Chapter 11 : Pain, pain, pain. Is there something else ?

The witch Maleficent let escape a scream of rage from her throat.

It couldn't be.

No, no, it didn't happen, it couldn't be true.

She was looking at her mirror, seeing something she didn't expect, that she thought would never happen.

Aurora was awake.

"Looks like things are not really going well, said a mocking voice."

Maleficent turned back and gave to her uninvited guest a look full of anger.

"What are you doing here Regina ?"

The Evil Queen smiled to her in a false innocent way.

"Just wanted to go to see my friend, of course. I didn't think that it would be so… interesting, she said, showing the mirror with her hand."

"It shouldn't have happened," whistled the dragon.

"Yes, for sure… Didn't you use the Sleeping Curse on her ?"

"Yes, I did !" Shouted the witch.

"Why did it not work ?"

"True Love's kiss, she answered with almost disgust, remembering another situation, and another asleep princess."

"Oh, I see… Her prince found her. Why didn't you stop him ?"

"I did ! I turned him into a beast. I thought that… he would stay that way, or be killed by some villagers… It wasn't supposed to happen that way."

"You should have killed him..."

"Yes. But I wanted them to be separated forever, and to know it."

"And now ? What do you intend to do ?"

"I don't know… By the way, why are you here ?"

"Oh nothing, I just… wanted you to help me, about… something.

"What ?"

"The Sleeping Curse."

"You saw it. It doesn't work."

"Well… it worked, for a time ! And I won't do the same thing that you did. I'll kill her True Love, so she will never be woken up !"

Maleficent gave her a sad and tired smile.

"I won't help you. Ask Rumplestiltskin."

"I can't."

"Why ?"

"Well, how could I say that… Rumple decided to come back into the good side."

The dragon started.

"What ?"

"Yes he did. He doesn't want to help me any more, about my revenge against Snow White."

The other one sighed.

"Maybe he is the one who is right."

Regina rolled her eyes.

"Fine, I will find it by myself. Bye."

Maleficent stayed alone, shocked by all these news that just arrived this day.

Then, not knowing what she would do, she used her magic in order to go in Briar Rose's castle. She became invisible, looking at he young princess that looked so much like her mother.

She looked at her, and she saw a woman who was happy.

She looked at her, and she saw a woman in love.

She looked at her, and she felt no hatred.

Aurora was not the culprit of the story, Stefan was. He used to be, as he was now dead, and Maleficent realized that her revenge meant nothing now that he wasn't there any more.

Her curse failed, and she had no desire to kill the young woman.

She left the place, and walked into the castle, still invisible.

She intended to go, first, but then, she recognized someone she didn't see since years.

Someone who talked to her.

"Hello Maleficent, said Briar Rose with a melancholic tone."

"How… How do you see me ?"

She revealed herself then, astonished that she had been perceived by the queen.

"I know you… I know when you're here. It had been a long time."

"Yes."

Maleficent and Briar Rose used to love Stefan, before he broke and destroyed everything, but they also loved each other.

Well, it had been a long time ago, as Briar Rose said it.

And now, it was like it used to be, almost.

"If you want to kill me, do it now, okay ? Don't try to hurt my daughter again, she has nothing to do with this mess."

"I know Briar Rose, I perfectly know it… I am not here to kill you."

"I didn't help you while I could… You cursed me and you cursed my daughter… I think we hurt each other enough, don't you think ?"

"I do."

They smiled to each other, in a shy way.

It wasn't really peace, not right now, but something more like a truce.

§§§§

In another place of the realm, things weren't that good, for a certain person.

Princess Snow White.

This one was unhappy, a thing that all the people who would have known her story would have understood.

After all, she was chased by her evil step-mother, she was in the woods, and except Red and the eight dwarfs, she had no one.

She was almost alone.

But, it wasn't the thing that hurt her the most in that moment, oh no.

The princess was in love, an impossible love, and she wanted just one thing : get rid off this.

And there was only one person who could help her, who would make the pain stop.

Who would help her fix her broken heart.

Rumplestiltskin.

The Dark One.

All the people still didn't know that the Dark One was gone, and the princess-bandit was one of them.

She needed help.

She needed a cure.

She would pay anything to have it, to forget the prince, no matter the price

It was a love without any hope, she knew she couldn't support this pain any more.

"Rumplestiltskin ! Rumplestiltskin ! Rumplestiltskin !"

Yes, his personal curse had been broken, but he could still be called.

The sorcerer as the princess both had an air of surprise. Him, because he had been called without expecting it, and her, because he didn't look like what he was supposed to be.

When he saw her face, full of sadness, he understood immediately.

"You're Snow White, aren't you ?"

"Yes. And I need your help."

Memories came back into the sorcerer's head, who remembered why she called him.

Oh, yes… her broken heart. This time, he wouldn't manipulate her, because she didn't deserve to be unhappy, and because he didn't need to do it.

