A/N Hey guys, I saw that a few of you were frustrated with the memory-less Regina, so I thought I would let you guys know that this storyline is going to end in the next chapter :) Anyway I hope you guys enjoy

Chapter forty

Regina calmly walked into her study, regally taking a seat at her desk, her mother not far behind.

The two hadn't exchanged a single word since the diner, and Regina wasn't sure that she could take an 'I told you so' right now. It was for this reason that she lifted the lid of her laptop, and began to look for any work that thoughts of a certain blonde had prevented her from completing effectively.

As she typed she felt eyes burning intently into her, and without looking up she said, "what do you want?"

Cora tried not to clench her jaw, and just about managed to maintain her soft expression, "I simply wish to ensure that you are okay. Thought I'll never understand your trust in the saviour, I can see that her betrayal hurt you."

Regina ceased her work and closed her eyes, trying to fight off tears. If she were honest she didn't understand why she trusted the woman either, but the thought of her trying to manipulate her hurt more than she could ever explain. There's just something about that woman, she thought.

When she finally opened her eyes, a stray tear managed to escape and track its way down her olive skin, wiping it away quickly, she looked back at her computer screen, only to find it wasn't there anymore. She looked up to see her mother had came over to the desk, her hand upon the laptop she had just closed.

"I tried to warn you about her, dear," she said softly.

Regina took a shaky breath, flashes of the blonde shouting at her running through her mind, she could no longer deny her mother had been correct.

"Okay, you were right," Regina sneered, "what is your point?"

Cora just about managed not to roll her eyes, she would never understand why Regina allowed feelings to affect her so much.

"My point is that I never want anyone to be able to hurt you again."

"Because you have done such a fantastic job of that so far," Regina replied with narrowed eyes, she just wanted to be alone in this moment.

"Do you still not trust me?" Cora asked, looking genuinely offended.

Regina was about to reply 'no', before the word died on her tongue. For a moment she thought that her mother was probably the only person in this town that she could trust, she had been there for her through the past few weeks and had tried to protect her from the saviour.

She stood, and after some hesitation, she hugged the older woman, "I do trust you."

Cora smiled, and brought her arms around her daughter, "so you'll allow me to help you."

Regina pulled away, and nodded with a curious expression.

"What are you planning?"

Cora smirked as she thought finally, and replied, "I wish to make you the most powerful person in this realm."

The door to the pawn shop flew open as the saviour stormed in.

Gold looked up from the counter with a raised eyebrow, "I do hope you don't break my little bell."

"Shut up!" Emma growled as she approached him.

"Something wrong, sheriff?" he frowned.

"Did you give Cora a potion?"

Gold shook his head, though he didn't seem at all offended by the accusation, "I believe the Queen of Hearts makes quite the apothecary. Typically, when she wants something she will try and get it herself."

Emma deflated as she realised that he was probably right, and put her head in her hands.

"Cora posed as you and gave me an 'alternative potion'," she explained after a few moments.

Gold nodded, that does sound like her, "what did this potion do?"

"It made her remember all of the bad times with me, and then she pretended as if she had switched the potion to show her the truth."

"Always so brilliant," he smirked almost to himself before he registered the blonde's searing look, "can I not admire a good plan?"

"No, what you can do is think of a way to help," Emma gritted out.

"You cannot use young Henry as an excuse every time you want something, sheriff," he sneered.

Emma clenched her fists, and tried to take calming breaths, "then what do you want?"

"Well I suppose I could use some protection," he said as he made his way over to a shelf and pulled a supposedly locked box down.

Placing it on the counter, Emma just stared in confusion as he uttered spells until it finally popped open to reveal nothing inside but dust.

"What is this?" Emma asked with an exasperated sigh.

"An empty box," he quipped, at Emma's reply of an unimpressed expression, he continued, "that once contained my dagger."

Emma pinched the bridge of her nose, "how could Cora steal it?"

"What can I say, Miss Swan, the woman knows me well," he chuckled.

"So you don't care that she plans to control you?"

"What gave you that idea?" he asked.

"You know...she stole your dagger," Emma replied with clear confusion.

"Believe me, she has far bigger plans in store than simply commanding me."

Emma gritted her teeth, she was in no way in the mood for this, she just wanted a way to get Regina back.

"Will you just tell me," she asked angrily.

"Very hostile today aren't we?" he chuckled.

"I will punch you."

Gold raised his eyebrow, deciding to put her out of her misery, "if I know Cora, than I believe that she is planning to make Regina more powerful. And now that she no longer trusts you and doesn't remember her son, there is nothing stopping Cora from having her daughter's complete and utter trust."

"No, she wouldn't," Emma swallowed hard as it finally clicked what he was talking about.

"She most certainly would, after all we all know that Cora would be able to reap the benefits should her daughter become the Dark One."

A/N As promised, there will be another competition, this time there will be four winners as a thank you for 500 followers XD

The question is (Thanks to Hailstorm):

What are the names of every curse featured in the four seasons of Once Upon A Time? There are four, but I'm willing to accept three :)

So PM me the answers, (reviews won't be counted so please don't post the answer there) and the first four will get there one-shots.