"I want to take away everything you hold dear." said Zelena West.
"I am your sister...I am the woman who who hates you...and I will destroy you..." The words were those of a hateful being. A hateful witch to be exact. But the emotions of the statuesque redhead standing before a microphone talking to a crowded assembly at Granny's Inn were of great contrast to those words. With great emotion, Zelena continued as she explained... "I meant those words then. I wanted to to destroy everything in this town. Everyone... "But more than anything, I wanted to destroy you, my sister. "But someone stopped me. I have done unforgivable things. So have you, Regina. But one person showed me that some that even I was forgivable. That I was deserving of..." Zelena began to seriously choke up, considering everything she had done in the past year...the truly wicked things that she had done...but even with that, this small town, for whatever reason, forgave her. She still didn't think she was deserving of love. But here are 400 people smiling at her, rooting for her. It was not possible...but there it was.
Zelena took a deep breath and continued... "..that I was truly deserving of love. And to be loved. But one person convinced me. That Someone truly believed in me. That many people did. Like my sister, even at the moment that I was going to end her. My sister believed in me. But one person stopped me. She believed in me too. And she believed in me so much that I returned the favor and believed in her. And today, we are here to congratulate that person. My Polly..."
The small-framed woman she referenced to, wearing rounded glasses, a short-cropped brunette hair style, and a face awash in tears, smiled at the former WIcked WItch. It was at this time Zelena ran off the stage and embraced the smaller woman, who return that embrace and kissed the redhead's lips passionately. The young, awkward woman, who initially was the target of a well-deserved prank by the citizens of Storybrooke, was now one of their own, one most beloved. And all Polly Nix had to do was to accept the forgiveness of a hatred that she may not really have had, but was fostered by her blustery fire-and-brimstone preacher father. The irony that the person that seemed to be her soulmate was known in other climes as the Wicked Witch, and that one of her soon-to-be in-laws was known as the Evil Queen was not lost on anyone.
And as the assembled multitude celebrated Polly's ascension to being the head minister of the town's Chapel. The aforementioned former Evil Queen was the first to hug her sister after her public words, then hugging the new pastor. All three understand how it feels to be hated by almost everyone that you and countered. Polly's last few years as part of her father's caravan of hate, carrying signs that strongly suggested that the Lord hated..well, one can fill in the blanks with who they hated: gays, lesbians, bisexuals, transgenders...expanded to liberals, conservatives, soldiers, performers...finally simply to anyone who didn't share their narrow view of the world...that would be anyone other than them.
What a contrast to live in a town where people actually love and forgive each other...and allow you to forgive yourself. Polly observed once that she knew all the stories of all the people of Storybrooke...and she believed that God could still forgive them all, and that maybe the people of the town could forgive each other and themselves, as they forgave her and vice versa. And as, one by one, the people of Storybrooke gave their praise to Polly, one by one, from Snow White ("We are so glad to have you as part of our family, Polly") to Ruby (You'll always be in my heart...and always your friend.."), not to mention about 400 other people who came to celebrate.
And then, the Mayor took to the microphone. The joy that was evident in Regina's face and body language was evident. What started as a practical joke a year ago had turned into this. And it was not just turning a bigot's daughter into an sweeter, more loving person. It's the town. The town she created and her sister recreated, for whatever reason. But now both Regina and Zelena realise...as their lives, and the loves of many others, especially Polly...that Storybrooke is all about forgiveness and renewal.
And with that, Regina Mills raised a large glass of orange juice...breakfast, you know...and toasted Polly. "Miss Nix, you showed us that change was possible. Not just with what has happened with yourself, but with all of us. With your help, I now have a mother (she looked at Cora), a sister (she looked at Zelena), a wife (she looked at Emma, tears streaming), and a family (she looked first at her son Henry, then to David, Snow, and their daughter Dorothy)...a BIG family, because you are all my family. To Polly!" Everyone in the diner raised their glass. Polly raised back with a toast of her own: "I give thanks to MY Savior, who gave me you all...and a second chance."
Polly then took a drink of her OJ, to the cheers of the crowd. Then Ruby and Ariel, with the help of Blue, Archie, Nova, Tink and others distributed huge plates of pancakes, bacon, sausages, hash browns, and Granny's homemade biscuits to everyone in the diner.
And at the center of it all, the most unlikely pair, if you knew their histories. Polly and "Greenie" we're sitting next to each other, holding each others hands. Neither thought they would deserve love because of what they did in their lives. But as the couple that occupied the seats across from them could tell them, the past is past.
"Earth to Polly...Earth to Polly." Emma's words and hand wave got the attention of the other two. "I tell you, you two guys remind me of a couple of folks I know..."
"Your parents?," responded Polly.
"Please, dear," said Regina, "I've given up trying to develop a case of diabetes for lent."
It was incredibly effective when Zelena rolled her eyes in green-skin mode. She had become much more naturally jovial than in the days when she and her sister were literally at death-blows with each other.
"I will say dear, you are right about one thing...," said Regina to her sister.
"...and that is...?"
"Wicked always wins, dear."
And then, Regina Mills gave Zelena and Polly one of her patented winks. Everyone was smiling.
And Polly and Zelena looked at each other with love in their eyes and reflected how much had changed.
A hotel just outside of Portland, ME, later that day. Room 200 to be exact.
The two older men sat at the table provided by the hotel. The heater was a bit noisy, but it kept the room warm. The TV was off...there was nothing the men wanted to see.
Both were dressed casually...button shirts, one wore a pair of jeans, the other dress slacks. The former wore cowboy boots, the other, every expensive men's shoes. The former was Tex Nix, homophobe of great national infame. he listened closely to his guest, a stocky man with a round face ho had his grey hair cut very close. The other man spoke of getting Tex's daughter back from the people who "brainwashed" in the town the seem to disappear from strangers. The other man said he had a key. That he sympathized with Tex about his daughter and gays and lesbians. He mentioned that two lesbians helped to ruin his life.
He also told Tex that he, too, knew the pain of losing a child and having that child replaced by someone much different. The plan was simple: help remove his daughter into the loving arms of Tex's congregation so that they could start the process of reprogramming her, and help with doing the same to someone else in that wretched pit of witchcraft.
Tex did not say a word. He just smiled and sealed the deal with a handshake. The guest got up. He told Tex that the plans were already in motion and that his daughter would be reunited with him within 48 hours, maybe less. He also told Tex if he had any questions to call the number on the card he gave the preacher.
It was a simple white card. A phone number and name. Albert George Spencer. TBC
A/N: The Wicked Witch is good here, though like her sister, she can go back to her old ways with a reason. This will not follow the show, and hopefully I can show Zelena's road to redemption as we go along. Again, search the original story of FF show this can make sense.
I appreciate the follows, but I definitely appreciate COMMENTS. I know, as I said, this is not what you are seeing on TV, this is definitely AU. But please comment based on those merits.
One of the characters in this story is based on someone who died recently. Its a man who did more to bring people together on the cause of equality and acceptance than any one man who may have ever lived, though it may not have been his intent. You will see many examples of redemption in this story, the real person may be beyond any I can give him now. But you know God...
Recognizable characters from Once Upon A Time are property of Kitsis-Horowitz/ABC/Disney. Original characters are mine.