Disclaimer: Own these characters? Pfft! Bitch please! Spin the wheel and buy a vowel and then a clue with your earnings all you legal types. But I do own the original character that appears in this story.
A/N: My intentions/instructions to you: This is a S2E1 AU/1000% canon divergence deal. There will be no Hook or Hood for the obvious reason that they weren't relevant then. I've despised watching Regina 'pine away' all this time over RH (not exactly what I'd call entertainment.) Moving along, this story will be told in the third person POV (my version of it) and also Regina's POV in the first person all the other times because this is a story devoted to her not anyone else really. So are you game for what I'm offering? If not then you know what to do-stop now. The summary isn't misleading in anyway but I'm also not giving away everything straight out of the gate. What would be the point of writing a story then?
-:::::::::::::= Zeitgeist Of Evil =:::::::::::::-
Chapter 1: The Outcome
Her body falls lifeless to the floor. The sight is almost reminiscent of an old frayed scarecrow falling off its perch after fending off the crows for too many seasons. But this not quite scarecrow was too well dressed in a distinctly feminine cut pant suit. Tears run from the corners of both of her open eyes and streak down the sides of her face; they're in such abundance that the hair next to her earlobe is already wet and the rest are running into her ears. So much pain in one lifetime shouldn't have been tolerated, but it was and consequently it was engineered and nurtured so that it would flourish. So many people think they knew her story but they didn't, not really. And maybe they haven't earned the right to know how much it truly takes for a good person to become the one thing that they hated most.
Monarchs have their reign and then they pass on to memory. The same goes for rulers of this realm even though Regina Mills wasn't your average ruler in any realm. Therefore it would stand to reason that her death would follow the same course as her life. You see if Destiny and Fate were two persons who sat down to have a chess match the 'Queen'-whether she be Light, Dark or Evil-is the piece that either one hasn't hesitated to put at risk or flat out sacrifice. In the last move of her life Regina Mills got to her feet and faced down her death as the life was sucked out of her. When the Wraith withdrew its long claws taking with it the last spark of life from its intended, its mark faded from Regina's hand. But there wasn't a moment left to savor its meal, the dark cloaked Wraith turned toward the commotion of three people rushing into the building-two women and one man.
Emma Swan knew they were too late. That thing floating in the air had taken its victim-Madam Mayor herself. And now that it had gorged on Regina's soul with a swift turn the Wraith broke through a small window above the holding cell and disappeared into the night; back to where it came from, only with a welcomed baggage. In all of the in the worlds in all the realms all people have one thing in common-they don't really know where the dead go-but the Wraith does and for each soul it's different. It's not so much a question of up or down if one simply followed directions of how to proceed like they'd been given a map. And it's certainly not as uncomplex as Heaven or Hell; mankind over-simplified things far too much as a though it were a reward.
Emma Swan rushes over to the body laying on the cold floor in a jail cell. Her hurried steps are that of someone who expects to save who she's running towards. For a moment the sheriff is struck by how still the mayor is and then her eyes take in the rapidly fading color in Regina's cheeks but Emma's eyes would have to fail her for her to miss the tears flowing down Regina's cheeks. Emma knows that it won't be long before the body begins to decay. Death claims its parcels quick. Her knees almost seem to give out as she kneels down closer to the body. Emma has an overwhelming urge to wipe the tears away, so no one can see how vulnerable the mayor felt in her last breaths. Emma thinks she knows who Regina's last thoughts were of-Henry. And she also thinks that such a proud, angry and damaged woman deserved a better end than this.
But this isn't the end if she has anything to say about it. With hesitant but sure hands the Sheriff reaches out and absently moves the thick, dark hair off the body's clammy forehead. Regina is already starting to feel cool to the touch. Emma thinks she looks peaceful but that's deceiving. She can only imagine what it felt like to have your soul stripped from your body while you're still alive or whatever that thing did to Regina. The thought sends a chill down through the Sheriff's body and makes a home for itself around her heart without permission. It's such an all-encompassing feeling that Emma doesn't notice her parents moving into the jail cell with her and the body.
"Emma...she's gone." Snow White said softly; almost like she was on the verge of tears but in actuality far from it. "We did what we could. We already saved her once today and that's more than she deserved."
The Sheriff is still processing it all. Like the fact that she finally found her parents after all and my God they're fucking fairy tale characters. Too much shit has happened in one day and it all has hit the damn fan.
"You make it sound like things are that simple and cut and dry, when it's not." Emma said as she let her fingers trail through Regina's hair. "This isn't alright."
