Shot to the Heart Chapter III
Arrow was driving around the city on his motorcycle.
"Felicity," he called, via his two-way radio, "I need you to dig up any leads on Slade, Clock King, or any other accomplices they may be working with."
"Will do," Felicity Smoak said, "though it may take a while."
"You have ten minutes," Arrow said.
Meanwhile, Regina was being escorted away by Diggle.
"Where do you plan on taking me, Mr. Diggle?" Regina asked. "If it's my safety you're worried about, you needn't bother. I'm perfectly capable of taking care of myself, with or without magic. I'm a Queen. I've bested Peter Pan and my wicked sister. I'm sure a couple of assassins won't floor me."
"Trust me, your majesty," Diggle said, "these assassins are trained killers who will kill you as soon as look at you. Without whatever powers you claim to possess, you don't stand a chance against these guys. Guys like the Arrow are Starling's protectors."
"Who?" Regina asked.
"The Arrow," Diggle said, "He's the city's resident vigilante hero who's trained for things like this."
"Oh," Regina said, "Is that so? Tell me more."
Meanwhile, in an abandoned warehouse Deathstroke and the Clock King were plotting.
"How much longer until you've shut down the security at the first national bank, Mr. Tockman?" Slade asked.
"In exactly 3 minutes and 42 seconds will have all of Starling's bank deposits in the palms our hands." Tockman responded.
"Very good," Slade said, "Remember this isn't about the money, it's about making a statement. Soon the Arrow will be finished forever and I will rule this city and drive its populace into ruin."
Meanwhile, as Arrow was driving around the city, he radioed his partner.
"Roy…Speedy," he said, remembering to use his nickname to give him a motivational boost, "I need you. I know Thea's gone, and we'll get her back, but this city needs us , and I can't protect it alone."
There was a long pause on the other end of the line. Roy Harper stood in his apartment in silence with a melancholic expression on his face over his recent knowledge of Thea's departure.
"Alright," Roy finally said, "I'll be there in ten minutes."
Meanwhile, Regina was headed to the safe-house with Diggle.
They stopped by the police station, where Diggle introduced her to Detective Lance.
"Regina, I'd like you to meet Detective Quentin Lance," Diggle said, "Lance, this is Regina Mills."
"Pleased to meet you," Regina said, shaking his hand.
"Same here," Quentin said.
"Detective Lance will be offering you round the clock police protection when I'm not available." Diggle said.
"I appreciate your concern, Mr. Diggle, but that's hardly necessary," Regina said, "besides, I highly doubt that a few cops can take on an army of master assassins if they're as skilled as you say they are."
"Believe me," Quentin said, "I've had experience with these guys. I know what I'm getting into. Oh, here comes my daughter."
Laurel Lance was walking through the precinct carrying a manila file folder.
"Laurel, honey," Quentin said, "There's someone here I'd like you to meet."
"Dad?" she asked in disbelief, "What are you doing here? You should be in the hospital still, after your heart-attack."
"I'm fine, sweetheart," Quentin said, "Really. Don't worry about me."
Laurel could not help but remember only a few weeks ago. Deathstroke had been defeated and her sister, Sara, was going back to Nanda Parbat with the League of Assassins. Everything seemed fine until her father collapsed from a heart attack, and had to be rushed to the hospital. Even though he claimed to be fine, she knew how stubborn men are with medical problems, and was very concerned.
"Ms. Mills," Quentin said, "I'd like to introduce to my overly-cautious daughter, Laurel, who also happens to be DA here. Laurel, this is Regina Mills, visiting from out of town."
"A pleasure to meet you," Laurel said.
"Charmed," Regina said.
Flashback to the Enchanted Forest:
Ariel, the Little Mermaid, was angry at the Evil Queen for stealing her voice, and wanted to get back at the Queen for preventing her from being with her true love. Even though she was only in mermaid form and did not have the luxury of transforming into a human, she still felt something could be done. She could drown the guards or call some of her aquatic companions to attack the castle. Her father was in a rage, and although the kingdom of Atlantica was far removed from the Enchanted Forest, King Triton was considering starting war with Regina's kingdom.
There must be a way into the castle, she thought.
Then she remembered: Snow White had told her of a secret passage from the underground mote, where prisoners would discretely be escorted in and out of the castle. If she could just swim fast enough before the gate closed, perhaps she could get into the castle. Soon, a guard opened the gate, and she saw her chance. She swam quickly with her powerful fins, unnoticed by the guards under the waters. She had made it inside. Now was her chance. She needed to find a magical item to restore her legs, so she could easily maneuver on land. It hadn't been a year, yet, but the oceans were in high tide.
Suddenly a guard spotted her.
"Hey!" he shouted, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
Before she could make a gesture to respond for her lack of vocal ability, a hermit crab jumped out of the water and attacked the guard, pinching him in several sensitive areas, causing him to yelp in pain.
Good work, Sebastian! Ariel thought, recognizing her crab friend's bravery. She quickly grabbed the guard's weapon. She gestured to the crab to sneak into the castle and grab a magical item for her that would restore her legs without being noticed by Regina or her men.
Sebastian scurried inside.
He came out a few minutes later with a small vial. She took it, and poured it on her tail. Instantly her fins were transformed into human legs. She quietly snuck into the castle.
Sebastian took out the guards and Ariel tied them up with seaweed.
She went into the Queen's chambers and grabbed a small artifact, the origins of which were unknown to her.
"If I had known I was having guests," came an all-too-familiar voice, "I would have made a pie, or perhaps in this case, sushi."
Regina appeared out of a cloud of magic smoke.
"Oh right, the mute mermaid." Regina said, remembering she had stolen her voice. "You have, or rather, had quite the set of pipes, by the way. I know you like collecting gadgets and gizmos, but that doesn't belong to you."
Ariel found a quill and some parchment on a small table next to her. She quickly scrawled out, "your one to talk!"
"Yes, I am indeed, unlike some people, or fish," Regina chuckled, "and apparently proper grammar isn't your strong suit. I'm going to offer you a choice. You can keep that, and get your voice back, if you help me destroy Snow White."
Ariel shook her head in defiance.
"Very well," Regina said, "flee my kingdom and never return or I'll have you filleted!"
Ariel left with a scowl, magically turned her legs back into fins and swam away.
Instead of returning to her father in shame, however, she decided to travel to another realm, to see if she could muster up some things to use against Regina. However, she accidentally dropped the relic she stole and it broke open in a flash of magical energy. Suddenly, coming to the surface of another realm, her voice still gone, she discovered an island. On it, she spotted a blonde guy and girl carrying strange things and saying things she didn't understand.
"Oliver, we need to get off this island and back home," the girl said.
"We will, Sara," Oliver replied, "but first we need to stop Slade before things get any worse."