Counterpart Conferences

by Michael Weyer

In the wake of the Infinity Crisis, various forces discuss what has occurred...and what is to come. Chapter 10: The Devils and Deaths have some debates.

6. Chapter 6

Counterpart Conferences

By Michael Weyer

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"You realize this is a bad idea, right?"

"Are you going to continue telling me that all day long?'

"Only until we get killed."

The two women walking down the hallways of the dark cavern clearly had a bond. One was a woman who, despite wearing a professional dark suit with a long black coat, carried herself with a regal bearing. Her short black hair framed her beautiful face with her makeup immaculate as her outfit. Her companion was the same age dressed in a dark green suit of her own, her lush red hair highlighting her own beautiful features.

"This is a very stupid idea, Regina," the redhead stated. "Someone drops a note with a marker to use to bring us to some location? How many times have we both used that very same trap?"

"It's best to just confront it right away," the woman called Regina replied. "Get it out now and find out who is behind this and what they want. I'm really tired of playing someone else's game."

"Oh?" The red-haired woman smirked. "Here I thought you had gotten over being a bar owner."

The woman glared at her. "At least I still had some sort of business, Zelena. You were a spin instructor at a San Francisco yoga studio!"

"Not by choice! I was cursed!"

"Please, you're worse than Snow with that excuse…"

The two exited the tunnel to enter a large room. It was rather stark with a few decorations but no windows. Dominating it was a large round table with several chairs set around it. Inside were two women who both turned to see the newcomers. One was a lovely woman whose hair was so blonde that it was nearly white. She wore an ornate blue and white gown that resembled a sheen of ice. Her companion was a bit younger with light brown hair, clad in a light blue dress under a darker purple outfit. Her face broke into a huge smile seeing the duo. "Regina!"

"Elsa?" Regina Mills frowned deeply. "Anna? What are you two doing here?"

"Same as you, I guess," the Queen of Arendelle stated as she shuffled about the room, her hands encased in blue gloves. "We got some sort of invitation and it sounded like it wasn't going to take no for an answer."

"Same here," Regina stated. "Oh, yes, this is my half-sister, Zelena. You might know her better as the Wicked Witch of the West."

"Oh, um, hello?" Elsa was unsure even as she shook Zelena's hand. Anna was far more energetic doing the same. "Wow, I didn't know you had a sister, Regina! That is so great, two sister pairings here, you two must have so many great stories to share of your wonderful times and fun together."

"Clearly, we had much different lives," Zelena dryly stated.

A very familiar sound began to echo through the chamber as the quartet turned to see a cloud appearing in mid-air. It became a portal to deposit two teenage girls. One had dark purple hair with deep green eyes and was clad in a bright purple suit that Rumpelstiltskin would have appreciated with large boots. Her companion was a bit taller with blue hair and a matching outfit although hers had a bit more of an upscale feel to it. Regina was struck by how oddly familiar her features looked as the girl adjusted the small crown on her head. "Nice going, Mal."

"This was not my fault, Evie!" the other girl snapped.

"You picked the thing up!"

"You told me to!"

"I didn't tell you to rub it! I don't care what Jay says, rubbing any odd doohickey you find is never a good idea!" She sighed as she looked around the room to take in the other women. Her eyes fell on Regina and widened. "Mommy?"

All Regina could say in reply was a flat "what?"

Zelena had a smirk on her face as she looked to Regina. "Why, Regina, did you fail to tell me I was an auntie again?"

The girl called Evie was looking Regina over. "Wow, did you hit the spa or something? Oh, no wait, don't tell me, it's some illusion charm, right? I mean, no other way you could lose fifty pounds and look so good without makeup."

Zelena was giggling at this point with Regina glaring at her, then at Evie. "I swear if Swan has gone time traveling again and brought this kid to life somehow…"

Once more, the wind picked up as the heads turned to see a portal emerging. This one appeared laced with green and what sounded like a loud scream was coming from the other side. In seconds, two figures burst out of the portal sharing what appeared to be a broomstick. Thinking fast, Elsa yanked off her glove and threw out her hand. A blast of ice emerged to create a ramp to catch the women and allowed them to avoid hitting the wall. They landed in a heap, groaning as they slowly rose up. One was wearing a lovely white gown that seemed larger than her form, adjusting the tiara in her bright blonde hair. Her companion was dressed totally in black with a large pointed hat and notable for her solid green skin.

