Emma tried to adjust her seat again, but no matter what she did she couldn't get comfortable. She leaned down next to the horse's ear and whispered, "It's nothing personal there stud, but, I hate horses."

From the other horse, both were almost galloping full out, Mulan spoke, "She's a Mare."

Emma sat up again, "Yeah, that makes sense. Women have only ever given me trouble. We almost there?"

Mulan glanced to the left, slowed her horse and carefully pulled him off the road, "Nearly, but, I do not wish for the horses to expire. As much as…"

Emma cut Mulan off, finishing her thought, "...we take a break." They both dismounted, "Do the Ogres have a camp?"

"They do. That is where she is being held, as well as two other women."

"Really? Do you know who?"

Mulan shook her head, "I'm sorry, I do not." As they made their way into the forest Mulan picked up wood. When they stopped she arranged a fire pit, "I will start the-"

Emma held up a hand, "May I try?"

Mulan frowned, "With magic?" Emma nodded, "I've always found a flint works better, but, a fire is a fire no matter how it's started."

Emma squatted in front of the pile of sticks. She held one hand over it and was still. Nothing happened.

"I can…"

"Shhh… just give it a sec, 'kay?" She closed her eyes and mumbled to herself. "Don't try, it just is."

Mulan sounded stunned as she spoke, "It worked."

Emma opened her eyes with her own look of surprised, "Huh- it did. So. What's our attack plan?"

"There is a place in their guards' routes. We will only have moments, but it will get us in. The problem comes-" She trailed off. "We will have to fight our way out."

Emma was silent for a moment, "Maybe not." She glanced up at the darkening sky, "We're waiting for nightfall?" Mulan nodded, "Then I'd better see if I can actually do what I think I might be able to do."

oOOOOo

Henry grabbed Snow's arm as he came into the kitchen as she was leaving. She was all decked out in her armor. "You're going somewhere too?"

"Yes, to the front." Snow patted Henry on the hand, "We'll be fine Henry. It will all work out as it should. We will all get our happy endings. I promise." She kissed the top of his head and left the kitchen.

Henry sighed and started to leave as well, but Granny's voice stopped him, "Young man- sit." Henry blinked, but sat down. "How old are you Henry?"

"Eleven, almost twelve."

Granny nodded, "Okay, that's about Sixth Grade, right?"

Henry leaned on the counter in front of him, "In other words. Start acting my age?"

Granny put a hand on Henry's. "No. But, understand that you still have a lot to learn." She paused, "What's in the envelope."

Henry stared down at it, "I'm not. I'm not sure I want to open it. What if…"

Granny hid a smile, "If she tells you that you're adopted."

That coaxed a small smile from Henry. "I should open it." Granny nodded and handed Henry a knife. He carefully slit the top open and pulled out a single piece of paper.

Dear Henry,

I love you.

There's more to this letter than that. But, I wanted to get that out of the way first. I know that right at the moment you don't believe me, and perhaps you shouldn't. I have done many horrible things in my life. You are the one thing I have done right and that can never be taken away from me.

I forgive you. Even I don't know exactly how the curse works, an oversight that will never be repeated. Never sign a contract without reading all the fine print my son, all of it. I think this curse may have more fine print than most.

So. Whatever you need to do, whatever you have done. I forgive you. You made me whole and I wouldn't trade a day with you, even the ones when you hated me.

Love,
Regina

Henry carefully put the paper back into the envelope and stared down at it. Granny spoke, "What did it say?"

Henry cleared his throat a couple of times, "I- I think that she wrote it after I brought Emma back, but before, we came here, and… she." Henry put a hand over his eyes and was silent for a long moment, "I think that she thought that I was going to have to kill her, or something, she… she forgave me." He looked up at Granny. "Teach me?"

"I'm just a…"

Henry cut Granny off, "Not magic, but, everything else."

Granny held up a hand, "I don't do horses or swords."

"Oh-"

Granny put an arm around Henry's shoulders, "But, I bet your mother- Regina- will teach you about horses when she gets back."

Henry looked up at Granny with the look of such a young boy that it broke Granny's heart, "You think she'll make it back?"

"For you… she'll literally move heaven and earth if she has to." Granny handed Henry a wooden spoon, "So, first lesson. You learn how to stir."

Henry groaned, "Aww… man… you're gonna go all Karate Kid now?"

"Hmm?"

"Never mind." Henry took the spoon and walked over to the fire and the pot hanging over it.

Granny bit back a chuckle and spoke under her breath, "Stir on, stir off."

oOOOOo

Victoria bumped into Iliane with an oof, "Oh, I'm sorry- your Majesty."

Iliane frowned, "What are you doing here?"

Victoria shook her head, "She's not in the library anymore. He-" Victoria paused, "He had her taken to the throne room your Majesty."

