Disclaimer: I don't own 'Once Upon A Time' or any of it's characters, nor am I making any money off this project. However, I do enjoy vacations to Storybrooke, Maine and the Enchanted Forest on occasion. The landscapes are magnificent and it's a joy to play with the natives.
The Heart of a Lost Boy
May 15
Morning
The next morning dawned bright, although somewhat hazy as Regina struggled to force her mind into wakefulness with the help of a strong cup of coffee. She was exhausted from the previous night's activities and hadn't slept much. In addition to battle fatigue, she and Ruby had spent a couple of hours healing the wounded of Robin's camp. Satisfaction came in knowing that with her efforts and the support of her wolf, no one else had died. She even taught Emma the basics as she worked so the deputy was able to tend to those whose wounds weren't as serious.
She vaguely remembered Graham driving them back to her home and carrying her up to bed. She wasn't surprised to find him crashed on the chaise lounge in her room this morning any more than she was to find Ruby sound asleep curled up at the foot of her bed in her four-legged form.
Tink and Granny Lucas were still there as well. Granny was asleep on the sofa, but Tink was up fixing breakfast. Regina sat with her head propped on her hand as she watched the former fairy through hooded eyes flitting about the kitchen.
"I would say you are making me tired watching you dart about like a hummingbird but as I'm already tired and I appreciate the coffee and food too much, I'll withhold all snarky comments I would usually make."
Tink glanced at the sorceress over her shoulder with a smirk dominating her features. "Admit it, Regina… you like me. I know it's hard, but I'm growing on you."
Regina gave the woman a genuine smile to hide the sarcasm in her words. "Maybe, but if you tell anyone I'll turn you into rat… or something equally disgusting. My reputation is taking enough hits lately as it is. I can't have the citizenry think I'm getting soft."
A voice came from the hallway as its owner sleepily stumbled forward and fell onto the stool beside her, yawning mightily. "You are getting soft, my queen, with lots of gooey, mushiness on the inside. We have you figured out, don't we Tink?"
Regina's eyes narrowed as she stared at her soulmate. Ruby grinned with the sleepy eyes of one who definitely needed the cup of coffee Tink placed in front of her.
"I'm ignoring you…" Regina snarled under her breath, her wolf chuckling into her cup. "Anyway, Tink, we're meeting with Gold this morning and I need for you and Granny to continue watching Henry. We learned some things last night and I don't want to leave him alone, but I can't bring him with me either… it's too dangerous."
She looked back to Ruby, studying her wolf carefully to assure herself the woman was all right. Her scrutiny did not go unnoticed as Ruby reached over and squeezed her thigh without ever looking up. At her touch, Regina smiled.
"Little Wolf, when you can walk straight, please go wake Granny. They need to know what's happening and I don't want to waste time repeating myself."
Ruby nodded, then took a big gulp of coffee before falling off the stool and meandering into the living room. As soon as the elder Lucas joined them, Regina proceeded to fill them in on the events of the previous evening, including their strong suspicions concerning the lich and the undead Neal Cassidy look alike.
"If it is Neal, I want Henry protected. When we leave, I'll put a protection spell on the mansion which should deter anyone trying to get in. You can leave, but I would advise against it as you can't get back inside. I don't know what the lich is planning, but it is undeniably after me and can get to me through Henry."
She remained still as she watched the two absorb and process her words. She saw the resolve slowly form in their eyes as they verbally assured her they would stay and safeguard her son.
"Regina, if what you are saying is true, I'd like to include a couple of additional people. The two I'm thinking of aren't exactly on your Christmas card list, but I know they'd do anything for Henry and they are capable fighters." Granny was never one to beat around the proverbial bush so Regina had no trouble guessing to whom she was tactfully referring.
She greatly respected Granny and always weighed what she said. With that unspoken trust plus the amelioration in her relationship with Snow, she begrudgingly agreed. "Fine. They need to be on their way so we can be on ours. Once the protection spell is in place, they can leave, but not enter."
