Hey y'all. I've been really stuck on how to get where I wanted but i finally got it so yeah. Also, school just started so I'm sorry about the wait. This chapter is kind of a filler but it has important stuff in it too so don't just skim it or whatever. Well you can but it isn't suggested. Hope you guys had a great summer, and enjoy the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT
"You know what this means, right?" Emma asked quietly. The queen nodded slowly, already planning on who she would need to assist her.
"Of course, dear. This means war."
Snow was pacing. Again. James watched on warily as his wife mumbled to herself. She hadn't calmed down since the deal with Rumple and he doubted she would until the Savior trapped was in their magic cage.
"Snow, worrying yourself to death will do you no good." He's tried time and time again to get her to relax but she wasn't budging. She shook her head furiously at him.
"No! We have to make sure we cover all the bases. Consider every possibility so we aren't blindsided by any of her tricks." James sighed and slumped into his throne. He noticed Red slip in and waved her over. She looked at Snow with a concerned expression before turning her attention back to the king. He looked incredibly worn out but she could also see the determination behind his eyes.
"Is she still stressing out about the Evil Queen thing?" Red asked while watching the queen pace back and forth.
"Yes. I can't seem to calm her down. Do you think you could try?" He looked at her with pleading eyes. She nodded and went to stand in front of Snow. The woman looked up, surprised to see Red standing there. She obviously hadn't heard her walk in.
"Oh hello, Red. Is there something I can help you with?"
"No, but Snow you should really stop stressing over this. You've planned this from the inside out. It'll be fine." Red could understand why Snow was getting so worked up about this. This could go so very wrong if even the smallest mishap occurred. Taking the Evil Queen's True Love was basically suicide but she missed Emma. The girl was her best friend and she was taken away from her by the Evil Queen. She wanted the woman to pay and this would do just that if everything goes as planned.
"I know. I just can't help it. You know if this doesn't work we're dead. There is a small part of me that just doesn't think it will go well."
"Snow, you have three other kingdoms willing to help you go against Regina. She hasn't a clue about what's going to happen. You do have the element of surprise." Red spoke with an incredible amount of conviction and Snow felt some of the worries lift off her shoulders. She help her chin up and nodded.
"You're right. This will work. Regina has no clue about what's about to happen. She is completely ignorant to the situation and that is what's keeping me somewhat optimistic about this." Red smiled and nodded, following Snow as she walked back over to sit next to her husband. They all remained quiet, lost in their own thoughts until Red spoke up, breaking the silence in the room.
"I miss her." She whispered. They didn't need to ask who she was talking about. It was obvious. James nodded.
"I miss her too. I pray to the gods every night, that she is alright." Snow looked up at him and took his hand.
"We'll have that answer soon enough." No one spoke after that. All of them praying that Emma survived all this time while in the clutches of the Evil Queen. Not even wanting to think about the horrible things she's probably had to endure.
…
Emma's scream rang throughout the room.
"Ow! Fuck, Regina, stop!" Emma grit her teeth, trying to control her breathing.
"Do shut up, dear. It's not my fault you're an idiot." Regina was feeling extremely exasperated at the moment.
"I was trying to train! I just… overestimated my abilities. Which, as you know, rarely happens." She felt Regina probe her shoulder again and hissed out in pain. "Dammit, Regina!"
"You are the one who thought she could dodge three arrows at the same time. Now if you do not stay still I will rip it out." Regina's voice left no room for discussion and Emma sat down on their bed with a huff. Regina smirked and refocused her attention back to the arrow protruding from her wife's shoulder. She sighed. Only Emma would think shooting arrows coming from three different directions was a good idea.
"I need to remove it before I can heal it." She unscrewed the metal arrowhead and frowned. "Was it truly necessary to use the metal arrows for training? We have an abundance of wooden ones just lying around. Did you even think this out before trying to execute it, dear?"
"I was feeling extremely confident at the moment, okay? Give me a break and just get the damn thing out of my shoulder." When Regina stopped her hands and looked at her with a raised eyebrow, she quickly added, "Please?"
"On three then. One-" The queen jerked her hand back, successfully taking the arrow shaft with her. Emma gave out a surprised yelp before shooting her a glare. "Don't give me that look. I could have made you do it yourself." She quickly healed the wound and handed Emma a wet rag to clean off the blood. She sighs and turns toward her wife.
"Thank you and I'm sorry. I'm just so fucking stressed! There's just this feeling in my gut and it's all I can focus on. I didn't mean to be careless." Regina looks at the blonde for a moment before taking the rag from her hands and gently cleaning the blood from her, now healed, skin.
