I absolutely loved writing this chapter. I'm in the process of writing an actual book at the same time as this so it's nice to have another thing to write to kinda "clean my pallet" so to speak. I hope you enjoy reading this one as much as I loved writing it! New chapter coming tomorrow! Thank you again for all of the follows, reviews, and favorites.
Regina and David lead the group around the back of the castle, Emma and Killian trying to keep close and not be seen. As they closed in on the castle, Emma heard a strange noise coming from it, some kind of an eerie laugh. Regina looked back at the group.
"That's her." Regina whispered and motioned for them to huddle closer. Emma, Killian, and David all huddled with Regina.
"What's the plan?" Emma said, looking fully into Regina's eyes, terrified.
"David, you've been here before, you take Emma to the great hall." Regina said.
"We're splitting up?!" David said, surprised, "I don't think that's smart."
"She can't be in two places at once." Regina said, "If we split up, she will have to choose one of us to go to. And we need one person with magic in each party."
Emma looked at Killian, the thought of never seeing him or her son again sending unimaginable pain through her heart. It sent even more pain if she were to die and leave her children motherless. Emma pushed the thoughts out of her head as she pulled Killian in and kissed him hard, causing Regina and David to look away.
"I love you," Emma said, breathing hard and then looking at Regina, "Keep him safe."
"I will do everything in my power." Regina said.
Regina led them to the servants entrance, making sure to open the door slowly. Once inside, Emma looked locked eyes with Killian and then with tears in her eyes she watched him and Regina disappeared around a corner. Emma looked to her father who had done this so many times with her mother. How had he lived through all of the constant anxiety of losing his true love?
"This way," David said, gesturing her to follow him, "Stay close."
Emma followed her father through a series of hallways, stopping briefly and hiding when a guard walked by. Emma held her breath, terrified that if she even took a breath they would get caught. Once the guard passed, David jerked his head towards a wider hallway and Emma followed him. After a few close calls, Emma and David finally reached the great hall. It wasn't decorated with any kind of furniture and the only thing Emma really noticed was a large stained glass window. David followed her line of vision.
"That's where I got out before." He started "I don't think we can do that with a baby though."
"You won't have to." Came a voice from behind them. Emma and David whipped around to see Maleficent, Regina and Killian floating in the air, gasping for air. Emma's heart sank as Killian's eyes fluttered open and closed, while Regina thrashed and fought with all her might. Emma remembered what Regina said and took her fighting stance.
"Oh, a fighter, how cute." Maleficent said.
"Let them go!" Emma said, charging her power as she waited for the witches coy reply.
Maleficent cackled as she threw he head back.
"You silly girl." Maleficent said, "I'm not done playing with them yet." Killian passed out as she squeezed harder and Regina started to gasp harder, eyes fluttering much like Killian's had.
Emma shot a giant ball of light at Maleficent, knocking her down and releasing Regina and Killian from her grip. Regina used her magic and transported her and Killian to David and Emma's side. Maleficent laughed as she stood back up.
"I like a hero with a little fight." She said, "It makes it more satisfying when I kill them!" Maleficent shot a purple ball at Emma, knocking her back several feet and hitting her head on the floor.
"Emma!" She heard Killian and David say. Regina was at her side waving her hand over Emma's head as she sat bewildered.
Emma blinked as her vision slightly blacked, before it returned.
"That's funny," Emma said, "That's usually what I say about villains!" Emma jumped up and shot two light balls at Maleficent, catching her off guard.
Maleficent got up, breathing hard this time, as if she had just gotten done sprinting. In an instant, Maleficent was holding Liam, his white knit blanket wrapped snuggly around him. Emma couldn't breathe. He was so close, he was right there.
"It's strange, I thought I would be able to have my curse done, and you would all pay." Maleficent said, walking around gently as she looked down at the infant in her arms, "but then, I found out if it is twins, I need both babies to do what I want."
"You'll not get anywhere near my daughter," Killian said with acid in his voice.
"Oh, but I already have." Maleficent said, snapping her fingers. Out of nowhere, her mother and Henry stood before her. They were tied up and gagged, screaming under the gags and fighting to get free with no success. her baby brother was sleeping soundly in a carrier next to her mother. Emma looked over at Maleficent to see both of her babies in her arms. All of the blood rushed from Emma's face as she looked to Regina and then to an equally pale Killian and David.