As Granny walked off to call the Charmings, Regina reached over and put her hand on Ruby's forearm, drawing additional comfort and strength from their bond. "Go wake Graham, we need to leave as soon as Charming and Snow arrive and I want to speak to Henry. I don't want to hide this from him but I'm not sure how much I want to tell him."
"He's a smart kid, Regina. Be honest with what we know, even the part about Neal. Let him know you're doing what you can to protect him and the rest of Storybrooke. No secrets. Secrets will only damage your relationship as you know from experience." Ruby's soft smile and understanding gaze calmed her as she struggled with what to tell her son. "He loves you, Regina, give him the opportunity to share this with you. You need him… and he needs you."
Regina glanced over to Tink who was watching them with a comforting smile. "She's right. You and Henry have come so far in your relationship. You're not risking much by telling him everything."
Regina thought for a moment on their arguments. She knew they were probably right, but she knew her son. Henry would insist on helping. She racked her still hazy thoughts as a plan slowly formed. "Tink, what do you think of setting up a Skype session with Belle and working to research the lich and anything associated with it? I have some histories in my library and she'll have access to anything in Gold's shop. It'll give all of you something to do and maybe find some much needed information on how to find the phylactery or... anything that will help us for that matter."
Tink acknowledged her agreement by moving away from the counter toward the house phone. "Clever, Regina, I see what you're doing there... we'll keep him distracted."
Regina left the kitchen breathing a little easier as she made her way up the stairs towards Henry's room and a very difficult conversation with her beloved son.
The group met at Gold's shop that morning as agreed. Belle had readily agreed to Regina's idea and was already in deep discussions with the group at the mansion.
Henry had surprised her by his maturity concerning the situation. He agreed to abide by Regina's restrictions, but it didn't stop him from practically threatening Ruby and Graham to keep her safe. Still, as things stood currently, very little was known for fact and they weren't making much headway on what course of action to take.
The soft-spoken warrior, Mulan, broke the impasse when she reported a series of disturbances in the north forest. She and her patrol had stumbled upon several fast moving creatures traveling in the general direction of the cemetery. After a few minutes of discussion, it was decided to attempt to pick up the trail of the undead, and hopefully Roland, at the camp site. If the trail led nowhere, they would investigate the cemetery, a place that would be logical for an army of undead to be lingering.
Ruby would lead with her superior senses along with Graham who was known as the best tracker in the Enchanted Forest. Regina, Robin, Mulan, Emma and Gold were spread out behind them looking for anything out of the ordinary.
Regina was deep in thought as she trudged behind the others. She wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings as she considered her past association with Gold and her reluctance to extend him the benefit of the doubt on their current troubles.
Mr. Gold topped the list of people she despised, but never seemed to be able to avoid. As her mentor in dark magic, the man known as the Dark One controlled and shaped her, prodded and drove her into becoming the Evil Queen. All magic may come with a price, but someone else seem to pay it for him, she more than most. The dark curse was his curse, his plan to find his son. He designed and created it, then exploited her rage and anger to cast it. She hadn't been strong enough to resist his manipulations or those of her mother when she was younger. Yet, after everything he had done, fate still deemed him worthy of "True Love" while hers were taken from her.
A flood of emotions assaulted her. She needed to stop her line of thought in order to regain her balance. She knew it didn't help her to continue to blame Gold. Despite her past, she was in control of her future. Regina was determined no one would have that kind of power over her again. Unlike before, she had support from people who cared about her. With Archie's counseling and the continuing acceptance and encouragement from Graham and Ruby, she had begun to take ownership of her evil deeds. Now, Regina had Henry back in her life and she wouldn't let him down. No... she would no longer let herself down.
Taking a deep breath, she refocused on the task at hand. Lightly reaching out, Regina extended her own senses through the soulbond, connecting with her soulmate. The link took her mind off the past and also served to reinforce their strengths as they headed into an unknown.