She needed to have hope, hope that everything would end well, and he would give this to her.

He promised to Belle and to the Henry of the other world that he would try to fix things.

Snow White needed to stay strong, so she would fight the Evil Queen and win the war against her.

And the thing was that he really didn't want her to try to kill the queen…

"My help ? For what ?"

"Aren't you Rumplestiltskin ?"

"Yes, I am… But I preferred to be called the Sorcerer."

She frowned.

"But… you're the Dark One."

"I was. But I changed. It's not the object of our conversation, it's about you, princess."

"I am in love with someone with who I can't be. I want to forget that I love him."

"No, you don't, answered the sorcerer. It's not this that you want. "

"What do you mean ?"

"You don't want to forget your feelings about him. You want to stop your sufferings."

A tear rolled along Snow White's cheek, and she nodded.

"Yes. I feel like my heart is breaking, I… I want it to stop. Will you help me ?"

"No, he said, abruptly. And, he added, as he saw her air of surprise, it's not because of the price. But because it doesn't worth it."

"You don't know what is good for me."

"Maybe princess. But the thing I know, is that you're wrong. About many things."

"Like what ?"

"You think your love is useless, that it will lead you just to sufferings and pain. That it doesn't serve you to be in love with your dear prince Charming."

"And then ? What makes you think that ?"

"He loves you."

"It changes nothing, even if it's true. He has a fiancee."

"Since when is it a problem ?"

Snow rolled her eyes.

"I see that you never had problems in love."

Rumplestiltskin's face then became very pale. He remembered Milah, Cora, and how much these stories ended bad. He remembered that in another version of the story, Belle died because he chased her from his castle.

"You're wrong princess. About me, and about yourself. You have to fight. Fight for the one you love. Love is a terrible and magical thing, and you must fight for it. Even though it's hard, even if life is cruel for you. To forget it, it would be the easy way. And you can trust me, he added, I perfectly know what it is, I chose it too many times."

They stayed silent, until Snow talked.

"What should I do ?"

"Defeat the queen. Take your kingdom back and make her understand that she is wrong about everything. Fight for your love. And, the most important thing : believe. That everything will need good, and that you will find a happy ending."

She nodded, trying to regain her confidence.

"Thanks."

She was about to leave, but then, he remembered something else he read in the book.

"Wait. In a short time, your prince will send you a message, to ask you to go in his castle, if you love him. Don't go there."

"Why ?"

"King Georges will stop you, and force you to tell him that you feel nothing for him, or he will kill the prince and I know that you don't want it."

Snow nodded again.

"How do you know it ?"

I had a second chance.

He grinned.

"I can see the future. And trust me, it's both very helpful, and very difficult."

She laughed.

"I can believe it. Thanks, sorcerer. Dreamy told me you helped him, now I know why he trusts you."

Rumple just smiled and left.

To King Georges' castle.

§§§§

As far as he knew it, the prince already sent his message to the princess. When he entered in the prince's room, this one was already preparing the things he intended to take during this trip.

"Looks like someone is going to make a long, long trip, he said in his imp voice."

David looked at him, and recognized him immediately, despite the fact that his face changed.

"Why are you here ?"

He didn't answer. Some seconds after, he said :

"That won't be necessary, he told the prince by looking at these things."

"You want to stop me ? Try a new time, I am leaving in a few days."

"I am not here for that."

"For what ?"

"I wanted to give you news about your dear and precious Snow White."

The prince turned back and looked at him, suddenly interested.

"Is she okay ?"

"Well… it's not the good word, actually. She is right, but, things are not really good for her."

"Her step-mother wants her dead. I don't think anyone would be okay, living with this."

"Yes, it's true. I came to tell you that she isn't going to go there, in this castle."

"Why not ?"

"I told her not to. Because you "father" would have forced her to lie to you."

The other man crossed his arms.

"Why should I believe you ?"

"You think I would have came here just to lie to you ?"

"You're the Dark One. You're a liar, a manipulator."

"I was. I used to be. I changed."

"No one can change in a so little time."

"Says the man who turned from a shepherd into a prince..."

"It's not the same thing."

"I'm not the Dark One any more. I prefer to be called the Sorcerer."

David raised an eyebrow, full of circumspection.

"Isn't it a little… egocentric ?"

"Not more than the Dark One, a thing I am not any more."

"Even if it is true… Why on hell would I ever believe you ? Believe what you're saying ? You took me from my mother, and before that, you took my brother from her and my dad. You gave me to this king with no moral, and who just wants to use me for his kingdom."

Rumplestiltskin couldn't resist making a remark about it.

"It's a prince's life !"

"I don't want it. I never wanted it. Not if it steals from me all my chances to be happy."

"It will help saving the kingdom."

The prince looked at the sorcerer with an ironic air.

"Since how many time do you care for the kingdom ? And by the way, it doesn't matter if I leave. The king still can find someone else to replace me. Someone who will be happy to take my place. Even someone to who you could give my appearance."

