The small envoy of fairytale characters followed Snow and David's carriage across the land,meeting and collecting other familiar faces as they went. Wagons, carriages, and people on horseback joined the line, making it look like some eclectic travelling circus.The group was forty strong by the time they reached the actual Forest. The land itself was bleak. The curse had taken the people and frozen the land in time,excluding the last two years where it had fallen into disarray. It was eerie seeing the abandoned remains of the places they used to call home.

Granny was riding with Ruby on a hay cart. "What do you think happened? You were friends with Emma. Did she mention anything?"

Ruby thought about it. She'd thought of nothing since the day it happened. The hopeful romantic in her prayed it was the obvious and usual curse breaker. If it was something else, she felt sick for all of them. Especially Henry. "Emma did not kill the mayor, that's for sure. I think someone else is involved. Probably one of those new faces who've been in the diner the last week." She wouldn't break her promise to the women. Not unless absolutely necessary and then it would be to Snow and David.

Granny nodded. "Yeah, that's my theory too." She looked out over the land shaking her head. "This isn't how I remember it. It doesn't feel like home anymore."

Ruby agreed. "I was never happy here. I was hunted, scared, and terrified of getting close to anyone."

"If we're back for good, it won't be like that. Not anymore. Most of the town have benefited somehow from the life we had there. The majority wouldn't even know how to go back to such a simple and aggressive life."

Ruby cuddled up next to her Granny. They fought a lot but she was a wise lady and she loved her dearly.

Snow and David were in the carriage. They'd barely spoken two words since the start of their journey. Snow stared blankly out of the window deep in thought and frought with worry. David tried. "It shouldn't be much farther than a day now. Try to sleep."

"I can't. Not until I know they're safe." She hadn't slept at all since they were in Storybrooke. She was running on nervous energy. "I just keep thinking about that Captain. Isn't it strange that he shows up and this happens the same day?"

David crossed his arms and stretched out his legs. "I don't know what to think, Snow. We can't jump to conclusions. Besides, he was there with us when it happened"

"I keep playing eveything over and over in my mind about that last talk with her. She seemed well."

David nodded. He was replaying their conversation at the station over too. "We talked, before she left work. She was asking about true love. Our little minding reading thing, in fact. Did you ever tell her about that?"

Snow looked him straight in the eye with shock. "No, I've never told anyone about that. How would she know?"

David sighed. "I've been asking myself the same thing. I wondered if she might have met someone. She's a terrible liar."

Snow looked like she might cry again. "She restored our memories with a true loves kiss to Henry. But who? She hasn't mentioned anything. I know for a fact she's been staying over at the mansion. Henry confirmed it."

David shifted uncomfortably. "She said something else that worried me a little. I thought she was talking about Leyroy, but now I'm not so sure. She wanted to know what would happen if someone's true love died or met their soul mate. If that would be their only chance at love."

Snow tried to piece it together. Her thoughts raced and nothing was adding up. The only thing she could think was the absolute worst scenario and it made her feel sick. "Don't. She wouldn't, David. You know it."

He almost cried. "I don't believe she would, no. But I had to tell you. Something was going on with her that she didn't want us to know about. She was training her magic with Regina in secret. She only told me because I caught her out in a lie the night Regina forgot to pick Henry up."

"David, why didn't you tell me any of this before?"

"I thought it would all come out in the wash. I only started wondering about this after we got here. You know, her and Regina have been meeting a lot in private. I thinkthey were planning this, but we need to find Regina before we know for sure."

Snow looked devastated. If they'd planned this in secret, Emma had deliberately shut them out and that hurt almost as much as considering the other two scenarios.

~

Emma tried the compact mirror. It glowed and showed her Regina still lying on the cot but now her eyes were open just staring into space. "Regina, can you hear me? Regina? Pick up a god damn mirror!"

She got frustrated. It was a relief that she could get mirror magic to work but now she was pissed at Regina for just giving up so easily and getting lost in her grief. She huffed and snapped it closed. She'd keep trying but the queen needed to pull it together.

A knock came at the door and Emma ran to open it. "Hey Ariel. Thanks for coming. Come in."

The mermaid entered and her eyes gawked at the beautiful mansion. "Wow, this is a lovely palace."

