Once upon a time, an evil queen banished every storybook character you've ever known to our world. Who knows the truth and who can break the spell?
It was one week ago when Jefferson, Emma Swan, and Mary Margaret Blanchard had that ordeal. Time passed and Emma still didn't know where he was.
Regina Mills has a silver ring in her hand and is looking at it, twisting it in her fingers. She pressed it to her lips and kissed it, closing her eyes as she remembered all of the memories between her and the man who was wearing that ring.
"Remembrance of things past?" asked Mr. Gold.
Regina's eyes opened immediately and she put the ring back into a small gold jewelry box that was kept on her desk. "What do you want?" she demanded.
"I need a favor," said Gold—who was standing near the door.
"You need a favor from me?" she asked, turning around to face him while taking the small gold jewelry box in her hand and hiding it behind her back.
"Well, as you know, there are battery charges against me pending," he explained, taking a few steps into the office. "I really don't relish the thought of spending any more time locked up in a cage. Now, someone with your influence can make the DA suddenly realize what a flimsy case they have. Isn't that right, Your Majesty?" He walked over to the left side of her office, her eyes still on him. He picked up a red apple from the dish—and boy, did she have many red apples.
"What do I get out of it?" she asked, walking behind her desk—still hiding the jewelry box behind her back.
"Help with your Mary Margaret problem. You see, I've noticed that no matter how hard you seem to try to stop them," he walked and stood in front of Regina's desk, "she and her charming friend just keep finding ways to be together."
"What are you suggesting?" Regina said snootily.
"If you want to inflict pain," he set the apple in the middle of the desk, sitting in the chair. "Then you must inflict pain. If something tragic were to happen to David's wife, and if Mary Margret would take the blame..."
"She'd be ruined," said Regina, finishing his sentence.
"And you'd have your victory at last."
"A trial could be very messy."
Mr. Gold breathed in. "A trial. Now, who said anything about a trial?" he asked, taunting her. "Now, once Miss Blanchard has been incarcerated, you can plant one of your lovely skeleton keys in her cell. And when she tries to leave Storybrooke, well, we all know what happens to people who attempt to leave town."
Regina folded her arms on her desk and leaned forward. "Give me one good reason why I should trust you," she said, not trusting Gold at all. She knew better than to trust him.
"Because I always honor my agreements," said Mr. Gold, reaching to take the apple and standing up. "Do we have a deal?" He tossed the apple to Regina and she caught it with her hands.
Regina smiled at Gold. She knew that she couldn't really trust him. Not fully. He has tricks. And he was the most feared person in their small town, next to her. Of course.
Regina was at the stables and she was on her horse with the riding gear on her and on the horse. She rode him and jumped over Horse Jump Poles—they were red and white poles. "Yes," said Prince Henry—Regina's father. The horse jumped over another one while Prince Henry stood and watched on the sidelines with a proud smile on his face while he watched his daughter. After the horse jumped over the last one, Regina made the horse stop and she got off the horse, she walked over to her father while holding onto the reins of the horse with a smile on her face. They both hugged each other and they were both proud.
"That's beautiful, sweetheart," said Prince Henry.
"Thank you, Daddy," said Regina, kissing her father's cheek.
"Beautiful?" said a voice, scoffs.
The woman walked over to Regina and Prince Henry, while a man walked behind her with items, like a rope and a saddle. The woman's name is Cora. She has pale skin, brown eyes, and brownish-reddish hair that is up and out of her face. She was wearing a black dress along with a black cloak and a silver strap to the black cloak.
"I'd hardly call that beautiful," she continued.
"You didn't like it, Mother?" asked Regina.
"You ride like a man," said Cora. "A lady should be graceful. You should use a saddle."
"I was just having fun." Regina ran her hand down the horse's nose gently.
Cora smiled and chuckled bitterly. "Well, you're getting a little old for fun," she commented. "Who's going to want to marry you when you behave like a commoner?"
Prince Henry took a step forward. "Honey, please, leave her alone..." he said gently.
"Stop coddling her," said Cora with a hard voice and a face to match. "She's becoming an old maid. All the other girls her age are married." A soft sigh left her lips. "I had such high hopes."
"M'lady, perhaps this saddle..." said the Stable Boy, walking toward Regina.
"I'm done riding for the day," Regina interrupted him and tugged on the reins for the horse to follow her, and she stopped just a couple of feet away from him. "And don't ever interrupt me and my mother again." She walked over to the Stable Boy with the horse behind her and gave the reins to him then he wrapped the rope around the horse's neck and lightly tugged it, following him back to the stables but not before he looked back at Regina.
A soft sigh left Regina's lips, looking down for a moment then looked over at her mother. "Why do you always have to criticize me?" she asked with bitterness in her voice.
"I'm not criticizing you. I'm helping you." Cora said, 'trying' to be helpful toward her daughter.
Regina looked at Cora for a moment then scoffed and started to walk away from her. She was angry that her mother would always criticize her. Never a 'good job' or 'that's wonderful'. It's always a negative. Never anything positive. She wished for a mother to always be there for her. And not some cold-hearted witch. At least she has her loving and kind father by her side.
"Don't you walk away from me," Cora angrily said. She outstretched her arm and used her powers to lift Regina in the air.
"Oh! Mother!" Regina cried out, struggling in the air and she was getting closer to her mother. "You know I don't like it when you use magic."
Cora chuckled bitterly. "And I don't like insolence. I'll stop using magic"—she put her arm back down to her side while Regina was still in the air—"when you start being an obedient daughter."
Regina scoffed at her mother's words. "Why can't I just be myself?" she asked.
"Because you can be so much more. If you'd just let me help you."
"I don't care about status. I just want to be..."
Regina started to say when Cora lifted her hand and opened her hand up and Regina gasped as she was lifted up more in the air, the reins fell from her hand and wrapped it around her, and she looked down.
"Cora, please," said Henry, trying to calm his wife down.
Terrified. Fear in her eyes and voice. "Please, I'll be good," she pleaded.
Cora unclenched her fists and the reins undone Regina's body and slowly her feet met the ground. "Excellent. That's all I wanted to hear." She smiled at her daughter.
Regina looked at her mother for a second, she shook her head with tears in her eyes as she ran toward the stables. Where the Stable Boy was grooming the horse that Regina was riding. She walked in and looked back into the field, panting hard, and turned to look at the Stable Boy. "Daniel," she said, looking down while she walked over to him, "I'm sorry I snapped at you."
