Sorry about the late update, class is kicking my ass. They gave us two of the hardest classes in the same month, after our professors told them not too, but whatever I guess. I have been up to my eyeballs in scripts, essays, flash pieces and even new articles they need us to write for magazines… I wish I had the time to write Fanfiction, I do.
My muse has been yelling at me most days because I will write a page or two here and there and she is like, "Bitch, write more! Fuck that school work!" And as hard as I want to agree… I can't… If I want my career to take off in the next year I have to do this, so I am truly sorry if my updates are sporadic but I promise you, it will get better.
BTW I graduate college (The first in my family) on June 3rd. I am excited and terrified at the prospect to writing for a living. Of course I will be doing some freelance work on the side but I will most likely be assisting some big shot until I get my break. LOL.
Any way I said all that to say that in the next few months I will be posting an e-book and a mini novel and I would love some support. Don't worry all of my work – when I advertise it to you – will be free! I just want you guys to download it, read it and review it. Just like on here LOL. I will be rewriting my fan fictions to correct my grammar now that I have the time. In the writing business you need fans and all though I don't see myself as a big time writer yet… I do have stuff online that you awesome people are reading… mistakes and all, thanks by the way.
UPDATE:
I graduated! Yay! I am now in my Master's and it seems like I have a few extra hours on my hands. So that means more updates. Check out my twitter or my Facebook page to see my ONCE inspired cap and gown. I was the only person out of the entire college graduates who decided to decorate their gown. So YAAAAAAYYY!
So you guys know I am devastated by the season finale and happy. No spoilers just in case someone hasn't seen it and so it took me longer to update because I was in a pit of despair. Like I cried for two days and couldn't even look at my computer but I'm back and better than ever. I am doing a new fic actually two new fics but they won't be released until later. One is a season finale inspired and the other is an Enchanted Forest inspired fic. Same Canon but with Mal in the Enchanted forest and of course full of angst. LOL No worries happy beginnings all around. It's just going to be a journey to get to them. Those are coming soon. WTF… I swear will be updated, when? IDK but before I post the two new fics.
Newest UPDATE! (LLS)
So, I graduated my Master's LLS. Jesus, has it really been that long since I updated this? I swear I have been adding stuff to this and of course writing new stories will be release sometime today. I loved the musical episode, it wasn't as cringe worthy as I thought it would be but it was actually really good. I have it on spotify. The only songs I listen to are of course "Down with Love," "Wicked Always Wins," (My Fav), "Revenge" and "Swan Song," the other songs irritated the hell out of me probably because it wasn't their voices, maybe, I don't know. I hate that everyone quit the show and WTF to Bex not being asked back? Like what? Anyway Emilie had every right to quit, I mean her character just lost her footing in all the storylines to the point where she was literally only used for plot. Like she would pop up when it needed something but then disappeared into the darkness again. I felt sorry for her character most of all.
I'm honestly excited to see what they have in store for the new series but I'm also worried about the time slot. But I have faith in our love for the show. Comment what you think or want for the show.
Also now I have all this time on my hands because I am also jobless. If you know someone is hiring a writer, please please please tell them about me.
Newest Newset Newset update
So OUAT ended and I truly feel like they rushed it. Regina should have ended up with Dr. Facilier, they should have done something more with Maleficent and Lily. I was over Jacinda, I hate her acting, I hate her face, the way her eyebrows do that thing where she trying to portray emotion but they end up looking lost and confused. She is just the signature of death on a show and I was so disappointed when they casted her. Loved everything else though except that rushed ass ending and also Fuck Jennifer Morrison that bitch can chug a deuce and stay in show biz. I know that's harsh but I'm kind of pissed at the moment and any and every one can get it.
RIP: Gabe Khouth aka Sneezy and Cameron Boyce aka Carlos from Descendants and the dad from Riverdale, Della Reese, and so many more you guys will be truly missed.
UPDATE UPDATE: Jesus, this is getting ridiculous, I swear I keep working on this and everything gets pushed back. So COVID-19 is showing her entire ass right now. Unlike most, I run a family business with my mom and we have two school that hold over 100 children and we had to work. We were "essential workers" and still are. My sister and I are moving so I'm going to have less time to write but we've started recording everything and will soon upload some videos to youtube as well a few other things. I have a week of vacation coming up so maybe I can stay in the house and work on this some more, as well as my other stories. I'm uploading some new OUAT ones too.
For those have stuck with me, or are new and are trying to find some escape through either quarantine and or the constant updates about this disease by reading my stories I want to say thank you and I promise to keep writing and updating as much as I can. I know time seem hard right now and loved ones and even legends are dying from this disease I want you to know that there is always hope to balance out the despair. It may seem dark now but I promise you the light is coming. Now there is speculation that there is going to be a second wave in September please take the necessary precautions to keep you and your families safe. I know you don't know me and I don't know you but I'm praying for you and I love you. ^_^ Stay safe.
Update Again (God I'm horrible) My sister and I moved to Atlanta. I'm hoping to work for Tyler Perry studios and I am also working on a weight loss, vlog, movie review crafts all around fun stuff to do channel on YouTube and would love your support. It won't be ready until Aug 15th by then I'll have a few videos I can upload. So I'll tell you guys about that soon. I hope everyone is staying safe and wearing your masks. Don't me. LOL. But come on guys, masks, wear them. Also rest in peace to all those we lost this year, those that we know of and those we have yet to find out about. May the angels protect and guide you home. Amen.
Anywho here is the next chapter!
"Robin?" Regina said her mouth a gape, "I—" she said taking a step forward.
"Don't!" he shouted. By now everyone was on their feet, the music stopped and all eyes on Regina and Robin.
Robin cradled a whimpering Roland while his eyes searched desperately for a familiar… friendly face, "What did you do!"
"What?" Regina said.
"What sorcery is this? Where am I! Where are my men?" he shouted taking a step forward.
"They're—" Regina began when Snow stepped forward.
"Robin, everything is okay, calm down," she said softly taking a few steps towards the uneasy man.
"No it's not! Where am I? This is not the Enchanted Forest!" he said taking in his surroundings, "I know this witch had something to do with it!"
"Robin… if you calm down I can explain every—" Regina began.
"Stop!" He said taking several steps back, "I've heard of your magic. I want to hear nothing from you! Now release me witch!"
At every mention of that horrible name Regina flinched as if struck. Maleficent stepped forward her eyes glowing green at the sight of her friend's pain, "You aren't under a spell you idiot!" she growled.
"No stop, you'll only make things worse," Emma said standing beside Mal who glared at the girl.
"She's right, Robin… Robin of Locksley, I am Snow White," Snow said stepping towards the man.
"The Princess?" Robin said taking in her odd appearance, "If you are the princess why are you in the company of the Evil Queen? And where am I? Where are my men?" he asked as Regina turned her face away from him.
"There was a curse, it brought us to this new land—"
"The first curse? Yes, I was a witness to it but half the kingdom was destroyed—"
"Yes, but there was another one and this one brought us all here," Snow explained.
"Where are my men?"
"Robin, were right here," Little John, Tuck and a few other men, said coming from inside the house. They were carrying bags of snacks and drinks.
"Little Jon, are you alright?"
"Yes, what's going on?" Little John said looking at Snow and Emma.
"It seems that we had less time then I thought," Regina said turning to face the man as she folded her arms across her chest. Her heart was breaking and she wanted desperately to cry but she would not break down in front of them, she refused, "Please take them home, I don't want to upset them any further," she said walking towards the one table she left out that still had food on it. Everyone watched as she mindlessly began to tidy up, gathering empty plates and cups to take inside the house.
Friar Tuck and his men watched as the Queen tried to busy herself while they ushered Robin and Roland out of the backyard. Once they were gone, everyone else started to shuffle and murmur about themselves.
"Your… um… Your Majesty?" Tessa said as she walked beside the Queen. She could tell Regina was teetering on the edge of anger and breaking down, "We can help you clean up," she said softly.
