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.
A/N: I don't own 'Star Wars' either.
The Heart of Evil
May 15
Late afternoon/Nightfall
A sick feeling washed through her …. Ruby knew what Maleficent had used as her anchor… the dark heart of her sorceress.
Ruby's anguish spread through the bond as Regina concentrated on trying to soothe her. Her wolf was visibly emanating distress and Regina knew she was the only one who could diffuse it. Both had to rein in their rampant emotions because of the necessity they act decisively, not be hindered by indecision and fear. The upcoming battle would test their soulbond to its limits. They needed to be alone to process through this upheaval and regain some semblance of control.
Aware the time to start making preparations was upon them, Regina took the opportunity to start the ball rolling by enlisting Tink's help to insure Henry's safety. She knew Tink wouldn't refuse her request thus giving her the privacy she required with her wolf.
"Tink, I still want your input on focusing my newfound abilities without depending on the bond but we need to get past this little problem we have first. For now, I need you … and Henry to help me with other matters."
Regina hugged Henry to her even as she maintained eye contact with Tinkerbell. "Round up the others, go to my vault, then call me when you get inside and I will describe what I need done. Mr. Gold will know what's needed to protect the outside. Working from there will give us a closer, defensible position to the lich's lair."
"Ruby and I have a few things to do before joining you at which time I'll explain what we're going to do. Henry, I want you to help Tink."
"But… I don't want to leave you." Henry laid his head on her shoulder and pulled her tightly to him. She kissed his head as she returned the hug.
"Ruby and I won't be long, we just need to set a few things in motion first." Regina didn't want to stress him or give Tinkerbell any reason to pick up on her uneasiness.
"Okaayyy... ummm... come on Henry." Tinkerbell stood and motioned Henry toward the door. He sighed and leaned in to kiss Regina's cheek before standing.
Studying Tink's expression, Regina could see she was suspicious, most likely due to Ruby's sudden change in behavior. She leaned forward, grasped her friend's hand and squeezed lightly.
"Thank you, Tink… for everything." Regina layered as much meaning into that statement as possible.
"Regina, just so you know… I don't like this anymore than Henry, but I believe you know what you're doing." Tink turned to Ruby, studying her for several long moments. Ruby remained quiet as she looked up, eyes hidden behind long, black lashes, tension visible in her bearing. Tink held her gaze and spoke softly. "Take care of her, Ruby... as only you can."
At Ruby's brusque nod, Tinkerbell led Henry through the front door, leaving Regina and Ruby staring each other down. Regina realized she had let too much through to Ruby. Taking in her wolf's manner and the turmoil radiating through her, she knew Ruby had pieced together enough of the puzzle to determine the endgame.
Calming her son with misdirection was one thing. Calming her wolf when she was fully aware of Regina keeping a secret of this magnitude was going to be another matter entirely.
"There's a certain amount of lunacy behind what you're thinking of doing… and I don't mean the kind I was subjected to as a 'child of the moon' before I met you. I just... you can't … and you've kept this from me?" Ruby wanted to scream as she shook her head in denial, her body vibrating with barely contained anger. Tears of frustration mixed with intense sorrow slid in a steady stream down her face. For while she still didn't know all aspects of Regina's plan, she sensed enough to guess the likely outcome.
"Ruby, I'm sorry… I just needed time to work through some details without worrying you...that's all, I promise." Ruby could hear the sorrow in her sorceress's words as Regina paused, her shoulders slumped in defeat against the tempest that was Ruby's reaction. "Little Wolf, I trust you completely. I was going to tell you… besides, I can't seem to hide anything from you anymore. We are so going to need to work on our boundaries when this is over."
Ruby was familiar with her sorceress's penchant of escaping into sarcasm to lessen her trepidation, having been in numerous unpredictable situations with Regina in the past.
She understood, but she was hurt on so many levels. The silence stretched on for several moments before Ruby spoke softly, her voice cracking. "Well... you succeeded in keeping this from me. I wish I knew how, I can't seem to block you at all."
