A/N: Just so you know, Arna is Regina's birth daughter- cause of Daniel. Emma is reincarnation of Daniel, so technically, it's her kid too. It's really complicated and I have an actual full-length story I'm working on for Regina and Emma with Arna in it. Messing with canon is what I love to do, after all. Anyway, it would be a prequel to this story but I wanted to do this one first.

Please enjoy!

"So it's supposed to, what? Make wine from water?"

A laugh rang at the confused quip, and one of the two women in the cozy study laughed in response. She shook her head in unison with this act, still trying to understand why the other woman always had something to say. And why she would normally find it hilarious.

"No." the woman replied, settling from her laughter. She gestured to the spell book on her lap once more, holding up an incantation for the other woman to read once more. They had been there for a while already, and the two toddlers at their feet had fallen asleep long before.
"It purifies your drink. It takes care of any poisons or bacteria in it." She explained, tapping her finger against the info paragraph.

"I'll try…" the younger woman said uncertainly.

Her palm came out, brandishing the poisoned glass in her hand apprehensively. She concentrated and, a moment later, the liquid within spoofed- a small blue mushroom cloud rose from its surface, sparkling as if filled with lightning and thunder. The older woman smiled softly, seeing the once-clear liquid turn a thick green color.

"Okay…" the younger woman said, sighing. "That's somehow not surprising."

"Just once more, Arna. You may not have purified it but you made the poison within visible- that was going to be your next lesson but I suppose this works as well."

"Why did I make it visible?"

"Well it's possible that you did it on accident. It may act simply but making poisons visible is very complicated."

"So… because my magic is complicated that means I did something complicated even though I was trying to do something not so complicated?"

"In a sense…"

"But that makes no sense! You see, mom? I make no sense!"

"Arna, it's alright if you don't succeed the first time through every time…"

"Think about it, mom- it's not just being complicated. No, because that just means my magic is complicated. Because that means I do things on higher levels just because it decides to overthink everything instead of doing something simple for once in its sorry, pathetic existence just like m-"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence. You are special and one of the most gifted magic-users I've ever seen and you've only been studying for a year. Stop pushing yourself past your limits. Okay?"

"…"

"Arna, look at me. Thank you. Now relax. Close your eyes… yes, and take a deep breath… release. Now go limp."

"What?"

"Go limp."

"Why would I-"

"Go. Limp."

"Fine. I'm limp."

"Completely?"

"Yes, completely!"

"Good. Now close your eyes again- don't give me that look I'm helping you. Good. Now visualize the poison in the cup."

"…"

"Are you visualizing the poison in the cup?"

"Mm."

"Arna."

"Yes! Yes, mother, I am visualizing throwing this cup across the room!"

"Calm down. Just take your time, it'll be okay."

"… Sorry."

"It's alright, dear."

"I'm visualizing the poison in the cup now."

"Are you sure?"

"Ye- Yes I am, mother."

"Tone."

"Sorry."

"Alright. Now imagine the poison itself disintegrating at the molecular level. Imagine it burning up like paper, methodically."

"…"

"Alright… hold… Concentrate… there you go dear, just like that… careful, now, you don't' want to evaporate the drink itself. Alright, good so far… keep concentrating dear."

"Mother."

"Sorry."

"…"

"There, you got it! Good job!"

"Really?"

"Yes, just look! Oh, I'm so proud of you!"

The older woman grinned and pulled the younger woman into a tight embrace, careful not to spill the glass of water, now not poisoned, onto the floor. They pulled apart after a moment and the older woman settled back into her chair, shuffling the spell book on her lap once more.

"Great." The younger woman gulped down the water, having had gotten thirsty, and then set the glass down carefully on the small table in between their chairs that faced diagonally toward each other.

"Why don't we call it a day? I'm sure Emma would love to hear about your learning two spells at once today."

"She's too busy frolicking with Snow and James to care." The younger woman scowled, standing and bending to take the sleeping twins into each arm. Her mother, Regina, gave her a look and hooked a finger under her chin to bring their gazes together.

