Regina was annoyed. She was listening to the Dark One speak of this spell he was wanting her to cast for him to find his son. Her annoyance was more for the way he was speaking to her more than the content itself.
"Stop," she said as she reached her boiling point. "Stop speaking to me like I am some novice. I have read every book you have directed me to and more. I have studied on my own and with you. I have performed every spell you have told me to learn. You either want me to cast this spell or you don't, but if you do, I suggest you start giving me a little more respect."
He regarded her after she was done speaking. "You do not yet know it all," he said, dismissively.
"Of that, I have no doubt, but I have been here for nearly a year now," she said. "And all I have done is thrown myself into the study of magic. I am ready to cast this spell, but you keep talking around it like it is so dangerous and complex that you can't give me the details. Well, I want the details or you can find someone else to cast it for you. While you are deciding which it will be, why don't you also explain why you need me to cast it – why can't you do it yourself?"
Again he appeared to be studying her. She didn't particularly like being under his gaze but she also wasn't going to back down from him. In all the time she had been here, as her skills in magic had increased, so had her overall confidence. She was no longer that love-sick girl who worried about what the queen would do to her and her family if she found out about her relationship with her daughter. No, she no longer feared such things because she was sure she had the power to overcome such petty obstacles.
She thought about the scar that was now on her lip – a reminder of a lesson learned, a lesson in not underestimating your enemy.
When he remained silent, she stood and began to walk out.
"Forgive me," he said, which caused her to stop, although she didn't turn back toward him. Instead, she waited for him to move so he was in front of her. "While I may have schooled your mother in magic, I've never had a student come as far as you have, so forgive me for being cautious. I assure you, it's for your protection as well. You see this spell, it's a curse and as the caster, there are certain aspects of it that will remain exclusive to you."
"You are talking in riddles again," she said. "I want straight answers. Otherwise, stop wasting my time as I have other matters to attend to."
"Ah, yes, your revenge against the Princess Emma."
"It's not revenge, this is justice," she responded. Her anger over Emma's betrayal had only grown as each month passed. There was the first assassination attempt, then the second – the one which resulted in her scar – and now it was her ever-growing frustration at not being able to do anything to strike back at the princess. She had sworn Emma would never marry Killian, but she had yet to think of the best way to prevent that and to teach Emma a lesson of her own.
As the wedding grew nearer she was becoming even angrier. There was hardly a day that went by that she didn't use the viewing pool to see what was happening inside the walls of the castle where Emma lived. Even seeing Emma from afar like that made her heart ache but she kept doing it, hoping one day she would be able to face Emma and feel nothing for her.
"Tell me, Regina, what kind of justice do you want exactly?" he asked, knowing full well she had yet to come up with a plan of her own.
"I want to bring the whole White clan down to its knees," she said.
"Well by helping me, you would be helping yourself in that respect."
"How so?"
He smiled and walked around her, forcing her to turn to keep an eye on him. "This spell doesn't have to just take me to this other world," he said. "You could find your escape there as well."
"So your advice is for me to run away and let them get away with this."
"No," he said simply. "The spell could take all of us away to this world. That is the beauty of it. The caster would be creating a world within this world – its own contained space where certain elements can be dictated. For instance, you could make sure your family was the one in power, not the Whites. Imagine it, a place where you and your family hold sway over how things go. That would knock the queen and the princess down a few pegs don't you think?"
"Nice, but what prevents them from going after my family to regain their power?"
He laughed. "The fact they won't remember they had power."
She gave him a wary but curious look.
"Not only does this create a world within the world I want to get to, it will remake anyone brought over by the spell into a new person essentially. They won't remember they were a queen, or a princess, or even if they were a servant. It would assign new identities to them and they would believe they had always been this person."
She considered this for several moments, trying to think it all through in her head while she walked back and forth. "How does this help you find your son if you won't remember who you are?"
"Oh, I will retain my memories, as will you. We will be the only ones who know this is not how things are supposed to be."
"Then Emma won't remember either and therefore she won't know that I won."
"True, but you will, and isn't that really what matters?"
Again she fell silent. Nothing had been as she thought it would be in her life since the moment Emma sent her to this place. She had placed her entire future into the hands of this man before her, and she realized she didn't trust him with that future. So far he had been short on specifics of this spell, and he was still holding back – of that she was sure.
