Author's Notes: Sorry it's taken so long for me to update this story. I've had some computer problems and some major life changes, not to mention a general lack of motivation. I will hopefully get the next update out quicker.
"UGH!" Regina kicks the front tire of the Mercedes in frustration. "What am I an amateur? How could I not notice this? This isn't my first curse! Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!"
Snow watches as the queen paces back and forth in the street muttering to herself, alternatingly stomping, swearing, and clenching her fists in a way that Snow knows will soon lead to massive fires if her step-mother doesn't calm down. Snow has checked all the buildings thoroughly, (well maybe not exactly thoroughly, but at least as far as she was willing to walk and shout in her condition) and it seems that Regina's analysis was correct: they are completely alone.
"Regina." Snow tries with no response. "Regina!" Still nothing. Snow makes her way around the vehicle and grabs the witch's hand midstride. Her step-mother finally ceases her ranting and looks up at her. "Regina, what do we do?"
An eerie wind blows menacingly down the deathly silent street as Regina considers their predicament. Although she's certainly had plenty of experience with casting curses, she's not exactly an expert when it comes to the inner workings of their subtleties. (If she were, she thinks ruefully, Snow White would be permanently snoozing in a glass coffin). Normally she would go consult Rumple on a problem like this. Fine print was always the dark imp's bread and butter, and although he was of course completely untrustworthy, his information was usually solid, and Regina hated to admit, his knowledge of magic far greater than her own.
Regina breathes deeply and steadies herself. Her old mentor can't help her now. Lesson time is over, and she needs to do this on her own. Snow shuffles closer to her and suddenly an epiphany strikes the witch. "We need to go to the place where the wall between the worlds is the thinnest," she tells Snow. "Maybe we can attempt to pull through what was left behind."
"Do you know where that is?" Snow asks.
"No, I didn't, but fortunately Rumpelstiltskin did".
The wishing well sparkles and crackles with an ominous purple light, and Regina can feel the dark energy radiating from the vortex long before she can see it. It overwhelms her senses, and she has to hold Snow's arm to steady herself before she passes out.
"Well this can't be good," Snow White states the obvious.
The Queen rolls her eyes and almost responds with a scathing remark, but has to bite down on her tongue to keep from crying out in pain when she's suddenly hit with the very unsettling feeling of being ripped in half. Her knees give out and she slumps to the ground awkwardly when Mary Margaret can no longer hold her.
"Regina!" Snow screams alarmed.
"It's too much power," Regina tries not to whimper. "Can you feel it?"
She can, to some extent. A heaviness in the air that makes it hard to breathe. A static charge that makes her hair stand up on end. A general feeling of dread in the pit of her stomach. Her basic human instinct is telling her to flee flee flee. However it's obviously nothing like what her step-mother is experiencing, as the powerful sorceress struggles to stand. Snow remembers a conversation with a fairy many years ago who once told her that those who used magic had to be very in tune with so much more than just the physical world.
"What are you doing?" Snow demands warily as Regina, now back on her feet, stumbles weakly towards the well.
"Testing a theory," Regina responds as she reaches out to feel the vortex. A spark pops out and burns her hand, and she pulls it back immediately, trying to shake away the sting.
"Regina!" Snow starts to run towards her but she holds up her other hand, indicating for her to stop. "I'm fine Snow. I just needed some more information."
"What kind of information could you possibly get by sticking your hand into a giant evil abyss?" Snow wonders exasperatedly.
"Rather good information actually. For instance, it's not really an abyss. Which is sort of the problem."
"Continue," Snow responds as she wraps an arm around her stepmother's waist and leads her away from the stone structure.
"Well, as you know, The Dark Curse opened a portal between this realm and The Enchanted Forest. Everyone in reach of the curse was transported here, or should have been transported here, but…."
"But I screwed it up by thinking too much about being alone. We covered this. I'm sorry I couldn't concentrate on witchcraft while my husband was dying!"
Regina chooses to ignore Snow's outburst. "Well fortunately and unfortunately for us you're not a great witch my dear." Snow glares daggers at her and Regina elaborates. "You didn't bring our subjects with us per say, but you didn't exactly leave them behind either." Regina glances toward the well.
Snow gasps and holds her hand up to her mouth in shock. "Are you saying that, that that giant vortex is full of people?" All the color drains from Snow's face as she tries not to be sick.
"Easy Snow it's not like you liquefied them." Snow does get sick at that comment, and Regina grimaces at her utter lack of tact. When the girl stops retching Regina tries again. "What I mean is, it's their essence in the well, not their actual bodies. I doubt they're even aware of what's happening."
"But you don't know for sure?"
"No."
Snow processes this uneasily. "So what do we do?"
"Right now there's too much energy in the portal for it to close properly. Your spell prevents anyone other than you or me apparently from taking corporeal form here, but this portal only goes one way, so these essences can't get back to The Enchanted Forest either. They're stuck in between. The way I see it we can either try to reverse the portal and send everyone back through, or we can try to reverse your spell and bring everyone here. We unfortunately end up freeing Zelena either way. It's your choice."
"What happens if we do nothing?" Snow wonders suddenly, rubbing at her burgeoning belly.
"You mean aside from damning your people to an eternity as floating spirits?" Regina asks incredulously. "I think the gaping hole in the fabric of reality would eventually tear both our worlds apart. I can already feel it starting, and we've only been here a day. Leaving it open is not an option."
Snow sighs heavily and feels extremely guilty for even considering it. "You're right of course. I was just thinking…"
"You were thinking about Zelena coming after your child again weren't you? It's ok Snow, I get it. You know despite what you and all your hero friends might think, it is ok to be selfish every once in a while. You can put your family first."
"Thanks Regina."
"We can always just send her annoying green ass back to The Enchanted Forest."
Snow considers this for a moment, then shakes her head. "No, she'd probably just find some other way to come after us. Or she'd take it out on our people. I know how irritable witches can be when they don't get their way."
Regina concedes the point. "So it's option #2 then?"
"I guess so. But I also had another thought…"
The sorceress listens intently as Snow White outlines her plan, her eyebrow arching up in surprise. "Well, can it be done?" the princess finally asks.
"Of course, if you can handle it. I'll need to get some supplies."
TBC