Summary: "It's time for a hard reset."
It all happened so fast.
Jefferson was tending to his hand, hovering over the sink. Mary Margaret was still trapped on the wooden chair, her hands re-tied behind her back.
Beside her, Henry was in the same position, but his mouth taped, and unbeknownst to Stanley, wriggling his tongue against the gag, slowly peeling the tape away from his lips.
Turning off the tap, he wrapped a wet rag around his injured hand. "With all due respect, Prince Henry," he casually noted, making his way over to the fridge, "I don't think I should let my daughter anywhere near you. You may have been far too influenced by the Evil Queen." He paused at the fridge, considering something. "Is that what the therapy was for? Brainwashing? Is that doctor in on this as well?"
He had a full conversation with himself, while Henry was forced to stay silent, unable to defend his mother, unable to speak on his behalf.
He could've at least let him wash out his mouth, first. It wasn't a pleasant taste he was dealing with. The skin alone made him want to throw up. Luckily, there was no blood.
But if he got close again, Henry didn't rule out the possibility that there might be.
"Calm down, Henry," Mary Margaret whispered, tears streaming down her face anew, deeply upset that a child was now involved, one of her favorite students. And right when he had finally overcome his delusions, too...
"Mab Hagger!" he screamed, the tape trapped between his teeth, not quite free, but enough for him to speak. "Ee 'oulff helffe oo! Eee – "
Mary Margaret was very much used to children speaking with their mouth full. Even in her tired, addled mind, she could hear the latter words 'We could've helped you,' plain as day.
And she could've translated the words to Jefferson, if she wasn't so transfixed on the boy's former words.
Mad Hatter.
Was Henry going through shock? Was he regressing? Was he ever broken of his delusion in the first place?
If she survived this incident, Mayor Mills would kill her for sure –
SMACK.
She hadn't even seen him cross the room, the freezer door still open, the silver gleaming the kitchen light into her eyes. Now, Jefferson stood beside her, cradling his other hand, while Henry was once again silent, his head drooping forward.
The sound was so loud, she thought the chair was going to collapse over, but it was sturdy.
She almost wished it did collapse. Henry was so absolutely still, she wanted any indication that he was capable of movement.
"Don't call me that," he whispered, eerily calm, insanely calm, as he stared at an unconscious boy, tightening his hand again, as if preparing for another strike.
A few more seconds, and he reconsidered. "Should've used my palm," he muttered to himself, walking away, back towards the fridge.
Mary Margaret stared at Henry, her eyes not quite understanding what she saw, more importantly, completely confused at what she heard.
She glanced around the room again, towards the colorful, distinctive hats on the display, proudly presented to anyone who glanced in – any direction, really.
A rational explanation for his overreaction was already beginning to form in her mind. Of course, he was a hat enthusiast, and may have gotten that cruel nickname along the way. Nothing to do with Fairy Tales.
Her shock and confusion made her slip into a deep silence, almost as silent as the child next to her, but when she found the ability to speak again, she sent a hot glare at Stanley, who was nursing his hand – his scarred hand – with a bag of ice.
She didn't need much help finding the next words to say.
"You son of a bitch!"
He shook his head. "He'll be fine. Just a swollen cheek. When the swelling goes down on my hand, I'll share this pack." He leaned against the counter. "By the time Emma gets here, he'll be back to normal. She's the Savior, anyway; she can heal him, no sweat."
The level of delusion this man had sunken down to, she couldn't even comprehend. But what she did know was that he was dangerous, and that she and Henry were going to die if he didn't get what he wanted. It was time to play his game, for the time being. "You hit a prince. Greater good or not, you kidnapped your queen and attacked your prince."
He leaned against the back of the chair, in front of the fridge. "I see what you're doing, and I appreciate the effort. But for the record, I'm not from the Enchanted Forest, and you're not my queen, per se."
"And do you think you might not be punished for your actions?"
"Once you get your memories back, I don't think you'll mind all that much after I save your kingdom."
She leaned forward as much as she could, snarling. "You think I'm grateful? You slapped my grandson for calling you mad! Don't like it?"
She could see the cogs spinning in his head, the contradiction evident in his posture. "Don't."
"Then let Henry go. Keep me in your twisted game, just let Henry go!"
For a moment, he looked like he was seriously considering freeing him, before he ultimately sent her a sorrowful look. "I'm sorry, I can't. I'm not responsible for anything I do to you and Henry, to save your kingdom. I can't let even you get in my way. You'd probably agree with me."
"Innocents?! I'd agree to let innocent little children be in danger? I want nothing to do with a life like that!"
"You don't even know who Henry is, you don't even know what you're fighting for." Before she could even bluster at the absurdity of his comment, he continued, "And what of your husband? Your friends? You want to let the Evil Queen win? You want Snow White dead?"
"I don't want anyone dead! I want to live!"
He scoffed. "You've done a good job at that, huh, schoolteacher?"
"Don't try to mock me, Mad Hatter!" She glared at him as he approached her. "If you touch me, saved kingdom or not, no reward. Better yet, prison for life. I swear on it."
He rolled his eyes at her defiance. "You didn't show that vehemence a month ago. You're not making this any easier for me, Queenie."
"Like you care. We both know that you're only in it for your daughter. Doing it this way, I can guarantee that you'll never see her aga– "
This time, the force was so powerful, the chair was knocked over, and she slumped on the ground, her cheek stinging, her temple throbbing.
One minute. It all happened so very fast.
Through blurry eyes, she could just barely see into the kitchen doorway, and she stared at herself in the refrigerator's reflection. A sad, pale, imitation of a pleasant, independent schoolteacher stared back at her.
And to believe, that person was supposed to be a queen. Even after all that had happened today, it was still hilarious.
A part of her felt like chuckling. Oh, did she wish she could tell all of this to her 'husband'.
Jefferson stood over her, pondering his next move, while she began to fade, before picturing, in her mind's eye, The Mayor and The Sheriff staring back at her, from the chrome fridge.
A mist of purple kept her awake, and everything that followed made her believe she was in a coma herself.
But she could feel the heat on her face, and her eyes watered as she witnessed the brilliance of the Sun, right in the gloved right palm of the Mayor.
With a mighty scream, she flung it before he could turn around, and by the time he did turn, the ball of blazing fire smashed into his chest, flinging him across the room into the shelves of hats. The glass shelves shattered, and he barely had the strength to lift up an arm to protect himself from the shards.
"Henry! Oh my – Jesus! SNOW?!"
She smiled weakly, before she closed her eyes.
"We fucked up."
"Yes, probably."
"I didn't even know she was kidnapped! I'm a terrible fucking roomie, it's not even funny!"
"Well, it's a little funny."
"Not. Helping. So... what should we tell her?"
"Maybe the truth, for once. As far as I'm concerned, this is as close a family bonding moment you might have with her."
Emma shook her head. "You're kinda loving this, aren't you?"
"I'm not hating this scenario as much as you want me to, and I do apologize for that. Frankly, I'm just glad we have Henry back. While I'm in this good a mood, I don't particularly care what Snow wants, but you can tell her whatever you like. We're one foot out of town, anyway. I'll wait by Henry's side."
"Is it bad of me to hope that she might enter another coma?"
Even as she pictured the smug grin, she said nothing, moving over to Henry's bedside, and Emma couldn't blame her.
Truth be told, she was avoiding this, which was probably why Regina had left the two together. Face to face with her mother. And now, unlike all the other times, they were both at least partially aware of their true relationship.
