Part III: The Savior is Born
By the time Emma had arrived at the station the first of the sun's rays was beginning to peak over the edge of horizon. After leaving Granny's she had spent the rest of the night wandering aimlessly about the town, the enchanted leather glove clutched tightly in her hand. Emma wasn't sure whether it was by chance or by fate that she finally found herself in front of that station.
Taking a deep breath Emma entered.
She was grateful to find that the station's only occupant was Cora.
"Hello, Princess," Cora greeted as Emma approached her cell, "You're here early today."
Emma glanced up at the clock she still had several hours before Cora's entourage came to escort her to the mines.
"Actually, I'm right on time."
Cora's eyes narrowed as she examined Emma carefully. The little brat was planning something. When she noticed the glove Emma wore on her hand and her eyes widen slightly, the corners of her lips turned up into a twisted smile.
"You're here to kill me."
Emma didn't respond.
"You would kill me in cold blood?" She scoffed, "That's low even for you."
Emma still didn't say a word instead she continued to watch the witch, her steely gaze held fast by Cora's own cold glare.
"And how are you going to do it, princess?" Her tone was low and enticing, "Are you going to crush my heart out? Are you going to reach inside my chest, rip the beating organ from its cage, and squeeze it until it all crumbles to ash? Because I don't think you've got the gall." She taunted, reaching out to grasp the bars just like she had the day before.
"Do you know what I think?" The witch continued with a sneer, "I think you're just a lost little girl trying to prove something to mommy and daddy. The only problem is those moralists don't give a rat's ass about you, they'd sooner lock you up in this same cell then commend you for murder. You've got nothing to gain and everything to lose."
Emma could see Cora's desperation growing before her very eyes. The witch was helpless behind the bars, and she was saying whatever she could to either dissuade Emma or at least get her angry enough to make a mistake. But Emma wasn't falling for it, she knew exactly what kind of snake Cora was, and she wasn't going to allow her malicious insults or empty threats to get under her skin this time. There was too much at stake.
"Go back home, princess" Cora soothed, her face suddenly taking on a much softer almost compassionate expression. "Go be with your son. They grow up so fast, it's a crime to put in jeopardy the already short amount of time that you have with him. Think about what your son would say if he saw you now. He looks up to you. Don't let Henry down, Emma."
With that Emma lunged forward and grabbed Gora's throat with her ungloved hand. Yanking the witch forward so that her face knocked violently against the bars.
"You don't get to say his name," Emma snarled ferociously, leaning in close her face only inches from Cora's. "I am sick and tired of your endless bullshit, Cora. You are a selfish, cruel old hag and death really is too kind of a fate for you."
Emma plunged her hand into Cora's chest and took a tight hold of her heart.
"Can you feel that you bitch?" Emma demanded, as Cora let out a cry of pain. "I've been wanting to do that since the day I met you."
With a grunt Emma ripped out the heart, and released Cora's neck from her grasp. The old witch sank slowly to the floor letting out small gasps of pain as she went.
"You know what?" Emma said with a small chuckle, holding the heart out for Cora to see, "I honestly surprised this isn't black."
Emaa looked down at the old woman in front her. She looked so harmless now that she was completely powerless, sprawled out across the floor, withered and worn looking like gross old raisin.
Her fate resting quite literally in Emma's hand.
And for a moment, Emma began to fell what could only be described as pity, rise up and begin to play with her conscience.
"I could almost feel sorry for you, but then I start to think about all the horrible shit you've done and I then I realize just how much you deserve this. The world is much better off without you."
Emma paused.
"Goodbye, Cora"
She held the heart out, her grip beginning to tighten.
"Wait!" Cora gasped out desperately, "Think about this, Emma! You do this and there is no going back! This will be the beginning your fall from grace, you'll fall out of favor with your parents, cast out of town. You'll become nothing more than a murderer!"
"I have thought about this a lot actually. And you know what I realized? Now matter what the consequences I'll always have this one consolation…"
Her fist got tighter.
The heart began to beat faster and faster.
Cora's cries rang throughout the whole station.
"I beat you, you bitch."
Then everything became still.
Ring.
Ring.
Ring.
"Whoever this is, this better be damned important." A groggy voice snapped into the phone, "It's five o' clock in the morning for gods sakes."
"I'm sorry, Regina."
"Emma?"
"I know she was evil, but she was still your mom. And I know that despite everything a part of you still cared for her."
Regina sat up quickly, now fully awake, "Emma…" She began but words failed her and she trailed off.
"It's over, Regina. She's gone. I'm sorry." Emma repeated, she hated how much it was affecting her. Cora was evil. She was going to kill Henry. She was going kill the whole goddamn town. Then why the hell did she feel so ... bad?
"Don't be. Do you hear me? She deserved this."
"I don't know why the hell I'm so …upset right now. I really hated that woman."
"It's never easy taking a life," Regina said softly, "No matter how much you think the other person deserves it."
Silence.
"Emma, where are you? I'll come get you, okay? Are you at the station?"
"No, it's okay, I'm okay. Besides my parents will be here soon… You need to be with Henry, because I don't know what's going to happen."
"Alright."
"Take care of him, Regina."
"Of course."
"I better go."
Emma started to hang up when she heard Regina call out, "Wait!"
"What?"
"Thank you, Emma."
It wasn't long after the call ended before tears began to fall steadily down Regina's face.
The sun had risen, it's gentle rays streamed in through the station's windows and danced across the floor and were the ashes of Cora's heart lay scattered. Emma sat not far from the cell door, her eyes fixed on the body that lay motionless inside. She could almost hear Cora's cruel laughter echoing throughout the room. Even in death the witch was destined to drive her crazy. Emma did not regret killing Cora, but that did mean she had to like what she did either.
She wished there could have been another way.
But Cora brought this upon herself. It was her irreconcilable and uncompromising nature mixed with pure evil that made her an untamable force. She was nothing more than a rabid dog that needed to be put down.
Rumplestiltskin was right, if she learned anything in this world it was how to survive. She would use those skills to protect the people of Storybrooke. Keep the people safe, and their consciences clear so that they could have their happy endings.
This fact alone would be her saving grace, because from this moment on her hands were stained with blood and she didn't care for feel of it.
The door to sheriff's station opened.
Footsteps.
Emma steeled herself for all that was to come. There was no going back.
There was a gasp of surprise, followed by a stunned silence.
"Emma… what have you done?" Snow finally cried out.
"I did what was necessary."
The end.
Well, there you go. I actually had a lot of fun writing this, so hopefully I'll get the chance to post more fics in the nearish future.
Thank you so much everyone that reviewed, and let me know what you thought about the last chapter!
