Chapter twenty-eight

"This isn't fair!" Emma exclaimed again as she clung tighter to Regina's waist.

"Will you stop moaning," she laughed at the increased pressure.

The horse continued its steady gallop, and Emma began whimpering.

"You said you would learn how to ride if I dealt with an ogre."

Emma shook her head and pulled herself closer to her girlfriend, "I said I would learn in Storybrooke, like you know way in the future."

Regina chuckled, "you are literally just sitting on a horse, and we're going so slow that the chances of injury are astronomical."

"So you admit that there is a chance," Emma retorted.

Regina rolled her eyes, and they were interrupted by Mulan (with Aurora saddled behind her) turning back, "I suggested the horses because I thought it would be faster."

Emma shook her head, "well obviously not, can we walk now."

Snow rode up behind them, and tried not to laugh at her daughter, only partly because she felt shame at the fact that she didn't know where the fear stems from.

"Emma, you're still hurt," Snow pointed out.

Emma pouted again, and Regina sighed, "we could already be there if I was allowed to use magic."

"I voted yes on that plan," the blonde defended.

Mulan and Snow shook their heads in unison and Emma deflated "fine, can we switch places? I feel like I'm going to fall off its ass."

Regina shook her head in exasperation and jumped off the horse. Emma brought herself towards it neck and the brunette sat behind her.

Once they had manoeuvred the reins into Regina's hands, she whispered, "this means were going faster," which caused the saviour to go pale.

Cora approached Lake Nostros.

"So how does this work?" the insufferable pirate asked.

Cora closed her eyes in frustration. After deeming that she would rather not climb a beanstalk, she had employed the services of one, Captain Hook. But now she had no desire to continue her travels with the flippant man, who she was sure would betray her at the drop of a hat.

Holding out her hand, Hook gave her the compass she had sent him to get, having refused to do so until they actually got to the portal.

"Now I achieve my goal, and you leave," she replied calmly as she began to empty the wardrobe dust.

"You can't-" he started as he began to draw his sword.

Cora rolled her eyes, and sank her hand into his chest. Ripping out his heart, he began to make a whimpering noise.

"You need my help."

"Believe me, I don't." Without a second thought she turned his heart to dust, determined to reach her goal of dealing with her ungrateful daughter's poor decisions once again.

David looked out into starry night as he finished reading the book for the fourth time.

With every word he began to miss Emma and Snow all the more, and he finally felt as if he knew at least something about her.

As much as he enjoyed getting to know his grandson, he couldn't help but worry. Although, he could now see how different Regina was from 'her timeline' but he still couldn't help but think that she had some elaborate plan to ruin his family.

He had yet to sleep and had only just gotten Henry to agree to do so.

"Hey," said boy said.

"You're supposed to be asleep," David smiled sadly as he continued to stare a picture of Emma.

"So are you," he retorted.

David just let out a laugh and nodded; Henry smirked and sat next to him on Snow's bed.

"She's pretty awesome isn't she?" Henry smiled.

"That she is," David chuckled, "I just...want to talk to her."

"I thought you were afraid."

David shook his head, "now I basically have a script."

Henry burst out laughing and David couldn't help but join in.

"I don't think you'll need that 'script'" a female voice announced.

David looked up and instantly his throat constricted.

"You're...Cora."

Cora raised her eyebrow at the stuttering prince and simply nodded.

David began to look around for his sword, only to realise that Emma never actually gave it back, and settled on standing up in front of Henry.

"How are you here?" Henry squeaked. Regina had told him a lot about Cora the other night, and he honestly didn't understand why his mother would want her back.

"Your dearest saviour gave me some invaluable information."

"She wouldn't help you," Charming tried.

"Oh, don't worry Charming, she got something in exchange," she chuckled.

Charming paled and Henry looked on in confusion.

"What did you do to her?" he croaked out, considering whether it would be possible to get a kitchen knife.

"I simply dealt with her;" David swallowed hard, and Cora continued, "death curses are quite effective."

No, no, no, no, kept running on repeat in Charming's mind as he just stared at the woman.

"Now that is settled, may I talk to my grandson," she asked tauntingly.

"Grandson?" Charming asked half-heartedly, still imagining the many scenario's under which this witch could have killed his daughter, and not believing any one of them. Snow would have done something, right? Hell I would even settle for Regina saving her.

Cora rolled her eyes, and simply waved her hand, freezing Charming in place.

Henry only just seemed to notice what had happened, as he continued to stare at the picture of Emma in the book. She can't be dead, good always wins, right?

"What do you want?" he asked in a small voice.

"I'm simply securing my daughter her happy ending."

"My mom is already happy," Henry tried, desperately hoping that Charming was trying to fight his magical binds. Cora furrowed her brow for a moment, she had expected the boy resent Regina. Frankly she was surprised to find that Regina even had a child. But with some glamour and a trip to Granny's she had found out everything she needed to know with surprising ease.

"No, she simply thinks she is. I have not made it my life's work for her to settle for anything but absolute power. You are the only obstacle to that."

Grabbing his arm, she pulled him of the bed.

"What are you going to do?" he asked fearfully.

"Let's just say that Regina can only reach her true potential if you never exist."

A/N Reviews would be much appreciated :) Hope you guys enjoy

Also I would appreciate it if you guys could check out 'I Can't Lose You' which is an angsty story that I've recently decided to continue (with the advice of QueenApples as per usual XD)