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| ~ • ~ | Character Basics | ~ • ~ |

.:Name:. Regina Mills
.:Nick Name:. N/A
.:Affiliation:. Has been everything from villain to hero.
.:Status:. Noble

| ~ • ~ | Appearance | ~ • ~ |

.:Physical Appearance:. Short wavy brown hair. Brown Eyes. Posture is tall and proud.
.:Height:. 5ft. 5 inches.
.:Portrayed by:. Lana Parrilla

| ~ • ~ | Personality | ~ • ~ |

.:Personality:. Regina is super driven to get what she wants. The only problem is she typically doesn’t understand what she wants. She thinks she understands herself so well but her heart is often a complete mystery to her. She wants to be loved and appreciated but she typically twists that desire and thinks all she craves is power and if she controls people she will be loved. And if she can’t have love she’ll be feared and that’s enough. So long as people listen to her that’s fine. As a little girl and even as an adult it was all about what her mother wanted. Her needs and desires were thrown by the way side. She remembers that feeling of helplessness and never wants to experience it again. As such she lashes out and tries to control everything so she will never again be in a submissive position. She’s used and manipulated people and in turn she’s been used and manipulated so she has a very difficult time trusting anyone or opening up. She truly loves her son Henry more than anything. Fearing he won’t reciprocate her feelings, she often makes poor decisions, trying to force his love. But in the end she genuinely wants him to love and accept her and she doesn’t wish any harm to befall him. She will not forgive anyone who tries to harm him or anyone who tries to take him away from her. She has many fears, including becoming like her mother. Her relationship with her mother is/was incredibly complicated and she doesn’t want to resemble her at all. She has a temper and is easily offended. She will never let go of a grudge until the debt had been repaid. She doesn’t care how much she will hurt herself to extract vengeance, revenge takes priority.
.:Strengths:. powerful sorceress, driven (will go as far as need be to accomplish her goals), the will to bounce back from any hardship
.:Weaknesses:. has a tendency to overlook what she really wants, is addicted to magic, is a super control freak

| ~ • ~ | History | ~ • ~ |

.:Birthplace:. Enchanted Forest
.:Family:.
Henry-Father
Cora/Queen of Hearts-Mother
Henry Mills-adoptive son
.:Occupation:. Queen in the Enchanted Forest. Mayor in Storybrooke.
.:History:. Regin is born to Prince Henry the son of a wealthy king Xavior and Cora, the daughter of a poor miller. Regina’s childhood was a bit rough but manageable. Her mother was always pushing her, finding fault with everything she did, wanting her to learn faster and be the very best not just that she could be but that anyone could be. Fortunately, her father was much more kind hearted and accepting. When Cora wasn’t around he pampered Regina and took her on outings, praising her for all of her accomplishments. Where her mother scrutinized he complimented. And when he felt like Regina was truly at her wits end he stepped in. Regina loved her father more than anything. She tried to convince herself she loved her mother too but their relationship was always strained.

Regina hated being controlled and as she grew up riled against her mother when she felt her expectations were ridiculous and unfair which was often. Cora’s expectations were far too high. She wanted and expected perfection. Nothing less would satisfy. And she didn’t want Regina to have her own opinions but those she fed to her. As Regina wasn’t apt to swallow them there was often conflict. Power wasn’t important to Regina. She just wanted friends and a loving family. She wanted to look forward to her future. She often felt crushed by all the pressure her mother placed on her.

Even with her father’s support Regina would have likely had a mental breakdown if it weren’t for the stable boy for her father was timid and would give into Cora’s demands. But Daniel supported her. Daniel listened to her. Daniel truly loved her. Daniel became everything to her. As her mother grew more frustrated with Regina’s antics as she grew older, Daniel was a real stabilizer. He accepted everything about her and understood her frustrations. He was kind and kept her grounded. Daniel brought out the best in Regina and gave her hope for a better life. She wished she could be more open about their relationship but she knew her mother would put an end to it. So they kept it a secret.