In truth, Ruby was overwhelmed. Her greatest fear was fast becoming a nightmare, especially in light of Regina's intentions. She was deathly afraid of failing Regina when her sorceress needed her most. Regardless of how she tried to bury the anxiety, it increased and broke through self-imposed barriers.
Now, her soul was laid bare, revealing how frightened she truly was to the one person from whom she could no longer hide anything. The soulbond had grown so strong, so fast, she wasn't sure where she ended and her sorceress began.
"Regina, I honestly don't believe we can survive apart from each other now given how the bond is intensifying… but I'm scared it won't be enough."
A flicker of understanding crossed Regina's face and Ruby felt intense pressure build up along their connection. Her senses were flooded as her sorceress's conviction of their combined strength blazed through. Ruby drew in a deep breath as she soaked up the powerful waves of tranquility letting them wash over her, attempting to embrace her fears and move through them... beyond them. Only by releasing the turmoil could she function as Regina needed... but only if she could fully let go.
"Ruby, I have much more control when I feel your presence because our bond is my focus. We know the lich is vulnerable to light magic but I can't channel light if I can't draw on the bond… on the love we have for each other. We are stronger... more powerful together, Little Wolf, we always have been. I need you. As much as I don't want to put you in harm's way, my only hope to defeat Maleficent is if you are with me." Regina's countenance softened as she spoke, completely open to Ruby.
Her sorceress's words captured her fears and imprisoned those fears behind an impenetrable wall of truth. Ruby relaxed into the assurances Regina sent along their link to reinforce her spoken belief in what they could accomplish together. Regina leaned forward and took her hand.
"We will be ok, Little Wolf, but I won't lie, we're going to be tested. Now, let me explain what we're going to do..."
Regina proceeded to reveal her plan to Ruby in great detail and her reasoning behind each strategic move. When finished, her sorceress sat back expressionless, her demeanor belying the intensity of emotion spreading across their bond.
Ruby was shocked, not only at the complexity, but the sheer nerve her sorceress had to have conjured from somewhere to even think of this. Regina continued sitting quietly but she maintained an openness that soothed Ruby with unfettered confidence and belief. She knew Regina had to have both attributes in spades to even begin to trust her with such a daring course of action.
Essentially, Regina was placing the entire success of this venture in Ruby's hands without question, without hesitancy. Again, Ruby felt tears slide down her face as she openly stared into her sorceress's brown eyes. An easy warmth flowed from them which Ruby knew was for her and her alone.
No matter the depths of 'true love' Ruby enjoyed with Graham… apart from the rekindled 'true love' of Regina and Robin … in addition to a 'true love' shared by Regina with her beloved son… nothing could compare to the deep connection the two shared with each other. An inseparable bond that, over the years, had provided the sole source of light to both in a world of never-ending darkness.
Ruby closed her eyes and dropped all barriers she had erected between herself and her sorceress. Wholly centered on the soulbond, she succeeded in solidifying their connection to the extreme level required to pull off this crazy scheme. Releasing all fear, she felt her entire being settle into the bond, fully intertwining her soul with that of her soulmate. When she opened her eyes, she locked a steady gaze on her sorceress.
Regina wore a satisfied smile and radiated the same contentment Ruby herself now experienced.
"I'm ready, my queen..."
Emma watched carefully as Mr. Gold walked the perimeter around Regina's vault setting wards against the lich. He was using what he termed "neutral magic" as a precaution, explaining that even as the lich was vulnerable to light magic, she could use dark to grow more powerful.
"So this will create like… a wall she can't come through? Is that the idea?" Emma followed slightly behind him so as not to be in his way. He seemed open to her presence so she took the opportunity to learn about magic in general to better understand her own.
