As much as I would like to own them, all the characters and plot of Once Upon A Time belong to ABC – I own nothing but my own writing and plot.

I apologize for how late this update got posted but it was either scrap what I had or continue writing and I loved it too much to scrap it and give you something rushed. Anyway, this is probably my favourite prompt I've filled so far and I have to admit, Japanese Swan Queen is definitely something I've wanted to write for a while now so here you go. I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it!

To everybody who has continued to follow this story and like over on Tumblr etc., thank you so so much, I am enjoying writing it for you and I will see you tomorrow for day 4! :D

Day 3 / Time Travel

Regina spun her head around searching for any oncoming danger and then turned back to her wife. "Emma hurry up and choose!"

"I'm trying!"

"Well try harder! Gold will be here any moment!"

"I am!" Emma snapped back, her gaze never leaving what was in front of her. "But I don't want to throw us somewhere where we can't get back!"

"Well you're gonna have to! Gold is on a war path and he wants our heads!"

"Don't you think I know that?!"

"Yes but as always you seem to be taking longer than any other normal person would. Just pick one already!"

"If we end up in the butt crack of nowhere I'm pinning this all on you Swan-Mills."

Regina rolled her eyes, a chill running up her spine and reminding her why they were rushing in the first place. She then turned to Emma and placed a hand on her shoulder feeling the blonde's magic mix with her own. "Whatever you say Swan-Mills but we need to go – now."

Knowing that she didn't have very much longer to decide, already feeling Gold's dark magic approaching, Emma nodded at her wife and turned back to the thing in front of her.

"Guess we're going left then."

And with that she grasped hold tightly of Regina's hand and pulled her through the portal on the left.

Emma woke up with a start, clutching her head as she sat up way too fast. She winced at the pain and let her vision adjust before taking a look around. The first thing she saw was a lush green field, her in the center in some kind of countryside. Looking down at herself she realised that she was in some type of Japanese clothing – more specifically slim samurai-like leather armor suited especially for her body. That could only mean one thing – Japan. When she looked up again seeing a building not that far away from her she realized that she was definitely in Japan. Call her crazy but Asian culture was her secret addiction so she knew instantly.

She had just stood up and was brushing herself off when she heard her name being called. Looking up she saw Mulan, who was also dressed in armor, running towards her. "Emma! My queen."

"Mulan?"

Looking around as she caught her breath Mulan frowned. "Yes?"

"Where are we?"

Mulan looked at her like she was crazy. "At your summer compound. I came to get you, the queen is requesting your presence. I've come to take you to her."

"The queen? As in my queen?"

"Yes, who else would it be?" She asked with a frown.

"Don't worry about it. Just take me to her."

Mulan nodded and turned on her heels already leading the way. Emma followed without question and decided to get a little more information on her current situation. "Mulan?"

"Yes my queen?"

"What was I just doing back there?"

"I assumed you were training but when I saw your swords sheathed as I approached I assumed differently."

Looking down Emma only just realized the two swords attached to her left hip via a belt she knew as a uwa-obi. Now she definitely knew where she was – she just didn't know when. Regardless she continued to follow Mulan in the hopes that this 'queen' of hers was the person she hoped it to be.

They passed the first building and soon enough more and more appeared, people bowing as Emma walked past them. She knew enough to bow back, her hand instinctively resting on the main sword at her waist, smiling even though inside she was completely freaking out. She was in a foreign land not knowing what point in time it was, and she had no clue at all what she was doing or was supposed to do. She just hoped the queen had some answers.

She eventually entered through what she assumed was the front gate to the compound and continued until they appeared in the central courtyard. People milled about in every direction, some looking up as whispers flowed that the queen was back, or at least one of them. They smiled though, happy to see her as she continued to follow a few steps behind Mulan, remaining silent as she prepared herself to meet who she assumed was her other half. God she hoped it was who she thought it was.

She had to stop herself from jumping for joy when she saw her father standing by the front door of the main building, the guard smiling in her direction and giving her a little more confidence than she had a minute before. She continued though, nodding at both him and the other guard and followed Mulan inside, hearing the other woman's boots sounding loudly on the exquisite stone floor. Luckily it didn't take much longer before they reached a certain point, Mulan stopping in front of a door and dismissing the people stood already outside. With a nod they left and Mulan turned back to Emma for the first time since they'd left the field.

"The queen is waiting for you. If you need anything I'll be waiting outside."