Although she didn’t realize it everything began to spiral out of control when she met a young girl named Snow White. She rescued the young girl from an out of control horse. Being kind and caring, she comforted the child, making sure she was uninjured and that she didn’t give up horseback riding. Fears should not consume people and prevent them from moving forward.

Unfortunately the young girl was the king’s daughter. He had been searching for someone he felt would be a good mother to his daughter. To Regina’s horror he proposes to her. She can’t bring herself to speak so her mother answers for her, accepting. She runs to her true love, begging him to marry her. She tells him everything that happened and he gives her a ring he’d had waiting. She is delighted and the two kiss. Snow stumbles upon them as they kiss and runs outside, grieved and horrified. Regina rushes after her, knowing how important it is she keep this secret. But Snow falls and Regina is momentarily distracted, making sure she isn’t hurt. She explains to the upset Snow that true love is the most powerful force in all the world, the purest magic and it’s not something you can explain if you haven’t experienced it but she had that with Daniel and that was what she wanted, more than anything. Fortunately the sweet little girl understands and agrees to keep her secret.

The night Regina and Daniel are supposed to run away together Cora blocks their path. Regina’s blood turns to ice, fearing the worst. But Regina tries to reason with her mother, to make her understand that all she wants is true love, that that is her happiness. For a moment it seems like she’s moved her mother and that she will let her leave. Regina thanks her mother and her mother gives Daniel advice about being a parent. “You always have to do what’s best for your children.” Regina fears that something is wrong but isn’t sure what.

“And that’s what you’re doing right now, what’s best for your daughter,” Daniel said gratefully.

“Yes, I am.” And with that Cora rips Daniel’s heart out of his body. Regina screams but her mother crushes it beneath her fingers. A hysterical Regina runs to Daniel screaming his name. But he’s gone and she knows it. Still, there’s a small part of her that hopes he can be saved. She remembers that true love is the most powerful magic and nothing is more powerful than true love’s kiss. She kisses him praying for his life to be restored. But her kiss does nothing. He refuses to move and she is crushed.

Regina feels completely hollow and broken inside. But as Daniel is dead she doesn’t know what else to do but attend her wedding dress fitting. She barely notices anything. She speaks when spoken to and looks thoroughly dejected. Her eyes look past everything and she moves more like a doll than a person.

The only person she really takes note of is Snow. The littler girl she thought to be so sweet and understanding gushes about how happy she’ll be with Daniel and how lucky she is to have such a caring and understanding mother. Regina freezes and suddenly it all makes sense, how her mother finally found out after all these years. She’s horrified and appalled. She is filled with such an intense combination of rage and grief that she can barely get out her very important question. “Snow..You didn’t tell her did you?” The little girl who turns out not to be nearly as sweet as Regina believed confessed to telling her mother. The little girl is now seen for what she truly is, a cruel idiot. Her happy ending was ruined all because of that little monster. She saved her life and how did she repay her...With the ultimate treachery, a sin that could never be forgiven not if a thousand years should pass. She tries to calm herself and remind herself that Snow is just a little girl and she doesn’t want to do anything rash. Clinging to some semblance of her kinder hearted self, the one Daniel loved, she wishes to spare Snow’s feelings. She said Daniel ran away and that what they had wasn’t true love. But what she has with Snow’s father is the real thing. And she’ll become Snow’s new mother.

Cora returns and praises her daughter for handling everything so well. Regina could count the number of times she’d pleased her mother on one hand but she feels no joy. She again puts the pieces of the puzzle together, declaring that Snow’s fall was no accident. Her mother denies it but Regina knows the truth. She hates Snow even more for it. If she’d never saved Snow, Daniel would still be alive. Daniel was more important. Daniel was her true love and Daniel actually kept all the promises he made!

