Cora Is Still Company, Chapter Ten: The Choices of Queen Regina
Author's Note: This is the final installment of "Cora Is Still Company." I've enjoyed writing this story more than any story I've ever written, and I thank you for all of your kindness and support.
Characters:
Cora Mills
Regina Mills
Mary Margaret Blanchard
David Nolan
Emma Swan
Killian Jones
Greg Mendell
Tamara
Henry Mills
Mother Superior
Mr. Gold
Belle
"Mother!" Regina cried, pounding on the table to which Cora's limp body was still strapped. "Don't leave me! Please!"
Snow White and Prince Charming had no idea how to comfort Regina, and simply stood in silence.
"After all we've been through together, don't leave me now!" The Evil Queen screamed at her mother, suddenly angry. "Wake up! You survived the Looking Glass, you survived that stupid candle, and you'll survive this!" Then, turning to her stepdaughter, "Help her!"
Mary Margaret rushed forward, David in tow. The princess placed two fingers to Cora's neck.
"She's alive, but barely."
Relief flooded through Regina. She remembered the powder that the Blue Fairy had given her, sprinkling some of it over Cora's forehead. The cuff that blocked Cora's magic faded into nothingness.
That's when Cora's breathing became audible again. Her eyes opened and she began blinking rapidly. Her face contorted with rage and the straps from the table came flying off of her.
"Mother!"
"Where are they?" Cora snapped. "Where are those two?! It's about time I showed them how powerful I can be!" She rose to her feet, magical energy practically crackling in the air around her.
"Cora, we're going to go after them!" David answered. "You need to stay here and build your strength up."
Cora snarled and advanced on the prince. "Never tell me that I need to 'build my strength up!' I will not be commanded by some pretty-boy prince who-"
Cora was cut off by a huge trembling that shook the entire building, knocking her and Snow to the ground. David and Regina both managed to grab hold of nearby objects.
"Emma!" Snow cried, running from the room. David, as always, followed closely after her, leaving Regina and Cora alone in the room.
"Mother, I'm so sorry!" Regina began to weep. "I couldn't stop them from taking you. I'm weak."
Cora blinked, and slowly moved towards Regina. "Of course you're weak," Cora replied. "Love is weakness."
Regina sobbed even harder.
"But if there's anything I've learned after getting my heart back, it's that we all have to be a little weak. We have to be weak, sometimes. If we aren't weak sometimes, then how can we be strong? I've learned that from you, Regina, my beautiful daughter. You have nothing to be sorry for." She reached out her arms and embraced Regina tightly. "And you are strong. You are the strongest person I have ever known."
Regina, for the first time, felt truly inspired and empowered by her mother.
"And do you know what? I'm stronger now because of you. So let's use our strength and save Storybrooke. Let's save Emma. And Snow White. And Rumplestiltskin. But most of all, Regina, let's save Henry."
Regina nodded, and followed her mother, who bolted from the room.
Emma Swan looked at the place where her Neal had disappeared into the vortex created by Tamara's magic bean and said nothing, though tears ran from her face. Hook, Mary Margaret and David were all at a loss for words.
Just then, Regina and Cora came running down the hallway. Emma inwardly groaned. Cora was not the person she wanted to see just now.
"Where's Baelfire?" Regina asked.
"He's dead," Emma answered, her mind in another place.
"Tamara shot him and let him fall through a portal," Hook elaborated sadly.
Baelfire? Dead? Cora thought to herself. After all of Rumple's hard work to get his son back? It's simply unfair.
"I'm sorry," Cora said, nodding in Emma's direction.
"We need to get to the mines!" Regina continued. "Greg and Tamara are going to activate the trigger and destroy Storybrooke. We have to get it back!"
Without another word, she ran towards the mines. Snow and Charming followed. Emma gave the hole one last look and followed suit.
Cora followed behind Emma shortly before realizing that Hook had not followed the group.
Greg Mendell leaned the pickaxe up against the cave wall, pleased with his work. The jewel had begun to glow.
"Our work here is done," he said to his lover.
"Let's get out of here," Tamara replied.
"Going so soon?" came a familiar voice.
Mother Superior stood blocking their passage.
