Chapter 13

Author's Note: So I had to toy with the idea of how to handle this. Work with me going forward and use your imagination.

Four police on motorcycles and two NYPD cruisers were surrounding two limousines and an SUV as they made their way through the Boroughs. The government and diplomatic plates were easily spotted, but the flags that were on the last limousine were not widely known: several overlapping black squares on a white background, with a black torch billowing out reddish-orange flames at the top, over the figure of a lion surrounded by small flowers.

Having never seen such chaos, several business owners and even residents looked out their doors and windows as the caravan slowed to a stop in front of an old apartment complex. Government security, recognizable by their earpieces stepped out first , nodding to the drivers. Drivers then stepped out and opened the door, letting out a middle aged man dressed in finery, with gold and several badges on him.

Jefferson fixed his hat as he glanced around the village that they stopped at. It was worst than the poorest of the Enchanted Forest. He hadn't seen such poverty in his lifetime. Why the princess would come here was a mystery. He walked around to the door of the limo and waited until the three EF guards were in place before opening the door.

David exited first, fixing his jacket and finery upon standing. He stood out in his white and gold ensemble, a red belt stitched with the flower of his family's crest. A single guard move to stand next to him as they waited. The Prince Consort nodded, sighing as he knew Snow would not be happy. The other door was opened. Queen Snow White stood and glanced around the area. The buildings were tall, but she could make out where the stone was crumbling. There was trash on the street and she shuddered as she moved to stand amongst her husband, advisor and guards.

"What is this place?"

"Welcome to Queens, New York your majesty."

[SQ]

Jose' Martinez plastered a large grin on his face as the group of people stepped into his shop. They were obviously from out of town, based on the clothing, and he stepped from behind the counter to greet them.

"Hey! How are you? Is the renaissance fair in town?" He snickered.

"I am Queen Mary Margaret, ruler of Cantantia," Snow said as she glanced around the small clothing store.

"Alright. What can I do ya for?"

"I have come for my daughter Emma," She slapped away the hand of an old man who was feeling on the fabric of her gown.

"Who?"

"You know," another clerk said. "The girl! Heidi! The girl!"

"The girl upstairs," a woman chimed in.

"Oh right!" Martinez said. "She's around here somewhere. She lives upstairs on the 4th floor." Snow nodded before turning around leaving without so much as a thank you. The people in this part of Earth seemed to be mentally challenged. And why was Emma going by the name of Heidi?

It was a short walk to the residential entrance of the building. The guards walked ahead of the Queen and Prince David as they checked each step before moving forward. Snow felt her skin crawl as she took sight of the bugs scattering along the foyer of the apartment building. The place was filthy. She hoped that Emma was not inside and that Killian had just written the wrong address on the note.

They went up each stairs, as the elevator had a out of order sign, and she could smell various foods as she walked by and heard everything that was going on behind the closed doors. From babies crying to people screaming.

"Hurry. Let's get my daughter and leave this place," Snow said as they approached the apartment that bore Emma's name.

Jefferson nodded before knocking.

"Enter," a voice said. The advisor opened the door for the Queen who saw only a man in a thick bathrobe watching a film.

"You are not Emma," she said angrily.

"No. I'm not." Snow glanced around the room, noticing a framed image of her daughter on the wall.

"What is that?"

"A photograph."

"I know that!" she waved her hand. "I mean what is this. This Mills Enterprises."

"Its down on 10th street in Long Island. I think she works there."

"My daughter WORKS?!" Snow yelled. "Where is she right now?"

"I'm not sure. They moved downstairs to apartment 1A."

Snow wasted no time. She had seen enough in the less than an hour she had been in this horrible place. Her daughter was working, living worst than the lowliest of peasants. Jefferson knocked on the door to apartment 1A before even being asked.

"OH SHIT!" Killian screamed as he opened the door, before slamming the door back shut. The door reopened less than two seconds later. "Y-Your majesty. What are you doing here?"

"I received your letter. Where is Emma?"

"She's not here. How was your travel? Comfortable? Did you take a magic be-" With a flick of the Queen's wrist, a guard pulled Killian up by his collar nearly choking him.

"Your only job in going with my daugher was to took after her!," Snow said angrily. "How could you let her come to this...this..squalor?"