The wedding day approaches and Regina is horrified and terrified with herself. She’s consumed with deep regrets and dark thoughts. She can barely stand being in the same room with Snow. More and more she just wants to ring her little neck, make her pay for the happiness she destroyed. But she still clings to the Regina Daniel loved. He admired her kind spirit and she knew he wouldn’t want her to lose it. Realizing that she’ll lose herself if she stays here she tries to run, get a fresh start somewhere else. She tries to flee but is once more stopped by some magic from her mother. There’s a barrier spell that won’t be removed until after the wedding.

Regina runs to her father in a panic, pleading with him to save her. At first he thinks Regina’s just having cold feet but she confesses that she’s having dark thoughts and that she’s afraid she’ll end up like her mother. She gets him to see that she can’t be happy here. He mentions that Cora has a spell book that might help. Regina sneaks around her mother's room and manages to pawn it. She summons Rumplestilskin, pronouncing his name rather poorly. She's not disturbed by his odd appearance or childish theatrics. However, she does find him a touch odd. Still, he can have whatever mannerisms he pleases so long as he can help her. She pleads for help. And he tells her the only way she can be free is to get rid of her mother. She blanches at the idea of killing her but Rumplestilskin explains that she doesn't need to be killed just trapped in another world. Then she can't bother her in this one. He gives her a portal mirror. All she need do is push Cora in. Not being a fool, Regina understands Rumplestilskin never gives something away for free. She asks what his price is. He says he gave her a favor and one day he expects her to return it. The price is vague but she's desperate to free herself from her mother's strangling clutches.

On the day of her dreaded wedding, Cora notices the mirror. She talks to Regina about winning the heart of the commoners and subtly taking control of the throne. Cora is convinced that the king is weak enough to allow such a thing. And if he proves more troublesome he can be killed off. Regina doesn't want her mother to continue to control her. She doesn't want to win the heart of the people. She just wants her own life back even if Daniel can't be a part of it. Fed up with her mother's cold heart and mannerisms she tries to push her into the mirror. Cora freezes her in place. Cora chastises Regina for trying to get rid of her and Rumplestilskin shows up in the mirror mimicking pushing Cora in. Not wanting to be a puppet forever, furious that she has had no say as to the course of her future, in a moment of rage she channels her magical energies, breaks free of her mother's spell, and pushes her into the mirror which promptly shatters.

Regina plans to leave but runs into Rumplestilskin on the road. She gives him her mother's spell book as a gift for helping her. She is still kind and wants to help those who help her in some way. Rumplestilskin points out that she can't give what already belongs to him. But her intention had been to help as she didn't realize the book was his. He speaks of magic and she insists it isn't for her. Rumplestilksin ignores the sentiment and asks how it felt. She acknowledges that she loves it and that's why she can't continue. She's terrified of ending up like her mother who turned to magic to resolve all issues. She stopped trying to find other solutions and so lost touch with the feelings of people who couldn't cast spells. Rumplestilskin points out that not all magic casters are like her mother. She did enjoy magic and she recalls how powerless she originally was to fight against her mother's spells. She starts to think that it might not be such a terrible idea to learn some magic to at least protect herself. But she's not willing to give Rumplestilskin an answer right away.

She goes off traveling but her heart is still grieving, still pained. Without Daniel it means nothing. She grows more and more depressed until she thinks that maybe magic might be the answer after all. It might be possible to bring Daniel back from the dead. She summons Rumplestilskin and asks him to train her.

Regina eventually returns to marry the king. (Not wishing to burn bridges when she left she said she needed to time to mourn for the loss of her mother. The king being a kind man understood.) She doesn't love the king but feels his resources might be needed if she's to bring Daniel back from the dead. At the moment she has no idea as to what that would require and figures that if a king can't give her what she needs in terms of resources no one can. And her heart still feels so hollow. She hopes that even if the wedding isn't one of love that perhaps the two can grow to care for each other in a non-romantic way while she searches for ways to bring Daniel back. And she just needs something to fill the void, something to feel less empty. She enchants Daniel's body, unwilling to let him go, determined to find a way to bring him back.

