Chapter 3
Snow went to open the door, startled when she caught sight of Regina, who, in fact, was Emma.
"Oh, good morning Regina… What brings you here at…," she looked at the clock on the wall of the kitchen. "…half past seven?"
Emma smiled almost shyly and gave a little wave with her hand. "Hi."
After a short pause she coughed and continued. "I have to talk to… Emma – about yesterday. It's urgent."
Regina felt like burying the face in her hands.
What on earth is she doing? No one can honestly believe that could be me! The way she walks, the way she smiles – and what is she wearing?
Everything about her is just so… not regal.
But Snow just looked blankly and waved her in.
"Sure, why not. Come in. I have to be getting ready anyway."
With these words and a last wondrous glance at the supposedly Emma she went upstairs and let the other to women to themselves.
For a short silence they were staring at each other, Regina annoyed, Emma distressed.
Then she raised her voice. "What the hell is going on here? Regina, please tell me that this is you over there?"
The former queen nodded slowly. "You are as usually pointing out the obvious, Miss Swan, instead of being of any help. Talking about the recent ocurrences – I don't know." She gulped, nearly unnoticeable. "...yet. But don't be mislead, I sure will find out."
"But what are we gonna do until you find out? I mean – am I supposed to go to the mayors office today? Oh, and don't "Miss Swan" me right now, Regina, this is getting really annoying pretty fast!"
Completely ignoring the last sentence Regina went on with smirk: "Do you think you can't handle it, Miss Swan? Sitting all day in my office, bossing people around? Yesterday you seemed more confident… And what are you even wearing? You absolutely need a blazer if you at least would like a chance at convincing anybody of you being me and – are these flat shoes? Where in my house did you find flat shoes?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "Please Regina; this is absolutely irrelevant right now. Let's stay focused! Of course I can spend the day pretending to be you, dress like you and work at your office. The more important question is – can you? Because there is a lot more to being a helpful sheriff than ruling a little town."
"As I already assured you, I am quite certain of that. I am more than capable of acting as a small town sheriff for one day. I believe I can handle this."
Suddenly both of them started to laugh.
"Well, this could be interesting after all." Regina remarked. "Pretending to be the saviour for one day."
"The same goes for Madame Mayor." Emma grinned. "Let's see who does better. You got any… piece of advice for me?"
The brunette pondered for a moment.
"Stand your ground. When people begin to shout at you, just shout back. Not that I would depend on it, but is there some counsel from your side?, she asked with arched eyebrows.
"Just try to be of help. Assist the people, whenever you can. Whatever the problem, how small or obscure it may seem, try your best to solve it." Emma replied encouragingly. A little sound came from her pocket. "That's my – your mobile phone. Are you in the mooed to tell me the code or should I just ignore it for the day?"
Rolling her eyes Regina answered: "I don't want the town I spent so many effort on creating to go down the drain in just one day. Its Henrys birth date. By the way, which is yours?" The other woman smiled faintly and shrugged her shoulders. "It's the same."
The former queen smiled back at her before stroking a more serious note. "Okay, it's settled then. We will spend the day impersonating each other and meet at 7 a.m. at my vault to hold a war council." The blonde nodded. "Oh and Emma?" – "Yes?" – "Try to be on time."
When Regina had made her way to the Sheriff station – not without getting a cup of coffee at Granny's first – she sat down behind the desk, prepared for a long wait.
What could possibly happen in a small town like this that involves the sheriff? The only problem I will have today is how to kill time… She hadn't even finished her coffee, when the phone began to ring. Attaching a reassuring smile, she answered the phone: "Sheriff station Storybrooke, Re.." She grinned. "Emma Swan. How can I help you?"
"Miss Swan?" An old lady's voice. "It's me, Mrs. Caterpie. Susan has run off again! Would you please come and find her?"
A lost person… well this certainly sounds like a demanding case – maybe I won't be bored the whole day.
"Of course, Mrs. Caterpie. When was the last time you have seen her? Do you have any idea where she may have gone?"
"Oh, I suppose, she's sitting in the apple tree in the front yard again."
Regina hesitated. What the- "Excuse me? What do you mean; your daughter is sitting in a… tree?"
