Title: Learning to be a Hero

Fandom: Once Upon a Time and Xena: Warrior Princess

Disclaimer: In chapter 1.

Pairing: Regina/Emma and Xena/Gabrielle

Rating: PG for now.

Spoiler or Other Information: - Launches from Broken (2.01) of Once Upon a Time, so will include anything leading up to that. Features Fins, Femmes and Gems (3.18) from Xena, but there may be other references.

Author's Notes: I love all my fellow Xenites and SwanQueens! Thank you for being so awesome!


They had been walking for hours. After a while of Regina reluctantly following Emma they came across a road. That was when Regina insisted on leading, as she was the one who had travelled in forests the most. Emma agreed, but only because she didn't want to start a fight. This was the longest they had gone in each other's presence without fighting, although that could be because they weren't talking either. Emma had wanted to, and tried to, but Regina claimed that being silent in an unknown realm was safer.

Regina looked purposefully ahead and failed to notice the sun make its way towards the horizon. Emma had noticed, and had tried to mention it, but Regina had furiously yelled, "Miss Swan! Shut up!"

Emma rolled her eyes when Regina eventually did become aware of the cooling temperature and the dying light. She stopped abruptly with her hands on her hips. She glared at the sun as if that alone could bring back the light. She was angry at everything and everyone. Including herself, although she'd never admit it. Regina strutted off into the trees with Emma silently followed. About 12 feet they came across a slightly larger gap between the trees, not quite a clearing but it would do.

"Miss Swan, gather rocks for the fire." Regina ordered and bent over to pick up twigs and branches.

Emma stared at her for a moment before the words sank in, "Please."

Regina stood up and levelled a sever look at the blonde. Her eyes narrowed. "Please," she breathed out venomously.

"Thank you, Madame Mayor, for asking so nicely." Emma gave a sarcastic smile before she walked off to find rocks.

After a short time both women met in the centre of the space and deposited their loads in a campfire shape. Emma picked up two rocks to strike a spark but before she could do anything Regina threw a small fireball into the pile of broken up branches. Emma looked in wonder between the healthy fire and Regina, who had a smirk on her face at Emma's expression.

"What? You didn't think magic had less evil uses?" Regina walked away.

Emma sat down fully and stared at the fire. She was hungry, confused and cold; never a good combination. She missed Henry. She had only just saved him, and now…. Now she was stuck in the forest with Regina, the woman who had cursed countless people, who was the Evil Queen, and who she just saved as well. Why did I do that for? Emma grumbled to herself. Because I promised Henry, she answered, and because…

Regina walked back into the small clearing without a word, handed some berries to Emma and then sat on the opposite side of the fire. She ignored the strange look from the Sheriff and ate the berries still clutched in her hand. Regina was grateful that one of them had actually grown up in a forest, otherwise she was sure they would starve. In her own realm she wouldn't have hesitated to use magic, but it felt different here. She still felt a pulsing sensation from the meagre fireball she had conjured. She couldn't work out if that was a good or bad thing as she stared into the flames.


They had fallen asleep where they sat, after lying down of course, and by morning they woke up shivering. Stupid fire... Why couldn't Regina have made it go all night? Emma mentally cursed herself for encouraging magic. But on a moment of deeper reflection she couldn't think of a reason why she was so against magic. She didn't grow up with it, and up until recently she would have thought it was cool.

Once again Regina made it clear she didn't want to engage in conversation, so they trudged along the road in silence. Well, Emma trudged, Regina still walked with an air of regal dignity that Emma secretly admired. Not that she would admit that aloud, or even to herself for that matter.

By early afternoon Emma was fed up. "Regina, I'm hungry!" She whined.

"As am I, Miss Swan, but you don't hear me complaining every two seconds." Regina didn't even turn her head sideways to glance at the blonde.

"I haven't complained about it till now. You told me not to talk."

"And I would like to keep it that way."

"Too bad," Emma huffed. "I'm hungry and I'm bored. Either we talk to distract me or I'll keep complaining every two seconds."

Regina glared at Emma who looked back defiantly, "Fine. What did you want to discuss?"

