Nate knew exactly what to do to find his wife. He almost felt disgusted with himself for it. He only needed the location to find his wife. After that, Regina would do the rest. The Evil Queen had no idea what kind of trophy she truly was. The magic in her body would be enough to distract the grifter from her task. Marian would sense her sister long before she sensed the knife. She wouldn't be able to resist revenge.

It was a cruel plan. The mastermind was well aware of the risks. He also lost all forms of sympathy for his sister-in-law long ago. He wasn't a good man. He'd never been a truly honest man. He wasn't anything like his wife. Regina was a problem. He knew that the moment she started practicing under the tutelage of the Dark One. It was about time she became a problem fixed.

Nate was silent as he watched the dark haired beauty calling out for her sister. He smiled at the frustration in her voice. He could feel the effect that frustration had on the air. Electricity was beginning to buzz all around. He could even feel the wind picking up speed. Good. His plan was working beautifully.

"I don't even know why you're so upset," Regina muttered to herself, "It's not like you didn't bring this on yourself. You killed your own nephew. What did you expect? A warm welcome? She was bound to discover the truth anyway."

The woman took a few more steps forward. She tentatively looked right and left, wary of any impending doom. She even looked backwards and forwards. Nate expected this, anticipated this even. He knew choosing the trees would work in his favor. He wasn't as young as he used to be, but he still knew how to hide. He was the fabled King of Thieves after all.

Regina cursed and moved forward slowly. She was completely unaware of the person following her. She didn't even appear aware of the impending danger coming her way. Nate could tell something was switching in the atmosphere. He knew they were getting closer to his one True Love.

"That's why you sent her away, Regina," the Evil Queen muttered. Her voice grew almost shrill with worry and fear. She must have sensed the change as well. That was good. Her magic was easily detectable now. "You didn't want the precious savior to remind her of your past. You wanted her to be happy and blissfully unaware."

She took a few more steps forward. The caution sent her magic into overdrive. The best was the fact that the woman couldn't tell she was doing it. She wasn't nearly as powerless as she thought. She could affect the weather too. It wasn't nearly as obvious as Marian. Regina was subtle. She just affected the temperature itself. Nate could feel the chill developing in the air. He pulled his suit jacket closer and grinned.

"He shouldn't have died though," she said, "I was just trying to scare her. The fire was only going to burn the crib itself. I didn't expect him to run into it."

She paused, too focused on her thoughts to notes the change in the air. Robin didn't mind. His heart was squeezing in anticipation. His wife was close. He could feel her now. That familiar shock that forced him around the globe, telling him who was the culprit behind the crime before every truly knew it was her. He could feel her again. Her magic was welcome on his skin.

"But it couldn't have been strong enough to break through the charms," she said. She sounded thoroughly confused too. "The blue fire would have killed his sister if that were true and she's here."

Robin knew the exact moment his wife appeared. He felt her black eyes peering from a branch not too far away. He could sense her closeness and started to doubt his plan. There was a tree trunk between them. That had to be the only reason she hadn't pointed it out. He could tell Regina knew her sister was there too.

"Hello Marian," she said.

"Sissy."

Robin had seconds to duck down before Regina looked towards him. He even prepared himself to dive to the side. Luckily his wife still had a flare for the dramatic. She puffed in front of her sister and allowed him his cover. It was now the two women, standing face to face. The war was about to end.

"Marian, I…" Regina choked back a sob. "I'm-"

"Sorry?" Marian sounded absolutely scandalized, "You're sorry? You killed my son. You turned my husband into the very thing he hated most. You ruined my daughter's life. You ruined my life and you have the nerve to be sorry."

"Marian, please." Regina whimpered, "You have to understand-"

"I understand, sissy." Marian slowly backed her sister up into a specific location. Robin had to turn around and risk blowing his cover to see where it was. There was a clearing not too far away. That had to be of importance. "You wanted me to become exactly like you. You wanted me to feel as you do. You wanted me to suffer as you have. Believe me, sissy, I understand completely."

"Marian, please don't do this."

"But you've succeeded, sissy," Marian sighed, "I'm exactly as you wished me to be. I'm you in every way."

Marian raised her hand to strike. Robin could see the magic spinning itself into her hand. Now was his time to strike. There wasn't much time left. He had to stall. He couldn't' trust himself to stop her completely. He jumped down as if it were nothing.

"No, Sophie!" He said.

The distraction worked. Sophie turned towards him in absolute shock. The ball of fire unleashed itself far too early. It engulfed a tree and felled it in seconds flat. The only reason they weren't crushed was because of the grifter's amazing power. She pushed her hand upwards and the tree disintegrated in ash. The giant magic created a large puff of smoke that would tell the others where they were.

"Nathan," she gasped.

