Chapter 2
Day One
The sound of Regina's anguished screams flooded Emma's dreams, jolting her awake the next morning. She rubbed her aching eyes, feeling the remains of her dried tears on her skin, the same tears that matched the ones that stained her pillow. The sound of movement emanating from downstairs told her that everyone was already awake and starting their day, and it was only a matter of time before someone came upstairs looking for her. She stretched; her leg muscles ached - no doubt a result of her marathon of running the night before - and her head was pounding - a consequence of the copious amount of alcohol she consumed in a short period of time…before throwing it all back up. She felt something scratch her ankle, but before she could reach down to investigate, a soft knock on her door startled her.
"Ma? Are you awake?" Henry asked through the slightly cracked door.
"Yeah, Kid. You can come in," she said, shifting to her side to see her son walk through the door.
"Are you okay?" he asked, closing the door and sitting on the side of her bed. His concern was written across his face.
"Yeah, I'm alright."
"We were all really worried about you when you ran off and didn't come back last night. Grandma wanted to go out looking for you, but I talked her out of it. I told her you would be fine and would call if you needed help. You were safe, right?"
"Of course. I just needed to be alone for a little bit. Clear my head."
"I can understand that. A lot happened yesterday."
"Yeah…" Emma said with a sad smile.
"So…given the current situation with Mom…do I still have to go to school today?" Henry asked with a hopeful tone.
"Oh absolutely. Your ass is DEFINITELY going to school! Your mom already has enough reasons to kill me, I don't need to add to that list!"
"Ugh…fine," Henry grumbled, but didn't move from his perch on the side of her bed. "What are we going to do…about Mom?" he asked, his gaze falling to a stray thread on Emma's blanket.
"I'm going to do everything I can to save her, Henry. You have my word, I'm not going to give up on her. We'll find a way to save her from the Darkness. We always find a way, it's kind of like our family guarantee." Emma chuckled, trying to cheer up her son.
"Yeah…" Clearly Emma's attempts to cheer him up failed.
"I won't let anything bad happen to her either."
"But…but what happens when other people find out about her. What if she hurts someone?"
"So far she hasn't tried anything. Hopefully we can stop her before she hurts anyone. But if it comes down to it, I'll protect her from an angry mob."
"Okay…" It was clear he didn't quite believe Emma's promise that no harm would come to Regina. "Go get ready, and I'll give you a ride to school so you don't have to worry about missing the bus." Henry grumbled under his breath as he putzed around the room, grabbing his school uniform and heading downstairs to use the bathroom.
Emma stretched once more, willing her sore legs to move and get up for the day. She was a little more tired than usual, but nothing an extra cup of coffee couldn't fix. And given the events of the previous night, she wasn't surprised. Her feet hurt as she dragged herself through the room she shared with her son, gathering a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt, pulling them on her sore body. It wasn't until she sat on the edge of her unmade bed to pull on her socks and boots did she discover the cause of the scratching on her ankles and the pain in her feet. She stared in disbelief at the dark vines that seemed to grow out of the arches of her feet. She nearly screamed out in pain as she pulled at the vines, trying to detach them from her skin, only to find they were stuck, as if part of her anatomy. She could feel the magic pulsing through them, mixing with her own and she knew instantly where they had come from.
Regina.
"MOM! ARE YOU COMING? I'M GOING TO BE LATE!" she heard Henry yell from downstairs, breaking her trance.
"I'll be right down!" she answered. Her voice wasn't as loud as it usually was, due entirely to the degree of intense fear she suddenly felt. But given the fact that he didn't storm upstairs to find her, she assumed it was loud enough. She threw on her socks, laced up her boots and rushed downstairs to her family, all the while feeling the vines press into the flesh on the bottom of her feet with each step. She was completely quiet as she drove Henry to school, blaming her silence on the fact that she didn't sleep well the night before. For once she was grateful that he had not inherited her human lie-detection.
"If you see Mom today…can you…can you tell her that I love her and that I miss her?" Henry asked as soon as Emma pulled up in front of his school.
"Of course. It'll be the first thing I tell her when I see her," Emma said, pulling a sad half smile. "Do me a favor though…don't tell anyone what happened last night. I don't want people to start panicking."
"Yeah…that's probably a good idea…I won't say anything, I promise."
"Thanks, Kid."
