A/N: I'm going to be out of town this week so this is the last one for this…week. Expect two chapters next week on the real though.
Disclaimers: I don't own anything.
Chapter Four
Ten years ago
"Emma!"
The blonde looked up. It was her sister Elsa calling for her. Emma was wearing brown pants with her boots and white t-shirt throwing hay onto their cart. She has been throwing hay since this morning and the sun was beating down on her skin.
Elsa ran to her and gave Emma a cup of water which she took gratefully and smiled at her sister.
"Elsa. Thank you dear sister."
The other blonde smiled and nervously played with her hands, "Emma I have to tell you something."
Emma drank all of the water in just a few gulps and then sat it down on their hay cart, "Okay what is it?"
Elsa took in a deep breath and then letting it out slowly. Emma watched her sister and began to grow nervous herself.
"Elsa is everything alright?"
Emma's sister shakes her head, "No. I mean yes. I mean-" Elsa sighs, "I think I'm pregnant."
The green-eyed woman widens her eyes and jumps off the cart, "You're what!"
Elsa tried to calm her sister, "Emma please don't freak out-"
"Who did this to you? How can you get pregnant! Was it Josh? I bet it was him that slimy-"
"Emma you need to calm down-"
"Calm down? How can I be calm my sister is-"
Elsa started to giggle.
Emma tilted her head in confusion, "What? What is it?"
Then she heard a man's laughter just behind the cart. Elsa's laugh grew louder. Emma sighed and shook her head. She had been fooled.
The man peered out from the cart and walked to Emma, "You should have seen your face Emma."
It was an older man with soft blue eyes like Elsa's and blonde grey hair. He patted Emma's back. The blonde moved away from the hand and started walking away.
"Very funny you guys."
Elsa smiled, "Oh come now Emma we were just kidding!"
Emma stopped and then started to smile herself and turned around to face her father and sister, "How can I stay mad at you guys?" All three of them started to laugh.
The happy scene quickly changed as Emma was knocked in the head with something very hard. She passed out and her body hit the ground. When she opened her eyes hours later she saw her sister and father tied to a post and the blonde tried to go to them but she noticed that she was tied to a post as well. Elsa wouldn't stop screaming and her father David was trying to calm her down. Elsa noticed Emma was awake and called out for her.
"EMMA!"
The green-eyed woman struggled to break free and her face scrunched in anger. She couldn't make out the two men as they untied both David and Elsa forcing them to their knees. Tears were running down Elsa's and Emma's face as they looked into each other's eyes. The dark figure held a blade to Elsa's neck.
Emma's heart sank and she struggled desperately to reach her sister. All hope seem to leave the blonde's body.
Elsa then smiled at Emma, "Soon we shall be together in death…forever."
Present time
Emma took cautious steps forward as the guests continued to dance around her. All of them laughing and spinning caused the blonde's head to spin just as fast as they were going. The blonde looked to her left and right swaying on her feet. Her whole world was coming down. She could hear a small voice cry out to her. Emma couldn't understand whose voice it was and thought she was going crazy. The knight looked over at the orchestra and didn't see her blonde friend. The woman had vanished and Emma cried out in her mind the spirit's name over and over again but there was no reply.
The blonde knight felt a hand on her forearm but it wasn't a woman's hand. It was one of the guards here at the castle trying to pull her away. He was cloaked with a dagger in his hand. Emma then heard a loud scream coming from the dance floor and she snapped back into reality. She scrunched her face in anger and grabbed the man's hand twisting it behind his back. He cried out in pain then Emma kicked his stomach and he fell forward onto the ground.
Emma looked out into the sea of guests and everyone had started to panic and run. Someone had been stabbed and was now lying on the floor dead. Quickly one by one Emma saw cloaked men in black capture guests and stab them. The blonde knight ran into the middle of the room pulling out her sword that was tied to her waist and stabbed right through a man who was about to kill a woman screaming. Emma pulled her sword back out and watch the woman quickly got up and ran. The blonde continued this motion going back and forth from guy to guy until she got hit with something hard on her eye that caused her to fly to back. She landed on the floor hard putting her free hand to her eye. She looked up to see who had knocked her and it was Maleficent.