The sorcerer nodded.

"Well… it's not a bad idea, you know ? Too bad that you decided not to act in an intelligent way, and that you decided to leave..."

David gave him death stares.

"You don't have to be the one who will choose my life, or my fate. I do. "

"I never intended to do it, you know ? I just wanted to tell you that things would be harsh for you, but that you and your princess would in the end get a happy ending. That's it."

"Why are you doing this ? Telling this to me, trying to help us."

"I made a promise to someone."

"Who ?"

Your grand-son.

Well, actually, he is my grand-son too, so…

"It doesn't matter. You just have to know that I am on your side."

David thought about it some seconds and he sighed.

"Alright… I guess you won't be a worst ally than Georges himself."

"I don't think anyone can be worst than him."

David chuckled and nodded.

"And… if you still decide to leave… you should go to see princess Abigail. She may be as non-pleased as you are by the idea of marrying each other."

Surprised, the prince nodded.

§§§§

Some weeks pass, and prince James fled, finding Snow White after he helped Abigail having her dear prince back, and king Georges sent soldiers to find him.

Rumplestiltskin was often out of his home, trying to motivate the resistance against Georges and Regina too (as no one recognized him, people began to call him the Sorcerer and to see him as being as good as the fairies).

When Rumplestiltskin came back at home, he saw three people talking to each other. They were Belle, Henry, and Tinkerbell, who just paid them a visit. Her face was truly radiant, and as he saw it, the sorcerer realized that her relationship with Blue was surely going in a good direction.

"Tinkerbell ? What are you going here ?"

"I came to talk about Regina. We were trying to find a way to stop her."

"Didn't you have one already ? When you used some pixie dust, in order to show her her soul mate."

"Yes, I did, but she didn't listen to me. She was too afraid, and she… ran away."

"By the way, did you find the man the dust showed you ? Belle asked her."

"Yes… His name is Robin Hood, he is an outlaw, he commands the Merry Men, and he is a good man. He is unmarried, and has some friends living with him. Him and I became kind of friends."

"What are you going to do now ?"

"Talk with Regina, I think… I will try to. That's the reason why I am here. What will we do if it doesn't work ? If she doesn't accept to redeem herself."

"Stop her. Take her magic from her, and lock her up."

"You did think about it, Rumple, didn't you ?"

"Yes. A little, he answered to Belle. But I don't think that it's over for her. I do think that she can be saved. I could, so, why not her ?"

Henry nodded.

"I think you're right. Before we stop her physically, we have to let her know the other possibilities that she has. That she can be happy again."

"I don't think that she is ready for that, admitted Tinkerbell. There is so much anger and hatred in her heart. I don't know how we could convince her."

"We can't, said the sorcerer. I am almost sure that she will begin to understand that she has to stop just when she will be stopped."

"So, when I will talk to her, it will be her last chance before we try to stop her, right ?"

"She will not be the only one. King Georges will have to be stopped too, I think he will become her ally. As he wants to destroy prince James and that she wants to destroy Snow White."

Tink nodded, with a serious air.

§§§§

Regina raised an eyebrow when she saw the fairy in front of her.

"Why are you here ? She asked her."

"To talk with you."

"Oh, yes, of course, what a stupid question it is ! I know that, but about what ?"

"About your choices."

The queen rolled her eyes.

"Oh… You want to tell me that I shouldn't try to get revenge ? Rumplestiltskin already tried. Come another day, when I will be in another mood."

"Oh, you mean when you won't be angry any more ? You will always be, Regina, except if you accept to give up this hatred."

"I won't. Never !"

"You could be happy, you know ? If you stopped this madness."

"Why would I ? She deserves to die. To suffer."

"She doesn't. Your mother is the monster. Not her."

"Why are you here ? Why do you want me to stop this ?"

"I want to show you something. Well, someone."

Tinkerbell used her magic on Regina's mirror, which showed a forest to them.

There was a man in the mirror, a man Regina never saw before this day. Well, that was what she thought, until she saw the lion tattoo.

"Wait, she asked… is it..."

"Yes. The man the pixie dust showed to you. His name is Robin Hood. He is an outlaw, and he is someone good."

"And… you think he is my soul mate."

"I don't think it, I know. You should trust me and pixie dust, you who has so faith in your magic."

Regina stayed immobile, and silent.

"You see, I thought I couldn't be happy too. And then, Blue showed me that I was wrong. That I could."

"Go."

"Regina, I..."

"Go ! She ordered her again. Go away from me, and never come back."

"You're wrong you know..."

"I don't care ! I don't care about him ! All I care for is my revenge, and nothing else !"

Tink looked at her with sadness and a hurtful look.

"Tell me, where is the Regina who just wanted freedom and happiness ?"

The queen gave her a cold and sharp look.

"She is dead, she answered."