Chapter 2: A Confrontation of Princes

A midday phone call from your kids' school is always guaranteed to make any parents' heart skip a beat. Good news – such as an exceptionally good test score, or that your child was chosen for some special award – could wait until the child got home. No, these calls were generally to let a parent know that their child was sick or had gotten injured in gym class; and those were the least bad of the many possible reasons for such a call from your child's school.

But for Regina Mills and Emma Swan, the reason for the call they got from Storybrooke High School came so far out of left-field that they were beside themselves. Their son, Henry, had been called to the principal's office . . . for fighting.

Neither woman even bothered with driving to their son's school. Regina teleported directly to where Emma was, and then without as much as a word between them, the Former Evil Queen teleported them both straight to Principal Hoffman's Office.

Fortunately, being Storybrooke, Maine, none of the many other people already present even gave the sudden appearance of Henry's moms in a burst of purple smoke a second look.

Henry's moms quickly took the measure of the situation. First, they gave their son a quick once-over. Henry's school uniform was dirty and his hair was disheveled, but otherwise, he looked alright. And both women were relieved to see that he wasn't alone. Sitting with Henry were his girlfriend, Violet Morgan, and classmates Ava and Nicholas Zimmer, (AKA Hansel and Gretel,) as well as the Mad Hatter's daughter, Paige.

On the opposite side of the table sat an angry looking blonde boy and a more subdued red haired girl about the same age as Henry and his friends. Interestingly, neither of these children wore the Storybrooke High School Uniform; though both were well-dressed in what looked like top-of-the-line designer clothes, though the boy also wore a layer of drying mud. The boy was about the same height as Henry, but had delicate, almost feminine features, including hair that was blonder than Emma's.

The pretty girl sitting with the blonde boy was clearly as afraid as the boy was angry and outraged. She avoided eye contact with everyone else, but attempted to put a comforting hand on the boy's shoulder, which he promptly shrugged away from, shooting her a warning look as he did.

Principal Hoffman started to say something, but before he could, the office door burst open and four men following one very determined looking woman, brusquely strode in.

Two of the men had dark hair, and were portly, bearded and well-dressed. The other two men also wore expensive clothing, and were both as blonde as the woman who seemed to be taking the lead. Emma made a mental note that these three had hair that matched the boy at the table. But while one of the blonde men was very athletic looking, the other was a small person; what this world's natives un-politically correctly, (and inaccurately - at least by Enchanted Forest standards,) called a "dwarf."

The new arrivals promptly took their places behind the boy and girl opposite Henry and his family and friends. After examining the boy (who sat calmly as she looked him over for injuries,) the woman rounded to Regina and Emma, and hissed, "Which one of you is the mother of the boy who dared to attack my son, Joffrey!"

Regina and Emma instantly developed a dislike for the woman. Simultaneously, and with a touch of pride, both women said, "I am," momentarily catching the blonde woman off-guard. But the boy sitting opposite from Henry and his friends didn't wait for his mother to resume.

"Mother, Sansa and I were looking around the Storybrooke High athletic field, and suddenly that boy," he pointed menacingly at Henry, "started attacking me for no reason!"

It was Ava Zimmer who responded, first. "I wouldn't call smacking your 'girlfriend' around "no reason!" You're just lucky that it was Henry who got to you first! If it had been me . . . !"

"Wait a minute," said Emma, betraying more concern than she intended to. "Joffrey . . . ? Sansa . . . ? Oh, no . . . . No, no, NO . . . !" She turned incredulously to Regina, and added, "Here in Storybrooke? Seriously . . . ?"

Though Fairy Tales and High Fantasy were related Realms of Storytelling, they rarely interacted with each other. Despite similarities in setting and culture, their respective outlooks on life and the lessons they taught could not be any more different.

While Fairy Tales were predisposed to such concepts as "True Love" and "Happily Ever After;" the Realms of High Fantasy were ostentatiously "dog-eat-dog" in their daily affairs; especially the members of the Noble Houses, who took cynicism and ruthlessness to an entirely new level.

Though there were always exceptions to this general rule – the Realm of Camelot being a good example – the two genres generally kept each other at arm's length. In comparison to Cersei Lannister, Regina Mills was practically a mother from a TV Sitcom Realm, albeit one with a slight attitude. And while she may have been known in the Enchanted Forest for a time as "The Evil Queen," Regina also knew that by the standards of the Seven Kingdoms, she might have been known as "The Slightly Ill-Tempered Queen," at worst.

Thanks to television in The Land Without Magic, the history (or, at least, a history,) of the Seven Kingdoms was known of in Storybrooke. That said, these stories were not especially popular among the Fairy Tales, who preferred stories that emphasized hope over desperation and despair. In fact, other than the slyly ironic name of Moe French's Flower Shop, there was little sign that "Game of Thrones" was popular in Storybrooke, at all.