"That's all right," said Daniel. He closed the gap between them while he rubbed his hands together. "You'll just have to find some way to make it up to me."
As soon as he said that, Regina closed the rest of the space between the two and kissed him hard as she wrapped her arms around his neck and then pulled away. They smiled at each other for a second then Regina leaned in and kissed him but gentler this time.
No one knew that Daniel and Regina had a secret relationship. And she liked it like that. She knew that her mother would never let her see him ever again. Or worse. But she didn't want to think about that, all she wanted to think about was Daniel and only Daniel. He is her first love.
Emma was walking out of Granny's Diner while putting up her blond hair when she heard David's voice calling out to her.
"Emma, hey," he said, getting her attention.
"David, I don't have time," she said.
"No, no. I understand. It's Mary Margaret. How's she doing?" he asked while holding an umbrella above his head as he walked beside Emma.
"How do you think she's doing?" she snapped at him not looking him in the eyes.
They walked across the road as Emma pulled out her car keys for her yellow bug.
"Well, I think the last time we spoke, she didn't quite get what I meant."
"Oh! You mean that you basically told her you thought she might be guilty."
"Look, it's this situation. It's been confusing and horrible for everyone. But, Emma, I don't think she's guilty. I need her to know that."
Emma opened her door and she still wasn't looking into his eyes but David looked at her with fierceness in his eyes.
"Can I see her?" he asked.
"She doesn't want visitors."
"You mean me. She doesn't want to see me."
"Honestly, David, I'm sure your heart is in the right place. But the last thing she needs right now is words of encouragement from you." She got into the car and looked up at him for the first time since they talked.
"What does she need?" he asked.
"A miracle," she said bluntly, closing the door and starting the car engine. She rode down the road while David stood there with his umbrella and the rain pouring down on it and around him. Then, he walked on the sidewalk in the opposite way that Emma went.
Mary Margaret is in her cell, she lying in the cot bed with a blanket over her body. Her eyes opened and turned her head, gasping and sitting up in her bed. She could hear her heart beating and the blood rushing to her ears as Regina sat in a car just a few feet away from the cell.
"They say only the guilty sleep in prison," Regina said with a smirk.
"What are you doing here?" Mary Margaret asked, looking down at her lap and fiddling with the blanket. "Where's Emma?"
"She hasn't arrived yet. I just wanted to stop by to offer you a chance." Mary Margaret took the blanket off her lap and looked over at Regina. "A chance to spare yourself, and this town, the messiness of a trial. The chance to confess."
Mary Margaret stood up and walked over to the bars of the cell. "But I didn't kill Kathryn," she said. "Why won't anyone believe me?" She knew that she didn't kill Kathryn, she could never do such a thing.
"The murder weapon was found in your apartment. Your fingerprint was on the box containing Kathryn's heart. Shall I go on?" Regina leaned in just a tad. Then she stood up and walked closer to the cell. "Why not, for once, make it easier on everyone? Because, confession or not, you're leaving Storybrooke." She kept an even and low voice, it was threatening.
"And you like that. Why? Why do you take such pleasure in this? What did I ever do to make you hate me so much?" Mary Margaret asked with an equally low and even voice. She truly didn't understand why Regina hated her so much and she wasn't going down without a fight. She wouldn't let Regina win.
Not now.
Not ever.
Regina was riding on her horse and riding away from the castle and the stables. She wanted to get away from her mother and everyone and everything—but especially her mother. Slowing the horse down, she saw Daniel lean against the tree and walking over to her. Her horse stopped and got down with a smile on her face as she met him. They hugged and kissed while her horse followed close behind her. After a few seconds, they broke away and held each other close.
"I thought we could take a ride to Firefly Hill," Daniel suggested. "And make it sundown and have a picnic..."
"I can't," breathed Regina. "I have to be back in an hour. Tea time." She rolled her eyes at that. "A lady never misses her tea time."
Daniel pulled away from Regina, turned his back to her, and walked a few steps away from her. "This is absurd. Stealing kisses between lunch and tea?" He turned back around to face her. "When are you gonna tell your parents about us?"
Regina took a few steps toward Daniel. "It's not my parents." She placed her hands on his chest. "It's her." She shook her head and breathed out.
He shook his head and then looked away from her for a moment before he looked at Regina. "I don't understand. So I work in the stables, she started out as the daughter of a miller. Wouldn't she, of all people, understand..."
"She does," Regina interrupted. "But she thinks one's trajectory needs to keep moving up and..." She took a breath in.
"And I'm down," Daniel finished her sentence. He pulled away from her and walked away once again.
"She believes that. Daniel, I know better." Regina placed a hand on his arm and he turned back around to face her once more.
He lowered himself to be on her level. "Regina, tell her. She'll get over it. What can she do?" he asked.
"Have you not seen her magic?" she asked in a panicked voice. "The real question is, What can't she do?"
"Who cares about magic?" he asked, placing a hand on her face. "True love is the most powerful magic of all. It can overcome anything."
They were about to kiss when a girl on a horse screamed out: "Help!" They pulled apart when they heard her. "Somebody help me!" cried out the girl again.
Regina gasped when she saw her, she quickly ran toward her horse and got on quickly then Daniel took a step behind her when Regina lifted up the reins of the horse and slapped it against the skin of the horse, following behind the horse and the girl.
"Come on, boy, stop! Help me!" said the screaming young girl.
Regina was riding as fast as she could to catch up to the little girl in trouble.
"Help!" she screamed again. "Help me! Please help me!" She had her head down on the horse while the horse kept running through the open field.
Regina was catching up and she was getting closer to the horse and the young girl. She was next to the horse, holding out her hand. "Give me your hand," she yelled out to the girl.
The young girl took Regina's hand and she laid across in front of Regina's lap the horse slowed down while the other ran away from them. The young girl dropped onto the grass while Regina got off the horse and walked over to the girl quickly, bending halfway down to help her up on her feet.
"It's okay, dear. You're safe," Regina said gently.
"You saved my life," said the young girl—she has pale skin and rosy cheeks, she was wearing a light pink dress and a light pink shawl with white fur around the edges—looking into Regina's eyes. So happy that someone had saved her life. She was so grateful.
"Are you all right?" Regina asked, looking her up and down to see if she was hurt or bleeding.
"Yes," she breathed out. "But I'll never ride again."
