Thousand's years ago

Once upon a time, there's a town called Storybrooke in another part of the world. Alice was a simple woman with no ancestors as her best friend, Josephine Mills. Josephine, as we are told, her great-great, many great grandfathers before him is Emmett Mills. Regina has passed away in her sleep on her throne instead of the mansion. Regina has given Emmett her mansion and Bertha, her country mansion. Emmett's granddaughter ruled after Regina passed away in her sleep.

Because of Regina's immortality, Regina learned a new spell for her to fall into a deep sleep. She safely hid her throne with magic along with her vault and everything she treasures. For many years, the throne is long forgotten, and no one knows where it is located except the clue is in Regina's diaries. She divided the dairies between Emmett and Bertha to make sure her throne is kept hidden. Josephine is next in line to rule Storybrooke since she's chosen to pass down magic.

Alice's brother was secretly in love with Josephine without Alice's knowledge. Few of their friends kept their secret for Alice's sake when they knew she would be upset. They plan to get married, and along the way, it didn't turn out as they hoped.

One day, Alice's brother, he's unnamed since Alice refuses to write down his name, so we don't know his name. He was walking through the alley to buy the ring and caught in between gunfire. He was at the wrong place and at the wrong time. The officers were trying to shoot the runner, who was stealing from a shop, but he shot the brother instead. Alice finds the ring and blames Josephine for her brother's death. Alice loves her brother and is protective of him. His only brother. Alice found the magic book from Josephine's grandmother and stole all the powers from Mill's line then killed her. She created a new curse to bring us all back to Enchanted Forest to make us suffer the loss.

I carefully listened to the story of Alice, and honestly, it made me feel sorry for her. Magic, I have seen magic, but I do not believe it. Immortality is how the Queen lives for thousands of years, because of magic. That makes sense. What does this have to do with legacy? What is the point of it? I shot her a look to continue.

"I'm getting there, Masha."

I have been collecting the lost diaries of queen Regina, my ancestor and Alice have the last of her diaries about the prophecy and Regina's throne. Regina foretold this would happen and prepared for us to take back our magic and send her to deep sleep. I have the spell, but according to Regina, only the person with the red mark can take back our powers.

She showed me the last diary of Queen Regina, is this the book she stole from the Queen? I read while listening to her, as she pointed to a specific part of the page.

Honesty, it has been hundreds of years of collecting her diaries as many before me. She wrote one paragraph about the child, first of the line who was born with all three bloodlines, Mills, Smith, and Charming with the red mark on the ankle.

I read the prophecy that the True Queen will rise and rule all the nations with a rod of iron. I continue reading the whole two pages and catch the last sentence that seems to glamor when I touch the stones. I do not believe it. No, I refuse to believe it. I pushed the book away when I angrily shook my head.

I wrote you have the wrong person. It's not me. I ran out of the tent and far away from the rebellion. No. I sat by the lake, missing my old days before I joined the rebellion. Magic, Regina, and everything, no, it's not me. I'm a nobody and my parents left me or died. I was surprised by Davina, who showed up with a plate of food, meat, and vegetables. How did she find me? She kisses my forehead, same as always. I gladly hungrily ate when she started talking.

"I was looking for you in your tent. I see you know how to read and write?"

I quickly look up to nod then continue eating. She softly touches my shoulder,

"I know you're angry at me, so I wanted to say I'm sorry."

I stopped, almost choked at her apology, sadly looked up to her eyes, then continued eating again. What is she apologizing for?

"Right. I deserve that. Thank you for coming back to me. I thought you would never come back. Again, I apologize for …"

She still couldn't say it. What does she deserve from me or is it …? I don't know what she's thinking. I always kept paper and pencil in my pocket. It's when it hits me, all the memories with her, and one conversation that hits me the most is a man who hurt her. I wrote asking why she didn't let me take care of him for her. I finished eating as I put the plate on the ground.

"Masha, you remember all the conversations I had?"

She seemed surprised so I shrugged why she was surprised.

"I'm not anyone special, Masha."

How can she think so little of herself? I wrote the same thing I thought. She heavily sighs, sounding disappointed and unsure of herself.

"I was afraid because I thought you would change how you look at me after ... I like how you look at me. I saw when you were going to fight with that man. I was ashamed of it, ashamed to look at you. I believe I don't deserve forgiveness from you. I believe I don't deserve to be happy with someone who loves me for me and not my occupation. My ex-husband left me, cheated on me with another woman, so no other men wanted me. I was homeless and my friend gave me a meal and a room with conditions."

Oh, she believes she doesn't deserve to be saved by someone because of what she does and who she was before she joins the whorehouse. One question remains if she hated that place, why didn't she leave with me when she had a chance. Did she say she owes someone? I wrote how much she owes and who.

"You want to know who owns me?"

My eyes were wide, yes, of course, nodding my head.

"You don't have to worry about that anymore. He is dead to me now. I don't care."

It still doesn't mean she's safe, but I made a promise to myself to keep her safe if he comes back again. I want her to stay with me even if she's a friend. I ask what her next plan is.

"I don't know yet, Masha. I can't go back to town because he'll find me."

She looks afraid, so I gestured that she should stay here with me. She'll be safe here and I know no one will dare to harm her here. She promises she's not going anywhere this time. I gave a small smile as I nod, alright. I feel better, strangely every time I'm with her, I feel better. She lifts some weights on my shoulders, calmer. We quietly sat together enjoying the waters, breeze of the forest, and the stars.

She's wrong though, I kindly smiled and looked at her, the same look as always, she does deserve to be happy and free. Why did she take me in? What possessed her to bathe me and pay me for a new suit even when she couldn't afford it? She puzzledly looks back with a smile, "what?" I wrote down the question. Her eyebrows crossed when she shrugged like she didn't know the answer.