Another chapter for you, who didn't give up reading. :o)

Chapter 10

Regina was first to find her voice. "We're lost and we want to find a way home." She felt like broken gramophone repeating the sentence for hundredth time.

The Seasons remained silent, which made the three to feel awkwardly nervous.

A sound, sharp and cold came from the silver-white Winter, "Why are you looking for it here?!"

"The knight told us we can find a particular map here," Emma found courage as well.

"We are never going to give the map you ask about to people again."

"Then you separate mother from her son and queen from her throne and people," added Zain.

Spring looked at Regina. "The Evil Queen was defeated and pure hearts ruled the forest then."

The brunette almost snorted at that. Pure hearts, yeah.

"But their actions lead them to destruction. Who's the real ruler then?" three of the seasons said.

Regina, Emma and Zain looked at each other, thinking if it was real or rhetorical question.

"Um, Regina?" Emma whispered, hoping the creatures couldn't hear her and get angry. Regina turned her head a little to hear Emma. "They're not dancing."

Dark eyes widened. Glockenspiel. How much time they spent on their journey here? It could be few weeks; it was winter in King's realm. But now when the others weren't near Winter it could erupt to colossal winter in all worlds out there.

"You can't go upstream of time, to the beginning of all. Now people will suffer because of you."

Ok, so they heard us. What now?

"How can we gain your trust then? Or are you going to keep us in this world forever? I wouldn't be surprised you know?" Emma shrugged her shoulders.

"You can't do that." Summer said calmly. She turned to Regina. "But she can."

Emma rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips. Again? Why can't I do something in this stupid world?

"How?" Regina held on her regal posture.

"Patience." Summer raised her hand to silence the brunette.

Spring approached her, standing just few inches from the queen. She touched her temple and Regina felt sharp pain, as if someone knocked nail to her head. But as soon as the pain began it was gone. Regina opened her eyes and she was standing in large meadow. She looked around but seen no one. Spring appeared again.

"What should I do?"

"You'll find out yourself."

"What's the challenge about?"

"You'll find out yourself." Spring said with mysterious expression on her face and then disappeared, leaving Regina there, puzzled.

Nice. She stood there for a few minutes, expecting something to happen. Heavy fragrance of flowers hit her nose and she looked down. Spots of all colors were growing everywhere where she could see. But something wasn't right. She tried to step forward, but couldn't. Looking down again shock hit her chest. Not even that she couldn't move but stems were creeping up around her legs. Plants were cold and strong. Regina jerked to sides but stems got to her waist. She stood still then. Ok, maybe they'll leave you if you won't be moving that much. But plants didn't stop. The queen tried to concentrate her power on cutting them off or burning them with cold fire that couldn't hurt her. But as if it gave the plants more power as well, they were growing faster. Ok, what about good magic? Find the good in yourself! She closed her eyes and tried again. She felt power swirling in her but still didn't stop green attackers. Then she gave up, standing there, letting nature to devour her body and mind. Take me to your heart and let me be part of you, let my essence to spread over the worlds. And then nothing, no sound, no smell, no pain, no joy.

Hall of the castle appeared again, Summer standing in front of her, touching her temple already. Regina didn't open her eyes immediately. She felt warmth again, radiating from all around her. But she was too curious. Everything played with tenths shades of red and orange. Dust and sand. Wind was blowing wildly, whistling in her ears. Suddenly it stopped and dust wasn't whirling in the air anymore. When the last grain fell to the ground she could see some weird stones all over the plain. The brunette stepped to one and squatted down, brushing off the dust from it a little. Stone was hot and she didn't risk touching it more, in wariness not to burn her hand. But when she looked closer, she noticed it's not stone. It was metal. What is it? She frowned. She wanted to sit down but it was not possible in burning dust. So she just wandered around, her clothes soaked with sweat, which was running to her eyes as well. After few hours she was exhausted and so thirsty she felt her tongue turning to stone and dust as well. Eyes swollen, she couldn't even see that well. Right then she could hear soft sound of drops dripping. Or was it her imagination? Was she hallucinating?

Metal object in sand started to move, as if they tried to jump. Regina tried to focus her gaze at one. She could see something rising in front of her. Metal figure or just collection of old armor appeared and the sound of water amplified. The queen almost lost her balance. Concentrate! She looked at the figure. It raised its hand and just now she could see it's holding something. A sword. She jumped to the side and sharp blade was stabbed to the ground. Regina got up as fast as it was possible. Now she could here water everywhere. But where the hell it is?! She managed to avoid few more stabbings with swords and swings of axes. One of the figures threw sword at her and it flew just few inches from her head. She took it immediately from the ground where it landed and studied the figures in front of her through the sweat running from her forehead. She wiped it off her eyes with sleeve of her shirt. Another attack. She stood in place this time, and shoved her sword to the figure. It stammered as if in surprise and fell to the ground, fountain of water spluttering from it. All the others fell as well and water was everywhere. Regina, satisfied and relieved squatted down to drink but she was being pulled back. Fall touching her head, sending her to another world.

First she cursed them for not letting her drink but then she felt rain pouring down from dark sky. She stood at the edge of the forest, leaves falling around her, dancing in rain. After a while she was soaked to the bone with rainwater instead. She was still holding a sword in her hand. Regina let it fall to leaves at her feet.

"Regina?" she heard Emma's words. "Regina…" Emma whispered to her ear.

