Title: Vengeance, Sacrifice, and Forgiveness
Author: AoN
Word Count: 4,600
Genre: Drama, Adventure
Rating: PG-13
Feedback: Please and thank you! Let me know what I'm doing right or doing wrong.
Summary: With the Evil Queen's curse weakening and Regina struggling to keep Storybrooke under control, hidden secrets and lies from long ago are beginning to surface – and they want their happily ever after.
Chapter Twenty One
The tension that lingered was painstakingly numbing as were the words that caused it: this isn't your kingdom. The message behind it was simple enough to decode: you have no real power here. Mary Margaret's threat had been empty, but it still kept Lucy frozen, back turned to her sister and hand latched firmly around the doorknob. She did not dare utter another word and neither did Mary Margaret who still stood at the foot of the bed, watching the back of Lucy's head and waiting for her next move. This had once been a familiar game when they were younger, but they were both out of practice. It was the same bantering of sibling rivalry, but the stakes were now so much higher.
No longer were they spoiled little princesses who threw each other's favorite stuffed animals into rose bushes (as Snow had done to that silly teddy bear) or mud puddles (as Lily had to that stupid tiger in retaliation on more than one occasion), or called each other names until one of them caved in and cried to one of their parents – this had usually been Lily who absolutely loathed being compared to a troll or an imp. No, they were both far from the royal brats they had once been. Instead of stuffed animals, they threw more formulated insult. Instead of arguing over who was the prettier princess, they were arguing over the life and death of someone who was once closer and dear to the both of them.
Their mother.
Snow did not understand – no, she could not understand. There was too much rage and anger for her to clearly see a woman robbed of all the joy that had ever been present in her life. In the same way, Lily could not understand either. She was too blinded by the bond she once shared with a vile witch who stole everything from everyone. Each sibling was in the wrong and both desperately wanted to show the other the light, but neither, for the moment, would see what the other could. Their pride got the better of them, neither would admit to being wrong in respect to the other when they both believed they were right.
Normally, an outside force would have intervened by now – a parent or guardian – to force them to apologize to one another. The bitterness between them would dissolve and they would continue with their playing, continue being each other's best and only friend within the lonely castle walls. Unfortunately, there was no one to keep them from escalading. Ruby had left them alone, expecting a heartwarming reunion that would not have soured, and Granny, well… Granny was probably dealing with the fact she had once unknowingly fired an arrow at the kingdom's late princess.
Lucy turned the knob. The door unlatched with a loud distinctive click. Mary Margaret took a small step forward.
"Lily," she warned. "Don't do this."
"Or what?" Lucy challenged, unmoving. The door remained closed for the time being. "You'll imprison me? Torture or even execute me?"
"I am nothing like her," Mary Margaret stated, voice low. Nostrils flared as fists formed at her side. "How dare you."
"No, you're exactly like her," Lucy snapped, whirling around to face Mary Margaret. Although Snow was older, and was even taller when they were younger, Lucy always stood her ground – until the trolls and imps came rolling in, but things were a bit different now.
Mary Margaret was taken back, but her stone cold glare did not change. She would not give Lucy that benefit. Perhaps she should have. It may have prevented Lucy from advancing towards her. Something told her that their little bouts would be nothing compared to the fighting the two of them were now capable of and each of them was aware. The forest had changed them from the sheltered princesses they once were. They had seen it plenty of times, especially against the Big Bad Wolf.
"You're acting out of anger," Lucy accused. "You're letting your hate consume you."
"What I'm doing is justice!" Mary Margaret spat. "That evil witch took everything from me – she deserves to be punished!"
"And you took everything from her!" Lucy retorted. Raising her own voice to match that of her sister's brought Mary Margaret to a halt – or maybe it was the revelation behind Lucy's statement itself. "Did you deserve all this, Snow? Huh?"
"This is different," Mary Margaret remarked.
"Is it?" Lucy asked, holding her arms out for a second. "The way she sees it, you robbed her of me and my life."
Mary Margaret quickly shook her head, taking a step back and hitting the end of the bed. "She knows that was an accident. You fell in!"
"After you snuck me out of the castle," Lucy pointed out. She was shaking, not out of anger like she should have been and had the right to do so. She was shaking out of the anticipation for what she was about to wrongly accuse her sister of doing. "You broke a promise to her, Snow. You promised you'd protect me-"
"I did!"
"I died because of you!"
