Disclaimer: I do not and will never own the show Once Upon a Time.
Careful, dearie. A queen strutting amongst peasants might not like what she hears...
The imp's exuberant voice rang in her head as she sat down in her newly acquired cell. Despite living in the castle for years, Regina had only been to the dungeons once before and they did not seem half as unpleasant as they were now. The stench in the air reminded her of the time when Cora killed a raccoon for sharpening its claws on one of her dresses. It was bloody. She left it outside the gates of their home. The servants and her father found it terrifying and sickening, while Regina just thought it was disgusting and inhumane. In other words, it was so Cora.
Once the deed is done call upon me, only I can return you to your regal self.
Did he even plan to do that? It would be easy for him to turn his back on his student, ridding the people of the Evil Queen... Not that Rumpelstiltskin ever cared for the people of the Enchanted Forest.
"I will have Rivers and Berkley beheaded for this." Regina glared at the stone wall, only now noticing the dark red and brown stains in the corner.
Yes, the dungeons were simply dreadful.
"Sure doesn't look like it." The disguised queen turned to look at the person who dared to taunt her. At the door of her cell stood a blonde woman, about 5'5 feet tall. One of the most noticeable things about her seemed to be her outfit. Regina noticed that the woman was wearing a silk white shirt under a dark green vest with brown slacks and shiny black shoes. There was also a belt, securing something across the blonde's back.
"And who the hell are you?" Regina glared at the younger woman.
"Why, I have many names and titles," she answered not looking at Regina, but rather at the old steel lock on the door, "but you can call me Emma I suppose."
"And what are you doing here Emma?" Regina had no idea why a noble (she was fairly certain that this Emma was not royalty) would be wondering in the dungeons. "And where are all the guards?"
Emma grinned slightly before reaching up and pulling a hairpin out of her coiffure.
"I am here to rescue you your Majesty," the lock proved to be very ineffective as it fell on the ground a few moments after Emma started to work on it, "as for the guards, they are a little tied up at the moment."
"I don't need a savior." However, the door was open. Regina stood up and started walking, before stopping two or three feet away from the blonde.
"How do you know who I am?"
"You reek of magic." Emma frowned. The Dark One's aura was clear on the woman. Any magic user would be able to see it. Nobody would be able to reverse it, as it was the Dark One's magic, but they would be able to see the queen for what she was.
"Excuse me?"
Emma took a step back nervously as Regina took two steps forward.
"Uh, the Dark One's magic is all around you your Majesty. There are not many people he would do favors. It was either you or..." The younger woman trailed off.
"Or?"
"Or Zelena." Emma finally finished her explanation with a sigh. She really didn't like that redheaded showoff.
"Who?" Regina blinked owlishly at her. Emma personally thought that it was adorable, but she was smart enough to not say anything.
"Doesn't matter. My mother thinks she owes you a favor or something like that. I am here to make sure that this debt is payed back." Emma scowled as she gestured for Regina to walk out of the cell. When she did Emma locked the door again, and threw the keys through the bars. Regina frowned.
"And who is your mother Emma?"
Emma turned around and started to walk towards the entrance and exit of the lower floors that would lead that would lead them to the marketplace.
"You know her as Maleficent, your Majesty."
P.S.: I'm not sure if Regina met Mal at this point of the show yet, but for the sake of the story let's say she did.