Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time.
Warning: SwanQueen. Possibly misplaced grammar. English isn't my native language, but I promise to always try my best at catching every mistake I can.
AN: This takes place during the Wish Realm Arc. AU in some parts. Wish-Robin does not make an appearance. This is a continuation from the last chapter. Enjoy!
Alternate Beginnings
Growing up, Princess Emma heard all the stories about the Evil Queen. About how she relentlessly hunted Snow White for years through the kingdom. How she pillaged villages. How she killed indiscriminately anyone who got in her path. How cold heart and ruthless she was and how her hatred of Emma's family eclipsed everything good that was in her life including a beloved father. Emma has even heard the rumors about a dark curse that the Evil Queen was planning to cast before she was defeated and banished.
The Evil Queen was a horror story told to children to scare them into behaving. Be good or the powerful sorceress taught by the Dark One himself will come for you, they would say.
In Emma's mind the image she had of the woman who still haunts her mother's dreams were one of an old woman with straw like hair, beady eyes, a hook nose, and a bent back who held that famous poison apple with gnarled bone-like fingers. She told the description to her mother who gave her a wry smile.
"Actually, she was quite beautiful," her mother said, almost in a wistful tone.
Young Emma looked doubtful.
Surely, a person who was as ugly on the inside had to be as ugly on the outside.
Emma doesn't say anything more as a sad look crept in her mother's eyes. Her mother always got that expression when she thought about the Evil Queen. There was sadness, regret, and longing there. Emma patted her mother's hand to comfort her.
Snow White smiled before she kissed Emma on the forehead and tucked her into bed.
Yes, Emma thought. Anyone who could even think about hurting her kind, gentle mother had to be a monster and look like it too.
Then one day, she stumbled upon a portrait hidden in an old, unused room in the castle that she found while hiding away from her nurse.
It was the Evil Queen before she was evil.
This was Queen Regina.
Emma sat on the floor with her dress billowing out. Putting her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands, Emma stared. Dark, phantom-like eyes stared back at her. Draped in an elegant gown, Queen Regina looked solemnly out of the painting.
Her mother had been right.
The Evil Queen was beautiful.
There was something familiar about that gaze and Emma felt something stir inside of her as she continued to stare. She would have kept staring for hours if she hadn't heard her nurse's frantic voice in the distance.
Getting up, Emma brushed the dust from her dress. With one last look at Queen Regina's face, she left.
She returned later just to gaze some more at that portrait.
Something drew her to that room, unbidden, and Emma found herself often sneaking back when no one was watching her. That room and that Queen Regina became Emma's secret.
"I have dreams," Emma whispered to the portrait. Emma felt safe talking about her secret dreams."I'm all grown up and in this world where there are strange things."
"In the dream, I lived in a place called Storybrook..."
"I dreamed that there were little people speaking from a tiny box. The little man always seemed to be able to predict tomorrow's weather."
"I drove around in a yellow horseless carriage!"
Queen Regina never uttered a word.
As she got older the dreams came less and Emma stopped going as often as she use to as her royal duties began to take over her life. The visits and the dreams stopped completely when she met Neal and had Henry.
Emma honestly forgot about it until she decided to pick flowers one day.
"Emma?" The Evil Queen appeared right in front of her, young and beautiful, just like the portrait in the castle. There was a perplex look on her face as she stared at Emma. She stared at Emma's dress with wide-eyes. "What the hell happened to you?"
Emma gasped in horror. "The Evil Queen," she whispered in fright. She almost lost her basket as she ran for cover behind a tree.
"Wait! You don't know who I am?" The Evil Queen frowned.
"I know exactly who you are," Emma said, peeking around the bark. "You're the Evil Queen."
"No, I'm-" the Queen seemed at loss for words. "I'm your friend."
"You're nobody friends," Emma answered back. "My father says you're a liar."
"Emma, listen. This world, it isn't real." The Queen seemed to struggle to explain. "Back where we're from we're friends. We even share custody of a son."
Emma gave her a disbelieving look.
"Okay, it's complicated." The Queen ran a hand through her short hair. "The main point is that I'm here to take you home."
An arrow narrowly missed the Evil Queen.
"Stay away from her Regina!"
Emma felt relief when she saw her parents. "Mommy. Daddy! Help!"
Her father drew his sword and her mother redrew her bow and arrow.
"How are you here?" Her father demanded. "You were banished."
"The fairies made sure that you could never step on this land. How are you here?" Snow sharply questioned.
