Chapter 7
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There was a crashing sound and a flood of bright white light. Blinking to adjust to the change, Emma clambered out of the tree trunk and stumbled away. She quickly took in her surroundings, dim forest stretching out in all directions and a thin fog rolling in towards her. This wasn't her nursery and she didn't recognise the trees. She knew every inch of the forest that surrounded her castle and this wasn't her kingdom. "Regina?" Emma looked back at the tree she had just come through to see a gaping hole, no Regina. Her heart started to thud and her breath was shallow and forced as the empty silence pressed in around her and there was no sign of anyone following her through the tree. She was panicking now.
"Okay Emma, you need to breathe. What would dad do?" Emma spoke out loud, the sound of her own voice reassuring enough to calm her breathing. She began to pace now, back and forth in front of the tree and muttering to reassurances to herself. "Well first of all he'd probably move away from the thing that brought you here because you don't know what might happen." Emma lifted up the hem of her dress and started walking. She didn't know which direction, she just headed for where the tree's started to thin and hoped it would bring her to some sort of civilisation. "What's next then Emma?" she asked herself as she approached a forgotten path, thinking for a moment before turning left and following the leafy trail, hopefully to somewhere warm. It wasn't as if she was dressed for a late night autumn stroll.
Soon Emma came to what she guessed was a road, although the tracks of horses and carriages were nowhere to be seen and instead something hard and black covered the muddy ground. Across from her stood a building like nothing she had ever seen in the enchanted forest. The walls seemed to be made of nothing but glass, and it was lit by some strange everlasting candle that burned brighter than anything she had seen before. There were red tables and chairs in neat rows along the windows but not many people were around. The sign above the door told Emma that it was a 'Diner', whatever that was. Walking through the large glass door Emma was startled when a bell rang above her. Looking around she saw a bar stretching the length of the wall to her right (at least she thought it was a bar, it wasn't anything like the taverns she knew from back home). It was blue and covered in more glass with an assortment of foods displayed in a glass cabinet at the far end.
Emma shivered at the warm breeze that passed over her as she stepped inside, running her hands up and down her arms to rid herself of the goosebumps. She noticed a blonde haired woman behind the bar and cleared her throat. The woman turned and Emma stepped forward as she spoke. "Hi, I wonder if you can help me. Um… Can you tell me where I am?" Emma asked nervously.
The woman, stern looking but with laughter lines like her father and kind eyes, looked Emma up and down with furrowed brows before she answered. "You're in Eastport, Maine. Are you alright dear? Do you need to use the phone to call someone?"
"Thank you. I um... I think I just need to sit down for a minute and think, if that's okay?" Emma asked. She had no idea what a phone was but right now she needed to take in this new world (she had already guessed she probably wasn't in her own realm anymore) and try to figure out where she was going to sleep tonight. She had never wanted to see her own bedchamber more than right at this moment.
"Yes of course. I'll bring you over some hot chocolate, you look frozen." The woman said, gesturing to one of the empty booths in front of the counter.
"That's very kind of you but I don't have any coins with me." Emma sat down at one of the tables by the window. The woman shook her head,
"Don't worry about that love, it's in the house." Emma smiled gratefully and turned to look out of the window. Taking a deep breath she shook herself, "Okay Emma think. What's next? Somewhere safe to sleep, sleep and then tomorrow you can figure out what to do next."
"Here you go dear." The woman sat the mug down in front of Emma. "I couldn't help overhear, you said you need somewhere safe to sleep?" Emma nodded cautiously and the woman continued, "I hate to see a young woman in trouble and I have a spare room if you need it. I know what you're thinking 'stranger danger, stranger danger'" she chuckled, "but you can speak to my nieces if you wish." The woman waved over another blonde who had appeared behind the bar as Emma spoke.
"That's very kind of you. I would only need the room for a couple of nights I think, until I can figure out what I need to do."
"Of course my dear, I'm Ingrid and this," Ingrid gestured to the other blonde, "is Elsa, her sister Anna is at home."
"Emma" Emma held her hand out and shook both the blondes, smiling widely.
"Well Emma it's nice to meet you. I don't close for another half an hour or so if you don't mind waiting around? Or Elsa can drive you back if you want to get some sleep."
"I don't mind staying. I can help if you want?" Emma's offer was met with a smile from Ingrid, who insisted she finish her hot chocolate first and walked away to speak to a couple who were at another table.
Emma sighed as the warmth of her drink spread through her body, stopping her shivers and warming her fingers.
"That's a lovely dress. Did you go to a party tonight?" Elsa asked as she handed Emma an apron to protect her dress while she cleaned.
"It was my coming of age ball." Emma said sadly.
Elsa almost laughed at the strange words her new friend used but saw the sadness in her eyes and managed to stop herself. "It's your birthday? Why are you so sad then? If you don't mind me asking." She hastily added, turning her head back to the table she had started wiping down.
"I turned 18 today, and my parents threw this huge ball that I didn't even want at first and I was dancing but then she appeared and the wardrobe opened and I was pulled inside and now here I am. I just wish I knew how to get home." Emma sighed deeply, swallowing the tears rising in her throat and concentrating on wiping the bar spotless.