A soft laugh left her lips and shook her head. "Nonsense," Regina said with a smile. "The only way to overcome fear is to face it. to get back on that horse as soon as possible."
"Thank you," the young girl breathed out.
"Regina," she introduces herself to the girl, smiling.
"I'm Snow. Snow White," she said with a smile.
The two of them hugged each other and smiled. Snow was so happy to have met Regina. Now they could be friends.
Mary Margaret was sitting on the bed, her back against the brick wall while looking at Emma—whose back was turned to her and Mr. Gold was standing in front of them both. "A pre-trial interview with the prosecution?" she asked. "Explain to me how that is a good idea."
"The DA merely wishes to ask Ms. Blanchard a few questions," explained Gold.
"She's done answering questions. And why are we kissing up to the DA? Why aren't we going after Regina? She's the one who's setting up Mary Margaret." Emma is defending her friend and she knew that Regina was doing all of this but she didn't know how she was doing all of this. But she knew that it was Regina.
"And what proof do we have of that, Sheriff?" asked Mr. Gold. "Just because you found the Mayor's skeleton key in the cell doesn't mean we can prove she put it there."
"So what's your plan?" asked Emma.
"I believe our best chance of winning this case is to employ our most valuable asset," said Mr. Gold mysteriously.
"What's that?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Well, that's you, dear," said Mr. Gold, looking at her and taking a step toward the cell. "A sweet, kind elementary school teacher. Doesn't exactly fit the prototype of a killer, now, does it?"
"That's how you're gonna get her acquitted?" asked Emma, trying to figure out his angel. "By using her personality?"
"Perception is everything, Ms. Swan, not just in a courtroom, but in life. As such, I'm sure you can imagine how the jury would perceive Ms. Blanchard if she agreed to cooperate with the District Attorney. These things engender trust. It shows the jury she's at least trying..." Mr. Gold explained before he got interrupted by a familiar voice, someone who she hadn't heard or seen in a long time.
"Emma?" asked Sidney. They all turned to look at him, surprised that he was here and he held a vase with tuples—yellow and pink tuples to be exact. "I'm sorry to interrupt. I just came by to drop these off. I thought they might brighten the place up."
Emma walked toward Sidney who walked into Emma's private office and sat the vase down on the desk she met him there. Her face was serious as they looked at each other.
"What did you find?" she asked Sidney.
"Nothing," he answered quickly. "I'm sorry, Emma, I tried. I really did. I looked into her phone records, I talked to the people at the toll bridge. But what can I say, Regina, knows how to cover her tracks."
"What about the murder weapon? Did you find anything tying her to that?" she asked.
"From what I can tell, she never bought or owned a hunting knife," he answered.
"That's all you were able to uncover?" she asked, kind of disappointed.
"Don't worry. I'm gonna keep digging," Sidney said, reassuring her. "And I won't stop until I do find something." He turned and walked out of the office and out of the building.
Emma walked back over to Mary Margaret and Mr. Gold, the two were whispering. She leaned against the cell bars and looked over at Emma. "I'm gonna do it. I'm gonna talk to the DA," said Mary Margaret.
Emma was shocked that she decided but she also knew that she couldn't change her mind about it either. "Are you sure?" she asked, just double-checking if she really wanted to go through with it or not.
"Mr. Gold's right. I know I have nothing to hide. But no one else does." She explained and Mr. Gold's smiled to himself. "I need to let people see me for who I am."
"Excellent decision, Ms. Blanchard," said a male voice. "My name is Spencer. I'm the District Attorney. Shall we begin?" he asked and Regina was just walking in behind the DA with a smile on her face.
"Yeah," said Mary Margaret with a smile and nodded once.
Mr. Gold and Mary Margaret were in the interrogation room with DA Spencer sitting across from the two of them. "After she learned about your affair, Mrs. Nolan, the deceased came to your school to confront you. Is that correct?" asked Spencer while Emma and Regina were looking and listening to the whole conversation.
"She was hurt. She felt betrayed." She answered with an even voice.
"She struck you. In the face, was it?"
"Yes. But..." she stuttered.
"That must have made you angry," he stated.
"You don't have to answer that," said Gold.
"No, it's okay," said Mary Margaret, looking Spencer right in the eye. "I was not angry. I was sorry for all the pain I had caused her."
Spencer snickered at her comment. "Ms. Blanchard, this is not a courtroom. I'm not here to judge you. You can be honest with me."
"Shall we end this?" Mr. Gold asked, looking straight at the DA.
"I am being honest with you," said Mary Margaret, narrowing her eyes at Spencer.
"The wife of the man you loved humiliated you in a public forum. Surely you must have felt some anger towards Kathryn."
"Yes, I was angry."
"And did you ever think about acting upon that anger?" asked Spencer, making sure that Mary Margaret couldn't say any more.
She looked away from him for a moment then she rolled her eyes at the question. "Of course not," she answered.
"I have a hard time believing that," said Spencer with an even voice.
She breathed out then looked between Mr. Gold and Spencer, turning to look at the DA. "Why?" she asked.
"Because you wanted Kathryn Nolan gone," said Spencer calmly.
"I never said that," said Mary Margaret, her heart racing fast.
"All right," said Mr. Gold, standing up, "my client is answering no more questions for the day."
"Your client agreed to this interview because she claimed she had nothing to hide," augured Spencer.
"I don't have anything to hide," said Mary Margaret loudly.
"Then what is your answer? You wanted Kathryn gone, didn't you?" he asked her.
"No," she said firmly and loudly.
"Even after she tried to keep you and David apart? After she slapped you in public? After she made you a pariah in your own town?" He kept asking question after question until she admitted what she had done to Kathryn.
"Yes, of course, I wanted her gone! She was the only thing keeping us apart. So yeah, I wanted her gone. Is that what you want to hear?" She said. Then she realized what she said, the room was quiet and she looked at the DA and then at Mr. Gold. Mr. Gold closed his eyes and sighed heavily, tilting his head back.
Regina had a sly grin, she had finally got Mary Margaret to admit to something dark, and she got her where she wanted. Mary Margaret will be going to jail. She got her revenge on her. She had won.
Regina was still in her outfit but she was in a room and standing in front of a large mirror, she was checking out her outfit, making sure it wasn't dirty or had any smudges on it.
Cora came into the room and Regina turned around to face her. "No, this won't do," said Cora, lifting up her arm and red smoke around Regina.
