Chapter 10: Surprise!

It had been 6 weeks since the big battle with the Wicked Witch and her flying monkeys. The normal gang was sitting around the council meeting table discussing the next big thing. Maddie was pretty much healed but she was still in some pain though she would never admit it to anyone, not even Mombi. She sat down gently without giving anything away. "So what's so important?"

"Renzo has said that some of our scouts have seen the Wicked Witch on the move." David told them with a grave face. "She's planning on attacking again."

"So soon?" Belle asked surprised. "We barely recovered from the last surprise attack."

"She knows we're weak." Regina said aggravated. "It's going to be a very easy win for her."

Snow hit her arm. "You're not seriously surrendering?"

Regina gave her a credulous look. "We sure as hell aren't going to win another fight."

"Not after the amount of people we lost last time." Robin said sadly.

Snow looked around the table. "We cannot give up hope. We can't give her the satisfaction of going down without a fight."

"Did you want to lose more people?" Mombi asked with a raised eyebrow.

Snow sighed in frustration. David put a hand on her shoulder for support. "I think we can take her. She's lost some of her army as well."

"And our people have been training vigorously ever since the last battle." Maddie added trying to boost everyone's confidence.

"So are we going to cut her off?" Robin asked. "Before she gets any closer?"

David nodded. "We'll rally the troops and set out first thing tonight."

Maddie stood up slowly. "I'm going to prepare my Order and rest a bit. Let me know if anything comes up."

As soon as the doors to the Drawing Room closed, the conversation resumed. "Alright, there's something else going on here. What is it?" Regina demanded to know.

"Maddie." Belle told her.

Regina raised an eyebrow. "If she's done something or pulled a prank, I have no control over that-"

"No, that's not it at all." Snow reassured her.

"Then what?"

Everyone looked at one another in silence. "We think she should stay behind for the next battle." Robin spoke up since no one else would.

Regina stared at him as if she were burning a hole right through his face. "Regina, she would be safe here." Snow said seeing that she was angry.

"No, I agree." Regina said which surprised everyone. "She's not going to like it."

"No, she certainly will not." Mombi added. "But I think it would be best if she did."

Regina looked over to the old woman. There was still a bit a tension between the two. "I'm surprised you agree."

"She's not strong enough to handle her mother, especially after the last fight." Mombi said simply.

"Her body can't take anymore right now." Robin said crossing his arms. "It's barely recovered from the last attack."

Regina nodded knowing what they were all trying to get at. "And you want me to break the news to her. I see."

"We just think it would be better coming from you." Snow said trying to give her a smile. "She's grown to respect your opinion."

"This is not an opinion. It's clearly telling her she has to stay put in the castle." Regina pointed out. "But since I'm always seen as the bad guy, I might as well act the part." She stormed out of the room even after all the protests for her to stay.

"So much for that…" Robin said leaning back in his seat and sighing.

"But she agrees." Snow said looking at the bright side. "That's always the hardest part."

Regina was pacing back and forth in her bed chambers waiting for Maddie to arrive. This was the last thing she wanted to do-get on her niece's bad side. Her worries increased when she heard the knock at the door. "Come in."

Maddie shut the door behind her and moved slowly towards her aunt. "Mombi said you wanted to speak to me?"

Regina took a deep breath. "The Council has decided that it would be best if you stayed here for the coming battle."

"What do you mean 'The Council has decided'?" Maddie snapped, anger rising within her. "Last time I checked, I was part of that Council and I don't remember ever having a conversation about this. Why wasn't I consulted?"

"Because you would've seen it as an ambush. We thought it would be better to tell you one on one." Regina said calmly since she was expecting this outburst from the teen.

"With good reason!" Maddie yelled. She felt hurt and betrayed that they would take this away from her. "She's my mother. I have to stop her."

Regina shook her head. "No, it's far too dangerous and you are still injured."

Maddie moved too quickly and Regina saw her wince in pain though she tried to hide it. "See. You can't even move fast enough to get out of the way if something were to come at you."

"I'm fine!" She said through gritted teeth. "I can do this."

"You're staying put, Madeleine." Regina told her firmly. "There's no point in arguing."

Maddie clenched her fists at her sides. "You can't tell me what to do!"

Regina knew that phrase would come out eventually. "It's the Council telling you what to do. I'm just the messenger."

"But you agree with their decision!" Maddie pointed out in a yell of anger.