Ruby had taken them deep into the forest when suddenly, she took a sharp turn directly north. Stopping she looked around puzzled.
"Did you lose the scent?" Graham's voice floated over the eerie calm of the surrounding foliage. The rest of the group slowed as she shook her head.
"Not exactly, it's different. It smells … deader … if that's even a word. But I've totally lost Roland's scent, it's being overpowered by the other." The young wolf glanced over at Robin, sadness reflected in her golden blue eyes. "I'm sorry Robin. My only suggestion is to continue on this path and hope we find it again."
Mulan nodded her agreement. "The cemetery lies a few miles in that general direction, so I say we continue to follow Ruby's nose. I have this feeling our answers will be found there." The quiet warrior had made an argument to check out the cemetery from the beginning but she easily acquiesced to Robin and the others wanting to search for Roland.
Before anyone could express a different opinion, Ruby shifted to her four-legged form and trotted off. The wolf's unerring nose led the group for a couple of miles through gradually thinning trees. Abruptly, the great wolf stopped as she came upon the road leading to the cemetery. Shifting back to human form, Ruby faced the group.
"The scent of death is very strong and I have picked up Roland's periodically along the way, so we are in the right place. What do you want to do?" The question was asked of everyone, but her gaze fell on Regina.
Mr. Gold walked to the edge of the road staring up the hill at the tree line toward the far side of the cemetery. "I suggest we continue into the cemetery carefully. For now, we have the advantage in that we have the daylight."
Regina had nothing to add and simply started up the hill, falling in behind Ruby and Graham. Robin, Emma and Gold followed with Mulan bringing up the rear. The warrior was casting her gaze nervously down the road. Regina wasn't sure what Mulan had seen, but nothing pertaining to this location could be good. She noticed as she topped the hill Ruby had suddenly frozen in place.
"What the hell… " The young werewolf stared, rooted to the ground.
As Regina stood beside her, she couldn't fault the reaction. Most of the graves were disturbed. They slowly walked forward to examine the closest one. It looked as if the occupant had crawled out, which would explain the absence of digging.
"This is like a scene out of a bad 'B' movie… or a horror flick." Emma was correct in her comparison to the view that spread out around them as they moved among the broken grounds.
Regina stared, a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"Hopefully, 'horror flick' will not come into play, Ms. Swan." Regina spoke calmly but she was anything but calm.
"You're not inspiring hope here, Regina," Emma said. "What are you thinking?"
"I'm thinking, we need to look around and see if we find anything else out of the ordinary. Ruby, ... anything?" Regina obviously surprised Ruby out of her own contemplations given the unfocused look in her wolf's eyes.
"I smell blood now, but the scent is not that strong. More metallic, old blood. I'm not sure how to describe it."
"Is there a particular direction...?" Emma asked.
"Yeah, it's this way." The group followed Ruby as she made her way in the direction of the blood trail. As they walked, Regina realized they were on a familiar course, one that coincided with her family vault. She wasn't wrong when the trail led right to it.
There, on the magically sealed doors and doorposts, blood was smeared, in a seemingly ritualistic fashion.
"I'd say this was a message to you, Madam Mayor," Mr. Gold said softly to Regina.
For her part, Regina felt a cold fear settling over her body. She felt magic, not her own, upon the crypt… familiar in its weave. She had hoped, but now she was sure, her memories were catching up to her reality. She suddenly felt nauseous.
"What's that off to the side?" Ruby moved in the direction she was pointing out to the others. Upon seeing what was piled up to the right of the door, the wolf gagged which, given her nature, was unusual.
"What is it?" Graham moved quickly to her side then pulled her away from the wall and held her against him as he saw what caused her reaction.
Hearts. Dozens of them.
It was these that had been used to smear blood across the doors, door frame and walls of the vault before being discarded like dry rags. The horror on Graham's face was mirrored by the others as they circled quickly around him before spreading out to examine the vault more thoroughly.
