Chapter 17: Visions of the Future

"Are you okay?" Regina asked softly.

"I'm fine. But whatever Ruby heard isn't good for us," Emma said grimly.

"Why?"

"There's only one thing that I know that truly drives people to jump off boats like that. And we're heading straight towards them."

Regina swallowed nervously.

"Sirens.

...

"At least we have the advantage," Emma said. "Ruby heard it before we could, which means we can protect ourselves before we hear the music." Emma began ripping up pieces of cloth. "Here." She handed bits over to Regina who put them in her ears, before Emma put them in her own.

She walked over to Ruby and put them in her ears too. Immediately the girl calmed down.

"Why am I tied up?" she asked when her senses came back to her.

"Sirens," Emma said. "You heard them before we did."

"Ah shit," Ruby said. "I hate sirens."

"Yea, who doesn't. We're gonna keep you tied up for a little while longer to make sure you're still not under their influence."

"That's fine," Ruby said. "But Emma, whoever we're going to find...won't it already be too late if they encountered sirens?"

Emma swallowed harshly. She'd had the same thought. What if the compass was just leading them towards bones? What if this was futile? But no, Emma had to have hope. "I know. But we still have to try."


They get to the island by sundown. Through the makeshift earplugs, Emma can hear a sweet melody. It's not strong enough to make her under it's power, but it is very tempting. She has to resist the urge to pull out the cloth in her ears and listen to it.

There's a boat by the shore and it doesn't look to have been here for a long time. Maybe whoever it is they are looking for got here only a few days ago, and they're still alive? Emma knows sirens like to play with their food before devouring them. The island isn't big and they make their way towards where the song is louder and stronger. Up ahead they can see the sirens, perched over this basin that leads downwards, weaving their magic with their songs. When they see the new travelers they think they'll be juicy additions to the island.

Ruby makes to pull out her sword and Emma stops her. "Don't, we can't let them know we're not under their spell."

Ruby nods her head and they walk down to the basin. Inside, they see Sabine there, a dreamy look on her face. Whatever they're showing her must be good. Emma hurries towards her.

"Sabine," she called out. "Sabine, it's me."

Sabine turned to her, with no recognition.

"Sabine, you have to snap out of it," Emma grabbed the woman by her arms. "Whatever they're showing you isn't worth it. You have to leave it, you have to come back with us. Remember us? The crew? Our little ship? And our whole adventure?" Emma is close to begging. She will not lose Sabine.

"I don't know," Sabine said. "I don't know if I want to go back and leave. Here, women have so many more rights. They can own their own homes and horseless carriages. They can have any job they want and they don't look at you crazy for having dreams."

"Sabine, no," Emma said. "Whatever this island is showing you is just an illusion. This is not real. Just something to try and entice you."

Sabine shook her head. "What if this is true? What if this is another world? A world within our own world. A paradise, where things are better for everyone."

"It's not real," Emma said, bitterness creeping into her voice. "No matter how much it might be changed from our world, I'm sure it's not perfect. There are things that are still wrong and that you won't notice until later. Don't let yourself be drawn in by a false lullaby."

"A false lullaby," Sabine murmured. "Like a siren?" Her face scrunched up, thinking. Was the truth getting through to her?

"Yes," Emma said.

Sabine shook her head. "Sirens aren't real."

No, no, no! Emma wasn't going to lose her!

"Emma, the sirens," Ruby said and they looked up. The sirens, scaly things with the top half of a woman and the bottom half of a fish tail, were crawling down the sides of basin, foaming coming from their mouths. They had noticed the trio wasn't under their control. They were going to come and shred them to pieces.

"Shit," Emma cursed and dug out the vial Mal had given her. There were too many sirens to pick off and not enough time to convince Sabine to leave. She shattered the vial onto the ground and the screams of Hades erupted, ripping away the image from Sabine's eyes. Instead, she was revealed to be in the basin of a crater, that was littered with bones up to their ankles. Some still had bits of flesh and clothing stuck to it.

She blinked rapidly, shifting away from the enchantment. "What-?"

"No time to talk, we've got to run," Emma urged, pulling Sabine by the elbow. The sirens had fallen to the ground, and were screaming in pain. The screams of Hades had hurt them badly, but it would not keep them down for long.

Ruby and Regina pulled out their swords, flanking Emma and Sabine as they rushed out of the basin and towards the shore where the ship was. By the time the sirens had recovered enough to give chase, the crew was already sailing away. Sabine looked shook by the whole experience. She was pale in the face.

"Hey, are you alright?" Regina asked, holding her hands and squeezing them. "We're real. We're not fake."

Sabine licked her lips. "I know...I just...feel disappointed."

"Why?"

"The sirens showed me just wonderful things," she said, looking over her shoulder back at the island. "It's a shame they'll never really happen."


Neal was the only one who seemed to be having a good time on his island.

