A Promise Kept
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters contained within nor the shows from which they appear in. Any coincidence to real life is unintentional. This story is not used for profit and is for entertainment purposes only. Quote used is from Batman Begins, another thing I do not own any part of. I also do not own the fable Belle, Gold and Regina talk about.
Summary: Snow and Emma return to Storybrooke but something is amiss. Henry and Regina strive to find the true Emma and to that extent they contact a Dream-Walker: Morganna. (Swan Queen, Regal Red Belle teamwork, Regal Cricket, Evil Regal Mafia Coven, Mills family reparation, Merlin/Morganna)
Author's Note: A Promise Kept is second in a series of three connected stories, centering on Regina Mills, Henry Mills and Emma Swan. The prequel to this story is called Regina's Most Dreadful Nightmare. It is not necessary to read that story to understand A Promise Kept, however, many elements will slowly crop up over the course of the story, and it will be an important aspect of several points made in the story and ensuing sequel, so I would highly suggest reading it in conjunction with A Promise Kept. It may not seem that way, but the names used to identify characters are used deliberately. I'm including a quote from Batman Begins as I feel it resonates strongly with the series.
Please read the link to my tumblr on my Bio to read more about how the Henry/Regina dynamic will be handled.
Chapter Notes: Thank you all very much for taking the time to read this series and your continued support! I cherish all of your comments, alerts and favourites. I love to read your thoughts! I took a bit longer composing this chapter due to the stunning Winter Finale, Queen of Hearts! I decided to integrate a bit more of that canon in APK, most notably the relationship of Cora and Regina, which, I had to admit, took me by surprise. I may have also dabbled in another short story, no biggie. That tiny distraction is known as Mother Knows Best.
"…But I know the rage that drives you. That impossible anger, strangling the grief until the memory of your loved one is just…poison in your veins. And one day you catch yourself wishing the person you loved never existed, so you'd be spared your pain. Your anger gives you great power. But if you let it, it will destroy you."—R'as al Ghul, Batman Begins
"That can't be true, can it?" Henry's shaking voice is the first to break the stunned silence, looking from David and Gold to settling on Regina, her face a frightening ashen colour.
"It shouldn't." Gold said decisively.
David slowly bent down to pick up his phone. "You said they were going to get the ashes from Cora, right?" At Henry's nod, he continued. "Maybe they saw her in-between your talk with Aurora…" he vainly grasped for a plausible conclusion.
Regina shook her head swiftly. "Snow doesn't know how to fight a magic user of my mother's level. And Emma can barely wield a sword…"she trailed off in a worried tone before glancing at Henry. She swallowed. "She may have magic, who can say for sure?"
"What!" David demanded and turned to Regina before Gold cut him off.
"Regardless of Emma's abilities, she wouldn't be a match for Cora," Gold ignored a warning glare from Regina and David. "We need to be prepared that the Emma and Snow that arrived are not the real ones."
"Body imposters," Regina murmured.
"Either that or they are in control of the real bodies," Gold speculated.
"How would we be able to tell?" David looked between Gold and Regina.
Henry coughed a little, drawing attention. "If we take too long to meet them, it'll seem suspicious."
Regina and David shared aghast looks. Gold merely lifted an eyebrow in approval. "Very good, Henry. Something will feel a bit 'off', usually manifesting in expressions of love." He peered at Regina.
"A hug or kiss," Regina explained to David and Henry. "A body imposter can fake the physical actions and if magic is controlling the real body, it can be difficult to detect, but no one can trick True Love."
David nodded rapidly. "That happened to me once, with a siren. I could tell by the way she kissed me that it wasn't Snow."
"And I've got Emma's lie-detector skill," Henry bounced off the bed. David and Regina shared a glance and Henry huffed irritably. "If I don't go too, things will really be suspicious."
Resigned, Regina reached for Henry. He settled into her arms for a firm hug. Over the top of his head, she connected her eyes with David's. A solemn agreement passed between them.
"Regina and I will be able to check for magic traces and the like," Gold said, agitatedly rubbing the top of his cane.
"You'd better get to Belle," David said.
"If Cora and Hook are in disguise, they must have something else planned," Gold shook his head, "but I will go to her at once and make sure she is adequately protected. It's best for us to act normally until we can ascertain their true purpose." With that, he quickly exited Mary Margaret's apartment.
