Flipped Ch17 v1
Emma had a simple plan. Get in. Defeat the evil monster-in-law. Rescue Regina and her Minion Mom before getting the hell outta dodge, only something felt decidedly, foul. As soon as her fingertips touched the heavy crypt door she expected to be repelled at the very least into next week, but Regina's blood magic not only allowed her unrestricted access, it welcomed her excitedly, fusing with her own inherent magic with unfamiliar familiarity.
Descending the thin stairwell Emma once again stood in the musty room with the colourful mosaic tile floor
"Regina?" Emma whisper-shouted
Sneaking towards the oak podium, the catalyst of their latest escapade, Emma lifted an unlit candle, placing it down she examined the unusual collection of items. A ceremonial dagger, blue vial and sea salt catching her immediate attention. What Is Cora planning?
"Returning to the scene of your latest crime Ms Swan?" Cora goaded, "Well, they do say once a criminal, always a criminal"
An all too familiar shiver made Emma's heckles stand as she stepped away from the podium to face the spectre
"I should have realised given Regina's rather delicate, condition… her blood magic would be useless as a deterrent against you." Cora smirked
"I swear if you've hurt her I'll-" Emma's anger flared. Fists clenched she took a menacing step towards Cora
"Now-Now, saviour." Cora warned circling the blonde dangerously "You will do what, exactly. Kill me? Your mother already tried, and it didn't stick."
Mirroring Cora's movements they danced cautiously around one another each waiting for the other to strike
"Cora. It doesn't have to end like this." Emma reasoned, already knowing that the ethereal being was far beyond reason, but despite everything she was still Regina's mother and Emma had to at least try "We're not in the Enchanted Forest, there's still time to negotiate a truce. Please," She implored "Just let me leave with Regina and my mother"
Cora sighed already bored with the inconsequential conversation
"Always trying to see the good in people saviour but alas, there is not one ounce to be found. I had such high hopes for Regina this incarnation, and once again you have proven as dogged as ever. Living up to your Charming genes you again sullied my daughter's reputation. However, I do have you to thank for making my corporeal return and impending greatness possible." Cora smirked gleefully pointing to the oak podium, "Without Mr Swan's, shall we say, interference?" She winked at the saviour, "I would have remained an ethereal being eventually moving onto the next braid, and Regina and her sordid little secret…" Cora's hands covering her abdomen didn't go unnoticed raising Emma's suspicions further. "Well, that eventuality would have remained an impossibility"
The smile that pulled Cora's lips was predatory.
Inhaling an even breath Emma calmed herself resisting the urge to lash out
"Whatever Regina's keeping from me, it doesn't matter. I don't care. I trust her, and she'll tell me when she's ready."
The smile slipped from Cora's face, the saviour's faith in her daughter, unwavering
"Miss White." Cora spoke determinedly, her voice echoing throughout the vault "Bring my daughter to the podium. We are ready to begin the ritual"
Raising a palm in Emma's direction the saviour was propelled backwards. Hitting the stone wall with a sickening thud, air expelled her lungs with a loud 'Ooof'. Restrained, she was held fast by sparking cuffs
"Emma!" Regina gasped, the sight of her lover's plight igniting a fire within "Let me go." She begged struggling determinedly against Snow to no avail "I said. Let. Me. Go."
"Regina. I'm ok" Emma spluttered "Baby. It's ok"
Snow gently squeezed Regina's arm urging her to remain calm. It would only harm their chances of survival if Cora grew suspicious
"Ah, finally there you are my darling." Cora greeted Regina beckoning Snow to hasten "Bring her to me"
Ushering Regina to Cora Snow stood guard beside Emma
"Psst!"
Snow remained silent
"Mom"
Turning abruptly Snow discreetly winked at her daughter.
