Author's Note: Welcome to the first chapter of Wicked Intentions! If you like Wicked or the Wizard of Oz and would like to see those characters brought in to the Once Universe then you will like this story. It's important to note that this is a sequel and the first story (The Apple of My Eye) should be read first. I own nothing but the OCs of Lillian and Marie, and of course my love for this show :) Please enjoy, and leave me a review.
Chapter 1-
Regina struggled under the weight of the two buckets full of water which hung from a long stick resting on her shoulders. The well was in the center of the village and she really didn't want to fall on her face in front of so many people. She adjusted the stick and continued on her way when suddenly she ran right into a man causing him to drop a bucket full of milk he had brought to sell at the market.
"Oh, I'm so sorry sir," Regina felt terrible.
The man couldn't believe what had happened. "You stupid wench! That was two full gallons!"
Regina knew she had made a mistake but she was insulted at the man's rudeness. "I apologize, it was an accident. I'd be happy to pay you for your loss."
"You probably did it on purpose, just to humiliate me you murderous witch!"
Regina was shocked at his accusation. "How dare you accuse me of such a thing! Here I am apologizing to you when it very well could have been your fault. Just take the money and be on your way." She tossed some coins at him and turned to leave when he blocked her path. He was easily a foot taller than she and tried to use that to intimidate her. It didn't work. "Out of my way, or you will be sorry."
The man didn't budge. "You're not the queen anymore. I don't have to do as you say!"
"No," a voice from the surrounding crowd called out, "but she is my mother, and you WILL do as I say."
The man searched the crowd for the person who had spoken. When he saw who it was he fell to his knees and bowed his head. "Princess Lillian! I had no idea. Please, I meant no disrespect."
Lillian slowly made her way toward him. "Of course you did, you foul pig!" She stopped in front of him. "And now you will pay."
The man started whimpering and begging, "Please...No! Please, have mercy. Forgive me!"
"You want forgiveness?!" A cold laugh came from her throat as she pulled the man to his feet by his shirt. "I'll tell you what; how about I show you the same forgiveness you were willing to show my mother?" His eyes widened with fear and he let out a horrifying scream as Lillian reached into his chest and tore out his still beating heart.
Regina watched with horror as her daughter squeezed the man's heart, crushing it to dust. No, this can't be happening! The man fell to the ground lifelessly, his face still showing an expression of pain and fear. Lillian stared down at him, a cold satisfaction in her eyes. Regina was in shock, she couldn't believe what she had seen her daughter do. As Lillian turned to look at her mother Regina saw that she no longer looked like herself, she looked like Regina; more specifically, she looked like the Evil Queen!
Regina gasped and took a step back. What is happening?! "Lillian, what is going on? Why did you do that?"
Lillian replied in Cora's voice, "I did it for you sweetheart."
Regina sat straight up in bed, breathing hard as she took in her surroundings. She was relieved to discover that it had only been a dream. She was in the small house that she, Lillian, and Marie had called home since returning to the Enchanted Forest nearly two years ago. With her heart still pounding from the panic of her dream Regina quietly got out of bed and crossed the room to where her daughter lay sleeping. She stood by the bed and watched Lillian for a moment. The girl looked so peaceful as she rested. The image from her dream of Lillian tearing out and crushing a heart couldn't have been more different from the reality in front of her.
Regina knew that Lillian possessed a kind and loving heart, and that love and goodness was part of what made her so powerful. She only used her powers to protect the people she loved, but that was why the dream had bothered her so much. She knew that Lillian would never use magic to gain power, like Cora had, or to exact revenge, like she had. But she knew that Lillian could be fiercely protective over her family, and she worried that that could become a weakness the Dark One would try to exploit. Regina knew better than anyone that Rumplestiltskin could corrupt and manipulate people until they were almost unrecognizable; just like in her dream. That was why they fled Storybrooke, to keep him away from her.
She tenderly touched Lillian's cheek and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. The two of them had grown so close the past two years that Regina could hardly remember her life without her daughter. The love that had grown between them had changed her, had allowed her to let go of the hate she had lived with for so long. Between her daughter and her son, Regina finally felt like the hole that the Dark Curse created in her heart was filled. She was no longer the "Evil Queen", but just Regina-mother to Henry and Lillian. She returned to her bed and tried to fall back asleep, but the images from her dream kept playing in her mind over and over. Determined to prove the dream wrong, she vowed that she would do whatever it took to keep darkness from corrupting her daughter's pure heart.