The blonde struggled to get up but then she felt a wave of energy through her body and Emma quickly got to her feet with ease. It was Ingrid that had returned to her.
Emma shook her head, "Ingrid… You lied to me."
"Now is not the time to talk Emma. To your left!"
The knight swung her sword to her left as Ingrid has told her and sliced a man in black in his chest before he could hurt her.
Emma looked back at Maleficent standing a few feet away from her with her staff in both hands ready to fight the blonde. Ingrid stood beside Emma with her fists clench to her sides. There were people upon people running past them trying to get to cover or to their carriages as Emma took a defensive stance.
"How do you know about Ingrid?" Emma called out to the evil woman.
She simply smiled, "There is much she hasn't told you."
Maleficent ran forward throwing her staff back behind her then at Emma forcefully but Emma pushed it away with her sword and the staff landed right through Ingrid. The spirit disappeared into the air and Emma looked around to where she might have gone but it only distracted her from Maleficent and the evil woman hit Emma's back with her staff. The blonde cried out in pain and landed on her knees gripping her sword tightly so she doesn't let it fall from her hand.
"I'm sure Ingrid said this isn't a good time to talk but I say now is a good time as any!"
Maleficent walked towards Emma but the blonde got up and swung at the other woman but she just blocked it with her staff. This happened several times before Maleficent got tired of this back and forth game and she stuck out her hand and it started to glow purple. Emma took a step back in shock and watched the woman levitate a few feet off the ground and then threw a fire ball at the blonde. Emma dodges it rolling on the ground and gasping for breath.
"Tell me Emma did she place fake memories in your mind?"
Emma looked up with sweat dripping down her forehead, "What?"
Maleficent tried hitting the blonde again with a fire ball but Emma dodges it just barely and crawling towards the staircase letting her back lay against the steps.
The woman held out her glowing hand letting all her energy charge as she spoke, "Your father and mother weren't killed in a blood sacrifice. Those were memories of Ingrid's blood sacrifice. Listen closely Emma because I haven't begun to tell you the best part. Your family was killed by two mere thieves looking for money. Ingrid planted a memory of a sacrificial circle in your mind so that you could help her. Ingrid is your curse… Your body is a vessel for the spirit."
Emma had her lips parted breathing in and out trying to regain her strength as she listened to Maleficent speaks to her. The blonde knight had so many questions running through her mind. If she died again here then Ingrid might be able to enter her body again but Emma couldn't trust her. The blonde couldn't feel the spirit's presences.
The green-eyed woman tried to get up as she pushed against the staircase with her elbows, "You're wrong, Ingrid would never-"
Maleficent interrupted her by laughing, "Ingrid has done very, very bad things. She does not belong with you she belongs to The Dark One. Ingrid has escaped and we have been looking for her for many years. It's time we get her back."
The evil woman lunged forward with her magic to Emma but the blonde knight drew her sword out in front of her, pushing against Maleficent's magic. Her sword couldn't hold on for much longer as the other blonde woman drew in closer. Both of their faces scrunched and muscles in their necks flexed as they both tried to push the other. Emma's black pupil started to grow wider and then cover up her whole eye turning both of them pitch black.
As Emma was drawing near to death a second time she finally felt Ingrid enter her body again and then down her arms and to her hands then the sword. The sword started to glow white and Emma groaned as her strength returned and knocked Maleficent back with her magic. The evil woman groaned loudly as she was flung and hit against a pillar cracking it and her body hitting the ground. Maleficent drew up her head and picked herself up holding her staff tightly. The evil woman wiped her upper lip with her fingers and felt blood dripping down her nose.
