Regina is the perfect host and fiancée, giving each guest just the right amount of attention while keeping Emma at her side. She plays the role flawlessly, her poised exterior betraying none of the emotions raging inside her. But beneath the mask, her thoughts are a storm. What did she think would happen after she followed Emma to the courtyard?
After the other woman chastised her - she might have had a point but who is she to tell her what to do! - Regina told herself she complied out of practicality, but in truth, she'd taken every opportunity to test Emma, pushing her boundaries with lingering touches and whispered words. She knew Emma would be scandalized by the unrestrained contact, that it would make her uncomfortable. Yet, Regina played the role Emma asked her to, even though it left her wrestling with feelings she had no desire to confront. Every brush of skin, every shared glance sent shivers up her spine and whispered for her to go further.
When Emma abruptly left for the courtyard, Regina felt vindicated, or at least, that's what she told herself. But vindicated for what? She didn't even know. She'd followed Emma to gloat, to needle her further, as if pushing her buttons could somehow exorcise the feelings clawing at her heart. She'd expected Emma to meet her taunts with anger, to throw her defiance in Regina's face, and certainly to demand she keep her distance. Regina was ready for a fight. She wanted a fight, she needed it to burn away the longing that wouldn't let her go.
What she didn't expect was for Emma to look at her with confusion, irritation, and something deeper - unmistakable desire. Before Regina could react, Emma was on her, lips crashing against hers.
Regina wanted to push her away. She should have pushed her away. But Emma's lips tasted like everything she'd denied herself, and the way Emma held her, like she was the answer to something Emma had been searching for, made her feel something she'd never felt before. Not with Daniel. Not with Robin. Emma made her feel like she belonged. She made her feel understood. She made her feel complete.
So Regina let go. She let the kiss deepen, let herself fall into the moment, even though it terrified her. And if they hadn't been interrupted, if that cough hadn't shattered the spell, she would have let it all go. Every wall, every doubt, everything. Emma had the power to unravel her completely, and Regina wasn't sure she'd ever recover.
Her reaction to Emma once they were alone again was pure survival instinct. Regina had seen the hurt flash in Emma's eyes when she distanced herself, and she knew she had wounded the other woman. Emma's response was more than understandable. Her outburst, her decision to "forget this ever happened," all of it made sense. But it hurt, more than Regina was willing to admit and more than she was prepared to face.
Now, as they make sure the last guests are escorted to their quarters, Regina's mind is a whirlwind. All she wants is to escape, to retreat somewhere she can breathe without the weight of this new truth pressing down on her.
Regina is certain Emma feels it too, and that only makes everything infinitely more complicated. There's Hook, and there's Robin, and Henry, and Snow, and so many other people and circumstances that make this whole thing a colossally bad idea. Regina simply doesn't have the strength to deal with it right now.
Her thoughts are interrupted when Gretel reappears to escort them back to the Princess. Once they stand before her, it takes the ailing woman all of five seconds to recognize something is wrong.
"What's going on?" she asks, voice strained but careful. "Did something happen? Did somebody suspect something?"
Regina's eyes flick to Emma, who is pointedly avoiding her gaze. She lets out a quiet sigh, knowing she can't add to the Princess's worries. "Nothing happened. It actually went better than we could have expected."
The Princess doesn't seem convinced, raising an eyebrow, but Regina presses on. "Trust me, if there was any doubt about the strength of your relationship and your alliance before, it's now gone. Especially for Abigail."
The Princess opens her mouth to ask something, but Regina cuts her off. "Look, you need sleep. We all do. We'll give you a full report in the morning, but just know that nobody suspects a thing."
Reluctantly, the Princess agrees, though she keeps watching them, clearly aware that something has shifted between the two women. She bids them good night, and they leave her quarters without another word.
As they step into the hall, Regina turns to Emma, but she is already walking away, throwing a quick "See you in the morning" over her shoulder.
Regina feels a flash of irritation, but it's more than that. She knows she shouldn't be angry. She knows she shouldn't be hurt. This is what she wanted, wasn't it? She needs Emma to stay distant, to keep the facade intact. So why does it feel like her insides are being ripped out as she watches Emma retreat?
Regina shakes herself out of her stupor. Tomorrow is another big day. She needs sleep. The rest of the emotions can wait until this mess is over. Until then, avoiding each other while pretending - no, not pretending anymore - that they are madly in love will have to do.
