A/N: Thanks for the follows and views! I hope you continue to enjoy the story!
Warning: Character death
"Listening to your mother is a mistake, Regina." -Snow White, 2.15
"Regina, dear, there's someone I'd like you to meet," Cora grinned, sauntering into Regina's locked bedroom. A woman with glimmering green skin was in quick step behind the evil woman. Regina turned from her seat at the window, eyes stopping on the pair. "This woman is Zelena. She has offered her services to me."
Regina didn't know why her mother was telling her this. Perhaps it was a test. If so, she'd have to think through her next words carefully.
"Hello, Princess Regina." Zelena grinned, red lipstick spreading around perfectly white teeth that held an accent thick as honey. Regina thought the red lipstick clashed in the most hideous of ways with the green of Zelena's skin.
"Hello," she finally said, her voice soft and cautionary.
"Zelena will be my eyes and ears out in the field. She has powerful magic." Cora didn't speak with particular fondness in her voice, Regina noticed. She wondered why her mother was even introducing her to this woman at all. She glanced at Zelena, who looked like she was becoming bored with the conversation. Her predatory eyes made Regina uncomfortable, yet she straightened in her seat with all the regalness of a queen.
"I will see you at dinner." Cora finished, then turned to leave with Zelena in tow. This was Regina's chance.
"Wait, Mother," She called out sweetly, hoping nothing in her voice gave her lack of innocence away. Cora, thankfully, stopped and turned back around. Zelena scowled behind Cora's back. When Cora didn't speak, Regina realized she was supposed to continue. "Mother, after dinner... Might I go outside? With you, of course. I won't try anything."
"What a silly question," Cora chuckled, looking back at Zelena who was dieing of silent of laughter. Regina hated that scaley woman.
"Mother, I only thought... because I've been good-" Cora stepped forward, her hand finding Regina's hair as she petted it down in a comforting gesture. Regina sucked in air at the unfamiliar show of affection.
"The rebellion may snatch you away from me. I couldn't bare to lose you." What lies, Regina said in her head. Her mother had ways of keeping her safe for twenty minutes if she so pleased. It was that Cora didn't want to.
"Of course, Mother. I apolegize for asking." Regina murmured, fighting back the tears that were threatening to fall at the hopelessness of it all.
"Think before you speak next time," Cora warned, petting her daughter's head one last time before turning to leave for good. Regina turned back to stare out of the window as they left. It was covered in thorned branches, so she could not see outside, but she imagined the blue sky and fresh air beyond its confinement. She imagined Emma and Henry and the others all fighting for their lives. It wouldn't be long before her mother destroyed everything.
Far away in the wreckage of a summer palace, Snow sat in front of her round table, eyes colder and more distant than usual. Emma sat to the right of her, her worried expression hidden for Henry's sake, who had his sleepy head layed on Emma's shoulder. Along the makeshift table were Granny, Red, the Blue Fairy, a few tattered knights, and Grumpy representing the dwarves. Most of the group was still recovering from a winged-monkey attack led by a green witch.
"Zelena?" Snow's voice was steady as she looked around at what remained of her and Charming's round table.
"She is a terrible witch, the daughter of Cora." The Blue Fairy explained, her little wings fluttering loudly as she hovered over everyone's heads.
"So what are we dealing with?" Emma asked the table. "Obviously those damned monkeys are going to be a problem, so how do we defeat them? And Zelena, for that matter."
"The book says she's more powerful than Cora and Mom." Henry explained through a yawn.
"Great." Red sighed. "I didn't even know Regina had a sister."
"She didn't know." Henry said, lifting his head to stare at everyone around the table. It tugged at Snow's heart how he wanted to be just as helpful as all the rest. Maybe the situation was hopeless, but no, she couldn't think like that. Heroes always won. Charming's hand found Snow's under the table and she finally felt a little comfort, despite the thoughts in her head.
"The only one with the kind of power to defeat Zelena, Cora, and Regina is Rumplestiltskin." Red said, sending a chill down the circle.
"Mom isn't a part of this." The little boy spoke up. "She's being held captive."
"I'll believe it when I see it," Grumpy grumbled unhelpfully.
