(okay guys I'm really sorry for those of you that have already got an alert, but i was reading through the chapter again and i noticed that there was a MAJOR mistake. you probably won't noticed that i've fixed it, but i just couldn't leave it alone, so i had to edit it :) )
Oh wow I really struggled with this chapter! There is a lot of action in this one, and I'm not sure how good I am at writing it, and I don't have a beta so I'm proof reading this myself.
Disclaimer: I do not own OUAT
Please review! Let me know what you think! As always, criticism is welcome, as are suggestions!
And now, without further ado. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, the moment we have all been waiting for, the return of the one we all love. I present to you, in all her glory, the Evil Queen.
Chapter 8
The laughter died gradually. Regina closed her mouth, her tongue darting out to lick her lips as her eyes roved the gathered assembly. The dark orbs passed indifferently over the dwarves, moving past Red and Granny and Blue as if they simply were not worth her time. Anger sparked in her eyes, fire crackling along her fingers, as she stared at Snow. During the previous chaos, Snow, with a little help from Emma, had subdued her husband. Now she was standing over the man's unconscious form, her sword held in a trembling hand. She had forgotten exactly how unnerving the Evil Queen's presence was.
When Regina's eyes met Emma's, the saviour felt as if she had just been punched in the stomach. There was no emotion left in her gaze, no humanity or hope or love. There was none of the mayor and none of the mother. Never in her life had she ever seen someone look so broken. There was no hostility there either, none of the desperation that Emma might take Henry away from her. Emma eyes passed over Regina's shoulder, and she felt relief flood her body like a gentle ocean as she saw that her son was regaining consciousness. She wanted to rush to him, but she felt as if one move could be her last. In all her life, she'd never seen anyone who looked more ready to lash out at the slightest reason. Words that she had heard long ago, whether by word of mouth or from a television screen, seemed to fit this situation. The broken ones are the dangerous ones. Because they know that they can survive.
Gold's expression remained impassive as Regina looked to him. No one could see the worry in his eyes, the concern. This he had not anticipated. His fingers twitched, magic gathering in the palms of his hands. He was not foolish enough to believe that he could take on both the Evil Queen and her mother. Being the Dark One meant simply that they couldn't kill him without his dagger. It did not mean that he couldn't be beaten. The question was not if, or even when, she would attack. It was a matter of who she would unleash her anger on.
Regina's eyes settled on Cora. There was a long, tense pause. The air crackled with tension, rising off the pavement like heatwaves. Regina's expression was unreadable. Cora looked mildly curious. She'd never met the Evil Queen. If truth be told, she was slightly startled at the difference. Regina looked like a panther that had just been released from captivity.
A boom of thunder broke the tension. As lightning raced across the clouds, Regina seemed to make her decision. She lifted her hands and cupped them in front of her mouth, breathing into the small opening between her fingers. Fire caught alight in her hands, fire that was dark and red and reflected everything that was the Evil Queen. Regina raised her hands, and everyone cringed back. Snow took a step back, realising with dismay that her step-mothers eyes were fixed on her. Regina cocked her arm and launched the ball of fire through the air.
Cora barely reacted in time to defend herself. The ball of flame deflected and burst apart as it hit the pavement, veins of dark fire racing across the pavement as the sparks died. Cora looked at Regina, her mouth open in shock as she recognised the spell. Had that hit her, she would be no more than a pile of ash. 'Regina dear what are you –'
Another ball of flame spun through the air, hurtling towards Cora with such a speed that it was no more than a blur. This time, Cora caught the ball in hands glazed with smoke, whirling it over her head once before she sent it back at Regina. Regina raised her hand and deflected it with a flick of her wrist. Her smile was positively murderous. 'Is that really the best you can do, mother?'
Cora frowned. 'My dear I don't quite understand where this amnesty is coming from'.
Fire similar to the flames still burning along her hands sparked in her eyes. 'You don't know where this is coming from? YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THIS IS COMING FROM?' Regina's words bounced across the street, drowning out the roar of thunder as her rage awakened. Abruptly, Regina's voice quietened. 'You were right mother. Love is weakness'.
