No major Trigger Warnings for this chapter...
A Week Later:
The mansions deathly silent. A small line of dust occupying the unused furniture as the once happy household stands still.
Regina lays atop silk maroon sheets in her regular mayoral pantsuit, her makeup and hair are as flawless as ever but the once Evil Queen is still. Brown eyes, red rimmed and desperately tired stare at the far wall, Henry found out the truth and as predicted, left me too, and now I'm here alone..How could I have been so stupid as to think the truth wouldn't come out eventually. Morrigan was right about everything, I destroy everything and everyone, I deserve this..A tear slides to the sheets, what do I do now? I've tried talking to her but every time I get close, she runs away. I thought she'd left Storybrooke but I know shes still here, I know, I saw her in the garden last night, but as predicted, when I went to look she was gone..
She shifts, stroking Morrigans side of the bed, Swans been searching for her day in day out but found nothing as I have. Snow had been persistent I help find Morrigan with magic, but after a couple of days of asking, the woman eventually left me alone. I'm not helping them find Morrigan only for them to put her in a cage again. I thought she would have come to get her revenge by now, to kill me but..The front door bangs shut and immediately her attention darts to the bedroom door.
"Mom?!"
Regina's heart flutters at her sons slightly obscure voice but she waves it off and is instantly on her feet and rushing through the door.."Henry?!" She rushes down the stairs and pauses in the foyer. Quickly she checks the living and dining rooms, where..
"Henry?"
Suddenly two men wearing ski masks rush at her, grabbing her arms and pinning them behind her back. She panics, struggling in their painful grasp as cold steel is clamped around her wrists. Immediately she feels the shackles block her magic and cries out, struggling more fiercely. She roughly pushes one of the men from her arms, screaming for help but a strip of duct tape is clamped over her mouth, No! Not again, please!..Another man rounds the corner with rope and she launches backwards, slamming both bodies into the wall harshly. The mans grip falters and she quickly sprints towards the backdoor. Someone grabs her middle and shes dragged to the beige carpet, muffled screams taring from her throat as her struggling feet are taped together. She breathes heavily, writhing like a fish out of water before black boots stop dead in front of her. She pauses, watching the man bend down and flinches when a hand is ran softly through her raven hair.
"Hello again your majesty, been a long time."
That voice..Wide brown eyes slide to the grinning face above and she whimpers, resuming her relentless struggle. No please not you again! How are you not dead?! I thought..Her vision is suddenly obstructed as a black sack is thrown over her head and she screams in protest as shes half carried, half dragged from her pristine white mansion...
Its been over a week and I'm still angry as hell! I thought being away from everything, from everyone would help but it just seemed to make things worse. Having this much time to think, isolated and living in the freezing woods only makes me miss my family, a family I lost and a family I could have had..Green eyes stare at Scarlet playing with her white unicorn. Morrigan stands on the edge of the playground, observing from a distance, Everything's too complicated again. Maybe Charming was right all those months ago, maybe Villains aren't meant to have happy endings..She sighs, Scarlet looks sad..She notes the scared and apprehensive children avoiding the small girl and frowns grimly, I did to her what the Queen did to me. They're all too scared of me to play with her and the fact that I haven't visited in nearly two weeks is just cruel. I'm so sorry Scarlet but I cant be seen in public, not with Emma and her lynching mob after me..
Morrigan flicks her fingers and a plush black and pink unicorn appears in front of the girl. The child's eyes widen before quickly raising to scan the playground. For a brief moment green eyes meet green but before the child can rush at her, Morrigan disappears in a plume of burgundy smoke.
She steps from the smoke and slips back into camp. A small fire pit is stationed in the middle of a small clearing with her makeshift tent made from branches and thick brush standing against two fallen trees. She slumps down onto the stump by the fire pit and ignites a fireball, throwing it at the gathered twigs and kindling. The campfire blazes as weary green eyes slide shut, What do I do now? How am I supposed to get back to the Enchanted Forest? Perhaps Mr Gold would help me? I've barely said anything to the man since being cursed, but he does have a reputation for giving you what you want at a price..
There's a crack behind her and immediately Morrigan launches to her feet, whirling and scanning the area. Green eyes slip through the trees, scrutinizing the land but another crack to her left has her shoulders tensing and ready for a fight. She lights a fireball in her palm but suddenly a body drops from above and plummets on top of her, sending them both to the forest floor. The fireball disappears as metal is clamped around her wrist and her eyes bulge, the bracelet!..
Morrigan quickly rolls and punches the body on top before launching to her feet. She attempts to flee only for a rope to trip her, sending her face first into damp leaves. A number of bodies hastily jump on top as tape is wrapped around her mouth, wrists and ankles. She cries out, bucking wildly, these aren't the sheriffs lackeys!..Her vision is soon clouded by a black hood and a sharp pain at the back of her skull renders her unconscious..
Emma leans back in her leather chair frustrated and flustered, where the hell is she? There's only so many places..A coffee is placed in front of her and she glances up to her mothers loving eyes.
"We'll find her."
"I just hope its before she kills anyone else.." Emma blows at her steaming coffee.
"I don't think she'll kill anyone else, and if she did well, Its pretty obvious who'd she'd go after."
"I don't understand how this could happen. They were happy, everything was great and then.."
Mary Margret can see her daughters frustrations and gently lowers herself into the chair opposite.."Not everything works out in the end Emma."
"But they fit. How could Regina do that to her? How can you say you love someone and keep a secret like that?"