Elsa was confused, a wardrobe? Pulled inside? She shrugged it off, thinking Emma must have had too much to drink. She'd get a clearer answer tomorrow.
It was only another 40 minutes until Ingrid had locked up and led Emma over to what looked like a carriage, only without the horses and much cleaner. "Do you want to sit in the front or the back my dear?" Ingrid asked.
Emma didn't really know what that meant and, not wishing to confuse them more, simply shrugged and let Elsa choose. The horseless carriage was more spacious than Emma was used to and there was a sort of belt built into the seats that Ingrid and Elsa had both secured across their bodies. Suddenly a noise, much like the grinding wheels from back home, sounded from the front of the carriage and the whole contraption started to vibrate softly. This startled Emma and she fumbled with the belt before plugging it into the hole on her right side. Taking another deep breath she leaned back against the seat and watched as this strange new world flashed by.
Ingrid's home was a very small, quaint building compared to the castle Emma was used to. It had a white exterior with a blue front door and there was a glow from the window closest to the door, presumably from the same round candles that lit Ingrid's Diner. "I do hope Anna hasn't left her light on again, if she's not in the room she doesn't need the light on." Ingrid tutted as she unlocked the door.
"Anna? We're home." There was a crash upstairs and a thundering of feet as Anna ran down the stairs. "Anna what have I told you about leaving lights on?" Ingrid scolded as she switched off the light and Elsa hugged her sister.
"I'm sorry I just forgot, I left my phone upstairs and then I got distracted by some funny cat video Kristoff sent me, it was- oh who's this?" Anna said as she caught sight of Emma, who had so far been hidden behind Elsa and was still stood on the doormat.
"This is Emma. She came into the diner and has nowhere to go so she's going to be staying with us for a couple of days." Elsa explained, smiling kindly at Emma.
"Hi, I'm Anna." Before Emma could reply she was pulled into a hug from the red head as Elsa laughed and Ingrid sighed.
"Anna you need to ask people before you just hug them. Emma might not want a hug, especially from someone she doesn't know."
"No, it's okay, my family do it too. We hug first and ask questions later." Emma chuckled softly, holding back her tears as Anna released her.
"Alright then, Elsa why don't you show Emma to the spare room and the bathroom while I have a talk with Anna about the electricity bill." Ingrid smiled and ushered Anna through another door while Elsa led Emma upstairs.
Emma followed Elsa down a small corridor until they came to an open door. It was a simple room, a bed by the window with a small cabinet next to it and a wardrobe opposite. "It's not much, we don't get a lot of visitor's but-"
"It's lovely. I thought I would be sleeping under a tree tonight so this is a big step up." Emma chuckled meekly and hugged Elsa. "Thank you. You didn't have to do this and it means a lot to me."
Elsa shook her head, "Don't worry about it, I'll leave you to get settled. There's some pyjamas in the wardrobe and the bathroom is just down the hall." She smiled and closed the door behind her.
As soon as the door had clicked shut, Emma collapsed onto the bed and allowed her tears to finally fall. She left the pyjamas, whatever they were, and curled up into a ball under the duvet. Her dress was all she had left of home and she had no desire to part with it yet. She cried until exhaustion pulled her into sleep and dreamt of Regina and her family.
Regina awoke still wrapped in Emma's sheets. For a moment she forgot why she was in her friend's bed, everything seemed like it had been a horrible dream. Then the events from the night before hit her and she remembered everything. Regina allowed a solitary tear to roll down her cheek before taking a deep breath. Putting on a brave face, she left the comfort of Emma's room in search of breakfast.
She found David sat at the table, pushing around the food on his plate. "Good morning David." Regina said, approaching the table softly. "Is Snow still asleep?"
"Oh, good morning Regina. Please sit down, what would you like? Our cook will make anything you desire." David stood and summoned the groomsman over.
"I'd love some pancakes." Regina said meekly. The servant nodded and left for the kitchens.
"Regina, I have a delicate subject to discuss with you if that's okay." David asked, continuing when Regina nodded. "I hope you understand that your mother has committed treason against us. She has to be punished."
"I understand, but I would prefer to save the punishment until after we find out what has happened to Emma. Let the punishment fit the crime so to speak."
"Very diplomatically put Regina. You would make an excellent Queen."
Regina blushed, turning her attention to her pancakes that had just arrived. They sat in companionable silence as Regina quickly ate. She was the first to speak, pushing her plate aside for the groomsman to collect. "I've decided, today I'll go and see Rumplestiltskin and we can find out what happened to Emma." David opened his mouth but Regina has guessed what he would say and continued. "I think it would be better if I went alone, judging by what mother used to say about him he knows exactly how to push buttons and you've been through enough." David was about to protest again but Regina shook her head. "David please, Snow needs you here. She can't lose you as well and if you come with me, you'll end up doing something you'll regret." She stood, taking one last sip of her sweet tea and smiled kindly at David. "Now if you'll excuse me, I should probably go home and change, this won't do for meeting Rumpelstiltskin."
