Evil Queen's Castle

Madchen, Magic Kingdom

Ernest clutched at his chest, knowing this was the end for him.

"You cannot do this, Cora." Ernest said. "Regina and I are best friends! She is a good person! You already took her beloved away, don't take her best friend too!"

"When Regina finds you felled by Snow's arrow," Cora said. "She will finally realize that she must kill that wretched girl. She will become a witch greater then you and your bloodline of Guardians!"

Ernest choked on blood. "This is a taboo! You Villains are not allowed to spill Guardian blood!"

Cora laughed. "No one will ever know it was us. It will always be believed that the pure Princess Snow White killed the last of the Guardians!"

Ernest smirked; even in his dying moment; having the last laugh against the Villains.

"Did you say the last?" Ernest smiled. "We're Witches, my dear...we can do anything!"

Villain Council

Leader: Queen of Hearts

Maleficent glared across the counter at Cora. "You are going to get us all killed, Cora."

"I am the leader here." Cora said. "She was going to turn my Regina good."

"That is what they do," Jafar spat. "Jo's father Will was the best friend of that street rat. Before Aladdin was a criminal, set out to become my partner; now he has been my undoing."

"What can we do about it?" Ursula said. "It is all Molly's fault that my father chose Triton over me. Molly, if you will remember; was William's mother."

"That is why I have called you here, my friends." Cora said. "For years we have suffered at the hands of the Heroes and their Guardian. We must find a way to turn the Guardian to our side."

"And how are we supposed to do that?" Hades said. "You know my brother will just find a way to control the situation. He's been simply wretched since the Heroes got all of those Avengers on their side."

"Their greatest weapon." Thanos said, sitting up from a darkened edge of the table. "It is Love. If we can use that, we are completely inevitable."

"Love is weakness." Cora said. "If the Guardian loved a Villain..."

Hero Council

Leader: Snow White

There was an angry murmuring; everyone was in a state of panic.

"Enough!" Snow said. "I did NOT murder the Guardian!"

"We know that, Snow." Florian said. "No one blames you."

"It does not really matter who murdered her." Captain America said, entering with a select few of the Avengers. "The point is that for the first time in the history of our world, we are without a Guardian."

"So the world will be without a Guardian for a few years; what does it matter?" Kuzco said.

There was a collective gasp.

"You obviously don't understand the way this works." Blue said. "We need a Guardian. Without one, the Fantasy world and the Human world will both shatter."

"So...what will be done?" Howl said.

"Send in an antihero!" Jack Sparrow said, waving a bottle of rum around. "But not me."

Snow rolled her eyes. "Yes we know the law. An antihero must be chosen to aid the budding Guardian."

"Yes yes...who was Ernest's?" Aurora said. "Send them in, shouldn't they pick?"

"Lets see..." Blue said. "Ernest would be—"

"ME!" Elsa entered the room.

There was a collective shiver.

"Do I even get a chance to mourn my husband?" Elsa asked. "Ernest died a hero; or don't any of you care about him?"

"Elsa..." Anna said. "Calm down. We have to pick a partner for...what's the girl's name?"

"Elaine." Elsa said bitterly. "Our twelve year old daughter. Her name is Elaine."

"I'm sure you already chose someone, Elsa." Snow said cheerily.

"Yes. That person is—"

"Not so fast!" Cora entered the room.

"How dare you!" Snow said.

A magical alarm summoned the Avengers to guard the council.

"Relax, Princess." Cora chuckled. "I am here to avoid war."

"What do you mean?" Captain America said in a threatening tone.

"I mean, that if Snow broke the taboo and spilled Guardian blood, it means war in Disneyland." Cora said. "Unless..."

"What is it that you want?" Snow said in a careful, measured tone.

"The child." Cora said. "We will choose her antihero. We will test her. And...we will administer her final exam."

"Agreed." Snow said. "However...I will have final say on everything. And the Guardian is to have access to the Book and her powers. You cannot take away her birthright."

"Of course, Princess."

Cora vanished.

"I won't need to."

Human World

San Francisco

Elaine Shalott sat next to her father's grave, clutching a huge book, which looked much too big for her.

As it began to rain, a small shape scuttled up to her in the darkness.

Jack Frost leaned on his staff, and dropped a ring of keys into her hands.