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If you've reached this point... THANK YOU FOR READING! Here is the last chapter to this story.
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CHAPTER 7
REGINA'S POV
I desperately hope to run into Mr Gold.
Something tells me we will.
Yesterday he was there at exactly the right moment and he'd dropped the book that had answered so many questions.
He's gotta know more and I gotta find out.
My mind goes back to the book and the fact that Emma doesn't even know anything about that yet.
She has no clue of her princess status and the fact that she's to fulfill some disturbing destiny…
I shake my head because, well, first things first and because I don't want her to panic if she randomly reads my thoughts.
"Mr Gold." I call out the moment we've reached the library.
I frantically look around and fear that he might not be here.
"Shit." I curse and I feel her squeeze my hand, attempting to calm me.
It's sweet but she has no idea how very serious I'm being.
"Emma we"
"Someone's called me?" I hear his voice and I turn around fast enough to make my head spin.
"Mr Gold." I breath out it relief.
His eyes find Emma's and he nods in understanding.
Did he just analyze this entire messed up situation in half a second?
"Her memory is cursed." He half asks half says.
"Yes." I say and Emma nods a little uncertain.
I understand her apprehension talking to Mr. Gold.
She only knows him as the librarian.
Not as the man that "accidentally" happened to drop the most eye-opening book I've ever read,
the exact moment I was looking for –I didn't even know what I was looking for until I'd found- it.
There's not really time to explain all of that now.
Especially since she'll have forgotten all of it again in only a few minutes or seconds. I'm not keeping track.
"Cora's magic is slacking."
He then suddenly says and I open my eyes wide because, well... his skills are impressing.
"That's what I thought." I offer and he nods.
"But time is running out." This alarms me.
I thought time was standing still.
"Cora knows who she is and she will stop at nothing to form the union she needs to gain the magic the prophecy speaks of."
I shiver at every single word he speaks. It's so hard to wrap my brain around all of this. Just yesterday I learned that magic is a thing and that…
I posses it and that Emma is a princess and my mother's not only the most horrible person one could cross paths with but also the caster of this cursed existence we're living in.
If you could call it living... and honestly, I don't think I can.
"What do we do?"
I'm desperate to find out so I can get to it and get this over and done with.
Because there's no way I'm going to let her win.
Especially not without a fight.
"You must be on the right track … according to Cora's decreased power… her curse is crumbling slowly, she"
His nasal voice gets interrupted by my mother's voice of doom.
"Attention. All students and staff are immediately expected in the main auditorium. No excuses. Now."
And I can hear her grin deviously.
My first impulse is to do as she says and get my ass over to the auditorium right this minute… as she's told me and everyone to do.
It's what I've always done, after all.
Listen to her.
But today, I can't .
Not anymore.
I pull myself free from those thoughts and focus on Emma who flinches and panics.
"It's okay. You got shot. Your memory's cursed but we're fixing it. Just let me handle this."
I softly tell her and somehow I must have pulled her into my arms because that's where she's currently residing.
"If you don't break the curse… and she finds Emma… there's no saying what she'll do. But it will be dark and irreversible."
He stops talking, looks into my eyes and silently informs me of how she's going to be needing the princess so the union as stated in the prophecy can be formed… so that –in Cora's case- dark can overpower all. I really hope Emma's staying out of my mind right now.
I swallow thickly and suppress the shaking of my body,
not wanting to alarm Emma of my spiraling panic.
"Why is she letting everyone gather in the auditorium?" I ask him out loud.
I watch him shake his head and sigh.
"My guess is as good as yours, but knowing Cora…"
"What?" I hate dramatic pauses.
"Well, she's figured out it's Emma, right?"
"Right."
"Which makes all of the others useless now."
I really don't like the sound of where this is heading.
"When something's or someone's useless to her… Cora doesn't normally hesitate to get rid of it."
"She's going to" I can't even complete that sentence.
"erase the others." So he does it for me.
I'm silent.
