I don't own these characters; Disney/ABC does.
14: Emotional Ties
"So, we don't know who Faust is, but he could possibly kill ten thousand people?" Snow inquired, having to put her plate down to digest what Regina just told them all.
"According to the text I found, if this is Faust, he has one of two ways to get what he wants. One way is basically destroying Regina and the other is killing ten thousand people," Belle replied.
"I thought this was a small town. How the hell do you even have ten thousand people for this guy to kill?" Lily inquired. None of the news stopped her from eating a helping of beef stew with rice and beans as well as moving onto the shrimp. Others had not fared so well with the news and still had not gone back to their dinner.
"On our last census there were thirty thousand people in town, I do believe. We can blame the Second Curse for the huge population boom. So many places were trying to flee the Wicked Witch and ended up caught in the net so to speak," Kathryn answered.
"So, Regina is worth ten thousand people? How does that math work out?" David asked and all eyes went to him. He actually blushed, so the idiot probably did not mean it how it sounded. "No, I mean, like Regina is one person, not ten thousand. The math itself isn't right."
"Yeah, Mom, how is that?" Henry said, helping his grandfather out, despite the fact Henry still was not happy with him over the things he said to his mother.
"He more wants Regina's soul than anything. He has all of the ingredients to do a soul extraction and use her soul in a spell. I can't quite figure out what the other spell is, though. The ingredients make no sense," Tinker Bell replied.
Regina suspected what the other spell was, but did not say anything. It would raise too many questions that she either did not want to answer or did not have the answer to. It would be a distraction that none of them needed.
"But, that still doesn't explain how one Regina equals ten thousand other people," David said.
Tinker Bell shrugged. "I dunno. I just know what's going on based on the list of magical ingredients I looked at with Kathryn. The only problem is…"
"The ingredients on the list don't add up to a spell that could kill ten thousand people," Maleficent chimed in. "I triple checked Tink's work and everything she said checks out. We have no idea how he plans to kill ten thousand people."
"Maybe it's a bluff," Ruby replied.
"If this is Faust, it will not be a bluff," Maleficent said.
"Are we putting all our eggs in one basket that it is him?" Snow asked.
"Of course not. We're still checking everything out. It's just from what we have, it looks like this could be it. Unless he's out there planning to steal my soul and some other jackass gave Hook a potion to control Emma and somehow they both smell like sage and firewood," Regina replied.
"Well, you do have enemies," Snow said.
"Thank you, I hadn't noticed." Regina scowled in her direction.
"Hey, come on! We gotta get it together to save Ma." Henry got them back to focusing. Everyone brought everything back together again and went over what they knew. They also went over what needed to be done, like figuring out some place that could hold all of the items Tinker Bell and Kathryn had on their list.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina stood in front of her mirror in her study, flicking through locations like she was on her phone. She was searching for places that could hold all of the items necessary for the soul extraction spell and whatever could be used to kill ten thousand people. Well, she had been searching for those things.
"Seriously, Regina. Stay focused and stop spying," Kathryn scolded her from behind, daring to actually clap at her.
Regina had wandered from her task to see what Hook was up to with Emma. She could not help it. He had already taken liberties with Emma. He had violated her freewill. If he violated her body, he would be a long time dying. His suffering would be the stuff of legends.
"Tink will keep them out of trouble," Kathryn said, as if that was reassuring. She was parked on the chaise, once again looking through what they knew and what they had, hoping to figure out how Faust would be able to kill ten thousand people. That was a lot of people and they all doubted he had a bomb and even if he did there was no place in Storybrooke that could hold ten thousand people at once to take out such a high number of victims.
"Oh, please. All she needs is a hint that they're actually in love and she'll find them an oceanside room and a priest to marry them," Regina replied, going back to her search.
"Hopefully a different priest than the one we got for this, huh?" Kathryn snickered.
"I'm glad you're finding humor in this," Regina deadpanned.
"And you're off track again. Maleficent will find this stuff before you do."
Regina scowled. "This search might be in vain. I have to assume he cloaked where he's hiding everything and none of us are powerful enough to find him."
"That's not what Maleficent said."
"Yes, well, she's arrogant."
"She says you're the one who's holding back."
"She thinks more of me than I am." There was never any proof she was what Maleficent or Faust thought she was.
Kathryn eased over to her and studied her. "Why do I think she's right and you're doing yourself a disservice?"
Regina shook her head. "I've only tapped into that power twice."
"The Curse?"
"Yes. It takes more power than most can generate." It was one of the reasons it had to be her. Rumple had to wait for her.
