Chapter 4: The Truth
"Alright, Roland, it's time for bed," Robin said, his voice drifting upstairs. Regina perked up, always excited to watch Roland's bedtime routine. It almost made her feel part of their little family.
She drifted down the hallway toward Roland's room as the boy bounded up the stairs, his father right behind him. Roland paused at the top, smiling at her. "Are you coming for bedtime, Regina?" he asked.
"I am," she replied. "If that's okay with you."
He nodded. "I like having you there, especially when you sing to me. You have a very pretty voice."
"Oh," she said, surprised. She knew she tended to sing softly to him when he was falling asleep but she didn't think he really heard her or that she was any good. It touched her to hear him say that. "Thank you."
"Regina sings to you at night?" Robin asked his son, sounding surprised.
Roland nodded, grinning. "Just like you sometimes do. Though her songs are different than yours."
"Well, I doubt Regina knows songs by the Beatles," Robin replied, ushering Roland into his room and pulling out his pajamas. "Or any of the other musicians I generally listen to."
"Oh," Roland said, nodding. "I guess if she's never seen a movie, she never heard that old music either."
Regina placed her hand over her mouth, trying not to laugh at Robin's indignant expression. He scowled. "I'm not that old, my boy."
"I know," Roland said. "But the music you like is."
He sighed, shaking his head. "It's not old. It's classic."
"Is that just another word for old?" Roland turned to Regina, clearly asking her the question.
She lowered her hand before shaking her head. "It means they're timeless. Anyone can like them, no matter their age and no matter what the year is."
"Oh," he said. "Are you timeless?"
"I guess so," she replied. "I think I like the sound of that."
Roland smiled, looking up at Robin. "Regina is a classic!"
He chuckled. "I'm sure she is. Now, let's get you ready for bed, okay?"
"Okay, Papa," Roland said, entering his room. Robin helped him into his pajamas before sending him into the bathroom to brush his teeth.
Robin sighed, running his fingers through his hair. "I don't know where he gets all that energy," he said.
"He's young," Regina replied, though she knew he wouldn't be able to hear him. "Though it would be nice if he could share it."
"I wish I had half his energy," Robin said. "Maybe then I could keep up with my class."
Regina chuckled. "I'm sure you're a great teacher and they love having you."
The door to the bathroom opened and Roland stepped out, smiling at his father. "All clean!"
"Good," Robin said, patting the bed. "Hop on in."
Roland climbed into bed and settled against the mattress as his father tucked him in. Sitting on the bed, Robin asked: "Story or song?"
"Can I have a song, please?" Roland asked. "You haven't sung in forever!"
Laughing, Robin nodded. "Alright, since it's been forever!"
He started to sing a song that Regina did not know. She figured it was a song from this world and wondered if it was one of those classics Roland had insisted were old. Leaning forward, she let his voice wash over her. It was clear he wasn't a trained singer but he was talented. Perhaps if he hadn't become a teacher, he could've had a career as a singer.
Roland's eyes closed and by the time Robin was done with his second song, the boy was sound asleep. Standing, Robin kissed his son on the forehead before turning on his nightlight. He walked toward the door before pausing there, his hand hovering over the light switch. Looking around the room, he softly said: "Regina, I'm going to turn off the lights. Just a warning if you're still around."
"Thank you," she said, floating toward him. "I'll follow you out. Go ahead."
As if he heard her, he flipped off the lights and stepped out into the hallway. Regina followed him before he closed the door, though that wouldn't have been much of a problem. She still could go through doors and walls, after all, though she was trapped in the house.
"I guess this is goodnight," she said, knowing he was likely to head to his own bedroom and watch TV for a bit before going to bed.
She would then spend some time in his room, ensuring that the green cloud did not get him this time. Regina wasn't as strong as she could be just yet but it was starting to get easier and easier to repel the wicked cloud. That was both a good and terrifying sign.
To her surprise, though, Robin headed back downstairs. She frowned, floating behind him. "Where are you going?" she asked him.