The dawn has barely broken when Regina is jolted awake by urgent knocks. She mutters a muffled "Enter," her mood already sour. The night had been restless, filled with unwanted thoughts and dreams, leaving Regina more tired in the morning than when she first went to bed.
Gretel enters, her face drawn with distress. "Madam, you need to hurry. Something has happened."
Regina needs no further prompting. She's up and dressed in record time, striding toward the door just as Emma arrives.
"What's going on?" Regina asks, but Emma only shakes her head, urgency in her every movement. Together, they rush toward the Princess' quarters, tension thick in the air.
Regina comes to an abrupt stop as soon as they enter the room. The Princess, her face ashen, is crying while Mary Margaret and David - or rather, this version, an older version, of Snow White and Prince Charming - do their best to comfort her. Though estranged, the depth of their love for their daughter is unmistakable. Seeing her in such pain, both physically and emotionally, has wiped away all disagreements. They are clearly there to support her in any way possible.
Several dwarves stand off to the side, their expressions somber. The Princess's tear-filled eyes lock onto Regina and Emma the moment they appear.
"Please, you have to help her!" she cries out, her words punctuated by labored breaths and sobs.
"What happened?" Regina demands, dread already curling tightly in her chest. Ignoring the startled looks from Snow and Charming, she zeroes in on the Princess, the urgency of the situation overriding everything else.
"She's gone," the Princess says, her voice trembling with desperation. "She didn't think she'd find the cure in time, even with the dwarves' help, but she went anyway. She wanted to mend the fences, to make sure I had my parents after she– after s—" Her words dissolve into a strangled sob, and it takes her a moment to regain control. "Please," she pleads, "don't let her do this. Don't let her sacrifice herself."
Regina meets Emma's gaze, and they exchange an unspoken agreement. They don't know how they're going to face the Dark One, but that doesn't matter. They've overcome the impossible before, and they'll do it again. Failure isn't an option, not when the Princess stands to lose everything because of them.
Emma is the first to break the silence. "How do we get to Rumpelstiltskin's castle? I'm assuming she portaled there as soon as she left your kingdom. When was that?"
Snow, clearly grappling with the unsettling sight of her daughter's face on someone else, answers shakily. "Not long ago. There's still time. We teleported here immediately after parting ways."
"Can you get us there?" Regina asks, already poised for action.
A chorus of voices responds from the corner. "We can."
"Then let's go," both women say in unison.
It's Snow who voices the question everyone else is too afraid to ask. "What are you going to do once you get there? The Queen told us what happened, so we know who you are. And we know you have no magic. How can you help her?"
Regina and Emma exchange a glance, their resolve unwavering. Emma shrugs. "We'll figure it out as we go." She shoots Regina a genuine smile, and to her own surprise, Regina returns it without hesitation.
"We're good at improvising," Regina adds, her voice steady, even as her mind races.
Emma holds out a hand, and Regina takes it, her grip firm and sure despite the storm brewing inside her. She turns to the dwarves, nodding with finality. "We're ready."
They materialize directly in front of Rumpelstiltskin's castle. The air around them is thick with an unnatural chill, the dark spires of the castle mimicking a jagged crown. The place radiates menace, as if every stone in its foundation is soaked in suffering. Always the one for theatrics, right Gold?
Regina's stomach churns, her every instinct screaming at her to turn back.
Emma breaks the silence. "A bit on the nose, isn't it?" she comments, her voice lighter than the weight hanging between them.
Regina almost smiles despite herself, the tension momentarily cracking.
But Emma's humor fades as she studies Regina, worry etched deeply into her features. "Look, Regina, I know we're good at improvising, but we need some kind of plan."
Regina hesitates, a thousand unspoken thoughts churning in her mind. She has a plan, all right, but it's not one Emma would agree to. Not if she knew. Regina remembers the moment on the ship, when Emma's magic burst forth to save her. Her plan hinges on that very moment repeating itself, on the hope that whatever triggered Emma's magic last time - you know full well what it was - will ignite again if she places herself in mortal peril. And Emma using magic from another realm could catch Rumpelstiltskin off guard, doing enough damage to give them all a chance to escape. It's risky and depends on a lot of unknowns, but it's the only plan she has.
