SO THE DRAMA

by Han dj

That last scene of the 4Bfinale, what if Henry isn't the author and Regina died, and they were trapped in that heroes and villain book? Story not gonna touch the sacrifice thing. Sort of AU. SwanQueen of course.

3. Chapter 3

SO THE DRAMA 3

Last part… Yeeeey!

Emma was standing beside the glass coffin, a hand sprawled on top, head bowed and eyes focused on the still woman lying inside. She let her hand glide on smooth surface as she moved around the coffin. "You don't play fair Regina. You fought hard to have a happy ending, to become the hero and not the villain, and now that you have it, you die…on me." Emma frowned as she tried to contain her tears. "What's gonna happen to Henry if Merlin can't reverse this?" she sniffed, "What's gonna happen to me?"

"You know you cannot think like that mom," Henry said as he stepped inside the protected cabin. Rumpelstiltskin in his act of redemption had cast a spell making the cabin and the land surrounding it invisible to any dark magic practitioner, and once every week, the dragon Maleficent lands and rest at the entrance of the invisible piece of land. The Dark Queen had made a pact with the dragon, as someone who had taught Snow White some of her tricks, and then Snow White betraying her by taking her daughter from her at birth and casting a spell that traps her in her dragon form - the two will not meet eye to eye and will not meddle on each other's business - So if Maleficent lay claim to a piece of land, it is off limits to the Evil Queen and vice versa.

This land where they kept Regina's coffin was a no man's land, and now Maleficent lay claim to it as her way of protecting her dear old friend.

Emma smiled, though it never reached her eyes. "It's another possibility, we have to at least think that as an option." she sighed and pull her hand to her side.

"It is not an option, you just got to believe."

"I think I have done so much believing already Henry,"

"There's no such thing as 'so much', we need it mom, I… we can't live without her." The boy looked at the coffin for a few seconds before looking at the woman, smiled as he watched his mother nod her head, "Sir Rumpel had arrived that's why I came here, he said you need to go, it's a long way ahead of you."

Emma smiled again and stepped close to her son, "Look after your mom okay? I heard Maleficent decided to stay a bit longer…"

Henry beamed, "Just until you come back with the sorcerer or right the world we are in, whichever comes first."

"Really that much faith in me huh?"

"You are the savior…"

"You know here I am not, it was nothing but a myth."

"No matter what this world says, you are the SAVIOR and when you righted this world, that Isaac will pay. He was the reason mom died…" she saw her son's jaw clenched in anger, "I want my whole family back,"

"I want that too," she said looking back at the coffin once again before clapping her son's back and stepping out of the cabin. She was greeted by the presence of the dragon lying down on the ground as if it was the most comfortable bed ever, Maleficent yawned and shook her neck before putting it down. Emma smiled, "Thank you,"

"Savior, when this is all over…" The dragon said and then closed her eyes.

"I wish this will be over too," she mumbled as she walked passed the now sleeping dragon and was met by a smiling Rumpel. "You realize if we find Merlin…"

"That's a 'when' Emma Swan." he turned and rode his horse with ease and finesse of a real knight.

"When we find the sorcerer and he reverse this world…"

"I'll probably die." He said.

"Yes you will… probably,"

"Then," he looked at the woman still standing beside her own horse, "I am prepared. I've had a taste of how it is to be a hero, it was addicting…"

"Just like being the dark one."

"My Belle will never look at me the same again, in this world or perhaps in that world you coveted so much."

Emma sighed and then mount her horse, "She do love you, isn't that what matters?"

Rumpel smiled, "And the bandit? You do love her."

Emma chuckled, "She is Henry's mother, I never knew how to be one and the only time I did, she gave me that memory. We better go before sundown."

"Of course,"

-0-

The trail to Merlin's whereabouts was not what Emma expected. To where she expects to trek a long, winding and narrow road, she was lead into a wide, smooth one. Where she expects trouble like Ogres, Witches on brooms or vindictive exes, there were nothing but normal people living normal lives. Where she expects to find her way to an invisible fortress, there was but a simple cabin, not even surrounded by gates.