Henry lingered in the car for a few extra seconds, and Emma knew he wasn't quite ready to leave his other mother just yet. "You're going to save her…right?" Henry asked again, sounding as small as he had the night before.
"Yes. No matter what happens, I'm going to save her," Emma said, this time with more confidence than she had been able to muster since the night before. "I know you have a lot on your mind but…try to have a good day at school. And if you need anything, find Grandma."
"I'll try and I will. Thanks Ma. See you later," Henry said, lunging forward to kiss Emma on the cheek before climbing out of the car and slamming the door behind him. Emma sat and watched as her son rushed into school just as the first bell rang. She pulled out her phone and started typing out a text.
"Hey Dad, I'm going to be a little late to work this morning. Cover for me?"She put the car in drive and pulled away from the curb a second later.
"Of course. I doubt Regina will be concerned if you're late to work today, given the current circumstances. Are you alright? You got home pretty late last night."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just have something to take care of first. Thanks,"she texted as soon as she parked the car at her destination. She heard another text go off as she shoved her phone back in her pocket, no longer interested in the conversation with her father. She had more important things to worry about than her father's response.
She walked up the stairs to the convent and rang the doorbell, waiting for one of the Fairies to answer. A few minutes, and a few more doorbell rings later, the door flew open and she was greeted by the smiling face of Nova, the quirky pink Fairy.
"Emma! Hi!" she exclaimed when she discovered Emma standing on the other side of the door. "What are you doing here?"
"Is Blue home, by any chance?"
"Yeah, I think so. She's probably in her office. Is everything alright?"
"Ummm…yeah…for the most part," Emma said, stepping into the old house. She hated lying, especially to Nova, who was nothing if not pure.
"Oh good. I don't think I could handle another disaster in Storybrooke, not yet at least." Nova giggled as she led Emma through the hallways, stopping at a large door at the end of the hall. "Here's her office. I would suggest knocking before you go in. She gets upset when people interrupt her," Nova said. The grimace on her face told Emma she had been on the receiving end of the Fairy's angry wrath.
"Thanks Nova. If I don't see you before I leave, have a good day."
"You too, Emma! It's good to see you, especially when the town isn't in the middle of a crisis." Nova smiled, giving Emma a tight hug before disappearing outside into the yard.
Emma knocked softly and waited for permission to enter. Something told her she really didn't want to piss off the Fairy. "Come in!" she heard through the door. Blue already sounded pissed off.
"Mother Sup…errr…Blue…Miss Blue…" Emma stuttered, not quite sure what to call the woman.
"You can call me Blue," the Fairy said softly.
"Blue. Do you have a second?"
"For you, Emma, I have all the time in the world. Come in." She smiled, offering Emma a seat on the couch in the corner. "What can I do for you?"
"Do you have….ummm….a library I might take a look at?" Emma asked as she took a seat next to the Fairy.
"Library?"
"Yeah…like some place filled with really old books from back in the Enchanted Forest?"
"Well yes. But I have a feeling you're not looking for classic works of fiction, are you."
"No…I'm not," Emma said in a somber tone.
"What is it? A demon?"
"I would rather not say anything just yet. I don't know if it's actually a problem and I don't want to start a frenzy if there's no actual threat."
"Whatever it is, I am absolutely certain it is a threat. I can feel an influx of dark energy that started last night. There is no doubt in my mind that whatever this is, it is very powerful and very dangerous," Blue said. There was a tone in the Fairy's voice that Emma had never heard before. If she didn't know any better, she could have swore that Blue was terrified.
"You can feel it?"
"Yes. Fairy magic is very sensitive to all types of magic, both light and dark. And as of last night, something possessing a tremendous amount of dark magic arrived in Storybrooke. Something I've never felt before." Emma cringed slightly. She knew Blue was talking about the moment that Regina became the Dark One.
"In that case, yes…something did happen last night. But once again, I'd like to hold off until I know exactly what we're dealing with."
"Are you sure that is wise? The citizens of Storybrooke have a right to know what is threatening them so they can defend themselves. As the Savior and Sheriff it is your responsibility to protect the people of Storybrooke, and that includes keeping them informed of all possible dangers."
"I don't know if thereisdanger. Not yet at least. That's why I need to do some research, so I can neutralize the threat before it becomes a problem."
