A/N: Thanks for the reviews. Here is part 4, where the action really starts to get going. :)
A dense wooded area, calm, peaceful, with the sun filtering down through the majestic trees. Suddenly a bright yellow orange opening appears, then two bodies fall out, and the opening vanishes.
Tumbling to the earth, Emma and Regina land face down among the forest debris. Getting up on her knees, then looking around as she stands up, Emma exclaims, "No. Noo...noo.." as she turns in a circle.
Regina, having settled herself on her feet, is brushing off bits of dirt and leaves, sighs. "Appears we are back in the Enchanted Forest."
"I got that."
"The only question is when."
Emma looks up, then spies something on a tree. As she gets a closer look, Regina glance at her. "Miss Swan?"
"I have a pretty good idea." Emma points at the poster tacked to the tree.
Regina moves next to Emma, her eyes go wide.
For there on the tree, is a wanted poster, for Snow White. They have ported back to when Snow White was on the run from the Evil Queen.
Emma goes back, picks up the pack, and turns it upside down, dumping the book out. She picks it up and quickly looks through the pages.
"Why are you reading that now?"
"When we were falling through I was thinking about Henry and the story we all were reading at Granny's." Emma stops at the page, one showing when Snow and Charming first came in contact.
Regina moves towards Emma, thinking. "You think the time portal may work like other portals. That it takes you to the last place you were thinking of."
"Not where, when." The Sheriff points to the picture.
Regina looks impressed. "Excellent deduction Miss Swan." She smiles gently at Emma. "Unfortunately looks like this portal does not stay open long either."
"Nope, we are trapped. In the past." Emma gets up, putting the book back in the bag. Running her hand through her blonde locks, "This is why I should of left Storybrooke right after defeating Zelena." Realizing what she just said, Emma looks at Regina with regret. "Hey, I'm sorry, about...your sister."
"Yes. Well right now, that is the least of my worries, and we weren't exactly on the best of terms." Regina gives Emma a small smile. "We have been in dire straits before. We just need to figure out where we are exactly, get our wits, and focus on being constructive."
Regina looks at Emma, shrugging her shoulders. "So any ideas on how to get back?"
"How would I know. Who do I look like, Marty Mcfly?"
"Marty Mcwho?"
"The kid...with the lightning...and the Delorean...and they went back in time."
"Miss Swan, what are you carrying on about?"
"Back to the Future?" Seeing the blank look on Regina's face, Emma exclaims, "Seriously? In the 28 years that you were stuck in Ground Hog Day, you never seen that movie? Not even with Henry?"
"Dear, I had better things to do that sit around watching movies with hormonal teenagers." Regina rolls her eyes, scowling.
Emma grumbles, as she looks around, "Once we get back home, we need to have a Back to the Future marathon."
Regina reacts to Emma's reference to home. 'Hmm, home huh? Keep thinking like that Emma.' "A marathon, how many of these movies are there?"
"Huh..oh...just three. Henry will love them."
The brunette just smirks, but before she can respond, the sound of hoof beats fast approaching causes them to look towards the road.
"Quick! Behind those trees!" Regina grabs Emma's arm.
"What is it?"
"I don't know, but we can't be seen."
As soon as they are behind the clump of trees, both women peek around a tree. They see a group of four riders, that appear to be black knights, thundering past. Once they are out of sight, Regina moves away from the direction they went. "We need to go."
Emma heads in the direction they went.
"Where are you going!" Regina tries to grab Emma's arm again, but the blonde is out of reach as she heads IN the direction the soldiers went.
"To see what's up. Relax."
"Emma, no! Emma!" Regina growls low at the retreating back of Emma. "Damn it Swan!" The woman follows, with trepidation coursing through her body. She knows who these soldiers work for.
Regina finally catches up with Emma, who has slowed down, crouching behind some brushes. The brunette crouches down next to Emma. Looking out in front of them, they see a small village, mostly just a few homes. Apparently the soldiers have rounded them up, and are standing waiting.
Sounds of more horses, and wheels crunching on the dirt road, both women watch as a very elegant black carriage comes into view.
Regina immediately recognizes it. "Emma, we need to get out of here, now," whispers Regina, as anxiety shows on her face.