"Are you sure this is the right place?"

Rumpel sighed in frustration, "You have asked me that a million times Emma Swan, tell me," he turned to face the woman, "What good will it do me to steer you wrong?" he was frowning.

Emma smiled, "Sorry, old habit die hard when it comes to you. And…" she stepped close to the knight, "…will you drop the Swan already and just call me Emma?"

"I'd rather not," He started walking, "Shall we?"

Before the two could get close to the seemingly unprotected cabin, a young man, about Emma's age appeared before them. "I was expecting you…" he said smiling, looking at the knight before he turned his focus on the blonde woman, "Savior."

Emma eyed Rumpel before the man, "Merlin?"

A wide grin on young face, "At your service. Will you partake with my meal, I've just roasted a lamb and I make great tea. I procure them from a merchant from Chin, best tea leaves out there." he turned and walked towards his abode without looking back, as if expecting his two visitors to follow without question.

And the two did.

-0-

Merlin was standing, back to his visitors, his eyes focused outside. "You do realize that if this world is reversed, the dark one's power will take over Rumpelstiltkin's heart and will kill him."

"I am aware,"

He turned and faced him, "You have gone to such length to set up your new world, why do you want to change it back." He asked the knight and Emma was about to reply when a palm was raised her way. She could feel the magic that disable her from talking, so she did not fought and the magic was gone.

"I wanted to be a hero. A real one, not an illusion."

"You're not a hero in the other world,"

"I could be…"

"If you don't die."

"I will live, I didn't live this long just to lose." he sneered, "Villains may not have a happy ending, but they can still be happy before their end."

The young looking Merlin smiled, "Quite unexpected coming from you."

"Probably it's because of the still unblackened heart inside," he said thumping his chest. "I did this woman a great disservice, Regina said something that speaks to me, heroes doesn't take someone else's happy ending, and that's just what I did. I can never be a real hero, in this world or in any other, might as well get back to what I'm used to."

Then he turned to Emma, "Magic cannot bring the dead back, Emma clenched her jaw, "But there is only one thing that might…"

"What?"

"True love's kiss."

She huffed, "She wasn't even dead yet when she got her true love's kiss, and where is she now? In a coffin, lifeless…"

The man smiled, "Then perhaps it wasn't a true love's kiss that had been bestowed." He stepped close to the woman and sat beside her on the wooden stool, "If you believed that true love didn't work, then why do you want to go back Savior?"

"Stop calling me that, I am not a savior. What kind of a savior am I? I should have been the one who saved Henry from him, I should be the one lying in that coffin…"

"The Fates have their way of teaching people something," he smiled again, "But you didn't answer my question,"

Emma frowned as she tried to contain her tears. Tears she had not shed since she traveled with Rumpel about two weeks ago. "If…If…If I can't have Regina back…at least, well… at least I can get my parents back, take their darkness away and live a normal life, like they used to."

"And you?"

"I… I'll live."

Merlin stood, "Living and existing are two different things Savior. Believe me though, and everyone had told you, your son believed, perhaps its time for you to believe once again… True love is the strongest magic. I can only do so much as to reverse this world that foul author had made, the rest…"

With a wave, a glowing quill appeared on his hand. "Take this to your son Henry, he knows what to do. Tell him…" He grinned, "… a gift from a friend."

-0-

Another two weeks of traveling back to Henry, and when they returned, Emma became frantic. The trees surrounding their safe haven were burnt, a lot were still on fire. Maleficent was not present and so was Henry…

"This is clearly a dragon fire, and I doubt Maleficent would burn the trees just because she feels like doing so." Rumpel said as he readied his sword.

"The Evil Queen?" Emma frowned and gritted her teeth. She needs to move quick, "How about the cloaking spell?"

"I can still feel it, and yes, it's probably the Queen learning Regina is being hidden here."

