Chapter 12 The unknown
Word Count 2083
Emma grasped her head in pain as the vial fell from her hands. In an instant she could see every life in Storybrooke. Ruby and Granny were arguing at the Inn; Ruby wanted to go out for the night and Granny forbid her. Regina was in a crypt gazing at a secret passageway where Henry was locked inside. Archie and Pongo were at his office where he was filing; his finger gently ran across a folder titled Henry Mills but he couldn't remember who that was. A woman sat in a cell inside of the hospital. The door was locked and she held no memory for who she was or what she was doing there. Leroy had just exited the liquor store a bottle of whisky in hand.
"What did you do to her?" James wrapped his arms around his daughter comfortingly but Emma still shrieked in pain.
Mr. Gold frowned as he looked at her, "It's too much isn't it? Seeing everything." He moved around the counter and leaned against it in front of Emma, "But you can learn to control it my dear. Focus on the energy around you." Emma closed her eyes tightly and focused on the room around her. Slowly the links she had grasped with the people in the town faded and remained only to those in the room with her. "You are quite the fast learner."
Emma rubbed her head gently, "How will that help me find your son if my brain is in complete chaos when I reach out with magic?"
"Easy. You just controlled it. When you search for Bae it'll be only his mind you're seeking not everyone's."
Her brows furrowed in confusion, "I can focus this on only one person?"
Mr. Gold's head nodded eagerly, "Try it on Henry."
Emma closed her eyes and thought of him, immediately her mind was transported inside of his. He was 16 now, locked inside of Regina's secret hideaway. He was confused, hurt, and heartbroken; the woman he had always thought of as his mother and eventually had uncovered as the Evil Queen truly became just that. There was something in Henry that Emma picked up on right away, he still believed. He couldn't ever stop believing. She gasped as she opened her eyes, "Okay." She said, "I know how to find Bae." She reached for the cloak bur Gold pulled it back.
"What do you think you're doing?" He growled.
The teenager put a hand on her hip and laughed, "I said I know how to find him Rumplestiltskin. Trust me." She reached forward touching her fingertips on the cloth. "You see, because I know Henry I already have a connection with him." She fingered the rough cloth between her fingers. "I've never met Bae before and his cloak will be our connection." Once again she closed her eyes but she pushed out the force of magic all around her. She dipped back into the lives of the citizens in Storybrooke and branched out further into the unknown. In that small instant she had learned so much about the planet Earth. She tried to ignore the knowledge as she pressed her mind out further. She picked up thoughts from others states and countries until finally she felt the presence of Bae. She had never met him before but she could see him. His brown eyes gleamed, his dark brown hair blew in the wind. She saw as his body shivered like he could feel her presence. "I know where he is." She opened her eyes and smirked at Mr. Gold. "He's in Portland. He's aged, I think quite more than you expected."
"How is that?" Gold questioned. "My calculations said he would be here in this land."
"That he is." Emma confirmed, "But years ago—more like centuries ago, Baelfire was in Neverland. A lost boy. That man does not want to see you Mr. Gold." Emma laughed as she stated her last sentence. "You are the last man on this entire universe that he wants to see."
Surprising them he laughed, "Though what he wants doesn't matter."
"Wait, so you're telling me that you're forcing him to see you?" Cleopatra questioned.
Snickering he said, "He will realize that he's missed me when he sees me. Regardless Emma must find him otherwise she won't be able to break the curse."
"The only thing preventing me from breaking the curse is you Gold." Emma shouted. "If your son doesn't want you in his life I'm not going to force him!"
He tilted his head and laughed, "But you will. I know how to stop the curse, how to return home, how to save every single one of us in Storybrooke. All you need to do is lead me to my son."
"Even if he doesn't want to see you?" Emma asked.
"The deal we made when you drunk that potion Emma had nothing to do with what anybody wanted except for me."
"Fine I'll go to Portland and I'll find your son." Emma said as she placed her hands on her hips. "But you let me deal with this Gold."
Rumplestiltskin snickered, "That's not how this deal is working dearie. I am coming with you."
"But I thought anyone who crossed the town line with me would go insane." Emma stated.
"Not necessarily." He admitted, "If you are with the person they aren't affected. I told you Emma you have magic."
"So if Jefferson and Blue come with us they will be okay?"
"They would be but-"
Emma interrupted the imp, "No buts. They are my friends and I will protect them no matter what."
"Then let's get your friends and hurry on this venture." Mr. Gold smirked.
"Cleo go get the car," Emma turned and faced Gold, "And maybe you should pack Mr. Gold."
"I guess I should." He smiled quickly and turned to exit into the backroom. "Though Emma, don't try any funny business."
