Muhahaha. I love cliffhangers. They're the best. Longer chapter this time. Now, the potion takes some time to fully have effect, but if you read this chapter you can already see some changes. Read, review and enjoy!
When we arrive at the cemetery, my back is hurting from pulling my suitcase all this way. I groan when I can finally put it down, and Regina scoffs.
"If you didn't insist on taking everything you own including the house, you wouldn't have such a heavy suitcase. I told I will buy you clothes when we get back?" I roll my eyes at her.
"I need these. And I couldn't perform the house reduction spell remember?"
"Thank God for that, or it'd be a total drama", she replied dramatically, pretending to fall onto the floor, making Henry laugh, who stands a few metres away with Snow , Robin and Charming. I shake my head in disbelief, and motion to Henry by ticking my index finger on my forehead, to indicate Regina's obviously crazy. Regina sticks out her tongue, and walks over to Emma. I manage to stand up right, despite the ache in my back, and follow her.
"This is where we're supposed to be right?" Regina asks. Emma nods, and even though she tries to hide it, sadness is all over her face. We didn't manage to grab a hold of Hades, and now we must leave the nasty pirate behind in the Underworld. Not that I mind though, he's bad for Emma. Not like I care or something, but still. And Belle left us a note in the apartment. Apparently she and Gold found a way to get back without us.
"I wonder where she is. We don't have any time to lose", I mumble.
"She'll be here love, don't worry. She was very helpful yesterday, she won't go all evil in one day", the pirate responds. I know he's right, but I still feel a bit off. I've been feeling rather strange anyways since we got back yesterday. I don't know what it is, all I know is that whatever it is, it'll have to wait until we get back.
"Sorry I'm late dears, but my husband was keeping me. I have decided to already leave for spring, so I am coming with you! Isn't that great?" Persephone appears in a cloud of flowers, wearing a fairytale like dress. It has an ivory colour, and has red petals covering the bottom. The top is held together by fine, thin branches. It fits her like a glove, accentuating every curve. It makes me see something in her that I didn't see yesterday. The goddess of spring is really, really hot. Yeah.
"That's fantastic! Now we're assured we'll get back!" Snow exclaims. She, Charming and Henry follow Persephone to a big tree further down the cemetery. Regina and I pull my suitcase together, and follow them. When I look back, Emma and Killian are standing in a tight embrace. Saying goodbye to someone you love is the one of the hardest things in life. I'm truly sorry Emma, despite the fact that I don't like him.
"Let's see. Yes, this will do just fine." Persephone touches the tree with her hand, and a door like portal forms in the middle of the tree. Persephone lets Henry go through first, which makes Regina want to go next. Then Snow, Charming, and Emma, who joined us. Crying heavily, she looks back once, sniffs, tries to smile, and crosses over. I look to the portal, and then to the goddess.
"Go on then sweetie. We don't have all day." I take a deep breath, and make a small jump into the portal. A warm wind washes over me, and invisible bonds suddenly let go of me. The mark. I close my eyes, and when I open them, I see a big sign. "WELCOME TO STORYBROOKE" We made it.
"She really couldn't bring us closer to town? Now I'll have to transport all of you, do you know how much energy that takes? Ughh." Regina's sarcastic commentary makes me burst out into laughing, earning a dirty glare. I try to stop, and smirk at her.
"Haha. Very funny." I wiggle my eyebrows at her, and look around me. I'm surrounded by green forest. How I missed this! Fresh air! I breathe in deeply.
"Better?" Snow asks carefully. I smile at her, and try to make it as sincere as possible.
"Yes, this is wonderful." Snow seems satisfied with herself, and turns around to hug Charming. Henry has taken on the role of comforting Emma, and she is holding his hand, while he softly talks to her. She seems to have calmed down.
"All right then everyone, shall we?" Regina waves her hands in a big circle, and I join her when I realise she's going to transport us. Together we make it work, and we reappear on the main street of Storybrooke. It looks the same, and yet it doesn't. Everything is brighter, and so much more alive.
"Regina, we are going to take Emma home, will you take Henry for now?" Snow asks Regina, making sure Emma doesn't hear.
"Of course, come on Henry." He lets go of Emma's hand, and they say goodbye. He walks over, and so does Robin.
"I am going to get Roland, I'll come over later to make you dinner?" Regina nods happily, and he kisses her. Then he turns around, and walks the other way.
"Coming Rae? Let's get you into some real clothes." I am currently in pants and a shirt with heels, which seems modern enough to me, but apparently not for Regina. Regina waves her hand once again, and a gorgeous cloud of purple transports me, Henry and her to a big white mansion. She walks up to the front door, and when it opens she walks straight inside. Henry follows her on the foot, but I'm still busy trying to close my mouth. It's so big! And white!
"What's wrong?" She walks back out.
"It's huge!"
"Have you not seen the castle we used to live in? Seriously."
"Right, sorry." She shakes her head, and I quickly walk inside, not wanting her to think I've lost my poise. Or whatever.
"Do you want something to eat? Pop tarts?" Henry asks. I look at him. What now?
"Right! Sorry. Pop tarts are good, I'll make you some", he realizes. He wanders off to the kitchen, which is filled with strange objects. Back in the Underworld I'd just go eat in the dinner, and let others take care of whatever those machines were. But Henry seems to know what he is doing. I want to follow him to see what he does, but Regina stops me.
"Uh-uh. First clothes, then food." I pout, and follow her up the stairs. She guides me to a bedroom, and opens the closet. I realize this is her bedroom, and look around. It's very black and white, and completely clean. I smirk.
"What?"
