Sound of Surviving

38

"Well, let them know that they have the knife, okay? Who knows what that wicked woman would do?" Mary Margaret said.

REGINA'S OFFICE

Cora and Regina were listening in to the phone conversation. Hearing enough, Cora knocked the speaker off of the desk, cutting off the connection.

"Mother," Regina said, getting up to retrieve the speaker.

Cora frowned. "I don't like what that enchanted box was saying. I'm not... I'm not wicked."

"It's not an enchanted box. It's a phone tap."

"I don't care. What matters is, they've been warned. Rumpelstiltskin's smart. And now, he has time to think."

"But he's injured."

Cora looked at the dagger and noticed that Rumpelstiltskin's name is slowly disappearing from the blade. "More than injured, I'd say. He's dying. And when his name disappears, all of that power of his will just... Boil off into the air and... Then there will be no new Dark One."

"Okay. So we have to use him to get Henry back before he dies."

"Not in his condition. I don't want to kill him faster. No, there are no other options. I have to stab him with this knife, and take his power as my own. I have to become the Dark One. And with his power, there's nothing I won't be able to do."

"But Henry is never going to forgive that. And the whole point of this is... Wait. What is the point of all this?"

"To protect our family."

"Or you gaining your power."

"Whatever power I gain is for us – to protect you, to protect Henry. If we lose this battle, we'll spend the rest of our short lives on our knees in front of them. And that, my love? Is something I'll never do."

FAIRY TALE LAND - PAST

King Xavier was throwing a masquerade ball at the castle. Several masked couples were dancing when Cora arrived donning a red dress. She grabbed a stray mask and put it on, then joined the people standing off to the side.

"Has the King really brought all these wealthy women here to vie to purchase his son?" Cora asked. "Poor Prince Henry."

"You're very frank," Henry I commented.

"Well, I... Oh, my. You're him. You're the Prince. I am very, very... I'm... I'm a goose, aren't I?"

"I don't know, let's find out. Can a goose waltz?" Henry I and Cora joined the others on the dance floor.

"But I wouldn't want to stand in the way of someone purchasing you."

"Then what are you doing here?"

"I just came for the free food. Exquisite mutton, by the way."

"Thank you."

King Xavier interrupted their dance. "Excuse me, my boy. May I cut in?"

"Of course, Father."

King Xavier took Henry I's spot and resumed dancing with Cora who said, "Your Majesty. I didn't expect this honor."

"Tis no honor," King Xavier told her. "Did you think a stolen gown and pilfered mask would keep me from recognizing you? There's straw on your dress. You carry the mill with you, miller's daughter."

"You've got some nerve, disparaging me. You're selling off your own flesh and blood."

"You're an insolent girl. The kingdom has been strained by righteous wars, and we need our gold, yes. We are still miles above your kind. So now go. There's nothing you can offer us other than errant strands of straw." He picked a strand of straw off of her dress.