It was Regina's turn to smirk at Zelena. "Someone's ripping off your color scheme."

The green-skinned woman brushed at her body as she got to her feet and took in the others. "Oh, what the Oz is this?"

"More of your new friends?" the blonde-haired woman said, trying to make her gown look perfect. "The ones you abandoned me for?"

"Just how long as you going to hold this over me?"

"You made me think you were dead, Elphaba!" the blonde snapped. "I'm still not over that!"

"It was the best way at the time, Glinda, you know that."

"Hi there!" Anna said in a bright voice, moving in to extend a hand. "Anna and this is my sister, Elsa, queen of Arendelle."

"Arendelle?" Mal frowned. "I thought you guys stuck to yourselves."

The green-skinned woman adjusted her hat. "Elphaba. Or some like to call me, the Wicked Witch of the West."

"Excuse me?" Zelena's eyes literally flared green. "There is only one person who has that title and that's me!"

Elphaba looked her over and raised an eyebrow. "I think your color scheme is just a tad off."

Zelena snarled and patches of green appeared on her face. Regina grabbed her hand to squeeze it, trying to calm her sister down. She still didn't know what was going on but having Zelena start tossing fireballs was not going to make things better.

Elsa smiled at Elphaba. "For the record, I love the look."

"Oh, thanks," Elphaba said. "Your hair isn't…bad. I mean, a bit like Glinda's for my liking but still not terrible."

"I love my dresses!" Glinda protested.

"I know you do, dear and that's part of why I love you." She smiled at Elsa. "She means well, she just has a tad of ego to her."

"Ah, I got it. I can handle that."

Anna was frowning as she leaned in to whisper to Glinda. "Just so it's not me…these two sort of…sound alike?" Glinda thought about it and nodded in agreement.

Evie was pulling out her cell phone to start taking some photos. "Seriously, I have got to find out where you got this work done, Mom, it's amazing."

"I'm not your mother!" Regina protested.

"Also so glad joining the modern world in dress rather than those obnoxious gowns of yours. But the makeup could still use some work and the hair looks like a bird's nest."

"Seems like a chip off the old block to me," Zelena smirked.

Before anything else could happen, a bright golden glow shimmered to form itself into a lovely young woman in a mostly green outfit, her messy blond hair glowing as well. A pair of light wings flapped before retracing themselves into her body. She looked around the room to raise her eyebrows. "So I'm not the only one to get an invite."

"Oh, lovely, one of the fairy guild," Zelena muttered.

Regina simply smiled. "Tinkerbell, good to see you again."

"You too, Regina," Tinkerbell stated. "And no, I don't know why I'm here either but hope someone tells me soon."

Evie was blinking at her. "You..you talk? I mean…according to the others, you just do charades and some weird language no one can understand!"

"You're speaking the same language as me and I don't understand it," Elphaba remarked. "Look, I'm not happy about this and I have no idea who any of you people even are!"

"Greenie is right," Mal stated. "I've got to get to studying before a big weekend party, I've got no time to waste hanging around a bunch of old people."

"Old?" Zelena and Regina barked in perfect unison.

"Yeah, you're what, 50?"

Zelena was sputtering while Regina was the one ready to clench a hand and form a fireball. Elsa stepped forward with her hands raised to try and cool the situation down (which was a specialty of hers). "I wouldn't put it so bluntly but the girl raises a point," Elsa stated. "Someone invited us all here for a reason."

A set of footsteps echoed from the hallway and they all turned around, Zelena and Regina quite alert. A wind picked up from the hall that sent a chill through even Elsa. A dark shadow flooded the entrance before slowly forming into a figure. She marched into the room with the air of someone used to commanding the scene anywhere she went. She was a tall woman who looked even taller thanks to the large pair of horns attached to her head over her lush black hair. Her face was beautiful with very sharp cheeks and her lips pulled into a dark smirk. She wore a black dress and cloak that flowed behind her. With each step, the staff in her hand stamped onto the floor. As she stepped into the room, the huge black wings on her back flexed outward.

