Here comes chapter 13, the pre-last chapter of the Cora arc. This is quite a sad one, I actually felt sadness for the characters. :( The chapter was written entirely by myself, except for one part added by my friend (which I then edited).
Disclamer: Nothing belongs to me. OUAT goes to Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis; SM goes to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei.
A lost birthday. The oceanic waves.
Rhode Island, 2011
Alexandra was walking through school corridor, after she had cried in the toilet. She felt so alone, she had no friends… Other people either mocked her; either didn't care about her existence. Plus, today was her birthday, and none of her foster brothers and sisters seemed to remember. When she was a little kid, she was getting wishes of a happy birthday. But that time passed, and she slowly turned into a punch bag. When did this happen? Alex couldn't tell. The girl was very sensitive and never knew how to fight back. So, she was living her life as a constant victim. Alexandra sighed as she exited the school, after what she subconsciously walked to a pastry store. Seeing those beautiful cakes, she couldn't help but feel her heart ache. Nobody would ever bake a cake for her. Then, she decided to buy a pastry, as a gift for herself. Alexandra had enough money to get a cupcake, as well as a small birthday candle. In was only at her home, that she could switch the candle on and make a wish. She stared at the burning candle, thinking:
"Nobody needs me… and I'm a useless person… do I even have a purpose in this life?"
Then, she closed her eyes, making her wish:
"Well, make a wish, Alex… I wish to find my place in this life."
Then, she quickly blew out the candle and ate her cupcake. At least, she felt a small pleasure this day, by eating a very tasty cupcake.
Enchanted Forest
The young princess Snow White approached her mother, Queen Eva, to show her the dress she would wear the next day.
"Do you like it?" – she asked.
"Snow… you're wonderful." – Eva replied – "At the ball, everyone will talk about you only, and not only because of your birthday."
After that, the mother and the daughter joyfully hugged each other. The next day, there would be a ball, for Snow White's 10th birthday. Then, the queen said:
"I have a gift for you. It belonged to my mother, and before that, to her mother. And soon, it will be yours."
In the queen's room, Johanna (a servant) was trying the small tiara for fun. Then, she heard a voice:
"Johanna!"
She turned around, and saw Queen Eva and Snow White walk in. Johanna immediately tried to apologize for her behavior:
"I'm sorry, Your Majesty, I just…"
"How dare you?!" – Snow exclaimed – "That's mine! It's not for a servant!"
"Sorry, it's my mistake…" – Johanna said, putting the tiara down.
"Servants don't wear crowns!" – Snow White added.
"Enough!" – Queen Eva interfered.
Johanna tried to apologize once more, but the queen stated that she was saying it to her daughter. Snow turned to her mother, clearly surprised.
"I thought I educated you better. No matter if you're a servant or a royal person, everyone deserves our love and respect." – Eva said.
"But she took my…" – Snow wanted to protest.
"She did apologize. And it's not yours yet." – the queen stated – "Dear, we are all the same."
"But we are royalties."
"True. But it doesn't make us better than others." – Eva protested – "The tomorrow ball, can you tell me what it's for?"
"It's to honor me, on my birthday." – Snow answered, sure of herself.
"No. It's for you to honor people, by showing them that you'll be a kind and goodhearted ruler, when the time comes."
Then, Queen Eva took the tiara in her hands and explained:
"When you'll be crowned on your birthday, this will be the symbol that you'll keep the kindness in your heart, and that you'll be a fair ruler. Now, do you understand?"
Snow White nodded, and with a smile replied:
"Yes, mother."
Snow then took the tiara in her hands, stating that it's very beautiful. Queen Eva replied that it's heavier than it seems. Suddenly, she felt disease and sat on her chair. Snow and Johanna got alarmed, after what the servant went to find the healer.
Storybrooke
Mary Margaret was staring at the mirror, thinking about her mother. It was her birthday, and to her, it was the saddest day of the year. She then noticed David cooking, and she asked her husband:
"What are you doing?"
"I'm making breakfast." – David replied simply – "I'm hungry."
"Do you think I don't know what you're about?" – Mary Margaret shook her head in sadness – "We talked about this, we got an agreement…"
"I know." – David said – "But… the curse is broken and I thought that maybe you changed your mind."
"No, I didn't." – his wife replied.
Then, she saw a package on the table, and asked what that was. David replied that it was a birthday gift.
"I asked you not to…"
"Well, that's not from me." – David stated.