"Regina?" Emma presses, her voice laced with concern.
Instead of answering, Regina takes a step toward the castle's massive wooden doors. They creak open on their own, the darkness within an ominous invitation if there ever was one.
Emma stiffens beside her. "Okay, this is the part where we don't walk straight into the obvious trap and maybe look for—"
Regina doesn't wait. She strides inside without a second glance, her heels clicking sharply against the stone floor.
Behind her, she hears Emma's exasperated mumble. "Or we just waltz right in. That works too."
The door slams shut behind them, sealing them inside.
It takes a few moments for Regina's eyes to adjust to the oppressive darkness within the tall, timeworn walls, where only a few errant candles flicker weakly, casting distorted shadows across the large hall. Emma catches up to her, and Regina quickly points toward another faint source of light - a cracked door letting out a red glow.
What they see when they reach the door makes their blood run cold. The Queen hangs suspended in the air, trapped in the center of a vast study. A dark red magic serpent coils around her, squeezing the life out of her with every pulse.
Rumpelstiltskin sits at his desk, casually holding a quill like a conductor with a wand. Each time he flicks it, the serpent tightens its grip around the Queen, making her scream in agony, before pulling back with another flick.
Regina curses under her breath as Emma bursts through the door, her voice sharp and filled with fury. "Let her go!"
Rumpelstiltskin doesn't move, his gaze sliding lazily over to them. He seems amused. "You again? I thought I told you I have no interest in the two of you. But I do have to admit ... your bravery is admirable. Running here to save the Queen without magic ... Impressive, though foolish."
He flicks his quill with a sharp, deliberate motion, and in an instant, both Regina and Emma are slammed against the cold stone walls, magic holding them immobile. The impact drives the air from their lungs, their bodies pinned by an invisible force.
"I'm intrigued enough by who you really are to spare you , at least for now," Rumpelstiltskin says, his tone light and mocking, though his eyes glint with a predator's interest. "Keep me entertained, and you might just make it out of here alive. As for the Queen ... her suffering will suffice to amuse me in the meantime."
He gestures again, his quill moving as though conducting a macabre symphony, and the serpent of red magic writhes tighter around the Queen. Her screams fill the air, raw and piercing, cutting through Regina and Emma like a blade. The torture continues longer this time, each second dragging on like an eternity.
Suddenly, Regina shouts, her voice sharp and defiant despite the situation. "Your son is dead!"
The room falls into an eerie silence. Even the magic holding them seems to pulse for a moment, reacting to the weight of her words. Emma turns her head toward Regina, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief. "What are you doing?" she hisses, her voice trembling with panic.
Rumpelstiltskin's amusement vanishes instantly, replaced by a simmering rage that seems to darken the entire room. He stalks toward Regina, each step slow and deliberate, his gaze piercing. "What did you say?" His voice is a low growl, the kind of tone that promises destruction.
Regina meets his fury head-on, the Evil Queen mask firmly in place, even as her heart pounds in her chest. She knows she has his full attention now, but a quick glance at the Queen confirms what she feared. The woman is barely clinging to consciousness, her body slack in the serpent's coils. There's no time for hesitation.
"You wanted to know who we are?" Regina begins, her voice steady despite the chaos inside her. "We're from another dimension, where the counterpart to your son is the father of our child." She forces herself to meet his gaze, watching disbelief and anger war across his features.
"He threatened to take our boy," she continues, her voice sharpening with feigned venom. "So I decided to kill him. It's easier than dealing with all the legalities of our world."
"Regina!" Emma's voice rises, her panic palpable. "What are you doing?" She repeats as she struggles harder against the magic holding her in place, as though sheer willpower could break through.
Regina doesn't look at Emma, doesn't dare let her resolve falter. The lie is reckless, but she knows it's the only chance they have. She can feel Rumpelstiltskin's anger shifting, swirling like a storm gathering force, and it's focused entirely on her now.
Regina isn't sure where the story came from. It spilled out before she had time to think, a desperate gamble born of sheer survival instinct. But now that she's started, she has no choice but to see it through. All she can do is hope Emma understands, hope she'll be able to tap into her magic again before it's too late.
"Baelfire realized what I was planning and got away," Regina begins, her voice cold and detached, though every word feels like a gamble with their lives. "I chased him into another realm, or so I thought. It wasn't until it was too late that I realized it wasn't just another realm but another dimension entirely. And he wasn't the one I was looking for."