"But, Snow cast the second one."
Regina scoffed. "She provided the ingredients. I provided the power. Basically, she flipped the switch while I pushed the electricity through."
"So, you can't push the electricity through to find where someone might be keeping giant bones?"
"Just because the bones are big doesn't mean you need a big place to hide them. After all, bones break."
"I'm worried about where a person got giant bones to sell. Anton is still alive, so what giant is missing that we don't know about? I feel like it's safe to assume no one would be stupid enough to sell fake ingredients to a magic user, as they will figure out the con sooner or later." Kathryn wondered aloud.
"We definitely need to raid the magic black market once this is all said and done." Regina continued looking and then groaned. She switched the image on the mirror to Maleficent. "This isn't working."
"No and even if it did, it would take too long to search the whole town. I'd love to be able to do a location spell on a mermaid tail. Who do you think was the poor mermaid who lost her lower half?" Maleficent asked and then she disappeared from the mirror. She reappeared in the study.
"I try not to think about it. I have to admit, more came over in this second Curse than I could have imagined, but they all have legs now. Or we hope they do. You and Lily better make sure we don't see any dragon hides anywhere." The ingredients for this spell kind of made her skin crawl and bile rise in her throat. Faust might be able to pull this off considering the trouble he had to go through to get these rare, magic items.
Maleficent scoffed. "I wish someone would try."
Regina rubbed her palms together in thought. "We need a different strategy. Let's think of this logically. We know he stole magic, but he might have also robbed the lab, which probably has to do with him killing ten thousand people."
"Nothing missing from the lab would be able to kill ten thousand people," Kathryn pointed out.
"He might mix science and magic. It's been done before," Regina said.
"That still doesn't tell us who he is. It just tells us he knows magic and he might know science, which we already knew if this is Faust," Kathryn stated.
"How about this, the Curse has a bit of a sense of humor and a sense of irony, yes?" Maleficent said.
"Only in some aspects," Kathryn replied.
"It does like to connect this life to the former life in some way, though. You think we should try to figure out what the Curse would connect with Faust in Storybrooke," Regina reasoned.
"This mission requires more nerd moments than I expected," Maleficent commented.
Regina arched an eyebrow. "Oh, so you're opposed to research?"
Maleficent snorted. "I'm a witch. Of course not. I just expected to blow more stuff up."
"You've spent way too much time with your offspring." Regina shook her head. Maleficent rolled her eyes.
"So, plan B?" Kathryn asked, hands pressed together.
"Searching for what in this world might connect to Faust and whatever identity he might have in this world," Regina replied. "Let's call everyone and let them know this is the new focus." They got on the phone and there were plenty of complaints.
"That's a needle in a stack of needles," Ruby groaned.
"Oh, yes, but searching every decent-sized storage structure in Storybrooke 2.0 was easy," Regina replied. While it did not seem it, Storybrooke was larger than she recalled. The Second Curse must have adjusted for new people coming in, which explained why they could fit thirty thousand people. Storybrooke was practically a city now.
"Can't we just go wait for him at the crossroads or something?" Lily asked.
"No, he's not the Devil. What sort of education are they giving kids in this realm?" Granny sucked her teeth in the phone.
"Maybe he's living under the name Johnson, though," Kathryn suggested.
"Why would he be living with that name?" Snow asked.
"You're kidding, right? You don't know the legend of Robert Johnson?" Kathryn countered, like Snow was an idiot, which to be fair, was not far off.
"Is this what we're doing?" Marian asked with a sigh.
"Look, I am unfamiliar with Faust and anything that might be associated with him," Mulan reminded them. She was from a distant country even in the other realm. None of it made sense to her.
"In the Old World, it was said Faust was an alchemist. He was already ancient by the time we were alive. Everything we know about him would be legend or myth," Regina realized.
"The Agit de Tenebris gave us some insight," Belle pointed out.
"Yes, at least we have that. Hopefully, it's all fact, even if it means he might be after ten thousand people," Regina said.
"Did you not meet him once, my friend? When you were going on your tear through every magic user in the realm?" Maleficent asked. There were gasps over the conference call. Were conference calls ever not annoying?
"You fought Faust!" Ruby screamed into the phone.
"If by 'fought' you mean almost died, then yes, I fought Faust. But, he sought me out. I hadn't found him. Rumple stepped in before Faust could finish me. I had weakened the bastard enough for the Dark One to frighten him," Regina replied.
"Rumple saved you?" Granny asked.
