Gasping for breath, Regina held tight to her chest as she knelt low to the ground. With Ruby and Mulan at her side, The Queen moaned in pain.

"Regina," Mulan pleaded, kneeling beside her, "Stay strong! You must power through this to fight the demon and save our kingdom.."

Glaring at the warrior, The Queen snapped back, "Don't you think I'm trying?!!"

Ruby stroked The Queen's back trying to help ease her anguish, "My Queen, Do you think you can muster enough power to get us back to your castle?" She asked.

Between breaths, Regina gasped, "Perhaps."

Catching her breath, The Queen stood slowly. With a flick of her wrist, the three women quickly found themselves back in The Queen's chambers.

Quietly, The Queen sat on her bed and thought for a moment, gathering her gathering her thoughts.

Mulan approached her slowly, "If it's causing you so much pain Regina, just remove your heart again, and place it in your vault." Mulan suggested.

"Are you insane?!" Regina spat, "that is the first place Chernabog will look in order to gain control of my heart, don't you understand?? There would be no chance for us after that! It's suicide.

"Mmm, point taken." Mulan realized.

"No, I will get through this." Regina confirmed, "as hard as it is... it's the only way."

The room fell silent. Regina's eyes frantically searched the room from where she sat, as though the answers were hidden somewhere within it. Finally, she diverted her attention to Mulan and asked, "Mulan.. What is your current relationship with the witch, Maleficent?"

"Better than my relationship with you, Why?" Mulan laughed.

"Then Go." Regina commanded, "Take Aurora's heart back to her."

The Queen raised her brow, focusing on the side table by her bed. Slowly, she moved the fingers of her left hand through the air in front of her, as though she were gently plucking the delicate strings of a harp. Just as she did, a bright mist of purple smoke swirled atop the table, revealing a beautiful wooden box in it's wake. On the top of it, the name Aurora could be seen engraved in the hard, dark wood.

"In exchange, you must bring Maleficent here... We're going to need all the help we can get."

Without hesitation, Mulan took the box in her hands and replied "Come Ruby, let's go."

"No!" The Queen answered, quickly grabbing Ruby's arm. "Red stays with me. Think of it as a bit of insurance.. so I know you'll come back."

"I already gave you my word I would fight alongside you Regina." Mulan explained, "I have never gone back on my word, and I don't intend to start now."

"Good. Then I will know for certain, you'll return for her."

Mulan looked nervously in The Queen's direction.

"It's ok, Mulan." Ruby assured her, "Regina won't allow any harm to come to me. Of that, I am sure. Please, Bring Aurora her heart, and bring back the help we need. I'll still be here, awaiting your safe return."

The warrior exchanged glances with The Queen, narrowing her gaze.

"I will do as you wish, but only because this kingdom depends on it."

Regina smiled.

With a wave of her hand, the broken shards of the mirror fused back together. Mulan stood in front of it, looking back at her reflection in the glass. Suddenly, the image staring back at her transformed into a view of Maleficent's castle.

Mulan spoke to The Queen, "You want me to walk.. through there??"

Regina laughed, "Where else??"

Mulan looked anxiously at Regina, "Is it safe?"

"Would you rather walk all the way there? The journey would take days."

"And how do I return?"

"Maleficent will take care of that, I'm sure. Now go. We're wasting precious time with your squabbling!"

Mulan readied herself for her walk through the magic mirror. Straightening her back, she placed a hand on the hilt of her sheathed sword, and stepped through the glass, disappearing seconds later.

The moment the warrior left, Regina exhaled deeply.

"My Queen, what is it? "

She gazed in Ruby's direction, "I have done horrible, terrible things in my lifetime. Unforgivable things. Perhaps... perhaps I deserve to be destroyed by the demon.."

"No!" Ruby replied, her brow pinched together in frustration. "I refuse to believe that. My queen, There is good in you."

"Ha!" Regina replied, "And where is the proof of that?!"

"Because," Ruby answered, "I don't believe you've done the things you did because you wanted to. All this time, all you've ever wanted was love and kindness. You stole the hearts of others because you wanted their love and support.. it was the only way you knew how to get that. You could have easily crushed those hearts and killed them all. You could have killed me. But you didn't."