Regina was just as surprised. Her big black eyes were boring into him, demanding answers. She wanted to know the plan as well. He couldn't blame her. Her life was the one that hung in the balance. He even considered telling Sophie she was allowed this one gift. In all honesty, he knew Robin would have made that decision were they still in the Enchanted Forest. But Nathan Ford was still an honest man. He could never condone such a fate to anyone. It was Sophie Devereaux herself who taught him that. She pulled him from the brink of destruction in ways he only now truly appreciated.

He would gladly die doing the same for her.

"Go," he said.

Regina didn't need to be told twice. She slipped away from her sister's powerful grasp. She ran into the trees and refused to stop. The magic she caused disappeared with her. She now knew the secret he kept. She would no longer be his bait. Sophie allowed a tiny spark of lightning to inspire her sister to disappear quickly.

"Have you finally decided to join me in the game, dear?" Her voice was flat. It was vile and tainted. There was no love within it. There was only anger and greed. She was lost in her own despair. She was nothing but evil. He hoped he could fix that. "The hunt has begun if so. Care to make a plan? You know how I love your plans."

"No, Soph," he shook his head and smiled despite himself. "I'm not going to help you kill her."

"Alright, suit yourself." Annie Kroy; that was who she sounded like. He always knew there was something about that alias that never sat well with him. Now that he remembered who she was it made sense. Annie derived from that one spot of evil in his wife's soul. "Don't come crying to me when you've realized you've missed out on all the fun."

She started to walk away so he did what he always did. He grabbed onto her elbow and pulled her back gently. He invaded her personal space as if they were having another one of their patented heated discussions. He even felt her magic swirl dangerously. Her eyes turned red and stayed that way. He was treading dangerous waters now.

"I'm not going to let you kill her, Sophie!" Nate growled.

She dropped his arm immediately. Electricity was running through the air. She even zapped him away from her in emphasis. Her red eyes looked at him as though he was the scum of the earth.

"What use are you then?" She hissed, "Do I need to kill Hardison for you to understand how I feel? She killed our son, Nate! Have you forgotten what it feels like? Do I need to remind you what Ian Blackpoole did to you and your whore's son?"

He grabbed the grifter's arm and pulled her towards him. His grip was rock solid and he hated every minute of it. He was holding her arm so hard it was on the verge of breaking, he knew it. But she needed to see through the magic consuming her. He needed to save her again.

"You're not killing her, Sophie!" He hissed.

"You're on her side?" Sophie screamed.

She pushed him away with magic. Nate felt the pulse of it try to topple him over but he stayed his ground. So she slapped him for standing upright. Then she slapped him again just because she could. Nate grabbed at her arms and pulled them around his waist. Then he made certain they were both nose to nose.

"I'm on your side," he said, "I've always been on your side. I always will be on your side."

"Then why are you protecting her?" Sophie asked slapping him with a spell he never saw coming.

The mastermind was on his back in seconds. The wind was whipped out of him and his head was filled with pain. He blinked away the stars in his eyes and fought to get upright again. Only he couldn't get up. She wouldn't let him. There was great force keeping him solely on the ground and it had everything to do with her magic.

"Soph," Nate breathed out.

"Why are you protecting my sister?" Sophie screamed.

This time she raised her hand and folded it into a fist. She squeezed with all of her might and Nate felt his ribs compress upon his lungs at her command. He couldn't breathe and the pain was unbearable, not just the physical.

"I can't let you kill another human being," Nate struggled to explain. "It will destroy you."

He was amazed he was able to speak let alone move his jaw. The grifter was squeezing his chest so much that air hadn't been in them in too long. Then suddenly he could breathe again. It felt like fire was filling his lungs with every breath but he could breathe. That was progress.

"I'll be fine, Nate," Sophie sputtered, "You think I haven't taken a life before. You know me better than that. I've taken many."

Nate felt his heart falter at that. It was one of his worst fears coming to life. He had always suspected there were deaths linked to some of her escapades. She would often cry in her sleep and drop hints of that dark spot in her past. Now she was admitting to it and using it as a reason to allow her to continue. Only this was different than the times before.

"You've never taken a life like this," he explained, "Never out of revenge!"

"Who are you to talk me out of this?" Sophie spat towards him, "You murdered the men responsible for killing your father! You're no better!"

"I didn't kill them, Sophie," he said, "It was their greed that finished them off."

"You conned them into it!" she replied, "Which is basically the same thing!"

"And you stopped me from doing it directly," Nate growled, "It's my turn to return the favor."

"He was your son!" Sophie screamed towards him, swinging her fists wildly at his face.

Tears were stinging her eyes and every word she spoke was dripping with anger and hatred. She was whipping her whole body into attacking him. Her palms were slapping his face and when he finally blocked it she went for his chest. There wasn't a single piece of the mastermind left untouched by her abusive ramblings. She couldn't control herself anymore.

