Chapter XLII

Hearts Aflame

Their circle was the safe eye in the middle of a chaotic storm. It was their shelter from the hurricane of her foolish design. Magic pounded against magic. Regina wasn't sure how long the circle would hold up against an unhinged wraith.

"What have we done?" Belle's horrified whisper echoed the fear squeezing her heart. What had she done and how did she undo it?

Regina concentrated all her magic and might, on reinforcing the circles' power. She wasn't all-powerful, though. She wasn't a dragon or the Dark One. She was just a human.

"Make it go away, Regina!" Aurora sounded so young, so scared. Regina felt protective of her. It was what she imagined having a younger sibling would feel like.

"I" She wished she had an answer. "I don't know how.'' The Wraith wasn't responding to her commands. It wasn't like a genie, a golem or a heart-controlled body. Regina didn't have a traveler's hat, a bean or a mermaid's voice to make a portal. She didn't have an enchanted mirror, a staff or a focus gem to enhance her own magic. They had nothing to stop or send the wraith away. She had been so confident, now she had no escape plan. She was a fool.

"I wish that Ru-"

A loud bang cut off Belle's words. The council chamber doors burst in and swung wide open.

Oh Spirits, no. No! Regina had put a protective ward on the main Town Hall doors to keep them locked and barred. She had not extended that protection to the interior doors. How could she have been so blind? She had always underestimated Emma. Regina watched, in horrifying slow motion, as Emma, Ruby, and Mulan charged in. They charged in, ready to save the day because that was what heroes did. That was how heroes died. They hadn't known what they were charging into. They had no chance. Regina had damned them all.

"Emma!"

Regina heard other voices, other names, other warnings. She couldn't respond because they didn't matter. She couldn't tear her eyes, her thoughts, away from Emma.

Emma in her golden dress and curls. Emma with her narrowed eyes and set jaw. Emma, her Emma, would die. The wraith did not have a marked target, so it was free to take whatever or whoever's soul it wanted.

Emma was outside of the protective circle. Emma, sweet, funny and stupidly brave Emma, was going to die right in front of her. Emma was going to die and there was nothing Regina could do to save her. It was happening all over again. Again and again.

Good people, Daniel and Daddy and Emma, died. Heroes, like Ruby, Mulan and Emma died. They fought glorious battles for the greater good. Death wasn't glorious, good or ground-breaking. Death was cold, brutal and didn't differentiate between good and evil.

Mulan, Ruby, and Emma were defenseless. They would die, and it was all her fault. The Evil Queen would have more blood on her hands.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me!" Emma glared up at the wraith. "How did you get back here?" She leveled a shotgun at it. "I will blow your ghost ass back to Hell."

The shotgun blast went right through the wraith. Ruby had her handgun raised and Mulan had a sword. All useless. They were doomed. The Wraith turned and focused on it's new and unprotected victims.

Images of Daniel flashed in her head. Not again. Never again She couldn't go through that heartbreak again. She couldn't lose Emma. Not Emma. Emma who was street smart, silly and too brave for her own good. Emma, who had given birth to their son. Emma, who made her smile. Emma who kissed her and didn't care who saw. Her Emma.

Emma wasn't alone, though.

There was Ruby. Ruby was funny, kind and smarter than most people thought. Besides, she had been Henry's first crush. He'd followed her around with stars in his little eyes since he was six years old. Regina couldn't let anything hurt her.

Then there was Mulan. Mulan was honorable and brave. Anyone that stood up to her mother as someone that deserved a good and long life. She deserved a chance to find her happiness.

Regina could not stand by while her decisions destroyed more lives. Not now, not when there was so much, so many, at risk.

She turned to Belle, "You two stay here."

"What?" Belle blinked away tears. "Regina, what-"

Aurora's arms tightened around her. "No!"

"Stay" She whispered into Aurora's ear, "in the circle."

She left them in a cloud of violet smoke and reappeared outside the circle of salt. She'd forfeited her protection. She didn't deserve it anyway. This was her mess and she would clean it up or die trying.

"What part of do not touch my people do you not understand, Wraith?"

She raised her hands and the torches sprang back to life. Fire erupted from her hands too. She raised her chin and squared her shoulders, ready to fight. She was Regina Mills, sorceress, queen and mayor. She could not-would not let herself be afraid anymore.

The wraith's voice thundered in her head again. Her knees quaked, but she forced herself to stay on her feet. "You will not be taking any souls today." She held herself still and raised her brow. She steeled herself for the battle to come. She had faced down death before, she would do it again. She was not a helpless girl anymore. Emma was not Daniel. This wasn't the Enchanted Forest, this was Storybrooke. This wasn't a fairy tale. This was her story and her choices.

"I summoned you." She glared up at the wraith. "and I will banish you."

How? Mulan did not understand. How could they be so foolish? Aurora and Belle had summoned the wraith. Worse, they had asked the Evil Queen for help. Worst, they had done that without her there to protect her-them.

Why? Why would she-they trust The Evil Queen? The Evil Queen over her?

What had they been thinking? What were they going to do now?

How could she keep Aurora safe?

Mulan was ready, she had her borrowed sword poised to strike. Not that it would help. The wraith was unstoppable. Emma aimed her gun. Mulan could have told her it was useless. No human weapons could touch a wraith.

She had studied guns on the internet, but her reading had not prepared her for the sound. The gun didn't pop or bang, it exploded. It was awful, like a canon. Mulan's ears rang. The gun did nothing. The wraith didn't even flinch.

