Under the Town

Chapter 2: The Rules

Cora brings everyone into the mayor's office, an exact replica of Regina's. Everyone looks around, surprised to see everything the same. 

"What do we need to know? What's different here because it's definitely not the looks," Emma says, desperate to find Killian.

Cora sits in her chair behind the desk "It's not what it looks to be. This town is a place for people with, unfinished business with those in the world of the living," she says.

"Unfinished business?" Emma questions "What does that mean?"

"It means, that everyone here is here because they can't move on. They can't depart from the world of the living because there is someone or something there that they can't let go of," Cora's attention is directed towards Regina.

"So why are you here?" Regina asks.

Cora gets up from her place behind the desk and walks up to her daughter. "I couldn't retire without my beautiful daughter," Cora implies. Regina's eyes go soft as she embraces her mother. Cora looks over Regina's shoulder as they are hugging and stares at Snow White, turning her once happy smile into an evil grin. Mary Margaret stiffens up, and looks to see if David saw. She notices David looking in the other direction, watching Emma unconsciously gripping the ring on her neck. 

Regina pulls back. "What else do we need to know about this place?" She questions. Cora's eyes look to everyone as she replies. "This isn't the land of the living, you can't kill anyone with your crafted weapons," She insists.

"What?" Snow replies. 

"Your bow and arrow," Cora looks at Robin Hood. "Or your swords or guns. You can't kill anyone like that here."

"Everyone here is already dead," Emma says bitterly. "We can't kill them at all."

"You're alive," Cora states. "and so is your family. People can hurt you here, and you can die here."

"So how do we protect ourselves?" Robin asks. At this Regina looks back and gives him a small smile before turning back to face her mother.

"Magic." Cora says as fire spreads over her right hand. The flames reflect off of her eyes as she continues. "Magic is a weapon, and the only one you can use to protect yourselves." 

"Only three of us have magic, how are we going to be able to protect everyone?" Regina asks.

"He has magic," Cora points towards Henry, baffling everyone in the room.

"Me?" Henry doubts. Emma looks at him as it comes back to her.

"He's the author," Emma explains. 

"I broke the pen, how can I have magic without the pen?" Henry asks.

"This world defies many of the rules from the world of the living. Magic is different here, You will find that out on your own, but as for Henry," she slowly walks towards him. "I'm sure you will find another pen to write your stories with." 

Henry nods worriedly, as Emma walks up to Cora.

"The gravestones, where are they?" Emma says intensely, though less bitter.

Cora turns to face Emma "One more thing," She says before turning around and walking back towards her desk. "You are all still apart of the land of the living, which means the only way for you all to leave, is to face a part of your past."

"Our past?" David questions. Cora turns around and sits back in her chair. 

"Each one of you has a past here that you haven't been able to let go of. The only way you can all leave here, is by conquering one of those pasts. If you can't, you're stuck down here. Forever."

"So how do we conquer them?" Emma says impatiently. 

"I think you'll all find out when the time comes," Cora says. "The gravestones are in the graveyard, next to the park. I'm sure you all know how to get there from here." As Emma heads for the door, she is stopped by Cora's voice.

"And I do hope you can find the pirate. It would be a shame to go through all of this trouble for nothing."

~~~

Hey guys! Thanks for reading! Sorry this chapter was a bit boring, once all the information for the Underworld is out the chapters will get much more interesting. What do you guys think of the Underworld so far? What do you think Cora meant when she brought up Killian? Do you think Cora's there for Regina, or unresolved business with Snow White? What pasts will our heroes have to face? Does Henry have some really cool author powers? Stay tuned to find out!