"Seriously, darling, did you really think that itty bitty protection spell could keep me out?" Maleficent said, conjuring up two bassinets and lying both babies down. "It was just too easy." She laughed as she walked over to Snow and Henry.
"If you harm one hair on my son's head-" Regina started.
"You'll what? Throw a harmless fireball my way?" Maleficent said, as she turned and walked around the room.
Emma looked at Regina for help. Then Regina had a flash of realization in her eyes.
"Do you want a magic lesson?" Regina said, smiling at Emma.
"What?" Emma said confused.
"Focus on one of your babies." Regina said, "Imagine how they feel in your arms, the softness of the blanket, the weight of the baby in your arms."
Emma closed her eyes, doing as Regina told her. She evened her breathing, imagined Liam in her arms the day he was born. The joy she felt when Killian had revived him with true love's kiss. Before Emma knew what was happening, she felt a weight in her arms and she opened her eyes to see Liam cradled there. Emma held on to the baby as she heard Maleficent rush over to see Liam in Emma's arms.
Emma caught the witch off guard with a line of magic shooting from her free hand. David and Killian ran around the sides as Emma and Regina shot round after round of magic at her. Emma waved her hand at Snow and Henry, freeing them of their restraints. Emma handed Liam off to Snow and David grabbed Johanna as Henry grabbed the carrier basket with Neal inside. David began to lead Snow and Henry out of the great hall when guards began to fill the hall. Emma pulled all of her strength and shot a giant wave of magic at the guards, causing them all to fall.
"Go!" Emma shouted at Snow, David, and Henry, "We'll hold them off!"
As Emma and Regina continued shooting magic at Maleficent, something started happening. Maleficent began to change, morphing with every stike of Killian's sword and wave of Emma and Regina's hands. Maleficent twirled and ran behind a pillar, emerging as a giant dragon. Emma's shoulders sank as she let out a sigh.
"I have to defeat a dragon again." Emma said, defeated.
The large dragon stomped towards them, blowing fire at them with every breath it took. Emma shot another ball of magic and then stopped. Emma thought of the moment she and Regina had stopped the fail-safe. She looked at Regina and saw a look of defeat. Killian was looked very tired, she could see it was getting hard for him to catch his breath.
"Regina, we need to do it together!" Emma shouted.
Regina nodded and lifted her hands as Emma did the same thing. Emma sucked in a deep breath and pushed her magic as far as it would go, Regina by her side doing the same. The dragon in front of them stopped in its tracks, shrieking as its body began to glow and crack from the powerful force. With a loud, high shrill, the monster disintegrated loudly, shooting out a wave of magic knocking Emma, Regina, and Killian back several feet with a hard landing. Emma stood up, and dusted herself off, giving Regina a hand up and then running to Killian. Killian stood up slower than Emma expected, clutching his side. Emma moved his hand to see a large cut.
"You're hurt!" Emma said, trying to move his clothing to see it better.
"I'm fine, love," Killian said, "It's not as bad as it looks." Emma went to the bassinet Maleficent had conjured and found a blanket inside. She walked over to Killian and gently pushed it against his wound.
"Keep pressure on it." Emma said, "We'll be home soon."
Emma helped Killian walk out as Regina led them. They met Snow, David, and Henry with the babies outside. Emma walked slowly with Killian as the group walked back to the castle, Killian began to get paler by the second as Emma watched and helped him walk. When they got closer to the castle, Emma noticed him stumbling as if he were drunk.
"Killian?" Emma said, looking at his pained face. Just as his name left her lips, Killian collapsed at her feet, "Killian!"
***Just want to clarify that I don't see criticism reviews as bad. I see them as a way to improve my writing skill and the story I'm writing. Thank you to the guest that gives me good constructive criticism. I honestly appreciate your objective insight. As far as the book goes, I've been writing and re-writing it for the past 8 years. This is just something I crank out in an hour and post. I usually go back and read and edit any errors as I go. Thank you for thinking of me though. I try to do some fluff, but I noticed a bit of restlessness if there isn't much drama like the show has.