Ta-da! So after tallying y'all's votes the person who won, only won by ONE! I know crazy! And the person who would have won got a vote a day after I started writing. Sad day. Now enjoy and as always look for the announcement at the bottom.
Disclaimer: I don't own OUAT. (I know you wish I did though)
"Y-you have a visitor…"
"Who? I have no one planned for today." Graham looked at Killian nervously before turning back to his queen. He took a shuddering breath.
"I'm almost too afraid to tell you, your majesty."
"Spit out, Graham! I do not like to be kept waiting!" Regina was getting more frustrated by the minute. Not just because she was interrupted but because, even though she trusted Killian and Graham, they could still see Emma's body. Neal could see her body. She knew the boy wasn't stupid enough to stare or do anything about it but she still didn't like it. Graham gulped.
"It's Maleficent, my queen. She is here." Regina's head snapped up at the name. No. It couldn't be. She was never supposed to show up here. Not after out last argument. We haven't seen each other in 15 years. Regina waved her hand, dressing herself in a black corset, skin-tight, black leather pants, black boots and a black cape with tassels. She wore the same outfit when she asked Maleficent for the dark curse so many years ago. Emma was clothed in her armor, as per usual.
Ignoring the men in the room, Emma walked toward Regina, taking in the worried look in her wife's eye, feeling the panic creep into their bond.
"What's wrong, my love? Should I take care of the guest?" Emma took Regina's hands in hers, kissing them gently. Regina smiled lightly at the blonde. Always the White Knight.
"No, my dear that will not be necessary. It is just an old… acquaintance. Nothing to worry about." Regina smiled lightly, trying to keep the worry from seeping into her voice but apparently failing miserably. Emma's eyes narrowed at the brunette, scrutinizing her face. She's been with Regina long enough to know when she's lying and when she's faking smile and right now she was doing both. She glanced over at the men who still stood in their room, with their heads down.
"Graham, I want you to alert the guard of our guest. Everyone on high alert, but not too hostile. Killian, you go and keep our guest preoccupied until we are ready. Take her to the study. You are dismissed." The men bowed and scrambled out of the room, going to complete their assignments. Emma turned back to Regina. "Babe, what's wrong?" She led them to their bed, sitting on the corner, Regina right next to her.
"Maleficent and I have a very… complicated history. I haven't mentioned her to you because I hoped to never see her again. Ever. We did not leave on very good terms." Emma listened with rapt attention, wondering what this history was.
"You know you can tell me. No matter what." Regina took a deep breath.
"Maleficent was one of my only friends when I first became the Evil Queen. She is also a sorceress, like you and me. Her magic is not as dark as mine, though, she does have the ability to shape-shift."
"Into what?" Emma interrupted. Regina rolled her eyes at her wife's lack of manners, even though she was used to it by now.
"A dragon, dear." Regina couldn't hide the chuckle at the blonde's wide-eyed look.
"A dragon!? Are you fucking with me? Cause it's not funny! Like a legit dragon? With the fire and the claws and rrraaaawwwwrrr!" Regina smiled at the blonde's antics. She married a woman who was nothing but a teenager a heart. A very endearing trait, which she desperately loved about Emma. She has such a free spirit and amazing imagination and Regina couldn't help but latch onto it. She watched as Emma jumped up and down in front of her. Green eyes blazing with child-like wonder.
"I bet she's all like 'oh you think you got me? Well look at this!' then bam dragon!"
"That is quite enough, dear. May I continue my story or shall I have her turn into a dragon for you to gallivant around on." She couldn't help but feel jealous at Emma's amazement with her friend. Emma looked down sheepishly.
"Sorry. You can continue."
"Thank you. Our parting was not a pleasant one. It was quite… well awkward, to say the least."
"Regina, this is ridiculous! Are you even listening to me? You must understand the choices. Your window of opportunity is closing, and I will not keep it open forever." Maleficent paced in front of Regina, while the queen sat back in her chair, watching the blonde.
