Chapter 18: Across Deep Waters
"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."
...
"Avast ye!" Ruby crowed out from the crow's nest before sliding down. "Land ho!"
Neal, Sabine, Emma, and Regina stood to attention as Ruby came to join them.
"This be the island?" Ruby asked, pointing at the dark shape on the horizon. "Where that witch is?"
"Aye," Emma said, pulling out her compass.
"What do you reckon she'll have us do?" Neal asked, rubbing his beard.
"She wants revenge for her daughter," Emma said. "And we best do it for her, otherwise we won't get out of the Bermuda triangle."
"Who exactly is this Lily?" Regina spoke up. "I've been meaning to ask...but I thought it was just a farce said to buy us some time."
The crew exchanged awkward looks. Neal clasped Emma on the shoulder. "Well, bucko, this be yer tale to spin." They all shuffled off until it was only Emma and Regina. Emma fidgeted uncomfortably, but she took Regina by the elbow and lead her to the front of the ship.
"This isn't an easy thing to say, but Lily and I were once lovers. I cared for her greatly but she did not care for me so much. The sea was her true love and I was just a mistress she kept on the side. But our love did bore fruit. We had...Henry. And I would not trade him for the world. After we had him, we parted ways and I had not seen her for a while before I heard word that she had been captured and killed." Emma quickly blurted out.
"I was jealous when I first heard you speak her name. Now I am even more jealous knowing what she means to you." Regina rubbed her hands together, averting her gaze from Emma. Emma felt a knot form in her stomach.
"I will not lie and say she does not mean anything to me. I still care for her. While we may not have been lovers for a long time, she was the other parent of my child and she was my good friend." Emma tried to reach out to Regina but refrained from doing so. "You are my current love. And I meant my words when I said I would take us anywhere you wanted me to. We don't have to go back to your mother the queen. We can forever sail the blue seas."
"And what of avenging Lily?" Regina whispered.
What of it? Emma was confused. This whole voyage had started because Emma had wanted to avenge Lily's death and kill the queen for her tyrannical rule. She had even kidnapped Regina to have leverage. But everything had fallen apart when she had fallen in love with Regina. Now things were different. While Emma's heart still ached for Lily, she was no longer driven to want to kill. She truly wanted to spend her days relaxing and living life with Regina.
She wanted to settle down with her.
Wanted to kick up her boots, and live in a small cottage with Regina and Henry. She would even give up pirating if Regina asked her too.
"I...I don't know anymore," Emma said with a shaky smile. "But if it means getting us out of here, then I am all for it."
Regina nodded her head. "I still have more questions," she said softly. "What of us?"
"What about us?"
"When we...enjoy each other," Regina began, awkwardly clearing her throat. "Do you think...?" Regina trailed off, waiting for Emma to fill in the gaps.
When Emma finally got it, her eyes went wide. "Uh, well, it's never happened with anyone before. Lily was the only exception and I used to say it was because we were meant to be that it happened like that. Everyone else I've been with has had no...issues," Emma said.
Regina frowned. "You've been with others?"
This was not meant to be said out loud. Emma was beginning to sweat. She wanted to back track but it was too late. "Only a handful. My sexual exploits are vastly overstated." Regina did not look appeased by this.
"Avast ye!" Ruby's cry came again. What could it be? They had not made land yet. It would be hours until then. She was waving the blonde over and Emma went to her, Regina on her heels. Emma's eyes widened and her jaw dropped when she saw who had come up from below deck.
August, back in the flesh.
"Blimey," Sabine was breathing out as Emma's face broke out into a grin and she hugged August to her. He even felt like a person once more. All warm and solid. Not stinking of metal. August chuckled and hugged her back. They stayed like that a while before finally pulling apart.
"Well blow me down," Emma said. She pulled back but she still held August by his arms. "I thought we lost ye."
"Not yet," he said, eyes sparkling. "My purpose is not yet done."
"I hope it never is," Emma said sincerely.
"You had us all fooled," Neal said, hands on his hips. "All this time, I thought you were human."
August shrugged. "What can I say. I never meant to tell no one. Only Emma was supposed to know."
"How did you turn back?" Ruby asked. "We saw your body. Thought the captain lost a few good screws in her head when she told us the truth."
"I'm not sure," August answered honestly. "It's not as if I was aware of what was happening around me when I was in such a state."
"I'm glad ye are back," Sabine said.
"And I'm glad to be back," he said.
Morning arrived and with it, the crew finally to the island. They trekked over to the witch's cave. As if sensing them, she was already waiting outside. "Hand over your items, Emma," Mal said, curling out her hand. Emma noticed her nails were long and black, crooked even. Emma watched out for them as she handed over everything Mal had given them, even the shell that was a ship.
When she had returned it back to it's natural form, her crew had nearly fell over in shock. Though with it gone, how would they sail off?
