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Chapter Text

Lena wasn’t exactly sure when the dreams had started.

It was definitely sometime after she went to live with the Luthors. Maybe they started occurring because of the stress of her mother’s death? 

Whatever the cause, they were always the same. 

It started with Lena riding a horse. Chasing after a woman with dark hair. She was dressed in a riding outfit Lena would be likely to see in a regency era film. From where she was, Lena could hear the woman laughing occasionally as her horse sped up and Lena would have to race to catch up. Lena always felt… content, somehow in these dreams. Usually they ended with Lena waking up. Whether naturally or to her alarm. 

But tonight was different.

The woman slowed down, allowing Lena to catch up with her. Their horses paused on the top of a ridge, overlooking a nearby meadow. 

“You actually managed to stay on this time,” the olive-skinned woman teased.

“It was one time,” Lena grumbled.

The woman smiled at that, taking a deep breath while staring out at the distance. She had to be in her twenties, but her eyes made her seem much older. She seemed lost in thought.

“What is it?” Lena asked.

“I’ve finalized my plan,” The woman said. 

“The curse?” 

“I’m still going through the ingredients,” The woman said. “But if we do this, I’ll finally have my revenge.

Lena shifted in her saddle, feeling slightly uncomfortable.

“Everything is going our way,” The woman said. 

Lena woke up in an unfamiliar bed and panicked for a moment, before remembering where she was. She was in the middle of nowhere, in another dimension for that matter. A well deserved vacation after everything that had gone on the previous year. She got up and got dressed before making her way down the stairs. Granny’s Bed and Breakfast was a quaint place that Lena was quite happy with. Lena made her way to the counter and sat down. The pretty brunette who had checked her in flashed her a smile. 

“Hey Ruby,” Lena said as the diner waitress walked over to her. Ruby had checked her into the bed and breakfast the previous night. 

“Hello Miss Luthor,” Ruby said.

“Lena’s fine,” Lena said with a smile.

“Know what you want?” Ruby asked, notepad in hand. 

“I’d like the avocado toast.”

Ruby seemed a bit surprised.

“What? Is the toast bad?”

“No,” Ruby said shaking her head. “Just, the mayor is like, the only person to ever order that,” Ruby motioned to a woman sitting at the other end of the counter. Her dark hair was cut short, right below her ears. She was dressed in a dark pantsuit, and she seemed very well put together. There was something familiar about the woman that Lena couldn’t put her finger on. The woman looked up and froze as she met Lena’s gaze. 

Lena felt a bolt of panic. Did she know who Lena was? Lena reminded herself that wouldn’t make any sense. She turned to face forward again, watching as Ruby talked with the cook in the kitchen. 

Lena noticed the mayor approaching her and sitting down.

“Can I help you?” Lena finally asked, raising an eyebrow. She felt her body tense, ready to run if necessary. A Luthor could never be too careful.

“Regina Mills,” The woman offered her hand. Lena hesitantly shook it. “Sorry for my curiosity, we just don’t get many strangers in Storybrooke.”

“So I’ve heard,” Lena said. “You’re the mayor?”

“Well yes, actually-”

“Regina!”

Both dark-haired women turned to see a blonde woman burst into the diner. She was dressed in a red leather jacket and black jeans and seemed extremely panicked.

“What? What could possibly be wrong now, Miss Swan?” Regina asked, her voice exhausted.

“You don’t understand, she’s going to be the death of me,” the woman slid onto the stool on the other side of Regina. “Ruby, hot chocolate with cinnamon, please.”

“You got it, boss,” Ruby said with a mock salute, before sliding the two avocado toasts in front of Lena and Regina.

“Who is?” Regina asked the blonde woman as Lena carefully cut a piece of her toast.

“My Mother,” Miss Swan groaned, placing her face in her hands.

“That hardly seems to be my issue, Miss Swan,” Regina said.

“Oh my God, here she comes,” Emma leaped over the counter, hiding behind it. Lena turned to see a woman with a pixie-cut entering the diner.

“Oh Regina!” the woman said, walking over to the two of them. “Have you seen Emma? I’ve been looking everywhere.”

Lena frowned. There was no way this was the blonde’s mother. She seemed even younger then Emma.

“Where your spawn is or is not is of little concern of mine,” Regina said, flippantly.

“Is she blonde?” Lena asked.

The woman turned to her and turned pale white. “You, what- how-”

Lena felt a familiar sense of panic.

“This is Lena, she’s new in town, and if you could stop gasping at every stranger as if they were about to kill your whole family Snow, that would be very much appreciated,” Regina said, her voice calm. The two seemed to have a silent conversation.

“Um yes, she is blonde.”

“I thought I saw her passing the diner, walking that way,” Lena pointed.

“Oh yeah, I saw her go that way too!” Ruby called from over her shoulder.

“Thanks,” Snow said, relieved. She walked out the diner and down the street.

“Is she gone?” Emma asked, peeking up.

Lena snorted, taking a sip of her coffee.

“Really Miss Swan, what could cause you to be running away from your mother?”

“Killian,” Emma said, sliding back over the counter.

“Emma Swan!” The three turned to see an older woman emerged from the kitchen. “If I see you leap over my counter one more time, you’re banned from my diner for a month, am I understood?”

“Yes Granny,” Emma said as Regina smiled.

“And you, your majesty, don’t think you’re exempt. If you don’t stop her I’ll ban both you and your son as well.”

“As you wish, Euphemia,” Regina said with a nod.

“Thank you,” The older woman returned to the kitchen while muttering under her breath. “Acting like my diner is a goddamn jungle gym.”

“Thanks for your help…”

“Lena,” Lena said, offering her hand to the blonde sheriff.

“How long you here for Lena?” Emma asked as Ruby put the cup of Hot Chocolate in front of Emma.

“I’m not exactly sure yet,” Lena admitted. “Probably for a few weeks.”

“Why don’t you come over to my house for dinner?” Regina asked, giving her a small smile. “My sister should be joining us.”

Lena blinked. Was this a small town thing? Inviting strangers to your home?

“I wouldn’t want to intrude-”

“The only one intruding would be Miss Swan,” Regina said with a smile.

“You have to come,” Emma begged. “If someone new comes over, that means Regina has to make her lasagna. And you haven’t truly lived til you had her lasagna.”

“Oh, alright,” Lena said, finally caving. “I have some work today, but I could be over there tonight.”

“Hell yeah,” Emma pumped her fist.

“Miss Swan,” Regina chided. She looked down at her watch. “Shouldn’t you already be at work?”

Emma looked down at her own watch. “Shit.” She threw some cash down. “Bye Ruby! Nice to meet you Lena!”

“You better not be using that language around my son!” Regina called. 

“Our son!” Emma responded, sprinting out the door.

“Is she always-”

“A mess? Yes,” Regina said with a sigh.

“She’s your mess,” Ruby said in a sing-song voice.

“She is not!” Regina said.

Ruby just laughed. “Whatever you say Madame Mayor.”

“Will you and Belle be joining us for dinner?”

Ruby shook her head. “No, no it’s that time of the month as you well know.”

The two shared a look. Lena felt like she was missing something. Did the woman have just really bad period cramps?

“Alright, well, I wish you the best of luck,” Regina said standing up. “Someone has to go run this town. I’ll see you at six, Lena.”

Regina patted her on the shoulder and set off. 

Regina entered her office, closing the door behind her and locking it. She let out a shaky breath. She was not expecting to see that face again, ever. She sat down at her desk, glancing out the window.

“You said she was dead.”

There was no response, not that one was expected. After all, the woman Regina wished to speak too was long gone.

“Why would you lie about it?” Regina muttered.

Lena was beginning to wonder if maybe staying a small town was a mistake. Or maybe it was just this small town. 

Lena kept getting weird looks as she explored the town before dinner. Some people fully stopped and stared at her. Several children pointed. Lena signed, glancing up at the street sign. Ruby had given her directions to the Mayor’s home, and she still couldn’t seem to find it.

“Morganna?” Lena turned to see a woman with short blonde hair staring at her in shock.

“I’m sorry, you must be mistaken.” Lena asked politely. “My name is Lena, not Morganna.” There was something familiar about that name. Something just out of reach. 

“Oh, my apologies,” the woman said furrowing her brow. She offered Lena her hand. “Mal. So sorry.”

“Really no issue.”

The woman nodded before quickly walking away. Perhaps maybe she should find somewhere else to stay for awhile.

“Lena!” Lena looked up to see Emma pulling up beside her in a cruiser. 

“Emma,” Lena said, feeling relieved to see a familiar face.

“Hey! Let me give you a ride to the mansion for dinner,” Emma said.

Lena got into the cruiser.

“So, how do you like Storybroke?”

“It’s nice,” she said. “Just gotten some weird looks I got today.”

“Eh, don’t worry, the novelty will wear off soon enough,” Emma said.

They pulled up in front of a large house. Lena got out, hesitant. 

“Come on,” Emma said. “Regina really doesn’t like people being late.”

Lena followed behind Emma as the door opened to reveal Regina. Suddenly Lena felt her head hurt as if someone began chopping it with an ax. 

Regina stood across from Lena in a stable. “This is my pride and joy, Rocinante,” she patted the dark horse. He nuzzled Regina’s hand.

“He’s gorgeous,” Lena said in awe.

“Shh, don’t tell him that, he has a big enough ego as it is,” Regina winked at Lena.

“I want her dead!” Regina yelled. Lena put her hand on Regina’s shoulder and met an unfamiliar man’s eyes. Both of them uneasy with her mental state.

A woman with dark curly hair and olive skin meeting a young Lena’s eyes in the mirror. “You were meant for greatness little one. Don’t let anyone take it from you.”

Lena gasped, her hand jumping to her head.

“Lena?” Emma asked.

Lena shook her head, meeting Regina’s concerned eyes.

“Sorry, I think I’m just dehydrated.”

Emma narrowed her eyes, but followed the younger woman inside. Her internal lie detector had just pinged, even if Lena was unaware of it.

“Henry! Come meet our guest!”

Henry, now why was that name so familiar? Lena closed her eyes. She was going insane, that was it. She was finally losing it. Killing Lex had been the last straw that broke the camel’s back and now she was following the Luthor tradition of going crazy.

“Regina, you need to get in the kitchen,” A red-haired woman emerged. She met Lena’s eyes and Lena felt another ax hit.

“You’re-”

The green-skinned woman rolled her eyes. “Yes, yes, I’m the Wicked Witch of the West. What I want to know is why Uther’s charge is so far from home?”

“I’m looking for something.”

“You won’t find it here,” She said. “I’m going to show you some mercy. Leave now, and you won’t die.”

Lena walked away, surprised she survived the encounter.

“Lena are you sure you’re alright?” Emma asked.

“Yeah, yeah, just a headache, I promise,” Lena said, giving the blonde an uneasy smile. 

The red-head studied Lena. Lena stood up a bit straighter, meeting the woman’s eyes. 

Regina spoke up. “Lena, my half-sister, Zelena.”

The woman smiled. “Wonderful to meet you.”

Lena furrowed her brow. “Are you sure we haven’t met before?”

Zelena smiled. “I’ve never met anyone named Lena before. So I don’t believe so.”

“Henry!” Regina called again, up the stairs.

A boy, maybe eleven or twelve, came down the stairs. “I’m coming, I’m coming.”

Regina sighed, walking back over to the group, the boy trailing behind her.

“Lena, my son, Henry.”

“Hi, I’m Lena,” Lena offered her hand. 

Henry shook it, eying her warily. “Why does she look like-”

“Anyways,” Regina said, interrupting her son and shooting him a scathing gaze. “The lasagna should be out soon.”

“Who do you think I look like?” Lena asked, curious.

“Just a character from one of my books,” Henry said, glancing over at his mother. 

“So you like to read?” Lena asked as they moved into the dining room.

“I really love comic books!”

“Oh really?” Lena asked, amused. “Which ones?”

“Well, I really like Iron Man, and mom really likes Spiderman, and Ma really likes Supergirl.”

Lena paused for a moment. “Supergirl?”

“Yeah!” Henry tilted his head. “Actually, you share a name with one of the villains, Lena. Her name is Lena Luthor and she’s Lex Luthor’s sister.”

“Half-sister,” Lena corrected, feeling feint. 

“Right!” Henry said, eager that she knew the comics so well. “But she’s blonde and in a wheel chair. You’re not.”

“Nope,” Lena said, trying not to show her discomfort. She turned to Emma. “So why Supergirl?”

“I grew up in the Foster system,” Emma said with a shrug. “My parents had to give me up, and so I related to Supergirl in that aspect I guess. Also, she’s just a badass.”

“Language!” Regina called from the kitchen.

Emma rolled her eyes.

“So, Lena,” Zelena asked, leaning forward and putting her chin in her hand. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a scientist,” Lena said with a smile. Henry was hanging on to every single one of her words. “I’ve been working on AI programming recently.”

“That’s so cool!” Henry said excitedly. “Like robots?”

“Like robots,” Lena said.

“You must be supersmart!”

“Well, I graduated MIT at 19,” Lena said.

“That’s impressive,” Regina said as she entered the dining room. She placed the lasagna down.

“Yeah, I mean, I’m a high school dropout,” Emma said with a laugh. 

“That is not something to be proud of Miss Swan,” Regina said, rolling her eyes.

“Why are you in Storybrooke?” Henry asked.

“I needed to get away. So I choose a small town to do some work in,” Lena said with a shrug. “This is really good.” Her heart hurt as her mind drifted to how Kara would probably love the food there. She’d devour half of the Granny’s menu if she could. She tried to push it from her mind. 

Lena had come to Storybrooke specifically to get away from Kara. After learning the truth, she couldn’t bare to be around Kara. It took everything in Lena to not smash a bottle of red wine over Kara’s head at game night when she had seen her last.

“Regina is a really good cook,” Emma said. “Just… don’t eat anything apple flavored from her.”