As her mother lay on the hospital bed, doing that legendary thing she did, Emma contemplated her choices.
There was a chance that she didn't remember the last few seconds before she lost consciousness. Or, better yet, it was all a hallucination to her.
Emma half-wished for that, but the other half was hoping that she was ready to hear the truth.
Chatting with August was... enlightening, and reading the original book was especially eye-opening.
She'd rather do this over a postcard, but this incident had forced the issue, and while this wouldn't answer any questions, she wanted some kind of closure, before she moved on.
The four of them had 'poofed' straight to the hospital, inside Doctor Gainsborough's office. She was surprised to see them appear, but she admitted that she had been expecting them – even going so far as to admit that them showing up magically, was a bonus. Ever since she picked up David, she had known that something magical was happening in Storybrooke, and she was pleased to see that it was resolved.
With a gentle kiss to his cheek, Regina had healed Henry, much to her own surprise. Apparently, she had never healed anyone with her magic, likely due to the darkness that had once claimed her heart. She had known healing spells, plenty in fact... but light spells and dark magic didn't mix well. Sometimes, the price weighs heavier than others.
Regina had been a bit terrified to try it, but with a bit of encouragement from Emma and Henry –
"Emma?"
The blonde stuttered. "Mary Margaret. Hey. How are you?"
"Confused." Even laying back, she could see the crinkle around her eyes as she tried to piece everything together. "Is that who I really am? Mary Margaret?"
Emma tried to speak, but nothing came out.
"Of course you are; and who you are is all that matters."
Mary Margaret turned her head to the other side, missing Emma's grateful sigh. "Mayor Mills."
A smile flitted across her lips. "Let's drop the formalities, dear. And let's give credit where it's due."
The teacher blinked. "Are you going to kill me?"
She raised an eyebrow. "Did you want me to? After saving you? Because I haven't ruled out the idea, completely. Would be a nice Christmas gift for myself."
The pale woman shuddered, while Regina grinned a predatory grin. "No, Miss Blanchard... Snow White. As difficult as it may be to comprehend, this world is an illusion. Henry was right."
Looking over, making sure their son was still in a deep sleep, Emma presented the familiar book to her. 'Once Upon a Time', in gold lettering. "I believe, officially, this belongs to you."
"I... it does? I just found it in my closet one day. I thought it was Jefferson, but, I guess he didn't know about it."
"I'll make sure to ask him about it," Emma said seriously, before placing the book at the foot of the bed. "You're taking this well."
"Since last night, I was drunk, depressed, kidnapped, humiliated, nearly brainwashed, beaten up, and saw fire come out of your hands. I've got no surprise left to have."
Regina winced. "So, you saw?"
Mary Margaret nodded, her optimistic smile coming into full shine, even though she was paler than usual. "Thank you for saving me. I know you were there for Henry, but thanks anyway." She blinked innocently, eyes piercing into Regina's soul, and she felt it difficult to look away. "So was it worth it? All of this?"
"Yes." They both heard the intensity of the word, the emotion in her voice, even as she tried to sound neutral. "It's exactly what I wanted, and so much more. I don't have any regrets, and I won't apologize."
"Good. I don't think you ever should – for this, at least. I'm still confused, but if I'm taking everything he told me at face-value, and from everything Henry's told me… well, I think it was a hellish dystopia. I just can't believe that I was a queen, once."
'Me neither,' Regina wanted to add, but she stopped herself. "I'm glad you approve."
"You're a great mayor, Regina. I couldn't imagine you not being a great queen, had… circumstances not led us to your decisions."
She blinked, and Emma wasn't sure if she took it as an insulting slap to the face, or an insightful punch to the gut.
"You know, you kind of look like him."
The blonde tore her eyes away from Regina, back to 'Snow'. "What?"
"I never saw it before, but I'm really starting to see it. Especially your jaw. They told me his eyes were green, too. Henry called him Patient C. I thought he meant Coma." She chuckled. "I guess he meant 'Charming', now that I think about it."
Emma spared a glance to her partner, biting her lip. Regina nodded. "He's awake."
A delighted gasp escaped her lips. "He is? David's awake? Is he here?"
"He ran off, but we managed to find him. He's asleep now, but his vitals are normal."
Mary Margaret looked pleased at the news, while Regina looked distracted. "If you don't mind, I need to speak to Doctor Gainsborough, to thank her for retrieving him." She gave one last look to Emma, making sure she would be alright if left alone.
She gave back a nervous smile, and Regina responded with an encouraging one, before slinking out of the room.
"So I really abandoned you?"
And that was a hell of a way to start this conversation. "More or less."
"I'm sorry."
"... You know what? It's okay. I thought this would be not okay, I really did... but it's okay. None of this would've happened otherwise. I don't have any regrets, either."
"I can see that." She bit her lip. "Once upon a time, I guess I lived happily ever after. But I made some mistakes to get there. Did some things for the greater good. It may have worked out in the end, but... I feel disgusting. I don't remember, but... I don't think I want to."
Emma barked out a laugh, and Mary Margaret jumped at the sudden exclamation. "That would work out well, wouldn't it? Right when we were moving away, too."
"You really are moving? And you didn't tell me? I'm your roommate – you pay half the rent!"
Emma allowed herself a smile. Despite everything, she was still Mary Margaret, a friend and a teacher. "Chill, lady. You're a queen. I doubt the town would tax you, or keep you in an apartment, for God's sake."
"I thought you were gonna tell me you were moving in with Regina," the school-teacher continued with a sad smile. "I didn't think all of you were moving out. And you expected this curse to break? Just like that? Is there a trigger or something?"
"Well, Regina introduced you to Charming, and True Love's kiss breaks very curse."
"True Love," she slowly spoke wistfully. "I don't even remember love. Then again, I don't even remember having a child." She looked over to Henry, who was curled up on his bed, completely at peace. "He has my hairstyle, and my eyes."
"Yeah," Emma whispered, moving around Mary Margaret's bed to her son. With soft hands, she brushed his fringe back. "He didn't have his birth-father's eyes, either. Really, it's closer to Regina's than Neal's."
She nodded, knowing that he was a sensitive topic. "That makes things easier, I imagine."
"Oh, definitely. You know, there was a time when I thought Regina could be directly related to me, because I saw so much of her in Henry. That would've been a hell of a chat. Luckily, that book over there cleared it up for good."
"You two look so happy together. That'd be terrible if it was a familial bond, instead."
Emma chewed on her lip. "The difficult part would be trying to keep it a secret from her."
She gasped, giggling. "Being in love with your cousin or something wouldn't be awkward?"
"Oh, yeah, it's definitely awkward, but it's there. I'm long past letting my happiness get away from me. Besides, magic confirmed we're soulmates anyway, and I already knew way before that, so if I have the hots for my long lost sister or whatever, then... well, Archie would've had a field day with it, that's for sure."
"Looks like you have it all thought out."
She closed her eyes for a moment. Honestly, she had never been told that before, and despite everything she had thought over the past few weeks, it was something special to hear it for the first time from her mother. "Really, I'm working on this as I go. Both of them, they make me happy. Happier than I've ever been." She never would've been able to discuss this with Mary Margaret, but that's what she was doing. In a way, she was no longer talking to the timid schoolteacher, nor was she talking to her mother. She was talking to... someone she understood, like Ruby. Someone who would understand her. "If following my heart is the same as having it all thought out, then yeah, it's all a part of my life plan. Live, and celebrate, with my son, and my baby mama."
