Earlier
A chill rose up Regina's spine and she shivered, clutching her shoulders, but the soft wool of her grey blazer was absent. Instead, a silky diamond studded dress was beneath her fingertips and Regina opened her eyes to find herself in a musty abandoned tavern. The shelves cleared of liquor with only a few chairs and tables left, scattered about the space.
"I'm back" She sighed "but where the hell am I?" Regina said with a judgmental tone wondering why she was brought to this location.
Looking around her eyes focused on a poster hung behind the bar, it had an illustration of a rugged man, wanted for theft. Regina frowned walking out to the street, a girl gasped eyes wide upon seeing her.
"No, I'm not" Regina reached her hand out smiling kindly, but the girl had already run off "Going to hurt you" she said quietly to no one.
Regina walked the streets of the small village, most shops, like the tavern, were abandoned. Those few who escaped the curse, scarce and fearful. After hours of not finding any sign of the Prince or any Storybrooke resident. Regina felt a fear rise in her, paying less and less attention to her surrounds. Resulting in her sinking into a puddle, filling her heel with muddy water, she groaned before disappearing in a cloud of purple magic.
Teleporting herself to the last place she thought she would ever see again, she took in the sight of the dilapidated nursery. Her lip quivered and her eyes welled with tears upon seeing the destruction she caused. The sound of mice scurrying the halls caused her to flinch, breaking her out of her spiralling thoughts of doubt, she came to a realization that no one was waiting for her. In a huff she marched out to the hall into the next room, the sound of crunching beneath her feet she looked down. Regina's eyes went wide upon realising she was standing on the remains of the magic mirror. With no clear indication her message was even heard, by Emma or Snow, her shoulders slumped.
"Someone was here" She frowned confused "could have at least left me a note" she grumbled frustrated.
Turning away before once again disappearing in a purple cloud of magic, she lifted her dress trying to avoid getting mud on her train. Scrunching her face in disgust at the smell, she walked forwards to a large hollowed out tree tree. Heart racing, hoping, she pulled open the moss coated door into the hidden home, but it too was empty and desolate.
"Hello?" Regina's tone aggravated, her voice the only sound echoing around her.
It was colder inside then out, with no light or sign that anything had entered the space in a long time. She huffed slamming the door, teleporting once more to her castle, a home she hadn't stepped foot in for over sixteen years. She felt no relief. In fact the aching in her gut had only increased as she began to pace in her former bedroom.
"I'll never find them" Regina paused scrunching up her nose "Not without dark magic"
Regina breathed heavily, overwhelmingly scared as she stormed the halls of her once pristine castle. Her heart ached, having only felt this kind of fear once in her life. Fear of never seeing someone she cared for again. Busting open the door to her old supply room, she didn't scope the environment, unaware she had a guest. Until he knocked over a few vials, the glass shattering on the stone floor.
"What do you think you're doing?" Regina felt a burning rage rising up in her, as she caught sight of him.
"Sorry. Didn't realise you'd returned, your majesty," the man responded with a smirk before leaping out the window, straight onto a horse he had been waiting by the ledge he took off into the forest with a satchel full of stolen goods.
"Nobody steals from me". Regina shouted after him her voice strained.
The thief's face quickly changed to a smirk, as Regina appeared in front of him, fireball in hand. She had him right in her sights, but hesitated when they locked eyes. Pulling at the reins abruptly, he veered to the left disappearing into the forest, and she sighed, hopeless. From behind her a loud screech echoed through the valley and Regina looked up to see a large, winged creature flying towards her.
"Where the hell did that thing come from?" she slumped her shoulders frustrated, glaring as the beast flew towards her.
"Not hell sis, Oz" Zelena called out as she circled around Regina on a broomstick.
"What did you call me?" Regina gasped, the flames in her palm fading out.
"Oh, Cora never told you?" she chuckled, edging closer as she circled around Regina.
The witch signalled to the beasts, and they began swooping down towards Regina, their claws barred, ready to dig into flesh. Caught off guard, she flinched, but just as it was about to strike, the flying monkey cried out in pain, an arrow in its side. Riding with great speed out of the forest, the thief let fly more arrows into the winged monsters.
"What are you doing? Run!" Regina gasped out frustrated.
The Wicked Witch grunted before waving her hand, sending the thief flying off his horse and onto the ground with a thud. Regina stood tall then, in her hands now the flames burned hot. Raising her arms she screamed, sending fireballs towards the creatures as they swarmed, taking them out one by one until it was just her and the witch.
"What do you want?" Regina yelled, her frustrations boiling over.
"Not telling" she chuckled, swooping downwards forcing Regina to duck out of the way.
