Chapter 7: The Light of Fire

Mombi, Regina and Maddie casted the locator spell to find Zelena who was hiding out in Rumple's manor, at least two day's journey away. More and more people began learning how to fight and sharpen their skills in the three days that had passed since Zelena's visit, but not as fast as they needed them too. Maddie had been taking magic lessons from Regina for the past couple days. They were both growing aggravated with one another even though Maddie did learn a few things, like disappear in a puff of smoke.

Maddie stood with her arms crossed as she glared at Regina who rolled her eyes. "Get rid of the attitude, Madeleine. We're trying to make you better with magic!"

Maddie sighed heavily and dropped her arms. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"

Regina did not feel like dealing with a teenager's attitude but the Wicked Witch needed to be defeated and Maddie needed to learn to control her magic better. "Throw a fireball at me."

Maddie just stared at her. "You know I can't do that."

"You have the power to blow things up; therefore, you have fire power within you. Feel it!" Regina told her.

"Feel a fireball?" Maddie asked with a questionable look on her face.

"Yes!" Regina responded instantly. "You already have the power so now you need to tap into it."

Maddie didn't really know how to do that but she closed her eyes and held out her palm hoping a fireball would appear. It didn't. "Nothing."

"Feel with your emotions, child!" Regina yelled. "Something that gets you so angry you just want to scream. So just think of your mother."

Maddie casted her gaze downward. "Let's go!" Regina told her.

Anger started rising within her but it wasn't for her mother, it was for Regina. A little puff of fire developed in her hand but it vanished almost instantly. Regina knew she wasn't angry enough so she thought a little push was needed. "Your mother is trying to kill you. There must be a reason…"

"She's trying to kill you too." Maddie pointed out.

"But she's jealous of me and everything I had." Regina said walking around the girl. "She hates you because you were a complication."

"What are you getting at?" Maddie asked angrily.

"Weren't good enough perhaps? Or maybe she just didn't love you."

"Shut up!"

"I can see why." Regina continued to circle her. "Worthless piece of space. No wonder she wanted to get rid of you. You'll amount to nothing."

She knew she got the girl riled up and threw a fireball at her which was blocked. She kept firing hoping Maddie would retaliate but it seemed that she was weakening the girl. She threw one final fireball, knocking Maddie on the ground.

Maddie pushed herself off the floor slowly. "What? No sarcastic comment?" Regina said as she put her hands on her hips watching the girl struggle to get up.

Maddie lifted her head and Regina could see the tears forming in the girl's eyes. She instantly felt bad for saying those things. "Madeleine I-" Before she could finish, Maddie disappeared in a puff of white smoke. Regina sighed knowing she definitely crossed the line.

She sat in a nearby chair as she thought about her niece and the upbringing she had with Zelena. She closed her eyes knowing the things she said to her must've been true or she wouldn't have broken down like that. From what she saw earlier with Snow, she knew it had to have happened at least a few times but now she felt that it was a common occurrence.

Her mind wandered to Henry, like it always does. He wouldn't be happy with the method she used to teach Maddie magic and knew he would want her to apologize but she wanted to as well. She was hoping her push didn't lead Maddie to do something she would later regret.


Regina searched all over the castle for Madeleine but couldn't find her. She then decided to turn to her mirror. She found her in the dungeons, crying. Regina's heart sank. She didn't mean to make her cry just wanted to get her angry like Rumple did to her when she was learning magic. But she then remembered how much she hated his methods. She sighed heavily knowing she had made a mistake. She made her way down there hoping the girl didn't change her location. "Madeleine?" She said softly over the girl's muffled cries.

"Go away!" Came the reply without making a move to wipe away her tears.

Regina moved closer to her and knelt down. "I'm sorry for the things I said. I just wanted you to feel the power inside you and use it to your advantage."

Maddie said something but it was mumbled. "Honey, I can't understand you. I need you to lift your head."

She lifted it slightly but didn't look up. "Just go away!"

Regina contemplated it for a moment knowing what it's like to want to be left alone but then again, she knew exactly what it was like to actually be alone. "No, I'm staying until we figure this out."