"Snow?" The Queen gaped. She turned from one person to the other. "David?"
"Show some respect," her father growled. "It's your majesties. This is our Kingdom now."
"You're so old," the Queen snorted.
"Mock us all you like, but we shall never back down from protecting our people," her mother said gallantly.
The Queen decided to ignore them in favor of turning back to Emma. "Emma, this isn't real. This is just hallucinations. A part of you has to know that!"
"Step away from my daughter!" Her father threatened.
"Emma, you have to believe me!" The Queen looked to Emma imploringly.
"Never," Emma declared.
The hurt look that was shot at Emma made Emma's chest hurt in guilt.
Someone as evil as the Evil Queen shouldn't look that wounded.
"Damn it!" The Queen vanished in a puff of purple smoke when Emma's father lunged for her.
"Are you okay?" Her mother rushed forward.
"I'm alright," Emma assured.
"We have to get the council together," her father said urgently. "She's back."
Her mother nodded grimly.
All Emma could do was watch them helplessly.
...
In a unanimous decision extra guards would be posted outside of all the royal members' bedroom at night. Seeing who her guard was made Emma hurry forward. The aging man, who was also her God father, enveloped her into his arms.
Graham, the man who saved her mother's life all those years ago, smile warmly at her. His graying beard scratched at Emma's face when he kissed on her the forehead.
"Sweet dreams, kid," he said fondly as he ushered her in her room.
"Night, Graham," Emma beamed.
He gave her head a fond pat before the door closed.
…
"You made me a monster!"
The Evil Queen in her dream was angry at her. She had done something unforgivable and Emma felt guilt, deep dark guilt, as she watched the Evil Queen break in front of her.
Princess Emma felt herself take a step back as a wave of cold black magic swept through the air.
"I'm sorry," Princess Emma pleaded. "Regina, please!"
The Evil Queen snarled.
A ball of black fire appeared in her hand.
Without another world, she threw it at Emma.
Princess Emma woke up gasping. Clutching at her nightgown, she quietly shuddered.
"Emma?"
A black figure detached from the shadows. Before she could scream, the black shadow raised a hand and Emma found herself soundlessly screaming. Another wave of a hand and they disappeared into a puff of smoke.
Emma found herself in another bed in different room where there was heavy music rumbling below them. They were in a room above a tavern where even if she wasn't magically silence, Emma doubted that anyone could have heard her scream. The Evil Queen moved forward. "Listen, Emma. I'm here to rescue you."
All Emma could do was stared at her in fright.
"Can you really not remember me?" The Evil Queen asked. There was a line between her brow as she frowned. "Damn it."
She began to pace.
"I need to get you back home." She looked Emma up and down and for some reason Emma felt a little flustered as those dark eyes scrutinized her figure. Emma was wearing her favorite nightgown. The billowing pink sleep gown with laced flowers sewn onto the bodice and gold bottom trim seemed to entertain the Evil Queen for some reason. A snort broke out before the Evil Queen brought out a black device and pointed it at Emma. There was a small click.
"Blackmail," the Evil Queen said, answering Emma confused expression. There was a look of amusement in her eyes. "For when we get you back to normal."
She sighed as she continued to study Emma.
"If you promise not to scream, I'll give you back your voice. Deal?"
Emma agreed with her eyes.
Suddenly, she could speak again.
"What do you want?" Emma whispered.
"To get back to our son," the Evil Queen said honestly. "We need to get back to Storybrook."
"In the dream, I lived in a place called Storybrook..."
Emma gaped. "How do you know about my dream?"
The name of the place she use to dream about suddenly seemed all too real.
"Dream?" The Evil Queen looked puzzled. A light came into her eyes. "Storybrook, you remember it?"
"I use to dream about such a place. Back when I was a child," Emma's eyes were wide.
"What else?" The Evil Queen asked urgently.
Under pressure, Emma told her almost everything she dreamed about over the years. When she was finished, the Evil Queen shook her head.
"Your memories of this place isn't real," the Evil Queen said. "Your dreams are your real memories."
The secret ability Emma had, to always know when someone was lying, didn't flare up. It didn't flare up in the woods when she first met the Evil Queen and it didn't flare up now. Was it possible that she was telling the truth?
'No. She's a sorceress,' Emma thought to herself. 'Of course she's lying.'
Still...she had to know.
"I had a dream. In it you were angry at me. You said that I made you a monster." Emma wasn't sure what answer she was expecting. There was surprise on the Evil Queen's face before a wary look came into her expression.
