Skipping across the slick rocks lining the river's edge Emma's eyes went wide in awe, watching the fireflies soar up into the night sky. The forest in Storybrooke had been cold and empty at night, but everything in the enchanted forest was alive and fluorescent. Flowers bloomed even at dusk and a fog wisped around the fauna bringing a chill to the air.
"No wondering" David ordered, his eyes darting around wearily.
Emma huffed as her shoulders dropped, but she took another step forwards further downstream.
"Emma" David had his don't push it tone in his voice, his body tense while gathering kindling.
"Why don't we just keep moving?" Emma questioned, poking her head out from behind a tree.
"Horses don't have headlights" David stated bluntly, gesturing for her to come closer.
"Right" Emma sighed, dawdling closer "when are we meeting up with Mom?"
"Your mother will find us I'm sure" David's voice was strained.
Emma frowned, her breathing uneasy as a tingling sensation vibrated through her hands. Her parents had always worked as a unit, barely a white lie between them. This deception he made her unwillingly a part of, caused her to be restless. Suppressing her need to be in constant motion Emma sat legs crossed by the campfire. grabbing a stick and holding it just above the flame.
"I never camped before; I wish we had marshmallows" Emma wished as a small smile escaped her lips.
"All I got is stew, eat up" David smiled glumly, handing Emma a small wooden bowl filled with chunks of meat in a gravy like sauce.
"What's in this, did you kill Bambi?" Emma mocked, frowning at the brown glug with suspicion.
"No Emma, just eat it please" David couldn't help but let out a chuckle.
Emma shrugged before spooning the brown mixture into her mouth relieved it was warm, soothing her with each bite.
"It's yum" Emma stated, surprised knowing her father did not attempt more than a grilled cheese sandwich.
As the fire dimmed and with their bellies full, they lay down on the grass in their sleeping sacks. It was quiet, like they were the only people in the world quiet. The absence of planes or passing cars left her with a sinking loneliness. This land of fairytales, felt hauntingly scarce. Any sense of civilization was lost when the Dark Curse enveloped the villages and castles leaving the bare bones in its wake. Emma's eyes caught a glimmer of something reflective in the grass just out of her fathers grasp.
"Are you going to sleep with your sword?" she mocked.
"Just in case" David stated before rolling onto his side, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
"You think Zelena will attack again?" Emma questioned.
"Maybe, there are others out there, they'll take whatever they can to survive" David explained tensley.
"Right" Emma sighed, rolling onto her back and looking up at the stars.
"It's ok Emma, go to sleep" David encouraged, forcing a relaxed tone.
Their bodies exhausted but their minds would not rest, staring up at the stars hoping for a brighter tomorrow.
"Dad" Emma whispered
"Yeah" He replied softly.
"What happened back in Storybrooke, how did-d?" Emma stammered out cautiously.
David sighed before he reluctantly turned face with the desperate look in her eyes, while her hand gripped her blanket tightly.
"The truth is, we had no clue how to find you" David couldn't take his eyes off her as he explained"I was so angry, we got into a fight"
"It was only a day" Emma's voice broke, aware the weight of their parents grief would have been unbearable.
"It felt longer, we hadn't slept, that door wouldn't budge even after I hit it with a dwarf axe" David's voice became heightened, as his blood rushed all that fear and anger flooding back as it never left.
"It's all my fault" Emma took in a sharp breath while David shook his head in response.
"Your mother she wouldn't lose hope and when the darkness came, it came straight for me, but she pushed me out of the way" a small smile escaped his lips, as he thought back to that moment.
"She sacrificed herself, to save you" Emma's eyes went wide as realisation sunk in.
"I will do whatever it takes to get her back" David stated firmly looking up at the stars.
"Whatever it takes" Emma nodded in agreement.
Emma's eyes drooped with weariness, the cold air no longer enough to keep her conscious even while she lay on the hard forest floor. Eventually drifting off to sleep as did David, but he didn't rest. Nightmares plagued his thoughts, sweet dripping from his forehead he stirred himself awake with a gasp. Breathing heavily, his eyes wide in horror glancing over to where Emma slept, his nightmares became reality.
