Quiet and lonely are all The Wicked Witch could ever feel. No one had ever been there for her. Her stepfather hated her for her magic and everyone has appeared to do so. She was never wanted. Her biological mother even left her in the woods. She thought by being the queen and stealing her sister's life could fill the hole in her heart, but she was dead wrong. She couldn't feel anything except nothing. The hole is still there, a gap she could never fill.
Zelena will forever hate herself. She let her guard down and Evie escaped from her grips. Although she might hate her parents, Zelena slowly grew fond of her niece. Everything is too complicated. She missed Evie. The palace seems to be livelier when she was around, but at the same time she knew her niece would never be able to receive the love and affection she needed. She resembles Regina a lot. Whenever Zelena look at Evie, her love for Evie would just evaporate into thin air. She looks exactly like her mother, a person Zelena hate the most. No matter how hard she tried, she could never look at Evie without thinking about Regina, about how her sister took everything that was supposed to be hers. She hates the sweet girl she raised for no reason at all.
An annoying screeching sound disturbed her thoughts. No doubt, it came from Walsh–in a form of a flying monkey.
"I'm not in the mood!" Zelena hissed as she massaged the bridge of her nose.
Walsh remained unbothered. He kept jumping around his mistress, flapping his wings while screeching from the top of his lungs. Zelena walked past him, ignoring his antics. She gave up and groaned. Turning on her heels, she flicked her fingers; turning Walsh into his human form.
"At last! My throat hurts whenever I have to screech like that!" He gently rubbed his neck.
Zelena crossed her arms on her chest. She looked furious. "What? Don't make me regret turning you back into human!"
"Relax, you don't have to be on the edge every time." He was about to cackle when Zelena choked him tight using her magic. She raised him up into the air. He put his hands around his neck, gasping for air.
"Show some respect, pet." She dropped him harsh. Walsh landed with a loud thud. "You should be grateful I didn't kill you, moron!"
Walsh shivered, stumbling as he tried to gain his balance. "I apologize, Madam. I have something important to share."
Zelena seem not to care. Walsh had to catch her mistress up, still trying to catch her attention. "It's about your sister." Those three last words made her stop short. Her body stiffened. Veins were popping in her face and eyes were turning red.
"Don't you dare speaking about her!" Her shout echoed through the black stone wall. Walsh was pinned to the wall, his body trembling.
"Someone left this on the porch. Pretty sure it is for you." He handed her an envelope. She teared the wax sealing impatiently, pulling out a piece of paper. She intensely read each and every word. A mischievous grin formed on her lips.
"It's an invitation to a ball." Zelena smirked. "My sister must've had a change of heart."
"A ball?"
She handed it back to Walsh, letting him read by himself. "Yes, to celebrate their lost princess."
Her smile grew even wider, there were sort of sparkles Walsh had never seen for years. "Get on your best look, Walsh. We're going to a ball."
"Your Highness!" A young maid ran after Evie with napkins in her hands. "Which one would you prefer? The gold, white, or pink one?" She hadn't answered yet another one approached. "Should the cake be chocolate or fruitcake? Should it be two or three-tier cake?"
She froze. Life has changed upside down ever since she became a princess. Everything is not only about her anymore. Evie inhaled deeply: "Can the napkin be royal blue?"
The maid tilted her head a bit, looking concerned. "I apologize, but I think blue is not an appropriate color, Your Highness."
"There's no such thing as blue is for boys, pink is for girls. Blue's my favorite color." She motioned to another maid, "and please make it a 2-tier fruitcake."
"How about the drapes, Your Highness?"
"I'll leave it to you. Oh! Could you make everything in royal blue and silver shades? I'm sure they'll make a good combination." Evie stopped by the greenhouse door. "Please make sure everyone is invited, no exception."
"I see someone is getting used to her new life." Regina cackled without taking her eyes off of her roses.
"I take it as a compliment, thank you." Evie sat on the nearest bench, watching as her mother working on her roses carefully. She was extremely gentle as if it was a baby she taking care of.
"I know it's not easy. You are used to being you until the secret reveals itself: you are born a royal. Everything changed in a split of seconds, the fate of others is in your hand." Regina put her shears down, taking a seat beside her daughter. She held her close and kissed her forehead. "And yes, I am complimenting you, my dear."
"Who knows even choosing a napkin for the table would be a problem?" Evie laughed eerily as she leaned in to her mother. "How do you deal with all these? You seemed, well... You always get everything in control. You are a good queen, a perfect one, indeed."
"Not always. I get overwhelmed too and that's normal; it's human. I'm not always the person I am today. It took. A lot of adjustments, but you know what keeps me going?" Evie shook her head. "Your father always told me to believe in myself and follow my heart."