Mulan tightened her grip and tried to formulate a plan. She had to save Aurora. Only she was halfway across the room in what Mulan assumed was the three circles of protection. She had found the information herself. She didn't know how true that book was or where it had come from. She didn't know it would work. She didn't know if the Evil Queen protect anyone.

Did she hold a grudge against Belle or Aurora? She'd sent the wraith to them the first time after all. She had locked Belle away. She had stalked and terrorized Snow White. Regina Mills had earned her title of Evil several times over. Mulan was thunderstruck when Regina appeared in front of them. Was this a trick? Was she in league with the wraith? Was she there to hurt them? Fight them? Murder them?

When Regina spoke, Mulan couldn't believe her ears. The Evil Queen was defending them? The Queen, still dressed for the ball, conjured fire. She stood defiant, glaring up at the wraith. The wraith that had almost killed her. Was this the hated and feared Evil Queen?

"Belle." Ruby kept her gun aimed at the wraith but her eyes kept darting aside.

"Baby." Emma's word was almost silent and her eyes locked on Regina.

"I summoned you and I will banish you."

The Queen was bluffing. She could no more banish the wraith than Emma and Ruby could shoot it. Her magic was formidable but the wraith was unstoppable. They were in deep trouble. The room shook and a cold wind blew. Mulan clenched her jaw and readied herself to kill and die to keep Aurora safe.

The Wraith's dark powers effected The Evil Queen. She trembled and almost lost her footing. Emma took two huge steps forward, but the Queen held her arm out to stop her.

"Don't. I will take care of this." She launched two fireballs at the wraith. That made it react. The floating phantasm flipped, twisted and thrashed away from the flames.

The Wraith, rotting flesh, dark cloak, and demonic red eyes, focused on the Queen. With it distracted, Mulan sprinted towards Aurora. Her slick bottom shoes gave her no traction and hurt her toes. She slid to a stop short of the salt line of the outermost circle.

"Mulan!" Aurora was pale. She was crying. She looked terrified. All Mulan wanted to do was hold her close and wipe her tears. She wanted to take her away, somewhere safe. She knew she couldn't, not with the wraith raging only a few feet away. If The Queen's protection held than the creature couldn't touch Aurora. Her princess and old friend were safest exactly where they were. Aurora was where she needed to be, despite what Mulan's traitorous heart desired.

"We can't do it."

Aurora stood but held on to Belle with one hand and reached out towards her with the other. She held her palm out to the inner circle's barrier. Mulan raised her own palm to the outer most barrier. Despite the space and magic between them, but Mulan would swear she could feel her princess's touch.

"The price is too high."

Aurora let go of Belle and held up a single pearl. Mulan had never seen it but recognized it immediately. Phillip had told her many stories from his childhood. She knew exactly how precious that pearl was to Phillip and Aurora.

"To get Phillip's soul back, the Wraith demands another soul in return."

More tears rushed down Aurora's made-up cheeks. "Phillip" Her lips trembled as she spoke his name. "would never forgive us if we sacrificed an innocent soul." She looked past Mulan. "And now there are four innocent souls out there. You're out there."

They were too far apart. Mulan needed Aurora in her arms again. She needed to protect her.

"I can't lose you too. Mulan, please. You have to leave."

Mulan unbuttoned her suit jacket, took it off. She wanted to wrap it around Aurora's shoulders, but she couldn't. So she dropped it to the cracked floor. She rolled her shoulders to loosen them. The silk vest she wore covered very little. Still, she needed speed and flexibility more than protection or fashion.

"Never. Not while you are in danger."

Aurora would not lose her soul tonight.

Mulan turned her back to the queen and the wraith. She looked at Aurora, only Aurora. "Stay in the circle." She wanted to say more. She wanted to call her the names and make the pledges, that lived in her heart. Instead, she twisted the sword in her hand. "That thing will not take you, My Princess."

She turned, and let that vow settle over her like armor. Mulan walked to the closest torch and thrust the blade into the flames. When she pulled it out the steel was on fire. She hoped it was an enchanted sword or she would owe David a new one. She looked across the rooms and met Ruby's eyes.

"I will guard you until death and beyond." Then she looked across the rooms and met Ruby's eyes. Ruby understood her message. Now that the woman knew that Belle was under her protection too, she could focus on the wraith. Still, she paused and Ruby looked to Belle. She loved her, Mulan could see it in her eyes.

"No matter what happens" Ruby held her hand out to Belle. She was yards away, but her voice carried her feelings as much as touch would. "You stay in that damn circle, Belle! You have to stay safe!"

Then Ruby's eyes glowed gold. The gun clattered the ground as her hand twisted and contorted into a dark paw. Her words turned to growls and her face contorted and sprouted fur.

Mulan lost her breath for a moment. It was one thing to know that Ruby was a wolf. It was another to see it. The woman, wolf, shredded her clothes and fell onto four legs. The she-wolf was massive, all muscle, claws, and teeth. It was a killing machine only held back by Ruby's humanity.

A witch, a wolf, a savior, and a soldier, did they even stand a chance? They had to. They were the only thing between the demon and Storybrooke.

Mulan stole one last glance over her shoulder at Aurora. She and Belle were clinging to each other again. It was as much for comfort as it was for each other's safety. One was holding the other in place. Both had tears on their cheeks.

They had to fight. They had to win. There was no choice, no chance of escape, no surrender. Mulan could feel the sword's pommel heating up in her hands. She ignored it. They had to stop the wraith or die trying.