"I don't think I'm ready to be a mom, much less a grandmother. Maybe it's for the best that you're leaving. Sorry if that sounds... awful." She pleaded with the same hazel eyes that Henry shot at her. "Can I visit sometime?"
"We'll see. When you get your memories back, we'll see what mood you're in."
"And will I remember? This moment?"
Emma dropped a heavy sigh. "I don't really know. I've never broken a dark curse before. But I hope you do remember. It'll be hard to do this again."
"Well," she groaned, sitting up in bed. "If we're only doing this once, what do you want to talk about? Before it gets weird."
"Weird?"
"Well, yeah. Before I turn into 'mom', who just wants to snuggle and schmooze over her baby girl. I don't know if I'm going to just age, and catch up to what I'm supposed to be. I'm as young as you are, and I'm absolutely gonna get awkward on you. I don't remember having you, Emma, but she lost her child seconds after she was born. You were prepared when you lost Henry, Snow White wasn't."
"I see your point." She pondered the thought for a few seconds. "I like this version of you. I wish you could stay."
"I wish..." She paused meaningfully. "I wish I could understand. I wish I knew who I was. I wish I knew you, and Regina, and Henry, and... my husband. I mean, I heard how surprised you were; no one even noticed I was missing. I just want to belong, y'know?"
"Well, yeah, that makes sense. I guess asking you to get a life and fall in love all over again and starting fresh would be asking for too much."
"It wouldn't be, but I don't think too much would change when the awkwardness passes."
"Maybe," she grumbled. "That's been the theme of the week for us. 'Remembering our past', and all that. I can't exactly tell you to forget everything, and tell Regina that it's the only way we can learn from our mistakes."
"Sage advice. I wish I could've raised you, but you raised yourself better than I could have."
The blonde gave a tight-lipped smile. "Glad we're clear on that, but thanks. Mom."
The teacher shuddered. "I feel so old. If Henry calls me granny, I won't need an apartment or a job. Just put me in a retirement home."
That drew an unexpected laugh out of Emma, and Mary Margaret soon joined her.
Outside the door, Regina leaned off the wall, with stiff legs, and a quivering smile. She sniffed, before moving away, heading towards the Doctor's office.
The arrangement had been properly set. It was finally time.
Emma, Regina and Henry, after meeting with Gainsborough, left the hospital, heading directly to the town limits.
Regina had already made the call to the moving company, and Emma had made the call for the house that she had been scoping online. It was perfect for them; three bedrooms, a basement, an attic (something Henry was really excited about), a full-sized kitchen (Regina's favorite room), a dining room and a sitting room, and a decently sized lawn, front and back, ripe for gardening. Frankly, it was too good to be true, but they were ready to see it together in-person, for the first time, and were willing to take it on site, to a nice old couple that was already moved out, just waiting for buyers.
Emma wasn't very business-savvy like Regina was, but she was damn good at sniffing out a good bargain when she saw one.
Her brunette partner was skeptical about their reaction to them, so they agreed on the original story of being co-parents, adopted and birth, living together under one roof. It really put on focus how much their lives had changed, and Emma wondered aloud how they would've co-existed like this if they had been clueless idiots, skirting the issue.
"Well, Darling, in case you forgot, I made the first move. If I had to depend on you, we'd still be waiting, and there would be no co-existence, I can guarantee it."
"Oh, come on! You're telling me that we'd still be fighting each other for custody right now?"
She gave her a blank look. "One: We're both fiercely competitive, and it took the both of us for Henry to see reason. He certainly would've stayed on your side, and as long as he had a side to pick, there would never be a resolution. Two: It would not have been a fight. A strange-tasting Apple Turnover later, the 'fight' would be over."
"... And three? Good lists and counterpoints come in threes."
She bit her lip. "Three: I don't deal in maybes. I can't even picture an alternate realm where I didn't fall in love with you."
If she wasn't driving slowly, she would've almost certainly swerved, just a little bit.
From the backseat, Henry laughed at the way Emma stuttered. Regina took pity. "Now, Henry, don't laugh at your mother. It's been a very stressful day for all of us. After what happened, I feel we should all have some positive reinforcement."
"Oh yeah," her son remembered, sitting up in his seat. "How is it? Your magic?"
"It's functioning properly, actually." She raised her hand, inspecting the back and palm, and though she could see no visible change, she felt herself thrumming with power, just beneath the skin. "I had thought there would be fatigue, or some rust. But I speculate it's like riding a bike."
"It's exhilarating," she had admitted to Emma with fondness, back at Storybrooke General Hospital. She let out a shiver, remembering all over again. "And terrifying. But mostly exhilarating. I just don't understand how..." She trailed off, slipping back into the mystery.
"Maybe it was another broken curse?" Emma speculated quietly. "When we put our heads together, we're pretty good at breaking curses."
While she would probably never admit when Emma made a solid pun, the telltale twitch of her lip, as she struggled not to laugh, was all the confirmation she needed. "Did you see this as a curse? Me without magic?"
"Well... yeah, I guess I did. It's an extension of you. And, before you get mad, a part of you must've thought that, too."
"I'm not mad. I'm more disappointed; in both of us, really. I thought that part of me was gone with the darkness, that yearn for power. I could already feel it when I aimed at Jefferson."
"Everyone wants power. As long as we use it for the right reasons. I mean, look at him." She tilted her head to their sleeping son, mere feet away from them. "As long as you do it for him, and not on her," she motioned towards the other sleeping presence in the room the next bed over, "and we should, to remember that. I've always focused on what I'm fighting for. Not who I'm fighting."
If there was one thing that annoyed Regina about her blonde partner, it was her optimism, at times. She hated how effective, and contagious, it was. Still, she managed to find an ounce of cynicism. "Be that as it may, fighting won't be on our regimen in Brunswick. One wrong move, and we might as well have moved to Salem."
Emma managed to tear her eyes towards her mother, grimacing. "Yeah," she finally admitted. "We fucked up."
"Yes, Probably."
"It's been so long since I've ridden a bike," Emma revealed, glancing away from the straight road. "I don't think I even know how to, anymore. Not to counter your metaphor."
"Oh, that's okay," Henry dismissed, excitedly. "When my bike reaches our new place, I'll teach you!"
"I'll take you up on that, kid. I might even need to borrow your training wheels."
"I don't have training wheels!"
"I kept them," Regina interjected easily, "I even kept your tricycle. You could give it to Emmeline, or maybe even your future child. I've always kept your things for a rainy day."
Emma checked her rear view mirror. "Speaking of rain..."
Regina narrowed her eyes, lowering the window to get a better look at the looming dark cloud. She put out her hand to test for water drops, and felt none. "The forecast promised cold, clear skies all week. If anything, there should be snowfall."
They spared a glance at each other, Emma instinctively slowing down the car, until it came to a full stop.
About fifty feet in front of them was the sign, Leaving Storybrooke.
"What are the chances that it's just one more thing trying to stop us?"
Regina checked her watch. "I told the doctor to wait an hour to re-introduce the two. This doesn't look like a curse-break, Emma. This looks like something darker."
"We can't avoid this. We need to set them off."
"The bombs? Are you sure?"
"It's the only way to destroy the magic for good."
She narrowed her eyes at the storm behind her. "Take us to the town limits."
"But – "
"Trust me, Emma. We're not leaving yet. I need to test something. Drive slowly."
Wordlessly, the former Sheriff put the Mercedes in drive, and pulled forward.
When they finally passed the sign, Regina took a deep breath, and put her hand on the door handle. Emma stopped the car, and she didn't pause in getting out, and shutting the door. Henry quickly followed, and they all looked as one at the cloud that hovered over Storybrooke.
