*Hear the trumpets hear the pipers.

One hundred million angels singin'.

Multitudes are marchin' to the big kettledrum.

Voices callin', voices cryin'.

Some are born and some are dyin'.

It's alpha and omega's kingdom come...

8 hours before. Storybrooke Maleficent's POV.

Few things on this or any other Earth can frighten me. One woman can. And I thought I would never have to deal with her until this morning.

Doc and Whale had me identify this man they found injured on the side of the road. I caught one look at him and I knew.

Doc and Whale never saw sheer horror on my face before. Especially Peter Whale (there were a few, more pleasurable expressions...but we can talk about that later). But there was no doubt that I knew who he was. And if he was there, SHE was close behind.

I had to tell someone. Now. The sheriff, the mayor, and the deputy, and for all intents and purposes the main education and animal control in this town was in Boston. And if I was correct, the fact that she is even alive changes everything...

Seven Hours before. Storybrooke. Blue's POV

My real name is Reul Ghorm. It means Blue Star. I hated that name because it sounded like something they do telethons for. But I am a fairy. And I have powers. Not unlimited, but they are vast. And I have been placed in charge while...well, everyone is out of town.

I'm staying in the Mayor's mansion. And it's been pretty much a beehive of activity. We just found out that things could go down in Boston any second. So Regina's living room and den has become basically a makeshift mission control. Granny Lucas is basically in charge, and five individual people are monitoring our guys in Boston: Kathryn's monitoring Regina, Archie's handling Emma, Ella's with Snow and James, and Nova's handling Ruby. Jiminy's helping out, and Grumpy, Frederick, and Jefferson are doing security.

Mallie's also helping run things, and i was a bit surprised when she walked into the house with a face as white as...well, snow. Then she said the one word that would force my face to turn the same color...

"Cora."

Internally, my head is screaming 'shit!" I have dealt with Cora before. The fact that she may be in Storybrooke was enough. The possibility that she may find out I'm here could be...deadly. Very very deadly.

I was not surprised for that. Nor was I prepared for bombshell number 2: "Doc and Whale brought me into the hospital to ID a guy they found by the side of the road unconscious. I guess they think I know everyone here. Well, I know this man..."

"Mal...who was it?"

More silence for a few seconds, though now, since she told me about Cora, I may have already known it...

"Henry...Regina's father. He's alive."

Five hours before. Boston. Hotel Suite. Regina's POV.

One thing that Holly girl was right on, something Emma agreed on because she lived here. And was confirmed to me this morning.

As far as THIS town's mayor is concerned, the name "Mumbles" fits.

There are only two people in this world who are harder to understand when talking...Jessie Jackson (I love you, sir, but its true) and Leroy while he has a double Whopper in his mouth,

Oh. he mumbled through our meeting about "Red Dragon," but as we explained it to him he stopped mumbling and got real quiet. You know the quiet that one gets just before he stops mumbling and yells, "GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY OFFICE...!"

By the way, there were these two members of what can be laughingly referred to as "Boston's Finest." Reminder to self to bake those two a couple of turnovers..

Swan and I were not in a good mood with anyone by the time we got back. If we weren't bickering amongst ourselves (which...and don't tell Swan I said this...I missed a lot), we were pretty much arguing with everyone when we got back. Thankfully my new "groupie" was not there to see me at my worst, but when we did calm down to a manageable point of lucidity, she was definitely in the discussion...

Red says we had to tell her. Snow and James had doubts...they thought she'd think we would all be candidates for straitjackets. Emma didn't know what to say, other than the girls knew Boston and that they would be helpful.

Personally, I really didn't need this. I mean, they were sweet girls and all, and I am kind of flattered that someone has a crush on me. But, one...Emma is mine. Period. And two...well see number one.

We decided that we'd buy them an early dinner and we'd tell them then. At least that would be out of the way.

Four hours before. Storybrooke Memorial Hospital. Ginger's POV

The world is spinning. I was keeping an eye on Gold's store when I felt people attacking me, then it stopped and heard two women. I think one was the sheriff and the other was the deputy...I swore it sounded like the deputy was that cute waitress at Granny's.

Then I was moving...I know I was outside because I felt a breeze. I was moving quickly down the street until I went inside. Office...sheriff's office. They started asking me questions. What I was doing there. What was Gold planning? Am I with him/

He saved me. Something evil. No.

They asked and asked. They were kind, but persistent.

Then they stopped asking and there was silence.

And then I smelled her. My blood ran cold. It was her. She came to finish what she started.

Regina came to kill me.

Or at least I thought. I heard voices. Her's and the sheriff's. I think they were talking about me. I think they know I have been sending the messages out. My gods! If Regina finds out that I've been sending the messages...unless...would it be possible..that SHE would get the messages too? That SHE is on the side of good?

I am in panic and confused. And I am hungry. My gods, I am hungry.

Then I hear a voice...a man's. Soothing. Calming.. He talks to me...he says he's a doctor. Dr. Peter Whale. he sounds like a nice man. He examines me...I do not tell him about my hunger...too ashamed.

He does small talk. Says that I'm pretty. I've never been told that. I can't be around people so no one ever tells me that. I can't be around people...especially children. NO! I can't think of...no...the hunger...

