Chap 11.

Fruit of The Poisonous Tree.


Sometimes Zelena was pretty sure she hated Gold. She was almost certain that he only got so sick he couldn't leave the house on days where there was a town meeting. And while she had to be there for about half of it out of obligation for being in control so much of the town. She had to sit to the other half because she was named as Gold's proxy, which basically was a way of saying that if he did what I have to go, she had to.

The worst part was having to sit there for a good 10 or so minutes at the beginning of these things, and listen to her dear little sister spout off about how she was looking out for the good of Storybroke. Honestly Zelena could've hung herself with her own hair after the first two seconds of it normally, and on a bad day, which having to go to a town meeting automatically was, she instantly wanted to hang Regina up by her apple tree before the speech even began.

"This session of the Storybrooke city council will come to order. We will begin by reading the minutes from our last meeting." Regina shouted from the podium. And Zelena was already thinking about how she could be herself senseless with the spoons instead of having to listen to this.

But then suddenly Sidney stood up. "Uh, excuse me, um, Madam Mayor. I have something I'd like to bring to the council's attention." And Zelena couldn't help but smile thought of possible entertainment.

"This is not an open forum, Sidney. And no one on this council's interested in hearing the boozy complaints of a disgraced reporter. Now sit down." Regina bellowed causing Sidney to look like he wanted to sit down.

Well that was annoyingly short-lived Zelena thoughts. But then Emma decided to stand up with a binder.

"He's not the only one who has something to say."

"Miss Swan, this meeting is to discuss issues facing Storybrooke."

"Like the Mayor stealing thousands of dollars from the city to build herself a second home?"

Zelena looked around hearing gasps from the audience. And suddenly her and all of her children, because if she was going to suffer she was going to make them suffer as well, were sitting opposite very interested.

"Miss Swan, you will sit down immediately or so help me-"

"What? You'll punish me? You'll bully me like everyone else in this town? No. Not today. In my hand, I am holding documents proving that this woman, your mayor, stole funds from the city to build herself a lavish home in the woods. And this disgraced reporter – you want to know why he was really fired? Because he stood up to her. Because he questioned her. We all know what happens to people who question the Mayor. You claim that you act in the best interest of all of us, but that isn't the truth, is it? The truth is, you are a thug that doesn't care about anyone, or anything, but yourself. That is who you really are. And it is time for the people of Storybrooke to know that."

"You are right, Miss Swan. I am building a house – a playhouse." Zelena said smugly, before pushing a button to make a slide of a playhouse blueprints appear. "The accusations are true – I did take city funds. I wanted to build a playground so my son, Henry, and all the children of Storybrooke, could have a special place to play. Safely. As for the sketch in your hands, it was inspired by a drawing I found in one of my son's books. So, there you have it, Miss Swan. You've exposed me for who I really am. I hope you're satisfied."

Emma looked deflated, and Regina looked happy, and Zelena definitely wasn't going to let that stand. So she stood up. "Mdm. Mayor, just how much were those funds?"

"$75,000, why?"

"Because, while the Mayor here is allowed to use funds without consulting any other form of leadership, for instance the financial board, the tax board, or holding a tribunal, those can only be for emergency type situations. And while you might be able to give convince people that the need for new playground after the last one was destroyed could be possibly considered an emergency, the limit is for $5000. Now unless I forgotten how to count $75,000 is quite a bit more than $5000." Zelena said smiling. "I'm afraid this may be grounds for another tribunal to be held, and possibly looking into criminal charges."

When Regina heard that she looked shocked, but quickly recovered. "Well, good luck getting those charges to stick considering all the evidence was obtained illegally. Unless Miss Swan happened to be able to serve a search warrant or a listening warned of my offices without me knowing it."

Zelena then looked over at Emma. "Emma how did you obtain this evidence?"

"Responding to a break in, some kids threw a rock through the window."

"Really, some kids. And just where are those alleged children now?"

And then something happened that no one expected. Abby stood up and yelled. "I did it. Mr. Flufens made me do it."

Everybody just looked at her confused. "Mr. Flufens?" Emma asked.

"My stuffed rabbit. He said I should do it." She said smiling.

Then Jane stood up. "No it was me; Abby had absolutely nothing to do with it." She yelled.

"And why would you throw rocks at Regina's window?" Emma asked.

"Why really need a reason other than I really don't like Regina?"

"Considering it is you, I guess not." Emma said.

And then Danny stood up. "No it was me, and they all had nothing to do with it. It was me being encouraged by my delinquent friends; I am the victim of peer pressure."

"Well it appears you have three confessions Sheriff." Zelena said. "But without witnesses will be hard to confirm or deny who is lying or not. But I do believe the point still stands that any evidence Emma collected in searching your office to see if anything was stolen by vandals will not be thrown out, and even if it was in less the tribunal wished to bring up criminal charges against you, it doesn't really matter how the evidence was obtained, and if we did turned into a criminal case it would simply be a matter of having the judge sign off on it and the evidence would be fine." Zelena said trying, and somewhat failing to hold back the feelings of joy she was having a moment. However she did you considered a personal victory to only be smiling and not jumping around for joy at the thought of one upping her sister. "I suppose we shall simply have to send in the case for you. In the meantime I believe its meeting adjourned." And then Zelena and her children stood up and left. And soon after everyone else began meandering towards the outside.


"Emma. I was wondering if I quick word with you." Zelena said calling Emma over from where she was talking with Sidney. "Emma, please don't take this the wrong way. But are you insane, or possibly mentally unstable moments?"

Emma was very confused, and the look on her face showed it. "Um. No. Why?"

"Oh I just wondering. I couldn't think of any other reason why anyone would logically team up with Sidney to try and go up against Regina other than they were being completely illogical and actually wanted almost certainly fail."

"What are you talking about?" Emma asked still confused.

"Emma, think about it. You are teaming up with those loveliest sickest puppy in all of Storybrooke, in an attempt to take down the object of his affections. There's only so many ways that scenario plays out, and none of them are good for you. If it wasn't for my fast thinking, and the kids doing quite a bit of improv you would have been sunk in that meeting. You probably would have just walked out of there without even thinking of the fact that she was still technically embezzling, would you."

Emma took a moment to think, and had to admit that her initial reaction to finding out what Regina's plan was to do with the money was to just run out and bury her head in the sand, hoping to avoid any more public humiliation. She hadn't even thought of the fact that embezzlement alone would've sunk Regina. "But what good is one of catching her on embezzlement done, all the evidence women thrown out?"

"Yes it would of, but evidence is really needed when somebody confesses in front of any and every powerful person in Storybroke that they've just embezzled. After that evidence just becomes a stick you use to beat the already dead horse."

Emma had to admit, she definitely had never thought of that before. "So you don't think I should team up with Sidney, and who should I team up with?" Although she was pretty sure she already knew the answer.

"Well I get bored easily, so causing our dear Mayor distress is an enjoyable pastime. And any of my children would be more than happy to help do the same." Zelena said smiling. "So you ever need help, just come and ask." And with that Zelena left Emma to her thoughts.


I'm back. *EVIL LAUGH*

Thank you to Twyla Mercedes, Grace5231973, and xxxLeanniexxx