"Emma?" David yelled into the darkness with no sign of her; he leaped forwards, fumbling slightly, unable to focus his thoughts. A taunting laugh echoed in his ears, while he reached for her but all he found was the blanket.
"I'll-find you" he muttered in delirium.
Rushing headlong into the darkness he weaved in between the ancient trees treading over flowers while his hand tensely clenched the blanket, unwilling to let go.
"You failed her, you will always fail" A sinister voice taunted him from the shadows.
Picking up the pace while his eyes darted around frantically, the sudden racing of his heart resulted in a breathlessness.
"Emma, please" He gasped a desperate look in his wide eyes "where are you?"
His vision was a blurred mess of dim light breaking through the trees while a darkness crept up on him. An unbearable throbbing in his head only stirred him forwards, with a stern look of determination.
"Will you be brave enough to save her?" The voice was so familiar, it caused his heart to sink confused.
"I will- I'll do anything" David yelled into the darkness desperate.
The voice laughed and it carried through the darkness from all directions, mocking him "Will you Kill" "The voice snickered
The pain in his head overwhelmed David and he fell to the ground, an image forced to the forefront of his mind causing him to heave. It was undeniably the hilt of his sword trembling in his blood soaked hand. Looking up he gasped upon seeing Snow White, his wife, his hope: with the blade clear through her abdomen at his hand.
"No I..." David stammered but his words got caught in his throat.
The shadows in front of him filled out the shape of a cloaked man brandishing his sword, stepping closer he lifted his hood. Eyes wide David stumbled backwards, stepping towards him was his own twisted reflection. Its eyes went to the object in David's hand; a soft white knitted baby blanket with Emma's name embroidered on the side.
"Fate is a one way street" The copy warned
The word had resonance with him and he gasped. Fate brought love to David's life, sending him barreling down a brutal path with much lost along the way. The Prince had always faced it headlong with conviction, standing straight he smirked at the uncanny reflection.
"I can face it, I always have" David stated grimly.
Finding clarity he stood still suddenly the fuzzy stars in the sky gained crisp edges, while the figure continued to march towards him.
"I can't change the past" David stated with a longing smile, his eyes darting down at the blanket "or see into the future, all we have are moments what I do now that's all that matters" eyes wide with realisation.
David surged ahead even as he quivered with fear, unable to shake the feeling of his sword piercing Snow. Striking his attacker with his fist, his own face smirking back at him and he just kept punching. Even as blood began gushing from the nose and brow. But the figure vanished into a cloud of green smoke along with his sword, the silence broken by the witch's cackle from inside his head.
"What?" Disorientated David felt a nauseating sensation as if falling, then it all abruptly stopped his eyes open and he found himself lying in the dirt. Gasping for air he surged up from the ground making his head spin; but he breathed a sigh of relief. Turning to see Emma lying peacefully asleep to his left; it was all a dream. But as he reached for his sword he found nothing.
–
Meanwhile
Regina coughed, waving her hand in an attempt to dissipate the stench of the fermenting potion at the Merry Mens camp. The twenty or so small vials in front of her contained enough to cure them all about ten times over. With her eyes focused on what she'd accomplished, a smile escaped her lips. Turning she looked around the empty tent and her eyes became distant, as a sinking feeling took over.
"I did it" She sighed, hands moving to her hips but there was no pat on the back or even a nod of acknowledgement. A loneliness that suddenly felt crushing with her mind no longer focused on a task, she rushed out of the tent.
Despite the dire stakes the atmosphere outside as the sun set was celebratory, as if without even the first shot fired the battle had been won. Over by an ancient tree coated in moss, its long branches hanging over a lute player. Surrounded by cheery dancers, knocking back mugs of mead with laughter. Standing alone and eerily still was Snow White standing out amongst the crowd of green, in her dark black fighting gear.
"I thought you'd have found them by now" Regina frowned as she approached.
"David said he would meet us at the castle, that was the plan" Snow stated bitterly.
"Emma and David, are they ok?" Regina gasped as her brow furrowed in response to Snow's lack of concern.
"There alive, but there not heading towards the castle" her tone was blunt as she stared blankly ahead.
Sighing Regina turned towards the bonfire shaking her head slightly.
