((Okay, okay, I received tons of requests to make a sequel to "Forbidden", and honestly I can't help myself when it comes to Regina and Maleficent, so here's the sequel!))
What Comes Next
A Relationship of sorts
It goes about as wrong as it even can.
That darkness looming above Storybrooke? Well, that just so happened being The Dark One, no longer tethered to Rumplestiltskin and now looking for a new "host".
And Regina very nearly ends up as that new host. For a moment the darkness swirls around her and threatens to consume her completely.
Both Maleficent and Emma runs toward the darkness. Both of them seemingly determined to save Regina from becoming the new Dark One.
Emma is the one who gets there first. She quite willingly offers herself to the darkness, and the darkness is more than willing to accept its new "host". Emma disappears, leaving only the dagger behind.
Killian panics and tries to summon her until Regina's temper snaps and she asks him to "put that thing down, Guyliner, before you hurt yourself!"
When Killian tries to argue, Regina spats that Emma isn't in this realm anymore.
There are heated debates about what in the world they're gonna do now, but it's quite soon decided that they're gonna open a portal and travel to whatever realm Emma ended up in.
Regina "arms herself" with Emma's baby blanket and a wand that'll help taking them to where ever Emma is, and then she hurries along to Granny's Diner to meet up with the Charming family and Killian.
Outside she runs into Maleficent, who went away to inform Lily of the newest situation.
"So, the Savior is in the Enchanted Forest," Maleficent says.
"Yes, it would appear so," Regina nods. God, what a mess.
"And you're going." Maleficent observes.
"It would appear that everyone is going. Including the dwarfs." Regina mutters.
Maleficent looks over her shoulder, into Granny's Diner where Snow and Charming are waiting eagerly. Then the Dragon turns to Regina: "I'll go with you."
Regina's jaw goes a little slack. "I can't ask you to do that. We're venturing out to save Snow and Charming's daughter."
"I'm aware," Maleficent says dryly. "And I'm not saying they are my favorite people to be around. But if they stay out of my way, I'll stay out of theirs."
Regina isn't completely sure what to say. "Are you sure about this, Maleficent? I mean..."
"You're going." Maleficent interrupts and takes Regina's hand. "And you said it yourself. No more running."
"This is not about me running from you…" Regina tries to argue, but Maleficent interrupts her again:
"I want to be near you," the Dragon says plainly. "Is that so terrible?"
Regina smiles despite the newest pickle they've found themselves in. "No, it isn't. And I would very much like you to come. But only if you're sure."
"I'm sure," Maleficent says and returns the smile Regina sends her. "I can withstand the royal highnesses if it means I get to be with you."
"Wait for me!"
Both of them turns around and sees Lily comes jogging down the street.
"Lily," Regina says surprised. "What are you…"
The young brunette shrugs. "I heard Emma's in trouble. I want to help."
"You do know that involves portal jumping, right?" Regina clarifies.
"Yes," Lily says and shrugs again. "I'm going with you. I'm not staying behind in Crazyville while my entire family is going off on some rescue mission."
Regina abandons all thought of arguing. "Alright, lets get inside. I think they're waiting for me."
All three of them goes into Granny's Diner where Snow and David, Killian and Henry and Belle, and the dwarves are waiting for them.
"Do you have the wand?" Snow asks. "And… Emma's baby blanket!"
"I couldn't very well carry her yellow bug," Regina says. "This will have to do."
"Who invited her?" Leroy asks and narrows his eyes as he looks at Maleficent.
Regina answers by giving him one of her "Evil Queen"-stares. "I did." She doesn't go into details. It would appear that she doesn't have to. Snow is giving her some very interesting looks already, and neither Killian nor David is commenting on it.
"Now, if we're done wasting time," Regina snaps and glares at Leroy. "Perhaps we could concentrate on finding Emma?"
"Yes. We're ready if you are, Regina," Snow says.
It turns out, Regina isn't quite ready. At first the wand doesn't really respond to her command, she's not as dark as she used to be, but Maleficent "lends" her a bit of her own darkness and wraps her fingers around the wand. Together they manage to make it work, and it doesn't take long before Granny's Diner levitates off the ground, transporting them to wherever Emma is.
They very literally arrive just in the nick of time. Emma has taken Merida's heart and is seemingly battling an invisible force. A force that tells her to crush the young redheads heart.
Killian manages to convince her not to, and Emma more or less falls into his arms. And then into her parents'.
"Mom. Dad. You shouldn't…"
"You're our daughter," Snow says firmly. "Of course we came." And then she hands Emma the dagger. "Here. We think you should have this."
"Take it," David adds. "You are able to control yourself."
Emma first refuses, but then she takes the dagger. But instead of holding on to it, she hands it to Regina.
Regina's jaw goes slack for the second time that day and her eyebrows raises as she says: "Are you serious?"
Emma nods. "I saved you. Now save me. And if you can't save me, do what no one else will willingly do. You're the only one who will get past their feelings and do what's necessary. Destroy me."
"It won't come to that," Henry interjects before Regina can say anything.
"I know, kid." Emma says and hugs him.
Regina is shocked over this level of trust Emma shows her. Now she's suddenly responsible for the Dark One's dagger.
Emma then proceeds to ask how they got here, and they barely get a chance to show her before riders approaches them.
