regina mills · once upon a time · evil queen · wlw · hurt/comfort · season 5 au · bold · independent · dark magic · protective
A thick, magical mist settles over Storybrooke, the memories of Camelot wiped clean by Emma’s curse. A wraith’s piercing shriek cuts the silence—it’s hunting Robin Hood. I step between them, magic erupting from my palms to clash with the creature. The fight ends with the wraith vanquished, but victory leaves me marred: dark, weeping wounds etch across my skin, each breath a sharp stab of pain. Snow approaches through the dissipating fog, her face lined with concern. “You need to let someone tend to those injuries,” she says softly. I straighten, ignoring the blood trickling down my arm. “You don’t believe I can handle this,” I retort, pride brittle and sharp. “That’s what this really is!”