The King is dead
Belle dropped the heavy folder on the table. Someone had put everything in order in the office, and she had a clue of who it might be.
" Regina, Regina, I'll never thank you enough for this..." she murmured with a sigh and a smile, recognizing the elegant handwriting over the grey folder.
" I should think so! I've spent an entire morning organizing the chaos you've made, Miss French!"
The sudden voice startled the Mayor, who gazed up at its source. Regina was standing a step over the door, hands on her hips and a lifted eyebrow. Rapunzel was right behind her, slightly smiling, all eyes on the former Queen.
" R-Regina! What are you doing here?"
The woman marched in resolutely. " What am I doing here? " she demanded, her voice not much different from a growl, her eyes darting annoyance. " Seen the embarrassing results of your last day of work in my office, I thought you might need my help to run this city, thing that I've successfully done for twenty-nine years, Miss French. That's what I'm doing here. "
Belle lifted an eyebrow. Regina wanted to help her? Really? " I-I got it, really. There's no need..."
" I must disagree. The last time I checked, the financial reports were mixed up with the maps of the drainage system. "
Belle felt her cheeks flush. " That's just because I was checking if there was a tunnel from which someone could enter Storybrooke without us to know it. You know, you and Rumple weren't here, and, despite the protective spell... I was worried."
Regina's left eyebrow jumped up again. " And you were checking it while checking the financials?"
Belle swallowed and nodded once. " Indeed, because I needed to know if you had made some restructures somewhere like..."
" A tunnel."
" Yes."
Regina stared at her for a while before finally nodding once and giving her a slight smirk, and a little more of personal space.
" I see. Quite clever, Miss French. I'm impressed. Really. " Belle didn't have the time to smile at the compliment. " But still... Did you really think that I wanted to run away using a tunnel?" Regina mockingly questioned, almost sneering. " I must have given you a wrong idea of me, if you did."
Belle felt like if the air was sucked out of her lungs. Did she think it? Oh, yes that she did. It was a possibility, seen that everyone hated her but Henry and Emma, maybe. It was quite logical for someone to run away from such a situation, and it was probable that, seen that she had casted the curse, Regina could get out of Storybrooke without consequences. And even if she had lost her memory, it would probably have been a blessing for her, at that point. Any "evil" character from a book of hers would have done it, at least. But it was quite evident that Regina Mills wasn't that kind of "villain".
" Well, I must admit that I thought it. " she said, facing the former Queen. She felt stupid now. She should have known it. But the truth was that she didn't really know Regina. She knew what Rumple had told her, what Snow and Ruby had told her, and she knew what she had done to her. But she didn't know that woman. And she had to admit that she was quite curious.
Regina snorted. " So, what? I'd kidnap Henry and run away with him? "
Henry, yes. Her first thought, always. First of all, Regina Mills was a mother. Good thing for rehabilitation. Belle glanced at Rapunzel. She didn't know her, either. Nothing she couldn't remediate, though.
" Maybe. I don't know, Regina, I just thought that there could be a tunnel that led out of Storybrooke. You know, castles are full of them, to run away in case of siege, so, if I were you, I would have put one somewhere. But I couldn't find none, so..."
" So as you know it, Miss French, I wouldn't run away from my town. " Regina spat, glowering at her.
" You wouldn't run from any town, love." Rapunzel murmured behind her, smoothing the rage in the dark eyes. That glare didn't scare Belle, but it wasn't exactly easy to bear it. Regina was powerful and angry and damn instinctive.
The brunette, fortunately, smirked.
Belle took advantage of it. " Oh I wasn't calling you a coward, Regina! I was just worried, I told you. I'm sorry if it offended you, it was never my intention. "
The former Queen's eyes carved inside her for a few moments before that she nonchalantly waved her hand in the air.
" Never mind, dear. I'm not offended, I'm amused. I find quite funny that Rumplestiltskin's girlfriend was elected Mayor during my brief absence."
Oh, that was the problem. She was with Rumple, so her election was a sham.
" The town voted for me, I didn't even want to become Mayor! I tried to refuse, but they wanted only me!"
Regina narrowed her eyes. " I find hard to believe that George didn't run for it."
" He did! But none wanted him, and Leroy threatened to kick him out of Storybrooke, so he gave up. Regina, if you want a new election, I can..."
" I know exactly what you can and what you can't do, Miss French. " Regina interrupted her, a sullen look on her face. She made a pause, inhaling deeply and lifting her chin, as if to take time to calm down. " Although I don't think you're the most qualified for this office, I don't want it back, either. Let alone that I wouldn't have it back anyway."