He grabbed his shoes and sat down on the stairs, putting them on and tying them. She frowned as she floated over him, worried about him going out at night. With Halloween approaching, danger lurked around every corner of Storybrooke and he was safer inside with her. At least she could use her power to protect him.
"What about Roland?" she asked him. "Are you just going to leave him here alone? I mean, I'm here but it's not like I can call for help, can I?"
She sensed someone approaching the house and turned toward the back of the house, worried her foe was coming to do away with Robin in person. Regina started to gather up her energy, ready to do whatever she could to give him enough time to flee with Roland. Hopefully he drove out of Storybrooke and never returned.
It would be for the best – at least for him and Roland.
The door to the basement opened and a familiar blonde stepped onto the first floor. She held up her hands, her blue eyes looking right at Regina. "It's just me. Stand down," she said.
"Tink?" Robin asked, standing and turning toward her. "Who are you talking to? How did you get into my house?"
"I'm talking with Regina," Tink said, never breaking eye contact with Regina. "She's protective of you and was ready to fight off an intruder."
Regina slowly turned to face Robin, who tilted his head as he frowned. "You can see her too?"
Tink nodded. "Yes. And yes, I can hear her too."
"Then could you let me know the answers to the questions I have for her?" Robin asked, perking up. "I couldn't use Roland as a go-between for these."
"Why don't I take a stab at those questions first?" Tink offered, making Regina's heart sink. She had been looking forward to a conversation with Robin but she knew that Tink was probably the best to answer his questions now.
He nodded, looking around. "Are we going to stay here?"
She shook her head. "It's not safe here. But I promise you that where we're going isn't far and if anything happens to Roland, Regina can let me know."
"Of course," Regina said, knowing the one safe place in town. "But just be careful. Even I can't go past a certain point."
"I know," Tink said. "We'll be far enough so she can't spy on us but not so far that you can't come get us."
Regina nodded. "Good. Take care of him."
"I will," Tink promised. She then turned to Robin. "Are you ready?"
"I think so," he said. "Am I driving or are you?"
She shook her head. "We aren't driving. Just follow me and you'll see."
Robin glanced upstairs before looking around the room. "Take care of Roland for me, Regina. I'll be back soon."
"I will," she said. "Good luck."
"Come on," Tink said, gently taking Robin's arm. "We don't have much time."
She led him back through the door and they headed downstairs, entering the space underneath Storybrooke. Regina floated upstairs, slipping into Roland's room so she could keep an eye on him. If her sister sensed that Robin was learning the truth, it was possible she would come for his son. But Regina wouldn't let that happen.
No harm would come to that little boy.
Even if it cost her everything.
Tink led Robin down into his basement and brought him to a door he hadn't noticed before. She handed him a flashlight. "You're going to need this," she said.
"Has this door always been here?" he asked, wondering how he missed it.
"Yes," she replied. "But it's usually hidden. You would only see it when you really need it."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "Like magic."
She nodded. "Exactly."
"So, my house is not only haunted but it's also magic?" he asked, wondering if she was playing an elaborate prank on him. "Really?"
"Please hold all questions until we're safe," Tink said. "Follow me."
She opened the door and started walking down. He leaned forward and turned on his flashlight, finding stone stairs. Robin glanced behind him, wondering if it was just best to head back upstairs with his son. But curiosity won out and he started down the stairs, hoping he didn't regret his decision.
He counted about fifty stairs when he reached the bottom, finding Tink standing in what appeared to be a tunnel. "Are we under the town?" he asked.
"We are," she confirmed. "These are the old mine tunnels."
"Mine?" he asked. "What was mined here?"
She glanced over her shoulder. "Tourmaline. It's the most abundant mineral in Maine. I believe it's even the state mineral."
"I didn't even know the state had a state mineral," he replied. "Then again, I don't know a lot about my new home."
"Well, you're about to find out a lot about the town," she said, leading him into a large space in the mine. Three chairs were set up and a brunette woman dressed in dark blue stood. Robin recognized her as part of the order of sisters that lived in town and he wondered why she was here.
