A/n: I think from here on out the chapters won't be as long as the first. Thank you to Charmed2100and pinkcrazynes for favoriting and following!

We Are Both

Orabella ran her hands over the papers on the table in front of her. "Okay, we'll call your cell when we find her. If you find her before we do, please let us know. We don't want anyone left behind."

"Thank you." Another concerned townsperson left the table with hope in their eyes.

Orabella leaned back in her chair to check on the remaining orphans that gathered on the grass with her nieces and nephews nearby. "How's it going, Auntie?" Hroar ran up to his aunt, noticing she was free for his attention.

"It's going well. How are the little ones?"

"They're okay," he sighed

"I know, free babysitting isn't what you wanted to do today," she said sympathetically.

"It's better than school." He perked up.

"Don't get too excited. I'm sure school will start again soon." He shrugged but was quiet. "You okay?"

"I don't like school."

"Neither did I. But it's where I met your father, so I guess it wasn't all bad."

"I miss papa."

"Me too."

"Some of the people have been whispering things."

"What things?" She turned in her chair to face him fully.

"That you and papa are bad people."

She leaned foreword to rest on her knees. "Well, your father is an assassin, and you know I'm a thief. We've never hidden that from you or the others. Yes we've had to do some bad things, but we don't do them to good people. Does that make us bad?"

He shook his head. "But they say you helped an evil Queen."

"Yes, we did," she admitted to him. "We had to."

"Why?"

"To keep you and your siblings safe. To find your cousins. To protect innocent people from dying and punish the truly guilty." She paused and leaned closer to him, placing her hands on his shoulders. "We made a promise, and had to fulfill it. We are still bound to it actually. But not for much longer. A week, maybe two."

"Then we can go home?"

"I don't know," she said truthfully. "All the people here want to get back to their land, and it's very difficult to travel between worlds."

"So we may never get home?"

"That doesn't mean we give up. It just means we have to wait a while."

"So, someday?"

"Someday."

Absolute and Certainty watched as Regina entered her room. "It's got to be in here somewhere."

"Names themselves are powerful things, my Lady," Absolute said as she flipped through the pages. "It would be careless to leave it written down."

"Just keep armed," Regina said still searching through the book. The out-placed pair drew their weapons and waited. "Rumplesh... shilts... Rumpleschtiltskin, I summon thee."

"That's not how you say it, dearie." A voice behind her made her jump and turn. A man with gold glittering skin in red leather garb sat comfortably on a chaise facing away from Regina and towards her guards. "But then... you didn't have to say anything."

Regina walked to look at her visitor. "What are you?"

"'What'? What 'what'? My, my, what a rude question." The man sat straight, facing her. "I am not a 'what'."

Regina looked repentant and waved her guards to put their weapons away. "Sorry. I don't really know what I'm doing."

"That much is clear," he said standing. "Allow me to introduce myself. Rumpelstiltskin." He bowed in front of her.

Regina moved to do the same. "And I'm-"

"Regina. I know," he said interrupting her.

"You do?"

"But of course."

"Because of my mother, Cora," she said standing straight. "You taught her?"

"My legend precedes me." He too stood straight.

"People say I look like her when she was younger."

"Really," he asked, stepping closer to have a look. "I don't see it. No, that's not how I know you."

"Oh. How then?" She sounded nervous, making her guards pull their weapons out again, watching the man circle Regina.

"I knew you long ago, dearie. It's been sometime, but I knew this day would come. I've been waiting for it. And I'm so happy we're back where we belong."

"Where's that?"

"Together," he said nastily. "Oh, yes, I know everything about you my dear," he said walking away from her. "I held you in my arms. You were younger, more... portable." He turned to face her again. "There is much history between your family and me. History, both in the past and in the future."

"Then can you help me?" Regina stepped closer to Rumpelstiltskin.

"Possibly, yss. You seek power?" A wrong answer. "The death of your enemies?" Another wrong answer. "The death of your friends," he asked as he gestured to Absolute and Certainty.

"No." Regina shook her head. "I don't want to hurt anyone."

"Hard to believe you're from the same family. So kind, so gentile... So... oh! Powerful. You could do so much if you just let yourself."

"But I don't know how," she said turning away from him.

"Well... let me show you the way." He spun her around to show her a large covered gift.

She gasped. "How did..."

"Magic. It can set you free."

"I don't want that. Use magic- That's what she does. I don't want to end up like her."

"No, no. Of course not. But that's the beauty of my gift. You don't have to. It will do it for you."

She looked at it curiously. "What is it?"