"Emma...Emma will not listen to me! She has gone mad your majesty," Killian said panting, struggling to breathe.

"Killian," Snow said. "You have disgraced yourself. For the rest of our stay in this realm you will confine yourself to our royal suite at Waldorf Towers. See that you bathe thoroughly and are dressed in manner befitting a member of the royal advisory when we return."

"Yes. Thank you your highness." He knew the queen was upset, but being in a luxury suite was a million times better that he had been living the past month.

[SQ]

Emma walked through the exhibits holding Regina's hand. Honestly she had very little interest in the art of this realm, or any realm for that matter. She wasn't one for the creative works. When her royal tutor had tried to get her to participate in art as child, she simply threw the paint at him.

Regina however seemed to glow as they passed each work. She stopped to talk about what she knew of each artist and piece or what she wanted to know.

"Romania. That's in Eastern Europe, near where you're from right?"

"Yes."

"What is it like? You never told me what country you are from."

"I...I don't like to talk about it much, but it is very beautiful. And a woman like you...they would treat as royalty." Emma smiled as they continued down the rows. The art in this area wasn't too different from that of her own realm. The symmetry in the pieces were almost familiar.
She came to photograph and nearly screamed. Grabbing Regina by the shoulders, she quickly pressed the woman against the wall and kissed her.

"Emma what are you doing?"

"Kissing you," She pressed her lips against the woman again, slowly moving her pass the portrait on the wall.

"People will see us," Regina breathed, all the while running her hands up and down Emma's back.

"Let them see," the blond murmured against the brunettes lips. As they moved away from the image, Emma could feel the confusion welling in her.

Why was there a photo of her family on the wall of an Earth Realm museum? It was a photo she knew well, taken on the day of her coronation as heir apparent of the Enchanted Forest. However the photo referred the them as the royal family Cantantia.

This didn't make sense.

[SQ]

Cora flipped through the latest shipment data and sighed. She had been on the same page for the past 30 minutes and couldn't remember what she was looking for. She had scheduled a brunch for this Saturday with a friend of her late husband's, George, and he was going to be bringing his daughter Katheryn. Regina seemed to have a thing for blondes, if Emma and Robin were anything to go by, so she hoped the two would find something in common.

It wasn't that she disliked Emma, in fact, personality wise, she preferred the woman far more than she did Robin. But the woman wasn't even a citizen. Having married the son of an immigrant, Cora knew of the dangers of getting involved with someone who wasn't legal. Not to mention the woman was impoverished. She didn't want Regina going through all of that.

"Ms. Mills," Sydney stuck his head into her office. "There are some people here to see you."

"Who? I'm busy."

"I don't know," the tone of his voice made her look up, "But I'm betting you are going to want to speak to them." Closing the binder, the woman smooth down her suit, wondering just who had the ability to scare Sydney into disrupting her. Cora stopped abruptly as she caught sight of the finely dressed persons in her atrium.

"Welcome to Mills Enterprises" she said, glancing over at the discreet government security agents off to the side. "W-What can I do for you?" The woman in front nodded and stepped forward, causing another man to speak.

"This is Queen Mary Margaret, ruler of Cantantia. She is looking for her daughter, Emma. We were told she might be here."

"D-d-daughter," Cora stuttered.

"Yes my daughter. The Princess of Cantantia, if you do not tell me where she is, I will be forced to make this a diplomatic incident." Snow said.

"The princess….Emma...are you serious?" Cora looked down, suddenly feeling the room spinning.

"Of course, we are serious," Jefferson said. "We would not joke about such things. Emma is the sole heir to the throne of Cantantia, now if you please-"

"I always knew there was something special about that girl," Cora gave a small laugh.

"Where is she?" Snow said.

"Oh. She is out, with my lovely daughter, Regina." The woman glanced back at another man, dressed in similar finery and flanked by two guards. He shook his head.

"I am staying at the Waldorf Towers. When you see her, you will let me know."

"Of course...your majesty. I'll tell her you are here."

"No!" Snow nearly yelled. "Don't alert her to my presence. I will deal with her myself." Snow nodded at the man next to her, who produced several foreign bills and passed one to Cora.

"For your trouble Madame," he said. Cora nodded and nearly fainted as she saw the bill was marked with Emma's likeness.

"A princess…"