Well good morning. Ugh, it's 5am...I don't have anything to say except I don't own OUAT and thank you for the 2-5am beta session, both of us are fucking tired omg. And you guys should go check out "A Diamond is Forever" by Josey78 over on AO3, it's fresh and you'll like it!
Enjoy. All mistakes...blame it on the time.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Previously...
The peaceful and sleeping town of Storybrooke was abruptly disturbed as an earthquake tore through it with a vengeance, there was no magical cloud of purple or black, no gust of wind with a hint of rainbow in it signaling that a curse had been broken. It simply was. Though if had happened later in the day when the sun was out, and everyone could see...they would have seen that Storybrooke was expanding, that Storybrooke was no longer a little crumb hanging off the end of Maine...but now it's own island.
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Solid, jet black eyes blinked rapidly as Emma regained consciousness. The cool air on her backside was one of the first things she noticed and it quickly dawned on Emma that she was still in Storybrooke memorial, and in that damned ugly, green paper dress they force their patients into. Emma jumped to her feet and looked around her hospital room, the lights were off but the yellow emergency light sitting above the door was flashing rapidly. Emma took note that the nurses that were previously trying—and failing—to sedate her ran out of the room, but left the turned over cart and defibrillator in their haste. What the hell happened?
"But I must warn you Dark Knight, the amount of darkness bestowed upon you will break your dark curse." Dracula's warning echoed in the corner of her mind and Emma guessed that Storybrooke couldn't handle the amount of dark magic she brought back with her. She could feel it in her veins, and she felt stronger—stronger than she's ever felt before, and it was thrilling. She felt bigger, and badder than ever and Emma couldn't wait to test her new found abilities to their limits. The first thing Emma did, however, was get rid of the hospital green paper dress and into something more fitting like her Dark Knight armor but instead of the the hooded sleeveless vest and varying throwing knives— Emma replaced it with her dark red short sleeved v-neck and her single shoulder holster, armed with her .50 cal Desert Eagle.
Emma walked over to her sons bed, surprised—and relieved—that it hadn't tilted over during the brief magical earthquake. The heart monitor he was hooked up to still worked but Emma took notice of the flashing low battery sign at the bottom right corner of the small screen and she wondered just how long she'd been unconscious.
Emma quickly but carefully removed the patches from his small chest and the IV from his arm. With a quick flutter of her fingers over his body, Max was now wearing a pair of basketball shorts and hoodie, and Emma pulled him into her arms and left the hospital room to go search for the rest of her family and to get some answers.
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Storybrooke was in a state of absolute panic, there was no power, there was no sun, and the Storybrooke residents were regaining their previous memories by the minute-with the town only having one sheriff and the fire department being out of commission, it was chaos. There was a dark, ominous cloud hovering over the town of Storybrooke, it was unlike any storm cloud anyone has ever seen; magical being or not. The cloud held a massive amount of dark presence that even the Dark One was cautious and retreated back into his pawnshop like the coward he was.
Snow White stared at the hair-raising cloud from the window of her loft with a mixture of horror and anger...the past nine years of her life have been robbed from her...her son was murdered in cold blood, her husband was murdered in cold blood, and so her best friend, the Blue Fairy, was murdered in cold blood by her ex-friend Red Riding Hood. Snow was truly alone in this new world and that scared her—to be so alone and surrounded by enemies far more powerful than she could ever hope to be. Sure her alter ego, Mary Margaret, was best friends with the Mother of all fairies but the amount of evil residing in Storybrooke overwhelmed the amount of good, and it was terrifying.
Frantic knocking startled the short haired brunette from her musings and she jumped away from the window like she'd seen a ghost. Warily Snow moved through her loft towards the door, making a last minute decision to pick up her rolling pin. Since she didn't have a peep hole, Snow took a deep breath as she flung her door open like a mad woman, rolling pin reared back ready to attack.
Until she realized it was Principal Faye, the Fairy Queen, and her husband...well her cursed Storybrooke husband Jim, or Frederick in the Enchanted Forest. Snow stepped aside and allowed her friends and allies into her home before closing and locking the door firmly behind them.
"The curse is broken." was the first thing out of Snow's mouth, at least she had waited long enough for them to sit down.
