Chapter 14: The Battle of Storybrooke part 3

Storybrooke

As the battle between undead armies raged on Main Street and Cyrus and Iago battled their cousins Athena and Ares in the air, Regina, Mary Margaret, and Alice descended into Regina's vault. Sophia and Maleficent guarded the entrance above. They had just fended off Cora, who attempted to gain access to the vault while her army brawled in the town. Cora escaped, but stole Alice's heart in the process. Cora was now standing in the darkness of the forest using Alice's heart to control her. Alice was Cora's secret agent and was on a mission to steal something special from Regina's vault that would allow Cora to win this battle. Regina, Alice, and Mary Margaret wanted to check on the children of Storybrooke, who were being kept safe in Regina's special white room. Regina and Mary Margaret entered the room, unaware that Alice had quietly snuck off. The children were happy to see Regina and Mary Margaret. They thought the fighting was over. Unfortunately, they were mistaken. Henry was holding his infant uncle Neal and walked over to his mother and grandmother.

"Is it over?" Henry asked.

"Unfortunately not." Regina said. "We just wanted to check on you."

"How is everyone?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Scared." Henry said. "No one really understands what's happening."

"Just hang in there." Regina said.

"Have you heard anything from grandpa and the others?" Henry asked.

"No." Mary Margaret said. "As far as we know, they still haven't found Emma."

"So she's still being controlled by Zelena." Henry said.

"The second we get my mother and her army out of Storybrooke, we'll join them and make sure Zelena pays." Regina said.

"Where's Alice?" Mary Margaret asked.

"What?" Regina asked as she looked around. "She was just here."

"We should go find her." Mary Margaret said. "Stay here Henry. Thank you for looking after everybody."

Regina and Mary Margaret then left and locked the door behind them to keep the kids safe inside. They then turned and saw Alice standing on the other side of the hallway holding a small glass bottle with glowing purple liquid inside.

"Alice." Regina said. "What are you doing?"

"What needs to be done." Alice said.

"Regina. What is that?" Mary Margaret said.

"It's the Dark Curse." Regina said. "I still keep it locked up down here. Alice what are you planning on doing?"

"Finally getting my happy ending." Alice said.

"What are you talking about?" Mary Margaret said.

Suddenly, Alice was consumed by a cloud of purple smoke and disappeared.

"That wasn't Alice." Regina said.

"Cora has her heart." Mary Margaret said. "I can't believe we fell for that."

"Mother." Regina said in a menacing tone.

Alice reappeared in the forest in front of Cora, who was holding Alice's heart in one hand.

"Excellent." Cora said to Alice. "Give it to me."

Alice handed the small glass to Cora. The Queen of Hearts could feel the power within the Dark Curse. Now it belonged to her. Cora now had no need for Alice anymore. She began clenching her fingers into Alice's heart. Before she could crush it and kill her, a cloud of magic smoke appeared next to them, revealing Regina and Mary Margaret. The former Evil Queen thrusted her arms forward, magically sending Cora flying sideways and hitting the ground. She dropped Alice's heart by Alice's feet as she flew, but made sure to hold on tightly to the curse. Regina walked over to Alice, picked up the heart and out it back inside Alice's chest. Cora then got to her feet and looked at her daughter across the forest.

"It's over mother." Regina said.

"It's only just beginning." Cora said. "You think an alliance with the gods and an army of the undead are the worst I can throw at you? You're mistaken. Now that I have this, the whole world is mine."

Cora then disappeared in a cloud of magic smoke.

"I'm so sorry." Alice said. "She was controlling me."

"It's ok." Mary Margaret said. "There's no way to fight that kind of magic."

"It's not ok." Regina said. "Cora has the Dark Curse."