Chapter two: The Flashback
Regina awoke in the middle of the night, sweating and panting. She placed her hands either side of the bed, she was shaking, she turned to her left where Emma was laying, staring at her.
"Are you okay, Regina?"
Regina just blinked her eyes.
Emma look startled, sitting up to try and comfort Regina. "Regina, speak to me."
Regina opened her mouth to speak, but she couldn't.
"Regina, what's wrong?" Emma held, taking the panting Regina in her arms.
"I… Saw." Regina stuttered.
"Saw what?" Emma replied.
Robin came bursting in. "Everything okay in here?"
Regina looked at Robin, remembering something he said yesterday.
Emma let go of Regina, still slightly concerned.
"My memories, from this realm. This wish… They came to me." Regina muttered.
"Wait. What?" Emma said, peering over Regina.
"I lived the life as the Evil Queen, didn't I?" Regina looked at them both. "Well, Robin said something to me yesterday, and now it makes sense."
Emma blinked and tilted her head. "What's that?"
Robin raised his eyebrow, looking at Regina.
"Robin, you said you knew me. Well now I know how, and why."
"Oh?" Robin responded.
"We hooked up, well the Evil Queen did. I went looking for the man with the lion tattoo, and I found you. Tink told me that you were my true love, so I went out to try and find you. Because I had a plan of my own. A child, a child of true love. And that's what I got…"
Robin snarled. "I'm glad you remember. Now care to share with the Princess what you did to me?"
"Robin, I'm sorry. That wasn't me…"
Robin shook his head, a tear hanging in his eye. "Tell her."
"Once I found out I was having a child, I sent Robin to Neverland. So nobody would find out he was the father."
"That's right." Robin agreed. "You sent me away!"
Emma couldn't even reply, but she watched Robin carefully.
"Robin, I'm sorry." Regina hung her head down, she felt her eyes well up.
Emma got out of the bed. "Okay, right. Well, our biggest concern now is something different, isn't it?"
"What happened to the child Regina? What happened to our child?"
"I don't know. When the Evil Queen was vanquished, she vanished. I don't even know where she is now."
"At least tell me her name!" Robin demanded.
"Her name is Maeve. Its meaning is the reason why she was named that. I gave her that name the same reason my mother gave me mine. It means Queen."
Emma and Robin glanced at each other.
"So she was born to take your place?" Emma asked.
"Pretty much." Regina replied.
Emma coughed. "So, how old would she be now? And anyway, if she was anything like you were, wouldn't she be, attacking?" Emma questioned.
"That's the thing." Regina said, looking at Emma. "She would be around twenty three now. And if you haven't heard of her. Then I must have kept her a secret? That is the bit that's a blur to me. The only memory that returned to me."
Emma's eyes widened as she glanced at Regina.
Regina caught Emma's glance. "What?"
"What if she gave you that memory? She wanted you to remember?"
Robin sighed.
"How? We are alone?" Robin said, resting his hands on his hips.
"I don't know. We are in a realm where anything is possible."
"I know that, because the only reason I got pregnant was with help from Rumpel. I cast my own curse on myself so I couldn't have children." Regina grumbled.
"Why did you do that?" Emma asked, concerned.
"Because Cora wanted me to have a child. I had to make sure that she didn't have a chance to take that child away. Must have been the reason I kept my pregnancy a secret…"
"So what now? Do we find her?" Robin inquired.
"Yeah because I can just strut through the kingdom freely." Regina grunted in a sarcastic tone, rolling her eyes.
"Regina." Emma said, directly throwing a glare at Regina.
"What? Just stating the obvious."
"Don't be so blunt." Emma snarled.
"Doesn't take a genius to work out the odds, Emma." Regina got out of the bed and headed out to the main room.
Emma and Robin followed her.
"Regina, stop it."
"Emma, you wanted the old me back? Didn't you? Well here I am! Let me be the person I was once before! Go back to the kingdom. Be the Queen you were born to be. I need to find out what happened to her. She might just be a wish, but I need to see if I did something right in this world."
