((Let's fast forward in time a little. This takes place after Emma kisses Henry and breaks the first curse. Again, this is just a short chapter, an interlude before we fast forward to season 4B))

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The dust has barely settled, Regina notes as she steps into the hidden basement.

The raw stone walls were still echoing after the Saviors battle with the dragon, and Regina can still smell a hint of flames and ash.

This is the place where miss Swa- the Savior battled Maleficent in dragon form. The place where she drove a sword into her chest.

Regina knows that it was the only thing they could do. The only way to save Henry. She knows that, and yet here she is, feeling things. Remembering things that she thought were long forgotten.

She remembers the first smile, the first kiss, the first hesitant touch. Their first night together. Long hours spent in front of Maleficent's fireplace.

And now Maleficent is dead.

Dead and gone…

And despite everything, she didn't deserve this.

Regina sighs a little. She hadn't expected this. She hadn't expected that she would feel this strongly about it. She did this to Maleficent, she pointed miss Swan to Maleficent. She condemned Maleficent to this. She took away Maleficent's human form and cursed her into being a dragon for twenty-eight years. It was the right thing to do, right? Right?

If it had been the right thing to do, she would probably not be down here, mourning her old friend. Mourning the first person who showed her kindness when nobody else did.

Maybe she's not a soulless monster after all.

Regina brings her fingertips to her cheeks. They're wet. Her cheeks are wet. Not only is she mourning Maleficent, she's crying for her too.

What would Maleficent make of that? She would probably call Regina a stupid little girl.

Regina almost laughs at that. She's probably insane for being down here. Half of town, with Snow White, prince Charming and their valiant daughter in front row is coming for her.

Her own son despises her. Hates her for what and who she is with every fiber of his being. He's forgotten all about her. And with the Savior for his mother, and Snow White and prince Charming for his grandparents, why shouldn't he?

He's got plenty of family now. He wants nothing to do with her.

Half of the town is out for her head. She's taking a stupid risk at being down here. She should probably run for the hills.

Instead she bends down and touches what's left of Maleficent. Nothing but dust and ash.

Regina knows that it was the only way to save Henry, she knows that. But still, something is nagging her. And what's nagging her, is that Rumplestiltskin stole the True Love potion before they could use it on Henry.

If only they had used this on Henry. That might softened the blow a little.

But that imp stole it. Maleficent died for Rumplestiltskin.

"I'm sorry," Regina mutters half-heartedly to the silent basement. It's the best she can do, the only thing she can do. And despite everything, she never wished death upon Maleficent.

If she did, she would have killed Maleficent herself all those years ago.

But she didn't.

Something held her back.

Something, Regina doesn't dare labelling. Because what good would that do now?

Maleficent is dead.

"I'm sorry," she whispers again, and this time, it's not half-heartedly. It's sincere. "I'm sorry", may sound a bit dry, but what else can she say in this situation?

"Hello? Is someone down here?"

Regina freezes momentarily at the sound of a second person, but she quickly recovers and steps back inside the shadow where no one can see her.

The second person turns out to be David Nolan. No, prince David. Prince Charming.

Regina's temper flares up when she sees him. What is that idiot doing down here? Now she can't even mourn in peace without being disturbed.

She remains silent as the idiot prince roams around in the basement, but she quietly grinds her teeth. He has no business being down here. What is he even doing?

Looking for his sword, it would seem. Miss Swan apparently left it behind when she was down here. Regina sees him pick the damn thing up and then he stalls. He's looking at the ground, and Regina knows exactly what he's looking at. The boot print she left in the ash.

"Hello? Is anyone here?" he says again and lifts the sword.

Regina almost scoffs. And what if someone far more innocent than her had been down here? Was his intention to jab whoever with his sword?

Once a shepherd, always a shepherd. As delicate as a blunt instrument.

She keeps her mouth shut and waits until prince idiotic seems convinced that he's alone down here and lowers the sword. Then he leaves the basement.

Regina steps out of the shadows. She might as well leave too. She has no choice but to stay isolated in her house. That's her life now. Alone. Henry made it pretty clear that he wants nothing to do with her anymore. He prefers his birth mother. The Savior over The Evil Queen. Seems reasonable enough.

The past ten years where Regina raised and loved him means nothing to him. Every hug, every "I love you, mommy" completely swept aside the minute miss Swan made her entrance in Storybrooke.

Regina sighs softly and casts one last glance at the dust laying scattered around the basement floor. She closes her eyes and inhales the smell of ash. It reminds her of something. It reminds her of long nights spent in front of smoldering flames in a fireplace. It reminds her of purple sheets. Of blue eyes and pale lips curled up in a smile. It reminds her of a silky voice saying "darling" every now and then.

She scoffs again. What, now she's getting sentimental? That's just ridiculous. Stupid. She hasn't thought of Maleficent in years.

Stop being such an idiot, she scolds herself. Her "thing" with Maleficent has been dead and buried for years. There's absolutely no point in getting sentimental now.

So she spins around on her heels, walks away from the piles of dust. She's gonna leave now. There's no reason to stay here. She better leave in case prince stupidity somehow saw a glimpse of her and is sending for the cavalry.

Regina turns around for a second. "Goodbye, Maleficent." She murmurs quietly and can almost hear Maleficent's drawling response. "If that's what you want, darling."

To Be Continued…