The Fairy Queen nodded, lips pursed in deep thought. "Yes, I am sure everyone is aware of this Snow but we have more pressing matters to deal with-"
"Yes, like where is Abigail! We have to find her right now," Frederick scooted forward to the edge of the chair he was now occupying, "We all know she is...was friends with the Evil Queen, who knows what danger she's in now! We need to-"
"We need to make a plan." The Fairy Queen interrupted Frederick this time with a brief glare, the curly haired woman sighed deeply. "We can't focus on the Evil Queen and the Dark Knight right now...right now Snow," she repeated and emphasized those two words purposely, cutting off Snow's protest that no doubt was on the tip of the former Queen's tongue. "That cloud hovering in the sky is not a cloud but a portal, a portal of nothing but pure evil."
"Fine." Snow growled as she leaned back against the door, arms crossed but she was still holding on to her rolling pin like her life dependent on it. "How can you be sure? About the cloud?"
"I know evil when I see it...and I can feel it in my bones, Snow . Something big is happening...but I don't know what." Frederick grumbled under his breath but he said nothing else, he didn't care about anything other than finding his fiance but he wasn't about to be a fool and go parading around Storybrooke without backup.
Snow shook her head, pushing off the door. "We shouldn't just be sitting here! We should be out there hunting down the two witches that put us here!" Snow might as well have been foaming at the mouth to match the wild, angry glint in her eyes.
Frederick nodded and got to his feet, "I agree with Queen Snow, the cloud can wait...the Evil Queen and her Dark Knight need to face the consequences of their actions, and the longer we wait to hunt them down...the more time we give them to hide!"
The Fairy Queen opened her mouth to talk down both Snow and Frederick's angry and irrational thinking but the sound of people yelling and glass breaking outside caught her attention. Curiously, all three quickly moved to the window of Snow's loft that had the perfect view of Main street and saw that there was chaos. Property was being destroyed and people were fighting each other in the middle of the street.
Confused, Snow shook her head. "Why are they fighting each other?! They should be looking for the Evil Queen."
Mayah Faye sighed, and placed a calming hand on Snow's arm. "Snow-"
But the former Queen snatched her arm away and made a bee-line for the door without a word or a backward glance, it was clear that Snow's priorities weren't straight. She had a one track mind that was fueled by revenge. Frederick spared a glance to the Fairy Queen from the door that Snow left wide open in her haste, he shrugged apologetically and jogged after the short haired brunette. The Fairy Queen turned back to the window but she wasn't interested in the mayhem down below, but rather the danger that was hovering above them. She knew that there wasn't enough light magic in all of Storybrooke that would be enough to oppose the dangers that would arise in the future from the billow,no, they'd need a Savior to pull off that miracle.
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Snow and Frederick stepped out onto the sidewalk of main street and for Snow, it was like she was reliving the battle in the Dark Kingdom...the night her son was murdered and the Dark Curse was enacted. The memories were too fresh for her to handle, she couldn't...she felt as if she couldn't breath because she had lost everything to Regina and her...her spawn of Satan. Emma was not family to Snow White...she was a monster just like Regina and they both needed to be put down, and if their children put up a fight...Snow faltered for a moment, then shook herself of those soft feelings that got her tricked into the sleeping spell in the first place. If Maximilian and Madeline put up a fight, they'll be dealt with accordingly.
Frederick watched, curiously and cautiously, as Snow argued with herself quietly in the midst of a riot. "Do you have a plan?"
Snow turned to him sharply, she had forgotten that he was even there. "I do but I need your help."
Frederick inclined his head slightly, "As long as you promise to help me find my fiance...I am in your service."
Snow's grin was unbalanced and very unsettling.
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The hospital wasn't nearly as empty as Emma had thought, and hoped, it to be. Nurses and doctors were running around the dark hallways with flashlights like chickens with their heads cut off, but when they spotted Emma—they froze, and just stared at her as she walked right past them with her son in her arms, and some just simply ducked inside of a room and waited until she was gone.
Emma enjoyed their fear; their fear stroked her ego. Since Storybrooke's power was out, cell phones were out as well, and Emma had resorted to transporting to every floor in the hospital until she found who she was looking for. She was confused when she didn't find them on the same floor as her and Max—and the more time she spent looking for them, the more frustrated she felt.
On the fifth floor Emma stopped a nurse in green scrubs who didn't even bother to run off in the opposite direction, which was a nice surprise. The older womans face was familiar and Emma knew from that thought and her actions alone this woman was Dark Kingdom personnel.
"Dark Knight, it is good to see you again."