Regina nodded. "I do." She passed Maddie on her way towards the door as Maddie tried to comprehend everything. "I'm sorry but I can't lose you, darling." Regina said quietly. Maddie turned to see her shutting the door. She ran to the door to try it open but was shot backwards. It then occurred to Maddie that Regina had placed a powerful spell over her chambers to keep her inside until they returned.

"Regina, let me out!" She screamed trying to unlock the door with her magic but it wasn't working. "You can't do this to me! Let me out! Let me out! Let me out!" Her voice was beginning to break with each passing phrase. "Regina, please." She said completely in tears.

Regina stood outside her chamber doors just listening to the sobbing girl inside. It was the same desperate plea she heard from Madeleine after her mother paid a visit to her in the dungeons. She hated doing this to her but it was for her own good, to protect her. She closed her eyes and sighed. "I'm sorry." She whispered and walked away, the sobs getting fainter and fainter as she walked down the hall.

Maddie tried to calm herself down enough to blast open the door. She attempted to do this multiple times with the same result. She was stuck in the bedroom until they came back so she crawled onto Regina's bed and under the covers knowing it was useless to keep wasting her energy on breaking Regina's powerful spell.

Regina sat out in the gardens. She couldn't go to her normal spot on the back balcony because that was her and Maddie's spot, as funny as it sounds. There wouldn't be that chance of running into the girl because she was locked in her room.

They would be setting out for battle soon. The armies were gathering and preparing to depart, saying goodbye to friends and loved ones, not knowing if they would be seen again. Regina sighed as she thought about saying goodbye to Henry at the town line then watching the yellow bug drive away as Pan's curse swept them up. It was such a painful memory; she had to shake it away before the tears overcame her. This was not the time to break down.

She felt the tug on the back of her cloak. She turned around to see Roland pulling himself up on the stone bench and couldn't help but smile. "Hi Regina."

"Roland, what are you doing out here?" She looked around. "Alone?"

"The castle is goin crazy!" Roland explained. "People are running all over the place."

Regina laughed. "That's because many are about to leave for battle."

He stood up on the bench. "You're gonna fight the Wicked Witch!"

Regina's nerves got the best of her and grabbed the little Hood boy before her could fall, pulling him onto her lap. "Let's not talk about that right now, Roland."

"Did I say something wrong?" He asked in a small voice looking up at her.

"Oh no, sweetheart. I just…I need something uplifting."

"Are you sad, Regina?"

She gave him a small smile. "I am." She couldn't hide it so lying was out of the question.

He wrapped his arms around her neck, squeezing tight. "I hope this helps."

Regina was a little surprised at first but she found herself squeezing back just as tightly. "More than you think." For a moment, just a moment, she felt at ease. "Come on." She patted his back and picked him up in her arms. "Let's go find your papa."

She walked into the castle and noticed all the bustling people, just like Roland had described. She wandered down the halls, avoiding many who were carrying dangerous weapons. Roland had laid his head on Regina's shoulder as they continued to look for Robin.

"Regina!" They heard him calling her name from behind. She turned around to see him running towards her. "Ah, you have him. Thank goodness." He relaxed once he saw she had hold of his son. "He always seems to find you."

She smiled and caressed the little boy's cheek. "Just like his papa." She then realized what she said and didn't dare look up at the thief. "So where are the children staying while we're away?"

"In the nursery with the rest of those who aren't going to fight." Robin told her as he watched his child sit contently in her arms. "How did the talk with Maddie go?"

Regina closed her eyes. "That bad?" Robin asked noticing her distraught face.

"She just doesn't understand that we are doing this to protect her. She's the most vulnerable on the battle field and she has a target on her back."

Robin could tell she genuinely cared for the girl. "She'll come around, Regina." He promised as he rubbed her arm to comfort her. "She'll see why we really kept her here and thank you one of these days."

She snickered. "I won't hold my breath on that one." She finally noticed his hand and he pulled away immediately. "I should get Roland to the nursery. We leave soon."

Regina nodded and handed Roland over gently. "Right, you should go get him situated." Robin took him and walked down the hall as she watched him go, her arms already feeling the loss of the Hood boy's warmth. She shook her head, trying to focus for she had a sister to kill.

Mombi wanted to see the girl before they left for battle. She had a feeling it would be best to explain her decision to keep Maddie here. She knocked on the door, unaffected by Regina's spell. "Maddie? It's Mombi."

"Go away!" She heard Maddie scream from behind the door.

