Cora's Storybrooke, Chapter One: The Mayor of Hearts
Author's Note: This is the third of my 'Cora Chronicles,' a look at what might have transpired if Cora didn't die in Gold's shop and kept her heart. For those who wish for a recap, 'Cora Is Company' details the day-to-day activities of Regina and Cora living in the same house after the events of "In The Name of the Brother." They bond as mother and daughter and have a bit of fun with Hook. She also takes a day to impersonate Granny and run the diner, getting her first glimpse of Henry. That story ends with events taking place directly after "The Queen Is Dead." In my second tale, 'Cora Is Still Company,' Regina saves her mother from the candle in Gold's shop with true love's kiss. Cora survives with her heart and becomes a changed woman. She bonds with young Henry, deals with lingering feelings for Rumplestiltskin, and earns the respect of Emma Swan. Greg and Tamara, working for the "Home Office," kidnapped Cora and tortured her, revenging Greg on Regina for taking his father from him. Regina, The Charmings, Hook and Neal band together to save Cora as repentance for Mary Margaret's attempted murder. Tamara shoots Neal (just like the show) and Regina and Emma (at Cora's suggestion) combine their magic to stop the trigger from working. The Blue Fairy, however, was plotting with Greg and Tamara, hoping that they will eliminate Regina and Cora, both of whom she views as threatening to the everyday residents of Storybrooke. In a desperate attempt to destroy the Mills women, Blue gives Henry to Greg and Tamara, hoping that Regina and Cora will follow them to Neverland, where the "Home Office" can kill them both. Her plan almost succeeded, but, before leaving for Neverland aboard the Jolly Roger, Regina asked Cora to remain in Storybrooke and act as Mayor in her stead.
This story will detail the activities of Storybrooke under its three protectors in the absence of the crew who goes to save Henry from Pan: Belle, Cora, and the Blue Fairy. I hope you enjoy this tale. I am always thrilled to write about Cora, and I hope this concept is as fun to read as it has been to brainstorm/write.
Characters:
Cora Mills
Belle
Mother Superior
Granny
Ruby
Archibald Hopper
Leroy & The Dwarves
Cora stood on the docks watching the Jolly Roger leave through the portal created by the magic bean. Two of the great loves of her life were leaving on that boat. She was very much hoping that they would come home safely with the third. Still, her heart ached to see Regina and Rumple go. She would also miss Hook, who she considered to be her best friend, and even Emma Swan, frustrating as she could be.
She knew that a great task lay before her, since, acting as Mayor, she would have to earn the trust and respect of Storybrooke's citizens (hardly an easy task).
Cora turned and approached Belle and the Blue Fairy, both of whom had also been present for the departure.
Belle's eyes still looked bloodshot from her tears. She was still sniffling.
The sweet young thing, Cora thought to herself. She really does love him, more than I could ever show.
Mother Superior's eyes were fairly cold by comparison. She was glaring out at the bay, as if to calculate the exact point where the Jolly Roger had left her world.
She's not going to be easy to work with, Cora mused silently. I wonder if she knows about the business with Eva.
"Time is wasting," the Blue Fairy snapped. "We'd better get to Granny's."
"Shouldn't we look at the scroll that Rumple gave Belle first?" Cora asked.
The Blue Fairy rounded on her, making herself as menacing as a small nun could look.
"I think it's best if we do as I suggest," she said coldly. "I've been here since your daughter brought me, and I know the town and what it needs best."
"But, Mother Superior," Belle interrupted. "Regina said that her mother should act as Mayor. And Rumple told her to protect us."
The fairy rolled her eyes. "I mean no offense, Cora, but your leadership record isn't exactly the greatest. I even understand that, before you left Wonderland, you set up another tyrannical ruler."
"A tyrannical ruler?!" Cora exclaimed. She thought back on her days as the Queen of Hearts, remembering the Red King's young fiancée whom she instructed in the ways of magic. Yes, she had taught her to choose power over love, but that was when she didn't have her heart. It still didn't look good, so Cora decided not to argue the issue of Anastasia.
"Yes," the Blue Fairy continued. "Obviously, the people of this town will never embrace you as their leader. Therefore, the job is best left to me."
"Emma trusts her," Belle interjected.
The Blue Fairy closed her eyes. I knew that this would happen if Regina and Emma worked together. Now the lines are blurred, and they won't see Cora for the monster that she's always been.
"We'll let the people decide when we get to Granny's," she said, somewhat defeated.
"But first, I'm going to open this scroll from Rumple," Belle said.
Such a strong girl¸ Cora observed. She definitely has potential
The scroll revealed a small bottle of potion with a note in Gold's penmanship: "Pour this on a vein of fairy dust. It will prevent outsiders from entering Storybrooke."
"We'll need Leroy's help for this one," Belle noted.
"Leroy?" Cora asked, confused.
"He's one of the seven dwarves," Belle explained.
"There are only seven now?" Cora pondered.
Belle chuckled slightly. "I'll explain later."
"Well, if we need Leroy, why don't we go to Granny's?" Mother Superior continued. "He's probably eating, like usual."
"Leroy, would you eat your food?" Granny snapped from behind the bar. "It's your favorite bacon chicken club, for heavens' sake!"
"Not until someone explains the crazy stuff that's been happening!" Leroy snapped back. He glumly sat along the bar with his six brothers.
"He's right!" came Dr. Hopper's voice from a nearby table. "Why did Storybrooke get attacked by those vines?"
"Hahahaha!" Ruby laughed, brandishing a smartphone. "I just made a Vine of you saying that."
