The Fragility of Losing Someone – Chapter Five
A/N: Apologies for taking forever to update. I haven't written any fan fiction in ages and now I'm trying to get all my old stories finished. I've thought of a plan that will roughly get it to finish at 7 chapters, so the end is near. But I hope you enjoy it up until then!
"We need to find somewhere safe while we try and work out where to find him," Emma murmured, canvassing the broken landscape of the town she'd grown to call home. She winced slightly at the damaged roof of Granny's, although it was far less damaged than the Library and Mr Gold's shop.
Concern spread over the Saviour's face as she realised she had no clue where her parents were, or any of her other friends. She quickly grabbed her phone from her pocket, flipping it open to find 'No service' shining brightly in front of her. The words made her panic, now feeling how Regina had felt just moments ago, that she had lost everyone she loved.
"It looks like all the telephone lines are down, Miss Swan," Regina pointed to the broken masts along the street, wires running down the cracked roads, "I'd say our safest bet would be Granny's."
Regina chastised herself. When had she started considering her and Emma as a team? The 'Saviour' was far too hot-headed to be of any help to her, knowing that she would ultimately slow her down.
"I need to find my parents," Emma breathed, a sob threatening to escape from her body.
"And I need to find my son," the brunette stepped down the marble steps leaving her house, knowing that nothing there would help her, "We clearly have different priorities, and therefore your services are no longer required."
Emma stared blankly for a second, before huffing and jogging after the Mayor, "Regina! There's no point us splitting up. We'll work better as a team!"
Regina growled at the blonde's insolence. How dare she think that they could work together in perfect harmony, after what her family had done to her?
"Don't, for one second, Miss Swan, believe that we are anything more than enemies. I hate you. You hate me. And we don't need to bother each other for any longer. Now I am going to find my son, since my mother most likely will kill him to get to me, and I don't need you getting in your way."
Emma stalled, "What? She's going to kill our son?"
"He's my son, Swan. You have the more pressing matters of your parents at hand."
Emma grabbed Regina's jacket, careful not to touch her in case it triggered another vision. "My son means everything to me, Regina. You need me to help you," Emma sighed, "because you sure as hell can't do this alone."
Regina's eyes flashed with anger at the derogatory comment, but then softened as she realised the blonde was right. The town's people would surely do anything to stop her getting to Henry, even if they knew he was in Cora's grasp.
"Fine - but we do everything on my terms, Swan," Regina said scathingly, "You are not in charge here."
"Yes Ma'am." Emma replied dutifully, a small smirk on her face as she tried to lighten the tense air around them.
"Now, Miss Swan. We go to Granny's, and gather up any civilians there to start searching for others. Then they can make their way east into the forest and set up camp there. It will be far safer compared to the threat of falling concrete."
Emma stared slightly, confused by the brunette's motives, "Since when have you been concerned about the residents of this town?"
Regina raised a perfectly shaped eyebrow, "Since I was the Mayor of this down for 28 years, Miss Swan. I am now a complete tyrant."
"It's Emma."
"What?" Regina turned to her quizzically, knowing that the Sheriff was standing far too close to a large crack running through Mifflin Street.
"My name is Emma."
"I'm well aware of that, Miss Swan." Regina continued, shying away from Emma's insistence of things becoming personal.
"Regina!" Emma pulled at her again, this time accidently gripping her waist instead of the jacket. Their vision once again went blurry. Instead their minds flashed images of another land, a land which had their son. The clear rocky depths of an empty lake could be seen, the forest sprawling for miles around it. A small boy, which both knew was Henry, was forced into the sand. His hand was clasped around a vial, full of dark ashes that glowed slightly purple. The same footsteps could be heard again, although softened because of the sandy rocks.
The image blacked out again, returning the pair once again to the damaged Storybrooke. Regina's face grew haggard with panic, as she rushed forward towards Granny's, surprisingly dragging Emma with her.
"Regina, what is happening? Where is that place?"
Regina stopped running, mindful of where she put her feet. Her face was lowered towards the ground, trying to hide any emotion from the blonde. But Regina knew Emma was a good judge of people's character and emotions.
"What's happening," the blonde said far softer, wiping a stray lock of dark hair from the Mayor's face.
"My mother- she's coming," the brunette's voice sounded weak, far weaker than Emma had ever heard the strong woman sound. Yet there was another emotion laced among the words, one that scared Emma far more. It was one of fear.
"Surely she can't get through to our world; otherwise we would all be back there already."
Regina laughed at the blonde's ignorance and lack of understanding, "Then how did she take our son? It's clear she has greater magic than I previously thought."
