Mal barely dodged out of the way of a fireball, "Well hello to you too." She smiled at Regina who had one of her evil smirks.
"Thanks Maleficent, I think she would have actually taken my head off with that one," Emma said a bit out of breath.
Mal looked to Regina on her left then turned her head to look at a tired out Emma and smiled, "It wouldn't have taken your head of dear….It would have just turned you bald." She laughed at Emma's middle finger response. "Now now don't be such so crude princess."
Emma rolled her eyes, "Did you come here to irritate me or to give us information?"
"Emma that is not very nice. She is a welcome guest in this castle," Snow said as she walked in. A mischievous gleam in her eyes. She made her way to Mal's right side.
"Well if she was trying to irritate you," Emma didn't have the chance to finish.
"Doesn't matter what she is or is not trying to do Emma." Snow reprimanded Emma.
"Be careful dear," Regina joined the conversation walking towards Mal and Snow, "It would seem these two have made an agreement. You won't win with both of them going at you."
Emma got a cocky smirk, "But if you were on my side then I would have a fighting chance."
"Now why on earth would she do that," Mal asked smiling.
Both women blushed a bit at the question. Emma stuttered for an answer, "Well...umm...you see…"
"Well do get to the point princess," Mal said while Snow tried to contain her laughter at both of them.
"You two are ridiculous. Do you really have nothing better to do than pick on Emma here." Regina asked trying to help Emma.
"Yes we do actually," Mal turned her sights on Regina, "Have you been giving her the same lessons I gave you once upon a time?" Mal winked at Regina who seemed stunned into silence. "Moving quickly aren't we?" With that question Snow started laughing. Emma and Regina made quick eye contact then looked away.
"You two are such children," Regina finally announced.
"Yes well we keep you young," Mal answered with a smile all her own. Just then a puff of grey smoke showed up in the room.
"I did it," Lily announced excitedly. She looked to the four women and then made eye contact with her mother, "What did you do?"
"Why do you assume I did anything?" Mal tried acting appalled but had a hard time keeping her smile at bay.
"Now Lily it wasn't all your mother. I was helping her," Snow admitted. Lily stopped glaring at her mother to look at Snow, "You helped her?"
"Yes daughter of mine. Snow and I have become quite close," Mal said as she put an arm around Snow's shoulders, "We have even had a few lunch dates."
"Does dad know," Emma asked trying not to think of her mother cheating.
"Yes of course he does," Snow said with a smile.
"Now how did you win Charming over so quickly? It took me years to even have him look at me without distaste." Regina questioned her friend.
"Well its one of my secrets and its not one I am willing to share," She replied.
"I'm glad that should I leave you four alone you won't try to kill each other," Lily stated.
"Now I might irritate them daughter but I doubt they would kill me," Mal said with a bit of a pout.
Lily smiled, "You have just as much charm gaining an ally as you do creating an enemy."
Mal Shrugged, "I can't argue there."
Emma laughed at how easily Lily could reprimand her own mother, "You know sometimes its hard to tell who the mother is between the two of you."
Regina got a smirk finding an opening, "Yes dear friend. How long has your daughter been raising you?"
Mal wasn't one to let a few words hurt her though, "For a few years now. Its so much fun teasing her I just can't help it."
"Geez mom...Thanks for that," Lily rolled her eyes.
Regina finding it irritating being the reason for the joking changed the subject, "So did you come here for an actual reason or to disrupt our lesson?"
Lily looked to her mother again, "Really? You haven't told them yet?"
Mal shrugged it off, "I was having too much fun."
Snow went serious, "What has happened?"
Lily answered, "Rumor has it that one of the things that Zelena is looking for is Squid ink."
Regina's face went to stone as she looked at her young friend, "You're sure that's what you heard."
Lily nodded and Mal answered, "Come now dear why would we lie about something like that." Mal's face was stone as well.
"Well if it has you two looking like this that is a bad thing," Emma stated.
"Emma," Regina said, "If she gets that its possible she may just get Rumple out."