Emma nodded and with a smile to her friend she slid open the door, softly closing it behind her. She looked up and saw the woman on the other side of the room immediately spinning around at the sound of someone entering. She had obviously been waiting for someone. It was as if a flood of relief washed over the blonde as soon as she heard her name being gasped from her lips.

"Emma!"

"Regina!"

At the sound of her wife's voice Regina grinned and ran towards her, or at least as fast as she could considering she was wearing a full kimono and a very large amount of layers underneath. Regardless though she made it work as she rushed towards the other woman, Emma meeting her halfway as they finally reached one another. Instead of saying anything Regina had already cupped the blonde's face and crushed their lips together in a rushed but worried kiss, Emma already sensing just how anxious she had been waiting for her to arrive. Emma braced her hands on either side of Regina's waist, happy to let this kiss linger just a little longer before reality came closing back in. Unluckily for her it did quickly and eventually Regina pulled away, although not far so that their foreheads were still resting against one another.

"Worried about me much?" She smirked, earning a whack to her arm from the other woman.

"Shut up and enjoy the moment."

"You were worried."

"I was. I woke up here by myself and I didn't know where you were. Luckily for you I was able to have someone fetch you. Where were you by the way?"

"In the middle of a field. Apparently I was training according to Mulan, hence this," She pointed down at the sword attached to her hip.

"Is that a-"

"Yes. A katana sword."

"So are we in Japan?"

Emma nodded and scratched her head. "I guess so. Feudal Japan I think."

"So we went back in time?" Regina questioned aloud, pulling away from Emma and moving to sit on what Emma assumed was 'their' rather large bed.

"I think so." She answered, deciding to join her.

"But how?"

"I don't know. I had no idea what I was throwing us into. That's why I was taking so long to decide. It must have been a weird portal or something. Usually they just take us to the Enchanted Forest or something."

Regina nodded along with her wife whilst pondering what she was saying. "Maybe. Whatever happened though we're now here and we have to find a way home."

"I agree. At least we're queens though, it shouldn't be that hard to get home with the perks of being royalty." Emma grinned.

Regina rolled her eyes. "You were technically royalty anyway considering who your parents are and being married to me. What matters though is that we're together agains."

"I guess you're right. Do you have any ideas where to start?"

"Well-"

All of a sudden the door burst open revealing a very worried-looking Mulan. "My queens, I'm sorry to barge in on your privacy without knocking but we've just received urgent news."

Emma glanced at Regina before turning back to look at Mulan. "What is it?"

"Gold is on his way. Word is that he is looking to challenge you. You must meet him and resolve this as quickly as possible before things turn ugly."

"Ok, what do you want me to do?"

"It's too late to meet him outside of the compound. You must meet him at the front gates, he's almost here. I will give you two another moment alone and I will meet you where we came in. Just hurry."

Emma nodded and smiled at her gratefully. "Thank you Mulan. I won't be long."

Mulan nodded in acknowledgement and with a bow to the two royals she closed the door leaving them in privacy once again.

"Well," Emma started, turning back to Regina who had nothing but worry plastered across her face. Instead of continuing with her train of thought she frowned and cupped Regina's face. "Hey, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing. Don't worry."

"Regina, it's obviously not nothing. We've been married for three years, dating even longer. I think I know by now when my wife isn't her usual sharp-tongued self. What is it?"

Regina sighed and reached up to cover the hand at her chin. "Why is it we are always being chased by something?"

Emma shrugged. "Beats me. Although, I do think we kinda have a thing for attracting things – sort of like bait for bad guys, in this case Gold."

"'Bait'? Really Emma?"

"What?! It's true. We are a part of team light Regina, things that are bad have a certain way of sucking up to us like flies to night lights."

"There you go again! Another comparison! Stop comparing us to bait Emma! It's not helping the situation."

"What? I'm trying to make you feel better!"

"You are really lucky it's working or else I would have slapped you by now."

"Yeah yeah, let's go already."

"Ow!"

"Well, I did say stop moving!"

"You're making it hurt which is making me move!"

Regina rolled her eyes, tying the knot as tightly as she could without making her wife squirm in pain any more than she already had. "There, done. When you said you had been hit by an arrow I thought you were joking. That armour you have doesn't seem to be doing it's job very well."

"Yeah, well, I'm still alive aren't I?"

"That you are dear." Regina sighed, cleaning up after herself.

Emma rolled her arm a few times, judging how much pain there was if she moved it, before reaching over and grabbing her armour. However, Regina stopped her.

"What?" She asked in confusion, raising an eyebrow at the brunette woman.

