Regina had been waiting for them on the steps of the town hall when they arrived. Snow immediately took charge, "Okay so let's split up." Emma volunteered to go with Regina who dramatically rolled her eyes. Emma returned the sass. "Hey, would you rather be with me or with her?" she asked, pointing to Snow. Regina immediately regretted the eye roll and quickly said, "Let's go" before she could get partnered with Snow.
Regina and Emma went up to the roof while Snow and Charming stayed on the ground, searching the area. They were all looking for a sign of a portal of some sort that Cora may be using.
Regina was perfectly content with working in silence, but Emma felt the need to break it. Regina was looking at the forest with a telescope, and Emma was using binoculars to look at the street. "So, I'm guessing there's a lot of bad blood between you and your mom." Regina looked at Emma without answering, and then looked back into the telescope.
"I know there's a lot of bad blood between you and Snow too." This time, Regina didn't even acknowledge Emma's comment. "Look, I've read Henry's book-" "So have I," Regina abruptly interrupted, still looking through the telescope. "Henry's book doesn't tell the whole story. So whatever you and everyone else think they know, they don't." Emma decided to drop the subject. They were on a roof after all. She didn't want to make Regina mad; the last thing she wants is Regina to push her off.
Meanwhile, Charming and Snow were on the ground with flashlights. "So, I guess you managed to keep the town from collapsing while we were gone. Did Regina cause any trouble?" Charming laughed. Did he even need to answer that question? "Well, it didn't take her long to try and kill me." Snow looked disgusted, "She just can't leave us alone can she?!" Charming tried to calm her down, "Well, in her defense, I did threaten to kill her. Several times, actually."
Snow looked a bit confused. Charming continued. "I was so mad at her. She kept lying to me at first. Then she got her magic back and took Henry." Snow couldn't help but interrupt. "Wait, she has her magic and she took Henry? Then why-" "I think Henry got her to listen. I went to get him back, and she was calmer. I still didn't trust her so I drew my sword, but she walked right into it. It kind of threw me. She actually walked toward the sword to where it was right by her neck. I wasn't really sure what she was up to until she called Henry down and told him to go with me."
Snow's jaw dropped. She was waiting for the punch line to this joke, but it didn't come. "She apologized to Henry and said she wanted to redeem herself. She hasn't harmed anyone since." Snow looked suspicious, "I don't know if I can believe that." "Yeah, I didn't either. Especially when Whale ended up in the hospital. She was the first one I suspected."
"So she didn't hurt him?" Snow asked. "No she just found him." Charming suddenly remembered that he had forgotten to tell Snow about the Daniel incident. The memory must have flashed over his face because Snow picked up on it. "What?" she asked gravely. Charming's face grew somber. "Something else happen." He sighed and continued with the story. "So, apparently Dr. Whale is Dr. Frankenstein, and he was working on bringing back the dead."
Snow couldn't tell where this was going. "Snow, he brought Daniel back." "What?!" Snow started to smile, but stopped because this story obviously didn't have a happy ending judging by the look on Charming's face and the fact that Regina is still alone without Daniel. "But Daniel wasn't the same. He was like an animal. He attacked Whale and Henry. Regina and I were going to save Henry, and when I asked her to use magic to subdue him, she wouldn't. Then I pulled out my gun to stop him before he could hurt anyone else, but Regina tried to stop me. When I pushed her out the way, she came back at me…"
Snow made an I'm-not-surprised face, but Charming knew what she was thinking. "No, she didn't use magic on me. She was keeping her promise to Henry. She started screaming and trying to push me away from Daniel and kept begging me not to hurt him. She was so desperate. I've never seen her like that, so I let her talk to him alone to see if she could fix him, but I don't think she could."
Snow's eyes started watering. "So, you're saying-" Charming nodded. "She had to kill him." Snow looked toward the roof at Regina looking through the telescope. "Is she okay?" Charming shook his head, "I don't know. The only thing we've talked about is Henry."
"Over here! I see something," Regina yelled to Emma. They were looking at the forest where a bright light seemed to be moving and shaking the birds out of the trees. It was near the open field by the stables. They grabbed Snow and Charming and hurried to the stables to avoid having to search in the dark.
There were two horses available. Charming hopped on one and Regina took the other. Snow gave Regina a questioning look, "Come on, Snow. We both know horse riding was never you strong suit." Regina rode the horse out of the stables with her high heels still on. Snow decided that it were best that she go because she's the one with magic.
Emma stood there surprised. "I never thought I'd see the mayor ride a horse like that in heels." Snow and Emma couldn't help but laugh. It had been a long time since Snow had seen Regina ride like that. She never liked to ride like a lady. Many people didn't know how Regina was a great rider. In fact, she was already caught up with Charming who was about to enter the forest.
As Regina rode, she felt like a new person. She felt free and alive. All she could her was the wind hitting her as she plowed through it and the rhythm of horse stomping the ground with every step. The light from the portal was growing smaller even as they approached it. Soon it was gone.
They stopped and looked around for any sign of Cora. Charming had to do a double take when he looked at Regina. She was smiling. After ten minutes of searching, they decided to go back. Emma had called Red and told her to bring Henry to the stables. Since Cora is definitely in Storybrooke, it's best if they stick together.
When Regina and Charming returned, Henry was surprised to see his mother on a horse. He looked just as surprised as Emma did. As Regina dismounted, there was a spring in her step. She went over to one of the shelves and grabbed some carrots. It seemed as if she were a little girl again, smiling as the horse's lips tickled her hand.
"Can I feed him?" Henry asked. "Of course," Regina said, handing him some carrots. "Hold your hand out like this." She held his hand flat with her other hand on his shoulder. "It tickles," he said smiling. Regina was obliviously happy as if she had retreated into her own little world.
Snow's concern grew. Regina just completely shifted personalities. She watched as Regina smiled and giggled with Henry. It reminded her of when she and Regina used to laugh together. Now they fight. She remembered all of the riding lessons Regina gave her and how Regina grew distant with the passing of each one, with the passing of each year.
When Regina looked up at Snow, her smile disappeared. She could tell that Snow looked concerned. She didn't like it. She didn't want Snow to psycho-analyze her, to patronize her, or to belittle her. Snow could tell what Regina was thinking so she changed the subject and suggested that they all stay in the apartment because the Mills Mansion was way too obvious and an easy target. Snow continued to watch Regina carefully. She knew something wasn't right.