Chapter 14
I am really sorry I haven't updated in a long time, life is crazy and I honestly forgot about this fanfiction lol
It didn't make sense why they were forced to climb a rope from the well instead of going back through the door they'd entered in, but they climbed nonetheless.
Anya wasn't quite sure how the leader of the camp, Lancelot, knew Snow white, but they must have been good friends since they embraced upon meeting and he was all too happy to grant her supplies and an escort through the woods.
"There might still be a way to get home."
Snow's words caught me off guard, and Anya was surprised how she was suddenly clinging to every word the queen spoke,
"What do you have in mind?" Lance-o-lot asked but Snow fell silent, her gaze turning to Anya.
"I'd rather not speak my plans aloud with the apprentice present."
"What's that supposed to mean?" The redhead growled, growing frustrated, drawing every eye present. "and I'm not an apprentice thank you." she snapped, spitting out the word like poison. "I haven't been for a long time."
"Do you really think anybody is going to trust you?" one of the girl's who'd found us asked, pushing her pink dress behind her as she dared stand to face the childish princess. "You stole Philip from me, you trained under the evil queen, what makes you any better than her?"
A flame sparked inside of Anya, an inferno burning in her eyes.
"I am nothing like her." She spat. "Consider yourself lucky princess and remember that the only reason you're alive right now is because i don't have my magic." Anya's threat fell on deaf ears. Nobody was frightened by her. The female warrior stepping forward angrily to put the rebellious teen in her place.
"You will not talk to her that way. Do you understand?" her words were monotone but her eyes spoke volumes. Her right hand resting gently on the hilt of her sword. unlike Anya, she certainly could kill her. falling silent Anya met the gaze, biting her tongue she sat back down, crossing her arms. Nobody moved and she glanced up to meet their gazes. Their glares striking her like cannon fire.
"Stop it." she demanded. "stop staring at me like I'm her! I am NOT her!"
"You sure sound like her." Emma tossed in, watching the witch carefully, not sure what to make of her as the child fell silent again.
CRAP! The words struck her, finding them deeply upsetting.
"I just want to get back home..." There was silence until Snow spoke softly to Lance-o-lot.
"I think we should keep her here." Snow spoke softly, the suggestion sending Anya into hysterics.
"What!? No!" Why did everything blow up in her face? She couldn't understand. Her chest was trembling, her emotion running wild. She wanted to scream at them, to cry. She wasn't like Regina! how could they even say that? Regina had betrayed her. She was twisted and devious. Anya just wanted to go back. Revenge was simple. Why didn't the 'enemy of my enemy' bull shit apply to her? Did people really hate her THAT much? she hadn't even done anything in 28 years! Everyone ignored her, until there was only one person who hadn't spoken yet.
"Don't you think that's a bit much?" Emma questioned, raising an eyebrow at her mother as she glanced around the table. it was obvious she had little but contempt for the girl but wasn't quite sure she warranted such a heavy response. After all who knew the rebellious teenager better than the Savior herself? "She already told us she's helpless. I'm not saying we have to trust her but doesn't really deserve to be held prisoner."
"Emma you don't understand...anything Regina could have taught her; it couldn't be good." Snow said softly, keeping an eye trained on Anya behind her.
"Common she's just a kid." Emma shrugged, not understanding the threat at all. "I could totally take her. What real harm can she do? besides this place isn't the same. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have a home...i mean you could still leave her...you're good at that." The words cut Snow deep, shaking her heart to be reminded that her child still harbored wounds of her abandonment even understanding the situation. She knew it was a hard hit but Emma just couldn't understand, it sounded cruel to abandon the child, very...not Mary-Margret.
Thinking it over Snow sighed, nodding she was at a standstill until Lance-o-lot spoke.
"We can keep her." he offered. "She can stay here till morning and then she's free to leave." he raised an eyebrow. "Out of your hair but also not a prisoner."
Nobody spoke. Aurora had accepted that the murderers wouldn't be punished as they should be, Mulan was content following orders, Snow was considering the offer and Anya was convinced that her words drifted through them like water, resulting in a moment of silence.
"Alright it's settled...Young Anya will stay as our...guest, and can begin her journey a day late." Lance-o-lot spoke kindly, no malicious intent in his tone at all. truly hoping he had the perfect solution.
Anya was taken back to the prison, gentler this time, and alone. That was until Cora stepped out of the shadows.
"Cora." Anya's face lit up as she hurried to her old mentor's side, bowing quickly to prove her lasting respect for the woman who had pulled her up from her deepest pit of defeat and molded her into a queen.
"Dear little Anya..." There was a twisted delight in Cora's sweet tone. A wicked grin pulled at her lips. "28 years and you've not aged a day." She smiled, taking a strand of her rare red hair and twirling it in her fingers. "If you've hit an impasse, i can help you."
There was no surprise in Anya's eyes as she stared up at her mentor, more of an awe overcame her. This woman never ceased to amaze her. She could do anything.
"Of course such a favor requires one of equal value in return, my queen." she almost laughed. looking the girl up and down. examining her for changes, but alas she was the same naive little girl.
