Chapter 4
"We're going to be in sooo much trouble if your mom catches us, Henry." Penny Jean whispered to Henry as the wondered through Regina's vault. You see it was completely dark in the underground tunnels. Regina normally kept the vault lit with her magic. Yes, there were candles, but the two things the preteens forgot were matches and backup batteries. It didn't bother Henry much, he was ok with being in dark places and adjusted according to his surroundings. He thought it made him heroic like, or something. Penelope Jean on the other hand hated the dark for the same reason Henry loved it. You never knew what was around the corner. Henry thought of like an exciting adventure, Penelope did not. Her mind drifted off to dangerous places. She had trouble controlling her imagination. The shadows seemed to grow larger in the dark and only when she blinked would they return to their original size, starting the whole process over again. She would think of all creatures that could possibly lurking from near by. Sometimes she would there was an invisible string attached to her back, connecting her with whatever was following her. Henry tried to tell her she was being silly, but she could physically feel the string and kept he constantly looking over her shoulder. She tried to think of happy music to keep her mind occupied, but she could only hear her rapidly progressing heartbeat. Suddenly a cold gust of air brushed past the two children, causing every hair on their body to stand straight. Penny stilled and grabbed onto Henry, forcing him to pause. "Henry I don't like it down here."
"Penny it's fine. It's just dark. Nothing down here can hurt is." Henry made an effort to sooth.
"Henry. The two most powerful women in this town harbor all the things from their time as evil villains down here. I don't believe you!" Penny reminded as she cleaned her glasses.
"It's going to be fine. Let me try the flashlight again." Henry turned Penny around and took hold of the electrical torch in the bottom of her backpack.
"If we die, I'm going to blame you." Penny mumbled.
"We're not going to die. I think I know what part of the vault we're in. If we keep going this way, we should reach where mom keeps her hearts."
"Why would I want to go hearts?"
"Because enchanted hearts glow. We be able to see. At least a litt-" Henry interrupted when the sound of heels clicking against stone floor started and it sounded like other was getting closer. Henry gasped. "Mom!"
"Thank goodness! We're saved!" Penelope cheered.
"No. This is bad my mom's going to kill me."
"What are we going to do?"
"Run!"
The two children took off down the winding halls until they came to a stop at a fork.
"Which way?" Penny questioned.
"That way." A voice stated simply from behind. Henry and Penny shrieked as they nearly lept out of their skin. They tried to run, but a hand on each of their shoulders stopped them. They were forced to face the person. What are you two doing down here!?" Regina practically growled. With a wave of her hand the vault was lit by dozens of candles. As I turns out the preteens were not heading towards if work in the hallway but it dead end instead. If the mayor had not found them they would have run into a wall.
"It was Henry's idea!" Penny pointed. "We wanted to learn magic, but Henry said you wouldn't teach us.."
"He's right. I will not under any circumstances teach either of you magic. Especially not after this stunt." Regina scolded.
"BUT MOM!"
"No buts Henry. You know the rules. You are not allowed in my vault. It is far too dangerous."
"But-"
"End of discussion."
xxx
"Regina, are you sure grounding Henry was the right way to go?" Emma asked.
"Miss Swan, I love your concern for our son but Henry knows the rules and he also knows the consequences that come with breaking those rules." The mayor said as she continued her journey to her office.
"Yeah, but It's been a week and I had stuff planned for my week with him. And don't you think you should've talked to me about it first?"
"Miss Swan, despite what you might think we are not married I do not have to run every little thing or decision I make by you." The mayor strolled into her office without even glancing at the sheriff.
"Regina." Emma sighed.
"Oh! Forgive me. Would you like to discuss what meal I plan on cooking Henry and his friend for dinner tonight or would you rather I just make a spreadsheet for the week?"
"Regina! What is up with you today?"
"What is up with me is that I'm trying to figure out a way of detour your son and his friend from wanting to learn magic without him hating me.
"Henry doesn't hate you."
"I just don't want him corrupted by magic… like I was." The mayor slouched into her chair. She remembered how kind she was before magic corrupted her. "He's such a sweet kid. I just.. want him to… stay that way."
"Kid's growing up. We've gotta give the space to do so. If another magical threat comes to Storybrooke wouldn't you rather him be able to protect himself, then be vulnerable to attack. I mean, wouldn't be better he learn magic from you or someone we trust, then someone who will lead him down the wrong path." Emma suggested.