She knows it sounds absurd, a story riddled with holes, but that's the point. She's not trying to appeal to his logic; she's counting on his emotions to overwhelm his reasoning. If she can keep him enraged, keep him focused on her, the Queen will get a chance to breathe, and Emma … maybe Emma will save the day once again.
"But what can you do," she adds with a shrug - or as much of a shrug as the magic holding her will allow - forcing an air of indifference she absolutely doesn't feel. "What's done is do—"
Her words are cut off as magic rips her from the wall and slams her face first to the floor with bone-jarring force. Pain flares across her entire body, the taste of blood on her tongue, but she barely has a moment to gasp before she's flung upward, her back colliding with the ceiling. The impact rattles her to her core, leaving her breathless and disoriented.
"No!" Emma's scream pierces through the chaos, sharp and raw. Regina barely registers it as she feels herself hurtling toward the ground again. She panics, knowing this slam could very well kill her. She closes her eyes, bracing for the impact that will surely shatter her.
But it never comes.
She opens her eyes to find herself hovering inches above the cold stone floor, suspended by some unseen force. Slowly, almost gently, she's lowered to the ground. For a moment, she just lies there, dazed and gasping for air. Then she sees her.
Emma is moving, fully mobile now, each step toward Rumpelstiltskin marked by a blinding white pulse of magic that slams into his chest. The force of each hit drives him back, his expression shifting from angry satisfaction to something far darker. The serpent of red magic wrapped around the Queen falters, loosening its grip, and the woman collapses to the ground, unconscious.
It worked! Her plan, as flawed as it has been, worked. But now they need to get out of here or else they'll end up in the same predicament. The Dark One cannot be killed, not without taking on the curse. There are ways to subdue him, but without Regina's magic or any other accessories, they are powerless right now. What Emma is doing is holding him back at best, giving them a chance to teleport to the castle, which has protections in place that prevent the imp from entering. She grabs the Queen's hand and turns toward the Savior, her arm outstretched.
"Emma, get us out of here!" Regina yells, struggling to her feet, her voice desperate.
But Emma doesn't stop. She keeps advancing, silent and unyielding, her magic flaring with every step. There's a fury in her now, something Regina has never seen before - something almost terrifying. Each pulse of light elicits a painful scream from Rumpelstiltskin, but it's not enough. Regina can see it. With each hit, he shifts, his body adjusting, his expression twisting into grim concentration. He's learning her magic, adapting to it. Instead of weakening him further, Emma is giving him the means to counter her.
"Emma! Please!" Regina's voice cracks, but Emma doesn't respond. She's too far gone, consumed by her anger.
And then it happens.
Rumpelstiltskin's lips curl into a grotesque grin, the kind that sends a cold chill down Regina's spine. In a blink, he vanishes, only to reappear directly behind Emma. His hand moves with lethal precision, the glint of an ornate dagger catching the dim light as he plunges it into her lower back.
The sickening sound of the blade tearing through flesh fills the air, and Regina's stomach twists violently.
"Emma!" she screams, her body moving before her mind catches up. She's at Emma's side in seconds, catching her just as she begins to fall. Rumpelstiltskin's laughter echoes around them, his taunts sharp and mocking, but Regina doesn't care. She barely hears him as she cradles Emma, lowering her to the ground as gently as she can.
Emma's eyes flutter open, unfocused and glassy, her breath coming in shallow gasps. She looks at Regina, and the regret in her expression is devastating.
"I'm sorry," Emma whispers, her voice barely audible. "I'm so sorry…"
Tears sting Regina's eyes, but she shakes her head, forcing down the rising panic. "No," she says firmly, her voice trembling despite her resolve. "Don't you dare apologize. Don't you dare give up. Henry needs you. Your parents need you." She hesitates, her breath hitching before she finally adds, her voice breaking, "I need you, Emma."
A single tear slips down Emma's cheek, trailing slowly before vanishing into pale skin. Her eyes flutter, struggling against the weight pulling them closed. Finally, they shut, as if keeping them open has become an impossible task.