She finally came to a stop as a black raven swooped in and landed on the top of her staff. The woman slammed the other end of her staff down to let a loud bang echo through the room. "Well, well," she said in a voice laced with a combination of amusement, power and a dark aura. "I apologize for being late and causing such an…awkward situation."

"Mal?" Regina blinked in confusion. "Since when do you have wings?"

"Mom?" the teenager named Mal blurted, her eyes and jaw even wider. "How'd you get free? And so much taller? And hot?"

The woman moved to the head of the table and made a motion. Wisps of green energy flickered between her fingers as the chairs pulled themselves outward. "Please, sit." She did so herself, the dress and wings shuffling around her. She made a gesture and in a puff of black smoke, the raven had transformed into a handsome young man in black clothing. "Be a dear, Diaval and get our guests refreshments."

"Yes, Mistress," the man said with a bow of his head.

Evie was frowning. "Whoa, you turn the guy into a bird?"

"I'm a raven," he corrected as he moved to wheel a tray of cups and small pastries over to the table. The other women were unsure even as they sat around it. "Where I come from, accepting treats from strangers isn't a good idea," Regina stated.

"Be assured, your Majesty, if I wanted to kill you, I wouldn't be so polite."

"What the hell happened to you, Mal?"

"Maleficent," the woman replied in a terse tone. "Never call me Mal." She watched as the others settled in. "Let's begin with the obvious, ladies. I am not the Maleficent you know, Queen Regina." She looked to Mal. "Nor am I your mother. No more than Regina is your mother, Evie. Or Elphaba the Wicked Witch as Zelena is."

"The Wicked Witch? Or the West?" Mal laughed. "Are you kidding? That's just a story!"

"In most realities, so are the tales of all of us." Maleficent sipped at her drink. "There are different realms, my dears. Different universes, different Earths. I am not talking about the usual split realms like the Enchanted Forest or Wonderland. I speak of entirely different planes of reality."

"How do you know this?" Zelena demanded.

"Let us say, I have been appraised by an interested party." Maleficent turned her head as another woman stepped into the room. She was as beautiful as any of the others with long brown hair, wearing a loose green dress that showed off plenty of her legs and cleavage. A cape flowed behind her as her lips were turned into a smile. "Ladies, allow me to introduce Morgan Le Fay."

"As in King Arthur?" Regina scowled. "We had bad experiences with him."

"Not the same Arthur," Morgan said in a lush British accent. "I actually had a different look for a while but after I…dropped the weaker side of myself, I decided altering my appearance was a good idea. Leave Lena Luthor behind and embrace my true self."

"Um, can I interrupt?" Mal said, waving her hands. "Cause I am zip codes from lost at this point."

"Yes, we should cut the confusion down," Maleficent stated. "Here is how we stand, ladies." She motioned to Regina. "Regina Mills, the Evil Queen of her reality although it was more circumstances and a rather harsh mother that pushed her to cast a curse bringing all her fairy tale people into a modern world. In a series of events that would take far, far too long to detail but would no doubt make an epic adventure for one of your modern entertainment programs, she has mended her ways and trying to atone.

Her half-sister, Zelena, abandoned by her mother and also twisted by circumstance to become her world's version of the Wicked Witch. Likewise attempting to atone for her ways."

She turned to Elphaba. "I actually find myself intrigued by you, Elphaba. A woman who found out her vaunted Wizard was a fraud trying to control and wipe out the magical creatures of his realm to increase his own power. And in fighting back to achieve her powers, she was turned into the villain of the story." She offered a quiet smile. "I know that feeling very, very well." She looked to Glinda. "Likewise, Glinda the Good may not be perfect as she understands how her true friend was fighting for what was right. While she kept the facade of her villainy intact for a while, she saw to it that the horrible ruling class of her Oz was eventually overthrown and things became balanced." She saw the two exchanging a warm glance.