"I have considered it, but the answer is still no. My dear Maleficent, haven't you learned not to get attached? You have your pets to go and play with. I no longer wish to entertain you and your… fantasies." What the woman suggested was preposterous on several levels. 'Ha! Rule their kingdoms together? How idiotic must this woman be to even suggest something of the sort?'
"We make a great team, Regina! I don't understand why we can't combine forces! We will have double everything. Double the kingdoms, the peasants, the magic, we could have it all. Our relationsh-,"
"Relationship?! Have you gone mental? We have no 'relationship'." The queen scoffed at the thought of having any kind of relationship with anybody. Maleficent shot daggers at Regina.
"We work well together, we have shared pets, we have killed together, we have slept tog-," But again the dragon woman was cut off.
"We fuck! That is what we do. We kill because if we don't we would be dead. We work together because no one else will work with us. Do not mistake survival and pleasure with emotion, dear Maleficent. Did you honestly think I had feelings for you? Have you fallen for the Evil Queen?" Regina's laugh was low and mocking.
"Are you really so cold hearted that you say you feel nothing for anybody anymore? After that boy died…" Maleficent trailed off. Regretting the words as soon as they left her lips. Her eyes widened and she began to apologize but before a sound exited her lips she was thrown across the room, landing against the wall with a thud. Regina had a fire in her eyes she hadn't seen in a long time.
"He did not just die, my friend. No, he was murdered. I should remove your tongue for even speaking of him. But I will not. You are right. I do have feelings for you. Pity. That is why I do what I do. Your pets probably don't even enjoy your company anymore. I pity you, darling, nothing more." Regina now stood in front of the other witch. She ran her finger tips over the purple-clad woman's heart as it beat quickly in her chest. "Am I now a part of your heart, dear? Do you cherish me? Worship me?"
"No." Maleficent spit through gritted teeth. Regina made a quiet humming sounding.
"Well let's just see, shall we." Regina plunged her hand into Maleficent's chest, ignoring the woman's gasp as she took the heart in her hand. Regina examined it, before she spoke again. "You have a dark heart, not as dark as mine though." Regina smirked as she began to walk away.
"Regina, give it back!"
"Oh I have no desire to keep your heart. It would be a waste of space. I just want some information is all." Regina looked to the heart, before looking back at her friend. "What is the real reason you wanted to share kingdoms?" Maleficent could do nothing but tell the truth.
"Power! I want power and you. It would kill two birds with a single stone."
"And why is it you want me, dear?" Regina was smiling from ear to ear. She might be enjoying this a little too much. She watched as her friend tried to keep from telling her what she wanted to know.
"Because no one will know me as you will and vice versa. It only makes sense to help each other."
"I don't need nor do I want your help. You do not know me and you will never truly be able to. What of your true feelings for me?"
"I lust after you. I am quite infatuated but that is all." Content with the answers she received Regina walked to Maleficent and shoved her heart back into the woman's chest. She then placed both of her hands on the sides of her face directly above her ears and looked into her eyes.
"No!" Maleficent screamed, knowing what Regina was about to do. She tried closing her eyes and move her head to the side but was unable to do either. Regina's eyes turned black as she spoke, her magic entering the other's head.
"You will leave here, without any memory of this conversation. You won't return here but you will not understand or remember why. The day these memories come back to you, if they do, is the day you have unknowingly unlocked them yourself. I do not know how it will happen or how you will do it but that's half the fun isn't it. And because you decided to speak of my Daniel, you will not lust after anybody except for me until these memories return. You are going to lust after somebody you will never be able to see, or touch again. That, dear friend, is your punishment." As the magic finished seeping into Maleficent's brain, Regina stepped back dropping her hands to her side. Maleficent looked at her with horror in her eyes.
"You have no heart. You will never love or be loved like this and if you do I will hope their heart is not as dark as yours. You better watch your back, because when I remember again, you will not be so lucky."
"Then I will see you then, my friend. Gods speed." Regina snapped her fingers and the witch disappeared into a puff of purple smoke.