Emma chuckled and showed her into the lounge. She felt a bit odd entertaining guests in Regina's home like she owned the place, but she figured the details would be more complicated to explain than Ariel's assumptions. "I really appreciate this. I know you don't know anything about me and I thank you for trusting me."

"You're Snow's daughter. She's one of the kindest people I've ever met and I can see you share that trait."

Emma smiled and Henry came in and sat down oggling the mermaid. "Hi, I'm Henry. Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, young sir!"

He blushed. Ariel was one of his favorites and he might have had a little school boy crush on her.

Emma got down to business. "So, let me explain. I only met Hook last week and I don't trust him, but conveniently, he has a ship and managed to sail it here from the Enchanted Forest. He had a bean to open a portal but I haven't found anything so far that could do that."

Ariel nodded along. "Yes, I imagined he did. He always manages to get his dirty hands on what he wants." She wrapped her arms around her waist and scowled.

Emma figured he'd tried it on with her and her body language confirmed her suspicions. "How do you think we can do it?"

"I have guided a few ships before. Usually to avoid wrecking. Not through entire realms, so I don't know for sure if I can do it. I can swim justunder the front and as long as I have contact with it, it should just go where I want it to."

"You mean like a tether or something?"

Ariel nodded and looked serious for a second. "There's an old legend and I'm sure you've seen the wooden mermaids on the front of ships."

Emma nodded again.

"Well, this is why Hook can't know I'm helping. Some cruel captains have abused the merfolk's trust over the centuries and captured us to permanently enchant their ships, allowing them to sail anywhere. The wooden ones are like talismans, the don't really do much except protect them in storms. But binding a real life mermaid to the front would enchant it until her death. You'll need to figure out a way to make him think he's steering and not me."

Emma gasped in shock. "That's terrible. Why do that when they can just ask nicely?"

"Exactly. We help them but some are just greedy and cruel."

Emma thought about it. "He's going to want to know how we're being guided. I can try to do some magic, make him think I've spelled the wheel or something."

Ariel's eyes widened. "Do you have magic?"

Emma made a so-so gesture with her hands. "Yeah. I'm the savior. Product of true love. I'm still figuring stuff out though."

"Of course. That makes sense. I don't think he'll let you touch his precious steering wheel though. He's very protective of his ship. Just keep him distracted and I'll do what I can."

"Okay. How long do you think it will take?"

"It took me a month by myself and that was going at full speed. A ship can't even do a third of what I can. Three months, maybe four. If I can drag you though."

Emma groaned. Still, it was the best shot they had. "I might be able to make it go faster. I'll see what I can find in Regina's study. She's got hundreds of spell books here."

"Do you live together?"

Emma blushed. "No, we don't. It's a long story, but Henry is our son. This is his and Regina's home. I was here when the curse broke. I think she'd want me to be here with him."

"Wow. I did not imagine that. How did your mom take that?"

Emma laughed helplessly. "Oh, we're getting there. She doesn't know we are together yet. We've only technically been dating a few weeks and the true love's kiss, well, that was new. We were going to tell them soon."

Ariel was obviously not following. "But you had a child together. Surely they knew..."

Henry opened his bag and took out the story book. He handed it to the mermaid and Emma grinned at him with pride. "Here. This probably explains it better than my Ma can."

She took the book and smiled.

"Look. You should stay with us here tonight. I'll get us something to eat and we can talk properly. I'll go and see Hook in the morning. There's a guest room. I'm sure Regina wouldn't mind you taking it, considering you are helping us."

"Thank you, Emma. I've been stealing food and hiding in the shadows all week."

The blonde laughed. "Okay, that was you! I was sure it was the pirate. Well, as Sheriff, I think I can let you off with a warning this time." She got up and signalled for the mermaid to follow her. "Come on. Regina is an amazing cook but has the tiniest appetite. There's at least a month's worth of frozen meals in her fridge. I'll microwave you something."

Ariel followed, touching everything as she went. "I love microwaves. They tickle."

Emma looked at her like she was mad. "Okay, I don't what you think that is, but it doesn't tickle. Erm, maybe don't touch anything unless you know one hundred percent what it is."

