Untitled Pt 1

Sister to the Queen

"Sleep now, dear Carmen. Goodnight, child of mine. Rest now, in starlight's embrace. May my sweet lullaby be with you now. All through your life will it stay."
Carmen giggled as babies do, her small, chubby arms reaching up to her mother's face. Her soft brown eyes, and auburn hair bounced over her shoulders as the two danced through the gardens of Everglade Castle.
"You sing beautifully, my dear." Andre's voice rang clear as a bell through the trees.
"Thank you, my prince." Cora chuckled. "Our daughter will make a wonderful queen one day."
"Indeed. And you will make a fine princess yourself."
"Andre, you know what the people think of me. They'd never accept me as their princess."
"They will. In time. They just need to get to know you first. As I have done."
"Have I ever told you that I love you?"
"Many times." He smiled, bending to kiss his love.
"Andre!" a voice sang out over the grounds.
"Father!" Andre replied, rushing to greet King Amos.
"There you are my boy. And Cora. Lovely to see you, as always."
"Hello, Amos." She smiled.
"And how is my little granddaughter?"
"Happy, healthy, and the most beautiful baby in all the land." Andre declared, smiling as the king took his daughter in his arms.
"That she is. She will make a fine queen. And speaking of royalty, your mother has been searching in vain for young Cora here. She insists on have another dress fitting."
"Another one?"
"She wants your coronation to be perfect."
"Queen Isabel is truly the kindest queen I have ever met."
"She's the only queen you've ever met." Andre chuckled.
"Now, now son. You watch that tongue of yours. Anyway, I just came to check on the two of you and make sure you're alright."
"We're alright, thank you father."
"Of course." Amos smiled as he handed Carmen back to her mother. Andre couldn't help the beaming grin that stretched from ear to ear as he stared down at his family.
"My beautiful girls."

∞

Conan's gaunt and starving face twisted into a villainous grin as he eavesdropped on Emma and Killian's conversation. "Tell me, how is our dear queen?"
"Shut up, weasel." Emma spat. "This is your fault."
"Are you sure about that?"
"You did this."
"How do you know?"
"Because we do."
"But are you sure?"
"Shut up." Killian snapped, slamming the office door closed. "Don't listen to him, Emma."
"I'm not."
"Regina's going to be fine."
"I know." Emma sighed, pulling Killian's arms around her. She had no doubt that Carmen would save Regina. But still there was this nagging thought in the back of her mind. A hint of uncertainty that, if given even the slightest bit of attention, would surely grow into an uncontrollable mass of apprehension. What if she didn't? What if...
"Emma!" Killian cried. Emma had barely enough time to duck under the desk before an explosion of flames came burning through the door. A wave of heat blasted through the office, shattering the glass, and knocking the air out of their lungs. The two huddled together under the table, holding each other and praying for it to be over. All they could hear were the sounds of the station burning around them, and Conan's maniacal laugh as his associates pulled him from the wreckage.
"This is bad."
"I've been worse scrapes than this." Killian groaned as he pulled his wife out of the rubble.
"He'll be after Regina."
"Aye. We'd better call Carmen."

∞

"Alright. Thanks." Carmen sighed as she put her phone away.
"What is it?" Jana asked.
"Conan. He's out. There was an attack on the station. I'm sending the others to check it out."
"Far out." Lucas hissed.
"I know. Once he's recovered, he'll be after Regina. We have to move fast."
"Rhydian's back." Henry's voice called from the kitchen. Jana and Carmen raced to meet them.
"Alright, listen up." Carmen said, calling everyone's attention. "There's no way to put this gently, so here I go. Regina, we need to get that thing out of you, but it's going to be painful. So what I need you to do is hang onto Robin as tight as you can. Henry, I need you to make sure she does, and you too Robin. Wolf Gang, this is just a basic OBE removal. Nothing we haven't done a hundred times. Rhydian, you pull. Jana and I will use our magic to try and make it go as smoothly as possible." Carmen commanded. She looked around at all the bobbing heads and fearful eyes.
"Alright. When you're ready."
Regina sighed as she slipped her arms around Robin. Robin held her tight, keeping her upright while Henry held her hands.
"It's going to be okay, mom."
"I know."
"Ready?" Carmen called.
"Ready." Henry replied.
"Alright. On my count. One."
Regina braced herself for the worst.
"Two."
Robin held onto her as tight as he could. The Wolf Gang prayed to every god they knew.
"Three."