"You need to move fast." He startles me back to the here and now.
"What are we supposed to do?"
I'm clueless… clearly not cut out for any of this.
"Fulfill your destiny."
"My destiny? I have a destiny?" I plead for him to tell me.
"We all do, dearie..." He tells me and my breath catches in my throat.
"But what am supposed to do?" I nearly choke.
"I wish I could tell you that..."
I don't know if he really doesn't know or just feels like I should figure it out myself. Regardless, that's all I'm going to get out of him… I feel and know that.
It's only now that I realize I'm still holding Emma tightly in my arms and she lets me.
It warms my heart but sadly there's no time to dwell on fluff and emotions like that right now.
Whatever they mean… it's all worthless if we don't act fast and stop Cora before she…
We're running.
Hand in hand because I'm not willing to let go of her.
She slows me down a little because of how confusing all of this is.
She has no clue of what's happening… and the more time passes the harder it is to quickly inform her of everything that's going on.
That's why I stick to the basics.
"You got shot. Cora's cursed your memories. Don't worry, I got this."
And every time she nods and squeezes my hand.
The panic coursing through her after every time she flinches quickly decreases and makes place for a spark of hope and warmth.
I'm extremely flattered every time that happens because honestly…
how can she trust me to this extent?
What have I ever done to deserve this of her.
All I can think of is that I really owe it to her to get us out of this mess.
And I will.
My determination fuels her trust even more and I can't believe it but I'm smiling.
Time is running out… but finally… I can feel myself living.
When we get to the auditorium,
obviously we're the last ones to arrive and we're not about to run in and make our presence known.
I drag Emma with me behind the corner in the back.
Relatively safe and out of sight I scrunch down and pull her with me.
We're next to each other, peering around the corner at my mother that I've now officially stopped considering just that.
She's talking.
She really loves to hear herself talk.
I can tell by how quiet everyone is being that she's hexed them into place.
A closer look confirms my suspicion, they're all paralyzed and numb-looking.
Then her words take the darkest turn thinkable.
"Now the time has come to let you all in on the truth."
I gulp because I feel like this is a huge moment taking place right here.
My mind is reeling and I feel helpless.
I suddenly realize that I can't do this.
There is nothing I can do to stop her, is there?
This is all going much faster than anticipated and I'm completely powerless.
What was my plan coming here anyway?
"See, you – all of you- have all been very entertaining over the last couple of decades but now it's finally time.
Your precious little lives have served their purpose. Or not. Because let me tell you, you've all proven to be nothing more than worthless little rats.
And now that I've found what I've been looking for I don't see any reason to hang on to any of you…"
She chuckles darkly and I feel the bile rise in my throat.
I can't help but wonder how she'll do it.
I wonder how she'll dispose of them and can feel myself falling apart.
Cora is a monster, enjoying making her victims tremble before she sets her teeth into them. She loves to play with her prays before the kill.
The woman is a predator of the worst kind.
Next to me, I feel Emma flinch again.
I turn to face her quickly and cover her ears with my hands, firmly... while pulling her against my chest.
Holding her close and trying to control my own breaths while blocking out the witch's voice.
I can't stand it.
Emma must be terrified.
I can't allow for Cora to do that to her… not if this moment is all we have left.
I close my eyes and breathe in Emma's scent.
This calms me a little.
After some time, Emma pulls back to look at me.
I'm still holding her face between my hands, covering her ears… and am not planning to let go of it any time soon, if ever.
I smile "Hi" and try to sound gentle while greeting her without actually speaking.
The look on her face is one of wonder and awe and for a moment I'm really forgetting whatever it is that's happening around us.
"Am I in heaven?"
She wonders and I can feel myself chuckling and tearing up all at once.
"Yes."
Her beautiful eyes go wide and her next thought completely enamors me.
"Are you an angel?"
I can feel myself blush and make a decision right there, right then…
to nod and tell her. "I am."
"I knew it." She smiles so beautiful and brightly as if she's so incredibly happy to be here, held by me.
