Chapter 9
Invisible Threads
"Invisible threads are the strongest ties."
― Friedrich Nietzsche
Concentrating on magic was hard for someone who was incredibly new to it. Emma may be considered a saviour but she had far to go to get there. People don't save others in a day after some declaration. You need the mentality and emotional stability to handle what you will face. Not everything will be sunshine and daisies. There will be hardships, pain, loss, fear and anger all balled up into several moments that appear sporadically.
That's what Emma had learned so far from Rumplestlikin.
"There's more being a saviour than just saving others dearie. It's not only about using you magic. You must also realize what price you will have to pay. What are you willing to sacrifice?"
The princess wasn't sure if she was willing to sacrifice anything. As she sat on the bed in the room she was staying in as she continued to reside in the palace, her thoughts drifted back to her earlier practicing with Erue.
…
"So what exactly are we doing?"
"We dearie are beginning anew."
"Beginning anew? What does that mean?"
"You need to start fresh, clear your mind."
"Yeah that's not going to happen. Jefferson already tried that with me…didn't work."
"Oh but that's where you're wrong, he did exactly what was needed."
"What would that be?"
"He planted the seed in your mind."
"Oh."
"Now, I want you to close your eyes. What you're about to do is incredibly tricky and will require great concentration. That's why the boy isn't here."
Emma smirks at that. She figures Jones would be pouting like a little boy off with his mate complaining about it. She senses her mate doing the same, his body behind her like a shield protecting her from any danger or foe.
"Now you and Erue must focus on me and use your magic to send the arrow in your hand towards me."
"Okay…"
"Very well. Begin."
Emma breathes in and out, her mate's rumbling belly doing the same. Her mind zones in and she swears she could sense something moving around her.
"Erue…do you sense that?"
"I do Aer. I do."
Emma nods. She isn't communicating with her mouth but through her mind so she can continue to concentrate on finding Rumplestilskin.
"Erue I lost it. I lost where it went."
"As did I."
"How can we find him?"
The blonde hears her mate sigh and her frustration begins to grow.
"What kind of Saviour am I if I can't do something so simple!"
All of the sudden a blast shoots out and the pair whip their eyes open only to reveal Rumplestilskin standing there with broken pieces of a vase around him. The arrow lay on the ground amongst the shatterings, nowhere near it's intended target.
"Well done dearie. But anger will only get you so far. In this instance, you and Erue were not connected. You must focus on the bond between you two in order to sense me. We will try again.
Rumple waves his hand and the arrow is once again in Emma's hand. She shuts her eyes as did Erue.
"Now this time focus on your bond."
The princess focuses on her mate's presence, and how he made her feel. A swell of love burst from her and she smiles. Erue has the same feeling inside of him and it flourishes like a blooming flower.
The pair are so focused on each other though that they barely hear the golden man speak.
"Well done dearie."
Emma and Erue open there eyes to reveal the scaly man holding onto the shaft of the arrow, with the tip pointing directly towards his nose.
"Now that is what your magic is capable of."
"Wow."
"Indeed Aer. It is truly incredible."
"We've only just scratched the surface though of what you two can do. I believe that is enough for today. We shall continue tomorrow. In the meantime I believe that you should meditate. Focus on the nature around to you calm your cores."
"Of course, thank you."
"And one more thing Miss Swan, for future reference, there's more being a saviour than just saving others dearie. It's not only about using you magic. You must also realize what price you will have to pay. What are you willing to sacrifice?"
With that Rumplestilskin giggles and nods, disappearing in a cloud of purple smoke. Emma merely stares at the spot he had been standing, speechless.
…
And all of that led to her current situation, as she sat on her bed cross-legged, her hand in her lap as Erue lay across the carpet on the other side of the bed.
"You think too much Aer."
Emma glared at her mate who snorted out smoke as he adjusted his sleeping position.
"It makes me restless."
"Well I am terribly sorry for ruining your nap time."
Erue figured he'd get no rest as his mate's mind was a wreck so with great difficulty (he was in such a comfortable position) he forced himself to look at Emma. His eyes blinked wearily a few times, adjusting to the brightness that encompassed him. The green beast felt a little more concerned when he saw his mate looking out the window, her eyes glazed over.
"What is troubling you Aer?"
"It's the whole saviour thing that he was talking about. Sacrifice. I'm not sure I can sacrifice anything. Nothing comes to mind."
Erue stretched his neck to lay his head on the end of the bed, his eyes focused on his mate. She stroked his face gently and he inwardly grinned at the affection. His eyes opened then and stayed on her.
"I believe that is something you will discover as you learn more."
"I guess that means we just live, day by day huh?"
"So it would seem."
…
Killian paced in his room as his mate watched him move from one side of the room to the other.
