"He made off with Belle, damn it!" Regina paced back and forth, her hands on her hips. Using the last of her magic, she changed her suit into a long black dress, and piled her hair into a neat up do.
Emma reclined on the bed, quiet and solemn. She was replaying the events of the poker championship over and over in her head. She muttered, "We have to go after her."
Regina spared her a glance, and growled, "We almost had him, and now he's taken our one bargaining chip. This was where he would be vulnerable, and now that's he's retreated back to his guarded compound I don't see any way of getting to him. There's no way I can use magic there, and when I tried it was ineffective."
Emma sat up and patted the bed, motioning for Regina to take a load off for a moment and think things through. "We gotta try. The bastard tried to shoot you."
Regina threw her head back and laughed. The bastard had shot Emma. They had missed their chance to end Gold's evil reign over the town and get back what was Regina's.
"It's too dangerous. You saw with your own two eyes. He can't be killed," Regina hung her head in worry. "I'll never get to see him again."
"Why would you want to see that beastly man anyhow?" Emma asked, her brows furrowing in confusion.
"Not Gold…my son," Regina admitted quietly, looking down at the floor. She blinked heavily, her voice dropping. "Henry, my son's name is Henry."
"Henry, that's a good name," Emma started to wrap her arms around Regina in comfort, but hesitated. Regina noticed Emma retracting and grabbed her hand, pulling it around her shoulders, she wanted the touch.
She hadn't meant to tell Emma the reason she needed to stop Gold, but the fact that she had failed, and only made him suspicious was weighing on her mind. Now he had Belle, Henry and all of the advantages. The people in his town were suffering from wage cuts, and longer hours. They lived in constant fear of the macha that roamed through the shanty town and made sure everyone was kept in line.
"We're going after him… Belle too," Emma said resolutely as Regina felt her squeeze her arm around her a bit tighter. "How did that dang bastard get yer kid?"
The question didn't surprise Regina, she looked into Emma's soft eyes, and checked her shoulder where the bullet had entered making sure that she was still okay. Regina took Emma's hand that was wrapped around her and gently shifted until they were laying side by side in bed. The use of magic had taken a toll on her, and she needed a bit of time to recharge and think things through. Having Emma near here seemed to help immensely.
"I was Gold's apprentice. My mother practically sold me to the man when I was younger, and he got his claws hooked into my skin for a long while… taught me magic, taught me business… but it wasn't right. He was power hungry and greedy, and I finally escaped. I went East, tried to forget about things, and have a life."
Emma wrapped her arms around Regina with confidence and nuzzled into her neck, humming at the feeling. Regina relaxed, enjoying the warm embrace. It had been far too long since she'd known the touch of another person. The previous night the two, as men, had shared the same bed, but they were both nervous and fitful in their own ways, and after trying out the sex toys they had both just tried to sleep.
Regina felt an attraction to Emma as a man and as a woman. The fact that she had willingly jumped in front of Gold's gun to save Regina without regard or thought for her own wellbeing had touched Regina deeply.
"We're gonna rectify this situation, right away. I always a finish a job," Emma assured Regina softly stroking her hair until they both fell asleep thinking about Emma's promise.
…..
Regina knew Maleficent had been up most of the night trying to salvage the poker tournament, and keep her money. She also knew that she and Emma were likely to be kicked out of the ranch after the stunts they pulled and the only saving grace was the recommendation for the whore's doctor, Dr. Whale that Emma be left undisturbed while she healed. He was easily coerced by a bribe Regina had given him, to keep quiet about the magical healing.
Even though there had been an audience who watched both men change into women, Regina had Dr. Whale try and convince the most vocal ones that they had had too much to drink, and it was a figment of their drunken imaginations. After the incident the whole tournament had shut down.
Knowing that the proprietress had been up all night sorting out the books, Regina reasoned she'd probably be sleeping now and thus she had an opportunity to take something that she knew the woman had in her possession. It was a powerful object that would give her a chance of defeating Gold.
