InsaneJournal

The castle was full of people celebrating a great love. The happy couple stood on a raised podium at the center of their guests, but they all parted when she entered. Regina's voice, cold and collected, rang over the assembled crowd. "I shall destroy your happiness if it is the last thing I do."

She turned on her heel, swirling the black feathered cape of her outfit around her as she stalked away. And when the Prince called out, she did turn back- but he, as foolish as ever, just threw his sword at her.

(Who throws a sword? And at the most powerful sorceress in the kingdom, no less?)

There was a swirl of black smoke, and Regina disappeared.

~~

Her mirror was always watching, no matter where she went. So Regina wasn't surprised to hear him call out to her when she returned to her castle.

"Now that was an awfully big threat. Destroy everyone's happiness? How do you plan on accomplishing that?"

Regina just smiled, holding her glass of wine up as she replied, "The Dark Curse."

Her valet approached from behind. "Are you sure, your Majesty?"

The mirror protested, as well. "But you said you'd never use it."

What was the point of possessing a dark curse if you never intended to use it?

"You made a deal when you gave away that curse," the valet added. "She won't be happy to see you."

And that, if nothing else, sealed her resolve. "Since when do I care about anyone else's happiness but mine? Prepare the carriage."

~~

Rumplestiltskin's breath was foul. He had stuck his head out through the bars of his cell, and though Regina knew that powerful magic would keep him inside, she still felt the faintest sliver of fear at his proximity.

And that, of course, only made her even more determined. He had a hand around her neck, but she remained stock still, refusing to break his gaze.

"Great power requires great sacrifice. The heart you need must come from something far more precious. The heart of the thing you love most."

She snapped, grabbing at his wrist and pulling his hand away from her face. "What I loved most died because of Snow White!"

Rumplestiltskin reached his hand up again, stroking his fingers along her cheek. "Is there no one else you truly love?" His hand fell away. "This Curse isn't gonna be easy. Vengeance never is, dearie. You have to ask yourself a simple question. How far are you willing to go?"

Regina leaned in closer to him, her voice low and even. "As far as it takes."

He seemed almost giddy at that, his yellowed teeth visible as he smiled. "Then please stop wasting everyone's time and just do it! You know what you love... now go kill it."

~~

Regina stalked back and forth, Rumplestiltskin's words echoing in her mind. She had meant what she'd said- she would go as far as it took, make any sacrifice needed to ensure that Snow White's happiness was destroyed. But how?

She was flanked by her magic mirror and her valet, but it was the latter who spoke up. "How bad is it? Maybe I can help."

Doddering old fool, though he was well-intentioned even still. He'd been her most loyal companion, all these years, even if he was one of the help.

"I have to cut out the heart of the thing I love most."

He was quiet for several long moments, and Regina turned away from him. Still, she heard the word he finally uttered: "Me."

And he was right.

Regina turned. "Daddy, I don't know what to do."

"My dear... please... you don't have to do this."

"I have to do something." She was pacing again, her long strides carrying her across the stone floor, heels clicking and cape swirling behind with each turn. "I can't keep living like this! What Snow did to me, what she took from me... It's eating me alive, Daddy. Her very existence mocks me. She must be punished." Regina knew that to the very depths of her own dark soul, better than she knew anything else.

"Stop worrying about Snow White and start over. We can have a new life." It was the plea of a man who surely must have known that his life was nearing its end. If he truly cared for her as he claimed, how could he suggest such a thing? Father or not, he must have known how much this meant to her.

"But what kind of life? All I've worked for, all I've built, will be gone. My power will disappear. They already think I'm nothing."

"Power is seductive, but so is love, and you can have that again." He held his arms open, and against every shred of hesitation that coursed through her, Regina stepped into the embrace. She could feel her father's arms wrap around her, and for the briefest moment, she was that innocent little girl again. She'd never experienced heartbreak or loss or…

"I just want to be happy," she spoke, quietly, and she could feel the tears slipping down her cheeks. She would never have shown this sort of vulnerability to anyone else. That he knew she was capable of it felt almost a step too far.

"You can be. Of this, I'm sure. I believe, given the chance, we can find happiness together. But the choice is yours."

"I think you're right." And Regina felt the very faintest of smiles coming to her lips, even as she stepped back to look at her father. "I can be happy." He breathed a sigh of relief, but Regina hardly heard the sound. Her mind was made up. "Just not here."

With one swift movement, she plunged her hand into her father's chest. The enchantment was well-practiced by now. She had removed dozens, perhaps even hundreds of hearts. Enemies and traitors and strangers alike. Each one pulled out of a beating chest, still glowing with a life- until her fingers wrapped around and crumbled it to dust beneath her feet.

Her father's heart was no different.

He fell to the floor, and Regina barely looked past the heart she held in her hands as he crumpled. The heart of the thing she loved most in the world. Her path to the Dark Curse, to her revenge.

"I'm sorry."

Sonya stared up at her bedroom ceiling, the early morning sunlight just starting to filter in through her curtains. She wouldn't say that she was becoming accustomed to these dreams, and- quite honestly- she hoped that she never did. Regina Mills was not a good person. Or maybe she was, only… misguided. It seemed to vary from dream to dream, and she could never nail down a proper answer.

But they called her the Evil Queen for a reason. People didn't come by that sort of name because they were made of sunshine and rainbows.

Grumbling and running her fingers through her mussed up hair, Sonya reached for her phone. It was early yet, and he likely wouldn't see it now, but she wanted to text her father. Just for her own peace of mind.

Happy Valentine's Day, daddy! 💞💕