"Well, if you are absolutely certain you can contain the threat before the public is in jeopardy, then I will stand behind your decision to keep the citizens in the dark. In the meantime, the convent is equipped with an extensive research library. As the Savior and Sheriff, as well as the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, I can allow you access to all the literature we posses."
"Thank you, Blue. I really appreciate it, as well as your cooperation, you have no idea." Emma released a deep sigh of relief. She would be eternally grateful that Blue was so accommodating and didn't ask any questions.
"Come, let me show you to the library. I'll inform the rest of the residents that you have full access to come and go as you please."
"I'll try my best to come during the day if possible so I don't bother anyone."
"Fairies rarely sleep. You may come and go whenever you need, you will not be disturbing us."
"Thanks, Blue."
"Of course. And know, when you are ready, I am here to help with anything that may be plaguing you…anything at all." If Emma didn't know better, she could have sworn that Blue's eyes flickered towards her ankles. Was she walking differently because of her new vine anklet? She was doing her best to cover up her new appendage growing out of her skin, but perhaps she wasn't covering it up as best as she thought. Or could there be a possibility that Blue could sense the dark magic emanating from the plants? If so, could she tell where the magic originated from as well?
"Shall we?" Blue asked, snapping Emma out of her thoughts.
She followed Blue up the large staircase leading to the second floor and to a set of double doors at the end of the hall. Tapping the doorknobs softly with her blue wand, the doors shimmered slightly before returning to their dark brown color.
"There is a protective ward surrounding these doors, preventing any unsanctioned beings from entering. You have been granted authorization, so you should have no problem gaining access," Blue explained. "But remember, this applies only to you. No one else may enter with you."
"I understand. Thank you, Blue."
"It's my pleasure. Let me know if there's anything else you need."
"I will, thank you!" Emma said, before Blue turned and walked away, leaving Emma alone. With a deep breath she pushed open the heavy doors.
She gasped when she saw the large library. To say the Fairies' collection was extensive was an understatement. The large room was covered with floor to ceiling bookshelves, each one packed full of ancient volumes, some that looked older than time itself. A long table in the center held several piles of books, no doubt those that did not fit on the already overstuffed shelves. She stopped and stared in awe for a few moments, mentally trying to find the starting point within the massive collection. "Here goes nothing," she whispered as she approached the table in the center, starting with the books that already resided there.
It took her a solid two hours to pick out the first set of books, ten old volumes that looked as if they might help her discover a way to pull the Darkness out of Regina. It took two trips to bring them all out to the car and after saying a quick goodby to Blue, thanking her once again for her hospitality, she began her journey back to the station to start her day. David was reading the morning edition of theStorybrooke Daily Mirrorwith his feet propped up on his desk when Emma entered the station carrying the large stack of books, dropping half of them just outside the threshold of her office, startling her father suddenly.
"Did you rob a bookstore? What is all that?" he asked, helping her pick up the pile of books.
"Research," she said, tossing what was left of the pile onto her desk and flopping into her chair.
"This must be one hell of a research paper." David laughed as he added the fallen books to the pile on Emma's desk.
"It's for Regina…" She would be lying if she said it didn't bother her how no one else, other than her and Henry, seemed to be concerned with Regina's safety and wellbeing. It was almost as if everyone had already given up on Regina and was accepting that she would never be saved.
They were both silent for a few moments before David spoke up. "Do you really think you can save her?"
"I'm going to do everything in my power to try. I promised Henry I wouldn't give up on her, and I intend on keeping that promise."
"What if you can't? What do we do if you can't save her?" It didn't take a genius to figure out that David lacked confidence in Emma's ability to save her.
"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she said, digging through her desk for a legal notepad and a pen. She was grateful for her messy tendencies because it allowed her a few extra moments to collect herself while she searched her cluttered drawers for the supplies.
"Emma, we need to think practically about this. Regina is dangerous. In fact, I think she's the most dangerous person in town right now. If she starts causing trouble and threatening people, or god forbid killing people, we need to do something."
"And we will when the time comes, and not a moment sooner."
"Emma, we need to have a contingency plan…"
"I SAID WE'LL CROSS THAT BRIDGE WHEN IT COMES!" Emma snapped, causing her father to visibly jump. "Sorry, Dad. It's been a stressful day already. I know you're worried, but right now we have nothing to worry about. She's been quiet ever since she disappeared last night. Let's not do anything rash until we need to."