Maddie lifted her head sharply. "Figure what out?! Why you're such a bitch? I already know the answer to that. I thought you were different then she is, but I was wrong!"

Regina pretended like the insult didn't hurt her but it did. She knew she was in the wrong but she didn't really know how to deal with teenagers and their attitudes. "Look, it was wrong for me to bring her up and for that I am truly sorry. I just wanted you to learn quickly. We never know when she's going to strike."

"Okay great, you're sorry. So if I forgive you will you leave me alone?" Maddie asked annoyed as she wiped the tears from her cheeks with her sleeves.

"No."

"Why not?!" Maddie practically whined.

"Because that's what you're used too-being left alone." Regina stood. "Well, I'm not going to do that. I'm not going to give up on you. You have so much potential."

"No I don't." Maddie mumbled. "You said I was worthless space."

"I lied." Regina said firmly. "I lied about everything I said earlier."

"Great! More lies." Maddie shot back. "How do I know you're not lying now?"

"You don't." Regina told her. "But you're just going to have to trust me…like I trust you."

"Zelena was right about you." Regina waited for her to continue, though she didn't want to hear what Zelena had to say about her. "You're too wrapped up in yourself and your emotions to care about anyone else."

Regina averted her gaze knowing it was true, partially anyway. Her main focus was Henry but she couldn't let this Wicked Witch go around wreaking havoc, especially if Zelena planned to kill her. Maddie leaned her head against the wall. "I don't want to do this anymore."

"Do what?" Regina asked lifting her own head slightly to look at her niece.

"Fight." Maddie whispered. "I'm tired of fighting with Zelena, with you, with everyone is this stupid castle. I'm just done."

Regina grabbed her hand. "No, you can't be done. We need you. There's no way we can defeat her without your help."

Maddie pulled her hand away. "Please just leave me alone."

This time, Regina respected her wishes and let her be.


Regina dragged Snow down to her potion room much to the pregnant woman's dismay. "Regina, I really should be resting."

"You've been in bed for three days due to Zelena's news." Regina said finally letting go of her arm once they were down the stairs. "It's about time you got up."

Snow sighed. "I still feel guilty about doing this."

"I know." Regina looked at her with a slightly sad expression. "Now prick your finger. You know the drill."

Snow shook her head and took the needle from the queen. She almost believed Regina wasn't going to spy again. Almost.

Just like before, the image began to spin until they could make out five year old Little Maddie walking down a dimly lit corridor in a soft blue nightgown. She needed help pushing open the huge green doors for they were too heavy for her. The two guards easily pushed them open but a smile never crossed their faces.

She walked down the walkway that was lined with green lanterns. It led up to the center where a ginormous shadow of a person appeared. "WHO DARES COME TO ME AT THIS HOUR?"

Maddie giggled. "It's just me, Papa."

The shadow disappeared; the curtain parted in the middle and out strolled Walsh, her father. "Hello my little light." He said picking her up in his arms. "And what brings you here in the middle of the night?"

"Bad dream." She said sadly as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Nothing will hurt you, Madeleine." He gave her head a kiss. "You've got the light on your side."

"You're silly. It's night time. There's no light."

"Ah, but the light is in here." He said pointing to her heart. "You can take it with you wherever you go and you'll always be safe."

Maddie laid her head down on her father's shoulder. "I just need you, Papa. Just you." He rubbed her back and began walking towards her room. "When do you have to leave?" She whispered.

"How did you know about that?"

"I heard you and mommy talking earlier." She replied though didn't make any effort to move her head off of his shoulder. "When are you leaving?"

"Two days time." He told her sadly. "But this shouldn't be a long trip. A week at the most."

"That's still long."

He kissed the top of her head. "I know, my little light, but we'll be together again soon. And we can spend the whole day tomorrow with each other. How does that sound?" He tried to cheer her up, which worked a little but he could tell his daughter was still upset about his upcoming absence. He hated leaving her, especially just to be turned into a flying monkey to do Zelena's bidding. "Things will get better."