Mary Margaret sighed and opened the gift. Her eyes got suddenly teary when she saw what was inside. That was her own princess tiara, the one she used to wear back in the Enchanted Forest, since that sad day…
"I thought it was lost, with the Dark Curse." – David said, as much surprised to see the tiara again.
"That what I thought too." – Mary Margaret replied, and she then saw a birthday card, indicating that it was from Johanna.
The husband and wife were surprised, because they had no idea that Johanna was in Storybrooke. Mary Margaret then decided to go find Johanna and thank her for the gift. But suddenly, there was a knock on the door. The woman opened it, revealing Emma, Rosalie, Alex, Cecilia and Emily.
"Happy Birth…!" – they began joyfully, but their phrase died, as Mary Margaret just turned around, her sadness evident on her face.
The girls looked at each other confused and entered the apartment, after what Emma asked:
"What… what did we do wrong…? What's going on…?"
"Nothing, Emma." – Mary Margaret forced a smile – "I just have something to do."
Before she left, her husband wished her a happy birthday anyway and they exchanged a quick kiss. Then, Rosalie spoke:
"Why is she so sad…?"
"Was she unhappy to see us?" – Cecilia added.
"We just wished her a happy birthday, like we always did… back then." – Emily commented.
"The Queen of Heavens always loved her birthday." – Alexandra stated – "Remember, it was always such a great event, for the queen's birthday."
"Yes, I remember that…" – Emma nodded – "There always was a great ball, with fireworks at night, hundreds of people dancing and laughing."
"My favorite part always was when the queen's knight knelt in front of her and he gave his gift." – Rosalie said dreamily – "That's just so romantic."
The girls looked at David, who blushed for a second at the memory. Then, he said in a serious tone:
"Girls… the reason why Mary Margaret is upset is… when she was ten, her mother died, on her birthday."
The five girls gasped in shock and felt bad for her, and that they could do nothing about it. After a silence, Emma finally spoke:
"We should find her. Just to… be on her side."
The girls nodded and went outside. David warned them that he would be in the Sheriff Station, in case they needed him.
Meanwhile, Danielle finished her preparations, for the mission she gave to herself. Regina agreed to pretend join Cora, while Danielle would listen their plans. Well, technically that would be the cats. She attached a phone around Lux's waist, and made a call to it, not forgetting about the loud speaker.
"No matter what, stay discreet." – Danielle instructed to the cat.
"Don't worry, that wouldn't be the first time." – the black cat replied.
Then, he went, with Athena on his side, searching for Regina and Cora. Danielle stood next to the well in the woods. It was the perfect place, because there were no external noises, and Regina and Cora wouldn't hear it from Lux's phone, if he's nearby. Now, all she could do was waiting.
Enchanted Forest
The healer was examining the queen lying on her bed, who obviously was very ill. Nervous, Snow White asked:
"Do you know what it is?"
"Not yet, but I hope we'll find out soon." – the healer answered.
Eva asked her daughter to approach her, which she obliged. The healer whispered to Johanna that she should send a message to the king, informing that whatever his business was, he had to go back at his castle and that he had to be on his wife's side. Snow White was holding her mother's hand in her own, saying:
"We'll cancel the ball, and we'll make the celebration, when you'll get better."
"We can't cancel your birthday." – the queen replied with a smile – "Everything will be okay. I want to see you enter the hall, with the tiara on your head."
"I don't need my birthday. All I need is you." – Snow stated.
After they exchanged a smile, Eva began to cough again, and Johanna suggested Snow to leave her mother on her own, to have a rest. As the princess and the servant walked in the corridor, Snow asked:
"What will happen to her? Will she die…?"
The old lady just took the little princess in her arms, replying:
"I don't know…"
"I don't want to lose her…" – Snow said, between sobs and cries.
"We must hope that the healer…" – Johanna began.
"He doesn't even know what wrong with her!" – Snow stated – "How can we lend our hopes on him? There must be something that can help her…"
Johanna and she hugged again and after a short moment, the servant said:
"Maybe there is… If medicine can't heal her, maybe magic can."
Snow White wiped her tears away, and with a small new hope, she asked:
"Magic…?"
"Yes… your mother has a protector, about who not much people know. She has the most powerful magic. Well, I'm not supposed to know about this…"
"Please, tell me Johanna." – Snow insisted.
"She's a good fairy, who can make a wish come true, if the person has a genuine heart."
"My heart is genuine, I swear. How can I find this fairy?"
"Tonight, go in the woods and make a wish on the blue star, and she'll come to you." – Johanna instructed.