"Whatever you say, you're the boss," David said sarcastically. He would never admit it, but he secretly hated that she outranked him in the Sheriff's Department. "Do you need any help with research?"
"No, I think I got it for now. Can you hold down the fort while I dive into research mode?"
"Sure thing. Let me know if you need anything."
"I could use a cup of coffee. The larger the better."
"Coming right up." He disappeared into the small kitchenette where a fresh pot of coffee sat waiting to be consumed, returning a few minutes later with a steaming cup. She took a sip of her father's coffee and held back a frown. Prince Charming might be able to lead an army into combat, but he couldn't make coffee to save his life.
She took another sip of the terrible coffee and grabbed the first book on the stack, opening the old dusty cover with a creak and started reading the first page. "This is going to be a long day…" she whispered to herself as she attempted to re-read the first sentence for the third time.
Six hours and three pots of coffee later, Emma finished reading the third book in the stack, and even managed to take a few pages of notes on the texts. Too bad none of it contained any useful information.
"Hey Dad!" she called out when she looked up to realize it was getting close to dinner time, her growling stomach reminding her that it was time to eat. "I'm starting to get hungry. What do you say we order food from Granny's and bill it to the office. We can call it a dinner meeting." She laughed and then waited in silence for David's response. "Hey Dad?" she called again after a minute.
After another few minutes of silence she groaned at the fact that she would have to get up to talk to her father, since he was clearly pretending not to hear he can be just as stubborn as his wife,she thought as she stood up and started to walk out to David's desk. "Hey Dad did you hear m-" she started to say, stopping dead in her tracks as she turned the corner.
The first thing she saw was her father sitting limp in his chair. His head had fallen back and was lying to the side, his arms draped over the side of the chair, his knuckles skimming the linoleum floor. "Dad?" she whispered, her voice shaking with fear.
"Hello, Miss Swan. I was wondering how long it would take for you to join us," a familiar voice said, pulling her attention away from her father. Seated on the desk closest to the cells was Regina, wearing a different, yet still sexy dress, this one paired with the tightest pair of black leather pants she had ever seen. Her brain short circuited for a split second as her eyes grazed from the Queen's ample cleavage, down to her cinched waist and ending on her toned legs, leaving her wondering how good Regina's ass looked in the impossibly tight leather.
"Is he…" she asked once her brain caught up with the situation.
"Daddy Dearest? Hardly. He's just taking a little cat nap."
"Will he wake up on his own, or do I need to call my mother?" Emma asked, her mood shifting and her words filled with a sarcastic bite.
"No need to involve Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. He'll wake up once I lift the spell and think he's sleeping on the job. I have half a mind to dock his pay for his impromptu nap."
"The nap that you caused."
"Details details."
"Are you here to ask for help?" Emma asked. Her heart was pounding so hard in her chest she worried that Regina could hear it.
"Now where's the fun in that?"
"Then why are you here, Regina?"
"How are you feeling, Miss Swan? You look a little tired, you should get some rest."
"I'll rest when I know every ounce of darkness has left your body."
"How noble of you. I hate to burst your heroic bubble; but I don't want, nor need saving. I'm more powerful than I've ever been, and it feels incredible!" the Queen said with an evil smirk. Emma could feel the power emanating from Regina's skin and she knew Regina wasn't lying. She really was more powerful than she has ever been.
"Regina, you can't mean that. You've worked too hard and come too far to give it all up now. Just let me help you, Regina. Please."
"Once again, I appreciate the effort, Miss Swan, but I'm going to have to decline. Nevertheless, thanks for the offer."
"If you're not here for help, what are you doing here, Regina?"
"Why, I came to see how you're doing. You look like you're limping a little. Did you hurt your ankles while you were out running last night?"
"Don't lie to me, Regina."
"Oh yes, that's right. Your silly littlesuperpower." Regina laughed as she gracefully slid off the desk she had been perched on top of. She slowly walked towards her, and Emma couldn't help but notice how she practically glided over the floor, as if she were floating instead of walking. "I did come to see how you're doing, but also to offer you an ultimatum."
"What could you possibly offer me?"
"A swift and painless death."
"I'd like to see you try," Emma growled. Her patience was quickly waning.
"Oh, but you see, you will die, Miss Swan. I am simply offering you a quick and painless release from this world."
"How noble of you," Emma said, repeating Regina's earlier insult.