When Regina finished her story, she looked to Emma waiting for her wife's response. It was a lot to take in and she knew Emma liked to think things, well some things, through before speaking.
Emma's mind went through everything she was just told. She knew Regina had other lovers and had been told of all of them, except this one. She wasn't exactly mad at Regina, just confused for the most part. Emma stood and began pacing with one hand rubbing her chin, in an inquisitive motion. Regina watched her eyebrows furrow as she faced the brunette.
"Why didn't you tell me before? You know I wouldn't have cared. We both decided to tell each other of all of our past lovers, so why wasn't I told about this one?" Since Regina and Emma were in tune with each other, Regina was able to tell her wife was only frustrated and not angry with her. She usually avoided confrontation with the blonde. Their fights usually end in a bang. Literally. Regina folded her hands across her lap as she answered.
"I didn't mean to keep it from you, dear. I simply didn't tell you because I felt it was an unimportant subject to bring up. I never thought she would return, therefore I did not deem it important."
"But you lied to me. You know I hate being lied to. You've had almost 10 years to mention her and you haven't. Not once." Emma stood with her arms crossed across her chest, a stance Regina has learned Emma did when she was feeling vulnerable. She stood and walked toward the blonde. She placed her hand on Emma's forearm, gently moving pale arms from their defensive position. She laced their fingers, without a word from Emma, and brought them to her lips.
"I know, Emma. It was unacceptable for me to keep that from you when we both agreed to share the truth with each other, and for that I am very sorry. If you will forgive me, I will tell you whatever it is you want to know before we go to see her." Regina looked into her wife's green eyes, waiting for Emma decide. Emma could hold a grudge almost as long as Regina could. Almost.
Emma's lips turned up slightly as she looked into the brown eyes that held so much love for her alone. She could never stay mad at Regina for long and they both knew it. God, I am completely hopeless when she looks at me like that. Emma began to chuckle. She removed her hands from Regina's and brought them to the brunette's face.
"Of course I forgive you. You know I can't stay mad at you when you look at me like that." Regina's smile was immediate.
"Yes, I am aware. That is why I always use it." Her hands went to Emma's waist pulling their bodies closer. "And you never fail to succumb to whatever it is I want when I do."
"Yeah, I'm totally whipped and you love it." Emma smiled playfully, putting her forehead on Regina's.
"That I do. Now, do you have any questions before we go downstairs?" Emma thought for a moment, before asking.
"You've never felt anything for her?" Regina knew Emma could be insecure at times because of reasons beyond either of their control. She smiled softly as she shook her head.
"In my entire life I have felt something for very few people. I could count them on one hand. My mother, and father, whom I loved almost as much as I hated. A cook when I was just a girl who was basically my mother. Then there was Daniel of course. And you, who I love more than anything and anyone. I have never felt anything for anyone besides those people and none of those feelings come close to what I feel for you. So no, I have not nor will I ever, have feeling for that woman. Is that all you wanted to know, dear?"
"She has magic too?"
"She does. So when we are down there she cannot know you are my wife. I am in no way ashamed of you or think you are incapable of protecting yourself, I just want to know what she wants first. When I know that then I will tell her with you by my side." Emma nodded and held out her elbow.
"Shall we, my queen?" Emma smiled as Regina took her arm.
"We shall."
…
Neal followed Killian as they hastened back to find Maleficent.
"Why is this so serious? Who is she?" Killian stopped and turned to face him.
"Maleficent used to be one of the queen's lovers. She is also a witch and a dragon. She and the queen left on very bad terms and if she's here after all this time it can't be good." With that Killian sped to the kitchen, telling the cooking staff that they'd be eating another hour later.
When they arrived to the castle doors, they saw a blonde woman dressed in purple with a staff, surrounded by guards.
"If you would follow me." Killian gestured to Maleficent as he turned to walk, expecting her to follow.
"So Regina decided to let me in." Maleficent followed Killian as he led her to the study. Killian stopped and turned towards the guest.