As Regina hit Emma playfully, Lena felt another pain in her skull.

“It looks… normal.” Lena said confused. Regina put the red apple away. 

“It’s supposed to,” Regina said, grinning at her.

“And it’ll put a sleeping curse on her?”

Regina nodded.

“Regina…”

“She is the cause of all my suffering,” Regina reminded her. “Daniel… Daniel would still be here if it wasn’t for her.”

“Regina is it true the miners are arguing to go deeper?” Zelena asked her sister, knocking Lena out of her memory. Lena tried to focus on the conversation. The weird visions were getting longer. God, what had stepping into this world done to her?

After dinner, Lena found herself being drawn to the beautiful chessboard on Regina’s shelf in the study after dinner. Regina had just come back downstairs from tucking Henry into bed and the four women were now gathered in the study. 

“Do you play?” Regina asked, motioning to the board.

Both Zelena and Emma groaned.

“What?” Lena asked.

“Don’t play with her, it’s a trap,” Emma said

“I wouldn’t mind a game,” Lena said with a shrug, causing Regina to grin. She pulled the board out, beginning to set it up. “Where did you get this beautiful board?”

“A present, from my father,” Regina said. “He was the one who taught me the game.”

They were silent as they began the game. Regina’s face was impassive as they played, not giving anything away.

“So,” Zelena said, breaking the silence. “Why are you really here Lena?” 

“Zelena,” Regina snapped. “Don’t be rude.”

“What? No one comes to Storybrooke unless they’re running away from something or someone,” Zelena said. “So which is it, someone, or something?”

Kara’s bright blue eyes flashed in Lena’s mind. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” Lena said cooly.

Zelena shrugged. “I’ve always been upfront. All of us are running from something.”

Lena moved a piece. “And what are you running from then?”

“My past,” Zelena said. “I’ve done things I’m not proud of. I was desperate to prove myself to people who didn’t deserve my time.” She stretched. “But I would do it all again to meet my sister.”

“Aww, and here I was thinking you were just using me as a meal ticket,” Regina smirked.

“Well that is a positive for keeping you around. Especially for Henry’s sake. Lord knows Emma cannot cook anything to save her life.”

“Excuse you, I can make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich very well.”

Regina snorted. “Didn’t you break a peanut butter jar? And that made peanut butter explode everywhere? And then you did the same with the plastic jelly bottle somehow? So my kitchen was somehow covered in peanut butter and jelly?”

“One time,” Emma said. “It was one time.”

Lena leaned over the board and smiled. “Checkmate.” 

Regina smiled as Emma and Zelena looked on in shock. 

“I’m telling you it’s her.”

Lena had left awhile ago, leaving the other three women in the study. 

“Who?” Emma asked. 

“Go get that book from your son upstairs,” Regina instructed. 

Emma came back with it and Regina opened it towards the back to the legends of Camelot. She flipped through and turned the book towards Emma. 

“Morganna?” Emma said in shock. Regina was right, the woman bared a striking resemblance to the girl in the drawing. The girl sat on a throne, eying the reader, seemingly bored. 

“Our youngest sister,” Regina said, turning a page to show an image of her and Morganna riding together. “I gave her sanctuary after she killed her father.” 

“Arthur’s dad right?” 

Regina nodded. “She was just so… angry. But her anger is different from mine. If mine is like a fireball.” Regina indicated with making one appear in her palm just to quickly snuff it out. “Morganna’s is a freezing blizzard. She’s very powerful because she can control her emotions so well.” 

“So why didn’t she come here with you?” 

“Cora took her, I don’t know how she found Morganna’s location. I was trying to hide her. 

“But how do we know the girl playing chess is the same one?” Zelena asked 

“She plays chess the same,” Regina mused. “Her appearance.” 

“She was acting weird at dinner. She lied about why she’s here.”

“We need to figure out if she has magic or not,” Regina said. “Because if you thought Zelena and I are bad, Lena will tear this town apart piece by piece if she gets pissed off enough.”

Chapter Text

Kara bounced on the balls of her feet. Lena was fine, she was fine. There was no reason to panic. Lex was dead, he had fallen from that height. Even if they didn’t find the body. He was dead. There was no need to panic about not being able to find Lena. Nope, none at all. Lena could take care of herself.

Except what if she couldn’t? What if she was kidnapped again?

“Miss Danvers?”

Kara glanced up, her nervous spiral interrupted by Jess. Jess walked around, sitting at her desk. After Eve’s betrayal, Jess had been more than willing to come back as Lena’s secretary. Lena was desperate for loyalty, and she was prepared to give Jess an additional 50,000 dollars a year to get Jess back. Jess eyed Kara warily, which confused Kara. Jess was usually pretty happy to see her. If only because Kara was one of the only people who seemed to be able to get Lena to eat. 

“Hey Jess,” Kara smiled. “Do you happen to know where Lena went?”

“Away,” Jess said simply, typing at her laptop.

Kara waited for Jess to expand upon that, but she didn’t.

“Away where?”

“Vacation,” Jess said, she glanced up. She seemed to relent a little upon meeting her eyes. “Listen, Kara, I’m not even really sure where she went. Only she and Miss Arias are aware of her location.”

“Sam’s in town?”

Jess motioned to Lena’s office. “She has a bit of free time.”

Kara entered to see Sam sitting at Lena’s desk, forehead in hand, pouring over some documents. She looked a lot better than the last time Kara had seen her. She seemed much healthier.

“Sam?” Kara asked.

Sam glanced up, giving her a smile. “Kara Danvers, how can I help you?”

“Sam, do you know where Lena is?”

“She’s on vacation,” Sam said. 

“Vacation where?”

“I’m afraid I can’t tell you that.”

“Did I do something?” Kara asked, furrowing her brow. 

“Kara, she told me she didn’t want anyone knowing where she was going, including you,” Sam shrugged. “Between us, I think she’s just dealing with her emotions. She told me herself she isn’t sure Lex is actually dead or not. You never recovered the body.”

Kara adjusted her glasses. Maybe Sam was right. “I just want to know if she’s alright, or… as alright as she can be.”

“From what I know, yes,” Sam said. “Don’t worry about her so much, Lena can handle herself.”

Lena sat outside the mayor’s office, slightly confused as to why she was there. Ruby told her Regina had called her and asked Lena to meet her for lunch. So here Lena was, waiting in the waiting area.

“Mayor Mills will see you now Miss,” the secretary said with a smile. 

Lena nodded, getting up. She opened the door to see Regina sitting at her desk, studying papers.

“Little sister, what can I do for you?”

Regina was in a very similar room to her current office. She gazed up at Lena and gave her a small smile.

“I um, I apologize for interrupting. I just wanted to know if I was allowed to ride.”

“Of course, you do not need my permission for that,” Regina turned back to her work. “As my heir, you have a lot of freedom in this castle.”

“Heir?”

“Of course,” Regina said, crossing something out with the quill in hand. “I have no children, no husband. The crown would fall to you.”

“Even with-”

“They call me the Evil Queen, Morganna,” Regina looked up at her and tilted her head. “I doubt you committing patricide will be much of an issue.”

“Lena?” Regina asked.

“Sorry, what did you say?” Lena asked.

“I asked if you’d like a kale salad?”

“Oh, thanks,” Lena said, gratefully accepting the offering. 

“I once tried to get Emma to eat one of these,” Regina rolled her eyes. “You would have thought I had laced it with arsenic with the way she was acting.”

“Kara is the same way,” Lena said, before she realized the words had slipped out.

“Kara?” Regina asked.

Lena tensed up. “My best friend, she’s a reporter.”

Regina nodded. “Well, I wanted your help with something while you’re in town.”

“Oh?”

“I want a better security system for buildings such as Town Hall and the Sheriff’s station.”

“So public buildings?”

“Exactly,” Regina nodded.

“What were you thinking?”

“Well I want to implement the AI system somehow, you would not believe the amount of false alarms we get because of the age-”

As Regina talked, Lena listened attentively. If she was going to be staying in town a bit, might as well help out a bit. It would get her out of her room in Granny’s. 

“I think I can figure something out,” Lena said.

“Wonderful,” Regina said. “Now about payment-”

The door slammed open, and Lena was surprised to see none other than Emma’s mother, Snow, storm in. She looked pissed .

“Where is she?” Snow asked.

Regina and Lena both turned to look at the woman.

“Emma?” Lena asked, confused.

“Should she not be at work?” Regina asked.

“I stopped by twice today and didn’t see her. On top of that, she didn’t come home to the loft last night.”

“So you assume she’s with me?” Regina asked. “I, what? Kidnapped her?”

“You were the one who pressured her to break up with Hook.”

“I did no such thing,” Regina said, raising an eyebrow. “Why would I do that?”

“You’re the Evil Queen. I don’t know.”

Lena winced, causing both women to turn and look at her. 

Regina sat on a throne, a crown on her head, staring down 

“Are you, Regina?” Lena asked, nervous. “Daughter of Cora?”

“Now that’s a name I haven’t heard in awhile,” Regina mused.

“What are you usually called?”

“Typically I’m referred to as the Evil Queen.”

“Lena.”

Lena felt a hand on her shoulder, she turned to meet Regina’s eyes. 

“Are you sure you’re alright?” Regina asked, gently.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine,” Lena said, brushing Regina off.

Regina studied her for a moment before standing up and turning back to Snow. Her tone turned icy. “Have you considered your daughter is avoiding you?”

Snow shook her head. “Emma wouldn’t avoid me.”

Emma Swan had the absolute worst timing as she entered the office right then. “Hey Regina I was thinking-” Her smile fell away as soon as her gaze landed on her mother. 

“Mom, I-”

“Where have you been?”

“I just-”

“Your father and I have been worried sick.”

Emma looked down at her shoes. Lena felt sick to her stomach. 

“She was helping me out.”

All three turned to look at her, including Emma.

“Sorry uh-Snow,” Lena said. “I’m new in town and Emma was helping show me around yesterday and today. We had dinner at Regina’s last night and by the time we were done, Emma just crashed on the couch.”

“Why didn’t you just say that earlier Regina?”

“Because I like being difficult,” Regina smirked. “Now, if you wouldn’t mind, Emma, Lena, and I had some business to discuss before you so rudely interrupted us.”

“Fine, we will be discussing this later,” Snow said motioning to Emma before leaving. 

“God, I can’t stand her,” Regina said, rubbing her face through her hands.

“Thanks for sticking up for me,” Emma said.

“No problem,” Lena said. “I know how overbearing moms can be sometimes. Want to join our lunch? I mean, unless Regina is busy.”

“I’m not, but I doubt Miss Swan will touch my kale salad.”

“Nah, I brought my own sandwich!” Emma said, holding up the brown paper bag. “I was coming to have lunch with Regina anyway.”

“Can I ask you guys something?” Lena asked.

“Sure,” Emma said.

“Within reason,” Regina replied. 

“What’s Henry’s parental situation, I’m kind of confused.”

“Oh,” Emma said blinking. “I gave up Henry at a young age and Regina adopted him. On my 28th birthday a ten-year-old kid showed up on my doorstep claiming he was my lost son. So I moved here. It was bumpy at first, but we managed to work it out.”

Lena was tempted to ask about Henry’s birth father, but she decided not to. 

“So you didn’t grow up here?”

“My parents gave me up for adoption, it’s a long story but basically I also reconnected with them here. Anyways what were you guys discussing before I came in?”

Lena took that as a sign that Emma was done with the conversation, and listened as Regina explained the system.

Lena sat at her desk, opening up her notebook. She hadn’t designed much, not since-

Lena’s last page sat in front of her. It was a diagram of a suit she was designing for Supergirl. An easier suit to equip and one that would keep her safer. It also didn’t have the skirt. Lena thought Kara looked good in a skirt, but it was highly impractical.

She traced the page, looking at the colored sketch. She had been so excited designing it and she had even begun construction. It was sitting in her private lab right now, half finished. 

Lena closed the book, no longer in the mood to begin the task laid out before her.

She hadn’t really… processed everything that had happened with Kara. 

And she wasn’t particularly planning to either. No, smoosh everything into small boxes and move on. She leaned back. But she couldn’t do that, could she? Not with Kara. Kara meant too much to her. There were too many feelings to cram into boxes. 

Kara was her first real friend in National City. She was her confidant, probably the person she trusted the most. And then to find this out?

What possible reason could Kara have for keeping this from her?

Lena pushed the book aside and turned to some of the other L-Corp work. She couldn’t do this right now.

Emma stood outside the loft taking deep breaths. Everything in her was screaming not to enter the home. To turn and run the other way. But she promised her mother she’d be back. 

Emma opened the door to find Snow sitting on the couch, phone in hand.

“Hey,” Emma said. 

“Emma,” Snow said. “You’ve been avoiding me.”

Emma inwardly groaned. She had been avoiding them. But she really did not want to get into an argument at the moment. “I’ve been busy.”

“So you’re too busy for your family, but not too busy for Regina?”

“Leave her out of this,” Emma said, sighing. “Listen, I’m sorry, okay? Just a lot has been going on since Killian left.”

Her mother’s eyes softened just as Emma knew they would. She felt a little bad using Hook as a way to get her mother to calm down. But her guilt over the small bit of manipulation ended when her mother said. “It’s so hard to lose your true love.”

“Mom, Killian didn’t die, he decided to leave Storybrooke,” Emma said dryly. “And we weren’t even dating.”

“I just know you could have been so good together.”

“Killian and I were best friends,” Emma said, grabbing a beer from the fridge. “And I enjoyed having him here, but I understand why he wanted to leave. I don’t get why you’re so torn up about it.”

“I just think it’s time you settled down,” Snow said.

Emma popped out the cap, taking a sip before saying sarcastically. “What do you want me to do? Chase him down, beg him to come home?”

“That sounds like a great idea!”

Emma sighed, closing her eyes. “I’m not in love with Hook, mom. Listen, I’ve had a long day, I’m going to bed.”