Emma was getting ready for their mission. She was armed to the teeth, and inspecting her big golden gun when Regina left the room. She found Kathryn in the sex toy room, working on installing the bucking bronco vibrator: a saddle with a large, rough vibrator attached.
"Regina!" Kathryn was surprised to see her partner, after hearing about the altercation the day prior. "I'd thought you'd gotten out of here. The men want your head for ruining their big game."
Regina's eyes darkened and she scoffed, "I don't know what they're more upset about: having a pair of women infiltrate their game, or the gunshots."
Kathryn threw her hands up, "Well, while you've been disguised as a dude and sticking your dick in toys, playing poker and dodging bullets, I've been stuck here doing all the work. Maleficent wants to keep her girls happy and talking to these whores they are insatiable. I need your help with the installations."
"I'm sorry, I have other plans," Regina admitted, "Besides it looks like you have the masturbatorium shaping up nicely. "By the way, I need to know where Maleficent keeps her personal possessions. Any ideas?"
"Regina, really?" Kathryn shook her head and crossed her arms in front of her. "You aren't thinking about doing what I know you're thinking about doing, because that would be rather foolish and…"
Regina's patience had worn thin, "Yes or no? Do you know where Maleficent keeps her artifacts and valuables?"
Kathryn sighed heavily, "In her private office, it's down the corridor off from the foyer and disguised by some hideous wallpaper. If you pull the bronze candle holder, second from the end on the right, the door opens."
"Thank you, Kathryn…." Regina turned around abruptly her focus single minded on searching the office for the object she hoped was there.
"Regina, wait!" Kathryn stopped her before she magicked herself away. She turned and looked at her partner wearily. "Be careful. And I assume you're taking that thief as your wingman? I don't know about her…him…whatever."
"That thief saved my life yesterday and yes, she is coming with me. We're going to take down Gold. I don't know what will happen, but if I don't return, please…keep the business going. Those vibrators are my legacy."
With that sentiment Regina disappeared up in smoke.
…..
The hallway was clear when she rematerialized in front of the salmon colored hideously patterned wall paper. She scanned the light fixtures and grabbed the handle, and the doorway opened revealing the entryway into the office. It was dark, so she summoned a fireball into her hand to use as a torch.
The office was neat with tall cases on the walls holding random items that Maleficent had kept over the years in exchange for sexual favors from her bevy of whores. It didn't take Regina long to find the item she was looking for: a long staff with a glass globe on top encasing a small scroll.
Regina breathed out a sigh of relief, and her hands trembled slightly as she grabbed the staff, and poofed herself to the stable where Emma was waiting with Aspasia.
The mechanical horse was warmed up and ready, a strong stream of steam blew from her nostrils, as Emma fastened her goggles over her eyes and held out a hand to help Regina up onto the leather saddle.
"Let's go, my Starling," Regina's tone was urgent as she held the staff across her thighs. She was nervous and fearful, but resolute as the pair galloped away from the Enchantica Ranch and heads towards Gold's town.
"How did Gold get hold of your son?" Emma shouted over the heavy sound of Aspasia's footfalls as dust and sand kicked up around them on the road.
"My mother took him from me," Regina closed her eyes at the painful memory and gripped the staff tighter. "This isn't going to be easy, and I fear that you coming along for this will jeopardize your life."
Emma turned slightly so she could be heard, "I have a grudge against Gold that needs settlin' too. When I was nothing but a baby, my parents worked for Gold in one of his New York factories [1]making flyin' machines. Gold would lock them in so they were forced to work. A fire broke out and no one could get out. Lost them that day in the accident, so I'm told. Never knew em', been on my own as soon as I was old enough to get on the orphan train[2]."
Regina felt tears prick at her eyes, imagining the things that young Emma had endured. She felt a pang of guilt now knowing her companion truly was a Maverick.
"People from all over would meet at the orphan train at the station and inspect the kids like we were horses being sold at an auction. The ones deemed strong and healthy enough for labor were taken and put to work on ranches and farms. I was a slight, little thing and always got passed over. I just kept coming west, until I got away. Started dressing like a boy to get some work, and earn my meals."
