Thank you for your reviews! I really appreciate it. I managed to put some words together again, so here's the next chapter. Enjoy!

Chapter 13

"The Queen can help us?" The king asked as they slowly rode out of the castle gate.

Emma was still frowning a little bit. Mary Margaret was her mother for less than a few days and she suddenly thought she could control her life. That made her freak out. She didn't like people controlling or commanding her. Especially not her parents, her foster parents to be exact. She respected Mary Margaret; she was the only friend she ever had. But as a mother… it was just too ridiculous.

"I'm sure as hell she can… I hope she will," the blonde answered the king's question.

"Snow White said we have to find her first. What did she mean by that?"

Emma rolled her eyes. "We don't have to find her. She'll find us."

"Are you sure, la…" the king started but at Emma's glare he trailed off.

"Emma."
"I am Abner."

"So…you know Regina? You look a little too young to be a king."

"No. My father met the queen named Regina. I'm the seventh of that name. It means father of light." He smiled at her.

"You never met the queen?" Emma sighed in relief. "Good. You're not as biased as the others may be."

"My father talked about her sometimes. I think he loved her."

"Who didn't?" Emma murmured.

The king couldn't hear her. He was too interested in the forest, taking a look at the trees and the ground. He looked more like a tripper than a hapless king, who lost the hope of his land.

"What do we have to do for her to show up?"

A new wave of anger raged through Emma. "She's not an animal that you can lure with sugar."

"Isn't she? Father told me she's very interested in a few things." He was playing with her. She knew it for sure now.

"Like what?"

"Lots of things: gold…power…particular people." He smiled mysteriously. He noticed Emma's face and laughed. "Father talked a lot. She was pretty cruel."

The blonde felt sick of this king. He looked so confident and so madly amazed by everything. Well, she was amazed by Regina's actions, good or bad, too. But that was a different story.

A few days passed and they didn't run into anyone at least similar to Regina. The king didn't look as if he was in a hurry. He looked as if he didn't even care about bringing the horse back to the people of the dark country.

One evening, Emma was sitting at the small fire in front of her tent. She never built a tent near the king's army; not willing to listen to Abner's boasting about how he was a good king and blah blah blah. It wasn't that she had a bad feeling about everyone there, but she didn't want them to think she was part of the army or some king's servant, or worse, his whore. She was thinking about those short nights again, with Regina at the fire with her and Zain, looking at stars, cuddling in a tent after. She was sick at the image of the empty cold shelter waiting behind her. So she stayed up almost all night. No sleep, no energy. The cold morning air usually pulled her out of dizziness, but her senses were a bit hazy anyway.

That's why she couldn't hear nor see the tree branch falling from above. Fortunately, her horse was fully rested so he halted before it could hit them both. A few soldiers around the king laughed, they almost fell from their horses, others looked seriously but didn't say anything, didn't ask her if she was alright or if she needed help. She didn't want them to, actually. Emma adjusted herself on the saddle. With a stone-like face she spurred the horse to move around the fallen branch. Soon the laughter died down and everyone was back in position in the river of armor, which was cascading down the hills of the Enchanted Forest.

"So when do we get to see the famous queen?"

Emma rolled her eyes again. But the king was right. She was worried too. Before, she was sure Regina was going to show herself to her. "Wait." She halted the king who in return halted the whole army.

Emma jumped off the horse and took a few steps forward.

"What is it?" The king yelled from behind.

"Shh!" Emma shushed him. She was thinking. What the hell should I do? She didn't really hear or suspected anything she just wanted to breathe and have some time for thinking and she had to think fast, because the king didn't seem to be a very patient person all of a sudden. "Regina?!" she cried to the forest. "Regina!" That was the only desperate cry, she couldn't think of any other way to get Regina to them. She thought they would have really searched for her, not have a trip around the country. "Regina!"

"She's not coming, is she?" The king asked suspiciously, motioning to a few of his men.

"She is." Not that she was a person who would be scared easily but she doubted the king was going to release her just because of her puppy dog eyes. She could see his guards moving towards her. Need of Regina filled her mind and pain exploded in her heart from her desire for her queen. Right in that moment, a familiar smoke appeared from nowhere and Regina was standing in front of her.

