A/N: Thank you, kurotenshi-08 for being the second follower of this story! :) The more I see followers/favorites/reviews, the more it makes me want to update. Just saying. :)
"What's in there, anyway?" the White Rabbit asked, looking at the dark grocery bag with curiosity.
"None of your business, that's what." They were nearing the place where they had entered Storybrooke, a wall across the street from the library. It had been secluded, so it would be a good spot for the Rabbit to open up another portal.
Will spied the wall just a few more strides away and looked back and forth for any cars coming over the blacktop. The town was busier now, so he was more anxious about keeping the Rabbit hidden. When all was clear, he took a step onto the street and then froze at the familiar voice behind them.
"Is that who I think it is?"
Will spun at the voice, the White Rabbit ducking into the bushes to avoid being seen. The mayor of Storybrooke, the Evil Queen of the Enchanted Forest, stood before him, a few books clutched against her chest. The door to the library swung closed behind her.
She smiled that fake, evil smile he had always hated, and he stiffened in response. "What do you want?"
"I want to know where you've been. However, seeing by the White Rabbit hiding in the bushes, I already know."
The White Rabbit poked his head out from the leaves, something gold clasped between his paws. Regina looked down at him, her eyebrows furrowed, and held out her palm. Whatever the Rabbit had found instantly transferred to her hand in a puff of smoke.
"Thank you." She turned the object in her hands, and Will froze. It was Jafar's bottle. "What is this thing, anyway? Is it from Wonderland?"
"No, it's not, and if you're smart you'll give that to me so I can take care of it. It's dangerous, even to you."
He recognized his mistake immediately when a competitive gleam came into her eye. He had challenged her, and she was going to prove him wrong.
A curious smile lit up her features. "Oh, something that scares you. You must have your heart back then?"
Will said nothing, just glared at her and stretched out his hand. "Please, Regina, what's in there can only bring you, and everyone in this town, harm."
A frown flickered on her face. There was someone she wanted to protect. If he remembered correctly, she had been a little possessive over a son she had.
She examined it again, and her thumb rubbed across the neck of the bottle. Smoke congealed on the sidewalk until it grew into a tan-skinned man with short, wavy, black hair and a wicked gleam in his eye.
"Mistress mine, my will is thine. Tell me your wishes three."
He started and his eyebrows jumped upward, as if he hadn't been expecting to say that.
"Yeah, it's a bit of a shock, isn't it?" Will said, saturating his words with bitterness. He doubted he could hate anything more than the man standing right in front of him.
The man looked at Will in shock. "The Knave? What are you doing here?" His head moved in all directions, taking in his surroundings. "Where am I?"
"Storybrooke," Regina answered, an excited spark in her eyes. "And the Knave was just leaving." She said it as a dismissal, throwing a glare at Will.
Will planted his feet. "I'm not leaving until you give me that bottle."
"Ah, but she can't do that, now can she?" Jafar uncurled his fist to reveal three tiny red jewels in his palm. Bowing, he presented them to Regina. "Your wishes."
Regina's lips curled into a vicious smile as she scooped up the wishes. Will felt his heart drop. Two people that powerful working together wouldn't bode well for Storybrooke. Knowing Jafar, he would find some way to manipulate Regina into releasing him from being a genie. He would take over Storybrooke, and then the rest of this world…
Stop it, he told himself. Regina was wicked, but she wasn't a fool. Still, the two of them could wreak havoc on the town. Not my problem, said a small voice in the back of his head. His home was in Wonderland now, with Ana. He didn't have to worry about Storybrooke…
…but he also had a heart now.
The library's door creaked open.
"Back in the bottle," Regina hissed. With a cloud of smoke, Jafar vanished before the door fully opened and a tall, red-haired man walked out. "Good afternoon, Regina," he said in a friendly manner, nodding his head. "Good afternoon," he added, seeing Will.
"Archie," Regina said stiffly with a forced smile. Will nodded in Archie's direction.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Regina spun on Will, her eyes as hard as stone. "If you know what's good for you, Knave, you and your little furball will leave Storybrooke right now."
The White Rabbit emerged from the bushes once more, his furry brow smashed together. "Hey, now-"
Will nudged the Rabbit with his foot. "We'll leave. But I'm warning you, that genie used to be the most powerful sorcerer in all of Wonderland and Agrabah. He won't stop at anything to get what he wants."
"Used to. Now, he's just a genie, and he has to do whatever I tell him to." She waved her hand. "Now move along."
Will glared at her, straightening his jacket and moving across the street.
"I don't like her," the White Rabbit muttered as he began to "dig."
"Me neither, Rabbit." He cast one more worried glance at Regina's triumphant expression before jumping through the blue portal.