Enchanted Forest
It was Aurora who got Regina to her feet. Regina didn't know how long she had been sitting with her hands caked in mud on the ground at what was once the great Lake Nostos but with Cora liable to wake at any moment they needed to move.
"What do you want to do with the Queen of Hearts?" Mulan's voice pulled her from her thoughts once she was standing. She looked at her mother, laying on the ground at the Warrior's feet and wondered. It would be so easy to end things here and snap the witch's neck, or run her through with Mulan's sword. But she couldn't bring herself to do it, or even allow it to be done and it was in that moment that Regina realised just how much she had changed. She couldn't kill her mother. She was not that person anymore. She was not the same woman who sent Hook to Wonderland 30 years ago, who cast the Dark Curse to take away all the happy endings and finally get hers. Those years in Storybrooke changed her. Henry changed her.
"I don't know," she confessed her voice quiet but thankfully controlled, her eyes not moving from the prone form of her mother. "But we can't kill her. I know what she is capable of, but she is still my mother. I need to find a way to take away her magic, and perhaps then I'll be able to show her there is another path. Until then," she took a breath and rolled her eyes in frustration, "I need to hide."
"Is there something that can take away magic?" Aurora asked as Regina took her hand with a whispered, I'm going to find out.
Cora began to stir, her eyes blinking open and Regina quickly placed her hand on Mulan's arm, her eyes wide as she locked gaze with her Mother. Before Cora could register what she was seeing, and Regina hoped it was before she had the presence of mind to tune in on Regina's magic, she gave a twirl of her wrist and teleported them away from Lake Nostos in a plume of purple smoke.
Regina quickly let go of her grip on the two women when they arrived at their destination and walked away. She wiped madly at her eyes as her stomach filled with the sick feeling of fear over her mother and regret for not going with Emma. She looked around in a weak attempt to get her bearings. She had no idea where they were, had thought only of getting away from the lake where she had lost her way home, away from her mother and get lost in the forest she had always felt at peace in.
Had she done the right thing letting Cora live? This could all have been over and god knows that her mother deserved to die for the hell she had put her only child through, but Regina was trying to be better for Henry, wanted to be a better person. It was the right thing to do even if it kept her away from her son, but even knowing Henry didn't care right now whether she was alive or dead didn't lessen the guilt she felt at having abandoned him – however unwillingly.
Taking a deep breath she squared her shoulders. She couldn't fall apart or she would never put herself back together again. She would get back to Henry. Whether it took a day, a month, a year, 10 years she would defeat her mother and she would find her way back to her boy. She needed to believe that, she needed to stay focused and she desperately needed a plan.
"Regina," at the soft calling of her name she realised more urgently she needed to get rid of these two passengers before they became casualties of this war that was brewing with her mother. "Are you ok?" The princess spoke almost cautiously.
Regina sniffed, replacing her mask and turned back towards her unlikely travelling companions.
"I'm fine," she said, quickly wiping any remnants of tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry, I wasn't thinking. I have no idea where I've brought us to." She confessed with a grimace and Mulan gave one of her rare smiles.
"It's fine. You took us far away from you mother, which is more than we could have asked. Thank you," she gave a short nod before moving with a keen eye over the forest around them. Clearly looking for something that would tell her where they were. "This is Sherwood," she said confidently as she looked closely at markings on the tree. "We will not be far from the camp of the Merry Men."
"The Thieves?" Regina said surprised that they were still in the Enchanted Forest and that Mulan was acquainted with them.
"Thieves?" Aurora's voice rose in concern.
"Do not be alarmed," Mulan calmed her friend. "They are not thieves. At least…" she broke off with a shake of her head unsure how to explain them. "They are honourable men. They did steal from nobles before the Dark Curse but only to give to those in need. There have been few nobles to steal from since the Dark Curse. The Merry Men have farmed land to provide for those still in these parts. They offer protection from ogres and those that would pillage the homes of the weak. They are good men, they will give us provisions to allow me to deliver you safely home" she finished with her gaze on Aurora.
Aurora seemed pacified by Mulan's words and Regina merely nodded, largely uninterested in what the Merry Men did with their time. She needed to stay focused on her mother, focused on a way to defeat her and then, finding a portal home.
Mulan began to walk purposefully away only stopping when she realised Regina had not followed. "Are you coming Regina?" she asked, though from the look in her eye she was not surprised when the former queen shook her head, no.
"It will be dangerous for anyone around me. I will certainly not have the blood of the heroes of Sherwood Forest on my hands."
"Where will you go?" Aurora asked, her concern softening Regina's cold façade, just a little.