Maleficent looked to Mal and Evie. "Now to these two. In their reality, the self-proclaimed heroes of a world much like the one Regina knows exiled the villains to an isle along with their assorted offspring. Mal is the daughter of my doppelganger, a woman who truly is the dark and evil monster stories have painted me as whereas Mal has decided to follow her own path. Evie, meanwhile, is the daughter of her world's Evil Queen. A good girl at heart pushed and manipulated by a dark magical version of a stage mother to a life she does not want in order to achieve her mother's own dreams of power and glory."

Maleficent turned to smile softly at Regina. "Perhaps that rings a bell, daughters of the Queen of Hearts." Both Regina and Zelena were looking at the two teenagers with both interest and understanding.

Maleficent nodded to Anna and Elsa. "Their stories may be familiar to you both, a sister forced to hide her great power and the one who was with her through thick and thin." Maleficent smirked. "Once, I would have ignored human emotions but I have…altered that approach."

"And Tinkerbell is just your usual fairy pain in the ass," Zelena snapped. "Can we get to why we're here?"

Glinda snorted as she glanced at Elphaba. "You two sure share a temper."

"I'm not that bad."

"Yes, you are."

"Oh, like you're much better? I remember you at Shiz Dorm…"

Maleficent stamped her staff to get their attention. "Ladies, our time here is limited so let's keep this as concise as possible. I thought it best to discuss it with just us. Royalty..." She looked to Elsa. "Nobility..." She glanced to Regina and Zelena. "Gentry..." She nodded at Elphaba and Glinda before looking to Tinkerbell "And the rabble." Ignoring her sputterings, Maleficent continued. "Having it be the ladies of the realms was more logical. Let's be honest…men have a very bad habit of fouling things up with egos, greed, and stupidity."

Regina and Zelena made matching snorts. "Please," Regina said. "Let's not turn this into a gender issue. I can name quite a few women I know who have that in far worse spades." She and her sister shared meaningful looks.

"Gotta go with that," Mal stated. "I can already tell, you're a lot nicer than my mom. She'd be frying people for a bad joke before doing some song and dance routine."

Diavel couldn't help but let out a choked laugh. He turned it into a cough as he saw Maleficent glaring at him. "I'm sorry just…the idea of you singing…or dancing…" He coughed again as he went quiet.

Maleficent rolled her eyes before contusing. "The world….the multiverse…is changing, ladies. The events of several months ago affected everything."

Regina and Zelena both sat up straight. "The Dusting…." Regina whispered. "I thought it was some sort of curse gone awry but…It's something else." Nearby, Mal and Evie were both shuddering with a look Regina found very familiar, indicating one or both had been dusted just as she and Zelena had been. The memories flashed in her mind of watching as Granny, Grumpy and others had been taken just before she was turned in nothing as well. Even months later, it still gave her nightmares, especially given she could never find out the cause.

"It happened to you all too?" Glinda blurted. "I...We were never sure. Half of Oz vanished, it was total chaos and then in the middle of it all, Elphaba comes out of nowhere..."

"I couldn't stay away," her friend said. "Not after what happened..." She made a small smile. "I admit, the look on your face was priceless plus how you kept pinching me."

"It wasn't just us then," Elsa mused.

"It was not," Morgan stated. "The reasons behind it are complex and it's unlikely to happen again. But the energies used have weakened, if not outright shattered, the bonds that block realities. There have been further…crossovers for lack of a better term. Which is why I thought it best to reach out and try and handle this situation before it becomes more complicated."

"She raises an excellent point," Maleficent said. "Look at the confusion a prepared meeting created between the various counterparts here. How much more complex would it be if someone from one realm found their way into another?"

"She's right on that," Regina stated. "We've had plenty of experience with misunderstandings thanks to folks crossing over between realms."

"Yeah, that wasn't a very good deal," Elsa admitted. "Blundering into other realms with no idea who or where you are? That's a recipe for disaster."

Mal nodded. "I gotta go with you there." She motioned to Maleficent. "The second you'd step into my world, the authorities would be on top of you and ready to take you down."