The woman tried to smile as she held out her hand to Robin. "It's nice to meet you. I am the Mother Superior of the convent here in town but you can call me Blue," she said.
"Blue?" he asked, shaking her hand. "That's an interesting nickname."
"I suppose so," she agreed before motioning to the chairs. "Please, have a seat. I know time is of the essence."
He nodded, taking a seat while the two women flanked him. "What is going on?" he asked.
"I want to start by saying that I know what we're about to tell you is going to sound crazy and outlandish," Mother Superior said. "But I promise you that it is all true."
"Okay," he replied, not sure where this is going but open to whatever they said. After all, he lived with a ghost who his son could see and talk to while apparently living in a town where no one aged. He doubted it could get any stranger.
Mother Superior shared a look with Tink before taking a deep breath. "The reason I prefer to go by Blue is because I am the Blue Fairy and Tink is Tinkerbell. We are not from this world but instead another inhabited by those you would consider fairy tales."
It clearly got stranger.
"Fairy tales," he said slowly. "Everyone here is from a fairy tale."
"Pretty much, yes," she replied. "We were sent here by a curse cast by the mayor. You may know her better as the Wicked Witch of the West."
He had to laugh at the absurdity. "But she's not green."
"Not right now," Tink replied. "Just wait until Halloween. Then you'll see her as she truly is."
"Why don't we tell you our story?" Mother Superior suggested. "And then you can ask us any questions you have afterwards."
Robin nodded. "Alright."
"Good," she replied. "Then I guess there's only one way to begin this story. Once upon a time in the woods known as the Enchanted Forest, there was a kingdom called Mist Haven…"
She talked about a woman named Cora, who was the daughter of a miller. Cora hated her life of poverty, working the mill and delivering flour to people who looked down on her. Angered by their scorn, she vowed to become even more powerful than them and to one day make them bow to her. She thought she had found her salvation in a man she believed to be a prince but he had deceived her. He was no prince and he refused to marry her even though she was pregnant. Cora then met an older prince named Leopold and almost married him. But her former lover tried to blackmail her and a young princess named Eva revealed the scheme, leading Leopold to believe Cora just wanted him for his riches. He sent Cora away and would ultimately marry Eva, who gave birth to his only child – Snow White.
"Snow White?" Robin asked, unable to help himself. "Really?"
"Yes," Tink replied. "You know her."
That surprised him even more. "I do?"
She nodded. "You work with her – Mary Margaret Blanchard."
"Mary Margaret?" he asked, trying to imagine her in the blue and yellow dress from the Disney movie and failing. "She's Snow White?"
"Yes," Mother Superior replied. "But please, hold your questions until the end. If we stop to tell you whoever in town really is, we'll be here all night. And I know we don't have that kind of time."
He nodded, thinking of his son. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"That's okay," she said. "I know how this sounds. But I promise you that it is all true and that this isn't an elaborate prank."
She continued her story, saying that Cora had given birth to a daughter and had abandoned her in the woods. Anger flared through Robin as he remembered Roland as a baby – so small and defenseless. Roland had relied on him for everything and Robin couldn't imagine just placing him in the woods before walking away, essentially leaving him to die. Whoever this Cora was, Robin already hated her.
"Magic swept that baby away and took her to another land called Oz," Mother Superior said. "She was adopted by an older couple who never had a child of their own and named Zelena.'
"What happened to Cora?" he asked.
She sighed. "Cora snuck into a ball held by another king here in the Enchanted Forest. She lied that she could spin straw into gold and got the Dark One to teach her how to use magic to do that."
Robin frowned. "Wait, straw into gold? Isn't that the story of Rumpel…"
"No!" Tink pressed her hand to his mouth and her eyes were full of panic. "Do not say that name. It holds power, even in this realm."
He nodded, seeing that her panic was genuine and not wanting to upset her further, and she lowered her hand. "Okay. So is it that story?" he asked.
