My New Beginning

Chapter 19 Destiny Reset

-Village Morning-

I woke up to see Emma holding Michael and Hope at the same time. I pretended to be still asleep, so I can listen to what she was doing.

"Hey, kiddos. I wish I had more time with you. Today's the day that we do the ritual, and all our memories will be validated somehow."

"Ah ooo ah ow ooo."

Oh my gosh! Hope was talking to Emma in her little way!

"Hey, I wish I could tell you how but I can't."

"A oh."

Now, Michael was communicating with Emma! This was too much, but I don't want to interrupt the moment.

"Don't worry, little guy; we will make sure Mommy will be just fine."

"Geeee."

"Haha! Please show that to Mommy when she wakes up, our sweet little princess."

I quickly sat up. "Show me what?"

Emma chuckled, and Hope smiled at me.

"Hi, my love! That's a beautiful smile!"

Michael smiled, and my eyes watered. "Don't you look handsome, my little prince, with your smile!"

I kissed both babies, and a voice came from outside. "Regina, Emma, Achak needs you at his wigwam. Dyani will watch the babies until you are finished."

Emma and I exchanged a worried expression. We got up, magically changed our clothes, and the older woman from last night walked in with a smile.

"Magical babies."

Emma and I shook our heads then we both said, "What!"

She pointed to Michael and Hope then repeated what she said, "Magical babies. I had nice time with the magical babies."

I smiled and replied, "I'm glad you enjoyed spending time with Hope and Michael."

Emma was the first to walk out, and right before I stepped out, Dyani grabbed my hand in hers. I turned to face her.

"The Great Spirit will bless you greatly."

I'm not sure what all she meant by that, but I smiled at her then left the wigwam.

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

-Achak's Wigwam-

Emma and I walked into Achak's wigwam then he motioned for us to sit down.

"The big day has arrived, and there's so much to do. I would like for all of the memories that are items to be brought here first. The memories that are people will take a lot longer."

"I'll go get the bag, babe."

Emma left, and Achak placed his hand on my shoulder. "You will need to be strong, awee, body, mind, and soul. Emma will need you to be."

I replied, "I am not ready for the people memories. The items will be fine, but the people are the ones I care about."

"I understand, awee. I know you want to spend some time with each person individually."

Emma returned with the backpack.

"It's time."

I unzipped the backpack and pulled out the burnt piece from the dark curse. I handed it to Achak. He held it in his hands, and he closed his eyes. A massive fire took life in front of us, and the memory soared into the fire. The fire made a swaying motion like part of a dance then returned to its natural state.

"That is a true memory for Regina Katherine Mills."

Emma and I smiled, then Emma pulled out her blanket. She handed it over, and the shaman repeated the process. The blanket soared into the fire, and the fire did the same little dance then returned to its natural state.

"That is a true memory for Emma Grace Swan."

My heart was pounding, and Emma placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. I handed the goblet to Achak, and he gave me the 'shame on you' expression. I knew what he was talking about, but Emma gave me a questionable look. He held it in his hands, closed his eyes, and the goblet immediately shot into the fire. The fire did its swaying dance then returned to normal.

"A true memory for Evil Queen Regina Katherine Mills."

I made a disgusted look, and Emma chuckled. Emma and I kept handing the items to him for seemed like hours, and each piece was a validated memory for each of us. My last memory was the hospital bracelet when I had Michael. Tears escaped my eyes as I handed it to Achak. He repeated the same process, and the fire took it performing its dance.

"That is a true memory for Regina Katherine Swan-Mills."

Emma and I looked at each other, and I had to ask, "A memory for who?"

"Regina Swan-Mills, when Emma magically got you with child, you were magically married."

"It's a good thing we consummated the marriage," Emma said, and I slapped her arm. "Ow!"

Achak turned to us, "Before I start the human memories, I know you both want to spend time with each one. Go, and I will let you know when it's time for the ritual to continue."

"Thank you for everything."

He chuckled, "Don't thank me yet, Regina, you will thank me when you two finally get together because of the prophecy."

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

-Robin and Katherine's Wigwam-

I pulled back the entrance to the wigwam, and Katherine looked up at me.

"Mom!"

She got up, hugged me, and Robin stood up. I hugged him as well, even though it felt awkward. I sat down with Katherine, and it was like she could read me like a book.

"It's getting close to the human memories being validated."

I hung my head, and Robin said, "It's going to be alright, Regina. Very soon, I will be with my love, and you will be too. You get to be with us for a while longer."