Emma opened her mouth and then closed it. Now she was allowed to talk she didn't know what to say. She had a million things she wanted to ask the woman, but none of them were volunteering to go first. "Ah…"

"I see you penchant for conversation is as alive in this world as it was in Storybrooke." Regina inwardly smirked.

"Why did you adopt Henry?" It was out before she could stop it, and by the furious look on Regina's face she knew it was the wrong thing to ask.

"We are not discussing my son." Regina snapped. "I will not discuss anything personal with you."

Emma gulped, "Well, that doesn't leave a lot…"

Regina glared straight ahead. Stupid wraith, stupid Saviour, stupid… me.

"So, ah… Xenaverse has nice weather, don't you think?"


After another night and morning of travelling, and Emma had finally given up after she ran out of mundane things to comment on, they heard signs of life. People, music, animals. Emma looked relieved, and Regina's scowl just grew. Festivals... She hated festivals. She sighed and despite her internal protests led her and Emma into the town. People can take their happiness and shove it up their…

By the time they reached the tavern they had confetti all over their clothes, Regina couldn't hear properly in her left ear from the horn that was blown just as she walked past, Emma had manure all over her right boot, and they were both desperate for a drink. Unfortunately neither had any coin to purchase something stronger, so they had to settle for water.

They had been at the bar for a very short amount of time when Emma heard it. She stood up straight and held her breath. She slowly turned, her eyes scanning the patrons to seek the source of that familiar voice. Her eyes widened and she stared in shock. It was one thing to claim they were in the Xenaverse, it was another thing all together to have the deadly beauty within her vision.

Xena looked up when she felt eyes on her and saw a blonde woman staring. Quite blatantly… "Oh Gods, not another one," she muttered before seeing the woman beside her. She was up in an instant with her sword drawn.

Emma was ripped from her shock by seeing the predatory look in blue eyes. She tore her eyes away and saw shock register on Regina's face before the mask came back. She reacted instinctively and stood between the point of Xena's sword and Regina.

"Regina." Xena growled.

"Xena." Regina stated coldly.

Emma gaped, "Regina?"

Gabrielle stood beside her friend with a quizzical expression, "Xena?"

Emma let out a brief burst of laughter. All eyes fell on her. She shrugged apologetically. "And here I thought things couldn't get more crazy."

Xena ignored her, her eyes back to Regina. "What are you doing here?"

"An unfortunate turn of events. I would not have come back by choice."

"Back?" Emma questioned.

"Not now, Miss Swan," Regina snapped.

"Xena, who is this woman?" Gabrielle injected. "And do you really need to be waving your sword around in the middle of the tavern?"

In answer, Xena gestured her sword. "Outside. Now."

The four women exited into the early afternoon light and once again turned to face each other, Emma still in front of Regina because Xena's sword came back out to play in the Mayor's direction. Xena took a step forward and Emma settled into a defensive stance in front of her hero.

"I don't know what your problem is Xena, but you'll have to go through me." Emma stated with more courage than she felt. "No one hurts the mother of my son."

Xena raised an eyebrow and lowered her sword slowly. The Regina she had known would have responded already to her aggressive gesture, and she certainly wouldn't have allowed another person to protect her, not that she needed it. Xena was more than aware of what that woman was capable of. She had a faint burn mark on her shoulder to prove it. After another minute of tense staring between the brunettes Xena put away her sword and crossed her arms with a glare to match Regina's.

Emma breathed out. "Now," she said, "would anyone care to explain what the hell is going on?"


Emma sat on the bale of hay and watched Regina groom a horse in the stables they were staying in for the night. Just when she thought she knew the woman something would happen to make her realise just how little she did know. Although the explanation was brief, and filled with so much tension it made it hard to breathe, she had learned that Regina had been to this world before. To make things worse Regina had been an acquaintance of Alti's. The thought made Emma sick. The most dangerous and feared of all of Xena's enemies had to be old best buddies with the woman who raised her son.

Ignoring the nausea, Emma had explained, with some begrudging help from Regina, how they had come to be in this world and that they were really just trying to find a way out, and had no intention of starting fights or doing anything bad. Gabrielle had argued on their behalf, claiming that if Xena could change then surely Regina could as well. They eventually agreed to help.

