Chapter Text
—Just my damn luck —Emma close her eyes tightly.
Counting to 5, she snaps them open, willing the scene before her to change.
“It’s not like it’s a fanfic, for God’s sake” the blonde scolds herself after the third try.
According to the castle plans and the dwarves’ word (I will never take them seriously again. Regina was right) she should be above the Sinister One’s bedroom, but instead she is in…
—Where the hell am I? —she spins on her axis, trying to find some clue, but nothing. Nada. Zero.
This… room, if you can even call it that, doesn’t appear on the map. Cold and desolate are an understatement to describe this hall.
In one corner, a long, metal table can be seen with different types of surgical instruments. A few steps away, a dentist-style chair is ready for use and if that weren't enough, a barred door it's a few inches away.
You don't have to be a genius to know that this peculiar room is a torture chamber.
"God, why does it always end up being me?" If she had the time to cry and throw a tantrum worthy of her younger siblings, she would.
—Okay, Emma. Time for plan B —even if she doesn't have a damn plan B.
The savior unfolds the castle map, examining it carefully, looking for a way out.
Time is running out and she urgently needs to reunite with Regina.
The mother of her children and Hood were right in front of her before the sinister army soldiers pull them apart and each went their separate ways. Well, Robin and Regina went together because the Yogi Bear of the Enchanted Forest must always have his "fiancée" in his field vision.
"As if she couldn't defend herself. While little Robin was playing with rocks, 5 years old Regina was throwing fireballs for fun, for gods' sake!" the exasperated blonde thinks.
Shaking her head, she focuses on the map. There's no time to think about the "lovebirds."
—Maybe it was to the right —questions aloud.
Emma turns the map to the right, then to the left. Hoping it will magically reveal the right path.
Whoever drew this up really needs to find another profession.
"Neal draws better lines" she mocks.
—Left.
Emma is surprised by her lung capacity as she lets out that Oscar-worthy scream, but who the hell can blame her when she's in this goddamn torture chamber.
—Who the fuck talked?! —she demands, positioning her hands in a guard position. A white circle glows in her irises, her magic ready to be deployed at the slightest danger.
After a few seconds of intense silence, a timid, childlike voice replies.
—Tubsy
Emma, not believing that the Sinister One is so despicable as to lock up and torture children, but not surprised by it (and believing it to be a trap) for the first time thinks before acting. Regina would be proud if she saw her
—Where are you... Tubsy? —she says with apparent calm. Not moving a muscle for searching the voice.
—Here —in her field of vision a thin, green... arm? with four long fingers pierces the bars.
“Fuck me, I found E.T.’s long-lost brother.”
Emma, still staring at the greenish limb, bends down to pick up the map and store it in her boot.
The savior cautiously advances toward the cell, still in a defensive position.
Feeling the pulse of her heartbeat in her mouth, she sets her eyes inside the cell.
Green eyes collide with the most blue-crystalline sockets she's ever seen.
A creature.
A tall, green-skinned humanoid stands before her. Two small, thin but strong horns emerge from its… (what gender… not time for this Emma) they forehead and large, glowing, phosphorescent wings illuminate the dark prison a little bit.
—Hi —says the humanoid... Tubsy.
—Hi.
The two of them stare at each other for a few moments.
—Why are you locked in here, Tubsy?
The humanoid observes her closely. Emma feels as if those sockets are examining her the darkest part of her soul, probing whether she is worthy of being told the truth.
After a few minutes of intense examination, whatever they are looking in her, they finds it, because Tubsy's eyes become as crystalline as possible and their irises expand, turning their expression completely sweet.
"It's like Puss in Boots, but in the E.T. version" Emma thinks amusing. Unconsciously, a small smile forms at the corner of her lips.
—Tubsy locked —They raises their hands, gesturing around— Tubsy didn't want to give the grumpy man gift.
—A gift?
Tubsy nods.
—What gift?
—Tubsy has a seed. Powerful seed.
—A seed? What... —but Regina's distant scream interrupts the conversation.
—Regina! —Emma runs toward the hallway she entered, but doesn't hear anything. It's as if the sound has vanished.
Not having time, but not daring to leave Tubsy locked in, she goes back to them.
—Tubsy, time to go.
Emma throws a powerful spell at the door, but it bounces back to her. She violently flies into the air until her back hits hard the wall and without being able to put her hands out, she falls like a sack of flour to the floor.
—Bad door. Tubsy hurt too.
Emma's grunt of pain echoes in the room.
—Tubsy, you tell the rescuer that, before this happens —she chides weakly. The blonde doesn't understand why, but Emma feels the need to protect the humanoid as if it were one of her little brothers.
—Tubsy sorry —they say sadly, lowering their head and placing their fingers on the bars.
Emma standing up, limps over and smiles, downplaying the glitch.
—These villains never make things easy —her eyes scan the door, trying to find a way to free the creature.
A bolt in the lower right corner catches her attention.
—Tubsy saw a stick stuck in there —they hold up her finger as a reference, turning it to the right— Open door. Tubsy hurt —they point to the chair.