I sighed, "I know, but why is it so hard to say goodbye?"

"Mom, you will see me again. According to the prophecy, I am the prophesied baby. You and Ma will see me again soon. So, for me, it will be goodbye for a little while."

I smiled with tears threatening to escape my eyes, and Katherine gave me a huge hug.

"Regina," Katherine got up and left to give Robin and I some time alone. He continued, "My Regina and I owe you so much for getting us together. If it wouldn't have been for you still mourning over the Enchanted Forest version of me, I would still be the thief stuck in the darkness."

"Robin, I just want to thank you for loving my evil half when nobody else did. I also want to thank you for being a father to Katherine even though you knew her other parent was Emma. How can I ever repay you?"

He smiled at me, took my hand in his, and said, "You can repay me by completing this ritual so I can be with my Regina again."

I smiled and hugged him.

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

-Snow and David's Wigwam-

I pulled back the entrance to the wigwam to see Emma hugging her parents.

"I'm sorry. I'll come back later."

"No, babe, I'm leaving to go talk to Katherine and Robin. You come in."

Emma kissed my cheek and left while I took a seat facing the couple and the young boy.

I exhaled. "Snow, David, this isn't easy."

"I know." Snow got up and sat next to me. "Come on; we were at each other's throats for years! Our relationship was built on 'I'm going to kill you!' 'We will prevail!' 'I shall destroy your happiness!'"

"I get it." I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and exhaled. "Who knew that, after all this time, your daughter and I would end up being each other's true love?"

Snow took her hand in mine, and David spoke, "Regina, somethings happen in our lives for bigger and better things to happen. If it hadn't been for my arrogant brother to have died, I wouldn't have met Snow. If you didn't cast that curse, you and Emma wouldn't have gotten together."

I shut my eyes and said, "Charming, you better quit while you still have a chance."

"What he's saying, Regina is that if it hadn't been for you, Emma wouldn't be here."

I opened my eyes and began to think. If I hadn't held a grudge against Snow, life would have been entirely different! Snow would have married someone else for all I know, and Emma would never have come to existence.

I shook my head. "I guess I did something good after all, even during my Evil Queen days."

Snow and David smiled, then Neil chimed in. "I'm glad I got to know you."

"Why you say that?"

"Because even though you did some bad things to my mom, dad, and sister, you are the nicest person I know."

Damn it, here come the tears! I held my hand out to little Neil, and he got up. He walked up to me and gave me a big hug.

"I love you."

I closed my eyes tight, knowing what was to come and who knew if I would see this adorable little boy again. "I love you, too, sweetheart."

"So, I guess this calls for a group hug?"

Snow and I laughed, then all three Charmings hugged me.

"Oh great, I'm surrounded."

We all shared a laugh, and I was the first one to break away. I gazed into their eyes and smiled.

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

-Pocahontas's Wigwam-

I stopped by the entrance and called out, "Is it alright for me to come in?"

"Yes, Mom, Ma is already in here, and so is Katherine. She has Hope and Michael."

I walked in to see my entire family plus Pocahontas sitting waiting for me.

The chieftess got up and kissed Henry. "I'll give you all some family time."

"Nonsense," I said and motioned for her to sit. "You are part of the family now, so sit."

She sat down next to Henry, and I sat next to Emma.

Emma was the first one to speak. "We are all here because of me. If I hadn't died, none of this would have happened."

"Emma," I had to correct her. "We are here because of me. If I had allowed you and Henry to return to the Enchanted Forest, the prophecy would have happened, and none of this would have happened."

Pocahontas decided to interject. "You are both blaming yourselves for something you couldn't have controlled at the time. Why not enjoy the time we have now until it's time for the ritual?"

Emma and I gazed into each other's eyes and smiled. She took my hand, and I took a good look around. My Henry, no Emma and I's Henry. I'm so proud of the man he became even though he met his true love a little too late. Katherine, our first baby girl, even though my evil half gave birth to her, I'm so happy with the time Emma and I spent with her. Hope and Michael, my little darlings! I wished Emma would have had more time with them. Damn it, here come the waterworks!

"Mom!" Henry got up and hugged me. I wrapped my arms around him.

"Why does this have to happen?"

Henry got me to look at him in the eyes. "Because you and Ma need to set the prophecy in motion. Because the prophecy didn't happen, many things are off-balanced, and lots of places and people are in ruin."