Belle stared at the woman. She didn't want to be mayor anymore? The former librarian involuntarily glanced at the warrior behind the brunette. What had she done to her?
" You could try..." she murmured, unable to take her eyes off of Rapunzel. She was staring at her in turn with a worrying gaze. Belle was walking on a thin rope and she knew it.
Regina, indeed, glared at her. " Try? Try to be humiliated gaining one vote or two? Archie would get more! No, thank you. Why should I do it, then? Work for the ones who hate me, try to make them live better? Again, no. I've finally got a family. I'm not wasting my time for power. I've never wished for it." The last sentence was a mere whisper, barely audible. But Regina was just a step away, too close for Belle not to hear it. So, there was the "Evil" Queen. A girl forced to marry a King. Belle gave a smirk. Just like the Dark One, Regina wasn't a monster, a beast. She was just a person in pain. It just needed the bravery and patience to find that person under the thick skin.
Rapunzel stepped forward and leaned a hand over Regina's back. Her cold stare was on Belle. She looked really pissed off. Belle swallowed.
" Do you want her help or not?" she asked roughly, and she was evidently keeping herself from being rougher.
" Of course!" Belle quickly answered. She didn't know why Rapunzel was so nervous, but it wasn't a good thing, seen what she had read about her. Rumple was sure that she would never hurt her, but Belle was quite convinced that she would even face his rage if it was for Regina. There was no need to upset them, by the way. She had nothing against them at that point. Rapunzel was Rumple's only friend, and Regina... well, she had forgiven her. " I might use some help, actually. I mean, I know nothing about how to run a town. I've read something about it, but... some experience could help!"
Shaya visibly forced herself to smile. It didn't seem that she was angry with her, but she looked damn angry. " Wise girl." she commented, sending a shiver though Belle's spine.
Regina turned to look at the warrior with a confused glance. It seemed that she didn't know what was wrong either.
" It's all right, dear?" she asked in a thoughtful murmur.
Rapunzel's face relaxed a little while she nodded once. " Aye. I just have to do a thing. If you don't mind, I'll be back soon." she calmly said, chilling Belle. She looked about to kill someone, really.
Regina stared at her for a while before agreeing with a nod. " Okay, but... which thing?"
Rapunzel reassuringly smiled. It was incredible how much her face could change in a moment. " I just need to talk with your favorite person." she archly said. Regina's eyebrows furrowed.
" My f... " on her face an amused smile exploded " Snow White?"
Rapunzel's only answer was a brief laugh.
Regina's followed. " Okay. Don't kill her, please, or Henry..."
" You don't trust me yet?"
Regina sneered. " You said it yourself, dear: never trust a mercenary."
Rapunzel goggled. " Oh, were you listening?" she asked, narrowing her eyes and gritting her teeth as if Regina had caught her stealing biscuits. Or her apple cider, more likely.
The former Queen smiled. " Of course."
The warrior smiled back at her. " Good. See you later." she said before quickly leaving.
Regina turned to look at Belle. She looked so serious now that Belle could even have only imagined her witty chat with Rapunzel.
" So, Miss French..." she said with a formal tone " ...why don't we start from the basics?" Regina approached the large bookcase and took a huge book from it, dropping it then on the desk with a loud thump. " Laws."
" And here's Honolulu." Mary Margaret said, pointing the city on the paper map on the wall.
A boy raised a hand.
" Yes, Arthur?"
" Why do we have to learn these things, Miss Blanchard? I mean, we're not home, this isn't our world. Why don't you tell us about the Enchanted Forest's kingdoms instead of the Hawaii?"
The teacher furrowed her brow. The boy wasn't exactly wrong. " Wouldn't you like to go to Hawaii?"
Arthur pouted. " Who cares? I can't. None of us can. We're stuck here forever."
" It isn't so, sweetie. For now we can't leave Storybrooke, it's true, but soon we'll find a way to go home. This I promise."
The boy lifted an eyebrow and folded his arms. " So we won't go to Hawaii anyway."
The children laughed hiding behind their hands. Well, he had a point. Snow was about to answer to him when Henry intervened.
" Maybe we could! We could travel anywhere! Like Jefferson! He could borrow us his hat and we could go to Disneyland!"
" He would never. And your mom wouldn't allow it."
" Which mom?"
" The scary one."
" She's not scary!"
" She is! It's her fault if we're stuck here!"
