"We have to figure something out. Snow and Charming are in danger." Blue said.
"So, let's go witch hunting. I don't like it when people take my things." Regina said.
"No, dearie, you never were very good at sharing. But since when do you care about Snow and Charming?" Rumple asked.
"I meant my castle." Regina said.
Robin stared at her and shook his head. She was every bit as selfish and ruthless as the stories he'd heard.
"So what's your grand plan for taking back your castle, your majesty?" Robin asked. Regina's head snapped toward him. He thought he saw a brief glimpse of hurt in her expression, but it was gone before he could really pinpoint it.
"Well, since Charming already got caught using my secret entrance, I would advise avoiding that." She said.
"This is going to be a magical battle. I think we should leave the non-magic users here where they'll be safe." Blue said.
"Agreed." Regina quickly agreed.
"I'm not going after the witch alone." Rumple said.
"Who said alone? The four of us will go. And Ruby. And any of the other fairies that would like to go." Regina said. "Although, without fairy dust, the fairies are pretty helpless so maybe it would be better for you all to stay back. Rumple and I can go."
"You may have a death wish, but I just narrowly escaped and I don't wish to tempt fate again." Rumple said. "I still have family to live for."
Regina glared at Rumple. "Go then. I don't know why I wasted my energy bringing you back here."
"I thought you didn't even know that's what you were doing." Rumple challenged. "Once again casting spells you don't understand."
"I'm done talking. Everyone leave. I'll go by myself. When I feel like it." Regina said waving her hand dismissively.
"I think-" Robin started.
"I said I'm done talking. Go! Unless you'd like me to help you find your way out." Regina said threateningly.
"Let's get some dinner." Blue said evenly and turned to lead the group out.
Regina had her arms folded across her chest and she was glaring ferociously. Tinkerbelle hung back as the rest of the group walked out.
"Getting angry isn't going to make you feel better. You've been down that path before." Tinkerbelle said.
"Fly away, pest!" Regina said.
Tinkerbelle remembered being dismissed very similarly so many years ago. When Regina had been alone and afraid and hurting. She stared at Regina intently.
"Something's bothering you. And it has nothing to do with Rumplestiltskin." Tinkerbelle said. "What are you afraid of?"
"I'm not afraid of anything. There's nothing left to be afraid of. I have nothing left to lose." Regina snapped back.
Tinkerbelle frowned. Regina was worried about Snow. That was clear even if she wasn't admitting it. And she'd seen how uncharacteristically emotional Regina had been at her childhood home, but there was something else bothering Regina.
"You're worried about Snow. And upset about your mother. But there's something that scaring you. What is it?" Tinkerbelle pushed.
"Don't push me, fairy. I'm not as redeemed as you'd like to believe." Regina said evenly.
"You're not going to hurt me Regina. We both know that. Why don't you stop playing games and just tell me what's bothering you?"
Regina met Tinkerbelle with silence. Tinkerbelle waited. She frowned. If this was a battle of the wills, the Queen would surely win. She had a will of iron. As they stared at each other, Tinkerbelle replayed the conversation in her mind. Regina had been sparring with Rumple in the manner they always did. She'd been abnormally patient with Blue. It wasn't until Robin—That was it! She smiled mischievously to herself.
Not missing a thing, despite how thoroughly tired she felt, Regina caught Tink's smirk. "What are you smiling about?" She asked.
"Why such hostility toward Robin? What has he done to threaten you?" Tinkerbelle asked. Regina's shocked face, told her she'd pinpointed exactly what Regina was afraid of. Robin.
David was using his shoe to try to force the bars apart.
"I don't think it's going to matter how much leverage you put behind that. Your shoe isn't going to budge those bars." Snow said.
"Well then why don't you come up with something?" David returned.
"Don't snap at me. This isn't my fault." Snow said.
"No. It's Regina's."
"What? David, that doesn't make sense. For once, Regina had nothing to do with this." Snow said.
"She's the one that sent me here. She told me how to break into the castle. She probably wanted me captured." David said, although, he knew it wasn't really true. He was going to break in no matter what and Regina knew that. She'd only tried to help him come up with a plan that had a chance of succeeding.
"She told you how to break into the castle?" Snow asked.
"Apparently, she knew about all these secret tunnels that led in and out of the castle. I guess so no one could sneak in without her knowing it…although, I don't know why she wouldn't have just put guards on them."
"It wasn't about people sneaking in. She must have found a way to escape." Snow said.
"Escape? She was queen why would she need to escape?" David said.
"She wasn't allowed to leave the castle without my father." Snow said. "At first I think Cora put up a spell, but she must have figured out a way to break it because I remember her and father getting into a fight about her leaving the castle. And after that there were always more guards following her around."
"We don't really have time for this." Rapunzel interjected.
"Right. We need a plan to get the guards' to come in. Then we can attack and escape. Do you remember the way through the tunnels, David?" Snow asked.
David nodded.
"Good. Then I think I have an idea."
The group was convened in the dining hall. They were already animatedly discussing ideas, though Regina had yet to make an appearance.
