In the middle of Main Street a portal to the Old World had opened and though it a dark ominous castle loomed, no doubt that's where Cora was. Snow and Charming had already gathered some of the townspeople and were in battle with the minions Cora had summoned. The beasts outnumbered the townspeople three to one but with Snow and Charming at the head the good guys were holding their ground.

Emma could see Red running to protect a child who had somehow mixed in the fray. Granny was positioned on a roof acting as sniper with her crossbow. Then there were the dwarves all brandishing their mining axes. There were some other people too but Emma didn't know them by name. Rumplestiltskin was nowhere to be seen and Emma considered that a mixed blessing, with magic he could be useful but if he didn't side with them he could make things a hundred times worse.

Regina too had been surveying the battle being fought on Main Street. The people fought hard and some looked pleased that they were managing to hold their own but Regina knew Cora was toying with them. If her mother had really wanted them dead it would not have been a battle, it would have been a slaughter. An old anger flared in her chest, she did not like most of the people in Storybrooke but she had been mayor for twenty-eight years, they were her people and Cora would not do this to her town.

The people fighting saw their savior and the Evil Queen arrive. If filled them with uneasiness seeing good and evil side by side. Those closest instinctually cowered when Regina made a dramatic magical gesture, but paused with they found themselves unharmed and Cora's minions hurtling through the air. The people let out a cheer but Regina paid no attention, more minions would be arriving soon, she and Emma needed to get to Cora.

While there was a pause in the action Snow ran up to Emma and gave her a hug. Emma tried to accept it but it was still difficult.

"I'm okay…" Emma tried to smile. "Are you?"

Snow nodded, "We're ok."

"If you two are quite finished..." Regina glared.

"Is she ready?" Snow asked Regina worry evident in her voice.

"Yes." She cast a quick glace at Emma's chest where her heart should be.

"Let's go." Emma looked at Snow.

"She's not coming with us." Regina stated firmly.

"Regina!" Emma gasped. "We can use her help."

"No, we can't. She has no magic, she will get in the way. I'd do this alone but I know you're too stubborn to stay away Miss Swan."

"Damn right."

"Emma," Snow placed her hand on her daughter's arm, "She's right, I can't fight Cora like you two can and right now I'm needed here, I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better."

Emma let out a sigh but reluctantly agreed. Snow hugged her daughter then caught Regina's eye. "Emma, can you give us a moment?"

"Um sure," She looked between the two brunettes wondering what was going on.

"Regina."

"Snow." There was a long drawn out silence.

"I know there is a lot of bad blood between us and we may never be friends." Regina let out a cough but Snow continued. "But I know you're going to do your best to protect my daughter."

Regina raised an eyebrow wondering what Snow was implying. "My best may not be enough." Snow nodded. After a pause Regina spoke again, "If its not… please save Henry, don't let her ruin him…" Snow nodded again Regina turned to go but then decided to stay one more thing, "It may mean nothing to you now but I believe we have both suffered enough."

The two said nothing else. For a moment Snow wanted to disagree, part of her still felt anger about the curse but she knew the cycle of revenge had to stop somewhere and she and Regina really had suffered more than enough.

Regina had joined Emma who had been talking to her father.

"What was that about?" Emma asked.

"Understanding." Regina answered cryptically.

Emma didn't press any further, it didn't matter, she and Regina had things to do.

OUAT OUAT OUAT

Regina and Emma entered the castle, which was everything you'd expect from the stronghold of an evil witch. Flickering candles lighted the corridor and portraits whose eyes seemed to follow you as you walked lined the walls.

"Your mother seems to love the doom and gloom." Emma commented dryly as they walked.

"If its too frightening for you dear you can always turn around." Regina smirked, to which Emma just rolled her eyes.

They walked to the grand hall and Regina called out, "Mother! I demand you show yourself and release my son!"

"Demand?" Cora magically appeared before them. "Really dear, who are you to demand anything? You lost your position as Queen and even your role as Mayor in this pathetic little town. You've always been such an insolent child and now even magic seems to be an insufficient deterrent. I suppose I will have to find other methods of getting you to behave."

With the advantage of surprise Cora immobilized her daughter and Emma with a spell then walked over to the blonde.

"As a parent you always have to do what's best for your children." Then Cora reached into Emma chest.

"Mother!" Regina yelled.

Had she not been frozen by magic in that moment Regina still would not have been able to move. It was too much like before. For a moment she wavered feeling terrified, but they had prepared for this and Emma smirked as Cora's confusion set in.

"What have you done daughter?" Cora asked intrigued.

"I took her heart." Regina snapped back to the present and responded full of confidence that she had protected Emma from a heart crushing death.

"You did what?" Henry's voice came from behind her. He had finished his lesson in sword fighting and had been escorted by a guard to the grand hall just in time to hear the end of the conversation. Had he been there a moment sooner he would have seen Cora attempting to rip out Emma's heart, but he didn't, so he hadn't, and he assumed the worst, which is exactly what Cora wanted.

A/N OK so I've written most of the next chapter its not finished but there is a place I can split it. So my question for those of you reading, would you like an update tomorrow or wait for that chapter to be finished?