The Magical Forest- Many Years Ago

Rose staggered as she ran away from her sister. She was laughing hysterically as her sister, Leia mimicked the voice of a monster. Rose lied down on the floor as soon as her energy had drained away by laughing too much.

"You always mimic the best voice of a monster." Rose laughed again.

"My voice is going sore." Leia laughed again and lied beside Rose. The girls always had so much fun.

Suddenly, the door opened to their room. A woman, in her early thirties entered the room. "What are you girls doing?"

Both of the girls got up in an instant. "We were just playing, mother." Rose replied.

"Go back to your rooms." The woman ordered. Her face was dead serious. The girls nodded and started to leave the room.

"Stop." The stepmother stopped them. "Leia, you go back to your room. Rose you stay."

Rose stopped and turned back. "Sit down, dear." The stepmother said. The seriousness inside her voice sent a chill down Rose's heart.

"Yes, mother." Rose walked towards the sofa. She sat down, her legs were trembling.

"I told you not to call me that."

"I'm sorry, stepmother." Rose corrected herself.

"No. Don't call me that. Call me..Madam or Madam Catherine." She said.

"Yes, madam." Rose replied with a heavy heart. If her mother were alive, she wouldn't have to call anyone madam.

"I wanted to say..you can't behave like that infront of the future queen. Now can you?"

"The queen?"

"Your little sister, Leia. She will be the queen, don't you know?" Lady Catherine said. "Surely I won't let you be the queen. And you know your father. He would do anything to please me."

"But I am the.." Rose started to say.

"The elder sister? Well, that doesn't matter, Briar Rose." The lady said. "You can be her handmaid. Will that please you?"

Rose clenched her teeth. Her hands clutched into a fist. Her face turned red. "No." She said. Her rage was boiling.

"What will you do, darling?" Lady Catherine mocked Rose. "Now get out of here."

Rose angrily stomped away from the room. She ran towards her room. She closed the door and screamed. An angry scream. Suddenly a vase placed at a corner of the room, blasted into pieces.

"Wow." Leia said, slowly emerging out from behind the sofa.

"What are you doing here?"

"Hiding. That was a wonderful thing. The most amazing thing I have ever seen."

"What?"

"Magic. Your magic." Leia said and smiled. "My dear sister. That is your magic."

Rose felt a surge of energy in her hands. She looked at them with shock. Because of the magic, a new chapter in her life was about to open.

Hyperion Heights - Present

Lily Walters slowly walked down the busy street of Hyperion Heights. Work was killing her and she needed to blow some steam. What better place to blow some steam other than the famous Roni's.

She stopped infront of the glass door. Roni's bar was an escape from all the chaos of her job. A nice little place at the corner of the city where she could blow some steam. "Hey." A voice from behind her yelled.

Lily turned back. She saw a girl with messy hair standing. "Hey, Tilly."

"Did you meet the new guy?" Tilly said.

"Who?"

"Seems to have a bond with Roni already." Tilly said. "Name's Henry. Lucy brought him here."

"Lucy? Belfrey's granddaughter?"

Tilly nodded. "Go in." Tilly said.

"See you later." Lily said and smiled. She opened the door and walked inside the bar. She sat on the counter.

"What can I get you?" The beautiful Roni smiled.

"My usual. Vodka.." Lily started to say.

"On the rocks." Roni completed the sentence.

A young man was sitting on a chair beside her. He had a laptop that he had placed on the bar counter.

"You must be Henry?" Lily said and raised her hand for him to shake.

"Yes." He shook hands with her.

"My name's Lily." Lily smiled.

"I see you've made acquaintances already." Roni smiled and put a glass on the counter.

"So what happened to the deal?" Henry asked Roni.

"Deal?" Lily asked, confused.

"Yes." Roni said, "I am selling this bar."

"What? No?" Lily said. " You can't do that. To whom?"

"Belfrey." Roni replied.

"Ugh. That bitch." Lily said.

"Don't you work for her?" Roni asked.

"Yes. But that doesn't change the fact that she's a bitch." Lily said and laughed. The door opened behind them.

"Speak of the devil." Roni said. She sighed.

"You can't let her bully you." Henry said.

"I won't. Today Lucy inspired me." Roni said and walked towards Victoria Belfrey. Lily turned her chair and looked at the two women talking. Henry turned too.

Roni said something that Lily couldn't quite understand. Then Victoria said something. Then all of a sudden Roni tore the contract paper. Lily gasped. No she didn't. You go girl. She thought.

Roni started to say. "Today I watched you march into my bar acting like you own the place. And you know what? I didn't like it. And I realized if I sign this piece of paper you will own this place. And that I really don't like. This is my bar. It's my home. It's my life. Sure, it's seen better days, but that doesn't mean it won't have better days again. And just because life isn't what you want it to be right now, doesn't mean you should tear it down. I started thinking about all the things I want to do and have that I'm not doing or having..."

Lily smiled. Finally Roni was stopping herself from being bullied.

"And how everyone in this neighborhood seems to have given up imagining what a better life might look like. But if we can admit to ourselves that what we want is out there.. somewhere then maybe we can fight for it. And if we do that then we're halfway to getting it. That's the thing about the people of this town. Things can seem hopeless. When suddenly, someone gives the rest of us inspiration. Because the first step to a new beginning is imagining that one is even possible." Roni sighed. "And I'll be damned if I stand by and let a bully like you take that away from us anymore. Now if you'll excuse me."

"You'll regret this." Victoria Belfrey said.

"Uh, doubtful. Regret's not really my thing." Roni said and walked towards the counter. Lily clapped.

"Way to go girl." Lily said. She finally unleashed that evil queen inside her. Just some push and she's back to remembering who she is.

"I gotta go." Lily said and got up. "Really amazing thing you did there. Proud of you."

Roni smiled again. Henry got up too. "I have something to do." He walked out of the door. Lily waved at him and then at Roni. She glanced around the room and saw a bunch of roses in a vase.

"Nice roses." Lily said.

"Oh. I got it at the market. They smell good." Roni said.

"Oh. They kinda make me remember about someone." Lily said.

"Who?"

"Me. When I was young." Lily smiled and walked out of the door. Just a little push and then Regina will remember who she is. Just a little push, Rose. The curse will weaken and then you can continue the work you started.

Lily consoled the Rose in her. Soon, she knew the curse would break and then she wouldn't have to pretend that she didn't remember.