A/n: hi everyone! Next few chapters aren't nearly as long, but still fun. Thanks for reading!

Lady of the Lake

Devon sat next to Mary Margret, tending the injured woman. "You sure she's gonna be okay?" Emma stood over them.

"Ora's the healer, not me. I prefer to cause them. Don't worry, I'm not making it worse. Even with my limited skills, she'll be fine," he said turning to her, keeping Cora in his line of sight.

"What is this place? Where are we?" Emma looked around as she stood.

"We're in the Enchanted Forest. Well, a little island on the boarder. You were right, these people are like refugees. That woman," he pointed to Cora. "Is Regina's mother, and, as Mary Margret will tell you, is not to be trusted under any circumstances."

"Oh, Absolute, you've nothing to fear from me. The apple fell very far from the tree."

"Yeah, then you got your worms into her," Devon spat standing.

"It's been a long time, Absolute. I've grown wiser."

"More conniving, you mean."

"Emma." Mary Margret stood, cradling her head. She spotted Cora over Devon's shoulder. "No."

"Oh, Snow, you're awake. I so relieved," Cora said smiling.

Devon stood between the women as Mary Margret spoke quietly to Emma. "As bad as you think Regina is, this woman is worse."

"Oh, Snow," Cora said from behind her, Devon still in the way. Mary Margret turned to shield Emma, and Devon shielded them both. "Sweet Snow, please." Cora attempted to get closer. "Believe me, whatever she told you isn't true. I just want to help you."

"Let's hear her out," Emma whispered.

"Emma." Both her party's voices were hard.

"Okay, right now we are at the bottom of a hole with no other options, and Henry is back in Storybrooke with Regina."

"Who's Henry?" Cora looked confused.

"My son. I kind of share him with Regina," Emma explained. "It's complicated."

The two others rounded on the blond and began speaking at once. "Don't talk to her." "He's with his aunt, I'm sure. Shut up."

"Enough!" A voice started all those below. A rope was thrown down. "Our leader requests an audience."

Devon steadied the rope for his two companions before climbing up himself, bringing the end of the rope with him. They were led back into the camp. The women conversed in front of him as he took a survey of the people, looking for one in particular. He spotted his goal across the way, disguised in sackcloth as an urchin.

"Wait here," one of the guards instructed, knocking Devon's mind to what was in front of him.

Emma sighed as they waited. "Is that why you came through the portal," she asked Mary Margret. "Because you thought I was helpless here?"

"No. I came to be with you." A man stepped out of a raised hut. "Lancelot?"

"Snow?" The man moved closer to the trio and gave the woman a hug. "If I had known that you were the prisoners Mulan had brought back, I never would've locked you away. Please, forgive me."

"Of course."

"Lancelot? Really," Emma said to Devon.

"Life is certainly interesting here, Emma," was all he said.

"He's an old friend. We can trust him," Mary Margret said happily.

"Come, you must be hungry," The knight said gesturing for them to follow.

They sat at a table as Lancelot had some others set it with plates and tankards of water. "What the hell is that?" Emma spotted something on a big bone.

"That is Chimera," Lancelot explained as he moved to the head of the table to sit. "An acquired taste, but all our hunting party could bring back. One part lion, one part serpent, one part goat."

"Like a turducken?" She speared one of the pieces to examine it.

"Almost, you just don't stuff them into each other," Devon said as he filled his plate.

"I don't understand," Mary Margret cut in, changing the subject. "We were told this land didn't even exist anymore. How did you all escape the curse?"

"It is a mystery," Lancelot admitted. "The curse struck, and when the smoke cleared, most of us had been torn from the land. But some of us here, in this particular region, were left behind. We don't know how, and we don't know why. Finding this safe haven wasn't easy. It took some spilt blood. But, worry not, you're safe here."

"We can't stay," Mary Margret lamented. "My husbands back there. Emma's son, my grandson. Devon's kids. We have to get back to them. Can you help us find a portal?"

"No, leaving is unwise. The Enchanted Forest is not as you remember it. The Ogres have returned."

"Ogres? Like, as in 'Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum'?" Emma looked confused.

"Those would be giants," Mary Margret said, placing her hand on her daughters arm.

"Ogres are worse," Devon said as he fed on some grapes.

"That's why we live here on this island, where it's safe," Lancelot continued. "Please, Snow, stay here. There are no more portals left."

"I may know of one," Mary Margret said as she adjusted herself.

"You do?"

"Where?"