She looked confused and looked at the red smoke. "What are you doing?" she demanded. Now she was wearing a baby blue dress and her hair was down, falling down over her shoulders. She lifted up the dress in confusion and looked up at her mother.
Cora came over and started fluffing out Regina's hair. "We have a guest. He'll be here any moment," she said to her daughter.
"I can't," Regina breathed out, gently pushing her mother's hands away from her hair. "I have a riding lesson with Daniel."
"Well, that's been canceled. Now smile. We don't want to disappoint him."
"Disappoint who?"
"The King," said Cora with a bright smile.
Regina let out a laugh of disbelief. "The King? Why is the King coming?" she asked, half smiling.
"Because you've finally done something right," Cora said excitedly, wrapping an arm around her daughter's shoulder while Regina wrapped her arm around Cora's waist. "That little girl you saved is the King's daughter." They both walked past the long table with candles that were lit and between the candles was a bronze horse.
Regina gasped when Prince Henry and King Leopold with his two knights and his page. King Leopold looked at Regina with a soft smile, "Is that her?" he asked.
"Yes," said Prince Henry, Cora bowed to the King. "Regina, honey, this is Snow White's father."
Regina bowed to King Leopold and so did Cora...again.
"No," said King Leopold, Regina, and Cora looked up...shocked, "It is I who should bow to you." He walked toward the two women, who now stood up straight. "You saved my daughter's life. There is no way to repay that debt. It is an honor to meet you." The King bowed down to Regina and Cora watched the interaction and an idea came to mind.
"Regina, dear, the King is honored to meet you. Say something," said Cora.
"Oh!" said Regina, forgetting her manners. "The honor is mine."
"You're quite lucky to have a mother who looks out for you," said King Leopold. "My dear Snow has many things, but a mother is not one of them. We lost her years ago."
"I'm so sorry," said Regina.
"Since then I have scoured the land looking for a wife. I have yet to find a woman with an interest in my daughter, until now." King Leopold glanced at Cora and then back at Regina with a soft smile, he turned around taking a ring from his pager. He got down on one knee in front of Regina and held up the ring in his hands. "Will you marry me, Regina?"
Regina was in shock. She was speechless.
Prince Henry was shocked as well, he shook his head.
Cora looked at King Leopold with a smile. "Yes," she answered for her own daughter. "Yes." She lifted Regina's hand toward the direction of the King while Regina looked over at her mother and gasped then looked at King Leopold.
"Daniel?" Regina yelled out in the stables when she opened them wide. "Daniel!" she called out again. She looked around the stables for him.
Daniel came out of one of the stables and closed the door behind him. "What is it?" he asked, worried.
Regina jogged over to Daniel and they both embraced each other, they hugged each other for a long time and then broke apart.
"Marry me," she breathed out with a smile.
"Regina, what are you doing?" he asked. "What's happened? Did you tell your mother?"
"No. And now I can never tell her. She won't understand. That girl I saved was the King's daughter. And now he's proposed to me." Regina said, tearing up.
"What?" Daniel said in shock.
"My mother accepted," Regina cried out. She turned her back and started sobbing, taking a few steps away from Daniel. "The only way out is to run." She turned back around to face him. "For us to leave this place. For us to be married. For us to never come back." She walked toward him and took his hands into hers.
"Regina, do you understand what that would mean?" he asked. "Life with a stable boy is a far cry from a life as Queen."
"Being Queen means nothing. Daniel," she said softly, placing her hands on his cheeks and staring lovingly into his eyes, "all I care about is you."
Daniel smiled and kissed her palm, taking her hands into his. "Then if I am to marry you, we must do this properly." He walked over to the pouch that was on the stool near the lantern and took out a ring, Regina gasped when she saw the ring when Daniel turned to her. He placed the ring on her left hand on her ring finger. "Here."
Regina smiled and laughed, she couldn't believe that she was actually going to be married to Daniel. The love of her life. Not some old man who is King. She respected the King but she didn't love him as she did with Daniel.
The two lovers embraced each other then the two kissed passionately. Something hit the floor and the two broke apart when they heard it.
Regina looked over and saw Snow standing in the doorway. "Snow!" she cried out. "Dear, what are you doing?" she asked.
"You said to get back on the horse and...," Snow looked between Daniel and Regina, her eyes filling with tears. "What are you doing with him?"
"Snow, I can explain," said Regina but she really couldn't.
Snow sniffled and turned away from them both and ran from the stables.
"No, no, no. No." Regina looked at Daniel then she ran to follow Snow. "Snow, Snow!" she yelled out. "Snow!" she called out again, catching up to the little girl. "Snow, wait!"
Snow kept running and fell to the ground, tears running down her face.
"Snow!" she called out, getting down to her knees and helping her up. "Are you okay?"
"No, no," Snow answered, looking at Regina with a tear-stained face. "Why were you kissing that man in the stable? You're to marry my father. You're to be my mother."
"Snow, please, listen to me." Regina took Snow's hands into hers and then placed a hand on her cheek. "Hey, your father, King Leopold, he's a kind and fair man. But I don't love him."
Snow looked at Regina confused, tilting her head to the side slightly. "I don't understand," she said. "Why not?"
"Love doesn't work that way." Regina took a step forward. "Love, true love, is magic. And not just any magic, the most powerful magic of all." The two looked at each other, letting Regina's words sink in. "It creates happiness."
"And that man in the stables, you love him?" Snow asked.
"With all my heart."
A smile broke across Snow's face, squeezing Regina's hand lightly. "Then you must marry him," said Snow.
Regina laughed and smiled at her.
"I will go tell Father right away," said Snow.
Snow was about to walk off and go tell her father about the news but Regina pulled her back by her cloak. "No. No, no, no, no. You can't," said Regina.
"Why not? Surely he'll understand."
"Perhaps. But no everyone will." Regina lowered herself to her height. "My mother, for one, she'll stand in the way."
"That's why you're running," said Snow, realizing.
"It's the only way our love can survive." Regina held Snow's hand right between her own two hands. "Snow, do you know what a secret is?" Snow nodded once. "If you really, truly want to help me..."
"I do," breathed out Snow, her eyes wide.
"Then what you saw, what I told you, you must keep it a secret," Regina said, hoping that Snow could do that for her. "Can you do that?"
"I think so," said Snow, nodding her head slowly.