Henry's face fell. " I-It's not her fault!"
" Yes, instead! She's the Evil Queen! She wants to kill us!"
" She's not..."
" Arthur! Henry! Stop it!" Mary Margaret shouted, slamming a hand on the desk.
The silence fell on the class while huge pairs of eyes astonishingly stared at her. She had never shouted at them before. Never.
" B-but..."
" What, Henry? He began? Does it mean that you have to reply? To make things worst? To..."
The bell rang, covering the successive words. The children stayed still, staring at her. Mary Margaret felt the silence in the classroom like a heavy stone over her head.
She glanced down and waved a hand in the air, blushing. The children slowly scraped the chairs against the floor and walked outside the classroom. Mary Margaret closed the class register.
" Shaya? What are you doing here? Is mom okay?"
The teacher suddenly turned at Henry's unexpected voice. He was gazing up at the tall woman, who was smiling at him.
" Aye, don't worry, young Prince. I'm here to talk with your grandmother." she said giving her a glance. " Go play with your friends." she added ruffling his hair. Henry's shoulders drooped.
" Not sure I have any." he muttered. A worried expression crossed Shaya's face. She squatted down on her haunches, so Henry locked gaze with her.
" That boy..."
" Arthur?"
" Indeed. Give him time, be kind with him, show him the truth and, maybe, one day, he'll get it."
" One day?"
" Aye. It could be worth it."
" What if it isn't?"
Rapunzel smirked and shrugged. " If you think so, then don't waste your time! Just tell him that the Golden Death will look for him if he names again your mom."
Henry gave a laugh when the warrior poked him on his shoulder. " This isn't what heroes do. Right?"
Snow saw a wave of pride fill the warrior's eyes. " Right. Choose then, Prince Henry: do you want to be a hero and save the prisoner, future king, or be the villain and let the dragon scare him?"
" Prisoner?"
" Prisoner of the skin-deep judgement. It's just a metaphor. Did your teacher teach you what a metaphor is?" Rapunzel asked glancing again at her, but with a smirk this time. Henry did, too, then nodded.
" Yes. A metaphor is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action that it does not literally denote in order to imply a resemblance, for example: "he is a lion in battle"." he recited, making Mary Margaret widely smile, delighted.
" Very good, Henry!" she exclaimed, and the boy turned to smile at her.
" Thank you!" he proudly said.
" So, you see, I'm not a dragon, either." Rapunzel plowed on, slightly smiling. She then suddenly furrowed her brow. " Or is my skin so dry?"
Henry gave a laugh. " Nope."
" Better!"
The warrior stood up. " Alright Henry, now go to play!" she said smiling. Henry bumped his fist with hers and ran out of the classroom.
Rapunzel watched him run for a while, then gazed at her.
" Are you here to kill me?" Snow asked, not exactly joking. It was always a possibility.
Rapunzel smile was cold. " No. I'm here to warn you, though. "
Here we go again, Snow though with a sigh. " Regina wants my heart on a silver plate again?"
Shaya's eyes, fixed in hers, were like hot rods piercing and burning her soul. " No. I want it."
Snow swallowed as her heart lost a beat. She pinched her lips, then licked them. " Y-you...?"
Being threatened by Regina had never scared her. But Rapunzel... Snow had the impression that she could kill her even just looking at her. What she was capable of...
" Aye, me. I'm tired of seeing you fight. She finally stops, and you begin? No. I won't permit it. I won't let her fall again. But, don't worry, child, you have another chance. The last one, I'm afraid." The warrior smiled again, and Mary Margaret instinctively stepped back, leaning a hand on the desk. " Just another tear of pain shed by Regina because of you, Snow White, and you're dead. Is it clear? "
Mary Margaret looked into the pools of quiet anger that were Rapunzel's eyes. She wasn't lying. Emma, David, Henry... none of them would stop her. And if she had to hope in Regina's help, well...
The teacher nodded once, shaking. " Yes."
" Good." Rapunzel growled in a murmur, her eyes flashing with rage. Snow glanced down.
" But, Rapunzel, let me just tell you ..." When she gazed up again, she was alone in the classroom. " ... I'm sorry." she murmured at the empty hallway behind the door.
Emma opened her phone once again, then closed it. She didn't know how many times she had been about to call Regina. The Savior dried the tears on her face. Damn, if only she hadn't felt the woman's emotions... She had hurt her more that she wished to admit.
Emma took another stone from the shore and threw it into the sea, glancing then at the phone.
