Hey guys! To those of you who celebrate, I hope you have had a lovely Christmas...and that all of you are having a safe and restful holiday! I'm back, as you can see, with another update that is fairly long. I hope you all enjoy! I've certainly enjoyed each and every one of your comments so please keep them coming and let me know what you think!
"I have something for you, dear," she whispers softly into her daughter's ear as the young girl clings tightly to her mother's waist.
Reya pulls back, looking Regina straight in the eye; chocolate on chocolate. "What is it, mother?" she asks, tilting her head.
The older brunette smiles gently before extending her hand in the space between them. Reya gasps softly as she sees her mother's feather necklace, the pendant she'd always worn, disappear from around her neck only to reappear in the palm of her hand.
"I'm giving this to you," Regina says softly, offering the necklace to the young brunette. "Your father gave this to me for an early wedding present as a sign of hope. But now, it has become so much more. I want you to have it."
Reya frowns, shaking her head fiercely. "But mom, it's yours," she replies confusedly, "I know it's so special to you because you never take it off. Why give it to me?"
Regina sighs deeply. With a shake of her head, she takes Reya's hand with her free one and squeezes it tightly, all the while looking her daughter seriously in the eyes. "I don't want to frighten you," she murmurs. She closes her eyes almost as if in pain. "But I want you to have this. To keep you safe." Opening her eyes once more, Regina takes the necklace and clasps the chain around her daughter's neck.
"I have enchanted this necklace, this pendant, to make you immune."
"Immune?"
Regina nods. "Yes. Free of anything bad that should ever happen. It'll protect you." She slides her hands back around and cups Reya's face softly, searching profoundly into her daughter's dark eyes. "And it will guide you. Should you ever find yourself separated from either your father or I, this necklace will lead you back to us, so long as you will it."
"Mom," Reya whispers nervously, shaking her head. Regina's heart crumbles as her daughter gives her a knowing look, a look that cannot be fooled. "What's going on? Please? Tell me. You and dad have been so tense lately."
"It's nothing you should fear," Regina insists, trying her best to comfort and downplay their imminent plight. "I've enchanted this necklace to keep you safe. You will be all right."
Reya shakes her head, sighing deeply. She understands that her mother is withholding information to protect her. And she knows better than to push her. But from whisperings through the wall, the angst in the castle, and now this, Reya can't help but feel in her gut that something is coming: something that she remembers reading so vividly in her special storybook.
"Do you trust me?" her mother asks, her eyes desperately searching her daughter's.
Reya swallows hard before nodding. "I do," she answers, "I trust you more than anything."
At her reply, Regina is wrapping her arms tightly around her daughter once more and burying her nose into her hair. "Then trust that we will always be together. No matter what happens. I promise."
Robin stands quietly by the bedchamber door, his heart aching with every beat. The very sight of mother and daughter embracing so fervently with such pained looks upon their beautiful faces is simply torture to him, especially since he knows that it is all his doing. All he wanted was a family. Never would he have ever thought that this would be the price: a family, but a broken one at that. The dark thief shakes his head hopelessly, feeling the magic spark from his palms as if almost to taunt him. Magic always comes with a price. The words of Rumplestiltskin echo in his mind, adding to his agony.
A brush of wind and Robin looks up just in time to see Regina pass him on her way out from the chamber. He inhales deeply and closes the door to their daughter's chamber, before following his wife quietly down the corridor. It's just before reaching their bedchamber that Regina stops just a few steps ahead and glances at him over her shoulder. And the look she gives him is enough to shatter his own heart to pieces.
"Regina," Robin chokes, almost as if to plead…but plead for what? Her forgiveness? Surely he doesn't deserve that.
The brunette queen shakes her head, letting a few hot tears stream down her pale cheeks.
"Regina," Robin tries again, stepping towards her, "I'm sorry."
Regina shakes her head. "Sorry is most certainly not going to fix this, thief," she snaps.
"I just—I don't know what to do."
"There's not anything you can do."
"Well at least let me try to fix this. Tell me what to do," Robin begs.