"Ruby!" Granny bellowed. "What have I told you about doing that on the job?"
"But, Granny! It makes for good diner publicity!"
"What publicity do I need?! This is the only actual restaurant in Storybrooke and we don't get tourists."
The door to the diner opened, and Belle, Mother Superior and Cora walked in.
"Belle!" Ruby cried. "Did you see my Vine of Archie?"
"Haha, not yet," Belle responded.
"How do you grow a vine of Archie?" Cora asked.
Mother Superior, exasperated, cleared her throat. "I know that a lot of you very confused as to what's happening right now, so we came to explain to you."
"It's about time," Leroy grumbled.
"Greg Mendell, the man from the car accident, came to Storybrooke with the express purpose of destroying our town. Together, with a woman named Tamara, he stole an artifact, belonging to Regina, which almost destroyed us all, resulting in the town nearly reverting back to a forest. Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Neal went to save our town. Regina and Captain Hook also aided their efforts. Tamara killed Neal and sent him through a bean portal."
"I was tasked with protecting Henry Mills while the others were stopping Greg and Tamara, but Greg and Tamara managed to overpower me and kidnap Henry, taking him through another bean portal. Emma, Mary Margaret, David, Regina, Mr. Gold and Hook followed them through another portal, leaving us to protect Storybrooke from other agents like Greg and Tamara."
"Mr. Gold gave Belle a potion that, when activated within a vein of fairy dust, will protect the borders of the town."
"Like a shield generator in Star Wars?" Archie asked, excitedly.
"What?" asked everyone.
"Sure," Mother Superior responded. "Meanwhile, Regina has appointed her," she pointed to Cora, "As her stand-in as Mayor of Storybrooke."
"Well, who is she?" Leroy inquired impatiently.
Archie was the only one in the diner who had met and interacted with Cora, though all had heard of her.
"This is Cora," Belle announced. "Cora Mills. Regina's mother."
"Wait a second!" Granny cried. "The one that Mary Margaret warned us about? The one who tried to kill her and Emma in the Enchanted Forest?"
"Yes," Mother Superior answered quickly. This problem will solve itself. They'll never have her as their Mayor.
"Regina is gone! Shouldn't we try to elect a new mayor?" Leroy said loudly, receiving murmurs of assent from the other dwarves.
Archie Hopper said nothing, but squinted his eyes, as if thinking very hard.
"Stop it!" Belle snapped, stamping her foot on the floor. "Before Emma left on Hook's ship, I heard her say that she trusted Cora, and that Storybrooke wouldn't have been saved from Greg and Tamara if it wasn't for her."
"Can't she speak for herself?" Granny fussed.
"If you'd like," Cora said indignantly.
Cora took three steps forward. This was enough to stun the diners into a fearful silence. Mother Superior put her hand on her concealed wand, just in case.
"Yes, I am Regina's mother. Yes, I was the Queen of Hearts. And yes, I did try to kill Emma and Snow White. But I didn't have a heart when I did those things. I have it back now, and I've changed. Dr. Hopper can attest to this, as it was his professional opinion that I was repentant that freed me from my cell in the police office."
Everyone glared at Dr. Hopper who turned as red as a tomato.
"Regina asked me to be Mayor so I could work for all of you and earn your respect. I want to be a good citizen in this community for my daughter and my grandson, Henry. I want to take care of you."
"We don't want you to take care of us, sister!" Leroy snarled. "Why isn't Blue taking over?"
Mother Superior smiled inwardly. Exactly as I predicted.
"I mean no disrespect to the Blue Fairy, but she was the one who lost Henry. She had one job and couldn't fulfill it. How can she take care of all of you if she can't protect one young boy, my grandson? I have a dark past, yes. But I am very powerful, and can use my power to help you."
Mother Superior felt that she had been slapped in the face.
"Cora is right," Belle said. "Emma trusts her. That's enough for me."
"And me," Dr. Hopper agreed.
"And me," Ruby added.
Slowly, the dwarves all threw in for Cora, leaving only Granny and Leroy with their arms still crossed.
"Come on, Leroy!" Happy groaned, slugging his friend on the arm.
"Alright," Leroy conceded. "But just remember, I've got my eye on you."
"I won't forget it," Cora replied.
Mother Superior's plan was falling down around her ears. She looked to Granny with her last glimmer of hope that she could shut Cora down.
"Granny," Cora approached the diner owner. "Ruby is your granddaughter."
"Yes," Granny responded, eyes narrowed.
"You love her, and would do anything to prove your love for her?"
Granny looked at Red. "Yes."
"Then you know how I feel about Henry. When our friends bring him home, I want him to see how far this grandmother would go for her grandchild. You must understand this."
Granny sighed and dropped her arms. "Alright. From one grandmother to another, you have my vote."
Mother Superior was livid. "There are many other people living in this town, you know!"
"Yeah, and how many of them actually participate in what's happening around here?" Leroy laughed cynically.
"He has a point," Granny agreed.
"It's settled then," Belle declared. "Cora Mills will serve as Mayor of Storybrooke. Now Leroy, we need to get to the mines to get this shield up."
"Hi-ho, guys," Leroy called to his brothers. The dwarves marched out of the diner, followed by Archie and Belle. Ruby set to work polishing tables and Granny leaned on the counter.
Cora went to follow the crowd and realized that Mother Superior was still standing near the door. Cora nodded at the fairy, who met the gesture with narrowed eyes and a thin mouth.
Cora left the diner.
Mother Superior glared at the door and followed soon after.
I hope you enjoyed Chapter One! Please review!