Regina let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. "I see your point Miss Swan. It would be beneficial for him, both of them to, at the very least understand magic… considering where they live. It would not be wise to have children apart of the most powerful family, living in a magical town and not know the basic principles of magic."
"Sooo does this mean he's not grounded any more?" Emma asked hopefully.
"Oh no. He's still grounded. But only until tomorrow night. You can have him after that." The mayor spoke and tried to ignore the was the savior was fist pumping the air. "But…. Remember Henry is a package deal now. You want to spend time with him you have to spend time with both of them. Have a nice day sheriff."
xxx
Crrrrrr Radio static crrrrrr *PSST!* Emma's voice sounded over Henry's walkie-talkie. *Hey kid.. crrrrrr You there?*
Henry leapt from his bed and across Penny who was reading one of his comics on the floor.
"Emma's! Emma I'm here! Is operation 'Breakout' a go?" Henry spoke into his walkie.
*Yeah, but I was only able to get a few days off. You're still grounded until tomorrow night.*
Henry slumped a little and nodded, then realized Emma couldn't see him. "It's fine. Actually, I'm surprised you were able to cut it at all! Grandmother Cora kinda got us in trouble earlier today."
*How?* crrzzz
"That crazy old lady BLEW UP THE KITCHEN!!" Penelope reach over Henry's shoulder and yelled into the walkie-talkie.
Crrzzz *She WHAT!?*
"Grandmother asked Penny and I to teach her how the things in the kitchen worked. She said she wanted to show mom how grateful she was to be back in her life by cooking her favorite meal from when she was a kid." Henry explained.
"We didn't know she was going to freak out at every. Little. Thing. We showed her." Penny butted in.
"The kitchen was on fire when mom came home from work." Henry continued.
*Wow kid. How'd you get out of that one?* crrzzz
"Mom knew grandma did it and couldn't really ground us. Again. And she knows Grandma's magic is kinda unpredictable with her heart back."
"Children! Dinner!" Cora called from the bottom to the staircase.
"Emma we have to go. I'll see you when we get off of house arrest. Love you Emma." Henry spoke into his walkie-talkie.
Crrzzz *love you too kid.* crrzzz
xxx
"Hello children. How nice of you to finally join me." Cora smiled as the two walked into the dining room.
"Um… where's mom?" Henry asked as he and Penny took a seat at the table.
"Oh! Well, she had some mayor stuff to attend to in her office. She should be here in a bit. But don't worry she said we could start without her."
"Oh good.. I was afraid you were the one who coo-. Never mind." The young boy cut himself off.
"No no no. Please continue. I want to hear what you've have to say. Do you not think I can cook?" The ex-queen interrogated.
"Soooo. How was your day Ms. Cora?" Penny quickly changed topics. No one was ready to discuss the incident that occurred in the kitchen earlier that week.
"My day was fine. Quite boring, but it was an agreeable day. I don't know why my daughter has insisted that you to stay up in your room all week. What on earth did you two do?"
"Mom got mad because we broke into her vault." Henry mumbled.
"Why on earth would go and do something like that?"
"We wanted to learn magic." Penny explained.
"Regina won't teach you?" The preteens shook their heads. "Well, then… I'll teach you." Cora smiled.
"REALLY?!" The two children practically jumped out of their seats.
"Yes. Now if you hurry and finish eating, I can show the basics after dinner." The older brunette spoke in a hushed tone as her daughter approached the group.
xxx
Lesson 1: Unlocking your magic.
"MAGIC is emotion. It feeds off your very nature." Cora starts. "I used to fuel my magic with hate and anger, but now that I have my heart back I find happiness works just fine."
"So we just think lovely thoughts… like Tinker Bell!" Penny smiled.
"Why on earth world you want to be anything like that simple-minded, excuse for a fairy?" Cora scoffed. "Number one rule when it comes to Magic, all-"
"All magic come at a price. Yeah, Yeah I know. I read the book." Henry sighed.
"Rule number 2: don't listen to anything Rumpelstiltskin says. The price is not always bad. Magic is like energy it can't be replaced or destroyed, but you have to get it from somewhere. Most magic users get their energy from the Earth and like the yin yang everything must be balanced. The more energy or magic we take, the more we have to give back."
"So what you're saying is the more magic we use the more energy we lose?" The young boy questioned.
"Magic makes us tired." Penny summarized.
"If done improperly." Cora corrected. "When magic is done properly, you will back able to with the earth. You will learn the cycle of giving and taking so that neither you nor the Earth will become drained. We'll get to that later and I should ease but for now we're working on unlocking your magic."
