Search parties
FictionLover12's request is quite a long one so I think I'll leave is as a surprise for you all haha. All I will tell you is its set when Emma has gone AWOL when her powers go out of control. Thanks for people pointing out when I get people's names muddled in chapters, I appreciate it :). Just to explain: I'm dyspraxic, and as it's related to dyslexia there can be a crossover of symptoms. Thus the name muddling :). Sorry for any confusion!
Snow paced up and down the kitchen. Emma was out there- vulnerable and alone. They couldn't give up just because they couldn't find her after one attempt.
"We're going back out there." She said firmly. Charming nodded. He didn't like just sitting here either. "We'll split up this time- girls and boys. We're more likely to find her that way. Elsa, you and I will take the north side of town with the van. Charming, Killian, you can take the south side with the cruiser…"
"Wait, what about me?" Henry asked. "You didn't mention me." Snow didn't want Henry going out. With Emma's powers going crazy it wasn't safe for him.
"You're staying here so that if she comes home you can call us." Snow said, thinking on her feet. Henry knew that was rubbish.
"Don't lie. You just don't want me coming." He said bitterly. Snow came over and tilted his chin so they were making eye contact.
"No, if I'm being honest I don't. Emma already hurt you accidentally today. She will never forgive herself if something else happens to you. You can go round to Granny's and wait there if you'd rather? Red's there with Neal, you can help look after him?" Henry shook his head. He had no intention of staying here. Snow leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead before the adults started to get their shoes and jackets on, not noticing Henry carefully slipping into his shoes and sneaking out the backdoor to hide in the back of the van…
Elsa sat in the strange carriage clinging tightly to the seatbelt. She still hated these. She and Snow would be starting their search by the beach. Elsa's fears weren't helped by Snow going what seemed faster than any other time Elsa had been in one of these. Snow was going way over the speed limit but to Hell with speed limits right now- she had to find her daughter. She knew Charming would be going just as fast if not faster. They reached the beach in record time, getting out of the car and going to the back to pull out their torches. Snow nearly jumped out her skin when she pulled the tarpaulin up and found Henry underneath- holding their torches and grinning sheepishly.
"Henry! What on Earth are you doing here!? I told you to wait in the house!"
"Well I wasn't just going to sit there while mom was missing was I? It's too late to drive me back now, you'd be wasting searching time." Snow gave her grandson a disapproving look, but knew he was right.
"Come on." She grumbled. Henry smiled triumphantly, following on.
They'd been walking along the beach calling Emma's name for about half an hour when Elsa spied someone with their back to them. Snow's heart leapt when the torch showed that the person was blond. The group sprinted over, and Henry tried to place his hand on her shoulder, but his hand went right through. He gasped, jumping back. The group stood frozen, unnerved. Slowly, it turned round. Everyone gasped. No wonder they thought it was Emma. It was Emma. Well, a younger version anyway. After seeing the video there was no mistaking that this was a teenaged Emma.
"Emma's done this." Elsa said. "This is her magic, showing Emma's feelings." She explained. Snow couldn't take her eyes off the magical holograms face. Emma's magic had shown how she was just a lost little girl looking for home. She had found home, but Snow had made Emma feel like she didn't fit in. This was all her fault. Elsa spun her hand over the hologram.
"There. That'll lead us back to the source now." Elsa explained as she and Henry started to follow. Snow was still frozen on the spot. She had let her daughter down. Elsa turned around. "Snow, quickly. It won't wait." Snow shook her head, snapping herself out of it. Walling in self-pity wouldn't help anyone. She had to help Emma. She quickly caught up with the others and they followed the hologram. Every step taking them closer to Emma.
The hologram led the group to the forest and disappeared behind a tree. This was it. They had found her.
"Emma!" Snow yelled, sprinting behind the tree. But it wasn't Emma behind the tree- it was the Snow Queen, grinning madly. "You." Snow snarled. "Where is my daughter?" She demanded.
"Safe." Ingrid said simply. "Don't you worry Snow, I'll look after her. Just like I did when you abandoned her." Snow grabbed her by the throat and pinned her against the tree. Elsa was hiding far back, worried Ingrid would be after her too.
"This is no game, Ice Queen. You will not take my daughter from me!"
"Snow I had her first. You gave her up and I gave her a home. I used her image to draw you here so you knew to stop looking. And you Elsa," Ingrid looked at the tree Elsa was hiding behind "you will be home soon too." With that, Ingrid vanished. Ingrid wasn't aware than while she had been gloating Emma had escaped her frozen lair and had followed Ingrid out to the forest, assuming she'd either be after Elsa or her family.
"That woman." She said, making everyone jump. "Is nutty as squirrel poo." That was all Emma could get out before Snow, Elsa and Henry tackled her into a massive hug. Snow then remembered that Charming and Hook were still looking she quickly sent Charming a text to say they'd found Emma safe and sound and she'd explain all when they went home.
Charming and Hook were just as enthusiastic with their greetings of Emma. Emma explained to them that the chill in the cave helped her get her powers under control, which was at least one good thing from the crazy witch kidnapping her. Before everyone went to bed that night they made sure all doors and windows were locked and Emma placed a protection spell around the house. Nobody else was leaving tonight.