Emma sagged against the restraints that were starting to chafe, relief flooding her. A slight nod of the blonde's head towards her pocket and Emma tensed her abdominals
"I'm an orphan. I don't have a mother" Emma spat "Keep your filthy fucking hands off me"
Lashing out Snow shoved the hilt of Charming's sword vehemently into Emma's stomach removing the pouch of protection unseen from her pocket
"Ugh." Emma groaned spitting out a mouthful of phlegm "Fuck"
"Emma," Regina yelled tearfully "Emaaaaaa!"
"Still ok" Emma coughed sucking in a lungful of air
Distracted from her pre-ritual meditation Cora shot a scathing glance towards Snow who simply stated
"Daughters need to be disciplined"
Cora cackled, her mind formulating, calculating
"You may yet prove useful, Snow White. Now, I would appreciate no further interruptions."
Cleansing the candle with sea salt Cora mumbled an undistinguishable mantra. Working the blue liquid from the vial between her index fingers and thumbs, with one hand she rubbed the liquid from the centre of the candle upwards and with the other, downwards. Resting the candle on the podium she clicked her ethereal fingers… the wick flickered. Magically lifting the ceremonial dagger, it pointed at Regina's exposed abdomen threateningly
"Mother. Please" Regina's shaky voice begged "Please"
"You fucking hurt her Cora, and I swear I'll…" Emma choked her cheeks wet with moisture
What could she do? Closing her eyes, she was unable to watch Regina's impending torment.
Cora's predatory smile widened. Standing on the precipice of her transcendence, Snow White. The Evil Queen and her Saviour finally understood and would cower beneath her wrath
A tortured scream escaped red lips. Piercing her skin, the ceremonial dagger etched a Wicca star through the delicate flesh of Regina's abdomen. At each of the Wicca-stars five points, seared into perfect skin, a single word. Spirit. Air. Fire. Earth. Water
The mausoleum fell deathly silent.
Glancing over her shoulder Snow gasped as steely sea-green dangerously watched Cora transform from an ethereal being into five thick tendrils of red vapour. Expanding outwards towards Regina the tendrils levitated her a few inches vertically from the floor. Enveloping her tightly they danced around her gleefully until eventually each one was drawn to a point on the Wicca star carved into Regina's abdomen. Wriggling they disappeared inside the brunette.
SQ
Cora becoming corporeal. Regina's useless blood magic. Mr Swan's interference. Regina's delicate condition. Nausea. A Secret. Regina's secret.
"Snow" Emma bellowed, spurred into action with renewed determination "Dad's sword. The cuffs. Hit the cuffs"
Swinging the sword high above her head it clattered into the sparking cuffs with deadly accuracy, the sparking stammered, stuttered and vanished. Landing on her feet Emma quickly embraced her Mother
"Well shit. Who knew Snow White was such a badass?" Emma teased "Keep that pouch safe, it protects against Cora's thrall"
Snow nodded
"What can I do?"
"I need Dad's sword, then get the hell outta here" Emma grit her teeth "This is between me and Cora."
"Emma…"
"Mom. Trust me."
Quickly squeezing her daughter's hands tightly, Snow hurried away.
Chest heaving Emma stood before the levitating brunette. Tentatively outstretching a fingertip, she lightly graced the wound carved into the delicate skin covering her abdomen. Involuntary Emma's magic reached for Regina causing the brunette to rouse
"Emma?" She breathed "Emma. I'm sorry"
"Hey-hey. Shush." Emma soothed placing a gentle palm against the distraught woman's cheek, silent tears marring her own "It's going to be ok. Shush"
Panicking the saviour searched for something, anything to help free Regina from the ritual
"My magic is weak" Regina strained "But it's preventing Mother from fully transcending. She is of my flesh but not yet of vessel"
"When evil is of flesh but not of vessel a sliver of virtuous redemption can pierce the darkness."
Emma was silent. Sea-green refused to meet chocolate
"Emma?" Regina breathed
Emma's lip worried. Chest heaving, she visibly shook
"Emma?" Regina grit, the strain of fighting her mother's internal battle beginning to take its toll "Sweetheart, what is it?"
