Rotten to the Core

"You will steal Fairy Godmother's wand!"

    Merlin, Gideon, Elsa, and Ruby loaded up onto Merlin's dragon, Kilgharrah, and headed off to the Evil Queen's castle.
    It stood, large, dark, and imposing, just like the woman herself, against even the inky blackness of the Isle. Of all the places on the Isle, the Evil Queen's castle was the most frightening.
   The four friends didn't waste much time, knowing to do so was a death wish. They walked into the palace to find each of their parents in the throne room. Regina was sitting on the throne (naturally), with Fiona and Ingrid flanking her. Fenrir was in wolf form, resting at Regina's feet.
   Regina stood up when the children entered. They bowed respectfully and waited for her to give them the say so to rise.
   She did so before turning her attention to her son. "This is your lucky day, my boy! Most of us have wasted away in this slum for years! I was the queen! THE QUEEN!" She shouted.
   Fiona walked over to Regina, patting her shoulder gently. "There, there, dear. We will make them pay soon enough!"
   Ingrid finally spoke up, "Why don't we tell the children the big news, your majesty?"
   Regina nodded, stepping away from the other two women. "You four have been chosen to go to a different school."
   Merlin, Gideon, Elsa, and Ruby looked surprised and confused as they tried to figure out where they were going and why.
   Ingrid smiled. "Isn't it wonderful? You'll get to go to Storybrooke!"
   "Of course," Fiona added, "not without doing something for your dear old parents."
   "Silence!" Regina shouted. "It's for me to tell!" She turned towards the group of teens. "The young princess there has allowed you four to go to Storybrooke. When you get there, I'll need a favor from you. You will steal Fairy Godmother's wand! With it, you can open the barrier and we can finally escape this wretched place!"
   "But, mother, I don't want to go! All my friends are here!"
   "Oh who are you kidding, Merlin? Friends are for children! And you will go! Mother commands it!"
   The others knew that an argument between the Evil Queen and the most powerful sorcerer would end in chaos so they retreated to separate rooms.
                          * * * * *
   Fenrir had growled at Ruby to show her he wanted to be followed. Quickly, she pulled her hood over her head and disappeared into another room.
   Once they were alone, Fenrir shifted into human form. He hated others seeing that part of him. He'd only shown that form to one other person...and she had betrayed him.
   "Ruby, come here."
   Ruby walked over to her father. He was giving her a look that she knew meant bad news.
   "Even though it is the queen's orders, I wish you not to go to this place."
   "Father, I don't have a choice. My friends..."
   "Forget friends, Red! I'm telling you, the people there are evil!"
   "Who's there that has you so distressed, daddy? It surely can't just be that Red Riding Hood."
   "I don't want you to ever meet her! She'll do something horrible to you!"
   "It's alright. I promise I won't go anywhere near this so called 'Red Riding Hood'. She sounds pretentious anyway."
   Fenrir growled. "Not another word about her! When you go there, you know the rules, don't you?"
   "Watch out for woodsmen and axes, avoid she-who-must-not-be-named, and keep on the cloak."
   "Good." He patted his daughter on the back. "Now, go and pack."
    "Yes, daddy."
    Ruby rushed off to do just that.
                              * * * * *
    Elsa followed her mother into another room. Immediately, Ingrid hugged her daughter.
    "Here." Ingrid said, handing her daughter a pair of gloves. "Take these. They'll help you to not lose control. Remember 'Conceal. Don't feel. Don't let it show.'"
    "I know, mother." Elsa said. She hugged her mom tightly.
    Of all the villain parents, Ingrid was one of the few who actually loved her child. Not many villain children could claim the same. Most of their parents only cared for what they could get out of their children. Ingrid was different as family was all she ever wanted as opposed to most villains who either wanted vengeance or world domination.
    "Now, let's go get your things packed, alright, Snowflake?"
    "Ok, mom."
    Off they went.
                                * * * * *
    Gideon was pulled into another room by his mother.
    "Now, Gideon, dear, don't forget what mommy always tells you."
    "We're the heroes. They are the unruly ones who need to be put in check."
    "Good boy. Now don't forget this." She pulled out a sword and handed it to him.
   He took it, smiling at her. "Thank you, mother."
   "And, once we finish with taking over, don't forget that wand is mine."
   Gideon nodded. "Yes, mother."
   Then he left to pack.
                             * * * * *
   After a solid hour of yelling and things being thrown around, Regina finally brought Merlin to his knees. He sighed in defeat, finally agreeing to do as his mother wished.
   "That's a good boy." She cooed in an almost loving manner. Snapping her fingers, she made her spell book appear. "You'll need this for the spell to destroy the barricade." Merlin nodded. "Now, off with you. I have other things to do."