"Which would go very poorly. For them." The way Maleficent said that sent a shiver down Mal's spine at how this woman wasn't as different from her mother as she seemed. "That's not to mention what would happen if some other versions came to play that are not as nice as the ones here." She looked at Reinga. "I came across a world where your counterpart in the Snow White legends, one Queen Ravenna, quite frankly made you or I candidates for sainthood." She glanced to Elsa. "And let's not even get into how her sister was a true Ice Queen."

Licking her lips, Elphaba spoke up. "I can understand how these situations get out of hand but. Why us? I mean, no offense to this Zelena but I don't see much of us mingling with some other realms."

"Neither did those on realities that have already clashed," Morgan stated. "But there are more conflicts to come. More events, more wars. The coming crisis will not involve us. It is more a clash of science. But the one afterward….that is a battle where magic will dominate."

"Who's behind it?" Regina demanded.

"Sadly, I've been unable to figure that out. The truth is that there are so many realities and powers at play that a dozen of them could ignite this war with just the smallest spark. When that happens, it will become a bonfire tearing through one realm after another with few left in the end."

"If they want Oz, let them have it," Zelena snapped. "Frankly, never really liked the spot in the first place, those damn flying monkeys are so annoying. Let Dorothy and Ruby run it."

"Okay, I know Dorothy but who's Ruby?" Glinda asked.

"You'd know her as Red Riding Hood. And the wolf."

"Wait, she's both?"

"That's the simple version, don't make me go into details."

"You really don't," Elsa added. "Believe me, I spent a few days in their world and I still can't make heads or tails out of it. Horseless carriages, tiny cakes in a box and I still don't understand that television thing."

"Humans," Maleficent sighed. "They can make things difficult."

"I'm half-human," Elphaba announced.

"I won't hold that against you."

Elsa was peering at Elphaba. "I'm trying to get this, you were...born this way?"

"My father was a human from another world," the witch explained. "My powers really came from my mother. I didn't understand them and thought it was best to hide them from everyone, even my sister."

"Boy, that does sound familiar," Anna grumbled. As she saw Elsa's look, she held up her hands. "Elsa, I love mom and dad too but you have to admit, 'conceal, don't feel' was a pretty lousy piece of advice to give a six-year old."

"Holding it in wasn't easy for me, either," Elphaba agreed. "When it finally came out...well, it didn't always end well. I got people hurt...people I cared about. I just realized that if I'd become open to it before..."

"It would have saved a lot of time and pain." Elsa smiled. "I know how that feels. It would have been worse without Anna."

"Yep, sisters are the best."

"I was close to mine. Until..." Elphaba looked down with a pain that Regina and Zelena both knew very well. Glinda rubbed her friend's shoulder. "You still got me."

"As much as I try to lose you..."

Tinkerbell smiled. "Nice to actually see siblings who get along, that's refreshing given the folks I usually hang out with."

"I assumed those were brain dead zombies," Zelena dryly stated.

"Please, don't bring up zombies, it gives me uncomfortable memories..."

"Oh, wow, this is gonna make one hell of a post," Evie said texting her phone. A blast of fire erupted to strike it and Evie screamed to drop the burnt piece of metal. Zelena waved her hand to extinguish the remnants of the fireball. "No wonder Robin keeps asking me for new phones," Regina mused.

Elphaba rubbed her temples. "I'm really starting to think I was better off on the run…"

"Don't make me pour water on you," Glinda said.

"Whoa, easy," Mal said, holding up her hands. "I get she's annoying but you don't have to melt her!"

"That's just a myth!" Elphaba and Zelena said in unison.

Morgan rubbed her temples. "I knew doing this via video conference would have been easier."

"What's video?" Anna asked.

Maleficent rubbed at her temples before continuing. "The point I was attempting to make is that there is a battle coming that will involve all of us. A conflict with other worlds that could bring about the end of all we know."

Glinda seemed unsure. "It's really that bad?"

"Magic and technology never mix very well," Regina inserted. "As great as my powers are, I've yet to meet a wizard that can stand up to a bullet."

"Iron is a weakness of mine," Maleficent admitted. "That's not to mention how, to be brutally honest, Oz is rather backward in terms of such tech not to mention the attitudes of the populace."

