What would've happened if Regina had run away after Daniel's death? If she'd met Zelena long before there was an Evil Queen, or a Wicked Witch and before Zelena found out she was adopted? Would they still hate each other, or would they experience the sisterly bond that Cora had snatched away from them? And would Cora really let them go that easily? R/R!

Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT, just the plot and any OCs that might show up later.

Regina ran. That was all she could think at the moment. Run. Get away. Rocinante was dead, her beloved steed that had been carrying her to freedom only moments ago had nearly been blown to pieces by an explosion caused by none other than her mother. Her entire body, her lungs screamed for air. She was bruised and bloodied, but she would not stop. She wouldn't go back. She couldn't.

"Regina, dear." Cora called through the forest. Regina didn't bother to stop as she broke the line of trees, streaking across a field, only to nearly fall over a cliff and onto the jagged rocks below.

"No." She looked around for another way out. Anything. But there was nothing.

"Regina." Cora appeared behind her and she turned to face her abuser, her childhood tormentor, her mother. "What do you think you're doing?"

Her heart ached like it never had before. Daniel, her one true love, was gone. His heart, torn from his chest by her own mother. Her heart might as well have been torn out as well. It hurt, oh how it hurt. This pain, this dark and twisted pain. Every day it had grown, until she just couldn't take it anymore. All of her mother's orders, Snow White's talk of her being a mother, Leopold's whispers of how they were to be...man and wife. It was all too much. She just wanted to be free. She didn't want to be queen or to be a mother to the little bitch that helped cause this pain. She didn't want this life. Maybe in the next, she could be reunited with her Daniel.

She smelled the ocean far below, felt the emptiness of the cliff. She would miss the sunshine on her skin and the sounds of the stables. She would miss the music of the land, the sounds of nature, pure and beautiful. She would be free.

"Making the only decision I have ever made in my life." Regina said, turning around.

"You're going to fall."

"That's the idea, Mother."

Cora lashed out with her magic to pull her daughter away from the cliff, but Regina deflected it with her own magic. Cora looked shocked.

"I am not your little puppet anymore." Regina said darkly, bristling with anger.

"All I ever wanted was what was best for you." Cora said, quickly hiding her emotions. "That is all. You could be queen."

"I don't want to be a queen!" Regina snapped. "You be the fucking queen if you want it so badly. I would rather die before I let that bastard King lay a hand on me! And I would sooner rip my own heart out before I be a mother to that spoiled brat of a child."

"Regina, stop this nonsense." Cora said. "And let's go. You have a King to marry. Don't you realize once you become queen, you will have the power to take whatever you want?"

"All I wanted was Daniel!" Regina roared, taking a step forward. "But you killed him. When you did, you killed me as well." She looked down at the cliff and smiled. "Goodbye, Mother." Without another moment's hesitation, she threw herself off the cliff. Wind rushed over her and the icy coldness of the sea hit her like a brick. There was no pain…She expected it to be over, to finally get rid of the painful constriction on her heart, but instead she saw a vision, a dream. She saw a beautiful woman with hair as red as fire, with eyes of the brightest and most piercing blue. She felt soft skin brush her own and strong arms carrying her, lifting her out of the cold, drawing her out of the darkness. She was too weak to fight.

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When Regina opened her eyes all she could feel was warmth. Everything was throbbing, but she was wrapped comfortably in a soft blanket on a nice bed. A gorgeous fire was crackling in the hearth of the small room. Other than the bed, there was a dresser and a desk with a chair, nothing more. The door parted and the woman she saw from her dream peeked in.

"You're awake. I wasn't sure you would come to." She stepped in, wearing a simple commoner's dress in dull brown and green hues and carrying a small tray with a steaming bowl.

"Where am I?" Regina asked.

"You're in Oz." The woman said, handing her the bowl after sitting the tray on the small bedside table. "I found you half dead, clinging to life in the river. How do you feel?"

"I feel like you should've let me drown." Regina sighed, looking down at the meager stew. But the woman only smirked.

"I can assure you that whatever problem you were running from, killing yourself is not the only solution. Where are you from?"

"The Enchanted Forest." She answered, taking a sip of the stew, surprised by how delicious it was. The hunger pains in her stomach won her over and she'd devoured the entire bowl in seconds.

"That's a world away, dear." The woman took the bowl and placed it back on the tray. "I'm afraid I can't offer you any more. My father and I can barely make enough as it is to feed ourselves."

"And yet you would still give me some of what little you have." Regina looked at her in wonder.

"My mother believed in the way of love and compassion. She thought that any conflict can be solved with rest, hot meal or a little bit of love."

"She sounds like a good woman." Regina commented, thinking only of the bitter, heartless cruelty of her own mother. "How did you know I tried to kill myself?"

"Well, because you just told me. And clearly, your destiny foretells something far greater than what you perceive if you didn't drown traveling to another world."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because mine is only leading nowhere. And it's lovely to think of someone having happiness." She smiled and stood up, picking up the tray.

"And what is the name of my Savior?" Regina asked.

"Zelena."

"I'm Regina."

"It's good to meet you, Regina. You should rest. I'll check on you again later."

Regina watched her leave, silently regarding the woman and pondering all she'd heard. She wasn't in the Enchanted Forest. She was in Oz. Surely her mother's power didn't extend so far as to transcend worlds. Perhaps she could live with her pain, away from her mother. But she couldn't forget Daniel and Rocinante, beloved and innocent, stolen from her. Murdered. Before she knew it, she was crying, the tears flowing so hard she could barely see. She heard arguing from the other side of the door. No doubt Zelena and her father. She briefly wondered where was the girl's mother. There was even the sound of a smack that made Regina flinch. Not many words could be heard, but there was one that was screamed several times. Wicked. She managed to compose herself as Zelena slipped into the room, holding one hand against her face and the other wrapped around her stomach.

"Zelena, are you alright?" Regina asked.

Zelena swallowed hard and gestured to the bed. "Do you mind sharing?"

Regina shook her head and slid over as Zelena climbed into the small bed, curling into a little ball, trembling hard. The brunette didn't ask. She didn't feel it was her place.

"My father says you can't stay here after tomorrow. I'm sorry." The redhead whispered.

"That's-that's okay. I'll...find some way to make it. Thank you for saving my life." Regina said, although she had no idea what she was going to do next. There was the potential for a new life right in front of her, but was there really a life without her true love? Was it really her destiny to know nothing but pain?

"Why were you trying to kill yourself?" Zelena asked after a while, staring at the dying fire while Regina lay on her back, looking up at the ceiling.

"Because I didn't see a reason to stay."

There was a long pause before another question drifted into the air. "Do you believe magic is bad? That people born with it are...Wicked?"

Regina sat up. "You have magic?"

"Are you going to run too?" Zelena sat up as well, wringing her hands in her lap. "I do."

"My mother had magic. She chose magic, power over love, over her family. I want to say it corrupted but she didn't even have one in her chest. She ripped out her heart so we wouldn't make her weak. She ripped out the heart of my true love and crushed it in front of me. She blew up my horse. She destroyed everything."

"I'm sorry I asked." Zelena said softly. "Never mind then."

Regina sighed. "That doesn't mean you'll be like that. My mother was heartless and cruel, but it was because she chose to be. You saved my life, gave me your bed and fed me with all you had left. You're not Wicked, Zelena. I suppose if there's dark magic, there can be good magic too. Evil, or wickedness, isn't born. It's made. Did your father hit you?" She looked at the woman carefully, concerned for her personal Savior.

"You're not the only one with a heartless parent."

"Why don't you leave? I kinda sorta did." She smiled. "Not the way I planned exactly."

Zelena smirked. "I plan to. There's a school near the Emerald City called Shiz. Shiz University. You could learn anything there, even magic. I've been saving up for years but I've never found the courage to actually leave." She looked at Regina. "Would you come with me?"

"What?"

"I'm sure I have enough money. You can't go home. I can't stay here. We'd have a goal and a place to go. You can figure out your next move. Please?"

"I don't know. I don't know this land, these people. I barely know you. There are some lessons I did learn from my mother and one of them was to only trust yourself."

"I did save your life." Zelena said.

"You did and I will forever be grateful for that-"

"I'll use my magic. To protect us both. I can sense magic in you too. You can learn how to harness it, be better than your mother ever was. If not that then there are thousands of other things you could at Shiz. You could meet so many different people. It's an adventure worth having. And I would rather not go alone."

Regina didn't ever want to use magic again. Last time had been instinctive, just enough to give her time to get away from her mother. Shiz sounded like a wonderful place and she'd always loved to learn. She didn't need to study magic. And Zelena seemed nice enough and she clearly needed to get away from her father if he was beating her, which he undoubtedly was at this point. "Can i have until morning to decide?"

Zelena nodded. "I suppose that is alright." She lay back down without another word and Regina followed suit soon after. Her dreams were filled with horrible visions of her mother, of dying and losing Daniel all over again, and she tossed and turned all night. Zelena let her, not once causing a fuss over it.

The next morning, despite her terrible night, Regina felt much better. Zelena had left some bread and cheese and roasted meat on the table and she quickly devoured it. A long basin of still steaming water had been left as well, along with soap and a washcloth. Her riding clothes that she hadn't realized had been substituted for a pale green dress, were cleaned and ready for her to wear. She removed the dress, bathed and got dressed in her riding clothes once more. She didn't braid her hair as she was so used to, but let it hang around her shoulders. She no longer felt like the young princess from the Enchanted Forest. She was in Oz now. Peeking out of the door, she spotted Zelena shaving her father's chin. He was grumbling to her as she oh so carefully removed the stubble from his face.

"How is that father?"

He checked it in the mirror. "You missed a spot."

"Oh. Sorry." She dutifully picked up the razor again and started to meticulously cut away the excess hair. But she accidently nicked his neck and the man hit her hard enough to nearly to throw her across the table.

"Stupid girl!" He roared. When Zelena sat back up, her skin...had changed color. She was green, a dark, exotic looking green hue that almost sparkled. Where the sunlight splashed across her, she did sparkle, like tiny diamonds implanted in her flesh. It was strangely beautiful. Zelena stood back up, holding her hands in front of her while her father glared at her. "No matter what you feel inside, always put on a good face."

She nodded and repeated the little creed. Slowly, the green started to recede and her skin was once again flawless and fair.

"Good. Now go get that girl out of here and you better replace the food she ate. I'm going to the tavern for a drink. And clean up this mess." He gestured to the stuff Zelena had knocked off the table when he hit her. She made a motion with her hand and everything was once again in its place, nice and clean. He suddenly struck her again. "What have I told you about using that sorcery?! You are wicked! A creature of darkness."

"It just happens, I'm sorry."

"You mean you can't control it? Wickedness. Just disgusting. Never use it again. Now fix me some breakfast girl."

Zelena's spell flickered, but she managed to hold it as she stood up once again. Regina started to go to her aid, but the redhead caught sight of her and raised her hand, giving a quick shake of her head. But Regina ignored her warning.

"How can you say that to your own daughter?" Regina roared.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" The man snapped.

"You are the one who's wicked. You are a cruel, vial, disgusting piece of shit and I hope you rot in hell for what you've done to Zelena. She saved my life. She's not wicked. And she doesn't deserve this."

"How dare you?" He raised his hand as though to strike her, but his wrist was grabbed by a green whip and he was yanked clear across the room by Zelena's magic,

"Do not touch her." She said protectively. She waved her hand, conjuring her bag and slung it over her shoulder. "Regina, go."

"Not without you." Regina said, giving her friend's father one last kick as hard as she could between his legs. He howled with pain and she felt a great deal of satisfaction in the sound. "Being wicked I'm sure feels a thousand times better than what he's feeling."

Zelena looked back at her father. "Fix your own damn breakfast."

Regina smiled as they ran a little ways down the road and slowed down to a walk. "So how long will it take us to get to Shiz exactly?"

"You're coming with me?" Zelena asked.

"Of course. You're right. I don't have a plan and nowhere to go. But Shiz seems like a wonderful place. That is, if we can get it."

"I'm sure we will." Zelena smiled. "Thank you, for what you said to my father."

"I only spoke the truth." Regina replied with a shrug.

"Thank you anyway. I needed that. I'm glad I'm done with him. I should've left a long time ago. Maybe now, my destiny will be something greater."

"Perhaps mine as well." Regina held out her hand and her newfound took it. She found it strange that a suicide attempt had lead to her finding a new future. She couldn't leave her past behind. Daniel's memory would live on, she would make sure of it. She wouldn't forget any ounce of pain his death had brought her. And she had a feeling that she would see her mother again. Maybe when they got to Shiz and she had matured, possibly even learn to fight, she would be ready for that encounter. For now though, she would have to bear that pain, just like Zelena would have to bear the pain of losing such a kind and loving mother and getting stuck with her abusive asshole of a father. Both of them it seemed had had more than their fair of share of dark memories, and their lives had only just begun. The day, just like their future, held new promise for something better. Something greater.

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A/N: Zelena might be a little OOC because without the whole envy thing she was a different person. For this story, her skin is going to naturally be green, but she uses a spell to hide it and next chapter, they'll learn a little more about each other on the road to Shiz. I haven't decided how long this'll be but if I get some positive reviews, I'll keep it going. This first chapter was just to start things off. It'll get better.