Disclaimer: I own zilch. The Witch is based on Donna Murphy's characterization when she played the role in the 2012 Shakespeare in the Park production.

Prologue

Gloved fingers curled tightly around the weeds, tugging persistently until they were pulled out by the root. The process was repeated over and over again as Valeria sought to rid her garden of the pesky growths. There were more than usual that needed to be taken care of as she had, admittedly, been somewhat slacking when it came to her gardening over the past couple of weeks; ever since her Rapunzel had run off with that wolf in princes' clothing.

She had chosen him over Valeria, leaving the latter, the woman who had raised her from infancy and who loved her unconditionally, utterly alone. Not only alone, but powerless. Her magic had been lost the moment her youth and beauty had been returned to her, one last manifestation of her long-dead mother's vicious spite.

She reached up with one hand to wipe wild strands of auburn hair out of her face as she sat back on her heels amongst the vegetation. The sun was beating down on her pale skin, but Valeria didn't care. With Rapunzel gone, her garden was all she had left, the plants her only children. She had already spent too long ignoring them while wallowing in her loneliness and they deserved better.

Valeria suddenly felt a magic current in the air. A frown tugged at the corners of her mouth and the hair at the nape of her neck stood on end. Just because she had lost her own powers didn't mean that she had lost her sensitivity to magic in general. Something, or someone, was coming.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a cloud of purple smoke materialize out of thin air, and when it evaporated, it left a woman in its place. A beautiful woman with dark eyes that promised danger and a red-lipped smile that made said danger inviting. Thick locks of ebony hair had been piled atop the woman's head and leather trousers, worn beneath a gown of black velvet, clung to her hips. It was the queen, Regina.

"Let me guess," she said by way of greeting, her gaze sweeping over the garden, "you've been letting the garden go in favor of seeing to the preservation of your newly returned beauty." Reaching out, Regina plucked a leaf of parsley, examining it critically. "Understandable, of course, but I'd hate to see what your dearly departed mother would say if she saw the state of things."

Valeria's jaw set, her mouth thinning. Patience was not something she currently had, least of all for the likes of Regina. "What are you doing here, Majesty?" She demanded to know, getting to her feet. "And without your armed guard?"

The look Regina gave her was one of deceptive nonchalance. "Why, to see an old friend, of course," she replied, smiling now, as if she wanted nothing. As an 'old friend,' Valeria knew better than to believe that. "It's been far too long."

"Given your complete lack of surprise, she remarked, pulling the soiled gloves off of her slender hands and sticking them into the pocket of her apron, "I gather that you already knew I had managed to break my mother's curse before coming here." Her tone was casual now, but there was still a brusque edge to it, and her gray eyes were wary as they studied the other woman.

"My mirrors see all," Regina said simply in answer, the smile not leaving her face. It then turned predatory as her eyes roved up and down Valeria's lithe form. "I must say that time's been…most kind to you, my dear Valeria, despite you having been trapped in that miserable state for eighteen long years."

The words may have been gratifying, but Valeria was ultimately left unmoved. "You must really want something of me if you're resorting to flattery," she replied in turn, fixing Regina with a pointed look.. "Out with it."

Rather than wasting any further breath, Regina decided to complacently get to the point, her voice turning as flat as Valeria's. "I need one of your magic beans."

Slender fingers clutched protectively at the golden locket she wore around her neck. After having lost some of the beans once and been cursed for it, she had taken the remainder of them and put them inside the locket, which she never took off. "No."

Regina raised a perfectly arched eyebrow. "How can you tell me 'no' when I haven't even said what I need the bean for?" She said, her every movement that of a predator as she closed in on the other woman.

"It doesn't matter what you need the bean for, Regina," Valeria retorted. "You're not getting one regardless." Turning on her heel, she snatched up the basket of carrots she had harvested and strode towards the door of her cottage, not sparing the queen another glance.

She clearly wasn't about to be put off so easily, however, and by the time Valeria had crossed the threshold, Regina was already standing by the hearth. "You might want to reconsider that answer," she said with an unsettling casualty. "For the sake of your own happiness."

"Is that a threat?" Valeria demanded to know, setting the basket down on a table before folding her arms across her chest, not in the least bit intimidated. She had spent her entire adulthood striking fear into the hearts of every inhabitant of the surrounding village; it would take much more than a threat against her, non-existent, happiness to rattle her.

Regina laughed, a smile spreading across her face again. "Of course not, dear. I was only implying that you'd benefit as much as I would if you would just cooperate."

Gray eyes narrowed beneath heavy lids. "How so?"

"There is a curse I intend to cast," she began, "a dark curse. It will transport everyone in this land to a new one where there is no magic and where their memories will be replaced with false ones and time will be frozen. They will be trapped and their happy endings obliterated as they are separated from their loved ones for all eternity." Here Regina's smile widened. "And all I need to complete the curse is the bean."

"I'm still not seeing how I stand to benefit from this plan of yours," Valeria said. "And I imagine the point of all of this is really revenge on Snow White and her Prince Charming."

"Snow isn't the only one who would be separated from her prince," Regina said meaningfully, her gaze pointed as it met Valeria's.

She sucked in a sharp breath, her eyes widening, as realization hit her square in the gut. "Rapunzel," was all she could say, her voice barely above a whisper.

Regina smirked. "That's right. She could be all yours again; her and her babies."

"What good would it do me if I didn't remember who she was?" Valeria asked, but her heart was already racing, her mind spinning. "What satisfaction would I possibly have?"

"There are loopholes within the curse that allow me to make whatever adjustments I deem fit," she said. "It will be my pleasure to ensure that you keep your memories in addition to getting your precious Rapunzel back-if you'll just hand over that bean."

Regina had her and she knew it; they both knew it. Valeria opened the locket in silence, extracting a single bean and holding it out to the queen, who had a hand waiting, palm up. She held Regina's gaze for a long moment, as if still possessing some doubt the other woman wasn't going to break their agreement, before dropping the bean into her hand.

Regina's fingers closed around the bean as she drew her hand back in, a smile once again on her painted lips. "I'll see you in our new land, Valeria," was all she said before vanishing in another cloud of purple smoke, leaving Valeria alone again.

She exhaled slowly, running a hand through her auburn tresses as she sank into a chair. All there was left to do now was wait. For a woman whose patience had been worn thin since birth, that was the hardest thing to do.