Natalia slowly picked herself off of the ground before looking behind her. The mirror was still there. She would just go see the fireflies and then go back home. The little girl giggled as she ran towards the colourful bugs in the sky before stopping and realizing that they weren't fireflies. They were fairies.
"Are you lost, child?" Asked a shimmering blue one. Mother superior? But, how? Mother superior was in Storybrooke.
"I don't think so." Natalia said, she wasn't lost. Just confused.
"I sense that something is wrong. Your clothes aren't of this land. Where do you come from?" The Blue Fairy fluttered closer to the eight year-old face.
"Just back there." Natalia turned around and pointed to the mirror. But it was gone. The little girl gasped and ran back to where the mirror had been. Where did it go? She turned around when she heard a soft whispering.
"We must go, little girl. The Queen's guards are coming. If I were you, I would find somewhere to hide." The fairy warned as she joined the cluster of colourful lights before disappearing into the air.
Natalia looked around. She could see some men coming towards her, but there was no where to hide. She was in a plain.
"Halt! Don't move, trespasser!" Yelled one of the guards. Natalia stood, paralyzed by fear. The guards were close now, and she wanted to run but couldn't move her legs. Soon enough one of them swooped down and picked her up. Hanging her over his shoulder.
"No, wait! I didn't mean to trespass, I promise!" Cried the little girl. She recognized the armour the men were wearing, they were Black Knights, loyal to the Evil Queen.
"Save your breath for the Queen, little girl." Replied one of them. It didn't take long for them to reach the castle. Once inside, the guard set Natalia down and locked her wrists in a small set of hand cuffs.
"Walk!" He demanded, pushing her from the back of her neck. Natalia tried to ignore the fact that a spear was pointing at her neck and imagined that she taking a tour by the guards, instead of going to the Evil Queen.
Wait. The Evil Queen was her mother. How was she here now? Now. It slowly dawned on Natalia that she hadn't just traveled through lands, she had traveled through time.
"Wait out here." Said the guard that held the spear against her neck. He lowered it and knocked gently on the large double doors in front of them. "Your majesty, it seems that you have a young visitor."
There was a small period of silence. "Bring them in." Ordered a very familiar voice. Natalia's eyes widened at hearing her mother's voice. The little girl stood there in shock as the guards opened the door and revealed the Queen. She looked so similar to Regina and yet so different.
"And just who do you think you are, dear?" Asked the woman as she approached the small child. Her small child.
Natalia was about to answer when another voice was heard. "Stop!" It was Regina.
The Queen whipped around and faced her mirror, staring at another version of herself. "What the hell is going on here," she turned back to look at Natalia, "what kind of dark magic are you performing, child?"
Again, Natalia was interrupted by another voice. "Step away from my kid or I swear I will walk through this mirror myself and kick your ass!" Emma shouted, trying to sound threatening through her soar throat.
The Queen raised an eyebrow before looking back at her future self.
"Listen, dear," Regina started, "I know that it's strange to be looking at an older version of yourself, but, somehow, my little girl has transported herself back in time and I would hate having the memories of killing my own daughter."
At that the Queen moved even closer to Natalia and took her face into her hands. After staring the child down for a few moments she brought her hands to cover her mouth in shock, "It's true."
"Yeah, so just, don't move. Natalia, come to Mama, sweetie." Emma stuck her hand through the mirror and Natalia didn't hesitate in running for it, only to be grabbed by one of the guards.
"No! Let me go! Mama!" She screamed as she struggled against the man, who didn't even seem to flinch at the child's pleads.
The Queen gave the little girl a sad smile before nodding at the guard. The armoured man let go of Natalia's shoulders and she started running again. Only to be lifted up by this version of her mother. Natalia didn't want to struggle as the Queen held her, she didn't want to hurt her mother. The little girl looked at Regina through the mirror, the older brunette looked dazed as her wife started to talk.
"You don't know what you're doing. Let her go, your majesty!" The blonde's soar throat seemed to have completely disappeared as she loudly screamed at the Queen.
"I think not, dear. Wouldn't it be fair to let me watch the child for a while? I'm sure that the both of you could use a break." The Queen said, holding Natalia tightly.
"No. You don't understand, she can't stay with you. You aren't her mother yet." Regina finally regained her composure as she begged her younger self to let the child go.
The Queen just laughed. "I want to get to know my daughter. Now, leave us." With a flick of her wrist the image of Emma and Regina began to fade away. Natalia saw Regina turn her face into Emma's shoulder as she began to cry.