Chapter 22: A Wicked Deal

Storybrooke

Regina, Mary Margaret, and Belle regrouped at the Charming's apartment. Henry was playing with baby Neal upstairs. The three women once again found themselves sitting at the kitchen table debating what to do. It seemed that the only thing worse than having a team of villains, was having them spread out and acting separately. Ingrid was dead, but the other three villains were still on the loose. Rumplestiltskin had disappeared to consider if finding the Author was worth losing Belle. Maleficent had turned into a dragon and flown away. The Jabberwocky was also loose in town. Regina figured that out of all of them, it was the Jabberwocky who would do the most damage.

"We have to stop the Jabberwocky." Regina said. "She'll kill everyone, just like she did Marco. At the very least, Rumple and Maleficent will stick to their own selfish desires. It's the Jabber that's really a wild card."

"The only way to stop her is with the Vorpal Blade." Belle said.

"We'll have to go to Zelena to get it." Mary Margaret said.

"There's no other way to kill her?" Regina asked.

"Trust me." Belle said. "I've researched everything. There's nothing else that will work. The blade won't even kill her. It will only trap her."

"It'll have to do for now." Regina said. "I'm going to talk to Zelena. You two go drive around town and look for the Dark One and Maleficent."

Mary Margaret cringed at the thought of seeing Maleficent again without Regina's magic to protect her. Maleficent was clearly still angry about how she and Charming sent Maleficent's children through a portal to other worlds all those years ago.

"Are you sure you want to face Zelena alone?" Mary Margaret asked.

"Yes." Regina said. "We have to hurry. We still haven't heard anything from Emma in Agrabah or your husband in Wonderland. We need to contain the villains here so we can help them there as well."

"How will you know where to find her?" Belle asked.

"She's here." Regina said. "She doesn't have her magic slippers. She can't leave Storybrooke or she'll lose her power, which she'll never do. I can use my own blood magic to find her."

"Good luck." Mary Margaret said.

Regina used magic to transport herself to the park. It was deserted and there was no one there. It was now night time. She eventually found the Wicked Witch sitting on a park bench in front of a pond.

"Hello sis." Zelena said. "I knew you'd show up sooner or later. Isn't it funny how time flies? This bench I'm sitting on is the same one Baelfire and Emma Swan were sitting on before I killed him. Now everyone's moved on."

Regina walked in front of Zelena, but did not sit down next to her.

"I want the Vorpal Blade." Regina said, getting right down to business.

"Of course you do." Zelena said. "How else are you going to stop the Jabberwocky."

"Hand it over." Regina said.

"Not so fast." Zelena said. "You're going to have to do something for me."

"What?" Regina asked, in an annoyed tone.

"Nothing huge." Zelena said. "I just want you to make a deal with me, a magical deal."

"A deal bound by magic can never be broken." Regina said.

"I know." Zelena said. "That's why I want you to make one with me."

"What do you want?" Regina asked.

"You have to promise not to try and stop me one time in the future." Zelena said. "Sometime very soon, I'm going to get something I want. When I do, I will ask you not to stop me and you will be magically bound to obey."

"No." Regina said. "You have to be an idiot to think I'd ever agree to that."

"That's fine." Zelena said as she stood up and got right in Regina's face. "We both know I'm more powerful than you anyway, but even I can't stop the Jabberwocky without the Vorpal Blade. I wonder what she'll do now that she's free. I wouldn't feel safe at night knowing that the Jabberwocky wants revenge on me. She might even take it out on Henry..."

"Fine." Regina said. "I'll do it."

Zelena and Regina than shook hands. As they did, their palms started to glow. Then, they let go and the light faded away. It was done. Regina was now magically bound to do what Zelena told her at one point in the future. Regina just hoped she didn't make the wrong choice. Suddenly, Zelena was holding the Vorpal Blade in her hand. It looked like an elegant sword. Regina then took the blade for herself.

"Good luck sis." Zelena said. "You're going to need it."

Zelena then disappeared in a cloud of magic green smoke.

Mary Margaret and Belle drove around the quiet streets of Storybrooke in David's truck on this dark night. They drove down Main Street and saw that the door to Granny's was slightly opened. However, the lights were turned off. Seeing this as suspicious because Granny never forgot to lock the diner, Mary Margaret and Belle hopped out of the truck to investigate. They walked up the steps and pushed the door open. The only light inside came from moonlight shining through the windows. They saw Maleficent crying alone in one of the booths.

"Maleficent." Mary Margaret said from the doorway. "We'd like to talk with you."

"I have nothing to say to you." Maleficent said.

"Then at least listen to me." Mary Margaret said. She started to walk inside and moved closer towards Maleficent as she spoke. "I did what I did because I was afraid. I was afraid that if I didn't, my own daughter would turn out evil. I thought I was doing what was best for my family. I regretted it instantly. I know you're here to find your children again. I want to help you. I want to earn your forgiveness. The magic in Storybrooke can help you. Just please let me try."

"I will never forgive you." Maleficent said. "But I don't really have any other options. My daughter is here in this world. She's just south of here in Massachusetts. I don't know where my son is. He could be in this world or some other one."

"We will help you." Mary Margaret said. "I understand. Emma was ripped from my arms at birth and I didn't see her again until she was twenty eight. I missed my chance at being a mother too. I won't give up until we find your son and daughter."

"You have another baby now." Maleficent said. "I fear it may be too late for me to have another baby."

"Then let us help you find your children so you can reunite with them." Belle said.

"Ok." Maleficent said. "I'll join you."

In the forests of Storybrooke, the Jabberwocky lurked in the shadows, waiting for her chance to strike at everyone. She was going to find the Author, even if she had to do it on her own. Meanwhile in Agrabah, Emma, Jafar, Ursula, Aladdin, and Eric were trying to figure out a way to free themselves from the magic dungeon and then combine their magic to finally take down Iago.