Chapter 13
The next morning, all were in agreement; it was time to get on with things. They had their end goals – well, at least their mid goals – defined; now it was time to get to the business of how to achieve them. This meant that, in short order, they had to figure out how to: prepare Emma for being alone in Fairytale Land, get Cora's attention without being obvious about it, deceive Cora while keeping Emma safe, get Snow and Regina to the wardrobe so they could return, and agree on guidelines for making contact once Snow and Regina returned to Storybrooke. In all, they had rather a lot of planning to be done. One of the greatest concerns, especially for Regina, was figuring out how to successfully deceive her mother without Cora catching on. Regina was well aware of just how shrewd her mother was and remained unconvinced that this would be possible. As Regina prepared breakfast and pondered, Snow opened the conversation they needed to have next.
"Okay, Emma, you managed to persuade us yesterday. Now I think it's time to tell us both what exactly it is you wish to accomplish by doing this. I know ultimately we all want to bring down Cora and make it possible to return to Fairytale Land. How do you intend to deal with Cora?"
"Well," Emma began hesitantly, "I'll need your help to figure it out. I...have some ideas but they're not really fleshed out yet. I know we need someone on the 'inside' here to find out exactly what the status of things is, and we established that I'm the only one that can do that. I don't think we'll know exactly what to do about it until we have more information. Cora has to have a weak spot somewhere." Emma turned to Regina and forestalled her protest. "I know you probably disagree, but everyone has a weakness. I have to find what it is, but to do that I have to gain her trust as much as possible. I don't know how long that will take. I assume her trust is not easily earned, or ever complete." Regina confirmed this with a small nod. "So this may take a while. I'll talk to all of you as often as possible and we'll plan it together as we go."
"I'd feel better if we had a definite plan going in, but I understand what you mean," Snow replied.
"In the meantime," Regina added, "we must find a way to keep my mother from realizing that she is being played. Believe me, if she even suspects that this is the case it will not be pretty. First we have to get her attention, but that shouldn't be difficult. She's already detected that you have magic and I'm sure she's doing her own scheming on how to harness it for her own purposes. She is a master predator, Emma, and if you think you can out-hunt her on her own terms you are mistaken. You must be exceptionally careful. We have to present the opportunity while making her think she is persuading you to work with her."
"Well, that's easy. I'll just go into the village again. I'm sure 'Millie' will show up; she has every other time. What, um, what about the sword though? I mean, I have no idea how to use one so really. What am I going to do with it?"
"That, as you say, is easy," Regina explained. "My mother will undoubtedly recognize that the sword has magic right away. That is why it was important that you be the one to do that- it must feel as though it is connected to you and must not be familiar to her otherwise. You will use this to your advantage. Tell her that you inherited this sword from your family, but never received any training on how to use it. It will simply seem to her that the moment the sword transferred to your ownership, its' magic melded with your own. She will not be able to resist you; that is, the chance to train you." Emma thought Regina might have blushed slightly at her word choice, but decided against mentioning it. She definitely needed Regina on her side, and embarrassing the woman was not the way to ensure their continued alliance.
"Okay, that's settled." Snow decided it was time to rejoin the discussion. "How do we make Emma seem like a native of this realm when she still knows very little about it?" Silence reigned for a few minutes as all pondered what would be required and how long it would take.
Emma spoke in her usual blunt manner. "Well, maybe we don't."
"What do you mean, honey?"
"Snow, we know of at least three realms: here, the world Storybrooke is in, and Wonderland. Doesn't it seem likely there are others as well? I mean, I was thinking about this when we first got here. If this place, which I never knew was real, truly exists, then what else is seen in my world as make-believe but really exists? What about the land from The Neverending Story? Hogwarts? Middle Earth? That place from The Dark Tower? Or that series they made into Legend of the Seeker on TV? Why don't we just say I'm from a different realm altogether? I mean, not even Cora could know of every possible realm that might ever exist. So we pick one, or make one up, and I don't have to act like I know everything about this place. Maybe that explains what happened to my family too, if she asks." Emma noticed Regina giving her an undefinable look and asked, "What?"
Regina wasn't sure whether she was more impressed by her companion's reasoning, or that she appeared to be quite well-read. Not that she would come out and say that, of course, although her response was slightly less acerbic than it would have once been. "That might actually work. Perhaps you could tell her you're from a land of tactless, clumsy blonds." The two women smirked at each other before returning to making serious plans.
"Okay," Snow again joined in. "We need a name for the realm you're from and a story for how you got here."
"We need one for you too, Snow, uh, Mom."
"And why is that?" Regina asked suspiciously, wondering if Emma had decided to change her plans.
