Forbidden
Blast from the past:
" It's not just Cruella and Ursula who are here. Maleficent is back too."
Regina is careful to keep her face completely neutral as she asks Snow and Charming: "Are you sure?"
"Positive. Saw it with my own eyes," David says. "They used our blood to revive…"
Regina zones out, and the words thunders in her head. Maleficent is back. Maleficent is back. MALEFICENT IS BACK.
Her first silly impulse is relief. Maleficent is alive.
Her next impulse is horror. Maleficent is ALIVE. And she's right here in Storybrooke.
The question is why. Why did they revive Maleficent? What's she here for?
Me, probably. Now there's a fair assumption. Maleficent is most likely pissed at her, and with good reason too. Regina was the one who had her killed.
But Regina knows that that's just the tip of the iceberg. Maleficent has several other reasons to be out for her head. Regina wouldn't blame Mal for wanting to kill her.
Incredible. First the heartbreak over sending Robin over the town line to save Marian, and now this.
Regina silently wonders how much a human can take before he or she goes completely bonkers. This is the last thing she needs. An ex-something roaming around in Storybrooke, blood thirsty and longing for revenge on her.
Bring on the insanity. Six weeks. Six weeks of absolute peace. That's what the citizens of Storybrooke got this time before the next disaster arrives.
Regina just didn't count on the next disaster being a personal one.
A personal disaster she considered gone.
She should have known that her little "involvement" with Maleficent sooner or later would come back to bite her in the ass.
Damnit.
Sometimes the universe really is an ironic bitch. One steps over the town line and leaves for good, and another one re-emerges from the dead.
Ironic indeed.
"Regina? Did you hear me?"
Regina snaps out of it and forces her attention back to Snow in front of her. "Sorry. You lost me for a second there. Do you mind repeating what you said?"
"I was just asking what we're gonna do with the newly arrived?" Snow repeats.
"Well, that depends entirely on what they're here for," Regina mutters half-heartedly, and it occurs to her, that Snow and David shoots each other worried glances, but she doesn't think further about it.
"If they're here to turn over a new leaf, then I don't see the problem. Everyone deserves a second chance, but I have a hunch that Cruella and Ursula have some sort of hidden agenda," Regina continues and rises from her chair. The paperwork on her desk long forgotten.
"And Maleficent?" David continues and shares another glance with Snow. "What do you suppose Maleficent is here for?"
A good question indeed. Why did they bring Maleficent back from the ashes? Was that really necessary?
"I suppose there's only one way to find out," Regina says and smiles humorlessly. "I'll have to whip out the Evil Queen again."
"Meaning what, exactly?" Snow asks, and her eyebrow shoots up in concern.
"Meaning it's time for a little undercover work," Regina says and clasps her hands. God, this is laughable. The Snow Queen is barely gone before the next line of villains arrive. And Maleficent of all people. And what if Maleficent is here for her? Is Regina supposed to what, kill her?
She isn't sure she'll even be able to do that. She isn't sure she wants to.
"Cruella and Ursula are something we're able to handle," David says. "But Maleficent happens to be a dragon. If she decides to run amok…"
"Don't worry. I'll take care of Maleficent." Regina says flatly and very nearly scoffs when she hears the words come out of her mouth. That definitely sounded wrong.
"But didn't you two have some sort of heated argument?" Snow asks. "I mean, I've read in the storybook that you two battled and you ended up taking the Dark Curse from her."
If only that was all. "Yes, well, let's just assume she has forgotten about that." Regina says and ushers the two Charmings out of her office. If she's gonna pretend to be one of "the bad guys", she can't be seen with Snow White and Prince Charming. That wouldn't look good.
As soon as the door is closed, and she can hear their footsteps retreat, Regina groans and palms her forehead. What an absolute farce. She's vaguely aware that both Snow and David seems overly worried about having Maleficent being back from the ashes, but she also knows that her own concern is clouding theirs at the moment. Why is Maleficent suddenly hanging with Cruella with Ursula? She never mentioned them before, and there's something else too. How much does Cruella and Ursula know?
Is Maleficent so chummy with them that she told them everything?
Regina scoffs into her hands. Being worried about something as trivial as her reputation shouldn't be at the top of her list right now, but rumors travels fucking fast in Storybrooke. And she really, really doesn't need for the good citizens to find out that she once "mingled" with one of the most powerful sorceresses in the Enchanted Forest.
Not that she's ashamed or anything, but she can vividly imagine how it sounds to the people of Storybrooke. She's supposed to be redeemed.
The universe is really out for her.
She supposes it's suitable. She's still "paying her debt" for all the horrible things she did in the past. But this unexpected "blast from the past" is really something else.
Regina chuckles darkly. Maybe she's going insane. That wouldn't be the first time.
She supposes she'll have to confront Maleficent. And preferably, already tonight. She has to see for herself. That her old friend really is back from the dead.
God, what a mess. What a fucking mess.
If only there wasn't so much history between them. And of course, she remembers everything. For whatever sick reason, she remembers every kiss, every caress, every word they said to each other.
And obviously, Maleficent does to. Dragons never forget. She told Regina that a million times.
Good lord, why? Of all the people life could have thrown back in her face, why Maleficent?
Because you're still paying your debt. You're still making things right with the people you've hurt in the past. And Maleficent happens to be one of them.
She should have known better than to argue with herself. Because of course she's right. She did hurt Maleficent. Badly. She threw away every touch and kiss, turned it into something ugly. She stomped on Maleficent's feelings, crushed them under her booth. And she did it while laughing in her face.
Yes, Maleficent has plenty of reason to be coming for her. To be honest, Regina would be surprised if that wasn't the reason as to why she's here.
Oh, how fast things change. One minute she thinks, she and Robin might actually have a future together, and the next she's dealing with this.
Her ex-something back from the ashes.
Her ex-something coming for her head.
Regina laughs again and stuffs the paperwork away in a drawer. It would seem she's done working for today. Amazing. Ten minutes ago, her biggest problem was too much paperwork and finding the Author. And now she's dealing with this.
What a mess. What a gigantic mess.
She has no clue what she's gonna say to Maleficent tonight. She supposes, she'll have to improvise. Will Maleficent go for her throat right away?
It wouldn't be the first time she's gone for your throat. Okay, that's quite enough of that. Now is not the time to think about the "good old days".
Or perhaps she'll turn into a dragon and eat Regina in one piece. Clean and easy.
No. No, Maleficent is not one for "clean and easy". Regina knows that.
Well, isn't this grand. One minute she's doing paperwork, and the next she's first in line to be eaten by a very angry dragon.
Unfortunately, going back in time and smooth things out isn't an option. Regina finally rises from her chair and walks out of the office. She would prefer the Chernabog any day over this. Bring it on. Rather a Chernabog than Maleficent.
Rather anything else than Maleficent. Bring on the Snow Queen. Bring on the Wicked Witch. Those two would suffice too.
Anything else than Maleficent.
Regina sighs gravely as she walks out of the town hall and into the twilight. No matter what she says or does, this is gonna get ugly. She can feel it in her gut. This is gonna get messy and ugly.
God, she should have known that her past mistakes would come back and haunt her.
She doesn't need to think about where the "witches" are. There's only one place they could be. At Granny's.
Regina quickly flicks her wrist and replaces her "work" clothes with a leather skirt and a black shirt under her jacket. If she's gonna meet her fate, she might as well do it looking good. She takes a deep breath, and then she puts on her best "Evil Queen"-façade.
This is it. There's no turning back.
Let the games begin.
She opens the door to Granny's Diner and steps inside.
To Be Continued?...