Chapter 7
Regina rushed into Robin's arms not paying to his demeanor. "I've missed you," she whispered. He didn't respond to her hug and she let go of him confused. "Robin, what's wrong?"
"Do you practice magic?" he asked. She took a step back and tilted her head in confusion. Robin waited for her answer. "Do you?"
"Where is this coming from?" she questioned. "I don't understand."
"Do you practice magic? The better question is do you know The Dark One," he said his voice on the verge of going up an octave.
Regina didn't know what to do. How could he possibly know about magic and Rumplestilskin? "Robin, I'm not-
"Don't lie to me," he interrupted. He decided to go with different line of questioning. "Who is the stable boy?"
Her shock turned to sadness and then to anger. "I never told you about him. Not directly anyway. How did you find out? Did Tinkerbell tell you?"
"No. Your friend Rumplestilskin and we had quite the lovely chat about you," he said.
"That twisted little imp," she said her voice darkening with every word.
"So it's true," he said in disbelief. "You are a student of The Dark One. How could you learn anything from him? He said you wanted to kill a child. How could you think of doing such a thing?"
"You have no idea what she took from me," she yelled. "You couldn't possibly understand what my life is like."
He approached. "Make me understand because for the life of me I don't understand how anyone can use magic. It's vile and evil."
She looked up at him. His eyes reflected a mixture of horror and disappointment. She used to voice those same sentiments before Daniel's death.
"His name was Daniel. He was the stable boy and we were going to run away together. We were going to get married and get away from my mother. I didn't want to marry the king. Snow couldn't understand that at first then I told her about Daniel. She promised to keep my secret but she lied. My mother ripped out his heart and crushed it," she said her voice breaking.
"Snow can't be trusted. She's completely oblivious unless something pertains to her," she said her tone getting darker again.
He sort of understood but it didn't change the fact that she was learning dark magic. "I'm sorry about Daniel but she's a child. You learned magic to kill a child."
Regina shook her head. "No. I wanted to bring Daniel back. I didn't succeed so I focused my efforts on getting revenge on Snow instead. Rumplestilskin offered to help me. He's the only one who could teach me magic."
Robin groaned. "Regina, don't you see you're nothing but a pawn in whatever game he is playing? It's dark and you don't need it. Tinkerbell said you were trying to get away from darkness."
Regina turned from him. "I can't. Snow is a liar and a murderer. Daniel was my only chance at happiness."
She realized how her statement must have sounded to Robin. "Robin-
"I'm just a replacement like he said. He said you could never love me in the same way. I've been nothing but a play thing to you."
She went up to him and place her hand on his arm. "That's not true. You are important to me. I care about you."
Robin could see the sincerity in her eyes and offered a solution to their problem. "Then run with me. Let go of your vengeance against the princess. I know you don't want to be queen. Leave all the darkness behind," he said.
She hesitated to answer. "Please, I can't. Don't ask me to make a choice. Anger is all I have. I have to avenge him. I'm the only one who can get justice. Magic is helping me do that."
"You can't live in both worlds forever. You have to choose. Don't go down this path or you'll reach a point of no return," Robin pleaded.
She went quiet debating in her head again whether to heed his advice. He took her silence as rejection and his anger was bubbling.
"I guess you are like the rest of the royals," he said backing away. "I nearly ransacked Leopold's castle with my men," he admitted. "I wanted to find you hoping everything Rumplestilskin said was a lie. The Regina I came to know wouldn't do these things."
"Wait, Tinkerbell said you were about to do something stupid. Are you the bandit he was after? You're the reason we had to come here," she stated in realization.
"Yes. My men and I steal from the rich and give to the poor. We never take for ourselves," he explained.
"So we both lied to each other," she retorted. "And you want to call me out on my lie when you are keeping a secret," she said slightly upset.
"I'm not hurting anyone," he argued. He sighed. "You don't need to keep living this lie. Vengeance will only lead to sorrow."
Robin saw her wall go up after he said that. "No. It will bring me happiness. I don't need you Robin. You're a distraction...a distraction I can't afford. I'll have Tinkerbell take you wherever you need to go. Our time was fun but it's over. I can't do this anymore. Goodbye Robin."
She turned away from him wanting to get away quickly before her resolve broke. "Regina," he called but she pressed forward. He caught up with her and turned her around. She pushed him back.
"No. Don't touch me. I'm done. I don't ever want to see you again," she said harshly. "Tinkerbell!"
She arrived with a cheery disposition which quickly soured. "You didn't make up," she observed.
Regina narrowed her eyes and addressed Tinkerbell. "Take Robin. Love is not for me. I had it but he's gone." She flickered her eyes to Robin. "I never want to see you again. For the last time goodbye." She didn't budge until they disappeared. She fought hard to calm the conflicting emotions rising.
"You gave a performance of a lifetime. Well done dearie. Now you are free to fulfill your destiny," Rumplestilskin said.
"Shut up. You destroyed anything good in my life," Regina shot back. He let out a wicked laugh.
"No. The thief gave you a choice but you have greater plans. I'm the only friend you need," he said. "Our lessons start tomorrow. I expect you to come in full darkness." He vanished in a puff of smoke.
Tinkerbell took Robin back to the camp. "What happened?"
"What does it look like?" he shot back. "We're over."
Tinkerbell shook her head. "Pixie dust doesn't fail. You and Regina are each other's loves. We just have to think of another way to get through to her. Regina-
"Enough! Just let it go. You saw her. She wants nothing to do with me," he refuted.
"But you love her," she said softly.
"I do but she doesn't love me," he replied.
"Robin, you have to fight for her or you'll end up regretting it. Prove me right."
"You never give up, do you?" he questioned smiling at her determination.
"No and I won't rest until my friends are together," she said.