"That was in the past," the Evil Queen hedged.
"How did I make you a monster?" Emma asked. She couldn't get the image of the Evil Queen crying out of her head. "Tell me. Maybe I'll believe you about this world."
It was a good thing the Evil Queen couldn't detect the lie in Emma's voice.
Running a hand through her hair, the Evil Queen looked hesitant. "It happened back in our world. You, to save my life, turned me into one of the things I hated most," the Evil Queen admitted. "You turned me into the Dark One."
At the mention of the Dark One, Emma flinched. Rumpelstiltskin was one of the most evil beings in the world. If she turned the Evil Queen into the Dark One- if she gave the Evil Queen his powers-the amount of destruction must have been overwhelming.
"Is that why you were angry at me?" Emma asked hesitantly.
"Yes." The Evil Queen admitted.
"But I did it to save your life?" Emma asked in confusion.
"Yes, but I would have preferred to die as a hero. Someone our son could have been proud of." There was pain in the Evil Queen's voice. "You took that choice away from me even when I begged you to let me die a savior." She looked at Emma. "I considered you a friend and you betrayed me."
Emma hung her head.
"It's not completely your fault," the Evil Queen relented. "Being the Dark One is like being in an endless black tunnel where no light can shine. There's nothing but hurt, misery, and pain. If it's not channeled properly, it can be overwhelming." The Evil Queen looked a little sour. "You and Gold managed to control the darkness fairly well. I wasn't as fortunate. I let the pain and anger overwhelm me."
"Gold?" Emma asked. Something about that name sent uneasiness coursing through her.
"His real name is Rumpelstiltskin." The Evil Queen sharply looked at Emma. "Do you remember something?"
Emma shook her head.
Regina sighed. She looked at the black device in her hand and she tapped a few buttons. She turned the device to Emma. "I have a message for you."
Suddenly, on the strange black device, Henry's smiling face appeared.
And it was Henry, because no matter what, Emma would always recognize her son.
"Henry," Emma whispered. At his frozen image Emma felt her heart race as she went to her knees and began pleading. "Mercy please! I'll do anything you want, but please release him, I beg of you."
The Evil Queen looked confused before it dawned on her. "He's not trapped. This is a cell phone video. We use it to record messages and communicate in our world."
"He's not trapped?" Emma honestly did not understand most of what the Evil Queen was saying, but the sheer relief that her son wasn't trapped in that strange object was enough to make her heart beat normally again.
"Our son is fine," The Evil Queen shook her head. "Just watch and listen."
She tapped something at the bottom of the device.
"Hey mom," Henry spoke. His image came to life. "I don't know where you are, but I hope you're okay. Come back soon. I love you."
He looked off to someone in the unseen background.
"You'll come back soon too, right mom?"
The Evil Queen's voice could be heard in the background. "Of course," her voice was soft. "I'll make sure to bring back Emma."
"Be careful mom," the concern was obvious in his voice. "I love you."
"I love you, too."
The image went black.
The Evil Queen placed the device back into her pocket and Emma fought the urge to lunge and grab it back.
"Nothing in this world is real. You feel it right? That something is missing?"
A part of Emma pang at the Evil Queen's words because yes, growing up, Emma has always felt that hole in her heart where something important was missing. She has never been completely at ease in this life and now here was the Evil Queen giving her a reason why.
"Emma?" a hand waved in front of her face. The Evil Queen's brows furred. "You believe me, don't you?"
Emma looked deep into the eyes of the woman who had turned her life upside down.
Deep in her heart, Emma felt the truth even as she desperately tried to reject it.
"Yes," she finally said. "I believe you."
The Evil Queen smiled. It was a genuine smile, one that lit her face and made it radiant.
'She's beautiful,' Emma realized. For some unknown reason, her heart skipped.
"Ok," the Evil Queen looked determined. "Let's get your memory back."
...
The Evil Queen pushed her off a cliff.
Emma screamed all the way down.
Just as she was about to hit the ground, an invisible force caught her safely. There was tears in Emma's eyes when she was able to stand.
"Why?" Emma sobbed.
"You used your magic to save yourself the last time," the Evil Queen remarked.
"You mean you've pushed me off a cliff before?!" Emma was horrified.
The Evil Queen smiled. "It's actually one of my fondest memories," she admitted.
Emma was aghast.
…
In the villages and in the woods, poster hung everywhere with Regina (the Evil Queen insisted on being called that) and Emma's portraits.
"You're a kidnapper now," Emma pointed out.