Emma ignores her companion, and moves a branch out of the way as the carriage rolls to a stop. "Nice carriage, wonder who it is?"
The door opens and out steps a woman, elegantly dressed in a hat, coat of red velvet trimmed in black, tight leather pants, ankle boots and gloves. They can't see who it is yet, as the occupant has exited on the opposite side as the hiding women.
Regina looks down, 'I had hoped to avoid this.' thinks the former Evil Queen.
The woman approaches the villagers, removing her gloves. "Listen to me very carefully. Whatever squalor and despair in you pathetic little lives have been able to tolerate at this point is nothing compared to the pain and misery I can inflict if I leave here unhappy."
Emma looks at Regina for a second, then back to the woman. "It's you."
"No. That's the Evil Queen."
The Evil Queen continues her speech, "You will help."
"Nice outfit, like those pants, though not as nice as your sensible pant suits." Emma watches the Evil Queen, mesmerized. "How did you squeeze in those things?"
"Magic sometimes does come in handy dear. And that comment on my pants coming from Miss 'How Much Tighter Can My Jeans Get' Swan." Regina snarks back, but Emma is already fixated on the Queen.
Regina sees how Emma is looking at her past self, with adoration, and that damn puppy dog look. At first, Regina is feeling a bit angered, then realizes...'damn it..I am NOT jealous of my self!...get a grip.' But as she watches the blonde, thinks 'wish she regarded me like that.' Then Regina catches the change in Emma' face from adoration to troubled.
"That's Marco, and Granny." Emma points out, as Regina turns to see. In among the villagers, definitely are two familiar faces, as Marco speaks.
"Please your Majesty. We are a peaceful village. What do you want from us?" Marco stands there, wringing his hat.
"Justice." Glares the Evil Queen. "If I find out any one in this village has helped the bandit Snow White," Emma startles at the name, "they will suffer dearly."
Taking a side glance at Regina, Emma sees something reflecting in those chocolate pools. Remorse, guilt, sorrow, and she can't help but put her hand out and touch the somber brunette's arm. At the touch, Regina looks at Emma, then glances down.
The Queen presses on. "Here is what helping Snow White looks like."
Two black knights come around the carriage, holding on to a woman, with a cover over her head. They stop, one of the men pulls the hood off. There stands a woman, with long brown hair, tanned complexion, her hands tied in front of her.
"Help me!" Screams the woman as she looks around frantic.
"Who wants to be next?"
The villagers either look down or away from the terrified woman.
"Please!" Cries the captive woman.
Emma ducks down and creeps off.
"What are you doing?"
"I'm helping that woman. She's just a innocent w.." Regina grabs Emma's arm, pulling her around.
"Emma, no." Regina glances at the blonde, with sorrow in her eyes. "Zelena wanted to change the past. It's dangerous. Messing with anything can do untold damage for all of us."
"So we just have to let her die?" Emma points at the woman.
Bowing her head, Regina speaks quietly, "What ever her fate is, as much as it pains me right now, we can not interfere. Not if we want a chance to get back home and to Henry."
Seeing how distressed Regina is, Emma concedes, and both women move away from the village.
"We need to get out of these clothes." Regina stops, as she inspects Emma then herself. "Can't take a risk of you, and especially me, being seen." Regina tries to conjure up a clothing spell, but nothing happens.
"What's wrong? Why won't you magic work?" Emma quizzes.
"I don't know." Regina tries again, this time to bring up one of her fire balls, but she only brings up a very small flame on her finger, it then quickly snuffs out. "My magic is very weak here for some reason. Once we find some clothes, we need to go find Rumple, hopefully he won't have a meltdown when he sees us. But with out my magic, we are going to need him to help us get back home." Regina trudges off, with Emma following.
Shortly after, they come across a lone house. No one seems to be home, but there is some clothes drying on a line. Suddenly two hands grab the clothes and pull them off the line. After moving off a ways, both women duck behind bushes and trees to change.
Regina is the first to emerge. She is dressed in a dark green tunic, with a brown overcoat with a hood, and brown hide pants. As she adjusts the sleeves, she is thinking these must belong to a young adult as they seem to fit just perfect. "Miss Swan, we don't have all day."