"Yes. He still needed me to cast the Curse. We're getting off base here, though. We have to figure out where Faust might be. Until then, Granny, I need a room to set the trap," Regina replied.
"Of course."
"Other than that. Faust doesn't have to look like what he looked like when he confronted me, so giving a description is pointless. He could be anyone he wanted and it would be beyond our power to detect him. He has to be trying to keep a low profile here, though. Perhaps he has a lab somewhere," Regina said.
"Then why would he rob a lab?" David asked.
"Just because he has one doesn't mean it has all of the equipment he requires. The things he stole from the other lab were unique to them," Regina reminded him.
"Or the Curse could've been in its funny, ironic mood and he could be a religious figure somewhere. We've got a lot more churches this time out," Kathryn pointed out.
"Not to mention a couple of temples and I think a mosque," David added.
"Or he could be a doctor since he was an alchemist once upon a time," Marian said.
"He could be a teacher since he was a scholar," Maleficent added.
"So, he could literally be anyone. We really narrowed this down, folks," Ruby commented in a tone that was just as good as rolling her eyes.
"I might be able to help narrow it down, actually," Belle said.
"What do you have?" Regina asked.
"So, reading more into Agit de Tenebris, I found that Faust could be able to keep his soul in exchange for ten thousand," Belle answered.
"So you've said. We haven't figure out how he might be able to kill ten thousand people," Kathryn reminded them.
"Now that's the odd thing to me. He has had more than enough time to kill well over a few million people," Maleficent pointed out. "Why would he not be able to kill ten thousand to keep his soul? We all know human life means nothing to the man."
"No. The ten thousand souls must be taken in the same day according to the codex," Belle replied.
"That does narrow it down. What would allow him to kill ten thousand people in a single day?" Dorothy pondered aloud. "Has he got the magic for it?"
"No. The stuff he has wouldn't be able to kill ten thousand people," Tinker Bell said. "How could you kill ten thousand people in one day, though?"
Regina sighed. "A plague. He needs a lab. He stole equipment from the forensics lab, but he must have what he needs to create the plague at his own lab. Kathryn, look up scientists in Storybrooke."
"I love how this jumped from save Emma to save the town at the same time. Usually, it's Emma who has to worry about save Regina, which evolves into saving the town," David remarked.
"Storybrooke has a lot of scientists," Kathryn reported, ignoring David.
"Just send the names to my phone. I feel like I'll know it when I see it. Once I think I've narrowed it down, I will let you all know our next move," Regina said. "Goodnight."
Farewells were said and the call was ended. Regina sighed and rubbed her face. Maleficent put her arm around Regina's shoulder and pulled her close.
"It'll be over soon. We've got this. Faust won't beat you twice," Maleficent said.
"But, I don't understand. Why not just take the ten thousand lives and be free of his deal? Why my soul?" Regina rubbed her chin. She thought that was why she was so valuable to him, but that was not the case. He could have freed himself centuries ago. Why did he want her then? Why did Rumple want her? The Baba Yaga? She looked down at her hands. I don't have this power they seem to think I do.
"I'm sure you'll ask and he won't answer because Emma's going to punch him in the face right after," Kathryn commented. "Now, I've got to get home before my husband figures out he hasn't seen me much in the past week. When this is done, I'm going to owe that man a vacation."
Regina laughed, but she did not feel that confident. She turned her attention to the list Kathryn sent her. The list was long and she doubted she would be able to figure out which one was Faust. As she studied the list, she remembered the Curse had a sense of humor, but was also lazy on occasion and that made it easy to figure out who Faust was. Doctor Adrian Pope, a chemist. She would pay him a visit tomorrow and end this foolishness.
-8-8-8-8-
Regina was not sure if this would work. It should be fine, but it could always blow up in her face. If a Cursed persona did not count as a real one, they were screwed. She would give her soul for Emma and Faust would have what he wanted along with his magical/chemical weapon to kill at least ten thousand citizens of Storybrooke. But, she would try this before things came to that.
With everything in place, she went off on her own to Adrian Pope's lab. She was not being cavalier. Her group knew she was going in alone. She was bait if something went awry. But, she was also the one Faust wanted, so she might be able to bargain with him to free Emma. She had backup. Maleficent, David, and Mulan would be nearby. Marian decided to set up on a rooftop with a quiver of enchanted arrows, just in case. She felt as safe as she could feel in the situation.
