The group of misfits glances around, enjoying the feel of a different realm, enjoying the gorgeous colours, brighter, more vivid then any realm they have seen. It is only when Emma begins a descent through the mountain that reality dawns and what bit of hopeful adventure turns to feelings of ruined dreams.
"I have something I must do, before I leave you all in the care of…" Emma pauses, unsure of how much to reveal, she turns around and motions with her right hand waving in mid air, "a friend," she says, turning around and continuing walking down the hill.
They reach the entrance of what looks to be a cave; it is as though someone carved a bomb shelter. "Please wait here," Emma ask, walking on through. After roughly six feet Emma turns to the wall on her left and waves her hand causing the wall to disappear. Walking in she is greeted by a man standing guard, and another man who is half goat, half human writing in a book, they both bow and refer to Emma as grace, then explain how they had received the job's they are currently holding.
Behind them hang dream catchers, holding the history that is written in the books, glimpse of events unfolding throughout the realm. Emma holds both arms above her head and absorbs the images and words flowing from the dream catchers. Turning around she sees that Regina shell shocked, clearly not staying out of the cave. "I needed to see if The Lions came through here, and if there was something new to avoid. We need to get you guys back to Storybrook," Emma says breathless.
"What! We are here to help you, and that we will do," Regina says frustrated. "I take it he was here then," she says worryingly.
"Yes. And fine, you guys can stay, but if anyone gets hurt in relation to him than I will send you all home." Emma says, only now realizing that everyone else is standing behind Regina, 'at least she doesn't have to repeat herself', she thinks.
After a two hour walk they approach some brick houses lining a small castle and walk on through. Once meeting a guard laced in armor, Emma asks to see the king and/or queen as well as the guardian, at the mention of guardian the man ask them all follow him.
Emma follows the man to the King and Queen who ask her what she wants with them, "I need to speak with the guardian who is helping this realm," she answers, just then someone appears around the corner, their clothes lined with deep red and their hand on their sword.
She looks to the group and stares at Emma, jaw hanging open, "Emma, is it really you? Athena told me you were back."
"Hey Sarah, I need your help, Malcolm is back," Emma says softly.
"I hate it when you use his name," Sarah says, the King and Queen joyous when asking if she is the Emma Swan, when receiving their answer they bow their heads in respect.
"Please, none of that," Emma says her checks becoming pink with embarrassment. "Would you mind showing my family around, while I discuss some details with Sarah?"
"It would be our honor, Your Grace," they say leading the group of misfits around.
"What did you expect Emma? you are a legend, everyone here learns about you when they grow up," Sarah says with delight. "So tell me, what will you have me do?"
"I heard the alliance is weakening, we have to fix that. Athena is taking Zeus' thrown; his betrayal is causing war amongst the realms. In order to rectify it The Lion must be…eliminated, and we both understand how that must be handled in order to work"
"Your family? if you are to do this who among them can save you?"
"No one," Emma says with sadness, "and please escorts them back to Storybrook when it becomes necessary, I will give you the details, and you must hold on to this to give to Ma'at when the time comes, Athena was able to get it from her father before he was banished" she hangs her a bag, instead is two bones, Sarah tells her she can't take what can save her but Emma explains that she rather it be used to save her family and she doesn't want something that the lion has had for twenty years.
"You have my word, but for your case I hope you are wrong when the time comes. I was talking to your old friend, Athena, earlier; she did explain to me what happened. And now the pirate has gone missing, word has it Hades let The Lion take him, not even the gods know what the former god wants him for, some kind of 'breaking' would be my guess," Sarah says with worry.
"Yeah, that would be mine too," Emma agrees.
Robin and Henry both try to distract Regina from her mind running through chaotic nightmares of the blondes past. No one seems to be helping though, and she ignores Robin the moment the blonde returns with her friend, she walks up to them and asks if she can speak with her privately. The two walk off to a guest bed chambers.
"Is everything alright Regina? Did something happen while I was gone," Emma says nervously.
Regina sits on the bed and fidgets with her fingers unsure where to start, "I knew you had a trouble past Emma, and I could tell by your records there were worst then the words bothered to showcase, but this?" she says waving her hands in the air, "this is awful, your parents seem to think, or at least want to believe that it wasn't so bad, or maybe in the least you haven't remembered most of it for the last twenty years, but I know better, and I'm starting to realize why you haven't truly feared any villains before, it's not stupidity its understand what a monster is and still bearing the nightmares of them," she says in one breath. "I am truly sorry Emma, all this time, all that time."
