AN: First off, thank you all for the wonderful reviews for last chapter. M rated scenes are always the ones I find hardest to write and your comments have really helped my confidence. Secondly, I apologise in advance for the end of this chapter, but before I go and hide behind the sofa please remember that this story DOES have a happy ending :-) Thirdly, I apologise for any minor mistakes. *runs away to a safe distance and carefully peaks out* Let me know what you think :-)
"Madam Mayor, you look like someone who's wasted far too much energy acting on their baser instincts…"
I open my eyes, disappointed to find myself back at the Acropolis and not snuggled under a blanket, on the rug, in front of the fire with Emma.
We're stood in the centre of an ancient Olympic arena. Row upon row of empty, stone seats surrounding us on all sides. Directly in front of me, stands Thanatos, a salacious grin on his face as he taunts me about my recent activities in the waking world.
Still caught in a haze of post-coital bliss, I refuse to allow his words to rile me and confidently fold my arms across my chest, "I don't think that's any of your business, Bat!" I reply, surprised to find myself dressed in a tight leather vest, and a pair of leather pants that perfectly match my adversary's.
He raises a perfect eyebrow, "Maybe not, but it sure makes my job easier." I roll my eyes at the arrogance of his assumption but it only makes his grin widen, "Was she worth it?"
My mind is instantly filled with thoughts of the blonde. The warmth of her touch, the softness of her skin, the sound of her voice as she cried out my name. I allow a small, dreamy smile, "Always!"
He bows his head in a strange show of respect, the sort of gesture that makes me wonder if he's ever known the touch of True Love, and then promptly raises his hands.
Over the last few nights I've seen that move enough to know that he intends to start draining me and remembering Zelena's plan, quickly call out to him, "Wait!"
His arms drop back down to his sides as he fixes me with a questioning glare, "Problem?" He asks.
"Not at all," I reply, feeling quietly confident, "But I think it only fair to tell you that I'm currently wrapped up in the arms of my lover. The same woman who likes to protect me with a magical shield…" My smile turns into a smirk, "…and considering the events of last night, I'd be willing to bet that you'll find her shield stronger than ever now."
In truth, my words are nothing more than a bluff. I have no way of knowing whether or not our intimacy has increased the strength of Emma's magic – or mine for that matter – but one thing I learnt from the Evil Queen was that no matter the strength of your hand, you always bet as if you'd already won.
Unfortunately, Thanatos appears familiar with the rules, "That's speculation at best!" he grins, his own confidence unwavering.
Backed into a corner, I decide to test my theory by sending a single fireball towards him with a flick of my wrist. The shot hits his left shoulder and he staggers back a few paces, his right hand instantly rubbing the point of impact.
"Ow!"
I breathe an inward sigh of relief, quietly grateful that my daring gamble paid off, and offer him a calm, careless shrug. "She's already made me stronger," I confirm.
"Yes," he observes, using his magic to heal the slight scorch mark marring his skin, "But still not strong enough to beat me."
In that I fear he's correct, but I've never walked away from a fight simply because the odds were against me. I take a bold step towards him, "Which is exactly why I plan to even things up a little. You picked the venue, now I'm picking the weapon."
I wave my hand and the sword from my vault appears, a gleaming, razor sharp blade replacing the blunt, training one that I used while sparring with, Emma. He glances from me to the weapon, and back again.
"You want to duel?" He asks, barely concealing the disgust in his voice. "How very archaic!"
I find it ironic that a magical being who uses ancient, mythical religion to instil fear in his subjects finds something as honourable as a duel, archaic. I don't call him out on it however, deciding that biting sass may not be the best route to diplomacy.
Instead, I focus on the finer details of the amendment to my challenge, "If I win, you return to your realm and leave me and the residents of Storybrooke, alone, for good."
"And if I win?"
I shrug, "You can drain my life force."
He rubs his chin in deep thought, considering my offer and any hidden deceptions it may contain. He clearly knows very little about the villains of my realm, for even at my worst I was never one to manipulate. Reneging on a deal is Rumple's cowardly tactic, not mine.
His wings flex slightly as he comes to his decision, "Those terms are acceptable," he agrees.
I nod once in acknowledgement.
A sword swiftly materialises in his hand. It looks heavy, and considerably longer than mine, and the blade is wider at the bottom. It's a nasty design, common with swords from ancient Greece. A weapon crafted to cause maximum damage.
We begin to circle around each other, carefully at first. I watch closely for any telling signs as to when he plans to attack, but Thanatos isn't Emma and his years of experience shine through in his exemplary swordsmanship.
I lunge forward, and he fades back. He aims a strike, and I'm quick to block it. It doesn't take me long to realise that we're evenly matched, and that a winner will probably only be decided when one of has an unfortunate lapse in concentration. I make a vow then and there that it won't be me.
