Forbidden
Welcome To Storybrooke:
For twenty-four hours, for twenty-four insanely crazy hours, everything goes to hell.
Rumplestiltskin enacts his plan. Reality is quite literally turned upside down, and everyone is transported back to the Enchanted Forest.
Regina ends up as a bandit. A bow and arrow wielding bandit, on the run from the Evil Queen- Snow White.
It's so utterly ridiculous. So plain stupid. Regina as a bandit, Snow White as the Evil Queen, and Emma as a madwoman locked in a tower.
And Maleficent… Well, she ends up trapped in her dragon form once again, enslaved to serve Queen Snow White. Forced to do her bidding because the "Evil Queen Snow White" has stolen Maleficent's egg, and thereby has a way of keeping her by her side, a way to make sure the dragon does everything Snow White asks her to.
For a while, everything looks pretty sour. Henry finds a way to enter the "Heroes and Villains"-reality, but that is very little help. Regina doesn't remember him. Doesn't remember anything. The only thing she knows, is that she has to find away out of the Enchanted Forest. And sometimes, the forest is invaded by an enormous dragon. But strangely enough, the dragon never hurts Regina. It just looks at her, watches her almost curiously, and Regina finds the presence of the creature to be soothing. Almost calming. Like they understand each other, somehow.
When Henry continuously shows up and tries his best to get Regina to remember, Regina merely scoffs and tries to chase him away.
But Henry is obviously stubborn. He tries everything, keeps babbling on about happy endings and True Love's kiss.
Once again, Regina chases him away. And this time, this time it works. He disappears. For a while. Then he shows up again. This time with a blonde woman, known as "The Savior".
She, too, keeps going on and on about happy endings.
And that's when Regina says it. That's when she drops the "interesting" remark that's gonna nag her for the rest of the day.
"My happy ending isn't a man," Regina scoffs and shakes her head, sending the braid tumbling over one shoulder.
Emma's green eyes widens as she says: "Of course not."
It's after that everything really goes sour. The dragon, wounded and stripped of her ability to fly and breathe fire seeks out Regina. The Evil Queen Snow White recruits Rumplestiltskin, The Light One to find both Regina and the dragon.
It comes to a showdown. Regina refuses to stand aside and let Rumplestiltskin hurt her dragon friend, Rumplestiltskin immobilizes Emma and draws his sword on Henry instead when the teenager tries to interfere. Regina had acted on instinct and pushed Henry out of the way, and that had resulted in Regina taking a deep cut directly in the gut and collapses on the forest floor, with Henry, Emma and the dragon standing above her.
Isaac, the Author had taunted them, said it was "too little, too late," Emma had finally reached her limit and punched Isaac, making him fall and drop his precious Author pen.
Henry had then dropped said pen up. The pen had started glowing, thereby making Henry the next Author.
He had saved all of them. He had brought them all back to Storybrooke again. Unharmed and alive.
After everyone had been returned back home to Storybrooke, things had been chaotic. Everyone had run around, searched for each other, making sure their significant others were alive and well.
And it hadn't taken long after Regina had regained consciousness in the middle of the streets of Storybrooke, that Snow had found her, apologizing repeatedly.
"I'm so sorry, Regina," the princess says again and again.
"We were cursed, dear," Regina says as she accepts Henry's outstretched hand and allows him to help her up from the ground.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Henry asks.
"I'm fine," Regina assures.
That's when Emma and Killian come storming out of the Charming residence. Emma first embraces Henry, whispering: "you did it, kid," and then surprisingly enough engulfing Snow in a tight hug.
Regina smiles a little at that. It would seem that The Savior is finally willing to let go of the past.
"I don't know about you," David says. "But I could use a drink."
"Aye. I second that," Killian says, and David gives his shoulder a light slap.
It seems almost incredible that all of them managed to survive that ordeal, and Regina feels as if they're somehow jinxing it by going to Granny's.
But it still feels like the only right thing to do right now. They're all shook up from the events, and a drink certainly seems appropriate.
It quickly turns into quite the celebration. Granny's gets crowded by every member of Storybrooke, and there's free drinks for everybody.
Regina scans the room, didn't really know what she was searching for until she spots Maleficent sitting on one of the tall barstool, nursing her own drink.
Regina takes a deep breath. She's okay. Maleficent is okay. Thank god.