"So, you're the king," Emma grunted out from where she had been forced to her knees, hand behind her back and spear to her throat. Regina, Ruby and Sabine were in similar positions. Neal stood in front of them, wearing a grass skirt and a necklace made of teeth and animal claws. His face was painted red and he had grown a scraggly beard that had been braided.

"Well, well, captain Emma," Neal clapped his hands and the people holding them let go. They were able to get to their feet, massaging their sore hands. "It seems my short lived reign as king is over. Duty calls, ey?"

"Sadly for you, but gladly for us," Emma said playfully. "I've found us a way out of the Bermuda Triangle."

"And back to the real world we go, where countless other spoils await us," he said. He turned to his people and said something to them in their language. They rallied and rushed off to do whatever it was he had ordered them to do. He turned to Emma and the crew. "I say we celebrate tonight and sail off tomorrow. Have a party fit for a king."

"How did you even get to be a king," Sabine murmured, impressed.

"Ah, that is a story best told over a drink," he held out his hand to her and she accepted it.

Whoever Neal's people were, they did know how to throw a feast. The long table in the middle of the mud hut village was filled with fruits and meats and drinks of various colors. Emma had gorged herself until she could barely move. While Ruby was holding a drinking contest with one of the people, and Neal and Sabine were off in their own little world as he showed off his impressive might as the king of the village, Regina joined Emma.

The two of them sat off by the grass, against one of the palm trees. Emma felt ready to go to bed. It had been a tiring journey but she was glad she had seen her crew together. They were all safe. And soon they would be leaving the triangle entirely.

"What are you thinking about?" Regina asked and her voice was a bit flirty from all the sweet wine she had drank. Emma hummed. "Going home, I guess. Thinking about Henry."

"It has been a while," Regina said softly. "Do you think he's alright?"

"He's resourceful and he's staying with a family friend," Emma said. "He should be fine. What about you? Do you dream of going home?"

Regina buried her teeth in her bottom lip. "I...have duties at home. Mother must be worried for me. And so must Leopold."

"But do you want to go home?" Emma has still not told Regina the truth of the matter. And the longer she has gone without saying it, the harder it has become to say. They have even slept together at this point. And still Emma has not told Regina the truth. Because if she did, the princess would be furious with her.

Maybe she can get away with never saying it?

"I...no," Regina admitted. "I want to travel the seas, I want to have many more adventures. And I want to spend time by your side. I love you Emma." The words come easily to her, aided by alcohol.

Emma swallows. "I love you too, Regina." She leaned in and brushed a strand of Regina's hair back. "I would do anything to protect you. To keep you safe. We don't have to go back to your mother."

Regina's eyes grow wide at this. "W-"

"Say the word and I will forfeit my whole duty and take you sailing around the world. To nice places. Much nicer places than this." Emma raised a hand expansively and gestured to the horizon where the sun had set and the stars were high up in the sky.

"You would do that for me?" Regina asked. She had never had someone want to give up so much for her.

"For you, yes," Emma said. "You are worth it."

Before Regina could stop herself, she leaned in and kissed Emma. The kiss quickly grew heated, mouths opening to let tongues in. Emma groaned into the kiss but pulled away. Her body was on fire. "Shall we retire to the ship?"

"No," Regina shook her head, eyes lidded. "Take me on the sands. I've always wanted to try that."

Emma throbs in excitement and rises quickly to take Regina's hand and lift her up. They quickly stumble down to the beach, a fair distance from everyone else. Emma looks up and down to make sure they are alone, before she lowers Regina to the sand below. They kiss frantically as hands search to rip clothing off and toss it aside.

Regina pulls Emma's throbbing member out of her pants, lining it up to her slit below. She's already dripping wet and Emma hisses out a moan as the head of her cock touches the wetness. "You are impatient today, princess."

Regina silences Emma with a kiss, bucking her hips into Emma. Emma final relents, moving her hips down and penetrating Regina swiftly. Her eyes flutter shut at the insertion. Regina feels so good around her. So right.

Emma can't remember the last time being with someone like this made her feel like life was perfect. Like nothing else mattered. She stroked back Regina's hair, admiring the way pleasure was openly writ on her face. Enjoying the way the moonlight made her skin glow.

The waves crashed behind them as Emma thrust in and out, Regina letting out her loud moans. Emma loved hearing them. They made her thrust harder.

Regina loved feeling Emma inside her, so steady and strong. She knew she could never come to love Leopold this way. At first she had tried fooling herself into thinking she could. But she never could. She knew he would not fit the right way that Emma did. He would never bring her as much pleasure as Emma could.

Everything about him was wrong. Everything about Emma was right. She was soft and hard and her character was so warm. Regina felt safe with her, in spite of all the danger they encountered each day. She knew she could trust and rely on Emma.

And on Ruby and August and Neal and Sabine. They all felt like a family to her. A family that her real one did not ever feel like.