Henry gently extricated himself from Regina. "Wait here," he said and walked over to the nearby closet and began digging through it.
David took the opportunity to speak with Regina in low tones. "I'll protect him with my life, Regina."
Regina clenched her jaw and nodded tightly before turning to face David. She placed a hand on his shoulder. "My mother will undoubtedly target him, but she isn't likely to do anything unless I am there to witness it."
"That's sick," David muttered and he gripped Regina's other shoulder. "I'll try to keep them distracted so you and Gold can figure out a way to bring them back. If they're not the real Snow and Emma," he tacked on after some hesitation. "You said you could get someone to help them?"
Nodding, Regina turned to see Henry racing back to them. "You two had best be off."
Henry looked torn for a moment and handed the walkie-talkie to Regina. She felt her brave façade break as she realized the importance of the exchange. "I'll let you know about the situation as soon as I can," he promised. "And I'll get to sleep soon and see if Aurora is there."
Regina held his hand for a long moment before he pulled away.
Henry poked at his cereal, doing his best to be convincing. He was genuinely tired but the adrenaline caused by the situation kept him excited and antsy, something he was afraid he would give away. After leaving the apartment the evening before, he and his grandpa raced to Granny's where there was a rowdy celebration. Henry couldn't help the skip in his heart as Emma broke free from the crowd, a smile lighting her face. She raced towards him and crushed him in her arms.
The shiver that wracked his body was thankfully mistaken for a sob of happiness.
He wanted so desperately for her to be the real Emma. The way she hugged him to her tightly, ruffled his hair, the traitorous wetness in her eyes, the gruff "hey, kid" that was all Emma just…wasn't…the same. It broke him for a few moments, his arms hanging limp at his sides.
Then Henry remembered.
Good always wins.
Emma was alive and he would find a way to bring her back. He had to do his part.
He glanced at David who was embracing Mary Margaret. He caught Henry's eye and hid a frown in Mary Margaret's shoulder.
Henry wasn't alone. He had Gramps, Rumplestiltskin and maybe they could get others to help. Throughout the party he noticed that Archie kept glancing questioningly at him and perhaps it was his imagination, but it looked as if Ruby and Leroy were struggling to hide some confusion.
Moreover, he had his Mom.
Both of them.
It was that thought that steeled his resolve, to keep his fear at bay as he and David went back to Mary Margaret's apartment with the imposters in tow. Sleep didn't come easily to him, the thought of something happening in the dark almost too overwhelming. Eventually Henry did succumb to dreams and almost immediately chanced upon Aurora. She looked terrible, he thought, but her words to him were worse still.
Aurora confirmed that the real Snow and Emma were still in the other world…and injured. Henry felt sick at the thought of his mother in pain and anger at Hook and Cora, who he now had to pretend to love.
The thought occurred to him that this was probably what Regina felt a majority of her life, especially when living with Snow. It made him pity her all the more.
Henry and Aurora were unable to carry on a lengthy conversation before he felt himself being woken. All else he was able to get from her was that they needed him more than ever.
"Tired?"
Henry jolted to attention at the sound of Emma's voice. He managed a nod before stuffing a spoonful of cereal into his mouth, which seemed to appease her. Was she Hook or Cora? How could they pretend to be someone else? What was their plan? He wanted desperately to talk to David but Snow was at his side constantly, almost as if she suspected something was amiss. There was shrewdness about her now that Henry couldn't help but recoil from.
His guess was that she was Cora.
"I think we should pay a visit to Gold," Emma said and dumped her dishes into the sink. The ungraceful act was very Emma but the confidence when she turned around was not.
Captain Hook.
"Why's that?" Henry asked, figuring he could get away with it rather than David, who would be scrutinized more closely.
"He's up to something," Emma—Hook— shrugged in a non–committal manner.
"I don't think his curse was truly broken," Snow elaborated with a tight look to Emma. "And we'll have to speak with Regina as well." Snow smiled in a haunting way that made the hair on Henry's neck stand on end. "She lost everything—who knows what she may do when she's desperate like that?" She closed the distance between her and Henry and laid a hand on his shoulder. "We've got to keep you from her."
She won't hurt me, Henry thought vainly but nodded instead.
"She may be in league with Gold," David offered in an attempt to draw Snow away from Henry. "We'd better check with Gold first. Regina has been elusive since you guys left. Hard to find her," he looked to Henry who quickly voiced his agreement. "When she finds out that you two are back she may try to take Henry, who she would assume would be with us. I think we should leave him with Red, in case things get a little, out of hand, with Gold," he finished and looked to a smirking Emma.