"I will find somewhere to shelter from my mother. So long as I don't use magic she won't be able to find me easily."
"And then?" Aurora asked, voicing the question so clearly set in Mulan's gaze as well.
"I will find a way to defeat my mother and find my own way home," Regina gave a smile.
"You make it sound easy, your Majesty," Mulan teased and Regina laughed.
"It will certainly not be easy, but I have a few ideas, and a few places to start my search," she said with a confidence she didn't truly feel. She gave a nod in goodbye as the women began to move through the trees.
"Mulan!" she called pulling a small compact mirror from her pocket. With a firm hand she split the compact in two so that each side had a mirror. "I enchanted this when we were at your supposed Save Haven – in case Emma and I were separated. If you ever should need me, for any reason, just speak my name into the mirror." Mulan's brow furrowed.
"And what? You'll pop out of the mirror?" She queried and Regina rolled her eyes.
"No, you will be able to see me and talk to me, if it's an emergency I'm sure I'll figure it out. Now go! Both of you, and good luck."
"Regina, this mirror. It works both ways?" Mulan asked.
"Of course," Regina tilted her head in question.
"Well, I would be honoured to assist you, should you ever need it," she said with a final nod and with a last squeeze to Regina's hand Aurora followed Mulan through the trees and out of sight.
Regina watched them go with mixed feelings. After two weeks in the constant company of the Saviour and her allies she desperately needed some time alone, but she would also miss the Warrior and the princess and knew she would likely be alone now for some time – until she defeated her mother.
Shaking off the morose thoughts Regina turned in a slow circle, looking up through the trees to a sky that was barely visible through the thick canopy. She had never been one to spend much time in the forest, more due to a lack of opportunity (her mother would never have allowed her to wander through the forest), but when she travelled through the trees when she became Queen it had always filled her with a sense of peace she had never quite understood. That feeling came back now; even with her mother closer than she had been in years Regina somehow felt save among the trees.
Focusing again on the task at hand she looked through the trees in each direction. If she could find a place under this kind of dense brush it would be a good start.
She began walking away from where Mulan and Aurora had gone. It would do Regina no favours to be under foot of the Merry Men. Honourable or not she did not think they would hesitate to rid the world of the Evil Queen and if they did come after her she would not go down without a fight. It would simply best if she didn't cross paths with anyone.
She found the enormous hollow log about an hour into her walk. It was in a more open section of the forest, which was not ideal, but it was overgrown and unobtrusive, most importantly it would provide shelter from the elements. It was also barely half a mile from a small fresh water pool she had passed on her journey.
She walked around the large trunk, stepping over and under large roots before venturing inside. This was perfect. It was even larger than it appeared, much like an iceberg it seemed the majority of the log was under the earth and there was a cavernous space where the other end of the log was completely submerged meaning there was only one entrance to protect.
The area had obviously been home to more than one breed of animal at various times if the stench was anything to go by. But that was something she could clean up with a bit of magic. Though first thing was first: she needed a concealment charm. Concealment charms by their very design were undetectable. When cast and while in affect her magic would leave no trace. The only issue was the incredible amount of energy she would expel creating the charm. With no potions or other life forces to draw on to cast it she would be drawing purely from her own energy. Given it was a only a small area she would be weak but not debilitated once the spell had been performed. Anything larger and she would likely not be conscious afterwards.
Taking a breath Regina scoped the area to ensure once again that she was safe, that she wouldn't be interrupted while performing the spell, as she would be vulnerable if she hadn't completed it and had already expelled a significant amount of energy. Being as confident as she could she raised her arms above her head, clapping them together and a shimmering of purple escaped through her palms, rose up high into the sky. As she slowly lowered her hands in a wide arc the magic inched back towards the earth enveloping the log, the roots and the ground in a dome of protection a 100 foot in radius.
Regina felt blood trickle from her nose as all the energy she had in her body was transferred into the shimmering purple field that would shield her from intruders, confuse them, bewilder them and drive them from the area for as long as she needed it to. When, with a final shimmer, the purple of her magic touched the ground the purple shimmer cleared and Regina dropped to her knees, breathing heavily through her mouth as her lungs burned with the need for air before falling onto her side, unable to hold her own weight anymore.
Damn it! She could barely move, could do nothing but lay there with her thoughts until she regained some of her strength and that on its own was terrifying. She had never liked to be alone with her thoughts, they often led her to dark places and this time was no different.