"Why can't you cast it?"
"My power comes from the Dark One's curse. I am not a natural magic user, you are, that is why I need you to do it. There are also certain restrictions you could say that come with this," he said. "You see in creating a world within a world, no one will be able to leave the boundaries of it. The spell will make everyone in it think that they never have to leave so they simply won't leave. All except for the caster. You will have free rein to come and go as you please."
She was getting a headache thinking of all the holes there were in what he was telling her. She has so many questions floating around in her mind.
"You said this spell was a curse. What prevents the curse from being broken?"
"There is only one way that the curse gets broken, and that is with true love's kiss," he said.
True love's kiss. A rarity in their world. It wasn't to say people didn't love each other and share a kiss, but a true love's kiss had more to do with the melding of two souls. The lore behind it was that two souls were really meant to be one and when they found each other again and expressed their love for each other through the action of the kiss that their souls would be reunited once more. There was more to it than that depending on what childhood story you chose to believe. She used to listen in wonder as her mother would read her such stories when she was younger.
When she met Emma she had even daydreamed of the idea that Emma was her true love.
"There is another option for you as well," Rumple said. "You could choose to forget. You would be given a new identity and memories and you could forget all about Emma and the pain she has caused you."
"No," Regina said shaking her head. "I want to be able to look at her and know I succeeded."
"Very well, then that is how it shall be. Like I said as the caster certain elements of this can only be dictated by you and that is one of them."
"Now tell me what this spell involves exactly. You've waited long enough to find your son and I want it cast before her wedding," she said.
"That can be arranged. You can cast it and set it to take effect say the day of her wedding or the day before – it would almost be poetical don't you think?"
"Whatever," she said. "Just tell me what I need to do."
….
Emma would be lying if she said she wasn't more than a little nervous. Her wedding was now upon them.
She was running out of time and Tink had seemingly disappeared. She hadn't spoken to her for two months. The last time she did, Tink had said she was going to the Dark One's castle to finally speak to Regina. Tink didn't think Regina would receive her very well, but she admitted that she had to try because every day Regina seemed to be slipping more and more into darkness.
Emma knew something had happened to Regina because when she had spoken to Tink last she said Regina now had a scar on her lip – something she didn't have before. But Tink did not know how it came to be. It made Emma feel angrier than she thought possible. Someone – most likely the Dark One – had hurt Regina and there was nothing Emma could do about it.
She was sure that if she could just speak to Regina – meet her face to face – they could clear all this up. But so far at least that had not been possible.
It had forced Emma to make a decision and that decision was that she was going to escape the castle and go find Regina on her own. The guards that were constantly around her had grown lax as the months had passed. She was fully invested in the kingdom and becoming its future leader that she was no longer watched at all times. Still, she had been patient because she knew she would only get one shot at this.
Her mother was the only one who still seemed to regard her with suspicion. While she was polite to her mother, she hadn't softened her attitude toward her except for when they were in public. In private she simply refused to speak to her unless necessary. She had resigned herself to the fact that her relationship with her mother was most likely beyond repair.
She wished her mother could see reason – could see that marrying Killian would only bring her unhappiness. She wished her mother could see how Regina made everything better for her. All the hard work she had put in had all been for Regina. It was now nearing a year since she had last seen her yet her love for her had not diminished.
And she would see her again soon she swore.
If she had to storm the Dark One's castle to rescue her, she would do it.
She planned to leave in five days. Everyone was so busy with the wedding plans and getting things ready that she believed she could slip out. Her handmaidens had been more useful than she could possibly imagine. By forging friendships with them, she had learned of how they got around the castle without being seen. She knew where the laundry was done, so she had made a plan to get there and get some plain clothes to wear. She would take those and then get to the stables for a horse. Once she had the horse she could change behind the stables and ride out in disguise. No one would stop her. She had spent a lot of time studying the soldiers' movements and they rarely looked twice at someone leaving the castle if there was no reason for it – and since they wouldn't know it was her, she believed she could slip out. From there she would go to Regina's parents' home and implore Cora to help her get to the Dark One's castle. She didn't know where it was located but since Cora did, it was her only hope.
She didn't know what to do when she got there, but that didn't matter she figured. One way or another she would see Regina.
It wouldn't take long before people knew she had left but they would search the castle first – giving her the head start she needed.
