter, but you could see it her eyes. She isn't innocent like she portrays."
"I agree with you, we have to take precaution. What do you suggest we do?" Emma placed her coffee mug down on the shelf next to her.
"David and Hook can watch her, while you and I try to figure out how to find and destroy this wand, that way can probably kill two birds with one stone. Then you and Hook can go back to playing happy families." Regina mumbled.
Emma's eyes lowered. "Regina, are you okay?"
"I'm fine, Emma. Let's just focus. Hm?" Regina sneered.
"Lasses, can we please stop with the secret meetings. There is nothing that you can't say with the rest of us, or even me." Hook snarled.
"Oh shut up Hook. This doesn't concern you." Regina growled.
Hook shook his head in dismissal.
Regina flickered her fingers and disappeared.
Emma bit down on her bottom lip and headed back into the room where the others were standing. "Hook, can I talk to you?"
Hook rolled his eyes, but followed Emma to outside of the station. "What's the matter, love?" He asked in a soft and gentle voice.
"Why have you been so cold recently? At first I thought it was my fault, but now… You're attacking me for no reason? I didn't marry a control freak Killian. I married someone I loved dearly. I can't even get a text without you questioning me about everything." Emma folded her arms over her chest, awaiting Killian's reply.
"Emma, love. It's not that I don't trust you. I'm just on edge with everything going on. I'm just so eager to have a child of my own with the woman I love and adore. Is that so wrong?" Killian said, placing his hands harshly on Emma's shoulders.
"It is when you belittle me the way you do! Killian, this is not what I signed up for when I fell in love with you. For years I believed that you brought out the best in me. But it's not true anymore, you made me weak. But not anymore, from now on, I am my own person. We need some time apart, I need to find myself again. Regina taught me to be the person I want to be, and that person isn't someone who lets herself be defined by a man." Emma pushed Killian off and walked away.
"Emma. Don't be so stupid, you're perfectly fine how you are. You give me all of you. That's the key to a happy marriage, right?"
"No Killian! It's not!" Emma felt the tears roll down her cheeks. It was hard pushing herself away from the toxic clouds of her marriage, but she knew it was for the better, she urged to just run to Killian, but she had to stay strong, if not herself, but for Regina. She needed to be Emma Swan again, not the Captain's wife.
"Emma," Cried a voice from behind her. "Emma."
Emma stopped, she recognised the voice almost instantly. "Regina."
"I overheard everything. I'm so sorry." Regina continued, moving to stand next to Emma.
"No need to be sorry, Gina. It was time."
Regina faced Emma, she used her fingertips to wipe away the tears that trickled down Emma's cheek. "Please don't cry. You're better than him. I'm so proud of you for finally standing up to him. It is such a great step to take. You're brave, don't let him bring you down."
Emma's face sunk into Regina's hand, almost nuzzling her touch. "After all these years I thought I could finally let my guard down, I trusted him, but he has played me all this time. I thought we could bring out the best in each other. But it was all a lie."
Regina frowned, she took Emma in her arms and held her tight. "It's okay Emma, I got you. I'm not going anywhere, I'm here for you, always."