"We know, Henry." Emma ran a hand throuh her son's hair, shooting an annoyed look at Grumpy who lifted his hands in the air. She turned her attention to Blue. " , or Rumplestiltskin, is dead."
"With his -regrettable- dark power, I doubt that he is fully dead." Blue answered solemnly.
"No. We will not stoop to their level. Heroes can win without dark magic." Snow objected, her voice ringing throughout the room.
"Snow, this might be our only chance." Charming wrapped an arm around his wife and leaned in to whisper, "Emma won't think any less of us." Snow's hand reached up to grab his, but her expression didn't change.
"No."
Regina felt the new chill in the air. She only remembered ever feeling that way when Rumplestiltskin was near, but no, it couldn't be. Her mind was playing tricks on her. She had watched him die. She looked around her lavish, empty room. What was Henry doing, she wondered. Was he okay? Her door creaked open and interrupted her thoughts. Her mother walked in, her hand behind her back. Thankfully, there was no wretched Zelena in sight.
"You're looking pale," Cora tutted, placing a hand to the side of Regina's face. Cora's eyes were darker than Regina ever remembered them being and her hands felt dead. Her glowing skin was not as scaley as Rumple's had been, but it had a shimmering, golden, sheen. "I have a surprise for you." The older woman's red lips grinned and she pulled her hand out from behind her back. Regina almost screamed at what was revealed. It was the head of a certain wolf, Red. It made her stomach churn and she felt like she needed to empty her insides. She doubled over slightly and held her hand over her mouth.
"Zelena found this mutt wandering around our castle. I wonder what it was looking for..." Regina stared at the tongue that fell out of the side of the grey wolf's mouth. Her mother expected an answer. She suspected her.
"I... I had nothing to do with this, Mother," Regina stammered, eyes not leaving the dripping wolf's head. Those unblinking eyes tore into her soul.
"Oh, I know," Cora purred, her cold hand against Regina's cheek again, making her daughter flinch. "I would never blame you." Regina nodded, feeling like she couldn't breathe. That could have easily been Henry's head or Emma's or Snow's. She remembered the risky waitress from her time in Storybrooke. She didn't particularly like the young woman, but she never wanted this. "I'll leave this for you," Cora said, then the head disappeared in a poof of red smoke and Regina saw it appear, mounted, on the far wall like a deer's head, a permanent reminder to not step out of line. Then her mother left, a sick grin on her face. A loud sob wracked Regina's body once Cora left. She crawled into bed, pulling the covers over her head so as not to see the head, but the eyes seemed to burn through the blankets with its shame and hatred.
"It's not your fault. It's not your fault." She repeated in a hushed voice over and over. She couldn't stop the shaking or the tears that fell. What had she done?
They only buried the cloak. The body was too mangled. Snow cursed herself for letting her friend go alone to inspect the castle. The guilt burned into Snow even more because it had all been in vain. Red hadn't gotten the information they needed before she was killed. It was Rumplestiltskin's idea, Snow reminded herself. He had wanted to know what enchantments protected Cora's castle. He didn't even attend her funeral because he was healing in his dark castle. Snow shook her head to rid her of her thoughts, then looked around at the members of her round table. Granny's eyes had an emptiness to them that Snow had not known until her mother and father had died. Her heart broke for the older woman.
"We'll miss her," Emma said to the grave, her hand tight around Henry's and a look vengeance in her puffy eyes. "I'll kill that witch for what she's done." Henry only stood there, confused about his feelings. No one he knew had ever died before.
"Let's go." Snow ordered, the wind blowing her hair as she turned to leave. Everyone followed her except Granny. It seemed final. She knew they wouldn't be seeing the older woman again for a long time, if not forever. It saddened her, but she knew it was neceessary.
A/N: Thank you again for reading! Please leave a review if you enjoyed this chapter. I also sincerely apologize for Red's death.
Things to think about: What does Rumplestiltskin gain from helping the Charmings? How long can Regina hold out before she is driven insane? Does Cora have any plans to destroy the rebellion besides force and does she know the effect her actions are having on her daughter?
Chapter 3: Rumplestiltskin helps the round table plan to defeat Cora. Regina tries to escape her mother's castle. And Zelena pays our heroes another visit.