She found herself back at Lake Nostos with Mulan and Aurora, standing before her unconscious mother. What if she had run her through with Mulan's sword? It was impervious to magic so any protective spells or charms her mother had cast would have been useless to protect her. This all could have been over and right now Regina would be purely searching for a way home, not hiding like a frightened mouse in a dirty log like god-damned Snow White!
She closed her eyes when she felt the tears begin to well in them. How far had she fallen? How Snow must be laughing at her. Living with her precious Prince, her perfect Saviour daughter now reunited with them, raising the one thing Regina loves as their own always taking, taking taking!
She quickly opened her eyes, thankful to be able to turn her head a little, the movement alone enough to quiet the angry voices of her mind. It would do her no good to continue with these thoughts Henry, think of Henry. Not ten year old Henry who went off to find the Saviour and break Regina's curse, but baby Henry who loved nothing more than to listen to her voice as she told him stories, two year old Henry who often got croup and would cling to her in the bathroom as she steamed the area to clear his congested lungs, five year old Henry who would beg and beg for her to read the Monster at the End of this Book because only Regina could get the voices right.
She smiled a little as the memories flew through her mind. Bittersweet as they were they centred her. Reminded her of just what she was fighting for, of the fact that her biggest fight was going to be with herself. She would have to stay strong and stay focused on her redemption if she had a hope in hell of winning against her mother.
What she needed most right now was to rest, to recharge, and that was her final thought as she closed her eyes and fell into a fitful sleep.
Regina stirred as the cold breeze blew through the forest after the sun had dropped low in the sky. Her log home was a veritable wind tunnel and she was awakened by her chattering teeth and chilled skin. She pushed herself up, trying to ignore the dull thumping headache in the base of her skull. Oh she was going to miss Advil.
Twisting her neck she looked once again at the space she had found she couldn't help but smile. It was going to take a bit of work to get it liveable but it would serve her purpose perfectly. Her sleep had brought much of her energy back, replenished her magical stores and with the concealment charm solidly in place her mother would have no way to detect her magic use. She moved to the mouth of the log and with a gentle push of her hands she felt for the dome of magic protecting her. Feeling the pulse of energy flow back to her she gave a content nod and a small, proud smile before ducking back into her new home.
As Regina walked back inside she waved her hand cleaning out the dirt and grass, the evidence of the various animals that had used the area as a home. She quickly lost light as she came to the more spacious area at the base of the log, where it levelled down towards the earth. A quick waive of her hand had torches burning on either side of the wall and as she looked around she pushed her hands out creating a bit more room and raised what was to become the ceiling.
She quickly appraised the wood at the base of the log. It would be much easier to strengthen what was there than to create new flooring so she held her palms parallel to the floor and a quick sweeping motion had the wooden floor sanded back and topped with a simple rug.
Another wave of her hand brought some furniture. A cot with blankets (and a decent mattress, there were some things that just weren't worth skimping on), a table with a chair and a desk in the corner. Despite her royal past and contrary to what the inhabitants of Storybrooke might think looking at her mansion, she had always longed for a simpler life and with the limited space she had here she had little choice in the matter.
A final spell changed her clothes into something more comfortable for sleeping and feeling fatigue pull at her once more after using so much magic she crawled into her bed nodding in approval as she sunk into the soft blankets. She gave a small content sigh; it really wasn't worth skimping on a mattress.
Regina awoke shortly before dawn; her stomach rumbling with hunger and her mouth dry with thirst. She really needed to conserve her magic, to not become too reliant on it, as once outside the shelter of her little log any use would alert Cora to exactly where her daughter was. That being said there were a couple more things she was going to need before packing away her magic.
A flick of her wrist had her dressed in some more suitable clothes, black leather pants, black tunic, and a dark grey fur lined vest. Sturdy, knee high, boots on her feet with a decent heel but still suitable for walking through the forest (or running if it ever came to that). A small cupboard appeared along one wall with a few changes of clothes in a similar style. Another appeared on the opposite wall and it was to this cupboard that Regina approached opening it to reveal a collection of weapons suitable for the Enchanted Forest. She pulled an ebony bow with black strings and a black quiver full of arrows adorned with black feathers (black was her colour after all). She glanced over the swords that were also in the cupboard before dismissing them, they would not be needed today. She spent more time looking at the collection of knives, securing one in the black leather belt around her waist and one in the sheath on the inside of her left boot. Tucking her hair behind her ear she set out to explore her surroundings, needing to get a proper idea of where she was and hopefully find something to eat along the way.