"Sounds good to me. No need to keep all our eggs in a basket," Emma replied while Snow seemed to stew over it for a moment before quietly agreeing.
Henry made good use of his time in the shower to contact Regina on the walkie. She sounded more distant and forlorn than he had expected and chalked it up to a poor night's sleep and the distance for signal strength. He doubted she slept well due to the thought that her mother could be coming to see her. Even when she had used magic to subdue him recently, Henry had never felt afraid that Regina would hurt him. Sometimes she would handle him roughly or would manipulate him and those angered him greatly but never to the point where he feared for his life, or even Emma's. He knew Emma was the Saviour and that she would always prevail.
Regina had no such convictions and he found himself wanting to be there with her more strongly with each passing moment. Archie had told him forgiveness was a long road and Henry doubted that he would ever forget what Regina had done, but he could feel himself starting to forgive her, the empathy for her building every day with each interaction and moment of honesty. He wanted his Mom back in Storybrooke, but he also wanted Regina to be his Mom again, too, those rare instances of her love seeping into his mind giving him courage.
If she had survived under some terror like Cora, surely he could, too.
The years under the tutelage of Mayor Mills gave Henry in edge in exchanging polite small talk and convincing demeanors. Snow and Emma weren't exactly chatty but Henry and David had to summon convincing smiles and curiosity for what had happened in the other world. When they arrived at the diner, David swiftly put his arm around Henry and led him inside.
"Okay, kid, we both know it's true," David whispered frantically. "I'm going to try and keep Cora and Hook at Gold's for as long as I can. You need to meet up with Regina, let her know what's going on." Henry nodded quickly. "And get back here as quickly as you can. We can't let them see Regina yet."
"Why not?" Henry chanced a look outside the door to see Snow giving them a dubious look.
"I'm afraid things will escalate too fast for us. We know that Cora won't do anything rash or go into their plan too deeply without first seeing Regina." David steered Henry toward the counter where Ruby was glancing at them oddly. "Your mom needs as much time as we can give her so that we can bring back Snow and Emma."
"Hey, guys," Ruby offered up as a greeting.
"Red," David smiled. "Do you mind keeping an eye on Henry for awhile? Something we've got to do," he trailed off and turned to indicate Snow and Emma waiting outside.
Ruby's brow dipped. "Do what?"
Henry squirmed out of David's grasp. "You'd better go, Gramps."
David nodded and looked seriously at Ruby. "Listen to Henry," he said quietly and left a confused Ruby behind.
"Whaaaat was that about?" Ruby turned to see Henry giving a little wave to his departing family.
Once he made sure that no one was eavesdropping, Henry leaned closer to Ruby. "Something's wrong, Ruby, that wasn't the real Emma or Snow!"
Ruby glanced around and inclined her head to Henry. "What are you talking about, Henry?" She whispered conspiratorially.
Henry shook his head. "Gramps told you to listen to me, and we'll talk about it later, but I have to go meet my mom now." Ruby lifted an eyebrow cynically. "You trust my grandpa, and he trusts me, so, please? I'll be back soon!" Henry promised.
Ruby gave a reluctant nod.
Regina paced by her front door. When a swift knock resounded on it, she tore the door open and Henry wriggled his way through before pushing the door closed behind him. She took in his bedraggled appearance and gathered he had a poor night's sleep as well. He stared up at her for a few moments before enveloping her into a hug.
Cherishing the closeness, Regina sighed gently, rocking slightly on her heels. If she took a moment with Henry like this, she could recall doing the action when he was an infant.
"Are you okay?" Henry gently inquired when Regina started to tremble. He pulled out of the hug and Regina ran a heavy hand through her hair.
"Yes," Regina promptly answered. After a few moments under Henry's disbelieving look, she wilted. "No."
"Is it because your mom is back?" Henry stuffed his hands in his coat pockets.
Regina took a few shaky breaths. "Yes. I'm scared because of her."
Henry frowned. "Gramps and I won't let her hurt you," he vowed.
With a shaking hand, Regina stroked the top of Henry's head. "That's not why I'm afraid, Henry," she whispered, touched by his desire to protect her. "I don't want you to risk your life for mine. Yours is worth more," Regina spoke clearly, hoping he would understand.