When Regina got to the lab, she found it open. He was expecting her or he was overconfident. Maybe both. Either way, she went inside and went to the back. There he was, standing by a table of lab equipment with a white lab coat on. There was equipment about the place, but it was impossible to tell if it belonged there or had been lifted from the other lab.
"Regina, I didn't expect to see you so soon," he commented, his back to her. "How did you find me?"
"Your name. You didn't bother to change it," she replied.
He turned, showing he was nothing like she remembered. The Faust she met in the Enchanted Forest and almost died against was an older gentleman with a greying beard and milky white skin. This man was possibly younger than she was with dark hair and a clean, tanned face. His eyes were ancient, though.
"I should've expected Fae magic to be lazy in that regard," he sighed and curled his lip. "You can see why I traded up."
"Let's get down to cases," she said. She did not want to socialize with him or discuss the holes in the Dark Curse. It had given him the name of a character in the play about him, but reversed the given and surname. Making it even more glaring was the use of the word "pope." He had a holy name. A man who made a deal with the Devil had a holy name. Maybe the Curse is sentient and laughs at its own jokes.
"Yes. Give me a moment." He went into his pocket and pulled out a cell phone. He sent out a text from what she could tell, unless he had social media and updated a status. "They'll be here shortly. Now, we can skip everything and you give me what I want and we all go our separate ways."
Regina frowned. "Yes, and I can leave Emma playing sex doll to Hook."
A smile slithered onto his face. "Well, we could always deal."
Her eyebrow ticked up. "Why would I make it so easy for you?"
"Because you want Emma back. I know you do. I know what you feel for her, so you have almost no choice but to make this easy for me." His smile became a shark-like grin.
"Am I supposed to be moved now?" she asked with her voice beyond bored.
"What if I told you Emma made a deal with me?" he inquired.
"Emma's an idiot at the best of times, but she knows better," she replied. Emma had learned from dealing with Rumple, never make the deal. Plus, she was a little more genre savvy now. No one ever made the deal in a fairy tale unless they wanted woe rained down on them.
His grin widened and his eyes gleamed with wild pleasure. "I love that you think that."
She did not respond. She would not let him bait her. He eyed her for a moment, studied her, like a specimen, like a fly he planned to pluck the wings off. It was somehow more clinical than when Rumple used to look at her. Apparently, the scientist in him lived on.
"Want to tell me what's in those containers?" Regina nodded toward a wall with parcel sized boxes.
"I'm sure you've figured it out."
"Why do you need my soul if you could just kill ten thousand people and be free? We don't even have the manpower to stop you." She liked to think it would be easier to kill ten thousand people all at once than deal with her.
"Your soul and the ten thousand people are for two separate things."
Regina did not know what that meant and was not in the mood to find out. As discreetly as she could, she sent Maleficent a magical layout of the lab with the location of the chemicals. He watched her, but did not seem to know what she was doing as she tapped her chin, pretending to be in thought. All the time in this realm and he had not bothered to learn Morse code? So sad. Lily taught it to Maleficent to bond, making sure her mother knew she used it when scamming people as a teen. Regina had learned it one year out of boredom.
"Well, I know the ten thousand souls is the exchange for yours. How does my soul factor in then?" she wondered.
"You don't have to worry about that," he replied.
"I suppose. I have figured out much of your scheme here, but some things still escape me. What about the yetis? How did they factor in? Were they a distraction or a happy accident?" she asked.
He waved the idea off. "I had nothing to do with the yetis. I was too busy with the nobles and the Business Bureau. You do realize the world is built on greed, don't you? I know you understand the quest for power. I tossed out a few ideas to help get them more power, greased a few palms in the mayor's office, and they not only distracted you, but helped me get the ingredients that will probably kill all of them. No one thought twice when I suggested one of the magical supply places needed to go, so they could open another business on that property and I walked away with all of those supplies." The very idea drew a snicker from him.
"Then why rob the other one?"
"I needed things to go a little faster. The best laid plans as they say." He shrugged as if it were no big deal. Something messed up his plan and she was willing to bet that something was called Emma Swan.
Before she could prod him further, the door opened and Hook stepped in with Emma. His eyes went wide the moment he noticed Regina. Emma scowled.
"What the hell is she doing here?" Hook demanded, aiming his hook at Regina.
"Regina is my guest," Faust replied with smile.
"Hook, you idiot! Did you actually do a deal with Faust of all people just to 'win' Emma?" Regina was not sure how stupid he could possibly be.
"I would do anything to get my love back. Is that what you're trying to do now? Steal Emma from me again?" he growled.