"Robin!" Regina hisses, "You just don't get it, do you?" She strides up to him, her expression a mixture of hurt and anger. "There is no stopping this. What's done is done. You can't stop a curse, especially if this one is some form of payment." She turns away, pressing her palms to her face.
Robin can't take it any longer. He steps even closer, wrapping his arms around her frame and drawing her close to his chest. "Please forgive me," he murmurs, knowing that it's no use.
He sucks in his breath as the woman in his arms pushes angrily away from his embrace. "Forgive you," she spits, refusing to look at him as tears trail down her cheeks, "Forgive you for going behind my back? Forgive you for allying with the Dark One, the one who wanted my happiness destroyed?!"
"Regina, I—"
"You betrayed me! All that time you told me how joyful you were at finally finding a cure, reassuring me over and over not to worry about the price, that you'd taken care of it...telling me that everything was fine. It was nothing but a farce."
"I was trying to give you what you always wanted, what we both wanted!"
Regina shakes her head. "Do you realize that I would have traveled to the ends of the world to find the cure to my barrenness and done whatever it took—"
"So you must understand—"
"—Let me finish!" Regina closes her eyes, sighing deeply. She opens her eyes to look into the distraught gaze of her husband. "If that was the last option, the only option," she begins once more, quieter this time, "I would have done it. I would have risked whatever this curse was because if there's anything I've learned, we always find a way for it to be broken."
"So you understand," Robin repeats.
But Regina shakes her head again. "But I never would have gone behind your back to do it," she continues, "Or conspired with a sworn enemy, at least without consulting you first after knowing that was the only option."
Robin closes his eyes, his brows furrowed in torture. "I thought you would try to stop me."
"Maybe I would've. Maybe I wouldn't have," Regina answers bitterly, "Or maybe with me, we could have found a third way."
"Regina," Robin whispers in agony, stepping towards her once more. And when he'd thought his heart couldn't shatter more, it crumbles to pieces as he watches her take a step back. From him.
"No, Robin," Regina breathes, cheeks glistening with tears, "Don't."
And with that, she is stepping into their bedchamber, leaving Robin alone in the hallway and drowning in the echo of the closed door.
Her heart pounds in her ears, fear gripping at her throat. She tries to talk, but she cannot speak. She can do nothing but slowly pull back the hand that remained grasped by the desperate man in front of her.
Regina saw it coming. She knew it was coming. But knowing and being prepared are two very separate things. Such a confession suddenly has made it all too real, a fantasy so real that it now becomes a danger. And when those three words slipped from his lips, it was like her whole world has stopped…and not in a good way. And it's not because of the fact that he loves her, it's that she has no way of returning such love. Now, she stands before him, desperate and fearful of what to say, how to respond. Back are her insecurities and she lets them pile high, forming that wall she had tried so hard to bring down.
"Robin…" Her voice is broken. She gives him a withering look.
The man looks at her with wide eyes, a despairing expression crossing his features as he can already deduce how she feels. It's obvious. And it breaks his heart.
Regina closes her eyes, feeling the fast-paced rhythm of her heart. Upon opening her eyes, she shakes her head slowly. "Robin, I can't…you can't."
"I'm sorry, Regina, I know I should stay away. But I had to tell you. I love you," Robin insists, refusing to give up so quickly, "Regina…these past couple of days have been nothing but…" He trails off, swallowing down the lump in his throat.
"…pleasant," Regina finishes. She shakes her head once more. "But it didn't mean—it can't be more than that."
Her words send a pang of agony that slices through his chest like an arrow; even more so as she takes a step back. Robin shakes his head, stepping towards her regardless; eyes desperately searching hers for something…something that will show through her apparent wall and reassure him that what she says is not the truth. He reaches out to her. "I know...but..."
"I have to go back," Regina whispers, tears gathering in her eyes, "I must."
"But why?" Robin pleads, stabbed with yet another arrow of agony to the heart. "Why must you go back? To him?" His brows pull together tightly. "I can see it, Regina. I can see it in your eyes. You don't look like you want to. Why are you fighting this?"