Emma raised her hand and spanked Regina's face so hard the brunette's face turned to the side and a red mark covered her cheek.

Regina turned back to Emma. "Do you have any idea what you've done, Miss Swan?" She looked at her disappointedly.

"And do you?" They looked each other in the eye furiously. Or rather, Emma looked at Regina like that. The Queen looked more like she was displeased.

"You interrupted a very important meeting, Miss Swan."

"Oh, you were buying a new apartment or what?"

"For your information Miss Swan," she hissed through her clenched teeth and approached Emma dangerously. "I was negotiating about the Sun-horse to bring him back."

"So you left me and Henry here just to go somewhere I told you not to?"

"Since when do I do what you tell me to, Miss Swan?"

"We made a deal, remember? Henry's a priority!"

"You tried to make a deal. I didn't say anything on that matter. You know I love my son, but he was quite happy not to see me, right?"

Emma couldn't find an answer for that. Actually, he didn't even ask about Regina.

"Ladies?" The king called to them and waved his hand to get their attention.

They both stepped away from each other and glared at him.

"Who's this?" The queen was ready to fight against the soldiers. It was a defense, habit she had from a long time ago.

"Abner, king of the dark land. I'm looking for a horse which you have some information about as I have heard." He smiled.

"You're not Abner."

"Abner VII. Yes I am, my lady." He bowed mockingly, outstretching his hand. "Why don't we sit down and talk, your majesty?"

"We don't have time to talk. I need to get back. If I don't, your horse is lost forever."

"Is it? Tell us the way and we'll find him ourselves." The king offered them that slimy smile again.

"You don't get it do you?" Blood boiled in her veins. "I have to bring something to the person who stole it and if I don't by the end of this day, I'm going to die."

"So what? Show us the way." King shrugged his shoulders.

Emma frowned and stepped to Regina from behind. "Escape plan?" she barely moved her lips.

The queen took her by the hand and they both disappeared in smoke, reappearing by a body of water that was licking at their ankles.

"Is this a honeymoon? Mmm. Nice," Emma tried to lighten the mood. But the queen was still sad and frowning. "Regina?"

Regina finally looked at the blonde. She couldn't take it anymore and crushed her lips to Emma's, slowly moving them, touching her face and bringing their bodies together, feeling the Savior with every particle. When they parted, Emma expected the brunette to look her in the eye but she was wrong. Regina couldn't even hold her gaze.

Emma wanted to believe Regina was not playing the victim; that she doesn't want to abuse her trust again.

"I told you I'm a coward." As if the queen read her mind.

"You're not." Well, isn't she? Leaving me there with no word for Henry, afraid of the executioner's sword… I would be afraid too…but I promised her no one would hurt her so why didn't she come with me?

"Miss Swan, your arguments are better and better with each new day." Now Regina was the one joking. But she wasn't even smiling.

Emma looked around, letting off Regina. "What do we have to do?"

"You don't have to do anything. I do." Regina pointed to the horizon. "There is a manor-house on the seabed protected by a monster."

"What a surprise." Emma deadpanned. "Sorry, go on."

"In the garden of that castle, there's a tree with golden pears."

Yeah, it couldn't be apples. Emma smiled to herself.

"I have to take one pear and bring it to the wizard who's got the horse." Regina finished her talking.

"Um, how do we accomplish that?" Emma blew out the air from her cheeks.

Talking Emma into staying at the place would be useless. "I know how to get to the centre of the sea. Getting to the house is the problem."

"I thought the monster was problem." Emma frowned.

Regina shrugged. The monster wasn't really any danger to them. It was easy. Even if most of those big creatures were immune to magic, she knew their weaknesses.

"You said I interrupted a very important meeting,"

"You did," Regina pointed again, this time along the beach. Emma could see a small figure moving there.

Without any more needless words they approached the man repairing his fishing net. He raised his head when he heard them calling him.

"Oh, so you're back!" He smiled.

"Good man, I offer you a full seine of fish today for borrowing your boat."

The man laughed a little. "No one can do that."

Regina waved her hand and the seine was full in a moment. The man's eyes went so wide he looked like a steroidal owl. He touched the fish as if he didn't believe they were real.

"Oh, thank you! Thanks."