Emma nodded slightly, shifting Max in her arms (kid was heavy). If Emma wasn't confident about the curse being broken earlier, she was now—and damn it felt good to be recognized. Emma thought about correcting the woman and informing her of her new title, but she had more pressing matters than something so trivial—she will rectify that later. "It is good to be back, but I did not stop you to exchange pleasantries. Where is the rest of my family?"
The shorter woman stepped to the side, and turned to point down the hall she just walked out of. "The last I saw of the Dark Queen, she was down there through those double doors."
Emma's dark eyes narrowed, "The sign says burn center...why are they in the burn center? Who was burned?" Emma didn't mean to sound so panicked but her previous career left her with many images of burned victims from bombings and soldiers who survived a Blackhawk crash but never walked away from it—or looked the same. "Who was hurt?"
The nurse began to look nervous, not sure how she should deliver the news without putting her own life in danger. She knew how irrational the Dark Knight and Evil Queen could be when unpleasant news was delivered to them—and with the Dark Knight's eyes so dark and harrowed like they were now, she could only imagine what the taller womans reaction would be.
"It was your daughter." The shorter woman avoided Emma's intense gaze by looking down the hallway towards the burn center, and straightening her shoulders with confidence she didn't feel. "It was nothing serious!" she quickly added when she noted Emma's frown deepening from the corner of her eye, despite the hospitals lack of good lighting. "That's all I know on your daughter condition, I swear! I don't work in the burn center."
Emma took the womans word for it, though she had no choice but to take information in segments until things calmed down...Emma had no way of knowing what was happening outside, for all she knew—there could be a mob of angry peasants waiting to lynch her and her family with Snow ready to give the orders. "Do you know anything about the fire? How it started?"
"No, Lady Swan, I'm sorry...no one really knows how that fire was started but..." she hesitated, unsure or maybe unwilling to go on, but Emma took a step forward into the nurses personal space—even with a child in her arms, the ex- military officer can be intimidating. "B-but I heard it wasn't an accident...one of the firefighters found a punctured gas line and..."
Emma had tuned the shorter woman out...it wasn't an accident? So somebody did intentionally try to harm her family. If it wasn't for the fact the curse was still intact when it happened, Emma would have a long list of who did it and why...but right now, she didn't have a clue and that pissed her off even more. She wasn't aware that she had walked away from the nurse, her mind was far away...in a dark place. It wasn't an accident. It wasn't a fucking accident. Something shifted deep inside of the blonde, something murderous and suddenly the gun sitting on her side felt a lot heavier than it ever has before—but she wouldn't need a gun when she found this arsonist...no, her bare hands would be more appropriate.
She shifted Max in her arms once more, once again wondering how a kid his size could be so heavy...her arms were starting to go numb, and if he didn't wake up soon—she'd toss him over her shoulder, it was less of a strain that way. Finally they reached the end of the hall and pushed through the double doors that led into the burn center which wasn't huge, and it was empty—Emma was thankful for that, the less time spent in one unfamiliar place the better. She was careful not to slip on the paper that was scattered all over the tiled floor as she walked door to door looking for her family. It was surprising that all the rooms were occupied and not a nurse or doctor in sight...something wasn't right.
"Emma?"
Pivoting around quickly, Emma found herself face to face with Lacey—well Belle. "Lacey...er, Belle? Belle. What are you doing here?"
"I was here with Lucy, I mean P-Pocahontas and...and...and...oh my god! Emma!" Wide eyes looked up at Emma in fear, one hand reaching out to grasp Emma's shoulder, to steady herself. "The Curse" she whispered as if it was taboo to say, "It's broken...but...but how? Oh god...oh my god, what have I done?" Belle's other hand covered her mouth, hiding her quivering bottom lip from Emma's view.
Emma finally noticed the giant knot on Belle's forehead and figured the woman just regained consciousness...and if she was here in the burn center that only meant one thing. "Where is Pocahontas? How badly was she hurt?"
Belle shook her head, her mind reeling from the memories of the last nine years of her cursed life. "R-Red...she knows. Oh my god...Emma what do I do?"
Emma shifted her son her over shoulder gently and put her now free and tingling hand on Belle's shoulder, and shook her gently. "Belle, calm down!"
"I can't Emma, Ruby is going to kill her!" Belle all but shouted.
Yeah she is, Emma inwardly agreed, "You don't know that! The Curse wasn't what we all expected but we don't have time to do this now. Where is-"
"Emma?"