"A portal," he said stepping closer to it. "A passage between lands. This is a portal to a specific annoying little world. Useless to me, but for your purposes, a-perfect." He stalked back to her as he spoke. "You're unlikely ever to see her again." Regina stepped closer to the gift. "All she'll need is a little push. The question is... can... you... do it?"

Regina was silent as he left.

Regina burst through the doors of City Hall. "My... what a nice turn out." People gasped and got out of her way as she walked in. "No need for a fuss. It's just little old me." She stopped when she reached the front of the crowd, and turned to face them.

Orabella moved to stand in front of Henry as Dr. Hopper called attention to himself. "Regina, think about what you're doing."

"Bug." She flicked him away. She then flicked Leroy away and caught a bolt from Granny's crossbow. "How sweet," she said as she set the bolt on fire. She threw the fiery remains around the hall making people duck. It landed on the Storybrook crest behind her, setting it ablaze.

Ruby stepped foreword. "What do you want?"

People righted themselves and Henry spoke up. "Me." He pushed his way to the front, Orabella following him. "Okay, I'll come with you. Just... leave them alone."

Regina smiled and walked up to him, placing her hand on his face. "That's my boy." She looked to the serious face of her pseudo-sister. "Step aside." Orabella didn't move. "Now."

"No, your highness," Orabella defied her.

Regina waved her hand and covered the older woman in a purple haze. Orabella fought against the magic that was making her move, until Henry spoke. "Please, Auntie."

The woman allowed herself to be forced aside and put in a kneeling position at Regina's feet. As the former queen passed she spoke. "See you soon... Cora."

Regina looked hurt but made no move to punish her as she walked out of the hall.

Regina turned away from her mother as Absolute and Certainty entered behind the pair to escort them downstairs. "Is that what you would do, mother?"

"That's exactly what I would do," Cora smiled.

"Regina shook her head. "Well, the thing is, I don't want to be you." She turned and made to attack her mother.

Cora used her magic to stop her. "What are you doing? You think it's that easy to get rid of me? Even Absolute and Certainty can't touch me." She encased them in her blue magic and made them kneel. "You're stuck with me forever, darling, because I'm your mother, and I know best."

Regina used all of her pent up anger as her strength to force her mother's spell to break and throw her into the mirror portal, which shattered. Regina gasped at herself as her guards stood shakily, having been forced to the ground hard. "We leave now," she commanded. The pair bowed and hastened to the stables to ready the horses.

Halfway out of the kingdom they were stopped by a familiar face. "Leaving, are we?"

"That was always the plan," Regina said as she dismounted her horse. As she drew closer to the Dark One, she dug through her bag and retrieved his spell book. "Here. A gift." She held the book out to him. "I don't want it."

"Uh, can't be a gift. It was mine to start with," he said taking the book. Regina said nothing and turned back to her horse. "Before you go... answer me this..." She turned back to him. "How did it feel?"

"I love my mother."

"That's not what I asked, dearie." He drew closer. "How did it feel to use magic?"

"It doesn't matter. I'll never use it again," she said turning away again.

"Why not?"

"Because I loved it." When she turned back to him, he could see the lust for power in her eyes.

He giggled manically. "You've discovered who you are. You could do so much now... If you let me show you how," he sing-songed.

"Through magic." Regina pulled back a little.

"Through many things."

She looked relieved as she leaned back into him. "And what do you get out of it?"

"Someday... you'll do something for me. And... l get your female guard." Regina contemplated as he held the book out to her. "Let me guide you."

Regina looked back to Certainty, who gave a nod of approval. She faced Rumpelstiltskin again and reached out to take the book. "And I won't become like her?"

"That, dearie... is entirely up..." he let go of the book so she could take it back. "To you."

Regina took the book and Certainty dismounted her ethereal horse, which returned to the Soul Cairn with a dying whinny. "My lord," she said bowing to him. She took her place next to Rumpelstiltskin.

He giggled. "I'll see you soon, your majesty," he said to Regina before he pooped himself and his new servant away.

Orabella ran to her car to hurry after Regina and Henry. "Orabella!" David ran up to her. "Where's Regina?"

"She took Henry to her place."

"Come with me," he said taking her arm and leading her to his truck. "So, what's your story," he asked as they got in.

"It's a long one."

"Your on Regina's side?"

"By contractual agreement with her mother, we must protect her and keep her in power until her mother's death."

"Yeah, and how long ago was that?"

"Not for a few days yet."

"What?"

"It's also complicated."

"I'd like to hear it one day."

"Ask your grandson." David said nothing as he pulled up to Regina's house. "Here," she said pulling a sword hilt out of her palm and offering it to him. He looked at it skeptically. "It's a sword, just take it."

