Hey! Brand new chapter of our adventure! Thank you all for reviews and reading! Enjoy!

Chapter 12

Zain looked a little bit unsettled on the horse which was strange, because he was born with the ability to ride. Regina offered him a worried glance.

"Is everything alright?" she asked when she appeared next to him.

He didn't look at her, only nodded. "I got a question." The queen listened carefully. "Can't you just teleport us now?"

It didn't surprise her that much. This question was one of those which she had expected the soldier or Emma to ask. But she had her money on Emma. Yes, she could do that but it would mean shorter time spent with Emma. There's no way she was going to the Forest and staying there. Zain waited for the answer but it didn't come. Regina halted her horse and he did the same, till Emma joined them. They were both looking at her strangely. Regina slightly touched her and Zain as well, all three of them disappearing in violet smoke, reappearing somewhere else.

"Why do we have to touch each other when you're doing that?" Zain didn't like it; the explosion of emotions that came with magic was nothing good for a soldier like him.

"So I'm sure you won't get lost on the way."

Emma smiled at Regina but the brunette had one of the saddest looks ever. Emma frowned at the sudden change. "What is it?" She looked from Zain to Regina. "What's going on?"

Regina looked at her finally, eyes full of tears. She jumped off the horse and so did Emma. She got to the brunette in less than a second, taking her by her arms, trying to find something positive in those dark eyes. "What is it, Regina? Where are we?" She tried not to push it but this seemed to be very serious.

"You're home." Regina caressed Emma's cheek, a new stream of tears trailing down her face.

Emma's brain was very slow with processing this piece of information. As soon as she took a breath to react verbally, Regina kissed her lips gently and disappeared in smoke again. Deafening silence surrounded them.

What the…?! What?! Emma stood still like a statue, not able to make a sound or move.

Someone touched her again but it was so unfamiliar and uncomfortable she had to shrug the hands off. As if in a trance she jumped back onto saddle and letting the horse to go after his nose.

"Watch out!" Sound from far away reached her ears. Her horse nervously stomped. Finally she started to perceive. Zain had his sword in hand already, waiting for the first move of the people around them.

But Emma recognized some of them. So the queen did it. She brought them to Enchanted Forest.

"Hold your fire!" the gruff voice of Leroy yelled into the air. A circle of crossbows visibly relaxed.

"Emma!" A dark haired woman rushed to her. When the blonde managed to get down to the ground, Ruby pulled her into a tight hug. "Where have you been, girl? Snow was unbearable. She made us all crazy." Ruby pulled away only to arm-length and smiled beamingly at Emma. The smile faded away the moment she noticed Emma was not smiling, not even responding. As a body without soul; far away look on her face.

"Emma?" The brunette was worried.

The Savior barely looked at her. "This is the Enchanted Forest, isn't it?"

Ruby nodded, attempting to smile again. "Of course it is." She was pretty confused by Emma's actions. Where else could they be? The Enchanted Forest was large and they were almost in the middle, near Snow's castle.

"And who's your handsome companion?" she asked cheerfully, hoping to ease the mood, turning to the man.

He was standing next to them already. "Zain is my name." He ducked his head a little.

Ruby smiled at him and shifted her gaze back to Emma. "Snow's gonna jump from happiness. Come on!" She took Emma by the hand and dragged her a few steps but the blonde stopped.

"No!" she said with a frown.

Red couldn't believe her ears, let alone her eyes. This wasn't Emma. Not the one she knew in Storybrooke. She was like a sulking child.

"Ok," Red sighed and stepped to Emma again. "Forget your parents. Henry's there too. He's waiting for the Savior, who can save him from the two overprotective grandparents."

Emma raised her hand and smiled a little through the frown.

"You don't want to run from responsibility, do you?" Red tried to encourage her with a smile.

Emma nodded and followed the group that was waiting for them.

Forget about it, Swan. She's a coward and a traitor. You always knew, and now she just confirmed it. How could I be so stupid and think that she loved me? She probably never did. It must've been another one of her sick games. The blonde finally put a swing to her step and smiled for real, looking forward to meet Henry at last, after all those weeks. But the pain and sorrow still had its place in her heart and mind, even though pushed it back to the farthest corner.

