The Ruffian's Wrath
Part VIII
Swan Snake
The morning had started out lovely and sunny. Regina had woken up at her usual 7 o'clock. Just as she got out of the shower and finished blow drying her hair, she heard music coming from downstairs. Not too sure what might be going on, Regina put on her robe and followed the sound. It was coming from her kitchen. Her Evil Queen air was immediately switched on as she thought that someone might be stirring up trouble in her home. She opened the kitchen door and there stood Leetha making breakfast.
"Good morning you're Majesty," the Princess greeted as she flipped some pancakes using only the skillet. "I hope you slept well my Queen." Regina still remained silent.
She could not remember the last time anyone, including Henry, had done anything so nice for her. Every scent of the meal was delightful to her nose. Regina took a few steps closer. She saw the fresh fruit, the freshly squeezed juice with no pulp, the eggs over easy, bacon, and all the works. The Queen was not certain how to approach the kind gesture. She did not want to be lenient knowing Leetha was not used to her acting so. Regina figured she should keep her strict façade up.
"What is this racquet? Are you trying to wake up the whole neighborhood?" Regina replied as she walked over to the boom box to lower the volume.
"It's the band DIIV. The song is "Doused." Leetha stated completely overjoyed to be spending time with her Queen. "Would you like me to serve you now your Highness or are not finished getting ready," Leetha asked.
"I was going to take it up to you in bed, but you woke up quite early my Queen," Leetha added.
"No, I will change and we will eat at the table. I do not want crumbs in my bed," Regina replied with her firm usual voice. "That juice does not have pulp, does it?" Regina asked demandingly with her eyebrow raised.
"Of course not Your Majesty," Leetha answered with a smirk as Regina went back upstairs to change.
As Regina returned, her Princess had set the table correctly and gave perfect proportions of the meal. Regina savored bite by bite with a soft "mmm" or by closing her eyes to the taste.
"Everything tastes wonderful dear," Regina stated.
Leetha's face lit up with happiness. It had been so long since Regina had complimented her. "Thank you my Queen," Leetha replied.
The Evil Queen and her Evil Princess caught up with each other over their meals. Leetha told her of her accomplishments in the new land and Regina told what happened throughout the curse and about her hardships with having to share Henry with her enemies. Although, Emma did not seem so bad, Leetha would not dare to disagree with her Queen. They moved into the living room and continued their awkward bonding. Their day had started off quite early, seeing as how they did not really have any plans. Leetha could not remember the last time she had smiled so much, neither could Regina for that matter. They reminisced on old victories from their land.
"It was very hard for me to adapt to this land the first few years. I had no control over my temper. Luckily, I lived in cities where a good amount of people had anger issues," Leetha said as she sipped her coffee.
She and Regina had been enjoying the beautiful day in Regina's backyard porch. The Queen felt so much pride in her Princess for making something of herself with no one's help in an unknown land and with no knowledge of how to do it. Regina smirked at Leetha when Leetha sang along to another song that Regina had never heard.
"Where else did you live, besides New York?" Regina asked.
"I had to move to Austin, Texas for a while and San Francisco, but I came back as soon as I could. I didn't want to be too far from Storybrooke, just in case." Leetha explained.
"Just in case what?" Regina asked.
"I thought, perhaps, you might need me if the curse broke. I thought you might try to find me," Leetha answered.
Regina placed her hand on Leetha's shoulder. The two went inside and sat on the sofa hearing some music. The Queen read a book and the Princess lied on the floor throwing a snowball up and down to herself. There was a knock at the door, but Regina ignored it. The doorbell rang several times, but still, they did not get up to answer it. The pair heard the front door open and in walked Emma and Mary Margret and saw the duo relaxing. Emma did not hide her confused facial expression.
"Um, if you guys are done doing… whatever you guys are doing, do you think we can go over the plan against Cora?" Emma asked as she took a few steps closer to the sofa.
Leetha looked at her Queen for any type of signal. Regina shook her head slightly which caused the Princess to throw the snowball at Emma.
"What the hell?!" Emma shouted.
"Regina?! What is going on here?" Mary Margret asked.