He finishes. He said I am fine, just shocked. He says he'll set it up for me to go to the hospital for a couple of days and he'd be in to check on me. I like that.

Then I hear him walk away. Then stops and walks back to me. I feel breath on my face. Then lips and stubble on my forehead. He kissed me. And then he left.

And I am thinking, am I so evil I don't deserve...that I don't deserve...do I?

Three hours before. Starlight Hotel, South Boston.

This is not the Marriott. OR even Motel 6. The air hung heavy with the smells of whatever may have happened in room 108. The man in the rumpled raincoat did not want to know. It was not what he was here for.

The middle-aged black man turned on the lights, closed and locked the door, whipped out his Android, searched for the nearest pizza place that delivered. Placed his order, ready in 45 minutes.

The man unpacked. Shirt. Pants. Toothbrush. Toothpaste. Bottle of Dewar's. All he needed.

He grabbed the remote, and turned the TV on. He did not know or care what was on now, he just needed to watch something.

Besides, if there was to be redemption for SIdney Glass, the chance would definitely be televised.

15 minutes before. Squantum Marshes outside of Boston. The POV of...

I stood wearing the red plaid hoodie in the large treeless area in the marshes. It was one of the few areas without the lush vegetation in the marsh. Standing on the other side was Ian Gold.

The imp lifted his arms with hands in the air on a upwards claw position. The area that we stood in seemed to expand and create an eerie green glow. The glow and the area became larger and hotter. Then the color of the area changed, switching from green to red to green again. Then I saw the flames. And heard the screeches. Then Gold looked up.

"Well, my friend I have done what I have come to do. Are you coming back with me...or do you have other business?"

He knew I had business here. Business that should have been finished a long time ago.

"Very well then, Mr. Graham...I trust that you know how to get back home?'

I nodded at the imp.

"Then, at least my business is done. Oh...and Mr. Graham...?"

I looked up in the madman's eyes.

"Say hello to Miss Swan for me." He turned and disappeared into the trees.

I turned the other way. I was headed for midtown. I knew that they would both be there. It would be a shame that Emma would there to see it, but she would understand. I just hope that she could protect my target long enough for me to get there. This is one thing I must do myself.

Tonight, Regina Mills will die. And I shall be the one to kill her.

At the moment. In the middle of a street in Downtown Boston. Regina Mills POV.

I took a quick look at the four who flanked me. James was square-jawed and steely-eyed. If Snow was afraid, she would never show it. To my left, Red was focused...or at least focusing, lest she turned. My princess was next to me, sword in her left hand, my right hand in her left. Standing in front of me two young women, Holly and Maddie, petrified.

I let go of Emma and I turned both girls around. The dragons were coming...I did not want to see them hurt. I was urgent in my talk. "Go back to the restaurant, grab my purse. My Franklin Planner is in it, it has my phone number...Go back to MY suite...the one next to yours...if you want to help open the laptop and fire up the Skype. Look for Granny. Connect to her..."

I told her to tell Grans she was tracking here and she needs to set my laptop to track us in Boston. Grans could download things from where she was, and most important, stay there for as long as she can.

There were two of them...not five. My mind was racing. Where was Gold? Where did he have these things? Were there more? The five of us were going through everything we learned, but we had to get Holly and Maddie out of there. "Go!" I said. Emma hugged Holly and Maddie, then I hugged Maddie. Then...I looked to Emma who seemed to know what I was thinking...she smiled and nodded approval...I quickly kissed Holly. Hard. No tongue, but enough to let her know. The two girls scrambled back to the hotel, fighting the panicked as they were running for their lives.

Emma just looked at me, smiled and joked, "you slut." I smiled back. "Keep me alive, dear and when we get back, I'll show you how much of a slut.."

Snow just looked and rolled her eyes. "My daughter married a nympho."

James: "Guys..." He pointed the general direction of the flying lizards fast approaching.

I asked them if they remembered what was taught. Everyone nodded. I felt the surge of magic throughout my body. I could feel that surge flowing through the others. We were ready...I hoped.

Earjacks plugged in, each of us found the number of their contact and pressed send. We heard the ringing. It was time.

Snow White smiled a smile so wide, the last time I saw one like that was on one those Cheshire cats in Wonderland. She simply said "let's go kick some dragon ass."

"Sounds good to me, mom." Emma seemed to want to get her second dragon. And she was hoping, unlike the first, this one would stay dead."

We whipped out our weapons, pointed them skyward, and we launched ourselves toward the approaching fire-breathers.

Flying. Looks like they got THAT down...

*And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts.

And I looked, and behold a pale horse,

and his name that sat on him was Death,

and hell followed with him.

TO BE CONTINUED!

*From the song "When the Man Comes Around" by Johnny Cash

Thanks for reading. I knew this was kinda like storyline jambalaya, but I had to write this to get as many if the players in position, for I promise you all, you-know-what gets real in the next two chapters.

Thanks to my new official beta Holly M, who has inspired one of the original characters in this story,

Honest feedback is welcome.

Once Upon a Time is owned by ABC Studios. This is just for fun and therapy.

Oh,and yes, the mayor of Boston is called mumbles. Check youtube to find out why...