Disclaimer: I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time.
Author's Note: Holy mother of fanfiction! This scene was very fun to write. Enjoy, and as always, R & R!
I so enjoy your comments :)
After Emma had stormed off, Armina walked with Andrew to their chambers. Armina immediately began rifling through her wardrobe.
"What are you looking for?" asked Andrew, his brow furrowed in curiosity.
"I need my armor," she said as she gave up her search. She snapped her fingers and summoned a suit of black armor. It was fitted just for her, articulated perfectly for her movement. The articulations at her joints were made of platinum, nicely complimenting the black steel that made up the rest of it. A dark fur cape was fastened by silver crests at her shoulders. She looked downright dangerous.
"What are you doing?" Andrew asked, sitting on the bed.
"If my guards can't find Regina, I will find her myself. If you want something done right, you must do it yourself. It would appear I must find her myself. My urge to shapeshift is in overdrive, and I've got a queen to flay alive."
"I know better than to stop you but…"
"I know you don't like the idea of me going alone, but the Queen of Beasts will forever outdo the Regina Mala."
"Promise you will call me should something happen," said Andrew, reaching out to take her leather-gloved hand and kissing it.
"I promise." With that, she transported herself to the stables. She didn't want to shapeshift in this world. If any outsiders saw her, they would surely question what was going on, and she didn't need that.
Walking down the middle of the stable, she picked out her favorite Friesian stallion, Orgetorix. He happily snorted in response to her opening the stall door. He was admired by many in the old world for his so-called regal carriage. He had a perfect gait and could blow away any competition in dressage any day. When she opened the stall door, he offered a regal bow of his head, further showing how superior he was to any of the other horses in the world.
She marveled at his show of fealty. Magick had truly returned to the land without magick, and her horse was now smarter than any other, as he was before they were brought here. She didn't bother with the cumbersome saddle or reins. Orgetorix knew what he was doing, and with the smallest movement, she could steer him with ease. He really was a smart horse.
She climbed onto his broad back and patted him on the neck. With a nudge from her heels, he set out and left the stable. Under her guidance, he galloped into the middle of the forest, where it was darkest.
She slid off the back of the horse, giving him a light pat on the flank as he settled in to look for grazing amongst the leaf litter.
Armina had been drawn to this place in particular for a reason. It oozed power, and she knew Regina would feel that also. "Oh Regina, come out and play!" she taunted, feeling the shadows move. "Regina Mala, hic venite! Come here!" The darkness again shifted, and she felt the true presence of the Evil Queen. Armina tapped into her newly-returned power and changed her form into that of a massive lioness. In the rough voice of her beast, she continued, "Give up, Regina. I've won."
The Evil Queen materialized from the shadows. "You haven't won, Armina. Not yet, you haven't."
"Haven't I? Look at me. You know as well as I that you are alone in the world now. Of course, I should probably tie up Sidney, eh? He might be of slight inconvenience for me. I think I'll start with you, my dear. You die first," snarled Armina.
"Oh really? I heard that Snow White made you promise to give me a trial," said Regina with a cocky smirk.
"And you say you know me? I would think that you would know by now that I'm on my own side. I always win because I don't empathize for anyone, save myself. I am one of the Triae Reginae, as are you. You and I both know that I am most dangerous of our little group. Little does our lovely Snow know, I don't give a damn about what happens to you two."
"Wouldn't she be surprised to hear that?" asked Regina, her tone dangerous. They had begun to circle each other in a deadly tango.
"You know what the prophecy says, Regina Mala. When the daughter of the Regina Bona, our lovely Snow White, breaks the spell, the Regina Bona will win out, with the help of the Tertia Regina. Tertia Regina sum."
