Second Star to the Right
The next day David drove Mary Margaret and Emma to the field outside of town, in David's truck. Giselle followed in the squad car. Emma got out of the truck and asked, "Why are we in the middle of nowhere? Why aren't you guys telling me what's going on? Why the secrecy?"
"Because you need to see it," said Giselle.
"Great. That always goes well for me. Listen, whatever it is, it can wait. August was trying to warn me about something-someone dangerous."
"Doesn't matter," said David.
"Why not?" asked Emma.
"Because of this," said Mary Margaret. They walked through a magical barrier, and in front of them was a field of magic beans.
Anton, the former giant walked up to them, "Emma."
He hugged her and she hugged him back. But she was stunned to see him and that he was a normal height, "Hey." She said.
"Are you here to help? It's not quite harvest time yet."
"Beans," said Emma as she realized what was going on , "You're growing magic beans. That's what you were up to when I was in New York? Why didn't you tell me?"
"We are telling you," said David, "We kept it a secret to protect the crop. Mother Superior, she cloaked the area. That way Anton can do what he does best."
"Actually, you haven't seen me play darts," said Anton, "But, yeah, I do this pretty good."
"Um, Anton," said Emma, "don't take this the wrong way, but w-why-why are you so..."
"Small? Cora. She and Regina brought some magic to make me human-sized. Kind of like it."
"Enough lollygagging!" said Leroy as he walked up to the group, "Back to it."
"Wow. Dwarves really like to work," said Anton, "It's great to see you, Emma."
Emma laughed a little, "You too." Then she thought about what was going on, "You want to use the beans to make a portal," then she looked at her parents and friend, "to go back to the Enchanted Forest. That's the real reason you didn't tell me. What about Ogres and destruction and danger?"
"We can fix all that," said Giselle.
"We did it before," said David, "we can do it again."
"We can start over, Emma," said Mary Margaret.
"So, you've changed your mind," said Emma, "You wanna go now, too?"
"Not my mind. My heart. After what I did to Cora, I think restoring our land is the best way to mend it."
"It'll be good for all of us, the whole family," said David, "Henry and you."
"We're from there," said Mary Margaret, "You're from there."
"No, this world is... my home," said Emma.
"And it's been nothing but cruel to you," said David, "If we go back, I think you might be able to have your happy ending."
The next day David, Mary Margaret, Giselle and Leroy headed into the bean field. David said, "You know, when we get back, Leroy, we're going to need your help restoring the palace."
"It's in pretty bad shape," said Mary Margaret.
"Cosmetic or a total teardown?" asked Leroy.
"Burn down," said Giselle.
They walked through the barrier Mother Superior put up to hid the beans and they found all of the stalks were burned, "No," said David.
"What happened here?" asked Mary Margaret.
"The beans... they're gone," said David, as he checked the stalks for a sign of any bean left behind but there wasn't one.
"Nobody steals from a dwarf," said Leroy.
"Who would do this?" asked Mary Margaret.
"There's only one person who would do this..." said Giselle, "Regina..."
David called his daughter and she and Henry met David, Mary Margaret and Giselle at Regina's office at Town Hall. David, Emma and Giselle went in first with their guns drawn. When they saw that Regina wasn't there Emma called out, ""It's okay, She's not here."
Then Henry and Mary Margaret walked in, "When you find her, you're not gonna hurt her, right?" asked Henry.
"No," said Emma, "We just want the beans she stole from us." He walked over to the security alarm panel on the wall.
"I don't get it," asked Mary Margaret, "Why would Regina leave her office unlocked?"
"Especially when she's keeping the beans here," said David as he walked up to a small circular glass tank where a bean plant was but there were no beans on it
"Was keeping them here. They're gone."
"Something's not right," said Giselle, "Regina would never leave evidence like this behind."
"Maybe she already used them to portal out of Storybrooke," said David.
"Without Henry? I don't think so," said Emma.
"What if something bad happened to her?" asked Henry.
"Security system says the last time someone was in the office was around 6:00 this morning," said Emma. She pressed a button and SECURITY OVERRIDE ENABLED appeared on the screen, "They used an override code to get in."