"Regina I won't let you do this on your own." Emma said sternly, walking up to her.
"Why? You're safer without me. Your Henry is still here? I have nothing here. Maeve might bring me a shed of hope of living a happy life here. Because our odds of getting home seem to be very limited."
"Regina, what did I tell you? You're stronger than this. All those times we have overcome the worst, they've been together, right?" Emma was trying her hardest to get through to Regina, there was no way she would ever let Regina go on her own, not now. Not ever.
Regina sighed deeply, turning her head to look at Emma. "Emma, I'm broken. I don't want to keep losing anymore."
Emma cupped Regina's cheek in her palm. "You're never going to be alone, not as long as I'm here, I'll protect you. We will find her together?"
Regina lidded her eyes, tilting her head so it was resting in Emma's palm. "Okay."
"Okay." Emma smiled, stroking down Regina's cheek.
"Yet again, I'm sorry to interrupt. But I'm out of here. I have a daughter to find." Robin shoved past Emma and Regina and left. Regina tried to stop him, but she let him slip out of her grasp.
"No!" Regina yelped. "What if he finds her first? What if tries to turn her against me…. What if he succeeds?"
"Regina, calm down. We have the advantage!"
"We do?" Regina blinked, wiping the tears from her cheek.
"We do." Emma repeated. "If she really did give you those memories, she must be on your side, right? She wants to be found, by you."
"I guess, that could be it. Or could be leading me to my death."
Emma grumbled, folding her arms over her chest.
"Let's hope it's the first. Hmm?"
"Okay."
"Now, let's get some more rest?" Emma said, indicating to the bedroom.
Morning awoke in the Enchanted Forest, the birds were chirping and the sound of the wind echoed through the small house.
"Good Morning Emma." Regina smiled, looking up as Emma was getting re-dressed in her white gown.
"Morning." She smiled. "Ready for a new day?"
"We'll see." Regina chuckles slightly, getting up.
"We can beat the odds." Emma grinned.
Regina smiled.
"I think you should wear something different, probably something to disguise you so you don't look obvious, maybe a cloak so you can hide most of your body and face. Safety and all that." Emma offered a cloak to Regina. "The brown is alright, just wear this, okay?"
Regina nodded, taking the cloak.
"I'll make us something to eat, then we go looking for answers? Hm?"
"Yes." Regina nodded.
"Good."
Emma left the room and began making something quick and simple to satisfy.
"My cooking isn't great, but I can make a fruit salad." She laughed as Regina came in the room.
"Well, it's better than nothing."
They finished eating and headed out.
"Where we going?" Regina asked, following Emma.
"I'm not really sure. Maybe we can find clues at your castle?"
Regina moved her hands about, flickering the tips of her fingers. A puff of purple smoke covered them, within moments they appeared at Regina's castle.
"I forgot you could do that." Emma smirked.
"I didn't."
Regina grinned slyly at Emma.
"After all, I am the Evil Queen, might as well make use of that."
"Just because you believe something doesn't make it true." Emma smiled. "You were her, now you're not."
"Thanks Emma, but I don't need your words right row. I just need your help."
"Hey. I once told Henry you were a piece of work and I wasn't lying, your strength from all the ups and downs you have had is admiring. We'll find her and we will find home." Emma snickered, patting Regina's shoulder. "Now let's get searching."
Regina just chuckled to herself, following her into the depths of the castle.
"Did Maeve have a room here?"
"She did, it was near mine. Along the open corridor."
"Let's go there then. Maybe we can find something."
They both made their way up the stone grey staircase, heading to Regina's room, as they arrived they searched the room.
Regina walked over to her dressing table, all her belongings were lying out, just how she usually leaves them.
Emma watched Regina.
"It's surprising that no one has come here in all these years, everything is just how I left it. That's just odd."
"Maybe. Or maybe nobody wanted anything? Or even a reminder?" Emma shrugged, turning back to look around the room.
"Possibly."
"There's nothing here." Emma grunted.
"Move to Maeve's room."