I keep my focus on her deep green eyes.
I can't allow myself to think of the reality of the situation.
Who's to say what's real and what's not anyway?
Cora can rip it all away… rip us apart even… right now…
this moment is ours and nothing else matters.
"Wait." She halts her thoughts.
"If I've died and gone to heaven… and you're here… does that mean you're also"
She furrows her brows and looks so incredibly worried.
I shake my head and smile reassuringly…
"I'll always be with you, Emma." Meaning every word…
Because I will.
She's taken a part of me that is now irreversibly hers, whatever the future holds.
"Promise?" she's shy now.
"I swear." I nod determinedly.
The next thing I know… her eyes shift towards my lips and gods… my heart stops.
I can't help but part my lips and lick them… I need to…
And then she flinches.
I stiffle a sob and feel my eyes sting with hot tears…
Fuck, this hurts. So much.
Her eyes open and the look I receive is so very…
I can't stand it anymore.
I lean in and press my lips against hers.
Capturing her bottom one softly and focus solely on this and us and her.
I taste the salt of our tears mixed with the sweetness that is just 100% her.
This it it.
Trapped since forever but this moment is ours.
And if it's our last… it's going to be absolutely legendary.
It is. It's mind blowing and soft and so hard all at once.
It's everything… and like nothing I've ever felt.
It's like I'm having an outer body experience.
I pour my entire soul into kissing her and it sure as hell feels like she is too.
I've been blocking out Cora and everything that's happening around us for an unknown amount of minutes now, until it all suddenly returns.
Very sudden and very loud.
Cora, I don't hear but there's shouting and movement.
I open my eyes and draw back, letting my eyes wander to the scene around us.
Where before, everything and everyone had seemed to be frozen and lifeless… now the room is bursting with life.
Every single person is saying something, moving and … smiling… well it's smiles combined with looks of wonder, it seems.
It almost looks like… and then it hits me.
They're free and they are leaving.
I can feel warm hands on top of my own where I'm still holding Emma's face gently. She grabs them softly and slowly brings them down.
I look her in the eyes and find nothing but wonder.
"I think" she speaks.
"We did it." I breath and mindlessly pull her face towards mine again to bring our lips together again.
Because we did it.
As everyone seems impatient to leave this place,
they all seem to move towards the left wing of the building, probably following "teachers" who know about where to find windows to exit this prison through.
Emma pulls away slightly and I search her face.
"What were you talking about with Mr Gold."
"You remember?" I'm surprised she does.
"Yes, but it's all very confusing."
She's cute and she knows that I think so because there's that little smirk again.
I smile and blush, I feel that.
"There's a lot to explain…"
I tell her, thinking of where to start.
She nods, looks at me intently, takes my hands and enters my mind.
It's overwhelming… she's never been this close this intense.
It feels a little intrusive and weird but also pleasant and liberating.
I don't make any sense but none of this is so at this point, I don't even care anymore.
All I know is that this is Emma and she can enter me anytime.
She laughs and I roll my eyes, realizing how that sounded.
When her eyes go wider I know she's learned what I've known since yesterday.
Since I've read the book.
She's breathing hard now and gets up... she's pacing and thinking hard.
I know that she's still confused about a lot of things.
"Congratulations." He startles us both.
"Mr Gold." Emma addresses him first.
"I see you've figured it out."
"Did you know?" I ask him, because if he did I feel like he could have told me.
"No." He speaks the truth which I'm honestly relieved about.
"Who are you?" Emma's ready for answers.
The man breathes in and then starts to explain.
"Once upon a time… I was a mad man." He begins.
"I fell for her…"
Cora, I figure.
"I was consumed by her. Being used, yes but I couldn't care less.
That was… until she became pregnant. She was raging with anger.
It wasn't part of her life's plan, you see. She had her eye set on the King of the Dark Kingdom. So she… got rid of our child and broke my heart."
He tells us with great difficulty while trying to remain composed.