"You know that's not true. Remember just last week? She fell all over herself getting to you in excitement."

"Yeah, and she tripped in a puddle. Snow came from behind like she planned it and took her off somewhere to clean her up. Then James patted me on the head like I'm some kind of dog before going after them. What's the point of doing any of this if I for one don't use it, and two, nobody cares?" she grumbled, making her mother sigh. Before she could protest her daughter's bitterness, Arna continued.
"I mean, I know you care. You're the only one who does. And I really care about you and stuff, even though that's unbearably sappy. It's just… I have a habit of thinking the worst of things. I haven't even seen Emma today. Or last night. You know, when I was covering for her at that ridiculous party. I hate parties." Regina chuckled at her daughter's anger, reminded of herself, and then sighed. She pressed a gentle kiss to her daughter's forehead, hoping to console her.

"I know you have some lingering… difficulties… toward Snow and James but sweetheart; they're doing all they can. They have agreed upon many things because you, Henry and Emma forced them to see things about me even I could not." the glare she got told her she wasn't quite going the right way with calming her down.

"Difficulties? Every time I see either of them smile I want to punch their teeth out. Snow talks about how great her life is and how she trying to forgive you and stuff but what she doesn't realize is that without you, they never would have met. Emma wouldn't have been born, Henry wouldn't have been born, and these two toddlers wouldn't have either. The family she has is thanks to you and you alone. She thinks she's great but she needs to get that through her thick head and just let go of the past like you have. In my mind, this proves that you're better than her in those aspects at least. And don't even get me started on the 'fairest of them all' crap. She might be cute but it's obvious that you're super beautiful and could easily-"

"Arna! Arna, it's alright." Regina smiled, trying to keep from tearing up at her daughter's protectiveness. It was the best feeling in the world to be so loved so strongly. Emma had the same fire in her as well, and Regina didn't think she would ever be able to control her emotional impulses around them. Her family. It was liberating and yet grounding at the same. The chains of the past were broken from Regina but she was also given a home in Emma's arms. A true one.

"I'm just saying. She might be my sister, sort of, but the girl still has the sense of a… well something that doesn't have sense." Regina laughed at Arna's flushed cheeks and indignant pout at not being able to come up with another insult to her step-sister. Former step-sister, perhaps.
"I mean, I do love Snow and all, that's why I can make fun of her. But seriously mom, I find myself missing Mary-Margret sometimes."

"I know sweetheart, and thank you for always protecting me. But please, try to be patient." Regina said, rubbing her thumb against Arna's shoulder. The girl scowled and glared at the ground for a moment, making her think she was about to launch into another tirade. But soon, she looked back up and released a breath.

"Fine." she sighed. "But only if it'll make you feel better." Regina smiled at her softly.

"Thank you. Now let's find your other mother before I starve." The mother quipped, turning toward the door. Arna followed obediently and with a growling stomach, saying nothing more. Her scowl was still present but it had softened into one of reservation. It wouldn't do to upset her mother or complain more, she was thinking.

Something is wrong…

Once Regina reached the door she turned back to see Arna had lagged behind. Her expression was confused, sticking toward the ground as if trying to figure out something as complex as the meaning of life. Her grip on the twins in her arms was more distracted than supportive- Regina could see her arms shaking from there.

"Arna? What's wrong, dear?" Regina asked, furrowing her brows in worry.

Arna's gaze went to hers, turning that same confusion to her, "I feel kind of… weird…"

Regina took a step forward, instinct telling her to be concerned. But just as her foot touched the ground before her Arna's eyes widened in shock. Her entire body, and the twins in her arms, snapped in a blue atmosphere. The blue mushroom storm cloud returned and covered them from view, crackling with deep aquamarine bolts. Regina called out to her and jumped forward, but again her foot hit and next she knew…

The cloud was gone, and so were her children.

A/N: Next chapter should be updated tomorrow sometime, but until then; thank you for reading, and please review. I do appreciate them deeply and I have a habit of updating sooner when reviewed, you know? Anyway, PM me if you have any questions and I will answer as soon as I am able.