Regina glared at him. "I never stole her in the first place. She was with me of her own free will, which is more than I can say for you right now. At least when she was with you the first time, that was her own bad decision. This is just disgusting." She motioned between him and Emma.
"You poisoned her against me!" he roared, veins popping from his neck.
"It's true!" Emma said.
Regina looked at her poor partner. "You're just repeating whatever lies Faust wants you to, dear." She glanced at the stupid pirate. "Hook, you're a fool. Surely you know a deal with Faust is worse than a deal with Rumple." Regina felt like she wasted her breathe. If Hook was so enraged he would sell his soul or whatever Faust wanted, more power to him. Emma was her only concern.
Hook smirked. "But, I won, didn't I?"
"That's just the point. No one wins against Faust," Regina said. Everyone knew that. Well, of course, that was about to change.
"I have won," Hook repeated, speaking through his teeth, as if he did not quite believe that himself.
Regina turned her focus back to Faust. He was the only one she needed to watch right now. "What did you do to Emma?"
"I didn't do anything she didn't agree to." Faust smiled and glided over to Emma, who suddenly did not move. He caressed her cheek.
Hook growled, staring daggers at Faust. "Hey! Hands off my woman!" He raised his hook, like it would do something. Maybe Hook was too stupid to even know who Faust was.
Faust chuckled and slinked away, moving like smoke, leaving behind the smell of firewood and sage in the air. "Regina, I made a deal with Emma. I offered her a chance to be blood related to Nathan and she took it."
Regina did not rise to the bait, even though it seemed so plausible. She could still feel Emma's hurt after Sonja told them Robin was Nathan's father. Faust could easily have the power to grant that wish. When Emma vanished off everyone's radar, Faust could have hidden her away, pitching his deal to her. But, Emma was not so stupid.
"Emma would never deal. She's learned better," Regina said, glancing at Hook. He had lived this life far longer than Emma, but apparently he never learned.
Faust leaned on his lab table. "Very good, Regina. Very good."
"What are you doing? Why are you even entertaining this bitch?" Hook demanded, frowning at Faust.
Faust glanced at the pirate. "You still don't get it, do you?"
"He used you, fool!" Regina rubbed her eyes. "You're nothing more than a piece on his chessboard and not even a high ranking piece. He didn't help you out of the kindness of his heart."
"Especially considering I don't have one. Took the troublesome thing out centuries ago," Faust remarked. "Tell me, pirate, are you really content to have this woman dangling on your arm like this? We all know it's not real, yet you're fine with this?" His face scrunched up in mild confusion.
Hook growled. "It is real! Emma loves me."
Faust tilted his head and laughed as he regarded Hook. "Oh, my. You're serious. Regina, he's serious."
"It's not a spell. Regina kissed her and there was nothing," Hook pointed out.
"Of course there was nothing. True Love's kiss is Fae-level magic. You're all used to this pathetic bit of nothing magic. I'm a little more advanced than that, which brings me to your question, Regina. I want to be a lot more advanced than that," Faust said.
Regina did not want to imagine a power-hungry Faust with more magic. "Why?"
"Come now, Regina. Why not? Why did you decide to remain Queen, even after you achieved your goals? Why does Rumple remain the Dark One, even though a happy life sits right in front of him every single day? None of us like to be the low man on the totem pole. We've been there and it's terrible. Doesn't suit us. I've been around some rather high individuals. I can't go back down after I get out of this deal," Faust replied.
"So, what, you think my soul will make you a demon?" Regina scoffed. It was theoretical, but she never understood the science or magic of how it would work.
He wiggled his thick eyebrows. "Oh, I know your soul will make me a demon. Imagine, Regina, traveling not just between realms, but dimensions. Going where you please, doing what you please, and answering to no one."
"As you pointed out, I stopped at Queen, even though I knew there was a level higher. Rumple remains the Dark One. Why can't you be content to be Faust?" she asked. But, she knew the answer. He was not content to be Faust because he was Faust. His curse of his own making was that he always wanted more, more knowledge, more power, more everything.
Faust pushed forward, got in her face, gnashing his teeth at her. "Stop playing stupid, Regina. Do you want to see the love of your life stuck to this fool, despising your son? What if eventually the spell wears thin and she realizes what happened, but can't stop it? Would you leave her trapped in her mind to feel all the horror and not be able to do anything about it?"
"Hey, you giving Emma to Regina wasn't part of the deal!" Hook charged Faust, who did not even bother to look at him. Silver bands shot from the walls and tied Hook up.