We continue in this manner for several long minutes, several predictable attacks are thwarted on both sides, and as both of us prove worthy competitors with quick reflexes, a few intelligent attacks are also easily evaded.
But eventually my opportunity comes, a downward strike - which I see coming the second he raises his sword arm – is swiped away with an upward block. The movement causes a break in his momentum and for a split second, his entire right arm is exposed. Recovering quicker and in the advantageous position, I counterattack with my own strike.
My blade catches across the bared skin of his muscular shoulder, cutting into the flesh and slicing it open. He grunts in pain, glancing down to the wound that now bleeds freely and I can tell by the dark look in his eyes that he regrets his amateurish mistake.
I smirk triumphantly, aware that an injury of that nature to his sword arm could greatly hinder his ability to wield his weapon, but it only serves to rejuvenates his efforts.
He lunges at me, catching me on the back foot, and though I manage to block his initial attack, it forces us into a parry that sees his superior strength force me backwards. I hold him off well enough but he has the clear advantage this time, and as the length of the parry grows ever longer and the sweat begins to bead on my shoulder blades and lower back, human error forces that inevitable lapse in concentration.
My breath short and my lungs burning, I push for a break in the fighting by attempting to jump backwards but the move leaves my torso exposed. He swipes a quick attack across my midriff, the longer blade of his weapon taking full advantage as it catches the strip of flesh between my vest and pants.
I feel the metal slice across the skin of my abdomen, followed by the warm trickle of blood. I hiss in pain, the wound though shallow and by no means fatal, still stings like hell. He returns my smirk with a cocky grin of his own, and pointedly gestures to the cut on his shoulder. Once again, we're even.
The fight picks up pace after that, growing in intensity as the determination to win sparks between us. After another near miss, I let down my walls and allow the Evil Queen to come out to play. She maybe ruthless, buts she's also stubborn and unforgiving, and that darkness is exactly what I'm going to need if I'm going to win this fight.
Adrenaline pumps through my blood, numbing the throb of my wound and heightening my senses. It's a drug the Queen thrives on, an energy boost that helps to push me to the edge of madness where blinding rage and my thirst for vengeance are my only goal.
It's then that I realise how much I truly appreciate what she does for me. She maybe cold, callous, and unfeeling, but she's also a part of me. A part that I need if I'm to survive in this world of never ending threats and powerful enemies.
This shouldn't be about proving that I can live without her, it should be about learning how to live with her. It's true that I don't want her bitterness and hatred to fuel my actions but sometimes – during fights to the death for example – a little of her anger is just what I need to drive me forward.
I lunge forward, catching Thanatos unprepared, and launch into an attack in which I clearly have the upper hand. He blocks my attacks but he's back peddling, just like when I had Emma against the wall. A rush of pride swells in my chest, an instinctive knowledge that this battle is mine, but just as I'm about to deliver that final blow, he waves his hand to encompass his sword with magic.
The weapon lights up in a red hue, and I feel it's effects instantly. It begins to drain my life force but the effect is stronger than previously, more concentrated. My sword arm becomes weak, my blade suddenly too heavy to lift, and my entire body aches with exhaustion.
I hastily retreat, stumbling backwards as I feel the energy being sucked from me at a rapid pace.
"I should have known you wouldn't play fair," I growl between clenched teeth.
He grins, lowering his sword in quiet triumph, "You never specified that we couldn't use magic!" he replies.
I silently curse myself for once again allowing him to manipulate the situation and try to use my own magic, but my life force is being drained too quickly and I can barely muster enough to form a fireball. My sword falls to the ground at my feet.
"You know it gives you an advantage," I reply, sweat pouring from me as my legs turn to jelly, "It shouldn't need to be said but magic has no place in this fight."
He laughs, the sort of laugh I used to give when I knew I'd gained complete control. "Too late," he informs smugly, and in that instant I know that he's right.
It is too late. I can feel my energy levels depleting, the last of my life draining from every muscle, nerve and synapse. The only thing keeping me upright is the pull of the magic that comes from his sword. I've lost. I'm defeated. And I'll never see Henry or Emma again.
"So that's how you God's get so much power. You're all just big fat cheaters!"
The familiar, cocky tone comes from somewhere behind me, and I've never felt so relieved in all my life. I use the last of my strength to glance over my shoulder, unable to hide my appreciation at seeing the blonde and her infuriating red leather jacket stood just a few feet away.
"Emma!"
As soon as the name has left my lips I feel the pull of Thanatos' magic disappear. I drop to one knee, relishing in the returning feeling of magic in my blood and strength in my muscles, and try to catch my breath.
"The Saviour…" Thanatos growls, and for the first time since this all began, he looks scared. Emma's arrival has clearly rattled him, so much so that it's forced him to lose his power over me.