The journey to the castle was filled with light conversation, jokes and some awkward singing. Well, at least to Emma it sounded awkward, the others probably didn't care, happy about bringing her back home. Home. What a strange word. No one questioned her more about where she had been. And she didn't want to talk about it, ever.

They were barely at the gate when two horses galloped from the castle and stopped right in front of them. Snow jumped off and she crushed Emma into a tight hug. "Oh, Emma, you're back." She cupped Emma's face with her hands, looking at her as if this was some kind of dream. "We thought we lost you." Snow had tears in her eyes, from the relief and happiness. Another pair of hands embraced the blonde and she felt a smaller figure at her side.

"Henry!" She looked down and smiled, not realizing she was crying too. Snow took a step back to allow Emma to lean towards Henry. "I knew you were here! I knew you'd come!" He was so excited.

"Sure, kid. I wouldn't leave you to sit in a castle for the rest of your life," she whispered to him. "I was worried you would die from boredom."

He beamed. "I'm learning to ride a horse and sword fighting and…" he talked and talked. This was a real home for him. "Grandpa should be here in a few days."

Emma only nodded, still smiling. Snow hooked her arm with Emma's and slowly walked her back to the castle, with Henry at their side and the others following them as well.

Snow whispered conspiratorially, "And who's the man with you?"

Emma decided to keep her answers simple. She knew it wouldn't work for long; they would want to hear everything, just not now. "Zain. He helped me to get here."

"He's quite handsome." Snow said as if she was trying to extort if they had a thing.

"Mary Margaret, he's only a friend."

"Of course he is. And call me Snow ok?" She didn't have the courage to tell Emma to call her mom and it would be kind of weird, when in fact, her daughter was probably older than her.

"Ok." Emma shrugged.

"Now, you have to tell me everything. Where you have been, what you were doing…" They walked to the castle. The most beautiful castle Emma had ever seen. She remained quiet, thinking of what she could tell her friend and what she shouldn't. Well, surely she can't tell her about Regina.

But why not? She really is the Evil Queen.

No, I can't.

"Sorry, M… Snow. But I'd like to get some rest if you don't mind. I'm exhausted." She looked at Snow seriously. The brunette looked a little bit disappointed but nodded. She herself took Emma to the chambers ready for her. Henry went with them as well.

"You alright, Emma?" Snow asked a little bit worried.

"Sure, I'm just really exhausted."

"Ok. I'm really happy you're home," Snow said. Henry smiled at them and hugged Emma once again. "Tomorrow we can go riding together," he said excitedly.

Emma sustained her smile. "Sure we'll think of something, kid." They left her in her chambers, finally alone.

She approached the bed and kicked it in a rush of anger. It didn't make her better. She paced across the chamber for a while, and then just fell onto the bed, staring at the ceiling. She wasn't tired from the journey; she was tired from the thoughts, from feelings that were squeezing her heart and throat. She closed her eyes and in a few seconds she fell asleep.

The forest surrounded her, trees reaching the sky everywhere, mocking her. Wall of trees looked dark, not green but almost blue or grey. She took a few steps forwards, not really aware what she was doing there. She smiled, suddenly feeling happy in that bleak scene. Emma couldn't explain why. Just then smoke black as night emerged from somewhere and the familiar figure of the queen materialized in front of her. Neither of them said a word, sharing a long look, as if surprised to see each other.

"What are you doing here?" The queen in her lilac dress, showing the right parts of her body, asked.

Emma didn't answer, just continued to stare at Regina, realizing it was the first time she had seen her as a queen. Or at least dressed like one.

"Miss Swan?"

"Don't 'Miss' me!" She warned the brunette.

"I do."

Emma was confused. "What?"

Regina was suddenly standing right in front of her, her face only inches from Emma's, their noses almost touching. "I do miss you."

Emma didn't know how to answer that. She was sure Regina left her there because she didn't want to take responsibility for what she did. Emma wouldn't have allowed anyone to hurt her, but Regina obviously didn't trust her in that. So she left her, alone with Henry, who could deny it but he needed his other mother as well. She felt betrayed.