Ariel blushed and put the electric whisk back on the surface. "Sure. No more touching. Sorry."

Emma wiggled her eyebrows at Henry. "Kid, how about you take Ariel out the dangerous kitchen and show her how the non-life threatening electronics work?"

"On it, Ma!"

Once they were out of the kitchen, Emma let out a sigh of relief. She was using all her strength to hold it together. This plan had to work. It was a huge risk taking Henry on a pirate ship, being guided by a mermaid, that didn't know what basic utensils were. She needed Regina. She'd tell her exactly what needed to be done, or if she was being ridiculous.

She put a frozen container labeled boeuf bourguignon in the microwave and took out the compact again. She got it to show her Regina without having to voice anything this time. Simply by concentrating, it did it's magic.

Emna watched the sad woman sweeping the floor of the place she was currently residing. At first, Emma thought she was in a prison cell somewhere, but in the light, she could see it was a cottage, allbeit, a dilapidated one. "Where are you, Regina? What aren't you at the palace?"

She focused on the room now looking for a mirror or any reflective surface that might work. There was nothing there but blackened walls and the tiny cot. There was something on the bed. A framed photo.

She felt her magic buzzing with hope as she focused on it. She tried reaching it through the compact mirror. It didn't work. Her magic wasn't strong enough to reach through realms. It was so frustrating to be able to see her and not talk to her. "For God's sake, Regina. Check your reflection or something. I need you. More than ever."

The microwave pinged and Emma reluctantly pocketed the compact again. She had to be grateful that she at least had this connection to her and could see she was alive, and not in any immediate danger.

She plated out the food, noting it looked like a beef stew, and took it through to the lounge. She didn't want Ariel in the kitchen at all, and Regina's sofas might have to just take a hit for the team.

"I'm going to look for some magic that can help us. If you need me, I'll be in the study." She winked at Henry and he saluted her. He was a good kid.

Regina woke up disoriented. For a second, she forgot where she was and panicked. She lay there motionless for a few minutes nor really knowing what to do with herself. She didn't want to do anything. Her mind wandered to Storybrooke and a small smile graced her lips imagining she'd be there making Henry waffles or pancakes, and pouring Emma a coffee right about now.

It hurt but there was some comfort in the memories. For a very brief moment in her life, she'd known true happiness and love. They were safe and together, and that was the main thing. A small flicker of hope rose in her chest. They wouldn't want her to waste away into nothingness. She had to pull herself together for them. People loved her now and it didn't matter if they weren't together. As long as they lived.

She sat up and looked around the room. It was dire. She would not allow Henry anywhere near a place like this. She considered the palace again, but shook her head. She wasn't the Evil Queen anymore and she didn't want people waiting on her hand and foot. She'd spent thirty years being self-sufficient. She could clean this place up a bit with some elbow grease and a sprinkle of magic. It was something to do.

She conjured a broom and began sweeping out the debris. Every movement made her head throb and she felt weak, but it kept her productive. Next, she tackled the ash stained walls with a wet rag. She worked herself to exhaustion but kept going until she could see the gray stone underneath.

When she couldn't hold her arms up any longer, she stepped outside into the sunshine and examined her surroundings. It had been dark when she got there. Now she saw the cottage was close to a stream, and quite deep in Queen's Forest. She'd claimed this land years ago and thrown out any residents.

She remembered now. This was the home of the woodcutter. Or Michael, as he was known in Storybrooke. That was one of the things she felt most guilty about after Henry. Especially when he befriended the children. No parent deserved to be separated from their children. She breathed out heavily, understanding these were her lessons.

She was going to have to pay for each of the travesties she committed by being reminded of how much of a monster she used to be. When she'd sent them off to forever look for each other in her enchanted woods, she'd burnt this cottage so he and his children might never be tempted to return.

She went and sat by the stream and gathered some water in her palms to drink. Her reflection shocked her. This wasn't who she was. Not anymore. She waved her magic and chopped her hair off just above the shoulders. It felt silly to focus on something so menial, but that in itself made her smile. Emma would no doubt tease her about it if she were here. As she got up from the stream, she thought she heard Emma's voice for a second. Clearly, she was losing her mind. She inhaled deeply and went back to her project of domestic distraction.