Then the tears were suddenly too much. Sophie collapsed into his arms and their combined weight pulled him to the ground. Nathan Ford held onto his grifter and tried to comfort her anyway he could. He was starting to get through and that was all that mattered. His wounds would heal. He just had to be there to support her.

"Oh thank goodness, she's coming back!"

Sophie's eyes turned red at the very sound of her sister's voice. Nate watched in horror as the grifter he was saving disappeared into the magic all over again. All of his progress was lost. Sophie had finally succumbed to the power within and now it was only a matter of time before the deed was done.

Regina seemed to recognize the sudden change. Her brown eyes filled with fear. She stepped away from the couple very slowly and tried to run away. Her feet suddenly flew in front of her and she was on the ground in seconds. Vines were wrapping around her neck. She was struggling to breathe and turning purple to show just that. Sophie's hand was outstretched for the torture. There was even a soft smile on her face.

Nate slammed into the grifter, forcing them onto the ground again. He wrapped his arms solidly around the black-eyed woman and pressed against her with all of his might. He was going to physically fight the magic now. He had no other choice. He had to outlast the magic in order to succeed.

"You bastard!" Sophie screamed, "You will pay for this!"

And just like that, a sudden pain erupted in the mastermind's side. He yelped at the pain and had no choice but to release the woman in his arms. He fell to the ground and tried to process the black speckles in his vision. There was blood in his hands now. His shirt and torso were covered in it. The grifter's hand was soaked in his blood. She used her magic against him.

"Now I'll finish the job!" She howled, launching herself at him.

Her face was a snarl really. Then her delicate hands were pressing into his bleeding wound making it ten times worse than before. The black eyes were now completely red and void of tears. There was nothing but blood shining in them, blood and power. He had failed. His love was gone.

"You shouldn't have stood between me and my vengeance!" Sophie sneered towards him. Her voice was whisper soft and full of hate. Her soft hope was gone forever and her voice was nothing but cruelty. Death was waiting for her next move.

Sophie turned towards her sister with a smile again. She slowly moved closer and closer to the quivering coward. Then she laughed at Regina's flimsy attempts at casting defensive spells. The woman actually thought she could save herself.

"Time to die, sister dear," Sophie said.

"Marian!"

Sophie paused at the sound of her name. Her whole body froze and became stiffer than a board. Her brown locks slowly swirled around as her eyes fell upon the mastermind. There was recognition in those eyes, eyes that were no longer pure red.

The mastermind couldn't help but smile at the sight of her. She was frozen in terror and she was still the most beautiful creature on the planet. The sorrow in those eyes didn't belong but at least he got through. All she needed was her name and she returned to him in an instant. He should have said it sooner. It would have saved them both the trouble.

"You knew?" Marian demanded softly, "No! You knew?"

Then she was there, right there in front of him. Her soft, delicate hands were pressing into his wound trying to push his blood back in. Tears were once again leaking from her eyes and she never looked more beautiful. The mastermind could feel the muscles stitching themselves together, trying to anyway. The wound was too extensive for her magic to work.

"No!" Marian whimpered.

There was defeat in her voice. She knew, she knew it wasn't going to work. She was trying anyway. She wouldn't stop trying until he was truly dead and gone. She would never give up on him. He smiled at that.

"I love you, Marian," Robin whispered.

He smiled at the startled look of horror on her features. The magic issuing from her hands was trying so hard to do as its master commanded but it wasn't working. He could feel the blood in his lungs. He could even taste it on his tongue. More tears poured from his wife's gorgeous eyes and she struggled harder to make her magic work. She was forgetting that magic always came with a price, a price she had no right to pay.

"I will always love you," Robin promised urging her to stop what she was doing. He knew how willing she was to sacrifice herself for him. He wouldn't allow that. He couldn't.

"No!" Marian shook her head, crying harder at his words. "Don't you dare! I love you, please! Don't leave me! I can't-"

"My true love," Robin smiled. He moved his hand to her cheek and reveled at the warmth in it. He had succeeded. She would live, survive and thrive. She had finally returned to him but only so she could lose him. The pain was no longer there. He was numb. It was the end, their end.

"No!" Marian screamed a horrible shrill cry of a voice.

%%%%%%%%%

"Robin, please!" Marian begged of her husband's lifeless body.

She was cradling the broken form against her chest. Tears were pouring from her eyes, a river of pain and torment. Her lips brushed against his as often as she could. She was willing her magic to heal him, to do the impossible. She was trying so hard to bring him back from Death's door. She knew it was useless but she didn't care. She had to save him.

"No!" She moaned towards the heavens in scorn, "Please, no! Not you too!"

Marian could feel her sister's eyes on her. She ignored her pointedly. Her eyes and her thoughts revolved solely around her husband, the man she killed.