Henry shook his head fiercely. "Standing by and letting you get hurt isn't what good people do," he stated. "Good always wins."
Normally his conviction would have irritated Regina but now all it did was prolong her pain. "Not for me. No matter what good I do, I still get punished for it."
"That's not true!" Henry exclaimed and threw himself into a stunned Regina's arms. "You have me. Even when Emma comes back, you're still my mom, too," his words were muffled and Regina wondered if he was talking to her. The words still managed to fill the void in her heart.
Regina gulped back her tears and moved away from Henry slightly so she could look into his eyes. "I love you," she said without guile or pretense.
Henry smiled.
"When my mother took Daniel's heart, she told me that love was weakness," Regina said. "That's why you must stay away from her and do nothing to rouse suspicion. She knows that you are also my weakness."
"Also?" Henry tilted his head.
Regina pursed her lips. "You know how I had to use the heart of what I loved most to enact the curse right?" Henry nodded slowly. "The heart I loved most wasn't my father's. It was my mother."
Just saying the words was enough to have all of Regina's memories of Cora overflow in the cavern of her heart.
"What!" Henry exclaimed and then something clicked behind his eyes. "Kinda like you and me," he murmured.
A tear slipped from Regina's eye. "Yes. I couldn't…I couldn't take her heart. I sent Hook to retrieve it but he obviously switched sides."
Henry put his arms around Regina's middle. "That's like you and Snow," he tilted his head to peer up at Regina.
"What?" Regina tremulously echoed.
"You loved her too much to hurt her yourself. See, Mom, you're still good," Henry proclaimed, grinning. "Even at your worst you still couldn't kill those you loved."
Regina frowned at his statement. "I still wanted them dead."
"Because you hoped that would make the pain would go away, right?" Henry answered, far too perceptively.
Regina felt her mouth twist into a wry smile. "I suppose so, dear. However, it would seem that I will never be free from love. I thought if I could be alone forever, the pain caused by love would leave me."
"But then you adopted me," Henry grinned cheekily. "And I brought Emma."
Regina scrunched her eyes against a flash of a feeling. She could see Emma leaning in close. Henry jumped, feeling her tense up.
"Mom?"
"Just another flash of that dream," she shook her head, momentarily banishing the pain and strange heartache. At Henry's continued grimace, she forced a smile. "I'll be fine, dear."
Henry stared at her for a few moments and looked to the ground. "Why did you adopt me?"
Regina looked at him, a pensive expression on her face. "My life was empty," she said simply. "I had no purpose and I thought if I had a child that would give me a reason to…"she trailed off.
"To what?" Henry prompted.
She had been selfish, Regina realized. Having all her happiness depend on someone else was a burden that should not be placed on anyone. Her mother's love for her had been so overpowering and it was never pure because she could not let go and she had all sorts of visions in mind for Regina. That forced Regina away from her, poisoning but never taking away her love for Cora. Daniel's love had been given freely and Regina had spoiled that, too. She had foolishly believed that only with Daniel could she ever have True Love and here Henry was standing before her, despite all the wrongs she had done to others and to him as well.
Regina shook her head slowly. "I am still such a child, Henry," she said softly, taking in his shocked countenance. "I believed that my happiness depended on someone else's love. Thanks to you, I know that's not true," she smiled, waiting hardly at all to see his answering one. "Whenever I loved someone, or did anything good, bad things happened, so I figured if I did bad things I could stop myself from getting hurt."
Henry frowned contemplatively. "Hurt them before they hurt you?" At Regina's grimace he sighed.
"Not a very 'good' thing to do," Regina offered and Henry rolled his eyes. "But that's where I'm different from my mother. I'm changing now and it's…not easy…"
"And you're not alone!" Henry piped up. He made sure to wait until Regina could maintain eye contact with him. "I'm on your side, I believe in you," Henry said and he felt something warm stirring in his chest, radiating to the tips of his fingers. The look on Regina's face was so open and gentle and he finally believed in her love for him. "And Jiminy does, too, and Gramps is starting to, as well, and I'm sure Emma does and Mary Margaret will too, like in the future!" His enthusiasm boiled over and he saw Regina struggling to remain serious before giving up entirely and smiling.
He thought it was the most beautiful she had ever been.
Regina cleared her throat ostentatiously and Henry forgot not to laugh. "Well, dear, tell me what's happening."