"She attacked Maleficent?"

"No, they had a truce that can't be broken, but you forgot dear that she has Maleficent's weakness…"

Emma's eyes widened, "Lily,"

"We have to get in and hope your boy is there, he needs to do his thing."

"He isn't the author…"

"Merlin entrusted that job to him when he gave him his own quill, so get moving Emma Swan."

The blonde nodded, "When we get back to our world, I will miss this Rumpelstiltskin."

The knight smiled, "I might too,"

-0-

She breathed a sigh of relief when she found Henry sitting at a stool beside his mother. "Henry!"

"Mom!" he called excitedly as she stood and hurried to his mother's side. Then he looked over to see Rumpel watching them. He mouthed the word 'thank you' and the knight nodded his head in acceptance.

"The forest…"

"Lily attacked and Maleficent has no choice but to battle it out with her, she's wounded the last time I saw her, she flew after Lily."

"So Lily drove Maleficent away which means…"

"The Evil Queen is coming," Henry said nervously,

"Then we have to work fast," She said taking the still glowing pen inside her satchel, "A gift from a friend, he said…"

"A… a magical Quill?"

"Merlin's," She said, "Do your thing Henry, I'll get your mother out of the coffin."

"But what…"

"You have the heart of the truest believer, it will work. You do have Isaac's book yes?"

"Yes! But I need an ink… and it can't be yours…"

"You can take mine." Rumpel took his sword, removed his gauntlet and slice his hand. "I am supposed to be a villain in your world, and here I am a hero… doesn't that match your specification?"

Henry smiled and nodded. Then he hurriedly worked on writing everything that Isaac wrote be reversed. Meanwhile, Emma had removed the coffin's lid, carefully lifted Regina's body, looked at her and cried. "Oh Regina, Merlin said he can help right our world… but, he cannot bring the dead back to life. And it seems the pixie dust was wrong, Robin isn't your true love… Regina, I can't go back knowing you'll be dead in that world… I can't…"

Then she leaned and sobbed, "What am I gonna tell Henry?" she whispered as she continue to cry on the woman's chest. Rumpel was just watching. Soon he will know how it feels to die, but unlike this woman, he will die knowing he himself screwed up his happy ending.

It was then that they heard the Queen's call for Regina and then felt the blast of magic that destroyed the cloak Rumpel made. The Queen was doing her evil laugh, Henry penning the last words, Rumpel ready to fight the Queen and her evil cohorts… and Emma…

She leaned further towards the woman in her arms and placed a gentle kiss on Regina's forehead, mumbling a soft 'goodbye'.

And that's when Henry wrote the period and the world around them started shaking. The fight outside became a distant sound… and then there was nothing but darkness.

-0-

When Emma woke up, she found herself lying on the ground, beside her was the apprentice. She looked forward to see Henry standing over his mother's body, lying still on the ground.

"No…" She mumbled as she hurried on her feet and ran the short distance to the supine woman. She was kneeling beside the woman and then started crying, "Oh gods Regina, I am sorry… Oh gods…"

"Mom?" Henry called out.

"I'm sorry Henry, I can't get Regina back… Merlin… he said… magic cannot…" She looked up at her son, who was wearing a bemused expression on his face.

"What are you talking about Miss Swan?" Emma's red rimmed eyes widened and she looked down at the frowning woman, "I'd be dead again if you don't ease up on me, and will you please get up so I can too?! This is just unacceptable…"

And instead of standing away from the woman, Emma dove in and cried. "You fucking died Regina! You left me! YOU LEFT ME!"

Regina smiled, "Oh sorry if I had to stand in front of Henry… oh and speaking of, " she looked at her son who was grinning, "Will you take your mother off of me?!"

"Mom come on get up…"

"Do you have any idea what it felt like to hold your dying body in my arms Regina! Do you have any idea?!"

"I supposed not…"

"Damn you, I love you and you left me!"