"What have I done?" She cried, "Oh God what have I done?"

"Marian," Regina whimpered. There was sorrow and fear in her voice. She apparently couldn't decide if she should pity her sister or run away as fast as her feet could carry her.

"Congratulations," Marian growled.

She sent the most terrifying glare towards her sister that she could. Then she cuddled her dead husband closer and rocked back and forth. The pain of another loss was pouring through her veins. She had nothing left now. The others wouldn't want their mastermind's murderer. The burden of too many deaths in too many lives was hers to bear alone now.

"I've finally become Mother," she finished softly.

"No Marian," Regina shook her head, "No you're nothing like her. You overcame the magic. You're not her."

"Then I'm just like you which is just as bad," Marian growled, "I killed my own husband all for the sake that I could have my revenge. I get why you were so eager to curse me now. You were afraid of what I would do almost as much as what would happen to me."

"If you're going to kill me," Regina spoke softly, "I suggest you do it now before the rest of your crew gets here. They're determined to stop you."

"It doesn't matter," Marian shrugged, "Nate's dead and he died at my hand. You've finally won."

Then the infamous maiden gently laid her husband on the ground. She kissed his brow tenderly and lovingly stroked his face. She rose to her feet and stood before her sister, holding her hand up towards the heavens. Purple mist swirled into her palm. Then it melded together and created a red, juicy apple.

"Poetic justice I see," Regina replied staring at the apple as if it was the scorn of her life.

"Yes," Marian nodded, "but not for you."

Regina stared at her sister in confusion. Her mouth fell open as realization dawned. A slight gasp poured from her lips and her head began to shake of its own accord.

"For you," she said.

"Nobody deserves the amount of power running in my veins," Marian explained, "and this poisoned apple is the perfect end to my reign of terror."

"Nothing but dreams made of your own regrets for all eternity," Regina remarked bitterly.

"Yes," Marian nodded, "Justice."

Then the grifter took a bite out of the apple without another word or thought. She bit into the juicy morsel and relished the sweet taste of her own doom. Her heart rate sped up. Her breathing became erratic. Pain blossomed and bloomed in her chest before it was all over. She fell to her knees with panting breaths and slowly her body succumbed to the poison within. The apple fell from her hands and she to the ground, forever sleeping in a world of regret.

%%%%%%%%%%%

Hardison drove as far as his van would let him go. The trail in the forest was too small for Lucille to make it through. He silently cursed the blimp that often changed direction and course without notice. Parker could tell he was getting frustrated with it. Henry could tell as well. The kid kept doing his best to be helpful. He informed them of everything he learned in his research on the fabled Robin Hood and his wife. Some of the stuff Parker already knew, Hardison too. Most of it was new information that apparently appeared out of nowhere. Well, the kid said it came from his grandfather.

"We'll walk it from here," Parker announced.

Beware, the locket warned, she's angry. The magic will use that to its advantage. It only wants blood. It won't care whose. You must be prepared to abandon her if necessary.

Parker ignored its advice. She then explained what would happen if it suddenly decided to show any magic and beam her away from danger. They were not abandoning Sophie no matter the circumstances. It kindly tried using Nate against her. She explained that Nate knew she was an adult and she was free to make her own decisions. Besides he betrayed the team and she didn't so there.

Hardison gave her a worried look and glanced at the locket. "It's started glowing red," he said, "by your silence I'm going to assume there's something you're not telling me."

Right, well, Hardison did deserve to know the truth. He would understand. It wasn't like he wasn't already pretty high in the shock threshold already.

"My locket is telling me to be prepared to ditch Sophie," she said, "and apparently we need to make certain she doesn't kill us."

"Oh," Hardison was surprisingly taking this well, "That explains a lot."

"You're not mad?" She was worried he would be mad. They were boyfriend and girlfriend. They weren't supposed to keep secrets from each other anymore. They needed to trust each other. "I didn't want to worry you. I figured Sophie was enough."

The hacker nodded and smiled sweetly. "Not mad baby girl," he said, "but we are so totally going to worry about that as soon as we take care of our current problem."

"Uh," Henry coughed, "why is there smoke in the woods?"

Parker turned towards the kid with fear in her heart. She followed his poised finger to the window. The smoke rising towards the sky was almost near the border of the town. Lucille couldn't go anywhere near it. Even the well wasn't close. How were they supposed to get to Sophie and Nate in time? The forest was on fire.

That's not fire smoke, the locket said, that's magic smoke. They're there, Parker. You must be careful and hurry. The magic has almost consumed her completely.

Parker bolted from the van at top speed. She knew Hardison and she knew Henry. They would follow her lead. She just hoped the smoke would stay in the air. It was the only way they would be able to find the mastermind and grifter. That smoke was how they were going to save their family.

"I hope that doesn't mean she found Regina," Hardison huffed.