Regina put on her best politician smile and looked at the woman, "There's no need dear, I have it. No one has to leave if they don't want too. This… this party was for all of us… a new beginning."
"Your Majesty—"
Regina shook her head cutting the woman off, "He… I knew this was going to happen, and it's all right. Enjoy the rest of the party."
Tessa could hear it in her voice and see it in her eyes that her walls were crumbling and fast, "Regina," she whispered placing her hand on the Queen's.
Regina gave her a dry chuckle and stepped back, "I'm fine, I promise," she said before waving her hand so the music blared again and dessert filled the tables.
Everyone stood stuck while the children ran to their perspective area's to grab cake and ice cream. She gathered up all the dishes and gave everyone watching a fake smile before walking into the house. Maleficent looked at Tessa who seemed to want to follow and shook her head before turning towards the house herself. Snow moved to follow when Emma and David both stopped her.
Inside The House...
With shaky hands Regina places the dishes onto the counter and puts the stopper in the drain. She fills the sink with hot water and then places the dishes she gathered into it. She absentmindedly pours dish soap into the scolding water and begins to wash them.
Mal stands at the island watching Regina but doesn't move near her. She watches as the steam from the sink rises and watches as Regina stares into the water, her hands bright pink from the temperature. She watches Regina try desperately to hold in her emotions but watches as Regina's body begins to shutter from her shaky breaths.
Regina can fill the scolding water burning her hands but right now it's the only thing keeping her grounded as her minds whirls out of control. Robin and Roland are gone. Gone forever, gone like when Henry was gone, gone like Daniel. Marian is never going to let him go and Robin doesn't know to fight for her.
The fearful look on Roland's face when she tried to comfort him makes her eyes water but Robin's anger and fear has her gasping for air. He called her a witch and shielded Roland from her as if she would rip the skin from his bones. He doesn't know her, just like Henry didn't know her. She grabs her chest as her breaths quicken and breathing seems to be a feat she can't conquer. Her breaths come out in wheezes and her head is spinning and she falls to the floor as she panics even more.
Warm arms surround her and a voice whispers in her ear telling her to calm down and breathe. She grasps onto the arms as if it is her ticket to breathing and soon her lungs fill with air and the voice becomes clear.
"Shh, its okay Gina, breathe, just breathe," Maleficent, says into Regina's ear as she rocks the Queen back and forth. And as soon as Regina catches her breath sobs shake her small frame. Regina's sobs fill the kitchen and soon echo throughout the house. Her body pulses with magic as she fights to destroy everything; so much magic in fact it would have leveled the house if it hadn't been for the dragon that sat holding her and absorbing all of it.
"Let me go! Let me go! I'm going to kill her! I'm going to kill all of them! Let me go!" The Queen screamed as waves of magic from her tormented heart poured into Maleficent, "Maleficent! Let me go! I hate you! I hate you!"
The Evil Queen reared her ugly head as Regina's eyes turned ink black and she fought against Mal's hold. Maleficent held Regina tighter shushing her and rocking her. This wasn't the first time she had to calm down the Evil Queen. Years ago back when Regina had freshly taken the potion to make herself barren, Mal, made the horrible mistake of poking fun at her. In one of their sick games, she gave Regina the sleeping curse and in it she was a mother of a beautiful baby girl and she was truly happy. But when she woke up, Maleficent was standing over her laughing. She thought Regina would take it in stride but she soon realized how horrible the joke had been when Regina literally tried to kill her. She almost succeeded too. The two had been fighting for hours before an injured and exhausted Maleficent held her down and kept apologizing.
"Shh, It's okay," Maleficent, continued.
"No it's not… it's not okay," The Evil Queen hiccupped through a sob, "It'll never be okay, now let me go!" The Queen bucked in Mal's hold but the dragon didn't budge. "This is all Snow's fault! She started all of this!" The Queen growled through her sobs, "I would still have Daniel if it wasn't for her! I would still have my father," she hiccupped, "And… and I… I… I would have my own children by now," she sobbed as her eyes faded back to Regina's chocolate brown.
"As much as I would love to agree with you, you and I both know she was just a pawn in a game someone else set up. She is not to blame and you know it."
Regina was quiet for several seconds digesting the truth Mal was speaking while her sobs shook her frame. Although Snow told a secret, her mother had set all of this up the moment Regina was born and maybe even before. Cora was the true villain in all of this, she was the reason why Regina never had any friends, she was the reason why Daniel was dead and why Regina was desperate to learn magic, and she was the reason why Regina can never have children. Cora said all the right words that would make Regina rebel against her. Cora knew Regina better than her daughter knew herself and Cora knew that if she challenged Regina's resolve, that Regina would only push back.
Regina silently cried as all of that realization came to light, all these things she knew already but was too afraid to dwell on. Yes, she was broken hearted about not having Robin and Roland anymore but her pain was far deeper, her anger was for someone else, someone she couldn't yell at. Regina was upset at the fact that she had never experienced a love like Robin or Daniel's throughout her life. Her mother had always swooped in to snuff it out and her father was too afraid of her mother to love her and spoil her the way he wanted. Regina was angry that Snow had love all her life while she only had it in minuscule lump sums every 10 to 20 years. She was tired of people leaving her whether it be through death or a curse, she was tired of being alone, she was tired of seeing love all around her and only being able to experience the demo version.
"I can't do this anymore," Regina cried, "I… I can't… I can't."
Mal just listened and rocked her friend as she let her magic surround them. Mal's magic caresses Regina's, like a mother holding a child and Regina's magic welcomed her with open arms. The dragon's magic sung to Regina's and soon the broken woman was soothed to sleep.
"Just rest Gina," Maleficent said as she continued to rock her friend, "Just rest."
Moments later Snow, David, Emma, Henry, basically everyone and Tessa entered the kitchen. Maleficent was still rocking a sleeping Regina when they all stopped to look.
"What?" Maleficent said harshly without turning around, as way of greeting.
"Everyone has gone home, and Emma performed a few spells to get The Queen's backyard the way it was before," Tessa said quietly.
"Is she okay?" Emma asked.
Mal stopped rocking her and turned to face the savior. She gave the princess a look that made them all take steps back.
"Does she look okay?" Maleficent asked rhetorically, "From my understanding this is all your fault."
Emma opened her mouth to say something when Mal turned her head from her in a matter in which Emma knew the dragon didn't want to hear her excuses.
"I'm not getting into this with you tonight, Regina needs me more than your precious savior ego and I am exhausted from saving all of your lives tonight."
"Saving our lives?" Snow stupidly said as a question begging for validation then actual curiosity.
"Yes, saving your lives. What do you think happens when sorcerers and sorceresses get upset? They destroy everything, nothing stands in the wake of pain or anger and Regina has had to experience all of it in a manner of moments. So yes princess, I saved all of your lives."
"That's… That's not what I meant," Snow said timidly.
"And yet it came out of your mouth that way," Maleficent said with a glare.
Several moments of silence passed before David stepped forward awkwardly clearing his throat, "I'll take her upstairs," and surprisingly Maleficent gave Regina to him without much of a fight and Henry who had been quiet throughout the exchange silently followed behind him. It wasn't until the dragon stood that everyone saw the true damage she was referring too.
Regina's magic had torn right through her dress and the floor where they sat. Mal's chest and neck were scorched and blistering. Some of her skin was covered in scales and even her hands and arms were burned. Her dress was completely gone in the front and dark purple scales covered her breasts and led al the way up to the base of her neck. She was bleeding in several places and her breaths were harsh and forced.
No one said anything as Mal swayed on her feet and leaned against the island.
"Are you alright?" Tessa asked as she walked over to the dragon.
"I'll be fine, as soon as I rest. This isn't the first time I have encountered these wounds although she seems to get stronger and stronger every time," Mal said quietly.
"I can help you upstairs," the woman offered.
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Mal, said. She stood up straight and made her way towards the stairs.
David and Henry were coming down them.
"I want to stay with my mom," Henry said to Emma.
"Of course," Emma said when Mal looked at her.