The marriage can't provide the warmth or care she wishes for. King Leopold is far more interested in his daughter than Regina, the daughter that stole her happiness, ruined everything. She comes to loathe Snow more and more by the day as the king showers Snow with affection, barely paying any attention to Regina. To make matters worse he constantly talks about his deceased wife, naming her the fairest woman that ever was and the kindest. Regina understands that she has no hope of comparing to his ex-wife in his eyes. The single apple tree she was allowed to grow in the garden is her only source of joy. That and her father's company. At least her sessions with Rumplestilskin continue and that gives her a break from the tedious palace life style.

During one magic session with Rumplestilskin she is instructed to freeze a black unicorn. She does this perfectly but then Rumplestilskin asks her to rip out its heart. Given that the unicorn is innocent and that this reminds her too much of what happened to Daniel she can't do it. Rumplestilskin assures her that if she does it correctly the unicorn won't be harmed it will simply belong to her. She still refuses to do it so Rumplestilskin rips out its heart, demonstrates the power a heart provides by manipulating the unicorn and then crushes the heart, killing it, reminding her that there is no such thing as innocence. Furious at her frailty of heart, he demands that Regina figure out what's holding her back and come to terms with it.

Before another lesson he asks Regina what it is she truly wants. She says power, figuring that's what he wants to hear. But he isn't fooled. He demands to know the truth and she admits her fervent wish to bring back the dead. He's angered by her stupidity, insisting that dead is dead and that magic can't alter that balance. But then Jefferson, a portal jumper, claims he knows someones from another world who can give her what she wants. She agrees to give him a royal pass to travel freely in her kingdom in exchange for transporting the person to the Enchanted Forest.

Jefferson introduces Regina to a very strange wizard indeed. Victor insists that she call him doctor rather than wizard. The wizard inspects Daniel's body and says it's in ideal condition for the procedure. But he needs a strong heart for the operation. Regina takes him to her mother's vault and collects one. During a stormy night, Victor is finally ready to perform the surgery. She wants to watch but Jefferson repeats the wizard's order that they stay back, insisting that his magic is different and that they can't hope to understand it so they should do what he says. Not wishing to risk Daniel's resurrection, she stays outside as instructed, struggling for any glimpse of what's going on. She's not certain that she believes in any deity but she prays, asking that if there is a god to please bring Daniel back to her. He was one of the only good things in her life and she needs his stability. She fears that without him she'll become a monster. King Leopold doesn't care for her at all and she feels nothing but hatred for Snow, the little devil who stole the one person she truly loved from her. But she doesn't want to be filled with hate. She wants to be kind and caring, loving. She knows she can be with Daniel. So please, please, please return him to her.

Her prayers aren't answered. The wizard informs her that the operation failed. She's crushed. She weeps the entire night. But she comes to the conclusion that there are no gods or if they exist they aren't just. They don't care about her pain and suffering so she won't bother with them again, won't waste her time. If she wants something, she needs to grab it herself. And as bringing Daniel back is beyond her, the only thing she can do is make sure the one who made her lose everything knows real torment.

The next morning she moves Daniel's body to a place she visits less frequently, determined to try and let him go. Wishing for him to be brought back won't change anything. It is her affection for a dead man that's holding her back. She needs to stop thinking about how Daniel would have responded and what Daniel would have wanted. It doesn't matter now because he's dead and he's never coming back. What she wants is to extract vengeance on Snow because otherwise she'll never be able to let go of her hatred. Cora's gone if Snow, the last piece of the puzzle, is taken care of then she can be happy and move forward. But to make the King's treasured daughter suffer, she needs more power.

She's enraged to find that Rumplestilskin has found a new apprentice to teach. But she refuses to let him give her up so easily. She proves she's more worthy by ripping out the apprentice's heart and crushing it with her bare hands. Her fingers pulse with excitement. Such raw might, the power over life and death is enticing. She might not be able to bring back the dead but she can affect the balance, bring more people to Daniel's side.

