The Winter Palace, imposing on its perch dominating the valley was visible now. Regina glanced at Snow, who caught a breath in her throat seeing her childhood home. "Really mom, the Book didn't have say it looked like that, subtle much?" Henry glanced over at her with a sly smile.
"Your mother didn't make it look like that. The castle was built by my grandfather for his second wife."
"Perhaps the men in your family should have re-evaluated the idea of remarriage," Charming grumbled.
"You two should stay back, this is going to be dangerous and I don't want to change timeline any more than I already have by getting you killed."
David glanced at Snow, "When the Evil Queen is concerned for your safety you should probably listen."
Regina gave him a dirty look, but Snow shook her head, "You really think I'm going to let the two of you do this alone?"
Regina raised an eyebrow, "I really wasn't planning on giving you a choice. If you are caught ..."
"I won't get caught. I've snuck into the castle grounds before. To visit my mother's grave."
Regina schooled her expression so it was hard to read, but it was impossible to hide things from Henry even if they'd been separated for so long. "Mom...?"
Regina sighed and with a put upon look she looked over at Snow, "You weren't caught visiting her grave because I let you."
Snow raised an eyebrow and smiled, "A soft spot on that black heart of yours Regina?"
Regina sighed, "Please don't assume you are safe Snow. Just because I didn't kill you a few times when I had the chance doesn't mean I didn't and wouldn't have killed you. The power that comes with the amount of dark magic I was channeling."
Henry reached over and put a hand on her arm.
"Please don't underestimate how dangerous the me of this time is. She will kill you. She'll kill us all."
"On that cheery note, if Snow is coming I am." David announced.
"Of course you are," Regina sighed.
"How do you suggest we get in, Your Majesty?" David inquired.
"I think the tunnels."
Snow shook her head, "Blocked off."
"Blocked off if you don't have magic." She dismounted the horse and started to unsaddle her, telling Henry how to do the same.
"Why are we doing this?"
"Your... Snow and David will want their own horses back but we should free the ours since we won't be riding them again. Leaving the saddle and tack on them would be bad for them."
"You know a lot about horses mom. You should ride when you get back home."
Snow looked at Regina, the idea of her not riding just seemed so sad. But the idea of a land where anyone could stop riding was equally strange.
"At the risk of pointing out the obvious... maybe you could just pretend to be your younger self and we could fool the guards." David pointed out as they moved through the woods towards the entrance to the tunnels. Snow and Henry were walking some distance back.
"I don't want to dress up like her. I don't want my son to see me like her." Regina whispered quietly. "I'll find some other way."
David kept his voice low, "You really are ashamed. I... it's hard to picture the woman who laughed at me holding that apple is you."
"Shame and an awareness of my own weakness are all I have, David. The power and the dark magic, it feels amazing, it makes you feel like you can do anything. But when you've hurt as many people as I have, there is nothing I could ever do to bring back those lives. I just learn to live with it, and to raise my son to be the hero I never was."
"Snow tells a different story. About you and heroism."
"Snow also talks to birds, David. She always did have a terrible judge of character." She nodded her head. "Over there." She held out her hands, carefully raising them into the air and the rock lifted up before she tossed it to the side.
"After Henry and I get home you need to come back the way we came. Be careful of the traps."
"Where are we headed?" Snow asked.
"The top of the north tower is a magical strong room I kept some of the most dangerous magical items I collected. There is a fairy's wand that should be able to recreate the portal that my deranged sister opened."
"Wait..." Snow said looking confused, "You are an only child."
"I'm afraid you are a little behind on the plot." Regina waved her hand and kept moving not willing to give more of an explanation. A few times they ran into people in the halls Regina waved her hand and they fell to the ground asleep before they could raise an alarm.
"How long until people notice them?" Henry looked at his mom.
"If Regina's right and the queen is out of the castle a while. They'll be on a low level of alert." Snow answered, but Regina frowned a little. This was a lot easier than she expected.
They made it to the north tower and Regina waved her hand over the lock and the bolt clicked.
"Neat trick," Henry grinned.
"Yes, well, you probably won't think so when you see why the door was warded."
"I've seen your vault and your hearts, mom..."
Regina closed her eyes for a moment knowing what was behind the door and what Henry might think but she pushed it open and the four of them entered quickly before she closed the door.
"Regina!" Snow said in horror, her shoulders slumping.
The room was three sided with a window and balcony that overlooked the court yard far below, and the valley beyond. There was a large telescope for astrological observations, and dozens contraptions and objects of presumably dark purpose. But what Snow was looking at was a wall of jars casting a dim multicolored light across the room. Inside each sat a small, sad looking fairy, alive and trapped. Many had their little heads looking at Regina in fear.
"You ... you collected fairies?" Snow said in disbelief as she approached. "What kind of monster keeps fairies in jars?"
Regina stood straighter and somehow managed to look dangerous and imposing in a way she hadn't for most of their journey together, "Fairies aren't good, Snow. You believe they are because they help you but they only help people who further their goals."
"Regina they promise people hope." Snow said as she approached the wall of trapped fairies.
"Promises are cruel when they've no intention on delivering."
"We should free them," Snow said, turning around determined.
"She's right, mom." Henry nodded.
Regina looked nearly in pain at the idea of saying it, "Henry..." She stopped midsentence.
"What is it, mom?"
"I'm just remembering," she shook her head, "That there was a mass escape. But I can't ... I wonder if the time line altering we're doing is changing my memories."
"If you remember a mass escape we must have freed them." Snow said triumphantly.
"I think time travel is giving me a headache."
"Or rather wearing a glamour spell as long as you have is affecting your brain." The voice was lower, more dangerous than Regina's but it was her voice none the less and they all turned around quickly to see the Evil Queen in all her glory had just translocated between them and the door.