Oh what's this? Another chapter?

This one's a bit short. I intended to add more here but my amazing beta demisexualemmaswan said this was a pretty natural spot to stop and I agree.

I really enjoyed writing this scene between Emma and Regina. It's pretty fun to explore this dynamic between the two in a different setting, but still using inspiration from the show.

Thank you again to my beta for being great and putting up with my insecurites lol.

xxxXXXxxx

Chapter 4:

"Get off of me! Let go!"

Emma struggled fiercely against the guards as they "escorted" her through the corridors. She twisted and turned in their grip, trying to get back the ballroom. But they were far too strong for her.

When she was finally pushed inside her bedroom, she tried to run back out only to trip and fall to the floor, courtesy of her dress' long hem. By the time she managed to ungracefully get to feet, the door had been locked. Emma pulled and twisted at the knob to no avail for a few minutes before changing tactics by banging loudly on the door and shouting. She tried everything; from begging for help, to commanding orders, to even threatening punishment.

But no one came.

Her only other option was the window. Unfortunately, her room was several stories off the ground and not near any other rooms. She couldn't climb out because there was nowhere else for her to go except plummeting towards the ground. Even if she tried to make a makeshift rope out of her bedsheets and curtains, it wouldn't be long enough. She thought about screaming for help to the courtyard, but there wasn't a soul in sight. She was truly trapped. Frustrated, Emma ripped her tiara out of her hair and threw it across the room.

She slid to the floor and hugged her knees.

Killian's words kept echoing around in her head. "Do you know how bad it is out there? Have you even bothered to look?"

Was it true? Were things in the village really that bad? Cora had always told them never to go near the village for their own safety, but was it really because she didn't want them to see the pain she was causing? Emma herself had never given the village a thought before. Did that make her just as bad as everyone else he accused?

It didn't make any sense though. Cora was known as the "Queen of Hearts" because she held close all the hearts of the kingdom. She built orphanages for children and gave jobs to those without. Most importantly, she was the one who defeated Snow White. So how could the village be in such disarray?

The doorknob rattled.

Emma slowly rose to her feet. She began mentally preparing herself, making sure that her armor was still intact. No doubt that Cora was furious with her and going to give her another verbal dressing down. She was just glad that it wasn't in front of her father or anyone else.

Steeling herself, she took a deep breath.

But it wasn't Cora who entered the room.

"Are you out of your mind?"

Emma let out the breath she'd been holding as the door closed.

"What happened?"

"What happened?" scoffed Regina as she threw her hands in the air. "You just embarrassed yourself and our family in front of all those people! That's what happened."

"I wasn't trying to embarrass anyone!" exclaimed Emma.

"Then what were you trying to accomplish? I told you not to make a scene!" Regina fumed. Her hair was slightly askew, and she too was trying not to trip over her silver dress as she paced the room. It was then Emma noticed that her mirror now featured a large crack, though she couldn't recall if that had happened because of the door slamming or her tiara being thrown. Even stranger, she didn't hear any glass breaking.

"Is he all right?"

That made Regina stop pacing. She stared at Emma incredulously. "Is he all right? That's what you have to ask? Is he all right? Emma, he's a thief who insulted our mother. He's lucky that he won't be losing his head as well."

Emma felt her heart both leap and sink at the same time. "What do you mean 'as well'?" she asked. When her sister didn't answer, she pressed, "Regina, what do you mean? What happened?"

Regina sighed. "After you left, Mother pulled me aside and asked what I would do in this situation. She said that if I'm going to be Queen someday, I should know how to pass judgement onto others. I said that his punishment should fit his crime. Mother agreed," she explained. "So, since he was found stealing, he will lose his hands."

Emma's stomach churned with Regina's words. His hands…

Why would Cora have Regina give out the sentence? She never hesitated doing so before. But then Emma remembered what she had said to her mother earlier.

"She works so hard to earn your approval. If you just gave her a chance to show you, you'd see."

"I told Mother that you needed a chance to prove yourself," she muttered aloud. "I didn't mean like this."