"Gold escaped," she said confidently, a deep growl in her voice. "And he's casting another curse. Idiot."
"You're sure?"
"I don't know what else it can be. He's the only other person I know with access to magic, or consciously aware of it. I'll bet he's at the Wishing Well. We need to get there."
Emma held out her hand. Regina took it. After a moment of hesitation, they both reached out to Henry.
"Stay close," Emma warned, and the three of them vanished in a plume of purple smoke.
Regina had never been more disappointed to learn that she was correct.
There he stood, at the edge of the forest, at the cliff that overlooked the town of Storybrooke. The only thing that stood in front of him was a lone wishing well.
"I see you've been busy, Mayor. I thought you would've been clear and gone by now. I'm actually glad I caught you."
She seethed, marching forward. "What the hell did you just do?"
It was fairly obvious what he had done, as he stood over the Well, not even looking up as Regina approached. She couldn't even see his face, but she assumed he had the most Cheshire grin imaginable.
"Reversing your mistakes, Mayor! You foolish girl, you don't think your actions have consequences?!" he pointed over to his left, and while Regina didn't dare take her eyes off of him, Emma gasped.
There, on the ground, lay her Deputy Ruby, bloody and unresponsive, while Lacey knelt over her body, hugging her to herself.
Emma ran over to her, and while Regina was tempted to look, she was more distracted by a familiar vial on the ground, dropped next to the well. "You absolute fool! You threw my potion down there?!"
"You wanted her to forget me! You made her want to forget me! You were forcing her to forget me!" He laughed a truly insane giggle. "And they call me the monster!" Grabbing his cane from the edge of the Well, he turned to the former Mayor. "Consider this a trade, dearie. Because when the storm reaches us, you'll be a queen no longer! You never were! You may have brought magic back to this land, but you'll forget it all over again! It's time for a hard reset!"
"You're this confident? You're this arrogant, to believe that I can't have you arrested again? You'll forget your former life, too!"
He didn't look concerned. "If there's one thing I'll never forget, one thing hard-wired in my brain, it's where my dagger is. Trust me, the memories will come back. Could you say the same for yourself, Your Majesty? Do you think you could just bite into an apple and have it all coming back to you?" He smirked, leaning forward on his cane. "You're about to get the life you've always wanted, Mayor Mills! This is why you were never happy, you knew too much! A Mayor is nothing to a Queen! You told me yourself; ignorance is bliss! So say good-bye to – !"
When the shot rang out, it was loud, jarring, even over the thunder in the sky. Lacey screamed, wrapping herself tighter into the taller, unconscious woman. Henry jumped, even as he huddled behind Emma, stiffly under his mother's steady hand.
Her other hand was outstretched, the revolver smoking, aimed straight for Gold's ribs.
Her aim was true.
It was a through and through bullet, twisting out his other side, as he collapsed against the well, before slipping to the ground. He patted at his in-wound, staring at Regina, then at Emma, back and forth, back and forth, before finally settling on Lacey.
She hadn't looked up once, cradling Ruby to herself, uncaring about everything else around her.
He wheezed, reaching up, before Emma pulled back the hammer again. She aimed for his head.
"Emma," Regina pleaded, slowly approaching her partner from the side. "Don't. It's too late."
She looked up at the sky, dropping her arm to let the revolver hang loosely at her side. "Yeah, I guess it is." She turned her head to look at the embracing couple. "Go heal Ruby. I'll stay with Henry."
Regina lingered, brushing her fingers against Emma's gun-wielding arm, before making her way over to the two.
She didn't see Lacey dip her head down, or maybe Ruby used what little strength she had to tilt her head up, but all she knew next was the powerful shock wave that reached her, before a glow erupted.
It nearly blinded Regina as she was bathed in light, and it made her stumble back. She didn't even know how far she stumbled, refusing to fall over in her boots, until her back hit Emma's solid form, and she found herself wrapped in her protective arms.
She felt Henry wrap around her waist, and as soon as she felt him, she cast a shield around them.
She didn't know when the rain was going to reach them, and she was too blinded to look for it.
Regina was scared, and admitting it in itself made it even more terrifying. But with Emma wrapped around her, she didn't care about her own fear. She was focused on Henry and Emma. Even when she felt the soft patter of rain on the shield, she didn't let her focus waver in the slightest.
It might have been easier to forget who she was before, but then she'd lose a part of herself, that she could never recover.
The potion was meant to erase Belle's memory, after the curse was broken, and the fairytale half of her memory was restored. All that would remain was Lacey.
She had no idea what would happen to anyone who was hit with the potion before their true memories could come back.
But she was about to find out.
"Regina," Emma rasped, over the storm. "Gina, we've got to get the hell out of here!"
Emma must've reached the same conclusion, and she looked none-too-pleased to stick around.
"I... I can't! I have to keep the shield up!"
"Do you think I could do it?"
"I don't know, Emma! And I don't want you to kill yourself trying!"
"The whole town will be on us, I have to try!"
"No, you don't! We can handle this! We will get through this!"
"Are… are you sure?"
"Only with you, My Love. Positive."
She felt a gentle press of the blonde's lips on the side of her head, through her hair, and Regina braced herself for the warp.
The heavy patter suddenly ended with a final drop, the wind settled down, and with no small amount of trepidation, she opened her eyes.
There, Lacey and Ruby – Or was it Red and Belle? – were lain on the ground, the deputy fully healed, blinking innocently up to her beloved, while Lacey was running her fingers across the dry ground, regaining her bearings. They seemed content to give each other the time to recover.
Regina looked up at the clear, dull sky. No clouds, no rain. She looked back at the Wishing Well, and Gold was still there, slumped against the stone monument, his hands hugging both sides of his abdomen. He looked asleep.
With the slightest hesitation, she lowered the shield.
"Woah," Henry whispered, wiping at his eyes. He was never a fan of thunderstorms, even as a baby, but the awe on his face showed that he was distracted. "What spell was that?"
"What?"
"That spell! It was like a wind, and a glow, or something. Kinda like them... OOOOOH That's AWESOME! Both of you, and the both of them and the - !" He was nearly hyperventilating with excitement, and Regina subconsciously patted herself on the back for remembering to pack his old inhaler, before his words finally reached her, and she wasn't so sure if she needed an inhaler herself.
"We glowed?" She turned around, still in Emma's embrace. "We glowed? Did you see anything?"
She heard the excitement in her voice, but her eyes were closed the entire time, focused on teleporting away from this entire mess. Emma slowly shook her head. "I don't think they saw their own glow, either." She pointed at the couple, still on the ground.
Ruby blinked. "Hello."
"Uh, hi."
She blinked again. "Is there a reason you're on top of me?"
"I don't... think so. But I don't remember getting on top of you." She tilted her head. "Did you put me on top of you?"
Ruby seemed to seriously consider it. "I don't think so."
"Not that I would mind terribly. Just wanted to ask, is all. Well, then," she slowly got to her feet, wobbling, holding out her hand for her new friend. "I'm very glad to meet you. Wish it were under more memorable circumstances. Name's Lacey."
"Ruby," she supplied, taking the hand. "A pleasure. I think." She looked around, seeing the small family, watching them interact with dread. "Madame Mayor? Henry? How are ya! Do you know how we got here?" She looked down at herself. "And what the hell am I wearing?"
Though it was slightly torn and dirty, and missing her utility belt, Emma could clearly tell that it was her deputy uniform. Clearly.