Storybrooke
Lux and Athena saw Cora, Regina and Hook (who was walking a bit slowly, due to the pain he felt of his broken ribs) enter the library. The cats decided that Lux go inside and Athena would wait outside, and follow them as soon as they exit.
"So, I'm entering the library by an open window." – Lux commented for Danielle, who was hearing the whole thing through the phone.
He silently walked between the bookcases, making sure that Cora or the pirate wouldn't notice him. He finally found the best location and just sat down, listening.
"Good thing you changed your mind, Regina." – Cora commented – "I knew that would happen; it just couldn't have been otherwise. I told you that you need me."
Regina only forced a smile and then, said:
"Well, we need to find that damn book."
"So, why are you so sure the dagger would be hidden here, and not in the pawnshop?" – Hook asked, not really enjoying wasting time.
"That's because it would be too obvious to leave the dagger there." – Regina replied – "He was about to leave the town, so he most likely charged Belle to hide it, which she did in her favorite book. The small number I found in her bag could be only for its location."
"And why we don't just kidnap his daughter, and make her answer? Or trade her for the dagger?" – Hook asked again.
"He would never tell her." – Regina stated – "He already lost his son, he wouldn't like to lose her too. And don't forget, she's a Sailor Guardian, she would fight back."
"Your analysis is very impressive." – Cora said with pride.
"Thanks, mother." – Regina replied, as she found what she was looking for.
Well, not exactly, because there was no book at the location indicated on the paper. But then, they saw a folded paper. But what were on the paper were just some strange drawings, which neither Cora nor Regina could understand.
"For a pirate, that's very well a map." – Hook said, a smile appearing on his face – "The Dark One might not have left us the dagger, but he left its location."
"Can you read this?" – Cora asked.
"You're lucky that I'm good at seeking treasures."
The captain indicated them where the dagger was, after what Cora commented that she and Regina would pursue on their own. Hook got angry, shouting that she promised him to leave him that dagger, so he could get his revenge. But Cora knocked him against a wall with her magic, commenting:
"The power of the dagger is too great to waste it on you."
"So… that was it?" – Regina asked carefully – "You want his dagger to get his power?"
"Once the dagger in possession, you can control the Dark One. We'll order him to kill all our enemies. Snow White, her prince, the Guardians…" – Cora explained, before she added – "Except Danielle of course."
"Glad you remember." – Regina said, a bit coldly.
"Regina, I only wish you to be happy. Of course I didn't forget. Since she's unaware about our little union, she won't blame you for her friends' death. Eventually, she would join us two, once she realizes how cruel life is. She'll see that darkness is more useful if she wants get everything she wants… We better go search the dagger, before the pirate wakes up."
At those words, both women left the library. Athena, as Lux instructed her, followed the two women. Lux, still inside the library, asked:
"Did you hear everything?"
"Yes, I did." – Danielle said in the phone – "I go warn the others. Inform me if Athena and you learn something, okay?"
After that, Danielle hung up the phone. Lux then hurried to exit the library, in order to join Athena.
At that same time, Mary Margaret found Johanna, who was planting white flowers in her garden. The former princess approached the old lady, saying with a smile:
"Johanna…"
"Snow…" – her former servant replied, happy to see her again.
"I am Mary Margaret in this world."
"For me, you'll always be my dear Snow."
At those words, they hugged each other happily. Mary Margaret then asked about the tiara, and Johanna explained that she saw it in Gold's pawnshop and since she knew how much this tiara meant to her, and so she thought she should have it. Mary Margaret then noticed what kind of flowers Johanna was planting.
"I didn't see those flowers for a long time…"
"It remind me you." – Johanna said – "Because it can survive the harshest winter. And you were born during the harshest winter of them all."
"That's why she called me Snow…" – Mary Margaret stated with a tear rolling out.
"I thought plant those flowers in the garden would be a nice way to honor her."
Mary Margaret could only agree. Both women held hands and Johanna stated that she missed Snow's mother too. They stood there in silence, as they noticed Emma and her friends approach them. The girls said nothing and just stood here. They understood that Mary Margaret was honoring her late mother. Emma then made a step ahead and grabbed Mary Margaret's hand. The young woman felt more tears coming out of her eyes and she couldn't help herself but to squeeze her daughter's hand. Suddenly, Rosalie's phone rang. It was Danielle and she said that she had information about what Cora was about. Without waiting any longer, Mary Margaret and the guardians went find Danielle. They met her at the main street, and the girl explained:
"Thanks to the cats, I could have heard their conversation in the library. Cora wants the Dark One's dagger, so she could control him. If she succeeds to get it, she'll order Gold to kill us all."
