My New Beginning: Part 1

Chapter 16 Memories Wished to Be Forgotten

-The Road-

I had been dosing on and off regaining my strength from what happened at my former castle. It's gone. I can't believe that massive part of my life was reduced to rubble. I looked down at my son and daughter, who have been sleeping on the side of me. I sat up to adjust them better on the seat.

"Mom."

I looked at Katherine, who was awake. Snow, Neil, and the two infants were still sleeping.

Katherine continued, "Mom, you hardly spoke since we left the grounds of where your castle collapsed. Are you sure that you're alright?"

I exhaled. "Physically, I'm alright. Mentally, I'm a mess. That castle represented who I was here. It represented my past, and now it lies in destruction."

"It represented what you used to be. You have defeated your past and look at what you have now. You have a family that loves you even the ones you've hurt the most love you for who you are."

I gazed at a sleeping Snow and smiled. "The many times that I wanted her dead because of a promise that wasn't kept. I should have been thanking her, not trying to kill her."

Katherine chuckled, and I shook my head. "I was in a terrible place then and what we're heading to now." I looked into Katherine's eyes. "You will see how far gone I was."

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

-Snow and David's Castle Ruins-

The carriage slowed to a stop. Snow, Neil, and the infants opened their eyes.

I smiled and said, "Well, hello, did you have a nice rest?"

Hope and Michael smiled at me as I planted butterfly kisses on their noses. The door opened, and David held out his hand.

"We made it. Watch your step."

Katherine got out first, and I carefully handed Hope to her. Snow let Neil get out next while she took Michael since I was still sore and on the mend. Snow got out, and then it was my turn. Robin got in and helped me to stand.

"You're alright?"

I nodded. "Yes, thank you so much for helping me."

"You know I am here if you need me."

I smiled at him as he and David stabled me so I can get down with ease. I limped forward, and I immediately cringed. This castle was left in destruction; the East, West, and South sides of the castle were reduced to piles of broken brick and mortar, the draw bridge was reduced to fragments, and the windows were blown out. Tears poured from my eyes, and Katherine placed her hand on my shoulder.

"Well," I choked up, and I said with a quivering lip, "Let's go see what we can find."

I led the way, then I lost my footing and fell.

"Damn it! Why? Why am I such a hard-headed idiot!"

Snow passed Michael to David, and she knelt before me.

"Regina, I know what's wrong with you." I gazed into her eyes, and she took my hands in hers. "You have postpartum depression. Not all new mothers go through it, but because of our loss of Emma, you were sent into it. Now, you're beating yourself up for all the evil deeds you have done in the past. What happened in the past, let's keep it there. We are here to help you."

"I feel so powerless."

"Depression does that. Don't let it beat you, Regina. You're stronger than that! What would the Evil Queen do?"

I quickly picked my head up to see Snow winking at me. She's right. Why would I let this defeat me? I am stronger than that. I closed my eyes. Suddenly, gold magic sprung from my hands traveling up my arms, my chest, down my legs, up to my neck, and soon covered my whole body. I opened my eyes, and they were both a gold light. The pain in my leg disappeared, my aching heart relieved, and my strength restored. The golden light faded, and Snow smiled at me.

"Welcome back, Regina."

I stood up, looked at the castle, and smiled. "It feels so good to be back to myself again. My curse was something to reckon with!"

David chuckled, "Yes, it was. Now, what are we waiting for? Time to go find some memories."

Snow looked around. "Wait, where's Emma?"

I smiled as I felt her presence nearby. "She's here. She's probably in the castle waiting on us. Let's go."

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

-Inside the Castle-

We made our way inside and found Emma waiting for us. She smiled at me and motioned for me to go to her.

"I feel a memory close by."

I searched the Grand Hall, but I couldn't find what she was talking about.

"It's over there."

She pointed to a room, and Snow touched David's arm.

"I know where the memory is." Snow briskly walked toward the hallway, and the rest of us followed close behind her. She walked to a large oak door and attempted to open it.

I said, "Allow me," and I raised my hand toward the door.

Blast! The door blew into the room and shattered into fragments. Snow gave me a 'really?' expression.

"Destruction is all you know."

I gave her my evil smile. "You know me so well."

I walked past her, and I knew she rolled her eyes because I heard Robin and Katherine laugh. Emma glided over to a cabinet of some sort.

"That is what I put you in when the curse hit! Geppetto made that cabinet a gateway to another realm where Regina or her curse wouldn't get you."

I smiled, and sarcastically said, "Oops."

Emma laughed, then she touched it. I could tell a memory played out as she was so focused on it. I held out my hand, shrank the cabinet down to where it was light enough to pick up, and placed it in the backpack.

"Now, my room."

I nodded. "I agree. That room holds a huge memory for you. That's the room you were born in."

Snow and David exchanged a smile and a kiss. We walked down the hall, and when I got to see the medallion on the floor, a memory flashed before me. David, who was fatally wounded, was trying to make one last stand against me. The curse reached us, and I had my arms held out, enjoying the view of Snow's happiness getting destroyed. When the memory finished, I grabbed a knife of Robin's belt, and I carved out the bloodstain on the medallion. I handed the knife back to Robin, and I put the small wood plank in my backpack. We continued our walk down the hall. Emma went through the door, and I turned the knob. I was the first to walk in, and this room was hit hard. I just wish that Emma's memory's still intact.

"David, Emma was born in this room."

"Yeah, the best day of my life."

I rolled my eyes. "I think I'm going to barf just listening to you two finding a ray of sunshine amid this destruction!"

Emma laughed as Snow and David got aggravated at me. Emma was touching everything, and I could tell that nothing was happening. She felt the sheets on the bed and immediately something happened. Snow walked up to Emma, and even though her hand went through her daughter's, Emma knew her mother's intention. She smiled at her.

"This is where we first met, even though I wouldn't have had a chance to be with you for long."

"I know." Snow picked up the sheet and brought it over to me. I placed it in the backpack, and I can't help but feel we're finished here, and I have a deep feeling that I'm missing something.

I walked down the hall, and I could hear them calling out to me.

"Regina!"

"Regina!"

"Mom!"

I needed to clear my mind, and they were following me down the stairs.

"Mom! Gamma, take Hope. I'm going to talk to her. Mom!"

I made it out of the castle, and Katherine was hot on my trail.

"Mom, stop!"

I stopped then turned around to face her. She walked up to me and said, "Why did you walk out like that?"

"Katherine, I have a memory missing. Emma's finished, but I am missing one. What bothers me is that I don't know what memory it is!"

Before Katherine could say anything, I heard footsteps. I turned around and formed a fireball in my hand. A Native American woman walked out of the forest. The way she carried herself was of royalty. She had to be the daughter of the chief. I blew out my fire, and she approached me.

"Are you the one named Regina?"

"Yes, I am, and you are?"

"My name is Pocahontas. Shaman Achak told me that I would find you here. I've come to show you where you can find him."

"I have one memory left."

"He says time is running out for Nilch'i Emma, and you have to meet him now."

"Mom, we need to go."

I looked at Katherine, Snow, Neil, David, Robin, and my two newborns. At this point, I have no choice but to find Achak and hopefully persuade him to let me get the last memory I need.

"Alright, let's go see the shaman."