"You are exhausting me Aqua."
Killian sighed and ran a hand through his hair.
"Sorry."
He showed his dashing grin which made Iaoch snort in laughter. Her belly rumbled and her mate was incredibly amused.
"Even my charm works on you! I just don't understand how Swan is completely obviously. She'd rather put knives to my throat than say anything remarkably complimentary to me."
"And this bothers you because?"
"I'm not entirely sure."
The pair exchanged an entertained look to which then Killian resumed his pacing.
"Aqua it does you no good to stress over something you cannot control."
"Easy for you to say. You can have your way with any dragon easily."
"You know that is not how it works."
"I know I know. It's just…I can't fathom it Iaoch."
"You are used to women showering you with affection. The blonde is an anomaly. She does not fit in the norm of the others."
"An outcast."
"More like an outsider. I believe she was never a part of the group that fights for your attention."
"Why do you think that is?"
"I think she always had it."
…
Charming observed his wife and the prince walk through the gardens. As any proper gentleman, Walsh led Snow by his arm, and the King could observe the amicable chatter between the two of them. The prince seemed like a good man, after all he was polite, proper and friendly; everything that his own daughter seemed to lack.
Walsh would be an excellent king from what Charming had seen, though he had yet to see the prince's parents. The brunette seemed incredibly fond of them which was another admirable trait. Despite all of this though the king could not shake the uneasy feeling in his gut that told him not everything was what it seemed. That though was impossible; Charming was an excellent judgement of character.
Right?
…
After a nice soothing bath, Emma walked up to the closet of her room and began sorting through the clothing. She didn't have much; only what she had managed to pack in the last minutes, but she grabbed a light, white cotton shirt and her brown leather pants with the green corset. The outfit looked good and made riding easier. All in all it made movement easier.
It wasn't that it mattered anyway, but Emma was a princess and did care about her appearance. And no it had nothing to do with a certain blue eyed man.
Once satisfied with her looks, the blonde turned around to see her mate giving her an amused look.
"What?"
"I have never known you to be so focused on your form before."
"I'm a girl Erue. I always care about how I look."
"Is that so?"
Emma narrowed her eyes at the green dragon. "Just what exactly are you implying?"
"That there may be more reasons to you checking the mirror several times than just a mere generalization of half of your species."
The princess shrugged her shoulders and brushed past her mate, her focus on getting food for her rumbling stomach.
"Think what you will but it's the truth. I'm going outside to meditate."
Erue didn't believe his mate but made no remark against her. He figured he'd let her ignorance linger if it meant she'd focus on the task. Distraction was something she did not need at the moment.
…
Emma sat on a rock in the wrecked courtyard. Her eyes were closed and her breathing was deep as she sat in silence. The blonde felt at peace, the calmness flowing through her like water. Every once in a while a breeze would caress her face and she'd smile and shiver just a tad.
Unfortunately the state did not last long as the forest began to make noise, as if something was barreling through it. Her eyes flashed open and she was on her feet in a second, only to see Jones come tripping over his own two feet out of the side. Emma glared at him and went back to meditating, hoping he'd realize the idea that she wanted him gone.
But that was asking too much of the idiot.
Instead he sat down on the ashen grass beside her rock and looked out onto the courtyard, with no intention of moving.
"You're disrupting my concentration."
"Sorry Swan. Didn't realize you were the concentrating type."
Emma opened her eyes wide and stared at him in disbelief. "And what is that supposed to mean?"
Jones simply sat and stared at his fingernails even to the point of picking out the grub underneath them. He didn't realize he was about to sink himself in deep waters so he kept on going.
"You know…you're always all over the place. A mess if you ask me. You're indecisive and therefore are unable to focus on one thing. Look how long it took you to float a rock back at Jefferson's."
She was in shock, absolutely dumbstruck. There were no words to say to his idiocy so Emma slid off of the rock and walked away from him. He chased after her though, he's always doing that, and grasped her arm, turning her around to face him.
"Swan what did I say?"
"You're kidding right?"
His face was dead serious which only enraged the blonde more.
"You're a downright prick! You insult me and then try to lift me up only to bring me back down again! I have a huge weight on my shoulders and all you can do is push it down! You're not supportive but laugh when I fail! You rejoice in it." she sneered at him, a finger digging into his chest.
Killian didn't like that so he grabbed her wrist and twisted it so it was behind her back and she was forced to be chest to chest, his breath falling onto her nose and with great reluctance she had to look up into his ocean eyes.
"I'll have you know that without me you would still be stuck in Ouat doing whatever it is you're running away from. I'm practically you're saviour love."
