Author's Note: Long time no see, y'all! Things are so hectic at the moment, but that's no excuse for my laziness. I'm here to finally present you with an update! As some of you may know, applications and interviews are being arranged for colleges right now in England, so if you're applying for any further education - in any country - good luck! You're all truly amazing and so supportive. Special thanks this week goes to Stacymc2012, Gotapenname, Barbara Montgomery, Scary Spice AKA Ellie, Beforethedawnbreaks, DaenerysDedicated, hear the whispers, QuestionablyInsane, Evilcharmings - such a beautiful ship!, Jodie and Morganalafay. Your reviews have really inspired me, so thank you so SO much! You have no idea how great it is to hear your kind words.
FORGIVENESS EARNED ENTIRELY...
"Destroy Emma Swan. Destroy Emma Swan. Destroy Emma Swan." The words rang in Regina's ears like lingering poison. She lay paralyzed on the couch, not even noticing as her mother exited the house. Regina had tried so hard to be the better person and now all her good work had to go to waste. She looked up at the ceiling from her position on the couch, face emotionless and still.
"Destroy Emma Swan. Destroy Emma Swan. Destroy Emma Swan. Regina! Destroy Emma Swan. Re-ginnna! Destroy Emma Swan." Her thoughts were interrupted by firm hands, grasping her fragile shaking shoulders. Regina sat up with a start, pressing her face into the neck of the former cricket. He looked baffled and confused, but held her anyway. Sometimes comfort was all a person truly needed to open up to their feelings. Archie knew that better than anybody.
He rubbed a caring hand against her back, moving it in circular motions in an attempt to calm her down. She was breathing heavily against his pulse, hands gripping the fabric of his smart office shirt.
"You can talk to me, Regina." He reassured, before noticing something was off. "Wait... where did Henry go?" Archie asked suddenly, realizing that that had to have something to do with Regina's sudden change in attitude. She was becoming weaker from her lack of magic with every second that passed - Archie could see it in her deep brown eyes as she pulled back at the question. "My mother." She managed to whisper with venom, as though Cora could still hear her. "She's got Henry." The woman stuttered on the sentence, her words coming out raspy and timid.
"I have to kill Emma to get him back. It's the only way." Regina nodded, completely convinced by her own words. Cora had made a request and Regina was too terrified to ignore it. The only people Regina truly feared were Rumple and Cora, due to their immense understanding of dark magic. They were her only threat in life: everyone else was just gravy.
Archie sat there in surprise. One hand rested against her waist, keeping her in a half sitting up position. The other hand was on her shoulder. Eyes bore into dark brown orbs, searching for some remorse, some understanding that this wasn't the right answer. Archie saw no sorrow. Regina had never truly been taught the difference between right and wrong, he thought deeply. She always assumed that power was right, no matter what the consequence. Now, Cora held the power, meaning she had to surrender and give in to the higher ground.
"We can find another way, Regina. You've worked too hard to throw away everything you've done. Remember, you're trying to redeem yourself." He mumbled, trying to get her to see everything she'd be throwing away if she succumbed to her mothers mind manipulation.
"And look where it's got me." Regina said sharply, her words full of anger and hate. She was lying on a couch, partly unable to move due to pain and weakness. She was weak! She needed to have strength. Love was weakness. Power was strength. "I try and redeem myself, and now I can't save myself or my son. I need to use magic, Dr Hopper. Otherwise, there's truly no hope left for me. You fear me now, just wait until the Evil Queen arrives." The sorceress sighed heavily.
Archie quirked an eyebrow and let his hands leave her body. She was sitting up by herself now, looking rather comfortable for a woman in agony. With gentility, he handed her the large mug of tea that he'd made for her earlier: thankfully, it was still hot.
"I don't fear you, Regina. Just so you know." He nodded definitely, voicing his opinion as always. Something about the Mayor made Archie reflect on his own self conscience. Would he be like Regina, had he been through as much as she? Probably. But, he didn't feel threatened by her still... He had never felt that way towards her, not even in the Fairytale Land. "And... I don't think that you're the Evil Queen either." He added as an extra note. He wanted to see her smile, wanted to keep that frown at bay, wanted to make her feel happy. Archie didn't know why but he found her darkened heart endearing. He wanted to be the one to help it glow bright again.
"How can you not be scared of me? After everything I've put you and everyone else through? I banished you to another land for heaven's sake." Regina stated matter-of-factly, completely intrigued by the Cricket's words. No-one had ever said anything so kind, not since Daniel. The King had never paid her compliments, and all men since were merely after one thing: they regarded her body, never her personality. Archie watched as she cradled the cup of tea in her hands, making sure not to spill a drop as she raised the mug to her pouted lips. "If you wanted me dead, you would have killed me by now, and yet, I'm still here. The Evil Queen isn't who you are. You CAN beat her. You CAN control her. You're better than she is... and I believe that. With all my heart." Archie stated bravely, nodding definitely at the woman in front of him.
...
Across town, in a rather large and rickety pirate ship, sat a tall brown-haired woman and a frightened little boy. The sloppy haired child had his hands and feet tied together with strong ropes, that had burned his wrists from the amount of struggling he'd been doing. The dark woman strutted around the deck, suddenly deciding to talk to the owner of the ship.
"I don't like this, Cora. Kidnapping a young lad seems a bit extreme if you ask me." Hook muttered, raising his shimmering hand with aggravation to accentuate his words. The man had always had a soft spot for children and because she liked to do her research on her allies, Cora knew why. She wasn't about to let Hook's feelings for Baelfire get in the way of her plotting and planning. "I didn't ask you, Hook. In fact... I don't even know why you're here. Please, leave." Cora said. It was a command, not a question. The words of a woman, who knew that her bloodline bubbled with royal beauty.
"Now, darling... care to speak with your dear Grandmother?" Cora asked the young boy, who sat on the floor with his arms and legs crossed. Henry was scared. He wanted to go home to his mom. He wanted to be free.
Author's Note: Will Regina do it? Do we want her to? Let me know and I'll see what I can do! You guys inspire me more than you know with this story. Sometimes you'll write something and it will prompt my brain and send it into overdrive mode, so trust me, no idea is silly, just let me know! I'm going on holiday soon for two weeks, so there will be no update, but if you guys could drop me some PM's and things for when I get back, that would be super appreciated! Love you all always, Evilsaurus.