Both Belle and Emma turned to find the source of the tired voice that called out, it was Cora with Regina standing right behind her. Cora and Regina looked disoriented and their clothes were covered in a light layer of plaster but they were otherwise unharmed. With a relieved smile and seemingly forgetting all about Belle, Emma strode over to her family and it was at that same time that Max began squirming as he came back into consciousness.
Emma pulled Regina in for a tight hug, as Cora took Max off of her shoulders and set him down on his feet. "Emma what was that? Was that the curse breaking?" Regina could feel Emma's magic humming through her body, she could practically feel her own awakening deep down inside but it was out of her reach—for now. She pulled back and took a closer look at her wife and gasped silently. "What's wrong with your eyes?"
"Nothing...I just...this is a side effect of a magic overload I guess, I don't know. It'll go away...you don't think it's weird or ugly...do you?"
Even though she couldn't read the blondes eyes like she normally could, Regina felt Emma's insecurity more than she heard it. Taking Emma's face in her hands, Regina brought her wife down for a kiss. She didn't need to use words because everything she was thinking was conveyed through that small, but loving kiss. Emma simply smiled and pulled away, as much as she would love to stand there and hold Regina—they had to get to safety first.
"How badly is Madeline hurt?"
Regina took a shuddering deep breath but Cora answered Emma first, "It's not as bad as you think it is, dear, I promise..."
But Emma wasn't that easily convinced, easing her way between Regina and the half-opened door behind the brunette, Emma's sight honed in on the small, yet recognizable form of her daughter in the hospital bed in the middle of the room. She wasn't hooked up to any heavy machinery thankfully, but her torso and part of her right arm was carefully wrapped heavy white cotton cloth like material. As Emma inched further into the room, she was barely aware of Max asking his other mother about his sister and the curse, and whatever murderous thoughts she'd been tempted to entertain was now completely extinguished when she reached her daughter.
Hazel eyes fluttered open, tired but relieved to see her mother and her other mother was also alive and well. It only took Madeline a few seconds to register that Emma was not the Emma she was familiar with. Emma recognized the flash of emotion in those small hazel eyes; fear. It was an emotion that she loved to instill into anyone she deemed deserving, but right now Emma felt hurt that her daughter was scared of her. Of all things and people she should be afraid of Emma should not have been one of them, or Regina.
Tentatively, Emma set both of her hands on the guard rails—and for her part, Madeline didn't flinch but her unnerving gaze didn't waver. Emma was starting to feel awkward and not in a good way, but when was awkward ever good? She and Madeline were having an unintentional stare down, until Emma just couldn't take it anymore and yielded first—the Dark Knight, yielding to a child but it wasn't to just any child. If she had looked for a while longer, she would have seen Madeline's fear melt away into genuine curiosity. "I...um, hi kid. It's good to see you awake and okay..."
Maddi smiled at her blonde mothers awkwardness, "Are you okay ma?"
"I'm good, I think...a lot going on outside, I don't know. I'm just glad you're okay, I was so scared that something happened to you and Max. I just..." Emma trailed of, staring down at her hands, touched by her daughters concern for her well being (like always). "I know I look kind of scary right now but it's not permanent okay?" Emma looked up worriedly, not even noticing that Madeline didn't even flinch this time, "You know I'm not gonna to hurt you right? I'll never hurt my family."
Madeline set her good hand on top of Emma's and squeezed it as tightly as she could in her weakened state, "I know ma, it's just kinda weird seeing your eyes like that...you really are this evil Dark Knight that everyone is scared of?"
"Technically I'm a Queen, kid." Emma shuffled her feet, and shrugged as if it weren't a big deal. Madeline's eyes lit up with excitement but before she could utter a word, the lights flickered back on and it blinded everyone who was conscious in the building. Emma looked over her shoulder to see Regina and the others coming into the room, and Pocahontas was amongst the group—she didn't look too bad, not really. The Native Warrior had a neck gauze taped to the side of her neck and both of her arms were wrapped in the same cloth that Madeline had. She was still walking and breathing, so she was just fine in Emma's mind.
Pocahontas smiled when she saw her best friend but they both knew that this was not the time for pleasantries, Cora looked at Emma curiously—it was obvious that, like Regina, the older Mills was picking up on Emma's shadow magic which was a hell of a lot stronger than it was a few days ago and stable. While Regina began helping Madeline out of the bed with Belle's assistance, Emma took notice of Cora's studious gaze. "What?"