Maleficent chuckled and grinned, "How is your taste for vengeance Emma?" She clenched her fist, "Is not the darkness…sweet?" The woman took her staff in the other hand and hit the ground letting purple smoke cover her, "The Dark One needs you to return to him Ingrid! We will meet again!"
Maleficent vanished leaving her supposed castle destroyed in the inside. Food was everywhere along with tables and chairs knocked down and a few bodies lying on the ground. Emma's sword returned to normal and she winced as she got up on her feet and down the steps. The blonde knight walked outside into the castles grounds where she sat near a water fountain with large bushes surrounding the area.
Ingrid appeared a couple feet away from the beaten up blonde, "Emma-Emma I can explain-"
"Can you? Because I am having a hard time believing anything either one of you is telling me."
"Maleficent-"
"Is she telling the truth?"
Ingrid let her lips part and took a step forward but Emma stood up and yelled at the spirit, "Is she!"
The blonde spirit nodded quietly in defeat and Emma shook her head in disbelief. Ingrid took another step forward to Emma.
"Ten years ago your family and yourself was killed by two men," Ingrid began to speak and Emma decided to listen, "those two men died five years ago from some disease and it meant nothing. I made you believe that you, your family and myself was killed by an unknown man. Emma I was killed by the Dark One that Maleficent spoke of. He killed me so he could gain more power and I was locked away for a hundred years as a slave to him. I finally escaped from that man and over a hundred years I have spent my life in freedom but The Dark One continued to destroy villages along his way in his search for his spirit. Me. I had to do something."
Emma dropped her sword on the ground as Ingrid continued talking, "I found you and your family dead and before you could reach the lightness I branded myself in you."
"I could have died with my family." The blonde knight spoke gently.
"I gave you another chance at life Emma."
"I can still die with my family." The blonde pulled out a knife that was hidden under her shirt in the back and gripped it tightly.
"Wait Emma, don't! If you do that then I will be cast aside and vulnerable to The Dark One."
The blonde ripped off her chest plate and the silver off her arms as she still held onto the weapon. Her pants and shirt were torn from fighting and now it is her heart that is torn, "You lied to me! I wouldn't become a spirit like you if I died. I would finally be at rest with my father and sister."
Ingrid held out her hands, "Emma don't. I need your help. I need help killing The Dark One."
"Do it yourself." Emma drew back the knife and was going to puncture her heart.
"Regina!"
That made Emma's whole body stop at the name.
"What about the Queen? You care for her don't you? I know you do I can feel your heart."
Emma looked into the spirit's eyes.
"You die and you would have broken your promise to her. You saved a lot of people today and you saved her."
"How do you know if Regina is okay?"
"I went out looking for her. I know how much she already means to you. I know," Ingrid swallowed her pride, "that look. I look at you the same way you do Regina."
Emma dropped her jaw at Ingrid's confession. The blonde had no idea that her friend had feelings for her but it all became too obvious when she thought about their time together and how jealous Ingrid would be all the time Regina was involved with Emma or when the brunette would speak with the knight. Emma sat down on the fountain and looked on the ground.
Ingrid walked over and sat down next to her, "I know nothing would come of it. I can't truly take over a body and have it my own so I can… touch you." The spirit let her hand flicker over Emma's knee and looked into green eyes, "But you can have that with Regina. I can help you if you can help me kill my former master."
It was a lot to take in for Emma. Now knowing the whole truth she wanted to end her life so she could be with her father and sister but she was given another chance at existence.
"How come I don't age?" Emma asked.
"Because I don't allow it. I do have some control over your body."
"What happens when we kill The Dark One?"
Ingrid frowned, "I am at peace with death. We would no longer be together and you will be here living your life as normal."
"Why did you hide me from civilization for so long?"
"That was because of my own selfish reasons. I didn't want to share you."
Emma stood up and walked away from the fountain and then stopped. She didn't know if it was sweet that Ingrid thought of her dearly or if it was creepy. The blonde turned around and looked into blue eyes.
"So. How do we kill The Dark One?"