Even with her new mindset, Regina is still unhappy. King Leopold only focuses on his dead wife and insufferable daughter. Depressed, she skips out on a magic session for which Rumplestilskin shows up to scold her. He states that once she's started on the path to darkness there is no turning back. Darkness will consume her. Fearing his words, she orders him to leave. He refuses and explains further that that once the darkness has started to eat away at her, it will progress until she is swallowed whole, and there's no way to fly away from fate. Before he leaves he sets up a new magic lesson and orders her to come and bring the only thing left inside of her, simmering rage.

When he finally leaves she turns her fear to anger, appreciating that emotion better, feeling it has less weakness. She pounds her fist against the balcony again and again until it breaks and she falls. She is rescued by the fairy Tinker Bell. As Tinker Bell is the only one to speak with her in such a calm, friendly manner since she's become queen, the two become quick friends. She respects the fairy's ability to tell her how she really feels even though Regina's queen. She confides in Tinker Bell, speaking of her terrible joke of a marriage and about her hatred towards the little monster who got her one true love killed. Tinker Bell asserts that there could be another love for Regina. She uses fairy dust to lead her to her true love. Tinker Bell urges Regina to talk to the man with the fairy tattoo who is her true love. She leaves to give Regina space but her nerve fails her. She exposed her heart to Daniel and he wound up dead. She doesn't have the courage to risk another loss like that.

Tinker Bell comes back later to see how the meeting went. Regina lies about the man, unwilling to admit her fear. But Tinker Bell sees right through her lies. Having exposed Regina's weakness she lashes out and declares Tinker Bell a terrible fairly, hoping to put her on the defensive and not make her face her true concerns. Tinker Bell says she'll get in trouble for stealing the fairy dust unless Regina goes and talks to him. But Regina just sends her away, still too scared to risk exposing her heart again.

Later Regina is introduced to the king's new friend a genie. Originally she doesn't plan to do much with him. But it soon becomes obvious he's enamored with her. Having given up on love entirely by this point, she's not interested even though he's paying her the attention the king never does. But she thinks his feelings can prove useful to her. She's sick of sharing her castle and power with a king who doesn't care for her in the slightest and insults her with his indifference.

Although the mirror the genie gave her, insisting that she will see herself as the fairest in all the land through his eyes, gives her a small sense of comfort and support after the king insisted that Snow is the fairest in all the land, she's still determined to manipulate the genie. Love brings only pain and suffering. That is what Daniel taught her.

She writes about having found another love in her diary, knowing the king will find it and punish her for it. King Leopold is furious and locks Regina away in a tower. Since she can't divorce the king she asks her father to bring her a box with freedom in it. Ever the faithful father, Henry complies except he gives the box to the genie to give to her. She opens the box to reveal a two headed viper, pretending she intends to commit suicide but the genie grabs the snake and kills her husband with it, proclaiming that now they can be together.

Regina makes sure a palace guard found the snake. She warns the genie that as the snake originates from his homeland the crime will be traced back to him. She feigns sadness but offers hope in the form of a ship to smuggle him away. The genie realizes Regina's true intentions but still loves her. He uses his last wish on the lamp to be with her forever. To her delight the wish turns him into a magic mirror. She acts as though this is only useful so she can use him but secretly deep in her heart she is at least a little grateful that someone genuinely cares for her and that someone will stay with her forever.

She pretends to comfort Snow after the funeral, insisting they are both in mourning. But secretly Regina is pleased. Leopold never cared for her and is now dead. The power belongs to her. And she's now one giant leap closer to making the brat who stole everything from her pay. She plots to have Snow killed. The magic mirror suggests that a huntsman would be perfect for the job. A huntsman is brought to her and she promises that if he brings back Snow's heart she'll outlaw the slaughtering of wolves in his kingdom as he cares a great deal for them and Regina doesn't really care about hunting one way or the other.