"No, Emma's right Regina. The first time we met Millie together. Emma said when she ran into Millie in the village she asked about me too. Cora is smart enough to wonder why Emma is suddenly alone."
"I do hate it when you're right, dear, but you are. She will ask about that, and she will want to know whether any one might come looking for you if you disappear."
After a moment's thought, Emma's face lit up with inspiration. Snapping her fingers in her excitement, she suggested "I hired you as a guide to find someone who can teach me swordplay."
"That works. When we first met her, I did most of the talking so it makes sense that I would be from the area. Why am I not with you anymore?"
"After we found the village, maybe we had a disagreement. You wanted to take me somewhere else, and I thought you were just trying to get more money."
"And in a heated argument you killed her. I like it!" Regina chimed up.
While Snow glared and started to argue, Emma thought briefly before agreeing. "Actually, that makes sense. If she thinks I killed you then there's no one to come after me. Also, we don't have to worry that she'll send someone out to look for you. If she tried to, it might cause trouble."
"Yes, that's true. It will also convince her that you have the ruthlessness for whatever she may have in mind. Emma, I can show you just where to strike if you want to make it more authentic..."
"Enough Regina. You know very well I'm not going to hurt Snow, or you for that matter. But it is a plausible cover that should hold up. Is there anything else we need to sort out now?"
"Well, there is the little matter of Snow and I reaching and activating the wardrobe. As I said before, my mother will certainly have the castle protected not only by guards but by magic that will alert her to any intruders. And assuming we do make it in, if I am not able to activate the wardrobe on my own we will be trapped inside."
"The Blue Fairy told us there was only enough magic in it to transport one person, that's why we had to send Emma alone." Both Snow and Regina pretended not to see Emma's small wince at her mother's words. "What if we can't make it work at all?"
"There is more to magic than those ridiculous fairies would have you believe. It can be done, I assure you. My only concern, since magic is different now, is whether mine alone will be adequate or whether Emma and I would once again have to combine our abilities. If that is the case, it will significantly complicate things."
"Maybe not as much as you're worried about, Regina. As much as our magics recognize each other, maybe I could sort of, reach out to you with mine. If we time it right, I could disguise it as 'accidentally' doing something in front of Cora with a small bit of it, while sending most of it out to help you."
"Would that work Regina?"
"It might, actually. We are already counting on using that connection between realms, doing so here is certainly possible. I warn you, however, that splitting your magic as you suggest is not easy and can be intensely painful if something goes wrong."
Emma swallowed at the warning, then replied, "Noted Regina. Well, look at it this way – if something goes wrong maybe it will just further convince Cora to teach me." Snow looked concerned, but nodded her assent. Seeing the worry on her face, Emma pointed out, "Snow, it won't be the first time Regina and I have tried this. Granted it will be from a greater distance, but we've already experimented with it some in my training. It's not totally new to me." With that reassurance Snow relaxed visibly. "Okay, once we get you two back to Storybrooke, you're gonna have to wait for me to make contact. I'll have to find somewhere safe from Cora to talk to you." With that, the women seemed to run out of steam. None could think of any other pressing concerns needing to be addressed, and so they fell into a contemplative silence.
A couple of hours later, it seemed that the moment of truth had arrived. It was time to stop planning and start acting. Snow openly fretted over Emma, reminding her of various parts of their plan, and particularly reminding Emma that she loved her. Emma, aware how concerned Snow was, accepted the maternal fawning as gracefully as she could. Conversely, anyone who didn't really know Regina would have likely thought that she didn't care either way; to Emma, though, her distress was obvious. While Snow fretted and fidgeted, Regina very quietly and methodically cleaned each and every section of the shelter, mostly without magic. Emma knew this was Regina's way of feeling like she could retain control when she must know that the results, good or bad, of coming events were out of her hands. Emma kept an eye on Regina, knowing the other woman would never come right out and express concern for her wellbeing as Snow did. This seemed like a good opportunity to practice consciously using the now well-established link between them, that even Snow had reluctantly had to acknowledge. Throughout the morning, Emma would occasionally pause and focus on that link, concentrating on feelings of comfort, warmth, and confidence. Although nothing was ever said, she knew each time she succeeded by the slight sigh or short pause in activity form Regina. If Snow was aware of the interaction, she didn't draw attention to it.
Ultimately, they all ran out of last minute preparations to use as excuses for prolonging the inevitable. Snow helped Emma affix her new sword in the scabbard at her side while Regina checked Emma's provisions one last time. The plan was simple: Emma would carry a small pack, her new sword (with the dagger safely tucked in her boot), and little else. She would return to the village alone, hoping to run into "Millie" again on the journey. Failing that, she would continue on to the village tavern, staying at the inn overnight if necessary. If she didn't encounter "Millie" by the second afternoon, she would start making inquiries about sword training and joining the Queen's forces. For this part of the plan, Regina had remarked, "Perhaps your natural tendency to stumble through life will prove useful."