"I need you to be certain. You can never speak of this. And above all, you mustn't tell my mother." Snow looked at her with big eyes. "Will you do that for me?"
Snow nodded at first. "Yes," she said with a smile on her lips. "I promise."
The two girls hugged and Regina was hoping that Snow would keep her word. She didn't want to get in trouble or to get Daniel in trouble either. Or worse...death. But Regina is counting on Snow. She is putting a lot of trust in a girl who is the King's daughter.
Emma was sitting at a dock, sitting on a wooden bench and still looking through the book, her black hoodie was over her head.
August walked over to Emma with a newspaper between his arm and a cup of coffee in his hand. "What are you doing?" he asked.
She glanced up and closed the book. "Grasping at straws," she answered and put the book into a leather brown bag.
"Still trying to find a way to prove your friend has been framed?" he asked, pushing the newspaper into Emma's hands.
Storybrooke Daily Mirror: Heartless! School Teacher Jailed On Murder Charges, it read just above Mary Margaret's mugshot. "Every time I go down a path I think leads somewhere, it ends up being a dead end," said Emma, still looking at the front page. "I used to think I had these great instincts, superpower." She glanced up at him. "Now, I don't know."
August sat down next to Emma as she went back to reading the paper, he glanced around the area. "It sounds like you've got a case of writer's block," he explained and Emma looked over at him. "Only without the whole writing part."
"Maybe," she chuckled then looked back down at the picture of her friend.
"You know, when I get struck by a block, I usually re-read what I've done rather than plow ahead blindly. Sometimes I find there'll be a little nugget of inspiration left behind."
"You mean start over?"
"I mean, when I start writing I usually have one idea. And then in the middle, I may get another idea and things are different."
"So your perspective changes."
"Exactly. When you started this investigation, what was it about?"
"A missing person."
"Then it became a murder. And then a cover-up. If you knew that then, maybe you would have approached things differently."
Emma's mouth was slightly open when she realized something, she grabbed all of her things from the bench and August looked at her wondering what she doing and where she is going. "Where are you going?" he asked.
"Scene of the crime," answered Emma, looking at him for a split second before walking away from him.
"I'll drive," he commented before getting up from the bench.
"No, I'm fine."
"No. You're not. You haven't slept in days. And let's be honest, it was my idea." He was in front of her now and he turned around to face her with a smile on his face. Emma knew that she wouldn't win with him, he was just as stubborn as Henry is.
August and Emma were on his bike and they rode down the Toll Bridge—someone now put a red R between the T and the O, instead of Toll Bridge it's Troll Bridge.
"Ruby found the box with the heart right over here, just by the shore," said Emma.
They walked down the small hill where August parked his bike on the bridge, he stumbled and groaned in pain.
Emma looked back at him with worry in her eyes. "What's wrong?" she asked.
"Nothing," he said quickly, recovering just as quickly.
"Doesn't seem like nothing." She eyed his leg for a moment then he started walking toward the shore. "Here let me look." She was about to bend down to look at what was wrong with his leg.
"No, it's okay. Just a shin splint," he said, walking away from Emma. "Let me walk it off." He was near the Do Not Cross sign. He looked around on the ground then he turned to look at Emma who was near where Ruby had found the box. "Sorry. I know this must be hard on you."
"Now, that's an understatement," she said, bending down and picking up a rock, and tossing it back to the ground.
"I don't know you that well. But seems to me that aside from Henry, Mary Margaret's the closest thing to family you've got." August was standing there, looking at Emma—who was now squatting to look at the dug-up ground. "It's okay to admit it."
Emma pushed some dirt around that was covered up by the wooden floor piece then she stood up. "August? Look." She pointed at what she now found.
August came over and looked at what she found, she bent down and picked up a broken piece of something. "What is it?" he asked, confused. He took it out of her hand and dusted off the dirt of it.
"It's a shard," answered Emma. "From a shovel. It must've broken off when it hit a rock." August was turning it over in his hand while Emma looked down at the ground. "If we can find the shovel it broke off of, we can prove that Mary Margaret didn't bury the heart. We can prove that she's innocent."
August looked at Emma. "And I'm gonna guess you know exactly whose shovel it is," he said with a knowing smile."
Emma took the piece of shovel out of his hand and looked at the piece, smiling as she finally had something on Regina. She could prove that Mary Margaret is innocent and not the one who killed Kathryn Nolan. Regina was playing with fire and she was going to burn. She would never mess with Emma's family or friends.
Regina walked into her son's bedroom—Henry wasn't asleep at all—she wanted to ensure he was fast asleep. She slowly and softly closed the bedroom door. Henry opened his eyes just when she closed his door.
Henry lifted up his pillow, took out his walkie-talkie, and opened the door, he could hear the shower running from his mother's room. "The eagle is in the nest. And the package is secure," he said into the walkie-talkie.
"Henry, I left the code book at home," said Emma—who was also talking on the other walkie-talkie—and August was right behind her.
A soft sigh left Henry's mouth and smiled to himself. "She's getting in the shower and the keys are under the mat," he said.
Emma bent down and lifted up the mat, getting the key and putting it in the keyhole, turning it, and looking at August. "Don't touch a thing," she warned him.
August and Emma both went into the garage Regina's, Emma got out her flashlight, turned it on, and shined it around the room, trying to find where she kept her shovels. They both looked in different places and both shone their flashlights. So far they are finding a lot of old junk and tools, but so far no shovels that are broken or anything. Emma flashed her light and saw a broken shovel, she walked over to it, her eyes wide with shock. She glanced over at August and set the flashlight down, pointing it at the broken shovel. "Hey," she called to him softly.
August came over and pointed his flashlight at the shovel. Emma took out the piece of the broken shovel and placed it against it. And it was the perfect match. She didn't want to believe that Regina could do something like this but at the same time...she could. Regina is an evil person who would do absolutely anything to get what she wants.
"We got her," said Emma, looking at him with a smile.
She wouldn't believe that she actually got Regina. She thought it was going to be a total bust but she was glad that it wasn't. Now she can finally get Regina into jail and Mary Margaret out. Now she can tell everyone that her friend is innocent and not some heartless woman to be with the love of her life.
