Emma's POV

The longer Emma stood behind Regina, the more anger built in her mind. Dark impulses pushed against her, tainting her thoughts red. All of it was directed at the two people in front of her. Though more so towards Regina. Emma knew this anger was unnecessary. She actively tried to push it down, but that only made it worse.

A sort of white noise filled her head. Maybe it was whispers, but Emma couldn't really tell. But more noticeable was the thought of hurting Regina, filling her head, pushing out everything else.

Why is it getting so strong here, now? Why Regina?

When her hand started to reach forward Emma knew she had to get away. There was no way she would allow herself to hurt Regina. So, with the remaining amount of self-control she had she took off. People bumped into her, and she shoved them away viscously. It did little to abate the burning in her chest. Someone cursed at her, but she was gone before they could pick a fight with her. Before she could retaliate.

Minutes past in a blur. As Emma pushed through the crowd she eventually came to a town plaza. Dozens of stands lined the wall, with dozens of people walking around to each one. In the middle of the was a puppet stand. Dozens of children sat watching it intently, their parents nearby. Despite the loudness of the crowd, Emma managed to catch some of the show. A man with a deep voice was narrating;

"When the Lady came back from her long journey, she found that the demon had betrayed her. Enraged, the Lady confronted her,

'Were we not sisters? Did you not promise to stay by my side,' The Lady cried in anguish.

The demon only grinned savagely, 'I did, sister. But you are weak, you are insignificant! I cannot abide by you a minute longer.'

Thus began one of the greatest battles in history…"

As the narrator droned on, Emma felt everything come to a standstill. All the rage that Emma had been feeling compressed into a single thought full of anguish,

"That's a lie."

She stumbled closer to the stand, overwhelmed by emotions that didn't belong to her. Her fists clenched on their own.

"How dare they spread this propaganda!" Emma heard Nadie growl in her mind.

'How dare they?' Emma's mind echoed.

Emma couldn't see anymore. All her thoughts were pushed aside and replaced by one single need: she had to shut that narrator up. She had to put an end to these lies.

Her body surged forward, shoving through the crowd and onto the raised platform. People were yelling at her. One even tried to stop her. But none of that mattered as she reached behind the stand and pulled out the man behind it. He cried out in fear, but it couldn't reach past the angry curse.

Everything blurred after the first punch.