Queen Of Hearts
Mary Margaret, Emma, Anna, Mulan and Aurora arrived at Rumpelstiltskin's cell, "I haven't been here since before Regina's curse," said Mary Margaret, "This is where he told us you were going to be the savior."
"He knew?" said Emma.
"It was prophesized. Come on."
They went in and they found the cell completely empty, "The squid ink – it's not here," said Aurora.
"Gold said we would find it," said Mary Margaret.
They started to check the crevices of the walls, and Mulan, "Well, was there anyone else in here with him? Could they have taken the ink?"
"No, he was kept alone. Visitors were forbidden. He was too dangerous to allow any human contact."
"How'd he keep from going crazy?" asked Anna.
Aurora found a piece of paper tucked into the wall, "He didn't." she said.
"What is it?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Is that a message?" asked Emma.
"Yes. And I think it's for you," said Aurora, she handed Emma the paper.
Emma took it and said, "Why would you think… That," on the paper was 'Emma' written over and over again. They others continued to look for the ink while Emma continued to look at the paper, "What does this even mean?"
"He was obsessed with you, Emma," said Mary Margaret, "You were the key to breaking the curse."
"We've looked everywhere," said Anna, "There's no ink in this cell."
"Well, it has to be. He told David."
"You were in a Netherworld," said Emma, "Maybe something got lost in translation."
"No. She heard right," said Mulan.
"You found it?" asked Mary Margaret.
Mulan held up an empty bottle, "In a manner of speaking. There was ink in the cell."
"Son of a bitch…" said Emma.
Then suddenly, Aurora grabbed a rock and threw it at a lever just outside of the cell. Causing the cell door to come down, trapping the five of them inside.
"Aurora, what are you doing?!" asked Anna.
Just then they noticed Cora and Hook on the other side, "Helping me," said Cora. With a motion, the compass disappeared from Emma's hands and appeared in Cora's.
"No!" said Emma as she started to shake the door
"Don't waste your energy, dear," said Cora, "Rumpelstiltskin himself couldn't escape from this cell. Thank you, Aurora. We couldn't have done it without you."
"Why would you do this?" asked Emma.
"How could you?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Don't blame her. She was only doing what she was told," said Cora. Then she pulled Aurora's heart out from under her cloak.
"You took her heart?" asked Anna.
"Actually, I did. It was a gift," said Hook.
Cora squeezed the heart and Aurora groaned in pain, "Forgive us. We'd love to stay, but Storybrooke awaits." Then two turned to leave.
"Hook. Wait," said Emma, "Please don't do this. My son is in Storybrooke. He needs me."
"Perhaps you should've considered that, before you abandoned me on that beanstalk," said Hook, as he walked up to the bars.
"You would've done the same."
"Actually, no."
"Do you know what this is, Emma?" he took out a necklace with a dried out bean on the end.
"The bean that the giant kept," said Emma, as she tried to grab for it.
"Yes, indeed," said Hook as he pulled it away, "A pirate always keeps a souvenir of his conquest, but this… Well, this is much more than a mere trinket. This is a symbol. Something that was once magical, full of hope, possibility… Now look at it. Dried up, dead, useless. Much like you. The time for making deals is done, just as I'm done… With you." Then, Hook and Cora left.
In Storybrooke, Travis and Elsa were called to the mine where the dwarves were mining for diamonds to turn into fairy dust. Since David was out because of the sleeping curse they called Ruby to join them. They ran into the mine, and they saw Anna's husband. Kristoff, he had come to the mines to help the dwarfs mine the diamonds "Kristoff!" called Elsa, "What is it? What's the emergency?" Kristoff was look up at the celling, "Kristoff."
"They're gone. They're all gone," he said.
Travis and Elsa looked up and the diamonds that covered the celling of the mine were gone.
Travis, Elsa, Ruby, Kristoff and the dwarves headed to Mr. Gold's shop. They went in the back and they found Henry reading to David from the book, "Where are they?" asked Travis, "Regina and Gold."
"What's going on?" asked Henry.
"All the magic has been drained from the mines," said Elsa.
"They stole it?"
"They snuck in after our shift and took everything," said Kristoff.
"Nobody steals from a dwarf!" said Leroy.
"Except the Queen," said Doc
"…And Rumpelstiltskin," added Happy.
"If they're not helping Emma, Anna and Mary Margaret that… That means my mom lied to me," said Henry.
"I'm sorry, Henry," said Ruby.
"We need to find her," said Henry, "We need to stop them. We need to help Emma, Anna and Mary Margaret."
Back in the Enchanted Forest, Emma was banging the door of the cell with her sword, while the rest of them watch, "We aren't going to break it down, Emma," said Mary Margaret, "It was enchanted to hold Rumpelstiltskin. We don't have a chance."