Snow White was in the room where Regina and Cora had met Snow's father—Snow was wearing a baby pink dress and ruffles on her shoulders, little white beads on her front, and a baby pink bow that was holding her deep brown hair out of her face—she reached out about to touch a flower then Cora came in. "Careful, sweetheart," said Cora softly, and Snow jumped and pulled her hand back quickly. She turned to face her, "A flower is a delicate thing. Be gentle." Snow turned and looked at the white flowers, Cora touched a different flower. "You want it to grow and not pluck it before it's time."
"I'm sorry," said Snow, still not looking Regina's mother in the eyes.
Cora looked away from the flowers and placed a hand on Snow's shoulder with a smile on her face. "It's all right," reassured the King's daughter. "You needn't fear me. I'm only trying to help." She slowly turned Snow around away from the flowers, they started walking away. "Perhaps you can be the flower girl at the wedding. I can already see how close you and Regina have become." They stopped at a lounge chair with big fluffy pillows and Cora sat down along with Snow who sat next to her. "She's gonna make a fine mother for you."
"She is kind to me," said Snow agreeing with Cora.
A soft laugh left Cora's lips and nodded once. "Indeed. It warms my heart how you two share everything, already," said Cora. "Perhaps you could share something with me. Why has she pulled away from me?"
"What do you mean?" asked Snow, knowing why Regina had pulled away from her but she promised her not to tell.
"A mother knows her daughter. Regina has pulled away. I love her so much, but she's not letting me help her. And I know she's unhappy." Cora sighed softly. "Has she said something? I'd do anything to make her happy."
Snow looked away from Cora for a moment then she looked over at her. "You'd do anything?" she asked, raising an eyebrow at her.
"Of course, dear. You know, I talked to the King about your mother. He told me how much she loved you. Losing her must have been so hard." Cora sympathized with Snow.
"It was," Snow agreed.
"Hearing him, I realized he might as well have been talking about me and Regina. And I don't want us to lose each other. If only I could show her how I feel. That no matter what, all I want is her happiness," said Cora, playing with Snow's feelings.
Snow got up and stood in front of Cora. "Then don't make her get married," she blurted out.
"I'm sorry?" Cora asked, pretending to be shocked.
Snow's expression softened. "She doesn't love my father. She loves someone else. She made me promise not to tell." She sat back down next to Cora. "But she'll lose you. She can't lose her mother. No one should."
"Oh!" Cora ran her hand down Snow's hair gently. "Sweet Snow, it's all right. She won't lose me. You can tell me. You must tell me."
Regina was wearing black suit pants and a black blazer with a red shirt, along with red flats when she opened her front door and Emma was standing in front of her, a soft smile appeared on her lips. "Can I help you, Sheriff Swan?" she asked nicely.
"Yes," Emma said. "I need you to unlock the garage for me."
"And why would I do that?"
"Because I have a search warrant that says that you have to." Emma handed the paper to Regina with a smile.
Regina scoffed and took the papers. "On what grounds?" she demanded.
"I found this. Near where the heart was buried." Emma held up a piece of the shovel that was broken. "Figured whoever buried it might have left something behind. And then I got an anonymous call from someone who said they saw you digging near the toll bridge the day the heart was found."
"An anonymous call?" Regina repeated, not really believing it.
"Yeah, well, I can't control the fact they didn't leave a name. I suppose they didn't want to risk pissing you off."
"Hmm." Regina still wasn't buying it and she wasn't really worried either.
Emma was still standing there, waiting for Regina. "Now, open the garage or I'll find a way to do it myself," she half-threatened Regina.
Regina closed the door behind her and Emma stood there for a moment with a smile on her face. She followed the Mayor to her garage and she immediately went to the "broken" shovel that she and August had found. Now, all of a sudden, it wasn't broken…it wasn't broken now.
Regina slowly walked toward Emma and fixed her shirt.
Emma turned around to face her. "Where is it?" she demanded.
"Where is what, Sheriff?" she asked, confused.
"You knew I was coming."
"How on earth would I know that?"
"Mary Margaret is a good person. She doesn't deserve this." Emma walked closer to her, frowning.
"Ms. Blanchard is a liar and a murderer. No matter what accusations you throw my way, that won't change. She is going to pay for what she's done. That woman has destroyed the last life she is ever going to destroy."
Emma looked over her shoulder and looked at the shovel. She still couldn't believe that Regina had beaten her once again. She was always a step behind her. She didn't understand how she was always five steps ahead. She was getting pissed and she wanted to stop Regina and make her pay for what she has done to her friend.
Emma knocked on the door loud enough for August to hear, she paced back and forth until he answered the door. He opened a crack to see who it was then he opened the door wide enough. "Hey," he greeted.
"How could you do this?" she asked, frustrated. "How could you do this to me, to Mary Margaret?"
"Whoa, slow down. Do what?" August asked. He was confused about what she was even talking about.
"The shovel was gone when I got there. Regina knew I was coming for it," Emma accused him.
"You think that I told her?"
"You were the only other person who knew about it."
"I would hope that you would have enough faith to know that I would never betray you."
"Why should I? How do I know you're not lying about this? About everything?"
"I'm not a liar."
"That is exactly what a liar would say."
They looked at each other and Emma walked away from August. Thinking that she could trust him and that he was on her side good and not on the side where everyone is afraid of Regina. All her life she couldn't trust anyone but she trusted him. Ever since Graham. But now that is broken.
Mary Margaret is in her cell, sitting on the bed while her face is in her hands. Regina came into the room and looked around with a smile on her face as the other woman cried in her hands.
"Having a bad day?" asked Regina and Mary Margaret pulled her hands away and looked over at the Mayor.
"What are you doing here?" she asked, standing up.
"I wanted to see you while I can." She walked closer to the cell.
"What does that mean?" she asked, simply confused.
"Simply that the trial starts tomorrow, and it won't be a long one. Then you'll be sent out of Storybrooke for good. And I will never have to see you again." A satisfying smile came to Regina's face. "I want to enjoy this while I still can."
"Enjoy what?" asked Mary Margaret in frustration.
"Justice."
"Justice?" she repeated, even more confused. She didn't even know why Regina wanted justice in the first place. She never did anything to hurt her in the first place. "Watching an innocent suffer?"
"You've always seen yourself that way, haven't you?" Regina asked. Marry Margaret shook her head with tears rolling down her cheeks. "Innocent."
Mary Margaret walked up close to the bars of the cell. "I am innocent!" she cried out. "I don't know what this is about, I don't know what I ever did to you, but whatever it was, Regina," she sobbed for a few seconds, "I'm sorry. I truly am."
