Chapter 41

Ruby and Regina were walking out of the hospital just as Emma and Coraline were pulling up to it. Regina's eyes went wide as she saw them. Ruby just rubbed Regina's hand and leaned over. She whispered in Regina's car and the queen seemed to calm slightly. They could see the fear in Emma's eyes as she ran up to them. Coraline was fast on her heels.

"Are you alright?" Emma asked her.

"I am fine, Dear," Regina replied.

"Then why are you at the hospital?" Coraline asked her.

"Her headache got worse. I drove her down her to see what they could do for her. Whale gave her an exam and some pills. She's going to be alright. I was just about to take her home, when y'all pulled up," Ruby stated only giving them half the truth.

Coraline and Emma both stared at Ruby and wondered why she was holding back the truth. It wasn't like Ruby to lie to them about anything, so it only made them more curious. Emma cocked her head at Ruby and gave her a knowing glance. Ruby just kept a straight face and her smile at Emma never once wavering. Green eyes met the challenge in her hazel eyes, but neither of them said anything. Coraline and Regina just watched the exchange waiting for Emma to call Ruby out on the lie. It never happened.

"Do you want me to take you home?" Emma asked.

Regina knew then that she would ask what was really going on once they were behind closed doors. She was giving Regina the privacy that she so desperately craved. Regina just nodded at Emma, afraid to speak because she would blurt out the news.

"You drive her car back home, Emma. I'll take Coraline in the Bug. We'll do a run by the Abbey to see how things are going. I am sure that Blue has something to update us on. We can meet back at the mansion for dinner. I pick something up from Granny's to feed everyone," Ruby said.

"Sounds good, Ruby. Just make sure that it isn't all burgers and fries. It needs to be healthy and hearty. A good salad would work," Regina told her.

"Yes, majesty," Ruby quipped taking the keys to the Bug from Emma and grabbing Coraline.

Emma waited until they were out of cur shot before she would say anything and even then she was going to wait until they were in the Mercedes. She turned to look at Regina and she could see the worry on her face. She noticed that the vein in her forehead was popped out. She knew that it meant something very emotional was going on with Regina and she knew that it was important enough at the moment that Ruby had lied about it.

"I'll tell when we get home," Regina told her.

Emma nodded. Her whole train of thought stopped. Regina was going to tell her, but she wanted to wait until they were at home. Emma could respect that. She started the car and pulled out of the parking lot at the hospital. She drove home slowly as to not raise Regina's ire.

"We're home," Emma announced as she pulled into the drive.

"I know, Dear," Regina replied and got out of the car and headed to the front door.

Once they were both inside. Regina took Emma's hand. She pulled her up the stairs to their bedroom. She flicked her hand towards the door and Emma heard it lock behind them. She slowly followed her up the staircase, each step heavily measured like she was walking to her doom. Regina could feel Emma's anxiety building as they neared the bedroom door.

"Relax, Dear," Regina told her.

Emma just nodded. Her mouth was dry in anticipation. She was scared and she couldn`t figure out why. Then, thoughts of her childhood came rushing back. The fear that Regina was turning her away after everything that they had been through, after knowing what they were going to go through, and that they were about to take on Rumple weighed on her. She realized that she was afraid that Regina was about to turn her out and tell her that she no longer loved her. Suddenly, Emma thought she was going to have a panic attack, right there in their bedroom.

"Sit down, Dear."

"O...o...o-kay," Emma stammered.

Regina waited until Emma was sealed on the bed. She sat down next to her and took her hands in her own. She wasn't sure how she was going to tell Emma that she was pregnant, but she knew that she needed to do it. It wasn't fair to keep the news to herself. It affected them all.

"I did go to the hospital, but it wasn't because I had a headache," Regina started.

"I know. Ruby lied. Why?"

"Because, I am not sure that I believe the test results," Regina slated.

"You're dying?" Emma asked, immediately going to the worst case scenario.