Face falling, Mary Margaret placed a hand over her chest. Lucy might as well have stabbed her straight in the heart. It may have hurt a lot less than those hard words. Tears stung her eyes once more and she did not even bother to attempt to keep them at bay this time. Mary Margaret opened her mouth to speak, but words failed her.
"From where she stands, I died because you couldn't keep a secret – or a promise," Lucy sneered, keeping her cold demeanor. She had to. This was the only way to out stubborn her, the only way to get her to see things differently. "You took her daughter – her happiness – away from her! What she did was out of vengeance. You turned her into the Evil Queen and instead of trying to turn her back into the mother she once was to the both of us, you'll head down the same path she did," Lucy pointed out.
Mary Margaret shook her head. Lucy could see her jaw trembling.
"If you kill her, you'll be no better," Lucy stated, watching Mary Margaret sink down onto the bed. She was unable to look up at her baby sister. That was fine, as long as she was listening to what Lucy was saying. "Now, I'm going to leave this room-"
"Lily, please," Mary Margaret said meekly. "You don't-"
"Right, understand," Lucy finished for Mary Margaret, shaking her head in disbelief. "How can I? Clearly, I haven't been affected by any of this. No, just the precious Princess Snow White. After all this time, you're still so selfish."
Lucy turned back around and grabbed a hold of the doorknob once more. Hearing the door swing open, Mary Margaret forced herself to stand with the little strength she managed to find. "Don't do this!" she repeated, following after her baby sister. Of all the times they had both imagined this impossible conversation, it never ended like this. "Don't leave!"
Her voice carried down the hallway and stairs, arriving to the living room where Ruby and Granny had retreated for the time being. Hearing the sound of the two siblings rushing down the stairs, Ruby immediately jumped on her feet, exhaustion forgotten once more. From the corner of her eye, she saw Granny stand as well, but there was no time to reassure her things were okay or under control – clearly they were not.
As Ruby reached the lobby, Lucy was already heading out the front door and Mary Margaret at the foot of the stairs. "Red, please!" Mary Margaret pleaded, but she did not have to. Ruby ran out onto the porch and down the steps, right on Lucy's heels. Ruby reached out and grabbed her by the wrist, pulling hard and distorting her center of gravity. Lucy tumbled back into her.
"Let me go," Lucy hissed, straightening up, but Ruby did not budge.
"I'm sorry, Luce," Ruby apologized, shaking her head. "Not this time. I can't." The glare Ruby was receiving was painful, but rightfully deserved. When Lucy pulled even harder, Ruby's grasp only tightened.
Glancing over Ruby's shoulder, Lucy spotted Mary Margaret standing on the porch. Her rage was building. She turned to Ruby, frowning. "You have a lot to learn about honor," Lucy said, lowering her voice as she continued to struggle against her grasp.
"How long have you known?" Ruby asked.
"A while," Lucy growled. "But only for certain after you asked about Peter."
It was a name she had not expected to hear. Her grasp faltered and, in that moment of weakness, Lucy pulled herself free. Not wanting to risk being chased, Lucy collided her elbow hard into Ruby's stomach. It was difficult to watch her sink down to her knees, especially knowing that it was Lucy herself who harmed her.
"Halt!"
Lucy quickly looked up and Mary Margaret over her own shoulder. Granny was standing at the open doorway, aiming her handy crossbow at the rogue princess, silver arrow loaded. Exactly what Lucy needed right now – more exposure to silver. The chain around her neck had started to sting only moments before. A silver arrow would almost certainly take her out. Lucy slowly raised her hands into the air as Ruby rose to her feet, trying to catch her breath.
"Maybe you'll hit me this time," Lucy challenged. "Free shot. Not even moving."
"Lily, it doesn't have to be this way," Mary Margaret said, slowly walking down the steps.
"You're right," Lucy agreed. "It doesn't."
"Please, come back inside – let's talk," Mary Margaret offered.
"But we already have talked," Lucy pointed out. "We're not going to reach an agreement, Snow. We can't."
"Or is it," Ruby spoke up. "You don't want to try. You run when things don't go your way, Lucy. I know you. You're just running again."
"When there's a crossbow aimed at me, I tend to do that," Lucy remarked. When Granny shifted slightly, Lucy raised her hands even more. "Well, in this case, I can't – hit the left shoulder, would you? The right is already marked."
"For a princess, you have quite the mouth on you," Granny frowned.