Instead of responding Regina lent forwards and placed a soft but meaningful kiss on Emma's lips. When she pulled away she reached up and tucked a piece of stray hair that had managed to come loose from Emma's ponytail up behind her ear.

"Nothing. I just wanted to kiss my wife."

"And I want to kiss her back too." Emma smiled, pulling Regina back into another kiss before she was too far away to reach.

When they pulled apart a second time Regina went back to cleaning up the mess of dirtied and bloodied rags and cloth whilst Emma redressed her top half. By the time she was done Regina had re-entered the small room and gracefully, or as gracefully as her rather elaborate apple red coloured kimono would allow, sat down beside the other woman resting her head against her armor-clad shoulder.

"How far until you think we'll reach the cave Mulan told us about?"

"I don't know. I wouldn't have guessed it was far but I think we should could keep moving in case were were being followed. We were lucky to find this place." She replied, feeling Regina settle her head on her shoulder a little more comfortably.

It was true. After they had exited 'their' bedroom and made their way outside to face Gold all hell broke loose. It had turned out to be an ambush all along so to protect her queens Mulan had ushered them out the back door, literally. Emma had to use her sword on the way but it wasn't anything she couldn't handle. She'd been having training lessons from her father as quality 'daddy-daughter' time, and considering the fact that she was indeed a princess (although not the typical kind) and the saviour her training in classic weapons like swords had finally come in handy. Regina had handled herself too with a katana given to her by Mulan, but as they were cutting down the last few enemies blocking their path Emma had been hit in the arm by a stray arrow, luckily just grazing her. They had continued their escape and Mulan had parted ways with them telling them that there wasn't a cave that far, maybe a mile or so, up through the forest where they could find shelter until she deemed it safe to come and get them and bring them back to the compound. She had gone back to fight whilst Emma and Regina had stumbled upon a small abandoned house where they could stop and recharge whilst allowing Regina to tend to Emma's wound. Now here they were in the middle of a rain storm waiting until it had eased off enough for them to continue on their way.

"Emma?" Regina asked after a few comfortable minutes of silence.

"Yeah?"

"Do you think Henry's ok?"

There was another beat of silence but it didn't last long, Emma already sure of her answer even if Regina wouldn't be. "He's fine. He's Henry. My parents are probably with him right now plus I'm sure there isn't a shortage of our friends that are with them right now."

"I know I just-"

"I know, I know how it feels. I was thrown back into the Enchanted Forest without a choice not knowing if I'd ever get back to see him but he's our son Regina. He's Henry. He's probably heading up the charge on some crazy plan to get us back by now. You should know that better than anybody – you were with him when me and my mom were stuck in the Enchanted Forest."

"I just want to go home." She sighed against Emma's shoulder, snuggling further into her despite the bulk of her armour.

"I know, I do too. Put it this way, at least we're together. We're not doing this on our own."

"You always know just the right things to say."

"Hmm, good. I'm your wife, it's my job." Emma smiled, wrapping her arm around Regina's shoulder and hugging her tightly.

Regina smiled and pulled away a little so that she could look up at the other woman, reaching up with her free hand to cup Emma's face and draw her in for a kiss. "Thank you." When they pulled apart she looked out in front of her and smiled again. "Looks like the storms subsided."

"Good. We can finally start moving again."

Emma stood up and offered her hand down to her. Regina took it and let Emma pull her up, quickly kissing her again before handing the blonde her sword and picking up her own.

"Lead the way Miss. Swan."

"Hey, I think this is it." Emma said, holding out her hand to help Regina up onto the large rock she was stood on.

"Really?" Regina asked, catching her breath and following Emma's gaze to the small cave opening up ahead.

"I think so. Look, there's the carving Mulan told us about. It's the marker to the entrance. We're definitely in the right place. Come on, let's go. We need to get inside before it starts raining again."

Regina nodded and Emma took that as a silent go-ahead, turning around and leading the way up to the cave opening. The two women cautiously entered, Emma already having drawn her sword, and slowly ventured deeper into the cave.

"Regina, you sensing that?"

"Yes. Magic."

"It's pulsing too."

"And it's warm."

"What do you think it could be?" Emma asked as she continued to tread carefully, Regina right behind her.

"I don't know. We should be careful in case it's something pretending to be good."

"Good call."

Emma held her free hand out behind her, wanting some sort of contact. She had a gut feeling that this could turn out bad and the only contact she wanted right now was with her wife. Luckily for her Regina was feeling the same and took the blonde's hand as soon as she offered it. Emma smiled at the contact and the confidence Regina's touch provided and continued to step carefully until the narrow corridor-like passageway widened out.

