Chapter 1: A New Chapter

The warm light from the diner's windows spills across the table where Regina, Emma, Henry, Snow, and David sit. The hum of quiet conversation and the sizzle of bacon in the kitchen fills the air. Henry reaching down into his satchel pulls out his infamous storybook, and flips through the Once Upon A Time storybook, his fingers hesitating on a new page.

Since she's raised Henry from infancy, Regina is the first to recognize the worry on her son's face. "What's wrong, Henry?"

Nervously, Henry admits "I—I found something new in the book this morning. It wasn't here before."

He slowly turns the book toward the group. The new illustration is striking: an imposing figure wearing a knight's armor, face hidden behind a great helmet, yet radiating power and mystery. Even under armor, it's clear the knight was female, and with magic powers given the fire ball in her left hand. Her surcoat gleams ominously with an black swan wearing a gold crown emblem in the illustration, and her presence commands the page.

The group leans in, curious. Henry reads aloud the citation next to the image: "The Mills Three shall reunite, and Evil shall Reign once again."

A heavy silence falls over the table. Snow's brow furrows as she looks from the book to Regina, "The Mills…?"

David whispering, "That can't be good." Looking up to see four sets of eyes on him, adds sheepishly, "Sorry."

Henry flips the page slightly, revealing a label beside the figure that reads: The Evil Princess. The group exchanges nervous glances, the tension rising in the booth.

Frowning, Emma glances at Regina, "I mean, it could be about you, but... maybe it's something else. We don't know what this could mean yet. It doesn't have to be you."

Regina stiffens but manages a small, tight smile at Emma's attempt to ease the tension. There's a flicker of gratitude in her eyes, but she quickly turns her attention to the book, trying to keep her composure. Scoffing at a thought, "Oh, of course. Maybe Cora hid another sister from me. Just what I need." Her tone drips with sarcasm, and there's a bitter edge to it.

Snow tries to reassure Regina, a sign of how far they've truly come. "Maybe It's just another prophecy, another story meant to stir up fear. It doesn't mean anything." But her voice lacks the usual confidence. She glances at her daughter, still looking at the new images, her face full of concern. Before she can try to also reassure Emma, Ruby bounces over ready to take their food order as Henry tentatively continues.

"But Mom, The Evil Princess... that's what it says. Do you think it could really mean something?"

Interest peaked, Ruby asks "The Evil Princess? Don't tell me you're labeling Zelena's little girl evil?"

Henry looks alarmed at Ruby. "No! She's just a baby."

Regina looks away, her jaw tightening, remembering that she too was once a baby and an innocent girl before Rumple became her mentor. She sets her coffee cup down gently, her hand lingering on the edge of the book and reminding herself that she's moved on. Evidence next to her in the form of her son.

"Maybe Ruby's right. Not about my cousin being an evil baby but that maybe the book means you, baby Robin, and Aunt Zelena are the three Mills?"

Bitterly, Regina replies, "I don't know why this book keeps mentioning my family, but it's nothing worth worrying about."

Looking at Regina, Snow cautiously interjects "But that doesn't seem like just a coincidence, does it? It says evil will reign again. The Mills three...?"

All of a sudden, a loud pot crashing can be heard in the kitchen before Granny hurriedly walks over to the town's most prominent family.

"Are you ok, Granny? Never known you to drop even a ladle."

Ignoring her granddaughter, she looks at Snow. "What did you say?" Without waiting for anyone to answer, Granny looks at the pages showing the powerful sorceress.

Henry, looking deeply troubled, looks at Snow, then back to Regina. "Um, Granny? Do you know her?

Shaking her head and dismissing all their concerns, "No. I don't know who this is."

"Granny, are you sure about that?" Emma's eyes narrowing at the elder Lucas woman.

Granny's eyes linger on the illustration a moment too long, but she quickly pulls back and turns toward the back of the diner, walking away just as swiftly as she came. As soon as she reaches the kitchen door, she pulls a cellphone from her apron pocket, her fingers shaking ever so slightly as she taps out a message - You need to come to the diner now.

Granny quickly slips the phone back into her pocket, making sure no one noticed.

Emma's gaze lingers on Granny's back as she walks away, the abruptness of Granny's departure raising more questions than answers. Turning back to Regina and placing a reassuring hand on her arm. "Maybe it's just a warning, Regina. We've seen worse before. We'll figure it out."

Regina looks at Emma, her eyes softening slightly in gratitude. Despite her fierce exterior, the support of the woman who's been her ally—albeit reluctantly at times—means more than she lets on.

As each person at the table reflects on the message from the storybook, Ruby clears her, "So, are you guys ready to order or want to continue thinking in silence?"

At the same time as the Swan-Mills-White family start listing their food orders, a certain blonde is reading Granny's urgent text, not liking what it could possibly mean for the Evil Queen's daughter coming to Storybook. With a frown, they make their way to the diner.

A/N: This is my first story but just re-uploading because something went wrong the first time.