"It's out of defense," Ruby commented, stepping in front of Lucy and Granny's line of fire. "Especially when she's upset. Pushing those who love you away is not going to help, Lucy."
Lucy frowned, glaring. "Reading me like a book now?" she asked, lowering her arms slowly. Granny did not move.
"We all want the same thing, Lucy," Ruby went on. "We all want to break the curse."
"But we have different means of achieving that now," Lucy remarked. "I can't help you murder my mother."
"Your mother," Ruby repeated. "Tried to capture me like she did you this morning. How many others do you think she has locked away? How many innocent people?"
One, Lucy knew for certain, but that was an answer she kept to herself. She could still vividly see that woman reaching out for her, eyes full of fear and panic. For a split second, there had even been a small sense of hope, hope of escaping just like Lucy, but Lucy had been unable to get her out. She promised she would, but a small voice in the back of her mind whispered that she would not. She was still too weak. No one was on her side. She could barely look out for herself. Without a word, but with one last glare, Lucy turned around and began to walk away. She had just taken a stride forward when she heard the click.
Ruby had barely taken a step to the side, clearing the path of the flying silver arrow. Lucy whirled around in time to see the tip of the arrow hurling directly towards her chest. Mary Margaret had shouted, but Lucy did not make out what – the sharp whizzing sound of the dangerous weapon silenced everything else. Eyes widened as the point collided into her torso; Lucy's remained shut as she waited for the pain that never came. Had it really been that quick? Was Grandpa Henry waiting for her?
Expecting to be in that bleak gray realm void of color once more, Lucy was surprised when she saw Mary Margaret, Ruby, and Granny staring in bewilderment. She was still at the bed and breakfast. She was still alive. How?
Lucy gazed down at her chest. Not a scratch. Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion as she was unable to understand. She had not seen what the other three had. The arrow had vanished into a light purple mist just as it was about to hit its mark.
Even though the danger had disappeared into thin air, anger prevented Lucy from steadying her breathing. Her glare rose to the porch, to the crossbow that had now been lowered. All of a sudden, it was out of Granny's grasp. A force pulled the weapon from her hands and it remained suspended in air, commanding everyone's attention and keeping Lucy's own shocked expression hidden.
Just as the arrow before it that Lucy had not witnessed, the crossbow materialized into a wispy purple cloud, like magic. Exactly like magic. When Mary Margaret turned towards the street, Lucy was already gone. Ruby followed her gaze and frowned before heading towards the sidewalk.
"She's not far, I can still catch her-!"
"Wait!" Mary Margaret called out to Ruby before looking over to Granny. "Why? Why did you fire?"
Granny quickly shook her head. "I-I didn't," she answered.
"That arrow says differently," Ruby remarked, making her way back to the porch.
"Snow, I didn't touch the trigger," Granny stated.
Mary Margaret frowned. "It fired on its own accord?"
"A distraction," Ruby said, standing on the last step. "So she could escape? That magic – did she know any when she was younger?"
The tone in Ruby's voice – Mary Margaret recognized it. So cut and dry. It was the same tone she hid behind after they had murdered the Wolf. Peter. Ruby was being the track of her prestige reputation and hiding her true emotions.
"No," Mary Margaret answered, shaking her head.
"She lied to you," Ruby said flatly. "To all of us. Like mother, like daughter."
"No," Mary Margaret repeated, stronger this time. "She's not." Mary Margaret decided to keep her following comment to herself. 'I am.' Lucy had done everything in her power to make sure that point was driven across.
Ruby hopped down from the step. "I'm no longer convinced," she stated firmly. "I'm going after her."
"Red," Mary Margaret began to protest.
"No," Ruby said shortly. "When there's something I want, I'm good at tracking it down."
xxxx
Although every fiber of her being raged with anger, Regina continued down the narrow hallway towards the psyche ward, collectively calm. The only feature to betray this was her disapproving frown. She had every reason to be angry, of course – the curse was unraveling at an alarming rate and this morning's events proved that she could trust no one but herself to get things done properly. There was no more room for future mistakes. Mistakes had cost her dearly. She had worked too hard to see everything slip away due to underlings who could not follow a simple set of orders.