When Mulan mentioned the wraith, Emma didn't believe her. The rational parts of Emma's brain went into immediate denial. Nobody would summon that rip-off Harry Potter-Lord of the Rings nightmare on purpose. That freaking horror show had almost killed Regina. She wouldn't bring it back. That was insane, impossible and definitely not happening. It couldn't be.

So when she kicked the door in and saw the monster she wanted to scream, curse and cry. Of course, the wraith was back. Of Course! It had been five minutes since Storybrooke's last magical emergency. Emma raced through the entire emotional spectrum and finally settled on pissed. Pissed at the wraith. Pissed because that thing sucked and she hated it. It had killed Rory's boyfriend. It had almost killed her girlfriend, her Regina. Plus it was ugly.

Emma aimed and fired the tactical shotgun without thinking. She was operating on some kind of cop-instinct that she must have inherited from Graham. She unloaded it at the wraith's heart, or whatever the hell it kept in its chest. It did nothing. There was no fire, no hat, and no

hope. They were screwed. She was going to die in her stupid ball gown. Worse, she and Regina would never get their date. Worst, their kid would be an orphan-the one thing she'd never ever wanted for him. Fuck!

Purple smoke swirled and Regina appeared in front of her. She stood, arms wide and stance defiant.

"What part of-" Regina's voice was proud and angry, beyond Madam-Mayor-esque. This was the voice of the Evil Queen. "-my people do you not understand, Wraith?"

The voice was the Evil Queen, but the snark was all Regina. She raised her arms and Emma could see the muscles in her bare back flexing. Emma's jaw dropped when Regina made fire appear in her hands. The torches, three actual Indiana Jones style torches, lit up like roman candles. When Cora had played with fire she had been terrifying. When Regina did it, she was sexy.

Regina threw the fire like a Major League pitcher. The fire hit the wraith harder than the shotgun ever could. Something, Emma didn't know what, happened and Regina stumbled. It was only for a second but Emma's heart jolted.

Then Regina straightened up, "You will not be taking anyone's soul today."

Not if Emma could stop it. That Wraith was going back to Hell (or worse-the Enchanted Forest) one way or another.

"I summoned you.''

What?

"And I will banish you."

What!

There was being brave and then there was being stupid. Emma was pretty sure that Regina had gone a little too far this time. What had she, they, been thinking? Regina had been doing so well. She was calm, relaxed and happier than Emma had ever seen her. Why would she risk all that? For what: revenge, a rematch, or what? What were Belle and Aurora parts in this? Had they put her up to this? Why? Why!

The wraith, stunned by fire, was still alive-ish and kicking. It was still powerful and still wanted to take Regina's soul away. Last time they had sent it away with the hat.

The hat!

Regina hadn't been able to use the hat until they touched. Emma had put her hand on Regina's shoulder and then boom, a portal had opened. Emma had thought about it a lot. The only thing she could figure was that she had some kind of magic. Savior magic or something. She had chest-boomed Cora with it. Her super-power was probably magic too. It was not something she liked to think about, it gave her a headache. Still, if she had magic, she would use it to help Regina.

It was like she told Cora, love is strength. Emma could see that strength all around her.

Mulan looked at Aurora like she was the most important thing in the world. She threw off her suit jacket and swung David's sword through a torch and set it on fire. Her face was set in an intense scowl. The fire flickered off of the sword and lit up Mulan's face. She looked terrifying like she was ready to kill an entire army. Mulan was ready to fight.

Love is strength.

She looked over her shoulder at her deputy. Ruby, fun times and tequila shots Ruby, said nothing. Her eyes narrowed and glowed gold. It was like a movie. Ruby didn't take off her clothes, she destroyed them as she went from person to wolf. She was huge and hairy, and an actual werewolf.

Ruby, her bestie, was a freaking werewolf. Christ, her life was so weird! Ruby, Wolf Ruby, let out a growl and glared at the wraith. She had claws, teeth, and eyes locked on the wraith. Ruby was ready to fight.

Love is strength.

Emma had a freaking werewolf and a kick-ass warrior woman backing her up. More than that, she had Regina. Her mayor, her queen, the mother of her son, her girlfriend. She would move heaven, earth and fairytale land for her. She'd fought the wraith before, and she would do it again. Nothing would hurt Regina. Emma was ready to fight.

Love is strength.

Emma closed the gap between her and Regina. It was a few steps, but it felt like miles. Emotionally it was a marathon. She would run a hundred marathons (physical, mental or whatever) for Regina. On the Official Emma Swan Scary Shit Scale love ranked higher than the wraith. Love was terrifying. This kind of love, the powerful,magical, forever and true kind was terrifying. It should have her sprinting back to Boston. Instead, Emma reached towards it. She wrapped her arms around Regina and pressed her front to Regina's back. Emma wrapped one arm around her waist and let the other cross over her body, like a seatbelt.

Love is strength.

"We're stronger together."

Emma had abandoned her shotgun and her attitude. Right now, Regina needed her. She gave all her strength and love to Regina, the Queen of Her Heart.

Emma could feel the magic buzzing between them. It was warm and powerful, primal, and so right. Emma wasn't a magical expert, but they, their magic, felt powerful.

Regina relaxed in her arms for a moment. "I won't let it hurt you, Emma. Never."

Emma pressed a kiss to her cheek. Who was braver, the savior or the savior of the savior? Both. Neither. They were strongest together. They made a great team in a fight, in parenting, in life. Regina may have started all this by herself, but they would finish it together. Together they were a force to be reckoned with and this time they had backup.

