*Waves* Hello everyone!
Let me just start with a disclaimer. I do not own Once Upon A Time. I just really enjoy the story line and want to dabble with the characters a bit.
Regina's character development throughout the series is something I have always admired - waging an internal war to conquer the evil queen within and become a hero. I also enjoy the bantering friendship between her and Emma Swan. So, I found myself thinking recently, what could have happened if Regina had chosen to adopt years before Henry's birth? Knowing Gold, he would have used that opportunity to bring a teenage Savior into the story. And that is how the idea for this fanfic came about.
Summary: 15 years after casting the dark curse, Regina feels a void in her life that she can no longer ignore. She desperately desires the company of another in this world without magic. The adoption of Emma Swan, a teenager with her own inner demons, brings new meaning into Regina's revenge-driven life. However, this child who slowly makes her life worth living, might also be her undoing.
So, without further ado...
Chapter One: Hope
Regina sat idly behind her desk, arms crossed rigidly over her chest as her eyes aimlessly roamed over the black and white walls of her office. The usually spacious room seemed small and rather constricting this afternoon. She found that the more her brown orbs scoured the office, the more the walls seemed to close in around her. A feeling of panic began to set in.
Eager to rid herself of the emotion, the refined brunette pushed herself away from the desk and stood briskly, beginning to pace about the room in an agitated manner. Her heels clicked repetitively against the marble flooring beneath her feet. Regina did not like feeling confined. She absolutely despised it. That is one of the reasons, when she had originally cast the dark curse, that she had made the town hall, and her home, two of the largest buildings in Storybrooke. She had never felt cramped in either of the areas where she spent most of her time. That is, until today.
She paused for a moment, inhaling a deep breath as her eyes closed. The attempt at reigning her fear in failed. Her heart began hammering against her chest even harder as she dared to crack an eye open. Four walls, seemingly closing in around her. She needed to get some air, now.
The former queen quickened her pace and nearly jogged out of the building, halting only when she could feel the warm rays of an afternoon sun shining down from overhead. She rested her back against the front door, palms extended flatly over the smooth wooden surface. She closed her eyes once more, letting the warmth of the sun act as a sort of anchor, and slowly, agonizingly slowly, her heart rate began to steady.
Get it together. Her internal tone was sharp, scolding. How dare she let herself show such weakness. A queen would never act in such a manner, especially not the evil queen. Mentally she tried to reign herself in, but her body continued to betray her. A strange sensation began to rise in her chest. While she no longer felt as though she had just completed a marathon, she noticed a tightness overwhelming her chest cavity. It felt as if her heart was fighting a battle and losing mercilessly, becoming lost within a deep void, leaving behind only a black hole.
Without thinking, she brought a hand to her breasts and pushed down roughly, fingers clenched as if she could claw her way through the bone and muscle to grab the organ. While this task could have easily been completed with magic, grasping onto her heart for protection was impossible now. Defeated, Regina dropped her hand and pushed herself away from the door, moving to take a seat on one of the nearby benches. She placed her elbows upon her thighs and slowly lowered her head so that the tips of her fingers could massage her temples. What was wrong with her?
However, deep down, she already knew that answer. She had known it for years now, beginning only days after enacting the dark curse. But it had never been this prominent. It had never made her feel like her world was collapsing around her... like her body and mind were turning against one another. The feeling was so raw, eagerly clawing at her blackened heart like a caged, wild animal vying for freedom. The feeling of complete and utter isolation. Her heart clenched even further at the mere thought of the word. With a defeated sigh, Regina hid her face within her palms. Yes, she was isolated. And she was simply... lonely.
On this day, 15 years ago, the dark curse had been enacted. All happy endings had been vanquished. The evil queen had won, and her step-daughter, Snow White, had finally lost. The once tough woman was now but a shell of her former self, confined to an eternity of believing herself to be nothing but a weak, gutless school teacher in a long forgotten town. Her once true love, Prince Charming, was trapped in an endless coma in the confines of Storybrooke's hospital. Regina, herself, was the mayor... a woman never to be questioned. She was respected. She was feared. And she savored every second of it. At least, she had for the first few weeks of the curse.
But as the days wore on and the same scenarios played themselves over and over again - everyone lowering their eyes in submission without a second thought, people acknowledging her in the same areas during her morning commutes to town hall with the exact same short references, sitting at her desk with endless paperwork until 4pm, then making the same trek home to an empty mansion in the middle of town - she began to become bored... if not agitated. This was not what she had envisioned when creating the curse. She wanted power, but not in isolation, and not over a town of zombies.
