At 11 o'clock at night ... In the large but lonely kitchen ... There was Phantom reflecting on the things that have happened in his life since: when, for example, he was called by a strange magician who strangely knew everything about him and saw the potential in him when his life was more obscure than ever, the way he was surprised to be one of those chosen for this strange mission since he was never chosen for the good things in his life and, above all, these strange people so different from him , but at the same time so similar. Was it another chance at fate that he might be happy? And no more than an excluded man with a disfigured face behind a mask?
-Erik, poor Erik, things seem so good to me that even I am not believing that fate sees the good in me. - Phantom said looking at the mask he was holding.
-Hi? Why are you here? - Said Harley Quinn arriving by surprise in the kitchen, which left Phantom desperate and scared for not having hidden behind the mask.
-I ... What are you doing here? - Phantom said without reaction.
-I just came to get something to drink until I found you here talking to yourself and ... Are you without a mask? - Said Harley Quinn surprised.
-Yes. Sorry to bother you. - Said Phantom ashamed.
-Bother with what? - Harley Quinn said doubtfully. And in seconds looking at the disfigured side of Erik Destler's face (Phantom) which, although it was a little strange for a "standardized" person, neither intrigued nor frightened her to the point of understanding why he was frustrated. -Is it your face that you're worried about? Really?
-Are you not? How is everyone? - Said Phantom not knowing if he was surprised, angry or incredulous.
-To be honest: compared to all the people I walk or have met, you are pretty. - Said Harley Quinn.
-Stop lying. - Said Phantom laughing with irony.
-I'm a clown, but I'm serious. How can you not accept that? - Said Harley Quinn.
-Because I am not. - Phantom said sadly.
-Who told you that? - Said Harley Quinn curious.
-Everyone. Including ... My mother. - Phantom said trying to contain the tears of sadness.
-My mother was not easy either. - Said harassed melancholy.
-Oh really? - Phantom said curious and surprised.
-Yes, no matter how hard I tried ... I could never be your perfect daughter and I always compared myself to my sister. It seems that this is always what happens to me ... I can never be perfect for anyone. - Said Harley Quinn sadly.
-Have you been hurt by anyone? - Phantom said curious and compassionate.
-Yes. You? - Said Harley Quinn curious.
-As long as I would give a play. Said Phantom.
-You're funny. - Said Harley Quinna laughing.
-No, I'm not. - Phantom said laughing.
-Yes it is. Laughing at your own misfortune is just my state of mind. - Said Harley Quinn laughing.
-And Miss ... Harley you are beautiful. Said Phantom.
-Am I? - Said flushed Harley Quinn.
-Yes, you are. - Said Phantom delighted.
-How many compliments. Not even my ex was like that. - Said harassed melancholy.
-If he was like that, then he was an idiot. You are more beautiful than you think. - Phantom said looking at her in a charming way.
-Thanks. You are also very beautiful. - said Harley Quinn flattered and delighted.
-Nobody ever told me that. - Phantom said laughing shyly.
-But you are. - Said Harley Quinn giving him a kiss on the cheek that made him blush, that made them both laugh at the situation. -I'll see how the others are doing. -Said leaving the place.
-It's all right. - Phantom said without reaction of so much shyness and joy.
Minutes later ... In the living room ...
-How are the others? They are well? - Said Harley Quinn worried.
-The vast majority, except my sister and Erik Lehnsherr, had minor injuries and are already being released. - Zelena said super agonized and saddened by her sister's condition.
-I hope everything works out. - Said Harley Quinn.
It didn't take long before they appeared: Loki, Rumple, Darth Vader, Morgana and Freya with some dressings, but apparently better.
-I was so worried about you two! - said Harley Quinn giving a big hug to Morgana and Freya.
-It's not a big deal. Said Morgana, frightened by so much informality.
-Thanks. - Freya said trying to be friendly.
-But it is. Let's go to the bedroom. I want to take care of you. - Said Harley Quinn leading them to the bedroom.
-Loki! You! - Zelena said looking furiously at Loki.
-I? - Loki said confused.
-You despicable one! Because of you, my sister almost died! - Zelena said leaving on top of Loki and closing her hand to punch him very hard while the other hand was hanging him.
-It's not time to act like an impulsive person, it would be good to save your energies for things that really matter. Said Rumple.
-You're right. This one isn't worth it at all. - said Zelena, throwing it "delicately" on the floor.
-I know that you are in conflict with your insecurity that makes you think that suddenly everything will be lost, but be calm. Said Rumple.