"She may have let you in but it does not mean you are trusted, lass. Don't forget that." Killian walked into the room with Maleficent behind him and Neal flanking her. "Her majesty will be in shortly." Killian stood at one end of the room with Neal, while the blonde wandered around the room.
"So how is your queen? Miserable I hope." Maleficent walked around the room looking from shelf to shelf as she spoke. She ran her fingers over the spines of the books, inspecting the titles while she waited for her answer.
"Her grace is doing well actually. Why are you here anyway, wench?" Killian didn't like the fact that there was a threat to his queen inside the castle.
"That's a shame. And why is it she's so happy? Was she actually able to find happiness with that piece of coal she calls a heart?" The woman's comment caused Killian to bristle. He knew he shouldn't say anything about Emma until the queen mentioned her, herself. He shivered, remembering the last time he made the mistake of bringing her up without permission.
"Her kingdom is prospering, her guard is the most feared one in the kingdom, and we've not been to war for quite some time now. All things I would think cause a queen happiness." Killian tried to avoid any mention of her love life, and glanced over at the other man, hoping he understood the situation. Neal looked to him with furrowed brows. Why didn't he mention the queen's wife? What is the queen's wife's name, anyway? Neal wasn't sure he was supposed to say anything so he just put his head back down.
"That is not the kind of happiness I was talking about. What of her romantic life. Does she have any suitors?" But before Killian was able to respond a voice came from behind them.
"I don't believe that's any of your business."
…
Regina and Emma walked slowly towards the study hand in hand. When they were a few feet away from the door Regina stopped them and grabbed both of the blonde's hands.
"Emma, I don't know what going to happen with her or what she has planned, but just know I will do whatever it takes to keep you safe. Even if it means being cruel to you. Until I know if she's a danger I can't risk you getting hurt and I just need you to know, if I say something particularly mean to you I don't mean it. I-," Without letting her finish Emma lunged forward and grabbed Regina, pulling her in close and pressing a kiss to her lips. She pulled back with a small smile. She brought her hand up to brush a piece of brown hair out of Regina's eyes.
"I know the dangers Regina. And I know whatever you say about me and our love, or lack of, won't be true. I can't say I won't be hurt but I will understand. We can feel each other's emotions remember? I know you better than I do myself and I trust you with all my heart. I'm your White Knight, I'm a tuff girl, I can take it." Regina smiled softly, grabbing the hand that was still touching her face. She looked up into big green eyes, confirming everything that was just said.
"Okay, but one last thing. When we enter that room, you can be my White Knight but you will not be able to act like my wife." Regina hated that she had to hide Emma like this. The blonde just smirked as she gave Regina a small kiss on the forehead.
"I can't act like I don't love you. That would be impossible." She said, before walking the rest of the way to the study. The brunette just shook her head as she braced herself for whatever was to going to happen once she opened the door.
""That is not the kind of happiness I was talking about. What of her romantic life. Does she have any suitors?" Regina rolled her eyes as she walked in.
"I don't believe that's any of your business." Regina walked further into the room with Emma a few paces behind her. She took in the woman she hadn't seen in more than 10 years. She looked barely aged, so did Regina but still, her hair was a little longer with her hat sitting atop her head. The two women looked at each other, eyes narrowing. The other three people in the room watched the reunion with curious attention. Emma walked closer to Killian and stood near him with her hand firmly gipping her sword. Emma didn't trust this woman and she sure as hell didn't like her. Knowing she's seen Regina naked made Emma's blood boil. Regina caught this and sent a covert glance at Emma before looking back to Maleficent, straightening out her back.
"What can I do for you, Maleficent? Why are you here" Regina tried making herself sound bored as to not give anything away.
"Oh I think you know exactly why I'm here." Neal flinched at the amount of malice in the words. What the hell is going on here?
"I am not an avid mind reader and I am not going to attempt to try to read yours. Now, what do you want?"
"My memories from that night are back."