Regina was wrong, Killian didn't want to just have sex with her. Maybe he wasn't her True Love, but he felt something for her. They were friends now, and the way he looked at her... No, it wouldn't be just a one night stand. They could have a relationship. But still. Regina maybe hated him, but that wasn't the reason of their fight. She wanted to protect her, Emma had felt it. And when she had told her what she thought... Emma could have even stabbed Regina in her back, it would have been the same. A stab was exactly what the brunette had felt, actually. It had been so intense that Regina had lost her control, for a moment, and let her feel it. Emma had betrayed her. She had deluded her. She had treated her like the Evil Queen, and not like the woman she knew. Just like her mother.
For this she couldn't find the courage to call her and say sorry. She was afraid. What they had built, after all of that time, after all those problems, was beautiful. They were a family, despite the past, despite their differences, thanks to their differences. Henry was happy. Regina was happy. Emma, well... she needed some more time. But, maybe, she could be finally happy, too. It was a beginning, anyway. And she had just ruined it. She messed it up. As always. Was Killian actually worth losing all of this? No. No man was it. Henry, his happiness, came before anything else.
Emma grabbed another stone and hurled it.
She had to do something to save the situation. Talking with Regina now would have been a mistake. She was probably still angry, better wait a couple of hours.
The Savior put the cellphone in the pocket of the red leather jacket.
First of all, she needed to know exactly what Killian was up to. It was time to talk turkey with him.
Second, she had to face her mother. It was not like she wished to do it, but delaying would have been worst. The sooner she did it, the sooner she would make things clear.
Third, she had to go to the Sheriff's office and talk with her father. That would be nice. She needed to know his opinion about her intentions with Hook and Regina. And she really wanted to spend some time with him.
Fourth, she really needed to eat something. Well, maybe this could become the first point, she thought, already walking towards Granny's with a smirk on her face.
She was about to cross the road to reach the diner when a man called her out.
The Savior turned to greet the shrink.
" Hey, Archie! How are you? Haven't seen you since the battle..."
Oh, and what a surprise had he been! The shy shrink was a real ninja. It was almost weird now to see he walk towards her with Pongo, with that big smile on his face.
" Oh I'm fine, thank you. What about you? Is Regina okay? I'd like to talk to her but... And Henry? Is he fine?"
" Yes, yes, he's okay. And Regina, yes, she's fine, too. "
There was a moment of silence in which the two locked gaze, and understood what the other was thinking. Here we go, Emma thought with a sigh.
" And you? You didn't answer that one."
Emma pinched her lips, trying to smile, and glanced down, putting her hands in the jacket's pockets. " Oh I... I'm gonna be okay, I guess." she wondered if her eyes were still red for the crying. " Just, you know, need some time to think. So many things happened and... You know. "
The man sympathetically smiled at her. " Of course. But, Emma, whenever you need to talk, I'm here. My PhD might come from a curse, but I'm always Jiminy Cricket. I'm a good listener."
The Savior gave a slight snort. " Thank you." she said smiling at him.
Pongo barked, and Archie nodded at him.
" He was pretty clear: we have to go!"
Emma laughed. " I think we bored him. Did we, Pongo?" she asked at the dog, crouching to look at him. Pongo wagged his tail and barked again, approaching her then. Emma started cuddling him.
" Who's the smarter dog of Storybrooke? Uh? Who is it? Pongo? Pongo! Oh, yes, it's him! Of course it's him!"
The Dalmatian tried to lick her face and Emma, to avoid him, overbalanced backwards and fell on her ass, laughing.
Archie pulled the leash. " Pongo! I'm so sorry, Emma! Are you okay?"
" Hey, sister, troubles with the dog?"
Emma turned. Leroy was behind her with a large grin between his beard. He offered her his hand, and Emma accepted the help. She stood up and tidied up her pants.
" He was just running a bit. He already wanted to kiss me. We're not even at the first date!"
The dwarf's loud and clunky laughter filled the air. Archie awkwardly adjusted the glasses on his nose, grinning.
" Good job, brother!" he exclaimed towards the dog, that cocked his head to one side, raising his ears.
Emma shook her head. " Don't listen to him, Pongo. "
" Don't listen to him, Pongo!" Leroy repeated mockingly, grimacing. Emma bursted out into laughter, realizing only in that moment how much she needed it.
" No way that is my voice!" she exclaimed then.
" No? Try to record it and you'll see, sister."
