Chapter 13

Covered in dirt, sweat, and blood, Emma and her remaining companions slowly crested the top of the rise and approached the Evil Queen. Shield ready and sword held firmly in hand, the blonde watched as the other woman gracefully dismounted her black steed and hefted a large, ornate staff. A force blasted the trio sending Hanno and Lothar tumbling back down the hill. Neither man stirred when they finally came to a stop and Emma couldn't tell if they were dead or just unconscious.

Sweat dripped into blazing blue eyes as James dispatched another of the Evil Queen's guards. Enemy soldiers had flocked towards them as they'd charged headlong into the raging battle. Even with their elite knights fighting alongside, the sheer mass of bodies had easily overwhelmed them. James had been knocked from his horse by the powerful blow of a massive ogre, losing sight of Snow in the resulting chaos.

A fireball flew from the brunette's hand headed straight for the blonde. Emma executed a fairly impressive roll before charging towards the other woman. Raven hair swirled as the Queen easily sidestepped the clumsy maneuver, swinging the length of her magical staff across the blonde's armor covered back as she passed. The stinging blow caused Emma to stumble forward a few steps. Quickly regaining her footing, the White Knight spun around just in time to dodge another blast.

Snow White blew loose tendrils of brown locks away from her face as bolts of electricity hissed overhead. Jumping back to her feet, she slammed her circular shield into the infuriating imp before it could launch another attack. The small body fell with a satisfying thud as she turned to face her next opponent.

Emma could feel her movements growing sluggish as the adrenaline began to wear off and the day's fighting caught up with her. The Evil Queen feigned right and when the inexperienced White Knight took the bait she followed through from the left, knocking the legendary sword from the blonde's grasp.

The malevolent force had gained the upper hand, driving the righteous army of King James back to the edge of the Wilderness. Several of the lesser men fled into the dense forest to save their cowardly lives while the rest stood strong against the horde, knowing that if they held on long enough, their champion would emerge victorious.

Blood red lips curled in a snarl as the Queen gave one final thrust of the delicately carved staff, hitting Emma squarely over her unprotected heart. Green eyes locked with brown a split second before the blonde went flying from the power of the magically enhanced blow.

A concussive blast surged across the battlefield, staggering those still standing. Fighting ceased as every head turned to watch the White Knight soar through the air and fall to the ground unmoving.

Blinding agony shattered two souls as their voices tore through the silence.

"Emma!"

"No!"

Snow White and James cried out as stunned disbelief held them immobile for countless moments as reality slowly sank in. Renewed adrenaline coursed through their veins, granting them a swiftness they otherwise wouldn't possess as they weaved a desperate path towards their fallen daughter.

Emma Swan watched triumphant joy fill the brown orbs locked with her own green in that one second before she was propelled off her feet. Searing pain spread throughout her body and time slowed as she floated weightlessly through the air. She'd always heard that a person's life flashed before their eyes right before they died. For most people, she guessed that was true, but all she saw were images of the life she could have had with Regina and Henry if she had just been the hero they needed her to be.

In that instant, anger infused every fiber of her being, chasing away the sadness that had previously filled her broken heart. She hated herself for not being strong enough or smart enough to save Regina. She resented Rumpelstiltskin for never doing one good thing with the powers he'd been granted. Most of all, she loathed the woman who had stolen away the love of her life and replaced her with this evil imposter.

A strange, tingling numbness replaced the piercing pain and Emma felt nothing even as her limp body impacted the hard earth. Life drained from her with every passing heartbeat as glassy eyes watched heavy, gray clouds drift lazily across the sky until pale skin and dark features offered a better view.

The Evil Queen stalked towards her fallen nemesis victoriously, her ever present self-satisfied smirk gracing full lips as a malicious euphoria radiated from dark eyes. The brunette took a moment to revel in the sadness and defeat staring back at her from dull, green eyes as she came to stand next to the supine knight.

"So much for the heroic White Knight," the Queen sneered.