"Took you long enough, dear. I thought they'd never come back." Regina said with a smirk.
"Do you know what it was like? To not be able to be attracted to anyone else but you without have idea why and not being able to come here to ask why?" Maleficent's eyes were wide and crazy, making Emma and Killian a little uneasy. Regina simply sighed.
"I imagine it was less than pleasant, but you seem fine. And since you refuse to tell me why you have come here I must be on my way. You're wasting my time, yet again." Regina turned around to walk toward the exit, failing to notice the other woman lunge at her. Emma shot out as fast as she could, grabbing the woman's wrists before they could touch Regina. She pulled a dagger from her boot and held it to the other blonde's neck while she kept an iron grip on her wrists with the other hand.
Regina turned to see Emma unsheathe her dagger and hold it to the woman's throat. The older blonde started to chuckle.
"And who is this magnificent creature?" Regina narrowed her eyes at the woman's tone as she spoke about Emma.
"I'm her wi-," Emma snapped her mouth closed before she could finish her sentence and looked towards Regina who looked completely composed. "White Knight. I'm the queen's White Knight." She said finally. Regina internally sagged with relief. She heard the close slip up Emma almost made but was glad it was quickly fixed. Maleficent turned her head to look more closely at the young blonde. Very nice.
"Mmmm, I've heard of you, White Knight. Your reputation precedes you. You're just as beautiful as they say." Regina's nostrils flared as she heard Emma's title being purred from her former friend's lips.
"And even more deadly. I advise you not to try a stunt like that. I know the queen prefers not to have bloodshed in the castle." Regina silently shook her head at Emma's inability to tell she was being flirted with. She smiled slightly, remembering the beginning of their relationship, when even back then Emma was just as oblivious.
Regina sat with her hands clenched in her lap, as one of her servants flirted with Emma while she served them. Emma had only been at the castle two months and they still had yet to determine what exactly they were to each other.
"That will be all!" Regina shot at the woman, who shrunk under her intense gaze and scurried off to the kitchen. Emma looked at her with one eyebrow raised.
"What was that about?" Emma asked as she began shoveling food into her mouth. Did her parents even feed her at that castle of theirs? Regina wondered. She had just gotten used to Emma's interesting way of eating and never ending appetite. She shook her head, taking a small sip of wine.
"It's nothing, dear." Emma frowned at Regina's clipped tone. Uh oh. What'd I do now? Emma bit her lip as she looked at Regina. She still didn't know how to bring up things without trying to seem like she was prying.
"Did I do something wrong?" She asked quietly, playing with her utensils. Regina looked to Emma and saw her with her head down with her hair surrounding her face, looking like a kicked puppy. She immediately scolded herself for being so short the blonde. She put her hand on the younger woman's, gently squeezing it, barely ignoring the spark she felt there, as she tried to get green eyes to look at her.
"It's nothing you did. It's more what you didn't do." Regina hesitated before continuing. "That servant was openly flirting with you and you did nothing to stop her." Emma gave her a confused look.
"She… what?! She wasn't flirting with me. She was just being nice." Emma had absolutely no clue what Regina was talking about. Regina opened and closed her mouth a few times, probably looking very ridiculous at the moment. How can she not tell that woman was flirting with her? It was extremely obvious.
"You really couldn't tell she was flirting with you?" Emma just shook her head. She bit her lip again but quickly stopped and looked up at Regina who was, sure enough, looking at her lips now. She'd been told it was very distracting.
"It's not like I've never flirted or had anyone flirt with me before, it's just that, I haven't really paid attention to it, ya know, ever since I got here." Emma looked down nervously.
"What do you mean, dear?" She could tell there saw more, but didn't know what it was.
"Well ever since I met you I don't really pay attention to anyone else. So I guess that's why I haven't noticed it. You're just… really distracting." Emma gulped and looked everywhere except Regina, who's smile could direct ships into the harbor at that moment.