But that is exactly what she had gotten, and exactly what she had been dealing with for the past 15 years. An internal struggle everyday that tore away at her sanity. She had everyone and everything sitting in the palm of her hand, and yet this was still far from any kind of happily ever after.
She couldn't take it anymore. Something had to change if this were to be the rest of her life. And this would be the rest of her life. She had ensured that the moment she had reached into her father's chest and ripped out his heart.
She would fix this. His sacrifice would not be in vain. She needed someone to share this repetitive life with. Someone to revel in her triumphs with and to help pass the endless time. Someone she could grow to trust, and someone who could grow to trust her. She needed a child.
Regina parked her Mercedes across from Mr. Gold's Pawnshop a few hours later and removed herself from the vehicle before losing the mock confidence she had recently re-instilled within herself. In a few long strides, she was across the street and pushing her way through the main door, a bell sounding overhead to signal her arrival. She noticed Gold almost instantly behind the counter.
"I need a child, Gold. And I need your help." She tucked a strand of hair behind her right ear somewhat nervously as she came to a stop on the opposite side of the counter. The pawnbroker raised his eyebrows in surprise.
"Well, I'm flattered, but uninterested." His remark was quick and to the point. Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes, but something within her stomach lurched. While she harbored no romantic feelings towards this man what so ever, that feeling of automatic rejection stung a bit. Masking the pesky feeling, she instead glared.
"Not like that." She tore her eyes away from the man briefly and shook her head. "I've spent all morning talking to adoption agencies. The wait lists are over two years long." She paused for a moment, brown eyes meeting nearly black ones once more, as a devious smirk overtook Regina's glossy lips. "But you, Gold... you know how to cut through red tape. If anyone can work through the system and find me a child, it's you."
"You wish to adopt?" There was amusement behind those words.
Regina glared again. "Well, don't look so surprised."
"Oh, I'm not." She eyed him carefully, trying to find the meaning behind those words. Sure she didn't want him to look surprised, but she had expected him to be. Although time didn't pass for the residents of Storybrooke as in other normal towns, his memories should tell him of a mayor who had kept to herself, never interacting with anyone for more than business, for as long as he could remember. But then again, it was Gold. And Regina had a sneaking suspicion that the sly man knew more than he was letting on. "I'm sure you'll make a... well, a mother of some sort."
Regina felt anger and agitation bubbling within her stomach. "Can you help me?" The words were sharp, her tone threatening. Anyone else would have cowered, but Gold didn't even flinch.
"I can, but a word of caution." He met her eyes seriously for a moment. "Ask yourself, is this something you're ready for?" His tone rose a bit towards the end, indicating curiosity.
"It's something I need." And that was the truth. She needed someone in her life before this curse could live up to her expectations.
Gold cocked his head slightly. "Well, that may not be the same thing." Regina squared her shoulders, but he continued before she could respond. "I'll get you a child."
Regina smirked triumphantly and turned to exit the pawn shop; however, Gold's voice drew her to a stop. She bit her bottom lip in irritation and turned halfway around to face him. "But whether or not that's helping you, remains to be seen. When you become a parent, you must put your child first." There was a pause and his voice lowered when he finished. "No matter what."
The brunette watched him carefully for a moment and then turned to resume her exit from the shop. She might be the evil queen, but she would put her child first. She would not repeat the many horrid atrocities of her mother. She would be the person her father had been to her for so many years - someone to confide in and someone to trust. At least, that is what she kept telling herself. It was something she truly wanted to believe.
Two weeks later and Gold had proven himself quite useful and capable. As he said he would do, he had located a possible child for Regina. While the former queen would have preferred a baby to rear from the ground up, none had been available or accessible. However, there was a teenager, a young girl of 15 years, that needed a good, stable home. While stable would not have been a word used to describe her back in the Enchanted Forest, in this world, she was the perfect candidate for a child.
For this reason, Regina had departed Storybrooke for the first time in many years and was on her way to Portland, Maine to meet her potential new daughter. Her hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, her knuckles white from the un-needed force. It was impossible to hide that she was nervous. This child was essentially her lifeline, a tether that would hopefully keep her mind grounded enough to re-create Storybrooke in the image of a curse that would give her a happy ending.