The huntsman returns with a heart and a letter from Snow. Regina detests Snow above all else and refuses to read it. So the Huntsman reads it for her but she snatches it and throws it in the fire before he can finish. The girl is a liar and a breaker or promises. She won't be fooled by Snow ever again. She was a wolf in sheep's clothes, a true monster.

She grabs the heart and tries to magically insert it into one of the collection boxes in the vault. As nothing happens she quickly realizes the heart is not Snow's. Enraged by the Huntsman's betrayal she rips out his heart as collateral for the one he failed to collect. She squeezes the heart, to stress her level of power over the Huntsman, declaring him hers now and forever and that he will share her bed and do whatever she likes. The sharing the bed comment is meant to be cold and callous but deep down Regina is still lonely. Daniel is gone and the king was never even warm to her. If she can't experience love she at least wants a pale echo of it. She also warns him never to cross her again because next time he does he'll die.

Some time after this her father is kidnapped by the Queen of Hearts. She runs to Jefferson to take her to Wonderland. He insists he's retired but after showing him how much he can't give his daughter given his salary, he finally agrees to the trip. She manages to retrieve her father, restoring him with a magic mushroom. Then the two of them exit, leaving Jefferson behind. She feels awful about the betrayal as Jefferson was one of the only people who was kind to her after becoming queen.  She really liked him.  But she suspected by this point that not just any heart would suffice for the Dark Curse.  She feared that it would have to be the heart of the thing she loved most.  And after Daniel she knew that was Jefferson.  She hoped that if he was in Wonderland in a different world, he'd be safe. She also rationalized it away thinking about how he failed her many years back when it came to finding a man who could restore Daniel. He'd given her false hope. And he was the one who had chosen to come for something as superficial as money. He had his daughter and he left her! Regina could never have left Daniel or her own child. And she certainly wouldn't leave a daughter if she had one! No amount of money in the world would bring Daniel back. Money couldn't make people happy. Jefferson should have realized this.

Later the queen hears of Snow's whereabouts but arrives to find her missing. Even with the guarantee of a reward no one says anything about Snow. Furious that Snow is so loved after everything she did, Regina orders all the villagers killed. She vents to Rumplestilskin about how the villagers love Snow and hate her. She determines that the best way to get close to Snow is to disguise herself. But it would take years to learn the proper magic. So she demands that Rumplestilskin do it for her. He agrees so long as she breaks ties with King George which she willing does.

Disguised as a peasant girl, Regina is horrified to see the commoners hitting a stick effigy resembling the Queen since it is rumored Her Majesty doesn't have a heart. More upset than she wants to admit, she tries to stop the commoners and is instead blamed by the guards for the commotion. Regina is about to be executed when her worst enemy saves her. Snow and Regina travel together. Regina expresses her surprise that Snow is saving a stranger. Snow tells Regina about the time a stranger saved her from a wild horse and how she learned two strangers can form genuine connections. Snow says she views the queen as someone in a state of constant pain but someone who was once good. Regina is moved by Snow's kind words and begins to wonder if being good would make the pain go away. Anger and hatred don't seem to fill the void.

Snow says that if the queen was sincere about changing they could be a family again. However, when they reach a village that has been slaughtered by the queen, she takes back her words, insisting that the queen is pure evil after all. Having reconsidered her stance, wondering if family wouldn't make her happier she tries to point out that the queen was the one who saved Snow from the horse. As Snow hadn't mentioned that before she figures out who Regina is and tries to shoot her. Regina flees back to Rumplestilskins' tower, once again feeling betrayed by the loathsome Snow. She is fickle as well as liar. Snow is her enemy for life. If the commoners love Snow then they can never love Regina and if they love her enemy instead of her than they're the enemy and must suffer. She vows to punish them all.