Wiping her eyes with her sleeve Emma shook her head. A futile war raging between what her heart-desired, and what her head knew she must do
"It's not an option." She choked still refusing to meet Regina's gaze
"Mother will destroy this realm and everyone in it. Is that what you want?"
Emma shook her head, shoulders slumped she continued to swipe at her eyes
"Do whatever you must to protect our son. I only wish…" Regina drifted off her tears falling unabashedly
"I can't Regina." Through her own tears, sea-green found chocolate "Ask anything but that. I can't-I just… I can't"
Regina's eyes fluttered closed.
"Then she has already won, and all is lost."
"Regina!"
Emma wanted to shake the brunette, but she dared not touch her. Inhaling sharply, Regina's eyes sprang wide
"Do it" She breathed
Despondent Emma shook her head
"I love you. Emma please." Regina pleaded "Do it" She whispered
"I can't" Emma cried through heaving sobs "Regina." Emma screamed
"Do it!" Regina yelled
Anguished green eyes drifted up from where a crimson bloom grew steadily on Regina's chest. The tip of Charming's sword protruded from the brunette's heart as distraught, Emma thrust the weapon forward. Through soulful eyes, Regina gazed lovingly towards her saviour and although laced with pain they held an underlying serenity. Shaking uncontrollably Emma's grasp on the hilt of her father's sword failed, and it clattered metallically to the floor.
Emma was suffocating. Trembling she clamoured for breath unable to fathom that this moment would be the last she would spend basking in the love and affection she found reflected in soulful eyes. Regina had demanded Cora be stopped and in doing so had sacrificed herself so those she loved could live. Her debt for casting the dark curse repaid.
Time ceased
"I love you." Smile faltering, Regina's eyes fluttered closed. Body softening, she dropped lifelessly to the cold stone floor
"Regina!" A distraught, sharp cry penetrated the silence
Wobbling, Emma's legs folded beneath her. Scraping hands and knees she scrabbled across cold stone. Reaching Regina, she reverently lifted her lifeless love into her lap.
"Don't leave me," Emma wept. Rocking the brunette gently, she cradled Regina flush against her, "Regina. Don't leave me" She pleaded, tracing the contour of a defined cheek with delicate fingertips "I'm sorry" Emma wept "I'm sorry"
And that's how Snow found them. Together. An ex-evil Queen cradled in the arms of her saviour. Snow didn't interrupt, she cried softly as her daughter begged between hushed words of eternal love and devotion, for the lifeless brunette and their unborn child to return to her and their son.
"Emma." Snow gentled
Emma glanced over her shoulder.
"OUT"
Terrified by the unexpected darkness swirling inside hollow green Snow fled the mausoleum.
Pressing her forehead against Regina's temple Emma placed a tender kiss against her jaw whist humming a soft mantra
Braided we tarried
Enormous our burden
A tapestry woven through time
Release us from strife
To reclaim one life
Because, our love, endured, sands of time.
Charming's discarded sword vibrated, gently at first, the intensity increased as Emma recited her mantra until the anima-gem embedded within the hilt of the sword emitted a brilliant white hue. Startled, she scurried backwards as Regina levitated from her lap. Watching incredulously as her lover's lifeless body reciprocated, emanating a soft violet hue that danced familiarly with white before levitating to rest above the glowing sword. Back arching, suddenly Regina's arms splayed wide. Convulsing thick red tendrils billowed from her mouth and nostrils. Resisting extraction, the vapour encapsulated her torso, swirling it twisted and spiralled around out-splayed arms. Arcing between sword and Regina the battle waged until with a howling wind the vapour disappeared trapped inside the anima-gem by the most powerful magic of all. True love.
Sitting in wide-eyed disbelief Emma choked back tears
"Regina?" She croaked reaching out a tentative fingertip drawing it back quickly as her true loves head stirred. Tired eyes filled with mirth landed upon the blonde, lips widening into the purest of smiles Regina breathed…
"Em-ah"
SQ