Chapter 14 - Bonding
Zelena lay crumbled on the ground outside the hospital. The four women in the doorway exchanged a worried glance. What should they do? Regina looked from her sister to her family and sighed, "I had a feeling this was going to be a long day." Her laugh was infectious, soon all four women were standing in the doorway smiling and laughing.
"What are we going to do with your sister?"
"Well darling, we could always just leave her there." Regina shot a glare at Cruella.
"In case you've forgotten my dear, we are the heroes in this little game, and heroes don't just walk away because it's easy. No we help her. Robin! David! Killian!" Her sharp tone had them running out of the building. When they stopped in front of her she pointed at Zelena, "Will you kindly go and fetch my sister and bring her inside please?" The men exchanged a nervous look and then looked back at Regina.
"Regina, is that…"
"Dad, she wasn't really asking, go get Zelena!" Emma had grabbed a hold of Regina's hand as they took down Zelena, and she felt the older woman squeeze hers in thanks. "Now!"
As the men moved out of the building towards the limp form of the witch they heard David mutter, "Looks like Snow's not the only one that's picked up Regina's personality traits…"
"I heard that!" Charming just smiled at his daughter as Robin held up the black, leather cuff Emma had taken off Regina that morning.
He looked at his soulmate for permission, "Should I?" Without bothering to consult anyone else she nodded. "Alright then," he slid it on her wrist and picked up his soon-to-be sister-in-law, "where should I put her?"
"An empty room is fine. Regina," Emma dropped her hand and turned to face her, "should we use our light magic to bind her dark?"
"Will that even work?" The three witches turned to look at Snow. "I just mean since she and Zelena are related wouldn't it make more sense for Emma and Cruella to bind her magic?"
"It would darling, but my magic is dark as well, I don't know if it would bind other darkness."
"It's worth a shot. I don't want to risk her getting that cuff off and having her powers back. The cuff didn't work on Regina, what if it's power is weakening?"
"That wasn't because the cuff was weakening Miss Swan, that was because of my strong baby girl. Speaking of which," she ran a hand over her stomach, "let's get the protection spell back in place before Rumple and Maleficent show back up."
"Oh I wouldn't imagine they'd come back now darling. They are far too outnumbered. I'd guess they are going to try and come up with a new plan first." She stepped forward and grabbed Emma's hand. "But Her Majesty is right. Let's put the spell back up."
Together the three women put the barrier back in place and made their way inside. Emma and Cruella stopped to ask Tink to add her magic to the spell and Regina made her way to the room they had placed Zelena in. When she got there all three men were standing in the doorway. "Leave us."
"Lass, I don't think that's the best idea." Regina didn't have to say a word, she just turned and looked at Hook. "I'll just go find Swan." He left the room in a rush.
"Good." She turned to face Robin and David, "I said leave us."
"Regina…"
"I am still the queen, and I was not asking, now leave!" She flipped her wrist and both of them were sent to the lobby in a cloud of smoke. Another flick of her hand and the door to Zelena's room locked behind her.
She made her way over to the bed and ran a hand over her sister's body. The baby added her magic to her mother's and together they restrained Zelena on the bed. "Alright sis, we need to talk." She flicked her fingers at Zelena and slowly the Wicked Witch opened her eyes.
-o-o-
Maleficent and Rumple reappeared in the cabin in the woods. "Are you sure this is the best place?" She wasn't sure that Rumple had made the best decision, Regina was bound to look for them eventually,, and this was the place she was most likely to start.
"We aren't staying. Just collecting things that we need."
Maleficent shot him a look. What could they possibly need from this god forsaking cabin? It wasn't like they had kept anything important here. "Where are we going then?"
"Somewhere you were likely to never go again. My wife's library." His eyes shone with the mischievous glint he only got when he had something up his sleeve.
"You are going to force me to go back to that dungeon?" Her eyes got wide. She had spent thirty years trapped down there and he expected her to go back down there without a second thought.
"No one is forcing you to do anything dearie. You are here of your own free will, you can leave anytime you want too."
"Oh really, I seem to recall you getting rather upset the last time one of us exercised our free will."
The grin on Rumple's face faltered for a fraction of a second, but he kept moving. Collecting little things from around the cabin as she stood in the doorway. "Do what you will dearie. I'm going, and I will get Zelena back, and I will win. So choose wisely Maleficent. You either face your fears, or you never find your happiness." And with that he vanished, leaving her standing in the doorway where she had landed when they arrived.
She looked around the cabin. There was nothing left for her here, but she couldn't bring herself to blindly follow the Dark One any longer. He showed hardly any concern for Zelena at all, and she was sure that he would have cared even less if it was her that they had taken. She shook her head and made her way back outside. They were villains, they had a right to not care about others, to only look out for themselves, but there was a part of her that seemed to know that was wrong. That same part of her that had cringed away from hurting Regina's son. Maybe she wasn't as dark as everyone wanted to believe.