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Lillian was loading the last of the clean laundry into the cart as she and her two mothers prepared to head to Snow White's castle to make their delivery. When they had returned to the Enchanted Forest two years ago, they had settled on a living arrangement that would provide the maximum protection for Lillian, yet allow them all to see each other regularly. Snow, Charming, Emma and Henry moved into their old castle, while Regina, Marie and Lillian moved into a modest home on the edge of the village. In order to hide their true identities, and to give them an excuse to go to the palace daily, the three women pretended to be laundresses to Snow and her family. At first the idea of even pretending to be a servant to her step daughter was slightly humiliating, but the Queen accepted it as the best way to be able to see her son every day.
Regina closed her eyes and rubbed her right temple in an effort to ease the headache that had been plaguing her all morning. Sleep had been elusive after having that dream, and she was feeling it now.
Her pain did not go unnoticed by Lillian. "Are you alright mother?"
"Yes. It's just a headache. I didn't sleep well last night"
"Did you have another dream? About Rumplestiltskin finding me?" Regina had experienced several such dreams since they left Storybroooke.
"In a manner of speaking."
Lillian put her hand on her mother's arm affectionately, "Don't worry. We haven't heard anything of him in almost 2 years. If he knew where we were he'd have shown himself by now."
She smiled reassuringly, reminding Regina so much of her younger self, she couldn't help but smile back.
"You're right dear. It was just a dream. Now we'd better get up to the castle before Emma starts practicing without us and sets the drapes on fire…again."
Lillian chuckled and walked up to the front of the cart taking the handle to begin their daily trek. As Regina passed Marie to take the other side of the handle the older woman gave the Queen a knowing look. Marie could sense that Regina truly was troubled by the dream and wanted to find out what she had seen. But that would have to wait.
At the palace the guards stepped aside to let Regina, Marie and Lillian into the courtyard, the same as every day. They crossed the courtyard and entered the palace through the servant's entrance. Once the door closed behind them Regina wasted no time before transforming her peasant clothing into something a little more regal. With a puff of purple smoke she now wore a floor length black dress and jacket; not as ornate as she used to wear when she ruled this land, but something better suited to the Queen she was. Lillian chuckled softly to herself before magically transforming her own clothing with her signature green smoke. After assisting Marie they abandoned their cart and hurried up the stairs to the library, the room the two families used as their meeting place.
They opened the door to the library to find the Charming family waiting for them. Henry greeted his mother and sister excitedly; he loved that they came to visit every day. Regina hugged him tightly and took a deep breath of relief. She could never fully relax while they were apart. Snow took her sister by the hand and the two started chatting about things sisters chat about.
"So, how are things down in the village?" Emma asked Marie.
"Just fine, your highness." Emma hated being addressed that way, even if it was considered proper. She certainly didn't feel like a royal.
"Any word from your scouts?" Regina asked every day, but after her dream the night before, she was especially anxious to hear David's answer.
He put her mind at ease, "Not even a whisper about the Dark One anywhere in the Enchanted Forest."
Regina nodded her approval and returned her focus to Henry. Lillian noticed that someone was missing.
"Where's Blue?"
The Queen scanned the room. She should have noticed she wasn't there; it was much more pleasant without the fairy's constant hovering.
"She'll be here in a little while," Snow explained. "That will give us time to discuss something very important," she added with a mischievous grin.
Lillian wasn't sure what her sister was up to. "What's that?"
"Your birthday next week, of course!"
Lillian rolled her eyes playfully, "Oh that. I told you, you don't have to make a fuss." It wasn't that she hated birthdays or anything, just being in the spotlight.
"My sister, a princess nonetheless, is turning 18…Of course I'm going to make a fuss!"
Lillian was not comfortable with the title of Princess when it was attached to her name. "Really, Snow it's not a big deal. Besides, it's just going to be the family anyway."
"It most certainly is a big deal! Now you can either give some input or I'll just plan it all myself."
She groaned, accepting the fact that Snow was not going to back down. "Ugh, alright! I guess it would be fun to have a special dinner or something."
Snow grinned triumphantly, "Now we're getting somewhere." She whipped out a small quill and a piece of parchment, ready to take notes. "What would you like for your 'special dinner'?"
That wasn't a hard question. The food was one of the things Lillian missed most about Storybrooke. "You know what I would really love, is some pizza."
The room echoed with agreement.
"Oh yeah, gooey cheese and pepperoni!" Henry thought he could eat a whole pie himself.
David added his approval, "Good call Lil!"
"Sounds perfect," Snow added. "Regina?" She looked to her step-mother for the final decision, since the meal would have to be conjured with magic.
"Would that be alright, mother" Lillian asked hopefully.
Regina pretended to consider it seriously. "I think we could arrange that," she finally answered, giving her daughter a playful wink. "It is a special occasion after all."
Lillian beamed, actually feeling excited about the upcoming party.