“Hello, Dearie.”

Lena glanced up from her breakfast to see an old man grinning at her. Shivers went down her spine. “Can I help you?”

“Gold,” He said, offering his hand. “I own a pawn shop. Curious to see strangers here.”

“I guess it is,” Lena said, eying him. She knew that look. It was the same look Lex had in his eyes the days up until the Metropolis attack. The look of a man who wanted something, no matter the cost. 

“Gold!” Both of them turn to see Regina stalking into the diner. "leave her alone."

Your majesty, " Gold said with a smirk. "we were merely talking."

“I know what your words can do imp. I'm surprised Ruby hasn't kicked you out yet.”

“Belle made her promise not to ban me just on her behalf.”

“I'm still debating it!" Ruby called.

Gold gave Lena a nod, "Till next time Miss Luther.”

Lena watched him walk out the diner. A chill traveled down Lena’s spine as she realized she had never given Gold her last name.

Regina set down. "Ignore him, Gold loves to involve himself in other's business."

“So I see,” Lena mused. "How’s Henry?"

"Good, he keeps asking when you're going to come over again,” Regina tapped the table.

"And Emma?" 

“I have not seen Miss Swan today.”

"What about Emma's mother?"

"I will never see Snow again, if it was physically possible," Regina wrinkled her nose in disgust.

“ Snow?” Lena said surprised 

“Morganna, please don’t tell her I was here,” Snow begged. 

“You know me?” Lena asked surprised. 

“Please…” 

Lena hesitated but gave her a small nod. 

“Lena?”

“Why do you hate her so-”

“Because she’s the reason for all my suffering,” Regina said. “I never wanted this Morganna.” 

“But she was a child,” Lena said. 

“That means nothing.” 

“Years of bad blood, we’re mostly past it,” Regina said. 

“And you’re friends with Emma?” 

“Friends is a loose term,” Regina said. 

“What she means is she’s raising Emma’s kid and wants to fuck her,” Ruby said, setting their food down. 

“Miss Lucas,” Regina snapped. 

“Oh come on Regina, I have money riding on this,” Ruby whined.

“How big is the pot?” Lena asked, swirling her spoon in her coffee.

“About 2000 right now between the eight of us.”

Regina put her face in her hands. “This is highly inappropriate.”

“Ruby stop pestering the mayor and do your job!” Granny called from the kitchen.

Lena smiled, sipping on her coffee as Regina rubbed her eyes. 

“I am so sorry about that.”

“Don’t worry about it, believe me, I know how it feels to be the subject of a bet. My assistant Jess and some of her coworkers had a pot on how long it would take me to break up with my last boyfriend,” Lena said sipping her coffee. “She won and got over 5000 dollars.”

Regina winced. “Was it really that bad?”

“They knew he was wrong for me and they were right,” Lena shrugged. It felt like a lifetime ago since she dated James. “He refused to see me for me. I’m no longer that torn up about it.”

“So, no romance for you?”

Kara’s smile flashed in Lena’s mind. “Nope, no one.”

Regina raised an eyebrow at her.

Lena shifted. “Well, there was a girl, woman. I’ve liked her forever. She’s one of the first true friends I have or, I thought I had,” Lena put her spoon in the cup and swirled again. “But she kept something from me. Something that she shouldn’t have. I felt betrayed. I still do.”

“Sometimes secrets are for the best,” Regina said.

“Not this one,” Lena leaned back. 

“Did she know how you felt?”

“I filled her office with flowers and she told me ‘How lucky she was such a great friend,’” Lena said, dryly. “I doubt it.”

Regina snorted but fixed her expression “Well, enough about oblivious women, how is the security system going?”

That night, Lena lay in bed playing back the scenes she had seen in her head since she arrived. She stared at the ceiling.  The visions had to have some meaning right? Was she just so stressed her mind was making up things? She rolled over. Dreams for years about the people she was seeing in this town, that was no coincidence. It was said that the faces of people you saw in dreams were people you had seen before, but she was sure she had never been in Storybrooke before. And Morganna, they kept calling her Morganna. 

She got up to walk over to her desk. She opened her laptop and stared at the search bar. 

She simply typed in Morganna.

An actress popped up. 

Lena cleared the search bar and sat for a moment. She closed her eyes. Her visions reminded her of some form of medieval time period or… a fairy tale. Regina had been given the nickname the Evil Queen, hadn’t she? She typed in “Morganna folklore” and the first link led her to Morgan le Fay’s Wikipedia page. She stared at it, furrowing her brow. She remembered learning about Morgan le Fay, wasn’t she the villain from Arthurian legends? Lena tapped the table. This was ridiculous, wasn’t it?
Then again a woman who could fly and shoot lasers out of her eyes also sounded ridiculous.

Lena decided to go to the library the next morning. It was nothing compared to the National City Library, but it was adequate enough. She found a short brunette sitting at the librarian's desk, her nose in a book. 

“Um, hello?” Lena asked.

The woman looked up at her, and there was once again that familiar flash of recognition Lena continued to get from the residents. She gave Lena a smile. “Hi, I’m Belle, how can I help you?”

“Oh, you’re Ruby’s girlfriend?” Lena asked, surprised.

Belle blushed and nodded. Lena noted the irony of a librarian named Belle. Kind of like Belle from Beauty and the Beast.

“I was wondering… do you have any books on King Arthur legends?”

“Doing a bit of light reading?” Belle asked.

“Something like that,” Lena said with a smile. “I was just reminded of an old story and I wanted to read it.”

“Well you’re in luck,” Lena followed Belle through the labyrinth of the library til they reached a shelf of books. “Here we go,” She grabbed one with a red cover, handing it to her. “You know, if you’re looking for a book with the best retellings, you should see if Henry will let you borrow his book.”

“Oh, okay,” Lena said, a bit thrown off by Belle’s comment. “Thanks, Belle.”

“Enjoy!” Belle called after her before returning to her counter. 

Lena made her way out of the library and almost ran straight into Emma.

“Lena!” She said, seemingly relieved. “Glad I caught you. We can go do the thing now.”

“The thing?” Lena furrowed her brow. She spotted Emma’s mother a little bit behind her. “Ah yes! The thing! For Regina, god, thank god you found me, I really needed your help.”

“What thing?” Snow asked grumpily.

“Security stuff, need the sheriff, you know how it is,” Lena said, guiding Emma away. Snow huffed.

“Thanks,” Emma muttered. “Any idea why my mother is terrified of you?”

Lena shook her head. “Why does your mom call Regina the Evil Queen?”

“A nickname, they’ve had a feud forever,” Emma said. 

“And her name is Snow, I see. What’s your father’s name, Prince Charming?” Lena laughed. Emma just gave her an uneasy smile. 

“What are you reading?”

“Just a book on Arthurian legends, Belle recommended it,” Lena said, noting the note of panic in Emma’s eyes. She was on the right track. There was something Lena wasn’t supposed to know. Regina and Emma were keeping a secret from her. And Lena hated secrets.

Lena continued walking with Emma as Emma began to talk about Henry’s recent mishap at school. Lena felt like she had all the puzzle pieces, but she had no idea what picture they made. Somehow, someway, the people in the town associated her with Morgan le Fay from Arthurian Legends. In the visions she had seen, she was Morganna, and Regina the Evil Queen from the fairytale. Snow was Snow White. But that couldn’t actually be the case, could it? It simply had to be word association in her brain right? But why would her mind make her Morganna? 

That night she had one of her worst nightmares yet. In the beginning, she stood in front of a brunette man with a beard. A golden crown sat on his head.

“You must acknowledge me as your child,” Lena begged. “Please.”

“You wish for my ruin,” Uther growled. “I have an heir already, and it is your brother. If I were to claim you, people may begin to question his right to the throne. Some nobles may try to put you on the throne instead.”

“I wouldn’t-”

“You would,” Uther said icily. “I’ve seen it in your eyes Morganna, the hunger for power. I will not be the one feeding it. In the eyes of this court, I am not your father, and I never will be.”

The scene changed. Lena was walking down the hallways of a castle when she heard her name called. She turned to see a shaggy blonde-haired boy bounding up to her. Behind him stood a darker-skinned man who looked exhausted from Arthur’s antics.

“Arthur, Merlin,” Lena said with a nod. “How can I help you?”

“Have you seen Gwen?” Arthur asked. He pulled out a bouquet of flowers from behind his back. 

“They’re lovely Arthur but-” Any scolding melted away as Arthur smiled at her. She always did have a weak spot for her half-brother. “Alright, she’s in the bell tower. Be quick about it, and act like a gentleman.”

“Thank you, Morganna!” Arthur said before running off.

Merlin stayed behind. “How is your magic? Is it-”

“It’s getting easier,” Lena replied

"Your ability to use both light and dark magic is impressive, but it can be overwhelming at times I'm sure," He said with a smile. "Don't worry your secret is safe with me."

"Thank you, Merlin."

"Continue working through that book and then I will test you. For now I have to go run after your brother," He sighed, walking away while muttering something about “stupid princes getting themselves killed.”

The scene changed once again. Lena was now sitting in some sort of area. She watched as a knight she knew to be Arthur brought up his sword, blocking the blow. It was evenly matched at first, but soon Arthur was beaten. He shook hands with his opponent, but seemed downcast as he walked off field. She didn't even notice Uther was gone until she saw him exiting Arthur's tent later. She entered to find Arthur on the ground, beaten half to death. She lay her hands on top of him, focusing every feeling of love she had for him as she healed his injuries. Hopefully Uther would just assume Merlin had done it. Arthur still wouldn't wake up. Lena felt fear grow in her chest. What if he never woke up?

An hour later, Arthur opened his eye. 

“Hey, it’s alright,” Lena said as he sat up slowly. “Your injuries are healed and Uther is gone.”

“I shouldn’t have lost that last fight,” he said, shaking his head. “I should have won it.”

“You’re going to lose sometimes, Arthur.” 

“But I cannot lose!” Arthur said loudly. “The kingdom’s fate rests with me Morganna, If I screw up, our kingdom is lost. Do you understand that? Do you-” Arthur paused as he met Lena’s eyes. He took a step back, disgusted by his own behavior. “I’m sorry I didn’t mean-”

“I know,” Lena said gently. She sighed, closing her eyes. “Believe me, I know. Why don’t you go find Gwen? I’m sure she’s worried about you.”

She held Arthur stand up. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered again.

“It’ll be alright, go find Gwen,” Lena said, motioning to the exit of the tent.

The scene changed. Lena stalked through the castle before seeing Uther enter his study. She felt for her knife before taking a deep breath. She could do this.  She entered the study, shuting the doors behind her.

“Morganna?” Uther asked, slightly confused.

“You tried to kill him!” Lena said in outrage, whipping around towards him.

“Arthur is weak. He needs to be toughened up,” Uther growled. “As heir he cannot be weak.”

“Like you were?”

Uther grabbed Lena by the neck, pushing her up against the wall. “You know nothing of me and running a kingdom.”

Lena stabbed him in the stomach. “I know enough.”

Uther dropped to the floor.

“Arthur will make a much better king than the likes of you,” Lena said, tears running down her face.

“Where will you go?” Uther gasped.“Arthur won’t protect you.”

“I’m going to find my sister,” Lena said. 

“Your crimes will haunt you!” Uther called after her. “You’re a murderer Morganna!”

Lena woke up in a cold sweat gasping.

Chapter Text

Lena sat in a booth, eyes vacant as she nursed a coffee. She hadn’t been able to go back to sleep for long. Lex’s and Uther’s murders haunted her the rest of the night. 

“Lena, are you alright?”

Lena turned to see Regina studying her. 

“Nightmares,” Lena said, brushing off her concern.

“What about?”

Lena eyed Regina as the woman sat down across from her. 

“I killed a man. My fault for reading too many Arthurian legends before I went to sleep.”

“Arthurian tales?”

“Hmm,” Lena said, closing her eyes. “I kill the King, over and over, and over again. I stab him here,” Lena motioned to her stomach.

Regina studied her. “But it was just a dream.”

“It was just a dream,” Lena repeated. Only, she wasn’t so sure she believed that anymore. She rubbed her forehead. If she was in National City, she would call Kara. Kara who’d wrap her strong arms around Lena and promise everything was going to be alright. She felt a lump in her throat. If Kara knew what she did to Lex…

But what right did she have to judge? Kara would understand her putting the greater good first, right?

“Lena?” Lena met Regina’s eyes. “Lost you there for a moment. I was gonna ask you how long the nightmares have happened?”

“This particular one only last night,” Lena said, rubbing her forehead. “But it felt so real Regina.”

Lena met Regina’s eyes and felt the all too familiar pain.

“They won’t stop,” Lena said. She and Regina were on Regina’s couch in a cozy looking room in what Lena now knew was Regina’s castle. “The nightmares, they just keep occurring.”

“I know, there’s not much you can do for them,” Regina said, holding her close.

“I-I just want them to go away,” Lena sobbed. “How do you do it?”

“I don’t,” Regina said. “I have nightmares the same as you. I wish I could tell you they’ll stop, but I don’t know if they ever will.”

“Lena I’m starting to get worried,” Regina said. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

Lena met Regina’s eyes. “I-”
“Where is Regina?”

Both women turned to see a man entering the diner. He had straw like hair and appeared to be gangly.

“Where is Regina Mills?”

Lena felt chills up her spine as the whole diner turned to look at them. 

“Can I help you?” Regina asked, far too calm for Lena’s liking. 

“Do you remember me?”

“Ichabod Crane, right?” Regina said, raising an eyebrow. 

Lena frowned, like from the Legend of Sleepy Hollow?

“You took everything from me,” Crane growled, stalking over to their table. 

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Regina said. 

“You were the one who helped Brom Bones transform and scare me out of town. The Headless Horseman was never real.”

Regina didn’t respond, sipping on her coffee. 

“You took away my chance at wealth.”

“See, that was always your issue Crane,” Regina said, placing the mug down. “You always saw Katrina as a meal-ticket.”