"Not the warm welcome you were expecting?" Regina replied sarcastically. "Leetha is not going on this little Death Quest of yours."
"What?! Why not?!" Emma responded in shock.
"I will not put her in harm's way to save you and for Emma to get all of the glory," Regina retorted.
"Oh, now you want to take care of her; after everything you did to her," Mary Margret added.
"How dare you?!" Regina scolded and stood up to face them.
"Why don't you let Leetha decide? Come on Leetha, I know you want to help us stop her." Emma pleaded.
"Don't talk to her!" Regina shouted to Emma. "You're not going to steal her away the way you stole Henry or the way you stole Storybrooke from me. Get out of my house."
"But we need her; who else is going to be able to open another realm so we can take care of Cora?!" Mary Margret added.
Regina took a few sinister steps closer to the mother-daughter duo and replied, "Well, you and Gold got rid of her the first time. I am sure you can come up with something again. Now, GET OUT OF MY HOUSE."
Emma and Mary Margret exited the Mayor's home unsure of how to approach the task at hand. They went over to Mr. Gold's shop and told him the situation. Belle offered to accompany Belle in helping convince Leetha to take care of Cora.
Back at the Mills Mansion, Leetha had decided to make herself useful to her Queen and went into the garage to change the oil in her Queen's car. Regina could not do it with magic since she did not know how to do it in actuality. Leetha had learned to do it after she learned how to drive because she did not trust anyone to do anything for her. Leetha was just about finished when she heard someone calling out to her. She looked up into the yard and saw Belle and Emma coming her way. The Princess rolled her eyes at the Savior's attempts to try and convince her to defy her Queen.
"Good afternoon Leetha," Belle greeted with her beautiful smile.
"Very nice to see you Belle; is there something I can help you with?" Leetha replied. As she wiped the grease off of her hands and took a few step in their direction to meet them half ways.
"Emma tells me you do not want to go back and face Cora." Belle stated not so discretely.
Leetha raised an eyebrow and answered, "That is correct dear."
"Are you sure it is you who does not want to go in or is it Regina?" Belle asked in the same sincere tone Leetha remembered from their conversations in the dungeon.
"Does it matter?" Leetha asked shortly.
"Yeah, it does matter. Leetha if you want to help us you can. You don't have to listen to her; she's not a Queen anymore." Emma added.
"DON'T TALK TO ME," Leetha shouted. "She IS and ALWAYS will be a Queen Ms. Swan. Her Royal Highness does not want me talking to you or helping you so get off of her lawn," Leetha said as firmly as Regina.
"Emma, I wouldn't talk about Regina," Belle stated.
The blonde rolled her eyes. "Geez, I don't get this insane devotion you have for her. Everyone knows what she did to you. She ripped out your heart for Christ's sake! How could you even want to be in the same room as her?"
"You do not know her like I do and I will not let you speak ill of her. Leave," Leetha retorted, stepping towards Emma in an aggressive manner.
"We need you Leetha. Please think about it at least. Tonight will be the last night you are powerful enough to open the realm," Belle pleaded. "I know there is good in you."
Leetha took a deep breath. "I am not going to ruin the way things are going right now Belle," Leetha said softly.
Belle felt compassion for the poor girl. She knew how much Leetha had longed for any type of affection from Regina and if Regina was finally showing her some, then there was no chance that any of them would be able to change her mind.
"You're not going to have to worry about ruining anything. I'm sure Cora will take care of that; she will take care of that for all of us, if you don't help us," Emma stated.
"I said no. My Queen has told me what you did, how you ruined EVERYTHING and you will not trick me into helping you with your kindness. You will not steal me, how you stole Henry." Leetha replied.
"Leetha that is not what she is doing. I told you before, not everyone has an ulterior motive." Belle appealed.
"I am sorry Belle, but her family is no good at hiding their agendas. She is trying to steal me from my Queen, just as her mother did back in the Enchanted Forest." Leetha replied looking at Emma with disgust.
"Yeah right; why would I want anyone like you in my life? You're just as psycho as Regina," Emma added.
"Uh, Emma I wouldn't…" Belle started.