Emma's eyes flashed and out of nowhere a great force pushed Jones off of her, sending him flying back onto the broken cobblestone in the middle of the courtyard. Emma's eyes were now glowing purple as a purple fog came out of her hands and drifted onto the ground. Killian scrambled backwards only to hit a rock making him unable to keeping moving away as the furious blonde approached.
"NO ONE IS MY SAVIOUR. I SAVE MYSELF AND MYSELF ONLY. AND I AM NOT YOUR LOVE!"
Her arms outstretched themselves and Killian was thrown into the air and sent flying back into the forest. His was gone and Emma's eyes went back to normal as if nothing had happened. Of course something drastic had occurred and guilt began to eat up Emma as she looked at her hands in fear. A loud yell was heard then from inside the forest and Emma's looked up to where Jones had disappeared.
"JONES!?"
"HELP!"
The princess dashed off into the forest, stumbling along the way as she tried to find Jones through the trees and vines. Soon she came across a clearing and there laid Jones in the middle, with a pack of beasts closing in on him. His leg was broken since he was wincing in pain while trying to ward of the creatures with his hand.
"Jones…"
He turned and looked at Emma, his eyes full of sorrow with what had occurred between them.
The beasts had large fangs that protruded from their mouths. Their eyes were neon green with wicked red fur that claimed streaks of yellow. The leader though had streaks of blue and seemed to lead the group in a circle around Jones broken form. The princess looked around and saw a vine hanging from a tree. She climbed it quickly and grasped onto it giving a quick tug to make sure it was steady. Confirming that it wouldn't break, Emma clasped on tight and swung herself into the middle of the pack, perfectly landing beside Jones.
He coughed a little, having blood spill out of his mouth and stain the ground. Emma knelt down and held his face gently checking for any other injuries. His face was scratched and a long gash stretched over his cheek. She traced it to which he winced and she knew he'd get a scar from it.
"Looks like you really are the saviour." He spoke while coughing up a storm. Emma's green eyes shot to his, full of worry and guilt.
"I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry for."
A growl tore Emma's gaze away from the blue eyed man onto the pack's leader who looked like he was about to pounce. The princess pulled Jones further into her chest and squeezed her eyes shut as another roar was heard and the sky grew darker as the creature's shadow covered them, as well as the packs'.
But no claws or teeth sunk into them. Emma looked up to see all of the creatures were laying on the ground dead or at least unconscious.
"You are bloody brilliant. Amazing."
The blonde looked to the man in her arms and he grinned, blood trickling from a cut on his lower lip.
"I…I did this?"
"Aye. You did. Never seen anything quite so amazing before."
Emma could only look around at the situation. She brought her gaze back to Jones and ran a hand down his cheek. He responded by putting back a strand of hair behind her ear and tracing it before returning to his side. The princess could only shiver and stare.
"We better head back."
"Yeah."
Emma picked up Killian and carried him back to the courtyard. She was about to collapse until Rumplestlikin came out and made the man disappear from her arms.
"Where did you put him?"
"He's resting and he's injuries will be healed soon."
Emma nodded and held her forehead, the events rushing back like a flood into her memory and she collapsed onto a rock. She ran her hands through her hair and looked to the golden man, her actions terrifying her as she recounted them.
"What the hell happened?"
"You saw a glimpse of what will happen if your magic core becomes dark."
"That wasn't me."
"It was and it wasn't dearie. Your anger was so great it consumed you to the point where you were no longer in control but rather your dark side was."
"How did I break out of it then?"
"Your fear for your comrade made you snap out of it."
"So what happened in the forest then?"
"You're love for your partner caused your magic to cast a shield around the two of you and sent the creatures flying back. There is an invisible thread between the two of you that has tied your futures together.
Eventually over time you will grow to understand this bond as well as be able to produce the shield at will but for now your magic is still too raw for that."
"Wait…I can't be in love with Jones…I don't even know him."
"Of course you're not dearie. Of course not. Now go and get yourself cleaned up for dinner."
Emma got up and nodded clutching her head as she headed back to her room. Rumplestlikin turned and watched her walk away.
"At least, not yet."
…
Snow sat and listened her husband tell the prince the lie. Prince Walsh seemed like such a nice boy she felt such great guilt lying to him. But it had to be done to protect everyone from the truth.
"I will find her for you two. I swear it on my honor."
"I believe you will. Thank you." spoke Charming, shaking the young man's hand.
"She'll be back within a week's time. I guarantee it."
With that Walsh turned and walked out of the throne room, the doors echoing loudly when they shut behind him. Charming walked over to his wife and sat beside her on his own throne and held her hand.
"Oh I hope we're doing the right thing."
"It is too late to back out now Snow."
…
A/N: Thank you to all who are still following this story! I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Much love!
~ Ember G.