“Why you-” Ichabod raised a knife and two things happen simultaneously. The knife disappeared from his hand in a cloud of dark red smoke and reappeared in Lena’s and then the man himself disappeared from the diner in a cloud of purple smoke as Regina whisked him away to a jail cell. 

Regina and Lena met eyes. Lena dropped the knife, staring at it in shock. 

“How-”

“You have your magic?” Regina asked.

“Magic?” Lena asked.

Regina stood up. “Seems we have much to discuss.

“Magic?” Lena whispered again. 

“Come on Lena, let’s go talk somewhere more private.”

“You nearly just got stabbed, Regina!”

“A typical Thursday,” Regina said, brushing her off.

Lena followed her silently. Maybe this was her karma for brushing it off whenever her own assassination attempts happened. 

Meanwhile, in National City, things were slightly tense in the DEO.

“It’s official,” Alex said crossing her arms. Kara was stopping by the DEO to drop off some aliens she had caught causing havoc. Alex stood in front of Kara. “Lena can’t be traced anywhere.”

“How is that possible?”

“Well one of two things,” Brainy spoke up. “Either Lena is dead, which I seriously doubt. Or she’s not on this earth.” 

“You mean like on a different planet?” Kara asked. 

Brainy continued. “I doubt it, I’m thinking of a different Earth, Kara. And without Sam’s help, it’s going to be hard to find her.”

“Sam won’t help us,” Kara muttered, crossing her arms. “I just don’t know why she’d disappear like that. I know Sam said it was because of Lex, but-” she sighed. “I’m worried.”

“If you give me enough time, I can see if I can narrow it down to a few possible locations,” Brainy said. 

“Thanks, Brainy,” Kara said. She glanced up at the clock. “I have an article I need to get to.”

“Go,” Alex said. “We’ll talk later.”

 “Regina? Are you back?” Zelena called as Lena and Regina entered the house. She came down the stairs, her hair wet from a shower. “Oh Lena, hello.”

 “She has her magic,” Regina sighed.

 “She does?” Zelena grinned.

Lena’s head was beginning to hurt. The memories were becoming overwhelming.

 “We have to talk, but we need Miss Swan here so I don’t have to repeat everything,” Regina said.

“Alright, I’m here!” Emma said, entering the house. She sat down on the couch. “What’s going on?”

“Lena has her magic.”

“And I would like some answers about that,” Lena said. “I would like to know what is going on.”

“What do you think is going on?” Regina asked.

“There have been weird things that have happened while I’ve been here. Regina I have memories of you, memories I didn’t previously have. People I have never met seem to recognize me, they call me by a different name. I mean, Snow is scared shitless of me. And don’t tell me it’s a coincidence her name is Snow White. Who names their child that?”

“Pretentious people,” Regina muttered. 

“You know something. So why don’t you tell me?”

 “You wouldn’t believe me.”

“Try me,” Lena said dryly.

“We come from a place called the Enchanted Forest and most of us you would recognize as characters from fairy tales.”

 Lena nodded, taking the info in. “But you’re not.” She motioned to Zelena.

“What?”

 “You’re the Wicked Witch of the West, right?” Lena asked. “We met once I think.”

They stared at her.

 “This may sound crazy, but I keep seeing memories of my past. As if I am Morganna.”

“What else do you remember?”

 “I remember growing up in Camelot,” Lena said. “I was Uther’s charge and Arthur and I got along well. As we got older, I got a lady-in-waiting, Lady Guinevere, and Arthur fell in love with her. Arthur also had an advisor, Merlin. The four of us were close, I remember that. I remember Merlin training me. I remember… I remember killing Uther days after my sixteenth birthday. I knew Regina was my sister, I don’t remember how, and I did a tracking spell to find you. But it led me to Zelena at first, which confused me. But then I eventually got to you right? And then helping Regina with the apple curse and trying to find Snow. I remember the war and how you began researching the curse that Rumple had given you. And then I was taken away. But how is this possible? I have memories of my other life as well.”

“False memories could have been implanted,” Regina muttered. 

“Could Cora do that?” Zelena asked.

Lena winced hit with an onslaught of memories.

Lena was young, a child. An olive skinned woman bearing a striking resemblance to Regina appeared in her room.

“Mother!”

“My little Princess,” the woman cooed. “Have you been behaving yourself?”

 Lena nodded.

“And you haven’t told him I’ve been visiting?”

Lena shook her head. 

“Mother why do I-”

“You will listen to what I say Morganna.”

“But-”

“Do you want to be Queen or not?”

    It was Lena’s first night in Regina’s castle when her mother appeared in Lena’s mirror.

    “You killed the King.”

    “I did.”

    “But you didn’t take the throne.”

    “It wasn’t mine to take.”

    “You always were soft Lena,” her mother scoffed. “What have I always told you? Love will be your weakness.”

   Lena gasped. 

    “Lena?”

    “I remember her, our mother,” Lena said. “Cora.”

    “You remember her sending you away?”

    “She didn’t,” Lena said.

    “What?”

    “I don’t remember what happened, but I do know it wasn’t Cora,” Lena said. “Cora wanted one thing, for me to be Queen of Camelot. She wouldn’t have sent me away to a different Earth.”

“So who did?”

“I don’t know,” Lena said, closing her eyes. “I-I don’t remember.”

They were silent as she stared out the window. 

“What happened after I disappeared?”

Emma folded her hands, looking over at Regina.

“Do you remember, before you disappeared, the curse we talked about?” Regina asked.

Lena racked her brain. “To take away Snow’s happy ending?”

“I ended up casting it,” Regina said, looking down at her hands. “And it sent us here, to the land without magic. For twenty-eight years, we lived a version of groundhog day with me as the mayor. No one aged or changed, and no one remembered their true identities except for me. I grew lonely, and actually quite bored. And you know about how I talked about eventually having a child. So, about eighteen years into the curse, I adopted Henry. I didn’t know it then, but Henry was Emma’s son. So, ten years later, when Henry decided to find his birth mother, Emma showed up on my doorstep. Henry was beginning to uncover the truth of the curse and knew I was the Evil Queen,” she paused as Emma placed her hand on Regina’s shoulder. “I’m not… proud of my behavior during that time. I was so worried Henry was going to choose Emma and leave me. So, after a few months of petty arguments and such, I made an apple turnover with a similar curse to the one on Snow White. Emma was supposed to eat it, but Henry did instead. There are different kinds of love you know, and Emma kissed his forehead, effectively waking him up and breaking the curse.”

“Snow White and Prince Charming, my parents, remembered me, remembered who I was when the curse broke,” Emma spoke up. “Right before Regina cast the curse, they put me in a cabinet and sent me here. Apparently, there was a prophecy that I was supposed to be the so-called savior,” Emma’s voice was bitter. “Anyways, that’s kind of the gist. We’ve had to deal with a bunch of fairy tale crap. My mom and Regina argued a lot. We went to Neverland, found out Henry’s father is actually Rumpelstiltskin's son, and then said father died. Zelena showed up, threw a tantrum, but eventually she came around.”

“That’s… a lot,” Lena said. She paused, taking it all in, before turning to Zelena. “Why didn’t you tell me you were my half sister when we met the first time?”

Zelena sighed. “If you must know, I saw you as a sort of kindred spirit. Though Cora did visit you, she also left you in pursuit of her daughter sitting on the throne. Any anger I could have had towards you melted away when I saw how young and scared you were. You would have gotten in the way of any of my plans anyways, so it was better to send you on your way.”

“So Oz and Enchanted Forest, what about Wonderland?” Lena asked. “Did any of their residents come here?”

“The Mad Hatter is here,” Regina said.

“And… Cora?” Lena asked, her voice hesitant.

The atmosphere shifted.

“It’s… complicated,” Emma said, looking for the right words. She looked over at Regina.

“She came here after the curse was broken,” Regina said, her voice gentle. “She caused mayhem, even framing me for murder. But then we figured out a way to stop her. She removed her heart before she gave birth to any of us. It made it easier to achieve her goals you know. So, we found her heart.” 

Lena’s eyes went wide. “You did what?”

“We figured if we put her heart back in she would change.”

“Of course!” Lena said. “That’s amazing!”

Regina felt a lump in her throat, seeing her younger sister’s obvious glee.

“But then,” Regina was at a loss for words. 

Emma stepped in. “My mother had recently found out about Cora killing her mother and was feeling vengeful. So she tricked Regina. She poisoned Cora’s heart and when she put it back in…”

Silence fell over the room. Lena turned back to look out the window again. Her mother, her birth mother was dead. Cora had never been a great mother. She might have been a little sweeter towards Lena as Lena was the youngest, but she was still… Cora. She still tried to make sure it was Lena who took Camelot’s throne. There was also all her history with Regina, and she didn’t even know about Zelena’s past, but knew it had to be awful. 

But Cora was still her mother.

And Lena still felt her loss greatly.

“Anyone want some Apple pie? I think we still have a bit to discuss,” Regina said.

Kara waited outside the office, anxiously tapping her foot. 

“Miss Danvers?” The secretary spoke up. 

Kara glanced up to see the nervous young woman at the desk motioning to her. Kara walked over to the secretary’s desk. Kara couldn’t help but wonder if this is how the big shots coming to see Cat Grant had seen her at some point. 

“Um, Miss Rojas is ready to see you.”

“Thank you,” Kara smiled, before turning to the office.

Kara entered the office to see a woman with tan skin and dark hair sit behind a desk. It would be almost impossible for Kara not to see the way Andrea looked her up and down, before her lip curling up just a bit. 

“Miss Danvers,” the woman said, standing up. 

“Miss Rojas,” Kara said. “It’s a pleasure to meet you as well,” she offered her hand which the other woman shook firmly. “Do you mind if I record this conversation?”

“Of course not. I heard you are a finalist for a Pulitzer, congratulations,” Andrea Rojas said, sitting back down. 

“Oh, thank you,” Kara said, shifting, beginning to record. She began the interview by discussing the future of Obsidian North. Andrea seemed to get off track very easily though. 

“Yes well, I really got a head start at the boarding school I attended,” Andrea said, leaning forward. “All girls, you know.”

“Yes, you were there at the same time as Lena Luthor,” Kara said trying not to stare at the woman’s tits that were definitely spilling out of her shirt. 

“Yes, I’ve tried contacting Lena, I want Obsidian North to partner with L-Corp, but I haven’t heard from her.”

“I believe she’s out of the country right now.”

“Ah, right, I forgot you’re ‘friends,’” Andrea smiled.

“Uhm, yes,” Kara said, keeping her composure in place. “Well, I hope that you can get ahold of her soon. Continuing on?”

Andrea also seemed to compliment Kara… a lot. Which was fine, Kara just hoped she didn’t think Andrea was gonna get a wonderful article just because she was nice to Kara.

“Well, that’s about it,” Kara said, standing up. “Um, thank you,” 

“You’re quite welcome,” Andrea smiled. “You know, if you want to get a drink sometime…”

“I’ll consider it,” Kara smiled. “Have a good day Miss Rojas.”

“Andrea, please.”

“Uh, Kara.”

“I hope to see more of you Kara,” Andrea smirked.

Later, Nia was sitting next to Kara working while Kara listened to the interview. Nia kept giving Kara weird looks until Kara finally spoke up.

“What?” Kara asked her, pausing the recording. 

Nia motioned to Kara’s phone where the recording was playing from. “Did she ask you out?”

“Like she asked if I wanted to get drinks sometime?” Kara shrugged. “I don’t know, I think she was nice enough, but I couldn’t really see us being friends.”

“Friends?” Nia said, staring at her mentor. “Kara… Andrea was flirting with you since the moment you stepped into that interview. I can literally hear it in her voice.”

“No, she wasn’t,” Kara said.

Nia just shook her head, smiling as Kara continued to type up her interview. 

Henry took the news that Lena was actually Morganna well. 

Emma supposed she shouldn’t be surprised considering everything he had been through. 

Now they were sitting at Granny’s eating dinner. 

Emma felt relaxed sitting among the reunited Mills sisters. She couldn’t help but smile at seeing how happy being around Lena made Regina. However, Emma was growing a bit suspicious of Lena,. They didn’t know much about her past. Despite their afternoon talking, the most Emma had learned was that Lena currently lived in California. Emma didn’t want to bring anything up, not wanting to ruin the evening.

Regina thankfully, brought up the topic.

“While I’m happy you’re here Lena,” Regina smiled. “We need to find out who did this and why.”

“You think someone did it?” Emma said. “Is it not potentially, I don’t know, she stepped into a fairy ring or something?”

They all just looked at her. 

“What? After everything we-”

“Ignoring Miss Swan’s non-existent knowledge of real magical things, we do need to figure out how you got transported to the land without magic.”

“Well, I,” Lena paused as if to contemplate. “I was transported to a world without magic, just not… this world without magic,” She placed a metal doohickey on the table that Emma immediately picked up. “What do you all know of the multiverse theory?”

Regina and Emma nodded.

“Excuse me for not being a nerd, but no,” Zelena said, her voice dry. Regina glared at her.

“Okay, well there are other Earths, Earths that run parallel to yours and mine. They can be different in the slightest sense, such as say… Emma became a waitress at Granny’s instead of Sheriff or big, such as Nazis won World War II. Their timelines all run simultaneously, one on top of the other. When you use a device, such as the one I have, you can travel between these Earths. The Earth I’m from is very different from yours,” Lena said.

“But you are from California?”

“Well not originally, but I live there now,” Lena said. “The false memories implanted in my mind mean I was born originally in Ireland before I was raised in a home of a billionaire with my half-brother. Now I live in National City, running my family’s business.”

“Woah, so you have a whole other life in there,” Emma said motioning to Lena’s brain.

Lena nodded. 

“So someone managed to put you in a whole other universe,” Regina mused.

“That would take a lot of power,” Zelena said. 

