Chapter 3: Loop Three
Henry sat across Maleficent at her mother's home office. Their research hasn't get them too far, but their understanding on how Time works was better than when they started. Five long months have passed and yet, no sign of Regina. Merlin was found, but Emma has disappeared from the map. No one has heard nor seen her. Now that the Dark One had possession of the dagger, she was as powerful as ever. Hook had failed on keeping the dagger safe from Emma. He was too weak for the task. And the only person that could get the dagger back and keep it safe, it's lost in an unknown Parallel Universe looking for a different alternative to free Emma from the darkness.
"This is no use", Henry whispered closing yet another spell book, "There is no way we can bring Mom back. She's the only one that can bring herself"
Maleficent looked up at him and smiled, "That is true. But it's all your wanna-be stepfather's fault for being such a weak parasite"
Henry could only laugh, "Don't insult the poor parasites, and he is not my stepfather. And neither will Robin, so don't even go there"
The sorceress laugh, "I wasn't. But don't give me any ideas, child"
He smiled at the woman he has come to see like family during the past months. Now he knows why his mother cared for the sorceress. Beneath that tough exterior, laid a caring person.
"You know, I was thinkingā¦"
"That is never good", Maleficent interrupted keeping her eyes on the book she was reading.
"Funny", he smiled, "You are not bad at all. Actually, you are one fluffy dragon under all that armor"
She looked up and raised one eyebrow, "You know, for far less I cursed a Princess to sleep. Do you want to be next?"
"But was she as cute and charming as me?"
"Not even close. But you are as annoying as her"
He smiled, "I'll take that as a complement. Now, going back to this science book I found today, there's something rather interesting that and I have no idea how to take it"
"What is it?"
"It says that Time can stretch, squeeze, change its form, but it can't run backwards"
Maleficent closed her eyes, "So the Time Regina looses, she can't never recover"
"Maybe there's another way. I mean, this is just science speaking. Maybe there is a magical way she could go to where she originally started"
The sorceress looked at him, lost in thought, "A magical way, besides that spell she used. It is a possibility"
"Alright then. Where do we start", he smiled, standing up and heading to the bookshelf.
Darknessā¦
Not again! When will it stop!
"Regina!", she heard Emma scream her name in desperation.
She opened her eyes and saw Emma on the ground and Hook with the dagger in hand, taking the darkness away.
What the hell!
The dark vortex consumed the Pirate, elevating him to the dark sky, the dagger dropping to the ground with the name of 'Killian Jones' carved on its blade.
Why did he do it?
She was frozen in place, looking at the dagger in complete shock. She felt strong arms encircle her. Regina took her eyes away from the blade to find Emma embracing her from behind.
"Emma", she whispered turning around, facing the blonde.
"You came back", she said placing her hands on the brunette's cheeks, "You came back"
Regina smiled and captured the blonde's lips in a slow but still passionate kiss, putting everything she felt in it.
"But, how sweet. Leaving my dagger all unattended", they broke the kiss but it was too late to react. Hook stabbed Regina on her back, the blade cutting through her heart.
"NOOOOO!", Emma screamed catching Regina's body and lowering her to the ground.
"Emma", the brunette whispered slowly closing her eyes, feeling her strength leaving her body.
Tears travel down Emma's cheeks furiously. She clutched the woman's body tight, drawing her as close to her body as possible. She started rocking her limp body, sobbing uncontrollably.
"Please, don't leave me! Please, come back!", she couldn't control her breathing anymore. Her heart was breaking; hope was slipping away, "Please, save me"
Darkness took over Regina's mind, but not before hearing Emma telling her that she loved her.
"Regina!", Emma opened her eyes, clutching her heart. She looked around and noticed she was still in the brunette's vault, hiding form the people of Storybrooke. She was sweating, she felt fear, and she still hasn't found Regina. It's been five months since the darkness took over her, since the woman she loves disappeared into thin air.
The nightmare felt too real. Somehow, it felt like a memory. Since Regina's disappearance, the only thing she dreamed about was the day she sacrificed herself for her. It was like her nightmares were going in an endless loop.
"What the hell is going on", she whispered standing up from the bed. She couldn't sense Regina anywhere. She was starting to loose all hope.
She looked around the room. Every little thing reminded her of the brunette. She channeled her senses into the mansion, but she didn't feel any presence there.
Finally
She puffed herself into the mansion and started walking around, taking in her surroundings.
Where did you go?
She smiled sadly when she noticed the neat coat rack at the corner. She walked towards it and took one of the coats, carefully bringing it to her face and smelling the faint perfume of the Mayor lingering in it.
Why didn't I tell you how I felt?
She hugged the coat and moved towards the office. She looked around the room, noticing books settled all over the room.
This is odd
She continued to walk towards the desk and took a seat on the comfy chair. She noticed that the book was open and there were notes laying all over the desk.
"Retrogression spell", she whispered reading the contents of the page the book was open at.
"Time", she went through the notes next to the book, trying to make sense of what was written in them. She also noticed that it was Henry's penmanship.
"What are you trying to find, kid?"
She passed the pages slowly, until something caught her eye.
"A loophole that allows the order of events to be switched provided that doing so makes absolutely no difference to the workings of the universe"
She looked to her right and saw a picture of Henry, Regina, and her, "What are you trying to do, Regina?"
She closed her eyes and remembered her dreams at night, on how each time it felt different. On how each time, the events happened differently.
"The order of events to be switched", she whispered again grabbing a piece of paper and writing something down. She went to the last page of the book and placed the note there, hiding it from plain sight with magic.
She looked at the picture again one last time and puffed herself to Regina's room. She walked to the bed and laid down, coat still tightly held in her arms and closed her eyes.
Please, come back to me
A/N: And here is Dark Emma. Have to say, I loved writing this chapter. I am absolutely in love with Henry and Maleficent's relationship in this story. Don't know why, but love to write them like this. Hope you enjoy this chapter and let me know what you think so far.