"Can we borrow your boat now?"

He stood up and showed them how to enter the boat, he gave them his dirty hand and they accepted the help.

Then he untied the rope and pushed them a little through the shallow water. Regina took the oars and started to row.

"Ehm, tell me when you're tired." The blonde told her knowing Regina would never do it, so she decided she would take it when she saw any sign of exhaustion.

It wouldn't be a sea but big lake if it wasn't for the salty water, because when sharing they managed to get to the center in less than three hours.

Emma leaned over the edge of the boat to view perfectly clear waves. The seabed was deep down but she could see something like a roof. It could be the manor-house which Regina reassured her about.

"Now we need to get down." The queen stared at Emma seriously.

"Ok, we can use old proven method, so to swim there and take the pear."

The boat was rocking slightly on the sea level. Regina suddenly grabbed both sides of the small barge.

"Regina?" Emma reached out to touch her hand and calm her down.

They couldn't see the big wave coming at them; it hit them with full strength, no mercy. The boat almost turned upside down. Emma managed to stay on but Regina fell into the water and sprayed water all around in an attempt to stay on the surface.

"Regina!" Emma exclaimed, jumping to the side, taking the brunette by her arms and pulling her back on the boat.

Regina was coughing for a while but she seemed to be ok.

"Anything else I need to know? You could've told me you can't swim." Emma, full of adrenaline, was gradually calming her breath too.

"I told you… the problem is to… get to… the castle." Regina was half lying on her side still not trusting her limbs, shaking with relief.

"Then I should go there." Emma frowned and narrowed her eyes. "Were you planning this?"

"Wh- what?"

"Were you planning on taking me from the forest to do this for you?"

Regina closed her eyes; that really hurt. "No. I felt your…"

"My what?" Savior asked.

The brunette pulled herself up to sit on the seat. "I felt you and it was such a desperate call I couldn't resist."

"You didn't want to come?"

Regina closed her eyes, breathing calmly. "We're here to take some pears and trade it for the Sun-horse."

"Right." Emma decided not to argue again. It hurt her that Regina wasn't even thinking of coming back to her. But she was used to it, no one stayed with her and she didn't want them to. "So I'm coming down."

"No! We both are." Regina halted her.

Emma rolled her eyes. "You can't swim Your Majesty, how do you want to get there."

"I can try to use magic."

"Magic?"

Brunette nodded. "I never did this kind but it's the only way."

"Wait! You're not gonna turn us into fish are you?" Emma searched for a good answer in Regina's eyes.

Regina smiled. "No, Miss Swan, I'm not. Even if it's tempting to turn you into something that doesn't talk. It wouldn't be very helpful. I can enact the protection spell. It can protect us from water but we can breathe as if we were up here. It's a thin, indestructible layer. You can take small things in, pears for example, but nothing bigger."

Emma understood and nodded it to Regina.
"But, only if I enact it."
The blonde just shrugged at it, looked at Regina, who was staring nowhere, then closed her eyes. She could tell the queen was focusing on her task with every fiber of her being, seeing the vein emerging on her forehead as she had seen it before.

Something cold coursed through her body. Ok, that was probably the spell. Then she felt it again. Two of them?

As if she said it out aloud, Regina answered. "That's for our transport." Just then the boat's head dipped into the water and after few seconds they were under water too. Emma couldn't believe what she experienced. Slowly getting down to the seabed, fishes swimming around them lazily. She didn't even felt pressure. As Regina said, she could close her eyes and she wouldn't notice the difference between sea and land.

They could see black tiles of manor-house roof closer and closer with every second. They landed on gravel seabed and stayed in a silence for a while.

"Let's go!" Regina encouraged both of them, stood up and stepped out of the boat.

"What about the monster?" Emma rushed after her.

"We deal with it if we'll meet it."

Emma was glad she had her sword at the side; it made her to feel safe. They carefully approached the seedy house, hiding in shadows. Adrenaline calling for a word again, pumping in their veins.

They rounded the house to see the garden. It was more than large.

"The pears are in the center." Regina walked to the hedge and murmured a few words, it split in two and they could enter. The garden was too calm. Only fish were everywhere, not paying attention to the intruders.

They walked the path they found for maybe an hour and finally they could see trees they were looking for right in the middle.

