The Swan Princess

-13-

"Zephyra?" Emma whispered into the darkness. The woman sniffling in the shadows stopped abruptly.
"What?" she replied quickly, but her voice was not the harsh voice anyone in the castle had always known. It was choked and sad, like the Queen was in a large amount of pain.
"What's she like? Eva?"
Zephyra sat straight up, wiping her cheeks even though nobody could have been able to see her tears.
"She... She's kind. Kinder than anyone I've ever met. I don't know where she could have become so kind, what with me raising her and all. Maybe it's in her blood. I was horrible to her and up until recently she was so kind to me despite everything I've ever done. She wouldn't hurt anyone if she could help it."
Emma smiled and reached out to grab the bars of her cell. "I think she sees redemption for you. My family, we used to rely on one thing only: hope. And I think Eva has hope for you, that you can do good and be better than your mistakes."
"You really think so?" Zephyra felt almost sick at the thought of betraying evil, the world her mother had raised her in, but now there was a child that was confident that the whole thing could just vanish. "She thinks I can just be good?"
Emma nodded. "My step-grandmother Regina, she was the worst. She sent a curse to the Enchanted Forest a long time ago that wiped out everyone that lived there. She did it to kill my mother and father. And me too. But she raised my son and he taught her how to be better than she used to be."
So there was redemption for the worst of souls. Even Zephyra. Instantly, the Queen got up and walked to the cell where Emma stood facing her. They could barely see each other in the darkness, until Zephyra's hand emitted a golden glow and the bars in front of Emma disappeared.
"It's never been golden before..." Zephyra gasped, wide-eyed.
"That's the light in your mind." Emma laughed.
"We need to find them. Do you have any idea where they could possibly be?"
"I have no idea. But we know they're alive if Eva has magic. First, there's someone I need to apologize to, if that's alright with you. Can we go somewhere first?" Emma asked. Zephyra nodded, and they disappeared into a cloud of silver smoke.
***
The forest was living with the sound of crickets and frogs as darkness surrounded the women. Light was barely visible through the windows of the cottage ahead of them, and Emma sprinted towards it like she had never run before. Zephyra followed closely behind, her mind racing through the possibilities of a new her, a better her, a good her.
Emma came barreling through the door noisily. Killian jumped up, his sword drawn and ready for any threats. Instead, he found his wife, gasping for air and smiling.
"Swan..." This didn't seem real to Killian. There was the love of his life, running into his arms when he was sure she would never return to them. Emma pressed into his chest, holding onto him tightly.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry and I love you so much." she sighed, nuzzling her face into the crook of his neck.
"They're here, Swan."
Emma pulled away from him. "They are?" her eyes lit up. From behind her, another loud gasp was audible.
"Eva." Zephyra's hand shot to her mouth. Once Killian saw her, he pushed Emma behind him and raised his sword instinctively.
"You stole our daughter." he growled, glaring at the Queen. "You will never have her again!" He began stepping towards Zephyra, who started backing up quickly.
"Hook, she's with me. She's like Regina, she regrets it and she's getting better but we need to give her a chance. For Eva." Emma grabbed at Hook's arm, and he lowered his sword.
"Very well. Shall we wait until they wake then?"
"I think so. It's a lot to take in." Emma nodded, and she took a seat by the fireplace. Her daughter, her precious baby girl whom she hadn't seen in ten years, was sleeping two rooms away from her. For the first time in ten years, she felt truly happy.