"This is not your house and you cannot give him permission to be here, besides, I don't know who Regina is going to wake up as in the morning. So no, he will not be staying here. As a matter of fact…" with a wave of her hand everyone was surrounded by black and purple smoke and disappeared.
They all appeared outside of Regina's front gate as a purple protection spell covered the entire house.
Mal drug her exhausted body up the stairs and her magic worked overtime to heal her. She slowly walks into Regina's bedroom and sees her still fast asleep on her side. Maleficent removes her tattered clothes and climbs in bed next to the Queen. Regina hiccups a quiet sob and Maleficent turns to face her and wraps her arms around her. Regina snuggles closer to the dragon and sighs. Mal hums quietly as she drags her talons lazily through Regina's hair until sleep takes them both away.
...
The next morning Regina awakes to find herself encased in something very warm. Her eyes slowly focus as she wakes from sleep, she breathes in a smoky, barbeque smell with a hint of vanilla and smiles knowing exactly who it is. Her smile fades when she is fully awake and her eyes focus on what she is seeing. Mal's skin was slightly burned in some places and where the burns had healed, there were angry red scars. The fact that Mal was naked and lying beside her meant nothing, since the dragon sorceress often slept in the nude. She would complain to Regina how clothes were constricting and The Queen learned quick that if nudity bothered her than she needed to leave, because said dragon was not going to be uncomfortable in her own castle.
Regina reaches her hand out and gently runs the tips of her fingers against the red patch of skin on the dragon's hip. It's cool to the touch but the scar is what worries Regina. Most of last night was a blur, especially after Robin left but this wasn't the first time she had seen this mark, and her magical signature hummed faintly from it. Memories of her fight with Mal in the Enchanted Forest flashed in her mind, that day she and Mal had fought to the point of exhaustion and even after being held by Mal and the dragon apologizing, she still felt the sting of that horrible joke for months.
Regina sighed and brought her magic to her fingertips and grazed the angry rash. The dragon's skin began to heal and turn to its natural color and when that was done, she moved her magic to the slightly bleeding scar across Mal's abdomen. Mal's scales where protruding in some places and Regina frowned as she ran her fingers along them. Her scales only appeared in her human form, if she suffered a lot of damage. The dark purple almost black, teardrop shaped scales shimmered a midnight blue when Regina's magic touched them. The scales began to fade underneath Mal's skin as Regina's magic healed them.
Mal shifted in her sleep at the touch of Regina's hand but the Queen continued to heal her.
"Don't," Mal murmured as she leaned her head closer to Regina's, until their foreheads touched. Her eyes were still closed as she exhaled a small cloud of smoke towards Regina.
"I hurt you… again," the former Evil Queen, whispered, turning her head a moment to avoid Mal's smoke, "I'm almost done. Stay still."
"Regina, I'm a dragon. You'll only exhaust yourself, besides this is not the first time I've encountered these wounds nor my first time healing myself from your better half's… tantrums... rest. I'll heal in time," Mal says releasing another small plume of smoke. A sleeping spell. Regina guessed by the smell of Mal's smoke. She holds her breath this time as the smoke dissipates.
Regina frowns at the dragon but continues to heal her, "First off, it was you who played that… disgusting trick on me. You can't get angry with me for…"
Mal opens her eyes and moves so Regina's hand is no longer on her but before her friend could protest Mal grabs her hand and holds it between her own.
"I apologized for that… and I meant it. It was a horrible joke and I shouldn't have cast that spell on you."
Regina stares down at their hands and mindlessly rubs circles in the space between Mal's thumb and index finger, "I know," she whispers as a tear cascaded down the bridge of her nose.
"Regina—"
"No, I know," Regina, says sniffing and rolling over onto her back, slipping her hand out of Mal's and wiping her eyes, "I'm just… so… sad. I can't stand it."
"I know," Mal says staring at Regina before quickly planting a kiss onto her cheek. Mal sighs heavily and Regina feels her get off the bed. She feels the familiar hum of Mal's magic and soon the dragon stands on the other side of the bed, fully dressed and looking down at her.
"Come on, I know what will make you feel better," Mal said placing her hands on her hips.
Regina huffs out a tired breath and looks incredulously at the dragon, "What?"
"Assisting me in killing your stepdaughter," Maleficent replies with a smile.
Regina rolls her eyes and rolls over onto her side burying her head into the pillow Mal was previously laying on, "Haven't you been paying attention, the girl can't die… or won't… either way, I have spent years trying to accomplish that one goal and she still lives," she mumbled into the pillow.
"Well, that has everything to do with you, not her. If you had simply slit the girl's throat while she was under the curse, instead of allowing her to sleep, then you wouldn't be in this mess, and neither would I for that matter" Maleficent said as she walks into Regina's closet and rifles through her clothes.
Regina lifts her head from her pillow, "If I had killed Snow, I wouldn't have Henry," she growls out.
Maleficent appears from the closet with a series of clothing selections and promptly ignores her friend, "Where are your gowns? There is nothing really suitable for killing in this closet. Although, I do like these," Mal says tossing the clothes on Regina's bed and holding up a pair of leather leggings.
Regina rolls over to look at Mal and then buries her face back into the pillow.
Maleficent growls and slaps Regina's butt.
"Get up!"
Regina groans and rolls over before sitting up and crossing her legs, "This isn't like you, Mal. You usually enjoy making people suffer for long periods of time, not killing them right from the jump. What happened to all that patience?"
"I have had patience!" Mal yells throwing the pants on the bed, "30 years of it and now I'm tired of waiting! So are you going to help me or not!"
Regina frowns and crawls toward Maleficent before kneeling on her knees, "Mal—"
"No, Regina. Either, you're going to help me or not, which is it?"
"I'll help you, but not with killing her—"
Maleficent scuffs and turns away from Regina. Before Maleficent could register what Regina was doing, the Dragon engulfed herself in smoke with Regina reaching out to grab her and hijacking her spell, mid-incantation.
Snow's Loft
Maleficent and Regina reappeared in Snow's loft. Regina groans, as she crashes to the floor, gasping for air.
"Idiot! Why did you do that? If I wasn't as advanced in magic as I am you wouldn't have your torso or that arm!" Maleficent yelled as Regina groaned and held her stomach.
"Mom!" Henry yelled running over to his mother.
Maleficent rolled her eyes and put her hands on her hips while Henry checked to make sure Regina was alright.
"What happened?" Henry cried.
"I… did... something stupid," Regina said grabbing her stomach and sitting up. As soon as she did she was engulfed in a tight hug from Henry.
"Whoa," Regina said catching her balance and hugging him back, "What's this? I'm okay."
"I… you… fell asleep before I could… are you okay?" Henry said into Regina's shoulder.
"She's fine, now, Where are they?" Maleficent said glaring at Henry.
"Who?" Emma said from the island.
Maleficent turned around to see the entire charming family amidst the breakfast dishes and standing behind the island.
"Us," Snow said as she stepped in front of Emma.
"Why," Emma said glaring at The Queen and the Dragon.
"Should I tell them or should you?" Maleficent said.
"Maleficent, you don't understand, we were tricked—"
"I don't care if you signed a deal with The Dark One and you only had an hour to live. You took something from me and either you give it back or die," Maleficent said as her eyes glowed green.
"Whoa, took what?" Emma said reaching for her gun.
"We don't have it," Charming said as he shoved Snow behind him.
"Don't have what?" Emma yelled, "Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on!"
"Where is it!" Maleficent yelled ignoring Emma as smoke billowed out of her nose and magic sparked in her mouth.
"Where is what?" Emma shouted.
"My child!" Maleficent finally said glaring at the savior, "Your parents took it from me back in the Enchanted Forest after I sought their help to stop Regina's curse. After I laid my egg, your parents snuck into my home, while I was at my most vunerable and took it from me."
Emma looked incredulously at her parents, "Mom? Dad? Please tell me that's not true."
"It's not what you think, we didn't intend on taking anything from Maleficent—"
"Then how did you?"
