Chapter 14

Regina couldn't believe what was happening. Her mother was forcing her to choose between Daniel and Henry.

"Mother, you can't do this. I love them both. Why are you forcing my hand?" asked Regina.

Cora looked at her daughter with mocked innocence. "My dear Regina, I'm giving you a chance to remove weakness from your life."

"By forcing me to kill?" asked Regina.

"You've killed before. It shouldn't be that hard this time around," said Cora.

"No! I will not let you destroy everything I've built. I've worked too hard to get here."

"What did you gain from your so-called victory? A town that hates you more than they did before." Cora pointed to Henry. "A son who has deserted you for his real mother, to Snow and Charming."

"I am Henry's mother," said Regina.

"Really? If you're his mother then why doesn't he live with you? I can answer that for you. Henry knows who you truly are. You've done too much damage to the people in this town. You've destroyed too many lives."

"Henry has forgiven me," Regina argued.

"If that were true, Henry wouldn't break your heart time and time again," said Cora.

Henry spoke. "I've forgiven my mother. My mother will stop you."

Cora squeezed Henry's heart. "Who gave you permission to speak? Dear boy, you have worse manners than I originally thought."

Regina got angry. She could feel the magic itching to get out. She raised her hand to throw a fireball when Daniel spoke.

"Regina, don't do this. Stay strong, Regina."

Regina locked eyes with Daniel. He was her happy ending. She couldn't let him go. The pain would be too great the second time around.

"Yes, Regina. Stay strong. We can rule Storybrooke the way it is meant to be ruled. Now make your choice."

"Regina, let her kill me. Henry is just a boy. He still has a life to live. I'll see you again someday," Daniel said his voice faltering with every word.

Cora stood in front of Daniel. "Aren't we the noble one? You are nothing more than a peasant who is unworthy of my daughter. Without you, she became Queen. You would've robbed her of that destiny."

Cora turned to face Regina again. "Your stable boy offered himself as a sacrificial lamb. I wonder if your precious love can be resurrected again. How many times can a person have new hearts placed inside them? Shall we test that theory?"

Cora squeezed Daniel's heart and he cried out in pain. Regina didn't move so Cora squeezed Henry's heart as well.

Regina's heart was breaking into a million pieces. She sank to her knees. She couldn't take the screams any longer. "Stop!"

Regina knew what had to be done. It was the only way to save them both. She would do what was necessary even if it mean her own life.

Cora stopped and smiled wickedly. Regina could see those soulless eyes burning right through her heart to her soul.

"You've come to your senses. Good. Now, who do you want to save?"

"Both. I'm what you came for. You let them go and I will give you me. I will do whatever you want."

"Mom, no! You can't give in!" yelled Henry.

"Regina, what are you doing?" Daniel asked at the same time.

"I'm trading my life for yours. It's the only way."

She focused her eyes on Cora. "Mother, put their hearts back and I'll give you mine. You're right, my heart can't take the pain anymore. Love is weakness and if we are to rule, I can't do it with love."

Regina ripped out her own heart to the shock of everyone. "My heart is yours to control. You want me to be queen then so be it."

"Regina, you can't do this!" Daniel yelled.

"Mom!" yelled Henry.

Cora took Regina's heart in her hands. "Now Regina can still get rid of those two weaknesses."

Daniel pushed Henry behind him. He knew something was about to happen.

Cora spoke to Regina's heart. "You've done good, my daughter. Now, kill Henry and Daniel."

"Regina, come back to me," said Daniel. "Regina, you'll live to regret this," he continued pleading for her to fight Cora's control.

But when Daniel looked into Regina's eyes, they were different. They were cold and lifeless. No more was the Regina he knew or the Regina who had begun to change. Instead, he found himself face to face with the eyes of the Evil Queen.

Regina knew she lost herself. Her mind was clouded with darkness and she couldn't see a light. All she heard was her mother's voice: "Love is weakness. Henry prefers his real mother to you."

Her mind tried to register what Daniel was saying but nothing got through. Her thoughts traveled back to the Enchanted Forest and how Snow told her mother about Daniel. "My life is ruined because of that brat Snow White."

The next thing Regina heard was "kill Henry and Daniel". Something inside Regina snapped. Suddenly those names held no meaning for her. They were obstacles keeping her from power. No one was going to keep her from fulfilling her destiny as Queen.

Regina conjured up a fireball and headed towards her prey.

"Regina, please, you have to fight," pleaded Daniel.

Regina let out a wicked laugh. "Regina is no longer here. I am. Regina doesn't need love to rule as Queen only power. What did love get her? An unappreciative son and a dead fiancée. Her heart is shattered and there's no fixing it. Now, you two are no longer any use to Regina. Say goodbye."

Daniel couldn't let this happen to Henry. If it was just him then it wouldn't have mattered. He vowed to take care and protect Henry.

"Henry, close your eyes," said Daniel.

"But-

"Now, Henry!" yelled Daniel.

Henry closed his eyes. He could hear his mother's footsteps approaching them. He never wanted it to be like this. He just wanted his mom back.

Daniel knew Regina would never forgive herself if they died by her hands.

"I will always protect you, my queen. I am here for you no matter what," Daniel told Regina.

"Ha! Regina can't hear you. She's gone for good. Pity, you're very handsome. We could've been so good together. Unfortunately, you have to die."

"Not today, I'm not," said Daniel.

The Evil Queen stopped in her tracks. "You plan on stopping me."

"I plan on getting you back," Daniel replied.

"How's that? True Love's Kiss? Dear, you'll be dead."

"Daniel, concentrate." Daniel saw the apartment he wanted to go to.

Suddenly, a white light encircled Daniel.

"Henry, grab my hand and hold on tight!"

Henry did as he was told.

Cora didn't like what was happening. "Regina, now! Do it!"

Regina threw the fireball as Daniel magicked himself and Henry to Snow's apartment.

Cora screamed out of frustration.

Regina turned to her mother. "He can do magic?"

"Apparently. Just one more detail that has to be dealt with. You, my sweet girl, did what I wanted. You almost killed Daniel and Henry."

Regina scoffed. "I would've succeeded if that peasant hadn't distracted me. Don't worry, he and that boy will not be a nuisance to either one of us."

Cora caressed Regina's face. She was proud of herself. Her daughter was back to being the Evil Queen. She was hers to control.

"Come, dear. Let's go home," said Cora.

Snow was in the kitchen preparing lunch when she saw a white light in the middle of the living room.

"David!"

David rushed down the steps sword in hand. He was about to swing when Daniel and Henry appeared.

"Daniel! Henry! How did you get here?" Snow cried.

"I magicked us out of some trouble," Daniel said.

Henry ran into Snow's arms. "Mom is in trouble!" he sobbed.

"Emma?" asked David.

"No, Regina. We have a problem," Daniel said.