"No, Emma, please!" Regina's voice cracks, raw with desperation, as she cradles Emma closer. The sight of her, so fragile, so still, sends a sharp, searing pain through Regina's chest. It's unlike anything she's ever felt before - a hollow, ripping agony that threatens to consume her entirely.
But then, through the anguish, something stirs. Something buried deep inside her that she knew was there but couldn't reach. The pain shifts, sparking a faint warmth in her chest. It grows, spreading outward, a familiar power unfurling like a flame reigniting to chase away the darkness.
Magic.
Regina's breath catches. Something has broken through the barriers of this realm, shattered them under the force of her desperation and love. But it's not just her magic. It's more. The power of this world sings to her, like discovering a beautiful symphony for the first time. She has never felt so much power in her life.
Her first instinct is to use it to heal Emma, to erase the pallor from her face and the limpness from her body. That's the only thing that matters right now. But as soon as her hands start radiating healing magic, she feels herself flung once again. She hits the wall, breath kicked out of her once again.
"No, no, my dear. No playing with magic in my castle."
Rumpelstiltskin's voice oozes with satisfaction as he steps closer, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight. With a flick of his wrist, he moves her to the center of the room. The serpent reappears, its crimson coils winding tightly around Regina's body. It pins her arms to her sides, constricting tighter and tighter with each passing moment. She can barely draw a breath, but her defiant glare never wavers.
"I understand your plan now," he sneers, twirling the quill between his fingers. "It's all so very clear. You thought you could outsmart me? Clever, perhaps, but ultimately foolish. Still…" His gaze sweeps over her, lingering on her face. "You have her face, and that makes this even more amusing. The Queen may be too weak to provide further entertainment, but you'll do nicely."
With a flick of the quill, the serpent tightens, drawing a choked gasp from Regina as its coils constrict further. He flicks it again, but this time, something changes.
The serpent falters.
Rumpelstiltskin pauses, confusion flashing across his face. He flicks the quill once more, but the serpent loosens instead of tightening, its magic unraveling.
"What?" he mutters, his composure slipping as the serpent dissolves into crimson sparks.
Regina's lips curve into a cold, furious smile. "My turn."
The light within her ignites like a supernova, flooding her senses. Her body hums with the force of the magic she's rediscovered, power that had lain dormant in this realm until now, and the new magic she can sense all around her. It roars through her like a tidal wave, and she channels it, letting it rise and sharpen into a weapon.
The moment her feet touch the ground, her stance is steady, her rage unmistakable.
"You figured it out too late," she says, her voice trembling with fury. "You hurt her, and now you'll pay."
Rumpelstiltskin takes an involuntary step back, his smirk fading as realization sets in. The air around Regina shimmers with raw energy, two magics fused into a force even he knows he should be afraid of.
"You think you've won?" he snaps, though there's a tremor in his voice. "I cannot be killed. You'll only—"
Regina doesn't give him the chance to finish. Her hands snap forward, twin streams of light - one purple, one white - surge from her palms. The beams spiral together, twisting and crackling as they race toward him.
The blast slams into his chest with enough force to knock him back several feet. His body convulses, his screams echoing through the room as the magic overwhelms him. Regina doesn't stop. She pours everything into the attack, every ounce of pain, rage, and love. For Emma.
The beam intensifies, a blinding surge of magic that slams into the imp with such force the entire castle trembles in its wake. Rumpelstiltskin's body finally crumples to the floor, smoke rising faintly from his lifeless form.
Regina stands over him, her breathing ragged, her fists still glowing with residual power. She doesn't allow herself the luxury of relief. Her attention is already on Emma, who lies on the floor, pale and unmoving.
The sight is enough to shatter Regina's composure. Her anger is gone in an instant, replaced by suffocating dread.
"Emma!" she cries, her voice cracking as she drops to her knees beside the blonde. Her hands hover over Emma's still form, trembling, unsure where to start.
Please don't let me be too late.
Her hand brushes against Emma's face, ice-cold to the touch. Regina leans closer, her heart lurching at the faint sound of labored breathing. Then, she hears a whisper - a weak, broken voice sends a jolt through her entire being.
"I ... I waited for you. I didn't leave you." Emma's mouth twists into the faintest of smiles. "I fought ... for you."
A sob escapes Regina's lips, tears spilling over as she cups Emma's face gently in her hands. "Oh, Emma!" she breathes, her voice trembling. Her tears blur her vision, but she doesn't care. The sound of those words, of Emma's voice, fills her chest with a fragile, desperate hope.
