Untitled Pt 1

Not Yet, Dearie

"Cricket. Cricket?" Regina whispered through the dark.
"I have a name, you know." Jiminy murmured back.
"Sorry. Old habits die hard."
"It's okay. What about you? Are you okay? Has Conan done anything to you yet?"
"No, not yet. He thinks I'm out searching for you lot. How's everyone else?"
"Everyone's fine. Uh, they send their best. And here, I have a heap of letters from them." He said, pulling out a stack of papers wrapped in string.
"I love you. You know that, right?" she smiled.
"I know."
Regina chuckled softly as she stared down as the stack in her hands.
"But, uh, listen. Carmen asked me to ask you something on her behalf."
"And what's that?"
"Well, with a rebellion comes different jobs that need doing. Hunting, reconnaissance, the likes. For each task, a leader is chosen, and, well, she chose me to be the 'Communications Master'."
"And what does that entail exactly?"
"She wants me to get any information from you that I can when we meet. Any insight into Conan's plans, or what he's doing."
"Of course she does."
"Please, Regina. She's just trying to get this whole thing over and done with and get you home. We all are."
"I know. I know. I only jest. And, as for Conan, it's the same as it's always been, far as I can tell. Destroy the rebels, take over the realms, etcetera, etcetera. But I'll keep my ears open."
"Thank you, Regina. We all miss you."
"I miss you all, too." She sighed. "But, uh, I should get going. Conan has eyes everywhere."
"Of course. But before you leave, I have one more thing." He added, producing a small cylinder from his coat. It was black with a purple rim on both ends. One end had a small string extruding from its base. "It's from Carmen. It's a flare to give us warning. The moment Conan pulls out the dagger and uses it on you, pull the string. The flare will go off, and that's how we'll know that things have started going south."
"Thank you. I hope I'll never have to use it."
"So do we."

∞

Robin sat on Carmen's ledge, staring out over the buzz of activity below. Carmen had just finished detailing them of a plan to break Regina out of the weasel's clutches. While his heart soared at the idea of saving his true love, his head, and all his years of experience were screaming at him to stay behind. That this was a bad plan. He sighed with frustration and buried his palms into his eyes. He could feel the fatigue weighing down his eyelids as he opened them. He realised that he had barely slept since Regina had been turned into the Dark One. His ears pricked at the sound of footsteps behind him. He turned and came face to face with himself.
"Ah. So you must be the original Robin. The one I heard so much about." Wish Robin smiled. Despite being regaled of his time in Storybrooke, Robin still found it extremely confronting, and slightly uncomfortable, to finally meet the Wish Realm version of himself.
"And you must be Wish Robin. I hear you and the Evil Queen hit it off quite nicely."
"And you have been reunited with her other half."
"Well, I was. Until life got in the way. Again."
"Hm. Tough luck, old bean."
"All the more reason to get ready for this jailbreak I suppose."
"Indeed. She is a fair maiden, your Regina."
"She most certainly is.
"And for that reason, I must apologise."
"What on earth for?"
"When Regina brought me here from the Wish Realm, she was still hurting from losing you. But she wanted me to be you and I couldn't even bother to try."
"You don't have to apologise. You and I both know that Regina is a driven woman who took what she thought was going to be a wonderful opportunity.
"I just feel bad that it didn't turn out that way."
"Things work out when they are supposed to. And don't worry. Once we get her out, we can..." Robin jumped as he was interrupted by Carmen's overexcited call to arms.
"I guess that's us, then old chap." Wish Robin chuckled.
"Right you are. Lead the way."