"It is," Mother Superior replied. "So Cora learned magic and spun the straw into gold. The king declared she would marry his youngest son, Henry."
Cora then became a princess though it was clear she would never become queen. She gave birth to her only child with Henry, a daughter. "And when she presented her daughter, she announced that her name was Regina for one day she would be queen," Mother Superior said.
"That would be my Regina," he said before realizing how that sounded. "I mean, the one in my house."
"Yes," Mother Superior replied, chuckling. "That baby girl grew up to be the Regina who is trapped in your house."
He nodded, putting a few more pieces together. "And she and the mayor are half-sisters?"
"Yes," Tink replied. "And that's going to be important for later."
"So Cora schemed and prepared Regina to be queen one day," Mother Superior said. "But that wasn't what Regina wanted. She wanted to live her own life."
He nodded, knowing it had to be hard to be told your whole life was already planned for you and that you were no more than a pawn for someone else's benefit. "Understandable."
"Well, one day, Cora put her plan into motion," Mother Superior continued. "She first got her revenge on Queen Eva by poisoning her, leaving King Leopold as a widower with a young child. And then she arranged for Regina to save Princess Snow White's life and the two started to bond. King Leopold then proposed to Regina and Cora accepted on her behalf."
"Did he realize she was the daughter of his former fiancée?" he asked.
Mother Superior shrugged. "We're not entirely sure."
Tink scoffed. "I'm sure he did. I doubt Cora changed that much in like twenty years or however long it was."
"Well, she was now a princess," Mother Superior replied. "She wasn't the miller's daughter anymore. More access to food, fancy clothes and her magic all could help change her and make her unrecognizable to someone who knew her before her marriage."
"I guess," Tink replied, looking unconvinced. "I still think he knew."
Mother Superior shot her a look. "Anyway, Regina did not want to be queen. And she definitely didn't want to be married to a man who was old enough to be her father or forced into being the mother to a child who was not much younger than her."
"Understandable," he replied. "What did she do?"
"She turned to magic herself," Mother Superior said, sounding displeased with Regina's decision. "To the same man who had taught her mother – the Dark One."
He frowned. "Why do you call him the Dark One?"
"It is a title he assumed when he took possession of the darkest magic possible," she replied. "He only brings chaos and destruction and darkness."
"Oh," he said, wondering more about the woman who haunted his house. "So Regina practiced dark magic?"
"No," she said. "Tink intervened, even though I told her not to do so."
Robin frowned. "Why didn't you want her to intervene?"
Mother Superior sighed, looking sheepish. "I was very stuck in my ways back then. While I often said that evil isn't born, it's made, I didn't really believe it. I believed that because Cora turned to darkness that Regina would do the same. And so I refused to give any aid to Regina, even when she called out for it. I nearly made it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
"But Tink saw the goodness in her heart," she said, motioning to Tink. "She took some pixie dust and used it to show that Regina was destined to be a great practitioner of light magic and would one day save everyone in the Enchanted Forest."
He relaxed. "And so you convinced her not to turn to the darkness?"
"Not exactly," Mother Superior replied. "I convinced Leopold to not marry her but to give her a place of honor instead. So she was made a friend of the princess and joined his royal court. Cora was not happy."
"So what happened next?" Robin asked, now invested in Regina's story.
She explained that Regina's bond with Snow White grew and she learned a great deal about how to run a country from watching Leopold and his councilors. Tink also befriended Regina during this time and taught her to use the magic she possessed for good. Regina used her magic to help heal people as well as cast protection spells to help prevent the Ogre War from reaching their kingdom. Leopold soon elevated her to his council and she was the second most powerful woman in the country, only behind Snow White.
"Cora, though, still wasn't happy with this," Mother Superior continued. "She had wanted Regina to be queen and not just any queen – she wanted Regina to be Queen of Mist Haven."
"But Regina soon discovered that her mother was literally heartless," Tink said. "She had removed her own heart with magic so she could be even more ruthless and not have to worry about pesky emotions getting in the way."
