How The Game Is Played

Chapter 1

The kingdom was in ruins. Or at least it was going to be if something isn't done soon, a heavy frown marred Snow White porcelain like features. She glanced at the image reflected on the circular crystal globe placed in the middle of the wooden table. Lifeless bodies strewn carelessly all around the ground stared right back at her, with endless vermillion puddles sprouting out of the backs, their arms, legs, everywhere.

"So this was why we never received any reply from Philip," Charming pursed his lips, concern etched between his brows as he gave Snow's limp arm a soft squeeze. "Because they're kingdom too had been under attack, just like Thomas's,"

It all started three months ago, right after Rumplestiltskin casted the protection spell on Snow and Charming that prevented Regina from ever harming them again. At first it was just sightings of the skies in the west turning green, then there were tales of flying monkeys attacking the neighboring kingdoms and soon rumors of a wicked witch from the west started spreading. But these warning signs were left disregarded. They had better things to do then believing the whispers on the street, Charming had told her, things like improving their crops growth and taking over the Kingdom from Regina's reign.

Now Snow regretted her actions, but it was too late. Two weeks after the strange sightings, Prince Thomas sent word that his Kingdom was under attack and by the time Charming's troops had arrived, all that was left was rotting fleshes. But the bodies of Thomas and Cinderella were nowhere to be found, and Snow found herself clinging onto the belief that they were still alive. It was only then when Charming started sending out his troops to patrol the woods and messages were sent to the other kingdoms to warn them and prepare for battle. Most kingdoms replied but they had yet to receive on from Prince Philip's. Now they knew why.

"Is… is it possible to see what had happen? Replay the scene perhaps?" Snow asked softy, her green eyes imploring the Blue fairy.

"I can try to recreate what happened, but there won't be any guarantee it will work," Blue pursed her lips in concentration as she waved her wand, her wings fluttering away nervously.

As specks of blue dust started falling into the translucent orb, the still images began to blur and slowly, different colours swirled around. Holding their breathes in trepidation, the board of council members watched as furry winged creatures swooped down and dug their sharp pointy claws into the knights' backs, cutting through the metal amour as though it was made of paper. Snow held back a scream as one of the beady eyed creatures sunk its talons into an unsuspecting warrior before pulling its claws out; a fountain of crimson blood spurring out of the wound as the champion slowly fell to his knees.

All of a sudden, everything seemed to freeze in place and greenish smoke rose up from the ground, swishing around in a vortex like manner. As quickly as it started, the green mist dissipated, and a shadowy figure started to emerge.

"It's her! The wicked witch of the west!" Anxious voices tingled with fear echoed in the meeting chamber as the council members stared at one another in horror.

Snow repressed a shocked gasp when the witch materialized, her lips curved in a satisfied smirk. With a start, she realized the witch's skin was truly green in colour, a stark contrast with the black gown she wore.

With a bored expression, she raised her arm and green tendrils erupted from her palm as two figures were dragged in front of her. Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip.

"Let us go, you vile creature!" Philip growled as he struggled against the emerald bonds that engulfed him.

"Now, now, that's no way to talk to your Queen," the witched raised her eyebrows in mock horror, "The name's Zelena by the way, also known as the wicked witch of the west,"

"Queen?" Philip's mouth curled in disgust, "you're no Queen, just a cowardly villain. Release us now at once!"

Zelena rolled her eyes as smiled sweetly. "My dear, I may not be Queen now, but I will be, once I take over every pathetic kingdom in this new land. And you nobles are going to be my slaves, ha! Cleaning my boots and washing my dishes," Her eyes gleamed manically.

"No, there are others who will stop you. Rumplestiltskin is more powerful than you, he will be able to stop you," Aurora muttered, more to herself than anyone.

"Ah dear old Rumple, I'm glad to see people have such huge faith in him," the green witch cocked her head to the right, before reaching into her own and pulling out a rusty looking dagger.

Snow's heart sank when she realized that was the dagger belonging to Rumplestiltskin. She didn't know how it ended up in Zelena's hands but she knew they were in far greater peril than they thought. The wicked witch now had control over the only person who perhaps could defeat her.

With dreaded silence, they watched as the imp appeared beside Zelena, his eyes burning with anger and hatred. There was no doubt he was being controlled against his will.

"You can join your friends in your prison and start preparing yourselves for a life of servitude," Zelena sneered at the struggling nobles before turning to address Rumplestiltskin. "You know what to do. Lock them up with the rest and get rid of this mess," she gestured at the frozen knights surrounding them.

"Soon, this whole land will be mine," with a high pitched cackle, the wicked witched grabbed a broomstick that seemed to appear out of thin air and she rose off into the phthalo green sky, leaving behind a trail of green vapor.

No one said anything as they watched the crystal orb slowly returning to its former hue. The silence was so deafening till the extend Snow felt goose bumps rising all over her arms.

"Okay, at least now we know what has been going on," Charming's crisp voice broke through the stillness.

"A little too late don't you think? I wonder if we can even manage to get married before Zelena attacks our kingdom," Snow couldn't even recognize her own voice as she twisted her engagement ring around her middle finger. She felt so small and lost.

"No," Charming knelt down in front of her, cupping her pallid looking face, his heart nearly breaking at the dejected look in his true love's eyes. "We will find a way. We always do. I'm not going to let some green skinned sorcerer destroy our happiness. We managed to stop the evil queen from taking away our happy ending; we just need to find a way to stop this threat…" Charming trailed off as he saw the gleam in his beloved's eyes.

"That's it! There is still hope! She can stop the wicked witch," Snow stood up hurriedly, glancing around the dour looks surrounding her, she allowed a small smile to grace her visage. "Do not despair, there is still a way we can stop Zelena from taking over this realm,"

"Care to share?" Charming raised an eyebrow, a small grin playing at the edge of his mouth. There was his girl, the brave and fearless Snow White.

Snow turned to face him and her next words left wiped the grin right off his face, leaving his mouth hanging agape instead.

"Regina, of course. She still has her powers and she's the most powerful magician after Rumplestiltskin,"

"You cannot be serious," Charming frowned. "There is no way she would agree to help us and even if she does agree to do so, we cannot trust her. She tried to kill you Snow, have you forgotten?"

"Yea, the evil queen cannot be trusted,"

"Indeed, for all you know she might be working with that green monster,"

All around her murmurs of disagreements were voiced. But Snow had made up her mind. And when Snow White had a plan, nothing could convince her otherwise.

"It's a risk I'm willing to take. It's the best plan we have so far, the only plan we have. I believe I can convince her to help us, we have to at least try, for the sake of our kingdom and this realm," Snow implored her fiancé.

Charming opened his mouth to argue but as he saw the hardened look on Snow's countenance, he knew nothing he said would change her mind. And Snow was right, they had to take the risk, regardless how big a risk it was. There was just too much they would lose if they didn't.

Taking in a deep breath of resignation, he faced the woman he loved, "Fine, I'll go with your plan, on one condition, we find Regina together. No running off playing hero without me," His cerulean blue eyes bored into hers.

Pouting, Snow released a small huff of irritation over the fact that he could read her mind so aptly. "Fine, we will find Regina together. We have to find a way to convince her to help us, she's our only hope,"

~.~

A/N: Okay, so this is my first ever OUAT fanfiction and I just felt that an Outlaw Queen story was really needed after the finale (urghhhh). Anyway, this story is going to be very AU and I know this first chapter had no Outlaw Queen interactions at all but don't worry, I promise you all will love the next chapter XD

Feel free to ask me any questions or inform me of any errors I might have made and don't forget to leave a review :)

Also, you can find me on tumblr evilregalcastalist.