Regina threw her head back, her spine arching as pleasure coursed through her. She was going to peak soon. Emma slipped a hand in between Regina's legs and rubbed on the little bundle of nerves there. Regina stood no chance. She came, tightening around Emma who did not stop thrusting, making the pleasure feel even longer and better.

When at last her pleasure ceased, Emma placed delicate kisses on her cheeks and her eyelids, hips moving like a well oiled machine. "Harder," Regina felt herself begging for, voice raspy. She knew Emma held back on her account.

Emma nodded her head, and her hips snapped forward, reaching something deep inside Regina that made her whole body shudder. Emma's hips did not stop, pounding into her with wet vicious slapping noises. Regina could already feel the ache between her legs that would leave her sore for days. But she didn't care. Her arms wrapped around Emma's shoulders, bringing her closer as Emma's hands dug into the sand, trying to support herself up over Regina's body.

Regina trembled with each thrust, seeing white shoot behind her eyes. And then she was cumming again. Emma paused to let Regina recover, before she went back to thrusting just as hard as before.

This time, when Regina came, so did Emma. Regina could feel the hot spurts inside her, filling her up with Emma's warmth and love. She vaguely knew that on a man, such acts could lead to child. But Emma was a woman. Surely it didn't work the same?

Wait, Regina blinked, trying to regain her breath as Emma finished releasing inside of her. Regina had always assumed Emma had been Henry's mother. But if she had a man's tool between her legs- did she have a woman's hole as well? Regina had always assumed that Emma had given birth to Henry but Regina had never fully explored Emma down there so she didn't know if Emma also possessed a woman's parts. If not then-

Regina found her thoughts quickly cut short as Emma flipped her around so that she lay on her stomach. Emma's hands went on Regina's hips, pulling them up. "Emma?" Regina asked.

"Don't worry, I've got you," Emma said, pressing a kiss to the tail bone, as her rod slipped among the wet folds and then right back into Regina.

In this position, Emma felt unending inside of Regina. She felt bigger and deeper. Regina moaned into the sand, eyes slipping closed. What had she been thinking about? Oh, it didn't matter anyways. Not when everything felt this good.

Emma thrust into her, fast and hard. How was she still this hard? Her hands held onto Regina's hips, keeping her upright even as Regina's thighs shook. Wetness slipped down them and she could do nothing more than let Emma take her.

"Regina," Emma moaned headily and Regina moaned her name right back.

"Emma."

"I really do love you," Emma panted, pounding into Regina. Her rod throbbed angrily, getting ready to release more seed. "No matter what anyone may think or say. I do my best for you."

What was Emma going on about? Regina wondered but then Emma had hit the right spot and Regina was cumming as Emma released inside her. Emma hilted herself all the way, Regina's hungry walls sucking up everything Emma had to give. Excess white slipping out from between their joined sexes. At last, spent, they both collapsed to the sand. They would be finding the tiny coarse grains everywhere on their body next day, bothering them. But for now, they were enjoying their after glow.

The stars shone brilliantly around them, and so many nights before Regina had seen them only through her window. Now, she could them see them like this: like everyone else. She had an intense want to not go back, to never go back. "When we get out of here," she began, voice raspy from how much she had screamed out her pleasures before, "I want us to go far away." Cora was Regina's mother...but, what had she ever truly done for her? Emma had opened up her eyes to the world. Had given her everything Regina had ever wanted.

"Anything for you," Emma said, picking up Regina's hand and kissing the back of it. "Anything," she promised.


The ship left shore the next morning, ladden down with gifts from Neal's people. He waved goodbye to them as they sailed off. He was in good spirits but Ruby was not. She hung her head miserably over the ship railing. She seemed a bit green in the face.

"You alright there, Rubes?" Emma asked.

"I think I drank a bit too much," she groaned.

"Take it easy," Emma offered. "And let me know if you need anything."

"So captain Swan, where to now?" Neal turned to Emma, hands on hips.

Emma took out her compass. It was going to lead them back to the witch. "I encountered a witch who promised us safe voyage out of here."

"And you believed her?" Neal laughed.

"She gave me the tools to find you all. I know our past has not been favorable with witches, but this one means well. She wants revenge and is willing to help us out if we succeed in it."

"Revenge?" Sabine asked.

"Lily was her daughter," Emma said, making sure Regina wasn't in ear shot to hear this. Currently the brunette was downstairs, resting with a pack of ice between her legs.

"No, you're kidding me," Sabine said, jaw dropping open. "Lily? Your lily?"

"The one and only. I could not believe it too," Emma said.

"She never had any magic," Neal said, scratching his beard.

"Maybe it's not passed down from mother to daughter?" Emma shrugged. "Either way, she can help us."

"Wait, aren't we missing someone?" Neal said. "We can't go back before picking up and finding August."

Emma scratched the back of her head. "You see, about August...it's sort of a long story. Best ye sit down while I tell it."