"Regina, you need to breathe, what is done is done, and you are not to blame for it. Don't look at me like that, yes I'm scared but you have to accept that some things happen and their gonna need you to be strong," Emma says looking towards the hall.
"No, you will not sit there and tell me you are going to die and be okay with it. I want to help, there has got to be another way to defeat this man that doesn't resort in your death," she says with her words breaking.
"Unfortunately, I am already cursed and no magic can ever heal me. I have many scars Regina, but the ones from The Lions, especially him are the worst, never could I escape them, never have I even shown anyone," Emma says softly, almost too soft to hear.
"May I?" Regina motions to Emma's body, and then shakes her head, "I mean if you ever want to show anyone who truly understands you Emma, I would like to be that person."
"Regina, you are the only person who has truly ever known and understand me," Emma says a bit broken knowing that Regina's happy ending is Robin and believing that nothing she does could change that. 'Maybe if she sees then you will leave like all the others' she thinks. "Go ahead, there mostly faded, and most of them are on my back," she looks to her hands.
Regina slowly and softly lifts Emma's shirt, holding it to her shoulders, she holds in a sob as she places her hands on Emma's back slowly going over her scars with her fingers. The flogging is only in the center and lower back; under her shoulder blades are cuts, what once were deep cuts.
As her fingers go over them Emma tells her that was where the machine was mostly hooked up as the electrocution made the bones easy for them to rib out while she was awake, it was their bad way of shock therapy. "We should join the others," Emma says getting up, not being able to look at Regina who gets up staring at her. Emma finds herself surprised when Regina hugs hers, their first hug without Henry, and it takes her a second before she closes her eyes and wraps her arms around Regina, breathing in her scent. After a minute they both let go, feeling each other's absents, and walk out of the room.
Joining the others they see The Lion is already there and with Hook, her mother calls out to them, "he bought you a gift Emma, maybe he has changed and wants to make up for the past," Snow says cheerily, not realizing the smile on both The Lion's and Hook's face.
Emma looks around her and notices the king and queen knock out, but Robin says they had their swords drawn first; Sarah reenters the room and stands in front of Henry, hoping no one would be foolish enough to pass her. The Lion laughs and says first he wants heartbreak, for Emma to lose the ones she loves in the worst way, which is when Snow clues into being tricked again. Emma walks over to Henry but all of a sudden Hook is behind Regina and plunges his hand in her chest.
"O that is right, I gave him powers," Malcolm says, "I have done my research Em-ma, and you love whom you cannot have, but who can love you?"
Emma screams as Regina's heart becomes dust. Everyone is motionless as Emma runs to Hook and without thinking waves her hand and makes his body dust. Sarah then freezes everyone where they are, including Malcolm. Emma makes her way to Regina and holds her lifeless body, tears pouring down her face, "why?! She was of no threat to you; she can't even save me Malcolm. You will pay for this, I swear!" Just then she plunges her own hand in her chest and pulls out her heart.
"Half a heart won't do," he tells her panic, "she doesn't feel the same, she has a thief she loves."
"I am well aware, that's why I'm not giving her just half," she tells him, looking at Henry, then Robin, "I'm sorry but your heart won't do because regardless of your love, you've hurt her too much for it to work," he nods his head in understanding and Emma places her heart in the ashes of Regina's absorbing them, tells Sarah she can release her family but not the lion, then proceeds to place it in Regina's chest.
Regina gasp awake and looks around to the group of people running towards her, she looks at Emma and asks what happen, and Robin says she died but it's okay now. "How am I alive?" Robin tells her that what matters is that she is alive and that he loves her, kisses her and gets up, helping her to her feet. Regina asks how again and he tells her he gave her half of his heart. "Emma is that true? I don't understand I don't feel incomplete, Emma, look at me, is it true?" Robin looks pleadingly at Emma and the lion laughs, saying something about him being right. And Henry looks like he was the one with the broken heart with Robin's lie.
"Shut up Malcolm! Sarah please accompany them back to Storybrook."
"What! We can help you Emma," David pleads.
"The deal was until one of you got hurt!" Emma says with anger.
Regina walks up to Emma, and Sarah yells that she can't hold Malcolm much longer. "None of us are hurt though," Regina says softly trying to get Emma to look at her.
"You just died Regina, your heart was nothing but ashes," just then the lion gets loose and waves his hands towards Emma shooting magic that brings her to her knees. "Sarah now! Go!"
Sarah and the group of misfits disappear leaving Emma alone with the lion.