AN: So I work in a very weird way. I tend to just get a thought I my head and if it produces fruit(more than one chapter) I decide to run with it. I have at least ten other stories I have yet to publish but I decided to go with this one because I haven't seen anything like this. I wanted a story that was different in several aspects. Like having Zelena, Cora and Regina in a different family dynamic. I want to show a side of Cora that most people don't see unless they know someone similar to her. I do believe she loves Regina and she was just beaten down one too many times that she guarded herself . I hope you enjoy this =)

It wasn't right, and everyone knew it. The child was too young, too innocent to be condemn to this fate. The young girl with her matted blonde hair and wide mossy green eyes was gangly, and small for her eleven years. The Headman's even brought the child a step stool so she would be at the proper height to be executed. A young Regina could see the strain that this particular execution was having on her mother, the Queen. The child for her part kept her head held high, it seemed as though she was going to die with her dignity intact.

"You all have been called here to bear witness to the death of the White Princess. She has been brought before my court today to pay for the treacherous action of her parents and their kingdom. Treason shall not be tolerated, for the punishment is death!" Cora stalked purposely down her throne towards the young child. The crowd burst into a series of murmurs as the Queen stopped in front of the girl.

"Anything you wish to say, Princess?" Cora sniffed trying to seem bored. Inside her heart ached for the girl whose life would bring peace among the kingdom. Too much had been lost, blood spilled for this not to happen. The Dark King's death had came at the order of Snow White and Prince Charming and now it was time for them to hand over their pound of flesh. The White King and Queen's downfall followed soon after the death of Henry. The price was simple, one of their children or their kingdom. The "good" couple simply dropped off their daughter with a messenger. The deal had been struck, Princess Emma's death would be the end of the war among the realm.

"Life is pleasant, death is peaceful. Its the transition that's troublesome." The White Princess shot a grin out to the crowd.

"Hmm, is that all?" Cora cocked an eyebrow at the cheeky girl.

"No your Majesty. I have one last thing I wish to say if I may speak freely." Emma wanted nothing more than to loosen the knot around her neck.

"Get on with it!" Cora urged, she felt that if this prolonged any more she would physically be sick.

"When I die, I wish for all of you to close your eyes and imagine a warm, thick liquid spill through your fingers. That is my blood and not matter what it will stain everyone of your hands! I shall die today, but not for you! Not for any of your and your misconstrued notion of peace! I shall die for me because I see nothing in this wretched realm worth anything! I hope my blood will be the last spilled in this ridiculous quest for peace!" Emma spat watching several people cower away from her glare.

"If that is all." Cora looked deep into the mossy green eyes of a child who was well beyond her years. The young girl took a shaky breath before she gave a firm nod.

"RELEASE!" Cora yelled, ignoring the burning sensation behind her eyes and nose. The Headman kicked the chair out from the girl and then released the lever from the floor even though it was completely unnecessary. Emma's feet didn't even come close to the actual floor as she dangled haphazardly from her neck . Her face was a visible reddish purple from the lack of oxygen and her body gave three harsh jerks before something amazing happened. A cloud of white smoke engulfed said child before she appeared dazed on the floor.

"My Gosh!" Cora gasped. She had never seen something so light and pure, she glanced around looking for the child's Savior but her eye's quickly landed on the child who was struggling to her feet. Instead of the soulful green eyes she had become used to seeing, she was staring at pure white pupils. The child took a deep breath and three seconds later her eyes returned to their normal color.

"SHE'S A WITCH"

"OFF WITH HER HEAD"

"KILL HER,BURN HER!"

All of these cries rang out from the crowd but the Queen quieted them with a withering glare. The Headsman was waiting on the okay to go collect the child's head.

"Despite her planned death, this kingdom shall never call forth the head of a child! Sir Gustavo, correct me if I'm wrong you have a daughter of twelve summers?" Cora hissed walking up to the man who demanded the head of the Princess.

"Yes your Majesty." The man replied solemnly

"Do you feel she is too young for such a barbaric punishment if I were to give my heads man the order for her head?" She internally seethed at the hypocrisy of her kingdom.

"I beg your forgiveness your Majesty. I truly was caught up in the lust of the execution." Sir Gustavo kneeled at her feet.

"Very well." Cora fought the urge to step on his fingers as she rounded about the court yard.

"As all of you know Your Queen and Your Crowned Princess poses magic. If you ever refer to either of us as witches, the loss of your tongue shall be your punishment!" She stepped in front of the cowering woman who had shrieked "SHE'S A WITCH!"

"Onto you Lord Chen, you call for her death and I cannot smite you, for that is why we are gathered her today! However I detest the smell of burnt flesh so I can gladly tell you that will not be happening today." She turned sharply on her heel towards the girl before suspending her in the air.

"You girl! Shall tell me why your parents were so eager for you to be the pound of flesh. Did they try to make a fool out of the Dark Crown?" Cora sneered when the child couldn't pull more than a bored expression. Didn't she care about her life?

"As you well know, Your Majesty that magic is outlawed in our kingdom. Except for fairies and approved sorcerers such as the Dark One. The punishment is death. I was going to die before I was even born!" Emma gritted out, uncomfortable with the height that she was at.

"That did not answer the question you were given!" Cora used her magic to lash out, trying to instill fear into the child. Blood gushed from Emma's nose, and she nearly gagged when she swallowed some of it. Cora's magic prevented her from moving her hands to try and wipe away the copper tasting liquid.

Emma being the antagonist that she was gathered a mouthful of it and spat it at the Queen's feet before she continued.

"Ah but it does! My death mean nothing to the White Crown, just like it counts for shit here! Your just doing there dirty work because how would it look to kill your own child. It wouldn't have been Leopold, for he is first in line for the throne and little Lucia is the apple of her parents eye. No they chose me as their sacrifice because they had no problem locking me up in a tower since I was four winters. I was going to die either way!" Emma seethed causing several of the commoner to gasp

"My parents have no emotional tie to me, they basically got off easy for the death of the King!" Emma stated.

"You shall do well to hold your tongue!" Regina said gliding down the steps. The pain of her fathers death was still ever present and now this girl was making it seem like it meant nothing and the White Kingdom was sitting around laughing about it.

"I was granted permission to speak freely, Princess" Emma was back to being bored.

"If my death shall bring upon a false sense of peace and justice so be it! I have been fighting to live for so long that death seems like the only option" The tiredness of the White Princess tone felt heavy on everyone in room.

"Well due to enlightening circumstances I have concluded the White Princess death shall not be happening. " Cora said firmly daring anyone to speak.

"Today that is." She shot a glare at Emma before signaling to her Guard to take the princess away after she set her down.