"Apology not accepted."
"Please, don't do this to me. I don't deserve this. I did not kill Kathryn." She cried out to Regina.
Regina caressed Mary Margaret's cheek with the back of her hand. "Oh! I know," she whispered and Mary Margaret's face changed into shock when she admitted that she knew the truth. She gripped her chin gently. "But you do deserve this." Then she walked away from the other woman whose tears started going down her cheeks once more.
Mary Margaret still couldn't believe that Regina knew that she didn't kill Kathryn but she was still willing to put her in jail. She was hurt, confused, and angry. She still didn't understand why Regina wanted her in jail. She knew that she was innocent.
Regina ran as fast as she could to the stables and she looked inside as she slowed down, she was carrying a big leather bag in her hand with stuff that she needed. Daniel came from the corner and jogged over to her with a smile on his face. "Are you ready?" he asked, kissing her in the process.
"Let's go," she breathed out, smiling.
They both turned and walked out then stopped in their tracks when they saw Regina's mother, Cora. And she suddenly appeared out of thin air, her face straight and hard.
"You could have at least left a note," Cora said evenly. She stretched out her arms and used her powers to push Regina and Daniel into the stable. They were on their back as they gasped and they both sat up quickly and the doors closed and locked behind Cora.
"Mother, I…," Regina started to say.
"Don't," Cora interrupted her. "You sneak out of my house in the dead of night and think I won't notice? How dare you?"
Daniel helped Regina up as he got up himself. Regina took a small step forward, leaning in slightly. "You're impossible to talk to. Stop with the magic and listen to me." She paused for a second, taking in a breath while he wrapped his arm around her, protecting her from her mother. "I want to be with Daniel."
"Oh!" Cora scoffed in disgust, crinkling her nose. "You don't know what you want. But I do. I didn't make the sacrifices I did in life to get you to the cusp of greatness so that you could end up the wife of a stable boy."
"It's my life," Regina cried out.
Cora laughed and shook her head. "You foolish girl. It's mine. After what I had to do, the deals I had to make to get us out of poverty, to get us this life. And you just want to toss it away?" She said in disbelief.
"Stay strong, Regina," murmured Daniel.
"Your magic can't keep us apart. I love him." Regina said sternly.
"And I love her," said Daniel.
"And I love her, too," Cora said harshly, looking at Daniel.
"If you loved me, you wouldn't try to keep us apart," Regina tried to reason with her.
"And if you loved me, you wouldn't try to run away," said Cora.
"I'm sorry, but this is my happiness. We're going."
"No. You're not."
"So, what's your plan? You're going to keep us here forever?" Regina demanded. "Because that's what you'll have to do." Daniel stood behind her and he wrapped his hand around her first while the two lovers glared at Cora, angry that they couldn't leave in peace.
"So this is your decision?" Cora asked, breaking the silence. "This will make you happy?"
"It already has," Regina whispered.
"Then who am I to stop you?" Cora asked gently.
Regina walked over to her mother and hugged her gently. She was happy that she wasn't going to stop them from being together. She hated fighting with her. All she wanted to do was to be happy. She wanted to marry Daniel and have her mother on her side and not fight.
"Thank you, Mother." Regina pulled back from the hug and smiled at the other.
Cora's eyes shifted to look at Daniel. "Daniel…," she whispered, walking over to him and placing a hand on his shoulder while they walked away from Regina. "If you want to have a life together, a family, then there is one more important lesson I can impart to you." She dropped her hand and looked down at the ground while Daniel looked at Cora. "It's what it means to be a parent. You always have to do what's best for your children."
"Thank you," Daniel said softly. "I understand." He looked at Regina and smiled then looked back at Cora. "Because that's what you're doing now."
"Yes. It is."
All of sudden, Cora's hand went straight into Daniel's chest and he groaned. Regina gasped, "Mother!" she cried out. She took out Daniel's heart and it was glowing red.
Daniel dropped down to his knees and he fell down onto the ground.
Regina wailed out. "No!" she cried. She ran over to him, on her knees. "No! No, no, no, no." She cradled him while Cora crushed his heart into ashes, tears running down her face while she turned to look at her. "Mother, why have you done this?" she yelled at her.
"Because this is your happy ending," said Cora.
"What?" she cried out, confused about what the hell she was talking about. She leaned down and kissed Daniel.
"You have to trust me, Regina. I know best. Love is a weakness, Regina. It feels real now. At the start, it always does. But it's an illusion. It fades. And then you're left with nothing. But power, true power endures. And then you don't have to rely on anyone to get what you want. I've saved you, my love."
Regina turned to look at her mother with angry eyes, tears kept rolling down her cheeks. "You've ruined everything," she spat. "I loved him. I loved him!"
"Enough!" Cora yelled at her. "I've endured this long enough." She walked over to Regina and yanked her up by the arm. "Now, clean yourself up. Wipe away your tears." She used her thumbs to wipe away her daughter's tears. "Because now, you're going to be Queen."
Regina was standing in the middle of the room and she was wearing a gorgeous cream wedding dress and three maids finishing up the dress. Snow walked in and gasped at the dress and how Regina looked in it.
"Wow," Snow whispered, walking closer to Regina. "You are most certainly the fairest of them all!" She smiled at Regina.
She smiled at little Snow, looking down at her. "Thank you, dear," she said, looking straight at the wall.
"I hope for my wedding day I will be as beautiful," Snow said dreamily.
"I'm sure you will be," said Regina, her voice hard.
"I know you and Daniel will be so happy together."
Regina blinked at what Snow had said, she turned halfway to look at her. "What?" she asked.
"Well, I just knew your mother would let you marry him once she knew how happy it would make you," Snow explained with a smile. "Once she knew how much you love him." Regina gasped once she realized what had happened. "You have such a wonderful mother. She would do anything for your happiness."
Regina got off the pedestal while the three maids lifted up the wedding dress train she placed a hand on Snow's arm, walked a few steps away, and stood in front of the table. "Snow," she said gently. The maids walked away from the two, so they could talk alone. "Did—did you tell her about me and Daniel?" she asked, knowing the answer already.
"Yes," Snow answered.
"But I told you very specifically not to."
"I'm sorry. I just didn't want you to lose your mother. Like I've lost mine."