He opened the door to her room and laid her in bed before tucking her in for the night. "Now remember, the light is inside you. Don't be scared."

She nodded with a determined look on her face. "I got this."

"I knew you would." Walsh chuckled. "And if something does attack, you can always use your fireballs."

Maddie raised her hand and a little fireball, the size of her palm, appeared. "They'll never know what hit em."

"Alright." Walsh said closing her palm, extinguishing the flame in the process. "Enough magic. Goodnight my little light." He kissed her head and left.

She didn't like being left in the dark so she relit the fireball in her hand and set it afloat in the center of the room, giving off enough light for her to feel comfortable enough to fall asleep.

Maddie woke to the sounds of guards screaming, smoke, fire and chaos. She began to panic and scrambled to get out of bed. Her room was on fire and the guards were doing their best to put it out. She was grabbed by a guard who carried her a safe distance away. She could see the smoke billowing out of her room through her tears. She knew the fire was her fault.

"Maddie!" She heard her father scream. He hugged her tightly once she was in his arms. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?" He began looking her over.

"I'm fine, Papa." She said wrapping her arms around his neck.

"What the hell is going on?!" Zelena's voice echoed through the halls of the Emerald Palace.

"Madeleine's room was set on fire." One of the guards answered.

"Yes, I can see that." She rolled her eyes. "How?"

"We're not sure." The guard said avoiding her gaze.

Maddie watched her mother march passed the guard and into the smoke filled room. A few moments passed before a loud scream erupted from the witch. "You used magic, didn't you?!"

Maddie buried her face in her father's shoulder. Zelena walked over to Walsh and her daughter with such anger in her eyes. "Answer me, Madeleine!" She screamed.

Walsh cradled Maddie's head. "Leave her alone, Zelena. We're lucky she's still alive."

"She wouldn't have been in a near death experience if she didn't start the fire." Zelena snapped.

"I didn't mean to, mommy. I swear." Maddie said turning slightly. She wiped the tears from her eyes. "I was scared of the dark and thought the light would help."

"How many times do I have to tell you not to use your magic?" She yelled. "You have no idea what you're doing!"

"And whose fault is that?" Walsh screamed back. "You should be teaching her but you're always too busy obsessing over ways to kill your sister."

Zelena closed her eyes briefly. "I have no time to deal with this." She disappeared in a puff of green smoke.

Walsh hugged his daughter once more. "Everything's alright, my little light. Don't worry."

The image began to fog and soon there was no image at all. Snow and Regina took a deep breath before making eye contact. "I knew she could produce fireballs!" Regina let out an aggravated sigh.

"Maybe she blocked it out somehow?" Snow suggested. Regina nodded trying to figure out a way to make Maddie remember without giving away their secret of 'spying' as Snow called it.

"So now we know who her father is." Snow said sounding a bit too happy.

"But we don't know where he is." Regina pointed out. Snow's smile disappeared. "She needs her father, Regina."

"Don't you think I know that!" She snapped. "Every girl needs her father."

Snow tilted her head. "Do you think you killed him?'

"How dare you accuse me of such a thing?" Regina asked, her voice deep and laced with venom.

Snow put her hands up in defense. "I'm just saying you have killed a lot of people in the past. It's possible. And you don't have a good track record when it comes to fathers…you killed mine and yours."

This was not what Regina needed right now. She left without another word. "Regina…" Snow called after her but the older woman was too fast.


Regina sat on a bench on the back balcony, where no one really came but her and Maddie. Oddly enough, she missed having the girl out here with her even if it meant she wasn't alone. She felt awful for the things she said but she couldn't take them back and her apologies weren't getting her far. And thought of killing her niece's father was too much to handle because she knew very well it could be entirely possible. Things were definitely going downhill at an incredible fast pace. She couldn't keep up and it was tearing her apart.

She finally broke. Tears poured freely down her face as she thought about her niece and finally, her son. The son she would never see again. The idea of eternal sleep popped into her head again. It would be so easy to prick her finger and leave this cold, cruel world. She would never have to deal with her feelings, the pain and sorry that constantly consumed her.