"You have your magic."
Pocahontas rolled her eyes behind Cora and mouthed Captain Obvious to Emma, and Regina shot the Native Warrior a glare. Emma nodded, willing away her smile. "Yeah, so what? You don't?"
"Not exactly dear, dark magic works a bit differently than shadow magic. Right now you're our only sword and shield." Cora sighed loudly, looking at Emma as if she should know this by now. Emma simply shrugged, not getting what Cora was trying to tell her and why the older woman was glaring at her.
Just as Cora opened her mouth, no doubt she was going to reprimand Emma's inescapable Charming genetics, Regina came to her wife's rescue. "Emma, dear, you're the only one with magic strong enough to transport a group of people."
Cora sidled up to Emma once Madeline was out of the hospital bed and secure in Regina's arms, much like Max was now glued to Emma's side. "Yes, now take us to my home in the forest Emma. Not many people know where I live, and we will be safe there for the time being."
Emma agreed and thought it would have been a great idea but there was on problem with that plan, "I have no idea where you live Cora so we're going to have to settle for Regina's house."
"We'll be sitting ducks, open for attacks from all sides!" Cora exclaimed as if that would make Emma change her mind, but by the time Cora stopped talking—she realized that they were no longer in the hospital but standing in Regina's foyer.
While all the adults, except for Emma, were perplexed how Emma transported them so fast and without their knowledge—Max and Madeline looked up at Emma with awe, "Whoa..."
Whoa indeed, Emma agreed silently...it felt damn good to use her magic again, and it was clawing beneath the surface of her skin to get free.
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The Fairy Queen walked back into the house she shared with her revenge crazed cursed husband, Frederick. Not bothering with anything inside her home, the dark skinned woman walked through her house all the way to her back porch where she grew her own vegetables and herbs, it was a cursed habit of hers that she favored but now that she was aware. She realized that the curse may have suppressed memories, but it didn't change who a person was on the inside, gardening was her favorite past time back in the Enchanted Forest.
The Fairy Queen knew it would take her longer to familiarize herself with the herbs she's been tending for the last nine years, but that is not why she was here. Mayah pulled a pen out of her purse and ripped a small blank strip of paper from a print-out in her purse as she approached the pigeon coop Mary Margaret, er, Snow White had gotten for her and paused, of course Snow would have given her the coop. She didn't understand the womans fascination with anything that flew or scampered about at the time, but she was grateful for the coop now.
She wrote three words. Three words were all that was needed. After Mayah rolled the small piece of paper, she searched more a small piece of spring. If she had her magic, she would have attached it to her bird of choice and be done with her task, but eventually she snatched a piece of thread from her blouse, and ultimately ruining the shirt.
Mayah carried the pigeon carefully in both her hands, silently praying over it as she walked towards the middle of her backyard. With a kiss on it's tiny gray feathered head, and a silent "amen". The Fairy Queen released the bird into the air and watched as it climbed higher and higher into the sky moments before it entered the ominous cloud. She could only hope that the message gets through safely.
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Mills Residence...
"Emma, how could you forget the healing spells I taught you?!" Regina could choke Emma sometimes, especially when she showed evidence of being Snow and Charmings offspring.
"It's been nine years Regina. At least I remembered the protection spell!" Emma simply shrugged, embarrassed. They were all sitting in Regina's spacious living room, Cora was standing by the window watching for signs of trouble with Belle (who was really just avoiding being close to Pocahontas), Pocahontas was sitting in the chair near the fireplace—watching Belle like a starving hawk, and it was a bit unsettling in Regina's opinion but she and Emma had to take care of their children before handling the drama between their friends, and the inevitable fight that was sure to be coming their way.
"I feel okay Regina, I'm just tired." Maddi tried to reassure the worried older brunette and ease the pressure from Emma but it was a futile attempt because Max felt the need to mention the obvious. Of course she was still feeling the effects of the morphine, the effects of feeling no pain, and being tired. They were all aware that once it wore off, Madeline would be in more pain that she would be able to bear before passing out, again. Regina didn't want to see her baby-girl like that again, she didn't want to hear her crying like that again and as much as she loved when Madeline clung to her like she was her last lifeline, Regina didn't want to go through that again.