Even among all the anger, Regina could not help but feel a small sense of pride as well. Lily had been a weak child. Determined, yes, but weak – there was no sense in denying it. However, Regina was impressed to see that sense of determination was still present. Proud, even. There were tapes, security footage, that still needed to be reviewed, but Regina knew that she did not have to. She knew Lily was no longer that weak little girl anymore. Lily had found her strength, just as Regina had. The black eye donned by one of the two orderlies following behind her was a testament to that.
Regina knew what would come next. History was repeating itself and Regina found herself playing another role since Lily now had stepped into her original part. Regina would utter statements that she once did not believe when they were told to her. Lily would not believe them either. She had no reason to. Every little thing Regina could possibly say would fall on deaf ears and Lily would rid the realm of her once and for all.
Like mother, like daughter – a vicious repeating cycle. Only this time, it would end. Apart from the determination, Regina knew Lily was nothing like her. Not anymore.
As Regina approached the counter, the nurse sitting behind it looked up and immediately rose to her feet in panic. "Your majesty, I can explain!" she quickly offered, but it was an unheard plea. Regina had given her one too many chances already.
"I'm not here to listen to petty explanations, Ingrid," Regina stated as the two orderlies walked around the counter and stood on both sides of the useless nurse. They each grabbed her by the arm as they had been previously commanded. "You have become worthless to me."
"We couldn't have predicted the earthquake, your majesty," nurse Ingrid protested.
"But you should have prevented that young woman from escaping – you and your men," Regina added with a sneer. "Is the other still locked away?"
Ingrid quickly nodded in hopes that she would be let go, but Regina gave no such order. "H-Her cell was damaged, but no tot the extent of the second patient's, no. They've both been fixed. No one else will escape."
"No, they won't," Regina agreed rather harshly, turning to the black eyed orderly. "Take her to the third room," she ordered. "It would be such a shame to see it go to waste, wouldn't it?"
"Your majesty, please, have mercy!"
"Mercy?" Regina repeated with a cold laugh, more than indicating the request was beyond out of the question. She could see the fear growing in the nurse's eyes as she realized there was no hope for freedom. "Your errors have cost me dearly."
"But I wasn't aware!" Ingrid continued, causing Regina to force herself not to roll her eyes. It probably would not have helped the matter – it may have, however, driven the point that her persistence was an annoyance. "I wasn't aware of the werewolf! You didn't tell me-!"
Regina's glare had been nothing compared to what it was now. If she had her proper magic, she did not doubt that her current look alone would kill. "Are you attempting to blame me for your incompetence?" she asked. It was a question Ingrid knew she was better off not answering. Answering yes was a death wish. No, well, no meant she was admitting to her incompetence. "Worthless," Regina hissed, turning on her heel. She was done here. "Take her away."
Ingrid's pleas followed Regina down the hall and did not come to a complete stop until she reached the exit. The orderlies must have sedated her. Good. It would now be a few hours before she would cause them headaches once again. Something told her that the nurse would not be a silent patient.
With silence ringing off the cold stone walls, and therefore no unwanted attention to be called to herself, Regina slipped through the door and back into the main hospital. There was still another matter she had to deal with, but first she had to see it with her own eyes. She continued through the hospital in a quick stride, no one dared to cross her path – some even got out of the way, perhaps out of muscle memory. Her façade said she was nothing more than a concerned mayor, checking to make sure everything was still running smoothly after this morning's natural disaster. Only a few would know otherwise.
Regina pushed through the door of the room Dr. Whale had indicated she wanted upon her arrival. The sight made her blood boil, her lips thinned. Seeing her – Kathryn – there, sleeping… That little imp. He lied. He broke their deal. The curse was breaking. Sending Mary Margaret away was supposed to have solved that problem. With Kathryn alive, Mary Margaret walked free and not only that, no.
Lily escaped and had clearly proven she knew too much. She would protect her sister, there was no question about it. Regina would not have another chance, even if she did render Lily almost powerless. Lily may not be able to transform without causing herself unbearable pain, but that waitress from the diner could – another occurrence Regina had not foreseen, rending Mary Margaret close to untouchable now.
She could not speak for the waitress, but Regina knew Lily was smart. She would not let Mary Margaret out of her sight. No, Regina would have to approach her solution differently. There was still another she could invest into the curse's continued existence, but she would have to work quickly. She could not risk this plan failing as well.
With one last glare to the sleeping Kathryn, Regina made her exit into the hallway, running straight into a bouquet of flowers held by the hospital's plaid wearing former John Doe. "I'm sorry," David quickly apologized, taking a step back.
