The Fragility of Losing Someone – Chapter 7
A/N: Apologies for leaving you on such a cliff-hanger in the last chapter! I'm surprised I've actually kept the fight scene happening for so long, but alas, here comes Emma! *queue super-hero music* We're coming to the end of the story now, but don't worry, there will be fluff at the end!
Another reminder of my shameless self-advertising. Check out my new story – Paint You Wings – the next chapter will be up later today!
The sight that Emma was granted with when she finally got back to the town was not one she liked at all. Henry was nowhere to be seen. Had Cora actually brought him here? Emma felt a wave of worry hit her as she realised he may be over in that land, all alone by himself. Memories came to the forefront of her mind, of her loneliness as she was passed from family to family in the foster system.
"Mom?"
Emma turned, seeing her son emerge from behind a block of rubble. She smiled, pulling him tight against her chest.
"Henry…" the blonde only then realised how much she'd missed her son. With the tense arguments with Regina and her parents, and the oncoming threat of Cora, Henry was the only constant. She knew that he was alive, through her and Regina's visions, and that was enough.
"Where's Mom?" Emma was confused for a moment, before she realised he meant Regina.
Another wave of fear took over her. Where was Regina?
"Where did you see her last?" Emma asked.
Henry shook slightly, adrenaline was coursing through his body, "She was over near our house. Cora had hold of me, but she got so distracted by Mom that her magic stopped holding me. So I ran."
Emma cursed. Mifflin Street was two streets away, meaning that Cora and Regina must really be going at each other if neither noticed Henry get away.
"Henry, I need you to go over to the forest. Your grandparents are over there, along with the rest of the town. They'll keep you safe," the blonde took in the sight of her little boy, clearly weary from a lack of sleep, but a resolution was fierce in his eyes.
"But what about you and Mom?"
"I'll find her, kid. Don't worry," Emma sighed, "I'll keep her safe."
Emma turned to start her way over to Mifflin Street, conscious of the large cracks littering her path, making it almost like a minefield.
She felt a small hand grasp on to her jacket, a pleading grip that she knew she couldn't ignore. She turned to her son, looking at his dark brown, begging eyes.
"Promise she'll be okay."
Emma smiled, knowing that he still loved the brunette, even though everyone else was telling him not to. Emma's thoughts flashed over to her own situation, but banished them away as she tried to concentrate on a plan.
"I promise."
Henry ran off then, standing a little taller as he held more confidence in himself and his family. He knew they'd be alright in the end.
The sheriff's journey to Mifflin Street was far more hazardous than she expected it to be. Along with the frequent gaping cracks, there were the greater threats of falling telephone lines and buildings. It was a good ten minutes before the blonde reached the battered sign of Mifflin Street.
While most of the glamorous buildings stood strong, there looked like there was little hope for 108. The others were reasonably stable, yet there was a large gaping hole in the side of Regina's house that worried her. She remembered their shared drinks of their first meeting, along with the battered office they'd escaped through only hours before.
Yet she was sure far greater damage had taken its toll on the house since then.
The reason for this damage confirmed itself as Emma walked up the pathway. Far deeper, wider cracks surfaced the roads that the blonde walked along, but it was the pair fighting that really frightened her.
She felt her confidence grow as she realised the Mayor her feelings had changed so rapidly for was gaining the upper hand against the older woman, who must have been Cora. Purple smoke pooled around the pair, like a smoke machine was creating ambience in their performance.
But Emma knew it was not such performance. Instead, she noted the determination on the older woman's face, a determination that was etched with a want to succeed, regardless of anything.
Emma felt herself jolt as Regina fell to the floor, bounded by large tendrils that came up from the cracks. Her arm hung over one particularly large one, threatening to push her into the gaping hole next to her, slowly edging her towards it.
Emma shouted some inhumane sound, thankful that she'd grabbed her father's sword before moving out of the forest as she ran towards the pair. Seeing Regina on the ground like that, so weak and helpless fuelled an anger in her, an anger to protect the one she held so dear.
She reached half way as she felt an invisible force knock her to the side, controlled by Cora's sweeping arm. She felt herself collide with the rubble of Number 108, feeling a warm substance grace her hair as her head knocked fiercely against the white stone.
The only thing the blonde heard was Regina's cry of anguish, before the blackness consumed her.
A newfound energy swept through Regina, seeing the blonde so carelessly thrown against the wall of her house, almost like a ragdoll. The sickening crunch as her body impacted with the stone made the brunette wince, the bitter taste of fear flooding her mouth.
She heard a manic laugh above her as she turned to face her mother. A wicked smile was formed on the older woman's face.
"You'll never learn, will you?" Cora smirked, glancing between the unconscious blonde and her daughter.
"What do you mean?" Regina asked, straining her arms against the tight restraints.
Cora smiled at the brunette's ignorance, knowing that she was clearly forcing back her emotions.
The older woman thought it would be best to change the subject, knowing that the woman beneath her would be more susceptible to her questions after she realised the blonde wouldn't wake up any time soon, "How did you find me?"
Regina gritted her teeth as the black tendrils tightened even more against her wrists, "You know how!"
"Enlighten me," Cora enquired.
Regina bit her lip, knowing that she'd have to restrain herself against killing her mother, "We had visions, Mother, visions of Henry."
Cora grinned, knowing what those visions meant, "And what are those vision the result of?"
Regina muttered curses under her breath, knowing that her mother wouldn't let up until she admitted it.
"True Love."
Cora suddenly jumped up from her crouched position over her daughter, stepping lightly as she realised, manically, the beauty of this occasion.
"So, you've found yourself another little low-life to fall in love with?" Cora snarled, her joy turning to anger as she thought of her ignorance
"I'd hardly call a princess a low-life, Mother," Regina bitterly remarked.
"Look at her now, Regina. She is nothing. She's as good as dead. One flick of my wrist, and I can send that boulder hanging hazardously there falling down on your sweet little princess."
Cora saw her daughter's eyes flicker with fear. She never could withhold her emotions from everyone.
"Or would you prefer a more, old fashioned way?" Cora smiled, "One we've seen before?"
Regina struggled against her restraints, her mind flashing back to the limp body in her arms, feeling the black ashes of her fiancee's heart rain down on her.
"Or maybe I should just kill you first?"
Cora smiled, squeezing Regina's neck.