So is Lily. She comes over to their booth, ignores Snow and David but exchanges a few words with Regina.
"So, we survived," the young brunette says nonchalantly.
Regina can't help but smile at that. "Indeed we did."
"Lily grins a little. "I hadn't exactly counted on being returned to a fetal like state."
"No that must have been strange," Regina frowns.
Lily chuckles and gives Regina's shoulder a light squeeze. "I think I prefer the fire breathing state."
Regina chuckles too. "Maybe you should ask your mother to give you dragon lessons."
"Yeah, I think I will," Lily muses. "She can teach me how to be a scary dragon bitch. But anyway, I think I'll leave the party early, see you later, Regi- mom."
Both Regina and Henry smiles widely at that.
"She's awesome," Henry says plainly as Lily leaves Granny's Diner.
"That she is." Regina fully agrees with her son. "She's lovely."
Henry then chuckles a little. "I have a sister."
"You do." Regina says and ruffles his hair slightly.
"And she's a dragon," the teenager continues and shakes his head a little.
"Yeah. I'll need a little time to get used to that, too." Regina quips.
"Do you think she's gonna stay? I mean, permanently?" Snow asks.
"I hope so." Regina says. "If she does… well, we'll have to figure things out. All of us." She can't keep switching from one family to another. She'll have to do her very best to help Lily with coming to terms with what happened to her. Make sure Lily knows that Regina doesn't mind her being filled with darkness. And make sure Lily knows that she's not the Anti-Savior.
Speaking of figuring things out…
Regina looks at Maleficent again. If this "Heroes and Villain"-thing has taught her anything, it's gotta be that she and Maleficent somehow find each other in whatever realm created.
I went in between Gold and Maleficent. I was willing to fight him.
Who is she kidding?
She cared for Maleficent as a young insecure queen. And guess what, she still cares for her. Has never stopped caring for her.
And maybe it's messed up. Maybe it's twisted as fuck. Maybe it's too late to mend anything, but seriously, what's the harm in trying?
Regina becomes vaguely aware that both Emma, Snow, David, Killian and Henry is looking at her, and she tears her gaze away from Maleficent.
But she's done being a coward. Instead of remaining on her seat, nursing her drink, she rises from her spot, says a quick: "Excuse me" to her family, and then she walks over to the tall barstools.
Maleficent looks up when she approaches.
"Is that seat taken?" Regina asks.
"No." Maleficent says.
Regina sits down next to her. She doesn't order a drink, no more drinking. Instead she says: "Do you realize we never had a proper chance to actually talk?"
"Yes, I do realize that," Maleficent says calmly.
Regina clasps her hands together. "We could go somewhere and have that talk now, if you…"
"That won't be necessary," Maleficent calmly interrupts, and then, looking straight at Regina. "I forgive you."
"You… You do?" Regina says and feels how a gigantic weight is being lifted from her shoulders.
"Yes." Maleficent says plainly and turns her palm upward. A clear invitation.
And for once, Regina doesn't care that her family is watching her. She lightly puts her hand in Maleficent's.
Maleficent's long fingers closes around hers, and then the dragon says: "I still have no idea what to make of this town. Cruella and Ursula weren't very good guides. Can I trust you to be a better one?"
"You can," Regina confirms with a little smile. "Seems only fair that the Mayor gives you the full tour of Storybrooke."
Now Maleficent is smiling too. "We could start that tour now."
"We could."
Maleficent suddenly rises from her spot. "Go for a walk with me."
Regina just nods. She doesn't bother looking at Emma or Snow or David or Killian as she leaves the Diner, but Henry grins a little. Of course he already knows what Regina has been too bull-headed to admit.
They walk around in Storybrooke without an actual purpose, and Regina points out the various buildings for Maleficent. The drugstore, the school, the library, the townhall, the pharmacy.
"What is a pharmacy?" Maleficent asks and wrinkles her nose at the foreign word.
"It's a place where you buy medicine," Regina explains.
"Ah. I still have a lot to learn about the modern world. Including finding out what a dishwasher is," Maleficent says and smiles a little.
"You remember that." Regina observes.
"I remember everything," Maleficent says plainly.
They continue their walk, and then, they finally have that long overdue talk. And even though Maleficent claims that it's quite unnecessary, Regina apologies again. A sincere apology this time. A sober apology.
