Chapter Text
Her life is in shambles. It’s an utter and complete mess.
Regina has nothing to live for anymore. She’s trapped in the castle with its four walls surrounding her, closing in on her, making her feel suffocated, like she can’t breathe.
But there is one option.
Run away.
She has a carefully calculated plan in her mind. She just needs to wait to execute it.
Tonight, Regina doesn’t sleep.
She lets her maids dress her in her nightclothes quietly, as if it’s a normal day and she isn’t going over the most ridiculous idea she’s ever had in her head. After they’re gone, she slips under the covers but mind you, she does not sleep.
She waits until it’s 2 a.m, until everyone in the castle has fallen asleep. Then she tiptoes out of her bed, changes into a simple dress that won’t make it difficult to travel, and looks down her window. There are two guards standing there, Regina closes her eyes, says a fainting spell, and the guards fall to the ground. Yes.
Then, she climbs down her window, goes to the stables, climbs onto Rocinante and they both go to the dark one’s castle.
It’s quiet and dark inside. “Hello,” Regina shouts out, her voice echoing.
Rumple appears in front of her. “Hello, dearie,” he giggles. “Here at this hour with your steed, I see.”
Regina doesn’t waste time in getting to the point. “I need your help.”
“Of course you do, what can I do for you?”
“My friend needs to go to another realm, she needs a bean for that, we’re sure you have one.”
Rumple narrows his eyes accusingly. “And why couldn’t this friend of yours come herself?”
“Uhh…” Regina thinks quickly. “The fairies won’t let her.”
“And who is this friend of yours?” His voice has dropped down and she knows he can sense her lying.
Regina says the first name that comes to her mind, “Tinkerbell.”
Rumple laughs aloud. He takes a step closer. “How stupid do you think I am, dearie?”
Regina swallows.
“You’re lying,” he sneers, “You’re running away. And I won’t let you.”
Regina panics and immobilizes him. Rumple growls. “How dare you!”
“I’m sorry,” Regina says. “But I have to get away.”
She knows the spell won’t hold him for long, so she works quickly and soon enough, she’s holding the bean, her freedom, in her palm.
She throws the bean on the ground and a portal opens up.
“No!” Rumple screams, as Regina jumps inside and her spell on Rumple fades away.
_ _ _
Emma is in a bookshop, sitting on the floor, reading a book.
Well, she’s not really reading, there’s a book sitting open on her lap, but what she’s really doing is contemplating her mess of a life.
She just ran away from a foster home because a third kid in the span of a week got adopted and Emma realized she’s too old, she’ll never have that. And she couldn’t bear to stay in that wretched place for a minute longer.
Now though, she’s on the road with nowhere to go.
Does she have a place to live? Nope. Does she have money? Also nope.
So what is she gonna do now? No idea.
She may as well finish herself off.
Suddenly, the ground opens up. Emma yells and runs back holding onto a bookshelf, because it’s green and there’s strong energy coming from inside it, trying to pull Emma inside. Emma’s half wondering if she should let go of the shelf and let the ground take her in when a girl flies out of the ground and lands right in front of Emma. The ground closes again.
The girl has long dark hair, captivating eyes, she’s wearing a simple green dress, and she smiles at Emma.
“Hi,” Emma says nervously, not sure what else to do.
“Hi,” The other girl replies, “I’m Regina Mills.”