"Are they human, Regina?" Graham asked as he released his hold on Ruby. Only the three of them heard his question.
"Yes," she responded after a moment, unable to say anything else. She was afraid her voice would betray the anxiety that was building in her.
"I don't know how to ask this except to ask … and please don't get angry ... but none of these are from your vault are they?" Graham was sincere in his question, even though she could feel his hesitation in asking her.
Looking at her Huntsman, she realized just how far they had come and how much she had come to rely on his discretion. She knew it was because he felt he owed her his life, but she knew better. He owed her nothing. If anything, she owed him.
Regina held his gaze for the longest moment, Ruby looking on a bit hesitantly. "You want to know if my vault has been compromised, the items within put at risk."
She continued in a low tone. "No, my vault is still sealed. Besides, those remaining in my vault cannot be returned to their owners or I would have done so already. You know better than anyone. What you may not know, is yours was the last one I could truly restore. "
Emma was examining the area around the door, oblivious of their discussion. "Regina, is a lich powerful enough to have done this?"
"Yes, easily. What I fear is that it's reanimating the same corpses we destroy. Magic can easily repair the damage we are inflicting. We'll be battling the same never-ending army of undead until the lich is destroyed."
"I hadn't thought of that, but you're right, Regina." Mr. Gold was noticeably concerned. "I wonder if destroying the hearts will prevent possible reanimation."
Regina shrugged her shoulders. "It couldn't hurt, I suppose."
After a moment's consideration, she concentrated, releasing a controlled burst of light magic instead of dark, igniting the pile closest to the door. The bright silver and blue flames trailed up the path of blood marking the doors of the mausoleum before burning off entirely. She noticed the spell the lich had cast on her crypt weaken when she did so. In this vein of discovery, she continued unleashing her magic on the blood markings defiling the crypt, rapidly incinerating it off the walls and breaking the lich's spell.
Upon the obliteration of the final mound of dead flesh and ash from the blood markings falling from the walls, Regina felt an odd sensation from Ruby. She also sensed understanding as her wolf's emotions flared unchecked across their bond. Ruby's face wore a strange expression when Regina eyes met her wolf's clear gaze.
"You know something don't you, Little Wolf, or you at least suspect something." Regina had moved swiftly to Ruby's side and her tone was very low, so low the others missed the exchange between them.
"I… I've picked up another scent, one that was being masked by the blood, one that I've run across before." Ruby spoke softly with a hint of fear laced in her voice. "You suspect too, I know you do Regina. I don't blame you for not wanting to speak of … her ... but I know that scent… and we are in a lot of trouble."
Regina closed her eyes against the vision Ruby was painting. Her wolf had just confirmed what she suspected. Quietly she spoke to her friend. "I hope we're both wrong, but I fear we are not. She never knew about you when we were in the Enchanted Forest so my guess is you're safe… except for how you are now tied to me of course. If we are right, you know what it will take to weaken her so she can be destroyed… because we both know what she will have chosen as her … anchor."
"No… I won't let you… there has to be another way." Ruby's despair was radiating from the link. Regina soothed her soulmate the best way she could, wrapping her in waves of calm.
She opened her eyes and looked up at Ruby with a sad smile, her heart literally hurting. "I have an idea, but it's extremely risky to both of us. I've been thinking on it since I realized who we may be dealing with. I just don't want to put you through what I would need you to do. That said, I don't know if I'll survive as it is… which means you may not either. Little Wolf... I'm so, so sorry."
Ruby shook her head. "Not your fault, my queen. None of what happened was entirely your fault. She held as much blame and refused to take responsibility. I can't fault you for how you cursed her either. She had it coming."
"Whether she did or didn't do won't help us now. She has sacrificed her humanity to see me destroyed so we have to figure out something. My idea will require Gold's help. I don't like asking that imp for anything, but apparently, he feels he owes me one, so now's as good a time as any to collect."