After all, the day she left the castle would be on the eve of her wedding.
…
Regina was tired.
It wasn't a physical tiredness she had decided, it was a mental one.
She sat on a chair that was positioned next to the viewing pool. In its waters, she saw Emma as she was going through a final fitting on her wedding dress. She looked beautiful and that only hurt Regina more. She didn't know why she continued to torture herself by coming up here, but she kept doing it.
Soon it wouldn't matter though.
Soon she would be in an entire world altogether and she swore that in that world she would leave Emma behind for good.
There was a knock on the door but Regina ignored it. Only two other people would ever dare to come up here and only one of them was polite enough to knock. She didn't bother to turn around as Belle came in.
"Regina," Belle said softly. She said it again when Regina didn't respond. "A rider just arrived here. It's Daniel. He says he must speak with you."
"Send him away," Regina said; her voice devoid of all emotion.
"He will not go until he speaks with you," Belle said. "He said he has news of your father. He wouldn't say what it was, but I gathered it was not good."
Regina stood quickly, waving her hand across the pool, making Emma disappear and bringing up an image of her father. He was in bed, his eyes closed. Her mother was at the bedside, her hands clutching his, her red-rimmed eyes filled with tears that had not yet fallen. She looked at Belle who had come closer and also saw the image.
"Go," Belle said.
Regina disappeared and reappeared in the courtyard where Rumplestiltskin was in the process of threatening Daniel if he did not leave.
"What is wrong with my father?" Regina asked, ignoring the Dark One.
"I don't know. The physician thinks it might be his heart," Daniel said. "Your mother sent for me and bade me come here and fetch you. This is serious Regina, your father…"
"Nothing is going to happen to my father," she said.
"I pray not, but I'm asking you to return with me."
"She can not," the Dark One said.
She went to Daniel's side and faced Rumple. "I'm going."
"Regina."
"No," she said. "I am going and you will not stop me."
"So you would leave at this time when you are days away from your biggest success."
"I'm going."
"Fine, but you must return here in time," he said as if his permission was all that mattered.
Daniel looked between the two of them and then took Regina's hand. "Have someone saddle a horse for you."
"I don't need a horse. It's too slow."
Before he could say anything she used her magic to teleport the two of them back to her parents' home. They appeared in the bedroom where her father lay.
"Regina!" Cora said coming up to her.
Regina didn't acknowledge her but merely came to the foot of the bed. Her father was pale and seemed smaller to her somehow.
"Father," she said.
His eyes remained closed and she looked at her mother, who gathered her up in a hug. She didn't even realize she had begun to cry.
….
Tomorrow was the day – the day she would leave this place. Emma thought she should feel scared but she wasn't, she was excited at the prospect of leaving it all behind and finding Regina. She had woken up early hoping this day would end quickly so tomorrow would get here.
She knew she was risking it all – a princess running away from her wedding would not only be scandalous but it would be unforgivable. She was risking her future, maybe even her life although she doubted her father would allow it to be taken that far.
She watched the sunrise from her window and decided to ring for a handmaiden so she could start the day. Before she could the door opened and one of the servants came in. She was about to say something about not knocking but then she saw her full on.
"Tink!"
Tink rushed up to Emma, grabbing her arm and pushing some clothes into her other arm.
"Go change, we must leave."
"Tink, what's going on?" she said looking at the clothes which appeared to be boy's clothes as there was a pair of pants and a shirt.
Tink looked around like she expected or feared someone else would appear in the room. "There is no time to explain. Go change now. Pull your hair back with something as well."
Emma was confused, but she did as she was told, going behind the changing screen in her room and stripping down and putting on the clothes. There was a vest and soft-soled boots that went up midway to her calf. They were casual, but regal clothes – not those worn by the peasantry. They were a little large. They also looked familiar to her although she didn't take the time to figure out why. Once she got her hair pulled back in a ponytail she re-emerged.
"There, now do you want to explain what is going on?"
"No time," she said tossing Emma a hat, which she put on without question. Pulling a sword and sheath out from her cloak, Tink also handed it over to Emma who put it on and then put on another cloak that Tink gave her. "Let's go."
She followed Tink out of the room and they went through the castle using the back ways that Emma had planned on using to escape. She realized by now that is what she was doing, but she wondered about the timing and the urgency that Tink was displaying. She didn't speak though, just kept moving. There were a couple of times they had to backtrack to avoid being seen, but soon they were moving through the laundry area where servants were working but didn't give them more than a cursory glance as they rushed through to the outside.
