Emma meandered through the market; Henry held her hand as they snaked through the bustling crowd. Mr. Bigglesworth rode on Emma's shoulder, occasionally complaining about the heat or the people.
Regina stayed home, (she needed to pack for Henry) and sent Emma off with a coin purse full of gold to get Henry his wizard apprenticeship essentials. The market was foreign and confusing and there was no organization as far as Emma could tell. Turkey carcasses hung next to the guy who sold hammocks, and next to that was a stall full of ceramics. (Why couldn't there just be clean alphabetized aisles like Target?) Maleficent had met Emma at the gate and gave her a list of items to go buy, while she scouted out the most important item: Henry's wand.
"Emma, here's the tarot cards," Henry jumped excitedly, and raced over to the vendor.
"Which deck would you like? We've got: Deviant Moon, Bohemian Gothic, Aleister, Crowley Thoth, Shadowscapes, Rider-Waite, DruidCraft…"
Emma blew out an aggravated breath; the list just said Tarot Cards, there was no brand name listed. She didn't know she'd have to worry about the various kinds. She couldn't get the Miracle Whip when Henry needed the Hellman's…
"Um..how about we get a Gothic and a Shadowscape?" Emma handed out some gold and the vendor took it, handing back two thick decks of cards. Shit, she had no idea what she'd even just paid for those stupid decks of cards. They should have a 2 for one special.
"Henry, are you one hundred percent sure you want to do this Wizard thing?" Emma asked.
She just wasn't sure magic was a good idea. She did love Regina's…skills, but Snow and Charming were adamant against it. She wanted to make sure Henry wasn't just doing it because Regina wanted him to. Yet another thing that would hurt and distance Emma's parents. She still hadn't gone back to the castle to see Snow. It was clear to Emma that she had shown her disapproval and it would stay that way. Besides, if Emma went back Snow might just lock her in a tower to keep her from being with Regina.
"More than anything! Aunty Maleficent is so cool, and I promised mom that I won't let my other studies slide."
"Remember what Regina and Maleficent agreed on? This is just a trial period. So I don't want you to be disappointed if it doesn't work out," Emma reminded him. She felt like she was sending him off to summer camp...
"I know. So what else is on the list?"
Emma read it over, (or tried to.) sound it out, girl, use your consonants, "Cauldron, cingulum, besom, STANG?" What kind of fuckery is this?
Turns out customer service at the market was actually pretty helpful in finding some of the items, and after an exhausting search for a ritual chalice, and an aggravatingly endless choice of censers and incense: the list was finally complete.
Mr. Bigglesworth kept whining that he was hungry, so Emma bought him some atrocious liver snack that he hogged down, and made smacking noises right in her ear, "Don't get liver juice on my jacket!"
They found Maleficent haggling heatedly over a wand. It sounded like they were arranging the purchase of a Mustang GT convertible rather than a dumb stick: Shelby GT500, legendary 5.0L V8 engine, 6 speed transmission…
Emma just picked up bits and pieces of Maleficent's conversation as she looked at the display of wands. Nope, she couldn't tell the different between the $1000 one and the $15 one.
"No, I said level 7.. do you not speak English?…this shitty piece of kindling is level 5 max! Nothing but the best: I need fully dark/light magic compatible….NO!, this one has an off finish, and warping on the tip, unacceptable. I'm obviously gonna need a zapper adaptor…."
After a lengthy debate, Maleficent was satisfied with the wand in hand, and she nodded to Emma to pay. Emma just handed over the rest of the money she had in the coin purse. Wonder if the market has a tax free weekend for before the next wizard supplies run…
…
Regina looked over the wand appraisingly, flicking her wrist and swirling it around to test it, "Nice resistance…I approve."
"Nothing but the best for my new pupil," Maleficent already had her hand on Henry's shoulder. Emma loaded his suitcase of clothes onto Maleficent's cart.
"I'm gonna miss you kid, but you can talk to me on your mom's mirrors. We'll be in Oz, but if you need me for anything you let me know, okay?" Emma patted his head and pulled him into a hug.
Regina kneeled in front of Henry, looking him over as if she was trying to immortalize this memory, "You have all my mirror contacts, right Maleficent?"
"Yes, Regina. My God, we're just going to the Forbidden Fortress, not to Mars," Maleficent rolled her eyes.