"I agree that it's going to be a magical battle, but the witch's minions can be taken down by non magic users. I think we stay together and everyone goes." Blue said.
Rumple sat with Belle holding his arm on one side and Neal sitting on the other. Belle couldn't seem to focus on anything other than the fact that Rumple was back.
"So we surround the castle while the Queen and the Dark One go in? I don't think we should trust them alone." Phillip said.
"I don't think we have a choice. None of the rest of us have enough magic to be of any use. The witch would just use anyone else as more hostages and she's already got two. We don't need to give her more." Blue said.
"What about Emma? Can't Regina bring her here like she brought Papa?" Neal asked.
Rumple seemed to ponder it and then shook his head. "No, I don't think she can. She didn't consciously try to bring me here. She was surprised when she saw me." He turned to Blue. "What did the Queen think she was doing?"
"Creating a storm. Shouldn't she be here for this?" Robin asked.
"He's right. If we're going to use her, she should be here. How do we even know what she can do if she's not here? It's silly to create a plan that's reliant on her magic if it won't work." Aurora said.
"Do you really need her? I thought you were stronger than Regina anyway." Belle said to Rumple.
Rumple would never admit that with the book, it was possible Regina's abilities rivaled his. Instead he simply side-stepped the question. "If it's a battle for the book, we'll need Regina's help."
The witch cackled as she stirred the pot. The guard was surprised the witch was reacting so well to the fact that the sorceress had the book.
She smiled. "Bring it right to me, my pretty."
"So we're not going to ride there?" Robin asked.
"It will take to long. Teleporting will add the element of surprise." Phillip said.
"I don't think we should rely so heavily on magic. It's dangerous." Robin argued.
"Is it even possible to teleport us all to different locations?" Neal asked.
"It's possible, but it will take a lot of magic." Blue said.
"And I suppose I'll be expected to supply that." Regina said standing regally at the top of the stairs.
"Ah, decided to grace us with your presence, eh, love?" Hook asked.
"The moth wouldn't leave me in peace." Regina said brushing him off as she began descending the stairs. She looked every bit the queen. Robin could only imagine how breathtaking she must have been in her royal garb. He'd never actually met her before the curse. As he studied her, he noticed how tightly she was gripping the railing. Her posture was tall and commanding, but her grip told another story. She was stubborn, but she was going to fall as soon as she let go of that rail. Should he let her? It would serve the arrogant woman right.
"If I'm going to be doing all the heavy lifting, I thought I might at least get to weigh in on the plan." Regina quipped. She was near the bottom of the stairs now. Her eyes briefly darted across the distance she'd have to cover after letting go of the stairs. She could feel the muscles in her legs threatening to collapse.
Robin was suddenly at her side offering his arm. "I do believe it's proper for a Queen to have an escort?" he asked. She looked up to meet his eyes. He was offering her a way to save face. Preventing her from making a fool of herself by collapsing again, while saving her pride at the same time. She lifted her chin.
"It's about time someone decided to show me a little respect. I am your Queen after all." She said haughtily.
Robin just nodded as she allowed him to take her arm. As she let go of the stairs, he could feel her weight shift into him. And he felt it again. Why did she make him feel this way? He didn't even like her, much less feel affection for her.
Rumple was studying them with an evil twinkle in his eyes. "You've managed to make a friend, your majesty. Is that a first?"
She glared. "Shut up imp. Don't think all is forgiven just because you faked your death."
"I most certainly did not fake my death."
"Oh? So you're not sitting here alive after we all thought you were dead?" Regina said.
"I intended to die. I'm actually not quite sure what happened myself." Rumple answered honestly.
"Not now, Papa. We need to discuss the plan." Neal said.
Tinkerbelle kept her eyes on Regina and Robin. There was something…she raised an eyebrow, but was quickly brought out of her observations by the conversation around her.
"Yes, what ingenious idea have you all come up with this time?" Regina asked.
"They'd like you to transport everyone to surround the castle so they can attack the monkeys while you and the crocodile and possibly the fairies go after the witch and free the Charmings." Hook summarized.
"Do you have any idea how much magic it takes to teleport that many people to that many different locations? Blue, you didn't think to tell them—"
"You did it before, sister. Don't try to make us believe you aren't strong enough." Leroy said. "You just don't want to help Snow."
Regina shut her eyes and took a deep breath. "I suggest," she said biting out the words, "that you refrain from calling me 'sister' if you would like to retain your human form."
Leroy took a step forward. "Did you just threaten to turn me into something?" He moved threateningly toward her.
Robin instinctively moved toward the dwarf while pulling Regina away. Regina, wasn't having any of. She was no damsel in distress. Pulling out her arm away from Robin, she stepped toward Leroy and leaned over him. "Watch it dwarf. I think I'd like you much better as a rabbit."
"Where's the book, Regina?" Rumple asked suddenly.
"What?" Regina turned abruptly to face him.
"The Grimmerie. Did you leave it unprotected?"
Her eyes met his and he knew the answer. Without hesitation, he was at her side pulling her from Robin's arms.