The harsh black smoke from Gold's town was starting to close in on them like night descending and dimming the rays of sunlight. Because of the thick, dense smoke, it was always dark amongst the shanty houses in the town. This worked to Regina and Emma's advantage as with Aspasia's fast feet and Emma's expert riding, it was easy to slip past the monstrous macha that patrolled the town border.
Gold's compound was easy to spot, towering above the small wooden shacks and shops of the town, it was a lavish looking castle of a building. Even through the coal smoke the trademark clock tower on top of the mansion was visible, the hands always ticking as a harsh reminder the people in the town could only look forward to long, punishing hours of work.
"I know a cloaking spell to hide Aspasia, it will take too much energy to conceal us, so we have to be quick in getting in," Regina jumped off the horse and Emma followed. They were in a narrow alleyway inside the town. Emma grabbed her guns and weapons, while Regina stretch out her hands and performed the spell, protecting Aspasia from harm.
"The people around here are so desperate they'd strip every part off and sell her copper," Emma mused sadly, she repositioned her goggles and the red scarf that protected her nose and mouth from dust and smoke.
Regina coughed lightly, squinting up at the clock tower up on the hill. "There's a barrier preventing me from using my magic to get inside. Henry's inside, I know it."
"What does Gold want with your boy? Did he put him to work?" Emma asked as they started down the deserted alley toward the East side of the compound. There was a deep trench preventing unauthorized persons from crossing, and over-sized mechanical crocodiles made from mis-matched metal with endlessly gnashing teeth covered the other side.
"My son is special, he has a certain power that Gold is trying to exploit," Regina confided. "Under the clock tower there's a library. I'm certain with my son's talents that is where he is kept."
"What power does he have?" Emma was watching the pattern of movement of the crocodiles, trying to figure out how they were going to cross the trench and get through. She brought out the coil of lasso she kept at her hip.
"Whatever he writes down comes true," Regina drawled with a mix of worry and pride. "My mother said it was cruel, but I kept Henry from education. He is illiterate, which is not uncommon, but we had a means for him to study under the best teachers. I always knew Gold would try to take to him, I never thought my own mother would betray me."
Emma had her eye on one of the crocodiles, she whipped the lasso around over her head, winding it up. "You trust me?"
Regina raised her eyebrows wondering what Emma had planned, and was all too certain she knew that whatever it was involved bone crushing crocodiles and stupidity. "I don't have any better ideas and I'm quite defenseless without the use of magic."
Emma laughed, "You're still sharp and pretty without magic."
"Was that a compliment?" Regina smirked and watched in awe as Emma threw the lasso and wrapped the coil around one of the crocodile's snouts. She pulled it tight, closing the monster's jaw so it could no longer snap.
"If we was men again, we could make that jump. I think if we get over the trench and on the back of that there croc- we can ride him right up to the hill," Emma was struggling to keep control of the rope and keep the crocodile under control so it couldn't break away. Without the ceaseless crunching of its jaws, it seemed to lose power.
Regina didn't hesitate in taking the snake head potion from Emma's necklace and placing a drop on her tongue, and one on Emma's. She knew that with the rough, feral power of the magic it would work despite the barrier surrounding the compound.
The transformation was almost instantaneous: muscles grew, as their bodies changed into men. Being taller and stronger worked like a charm. In a now or never moment, Emma took a running leap and jumped the trench, grabbing at the embankment on the far side. She pulled herself up and waited for Regina to follow suit.
Holding the staff with a death grip, Regina knew she'd never make the jump while holding the long heavy shaft. She broke the glass bulb and recovered the small scroll. Taking a deep breath, she ran and jumped, falling just short, Emma grabbed her hand and pulled her up to the other side.
They were locked together, Regina found herself caught up in Emma's sea green eyes, mesmerized and intrigued by how they shined and remained the same even when the rest of her body was so changed. Maybe it was the adrenaline and surging hormones, but Regina couldn't help herself: she ripped Emma's scarf down and kissed her as the crocodiles were closing in around them.