"What did you say?" Leetha responded with hostility.
"What? It's true. You're both bipolar and completely insane." Emma replied. As soon as the words went through Leetha's ears, her eyes turned snakelike yellow. "Oh yeah, real intimidating when you can just hide behind your powers." Emma said sarcastically, not intimidated at all by the Evil Princess.
"I don't need my powers to kick your ass," Leetha replied as she punched Emma in the face and then jumping on top of her.
The savior hit Leetha back and got on top of her. They rolled around and ended up on the sidewalk getting everyone's attention. Belle begged them both to stop, but the two women were knocking each other senseless. Emma pulled Leetha's hair and Leetha bit Emma's arm. Leetha did not use any of her powers. She wanted to fight fair. Emma punched Leetha in the stomach and Leetha fell back. As the Savior stood up to kick Leetha, Leetha caught her foot and pulled her down.
"Emma! What are you doing?! Stop it this instant!" Mary Margret shouted as she rushed over to the pair, but failed at separating them.
With all the shouting and uproar, Regina peeked out of her front door. She saw the crowd gathering just outside her gate and walked over. As she heard Mary Margret and Belle pleading, she instantly knew Leetha was fighting. She tried pulling Leetha away, but the two had it in for each other. Leetha had her arm around Emma's neck and Emma bit Leetha's arm as they slowly stood up, completely disheveled. Mary Margret took advantage of the fact that they were standing and grabbed Emma. Regina pulled Leetha away with magic. Emma had a bloody lip and a torn shirt. Leetha's hair was messed up and her wounds slowly healed themselves.
"Well, just what do you two have to say for yourselves?" Mary Margret stated, still holding Emma back.
"I told you I didn't need my powers," Leetha answered breathing heavily.
"You did NOT win!" Emma shouted and they both tried to fight again, but were held back by their mother like figures.
"You HAD to come back here, didn't you? Of course you would not just drop it, could you?" Regina said to Emma.
"Drop it? How could she Regina? The fate of our people lies in the hands of your Princess and you are not going to let her help us?!" Mary Margret replied.
"Oh, so now it is the fate of OUR people, when just the other day you were insinuating I was on my mother's side. This is just like you to try and manipulate me, just as everyone else does," Regina shouted.
"Just like you manipulate Leetha," Mary Margret added.
"Excuse me?" Regina replied very offended at the comment.
"All if this is YOUR fault in the first place!" Mary Margret yelled.
"MY fault? She could have never made a deal with Hades in the first place if YOU hadn't have been your manipulative self!" Regina replied.
"Alright, alright, it's no one's fault. Cora is all of our problem," Emma said trying to lighten the mood when she felt tensions get high.
"No Emma, it is time that Regina actually takes responsibility for something," Mary Margret added.
"The death of my mother is NOT MY fault," Regina shouted raising her hand and letting a purple ball of magic build up in her palm.
"And there you go with the magic. It's getting old Regina," Mary Margret answered.
"Perhaps we SHOULD keep it civil my Queen," Leetha added quite afraid of what Regina would do.
"Yeah, I mean, it would be ME and LEETHA going in there, not you two. You guys don't have to fight," Emma added.
"I think you to have already broke the civility," Regina replied raising her arm to throw the ball, but before she threw it, Belle ran in front of them, immediately causing Leetha to stand in front of Belle. Regina snapped out of her vengeful state at the sight of her Princess. She took a deep breath and made the magic disappear.
Emma broke the silence and with her head slightly looking down said, "I'm sorry Leetha. I should not have called you psycho… or insane."
"I'm sorry too Emma. I should not have punched you in the face… or bit your arm." Leetha replied, also not looking up.
"I'm sorry too, Regina. I did not mean anything I said." Mary Margret added.
Regina raised her eyebrow and looked away, not even thinking of apologizing. She looked in a random direction as the three women waited for an apology. Leetha shook her head with a small smirk, already knowing that her Queen was much too prideful to apologize for any of her actions. They stood for a moment in silence hoping Regina would say anything. After a good amount of silence, Regina got the feeling that the three women were waiting on her.