I feel sorry for him but really try not to show too much pity because I figure he wouldn't appreciate it.
"Then when the princess was born"
He looks at Emma who looks a little awkward and very very cute because of it.
"and of course… the prophecy came, I knew Cora was going to do anything to have destiny turn out in her favor.
She's a dangerous woman… she would have captured you and done terrible things before disposing of you after you'd have served your purpose.
She didn't give my child a chance… I could not allow her to do that again"
"to Emma." I nod.
"And you." He says and now looks at me.
"I don't see what I have to do with any of this." I shrug a little uncertain.
"Oh but you do."
"I don't know."
"See, I designed this curse and gave it to her… this way she felt like she was in charge… but I'd seen you from afar, Regina…
I knew you were destined for greatness and I knew that one day… things would turn on Cora… You were always supposed to break her curse…somehow...
I made sure that was going to happen."
"The book." I realize.
Emma looks confused at me but then nods.
I know she remembers what she saw in my mind and smile at her.
"There's still something I don't understand."
She suddenly says and I watch Mr Gold tilt his head.
"You gave her the curse… why would she trust you after having done such a terrible thing to you…"
I hadn't thought of that and immediately grow apprehensive of the man again.
He smiles a little wryly as if lost in the past and nods.
"Yes well… after those tragic events… I became desperate… I did something drastic."
"Something drastic."
Emma repeats his words, encouraging him to go on and I admire her determination to get to the bottom of this as fast as possible.
"I sold my soul to the darkness"
My breath gets caught in my throat and I know Emma's does too.
I swallow and nod slowly.
"and then altered my appearance so she wouldn't recognize me. She still has no idea of who I am. She actually trusted me… and I needed her to…
I needed for her to take me with her… to this place… so I could watch her crumble."
His voice is hoarse and I completely understand why.
He's waited so long for this moment and now finally… she's fallen…
Finally she's fallen. Cora.
"Where is she? Where's Cora?"
I suddenly realize I haven't seen her since before the curse broke.
She couldn't have just evaporated, right?
"Hiding, I reckon. She's lost all of her power. It took everything she's got to enact the curse and now that it's broken… she doesn't get to have that magic back. It's part of the price she pays for a wicked ways."
"Her chambers." I murmur.
"Most likely." He nods and gives me a meaningful look.
He knows what I'm thinking and I turn back towards Emma.
"There's something I need to do."
I want to leave this place so very badly but not without…
"Go. But be careful."
She nods in understanding and gives my lips a little peck making me all tingly and flustered.
I wordlessly tell her that I will and that she musn't worry.
That I'll be back right away.
She still trusts me and smiles.
EMMA'S POV
'So the prophecy…' I start off a little awkwardly while looking at Mr Gold.
I can't believe he's played such a huge part in this.
I know he's responsible for the curse as well… but his intentions were…
the right ones and in the end… he's saved us all.
It's taken pretty much an eternity… but Cora has been defeated…
He feels my gratitude and had not expected it.
He then shakes his head and smiles.
This confuses me a little.
"What the prophecy speaks of will happen… but you're not eighteen yet, Emma... but don't worry…it will happen." He explains me.
"Cora." I gasp… "But she…"
"Is harmless now… She's lost all of her powers to the curse… when you broke it… she lost it all." He tells me.
I know he's said it already, just moments before…
but honestly it doesn't harm to hear it again…
He knows I could use it and I'm thankful for that.
"But then how will the union ever happen… She needs my blood or something no?"
I wonder out loud.
"There's other Mills royalty, dearie. And it's something of much greater value that is needed."
He now kind of smirks at me, making me realize.
"Regina…"
"A union I think you'll find much more comfort in." He's right.
I blush because yeah…
REGINA'S POV
After a little detour I find myself in front of her door.
I'm nervous as I knock.
I can't believe my manners and then snort and enter without her confirmation.
She's there. Just as I had expected her to.
It's not like she has anywhere else to go. Anywhere else to hide.
"Mother."
