This is where things get interesting.
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-FantasyWriterFoSho
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Summary of the Previous Chapter: Emma woke up in the hospital but escaped after accidentally attacking Whale and a few of his nurses. She headed over to Gold's shop where he took her and the Snow Queen (unknowingly) to an abandoned lakeside mansion in order to get rid of her powers. It was there that Regina and Killian tracked them down.
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Chapter Sixteen: Pointed Deflection
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Neither charged in to rescue the older woman. Instead, Regina and Killian continued to observe the pair from their hiding place for a few more moments before gradually pulling away to analyze and to weigh their options.
After taking a couple of side steps, their backs silently grazing against the wall, they turned towards each other and kept their voices low.
"I'm not going to lie," Killian whispered. "I'm not opposed to those two hashing it out..."
"Same, but I'm not taking any chances with Gold," Regina responded, gesturing to the occupied room with a head nod before causing the red scarf, in her hands, to magically disappear. "If he intends on harming her, it's for a reason..."
"Aye," he returned quietly. "But where's Emma? I didn't see her. Did you?"
Regina shook her head. "Let's get another look..."
Scurrying back towards the door, they once again peeked into the room, their positions the same as before. They were semi-relieved to find that nothing drastic had happened during their brief moment away.
"He appears to be monologuing," Killian observed, his tone excruciatingly low. Looking over his shoulder, he continued, both of them staying put this time. "What is it with villains feeling the need to share their plans?"
Regina smirked. "It's cathartic, I guess."
Sharing her humor, Killian returned his attention to the scene before him and immediately saw Gold advance towards the Snow Queen, his hand still gripping his dagger. When his form was obstructed behind the trapped woman's body, Killian acted on the opportunity to get a better glimpse. Leaning forward, he angled his face deeper into the room and drank in the surroundings with even strokes, but when he observed to the far right of the space, his eyes widened and he bit his lip to prevent any outcries.
Pulling back and pushing Regina away from the door, he leaned back against the wall and met her curious eyes. "Emma. I found Emma off to one side. She's fully paralyzed."
"I knew he did it," she stated quietly. Looking past Killian, she then stepped around him in order to see for herself. Doing the same thing he did, she stuck her head inside and took in the area. There, right where he had said she was, stood Emma, half-facing them, with her eyes large and full of fear.
Nodding her head, Regina ducked away and looked over at Killian. "Here's the plan," she whispered, illustrating her words with a finger pointing against the wall. "I'm going to attack Gold, which will break his influence on both the Snow Queen and Emma. When that happens, I'll trap the ice witch in another imprisoning hold while you grab her. I'll try to teleport you two back into town, but if I'm too distracted to do that, you're going to have to take her and run. I'll make sure to buy you guys enough time..."
"What if you're unable to do that?" he asked quietly. "What about your safety?"
Regina shrugged.
Narrowing his eyes, he held her gaze, not particularly liking her response. "I understand that you're still upset over your personal situation, lass," he began, making her give him an odd expression. "But you can't just throw your life away because of it..."
Exhaling harshly, Regina closed her eyes. "I'm assuming Mary Margaret didn't say shit to you about not attempting anymore conversations with me…?"
"Contrary to your earlier belief that Henry would be better off without you," Killian continued, nudging at her with the blunt part of his hook so she would look at him. "He won't be...You also have other people who love and care about you and I know that you're hurting but, at some point, you...you have to let it go in order to rebuild your soul..."
"Says the man who hunted, for many years, out of revenge?"
He looked away for a moment. "I was lost with no real guidance, so..." he trailed off, his eyes once again holding hers. "Take it from one who knows..."
"As fun as this random therapy session has been," Regina deflected while glaring at him. "We have more important matters to handle. So, if you could man-up, that would be great..."
Looking away, she took a moment before suddenly lunging into the room, a hand already up and poised vertically. Strategically blasting Gold away from the Snow Queen—the hat and his dagger flying out of the former's hands and onto the floor—Regina watched as he landed onto his back roughly, his influence over the two blondes shattering instantly from loss of concentration.
Following her plan, Killian waited before rushing in and running over to a surprised Emma, who instinctively grabbed at his chest and one of his shoulders when he caught her. Wrapping his arms around her, he was about to pull her from the room when he was suddenly ripped out of her embrace, his figure swooping and weaving between a determined Regina and a stumbling Snow Queen in order to stand directly in front of a recovering Gold.
Regina, who was just about to paralyze the ice witch and re-engage the Dark One, stopped mid-air when her companion appeared in front of her. Dropping her hands before raising them up in a pacifying gesture, she watched a sinister smile make its way into Gold's eyes.