"Of course, of course." the red head answered with a nod of her head, seeming to crave the older woman's approval. "Anything you ask."
No sooner than Cora left was Anya given another surprise visitor, as a familiar blonde in a red jacket emerged through the doorway, earning an odd look from Anya. This wasn't part of Cora's plan, at least not that she knew, and Cora was never wrong.
"Common kid." Emma commanded gently, holding the door open, but Anya could do nothing but stare, her mouth agape. "You're coming with us, i talked to Mary-Margaret." hesitate and first Anya nodded, finally taking a slow step, then another, until she practically ran from the cell with nothing but a quick, mumbled thank you. Only to be stopped by the savior. "Let's be clear. If you do anything to endanger my family, anything so that i don't trust you..." she trailed off, glancing down to the handle of her gun tucked safely inside her belt.
Anya was astonished. This woman was little more than a stranger, and she was just...letting her follow. Did she really not know who she was? Didn't she understand what she'd done? Despite her gratitude, she couldn't help but look down on the foolish woman. If only she knew what was in store for her.
The day passed with the girls wondering the forest in tense silence, the only one who seemed unfazed by the redheaded elephant in the room was Mulan, who seemed more than confidant that she could take out the witch under any circumstance. When night fell, Anya was starving, her feet aching as she dragged them through the mud. This was a ridiculous way to travel.
"I think this is alright to make camp for the night." Snow and Mulan advised as they entered a clearing. It was silent except for the blowing of the wind.
"We can keep going." Emma said, but her idea was quickly shot down since the other two seemed determined to stop due to the presence of ogres.
Ogres? Anya wrinkled her nose at the thought of the large smelly creatures. She'd never come face to face with one herself, but she knew how disgusting they were, how brainless and pathetic of a species they were. Sure she'd heard the horror stories of a ravaged kingdom, but to her they were just that, little more than stories.
"Well then, i can help gather wood for the fire." Emma nodded, ready to head into the forest, only to be stopped by Snow White.
"Actually..." she trailed off, glancing around for a clue what to say. "I was thinking you could stay here and... guard Anya." The child groaned, arms crossed. It was painfully obvious she wasn't even worried about the little 'prisoner' but rather keeping Emma in one place.
"I'm not useless, i can help." Emma began, but Snow wasn't even listening.
"Please Emma it would just make me feel so much better, you don't know the dangers of this world like I do." Emma reluctantly agreed and we began to roll out some blankets as the other two wandered into the dark. The silence seemed to grow heavier, Emma was visibly fuming from being left behind, and it became unbearable until the words slipped out of Anya's mouth.
"They're right you know." She caught Emma off guard, but some spark in her eye seemed almost glad that Anya had spoken, like she made the first move towards conversation. Even if it wasn't something the savior wanted to hear.
"Right about what?"
"Everything." They spoke quietly, digging out where the fire would go and setting up separate beds. "About the monsters, you wouldn't stand a chance against an ogre."
"I fought a dragon. I think i could handle an ogre." Anya considered it for a second, weighing the possibility. Finally shrugging, giving Emma a little more credit than before.
"I guess, but there are worse things than dragons out here." The redhead added, finally sitting down atop her makeshift bed. Her tone experienced for her age, and Emma knew she was telling the truth.
"Oh yea? Like what?" Emma took a seat quietly next to her, nothing but the pale moon illuminating their camp.
"Monsters, darkness, even a bandit at the right moment...and me."
Emma wanted to laugh, snickering lightly to herself, but the child's somber tone left her knowing better.
"They have every reason to fear me." Anya clenched her fists, almost shaking. "I've done horrible things as the queen's apprentice. All for power."
"That's not you anymore." Emma tried to reason, you've lived an entirely different life since then, become an entirely different person. "You don't have to define yourself by what you did-"
"And I would do them again." She cut off. Lifting her head from the shadows into the moonlight, her eyes glistening with determination. "I would do them again if it meant I could kill Regina. You don't need to worry about me here. I need to get home so i can face The mayor." The queen's petty title rolled off her tongue in a mock respect. She had been doubting herself lately, but the way Snow and Mulan, the way an entire town feared her. It was an acute wake up call. She was powerful. And was raised to not stop till she got what she wanted. Her confidence was restored, and she was unafraid of any consequence. It unsettled Emma, but she still didn't find the girl much of a threat.
"Hold on." She began, but was cut off by the breaking of nearby branches. Both girls jumped to their feet, approaching carefully to get a better look. The twigs on the bush were snapped, and Emma could make out footsteps. "Let's go kid." she said, pulling out her gun and leading the way. She found Snow white and the princess clad in pink wrestling, a knife pressed to her mother's throat. The gunshot rang through the air like thunder and suddenly Emma found everyone's eyes on her, terrified.
"Emma." Snow scalded. "What have you done?"
"I'm saving you." She replied, the gun trained on Aurora who had already backed away from her failed victim. Even Mulan, who had emerged from the bushes seemed displeased. Emma didn't understand why until the ground shook with footsteps and a thunderous roar pierced the air.
"You've killed us all."