"Well, I am a Queen after all." Regina chuckled. "Last chance, Miss Swan. Let me give you the kindness of killing you quickly, and avoid the lengthy pain and torture I have in store for you."
"I'll never give in. And I will never give up on you, Regina. No matter what you do, I won't let the Darkness take you."
"You're too late, dear." Regina smiled and gently caressed Emma's cheek. Emma trembled as Regina grazed her fingers over her flesh, sending a shiver down her spine. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest and her skin heat instantly under Regina's fingertips. "There's nothing you can do to stop me."
"Let me be the judge of that," Emma said, resisting the urge to grab Regina and tie her to a chair where she can keep an eye on her while she figures out what to do next.
"Mark my words, Miss Swan. No matter what you think you can do, you will die. That is a promise."
"I'm not afraid of your threats, Regina."
"Oh, but you should be. You should be very afraid of what I have in store for you before you perish."
"Regina…please…" Emma begged, her strong exterior faltering.
"You have seven days, Miss Swan. Enjoy them while they last," Regina said, before disappearing into a cloud of dark purple smoke.
A second later David stirred in his seat, sitting up straight and stretching his sore neck. "Emma? What's up?" he asked, looking up at his daughter. "Is everything alright? You look like you've just seen a ghost.
No, I was just told I'm going to die, and my expiration date is swiftly approaching."I'm fine. You were so sound asleep I thought for a second you were dead," she said, trying to make a joke.
"Sorry about that. I must not have slept very well last night. I don't usually fall asleep on the job." He laughed as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Did you need something? How's the research going?"
"Slow. I came out to see if you wanted some dinner. I'm starving."
"Me too. Let's head to Granny's. I'll call your mother and she and Henry can meet us there. What do you say?"
"Sounds good. Why don't you head over there and get us a table, and I'll meet you guys there in a little bit. I want to finish the book I've been working on before I give up for the night."
"Sounds good. Don't work too hard."
"I won't. See you soon." She plastered a fake smile on her face as she watched her father walk out before returning to her office and closing the door.
Seven days. That's all she had to save Regina from the Darkness.
Day Two
Regina stretched in bed as the last of the morning sun spilled into her room. Her hands ran over the silk pajamas she was wearing, savoring in the way the material felt against her skin. The one hundred percent Egyptian cotton sheets were simply decadent, and the combination of fabrics made it so she never wanted to leave her bed. And knowing that Henry wasn't staying with her, she didn't have to worry about getting him ready and out of the house for the day, which caused a small smile to spread across her face. She loved her son, with all that she had. But sometimes she needed a break from his inherited positivity.
"What's a Queen to do now that she no longer has to care for her son?" she wondered out loud as she stretched once more. "Why, a long luxurious bubble bath sounds perfect if you asked me." She snapped her fingers and the water began to run in the next room, filling up the grand bathtub. She listened for a few minutes until she heard the water turn off, indicating her bath was ready.
She climbed out of bed and put on the softest pair of slippers she had ever felt and slowly walked into her bathroom, the soothing scent of lavender awaited her as she walked through the door. Shedding her soft pajamas she slipped under the water, exhaling softly as her body sank beneath the bubbles. She closed her eyes and inhaled the scents that filled the room as the tension simply melted away and helped her drift back off to sleep.
"Shouldn't you be out killing the Savior?" the voice in her head asked, waking her from her slumber. Peeking one eye open she glanced over to see the apparition of Rumplestiltskin sitting on the toilet.
"All in due time," she said, sinking just a bit lower under the water.
"Time is of the essence, Regina. Must I remind you what is at stake here?"
"No dear. You are a figment of my imagination, therefore I already know the consequences," she said sarcastically.
"Then why is the Savior still alive? You've been the Dark One for over thirty-six hours and you haven't killed a single person. You're slipping, Regina."
"Oh but what's the fun in that?" she asked, shifting slightly to get more comfortable.
"The fun of staying alive?"
"It'll happen, don't worry. By the end of the week the Savior will perish. I just want to have a little fun with her first."
"Don't waste too much time, Regina. She's more powerful than you think."
"Not when I'm slowly draining her of her life and magic." Regina smirked, finally turning her head towards the hallucination. "But you already knew that. Now go away. I want to relax before I start my day." Rumplestiltskin disappeared as she closed her eyes, settling back down under the water.
