Again: I do not own OUAT or its characters.
Emma needed Regina in order to get back home to Storybrooke, but it didn't mean she trusted that Regina would actually help her. After the revelation that she was cursed in someway, Regina had gotten silent and had suggested they call it a night. Emma felt bad seeing the look of confusion on Regina's face and there was something else. Once Emma had told her Regina had looked almost immediately behind her at full length mirror.
Regina had ordered one of the guards to get someone to find accommodations for Emma, although it was Emma who added accommodations next to the queen's. Regina didn't overrule her and Emma was placed in rather large sized bedroom. When she had laid down in the bed she thought to herself that it must be nice to be queen.
In the morning she was woken by a chamber maid who seemed almost scared of her – or at least very nervous as she told Emma that there was another woman there who needed to get some measurements for clothing for Emma by order of the queen. Emma obliged knowing she couldn't wear the same clothes all the time, but hopefully she wouldn't be there that long. This other woman took her sizes, and made notes of the style she was wearing.
Emma informed her that she preferred not to be given a bunch of dresses. The woman seemed to study her almost as mush as she studied the clothing.
Food was sent up for her breakfast, by yet another servant who seemed nervous around her. Emma couldn't figure out why except maybe they weren't used to having someone stay in that room.
She ate, freshened up and then went to talk to Regina. She was stopped by the guards, and one of them told Regina she was there before she was allowed in. Regina was dressed in green-colored dress, that Emma thought accented her nicely in a subtle way.
"Got to say, not exactly the wardrobe I had pictured in my head," Emma said and then felt foolish for admitting she had thought about what the Evil Queen wore.
"Yes, well it appears like with everything else – it's changed."
"Did you sleep at all?"
"I gave orders for you to get some clothes of your own," Regina stated, avoiding the question. "It will probably be a little later in the day. We don't exactly mass produce anything here. I am sure they can come up with something you can live with."
"Have you come up with some story to explain who I am?" Emma asked. It was one of the last things they had said to each other the night before – the need for a plausible back story. Emma had insisted it be one that would keep her close to the queen's side. She was not about to let Regina out of her sight anymore than she had to.
"I am queen. Me saying you are a personal advisor or some such should be sufficient enough. Most people don't question a queen."
"And what will I be advising you on?"
"I don't care. Pick a topic Miss Swan," she said. "Since I can't exactly ask people to tell me my past, you are going to have to discreetly inquire about it. And perhaps you could come up with something more useful than vague references to how I became queen and this supposed curse."
"Supposed curse? Do you think I was lying about that?"
"No, only that you might have gotten bad information. Curses aren't something to played around with …"
"That's rich coming from you."
"My point is that if there was a curse why do I appear to be fine?"
"I don't know, how many different kinds of curses are there?"
"More than you might think. While there are standard curses like the sleeping curse, there are also ones that are more difficult or more tailor made which require a sacrifice from the caster. It's an art form in a way."
"I am less interested in your curse and your past than I am in how we get back home? Any thoughts on that?"
"You can hate me all you want for being here, but why don't you try thinking this through a little bit. Do you think I can simply wave my hand and send you home? If I had that kind of power we wouldn't be here now but even if I could merely send you back you would have the same problem as you did in Storybrooke and that is Zelena. Do you really think that she will be satisfied to leave Storybrooke alone?"
"Perhaps if you had actually helped us defeat her back then, none of this would be necessary," she said getting in Regina's face.
"Yes then you could back to New York with Henry, get back to your happy life, isn't that right? Isn't that your whole goal here? Yes I admit I made a decision not to stop Zelena for a selfish reason, can you admit the same about your motivations Miss Swan?"
Emma backed away. Regina had no idea that she had already spoken with Henry about going back to New York and the conversation hadn't gone well. She was determined that was the best place for the both of them, but Henry seemed to think they should stay in Storybrooke. The conversation had ended with Emma getting frustrating and telling Henry that she was his mother and she would make the decision about what was right for him. The kid didn't miss a beat with pointing out that she wasn't his only mother.