Robin felt as if his brain stopped working. "I'm sorry. People can live without their hearts in the Enchanted Forest?"
She nodded. "The magic keeps them alive. But removing hearts is dark magic and is mostly used to control people."
"Wow," he said, feeling his head spin. "Wow."
"It is a lot," Tink agreed. She motioned between herself and Mother Superior. "It was our reality but I can imagine it is difficult to believe for someone whose reality was very different."
Mother Superior nodded. "I think I will let Tink tell this part of the story. She was closer to it."
Tink looked surprised but pleased as she told about how Regina enlisted Tink's help to find where her mother had hid her heart. Regina hoped that once she had her heart, Cora would give up her plans to make Regina queen and just be happy with what she had already achieved. She also hoped that her mother would finally be able to love her as a mother should love a daughter.
"We were close to finding the heart when Cora changed the game," Tink said. "Zelena apparently travelled from Oz to find her birth mother and reconnected with Cora, who saw her as a second chance to have a daughter on the throne."
"Wait, so she was going to have Leopold marry the woman she was going to pass off as his daughter?" he asked.
Mother Superior nodded. "That is exactly what she did, though I don't think she told Leopold that Zelena was her daughter. I think she called Zelena her protégé or something like that," she said.
"It still feels weird," Robin replied.
"Because it is," Tink said. "And maybe if Cora had her heart, she would've realized it."
Mother Superior sighed. "But her plan worked this time. Zelena was more willing to play along, desperate for her mother's approval. Together, she and Cora charmed King Leopold and he quickly married her, making her his queen."
But Cora quickly learned that she couldn't control Zelena as easily as she had once controlled Regina. Zelena tended to act impulsively and led with her emotions rather than logic. Many of Cora's plans were ruined because Zelena refused to play her game, often having a tantrum instead. Leopold soon soured on his new wife and Regina worked with the council to convince him to put Zelena aside.
"Zelena, though, heard about their plan," Mother Superior said. "Either through her own magic or spies. We're not entirely sure. Either way, she moved quickly to make sure she would not lose her crown. Despite her frustrations with her daughter, Cora didn't want Zelena to lose the throne either and so arranged for Leopold to die."
"And no one was suspicious?" Robin asked, knowing that even those who didn't binge true crime shows had to suspect the pretty young wife when an older and powerful husband died – especially if he was about to divorce her.
Mother Superior shook her head. "Cora knew her potions and how to administer them. Everyone just assumed he died in his sleep."
"Except Snow White and Regina," Tink said. "They suspected his death wasn't natural but they were unable to prove it."
"Because of Snow White's age, she would need a regent. Zelena and Cora changed the documents Leopold had written up so that Zelena rather than Regina was named the regent until Snow White came of age," Mother Superior continued. "But the princess was close to the age of majority and Zelena knew that meant there was a clock on her time in power."
Robin's stomach turned since he knew the story of Snow White. "Zelena tried to kill Snow White."
Mother Superior nodded. "And she tried to kill Regina as well. But Regina's father found out. He found a way to get the two out of the castle and they ran away, leaving Zelena and Cora behind."
"What happened with Cora?" he asked. "How did she react to learning that Zelena tried to kill Regina? Or did she not care because she was without her heart?"
"She cared," Tink replied. "Even without her heart, some part of Cora still loved Regina and was livid that Zelena would kill her. And that sent Zelena into a further rage and now directed all of it on Regina because she felt inferior to her. She wanted to destroy Regina."
Mother Superior nodded. "Cora did try to stop Zelena but Zelena managed to find her heart. She used it to control her mother."
Robin shivered, surprised he felt sympathy for Cora. "How awful."
"Surprisingly, I agree," Tink said. "Regina and Snow White came to us for help. We managed to hide them with the help of some dwarves who lived nearby – and not a moment too soon."
She explained that Zelena used her magic to terrorize the Enchanted Forest in her quest to find Regina as well as Snow White. But thanks to the fairies' protection and Regina's growing magic, her quest always proved fruitless. Snow and Regina were able to rally the people to their side and over the next few years, they gained new allies – including a handsome shepherd posing as a prince.
