The city of Boston. Local park
Alex looked at Sidney's retreating back and, suddenly jumping up from the bench, ran after him. She caught up with him quickly, literally in three steps, and clung to his shoulder with a death grip.
— Wait, Sidney,— the young girl said, and the man shuddered. — Do you know where it is? Take me there.
— I know,— his face took on a very sad expression. — Alex, please feel sorry for the old man. I really don't want to meet your mom at all.
— Do you know... my mom? — the young girl let go of the old man in surprise.
Sidney nodded shyly in response. Alex grabbed the old man by the shoulders, her face full of determination. She looked the man straight in the eye.
— Take me there,— the young girl said.
This request was like an order. The orders of the one he was in love with. The order of the one who, knowing this, used it for her own purposes. The one who betrayed him. And he still did as she wanted. One day he was able to fight back and, thanks to this, escaped. By stealing Gold's cane, he was able to cross the damn line, never to see her again. Not to see Her Majesty. He escaped to the world of people, to a world without magic, but surprisingly — he kept the memory of everything. Sidney knew that if he came back now, he wouldn't be able to resist her, so somehow he shrank all over, and his face all twisted up, as if he was going to cry.
— No, no,— he muttered and lowered his head.— She'll shove me in the mirror again. I don't want.
— What? — Alex frowned and, releasing Sidney, took a step back.— Which mirror?
Sidney fell to his knees and just whimpered.
— I don't want to go in the mirror, I'm tired of the mirror, — the old man muttered.
Alex looked at the homeless man with pity and slight dislike.
"He's crazy", Alex thought, "just crazy. How could I believe him? Coach is right, I'm just obsessed with finding my parents."
The young girl turned away from Sidney and walked away from the park.
The Castle of the Queen of the United Worlds. Regina's bedchamber.
All four of them were sitting in the room. The Gold's couple sat opposite the queens, with the Evil Queen and Belle boring each other with their eyes.
— Let's all calm down,— Regina said and looked at Belle. — So you have magic. From where? How did you both get back in the first place?
— This is Zeus. When we found out that — Belle looked at Regina and smiled. — That Rumpel has a child, I asked Zeus to return Rumpel. Not for long, enough to find him.
— And magic? — Regina looked from one to the other. — Is he too?
— Yes,— Mr. Gold nodded. — When I tried to convince him, I said that I couldn't find a child without magic. He was against it, and we all know why. Then Belle said she would come too and look after me. After these words, he agreed, giving her magic. And we know one detail to start the search.
— It's a girl,— Belle said,— and if I understand correctly, she ended up in Boston.
— Just like Emma,— the Evil Queen said thoughtfully. — It really looks similarly…
— Listen, you need to go to Storybrooke, where Lucy and Henry are assembling a search party! — Regina exclaimed and turned to the Evil Queen. — Are you with us?
— No, I'm going home. I need to somehow prepare Robin that I have... a daughter. And she's not his. — She waved her hands and disappeared with a lilac smoke.
Two people in togas and capes, talking, walked slowly through the garden to a large beautiful palace. The base of the palace was shrouded in a light haze, so from a distance it seemed that he was standing on a cloud and floating in the air.
— Of course, you're a Cupid! — said the caretaker of the garden. — You came out of the Fountain of Love. And the Gamelion ends. It all fits together. We will come to the palace now, and you will understand everything yourself.
— Are you sure I can go in there? — The other asked him doubtfully.
— Of course! You definitely need to go to Zeus, — the caretaker of the garden explained, — he is the most important here. He will tell you what to do next
— Belle, will you try to displacement? — Mr. Gold said. — I think he's a far...
— That's where you're wrong, — Regina smiled. — I have united all the kingdoms with your Black Curse. And I am the Queen of the United Kingdoms.
— Well, first of all, not mine, but my mother's. And secondly — wow. Is this after the last spell? — Mr. Gold asked.
— What spell? — Belle was surprised.
— Oh, Belle, so much has happened while you've been away. Lady Tremaine, Hyperion Heights… I can't tell it in two words. Wait, now.
Regina waved her hand, and a dreamcatcher appeared in it. She began to "fill" him with memories of how they met the grown-up Henry, how they met the future queen Tiana, how they defeated Tremaine, how she had to cast a spell to save Henry. After that, she handed the dreamcatcher to Belle.
— Here,— she said, — you'll see later. And now to my beloved adventure seeker's in a cafe "Granny's."
Storybrooke. Cafe "Granny's".
Henry looked at his daughter again.
— Lucy! What did you say? — he said. — Where would you go with him?
— Well, we'll probably go,— Hook got up and lightly tapped Henry Two on the shoulder. — We'll discuss everything later, otherwise we promised to help with the holiday.