Cora smiled winsomely. 'Then my dear–'
Regina raised her hand and threw her mother backwards across the street. Cora hit the bonnet of a car with a resounding thud. Regina took a step forwards as her mother slid to the ground, looking more shocked then pained. 'But you made one mistake mother. Everyone I loved is dead'. A dark chuckle overshadowed the pain in her eyes. 'And now…' she spread her hands wide, 'I don't have any weaknesses'.
Cora flung her hand out and Regina was jerked off her feet. A scream tore from her throat as pain ran like poison through her veins. Her hands clawed at the pavement as Cora stood slowly, and now the anger in Regina's eyes matched her mother's perfectly. Regina's fingers twitched and Emma ducked just in time to avoid the car that went sailing overhead. Cora relinquished the spell and raised her hands to block the car as Regina leapt to her feet, rolling her shoulders as an ecstatic, slightly deranged smile curved her lips. 'Oh, this is going to be so much fun'.
And at that, everyone realised exactly what had just been unleashed. The Evil Queen had always been teetering on the boundary of madness. Now, having lost those she loved, with nothing left but her bitterness and hatred, the madness was taking hold. Snow hoisted James up, dragging him away from the two battling witches as purple smoke and flames filled the air. The gathered assembly retreated back behind the cars, realising that this was not something they could interfere with. Gold remained where he was. It had been a long time since he had seen either of his apprentices in action. He was curious to see which one would win this fight. Cora had more experience, yet Regina was well…there was nothing holding her back now.
Red did not take cover. Instead, she sprinted over to Hook and crouched beside him. Henry was attempting to struggle out from under Hook's feebly stirring form. Red rolled Hook onto his back, her hands hovering anxiously over his face as she tried to remember what to do in this sort of situation. Henry sat up, blinking groggily, and stared in horror as his eyes focused on Regina over Red's shoulder. 'Mom…' Never in his life had he seen Regina look so angry. Never in his life had he seen her look so similar to the pictures in his story book.
Red took one look at his terrified expression and switched her attention to him. She took his shoulders, forcing him to look at her. 'Henry, we don't have much time. I need you to listen, alright?' Henry nodded numbly, unable to block out the booms and explosions as Cora and Regina continued their face off. 'Henry…Regina believes that you and Hook are both dead. She saw that you were both unconscious, and she gave up. You know what that means don't you?'
Henry suddenly understood why his mother looked so unfamiliar. Horror flooded his face, and with it he felt the tears pricking his eyes. 'She is the Evil Queen again, isn't she?'
Red nodded, resisting the urge to comfort the boy. The longer they waited, the less chance there was of saving Regina. She could practically smell the dark magic rolling off the woman. 'Henry, we need to wake Hook up. If we can make her realise that neither of you are dead, then there is a good chance we can save her'. When Henry didn't respond, Red shook his shoulders gently. 'Henry, do you understand me? This is our only chance!'
Henry took a deep breath and closed his eyes. Then he turned to Hook and grabbed his shoulders, shaking him forcefully. 'Hook! Captain Hook! Wake up!'
Red kneeled by Hook's head and placed her ear next to his mouth. She could hear his breathing, and as far as she could tell he was not bleeding anywhere. She glanced anxiously over her shoulder. Regina's hands were practically a blur, purple smoke gathering around her feet as she walked slowly forwards. Her eyes were full of malice and determination. For some reason, Cora seemed to be holding back.
Hook stirred, his eyelids fluttering as Henry's frantic voice began to penetrate his senses. Red huffed a breath. 'Sorry'. With as much force as she could muster, she slapped him hard across the face. His eyes flew open and he sat bolt upright, staring at her in surprise. Whatever he had been planning to say died on his lips however. Instinctively, Red knew what he was looking at. 'Hook! Hook, listen! Regina thinks that you're dead. She gave up Hook, she became the Evil Queen. Unless you can get through to her, she will remain the Evil Queen'.
There was a bang and Regina sailed through the air, landing heavily on the footpath beneath the clock tower. She seemed not to notice them. Instead she sprang up again with cat like grace and snarled viciously, a low animalistic growl raising the hairs on the back of Hook's neck. With a howl of rage, Regina pushed her hands out in front of her. Fire burst from her fingertips. Cora raised her hands and shot her own spell towards the oncoming flames. The crackling blaze met in the centre of the street. The heat was scorching and the light was blinding. Slowly, Cora began to walk forwards across the street.