"So that's it. Just to take them and get out." Regina looked around. Still no sign of any guard.

"Miss Swan, it's time to get your sword out of that scabbard."

Emma obeyed, not liking the silence as well. They stepped to the trees and Regina cautiously reached for one pear. When she touched it, great fish with obviously very sharp teeth was immediately in front of them. Emma almost dropped the sword. She tightened her grip, her palm sweating. This was a stalemate.

"Ehm, we just want one of your pears…" Emma spoke shakily.

The fish opened its mouth and bit the air. When backing off, Regina managed to tear the pear from the branch and hid it in the pouch on her belt.

"Run!" She screamed and started off, Emma at her heels. The fish swam after them in deadly pace. Despite that they were getting further from the angry dogfish, until Regina stumbled somehow and Emma had to stop to help her back on her feet. Regina was gasping for air and Emma felt the same, spell was probably fading away. Queen's nails dig into Emma's forearm, leaving scratch-marks there. Emma tried to pull Regina up but the woman was in panic, touching her throat with her free hand.

"Come on, Regina!" In the corner of her eye, the blonde could see not very friendly fish coming at them. She pulled one last time and suddenly they were in bubble of the boat which was weakening too but it was enough for Regina to command it to emerge.

Once on the fresh air, after few attempts to cough out the horrible feeling of the lack of oxygen, Emma grabbed the oars and rowed as fast as she could. The fish obviously couldn't go far from the manor.

At the beach Regina gratefully caressed the ground, few salty drops sprinkling it, but she had smile on her face. She reached with her hand to the pouch and showed Emma the pear. Savior sucked in deep breath and started to laugh along with Regina.

When the last tone died down, Emma asked, "Can we go?"

"Sure." Regina was more than happy to do so, transporting them again to some kind of courtyard. It was empty; no one was there, no living soul.

"Where are you? Show yourself!" Regina exclaimed.

"Right here!" Said male voice.

They turned around and tall, black clothed man was standing there, reaching out with his hand. "My pear?"

Regina narrowed her eyes. "The horse first!" She put on uncompromising mask.

The wizard laughed shortly and pointed to the left. They looked that way and seen stables opening and Sun-horse walking submitted. Regina waited till she had the bridle in her hand. Then she looked back at the wizard but gave him the pear very carefully. His palm looked too big for the pear. "Thank you, now you can go!" He didn't even looked at them again, just waved his hand to the direction of the gate and walked away.

"That was it?"

"Yes, we're lucky he wanted only that. We should go before he'll change his mind."

So they hurried out of castle and Regina caressed the Sun-horse which was giving the land beaming light but somehow it didn't affect them, maybe because they were his protectors now.

"We're taking you home, don't worry."

"Emma?"

"Hm?"

"Come here please. I think he'll give us a ride."

"A ride?" Emma wasn't quite happy with the idea of riding a fairytale creature. She had enough with normal horse, left alone the Sun-horse.

"Miss Swan?" That woke her up from her musings. "Now!"

"Can't you use your magic?" Emma approached the horse watchfully, Regina already sitting on its back giving her hand.

"He offered it, so I don't waste my magic. I'll need it later."

"For another escape." Emma regretted those words the second she let them out of her mouth.

"I'm sorry…Regina…I…"

Regina raised her hand to stop the blonde from talking. And that was it. Sun-horse made a step and they flew faster than anything in the worlds. They were at the border of the dark land. Few soldiers guarding it couldn't believe their eyes. They were asking each other if they could see the horse, their lost horse.

"Soldiers of dark land!" Regina took the words and the voices trailed off. "Tell your king that we brought back your Sun-horse as we promised." She bowed slightly.

Soldiers were so happy they couldn't even talk, they started to jump and embrace each other, singing in joy.

"Can we go home now, please?" Emma smirked.

Regina stiffened. "Yes we are." She took Emma by hand looking into those shining green eyes. "To Snow's castle, if I'm right?" She forced herself to smile.

"But no! Wait!" One of the soldiers yelled after them but they already disappeared in smoke reappearing right in the middle of courtyard where Charmings were talking to their servants. Everyone oooohed when they spotted rematerialized Savior and Evil Queen holding hands.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are welcome.