"What?" She asked.
Leetha grinned. "I suppose this changes nothing, then?" she added.
"Regina, Leetha and Emma can do it. If you don't believe in Emma, I know you believe in Leetha. She has never failed you. She is the only one who can save everyone, including Henry. Think about Henry," Mary Margret pleaded.
"And Leetha; think about Leetha. If Cora stays here, they are both in danger," Belle added from a distance.
Emma in Leetha's direction and asked, "What do you want to do?" Leetha remained silent.
"And you will not go unless I wish it?" Regina inquired with a stern tone.
"Of course not," Leetha answered.
Emma in Leetha's direction and asked, "But what do YOU want to do?"
"I want to protect Regina," Leetha replied shortly.
It was the first time any of them had heard Leetha call her Queen by her first name. Regina, on the other hand, knew that her Princess only called her that when she was speaking from her heart.
"And Henry, I suppose, if she cares about him," Leetha paused. Regina's eyes grew watery at the loving sentiment; even though she knew Leetha was extremely jealous of her son. "And well, everyone, if I can." She added at the end in a very low tone.
Regina raised an eyebrow and looked down at her Princess. "I suppose, for Henry's safety, you can go," she paused and directed her attention to Emma. "But if ANYTHING happens to her, Ms. Swan, you will more than my mother to worry about."
"I should say the same to you Regina," Mary Margret added in tone unlike her own; she paused and thought about what she had just said.
"You don't have to worry about that," Leetha said.
"We will take care of each other," Emma added.
The women went into Regina's house to discuss what was going to happen. Emma and Leetha gathered some belongings. They simply needed to try and freeze Cora, cut open the sky and send her away. Leetha could not summon the sword until the sun set. She sat in Regina's backyard alone for a moment collecting her thoughts with some low music playing the background. She sipped on some apple cider. Regina baked some cookies to pass the time by. Leetha sighed; too many thoughts and memories were racing in her head. The noise in her brain was interrupted by a kind voice.
"Getting ready for the big show down?" Emma asked as she sat down next to Leetha.
"Just trying to clear my head," Leetha replied. She looked at her partner for the voyage who had a cut on her eyebrow and lip. "I really am sorry I hit you Emma. I just…"
"Don't worry about it. I egged you on. I would probably react the same way if someone said those things about Mary Margret." Emma replied.
"Why do you not call her mother?" Leetha asked.
"I don't know. It just feels weird." Emma answered.
"I am certain she longs to hear it," Leetha stated.
"Why don't you call Regina mother?" Emma inquired. Leehta remained silent. "You two sure act like mother and daughter."
"I am not positive how she would feel about that," the Princess replied and quickly changed the subject. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Emma replied.
"Why have you been so nice to me? I am sure everyone has told you I am the snake or the Evil Princess. Even after threw you with the wind, I threw a snowball at you, I hit you… why?" Leetha asked.
"Because I think there is more too you than that." Emma answered. "And because everyone deserves their chance to make things right, THEIR chance to be a savior. If there is one thing sharing Henry with Regina has taught me, it is that." Emma paused and then added. "Can I ask you something?" Leetha nodded in approval. "Why don't you think you came out in any fairy tales here in this land, not even as the villain?"
Leetha chuckled, as though the answer was obvious. "Because my story didn't have a happy ending."
The answer seemed so earnest that Emma could not help, but to feel the same compassion Belle had felt for the Princess. It was as though she had never stood a chance. The Savior placed her hand on the Princess' shoulder.
"I'm sure it isn't that you didn't have one; it's only that you haven't had one YET." Emma replied.
Leetha smirked at the comment. She could only hope. That's all she had ever done. Even the simple idea of a happy ending was strong enough to keep Leetha pushing forward. She and Emma stood up and went on their way. They went in separate cars: Regina and Leetha in the Mayor's car and Mary Margret, David and Emma in the Sheriff's car. The entire ride back to the forest, Mary Margret gave her safety speech again, but this time with David putting his two cents in. Regina on the other hand, lectured Leetha about how she should not let her guard down around Emma. She did not trust the savior alone with her Princess. The Queen thought they had a hidden motive; she thought they wanted to take Leetha away from her. Leetha did not share the suspicions, but none the less, agreed with Regina.