She heard laughter from the other end of the phone. "No, silly, I'm talking about my little kitten. She is such a little tomboy, always running around, climbing too high so she can't get down by herself."
The former queen sighted, than summarized: "So, basically your cat is sitting in a tree, did I get that right?" – "Yes." – " And this is my business, because…?"
"Oh Miss Swan, you are the Sheriff – I know you can save her, you already did! Please help an old woman…"
Honestly tempted to just hang up, Regina remembered Emma's words of advice: Whatever the problem, how small or obscure, it was now her duty to solve it. Rolling her eyes, she managed a little "Fine… So could you please give me your address once again, Mrs. Caterpie? I'll be there in a few minutes…"
On-site it was impossible to overlook – well, overhear – that the old lady's assumption had been right. Susan, the little cat, was sitting in the apple tree, crying out loud, unable to get down by herself. Standing directly under the tree, the two women discussed the procedure for their rescue mission. For a moment the former queen considered the thought of lending herself a hand by using magic and so she tried to shake the branch with the cat in it a little – so that it eventually might come down by itself – while the old lady wasn't looking. But to her discontent, nothing happened. Being trapped in Emma's body seemed to suppress her magical powers.
Oh well, looks like I have to do this the inconvenient way.
"I need a ladder.", she stated businesslike.
"Oh I don't own one. You see, I'm too old to climb anymore, so it wouldn't be of much use to me."
Surprised by the answer, the brunette replied startled: "So… how am I supposed to go up there and save your cat then?" She tried her best to put on a friendly face and stay patient. "Well, I thought you would just... climb."
Raising her eyebrows, Regina stared unbelievingly at the other person. Is she for real?
"Yes, just like you did the times before?" Mrs. Caterpie explained.
Looking between the tree and the old woman the former queen was left in disbelief about the whole absurdity of the situation. Emma really has to climb trees to rescue cats? Well if she can do that I wouldn't want to be second to her… But then again it's been a few years since the last time I have done this… She gradually started to get a little insecure the more she looked at the tree. Of course she had climbed trees before, back in the enchanted forest, but she had been a young girl then and when her mother didn't approve of it, she had had no other choice than to immediately cease it.
Under the expecting look of the old lady Regina let out a little sigh, put her hands on the trunk, grabbed the nearest branch and pulled herself up. Honestly surprised, she realized how naturally it came to her and how easily her body coped with the physical exertion. But then again, it wasn't so remarkable after all, regarding that it actually was Emma's body doing all the work which of course was used to exercises of that kind. Thanks to her body's fitness, Regina made her way up to the cat quite fast.
So this is what the tax money is used for… It certainly is nice to know that people are calling the sheriff when their cat is stuck in a tree. Next they will ask the police to buy their groceries. What are people thinking these days? With these thoughts on her mind she finally reached the still crying cat. "Come here kitty…" she purred, reaching out with one hand, the other one clutched at the trunk. "Come on, Susan."
When the cat didn't show any effort of advancing towards her, she just grabbed it and clipped it under her arm. "Stupid little thing…" she scolded it half-heartedly when the cat began to purr. Even though she was rolling her eyes, a little smile crept on her face, as she began to ascend the tree.
They were only a few branches left, dividing them from the safe ground, when Susan began to struggle under her arm, forcing her way out and made the last distance back down by herself. By fighting Regina's grasp, the woman had been thrown out of balance so that she now had trouble staying on her branch – until the branch itself decided to end the struggle and gave in by simply breaking off and the former queen fell down to earth like a stone. Somehow she managed – thanks to Emma's brilliant reflexes and much to her own surprise – to land quite gracefully on her own two feet.
You may find many flaws regarding Emma Swan, but physical fitness definitely isn't one of them, she thought to herself, once again astonished.
Meanwhile the cat Susan had found its way back to her owner, purring in her arms, satisfied with itself.
"Thank you, Miss Swan for bringing back my little darling!" Mrs. Caterpie said with a laugh. "I'm looking forward to see you again next time!"
I so hope there won't be a next time, Lady! Despite her thoughts, Regina managed to put on a reassuring smile. "Glad to be of service to you, ma´am…"
What an awful start in the day – well, at least it can't get any worse. Considering this, maybe I should give Emma a raise…