The Queen looked away as Ruby drew closer.

"Regina, you captured Emma Swan with the intention to kill her. But you didn't. You couldn't. You loved her. You still do. No one in this world can truly be evil, with that much love in their heart. Not even you."

"Perhaps..." The Queen replied. "Ruby..." She looked to her with sincerity, "Whether we make it through this alive or not, I want you to know that I'm sorry. For everything I've done to you, I am truly sorry."

Ruby offered her a soft smile, "Thank you My Queen."

Both women diverted their attention to the center of the room. In a swirling puff of dark blue smoke Mulan returned. Next to her, stood Maleficent.

The dark witch stood tall and proud. She peered at Regina and Ruby, as though she were looking down upon them. Her body, draped in long black robes, stood eerily still. Every inch of her body was covered in black. In her gloved hand, she held her staff; her most valuable possession.

"Regina," Maleficent started, "we meet again."

"It appears so." Regina answered "I trust Mulan gave you the news..?"

"Mmmnn.. yes. She mentioned you were in over your head, once again."

"Go to hell, witch!" The Queen quipped back angrily.

"Tsk, tsk" Maleficent scolded, "honey, look around you. We're already there!"

The sorceress moved around the room, "Never the less, I must Thank you for returning my daughter's heart, but i DO wonder, Regina, what's the catch?"

"As much as it pains me to say this," Regina admitted, "I am in need of your help."

"I see. Well, go on then, explain."

"It's Chernabog." Regina confessed.

"Yes, yes. And what of the creature?"

Soaking up the silence, Regina turned to move closer to Maleficent as she continued, "It seems I've made an irreversible deal with the devil, and now, he demands I pay up. The Problem is.. I'm in love with the bargaining chip... and I'm afraid it might be too late."

Maleficent starred at Regina coldly. Her expression was nothing short of stoic.

"My, my, Regina. You DO have blood on your hands with this one.."

The Queen peered angrily at the witch. She was quickly reaching her limit with Maleficent's taunting. Raising her voice, she sternly replied "If you continue to taunt me, witch, i WILL be forced to destroy you."

"Destroy me?" The sorcerous smirked, "Well then Regina, what on earth do you need me for??"

"If you remember woman, this is all your fault!" Regina yelled, "you're the one who taught me about absolute power, and you're the one who informed me about the power of Chernabog! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in this mess!"

The Queen continued to violently accuse Maleficent of her responsibility in the matter with such force and anger, she lunged at her without warning. Her rash actions took everyone by surprise, causing Ruby and Mulan to quickly hold The Queen back with every ounce of their strength.

Maleficent laughed, "Foolish child. If you think for one instant that you are without fault in all of this, then I doubt you have the intelligence or ability to know what it takes to defeat him."

The Queen broke free from her impromptu guards and straightened herself out.

"Stop speaking in riddles, Maleficent! Explain yourself."

"The only way to defeat the Chernabog creature is to give him what he wants.. or, pay the ultimate sacrifice." Maleficent explained, "There is no other way."

Regina put her hand where her heart beat in her chest.

"..The only thing he wants.. is my heart. It's the final ingredient he needs to unleash hell on this kingdom." The Queen looked around the room at the women before her, "If I give him what he wants in exchange for Emma... we're all dead anyway..."

"In exchange..?" Maleficent asked. "Oh my, you are foolish child. Chernabog will never exchange for anything! If it's your heart he's after dear, he'll get it. Even if he has to rip it from your chest himself."

Ruby sat down on the Queen's bed feeling defeated. "So, that's it? It's over?!"

"No." Regina replied. She raised her hand above her head and gave a flick of the wrist, summoning her guards. As they walked into The Queen's chambers, she continued.

"Hear me now, all of you! I don't know if we will win, but, I do know that I won't go down without a fight!"

Quickly, Regina turned to face everyone in the room. "This is a day of reckoning. We must do everything we can to get through this together, and that includes Ms. Swan."

The room fell silent. The Queen gazed at all them before adding, "Have I made myself clear?"

"Yes, my Queen!" The guardsmen replied in unison.

Ruby and Mulan nodded in agreement, "For the kingdom" the warrior added.

