Regina spoke about this new plan to her new charges.
"Regina, finally it's suicide!" August exclaimed.
"Snow trusts me, I promise you that I will continue to see you. Don't worry, they're not as dangerous as I am. They don't know what to do with tricks. They are beginners. I just need to know what they're up to to get rid of her better. They also have a very powerful kind of black magic, I would love to know what that is. They will trust me, I promise."
August took her shoulder, from behind:
"Pay attention to yourself!"
"Rather, it will be up to them to be careful!"
Regina had agreed to play witch games like burning cars, getting drunk. But it was a start of confidence.
Emma was very worried and had put on a geolocation app to track Regina and Regina realized it.
When she woke up in her vault, she saw on her phone tons of messages and missed calls from Snow White, David, Emma but also August. She was moved that he was worried about her. Maleficent came to join her:
"We're after the same thing as you. The Author ! We would like you to find us a magic item to help us find it. Take Cruella's car!"
They arrived in front of Geppetto's house. Regina got scared and understood what they wanted. She had been right from the start.
"This can't be right. This is Marco's house. The town of handyman. The only magical object you'll find here is duct tape."
"I assure you that there is something far more valuable. Actually, someone. That knotty little piece of pine he calls a son"
"The magical object you're after is Pinocchio?"
It was imperative that she find a solution to hide it, not to do what Maleficent asked of her. She was starting to like August and didn't want to betray him, so quickly.
"He has information about the author and we intend to make him tell us"
"Which would be a good plan if I hadn't tried already. When August was turned into a boy, his memory was wiped. He doesn't remember anything"
"Maybe the trouble was you not asking your questions more forcefully"
Regina refused to stand up to her
"You've spent so much time around heroes, you've forgotten who you really are"
"I'd be careful questioning my commiment"
"So in this case, prove to me that you are the evil queen I remember, go inside there now and steal that puppet"
Regina didn't know what to do anymore, but she would rather protect August than play the role of who she was before in front of her old friend. She had promised Snow to understand what the witches wanted to protect her secret but August had given her hope, he was just starting to trust and support her.
Maybe she still needed him.
She walked over to Geppetto's house and saw Emma waiting for her behind.
"What are you doing here ?"
"I've been watching you. I saw you cast the spell and my gut said something was wrong. What did these witches ask you to do?"
"Theyre after Pinocchio"
"I told you these things never end well"
"Emma, August is back I got him back to being an adult", Regina whispered
"How did you do ?"
"The how doesn't matter, but it must be protected and for once, I would do it. I want you to take care of Maleficent. If I had to choose between Maleficent and August I would choose August even if we hardly know each other and you would choose him without thinking so help me, Emma. No one needs to know that he's become an adult again, it could end badly for him. Witches might not hurt a child, but August, they won't hesitate."
"What can I do ?"
"I'm going to play dead for a while, you take care of the witches"
She transformed Emma into herself
"Tell her something like that he wasn't there. She can't even come in I cast a protection spell, do it for August after all the sacrifices he's made for you, you owe him that!"
Emma in Regina told Maleficent that she refused, that they had to fend for themselves.
Maleficent rushed towards Marco's house, but the protective charm knocked her to the ground. Regina had a length on her and it had pissed her off.
Regina stayed with the Geppettos for over a week without showing up. It bothered her not to fight alongside Emma and the others, but she had enough self-confidence that she gets there. It was also a little moment of rest for her. She slept in August's room on a mattress. She didn't hesitate to confide in him about her past, and he too. She felt completely in another world with these people, but it was far from unpleasant.
August didn't understand why she was so protective, it wasn't her habit, he was sure she was hiding things. He was even willing to surrender and tell the vilains everything if Regina was ever discovered, but the woman insisted. He had no magic, he couldn't defend himself. They would be able to kill him after his cooperation.
Regina didn't want anyone to suffer anymore.