Regina's face went blank. Panic welled in her chest, her heart beating more rapidly than before. This beast had just declared herself to be the third queen of the Fortuna Reginarum Tria. This was the prophecy that foretold her downfall at the hands of the 'fairest of them all.' It told that there were three queens that would rise when a great curse was cast: The Regina Bona, Regina Mala, and the Regina Media. Regina was obviously the Regina Mala, or Evil Queen. That was a given. Her obsession with the 'fairest of them all' was completely justified. She learned that her own stepdaughter would be the Regina Bona, or Good Queen, and her downfall.
What had always been unclear to her was the identity of the third queen. This one was a neutral party until she was needed. One thing was laid out explicitly in the prophecy: the third queen would be the catalyst to begin her downfall and the relinquishing of her kingdom to Snow White. With Armina's declaration, Regina knew that she was done for.
"So what are you going to do to me, kill me?" asked Regina, putting on a façade of calm. They continued to circle each other.
Armina changed back into her normal form, the snarl on the beast's face transferring to her face. With a sneer she replied, "I have worse things in mind for you, Regina Mala. Besides, I promised our mutual friend Snow White that I would spare your life…for now, at least."
"So the fairest of them all really wanted you to spare me, even after all I've done?" Regina asked.
"Our wonderful little Regina Bona is truly the fairest of them all. I wanted to rip your throat out on sight, but she said otherwise. Well, who am I to dispute the third queen? I am the catalyst through which fate works."
Regina stopped circling, and so did Armina. "What will you do to me, then?"
Armina's smile grew wider as she replied, "I plan to take your powers for myself."
"You wouldn't," gasped Regina as she began to retreat.
"Don't you dare walk away from me!" snarled Armina, conjuring magickal hands that held Regina to the ground at her feet. "I want to see the power leave you when I take it! I want to see that arrogant spark leave those eyes!" Armina's eyes turned a murderous red as she approached the distressed witch, who was desperately trying to conjure something substantial enough to throw the shapeshifter back.
She was able to summon a powerful explosion, throwing Armina back into the trees, taking down nearly ten of them before she stopped flying backward. Armina remained unfazed. Regina tried to get away, but was tripped by vines grasping at her legs. "I deserve happily ever after!" growled Regina.
Armina laughed sardonically, "Sure you do, right after I take what I want: your power."
Regina began to throw dark spells in Armina's direction, but her spells found no purchase against the queen's skin. Eventually, she began to feel the crushing pressure as the magick pulled on her last reserves of power. She had tired herself out.
Armina made her way over to the weakened witch, grabbing onto her wrist. She reached out and wrapped her clawed fingers around Regina's neck, her nails biting into her skin. Regina felt the power being pulled from her, the feeling of loss becoming almost painful.
Regina kept up her struggles and broke free from her grip, throwing a powerful curse at the shapeshifter with as much force as she could muster. She hadn't lost all her power, but it was severely reduced. Armina was thrown back further this time, being that she was unprepared. Regina scrambled to her feet, transporting herself as far away from that place as she could.
Armina threw the branches and debris that had broken in their fight. She tried to sense Regina, but she smelled the scent of used magick. She snarled and got up onto her feet. "Orgetorix!" she shouted, summoning the massive Friesian stallion from his place in the forest. He galloped to her with a sure step, even over the roots and leaves of the forest floor.
She mounted the horse and rode home, leaving him to his stall as soon as they arrived. She trudged into the massive house, Regina's blood still staining her nails. She walked into her chambers, finding Andrew sound asleep in the bed.
Andrew's eyes slowly opened as she entered. Armina snapped her fingers, delighting in the feeling of magick as it changed her armor into nightclothes.
"There's blood on your hands, love," said Andrew as he sat up and she climbed into bed next to him. He reached over and studied her nails, concerned at the source of the blood. "Whose blood is this?"
Armina gave him a tired smile and patted his cheek. She lay down and got comfortable. "It's Regina's," she sighed before falling asleep. This worried Andrew, but he knew that Regina, no matter what had happened, wouldn't return to fight for a while, especially if Armina had drawn blood.
He settled down next to her and wrapped a protective arm around her torso, falling asleep not long after.