I smile in awe, always surprised and a little aroused by the fear Emma's heroic presence seems to instil, but the feeling is fleeting. Having sufficiently recovered from Thanatos' attack my senses slowly begin to return, and with them, the realisation of exactly what Emma's arrival means.
Blinded by anger and a need to protect what's mine, I haul myself to my feet and turn to face her with a menacing stare, "What the hell are you doing here?"
Her relaxed smile falters, "What the hell am I doing here?" She repeats, her expression hardening as her own rage takes over, "Why the hell didn't you tell me about him?" she counters, pointing in the general direction of my enemy.
Thanatos clears his throat, "I have a name!"
"Shut up!" We both command, our eyes never leaving each other in our search to find answers.
"I didn't tell you for this very reason!" I shout, grateful that she saved my life but annoyed that she's risked hers by doing so. "This is my fight, not yours. What am I supposed to say to Henry if neither of us survive this?"
A trace of humour plays through her green eyes, "Well unless your planning on haunting him, not very much!"
I clench my jaw in frustration, "You're not funny, Miss Swan."
"Oh Miss Swan again is it," She scoffs, thrusting her hands onto her hips in the same way Snow used to when confronting the Evil Queen. Her lips draw into a thin line trying to mask her emotion, but I can tell by the tone of her voice that my words hurt, "That wasn't what you were calling me last night."
I instantly feel bad, aware that I shouldn't fall back on bad habits just to conceal my feelings. We've got past those days haven't we? We should be at a point where we can talk about our fears instead of constantly deflecting out insecurities back on one another.
I take a deep breath and lower my voice, "Emma," I begin, using her first name to convey the extent of my concern, "I'm begging you, please wake up."
"No!"
Her obstinate reply causes my anger to spike once more and on impulse, I straighten my shoulders and square my chin. I may not be a Queen anymore, but there's still a part of me that doesn't take kindly to being disobeyed.
"Do you have any idea how it felt to wake up next to you and find you unresponsive and barely breathing?" She continues, unaffected by my attempt to intimidate after years of facing me down.
My shoulders deflate at the realisation that her anger comes from the exact same place as mine, fear, and I can't help but wonder how I would feel if our situations were reversed. "I'm sorry."
"No, you're not," She counters, her voice firm, "because you knew you'd be coming here to fight him. You knew and you chose not to tell me."
She's still angry, and though my initial intentions came from a place of love, I can't say that I blame her. I did choose not to tell her. I cleverly evaded every one of her probing questions and promised her that I wasn't in any danger. Given the circumstances, I would be angry too.
"I did it for you," I protest, but my argument falls flat.
"I know exactly why you did it," she replies, no less annoyed. "I carried you halfway across town in the middle of the night to find out why. Mom thought you were under a sleeping curse, Killian thought you were drunk, and Henry…" She shakes her head, a sad expression falling over her at the thought of our son, "…I can't even think about how worried he looked…"
I feel a stab of guilt at the unnecessary pain I've caused to those I love. Henry is the last person that I would ever want to hurt, but even when I strive to be a parent that he can proud of, I still inevitably do.
I hang my head in quiet shame, "None of them were supposed to find out!"
"But they did," She shouts, "I did!" She sighs heavily, "I had to beg your sister to tell me the truth. I am so mad with you right now."
Though a part of me appreciates her concern, a larger part of me doesn't appreciate her condescending tone. I'm not Henry, she can't slap me on the wrist and send me to me my room. I did what I thought was right and let's be honest, she's hardly infallible when it comes to those sort of decisions. She took the darkness for me, and did I stand there and chastise her like a naughty child? No, I tried to help her.
And the fact that Zelena broke her promise doesn't help my mood either. Am in incapable of finding someone that can be trusted with a secret? Once again, my anger flares.
"Well I didn't ask you to snoop into my private affairs," I reply, my voice rising to match the level of hers, "and I certainly never asked you to come here and assist!"
"Excuse me?" It's Thanatos' surprisingly polite voice that finally pulls us apart.
"What!?" We both snap.
"While I hate to interrupt such an amusing lovers quarrel," He grins, taking far greater pleasure from our argument then I would like, "We we're in the middle of something…"
I take a deep breath and pinch the bridge of my nose, my muscles still sore from the draining they received. "He's right," I reply, suddenly tired of the constant wars going on in my life, both physical and verbal.
Emma's eyebrows rise in disbelief, "If you think I'm just going to stand back and watch you two fight to the death then you've got another thing coming." Her gaze flicks pointedly to me, "I know your magic isn't strong enough to fight him here."
I frown, "How do you know that?"
"Because Zelena told me everything," She replies, her voice rising once more, "Unlike you, she actually wants my help!"