Meeting Cersei eye to eye, Regina said evenly, "So . . . you're the famous Queen Cersei Lannister. I must admit that I never expected to see you and your people here, in Storybrooke."

"That's because my people don't live in Storybrooke, 'Queen' Regina," snapped Cersei. "We live in the adjacent, Unincorporated Municipality of Winterfell.

"And if you know of me, I believe that you'll also know of my brothers, Jamie and Tyrion . . . ."

"Only by reputation . . . ," said Emma neutrally.

Tyrion smiled. "Don't believe everything you read, Ms. Swan. Stories tend to get 'embellished' as they are told and retold, over and over, again. As you all doubtlessly well know . . . ."

Cersei continued, "The other two are my husband, Robert Baratheon, 'Mayor' of Winterfell." Cersei nodded to one of the dark haired men, who in turn gave Regina and Emma a thin, almost apologetic smile. "And his 'Deputy Mayor,' Eddard Stark."

Ned Stark also offered a smile, absentmindedly fidgeting with his tie-tack; a small, silver hand. "Not as grandiloquent a title as I previously held, I'll admit. But there you have it . . . ."

"It would seem that the Black Fairy's curse has demoted us all," said Robert wistfully.

Cersei said, "And I see that our sons have already met." She then turned her baleful attention directly to Henry, and said, "Is this how you Fairy Tales welcome a Brother Prince, here in Storybrooke, 'Prince' Henry? Your courtesies leave much to be desired. But considering who your mother is, perhaps I shouldn't be too surprised." Henry politely met her stare, but said nothing.

Both Regina and Emma moved closer to Henry. Violet took Henry's hand and gave it an encouraging squeeze. Regina and Emma put a comforting hand on their son's shoulders. Then Regina said, "Alright, son, what happened?"

Henry said, "My friends and I had Study Hall, so we all decided to go outside to the football field to watch the intermural games between Storybrooke High and the visiting team from West Rose High.

"But when we got to the bleachers, we heard something that sounded like an argument coming from below us. When we went behind the bleachers to see what was happening, we saw Joffrey shoving Sansa against one of the bleacher supports."

Ava rounded to Joffrey, and added fiercely, "And then, we all saw him hit her!"

As Ava spoke, Emma took note of Joffrey, who sunk slightly in his seat. She also noticed that Robert and Eddard both betrayed discomfort, but said nothing.

Jamie Lannister spat, "Your opinion was not asked for, wench!"

"It's not Ava's 'opinion,' Mister Lannister," said Paige Hatter. "It happened, and we all saw it!"

Infuriated, Jamie took a step forward, but Emma said. "Hold on, there. Whatever title you may have in Winterfell, or had back in the, ah, "Old Country;" I'm the Sheriff, here in Storybrooke. And if you so much as take one more step closer to any of these children, I'm taking you in!"

Nonplussed, Jamie took a step back, and said, "In Winterfell, I'm the CEO of Kingsguard Security, LLC. I don't know how you run things here in Storybrooke. But in Winterfell, the Small Folk know their place!"

Regina said, "Be that as it may, we do things differently, here in Storybrooke. As Emma pointed out, this isn't "The Old Country," and you would all do well to remember that.

"But we digress . . . . Son, please go on."

Henry took a deep breath, and continued. "I pulled Joffrey away from Sansa, and Ava went to her to see if she was alright. Then, Joffrey pulled a knife –"

Simultaneously, Regina and Emma said, "WHAT?!"

Speaking for the first time, Principal Hoffman timidly held up a carbon-fiber hunting knife, and said, "Um, Joffrey - allegedly - had this on him when the gym teacher brought this incident to my attention."

"That's Lion's Tooth!" said Joffrey. "At least, it was Lion's Tooth, until the Black Fairy's Curse brought us here, and turned it into that stupid little toothpick!"

"Principal Hoffman, you will return my son's property, immediately!" demanded Cersei.

"They may keep it, mother! It's not even proper, Valyrian Steel! It's made out of some cheap, Land Without Magic tat called "carbon-fiber!"

Regina ignored Joffrey, and said, "What happened next, Henry?"

Henry looked up at Emma for a second, and then said, "Well, remember those Krav Maga lessons you gave me when we were living in New York? They really work . . . .

"Anyway, it was about that time when the gym teacher came, and brought us all here!" All Henry's friends nodded in agreement.

"THAT'S A LIE!" spat Joffrey. "I NEVER HIT SANSA! I WAS DEFEDING US AGAINST THIS FAIRY TALE RABBLE!"

Eddard Stark turned to his daughter, and softly said, "Is this true, Little Dove? Were Prince Henry and his friends harassing you and Joffrey because you are High Fantasy Folk?"