Still following Tink, they came to where a young boy was holding the reins of two horses. Tink paid him some coins and told him to leave and keep his mouth shut. She handed one of the reins to Emma.
"This is Daniel's horse," Emma said and as she said it, she realized why the clothes also seemed familiar.
"Don't say a word to anyone or look at anyone. Keep your head down," Tink said. "Be silent until we are away from here."
Emma nodded and then mounted the horse. She imagined she probably looked like a man which was the effect Tink was going for. The streets were fairly empty at this hour although small bits of activity could be seen as the bakeshops opened their doors for the early morning business. The sounds of a forge being tended to could be heard just above the clip-clop of the horses.
As they neared a gate, Emma began to get worried. She had planned to leave at the height of activity to avoid being noticed, but there was no way for her to hide within a throng of people when there were none. She unconsciously slowed down.
"Sit straight up, but keep your face lowered," Tink hissed. "Act like you belong right where you are at. This is your only chance to see Regina and perhaps save us all."
At the mention of Regina, Emma did as instructed although she wondered what that last comment meant exactly. They came to the gate which was still in the process of being opened and they had to stop. Emma didn't look at anyone, but she kept her shoulders and back straight. Once the gate was opened the guards stood aside and they rode out without a word being said to them. Tink set a fast pace and they were soon galloping across the countryside. She tried to speak to Tink but she got told to be quiet until they stopped. They rode for a couple of hours at the fastest pace that Tink dared to run the horses. Finally, she stopped them to rest.
"Tell me what is happening. Where have you been?" Emma asked as she dismounted.
Tink again scanned the countryside around them. "We can not stop for long," she said "We must get to Regina."
"Are you taking me to the Dark One's castle?"
"No. Regina is not there. She is at her parents' home. Something happened to her father and she left to be at his side."
"Is he ok?" Emma asked, knowing how much Regina loved her father.
"I do not know. I just hope we are not too late."
"Too late for what? Where were you all this time? Did you speak to Regina?"
"No," she shook her head. "When I left you I had every intention of going to her, but I was intercepted by the head of my order. The Blue Fairy. She stopped me from going to Regina. I don't know why, but she didn't want me going there. She … she clipped my wings."
"She clipped your wings, what does that mean?"
Tink shrugged, "It doesn't matter. All that matters is getting you to Regina."
"It matters to me," Emma said.
"Technically, I suppose it means I am no longer a fairy," she said. Emma saw the hurt in her features as she said it and she put a hand on Tink's shoulder.
"I'm sorry."
"It's not your fault."
"Yes, it is. She stopped you from getting to Regina. I am the one who asked you to go," Emma said stepping away from her. "Why does everything I do turn out so wrong?"
"Don't do that to yourself," Tink said. "I chose to go. You didn't force me. Emma, you've come so far, don't take a step back now. Regina needs you. Focus on that."
"I will help you get your wings back," Emma said. "Whatever it takes."
"Thank you."
"How is Regina doing?"
"I don't know. Once my wings got clipped I had no way to get to her. I went instead to Daniel. I was hoping he could help, but while I was there Regina's mother sent for him. I accompanied him and found out about Regina's father. Cora wanted Daniel to go and get Regina and bring her home. He sent me to get you – gave me those clothes and his horse, told me how to get through the castle."
"So you don't know if he got Regina to come back with him?"
"Trust me, he did. I've never seen such determination."
Emma wondered again about the depths of feelings Daniel had for Regina. She didn't want him getting hurt but at the same time, she knew Regina was her soul mate.
"What did you mean when you said something about saving us all?"
Tink bit her bottom lip. "Something bad is going on. There is no reason for the Blue Fairy to do what she did unless she is working with the Dark One in some way. I don't know why she would, but she said that Regina had agreed to cast this curse and that it wasn't something that would just affect him and Regina, it would affect us all. I don't know what that means, but if it is something the Dark One wants to happen we have to stop it."
"She wouldn't do something that would harm us, she couldn't."
"You have to prepare yourself for the fact that Regina may not be as you remember her."
"I don't care," Emma said. "I love her and I know she loves me."
"That may not be enough."
"Then I will make it be enough."