Despite the fresh wave of pain that pierced her already shattered soul, Emma was grateful she'd die staring into the eyes of the woman she loved unconditionally. Even as a creeping blackness began to blur the edges of her vision, the blonde realized the truth of her statement and her own stupidity. The Evil Queen and Regina were merely different aspects of the same woman. Love and happiness had doused the vindictive rage that had burned within the brunette for so long, bringing 'Regina' out of the devastated soul that was the 'Evil Queen'.

Using the last of her remaining strength, Emma drew in a shaky breath.

"I love you, Regina; every part of you. Please, remember that," a quiet intensity infused the whispered words.

Green eyes closed one final time and the lithe body stilled as the White Knight passed into the next life.

The surprising declaration stunned the Evil Queen into silence even as images began to bombard the brunette's consciousness. Brown eyes widened in horror as she realized that the scenes rushing through her mind were not dreams sent by the slain blonde to torment her, as she'd originally thought, but memories of their time together in a previous life.

"Oh gods, Emma," Regina gasped.

She remembered everything now; the fear and anger she felt towards the woman trying to steal her son away, the friendship that had eventually developed, and most importantly, the love they had shared.

Anguished tears streamed down pale features as Regina fell to her knees next to her deceased lover. Long arms slipped under the motionless blonde, cradling the lifeless body to her own as wretched sobs were torn from her throat. Trembling fingers reverently ran across smooth, peaceful features, wiping away dirt and blood to reveal the fair skin hidden underneath.

"I'm so sorry, Emma, for everything," she whispered remorsefully.

"You can't leave; not like this, not when it's my fault," a fresh wave of tears rolled down over high cheekbones and off a strong jaw to fall gently into the flaxen hair resting against her shoulder.

"Henry needs you. I need you. Please, come back," she begged before pouring all of her love and grief into the gentle kiss she bestowed upon soft lips.

A pale gold energy swirled around the top of the hill as Snow White and James made a mad dash up the slope. Just as they crested the peak, the light emanated outwards in a blinding flash that brought them to their knees.

Air infused oxygen deprived lungs in an audible gasp as green eyes shot open to stare into equally surprised brown.

"Regina?" Emma asked unsure why she was lying on the ground with the other woman hovering over her crying

"Emma," Regina sighed in blissful relief as a brilliant smile spread across her face, revealing even, white teeth.

Pounding footsteps and a flash of movement from the corner of her eye drew Regina's attention away from woman still cradled in her arms. Reluctantly releasing the loving gaze holding her own, the brunette lifted her head to yell at whoever had dared disturb them only to find herself at the end of two exceptionally sharp swords.

The trademarked arch of a dark eyebrow was the only outward sign of her surprise as dispassionate brown eyes trailed up the glinting steel to meet the menacing glares on the other end. Waiting for them to make the first move, she idly noted the pulsing vein in the center of Charming's forehead and the way Snow ground her teeth in anger.

"Release her," Snow demanded.

Regina turned her head slightly to meet blazing green eyes.

"And if I refuse?" she asked in an even tone.

James responded by pressing the tip of his sword against the delicate flesh of her neck. Cool brown stared defiantly into icy blue even as she felt the small sting of torn skin and flowing blood. Emma shifted in her grasp, but Regina tightened her hold, encouraging the weakened blonde to remain still. There was little doubt in her mind that the couple standing over her would steal Emma away as soon as the opportunity arose and she refused to be separated from her love again, not after she'd just gotten her back.

"You have haunted our every waking moment for decades," James growled in barely restrained fury, "twisting reality to suit your own needs and destroying everything we hold dear. Now you have taken the life of our only daughter, leaving our grandson motherless. Why should we allow you to live after all the evil you have inflicted on the world?"

"Because... I love her," was the raspy response from the frail blonde as she removed herself from the brunette's hold and stood between her parents and her lover on unsteady legs.

Her head swam and the world tilted once more, but a strong arm wrapped around her waist, catching her before she could fall. She shot Regina a grateful look before turning back to face her enraged parents.