“Hello ladies!” Emma heard a familiar voice call. They all turned to see Snow.

“Hey Mom,” Emma said at the same time Henry said “Grandma!”

“Snow,” Regina said.

“What are you all up to?” Snow asked.

“Eating dinner,” Regina said.

“We’re celebrating Morganna recovering her memories,” Emma said, glancing over at Regina. 

“All of them?” Snow said in surprise.

“Most of them,” Lena said. “I let you go once, didn’t I?”

“You did what?” Regina asked in surprise.

“Y-yes,” Snow said. She seemed to have forgotten that incident as well.  “I begged you to let me go and you did.”

“I should have known you did that,” Regina sighed. “You and your bleeding heart.”

“It was years ago now Regina,” Lena said, brushing her off. “No need to get upset.”

Regina just huffed and took a bite of her salad. 

“I have to go,” Snow held up the to-go bags she had. “I need to bring this to David. I’ll see you back at the loft Emma?”

“Sure,” Emma said, and with that, Snow left.

“What were we talking about? National City?” Regina said.

“The multiverse,” Zelena said. 

“Right, what spell would compel that to occur?”

“I have no idea, maybe a Roulette spell?”

“I’ve never heard of that,” Lena interjected.

“It’s supposed to be a myth,” Regina said.

“So is time travel,” Zelena reminded her. 

“If we can figure out perhaps what this is, we can figure out who did it,” Regina sighed. “Guess this means research.”

“Yay!” Henry said.

“Not you, you’re going to school,” Emma said. 

Henry frowned. “But-”

“Your mother is right,” Regina said. “Lena and Zelena will research in the vaults.”

“I have to get back to National City soon for a work thing,” Lena interjected. “But I promise when I get back, full throttle.”

“Sounds like we have a plan,” Regina said. 

“I think this calls for ice cream,” Emma said.

Regina rolled her eyes. “Emma-”

“Ruby!” Emma called, just grinning back at Regina. 

Across town, a very tense exchange was happening over Granny’s takeout.

“So… Morganna knows everything.”

“Most things,” Snow said, poking at her food. Her hunger from earlier had dispersed.

“Do you think she knows about…”

“I have no idea,” Snow admitted. “I don’t think so. I don’t think I’d have gotten such a warm reception at Granny’s if they did know.”

“We can’t tell them the truth,” David said.

“So we what, continue to lie David?” Snow asked. “David, we split Regina’s family apart. We did that. Not Cora, not Rumple, us. And if they find out what we did without us telling them, we may lose Emma, forever. We have to tell her our side before it’s too late.”

David frowned, sighing. “Snow, what we did to Morganna… I mean…”

“We have to tell her everything,” Snow said. “It’s the right thing to do.”

“She’ll hate us.”

“Not if we can get through to her.”

Silence filled the loft.

“So we sit Emma down and we tell her?” David asked. 

“Emma deserves to know,” Snow sighed. “So yes, we tell her that too.”

“And the price of the curse?”

A silence once again fell.

“We can’t tell her that. That can be a secret we keep, can’t it?”

David nodded. “We can keep that one.”

“She’ll forgive us, won’t she?”

David didn’t know how to respond. So they sat in silence, eating their takeout, contemplating the future of the relationship with their child.

Chapter Text

Regina was more then willing to let Lena get ready in her bathroom. She watched as her younger sister did her makeup.

“So what is it you’re going to?” Regina asked.

“A board meeting,” Lena said, opening an eye wider to apply mascara. “All day. I assume they’re asking about my absence from L-Corp.”

“Why did you leave?”

Despite having told her family about the multiverse, Lena wasn’t really sure how to get the “I live in a world of superheroes, and oh by the way, I killed my pseudo-half-brother who was on a murderous rampage against aliens, which, by the way are real” conversation started.

“I needed time,” Lena said. “Don’t you have work today?”

“I do, but, I wanted to see my little sister off.”

Lena just smiled. She was glad to be back with Regina and she was happy to get to know Zelena. She had a family again, and she loved it. 

“I promise if anyone gives me too much trouble, I’ll fireball them.”

“No magic,” Regina said sternly. “We’re not really sure how intact your handle on your abilities are. Yet another thing to work on when you return.”

“We will do so,” Lena took a step back from the mirror. “Well?”

“Perfect,” Regina said, giving her a thumbs up. 

“I’ll see you all soon, hopefully, tonight,” Lena sighed, fiddling with the device. 

“I’d hope so,” Regina. “Please don’t make me and Zelena try to figure out a spell to send us to wherever you are.”

Lena smiled, offering her arms, and Regina hugged her. 

Lena stepped into her office to see Sam hunched over her desk.

“Having fun?” Lena asked.

Sam glanced up and grinned, nearly diving over the table to hug Lena.

“That happy to see me?”

“Shut up,” Sam muttered, before separating. “God, how are you? How was it? I mean-”

“I’m going back after today,” Lena said. “It’s been nice, relaxing, but I’m back for the board meetings.”

“Alright,” Sam sighed. “Here’s what you need to know-”

Lena found the first half of the day as easy as the circumstances would permit. She’d admit a small part of her did enjoy board meetings if only so she could shut the board members up for a few weeks.

She should have known that eventually, Kara would show up. It was inevitable. 

Lena entered her office, scanning documents, not noticing the blue-eyed reporter who was sitting at her desk. 

Kara’s heart stopped when Lena entered the office. She hadn’t seen her best friend in at least a month. Lena was wearing a purple suit and her hair was braided to the side. She seemed… different, somehow. Kara could pinpoint the exact moment Lena noticed she was in the room. The other woman paused, surprise breaking on her face. “Kara?”

Kara looked the same to Lena. The same timid reporter uniform, the glasses, those bright blue eyes that seemed to see directly into Lena’s soul. The same concerned expression on her face. Truly, it seemed nothing had changed at all. 

But Lena knew the truth, everything had changed. 

Lena rounded her desk and placed her paperwork down. 

“Lena,” Kara said, Lena could hear the relief in her voice. “Thank goodness, I haven’t heard from you in a month and I was so worried. I mean obviously, I know you can handle yourself and everything but-”

“Kara,” Lena said, holding up a hand. “I’m fine, I was just visiting some family.”

“Oh, where?” Kara asked eagerly as Lena sat down. 

“Wondering if there are other Luthors out there?” Lena said dryly.

“What? No, I just wanted to know where you went for a month, that’s all.”

“Not really any of your business,” Lena said.

“Lena, what’s going on? Did I do something?” Kara asked, leaning forward. “If I said or did something I’m-”

“It’s what you didn’t do, Kara.”

Kara stared at her, confused. Lena had expected to be furious in the moment, screaming at Kara about her betrayal. Instead, Lena just felt exhausted. She was done. 

“Why didn’t you tell me, Kara?” Lena asked, her voice broken. “You knew, you knew how everybody else in my life had lied to me, betrayed me, and yet you still-” Lena took a deep breath. “Why did I have to learn from Lex of all people that you were Supergirl?”

“Lena-”

“I’m speaking,” Lena said in such a strong tone that Kara actually winced. “James knew, J’onn knew, Nia knew, Brainy knew, Alex knew, I’m sure Winn knew, even Lillian knew, but not me. Why? Did you all think it was funny? Watching me run around like an idiot? Did you think it was hilarious? World-class genius Lena Luthor couldn’t see past a pair of glasses and a ponytail? Huh?”

“Lena, please, it was never like that,” Kara said. “I wanted to tell you so many times but-”

“Save me the excuses.”

“Lena, it’s the truth!” Kara said. “I wanted to tell you, but then there was this one day where you were just so, mad at Supergirl. But you still liked me. You still liked Kara Danvers. And then every time I would get close to telling you, I was reminded that everyone betrayed you. And I realized I couldn’t tell you, because I couldn’t lose you. Lena, you are one of the most important people in my life.”

“But not important enough to tell the truth.”

“Lena-”

“Get out of my office, Kara,” Lena said. “ Now. ”

“Lena-”

“Don’t make me call security,” Lena said. 

Kara looked like she wanted to say something, but closed her mouth. She got up and left, leaving Lena to look over the National City skyline. Lena sighed, closing her eyes. Just a bit more work to do, and she could get back to Storybrooke. 

Kara left L-Corp in an utter haze, unsure of what had just occurred in Lena Luthor’s office. She had expected Lena to be happy to see her. They would have a heart-to-heart chat, hug, and then make plans to have lunch or dinner in a week. Instead, Lena had given her a death glare Kara had only seen given to the likes of Max Lord and Lillian Luthor. 

And then Lena told her she knew.

And Kara’s entire world came crumbling down at her feet. Because, Lena was her whole world, her rock, her anchor to her humanity and what it meant to be… normal. A human. And maybe she had been selfish in making her that. 

All she knew is she was now living her worst nightmare. Lena hated her because she hadn’t told her the truth. Kara made her way down the sidewalk, trying to ignore the lump in her throat. She needed to talk to Alex. 

She typed a short text to Nia Nal telling her she wouldn’t be back at CATCO for the day before heading to the DEO.

Kara told Alex everything about the encounter through tears. Alex offered her a tissue and now they were sitting in silence. 

“You know, maybe this is a good thing,” Alex finally said.

“A good thing?” Kara asked, sniffling.

“She knows now, right? So you don’t have this shadow hanging over the two of you,” Alex said. “I mean come on Kara, it’s Lena. Your relationship isn’t gonna end like this. Let her cool down a bit, and then check on her tonight. If she says to give her space, you do so,” Alex shrugged. 

“What if she doesn’t want to see me ever again?”

“I doubt that will be the case,” Alex said. “But we’ll get through it if we have to.”

“Thanks Alex,” Kara said, sniffling.

“Go home,” Aelx said, giving her a small smile. “It’ll seem better soon.”

Emma Swan was desperately trying to work. 

That would be easier if she didn’t have her biological father breathing down her neck every five minutes.

Finally after an hour after her shift started she finally spoke up. “Dad, is there something you need?”

“No, no,” he said. “Just love spending time with my daughter.”

“Okay, can you back up a little, I’m trying to work, and it’s hard with you looking over my should-” the phone rang which Emma picked up. She listened to Gold rant for a few minutes before hanging up. “Listen I have to go deal with this, can you figure out whatever this is before I get back?

Emma was trying so hard not to snort at what the kids had graffitied on the wall. They had spray-painted a couple of curse words along with one of the smallest dicks Emma had ever seen. Next to it were words stating “Store-owner’s dick may be much smaller than shown in the picture.”

She listened as Gold ranted, taking down his description of the boys.

“-the nerve of some parents, I cannot believe they cannot raise their children correctly.”

“Hmm,” Emma replied, now doodling on her notepad. She couldn’t wait to tell Regina about this story later.

“I bet Ruby put them up to this.”

“I doubt that,” Emma said, though she did have to admit the small dick thing was something Ruby would say. Emma closed her eyes, enough about Gold’s dick. That wasn’t what she wanted to think about right now.

“Hmph,” Rumple said, crossing his arms. “Maleficent was the one who pointed it out when she-”

“Maleficent was here? What was she asking about?” Emma asked, closing her notepad.

Rumple didn’t respond, changing the topic. “I hear you’re close with Morganna these days?”

“What do you want with Lena?” Emma asked, getting defensive.

Rumple just smiled. “Tell the Mills sisters that when they want the answers they seek, I’ll be here waiting.”

“That’s not creepy and foreboding,” Emma said. “Is that in the rulebook for being the Dark One or…”

“Have a good day Miss Swan, good luck catching those criminals.”

Emma rolled her eyes, walking away. She was not gonna waste her day hunting down those teenagers, especially since all Rumple could give her were their hoodie colors. 

Lena should have known the Kryptonian wouldn’t be gone for long. It was late… close to midnight at this point. She’d have to go back to her penthouse and finish up the remains tomorrow. As Lena turned her computer off, the black screen reflected the blonde behind her. 

“Stalking me, are we?” Lena asked dryly, knowing Kara could hear her through the glass, She closed her laptop and made her way to the balcony. She opened the door to see Kara looking sheepish, rubbing the back of her neck. “Kara couldn’t get in, so you decided to try Supergirl?”

Kara tilted her head. “Could we talk? Please?”

“Talk about what?” Lena sighed, leaning against the balcony, as far away from Kara as physically possible.

“About this? About us?” Kara asked, desperation seeping into her voice.

“What is there to talk about? You lied for our entire relationship. End of story.”

“I did, and I’m sorry ,” Kara stressed. “I wish I could go back and change it, but I can’t. But I also can’t lose you, Lena. I don’t… I don’t know how to fix this.”

“I don’t know if you can,” Lena said.

Silence fell over them as Lena took in her best friend. Kara was lost in thought, her eyes locked on Lena’s desk through the windows. She played with the edges of her cape. She had seemed to age in the hours since they had last talked. The burdens of the world seeming to press into Supergirl’s shoulders. Lena turned to look out over National City. How could she explain why this hurt so much? Explain how part of her just wanted to let it go, to just forgive Kara, to try to return to the way they once were.

But they couldn’t.

It was a realistic possibility that they were never going to be the same. 

“I wanted to give you this,” Kara tossed her something. “You know, so…”

Lena looked down, it seemed to be a watch, but when she flipped the watch face up, a green “S” button sat proudly in the middle. Lena glanced up at Kara who was watching her apprehensively, seemingly unsure of how she would react.

“It’s not bugged or infused with a tracker or anything. You can take it apart to check, but uh, I had it made a while ago, and I was waiting til I told you to give it to you.” Kara said with a sad smile. “Just, promise me, even if you hate my guts til the day I die, that if you’re in serious danger, you’ll hit that button.”

“What does it do?”

“Calls me with a high-pitched sound,” Kara said. “And I’ll come running, or, er, flying.”

Lena blinked at the watch and back up at Kara.

“What?” Lena asked, so confused.

“I’d just- I’d feel better if you had it,” Kara said. “Just in case,” her head whipped around in a direction, studying it for a second before turning to Lena sheepishly. 