"Emma, what do you know about that cloud? Is it dangerous?" Belle glanced over her shoulder, managing to avoid looking in Pocahontas' direction and the Native Warrior offered a small knowing smile and it held a hint of smugness.
"Don't you remember the burning of the White Kingdom, Belle? It's a cloud that promises death and-"
Regina's glare stopped Pocahontas mid-reminiscence and Emma bowed her head to hide her amusement, "Captain, I would appreciate it very much if you could refrain from mentioning such morbid acts of cruelty in front of my children."
Pocahontas looked down with a slight nod, "Yes Your Highness, my apologies."
"I hope you have a better apology than that dear," Cora turned from the window with crossed arms and Belle looked worried, "The wolf is here, and she looks quite upset." Cora chuckled and eyed Pocahontas, "You poked the fire this time, my dear."
"Poor choice of words mother." Regina growled when Maddi frowned down at her damaged arm and then the brunette swiveled around to her wife, "Take care of it."
Emma nodded, getting to her feet swiftly. She kissed Max and Maddi on the top of their heads with promises that she'd be safe and back before they knew it.
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Ruby had broken away from the angry, violent crowd that was forming near downtown Storybrooke near the bridge that led to the shopping center. The creepy cloud hovering over the town shielded them from the outside world but it also made them blind to what was happening around them. Everyone was losing their minds, and they were after two people; the Dark Queen and her Dark Champion.
Ruby could care less about any of it, she was after one person; Belle. Red snuck away from the sights of the crowd and went searching for Belle. It may have been nine years, but she would never forget Belle's aroma. The young wolf was well aware that she would most likely find Bella and Pocahontas together, but she quelled her anger by constantly reminding herself that it was the curses fault...she wanted to give Pocahontas the benefit of not being a back stabbing bitch and touching what did not belong to her.
Ruby didn't exactly have a true claim over Belle back in the Enchanted Forest but it was quite obvious they belonged to each other and no one else.
I'll kill that bitch! Red growled viciously before she could stop herself, she couldn't think like that. No matter how much she wanted to give into her blood thirsty temptation. Pocahontas was a friend...she was family and it was the curse, not Pocahontas and not Belle. Ruby pushed open Regina's front gate but stopped short when Emma suddenly transported herself between Red and the Mayor's front door.
With her memories intact, Red couldn't help but compare the Enchanted Forest Dark Knight to this new world Dark Knight—and she wasn't sure which was more intimidating. Red knew Belle was inside, she could smell her, hell she could see her standing in the window next to Cora, both of them were watching. Fighting her wolfs urge to rush past Emma and re-claim what she's apparently lost, Red forced a smile. "Emma...it's good to see you, though I'm disappointed I found you all so easily."
Emma shrugged, bringing Red's attention to the powerful weapon tucked into her side...the release unclasped. "It's good to see you too old friend...any news from town worthy of sharing?"
"Snow and Knight Frederick are gathering an angry mob. They want your head, and Regina's head on a spike." Red spared Belle another glance, but the older brunette simply looked down— and Red felt a piece of her heart beginning to break, more than it was already broken. "Emma-"
"You're not going inside Red." furious brown eyes met unreadable black ones. "Not until you calm down."
Red took a small step forward but Emma did not move an inch, she wasn't even scared...and there was something off about her smell Red was beginning to notice. She smelled...better than she did before, and Red liked it. "Emma, please...you don't understand how badly I need to see her! I need to see her and smell her and touch her...I...I'm calm I swear I am!"
Emma could hear the desperation in Red's voice but she could also see the young womans wolf waiting for the right moment to burst free of it's confines. She knew as soon as Red's eyes landed on Pocahontas it would all be over with. Pocahontas' scent was all over Belle and vice versa...Red was in a fragile state of mind, she wouldn't be able to handle it, not right now.
"I'm sorry Red but-"
"That's not fair! You had no memories when you got here and you got your wife back! Why can't...ugh, why can't I have my Belle back?!" the harsh growling got deeper and Red was starting to loose her control just as Emma predicted and this time, she did take a step back remembering how much it hurt to be tackled by a beast triple a grown mans weight. But to her utter surprise, Red stopped mid shift...she still looked like her human self, but her wolf was showing, her nails were sharper than they were before and her canine teeth were elongated.