The magic they shared in the kiss broke the barrier and changed them back into their true forms instantly. Emma pulled back, touching Regina's face as it softened and became smooth again. "Damn it, you did it again. Your magic worked…"
"Our magic worked," Regina corrected as Emma swept her up and onto the back of the muzzled crocodile. They balanced together carefully on their stomachs as Emma learned how to steer the beast holding the lasso like reins, and making it climb the steep hill with its short spiky legs. Its claws dug into the steep side and took them up slowly but surely.
"I have an idea," Regina said, touching Emma's big golden gun that was strapped to her back. "You need to try and shoot Gold with your big gun."
"What if he dodges the bullet like last time?"
"He won't be able to, not with a gun of that size," Regina took a breath and concentrated, she splayed her fingers out on Emma's neck, drawing on the river of light magic that ran sparkling just under her skin, invisible. "I used our magic to enchant the gun. The bullet will rip Gold's heart clean from his chest."
"And then what?" Emma asked as she crawled up the crocodile and stepped on its nose using it as a step to get up to the court yard. She pulled Regina up behind her, and she shook her head not answering Emma's question.
She didn't want to tell her what she had planned for Gold's blackened, immortal heart. The scroll she carried was a recipe for a dark curse: the main ingredient was the heart of the thing that she hated most.
Now over the trench and up the hill, they had managed to breach the compound without detection. Regina feared that Gold was already expecting them, letting them get inside. She brushed off the concern, and put her faith in Emma.
They had something together that Gold could not anticipate, their power was truly a match for the man who had once been her teacher. Holding Emma's hand, Regina tapped into their concurrently running magic and easily sprung the lock. The heavy door swung open and they darted inside, staying alert for the notorious guards that roamed Gold's house.
The problem with using robots was that they were mindless and unthinking. Though strong and powerful, they were easily avoided and foiled. Emma had her golden gun in her arms, as they raced toward the East wing.
As they rounded the corner two guards were stomping down the long hallway coming straight toward them. Regina took her hand again, they stopped abruptly in front of the tall robotic fearsome looking guards. She blasted them with a stream of red and white magic and as the magic connected square in the boxy chests of the macha, sparks began to fly as they were brought down to their knees, shorting out as they caught fire. Their shiny bronze blackened from the heat.
"Keep running, my Starling. I need you," Regina's eyes were wide open, her chest was heaving as she yelled breathlessly. She had missed this feeling of being in danger. Even though she had escaped Gold, she would always in ways be tempted by power and crave battle.
The clock struck the hour hand and sounded the time. "We're getting close," Emma spotted the door that was directly under the clock tower. It had to be the door to the library.
Both women paused in front of it.
"Whatever happens inside of here, I want you to know that I owe you my life," Regina whispered, her voice breaking with emotion.
"Don't mention it," Emma blushed and brushed her hair behind her ears.
Regina pushed on the heavy door, it opened easily. She wondered why Gold didn't have more difficult locks on the doors. She supposed he had many enemies, but few intruders.
Inside the library was quiet. Dusty books were aligned on shelves from floor to ceiling. In the middle of the room, Regina saw Belle. She was sitting on a chair reading oblivious to their entry.
Then her heart skipped a beat, and she had to stifle a gasp. Henry was sitting at a table, a small lantern illuminated his brown hair as open books with blank pages surrounded him. Regina's mother had a ruler in one hand and seemed to be teaching Henry, or forcing him to write.
"Mother," Regina made her presence known, Emma stood beside her, gun held up.
"Regina, we've been expecting you," Regina's mother's voice was cloying and pretentious. Regina twitched at the memory.
"Mom!" Henry twisted in his seat, a smile breaking out on his face when he heard Regina.
"Don't be rude, come greet your boy, Regina."
She couldn't help herself, she ran from the doorway to the table, spreading her arms as Henry launched himself into her, hugging her tightly. "I missed you," she whispered, kissing her son and holding him close to her.
