David, his family, and Regina charged ahead. He knew the need to move fast if they were going to catch up to Gold. Sophia was hot on their heels, until she felt a hand clasp around her arm and pull her back slightly.
"Hey, you alright?" Mel's voice was laced with concern.
Sophia simply nodded.
"Hey. No, come on, talk to me." Mel frowned gently. "You gotta keep it together Sophia."
"I'm trying!" Sophia hissed quietly.
Her shoulders were hunched, her temples throbbing, and her back already ached from walking. She still wasn't completely back to her fighting self after the incident with the lion.
"Ok, but look let's not lose focus ok? Whatever he is up to. We've got this. You've got this! Ok?"
Sophia nodded.
"Yes. I just…I, I wish I'd had more time to get to know them all. To just spend time being a family."
Mel offered a sympathetic smile, and nodded her head gently. Squeezing lightly where she still had a guiding grip on Sophia's arm.
"And, you will still get that time. Everything will be alright. Let's just focus on dealing with this beast of a man."
Sophia was quiet for a moment before nodding. Mel was right. Determination started to rise again within her, and she summoned up as much courage as she could.
At the edge of the forest David came skidding to an abrupt halt. He didn't know if he should lead his family, splitting them into groups to cover more ground, or to stay together.
"What are we waiting for Charming? Get in there!" Regina demanded.
Her dark eyes bore into him as if he were some sort of idiot. Mary Margaret instantly jumped in to her husband's defence and earned herself a steely glare. Before either of them could exchange any heated words further, Emma darted into the forestry without warning.
"Come on!" Sophia called as she quickly headed in after her mother.
They all fell into line behind her. Branches crunched underfoot, as did foliage. They weren't stealthy, nor quiet, and if Gold were still there he would certainly flee upon hearing their approach. It was dark, difficult to navigate the trees with only the moonlight but Emma was making headway at least. She'd spent many a time searching these woods since arriving in town, and felt confident.
All was quiet. Sophia listened intently as they walked. She sensed they were close. She could feel a pull on her own resources. Magic was definitely being used, and it was close by. She stopped. Mel stopped beside her.
"What is it?" she whispered.
Sophia couldn't see anything, but she started to her left. Emma had stopped upon not hearing their footsteps directly behind her.
"What is it kid?"
"There's something." Sophia muttered. "Something's, something has changed."
Sophia walked, her footsteps hasty as she stepped over and log and through some trees. Emma's brow furrowed as she watched. There was a clearing that way; she was sure. Did Sophia sense something she didn't, or had she seen something?
It took a moment, but as the rest of the group reached them, Emma went darting after Sophia. Quickening her step, Regina elegantly followed her lover, and her parents and Mel after her.
They came to a clearing, where a searing blue light buzzed and jolted in a whirlpool in the mud and leaves. It elicited a gasp from the group. Sophia stepped closer to inspect it.
"Careful." Emma warned, edging closer herself.
"Where in the hell did that come from?" Regina frowned, her voice loud and startling in the silence.
Sophia swallowed hard as Mel came to her to her side. She scooped her hand into her own and gave it a little squeeze. They both knew where the portal came from. It's colour a total giveaway. Her friend paled, starting to shake.
"Hey, Sophia. Come on it's alright...this doesn't mean…" Mel allowed her words to trail off. The silent understanding between them was enough.
Emma placed a comforting hand on Sophia's arm as she glanced around for signs of life, or Gold. She didn't see anything, well nothing obvious, but she knew one thing for sure. Open portals, in the middle of nowhere, meant trouble was lurking somewhere.
After failed attempts to calm Sophia down and offer her comfort, and with Regina being unable to close the mysterious portal, they headed to the diner. As with most issues in Storybrooke, the diner served as a hub for a planning meeting, and a drink; stiff where needed. They walked back slowly in pairs. Mel tried to offer Sophia as much comfort as she could, without alerting too much attention to what she and Sophia suspected. If the portal lead from there, then it was almost certain that what had come through it was only going to add to Sophia's problems.
Emma noted her first. A stranger at the bar who looked up the very second the little bell chimed, announcing their arrival. She was new in town, clearly, as Emma didn't recall ever seeing her before. Making a mental note of the stranger's image, blonde hair, tall, and slim, she averted her gaze to search out a suitable size booth.
It was Sophia who stood, as if glued to the spot and didn't follow when the rest went to take a seat at the booth. She stared, transfixed on the woman at the bar.
"Sophia!" Mel called, in hopes of getting her attention.
It didn't work. As she hadn't yet sat down, Mel excused herself and wandered back the few paces across the diner to her friend.
"Hey, come on. We have to tell them about…" Mel let her words trail off as she glanced towards the bar and spotted her.
"Ashley?" she whispered, narrowing her eyes as if peering at the stranger would further confirm what she already knew.