Sheriff Swan's words were true and honest but not without a conflict of interest too. Her opinions about Regina have shifted so many times in as many months. There was always this pull she felt towards her. She's saved Regina from a fire and an angry mob. One minute it's easy to hate Regina and the next minute Emma couldn't help but be awed by her because the uptight woman has threatened her too many times and doesn't back down. Turns out though that Regina was anything but uptight, just the guarded type like a certain reluctant Savior.
"Emma, she deserved what happened." Prince Charming said with his usual air of righteousness. "Gold did us a favor."
A rigid form of anger settles into the Sheriff's stomach to go with the twisting feeling around her heart. These people are her parents but right now they sound just like all the heartless adopted ones who threw her away when they'd had enough. Emma couldn't stop her next action when she finally gave in and wiped the last stray tears off Regina's face before they could run into her ears like the others. Finally after a few more lingering moments Emma stands and smoothes her palms down the sides of her hips. She wasn't trying to wipe off the memory of touching Regina, just the death she felt when she touched her.
"I'm going to find a way to get her back." Emma said as she surveys the damage to her tiny station. "I have to. I made Henry a promise and it's not too late for me to make good on it."
Snow White looks at her newly found daughter thoughtfully before she said, "And how do you plan on getting Regina back?"
"We're going to see Mr. Gold or Rumpelstiltskin or whatever the hell his damned name is." Emma said as she ran a slightly trembling hand through her hair. "He did this for whatever selfish reason he had and he's going to undo it."
The shepherd known as Prince Charming and David Nolan stares at his daughter. He can't believe her compassion towards the enemy. Regina's and Snow's feud had nothing to do with him. In fact it started way before he was ever framed in the picture, but being Snow's True Love he feels as though her struggles are his. And they are in a sense but that doesn't change another fact; Prince Charming really knows nothing about Regina, he only thinks he does.
"No you're not Emma." Prince Charming said. "I watched Snow make the same mistake as you're going to try to do. Regina doesn't get any more chances. Not with us and that includes you."
"You may be my...father but you're not my boss." Emma said with as much fire and vigor as the dead woman lying on the floor managed at times. "I made a promise to my son to protect his other mother and I won't completely fail on it. Henry wanted me to believe in magic and now I do."
The former shepherd is taken aback by his daughter as he should be because he really doesn't know her any more than he knew the woman whose body is lying at his feet. A certain deposed princess from another realm is also equally surprised.
"I know you promised Henry but why?" Snow White pleaded and Prince Charming moves closer and takes her into his arms. "Henry still has you and that's all that should matter."
Emma rolls her eyes at her parents. If she has to do this by herself then she damn well is going to; it won't be the first time. While she understands her parent's feelings about Regina she also thinks that was another lifetime ago in a whole other land. With the curse broken it seems like the best time in the world to let the past go and move the fuck on sometime soon.
"Henry's a kid Mary Margaret and he made a mistake that he's finally realized." Emma said before carefully stepping around Regina's body and then moving past her parents in the jail cell. "You guys can stay here if you want to but I'm going back to Gold's."
Snow White and her Prince Charming marveled at their daughter's well-meaning defiance for a brief moment before following her out of the Sheriff's station that looked like it held an audition for budding anarchists. Who knew that one debt-set Wraith would overturn every desk in sight and tear off the jail cell door off its hinges to get to Regina?
The night air felt like death turned over in its grave and kept letting out long deep breaths. The cold, gusty wind tore at Emma and her parents as they walked among the scattered ruins that the Wraith left behind when it blew through the town. A silence held between the three of them and it would have been quiet as a mouse had the wind still not been blowing out its best howling efforts. Emma pulled on the sleeves of her dark red leather jacket in an effort to get a handle on her emotions; showing too much of them has never worked out well for her. Madam Mayor is dead. Regina Mills, Henry's mother is dead. Both thoughts don't sit well with her and she dreads telling her son what's happened. But Emma's certain she can fix it, she feels she has to since she's let Henry down before. Her own personal feelings on the subject have been packaged, shelved and labeled: 'contents under pressure may explode.'
Meanwhile, inside of the rough and dated exterior of Gold's Pawn Shop Rumpelstiltskin was trying to enjoy his tea. The sterling silver tea service didn't belong to him but then again pretty much nothing in his shop did. Like all pawn shops the items once belonged to someone else and now the objects are merely taking up residence in his collection. Taking a second to recollect on this evenings happening, for a few minutes he actually thought about chasing after Belle but his pride wouldn't allow him to fall victim to such a fawning hero cliché. And honestly Rumpelstiltskin knew she would come back. Then just as the strong tea was soothing his palette the bell over his door dinged out an aggressive entrance. Even a man without foresight could've seen this coming, never mind that a man with the ability to see the future was waiting patiently almost like a good dog does.