"I – I don't know, f - for sure . . . ," whimpered Sansa. "Everything happened so fast that I –"

"What do you mean, "I don't know?" Paige said incredulously. "Didn't you feel it when he hit you, girl? We all certainly heard it . . . !"

Violet said, "It's alright, Sansa. We all saw what happened. You don't have to protect your 'boyfriend,' or make any excuses for him."

Ava added, "And you don't have to put up with him, or his abuse! Not anymore!"

Joffrey turned to Cersei, and almost whimpered, "Mother, it's a lie! These low-born Fairy Tales are lying about me!" Joffrey then rounded to Henry, and said, "It's because we're Nobles from a High Fantasy Realm, and not Fairy Tales, isn't it . . . ?"

Robert Baratheon said, "Then you say Prince Henry's attack was unprovoked, Joff?"

"That's right, father! Sansa and I were just minding our own business, before these Fairy Tales came along and started giving us trouble!"

Addressing Regina and Emma, Cersei said, "There you have it. My son doesn't lie."

But neither of Henry's moms immediately replied to Cersei. Instead, they were looking at the Smartphone that Paige Hatter handed them while Joffrey was bloviating. A moment later, Regina looked up from the screen and sassed "Maybe your son doesn't lie, Cersei. But neither does the camera."

Emma gestured to the TV on the wall, and said, "Principal Hoffman, may I . . . ?"

Nervously, the Principal gave Cersei and Jamie Lannister an apologetic look, and reluctantly nodded to Emma to proceed. Emma took note of this when she put the video that the Mad Hatter's daughter made up on the screen.

Sansa was right about one thing; it did happen pretty quickly. But it clearly showed Joffrey shoving Sansa hard against the bleacher support and striking her with an open palm. Then Henry ran up and pulled Joffrey off of Sansa as Ava helped the girl to her feet, and stood protectively next to her. Next, Joff's knife came out, and in a few, businesslike moves, Henry not only disarmed Joff, but got him face down in the mud.

On the audio, Joffrey could clearly be heard yelling, "I'M TELLING MOTHER!"

And Henry evenly replied, "Yeah? Well, that goes double for me!"

Then the Storybrooke Gym Teacher came up to ask what had happened, and the video stopped.

Emma shrugged. "Well, as you High Fantasy people like to say, "There you have it . . . ."

Cautiously, Eddard Stark said, "So . . . Prince Henry; am I to understand that you were only defending Sansa's honor . . . ?"

"No sir," said Henry. "I just did the right thing. Like my moms always taught me to do."

Fuming, Cersei said, "Well, I've seen and heard enough!" She then pointed at Henry, and added, "Sheriff Swan, I want that boy arrested for assault, immediately!"

Robert said, "According to what we just saw; there is no cause for Prince Henry being arrested."

"I – I don't believe this!" stammered Cersei. "That video was obviously . . . charmed, or . . . or "photoshopped," or whatever! It's obviously a Fairy Tale trick!

"The man I married would have demanded satisfaction for what happened to his eldest son – his heir! - at the hands of this . . . this base-born, Fairy Tale 'prince!'"

Jamie snorted, adding, "That's the problem with you Fairy Tales. You'll let anyone marry into your Royal Houses."

"Well, excuse us if our family trees actually branch-off!" Regina sassed dryly. "But if anyone here should be arrested, it's Joffrey. He assaulted Sansa, and threatened our son with a knife." Regina then rounded to Cersei, and added, "If we were in "The Old Country," Cersei; of course you realize that this would mean war. But fortunately for you and your son, Storybrooke isn't "The Old Country." And we do things differently, here!

"News Flash, Cersei: You are no more a Queen here in this world than I am! And the sooner you accept that fact, the easier you'll find you have it!"

"ENOUGH!" spat Cersei. "Robert, I believe that we're done, here!" She then turned to Principal Hoffman, and said, "Now, if you would kindly give my son's . . . property back to him, we'll be on our way."

"I – I can't just give a weapon back to an underage child that was confiscated on school grounds by a member of the faculty . . . ," said Principal Hoffman apologetically.

Cersei groaned, and impatiently replied, "Well, then, give it back to Joffrey's father!"

"Uh, Cersei, you may want to be a little bit more specific than that . . . ," sassed Regina.

Cersei and Jamie each gave Regina a nasty look as Tyrion struggled to suppress a smile. But the growing tension was finally broken when Principal Hoffman made an ostentatious display of handing Joffrey's knife back to Robert Baratheon.

"Now, we're leaving, Regina," spat Cersei. "And don't you dare to try and stop us, 'Evil Queen!'"

"I wouldn't dream of it, Cersei," replied Regina. "And don't you ever come back to Storybrooke, once you're gone, 'Blight of the West.'"

Cersei was about to respond, but Jamie touched her arm, and said, "Not now, Dear Sister." A moment later, Cersei reluctantly nodded, and a few moments later, they were gone, leaving Henry, his friends, his moms, and the Principal of Storybrooke High School alone in the office.