"That's horrible!" – Emma exclaimed – "We must stop her!"
"The cats went to pursue them. Regina and Cora are currently digging at the location Hook showed them on the map." – Danielle replied.
"Wait, if Hook showed them the location, why didn't he go with them…?" – Emily asked.
"Cora doesn't need him anymore, so she knocked him out in the library. Well, that's what I could understand through the phone…"
Alarmed, they entered the library and saw that the pirate wasn't there anymore. Rosalie moaned in annoyance:
"Damn, where can he be now…?"
"David!" – Mary Margaret exclaimed – "He keeps the hook in the Sheriff Station, and the pirate can't without it!"
Emma and she, followed by Alex (in case David would be badly injured) hurried to the Sheriff Station, while the girls tried to decide what to do next. To their surprise, they saw Lux run to them.
"Girls!" – the cat shouted – "The pirate lied about the location! Cora doesn't have the dagger… yet."
"Thanks God…" – Alex sighed.
"That's our chance!" – Emily exclaimed – "I'll go talk to Gold, he will tell where his dagger is, and we'll get it first!"
"Okay, do this." – Rosalie said, before turning to the cat – "Where's Athena? Is she ok?"
"Yes, don't worry." – Lux replied – "She decided to stay nearby Regina's house, so she keep spying on Cora and Regina."
The girls nodded in agreement. This was the best option they had to learn more. They still had no clue about what Cora's plans about the Eternal Crystal were. It was something the evil witch didn't share with her daughter yet.
Enchanted Forest
Snow White was walking in the woods, looking up at the sky, trying to find the right star. Suddenly, she heard a voice:
"Don't worry, Snow. I already found you."
Snow turned around; facing the Blue Fairy who just had flew to her.
"Blue Fairy… I knew you would appear but… I didn't make any wish yet."
"Well, I know when I'm needed." – the fairy replied – "Your mother is ill."
"Yes. If you don't help her with magic, she'll die." – Snow stated.
"I see that you really love your mother, Snow White. But fairy magic is the purest of all, while cheating death is a dark thing." – Blue Fairy said.
"Please… You can't let her die…"
"That's how life is."
"There must be something that you can do…!" – Snow said, beginning to cry again.
The Blue Fairy looked down a moment, and Snow understood that she was hiding something from her.
"There is something… right?" – the princess said, seeing the odd expression on the fairy's face – "You're just not telling me. What is it? Please, tell me…"
"There might be a cure, made with magic which we, the fairies, use in the most desperate situations." – the Blue Fairy said – "But you must promise me, that nobody will never find out about this."
"Yes… Of course, anything you want." – Snow promised – "But please, help her."
The fairy then made appear a two sided candle in Snow White's hand. One side was white and the other was black. Blue Fairy explained:
"This candle has the magic which can save your mother's life. But all magic, especially that kind, has its price. To make one person live, another must die."
"I don't understand…" – Snow said carefully, her expression turning horrified.
"To save a life, when there's no hope to do so, means to infringe the laws of the nature. So, if you want to keep a life, you must lose another one in exchange."
"But… but who would die…?"
"It's up to you to decide." – Blue Fairy replied – "You must hold the candle above the heart of the person you're sacrificing, and whisper that person's name. And as the candle lights, that person's life will be exchanged for your mother's."
Snow White stayed silent a moment, and tears began going out of her eyes. She shook her head, saying:
"She always wanted me to be good… I can't trade someone's life for hers."
"In that case, I'm afraid she'll die."
Storybrooke
Mary Margaret and Emma found David lying on the floor, knocked out. They awoke him and Sailor Aqua used her "Aquatic Heal" on his head. David said that the pirate did this to him, after what Emma said:
"He's not the main problem now. It's Cora, she's about to put her hand on the Dark One's dagger."
"Oh no… If Cora gets it, she can control him." – David said – "Or she could…"
"…become the Dark One herself, by killing Gold." – Mary Margaret finished for him.
"None of those options is good…" – Emma commented, feeling her heartbeat rising.
"If only we had a little more time. Maybe she already got the dagger…" – Mary Margaret said with nervousness in her voice.
"Good news, she did not." – Alex (who returned back to normal) said, as she was reading the message she got on her phone – "Girls just learned that Hook lied to Cora. Emily went to Gold, in order to ask him about where the dagger is."
The others in the room sighed in relief. Emma then said that she would join her friends, to be ready for a fight, just in case. Then, Alex said to Mary Margaret:
"Miss Blanchard, I… I suggest we have a little walk meantime."