"And I won't let it hurt you. We do this together."

Regina shook in her arms. It was subtle like she was trying to cover it up, but Emma had her so close it was like the tremors were her own. "Baby?"

Regina rested a little more of her weight on Emma. "It's voice." Her words wobbled. "It hurts my head."

The wraith was hurting Regina. Oh Hell No!

Emma pressed another kiss to her cheek then let Regina go. She stepped around her girlfriend. She put herself between Regina and the Wraith. "No way, buddy. Fuck off to whatever half-assed SyFy movie you escaped from."

The wraith twisted and turned in the air. Its movements were fast and furious.

Regina moved in front of her, and back into her arms. She wouldn't let Emma defend her, of course. Emma wrapped her arms around her again instead. Regina turned her head. "We summoned it to rescue Prince Phillip's soul." She sighed and Emma could feel her frustration and fear. "But all magic has a price. To save Phillip, we have to sacrifice another, an innocent soul. The circles protected Aurora, Belle and me. It's warded by the most powerful protection spells I could find. You three did not understand what was going on. You walked right into a war-zone."

Emma heard what she was saying, but one thing repeated in her head. "Why the hell did you leave the circle?" Regina had been safe. She had been safe and had left that safety behind. She put herself in the mortal danger. On purpose. To protect Emma. Regina was risking her life to protect her, again.

Emma shook her head and pressed another kiss to Regina's neck. There was only one thing to do now.

"Let's kick his ass then Baby. We'll rescue Phillip and save the day." She smirked, and let's make it quick, we've got a date to get to."

Regina chuckled, "Of Course."

Emma's plastered her front to Regina's bare back. She could feel the chuckle in her chest. Regina straightened up and pulled away a little, but stayed close. She didn't break their connection. That was fine with Emma.

Regina conjured up another couple of fireballs. These were bigger and hotter than before.

Love is strength.

Regina hurled the fire balls one after another. Three, six, more. Emma didn't know much about magic, but this seemed like a lot. She felt, knew, that Regina needed her. The fireballs crashed into the Wraith and it let out a shriek. It was a loud, ear-splitting sound. It made Emma flinch. The scream was even worse for Regina. Her knees buckled and she let out a small gasp. Emma was supporting almost all her weight.

Regina's face was pale, and she was sweating. "Hurts."

Emma wished she knew how to heal. Regina had used magic to heal her but Emma couldn't do the same. All she could do was hold on tight. "I've got you, Baby."

Regina's head snapped up and her body went rigid. "No!" Her voice broke on the short word. "No! You can't hurt her!"

She pulled away from Emma and pushed her back. Regina planted herself between her and the wraith. She put her fists on her hips and lifted her head. Emma couldn't see her face, but she knew the exact expression on it. Regina was pissed and determined. It was the expression that Emma had seen day in and day out for weeks when she'd first arrived. Regina's temper was legendary. Her determination was as strong as her magic, stronger.

"Never." Regina's voice was harder, colder and more commanding then Emma had ever heard it.

Emma moved forward again to hold her. She would be Regina's anchor in this shit-storm, wheather the woman liked it or not. Emma didn't know what was going on, what the wraith was saying, but it couldn't be good.

Regina's hands lit up with fire again. Emma could feel the heat. The fireballs were like little suns. They were bright, hot and intense, like Regina. She wasn't holding anything back. She held so much inside, played it so close to the chest. Emma had never seen her like this. She wasn't holding anything back. She was glorious. She threw a flurry of fireballs. Emma could feel the power flowing through Regina. It was crackling, hot, and it rushed through Emma's fingers and to her head. It was an incredible rush. She could feel the muscles of Regina's shoulder and back flex and bunch as she threw. Regina threw again and again. Some hit, some missed, but she had the wraith on the run. Emma was sure they would win this battle. One moment, Emma was ready for a victory tango, and the next Regina was out of her arms and airborne.

The wraith had ripped them apart with its dark-side-of-the-force powers. It knocked Emma back on the ass and tore Regina from her arms. The wraith was a frigging hurricane in a black sheet. Regina flew across the room, she kicked and fought the air. She hit the wall with a loud and painful crunch.

"Regina!" Emma's heart stopped in her chest. "Regina!"

Ruby, Wolf Ruby, moved faster than Emma could ever hope to. The wolf darted across the room and nudged Regina's crumpled form with her snout. She let out a small whine and nudged again almost immediately. The Wolf stood over Regina's prone body. Every wolf muscle primed to pounce and bared teeth were sharp and gleaming, ready to tear. She was guarding Regina.

"Lick me-" Regina spoke in an almost-whisper. She moved slowly, arms and legs at awkward angles. She lifted her head and brushed her dark hair out of her face. "-and I will ship you to Alaska to pull dog sleds for the rest of your unnaturally long life." Regina was okay. She shook her head then gave Wolf-Ruby a small affectionate pat on the side. Her actions canceled out her words. Regina sat up. Her words were snarky but wheezy and weak. She was trying to hide her pain and failing at it.

Ruby's tail wagged once and she let out a huffy snort that sounded like laughter. The wolf shook her shaggy head and stayed at Regina's side to make sure she didn't fall. Regina stood carefully, and less-than-gracefully, but she stood. Emma watched her wince with every step. It wasn't like the time where she'd "hurt her ankle" either. This was real pain. Emma could see it in her body language and read it in her eyes.