"You and me arguing isn't going to help matters," Emma said. "Truce?"
"Yes, I think that would be best."
Regina was sitting in her study going over some correspondences which came in with a messenger that morning. She was thankful for the excuse to have some time on her own. She had trapped Emma with the suggestion that she needed to familiarize herself with the castle grounds and kingdom and had her set up on a tour that she could hardly refuse. All morning while she met with various advisors, sat through a session where she heard petitions from the public – another initiative she had put into place. Apparently anyone could bring a petition before the queen no matter how low their station in life. She gathered the point was to be queen that was accessible to the public.
It also gave Emma her idea for a cover story which she almost gleefully announced in front of various members of the court that she was advising Regina on personal security matters.
People had been looking at or studying her and Emma all day and this new revelation didn't dissuade that. Even when she had Aaron set up the tour – something he said he would handle personally – he had whispered in her ear that as her friend he did expect a better explanation from her later as to who Emma was.
So much for not questioning the queen.
She rubbed her temple a little wishing she had a Tylenol. She hadn't slept hardly at all – at first because she kept thinking about what Emma had said. But then it was because of the memories. She had another episode, but this time more memories came flying into her mind. It completely overwhelmed her and it made her feel less in control. There were several that stood out but others were like background noise or static, but like before, it was like she was reliving them, not remembering them.
She was beginning to find it hard to remember how she had grown up before Zelena changed things. She had to concentrate hard and still only caught glimpses of those old memories like they were a dream she was bound to forget.
Most featured her and Zelena. It appeared they had been raised together as Zelena had planned. They were practically attached at the hip as sisters. There was no doubt in Regina's mind after this latest batch of memories that she loved her sister, worshipped her in ways only a little sister could and Zelena loved her back, doted on her, comforted her.
Comfort – something she really had experienced much as a child. She loved her father, and while he tried to comfort her at times he also tried not to openly challenge Cora and that more than anything hurt her. That apparently hadn't changed much in this reality. Cora was raising her daughters with the specific purpose that one if not both of them would be high royalty. She and Zelena were constantly being told how to carry themselves, how to dress, how to interact with members of a court, and all the other tedious things Regina had gone through alone.
But she wasn't alone in this time. And there was something else that she couldn't quite understand – a feeling her last memory had given her.
She and Zelena were with their mother. It was a magic lesson. As the older sister Zelena's lessons were often more advanced than hers, but not by much. Either way Cora always insisted on Regina being present. She was reading one of her mother's spell books while Cora was trying to get Zelena to make a plant grow to the point she would be able to get the plant's tentacles to retrain a person. It wasn't going well, but their mother was not letting up on her.
Regina figured she was no more than 13 in the memory, Zelena about 16.
"This is a simple spell," Cora said in frustration. "I think you are willfully disobeying me."
"And why would I do that mother?" Zelena smiled.
Regina cringed inwardly at the exchange. Zelena had been challenging their mother more than more lately and she didn't want to see what would happen when Cora decided she had had enough. Having been on the receiving end more than once of one of her mother's tirades, it was not something Zelena should be tempting.
She wasn't sure what had changed recently, but Zelena being the first born always seemed to be their mother's favorite. But lately she seemed to be doing all she could to topple that dubious standing.
"Maybe if you can't do it, we should ask Regina to try," Cora said, and Regina looked up from her spell book. And there it was she thought, the thing that seemed to have rocked the relationship the two daughters and mother had. About a month ago they had been at another lesson and Zelena was struggling at it and Regina, not even knowing why she did it – that wasn't entirely true Cora was yelling at Zelena over and over again and Regina had gotten angry. That angry had fueled her magic which had felt more and more lately and Regina had ended up setting fire to a cart in her anger. Fire was not a skill she had ever mastered – and one at her age was still a year or so away, according to Cora.