"Then how did she get to him?"
"I have no time for explanations, Miss Swan. We need to get most of the civilians out, before my mother arrives. Otherwise they're all as good as dead."
"Just what is she doing? Surely if she got Henry, she has what she wanted. Why would she come back?"
"Henry is only a pawn, Sheriff. He's a means to get to me. My mother had to see if how attached I am to him and this town. She had to know if I had a weakness."
"We'll get him back, Regina."
"Yes," Regina sighed, knowing that her fate was not bright, "you will."
Emma missed the differing phrase as they came up to Granny's. It was seemingly packed; with many people acting it was like a base.
The pair barged in, expecting the people to be scared. Yet they were angry, out for blood.
"It's her! Get her!" The crowd shouted, pouring towards the door with vicious looks. Both knew which one they wanted.
Emma stepped swiftly in front of the brunette, placing herself directly between the crowd and her. As they came nearer, she doubted that they would stop, and in their vicious unknown rage would not differentiate between the Sheriff and the Mayor.
That doubt grew, until two loud voices were heard, voices of authority. The crowd stopped, turning to their old Royalty before the curse was cast. The Charmings stepped to the front, noting how their daughter was standing.
"What are you doing, Emma? She needs to pay," Snow said calmly, with little malicious intent, even though her words were so harsh.
"She's not the threat here. She is not to be harmed under any circumstances!" Emma shouted, her eyes shining with ferocity, warning anyone not to cross her.
David held out his hand, halting the ever restless crowd as they got more agitated at the standoff, "Do you know what you are saying? She is destroying our town. She's probably got Henry kidnapped somewhere, just like we said!"
"Don't be a fool, James! You know who the real threat is," Regina called out from behind the blonde, although her eyes were clearly directed at Snow.
"Your mother would never do such a thing," Snow murmured, unsure of why Regina was blaming her own mother for all this.
"Snow! Mom!" Emma shouted, "I saw it with my own eyes! It's her, its Regina's mother."
Snow scoffed, clearly confused at Emma's words, "What do you mean you saw?"
Emma glanced at the brunette behind her, expecting her to start talking at explaining. Yet the trapped Mayor stayed quiet, knowing that her words would not be taken as truth.
"If we touch," Emma motioned between her and the woman behind her, "we get these visions of Henry - like we're looking through a camera at him."
Snow's eyes automatically met Regina's, confused thoughts running through her head.
"What is it?" Emma insisted, noticing the silent exchange.
"It's nothing, Miss Swan. Your mother is just too superstitious."
"So, what are we going to do?" Charming asked, pulling the conversation away from the unspoken words that he knew had to be kept silent.
To everyone's surprise, it was Regina who spoke up, with the stern, commanding voice that everyone associated with the Mayor, "We need to get everyone out into the forest. My mother is coming to Storybrooke, and this town certainly isn't safe. I'm sure Ruby will know a good place for everyone to set up camp. Meanwhile, I will deal with my mother, and get back my son."
The brunette's eyes found Ruby's in the crowd, a small nod giving her confirmation that the wolf knew what she needed to do. There were murmurs from the crowd, of mixed anger and relief that someone knew what was happening.
"What do you mean?" Emma turned to the brunette, "I'm staying to help."
"So you can get both of us killed?" Regina's voice was harsh and biting, but she knew she had to get her point across to the blonde, "Henry needs a parent alive for when he gets back. Therefore you go with the others to help the camp. You'll provide the morale."
Emma realised what her words meant, back as they were walking up, "You're not expecting to get out of this alive? Are you?"
Regina turned away, not wanting to show her fear in front of the crowd. Even though they were busy getting ready, helping Granny bring out food from out the back, eyes were still trained on the pair in close conversation.
"My mother has wanted my blood for many years, Miss Swan," Regina's voice was surprisingly strong, when so much fear ran through her, "As long as Henry gets out of this unhurt, I have no regrets."
Emma knew she couldn't kick up a fuss without greatly angering the Mayor, and she knew she had to play along to make sure Regina had no clue she intended to follow directly into the conflict.
The movements within the diner were stalled as another earthquake knocked the whole town. The sign above Granny's crashed down in front of the door, shattering windows as the glass exterior smashed.
"I guess this is goodbye then," Emma said, looking into the brunette's eyes as the crowd suddenly bustled out of the diner as fast as they could.
"Yes, Miss Swan. Expect Henry back soon."
Regina walked away solemnly, knowing that she was walking into her death. The purple mist over near her house had signified her mother's arrival. Yet she didn't notice the bluish green eyes staring back at her, filled with tears as the blonde realised how little Regina valued for her own life.