They reached the bubble and got out of their vehicles. Emma and Leetha paced slowly towards the bubble ahead of them. The Swan and the Snake crossed over, but as they stepped through, Emma slipped and Leetha caught her by the arm with her left hand. The instant they fully went across, the trees surrounding them started poking them with their branches. Leetha raised her left hand to pull up a snowball and freeze them, but nothing came out.
"What's wrong?!" Emma shouted.
"I don't know!" Leetha replied and then blew a fierce wind at the trees sending them flying out of their roots.
The two women stood next to each other in a panic. How were they to freeze Cora if Leetha could not use her ice powers? Leetha raised her left hand over and over, but nothing.
"What's going on? Why isn't it working?" Emma said with her palms out.
Leetha and Emma looked down to Emma's right hand. There, directly above it, sat a small snowball hovering and waiting to be used. Leetha's eyes turned snakelike and she grabbed Emma with a chokehold.
"My Queen was right! This was a trick! You're trying to steal my powers!" Leetha said.
Before Leetha had time to do any real damage, Emma pushed her away with an astounding amount of strength, the same bear strength Leetha would use. Leetha fell to the floor, but just as she was about to stand up, Emma stopped her.
"Wait! I swear, I am not trying to steal your powers Leetha! They must have been pushed over to me when we crossed the bubble!" Emma exclaimed.
Leetha thought for a moment. Emma was telling the truth. "Well, better you than Cora I suppose." She said dusting off the dirt from her clothes.
The two women walked deeper into the woods in search of Cora, but this time it was Emma who used the wolf scent. As the girls walked, they heard the sound of something marching towards them. Heading in their direction came an army of living playing cards with swords and spears straight out of Wonderland.
"How did she do that?" Emma yelled as she got her sword ready to fight.
"She could have grabbed any old deck of cards and made them her living army," Leetha answered and then squeezed her fist causing the ground beneath the army to turn into quicksand. The army sank down.
"Cora must know we are here," Emma stated.
"Well, she knows about the lightning sword. She wants me to use it for her, remember?" Leetha replied.
They marched on cautiously. Cora was not going to make it easy. As the approached the small castle the Queen of Hearts had made, both of their animal instincts kicked in. There was something in the bushes. Suddenly, two humungous crocodiles swarmed out of the forest and snapped at the girls. Emma tried her sword, but barely wounded one of them. Leetha tried blowing them away with the wind, but the crocodiles held on strong.
"What are these things on steroids or something?" Emma shouted as the climbed up a tree.
"Worse, they are enchanted." Leetha replied. "Emma you're going to have to freeze them."
"I don't know how to do that," Emma said.
"You're going to have feel angry. My powers a curse," Leetha said as they sat on the tree.
"Can't you just sink them like those cards or something?" Emma shouted.
"Uh, those things are enchanted. I don't think it will work like it did on those flimsy cards!" Leetha exclaimed.
"I can't do it Leetha!" Emma shouted.
"Yes you can! Think about something that makes you mad! Feel the anger!" Leetha shouted.
When the Princess realized the savior could not simply feel anger as she did, Leetha did what she had to do. She punched Emma in the face.
"Hey! What the hell?!" Emma shouted. Leetha did it again and Emma pushed her away.
With the push, out flew some snow. Emma looked at her palm and kept the emotion going. She froze the crocodiles and they climbed down the tree.
"I did it." Emma said with slight shock.
"Very good Ms. Swan, but not good enough," a voice said from behind them.
There stood Cora holding Jafar's staff. She flung a ball of fire at the girls, but Leetha blew it out with wind. Cora stomped the staff to the ground and the same green beam flew out from the orb on the head of the staff. She aimed it at Leetha, but the Princess ducked.
"That's the staff Henry was talking about!" Emma shouted.
"Don't bother dear," Cora stated as she flung a ball of magic at the savior, but Emma blocked it with her sword.
"Leetha! Call up the sword!" Emma shouted.