"No, Love. I am not dying. Far from it actually. I am healthy, perfectly healthy."

"Then, what is it?" Emma questioned getting antsier.

"I never told you this, because I didn't think it would ever matter for me. When I was younger and I was married to your Grandfather Leopold. I was mad at him for marrying me and my mother for making me do it. Will was with me already, but she was out on some errand with the King. If she had been there, she'd have stopped me. But being that as it was, I was left alone, except tor Snow and mother. Mother had been pestering me about having a child with Leopold so it would cement our claim to his throne. She had every intention once I had his child to deal with him and Snow. I dealt with Mother though before anything like that could happen," Regina explained.

"Have you ever told Snow this?" Emma asked her.

"No, why would I?"

"You were protecting her back then, even though you were still angry about Daniel," Emma stated.

"That doesn't matter now," Regina stated, waving her hand and dismissing Emma's thoughts about it. "Mother came to see me. She was harping on me about getting pregnant as soon as the King returned. She was even going to give me a potion that would spike my libido. She figured it would help me with my prowess in the bedroom and make it more likely that I would fall pregnant sooner rather than later. I didn't want to have Leopold's children. I didn't want children at that point. I was too insanely messed up by Mother to try to mother my own children. I feared for their well-being."

"So what did you do?" Emma asked, guessing what happened.

"I summoned mother to my potions room, just off my chambers, but hidden from Leopold and Snow. Oh, don't get me wrong. Snow knew about Mother's antics and her magical dealings. She just didn't know about mine. Rumple was rather sneaky when it came to me because of his former affair with mother. I didn't know that is why he was always in the shadows with me, but I found out later."

"What happened?"

"I found a spell in a book that Rumple had left me to study. It made the drinker infertile. I brewed it and poured it into one my personal chalices. I waited for Mother to come to my rooms and start another tirade. She never failed to disappoint in that manner."

"Oh, gods," Emma mumbled.

Regina let go of Emma's hands. She stood up and started pacing al the end of the bed. She looked up into Emma's brilliant emerald eyes trying to ground herself in the here and now. She was fighting her mother's words and actions, still after all these years. It was easier to light the demons that she had created, but Regina feared that she'd never be totally free of them. Emma was helping her light that battle, but it was still an almost daily battle in her head.

"The entire time that she was yelling at me about not doing my duty as Queen of the Summerlands. I was slowly sipping the concoction in my chalice. She thought it was wine. I told her that I only wanted Daniel and his love. That being Queen was her dream, not mine. She touted me for my stupidity and foolishness. She kept telling me that 'Love was weakness.' I finished the glass and then threw it at Mother," Regina told her, still pacing.

"How did she take the news?" Emma asked her.

"She smelled the chalice and then threw it at the hearth. She couldn't believe that I would be that foolish. She yelled at me that I was destroying my future by making myself barren. For me though, it was the only way that I could take back some control over my life," Regina replied.

"What are you trying to tell me, Regina?" Emma inquired.

"I am pregnant," she blurted out.

"That's wonderful," Emma told her, tears coming to her eyes.

"Emma, I can't have children though. I made sure of that, years ago. I hexed myself."

"Regina, you of all people, should know that love is the strongest magic of all," Emma said, standing from the bed and walking towards her.

Emma knelt down in front of Regina. She wrapped her hands around her waist and placed her ear against her abdomen. She knew that she wouldn't hear or feel anything, but to know that there was life growing in Regina's body, even after knowing everything that she'd been through, made Emma smile.

"But, Emma…."

"No, Regina, that is our baby, made from our love. That is Coraline in there. And, we are going to do everything in our powers to protect her and love her. So much so, that it seems our hearts will burst. We need to tell her!" Emma yelled happily, squeezing Regina harder around the middle.

"Do you think that we should?"

"You don't?" Emma asked confused by Regina's reluctance.