Emma shook her forefinger in the air. " No no no, not even after a concert and with a hangover at five a.m. my voice sounds like that! Trust me, I know it."
The two men laughed, making her smile.
" Our Savior is kind of a bad girl, Jiminy!"
" Oh, well, the Evil Queen is one of the most precise person I've ever known, so it seems quite right that..."
" Stop calling her that way! " Emma suddenly barked, startling them. She had to take a deep breath to ease the burning rage that was filling her. " She... Her name's Regina." she added, glowering at them. She didn't wait for their answers.
She crossed the empty road and flung the diner's door open.
Granny furrowed her brow at her entrance.
" Emma...?"
" Food."
" What?"
" Gimme something to eat."
The old woman raised an eyebrow. " You might need a chamomile tea."
" No, I need a toast... two toasts and a donut. "
Granny's face contorted in disgust. " Yes, and an antiemetic, then."
" No, and a coffee. Quick." Emma growled in response, glaring at her.
The woman pursued her lips. " What happened to you? Have you suddenly became the same with your title of Princess?"
Emma suddenly blushed, embarrassed. " I-I'm sorry. Never meant to... I'm just nervous. Sorry. Could you please give me two toasts, a donut full of chocolate and a coffee?"
Granny gave a satisfied smirk and nodded once. " Better. Take away?"
Emma smirked. " Yep." she said. She was angry, but not that angry. One toast was for her, the rest was for her father. She was quite sure that he needed chocolate, but, in case he had already eaten it, she would bring him the toast, too. And the coffee was always good.
She payed, thanked Granny and went back to the harbor's parking, where the yellow bug was waiting for her.
The old car welcomed her, inviting her to throw the bag with the food on its seat and to ransack inside the bag in search of her toast while she started the engine. She kept the toast between her teeth while she got out of the parking, then finally started eating it, driving towards the office.
She was about to arrive when the Sheriff's car speeded to the opposite direction with the siren testing her eardrums. She astonishingly watched her father pass a red light on the rearview mirror.
" Shit!" she whispered, slamming on the brakes only to turn the wheel and shoot the car forward, following the Sheriff's. No way she could reach David's speed, but something told her where to go. She turned right, and jammed the break. In the secondary street there was a knot of people next to David's car, left across the road.
Emma dropped her toast and got out of the car.
" Da..avid?" She managed not to call him "dad" in front of half of Storybrooke.
Some people let her pass, distancing from her, actually. Emma frowned. What was happening? David ran to her before she could pass the last two men.
" Emma! Stay behind! Don't... Come with me. You don't have to see this." he said frantically, pushing her back towards her car. He looked shocked, he was pale and sweating. As Emma put up resistance, he stopped pushing her, but finally locked gaze with her.
" W-what happened?" she asked, frightened. " Why are all these people here?"
" They shouldn't, indeed..." he thoughtfully murmured, gazing up at the crowd then. " Go home!" he shouted " There's nothing to see! "
" Someone killed our king, there's much to see!" someone yelled.
Emma goggled at David. " Killed? Who..." Wait... King... " George?"
David frowned and glanced down, nodding. " Yes. He was..."
" He was beheaded. And we all know who was his enemy."
" Yes! The Evil Queen fought with him, and her watchdog killed him. She threaten him, I've heard her. One sword blow and his head falls off."
" So the Prince takes the throne, uh?"
" Ah, how easy! The Princess was there with the bitch, she supported her! Savior?" the man spit on the ground. " No savior would allow that bitch to live."
" Hey! Stop it, all of you! " David shouted, putting himself between Emma and the crowd.
" Or what, Your Highness?" the man mockingly grinned " You'll arrest me?"
David gritted his teeth. " Yes."
" And you'll arrest me, too?"
" And me?"
" And me?"
Too many. They were just two, with two free cells, and those morons were about thirty. Thirty men and women who sided George, who thought that they had conspired and killed their king to take his throne. Emma wasn't an expert, but she had an idea of what could happen to a couple of royals between an enraged crowd.
But what could she do? She couldn't stop them, she knew it. They wouldn't listen. Her mother, well... If they wanted to kill their king's son, imagine what they could do to his wife. Think fast Swan, think fast. There was only a person who could help her. She could only hope that there wouldn't be a massacre.
She thought it. She just thought it. A moment after, a purple fog whirled next to her, startling the crowd.
" The Evil Queen is here!"
" Run!"
" No! Stay, cowards!" cried out the man who had called Regina "bitch", sneering crazily. Emma had the feeling that she had already seen him somewhere, but she couldn't remember where. " She's weak, here. She can't kill us all."