“You have to go, don’t you?”

“Housefire,” Kara nodded. She looked at a loss for words. “I-” she took a step towards the edge.

“Go, Kara,” Lena said.

“Goodbye, Lena,” Kara said, before speeding off, leaving Lena on the balcony.

Lena didn’t go back to her penthouse.

Instead, she stared down at the disassembled watch. She was in the middle of her lab in the basement of L-Corp examining watch pieces at 2 AM. There was no tracker, no video camera, or voice recorder. Maybe she was too tired to see it. Right? She flipped over another gear.

No, she was just being paranoid now. And she couldn’t afford to be too paranoid.

Being too paranoid was how Lex had started and then a Kryptonian had betrayed him… Lena had never witnessed it but it was said Lex and Superman were as close as brothers at one point. Lena had never understood how he could turn on him like that if that was true.

She was not going to become him. It was a mantra usually uttered by Kara to reassure her, but she didn’t have Kara now so…

Lena began reassembling the watch carefully. She didn’t have Kara anymore. It hit her like a bullet. A year ago, if you had told Lena that Kara Danvers of all people was the one she had a fallout with, she’d have laughed in your face. She would have told you that you had something loose in the head. She would have said Kara Danvers was her best friend and would never do anything to hurt her.

Lena finished up the watch and then left L-Corp. She really needed some sleep. 

Lena was looking forward to getting her work all done so she could get back to Storybrooke. Unfortunately for Lena, her first meeting of the day was not someone she was that excited about seeing.

Andrea Rojas stepped into the executive office and Lena was thrown back to her boarding school days. Except… that never really happened. Did it? Hiding in closets and behind the bleachers with the likes of Veronica Sinclair.?

But their long distance friendship throughout her years at MIT had been real. Andrea’s betrayal had been real. 

Honestly, Lena couldn’t find it in herself to be mad anymore. There were bigger betrayals and bigger issues at hand. So, she could forgive Andrea… but she’d never forget it.

“Andrea,” She said, allowing a small smile. “How are you?”

“I should be asking you, I heard you were on sabbatical,” Andrea said. “‘Out of the country’ if Miss Danvers is to be believed.”

“You’re friends with Kara?” Lena asked.

“I wish,” Andrea said with a small laugh. “No, she was just interviewing me for CATCO. I’m afraid that pet of yours is well-trained. Didn’t even accept my offer for drinks.”

“Kara Danvers is not my pet,” Lena said.

“Oh? Trouble in paradise?”

“How about we focus on business?”

“I’ll get straight to the point,” Andrea said, sitting down. “I want to buy CATCO.”

“I’m sorry?”

“Oh come on Lena, we all know that you originally bought it as a fuck you to Morgan. You have no use for it, so sell it to me.”

“Why do you want it?” Lena asked, tilting her head.

“What you have, quite frankly, is a dying titan in the industry. I want to inject some life back into it and make as much money off it as I can,” Andrea said. 

“I didn’t know you wanted to play media mogul,” Lena said, tilting her head.

“I’ve already saved one dying company, why not go two for two?” Andrea said, cool as a cucumber. 

Lena frowned. She had bought it for Kara and it was so tempting, so easy, actually to sell it to Andrea. It would be a big middle finger to Kara if she did it. But… it would be wrong to use CATCO as a chess piece. 

“I’ll think about it. I’m going back on Sabbatical… today in fact. If you’re still interested when I return, we can discuss it then,” Lena said. “Is that all?”

“I wanted to discuss some of your AI technology with you,” Andrea said. “We at Obsidian North-”

And that’s how they spent the rest of the meeting, discussing technology and a hopeful potential partnership. Lena wasn’t stupid. She knew how well Obsidian Tech had been doing recently. She was perfectly willing to partner with Andrea. Besides Sam would probably be dealing with the brunt of it anyways. Lena was happy she had given Sam a CEO salary before she left to make it up to her for doing all this. She was thankful to her friend for allowing her to leave.

“I’ll have the agreement drawn up and put on your desk to sign soon enough,” Andrea said, getting up to leave. “It was lovely to see you again Lena,” She offered her hand and Lena shook it.

“Nice to see you as well Andrea, thanks for meeting with me on such short notice.”

“Think about what I said about CATCO, alright?”

“I will.”

“Hey, Kara, can I talk to you real quick?”

Kara was in the DEO and Brainey was waving her over.

“What’s up?”

“I just wanted to let you know that Lena has gone off-world again.”

Kara sighed but nodded. She had expected something like that.

“Do you want me to try to track her or-”

“No, leave her, she needs her space,” Kara said. “Why were you-”

“Alex wanted me to tell her when she left again. Said something about switching between dimensions as part of the job?”

Kara frowned at that, but let it go. “Okay, well, thank you. I’ll see you at brunch tomorrow?”

“Nia and I will be there,” Brainy said with a smile. 

Chapter Text

Lena arrived to an empty living room.

“That’s great,” she muttered. She had changed into more comfortable clothes at her penthouse before returning. “Hello? Zelena? Regina? Henry?”

“In here!” Zelena called. 

Lena found her eldest sister hunched over a book in Regina’s study. 

“What are you doing?”

“Research,” Zelena said, sitting up a bit. “I thought I’d start with the stuff we have here before heading to the vault.”

“Vault?”

“Oh you’re gonna love that,” Zelena smirked as she turned a page. “Grab one of the books and start looking.”

Emma was staring at her computer, trying to remember just what she was doing when she heard the familiar sound of heels on tile. She glanced up to see Regina walking with a takeout bag in hand. 

“Hello,” Emma said, confused. 

“I thought I would make sure you don’t kill yourself,” Regina said, opening the bag and handing Emma a chicken wrap. “When’s the last time you ate?”

“I, well-” Emma paused, earning a glare from Regina. 

“That’s what I thought,” Regina said, sitting down as Emma began eating. 

“Um, was that all?”

“This Roulette spell concerns me,” Regina said, finding a piece of lint on her shoulder. “It’s a large piece of magic, and very few people could cast… even fewer would pay such a large price.”

Emma wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Oh did you find something?”

“No,” Regina said, her brow furrowed as she frowned. “That’s what makes me worried. We don’t even know what they would give up. Let alone why would they give something that big up just to get rid of Morganna.”

“Well it would have to be one of your enemies then, wouldn’t it?” Emma said. “I mean, unless someone took Uther’s death that personally but-”

“But no one did,” Regina muttered. “Many didn’t even have an idea of where Morganna had popped up from,” Regions smiled at that. “I’m pretty sure your mother thought she was the most terrifying person she had ever seen.”

“She seems like she can be intimidating,” Emma said.

“She was taught by Merlin, one of the most powerful beings, I think you could even argue he was second only to Rumple,” Regina said. “And while she was only eighteen when she disappeared, she was nothing to sneeze at.”

“Well, she was also trained by you, right?” Emma asked. 

Regina nodded. “I was planning for her to be my heir.”

“Really?”

“Don’t act so surprised Miss Swan,” Regina scoffed. “I wanted my kingdom to be in good hands, and despite your mother’s popularity, I think we all know she would have made a horrible queen. Morganna was intelligent, logical, and able to pick the best path forward.”

“So the opposite of you?” Emma asked, her voice slightly teasing.

“I can be logical.”

“Hm,” Emma said, smiling. 

“You keep your mouth closed Miss Swan,” Regina said, her fingers tapping the table in a rhythmic pattern that Emma knew was a self-soothing gesture.

“You’re worried,” Emma said, throwing away the trash away into the bin next to her desk. 

“A little,” Regina admitted. “Morganna has… changed. It’s concerning, but I guess it is to be expected.”

“You think she’s lying about her identity?” Emma asked. 

“No, no, it’s definitely her. Her magic feels the same,” Regina said, she met Emma’s eyes. “Why, do you?”

Emma hesitated, wondering how much she should say. “I-I don’t know if she’s doing it on purpose, but I feel we don’t know much about her life. What happened between when she was transported. Why was she running to a whole other universe?”

“She said it was for space.”

“Space from what? Or… who? And what do they have on Lena?”

Regina was quiet. 

“I’m just saying it’s something we need to think about,” Emma said. “But I trust you on this. I don’t know Lena like you do.”

Regina nodded. “I’ll keep an eye on her,” she crossed her legs. “Now, considering I have a meeting with the city council today, we do need to discuss your budget as Sheriff for next year…”

Regina arrived home exhausted. She hated city council days. Half the stuff brought up in the meeting really could be an email. 

 Lena, Zelena, and Henry sitting at the dining room table, a half-eaten pizza a ways away as Henry worked on his homework and his aunts poured over books. 

“What year did World War II start?” Henry asked.

“Do you really want to trust my knowledge of history? For all we know the years are totally off,” Lena said, not glancing up.

“1939,” Regina said, setting her bag down, and making her way towards her son. “And Lena is right Henry. Why are you still doing homework at this hour?”

“It’s been hard! Lena helped me with my math homework,” Henry said. “And I’m almost done with this.”

His mother gave him a small hug. “And you had pizza?”

“Neither Zelena nor I are very good cooks,” Lena said. 

“Did Emma not stop by?” Regina asked.

“She dropped Henry off, but mentioned something about family dinner? I’m not sure,” Lena said.

“Hmm,” Regina said. She’d have to check in with Emma later. Family dinners never really seemed to end well for the Charmings. “Have we found anything?”

“No,” Zelena said, closing her book. “I believe we will be visiting the vault tomorrow?”

“That’s the next logical step in the process, yes,” Regions sighed. “Zelena if you’ll drive Henry to school, I’ll take Lena to the vault tomorrow.”

Emma wasn’t sure she had seen her parents so tense. 

Snow had made chicken for dinner, and Emma seemed to be the only one eating as the other two picked at their food.

“Alright,” Emma sighed. “I’ll bite, what’s wrong?”

“Why do you say something’s wrong?” Snow asked, her voice going an octave higher than usual.

“You called a family dinner.”

“Can’t we just have dinner with our lovely daughter?”

“Without Henry?” Emma asked, pushing her plate away. “Come on. Fess up,” Snow and Charming shared a glance. “I’m serious, you’re scaring me because the two of you are acting like you murdered someone and are planning to show me the body, so… just spill it.”

“It’s about Morganna,” Snow said.

“Lena? What about her?” Emma asked. “I mean, obviously there was probably a tense relationship, but-”

“Morganna was a menace,” David said speaking up. “At sixteen she had already murdered the king of Camelot and had risen to become Regina’s right hand. She was terrifying. Our spies reported she was just as powerful as Regina, having trained under the almighty mage Merlin.”

“Okay, so you guys have issues with Regina’s family… what else is new?” Emma asked. This felt like run-of-the-mill stuff for them at this point. She had heard all of this from Regina earlier. “Lena seems pretty chill. I’m sure you guys can work it out.”

“I don’t think she’ll exactly be in a forgiving mood when she realizes-” Snow paused. “You have to understand it was wartime. We were desperate and she was Regina’s greatest asset…”

Emma placed her fork down as she realized what her parents were implying. “You didn’t-”

“We captured her,” David said. “She was out riding alone. We knew it was perhaps our only shot. So we locked her up, and Blue had a spell…”

Emma stared at her parents. No… they couldn’t have.

“I know it’s a lot to take in, we thought it was right at the time.”

“You thought separating Regina from the only family member she had left was right?” Emma asked. She tried to wrap her brain around it. “You’ve kept this from Regina?”

“It just never came up?” Snow tried, looking sheepish.

“I just-” Emma stood up. “I can’t-”

“It was war, Emma.”

“She was eighteen!” Emma said, staring at her parents. 

“Which is old enough to know right and wrong,” David said.

“For all you know, you could have sent her straight into a volcano! All for the crime of being related to Regina? Was that you knowing right from wrong?”

Snow winced as David stared down at his plate.

“I can’t be here right now, I need some space,” Emma said.

“Emma-”

“Not right now Snow, please. Not… not right now,” Emma went to her room and began packing. 

“Emma?”

It was David who was standing in her doorway. 

Emma sighed, moving past him to grab some things from the bathroom. 

“Emma, it was for the greater good.”

“Fuck the greater good,” Emma said, zipping her bag up. “What has the greater good ever gotten this family? Hmm? A load of heartbreak and misery. Maybe if we just minded our damn business then we wouldn’t be here.”

Emma hoisted her bag over her shoulder. “I don’t know when I’ll be back, don’t wait up for me. I don’t want to see you in the station tomorrow. You can take the night shift.”

David let her walk past and out of the loft.

Regina was surprised when Emma showed up at her front door with a duffel bag and a tired expression.

“Can I come in?” Emma asked.

Regina opened the door allowing her in. Emma plopped down on the couch, leaning her head against the back of it and closing her eyes, Emma seemed exhausted. As if all of the energy from the usually alert sheriff had been sucked out of her. Regina moved to the kitchen, opened the fridge, and simply handed Emma a beer. 

“Thank you,” Emma said, her voice was hoarse. She managed to hook the beer bottle on the side table and knocked the cap off.  

“I assume you’re hoping to stay the night?” Regina asked, sitting down.

“You were the first person I thought of I can go to Gran-”

“I would never hear the end of it from Henry,” Regina said. “You look rough, Sheriff.”

“Thank you, your majesty.”

“You know what I meant.”

“I do,” Emma said. She tilted her head so she could meet Regina’s eyes. Regina loved Emma’s eyes. The bright green almost seemed to glow when she did magic. Regina was pretty sure she had been entrapped in that gaze since she first met the blonde.

“I know you,” the eyes said. “I understand you ,” even when Emma’s mouth decided to spout out some other type of nonsense. 

“Rough day?” Regina simply asked.

“The roughest,” Emma sighed. “But I’m here now, so.”

Regina couldn’t help but smile a little bit at that. She had a feeling Snow was involved. Oh, how much would it piss Snow off to know that Emma came to her of all people? 