Ingrid gently smiled.
Emma hobbled over to the carriage that was still waiting for her outside the front of the castle. Most if not all of the other carriages have left the scene. The blonde knight looked at the man sitting at the front of Regina's carriage. He pulled on the reins to get the horse's attention and then the blonde spotted Regina through the window of the carriage. The queen widens her eyes and opened the door looking at Emma up and down.
The knight shrugged and laughed awkwardly, "I think I tore the clothes you gave me."
Regina looked at Emma's shirt that was torn on her shoulder and her side then she looked down at the woman's black pants and a tear was at her thigh with smaller tears.
"I'm really sorry about-"
The brunette stepped out of the carriage interrupting the blonde, "You're hurt."
Emma looked up into brown eyes, "What? Oh."
The knight took her right hand and touched her right eye. She winced as she touched it lightly and she could feel how swollen it gotten from Maleficent's staff.
Emma shook her head, "Really I'm fine-"
The Queen stepped forward into the blonde's personal space. She took her hand and placed it gently on Emma's right cheek. The knight stared into Regina's eyes and dropped her jaw just a little in awe that the Queen had a gentle touch. Was Regina worried? Or is this the first step and then the second step is slapping the person. Emma thought.
Regina cleared her throat and stepped back, "We will have someone look at that."
She turned and walked back into her carriage. Emma followed and got in with her closing the door behind her. She sat on the opposite side of the carriage from Regina and moved her sword so it wasn't poking her side. The blonde and the Queen sat there in silence as the carriage started to move. It shook as they got onto a rocky part of the road and Emma couldn't help but look at the Queen's chest bounce up and down. She looked away and tried to distract herself with her fingers.
"I heard about Maleficent."
Emma looked up, "Yes well, I would take her off your friend's list after tonight."
"Those were her men at the ball. Why they started to kill people I don't know. I heard you were there. Protecting others and saving their lives. I waited her for you. I didn't know if you were coming back or not."
The blonde noticed how distress the Queen was so she took Regina's hand in both of hers and looked into her eyes, "You're safe now. And that's all that matters. I won't leave your side again."
Regina looked back at Emma and wanted to pull her hand away but the touch was so gentle and the King hadn't touched her like this before. The King can have fun while Regina is away so why can't she? The brunette grasped Emma's hand and pulled the Knight gradually forward so she was sitting on the edge. The Queen sat on the edge of her seat with her lips now ghosting over Emma's. The blonde didn't know what was happening or what Regina was thinking.
The brunette tilted her head a little, "Do you know what the King does while I am away?"
Emma stuttered, "I-I don't know. What does he do your-your majesty?"
"He screws."
The blonde scrunched her face a little in confusion, "I'm not sure I understand what you're saying."
"He fucks other women, Miss Swan."
"Oh." The blonde gulps, "That's unfortunate I'm sorry your majesty." Emma didn't know what else she could say.
"He takes fancy to other beautiful women."
Emma smiled a little and started to caress Regina's thigh with her other hand, "I think you're the most beautiful woman I've ever seen."
The Queen lost her control. She wanted Emma she really did but not in this way. Not for just one night and if the King found out he would be-head them both. Regina couldn't take away the knight's innocence like that. Emma was too good of a person for the brunette and it made Regina feel guilty inside. Regina pulled away from Emma and touched her back against the seat. Now Emma really was confused so she sat back as well and let the silence in.
Ingrid appeared next to Emma, 'I'm sure she'll warm up to you. Just like you said.'
Emma replied back in her mind, 'I'm not so sure now, Ingrid. She's sending mix signals.'
'Don't forget you still have your Swan charm.'
Emma smiled and chuckled softly.
Regina turned her head sharply at the knight, "What is it?"
The blonde shook her head, "Nothing. Nothing." The blonde looked out the carriage window.
The Queen looked at Emma and something warm stirred in her heart. For the first time in a long time maybe The Evil Queen can find happiness.