"Well," Maleficent sat down in Regina's chair, "We're all going to perish anyway, might as well go down fighting!"

The Queen let out her breath and commanded, "Alright then. Mulan, take control of The Guardsman. I'm counting on your special skillset to not only command our army, but also protect this castle."

"As you wish." Mulan agreed.

"Ruby.."

"Yes my Queen?"

"If anyone makes it passed the castle walls," Regina explained, A wicked smile crept upon her lips, "Cut. Them. Down."

Ruby's eyes began to glow in excitement. The beautiful bright color within them shined like polished jewels of amber upon her face. "It's been a while since I've unleashed the beast!" She smiled.

"Now go. Maleficent and I have much to prepare for." Regina began as the lot of them left the room, leaving the two sorceresses alone together. "Maleficent, You and I will lay in wait for the demon. No doubt Chernabog will unleash his army of legions to storm this castle. But, he himself? He enters and leaves this place as he wishes. I've never been able to prevent that.."

"Mmm.." Maleficent smiled, "Until now, dear. We can bond our power and magic together and drive him into the forest, separating him from his army. There, we will fight him."

"You really think it'll work?"

"Indeed, Regina. You need not worry about that."

"Alright," The Queen replied, "We'll try it your way."

"Let us begin our way to the forest now," Maleficent said, "The sooner we draw the demon out, the better."

The Queen nodded in agreement.

"I must gather a few things from my vault and spell room first."

"Of course," Maleficent agreed, "We should have all our preparations in order."

Giving her wrist a twist, the two women found themselves in the depths of Regina's vault.

The cold, dark, stone of the walls felt empty, lonely even, now that Emma wasn't by her side.

Maleficent stood in the center of the room, in awe at The Queen's vast collection of spells, potions and ingredients.

"I must say, Regina; well done! I've heard the rumors, you know.. but I never imagined.."

"Rumors? What rumors?!"

"Why, the rumors about your collection of spells, my dear." Maleficent explained, "you don't know? Well! People talk you know.. You've been named the sorceress of the kingdom. And Now? Well, now I can see why!"

"Please!" The Queen laughed, "you must be joking! If anyone's a sorceress, Maleficent, we all know it's you."

"Mmnnn.." Maleficent thought, "Perhaps, once upon a time, maybe. But now? No. My magic has been in retirement for many years now."

The Queen, not wishing to draw the witch further into debate, ignored her and kept gathering what she needed.

"I've been meaning to ask you, dear.." She continued, tinkering with Regina's potions, "what is it about this 'Emma' that has you all worked up? Surely, there have been others between your sheets, and it's all the same. They're good for a fuck, then it's 'off with their head' and all that. So tell me, what's the deal?"

"Emma.. She's.. different." Regina responded, stopping briefly to address Maleficent. "She makes me feel.. loved. Important. Like I truly have a purpose in this world." The Queen smiled, "Don't get me wrong; the sex is absolutely amazing.. but it's more than that with her." Regina looked Maleficent in the eyes, "Truthfully, I would give my life, if it meant that Emma would be safe."

"I see." Maleficent replied. "Well, Be careful what you wish for dear..."

Confused by her reply, The Queen gathered the last of her belongings and moved toward her.

"I've got all we need. Let's go."

*****

"They're coming!" Ruby exclaimed. Her eyes beginning to glow brightly at the excitement of battle. "Mulan, ready the soldiers. The first strike will no doubt be the hardest."

"Indeed." Mulan agreed, turning to address The Queen's army she now commanded, "This is it, men! If there are any that stand before me that have doubts, hear me now! This is your last chance to flee, if you so wish it."

There came nothing but complete silence from the soldiers, following Mulan's words.

"After this moment, we are no longer soldiers of war. We are brothers. We are sisters. And we will defend this family. To. The. Death!"

A roaring cheer exploded from the army surrounding her.

Mulan smiled, "It is time."

Ruby's transformation began to take hold. Sharp fangs protruded from her mouth as black whiskers poked out from her face. Slowly, she dropped to the ground on all fours, as soft gray fur quickly covered her skin, and her full wolf-like body took shape.

With a piercing howl, she took off, running full force into the distance. Seconds later, Mulan and her army ran after her, yelling and screaming their war cry.