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Once the Blue Fairy arrived the group split up into their various activities:
Snow continued making notes about Lillian's birthday party, David and Henry went down to the armory to get in some sword training, Marie kept herself busy with a needlepoint she had been working on, while the others had a "magic lesson", as Emma called them.
Before they came to the Enchanted Forest Lillian had expressed a desire to learn magic. Regina had initially declined to teach her because she thought it might be too hard for her to be around it so much. But when they arrived and Lillian still wanted to learn she realized that there wasn't anyone else who could teach her besides the Blue Fairy. And even then, fairy magic is different so they decided to work together to instruct Lillian in the ways of magic.
The Charmings thought it would be a good idea for Emma to learn magic as well, as another means of protection, so she joined Lillian, and together they learned while Regina and Blue taught. To say that the dynamic of this group was touchy would be an understatement. Lillian was a natural and caught on to everything very quickly, whereas Emma (while quite powerful) tended to be less focused and accident prone. Regina was serious when she joked about Emma having lit the drapes on fire; it really did happen. The Queen tried to be patient with her but she often lost her temper, which Emma actually found amusing. Blue was more technical while Regina emphasized the importance of emotion and feeling, which led to the occasional power struggle. But overall they had managed to accomplish a lot in the 18 months or so they had been at it.
This day was no different from any other. Blue supervised as Lillian successfully levitated a large chair, while Regina stood biting her tongue as she watched Emma struggle to get hers off the ground.
Trying to keep the frustration out of her voice she gave her pupil some advice, "You have to concentrate Emma. Will the chair to rise."
Emma furrowed her brow and cocked her head to the side, "I am concentrating; I just…stopped for a second."
Regina pinched the bridge of her nose, resisting the urge to respond sarcastically. Just then Snow asked Regina to join her near the desk for a moment. Both women sighed with relief, and Regina excused herself.
"Excellent Lillian," Blue praised as her student skillfully lowered the chair once again. "Your technique is perfect."
Lillian smiled at the compliment, "Thank you."
"You've really mastered these last few spells, and so quickly!"
"It really feels like things are coming to me easier and easier now. I can't wait to learn the next one," she added excitedly.
"Actually, there isn't any more for me teach you."
"What?!" Lillian was surprised. She sat down in the chair sadly; she couldn't believe that was it. She loved learning magic and was hungry for the challenge of each new spell. How could she have learned it all? "That can't be it. There has to be more good magic I can learn."
Blue fluttered over to the chair and landed on the arm rest. "I've taught you everything I can. For anything else you would have to have a fairy wand and a pair of wings." She recognized that Lillian was saddened by the news so she offered a suggestion, "I can continue to coach you if you like; we can always polish things up a bit."
Lillian nodded half-heartedly; that didn't make her feel any better.
"You should be proud of yourself Lillian," she encouraged warmly, "You've accomplished so much so quickly, it really is remarkable." She patted her on the hand and flitted over to assist Emma, leaving Lillian feeling disappointed.
As Regina made her way back to the magic lesson Marie stopped her. "Regina, could I have word?"
The Queen smiled warmly at the older woman. "Of course." Marie took her by the arm as they made their way to a settee near the fireplace. It had actually been wonderful for Regina to have Marie with them these past 2 years. She had become sort of a surrogate mother for Regina, guiding her in her new role as one of the "heroes" and serving as a trusted confidant.
"I wanted to talk to you about the dream you had last night," Marie began gently. "I can tell it has been bothering you."
She never misses a thing, Regina thought to herself. She looked over her shoulder to make sure no one was within ear shot before speaking, "It's nothing really." She felt silly worrying about a dream, but Marie insisted she tell her about it. She took a breath and glanced around the room once more. "In the dream I saw Lillian rip out a man's heart… and crush it."
Marie's forehead wrinkled as she considered what she had heard. "Was there a reason she did that," she asked thoughfully.
"Yes," Regina confirmed, "The man was threatening me."
"And you think this is a vision of the future?"
"Not necessarily," Regina clarified.
Marie shook her head, "That doesn't sound like her at all. That sounds like-"
"Like me," Regina interrupted.
Marie put her hand on the Queen's, "Like the old you, maybe. But that wasn't what I was doing to say dear." She patted her hand lovingly. "What I was going to say is that that sounds like the kind of thing Rumplestiltskin would want you to see. Do you think it's possible that he could have…given you this dream? As a way to try to frighten you?"
Regina considered this. "I think it's unlikely but I suppose it's possible."
"Then what do you think it means? What is the purpose of it?"
"I don't know exactly, but I did learn one thing from it."
"What's that dear?"
Regina turned to look at her daughter, "I learned what Lillian's weakness is." Marie watched her expectantly, waiting for the answer. Regina looked at her with sadness in her eyes, "It's me."