It didn't take Mulan long to find the Merry Men. She had joined their ranks a number of times. Inevitably she would need some time to herself and she would leave once more, always with the promise to return. This was the first time she had come back with a companion but the Merry Men happily welcomed the princess amongst them. After recuperating and obtaining some provisions Mulan set out to take Aurora home. Hoping to be able to use the information Cora gave Aurora to restore Phillip's soul and save him.
It turned out that Squid Ink would drive souls from the wraith, rendering it empty, essentially starved and eating itself to death. It was three months before Mulan left Aurora and returned to the Merry Men with a broken heart and missing her friend. She was surprised when she returned to hear of changes in Sherwood and indeed much of the region. With such a pinpoint focus on saving Phillip, Mulan had failed to follow the happenings in the rest of the realm.
The Merry Men talked of a new Queen who the people had labelled the False Queen and Mulan instantly recognised their description of this Queen as Cora. It seemed that soon after Mulan left with Aurora, Cora had returned to the Safe Haven and built a vast castle on the grounds using her magic. She was trying to bring the people living in the Enchanted Forest under her rule but when they turned on her and accused her of killing Lancelot, of being a false Queen she had become enraged and vowed to take control of the land by force.
The Merry Men also spoke of a new bandit in Sherwood Forest. They were unsure thus far if the Bandit was friend or foe but the man seemed determined to stop the False Queen from increasing her area of influence.
"What do you know of this bandit?" Mulan asked, curious but her voice was as ever calm. They were seated around the large campfire the first night of her return, a hearty broth in her hands and a slight furrow to her brow.
"Not much," came a voice from behind her.
"Robin," she said standing, smiling warmly as she hugged the leader of the Merry Men.
"Mulan," he replied, holding her tight for a moment. "I was glad to hear of your return."
"I'm sure you are with this, new threat?" she changed her statement into a question at the last minute.
"I don't think the Bandit is a threat," Robin said and his men began murmuring uncertainties.
"For neigh on 30 years we've had the run of these woods Robin. Who would come upon us now if not a threat?"
"When did this bandit come to your attention?" Mulan asked, her eyes squinting as she began to suspect who the 'bandit' might actually be.
"Around the time you left with Aurora," Robin didn't ask outright but his eyes clearly contained a question. He could almost see the wheels turning in Mulan's head and was now certain she knew or at least suspected who the Bandit was.
"And her focus you say is the False Queen?"
"Aye," Little John affirmed.
"What else do you know of her?"
"Her?" Robin exclaimed with a chuckle. "Mulan, the Bandit took out a team of the Queen's Red Guard."
"A team of six mind you," Will contributed. "Not even you could do that Mulan!"
Mulan merely raised an eyebrow at Will before turning to Robin, "Red Guard?"
"Yes, it seems now that the False Queen is no longer hiding in plain sight as Lancelot she is asserting her own authority over what remains of the realm with a Red Guard." Robin's face was grim.
"A dead Red Guard," Little John corrected.
"Zombies," Mulan murmured.
"What?" all three men spoke in unison.
"Zombies, it's what Emma called them. The woman Aurora and I helped to return to the World. They are a fiction in her land – the 'undead'. The False Queen attacked us with a group of these creatures when we revealed that she was Lancelot and tried to escape the Safe Haven." Mulan had already shared some of her escapades with Emma and Regina when she brought Aurora to the Merry Men's camp, but both women had instinctively kept any mention of Regina's presence in the Enchanted Forest to themselves.
"They are proving most difficult to defeat," Robin said with an expression that was part frustration but mostly concerned and Mulan shifted her gaze. She was not lying, nor would she lie, but she was failing to tell the whole truth and the omission about Regina's presence in the Enchanted Forest was starting sit uncomfortably on her chest.
Bringing her gaze back to Robin's she advised, "it's not pleasant but the only way to defeat the Red Guard is to remove their brain." The Merry Men collectively squirmed. "The most effective method is to remove their cranium, the top part of their skull and the brain will fall from the head. Cora will be unable to revive her Guard once the brain is gone."
"She can't put it back?" Will asked.
"She could put the brain back physically but would be unable to revive the Guard again. At least that is what I was told and it worked when we were escaping the Safe Haven." She turned back to Robin, "the Guard you found, were they in this state?" she need to ensure in her own mind that it was, in fact, Regina disposing of her mother's army.
"Yes," Robin confirmed, his eyes narrowing just a little. "We wondered if the Bandit had a somewhat sadistic nature to have killed in such a way." Mulan nodded in understanding and Robin turned to move from the campfire, indicating with a tilt of his chin that he wanted Mulan to follow and continue their discussion in private. When they reached his tent he pulled back the flap following Mulan into the space. "You know who the Bandit is," he said simply, no accusation in his tone and Mulan merely maintained eye contact in answer. When he spoke no more she gave a small sigh.