"Emma! Behind you!"

Emma pivoted fast on one foot, in time to see the wraith flying at her.

"Shit!"

She forgot her fancy dress and her shotgun. She acted on impulse. She dove to the ground and hoped the thing overshot her. It sailed over her but it turned on a dime, ready to attack again. The Wraith glowed with weird dark light. There was smoke. There was what Emma assumed was magic. Its red eyes scanned over her and Emma felt fear hit her like a punch to the gut. This was every horror movie rolled into one.

"Wraith!"

Regina walked, with almost no limp, back to the center of the room. Ruby was beside her, hackles raised. The Evil Queen and the Big Bad Wolf were glaring up at the Wraith. They were powerful, angry and ready to kick ass.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Regina's dress ripped at the shoulder. It fell to show more beautiful skin. Skin that the freaking wraith had bloodied and bruised. "I told you no souls. Not from Storybrooke. Never again."

Regina strutted to the middle of the room, right up to the wraith. She held her head high and had the gold amulet in her hand again.

"I have something better than an innocent soul."

"Regina, no!" Aurora screamed from inside the magic circles. Belle grabbed onto her again. She held her by the waist, determined to keep her in the circle. Belle wasn't saying anything, but Emma could see fresh tears on her paper-pale cheeks.

"Baby!" Emma's heart was hammering in her chest. She could not breathe. "Please don't!"

Emma couldn't-Regina couldn't-they couldn't end like this. Not like this. This was a fairytale. Their fairy tale. Emma was a princess. Regina was a Queen. Storybrooke was their little kingdom. They had their little family. This was supposed to be their Happily Ever After.

Regina didn't turn around. She didn't look at Emma, Aurora or anyone. She twisted her arms around in a dramatic gesture. Fire, six-foot tall walls of fire, sprung up all over the room. The fire separated them. It cut Emma off from Regina and the Wraith and the protected circle and even Ruby.

Regina had pinned herself in with the wraith with no escape.

"Regina!"

Emma couldn't see her well, but she would swear that she could feel her. She could feel her fear. She could feel her power. She could feel her love.

Love is strength? Emma felt like she was dying. Love couldn't save them now. Emma loved Regina Mills and she was about to lose her. Fucking fairytales.

"Look around you, creature!" Regina's voice was back to Evil Queen. "You are surrounded by your greatest weakness.'' She said weakness like it was the nastiest swear word she knew. "No matter how many souls you take. No matter how much dark power you amass. This will always stop you."

Now Emma could see Regina through the flames. The heat and smoke warped and wavered the surrounding air. Fire surrounded her on all sides. It made Regina look somehow more beautiful. It was almost unreal, like a gothic fantasy novel come to life. The firelight flickered and danced across her. It made her skin glow brighter than the gold of her dress. Her eyes glittered brighter than her jewelry. Queen? No. She looked like a fiery angel.

"One day-" Regina lifted her face to meet the wraith eye-to-eye. "-this will be how you die. This is how you cease to exist. Fire will erase you from the world, from memory, from eternity."

Regina held her arms out and turned in a slow circle. "Destroyed by an element I can conjure and control. I learned to call fire when I was a teenager!"

Regina paced the tiny space. She dragged her fingers along the wall of fire. Instead of burning her, the fire rippled under her fingertips. It shaped and shifted at her command. She caressed the fire fondly, like a lover.

"Tell me that this-" She scooped up a handful of fire from the wall and regarded it for a minute. Then she threw it high above her head. The fireball exploded in a bright pop of light, sparks and cinders. "-isn't something you desire." Regina smirked, one brow cocked. She looked even more regal in the firelight. "You could turn your weakness into strength." Her voice dropped and came out in a dangerous purr on the word strength.

If this was her Evil Queen act, then Emma could see why people had fallen for it. Her tone of voice alone sent shivers up and down Emma's spine. It was sexy, but what the hell was Regina doing? What was she thinking? What was going on?

Ruby paced around the far edge of the room. She growled and snapped at the fire. She couldn't do anything. She couldn't say anything. Ruby was ready, though. She would fight would die trying.

Mulan was standing, still and solid, in front of the magical protection circles. She had David's sword, which was on fire, in her hands. Her eyes followed the wraith's every move. Her jaw was set and her shoulders squared. She couldn't do anything, but she would die trying.

Belle and Aurora were behind Regina's magical protections. They were both terrified. Emma knew that they wanted to do something, anything, to help. They couldn't do anything, but they would die trying.

Regina conjured yet another fireball. She held it in her left hand and stared at it, almost like she was admiring it. "Yes." She answered a question that no one else could hear. "Yes." Regina held the medallion in her right hand. Her face looked impassive, almost bored. "My witch fire, the ability to use fire."

Regina didn't flinch or wince, but the focused look on her face told Emma that the wraith was talking to her again.

The fire flickered in an odd rhythm, flaring up and dying down, like a conversation. The Wraith's dark smoke danced to the same unheard tune, rising and falling, swirling and receding.

"No. Two. I demand an even trade. This is conjuration and manipulation. Two skills means two boons." She fell silent again for a moment.

Emma would give anything to hear the other side of the conversation.

"Yes."

God, Emma wished she knew what the damn wraith was saying. She wished she could take Regina's place. She wished they were anywhere else, doing anything else.

"Phillip's soul."

Regina stood, proud and determined, in the middle of a magic firestorm. She was amazing.

"And you leave Storybrooke never to return. You will never threaten the people of my protectorate again."