"Excuse me?" Iliane tried to go towards the throne room, but Victoria got in front of her, gripping her by the shoulders. "Let ME go."

"You didn't ride with her your Majesty. She'll destroy you. If she wants the Emperor your best plan is to-"

Iliane pushed Victoria aside, "Never- she won't win. I- I always win."

Victoria tilted her head to one side as Iliane took off towards the throne room. She shook her head, "And she's off and running." Victoria followed at a slower pace. No way was she going to miss the show.

oOOOOo

It had been Xena who had come to the library to lead Regina to the throne room. The rumblings from the guards was that she was in trouble and in big trouble, but Xena gave nothing away. Regina was impressed by that.

Regina didn't have to wait long once she was deposited on the dias. Xena spoke. "Emperor, Regina, as requested." She gave Herodotus a half salute, shot Regina a look, and left the throne room via a side door.

Herodotus mounted the dais with a smile, "You look entirely at ease on that throne Regina. Like it was made for you."

Regina smiled, "I was born to be the Queen, my mother saw to that." She stood and put her hand against Herodotus' chest, just under his vest, "I'd never considered that I could be an Empress."

Herodotus smiled and pulled Regina closer, leaning over. Xena, Victoria and the gang couldn't have planned it better. Just as their lips touched Iliane barreled through the doors. "BASTARD."

In four steps she was to the dais, she seemed to nearly be flying through the air. She pulled Regina from her husband, flinging her off the dais. Regina landed with a yell of pain. Iliane stormed back down the stairs of the dais and planted one of her knees in Regina's solar plexus. "You do not get my childrens' kingdom. I will kill you with my own hands before I let you take what's ours."

Regina didn't move and simply stared up at Iliane for a long moment, then with one fluid move she flipped Iliane onto her back, kept a firm grip on one of her arms and knelt next to her. She whispered her next words so that only Iliane could hear them. "I know a secret that could take all this away… your daughters would be nothing more than peasants. Consider your next move carefully Iliane."

The guards came rushing into the room, led by Xena, and followed by both Clark and Victoria. Gabrielle wasn't too far behind either. "Father, what is going on here?"

Herodotus cleared his throat a couple of times, looking between the two women who were still on the floor, but said nothing.

Iliane tried to yank her arm away from Regina, but couldn't. She spoke, "Arrest this woman. NOW."

Regina let go of Iliane and moved backwards until she hit the wall of the dais. She glanced down at her hand, then up at Xena. The dark haired warrior had unsheathed her sword. Perfect.

Regina brought her hand up, throwing a fireball at Xena. As she assumed Xena would, the woman used her sword as a bat. Regina tried to steel herself, but, it hurt when her own fireball smacked her in the chest, knocking her hard against the dais and nearly to the edge of consciousness.

It was Iliane's turn to bend over Regina and whisper to her, "I've made my choice. You lose. And your secret will die with you."

oOOOOo

"Are the new weapons ready?"

"They are my Queen. I-"

Snow nodded, "Yes, go. But Grumpy-" She put a hand on Grumpy's shoulder. "Be safe Grumpy."

Grumpy gave Snow a smirk and a half salute as he left the command tent, holding the flap open so that David could enter. He came in and gave Snow a kiss. "Grumpy's going to-"

Snow nodded, "Yes. But even these new weapons, they will only slow the Ogres down." She stared down at the map that covered the table.

David picked up a piece of paper that had the same words written over and over again on it, "The Most Powerful One?"

Snow looked over, "It's from the prophecy that the seer gave me and Henry in the garden. I- I thought maybe if I kept writing it I'd be able to tell if it was Rumple or Regina. Although, either way we're screwed, but-"

David shook his head, "But they're both evil- we would never let either of them rule our Kingdom."

Snow turned and crossed her arms over her chest. "Rumple, he's the Dark One, so I agree, evil, but, Regina…"

"You can't think that- Snow, she's ruined your life more than anyone elses. She's evil."

"But she's powerful, and these eleven kingdoms. I know of no group of Kingdoms in that number here."

David engulfed Snow into his arms, "We- we will win this war without this prophecy's help. With no Rumple, no Regina, our Kingdom will finally have peace."

There was a bugle call and Snow extracted herself from David's embrace. "I hope you're correct Charming."

oOOOOo

The Wolf watched as the young man with dark hair approached the edge of the forest and stared up at the castle. She sniffed the air and frowned, she'd smelled that somewhere else, but she couldn't quite pinpoint where. It was almost like he smelled like a rose.

The man stopped and looked behind himself, probably sensing that the Wolf was watching him. He'd never see her though. She knew the woods even better than the small and vicious wolves. With a couple of deep breaths the man left the protection of the forest and started towards the castle.

Her ears swiveled as she heard the wolves getting restless. They felt what she felt in the air. Something was about to start.