"Killian!" Emma screamed, immediately bolting forward, after regaining her footing, only to find herself unable to because of an abrupt and tight grip on her arm. Glancing at her side, she saw the Snow Queen, who had slightly been forgotten in the turn of events.
Trying to wrench herself free, Emma's mind suddenly sparked with what happened at the ice cave. Fighting against an onslaught of images and returned memories, she twisted and squirmed, wishing that she had more control over herself. Desperately wanting to get away, she tried summoning her own powers, wishing that her hands would spark or flicker or do something to aid her in her moment of need.
But they didn't
Why won't they work when I need them to?! she internally yelled, her frustrations doing nothing against the Snow Queen's iron hold.
Using Killian as a shield, Gold used his magic to quickly regain his discarded dagger and hat, both objects moving to float directly behind his protective form. "If you want him to survive, Ms. Swan" he called out, knowingly lying through his teeth. "Your cooperation is required..."
Gut clenching, Emma knew that something was wrong. There was something off about his statement but she couldn't risk Killian's life. "Whatever it is," she began, still battling against the blonde beside her. "I'll do it. Just, just don't hurt him!"
"The hell she will," the Snow Queen growled, swiftly tugging a protesting Emma behind her with great force.
"E-Emma," Killian objected, his body taunt and stiff under Gold's magic.
"Don't be stupid, imp," Regina warned, her fingers flexing. After side-glancing at the Snow Queen and seeing her stance, she gave him a short nod. "You're outnumbered."
"Is that so?" he acknowledged with a smirk. Standing against the two, Gold found himself slightly conflicted. He could just as easily suck all three of the women into the hat then use Killian later, for the ritual, but he would miss out on that extra magical boost the Transference Potion would give him and, judging by the constant, thrumming pain in his chest, he needed all the assistance he could get.
Roaming his vision wide, he looked at Regina, over Killian's left shoulder, his mind churning. Once again deciding to change his targets, he clicked his tongue before acting quickly. Pushing then pinning the younger man's body into a nearby side wall, he grabbed, then threw, his dagger at his unassuming former pupil before fluidly reaching for the hovering hat beside him.
Easily tapping into its magic, a bright light now reaching the object's brim, he turned then aimed it at the two blondes, an unreadable expression on his face.
Realizing what he was going to do the moment he had grabbed for his dagger, Emma also acted quickly.
Everything seemed to happen in slow motion when she shoved the unexpected Snow Queen out of her way then charged forward, her eyes on an unmoving Regina. Grabbing her arm, she leveraged her out of the dagger's path with a forceful push, the angled blade missing the brunette's stomach by mere inches only to settle and dig its way deeply into Emma's.
As Regina fell to the ground in confusion, Killian screamed in utter anguish while the Snow Queen's eyes widened in absolute horror at the scene.
Shocked, but not unhappy about the outcome, Gold relented his control over the hat and Killian, who first fell to his feet then raced over to a collapsing and severely injured Emma. Catching her, he adjusted her into his arms and cradled her against his chest, begging her to stay with him as she curled up against him.
Frantic and eyes welling, the Snow Queen immediately tried to get to her but stopped when Killian, who heard her approaching, glared up and pointed his hook into her direction.
"Don't you take another step closer, witch!" he heaved, his eyes glassy but hard.
Not in her usual arrogant or confident state of mind, the Snow Queen was shocked into taking a couple steps back, her eyes never wavering from what she could see of Emma's body.
Scurrying over, Regina immediately dropped down beside Killian—who had just returned his focus back to the woman in his arms—then shot a hand out into Gold's direction, magic flaring around her fingertips.
She saved me…
This could've been me…
Why?
"What the hell did you do?" she rasped out, glaring at Gold while also shuffling into a more comfortable kneeling position. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!" she yelled when he didn't respond, her eyes now gleaming with mixed emotions.
Killian began to gently rock Emma back and forth, his voice low when he dropped his mouth down to whisper something into her ear. "Not you," he begged. "Not you..."
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9:27PM -Abandoned Lakeside Mansion
Emma was going in and out of consciousness.
Her eyelids were droopy against Killian's chest and her breathing was becoming increasingly ragged the longer she lay there.
As she grabbed and pressed at her wound, she noticed that it was surprisingly dry. There was no blood pouring out of her stomach, but her skin had become incredibly tender.
Unintentionally sparking, her hands momentarily lit the area between hers and Killian's bodies before flickering then dying out, her powers faltering against the potion-riddled blade as it began to suck her magic out of her and into the dagger.
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More to come! Stay tuned and thanks!