"How are we going to do that?" Penelope questioned.
Suddenly a thick purple smoke engulfed the. When is dissipated the children found themselves alone in a dark labyrinth. The halls were thinking and there was an echo of something dripping near by. The tunnels were so dark the Penny could barely see the floors in front of her.
"Ms. Cora?!" She yelled into the darkness. "Henry!?"
"Penny?!" Henry's voice sounded from the other side of the wall.
"Henry if don't like it in here. How do we get out?"
"Children calm your nerves." Cora's voice sounded as if she were standing right next to the preteens. "Now, you won't be able to see me because I'm not actually there. I'm still in my room at home. You are in a labyrinth I've created. All you have to is illuminate it. Even if you make the smallest form of light and you'll be transported back here with me."
After multiple failed attempts the children gave up. "Grandma Cora it's not working. I do this by myself all the time; it never works." Henry sighed. "Maybe we need to try something different."
Suddenly Cora's purple smoke appeared a few feet in front of Penelope Jean, revealing her 8 year old sister. She was almost the spitting image of Penny Jean, only she was shorter, younger, and had hair in two thick cornrows down the back of her head. Her clothing wasn't nearly as colorful as her older sister's. There was a deep ditch separating the siblings.
"Ramen Noodle?" Penny questioned softly.
"Penny!?" Her sister yelled.
"Carmen! Ramen Noodle is that you?!"
"Penny what's going on?! I'm scared!" Ramen yelled down the tunnel. She began to unknowingly wander closer to the crater in the ground.
"Penelope dear, to help your sister you need light the tunnel. There is a bridge that will lead her to you, but the only way to see it is in the light."
"W-what happens if I can do it?"
"Then your sister falls."
Penny looked over to her sister who slowly moved closer to the large ditch. She began panicking and tried to call out to her sister, but Ramen didn't even respond to the sound of her voice.
"Ms. Cora!! Ms. Cora please!! She's my little sister." Penny whimpered.
On the other side of the wall, Henry was trying his hardest to get to his friend on the other side. He tried clawing at the wall, kicking it, punching it. He even tried to blow it up with the magic he couldn't happen to.
"Penny! Penny! I'm going to help you." The young boy yelled to the other side of the wall, but Penny's cries for help could still be heard on the other side. "What did you do to her! What are you doing to my friend? Grandma!"
"Sorry to disappoint, but I didn't do anything to your friend." Cora's voice sounded nearby, but again she was nowhere to be seen. "Grandson, I know you want to save your friend. There's a door hidden along the wall somewhere all you have to do is shine some form of light to access it." And with that she was gone.
xxx
"Mother the uncharmings are here." Regina sassed as she walked into her mother's room followed by Snow, Emma, and David. Ever since Cora's heart was returned, Snow instilled mandatory, weekly visits. Snow and David wanted to make sure the ex-queens weren't secretly up to evil.
"You know these are highly unnecessary." Cora starts. "With my heart back, I hardly have an evil thought."
"Then what's that?" Emma points to the two screens on display behind Cora.
"Oh that!" The older brunette swiveled around and quickly glanced at the screens. Everyone watched as the kids continuously trying and failing to produce magic. "I'm just teaching the kids a bit of magic."
"What?!" The rest of the room gasped.
"Mother no. You cannot teach the children magic." Regina lectured. "You are not allowed to use magic. It is far too unstable."
"Cora. What did you do to the kids?" Emma demanded as she took a step towards Cora.
"I created a simulation of sorts to jump-start the children's magical powers." The ex-queen explained proudly. "We all know magic is emotion and is most active when we are protecting the ones we love. I simply went into the children's subconscious to project who they want to protect the most. Henry just wants to protect his friend and the girl wants to protect her sister. It's sweet really."
"Cora this is madness. Let them out." Charming barked.
"But they're having fun."
"No. They are not. They're miserable in there." Snow joined. On Cue a frustrated screen sounded from one of Cora's monitors. Everyone in the room turned their attention second monitor that displayed Penelope Jean shaking on her knees.
"Cora. Get them out of their now!"
Before anyone could do or say anything about bright, light blue color flashed from both screens and engulfed the entire room in the light. When it dimmed, Henry and Penelope Jean were standing in the middle of the room.
"I DID IT! I HAVE MAGIC!!" Henry screamed and jumped around excitedly.
"Ramen Noodle! Where's my sister?!" Penny sputtered. "Is she ok?"
"She was never here dear." Cora explained. "She was simply an illusion to help spark your magic."
