Warning: It all goes downhill from here.

Hint: Remember the genre is Angst and Tragedy

Eventually, they manage to stop crying. Regina stood and motioned Henry to take her outstretched hand. In a second, they appeared in the apartment where everyone was anxiously waiting. Regina nudged Henry who gave Snow the envelope.

As Snow read it, her mouth dropped. She shared an understanding look with Regina who vanished immediately after. In the distance, they could hear thuds and crashes. Cora and Rumple had started to fight down the street. Charming, Snow, and Emma were going to go check it out, but wanted to wait for Henry.

"What does it say?" Emma asked, puzzled by Snow's expression. When Snow didn't respond, Emma took the letter that Snow held loosely in her hands. There was a key taped to the piece of paper with a note that read 'Please tend to the apple tree.'

"Is that-" Charming began to ask. Emma nodded, "The key to mansion." Emma and James were still trying to piece the puzzle together, but Snow was a step ahead. She ran to the window and looked down at the street. She watched as Regina appeared in the road accompanied by dissipating purple smoke.

"No," Snow exhaled as she stepped away from the window. "She's going to get herself killed!" Snow ran out of the apartment and onto the street. Charming had followed her to make she didn't get hurt. Henry convinced Emma to stay in the apartment with him. He knew something bad was going to happen, and he didn't want to see it.

As Regina approached the battle, Rumple gave her a look as if saying "Are you ready?" She gave a slight nod. Cora threw multiple shards of glass in the shape of daggers at Rumple, but this time, he didn't put up a magical shield. Instead, Regina appeared in front of Rumple just as they had planned and was hit by two of them in the abdomen.

Cora stopped what she was doing and gasped in horror. She didn't want to kill Regina. To her, she had just been doing what was best for her. Rumple caught Regina as she fell back. Out of a last gesture of respect, he gentle laid her down on the ground.

"Regina!" Snow yelled as she saw Regina take the hit. Cora made a move toward Regina. As Snow approached Regina she screamed, "No! You get away from her!" Rumple began to issue his ultimatum. "Do you see what you have done?" he said to Cora as she started to tear up. "I didn't mean-" she couldn't finish her sentence. "Leave," Rumple said in a firm voice. "Leave and NEVER come back!" Cora shook her head, wishing away the scene that troubled her so. She took one last look at her daughter in Snow's arms and vanished.

Regina had been in a sort of haze. She was startled when she felt Snow's hands on her face. Her head was propped up in Snow's lap amongst the rubble in the street. Regina saw Snow's tears running down her face. This time, there was no mixed feeling of pleasure from her pain and sadness from it. This time Regina knew. She wanted her to stop crying. To stop hurting.

Regina lifted the hand that wasn't covered in blood to Snow's face and wiped away her tears. For a while, Snow had felt that their roles had switched. That she was more of the mother figure in their relationship, and Regina was the immature one. In this moment, she felt like a child again. She felt an explainable urge for Regina to hold her. Then she remembered that she was the one holding Regina.

"Regina, I don't know what to-" she was cut off by Regina. "Nothing. You don't have to say anything." As Snow looked in Regina's eyes, she could tell that this was coming from a deep and sincere place. She could tell that Regina had been feeling like this for a while. "I'm sorry. I hated you so much, and I… I made it so hard for you." Her words were only whispers. "And now, I-"

Snow knew what was coming. She had been feeling this too. Regina continued to speak between sobs. "I've wasted so much time, so many years. I couldn't let it go, but I also wanted to be a part of your life. My hatred wouldn't let me. All those years gone, and for what?" There wasn't a need for Snow to reply.

Regina's breath became fast and shallow. "I don't want Henry to end up like me. Make sure he doesn't. Take care of him." Snow swallowed hard and nodded. She was scared for Regina. She had never seen Regina in so much fear as her eyes darted around. Snow knew that the end was coming. She watched the crimson red puddle grow around Regina's body.

Regina knew she was running out of time, but she wasn't ready. She had so many things to say, but she couldn't think of them. Snow shushed and lulled her until Regina became exhausted. Regina could feel herself slipping away, but she tried to stay and enjoy this moment.

Snow could sense this. She leaned down and kissed Regina's forehead. "It's okay. Everything's okay. I forgive you." A final tear rolled down Regina's cheek as she closed her eyes and never opened them again.

I was thinking about doing an alternate ending because of everyone not wanting her to die, but I really don't want to mess with the story. I like how it turned out. It kind of shows how this world isn't perfect and that happy endings don't always exist. If Regina ever had to die in the show, I'd want it to be something like this. Hope I didn't make you too sad. Sorry :(