Her eyes fluttered open, her vision blurry at first before gradually coming into focus. Collapsing to the ground, she felt a rush of cold air fill her lungs as she sucked in deep breaths, the sensation foreign after almost two decades of immobility. A comforting hand touched her shoulder, helping her to her feet, and as Regina's vision cleared, she saw Maleficent standing before her, a leather flask in one hand. Regina took in her surroundings, trying to make sense of the world that had shifted so drastically in her absence.
"Maleficent?" Regina's voice was raspy, disbelief evident in her tone as she stared at the woman who stood before her.
Maleficent offered a small smile.
"Welcome back, Your Majesty."
Regina's mind raced with questions, confusion swirling inside her.
"Where's Snow? And Charming?"
Maleficent nodded towards the looming palace of Ironthorn.
"Snow has been Queen for nineteen years now, and Charming is ruling his own castle at Elsinor."
Regina's brow furrowed as she tried to piece together the events that had led to her imprisonment.
"I remember... Snow and Charming, they were carrying a severed hand..."
Her voice trailed off, memories flashing before her eyes before everything had gone black. Maleficent nodded solemnly.
"It was the hand of King Midas that turned you to gold. I traveled to Lake Nostos and collected its water to reverse the curse."
Regina arched an eyebrow. "It took you nineteen years to get here?"
"You're not the only one who was trapped," said Maleficent. "That bitch Rapunzel and her vapid husband trapped me beneath their castle. I was freed a couple of weeks ago by none other than Snow White's daughter."
"She has a daughter?"
"Princess Emma."
Something stirred in the back of Regina's mind, then. The image of a blonde girl standing in front of her, staring at her curiously.
Regina's hand shook as she reached for the leather flask, bringing it to her lips and drinking deeply. The water soothed her parched throat, the sensation of liquid filling her body a relief she hadn't known she needed. But as her stomach growled, reminding her of another basic need, Regina's thoughts turned to hunger.
"I need to eat something," she murmured, the realization hitting her like a wave.
Maleficent shook her head.
"We can't linger here, Regina. You're known throughout the kingdom as the Evil Queen."
Regina's gaze hardened, determination shining in her eyes.
"There's something I must do before we leave," she said firmly. "Does Snow White still have the Magic Mirror?"
Maleficent pointed to Regina's feet, and she looked down to see that she was standing on a trapdoor. She quickly stepped back, then waved her hand, expecting the trapdoor to magically open. It didn't.
"That flake of snow has made it so that only she can use magic around these parts," Maleficent explained. "Hence the need for us to get out of here as soon as possible."
"There is something I must do first. Help me open it."
Together, Regina and Maleficent worked to open the trapdoor, and it gave way to reveal a set of stone steps leading into darkness. Descending into the underground chamber, Regina's eyes fell upon a large chest. With a sense of purpose, Regina opened the chest to reveal a collection of mirror shards. Taking one in her hand, she tucked it into a hidden pocket in her dress, a silent vow to ensure that the Magic Mirror would never be rebuilt. Maleficent scanned the shelves, pocketing a few potions for their journey ahead.
"These might come in handy later."
They left the chamber behind, ascending the steps and making their way out of the royal maze as the trapdoor closed behind them.
The setting sun cast a golden glow over the outskirts of Ironthorn as Regina and Maleficent stood atop a hill, a solitary tree offering them shade. Regina's gaze lingered on the distant palace, her mind swirling with memories and emotions she thought she had left behind forever. She took one last look before Maleficent waved a hand, fingers crackling with dark energy. A cloud of purple smoke billowed around them, swirling and twisting until it consumed them completely.
As the smoke cleared, Regina and Maleficent found themselves standing before the grand doors of the Forbidden Fortress, Maleficent's imposing castle nestled in the heart of the Forbidden Mountains. The air was crisp and cold, snowflakes drifting lazily from the darkening sky. Regina's eyes widened in awe as the doors swung open of their own accord, revealing the cavernous interior of the fortress beyond. Stepping inside, they were greeted by the familiar sight of Maleficent's throne room, its dark walls adorned with twisted vines and ominous symbols.
"Home sweet home," said Maleficent. The air was heavy with magic, the atmosphere charged with power as they made their way through the fortress. The further they ventured into the fortress, the warmer the air seemed to become. Eventually, they reached the heart of the fortress; Maleficent's private chambers. The room was dark and opulent, lit only by feeble flames in the fireplace and the soft glow of magical crystals. In front of the fireplace were two comfortable-looking chairs, with a small table of dark wood between them. Maleficent practically fell into one of the chairs and flicked her wrist, causing the flames to rise and become a roaring blaze in the fireplace. Two goblets of wine and a plate of grapes and cheeses materialized on the table. As Regina sat in the other chair, exhausted, she grabbed the entire bunch of grapes and began eating them one by one. Maleficent raised her goblet to her lips and drank deeply, the rich aroma of spiced wine filling the air as she settled back into her chair by the crackling fireplace. Across from her, Regina's expression was thoughtful as she stared into the dancing flames.
"So, what happens now?" Maleficent asked, her voice echoing softly in the quiet of the chamber.
Regina sighed, running a hand through her dark locks as she pondered Maleficent's question.
"I want to leave this kingdom behind," she confessed, her voice tinged with weariness. "I want to find a place where I can live out the rest of my days in peace."
Maleficent's eyebrows shot up in surprise, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes.
"Leave?" she echoed incredulously. "After everything Snow White has done to you? You're just going to walk away?"
Regina met Maleficent's gaze with a steely resolve.
"I've already tried to claim the throne," she reminded her, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But Snow managed to outwit me at every turn. Besides, Ironthorn has belonged to her family for generations, and I have no desire to wage another futile war for a crown that was never truly mine."
"But she killed your husband," Maleficent argued, her voice rising with frustration. "And then she tried to kill you, all while painting you as the villain to the entire kingdom!"
Regina's lips formed a thin line as she clenched the shard of mirror in her hand, its jagged edges digging into her palm.
"I know," she admitted quietly. "But vengeance will only lead to more bloodshed. I'm tired of fighting, Maleficent. I just want to be free."
Maleficent regarded Regina with a mixture of sympathy and disbelief, her mind racing with thoughts of what could have been.
"You have the power to take what is rightfully yours," she urged, her voice tinged with urgency. "You could reclaim the throne and rule this kingdom as its rightful queen."
"And what then? More suffering? More death? No, Maleficent. I refuse to be consumed by hatred any longer."
With a heavy sigh, Maleficent leaned back in her chair.
"You're making a mistake."
"Perhaps," Regina conceded. "But at least I'll be making it on my own terms."
"Well, what about the Dark Curse? You could rewrite the very fabric of this kingdom, and everyone in it."
Regina's brow furrowed in confusion.
"The Dark Curse?"
"Yes, the curse I bestowed upon you long ago," she explained. "The curse meant to bring about the downfall of Snow White and her kingdom. As I recall, you were considering using it before Snow defeated you."
Regina's eyes widened in realization as she remembered Maleficent's gift.
"But the curse requires the heart of the thing I love most," she murmured, her voice tinged with sorrow. "My father must be dead by now."
Maleficent nodded reluctantly.
"He was exiled from Richilde by Snow White, and died in his homeland, the Kingdom of Molendina, as an old man."
Regina turned her face away from Maleficent to hide the tears forming in her eyes.
"So I cannot cast the curse even if I wanted to. I have no more loved ones."
"But it was prophesized that the daughter of Cora would cast the Dark Curse."
"I am Cora's only daughter," said Regina. "But if my destiny is to sacrifice the thing I love most, then I hope and pray that I never love again."