"Nothing. Just that you still like to clean." She rolls her eyes. She keeps staring at her closet, and then closes it again.
"Hmm. This won't do. Excuse me." She disappears. I go sit on the bed, and look outside the window. There's and apple tree in her yard, which looks strangely familiar. Then I hear a whooshing sound. Regina is back, and is holding a bag with clothes.
"These are Snows, from when she still was slim. Try them please." I nod, and wave my hand. My current clothes disappear, and I am wearing the new ones. I look into the life-size mirror. I'm wearing a blue/grey sweater, with lace on the top, and a skirt made of ivory tulle. A small pink belt connects the two.
"Here, these as well." Regina holds up a pair of white ankle boots with a small heel. I put them on, and look again. It's actually pretty cute.
"I like it. Thanks", I tell her.
"You're welcome. Now we can eat." I jump in joy, and she sighs in despair.
"Now I have three children", she murmurs, hanging her head. I race downstairs, ignoring her comment, and a plate of strange looking cookies awaits me. Yes, I consider Roland as Regina's child. Don't argue with me over it. Cutie pie he is.
"There you go. Watch out though, they're hot", Henry says. I carefully pick one up, while thanking him. He nods, and takes one himself. I take a small bit, to not burn my mouth. This is delicious! Oh my, why didn't we have these in the Enchanted Forest?
"Good?" Henry asks.
"The best, ehh, tarts I've ever tasted." Henry nods in agreement. Regina has arrived as well by now, and looks at us with a kind of wonder.
"You're getting along, that's good." I smile at her with a mouthful, but then I feel Henry gazing at me. I look to him, and see him staring intensively.
"Something wrong? Didn't you mothers ever teach you not to stare at a lady!?" I am shocked by my aggressive reaction, and cover my mouth with my hand.
"No, I mean yes, of course they did. S- sorry", Henry stammers, fleeing out of the room.
"What was that? He was just looking at you clothes, probably wondering why you are wearing his grandmother's!" Regina scolds at me.
"Right", I huff.
"This is not like you at all. What's wrong?" Regina looks at me with concern. I shrug.
"Don't worry about it. What do we do now?" Regina lets it rest, but I can see she's still a bit suspicious.
"Let me just think about that for a moment. Ah I know! Let's head down to the docks. That should be fun. There are boats there that looks so strange you'd think a toaster looks normal." I look at her like she has two heads.
"Never mind. I'll text Robin to meet us there." She takes out the strange square box, and begins to tap on it. Meanwhile I am lost in thought. Why did I react so heavily? He's just a kid. Weird. And I've got this feeling we're missing something. Or rather said someone. But who?
"Gina?"
"Hmm? What was that?" She looks up.
"Did you just call me Gina?"
"Uhh, yes? I used to call you that all the time", I reply, not knowing why it's such a big deal.
"I'd rather you didn't. Robin won't be very fond of it. Okay?" I nod involuntarily. That was rather cold.
"Do you have the feeling we're missing someone?"
"Missing someone? Who?"
"I don't know. A woman?"
"No. I don't.
"Hold on. I KNOW!"
"Please don't scream Rae. It's not ladylike."
"Psss, go to hell with your ladylike. Persephone! She wasn't with us when we got here!"
"You're right! Where'd she go?"
"I don't know!"
"WILL YOU PLEASE STOP SCREAMING?"
"Why are you two screaming?" Henry walks in confused. Regina sighs and points at me.
"She started."
"I didn't!"
"Yes you did! LETS GO!"
"Where are we going?"
"The docks. Come on you two." Regina heads to the door, and Henry and I follow. He looks at me with questions in his eyes, and I shrug.
"Why is she mad?"
"I don't know." Something is definitely wrong. Regina and I are bickering like an old married couple. And we're not old. Or married. Yet. *Winks*. Just kidding guys.
Regina stops walking when we get to a big, flat carriage, with no horse. They're called cars I believe. She opens one of the back doors, and Henry gets in. Then she opens the right front door, and motions for me to sit down. I do so, and she walks around to the other side and steps in. She does something with a key and her feet. Then the car suddenly makes a loud sound, and I yelp in surprise.
"Woah, what was that?" I ask.
"It's the engine, it makes sure the car moves by itself." I stare at the carriage with wonder and fear, and when we start moving, I grab a hold of Regina's arm. She takes my hand, and we drive for a short bit, until she stops the car,
"We're here." She gets out, let's me and Henry out, and we walk towards the docks. When we get to the water, the sun is almost at the highest point and it looks stunning. Then I hear a pair of little feet running towards us, and turn around. Regina has a little boy in her arms, barely four years, and Robin is walking towards us with a big smile.
"Gina! I missed you!" The little boy exclaims.
"Did you now? I missed you too Roland." She puts the boy down, and he pulls on Henry's coat.
"Let's go play Henry!" Henry nods and gives the boy a big smile, and they run off to a playground beyond.
"That's my son, Roland. He's four years old", Robin explains to me.
"Is he-" I look at Regina, but she shakes her head.
"He's of my recently departed wife, Marian."
"My condolences." Robin nods.
"How are you faring in this world so far milady? I remember how strange it was to me the first time."
"It's all right. I'll get used to it", I answer.
"Robin, we have a problem", Regina announces.
"And what may that be?"
"Persephone. We don't know where she is." Robin looks to the ground.
"You're right. Why didn't we notice right away?"
"She must have put us under a spell of confusion. Rae noticed it first." I nod.
"We have to find her. She can't be here on her own, she might be dangerous."
"Why would you think that?" Robin questions. I pull up my shoulders.
"I just have a bad feeling about her. Like she isn't all she seems."
Is she? You'll have to wait and see.