"Why would Regina need an override code on her own alarm?" asked Giselle.
"She wouldn't."
"You think someone else broke in and took the beans?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Well, we haven't found Regina anywhere and haven't heard from her," said Emma.
"So something bad did happen to her," said Henry.
"We're gonna find her, Henry. I promise."
"There's only one person who could overpower Regina," said Giselle, "Gold."
"He's too busy with his new/old girlfriend," said Emma "No, this wasn't Gold. This was Tamara." Emma had found Tamara with a list of people in Storybrooke and who they really were. Ever since she found it Emma was convinced that Tamara was the 'She' that August was talking about.
"Haven't you already gone down that road?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Maybe not far enough."
"Or, maybe it's time for you to let it go."
"August was attacked the day Tamara came to town. I don't think that was a coincidence."
"What if you're wrong?" asked Giselle, "If Regina's in trouble, we can't just drop everything else because of a hunch."
"Which is why we're not gonna drop everything else. You take Mary Margaret and David and go see Gold. I'm sure he has some kind of magic that can help locate Regina."
"Where are you going?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Back to Tamara's room," said Emma.
While Emma went to check Tamara's room, David, Mary Margaret and Giselle went to Gold's shop. Gold and Lacey, formally known as Belle, were having a drink in the backroom when they walked in, "Sorry to interrupt the party," said David.
"Well, I certainly don't remember inviting you three," said Gold, "We're closed."
"Not to us," said Giselle, "We need your help. Regina's missing and we think she may be in danger."
"Just the way I like her," said Gold, "Now if you'll excuse me…"
"I don't think so," said David, "Whatever your feelings about Regina are, you still owe me a favor."
Mr. Gold looked at Lacey, "Lacey, if you could excuse us, I have some business to attend to."
"Make it quick," she said. Then, she walked out.
Mr. Gold looked through his drawer and cabinet while talking to the three visitors, "I'm sure I can whip up something to find Regina, but tell me, why do the Charmings want to help the Evil Queen?" Gold looked at Giselle, "I understand why you would... She is your cousin after all..."
"Because I owe her," said Mary Margaret, "after what I did to Cora."
"Never underestimate the power of a guilty conscience," said Gold, as he showed them a small bottle with a clear liquid inside.
"What is that?"
"This is one of Regina's tears."
"Why do you have one of Regina's tears?"
"Because I do. This spell, however, requires two tears."
"You want one from me?"
"Well, just think of a dark moment, dearie, something bleak and hopeless. I know you have a few." Gold held the bottle to Mary Margaret's cheek. She thought for a moment then a tear fell down her cheek and into the bottle, "Perfect," said Gold, as he swirled it around, "Now, when you drop this into your eye, your will be connected to Regina wherever she is. Whatever she sees, you'll see, whatever she feels, you'll feel," Gold held the bottle out for the Charmings.
"How long does the spell last?" asked David, as he took the bottle.
"Long enough to lead you to her. And with that, I've fulfilled my end of the bargain. Good-bye."
"Always a pleasure," said Giselle, sarcastically. Then, David, Mary Margaret and Giselle left.
They went back to the loft and they were sitting at the table. David was holding the bottle and Giselle looked at Mary Margaret and said, "You don't have to do this, you know. You've been through enough already."
"That's exactly why I do have to do it," said Mary Margaret, "My heart has a dark spot because of what I did to Regina. If I can help find her, if we can save her, maybe it'll help that spot get smaller."
David sighed, he stood and used the dropper in the bottle to put a drop his wife's eye. At first there was nothing. Then, Mary Margaret started to groan in pain. She couldn't see much but Regina was strapped down to a table somewhere and she was in tremendous pain. Mary Margaret started to scream and convulse. "MARY MARGARET!" shouted David and Giselle.
A little while later, David was holding Mary Margaret's head in his hands and stroking the side of her head. "Mary Margaret?" he asked, "Are you okay?"
She opened her eyes and said in a weak whisper, "That was the pain I've ever felt. Wherever Regina is, she's powerless. She can't fight back."
"Could you... could you see where she was?" asked David, as he sat back down, "Could you see who was keeping her there?"
