She didn't see it coming that her son will be there in front of her while she's holding Belle's heart. Henry knows about her past. It's all in the book. But not once did she ever let him see her do something like that. She always kept it hidden because she didn't want her son to see her that way and now he does. "You shouldn't be down here, Henry", she muttered. Hook is about to attack while the queen is distracted but Emma stopped him. She can see it too, the effect Henry has on her. Regina might be sleeping inside her own body but her love for Henry is still there. She is still his mother. "Mom, you don't have to do this. I know you. I have always known you", Henry said as he slowly walks towards her. "I have always been like this. I am the Evil Queen", she said. He shook his head. "No. You are not. You are my mom. That is who you are", he corrected.
Emotions reflected in her cold eyes. "This is not you. Whatever the shadow did, you can't let it win over you. You like doing good. You like being a hero", he said. She looked down and thinks for a moment. "…and what did it get me, Henry? I will never be happy. No matter what I do. I cannot be happy just like what Mother told me. This is my fate. This is what I was meant to be", she exclaimed. He walked towards her this time faster. "That is not true. You can be happy. You can be happy with me", he said and it touched her. Henry managed to finally get close to her. He slowly took Belle's heart from her hand. Tears fell from her eyes unexpectedly. Then she felt a rush of pain from her gut. She stepped back from him as she groaned. They all watched her struggle fighting herself. It didn't last long. She looked at her son who is standing right in front of her. "Henry…" she muttered.
He smiled and rushed to her side. "Mom!" he called and hugged her tight. Regina is back. "How do we know for sure it's really you this time?" David asked. Henry helped her get up. "You don't…because she is me. She's always been me. I just kept her lock inside. But I promise to do my best not to play tricks on you again", she answered and then smiled in a genuine way. David smiled back. He knows it's her. "Welcome back, Regina", Snow said. Regina took Belle's heart from Henry. She looked at it for a second. Then she remembered something. "Stay and don't move", she whispered to her heart. They all stopped and looked at her. Regina looked at Gold. "She is still here in town. Go get her", she said as she gave him her heart. "Thank you", he said and then he disappeared.
Regina decided to correct what she's done as the Evil Queen by gathering the people of Storybrooke and telling them the truth about what happened. Of course, there's some who protested and she understands them completely. She apologized in behalf of her dark side which the people accepted. Meanwhile, Gold managed to get to Belle and he returned her heart to her. Henry stayed with Regina while Emma is working on getting her magic back. "Need a little help?" Regina asked when she found her in the woods practicing. "Definitely…yeah. I have no idea what I'm doing anyway", she answered and then smiled. Regina walked towards her. "I haven't gotten the chance to say sorry to you for what I did and what it cost you", she said. "There's no need. We all know it's not your fault", Emma said. But Regina shook her head. "I know we all blame it on the shadow but that's not all true. What it did is just tipped the balance inside me. I was still there the whole time. I was conscious but darkness was so much greater in me. I felt it. I felt the need to destroy you and I did and for that I am so sorry", she apologized. Emma looked at her. "Then you can make it up to me by teaching me again how to do this thing", she said with a smile.
They positioned themselves. Emma showed her what she can do so far and by the looks of it, not so much. "You know when the first curse was broken, I had trouble with magic too but I was able to jumpstart which we can do for you as well", Regina said then looked at her. "…but you won't probably do it because it's dark magic", she muttered and Emma agreed. "Alright then, let's do it the old-fashioned way", she said. She created bottles on top of the trunk of a tree. "Move it with your mind. Don't think too hard. Come on. You're a natural with this", she said to Emma. She focused on the bottles and waved her hand. Out of five, she was able to move one of them. "Oh, that sucks", she muttered. "No, that was great. You were able to move the bottle", Regina said. Emma looked at her and scoffed. "Yeah, only one of them", she snapped.
Regina thought of something that might improve her magic. "You know I trust you, right?" Regina said to Emma and she frowned at her. "What are you thinking?" she asked but Regina didn't answer. She stepped back and let the big branches of the tree behind her fall. "Regina!" Emma called but she didn't move out of the way. It's now up to her to save her before the branches crushed her head. In panic, Emma raised both her hands and stopped the branches. She then threw them to the side. Regina clapped her hands proudly. "See! I knew you can do it", she exclaimed. Emma didn't look that much happy. "Are you crazy? What if it didn't work? You could've die", she exclaimed and Regina laughed. "But I didn't. That's your trigger Miss Swan. You have the urge to save people. Your power comes out from that. Always remember that feeling so you can tap into it whenever you need to use your magic", Regina explained. Emma finally understood. "What about you? What's your trigger?" she asked her. Regina went quiet for a second. "…to kill people", she answered and started to walk away.
"Wait", Emma said as she followed her.
"What?" she asked.
"Is that how Gold taught you magic?" Emma asked.
"Yes. Unlike you, I was first introduced to dark magic but you don't have to worry about me anymore I can handle it", she answered and then stopped walking. She is not saying anything but Emma can see it. She is struggling with something. Then she closed her eyes and as she opened it, her eyes turned purple.
"Regina", Emma muttered.
"We need Gold", Regina replied.