Regina turned her back to Snow, gasping to get air. She couldn't breathe. She couldn't believe that the one person she trusted who thought she could trust…broken that trust. She wasn't going to cry. Not now. Not in front of her.
"Are you mad?" asked Snow when Regina didn't answer.
Regina composed herself and she turned slowly with a composed face. "No. I'm not mad at all," she answered. "You were just trying to help me." Snow nodded. "However, I'm not marrying Daniel. This dress is for your father."
Snow was confused, she thought Regina would marry Daniel since he was the love of her life. "But I thought you were in love," she said.
"So did I. But I was wrong. Daniel has run away. What I had with Daniel wasn't real. It was an infatuation." Snow furrowed her eyebrows and tilted her head slightly to the side while Regina spoke. "See, that's the thing about love. It can come in the most unexpected places. Your father and I have something even more special. Because it's not just about the two of us. It's about all of us." Regina smiled at the girl. "We're going to be a family."
"We are?" Snow asked. She couldn't believe that she was getting a family again.
"That's right. I'm going to be your stepmother and I couldn't be happier." It was a lie and she was going to get her revenge on Snow White. A plan that would be her most happy ever after.
"Me, too," said Snow with a smile. Not knowing that Regina was going to make her life miserable. She was a naive little girl. She only saw the good in people.
The two girls smiled at each other and Snow hugged her, this was the happiest day of Snow's life and it was Regina's worst. She lost the love of her life. Her mother wouldn't let her marry Daniel. All Cora wanted was power. She didn't care about anybody else's feelings except for her own.
Cora came into the room and she was far away from the two girls. "Snow?" she called out. "You need to go to your room and help with the packing." Snow turned to look at Cora. "Your father wants you ready for the journey and we're heading to your castle first thing in the morning." She walked closer to the girls and they smiled at each other.
"You're both going to love it there," said Snow happily.
"I know we will," said Cora.
Snow smiled once again then she walked away from the both of them and Regina smiled tighten while she watched her leave. Once the King's daughter left the room, she walked over to Regina with a smile on her lips. "Well played, dear," she said. "You're learning."
"I should change," said Regina, avoiding the topic and her mother. "I wouldn't want to ruin the dress before my big day." She took a step then another and another before Cora spoke once more, making her stop in her tracks.
"I am so proud of you," said Cora.
Regina's smile faded and she turned to look at her mother, eyes brimming with tears. "You knew the King was traveling through our land, didn't you?" she asked. "That steed with Snow on it, it didn't go wild on its own, did it?"
"I have no idea what you're saying," said Cora. But she knew what Regina was talking about. She knew that the King was in their land and an idea had formed in her head. She was going to make Regina the hero in her plan and the King had to marry Regina who saved his little princess. It was all just too perfect.
A knowing smile came to Regina's lips then turned around and walked away from her mother again. She knew that it was her mother's plan. "I should have let her die on that horse," said Regina, coldly.
Regina was standing at a window in her office with the same ring that Daniel had given her in her hand, remembering the good times with him. "We got her, Daniel," she whispered. She closed her hand around the ring. "We got her." This is the best day of her life. She got her revenge on Mary Margaret. She was going to rot in jail and Regina was going to live happily in her small town.
Mary Margaret was out of her cell, she was wearing a blue cotton jacket along with a white shirt with a collar and blue pants with blue flats. An officer handcuffed her while Emma watched her, a frown came to her lips.
"Mary Margaret…," Emma said gently.
Mary Margaret ignored her while the two officers walked her out of the building and Emma hung her head low for a moment and then watched them walk out.
Emma walked over to Mr. Gold—who was standing in the back—with a frown on her face. "You told me you could fix this," she said evenly. "That's why I came to you. So that you could make sure Regina didn't win."
"Well, she hasn't yet."
"Well, she's going to. And now my friend is gonna pay for me trusting you."
"Look, Sheriff, I know this is emotional. But it's also not over. You must have faith. There's still time."
"Time for what?"
"For me to work a little magic." He smiled and walked out of the building as well.
Emma watched him for a moment then she walked into her office, a deep sigh left her lips. She placed her hands on her desk and leaned against it. Thinking of how she could help Mary Margaret she couldn't think of anything. She screwed up and she didn't know how to get her friend back. How did Regina know everything about what was happening? She was pissed off. Her filled her. She looked over at the flowers that Sidney had given her, picked them up, and threw them at the filling cabinets the vase shattered into pieces, and the water was all over the cabinets and floor.
She walked to the door and then back inside the office when she noticed something on the floor. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she walked over to the mess on the floor. She bent down and picked up a small circular device. It was a listening device. She stood up slowly and her mouth was open slightly. She couldn't believe that Sidney would do this. She thought he was on her side of this. With Regina, she screwed him over more times than ever and she will keep using Sidney as her little puppet.
August was just leaving Granny's Diner when Emma was on the walking path of the diner. "Hey," said Emma. August was putting on his gloves. "I'm sorry."
He walked down the steps to her while he looked at Emma. "For what?" he asked.
"For doubting you. I made a mistake." She lifted her hand up with a bag in her hand.
"What's that?" he asked, looking at it.
"Evidence," she simply said. "Evidence that proves that I've been trusting all the wrong people. I should've listened to you. This bug is from Sidney."
"The newspaper guy?" he asked, shocked.
"I should've seen it."
"No, don't beat yourself up about it, Emma. Sometimes it's hard to see what's right in front of us. But I knew you would."
"I'm trying," she said but truthfully, she was tried.
Ruby screamed.
Emma and August looked at each other and ran toward Ruby who met them on the side of Granny's Diner.
"Ruby, what's going on?" Emma asked.
"She's in the alley," stuttered Ruby, pointing toward the alley.
"Who, Ruby? What happened?" Emma asked, urging her to tell her.
Ruby backed away from the two, her back against the rock building and her breathing heavy and fast.
"Hey, you all right?" August asked.
Emma ran down the path and looked everywhere to see what Ruby was talking about then she noticed a body. The body was near a gray van and it was dirty and lying still. Not moving at all.
Ruby and August came running after Emma who was now near the body.
Emma turned the body over and she couldn't believe who it was.
Kathryn Nolan.
Kathryn Nolan is alive and well.
How could this be possible?
"Kathryn!" Emma whispered in shock.
Emma remembered that Ruby had found the heart of Kathryn. She did a DNA test just to be sure that it was Kathryn's. How could this be possible? Everyone is going to have questions for Kathryn.