"But… I must help. And girls need you too." – the woman protested.
"I know, but five guardians are already doing their job." – Alex pointed out – "They'll be just fine. And it's better for your own safety."
Mary Margaret then nodded, not feeling about arguing. That would be pointless anyway. So, they both were walking in silence, until Mary Margaret finally broke it. With a sigh, she asked:
"Tell me the truth. Why did you want stay with me?"
"Well… I actually thought that…" – Alex started hesitant – "… you shouldn't be alone in moments like this one."
"Alexandra…" – Mary Margaret shook her head – "It's the way it is, you can't change it."
"What happened can't be changed, but… they way you live it can." – Alex protested – "Nobody should be sad on his birthday."
"Well, I am. Not much people see their parents die this precise day."
"I agree that it's difficult to understand, because we don't know how it is… but, what I know is that I am ready to lend my shoulder for you to cry."
Mary Margaret stopped walking a moment, which made Alex stop too. After a short silence, she asked:
"But… why…? You have more important people to care about."
"Miss Blanchard." – Alex said seriously – "No matter what, you are still my queen."
"Alex, the queen died eons ago…" – Mary Margaret wanted to protest, but the teen girl interrupted her.
"True, the duty is left behind. But it doesn't matter to me. Reborn partially or not, you are still that queen I respect. You, or the queen of Heavens, never let anyone cry alone. We always went through the sad and happy moments together. That's what I'm trying to do right now."
They pursued they walk, and suddenly, Mary Margaret had a small smile. As Alexandra mentioned about comforting, a memory reemerged. She could recollect some memories only if associated moments were mentioned. And it was the case now. She said:
"I suddenly remembered something… it's about you. I think that it was… the time where you were the most upset…"
Alex looked at her former queen with curiosity. Mary Margaret pursued:
"You… you were very young, a child. You were crying because you thought you weren't as powerful as your mates."
"Yes… I remember that too…" – Alex smiled – "I felt this way quite often."
"Well, you should not. You're as special as your friends. And you are a strong and useful guardian too. What would we all do without your healing powers?"
"I believe you said something similar to me that time too… That my powers were as important as my friends… and you also said that even the great Poseidon…"
"…would be impressed." – Mary Margaret finished – "I remember it now."
"This phrase permitted me to regain my self-confidence. From this moment, I could fight my doubts. If only I could have heard that kind of words in my current life…"
Mary Margaret noticed sadness on the girl's face. She wondered to herself if Alex actually had been sad on her own birthday. But she didn't dare to ask her, in order to not put salt into eventual wounds.
At that same time, Emily was in Mr Gold's pawnshop, explaining him the whole situation. After she finished, she asked him where he hid the Dark One's dagger. The man shook his head, saying:
"No… Emily, this dagger was my own property during long centuries. And I'm not about changing that."
"You can't take high risks, in moments like this one!" – Emily exclaimed – "You might think Cora won't find the dagger, but there's no hundred percent guaranty."
Mr Gold stayed silent, not ready to give up. But Emily wasn't either, because she added:
"Perhaps you should begin trust in people. Girls and me broke the curse, as you always expected, so why don't you trust us now? Could you begin to trust me… to begin?"
"Alright…" – Gold said after a short moment – "I'll tell you. But I want you do everything in your power to prevent the worse happen."
Enchanted Forest
Snow White ran to her mother, tears streaming on her face. She knelt to her and said:
"Mother… Forgive me… I did something horrible."
"Snow… what is it?" – Eva asked.
"I went to the Blue Fairy, and I begged her save you with magic. But what she gave me… it was dark magic. It's a candle that can save your life, by taking someone else's. It was the only way. But I couldn't to this." – Snow explained to her mother.
As she said the latter words, Queen Eva sighed, relieved. Snow pursued:
"Forgive me… I could have saved you, but I was too scared."
"Snow… It was not fear." – Eva stated, which made Snow look at her, with a confused look – "It was strength… the strength to resist darkness. I am so proud of you."
"But now, you won't feel better." – Snow White stated.
"Everybody reaches a moment in his life, when you just won't feel better… With or without me, someday you'll become a great queen." – her mother murmured to her.
"Please… don't leave me."
"As long as you keep the goodness in your heart, I will never leave you."
Short after she said those words, the queen died. Snow White began to cry, and Johanna approached and hugged the girl.
Queen Eva entered the afterlife, after what she saw someone waiting for her. It was a beautiful woman with silver hair and a star on her forehead.