Regina had chosen her usual attire for this trip. An elegant pants suit that hugged her curves appropriately and offered an air of power and responsibility. The pants and jacket were black, accentuated by a silk red blouse. Her nerves seemed to be getting the better of her as she tugged at the neckline of her blouse, perspiration lightly dotting her porcelain skin. She released the shirt to turn up the air conditioner, her other hand still occupied by the wheel of the Mercedes.
In Storybrooke, she controlled everyone and everything. But out here, in this world without magic, Regina was at the mercy of others. She hated this feeling of helplessness, which is the reason she rarely left her safety net.
While Gold had acquired this meeting for her, there was still no guarantee that the adoption agency would grant her custody of this girl. As much as she hated to admit it, she needed to make a good impression. And if she were to succeed in winning over the social worker handling this girl's case, then would come the task of winning over her potential daughter. That is initially why Regina had wanted, and still silently wished for, a baby. Someone so young wouldn't be able to see her flaws and reject or betray her like so many others had. A teenager... well, that was a different story. Even without a rough past, as Regina imagined this girl probably had, teenagers were always a hormonal challenge.
Regina scoffed at the memory of mistakenly causing nearly all of the light fixtures in her house to explode while coming into her magic as a teenager. The magical outburst had been the result of an argument with her mother. The result of letting her magic get out of control, or for simply using it at all, had been nearly a day of pain inflicted by her mother. The bones and muscles in Regina's body subconsciously ached as the memories plagued her mind. She inhaled a large gulp of air and then slowly let it back out, trying in vain to calm herself. At least in this world, magic would be a non-issue. And Regina would never punish her child in the ways Cora had punished her.
Nearly 3 hours after leaving Storybrooke, Regina parked in front of a towering building in the heart of Portland. Various windows accentuated the bleak exterior, revealing the many offices occupied by social workers inside. This is where she would meet Gold's contact.
Get it together, Regina. It's just a social worker. You've dealt with much worse. However, magic had always been her companion during previous confrontations, but she mentally refused to acknowledge that fact. After a few deep breaths and tweaking her appearance in the rearview mirror until she deemed herself presentable, Regina removed herself from the car and sauntered purposefully into the building.
A small desk sat just beyond the doors, an older woman perched behind it. She glanced up over her glasses, eyes clearly bored, as Regina approached. "How can I help you?"
The mayor paused behind the counter and busied herself by smoothing out imaginary wrinkles on her jacket, brown eyes roaming the drab room. "I'm here to see Pamela Jones." Regina's arms fell limply to her sides, her fingers beginning to drum against her legs as they always did when she felt uncomfortable or out of place.
"Down that hall, make a right, and then she's the first door on your left," the receptionist offered blandly, pointing with her thumb towards the hallway to their left.
Regina nodded once in thanks and followed the woman's directions, her heels clicking against the wooden floors and echoing throughout the empty hall. A door with the nameplate "Pamela Jones" greeted the former queen. She raised a hand to knock, but paused in mid-air, her eyebrows knit together in worry.
Get it together. Regina shifted her purse on her shoulder and stood up straighter, taking a deep breath as she tried again. This time, her knuckles met the door with stark determination.
A nervous lump formed in her throat as she heard a voice call out from inside. "Come in."
Doing as instructed, the petite brunette turned the doorknob and entered a rather small office. The woman behind the desk, Pamela, greeted her with a warm smile. "Please come in," she ushered again. "Take a seat. You must be Regina. Mr. Gold has told me a lot about you."
Regina nodded once and took a seat across from Pamela, her desk the only thing separating the two women. Her stomach lurched a bit at the thought of Gold telling this woman anything about her. "Good things, I hope," Regina replied tightly.
"Yes, of course. He spoke very highly of you." Pamela offered another smile that crept up her features and warmly met her eyes. She was young, probably in her lower thirties, and seemed genuinely happy for the new company. Her dirty blonde hair was pulled back into a neat bun, a few highlights of lighter blond peeking through in certain places. Green eyes met Regina's, seeming to beckon the older woman towards a more comfortable state. She reached a hand out towards Regina, who hesitantly returned the gesture for a brief shake. "I'm Pamela Jones, although you probably already knew that." She chuckled as she brought her hand back, clasping it with the other upon her desk. "It's nice to meet you."