“You’re doing that thing.”

“What thing?”

“Smiling at my mother’s misery.”

“I’m doing no such thing,” Regina scoffed, fixing her face. That earned her a little smile from Emma. 

“I just… I don’t understand her logic sometimes,” Emma said, her voice soft.

“That makes two of us.”

“Regina, I’m being serious,” Regina was quiet as Emma played with the couch cushion. “Everything is just so complicated.”

“Believe me, I know,” Regina sighed. “We’re going to the crypt tomorrow to look for more books concerning the spell.”

“Think you’ll find anything?”

“I have no idea,” Regina said.  

Emma yawned.

“I’ll go set up your bed,” Regina said, moving to get up. Emma grabbed her arm before Regina could fully stand up. 

“Regina… I have to tell you something, and… it’s something you’re not going to like.”

Regina sat down slowly, eying her blonde companion. “What is it?”

“My parents… well, the reason we were fighting tonight…” Emma struggled to find the right words. “God-”

“Emma, you don’t have to-”

“I do!” Emma said, her voice raised. She realized her mistake and lowered her voice, saying softly. “I do. I just… I don’t know how. You’re going to want to go kill my mother.”

“What else is new?” Regina said with a smile. 

“No, Regina, I’m serious.”

“Well, how about this,” Regina crossed her legs. “I promise I’ll wait at least 24 hours before approaching your mother so I have time to cool down.”

“I’d rather you not approach her at all.”

“I can’t promise that til I know the information,” Regina said. 

Emma sighed, weighing her options before nodding. “My parents, they um, they’re responsible for the Roulette spell.”

Regina paused, feeling like the rug just got pulled out from under her feet. “What?”

Emma just nodded. 

Regina stood up. “I need a drink.”

Lena found herself wandering the town of Storybrooke at night. 

She had always liked walking around at night. A dangerous habit, she was well aware, Kara had scolded her for it many times.

“You could get mugged or, or stabbed o-or worse!” Kara had sputtered.

“Then I guess Supergirl won’t be doing her job.”

“Maybe Supergirl will be doing other things and can’t hear you. You shouldn’t walk alone at night Lena, please.” 

“I’m not making any promises.”

Of course, now she was aware of the magic flowing through her veins. A fireball would send any creep running. She placed her hands in her pockets and sighed. 

Regina had… changed. There was no doubt about it. The angry young woman Lena had met was still there in some aspects. Lena doubted Regina would ever truly get rid of that temper. 

Regina had rehabilitated herself, that much was obvious. The beginnings of a better woman that Lena had seen when she lived with her as a teen, had grown. And now here she was, a mother, a (somewhat) respected leader, and a good friend. Regina seemed… happy. Or at least content (Lena wasn’t so sure how much stock she put into this whole happily ever after mess).

Recently Lena wondered if life would have been different if she had never been sent away. If she had stayed, if Regina would have ever cast that curse. If they might have instead been sitting somewhere in the Enchanted Forest.

Ifs, ifs ifs

That’s all her mind seemed to be consumed with since she had pulled the trigger in that cabin with Lex. What ifs. 

What if she hadn’t killed Lex? What if she had turned him in? Let justice take it’s course? The DEO would have locked him up somewhere no one could get to him. There was no doubt in Lena’s mind that Brainy could come up with some impenetrable prison. 

What if she hadn’t moved to National City? What if she hadn’t befriended Kara Danvers?

What if she had found out the truth earlier?

It seemed the more Lena learned the truth about the reality she lived, the more regrets she gathered. Now they felt like they were going to overwhelm her. Like a fisherman who had cast a net and accidentally caught so many fish their net was beginning to tear. 

Lena glanced up at the stars. She remembered being told once you could still see Krypton from Earth. Even though the planet was destroyed, because of its distance, its light continued to shine. Lena wondered if that was ever a comfort for Kara or if it was just a painful reminder of everything she had lost.

Lena sighed.

She missed Kara. 

Christ, she hated to admit it. Maybe it made her weak to say she wanted Kara to talk to. 

They used to tell each other everything. 

Or at least… she had thought they did. 

Lena began making her way toward Granny’s to get some sleep. She’d need it.

Only for her phone to ring. It was Regina. 

“Lena, come to the house, we need to talk.”

There was a knock on Kara’s door. She rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. Why was someone at her apartment so late. 

She opened the door to find Alex in full Director attire.

“Alex? What’s wrong?” she asked. 

“I needed to show you something, in person,” Alex said.

Kara opened her door further, allowing her sister into the apartment. 

“Remember that warehouse fire? On the docks?”

“Yeah, I remember,” Kara said, crossing her arms. “We thought it might be a targeted hate-crime because it was the only warehouse in that area that was both owned by aliens, and contained alien goods.”

“Well they finally managed to find the source of the fire. It was a device that set off a small explosion to trigger a fire.”

“Well that’s great, but Alex it’s late-”

“Kara, you’re going to want to see this,” the agent said.

“What is it?”

Alex simply held up an evidence bag containing what appeared to be the remnants of the bomb. And there, on a metal shard, sat proudly the logo “L-Corp”

Chapter Text

“I think we need to come to terms with the fact we aren’t finding anything on the price,” Zelena said over breakfast. The three sisters were sitting in the kitchen. 

After Lena had returned to the house, Regina broke the news to both her and Zelena about Snow. Lena had been oftly silent since. Though, from what Zelena remembered of what Regina had told her, that was in character for Morganna. This kindy of icy hatred that Zelena was witnessing.

Regina had been nice enough to make them pancakes. Zelena had piled hers with whipped cream and strawberries which she had nearly devoured. “We’ve been at this for a few days. Nothing in the vault, nothing in Regina’s collection here. I don’t believe we’re going to find anything here.”

“Have you considered Glinda?” Regina asked. 

Zelena glared at her sister as Lena looked on in confusion. “Glinda? As in Glinda the Good Witch? Like… with the bubble?”

“No bubble,” Zelena said. “But yes, that Glinda. And you know I can’t go to Oz.”

“Listen, our remaining options are not looking good as far as knowledge resources concerning the Roulette spell,” Regina pointed out. “We have Rumple or Maleficent. And I don’t know about either of you, but I would prefer neither.”

“I’ll go with you,” Lena offered. 

“Perfect,” Regina said.

Zelena looked like she did not think it was perfect, but didn’t argue as Regina left the table.

Lena stabbed a piece of her pancake. “I know you told me about how you joined the sisterhood of witches, only to banish them from Oz. So what is Glinda doing in Oz?”

“Emma and Regina rescued her,” Zelena said. “This was during the time I was throwing my ‘tantrum’ as Emma so aptly put it. I was sitting in a jail cell, thinking over my actions and could no longer rule Oz from Storybrooke. So, Emma and Regina saved Glinda along with the other two witches. Oz was a bit… chaotic and needed them. So they stepped up, they run a council that rules over Oz along with that… pest, Dorthey.”

“You really don’t like her,” Lena said, amused.

“She’s … fine,” Zelena sighed. “They make good rulers, I will admit. Glinda is well… good at most things to be quite honest.”

“You miss her.”

It wasn’t a question.

“We were friends once,” Zelena said, her eyes vacant, lost in memories of the past.

“Where’d you meet, school?” Lena asked, amused by her own joke. 

“What?”

“It’s a reference from-never mind,” Lena said, brushing her off. “I’ll be ready in an hour to go.”

They heard Emma approach, walking down the stairs. She appeared. “Hi!”

“Hello Emma,” Regina said getting up and moving to the counter. “Sleep well?”

“Yes,” Emma said. “But um, I’m gonna head out for the day. I’ll pick up the kid after school?”

“Yes please, thank you Emma,” Regina said. “Oh here,” she tossed Emma an apple. “Don’t forget breakfast.”

Emma eyed the apple for a moment, glancing back at Regina who seemed to realize what she had done. Emma just laughed and took a bite out of it. “I’ll be back later. Please don’t kill my parents while I’m at work!”

Kara and Alex were standing at the table in the DEO, the shards of another device from L-Corp between them. 

“You know how this looks,” Alex said.

“It wasn’t Lena, you know that.”

Alex was skeptical but didn’t argue. Instead saying, “Someone is trying real hard to make it look like her though, but who?”

“Lex is dead.”

“We think,” Alex sighed. “We still haven’t recovered the body.”

“This can’t be Lena, she’s not even on this earth,” Kara said.

“I’m not saying it is,” Alex said, motioning. “But her company is somehow involved.”

“Or she’s being framed.”

“That’s also possible,” Alex said. “We need to figure this out before anyone else gets hurt.”

Lena and Zelena emerged from the portal, landing on the yellow brick road.

“Oh this is weird,” Lena said, feeling slightly nauseous. 

“I know,” Zelena muttered, not looking at Lena, her eyes on the large green buildings ahead of them. “I didn’t think I would be back here.”

Not what Lena meant, but she stood up straight anyways, following her sister’s gaze. “Woah,” Lena muttered.

Lena had lived in big cities for most of her life. Metropolis, National City, London, Boston, she had lived in all of them. 

None, compared in beauty to the Emerald City. The buildings were cut from stone, the green, contrasting the bright red poppies around the city. The sun was hitting the buildings in a way they just shined. 

Lena glanced at Zelena to see her staring longingly at the city. 

“Ready?” Lena asked. 

“No,” Zelena said quietly with a sigh. She moved her hand to disguise her opinion. “But I’d pick Glinda over Rumple any day of the week.”

She set off and Lena trailed after her. 

The gates around Oz were higher than Lena expected. They stood at least twenty feet high if that. They were carved out of green crystal, while the actual gates were golden inlaid with green. 

Zelena walked over to a green cord that was almost hidden against the stone and pulled on it, sounding a chime they could hear. 

There was a metal scraping and a small window was open for a man’s face to peer out. He resembled the Swedish chef from the muppets with his eyebrows and mustache. He wore a tall green hat. “Who goes there?”

“Lena Luthor, seeking an audience with Glinda the Good,” Lena said. 

“And her?” He motioned to Zelena. 

“My companion Kate… West.”

“Humph, I guess you may be allowed in,” the guard said. 

“Really?” Zelena muttered as they heard mechanisms within the door. “Kate West ?”

Lena shrugged. “Got us in didn't it?” 

Zelena simply sighed. The large gates opened, and the guard stepped out. He handed them two sets of goggles. 

“Put these on.”

The inside of the Emerald City was even more beautiful behind the walls. It screamed elegance and wealth. Women and men were dressed in all green and gave them odd looks as they passed. Lena’s head was on a permanent swivel, trying to take it all in. 

“Stop acting like a tourist,” Zelena muttered. “You’re embarrassing me.”

“Can you blame me?” Lena retorted. “Zelena this is…”

“Magnificent,” Zelena said, her voice only a touch wistful. “I know. But we’re here for a reason.”

The two followed the man to the large building in the center of the Emerald City. It was hard to keep track of their tour guide in the crowds actually, but soon they reached their destination. Glinda’s palace. The Guard knocked three times and the large doors swung opened to reveal an empty entrance hall decorated in green and gold.

Their shoes echoed along the crystal floors as the guard led them to the center of the room. 

“I leave you here,” he said with a nod. “Glinda will see you shortly.”

“Thank you,” Lena said with a smile.

He nodded, leaving the way he came. 

“Pretty loose security,” Lena noted, looking around the room. Stained Glass windows depicting events in Ozian history overlooked the room. 

“Perhaps that’s because we don’t need weapons to deal with threats,” a female voice said. 

Lena and Zelena both turned towards it. 

Glinda was (as Lena expected her to be) very pretty and put together. She was dressed in an all-white gown, her blonde hair done up away from her face. It was somehow messy, and yet neat at the same time. A large white pendant hung around her neck. Her hands were folded as she smiled warmly at her guests. 

That was the other thing Lena noted about Glinda. Despite being the Good Witch of the North, Glinda radiated warmth in her smile. However, Lena could tell the woman was studying them. Sizing them up, determining whether or not they were a threat. 

“You’ll find three witches at full strength to be quite a deterrent against any criminal activity… at least within the palace,” Glinda continued. “Not many wish to tangle with us. Wouldn’t you agree… Zelena?”

“Zelena? Who’s that?” “Kate” tried, earning her a glare from the good witch. 

“I’m almost insulted you think a half-hearted attempt at an illusion could trick me,” Glinda said. “Come on now.”

Zelena sighed but snapped her fingers. A green cloud appeared around her, and when it dispersed, a sheepish-looking Zelena remained. “Hello, Glinda.”

“What brings you to Oz?” Glinda asked. Her eyes darted over to Lena and back. “I doubt it was to tell me about reuniting with another long-lost sister of yours.”

“As much as I despise asking for it, we need your help,” Zelena admitted.

“Never thought I’d see the day you’d ask for my help,” Glinda said, a bit amused.

“You are finding way too much enjoyment from this for being a good witch,” Zelena huffed. 

“And you must be desperate if you would come to me for aid,” Glinda said. She glanced over at Lena. “What is it that you need?”

“You’ll help us?” Lena asked, surprised. “Just like that?”

“I am no Dark One, Morganna,” Glinda said, eying her. “I require no price for a good deed. This is a good deed, is it not?”

“It is,” Lena said quickly. “We need some information, any at all, actually if you have it, on the roulette spell?”

“Roulette spell?” Glinda’s brow furrowed. “I’ve never heard of it.”

Zelena quickly explained the logistics of the spell, causing Glinda’s frown to grow deeper.

“No, no… I’ve never heard of such a spell,” Glinda said, seeming troubled. “Such things shouldn’t be possible and yet…” Glinda sighed, lost in thought for a moment. “So much good can come with magic, and yet it seems the older I get, the more horrors I see committed with it. The spell would have to come from someone very well-versed in magic. I don’t see a beginner being able to cast it. As for the price…”

“We know it would have to be large,” Lena said.