"You said you'd respect my choice."
"And I do. But I can't help but get the feeling that you're forcing yourself to do something you don't want to."
"I—I have no choice…"
"You always have a choice, Regina. I know you feel what I feel...I know you feel it too."
Regina closes her eyes, causing those tears to roll freely down her cheeks. "Robin…" she sighs, "What I feel no longer matters…I've made my choice." She swallows hard. "I'm moving in with him…"
At her confession, it is Robin who takes a step back. He drops his hands to his sides, ceasing reaching out for her as he lets out a choked breath. "Since when?" he whispers.
Regina shakes her head, tearing her eyes away from him and looking towards the cliffs for—she doesn't know—comfort? Support? Divine intervention?
"Regina!" Robin snaps, causing the brunette to jump, "Since when?"
Regina sighs, closing her eyes briefly once more in meager attempts to numb the pain. He has never snapped at her with such a tone. "Since last week…almost…" she answers, feeling so much more than ashamed.
At this, Robin runs a hand through his hair in distress. "Why didn't you tell me?" he asks. He looks to Regina, his eyes searing hers as she continues to cry silently before him.
"I don't know…I," Regina whispers, shaking her head fervently. "I don't know…"
"So you led me on," Robin concludes, heart breaking in two. "Last night when you told me not to leave the room, to keep you company…this morning when you danced with me…and when we kissed…" He shakes his head. "That was all just a show? That was fake?"
"No!" More tears roll down her cheeks as she nods slowly, refusing to meet his gaze. "I didn't mean…" She inhales, straightening herself up as she looks back up into his eyes. "I was stupid, foolish…none of what happened between us ever should have occurred. It was a mistake."
Robin lets out a broken sigh, feeling his own tears well up in his eyes. But he pushes them down, refusing to let his hurt show. It is what it is unfortunately. "So you do choose him," he clarifies with a pained breath.
Regina closes her eyes. "I love him," she declares tearfully, "With all my heart." Nothing can compare to the pain she feels as the words tumble from her mouth. Why is it so difficult? Why does it hurt so much? Every fiber of her being reaches out to the man in front of her, fighting against her mind and begging her to accept him as well as her own feelings that are now again buried deeply underneath layers of fear.
Robin nods slowly, taking another step back. "So you've really made your choice," he concludes.
"Yes," Regina whispers with a nod in return. She draws herself up even straighter and wipes at her damp cheek. "I really have." She bites her lower lip to keep it from trembling. "I have to go."
She brushes past him and heads for the stairwell. Stopping just short of the first step, she looks over her shoulder one last time at Robin standing there lost in a small, lonely pool of moonlight; the man watching brokenheartedly as the woman he loves disappears down into the shadows of the lighthouse staircase.
Her parents are avoiding one another. And it's not so subtle as they might have intended. Reya tries to make light of the situation, playing it off as a simple bump in the road, one that always comes to pass. But deep down, it hurt her to see both her mother and father (mother especially) act so indifferently towards one another. It was something the young brunette had never seen happen before. And that, unfortunately, was enough to make her realize that no, this is no simple squabble as much as she'd hoped it would be.
Desperately, Reya had made it her mission to try and help as much as she could, even if it meant going behind her parents' backs. Now, she isn't exactly sure of the details, but she can deduce, from various broken pieces of information that had been inadvertently dropped despite her parents' carefulness, that something ominous is coming. Reya thinks back to a few nights ago when her mother gave her the enchanted feather pendant. She said that it would protect her. It's quite the selfless step for a young girl, but Reya had little to no fear for herself because of it, because Regina had taken measures to make sure that whatever is to happen wouldn't affect her. But, she did fear greatly for her parents. What's to become of them? She knows that her mother has many enemies, possibly even her father as well, but never would she have thought those rivals to be so cruel as to tear apart a family. Perhaps she is a little too naive.
"I thought I'd might find you here," a voice interrupts her thoughts. Reya turns from her storybook to find her father standing in the archway of the balcony. "You like it out here, don't you?"