"I wouldn't say backward..." Glinda began.

"A fourth-rate huckster in a hot air balloon convinced everyone he was a grand wizard with nothing but literal smoke and mirrors," Zelena snapped as Glinda winced. "I can already tell one similarity between our worlds is that the populace of Oz are absolute idiots."

"Preaching to the choir, sister!" Elphaba announced.

"Don't call me that, I already have an annoying bitch in that role." Zelena smirked at Reinga.

Mal shook her head. "We're supposed to believe in some sort of...war between universes?"

"I believe it, my dears." Maleficent nodded to Morgan. "The warnings she brings line up with what I have observed in my own travels. There is a war coming. One between realms. And none of us will be safe from it."

"A full alliance may not be possible," Morgan stated. "But some sort of cooperation is better than being wiped out completely. "

Zelena snorted. "Don't go pretending this isn't some sort of power grab for you, dearie."

Morgan looked put out. "What do you mean?"

It was Mal's turn to snort. "Please. Lady, I know exactly what a power-hungry magical sociopath looks like. I was raised by one."

"The only reason you're calling this tete a tete is because you have your own plans," Regina added. "We know schemes, honey and you might as well be wearing Rumplestilskin's coat with the way you're plotting."

"I may be green but you're the one glowing with envy and greed," Elphaba added.

Morgan was glaring but Maleficent had that small smile on her lips once more. "I don't trust the woman at all and neither should any of you. But I do trust that, at the least, she is putting her sense of self-survival ahead of all else to give this warning."

Tinkerbell frowned. "Just because her life is on the line means we throw in with what she's saying?'

"Don't press me, fairy. I've cut the wings off your kind before."

Tinkerbell had her wand up and raised. "Maybe I should be getting some payback on that then."

Morgan smirked. "You think you can challenge me?"

"I think I can make sure you need a new face. Because this new one isn't working for you."

Morgan was up on her feet, her hands glowing with energies. Regina and Zelena were already rising up, each crafting a ball of fire. Glinda had her own wand raised in a combat pose while Elphaba ignited a fireball of her own. Elsa moved protectively before Anna, her own hands raised with ice forming around her fingers.

"Mal..." Evie warned. "They're gonna kill each other..."

"On it." Mal's eyes glowed a bright green and a cloud of purple smoke covered her body. In seconds, she had transformed into a massive dragon, letting out a roar and a flap of its wings which knocked everyone except Maleficent off their feet. Maleficent herself was calmly sipping from her cup as Evie stood on top of the table. "Listen up," she snapped. "My friend here really doesn't like doing the dragon thing but clearly, she will if she has to. Now can we take the bitching down a few notches and try to be polite about this?"

In a flash of smoke, Mal had turned back into her human form, brushing at her coat. "Ugh, I hate doing that. Seriously, what does it say when you and me are the voices of reason in a group?"

Glinda was trying to look as dignified as one could when your tiara was stuck into one ear as she adjusted her outfit. "That was...rather bracing."

"And impressive," Regina had to note. "You're not too different from the Mal and Lilly I know."

Elsa looked to her sister. "This is why our best friend is a snowman."

"And the other is a reindeer."

A loud banging echoed as Maleficent once more stamped her staff. She shook her head at Diaval. "This is why I never mingle with people. It's just too annoying" He merely made a soft smile.

Regina crossed her arms at Maleficent. "What exactly do you expect from us?"

"I really don't expect anything. To be honest, I'm not even sure if I'll be taking part in this war that's coming. Morgan was just so insistent on bringing this to your attention that I agreed." She looked around at all of them. "But it is coming, ladies. The War of the Realms. Perhaps not this year or next but it will come." She focused on Regina and Zelena. "You two, in particular, know that ignoring prophecies are never a good idea."

"The problem is, too many of them are open-ended," Regina pointed out. "And half the time, when you try to stop it, you just end up making it happen."

"Honestly, I would kill for a prophecy that was just clear-cut and no misinterpretation," Zelena intoned.

"You used to kill for a cup of latte."