Snow seemed to freeze in her place, "How?"
"If one works the magic right it would just take a breath of squid ink to release him from his prison," Regina answered.
"Then take me to him and let me talk him out of going with her," Belle had walked in for the last part.
The five women turned to look at her. Mal answered, "He is power hungry my dear girl. You may love the beast but can he let go of power enough to keep you?"
"She's right Belle," Regina chimed in, "If you try to convince him that he needs to stay where he is then he will assume we turned you against him." Regina let out a sigh then looked Belle in the eye, "And I would hate for him to take your life, believe it or not."
Belle smiled at Regina, "I know you have changed since the last we met. I also know he may come after me but I have to try. If he understands why I am saying the things I say then maybe he will stop whatever plan he has."
"You are full of hope dear and he may feed off that," Regina answered.
"No she will be safe because I think she needs to do it," Snow spoke up.
Regina rolled her eyes, "Of course you do because you're on the hope committee Snow." Mal and Emma tried not to laugh at the interaction.
Snow shook her head, "Committee or not she needs to do this. Not just to try and help us but because of everything she has been through with him."
"Thank you Snow," Belle stated as she looked back to Regina, "I can do this. I want to do this even if it means my life at the end of the day." Regina shook her head, sighed then turned and walked away leaving everyone to wonder what she thought.
Everyone but Emma. Emma smiled at the room, "She will do it. She just doesn't want to say that she thinks you're worth more than a maybe plan." As she said the words she started making her way out. "Don't worry guys she will do whatever is needed." The three women gave each other a knowing smile as Emma exited the room.
They walked side by side through the dimly lit caverns. Snow kept a fair distance from them. Regina wasn't one to break a deal especially with the dark one. When everything checked out with what Rumple had said she had to follow through. On top of it Belle and the others insisted they do so. They were quiet as they walked. Regina had hoped the silence would make Belle turn around.
"You and the White princess seem to be very close," noted Belle as they took slow steps.
"Emma and I are raising a child together, of course we are." Regina wasn't ashamed of where things were going with Emma but she wasn't about to tell the world either. That would just be one more person to use against her. Also her lover's mother was right behind them.
Belle smiled at Regina as she turned back to look at Snow then to her again, "She doesn't mind you know."
Regina stopped and stared at Belle. Snow walked up next to them, "Is everything ok?"
Regina looked to Snow like a deer caught in headlights while trying to hide it. It wasn't very successful. Her answer to situations like this, "Of course it is." She huffed and started walking by herself.
Belle blushed a bit, "I kind of told her you wouldn't mind if her and Emma were together."
Snow smiled big, "Well that was an odd reaction."
"I didn't mean to cause problems," Belle said as they made their way again.
"You didn't. Her reaction just means she likes Emma more than I realized." Snow moved a little faster to catch up to Regina. She grabbed Regina's arm to make her slow down, "You do remember that you need Belle with you, right?"
Regina rolled her eyes, "Of course I do. I just needed to have a few seconds alone." Snow smiled at her and grabbed her arm as the three walked together.
When they were almost to his cage Regina let go of Snow and walked forward signaling for the other two to wait. When she walked into his view he stood up straight and smiled, "So you have returned."
"I unlike some never break a deal," she said pointedly. Her eyes conveyed that she knew about Bae and his demeanour changed.
"So what do I win today for my honesty," he asked with a bit of a hiss.
"Snow," Regina said just loud enough for them to hear. In walked Belle and Snow White. Belle walked so she was even with Regina. Snow was on the other side of Belle.
"Belle," He whispered.
She took a small step forward, "Rumple." Tears were in her eyes and voice. She stepped towards him and took his hand.
"I have missed you," he said quietly to her.
"When I woke up and realized what had happened I missed you and was angry at you." She let go of his hand. "I had my happy ending and it was stolen from me because it wasn't real. Why would you do such a thing to me?"
"Belle, you have to understand that I just wanted to make you happy." His eyes went soft.