The young brunette smiles softly, but a smile that doesn't quite touch her eyes. "I always have," she replies, scooting over on the lounge to allow Robin to take a seat beside her.
"And you're reading your book again," Robin observes with a soft chuckle. He leans over to glance at her current page. "What part are you at?"
Reya sighs deeply. "When the Evil Queen cast the first Dark Curse," she answers, staring down at the depiction of the ominous purple cloud rising above the dark figure that is—was—her mother.
Robin swallows slowly, a frisson of fear zipping through his veins.
"You weren't affected were you, the first time around?"
The thief shakes his head. "No," he replies, "I was lucky enough to escape that one."
"But if you had," Reya asks curiously, "Who do you think you'd become?"
A short silence ensues as he mulls it over. An interesting question. "I don't know," Robin eventually says with a shrug of a shoulder. "Nobody interesting, I'm sure." He sighs deeply. "I was…quite alone before I met your mother. So I can imagine I probably would be cursed to a same solitary life I had—I don't know…working in the woods, or by the sea."
"Oh," Reya replies with a sigh before shaking her head. "If mom was ever to be cursed, what would she be?"
Robin's brows furrow as his eyes narrow at his daughter. "Again, I don't know," he sighs, "I mean…cursing a queen must have much more of an effect than a mere mortal peasant such as myself." He chuckles humorlessly before searching Reya's gaze. "Now why do you ask these questions?" he inquires, threading a hand though Reya's dark locks.
Reya shakes her head. "I just…" She closes her eyes. "It's a curse, isn't it?" she suddenly blurts out, opening her eyes to look into her father's now slightly pained gaze. "That's what's coming, the reason why mom gave me this necklace."
Robin exhales slowly. He knows that he can't make the same mistake twice, so he confesses with a slow nod. "Yes," he whispers. But then he shakes his head firmly. "But as you said, your mother did give you that necklace to protect you. It is laced with her most powerful magic. With it on, the curse won't affect you in any way."
"So I'll remember who I am? I'll have my memories."
"Yes," Robin confirms with a nod.
"But we'll still be separated…"
"Remember, though, that when the time comes, we will reunite again."
"But when will the time come?"
"When you see a sign," Robin answers, "A sign that you must chase in order to find us, and help us break the curse. It'll be a symbol of hope."
"Like a feather," Reya whispers.
Robin smiles softly, caressing his beloved daughter's cheek. "Like a feather," he echoes.
"So I guess it will be up to me then," the young girl deduces with a sigh.
Robin's smile turns slightly pained at her words. He shakes his head. "I'm so sorry," he murmurs, "But your mother agrees. It's the only way to protect you." He searches Reya's wide chocolate eyes. "I'm so sorry to put this pressure on you."
At this, Reya shakes her head, her expression suddenly growing into a look of determination. "No, I can do it," she states firmly, drawing herself up with perseverance. "I can be a hero! Like Henry was!"
Her father chuckles softly, patting her back. "Oh Reya," he muses as he pulls her into his arms, "You already are a hero, our hero."
It's about six in the morning and Reya is already up, pacing about Robin's guest room in a fit of worry. The atmosphere of his entire house (she can't help but feel) is tense. It began with a slam of his bedroom door late the night before. And it has never gone away since, lingering like a bad stench like the smell of rotten fish. Things were going so well, too… Perhaps she spoke too soon.
But time is running out. And if Regina now can't truly and fully accept her feelings for Robin, far more profoundly than a simple dance in the kitchen, she will never be able to. Reya knows she has to act fast if there's any hope in mending whatever has caused such a cold slam of that bedroom door and breaking this curse.
Fully and thoroughly frustrated, the young girl plops back down onto her bed and gazes once more towards the pages of the open storybook. She just needs something…a sign, a symbol, to be that cornerstone and seal the deal once and for all. A sign, like that feather floating in the wind outside her room at the orphanage, the one that signaled her start on this journey in the first place. Leafing through the pages, Reya searches anxiously for something, a clue…anything.