The blonde's head whipped up and around. A smile graced her lips and slowly widened. Sophia looked just as beautiful as she remembered, and Mel seemed to still be protective of her, if her stance at Sophia's side was anything to go by.
"Hey babe, long time, no see." Ashley smiled.
She pulled herself away from the bar, sauntering towards the pair of them. Drink in hand, she looked as cool, calm, and collected as she always had.
"Why are you here?"
The words spilled from Sophia's throat, almost shocking her with their appearance.
"I missed you." Ashley smiled, her eyes sparkling in a way only her, crystal clear blue eyes could.
"Err, family alert Sophia." Mel warned.
Sophia glanced over her shoulder to see her mother's slowly rising from their seats. No doubt they had questions, but she wasn't ready to answer them yet. She swallowed hard and looked back to Ashley, then to Mel.
"I, no we've gotta get out of here. Keep them safe for me." Sophia whispered, gesturing her head back in the direction of her family.
"But, I, we….we're are you going?" Mel hissed.
"I'll be back. I promise. I just need to…" Sophia didn't need to finish explaining to her friend.
Mel nodded her understanding then ushered her on.
"Hey Sophia do you know her? Who is sh…"
Emma hadn't a chance to answer before a huge plume of red smoke appeared. It whirled, surrounding Sophia and the other woman, then dispersed leaving nothing it had consumed behind in its wake.
Both women looked to Mel. Their piercing stares told her they wanted answers, and they were going to get them from her whether she wanted them to or not. She'd promised Sophia she'd take care of her family whilst she dealt with Ashley and her mysterious appearance, so she accepted she had no choice. One thing she wouldn't do though was discuss it in public, she also needed some support. Unfortunately, her friends were back at Regina's. So, if they wanted any answers they would have to take her back there first.
"Who is she? And what the hell just happened?" Regina all but practically exploded in her outburst.
Emma stood with her arms folded looking unimpressed and in need of the same answers.
Mel looked at them both, a thick, dryness forming in her throat. Her palms sweated lightly, and for once her nerves were tingling all the way down her spine. These two women, when standing together, and trying to protect their family were just so much more intimidating than they'd ever been to her before, and she'd known them years. Knew what they were like. She shouldn't have any reason to fear them, but suddenly she did.
"I will tell you. I just, I can't do it here." she stammered, glancing around. "If we go back, Phoenix and Atlantis, they will help me explain to you. I promise."
Emma looked to Regina. She'd asked the question, and it was her house, so it was her call. Regina was very quiet, arms now folded too as she glared at the younger woman stood in front of her. For a moment, Emma worried that Regina might throw a fireball at Mel or something worse. She looked so enraged at the lack of answers.
"I think, perhaps that is a good idea." Mary Margaret offered.
Emma glanced over her shoulder to see her mother just behind them both. She hadn't even heard her sneak up. She was grateful she had though.
Regina's hard, stiff posture slumped slight and her arms fell from their folded position. As if working on instruction, she lifted her arm, swirled her hand, and within a second they were surrounded by purple smoke. Just as had happened before with Sophia, Regina's magic whirled around them, and within a second they were gone.
Granny wandered out from the kitchen where she'd been fetching an order for the blonde at the bar to find her diner empty. She shook her head, clicking her tongue. Although their magical exit hadn't caused any mess, it had left behind an empty diner. No customers, meant no money.
"Well, that's just typical!" she sighed, almost slamming the meal down on the counter.
When they returned to the mansion, Henry greeted them hurriedly. Regina was pleased he was so enthusiastic to have them back, and he appeared unharmed, so clearly Sophia's friends were of no threat. She hadn't meant to consciously test them, but she supposed on reflection she had.
"Where's Sophia? What's going on? Mel, what's happened? Was it Gold? What did he do?"
Henry was a barrage of questions. He was inquisitive, and Emma and Regina exchanged a knowing look. When bringing Mel back for answers, they should have pre-empted this to be their son's reaction.
"Enough Henry." Regina held up her hand to silence him.
He stuttered, still desperate for answers, but quickly closed his mouth again at seeing his mother's authoritative gesture.
"If you are going to stay, it will only be to help explain what is going on. Do you understand?"
Henry hesitated for a moment then nodded.
Emma instantly saw the same woman emerge from Regina as she had seen when she'd first arrived in town. When Regina meant business, she really meant business, and she would get what she wanted from whoever fell victim to her inquisition.
Mel had taken a tentative seat beside Henry on the couch. She swallowed gently and pressed her palms together tightly in her lap. Regina stepped towards her, bending just slightly as she towered over her so that their eyes would meet. A gentle scowl bared her features, as she locked eyes with the younger woman. In a low, controlled and firm tone of voice she spoke.
"Now, Mel. Start talking."