"Emma look at me. I am very pleased to know I'm all you think about but I don't think I'll be able to keep from harming people who keep flirting with you like that." The blonde laughed but Regina was serious. She couldn't stand when people flirted with what was hers. Emma leaned into the table with a smile still stretched across her face.
"Okay how about this. When someone's flirting with me, you say to me 'You seem very distracted' so I'll know and stop them before you rip out their internal organs or something. Okay?" Regina looked at the blonde's wide, green eyes and knew she couldn't deny this woman anything.
"Okay."
Regina was pulled from the memory when she heard the door behind her open then close. Graham walked in, his shoulders tensed as soon as he saw the White Knight holding a dagger to the guest's neck. He went to stand by Killian who now had his sword unsheathed.
"Oh! This one's feisty isn't she? Where ever did you find her, Regina?" Maleficent kept her focus on the blonde knight who still held a dagger to her throat, completely oblivious to her advances.
"Oh will you shut the fuck up!" Emma said pushing the knife into the older blonde's skin. A small drop of blood began to run down Maleficent's neck. Regina was growing increasingly angrier as she watched her wife hold the other woman. She knew it was anything but sexual, but she couldn't help the fact that it bothered her to no end.
"Release her, Savior." Regina looked directly at Emma whose eyes bugged out of her head at the command.
"Are you kidding me? She just tried to attack you! Why would I risk it again?" Emma didn't want the woman anywhere near Regina. The brunette sighed, hating when she had to 'queen' at Emma.
"You will release her because I am your queen and I told you to! Do not forget your place, knight." Regina cringed a little at her tone. She hadn't meant for it to be that harsh. She noticed Emma flinch at her voice before letting the older blonde go. She bowed her head, letting her hair curtain her face.
"I apologize, my queen. I forgot my place. It won't happen again." She kept her voice low and devoid of any emotion. She could feel Regina's guilt and wanted to do something about it but knew she couldn't at the moment. Instead she just focused on her love for the brunette and hoped Regina would feel it. Regina's heart felt lighter as Emma's love invaded her senses.
"You just seemed a little distracted. Don't make it a habit." Emma looked up at Regina then to the other blonde, realization crossing over her features. "As for you. Are you able to keep from flirting with members of my guard or am I going to have to banish you again?"
"You have employed some very delectable pets and I just can't help myself. After so many years of wanting just you, I'm feeling a little more…blonde at the moment." Her eyes roamed around the room looking at the other three men before settling back on Emma. "Do you have any pets, dear Regina? Have you found love after… you know? Or are you still as lonely as before. I'm hoping for the latter." Regina sighed, tired of their tedious game.
"Why are you here? Tell me or leave. I'm hoping for the latter as well, dear."
"Oh well I'm here for revenge, of course. I'll also require a room here. For the time being." Regina was taken aback.
"You want a room? In my palace? What makes you think I'll allow you to stay after this visit?" She had absolutely no intention of letting the blonde stay anywhere near her and Emma. Maleficent's grin grew as she looked at the queen.
"Because if you don't, I'll tell your mother exactly where you are."
Well there ya go! Ah cliffhangers. A bitchy writers favorite go-to ending. So Cora and Maleficent working together? Is it a bluff? Wait! Is that Cora? Who knows? Oh yeah! ME! (i'm such an asshole, I know)
So as you can see Maleficent won, Yzma lost by one until someone voted a day late, then it was Ursula, Hades and Cruella DeVille, then Cora, Scar and Jafar, and Gaston. It took me forever to count these freaking names. Don't believe me go do it yourself. I might come back to them later if you guys want me to. They could be for or against Regina but we'll cross that bridge when we get there (which probably won't be for a while. just fyi)
*Announcement* First: We're coming to the point where our 'lovely' Charmings are going to start to come more into play. How so you think they should find out? I know how I want them to but what about you? You guys are pretty hilarious so I may just include an idea or two (with credit of course. I'm no idea thief) Second: Some want to know about the Swan Queen proposal and wedding? Sound interesting? Aye or Nay?