But Ruby looked utterly confused at the strange khaki getup. And more importantly, utterly ignorant of Emma's presence in general.
"Oh my God," Regina whispered, not believing her eyes. "They've been reset."
"Is... is there a counter potion?"
The brunette shook her head. "Not that I know of. But we can't leave until I find one."
Emma looked conflicted. "You sure?"
"Of course I am. They're our friends. We can't leave them like this, they forgot each other; that could've been us. Imagine if I had been hit by that rain? I wouldn't even remember Henry. I'd lose everything I became."
She gulped. "And the others?"
"Probably the same. Unfortunately, Ruby and Lacey just ended my curse before they forgot each other. So not only did everyone get reset by the rain, like the last twenty eight years didn't even happen, they're all awake now. To them, the curse was cast just yesterday."
"Shit," her partner muttered. She stepped away from them both, pacing, before kicking the ground. "DAMMIT!"
"Miss?" Lacey voiced, concerned. "Do you need a drink? I can make a mean Apple Vodka."
"I don't know what time it is, but it sounds perfect for right now," Ruby sighed, shifting on her feet. "I am so ready to get the worst headache right now. I should probably give Granny a call, first. I don't remember going to work today, she'll be worried sick."
"Oh, where do you work?"
"Oh, a really old-timey diner. If you want, after we stop for a bottle, I could sneak us – "
With a wave of her hand, the pseudo couple froze in suspended animation, and Regina slumped. "God, I missed doing that. I really could use that Vodka."
"Those two... they shared true love's kiss? They just met! They broke your curse? But I thought only we could do that! This is so fucking heartbreaking! And a tiny bit adorable."
"Mostly heartbreaking." Regina crossed her arms. "I'm not sure how it happened, but they broke my curse, or so it seems. Ruby remembers me as a Mayor, and herself as a waitress, and she doesn't remember you at all. Lacey seems to remember being a bartender, but no knowledge of the psych ward. Her life – their lives – are on the assumption that we didn't alter the fate they would have had otherwise, since our knowledge is considered outside of the confines of the curse."
"And? What does that mean, exactly? They forgot us? Did everyone forget me? Completely?"
"It's even worse than that; they forgot Henry as well."
"Because I didn't come in with the curse?"
"Correct, dear. The memory potion reset them to day one, twenty-eight years ago. It was supposed to help Lacey forget her old life, once it came back. If the curse had been broken first, and if she hadn't had a hand in breaking it, it might have worked correctly. And while we don't have anyone up here to confirm this with, I imagine that a lot of people were hit with the potion first, before the curse-breaking glow. Nevertheless, I guess we'll be staying in Storybrooke, for the time being, to remedy this absolute mess. Kudos to them for finding their true love, but it could not have come at a worse time."
Emma sighed. "I'll make some calls. For the record, I'm not complaining, but I really want to complain."
"Darling, I'll be sure to complain enough for the both of us. Especially when we face the rest of the town."
The Sheriff of Storybrooke said nothing, pulling her gun again to drop the shell and slip another bullet into the chamber.
The realization that not only did her lover carry around a gun that was most definitely not issued to her, but had also kept spare bullets in her jacket breast pocket, was violently shoved away for the moment, in favor of worrying about the steely look in her green eyes. "Emma?"
"I'm still the Sheriff. I'm not gone yet, and the new sheriff probably doesn't remember even getting the job." She spun the chamber, before slipping it in her belt, behind her back. "Pretty funny, right? I turn in my service weapon right before I need to use it. Lucky I have my gun."
"Emma, I can't in good conscience let you do that. Think of what you've done to help me. I won't let you – "
"Regina, if someone attacks you – "
"Then I will simply respond in kind. It's not like it would be unexpected of me, and I do need to reassert myself, if we want any semblance of peace."
"That's not the point of a team. We're a team now, 'Gina. I wish you understood that."
She could hear the frustration in the blonde's tone, and paused. She had planned to do this at home, but there was really no time like the present.
"Oh, Emma," she whispered, reaching forward, caressing her cheek with a bare hand, and in the cold, she couldn't tell which one of them shivered. "I do. You have no idea how much I do. I... I want to try something. As you've said once... hear me out, okay?"
The blonde gave her an adoring look, and for a moment, they forgot about the hell that faced them, and could only see each other.
With her other hand, a blade materialized into her grip. Henry gasped. Emma stood still, not a hint or worry in her eyes.
Perhaps a tad confused. Regina smiled reassuringly.
"Marriage..." Regina started softly, barely a whisper, but to Emma, it might've been screamed in her face with the way she reacted. "Marriage is not something I've ever pictured. Since Daniel. Not even since Daniel, or even with him in mind. It was something I thought I needed one day. Something I had never wished for, it was just what was expected of me, as a little girl, and a future queen."
Emma stuttered. "G-Gina..."
"Calm, my darling. I know your thoughts on such a silly tradition, and the feeling is mutual, I assure you. It was one of the few things about love and tradition my mother instilled in me. Leopold thoroughly destroyed that notion. I... never want to feel that moment of helplessness again, and the idea of marriage instills that fear, truthfully. And I trust you, implicitly, but..."
"You don't have to explain yourself, Regina. You never have to explain yourself to me." Her eyes strayed to the sword. "Though I am curious about the sword. If you wanted to see my heart, you don't need the nail polish anymore, much less a sword. Just don't scratch the jacket."
"Emma, please, I'm doing something regal. Play along." The corners of her lips were upturned, and Emma could tell that she wasn't as tired of her jokes as she let on, but she gladly acquiesced, especially when she was ready to do what she expected Regina to do. She had been waiting for this.
"Regal? So should I... should I take a knee?"
She was about to mutter something heavily suggestive, until she realized that Henry was still there, looking upon the two with rapt attention. "No, of course not," she finally decided, a coy smile breaking through, hopefully unnoticed by Henry. "Not until the private ceremony."
Emma matched her grin. "As you wish, my 'Gina."
"So you remembered. But, just this instance, I wouldn't mind being referred to as a Queen again. Considering that's what I'm known as to everyone else."
"It's already going to her head," she muttered softly, before shooting her a grin. "Of course, My Queen."
Regina couldn't blame her for making her go off-script this time. Still, she tried her best to recover. Easily raising the sword in the air, she continued:
"Emma, this may seem spontaneous, but it was something that I've dreamed of for a while, now. I've never actually done this before – a knighting process. The Huntsman was an errand boy against his will, my other knights were loyal to a fault, not worthy of a ceremony. For you Emma, I'd give my heart. I've given my heart. And I know, without a doubt, you would fight to your last breath, by my side. You absolutely deserve this."
Emma, throughout the speech, was understanding how sincere this entire 'ceremony' was becoming, and straightened her posture, leveled her shoulders and folded her hands behind her back. She stared directly into Regina's cinnamon brown eyes, ready, silently pleading for her anointing – her knighting.
When Regina gracefully fell to a knee, in that flourish-y way only she could, Emma faltered, and she could distantly hear herself gasp.
Regina's eyes never left Emma's as she took a knee, and when she saw her partner come back to herself, she gave a half-smirk. "Allow me this moment of selfishness." With that said, she bent her head down, the sword in her hands steady, offering it to Emma. "You've proven to be my 'Black Knight', time and time again. You've accepted your place at my side. I, however, have not. I intend to rectify that, now."
She stared up at her lover, her partner, and co-parent, a full smile gracing her lips. "My time as a queen is coming to a close, I admit. A knighting would seem rather pointless. But you, Emma, I will always consider my knight. And I want to promise you the same, today. You have been my Protector, and now, I swear to be yours. We fight together. You at my side. Me at yours. My Knight. My Swan."