"I'm sorry, Emma. I am happy about this, but I am also scared. I cursed myself and now, you've found a way to break that curse, too. I've always wanted to carry my own child, but I never thought that I would get chance. I sure as Hell never thought that I would find love again."

"I understand," Emma said, letting her go and standing up.

Regina could see the disappointment on her face. She didn't want Emma to feel slighted but she needed to come to grips with the fact that her daughter, who was across town with her lycanthrope younger half-sister, was also growing inside her. She wrapped her hands around her waist and held herself. There was plenty that she could say, but she couldn't make the words form. She was completely speechless. And, she knew now that Emma was the only one who could make her feel this way.

"Emma…"

"Yeah?" she asked barely above a whisper.

"I'm sorry. I am not handling this well. I am afraid for Coraline. I know that she is in there, growing stronger and being all magical, but I am thinking about her future, too. She is our daughter. She is our everything just like Henry, but she is so much more…"

"Because she is our together? Because we made her together? Because she is our daughter?"

"Yes to all of that, but I don't know why I feel this way."

"Your hormones are starting to be affected by the pregnancy, Love. There is nothing for you to be afraid of. We will face it together. We will defeat the Blackness together. We will raise Coraline or Remy or whatever we decide to name her together. We will get married soon. We will be a family and you will finally get the magnificent happy ending that you have been fighting for, searching for, and dreaming of for so long. We will have it together," Emma said.

"But, we won't have forever. That isn't guaranteed. Our own daughter has even told us as much. How can you be so happy about this?" Regina asked her.

"Because I'm a Charming remember?" Emma teased her.

She took Regina's hands in her own. She looked deep into her mahogany eyes. She saw the fear and the worry beginning to abate. She saw her own love reflected back at her. She leaned over and kissed Regina hard. She tried to make all of her fears go away with that kiss. She needed Regina calm and in love. She needed her to see that she was loved and has love surrounding her.

"I love you," Regina replied holding on to Emma as hard as she could.

She couldn't even be bothered with the fact that Emma was a Charming. She was in love with her, body and soul. There was nothing that she would allow to come between her and Emma except death, and even that wasn't a given. She burrowed further into the blonde's warmth.

"I love you, too, Regina…so much."

Emma gladly held her. When she realized what Regina really needed was to be cuddled and loved, she reached down, slowly running her hands down her back and over her ass, until she found Regina's knees. She scooped her up and carried her to the bed, again, effortlessly. She got Regina settled, took off her shoes, and then toed off her own boots before joining Regina on the bed. She turned Regina on her side, facing the window and wrapped her body around her. She spooned her, holding her head against her chest with her left arm and wrapped her right arm around her small waist, letting her right hand land on her stomach. She absentmindedly rubbed Regina's still not showing tummy and hummed.

"Don't ever let me go, Emma. I won't survive it. I can't lose you," Regina said.

"I won't, Regina. I will never leave you willingly. I love you, my Queen," Emma replied.

Regina smiled at the strange term of endearment that Emma used. When Emma said it, she felt like a queen and just a queen. She didn't feel like the Evil Queen. She felt loved and royal. She felt worthy of the love she had wished for so long. She believed that she would have the family and the happy ending that she always wanted. And, she knew that Emma was that for her.

Ruby walked with Coraline down the street. They weren't heading anywhere in particular, but Ruby could tell that Coraline wanted to talk to someone not family. Ruby was family and blood, but she wasn't at the same time for her.

"What is it, Jellybean?"

"You haven't called me that in a very long time," Coraline mused with a slight laugh.

"It fits you."

"If you say so," Coraline answered.

"Did you fight with Emma or something? You seem off. What's wrong?" Ruby asked her.

"She didn't like my idea to deal with everything," Coraline said.

"Wanna share?"

"You're not going to like it either," Coraline stated.

"Why don't you let me decide that for myself?" Ruby commanded in question.