Regina noticed then the others were watching them. "What!?"
"You two look… intense. What do you know?" Emma was never one to pull punches and she apparently wasn't about to start.
Ruby's "deer-in-the-headlight" look sparked a reply before Regina had fully processed they were being observed. "I was just saying to Regina we now have confirmation the thing is after her and we need a plan. Otherwise, what does the pile of hearts surrounding her family crypt and all the blood markings mean? And I don't smell Roland's scent here so we're not in the right spot to find him…"
She looked at Regina who was amused with the information being spouted by her wolf. It had much of nothing to do with their private discussion for all the truth her words held. With a slight grin at the sorceress, Ruby turned back to the group. "I think that covers what we were discussing."
Regina almost giggled. "Um, yes... what she said."
Robin had been skirting the tree line a few yards away looking for anything suspicious when he suddenly yelled and pointed. Standing against a large oak tree, an unmoving figure was watching them. It didn't appear startled when the former outlaw yelled and moved towards it. Mulan had her sword out and took off after Robin. The figure continued to remain still with Ruby, Graham and Emma also closing in on it.
Regina prepared her magic but held firm as the motionless figure was making no threatening moves. Slowly she and Mr. Gold brought up the rear.
As they reached the others, she heard Gold's sharp intake of breath. Looking at the figure before them, she understood why.
Emma was stunned beyond words as she looked at the figure standing in the shadow of the huge oak tree. It was Neal... or at least a parody of him. The creature had yet to speak and it was unclear to her if it was aware of them. She watched as Gold walked slowly to stand only feet from the unmoving figure.
"Bae? Son? Are you aware of us? Do you know who you are? Where you are?" Never before had Emma heard such uncertainty in the voice of the Dark One.
Mr. Gold was always working an angle, always manipulating the circumstances to gain power. But his tone as he addressed the undead creature was broken, even anguished. He was visibly hurting. Emma only felt numb, pushing down her sorrow and anger at what had been done to her former lover.
Neal spoke then, a low, soft, raspy sound, as if his vocal cords were unable to properly pass air to generate clear sound. It occurred to her, they probably weren't.
"I am trapped here, papa. I need your help to end this… release me from this endless night… please..."
"Tell me what you need, son. What does this thing want? How can we destroy it and free you?"
Seeming to struggle with words, the undead creature spoke again in that same, tortured voice. "She wants the queen. I do not know why. I am sorry, Robin... for Roland. But I couldn't risk my son. She promised if I obeyed, she wouldn't harm Henry."
Emma caught the pronoun quickly. "She? So the creature, the lich is a woman? Was a woman? Who, Neal? Who is she?"
"One the queen betrayed... one with the power and will to condemn herself to see the queen destroyed. I am forbidden to speak her name."
Regina had been silent, but she looked haunted, much like the rest of the group did staring at death incarnate. If she knew who their enemy was, she wasn't saying.
"Can you tell us if Roland is okay?" The quiet warrior spoke to the shell of a man Emma knew Mulan had called a friend.
"He is safe for now."
Emma saw the relief roll off Robin, Regina and Mulan as she then asked what was at the forefront of her own thoughts. "Why did she take him? Why not kill him like the others?"
"He was to be used to lure the queen to her. She hasn't said so, but the queen's use of light magic causes her control and power to wane. She is losing her hold on me as a result. And now, the queen has destroyed her army by breaking the heart spell. She will be angry." Neal's expression remained passive, giving away nothing beyond his words.
Mr. Gold cleared his throat, obviously emotional, but trying to keep his distress in check. "Bae, do you know what is holding the lich here? Do you know what her anchor is?"
"No. I only remember being pulled back. It was peaceful and then it wasn't. Her nest is in the northern part of the cemetery. It is disguised by dark magic. You should feel it as you approach. Please, release me. I can tell you no more." Emma heard the plaintive cry in the undead tone.
"How, Neal? What do you need us to do?" The deputy's voice cracked as she felt tears slide unchecked down her face, tears she was unaware had formed.