" Well, well..." Regina coldly smiled at him, putting herself before Emma, next to David, who was staring at her, astonished. He glanced at Emma, who shrugged, smirking. The Prince slightly shook his head, hiding a smile, paying attention back to the crowd. " A brave peasant. How frightening!" the Queen throatily laughed, sending a shiver though Emma's spine. She understood the ones who stepped back. And she understood that she had never really seen the Evil Queen in Storybrooke. Not until that moment.
" You can't scare us, bitch." he said spitting again on the ground. " No more."
Emma glanced at Regina. She was smiling. Bad sign.
" Scare?" the brunette gave a brief, deep laugh. " Why should I scare you when I can kill you?"
Her eyes became cold, colder than Emma thought they could be. She raised a hand and was about to turn it mid-air when Emma had a clear vision of what would happen next: Regina would have killed the dickhead, the others would have gone crazy and attacked them all together. And they couldn't defeat them all. They would die because someone had killed George, making the guilt fall on them, a perfect plan to take control over the people. It was a conjure. But it was not going to work.
Emma reached for Regina's hand, closing it under her fingers. The Queen astoundingly stared at her.
" Emma what...?"
" Nobody else has to die today." the Savior declared loudly, gazing at the ten men before her. " Someone has already horribly killed a man, someone who wished to set us up for this murder. Because this person wants power. This bastard wants to rule over you, wants to be the only one to do it. You know what? I'm not going to allow it." Emma made a pause. They were listening to her, and she was, too. It was like she wasn't the one speaking, it was like if the words had taken life and used her to be told. She only knew that that was the right thing to do. So she inhaled deeply and plowed on. " I'm the Savior. I'm... a princess. You were George's men? What? His... personal guards?" she hazarded, and smirked at their confused nods. " Good. Well, you're very loyal men. I admire you, really. You're the kind of men I'd want to protect me. " The guards looked at each other, frowning, shrugging. She was confusing them. Good. " I didn't kill your... our king. Nor Regina did, nor my father. Our new king. "
Emma paused and gazed at him. He looked lost, but amazed. He was proud of her. The Savior looked back at the little crowd, that was getting larger. New people were coming to listen to her, some were talking at their phones, other cars were stopping and further citizens got out of them, staring at her. Crap, she thought. She didn't like to be the centre of attention.
" I'm a princess." she repeated, more to herself than to the crowd. " But, before than a princess, I'm a mother. I'm not like you, I don't really know what living in F... in the Enchanted Forest might be. But, seen what happened lately, I guess I'll soon know. We can't stay here. You all can't get out of Storybrooke, it's like a prison, right?"
Many agreed, glaring at Regina, but glancing down then. Fortunately, they still feared her. Emma secretly sighed and went on.
" Yeah. And when we go back to the Enchanted Forest, what is that you want? More wars? Be soldiers again? Fight one against the other again?"
" No!"
" I'm a farmer, just want to live in peace with my family!"
" Me too!"
" I don't want to die for someone else's shit!"
" I just want my life back!"
" They won't force us to fight again!"
Emma smiled at them, satisfied. She was glad that the monarchs had been so high-handed.
" I thought so." she murmured. " And I don't want my son to grow up in this kind of world. "
She felt Regina and David's stares on her, but she kept looking at the people. There were about fifty people before her, by now. " So, that's the thing: I want to propose an allegiance. "
There were some whispers among the crowd, someone goggled, someone snorted.
" Regina, David." she said now alternatively glancing at them. " You rule over different kingdoms, but you're part of the same family. Here and now, as your daughter, David, and as mother of your son, Regina, I ask you to end up all of the hostilities, to stop fighting against your relatives, to stop this... folly. I belong to both kingdoms, and so Henry does. Let's unite the two realms. Let's build a new, better one. "
Emma locked gaze with Regina. She looked a bit pissed off, but, after a glare at David, she sighed and nodded once.
" Of course. Our son deserves a better future." she said, her eyes fixed on Emma's. The Savior smiled widely at the woman and turned to look at her father, who was already smirking. He nodded once in turn.
" May there be peace from now on." he stated with the proud smile in his eyes. He stretched a hand over Emma, waiting for Regina to hold it. Emma watched them look at each other for some infinite, tensed moments, then Regina finally shook David's hand, and a big smile exploded on Emma's face.
" Who will rule now?" someone asked, and many supported him.
