AN: This story is an alternate ending for season 2, in which Cora kills Rumplestiltskin to become the new Dark One. A lot of our Enchanted Forest friends will make appearances as they try to defeat Cora and find out what the hell is going on with Regina. Thanks for reading! Please enjoy.
The characters, regretfully, are not mine.
"I have to stab him with this knife, and take his power as my own. I have to become the Dark One. And with his power... there's nothing I won't be able to do." -Cora Mills, 2.16
Regina was there when Cora stabbed the dagger into Rumplestiltskin's chest. She saw the light drain from her old teacher's eyes and watched, wide eyed, as the darkness and power left his body to transfer to Cora's. She stood in horrified silence as her mother raised the dagger to reveal that the name 'Rumplestiltskin' had changed to 'Cora.' Regina was there for it all, yet the only thing she could do was hold onto her mother's red, thumping heart...
Cora gazed in triumph at the shimmering blade before she looked to Regina, almost as if she didn't believe what she had just accomplished. Regina held in the gasp that threatened to escape her at the new found darkness in her mother's eyes. Already turned, Cora's eyes held a blackish-gold tint that only added to the hunger and hatred that was there prior to her becoming the new Dark One. Oh gods... Regina felt like she was going to lose her insides. She could feel the power radiating from her mother and it awakened the old fear that she had never been able to get over.
"Regina," Her mother said in a tone suited for someone who had suffered a long, terrible battle and had finally won against all odds. Regina took a step back, desperate to somehow get away from this monster, though her brain was still processing the change. She could hear Emma and the two idiots making their way to Gold's back room, and a small part of her begged them to come rescue her. "There's no need to be afraid, darling. We've won." Cora grinned as she strode forward and suddenly seized the heart from Regina's limp hand. "There's no need for this." She spoke, the same deathly smile on her face as she made it disappear. Regina only watched, unable to say or do anything. Her worst nightmares had come true.
With their usual lack of concern for being on time, the Charmings came crashing into the room and observed the situation. It was a lot to take in. Rumple's lifeless body, the dagger in Cora's hand and her other hand on Regina's shoulder, Regina's dark, far-away expression that usually meant something was wrong. It was then that everything changed, and Regina's vision went dark. Shortly after, she awoke in a soft bed, surrounded by stone walls filled with lavish furniture. She stood up and wobbled a bit, having to hold on to a bed post for support as the fur rug warmed her bare feet. She glanced down and saw an old fashioned night dress clinging to her body, something that wreaked of the Enchanted Forest. With determination, she wobbled her way over to the chamber door, but as she turned the knob, she realized she was locked in.
"Mother!" She shouted in an accusatory tone, suddenly frightened as she wrapped her thin arms around herself. "Please, Mother!" At that moment, Cora appeared, watching her daughter with predatory eyes.
"You're awake, my love." Her voice dripped honey as she sauntered over and placed a cold hand to Regina's cheek. The moonlight only made her Mother's dark features more startling.
"W-why are we here? Where's Henry? Where's-"
"Shh, darling. Everything is alright." Cora interrupted, wrapping an arm around her daughter. "The rebellion has snatched Henry away from us. I had him, but they took him away." She talked as if explaining something to a small child.
"R-rebellion? Mother, you're not making any sense." Cora led Regina back to the bed.
"We're out of that dreadful world of yours and back in the Enchanted Forest where we belong. Many have rejected my rule and have formed a rebellion against me. That savior you loath is the leader."
"Emma," The name sounded strange when she whispered it, like she hadn't said it in a long while. Before she could ask, Cora answered her next question, "You were asleep for two months, dear."
"How is that possible?" Regina's eyes narrowed in suspicion. Cora feigned an expression of hurt.
"Oh, surely you don't think I have anything to do with this awful occurrence? That horrid, evil, Emma Swan did this to you." Her mother said with an almost fake pout as she possessively ran a hand through Regina's hair. Regina's eyes drifted to the side as she remembered the blonde savior, something her mother took notice of. "She hit you with sleeping powder just as I was taking everyone back here. It was strong." Cora said with squinted eyes, observing her daughter.
"Thank you for keeping me safe," Regina responded, leaning into her mother's touch. It was currently best to play to her mother's whims. If she played the obedient daughter, then she could find a way to escape. Rumplestiltskin crossed her mind...'Just a little push.' She swallowed and tried to forget about him.
"You're my daughter, Regina. I love you." Cora smiled, then frowned as her fingers came to the ends of Regina's hair. "I don't like your hair being butchered like a boy's." She stated out of the blue, waving her hand. Regina's hair grew elegantly to the beauty it had been when she was younger.
"Mother!" Regina frowned, her fingers grabbing the ends of her new hair..
"You'll once again get used to our customs, dear. No more of those... Silly Storybrooke things you did." Regina's mother didn't control her, yet as the former queen stared into the hooded eyes of the woman she grew up to fear, something clawed at her chest and her voice caught in her throat. Oh, when would Miss Swan with her silly hero-complex come to save her?
"Yes, Mother." Her voice faltered slightly. Cora smiled proudly at her work.
"I thought you might have forgotten respect. It seems not." Regina didn't respond as Cora stood, motioning for her daughter to do so also. Cora flicked her wrist and an elegant black gown replaced Regina's night gown. "I will be queen and you will be my princess." Regina glanced at herself in the mirror, her fingers brushing over the expensive fabric. She looked like a young maiden again.
"Mother, I'm... I'm a little old for such attire, don't you think?"
"Of course, not, dear." Cora walked up behind Regina and placed her hands on her shoulders. "Things will go back to how they used to be before any of this happened. There will be no Rumplestiltskin, no Storybrooke...no stable boy. Only you and me." Cora's hands wandered down until they were intertwined with Regina's. Regina's head looked up sharply at the mention of Daniel, though she hoped her mother wouldn't notice. She leaned back against her mother, trying to feel content, though failing miserably. Her mother only wanted what was best for her. Perhaps this was a necessary step to her happiness. But it wasn't. She couldn't let herself be fooled. But her mother's touch... She had lived so long without that motherly touch.
"And Henry." She added, staring at their reflection and barely recognizing herself.
"And Henry." Cora smirked.
"Bring the water here, Henry." Snow's gentle voice guided Henry's hands as he set a jug of water onto a table.
"I can get more." He said urgently.
"You've done enough. Why don't you rest?" She said sweetly, her eyes sympathetic at the poor boy who had thrown himself into work as a distraction. Snow knew no matter how much Henry denied it, he did miss his mother and he knew the kind of person Cora was. As she watched her grandson walk off towards the others in the shelter, a crow caught her eye and Snow was reminded of Regina. What was happening to her, she wondered? Snow knew that being around Cora was not good for Her stepmother. It wasn't good for anyone.
AN: Thank you for reading! Constructive criticism is warmly welcomed and appreciated, and please just let me know if you enjoyed this chapter. I will post the second chapter soon.
Questions to think about: How does Cora plan to eliminate the rebellion? How is Emma adjusting to being in the Enchanted Forest permanently? Is dead really dead?
Chapter two: A vengeful green guest as long as Snow and Charming's round table make their appearance as the rebellion becomes more desperate to stop Cora's evil plans. And perhaps, one of the heroes will leave us forever...