No stop! She was Maleficent, the Mistress of All Evil. She could turn into a large, fire breathing dragon! She had leveled villages, burnt realms and never thought twice, but here in Storybrooke, in the town Regina had created to foster her happy ending, Maleficent could feel something inside of her changing. She turned back to the cabin, maybe Rumple was right, maybe villains don't get happy endings. But then again, Ursula seemed happy, and Cruella was helping the heroes, not to mention the Evil Queen. The worst of them all, the one that had given her her darkness back, the one that cursed an entire realm and sent them to a miserable new world. Regina's happiness had truly made her the fairest of them all again.
Maleficent sighed, she had made her decision. She had been evil for so long, had given up so much. She could only see one option if she was ever going to be happy, and as much as it shocked her, as much as it betrayed everything she had been feeling for years, it was right. Something inside of her knew exactly what she had to do, who she had to side with, and much to her surprise she laughed. It wasn't the Dark One that could help her find her happy ending. It wouldn't be through magic or violence. She had heard what Zelena had whispered to Regina, what she had made sound like a threat, "Love is weakness." But it was Regina that had been correct she realized, it wasn't weakness to love, it was strength.
-o-o-
"Regina." Zelena' voice was hoarse after being knocked out by their magic. She tried to sit up in the bed, only to find herself held down by Regina's magic. "Just kill me already sis. It would save you so much time."
"Who said anything about killing you? Oh no dear, I want to talk to you."
"What could you possibly think I have to say to you? You have everything, you always have had, what could you possibly want from me?"
"Answers my dear. We want answers. You seem to think that killing my child is the only way for you to be happy, how does that make any sense Zelena? How many lives have you taken only to get nowhere? Killing my daughter will not make you happy, and Rumple knows that."
"No he doesn't! And I don't either! Killing her won't bring my happiness right then, but it will leave the way clear for my path. If she lives she is a threat to all Dark Magic! How could you let something like that live inside of you? How can you protect that, knowing that one day she may get rid of you too, just like you did our mother?"
Regina laughed. "Get rid of me? She won't have any need Zelena. I am nothing like our mother. Our mother didn't have a heart, she couldn't love. I love so deeply that I can love without mine beating in my chest…"
"Love is weakness…"
"No!" Regina's tone caused Zelena to jump, "Love is never weakness Zelena, can't you see that? It's strength! How do you think we defeated you just now? You didn't pass out of your own free will. That was love, and we hit you with enough of it that you blacked out. Don't you see, that's why heroes always win! Villains may have magic, they may not have to play by the same rules, but they are missing the one thing that gives heroes their power. Love. Without love, there really isn't a point in going on. I know, I've been there, more than once. But the point is heroes keep going, they have hope, and every now and again, they are rewarded for it." She paused to look down at her sister. "I tried to give you a second chance once before Zelena, you chose not to take it. I'm offering you another one right now. Don't make the same mistake."
She left the room in a puff of smoke, and appeared in the lobby. When the pale lavender tails of the spell faded away Robin wrapped an arm around her waist, and she leaned into him. "I'm sorry that I sent you guys out here like that, I just needed to talk to her alone."
"We understand. I just wish you'd be more careful." He kissed the top of her head. "There are two young princes in your room that would like their mother to play a game as she promised before."
Regina laughed and headed in the direction of her room. The boys were waiting patiently for her when she arrived, and together they played with her magic.
-o-o-
Cruella felt it first, the wave that passed over the entire hospital as someone magical tried to reenter the area. Without waiting to see if anyone would follow she made her way to the front doors. When she got there, Maleficent stood waiting. "What are you doing back here? How could you dare to come back here now? We already have Zelena, we wouldn't want Rumple to loose the only girl he's got left."
Maleficent raised her hands, palms out to show she meant no harm. "He doesn't have anyone left. He's alone. I have come here to speak with Regina. Please." The please was tacked on as an after thought, but it was better than nothing.
"She's not available at the moment." Emma had come up beside her aunt. "Can we help you with something?"
"I just feel, different, here and I wanted to know if it was something similar to what she had felt. I just wanted to find out what was going on." She looked Emma straight in the eye as she spoke, and the younger blonde's superpower said that she was telling the truth.
"Okay, well I don't know much about what you're feeling right now, but I know a little about magic, and Regina has said before that her magic has changed. Come on in and let's see if we can't figure this out."
"Emma, darling, are you sure about this? What if it's a trap? What if she's still working for him?"
Emma smiled, "Honestly I said the same things about you. You weren't lying and neither is she." She reached for Cruella's hand. "We need to tell the barrier to let her through."
"Okay," she took Emma's outstretched hand, "But I still have my doubts. She was way worse than I ever was."
"Cruella, you know I can hear you right?" Maleficent shot her one of her million watt smiles. "That barrier is magic proof, not sound proof."
"Oh I'm well aware darling." Cruella smiled back sweetly, "Alright," she waved a hand at the barrier and waited for Emma to do the same. "Try and come in."
Maleficent approached the barrier timidly, after all it had thrown Rumple back only a few hours ago. She raised her hand to the edge of it and pushed in slowly. It gave way, and the rest of her body followed into the protective shield. She extended a hand to Emma. "Thank you."
Emma took the hand, "You're welcome. Come on in, we have a lot to discuss."