"I thought we were done with you," Greg sneered.
"I'm not finished with you, though," the Blue Fairy replied. "Regina and Cora are coming. I don't like the idea of their united power. I've given them both powder that not only counteracts your weapons, but will make them forget my involvement with the two of you."
Tamara laughed. "I thought you were one of the good guys."
"I am," Blue snapped. "For the greater good, I'm going to stop Regina and Cora from being able to cause trouble for the rest of us. So here-" she waved her wand, and a sleeping Henry Mills appeared on the ground. "Take him back to your 'Home Office.' Trust me, they'll want him. Regina and Cora will follow, and you can eliminate them."
Greg smiled and laughed. "You know about the Home Office?"
"Of course I do," Blue answered seriously. "Now I'm going to go and claim that you overpowered me and took Henry. Go. Make sure that they know you've taken the boy."
"Pleasure doing business with you," Greg leered.
Mother Superior did not respond, but looked rather sad, as if being forced to eat a rather disgusting dish.
Hook stole away quickly to the Jolly Roger, hoping to leave Storybrooke as soon as possible. As he approached the dock where his ship was cloaked, his path was blocked by a cloud of purple smoke. Hook inwardly cursed himself.
"What do you think you're doing?" the newly materialized Cora asked angrily.
"Cora, get out of the way," Hook coldly ordered.
"Are you really leaving now?" she pressed him.
"Cora, I'm warning you!"
"What about our partnership? Do the lives of my daughter and I mean nothing to you Hook?"
"Compared to my own, they don't amount to much."
"You don't want to do this."
Hook stepped towards Cora menacingly. "Are you going to stop me?"
"No," responded Cora. "But I'm going to give you one last opportunity to maintain our friendship. And you know that you don't want to make an enemy of me."
Hook sighed. "You're right. I'll help you. I'd much rather stay friends with you anyway."
"Now that's my Captain!" Cora smiled grimly, grabbing her friend by the shoulder. "Now let's get to those mines."
Regina and Emma stood alone in the mine. They arrived to see the glowing gem, signaling their destruction coming near. Mary Margaret and David had gone to warn the townspeople.
Regina was concentrating all of her magical energy on slowing the gem.
"Regina! Emma!" Cora shouted, running down the mineshaft with Hook in tow.
"Mother!" Regina gasped. "I was beginning to think that you had left us!"
"Would I ever leave you?" Cora asked her daughter bemusedly.
"We don't have time for banter!" Emma snapped. "We're about to die!"
Cora looked at the gem, to Regina, and to Emma. "Not necessarily. Emma! If you use your magic with Regina's, you'll be strong enough to stop the trigger!"
"I- I-" Emma spluttered.
"We don't have time for you to debate the issue with your conscience!" Hook drawled. "Do as she says!"
Emma walked over to Regina and extended her hands, summoning up her thoughts of Henry, her parents, and Neal, sending energy into the gem coupled with Regina's own power. The gem abruptly deactivated, sending a shockwave that knocked the four of them back.
"You did it!" Cora shouted. "You two were wonderful!"
Regina rushed forward to embrace her mother. Emma was dumbfounded, never thinking that she'd be receiving praise from Cora.
"Come on!" Emma barked. "Let's go find Greg and Tamara!"
Cora, Regina, Emma and Hook ran back towards the entrance of the mine.
Mary Margaret and David rushed towards the mines. They had seen the destruction abate, and now wanted to be sure that their daughter was safe, especially with Regina and Cora. When the entrance was in sight, they heard an anguished cry. The Blue Fairy came running towards them. Her hair was askew and she looked disheveled.
"Mary Margaret! David! Greg and Tamara overpowered me and took Henry! We have to stop them!"
The foursome from the mine came running out.
"We stopped the trigger!" Regina exclaimed.
"Emma! Regina!" Mary Margaret shouted. "Greg and Tamara took Henry!"
"They were headed towards the docks," the Blue Fairy noted.
All seven went running in that direction. When they got close, they noticed Tamara and Greg dragging Henry along. Tamara looked back and cried out. Greg tossed a magic bean into the water below and they jumped into their portal, taking Henry with them.