"I know. You've been extremely wound-up for the past few days and it is really starting to worry me. You've never been this tense and unsure before." She looked at her wife, noticing the bags under her eyes. She's always trusted Emma and her instincts so this was becoming something that had Regina in a constant state of worry. For her wife, herself, and her kingdom.
"I know, but I can't let this go. Not until I am completely sure there's no threat. I sent a few guards out to check villages around the kingdom to see if anything is out of the ordinary." Regina nodded thoughtfully.
"Good. I will not stand for any more of Snow's petty meddling in my kingdom. I already have to prepare for the inevitable war she's declared. I need to get into contact with a few allies and see if they'll help if your idiotic mother decides to something completely foolish."
"Do you know who you'll ask?"
"I have a few ideas yes, but I loathe asking for any type of assistance so I'm putting it off until it is absolutely necessary." Emma couldn't help but laugh a little. She knew Regina would feel insanely uncomfortable with having to ask for someone's help. Even if they were her friends.
"Okay, just as long as it's not Gaston. I fucking hate that guy. He thinks he's so high and mighty and invincible with his dumb arms and tight shirts." Emma crossed her arms with a scowl on her face. Regina smirked and rubbed her wife's shoulder.
"The only reason you dislike him is because he flirts with me despite knowing I'm happily married." Emma rolled her eyes.
"He doesn't just flirt with you, Regina! He ogles you like a wolf in heat. The cocky bastard doesn't even take me seriously because you won't let me hurt him! He laughs at me, Regina!" The blonde was standing now. It's not like this is the first time they've had this conversation. She's had to keep Emma from removing his head many times. And she's not talking about the one sitting atop his shoulders.
"Darling, I know how insufferable he is, trust me I do, but we need him in our good graces. You castrating him is not the way to do that." She walked over to her fuming wife, resting her arms on the woman's sturdy shoulders. "You know you are the only one I want." When the blonde just stared down at her she rose up to whisper in Emma's ear.
"You know no one else could make me scream the way you do." Emma groaned and uncrossed her arms to wrap them around Regina's waist, pulling her body closer.
"You don't play fair." She grumbled. The queen grinned.
"All's fair in love and war, dear." But Regina's smile was quickly wiped away with Emma's next words.
"Then I guess you feel we should extend that same olive branch to Hans." Regina pushed her back with a growl. Emma knew exactly how Regina felt about the man. He had been to the palace once and had immediately taken to Emma. Regina was furious and Emma was barely able to keep her from killing the man.
"Do not bring up that ill-bred, insufferable whelp. If he knows what's good for him he won't dare show his face here again." Regina was furious. He had waltzed into her throne room as if it were his and began boasting on some ridiculous accomplishment, and going so far as to ask for a position in her council.
"But Regina, you just said I need to be civil with Gaston, so you need to be civil with Hans. It's only fair." Emma knew she was pushing her luck. She could already feel Regina's magic start to rise but she really didn't have much self-preservation when I came to Regina. The danger that continuously flowed from her wife was way too alluring for her not to indulge in whenever the opportunity presented itself.
"Perhaps you didn't hear me correctly. Do not mention that halfwit in my presence. You are tip-toeing a very dangerous line, Emma. Are you sure you wish to continue?" Regina's voice had dropped to the tone she uses when trying to intimidate someone and boy does it work. Emma may have been married to her for years but Regina has been a queen much longer than that and she still knows how to send shivers down Emma's spine if she deems it necessary.
"I don't know why you're getting so worked up. Are you jealous?" Emma taunted further. The blonde didn't even have a chance to react before she was flying across their bedroom and colliding with the wall right next to the fireplace. Emma would have tried fighting her wife's magic had it not been for the purple swirling in her eyes. That's not good. Emma feels like she may have pushed her a tad too far. The brunette glided toward her slowly, eyes never leaving Emma's.
"Am. I. Jealous. Those are the words that just left your mouth. You actually decided to ask me if I was jealous of that obnoxious, lowlife of a man who thought it was okay to make passes at what is mine. I know you are not that foolish, dear. Queens do not get jealous. Do you know why that is?" Regina was standing in front of Emma now. Not quite touching her but close enough that Emma could feel the heat coming off of her.
"I-I don't know. Look, Regina I-" But she was cut off.