"Emma was not the only person to have come from the World Without Magic. Her companion chose to stay here in the Enchanted Forest to fight the False Queen."
Robin's eyebrows rose in surprise, "quite the benevolent spirit," he said disbelieving. "And you failed to mention this person when you told us of your journey to return Emma to her land?" Again Mulan remained silent and Robin merely gave a small smile. "You are a good judge of character Mulan. I can see you trust this person."
"She earned my trust Robin. You know I do not bestow faith in people lightly." Robin nodded.
"We are fighting the False Queen's Red Guard nearly nightly, Mulan. We are working ourselves to the bone trying to keep the people left in Sherwood safe. My question to you is would this woman help us? Work with us? If she has experience fighting these…" his voice trailed off trying to remember the word Mulan used.
"Zombies," she supplied quickly.
"Zombies," Robin murmured, the term sounding wrong on his tongue. "If she can help us dispose of the False Queen's Red Guard, it would help us immensely. The False Queen does not yet know of the Bandit. She is blaming the Merry Men for hindering her plans. She wants the people fearful and weak and while we are here they are protected and have hope. She wants to wipe out the Merry Men and word is she is building her Guard until she has enough of these creatures to search Sherwood Forest tree by tree. It is only a matter of time before she finds us."
Mulan dropped her gaze to the ground. She would not betray Regina, she couldn't. But that didn't mean that she would not try and convince her to work with the Merry Men. Perhaps the arrangement could be mutually beneficial? There was just one question that she needed answered first.
"Mulan?" Robin pulled her from her conflicted thoughts. "Will she work with us?"
"I cannot speak for the Bandit, Robin," she replied, adopting the Merry Men's nickname for a woman she strangely considered a friend. "And you are asking the wrong question." Robin frowned in confusion as she brought her hardened gaze back to his. "The question you should be asking is will you work with her."
"What does that mean?"
"You saw what she is capable of. You do not become a woman able to down six of these 'undead', on her own without getting blood on your hands. This is no ordinary woman. You need to be sure that you will work with her, no matter who she is and what she is capable of. No matter what she has done in the past."
Robin thought over what Mulan said. The obvious answer was of course, if she could help them, train them, save them, he would work with her.
"The second thing to consider is what you are fighting for. Do you want to protect Sherwood? To defeat the Red Guard? Or are you prepared to fight the larger fight? Your Bandit isn't just here to stop the Red Guard, she is here to stop the False Queen. And I think if you worked together you might actually be able to do it."
"Is this woman a danger to the Merry Men? To our families?"
"She is dangerous," Mulan began and paused at Robin's grim clearly. "But she has no interest it hurting anyone. She just wants to defeat the False Queen and help the people here in the Enchanted Forest to live in peace."
Robin nodded, considering all that Mulan has said. "Do you think she would help us?"
"I think might agree to meet with you. I cannot guarantee she will work with you, but I am certain she wishes you and your men no harm. I will speak with her," Mulan rose to exit the tent.
"Thank you, Mulan," Robin gave a sincere smile.
"Of course, but Robin, think about what I have said. There is a bigger fight here than just the people of Sherwood."
Storybrooke
Henry sat down by the docks swinging his feet and scowling at the horizon. It had been months since Emma had come back from the Enchanted Forest and he was no closer to getting his mom back than when Emma had left her behind.
Mary Margaret and gone with him to speak to Mr Gold and ask for his help, but the pawn broker was in no mood to help anyone since they stopped him from blocking the well and let Captain Hook come to Storybrooke and threaten him. He had unceremoniously tossed them from his shop with little more than a 'good riddance' when Snow had mentioned that Regina was stuck in the Enchanted Forest.
Henry had spent nearly three weeks trying to meet with Aurora in the Red Room. When he finally found her he was so happy but all his hopes were in ruins when he heard Regina had separated from Aurora and Mulan when Emma left. Aurora hadn't seen her since and had no idea where she might be.
He couldn't help but be a little proud though when she told him that Regina didn't want them in danger but still, that meant his mom was all alone! He heard Emma tell Mary Margaret that she wasn't even able to use any magic or Cora would find her and try to make her Evil again. He was so worried. He couldn't imagine his mom being able to survive in the woods alone. She wasn't Snow White! She was the Evil Queen who always had servants and guards and magic. What would she do?
Still, he wasn't about to give up. He would find a way to the Enchanted Forest without Mr Gold!