Henry pulled out the cell phone David had given him. There were no messages but he had let a hefty chunk of time pass. "I met Aurora and she said that Snow and my mom were injured," he said breathlessly.
Regina let out a small gasp. "Emma, is she alright? Snow?"
Shaking his head forlornly, Henry replied, "We didn't get a chance to really talk. That person you mentioned before, we really need to get their help."
Composing herself, Regina nodded. "I have a basic understanding of the method in which to contact her, but," Regina choked back her pride, "without Emma, I don't think I have enough magic to perform the task."
"Gold," Henry supplied, confused at Regina's complexion shifting from white to red momentarily.
"Yes," Regina said. "I need to go to the library to research how to contact Morganna, the person in my world," she clarified, "and to learn more about the Wraith."
"To find out exactly what's happened to you?" Henry inquired. Regina replied in the affirmative.
"I think we need to bring Ruby in on our plan, maybe others," Henry stated as Regina appeared pensive.
"And how do you propose we go about convincing her?" Regina asked. "Even when they believe you," and Henry grinned at the 'when' instead of 'if', "they will be a little more hard-pressed to work in conjunction with me. Not without irrefutable proof. My mother and Hook are quite good at being surreptitious."
Henry made a face. "Surreptitious?"
"To act or do something clandestinely," Regina explained, and winced at Henry's withering glare. "To be stealthy."
"Was that so hard," Henry teased. Regina smirked back.
"Forgive me for wanting to further your education, dear. Like I was saying, do you have any ideas on how we can convince Ruby to join our noble cause?"
Laughing, Henry shook his head. "Is there something that can't be faked for a shape shift?"
Regina looked to side contemplatively. "Besides what Gold and I mentioned about True Love…perhaps scent?" Regina looked to Henry. "My mother and Hook would likely know about that and go through Emma and Snow's garments and assimilate their scents into them."
"What about the shirt I let Emma borrow?"
Regina scowled mightily at the memory. "I've washed that blouse numerous times, Henry; the traces would be extremely faint at best. One would have to be a blood–hound in order to…"she trailed off at Henry's exuberant grin. She sighed in defeat.
Regina held her head proudly as she and Henry entered the diner, the chattering dying down instantly at her presence. She clutched at Henry's hand tighter as he led them to the counter. Ruby was already eyeing them in disbelief.
"Miss Lucas," Regina greeted.
"May—Regina," Ruby amended. After a look with Henry, she walked around the counter. "If you would follow me…?"
Henry tugged Regina's hand urgently as Ruby led them to the back of the diner. He shot her a sneaky look and Regina was reminded of how he loved to play Cops and Robbers as a child.
"What is this about," Regina whispered as Ruby turned to give her a confidential wink.
Checking to make sure no one followed them, Henry looked up at her smugly. "I texted Ruby while you were getting the shirt to let her know we needed to talk privately."
Regina sighed at her son's impetuous nature.
"David told me to listen to Henry," Ruby piped up. "And he says that the Snow and Emma that are here aren't the real ones. Is that supposed to help us figure out if it's true?" She pointed to the bag Regina clutched.
"It is true," Regina replied automatically and Henry knocked their hands together. "But, yes, this shall help us check the magic traces on Mary Margaret and Miss Swan. Or, to be precise, it will help you," she smirked at Ruby's skeptical look. She took the shirt out of the bag and saw recognition light in Ruby's eyes.
"Didn't Emma wear that shirt before? You actually wear it?" She chuckled incredulously.
Regina frowned. "I know it's difficult to comprehend but Miss Swan did, in fact, launder the garment before returning it. Or Mary Margaret more than likely."
Red smirked. "Yeah, Emma probably would've gotten it dirty on purpose and thrown it at your head."
"Yes, that does sound more plausible," Regina admitted wryly. "Now that I think about it, she did look particularly chastened when she returned it, so I would have to assume that Snow scolded her."
Letting out a laugh, Red took the shirt from Regina's hands. "That definitely sounds like Snow, she was always such a neat-freak," she grinned conspiratorially and Regina found herself absent-mindedly returning it.
"This should be strong enough to serve as a point of reference for when the imposters come to pick up Henry. Then, you may be wholly convinced of our claims and could serve as a character witness, if need be," Regina elucidated to the annoyance of Ruby and Henry.