"It works?"
"It is. And don't you ever be afraid. We're always here to have your back. Because being a princess is more than just tiara on your head. One day, the fate of our people rest in your hand."
She nodded. Mommy's last sentence landing on her hard. Evie pulled back; her eyes locked on her feet. "Mom, please be honest. Did I do this right?"
"Define this." Regina answered tenderly.
"Is that really okay to invite your sister?" Her voice was as soft as the wind.
Regina tucked her fingers on Evie's chin. She gently lifted her daughter's head, so her eyes meet hers. "Evie dear, that– is the most righteous thing to do. Whether we like it or not, she's our family. I understand you were just trying to protect everyone, no doubt. You don't want the same thing happen twice, right?"
Her eyes reflected weariness burrowed inside. She flinched. Standing up, Evie walked to the rose bushes Regina had just taken care of. Cupping the rose in her hand, she let out a heavy sigh. "This ball supposed to be joyful, yet here I am, worrying about every decision I've made."
"Evie, please. Stop doubting yourself. You're just being cautious. You try to protect us and we're here to protect you. Think about the bright side; you will finally meet your people. You'll be surrounded by everyone who loves you. They've been longing to meet you!" Regina reassured. "Besides, I've got my magic in case Zelena did anything."
Evie turned back, knocking her mother with a bear hug. "Let's just hope there will be no magic involved."
Later on the evening, both mother and daughter sat under their spot, enjoying the day. Evie sat on the ground as Regina sat on the bench beneath the tree, braiding her daughter's hair. It was always a quiet moment like this they enjoy the most. Regina made it clear that she won't let any minutes went by in vain. She insisted on making up for the lost time.
Evie was talking up a storm about dresses she makes for the ball when Robin entered the picture. Her eyes sparked up, smiling from ear to ear. Her father decided to stay a little while longer, to help everything for the ball and pretty much the same as Regina; to made up for the lost time.
"So, uh... now the ball is week away," Evie tried to break the silence. "Do I really have to dance with everyone?"
"Technically yes. It's just a social dance anyway. Is there any problem?"
"I don't know how to." She smiled sheepishly. "You know I never went to a ball before."
"Your father is a good dancer. He could teach you as he taught me to."
"That is totally a lie. I'm qualified as an outlaw, not a dancer." Robin shrugged and chuckled lowly.
Regina nudged her husband, forcing him to rise from his seat. "Come on, thief. Stop belittling yourself. There'll be your first father-daughter dance at the ball!"
"You see that? Mommy is always a little bit bossy." Robin whispered while rolling his eyes gleefully. Evie just shook her head and giggled. Regina didn't sound to notice.
"So the first thing is, you curtsy and I bow." Evie nodded and did as she was told. Closing the gap between them, Robin pulled his daughter closer and put his left hand on her back as his left were grasping her right. "You should put your other hand on my shoulder and relax. Stand about a foot away if you don't want to be too intimate."
"This would just be a slow dance, so you just need to follow my lead. You'll go left as I go right, back as I move forward; just like that. Keep your eyes on your partner and we're ready to go."
As her father took the lead, Evie swayed along to the clue. They moved around gracefully though Evie still sometime looking a little too concern about her step; afraid she would step on Daddy's feet.
"I'm going to spin you out and you have to spin in carefully. Make sure you won't spin too fast because you might elbow the partner's chest." Robin said without interrupting their steps.
"Are you sure? That sounds a bit risky." Her body stiffened and her steps grew awkward.
"I know you can do it. Trust me, it should be fine." Robin reassured. Before Evie could respond another word, she was already being spun out. Evie closed her eyes, slowly spinning back into her father's arm.
"Very well, dear." She heard her father whisper. A soft kiss landed on her temple. "You didn't even step on me, though we still need to work on your spin. We are going to do this number on our first dance."
"Mommy I did it!" Evie turned her head to her mother's direction.
"I saw it, dear. You're a natural born dancer." Regina commented gracefully. "I used to step on his foot when he taught me how to dance. Your poor dad had to soak his feet in cold water after every lesson."
"That's true. Thank heavens I don't have to get through it anymore." Robin laughed. "But I don't say your mother is a bad dancer."
Evie looked at her parents back and forth. "So, do you think I'm ready for the ball? I mean... Am I presentable enough?"
"My, my, Evie! Even if you can't dance properly you would still be presentable. Our people will still love you. We will always love you no matter what."
Robin squeezed his daughter tight which made her giggled hard. Regina couldn't help but to get along in the squeeze. The sound of their laughter filled the air. An unexpected bonding moment will always be their perfect way to spend the evening.