"Instead you have hurt me more than any other time. I had you...The real you. Not the dark one, the beast, but Rumple. Now I have nothing. You should have let me go if you knew something was coming. Let me live my life."
"I couldn't do it," He said with a strain to his voice.
"No, because you are selfish." She looked into his eyes and held his attention, "Are you planning an escape?"
He looked behind her to the other women, "Why would I answer that with them here?"
Belle looked behind her, "Can we have a moment please?" Snow nodded without a second thought and left. Regina on the other hand couldn't just leave like that. She wasn't one to believe everything in front of her. Belle gave a watery smile, "I will be ok." Regina reluctantly nodded then left her alone. Once they both were gone, "So?"
He took a deep breath, "I have no plans but have seen some possible outcomes. In several I do get out."
"So you will leave and do what? Resume where you left off," Belle asked as she stared at the man she loved.
"I can't exactly stop being the dark one now can I," He said with an eyeroll.
Belle shook her head, "Should you have the chance to escape don't do it. You are better off here. Should you take that chance though don't find me. I need someone who will take care of me not deceive me...I honestly thought you could be cured but you love your power too much." She turned and started walking away.
"But Belle…" He reached for her as she walked away. As Belle left Regina came back in to see her old mentor. He looked to Regina, "You did this!"
Regina looked to him, "You gave me no choice. Had you helped me when I asked the first time she would still have you as she wanted you. Maybe dear, you should learn to keep better track of your spells and lovers. You don't want them to end up like your son do you?"
His eyes flashed with anger and regret, "You don't know what your talking about."
"Actually, I do," She smiled at him, "That though hasn't been earned." She stood tall and turned to Snow who had entered behind her then turned her head slightly back, "Don't worry dear you will earn it soon enough." With that she grabbed Snow's arm in hers and left.
Almost another year has passed since the start of this. They have all gotten into a certain routine trying to keep tabs on the Zelena and the others. They have found out that Hook did in fact get the squid ink. Where they put it no one new. Any place they went within the kingdom they had eyes on them.
Emma and Regina were going through their usual routine for their magic lessons when a roar was heard. The two stop mid spells to listen again. "Now what," Regina asks irritatedly.
Henry came running into the room screaming, "Moms! Moms!"
"What is it Henry," Regina asks concerned at how frantic he was.
"Its huge!...You have to help!" He moved frantically around motioning towards the door. Grabbing Regina's hand he started to pull her towards the sound.
"What is it Henry," She asks again as she follows him; Emma not far behind.
"Its an ogre!" He shrieks. Yells can be heard from the guards. As they moved towards the castle door the roar was louder. They could feel the steps of the creature. "See I told you!"
"Yes you did," Regina said as she looked at him then moved her gaze to Emma's. Emma looked scared yet confused. No beast, animal, or person should be able to find this place unless they are led here. "Henry I need you to do something very important for me." Regina started when she saw Snow carrying James. She motioned for Snow to come to her. Snow did as she was asked and handed the baby to Regina. "You have to keep your Uncle safe. Can you do that for us Henry?"
Henry nodded as he took James in his arms, "Yes mother I can."
"Good now you go to your room and stay there until I come to get you." She hugged him then moved him arms length away, "Should anyone try to break into your room you say the spell to your necklace that will take you home. Do you understand?"
"Yes mother I do." They hugged again and Henry took James to the safest place in the castle.
"How did an ogre get here," Snow asked.
Regina looked to Snow, "It could find the forest easy enough due to the magic but to actually make it into the city," She was cut off.
"Someone had to lead it here," Emma finished for her. Regina nodded her head.
"You don't think that she would really do this," Snow thought that Zelena was off but this off was something else.
"She may be desperate to get whatever it is she is looking for," Regina answered.
"If she is this crazy we may be in for more of a battle then we thought," Emma said as she started walking towards the ogre.
"Emma," Snow and Regina yelled. They looked to each other then to Emma. She paused to look at why both would yell for her.