Snow continues to elude the king's guards and is rescued by the mermaid Ariel. Regina spies on the two. Then she comes to Ariel in the guise of Ursula, offering Ariel a bracelet that can make her human so she can be with her Prince Eric but only if someone else becomes a mermaid in her stead. As expected, Ariel snaps the bracelet on Snow's wrist and she's made immobile. Regina reveals herself and tells Ariel to get out of there as Snow will die either way but Ariel can get her happy ending. (She has no grudge against Ariel at the moment.) But Ariel refuses to leave a friend behind and stabs Regina with a fork. Shen takes the bracelet off of Snow, reverting them to their original forms and the two swim away. Never one to forget a grudge, Regina takes away Ariel's voice so she can't confess her feelings to her prince. She relishes the fact that Eric will never even know Ariel had feelings for him which is a fate far worse than outright rejection.

Regina learns Rumplestilskin has acquired a girl to tend his castle. She ambushes Belle on the road when she has the chance, planting the idea that love's true kiss will break his curse as the Dark One, hoping to relieve Rumplestilskin of his powers, making her the most powerful sorcerer in all the land. Belle tries to turn Rumplestilskin back into a man but he's too scared to believe Belle's love is legitimate. Belle leaves and Regina figures out where she went. She ambushes the girl and traps her in a jail cell. Given that Rumplestilskin had no intention of kissing Belle and losing his powers, Regina would make sure him and his love weren't together. She couldn't be with hers. Rumplestilskin had done as many dark deeds if not more. Why should he have some measure of happiness? She recalls all the times he made her feel weak and horrendous when she was depressed. So she visits him on the pretense of wanting to make a deal about a mermaid. But she uses the opportunity to lie about Belle's terrible end, saying she jumped from the tower after being flayed. He orders her out but she lingers to make one last comment as he always did when she was rattled. Before leaving she mocks him, saying the castle is getting dusty and that he should find a new girl.

She exchanges the dark curse for the sleeping curse with her witch and friend Maleficent. One day while she's traveling in the woods she captures a woodcutter. She later finds his two children Hansel and Gretal who are searching for him. The queen uses them to steal something she had lost to the blind witch. They successfully retrieve a poison red apple. Regina offers to let the children live with her as they have proven resourceful. But this is merely the rationalization. She is still lonely and would like company. She does have a soft spot for children still. But the children refuse her and demand to have their father returned like promised. Hurt and enraged about being rejected, she curses the children to be forever searching for their father in the forest. She brings the father out and demands to know why the children spurned her. He tells her that family never abandons one another. Frustrated at a level of family devotion she doesn't know or understand she curses the father back into the forest to forever search for her children. She then infuses the apple with the sleeping curse.

Regina figures out that King George has captured Snow's true love. She comes in time to stop the execution. He releases Prince Charming into Regina's custody after she promises he will suffer more by being used to destroy his true love. Charming is locked away and Snow comes to rescue him. But he's not there and has been replaced by a magic mirror. Regina sets up a parley back at the stables where it all began. Regina is surprised to find that her despair wasn't entirely buried even after all these years. When she sees the place Daniel died she nearly cries. Snow arrives and Regina takes her to his grave, finally explaining the truth. She impresses how his death is entirely Snow's fault. She broke her promise and because of that Daniel lost his life and she lost her heart. The little demon tries to negotiate a truce saying that both of them had suffered enough as Regina killed Snow's father. But she is not satisfied. Snow has her true love while Regina's is in a grave. Snow must suffer more for what she did. She threatens to kill Prince Charming if Snow doesn't eat the poisoned apple Snow eats it and collapses. Regina is happy for the first time in a long while, feeling that she has won, feeling that Daniel's killer finally got a suitable punishment for her lies. But sadly it is not to be. The Huntsman betrayed her and let Charming escape. And he woke Snow up with true love's kiss.