She laid in silence for a while longer, until the water grew cold and the bubbles disintegrated. With a deep sigh she stood up and waved her hand, releasing the cold water down the drain before she stepped out and wrapped herself in a luxurious silk robe. With her long hair twisted in a towel she returned to her bedroom to get ready for the day. With a wave of her hand she was instantly dressed in another of her fabulous dresses, her breasts elevated high on her chest and her waist cinched as much as her skeleton would allow.
"Hmm…perhaps a little breakfast before I start the day," she said as she slowly walked down the stairs, the train of her dress trailing behind her. Waiting for her in the kitchen was a lavish breakfast, including a never ending pot of coffee brewed to ultimate perfection. Sitting down to eat, a wave of guilt rushed over her as she recognized all of Henry's favorite breakfast foods splayed out before her. A flick of her wrist produced a small mirror, just large enough to see a single person. "Show me Henry…" she whispered and waited as the mirror clouded over, revealing the face of her son a second later.
Henry sat at his desk in his classroom with his head down, deep thought. His school uniform, while clean and stain free, was clearly wrinkled. "Miss Swan is completely incompetent. I would never allow him out of the house looking that shabby. I'll have to teach her a lesson for embarrassing our son like this," she said out loud, sipping her coffee.
She stared deeply at her son, the sad and anxious expression on his face was not lost on her. "I'm sorry to cause you such strife, my Prince. Only a few more days then we can begin building a new dynasty. I'll be the mother you deserve once again. Just a little longer, my Prince," she whispered, as if he could hear him. His head popped up towards the front of the room, indicating that class had likely begun. "Study hard, my Prince. I'll see you again soon," she said before closing the connection with her son.
She spent the next hour reading the local newspaper while slowly enjoying her breakfast, taking her time to read every article with care. She needed to make sure she continued to know everything that happened in her town, she was still the Mayor after all. "Well, I've spent enough time loafing around, it's time to get to work," she said, cleaning up breakfast with a snap of her fingers.
A wave of her hand produced her dark purple cloud of smoke, teleporting her down to her vault and directly in front of her favorite mirror. "What do you say we peek at Miss Swan to see how she's doing this fine day?" A second later the mirror clouded over, revealing Emma Swan, hard at work and bent over her desk in the Sheriff's Department. "Working hard, I see. That's a shocker." She laughed as she continued to watch the blonde in the mirror.
Emma yawned wide, reaching for her mug of coffee, disappointed when she found it was empty. "Oh the poor dear is tired. She really must get more sleep." Emma frowned as she rubbed her eyes, slamming the book closed and throwing her pen onto the desk in frustration. "Poor thing, must have reached a dead end in her research. She really has been working hard. She has such a pure heart," Regina said sarcastically.
Emma pushed away from her desk with anger and stormed out of her office and straight to her father's desk.
"I'm going on patrol. Stay here and…do…something…" she spat, grabbing her jacket from the coat rack and putting it on, forcefully pulling her keys out of the side pocket.
"Sure. Is everything-"David started to say, only to realize his daughter was already gone.
"My my, someone's in a bad mood today." Regina laughed as Emma stormed off to her car. Regina's eyes never left Emma's face as she watched the blonde pull out of the parking spot designated for the Sheriff and speed down the street towards the center of town, coming to an abrupt halt in front of the building that housed the Charming's loft. "Now I have half a mind to fine her for leaving work in the middle of the day. She's not patrolling at all."
Emma rushed upstairs and into the apartment, slamming the door behind her. Pausing for a second to make sure no one was home, she rushed upstairs to her room, slamming the second door as well. "Now I know where Henry gets the habit of slamming doors. Clearly being loud and rude is hereditary," she said to no one.
Emma paced the small room for a few moments, practically pulling out her hair from frustration. In a fit of anger, she pulled off her boots and quickly removed her tight pants. Regina's eyes went wide as she stared at Emma's toned legs, a wide and wicked smile spreading across her face when Emma turned around, to reveal her perfectly sculpted ass. "Oh the things I could do to you, Miss Swan…" Regina purred as she watched Emma sink to the floor, her hands moving to gently cup her calves, which were completely covered in the vines that magically grew out of her light skin. In another fit of rage, Emma began to claw at the plants, trying to pull them from her body, only to cry out in pain when the vines pulled at her skin. A few more tries led to Emma erupting into tears, her cries filling not only her room, but the room in Regina's vault.