But when she had done it, she hadn't liked the look her mother gave her – pride. And it didn't appear that Zelena liked it either. Later that night Zelena, who had been silent most of the day to her and everyone else, asked Regina how she had done it. She told her that she didn't really know how, only that she was so angry at their mother. And she had wanted Cora to stop yelling at Zelena.
She hadn't even confided in her sister of how she could feel her magic more and more each day it seemed. The truth was it scared her.
"Mom always says our magic is tied to our emotions. You must have some righteous anger little sis."
But here they were again where Cora was pressuring Zelena and now Regina was being brought into it.
"Regina come here," Cora said.
Regina put the book down and went and stood beside Zelena.
"Now, show your sister how it is done,"
"Mother. I don't think …"
"You don't need to think Regina, just do it."
Regina looked at Zelena who shrugged. "Go for it."
Regina looked at the plant. She knew this was beyond her skill level and she had no desire to play one of her mother's manipulative games.
"Do it," Cora ordered.
Regina felt the anger build in her and for a second she was sure she could do whatever she wanted to do to the plant. But instead she let go of the anger. "No," she said and she turned to walk back into the house.
She heard Zelena yell her name a second before she felt the plant's tentacles grab her and lift her into the area. She struggled against them as her mother approached her.
"You aren't strong enough to challenge me. I suggest you learn that lesson quickly," she said. "Now when I tell you do something you obey. Now use your magic to unbind yourself."
"Mother, she …" Zelena started to say but Cora waved her hand and Zelena flew backwards hitting one of their wells. Regina watched as Zelena didn't get up. "Zelena," she called out hoping her she was only momentarily dazed. "Zelena!"
She glared back at her mother and felt that anger again – only more so this time. The plants unwound from her body and as soon as she hit the ground she ran over to Zelena, who still hadn't moved. She shook her trying to get her to wake.
"She needs help," Regina pleaded to Cora.
"Don't be dramatic. Your sister will be fine," Cora said dismissively. "But you my dear. Your power is growing isn't it? And here I thought Zelena would be the one, but maybe I was mistaken."
Again, Regina didn't like how her mother looked at her – with weird amount of happiness like she just discovered a new present.
Zelena started to come around and Regina turned her attention back to her as their mother walked away. Zelena was a little shaken the rest of the day but seemed to be ok.
"I hate her," Zelena confessed that night when they were alone in bed. "She cares nothing for either of us."
"She's our mother. It's not like we can do anything about it."
"Not yet," Zelena smiled.
"What do you mean?"
"Nothing. It's not something we need to talk about right now. I am sorry I couldn't protect you from her."
"I didn't protect you either."
"Yes, but I am the older sister, it's kind of my job to watch out for you. You know keep you from doing something incredibly stupid like you did today."
"It's ok. No matter what our mother does, I know you will always be at my side."
"That is true. Sisters forever," she said. "Now let's talk about something different. Did you notice the new stable hand?"
"His name is Daniel."
"Oh, is it. Does my little sis have her first crush?"
Regina didn't say anything but she felt her cheeks blush.
Emma returned from her tour with Aaron, while she knew she should go seek out Regina, she didn't. She returned to her room and sat down.
She thought about what she had learned and her conclusion hadn't changed from her immediate reaction.
She couldn't bring herself to tell Regina about the curse.
She had seen how worried Regina had gotten when she said the word curse the night before, and again this morning when she tried to dismiss the idea of it.
No matter what Regina had done, no one deserved the fate that had been placed upon her. She had no real concerns about Regina finding out about it. She couldn't ask anyone about it, and it was common knowledge Aaron said that it was never to be brought up in the queen's presence. As nice as this Regina appeared to be apparently people understood there were some lines that weren't crossed.
Emma was resolved that the only course of action was to get herself and Regina back to Storybrooke where they belonged. Maybe that would be enough to break the curse.