I hung my head, and Pocahontas got up. "Come with me, Regina."

I looked at Emma, and she nodded, reassuring me that everyone will be alright. I got up and followed Pocahontas out the wigwam.

-River of Truth-

The chieftess led me to the banks of this vast river. The water was so clear that you could see through it like a piece of glass.

"Tooh di T'aa aaniinii."

I replied, "The River of Truth."

She smiled at me. "You are learning our language very well."

"You are my son's true love. I would love to learn something from your culture."

She smiled and pointed to a canoe. We walked toward it, and she gestured for me to get in.

"Do you know what I love about most rivers?"

I shook my head, and she replied, "You can't step in the same river twice."

I was trying to understand what she was saying, and I felt the canoe move away from the riverbank while Pocahontas navigated us.

"You see, Regina, the water is always changing and always flowing. But, I guess people don't think or live like that. We all must pay the price to be safe, and we lose our chance of ever knowing what lies beyond the river bend."

The wisdom behind those words! She's right! She continued to navigate us down the river, and I gazed down into the water seeing the fish swim around. I let my fingers touch the water and the coolness traveled through me. In an instant, images flashed through my mind, a beautiful wedding where Henry and Pocahontas were dressed in native wedding regalia, and they were both so happy. Flash forward to a pregnant Pocahontas and Henry kissing her swollen belly. It made me smile and yet sad that they never got the chance to experience that.

"I'm so sorry."

Pocahontas stopped rowing and placed the oar in the canoe. "Regina, you need to stop apologizing. Do you know why this river is called the River of Truth?"

I shook my head, and she said, "Jump into it and take a swim."

I removed my coat, and she chuckled. "You will need to strip down all the way."

Alright, I am a little uncomfortable stripping down to the nude in front of my son's lover, but if I must, I must. After I removed every article of clothing from me, I jumped into the water. As I took a swim around, it was like a movie played out before me. I was nearing the end of pregnancy, and Emma and I were standing at my front door to the house in Storybrooke.

"I love the outfit we picked. She will look adorable in it when we bring her home wearing this."

I rubbed my swollen belly, and Emma placed a hand on it.

"Braxton Hicks…they're a pain in the ass."

"Yes, they are. I want to go inside and prop my feet up."

The image vanished, and a new one appeared. Was Emma baking in my kitchen…topless?

While we were dancing in the kitchen, I picked up an empty bottle of red Moscato wine. "Emma, you're drunk!"

Emma began to giggle like a little girl, "I know!"

I broke free from her and turned off the music from Emma's phone.

"Hey…" Emma stumbled, "who turned off the music?"

I was getting hot, "Emma, what the hell? Why were you drinking?"

"Your damn sister, she pissed me off, and I settled for a glass of wine…"

I swam back up to the surface for some air, and I turned my gaze to Pocahontas. She smiled at me.

"What you got to see was what should have happened, and it didn't."

I decided to swim back, but something pulled me under. I looked around to see what it was, and it was something dark. It looked like black seaweed, and it had glowing red eyes.

"A savior will be born to the couple whose love surpasses all. The Savior and the Queen are soul mates whose magic will bond. The Queen will conceive and bear a child. When the child is born on the third day in the third month before the sun dies, the Wicked Witch will fall by the hands of the Savior and the Queen, bringing the onset of the magic battle. The One Who Killed the Dark Fairy will seek revenge on the Queen by striking at the heart and returning two of the darkest beings who ever walked the Earth. On the third day of the fourth month before the sun dies, the One Who Killed the Dark Fairy will fall by the hands of the Savior and the Queen. When a baby boy is born by the Queen, the two darkest beings in the form of Darkness itself will fall by the Savior and the Queen."

There it was; the prophecy! I finally broke free from this creature by shooting gold magic at it, and I broke the water's surface. Pocahontas helped me back in the canoe, and I used my magic to dry myself off and put my clothes back on.

"You got to hear the prophecy didn't you."

"Yes, I did. No wonder everything is a mess right now."

We shared a laugh, and she navigated us back to shore.

-Pocahontas's Wigwam-

Pocahontas and I entered the wigwam, and everyone looked at us.

"I completely understand why this ritual needs to take place. Darkness is destroying happiness that we should have had, and it was taking root in what little happiness we have left."

I turned my gaze to Emma. "It's time we take back what we should have had."

She nodded, "I agree."

Achak opened the entrance to the wigwam, and he said, "It's time, awee."