"This is my fault," said Aurora.
"No, it's mine," said Mulan, "Cora stole your heart because I failed to protect you."
"That's very sweet, but I believe it's my fault," said Emma, "I'm the savior, and I'm not doing much saving, am I?"
"We're going to win this fight, you know," said Mary Margaret, "Good always defeats evil."
"You sound like Henry," said Emma.
"Guess optimism runs in the family."
"I think it skipped a generation."
"You should know better than anybody. You broke the curse."
"What have I done since then? I got us stranded over here, burned down the wardrobe, let Cora get the ash, and now, the compass. The only reason I ever broke the curse, was because it was exactly what Gold wanted me to do. I had nothing to do with it."
"What are you talking about?" asked Anna.
"He told Mary Margaret and David that was the savior. It was his plan. Once I fulfilled that role, maybe that's all I was ever meant to do. Everything I've ever done… He had it all mapped out before I was even born. I'm not powerful. I'm… I'm not… A savior. I'm a name on a piece of paper. I'm a pawn, and that's exactly why we are in here. And Cora's on her way to Storybrooke."
Meanwhile, Cora and Hook were traveling through a field, "Where are we going?" asked Hook.
"Lake Nostos," said Cora, "The legend says its waters hold the power to restore what was once lost. It'll return magic to what remains of this wardrobe. And then, we'll be able to cross worlds."
Just then they arrived at a dry lake bed, "I may be a simple pirate, but… I know one thing – lakes have water," said Hook.
Cora waved her hand and a small vortex forms in the middle of the lake bed. Then a geyser of water shot up from the ground, "After everything we've been through, why do you still doubt me?" asked Cora.
Back in Rumpelstiltskin's cell, Mary Margaret was looking at the paper with Emma's name on it, "We are going to get out of here."
"How? By staring at that scroll?" asked Anna, "It's not like it's going to magically open the door for us."
"Yes, it is."
"What?"
"When I was a little girl, I used to sneak into Cora's chamber and watch her practice magic. She had a spell book and … The spells were in the book."
"Yeah, isn't that what a spell book is?" asked Emma. "A book that has spells in it?"
"Watch," said Mary Margaret. She gently blew on the paper, and the words lifted off the page and into the air.
"Whoa," said Anna, "Squid ink. Gold wrote the scroll in squid ink!"
Mary Margaret blew the words toward the door of the cell and the words cut a hole in the door, "Told you. Good always wins," said Mary Margaret. The group started out of the door
"Wait. I can't go," said Aurora, "You have to tie me up."
"No. I'm not leaving without you," said Mulan.
"I can't be trusted. Not as long as Cora has my heart."
"Then I will get it back for you."
"Mulan…"
"I will."
"Mulan. We got to go," said Emma.
"Do it," said Aurora. Mulan took a piece of rope and tied Aurora to what remained of the cell's bars, "Good luck."
"Thank you," said Mary Margaret, "Good luck to you."
Back at the lake, the geyser subsided and left behind a small lake. Cora took out the vial of ashes, "And now, the ashes. Would you care to do the honors?" Hook took the ashes and sprinkled them into the lake. A whirlpool formed in the center of the lake, "Here we go. We'll be in Storybrooke soon enough. I really look forward to seeing my daughter." Cora took out the compass and held it out to Hook, "I told you I'd deliver you to Rumpelstiltskin. Now don't let go. Unless, you want to end up someplace that isn't Storybrooke."
Hook held onto the compass and the two of them prepared to jump. Just then an arrow flew through the air and knocked the compass out of their hands. "You're not going anywhere," said Mary Margaret, "This portal's taking us home," she looked at Anna and Emma, " The compass – get it."
"Find it first. I'll take care of them," said Cora to Hook.
Cora shots a fireball towards the group, but Mulan deflected it with her sword. Emma drew her own sword and started a fight with Hook over the compass. Cora continued to shoot fireballs at Mulan, while Mary Margaret attempted to assist by shooting arrows from the other side of the whirlpool. Cora dodged Mulan by disappearing, but the bag containing Aurora's heart was left behind. It flew up in the air and started to fall toward the whirlpool. But, Hook caught it just before it fell in. He tossed the bag to Mulan, "I may be a pirate, but I bristle at the thought of a woman losing her heart – unless it's over me," he said.
Mulan wasn't sure what to do. Mary Margaret and Anna ran over to her, "Go!" said Mary Margaret.
"No, but you need the compass!" said Mulan.
"And Aurora needs her heart," said Anna.
Mulan gave Anna her sword, "Take it. It deflects her magic."