"I've been waiting for you, Your Highness. My name is Serenita, queen of the Celestial Kingdom. You also know me as another person."
"Who would that be?" - Queen Eva asked curiously.
"I'm your daughter's past life self." - Queen Serenita replied politely.
Then, she predicted that Snow had a special power, which she will use to battle the darkness, along with her reincarnated daughter.
"I'll have a granddaughter then…" – Queen Eva said with a smile – "I am happy that Snow is that special… that she'll spread her light and goodness in the world, just like I wanted her to."
Queen Serenita nodded with a slight smile as well. After that, Queen Eva walked to the better place, while Queen Serenita disappeared.
Storybrooke
As soon as Emily learned about the location of the dagger, she sent an SMS to everyone about this. Since Mary Margaret and Alex were walking justly in the area, they went to get it. It was in the clock tower. Gold was a smart person, so he hid his dagger in a smart way: it was hidden just behind the minute hand of the clock.
"We did it…" – Mary Margaret said.
"Now, all we have to do is…" – Alex said, but she got interrupted by Cora and Regina who just appeared in front of them.
"Thanks for doing the entire job for me." – Cora commented with a grin.
Alex immediately grabbed her pen and shouted:
"Aqua Star Power!"
Seconds after, the girl transformed into Sailor Aqua. She stood in a ready-to-fight position and Mary Margaret said:
"The good is going to win, as usual."
"I think the day finally came, my dear Snow, for you to learn the lesson." – Cora said.
With a move of her hand, she made Johanna appear next to them.
"Johanna…!" – Mary Margaret exclaimed.
"You see, in the end, it's not the good or the bad that wins, but power!"
After Cora said that, Regina ripped out Johanna's heart. She still had to keep up appearances, otherwise everything they had done would be in vain, and she would never learn about the other half of her mother's plans. She still hadn't mentioned why she needed both the dagger and the Eternal Crystal. The only way to find out was to keep pretending. Mary Margaret looked horrified, and Regina said:
"The choice is yours."
Enchanted Forest
Snow White was wearing a black mourning dress and Johanna approached her, giving her the tiara.
"It's time, Snow."
"Today was supposed to be a celebration…" – Snow White said with sadness.
"And the kingdom needs you today more than ever." – Johanna pointed out – "They'll get the strength, through your kindness."
"But where would I get the needed strength?" – Snow asked.
"Like always… in your mother." – the servant answered.
Then, Snow White slowly put the tiara on her head and after a moment, she commented that her mother was right, that the tiara indeed was heavy. Then, the princess walked to where the dead queen was lying, passing between two lines of mourning subjects.
"I miss you so much…" – Snow whispered as she looked at her mother's lifeless figure.
The princess then turned around to face her subjects, and after she gave them a silent greeting with a move of her head, she turned back to her late mother and sat on her knees. Everyone else in the hall did the same. Sometime after, as everybody left, Johanna approached the young princess and put a hand on her shoulder.
"It's time to let her go…" – she said, as Snow White crying in silence.
Then, the princess stood up and she on Johanna's side walked out of the hall. Then, the Blue Fairy flew in the empty hall, who a second after transformed back in her true form. It was nobody else than Cora. She approached Eva's body, saying:
"You're looking pretty well. Death definitely suits you. You educated her well… my daughter doesn't love as much as yours loves you. Snow could have become a great ruler, but it won't ever happen, because my daughter will become queen. While all what yours will get, is to know how it is… to be the miller's daughter."
After a pause, Cora swore:
"I will make sure Snow White, and all her descendants will never know happiness, nor the peaceful future for the kingdom you once promised to her."
Storybrooke
"Don't harm her; she has nothing to do with that!" – Mary Margaret exclaimed.
"Of course she does!" – Cora protested, enjoying the whole scene.
"It's alright Snow, give them the dagger…" – Johanna said.
Sailor Aqua decided to interfere, thinking they could keep the dagger and save Johanna. She tended her arms, shouting her quote:
"Heavenly River Sh…!"
But she didn't finish her quote, because Regina squeezed Johanna's heart, which made the guardian of water stop.
"I wouldn't do this if I was you!" – Regina said in a very harsh tone.
Alex knew that the mayor was pretending, but it was something she barely could watch. She knew that she had to make the right moves; otherwise Regina would be forced to commit something evil again. And this could very well bring her back on her paths of darkness.
"Oh, come on, let's stop all this! Give the dagger!" – Cora then said, addressing Mary Margaret – "We all know you'll follow your mother's example. She always wanted you to be good."
