Grey Areas - A Once Upon A Time Fanfiction

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Fire Vetoes With Fire

"EMMA!"

Zelena uses smoke to move to Mim's side before she can be trampled by the others.

"I'd bet my father's sword you figured that out on your own." Mim says, proudly when the cheer is done, beaming from ear to ear.

"Yeah."

"Like I said," –Mim looks at Maleficent– "Good instincts on that one." –she turns back to Emma– "So, how much did we learn on our trip?"

"A lot!" Emma exclaims. "I am nowhere NEAT as frightened of my magic as I used to be!"

"Perfect." –Zelena slow claps three times– "Any more instinctual remarks about fire?"

"It's its own sub-element." Emma answers as she walks towards the orbiting elements.

"And?"

"Morgan told me that magic is magic. Whether or not it is light or dark depends on the person wielding it." –Mim nods, beaming– "Regina," –Emma looks at her– "you're a perfect example."

"I think everyone knows THAT."

"Back when you were known as The Evil Queen, fire was your go to element. You're not that woman anymore and, yet, you still use fire." –Emma grabs a hold of the hovering fire ball– "Fire is an in between." –she looks at Mim– "Morgan says you would use the term 'crossroad'."

"I would."

"Magic is just magic." Emma continues, "How you used it dictated whether or not the magic was light or dark. But the fact that you used FIRE," –Emma holds the fire ball out to Regina– "signified you were never too far gone. You were producing LIGHT the entire time."

"What, so I was subconsciously crying for help?" Regina scoffs.

"Pretty much." Mim finishes, "And, seeing as how fire is still your first choice, and nothing else, you're still needing some."

"How do you figure?"

"Anger, in itself, is a signifier." –the elements and the pit disappear as if they were never there– "And fire is destructive, which anger usually leads to, either for the one holding onto anger or the one on the receiving end." –Regina suddenly looks guilty– "And now we understand." –Alex opens the door– "Now that Emma is here, we have work to do."

"When are you gonna show us the library?" Henry persists as they are walking through the mirror to get back into Storybrooke, having finished explaining the separation glyph to Emma during the walk.

"That depends upon you and your partner." Mim explains, looking at Isaac. "You have to be ready."

"Are you moving Rumple and the Apprentice back to Storybrooke?" Belle asks as she is walking through the mirror.

"That happened a WHILE ago!" Mim laughs as she sits at a table. "Been wondering about putting them both in the hospital, though."

"Why?"

"Magic may be keeping them alive, but it won't do them any good if they aren't getting any fluids or any other form of nutrition."

"Good point." Regina admits.

"Are we all in accord?"

"You're asking us, now?"

"Now that we are all together, why wouldn't I?"

"Does that mean you're going to tell us the plan, now?" Killian pushes, squeezing Emma's hand.

"I'm going to tell you how to make sure Blue doesn't know the plan." –Mim grimaces– "I see that woman again, I might strangle her." –she looks at Regina– "But you are NOT going to like it."

"If it has ANYTHING to do with Zelena removing the cuff, forget it."

"THAT," Emma injects, "I have to agree with."

"I tried." Mim says, apologetically to Zelena. "Fine. Next plan. Unless Emma vetoes this one, too, in which case, I have another one."

"To be expected." Snow says, proudly.