Robin's heart skipped a beat and his stomach tightened as he imagined that there was some prince out there looking for Regina. "A handsome prince?"
"Yes," Tink said, looking like she was trying not to smile. "Snow fell for him hard – almost literally. And I think he fell just as hard for her."
"Oh," he replied, relief filling him.
She nodded before asking: "Have you met David Nolan?"
"Not formally," he said, thinking of the man who often picked up Mary Margaret. "But I've seen him outside the school."
"He became another ally for Snow and Regina, who viewed him more like a brother," Tink said. Robin suspected she said that for his sake more than anything else. "And together they kept working to try to stop Zelena and restore Snow to the throne."
Mother Superior turned serious. "Then we got word that Zelena was about to cast the Dark Curse. We didn't know what exactly it would do except that it would take away all the happy endings in the Enchanted Forest except for Zelena's."
"That does sound ominous," Robin said, his mind putting things together. "Is that how you ended up here?"
"Pretty much," Tink replied. "But that is where it gets complicated."
She explained that Regina and Tink went to stop Zelena from casting the curse. They snuck into the palace together and found where she had set up the cauldron with the potion needed to create the curse. With the Blue Fairy's help and lots of research, Regina had managed to create a potion that would hopefully deactivate the potion and leave Zelena unable to cast the curse. David and Snow created a diversion to get Zelena out of the castle so they had expected to be able to sneak in and sneak out before she knew what had happened.
"Unfortunately, that diversion didn't go as well as we hoped," Tink said. "Zelena returned just as we got to her workroom."
"What happened?" he asked, curious.
Tink sighed. "We had a magic battle with Zelena. And for a while, it seemed Regina and I were winning…until Zelena threw me into a wall. I was knocked out and that left Regina to fight by herself."
Mother Superior said that when the distraction failed to keep Zelena from her castle for as long as they wanted, she and the other fairies went to the castle to help Regina and Tink while Snow and Charming stayed behind with their supporters. The fairies arrived to find Tink unconscious and Regina still engaged in a battle with Zelena. Regina kept trying to get to the cauldron to stop the curse but Zelena kept rebuffing her as it grew obvious that the curse was almost at full strength.
"I managed to get the bag from Regina," Mother Superior said. "I was heading over to the cauldron when Zelena threw a knife at me. It missed me but snagged the bag, causing all the ingredients to spill out. I tried to fly quickly but it was too late – the bag was empty by the time I got to the cauldron. It seemed Zelena thwarted us.
"The curse also then reached its full potency and erupted in a cloud of green smoke, knocking me over. I landed on the floor by Tink, who was starting to come around by then," she continued, nodding to Tink.
Tink jumped into the story again. "We thought we had lost but then Regina stood as her hands glowed with white magic. She shot it toward the curse, infusing her magic with it as it started to swallow the Enchanted Forest."
Robin's heart pounded in his chest. "Is that why it was complicated? Because her magic sent you all here instead of whatever the curse was supposed to do?"
"No, the curse was meant to send us here," Mother Superior said. "This is a land without magic and therefore it would take away our happy endings."
"It was also supposed to take away our memories and give us new identities," Tink said. "Regina's magical interference preserved our memories."
He nodded, glad that happened. If none of them remembered who they were, it was likely Zelena would be unstoppable and would be making their lives miserable. Or at least more miserable than they already were.
"So what happened to Regina?" he asked, curious as to why only her spirit haunted her house. Had she died to save the people she cared about and now the only way to put her spirit to rest was to save them from Zelena? Though he couldn't see or hear her, Robin knew he would miss her if they managed that but knew she would at least be at peace.
"Zelena hit her back with her own magic," Tink said. "We believe she trapped Regina between realms."
Robin's stomach dropped. "Oh."