So here they were, several hours later, in a stable that smelt like manure. Emma closed her eyes and tried to think of the meal she had: meat, potatoes and bread. Not exactly a hamburger, but she had been starving and didn't care. Xena had even bought her mead to go with it, which she had drunk eagerly to quell her nerves. She still couldn't believe she had stood between Xena and he target. All those times I yelled at the TV calling the thugs idiots… She looked at Xena sharpening her sword. Wow She really does that. Emma's eyes glazed over. I can't believe this is real.

"Stop staring. It's unbecoming." Regina snarled as she sat next to Emma.

Emma looked at her blankly, "What?"

"Stop staring," Regina glared.

"I'm not… I wasn't…" Emma sighed. "Fine."

Regina glanced around the area. Her eyes lingered on Xena before settling on the horses. Great, she mumbled. It's bad enough I'm stuck with the Saviour, now I have to deal with Xena as well. Her lips curled minutely upwards as she remembered Emma's unexpected defence. She mentally shook her head to banish the image. She glared at Emma again and crossed her arms. She had obviously been listening to the woman too much, because her brain sulkingly supplied, this sucks.


Emma and Regina walked side by side along the uneven road, with Xena and Gabrielle a little distance behind. Regina shot Emma a glare every time to blonde glanced over her shoulder to make sure her hero was still there, but again refused to engage in conversation. She had been quite harsh when she snapped at Emma that morning when asked of her past in this realm. The hurt expression that passed over Emma's face had twinged something inside her but she ignored it with gusto. She would not care, not again.

"So, ah," Emma glanced back. "Do you think she would mind if I ask her some questions?"

Regina's blood boiled hotter at the Sheriff's clear smitten tone. "I think she would prefer you to stop ogling her. She's not an animal in a zoo." I can't believe I just defended Xena, she groaned mentally. Jealous much? Anger rose in her throat and she couldn't stop the words. "Perhaps you'll stick to your M.O. this time and actually leave after you screw things up. I'm sure Xena's pet wouldn't mind sharing for a night."

Emma's jaw dropped and she looked wide-eyed at Regina. She had no words of retort, no comeback to match the depth of the brunette's insult. "I can't believe you just said that," she wheezed. Emma turned her eyes back to the road ahead and let her own anger sink in. Henry was right, she's just an evil b…witch.

A distance behind Gabrielle glanced up at Xena's tense face, "Are you going to explain what happened?"

Xena sighed, "Not yet. It's a past I've tried hard to forget." She gently and briefly touched her friend's shoulder. "I will, one day, I promise."

"Ok Xena." Gabrielle didn't push, she knew better. The warrior would open up when she was ready.

They continued on in companionable silence, quite opposite to the tension bubbling away in front of them. After a while there was a bird call that echoed in Xena's mind and her always alert body tensed. Regina turned her head and locked eyes with Xena – she had heard it too. Xena gave a small nod of acknowledgement, and then cleared her throat softly for Gabrielle.

"Tell me about the tale of the Swan Queen," Xena instructed, and then added in a whisper, "and be ready."

"Miss Swan, I understand you often had to engage in brawls when being a bail bondsperson," Regina began and continued when she saw Emma's confused expression, "You may need to utilised those skills in this realm, beginning very shortly. Don't look!" Regina scolded quietly, "We must act completely naturally."

Emma fixed her eyes ahead and muttered to her side, "Our naturally is either fighting or ignoring each other. Any preferences?"

The heated vision that flashed before Regina's eyes didn't involve either and she loathed to admit the synapses had even fired at all. She clenched her jaw and focused her thoughts on magic and the spells she could easily command; fireballs, protection shield, kinetic force, and with a level up in complexity she could bend the trees to her will.

"Ignoring it is then…" Emma grumbled.

It wasn't long before a wagon came into view, and a woman sat on the back holding a baby, or at least that's what it looked like. They couldn't see anyone else but Emma wasn't stupid, most days, and was sure there were others around. No mother in her right mind would sit on the side of the road with her baby like this. As the woman's features came into focus she could see fear and concern, but she was still too far off to read her eyes.