"Yea..yea..hold your britches." Emma comes around a large tree, trying to adjust her top. The blonde has on a long skirt, with a tight corset, and a long hooded cape. Regina at first is stunned by the blonde in front of her. 'Damn, she is beautiful.' But then Emma starts adjusting her corset, pushing her breasts around, and Regina blushes and looks away.
"Is this really necessary?" The Sheriff keeps fidgeting with the clothes.
"What would you have done if the Queen had spotted us. I mean I look like her. That would not go over to well dear."
"We could of run."
"You forget, the Queen has magic, we wouldn't have run far."
Emma rolls her eyes.
Regina continues, "The point is to minimize making a lasting impression. Sadly red leather is and never was in vogue here," smirks the brunette.
Emma is still messing with her new outfit. "The only lasting impression I am concerned with is what this corset is making on my spleen."
Once more, Regina has to hide her eyes as she catches herself staring at Emma. The wild blonde locks, that tight corset, those beautiful sea-green eyes. Her heart beating faster, Regina moves to pick up the bag with the book. "Your discomfort is nothing compared to what would happen if we effect the time line. We need to proceed with all caution."
Emma finally has stopped messing around, and looks at Regina for the first time. 'Wow...she looks...sexy' "You look rather dashing Madam Mayor." Emma smiles, trying to calm her pounding heart. "Looks like you got the better end of the deal."
'Hmmm...I don't think so.' Regina moves toward Emma, taking the hood she pulls it up over the blonde's head. For just a few moments, sea-green stare into chocolate brown. Hearts start racing. Reluctantly, Regina breaks the spell, pulls her hood up also. "We need to head off. Luckily I remember how to get to Rumple's castle."
As they continue down the road, just as they were coming upon to a fallen log, and about to go around, they hear a horse neighing. Stopping, they both glance back, but nothing is there at first. But then over the low dip in the road, several gray horses, with men adorned with helmets, wearing white garments trimmed in blue.
Putting her hand on Emma's shoulder, Regina pushes Emma towards the woods. "Quickly, hide!"
They hide behind a large copse of hackberry. Ducking down, they peer out and watch as the entourage approaches, with four knights, surrounding a large, ornate carriage, white with gold trim.
"You people sure know how to ride in style I will give you that."
"Shhh!"
The forward guards reach the fallen log. "Halt!" One of the men calls out. Soon a man inside the carriage exits. He is tall, handsome, with short sandy blond hair, wearing a red noble man's jacket, with gold trim, and white pants. The man walks up to the men, calling back at the carriage, "Tis nothing but a fallen tree." He bends to examine the log.
Regina eyes go wide, then puts her hand on Emma's. "Emma, That's..."
"My dad." Emma can't suppress the affection in her smile.
Regina peeks at Emma, seeing the endearing look in those green eyes, as the young Charming gazes at her father. The brunette turns back to the scene in the road, a small smile on her face, moving her hand away from the blonde's, as she ponders, 'Emma, you can't run from the fact that you are Daddy's little girl'.
"We should go, we don't want to be seen by your father." Regina gently coaxes.
But Emma is so charmed, literally, by the man in front of her, she doesn't even hear Regina. Then her eyes sparkle, and her grin gets wider, as she realizes the significance of what they are witnessing. Quickly, she looks over her right shoulder, up into the trees. There she spies a lone figure, hiding among the branches, shrouded in a cloak. Then just very briefly, a glimpse of long black hair, and the face of Snow White, her mother, then the face is hidden once more.
Regina glances at Emma, then turns to see what she is looking at. She sees the figure up in the tree but does not understand why Emma has that cheeky grin. Turning back to the blonde, "Emma? Who is that?"
Just as Emma leans on a branch to get a closer look at her dad, the branch snaps. Cringing, she closes her eyes, then opens one up, squinting up into the tree where her mother is.
Snow jerks at the sound of the snap, panics and stumbles out of the tree. Hitting the ground, she stands, looks toward where the sound came from, scowls, and at the yell of the men in the road, takes off running. By the time Regina has turned her head to see what is going on, all she sees is the back end of the person disappearing into the woods.
