This chapter is for Hypnotoad76 with the prompt: "Emma and Regina go to NYC for a weekend, which ends up being the same week as New York Comic Con. While out walking they run into a group of people in various cosplay, and Regina almost gets into a fight with a woman dressed as Disney's version of The Evil Queen"

"I would compliment how beautiful that this city is, but it really isn't," Regina said, looking around at their surroundings. She and Emma were visiting New York City for the weekend, choosing to get away from town for a little bit. Even the Savior needed a vacation.

Henry had chosen to stay behind, wanting to keep an eye on everything. As much as he loved going to New York, it reminded him too much of Neal and how he had barely gotten to know his dad before he died.

"You're just seeing the outside of the buildings," Emma said. "That's not even the best part. Remember what the big saying is? Never judge a book by its cover."

"Unless the book is covered in a layer of exhaust from all of the car fumes," Regina said, looking up at the sky.

Emma rolled her eyes. "So judgmental."

"You're just realizing this?" Regina asked, smirking. Emma laughed and they continued walking together down the street. They were trying to find a place to eat, but anywhere was going to be good. It was New York after all.

"What's going on over there?" Regina asked, pointing towards a large crowd of people gathered outside of an arena. "It looks like they're wearing costumes."

Emma shrugged. "Let's go check it out. They all look interesting."

They walked together over to the group, staring in shock as people walked past them dressed up as characters from various movies and TV shows. Emma knew this, but Regina had no idea what was going on.

"What is going on?" Regina asked. "Do people typically dress like this in New York?"

"No," Emma said. "It's a special event where people dress up as their favorite characters and meet celebrities and stuff."

"Why?" Regina asked.

Emma shrugged. "For fun. Most people go all out. You should be able to recognize some of the characters around here."

Regina looked around the crowd, recognizing some people from the superhero movies that she watched with Henry. And several people from the Disney franchise, which Henry had forced her to watch.

"You're in my way," a voice snapped from behind Regina.

Regina turned and almost laughed at the person standing behind her. The woman was dressed exactly like the Evil Queen from the Disney version of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, and clearly was acting the part as well. Or was just that nasty of a person.

"I do believe that I was here first," Regina said calmly. "We're just passing through, and the crowd is quite thick."

"Why'd you come this way then?" the woman asked. "Not like you're dressed up or anything. Unless you're dressed as some businesswoman who just lost her job."

Regina's jaw dropped. "I beg your pardon?"

"You're pardoned," the woman said, smirking. "By a queen no less. You should feel special."

"You are some low-life middle-aged women who has a crappy job and a very unpleasant life and finds joy in dressing up as some Disney character and bullying other people to make yourself feel better," Regina hissed. "You've just found yourself arguing with a real queen, and I would suggest backing away right now."

The woman looked at Regina in shock before laughing. "You have some spunk, I'll give you that. But you still need to move along. Only the important people get to stand in this crowd. If anything, you should be moving along."

Emma quickly reached out and grabbed Regina's arm, trying to pull her away. "She's not worth it. Let's just go, okay?"

The woman smirked and waved at Regina as Emma pulled her away. Regina tore her arm out of Emma's grasp and walked back over, grabbing the cape of the woman and pulling her close. "You want to know what it's like to really face an Evil Queen? Because I can show you, right here."

For the first time since their encounter, the woman actually looked afraid for her well-being. "Do you mean like a fight? I'm not about to fight a stranger."

"If you don't want to fight, then watch your mouth," Regina hissed, letting go of her cape and pushing her away.

Emma quickly grabbed her arm and dragged her away again. Some members of the crowd watched them as they left, most of them smiling. They must have encountered the crowd bully.

"You are crazy," Emma said. "What were you thinking?"

Regina shrugged. "She threw the first punch. I just fired back."

"Were you really going to fight her?" Emma asked. "You looked like you would have ripped her heart out if magic was out in this world."

"She was asking to be fought," Regina said. "Besides, it isn't like I haven't trained myself in hand-to-hand combat before."

"Wait seriously?" Emma asked.

Regina nodded. "I hired a trainer and he came when my mother was out with other people. It served me well."

Emma shook her head and laughed. "You are insane."

"You love me anyway," Regina teased.

"I do," Emma said. "Crazy me."