The Most Powerful Magic Of All

Chapter 1

True love is magic, the most powerful magic of all.

Regina sat on the seat by her bedroom window, starring outside. She didn't bother to go outside much anymore. What was the point when the whole town seemed to hate her? She'd tried to change. Smile when she walked past people in the street, maybe even ask them how their day was going, but she never got a reply. No one ever returned a smile. It was like she was invisible. A ghost. She wondered if anyone even knew the pain she was in, that she had been in for the past few years. They all thought she had it all. Money, power. But really, she had nothing. Not without Daniel. She cried every day, would wake up screaming at night from the vicious nightmare that never seemed to go away. There she'd be, in the stable again. Cora would cast a spell, chocking Daniel as he coughed and tried to breathe. Then she would rip out his heart. It always happened so quickly. Daniel would drop dead, his life taken right before her very eyes. Regina would immediately run to him, fall to the floor and scream in pain. "Noooo," as she cradled him in her arms. "Mother why have you done this?" She'd cry. "Because this is your happy ending." Then she'd wake up, gasping for air, her body covered in sweat. Each time she awoke it felt like it had only just happened. Like it was happening for the very first time. "Because this is your happy ending." Was it? Regina remembered reading stories when she was a little girl. The fairy tales she'd read always ended happily. So was this supposed to be her HAPPY ending? To live alone in misery? It didn't seem right. It didn't make any sense. Daniel was supposed to of been her happy ending. They were going to get married and run away together. They had had it all planned out. They would move far away somewhere to a cottage in the country where no one would ever find them. Daniel would find work and one day they would have children. Watch them grow up and then grow old together. "Foolish child!" she could imagine her mother saying. "I can't believe you thought you actually had a chance at true love."

Regina closed her eyes and cast her mind back to the time when she and Daniel had held one another in each other's arms for the very last time. She wished more than anything to feel him in her arms again once more. Regina squeezed her eyes shut tighter and let tears run down her bright pink cheeks, clutching onto the cushion she was holding for dear life. "I need you Daniel," she cried. "I love you!" Her voice turned to a whisper. In her mind her and Daniel were sharing their first ever kiss. It was unexpected and magical. He had been the first man to kiss her and she was glade. Regina imagined his lips crushing against hers, kissing him back with the same level of passion. Her head was spinning and her mind was a blur. Her heart rate picked up speed and even now when she pictured it her heart would still race the way it use to. Sometimes Regina wished she didn't have to open her eyes, come back to reality, back to this hell she was living in.

Suddenly, Regina heard a knock at the door. She jumped, realising that it was her call to come back to real life. Quickly, wiping away her tears she stood up, She could never let anyone see her crying. Never lose her reputation as being the strong evil one with all the power. She had considering letting people see the real her, who she truly knew she was inside, but she just couldn't do it. She just couldn't bare people seeing her as being weak. Yes, she had power, she was strong, but inside, her heart was broken and she felt like she didn't have any power at all. She stood up, smoothing out the creases on her black skirt. She had to look presentable. After all, she was the Mayor.

"Miss Swan, now what might you want?"

"Can I come in?" Emma asked, ignoring the question.

"Well I am rather busy so do please make it quick!" Regina wanted to say, as she opened the door wider. But she didn't.

"Of course!" she said instead, in the sweetest voice she could muster, gritting her teeth. She didn't really want to let her in at all, but she had to be nice, she had to act like she was pleased to see her.