Principal Hoffman then told Henry and his friends that they may return to class; though it was almost time for school to be dismissed. Before leaving, Henry told his moms that he and his friends were going to Granny's Diner after school for a snack, and to study and hang out before coming home for dinner.

"I'll get my homework done with the gang at Granny's," said Henry. "But after dinner, I still have a few Happy Endings that I promised to write, tonight."

When the kids left the office, Principal Hoffman breathed a sigh of relief, and then collapsed shakily into his chair, taking a drink of water from a pitcher on his desk. The man was clearly in distress, and Emma went over to him and asked if he was alright.

When Principal Hoffman regained his composure, he said, "Don't you have any idea who you're dealing with? Do you know what Cersei Lannister is in this world, Madam Mayor? Sheriff Swan?"

"Some narcissistic, self-absorbed High Fantasy 'Queen' who'd better realize that she's not in the Realms of Storytelling, anymore," if she knows what's good for her," quipped Regina.

Principal Hoffman shook his head vigorously. "Do YOU KNOW what Cersei Lannister is in this world, Madam Mayor? Do either of you know what the Black Fairy's Dark Curse made of her and her Family?

"The Lannisters are an organized crime family, and Cersei is the Capo di Tutti Capi!"

Principal Hoffman wiped his brow with a handkerchief, took another drink, and continued. "The Lannister Family is responsible for all of the racketeering, loan sharking and extortion in all of Winterfell. And lately, they've started moving into Storybrooke, as well!

"Cersei's brother, Jamie - through his Kingsguard Security Company - collects 'protection' money from many of the local merchants in both towns!

"You know how it goes: "That's a nice business you've got, here. I'd be a shame if something bad should maybe happen to it . . . ."

"Wait," said Emma. "If Cersei is some kind of Mafia Don – or Donna – in this world; than how come, as Sheriff, I'm only just hearing about all of this now?"

Principal Hoffman sighed. "Because everyone in Storybrooke and Winterfell are afraid that Cersei would send her "muscle" after anyone who complains to the cops!

"And I know this for a fact! My neighbor was late with his "protection fee" for his business a few months ago, and Kingsguard Security sent a couple of big goons to collect. One guy made Dwayne Johnson look like Jon Cryer, and the other not-much-smaller one's face was half-burned, like Freddy Krueger."

"Gregor Clegane," said Regina. "And his brother, Sandor."

"The Mountain and the Hound," added Emma, rolling her eyes. "Great . . . ."

"Well, that makes sense," said Principal Hoffman. "It's not my favorite, but I watch "Game of Thrones," from time-to-time," then adding somewhat sheepishly, "mostly for Daenerys . . . .

"But until I knew that those people were actually here, the talk around town was that we were dealing with some toughs from the DC Universe who came over with the Black Fairy's curse.

"I originally thought that they were Bane, or Killer Croc, and Two-Face. And that the Penguin was behind it all. Not that Jamie Lannister the Clegane Brothers are all that much better, under the circumstances . . . ."

Emma took a deep breath, and let it out slowly. "So, what now, Regina?"

But before Regina could answer, there was a knock on the door. When Principal Hoffman nodded, Emma opened it, and Mr. Gold came in, causing the Principal to gasp with fright.

"Easy there, Dearie," said Mr. Gold affably. "Need I remind you that I'm no longer, "The Dark One?"

"I – it's not you, Rump – ah, Mr. Gold," stammered Principal Hoffman. "It's . . . it's him . . . ."

It was then that Regina and Emma noticed that Mr. Gold was not alone. Accompanying him was an impeccably dressed, blonde person of short stature.

"What are you doing, here?" said Regina sharply to Tyrion Lannister. "I thought I'd made myself clear that you and yours aren't welcome here in Storybrooke!"

Mr. Gold said, "It's alright, Regina. Tyrion and I have just had a – please do pardon the expression - little "Imp-to-Imp Talk." And I believe you will find that it so happens that Tyrion is, well . . . on our side, in this matter."

"My side, actually, Rumple," corrected Tyrion. "In the interest of full disclosure, you'd all do well to remember that. However, it also just so happens that currently, our mutual interests happen to conflate . . . .

"My dear sister and brother needs must be stopped before they go any further with their insane plans."

"And what 'plans' are those?" said Emma.

"What plans do you think, Sheriff Swan?" said Tyrion somewhat impatiently. "Cersei seeks to add Storybrooke and the other United Realms to her nascent kingdom in this world . . . ."

Author's Note: This story is another experiment of mine that uses "genre" as a stand-in for "ethnicity," among the Meta-Aware characters in "Once Upon A Time." I hope that you will find this concept entertaining as well as thought-provoking. Please let me know what you think of it, and whether or not I should continue this story/experiment. Thanks for reading!