Hey Guys! I am so sorry for the time lapse! The summer has been somewhat of a strange one.

As she walked back to her apartment, Snow noticed a grey cat sitting at the end of Regina's driveway. Sniffing back her tears, she dropped into a crouch and beckoned to the animal. "Hello"
The grey animal took one look at her, its fur bristled and it hissed. Snow fell back landing hard from her crouch as the cat stalked forward. She had never seen anger like that in a feline. She was certain for a moment its green eyes flickered to a deep dark brown. Climbing over the former princess' tangled legs, she could feel its claws being drawn. Trembling a moment, it seemed to almost scoff at her, before hopping away with a hateful growl. Leaving Snow sitting on the pavement outside Regina's house shaking, with an unexplainable fear of a feline.

After the front door had closed, Regina spun out of Emma's grip and took several hurried steps away. Her hands were balled into fists at her sides as she kept her back to the blonde.
"Regina?"
"What did you do to me?"
Frowning, the Sherriff took a careful step forward, "What do you mean?"
Spinning, there was fury in Regina's, tear reddened eyes, "I had Snow White's heart in my hand, and you made me let go! How did you do that?"
Taken aback, Emma couldn't answer, shaking her head, she replied, "I don't know... I... You let go on your own."
"No." Regina's glare was one of stern confusion, "I let go, because you asked me to!" Breathing in deeply, she ran both hands through her hair, "Why would I give a damn about anything you asked of me?"
"Regi..."
"NO!" Spinning, the other woman was furious, but terrified, ""What did you do to me?"
Completely confused, Emma yelped, "I don't know, I just... I don't know!"

Charging into her cabin, Chess released a roar of frustration and punched the wall, "Shit. Shit. Shit!"
She eventuated each curse with another blow. Pulling her bloody knuckles away from the wall, she slid down it with a low moan. Her disguise had almost faltered, even in her human form she hid her true self. Those who knew her wouldn't recognise her instead of brown eyes, they'd see green; they'd see pale sharp features. Standing before the mirror, she glared at the glamour. With a slow breath, she released it. She hadn't looked upon her own face since Rumplestiltskin had cursed her decades ago. Sighing, she shook her head and returned the glamour. Clicking her fingers, she returned to the form of a cat and curled up in front of the fire. Her claws dug deeply into the rug and she growled as a swirl of magic behind her indicated the presence of another person. "What do you want?"
Stiltskin frowned, "Now really deary, you're not upset by this are you?" She could hear the grin creeping into his voice, "It wasn't as if she was aware you existed. Even if she did; she wouldn't have cared."
Spinning on the rug, Chess released a roar that was far too big for the cat she was. The dark one took a hurried step back, but was too late. The feline had dived for him, and as she hit him she changed.
Smashing through the kitchen table, Rumple found himself pinned by an enormous grey, sabre-toothed cat. Roaring in his face, Chess seriously considered locking her new jaws around his throat.
Using her moment of indecision, he sent a blast of energy into her middle; throwing her through the air and into the stove, splitting the gas pipes.
Both beings were too locked on each other to notice the gas quickly filling the room.
Struggling to his feet, he snarled through gritted teeth, "You were in a locked form deary; how did you do that?"
Fur bristling, Chess began to circle him, "Now, now, Rumple; it wouldn't be the first time you've underestimated me." Showing her teeth, she growled, "Did it never occur to you, that in your quest to create the perfect monster; that you succeeded the first time?"
"Well then." His eyes narrowed, "My mistake to correct then." As he ignited a flame in his palm, the entire cabin went up like a firework.

Regina and Emma both whipped round as they heard the explosion. The Sherriff yelped, "What the hell was that?"
Running to the back door, Regina saw black smoke rising from the forest, "It would appear there has been an explosion of some sort..." Her words were cut short as the sound of angry roars and bangs came from the front of the house.
Drawing her gun, Emma held her hand out in front of Regina protectively, "Wait here."
Feeling the energy crackling in the air, the former queen flexed her palm, feeling her own magic preparing itself; whatever was going on outside it was powerful magic. "No. This is magic. Let's go."

To say they were not prepared for what awaited them would be the mother of all understatements. A charred, Rumplestiltskin was locked in a tussle with a, similarly burnt, grey and blue sabre-toothed cat. Falling back, he released a fireball at the creature, who swiped the magic away with a sweep of her paw. Lunging, she caught him across the arm with her claws. Grabbing the wound, he hobbled back; eyes brightening when he saw the Sherriff and former mayor.
Turning to the beast, who was crouched to attack, he grinned, "Oh no you don't deary."
The cat paused, and followed where his hand pointed. Seeing the pair, she froze.
"Wouldn't want our audience to come off worse, now would we?"
Stiffening, the growl she released shook the ground beneath their feet, "Rumplestiltskin; you would not dare."
"Oh really?" With a flick of his wrist, Regina found herself swept into the air, an invisible noose cutting off her airway.
Emma span with a cry, "Regina! Gold! Stop this!"
The cat straightened, leaving a tall brunette in its place, locking eyes with him, she pleaded, "Rumple... Please."
Feigning consideration, he grinned, "I don't think so."
As the mayor kicked and struggled, Chess became more and more frantic, "LET HER GO!"
His eyes hardened, "You were never meant to be able to love; this is a lesson you must learn."
The woman's voice was torn with panic, "Consider it well learned, please! Release her!"
"Your weakness disappoints me." With another flick of his wrist he dropped Regina.

She would have hit the floor, but a pair of strong arms caught her. Spots still dotted her vision, as air rushed back into her lungs. Reaching up, she could see shades of blonde in her blurred vision, "E..Emma?"
The Sherriff nodded, "Yeah, it's me. Don't worry, just concentrate on breathing."

With a deep sigh of relief, Chess breathed, "Thank you."
Shaking his head, Rumple growled, "Disappointing." Before throwing his hand out; killing curse flying like a dagger towards the mayor.
Chess was too slow to stop it, her roar alerted Emma. Seeing the purple energy hurtling towards Regina, Emma pushed the former mayor behind her and threw herself in its path.

The next chapter is more or less finished, so it should be up by the end of the day.