"After our search with Maleficent, Cruella and Ursula went south we ran into a wizard that told us that there was a chance you would turn dark. But he said that there was a way to prevent it—"
"So you kidnapped someone's kid!" Emma yells.
"It wasn't… we were scared… and this guy named—"
"What did you do with it!" Maleficent yells as her eyes turn a hue of green.
"We lost it!" Snow blurts out, "The wizard took Emma's potential darkness and put it into the egg. We didn't know it was a baby! We thought it was—"
"It doesn't matter what you thought it was! That was my child! Whether it was a monster or not it was mine and you had no right to take it from me!" Maleficent yells throwing her hands up towards them. Green talons of magic wrapped themselves around the throats of Snow and Charming. Emma's scream was cut off prematurely when Maleficent flung her other hand in the savior's direction.
"Mal!" Regina yelled as she shoved Henry behind her as she got to her feet.
"Shut up Regina!"
"Mal, please, just listen to—"
Mal glared in Regina's direction and with a quick wave of the hand she was holding Emma with, she sent Regina and Henry both into the bathroom, slamming the door shut.
"Maleficent!" Regina yelled as she banged on the glass door and tried to force it open.
Snow and Charming's face turned a deep shade of purple as they struggled to breathe.
"Maleficent… please…" Snow gasped in a faint voice.
"I begged and pleaded for you not to take my child… and you took it anyway! Do you have any idea… how it feels to watch two people who claim to be heroes and want nothing to do with you, run off with your child!" Maleficent cries as tears stream down her face. "You killed my child… so now I'm going to kill you!"
"Shh… not… dead," Snow gasped out as her eyes roll up into the back of her head.
Maleficent drops them, "What?"
Snow and Charming inhale sharply and grab their chests as air fights to get into their lungs.
"Mom! Dad!" Emma yells as she runs to them. Maleficent is faster and reappears right in front of them and grabs Snow by her throat. Regina, Henry and Emma run to Snow's aid but Maleficent throws up a barrier to separate everyone, including a now standing Charming from her and Snow.
"What did you say?" Maleficent says in a growl.
Snow's eyes water uncontrollably and her face is crimson as she gasps for air, "The egg… fell in… a portal…"
"Where!"
"Here… to a land… without magic," Snow finally gets out as Maleficent releases her. Snow falls to the ground and wheezes for air. The barrier falls and Charming runs to her side. He wipes her tears with the back of his sleeve as Maleficent stares at the couple.
"My child is alive?" Maleficent says in a whisper.
Charming glares at Maleficent while Snow nods as her breaths come in steadily.
"There is a strong possibility that it is, yes," Snow coughs out. Emma runs to the sink and fills up a glass with water. She kneels down and hands it to Snow. "I'm truly sorry, Maleficent," Snow says looking up at the dragon with bloodshot eyes.
"Where's my child?" Maleficent says ignoring the princess.
"I don't know," Snow says looking down.
Maleficent's eyes darken as she looks at Snow but Emma speaks first.
"I can help you find it!"
"How?" Maleficent asks with a glare.
"I use to find people as a job before I moved here. I'm really good at it, so if your child is alive, then I'll find them."
"Gina?" Maleficent says keeping her eyes on Emma.
"She's telling the truth. If your child is alive then Emma will find them."
Maleficent nods and walks over to Regina, "You have until sundown or I'm coming back to kill your parents."
"What? It's going to take me—"
"Not my problem. Sundown savior," Maleficent says as smoke surrounds both her and Regina. She shoves Henry aside and soon both dragon and sorceress is gone. Once Snow caught her breath Charming helped her stand to her feet while Emma glared at the both of them.
"You kidnapped someone's kid?" Emma said folding her arms across her chest.
David sighs, "Emma, it's not like that—"
"We were tricked, a sorceress told us that you had the potential to be dark—"
"So you kidnapped someone's kid or egg! To do what? Make sure that I never turned dark?"
Snow and David glanced at each other and then at Emma.
"Emma, we needed—"
"For me to grow up and be the savior! For me not to have a decision on whether I turned out good or bad! Well news flash, everyone has the potential to be bad, including Henry and even with Regina as a mother the kid still turned out okay!" Emma said gesturing to Henry who looked between his mother and grandparents.
"Emma, we didn't—"
"I don't wanna hear it! I have until sundown, remember, to clean up yet another mess I have inherited. So you'll excuse me if I can't stick around to listen to more excuses as to why you felt that it was necessary to break into someone's home to steal their kid!" Emma said as she grabbed her jacket from the coat rack and left the loft, slamming the door behind her.
Mayoral Mansion
Regina and Maleficent appear back in Regina's bedroom. Maleficent took a step away from Regina and turns her back towards the Queen.
"Mal, you could've just pulled me away from Henry, you didn't have to shove him. Next time you even think of—" Regina began when she turned to face her friend.
"Mal?" Regina walked towards the dragon and turned her to face her.
Maleficent's face was beat red and her grey eyes glistened with tears.
"My child might be alive?" she gasped as her tears fell. Regina tugged her friend towards her and wrapped her arms around her, "Oh, Gina, what if they aren't? What if they are and they blame me for losing them?"
Regina pulled back from Maleficent and looked up into her eyes, "You are not to blame and if they do then I will be right there to tell them that their wrong."
"What if Emma comes up empty? What if my child is—"
"Mal, don't think like that. Rumplestilskin's son, Emma and Pinocchio, all made it here unharmed. I'm sure your daughter or son faired the same."
"Do you really think so?" mal asked in a whisper.
"Yes," Regina said pulling her friend into a hug, "The one thing Emma is good at is finding and reuniting people."
The Forest
Robin crouches down next to Seth with his arrow aimed for the stag 40 feet in front of him. Little Jon kneels near a tree flanking the two men with at least 3 squirrels, 2 rabbits and a fox strung onto his back. Robin scuffs softly when he spots the contraption Little Jon used to capture his bounty. Little Jon had called it a cross bow but Robin loved his regular bow just fine. The bulky contraption was not only heavy but hard as hell to set. He had watched Little Jon grunt and groan trying to reset the thing. He might have managed to capture all that meat but he had scared off twice as that with his bouts of frustration.
The stag Robin aimed his bow at had run away twice from them, first because of Little Jon and the second time was because Seth was too antsy to stay still. Even now the young hunter was breathing heavy and scooting closer.
"Patience, Seth," Robin whispers.
Seth glances at him and nods.
More men gather around, some in the trees and others on the ground a few hundred feet away, Robin could sense them. Taking a deep breath, Robin pulled his bow back but before he could let go of the bow string, Seth inched forward. A twig snapped the stag looked up, spotted Little Jon and took off. Robin quickly eyed Seth who was staring at him with an apologetic look and then back at the stag who was darting off further into the woods.
50 feet… Breath
70 feet… Aim
100 feet… Release
Sfft…
The arrow soared through the air and just as Little Jon tripped over a log and fell, the arrow whizzed past him and into the head of the stag.
"Damn it, Robin! That almost hit me!" Little Jon yelled as two of his men jumped down from the tree laughing at the man.
"Nice landing Little Jon," Aaron said.
"Yeah, a second later and we would have been bleeding you for dinner," Derrick chimed in as the two men approached him.
"Ha Ha Ha, shut up," Little Jon said as he made it to his feet.
"I'm so sorry Robin, I didn't know that twig was there," Seth said as he and Robin approached the three men.
"Of course it was you," Aaron said as he walked over to the stag and pulled out Robin's arrow.
"You little Kakapo, I almost got hit because of you," Little Jon growled.
"I know but it was an accident," Seth said.
"Little Jon, you know my aim to be true, so how do you know I didn't anticipate your clumsiness when I aimed for the beast," Robin said with a cocky grin.
"Because you're not that good," Little Jon retorted as Robin scuffed a laugh.
"Alright Seth, You, Derrick and Aaron, stay here and bleed this thing, before taking it back to camp. Little Jon and I will finish hunting."
The three men nodded.
"Here clumsy, I'll cut, you can string it up," Robin heard Derrick say as he and Little Jon walked away from them.