"I always seem to catch you at a bad time." Zelena's voice took a moment to resonate within the queen. She turned slightly and saw her green-skinned sister approaching. She wiped the tears away, her face hardening. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Zelena smiled and shrugged her shoulders. "I was just checking in on my little sister." She said with a high pitched voice. "And my daughter of course." Zelena crossed her arms and laughed. "You made her cry. Nice work."

"I wasn't trying to make her cry." Regina shot up from her seat and clenched her fists.

"Tell me, what did you do to her to make her curl up in ball?" Zelena asked.

Regina knew Zelena had paid a visit to Madeleine. A ball of worry formed in the pit of her stomach but she had to keep it hidden. "You have your methods and I have mine."

Zelena smirked. "I see you more as one to hurt with words than getting physical. So what did you say? I would love a good lesson."

Regina shook her head as the anger inside began to rise to the surface. "Get out of here, Zelena before I kill you here and now."

Zelena threw her head back as a deep throated laugh escaped. "I wish I met you sooner, Regina. You are quite the comedian."

Regina threw her hands out, intending to throw her sister back with her magic but instead, she was the one whose back met the wall of the castle. "Try that again, and I will kill you." Zelena warned as she towered over her sister.

Regina slowly pushed herself off the floor. "No you won't." She huffed. "I'm too valuable to your little plan."

"True. But Madeleine isn't." Zelena disappeared in a puff of green smoke. Regina was next to disappear but her destination was the dungeons. She appeared where she last saw her niece but she wasn't there anymore. "Madeleine!" Regina screamed out, her voice sounding a bit panicked. "Madeleine, are you here? It's Regina." She didn't want Maddie to think it was Zelena coming back to hurt her. "Please answer me!"

She faintly heard coughing further down the dimly lit tunnels. She took off running down the dirt hall wanting to get to her niece as quickly as she could. "Madeleine?"

She heard her name being called and found Maddie up against the back wall of a cell. She was covered in dirt, her hair was a mess and bruises were starting to form all over her body. Maddie looked up to her aunt with tears in her eyes. "Regina, please." It was a plea for help. This time Maddie didn't want to be alone, she wanted Regina with her.


It was weeks end in no time. Neither Maddie nor Regina ever spoke of that night in the dungeons. It was a private moment that they didn't want to share and they didn't have too. It was their secret. The way Regina sat down next to Maddie and wrapped her in her arms; the way Maddie clung to Regina and cried; the way Regina rubbed comforting circles on her back as if she's done it a million times before for the girl. Regina didn't want to admit the feelings she was developing for the child and Maddie didn't want to admit that she was seeing Regina as family who would be there for her no matter what. They both had trouble dealing with things; they thought it was best to keep them under the surface.

The people of the Enchanted Forest couldn't lose the Order or they would surely lose against the Wicked Witch. They were preparing to go to battle. Everyone was dressed in armor and had their weapons in hand. As David gave them all a pep talk, Maddie was trying to calm herself down inside the castle.

"What are you doing?" Mombi asked. "Everyone is about to start off for Zelena and her flying monkeys."

"I'm nervous." Maddie admitted. "I mean, we're going to kill her."

Mombi took hold of her shoulders. "It's okay to be nervous. She is your mother after all."

Maddie took a deep breath. "Even after everything she has done to me, I don't think I can kill her."

"I think Regina, and the rest of them will take care of that." Mombi said with a small smile on her face. "You ready?" Mombi asked her to which she nodded. She wrapped her arm around the younger girl and led her outside. "Everything's going to be fine."

She couldn't help but notice the quarreling couple at the bottom of the stone steps. "David, I'm going!"

"It's too dangerous, Snow." David told her firmly. "And you're pregnant!"

"I'm well aware I have a baby inside me but I will not stay behind while everyone else goes off to fight."

"There's really no point in arguing, David." Regina smirked. "She's going to do whatever she wants."