Besides an immediate rough inhale, and a very nearly audible flutter in her chest, Emma bit her lip, saying nothing. The cold air, the hibernating forest, went silent around her, as if the world anticipated her response. She pressed her hand against the blade, transfixed at the etchings that adorned the hilt. A beautiful-looking swan, wings spread, made up the majority of the black hilt, and the longsword itself was glittering, even in the dull setting.
Regina felt a little silly as she waited for Emma's answer – it wasn't like she had given her a script beforehand. Suddenly, Emma fell to one knee, absent of any grace or tact, and even more sudden, the black swan hilt disrupted her vision.
She took her words back. Emma was so very graceful.
In one smooth motion, she had slipped the sword out of Regina's outstretched palms, and stabbed the blade into the dry ground. She stared at her easily, not breaking a sweat as she broke the ground beneath her.
When the hilt was deep enough, their gaze was uninterrupted again. Still, she kept her head down. "I'm sorry, My Queen. I won't accept that."
An awkward silence passed.
"You want me to ask. I'm not above begging. Not anymore."
"Good. Because as your Knight, I serve my Queen. As your Swan, I serve my Queen. I mean, who are we fooling? Unless you decide to change your name, you're still my Queen, in Latin." She shook her head. "You can say it as much as you want, but you miss it. Just as much as I'm a Savior, you're a Queen. And it's my job to let the world know that."
Even in her surprise, she managed a retort. "And if you're so hell-bent on acknowledging an old post, then why can't I give you that courtesy? That's what being a team means."
She finally looked up to her beloved, not quite understanding the contradiction. "I thought you said there could only be one queen?"
"There could only be one Evil Queen," she corrected, adjusting herself to sit on the ground, since Emma was so insistent to stay like this. "I won't tell you that I may never be tempted to become what I once was, especially if anything happened to you or Henry."
"Well, then, let's do that! Don't scare me like that! You're shooting for a partnership we already have, why are you – is this some kind of ritual?"
"It's an oath," she grumbled, thoroughly exasperated. "A ceremony. Similar to a knighting, I just wanted to – we both want something real out of this. I had planned this since I knew the curse would break. I just wanted to swear fealty."
"Oh." It was whispered, calm and uninspired. "And you felt you had to?"
"It's considered a big deal when a Queen does that, and I've never done it before. So, yes. I did."
"So... this reverse-knighting. It's like a non-marriage?" She looked into her lover's guilty eyes, and began to understand. "You just wanted to do something special for me."
"Did you expect anything else from us, Emma?" she shook her head, wiping at her eyes. "There isn't really a precedent for this. I wanted a tangible reminder that I can't become what I once was; something both you and I can look back to, to show that we both not only want this, but have this. I've already asked for redemption, and you've helped me get there. I'm asking for an equal, but I could never ask for a wife, and if you can accept that – "
"You make it sound like Mission Impossible. A compromise, then. You are my Queen. I am your Knight. I am... your Queen. You are my Knight. Being your wife doesn't sit well with either of us. Neither of us are claiming ownership of the other. I'd be much more content to being your everything else. Your Savior. Your Swan." She looked up, with honest eyes, hands tightly gripped around the hilt, and smiled. "At the end of the day, it's a promise to keep you next to me, as long as you want me. It's like you said, remember? I'm willing to try as hard as you are."
"...I am, Emma. I will. I do."
Henry looked back and forth, watching the exchange, the double-sided proposal, with some confusion. All of this looked increasingly familiar, for two people who seemed against the concept. He didn't hear much of what they said to each other, but they seemed unsure how to end it all.
He wet his parched lips, before disturbing the silence. "Umm... You may now kiss the bride!"
Two pairs of eyes widened in disbelief, and unexpectedly, Emma blurted out a noise, before her serious pose finally cracked, and she began to chuckle.
Regina stared blankly at her partner for another moment, not exactly sure how to respond, and more than a little lost. Realizing her partner wasn't laughing at her, but rather, with Henry, she managed a small smile, before a bubble a laughter formed in her throat.
Soon, she was leaning onto the hilt of the sword, her hands on Emma's, and joining her partner in a fit of giggles.
"I feel like," Emma sniffed, trying to contain her snicker, "I feel like getting married would've been easier! What the hell were we trying to do?"
Regina snorted. As much as she detested the entire act of marriage, she had to admit that her partner had a point, despite her attempt to avoid it. "I told you there was no precedent for this. I tried to 'go with the flow', as you are so fond of doing."
Emma heaved in a breath. "Did you – did you just snort?!" She laughed anew, holding her stomach tightly. "Holy crap, I'm gonna die right now!"
The brunette just stopped herself from snorting again. "Would you like me to kiss it better?"
Her blonde partner collapsed to the ground, laughing up into the sky, and Regina joined her, ignoring her black swede overcoat, in favor of hugging her partner.
In the times they were about to face, through the pretending, and the illusions, and the destroyed friendships that could've lasted a lifetime, this was what they had; a solemn promise, however badly sworn and unplanned, was purely intended, and genuinely agreed upon.
It was practically a 'marriage' of sorts, but of vows and faith, of people, a dedication of bonds to another. Nothing was advertised, or signed, or loudly proclaimed like a circus act, to appease the townspeople or broker a union between kingdoms, or even a tax benefit. No one had to know – no one needed to know, because the people that mattered no longer knew anything.
Henry, or really, anyone else wouldn't have understood the difference. And maybe the fact that they did made them so much more unique to each other.
As the two embraced on the ground, and Emma grabbed the crook of her leg, easily lifting her to straddle her lap, Regina hid her red-faced childishness in a mop of blonde hair –
That was the first time it happened, and the only witness to it was ten year-old Henry Mills.
Unlike the effects of true love's kiss, which was a blindingly white glow, and a vast expanse of light that pulsed around them, this was a kaleidoscope of color, just as bright, but Henry couldn't tear his eyes away from the spectacle if he tried.
Not that he wanted to. What he saw was something that was, quite honestly, beautiful, and that wasn't a word in his every day vocabulary, especially at school. But there was no other way to describe it, not any word that he could think of.
When the glow began to fade, he began to get worried.
Where there was once two people, his parents that he loved dearly, there was now one.
And he had no idea who this person was.
For a moment, Henry and the stranger stared at each other, bright green eyes meeting nervous hazel ones, and for another moment, time stood still.
Her black hair was in a long curtain, parted by streaks of dirty blonde. She stumbled about in an oddly familiar red swede jacket and black jeans. Still on her hand and knees, one hand draped off the hilt of the blade in the ground, she slowly lifted up her other hand to brush her hair out of the way, and he caught a glimpse of a tiny vein pulse in her forehead, right up the middle...
And then she spoke.
"Henry?" she echoed, and he swore it was a real echo, of two different voices, distant, and so familiar.
He blinked, and there they both were. Laughing, lying on the ground together. Kissing.
For once, it wasn't gross.
"Emma, don't! Henry is right over there!"
"Yeah, and I'm right over here. He's the one that told me to kiss you!"
Regina huffed, rolling off of her, sitting up. Emma joined her side. Waving him over, she motioned for Henry to sit on her other side.
"I had schemed for this, once," she admitted. She glanced back and forth at the two most important people in her life. "My son, and my Savior, at my side, taking on the world again. I just… never expected it in this context."