Mulan ran off. "I had no idea you had such a soft side," said Emma.
"I don't. Just like a fair fight," said Hook. Emma and Hook continued to fight," Good form," said Hood. Emma went to kick him but Hook grabbed it, "But not good enough." Then, he flipped Emma on her back. Hook slowly slides his hook down Emma's sword and pinned her to the ground, "Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back. With my life on the line, you've left me no choice. A bit of advice? When I jab you with my sword, you'll feel it. You might want to quit."
Emma could feel that she landed on top of the compass she pulled it out from under her, "Why would I do that when I'm winning?" She showed it to him and it distracted him long for Emma to push him off of her. They continued to fight, until Emma got the upper hand, "Thanks." Then with the compass in her fist. She punched him in the face, then Hook fell to the ground, unconscious, "Now let's go home!"
Back in Storybrooke, Travis, Elsa, Kristoff, Ruby and Henry found Mr. Gold and Regina out by the old wishing well, "You're not helping Emma, Anna and Mary Margaret, are you?"
"I'm helping you, Henry," said Regina.
"What are you talking about?" said Travis.
"You're going to kill them," said Elsa.
The four adults went to make a move toward Mr. Gold and Regina. Mr. Gold waved his hand "Sorry, dearies." and blasted them back, knocking them out.
"Mom, what are you doing?" asked Henry.
"We can't let Cora come through the portal," said Regina, "You have no idea what she would do to us."
"Emma, Anna and Mary Margaret are going to defeat her. They're the ones that are going to come through."
"Henry, your mother's right. It's going to be Cora," said Mr. Gold.
"No. It won't. Good always defeats evil. You should know that more than anyone," said Henry.
"What I know, is my mother will destroy everything I love – and that means you," said Regina, "And I can't let that happen."
Back in the Enchanted Forest, Mary Margaret and Cora were in the middle of a standoff then Anna charged at Cora with the sword Mulan gave her. Cora disappeared in a puff of smoke. '
"Emma, Anna, run!" The three women made a run for the whirlpool but Cora reappeared in front of them. Then she used her magic to throw the three of them backwards onto their backs. Cora moved toward Mary Margaret. Emma and Anna tried to get up but they were thrown back to the ground by Cora. "Why do you want to go to Storybrooke?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Because my daughter needs me," said Cora, "And now, I'm going to give her the one thing she's always wanted – your heart. Goodbye, Snow."
"No!" said Emma.
Cora drew back her hand, but Emma pushed Mary Margaret out of the way just before she could reach into her chest. So instead Cora had her hand inside Emma's chest. "Emma!" said Anna and Mary Margaret together.
"Oh, you foolish girl," said Cora, "Don't you know? Love is weakness."
Cora tried to rip out Emma's heart but it for some reason it was stuck. Then, Emma said, "No. It's strength." Then there was a burst of white light that's spread out around her and knocked out Cora, "What was that?"
"That… Is a great subject for discussion," said Mary Margaret, "When we get home." Mary Margaret grabbed Emma's arm and the three of them ran to the whirlpool."
"Ready?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Yeah," said Anna.
"Let's go," said Emma.
Emma held out the compass and Mary Margaret grabbed onto it. Anna grabbed onto Mary Margaret's hand and the three of them jumped into the whirlpool.
Back in Storybrooke, Henry tried to run to the well, as it cracked with the power of the protection spell Mr. Gold and Regina put on it. Regina held Henry back as he called out, "You can't! Stop it! You can't! You're going to kill them! Please! No! They're going to make it through! We have to turn it off! You're going to kill them!"
Henry broke free of Regina's grasp for a moment but she pulled him back, "Henry! What are you doing?" she asked.
"Emma, Anna and Mary Margaret are going to come through. I know it. You said you wanted to change – to be better. This is how. You want me to have faith in you? Have faith in me."
Regina thought for a moment then she walked up to the well, "Regina…" said Mr. Gold. But Regina ignored him. She extended her arms over the well. Then, she used her magic to absorb the spell into her body, removing the spell from the portal. The power of the magic threw her back. Then, well was silent.
"No!" said Henry.
"I'm sorry, Henry. I'm sorry," said Regina.
Suddenly, a hand came out of the well and grabs the edge. Emma pulls herself out, followed by Mary Margaret and Anna.
"Mom?" said Henry.
"Henry!" called Emma.
"Mom!"
Henry rushes to Emma and the two of them hug. Mary Margaret joined in. Anna looked over and saw Elsa and Kristoff laying on the ground next to Ruby and Travis. Anna ran over to her sister and her husband. "Elsa! Kristoff!"