"I…. She… S-she's not here?"
"She is perfectly safe, back at home... wherever that is."
"Penny sweetie, are you ok?" Snow asked when to noticed the tears in the young girl's eyes. The girl nodded her hand and mumbled a "G'night" before she exited the room.
"Mother that was cruel-" "Cora you heartless witch-" Snow White and Regina started at the same time.
Cora looked taken back. "What! I've never been so insulted. How dare you. I jump started your magic. You should be thanking me." She pointed to Henry.
"Could everyone please leave so that I can have a word it has my mother?" Regina more demanded than asked. When no one moved she spoke again. "Alone." Henry and the Charmings shuffled out of the room leaving mother and daughter alone. Regina sighed, letting go of her angry demeanor. "Mother I know you are trying to find a balance between your emotions. Having your heart back you not only gained love, but every other feeling there is."
"Regina dear I'm trying."
"I know and I appreciate that, but… if you can't be a loving mother or grandmother, you could at least be able caring adult. Children, now a day especially, can't handle half of the stuff you put me through as a child. There were easier ways to unlock their magic and touch know it."
Cora sat on the edge of her bed regal as ever. "Some habits are harder to break."
"I'm well aware." Regina said as she sat next to her mother. "I just wish there was something I could do for Penelope Jean. As much as the child annoys the life out of me, she's grown on me. I would want to be reunited with my sister after something like that. It can't be easy for her."
"So you're saying that if… if you had a sister you would want to be reunited with her?"
"Of course."
They sat in silence for many moment. Regina couldn't tell what was going through her mother's head. She having her heart wasn't going to fix everything. Her mother was still her mother. How could she be so naïve? She let her mother near Henry. She trusted her mother with her only child. Yes, Cora made progress in becoming a civilized human being, but nothing changes overnight.
"I'm leaving." Cora stated, braking Regina from her thoughts.
"What? Leaving? Why? Mother is this because of-"
"There is just something I need to do. I don't know how long I'll be gone, but I will return. You know I love you dearly." Cora smiled and placed a hand on her daughter's cheek. Regina covered her mother's hand in return.
"I know. I love you too."
"I am going to need one of those magic beans. What I'm looking for is not in this land." The older women pulled away.
"What are you looking for?"
"Hopefully, the missing piece to our second change…" Cora stood a took her daughter's hand pulling her up as well. "I'll be gone by morning, but I wish to say goodbye to my grandchildren."
"Penelope is not related to us." Regina corrected.
"If nothing else, I learned biology isn't what makes family, family. I'm going to say goodbye to my grandchildren, then I'm going to pack my things." The older women smiled at her daughter. "I'll be back sooner than you think." With that Cora Exited the room.
Regina magical teleported two of the last three magic beans into palm. She looked down at them and sighed. Her mother was a piece of work, but she didn't want her to leave. She knew that when her mother had a goal set, nothing would stop her until she achieved it. Regina squeezed the beans in her hand ventured into the hall. She found her mother and the two children talking on Penny's bed.
"I'm really going to miss you Ms. Cora." Penny frowned.
"Me too." Henry agreed.
"I'll be back before you know it!" Cora smiled at the children and have them hugs before making towards where Regina stood at the door.
"Your magic beans." Regina placed the beans in her mother palm. "Two. One to get there and one to make sure you come back to us."
"I love you dear." Cora smiled as they gave each other one last hung.
"I love you too." Regina replied as she watched her mother retreat into her room.
"Mom?" Henry asked from his spot on Penny's bed. "Do you think you could use magic to find Penny's family?"
"Or at least call my mom?" Penny suggested.
"I think I can do that. Penny do you want to go home?" Regina approached the girl and kneeled in front of her. She placed an encouraging hand on her knee.
"I… no."
Henry and Regina couldn't hide the shock from their faces. Regina was sure the girl would want to return home after everything that happened. Henry on the other was relieved. It might have been selfish for feeling so, but he was relieved. He didn't want to loose the only friend he ever had.
"I just want to make that my family is ok. And I don't want them to worry about me. I really like here. There's magic here. I have magic here. I just… kinda miss my family." Penny explained.
"Well. I'm sure we can figure something out." The Queen smiled and gave Penny's knee a squeeze before standing up. "You two get to bed. Emma has a big week planed out for you. Good night."
Sorry for the chapter. It. Will. Get lighter. If you are reading this, thanks for sticking around. I have big plans for the next few episodes. Love to you all. SD.