It's just when she reaches the very end of the book that she then stumbles upon a handful of pages that she notices were not there before. Of course she knew that this book was loosely an add on to the previous original, Once Upon a Time, having of course remnants and allusions to the first book. But she'd never thought it would've recorded…the events after this curse had occurred. As if by magic, there are even pages depicting new drawings of events that had happened merely weeks ago including her first meeting with Regina, the day at the flea market…the flea market. That was when she first met Steve. Reya shivers at the thought and pushes it down, concentrating once more on the page again. The image, of course, is detailed as usual, depicting the entire encounter: Regina gushing over Steve, her hands all over him as Reya herself stands off to the side with a look of disdain written all over her features. But there's something that the young brunette also catches, a small but important detail that brings back a memory as clear as day. It's subtle, but Reya takes notice of it almost instantly. It's the image of a black hooded figure carrying a large paper bag, the kind that Regina uses to transport paintings to customers. After gazing intently at the image, Reya can't help but get an uneasy feeling that this hooded customer wasn't just any customer. With a deep frown, she slowly closes the book. If that man is who she suspects he is, he mustn't be too far away. He always must have been close, watching…watching her cursed parents' every move.
Filled with a newfound purpose, the young brunette hastily grabs her sneakers and jacket. After donning both, she tiptoes down the hallway, stopping only once to press an ear to the door of Robin's room to make sure he's still asleep. After hearing his soft snores, Reya is continuing on and out the back door into the early morning light.
The air is slightly chilly as she walks briskly down the path towards the main road. She has not a clue as to where to find whomever this man is. By now, Reya is simply and purely relying on fate, hoping to God that it doesn't disappoint…not this time.
Nervously clutching her feather pendant whose chain remains locked around her neck, the young brunette presses on towards the main road and then into the heart of Menemsha. She makes it almost as far as the beach until she stops just short in the middle of the parking lot, finding herself staring up at an intriguing concrete sculpture of a man harpooning a giant swordfish whilst he stands upon the beast's tale. It is a great piece of art, very aesthetically pleasing especially with its placement amongst the marshy grass, up on a bank just a little ways from the lot. The gentle pinks and blues of the early morning sky lightly provide the perfect background upon which this masterpiece is displayed. It's a very curious sculpture, artistic, and thought-provoking. Instinctively, Reya makes her way closer to the statue, away from the parking lot.
As she walks, she can't help but see a little bit of her own situation within the image made to pay homage to the town's fishing industry. The swordfish, for instance, is the curse…and the man represents her family trying to—needing to—conquer such a beast. That much is obvious. However, as Reya thinks back to her time with her parents just before the curse hit, she remembers the way in which her mother and father had acted so cold toward one another. Something had happened between them…something that must not have been resolved, for the curse had hit far too soon. It is a bit of a stretch, but perhaps this curse, in a way, is meant for a reason other than some kind of debt that had to be collected. Perhaps this curse is a way in which Regina and Robin can rekindle their love, fight the darkness, and learn to reconcile with one another, for whatever must have come between them. So like the man standing sturdy upon the tale of the beast, maybe the curse is the same in that regard. Maybe the curse is helping, in a way, in lifting Reya's parents up and aiding in their forgiveness of one another, due to the previous events beforehand, through their struggles in their cursed lives now. Perhaps, only when they can fully forgive through their acceptance of one another, will the curse be broken.
"It's a beautiful statue isn't it, dearie?"
Reya suddenly jumps, whirling around to meet none other than the man in the black hood; his face still shielded. The young girl swallows before straightening herself and bravely lifting her chin. "I know who you are."
"Do you?" the man's voice raises an octave.
"I do." Reya nods firmly. "So you don't need to pretend anymore…Rumplestiltskin."
She watches as the man's thin lips slowly curve into a devious grin before he's lifting his hands and pulling back his hood. Reya's eyes widen as she takes in pale skin, pointed nose, thin and stringy grayish brown hair, and dark beady eyes: the Dark One masked to appear as normal as a man of his kind can be. In this world, he can almost pass for being human. However, there still remains that unsettling aura about him that leaves a slight tremor in those with whom he interacts.