Moments stretched into minutes. There was nothing but the sound of the fire crackling and popping.

"Enough." Regina's voice held an edge of impatience and controlled anger. "Do we have a deal, Wraith?"

The Wraith slowly lowered one hand and left the other up in the air. It left its palm flat and spread its twisted fingers wide.

Regina threw the odd gold amulet to the floor where the wraiths feet should be. She held her own hand up to match the Wraiths.

"So be it." Regina nodded once and if she was afraid by whatever was about to happen, she didn't let it show. The fireball in her hand twisted and twirled. It stretched across the space between Regina and The Wraith.

All magic, Emma remembered, had a price. Regina had risked her life once, what was she doing now? Didn't she know that Henry would be devastated without her? That Emma would be devastated? Wasn't she afraid? Did anything scare Regina?

What in God's name had she done?

Aurora couldn't scream anymore. All her sounds, all her horror was locked in her chest. It was choking her. She could pull in ragged breaths, but she couldn't release her screams. Belle was holding her in the circle.

Mulan was as close to the outermost circle as she could be. She was ready to go to war to protect them. She'd shed her coat and now only wore a beautiful red silk vest. The silk was sheer and cut to fit her lean frame. Her muscular arms were bare. She had a sword in her hands and bounced on the balls of her feet, ready to strike. Mulan had even set her sword on fire to protect her-them.

Beyond Mulan, the room filled with the fire. It was hot, smokey, and terrifying.

Ruby had transformed into a wolf. She was huge and hairy and much scarier than Aurora had imagined. She couldn't look at the wolf and see Ruby. She was in a magic circle and facing down a demon. Werewolves were too far for her tonight. The wolf was pacing around the edge of the room. It was like she was trying to find a weak point or a break in the firewalls. She looked agitated and angry, ready to fight. Belle was standing beside Aurora but her eyes and heart were with The Wolf, Ruby.

Regina and the Wraith were in the center of the room, completely surrounded by fire. Emma was on the other side of the wall of fire. Regina had summoned the fire to protect them, to protect Emma.

Emma seemed both angry and afraid. She stood as close to the wall of fire as she could. The light made her golden gown and hair glow. Aurora tilted her head to the side. She wasn't sure. Either the fire was playing tricks with her eyes or Emma had magic. There were white sparks jumping off of Emma's clenched fists. She loved Regina. There was no doubt about

that. Regina obviously loved her too. She thought Snow had said that Regina was their enemy? What did it all mean?

Raising her had brought her parents closer than they'd ever been. Had it been the same for Emma and Regina? It had to be. Their love, what she saw playing out right in front of her, was true.

She looked at Mulan. Beautiful.

Regina started to talk to the wraith again. She sounded strong and confident. Regina was in pain but she didn't even wobble. She kept going, all by herself. She was amazing.

"She's so brave." Aurora whispered to Belle because talking out loud seemed like it would break the moment.

"She is." Belle nibbled on her lip, worried. "They all are."

She had to be thinking about Ruby.

"Do we have a deal, Wraith?"

Belle shivered at that. Like she'd heard it before like it was something horrible. What was so upsetting about a deal? They listened to Regina talk to the wraith.

"I wish we could hear what that thing is saying." Belle still had her arms around her, but it was more like a hug than a hold.

"What" Aurora mumbled to herself, "is witch fire?"

They watched Regina hold up her hand and then she understood. Regina was giving up some of her magic for Phillip's soul. She was sacrificing part of herself for them. She was sacrificing part of herself to protect all Storybrooke. She was sacrificing for people who hated her.

Aurora remembered when she and Mulan had met Regina when they arrived in Storybrooke. She'd been sick and weak, defeated. She couldn't be more different now. She was proud, strong and confident. Evil? Aurora couldn't believe that. Not anymore.

Regina was giving her fire over to the wraith. It flowed out of her hand and over to the monster's claws. Aurora wasn't exactly sure of the hows and whats, but she could tell that it was hurting Regina. She started to waver on her feet. The walls of fire started to flicker and go dim.

"Regina!" Emma was pacing along the wall of fire that separated them. "Regina, please!"

The fire kept flowing and Regina grew weaker while the Wraith grew stronger. It glowed. Red and orange flickered along the edges of its black cloak. The dark energy around it grew thicker and more potent. It slithered around the walls of fire and covered the floor like an ominous fog.

The fire between Regina and Emma was low and fading fast. All the fire was fading to embers. Emma held her arm up over her face. She was barefoot and still in her dress. She didn't seem to care. She hiked her skirt up and sprinted forward. She jumped over the remaining fire and went straight to Regina. The queen stumbled and fell to the marble floor.

Emma was right there to catch her. "I've got you."

Regina's fingers curled into a fist as the last few embers left her palm. She was only upright with Emma's support. She looked shaky, pale and exhausted.

The walls of fire disappeared, and the room was dark. Even the torches were gone. Everything was deathly still. The heat started to fade away, and the air started to cool. Was it finally over?

The first pop was quiet, and the resulting light was dim. Then there was another pop and another light, then another and another. The pops came closer together and grew louder. Fire started to fill the room again. It was different this time, ominous. The flames were dark, almost black. A kaleidoscope of blues, indigos, and violets shined through the fire. It was cold, like living ice.

Aurora had never seen or heard of anything like it. She had felt nothing like it before. She had survived the fire room. Now it was ice that was threatening her. The Wraith's evil was deathly cold and more powerful than ever.