"Those words… where did you hear it…?" – Mary Margaret asked carefully.
"What do you think?" – Cora replied with a small grin.
"The Blue Fairy made me swear to never tell about that candle… not because it was a secret, but… because it was not her."
"The dagger, please." – Cora said calmly.
"She never gave me that candle…! It was you!" – Mary Margaret exclaimed, realization hitting her – "My mother was never ill, was she…?!"
"Oh yes, she was very ill!" – Cora answered with a little laugh.
"It was all you! You killed my mother!"
"Actually, the candle would have saved her." – Cora commented, amusement never leaving her face.
"But you knew I would never do this! Why did you take her away from me?"
"To make my daughter become the queen."
Regina looked at Cora, shocked by what she just learned. But to hide it, she quickly turned to Mary Margaret, and said sternly:
"Give the dagger!"
"No! No, I won't you let you win again!" – the young woman shouted back.
"You already lost your mother. How much reminders of her do you have? Not that much, I guess." – Cora stated.
Sailor Aqua wanted to use her powers again, but she hesitated, since Regina still had Johanna's heart. After a short moment of thinking, she dared to take the risk. She was about to use "Aquatic Bubbles Blast", but Cora used her magic to push the girl against the wall behind her. Regina made another squeeze on the heart, which made Johanna cry in pain. Cora pursued convincing Mary Margaret surrender the dagger:
"What would your mother say, if she saw you now, if she didn't die?"
After a short moment, and as Regina squeezed the heart again, Mary Margaret gave up, and she gave the dagger. Regina then put the heart in Johanna's chest.
"Good girl." – Cora said, as she took the dagger.
"You got what you wanted…" – Mary Margaret commented, implying that they should let Johanna go.
"Not yet." – Cora protested, as she magically pushed Johanna through the clock, making her fall from a fair height.
Mary Margaret saw Johanna's lifeless body lying on the ground from the "window", and she began to cry. Alex watched the woman crying and she slowly stood on her feet. She made a couple of steps ahead, and said to Cora:
"How… how could you… You're the cruelest being I saw…"
"Oh please, tell me something I don't know." – Cora replied, unimpressed.
"You must pay for what you did…! You made Mary Margaret cry, while it's her birthday! This day isn't supposed to be a mourning day! It's meant to be a day of joy and life!" – Sailor Aqua pursued, feeling something great rising in her – "The worst part is that you did this to her! I can't forgive you for that!"
"You should back up, girl." – Cora said coldly – "Why to give that much importance to a random person?"
"She's not a random person!" – Alex exclaimed – "She is my queen! No matter what she'll look like, or what name she would have… to me, she stays that same person I grew to respect through long years… When one of us was happy, she was happy for us. And when someone was upset, she was there to comfort. We shared the happy moments, as well as the sad ones. That's why… when somebody hurts her, he hurts me too."
At those words, Alex began to glow blue, her new power awakening in her. She raised her hands and she began to create water in it.
"Oceanic Purity Ball!"
A huge ball of water went out of her hands, and straight to Cora. The woman hadn't have time to react. Before she knew it, she was inside a huge ball of water, drowning inside. But she did her best to not drop the dagger on the floor. She managed to reach a hand out of the water, so Regina grabbed it, after what they teleported away. The water splashed on the floor, leaving Alex frustrated. But then, she reminded herself that Cora was a very powerful witch, so she couldn't have expected to destroy her that easily. Mary Margaret then stood up, tears never stopping and Alex took her arm and they both walked down the stairs. Now, they had Johanna to bury.
Meanwhile, Regina and Cora arrived at the City Hall. Cora was growling about Sailor Aqua, while Regina couldn't speak. She felt frightened, because of what she was doing only moments ago. When she ripped Johanna's heart out, she revived those so familiar feelings in her, without which she couldn't have lived back in the Enchanted Forest. But she would not surrender, that what Regina had decided. She had to stay strong against those old temptations. She didn't want for the Evil Queen to return, not when her daughter trusted her and needed her in her life. But she was also bothered by what she just learned, the way she became queen in the first place.
"That girl almost ruined my good mood… almost." – Cora said – "But now, we have the dagger, so there's nothing to worry about."
Then, Cora noticed that Regina seemed bothered by something and stopped her babblings and asked what was bothering her.
"You never told me what you did to Snow White's mother." – Regina stated.
"I prevented you to get that burden, like any good mother would do." – Cora replied.