"You are a clever girl," Rumplestiltskin sings, grinning at the young brunette.
"It wasn't hard to figure it out," Reya retorts, crossing her arms, "And I know you are watching my parents…starting with that day at the flea market."
"Clever and observant—"
"You bought something from my mom, didn't you? I saw you holding one of those bags for her paintings. I saw you waiting around the corner of the tent watching mom, and me, and Steve," Reya continues to accuse, "What did you buy?"
The Dark One blinks at the young girl, his lips twitching to hide his smirk. His eyes twinkle, dangerously furtive. "Your mother is a talented artist," he eludes, "I just had to buy one of her paintings as an eager fan and customer." He wiggles a brow at Reya's unamused look.
"You have to answer me."
"I don't have to do anything, dearie."
Reya groans, glancing around for inspiration. It's then that she remembers another key part of that day. "Four hundred and fifty bucks! …my biggest masterpiece above all masterpieces. I've been trying to sell that one for ages." Her eyes widen as she turns to the Dark One once more.
"You bought her masterpiece," she whispers, "That painting! Her masterpiece…" She pauses to think again. "…the one showing the wooden treasure box. I remember!" Reya grins. "I remember mom was talking about how it was simple but she still liked the detail she put into it…and how she felt really attached to it somehow."
Rumplestiltskin raises a brow. "You really do have a good memory…for a child."
Reya scowls at him. "It was only a few weeks ago." She shakes her head before pointing an accusatory finger at the Dark One. "You bought it, didn't you?" she states, "Why?"
"What makes you think I'd tell you anything, dearie?" Rumple growls lowly, stepping closer to her.
Reya stands her ground as she watches a flash of annoyance and possibly even anger cross his features. "Because this curse will be broken, no matter what you do to stop it. So might as well spill."
"And let your lovely brokenhearted parents become even closer than they are to breaking the curse? I don't think so."
"Hah! So you did steal something important!" Reya exclaims, eyes widening once more. "Something that is key to breaking the curse…another proof!" She steps bravely towards him. "What is it?"
Rumplestiltskin blinks. "My lips are sealed." He presses his lips together.
Reya groans again, exasperatedly.
"Dearie, you might as well stop trying," he says, "There's no hope in saving your parents anyway…not after what had just happened last night."
The young girl frowns. "What happened?"
"Your father finally confessed to your mother that he truly loved her. And what did she do? She told him that she'd been planning to move in with Steve all along."
At this, Reya's eyes widen in horror, her chest clenching in pain at this devastating news. "So…she lied," she whispers, shaking her head slowly. She lets out a breath, taking a step back. "She lied to both of us…all that flirting, their dancing…" Reya's brows pull together as she feels tears beginning to well up in her eyes.
"Was nothing but a fake," the Dark One replies with a purse of his lips, "She went behind his back…much like how he went behind hers."
"Wait…what do you mean?"
"Oh you don't know? They never told you the truth about what had happened?"
Reya frowns. "Told me what? You mean why the curse was cast? Wasn't it to pay off some kind of debt or something?"
"Correct, but you don't realize what the debt was for, dearie. It was because of something your father had done behind your mother's back." Rumplestiltskin's lips widen into a hideous grin. "And it broke her heart, very similar to how your mother broke your father's heart just last night." He shakes his head, almost amusedly. "So don't you see? The same issue, more or less happens either way, curse or not. I told them…they are destined to destroy one another. That's why the curse will never be broken. It's almost like what I have won't even matter anymore, seeing the way things are now."
The young brunette shakes her head furiously, hot tears rolling down her cheeks. "No, that can't be right," she protests. Reya steps towards the Dark One once again, her eyes wide and begging, and full of tears. "Please," she whispers, "You have to give me the proof you took. You have to let me help them break the curse." She shakes her head. "I don't know the full story or what they've done to you. And I don't need to. I know enough now. It makes sense."