Elphaba coughed. "What about us? Frankly, I was happy just staying out of the limelight and let everyone think the Wicked Witch was dead. It's not going to be easy for me to come back out after being made out as a monster."

"I know how that feels," Maleficent stated. "But sometimes, one must adapt as the times dictate. Leadership will be needed when this conflict comes."

Zelena rolled her eyes. "If you're going to press me into becoming a hero, I'd rather go back to the flying monkeys."

"They are very intelligent and hard-working creatures now!" Glinda stated.

Morgan waved a hand around the table. "As I said, I'm not sure when this conflict will come but we must be ready for it. I have not survived for centuries just to lose this lovely new look to some grand battle that can cost me my power and my throne."

"I always found thrones overrated," Elsa mused.

"And I found out the hard way seeking power isn't the best path in life." Regina fixed Morgan with a look that mixed sympathy with warning. "You remind me too much of myself when I was the true monster of my story thinking I was the hero. You keep going around seeking nothing but power and in the end, you'll end up with nothing at all."

Morgan snorted. "What an idiotic sentiment. Power is always the best goal, your Majesty. It's worth whatever sacrifices are needed."

"Even if it's what you love?"

"Love is a weakness I'm better off without."

"We thought the same thing," Zelena stated in a softer tone than usual. "We've walked down your road, Morgan. And both of us realize how that path leads to no destination that's worth it."

The sorceress shook her head. "Unlike you two, I'm old enough to appreciate this power. And how best to use it. I'm stronger than you two could ever hope to be."

"That's right. Keep telling yourself that."

Evie looked to Mal. "Five minutes and I can tell this woman is so much like your mom and mine that it's scary." Her friend nodded in agreement.

Maleficent rose up, her wings brushing behind her. "I think we've covered enough ground for now, ladies. What's needed for the future is to prepare for what is to come. Your various realities can use your help with that." She pushed forward what looked like a set of small globes. "This can connect us between universes, to communicate and to share information. You can use them to convince others of what has happened."

"This may be a hard sell," Mal stated. "Alternate versions of our moms? That's weird even for our world."

"Sounds like a Sunday for us," Regina mused.

"You'll have to do your best," Maleficent stated. She and Morgan waved her hands and with clouds of smoke and wind, a set of portals opened. "If need be, I shall contact you. For now, it's best to prepare for what is to come."

Mal and Evie looked at their portal as Regina came up to them. Regina paused to look at Evie. "I...don't know your mother but I have an uncomfortable feeling I know just what kind of person she's like. Not just me but my own mother as well. So I'm going to give you the advice I wish someone had given me when I was your age." She put a hand on Evie's shoulder as she looked the young woman in the eye. "Don't be bound by who your mother is. Not her name, not her legacy and sure as hell not what she thinks of you. Be your own self, that's the best thing you can do."

Evie softly smiled in reply. "Thanks...Regina." She backed up as Mal looked Maleficent over. "Kinda wishing I'd gotten you as a mom instead."

"Please, I detest beasties," Maleficent scoffed with a wave of her hand. Behind her, Diavel gave a wink to let Mal know she wasn't truly serious about that. Mal and Evie gave soft waves before exiting into their portal.

Elphaba was looking over Zelena. "I still can't see it to be honest but...I guess it's not too bad knowing another version of me that found some happiness."

"Ugh, please don't make me feel like I'm bonding with someone, it gives me a headache."

Elphaba looked to Elsa. "I keep thinking you and I have so much more in common than it seems."

"Same here." Elsa smiled back. "I guess...keep in touch. I spent most of my life making the mistake of not opening up to people so I know how important it can be to find a kindred spirit."

"I'll like that." The two exchanged a short handshake before Elsa and Anna headed to their portal, Anna giving a final cheerful wave before following her sister through it.

Glinda smiled at Tinkerbell. "I know she can be rough but she has a good heart. And I am glad she's not dead after all so harder to stay mad at her."

"Oh, I bet." Tinkerbell said with a smirk.

Glinda blinked. "What do you mean?"

"I'm sure you're not that blonde that you'll figure it out." In a bright glow, Tinkerbell transformed into a ball of light that exited into the portal. Glinda saw Elphaba picking up her broom and shook her head. "Oh, no, this time, I handle the transport!" She waved her wand as a large clear bubble encased the duo. They lifted into the air and exited through their portal.