David knew she was right but he was aggravated enough without Regina's input. "I can handle this, Regina." He snapped. Regina raised her eyebrows and gave him an amusing smile.

"David, I'm-"

"Fine, you can come." David interrupted quickly. "But you have to stay at the medical camp that will be set up a few miles behind where the action will take place."

She didn't like that but it was better to go then not at all. "Fine but I still want to carry my bow and arrows. And another thing…"

Maddie walked down the stairs and climbed upon the thick flat stone railing at the bottom of the steps. From this viewpoint, she could see how far their army stretched and boy was it massive. She actually had hope that they could win this thing, but just a little. She never set her expectations high for it hurt too much when they weren't met.

Regina couldn't take the bickering between the Charming couple. She rolled her eyes and noticed her niece at the top of the stair railing. "Madeleine!" She yelled. "What the hell are you doing? You could get hurt!" There it was; that motherly instinct that just came out whenever she was around the girl. She didn't mean for it to happen but it was just so natural to want to keep her safe. "And I need to talk to you." She added hoping it would take some of the motherly tone out of her previous statement.

Maddie didn't seem to notice. "I was just checking out our army. I knew how many we had but seeing it is a different story." She said continuing to look out into the enormous crowd.

"Yes, the army is very big. Now please come down." Regina said quickly trying to keep her voice calm.

Maddie jumped down causing Regina to close her eyes from the mini heart attack she just had. She hated when Henry did those things, like jumping from the seventh step on the stairs or pretending he could fly and jumping from the couch. It always made her a nervous wreck, her niece was no exception. She refrained from saying anything though and took a deep breath.

"What's up?" Maddie asked as she wiped some dirt off of the bottom of her pants. Truthfully, she didn't want to make eye contact with her aunt. She was still trying to come to terms with what was about to take place out in the battle field and they hadn't spoken of the night in the dungeons. "Are you ready?" Regina asked studying her niece's face when she lifted her chin.

Maddie nodded and gave her a little smile. "That's not very believable, dear. You might want to work on your poker face."

Maddie smiled wilder, a real smile. "I'll put it on my 'to do' list."

"You don't have to come, you know." Regina told actually hoping the girl would stay behind.

Maddie shook her head. "I need to do this. I need to be there."

"Okay." Regina said searching her eyes.

"Listen up!" David yelled, which quieted the crowd in the front. "Robin, his Merry Men and the Dwarves are leading separate companies. They are giving their instructions now. You all are with us. We will be leading first, straight into the heart of battle. I am not going to lie, we will lose fighters but it doesn't mean we will lose the battle. We give it everything we got." Cheers erupted from the crowd. "Are you ready?!" More cheers. "Then let the battle begin!"

David hopped on his horse and began walking through the crowd with Snow by his side on her own horse. Everyone began following their leaders, including Maddie and Regina. There were also carts with cages strapped to the back of them that were scattered throughout the army. They were for the unlucky people who would be bitten by a flying monkey. They would be caged and taken to the hidden cave where the rest of the infected would stay until a cure could be found for their transformation back. Everyone was all ready for the battle. They were chatting away at what it would feel like when the Wicked Witch was defeated.

The chattered lasted for hours but that was a different story for Regina and Maddie. Regina had been walking by Maddie's side , neither saying much. But Regina could tell the young girl had quite a lot on her mind. She didn't want to pry so she gave her advice instead. "Be careful, Madeleine."

Maddie gave her a warm smile. "You too."

"Now if you encounter your mother, just remember that she won't go easy on you." Regina reminded her. "She won't hesitate to kill you so no hesitation should come from you either. It's going to be a matter of your life or hers. Please choose yours." Maddie looked to the ground as they kept walking. She saw it on her aunt's face and heard it in her voice. Concern.

"You don't have to worry about me, Regina." Maddie reassured her.

"But I do." Regina gave her hand a squeeze before going ahead and checking in with Snow and David.

Maddie didn't know how to feel about that. Was it a good thing someone was worried about her or was it overbearing? She didn't have much time to think about it before Mombi slipped beside her. "I see you and Regina have been together almost all day. How is she?"