Mal took the items. "You have found everyone as I said you would. But before I let you off this island, one finally task awaits you all. It won't be an easy one but it is a necessary one."
Mal beckoned them forwards and they followed her into the cave. It was cooler inside and dark. But they came to a room with a circular pool and torches mounted onto the wall. She sat down by the pool, and indicated for them to do the same. They were clearly all weary, but also too impatient to go back home, so they sat down.
"This is the pool of the unseen." Mal said, dipping her hand in to show it was safe to do so. The water rippled and shimmered. "Each of you will put your hand in, and speak."
"Speak what?" Ruby asked.
"You will speak whatever it is you need to say. Ruby, you may go first."
Ruby did a double take at Mal. "How do you know my name-?"
"Just do as I ask. Otherwise you will hold everyone up."
Ruby nodded her head. She put her hand in, closed her eyes, and took two deep breaths. When she opened her eyes she spoke. "This crew means a lot to me, perhaps more than I may show. You are my only family left and sailing anywhere feels like home even if the land calls to me. When Leroy died, it hit me very hard. I tried not to show it, and I tried to play it off, but I still hurt to this day about his loss. He was the closest I had to a father figure and now he's gone." Ruby's voice turned raw at the end and she sniffled. She pulled her hand out of the water. "What the fuck-" she said quietly and Emma could not tell what she was shocked by.
August put a comforting hand on her. And she leaned into his shoulder to wipe away the tears in the corner of her eyes. August was next, so he put his hand in. As soon as he did, he spoke. "You already know this. The fact that I am not human. And that I am here to aid Emma on her adventures. I am living on borrowed time. I do not know when it will end, because I do not know to what end my purpose is. The man who made me and enchanted me- I do not know his name or even his face. I do not even know why he determined I should do all this for a woman he might not even have known. But, that does not mean my feelings are any lesser. I care for everyone, and I would fight to my last breath for them."
"We feel the same way, Ruby and August. We truly do," Neal said with a small nod of his head.
Emma furrowed her brows. What was going on? Was the water making them share their feelings? If so, why was that important? Why was that an important task?
Sabine was third up. She cleared her throat and spoke, sticking her hand in the water. Her eyes went wide, as if she did not mean to say this. "I still care for Neal romantically." But she could not take her words back. Instead, she kept speaking, like a stream that could not be stopped. "We may have broken up and gotten back together and broken up again. No matter how he irritates me, he is my love. And I hope one day I can get another chance for us to try again. I believe the next time we will remain together no matter what."
She yanked her hand out of the water, cradling it with betrayal. Neal was smiling softly at her and he stuck his hand in. Looking at her he said, "Sabine I also care greatly for you. And you would make me the happiest man alive if I could but have you by my side again, as my partner."
He pulled his hand out and she looked at him in awe. "You want us to-"
"Aye," he said softly. "I've wanted to for a while now. But I never knew you-"
"-I never knew you, and I always did," she breathed out. They smiled at each other and it looked like they would very much like to kiss but Mal cleared her throat. They jerked apart and Neal gave her a dirty look. Mal did not seem to care.
Regina was next to last. She put her hand in. "This is the happiest I've ever been." That was it. Sweet and short. Everyone on the crew looked away guiltily and Emma had begun to sweat. She knew what this pool was. It was forcing out truths. The unseen. What they had not been perceived by others.
She knew what she would blurt out. She dreaded it coming out. She wanted to run away, to hide her face. She wanted to fight Mal and say she would not do this. But she had to do this. It was her own fault, her own mess. If they wanted to leave, she had to do this.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. This would break Regina. And it would break Emma. Especially after she had heard how happy Regina was now. Emma stuck her hand in, allowing the words to be blurted out from her in one horrid stream of truth. "This was all a lie. We were never the queen's guards. We were kidnapping you, princess," Emma said, each word like glass in her throat. "We were doing this so we could blackmail her and try to get her to step down from being queen. We wanted revenge on her for all she did. We wanted to kill her for Lily's sake."
Silence. Nothing more came from Emma, but she felt like she had already said enough.
Mal purred happily. "Taking down a whole queendom for my Lily. Quite ambitious. I do suppose I ought to help with that."
Emma didn't dare look at Regina. Didn't dare to even breathe. What was she feeling? What did she look like? There was a rustle as someone stood up and ran out of the cave. Emma swallowed down bitterly. Regina had left.
"I should have told her earlier," Emma said, pulling her hand out of the pool. "I should have-"
She felt Neal's hand on her shoulder. He shook his head as she looked up at him. "It was bound to happen sooner or later. Give her some time."
Emma nodded her head but she still felt awful.
Mal stood up. "The task is done. You may...recuperate here for the time being."
"Will you let us leave the triangle?" Ruby asked.
"I will."
"How, if we've no ship?"