Henry forced the blurred image out of his head; it clearly didn't happen, it was just a moment of delusion, seeing so much magic before him in a single day. Mad Hatter must've hit him harder than he thought. He tried to focus on his mother's words. "I was always on your side, mom. I just… I just wanted answers. I wanted you to be truthful."
"When it comes to matters of my previous life, son, I will try to be honest to you. I just didn't think you were ready for – this. Truthfully, I wasn't ready either." She gave him a hopeful look. "Well? Do you think you're ready, Henry?"
He bit his lip, looking out onto the town. "Yeah, I'm ready mom."
"Good. Very good. That makes one of us."
Emma tilted her head. "Where do you think they're going first? Town Hall? Mifflin Street?"
"They've likely split up into two teams. However, knowing the complete idiots they are, they're probably following wherever Snow goes first."
"And what are the chances of them trying to chop down your tree, in their haste of mutiny?"
She pondered the serious question, not so seriously. "I doubt they would try, especially after the first strike. Someone needs to set the example."
"Seriously, though, we should put up a protection."
"No need. Nothing they do can harm us. Now that we both have magic." She tilted her head over to the frozen couple. "We need to cure them, and if we have the resources, everyone else. Sean and Ashley, Doctor Gainsborough, Miss Blanchard, – "
"Nicolas and Ava," Henry interjected, his mouth twisted into a frown. "They probably forgot me. Do you think they forgot about their dad? Or their dad forgot about them?"
Regina chewed on her lip. "It's a possibility. I'm not looking forward to see who hates me again."
A terrible thought occurred to Emma. "Do you think Sean and Ashley forgot about Emmeline?" She shuddered. "Or maybe the potion reversed time…?"
Regina didn't want Emma to finish that statement, and she could only pray that Emmeline was still alive and well, and firmly an independent living organism. "Until we see them, we can only speculate. I'd rather not get my hopes up." She breathed, taking in the brisk air, before moving to stand. "I would have liked to have given a resignation speech."
"We still can – if we make a grand entrance."
"Oh?" She saw the mischievous glint in her eyes, and it filled her with parts nervousness and excitement. "And what did you have in mind?"
"Give the people what they want. They want a defeated queen, at their mercy. So we'll show them that."
"And there's a part two to your plan, I hope?"
"Best case scenario: you're arrested, and the sheriff will decide your fate. I'm sure she'll be lenient, and with you every step of the way."
"And the worst case scenario?"
"Banishment. I escort you out of town, and the three of us are never heard from again. Worst case scenario," she stressed at them both.
"And you're positive that they won't demand for my head?"
"Absolutely. Because I'm the Savior, and the Savior says no."
"Don't get me wrong, Emma; they're all sheep, and they'll accept anything you tell them, especially when Snow White confirms your story, doing that familial… thing she does."
"Mm-hm. You see a flaw in my plan?"
"Well," she mused slowly, swiping the dirt off Emma's jeans as she considered their options. "Perhaps you've forgotten who I am, dear. I'm the Evil Queen; trademarked, always capitalized, proper noun. I doubt that Snow will try to kill me, or will even want me dead. But if there was one person, who might want to, shall we say, 'be the hero' at the opportune moment, like your hotheaded father, then what? Keep up the surrender act?"
"The man just woke up from a coma, he's not gonna go grab a sword and start trying to slash at anyone. And if anyone wants blood, yours won't be their first option."
Regina furrowed her brows for only a moment, before following Emma's eyes. She looked at the man slumped over, against the well. He was still unconscious, but his wounds had seemingly cleared up – his black overcoat marred with clean bullet holes, even the blood pooled on the floor had vanished. "Him?"
"Him," Emma confirmed. "I'm arresting him anyway. Really, we could pin all of this on him if we want."
"Sorry, but I wasn't subtle when I prepared to cast the curse. I've never been humble about my revenge, and they'll remember it like it was yesterday. Besides, this is my mess. I do deserve their scorn."
"And I'm here to keep the scorn to a minimum. So try not to make my job too hard for me? No taunting."
"No promises. Especially when one of them speaks. I have no idea what foul atrocities may come out of her mouth, but I will not tolerate her lies."
"Mom…"
"I'll try, Henry. Really, I will." She crossed her arms, surveying what was once her kingdom with a gloomy expression, before snapping her fingers. Ruby and Lacey swirled away in a purple cloud, and Gold found himself bound and handcuffed. "No turning back, now. Are you ready, darling?"
"Where did you send them?"
"The Mausoleum. It should be easier to tell the truth there."
"What about the car?"
"Firmly out of their hands, for the time being. That's why I needed you to drive it outside the town limits. I was fairly positive that we could leave, since I cast the curse. It's quite difficult to cross the town limits, unless ordered by me. We'll have to go back to retrieve it. Don't go without me, or something might happen. I don't know how it might respond, now that magic is back in Storybrooke."
"Okay." Emma shrugged, slipping her fingers into her pockets. "I guess I've done enough stalling, huh? Henry? Do you think you can babysit Ruby and Lacey for a while?"
Henry gave her an unimpressed look. "While you two face down the entire town? You really think I'm going to miss that?"
"I'm fairly certain you will, Henry. Don't argue with your mother. It shouldn't be as exciting as whatever your head imagined, but if it is, I will not risk you in the crossfire." Henry looked ready to argue, until Regina softened her expression. "I need you to work with me. If anyone pits you against us, I won't put up a fight. Emma won't either. And if they have it their way, you'll be an orphan by dawn. Protecting you, above all else, is our priority. Our oath to each other extends to you."
"What do you think two pissed off witches would do if their son is in danger, or worse?" Emma asked her son, and he knew it was rhetorical. "If we have to do to Snow White what we just did to Mad Hatter, because you know she'd try to take you away, I'd let Regina do it. What?" She she asked innocently, blinking at his look of horror. "You wanted me to be truthful. They wouldn't take you from me, probably. But she's just as much your mom, moreso. And when it comes to the truth, us adults can be pretty ignorant. You know that better than anyone else. So we're gonna need a plan. Operation: Honey Badger."
Henry looked more than convinced, but he went back to skeptical at the code name. "Honey Badger?"
"Terrifying. Vicious. Fiercely protective. Undeniably Adorable. I want one."
Regina cleared her throat. "Back on topic. We'll discuss a plan when we return."
"Okay. Just be safe."
"Of course."
"I'm serious, Ma. Take care of Mom."
"She doesn't need it," she replied, her voice firm. "But I'll always be there if she ever does."
Henry nodded, wrapping his arms around his mother, and after a few seconds of intense squeezing, he turned to his other mother, and she reciprocated happily.
"You've grown so much in the past few months, Henry."
"You did too, mom."
She grinned, kissing his forehead, ruffling his hair. "Thank you for noticing."
He smiled brightly, and with a vortex of purple smoke, he was gone.
"If I had that power, I would never walk again."
"You do have that power, dear. Whether I help you explore that option or not, after comparing me to a weasel, is another matter entirely."
"Honey Badgers were my spirit animal. I don't actually want one, but they are pretty cute. Even the name is sweet; Miss Honeycrisp." She moved closer, wrapping her arm around her Queen's waist, ruining the brunette's exaggerated sigh. "I wish you had the time to teach me something useful. Kissing you is great, but I can't exactly do that when we're standing in front of them all."
"I suppose we can't, can we?" she murmured, reaching up to brush a leaf out of her messy blond hair. "Though if you truly wanted to kill your mother, it's a painless option on our end. Do you think we have time now?"
"Honestly, I don't. But I really don't care. They can wait."