Henry glanced to his coat and fished out the phone. "Hey, it's Gramps. He says they're on their way back here."
Red glanced between mother and son, confused and then relieved to see the concern in Regina's face and the tentative way she touched her hand to Henry's cheek. He gamely smiled up at her. "So, how do you want me to report my findings?"
Regina and Henry looked at each other in silent communication for a few moments. "I will be at the library for awhile. I can stay there until you come to deliver the news."
Red nodded. "Yeah, I can do that. Belle asked me to pick her up tonight, anyway."
Regina quirked an eyebrow. "Gold," she answered Henry's questioning look.
"Okay, Mom," and Red couldn't miss the affection in their smiles if she tried. "I'll see you around."
Regina eyed her left hand with trepidation. Even though she knew nothing was on her finger, she could practically see the ring on it, the sweetest of magic pulsing in its beautiful coils. With each passing vision and dream, Regina could recall events with startling clarity and she was frightened that feelings, which were not hers, had mutated in her heart to become hers entirely.
In her dreams, Henry had told her that she traveled through the future and it was starting to make more sense and its plausibility rating increased. It could very well be true that something happened when the Wraith began to take her soul, a magic that could rend time and space. She had insinuated her beliefs in this to Jiminy who obviously had little knowledge about magic but seemed to find it equally important to her path for redemption.
Surely there must be a volume on Wraiths, Regina mused as she strode into the library. It had been restored, no doubt by Gold's magic. Regina had kept it boarded up ever since her arrival in Storybrooke to keep nosy citizens from discovering Maleficent. The thought about the last time she had entered this building filled her with hurt and a sort of wistful longing.
She realized she missed Emma.
Shaking her hid to rid it of such pesky thoughts, Regina huffed and attempted to remember where she could find a book on how to help her contact Morganna. Morganna specialized in a type of magic called Dream–Walking which was a convenient way to communicate between worlds since the world of Dreaming connected every living creature.
It had been a long time since she and Morganna last spoke and they had never actually ventured into the world of Dreaming itself, but Morganna had given her one of her objects to use to establish a connection between Regina and Morganna, so Regina would be able to use it to find Morganna in the Dreaming. Regina just needed to know how exactly to use that, hence her growing irritation at her inability to recall where such a book would be in the library.
"Regina?"
Belle's voice is hesitant and Regina turns stiffly to face her.
"I am simply searching for a book, dear," Regina did her best to tone down her defensive response. Belle appeared cautious but also had a steely look in her eye. Regina was reminded of the miniature prison she had kept Belle in for 28 years.
"Is there something I can help with," Belle inquired, drawing herself up. Refusing to back down was something Regina had always admired about the girl. "Or is it Rumplestiltskin you're looking for?"
Regina tensed. "Both," she said carefully. She noticed they were near the elevator to the hidden shaft where Maleficent was imprisoned. "I know you're curious by nature but please try to avoid this elevator. All manner of unpleasant things may still be lurking down there," she warns, not quite sure why she said so.
"You're telling me to be careful," Belle snips.
Regina pursed her lips. "Yes. I don't know how much Rumplestiltskin has told you, but Hook and Cora are posing as Snow and Emma." A pointed glance is shared. "I'm sure you remember Hook. He'll be after you, so it's best to be on your guard. Ruby mentioned that she was coming by to pick you up."
Belle swallowed. "I'm sure you've also noticed the magic perimeter Rumplestiltskin placed over the library." Regina nodded slowly. She had barely been able to detect it.
"She should be able to look after you in Rumplestiltskin's absence."
Belle looks at Regina strangely for a few moments. "You actually are concerned for my welfare."
Regina starts at the revelation. "Yes, I suppose I am. I've been...working on, myself, I guess. I want to change, to be better. For myself and for Henry," she states softly.
"Sort of like me and Rumplestiltskin," Belle muses. Regina furrows her eyebrows at this.
"You keep going back to him, like you're trapped by your feelings for him." Regina felt her own heart shrink as an image of her mother in a casket came to the forefront of her mind.
"You make it all sound so senseless…" Belle stepped closer.
"Voluntarily giving up your freedom is senseless," Regina vehemently proclaimed.
Belle cocked an eyebrow. "You're one to talk."
Regina gasped audibly, Belle's words cutting to the heart of the matter.
"I gave up my freedom for love," Belle continued, stepping closer to Regina. "You gave yours up for power."