Mother Superior nodded. "She was the only one unaccounted for physically when we arrived here. And we knew Zelena was looking for her so we knew we had to find her first. Thankfully the curse made Tink a real estate agent and when she went to look at her houses, she found the one that was meant to be Regina's."
"I saw her spirit but she doesn't really know what happened either," Tink said. "She said her body is one place but her spirit can travel. She wasn't able to tell me where her body was but I think I know the best way to find it."
"The door," he said, thinking of the mysterious door in his house that kept appearing in his dreams as well.
Both women nodded again. He then asked: "Have you tried to open it?"
"Yes," Tink said. "And we believe Zelena has as well. But none of us could open it. It's stuck."
"And that's where you come in," Mother Superior said.
Robin frowned. "What do you mean?"
Tink motioned around them. "While it was a pre-existing mine tunnel, we found it is also one of the last remaining connections to the Enchanted Forest and contains some magic. I used the magic and one of the gemstones once mined here to again look into the future to see if there was a way to stop Zelena. And the stone showed me a man with a lion tattoo."
"A lion tattoo?" he asked, rolling up his sleeve to reveal his own. "You believe I can help because of my tattoo?"
"Yes," Tink replied.
He frowned looking down at his tattoo again – a symbol he had seen constantly growing up in England. "But this isn't something unique. How do you know I'm the right man with the lion tattoo?"
Robin looked up again and Mother Superior smiled softly. "While it's a fair question, we know it's you. After all, you found the listing for Regina's house on the internet and you've been able to enter Storybrooke. All signs point to you."
"Wait, wait, I think I need one thing clarified," he said, holding up his hands. "Is she still alive?"
They nodded. "She is alive. Her spirit is just separate from her body. But from what she's told me, her heart is still beating and so she is still alive – just suspended in time," Tink said.
"Oh," he said softly as the magnitude of the situation started to sink in for him. "So I need to rescue Regina so she can stop Zelena. What does Halloween have to do with it?"
"Everything," Mother Superior said. "Halloween marks the anniversary of our arrival from the Enchanted Forest. And as I'm sure you've realized, we are stuck in a time loop. Which means that Zelena and Regina relive their battle here in Storybrooke."
Tink nodded. "And that causes a lot of damage. Even though Regina is still in spirit form, she is her most powerful on Halloween and it's almost as if she's back in her body when she fights with Zelena. Unfortunately, it always ends in a draw with most of the city damaged if not destroyed."
"And then the next morning, it's like it never happened," Mother Superior said. "But it doesn't mean people can't get hurt or be displaced for a night. It's why we encourage families to leave and spend Halloween elsewhere."
"Understandable," he replied. "But does it have to be this Halloween? Or could we spend the year coming up with a plan and put it into action next Halloween?"
Mother Superior shook her head. "I'm afraid that won't be possible."
"Regina's been fading over the years," Tink said sadly. "When we first got here, she looked solid and like she was really here. Only when you went to touch her did you realize she wasn't. But lately, she has looked more and more translucent. Last year, we barely saw her."
Mother Superior looked solemn as she said: "We believe the connection between our realms is getting weaker and weaker. This tunnel used to be a lot longer. It will likely be gone in a few years but we think this might be Regina's last Halloween."
His heart skipped a beat. "What would happen to her body then?"
"We don't know," she replied softly. "And honestly, I don't think we want to think about it. What we do know is that without Regina, Zelena will likely be able to make all our lives a living hell."
"So only she will be happy," Robin said, frowning. "And the rest of us will suffer."
Tink nodded. "Though I can't even say she will be happy. I don't want to know what would happen if she realizes that."
He shuddered. "There's a lot at stake."
"There is," Mother Superior said. "We also can't guarantee that you won't get hurt or worse. And so we will understand if you need to back out. We won't hold it against you."
"You may not but I don't know if I can live with myself if I just abandon you like that," he said. Though he didn't say it out loud, he also thought that he couldn't just abandon Regina like that either.
Tink smiled. "And that's why you're the right man with a lion tattoo."
Mother Superior nodded. "We know it's a big decision. We still have a few days until Halloween. Let's all go home and you can sleep on it. How does that sound?"