She shook both of them. Elsa groggily came back awake, "What…" she said as she sat up. Then she saw her sister there, "Anna?!" The two sisters hugged and cried.
Then Kristoff woke up and saw his wife and his sister-in-law hugging, "Anna?!" Then, he joined in the family hug.
Travis woke up and sat up and saw Emma and Mary Margaret hugging Henry, "Mom?! Emma!"
"Travis?!" said Emma and Mary Margaret. He ran over to them and joined in the group hug. Travis could feel the tears running down his face again. But this time they were happy tears.
"I missed you both!" said Emma.
"I missed you, too." Said Henry.
"I missed you so much," said Travis.
While all this was going on Mr. Gold silently slinking away while Regina remained on the ground.
"What's going on? What happened?" asked Mary Margaret.
"She saved you," said Henry as he looked back at Regina, "She saved all three of you."
"Thank you," said Emma.
"You're welcome," said Regina.
Ruby finally came around and ran up to Mary Margaret, "Are you okay?"
The two of them hugged, Then Mary Margaret said, "Where's my husband? I need to find him."
"Don't worry, Mom," said Travis, "Dad's back at Mr. Gold's" he smiled, "The Dwarfs are guarding him. Come on…"
Travis, Mary Margaret, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff and Ruby headed off. Emma and Henry walked up to Regina as she stood up and Emma said, "Um, your mom… She's, uh… She's… A piece of work, you know?"
"Indeed, I do," said Regina, "Welcome back."
"Thanks."
Mary Margaret, Ruby, Travis, Elsa, Anna, and Kristoff entered the back room of Mr. Gold's shop, with Emma and Henry trailing behind. David was lying on the bed with the dwarves gathered around the bed., "David?" said Mary Margaret, as she walked up to him.
She knelt down next to him and kissed him. There was a pulse of magic and David woke up and gasped, "You… You did it."
"Did you ever doubt I would?" asked Mary Margaret,
They kissed again and David said, "No. Though, the burning red room did give me pause."
Emma walked into the main part of the shop and saw Mr. Gold behind the counter, "We need to talk," she said.
"Yes. I believe apologies are in order," he said.
"No. No apologies necessary. I understand why you wanted to keep Cora out of here."
"Just remind me never to bet against you in the future, Miss Swan."
"It's not really a bet when the game is rigged, is it?"
"To what exactly are you referring?"
"Your scroll. I saw it in your cell. You wrote my name again, and again, and again."
"Just wanted to make sure it would stick."
"The ink – it was there all the time. You could've gotten out."
"I was exactly where I wanted to be. You needed to find that, so all this could occur."
"You created the curse, Gold. You made me the savior. So everything I've ever done… It's exactly what you wanted me to do."
"I created the curse, dearie, but I didn't make you. I merely took advantage of what you are – the product of true love. That's why you're powerful. And everything you've done, you've done yourself."
"So you don't know."
"Know what?"
"Cora… Tried to rip my heart out, but she couldn't. She was blasted back by something inside me. By… By-"
"By magic. Whatever that was, I didn't do that. You did."
Back in the Enchanted Forest, Cory and Hook stood at the pool of water that was once a portal, "We failed," said Cora.
"Really, Cora. After all this time, why do you still doubt me?" he held up the mummified bean.
"Well, that bean's petrified. It's useless."
"But these waters have regenerative properties. Perhaps, it's time to do some gardening."
Back in Storybrooke, everyone was still at Mr. Gold's. Henry walked up to Regina, who was standing off to the side, "I was right. You really have changed." Henry wrapped his arms around her and Regina cautiously returned the hug, "Thank you."
Emma walked into the room and Mary Margaret, David and Travis walked up to her, "Emma…" said Mary Margaret.
"Looks like we have some catching up to do," said David.
"You have no idea," said Emma.
"How about dinner at Granny's? On me," said Ruby.
"As long as it's not Chimera, I'm in. Hey, kid. You hungry?"
"Yeah," said Henry. Henry broke away from Regina and joined Emma. Then, everyone else started to leave, "I'll see you later." He said to Regina.
Regina started to tear up. Soon, Regina and Mr. Gold were the only two in the room, "Congratulations," said Mr. Gold, "You just reunited mother and son. Maybe one day, they'll even invite you for dinner."
Mary Margaret, David, Emma, Travis, Henry, Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Ruby and the Dwarfs were happily walking down the main street of Storybrooke to Granny's Diner. Little did they know that there was a ship coming close to Storybrooke Harbor. On board were Hook and Cora. Cora was holding a black wilted rose while Hook looked at the town through a telescope, "There it is," He said.
"Storybrooke," said Cora.
AN: Remember, if you like this story. Review, Favorite and Follow. It gives me motivation to keep going.