"Not quite true, dear," Regina automatically corrected. "For Daniel, for my mother…my love for them turned into a lust for power and destroyed all that made me—"She cut herself off before she could say 'good.' "I became the very thing I swore I wouldn't…"Regina murmured softly. "I still don't understand." At Belle's inquisitive look, Regina's voice lowered. "Why I'm not dead. I should have died years ago. When your heart breaks, you should die."
Daniel.
Mother.
Snow.
Sighing, Belle reached out to lay a hand on Regina's forearm. "Just because something is broken doesn't mean that everything that makes it special disappears forever. The pieces are still there, Regina, you know that for a fact."
Regina's eyes become red-rimmed as she and Belle stare unblinkingly at each other. When "I'm sorry," leaves Regina's lips, she truly means it. Belle smiles softly. Regina squints slightly and sees her in a pale yellow dress instead of the checkered black and red one.
Slipping out from behind a nearby bookcase, Rumplestiltskin heads toward Regina purposefully. Swallowing tightly, Regina raises her chin defiantly before Belle steps in front of her and Regina drops her chin to a less confrontational angle.
"Regina just needed some help," Belle said. Sensing the mounting tension, she continued. "She actually told me a rather wonderful story; care to hear it?"
Rumplestiltskin's face warmed imperceptibly. "Of course, my dear."
"Once upon a time, a wise old man was walking along the beach. The sun was rising, lighting up his path. He comes upon a young boy, who appeared to be throwing something into the ocean." Rumplestiltskin and Regina both shifted uncomfortably but Belle forged ahead in a stronger tone. "The old man walks up to the boy and notices he is throwing starfish into the ocean. 'Why are you throwing those starfish into the ocean?' he asks. Continuing to pick up and throw the starfish, the boy replies 'Because when the sun finally comes up and the starfish aren't in the ocean they will die.' Shaking his head, the old man says 'That is a fool's errand. There are millions of starfish upon hundreds of miles of beach. No matter what you do, it won't make a difference.'"
Rumplestiltskin moved forward slightly. "The boy picks up a starfish and throws it into the ocean." He locks eyes with Belle and then with Regina. "'It matters to this one,' he says."
Regina cleared her throat and stared at him for a moment before returning her gaze to Belle. "He picks up another. 'And this one.'"
Belle gives both of her companions a pointed look before smiling. "Isn't it about time you two ended this?"
Averting their eyes, Regina and Rumplestiltskin sighed in resignation.
"There are more important things to worry about," Rumplestiltskin offers and it's easily the most accommodating he's ever been towards Regina, even when he had an ulterior motive.
"I've no wish to continue this feud, either," Regina concedes and Belle laughs at their petulant looks.
"Look at you two, acting like schoolchildren," she scolds lightly.
Regina and Rumplestiltskin simultaneously shake their heads and get straight to business. "Mr. Nolan brought by Ms. Blanchard and Ms. Swan," he began. "I couldn't complete a trace, but I'm positive they are Cora and Hook."
"Henry contacted Aurora and she said that Emma and Mary Margaret were injured in a fight with Cora and Hook and that they reclaimed the compass. Apparently my mother restored Lake Nostos and that's what they used to transport themselves here," Regina explained.
"What do you think they're up to?" Belle questioned.
"Hard to say, my dear," Rumplestiltskin answered, gingerly fingering a nearby book on the shelf. "We know for sure that their main goals are to harm me and Regina, which would include setting their sights on you and Henry."
A thought occurred to Regina. "But magic here works differently," she said. Rumplestiltskin looked to her quizzically. "In addition to masquerading as Mary Margaret and Emma for manipulative purposes, my mother may have trouble controlling her magic here. And Hook surely won't be able to take you on without a bit of magic in his arsenal, so perhaps they are also searching for a surefire way to guarantee their victory."
Gold's lips quirked. "An excellent theory, dearie. The fairy dust that appeared in the mines may be of some, interest to them," he smirked.
"They'll be sure to go after it, then," Belle interrupted. When Gold and Regina gave her their focus, she continued. "Is there some way we could replace it, so Cora and Hook would obtain a fake pile of fairy dust?"
Regina let out a laugh, impressed. "That's a good idea but we would likely have to leave at least some of the original fairy dust otherwise my mother might be able to tell that she was tricked."
Rumplestiltskin nodded. "We should be able to pull the wool over their eyes if we handle that carefully."