He stayed at the docks until the sun had sunk below the horizon. Once he was sure there was no one around he pulled his storybook and a torch out his backpack and turned one last time to the picture that he needed. One with a dark fairy wand that he was sure he had seen in Mr Gold's shop. Gold had so many magical items there, he didn't want to get the wrong one. He looked at the pictures and just hoped that there weren't too many similar wands at the shop. But even if he had to break in there 100 times he would do it. He would steal all the wands in Storybrooke if it meant getting his mom back home.
He figured if he got the wand maybe the Blue Fairy would help him get to the Enchanted Forest. Or one of the other fairies? They would have to if Mary Margaret asked them, she was there Queen right?
Certain that he had the image of the wand he needed clear in his mind he packed away his book and swung his backpack over his shoulders. He walked quickly back into town. Trying to keep his head down and stay in the shadows. He didn't need anyone seeing him and trying to take him back to the Loft. He made his way to the back door of the pawnshop, quickly dropping his backpack and opening it up. He pulled a towel and a large rock he'd found in the forest earlier out of his bag, covering the rock with the towel to muffle the noise he pulled back his arm and went to punch a hole in one of the glass panels of the door when suddenly the door opened and a furious Mr Gold reached forward dragging him into the store and slamming the door behind them.
Enchanted Forest
Regina moved quickly and silently through the forest to what had become her log, her home. 14 weeks! It had been a little over 14 weeks since she had been back in the Enchanted Forest, three months since she had returned Emma Swan to the Land Without Magic. 100 days since she had last seen Henry. Since he had looked at her with terrified eyes, scared of her. It was that moment that she had realised just how badly she had failed her son – for regardless of what Emma Swan may believe, Henry was Regina's son! For him to be frightened of his mother, for him to believe that she would ever hurt him, she had failed as spectacularly as a parent possibly could.
And she missed him. Those first weeks the hollowness in her heart, in her soul began to eat at her from the inside out. It was only her focus on redeeming herself and beating her mother that kept her from letting the emptiness take over. If not for the discovery of her mother's new Red Guard and understanding that Cora planned to take over the Enchanted Forest with or without Regina at her side, Regina is sure she would have fallen into despair.
Regina had been scouting the North side of the Forest, looking for ingredients for a transformation spell. Her plan had been to make her way to Rumplestiltskin's castle and search his extensive library for information about restricting magic but being unable to use magic herself outside of her log made such a journey risky for a former Evil Queen. A transformation spell would change her appearance and seemed like the safest course of action if she could just get her hands on the ingredients.
She was collecting wild poppies when she came across a small group of children hiding in the forest. Covering her face behind her black hood she approached the obviously terrified children. It took some time before the eldest, a boy who looked to be Henry's age, stuttered something about monsters in his village. Moving quickly and silently through the small town she saw six men – if you could call them that. They were 'undead', the same creatures that had attacked Emma and her at the Safe Haven. They were grotesque, in bright red uniforms, their rotting bodies creating a stomach turning stench as they dragged villagers around in a spectacle designed not to maim, just to instil fear in the people. Quite obviously they had been sent by her mother but for what purpose?
None of the Red Guard spoke at all while Regina watched. They ignored the pleas of the people as they burned their homes and killed their livestock. Regina could see injuries where the villagers had tried to stop the Guard, marks of pitchforks in their torsos and wounds from the blade of a sword. But the undead were seemingly unstoppable, 'unless you know where to strike' she thought.
Making her way to where there was a blacksmith's shop she found a recently forged sword. It was nothing like she was used to handling, made from a crude mix of iron and copper rather than the silver and steel of a noble sword but it was sharp and would most certainly do for what she intended. Locating the most isolated of the Red Guard, Regina crept up behind him as he poured some form of accelerant near a small shed. With a smooth strike she took off the top off his skull, and exposed the brain. Kicking the toe of her boot into the back of his knees the man dropped and with another quick strike Regina separated his head from his neck, the motion causing the brain to roll out of the skull as it hit the ground.
'One down, five to go…' she murmured to herself. Not wanting to be in a situation where she was facing more than one of the zombies at a time she kept to the shadows and pecked them off one by one in a similar fashion. Approaching from behind and destabilising the Guard before removing the head and letting gravity ensure the creature would not be getting up again. It was clear having watched them move through the village that they were untrained, likely unable to be trained. While her mother could use magic to reanimate their bodies, she could not animate their minds. Regina could only surmise that they had overcome the villagers through brute force and fear once people realised they were able to continue their assault after sustaining what should have been life-ending injuries. No one in the Enchanted Forest had ever seen the likes of a zombie before and they had certainly been effective from the damage just six of the creatures had wrecked on this small community.