"I know how we can deal with Rumple and still stop the Darkness. But, there is more to it than that; I have to figure out how to save Neal. I think I found a way, but I know that both Snow and Emma, Ma, will stop me. Snow will tell me that while it is a grand gesture, I shouldn't do it. Emma will just flat out forbid it. And, don't even get me started on Mom."

"They are your mothers. They worry. It's their job."

"Yeah, well…"

"Oh, please, don't bring that up again, Coraline. You need a new line. You can't keep punishing them for that. You are grown up and being here I know that you have seen how they operate. It is in their DNA to fight and defend the town, but it is more than that. They do it to protect their family. You were born into it, Kiddo. And, you fight just like they do."

"Yes, but…"

"You grow up and you want to free the land of the Darkness. You grow up on stories of your mothers and your family, including Snow and me. You have every instinct in your body to lead, protect and defend. It is who you are. It is what you are made of. They get that, but unfortunately for you, you didn't get to see all this growing up. Hearing about it in stories and seeing it first-hand are two different things. I'm sure that Regina and Emma would have loved to see you grown up into who you've become, but Fate didn't allow that. It did allow for me and Belle to be there and I am sure that I was a hard ass on you," Ruby stated.

"You are," Coraline replied.

"See. I don't know the first thing about taking care of a kid. And, you were what, five at the time? I am sure that Belle and I did our best by you, but you're right. It wasn't enough. It will never be enough and do you know why?" Ruby asked her.

Coraline shook her head "no." Ruby stopped walking. She turned to face Coraline and for the first time realized how much she reminded her of a younger Regina. She was as tall as Emma and she had Emma's resolve to do anything you told her she couldn't. Ruby could see both her sister and her goddaughter in future charge, but she could also see herself and Belle's influence.

"No, because we aren't your moms. I am your aunt through Regina. I am Emma's godmother. You are my family and I will do anything and everything that I can to protect you and keep you happy. That is my job and I will do it to the best of my ability. We will fight. I know that we will because we are both very strong willed people. We can't help it. You've met your mother, right? We come by that naturally. Mine just comes from being a Wolf," Ruby explained.

"It isn't fair," Coraline wined.

"Life isn't fair, Jellybean. Hell if it was, Neal wouldn't be sick and you wouldn't be looking for a cure with Belle behind closed doors. Rumple wouldn't be such an ass and we would all have our families until they are old and gray. We can't have that. Life isn't a fairy tale," Ruby said.

"We are though," Coraline countered.

"The stories that Emma grew up on are wrong. Besides, Grimm's versions are actually closer to what life was really like in the Enchanted Forest. Disney sugar coated them so kids could swallow them. And, it's a pity, too, because that is the main version that most know here. I doubt that they would be able to handle the truth or the kingdom if we took them there."

"Ma did."

"Your Ma is also magical and from the Enchanted Forest. As much as she wants to say that she was born in Maine and raise here, she was born in the Forest on the same day that your Mom cast the First Dark Curse of Rumple's. But, had she not been put into that wardrobe, who knows where we would all be right now? Fate brought us all here. It brought us together and she fulfilled the prophecy. She broke the first curse. Regina broke the second and the third. And, you, Jellybean, are going to help us stop the third."

"What if we can't?" Coraline asked.

"Then, we will do what we can to protect the next generations until you can Swan."

"What did you call me?" Coraline questioned.

"Swan, why?"

"Mom calls Emma that when she's mad at her."

"I know."

"But, why did you call me that?"

"Because you are the Swan Princess, are you not?"

"I am, but I am also a Mills."

"In this world, yes, you are. In the Forest, you are the daughter of the heir of the house of White and the witch Regina. I doubt that Snow would let you use the Mills name."

"It wasn't up to Snow," Coraline told her.

"What do you mean?"

"When Mom and Ma get married, Mom takes Swan as her last name. She said it was to atone for all the mistakes and to prove to the Charmings that she loved Emma. She refused to let them make her a White again or worse a Charming."