"…" Regina was stunned and so was Henry, and before any of them could say anything…

"EMMA!" They all heard as Snow White and Prince Charming came running towards them.

"And the cavalry arrives," Regina mumbled, as she collected herself and then rolled her eyes. The two women stood, helping each other. And then there he was running towards them, eyes glued on Regina.

Emma stood still in front of the brunette who busied herself with first hugging her son and then dusting off her clothes. Emma looked at her parents nodding, and Snow got the message to hold on a bit as her daughter eyed Robin hood who was smiling unapologetic to the brunette behind her.

"I didn't forget Locksley, so I'm sure you haven't forgotten as well."

Robin shook his head, "Come on, it was a fake world…"

"It was not, if Henry hasn't changed the book, that will be our world. And I warned you, I TOLD YOU that when the world righted, you will never lay a hand on Regina ever again and besides… it was clear, you are not her TRUE LOVE."

"You don't have any say on this matter Emma, let Regina decide…"

Emma turned to look at Regina who put a hand on her shoulder. She frowned, angry that Regina still wants this maggot. "Regina…"

"Please?" And Emma nodded before stepping aside.

"Look Regina…"

"Let's end this Robin. We both know that in no world will you choose me over anyone. I can understand Marian, but Zelena? Perhaps it is the Fates way of saying, they screwed me up enough." Regina bit her lower lip at the sound of a hardly contained chuckle, "I'm letting you go Robin, we can't be together anymore."

"No…"

"And Emma was right, the pixie dust gave me the wrong information. I'm sorry…" she said and turned her back to the man.

"That's just it?" Robin shouted at the departing family, Charmings included.

Emma looked back, smiled and shrugged her shoulders, "Yeah that's it…"

"If its not me then who?!" He shouted again.

No one answered but Regina looked at Emma.

"Want to see if the one hand wonder had made it alive?" Regina asked. And then they both heard sound of coughing from Emma's parents.

-0-

Hook placed a large mug of beer in front of Emma and then sat on the bench in front of hers. Snow and David were exchanging stories with Regina and Henry so the two were left alone.

"Did you cry love when you saw Charming kill me?" he said raising one brow in his usual teasing manner.

"Almost…"

"That hurts Swan," he sighed. "Not one tear?"

"You realize I have to save Henry," she saw him nod, "Losing you… it was painful Hook."

"Should be, well… I am your…"

"But losing Regina hurts more, it even hurts more than growing up without parents." Emma bit her lips, "I'm sorry Hook,"

"The Queen eh?"

"I tried… with you, I really tried."

"I heard this song, I did my best but my best wasn't good enough?"

Emma laughed, "You know it's more than that. Regina died two months, and… it's just…"

"You kissed her, how I will not ask and then she went back to life?" He saw Emma nod,

"What a way to turn me down huh?"

"I can't just ignore this anymore."

"True," he grinned and raise his cup, "To true love then," he took a deep breath, "And the Queen?"

"I think she knew… she called it quits with that good for nothing thief." she huffed, "honorable my ass!"

"You hate him that much huh?" Emma shrugged. He drank the last of his beer and stood up, "I better ask Charming what happened, who kissed me to life so I can pursue this maiden!"

Emma bit back a laugh. She had an idea but she's not going to say. Then she watch Hook leave, to be replaced by a welcome face. "Henry?"

"With David, said something about seeing Gold." Regina said smiling. "Its refreshing to tease your mother for being the evil queen."

"Yeah,"

"What's wrong,"

Emma shook her head and eyed her empty cup, "So what's going to happen to us now?"

The blonde followed the other woman's hand that was placed on hers that were twined on the cup, "I can't see the future Emma, my magic or yours doesn't extend to that, but knowing what we are is a start."

Emma smiled wide, "Good start?"

"Best start."

"I'd toast to that if we had something right now,"

"There is still the darkness in Rumpel that we need to take care of, and then…" Regina eyed the other woman lovingly.

"When this is all over…" Emma returned the gaze.

"When this is all over…"

-END-