— Promised? — Henry Two looked at the Captain in disbelief, and then turned to the elder Henry. — Yes, we promised. I just forgot.
And they hurriedly left the cafe.
— Yes, at least for a holiday, — the girl poked her finger at the retreating couple of friends. — And anyway: I'm already an adult.
— He's an adult, and you're still a little one, — Henry frowned sternly.
— Oh-h, — said the girl and, upset, rushed out of the cafe.
— Luce! Come back here! Luce! — Her father managed to shout after her, but the girl was already outside the cafe. — And what kind of holiday is this?
— I think it's the one that your grandfather arranges, — Ruby came up to the table.
— Ruby, hi! — Henry jumped up and hugged his friend. — Haven't seen you for a long time, how are you? Wait, what did you say about Grandpa? Which h…
— Well, obviously not this one,— came from the door.
Henry turned around: Mr. Gold and Belle were standing in the doorway.
— Grandfather?!— Henry came over and hugged him. — Are you alive?
— Alive, my friend, alive, and Belle is with me,— Mr. Gold pointed a finger at his wife. — You can hug her too.
Belle smiled and hugged Henry herself.
— How you've grown,— she said.
— Yes, it's just that we haven't seen each other for a long time. — Henry replied, and then turned to Ruby. — What holiday are you all talking about? I still don't understand.
—Valentine's Day, — Ruby said,— February fourteenth.
The two mans climbed the stairs and entered a long corridor, walked through it to the hall and saw another man in a toga. He was sitting on a throne, with scrolls on both sides of him, and, for some reason, a feather behind his ear. The man took one scroll, unfolded it, "ran" through the text with his eyes, twisted it again and put it in the other direction.
— Zeus, — said the caretaker of the garden, — The Fountain of Love, at the end of the month of Gamelion, revealed to us a new Cupid. He has come to you — try him.
The man looked up, and the scroll fell out of his hands.
— You're back! — He said dumbfounded
The city of Boston.
Alex came home and took an apple. She twisted it in her hand, threw it from hand to hand and thought what she should do now. And she was also angry.
"I should have at least taken a picture of him! What if he escaped from a mental hospital? I need to call the coach and say that it didn't work out."
Suddenly there was a crash. Alex looked towards the source of the noise and saw a walking stick lying on the floor.
"And the cane should be returned to him, otherwise he will also say that I stole it. Who knows, these psychos..."
The young girl threw the apple into her backpack, took the cane and went back to the park, but did not find Sidney there. She was upset at first, but decided to find him anyway. And she went to the place where she met him for the first time, the young girl tightly clutched a cane in her hands. She herself didn't know where she was going, but she knew for sure that she was going the right way. Soon she found him in the alley between the houses — Sidney was rummaging in the trash can.
— Sidney,— the young girl called, and the old man shuddered.
— I'm not going anywhere, — he said firmly.
— You don't have to. Here, take it, just don't rummage in the trash,— the young girl took out an apple and handed it to the homeless man. He picked it up carefully.
— "Honeycrisp" ... — Sidney muttered and said louder. — That's all, why did you come?
— Well, I wanted to apologize and return it to you. — Alex smiled and handed him the cane.
— You didn't believe me... — Sidney put the apple in his pocket and pointed to the cane. — Listen, this is the cane of the most powerful Dark Magician who ever lived! She'll help you find Storybrooke.
— Sidney, I understand...— Alex began.
— No, you don't, — Sidney stepped closer. — When you cross the line, first of all go to the cafe "Granny's", and ask where you can find the Queen. Or the mayor, Regina Mills. Remember?
— Yeah, — Alex took out her phone and took a couple of pictures unnoticed, — of course.
— Remember, — Sidney suddenly grabbed her hand tightly, —"Regina Mills". And also wrap your face so that the scar is not visible. She has a lot of enemies, you may be confused with her. Like me. Understand?
— Okay ... — Alex carefully pulled out her palm, stepped back a couple of steps, turned around and went home, trying her best not to run.
Storybrooke. Cafe "Granny's"
Henry motioned Mr. Gold and Belle to a table, inviting them to sit down.
— You sit down for a while, and I have something to do, — he said with a smile.
The Gold's couple sat down at a table, Belle took out a dreamcatcher and began to view the events that she had missed. Henry reached out to open the door, but it opened by itself, and Regina entered the cafe. The guy started up when he saw her.
— Mom, have you seen Lucy? She jumped out like mad, I didn't have time to stop her.
— I saw her, — Regina nodded. — Belle, Rumpel, and I were just at the entrance when she bumped into me.
— And where is she now? — Henry asked.