Ruby just laughed. She knew how Regina thought about the Charming couple and she could see her making the choice of Swan. It fit Regina's personality. She was graceful like a swan. She was fiercely protective of her brood and family. And, she'd fight you with everything that she had if you came after her or her family. Just like Emma, she was a Swan.

"It fits her," Ruby mused.

"It does."

"Have you told her this?"

"I think so."

"How did she take it?"

"Better than the face that Emma wins and gets to name me Remy," Coraline stated.

"She didn't try for Snow or Eva or something like that?" Ruby asked.

"Snow tried to get her to, but Emma wasn't having it. She wasn't going to name her daughter with Regina after anyone that had anything to do with their violent pasts. So, Cora, Snow, and Eva were out. Emma wanted something non-traditional and for once, Regina agreed with her."

"So, Remy?"

"Yeah, Remy, but don't ever tell Mom it is short for Remington. She'll blow a fuse or the town down. Emma picked it because it is a blend of Regina and Emma. She originally wanted to name me Remmaline or Remma, but she told me that they sounded weird. Mom agreed and refused to let her. Then one day according to Mom, Emma comes home from the field. She hugs her close and leans down to her belly. She starts talking to me and calling me Remy. It just stuck. I think the name actually grew on her and she started calling me that when Emma was away. She didn't want Emma to know, though. She was hoping that they would come up with something else, but she liked it. She said it was original," Coraline told her.

"It is. I like it. I think it suits you, but then again, so does Coraline. That doesn't matter though, what matters is that you are okay and safe. We will find a way to defeat this, Coraline. It is what we do," Ruby told her.

"But what if the only way to stop it is for me to die?" Coraline posed the question and waited.

Ruby ran her hand over her face. She grabbed Coraline's arm and started pulling her down the street. She went passed Granny's much to everyone inside's dismay. She continued pulling her down the street until they entered the Rabbit Hole. She looked at the bartender and raised two fingers. He nodded and she basically threw Coraline into a booth in the corner of the bar. She sat down next to her so she couldn't run from the coming conversation. Before she could say anything the bartender put two shots and two beers down in front of her.

She pointed at the shot and picked one up. She knocked it back and waited for Coraline to do the same. When they had done that, she grabbed her beer and took a long pull. She stared at the seat back before her for a minute or two, allowing the alcohol to burn her sudden rush of anger down.

"Why in the Hell would you say that?" Ruby finally asked her, not turning to face her.

"Because it is true," Coraline replied.

"And, just how, pray tell, did you come up with this idea?"

"It's the only thing that makes sense," she said and then drank some of her beer.

"How does it?"

"You sound like Ma."

"For all the gods….you told Emma this. Are you mental? You realize that she is going to tell Regina and then Regina is going to lock you in a tower or something. They are not going to let you sacrifice yourself to save them," Ruby told her.

"But it's okay for them to do it for me?"

Ruby slammed her beer on the table. She had a fucking point. Damn it, she did, and Ruby couldn't think of one good damn reason why Regina and Emma had the right to die in her stead. It was a sobering thought. Ruby raised her hand and signaled the bartender again. Two more shots appeared shortly thereafter. She took hers and drowned it. She turned to look at Coraline and saw a familiar fire in her eyes. Then she grabbed what would have been Coraline's shot and downed it. She hadn't been prepared to have an adult conversation with Coraline. This was not how their afternoon was supposed to have shaped into.

"It isn't okay for anyone to do it," Ruby said quietly. "You know if I could take that burden from your mothers I would, but I can't. It isn't in our destinies. I would gladly take their place if it meant that you had them both, but I also know that they wouldn't allow it. And, for some reason if they did, they would avenge my death and probably die doing it. I am not saying that I agree with their methods or the outcome, but I can't fault them for it either."

"I know," Coraline replied resolutely.

"Then why are you so upset about this?" Ruby asked her.

"I…why shouldn't I be?" Coraline questioned.