∞

"Alright. You all know the drill. Let's blast that weaselly son of a bitch out of this kingdom!" Carmen roared. There wasn't a single rebel who wasn't jittery with excitement as they raced out of the Hive. Carmen smiled as the adrenaline raced through her veins. The scent of rain that hung heavy in the air only excited her more. There was nothing quite like a jailbreak during an evening storm. By the time they had gotten to their destination, the rain had arrived. It drummed on their skulls, and buried their feet in thick, oozing mud. They stood at the base of the walls that surrounded the Evil Queen's castle. Earlier that week, the Evil Queen had revealed that she had had the wall designed with a weak point built in just in case there was ever a need to make a quick escape. Carmen had sent Ella and Henry to scope it out, and sure enough, it was there, right where the Queen had said it would be. Carmen had then divulged a plan to bust Regina out of Conan's clutches. They would poke a hole in the wall, and sneak into the castle grounds. Zelena and the Sky Riders were to fly in and distract the guards, allowing for a clean entrance. They then had roughly ten minutes to get Regina, find the dagger, and get out. Carmen and Rhydian stood at the weak point, awaiting the arrival of the Sky Riders. The sky was empty bar the dark clouds heavy with rain. All of a sudden, there was a woosh, then another, and the sky was suddenly alive with a rainbow of fireworks. Shouts went up from the other side of the wall as sparks rained down on the courtyard, lighting everything they touched on fire. The flames moved with grace and fury, their great burning tongues licking everything within reach. The entire courtyard had quickly been engulfed in flames, which is exactly what they needed. Working together, the others passed several small barrels to the Rhydian and Carmen, who then stacked them against the wall. Carmen held her jacket over Rhydian as he lit a match and held it to the wick poking out of one of the barrels. Then the group ducked for cover as wall blew apart, sending debris sailing over their heads.
"Let's go." Carmen cried. The rebels slipped through the wall without any resistance and made their way to the servant's door. With a nod of her head, Carmen gave Henry and Ella the signal to go. Together with Snow and David, they slipped through the halls like shadows, neutralising any straggling guards. Once the path was cleared, the others made their way to Conan's quarters. The room was bare bar the large, mahogany desk that stood against the far wall. It was mid-height, and ornate, covered with papers and ink bottles. Carmen felt her heart lurch as several childhood memories came flooding back to her. Her uncle had a desk just like that one.
"Henry? Emma?" a voice spoke from the shadows.
"Regina?" Snow whispered back.
"What is it with you and bringing the entire Charming softball team with you everywhere you go? You can't be here!" Regina hissed.
"Yeah, love you too, mom." Henry chuckled as he hugged his mother.
"We're here to get you out. Come on, let's go." Carmen urged.
"I can't. Conan still has the dagger."
"We'll go get it. Come on."
"No!" Regina exclaimed suddenly.
"Why not?"
"He wants me to kill you all."
"We can take it."
"No. I won't risk it. Just let me stay."
"What?"
"Carmen, we're running out of time!" Rhydian cried out from the hall. "We have to go now!"
"Let me stay. I'll find out what Conan is planning and pass it on to the cricket."
"You can't do this! I won't let you!"
"It's the safest option."
"She's right, Carmen." Emma agreed.
"Are you serious right now?"
"Carmen. Listen to me. Remember when we were at Granny's? When David said there was no way he was letting me be a part of this rebellion with you?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember what you said."
Carmen huffed with irritation, before spitting through gritted teeth "I understand your reluctance, but this isn't your decision." She murmured. "I know."
"Carmen?" Rhydian's voice sounded again.
"Are you sure you want to do this?" she asked, her dark eyes like steel as they bore into her sister's.
"I have to." Regina replied, her stare equally as hard.
"Carmen?"
Carmen choked back the tears in her eyes as she pulled her sister close. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
"Stay safe."
"I will."
"I knowl. Alright, let's go!" Carmen cried, turning away from her sister. She refused to glance back, for if she did, the tears she's been holding back were sure to fall.

∞

"Zelena! I don't know how much longer we can keep this up!" Marita shouted over the roar of flaming arrows whizzing past them. "Bravo Team is equipped for air assaults, but not like this!"
"I know, I know. But we have to give the others as much time as possible!" Zelena screamed back.
"Look!" one of the other members exclaimed. Zelena followed his gaze to see a lone, purple firework light up the sky above where the weak point was supposed to be.
"That's us! Let's get the hell out of here!" she cried, zooming away from the battle below. She rolled her eyes at the cries of joy from the guards as they retreated. At that exact moment in time, she promised herself that she would personally see to Carmen's demise if she had failed to save her sister from the clutches of the weasel.

∞

Conan looked up at the retreating broom flyers. It was undoubtedly a diversion. Carmen was probably already half way to her base, with Regina by her side. Or at least she would've been had she ignored the prophet's warning. He turned and looked up to Regina standing on the balcony, looking out over the carnage. Good. Carmen had left her here. She was finally learning to listen to the future. He looked up again. His eyes locked with Regina's, and pure fear stared back. She thought he was going to use the dagger on her.
"Not today, dearie." He whispered. "Not today."