"You're still with me," she whispers, her voice choked with emotion.
Emma's breathing is shallow, each rise and fall of her chest a struggle. But it's enough - it has to be enough. Regina wipes the tears from her face with a shaky hand and forces herself to focus.
She turns Emma to her side, lifting her shirt to expose the wound. A surge of magic ignites within her, sharper and more instinctive than before. She doesn't think or hesitate. The power flows through her like second nature, her hands glowing as she places them over the injury.
The warmth of the magic is instant, spreading from her fingertips and enveloping Emma's broken body. Regina can feel the torn flesh coming together, the pain ebbing away, and for the first time in what feels like hours, she breathes.
"Come back to me," she whispers, pouring everything she has into the healing spell. Her love, her fear, her desperation - she gives it all. The glow fades as the magic settles, leaving Emma's breathing steadier, her face less pale.
Regina leans back slightly, her hands shaking as she takes in Emma's now peaceful expression. The relief she feels is almost overwhelming.
Regina takes a moment to steady herself, her breathing still uneven as the adrenaline begins to wane. Her eyes drift to the Queen, still unconscious but breathing steadily, and surmises there is no immediate urgency. For now, the priority is getting them all out of this cursed place.
She instinctively inches closer to Emma, as if to convince herself she is truly still alive. "I'll get us back to the castle," she murmurs softly, her voice thick with emotion. But just as she's about to summon the energy to transport them, something stops her. A nagging thought impossible to ignore.
Her gaze shifts to Rumpelstiltskin's lifeless form. A dark, simmering rage flickers within her as she remembers the pain he caused. She won't let his legacy remain to poison anyone else.
Slowly, deliberately, she approaches the body, her steps echoing in the now-silent chamber. Her fingers graze his chest, a small pulse of magic extending outward. She feels it immediately - the faint hum of power hidden behind the walls. Her lips press into a tight line. Of course.
A whispered spell escapes her lips, and the wall to her left trembles. A hidden compartment slides open, revealing a blade glinting ominously in the dim light. The Dark One's dagger. The source of his cursed power. Regina's hand hovers over it for a moment, her expression unreadable, before she picks it up. The weight of it feels almost suffocating in her hand, as though the darkness within is trying to worm its way into her.
But Regina is no longer the woman she once was.
Her jaw sets, and a spark of determination ignites in her eyes. "Not again," she whispers, her voice steady and resolute. "There will be no more Dark Ones in this world."
Closing her eyes, she focuses inward, calling upon every ounce of magic within her - from both realms. The heat of her fury combines with the steadiness of her training, and a soft glow begins to emanate from her hands, spreading to the dagger. The blade reacts instantly, trembling as if alive, resisting her. It pulses darkly, writhing in her grasp, the power within it fighting desperately for survival.
Regina doesn't falter. She channels her anger - at Rumpelstiltskin, at the torment he inflicted, at the endless cycles of pain caused by the Dark One both here and back home - into her magic. The glow intensifies, shifting from soft to blinding as her will overpowers the blade's resistance.
The dagger begins to wither, its once-pristine surface blackening and cracking as the magic within it is extinguished. A final surge of resistance pushes back, but Regina holds firm, her voice a low growl. "You're done."
With a sharp, almost imperceptible sound, the dagger disintegrates into a pile of fine dust that scatters at her feet. The chamber falls silent once more, the oppressive weight of the Dark One's power finally lifted.
Regina exhales shakily, her fists unclenching as the last remnants of the glow fade from her hands. She glances at the spot where the dagger once lay, her expression unreadable for a moment, before she straightens.
It's over.
Turning back to Emma and the Queen, she allows herself a fleeting moment of satisfaction. No one here will ever suffer at the hands of this curse again.
Another thought crosses her mind as her gaze sweeps the room, coming to rest on a small, familiar vial on the table - its placement deliberate, no doubt meant to taunt the Queen. Relief floods through her as she exhales, steadying herself. Regina is confident she can heal the Princess with her newfound power, but the antidote's presence is a reassurance she can't ignore.
She picks up the vial with careful hands, tucking it securely into her dress pocket. Her eyes shift back to Emma and the Queen, determination flaring anew in her chest.
Time to go home.