The three of them snapped to attention upon hearing the doors to the library bang open and rapid footsteps began heading their way. Rumplestiltskin moved in front of Belle protectively and Regina stood at her side.
"Whoa, whoa, it's just me!" Red threw up her hands in surrender. The others relaxed. She grinned and threw the shirt in her hands at Regina who struggled to catch it and pinched it between her fingers, an undisguised look of disgust on her face.
"And…" Regina drawled, holding the garment as far from her as possible, trying valiantly to ignore the small tingle in her fingertips where she held the shirt aloft.
"You were right," Red exclaimed. "When David, Snow and Emma came back for Henry, I could smell instantly there was something off about Emma's scent. It's definitely not the real Emma." She looked between Gold and Belle before settling on Regina. "What's next?"
"We're going to have to find a way to swap out some of the fairy dust in the mines," Belle spoke up.
"We do need a distraction," Regina added. "Rumplestiltskin, I need your help in contacting Morganna."
Rumplestiltskin nodded. "She would be able to communicate with the real Emma and Snow and be our source of magic in that world. I've been thinking about a way we can get them back, and I may have found a possible solution."
"Really?" Regina couldn't keep the excitement out of her voice. Belle and Red looked at her strangely but Gold merely smiled mysteriously as he inclined his head to the wall. Regina followed the path and stared at it for a few moments before gasping in realization as she focused on a hanging mirror. "A looking glass…"
"This way we can make good use of the fairy dust we'll be acquiring," Gold smirked. "However the problem lies in our world where they will have to construct one themselves."
"Henry said Cora and Hook used the ashes from the wardrobe used to send Emma to Maine and a magic compass to guide them here…so if they could gather more ashes, and if Morganna learned how to create it with magic…"Regina and Rumplestiltskin plowed ahead with their logic, heedless of the way Belle and Red fidgeted in the background.
"Wait, do Cora and Hook even know of the fairy dust?" Red shrunk under the combined glares of Rumplestiltskin and Regina.
"Regina mentioned they needed to be distracted…maybe you can bring that up to them so Henry can come here. You did say he was necessary in helping Morganna locate Snow and Emma, right, Rumplestiltskin?" Belle looked at him for confirmation.
"Indeed," Rumplestiltskin smiled at Belle. "Once we do the initial trip into Dreaming we shouldn't have need for the ritual again. You do have something of Morganna's, right, Regina?"
"Of course," Regina replied, affronted. "Are you so old that it slipped your mind?"
"Watch it, dearie," Rumplestiltskin sneered and the two began to harass each other.
"Enough!" Belle yelled and, to her astonishment, Regina and Rumplestiltskin immediately simmered down. "We need to work together, you two have agreed to that, so now it's time to start acting like it." Red chuckled at Belle's stern posture.
"Yes, well, I should get going. I can contact Henry about tomorrow. Does 9:00 work for everyone? Yes? If you'll excuse me," not waiting for confirmation, Regina nodded at each of the persons in the library and exited the building.
Regina couldn't help glancing over her shoulder every few seconds when she arrived back at her home, going from room to room to double-check that it was indeed empty. She wished that her magic was more stable but without Emma as her conductor, she had no way of knowing how to amplify her powers without resorting to her mother's book. She sighed as she finished checking the living quarters and stumbled slightly when she beheld another vision on her sofa. It seemed to be an epicenter for the visions or something, Regina mused.
Emma was sprawled haphazardly across the length of it, her curls looking extremely soft in the dim glow of the lamplight next to her. She looked so real, as if Regina could reach out and touch her as if she were a tangible object and not just some vision of her supposed future. Regina moved slowly across the room to perch on the arm of the couch, the edge of her thigh nearly touching Emma's head. Even through the material of her pants Regina could swear she felt the periodic jets of air released from Emma's nostrils.
It was peculiar, the familiarity and affection filling her heart. Emma looked much like a child in the moment but the closer Regina looked the more radiant her features became. The posture was deplorable and vastly unhealthy, Regina noted. Henry often spread himself in such awkward positions when he had a restless sleep.
The thought warmed Regina considerably and she brought the back of her hand to trace Emma's cheek.
Regina had no idea how long she kept her knuckles grazing against Emma's skin but a niggling feeling in the back of her head caused her to whirl around to the entryway to find nothing staring back. Shaking her head, Regina turned back to find an empty couch.