Robin and Little Jon walk a while before he spots his men in the trees and some a few feet ahead of them. Many of them carried their bounty upon their backs while the other's where spotted in blood, which only meant their bounty was being drained nearby.
Little Jon crouches down and points his crossbow at a rabbit a few feet away. Robin chuckles and points his bow as he crouches down.
"No way, this one is mine," Little Jon said moving in front of Robin, "Find your own."
Robin chuckles and side steps his friend, "That's your problem mate, you keep going for the smaller game, when there is always something larger hunting it," Robin raised his bow above the distance of the rabbit and aimed it at the large bird stalking it. Little Jon scuffs and aims for his rabbit when the sound of rustling halts Robin's hands.
Robin could hear the rustling coming from the left of him and he turned to see a white wolf staring at them. The smell of blood must have drawn it to them.
"Little Jon, toss me your fox," Robin whispered not taking his eyes off of the wolf. Little John was focused on another target in front of him.
"This is my catch, you want to impress Marion, then you better—" Little Jon said as he turned to face his friend. His voice faltered when he followed Robin's eyesight. Standing no more than 10 feet from them was a large white wolf. A female wolf, to be exact and she looked angry. A low growl escapes her muzzle as she steps forward.
Little Jon moves his bow to position it toward the wolf.
"No, stop," Robin said as the wolf's growl grew stronger, "This wolf just recently gave birth, her pups must be around here somewhere, which would explain the aggressiveness,"
"How can you tell?"
"Underbelly, she's swollen with a mother's milk," Robin says as he slowly reached behind Little Jon and cut a fox from his back.
"How do you know giving it food is going to make it go away?"
"I don't," Robin said taking a tiny step forward, "But at least it will let her know, we're not after her pups."
Robin leans forward and tosses the fox at the angry wolf. She continues to growl but steps back. Seconds later she sniffs at the dead fox in front of her. She glances back at Robin and Little Jon giving them a warning bark before grabbing the fox and running off.
"That was close," Little Jon said.
"Yeah and also a warning. We need to move, let your rabbit live another day," Robin says chuckling as he stands and walks toward the rabbit, making it and the bird scurry off.
Hours and many kills later a whistle echoes through the forest as each Merry Man carries it. Robin echoes the whistle back and soon his men emerge up from the shadows.
"Alright men, let's take our bounty back to camp," Robin exclaims as he and Little Jon gather branches, twine to transport the stag they killed. The air is silent between except the rustling of leaves and the sound of branches being broken down. Little Jon watches Robin as the notorious thief smiles to himself.
"Are you going to tell me what's bothering you friend, or will you continue to stare at me like a woman wanting to cuddle?" Robin teased making Little Jon snicker.
"Please, and have Marian hunt be down when you prefer me over her," Little Jon said as Robin chuckled.
"Marian… you know there was a time when I thought I would never speak her name again. Can you believe it? She's alive? You know I wake during the night fearing that it's all a dream. Then I see her laying there, tucked right beside me as if she was never gone."
Little Jon smiles at his friend, "And the Queen? What do you think of her?" he hesitantly asked.
Robin stops pulling the vine he was gathering and cuts it before turning to face the man, "I have no thoughts of her. Friar Tuck seems to think I should go and apologize for calling her a witch but he seems to forget that, that witch hunted us and villagers for years. You and I stopped many an arrest with her ruthless blackguard. Just because she transports up to another land doesn't mean all is forgiven."
"And Marian? What are her thoughts on the Queen?"
"Marian? She hasn't spoken a word of The Queen."
"What about Roland?"
"Nor he, what are these questions? You're acting just as strange as Friar Tuck. He asked me the same questions just this morning. What, are you interested in courting the Queen?" Robin says laughing as he walks toward the area where Seth, Derrick and Aaron were bleeding the Stag.
"God no, I can't stand the woman, she's stubborner than a mule and as irritating as a relentless flea."
"You speak as if you spent time with her," Robin mused.
Little Jon chuckles awkwardly and clears his throat, "No, it's… just things that I've heard. Um… how is Roland Coping with Marian around now?"
"Great actually, he clings to her as I do, afraid that she'll disappear in the night. It took us hours to get him to sleep. Then this morning, he wouldn't let Marian out of his eyesight. I guess, it's just his way of dealing with her being back."
"Well he's young. I'm sure it will pass soon," Little Jon says as he steps over a log in front of him. As Robin grabs ahold of the log and pulls himself over, Little Jon halts him.
"Shh, do you hear that?"
Robin frowns and listens carefully, "I don't hear anything."
Little Jon positions his crossbow in front of him and smiles at Robin, "Don't tell me, thoughts of Marian have deafened your perfect hearing," he says with a grunt as he fights to reset the crossbow.
"Maybe, but you fighting with that silly contraption will alert any prey or hunter in this area," Robin says as he pushes pass Little Jon and darts off into the direction of the sound. Little Jon quickly follows behind.
A few yards from their position a wild boar was mauling and attacking the white wolf that approached Robin and Little Jon earlier. As the boar rams his horns into the wolf's side Robin releases his bow and both the boar and the wolf go down.
"Damn it," Robin says as he runs over to the injured wolf. The white wolf lies on its side, the horns of the boar still sticking it in its side. Robin tries to move the boar but the wolf cries out in pain so Robin leaves it alone.
"Robin what is it?" Little Jon says coming up behind him.
"I was too late," Robin says as he reaches to his ankle and pulls out his knife. The wolf wheezes out its breaths as Robin places his hand over its eyes. He points the tip of the dagger between the wolf's ribs and swiftly ends the wolf's suffering.
"I'll grab both of them. Maybe we can get something for the pelt of the wolf," Little Jon says as Robin eyes search frantically along the ground.
"What are you looking for?"
"She nearly attacked us earlier and we were yards away. She fought this boar because it was near her den… we need to find the den before the pups… meet a fate worse than their mother."
Little Jon nods and walks around the surrounding area.
Yelp and whines come from a small shrub. Little Jon pulls the leaves and branches back to reveal three small wolf pups barely two weeks old.
"Robin, I found them," Little Jon says as he crouches down.
Robin joins him and sighs, "Come on, I'll grab them and you get the other two."
Little Jon nods and walks back toward the wolf and boar. He gathers both while Robins removes his jacket and place the puppies inside. The puppies seems fine all except one who keeps yelping and growling.
Back at camp
"What have you got there, Robin?" Friar Tuck asks as Roland runs to his father.
"Papa!"
"Hey my boy," Robin says with a quick rub of Roland's head.
A soft growl comes through the wrapped bundle, Roland and Tuck both frown.
"I thought the purpose of hunting was to kill your food. What have you got there a possum?"
"Actually, pups. Three to be exact. A boar killed their mother, and their too young to be left alone, so I grabbed them."
"Puppies!" Roland exclaimed pulling at his father's arms to get a better look at the creatures.
"No, Roland these puppies are wild and they will bite you."
"What are we going to do with them?"
"Yeah," Tuck says, "I don't think Marian will be in the mood to care for three unruly pups along with a toddler."
"Well, the town has a little cottage where they house unwanted creatures, so I was thinking of taking them there."
"No, papa, can we keep them," Roland asks when a growl and yelp comes from his coat.
"Ah, shit!" Robin says as he drops his coat and the puppies fall out, "You little—"
"Puppies!" Roland exclaims.
The puppies tumble out of the coat and shake the dirt off. The girl wolf yelps and barks at Roland. The toddler gasps as the little wolf gets closer to him before Robin can grab the animal it takes off after a screaming Roland.
Roland screams at the top of his lungs as he runs away from the charging miniature wolf. The merry men try and catch the toddler and the puppy but both continue to slip through. Marian comes out to see what all the fuss is about when she sees Roland dash past her with an agitated pint-size wolf chasing after him.
The other puppies pounce and bark but Marian quickly grabs a drying blanket from the line and drops it on them before gathering them up in her arms.
Roland trips over his toy truck and goes crashing to the ground. The puppy gets to him first before the other can and she grabs a chunk of his pants between her tiny teeth and yanks them.
