We heard the noise, before we saw anything. Yelling, shouting; people. Emma smiled at everyone, excited by the new thought of a town. She picked up her pace and trotted towards the edge of the tree line. Hook grabbed her shoulder and held her,

"Careful, love, we don't know what's out there. People here are different than your world. For now, until we know, it's us and them." Emma looked carefully at him, and nodded her head in understanding. Emma reached up for Hook's hand and held it at her side. I heard Regina sharply suck in breath.

"You fools, they are only townspeople. Just because we aren't in storybrooke doesn't mean everyone here knows magic."

Regina pushed past Snow and Charming and walked between Emma and Hook, breaking their hands apart. I began to trot after her, following her steps, until I felt Gold watching me like a hawk. I pretended not to see him and slowed my pace again, staying in the back.

We exited the trees and saw a small town. Donkeys and boys were pulling many carts through the cobblestone roads, shouting sales. A paper boy ran up to us, smiling,

" 'ello, folks, could I interest you in the Sunday's News?" He was adorable, and I smiled at him. His freckles rose as he smiled again, his tan face lighting up. He pushed his brimmed hat out of his eyes, his long hair falling in his eyes.

"Be rid of yourself, pheasant boy." Regina snarled, glaring down in disgust.

The boy's smile, faltered, "But, miss, it's the only paper we have, you won't be able to keep up to date any other way."

"I said-" Regina started.

"Charlie, what are you doing! I told you to stay by my side!" Charlie's father was grabbing the boys shoulders and shaking him, his little head bouncing around. "How many times must I tell you that?!" He bent the boy over his knee and cracked his hand across his rump. The boy began to cry, "I'm sorry, papa."

"He's just a boy, sir." Mary Margaret said, angered by this man's actions.

"He's my boy, not your's. 'Tis no concern of yours what I do with him, butt out."

"Don't you talk to her like that. Or it will be your concern." David warned.

The stranger spit on David's shoe and walked away, dragging his boy by his shirt. Charlie looked around his fathers arm, back at us, with longing, and waved goodbye.

"Wait!" I shouted, through the crowd to them, struggling to grab some coins I've saved from Cora. I ran through the crowed streets, bumping into people.

I stepped into their path, "I'll buy a paper." I don't know what compelled me to do that, but as I was walking back to my group, I felt like I did something right. The boy's smile flashed in my memories, and I smiled down at the ruff paper.

David clasped his hand on my back and nodded his approval. I watched as a lady walked by, I tapped her on the shoulder, "Here you go, m'lady." I said, handing her the paper.

"Thank you, dear! I was just going to buy one!" She smiled down at me and curtsied playfully.

I laughed, enjoyed at the sight of people. I had been alone for so long, "Well then, today is your lucky day!"

She scampered away and we watched her, loosing her in the crowd. Regina began to walk deeper into the town square, and we followed along at her heels, afraid to loose one another. As we passed, people began to throw Regina looks. Parents pulled kids away, and hid their faces. I was confused. But then I remembered, Regina was, is, a queen. I watched as people bowed deeply, or ran. We passed a lady who was tucked away behind a cart, homeless, and she made a cross over her chest, praying under her breath. People began to gasp and scream. Regina was clearly entertained. She bounded up on an empty cart, and looked around at the townspeople.

She laughed, capturing everyone's attention. "Hello, my dears. Do you remember me?" It was a rhetorical question, everyone remembered exactly who she was. She smiled maliciously, slyly, "Your queen is back. I wasn't always evil, it was you who added evil to my name." She glared at her people.

I didn't like the way she was acting. She was acting, . . . evil. She was scaring me, this wasn't her. Although, Mr. Gold did warn me. I raised my hand to tug on her leg, I wanted her to just move on, but Mary Margaret grasped my wrist and pulled it down to her side. When I looked at her, she dropped her eyes - afraid - but not because of me. Because of Her. Regina.

"I am back. I am your queen," her voice raised. "Cora is dead." The people gasped; caught off guard. People began to whisper, converse among themselves. "You're beloved Snow White killed her. Not so pure of heart after all, is she?" David's body became tense. Snow cowered, ashamed. "Will you all be so kind as to refresh my memory of what it feels like to be bowed to?" Regina asked, delighted. When nobody moved, she shouted to her people, "Will you?!" She demanded. The whole town quickly got down on their knees, and low to the ground, with their hands clasped in front of them. An older man was struggling, his brittle bones were clearly exhausted. He leaned heavily onto his cane, trying to make it onto the ground. He face was crinkled in pain. Regina's face was written with annoyance. With a flick of her wrist, Regina sent the man's cane through a building's window. Glass shattered, ringing throughout the quiet square. His body went crashing onto the hard cobblestone, him yelping in surprise and pain. His head hit the street and his skin split above his eyebrow, bleeding profusely. He pushed passed the pain and bowed, low to the ground, kneeing.

Regina went too far. I was angered. I was mad. I was disgusted. I pulled my wrist out of Mary Margaret's hand and grabbed Regina's wrist. I yanked her down, off the cart, causing her to stumble on the ground. With her surprised and sitting on the ground, with everyone watching, I shouted at her, "What do you think you're doing!" I tried to continue with my next sentence, but I was stuttering like a fool, finally, the words came out right. "No wonder why they added evil to your name. I would too. Cora was right. You're a monster!"

She pulled herself together, rising, her deathly gaze refusing to falter with mine, "How dare you." She whispered.

"How dare you." I countered.

We both stared at each other. I didn't notice anyone else besides Regina. It was me and her. Trapped in our own little, dangerous world. I was playing with fire, I knew that. I also knew she could send my body flying with another flick of her wrist, but I held my ground.

I lowered my voice. Only she could hear me, "This isn't you, Regina. I understand you are hurt inside. You try to hide inside yourself, but I see past your barriers. You could be so much better."

Something flickered across her face, "You don't know me."

"Regina, you did this to yourself. You chose to become evil. You choose not to forgive. You chose this life. And only you can fix it. I never chose to be left by my mother, but I try to find it in myself to forgive her, who ever she is. Because at the end of the day, even if I'm saddened, at least I know I tried my best to look positively at today's events."

"Well, I'm not you, and you're not me, Alex." With that she shoved past me, knocking me in the shoulder and hitting me into the cart. Emma pulled away from Hook and came to steady me. She held my face in her hands and looked at me with wonder. "Are you insane?" She whispered, smiling. "You just stood up the Queen." She let me go and I looked around. Everyone was watching me intently, looking at me in awe.

"Well, somebody ought to," I said honestly.

Mr. Gold cleared his voice, "Nobody gets away with standing up the Evil Queen." He looked at me, "Nobody."

How was this Chp? I really like it, what do you all think? COMMENT/REVIEW! Again, I read everyone and enjoy them(: ******SORRY FOR THE LONG UPDATE, IVE BEEN BUSY AND SCHOOL IS NOW STARTING, BUT I WILL TRY TO PICK THIS BACK UP QUICKLY******