Emma guiltily turns to watch her father get back in the carriage, and the troop head down the road. Soon as they are out of sight, Regina moves out into the road with a reluctant Emma in tow.
Emma quietly says, "You know that thing about small changes having consequences?"
Regina eyes Emma, sees the sheepish look. "Emma?"
"What about big changes."
"Emma..who... what did we do?" Regina's eyebrows hike up.
"Not we...me. When I snapped that branch." Emma looks at Regina, eyes rimmed with tears. "This was the moment my parents first met. That woman in the tree, that was my Mom."
"Snow?"
Emma nods her head.
"And because of us, now they didn't. This is what I meant Emma!"
"I know...I'm really sorry. Just it was so cool to actually be here to watch part of my parents story. It made it so real." Emma slowly walks down the road, her head hanging, as she kicks at the dirt.
"Miss Swan, where are you going."
"Don't know. Somewhere I can't fuck things up again."
Regina catches up with the sullen woman. Not knowing what to say at that moment. the brunette walks silently next to Emma. They stay like that for a while, till Regina can't stand the somber quiet. Not sure why she seems to keep touching the blonde, she lays her hand on Emma's shoulder, giving it a light squeeze.
"Hey. Emma. We will fix this. It's was just an accident." Regina gives Emma a diminutive smile. "I didn't mean to yell at you."
Emma peers into chocolate brown eyes, blinks, and returns a slight smile. "It's okay." She then gazes down at the ground again, as she keeps walking.
Regina sees something just past Emma, off to the side. A bit of movement, something white in color. Squinting, the former Evil Queen goes to investigate. Approaching a copse of thick shrubbery, she glances through. With a smile, she calls quietly. "Emma. Emma! Come here."
Realizing that her companion has stopped, she peers back, and sees Regina motioning for her to come over, quietly. Reaching the brunette's side, Emma gives her a quizzical stare.
"What is it?"
"Take a look. I think this may cheer you up."
Emma looks through the branches. "Apples!" There is a large apple tree full of apples, and what appears to be a horse, it's head down, eating them off the ground.
Sighing, Regina gives an exasperated roll of her eyes. "No idiot! Look...there," as she points.
"Regina I have seen horses before...what is so diff...Holy..shit!" Emma's eyes go wide, as the animal raises it's head, and she realizes she is looking at a unicorn. "Is that...wait..they're real?"
'Oh give me strength not to smack her up side her head' thinks Regina but retorts, "Yes dear, they are real, did you forget where we are?"
"I like unicorns," Emma murmurs, as she stares at the creature. "It's magnificent."
Regina also stares, but not at the unicorn but at the blonde, seeing that lovable smile, sparkling green, 'Yes, you are.'
The unicorn stands calm and serene, then suddenly, there is a low grumbling noise. It perks it's ears up, then quickly moves off deeper into the woods.
Regina peers around for the sound of the noise. "What in the hell is that." Then it's heard again, and Regina just stares at Emma, who has a sheepish look.
"Sorry." As both women look at the source of the noise. Emma is rubbing her growling stomach. "I'm hungry. I don't know about you, but I haven't had anything to eat since breakfast..and I have no clue when the hell that even was. Time is so fucked up here." With that, Emma stalks over to the tree and picks several apples, putting a couple in her pockets. "Here, I know you love these." She smirks as she tosses one to Regina, who catches it.
"Thanks dear. You know they say when you see a white unicorn, that it means good fortune. Let us take that as a sign that we will get things back on track and get home to our family." Giving Emma a heartfelt smile, she bites into the apple. "Let's get going, sooner we get to Rumple's the sooner we can get out of here."
Now in good spirits, Emma follows Regina back out on to the road. With out their cell phones, it's hard to gauge what time it is, but both agree that they need to find Rumple before it gets dark. Soon Regina heads off the road, following a trail. Emma is close behind, when Regina stops. The blonde stops just behind Regina, peering over her shoulder. For a brief second, Regina's heart stops, then picks up pace. She avoids turning her head as Emma's cheek is nearly touching hers.
"So...is that it?" Emma barely whispers, so close to a certain brunette's ear. Regina gulps, then finally, reluctantly, moves away, then turns.
"Yes, that's Rumple's castle."