DESTINY

Chapter 11 - Pixie dust doesn't lie... or does it?

                Nine fifty in the evening, Tinkerbell was already outside the mayor’s house. She was alone in the dark, holding a small bottle that seemed to be the pendant of her necklace. Pixie dust, she thought. It will protect me from anything, from Regina… just in case. She was very hesitant on coming over tonight but she knows that Regina always finds her way to get what she wants and if the Evil Queen said she wants to talk to her, she will talk to her. She raised her fist to knock, but remembering how Regina growled at her at Granny’s, her knees started to shake. She faltered in fear and asked herself, hasn’t she changed? For few more minutes, she just stayed outside, wanting to walk away but she can’t, she knows that one way or another, this conversation will have to happen. So she stood up and took a deep breath, but before she managed to pound on the door, it already opened.

“Ten o’clock,” the Queen spoke, looking straightly at Tinkerbell. And without a smile she said, “Come in…” she paused and with her jaw clenched, she added, “…moth.” She turned her back from her and sat on the luxurious-looking couch at the living room.

She was doubtful whether or not to walk in but it seemed like she didn’t have any choice. Moth?! She angrily shouted within her. I’m a fairy! She thought repeatedly. Don’t let her get into you, Tink, don’t let her get into you. She had this little conversation in her head, trying to keep herself calm. I believe in me, she said to herself, holding the little container of pixie dust around her neck. She sighed and took steps towards Regina, releasing her pendant from her grip.

Regina examined her visitor who is now approaching her, she’s trying to keep herself composed, not wanting to hurt her. I’m no longer the EVIL Queen, we’re just here for a talk, she thought. “Take a seat,” she offered, gesturing to an empty sofa across her. And without saying a single word, Tinkerbell sat. “Do you have any idea why I called on you for this chat?” Tinkerbell shook her head still not meeting Regina’s gaze. The Queen just looked at her, not knowing how to start. She noticed the pixie dust suspended on her necklace, “Pixie dust?” she asked.

“Oh,” Tinkerbell replied in surprise. “Just a reminder for myself,” she added.

“Reminder for what?”

“That I’m a fairy,” Tinkerbell answered softly.

Regina chuckled, “Fairy? I thought you’re a moth,” she said sarcastically. With all the pain she’s probably having, to kill everyone and shut herself alone could be the easiest thing to do. But she has changed, although every bit of sass can still be tasted from her every word.

Tinkerbell looked at her and stood up from where she was seated, “I am a fairy. Now, if you called me just to insult me, I should better leave.” She turned her back immediately and started her way to the exit.

“Go ahead!” Regina yelled. “Besides, you’re a terrible fairy.” She just knows how to keep a conversation going.

That caught Tinkerbell’s attention, she looked back at Regina in dismay and briskly paced towards her. “Terrible? What have I ever done to you that you keep on telling me that?”

Regina grabbed this opportunity to start her concern, “You said that you’ve never seen pixie dust fail,” she said in a less enthusiastic tone then she looked away.

“So this is about Robin?” Tinkerbell finally understood. “I thought we’ve come past that?”

“Well, seems to me we’re still not,” Regina said while she rolled her eyes.

“What about it now? I just saw you two few days ago, happy with Roland and occasionally, with Henry too.”

“That was before Marian came back, his wife.”

“Who is now dead,” Tinkerbell pointed out. “And even after she came back and passed away in an instant, I saw you two still going out.” Regina looked at her and raised her eyebrows. “I take time watching over you,” Tinkerbell said shyly. “I told you before and I’m telling you again, pixie dust doesn’t lie. Robin Hood, he is your soulmate.”

“Let’s pretend for a second that I totally believe in you, will that change if let’s say…” her voice faded. Being the Evil Queen, she has owned every mistake she has done. Not once did she regret any of her vengeance, not once did she repent for the lives lost because of her search for her own happiness.

“Let’s say what?!” Tinkerbell screamed in impatience. The longer she stays with her, the louder Regina’s voice in her head is shouting, you’re a terrible fairy. She just wants to get the conversation over but every piece of her wanted to help Regina too. Just to prove her that I’m not a terrible fairy, she thought. “I’ve once believed in you,” she said. Regina looked at her, waiting for her next words. “I believed that you will be happy too, because everyone deserves their own happy ending, even you.”

                o-o

                As he lied awake that night under the starless sky, Robin thought of Regina. The woods just outside their house didn't provide the comfort he used to get from it. He just remembered his first meeting with the Evil Queen and the times she told him that he smells like forest, and that she actually likes it. If he just thinks about Regina Mills, there's no anger, no hatred, no fear that linger. But thinking about the Evil Queen summons a different feeling, a simmering rage perhaps. But could I separate Regina from the Evil Queen? That question has been battling inside him the moment it sunk unto him that the Evil Queen was the reason behind the lost he and his son had suffered. He cupped his hands and covered his eyes, the confusion he has was something he had never felt before. He thought of the times he had spent with her, specifically the times in Storybrooke, the talks and the walks, the kisses and drinks, the feeling he got when he literally held her heart in his hands and that one night he spent at her house. It was great, how can I forget? But right after those thoughts, images of Marian came flashing in his mind – the last time he saw her before he assumed that she was gone without knowing why, the countless of times that he missed her because he was no longer used to live without her, and scenarios of Roland growing up without a mother. All those images gave him a flushing feeling, I couldn't help it... he thought as he smashed the soil with his tightened fist.

                And as he continued to see flashbacks of a difficult life missing Marian, he continued pounding on the ground beside him, harder and harder each time, hitting the stones beneath it. Robin's hand became wet, not knowing if it's because of the damp soil he's also feeling on his back or if it's blood from cuts he probably obtained from smashing the ground and the rocks. He can't even tell, it was dark and he was numb. “Regina”, he shrieked in frustration and the forest fell into a stray silence, not a single sound. There wasn't anyone, only the moon. Or at least, that was what Robin thought. The wind blew humidly but Robin remained lying still on the cold moist floor. And from a bit far, a woman who's hiding behind a huge tree which is turning icy, was watching him, grinning.