He took the offered hilt and pulled out a sturdy and simple steel sword from her hand. He paused a moment to admire it before looking to her. "Let's go." He led her as he stalked up to the house and burst through the door. Regina sat at her table, her mother's book in her hands. She turned to face them. "I wanna see him.

Regina stood and walked towards them. David raised his sword as she drew closer and rested it near her neck. She looked him in the eyes as she spoke. "Henry, come down," she called up the stairs. She looked back to David. "You won't be using your sword."

"Whatever you conjure, I can fight."

"I mean, you won't be needing your sword," she corrected, pushing the blade away. She met her son halfway up the stairs. He looked nervous. "Henry, you're gonna go home with Auntie Ora."

Henry looked to his aunt who threw an explanatory glance to the man in front of her. "Really?" He turned back to his mother.

"Really," she nodded. "I shouldn't have brought you here I was... I don't know how to love very well. I wasn't capable of it for a long time. But I know- I remember... that if you hold onto someone too hard, that doesn't make them love you. I'm sorry I lied to you, that I made you feel like I didn't know who you are. But I want you to be because you want to be here, not because I forced you... and not because of magic," she said tearing up. "I want to redeem myself," she whispered to him. "Go get your things."

Henry ran up the stairs and David spoke. "Then prove it."

Regina turned on the stair. "How?"

"Answer one question. Does it exist?"

"What?"

"The Enchanted Forest," Orabella spoke up.

"Our land- does it still exist?"

Regina walked down the stairs and stopped before the pair. "Yes. But I have no idea how to get back there." David said nothing but his face turned determined. "I can see I just sent you on a heroic quest." She took a deep breath. "Just also make sure you help take care of my son."

David nodded. "That I can do," he said as Henry ran back down the stairs with his backpack.

The pair appeared in the Dark Castle in a poof so favored by Rumpelstiltskin. Certainty looked around as she followed her new employer through the entry hall. "You will cook and bring my meals to me," he told her as he threw open the doors to the main hall. "You will launder my clothes, and keep the Castle clean."

"Agreeable so far," she mused.

"I'm not done." He turned to her swiftly and stared deep into her eyes. "You will fetch fresh straw for my spinning wheel. And you will skin the children I hunt for sport."

"I shall skin all but two children you may hunt," she countered. He tilted his head at her. "I have a son and a daughter somewhere. Should you show up with them, I would try to kill you."

"You wouldn't succeed."

"Never said I would." She looked around the hall. "Shall I start with this room or leave it for another day?"

He giggled menacingly at her change of subject. "You May start wherever you please. Just change out of that armor. Can't have an armored maid running about."

"Housecarl," she corrected as her armor and weapons melted away, revealing a simple cream dress with a red apron. Her cowl was replaced by a scarf that covered all her hair, and a mask that covered her mouth and nose. Dark gloves covered her hands and soft leather boots laced up to just below her knee. "They're more useful than simple maids."

"Oh," he questioned, gazing deep into her eyes again.

"In short, I shall protect you, and all you own, with my life," she said bowing slightly.

He giggled again. "You say that now, dearie, but you have no idea."

"I used to kill dragons for a living," she said as she began to use her magic to loosen the curtains. "I doubt a few disgruntled customers, or even wayward Ogers, will be much different, my lord."

Emma, Devon, and Mary Margret were being pulled by Mulan atop her horse. Roped bound their hands together as they stumbled over tall grass and drift wood near a beach.

As Aurora and Mulan halted their horses, Mary Margret spotted an island in the distance. "What is this place?"

"Our home," Mulan said as the horses continued on.

"It's like they're refugees," Emma said as they entered the camp.

"We're survivors," Mulan snapped as she handed off the horses.

Mary Margret turned and kneed Aurora in the stomach. "Emma, run!"

The two women broke away from their captors, running across the camp. Devon stood there calmly, his hands held up in surrender.

Mulan threw a bola at the running pair, knocking out Mary Margret. A guard pulled Devon over as Emma checked on her mother. "What did you do?"

"Take them to the pit," Mulan ordered, ignoring the woman.

They threw Devon in first, followed by Emma, before they dragged in Mary Margret.

"Be careful. Hey, be careful," Emma cried as they ploped Mary Margret onto the ground. She kneeled beside the older woman as their captors left. "Hey. Come on, wake up. Hey, can you hear me?"

Devon summoned a small dagger and cut himself out of his bonds. He stood in front of Emma as a voice came from the darkness. "Do you need help, Absolute?"

"I need nothing from you, Cora. Back off."