"Don't do this, Regina, please…"she cried, folding her head into her arms as they rested on her knees."Let me help you, please."Regina felt a single tear run down her cheek as she watched Emma cry, the tears she shed were for her, and her alone.
"Are you going weak, Your Majesty?" Rumplestiltskin's voice rumbled behind her, causing her focus to shift from the crying woman.
"Never!"
"I beg to differ. I do believe that is a tear I see you shedding for the Savior."
Regina quickly swiped the stray tear from her face. "It's simply an involuntary response, and nothing else." She quickly turned her attention to the apparition behind her. "What do you want?"
"I'm here to once again light a fire under your ass, Your Majesty. Time is ticking, Regina. The Savior must die."
Regina stretched her neck, listening to the sound of her joints cracking in the process. "I said, all in good time."
"Yes yes, I've heard all this before. If you're not going to kill her, can't we at least hurt her a little? Perhaps a little torture?"
"You know, you're right. Now seems like as good a time as any to pay our friend a visit." With a wave of her hand she was gone, reappearing in the backseat of Emma's yellow bug.
Sitting in complete silence, she watched as Emma walked out of the building and towards the car, stopping after a few feet to gently rub her sore legs. Emma cried out in pain as she climbed into the driver's seat, the tight space causing her to bump into the vines that now covered her calves and feet. She slammed the door and let out a small scream, releasing some built up anger.
"There's no need to yell, dear. I'm right here," she said, scaring Emma so much she nearly jumped out of her skin.
"Jesus, Regina! What the hell?" Emma asked, turning to look at the Queen tucked away in the back seat.
"Surprise!" she smiled.
"What do you want, Regina? I have a feeling you're not here to ask for help."
"Your gut would be right. Just the same as I am not here to ask if you'd like to die now. You're stubborn, just like your mother."
"You leave my mother out of this," Emma growled.
"My, my. No need to get hostile. I'm just here to say hello."
"Something tells me there's more on your agenda than a friendly house call."
"You know, I've only ever been in your car a handful of times," Regina said, completely ignoring Emma's statement. "It really is a good car. I'm surprised it's lasted this long though."
"Yes, well. I take good care of her, give her synthetic oil, keep the gas tank no lower than half a tank," Emma said sarcastically.
"It would be a shame if it were to…oh I don't know…suddenly burst into flames or something." Emma looked at her for a second, as a wicked and evil smile spread across the Queen's face before she disappeared from the backseat, reappearing in front of the car.
"Regina?" Emma asked, reaching for the handle, pulling it to find the door was locked. Emma watched through the windshield as a large red fireball appeared in Regina's hand. "Regina?" she asked, louder this time, pushing unsuccessfully at the door. "Regina, what are you doing?"
"Setting the world on fire."
Emma watched in horror as the fireball flew through her car, the heat nearly burning her face as the fireball whizzed past her head, settling into the engine in the back. A small explosion erupted through the car, shaking the entire frame. It didn't take a second to realize that Emma was trapped in her car, which was now on fire.
"Regina! Regina, stop this! Let me out!" Emma screamed, throwing all of her weight into the door, receiving nothing but resistance. "REGINA!"
"What's the matter, Emma? Are you afraid of burning to death in your beloved car?"
"REGINA, LET ME OUT!"
"You know, this could all be over in an instant, if you just let me kill you. I promise my death will be faster and less painful than burning to death in your metal coffin on wheels."
"REGINA!" Emma screamed, as the interior of the car began to heat up, the air and smoke burning her lungs. The smoke that surrounded her turned a dark purple color and a second later she was standing next to Regina outside the car. She watched as her beloved bug quickly became engulfed in flames.
"I hope you weren't too attached to this car," Regina said, glancing over at Emma.
"A car is a car…" Emma said, attempting to sound stronger than she was.
"Yes, but this is more than just a car to you, isn't it Emma. This car reminds you of Neal, Henry's father and your first love."
"Neal is gone. I don't need any reminders of him."
"It appears I am doing you a favor then." Regina smirked.
"I'm not afraid of you, Regina," Emma said, turning to look at the Queen deep in the eye. "I will find a way to save you from the Darkness, even if I die trying."
"Youwilldie, Miss Swan. That much I can guarantee."
"Then I will die trying." They stood in silence for a few moments, watching the yellow bug burn.
"Five and a half more days, Miss Swan," Regina said, before disappearing into her purple cloud of smoke.