"I think that sounds good," he replied, feeling tired. "Thank you."
"Please escort him home, Tink," she said. "I'll see you back at the convent."
Tink nodded. "See you there. Be careful. I'm sure she will be watching."
"I know," Mother Superior replied. "You need to be careful as well. You too, Robin."
"Understood," he said, knowing that he likely had an even bigger target on his back. Zelena knew who he was and what his presence meant in Storybrooke. No wonder she had kept trying to get close to him.
Tink motioned for him to follow her and they walked back down the tunnels. "I want you to remember these tunnels are always here. And they are the only place in Storybrooke that won't be affected by what happens on Halloween," she told him.
He nodded, knowing she was telling him about one sanctuary. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Good," she said, bringing him back to his basement. "This is where I leave you. Can you tell Regina I said goodnight?"
"I will," he promised. "Goodnight, Tink. Be safe."
She nodded. "You too. Goodnight."
He then opened the door and stepped into his basement. Robin closed the door and locked it, taking a deep breath as he hoped Tink made it home safely. For now, he was going to change and go to bed, hoping a good night's rest would help him process everything better.
But in his heart, he knew what his decision had to be.
Regina heard Robin's footsteps on the stairs. She floated from Roland's room, where she had been sitting and humming while she watched him sleep, and saw Robin arrive on the landing. He paused for a moment, looking around. "Regina?"
"Yes?" she asked before remembering he couldn't hear her. She sighed, wishing she could communicate to him somehow.
"I'm just going to trust that you can hear me," he said. "First, Tink says goodnight."
Warmth spread through Regina as she thought of her friend – the first one she ever really had in her life, who supported her and helped her escape what would've been a miserable marriage to King Leopold. And then she had really bonded with Snow White, who she also missed so much in this world. She understood, though, why Snow had to stay away in this world. Zelena still had too much power even without her magic. At least Tink used to stop by every so often with the excuse of checking on the property and would talk with Regina, updating her on what was happening to everyone in Storybrooke.
She prayed that one day soon she would be able to talk and see everyone in person again though her hope grew dimmer with each passing year.
"And second, I promise you that I will find a way to save you from wherever you are," he said. "Then we will stop Zelena and save everyone else."
Fear seized her as she looked back at Roland for a moment. Robin sounded confident that everything would turn out alright but Regina didn't share his belief. Ever since Zelena had arrived, nothing seemed to go according to plan. She wanted to believe she would stop her sister but after almost thirty years, she feared Zelena was destined to win. Maybe the stories had all been wrong – good didn't triumph over evil after all.
And innocent people always got hurt.
"I'm going to go to bed," he said, motioning toward his bedroom. "Goodnight, Regina. Sweet dreams."
"Sweet dreams, Robin," she repeated, watching as he disappeared into his bedroom. Once the door closed, she drifted back toward hers. Slipping through it, she hovered over her body and sighed. Regina knew she didn't have much time left but she would rather sacrifice herself to make sure Roland never had to suffer.
And before she did, she would make sure Robin left Storybrooke and found a new life for himself and Roland in a place far away from her sister.
Except there is no place far away from her, a small voice told her. She will not stop at Storybrooke. She will want to take over the entire state and then the country and then the world. He will never be safe.
Deep down, she knew that voice was right.
Regina had never given up before and she knew she couldn't do so now. Too many people she loved would get hurt if she just let Zelena win. Snow, David, Tink, Robin, Roland and everyone else relied on her. And she wouldn't let them down.
She was going to fight until the very end – whether it was Zelena's or her own. Regina would then die with the knowledge she had done everything she could to rescue those she loved from her sister's wicked path.
"I will stop you, Zelena," she vowed. "Even if it's the last thing I do."
A/N: Happy Halloween! I had hoped to finish this off this year but I guess the story had other ideas. So now you have more information about what's going on in Storybrooke and Regina. What will happen next?
Find out – maybe before Halloween? Who knows?
-Mac