"Did you think I didn't need to know how I became queen?" – Regina asked rhetorically, before she pursued – "That day, nearby the stables… that wasn't a coincidence, was it? You arranged the moment for me to be there, when Snow White would ride nearby… you made sure that the encounter between Snow White and me would happen when the king was looking for a new queen."
"What does this knowledge give you?" – Cora asked, confirming Regina's suspicions.
"That you won. You made me a queen. If it's what you always wanted, so why do you need Rumplestiltskin's dagger? And what do you intend to do with the Eternal Crystal?"
Regina felt that it was now or never. It was the perfect moment to learn about all Cora's true intentions.
"I intend to kill Rumplestiltskin with that dagger, which will make the new Dark One." – Cora answered – "The dagger is the source of the darkness, while the Eternal Crystal is the purest of the lights. But if its possessor is dark, he can corrupt the power of the crystal. As the Dark One, I can use the crystal to plunge the whole town in darkness. Can you picture it? All those people living in fear and pain… they would have no other option than surrender, than kneeling before us." – Cora finally explained.
Regina was speechless for a moment. How didn't she see this coming? Well, she sort of did, but suspicions and confirmation are two different things. Cora was lovingly stroking the Dark One's dagger, with a grin of anticipation. Regina asked carefully, hoping that once she asked wouldn't push her mother into action:
"So… what are you waiting for?"
"My dear, we must be patient. I'm just waiting the right moment."
Outside the City Hall, Athena gasped, hearing about Cora's plans. She had waited long under the window, but the waiting was worth it. Without waiting any longer, she rushed warn Rosalie, Lux and others, as long as they still had time. Nobody knew when Cora would take action, so they had to hurry to stop her.
Later in the evening, Mary Margaret was standing next to the recently placed tombstone for Johanna. David tried to comfort her, but nothing could have been done. She had asked him to leave her alone, what he did, knowing she wouldn't let him stay. So, Mary Margaret was just standing here, obviously mourning. Suddenly, she was pulled out of her sad thoughts by someone saying:
"I learned from Alex what happened… are you okay?"
Mary Margaret got surprised to see that it was Danielle. She just gave her a weak and sad smile. After a minute of silence, she said:
"It shouldn't have happened… Johanna had nothing to do in this…"
"Don't blame yourself." – Danielle said – "With something in mind, Cora would have done it no matter what. That's the way she is."
"Maybe we could have done more…"
"What happened can't be changed, but… there are still some things that can be fixed. And the first of those will be to get the dagger back."
Mary Margaret and Danielle stood silent a few moments again, until the elder all of sudden asked:
"Why are you here?"
Danielle gave her a confused look, not seeming to understand the question. It didn't take long for Mary Margaret to precise her question:
"You should hate me… or at least, not like me very much. After all… it's my fault that Daniel died."
"No, it's not." – Danielle protested – "You were young, and Cora is the one to blame for all those troubles. I can understand you more than others can, because Cora killed your mother, just like she killed my father. And both murders were for the same cause. Besides, we are family, after all."
"True… since Regina is my stepmother, this makes of Danielle my stepsister…" – Mary Margaret thought for herself.
So, they kept standing in silence. Then, they saw Emma walk to them. As she approached her mother, she said:
"Mary Margaret… I'm very sorry for what happened to Johanna. And… that's for you."
Emma tended her hand, holding a small package. Her mother sighed, understanding it was a birthday gift. She was about to protest, but Emma silenced her:
"Look, I know it's a sad day for you, but… all of us put our efforts on it. You don't want upset me, Danielle and others, do you?"
Having no choice, Mary Margaret slowly unpacked the gift. It was a small silver-like watch, and its dial was representing the Celestial Kingdom castle. Mary Margaret could say nothing, so Emma pursued:
"Consider this as a promise… a promise that someday, we'll live in peace again… that no tears of grief would be versed anymore."
Mary Margaret couldn't help herself but hug her daughter. Emma silently prayed that someday, this promise would turn into reality. Her friends and she swore that they would always fight for the good the justice and the peace. Today's events only made them more determinate to keep fighting, and eventually become stronger. Stronger they became; closer they were to reach their goal. Danielle watched as Emma and Mary Margaret hugged with a smile. Then, she felt her phone vibrating. She saw that it was a message from Rosalie. It explained Cora's plans. Danielle tightened the grip on the phone, mentally making a decision.
"Tonight, we take some action. We waited long enough… let's finish her once for good."
A/N: The part added by my friend was the part when Queen Eva and Queen Serenita meet in the afterlife.
So, the next chapter is a final battle between Cora and the Guardians! Excited?