Chapter Seven

As they stepped through the hat, it let to a chamber of curtains, each a different color to indicate different realms. Without hesitation, Emma pushed past the green curtain to step into a portal behind it, grabbing hold of Regina's hand to lead her into the to that of the first teleporting when she fell through time, Emma felt that gut wrenching fall that saw no end. Her stomach flopped and her heart raced, as if she were floating in space. Had it not been for Regina's hand gripping her own, all sense of reality would have been entirely lost.

Then, just like that, the ground was found beneath her once more. Regina's hand slipped away from her own as an abrupt stop slammed against her entire body, leaving her groaning with surprise. Grass fell to either side as she pressed her weight down against the ground. Where were they? A few breaths escaped her lips as she slowly pushed herself up to see the surrounding area.

"Regina? You all right?"

"Right here. I'm fine. Where are we?" Emma stood up to look around, hoping to answer Regina's question. What she saw were rolling hills with what looked like a skyline far out into the distance. Where were they exactly? She wasn't sure. Was this one of Rumplestiltskin's traps? Had he sent them somewhere else entirely? Her eyes took in the bright colors of green in the grass, purples in the flowers that surrounded them to contrast against a bright blue sky that didn't seem to have a cloud anywhere in sight.

"I'm...not sure…" she gripped tight to the handle of her sword that hung on the side of her hip. The more she used that sword, the more reliant she became of it. A weapon that once scared her to use was becoming a source of her own strength.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Regina muttered, following in line behind Emma who seemed to be confident in the direction they were headed. The two women moved through the field, slipping through the grass until Emma finally felt a firmer ground underneath her. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she lowered her gaze down to the path before her. Bricks that seemed to be made of gold almost. A knowing smile seemed to form on Emma's lips as she turned her head to see the road leading toward that skyline off into the distance.

"A yellow brick road? ...Wait. Yellow brick road, yellow brick road...follow the yellow brick road.." she murmured to herself, stepping forward onto the path.

"I beg your pardon? What are you babbling about?" Regina asked, her tone demanding more explanation beyond what seemed to be a riddle of some sorts. Emma turned toward her excitedly.

"Follow the yellow brick road! Of course! I'm an idiot!"

"Finally, something we can agree on," Regina snarked, though there was a hint of amusement in her tone. Emma ignored the quip and shook her head as she pointed to the skyline.

"It's the Wizard of Oz! In the story, Dorothy goes to see the wizard to help her get home. He knows Glenda, the Good Witch. He can help us locate her instead of us trying to roam some random land of Oz looking for a woman dressed in white and floating in a bubble!"

"Wait, that was your original plan?" Emma gave her a smile that indicated exactly that, leaving Regina to rub her fingers over her forehead. "Remind me again why I agreed to this.." she muttered under her breath before Emma nodded toward the skyline.

"Come on. That has to be the Emerald City. We're not far away," she started down the path before Regina could give another sarcastic remark.

"Have I mentioned that this is a bad idea?" Regina called out, but it was too late. Emma was already storming down the road without even bothering to wait for her to catch up. How rude was that?! With a disapproving eye roll, Regina stepped forward to try and catch up with Emma who walked with such annoying purpose. God, this woman was insufferable.

"Emma...slow down!"

It felt like miles that they walked and Emma could see the Emerald City out in the distance. Surely, they couldn't be much further away, right? This was a time sensitive mission and she had to find this Glenda in order to restore everything the way that it was. She had to bring Regina back...she just had to. Henry was counting on her.

Emma and Regina walked beside each other in silence, both seeming to be lost in thought as they walked. Every time Regina would look over at Emma, she was staring off into the distance toward that green city brooding over something. Whether or not Regina wanted to bother asking about it was the question. For the longest time, Regina would only look back into the same direction hoping to find the city coming closer to them. It didn't seem like they would ever get there! She looked back toward Emma and finally decided to speak.

"So, we have a son." It was more of a statement leading into a question that was more implied.

"Yes, we have a son."

"Henry."

"Yes. You named him Henry Daniel Mills," Emma replied, her lips curling slightly upward into a smile. This was the first smile that Emma showed since they started walking on this path and there was part of Regina's heart that tightened at the sight of it. It was a nice smile. Warm and fulfilling while guarded and mysterious. It was intriguing. The moment Emma spoke his name, however, her chest tightened. Henry. Like her father. And Daniel. Her Daniel. Regina's typical cold gaze broke slightly, but it was shown only in her dark eyes. Eyes that, even as she stood here as the "Evil Queen", were so easy to read. Emma gripped the handle on her sword a bit tighter as they walked. After a moment of silence between the two of them, Regina spoke.

"Emma, Why did you give him away?" Regina's question caused Emma's smile to fade, but she answered the question before Regina could retract it.