"You are going to learn so much and be such a great sorcerer," Regina swiped away a tear and hugged Henry as tight as possible.
He eventually pulled away with discomfort from Regina's overbearing vide and called for Mr. Bigglesworth. The stupid cat stood in the doorway unable to make up his mind, "I want to stay here, I don't like that witch…"
Maleficent rolled her eyes, "Although, I would not have chosen you in a million cats, you are to be Henry's familiar. He already has a bond with you, so it will make it slightly less painful when he forces your spirit out of your fish-breathed naked cat-body and takes control."
"Ugh! Well…I…Mrr…" Mr. Bigglesworth stammered, and Maleficent picked him up by his stringy tail and hauled him outside.
"Bye moms! Have fun in Oz!" Henry called as he followed Maleficent out the door.
When Henry had left (Regina stared out the window until the carriage was no longer visible) Emma looked around to start packing for OZ, "What's the weather like there anyway?"
"You don't need to pack anything," Regina threw up a hand absently and went back to doing something magical to the legs of the furniture.
"If you think I'm gonna let you magic and poof my clothes on and off at your will, you're in for an awakening…"
Oh, but make no mistake: Emma enjoyed when Regina took her clothes off, but not so much when she put them on, it was disconcerting. Oh, Regina still undressing your dollies….old habits, tsk tsk.
Emma stopped mid-rant to puzzle over why Regina appeared to be nailing all the furniture to the floor, "Um, Regina I really don't think you have to worry about a break in. You have magical enchantments all around this place that make it completely invisible to anyone you don't want to find it." Duh!
Regina walked over to Emma and placed her hands on her shoulders, and let out a long sigh, "I do need to bolt down the furniture, and you don't need to pack."
"Okay…what?"
"There's only one guaranteed way to get to Oz."
"Um?" Amtrak? Greyhound? Megabus?
"Tornado," Regina got that wicked glint in her eye. She threw a leather strap to Emma, "I suggest you fasten yourself to something sturdy, we don't need you incurring a head injury."
Emma didn't have to be told twice she climbed up into bed and tied herself to the rails. She peered over the edge as Regina began to call up the mother of all storms. Damn, just like X-Men! She took a wide stance, tilted her head and threw up her arms. The wind started to howl fiercely, the house began to shake and teetered right and left. Lightning glared in streaks through the windows. Emma felt the house lift and she held on tight. The sensation was terrifying like an elevator ascending rapidly. She held her stomach as she felt slightly nauseous.
After the choppy takeoff, she started to get used to the feeling, as she spun and hurled through the air. Her ears popped as they rose higher in the sky. The house had leveled out, and walking around was sort of the same as the sensation as walking on a slanted roof.
"Come see," Regina took her hand and they slowly made their way to the window. The view was breathtaking; Emma could see all of the Enchanted forest as they flew above it carried by the swirling column of wind.
Emma noticed something circling the house like an orbit, "Is that your apple tree?"
"Why yes, dear. I take it everywhere," Regina said it so matter of fact, as if everyone uprooted their 20 foot tall trees to take on vacation. Don't want the tree to feel left out, God forbid!
The forest green of the tree tops gave way to a view of sparkling silver-blue water.
"This is King Triton's realm. It borders Oz, but he and I are not on the best of terms," Regina explained. She stood behind Emma and wrapped her arms around her, pulling her close, "Beautiful isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah…but no water landings," Emma leaned against Regina's chest, and turned slightly to steal a kiss.
"We're going to have a good vacation dear, I can feel it," Regina emphasized her point by letting her fingers roam hotly down Emma's chest and stomach. Regina bumped her hips against Emma's butt once, and then reluctantly released her.
"Tie yourself to the bed, (kinky!) I need to focus on landing. I've never done it before."
"Thanks for that calming boost of confidence," Emma made quick work of tying herself down.
"There's our landing target, Elphaba's X," Regina yelled over the strong whipping wind. She concentrated on controlling the mighty twister, waving and swirling her hands in ways that gave Emma pleasant feelings: Aw, Regina and her delectable magic fingers.
The house lurched and falling slow followed by a sudden drop, but when they finally touched ground in OZ, Pilot Regina successfully made a soft landing. (Like Double-ply Charmin soft.)