"Essentially, yes. You can cast it fully as a barrier or set it up as 'wards' which are much more efficient for a magic user. You see, Ms. Swan, if a ward is triggered, the protection spell it generates has the advantage of using the 'energy' of the one triggering it, thus sapping strength from the attacker. You can even tune them to be more receptive to certain threats. This one is tuned to a threat from dark magic which is why I'm being very careful not to use any."
"Umm, thanks… thank you. I honestly didn't expect you to answer… much less in that much detail."
"Whyever not, Ms. Swan? You asked and there was no harm in answering." He continued until he had completed the circuit around the vault before returning to the door. Sighing deeply, he conjured a chair and book before settling in to apparently catch up on his reading.
"Ok… what are you doing now?" Emma's voice rose a little as she asked the question.
"Resting. We're in for a long evening and it's not long until night falls. We should take advantage of the respite." His characteristic smirk appeared on his face but she noted something else in his look. "Oh, and Ms. Swan? Would you please tell the outlaw I need to see him before they venture into the dark lair for his son? I have something that might be of some use to him… free of charge."
Confused, she wondered why he couldn't do those things himself in the relative comforts of Regina's "fortress of solitude". Then it occurred to her.
"Regina has spelled her vault against your entrance, hasn't she? That's why you won't go in… you can't." It was Emma's turn to smile as she saw the look of annoyance cross his face.
"Yes, well, it's not like I let her in the back of my shop either. Old habits." Gold glanced her way, irritation prevalent on his features.
Chuckling to herself over his indignation, Emma descended into the vault to see Mulan, Snow, and Charming applying special tips to some arrows. Robin, Hook and Granny were preparing arrows that would be soaked in an accelerant and lit to carry flame to a target.
Tink waved to Emma while directing Graham and Henry on placing several long rods embedded in round copper stands around the room. "That's good. Regina can trigger these when she gets here."
Emma curiously examined the finished arrows and swords lying out on a stone bier in the center of the room. Her eyes widened as she realized the metal they were using on the weapons.
"You're using silver to tip these with? Are liches even vulnerable to silver? I thought that was a werewolf thing… and just in case you forgot, we have two werewolves I'd rather not risk..." Emma's gaze went to Granny Lucas who was keeping her distance from the objects in question.
Tinkerbell appeared at her side. "I know, I know… we'll have to be careful. According to what little our research has been able to discover, liches can be contained or driven back by silver and silver weapons. It may be similar to a werewolf's susceptibility to moonlight and silver."
Tink reached down and ran a finger over one of the silver blades. "While we know the lich won't move about in daylight, Graham noticed she's been very careful not to be caught out in full moonlight either. So we're guessing light itself is poison to such a creature… and I do mean guessing. There's not a lot recorded on these creatures. If we all survive this, I guess we can write that book."
"Oh we'll get through this, dear. One way or another." Regina appeared at the bottom of the steps with Ruby beside her. Emma watched the two closely as they moved into the room. Regina looked around and nodded agreeably at the work they had done. "Very good placement on the poles, Tink. I'll spell them using blood magic giving you ample protection if all else fails. Now... I have gifts."
Regina motioned to Ruby who carried a beautiful wooden box roughly one by three feet. The young wolf laid the box on the bier, looking warily at all the silver. Regina reached over and patted her shoulder. "Just don't touch, Little Wolf, you'll be fine."
Emma heard Ruby's snort of feigned irritation even as she observed the affectionate look between the two. She wondered once again at their surprising closeness. Emma's super power allowed her to determine if someone was lying, but another power she excelled at through a lifetime of practice was reading people through observation. She observed much with these two.
Shelving those thoughts for the moment, she leaned in to see the contents as Regina opened the box to reveal two intricately carved arrows and a single crossbow bolt. The shafts of the arrows ended in small, sharpened heads. The evenly spaced, three-sided fletching was minimal, shaped to provide perfect aerodynamics in flight. The bolt was a single short staff with a sharp point and identical fletching to the arrows.
"These are expertly designed, Regina. I've never seen their like." Robin reached to take one before Regina put her hand up to stop him.