Regina sank fully to the floor and Emma followed her. She cradled her close and broke her fall, The queen was still trembling and pale. She still looked up. "A deal is-" Regina spoke from Emma's arms. "-a deal."

The Wraith shifted and floated around them. Emma covered Regina as much as she could. She glared up at the Wraith. "You got what you wanted. Now give us the soul and get out of our town."

The wraith stared down at Emma. Black fire danced along the wraith's long and twisted claws. It didn't seem to like Emma or the fact she was keeping it away from Regina.

"Phillip's soul." Regina spoke again, "Give us Prince Phillip's soul."

The fire and the entire room grew colder. Aurora could see her breath and she shivered. It was worse than the coldest winter in the northernmost mountains. The fire grew taller and more intense. The fire filled the room with an eerie light and filled her with dread. What was the monster going to do now?

"We have to help them.'' She tugged on Belle's arm. "It will hurt them.'' She tried to move but Belle held her too tight.

"Mulan!"

Aurora was crying again. "Help them! Please!"

The black fire raged all around and the wraith kept growing larger, darker and colder.

This was her fault. Every terrible thing that had happened tonight was her fault. What had she done?

Mulan and Ruby hurried towards Emma and Regina but new walls of black fire roared to life. Ruby reared up on her hind legs in time to miss the worst of it. The fire still singed her fur and she let out a howl. Mulan twisted away but came within inches of being burnt by the cursed fire. Regina and Emma were alone with the wraith again.

The dark fire started to swirl around them, fast and furious. It was a dark cyclone. The icy wind tore at her hair and clothes. Her tears froze on her cheeks. Aurora was terrified and ashamed. She wanted Phillip back. She hadn't known all this would happen. The darkness and her own guilt hung on her like heavy armor. If she had known, she would have never asked. She would never forgive herself for this. Neither would Phillip.

She was so lost wandering in her thoughts, swimming in her guilt, that she didn't hear them at first. It became louder, though, and drowned out everything. Aurora shivered and clapped her hands over her ears.

There were wails, horrifying screams. Aurora felt like her ears were bursting and bleeding. The screams echoed and reverberated. It was the most horrible thing she'd ever heard. Had this been what Regina had been hearing the whole time? It was awful!

"Oh my goodness!" Belle let her go and looked around, shocked. "There are faces in the fire!"

Aurora looked around and the screams in her chest finally burst loose. It was horrific and she wanted to run away and hide her head under the blankets in her bed at home. She kept screaming, even though she couldn't hear herself. She screamed until her throat was raw and her lungs burned, and then she screamed more.

There were countless faces in the fire. Men, women, children, they all looked scared and in pain. She understood without asking. It was a bone-deep knowledge. These were the Wraith's stolen souls. They were screaming because those poor people were damned for all eternity.

"Oh my God, Phillip!" This? Not this! Was that what had happened to him? He'd been suffering this awful torture?

The faces whirled around, a grim and glowing gray against the black fire. Their eyes were blank and their faces were gaunt. The screams didn't stop. They kept going, on and on, getting louder each second.

She clapped her hands over her ears again. "Make it stop!"

The screaming intensified, the faces multiplied. There were so many souls-so many lives. She wished she could save them all.

Then everything stopped. The fire, the faces, the quaking floor. Everything stopped. It was dark and quiet, so still that Aurora could hear everyone breathing.

Light, blindingly bright, started to pulse and grew larger. Aurora had to shield her eyes. The light started to take shape, but it wasn't the wraith. The figure was smaller and earthbound. Aurora blinked several times to clear away the spots. When she finally focused, she couldn't believe her eyes.

"Phillip.''

She was exhausted, drained and weak. Weaker than she'd ever been. She was as helpless as the girl in the stables all those years ago. No, she wasn't that girl. Regina was not helpless and she was not alone. She had her own personal savior. She was in the middle of the Wraith's firestorm, but she was safe. She was in Emma's arms and it felt like nothing, not even her mother, could separate them.

Hell, the terrible fate that had almost took her, whirled around them. There were so many faces, so many victims. Their spirits were trapped, tortured, and they were screaming. Their screams differed from the wraiths. They were sharp and jagged, like broken glass. They sliced at her mind. It was excruciating. Worse than any migraine. The louder the screams became the worse they hurt. Regina pressed her hands to her face. It felt like red hot nails were being driven into her temples and all the way down her spine. Her legs kicked out, and she started to thrash, the pain was far beyond her limits. She didn't know if she wanted to cover her ears or her eyes.

"I've got you." Emma held her tight. Regina wasn't sure how, but they were now on the floor. "I've got you, Baby'' She was still in Emma's arms, soft and strong. Emma had not left her, she had not let go.

Tears, scalding hot, streaked down her ice-cold cheeks. "Stop-" Even talking hurt. "-calling me that."

She could feel Emma's smart-alec smirk against her temple. It was only a small flutter, though. "Their screams are worse for you, aren't they?"

Regina nodded, words were beyond her. They were so much worse than the wraith. There were so much pain and suffering, so much misery. Agony, regret, longing, loss, hopelessness. It was all too much.

Emma gently carded her fingers through Regina's hair and then pressed her palms over her ears. Regina felt magic, sweet and pure, slide over then sink into her skin. She smelled cinnamon and leather, Emma's scent. This was Emma's magic. The screams stopped, blocked by Emma's power.

"I've got you."

