Thank you for reading everyone!
Once the smoke cleared, Arna found herself standing in a particularly dark setting, staring at the enraged eyes of her mother. She blinked in confusion, seeing the strange change in her demeanor, clothing and… well, location if nothing else. This didn't bode well.
"You! Are you the Prophet I have summoned?" she demanded, her eyes flaring in both anger and question. They softened slightly at realizing two kids were in Arna's arms when her gaze scanned her, but otherwise betrayed nothing.
Arna was stunned. It was like her mother had no idea who she was. She looked quite intimidating on any normal circumstances but in this situation Arna had to admit to feeling the slightest bit unnerved. Well, more so when being glared at like that. Part of the problem was though, her mother barely ever glared at her- and it was only in occasions when being warned away from blowing something up again or 'giving the twins ideas'. Even though they were only one.
Was it possible this was a different Regina from her mother? Did she somehow get summoned back in time or something more ridiculous?
"Depends…" she said slowly, keeping herself from freaking out. If she asked questions the anger would rise and billow over from Regina. Even if it was her mother, which she doubted just looking into her dark gaze, it wouldn't do to provoke her with inquiry.
"On what, exactly?" she half-barked, stepping to the edge of Arna's bubble. Definitely not her mother. "Are you the Prophet that can tell me of the future or not?"
"Ah." Arna said softly, glancing away. So that was it.
"Strange…" she crossed her arms, scrutinizing Arna intensely. "I didn't expect this. Not three… young people… at least."
"How did you summon me?" Arna couldn't help but ask. Rumpelstiltskin's name burned brightly as a suspect but she couldn't go and suggest it. She didn't like being wrong and it seemed this 'past' Regina would think her an idiot or an imposter if she was wrong.
"The Dark One gave me the spell but I'm the one who succeeded in utilizing it." She sneered at the name she used for Rumpelstiltskin. Arna felt her arms growing heavy with the two toddlers in her hands and she couldn't help but shift uncomfortably because of it.
"I see. Rumpel does make a habit of knowing everything." Arna said bitterly, under her breath. She only realized she said this when she saw Regina's eyes flash. "I've met him if you didn't know." She added.
"And did he send you to spy on me with a phony spell?" she asked dangerously, leaning in closer. Arna furrowed her brows and looked genuinely confused, surprising Regina. Not only had she used personal space and her icy glares to intimidate an answer out of the mysterious girl but she openly scrutinized her. She hadn't stepped back or whimpered or cried or even become violent. Only confused. That was new. And disconcerting.
"No…" she said slowly. "I'm from the future, why would I be working for him? If you must know, I could prove it. –Well, sort of."
"What does that mean?" Regina hissed. Arna furrowed her brows once more.
"It means I know things that have happened but I also know things that will happen. If I tell you the future it will change the timeline, rip a whole in the fabric of the universe and destroy everything. Potentially." She explained. Regina waved her hand, growing impatient.
"Get to the point."
"Well… I'll have to tell the past to prove the future." She said this as simply as possible, but Regina gave her a look. A moment later, she turned and took a few steps away, tapping her chin in thought.
"Ah. So you, Prophet, you tell riddles? Is that your business?" she finally inquired.
"No. I hate telling riddles, I only like figuring them out. Sometimes." Regina plastered another look on her face, turning half toward Arna. "I'll speak plain; I only know big events- things that mattered. And even then, they only revolve around you."
"And what," she clacked up to Arna and got a little close once more, her eyes flashing, "does that mean?"
"You know, because you're the one who summoned me?" she lied, shrugging. There was NO way she was going to tell this... Evil Queen Regina that she was her daughter. She'd be flayed before she could get the last words out of her mouth.
Regina calmed and turned once more, considering the ground with her gaze, raking across the marble in thought. She soon seemed to accept this and turned toward her again.
"Then tell me, Prophet; what is my future?"