CHAPTER 9 – RAZOR'S EDGE

[A/N: Okay, so I think this is quite important to mention:

I was originally planning on this being a partial AU, but now that it's confirmed that it was in fact Drizella who cast the curse, and that Regina got her memories back in canon in a different way, this is going to be a full-on AU i guess you could say. This does annoy me a little but I think it's best that I don't really make many adjustments to this story now that I've started it so I'll just continue with this.

Who knows though, maybe I'll make some changes in the future to make it more similar? Anyway, here's chapter 9!]

|PRESENT DAY, HYPERION HEIGHTS|

Roni stared in anger at the woman in front of her. Out of all of the people in this city, why did this demon have to be here at this one moment in time.

"It's none of your business, honestly," Robin responded for her. She knew that Roni wasn't in the position to talk to this woman at this right second.

"Well, frankly it is. I don't think my step-daughter would enjoy a fight like this going on at Lucy's party."

It was at that moment that Robin realised who she was talking to, and she wasn't exactly pleased. If it was true that Lady Tremaine had started the curse, then she couldn't let her hear any of this.

"You must be Amelie, mustn't you? Well, I'm-"

"Victoria Belfrey, yes I know.", Robin responded with attitude.

"It seems you've heard of me.. Well, I was wondering if I could perhaps talk to you in private for a few minutes if that's okay."

She didn't know what to expect, of course, but even if Belfrey suspected her she had already almost brought Regina's memories back and frankly that was probably going to be enough for her. But at the same time, she didn't want to have to leave like this. She didn't want to leave Lucy and the others alone.

"Alright then. But make it quick."

"So, are you having a good time Lucy?", Jacinda asked her daughter despite knowing the answer. Seeing her happy was one of the only things that filled her with joy during those times, and she knew that she owed Henry so much for helping her organise it.

"Mom, this is the best party ever! I couldn't have asked for more.", she smiled.

That was when Henry walked over. "Hey, have you guys seen Roni by any chance? She was here earlier but it looks like Amelie and her left the room all of a sudden."

Jacinda shrugged. "No, we haven't really seen her. Was she supposed to be here today?"

"It seems she was.", a familiar voice spoke up. They turned around to see no one else, but the man known as Detective Weaver.

"Detective.. I didn't expect to see you here today.", Henry responded in confusion. Was something going on that he should be concerned about?

"Yes, you didn't. But it seems that someone may have attempted to intervene with this party and I thought I'd just come along and have a word with her."

"Who?"

"Victoria Belfrey.". They sighed at hearing the infamous name.

"Don't worry Detective, I can have a word with her.", Jacinda responded presuming that she'd just come to try and interfere with Lucy's party.

"No, that won't be necessary. I need to have a private conversation with her if that's alright.", he said.

"Are you sure about that? I mean, Jacinda and I can go and sort it out.", Henry stated.

"It's fine. I need to deal with myself.", he said before walking away. Lucy became concerned all of a sudden, even though she tried to tell herself that nothing was going on.

"Is everything going to be okay mom?"

"Yes, Lucy, everything will be fine. Now go and play with your friends.", Jacinda positively said. But that didn't exactly help Lucy feel any more positive about the situation.

After Roni walked outside of the building, Belfrey settled to succeed in her plans. She knew this was the best way to take this girl down, and finally get what she wanted.

"You're new in town, aren't you? I haven't seen you around here before.", she asked. Robin grew nervous.

"Yes, I just moved here, why?"

"You see Amelie, I've always been interested in the lives of the people who come to live here. No matter how many of them come by, I'm always interested in their stories of, well, why they decided to move, where they came from and.. why they came here.", she glared at her.

"I was just trying to find a place to live after school, that's all.", Robin quickly spoke up.

"Oh really? Because I've been meaning to ask you something.. something quite personal actually.". Belfrey walked closer to her, until she was about an eye's distance away which genuinely made Robin shudder.

"Do you believe in magic?"

It was that question which made her even more tense.

"What kind of magic are you talking about, Ms. Belfrey?", she said as the woman in front of her walked away slowly.

"Well, there is some sort of myth or rumour going around this town that magic is common here. I'm personally not so sure how believeable it is but I was just wondering what you thought about it really.", she said in almost a dithyrambic tone. Her heels made loud echoes on the wooden floor as she wondered.

"I'm sure that's just some myth, honestly. I mean, magic isn't real is it.", Robin attempted to put on a laughing tone but it ended up coming out in a shaky voice.

"Oh, but that's not true is it darling.."

She stepped forward.

"Because without magic Robin, how on earth would you have gotten here?"

Roni, initially planning to sit down somewhere, just stood in the chilled weather outside. Her mind was racing, filled with confusion and anger and sadness and- something else she couldn't recall.

It was as if she was trying to tell herself something, but she didn't know what it was. She'd felt like that for a long time, as if there had been something incredibly, heartbreakingly important that she'd forgotten and that she was urging herself to remember.

But that was when it all suddenly came flooding back to her. All of her memories from her past, everything she'd known for a long time. They raced through her mind like some sort of bullet train, and it almost felt like that train was going to crash at any second.

Though, she remembered. Despite all of it, she remembered exactly who she was and how she got here.

And Regina Mills was not going to stop fighting for it.

[a/n: aaaand that's all for this chapter! It was a little bit difficult writing this, because now there are certain things in the plot which are going to be kinda unanswered but honestly I want to just release what I thought would've been a good ending for OutlawQueen without caring about all of the unanswered stuff.

Speaking of which, I may make a book of oneshots after this!

Anyway, that's all for now folks.. To be continued!]