Journey to the Yellow Kingdom

A/N: Light Regina (Regina Mills) and Dark Regina (Queen Regina) will feature in this chapter.

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Five years later

Regina Mills had honoured her agreement with the town that she had bartered her service for the tower. Her managerial skills had made the village more prosperous and well run. Regina and Rapunzel made the trip to the town almost every day. The journey to the village always had tranquillity to it with rushing waters flowing on one side towards the village and lush green pasture that when looking from the tower went on for miles.

Regina had a couple of things that irritated her most; one of them had to do with Rapunzel's hair. Ever since Rapunzel was little cutting Rapunzel's hair always was and still is a nightmare. All Regina wanted is to have Rapunzel's hair at a normal length, just below the shoulders. That never happened; every year Rapunzel's hair grew and grew with no sign of letting up the only sane thing about Rapunzel's hair for Regina is that at least she could neaten it up Rapunzel's hair so that her hair did not look like a tangled up mess.

The second thing that irked her was the constant rumours that kept flying around about her and Rapunzel. It was not true but every new person that came to the village would tell the locals about this big fat lie of a rumour and the tales that came from the next visitor only got bigger and bigger. It was just ridiculous.

One day the king and queen of the White Kingdom started to pass through the area where the tower was situated in the Yellow Kingdom. King Leopold, Queen Regina and Snow White had been invited to visit the Yellow Kingdom. They were also accompanied by the ambassador of the Yellow Kingdom.

Queen Regina had not like the idea of going to the Yellow Kingdom as it was quite way to travel to. Her annoyance with King Leopold got the better of her, "Leopold, tell me why are we travelling to the Yellow Kingdom again", speaking to the King more sarcastically.

"My dear Regina, the King Edwyn and Queen Eugenie made the trip to our kingdom some years back and now it is the time to reciprocate the same in kind", answering his wife's question for the umpteenth time.

Snow had grown bored, everything that past her out of the carriage window melted into the sameness. Same trees, hills and valleys until on top of a hill a large tower peeked out. This tower had got snow all excited.

Snow glance at the Ambassador, "Excuse me Ambassador that tower on hill over there" pointing her finger out of the carriage window towards the tower, "can you tell us more about the tower."

Even Queen Regina seemed more interested

A smile graced the Ambassadors face, "Well the tower was built during the Ogre wars. It is the only tower that is left standing now", giving a brief history lesson.

Snow seemed fascinated about the tower and notice some smoke puffing out of the roof, "Does anyone still live there."

"Yes, would you like to hear a story about the person living at that tower" smirking silently inside.

"Yes please", Snow said gratefully and even Queen Regina seemed to have interest in the tale as it was a good diversion from the monotony of boredom.

The Ambassador started the tale, "This tale has been going around the villagers in this kingdom. Most of the villagers have one version or another of this tale" as everyone in the carriage nodded.

"The most common is that a Dark witch lives in the tower. In most of these stories the witch has a daughter" everyone gasps.

"They say that the Dark witch locks her daughter up in that tower. It is said that the witch's daughter has never touched the blades of the green grass" another gasp came from the Royals except Queen Regina who interrupted the Ambassador.

"It is said that the Dark witch put a spell on the villagers. They do her bidding" answering the Queen's question.

Queen Regina's hands clenched as this might be a possibility. "And the daughter why would the Dark witch lock her own daughter in the tower? What purpose will that achieve?" felling that there is more to the story than meets the eye.

The Ambassador continued, "It is said that the child has magical properties, her hair contains magic in it" with both Snow and Leopold nodding their head in tune to the story and Queen Regina now shaking her head in disbelief. He continued again, "The Dark witch does not cut the girls hair for it will lose its magical properties."

Snow interrupted the tale again, "Why does the Dark witch needs her daughters magical hair?"

"Mmm" with a devilish smile, "The dark witch uses her daughter's hair to stay young and beautiful."

Queen Regina had enough of this wild and woolly tale, banging on the carriage, "Stop the coach" needing to get to the bottom of this tale.

Getting out of the carriage and taken a step towards the tower, unease filled through her body. Pushing through this unease and taking another step again, the unease now turned into small amount of fear. This could not be normal this fear, another step towards the tower, the fear increase even more. Her last step which was only her forth brought on blind terror. Regina retreated back to the carriage with her pulse and heart racing she banged on the carriage again, "Ride on and fast."

Leopold look at his wife he had never seen her in this state before, "Are you alright Regina it looks like you seen a ghost" taking her hand and trying to soothe her nerves.

Looking at Leopold with a weak smile but still a racing heart, "I….I fine Leopold it's just not normal to feel that kind of terror when there is nothing there." Her gaze now fell onto the Ambassador, "Have you met this Dark witch?"

"Yes I have met her."

"What is she like?" the Queen inquired.

"Oh, very pleasant. When I came to your kingdom you Your Majesty reminded me of her."

Queen Regina's eyebrows farrowed as she tried to make sense of what the Ambassador just said, "I look like the witch."

"Yes you two look quite identical to one another it is quite amazing." Said the Ambassador.

Queen Regina's demeanour changed her voice now starting rise with irritation, "What is this witch's name?"

"She goes by the name of Regina Mills Your Majesty."

Everyone in the carriage gasped and Queen Regina's stomach churned at hearing her name. King Leopold in sensed by the Ambassador's revelation, "You are telling me that this witch you claim that looks like my wife and bares the same name as well?" Giving a stern look at the Ambassador.

The Ambassador had no satisfactory answer to give King Leopold to why this woman would use the Queens name. Both King Leopold and Queen Regina had many questions that needed to be answered. Who is this Dark witch and where did she come from.

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