Henry stared in shock at his mother. The growl had chilled his blood to the bone. He turned to Hook, his jaw set in determination. 'We need to move. Now'.
Regina jerked her hands upright and threw herself sideways as the fire hit the building behind her. She stood, her eyes flashing as she waited for her mother's next move. Her chest was heaving and her clothes were singed, but her expression gave no indication that she was about to give up.
Cora raised her hand and pointed it straight up into the sky. Lightning blinded the onlookers as a fork of electricity shot down from the sky and into Cora's hand. Static flashed from her clothes as Cora brought her hands out in front of her, sending the lightning straight towards Regina. Regina spun on her heals, bringing her hands up to catch the lighting. A ball of bright blue light glowed momentarily in her hands before she finished her turn and let the bolt of lightning hurtle up towards the clock tower. The lightning crackled and sparked around the clock hands and up the spire for a moment. Then it shot back down into Regina's left hand and out her right, frying the air as it raced towards Cora. Cora, who had been preparing another spell, shrieked as the spell caught her off guard. The lightning struck her in the chest and sent her hurtling through the air. She hit the pavement hard. Immediately, the concrete came to life, surging up over her limbs and binding her in place.
Regina walked forwards and tilted her head, looking down at her mother with an expression that conveyed a vague disappointment. 'Well that was fun. But really mother I expected more from you'. She brushed a speck of concrete off her shoulder, as if that was more interesting than the woman lying sprawled at her feet. Then she looked down again. The concrete covered Cora's arms and legs, and her hands were trapped underneath it. Cora looked murderous yet exhausted, and there was an unfamiliar glimmer of fear in her eyes. Regina grinned, her perfectly straight teeth flashing in the firelight. 'Look whose helpless now, mother'. She paused, glancing up momentarily at the shocked and terrified faces of her audience. 'Now…I suppose that this is probably meant to be a big moment. Or at least, I should probably ask you the expected question'. She held her hand out to the side. A swirl of purple smoke, and a long glimmering blade appeared in her hand. She raised it to eye level, tilting it back and forth as she watched the play of light along the wickedly sharp edge. She lowered it and let it rest on Cora's throat, ignoring the look of panic in her mother's eyes. 'Any last words, mother?'
'Mom!'
Regina froze. Slowly, she turned her head. Henry and Hook were on their feet, standing surprisingly close to her. Her dark, nearly black eyes roved over them, examining them critically. She cocked an eyebrow at her son, ignoring the thrill of relief that rushed through her. 'What dear?'
Henry flinched at her disinterested tone. Her eyes showed nothing but impatience. 'Mom…we're alive'. He didn't understand why she wasn't reacting.
Regina frowned at him. 'I can see that dear. I'm not blind. Still, I don't quite understand what that has to do with the current situation'.
Oh shit…Emma watched from behind a car, her expression horrified. Was Regina that far gone? So far gone that even her son couldn't get through to her? The sword had not wavered from Cora's neck, and the woman was lying completely still. Emma glanced at Snow, only to feel her despair deepen as she saw a mirror image of her own emotions on her mother's face.
Henry's mouth opened and closed slightly, unsure how to continue. 'Mom…I love you. We love you'. Hook nodded silently, his jaw clenched tightly. He couldn't speak. The similarities between Regina and Cora were unnerving. This was not the woman he loved. This was not the woman he would die for. The boy beside him had begun to tremble, and he laid a hand on his shoulder instinctively.
A low dark chuckle escaped Regina's lips. 'That's nice dear. But love is weakness. Now, if you would excuse me, I have someone to deal with'. And with that, she turned away from them.
'Regina'. Something jumped in the Evil Queen's heart at the sound of her lover's voice. She turned back. Hook had moved forwards, and his eyes were pleading. 'Regina'. A shudder racked her body as he repeated her name, almost as if he was trying to remind her of who she really was. 'Regina, I know that you can hear me. I know that you're in there somewhere. Don't let the darkness win. I love you. Henry loves you. That's all that matters'.
Regina shook her head, and when her eyes opened she was still the Evil Queen. 'You don't understand do you? Regina is dead. The thought that you were dead killed her'. She raised her hand and touched the place above her heart. 'She's gone. There is nothing left for you to get through to'.