"I can't believe I'm saying this but she's more annoying than my Glinda," Zelena remarked.

"I don't know, I think Elphaba may be nicer to get along with," Regina teased. Seeing her sister glare at her, Regina smirked. "Then again, you have a much better style."

"Damn right."

Regina looked to Maleficent. "Who was it?' At Maleficent's frown, Regina continued. "You said you weren't that different from us until something changed. With me, it was adopting a son. For Zelena, it was having a daughter. So who was it?"

Maleficent's expression never wavered as she spoke. "Aurora. Yes, the girl I cursed. I hated her, loathed her and as I watched her grow...I realized I no longer did."

Regina smiled back. "Just like you, I thought it was a weakness. Now I know it's my strength."

Morgan scoffed. "I was looking for warriors, for magical soldiers, not weaklings."

"Clearly you don't understand us," Zelena announced as she joined Regina. "Because a woman fighting for her child's future? No soldier can possibly be more dangerous than that." The two moved to exit into their portal. It winked away to leave the last two women alone.

Morgan looked across the table at Maleficent. "I still think this may have been a mistake."

"You were the one who came to me, my dear."

"Because the two of us alone have the power to deal with this."

"I don't believe we do," Maleficent snapped. "I saw first-hand what happens when a force that thinks it's superior takes on an army without knowing their own weapons. It caused quite a lot of bloodshed and while it ended in a surprisingly amicable manner, we can't bet on that happening again."

Morgan rose up to her feet. "I have my own plans on how to handle what's to come..."

"Meaning how you'll use it to grab what power there is for yourself," Maleficent coldly stated. Her eyes flared with green fire as she glared at Morgan. "The last person who attempted to use me met a very nasty end, Morgan Le Fay. Cross me and you'll end up worse."

Morgan just smirked back. "You may think I'm low on magical power, Maleficent. But I have a very distinct advantage over all of you."

"Oh?"

"Yes. As much as some of you may hate to admit it, deep down, you're all good people at heart. And deep down...I'm not." She turned, her cloak flapping around her as she headed toward her own portal. "When the conflict comes, Maleficent, you and the rest can do what you want. Just know that I've slain dragons before and I have no problem adding another two or three to the pile." She exited through the portal which shut behind her.

Diavel broke the silence. "I think that went well, don't you?"

Maleficent just fixed him with a stare. "You're a raven, aren't you supposed to be the harbinger of doom?"

"Now, now, you of all people should know better than to judge by the legends." Diavel sobered as he looked at his mistress. "I can understand Mills and Zelena. They're ruthless, they know how to do what it takes to win. Maybe that Elphaba too. But those teens? Elsa? They don't know what major conflicts like this are like."

"Then they'll have to learn," Maleficent stated. "What's coming cannot be stopped, Diavel. Only delayed but sooner or later, the War of the Realms will be upon us. And the only question is how many of them will be left standing when it's all over."

"What if the one that pays...is ours?"

Maleficent's eyes flashed with a familiar air of menace. "Than whoever begins this war will learn what happens when I decide it's time to become the villain after all."

Diavel wished he was back in his normal form so his shuddering wouldn't be so obvious. Whenever his mistress talked of an evil far greater than she could foresee, it was never a good sign for the realms at large.

---

This just hit me when watching the Maleficent sequel and found myself jotting it down fast. The obvious fun was the takes on the OUAT Regina meeting Mal and Evie and Elphaba and Elsa. Keep in mind that OUAT already had actresses as Elsa and Anna so not dead ringers for Idina Menzel and Kristen Bell. Also, Wicked fans may have different picks for their favorite Elphaba/Glinda which is why Mal wouldn't think Glinda looks like her mom.

Also, the "new" Morgan is now Elizabeth Hurley to tie in to the new Runaways season with her changing her appearance to free herself of Lena more.

And the "Queen Ravenna" reference is for Snow White and the Hunstman and Winter's War.

It's another bit of setup into things but hope you enjoyed it.