Blue and Tink were walking around the Abbey. They were surveying the area trying to figure out what Rumple had done. There didn't seem to be anything missing or out of the ordinary and that frightened them both. Rumple was known for his subtle spells and traps.

"Do you honestly think that he left something for us?" Tink asked Blue.

"I do. He is known for his revenge. When he realized that he was looking in the wrong place, he would have left something for us as punishment for moving the potions and other items. He isn't known to let things go. You should know this by now. Plus, I am sure that he is upset that Belle hasn't come back to him like her thought she would," Blue replied.

"What should we be looking for?"

"To tell you the truth, I don't know. We should scan the cellar for anything magical. I know that it might hit on the remnants of what we stored there, but we need to make sure that he didn't leave us any deadly surprises."

"Should we call Emma and Regina?"

"Not yet. I am sure that they have their own issues to deal with. We'll call them in the morning. We can handle anything until then. Come on. We need to get back and let the rest of the fairies come back out here. I am sure that they are getting restless staying at the high school."

"They are, Blue, but they understand. And, those that don't won't go against Rumple without reason. They aren't stupid. They want to help the Charmings just like we all do, but they are afraid of Rumple, too. We all want this to end."

"And, how should it end?"

"I don't know, Blue. I don't think that killing anyone is the answer, but I don't know what else to do. It seems that the Dark One is threatening us all with his magic. There is no way to stop him but with his death and we all know that whoever kills him takes the Dark One's Curse. Isn't there some way that we can destroy the Dark One's Curse? Can't we do something with our pixie dust?" Tink asked her.

"No, we can't. There is no defeating the Dark One's Curse. There is only one solution and usually when someone can get close enough to do it, the Dark One is so far gone in their darkness that they can't see the light to come back into," Blue answered.

"True Love?"

"It is the strongest and oldest magic in any realm, Tink. It can move mountains if needed. But, alas, the darkness that is mixed in the Dark One's curse is strong and powerful. It feeds on the host's fears, anger and it destroys the natural filter for good. It kills their impulse control."

"So if they think dark thoughts, they are more likely to do it?" Tink asked trying to making sure of what Blue was telling her.

"Yes," Blue answered, wondering why Tink was asking questions that she should have already known the answers to and then Blue widen her eyes in horror. "Rumple?"

"No, no, Blue. Nothing like that. I've just been thinking about what Coraline wants to do."

"And what is that?"

"She is going to try and kill the Dark One herself."

"How do you now this?" Blue inquired as her body bristled at the thought of a Charming becoming the Dark One.

"Because she believes that she can fight it. I can see it in her eyes. I've seen it in Emma and Regina's, too. They want to be able to save everyone and they hope that their loves will be able to save them. Once Emma finds out or Regina for that matter, they'll stop her. But, I know that she thinks about it. I can feel it. It reminds me of the night Regina feel from the balcony."

"That was the night I banished you?" Blue asked.

"No, that was several days later. But, it is the same. I can feel the pain in her heart and it is calling out to me to make it stop. I know that I can't and that hurts me. I stopped Regina from dying that night, but part of me thinks that I won't be able to stop Coraline. She is too strong willed like Emma and too determined like Regina. I don't think that there is a fairy alive that could stop her," Tink replied.

"That might be true. We'll watch her like we have always watched the royals and we will do what we can. I will not let her die without a fight first. I will not let them down," Blue told her.

"I know, Blue. No one wants to, but has anyone considered that this might be a losing a battle? You've seen her scars. Even the resurrection blanket that she has didn't healed them, Blue. What if we aren't meant to survive this coming threat, but she as the Swan Princess is. What if it is her destiny to unite the kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest under one banner and lead to be a prosperous land? What if she is meant to be who she is because of who she is?"

"Then, we can only hope that we are doing our best to prepare her then," Blue stated.

"It sucks."