"Honestly, pirate, how do you not get this? You were merely bait." Faust glided back over to Emma and cupped her chin. Emma flinched, but could not move.
"What are you doing?" Hook snarled.
Faust sighed and rubbed his forehead. "Emma, what did you see in him?"
Emma shrugged. "My parents thought we had True Love and I just wanted to make them like me. I wanted to show them I could be more like them. And, he's cute and a great distraction from all of the other crazy stuff going on around here." The words came out bland, like she was answering any other question, reeking of a truth spell or an obedience spell. How many hexes did this rat bastard put on Emma?
"Emma, you don't mean that!" Hook struggled against his bonds.
"It's not a truth serum you're using to get her to love Hook," Regina said. What spell did he have Emma under?
Faust sucked his teeth. "Of course not. How pedestrian."
"Do you have her heart?" Regina doubted it, but what else could it be?
"No, I tried. It's protected." He moved like smoke again, wafting over to her and getting back in Regina's face. "Did you do it? I mean, even I couldn't get to it and I've never experienced this before."
"Her heart protects itself. How's that for Fae-level magic? What did you do to her?" Regina demanded.
"It's very subtle emotional manipulation. I can't see a witch being able to pull it off, but a demon would be able to do it like child's play." He moved away, over to Hook.
"I'll kill you, mate, when I'm out of this," Hook promised.
"Dear boy, you will never be out of this, except for when I take my price from you. Now, quiet while I show Regina something she probably could do with ease if she ever bothered to reach her potential." Faust waved his hands in front of Hook and slowly, but surely shining threads of light appeared at his fingertips, leading to Hook.
"Emotional ties." Regina did not think those were real. It was one thing to be able to manipulate a person full time, but to be able to find a single emotional tie out of the millions and play with that one. It was probably easier to find identical snowflakes in a blizzard. "How?" she whispered, scared of the awe in her voice.
He squinted at her, like she was an idiot. "Demon magic. How do you think they tempt us so?"
Regina bit the inside of her cheek to keep from trembling. "Did you… did you…" She could not get the question out for fear of the answer. "Did you sever her emotion tie to me? To our son?" She would not know how to begin repairing that. What if Emma could never love Nathan after this?
"Now, you're catching on. Well, your tie, I plucked and tied it with him, so she would love him again." Faust rolled his eyes. "The over the top crap was an added bonus for him, as he seems to think that's what love is. I'm sure Sheriff Swan will always want to throw up when she remembers it."
"She does love me!" Hook once again tried to escape.
Faust tugged at the lines, Hook grunted, and the shimmering strings all vanished. "No, she doesn't. In fact, I think she's pretty disgusted with you at this point. We can find out in a moment after I deal with Regina. Now, you sit tight, as I need you for this other thing I have going."
"What could you possibly need that worthless sack of excrement for?" Regina asked.
"I need a heart freely given for my ten thousand shadows spell," Faust replied.
"The plague you plan to use to kill ten thousand people in one day?"
"Yes, it's my own design. Part science, part magic, all getting the demons off my back." He shoved his hand into Hook's chest and there went his heart. Faust carried it to the table and placed it in a jar. "Now, for our business, Regina."
"What do you want?" She knew, but she wanted to hear him say it.
"Your soul for Emma, simple as that. I will fix her emotional ties, remove the addition spells, return her to normal, and you give me your soul. If you want, I can even make her forget this little episode with Hook. Then, she won't be damaged in any way. Your boys get their mother back almost totally unharmed."
"Fix the ties first and I get to have a moment for a farewell to make sure she is normal. Don't touch her memory."
"Very well." Faust went to Emma and there were the threads of light again.
Emma ran to Regina and grabbed her into a tight hug. "Babe, don't do this! I know what happens when you don't have a soul. He told me. He told me!"
Regina inhaled the sweet aroma of her partner and clutched onto Emma's back. Somehow, even after days with Hook, she still smelled like Emma, now minus the sage scent. Thank the gods for small favors. She went in for a kiss before Emma could say anything. It was long and wet, exactly what Regina wanted. She needed to hold onto Emma, to feel her magic and to use it enough to fool Faust.
"Okay, that's enough." Faust stepped over to them, trying to pull Regina away. She would only have one chance at this. Faust would know what she was up to, might even sense where she was going. She could not hesitate.
So, as soon as Faust touched them, Regina teleported them, all three of them. I hope this works. If it did not, she had made the deal. Faust would get her soul if she had miscalculated and at least ten thousand people would be dead this time tomorrow.
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Next time: what is Regina's plan here?