" Yes! We can't have two queens!"
The Savior narrowed her eyes. " Who says so?" she asked, sneering at Regina.
The brunette glared at her and sighed, slightly shaking her head.
" We'll hold an election." David stated, startling the two women.
" Have you completely lost your mind, Charming?" Regina whispered angrily " They'll give power to the most charismatic of the peasants and sentence us all to death!"
Emma pursued her lips. " I'm afraid she's right, dad."
He smirked and winked at them. " Don't worry, I got it." he murmured before speaking again at the crowd. " You'll vote your spokespersons and they'll be part of the council. We will take the decisions all together. There's no need for only one of us to be the ruler. We can do this together. But now, there's a homicide to solve. We'll find out who murdered King George and process them for their crime. Let us work. Please, go home. "
" This is a mistake. There can be a council, but there has to be a ruler. We won't ever come to a decision if we are too many." Regina grumbled folding her arms, glowering at the moving crowd. They had obeyed to David, they were going away. Emma looked away as she caught a glimpse of the George's legs behind the Sheriff's car.
" Regina, we'll find a way. Maybe we could take decision by vote. "
" Oh, of course, you, Snow White, the Blue Fairy, Jiminy, the dwarves and the people against me. Very fair, Charming."
" Regina..."
" Wait, why the Blue Fairy? Archie? And the... dwarves? I thought... They're part of the council?" Emma asked, confused.
Regina pinched her lips and nodded. " Indeed. You can now guess why their strategy was always a failure."
The Savior had to hide a smile from her father. " Okay, I can get why Archie..."
" I don't."
Emma rolled her eyes, holding back a smile again. " Regina! I was saying, Archie is okay, but the... Blue Fairy?"
David furrowed his brow. " Is the family's fairy godmother."
" Oh. Does it makes her an appropriate counselor?"
Her father shrugged. " Well, she helped us..." his voice faded away: he had visibly lost in some kind of thought that were darkening his face. " Or so we thought. "
Regina stepped forward. " What do you mean?"
" T-the box." he explained, locking gaze with the brunette. " Where Snow was supposed to go with Emma. She said that only one person could go there, but it wasn't true. Two people could, actually, but she let Geppetto secretly put Pinocchio, August in there, so, when Emma came to life..." he didn't finished the sentence, but stared at his daughter. Emma stared back at his light-blue eyes, full of regret, full of anger. " If only she had said the truth..."
Emma swallowed. If only she had said the truth, Henry probably wouldn't have born. " What's done is done." she said, glancing at Regina, knowing that she had heard her thought. The brunette slightly smiled at her.
" Yet she can't be trusted anymore. She won't be part of the council." Regina said, not taking her eyes off of Emma's. The Savior nodded.
" I agree." she said, and her father repeated her words.
" Good. Now, David, you should inform your wife about this new situation..."
" I'll do it!" Emma intervened, slightly blushing at their questioning stares. " I had to talk to her anyway."
Both of them gave a nod. " Okay. I'll think about the homicide. Join me when you're done with Mary Margaret." David said, tensely smiling. " Might need some help."
Emma guilty smirked at him. " Ask Ruby in the meantime. Might take a bit."
The King nodded once. " Okay. See you later." he said before kissing her forehead, surprising her, and walking towards the body.
" Better if I go, now. Shaya could get worried." Regina coldly said, making Emma turn to look at her. The brunette was already walking away, though.
" Regina!"
The Queen stopped, but didn't turn. Emma's shoulders stooped. She was still mad at her.
" Thank you." she just managed to say. She saw her slightly sigh, and turn a little her head. Then a familiar purple fog covered her figure, and her tiny smile disappeared with her.
Three soft knocks at the door startled the girl, sitting at the expensive desk, absorbed in a large book. Belle gazed up at him and suddenly stood up, smiling. His heart gave a jump.
" Rumple!" she exclaimed while walking around the desk to approach him " What are you doing here?"
The Dark One smirked at her and gave her a quick kiss before replying. " I was around." he said shrugging.
Belle gave him a knowing smile. " Yes, casually..."
His brows furrowed. " Nothing happens casually. What were you reading, dearie?"
The Mayor glanced over her shoulder, at the book. " Oh, boring, countless laws. But I have to. I'm the Mayor, the least I can do is learn my duties and powers."
" Was it an idea of yours?"
Belle pressed her lips in a tiny smile. " Nope. Regina's, actually. She was here just a few minutes ago, then something happened and she disappeared. She told me to wait here, so..."