"No!" Emma shrieked. She tried to jump into the water after them, but David held her back.
Regina started sobbing and clung to Cora, who also had tears in her eyes.
At that moment, Rumplestiltskin and Belle came running towards them. Belle was wearing her normal style of clothing and seemed to be behaving sweetly.
So they broke my curse Cora thought.
"Gold!" Emma shouted. "They took Henry! Greg and Tamara! With a magic bean! There has to be something we can do to follow them!"
"Luckily for you, I can help today," Rumple smiled. "Belle and I found a magic bean left behind in the cannery where they were camped out. And thanks to Cora," he nodded in her direction, "I have the means to track them."
"The globe?" Cora inquired.
"Indeed, dearie," the imp smiled deviously.
"Then let's go!" Emma commanded.
"We'll take your ship, Hook!" Charming told the pirate.
"Alright," Hook conceded. "Let's go!"
"I think, perhaps, that I should stay in Storybrooke," the Blue Fairy said. "To look after everyone. And Mr. Gold, this powder will protect you from Greg and Tamara's methods of blocking magic." She threw some powder over the Dark One.
Gold looked as though he had been about to object, but immediately agreed when the powder hit him.
"Belle, you need to stay as well," Rumple continued. "I have instructions for you in case anyone else like Greg and Tamara shows up."
"I want to go with you, Rumple," Belle replied, anguished.
"I know. But I have to save my grandson. My son is dead, and he's all I have left. And it's likely that we won't meet again."
Belle embraced Gold and looked into his eyes. "I will see you again."
Hook was already aboard the Jolly Roger, and Regina and the Charming family moved to follow him. Cora took a few steps towards the ship.
"Mother," Regina said, turning suddenly. "I think you should stay in Storybrooke."
"Not a good idea," David said loudly. "I'd feel better if she knew she was with us.
Regina rounded on him. "If Gold and I are leaving, Storybrooke will need a powerful protector. My mother can provide that."
"Are you sure?" the Blue Fairy asked coldly.
"Yes."
Everyone gasped. The affirmation did not come from Regina, but from Emma.
"If it wasn't for Cora, Regina and I never would have been able to stop the trigger. She saved everyone. I trust her."
"Thank you, Emma," Cora replied. "But I am coming with you. Henry is my grandson too, and I love him. I will help to save him."
"Mother," Regina began. "You can help to save him by making sure his home is safe. Protect my house and help Belle and Mother Superior."
"Don't you want me to come with you?" Cora asked.
"Of course I do!" Regina exclaimed. "But I need you to do this for me. This town is important to me. I need you to be the Mayor of Storybrooke. You can show everyone how you've changed. Do it for me and for Henry."
Cora felt tears on her cheeks, but knew her daughter was right. She embraced her daughter. "I love you, Regina. Be safe, and bring him home."
"I love you too, Mother," Regina replied, kissing Cora on the cheek.
Emma, her parents, and Regina boarded the Jolly Roger. Regina gave Cora one last smile before walking out of sight.
Rumplestiltskin still stood in front of her. Belle and Mother Superior stood several yards away, the nun drying the librarian's tears.
"Rumple, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for all of the pain between us."
"Cora," Rumple began. It was the first time he had called her by her name to her face in a long time. "We can never be together. But we can be friends. We share a grandchild, and I'm going to save him. Stay here. Protect the town. And don't cause trouble, because I'll know."
"Deal," Cora agreed.
Rumplestiltskin and Cora shook hands.
"Goodbye, Cora."
Gold boarded the Jolly Roger.
Cora stood in silence, watching the boat begin to sail further out into the bay before going through a portal created by the magic bean. Then she turned and faced Storybrooke. She would defend this town. She would not let her family down.
She joined Belle and the Blue Fairy as they walked towards the main part of town.
Author's Note: I've known that this is how I wanted to end the story for a long time, and I've finally made it to that point. I will be starting a new story soon, detailing what happens with Cora, Belle and Mother Superior in Storybrooke during the first half of Season Three. Thank you for being such a great readership, and please review!
UPDATE: The new story is now online! To follow the continuing adventures of Cora Mills, read "Cora's Storybrooke," my new story!