"You as well," Regina offered, relaxing just a tad due to the other woman's kind nature. She allowed her eyes to roam the office once before gently getting to the point. "So, Mr. Gold tells me that you have a child available for adoption?"
Pamela's features softened, a sigh escaping her lips as she leaned back in her seat. "Ah, yes. Her name is Emma. Emma Swan."
Regina sat forward in her seat, very interested to hear more. She noted that Pamela's shoulders and dropped, her green eyes losing a bit of their initial warmth. They seemed to convey another emotion now. Sadness, perhaps? "Emma..." Regina tested slowly, feeling the name on her own lips. "What a beautiful name."
"It is. And she's a beautiful young girl, as well," Pamela offered confidently. "But, her past hasn't been an easy one. You should know that before we pursue this interview further."
Regina tilted her head slightly, but her brown hues conveyed understanding. If only this woman knew what her own past held, secrets locked deeply away behind subconscious walls she had erected long ago. "Well, she is in the foster care system. I imagine most of the children you work with have a difficult past," Regina responded pointedly.
Pamela nodded in agreement and moved to open a file that had been previously untouched on the desk. She flipped through a few pages before pausing to scan over a certain paragraph. "So, you're the mayor of a town called Storybrooke? I don't believe I've ever heard of it," the social worker queried.
"Yes, it's a very small town. We don't have many visitors. The locals mostly keep to themselves," Regina answered honestly. "But, it is a safe town. We haven't had any crime in years. I've worked with the local sheriff to ensure that," she added.
Pamela nodded, thoughtful as her eyes continued to scan the page. "You have an impeccable record. No previous incidences with the law, you graduated at the top of your class… do you have any family in Storybrooke?" The question was innocent enough, but Regina's heart clenched roughly.
The image of Cora lurched forward from the depths of her mind. And then her father's kind face, contorted suddenly into fear and pain as Regina ripped his heart from his chest. Regina's hands began to tremble upon the desk, and she quickly jerked them away from Pamela's view and hid them in her lap. "No, no family," Regina tried, her voice deep and scratchy from the sudden lump that had enveloped her throat. "I have no siblings. My mother is not in the picture and my father…" she paused, trying to regain control over herself. "He passed away recently."
Pamela watched Regina with concerned eyes, sympathy evident in her expression. "I'm very sorry to hear that."
Regina nodded once, her eyes never leaving the desk. She didn't trust herself not to say something she'd later regret, so she clamped her lips shut. She didn't want sympathy from anyone. She didn't deserve it.
Pamela seemed to understand Regina's sudden silence and moved forward with the conversation. "It is obvious that you're a perfect candidate to adopt," she began softly, her words encouraging. "But, I like to remind all of my potential parents… this is a big responsibility. A life-changing one. You're sure you're ready for this?" Her green orbs were sincere, beckoning Regina to meet her gaze once more.
She sighed heavily, recalling the similar words that had left Gold's mouth two weeks ago. "I need this," she tried hesitantly, silently begging her emotions not to betray her. Brown eyes met green urgently as she continued. "I want to share my life with someone. I want to give a child the things…" Regina caught herself abruptly.
She was about to say …the things she didn't have, but this woman knew nothing of her true history. She only knew of the past Regina had created for herself through the curse. A past that most other people would envy.
"… the opportunities I was allowed," she finally finished, her voice gravely. "I want to give this child, Emma, a fresh start."
Pamela seemed to respect Regina's answer and nodded approvingly, a small smile on her lips. "A fresh start is what Emma needs. You should know, she's been returned to the foster system a few times. It's sad really. Families just seem to give up on her and in return, she has given up on most people." Pamela's shoulders fell again, a sadness in her eyes.
"You care about her, don't you?" Regina questioned.
The blonde nodded. "It's hard not to when I've been in charge of her case for her entire life." Pamela gently closed the folder she had been holding open and ran a hand over her already smooth hair. "She's been in the foster care system since she was a baby, found on the side of the road at only a day old. She's been in and out of homes since then. Her first family was the Swan's, hence her last name." Pamela stopped suddenly. "But, you don't need to hear all the details. I want you to form your own opinion of Emma."
A frown had overcome Regina's features, a hint of anger in her eyes. She wondered how any parent could just leave their child on the side of the road. Even Cora, as evil and manipulative as she was, hadn't abandoned her own daughter. No wonder Emma had a tough time trusting people. How would a child be expected to fit in and behave accordingly when she didn't have the slightest inclination of who she was?
