Lost, Then Home: The Third Book in the A Tale of Two Sisters Series

Part Two: A Curious Thing

The Enchanted Forest, months ago

"You've gathered the entire kingdom for this?" Regina asked the Charmings as they stood in her bedchamber along with Elphaba, Aurora, and Phillip. "There's a wicked witch out there, just waiting to punch, and pretending otherwise would be dangerous. Let alone, my daughter is out there, still missing with that thief of hers."

"There's nothing dangerous about rallying our people," Charming said calmly. "And maybe this will bring Reagan back."

"You're announcing you're pregnant. It's not like you invented the wheel," Regina said as a person in a hood entered.

"What's this?"

The person pulled back their hood, revealing their identity.

"Belle!" Snow exclaimed.

"Are you okay?" Charming asked. "When you and Neal disappeared, we feared the worst."

"We went off to see if we could revive The Dark One," Belle replied.

"What happened?" Elphaba asked.

"Neal was able to resurrect him," she sighed. "At the cost of his own life"

"Rumple's alive." Regina said.

"Neal is dead?" Snow asked.

"I think so," Belle replied.

"To which?" Regina asked.

"Both. You see, when Rumple saw that Neal was dying—He absorbed him, and Zelena got a hold of the dagger. Now, she controls Rumple."

Aurora and her husband shared a worried glance before the princess said, "Maybe now isn't the time to announce the pregnancy. Regina is right. It's too dangerous."

"No, if we don't, we give into fear," Snow said. "But, if we do, we give the kingdom what they need: Hope."

"We don't even know what this Wicked Witch wants," Charming said.

"Actually, we do," Aurora said. "She wants your baby."

"She came to us when you were gone," Phillip said. "Threatened us and our unborn child unless we told her when you arrived in our land."

"She thinks your baby could be important. I'm so sorry. She said she'd hurt us."

A gush of wind went through the bedchamber, making them all turn to the balcony to see Zelena flying in.

"And I make good on my promises," she said, hopping off her broom as Aurora and Phillip backed away in fear. With a wave of her hand, they were surrounded in green smoke, being turned into flying monkeys. They shrieked before flying away.

"What do you want with our baby?" Snow asked.

"Calm down, sweetie. You don't want to go into early labor," Zelena said before freezing her in place.

Charming drew his sword, "Stay away from my wife."

"Oh, someone's testy," Zelena said before freezing him too.

"Enough, sis," Regina threw back her skirt. "This is between you and me." She raised her hand, only for Zelena to freeze her along with the others.

Zelena walked over to Snow, "Now, let's see if this was all worth it." She touched her swollen stomach. "Yes. Yes, it was. This child will do quite nicely. So, take good care of it for me. Don't forget to eat well. I will be back for your happy day. And what's yours will be mine. Oh," she looked over at her younger sister. "And I have seen Reagan, and it's such a shame that you no longer have a Savior to save you."