Cora didn't realize when Regina started annoying her, but she knew that she could hardly stand her

fragile daughter at times. She loved her fiercely, but she needed Regina to develop a backbone. The girl thought far too much about others and her head was stuck in the clouds about love.

Like most teenagers, Regina had a slight rebellious streak. In disgust Cora thought "even the girls rebellious acts are weak."

While most teenagers snuck out to be with lovers, Regina's sneaky acts were to use her growing powers to heal hurt animals or help the poor farmers land flourish, even though doing these things left the girl with a fever from using so much energy. Those acts had to be broken though if Regina was to be strong.

Cora believed that if she had the training and was aware of her powers from start the like Regina, then she would be ruler of the realm. Now her beauty while not completely gone was diminished. She didn't wish to make deals to be a wife; she was already married anyway to her husband Henry.

"I am surrounded by complete weakness" Cora said to herself as her thoughts moved to her husband.

Cora was lost in thought she didn't even hear her 13 year old come in until her daughter had her gripped in a hug from her smiling teen. For a moment she allowed her old feelings to wash over her.

The moment passed quickly though and once again Cora found fault in her daughter.
"Regina, how many times did I tell you not to hop all over me? You are not a child anymore you're a young lady. Furthermore you smell like animals what have you been doing?"

Regina paused for a second, she knew it was no use lying to her mother, but still she didn't want to reveal her activities. Slowly Regina said to her mother " Well there was an abandoned kitten it was hurt so I healed it up and ….I kept it."

Cora narrowed her eyes at her daughter and very slowly said "Where is the animal at?"

Regina shifted nervously under her mother's gaze "It's in the stables, with the horses."

In a puff of smoke Cora appeared in the stables searching for the creature Regina had quickly grown attached to. Unwittingly Regina created an opportunity for Cora to teach her a valuable lesson. She waited for her daughter to catch up to her as she found the kitten resting peacefully in a crate filled with linens.

As Regina came running into the barn, Cora tossed at hand up leaving Regina bound to the spot she stood in, struggling against an unseen force.

Regina looked down at herself, seeing nothing she looked a t her mother with shock and fear as her voice came out in a squeak "Mommy what are you doing !"

Cora lifted both hands, as she simultaneously tightened the grip on Regina and brought the kitten to her free hand. "I told you about getting overly caught up in other people and these animals Regina. I told you how feelings can be a weakness. I'm tired of talking, today I will show you."

As Regina watched in horror, Cora tightened her grip on the kitten as it thrashed around trying helplessly to escape her death clutch.

Finally with one last tight squeeze, the cat stopped squirming as blood started to flow down Cora's hands. Cora looked at her hand in disgust and threw the dead animal at her daughter.

Regina silently cried and said nothing. Cora had been unkind to her before, but still she knew her mother's love was certain. Now though, she wasn't so sure; this act was completely and unnecessarily cruel. To be honest, in that moment Regina's fear of her mother, switched to terror. It was too much at once. Before when her mother punished her it was never with magic usually just stern looks and lectures. This was a shift in their dynamics. Even at her age, Regina knew their relationship would never be the same.

Cora stepped toward Regina, releasing her from her binding as she did. She looked at her daughter with a smile and asked her "My love do you know why I did that to that wretched animal. "

Regina knew her words would tumble out as sobs, she shook her head no keeping her eyes downcast.

Cora lifted Regina's head as she gazed into her daughter's eyes "Regina forming unnecessary attachments is a weakness. I've watched you patter around like a weak little fool for years, its time to start growing into your women hood. Going around saving little critters and helping everyone like a charity cases stops today. Do you understand me?"

Regina slowly nodded her head and rapidly blinked her eyes to keep the tears shut inside herself.

Her mother once again smiled sweetly at her disappeared in a puff of smoke.

Regina took the poor animal and wrapped him in the covers from the bed she prepared for him.

Crying silently she made a wish to whoever was out there listening that her mother would go back to the loving woman she once was. She sunk down to the ground, cradling the lifeless animal. She felt as if it As she sat there she felt that it was almost a figment of her imagination that her mother was ever a loving and kind person.

Regina's early childhood flashed in her mind, images of her mother's easy smile and kind ways played in her mind. Her mother used her magic for good then, much like Regina did now.

Slowly, ever so slowly to the point Regina can't even pinpoint the moment the shift happened, Cora started to change through the years. Her smiles became facades and masks, rather than genuine displays of happiness. Her parenting style changed from loving corrections to frequently voiced frustrations to verbal abuse now morphing into sinister animal killings in front of the young teen. Cora's magic, which use to be used as a tool to help those around her now became a tool to gather power.

Regina shook her head and rose from the dirty ground, still clutching the animal close to her body. She grabbed a shovel and headed off toward her favorite tree to prepare a burial for her pet.

As she dug the grave in the darkness, Regina decided it was the magic itself that corrupted her dear mother. She didn't know how much worse things would get, but she silently made a vow that she would be better than her mother with her own magic.

Rumplestiltskin watched in silence as the innocent young girl continued her task unaware her every move was being scrutinized. Regina was the same age as Baelfire was when Rumplestiltskin lost him to another world. Watching her in that moment and seeing her mother's increasing cruelty, he almost regretted the path he was going to set this young woman down. Regina had such kindness in her heart, and pure magic in her being, that powerful combination could make her a shining light in this world. But that couldn't and wouldn't be able to happen in order for him to achieve his own goals.

Just as he was getting ready to leave another magical creature popped in beside Regina; the Blue Fairy.

"What the hell is she doing here?"

(TBC)