"I didn't think I'd be any good for him, you know? I wanted to give him his best chance and I knew that wasn't going to be with me. I made the best decision I could at that time. I just...wanted happiness. For him and for me. Was it the best choice? I don't know, but I did what I thought I had to do." Emma looked over toward Regina to find that their gazes met, probably for a moment longer than they should have.

"And did you find happiness?"

"No. It was only until I had him back in my life that I was happy again."

"Do you regret giving him up, then?"

"No. I don't."

"Why not?"

"Because I wouldn't have met you."

"Me?" Regina stopped in her tracks, surprise in her voice as her eyebrows raised upwards. Without hesitation, Emma spoke immediately afterwards to cover up the verbal blunder.

"Not you specifically. Just...uhh...all of you, I mean. My family. The people in the town. Henry. Hook. Everyone has become a part of my family when I've spent my entire life without one. That's what I meant by that," she added, attempting to recover as fast as she possibly could. Change the subject, Emma. Change the subject.

"But….I'm happy to have Henry back in my life, and things are good. If we can just make sure that the Wicked Witch gets what she deserves and you enact that curse, all will be right with the world," Emma stated firmly, even nodding her head in to solidify the finality of this conversation. Regina wasn't finished.

"What's he like? Henry, that is," she asked as they continued moving toward the city once more.

"Henry is a pretty amazing kid. Bright. Intelligent. Witty. Brave. Always does the right thing."

"He sounds like a Charming."

"Actually, Regina, he sounds like you." Regina laughed and shook her head.

"That doesn't sound anything like me. You are gravely mistaken," she said as she looked back out into the distance. Emma quickly reached out and grabbed her arm to stop her.

"Let's get something straight. Whatever you think you are, You aren't. I know you just want to find happiness too. You just want to be loved, and I know that. I can see that. When you love someone, Regina, you put your entire heart out there and that's heroic. That's more than I can say for myself. You took on a little boy because you had love to give and you were willing to put yourself out there. So even if you don't believe in yourself, Regina. I believe in you." Those four words caused Regina's eyes to snap over toward Emma quickly. Nobody had spoken words like that to her in so long. She believed in her.

Who was she in this new life? How was it that this Regina that Emma spoke so fondly of didn't match the one she saw in the mirror? What happened to her after this curse was enacted? If Emma wasn't insistent on Regina being able to pull off the curse, she would think that Emma was trying to get into her head to stop her from finishing off her task at hand. How was it that this woman just came into her life in a whirlwind and said all of the things that she had ever wanted to hear? For so long, she wanted to feel included. Loved, even. Snow White took that away from her and here was her last chance to put everyone under this curse. After this, the happy ending would belong to her. Who was Emma to show up and change such a perfectly formulated plan? It wasn't fair, and she wasn't going to let it happen this way. Her plan for revenge was going to succeed, no matter what. With her eyes remaining on Emma's green ones, she slowly pulled her arm back out of her grip.

"You don't know what I want. What I want is to make sure that Snow gets everything she deserves. The sooner we're done with this ridiculous quest, the sooner that will happen," Regina replied softly, her eyes pulling away from Emma as she started to walk again toward the Emerald City. As they began down the road once more, the sound of a voice came from the field.

"Help! Help me, please!" It shouted and Emma looked out to find a scarecrow shouting toward them in the distance.

"Don't even think about it, Emma. We need to get to this city and don't have any more time to waste," Regina spoke in a stern voice over her shoulder as she continued to walk down the path. Emma looked out toward the scarecrow with sympathetic eyes. He needed help. She was the Savior, and yet, Regina was right. They couldn't waste much more time. This wasn't their story to be in anyway. If Emma continued to meddle in things of the past, who knows how much she would be changing? An apologetic smile was all she could spare as they continued down toward the Emerald City.

As they slowly approached the gates to the city, Emma took in the massive green walls that contrasted perfectly against the bright yellow ground and deep blue sky. Oz was one of the most beautiful places Emma had ever seen. All of the colors were more vibrant and the smells more fragrant. She could smell the wildflowers throughout their path as if the wind's only job was to announce their existence. The green gates to the city sparkled against the sun, gleaming in its radiance as they slowly made their way to the front of the city. Before them, a large green door with a large green rope dangling that was all too tempting to pull. Emma took in the sight of it all before Regina interrupted her moment.

"What are you waiting for? Pull the rope!" Emma rolled her eyes and reached for the rope.

"If this causes the floor to drop out, I'm blaming you. Just let me handle this," Emma grumbled as she reached up to take a hold of the rope in both of her hands. Giving it a solid tug, a large bell echoed around them, vibrating the ground that surrounded them. After a moment, a small hole in the door opened up and a head popped out. It was a smaller, balding man, with rosy cheeks and a reddish mustache that curled upwards at the ends.

"Who rang that bell?!" he shouted, his voice shrill and irritated. His eyes searched around the premises, looking everywhere but down at the two women standing before him. Emma looked over at Regina and stepped in front of her to take the lead in this conversation.