They entered the room, it was barely decorated. A bed, table and a mirror was all that remained. But on the table there was a small note, Emma spotted it first and ran over to it, she picked it up and began to read it.
"She was here." Emma looked at the note, then up at Regina.
"What does it say?" She asked, going to Emma's side.
"To be or not to be. Is it destiny that we find our paths? Will the dark overcome the light? Or will the night take it all away?"
"What does that even mean?" Regina sighed.
"Whatever it means, it can't be good."
"Seems that way." Regina moved to sit down on the bed. "Did I fail as a mother?"
"No, Regina. You didn't, the Evil Queen did. Look at Henry, he is only the man he is because of you."
"I miss him." Regina sobbed.
"I do, too. But come on, we have to be strong, for him."
Regina took a deep breath and got up. "Okay. Where next?"
"She knows that you're looking for her. So maybe we stop looking and let her find us?"
"If you suggest so."
"Let's head into the nearest village and ask about her? See if anybody knows her name?"
"Take the lead." Regina replied.
Emma smiled and with that they left the castle and began to walk down the muddy road to the next village.
"How are you feeling?" Emma asked Regina.
"I'm okay, I just want closure."
"I understand that, hopefully that's what we will find. Then we can find a way home."
They arrived at the next village and found a tavern, Emma walked over to a barmaid.
"Excuse me, Miss. I don't suppose you know a woman by the name of Maeve?"
The barmaid look puzzled and raised her eyebrow. "No, Miss. Sorry I can't help you."
Emma inclined her head. "No problem. I don't suppose you have a room here we can stay the night?"
The barmaid smiled. "Of course." The barmaid fiddled in her pocket for a key and handed it to Emma. "Here you go. Don't worry about paying, I hope you find what you are looking for."
"Thank you."
Emma turned away and went back to Regina who was hiding in the corner.
"They haven't heard anything, but night fall is coming. So I got us a room here for the night. Shall we get a drink?"
"Sure." Regina smiled.
Emma went over to the bar and ordered two ales, before going back to sit with Regina. She offered one to her. "Here."
"Thanks."
"No point rushing anything now. Answers will come to us." Emma smiled, taking a sip of her ale.
"I know."
Emma peered at Regina. "Something's bothering you, isn't it?"
"A little bit."
"What is it?"
"If she knows I'm here. Why is she making it so difficult for me to find her?"
"She might be in some trouble?" Emma replied, leaning on her elbows.
"Maybe. Or what if she is like the old me? And she's playing a game."
"Why would you think that?"
Regina sighed, glancing at Emma. "Think about it. What if she wants me gone? If she's heard the latest then getting rid of me might be easier for her. She knows all the folks of this Kingdom hate me."
"So you think this is a wild goose chase leading to your death?"
"Yes."
"Then we stop?"
"We do?" Regina blinked, looking at Emma.
"I said earlier, if we stop and we hear nothing, then it isn't worth it."
"Okay." Regina smiled.
Emma slumped on her stool, taking a deep breath.
"So what now?" Regina asked.
"We find a way home."
"How are we going to do that, exactly?"
"We search for the strongest magic."
"How is that going to help us, Emma?"
"Magic is what got us here, magic is what's going to get us out."
"Are you sure of that?"
"Nothing's sure in this world, Regina."
Regina scrunched up her lip and sighed.
Emma finished off her ale and put the mug on the table in front of them. She noticed the barmaid watching them from a distance. "Can we help you?"
Regina took her eyes of her mug and looked towards Emma.
"I think I can help find what you are looking for." The barmaid replied.
"You can?" Regina asked. Staring at her.
"No questions asked." The barmaid continued.
"Why would you do that? And more importantly, why should we trust you?" Emma said, folding her arms over her bust.
"Cause I know what it is like to be in a place where you don't belong." The barmaid smiled. "If you want to go home, I want to help."
Emma smiled. "One moment." Emma then got up, taking Regina's hand a pulling her into a corner.
"Should we accept her help?" Emma whispered.
"What have we got to lose?" She laughed sarcastically. "Apart from my head."
"Regina, I'm serious."