"We haven't met, I'm Cora…and you must be the Maverick?" Regina's mother was sizing Emma up, stalking toward her. "You can put that gun down. Though I did expect you would come as a man. I hear you are quiet fond of that old spell."
"Give us the boy and the whore and there won't be no trouble, ma'am," Emma growled out in her deepest drawl.
"I'm afraid these two are far too important to our plans to just give them to a lowly thief such as yourself," Cora said as she came ever closer, sizing Emma up. "I hear my daughter has taken a liking to you. I'm not sure I see the appeal, but then again, Regina never had the best taste."
Regina stood up, unable to let go of Henry. She wrapped her arm around his shoulder and he clung to his mother fiercely. "Mother, keep your distance," she warned as Cora turned and rolled her eyes. She bunched her fists up, and obediently took a measured step back from Emma.
"I saw you were able to break the barrier that was supposed to keep out your magic, but it's of no consequence. We wanted you to come. You see, dear, Henry has been refusing to learn his studies, despite how important it is that he learns to read and write."
Regina felt proud of her son for staving off the brain washing that her mother was extolling on him. She caught movement in the corner of her eye and saw that Belle was trying to run from the room. As she opened another door that led out a different exit, Gold himself appeared in the doorway and blocked her path.
"Going somewhere, dearie?" He asked in a menacing tone, his yellowed teeth flashing as he looked from his girl taking notice of everyone in the library. Belle shook her head in fear, stepping back into the library and walking toward the table where the blank paged books lay.
Gold hobbled in using his cane to walk slowly to the center of the room. The tension was thick, Regina shared a look with Emma. She knelt down beside Henry and started to ask him something, but Cora smacked her ruler across her hand and Henry howled in pain, a bright red mark appeared on his cheek.
Regina stood up, nostrils flaring in anger. "How dare you use magic on my son!"
"It's called discipline, something you never provided your child. Believe me that he's much better off in my care," Cora hissed, keeping her eyes locked with Regina she smacked the ruler over her hand again, causing Henry to shriek and cry out.
"Stop!" Regina commanded, trying to launch a fireball at her own mother, but nothing happened, and she remembered her magic only worked when she drew from Emma. "Emma!"
Emma had her eyes on Gold as he lurched forward, she pursed her lips and held up her gun, firing it straight at Gold's chest. The bullet never hit as Gold deflected it just as he had before, but this time something did happen.
His jaw fell open and his eyes bulged as his heart was plucked from inside his chest just as Regina had said. It flew through the air, and into Regina's outstretched hand. When she had control of it, she squeezed. Gold dropped the pistol he had pulled from his holster before he could fire it at Emma and he crumpled to the floor in pain.
Smoke started to pour in from the open door, the macha that Regina had sat on fire were still burning and had managed to set the drapes on fire. It was now spreading down the hall and it wouldn't be long before the whole compound would go up in flames.
Regina squeezed Gold's heart again and ordered Cora to put down the enchanted ruler she was using on Henry. She whispered in Henry's ear and gave him the scroll from Maleficent's staff. He took it to his book and picked up his pen.
"But what do I write mom?" Henry asked urgently as he read the scroll and Regina started to enact a curse.
"You know what to write, I believe in you," Regina urged him as Emma moved to stand by her side. She grabbed her hand as magic began to mix with smoke in the room. Henry scribbled in the pages as Regina enacted the curse and squeezed Gold's heart. The heart of the thing she hated most.
Cora tried to stop it, but she was coughing and incapacitated, her counter magic proved ineffective. Books flew off the shelves as wind howled in library. Belle's hair swirled around her and she tried to protect herself from the flying books and magic.
Henry punctuated the end of the sentence he wrote with a period, and everything went black.
[1] Because the owners had locked the doors to the stairwells and exits – a then-common practice to prevent workers from taking unauthorized breaks and to reduce theft – many of the workers could not escape and jumped from the high windows.-Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire
[2] It is estimated that between 150,000 and 200,000 "orphans" boarded the trains and were relocated to new homes across the Midwest, as well as Canada and Mexico.