Drabble: Painting the Roses Red
Flashback for the episode: 03x10 - The New Neverland
~~ Wonderland ~~
The White Queen couldn’t take it anymore. She couldn’t stand that she was slaving away, restoring prosperity in the Kingdom and enduring sleepless nights going village after village, distributing her healing potions. Yet the King was able to enjoy the fruits of her labors, receiving all the praises and having many of his doting subjects entertaining him night after night in their chambers… it was supposed to be her chambers. There was no gratitude, no appreciation… no love for the White Queen. She was simply fed up.
She had to confront him at last.
The White Queen glided into the King’s bedchambers and as expected, found him with a mistress, kissing in bed. That was supposed to be her bed. It never bothered her before when she caught him doing such deeds in front of her but somehow, this time, it made her blood boil. He took advantage of her kindness, her birthright… her magic. How dare a useless, lazy King sleep in her chambers and defile her honor in such a way.
Her usual soft cinnamon gaze turned black as coal. Her jealousy turned to madness and then into rage as rose bushes began growing, surrounding the bed, blooming beautiful, bright white roses.
The King pulled away from one of his many mistresses and noticed his wife standing in front of the bed. “Darling, I didn’t hear you come in… Is there anything you need?” The King looked around him and saw the white roses growing around them. “What is this? This is very nice but please can you leave us be?... Darling?”
Darling... The Queen loathed his tone of empty affection. She was not his darling. She was a pawn. A mere, insignificant chess piece that was easily discarded despite its true gifts, hard work, and sacrifice.
She remained silent as fury continued to overcome her as the rose bushes began to grow out branches of thorns. The thorns on the branches began to grow larger and larger and in a swift movement, they came at the King and his mistress, slashing at them like daggers. Their blood splattered over the white roses, painting them red.
Hearing their curdling screams, the White Queen’s crimson red lips curved into a devilish smirk. She reveled at the King and his whore begging for their life. The King struggled to fight off the thorns as he begged. “Alice! Please! Make them stop! ALICE!... ALICE!”
The Queen tilted her head. She did not know such a name.
Finally the King cried. “MIRANA!”
After the White Queen heard the King yell out her name, the name of her life in the Enchanted Forest, her eyes went back to their cinnamon brown hue. Mirana had snapped out of her rage and horrified at the sight, waved her hand to stop the branches from bringing further harm to the King and his mistress. The thorns and branches disappeared before them as the white roses that had been painted red. It was a horrific sight.
“I’m so sorry! I’m so sorry!” Mirana apologized repeatedly as she rushed over to her husband and the woman. They stared at the Queen in terror. She hovered her hands over them as a white glow emitted over the pair, healing them instantly.
Before the guards were called, a lavender and white smoke engulfed the Queen, transporting herself outside of the Palace. She rushed toward the stables, taking out her White Horse, Sir Aster. She mounted on him and fled.
Horrible guilt overcame the White Queen. She never knew herself to use Dark Magic in such a way. She was terrified of what she was actually capable of. Refusing to end up like the powerful sorcerers she knew of, that was when she vowed to never harm a living thing again.
~~ Enchanted Forest ~~
With her friend, the White Rabbit’s help, Mirana was back at the Enchanted Forest, and couldn't wait to tell her dearest Jefferson how she really felt about him. She was certain he felt the same and it was a mistake to leave him. She just couldn’t wait to see him again and go on more adventures with him, even if it was too dangerous. She realized she was more than capable of protecting him.
Mirana arrived at his mansion, she could feel her heart pounding in her chest. She couldn’t wait to surprise him and profess her love for him. When she stormed through the door, she looked around and called out for him.
“Jefferson?! I’m back! Where are you?!”
Jefferson came downstairs as he couldn’t believe his eyes. “Miri…”
“Jeffy…” She ran over and threw her arms around him into a tight embrace.
He picked her up and spun her around. “You’re back! You’re home!” His eyes welled up with tears, so happy to be reunited with his friend.
“I’m home!” Mirana said through tears as she couldn’t wait to tell him how she truly felt about him. He was her home, after all.
“I promise I’ll never leave you again.” She embraced him again and pulled back gazing into his eyes.
Jefferson smiled through his tears as he gazed back at her.
Before she would lean in to kiss him, she heard a baby cry. “What was that?” She pulled back.
The former portal jumper couldn’t stop smiling. “Miri, I need to tell you something…”
Jefferson took her hand and led his friend up the stairs to the bedroom. Mirana froze at the door as she saw a woman on his bed, holding a baby.
The hatter smiled at his friend. “That little angel is our daughter, Grace, and that is Priscilla… my wife.”
“You have a daughter and a wife…” Mirana began to feel her heart breaking but decided to cry happy tears. “Con… congratulations, my dear… friend.”
“It’s an honor to finally meet you, Mirana.” Priscilla smiled as she held her baby. “Jefferson has told me all about you and I’m so happy you’re here.”
“Now that you’re here,” Jefferson began. “We wanted to ask, it would mean the world to us if you would be Grace’s godmother.”
“Godmother?” Mirana wiped her tears away as she was able to contain them for a moment. “Of course! It would be my honor! I love her already!” She made her way over to see her goddaughter up close. Priscilla grinned as she handed her the baby for her to carry.
Already falling in love with her, Mirana held on to the sweet baby as she murmured. “Hello, dearest Grace…”
Mirana made her way back to her cottage. She couldn’t stop the tears streaming down her face, her heart was aching. Jefferson had forgotten about her and moved on. He never loved her the same way. She was happy for him but she could also feel her extreme jealousy beginning to take over her. It would not be long before darkness would take over her as well. She couldn’t forget what happened in Wonderland, terrified of what she was capable of if she succumbed to darkness. She had to do something to harness it.
As Mirana stopped at her cottage, she made her way over to the gardens. The very gardens where she used to have her mad tea parties with Jefferson when they were children. Her heart ached even more. Priscilla was a wonderful woman and she wanted to be happy for her best friend. He was the love of her life. He deserved to be happy and his daughter deserved to be happy with a godmother in her life. She wanted to be the best godmother their Saving Grace would ever have. They wanted her to be in her life, after all.
However, Mirana knew very well how painful it was going to be seeing them every day. She wiped her tears away as there was only one thing to do. She held her hand over her heart, the pain much too bearable to handle, she decided it was time. She must embrace her dark magic within. She shut her eyes and her hand reached into her chest and grabbed the very thing that was aching her. As she ripped out her own heart, it was glowing bright, not red but as the white light surrounded it, her heart glowed a much brighter pink.
She placed it in front of her lips as she whispered. “I forbid you to fall in love with Jefferson Hatter...”
She picked up a large stone and enchanted it. The stone opened up like a jewelry box and it was hollow, large enough for her to be able to keep her heart in it. She placed her heart in the stone and enchanted to seal it shut.
Mirana placed the stone on the ground and with a wave of her hand, she shut her eyes and the ground began to rumble. It was not long before the earth began to swallow up the stone, burying it deep where no one can ever find it. She opened her eyes and her tears subsided. She smiled as she couldn’t wait to be the best godmother in the world for Grace.