Rumplestiltskin frowned. He knew exactly what had happened, but why Regina didn't bring Belle with her? It was hard to believe that it was to protect her.
" Mind if I wait for her with you?" he smiled at Belle, who wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer to her, staring at him.
" Oh, yes!" she said, pretending to be annoyed although her eyes were bright as if she was smiling. " Of course I mind! I can barely stand you!"
The Dark One stifled a laughter and kissed her. He paused only to tell her that he loved her, to hear her say the same to him. Her lips were so soft, her touch so gentle.
Regina cleared her voice behind him, breaking their kiss. The Dark One turned to look at his creature. She looked quite disgusted.
" I'm sorry to interrupt you..." she said with flat voice, evidently lying and not caring to hide it. " I thought that you were here to work, Miss French."
" I-I am. We were just..."
" Making out. " Regina concluded for her. " Yes, I noticed."
" It's none of your concern, dearie." Rumple intervened, smirking at her. " Thought that a regicide would keep you busy for a longer time..."
Regina raised her eyebrows. " Oh, that's why you killed him? To have the time to stay with your girlfriend in my office?" she pinched her lips, tilting her head to one side. " That's quite pathetic, dear, let me tell you."
" W-wait, Rumple, who was killed?"
The Dark One glanced at his True Love. " George." he tightly said, glowering then at the other woman. " And I didn't harm a hair of his head, dearie. "
" Indeed. You cut it off straight away."
" I found the body and called David. Why should I I have done it if I had killed him?"
Regina shrugged. " Maybe to avoid any suspect. "
" Or maybe because I have nothing to do with this!" he objected gritting his teeth.
Belle leaned a hand on his arm. " Rumple... "
He locked gaze with her. She was silently asking him to calm down, and he couldn't help but please her. The Dark One nodded once and glanced down, filling his lugs with air to gain back his self-control. When he talked again to Regina, his voice was low and controlled.
" Why do you think I would ever kill that man?"
Looking in Regina's eyes was like staring at inextinguishable embers, ready to burn high at the slightest breath. " Because who did it wanted the total control of mine and George's kingdoms. They wanted to set me and Emma up for this murder, and Charming and Snow White, consequently. George's men thought that David had planned everything, but they evidently gave his intelligence too much credit..."
Rumplestiltskin cackled with laughter. Sometimes Regina could be more ingenuous that she would ever admit. " So I would need to kill George to eliminate you and the Charmings and gain control?" he cracked up again " Oh, dearie, poor girl! I already rule over all of you, don't you know? "
His hand searched her cheek, but she repelled it with a slap, stepping back.
" Do it again and you'll have to borrow from the pirate his hook." she growled, her eyes darting rage.
Rumplestiltskin laughed again, making the air tinkle with danger. " I'm sure he won't complain if I ask him gently."
" So you didn't kill George."
" Exactly."
" And who did it?"
The Dark One cocked an eyebrow. " Why on earth should I know it?"
Regina's face assumed a skeptic expression as she pursued her lips and arched an eyebrow. " Because you always know who did what."
Rumple innerly smiled. She had a point. " I'm flattered by the high opinion you have of my capacities, but I don't always know everything."
" He's saying the truth, my love."
Rumplestiltskin gazed up, surprised: Rapunzel was standing on the door, her arms folded, looking at them.
" I can see it in his eyes, he doesn't know who killed the moron."
He gratefully smiled at the warrior. " It's always a pleasure to meet you, dearie."
Shaya just slightly bowed her head at him, giving him a glance.
" Shaya, how do you know about George already? " Regina asked, confused.
" I was going away from the school when I met Emma, who was running inside to talk with her mother. She told me what had happened."
Rumple watched Regina gaze down. Time passed with her thinking, and the vein on her forehead became visible as her eyes got darker and darker. He smiled at that look. He knew it.
She suddenly headed out of the office.
" Regina, where are you going?" Belle asked, worryingly glancing at him.
His creature stopped and turned to look at her. She was enraged, full of hate. She was his.
" Only an idiot would leave a body in the middle of the road in the middle of the day. Someone who has never killed anyone, not with his hands. Someone who lacks of organization, not because he didn't plan, because he panicked. And I have a clue of who this person might be. Shaya, follow me. " she gloomily said, then gave him a last glare before turning and leaving, followed by the warrior.
The Dark One gave a loud sigh, then looked at his confused soulmate. " Guess we'll have that time alone together she was talking about." he said smirking.