-That's because your sister isn't there. - Zelena said trying not to show her nervousness.
-On the contrary, I understand perfectly. - Rumple said taking a deep breath and remembering something painful. -When Belle died I felt the same way. But then I stop and think, that maybe keeping calm and believing that everything will work out would be something she would advise me to do.
-Yeah, that's right. If there was anyone more optimistic than Belle, I don't know. - said Zelena.
-And it is in memory of her and my son, Baelfire, that I try to do my best and not let my insecurities take me to the dark side again. - Rumple said emotionally.
-To a selfish and fearsome dark lord he always was, until he is speaking like a hero. - Zelena said surprised.
-One thing I learned all this time is that "magic always has its price, for better or worse, you will suffer the consequences". Said Rumple. -If this is any consolation, I also feel for Regina. Strangely, I always identified with her from the beginning when she was just an apprentice hungry for revenge, and like me ... She also strives to have her happy ending.
-Yeah ... That's right. - Zelena said slightly optimistic, but still pessimistic.
Minutes later ... In a guest room ... Harley Quinn, Freya and Morgana were changing clothes that were already sweaty and smelled like an infirmary, for some sleepwear that were available: Freya chose a light blue pajama with yellow stars , Morgana chose a simple white nightgown and, Harley Quinn as predictable, preferred to continue wearing red lingerie by custom and find it more comfortable.
-Don't you prefer some pajamas or something else covered? - Freya said scared by the lack of modesty.
-Are you not ashamed? - Morgana said having the same reaction.
-It's just the three of us here and I'm just going to sleep. Why such modesty? - Said Harley Quinn laughing.
-Yes ... - said Freya and Morgana amazed how the customs and clothes in certain places are so different from yours.
- Are you going to sleep? Because I'm exhausted. - Said Harley Quinn preparing to sleep.
When Harley Quinn walked over to a lamp that was close to them, both noticed weird wounds on her body. Were the injuries from the fight against Sebastian Shaw more powerful than ever? No, they thought, since she didn't even dare to duel him. Or was it for some other reason? With that, both were silent for a while trying to decipher what could have happened to her, until Morgana dared to ask for such curiosity.
-Where did you get all those injuries? Said Morgana curiously, which aroused Harley's astonishment. –Sorry the question.
-Yes ... Well ... - said Harley Quinn trying to talk.
-If you want to tell us, we're here. But if not, we will understand. - Freya said slightly concerned.
-Yes. Said Morgana.
-Okay, I know you can't lie anymore. - Said Harley Quinn taking a deep breath. -My ex boyfriend, Joker, hurt me.
-What? - Morgana and Freya said in surprise.
-He beat me after I broke up with him. I mean, he wanted us to get back together, I didn't want to and so, he attacked me and only stopped because my friend Ivy was passing by and defended me. It was so awful. - Said Harley Quinn crying with fear and shame.
-How unlucky you are! I'm here, I'm here. - Freya said embracing her in a warm and motherly way.
-And it wasn't the first time this happened. From the beginning of our courtship he beat me, humiliated me and did things ... Disgusting. And I thought he was my prince charming. - Said Harley Quinn sobbing with tears and sadness.
-What a despicable man! Where is he that I already want to kill him? - Freya said with his fury and protective instinct.
-No need, Ivy already did it for me. She killed him with her poisonous lips. - Said Harley Quinn slightly relieved, but still terrified by his memories.
-Less bad. But I know how it is. - Freya said melancholy.
-Really know? - Said Harley Quinn curious.
-I never opened up to anyone about it: but I had a sister who was just like your ex boyfriend. She said she loved me and that she only wanted the best for me, but every time I didn't agree with her perverse methods of sacrificing innocent young people for her youth, she punished me with her powers by saying that I would be next and... She even killed my own baby daughter so that she would not be more beautiful than she. - Freya said dropping a tear of sadness and pain.
-But what a despicable woman! This is not done with a child! I already want to kill her! - Said Harley Quinn with much fury and desire to kill.
-No need, my ex hunters have already done this for me. - Freya said relieved, but still in great pain.
-I ... I also wanted to vent something. - Morgana said showing her marked wrists.
-You ... Was it hurt too? - Said Harley Quinn curious.
-The man who put me in the world ... My "father" Uther did this to me ... After I challenged him and told him to release an innocent man who was killed unjustly for his intolerant authoritarianism, he arrested me and if not had it been for my ... Brother Arthur he wouldn't have let me go. And he said he would change ... But it only got worse. - Morgana said with anger and sadness.