"I have other ways," Mal said, smiling. It did not look welcoming. Emma could not help but hate her a bit. Because of her, everything had fallen apart with Emma and Regina. If Emma hadn't been forced to tell the truth then...what did it matter. None of it mattered anymore.
It was evening when Emma finally went looking for Regina. She was worried the princess had wandered off somewhere far but she had not, sitting on a rock by the cave. She looked miserable and Emma's heart hurt looking at her. There was so much she wanted to say, but she felt none of it would make this better.
"Regina, it's time to go," she said softly, quietly.
Regina stiffened at the sound of her voice, but did not look back.
"Just drop me off at the nearest port. I don't ever want to see your face again." Her voice was monotone, and lifeless. Emma bit her bottom lip. She deserved this. She really did.
"I...I know I should have told you earlier but I will not apologize for not doing so," Emma said resolutely. "I'm a pirate and this is the sort of life I lead."
"One based on lies and deceit? Do you even love me? Or was that a lie too?" Regina said.
Emma let out a heavy sigh. This was not the time and place to discuss hurt feelings. Time would heal them. "I do love you, though I do not expect you to believe me anymore."
"It hurts. All of you just lied to me. And I believed it. I feel like such a fool," Regina spat, her voice gaining anger.
"You are no fool," Emma said. "I am the fool for not realizing sooner that I should have been forthcoming with you. But I did not want to panic you, and you seemed so happy on the ship, traveling and having adventures. Telling you would have ruined all this freedom you gained."
"Was I ever free if I was a prisoner on your ship?"
"You stopped being that to me a long time ago. To the rest of the crew as well. We see you as one of our own. We would never harm you."
"No, just lie to me."
Emma swallowed dryly. She didn't know how to fix this. She had faced down sirens, krakens, enemy ships and countries and yet those tasks all seemed easy in comparison to helping fix this.
"How could I ever be one of you if you lied to me this whole time?" Regina poised and she turned to glare at Emma. "I thought my mother was bad, for keeping me locked up. But she was right partially. Right in that there are vile people out here in this world. She was protecting me from people like you." Regina gave a disbelieving scoff.
That, really hurt. It really did and Emma bite the inside of her cheek to distract herself from the tears in her eyes.
"Even Killian was trying to tell me the truth. He went about it in the wrong way, but he was trying to help me and I thought he was the bad guy."
Emma got down to her knees, took off her hat and spread her hands out. "I want you to hit me."
"Hit you?" Regina echoed.
"Yes, hit me. I deserve it. I deserve it for lying to you. For hurting you. So hurt me the way I've hurt you."
Regina shook her head, a sad laugh bubbling out of her throat. "You hurt my heart, Emma. Not my face."
"I can't yank out my heart from my chest to give to you. If I could I would. I can only offer you my skin to beat upon."
Regina shook her head. "I will not do that. I will not stoop to hurting someone. I am above that. I am above you."
Emma did not disagree. "You were always too good for this world, Regina. It's why I shall return you this time. Back home."
"You plot against my mother. You want to kill her. You think I'll let that happen? No matter how horrid she is, I cannot condemn my own flesh and blood to such a fate."
"You have been sheltered for far too long. You do not know how truly cruel she is," Emma pointed out, rising to her feet.
"That is for me to determine." Regina stood up, back tall and straight. "She is my mother, I will handle her. I may be naive but not as I was before. I know better than to trust anyone."
Emma winced at this, but did not comment further. "Emma, Regina, hurry, we're about to go!" Ruby called from inside the cave. Emma and Regina walked back inside, Regina holding up her head proudly. She had not seemed to shed a single tear over this and Emma was happy for her for this. Regina's gaze was cold on everyone in the cave, and they could not keep eye contact with her.
Mal swept her arms up. "Stand together." They shuffled closer, Regina stiff and trying not to accidentally touch anyone. "I will magic you over right where you need to be."
"Magic us?" Neal questioned. "Wait, I don't do so well with magic travel-"
But Mal was already muttering under her breath and then a green cloud of smoke covered them. When it cleared they saw they were on a ship, filled with pirates. Where they meant to be here?
Neal retched as the effects of the magic travel caught up with them. It caused a girlish squeal to come from a pirate's mouth. But not just any pirate's mouth. Emma's eyes widened as she noticed who he was and where she had been teleported to.
Oh I am going to kill Mal if I get out of this, Emma groused. Sending you to 'where you need to be' my ass!
"Those are my new leather boots-" the voice cut off when he suddenly realized just who was on his deck. His grin grew larger. "Emma Swan, and her crew. What a turn of events."
"Son of a biscuit eater," Emma grumbled out. "Killian Jones."
Notes:
Pirate Lingo (it's been a while since I used some but shhh)
Avast ye- come look!
Land ho- land coming up
Blimey- shock
Bucko- short for buckaneer
Blow me down- phrase of shock and amazement
Son of a Biscuit Eater- insult for someone you don't like
