Once Upon A Time: Goldilocks comes to Storybrooke

Chapter 14 (flashback)

Eight days. It had been eight days since Goldilocks's last visit. Regina was worried. She remembered Goldilocks telling her that their visits would be hard, but Goldilocks promised to come back.

But where was she?

Regina sat in the library, looking out of the window, a book in her hand turned to a random page, and she sat there, waiting, like she had been doing for the past six days. Goldilocks was able to take care of herself, but what if something bad had happened to her.

"Lovely view, isn't it darling?" A voice said from behind Regina, and the princess spun around to find her mother walking towards her.

"Mother," Regina said. "Yes, yes it is." And Regina went back to looking out of the window.

Cora didn't leave. She stood, watching her daughter before finally walking over and resting her hand on the back of the chair.

"Regina, sweetheart," Cora said. "I'm afraid I have something to tell you." The Queen actually sounded upset, and that caught Regina's attention.

Regina slowly turned around to face her mother, and then stood up, and put the book on her chair. "Yes?" She asked. "What is it?"

"Well," Cora began. "I'm very sorry to tell you this. It's about Goldilocks."

"Goldilocks? What happened!? Where is she!? Is she alright!?" Regina yelled in a panicked tone.

Cora closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and continued. "I am afraid I know why she hasn't come see you for so long. She was leaving town."

"L-leaving?" Regina repeated. "No... No, she wouldn't do that!" Regina said, shaking her head.

"She is - was, darling," Cora said. "I'm telling the truth. I was in my carriage, circling our kingdom of The Enchanted Forest, and she was there. She had her bags packed, two large suitcases, and that dog of hers. I got out of my carriage and asked what she was doing. She told me she was leaving, and she wasn't coming back. I tried to get her to stay, I really did. I knew how much she meant to you, even if I don't exactly approve. Anyway, suddenly there was a huge rock slide from the mountains, and -"

Regina took a step back. "No," she whispered. "No. Is she -" Regina began, so stopped speaking, her eyes brimming with tears.

"Some of the guards were digging through the stones. For three days, almost. I didn't want to tell you until we found her, and made sure she was alright. They didn't find her. Only this..." Cora held out the necklace she had snatched from Goldilocks's neck before she fell through the portal.

"That's the necklace I gave- no," Regina leant against the wall. "No! No! No!" Regina buried her face in her hands and began to cry.

Cora took a steep closer and wrapped her arms around her daughter. "I'm truly sorry, dear," The Queen said sadly, but she had a huge grin on her face, and her tone was slightly upbeat.

Regina could hardly think. Her best friend was dead? But Goldilocks didn't deserve it. She was a good person! But why was she going to leave The Enchanted Forest? Had Regina done something wrong? Was she too pushy in getting Goldilocks to return to her? And why wouldn't she say goodbye to Regina?

Then she remembered something her mother told her: All magic comes with a price.

Regina had learnt light magic, but she had paid the price.

And that price was Goldilocks's death.

Goldilocks was dead, and it was all Regina's fault...