"They are also imbued with the most powerful light magic I could conjure. It was exhausting to do, but with these, we should be able to destroy the lich."
Emma was impressed with the idea as Regina looked around the room, drawing everyone's undivided attention.
"I spelled them for particular individuals to aid in a true strike on the target. That is why you have to be careful about touching them…" Regina drew out her last words as she glanced over to Robin who had the good sense to look suitably chastised. Emma heard him mutter a 'sorry' as Regina continued.
"Granny Lucas, the bolt is yours. You will remain in this room as a last defense with Henry and Tinkerbell. Should Maleficent get this far and then past you, she will have access to everything in my vault, which would be… very… very… bad."
Looking at Snow, she pointed to one of the light magic infused arrows. "This one is yours, I trust you are still as good with that bow as you were in the Enchanted Forest?" It was stated in the form of a question, but Emma saw the smile light her mother's face at the backdoor compliment Regina gave her. "You and Charming will be outside with Mr. Gold as the vault's first line of defense."
Pointing to the last arrow in the box, the sorceress addressed Robin. "For you… now you can touch."
Robin chuckled as he carefully retrieved the arrow while Regina continued her instructions. "You, Mulan, Hook and Graham will infiltrate Maleficent's lair and rescue Roland when I lead her away. You are to return here. I will draw her back to the vault so we can regroup."
Glancing around at her captive audience, Regina resumed speaking. "Aim for her heart, the light magic contained within the arrows should obliterate it... which should cause her demise… theoretically."
"Ms. Swan, you will be with me and Ruby. As the only other user of light magic, you and I will weaken her so the light arrows will more easily penetrate the darkness that serves as her armor. Ruby will be a physical distraction giving us opportunities to cast as much as we are able."
Emma's eyes grew wide at the faith Regina placed in her abilities. "Regina, I don't think I can help you. You know I'm not very good at using magic. It works sometimes, but more often, I can't control it."
She was surprised at the easy smile Regina threw her way. If she didn't know better, she'd swear the former queen actually liked her. "Ms. Swan, although you are the product of 'true love', you have a hard time with the entire concept because it has largely been denied you in your past. I understand, believe me, I do… but now, you're surrounded by it." Regina paused long enough to motion around the room.
"Also, despite all current evidence to the contrary, I'm having… difficulties channeling light magic. It's hard to get past a lifetime of anger and rage which is why I've kept Ruby with me. She's my best friend and I love her as such. I can let go of the anger and concentrate on the fact she's … always there when I need her. The love I have for Henry would serve the same purpose, but he's obviously not going."
Emma thought on Regina's words and the affectionate look she had given Ruby as she spoke. The closeness of their relationship made sense in that context. "So concentrate on who I love, what I love… ok, I can do that… maybe… hopefully."
Wringing her hands nervously, she was startled when a firm two-handed grip on her wrists stopped her as her blue eyes focused on the green depths of her son's. "Mom, you can do this. You have the love and respect of everyone here… you just have to believe in yourself."
An arm settled over her shoulders and drew her into a semi-hug. Hook's expression was full of tenderness and promise, his dark eyes twinkled. "He's right, love. Have faith in yourself, we have faith in you."
Still nervous, Emma slumped into him. "Ok. I'll try."
"Oh, Mom!" Henry bounced on his feet as he squeezed her hands. She could see the teasing in his eyes, his mouth curled in an impish smile. " 'No... Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.' "
Delivered in a perfect imitation of the famed Jedi Master, Emma's mouth dropped open before her face split into a huge smile. Laughter bubbled up from beneath the anxiety as she lost herself in this shared memory with her son. She laughed so hard she gasped for breath.
Emma was reminded of a Saturday during their year-long exile that included awful weather and a Star Wars marathon. Henry loved that line, quoted it to her constantly because she apparently used the word 'try' too much for his liking. This was the first time he'd used it since their return to Storybrooke.
