A/N Getting back on this story train I derailed a long time ago. I'm going to try and finish this out in the next week or so. Happy reading!

Enchanted Forest: One day before the Curse.

Regina woke as Winn shifted; the girl's head lay against Regina's outstretched arm. Gazing through the canopy above her, she noted the dismal gray clouds heralding an oncoming storm. If they didn't head out soon, they'd be caught in the downpour. She sat up and gently shook Winn until the girl's eyes slowly opened.

"Morning," said Winn as she pushed her body up off the forest floor.

"We need to get moving if we want to get there in dry clothes," said Regina, pointing toward the full clouds above them.

She pulled Winn to her feet and was handed a piece of bread in return. They ate their breakfast as they walked. Winn told stories of her adventures—about how she met a mermaid who took her through portals to other lands in the hopes that one day, she might find the cloaked man. Regina listened half-heartedly, her mind it's own storm of unrest. Everything Winn had spent her whole life searching for lay on the tip of her tongue. A man. A name. Yet, for some reason, she could not bring herself to say it. If she told her, Winn would undoubtedly go looking for Rumple and undoubtedly get herself entangled in one of his sick bargains…or worse. Though, were Snow's identity a secret, she'd want nothing more than to put a name to the misery she had been caused. She looked back to Winn who was looking at her expectantly.

"Sorry?" asked Regina, realizing Winn must've asked something requiring a response.

"I asked about your adventures," said Winn.

"Oh. I'm not really one for adventure. I've spent most of my life in this kingdom," Regina replied. Bitter memories of her mother fought to the forefront of her mind.

"What's kept you here?" asked Winn.

"Well, for a long time, love. And once that was taken from me…revenge," said Regina, her eyes darkening as she spoke. Winn stopped walking and gazed toward the clouds that now seemed to cover the sky in an ominous layer of slate.

"It's powerful, isn't it? Revenge. I know love is supposed to be the most powerful thing in the world but when I think about my parents, what happened to them, it isn't love that keeps me going," said Winn. "It's something different. Something stronger. Something dark. And I think it's okay to let it in sometimes. It makes me stronger."

Regina looked at Winn and saw herself. The anger and the loneliness she had felt since Daniel's death were, for the briefest of moments, lessened. Someone understood.

"I know. Love and revenge, they are strong on their own but together? Revenge born out of love—it's unstoppable," said Regina.

"Let's hope so," said Winn. The first droplets of water began to fall through the trees. Winn stretched a hand out, catching a few before they could drench the earth.

Regina and Winn began to move quickly through the forest, the rain becoming heavier as they trudged onward. Thunder rolled above them as they caught sight of a path. Soaked to the bone, Regina and Winn exchanged a relieved glance as Regina shouted over the downpour.

"This will lead me back," she struggled over the rain. Winn pulled on Regina's hand as they way toward the path. Emerging from the wood, Winn was met with her first look at the Dark Palace. Her jaw dropped at the spider-like spindles that cut into the storm clouds hanging over them. Wiping water from her eyes, she looks from the castle to Regina and back to the castle. Regina notes the girl's awe with proud amusement.

"You live there?!" shouted Winn over the torrents of rain. 'It's so spooky! I love it!"

Regina allows herself a small laugh as they both admire the castle just minutes from where they stand.

The next thing she knows, she's falling.

Spots dance across her vision as she hits the ground.

Her head pounds terribly and as she struggles to focus, she can feel blood running down the back of her neck. It mixes with the mud covering the rest of her.

She lay on her side, gasping, waiting for her world to stop spinning, when Winn's crumpled body fills her swimming vision but only for a moment—long enough for her to share a panicked look with Regina. Regina manages to glance upward as Winn launches herself toward a figure looming over them. Regina's pain gives way to sickening dread as Winn lands a swift kick to Sir Vincent's chest, moving him away from Regina's fallen form.

A familiar electricity fills the air. A bolt of lightning strikes a tree just off the path, startling Regina into a sitting position as the moist earth beneath her begins to rumble. In front of her, Winn stands eerily still while facing Sir Vincent. Even through intensifying rain, Regina can see his eyes are wild with rage as he charges Winn with his sword.

Before Regina can react, a low, horrible creak moans from the earth around her. Winn's hands slowly rise from her sides. The ground beside Regina shifts and churns and from it silently slithers two tree roots, each as thick as a horse. Winn balls her fists and suddenly the roots are sent violently through the harsh rain toward the Vincent. Winn throws a punch several feet short of the charging knight but the roots mimic her hands, one flying into the knight's stomach. He flies backwards, disarmed and disoriented by the blow. Another bolt of lighting strikes just behind Regina, decimating a tree and sending her to her feet. She stumbles toward Winn who has pinned Vincent several feet in the air to a tree with one of the roots. Regina now sees Winn's eyes are a fiery green though her face is calm in spite of the storm around her.

"Are you all right?" asked Winn, never taking her eyes from the man dangling in front of her.

"I'll live," said Regina through bouts of nausea.

"You have no idea what you're doing!" shouted Sir Vincent. "I'll have your heads for this!"

"I doubt that very much," said Regina. Winn pushes the root further against Vincent's chest. He struggles to breathe and chokes out each word.

"You're magic is good. She has you under some spell, child. That witch is as evil as they come," he said.

"I don't believe you," Winn spat back, the other root rising beside her menacingly.

"It's…the truth. That sorceress has killed…hundreds of innocents in her quest for revenge," he choked.

Winn's hand drew back slightly, allowing the knight to breathe while leavening him suspended. The glow of her eyes dimmed slightly as she glanced toward Regina. Her usual façade broken by her aching head, Regina's face gave away the truth to the knight's words. Winn stared a moment, her sad eyes suddenly looking impossibly sadder. Thunder shook the ground again.

"You know it to be true," said Vincent. Winn's eye grew fiery again as her anger returned and the weather worsened. "Now let me down and I will dispatch the bi—"

With a piercing crack, a bolt of lightning tore through the space in front of Winn and Regina, striking the ground between them and the knight. Thrown backward by the impact, Regina landed uncomfortably in the muck of the path. Wiping her hair from her face, she felt her heart sink at the sight of Winn lying unconscious against a tree on the far side of the path. Filled with a sudden rage, Regina flew towards where Vincent struggled to push the now lifeless root off of his legs. Just as he managed to wriggle free, Regina was upon him.

She plunged her hand deep into his chest and gripped his heart in her own vice before pulling it out harshly. His face filled with terror. He screamed soundlessly as Regina held his heart in front of his eyes. She squeezed the organ together and tighter and his gaze drifted unfocused over her shoulder.

"Please," he begged weakly.

She crushed his heart to dust.

Wiping her hands, she turned and instantly realized his plea was not for her mercy. From across the path, Winn stared in shock.