Two other villagers approached when Regina began her attack on the last member of the Red Guard. In three swift strikes the man was down and the nervous villagers began to move towards the masked Bandit. The people of the Enchanted Forest had no idea the Evil Queen had returned and Regina had no intention of announcing her 'arrival' now. Even after assisting to rid the village of Cora's new henchmen Regina was not foolish enough to imagine she would be welcomed like some prodigal son. No, if she wanted to continue to fight Cora she must do it from the shadows. Giving the strangers only the barest of nods Regina dropped the borrowed sword, turned and ran back to the safety of the Sherwood Forest.
There had been similar attacks on villages all through Sherwood and Regina could only imagine that her mother was waging similar wars across the Enchanted Forest. There were only ever a handful of men and it seemed that without the knowledge of how to defeat the Red Guard, six or seven soldiers were enough to bring a small village to its knees. Regina had managed to fight off the Guard in a number of other villages, but her actions were not without consequences. She had become known. There were whispers of a Bandit in the woods. A Bandit! For god's sake! If her mother's attacks weren't keeping her so occupied she would be offended. Still she had managed to get out of each encounter without injury and with no one being any closer to learning her real identity.
She moved towards the entrance to her home and pulled the satchel she carried over her head to drop unceremoniously on the table. With a tired sigh she sat down and covered her eyes with her hand. She had collected everything she needed for her transformation spell over a week ago, but with the attacks continuing in the North she didn't want to leave. Who knew how long it would take for her to search Rumple's castle? And while she had no love for the people of Sherwood, she was trying to do better, to be better for Henry. What would he think of her if she left these villages completely unprotected?
"Regina?" at the sound of Mulan's voice calling through the tree Regina jumped to her feet. Knocking the chair she was sitting in over as she spun around in shock. Her heart hammered in her chest. "Regina? Regina can you hear me?" Catching her breath Regina reached into her pocket and pulled out her half of the compact she had split with Mulan with a wry grin. She had almost forgotten she had given this to the Warrior.
"Mulan," she said with a small but sincere smile. After being alone for so long it was nice to talk with… a friend.
"Regina!' Regina couldn't help but let her smile grow a little at the warmth in Mulan's voice. "It is good to see you."
"And you. How are you? How is Aurora, is everything alright?"
"Yes, I have returned Aurora to her kingdom, with Philip. We were able to return his spirit, just as Cora said we could."
"I'm happy for you – for them," Regina's voice was quiet but sincere. She was surprised herself at how genuinely happy she felt for the princess.
"I was hoping we could meet," Mulan said in her usual no-nonsense tone and Regina just watched the woman in the mirror with a furrowed brow. "Your mother has begun a campaign against the Merry Men. As I believe you are aware?" Mulan gave Regina a small knowing smirk.
"Actually no," Regina replied and as Mulan rolled her eyes explained, "I have seen her new Red Guard destroying villages but had no idea she was targeting the Merry Men."
"She is targeting villages that the Merry Men provide assistance to. The leader of the Merry Men, Robin Hood, believes she wants to rule the Enchanted Forest and is attempting to keep the people in a state of fear to wipe out any hope. Eliminating the Merry Men would be an effective way to do that."
"That sounds like my mother," Regina responded flatly.
"The Merry Men are aware of the Bandit in Sherwood who has been fighting the False Queen's Red Guard. Robin knows that I know this Bandit," Mulan maintained eye contacted but her voice dropped, revealing her discomfort. "I will not provide any further information to him or the Merry Men, Regina. You have my word."
"But?" Regina asked with a raised brow.
"I would like you to meet with Robin, talk to him. He has seen what you are able to do and with some training the Merry Men could also be useful to fight against the Red Guard. They are strong, loyal and quick to learn."
"And you think they want to learn from the Evil Queen?" Regina said disbelievingly, a self-deprecating chuckle passing her lips.
Mulan held her gaze. "I think that you could help each other. You can't defeat the entire Red Guard on your own Regina and Robin could be a useful ally in the fight against the False Queen. He is a good man and he believes in second chances."
"Even for me?" Regina asked softly before shaking her head. "Don't answer that." Either Mulan would say yes and Regina wouldn't believe her or she would say no and Regina would feel that her fight for redemption was even more of a pipe dream.
"Meet with him and you can decide for yourself." Regina took a deep breath. This was risky and she had sworn to keep to herself while she was here but even she was starting to go mad being on her own for eight weeks… And Henry would certainly be proud if she helped train the Merry Men…
"He will come alone?"