"I want to meet her," Regina said abruptly, determination in her tone.
Pamela smiled, something akin to hope dancing behind her gaze. "Well then, why don't we go pay her a visit?" The young blonde stood, revealing a grey pants suit similar to Regina's own attire.
Regina mimicked the movement, her body suddenly vibrating with anticipation. "I would like that."
It had only taken 20 minutes to drive to Emma's foster home. Regina climbed from the passenger seat of Pamela's SUV and arched her back, letting her thumbs briefly massage the tight muscles. Her eyes roamed over the brick building before her. It wasn't large, just two stories, with a few windows blocked by closed curtains. A couple of child-sized bikes were chained to a bike rack just outside the home.
Regina followed Pamela up the concrete steps leading to the front door and waited anxiously while the younger blonde knocked a few times. She noticed her fingers were drumming against her thighs again and she stopped the movement, laying her palms flat against her legs.
It didn't take long for an older woman to answer the door, a toddler sitting on her hip, sucking on his thumb quietly. Wide hazel eyes watched the two women for a brief moment before he shyly hid his face in the crook of the woman's neck.
Regina focused her attention on who she assumed was the foster mom. The woman had short, thin brunette hair that stopped just below her ears in unruly curls. The thinning was probably due to age, as she looked to be nearing her sixties and had wrinkles along her face, neck, and arms to accompany that notion. Her eyes were a dim shade of brown, accentuated by tired shadows beneath her orbs. She offered a small, forced smile to the two woman. Exhaustion was evident in her stance. "Pam," she greeted the social worker. Her eyes then strayed to Regina.
"This is Regina," Pamela explained. "Regina, this is Amelia, Emma's temporary foster mom."
"Ah, so you're the one interested in Emma…" the older woman drawled, motioning for them to follow her inside. "Come in, excuse the mess. I just put the younger kids down for their naps. I need to do the same for this little one," Amelia explained, her eyes falling on the little boy in her arms. "Pam, I trust you can find Emma?"
Pamela nodded as Amelia turned and ambled down the hallway. "Follow me. Emma has a room upstairs." Regina ascended the stairs with ease, frowning at the bare walls throughout the building. There were no photos, drawings, or paintings anywhere to be seen. Other than aged furniture and toys scattered throughout the place, there were no personal touches to this building. It was simply a foster house, not a home.
"All of the older kids share rooms on this floor," Pamela explained as they reached the second floor. Her dress shoes and Regina's heels scuffed quietly against the old carpet. The sound of young voices invaded the brunette's ears and she found herself glancing in the rooms that they passed, witnessing older children of various ages either chatting or sprawled out in their beds. Some met Regina's eyes for a few seconds before abruptly averting their gazes, as if they knew instantly that the new woman wasn't there for them. These children had no hope, and it tore at the mayor's darkened heart.
"Emma should be in here." Pamela's voice broke Regina from her thoughts as the woman knocked softly on a closed bedroom door. A knot formed in the former queen's stomach, her breathe suddenly caught in her throat. This was it. She was about to meet her future daughter.
When the door remained closed, Regina's eyebrows knit together in worry. "She's probably listening to music and doesn't hear us," Pamela explained, moving to gently crack the door open. She peeked her head inside, green orbs checking the bedroom. "Emma? Ah, there you are."
The young woman opened the door completely and stepped inside, allowing Regina to get a full view of the room. She noticed a teenage girl with long, blonde hair sprawled out on a small bed in the corner, her ears covered by a set of headphones. She was bobbing her head to the beat of the song she was listening to, a few stray bangs following each movement. Her skin was fairly pale, obviously from lack of sunlight exposure, but very smooth in texture. She didn't have the usual acne that enjoyed plaguing teenagers around this age.
"Earth to Emma," Pamela chuckled, waving her hand to get the teenager's attention. Blue-green eyes widened in recognition and Emma removed her headphone, smiling.
"Pam!" There seemed to be genuine joy behind that word as Emma stood to hug the older blonde. Regina noted that Emma was tall and lean, only an inch or two shorter than herself. She pulled away from the hug as her eyes found Regina, suddenly becoming wary. "Who's that?"
Regina's feet remained frozen to their current spot. She offered a small smile, but couldn't find the strength or courage to move. Pamela seemed to notice this and answered Emma's question.