"Emma," Just when Regina was about to touch her face with the tips of her fingers, Emma woke up. She breathed heavily, looking around the dark chamber. It was evening already.

She didn't realize before how hungry she actually was. So she left her room to find something to eat. She almost bumped into Zain.

"Oh, hey!"

"Emma?"

A moment of awkward silence filled the air.

"Where're you headed?" Emma asked finally.

"I became a little bit hungry so probably to the kitchen." He smiled at her.

"Well, me too. May I join you?"

Zain nodded and together they roamed the castle until they finally found what they were looking for. They didn't have to actually; they could have simply asked the guards or servants there. Everyone looked at them curiously.

They asked for some food at the kitchen and the cook sent them to the dining hall, with a promise that their food would be ready in a few minutes. But unfortunately they didn't have time to start a conversation. Snow appeared with Red after a while, along with some food from a cheerful cook.

"Finally! The guards told us you were wandering through the castle." Snow smiled, not caring that she was interrupting something or doing it on purpose. Emma wasn't ready for that. She knew what was coming.

"So, you want to tell me how you two met?" She looked from Emma to Zain.

"Um, it's really nothing special." She shared a quick look with Zain. He didn't tell them about Regina as well, at least she hoped so. Probably not, because Mary Margaret wouldn't be so calm about it considering what the queen did, she thought.

"Oh come on! You can't disappear and then come here without any word! Ok, where have you been? Where did it send you after the curse broke?"

"We…I found myself in some kind of forest." She didn't want to lie but if she wanted to avoid questions about Regina, she had to. So she talked and talked, not mentioning the part with that old hag, just changed the story of Alda and then the king and the seasons, without putting Regina in it. Zain helped her a little. Red and Snow listened carefully. But she didn't know what she caused by her story.

"Oh my god, Emma! You went through so much. And so heroically!"

Emma's head snapped up. "No, no, no," she stammered. "I'm not a hero." I am so screwed!

"Wait till Charming hears it. He'll be afraid for his hero position." Red joked.

"Really, Emma, you did what only a few people would. I'm so proud of you."

Emma tried to smile but it didn't work. So she shot a pleading look at Zain. He only shrugged. "You should tell them, Emma."

"Tell us what." Snow frowned, confused.

"Emma, they will find out anyway."

Emma so didn't want to. But looking at Snow and similarly looking Ruby, she couldn't hold it anymore. "Ok." She sighed. "Do you know how the curse was broken?" She decided to start from the beginning.
Snow nodded. That confused Emma. Eyes wide, staring at Mary Margaret. "You do? But…how?"

"We broke it, I kissed James…I don't know why it worked just then after all those kisses we shared before in Storybrooke. But in that moment it sent us back here." Snow smiled at the beautiful memory. "The only thing was we had to find each other again, but it was so easy."

Emma's jaw was really low so she put it back in place. "Um, maybe it didn't work that time as well."

"What are you saying? We broke the curse." Snow sounded really aggrieved.

"Erm, you're not the ones who kissed in that moment maybe?" She looked at them guiltily.

"Who did then?" Snow turned to Red who shook her head. "Emma?" Her eyes were back on the blonde.

"Me…"

"And…?"

"And…Regina," Emma breathed it out so fast it didn't even sound like words.

"Who?"

Emma gulped and repeated her answer finding her hands very interesting in that moment.

"Ok…I don't think I believe that." Snow stood up and started pacing, touching her forehead with one hand.
The Savior remained silent.

"She speaks the truth," Zain spoke. All heads turned to him.

"Yeah? And you know that how? And why would I believe you! I don't even know you!" Snow was furious, or desperate, or both.

"I saw them. I was with them for some time and the only word for that is love, nothing else." He looked seriously at Emma. She nodded her thanks.

Snow waved her hands in the air and vigorously shook her head. "No. No. I'm not listening to you, it's not true."

"Why not?" Ruby intervened.

"What?" Snow looked at her, not trusting her ears anymore.

Ruby sat next to Emma and put her hand around Emma's shoulders, squeezing reassuringly.

"What are you all saying?"

Ruby and Emma looked at each other and almost burst out in laughter from the situation. It was serious at the beginning but Mary Margaret made it so serious it reached the point of a comic situation.