— Don't worry, I sent her home. David was driving by, he'll take her.
— Thank God! I was about to ask Ruby to help. By the way, about my grandfather. He's...— Henry pointed behind him.— Alive?
— Yes, I'm shocked myself. He says Zeus returned it so that Rumpel could find his daughter, and Belle is looking after him. And also,— Regina smiled intriguingly, — now she has magic.
Henry turned around and respectfully grunted, and then looked at Regina in surprise.
— Wait, what daughter?
— Congratulations, honey, you have an aunt now,— Regina laughed softly, looking at her son. — The Evil Queen and Rumpel have a daughter. That's the kid you and Lucy were going to find. She's your aunt.
— Another one?— Henry frowned thoughtfully. — Is she younger than me, too? Just like my Uncle Neal?
— Don't worry about it,— Regina laughed again. — Come on, we need to solve something with your rescue squad.
Zeus quickly approached the man and began to examine him from head to toe. Walked around him in a circle and grabbed him by the shoulders.
— It's you! In the flesh. Unbelievable! — He said and, pulling out a feather from behind his ear, handed it to the man. — Here, take it.
— Zeus, — said the caretaker of the garden in slight confusion, — this is Cupid. What with you?
The man who was addressed took the feather. In his hands, the feather immediately turned red, and then he threw it to the ground in fright.
—No, it's not Cupid,— Zeus replied with a smile.
Regina put her arm around Henry and led him to the table where Mr. Gold and Belle were sitting. They sat down at their table, and Belle looked at each of them with a slight admiration.
— Wow!— She said, waving the dreamcatcher slightly. — Another spell. How many interesting things I missed. And this girl that we saw is your daughter?
— Yes, — Henry nodded. — Tell me better how are you both there, in the Underworld? What has changed there?
— Not much, actually,— Rumpel shrugged. — Arthur is in charge there now.
— King Arthur? — Henry's eyes widened. — Is that the one from Camelot?
— Well, yes. But, Henry, I wouldn't like to talk about him, — Mr. Gold put his hand to his chest. — About my child.
— Yes, Lucy and I...— Henry began.
— That's just about it. Of course, I will find my daughter, but the question is different. How did the Evil Queen get pregnant in the first place?
— Yes. That's what's not clear,— Henry thought, and then suddenly looked at Regina. — Mom? But if she could, then... can you?
— Henry,— Regina said,— your heart of a true believer is ready for any miracles, but no. She also cut the thread that unites us. We're on our own now.
— That's right, — Mr. Gold said suddenly, — if it weren't for one "but". Did she circumcise it before she gave birth? Or after?
— What's the difference? — Regina turned to Mr. Gold.
— Huge,— Mr. Gold half-smiled. — I have one guess. And if I'm right, and I'm pretty sure I am, then it changes everything for you. Provided that the thread was cut after her delivery.
The city of Boston.
Alex was lying on the bed and throwing a tennis ball at the wall; the ball bounced, and she caught it. Then she sat down abruptly and put the ball away.
"Let him be a psycho and believe in his fairy tales, but I can also take a ride. Why not? What's stopping me from just taking a ride in the car? I'll unwind, there are no fights in the near future anyway." The young girl looked at the cane." I can give it to someone, and just throw it away."
Nodding to her thoughts, the young girl stood up resolutely. She took a small bag out of the closet, threw in a couple of sets of change of clothes, a few apples and took a cane with her. Alex went downstairs, put her things in the backseat and got behind the wheel. On the way, she thought about Sidney and his delusional ideas. At the traffic light, she was looking at his photo, which she took on her phone. Which suddenly rang. The young girl picked up the phone — the coach called.
— Alex, Alex, how's it going? — the coach asked.
— Nohow, he turned out to be a psycho, you were right,— Alex replied.
— Don't worry, it's normal to want to find relatives. What are you doing now?
— Nothing important, I decided to take a ride, relax, — while talking, Alex turned her head and noticed the bridge. — I'll call you back later, goodbye.
She hung up the phone, pulled off the main road and drove up to the bridge. A barely noticeable road led away from the bridge.
"You just need to drive to the bridge, and then turn off" the young girl suddenly clearly remembered Sidney's words. Alex swallowed nervously and drove down the road. After a while, it seemed to her that someone flashed headlights - she looked in the rearview mirror and noticed a cane.
"It was just the sun shining on the handle," the young girl reassured herself. Noticing a sign, she glanced at it briefly and slammed on the brakes. She got out of the car and, going up to him, touched him. The sign was real. The girl frowned, looked at it and read it again — there was no mistake. On the white curly sign in black letters was written: "Welcome to Storybrooke."