David sighed in defeat, he'd had his fair share of arguments with a stubborn teenage girl to know when he had lost. He stood and took Regina's hand, "Don't go home. What if Cora is waiting for you? I'm sure Emma will have something you can wear, she wouldn't mind."
"Thank you David, that's very kind. I'll come straight back to the castle and let you know what I find out."
"Rumplestiltskin? Rumplestiltskin I summon thee." Regina stood in the clearing between her house and Emma's, awkwardly stepping from one foot to the other. Emma's feet were slightly bigger than her own so her feet kept slipping about in Emma's riding boots.
"What can I do for you dearie?" Regina jumped and spun around. Rumpelstiltskin had silently materialised behind her.
"My mother… she sent away someone very special to me and I'd like to know where she is and how I can get to her."
Rumpelstiltskin giggled and Regina's face fell. "Oh I know what your mother did. I'm afraid getting to your beloved won't be easy."
"I don't care. I have to see her again." Regina's features hardened as she glared at the shimmering imp.
Rumpelstiltskin giggled again "Oh I'm so glad you said that. You see there is only one way to get to Emma." He began to circle Regina, making her nervous as he flitted in and out of view. "There is a dark curse. A powerful curse. It will rip through this realm and transport you to a land without magic that just so happens to be where Emma is. There is, however, a catch." He paused to watch Regina. So far she hadn't reacted to anything he had said. "To cast this curse, you need to crush the heart of the thing you love most."
Regina gasped, her eyes widening in shock.
"Oh I'm not a heartless man dearie, despite what people say. I'll give you a day. A day to decide if you want my help. You will of course need training in magic before you can cast this curse. But trust me dearie, it won't be easy." Having finished his little speech, he grinned and vanished.
Regina wrung her hands. The heart of the thing she loves most? She needed to talk to David, Snow and her father.
Back in his castle Rumpelstiltskin was spinning his straw when a figure appeared behind him. "Hello dearie."
"Why did my daughter come to see you? You said you'd help me get rid of the princess. Why in all the realms would you help Regina find her again?" Cora was furious, storming about the room and letting sparks of magic fly from her fingers in anger.
"My reasons are my own Cora, and I think you'll find that nowhere in our deal was I prohibited from helping Regina find the woman you sent away. Now if you'll excuse me I have some spinning to do."
"No!" Cora all but screamed, coming to a stop in front of Rumple's wheel.
"No?" Unfazed by the outburst, the imp continued with his work.
"No! I have worked too hard for too long to have you take everything I have built for myself away. I will not have Emma returned to this land and take the throne from me."
"From you? What makes you think you'll ever rule this land." Rumpelstiltskin giggled as he finally stopped his spinning and turned to look at Cora. "Queen Cora… I don't see it."
"Enough! You listen here you little imp! Regina will never cast your curse. She doesn't have it in her to crush the heart of the thing she loves most. She would never do that to me."
"You?" Rumple laughed aloud. "My dear are you really so arrogant as to believe that you are the thing Regina loves most? And even if that had been true, it certainly isn't the case anymore." His face hardened. "Now get out of my castle." With a wave of his hand Cora vanished before she could say another word.
"Did you find him? What did he say? Is he going to help us?" Regina barely made it through the castle gates before Snow was in front of her, asking question after question.
"Snow let her get in the door first." David said, though his eyes gave away what he was really thinking: was Rumple going to help?
"I found him. But I… uh… maybe we should go and sit down." Regina at least needed to sit down and think things through.
Regina lead them into the dining hall, sat down and took a few deep breaths before she spoke. "Emma is in a land without magic. I can get to her but to do so I need to cast a dark curse, and to do that I need to… I need to crush the… I need to crush the heart of the thing I love most." Regina let out a sob.
Snow gasped and threw her arms around her. "Regina we can't ask you to do that. We can find another way, there's always another way."
"But what if there isn't? What if this is the only way we'll ever see Emma again?"
"David! She's just a child, she shouldn't have to do something like that." Snow scolded her husband, turning to glare at him as she hugged Regina closer.
"You can use my heart."
The room fell silent. Everyone turned to look at Henry who was stood in the doorway. Regina leapt to her feet.
"Daddy no!"
"Regina it's okay." He walked towards the small group. "I've seen how much Emma means to you and if I can play a part in helping you find her then I shall. I've lived my life and seeing you happy with Emma has been one of the happiest moments for me. Let me do this." Regina burst into tears and hugged her father.
"I don't want to lose you." She sobbed.
"Oh I know. But my darling girl, you'll have Emma and Snow and David. You won't need me anymore." Henry's voice was starting to break as he turned to look at Snow and David. "Promise me you'll look after my Regina. If I help you find Emma, you'll look after Regina."
"Of course, but we can't ask you to-" Henry cut David off as he tried to protest.
"You don't need to ask, I'm offering. Let me do this for Regina, for Emma and for you. Please."
David and Snow looked at each other, then to Regina who was crying softly into her father's shoulder. Looking back at each other they nodded, Snow turned to Henry and sighed. "Okay. But only if Regina will let you."
Regina looked up, tears staining her cheeks and her eyes wet and bloodshot. She nodded meekly.
"Okay. Let's find Emma."
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