"Fine. Sure."
"Okay."
Emma wandered back to the barmaid. "What's your name?"
"Leila." She replied.
The group walked to Emma and Regina's rental room. As they entered the room, Emma locked the door behind them.
"If we are to trust you, Leila. We need to know some things."
"Alright." The brunette replied.
"You acted odd when you saw us the first time. Do you know who we really are?"
"I do." Leila sat down, wiping her hands down her apron. "You are both well known around here, so I would advise leaving early tomorrow morning."
Regina looked at Emma, pondering what to say. "Leila. How old are you?" Regina asked.
"Twenty-three. Why?"
"Just wondered."
Emma exhaled deeply.
"Leila." Emma huffed.
"Yes?"
"Are you from this village?"
"No, but I know a shortcut to where you need to go."
"Why are you so eager to get us out of here?" Regina questioned.
"For your own safety. I wish to protect you."
"But why, you don't know us?" Emma queried.
"I don't need to know you to want to help. With Queen Snow and King David as leaders the Kingdom learned to love each other. She clearly isn't the Evil Queen so something magical has clearly happened. So here I am, a woman who is here to help those in need."
"Then we can only thank you." Emma smiled.
"We leave early hours. I'll wake you when it's time to go?" Leila mentioned.
"Alright."
Regina shuffled towards Leila, smiling at her.
"Thank you for your help."
Emma stood beside Regina. She looked at both of them until she caught the glance of Leila.
"You're withholding some information. Aren't you?"
Leila gulped and looked away.
"It's best you tell us before this gets complicated." Regina grinned slyly.
"Fine. After Queen Snow and King David's death the Kingdom is now weak enough for the witches to attack and claim the Kingdom for their own. I'm here to warn you away. In hope you'll leave and they can claim their spot in the Kingdom."
Emma took a step back, squinting her eyes shut.
"Are you one of them?" Regina asked, her tone dropping.
"Yes…"
Emma shook her head, all the information was processing. "These witches, what are their names?"
"I can't tell you, the less you know, the better…" Leila squealed.
Regina wrapped her hands around Leila's wrist, squeezing them tightly.
"Tell me."
Emma looked at Regina. Regina's hands were burning, flames and sparks were coming out from her palms.
Leila was wincing in pain. Emma tried to shake Regina off of the wounded girl.
"Tell me!" Regina yelled.
"Okay!" Leila screamed.
"Regina stop!"
Regina let go, the fire was in her eyes.
"You know them…" Leila looked at her wrists, burnt and bleeding.
Emma tilted her head. "Who are they?"
"The Queen of Hearts and the Wicked Witch of the West. They formed an alliance to destroy any good in this world."
Regina flashed an evil stare at Leila.
"Why didn't you just kill us when you had the chance then?" Emma questioned.
"Because I don't want you dead." Leila muttered.
"Why don't you?" Regina blurted out.
"You don't deserve death, you deserve to go home. Just like I wanted to, all those years ago."
"Who are you?" Emma asked.
Leila looked at Regina. "You know."
Regina ran a hand through her hair, looking at Leila.
Leila wiped a tear from her eye. "Please stop them… Please save me." Leila closed her eyes and with a puff of white smoke, she was gone.
Emma looked at Regina who was stood still at the corner of the room. "Regina."
Regina looked back at Emma, her expressions had drop, like she had gone ice cold. "Emma."
"We have to save the Kingdom. I can't let it fall." Emma moved over to Regina putting a hand on her arm. "We need to be the heroes."
Regina remained still, she was trying to deal with what had just happened in her head.
"Regina." Emma mumbled.
"She was… She is… I hurt her…" Regina stuttered.
"Regina, focus. She wants your help. She doesn't hate you."
"But it's my family, Cora, Zelena and Maeve. My family are the ones terrorising the Kingdom."
"That may be, but we will stop them. Like we always do." Emma smiled. "Now we have a reason to stay."
Regina bite her lip sighing deeply.
"Now. How about we go save a Kingdom, together."
Regina looked at Emma and nodded. "Together."