Change Isn't Easy

I don't own anything about Once Upon A Time; everything here is my interpretation of the characters and their stories.

Chapter 1: Enchanted Forest

Well, at least the spell worked and they have all been softly returned to the Enchanted Forest, all but Henry and Emma that is. The Charming and her decided it would be best to head straight for their castle, and that everyone was to come with them so they all had someplace to stay. She didn't really care because she had a plan of her own, she decided that the only way to deal with the pain in her chest and the longing for Henry was to put her in a sleeping curse. She would sleep until Henry could find his way back to her. She knew no one would even notice her absence because every person hated the Evil Queen, so her absence would only mean happiness for everyone else.

They were walking through the Forest and Snow White had the nerve to come up and speak to her.

"How are you doing Regina?" She asks.

Regina stops in her tracks and sharply replies to Snow saying

"How do you think I am doing? My son is in New York with no recollection of who I am and the life we had together for 11 years."

Snow was a little offended by this comment, and says "I understand you are upset, in case you have forgotten, my daughter drove off in that car with your son. My daughter who I had to give up because of your first curse, then 28 years later I am reunited with her, and then a year later I have to watch her leave me again. I have no idea if/when I will ever see Emma again, but you don't see me walking around curing the world for my problems. I would rather focus on the possibility of finding her again, and staying optimistic about this new life here in the Enchanted Forest."

This silenced Regina, and made walk away from Snow, because she didn't want to deal with her right now.

That is when they were attacked by some sort of beast, that looked like a monkey with wings. It came and attacked her and snow, but before she could do anything someone shot an arrow at it. She looked up and saw that it was Robin Hood who had his hand extended to them. Snow accepted it, but Regina ignored it and got up on her own. They continued their walk in silence and a few minutes later she saw this creature coming towards this small boy who was walking in front of her. Her maternal instinct kicked in and she shielded the boy and turned the beast into a plush toy. She saw the boy run to his father, Robin Hood, and she turned to the boy and said "See, not so scary now, is it?" and she handed the boy the doll. With a simple "Thank you" from the thief and walked away. The next thing she knew they were approaching her castle. Charming was walking straight towards it when she stopped him.

"There is a spell protecting the Castle, you can't get in without lowering the spell." He looked at her and said

"so me and my men will charge the castle."

And she laughed at him. "What a great plan Charming! Then you will all simply be blasted backwards from the shield, but if you really want to, by all means, be my guest!"

With that comment Snow White shot her a look and said

"Well then Regina, what to do propose we do?"

So she shared her plan with the group "I will enter the Castle via the tunnels, they will probably be unaffected by the shield. Then I will lower the shield so you can enter the castle."

"I'm coming with you" said Snow.

"No, you will not. I am plenty capable of lowering a shield on my own, and I do not need yours, or anyone else's assistance."

What she didn't see was that Robin Hood was looking at her and had decided that she was not going to do this alone.

Regina walked through the Forest until she saw the bolder that covered the opening to the tunnels. With her magic, she lifted the boulder and threw it the side. That's when she heard a sound, and when she turned around and saw him.

"What do you think you're doing here?" she said to him.

"I thought you could use some help. And whether you chose to accept it or not, I owe you a debt. You saved my son back there, and I know that that beast was not coming after him, but rather it was you they were targeting."

"And how do you know this, thief?" she retorted.

"I have seen many animals track their prey, and that animal was after you." That sure made her quiet.

"Well then I guess I am not going to talk you out of this, am I?"

"No, you're not!"

"Well then, you can come. Just do not get in my way!"
"I wouldn't dream of it!" she said with a smirk on his lips.