"I will come with him. You both trust me and if one of you decides to do something foolish I will disable you," Mulan deadpanned.
Regina laughed, "I believe that… So where am I to meet the Thief?"
Storybrooke
Henry's heart leapt into his throat in shock and he completely froze.
"What do you think you're doing boy?" Gold asked, his voice was quiet almost calm as he shoved Henry into a chair, but it was always the eyes with Mr Gold and looking at them was terrifying. He was furious.
"I – I –" Henry began before tears suddenly filled his eyes. "I want to find a way to get my mom back." He mumbled.
"Why," Gold dropped down so he was nose to nose with Henry, "she's 'not your real mother', if I recall correctly. You spent a whole year telling everyone who would listen that, didn't you? Went off and found your real mother." He spat and Henry gave a soft sob as Gold's words dug under his skin and twisted like tiny knives. "You should be happy at the loft with the Saviour and Snow White." Gold's voice was once again deadly silent as he finished, pushing away from Henry "Why are you breaking into my shop?"
"There's a wand that can open a portal. I want to go and get my mom," Henry confessed as he wiped his eyes with his arm and sniffed.
"Anything in this shop is mine. And I don't take kindly to thieves," Gold shot daggers at Henry.
"What are you going to do to me?" Henry whispered and Gold dragged him to his feet.
"Take you home lad, I'm taking you home." Gold gave a quick flick of his wrist and the two of them were transported to the hallway near the loft.
"I thought you meant the Enchanted Forest," Henry bit out disappointed.
"I'm good Henry," Gold leaned in and snarled, "but not that good," before righting himself again and knocking on the door.
"Gold," Emma said as she pulled open the door before realising he had Henry in a tight grip. "Henry!"
"Your boy was trying to break into my shop, to steal from me," Gold said with an odd lilt to his voice. Now that he was standing before the Saviour, he looked like the cat that got the canary. "I want to press charges."
"What? Henry? What happened," Emma all but fell over the words as she pulled Henry away from Gold and into the loft.
"I wanted to find a wand that can open a portal," he mumbled and Emma rolled her eyes in frustration.
"Henry, we spoke about this. Your mom is going to come home when it is safe. When she is ready to come home."
"But I can help and I need her to know I'm sorry! Why are you all treating me like I'm a little kid? I'm the one who broke the curse in the first place! I can help!"
"Your mom definitely does not want you in the Enchanted Forest Henry, as much as she misses you she wants you safe and I owe it to her to keep you here where it is safe!"
"Well you can't!" Henry said and pushed past her to run up the stairs. "I'm going to find a way Emma and I'm going to find my mom," he called over his shoulder before slamming the door to the bathroom upstairs.
"Henry –" she began to move past him but Gold stopped her with his cane. "Not the time Gold!" she snapped.
"I want him charged, Sheriff," he snarled.
"Or what? You'll write a complaint? Newsflash Gold, this town doesn't exist. Write your damn complaint I have bigger problems I'm dealing with right now!" Emma snapped.
Gold nodded and Emma had a sinking feeling she just did exactly what he wanted her to.
"You're right Miss Swan, this town doesn't exist to the rest of the world. So if I choose to deal with young Henry like I would have in the Enchanted Forest there really isn't much you could do about it."
Emma frowned, "how would you deal with him in the Enchanted Forest?" Emma asked.
"I'm very glad you asked," Gold smirked and with a snap of his fingers he had transported Emma to the edge of the Troll Bridge, Henry upside down over the edge being held up only with Gold's magic.
"Henry!" Emma screamed.
"Emma! Help me!" Henry squirmed trying desperately to reach out and grip onto something.
"So glad I have your attention," Gold stated calmly.
"Get him down Gold!"
"Certainly Miss Swan," he said cheerfully, "once you and I make a deal."
"What do you want," Emma's eyes never left Henry as she tried to inch closer to the edge of the drop.
"I will need a favour and when the time comes you will do as I ask," Gold said his voice even.
"That's it? A favour? You couldn't have just asked me that without all the drama?"
"Do we have a deal?"
"Yes, yes, just get him down," Emma snapped, finally taking her eyes off Henry as he came into her arms, shaking in fear.
"Good," Gold gave a cold smile as he once again snapped his fingers and disappeared in a plume of smoke.
"Jesus Henry!" Emma chided as she pulled him into a tight hug. "What were you thinking breaking into Gold's shop?"
Henry just cried harder, "I just miss my mom," he said, muffled against her chest.
"I know kid, I know." Emma sighed, resting her cheek against Henry's hair and wondering not for the first time, if Regina was ever going to come home.