"Then you'll die" Regina surged forwards with another fireball aimed at the wicked witch, but she quickly dodged it, flying right past while laughing. Grunting in anger, Regina spun around, her eyes locked onto her attacker. Curling her fingers and murmuring, attempting a curse that would turn the witch and the broomstick to stone.
"You're so predictable," she waved her hand, deflecting it like she was swatting a fly. "You're weak, you've forgotten who you are." she teased with a wide smile.
Regina had no words, only an enraged scream for Zelena, who thrust her hands forwards sending out a powerful wave of energy, flinging a stunned Regina through the air, sending her crashing down onto her back a few metres away. The thief's eyes went wide as he ran towards them, his arm reaching for more arrows, not realizing until too late that he had lost them in his fall.
Regina slowly got up from the grass, her vision doubling but she remained standing, sneering as she sent a fireball towards the witch. Zelena vanished in a cloud of magic, the fireball erupted with a woosh, engulfing nothing but air. Reappearing again in front of Regina, Zelena reached her hand out, eyes bloodthirsty as she focused on Regina's chest.
"Try it" Regina sneered enraged, confident in the many protective enchantments she'd placed on her heart years ago.
Zelena did not hesitate thrusting her arm forwards only for her hand to snap, the bones breaking and she cried out in agony. Appearing in a cloud of black magic just behind Zelana was Snow White, her expression blank. Regina gasped upon seeing the same rosy cheeks, but her pale skin seemed even lighter against her black armour and dark, hollow eyes.
"Snow" Regina gasped in shock "You- you're..." stuttering as she stood still.
"What do you think you're doing?" The wicked witch yelled out exasperated, clenching her fist, sending a green blast of energy towards her, but it was quickly deflected by Snow White.
"Back away, witch" David ordered standing beside Regina, he stood tall even without his sword.
Regina looked between the two of them frustrated, unable to digest all of this information "What are you two doing here?" Her eyes were angry before she gave them a disapproving look "Where's Emma?"
While Robin lowered his bow, utterly confused by everything he was witnessing he stepped back slightly, fearful as he found himself surrounded by powerful strangers.
"No need to fight me" Zelena grinned looking back at Snow "I'm only here for her" her eyes narrowed on Regina.
"I don't care," Snow stated firmly, composed "I want to hurt you"
Zelena's smile vanished and she turned to Snow, a bitter scowl forming, like a child about to throw a tantrum. "You'll regret this" Her tone was bitter.
Snow White stepped closer "I don't think so," she stated confidently.
Zelena's eyes were on Snow White her expression became a grin, and she disappeared in a cloud of green magic.
"You've changed so much, already" Regina's tone was accusatory as she looked towards David, then back to Snow with concern. "Are you ok?"
"I'm fine" she shrugged as if confused by Regina's question "you're the one who just found out she's a second child" Snow teased with a playful smirk.
"So, it's true?" Regina gasped looking at Snow for more explanation.
"According to Cora" Snow stated plainly with a shrug.
"Cora?" Regina said it as if asking a question, up until this moment believing her mother to be dead.
Even though Regina had warned the Prince he would not find the wife he lost, she was still in shock herself as she looked upon her stepdaughter. Snow's eyes were dark, she remained uncharacteristically calm.
"I guess you're all back" The thief paused letting out a sigh "that's great" Robin said with a sarcastic tone.
"Why did you come back? you could have gotten away?" Regina frowned, eyeing him suspiciously.
"And you could have killed me before" Robin smiled seeing her eyes go wide "you hesitated," he retorted with a smirk.
"No, I didn't" She stammered back "and I don't need rescuing" Regina crinkled up her nose glaring at the man who smirked in return shaking his head, amused by her inability to admit a kind act.
"It's not a weakness to show restraint or require help". he stated his eyes darting between the three of them curiously.
The thief's eyes rested on Snow White, while his hands twitched around his bow, wondering if he should aim it at her.
"Who is this?" David asked frustratedly, he couldn't help but notice the man was now glaring at Snow.
"I don't know" Regina answered with a shrug to which he smiled as the four of them stood awkwardly in the grassy field, surrounded by dead winged monkeys.
"Robin of Locksley, and I best be off" Robin stated plainly before he turned walking towards the forest.
"Wait, you're leaving?" Regina asked, her hands outstretched bewildered.
Regina and Robin stared into each other's eyes, a smile appearing on both their faces. As if they'd forgotten there was anyone else there for a moment.
"Before that witch attacks again, I need to get back to my family" he said, winking at her.
David waved him off, letting out a small sigh of relief seeing the stranger disappear into the forest
When Regina and David turned back to the spot where Snow stood a moment ago, they found nothing there.
"Where did she go?" David's eyes were wide..
"Someone must have summoned her…" Regina paused, her eyes widened "Emma?" she gasped, feeling a dread wash over her.
"Take us to the dwarf's house, that's where they'll be". David demanded.