Lay me down in your ocean
Carry me and my burden
I was dreaming about you honey
I was hoping you'd save me And the shot goes through my head and back
Gunshot, can't take it back
My heart cracked, really loved you bad
Gunshot, I'll never get you back –Lykke Li "Gunshot"

...

Lionel Gold happened to be a very rich and very frightening man. When people met him face to face they were surprised by his small stature and fragile looking appearance. He walked with a cane, and always had a grimace on his face. His teeth, what were left of them, were yellow and gold and when he stood over his town looking down from his well-guarded compound the sun would occasionally catch the gold and light his weathered face as if it glittered.

Despite his crotchety looks, no one ever underestimated his power to inflict severe harm on anyone who crossed him. He was known as a tyrant who treated his workers like slaves. Gold's town was a series of shanties and supply stores that had popped up near his industrial factory to house and supply his bevy of workers.

Despite long hours of dangerous work manufacturing flying zeppelins and tools of war, his employees' were zombified. He worked them just hard enough to get all he could out of them, sometimes he worked them till toes and fingers fell right off, some men said in hushed whispers at the local saloon.

Gold paid his workers in his own currency. He had it printed in his mint and kept careful checks and balances to ensure his people stayed his people. Those who had tried to save up funds to escape their miserable lives and find better work were punished.

Those who made a run in the night, carrying away crying babes and fretting wives were never seen from again. Maybe they got away, or maybe they were caught by Gold's men. He had an army of macha at his disposal, gaining passage in and out of town was not an easy feat. Gold's mansion was guarded by mechanical crocodiles that slowly putzed around the perimeter. Their spinning gears and heavy claws shook the ground as they went, powerful jaws with jagged bronze teeth snapped at anyone or anything that came within reach.

There were many legends surrounding the man known as Lionel Gold himself. There was a rumor that he had died in a gold expedition back in 1870 and the man who called himself gold was a creature who had crawled out of a cave after a landslide and wore human skin like a dressing gown.

A popular theory of the time, was that Lionel Gold was immortal. He used an ancient and unstoppable magic to stay alive forever. It was said that back in rush days he had been a simple man, a farmer who happened to stumble on a field of gold nuggets. There he had found something else, something that had changed him and given him magic.

That was the true reason the poor unfortunate souls of Gold's Town stayed, worked, and died there: fear. Fear of the unknown, and fear of death. Though outsiders maintained the opinion that death would be a sweet release from the cruel and unusual work tasks that Gold required of his force. Many people in Gold's town had lost limbs in the factory. They were each fitted with a stunning and functional prosthesis that made it possible for even those who lost their legs to walk, and more importantly, to work.

Lionel Gold had two weaknesses, and Regina intended to exploit them. There were only three people in the entire West who knew: Regina, Maleficent and a sweet little French born whore named Belle.

Gold was due to arrive at the poker tournament at any moment, and Regina kept checking her pocket watch, and alternating her attention from Emma, who sat at her side, and the woman who would be her ticket to Gold's undoing: Belle.

Gold could not resist the temptations of gambling. He liked to make deals and had a way of manipulating the stakes to make sure he always came out on top.

Regina leaned over and straightened the red scarf she had personally adorned Emma with. She looked sharp in her red coat, with her goggles around her neck, and a tight fitting vest.

After the events of the previous day, Regina had laid awake most of the night marveling at the feeling of being a man, and also worried about what would happen during the game.

The Enchantica Ranch was hosting a poker tournament with a large buy in and high stakes. Maleficent was looking to make plenty of money. Men came to enjoy the game, but also the drink and the ladies were there whether they won or lost.

The ballroom had been set up with round wooden tables; an abundance of chips, hired dealers had been brought in from the East and were thoroughly vetted for impartiality. The tournament was prided on a fair reputation and any sign of cheating or hustling would be dealt with swiftly.

Sitting was assigned by the luck of the draw, and once the players took their seats they were not allowed to change. As the men arrived by coach and horse the ballroom began to fill with men. The whores worked the room, offering a look at their bodies, tobacco and aguardiente[1].