"David," Regina said with a smile – a real, genuine smile. Prince Charming was exactly where she wanted him to be. This was almost too easy. "No, that's quite alright."
xxxx
How many times had they scouted out this forest together? They had always worked as a team to track down whatever they had set their minds to and, most of the time, they were successful. Regardless, they had always been on the same side, the same team. Neither of them had ever imagined this scenario – Ruby tracking down Lucy. Red tracking down the Little One.
And Lucy knew she was out of her league.
Everyone had a world they called their own. For Lucy, it was running through the wilderness on four legs, not two. For Ruby, it was tracking, being within reach of her target. This was her world and Lucy knew she was going to fail in it. She already had once before – the night Lucy snuck into the bed and breakfast. Ruby had easily tackled Lucy to the ground as she had attempted to flee the scene.
At least this time, Lucy had a head start of sorts. Unfortunately, though, those words Lucy had said all those days ago to Ruby were proving themselves to be very true. Ruby, who was now quickly gaining ground, still had it in her, but in Lucy's own defense, Lucy had slowed slightly upon realizing where she currently was. She forced herself to pick up speed once more. Where she had lead them should not have mattered. It would not for Ruby, at least, who did not know the place's dire significance.
This was part of the forest Lucy had always avoided and for good reason too, but she continued to run along side of the gorge, mindful of the edge and the river rushing below. Yes, this part of the river – the part that had changed everything.
A soft, small voice had lead her here; a familiar voice had pulled her along, but she had been unable to figure out who it belonged to. She had also been unable to ignore –
Lucy yelped as she tumbled forward slightly, but she quickly regained her balance and continued forward. Someone pushed her, her mind registered, not wanting to assume that it was Ruby's attempt to slow her down. A glance over the shoulder confirmed that it was not. Ruby was still not within arm's reach of Lucy.
Before Lucy could question not only who was behind it but even what, she felt a sickening familiar sensation take over her. Her feet had slipped from under her, pulled out by an unexplainable force which could only have meant one thing. Magic.
This was all magic.
It had always been magic.
She did not realize it when she was younger. Lucy had been too preoccupied trying to grab for Snow's hand to have noticed. Her memory of the incident was hazy. It always had been. She made herself remember the weak, crumbling earth beneath her because it was the only thing Lucy could make sense of at that young age.
Before Lucy could hit the edge of the gorge and, hopefully, grab on to something to hang on to, another force collided into the side of her body, sending her over the edge. As a child, she was naïve. All children were. To the little Princess Lillian, a world of dark magic did not exist. TO lily, magic was good. Fun, even.
As all her questions began to click, the thought crossed Lucy's mind before she crashed into the cold freezing water below. Her death had not been an accident at all. Someone had wanted the five year old princess dead.
Ruby came to a skidding halt near the edge of the gorge and watched the whole scene unfold before her. As soon as Lucy went over, it was in Ruby's instinct to jump in after her, but something held her back. It felt as if roots were tying her legs down to the ground and as if hands were grasping her arms. A quick glance proved there was nothing of the sort, but she could not move at all still. She was forced to watch helplessly.
"Lucy!" Ruby screamed as she disappeared under the water. The volume of her voice made her throat raw, but it was the only thing she could do. Her eyes scanned the river frantically, hoping. Just hoping that Lucy would break through. The minor details of the princess' death long ago did not matter. All that Ruby remembered was the cause.
Drowning.
"Please," Ruby found herself begging in a raspy whisper. "Come on, Lucy, please."
Her voice did not carry and even if it could, Lucy would not have been able to hear it over the raging water and ringing in her ears. Ignoring the stinging needle sensation that had taken over her entire body, Lucy kicked her legs and swung her arms with all her might – the very same thing she had done decades before. Things would be different this time.
Things are different this time.
She would not fail twice.
As she broke the surface of the water, Lucy gasped and inhaled sharply, allowing the current to drift her off to shore where she violently coughed up water before collapsing onto her back. She laid there for a few moments, panting and catching her breath, before sitting up. Lucy gazed up towards Ruby who had sunk down to her knees. Lucy frowned. She had not gone in after her.
Why?
No, there were more pressing questions at hand. Who had wanted an innocent little girl dead? The answer came to her as she sat on the bank, the answer still in her grandfather's voice.
The man who felt cheated and who saw her as the child that got away.
To be continued.
Author's Note: Thanks for reading – please tell me what you think in a review!