Regina gave her a dark look.
Emma wisely closed her mouth.
…
For the next few days they traveled in disguise thanks to Regina's magic. The novelty of it awed Emma who watched everything in fascination; from the people of her Kingdom milling about, to the different fashion, to the vast array of food stalls where the smell of bread baking and meat cooking waffled through the air.
Emma's stomach rumbled.
"Some things don't change," Regina muttered. She brought two pastries made of fried dough from a corner stall. From the opening of an alley, they watched the crowds.
It was so strange not to be recognized, Emma thought. Munching on her food she enjoyed the anonymity of not having people bow and lavish attention on her. Life as a royal had never afford her the peace and quiet she wanted. Right there, where no one knew who she was, she felt free in a way she's never felt before. Emma felt giddy. Feeling someone's stare, she turned and saw Regina carefully studying her.
"What is it?" Emma wondered if she had another twig in her hair.
"Nothing," Regina shook her head. "It's just that...are you happy?"
"I'm sorry?" Emma grew confused.
"Are you happy here?" Regina seemed curious. "Not being the savior, I mean."
Emma paused in thought. "I don't remember what being the savior was like," Emma finally said. "But I was happy."
Emma had two loving parents and a great son. She was a princess and heir to one of the largest, most prosperous kingdom. What more could she honestly asked for?
Regina looked off to the distance.
"Was I not happy in the other world?" Emma asked.
It took a moment for Regina to reply. "I don't know."
"You don't know?" Emma frowned. "I thought we were friends."
"We are, but it doesn't mean that I know everything about you." Regina looked a little annoyed. "You're a hard person to understand sometimes."
"I'm sure the feeling was mutual," Emma replied back rather snappish. She cover her mouth a moment later. "I'm so sorry! That was rude of me."
To her surprise, Regina smiled. "It's alright. That was more like the old Emma."
Something dark twisted itself inside of Emma's heart. "You really miss her, don't you? The old Emma."
Regina doesn't reply to Emma's question. "Let's go," she said instead. Regina walked off and Emma scrabbled behind her.
"Where are we going again?" Emma asked.
"To find a puppet maker," Regina said. "I think I might know of a way back home."
Obediently, Emma followed.
While they traveled, Regina insisted on magic lessons that seem to go nowhere much to Emma's distress. Regina was a merciless teacher. She often forced Emma to kept practicing until Emma became worn out and a little moody. Whenever they had to camp out in the woods, Regina had to be the one to create the fire that kept them safe and warm during the night because Emma couldn't even conjure a spark.
Emma stared at her hands.
"It takes time," Regina said after they set up camp for the night. "Magic is complicated." She poked a stick into the fire. "It's different for everyone even when the basis is the same."
"I don't understand," Emma looked at Regina with a perplex expression.
"Different strokes for different folks is a saying we have in our world." A fireball appeared in Regina's hand. Emma stared at it in awe. "Most innate magic begins with strong emotions. The stronger the emotion the stronger the magic."
"Am I not feeling strongly enough?" Emma asked.
"Perhaps," Regina replied. "You got there once. You'll get there again."
The faith that Regina had in her made Emma feel warm.
She determinedly kept practicing.
...
"I'm sorry, my father died a few years ago," the wary man said. His names was Pinocchio and he was Gepetto's son. There was something familiar about the man, but Emma couldn't quite remember. The memory was elusive and vague, but Emma got the sense that he was important to her. Perhaps in the other world they were friends.
Emma saw how he warily kept on eye on Regina.
"She's not who you think she is," Emma said. "You can trust her."
Pinocchio's eyes went to her and he hesitantly nodded. "What can I do for you, Princess?"
Emma looked to Regina.
"Years ago, your father made a magical wardrobe that was a doorway to another world. You and Emma were to be sent through where it would be safe in case the Evil Queen won. Where is it?"
Pinocchio frowned. "My father never made a wardrobe."
"Are you sure?" Regina began to look frantic. "Maybe he hid it."
"Everything my father made is in this shop," Pinocchio gestured to the small work shop. "I'm pretty sure a magical wardrobe would have stood out."
"Maybe he never made it because there wasn't a need for it," Emma suggested.
"I never cast the curse in this world," Regina rubbed her temple. Her eyes went to Pinocchio. "Alright, then I need you to make it."
Pinocchio squeaked slightly. "Me?"
"You're his son. You must have learned how to craft from him." Regina looked impatient. "Do you need anything?"
Pinocchio began to protest.