Maddie shook her head. "Complicated as ever. I cannot read her for the life of me."

Mombi gave her shoulder a pat. "It'll take some time but I have a feeling you two will come to understand one another, love even."

Maddie couldn't but laugh, really laugh at the older woman. "Just wait." Mombi said giving her a knowing look. "Try to see it from her perspective."

Maddie's laughing ceased when she realized Mombi was serious. She thought about Regina and what she must be going through. She lost a son, never to be seen or heard from again. She's alone, no family whatsoever-excluding herself and Zelena, one of which wants to kill her. She doesn't make friends well. Most people still hold a grudge against her Evil Queen days. She felt bad for her aunt but what could she do? She had enough of her own shit to worry about. She started to think about all her interactions with Regina and she realized there were more good than bad. "Ya know, she has been scolding me a lot now that I think of it."

Mombi laughed. "It's hard to shut those motherly instincts down."

She looked up to the older woman and knew there was an underlying meaning to her statement. "Nox will come back." Madide said firmly. "He will find a way back to us."

Mombi's once happy expression faded at the mention of her son. "Not if your mother has anything to do with it."

"You don't know that." Maddie grabbed her hand. "You keep telling me to have faith in finding my father. Well it's about time you take some of your own advice and have a little faith yourself."

Mombi looked down at the girl. "So you do listen to me after all."

"Oh, I listen plenty…it's the obeying part I have trouble with." Maddie said with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Don't I know it. You're worse than Nox was when he was your age."

She dramatically held her hand to her heart. "I try."

"Well try listening to me when I tell you not to be angry with Regina for scolding you. It's just natural for her to-"

"I'm not mad." Maddie interrupted. "It hasn't bothered me yet."

"Well in the event that it does, which I'm sure will happen, remember where she is coming from." Maddie nodded. She loved having talks like this with Mombi, it really opened her mind and sometimes her heart to new possibilities. She was very thankful to have met such an incredible woman who has helped her through so much.

But this talked ended when they encountered the Wicked Witch's flying monkeys. They came in droves. It seemed like they would never stop coming. Everyone knew these monkeys were once people like them, but it was a matter of life or death. They had to do what they had to do.

Maddie ran the opposite way of Mombi for they both knew with was better the spread themselves out since there were only three with magic. She wasn't scared for herself, she was scared for the many men and women who were defenseless when it came to magic, especially her mother's.

The Charming army and the Revolutionary Order fought vigorously and for a good while doing everything they could to stop the monkey brigade but they were just as relentless in their efforts.

People were falling, monkeys were falling. Both sides were losing parts of their armies and everyone was growing tired but neither side was giving up. So far, Maddie was feeling pretty confident as she felt the magic run through her, blasting away any monkey that came near her or any of the people in her vicinity.

That soon changed when her mother made an appearance. Maddie saw her at the last second before Zelena threw a fireball in her direction. Maddie dove out of the way just in time, rolling right back on her feet. She threw an electric ball at her mother but Zelena easily deflected it as if it were a little bug causing a nuisance. "Looks like someone got their spunk back. I love a good fight."

Maddie disappeared and reappeared right behind her mother. "Learn a new trick from your favorite aunt?" Zelena asked before beginning to choke her daughter.

Maddie wasn't going to let her win. She managed to blast her mother backwards with what appeared to be bright white magic, dropping herself to the ground. When she looked up, Zelena was gone. She had no idea what that was but she didn't have time to think about that now. She didn't know where her mother was so she put a force field around her just in case.

A bunch of flying monkeys began descending upon her which she defended off but this was all a mere distraction as Zelena used her magic to lower her daughter's force field. Maddie turned around to see her mother's magic hurdling towards her but it was too late. She was struck.

Okay, so you now know who her father is and you learned a little something about Mombi. As far as Outlaw Queen goes, that relationship will develop but it will be over time and through certain events. It's not going to be a quick thing but it will happen so there is hope. And a cliffhanger at the end…uh oh! Thoughts? Questions? I would love to hear from you.