"I ain't that great at poker," Emma mumbled with a shrug when Regina nodded to her to enter the playing room.

"That's fine, it's better if you lose early," Regina suggested in a whisper. Their focus was on Gold. The hope was he'd be drunk, focused on the game and the girl he liked and thus vulnerable. The plan was simple, at some point during the game Emma was to capture Belle, and hold a gun to her head. Regina would demand he make a trade: Belle would be spared if Gold gave Regina what he had that she wanted.

Smoke and raucous chatter quickly set the atmosphere of the room, while Rex and the Maverick took their assigned seats. Guns weren't allowed on the gaming floor, but Regina had magicked Emma's pistol in ahead of time, and it was fixed under the table at her seat.

"I gotta grease my holler, it will look suspicious if I don't have a bracer[2]," Emma asserted when one of the curvaceous and exotic whore named, Jasmine, came by with a tray.

"Just one, I don't need you drunk and off your mark. Your wits aren't sharp enough sober to go toe to toe with Gold," Regina rolled her eyes, but smiled at Jasmine as she sat glasses of whiskey down at the table.

It was then that Lionel Gold himself entered the room, a hush fell over the other players as some men literally shook in their boots at the mere sight of the man. He was small in stature, greasy half grey, half brown hair fell almost to his shoulders. He was clean shaven, dressed in a fine suit and relied on a cane to correct his troubled gait. He nodded to a few men as he took his seat at the table next to Regina and Emma.

"What's our backup plan if things go south?" Emma squeezed Regina's knee under the table.

Regina was reading the room, she recognized Butch Cassidy and Doc Holliday from their Wanted posters, and reckoned that if she were akin to killing the men with a bounty on their heads she'd make a pretty penny. She wasn't interested in that as her only focus was getting one up on Gold.

"Let's just hope this works. We have one chance, and if I get what I want you'll get paid handsomely," Regina's dark eyes flitted over Emma, sizing her up. She had to put her trust in her accomplice. "Then we can part ways…"

"Alright," Emma braced her jaw, and stared at the dealer as he started passing out cards.

The games moved quickly, bets were raised, and hands were played. Players were eliminated as the game wore on. Some men became too intoxicated to continue, a few players were dealt out on a few hands for disruptive behavior, and some of the gents were overpowered by lust and folded to go take a whore to bed.

Emma was still in the game after a few rounds, but Regina hadn't been paying enough attention to other players and went out on a weak hand. She had to leave the table immediately, but stayed in the playing area watching and waiting for the perfect opportunity.

It was no surprise that as the players dwindled, Gold stayed in the game and was winning with the biggest pile of chips, neatly stacked in front him. His dark eyes kept vigilant watch on the surrounding players, his only tell was the slight twitch of his upper lip.

Belle, dressed in a beautiful golden gown, corseted waist and flowing brown curls kept by his side. Maleficent watched over the games proudly. She kept a tight rein on her girls, and made sure no men's drinks went dry. She leaned against the bar, her arms crossed in front of her, and tilted her head to speak to Rex when he came up beside her.

"Gold may be winning, but he's still good for business. Many of the gents wanted a chance to beat him, and he dropped a fortune on a private room and booked my girl there for all day and all night," Maleficent bragged. "He even brought her that fine dress, looks downright magical."

"Indeed," Regina agreed, her eyes never leaving Gold as she watched him win another hand, he greedily raked in his chips and giggled. Belle squealed in delight, bending down to kiss his cheek. The fucker was positively preening. Regina would end him, and wipe the mischievous haughty smirk on his face.

Everyone in the room started to take notice of Gold's table when one of the losing players started to throw a tantrum. Kicking and stomping and shouting that the game was rigged. "Eject that man from the Ranch," Maleficent ordered in a booming voice. Her brazen security team quickly surrounded the man, and attempted to lift him from his seat, pulling up on both of arms.

"I ain't goin' nowhere, this man's a cheat," the grumpy little man yelled. "Get the fuck offa me, you sorry sons of bitches!"

Regina saw the glint of the pistol as the man was pulled from seat, he twisted fast and freed his arm, pulling the gun from his waistband, and drawing it on Gold.