"It's getting stronger. Emma be-"

Regina groaned and clutched at her head as she sat up, hazel coloured eyes immediately searching for her wife. She felt relief flush over her but soon worry took over when she saw that she was there with her but unconscious. She immediately crawled over as fast as she could and took Emma's face into her hands, resting her head in her lap, Regina only just noticing that they were back in their normal clothes. Thank God. She thought, soon focusing back on Emma.

"Emma? Emma? Please wake up."

Just as she could feel her eyes watering at Emma's unmoving silence relief flooded her system once again as Emma suddenly coughed and sputtered as she woke up in her lap. Once her coughing fit had subsided Regina's lips were on hers sucking the air out of her lungs again.

"Ugh, where are we?"

Looking up at her surroundings for the first time since she'd woken up Regina realised that they were on the floor of her office where they had thrown themselves through the portal in the beginning.

"My office."

Emma sighed in relief as she let her head fall back to Regina's lap, quite happy to relax knowing that she was finally back where they belonged.

"Thank God."

"Really? I thought you were starting to enjoy yourself?" Regina smirked, relaxing herself as she brushed a strand of hair out of Emma's face.

"Would it be bad if I said I was? I kinda liked the fact that we were queens in a foreign land. Plus you looked pretty hot in that kimono."

"That thing was way too difficult to move around in. How did Japanese women even survive back then?"

Emma shrugged. "Beats me. The only thing I cared about was that you looked hot in it."

Regina rolled her eyes and slapped the saviour in the arm to which Emma gasped. "Ow!"

Immediately Regina's eyes flew down to Emma's arm. She pulled her wife up to her knees by her good arm and slid her jacket off seeing the bandaged arm poking out from underneath Emma's t-shirt sleeve.

"Looks like we weren't imagining the part where you got injured in the line of fire."

"I guess not." Emma agreed, looking down at her injury.

"Maybe we should head to the hospital and get Dr. Whale to have a look at it. It's soaked through the bandage."

"Yeah. Wait-what about Gold?"

"I don't think-"

Before Regina could continue the door to her office flung open and when they looked up at who was entering they both relaxed.

"Henry." Regina sighed in relief.

The brunette boy smiled as he fast approached his mothers, keeling down and pulling the both of them into a joint hug. He squeezed tightly before pulling away, both Emma and Regina watching as he visibly relaxed.

"I'm so glad you're ok!"

"We are too kid." Emma smiled, standing up and pulling Regina with her.

"Yes. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine." He reassured, placing a comforting hand on Regina's shoulder as he stood. "Me and everyone else has been looking for you. Where'd you go?"

"Long story. Short version – we took a trip back in time to Japan and it turns out we were queens."

His eyes widened at Emma's answer, that familiar excited sparkle in his teenage eyes failing to go unnoticed by either of his mothers. "Really?"

Emma nodded her head in response. "Yep. It was crazy. Your mom was wearing a kimono. It was hardcore samurai stuff."

His grin grew impossibly wider. "Wow. What happened?"

"How about you tell us what happened to Gold and we'll tell you about it over dinner at Grannie's?" Regina suggested.

Henry nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"

"Ok then kid, where is he?"

"At the station. We managed to stop him before he reached you. Blue's temporarily got him in magical bonds."

"How long will it last?"

"She said a few more hours at least. It's long enough for you to tell me about this trip you and mom took into the past."

Emma grinned at her son and wrapped her arm around his shoulder's. "Hold your horses author kid, you gonna write about this when we're done telling you?"

He shrugged. "It depends if it's a good enough story."

Emma raised an eyebrow and looked over at Regina. "Babe, you hearing this? Our trip was awesome! It's way good enough for you to write about! I got shot with an arrow!"

"Yes, and that reminds me, we must get your injury checked out first. Apart from that little hiccup I have to admit our little trip back in time was a nice day out. It makes a change from our usual magical mishaps, doesn't it dear?"

Emma nodded. "I agree. I enjoyed it."

"And so did I dear." Regina smiled, leaning across behind Henry (as he was now as tall as them both) and placed a quick but meaningful kiss to Emma's lips.

"Good. Now can we go? All that samurai stuff made me hungry."

Regina laughed at her wife. "Ok Mrs. Swan-Mills. Henry are you ready to go?"

"Yep."

"Then let's go. We have some catching up to do, it's been an eventful day."