"We did," Emma replied.

"Can't you read?!" he shouted back at them, eyes dropping down toward them.

"Read what?"

"The notice!"

"What notice?"

"It's on the door! As plain as the nose on my face!" Regina let out an impatient sigh and stepped forward.

"Listen, you insolent fool. There is no sign and we don't have time for these games. Who cares how we got your attention? Take us to see the wizard right now!" The man looked at Regina in shock, his eyes widening as his face turned redder by the second.

"I don't have to do anything! Someone should teach you manners, young lady! Hmph!" he slammed the window shut. A moment later, he opened the window back up, threw the sign out and slammed it shut once more. Immediately, Emma looked at Regina and spoke at her through gritted teeth.

"Be quiet and let me handle this!" she hissed.

"Then stop fooling around and handle it!" Emma's hands balled into frustrated fists as she turned back to the door to see the sign that said in bold letters:

BELL OUT OF ORDER. PLEASE KNOCK.

Emma looked over at Regina who only rolled her eyes before she reached for the large door handle, knocking a few times with it before the man would appear at the window once more.

"Well, that's more like it! Now, state your business!"

"We just told yo-" Regina started but Emma quickly reached up to cover her mouth with her hand.

"Sorry. Still working on those manners from ten seconds ago. We're here to see the wizard." Regina yanked Emma's hand away and pulled back. If looks could kill, Regina's eyes would have ripped out Emma's heart in that moment and crushed it. The man at the door paid no attention to that as he practically fell out of the window at their request.

"The wizard?! But nobody can see the Great Oz!"

"But, just listen. We r-"

"Nobody!" It was then that Regina pushed aside and stepped up beside Regina, pointing her finger at the man staring down at them.

"Alright, that's enough! I am not just anybody! I am a queen, and you will do as I say!"

"Oh you're a queen, are ya? Queen who?"

"Queen Regina of the Enchanted Forest." The man's eyes widened when she spoke her name. The look on his face told Emma that he knew exactly who she was, and that didn't sit well with Emma. Neither of them had been to this land, and yet, he knew her name. With this being the land of a powerful witch looking to end Regina's existence, Emma wasn't entirely confident that this wasn't a trap.

"Queen Regina! You're correct, madam! I apologize that I did not recognize you. The great and powerful wizard has been expecting you!" he slammed the window shut once more. Emma looked toward Regina.

"I don't have a good feeling about this, Regina. How would the Wizard of Oz know who you are?"

"Please, Miss Swan. I'm not known as the Evil Queen for nothing. Plenty of realms know of me and this one should be no different." Emma rolled her eyes and let out a soft sigh.

"I'm sure they know you by your humility," she mumbled.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing. Nevermind." Luckily for Emma, the door began to open before Regina could respond. As the doors open, the inside of the city proved to be equally as beautiful as the outside. The floors transitioned from the yellow bricks into smooth green marble trimmed with gold bases to add that touch of extravagant contrast. People of all shapes and sizes stood inside staring as the doors opened, waiting in great anticipation for the two that were entering. Something certainly didn't feel right and Emma gripped the handle of her sword just in case. A place this beautiful had to have a flaw somewhere. The man from the window stepped in front with a bright smile as his arms extended outward as if to display the city for their incoming guests.

"Welcome, welcome! We are so excited for you to be here! The Wizard has planned a feast in your honor for your arrival to our great city!" Emma's eyebrows furrowed and she stepped forward.

"That's not necessary. We just have to speak with the wizard and then we will be on our way."

"Nonsense! We will have none of that! You've had a long journey and we will give you the royal treatment before you get to meet the Wizard!" Just then, two horse carriages pulled up, both coming from different directions. Emma turned her head and looked to Regina, reaching out to take her arm.

"We shouldn't split up. This isn't right." Regina reached up to take a hold of the hand on her arm, giving it a small squeeze before taking Emma's hand off of her arm.

"It's going to be fine, Emma. Don't tell me you couldn't use a bath."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma asked, clearly offended by what she was insinuating. She did not smell!

"In the past day, we have fought bandits, slept in the woods, jumped through a portal and walked all the way to the Emerald City. I don't know about you, but I think we have earned a little bit of pampering. It will be fine. Unless you're frightened," Regina said with a smirk. Emma's frown only deepened.

"I'm not afraid," she grumbled. "All right, fine. Just be on your guard. I don't trust anyone here and I want you to be safe. This entire operation relies on your safety." Regina's grin widened as her eyes slowly lowered over all of Emma, dropping to her boots and then back up.

"Duly noted. I will see you soon." With that, Regina stepped up to the carriage, taking the hand of one of the men helping her up. Emma turned and did the same, stepping up onto the other carriage. The moment she sat down, the horse started moving down a large, green hallway. Turning her head, she took one last glance at Regina as her carriage whisked her away to another part of the city. All she could do at this point was hope that they didn't make a grave mistake.