Eventually Regina joins forces with King George to put an end to Snow White and Prince Charming. But King George proved all but useless, being defeated rather quickly. And Regina was tricked. The blue fairy finds her and binds her with fairy dust. Locked up in a cell, her father comes to visit her and express his deepest regrets for her state. He blames himself for not taking proper care of her. She tells him that she loves him and that he was one of the few good things in her life. The next day she is brought to the scafold for execution but she will not show fear to anyone. Fear is weakness and if she will die she will die strong. She shouts that her only regret is that she could not cause more pain and more suffering. Snow stops the execution, pitying her. Regina is disgusted, being saved by her enemy yet again.

Snow gives Regina an opportunity to redeem herself. She allows her out of her cell. Regina responds by trying to stab Snow with her knife, unwilling to forgive her for all the pain and misery she caused her. But the dagger has a protection spell. It was meant as a test to see if Regina could change. As she couldn't she is banished. Rumplestilskin visits Regina and reminds her the protection spell only works in the Enchanted Forest and that Snow's and Charming's wedding is soon. This reminds her of the dark curse.

Regina barges in on Snow's wedding and tells her of her plans for the curse to inspire fear and chaos. She then goes after Malefecient to retrieve the Dark Curse. Her friend doesn't give it over willingly but Regina wins their duel. Her friend was too busy protecting her pet. More proof that love is weakness.

Later Hook breaks into Regina's castle and tries to figure out how to kill the Dark One from Belle. Finding she knows nothing he nearly kills her. Regina stops him. She tells Hook she knows who he wants to kill and why and that she can help. She enchants Hook's hand to rip out people's hearts and gives him the task of killing her mother. She gives him a magical portal hat to travel to Wonderland, explaining the rule that the same number of people must exist as enter. She gives him a corpse so that he can take her mother's corpse back. She promises in the new world she's making Hook can get revenge on Rumplestilskin. She doesn't bother to mention that he'll have lost his memories.

After he returns with Cora's body she sends him away to say goodbye. She's now somewhat come to grips with her mother's harsh upbringing. She understand now that love is weakness and so her mother had to die because she still loved her. After everything her mother put her through, she isn't entirely certain herself why she loves her but she does believe that her mother was trying to help her even if she went about things horribly. In the end the only real lesson she got was that love is weakness. She lays a rose on her mother's chest and leaves to enact the Dark Curse.

Sacrificing the heart of her most prized horse resulted in failure. Her father talks her into seeking out the person who gave her the curse to see why it didn't work. She sneaks in as a mouse to visit an imprisoned Rumplestilskin. She reverts to her normal form and demands answers. Rumplestilskin first speaks of the prophecy of Snow's and Charming's child that will break the curse. Then he tells her she must sacrifice the heart of the person she loves most. She insists that isn't possible as he's long since dead. Rumplestilskin says there must be someone else she loves and she realizes that person is her father.

She returns to her father's side and vents her frustrations about how Snow's very existence is a blight that taints her happiness. He gathers that for the curse to work his daughter must take his heart. Her father tries to tell her that it's not too late to leave revenge and hate behind. They can start over somewhere as a family. She pretends to agree but then grabs his heart, believing it's impossible for her to find happiness in this world but it might be possible in another one. Using her father's heart she casts the curse. Before leaving she places a rose on her father, the last person alive that she truly loved.

Regina comes to speak with Rumplestilskin one last time. He warns her that by casting the curse she had created a hole in her heart and someday she will find the need to fill it. She doesn't take his advice seriously and leaves.

She comes to the castle in time to see Snow hugging her unconscious love, Prince Charming. She's enraged to discover their child has already been whisked away in a magic wardrobe but takes great pleasure in knowing Snow and Charming will be separated for good. The curse gives no one happy endings.

The curse strikes and the Evil Queen is reborn as Regina Mills of Story Brook. As far as she knows she is the only person who remembers the Enchanted Forest. But feeling empty like Rumplestilskin says, eventually she adopts a baby, a boy she names Henry after her father.

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