Neal's gaze zeroed in on his father. "Papa, unlike her army, my heart still resides in my chest. You must take and crush it to break her spell over me. Only then will I be free, for now, forever."
Mr. Gold's voice broke and shook. "I… I can't… I just can't, despite everything, I can't."
For the first time since they had approached Neal, Regina spoke, her voice soft and full of sympathy. "I will do it. You have helped us. For that, and for Henry, I will help you."
Gold nodded to her, tears streaming down his face as Regina moved to stand in front of Neal.
"I am so sorry, Neal. Be at peace." Taking a deep breath, she plunged her hand into his chest and removed his heart.
The organ had a shimmer around it from the spell the lich had used to animate him. As Emma watched, the sorceress closed her eyes. For a few long seconds, nothing happened. Suddenly, light magic flared brightly from Regina's hand and spread down her arm, engulfing the heart in a bright burst of crackling, silver energy.
Emma felt the change as Regina increased the magic flowing through her. The steady stream of light magic that infused the organ resting in the sorceress' hand slowly extended. Light began to surround and shine from within Neal's mortal flesh. The deputy saw a smile touch the face of her former lover as his body slowly disintegrated into dust. She willed herself to etch that smile and the contentment on his face in her memories as the last of his remains broke apart and blew away in the cool breeze that swirled through the trees.
Regina released her hold on her magic and bowed her head. Emma knew from her own experience how much magic drained its user. She also knew what Regina had truly done and was awed by the compassion she had shown Neal. To insure the freedom of his soul, the sorceress had rendered his mortal flesh useless for such an animation spell in the future.
Ruby and Graham had moved to Regina's side to offer support when it looked as if she wouldn't remain standing. Emma heard Ruby mutter something and Regina's mumbled reply as the deputy shook herself back to the present.
"Thank you, Regina." Emma knew nothing else to say as the tired woman looked up and simply nodded.
"So what now?" Mulan was looking at Robin. Emma noticed his gaze was set in the direction Neal had pointed out to them. She knew it was a bad idea to give into the urge to head into the unknown without a solid course of action.
Hoping to gain everyone's attention, Emma cleared her throat and asked a question of the sorceress who was still leaning heavily on Ruby and Graham. "Regina, do you have an idea who this 'She' could be?"
The beleaguered sorceress held Emma's gaze for a moment when Ruby leaned towards her. Regina turned to the werewolf with a questioning look on her face. Something unspoken passed between the two, confirming to Emma there was more to their relationship than anyone knew. She listened closely as Regina began to speak.
"I didn't know or suspect the lich was after me until last night when it 'spoke' to me. Through magic, it flung images directly into my mind I've been sifting through while trying to make sense of it all. I kept coming back to one person who has the power to do this."
Regina stopped speaking, her face clearly showing distress. Ruby leaned in to the sorceress again and she visibly calmed. Her voice held some resolve when she finally continued.
"Earlier, Ruby picked up a scent she recognized when I broke the heart spell on my vault. It was the confirmation I was seeking, even though I hoped I was wrong. It's someone I betrayed in order to cast the dark curse. Someone I kept imprisoned after the curse brought us to Storybrooke."
She stopped, once again hesitating, but Mr. Gold broke the tension that had settled suffocatingly around them.
"Who is it, Regina?"
Emma watched as Regina seemed to fight an internal battle, probably not wanting to say out loud the name she firmly believed to be the identity of the lich, as if speaking it would make it real. Finally, catching Mr. Gold's unrelenting gaze with her own, Regina spoke the name of the one who could ultimately be her downfall.
"Maleficent."
{End of Chapter}
A/N: Remember when Regina and Hook took that trip under the clock tower to retrieve the trigger and Hook ran into a "mummified" Maleficent? Well, the whole lich, undead idea came from that one scene and went from there... that and too much D&D/Forgotten Realms in my youth.