"That's not funny." Snow paced again.

"Ok. I want to know everything. From the very beginning. How could that ever happen?" She finally stopped and stared at Emma, arms folded across her chest.

So Emma talked. About the night when she went to the Mayor's mansion, about the kiss, about Althea, Alda, Edric, the Seasons, the land without light and finally how Regina left.

All the time Snow was listening with disbelief evident in her eyes but a spark of hope lighted once she heard about Regina's disappearance.

"I'm sorry, Emma." But it didn't sound that way. She was too cheerful that the queen was gone to hide it.

"Come on, Snow!" Ruby was obviously on Emma's side, Evil Queen or not.

Snow White ducked her head. "She's a murderer. And she cursed us all. We gave her enough chances. She took me away from my true love. She has to pay for her crimes."

Ruby could see the dilemma. Well, for Snow it wasn't one. She was sure Regina deserved it. "You don't want to execute your daughter's true love, do you?"

Snow didn't answer.

"Mary Margaret. She's not one bit evil. She might've done horrible things but she changed, she saved us so many times, and we broke the curse. And if you will be looking for her just to execute her, then I should reconsider my idea of 'good side' and go to look for her before you catch her!" Emma stood up abruptly and stormed out of the hall, back to her chambers.

Snow looked after her daughter, then back at Ruby and Zain, still sitting at the table.

"You should trust her. I don't like the queen anymore than you but what if it's true? You were apart from you daughter for so long and the first thing you do when you meet her is to damn her true love? I've seen better from you."

"But…how can I be satisfied with her love if she's the reason I couldn't be with my child for so long?" Snow didn't understand it.

"Yes, that's the irony, but you can't command your heart."

The next day started with a slow, boring morning but when Emma stepped out of her chambers, there was some hurry everywhere. She was on the balcony looking out to the courtyard and spotted a few soldiers with different uniforms and one who was obviously the king. Snow was down there talking to the strangers. Emma found those uniforms familiar.

She ran down the stairs and approached the group. Snow noticed her. "Emma, this is…"

"You are the king of the land with no light," she addressed the king.

He bowed and nodded. "Indeed. But how do you know that?"

"I've been to your land few days ago. You still haven't found your horse?"

The king looked surprised. He wasn't the king she imagined. He was quite young, dark haired, tall. "Unfortunately, no."

"I'm sorry we can't help you." Snow apologized, this time really looking sorry.

"It's ok. Thank you anyway."

"Wait!" Emma stopped them. Everyone in the courtyard looked at her. "I know who can help us." She was still keeping eye contact with the king, not wanting to look at Mary Margaret at that. "Regina, the queen. She could find him. We were at your castle and she left a message for you there if you need help."

"Erm Emma?" Snow tried to attract her attention. "You probably forgot about one little detail. As much as I hate the idea of you two together, even if I allowed you to go with her… you have to find her first," she whispered.

"If you allow me? Now you're playing a mother? I haven't seen you my whole life and now when I'm an adult, maybe even older than you, you're going to 'allow' me to do anything? No! I'm going to find Regina and then the horse. Whatever you might think!" Emma almost stamped her foot there.

That hurt too much. Snow had her tears at reach but didn't let them fall. "What about Henry? You're leaving him again alone?" She shot back.

"Emma?" Henry called from behind her. She turned to him. He walked towards her but he was smiling. That confused them all. "So you're going for another adventure?"

"W… yeah. I guess. What do you think about it, kid?"

"I'd like to go with you but since I know you'd tell me it's too dangerous and stuff, I'll stay here and continue my training. But next mission I'm going with you."

Emma narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Really, Henry? Remember my superpower."

He nodded. "Zain is cool. He promised to show me some new strikes."

Emma laughed. "Ah, so that's it!" She ruffled Henry's hair.

It looked like only Snow was against the idea of Emma going after Regina. Or at least at the castle. Most of the fairytale characters wanted Regina dead, or tortured and dead.

Next morning Emma set off for her journey to find Regina and the horse along with the king and his army.

Hope you liked. Waiting for your opinions. Please review. :o)