"Yet another visit from the reunited 'Charming' family." Rumpelstiltskin said with a frown as he placed his tea cup down on the silver serving tray. "I must have done something very bad in a previous life to warrant two visits in less than an hour."
"We were too late." Emma said as she fearlessly strode towards Gold with intent. "Regina's dead and it's your fault and I want your help to get her back."
Snow White and Prince Charming stopped and stared once more as their daughter and the Dark One squared away against one another. Even though Mary Margaret and David Nolan have lived in this world for twenty-eight years, their newly awakened selves are both feeling every bit like a stranger in a strange land.
"Why would I help you Sheriff Swan?" Rumpelstiltskin said with a unrepentant grin. "I stand by my previous statement when I said you should thank me. Regina got exactly what she was entitled to for what she did to Belle."
Rumpelstiltskin sounded so justified, indignant even and it was just enough to make Sheriff Swan want to punch him in the face again.
"What is it with you people?" Emma said with the right amount of passion the situation called for. "What makes you think that you have the right to decide when to end someone's life just because they did something to piss you off?"
"Careful dearie, I might decide to take that personally. I did far more creative things to people for far less offenses, Sheriff." Gold said with a sneer. "But since I wish to move past all that I will come by tomorrow and help you arrange Regina's funeral."
"Don't you threaten me you good for nothing slimy bastard." Emma said lowly while making fists with both of her hands. "You're going to come by that station in no less than an hour. Then you're going to use magic to keep Regina's body from rotting or something until you help me get her back. Do you understand me?"
Prince Charming and Snow White clung to one another as they listened to the quiet fire in their daughter's voice. They both are painfully aware that they are just as guilty as Rumpelstiltskin or Regina herself in dispensing what they think is sound judgement. They are no better or worse than Rumpelstiltskin is or the fallen Queen but they think they're better because they think they're on the side of good and good always wins. It seems to not matter in any real way to them that they have questionable secrets like any other person and that they too have caused harm by willful actions no matter how just they seemed at the time. This world, this realm that has been Snow White's and Prince Charming's home for twenty-eight years does not see things so black and white. This realm that they have awoken to embraces the middle and for better or worse it should enable them to stop being so willfully color blind.
"As you wish dearie." Rumpelstiltskin said with a wicked smirk that flashed the small gold cap on one of his lower teeth. "And it goes without saying that if I do this you will owe me another favor."
Emma clenches her teeth at the accusation and her agreement can be see in the gleam in her eyes. Rumpelstiltskin has had several hundreds of years of practice on how to recognize that look.
"Our daughter owes you?" Snow White and Prince Charming said at almost the same time.
"Indeed she does." Rumpelstiltskin said as he moved around from behind one of the glass counters in his shop. All three Charming's noticed that he did so without the use of his expensively ornate black cane and without so much as a limp. "And I'll collect on that one favor so far when I see fit and you two will stay out of it."
Snow and David both frown at the implications of his tone. Emma hasn't seen Gold's true self but they have.
"Be at the Sheriff's station in no less than an hour Gold." Emma said while her parents decided to hold their tongues for once and leave. "And don't bring some sorry half-ass excuse with you. I really have to try here, not just say I did all I could when I know I didn't."
"I'll be there with bells on, Miss. Swan."
Emma rolled her eyes and left Gold's shop after her parent's departure with a firm slam of his red door. Then the three of them once more trudged back to the Sheriff's station. The Charming family would have done well to ponder a small dose of truth in the undertones of Rumpelstiltskin's words-not that he could ever be benevolent though-his only real good deed in the future will be because there was no other option other than cutting his hand off. And what a symbol that would've been had Rumpelstiltskin followed through so he could have magic again because all magic comes with a price. But it still remains that villains do not think that what they are doing is bad, it's just what they think is right no matter how self-serving or destructive at the time. So how is being a 'hero' any different? Does the act of saving something, someone or just one's self make all the difference?
But what everyone seems to conveniently forget or fail to retain is that Rumpelstiltskin never does any thing that he won't directly benefit from. Short term memory loss seems to be an innate talent with the man and that's something he is all too aware of. Poor Belle and her misguided affections for a man who is twice her age on the surface but several hundreds of years once you take it skin deep. And poor Regina too for deciding to go head to head with a man who has no conscience or morals past what he believes was just and damn well over due. Besides, Rumpelstiltskin had no further use for the angry woman who was more a puppet than a Queen in his book of judgment anymore.
Soundtrack: "Mercy" by Muse
A/N 2: As you can tell this story isn't going to be an easy read but I hope you'll stick around. Have a little faith because Regina is my favorite character and this tale is meant to be an exploration or in other words this is different on purpose.