"Snow and David might have wronged you, but so did I," Regina acknowledges. "Pushing you away… Was probably one of the worst things I have ever done."
Maleficent nods silently.
"But back then, I felt like I had no choice," Regina continues. They've stopped walking and have ended up under a lamppost.
"And why is that?" Maleficent asks calmly.
Regina looks at the blonde sorceress. She already knows the answer, Regina is certain of that, but since she's already spilling her guts….
"I cared too much about you," Regina says plainly. "And that scared me. I was terrified of feeling the way I felt. I didn't want any of that."
"So you pushed me away."
"Yes."
"Do you think…" Maleficent gives her a sideway glance. "Do you think we could have been happy?"
"Yes. I think we could." Regina says and remember how light she always felt whenever she was with Maleficent.
Maleficent stays quiet for very long. The only sound is the rustling in the trees, and Regina wonders. Wonders about a lot of things. And suddenly she hears Emma's words in her head: How about now? Things are different now.
Yes, yes, they are.
Regina suddenly takes a leap of fate. "Do you think it's too late for us?"
Maleficent looks directly at her. "I think we can be happy in the future or angry about the past. And I know which one I would choose."
That's when Regina kisses her. And she does it plainly because she wants too, because she can't help herself anymore. Because she's done running from the one thing that once made her so happy.
Maleficent returns the kiss. And this time around, the kiss isn't angry nor drunk. It's tender, surprisingly tender. Like the ones they used to share along time ago when Regina was a young queen.
And Regina doesn't really care that they're out in public, faintly illuminated by a streetlight. What does it matter? Since Regina was twenty, Maleficent has been a secret. Something that must not be mentioned, not be spoken off, something forbidden.
Not anymore.
She's tired of pretending, of beating around the bush so to speak. And more importantly, she's tired of denying herself. Why keep running?
Maleficent's long, slender fingers cup her cheeks lightly as they finally pull away from each other.
Regina smiles a little as they take a moment to catch their breaths.
"Come back to me," Maleficent says softly and brushes her fingertips over Regina's cheek.
"I'm already here." Regina says. And she means it.
"No more running?" Maleficent asks and raises an eyebrow.
"No more running," Regina confirms and smiles a little.
Maleficent smiles too, and she takes Regina's hand, brings it up to her lips and kisses her knuckles gently. "My darling."
Regina's smile widens at that. The old pet name. Maleficent has called her that about a million times already, and it still warms her.
"So, what happens now?" Maleficent inquires and interlaces their fingers.
"Well… Either we go back to the party…"
"Or?" Maleficent asks and quirks an eyebrow.
"Or we leave the party early," Regina says and lowers her voice conspiratorially.
The grin Maleficent flashes her is positively wicked. "I think I'd like that… little queen."
"Then let's go," Regina insist. To hell with patience. Their last "encounter" was a drunken one, and she would very much like to rectify that.
Maleficent laughs a little as she follows Regina down the street.
Regina has every intention of re-igniting their relationship tonight, but sadly fate has other things planned.
Halfway down Main Street, they're forced to stop. Darkness is suddenly looming over them.
"Do you feel that?" she asks Maleficent as they stop abruptly.
"Yes, I do," Maleficent says and tightens her grip on Regina's fingers.
Regina returns the squeeze. The darkness hovering above Storybrooke is almost suffocating. Like it's trying to squeeze the life out of everyone.
It would appear that the next crisis is here.
Regina sighs. "I should probably go and see what this is about."
"I'll go with you," Maleficent says. "I happen to be quite familiar with darkness.
"You and me both," Regina retorts with a little smile.
And darkness or not, crisis or not, Regina has a distinct feeling that she'll be able to handle whatever life decides to throw at them next. She looks back at Maleficent over her shoulder and smiles. Yes, she can handle this. She can handle anything. Because she won't be handling it alone. Maleficent will be by her side. It's her and Regina now. Out in the open at last, and definitely not forbidden anymore.
The End.
((So, that was it. Forbidden is DONE. As always, I've had a blast writing this, and right now I'm soooo tempted to write a sequel with them being in Camelot and dealing with Emma being the Dark One XD, but then again, I'm also super tempted to write more SwanQueen. Decisions, decisions. ))