~

"Regina! Come back! Answer the damn phone, or.. stream... or whatever!"

Henry came in the study and grimaced. "Is she still not picking up?"

"I was so close. I missed her. She was by a lake or something and I almost got through to her." Emma banged her fist on the desk.

"You'll reach her. Just keep trying. Uhm, Ariel is in the bathroom. She's been in there for like an hour and a half. I thought you'd wanna know." He didn't have the courage to go and check on her.

Emma's eyes rolled and her palm went to her forehead. "Thanks, kid. I'll check it out."

"Did you find something?"

She nodded with a smile. "Yeah, I think so. I need to check thr details, but, I think it should work." She went off to find the mermaid. The bathroom door was closed and she knocked loudly. "Hey, Ariel. Is everything okay?" No answer.

"Ariel, I'm coming in unless you say otherwise."

Still no answer.

She tried the handle and it was open, so she pushed inside. When she saw the woman, tail and all, in the tub she didn't know what to do. Her eyes were closed and her head was under the water. Instinct made her shake her awake. "Hey, you okay?"

Ariel's eyes popped open in panic and a few bubbles escaped her lips as she spoke under the water. She popped herself up. "What's happened?"

Emma breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you were dead. Uhm, sorry, were you sleeping?"

Ariel was embarrassed. "I guess I must have dozed off. This is a really comfortable room. I've never had the privilege of staying in an aquatic suite before. It's very luxurious."

Emma laughed. "It's a bathroom. Uhm, we use it to get clean. It's not really for sleeping in. Uhm, stupid question but can you drown if you sleep underwater?"

Ariel shook her head trying not to laugh. "I live under the sea. It's pretty much all water."

Emma raised her hands in defeat. "Okay, cool. You sleep where you like. There is a bed in the next room across, if you prefer "

Ariel shrugged. "This is perfect. Thanks. I also have a question. What is that?"

She pointed at the toilet and Emma felt like crying. No wonder Regina didn't have much patience for half these people. She grabbed her phone out of pocket and did a quick YouTube search. She handed the device to the mermaid and pressed play. "Watch this. It'll explain that. I'll be downstairs if you need me. Don't get my phone wet, or it'll stop working."

She clicked the door closed and went back to the study hoping to find the last bits of information she needed for this spell. As she sat at the desk, she felt a strange urge to open the drawers. It felt like an invasion of privacy but it niggled at the pit of her stomach. She rattled it but, it was locked. After debating with the morals of it, she sparked her magic and managed to pop the lock.

Inside the drawer were mostly handwritten notes loosely piled together. She looked at the first and realized it was notes Regina must have made whilst trying to work out why they were reading each other's thoughts. At the bottom of page, the words True Love and a question mark were circled. She grinned to herself feeling closer to the woman somehow. When had she written this? How long had she suspected?

The next one was plans for Henry's fort playground she'd had built a while back. She'd based the design on her own palace back in the Enchanted Forest, Emma saw now, and it warmed her heart.

The next worried her. It was a draft letter addressed to Henry dated not long after they initially thought the curse had broken. She was going to leave him. Emma read the letter carefully and her heart pounded. She didn't go through with it. Something stopped her. But...

Emma rummaged around in the drawer anxiously. She got frustrated and pulled the entire drawer out and emptied in on the desk. Nothing. Something rolled off and Emma leant down to pick it up. She laughed when she saw a little film roll holder taped to the back of the desk where the drawer would have been.

"Oh, Gina, Gina, Gina! If this is a roll of undeveloped nudes, imma be seriously pissed." Her heart raced as she unstuck the film holder from its hiding place. She rattled it and laughed deliriously, knowing exactly what was inside. She popped the lid and punched the air in excitement. "She shoots! She scores! She saves the Queen!"

She was doing this, and a strange happy dance when her son walked in the room.

"Woah... What did you do to Mom's study?"

"Ceee-lebrate good times, come on!" She sang and grabbed his hands dancing around the bomb site of Regina's usally pristine study.

"Did you finish the spell?"

Emma came down to his level grinning. "I found something else."

"What is it?"

She opened her hand revealing a single magic bean and Henry gasped. "A way to get them all home."