Snow spoke first, "If you go out there like this you will be killed."
Regina moved her hands and Emma was covered in the purple of Regina's magic, "You need to have armor and good weapons." When the smoke cleared Emma was in a lightweight armor that shone dimly. Her sword had jewels of purple and white in it.
"Thanks," She said as she looked herself over. Regina nodded her head then motioned for her to go.
"You need some armor too Snow." Regina moved her hands again and Snow had the same type of armor but her weapon was a bow with a quiver of arrows. "The arrows will never run out." She noted to Snow.
"Thanks," Snow hugged Regina then ran to help her family and her people. Regina then changed into her armor. Her's was black with a sword that was jeweled much like Emma's. She wouldn't use it usually but worse come to worse she could.
As she walked outside she took a deep breath and readied herself for a fight. As she took in the scene she realized it was worse than she thought. There were two of them. The White army was fighting one while the Dark army was fighting the other. She could see Snow aiming for the eyes of the ogre but it seemed quicker than most ogres. It threw a tree towards running villagers. Regina teleported from her spot to in front of the tree and stopped it in its tracks. With a controlled will she shoved the tree back at the ogre who threw it. It knocked the ogre off balance and surprised the others fighting. As it fell she poofed and was at its feet throwing a fireball at it. Emma made quick movements to climb atop the giant beast with Snow right behind her. Regina turned her attention from this ogre to the other. Snow strung an arrow and fired at the sitting beast. Emma ran with her sword straight for its throat. She focused all her energy on taking the ogre down. When she swung her sword magic followed. The ogre's head went rolling off its head.
Emma and Snow froze as did most the White army. Regina had just saved a few more villagers when there were loud roars heard. Everyone stopped to look at the sky. In came two large dragons flying right for the second ogre. Lily's dragon was lighter than her mother's and little less skilled in flying. When she maneuvered to attack the ogre threw her off balance with a tree thrown her way. Maleficent wasn't one who liked her daughter being attacked. She quickly moved in and bit off the ogre's head. She dumped it next the other one's body then flew into the sky throwing flames. When she came back Lily wasn't far behind her. They both looked like they were going to crash into the earth below but the grey smoke of their transformation kept onlookers from seeing what happened. When the smoke cleared the two were walked towards the fallen attackers.
Lily seemed a little upset while Mal was smiling. Several others were rushing in from the forest when they all stopped to see the huge lifeless bodies. Regina ran to where Snow and Emma were, "Are you two ok?"
Emma looked from her mother to Regina, "I think I am."
Regina grew concerned, "What do you mean you think you are?"
"Well," Snow answered, "She decapitated the ogre with one swing of her sword." Both mother and daughter looked a little worry as they told Regina this.
Regina however smiled, "It makes sense that you would." Both mother and daughter had expressions of concern on their faced. "You have magic Emma. Yours is very much attached to your emotions. Though you have gained the ability to control it you may lose that control. You will us every ounce of it if you can to save those you care about."
Snow smiled, "So her magic becomes stronger with love?"
"Makes sense to me," Regina commented, "She was the product of true love and with that her abilities will be linked to that type of emotion."
Mal and Lily had finally made their way to the trio. Mal spoke first, "Well done princess. You are really coming into your own there."
Lily sighed but let a smirk fall on her face, "I have to agree you did a great job there."
Emma wasn't one to keep the praise on her though, "You didn't do to bad yourself. You kept that second one from hurting more villagers."
"I didn't though. Mom came in all 'I am a cool dragon and take down anything!' I on the other hand came in like a baby and almost lost my balance completely." She let her head fall as she thought about what she had done.
Regina loved Lily like her own so felt for the girl, "Now that is just not true. Your mother is an old witch who has been terrorizing too many for a very long time. You my child have done nothing but take people on rides and go from place to place. For such little training you did a fantastic job and you will get better."
Lily let a smile come on her face, "Thanks." She let Regina's arms wrap around her and relaxed a little bit. Mal came to the other side of Lily and sandwiched the girl between them.