Emma held up her hands in a placating manner, and firmly planted her feet, "Red, I'm not trying to keep Belle from you or you from her! But look at you right now, you're not in control...look at Belle, look at her!" Red's brown eyes shifted back to the window and realized that Emma was right, Belle looked scared but for what she didn't know. Didn't Belle know her enough to know that she'd never hurt her? Has she forgotten already? Was...was Belle unsure with who she really wanted to be with?
"What's the matter pup, can't handle rejection?" both Emma and Red turned to the porch so fast they could have given themselves whiplash. Pocahontas was leaning against the pillar to Emma's left, with cloth covered arms crossed over her chest.
"Pocahontas..." Emma cautioned with a slight glare, "I don't need your help with this."
Pocahontas ignored her sister in arms, "Lemme tell you something pup...it was fun parading around with Belle knowing you couldn't remember a damn thing. Nine years is a long time to play dumb but seeing your pitiful puppy eyes was worth it."
"W...what?" Red hissed, shocked and confused.
"You were aware for the past nine years?!" Emma scoffed in disbelief, dropping her head back and looking up at the depressing sky. "But how is that even possible?"
Pocahontas' smirk grew, "I killed Robin Hood back in the Enchanted Forest. Gruesome fight with that bastard I'll admit, but I beat him to death with my bare hands. I left him there to come help you and the Dark Queen but before I could reach the throne room, I ran into the curse head on. I don't know how the hell I got here, I was knocked unconscious...but when I woke up, I remembered everything...and I found a white Rukh feather in bed with me. It's been my lucky feather ever since."
Emma picked up her head with wide black eyes, "A Rukh feather? Holy shit...it protected you from the Dark Curses amnesia spell but...why play dumb? And why Belle?"
"With the Dark One, the Queen of Hearts and the Dark Queen running around with active memories...I figured I'd be better off." Emma couldn't argue with that logic, honestly if she was in Pocahontas' situation she'd have done the same thing.
"Why Belle?! Why not anyone else?" Ruby demanded taking another step forward threateningly, and she and Emma could hear the angry shouts of various people coming their way, along with Snow White's annoying screeching trying to rile up her ignorant followers.
Pocahontas met the wolf's angry eyes bravely, "Because she was mine first."
Emma was prepared for the werewolf's charge, and for Red it felt like she had just charged right into a brick wall. Red was snarling in her face and trying to toss her aside, her sights were set on Pocahontas who was still leaning on the pillar casually but this time Regina was standing there as well, with a displeased frown. Red was trying to throw all her weight into pushing Emma back but the Dark Knight was far stronger than that. Emma grabbed the back of Ruby's thighs and took the wolf down.
From the porch Regina's dark eyes narrowed dangerously as Emma straddled Red to press all her weight down onto the wolf to keep her down and Pocahontas was starting to feel uncomfortable. It was no secret how possessive and crazy the Dark Queen could get over Emma, and being in a different world didn't change that at all.
Emma was completely oblivious to her wife's growing agitation behind her, she was using magic to force Red back into her human form and rendering the brunette unconscious with a quick wave of her hand over Red's face. When the wolf fell limp on the sidewalk beneath her, Emma stood up and dusted off her hands. "Well that was easy. Regina, can I poof her to the living room? She'll be out for a couple of hours. Regina? Whats wrong babe?"
From behind her, Emma heard Snow's irritatingly high pitched voice call out, "Get away from her Emma!"
Emma closed her eyes, annoyed, as she slowly turning back to the entrance of the gate. When she opened her eyes, hoping it was just her imagination but, no, Snow was there. Behind Snow White was what looked like the entire town, and they were all armed with baseball bats, crowbars and other various household weapons and Granny had her crossbow cocked and aimed right at Regina.
"Snow White." Regina spat the former Queens name with a sneer, "I see you're still recruiting idiots to fight your battles."
"I don't think so girl." Granny said from behind Snow White, "You cursed all of us to this realm and corrupted my granddaughter. Your problem isn't just with Snow." several of peasants hollered out their agreements, and a few obscene phrases.
Emma reached for her gun (not that she really needed it) and froze when she couldn't find it there, then cursed her obliviousness when she spotted it laying in the grass near the gate, next to Snow. It must have fallen from her holster when she brought Red down and knocked her out. She could have simply used magic to bring it back to her...or brought back one of her tactical shotguns to make an example of someone.
But instead of doing any of those things, Emma crossed her arms calmly with her head tilted to side curiously as she watched Snow White pick up her .50 cal pistol with two shaky, untrained hands, "Oh come on, mommy. You're not still upset about Henry, are you? It was just business."
