Just as they had the day they ambushed her in the stable, the doors to the great hall of the castle flew open. Her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of anxiety, anger, and amusement bubbling under the skin, Regina smirked. There was something about the way everyone seemed horrified by her presence that she found enjoyable. There was something about the distinct fear in everyone's eyes that made her feel as if she were as powerful as she had been a mere two months prior again. Seeing Snow's horror, and the way she grabbed onto her now-husband that felt perfect. It was exactly what she needed to feel. Caity had once remarked when they were younger that, in her anger, she tried to force people to feel the same pain she went through because of them, as if it were a promise. She had said that in contrast to how much more level headed she had become. Regina, instead, took it to heart. She would not force Snow to go through what she had. She would do worse. Much, much worse. The perfectly rolled piece of parchment concealed in her pocket was a testament to that.

Feeling more than empowered, she strutted forward.

"Sorry I'm late," She drawled.

Gasps.

Screams.

It was all she could do to not laugh at how damn good it all felt while she approached her step daughter and step son in law.

Guards stormed towards her. They flew back, slamming into each other, wedding guests, and the walls. Pained grunts and swearing could be heard over the din of their metal armour smacking around. Still, she walked. She didn't care. The way everyone looked at her, in horror, awe, and everything in between was yet another reminder that she was not powerless. She was far from it. No matter what they meant for her to be, she was the queen. She would always be the queen. Nothing they had done or could do would take that away from her. The way Snow and Charming looked at her was proof enough. In him, she could see the pure anger, hate, and general disgust he held towards her. She couldn't say she quite blamed him. She didn't care either way. In Snow, she could see nothing but horror. Sadness. Pain. It was still not enough. It would never be enough. Not until she had secured victory against them would any pain Snow felt be enough to make right what she had done. The words of the ever enigmatic Red so briefly crossed her mind. You'll never find happiness while you live inside hate. Those words were cast aside.

Was it possible she was right?

Very much so.

But she had lost so much.

"It's the queen! Run!"

She smirked.

Let out a short laugh.

Yet another reminder of her own power.

She was not weak.

She would never be weak again.

And, yes, she knew some of that strength came out of her anger and hate towards her step daughter.

It didn't matter if Red were right.

It didn't matter if there were any benefits to moving along from all that she had been through.

There seemed to be little point in trying to let go.

What had lowering her defences for even a moment ever gotten her?

What had it ever caused her but pain?

Despair?

No, she needed to be in control.

She was the queen.

She had to be the queen.

And she always would be.

Ever so briefly, she closed her eyes.

They snapped open the second she was within mere inches of her step daughter and step son in law.

She didn't flinch when her step daughter drew a sword on her. Rather, a flicker of amusement crossed her face. She smirked.

"She's not a queen anymore!" Snow's chest was rising and falling rapidly, and her grip on the sword was wavering with every word she spoke. She was barely able to meet her step mother's gaze. "She's nothing more," She pulled a bit more strength - harshness, really - into her voice. "Than evil witch!"

Regina scoffed, rolling her eyes.

"No, no, no," Charming whispered, one hand cupping his now-wife's cheek. I told her I would be a better man for her and our child. This is a chance to show that. "Don't stoop to her level. There's no need."

Regina watched, looking more bored than anything else when he slowly pulled the sword from Snow's hands, lowering it away from Regina.

"You're wasting your time," He told her, a finality to his voice that Snow had struggled to maintain. He paused, startled by how even his voice was, too. Then, he shook his head. "You've already lost, Regina. And I will not let you ruin this wedding."

Much to his shock, Regina began to laugh.

"Oh, I haven't come here to ruin anything!" She sounded almost offended. "On the contrary, dear," Her eyes fell on Snow, and then to the other royal couple in attendance. Leah and Stefan shrunk away from her gaze, shielding their baby girl from her even while Regina's gaze wandered back towards Snow. "I've come to give you a gift."

Stefan let out a short cry of horror. Leah clutched their daughter closer to her, tears pricking at her eyes.

She can't know about the baby… Snow's mind began to whirl around, dizzying her. She can't know about the baby…can she?

"We want nothing," She finally snapped. "From you."

Yet again, Regina looked merely bored.

"But you shall have it," Her eyes narrowed on them before she began to meander around the others. "My gift to you," A hint of menace slipped into her voice. "Is this happy, happy day. For tomorrow, my real work begins."

Snow and Charming quivered when her eyes met theirs again.

"You've made your vows, now I make mine," Regina faintly smirked. "Soon, everything you love, everything all of you love, will be taken from you. Forever. And out of your suffering will rise my victory."

They both trembled despite themselves.

"I shall destroy your happiness," She hissed. "If it's the last thing I do."

Without thinking, Charming raised his sword again the second Regina's back was turned.

He let out an angered cry.

She whipped around.

She disappeared as quickly as she had come.

With her, the sword disappeared too, leaving in the wake so many terrified and unsettled people.

Things were not, however, so tense for Regina herself.

When she reappeared in the room she shared with her daughter, she found that, not only was Lynn still sound asleep, but the sword that had been meant to kill her was lodged in the wall, very much having failed at its one task of killing the true queen.

Authour's Note: i posted this chapter right after the one prior as it didn't make sense to keep them together. however, since this one is only about a 1.500 words, i didn't want to leave it as just another chapter. i hope this isn't too inconvenient or annoying for anyone! thanks as always for reading my fics!