Emma smiled back, "I wouldn't dream of it." After Gold left the main room of the pawn shop Emma lowered her voice and turned to her father, "Give me the keys to your car Dad. When we get back home put Blue, Jefferson and Gold back in the car and drive them over the border to Storybrooke. Mom too. They can't come with me because Gold can't come with me. I can feel it from here, if Gold shows up his son will not see him and we won't be able to break the curse."
"But Emma you heard Rumplestiltskin no funny business."
"I know." Emma agreed, "But I can see so much with that magic he had me drink. It's like I see all of these possibilities of what could happen. I'm not sure which one is the true path but I see the path that has Rumplestiltskin with me and all that leads to is Baelfire running. He won't tell us how to break the curse until he gets his son and if he comes with me that won't happen. The other possibilities are fuzzy but maybe without Rumplestiltskin there is a way I can help get his son to Storybrooke." Emma heard Rumplestilskin humming in the back room, "Hurry Dad give me your keys, Cleo and I will sneak away and you bring them back here and protect them until I return."
James was reluctant at first to hand Emma the keys but he sighed and relinquished them into her palm. "Be safe Emma." He said sternly pulling her into a hug and planting a kiss on the top of her head. "I don't know what that magic did to you but please—be careful."
"I will Dad." Emma smiled into her father's chest.
Rumplestiltskin reentered the room with luggage, "Ready to find my son?" He questioned.
Emma nodded as she pulled away from her father, "Time to find Bae." Emma smiled.
Exiting the pawn shop they all entered the car. Silence overcame them as the slow drive out of Storybrooke began. Emma wasn't sure how to let Cleo know about her idea in front of Mr. Gold so she had waited until they got back to the cabin. "Mr. Gold why don't you wait here while Cleopatra helps me with Blue and Jefferson." Emma suggested.
His eyes creased quickly but since James was staying with him he hadn't questioned it. "Of course."
Emma smiled and exited the car with Cleo. They entered the house and when Cleo began to walk towards Emma's room where Blue was sleeping Emma grabbed her arm. "We're not going with him." Emma instructed. Snow White who was sitting on a chair knitting looked up as her daughter spoke. "You and I are sneaking out of here while he still believes that he's going with us to Portland to find Baelfire." Emma smiled at Snow who stood quickly as if ready for instructions, "Mom I don't have a lot of time to explain but Dad and Rumplestiltskin are out front in the car. You need to bring Blue and Jefferson out one by one into the car. We were wrong to bring them across the town line. The only thing sustaining them was me and now that I won't be here I'm not sure what could happen to them. Take them to the car and back to Storybrooke."
Snow nodded slowly it was obvious she wanted Emma to elaborate but she nodded slowly in agreement, "Be careful Emma." Emma nodded and began to lead the way to the window where they would escape, "And Cleo." Snow added, "Take care of her." Cleo nodded before shifting into a cat and exiting the window after Emma. Snow sighed watching them leave but quickly turned to the couch where Jefferson was resting. She nudged him awake and began to help him to the car. Snow assured Rumplestiltskin that Emma and Cleo were assisting Blue but she knew otherwise.
"How do you expect to find James' car?" Cleo questioned, "You should've asked him where he parked it."
Emma laughed as she followed her father's trail. She had grown accustomed to his foot print. Her parents had trained her well and tracking was one of her specialties. "I'm surprised you can't see the obvious trail leading to his truck by the restaurant. Besides that potion, it's amazing."
"Are you sure you should've drank that potion?" Cleo asked quickening her pace as the restaurant came into view. "It seems like all it's done is give you this knowledge that you didn't have. That was the special thing about you Emma you were pure."
Emma scrunched her face in annoyance, "And I'm not pure now because I see more than I used to?" She looked over her shoulder at the woman she had grown to think of as an older sister, "Look Cleo, I was so naive before. I didn't know what kind of world this was, or even how big it was. That one potion that Rumplestiltskin gave me. That showed me everything. I know how to get to Portland without ever having been there. I know how many people live in the city. I know how many cities are in the state of Oregon. And I know just how to find Baelfire. That potion gave me more than magic it gave me knowledge. I'm still doing exactly what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm breaking the curse. I'm saving the people of Storybrooke." As they reached James' truck Emma went to the driver's side where Cleo had walked towards. "Now Cleo, I'm just breaking it with magic and knowledge. I know more now than I ever have before and it's not a hindrance to me. It's going to make me stronger." Emma opened the driver's side door and got in the truck. She quickly started the engine and rolled the window down to talk to Cleo. "Well are you going to get in?" She asked sternly.
Cleo started to worry about what that potion had done to Emma. Knowledge was one thing, but the thirst for anything was something of its own and at the moment Emma had a thirst so deep for knowledge, for magic, and for the unknown. Through all the years Cleopatra had observed Emma; the young girl and now the mature young adult; she knew that Emma would grow up to be a warrior but she never understood at what lengths that would happen and it was about to cost Emma her innocence.