"Good answer," she whispered, before Emma closed the distance.
Allies lost, memories forgotten and progress stolen. Certainly, they've each faced worse odds before. For most of their lives, the world was against them, and they fought back viciously.
Now, they had Henry. They had each other. And somewhere – deep, deep in the back of their minds - they knew they had something else. Something intangible, profound, mystifying.
Something true.
A tear slipped from the Queen's eye, sliding down her cheek and dropping from her chin. It wasn't the first tear she had shed that day, and it might not be the last.
But when Emma ran her thumb gently up and down her cheek, she realized that this was the first time anyone had been there to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Daniel had never seen her cry. Both Henrys had witnessed it on a blue moon, but she never let her father know how truly pained she was at times, and her son was still in diapers when he saw her stress. Evil or not, she was never so comfortable with anyone seeing her vulnerabilities. Another byproduct of her mother.
She gazed up to her Savior, accepting her brazen gaze back, realizing all over again how much less of a nickname it was, than a calling.
And perhaps, a part of her hated that title as well.
Emma was her Savior now, no one else's.
She wasn't evil anymore, or at least she wasn't trying to be – she would swear on it.
But no one said she couldn't be selfish. Actually, Emma would probably be flattered by that.
"What are you thinking about?"
"You. Our town. What comes next."
"Ain't that a coincidence. So, private time's over? Back to reality?"
"I wouldn't say that. Though it should be said. Before the town lights up our home."
"Oh – dammit," she silently cursed. "I still need to make those calls. The owners are still waiting on us."
In her mind's eye, she saw them leaving Storybrooke behind, to a better, normal life, where their biggest worry was signing Henry up for school on time, and if her new neighbors had a sweet tooth for pastries. Regina chewed on her lip for a moment, still inches away from Emma's. "At the risk of sounding too dramatic, again, I want to make another mutual promise with you. Don't call."
~Present Day~
David heaved at the sword with all his might, making entirely unnecessary sounds as he rocked his body back and forth, but the Swan-hilted blade didn't budge an inch.
Mary Margaret huffed with impatience. "Do you want me to call Killian, now?"
He huffed back, pausing to give her a glare. "Do you want to call Killian?"
"He could help!"
"Yeah, I'm sure he'll give me *a* hand!"
"A hand and a simple machine, Charming! He could give us the leverage we need!"
He turned back to the sword, and Snow White rolled her eyes, leaning back against the well.
Fairy Dust couldn't get that sword out of the dirt. She had no idea how David thought he could do it, but he was stubborn. It was one of the many reasons she loved him.
But if there was one man that was more stubborn than him, it was –
"Alright," he grunted, landing on his ass. He winced. "Call him. Say I loosened it up for him."
"That's okay, baby," she sympathized, already pulling out her phone. "You did your best."
She was certain that Hook would do his best as well, and ultimately fail. Everyone else did. Everyone willing to try, that is. She was certain that Ruby was stronger than the both of them combined, but she didn't lift a finger to help, stating her allegiances quite clearly.
Emmalina had split the town in half. For Snow White, or for Emma. They might not have liked Regina, but if Emma went along with it, then it couldn't be all bad, right?
They had noticed it when they went to the wishing well for answers – an old blade with the hilt of a black swan sticking out of the ground. Snow connected it with the tale of Excalibur, and King Arthur, and the birth of the Dark One's Dagger.
Emmalina was the Dark One. And her assumed symbol was right there, firmly wedged in the earth, next to the wishing well on the edge of the forest, overlooking Storybrooke.
The Well had a legend – it had the power to return what was once lost.
She wanted her daughter back.
She had tried placing her hand on the hilt and calling for the Dark One, but that was a bust. Clearly, they had to pull it out, first, to harness the control.
Hiding it in plain sight was confusing, at first, until the third day of attempting to pull it out of the ground.
Now, it was just teasing them.
Snow, frankly, was tired of the games. She just wanted her lost daughter returned to her, and Emmali – The Dark One, was just taunting her, and probably watching her too, but she wouldn't give up.
The jackhammer didn't even dent the dirt. The diamond and fairy dust-encrusted pickaxes didn't even budge – and when Grumpy took a direct swing at the sword itself in a heated moment, the pick axe chipped, and his ensuing rage whittled it down further.
So, no, she doubted Killian could do much better.
"Oh I can't, can I, luv?" His tone was playful, even after everything she told him. "This sounds like something I need to see for myself."
"You really think you could help us pull the sword?"
"I'll see what I can do with that, too, luv. I'll bring the whole force of the Jolly Roger if I have to. You just bring a long enough rope."
She stared over the cliff side, to the docking bay, and gawked. She hadn't considered that. "Thank you. And hurry back, stay for a while. We've missed you."
David scoffed, loudly, and Killian laughed. "I can hear that. I'll see you in a few clicks, Snow."
"He does miss you, really. He's just... a little bitter right now."
"Am not," he yelled, and Killian laughed harder, before hanging up. David, from his seated position, pulled at the sword some more.
"Why do you do that?"
"Do what?"
"Antagonize him like that!"
He blinked. "Snow, what are you talking about?"
She sighed. "Is this a guy thing again?"
He shook his head and got back to work, rocking back and forth against the hilt. "I don't know – huh – what we – gah – see in him…"
Snow was ready to chastise him, again, until she noticed the slip.
"Yeah," she admitted, a full smile gracing her lips for the first time in three days. "Yeah. We sure now how to pick 'em, don't we…"
It was... unique... seeing the threads of time tangle together, weaving an entirely new cloth of existence.
To believe that in one existence, half of her fell for a pirate, and the other half fell for a thief? In a way, it was a reflection of themselves. What was a pirate captain but a lawless lord of the seas? What was a thief but… a thief? A reformed thief, mind you, but she served her time.
She wished them all the best. She, however, was quite content with the reality they lived, despite its flaws.
No, actually. The flaws were perfect. It led to this. It led to her.
She pulled out her notebook.
1. Beauty and the Beast ✓
2. The Sane Mother of Dragons ✓
3. The Jolly Roger Ranchers ⅔
4. Operation: Swanson
5. Cool Family (Once Removed)
6.
7.
Well, numbers six and seven were going to be more difficult, on the simple fact that she didn't know what they were yet. But it was a matter of time; just call it a feeling.
With an excited shiver, she dropped her notebook and pen, and grabbed onto the cosmic crocheting needles.
Granny would be so proud of her right now.
Rihaan Shimomura presents
The Longest Day
OR
Five Times Emma and Regina Tried to Leave Storybrooke, and the One Time Storybrooke Left Emma and Regina
(Writing Prompt)
Author's Notes: Okay, so this is what happens when you decide to watch Steven Universe: The Movie before writing. This chapter is dedicated to that, by the way.
I may have over-compensated. The idea might have existed to write a musical, and boy, that would've been a shit-show, probably. There are other ways to keep it fun.
This chapter is also dedicated to the people who actually "sponsored" me: Joseph P Hawley, Alexander S, AtomicStryker, and Ken W Warner. Thank you for your patronage!
I was totally not expecting the response to Henry, by the way. I was mostly talking about the actor that played him, but yeah, Henry the character is pretty awful to his mother, ain't he? I hope you're loving my version of him so far, and enjoyed his transformation.
Extended Author's Notes on my blog, celebrating over 100,000 words strong! And my website has been seen on over 1,000,000 IP Addresses! Not bad for a fanfic site! Thank you all so much! (Seriously, you should see the Holiday decorations, I tricked it out.) Check out the profile page for information on my ficlets.
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