"Ahh, stop it. Bad puppy!" Roland yells as he fights to keep his pants. The puppy yanks and yanks until Robin scoops up the boy by his arms. With one final tug and the pants slip off Roland revealing his Hulk underwear. The little wolf rips at the pants and drags it all through the dirt.
"Bad puppy!" Roland says as he rubs his butt. Little Jon goes for the puppy but she jumps out of reach and and dashes towards the tree line and headed into the forest with Roland's pants clamped in her mouth.
"Shit," Little Jon says as he and a few other men chase after her.
…
She loved her morning runs through the forest. She stayed on her end and the animals rarely bothered her unless they wanted to know good hunting grounds or what days the trash would be out for them to scavenge through. The earth was warm under her paws and the morning wind ruffled her fur in a good way. It had been weeks since she was able to go for a run without bringing about suspicion and when she was in the clear to change, her wolf greeted her with open arms and she was running through the forest like a new born pup.
Speaking of newborn she smelled a den nearby but she also smelled blood and decay. This was a huge hunting area for the people who lived in the forest and she knew all the animals knew not to make home in this area. She raises her nose in the air and inhales deep. She looks to her right and follows the scent of birth through the trees. A few miles in the smell of blood gets stronger and she recognizes it as her kin. A low growl escapes her throat as she approaches the den.
The smell of blood from her kin mingles with the blood and the stench of a wild boar. She walks toward it and the steps into a cold puddle of clotted blood. She lifts her paw and sniffs it. It's from her kin and the boar. She rubs her paw against the ground and heads toward the den. If the mother is dead surely the puppies will not survive alone and not only that but the boar smelled male which means it's mate may come searching for it and she didn't want it to cross paths with a defenseless litter of pups.
She releases a low growl at the entrance of the cave, letting any and all residents know of her approach and she means no harm.
Silence.
She does it again and still nothing. She hesitantly enters the den, it's pretty small but her wolf just fits. The interior is empty. She walks over to a makeshift bed and places her paw in the center of a pile of twigs, cotton, and leaves. It's still warm and the den smells like a littler lives in it. She goes deeper into the den and sees a small pile of vomit in the corner half eaten… rabbit and fox from the smell of it. She moves closer to the corner in the left and sniffs, she sneezes and steps back… two boys and a girl from what she can smell. A dead squirrel's carcass lies on the side of the makeshift bed. She walks towards it and sniffs it.
"Hey get away from that! It's mine!" a small voice growls. She turns to see a little pup hackles raised and all of her very little teeth shown. A pair of jeans lie at her paws, they smell suspiciously of human... a little well known human, she thinks to herself.
"Where are your den-mates?"
"They were taken, so was I but I escaped! Why do you smell of my mother's blood? What have you done with her!" The puppy demands.
"Your mother was killed by a boar, I found her blood but not her body, Who took—" she begins when shouting echoes in the distance.
"This way! I think she went back to the den!" Little Jon yells.
The puppy gasps and runs towards her. She crouches down and hides beside her right paw which is almost the size of the entire pup's body.
"Who is that?"
"The humans who took me," the puppy said with a whimper, "I attacked their cub and removed it's skin. But they still chased after me."
She walks over to the pair of jeans and sniffs it, "You didn't remove the skin, you pulled off his pants."
The pup frowns, "What are pan..—"
"Here it is!" Little Jon said as his shadow covered the entrance of the den.
"They're coming for me," the puppy whined.
She sighed deeply with a roll of her eyes and came to the mouth of the den.
Little Jon kneels down and is met with a pair of large saucer size yellow eyes and sharp teeth and a ground vibrating growl. He gulps as the wolf takes a massive paw and steps outside the den. The giant wolf comes up to his waist and its teeth are as long as his fingers.
Once she is fully out the cave the men all back up, some pulling out weapons and arrows.
"No, stop! This thing will kill us, just remain still, don't make any sudden movements," Little Jon says as he steps further back.
"Where the hell did that thing come from?"
"What the hell is it?" a few of the men question as they stare at her.
"Come," she barks to the cave.
The puppy emerges from the cave timidly.
"They won't bother you, come on."
The puppy walks over to the much larger wolf but stops and turns back to grab Roland's pants.
"Put that back, we're not taking it!"
"It's my kill, I want it," the puppy growls as she picks it up.
"It's not a —" she sighs before growling irritated and walking over to the puppy. The puppy cowers but doesn't release the jeans. The massive wolf opens her giant mouth and closes it gently over the puppy's body before picking it up and running off further into the woods.
She runs far enough to where she can't smell the men anymore and stops. She gently placed the little wolf down and began to walk away.
"Hey! Where are you going?" the little wolf cried out as she ran up towards her.
"Home, unlike you, I have to work for my food," she says as she continues.
"But what about my brothers and me?"
"I rescued you and I know those men, they wouldn've hurt you, so your brothers are fine. Besides this is a friendly area. I marked it, so no one will bother you."
"But… I want to stay with you."
She stops and turns around, "You can't. I am not full wolf, I am human first than wolf. I am just like those men, I walk amongst them, on two legs. I am not your new mother nor do I want to be, so don't follow."
She walks away from the pup who only gathers up Roland's jeans and follows behind her. She can hear the pups grunt as she stumbles on the jeans yet again. She picks up her pace and jogs further ahead of the pup.
"Hey… wait!" The pup cries out as she struggles to keep up.
"No, stay here."
The pup stops and gathers as much of Roland's pants in her mouth and runs off after the bigger wolf. The pup whimpers as she fights to jump over a fallen tree.
"Please don't leave me here!"
"I said stop following me," the other wolf yells in the distance.
The pup quickly scans the area and runs over to a much thinner part of the tree and climbs over.
"Hey! Where are you?," the pup says as she loses track of the bigger wolf. She looks all around her and dashes off in the direction she last saw the wolf. She runs and runs until she trips over the jeans and tumbles downhill. The world spins around her and she lets go of the jeans in her mouth as she comes into contact with a tree. The tree breaks her decent and she moves to stand. A sharp pain surges through her left paw and she cries out.
She howls and yelps as loud as she can.
"Help me! Please!"
She licks and bites at her paw as she tries to move on it again but the pain is too much and she sits on her hind legs and cries.
"Mommy, mommy where are you? Please come back," she whimpers as she lies down and cries.
The massive wolf watches from a distance and sighs as her motherly instincts take over. She growls to herself knowing that this will only make people ask more questions and maybe even give away her secret but she stalks over to the whimpering pup.
"I told you, your mother is dead," The wolf says as the pup raises her head.
"My paw hurts," the pup cries.
"I told you not to follow me," The wolf says as she sniffs around the pup's legs. She licks the pup's face and the pup leans into her, "Stand."
"I can't it hurts."
"I know but I need to see how bad it is."
The pup stands, wobbly, but up straight. The wolf nudges the pup and she releases a sharp yelp before lying back down.
"It's not broken, thankfully but it's sprained pretty badly," The wolf says, "Usually, den mother's would leave an injured pup out here and let the animals eat it," the wolf says as she leans down and picks up Roland's pants before dropping them on the pups head.
The pup gasps as her head pokes through the gap of Roland's pants legs.
"But those are just the stories I heard of bad pups. If you promise to listen to me, everything I say. I will take you with me."
"And my brothers?"
"I am not a den mother but I will try and find a suitable caretaker for you and your brothers. Do we have a deal?"
The pup nods and bows her head. The bigger wolf leans down and grabs both Roland's jeans and the pup between her teeth before running off towards town.
…
Little Jon and the others walked into camp, talking excitedly about the giant wolf they encounter and how they lived to tell the tale. A few were talking about putting the puppies back or else face the angry wolf if she happens to want to come back to retrieve it's pup.
"I told you, that wasn't the mother. A boar killed the mother, I don't know what that was," Little Jon said.
"What happened?" Robin asked as he sat a bag of potatoes on top of the crate he trapped the puppies underneath.
"We ran into a problem. There was another wolf there? It wasn't the mother we saw earlier but it was a huge one," Little Jon says.