The fear, exhaustion, and disappointment were all too much. Henry burst into tears. Fighting his own emotions, Hook raised a hand and touched her face. The Evil Queen did not recoil, but she remained as still and cold as a statue. 'But I love you Regina. I should be able to save you'.
Again, the Evil Queen shook her head. There was a softness in her eyes that her father had once been witness to. Not love exactly, but affection. 'That is true. But you can't seem to understand it can you? You fell in love with a different woman Hook .You fell in love with Regina. Regina fell in love with you. I did not. Therefore, you cannot save me'.
It was like falling off a cliff to your death. The realisation that your only hope was gone, that the branch holding you up had snapped. Regina was gone. She was not coming back.
Emma walked out from behind the car, unable to prevent her own tears from falling as she stepped forwards and embraced her son. Behind her, tears were slowly running down Snow's face. She had felt, in the diner, in that moment in front of the well, that she might have a chance of regaining her step mother. The realisation that Regina was gone, the knowledge that she had lost the woman who loved her a second time was nearly enough to make her curl up into a ball and sob her heart out. Because she knew that Regina had loved her once. She knew that once upon a time, they had been no more than a mother and daughter.
The Evil Queen stared into his eyes, watching as they filled with tears. Shaking her head, she turned back to her mother, and raised the sword above her head.
'Daniel'.
The sword slipped from her fingers and clattered to the ground. The Evil Queen remained frozen, and when she spoke her voice shook. 'What?'
Hook's jaw was tight with determination as he tried desperately to formulate a response. He still loved Regina, and just because this version of her believed that she was gone it didn't mean that it was true. He would fight until his last breath if he had to. 'Daniel. The stable boy you loved'.
'I know who he was!' The cry was not of anger or rage, but one of dismay and grief. 'How dare you bring him up?'
Hook shook his head slowly. 'I dare to bring him up because he loved you. Just as I do. Do you remember what you said in the mausoleum, when you believed that you were alone? You admitted that taking revenge was not what Daniel would have wanted you to do. You admitted that you had become your mother. He told you to let go Regina. He told you to love again'. Hook gestured at Cora's bound form. 'This is not letting go. He wouldn't want you to do this. You know that. You know that if it was his decision, he would spare her. He wouldn't want you to do this, because he would know that the moment you do, you will become her. Don't betray his memory – his love – by letting the darkness win'.
The Evil Queen was shaking so violently that it was visible from across the street. Henry lifted his tear stained face from Emma's shoulder and gazed at his mother with pleading eyes. Hope rose inside him. Deep within the black abyss of emptiness and hatred, something warm and familiar sparked in his mother's eyes.
The Evil Queen closed her eyes. This was an opening, probably the only opening he would ever get to bring Regina back. Without pausing to think about how much danger he might be putting himself in, Hook placed his hand against her cheek and tilted her head up. Before she could resist, he pulled her forwards and kissed her. The woman remained still as his tongue pressed insistently against her lips, seeking entry. And then her hands moved up to link behind his neck as her lips parted against his. He pulled her closer, his hand tangling in her dark hair as his arm wrapped around her.
They pulled apart. He had not broken a curse. Regina had not been under a curse. He was simply reaching inside her and finding the woman buried deep in her heart.
Regina remained close to him, her lips hovering over his as her eyes slowly opened. And there it was. The confirmation that the Evil Queen was gone. Regina Mills stared at him through deep brown eyes shining with warmth and relief and love. And he laughed. He couldn't help it. The relief was so overwhelming that it nearly swept him off his feet.
'Mom!' Regina pulled back, just in time to catch Henry as he flung himself at her legs. She laughed, tears pricking her eyes. She had been aware of what she was doing; she just hadn't been able to stop. Bending down, she hugged Henry tightly. The little boy buried his face in her shoulder, his tears soaking her shirt. 'I'm so glad your back'.
Releasing Regina, Henry turned and wrapped his arms around Hook's legs. The pirate stiffened at the unfamiliar contact. Henry looked up at him, his eyes shining with thanks. 'Thank you. Thank you so much'.
A strangely suffocating sensation pressed down on his chest as he looked down at the boy. With a shaky hand, he ruffled Henry's hair. 'You are very welcome Henry'.