"Ok, Obi-Wan, or is that Yoda, I forget…" She chuckled as his eyes grew wide in consternation and the smirk fell off his face. "Just kidding… kid. Love you."
She kissed him on the head before leaning into Hook for a soft 'thank you' kiss.
Regina cleared her throat which ended their moment. "I do hate to cut this short, but we need to finish setting up and get into place before night falls. Start moving so I can set the pole wards… and be careful with all the silver weaponry. Injure Ruby… or Granny, and I will end you."
Emma watched Robin kiss Regina before picking up his light infused arrow and bow. He added several of the silver arrows to his quiver while Mulan took a silver sword and Graham acquired silver arrows for his bow and a sword. Hook took one of the remaining swords and followed his group up the stairs.
Emma wanted to tell her parents good-bye and was curious as to why they stood unmoving by the stone bier. The thunderous look on her mother's face coupled with her father whispering fast and furious in Snow's ear puzzled her. She started towards them when, glancing at Regina and Ruby, she realized what may have caused Snow to look so angry.
Groaning, she knew now wasn't the time to get into what Regina had revealed as fact with no denial as to its validity from Ruby. Emma watched for several tense moments as Snow seem to shake it off as she gathered up the accelerant soaked arrows, a torch with which to ignite them, and her light magic arrow. She hefted her bow over her shoulder while Charming took the last silver sword and followed her out.
Emma walked over to the foot of the stairs to stand by Ruby so Regina could set the protection spell. She glanced back one last time at her son and took in the warmth emanating from his smile as Regina's magic separated them behind a shimmering curtain of energy.
Emma, Regina and Ruby's short journey to the dark crypt was made in silence through fading light. Emma wasn't sure why she hadn't seen it before, but an eerie purple glow surrounded the crypt and grew brighter as night fell. Unfortunately, the moon was currently hiding behind a fast moving cloud bank so it wasn't going to be the advantage they were hoping it would.
It had been decided that Robin's party would wait behind one of the other mausoleums until the lich dropped the barrier to leave. When she appeared, Regina would lure her away giving the rescue party a window to retrieve Roland.
Regina and Ruby seemed inexplicably calm given what they were about to face. Emma marveled at the pair, wondering once again what more there was to their friendship. She had no more time to ponder the thought as the final rays of sunlight disappeared and darkness surrounded them.
She ducked behind the closest grave marker to hide her presence just as an unholy shriek erupted from the crypt. The faint glow of the barrier disappeared and the lich emerged.
Emma noticed the distinctive form of an undead creature before her, unlike the ethereal look she had seen before. The lich didn't float above the ground, nor was the cloak of darkness as black. The red pinpoints of light that served as her eyes were the only things unchanged in the creature before her.
"Now!" Regina yelled even as Ruby shifted form and charged the creature. She diverted her mid-air lunge just before reaching the lich, landing just to her right before the bolt of light hit Maleficent in her torso slowing her down. Regina and Ruby took off in a direction that would coincide with the path leading to Regina's vault. The lich recovered and followed them, quickly lost to Emma's view.
This was the break Robin's group needed and they raced for the dark crypt's entrance. Emma was to use her magic to provide cover for them in the event the lich saw them and doubled back. The second they cleared the door, Emma bolted in the direction Regina and Ruby had taken.
She heard them off to her left and changed her trajectory as she sped up, spying a break in the trees ahead.
As she broke through the trees, Emma found she was almost on top of the lich. Remembering Regina's instructions and concentrating on the love of her family, she drew on her magic, sending a strong surge of light energy into the lich's back.
With her attention solely on the pair in front of her, Maleficent hadn't seen the attack coming from behind. The lich whipped around, raising an arm to strike this new threat when suddenly her target was standing beside Regina with Ruby to their left.
Emma only had time to mutter a 'thanks' for the saving teleport before Regina let loose another blast of light. Ruby moved in on the lich to further drive her in the direction they wanted her to go.