"Oh Emma, thank the gods you're alright," Snow wept in joy. "Come on, honey, let's get you out of here."

The petite brunette lowered her sword and reached out towards her daughter.

"I'm sorry, Snow, but I won't leave without Regina," Emma said as she stepped deeper into the protective embrace of her lover.

"Emma, stand aside so we can be rid of this loathsome woman and continue on with our lives," James demanded as he pointed his still ready sword at the brunette's heart.

"What life?" the blonde cried out. "The one where I play at being the happy princess I never wanted to be while you try to marry me off to some random king or prince?"

"Emma, you should know we would never force you to marry someone you didn't love…" Snow started.

"But you're not willing to let me be with the one person I want either," Emma interrupted.

"You would choose her over your family?" James asked incredulously.

"If there's one thing I've learned in life it's that family isn't determined solely by blood; it's based on love. While I do love you both for the good friends you are and the parents I wish I could have known, it doesn't come close to how I feel for Regina. I don't want to have to choose, but if you force my hand, I will pick Regina every time," the strength behind her declaration left little doubt in anyone's mind that she was telling the truth.

"What about Henry?" Snow tried a different tactic. "Your son deserves all the love and happiness in the world. Do you really think she can provide him that?"

"How dare you?" brown eyes flashed fire as she bore down on the other woman.

Emma was just able to grab Regina's hand at the last minute, interlacing their fingers and holding her back from physically attacking the shorter brunette.

"I have loved that boy from the moment he was placed in my arms as an infant. I may not be the saint you are, but I would never harm a child, especially my son."

"Ever since I woke up here," Emma broke in, hoping to quell the mounting tension, "I have been plagued by countless fears and insecurities, but not once did I ever doubt my love for Regina or her love for Henry and me."

"How can you be so sure?" James asked and the blonde could tell most of his anger and resentment stemmed from fear for the ones he loved.

Emma couldn't really blame him. He'd nearly lost his true love more than once and had missed out on raising his daughter because of the woman standing next to her. She gave the fingers still entwined with her own a reassuring squeeze, practically sighing in relief as the death grip they maintained eased and blood flow was restored.

"If she and I weren't meant to be, then I wouldn't be talking to you right now," was her simple reply.

Snow and James exchanged confused glances before turning back to her for an explanation

"I died," Emma stated easily as if it were an every day occurrence.

She continued on over the twin gasps of shock and the strangled whimper from the brunette next to her.

"Apparently 'true love's kiss' really does fix everything, because here I am alive and well. This entire world is based on happy endings and I'm pretty sure this qualifies. It may have taken a while, but you all got yours. She is my soul mate. She is my happily ever after. So send her away, banish her if you must, but know that I will follow her wherever she goes and I will take Henry with me."

No one moved for several long moments. The royal couple held a silent conversation with just a look, while Emma pulled the love of her life back beside her. James slowly lowered his sword and Snow wrapped her daughter in a tight hug, as the blonde's words hit home for the two people who knew best what 'true love' could accomplish.

A/N: Ok so this is it folks. Hope this update was fast enough for you and that it meets your high standards. This is the story I set out to tell and I gotta say, I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing. I've never written something so long before so this is a major accomplishment for me. Thank you to all of you who have continued to read it and waited patiently (or not) for me to update. Special thanks to any of you who have commented or reviewed. They truly make my day. When I first started writing this story and finally came up with an ending, this was it. Somewhere around writing chapter 10, I got the idea for an epilogue. That's why I haven't marked this story as 'complete' yet. So, I'm leaving it up to you guys. I can end here and be fine, or I can give you one more chapter. Up to you, just let me know. I will be taking a break from major stories for a short while. I have a couple of books (Hunger Games) that my best friend is bugging me to read, but I do have a few short stories in various fandoms that I want to write and I have an idea for another epic Swan Queen story that I will be working on. So expect more from me. Thanks again for all your support. You guys are the best and I adore everyone of you.