Regina, now on her feet, felt a lump in her throat. The sight of the tough looking pirate smiling down at her son was endearing, and she felt her heart swelling. She could get used to that. Her eyes passed them, landing on Emma and Snow. She was startled by the sight of tears on their faces, and the relief and delight in their eyes. A small frown furrowed her brow. Had Snow forgiven her? Had Emma mourned her?
Abruptly, a strange burning smell filled her nostrils. She looked down. The concrete was melting away from Cora's hands. She had a split second to react, and in that moment her thoughts were not directed at herself.
A clear, shimmering barrier expanded from Regina's hands, spreading through the air and wrapping Hook and Henry in a transparent bubble. At the same moment, Cora flung her hands out, and Regina felt something sharp strike her in the shoulder. The force of the blow sent her flying backwards, and she hit the pavement hard, skidding across it to come to rest several metres away. Her head hit the pavement with a resounding crack.
Her vision blurred. Pain lanced up and down her back, throbbing at the back of her head. Something warm and wet was spreading over her chest and down her right arm. She couldn't move. Explosions and screams sounded around her as the battle started again in earnest, and she could vaguely hear someone shouting her name. Her sight slowly cleared, but she could do nothing more than stare up at the dark clouds.
A hand entered her field of vision. 'Time to get up, your majesty. This is not nearly over'.
She reached up and grasped the leather gloved hand, allowing Gold to pull her to her feet with surprising strength. She swayed, groggily trying to make sense of the scene. Her lips parted in shock. It was chaos.
Cora was clearly not pleased that her daughter had defeated her. Her expression was manic, her eyes glittering with anger as her hands moved in a blur. Cars had been over turned and pavement ripped up. The dwarves kept getting knocked down, and not all of them were getting back up. Snow was barely managing to deflect Cora's fire with her sword, and she couldn't move from her position without leaving her husband vulnerable. Emma was crouched behind an overturned car, firing continuously at Cora, though her bullets seemed to be having little effect. Red lay on her back, her legs buried beneath a pile of derby, and Granny and Whale had diverted their attentions to try and dig her out. Blue stood beneath the clock tower, her chanting lost in the explosions.
Hook and Henry were still wrapped in the bubble, and with each strike Regina could feel it wavering. It would not be long before Cora broke through. Hook was crouched down; his body bent over Henry's as the little sat curled in his lap. She wasn't sure why he was suddenly so adamant in protecting her son, though she could guess.
She glanced down, trying to assess the severity of her injury. She was bleeding from a wound in her right shoulder, and she could already feel herself becoming light headed from loss of blood. Shaking visibly, she placed her left hand over the wound and healed it. The pain remained, like a thorn buried deep beneath her skin. As she did, a scream of pain reached her ears. She looked up. Snow was suspended a metre from the ground, struggling desperately against an invisible force constricting her throat. Her hands scrabbled at her neck, and her face was slowly turning blue. Emma screamed, her attention wavering just long enough for Cora to jerk her into the air as well.
Cora turned her focus on the transparent bubble. Balls of fire bounced off the rapidly weakening surface. Regina new that she only had moments before her spell broke. Strangely, it was the sight of her step-daughter and the saviour struggling to breathe in mid-air that convinced her.
She turned to Gold. The man looked worried, and his fingers were twirling purple smoke. 'Now might be a good time to let me dispose of her Regina'.
She shook her head. Even now, she would not be responsible for letting her mother die. 'I think it's time you fulfilled your promise Rumple'.
Gold turned his full attention to her, frowning deeply. 'Are you sure, dearie?'
'We don't have time for this', she snapped. Her desperation was mounting, and she knew that they were only seconds away from losing the fight. 'Do it'.
Gold sighed. He raised his hand, and there was real regret in his eyes. 'For what it's worth, I am sorry'.
And then he plunged his hand straight through her chest. Pain exploded through her ribcage as the man's fingers closed around her heart. There was a sharp tug, and he was holding it in his hand. She fell to her knees. It was strangely surreal, having her own trick being used against her. She had never had her heart removed before. Once the initial pain passed, it felt more numbing than anything. A great weight seemed to lift from her shoulders. At least now, Henry and Hook would be safe. 'No!' Hook's cry of horror reached her ears as Gold's fingers began to tighten.