Regina's demands and Pinocchio's objection began to volley back and forth, raising in pitch until Emma got a headache. Eventually, Emma was the one to talk him into it.
"Just believe in yourself," she urged.
Pinocchio looked pained, but in the end Emma wore him down until he agreed. While he set out to grab the wood to make the wardrobe, Emma and Regina hid in a small spare room inside of his shop.
"What will happen when we get back?" Emma asked. She sat on a chair and she looked at Regina.
"We get your memory back, defeat my darker half, and get our lives back to normal," Regina answered.
"You make it sound so easy," Emma told her.
"It's not going to be easy," Regina agreed. "But we'll find a way. We always do."
…
When Pinocchio came back carrying the wood, he began to work.
...
The wardrobe was just finished when Henry found them. There was anger in his eyes when he stared at Regina. The rage in them made Emma want to cower.
There was a stark difference between this Henry and the Henry on the 'Phone'. The Henry from Storybrook that wished for her to get back safely was a kind, gentle, sweet boy. This Henry, wearing a fancy amour fit for a prince, was spoiled, over-confident, and short-tempered.
It was as if the scales had fallen from Emma's eyes.
This is what Henry would have become if Emma had raised him.
Never had she been more grateful for Regina.
Emotions swelled in Regina's face when she stared at Henry. In that moment, Emma knew. Even though this Henry wasn't real, Regina couldn't bring herself to hurt him.
"Henry! No!"
When Henry lunged for Regina, something coursed through Emma. Something light but strong.
Henry stopped abruptly and he didn't move. The blade in his hand was inches from Regina's chest.
The memories (of Storybrook, of Henry, of her parents and Regina) came flowing back.
"I remember everything," Emma said with wide eyes. She stared at the frozen Henry in disbelief.
"Emma?" Regina, whose eyes were just as large, stared at Emma closely.
"I couldn't let him hurt you," Emma looked down at her hands. The moment she saw Regina hesitant when it came to hurting Henry, her memories came rushing back.
In the background, Pinocchio gaped.
"Let's go home," Regina said running a hand through her hair. "I want to get back to our son."
"Yeah," Emma turned to Pinocchio. She grinned. "Thanks for everything."
"You welcome?" Pinocchio looked unsure. He offered a weak smile. "Good luck with everything."
With that, Regina flung open the doors to the wardrobe.
She and Emma jumped in.
…
Defeating the Evil Queen never meant destroying her.
It turned out that accepting her was all it took.
Emma watched as Regina touched her pure red heart to the Evil Queen's black one. Almost instantly, they reverted back to the way their heart use to be; red but with spots of black marring around.
"Why would you do this?" The Evil Queen said. There were bitter tears in her eyes.
"I should have never split the two of us apart," Regina admitted. "I did it because I hated myself." The Evil Queen looked ready to spit venom, but Regina continued. "But I learned something recently." She earnestly looked at the dark version of herself. "I learned to like who I am. We have our faults and our mistakes, but we're better than we were before."
The heart was gently placed back into the Evil Queen's chest.
"It's time we stopped hating ourselves. Don't you agree?"
All the Evil Queen could do was sobbed.
...
The Evil Queen went some place where she could get a fresh start.
...
When Emma knocked on the door and Regina answered, Emma thought that Regina looked better. The invisible dark cloud that always seems to hang over Regina was gone and she didn't look as pale or as tired as she was before. In fact, Emma doesn't think she's ever seen Regina look so unstressed and relax.
"Aesop Fable?" Emma suggested with a cheeky grin.
"Let's go," Regina grabbed her jacket. "You're paying of course."
"Wait, why am I paying?" Emma protested as they walked down the driveway. "You're the mayor, you make more than me."
Regina pulled out her phone. When she showed the photo, Emma paled.
The image of Emma in the frilliest, pinkest nightgown in all of history made Emma want to vomit.
"I wonder what would happen if Snow were to get her hands on this," Regina remarked.
"You wouldn't! Regina? Regina!"
Emma, who always chasing after Regina, hurried to catch up.
Even from a mile away, their bickering could be heard.
It may not have been the ending she wanted for Regina, Emma thought later. But it was a happy ending. Somehow, seeing how unburdened Regina was made everything worth it.
Robin would have agreed.
"A toast," Snow held up her glass. "To new and happy beginnings."
"To family," Emma cheered.
"To love," Regina said. There was a faraway look in her eyes.
"To love," Emma agreed.
The clinks of clear glass rang through the bar despite all the noise.