Twice Upon A Tale

S2E9

Queen Of Hearts

Lake Nostos had been an idea Emma had thought up from reading Henry's book; there was a chapter about how the waters from the lake could revive what was lost. Things long gone, things that were beyond hope, the water could revive anything.

As a last ditch effort to make something of the magic inside the dust from the wardrobe, she and Regina headed to the lake.

"When we get home, I'm never leaving the house again" Emma grumbled, sick and tired of all the hoops they had to jump through to get a portal opened. The dust on the ground was thick, the air was hot, and she was completely and utterly done with the enchanted forest.

"You say that now, but you're unable to sit still and we both know it" Regina chimes in, speaking a sing-song type voice. She didn't get amusement out of much, but teasing Emma was a constant source of entertainment.

"Where's the lake?" Emma asked, standing beside a large crater in the ground, a conveniently lake-shaped hole with (even more conveniently) no water in it. Her shoulders slump in defeat as she looks at the thick layer of dust covering the bottom of the lake where the water should be.

Dry as a bone.

"It's right here" Regina says confidently, nodding down to the water-less pit Emma was already disappointed in. "This is Lake Nostos" she didn't seem as disappointed as Emma would've expected; if anything, she seemed excited, as if this dusty hole in the ground held the answers to all of their problems.

"Yeah, okay" Emma snorts "there's just one problem. Lakes have water, and there's no water here" she flings a hand out dramatically to gesture to the severe lack of water.

Smirking, Regina puts out both of her hands and raises them slightly in the air. It was something so magically beautiful that Emma had to remember to take a breath; standing so regal, her hands purple with power and the glimmers of magic surrounding her, Regina looked absolutely captivating.

Gusts of water shot up from the ground, the earth completely at the mercy of the queen, filling the lake around them with cool, clear water once again.

"You were saying?" Regina said, a look of triumph on her face as Emma stood in awe. Regina had quite literally made something from nothing, and brought the lake back to life.

"You're amazing" Emma murmured, watching the water as a smile began to form on her lips. Every single day she wondered how she got so lucky as to be privileged enough to love someone as extraordinary as Regina.

Now, thanks to her, they had the water and all they had to do was put the ashes in and pray it worked.

"Oh I know" Regina replied, her chest undoubtedly filling with price as she reached out with the same hands that breathed life into the lake to grab Emma's hand. "Now, let's go home to our boy"

Our boy.

Smiling as they stood together, the relief flooded Emma's body as she took out the pouch with the ashes of the wardrobe and dumped it rather unceremoniously into the water. Right before their eyes, a swirling portal that took up the entire expanse of the lake opened up.

They stood at the very edge of the lake in fascination as the magic swelled across the water; the portal was identical to the one that had been made by Jefferson's hat. The same portal that had gotten them stuck here in the first place.

"Not so fast" Cora's voice sounded behind them, and Emma's blood ran cold. The portal would only be open for a short amount of time; they couldn't afford distraction.

"Mother" Regina growled, her eyes hardening as Emma saw her visibly brace herself. She was stoic as a rock; hard and strong, unbreakable in the face of danger. She took a step forward to stand in front of Emma, to keep Cora as far away as possible.