Snow stared hard a Emma, so hard if she had the power to do so, Emma would be ashes at her feet along with Regina and Cora. "You're the Devil."
"Perhaps." A slow, and amused shit eating grin stretched across the Dark Knights face. "Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't. Right?" Snow aimed the gun at Emma's torso and pulled the trigger. Three times.
Regina and Pocahontas alarmed yells were barely heard over the three booming shots fired from the Magnum made weapon. Snow wasn't prepared for the amount of recoil from three shots and she flew back into the group behind her. All three shots hit their intended target but no damage was done. Emma's shadow magic absorbed all three explosive shots with ease, almost like they weren't even there. When Snow pulled the trigger, Emma's body and magic acted out of pure instinct—instinct she didn't know she possessed. Emma was cocooned in her shadow and it became a transparent armor of steel, her skin still pinched and tingled but she felt absolutely fine. Had she'd not been 'upgraded', Snow would have killed her on the spot.
Regina rushed down the steps to her wife, frantically checking over body for holes and found none. Emma was perfectly fine. "You idiot! Why didn't you use your magic to take that damned thing away from her Emma?! Of all the people in control of their magic, and you don't use yours!"
Emma shrugged nonchalantly, "My Queen, you should know by now...nothing can kill me."
"But...But how?!" Snow cried in disbelief, and for once Regina agreed with her as did Pocahontas, they wanted to know how the hell Emma took those shots and survived. Emma was confused, did they not see her shadow protect her? Was it for her eyes only? She probably needed to talk to Rulf...or Dracula about this.
Emma didn't answer, she wanted to try something...she turned to the crowd that was once brave and confident, now they looked ready to run. Emma reached out in mid-air like she was trying to catch a fly, when she closed her fist...everyone dropped dead, or at least it seemed that way. Pocahontas took a step back in shock, and inside of the house. Cora snapped out of her musings and ushered her grandchildren from the window, ignoring their protests. Belle stayed by the window, staring at the horrifying scene before her...it looked like Emma created a massacre with a sweep of her hand and she didn't know how she felt about the amount of power Emma was displaying. She wondered if that's what she did to her little wolf.
Upon closer inspection, Regina saw that the people were still breathing and conscious but they were paralyzed and couldn't speak. She looked at her wife in aberrant fascination, "My love, what did you do?"
Emma opened the palm of her hand with a terrifying grin, "I took their souls." Sitting in the palm of her hand was a medium sized ball of black swirling dark silhouettes.
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Somewhere in New York City...
An older woman, with straight pale blonde hair and pale blue eyes sat in the windowsill of her one bedroom apartment smoking a cigarette. She knew it was bad for her health...but she didn't care, cigarettes have been her friend for the past nine years. She flicked away the still burning bud down into the rotten alley five floors down and blew out the last of the poison from her lungs. A pale hand reached for another...her last suicide stick for the night when fluttering caught her attention. Sure, New York had plenty of pigeons on every street corner and they flocked to everyone out of curiosity or stupidity..but she knew that this time was different. She felt that this was no ordinary pigeon flying to her.
She tentatively held out her hand, offering it as a perch which was gladly accepted. Judging by the ruffled feathers and labored breathing, this bird has been flying none stop. She didn't open the message tied to his talon but took him inside and set him on her dining table. Moving quickly with excitement and anxiousness, the woman in the white night gown set a bowl of warm water in front of the pigeon and crumbled crackers all around it, and grabbing the message from his talon before it got wet .
It is time.
For the past nine years, she's been waiting oh so patiently for this very moment...she had been waiting for those three little words for nine whole years. She went to pick up the single ornament that decorated the mantle above her fireplace...a single, silver urn. She hugged it close to her chest with a content sigh. "It is time, my loves."
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
SQ :: SWAN QUEEN :: SQ
Well, started off a little slow...picked up towards the end. Exciting stuff huh? Birds, the Savior is coming, Soul snatching, werewolf trying to move Emma to get to Pocahontas who had her memories all this time! Oooh snap!
Next chapter we'll address the more things, this day isn't done yet...and did you guys see how possessive Regina was when Emma took down Ruby? Makes you wonder what's really gonna happen when Medusa drops in...
Also, I posted a new story "Miracle on Wall Street" it's not GP, but check it out anyway. When I'm not here, I'm there. And vice versa.
MonsterGalore.