A guest asked in a review why has Regina not chosen her mother's heart instead of following her madness? I personally thought this route would be more interesting and I was following the whole she still wants her mother's approval in a strange way because she had never received Cora's love. Which is why she banished her through the looking glass. :)

Chapter 21

As everyone once again started to arrive for the dreaded ball, they were struck with fear as to what was going to happen, all they did know right now was that they believed their Queen after witnessing her mother's actions and wanted to unite together.

Rushing into her daughter's chambers, Cora smiled at her and watched her carefully for a reaction to what she is going to say. "Regina dear..you can stop pretending now"

The brunette looked to her mother warily, masking her panic. "Pretend mother? What are you talking about?"

The older brunette raises an eyebrow. "Why the ball of course? You think you could hide that from me?"

The Queen stands from her dresser thinking then smiles. "Mother it was meant to be a surprise..I am simply retracting my speech from yesterday...about being Queen. The kingdom as far as they are aware still presume that I have stepped down"

Cora nods. "Yes..quite right. It is a good job that I had found out dear otherwise I couldn't of invited Rumple and his family"

Regina looks surprised, thinking at least now they will not have to sneak in. "You did?"

The older brunette pats her shoulder. "Yes I did..you requested the removal of Ingrid's heart and with everyone here I thought it would be the best time to do it...show them their real Queen"

The Queen silently gulps and nods. "Yes very well..I will just make my presence known.."

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Rushing downstairs, Regina heads to the side room, checking for any people present in the corridor before she does. Upon entering, she smiles seeing Emma standing with her family. "Did you manage to sort it?"

The blonde nods. "Yes we did"

The brunette looks to the other pair then in shock seeing Rumple back to his dark one form. "What have you done?!"

The imp looks back. "What I had to, to protect my family."

The blonde holds out the goblet. "We had to reverse the effects.."

Regina takes it then sees Ingrid step forward, placing a hand over it and turning the goblet silver. "What is that for?"

Ingrid nods towards it. "So no one will recognise it..and its light magic so Cora wont either"

The Queen nods also. "Okay..good but there is one thing. She..changed what she said about letting Emma go so long as I'm Queen..."

Emma looks over at Regina hearing and looks worried. "What..what does that mean for the plan?"

Regina sighs. "She said I had to decide whose heart to take..yours or..your mother's. I agreed having pretended I took one from the villagers when it was in fact one from her vault"

The blonde bites her lip. "Can you not do that again?"

The brunette shakes her head looking guilty. "She wants me to..do it tonight in front of everyone"

Emma looks down. "But...you.."

Regina looks teary. "I don't want to..but..I chose your mother so that I could persuade mine to not let me crush it..to say that we could control instead.."

Rumple glares moving up to the Queen. "Never going to happen!"

Ingrid grabs his arm and pulls him back. "This could work to our advantage.."

The brunette looks confused. "How? I.."

Emma shakes her head. "No we are not doing this!"

The older blonde reaches for her daughter's hand. "Emma..all of you listen.."

Regina glances over at Emma listening to Ingrid's idea and hugs the blonde as soon as they are finished talking. Emma hugs back tightly then kisses the brunette's cheek. "You can do this I trust you"

The Queen smiles then moves away and out the door with the goblet.

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Standing in front of the crowd, Regina looks to her left at her mother smiling away at her. Taking a breath, she looks to the crowd again seeing Emma and Ingrid weave through. "The reason I have called you all here yet again is to officially inform you of my retraction of no longer being Queen of the kingdom..I..didn't think it through until...Cora, my mother here, helped me to see who I really am"

Through the speech, the people grew nervous noticing how cold Regina was starting to sound the further she got into it. The Queen smirks. "So..my people, here she is" holding out her hand, Regina used her magic to pull Ingrid to the front.

Emma looks over in horror and races forward. "No! Regina please..this is not you!"

The brunette glares at the blonde then nods to her guards to take her away.

Cora's eyes light up with happiness at seeing Emma being dragged away and moves to stand with her daughter, peering down at Ingrid who has been forced to her knees. "Oh I have been waiting for this day my whole life"

Ingrid looks up at the pair in fright and takes a deep breath. "Looks like you've won.."

Cora smirks evilly and nods to Regina, giving her permission to do it now.

The Queen inhales deeply and shoves her hand into Ingrid's chest, pulling out her heart then holding it up as the guests all look petrified. Regina smiles at her mother. "I guess I am more evil than I thought"

Cora raises an eyebrow excitedly. "Now..crush it"

The Queen purses her lips together. "No.."

The older brunette frowns at her daughter as Ingrid looks up from the floor. "No?..what..what are you going to do to me?"

Regina gestures for her to stand in which she does then grabs her by the chin. "Simple..I now control you..which means I can destroy Rumplestilskin and your precious Emma and it will be all of your own doing"

Ingrid's eyes widen. "No please! I'd rather die than hurt them!"

The Queen gives a 'hmm' then smiles again. "Well I am sorry dear but it's not down to you now is it?" The brunette then looks to her mother. "I think it's time we celebrate.."

Cora nods in agreement. "That's my girl.."

Regina looks to Ingrid and covers both her hands around the older blonde's heart. "Go get my mother a drink..now!"

Ingrid feels the pull from her heart and heads over to the table still with a scared look as everyone watches. Returning she passes the silver goblet to Cora as the brunette takes her own.

The Queen smirks at Cora and holds her drink out to clink. "Now whose next?"

The older brunette chuckles and has her drink before starting to cough. "What...what is this?!"

Regina watches her mother and quickly passes Ingrid her heart back nodding to the guard to open the doors, allowing Rumple access. "I think mother it's what you call...payback?"

Cora glares angrily and throws her hand out with the intention of pushing her daughter across the room but nothing happens, looking down at her hands in shock, the older brunette panic's. "What did you do?! Regina answer me!"

The Queen takes a breath. "Not just me mother it was all a ruse.." Regina looks over seeing Emma walk back in and up to her with a smile, taking her hand. "..but..there was light magic involved..it's the only magic that can completely destroy the darkness..with the right plan. I may not have the courage in me to kill you but I do have the courage to take what is most important to you...power, just like you took away the most important thing to me"

Emma watches her with a heartfelt smile and kisses her cheek while the guards take hold of Cora and remove her to lock her away until further notice with the supervision of Rumple.

Regina takes a deep breath feeling herself start to shake from relief then turns to everyone in the room. "I apologise for my actions and what you just had to witness..if you will just excuse me a moment and carry on as you were" Letting go of Emma's hand, the Queen walks down and through the doors, out of the room. The blonde watches her leave in concern then goes to check and make sure her mother is okay.

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Giving Regina some time, Emma makes her way upstairs after taking a break of her own and knocks on the Queen's chamber door. "Regina?.."

Walking inside, the blonde finds the brunette on her balcony looking out with a sad expression. Approaching, Emma pulls her into a reassuring hug. "It's okay you know..to be sad..she was..is your mother"

Regina hugs back sniffling and nods against the blonde still trembling slightly. Emma rubs her back and kisses her shoulder. "But for now..I do have something..someone who could cheer you up.."

The brunette pulls back to look at her then follows the blonde's gaze to the door seeing Henry. Regina smiles immediately and crouches down, holding her arms out encouraging the boy to run straight into them which he does with a giggle.

A/N: well that was sneaky! :)