CHAPTER EIGHT: PUNCH BUGGY, NO PUNCH BACKS

(In which Emma's vacuum-sealed-to-her-ass jeans are tragically killed by The Bug for stealing screentime with butt shots.)

"EMMA, WAIT!"

"LEAVE ME ALONE, KILLIAN!"

He tried to grab her arm. Of course he did. Emma pulled away and threw a blast of magic his way that prevented him from following before digging out her keys.

The screeching of tires came out of nowhere, the engine noise concealed by the blaring clock tower until the source was almost upon them.

Emma turned, just in time to see the speeding vehicle barreling toward Killian - who was still stuck to the street. She threw her hands outward, channeling magic to freeze the van, but nothing happened. And then there was a sickening impact and he was flying out of his pointy-toed boots through the air, and the swerving van was now careering right at her.

In a confused panic, Emma launched herself like a stunt woman over the hood of the Bug, felt the jarring impact of the van slam into the Volkswagen, and then the pain of her own body hitting the concrete sidewalk. The sound of bending metal and breaking glass was deafening and there was so much pain. When the sound finally abated, leaving her ears ringing, Emma tried to move, but her limbs refused to cooperate and all she could see was smoke before her vision swam to a blur and she had to shut her eyes to keep from throwing up.

A loud rushing sound startled her back to awareness and three Dadvids... no David... Dad...er... Prince Charming was crouching over her while far too many Marcos were/was doused dancing flames with an extinguisher and someone was shouting for the fire truck and an ambulance. She heard Leroy somewhere out of sight grousing, "I understand the whole sleep talking thing, but what I don't understand is the princess dragon dream and why I'm in it."

"Guys!" the Davids snapped, "now is not the time!"

"Emma, don't try to move," three Mary Momgrets... er... Mom... Margaret warned, kneeling down.

"Wha... hurts," Emma managed. It really really hurt.

"I know, honey. Your leg is pinned between the car and the lamp post. Billy is on his way with the tow truck."

Emma raised her head enough to see, and wished that she hadn't. Her beloved jeans that made her butt look so awesome were torn by a very white piece of bone sticking out just bellow her left knee - all three of them - and her leg from the rest of the way down was bent at a super not natural angle.

Her head spun, but she managed not to vomit as she tried to focus, and raised her hand toward the post. If she could vanish it... whichever one was the actual post. She felt her magic well up... but again nothing happened.

"The tow truck is here," her mother told her. "Just try not to move, Emma."

Then there were sirens that made her head scream and the tow-truck was pulling the van that had the Bug pressed up against the lamp post.

There more screeching as the car moved, and Emma only just realized the sound was coming from her before she passed out.

AN: RIP, Killian Jones and Emma's jeans. I have faith that Billy and Mr. Tillman will be able to save The Bug!

Next up: Dr. Whale finally delivers his theory with a take-away bag of brains! Well, okay, no take-away bag. Cora's still a chapter away!