Regina wasn't sure if Emma said that to calm her or herself. Either, both, it didn't matter. Emma had her, and she was safe. She let her eyes slide shut and basked in Emma's warmth, protection, and love. Her Emma. The woman she loved. Time slowed down. The Wraith, the victims, the other women, it all faded away. It was just them and their magic mixing. It was rushing through her, like nothing she'd felt before. It replaced her aching bones with radiant gold and her burning blood with liquid love. The pain, even old aches, faded away. Emma was healing her. Mending her bruised body, repairing her broken heart and soothing her battered soul. She really was The Savior. Love really was strength.

"Regina, look."

Emma moved her hands away from Regina's ears. She didn't let go over her, though. Emma wrapped around her waist again.

"It's okay. Open your eyes." Emma pressed a kiss to her cheek. "You did it."

Regina opened her eyes. There was a single bright light in the room. The wraith was gone. She couldn't sense it anymore. Not it's magic. Not its victims. There was only one specter left. A young man bathed in white light.

"Phillip!"

Aurora cried and reached out, but Belle still held her in place.

"It's okay.''

The need for magical protection was over. Regina raised a hand and waved it, dissolving the protection of the circles. The wards evaporated but the three circles remained, permanently embedded in the floor.

"Let her go, Belle. It's safe now.''

Aurora did not go right to the light. She went to Mulan. The warrior dropped Charming's sword. The fire that had been sparking off the blade went out the instant it hit the floor. Mulan didn't care about the sword, though. She pulled Aurora into a tight hug. Her hand went to her waist and the back of her head. They held each other close and tight. Mulan was as protective of Aurora as Emma was of her. Aurora soaked in that security and love. Mulan and Aurora were the perfect picture of True Love.

Regina watched Belle leave the circles too. She went right to Ruby. She watched her fall to her knees, ball gown and all, and wrap her arms around the wolf. The Beauty was embracing The Beast. Just like the Savior embraced the Evil Queen. Ruby, the wolf, buried her muzzle in Belle's hair, in awe of her acceptance. There was no hesitation, no fear. There was only love. Belle and Ruby were the perfect picture of True Love.

They were six people, three couples, and they shared the same powerful love. It was almost enough to make her believe in fairy tales again.

Mulan and Aurora walked together, hand in hand to the center of the room. Phillip's soul stood patiently waiting and smiling at them.

He was so young. Regina felt more tears slide down her cheeks. He had been the same age that Daniel had been. Little more than a child, an overgrown teenager who thought he was a man. Old enough to love and too young to die. Phillip, like Daniel, had done both.

"Aurora," He smiled, "Mulan." Phillip was ethereal, there but not quite solid. Visible, but not tangible. "You saved me." He looked around. "You all saved me from that terrible place.''

He ruffled his hand through his tousled hair. It was a human gesture left over from his life. "You two are a sight for sore eyes."

Aurora reached out to touch him. Her finger slipped through him as though he was smoke. "Phillip. We've missed you so much."

Mulan bowed her head. "We have."

He smiled again. "You two are amazing. You look amazing. This is a good place for you."

Aurora held out the pearl. "You'll love it here." Aurora was crying and Mulan was shaking a little. "There are forests and the sea and it is different here. peaceful. There are no wars or ogres or kings and queens. We could build a life here. We three, together." She held her hand over his chest, just above it, almost touching. "We preserved your body and we can reunite it with your soul. We'll all be together again."

Regina covered Emma's hands with her own and curled their fingers together. She was so happy to share this moment with her. It was beautiful.

"No, My Darlings, that's not how this works,"

Both Aurora and Mulan jerked and looked over at Regina, then back to Philip.

"But" Mulan stumbled over her words. "We can do it. The Queen has the power and is happy to help."

Phillip laughed, "And I am very grateful to Her Majesty." He seemed happy, cheerful even. "I am dead though. My time in this realm is over. Now that you have freed me, I can move on to the next realm." He reached out and skimmed a pale hand over Aurora's right cheek and Mulan's left cheek. He embraced them both with tenderness. "And wait for you both to join me."

He lingered, almost holding their faces in his hands. "But not for a long, long time. I know you will take care of each other."

Regina felt her heart lurch in her chest. Love again. She turned her face into Emma's neck. She couldn't watch this. Not again. It wasn't supposed to be like this. She wanted to save Aurora from this pain, not inflict it upon her.

"Don't cry." Both Aurora and Mulan were crying. Mulan silently and Aurora not as much. "I will always watch over you." Phillip paused for a moment. "And I know that Her Majesty will watch over you too. This is her protectorate and you will be her people now."

Regina pulled her face from the crook of Emma's neck to look at him. She nodded. She had no words that could convey her feelings.

His translucent fingers traced over their tears. "You have each other and good friends. You have a home here. It's everything I ever wanted to give you. This, seeing you two safe and sound, is my Happy Ending."

"You" Emma whispered in her ear. "did all this, Regina. You made it possible for them to have this moment."

"But- " This wasn't the moment she'd hoped for.

"We love you." Aurora's words were full of emotions. It was always we, never I, as if she and Mulan were one. Mulan nodded, completely in sync with her.

"And I love you both and that will never go away. My love lives on in your love. Love is strength."

He let his homes fall from their faces and one of them hovered over Mulan and Aurora's joined hands."Goodbye, My Loves." He smiled and started to glow brighter, more light than spirit now. It was warm and bright. The light was blinding.

Regina hid her face in Emma's neck and shoulder again. Emma held her close and pressed her lips to her forehead. Then everything went dim. Regina knew, without looking, that the light and Phillip were gone.