"Huge?" Robin said nonchalantly.
Little Jon frowned, "Yeah… it took the pup and left."
"Left? Do you think it was the Alpha?"
"No, it would have challenged us… especially with us being by his den and around his pups. But it didn't and I don't think it was male. It was big enough for us to see and it was definitely female," Little Jon said.
"Something that big, do you think it may come for the others?"
"I don't know but we should get rid of them just in case it does come looking for them."
"Yeah, okay. I know a place in town that take in abandoned and wounded animals," Robin said giving the man a reassuring pat on the back, "But after breakfast," he said with a smile.
Mayoral Mansion
Maleficent's eyes snaps open at the sudden smell of something sweet. After she and Regina came home, they had lied down for a while and slept and as much as The Dragon loved the Queen's company, Regina's night terrors were really starting to annoy her. Maleficent cast a few mild spells to get the heart broken woman to sleep but Regina's demons seemed far too strong and Regina finally gave up and went to busy herself downstairs.
Different smells from cleaners to polishes filled the large house along with a sound from an angry animal The sorceress had woken up to push back and forth against the carpet. The dragon growled several times when Regina came barging in the room to clean the nonexistent dirt with the angry animal, which turned out to be a very loud machine.
After at least an hour of quiet Maleficent figured The Queen has found something quiet to do with her time and the sweet aroma coming from the floor below proved her right. She rose from the bed and made her way downstairs. The air was sweet with hints of chocolate, cinnamon, mint and roasted nuts. She walks towards the smells and leans against the doorframe.
The Queen is lost in thought with a look of content on her face although her slow movements and sad eyes express a deeper sorrow. Always the picture of perfection, Maleficent thinks to herself even with a flour smear under her eye from where she must have wiped away a tear since the flour streak was thick there.
"What are you making?" Maleficent almost whispers so not to startle the Queen. The gesture goes in vane when she sees Regina noticeably jump and then smile up at her.
"You're awake, how are you feeling?" Regina says as Maleficent walks into the kitchen and sits down at the island.
"I am better… a little, although having an emotional fit and falling asleep like some kind of child is a bit disconcerting," Mal says as she slides a few of the chocolate chip candies from a big pile into a smaller one of her own. She pops one into her mouth savoring the sweet flavor.
Regina gives her a sideways smile, "You did just get some rather shocking news. I would have been more concerned had you not responded. You realize that if your daughter is in this world and has been outside these borders she is probably the same age if not older than Emma. She won't be a child and if the horror stories Emma has been reluctant to tell her parents of her upbringing are true, she may be very angry."
A look of pain crosses the dragon's face and she chuckles bitterly. "Well, at least we'll have something in common."
"As to your earlier question, I am making an assortment of desserts and a small batch of candies." Regina says gesturing to a small assortment of colorful and flavorful chocolates.
"Why?"
"Living in this world without my magic has forced me to try new things and I find baking and cooking sooths me when I'm upset and helps me get my thoughts together." Regina walks over to the oven, grabs a pair of oven mitts and pulls out a tray of chocolate chip cookies. She grabs a small saucer and places 3 on it as she turns back to the dragon and slides her the plate.
"Mal wait their ho-" Regina starts when Without hesitation Maleficent picks one up and places it in her mouth, "Never mind."
Mal's eyes get big as she bites another one. "These are really good Gina. They remind me of an old baker woman that used to live in King Stephen's kingdom. I'd usually go in disguise and buy treats from the old woman. She died a few years after I started going and the sweets never really tasted the same after."
Regina watched her friend as the dragon took another bite, lost in her memories. "This is the first time you've spoken his name to me in years. Is he—"
"No," Maleficent said pushing the last cookie away from her. She looks up at Regina, "No, he's not and I don't want to talk about this. Do you understand?"
Regina nods her head.
…
Granny's Diner
Eugenia walks through the door connecting the B&B to the diner and grabs her apron that is slung over the counter. She puts it over her head and uses the side of her body to open the kitchen door when she runs into Ruby.
"Granny?!" Ruby says exasperated, "Where have you been? I've been calling your cell phone or the past hour."
"Minding, what is the matter?" Granny says pushing past her granddaughter and firing up the grill.
"What's the matter? Um… I've been calling you and your phone was out back on the ground and I was worried," Ruby said with a hint of anger, "What were you doing outside or better yet where were you?"
Granny sighs and turns to face Ruby, "I'm sorry I frightened you. I heard some noises outside, I thought it was a racoon in the trash and went to go check. My phone must have fallen out of my pocket."
Flashback
Everyone sat in the war room discussing plans to venture back out into the villages so that life could go back to normal. Well, sitting was too broad. Most were standing kneeling and holding different maps of the kingdom, along with all the roads and villages leading to them. Granny growled again and slammed the book she was holding down on the table. Everyone glanced at her as she sat down in her chair. The handwritten tome was in cursive and too hard for her old eyes to keep track of.
"Where's her highness?" Granny asked, "If we're all to be here, then she should too."
"Yeah, especially since most of these plans are going to need some kind of magical assistance," Ruby said playing with the wood carven pieces of each kingdom's monarch.
"Regina said that if there isn't an absolute need for her to be in here, then she's not coming to anymore meetings," Snow said as David who rolled his eyes, "So we're just going to have make do without her for right now."
"What? It's her kingdom isn't it? Didn't she hunt and fail at killing all of us to get it, now she just wants to lay back and watch all of us do the work?" Leroy grunted out.
"Well to be fair she has been helping out with a lot of stuff, especially the garden, and let's not forget the children. And I think that with everyone wanting to get back to their normal lives… It leaves her to go back to having to deal with her loss of Henry," Snow says as Charming places a hand on her swollen belly, "I mean Charming and I miss Emma and although we didn't get to raise her, Regina raised Henry and while I have David and all of you, once everyone leaves… Regina will still be here… alone."
"That's not true, I'm sure The Queen can convince a few to stick around, right Robin?" Ruby asks with a cheeky grin. But the outlaw shakes his head.
"I'm afraid not. My men have been begging to go back to the forest, to our camp for a while now. It is I who have been putting it off because of Roland's fondness of the Queen and of course assisting with the protection of the castle. I'm afraid that once we finalize plans, my men and I will be leaving," Robin says as the group sadly nod.
The group turns back to the assortment of maps of all the kingdoms and notes proposed by The Queen but they simply couldn't make sense of it. Snow squinted at a small note at the side of the map and realized it wasn't even English.
"Well, most of her notes are written in Elvish… unless she got bored and started drawing in the margins," Snow said with an exasperated sigh.
"Well, at least now we have a reason to call her, no one here speaks elvish. Well unless you guys want to try Belle?" Ruby said.
"No, I already asked her, when we came across a book in the library with the language written in it."
"Let's do the mirror thing and ask her then, that way she doesn't have to come down here," Granny suggests as Snow closes her eyes to summon Blue. A bright blue fairy comes twinkling into the room and hovers right in front of Snow.
"Yes, Princess?"
"Can you do the mirror thing. Regina refuses to come to anymore meetings unless we are in dire need of her and as it has it… we need to ask Regina a question."
Blue smiled and glanced at the closest mirror in the war room.
"I'll do you one better. I'll enchant this mirror so, that whenever you need Regina, whether it be to see where she is or talk to her you just think of her and touch the glass and it shall reveal her to you," blue said as she levitated the mirror towards the table and placed it on a stand near the table.
Snow stands and walks over towards the mirror. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath bringing images of Regina to the forefront of her mind and smiling. She places her hand on the glass and after a series of small ripples like stones being tossed into water, the image of Regina's bedchamber comes into focus.
...
Regina lounges on her bed, on her back, biting into a strawberry. Her feet press gently against the headboard of her bed and as she stares up towards the ceiling. Her slim bare legs expose miles of tanned skin until it meets the hem of her form fitting lace jet black night gown. It began midthigh and stretched over her hips, slim waist and breast. The U-shaped neck allowed for a more vintage look then a provocative plunging V line.