An emotion Emma couldn't identify flashed across Regina's face, but it was gone as quick as it had come. She curled her lip and snidely sneered, "I don't need you to fight my battles for me, Emma. I'm perfectly capable on my own."

But Emma didn't answer. She was too stunned. Had all of this been her fault? Did she unintentionally hurt someone else with her good intentions? Eventually, she shook her head in disgust and turned to Regina. "How could you let Mother do something so barbaric?"

"You try stopping her, for once. See how that works for you!"

"What about what you told me earlier today? What happened to being a 'fair and just' ruler? I thought you said you didn't want to hurt anyone."

Regina's cheeks reddened as she glowered at Emma. "You think this was an easy decision to make? Unlike you, I know what needs to be done to be a good ruler. It was a fair and just answer. At least, Mother seemed to think so." She sat down on the bed. "You know what I think? I think you're jealous because she finally decided to be proud of me."

Emma shook her head again. She unclenched her fists but her anger didn't subside. "I don't believe this."

"What would you have had me do? Let him go with a slap on the wrist? He broke the law and he had to be punished."

"But didn't you hear what he said about the village? About how bad it is down there?"

"I heard what he said about Mother and-"

"Regina, just listen to me!" Emma exclaimed. "What if he's right? What if it really is just like he said? We've never been to the village, we've never even seen it. Mother always told us it was for our own safety but what if it was to hide something? If you're going to be the Queen someday, shouldn't you be familiar with your own people? How can we claim to be different from Mother if we're just standing by and not helping those in need?"

Regina didn't speak for several moments. Different emotions drifted across her face; anger, confusion, denial, realization. But before she could speak, there came a clamor from out in the halls. Several guards and knights could be heard running and shouting about. Regina opened the door and poked her head out. After a few seconds, she groaned and turned to Emma.

"Stay put," she said sternly, as if Emma were a disobedient dog.

Emma rolled her eyes in response. As soon as the door was closed, she quickly pressed her ear against it. The wood muffled most of the sound but she was able to catch a few words, such as "escaped" and "won't get far".

She scrambled to her feet, once again tripping over her dress as she raced to the window. Through the latticed glass, she could see the courtyard was swarming with people. Servants were frantically running about, trying to seek shelter. Knights were pushing past each other, shouting orders as they drew their weapons and dispersed into different parts of the castle.

And no sooner than it had started, the chaos stopped and the courtyard was quiet again. Several minutes passed but nothing happened. Perhaps the escaped prisoner had been caught? But just as Emma was about to back away from the window, a figure stumbled out into view.

It was Killian Jones. He looked a bit pale and slightly out of breath, but his eyes were ablaze with determination. He staggered a few feet before collapsing against one of the walls, retching. As he slowly got to his feet, Emma noticed there was blood left behind on the stone. Then she saw the way he clutched his arm to his stomach.

His left hand was gone.

Emma's mouth tasted sour.

From the right of the courtyard, a voice called out. Killian quickly pressed himself against the wall and out of sight just as three guards came marching in, talking amongst themselves. They hadn't seen him yet but if they kept up their trajectory, they would. And there was no way he could sneak past them without being caught, especially in his current condition.

She had to do something and fast.

Fingers trembling, Emma fumbled with the window latch and pushed the glass out.

"Guards!" she cried.

The guards stopped and looked up at her. "Princess Emma." They saluted.

Now that she had their attention, she needed to get them away. But Emma couldn't think of a response. Whether it was the adrenaline finally wearing off or that someone was actually listening to her, she wasn't sure. But her tongue felt dry and her mind was drawing blanks.

"Say something!" she thought to herself. "Just say anything!"

The guards were staring at her with slight concern, but they weren't the only ones. Killian too was watching Emma intently. Emma wasn't trying to look at him too much, lest she give away his hiding place. Yet for a brief moment, their eyes connected.

"Your Highness? Is everything alright?" one of the guards asked.

Dazed, Emma shook her head. "Yes, I uh-" she stammered. "I heard someone outside my door. I think it might be the prisoner. Please hurry!"

"Yes, Your Highness!" The guards saluted once again and quickly hurried back inside. With the courtyard empty once again, this would help buy Killian some time.

But when she looked back, he had already vanished.