Emma answered the phone mere second ago without given the chance to say anything because Regina is fighting with all her power to take it. The brunette is in a very good place right now and Emma
doesn't want her love getting stressed over Lily's crazy talk. She promised she would handle everything so she avoids Regina's reaching as she speaks,
"Hello?"
"I have Lily. Come alone or she won't live to see another day–" the line goes dead leaving Emma dumbfounded and staring quizzically at her phone.
"What happened?" Regina urges. "Emma is she okay?!"
"I-I have to go, I'll be back–"
"I'm coming with you then!" Regina declares as she stands along with Emma who is already rejecting the proposition. "She's my daughter Emma."
"Regina, I need you to trust me okay? Just relax," Emma softly orders as she gently cups Regina's cheeks. "I got this. I've always been strong enough to carry all of your burdens so just let me."
Regina chokes because of those kind words. Something quickly flashes before her eyes before she can make anything out of it forcing her to stumble back in panic. Although Emma has never said that before, it sounds too familiar coming from her mouth. That's so weird!
"What?" Emma questions Regina's sudden awkwardness. The brunette just shyly shakes her head, still trying hard to figure out why that sounds familiar.
"Nothing just go. We'll be here waiting for you. At least come back in time to catch the fireflies with Ari before the night ends."
"I will," Emma confirms.
She decided taking a walk back home to get the car wasn't going to be fast enough so she called an uber. Since Lily's condo is an hour away, it was fairly expensive but hey, she never takes threats lightly. That voice on the other end was another woman and it obviously was Cora Mills; there's no doubt in Emma's mind. Finally, she can discover what the old hag wants and end her reign of terror in Regina's life.
The elevator ride to the 5th floor wasn't as slow as it usually was. Maybe because her adrenaline is pumping, who knows. What she does know that the fact Lily's door is unlocked is extremely concerning.
"Lily?" She calls into the quiet condo. There's absolutely no sound at all. "Cora? Bring your wrinkly ass out here!"
"Oh! No need to be so rash dear," Cora chuckles as she enters the living room area in some weird black cloak thing. Man has this lady lost her damn mind.
"You know Emma Swan, I have waited sooo long to see you again." Cora grins. "Do make yourself comfortable dear, we have alot to talk about."
Emma angrily watches the woman take a seat on a sofa and harshly rejects. "No thanks, where is Lily?"
"She's fine dear." Cora scoffs, flicking her boney hand to dismiss the topic altogether. "I'm here because the time has come."
"The time for what?" Emma frowns. "Listen I don't have time for–
"TO END YOU EMMA!" Cora growls so loud that Emma's heart lodges in her throat. She looks to this crazy old woman in horror. Her blackened nails are digging into the arms of the sofa, trying to crush it with her bare hands. Emma can tell by how skinny this woman is, in fact, dying like Lily and Mary had said before.
"You come from a long line of kings and queens so you keep constantly playing hero in my daughter's life no matter how hard I try to change fate."
"What?" Emma squeaks. "Why do you even care! You kicked her out years ago."
Cora laughs at the thought of what she did to Regina and slowly stands despite the pain in her body. She removes her hood to show a pale head of thin hair and darkened eyes full of evil that Emma could never understand. She looks like a skeleton with the way her eyes are sinking in and her cheeks are just bone. This is some scary shit...
"I care because my daughter's happiness bothers my mere existence. She is meant to stay miserable."
"Do you hear yourself?" Emma gasps at the horror of Cora's words. Maybe she did brainwash Lily. No wonder she was talking about all this fairytale bull crap. "You're jealous of your daughter so you want her miserable? That sums this up right?"
"No, my daughter ruined my life so I created this curse to ruin hers. With you by her side, Regina was stronger than ever so I tried to keep you apart."
"Well you failed," Emma shrugs. "Now where is Lily?"
"Look behind you." Cora points. Emma whips around to face the wall next to the front door. It's full of pictures–a shrine if you will. It's like what detectives use to piece together suspects of a crime except the wall has pictures of everyone she knows.
"Lily," Cora continues. "Is the only person in this godforsaken town who knows the truth. That takes a toll on a person so she has completely lost her mind and there's nothing you can do about it savior."
"I'll be the judge of that! Where is she!" Emma demands with strong anger that brings a curl to smile on Cora's face.
