It's so nice to wake up in my own bed. I have to give it to Rumple for not sleeping in my bedroom because the Dark Ones never sleep. I magic my closet and all my wardrobe are back. I put on my favorite black dress and coat and head to the town hall. Everyone is waiting when I came in. I started by calling names of the residents to check the headcount. They also gave their own suspicions on to whoever may have casted the curse. I assigned the fairies to be in charge on a committee dedicated to reuniting those who have been separated from their families. We finished the town's meeting in about two hours. After that, I went to my office to do the paper works that Rumple neglected to do. This feels like home to me so naturally it just took me like three to four hours to finish all of it. I also had an extra time to visit my apple trees.
Now that all my jobs as mayor are done, I have to do my job as the queen. I need to find who is responsible for casting the curse. It's not really my cup of tea, finding people. In this kind of situation, Emma usually takes in charge. I am no bail bond's person. But I can think like one. If I am Emma, how will I catch the person who cursed this town? Play a con. I dialed my phone and call Henry and Killian. They arrived together in about twenty five minutes. I gave them a look when they came in together. I knew it. They are together because they've been talking about me, setting that aside. "I know how we can catch the person who cast the curse", I said to them. I gave them vials of potion in a pouch. "What's these?" Killian asked. I handed then gloves. "These are paralyzing potions. I need the two of you to put these in my office but be careful not to touch it with bare hands because the potion is laced on the vial itself so once the person who casted the curse tried to steal them, he will be paralyzed long enough for us to catch him", I answered.
"And why would he want to steal these?" he asked again.
"Because I will put out a word in the town that I discovered a potion that will reveal whoever casted the curse", I answered.
"But you didn't, it will draw out the person who casted the curse and will try to stop us by stealing these. You're playing a con", Henry said.
"Well, something I learned from a bail bond's person. I need you two to do the stake out and call me if anything happens", I said.
They both nodded and leave. I just hope it works because I don't know what else to do if it didn't. I called Grumpy to ask him to spread out the false news. No better one to do than him. I waited for hours but there's still no update from Killian and Henry so I went inside my secret room and grabbed something to eat. It's already night and still no news about our target. I sat down and opened the old book that helped me break the curse. I know this is not my mother's. Definitely it's not Rumple's otherwise it wouldn't be here. I found a lot of spells on how to torture people, extract information from someone's mind, and more dark ones. I heard someone is coming down. I put down the book and went outside the secret room. I saw Alexandria. "Hey how did you find me here?" I asked her. She brought pastries. "Oh, Grumpy said I might find you here. He said you've been working on catching the person cursed us all day and I figured you must be famished so I brought you these", she answered. I took the pastries and put them on the table.
She looked around my vault. My magic is not a secret to her. After all, she met me when I was still the Evil Queen. "This is much smaller compare to what you have back in the castle", she said. She's definitely right about that. I served the pastries for both of us. I think she's hungrier than I am. "Grumpy said you found a way to know who did it", she said. I nodded my head. "Yeah I did", I replied. She smiled and then put down her bread. "Well, I know you will figure it out. You're the smartest person I know", she said happily. I looked at her carefully. "So do you know who did it, the curse?" she asked her face full of eagerness and curiosity. "Yeah I think I do", I answered. I know she's waiting for me to say who it was. She hasn't aged a single day since the last time I saw her. "Who is it?" she asked again.
"Alexandria, how did you know I will be here?" I asked her back.
"I told you Grumpy told me you'll be here", she answered.
"See that's the thing, I specifically told him not to tell anyone where I am. It's an order from a queen to her subject. He doesn't disobey an order. There's no way he will tell you that easily where I am. So why are you lying to me?" I asked her.
"There's always a first time for everything, Regina", she said.
"Not when it comes to Grumpy's loyalty. There's no potion to reveal who casted the curse, Alexandria. It's all a con to draw out who did it, and you my dear just fell for it big time. You casted the curse", I said.
Her face hardened and then she smiled again but it's different this time. It's more of like a malevolent kind of smile. "I told you you're the smartest person I know. Fine, you got me. I'm the one cursed all of you", she said. I just wished this is not happening right now. I wished it wasn't her. "How? You're not a witch", I asked her. She laughed in a way I don't recognize about her. It's like she's a different person now. "After I got thrown into that wretched land, everyone of course was out to get me. I was the new girl in town. I ran and ran as far as I can but there's no hiding from them. Then they got me cornered. I thought 'this is it, I'm going to die'. That's when I discovered I have powers too. I fought for my life, Regina. Then I built a little home for myself in the woods. I learned to develop my magic on my own. Then I met some practitioners of magic and I asked them to teach me everything they know. I remembered about your dark curse so I created a version of my own", she answered.
I can see the pain in her eyes. I believed the struggles she faced in that realm but what I don't get is why she took it out on this town. "How did you get out of Scrapes?" I asked her again. She took a piece of bread and ate it. "A Sorcerer's wand found its way there. I used it to get out. I just thought of you and it took me here. I was so excited to see you because I missed you so much and you know what I saw? You with a complete and perfect life", she answered. "You casted the curse to punish me for being happy?" I asked her. She stood up. "The only reason I survived that world is because of you. Every night I will at the sky with no stars, I will dream that one day you will come for me and save me from that hell but that day never came. Then the day I saw you, I saw how contented you were. You have forgotten about me. So I did what you always wanted, revenge on Snow White and her prince. I casted the curse that will destroy Snow White and her family but you found a way around to save her. But it's fine, because what my curse did was ripped them from you so we can be together again", she answered.
"I thought you were dead. If I know you're alive I will do everything that I can to find you", I said.
"But you didn't! You believed that fairy. Can't you see the truth? You're trying to be good to these people but they never liked you. They don't even understand you. That Blue fairy wanted to send you to the Scrapes to die", she exclaimed.
"Things have changed now Alexandria. They do understand me now. I am no longer seeking vengeance because I found something much more important, love and acceptance", I said.
"Yeah? Because you got a son, the son that worked his way to get his real mother because he was so unhappy with you, did you remember how easily he flipped on to you when your mother framed you? He was even plotting on how to defeat you. Actually everyone in this town turned their backs on you when you got framed. That's the family you're fooling yourself for. They love you because you're useful to them. But what will happen when you did something they don't like? They will throw you so fast like a trash", she said.
"How did you know all that?" I asked her.
"Oh I did my research while I am here all these years. The savior kept very informative files on her office", she answered.
"I know you're angry. You thought I forgot about you but I don't. I owe you everything I have right now. You saved my life. I learned my lesson in a hard way that revenge is not the answer. You have a choice between love and hate, between vengeance and forgiveness. I finally made the right choice. I asked you to do the same", I pleaded.
"I hope it can be that easy. The world is not black and white, Regina. Soon you will see that I'm doing this for you. All I want is to protect you", she replied and then disappeared.