"This is Regina. She's a kind woman who wants to get to know you," Pamela explained gently, her eyes moving between the two.
It was bluntly obvious that Emma was skeptical, and she forcefully shoved her hands into the pockets of her jeans. Regina knew that this girl, as young as she was, had her own internal demons that she battled with. Emma had erected her own walls that would not easily come down. "I'm too old. No one wants to get to know me," she bit out between clenched teeth. "The younger kids, downstairs, are better."
Regina found herself shaking her head gently. "No one is the same, Emma. Don't ever think that someone is better than you." The words had tumbled from her lips almost instinctively. There had been no prior thought to them.
"Yeah well, it has been an obvious fact my whole life," Emma snapped harshly.
"Emma…" Pamela began to warn, but Regina held up a hand to stop her.
"No, its okay, really," Regina cut in. She turned her attention back to Emma and tried offering the teenager an uncertain smile. Emma only lowered her gaze to the carpet. "Why don't we try to move forward, then? Let's put a little twist on things. Facts are boring."
Emma shifted uneasily, remaining quiet. The next few moments of silence were almost deafening and made Regina want to retreat from the room, but she forced those thoughts aside and remained anchored to the spot. Finally, Emma lifted her head and glanced with wary eyes between the two women.
"I don't do well in a family setting. Never have. I'm better on my own," she murmured quietly, just above a whisper. Regina could sense an array of pent up emotions behind those words – hurt, sadness, distrust, betrayal, and the most obvious… belief.
"Well," Regina began, gaining confidence in her voice. "Then it's your lucky day, Emma." She finally found use of her legs again and inched forward a few steps. "There's no family setting. It's just me. And I used to feel the same way as you, that I would be better off on my own." She conveyed the truth of those words through her eyes, willing Emma to believe her. "But I was wrong. Over the last few years, I've come to the realization that everyone needs someone."
Emma was watching her with an intent gaze, trying to convince herself whether she should trust this woman… whether she should put any faith behind her words. She had tried to trust people so many times already, and each time she ended up with another crack in her heart.
"Maybe we could help each other," Regina pushed forward. "I'm not asking you to accept me as your mother. I'm not even sure if I'm truly ready for the responsibility that comes with that title. I'm just asking that you give me a chance. Let me try and convince you that not everyone is the same. If you'll give me that chance, I can return the favor with a promise. I won't ever give up on you." And Regina meant those words with every fiber of her being. Too many people had given up on her time and time again. The result had been the evil version of herself clawing to the surface, tugged along by rage and betrayal, darkening her soul little by little until all innocence and good had been lost in a void of evil. She would not let the same thing happen to Emma.
Emma seemed to be contemplating Regina's words, searching the mayor's face intently for any trace of a lie. Finding none, she dropped her gaze to the floor again and shrugged her shoulders, shoving her hands deeper within her pockets. "I guess I can go with you," she uttered meekly, shifting her stance from one leg to the other. "But I'm not making any promises. Adults have always made me promises, but they have never followed through on them…" she trailed off.
Regina stepped forward again, closing the distance between them until there was only about a foot left. Awkwardly… timidly… Regina extended a hand and placed it on Emma's shoulder, squeezing gently. She could feel the young girl tense, but to Regina's relief, she didn't pull away.
"Hey, look at me," Regina urged calmly. It took a moment, but Emma reluctantly raised her head to meet the mayor's eyes, blue-greens meeting dark browns. "Let's change that."
Emma eyes seemed a bit glossy, as if she was holding back un-shed tears. She nodded once and the corners of her lips raised ever so slightly at the corners. "Okay."
And for the first time in a long time, Regina felt something in the pit of her stomach that crept upwards and seized her rapidly beating heart. A feeling that she wanted to cling to with unrecognizable ferocity, her hand responding by tightening its grip every so slightly on Emma's shoulder. Hope. Regina finally felt hope.
Leave a review and let me know what you think! This was my first attempt at writing Regina and I had a fun time rising to the challenge. I'm sure it is not perfect by any means, but I tried my best. If there's enough interest, I think this would be an exciting story to continue. I have a lot of ideas running through my head.
Also, I don't have a beta reader, so if there are any grammar mistakes, I do apologize. I try to read and re-read before publishing, but I feel like it is almost impossible to find all of the little mistakes.
Until the next update...
-Newfi