"It does, but we don't tempt fate. We don't play with destinies, Tink. We can only hope that we are leading our charges into theirs and that they will be happy with what they have. We can only guide them and give gentle pushes. We cannot force them into anything. Even with most magic, free will controls the outcomes."

"I know that. That is why Regina never went into that tavern and found Robin. She made the choice to be alone and we all see how well that turned out. Can't we just make sure that Coraline doesn't do something as equally stupid?" Tink inquired.

"I think we already have. We have been working with her on her magic. We are teaching her things that we couldn't in her past because we weren't there. She is growing up quickly here. She has realized that she doesn't have the choice. She could pretend and hide behind Belle and Ruby in her time, but here she has no one but herself. She is learning to trust herself and become the woman she is meant to be."

"And, who is that?" Tink asked her.

"She is the Swan Princess. She has a huge heart and large loyalty to her family, blood and not. She will do anything she has to do in order to protect it. She has the same savior complex that Snow has, that Emma has, and that Charming has. She will do what she has to in order to protect the realm and her family without regard to her own life. Regina would lay waste to thousands for hurting her and she wouldn't think twice about it. I fear that even with her moral high ground that she could slip easily into a bloodthirsty monster. Somehow we can't let that happen."

"Regina isn't bloodthirsty anymore, Blue," Tink countered.

"I know that, but she has the tendency to overreact."

"Don't we all," Tink replied with a pointed look.

"I suppose so," Blue stated.

"We should get back."

"Come on. They're waiting. We'll talk to Coraline tomorrow. We'll see how she is thinking."

"Do you think that she will tell us?" Tink asked her.

"I doubt she'll tell me. You on the other hand? She might tell you anything and everything. I think it is because she is more like Regina than we think. She is a perfect blend of them, but she does tend to react more like Regina than Emma. She did come to you for that blasted dragon, too. I think she is closer to you than she would ever be to me, Tink. She trusts you."

"Because I am real?"

"Possibly. Who knows? We'll talk to her and see where her mind is…tomorrow. Tonight, we will move back into our home and prepare for whatever is to come."

"You mean the fight against Rumple?" Tink replied in question.

"If it comes to that," Blue answered as they made their way further around the Abbey grounds.

"What is that?" Tink asked pointing to the sky.

"I don't know, but we should look into it."

"I guess we aren't waiting to call Emma and Regina, are we?"

"No, we'll wait until we know what it is. Call Snow and tell her to be ready. I'll call Will. She'll know what to do and she'll be able to handle whatever it is. There is no need to bother Regina and Emma every time. They need to be able have their own life. There are more than enough heroes in this town. Someone else can stand up and fight."

"But, what if we need magic?" Tink questioned

"Are we incapable of handling it?" Blue replied.

"We don't know what it is yet. There is no way that we can know what will need until we find out what it is, Blue. Why do you think that you can just make decisions without knowing everything? This is why Regina doesn't trust you. And, you say she is head strong," Tink stated and walked away frustrated.

She knew that Blue meant well, but she was still Blue. She didn't think beyond what she already knew. She didn't allow for others to sway her opinion unless they were of the Charming clan. Coraline was an anomaly for her and Tink didn't know if she trusted Blue with her. She was more like Regina like Blue said and she wondered if that skewed Blue's thinking of her.

She moved across the small valley and into a thicket of trees. She was already reaching into her pocket and looking for her cell phone. She was glad for the invention in this world. She hated shrinking herself down and flying hoping that she would make it to whoever she was needed fast enough. At least with calling Emma and Regina, they could magic themselves to her.

She leaned through the brush. She heard the deep breath of a creature not of this world. She immediately dialed Emma, but she didn't answer. She tried Regina, who also didn't answer. Finally she landed on Coraline. She knew that young woman fought a magical beast before and in front of her, but she wondered if she could do it again. She called her without thinking of calling Wilhelmina first. When she heard Coraline answer the phone, she said one word.

"Dragon."