"Emma, now!" Regina yelled, this was the chaotic opportunity she was waiting for. In an instant, the Maverick had drawn her weapon from under the table, and was on his feet. He launched himself toward Belle, grabbing her roughly around the waist and pressing the gun to her temple.

Gold stood backed his chair up from the table, he was wide-eyed and frightened, his hands were up in the cowardly position of surrender. The pile of chips in front of him fell from their stacks and bounced off the table and floor.

"What's the meaning of this?" Maleficent yelled storming over to where Maverick had Belle.

"Now we don't mean no harm to no one," Emma addressed Gold. "My friend says you got something that belongs to her, and as you can see here, I have something that you think belongs to you."

"What? Who is your friend?" Gold was sputtering, his yellowed teeth dripped saliva as he sneered angrily at Emma.

"It's me," Regina stepped forward, holding out her hand and opening her palm. She directed a blast of red colored magic which hit Gold square in the chest, but it had little effect on him. His eyes blazed, "Regina? Impossible, you're…a man….your mother assured me you were…"

"What? Dead? Gone for good? Did you really think that I'd….."

Before Regina could finish her sentence, Gold snatched the gun from the drunk losing man, it seemed to fly through the air and into his hand. He pointed it at Regina, braced for the recoil and fired. Without thought, Emma let go of Belle and jumped backward, into the bullets path as she fired her own pistol straight at Gold's chest.

As she felt searing pain in her shoulder, as metal ripped through skin and muscle, she would tell Regina later that she was sure she saw the bullet that she had fired deflect right off of Gold's chest before she passed out from the pain.

Regina screamed when Emma fell, and after that everything seemed to speed up. Gold took Belle's hand and made a hasty escape, while Regina fixed all of her magic on him and tried to hit him as he ran through the room overturning chairs and pushing passed bystanders as he got away.

Tears sprung to her eyes as she dropped, defeated to her knees at Emma's side. She cradled her head in her hands, and watched as blood darker than Emma's jacket seeped through her shirt and vest.

"We need a doctor!" Regina screamed, her deep booming voice unrecognizable as she panicked, uncaring if she was acting more like a woman than a man. It no longer mattered if her true identity was revealed. It was all for nothing. Gold was gone with Belle and Emma was bleeding out in her arms.

"I'll call for Dr. Whale," Maleficent said with alarm as she picked up her skirts and ran from the room.

Regina ripped through Emma's vest and shirt, pulling it open and exposing her bare flat chest to inspect the bullet wound. She had never healed anything more than a superficial wound before with magic, but she had to try. She was hopeful that Emma would live through this, if she could summon out the bullet and close over the bleeding hole in her shoulder.

"You idiot! What the hell were thinking jumping in front of a bullet meant for me?" Regina was weeping openly, holding her hand over the wound, trying to summon her almost depleted magic as she felt more blood pour out from Emma.

With a gasping breath, Emma shuddered and blinked. She slowly opened her eyes and pleaded silently with Regina to save her. Regina sniffed back her tears, and shook her head, surprised by the powerful emotions she was experiencing at the thought of losing Emma.

On impulse, Regina bent down and kissed Emma on the lips recklessly. It would have been a foolish thing to do, if it hadn't actually worked.

A soft white light burst out from between them and expanded rapidly through the room and out and out in growing ring. When Regina opened her eyes and pulled back from Emma, she found she was no longer looking at bearded and flat chested man. Emma had returned to her true form. The bullet wound was healed and her bare chest now boasted a pair of full breasts and a much curvier figure all around.

Regina felt the change in herself immediately, her long hair was back as was her own petite womanly frame and features. "The kiss…" she breathed in wonder.

The men and whores in the room had circled around to watch and were shocked to see a pair of women replacing the two burly men in front of them.

"We need to get out of here, before anyone starts asking questions," Regina told Emma as started to clamor to her feet.

With a flick of her wrist, both of them were enveloped in thick purple smoke and disappeared from the ballroom.

[1] generic name for alcoholic drinks between 29 and 60 percent alcohol; literally, burning water

[2] an alcoholic drink intended to prepare one for something difficult or unpleasant.