"You're just a child, you can't possibly—"
"This curse, no matter how bad it is, is also fate's way of fixing things that went wrong between my parents. And maybe yes, they do have to live through the same struggles again, but this time it's different. This time, they will make up. They have to! They fell in love again. Their love is stronger than ever now. They just need to see it. Both of them."
The Dark One remains quiet through the rest of the young brunette's enlightened speech. The faith and the belief Reya has is astounding, he'll give her that. It's almost enough to warm that cold lump of a heart the man has deep within him. But he's still a man of darkness, and he cannot let go of the grief and anger that holds him captive. But the man is beginning to see now…the power of Regina and Robin's reunion is far too strong. He will never find comfort within their suffering, at least to him, because their story will always mend itself on its own. Rumplestiltskin saw, through the window of the kitchen, the way the two of them danced together in each other's arms. He knows deep down, that despite the similar incident that occurred, the young brunette is right. This time is different. And he has no control. This isn't his curse, after all. It was just something that had worked out to his advantage when he thought he needed it most to exact revenge.
"Fine," the man sighs after an extensive period of silence. He shakes his head. "I will give you the proof." As Reya's eyes suddenly light up, he holds up a finger. "But I cannot guarantee you it will work," he adds, "Like I told you, your parents are now in the same exact plight as they were before the curse hit. It won't be easy."
At this, the man waves his hand and suddenly, Regina's painting appears in his grasp, as beautiful as ever. Reya's eyes widen as she takes in the intricate design of the treasure box. It definitely does look mystical, resembling something similar to a small chest she remembers resting on her mother's bureau back at the castle in the Enchanted Forest.
"Use your feather pendant," the Dark One instructs, "It's the key to opening the painting's chest.
With a frown, the young girl grabs her feather. Rumplestiltskin lifts his chin and she reluctantly unclasps the chain from her neck. Holding the pendant as if it is a key, the pointed tip facing the painting, Reya brings the feather close. She gasps as there's a bright yellow light as the pendant comes into contact with the painting. It seems as if it penetrates right through the canvas as the pendant's tip reaches the keyhole of the painted treasure box. Suddenly, there is a click, and Reya feels the pendant lock into place. Turning it slowly, she then brings the feather back towards herself, the light shining even brighter.
"Reach in and grab," Rumplestiltskin commands.
And so she does, reaching blindly into the light and feeling her hand come into contact with two small objects. She closes her hand around them and brings it back out, the light immediately ceasing after she pulls her fist completely free of the painting.
"Now look."
Reya gazes down, opening her eyes wide as she slowly unfolds her fingers. And there, sitting delicately atop her palm, are two golden bands.
"My parents' wedding rings," the young brunette breathes.
Rumplestiltskin lifts his brows. "How clever of your parents, hmm?" he mutters.
A slow smile appears across Reya's lips as she slowly turns the rings in her hand, reading both of her parents' names engraved in intricate lettering on the inside of each band. "This will definitely make them believe," she whispers, "Then, they can make up. They'll have to."
"And you all will live happily ever after, hmm?"
Reya nods. "I hope so," she whispers.
"You're forgetting about one thing, dearie," Rumplestiltskin says.
"What?" Reya frowns, glancing up at the smirking Dark One.
"You think you have to worry about me being the villain of this story, that may be true. But you are forgetting about one man who may be even more of an enemy than I."
At this, Reya's eyes widen; her smile erased and lips set in a hard line. "Steve," she growls.
"Mhmm," the Dark One hums with a nod, "And you better hurry…I see trouble…and I see pain. And that, is enough of a price to pay for demanding that I help you. You have a difficult job ahead of you with these rings."
And with that, the little man and Regina's masterpiece painting, are gone without a trace.
Thoughts? Predictions?
One of my goals in this chapter is to bring together loose ends from previous chapters all the way from the beginning and tie them nicely so that it all makes sense now. I hope I achieved that goal, let me know what you think!
Thanks so much for coming by, and stay tuned for more to come very shortly!