Mary Margret looked to Devon who shook his head and then looked in the direction of the Pit. She glanced in that direction before speaking. "Cora's near. I don't feel comfortable voicing my plans. She's powerful."

"Not anymore," Lancelot assured. "The curse stripped her of her powers. But given her reputation, we've kept her locked up as a precaution."

"If you think she's stripped of all her powers, you don't know the extent of her powers," Devon said seriously to the former knight.

"Nevertheless, I'm not taking any chances," Mary Margret said. "Just trust me, I may have a way. Let us go."

Lancelot thought for a second. "I'll allow it. But on one condition." He gestured to a person across camp. "Take my bravest warrior with you. Allow Mulan to defend you." The armored woman stood beside her leader.

"We can defend ourselves," Emma said dismissively.

"Deal." The other two quickly over ruled her. Mary Margret continued. "Thank you, Lancelot, for always looking out for me."

Mulan joined them at the table as the three newcomers ate. After she led them to a chest of weapons. After the women suited themselves with some things, the four of them began their journey to Snow's castle.


Orabella and David rushed down the stairs of Henry Mills' Mausoleum to Regina's Vault. They spotted Henry on the floor, two vipers staring him down. Orabella shot frostbite at them as David ran to cover the container.

"Maybe we should've gone with 'Operation Viper'," David said as the lid locked back into place. "You alright?" He pulled Henry up.

"Yeah. How did you guys know I was down here."

Orabella brushed the dust off of him. "The school called me. I called on David."

"Your mom said you asked her lunch," David continued . "And when you stood her up, she checked her office, saw her keys missing. Figured out the rest."

"She would've come herself, but she thought you wouldn't go with her," Orabella said crouching to his level.

David followed suit. "Henry, what were you thinking?"

"I just want them back," Henry rushed out. "It wasn't supposed to be this way. I should be over there with them. Riding horses, learning how to sword fight."

"I know," David said, placing his hands on his grandsons shoulders to help calm him down. "I know. It's okay. Because we're gonna do this together."

Henry nodded in acknowledgment. "Come on, now," Orabella said standing up. "You've gotta get to school. And we have to make sure no one else finds this place." She looked to David who put the snakes crate away and agreed.

The trio drove Henry to school. As they pulled away from the school, Orabella turned to David. "About Henry..."

"I know," he cut her off. "Our agreement was he stays with me, I make sure he goes to school, does his homework, his chores..."

"David!" She snapped him out of his tirade. "I'm not talking about that. Henry wants to learn to sword fight. Hroar and Lucia are both of age to learn as well. Perhaps we should teach them?"

"Teach children to use swords?"

"Back in Skyrim they would have already started to learn. I don't think he's really asking for all that much."

"Is that where you're from? Skyrim?"

"Yes and no. Back there to begin swordsmanship lessons is a sign that your accepting the responsibility of protecting your family. And I realize that we're not in Skyrim, but I still feel like..."

"Ora!" David cut her off. She huffed as he continued. "I think you're right."

"Really?"

"Yes. We can't keep living as though we'll stay here forever. Even if we do, things like sword fighting is something we should hand down to our kids."

"I'm glad you agree, because I already made some wooden practice swords," she said grinning as he pulled his truck up to her tea shop.


Devon stopped at the end of the castles drive. "Everything okay?" Mary Margret walked up beside him.

"I don't think it's a good idea if I go in there," he said quietly.

"Why?"

He looked to see if the others were a sufficient distance away before he continued. "You know I was once Regina's body guard?" The woman nodded. "The reason was because Ora and I made a deal to protect my children from the dangers of the Enchanted Forest with Cora. That brought us into her service. That service allows either one of them to control our actions." Mary Margret took a step away. "I'm telling you this because if I go in there and she shows up, she can make me harm you, and I don't wanna do that. So, I'll stay down here. If she shows and/or I'm not here when you move on, assume she took me with her."

"Devon, how does she have this power over you?"

"You put your daughter in a wardrobe to protect her. Cora helped me protect my own children. We made a deal with her, and we are magic bound to honor it."

"What would I tell the others?"

"The truth. Cora took me with her."

Mary Margret nodded. "Okay." She caught up with the rest of the group. "Devon's gonna watch the road. Just in case."

"Good idea," Mulan agreed as they entered the remains of the castle.

Cora appeared in front of Devon. "Absolute, how wonderful to see you here."

"You know as well as I, I'm not here because I want to be."

"True. Come, let me see what portal Snow has."