"The reason is because when we want something we take it. How could I possibly be jealous of something that already belongs to me? I thought you would have already learned that by now. There is nothing in this universe or the next that could take you from me. Nobody would be that foolish." Regina trailed her fingertip down Emma's throat, coming to a stop at her heart and pressed her palm flat against the rapidly beating organ. She smiled at her wife's racing heart. She loved that she could affect her like this. She lifted her eyes to look at Emma who was now sporting a very flushed faced and dilated pupils.
"This is mine." She said, connecting their eyes. She reached for Emma's hand, which was being held against the wall with her magic, and brought it up to rest above her own heart.
"And this is yours." Emma's breath hitched at Regina's declaration. "Do you understand?" The blonde nodded slowly.
"Yes." Regina gave her a small smile. Her eyes flicked down to Emma's lips before meeting her gaze again.
"Good." She whispered, threading her hands into blonde hair and crashing their lips together. Emma's body was released and she immediately wrapped both arms around Regina's waist. She tried to pour all of her love into the kiss, making sure her wife knew she wouldn't want to ever be anyone else's. Regina pulled back and looked up at Emma who still had her eyes closed.
"Sorry I've been such a dunce lately. I don't know why you put up with me." Emma bit her lip, a nervous habit she had yet break. Regina reached up, gently pulling her lower lip from between her teeth, and caressed it with her thumb as she spoke.
"I put up with you and your moronic tendencies because while you may be an idiot, you're my idiot and mine alone." Emma grinned and bit the woman's thumb playfully before kissing it softly.
"You are so damn perfect." Regina chuckled.
"Others would beg to differ."
"Well they're peasants who don't know what the hell they're talking about." Emma smiled and Regina rolled her eyes affectionately. She pushed Emma toward the door to their bedroom.
"You need to go continue your training. You remember what we're doing tomorrow, yes?" The blonde gave her a confused look before groaning in realization.
"Ugh. Regina, can we please just forget about that? I really don't have the ti-"
"You will make time. I already have a list of things I can't wait to see you do." Emma sighed as she walked out of the room. Both women went their separate ways. Emma back to the training yard and Regina to her study. She wasn't surprised to see Maleficent searching her shelves for something.
"Is there something you actually need or are you just snooping?" Regina drawled. The blonde woman wasn't even phased at the voice as she continued her search.
"I am looking for something and I knew it wouldn't be kept in the library." The blonde stopped looking at the books, and turned to face Regina.
"What is it you need, dear? I'd prefer you not poking around my things while I'm not here." The brunette went to sit on the lounge near the bookcase Maleficent was looking at.
"Do you not trust me?" She smirked at Regina. The queen scoffed.
"Oh no. Of course I trust you, dear. Even though I haven't seen you in over a decade after cursing you away from me." The sarcasm only made the other woman raise an eyebrow. Regina sighed.
"What do you need, Maleficent?" The blonde suddenly looked sheepish which only served to make Regina more curious.
"I need a book on True Love and Soul Mates." She mumbled, avoiding eye contact with the brunette. Regina's mouth fell open in surprise but she composed herself quickly.
"And why do you need it?" The shape shifter shot her a glare but she just waited for a response.
"Because I've had to go the past 10 plus years without feeling any type of attraction to anybody and now I see you and your wife happily married and I want it. You owe me this." Regina stared at her old friend for a moment before conceding.
"Very well. I am not the same person I was then and I do see that what I did to you was unfair. So I will help you." Regina stood and walked over to a different bookcase. Pulling a book from the top left corner of the shelf she walked to her desk, beckoning the blonde to join her. Maleficent walked to where Regina stood and looked at the book uneasily before taking it from Regina's hands. She began flipping through the pages but honestly had no idea what it was she was looking for. Regina must have caught on and took the book back before opening to a specific page.
"When I was younger there was a fairy who tried to help me find my soul mate but I refused her help. I don't know if this is the spell she was going to use but I'm quite sure she was going to do it with her fairy dust." She handed the book back over and watched Maleficent's eyes fly over the page. A frown came across her face and she looked up.
"Neither you nor me possess fairy dust of light magic. This is useless." Regina sighed and rolled her eyes.
"What was the revelation you had just recently, dear?" She watched the blonde's eyebrows furrow only to shot up a moment later.
"Emma." She breathed the name in relief. Regina nodded.
"Yes. While she isn't as experienced as either of us she has the white magic required to perform the spell but because it will take a lot out of her I will leave the choice to her." She gave the woman a warning look that said if Emma said no she better not push her.