Mary Margaret put her hand to her head, "I just remember... pain... and screaming."
"Concentrate," said Giselle, "The smallest detail might lead us to her."
Mary Margaret shook her head, "I don't know," she took a couple of deep breaths, "My hands were tied down, and my legs... It was cold and... It smelled weird, like... sardines? I don't know. I wish I could remember more."
Giselle called Emma, while David comforted Mary Margaret, and filled her in on what happened, "So, she didn't see anything?" Emma.
"Not much," said Giselle, "She could sense Regina was in pain. It was cold. She was strapped down and she could smell sardines."
"Get down to the docks right now," said Emma.
Giselle hung up the phone and looked at David and Mary Margaret. "What did Emma say?" asked David.
"She wants us to go down to the docks."
"The Docks?" said Mary Margaret, then she got an idea, "The Cannery! They process sardines there."
Giselle, Mary Margaret and David went in the Cannery. They started to look around for Regina. Then, they heard footsteps coming quickly toward them. David and Giselle both pulled their guns and the three of them ran around a corner and saw Emma, who had her gun drawn, and Neal. Everyone lowered their weapons and Emma said, "What the hell, guys?
"Here," said David, as he handed Emma a Walkie-Talkie, "so that doesn't happen again."
Emma took it and said, "You three take the basement, we'll search the main floor. Regina's gotta be here somewhere."
David, Mary Margaret and Giselle searched the basement and found Greg torturing Regina with an electroshock machine. Giselle took out her gun and shot the machine, destroying it, "Don't move!" she said. Greg knocked over the machine and ran out of the room.
Giselle and David started after him and Mary Margaret went to Regina. She looked very weak. Mary Margaret called out, "David! We can't leave her! She'll die if we don't get her help!"
David and Giselle walked over and looked at the woman, "We've got to get her to Mother Superior," said David.
Giselle took out the Walkie-Talkie, "Emma? You got to block the exits."
"Already on it. You guys all right?" asked Emma.
"We're fine. We found Regina. But, Mendell, he's coming your way."
David, Mary Margaret and Giselle took Regina back to the loft and put her in Mary Margaret and David's bed. They called Mother Superior and she came right over. Mother Superior looked over Regina. She saw the black cuff on Regina's wrist and realized it was blocking Regina's magic. Mother Superior took out her wand she waved her wand over the sleeping woman and the cuff disappeared, "Now that the cuff is off, she's gonna be okay, given time and rest. Her magic will return."
Just then Emma returned to the loft, she looked to be in a daze. David, Mary Margaret and Giselle walked over to her, "What happened?" asked David. "What is it?"
"Where's Neal?" asked Giselle.
"He's gone. She killed him," said Emma.
David and Emma sat down on the stairs and David said, "Emma. I'm so sorry."
"How... am I gonna tell Henry?" asked Emma.
David sat there wrapped his arm around her shoulder and kissed his daughter on the side of her head to comfort her.
Meanwhile, Mary Margaret and Giselle were tending to Regina. David walked in as Regina stirred and was surprised to see the three of them, "You... you saved me?"
"Yes," said Mary Margaret.
"You really think we'd let you die?" said Giselle, "Despite our differences, we're family."
"Where are they?" asked Regina, as she looked around, "Where are Greg and Tamara?""
"They got away," said David.
"So, they still have it."
"Still have what?" asked Giselle.
"The trigger," said Regina.
"A trigger?" asked David.
"That will destroy Storybrooke."
"No," said Mary Margaret.
"I had a fail-safe built into the curse," said Regina.
"Why exactly were you carrying it around?" asked Mary Margaret.
"You were going to kill everyone in Storybrooke..." said Giselle, she couldn't believe her cousin was going to just let her die. Sure, they were never close but they were the only blood relatives they had.
"I was going to use the beans to take Henry back to the Enchanted Forest," said Regina.
"And in the process, kill all of us," said Mary Margaret.
"You wanna discuss justification? You were going to abandon me. Or shall we discuss the more pressing issue? Which is that I no longer control the trigger."
AN: If you like this story, and you haven't done so yet, Favorite and Follow. Also, give me a Review and let me know what you think of this. It gives me motivation to keep going.