"Ladies…" Thanatos interrupts, his impatience growing.
"Fine," I bend to retrieve my sword, determined to finish the duel and end this fight honourably. Emma however, has a different plan.
"No, not fine," She disagrees, stepping into my personal space and placing a restricting hand on my sword arm. "You're not fighting him alone."
Despite this discussion having nothing to do with him, Thanatos shakes his head regrettably, "Two against one would be a breach of the rules!"
"What rules?" I bark, seeing red as I fix him with one of my feared death glares. "You've done nothing but twist them to your advantage since the day I sent you that damned apple."
He laughs, self-importantly, "I know, but I'm a God, so I can."
"Then so can we!" Emma retorts.
She moves to stand shoulder to shoulder with me and though I'm still mad with her, there's no denying the boost her presence gives to my morale. When fighting together I truly believe that there is nothing we can't defeat. Maybe I should just swallow my pride and accept her offer of help, at least that way we'll all get to go home.
"You're a 'we' now are you?" Thanatos goads, his amused eyes flicking back and forth between us. "Thirty seconds a go you were at each other's throats. At least I now understand why Eros found you so infuriating."
I share a confused glance with the blonde, the name unfamiliar to use both, "Eros?" she asks.
He nods, "The God of love. He dropped into your realm a few times in his quest to bring you together. He caused an Earthquake in the town's mines. He opened the portal that allowed Regina to retrieve her cursed apple…"
I remember both of those events as if they were yesterday. Henry getting trapped in the mines led to the first time Emma and I worked together, previous to that we had been caught in a bitter game of one-upmanship. And the apple…well though it was intended for Emma, it eventually led to us nearly losing Henry, I fail to see how an event like that would ever bring us together.
"Why would he want me to curse, Emma?" I ask, confused.
Thanatos grins, "So that you had to be the one to give her True Loves kiss of course," he replies, his answer the most blatantly obvious of them all. He sighs wistfully, "In the end he just gave up. I found him drunk in a tavern one night, he called you hopeless. He said if you were ever destined to find your way to one another then you could do it on your own damned time!"
He shakes his head, a look of sadness passing over his face, "He was never the same after that," he adds, nodding towards Emma, "and to think that his greatest success was with your parents!"
The thought of Cupid giving up on our tumultuous relationship irks me. If the God of love can't make us work, then what chance to do we have? I swiftly clear my head of such negative thoughts, deciding instead to focus on our current winged problem, "Can we just get back to the matter at hand?"
"The fight?" Thanatos replies, his eyes shining gleefully as he lifts his sword once more, "Why I thought you'd never ask."
We begin to fight again but it quickly becomes obvious that this is a battle I cannot win. Weakened from my earlier draining, my co-ordination is off. I'm slow, mentally less sharp, and I just don't have the strength to parry with him for any length of time.
Emma detects my struggle immediately, and with Thanatos distracted, she slowly moves around behind him so that she's stood at his back. Her eyes meet mine over his bulky shoulders.
"Regina?"
It sounds like a question but I know that it isn't one. It's a prompt, an encrypted instruction to join forces and end this so called God of death for good.
Thwarting his latest attack, I push him away from me and ever so slightly nod my head. Stretching out our arms, Emma and I create a circle of magic the size of the arena floor. My half is purple and hers is white, until it meets in the middle and turns a vibrant shade of pink.
With a whoosh our combined magic shoots upwards, creating a sort of pink, shimmering dome that encompasses all three of us, trapping Thanatos with its force. Now the tables have turned, and just like me his power begins to rapidly drain from his form.
He screams in frustration, tries to fire back and then fly away but it's all to no avail. He is powerless against our combined attack.
Defeated, his lilac eyes meet mine and they're full of hatred, "No one cheats a God, Ms Mills," he warns darkly.
I can't prevent a wicked smirk, "Then you should have played fair from the start!"
With the last of his strength he uses his magic to pick up the sword that has fallen from his feet, and laughs almost manically.
"I never play fair."
His body disappears in a puff of red mist at the exact same time I see his sword fly through the air to embed itself deep into my heart.
I gasp in shock and instant pain, the oxygen ripping from my lungs in one violent surge. My fingers and toes instantly become numb, and the metallic tang of blood begins to bubble into my throat, choking me.
On instinct, I reach for the hilt of the sword protruding from my chest, and slowly pull it out. My mind clouds over, dark red blood spilling from the wound and when I cough, my mouth. I wheeze painfully, a fragile last breath, and the bloodied sword slips from my grasp to clatter to the ground at my feet.
I look up and see Emma's beautiful smile one final time. I return it as best as I can, but my legs buckle beneath me and I drop to my knees. The last thing I hear before blissful unconsciousness consumes me, is Emma's anguished, heartbroken cry.
"REGINA!"