It's more of an acknowledgment rather than a greeting really.
I'm not in the mood for pleasantries.
I reckon she isn't either since she doesn't say anything and since her curse fell apart today.
But I soon remember that I have to play this smart… so I soften my tone.
"I'm proud, you know."
I begin and she hadn't expect me to say this because she looks up at me in confusion.
"So powerful" I continue confident that she can't get into my head anymore…
being so utterly powerless and all.
I inwardly smirk and revel in the fact that that's private.
The glint in her eyes is unmistakable.
"So strong and magical. I would have never expected."
"Regina, dear."
She croaks and I hide my disgust for her term of endearment directed at me.
It doesn't suit her voice.
"All I ever wanted was for us to be happy. Independent and strong."
She says and I call bullshit right away.
"You look tired… you should eat something."
I offer and place one gorgeous and delicious looking apple in front of her.
She seems a little apprehensive.
But I smile and nod at her.
"As I was saying… I am so proud to be a part of this, mother."
Her focus is returned to my words and mindlessly she reaches out to grab the shiny fruit.
"This changes everything." I say while she bites, chews and swallows.
"You should have seen her mother. She's always believed in me and for her to be so incredibly powerful… I'm telling my pride is endless."
"What?" She spats.
I can't believe she fell for that and look at her in fake confusion.
"Emma." I say as if it's evident.
"This is about her?"
"Oh Cora, you have no idea how your curse broke, do you?"
Her eyes widen in horror.
"Perhaps you'll be proud to learn that I had my hand in it too."
I gloat and watch her crumble.
She's beginning to sweat and I look at the apple in her hand.
Proud of my beautiful tree that I'm now finally able to see again. All thanks to her.
"You see, when I kissed her… it was as if all time stood still…"
I laugh because that's nothing new, is it? "before it all started again…"
She throws the apple on her desk and visibly starts to tremble in fear.
"What have you done?"
"Oh I've done nothing, Cora."
"You're lying." She yells.
"I would never"
"You've poisoned me!"
she accuses me and I can see that her head has started to spin.
"I just gave you an apple."
She groans in pain or fear, I don't know and frankly I don't care either.
"A really good one at that. You remember my tree, don't you?
Oh you must... The one that's always stood symbol for all of my hopes and dreams… you know, those you've been suppressing and crushing since forever?... You see, it grows the most delicious fruits."
I tell her softly, truthfully.
"I guess, I don't know … it's just settling a score? It seems the tree has a will of it's own.
Just like the other day… when I ate it's fruit and got the control back over my own mind. Wonderful feeling, really."
"Am I dying?" She spats hatefully...
"Oh no... Although I'm not sure... I think... I think the tree's a little more creative than that.
Something along the lines of letting you relive this moment for an infinite span of time... You know, just to make sure you don't forget it."
I smile as sweetly as I can before her eyes close and she slumps back in her seat.
This woman that was never really my mother is finally paying and it's time for me to let go, leave and live...
With Emma.
EMMA'S POV
We meet at her chambers.
My heart flutters when she takes my hand in hers.
Her brown eyes are directed at our united hands.
"Is this okay?"
She asks me.
She feels that it is and already is smiling when I nod my confirmation.
"Let's go home."
I tell her softly and lead the way towards her open window,
dragging her along with me.
My eye catches sight of what's out there and it's more than I can describe.
It's how I remember the world looks like...
And I realize that I remember absolutely everything.
I hadn't actually stopped to think of this...
but my mind is now filled with memories of my life before I turned 17 and I suddenly realize the wetness on my cheeks.
Between everything...
that is one massive miracle, let me tell you...
A soft thumb catches each and every one of my tears.
She looks at me intently and softly ask me, slightly hesitant.
"Do you think there's a place for me there?"
My heart swells and the smirk on my lips forms itself...
How can she not be the most confident woman in every realm ever...?
She blushes as I clear my throat.
"You haven't been paying attention, have you, Miss Mills?"
THE END