"Fine! Lily dear, come and say hello to Emma!" Cora calls into the home.
Lily emerges from the darkness of her bedroom in disarray. Her hair hasn't been combed in days and she looks like she hasn't slept in just as many. Emma bounces into action to help but Cora blocks her path, tsks at the act.
"Ah ah, Lily belongs to me dear. The only way you can help is by allowing her to jog your memory." Cora points to the sofa once more and demands, "Sit, it's going to be a very long story."
For Lily's sake, Emma sits with dread in her heart. She knows what Cora is capable of and hopes to every higher power that she hasn't done the same to her best friend. She actually is on the verge of tears as she gazes to her weak friend. Lily trudges across the living room to take a seat across from Emma. A creepy smile forms on her chapped lips,
"I figured it all out Em!"
"Lily what did she do to you?" Emma questions before Lily can start her rambling. The brunette tenses and shakes her head,
"Just listen and remember okay?"
"Okay fine, if I listen will you promise me that I can take her back?" Emma looks to Cora. The old woman nods and says,
"Don't try anything noble Emma Swan. Call the police or anyone, Lily shall be no more."
Emma gulps at the threat and sadly faces Lily once more. That was her plan exactly, to call the cops, now she's stuck here in the loony bin with two crazy heads and no plan whatsoever. To top it all, Cora said this will take long meaning Emma will miss the fireflies and Regina will panic. That would lead to Regina coming here as quickly as possible so Lily may just be screwed either way.
"Okay..." Emma sighs. "Start from beginning and make it quick."
"It started when Regina was born and destined for greatness. A greatness that Cora worked hard for but never earned. She felt she deserved it, not Regina, so she made Regina's life as horrible as possible but things changed once she met you."
"Wait, this is a great story and all but why are you referring to Regina by her name?" Emma questions. The lost look in Lily's eyes says it all.
"Tell her dear," Cora approves after Lily looks to the older woman for permission.
"Regina isn't my mother. Cora killed my mother a long time ago–"
"What?! Excuse me? You can't be serious!" Emma rejects. They literally grew up together and all of a sudden Lily is invested in this story? It's all mind boggling!
"Listen!" Cora demands once more.
"You, Princess Emma, found Queen Regina at 16 and you two fell in love. It was fate. Cora knew how happy you made Regina and decided to curse you forever, hoping that Regina would lose interest if your reproductive parts were changed." For a second Emma believes it, only for a second. She takes a deep breath after her second and inwardly hopes that the story will end soon.
"It didn't work, but Regina made Cora believe it so by allowing Cora to continue manipulating Regina's reign in hopes that you would not get harmed any further. Cora loved having control over the many Kingdoms Regina was left to rule over at such a young age. She knew this was her destiny, her happiness, but it all changed when Queen Regina was soon to have her first child at 18. You two decided to get married, crowning you King of the realms, and you named your first born Snow White."
Still Emma can't believe her ears. Well she has to admit...she and Mary does look very much alike. However this is all just fairy tales and it isn't real.
"Shortly after Snow was born, you banished Cora to parts unknown with your powerful magic. Then you and Regina ruled the happy kingdoms together. Not too long after you discovered that Cora had created her own kingdom and formed her own alliances which started a never ending war. She began to cease realms and kingdoms far and wide, hoping to become more stronger than you. Thus, Wonderland was born–"
"Okay," Emma interrupts. "I think I've listened to enough."
"Has Lily jogged your memory?"
"You expect me to believe that bull crap?!"
"Then no! You haven't heard enough!" Cora shakes her head and sighs at the stubborn blonde. "You leave me no choice Emma Swan–"
"Why would you want me to remember anyways?" Emma questions. "If I always defeat you why jog my memories?"
"Because I'm already ten steps ahead and have decided to take another route. You will never figure out what the forbidden fruit is and by the time you do it'll be too late. Regina would have remembered by then and when she does, she'll seek out to kill me and once that happens everything you know and love will be gone. Except you, of course, oh powerful savior! You're indestructible while the rest of us aren't."
"This is insane," Emma mumbles.
"Is it?" Cora grins. "Take Lily is with you. Convince Regina to listen and watch the outcome."
"Fine." Emma huffs and holds out her hand to Lily. "Let's go Lils."