As the lich halted momentarily against the assault, Regina and Ruby ran off again, this time with Emma on their heels. She was fascinated at how easily the two friends fought together as if they were of one mind.
The trio continued their run as the cloud cover broke leaving them bathed in ever growing streams of moonlight.
The lich screamed again as she halted in the shadows. Emma began to believe they had avoided catastrophe when the lich lashed out with a blast of dark energy laced with that debilitating chill. Regina and Emma were left reeling on the ground but she noticed Ruby was able to roll landing on all four feet. Emma quickly determined the wolf was stunned as she shook herself before lurching to one side.
As the moon was partially covered again, the lich moved forward raising both arms, claws extended. Her target wasn't Regina but the foundering wolf. From her prone position, Emma drew on her magic and threw it in the path of the charging lich. The bolt hit the creature in full stride propelling her away from the wolf. Emma pulled at Regina, forcing the woman to her feet and pushing her in Ruby's direction.
Regina collapsed across the wolf's broad shoulders even as Ruby was regaining her balance, her wolf strength keeping both standing. Emma saw something pass between the two when their eyes met. In that brief moment, the lich recovered in the dim light and unleashed a flood of dark magic towards the two friends.
Emma could only watch as Regina used her magic to throw Ruby clear of the blast as it engulfed the sorceress, suffusing her entire body in a flood of blinding energy. Her body was lifted off the ground before the energy subsided and she fell in a heap. The howl of the wolf was deafening, temporarily slowing the lich's attack before the moonlight broke through again driving her back to the shadows.
In the time between the moonlight's return and her agonizing cry, Ruby had shifted back to her human form and scooped Regina up. Cradling the stricken sorceress to her, the young woman took off at wolf speed towards the vault as Emma staggered to her feet. It was all Emma could do to keep them in sight as the vault loomed up ahead.
The moonlight brightened, slowing the lich, though Emma heard the creature move through the trees behind her.
She saw the other group had returned with Roland and were waiting at the entrance with her parents and Mr. Gold. They were lined up just behind the protection wards, weapons ready. Ruby never slowed. She blew right by them with Regina and disappeared inside the vault.
Emma skid to a stop once she passed the wards and leaned over gasping for breath.
"Emma, what happened? Regina?" Snow's voice was elevating as the group became fixated on the direction she had just come. There were enough trees dotting the landscape around the vault to provide some cover in the dim light so the lich was able to move closer, but out of range of their weapons.
Emma straightened and moved in front of the group, facing the lich, magic ready. "Don't think for one second you've won anything, Maleficent… we will stop you."
"So, you know who I am? I guess the queen figured it out after all." The lich's high-pitched laughter ricocheted around the area, sending a spike of terror down Emma's spine.
Surrounded by her family, the ease of drawing on her magic gave Emma hope she could protect them. It proved unnecessary as the moon emerged from the cloud cover flooding the area with bright rays of light. Letting out a long wail, the lich broke for the cover of the shadows, leaving them to regroup.
Emma wasted no time entering the vault and descending the stairs. The first thing she noticed was the blood magic barrier Regina had put in place was partially down. The side facing the stairs was open but the spell held true between the other poles completely surrounding the remainder of the room cutting off the rest of the vault.
The next thing she saw was Regina's body, stretched out on the stone bier in a state of repose. She stopped in the doorway, refusing to believe what she was seeing.
Emma's gaze was drawn to Ruby, her face expressionless as she looked down on the sorceress, one hand rested on Regina's chest, the other on her head. Henry stood on the other side of the bier from Ruby holding Regina's right hand as tears fell unchecked down his face, huge sobs wracking his entire frame. Tink had wrapped him up from behind as Granny put an arm around her unresponsive granddaughter.
"Ruby?" Emma asked softly, but she knew, in her gut... she knew. Ruby stood, unmoving, barely breathing. Tink was the one who answered the question Emma couldn't ask.
In a voice that was barely a whisper, the subdued fairy broke. "She's gone, Emma… Regina's dead."
{End of Chapter}