The queen turned around. There was no one standing there. "I'm here." Emma said from behind her again. Brunette didn't turn around this time. You're not real. "Go away."

"No. I'm not going anywhere."

Regina walked away. But she didn't run away from Emma. "I'm with you all the time; I'll be here anything you do." Emma smiled. She matched her step with Regina's, casually shoving her hands to her pockets. She was wearing that typical red jacket of hers and tight jeans. "You're not real." Regina snapped at her.

"You're right. I'm in your head… and in your heart."

Regina rolled her yes. "Miss Swan, you have nothing to do with my heart. And by the way," she stopped walking and turned to Emma. "Real Swan hates me." She smiled.

"I don't." The brunette glared at her. "She doesn't."

Regina smiled again. "Yes she does. You're in my head, so you're here just to oppose. I'm not listening to you." She started walking again.

Emma shook her head. "I told you, you can't go anywhere without me!"

I can. She continued pretending the blonde is not there.

"Stop!" Emma exclaimed.

No! I'm not talking to illusions.

"Just say it!"

Regina stopped in her tracks.

"Come on! Say it! Oh, you can't. Do you know why? I'll tell you then." Emma walked to her and looked her in the eye. "You're a craven."

Regina clenched her teeth. Her blood was boiling. "You know what?! I am! I am a craven, a coward! I've never had courage to do something real, to do something good, so what!? I'm like that and I'm not gonna change! So think what you want, I – DON'T – CARE!" She cried to Emma's face.

"Why?"

Thunder echoed in the forest. Regina didn't move, nor did Emma. "Because I love you," the queen whispered to herself. "I love you," she said again, louder, for Emma to hear her clearly. Emotions tugged at her and she stepped closer to Emma, listening to her own wild heartbeat. She closed her eyes and groaned when she was dragged back to the castle.

Opening her eyes she was standing in the same place as before, Fall smiling at her. After few minutes, gasping Emma appeared with Summer, and Zain with Spring. Only Winter was listening to glockenspiel filling up worlds with snow and frost.

Fall spoken first. "You came through three tasks. But we're not the one's who are going judge you." They all looked at Winter.

"Sister, come to us and pronounce a verdict."

Winter stepped to them and Spring replaced her in the center of the hall. The music started again. "Your hearts are not pure as no one's in the world. But you proved people can change. That the Savior can make mistakes, but is standing with people who need her, even to herself, despite it's the hardest thing, that she's wroth a forgiveness. That the Evil Queen can love, that she can love the whole world and not just one if she lets her heart to do it. And that ordinary man can live a life of a hero and stay in balance between good and evil. Because there is no evil without good, and no good without evil."

Winter breathed out few snowflakes and they grouped to create small object. The map. It was there and they were allowed to touch it. Just no one did.

"Take the map and go to your world."

Zain reached for it and took it from the air. Winter nodded and big gate in the wall opened. The three, still shaken from their experience, slowly bowed and turned to go.

One outside, they found their horses and fresh supplies. They walked back to the trees where they stopped before. They sat down under the same tree and tired to catch their breath, thinking of what just happened.

"Well, we got the map. How about going home?" Emma spoke. Regina looked at her and she couldn't keep it anymore. She claimed Emma's lips, in a passionate kiss, desperate to feel the other woman, to know her, to experience her. Emma responded after few seconds of surprise. Regina felt pain in her chest as well as happiness. Now she knew it can live together in one heart; that it has to be there, both. Not one without the other. They parted and she looked to Emma's eyes. "I love you. And I'm not leaving you for a while," she said with low raspy voice. Emma just stared at her. What she experienced in her task reminded her the situation. Just then she yelled and Regina didn't say it anyway. She had to experience that kind of pain to find the real love. Not to cling on every illusion that comes to her way.

"I love you too," she whispered.

Regina looked at the castle, tears glistened in her eyes. She has to get used to this. It might take a while, but maybe it's possible. Maybe it's not late for her, as she thought.

"I didn't believe they would give us the map," Emma stated. "What do you think, why did she decide to do it?"

"She's cold headed, literally," brunette answered her with smile and all three of them laughed.

"What about you Zain?" Regina turned to the soldier, sitting at her left. "Do you want to come with us?"

He thought for a while. "Person's not bored with you for sure. I can try my chances. And who knows, maybe I'll find home at last."

"Yes, we all hope for it." Emma added. After few minutes when the sun appeared they continued in their way, wanting to take a rest later, when the time is more 'normal'. They traveled for a few 'weeks', then looked at map, what direction they should go.

"Here," Regina pointed to the west border on the map.

"But it's not Enchanted Forest."

"This land probably doesn't have borders with it. This is the country close to our land."

"Ok, so let's go!" Emma said with a smile and got ready for another few hours of riding.

It took them less than five days to get to borders.

Zain and Emma were overwhelmed by what they'd seen. Wall of complete darkness in front of them. They looked at Regina, and she nodded. "This is the right way."

They approached the wall and crossed the border. Once on the other side they jumped off the horses, still not able to see anything. When they eyes adapted to the darkness they could recognize small lake and some kind of road.

"Are you sure, Regina?"

The queen nodded again. "This is a land of constant darkness. Light never found its way here. All the time, king's men are walking with a Sun-horse across the country so the people have light and they can work and play and learn. I've been here a few times before."

Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcome.