I've had this idea for a story about Cora and Anastasia's friendship/mentorship in Wonderland for awhile now, and am finally getting around to writing it. The events of this story will start a few months after Anastasia's first magic lesson with Cora in "Heart of the Matter" and lead up to Cora's departure from Wonderland with Hook, where it will end. I really hope you enjoy it - T.

Chapter One

Knowing What You Want

"It feels good doesn't it?"

"I can't understand why the Red King's so against it."

"Oh I have a feeling you won't have to worry about him for too much longer."

The Queen of Hearts had been teaching Anastasia magic for months now. She had made considerable progress since her first "lesson" of sorts with Cora at the Wonderland Palace, shortly after her wedding to the Red King. Every couple of days they would practice a spell, be it summoning an object in her hand or reciting a locator spell. It varied as she progressed, and there always seemed to be a new form of magic to learn.

Magic was a strange, yet refreshing thing to Anastasia. Up until she had met Cora, she had heard little about magic. Her mother had called it witchcraft only for witches, and said she needed to focus her efforts on what she called finding "a proper nobleman." The small knowledge she had gathered about magic had led her to believe it could only be acquired through blood and birth.

Yet, every time she learned something new about the wizardry, every time she practiced magic, she felt an uncontrollable rush. A rush that overcame her; it rippled through her body and sent chills across her skin. It surged into every corner and part of her, erupting into ferocious flames of a pleasurable high. It immobilized her; all she could do was stand still and absorb the blazes flooding through her. She craved it. The rush of magic was a feeling like no other.

But, back to the present.

"It's not working," Anastasia pouted, desperate to feel that rush again.

She stood, at the center of the court of the Queen of Heart's Palace, trying very hard to master their lesson for that day: shapeshifting.

"Just keep trying, you'll get it eventually," the Queen of Hearts reassured with a loving smile from behind. She was seated elegantly atop her throne, dressed in her usual color of red, with her hands gracefully placed in her lap.

Anastasia closed her eyes and focused once more. She took a deep breath before stiffening her body, squeezing both her hands into a fist and tightening her jaw.

Her mind fluttered with memories: memories of her mother, of her life of poverty, of the humiliation she received at the Red King's ball. Magic was about emotion, as Cora had told her once, and the best way to fuel magic was with her darkest emotions. Intensely she centered her mind on those thoughts.

Still nothing happened.

"Don't worry," the Queen of Hearts suddenly reassured, "It won't always be this hard. Once you get the hang of it, it'll be as easy as blinking."

Anastasia frowned. "How did you get so good at practicing magic? You know so much." She walked towards her teacher with curiosity.

Cora looked away from the young girl. Her body tightened and she closed her eyes. Her mind flickered back to the last time she had seen him… her teacher…the Dark One…. Rumple.

They had fought, vigorously and furiously. It was an intense battle. She came close to winning, but in the end, he had won.

Only because she'd let him.

Oh Rumple, she thought.

"Your majesty?" Anastasia once more asked, bringing the Queen of Hearts back from her memory.

"I had a master once, long ago, who taught me much of what I know," Cora was hesitant to reveal much else. She was always hesitant to reveal anything about her background. What mattered was the present and the future, not the past.

She cared only about the power she had at that moment and how to keep it in the future.

The Red Queen didn't seem to understand that, and it concerned the Queen of Hearts. Power was a tricky thing. To keep it, one had to be constantly looking to the future and planning ahead. It was something her new protégé needed to learn if she ever planned on maintaining her power over her kingdom.

"Something you must understand, Anastasia, is that magic is a tool, a weapon. But magic alone will get you nowhere. You have to have ambition, and be willing to sacrifice much. You have to always be looking ahead to the future," Cora explained to the unknowing young girl before her, "Being good at magic, that just takes practice. But to get where you want to be in life, that takes ambition."

The Red Queen processed what Cora was telling her."I see."

"Do you know what you want, Anastasia?"

The young girl thought on this. She hadn't really considered what she truly desired. Long ago, she would've said fame and fortune, but she had all of that now. She was the Red Queen, and had all the jewels and riches she could ask for. She lived in a palace, and had servants. She didn't want for much.

But was she really happy? Did she have what she desired?

Somewhere deep inside her, a voice echoed no. All she ever had wanted, and, despite what she had done, still wanted now was the person she loved most. She had dreamed of it as a little girl: true love. It was something she had had with someone once.

Will Scarlett. The thief who had stolen her heart. The only man she had ever loved.

Still now, after all that had happened, she missed him.

"I suppose I want love, and happiness, like most people."

Cora shook her head and looked away from Anastasia, displaying her disapproval. "Love and happiness, those things fade away, my dear. I've come to realize that overtime. In my experience, only one thing truly ever lasts: power. True power endures."

Maybe she is right? Anastasia thought to herself, perhaps I should forget him. Will had, after all, lied to her about meeting her and running away together. He had tricked her.

But still… she wasn't over him.

No… no, she couldn't. Couldn't go back to that.

She had a new life now, as the Red Queen of Wonderland, something she had never planned on, nor even dreamed of, becoming. She had to put the memory of what once was behind her, just as Cora had said to do, and directed her thoughts on being a successful ruler. She had risen out of poverty, out of nothing, and married the king. The Queen of Hearts had successfully ruled Wonderland for many years. She would know.

Anastasia idolized her.

"You're right, your majesty. You're absolutely right. That's exactly what I want. Power."

"Excellent," the older lady smiled back at her, "I am so glad you finally see that now."

Anastasia grinned happily, joyous at the acceptance and approval of the queen, as she stepped back to the center of the court and once more attempted to shape shift. With many more tries, an hour later she finally managed to do it, shapeshifting into the Red King himself. He bowed graciously to the Queen of Hearts, offering a "Your Majesty." A validating beam from Cora signaled Anastasia to shift back to herself.

"Well done."

"Thank you, your majesty."