"Yes, of course. Can she do it now?" Regina sighed but nodded her consent.
"Should she agree to do this then my debt to you is paid in full. You will not be allowed to hold this over my head any longer." She waited for Maleficent to think it through. The blonde finally nodded, albeit reluctantly.
"Fine. Should she agree to do this I will forgive you of your past transgressions." Regina snapped her fingers and Emma appeared in a puff of purple smoke. Her sword was held up like she was about to attack, which, considering where she just came from, she probably was.
"What the hell?" She looked around the room, wondering why she was just transported while in the middle of sparring. She gives her wife a questioning look.
"We are in need of your assistance." Regina looked at Emma expectantly but Emma was feeling extremely discombobulated at the moment. She noticed how close Maleficent was standing to Regina and the book between them and looked up curiously, blurting the first thing that came to mind.
"This isn't some weird, sorceress sex thing is it? Because I really don't think I-" She was cut off by Regina's tired sigh.
"You're truly a complete idiot." Regina rubbed her temples while Maleficent just looked amused.
"Okay, so what do you need?" Regina looked at Maleficent and obviously waiting for her to explain.
"I would like to find my Soul Mate but Regina and I only have dark magic and the spell requires light magic or fairy dust. I was hoping you would be open to helping me." The way the blonde asked Emma for help reminded her a lot of how Regina asks for help. It was uncomfortable and formal and mildly amusing. Emma looked to Regina silently asking if she was supposed to help her or not.
"The choice is yours, Emma. The spell requires a lot of energy and you will be exhausted afterward. You will probably have to sleep right after if you want to have enough energy for what I have planned tomorrow." Regina smirked at the last part. Of course, Emma wouldn't be allowed to get out of her training with Regina. She bit her lip, thinking. She couldn't really deprive someone of finding their True Love. Not even she's that cruel. And if Maleficent found hers then she wouldn't have to worry about her hitting on her or Regina ever again. She smiled at that thought.
"Alright I'll do it but I have no idea what I'm doing." The older blonde's shoulders sagged in relief. Regina walked to a mirror that sat on the wall behind her desk, gesturing for both blondes to follow her. Emma stood in front of the mirror, in the middle of both sorceresses. Regina moved Maleficent so she was facing Regina and so she had to turn her head to the left to see the mirror.
"Okay, Emma, place your fingers at the bottom of the mirror. Make sure they come into contact with the glass. Now, place your left hand directly on top of her heart." Emma did as she was told then looked back up into the mirror waiting for further instructions.
"Good. Maleficent, she will only be a channel so you will be the one who has to think of love and wanting to find your soul mate. Emma will be focusing completely on trying to find said person. Are you ready?" When both blondes nodded she spoke to Emma again.
"Close your eyes and concentrate on the beating of her heart. Remember how we worked on pushing and pulling magic? Well she will push hers to you and you will have to push it to the mirror. If you open your eyes or lose concentration the connection will be broken. Focus on the feelings she's giving you and direct them to the mirror." Emma took a deep breath as she honed in on the other blonde's heartbeats. She could feel the magic pulsing through her and tried leading it into the mirror. She wasn't sure if it was working but she didn't open her eyes to check. She figured they'd tell her if it wasn't working.
Maleficent watched the glass with rapt attention as it began to swirl white. For what felt like forever, all she could see was white until finally a room began to come into focus. It was fuzzy at first but she continued to think of how much she wanted to find her True Love and the picture became sharper. There was no one there at first but then a brunette woman swept into view and her breath caught in her throat. She was the most beautiful person the witch had ever laid eyes on. She smiled as she watched her flit around the room, brown hair flowing behind her. She didn't so much as blink, not wanting to miss a second.
Regina, looked from the mirror to Maleficent, a small smile forming on her lips at the wide grin on the other woman's face that she probably didn't even know was there. She looked back at the mirror and saw the picture begin to flicker. She looked over at Emma and noticed she was starting to sway.
"Emma! Emma, you can stop now." The blonde's eyes shot open and took in the woman on the glass as it began to fade away. She only caught a glimpse but it was enough to make her wonder. Have I seen that woman before?
I don't know when I'll have the next chapter up but it will be the beginning of the Charmings executing their plan so get excited!
Who do y'all think the brunette is? Some of you have guessed correctly when I asked in previous chapters so good job. Also who do you want Regina to contact? I'm still deciding but it will be two of the four so in case you forgot, that's: Yzma, Ursula, Hades and Cruella DeVille. See you next chapter!