"You knew, David was planning on going off alone" Regina sighed, pursing her lips.
"He's not a good liar" she replied coldly.
"He's trying to find a way to break the curse?" her voice strained as she defended his actions.
Snow nodded as her jaw clenched, closing her eyes as her head tilted to the side.
"Emma needs her heart back" she sighed "Then we will find Zelena, I'll get yours back" Snow turned to her with promising eyes.
"I think i'm better off without it" Regina scoffed bitterly.
Snow frowned at her with the same naive concern she had as a girl, forcing a chuckle out of Regina.
"All my grief, the hatred. It's not gone, but distant" she shrugged.
"You're saying, not feeling is a good thing?" her tone pointed.
"For me yes, but Emma's different, it's her source of strength, unlike mine" Regina stated bitterly.
Snow White didn't respond, her eyes looking past Regina as her mind took her to a darker place, no longer focused on the conversation.
"Why do you look so concerned?"
"That's not true" Snow's words were solemn, even a little guilty while she reflected on Regina's experiences in contrast to hers.
"I'll be right back, I was promised a drink" Regina smirked playfully.
"No Regina" she huffed.
–
Although their cups were full of mead and the smell of the coming feast filled the air, Regina's smile was fake as she made her way through the crowd. Her thirst for liquor wasn't to numb but to uplift, wanting to feel their joy. Passing by her without much more than a glance she was anonymous in this crowd of vacant drifters. Stumbling forwards a robust man slammed into her and she greeted him with a glare. But simply handed her a large tin cup filled with a foaming liquid smiling apologetically.
"You're going to drink that or just like holding it" Robin approached with a playful smirk gracing his face, that gave Regina pause.
"No-well it's not really my drink" Regina stammered out.
"What's your poison, I'm sure we must have something more to your taste" his voice was so soothing pulling her in like a siren song.
"Scotch, neat" she raised a brow, smiling at the thought.
"Ugh, haven't heard of that... but we do have rum" Robin had his bow across his shoulder adjusting it as he squatted down to rummage through a crate.
Regina smiled a real smile this time nodding her head at Robin watching him pull a glass bottle and pour her a glass, handing it to her with a smile.
"Thanks" she said it with disbelief in her tone.
Taking a sip, she almost choked, not expecting the drink to have such fire to it, burning as it made its way down her throat.
"Nothing here, feels familiar anymore"
"I feel like we were the ones that were stuck, frozen in time, fighting the same wars over and over"
"Maybe it's me that changed then"
"Change can be good"
"Yes, but not everybody accepts it"
A woman walked by just as Regina spoke, her expression shocked and disgusted as her eyes locked onto the former queen and she stormed off.
"Letting the hate fuel you for so long," Robin turned giving her a sympathetic look "You must have been in so much pain"
"It's so distant now, like an echo, without my heart in my chest"
"You're heart? "He gasped concerned "Someone was able to take it from you"
"The Dark one… I guess I let it happen, the truth is I was more scared then I thought I be, seeing the hate in Snow's eyes"
"She does strike a nerve" his eyes wide as he tilted his head.
"I not afraid of her, but for her, she will dig herself in hole so deep and dark, she'll never be able to claw herself out" Regina took another gulp of the rum emptying the glass sighing as she finished it, the sense of dread she usually sunk into wasn't there though. Every emotion null and she felt herself slipping into a void, hoping someone would catch her.
"Snow won't have to; someone will pull from the darkness" Robin had a smug expression with his wise words as he looked directly into Regina's eyes, eyes that had known hate and kindness.
"You're so sure, not everybody deserves forgiveness" Regina stated glum, while raising her glass requiring a refill.
"Forgiveness it's an act of compassion, not done because someone deserves it, because they need it" Robin stated not with any condescension but an earnestness. Refilling their glasses his smirk was replaced with a small smile.
"I've never been one to let go, I can't expect that kind of compassion from others" Regina's eyes went wide as she reflected for a moment.
"Didn't you say you've changed?" Robin sat beside Regina once more
"Your wise for a thief" Regina grinned, taking another sip, their eyes locked unable to break free both felt an unfamiliar sensation that excited them while simultaneously terrifying.