-How unfair! He was your father! I should be the first to care and love you! - Freya said surprised.
-My father was called Gorlois and that's it. Because Uther would kill me without a second thought if he knew I was a witch. Said Morgana.
-You must be a lonely person. - Said Harley Quinn worried.
- Same as Ravenna. - Freya said angrily.
-Yes ... I also had a love that I trusted a lot, he knew who I was and tried to kill me. So I can't trust anyone. Morgana said sadly.
-Merlin? - Said Harley Quinn curious.
-Yes. As you know? Morgana said curiously.
-In that conversation in the breakfast I saw how it was when I talked about him. - Said Harley Quinn.
- Apparently we have more in common than we think. - Freya said thinking out loud.
-It is like. - Said Harley Quinn.
-Yeah, I confess. - Morgana said surprised.
-Let's form a partnership? - Said Harley Quinn.
-Good idea. - said Freya.
-I would like it. Morgana said with a comforting laugh.
- "One for all and all for one". - Said Harley Quinn and then Morgana and Freya laughing with happiness and identification of belonging to some group.
At 00:01 am ... In the living room ... Loki was trying as usual to devise a plan for how he could defeat the mighty Sebastian Shaw and, consequently, finish this mission soon and become the most powerful god in a once and for all. But only trying, because something invaded his thoughts in a way that even he couldn't explain: Regina Mills. Yes, the same boring and bossy woman who didn't get along with him every time they crossed paths, but who saved his life when he had the chance (something that only Frigga, his late mother would do). But why?
-Why did she save me? - Loki said thinking out loud.
-Thinking? - said Anakin / Darth Vader, slightly curious as he sat on the sofa and took Loki out of his daydreams.
-And you? Why are you here? - said Loki trying to disguise.
-I came to think of a plan on how I could defeat that powerful man who by the evidence, is one of the jewels of the apocalypse. Said Darth.
-Me too. - said Loki.
-But I also came to think about all the decisions I made in my life and how I reacted to the circumstances of my life, the consequences of those decisions ... - said Darth reflexively.
-AND? - Loki said, thinking lightly that the hint was for him.
-About the things I missed and that I could change from now on. - Darth said slightly hopefully as he thought of Luke and Leia.
-Have you come to give me motivational advice like my mother? - said Loki.
-Not. But since I said and I have nothing important at the moment: don't let your past leave you in the comfort of what you could try to change today and have a better life. - Darth said as if speaking to himself.
-Do I devise a better plan for this mission? I'm already on the way. - said Loki proudly.
-Look, god of Asgard: just like you, I also had my great losses and tragic unforeseen events of destiny. I thought it was fate and there would be no turning back when I became what I became, of course. But I stopped to think that we can change all that and I will not give up on my full happiness. - Darth said hopefully, but still a little discredited by his own words.
- Said the man in armor who lives with a serious expression and barely opens his mouth except to give orders. - said Loki.
-To be honest, I wouldn't even imagine saying something like that. - Darth said surprised with himself. -That is more than my son or my late wife would say.
-Then you can continue with your place there, I have things to do. - said Loki with an expression of "hit, you bore" and moving away from the place.
-If I thought the obscure was unbearable before, I think I was wrong. - Darth said with a laugh as he started thinking about life lying on the couch.
Minutes later ... Loki took advantage of the exit of a security guard with a nurse to enter the infirmary of the team that was a little near the mansion and soon tried to find the stretcher on which Regina was, which luckily was fine, but sleeping peacefully.
-You know, I was always a rejected man and when I couldn't take it, I became fearful as I am today. No one ever cared about me, except Frigga, my mom and Sigyn, the only woman who loved me. And as predictable, they all died, the only ones who looked after me. After my mother died, even though I had achieved my longed-for throne and revenge against whoever killed her, I still felt that emptiness ... That emptiness that the death of both left me. No one would ever care about me or risk their lives for me, especially since I've done a lot of bad things. Until today I saw something that I didn't think I could deserve yet: you risked your life for me and I don't know what the reason was, but all I have is to thank you. Thank you. - Loki said thinking aloud while shedding a tear.
Overcome with emotions and a slight regret for that impulsive action that could have cost Regina's life, Loki approached her and kissed her lips for a reason that even he did not understand, and surprised by what he did, he quickly walked away before something or someone caught him at that moment, including his confused thoughts about what had happened on that shelf: no, he was a villain, and no one would love a villain like him, nor the god of mischief.
-Loki? - said Regina, waking up little by little.