Mary Margret looks down at the sheriffs desk grimly.."Regina..Regina has lost people all her life Emma. It wasn't right what she did, It was selfish and desperate but it wasn't evil. The evil thing would have been to take Morrigans daughter out of the equation entirely, but she didn't. She gave Elinor a home and even though it was so wrong to manipulate Morrigan like that, behind it all, behind all the chaos was a very scared woman, a woman who was terrified of being alone. I..I took away her happiness when she was just Regina, when she was just an innocent woman who only loved me, and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't regret what I did to cause all of this.."
Emma sits back listening intently.."What secret was it?"
The woman looks up at her daughter, a single tear rolling onto her white cheek.."Regina's fiance he..he was killed because I told her mother about their relationship. Regina was engaged to my father at the time and I guess her mother disapproved of her choice in men, wanted Regina to marry my father instead."
Silence...
Emma's green eyes drift to her mothers fidgeting hands, Christ that's heavy. I guess everything isn't as black and white as it seems..
"That's why she was after you all those years?"
Mary Margret nods grimly.."And because of my mistakes, everyone suffered. Regina's no different, she's made mistakes and people have suffered, people are suffering, and if I'm branded a hero for my mistakes, what does that make Regina?"
"You cant possibly be justifying the whole curse thing and compare yourself to Regina?!"
"No. All I'm trying to say is that we all make mistakes, some more than others but we shouldn't be condemned by them. Darkness is dangerous Emma and its very seductive."
"You talk as if you've had experience."
"Once I felt so overwhelmed with running from the Queen, with your father being married off to someone else, I just wanted to stop all the pain and got rid of my happier memories, of my love. When I did, it left a hole in my heart and I darkened myself."
"What happened? And did you just say David was already engaged?!" Her mother chuckles.
"Yes but it was sorted in the end, he found me before I could darken my heart and brought the real me back.."
David suddenly jogs into the office breathing heavily.
"David?"
"A couple of the dwarfs may have found Morrigans camp in the woods."
Emma immediately launches to her feet, grabbing her jacket and keys.."Where?"
"Down by the south ridge, I'm meeting the dwarfs at the trail, we'll take the truck."
Emma and David quickly head for the exit.
"Be careful!"
...
"Over here!"
David, Emma and Bashful briskly walk into the small clearing where the campfire burns steadily. David looks around the area, scrutinizing the makeshift tent.
"It looks like we just missed her."
"Or she saw us coming." Emma sighs, kicking the smoking wood of the campfire.
"How? I doubt anyone tipped her off in town. Besides no ones seen her for a week, even Mary Margret said Regina's had no luck either." David wanders the surrounding area.
Leroy frowns.."So what should we do? Set up a watch and see if she comes back?"
"Hey I think I found something.."
Emma and the dwarfs rushes over to the crouching prince as he ghosts a hand over the overturned dirt and leaves.."Looks like a struggle." Blue eyes scan the area further.
"Who the hell would attack that crazy witch?"
"Or better a question, what kind of company did she keep? Maybe she took Regina." Emma pulls out her cell and dials the mayors number whilst David follows the tracks leading into the brush.."No answer, I'm gonna try Mary Margret, see if she can go to the mansion."
Leroy scoffs.."And what makes you think the Queen will answer to Snow White?"
"Its worth a try."
"Over here, more struggling."
Emma wanders over as her mother answers the phone hastily.
"Emma are you alright?"
"Yeah we're fine but we found some indication of a struggle down here. Someone may have attacked Morrigan but my moneys on her going after Regina. Can you and Ruby quickly check the mansion, see if she's there?"
"What if Regina doesn't answer?"
"Then get creative, call me if you find anything other than a pissed off mayor."
"Okay I'm on it."
Emma hangs up, placing her cell back in her jeans pocket. David grabs a stick, carefully scooping up a black piece of rope and the blond frowns.."Rope? Seems a bit old school for her."
"One sides tied to the bottom of that tree and the others snapped.." They glance at the thin tree perplexed.."A bit flimsy if you ask me, and why so far away from camp? If she did have Regina you'd want the Evil Queen in your sights."
Emma frowns deeply.."Something else is going on here."
"Yeah, lets see what Mary Margret comes up with."
"Bag the rope, we'll take it back to the station." Her father nods as green eyes sweep the area, where the hell are you Morrigan..
Mary Margret bangs on the mayors front door for the fifth time as Ruby peers in through the downstairs windows.
"Maybe she's not in."
"And where is she going to go when she thinks everyone in town hates or is out to kill her?"
"Which are both true by the way."
"So you see my point.." The pixie haired woman stands back, looking up at the mansions windows.."REGINA!..REGINA!.."
Silence...
"What did Emma say about getting creative?"
Mary Margret glances at Ruby's sly grin and frowns as the brunette darts around the back of the mansion.."Red.." She quickly follows, stepping into the back yard. She pushes through the gate and immediately the mayors apple tree catches her eye. Green eyes stare at the word Murderer scorched into the bark and Mary Margret shakes her head weakly.
"Hey."
Her attention darts to the cautious wolf who's stood at the backdoor. Ruby slowly turns the handle and the door clicks open, they both glance at each other apprehensively before entering. The two woman gently close the door behind them before Ruby slides subtly into the dining room.
"Regina?"
Silence...
"Over here!"
Mary Margret quickly enters the dining room.."What is it?"
Ruby's nose crinkles.."Something, I smell something else here..like cologne."
"Regina?!"
The two woman begin to scout the house, checking downstairs before Ruby dashes up the staircase. Mary Margret wanders the living room before a dent in the foyer wall catches her eye.."Red!"
Ruby immediately comes sprinting down the stairs.."Shes not upstairs."
"She's not here." Mary Margret points at the dented wall and Ruby quickly inspects the damage.
"I can smell that cologne again."
"Someones taken her and I don't think it was Morrigan."
The two women look at one another apprehensively..