After Emma managed to get Cora's attention, in whatever form, she would use the magical link she shared with Regina to let her know. It would then be up to Regina to transport them both directly to the wardrobe and then on to Storybrooke. This was another reason Emma had used to justify to both women the need for them to return together. Based on what she had experienced in her own training, and on Regina's comments, Emma knew that Regina would likely be completely exhausted and possibly physically ill. Regina had explained, and Snow had often reminded, that all magic comes with a price. In a rare moment of openness, Regina had told Emma that Rumpelstiltskin often reminded her of this during her own training, but like so many other things he had twisted it to his own purposes. The cost, while real, was not always catastrophic. Sometimes it was tiredness or physical exhaustion; at other times it was indeed a massive loss. It could also be any number of things in between. The price was always determined by both the strength and the intent of the magic performed. Emma was well aware that Regina would be not only transporting herself and Snow, but also breaking through Cora's wards and activating the wardrobe. Considering how powerful Cora was, that was a lot of magic to create and to fight, simultaneously. Even if they didn't want to admit it, Emma knew that Snow needed Regina to get back and, if she were knocked out or became ill, Regina would likewise be completely dependent on Snow for a while.
As Emma approached the village, she occasionally gave a gentle tug on the link shared with Regina. She assured herself it was only to make sure it worked at a distance, not to reassure herself or Regina. She certainly wasn't concerned about missing her once the older women had returned to Storybrooke. A few times she even felt Regina initiate the connection, again convincing herself that it was merely for practice. Around noon she arrived back in the now familiar village and headed directly to the tavern. She ordered whatever they had available for lunch and the local brew, as she settled in to wait. While her meal was prepared, she used that time to draw upon the bond shared with Regina and communicate that she had arrived. As it had been explained and practiced, there were no chants or fancy rituals needed. Emma just had to concentrate on Regina and on the information she intended to convey. Soon she received a warm feeling of accomplishment that she realized did not come from her. Whether Regina was proud of her or just relieved that things were going well so far, Emma was unsure. She chose to believe it was both.
Emma continued to pass time in the tavern, waiting to see if the old woman would show. In the early afternoon, her patience was rewarded. Emma overheard two patrons discussing Millie's increasingly frequent visits to town and her interest in the mysterious blond woman. As Emma was hoping to make contact this time, in contrast to her first visit to the tavern, she sat where she could easily be seen. Shortly, one of the patrons looked in her direction and leaned over to his companion, pointing rather obviously at Emma. She held the man's gaze and pointed to herself, an inquisitive look on her face. After a few moments of indecision, the man cautiously rose and approached Emma's table. "Excuse me," he began, "do you know an old woman by the name of Millie? She's been asking around about someone, and you seem to fit her description."
Emma responded, "Well, I did meet an elderly woman on the road a couple of times." Emma paused for effect, as though thinking back. "I think Millie was her name, actually. Did she say what she wants?"
"No, only that she wanted to speak with you. She's a regular in town, although she doesn't live here. Perhaps she'll come in today."
"Yes, well, thank you for letting me know. I'm Emma, by the way. If you see her again, let her know I'll be staying at the tavern for a few days." So far, so good. Word was officially out that she was there and could easily be found. After sitting for a bit longer, Emma decided to wander through the village for a while. She could only linger in the tavern for so long. Although there wasn't much to the little village, she really had nothing else to do at the moment. Until either she encountered Millie or had to check into the inn for the night, she might as well do some exploring. The only other time she had done so had been in feline form, and she was not yet experienced enough to have the knowledge translate precisely from one form to another. She had vague impressions and wisps of memory, but those had faded in the time since. Emma had high hopes that Millie would show today, so she put off checking in at the local inn.
As evening settled in, Emma decided that today would not be the day. She took a room at the inn and promptly began digging through her sack, grateful that Regina had armed her with substantial provisions in case she had to wait a day or two. She knew cooking was a means of coping for the Queen, but it felt a little like maybe it was Regina's way of showing concern. Emma pulled out the dagger, deciding it was time to practice another new trick. Activating the enchantment as Regina taught her, she attempted to connect to both Regina's and Snow's daggers simultaneously. They had practiced this in and around the shelter, but never from this distance.
To her relief, the women's faces popped up side by side. Immediately they talked over each other, wanting to know exactly what had transpired and where Emma was at that moment. She reassured them that she was well first, then filled them in together on the day's events. After a brief conversation, the three women severed the connection, readying for bed and another uncertain day.