"That we do. First, is Rumple's wife here?"
"Belle?" Emma looked at the older blonde curiously, but chose not to ask questions. "Yeah she's in the lobby come on."
Flanked one on each side by Emma and Cruella, Maleficent entered the lobby of the hospital. "Whoa! What are you doing here? How did you get past the barrier?" Robin and Killian both moved to block the hallway off and David reached for his gun. "What do you want Maleficent?"
"Sanctuary." Her voice was soft, but strong. She met the Prince's eyes and then looked to Emma. "I mean no harm, and the Savior has agreed to listen, but please, I wish to speak with Belle."
"I'm right here." Belle stepped across the room and stood in front of Maleficent. "What is it you wish to speak to me about?"
"You mustn't go back to the library." She looked around the room at all of them, "That's where he went. I know he's trying to figure out how to get Zelena back and then take out all of you." She reached out to touch Belle's arm when the young woman's eyes went wide, but then thought better of it. "I'm so sorry my dear. But it's true. He no longer thinks he can find his happiness here, no matter how much he loves you."
"He doesn't love me…"
This time Maleficent did touch her, she lifted her chin and looked in her eyes. "That my dear, is where you are wrong. I believe he fears how much he loves you, because the one thing none of us has ever had is love. And that is what makes us weak."
They locked gazes and Maleficent saw the tears form in Belle's eyes. She felt a brief flicker of something like affection for the young girl as she heard Emma speak, "I'm so sorry Belle."
"No, Maleficent is right. I know how to stop this. I know how to make him see. We have to get rid of the Dark One, the only way I know how."
Robin looked confused. "Getting rid of the Dark One just creates a new Dark One? How does that help?"
"It doesn't have to." They all turned to look at Regina as she and the boys joined them. "Maleficent." She nodded at her friend, figuring someone would explain why she was being welcomed soon enough. She turned back to her fiancé, "True Love's kiss can break any curse." She smiled at Belle, "I believe we have had this conversation before."
"Indeed." Belle nodded. "Back when I didn't know who you were, and before you locked me away so that I couldn't save him." She laughed at the next memory, "He was so surprised I returned that day, and if it wasn't for you, I probably wouldn't have. Thank you for that by the way." Regina's expression was puzzled, but Belle continued, "If you hadn't convinced me to go back that day, everything here would be different. I wouldn't have married him, and I wouldn't be able to stop him now." She reached for Regina and the queen met her half way. "Even way back when the Evil Queen was quietly a hero."
Everyone laughed. Snow walked over and nudged Regina's shoulder, "I've known that since the moment I met her." The queen rolled her eyes, but chose not to comment. Feeling loved was worth a little bit of chiding from her stepdaughter.
"Okay darlings, I realize that you all are heroes, and you do the lovely, mushy moments, but I'm a bit more practical and I'd like to know what our next move is." Cruella had picked up Roland when the boys had come in with Regina, and she swung him in circles as she spoke.
"It seems they aren't the only ones being mushy Cruella dear. What ever are you doing?"
"Aunt Ella, again." Cruella had stopped swinging Roland around when Maleficent called her on it.
"Well like it or not darling, I am a part of this family." She swung Roland one more time and then set him down and whispered in his ear. "Why don't you go ask Aunt Mal to play?"
Maleficent's eyes went wide when the little boy ran up to her, "Are you my aunt too?"
Robin laughed and started to answer but Regina cut him off, "Yes sweetheart." She walked over to the pair and picked up her son before turning to Maleficent. "She was a better sister than the real one in the other room any day." She offered her friend a smile before offering her her son. "What do you say Mal? Wanna be a hero?"
Maleficent laughed, but she took Roland from Regina. "Today I will be."
-o-o-
Rumple entered the library alone. He had expected Maleficent to show up by now. He waved his hand and the elevator sprung to life, he lowered himself into her lair and waited. Time passed slowly as he expected the dragon to appear. When she did not he sent out feelers for her magic. What he found surprised him. She was at the hospital, they all were, but he couldn't quite get a read on the situation. He knew they were holding Zelena there, where they holding Maleficent too?
Rumple arrived just as Regina rejoined the little band. Maleficent was with them, but they weren't restraining her. In fact they were laughing. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but he could tell they were happy. The sight of the witches so easily finding something to be happy about made him cringe. This shouldn't be happening. The prophecy had said that the infant princess would have great power. Great power meant danger, he wanted nothing to be more powerful than they were, and yet somehow they were all joining Regina and her unborn child. What was happening? How were they finding something to be happy about when the world as they knew it was ending around them?
Rumple's attention drifted back to the family before him, he watched as his wife and Maleficent were included in that family. They all fit together so easily. There was someone missing though. That green fairy had been here earlier, her magic was still in the barrier. He could feel her, so where was she? He followed the pull of her magic around the side of the hospital, it wasn't until he saw the flash of green light through the window that he found her.
Standing over Zelena, holding the black fairy's wand above her head. He knew that Tinkerbell had never been one to follow the rules, but Regina had said it herself. Heroes don't kill. So what was she going to do?