Emma's magic responds to her rage. Her eyes turn a phosphorescent white.
—Circles glow —they point to their eyes— like my wings— they send a gust of air toward Emma, bringing her back to the present.
The savior takes a deep breath, trying to center her emotions. The Sinister One is the worst scum she's seen in a long time and Emma knows too many despicable beings.
—No one will hurt you again Tubsy. I promise —Emma places her hands on the bars, closing them around Tubsy's fingers.
They nod with a small smile, believing her.
A roar interrupts the silence in the cell.
—Let´s go —Emma runs to the instrument table, finding a long, thorny stick. Taking it, she returns to the door, bowing— You're a genius, Tubsy. This... whatever it is, is a key.
The blonde inserts the "key" into the socket, turning it counterclockwise.
Never has the sound of gears brought Emma such joy.
At once, she flings open the door.
Tubsy looks at her expectantly and fearfully. Not believing they are finally be free.
—Come on Tubsy —Emma extends her hand, smiling.
The humanoid cautiously take it. Their four fingers close around Emma's hand, as if it were an octopus.
The blonde, giving her confidence, takes slow steps back until they are outside the cell.
Tubsy exhales and for a moment their eyes fill with water.
Emma, without saying anything, waits for Tubsy to finish savoring the feeling of freedom.
After a few minutes, Tubsy nods to Emma.
It's time for a New Era.
—Let's roll, then
Emma drop their hand and walks quickly toward the hallway, sensing the humanoid's presence at her side.
With each step they take away from the torture chamber, they hear the grunts and clashes of swords more clearly. The battle is still raging outside the castle.
—Run Tubsy! —Emma finally sees light at the end of the hallway.
Casting a spell, she breaks down the door, crossing without thinking through the cloud of dust.
—Sun —Tubsy murmurs happily.
Emma blinks to adjust her eyes to the light. They are on the castle roof.
Breathing heavily, Emma takes out her map and realizes that below them, at last, is the corridor to the Dark One's bedroom.
—We did it, Tubsy. Above us is the Grump's room!
Tubsy, understanding, takes the savior by the waist and with his wings, lowers them to the balcony.
Ignoring the empty feeling in her stomach, Emma opens the doors and cautiously peeks her head out into the -thankfully- empty hallway.
—Regina —murmurs. She can feel Regina's magic nearby, the Queen must be only a few feet away.
A gust of wind makes her turn. Tubsy is in the air.
Emma's vision blurs for a moment; she knows it's time to say goodbye to her new friend.
—Is time for Tubsy to go, right? —she smiles sadly. Frankly, Emma doesn't understand this attachment to the creature, but she doesn't have time to question it.
The humanoid nods.
—Emma Swan —bowing his head, they turns and fly away.
—Goodbye Tubsy —Emma whispers.
Wiping away a tear, she draws her sword, but before she can enter the hallway, she stops dead in her tracks.
—I never told you my name! —she yells, turning around.
She swears she hears Tubsy's laughter.
A greenish burst of light sparkles and spreads across the battlefield. The magical catapults the dark army is using explode.
The excited shouts of her army resonate towards the heavens.
—Tubsy, you little rascal. Thank you! —Emma laughs.
—Emma, where are you?! —Regina's exhausted and worried voice pulls her out of her celebration.
Letting herself be guided by her magic, she runs to the opposite side of the Sinister One's room.
The silhouettes of the Good Queen and Hood fighting against the captain and some soldiers from the Sinister One's army greet her.
Advancing at full speed, she closes the distance between them and without the soldier, who was about to take Regina by surprise from behind, expecting it, the warrior princess blocks the blow and cuts off his head in a single movement.
Startled, Regina turns around, ready to throw a fireball, but greenish eyes stop her.
—You bellow, your Majesty? —she gives her a flirtatious smile.
Regina only has begin to smile when unexpectedly, the hilt of the captain's sword strikes her hard on the head, knocking her out instantly.
Emma tries to pull her against her body, but the edge of a sword cut of her trajectory. Liquid warm and metalic runs down her arm.
Before the Queen can fall to the ground, Hood appears from God knows where and scoops Regina (the bastard may smell like horseshit, but he's strong) into his arms, carrying her toward the bedroom, away from danger.
Pure, violent rage flows through Emma's veins.
Determined and furious advance towards the sinner.
Thirsty for revenge, the warrior princess holds her sword and in cold-blood pierces the captain's heart.
—Your worst mistake was touching the woman I love. Burn. In. Hell —green orbs blazing with madness, is the last thing the captain sees.
Before the remaining forces collides with her, Emma cast a powerful spell.
The captain's body and the two soldiers fall backward, rolling down the stairs. Their bodies landing in positions only the dead can do.
Spinning, Emma runs towards the Sinister One room.
The savior watches as Robin gently positions Regina on the wall.
Putting away her sword, she turns, closing the doors.
The savior places her bloody hands on the door, casting a spell on it and sealing off the chamber from the outside world.