Leetha looked up to the sky and the clouds grew dark. The lightning above accumulated.
"Just a minute Princess, I need you to use that sword for me," Cora said as she once more stomped the staff to the ground to try and control her.
Before the beam touched Leetha, Emma jumped in the way with her sword and blocked the beam. The Princess eyes, turned snakelike and she jumped over Emma and onto Cora. She punched Cora in the face causing her to bleed.
"Big mistake dear," Cora said and she pushed her hand through Leetha's chest, squeezing her heart. "I knew my daughter would give it back to you now that she was cavorting with this "Good" side." Cora said with an evil laugh.
"Let her go!" Emma shouted running towards them.
Cora sent Emma flying back with a wave of her free hand, but just as she tried to pull out her hand from Leetha's chest, it felt stuck. The Queen of Hearts looked down and Leetha held Cora's arm tightly.
"Let me go!" Cora shouted, but Leetha squeezed tighter.
Leetha looked with her yellow snake eyes directly into Cora's pained eyes.
"You let go; that is not yours," Leetha said with her fangs showing.
"You foolish girl, I am the Queen of Hearts and any heart I wish to take, will be mine." Cora replied, squeezing Leetha's heart tightly and making her gasp for air.
In that instant, Cora's body froze. Her eyes turned to the side and there stood Emma with her palm holding the ice.
"I said LET HER GO." Emma stated.
Cora had been frozen with hand in Leetha's chest. Leetha pulled away slowly, but Cora would squeeze. They were trapped.
"I have to do it Emma." Leetha said. "I will have to go with her."
"No! Leetha, don't do it!" Emma shouted with tears flocking to her eyes.
Leetha looked up to the sky and the lightning started up. It filled all the heavens, even turning Leetha's eyes bright with the image of lightning in them. Emma ran to the Princess and grabbed her, shook her trying to make her stop. All of a sudden, with one strong pull from Emma, Leetha was detached from Cora. The two girls looked at each other. Leetha felt her chest. Her heart was still in there, but they looked over to Cora and saw the ice melting.
"Hurry! We're losing time!" Emma shouted.
"Where to I send her?!" Leetha yelled.
"I don't know, anywhere! Somewhere far, far away!" Emma shouted.
Emma and Leetha paused for a split second and then nodded in agreement. The Princess held a large bolt of lightning in the shape of a sword and she cut the sky. Emma pushed Cora towards the bolt and she was sucked in. The heavens closed instantly and the bubble was gone.
The two girls were thrown to the ground with all the force that the storm took. The sat up slowly. As they helped each other up, the girls heard a loud thump land near them. The girls walked to the object that had landed on the ground.
"Are those… lightsabers?" Emma asked.
"You said somewhere far, far away," Leetha replied.
"I guess we WERE on the same page though because that's what I was thinking," Emma answered. "And now I know how the Sith started."
The duo walked slowly towards the main road. Both of them were extremely tired. They had been walking a good twenty minutes when Emma commented on how she did not realize how deep in the woods they were.
"Say… you don't think I can get one of those cheetah piggy back rides from before, do you?" Emma asked, not quite joking.
Leetha smiled at the request. "As much as I would like to carry another 115 pounds on my back, I think that lightning took out my last bit of strength for the day Emma."
Emma and Leetha finally saw the trail not too far away from them. They heard Mary Margret shout out that she could see them. Both girls grew another wave of strength and ran over to the crowd with a great amount of relief that they were successful. Mary Margret, David, and Henry hugged Emma tightly. The entire town cheered the savior on. Leetha walked over to her Queen who stood apart from the rest of pack. Regina held in her smile.
"Were you successful in your task?" Regina asked.
"What do you think?" Leetha replied sarcastically and felt someone push her from behind into Regina's arms.
"You're happy to see each other, hug; it's normal," Emma said with a chuckle.
Regina shut her eyes and held Leetha for a good moment. A few tears ran down her cheek. "I was so worried. I don't know what I would have done if I lost you again." She whispered into Leetha's ear.
"I was not going to let the Queen of Hearts stop me from coming home to my real Queen." Leetha replied with a smile.
Final part coming up next…