"I would like to talk to you."

"And tell me how you betrayed me? Why you're taking their side?" Maddie yelled closer to the door. "You were supposed to help me. Supposed to make things easier—but you sided with them!"

"Maddie, I'm sorry if you feel that way because it was not-"

"No!" She said forcefully. "You don't get to apologize. I trusted you! The first person I ever trusted since Zelena. You knew how I felt about things like this. You knew me better than anyone else and you still went and did this!"

"Maddie, please-"

"Just go." Maddie replied in a deep voice. Mombi knew this conversation was over. The old woman walked away with her head held low and a deep regret inside her.

Maddie crawled back into Regina's bed and snuggled under the covers. She thought Regina was different, thought she could trust her but she went behind her back. They all did. She expected it from others but never from Mombi. That's what hurt the most: Mombi's betrayal. She was supposed to be on her side. How could I ever forgive her? She lay there feeling so many things, hurtful, sad things. She wanted to forgive her; eventually she probably would but not anytime soon. Her crying and injuries from the previous battle had exhausted her. She closed her eyes trying to forget everything, everyone and go to a place where no one could hurt her. Her dreams.

The Revolutionary Order of the Wicked and the Enchanted Forest army set off for yet another battle with the Wicked Witch and her flying monkey henchmen. They were walking for a few hours hoping to intersect them by midnight. Regina caught up with Mombi, wanting to talk to her about Madeleine even though things were a bit unsettled. "Did we make the right decision to keep her at the castle?" Regina asked.

Mombi sighed heavily wondering the same thing. "One can never know if the decision they make was the right one until after all is said and done." The old woman told her.

Regina thought about her words for a moment. "I would've been worried the entire time for her safety if she were here."

Mombi nodded. "We need you focused so perhaps it was wise of us to keep her at the castle."

"I heard you talked to her." Regina was curious about how the conversation went.

"I didn't do much talking." Mombi looked over at Regina. "She feels betrayed and I don't blame her. She trusted me, and was beginning to trust you but I feel as though we completely shattered whatever we have built with the girl."

Regina put her head down. This was not what she wanted to hear. She was hoping that Mombi got through to Madeleine, made her understand because she would be the only one who would be able to. But now it looked like no one could.

"Incoming!" David yelled alerting the entire group that the enemy was ahead. Everyone took their positions, stringing up their bows, pulling out their swords, readying their magic. They wanted this to be the final battle, wanted to go back to their normal lives but they couldn't rest until all of this was over.

Regina and Mombi spread out to cover more ground. Regina to the East and Mombi to the West.

The flying monkeys came in droves, like they did before. The battle had begun. Regina and Mombi took out a dozen each with the archers taking out 3 dozen as the people with swords backed up the archers and people with magic.

Regina shook her head. "Something's wrong!" She yelled to those around her as she continued to look to the skies for more monkeys.

"We barely lost anyone." David yelled back keeping his eyes on the forest before him.

"We should be seeing many more monkeys!" Regina replied, her voice becoming panicked.

"Hey, look!" Robin yelled pointing to the distance. It was Mombi. They rushed to the limping woman's side. "What happened?" He asked when he saw she was covered in blood. She was clearly struck multiple times and was fading fast.

"Zelena." Mombi said breathing heavily. The old woman couldn't take much more.

"She did this to you?" David questioned trying to help her over to a nearby rock but she didn't make it that far. She collapsed in his arms. "Don't move her anymore." Regina said to the men. "Let me heal her."

"No. Listen." Mombi instructed as her breathing became shallower. "She's going straight for the castle. You need to go. Now!"

They all looked worried for they all had loved one's they thought would be safe. "What about you?" David asked anxiously.

Mombi shook her head. "Just go."

"But I can heal you." Regina fought the older woman.

Mombi grabbed her hand and conjured enough energy to say these final words. "Madeleine needs you, Regina. Please keep an eye on her. Go." Regina saw the life leave Mombi's eyes and knew there was no way of saving her now. She laid her head gently on the ground before looking up at David and Robin. "Have some men carry her back. We have to get to the castle as soon as possible."

"We're hours away. We'll never make it!" Robin countered, his voice laced with worry.

"We have to try!" David told him firmly before standing up and shouting, "Everyone back to the castle!"

Sorry for the short chapter. I've been a bit under the weather and school kept me occupied. So what do you think? Maddie's gonna be a wreck when she finds out what happened.