Xena appeared at Emma's shoulder and easily overtook her with her confident strides. She was immediately distracted from the wagon woman to watch Xena approached, Gabrielle at her side. Emma laughed internally; she hadn't even noticed the bard pass her. I gotta pay better attention. Emma smiled wryly at herself.

"Hello," Gabrielle said kindly.

"H-hello," the woman answered hesitantly.

"Is everything ok here? Are you waiting for someone?"

The woman shifted her silent baby before answering, "My husband has travelled to the next town to bring help. Our horse ran off, and my baby and I are so hungry. Do you have any food or coin to spare?"

Xena took the tiniest step forward, Emma wasn't sure if anyone but she and Gabrielle noticed. Regina seemed to be focused on the bundle in the woman's arms. Emma's senses told her something was wrong, something was off; her ability told her the woman was lying. Should I warn Xena? Does she already know?

"We can spare some bread, but I'm afraid it's not fresh," Xena replied.

The woman coughed, "You're so kind, stranger." She smiled, "But I'm sure you can do better than that."

Four armed men came out from the surrounding trees, three with sword and one with a bow. Emma couldn't see Xena's expression, but she was sure her lips were curled into a predatory smile, eager for a fight. Gabrielle gripped her staff with her second hand. Emma glanced worried at Regina but she only saw a hungry look in purple eyes. What the hell! Emma gasped.

The men focused on Xena, even though she hadn't even drawn her weapon yet. Emma felt the air move beside her and turned in time to see Xena catch an arrow before it pierced her. Her heart leapt and stopped when she heard the battle cry, a long high-pitched challenge to any brave enough or stupid enough to face her. Xena threw her chakram and it sliced through the air and severed the bow in two before being caught with a practiced spin.

The three swordsmen approached Xena and Gabrielle at once but only two made a second step. Emma could hear the crackle of the fire that engulfed the man closest to Emma. She whipped around to see another fireball ready in Regina's hand and watched as she launched it at the next closest, and another at the next. She had seen Regina perform magic before, but this was different. There was a glaze to Regina's eyes that reminded Emma of all the junkies she had seen during her years in the foster system, and even more during her hunting days.

Another fireball was ready and Regina gazed steadily at the woman cowering next to the wagon. "Regina!" Emma cried.

Ignoring her, Regina took a step forward. How dare this woman put her child in danger. She will pay for her recklessness. She raised the fireball but something stopped her - a hand on her arm pulled her back and around to face worried eyes.

"Regina, please stop." Emma pleaded, "It's over."

Emma watched as the purple eyes darkened briefly and she was afraid she would cop the fireball in the face, but after a moment it faded, and left brown eyes staring back at her in shock. "Emma…"

"It's ok." Emma didn't know why she did it, but she stepped forward and pulled Regina into a hug.

It took only seconds for the shock to wear off and Regina pushed Emma away from her. "Do not touch me, Miss Swan."

"I…" Emma didn't have a chance to finish whatever it was she was to say – the woman pulled a dagger out of the bundle of cloth that had been shaped like a baby and ran into the woods.

"I see you still like them crispy." Xena casually glanced between the bodies and then begun to walk in the direction they had been heading. She had only taken a few steps when she heard Emma gasp. She turned to find an unconscious Regina in the arms of the blonde.

Emma looked up with desperate eyes, "Help me."


Regina felt something cold and wet one her forehead and a warm presence beside her. She felt the after effects of the magic linger in her body. The pulsing sensation sent chills down her spine, like withdrawing from a drug. Magic was different here. Regina shuddered, afraid of losing control again she vowed to herself to avoid using magic. A blanket was pulled up to her shoulders. She forced her eyes open and they locked with blue/green ones.

"Hey…" Emma whispered lamely.

Regina blinked a few times in an attempted to clear the haze from her mind. "Miss Swan."

"How are you feeling?"

What an odd question… The brunette mused. "Fine. Now please remove this unclean cloth from my head."

Emma smirked, "Welcome back Madame Mayor, I see you're as pleasant as always."

The older woman snorted. "I am perfectly capable of being nice, Miss Swan."

"Then why aren't you?" Emma asked quietly. After a moment she grabbed the wet cloth, stood and turned without pause went to sit near the others by the fire.

Because it's easier to keep people away…