Apparently, they're expected. Prophesied to be here. And one of the riders just so happens to be king Arthur.
"It was Merlin," Arthur says. "He prophesized you coming here many years ago. As he prophesized many things."
"Merlin… Where is he?" Emma inquires. "We were told that he's been missing."
"For years, yes," Arthur nods. "But not for much longer. Because according to his prophecy, you're destined to reunite him with us."
Regina is positive everyone is feeling just as skeptic about that statement as she does.
"Now then, if you would all follow me," Arthur continues.
"Where?" Emma asks.
"Why, Camelot. Of course," Arthur proclaims and smiles. He motions to his riders to follow him.
So, they're going to Camelot. They follow King Arthur and his men, and Regina looks around. It feels a bit strange to suddenly be back in familiar surroundings.
Suddenly, Emma comes up beside her. "Have you ever been in Camelot before?"
"I've been many places," Regina says. "But not Camelot."
Emma looks back over her shoulder and glances at Maleficent who walks slowly behind them with Lily, keeping a reasonable distance between herself and Snow and Charming.
"I see Maleficent is here," Emma observes.
Regina sighs and lowers her voice as she says: "Are you seriously choosing this moment to girl talk, miss Swan?"
"I could use a distraction," Emma says plainly. "Any particular reason why she's here?"
"Because she wanted too?" Regina says and shrugs lamely.
"And did she want to go because you were going?" Emma asks.
"I… Yes, I suspect that's the reason," Regina acknowledges. What's the point in lying anyway?
"So you and her…"
"Are in a relationship or whatever you want to call it," Regina says quickly. There. That wasn't so bad. Like ripping a band-aid off.
"Good for you," Emma says and smiles a little.
Regina shrugs and then: "Thank you. What you did…"
"Don't mention it," Emma jokes halfheartedly.
"If it hadn't been for you, the darkness would have taken Regina," Maleficent observes. Apparently, she snuck up on them while they were talking.
"I owe you thanks," Maleficent continues nonchalantly. "You sacrificed yourself for her. As you know, or maybe you don't, I don't know, but either way, I've already lost her to the darkness once. I'm not sure I would have survived that a second time."
Emma seems rather flabbergasted, but quickly recovers and says: "Well, it looked like you were trying mighty hard to beat me to get to the darkness first."
"I was," Maleficent shrugs. "But I afraid being stuck as a defenseless dragon in the "Heroes and Villains"-reality has weakened me a bit. That's why I couldn't get there first. A shame. I could have spared you for a lot of trouble."
Regina swallows something when she realizes that Maleficent had every intention of becoming the Dark One for her. Yes, I'm definitely unworthy of her.
"I'll be fine," Emma insists. "We'll get the darkness out of me, and Regina will make sure that I don't do anything stupid."
I wish I was as confident as you, miss Swan.
They continue the walk through the forest to get to Camelot. Henry and Lily chats quietly as they walk. Regina smiles a little at that. Her children are getting along quite nicely.
"It's strange being back, isn't it?" Maleficent asks.
"Very," Regina says. She feels rather foolish, walking through the forest in her Storybrooke attire. And high heels.
Maleficent takes her hand and squeezes her knuckles lightly. "I know you're concerned. I can practically smell it."
"This was not how I planned on starting our relationship," Regina mutters.
"No? How did you plan on starting it then, my darling?" Maleficent half-teases. "We're hardly a new couple."
"No, but we've never had dinner together," Regina points out. "And that was what I had in mind…"
"We have eaten together," Maleficent argues.
"Grapes in front of the fireplace does not count," Regina says firmly.
Maleficent laughs softly at that, and Regina wonders if she's being terribly selfish here. Yes, she's concerned about the newest development with Emma, of course she is, but she's also… happy.
No, maybe that's just jinxing it. She's skittish of happy. Happy has never treated her very kindly, and if there's one thing Regina has learned, it is not to get your hopes up. Things always comes crashing down on her. One way or the other.
"Relax," Maleficent says and waves a finger in front of Regina to bring her back to reality. "You are thinking too much."
"Yes, I am," Regina acknowledges. "You're right."
"You'll find a way to get the darkness out of your son's other mother, and the heroes will stand victorious. I'm certain of that," Maleficent quietly half-quips.
"And here you are, accompanying the heroes on their quest, what does that make you?"
"It makes me someone who's unwilling to let you run off to some new realm without me," Maleficent says plainly.
Regina chuckles at that, and Snow White, who happens to walk nearby them with David and baby Neal in her arms, flashes her a little smile.
Maleficent simply pretends she isn't there and keeps her focus on Regina. When Snow is well out of earshot, the dragon says: "This is hard on you. Forgive me for acting like this."
"You are more than entitled to hold a grudge against them," Regina says. "And I certainly won't force you to get along with them. Take as much time as you need."
"I didn't need a lot of time to forgive you."
"For reasons I still don't understand," Regina says. "I mean, what I did…"
"Is something you're making up for right now," Maleficent calmly finishes the sentence, and then she smiles. "You didn't ask me to stay behind. You want me with you."
"That I do," Regina confirms. "And preferably for a long time."
Maleficent's smile widens and she squeezes Regina's fingers.
Regina then realizes that they're falling behind quite a bit, and they quickly try their best to keep up with the rest of the group. Getting lost on the way to Camelot certainly wouldn't be wise.
To Be Continued?