Books, documents, ledgers and maps float above her head as her eyes scan each page. A bowl of fruit floats near her as she sticks her hand back into the bowl and pulls out another ripe strawberry. As she studies the information surrounding her, a quill pen and ink bottle document her inner thoughts with a flick of her fingers and the ledger's pages turn. Her long black tresses lay above her head, away from her neck, like a trail of black streams all over her bed.
...
"So she gets to lounge around eating strawberries while we slum it down here," Leroy says.
"Well," Ruby says with a smile, "She is Queen and she's acting her role."
"And at least she is doing something. I mean, it looks like she could be researching," Snow defended.
"Whatever," Leroy says with a grunt.
Robin leans forward towards the image of the half-dressed Queen and stares at her with the intensity of a cat ready to pounce. The look doesn't go unnoticed by Granny who grunts in amusement as she crochets yet another baby blanket.
...
As Snow opens her mouth to get her stepmother's attention when a small knock rings out.
…
"Gina!" Roland's voice yells out behind her door. A small grunt and the jiggle of the door knob has Regina smiling. She turns over and sits up, her long hair falling along her shoulders and back. The magical display gently dissipates as she scans the room to see where her guest will emerge.
"Gina!" Roland calls out again. Regina looks outside to where the sun is about to set behind the mountains. Nap time she thinks. She waits a second longer and the small door behind one of her tapestry's pops open. She quickly but quietly slides off the bed and onto the floor, crouching as she slides under the bed.
...
"What is she doing?" Charming asks as everyone watches the Queen.
...
Roland emerges from behind the tapestry with Mangyi clutched in his arms.
"Gina!" He yells again and runs towards the bathroom. When he doesn't see her, he walks over to the bed. Regina watches as he places Mangyi on the floor, since the bed is too high for him and stands on the monkey to gain height. With a few determined grunts he pulls himself up and then uses the cover to anchor himself in place as he leans down to retrieve his friend. Regina smiles as she hears the crumpling of papers and the sliding of books as Roland makes himself more comfortable. She begins to slide out from underneath the bed. She crouches down and peeks over the mattress to see Roland sitting in the mist of her paperwork, eyeballing her bowl of fruit. She pushes some of her hair out of her face as she waits for her moment to pounce.
"Mangyi, you have to ask Gina for a strawberry, they're not mine?" Roland says to his stuffed monkey. Regina smiles even harder, Henry used to do the same. Plausible deniability, if it was his imaginary friend who asked and forced his hand to get the cookies then his friend was the one to blame not him.
"Okay," Roland says, "But if she says something, I'm telling her you did it," he says sticking his hand in the bowl. Regina knew this was her chance, while Roland was not only distracted but doing something he knew he wasn't supposed to be doing. Now, she realizes this is a cruel trick to scare a child half to death but hey she did it to Henry and he turned out okay… granted the boy was in therapy but that had nothing to do with pranks. So as Roland picked up the strawberry Regina popped out from beside the bed with a loud roar.
"Rawr!"
"Ahh," came a high pitched scream from Roland who dropped the strawberry and clutched Mangyi so hard the monkey's eyes bulged, "Gina! You scared me," Roland said with a laugh as he watched Regina lean on the bed tickled pink by Roland's scream.
...
"Oh my god, that was horrible," Snow said with a laugh as she watched Roland crawl near a laughing Regina.
"Serves the boy right, he does it to me all the time," Robin says with a smile as he watches Regina stand still chuckling as she climbs onto the bed with Roland.
"Aren't you supposed to be with the other children taking a nap?" Regina asks as Roland waits for the Queen to sit back onto the bed and crawls in between her legs and lays against her stomach with Mangyi in his lap.
"Little Jon said since I keep sneaking out, I can sleep in here with you, but only if you're in here."
"Oh..." Regina said as she pulls her long hair from behind her back and places it on her shoulder. Roland reaches up and grab the long tresses and plays with them while he works up the courage to ask the Queen a question.
"But he said you have to say yes… so can I sleep in here, please. I promise to be quiet," he says turning over to face the Queen. Regina wraps her arms around Roland hugging him close to her chest as she places a kiss on the top of his head.
"Of course, my little earthworm."
Roland laughs and lays his head on Regina's chest hugging her back. He turns back over and pulls Mangyi up onto his legs as he brings his knees to his chest. He lays the monkey on his legs and plays with its fur.
"Gina?"
"Hmm?" Regina says as she flicks her hand and all of her books, and papers and maps float back to their original places. This time right side up.
"What are you reading?"
"Well, now that we don't have to worry about the wicked witch and most of the flying monkeys are caught, everyone wants to go back to their homes. So, I'm trying to find a way to make that happen," Regina says looking the map of her kingdom and the adjoining ones as well.
….
"See I knew Regina would be working on something," Ruby says.
….
Regina points to a part of the map and it sparkles with purple magic. "You see this spot, this is my castle, where you are right now. And... these spots over here," her magic travels around the map and circles all the other kingdoms, "These are the other castles and this area right here," Regina's magic draws a circle around an area below her castle, "Is the village. Every kingdom has one and these are the many roads leading to them," Her magic connects all the kingdoms together, "I have to make sure that all these roads are clear and safe so when people decide to leave they won't get hurt… I just have to get the other kingdoms involved to help put out a patrol. Which may be easier said than done… Not to mention environmental problems like animals and trees...Money… because let's face it royals don't anything for nothing…" Regina mutters the last part to herself as her quill pen hovering in the air begins to write down her thoughts.
"Gina… Can you ask papa if we can stay?"
The room falls silent as the quill pen stops writing when Regina looks down at the boy.
"Stay?" she says quietly.
"Yeah," he says a little above a whisper, "Stay with you." He looks down at his monkey and clenches it's ears. Giving Regina only the top of his head to stare at in thought.
That thought hadn't even crossed her mind. The more help she provided to the aide of her kingdom the sooner Roland and Robin would be leaving her alone in this castle. Snow and Charming would offer to stay for a few weeks but then they would leave and she would be alone with the guards that she honestly didn't trust anymore in a castle meant to house thousands.
As all these thoughts raced through her mind, the maps and books and papers all begin to drift down onto the floor, bed and even on Roland's head. Roland grabbed the piece of parchment and pulled it from his head and looked up to see Regina looking off into the distance, her eyes glistening. She clutches Roland closer to her absentmindedly as the thoughts of his deep dimpled smile faded further and further away from her as he and the merry men rode off into the distance. Not only him but Robin too.
"I… hadn't thought of that… They would want to go back to the forest," Regina says voicing one of her hidden thoughts aloud. She runs her hand through Roland's hair like she has done so many times with Henry when she was deep in thought and the boy was the only thing keeping her grounded, "Has he... said anything to you about leaving? Your Papa?"
Roland sighs and leans into the Queen's touch, "Not to me but everyone else is. Gina… I think I'll miss you," he says finally looking up at her.
…
Robin sat there dumbfounded the change in the Queen's behavior was obvious and it seemed as though he and Roland had more of an effect on the Queen then she ever let on. And his son had obviously fallen in love with the woman who sometimes gleefully waltzed around on his las nerve. But what was he to do? His men had made it very clear that they wanted to go back to their camp once it was safe enough for them to do so.
…
Regina's eyes fill with tears as she looks down at Roland. She kisses his head and blinks away her unshed tears, "I think I'll miss you too," she says kissing his head again, "But I'll tell you what," Regina says sitting up straighter and turning Roland to face her, "If you guys do leave, you can always come back to visit me, no matter what time or what day."
…
Robin didn't miss the pained sound of disappointment in the Queen's voice.
…
Roland gasps excited, "Promise?"
"Promise."
Roland smiles brightly and turns back around holding his monkey in his hands. "May I have a strawberry?"
Regina smiles and uses her magic to float one near him Roland grabs the strawberry and bites it. As he indulges in his nap time snack Regina stares off into the distant absentmindedly combing Roland's hair with her hand. She had to find a way to make them stay.
Even if that meant making them ALL stay.