“Whoever was willing to pay that must have really wanted you out of the way,” Glinda said with a nod. “Be wary Morganna.”

“I will,” Lena said.

“I wish I could be of more help to you,” Glinda said, her voice apologetic. She glanced over at Zelena. “So you’ve decided to be good now?”

“It’s complicated.”

“Well…” Glinda’s face had softened a bit. “Complicated is a lot better than wicked, wouldn’t you say?”

Zelena just shook her head. “You really should stop looking for the good in people Glinda, it only seems to get you in trouble.”

“You’re only mad that I was right about you,” Glinda said, smiling at Zelena. “Now, how long are you planning to stay in Oz?”

“We need to get back, update Regina,” Zelena said. “Besides, I don’t think everyone would be as welcoming as you.”

“Zelena, please, as you well know-”

“What’s she doing here?”

They turned to see a brunette pointing a crossbow straight at Zelena’s chest. She was dressed in a checker-pattern blue dress and her brown hair was done in two braids. A small black dog stood by her side, growling at the group.

“Dorothy,” Glinda greeted. “I thought we discussed no crossbow inside the palace?”

“Again, I’ll ask, what is she doing here?” Dorothy didn’t lower the crossbow.

“I needed Glinda’s help,” Zelena said as Dorothy slowly made her way toward them. “We were just leaving.”

“As if we would allow you to leave,” Dorothy scoffed.

“As if you could force us to stay,” Zelena fired back.

“Zelena, please don’t aggravate the woman with the crossbow,” Lena hissed.

“Who’s this?” Dorothy said, frowning in Lena’s direction.

“My sister,” Zelena said. “The reason I’m here Twinkle toes.” 

Lena groaned, placing her face in her hands. “You want to get us killed, that's what it is.”

“Dorothy put the crossbow down. If they wanted to harm me, they would have already,” Glinda said. 

“We can’t trust her, you know that.”

They stood in silence.

“So are you gonna shoot us?” Zelena asked.

“Let them go, Dorthey.”

“But-”

Glinda glanced over at her. Dorthey sighed, lowering the crossbow. 

“Thank you for your help, Glinda,” Lena said with a nod. The two sisters turned to leave.

“Zelena?”

Zelena glanced back at Glinda.

“I was never one to hold a grudge, you know that. The Emerald City will always be open to you.”

“ Glinda ,” Dorthey hissed.

“As Storybrooke is for you,” Zelena said with a slight nod. “Goodbye Glinda.”

“Safe travels, to both of you,” Glinda said.

Lena nodded, and the two of them made their way out of the palace and back through the city. Without her disguise, Zelena got quite a few stares. However, no one was brave enough to approach the two of them. 

“So,” Lena said, waiting until they were outside the city gates to bring up the topic. “Does every woman in this family have a thing for blondes?”

“Bloody hell, I am not discussing this with you,” Zelena huffed.

“Oh come on, you tease Regina all the time. What would she say if she heard you were mooning-”

“I was not mooning-”

“You were drooling over Glinda in that meeting.”

“I was not.”

“Was too.”

“Was not.”

Lena just laughed, causing Zelena to smile. 

“Let’s get home, shall we?” Zelena asked.

Regina was paging through requests when she heard a knock at the door.

“Enter!” She called. 

The door opened slowly and Snow White peeked inside. 

“I think it might be in your best interest to turn and leave,” Regina said, gritting her teeth as she returned to her work. 

“Regina-”

“I don’t want to hear it, get out.”

“So Emma told you,” Snow wilted a little. 

“You know… I thought we had reached the lowest we could go when you killed me mother. I forgave you, because I somewhat understood,” Regina said standing up. “I knew better then anyone the horror my mother was. And though I was devastated that you took the woman she was from me, I moved on. But… Morganna?” Regina shook her head. “She was a child.”

“She was a threat,” Snow said, though her voice was a whisper.

“Was she?” Regina asked. “You didn’t even know her. You don’t get it, do you? That was my little sister, Snow. I thought my little sister died . Instead you transported her to god knows where, where she had to endure who knows what. When she should have been by my side.”

“It was wartime.”

“You know,” Regina let out a hollow laugh “she almost convinced me not to cast it.”

Snow froze, her eyes going wide.

“The morning she disappeared, we had gotten into an argument. She knew I was considering taking the curse and using it. She tried to dissuade me, reminding me that I shouldn’t trust him . She then left for a horseback ride. I considered our conversation. I decided I would wait til she returned home to tell her I would discuss it more before making a decision. But then… she never came back.”

“Regina I didn’t know-”

“Why couldn’t you just let me have one thing?” Regina asked, her voice coming out as  whisper as she tried to contain her emotion.

“Regina, I’m sorry.”

Then a thought hit Regina. “What was the price?”

“What?”

“What price did you pay?”

“I’m not telling you that,” Snow said, shaking her head.

“It had to be big. What did you sacrifice Snow?”

Snow shook her head.

Regina scoffed. “What a coward. You want forgiveness but you can’t own up to what you’ve done,” she motioned towards her door. “Get out of my sight.”

And finally, for the first time, Snow listened.

“We’re back!” Lena called as they entered Regina’s house.

“How’d it go?” Emma asked.

Emma and Regina were sitting in the kitchen. Henry was up in his room.

“You can heat up some soup if you want it,” Regina motioned to the counter.

“It could’ve been better,” Zelena admitted.

“Dorthey pointed a crossbow at us,” Lena said in a deadpan voice. “But Glinda didn’t let her kill us. She didn’t really have any helpful info either.” she poured some soup in the bowl to reheat.

“Well… that leaves us with little choice,” Regina sighed. “We have to meet with Maleficent.”

Lena wrinkled her nose. “And you’re… okay with that?”

Zelena and Emma both glanced over at Lena in confusion. 

Lena gave Regina a knowing look to which Regina just huffed. “I am perfectly fine. Times have changed Lena.”

“If you say so,” Lena said, going to put her soup in the microwave.

“What’s all that about?” Emma asked.

“Nothing,” Regina said. She motioned. “Finish your soup Miss Swan.”

It would take a few days to get a meeting with Maleficent, so Regina thought it would be a good time to practice her magic. 

They decided to practice it in the backyard. Henry was bouncing eagerly on his toes while Zelena was tanning on a beach chair. She had sunglasses on and a book in hand. She claimed she was supervising.”

“Please don’t catch the house on fire, I do not want to beg Ruby to let me stay at the bed and breakfast!” Zelena called.

Lena rolled her eyes.

“Alright,” Regina said. “Easy enough, I want you to summon a fireball in your palm.”

Lena closed her eyes.

“Control Morganna, it’s all about control,” Merlin said. Merlin had caught her earlier that week healing one of the castle strays. She had begged him not to tell her father. Uther may have respected Merlin and his magic, but he believed all women with magic were witches. Merlin telling him would sign Lena’s death warrant. Instead, Merlin promised her he’d not only keep her secret, but help train her. However, she was getting frustrated. Merlin continued. “Our magic is fueled by emotion, whether that’s love, or anger, or frustration. So if you wish to do dark magic, like a fireball, I need you to try and channel your anger.”

Lena closed her eyes and focused on her resentment towards Uther and how he treated Arthur.

“You did it.”

Lena opened her eyes to see the fireball on her palm. She laughed. “I did it!”

Regina smiled at her. “Alright, now extinguish the flames.”

Lena closed her hand, the fireball disappearing. 

“Now again,” Regina commanded. 

Lena made the fireball reappear. 

“Henry?” Regina asked.

“Lena hit this!” He threw a frisbee and Lena hit it with a fireball. A shrapnel piece nearly hit Zelena.

“Watch it!” Zelena yelled, raising her sunglasses. “I’m trying to get some sun here!”

"Let's go again," Regina said. "Ready Henry?”

Lena grinned as she tossed another fireball in the air. She hadn’t realized how much she missed this. The feeling of power coursing through her veins and out through her fingertips. It was addicting and electrifying. 

“Come on Henry!” She called. “Another one!”

This was going to be a fun afternoon.

Chapter Text

Lena, Emma, and Zelena watched from a distance as Regina and Maleficent conversed.

“You don’t like her,” Zelena noted.

“I don’t like Regina around her,” Lena corrected, her arms crossed. “I remember when they were… friends .”

“Wait, friends or friends ?” Emma asked, whipping around towards Lena. 

“ Friends ,” both Zelena and Lena said. 

“Are you serious?”

“Mal has always had a soft spot for Regina,” Lena said.

“She tried to kill Regina,” Emma pointed out, motioning to them. 

Lena shrugged. “It was the Enchanted Forest… I don’t know what you expected.”

They watched as Mal placed her hand on Regina’s shoulder. Regina nodded. Lena sighed. Even after all this time, it was obvious Mal still had a soft spot for Regina.

Regina returned to them, seeming lost in thought. 

“Well, what did she say?” Zelena asked. 

“She knows nothing.”

“And you believe her?” Lena asked.

“I do,” Regina nodded. She sighed. “That leaves us with one option… Rumple.”

All three of her companions groaned. 

“She was a dead end, he’s our only choice,” Regina argued.

“That doesn’t mean we have to like it,” Emma said, crossing her arms.

“Well we have no choice,” Regina returned. “We have to visit the Imp.”

Rumple was far too pleased to see them in his shop. His grin reminding Lena of the Cheshire Cat. “Well if it isn’t the Mills sisters and their pet savior. How may I be of service?”

“The Roulette spell,” Regina said. “What do you know and what’s your price?”

“No price.”

“What’s your game imp?”

“No game,” the man clasped his hand together, his facial expression not changing. “A roulette spell, yes? Very, very risky, could be placed hundreds of years in the future or a year down the street. Higher price means the caster more control over the ‘wheel’ so to speak.”

“What does that mean?” Lena asked. 

“Think of the locations possible for transportation in the spell as if… well as if they were on a Roulette wheel,” he chucked. “If you were to sacrifice more in the spell, it would be like blocking off certain squares the ball could go into. You sacrifice enough and you block all the squares off except the one you want. If I had to guess, Blue blocked off as many spaces as possible. More insurance on their part.”

“You knew it was Snow,” Regina said.

“Ay, but I wasn’t the one who gave it to her,” Rumple said. 

“Then who did?” Lena asked. 

 “I hear he was an old friend of yours,” He motioned to Lena.

Lena frowned.“Who?

“Your mentor.”

Lena stepped back in shock. “Merlin. But why?”

“You’ll have to take that up with him,” Rumple said. 

“He’s still alive?” Regina asked in shock.

“Time moves a bit slower in Camelot,” Rumple said. “Arthur is in his late thirties at the moment in fact.”

“But we don’t have any magic beans,” Emma pointed out. 

Regina glanced back over at Rumple. “And that’s why the information was free. Wasn’t it? You have something that can take us there.”

“I do,” Rumple smiled. “I have the beans you need to get there and back.”

“What’s your price?” Regina asked.

“I want nothing from you, your majesty,” Rumple’s eyes gleamed with knowing as he turned to Lena. “I want something that can vanquish the unvanquishable.”

Lena could feel her companion’s eyes on her, but she maintained her composure. How did he know- Lena guessed she couldn’t truly be surprised. This was the Dark One after all. “From my world.”

“Exactly dearie. I’m glad we understand one another,” he smiled. “I bid you all a good day.”

They left the shop. 

“Lena, what was he talking about?” Regina asked. 

“Just a unique element from my world,” Lena said, forcing a smile. “Don’t worry about it.”

Regina and Emma exchanged looks but didn’t say anything. 

Lena stopped, turning to face the three of them. “I have to go back to National City.”

“How long will you be gone?” Regina asked. 

“I don’t know,” Lena said. “The element is a bit rare, but not impossible to get ahold of.”

“One of us can come with you,” Regina said.

“No, no, it’s better if I do this on my own,” Lena said. It would easier to focus on getting the kryptonite if she didn’t have to worry about questions being asked about her sisters.

Both Regina and Zelena frowned at that. 

“It will be fine,” Lena said, reassuring her older sisters. “Besides, I’ll leave one of my teleportation devices here with you. I’ll see if I can rig something up so we can communicate even if I’m there and you’re here. I’ll check in 48 hours from now for an update and we can go from there. Alright?”

“Fine,” Both Regina and Zelena said. 

“Good,” Lena said. “I need to go to Granny’s grab a few things and then I’ll head out, alright?”

The three women nodded. 

Lena appeared in her lab, stumbling forward, but managed to regain her balance. She sighed, stretching. Dimensional travel was not her favorite. She began walking towards the door, she needed to go back to her apartment and recuperate.

She didn’t know what she was doing, nor did she particularly have a plan. After all, this was kryptonite they were talking about here. It wasn’t exactly like she could call Jess up and ask her to place in an order for it. Kara and her had a… complicated relationship regarding kryptonite. Well, that was putting it lightly. The truth was, Kara was terrified of it and what it could do. Lena wasn’t sure anyone could get kryptonite away from the DEO, especially with Alex at the helm. 

Which left another option… making it in her lab. 

Lena wasn’t fond of that idea. She knew it would likely fracture her already tenuous relationship with Kara as it was. But Lena needed to get to Camelot. Which meant Lena needed kryptonite.

Lena managed to make it to her penthouse in one piece, letting herself in. What once felt like home now felt… cold and empty compared to being in Storybrooke. Lena sighed, placing her keys on the counter, now, where did she put her laptop-

As Lena moved towards the living room, she felt pain in the back of her head, and then it all went black.

Emma was sitting at her desk in the sheriff’s office trying to ignore her father who was sitting only feet away from her. Work had been… awkward, since she had stormed out. Thankfully, they hadn’t had to deal with any serious emergencies. So communication was kept to a minimum. 

Emma glanced up at the sound of heels clacking against tile, just as her father did. Regina came into view. “Sheriff.”

“Regina? What’s wrong?” Emma asked, standing up. 

“You were supposed to be home an hour ago,” Regina said. “Your son was getting nervous.”

Emma almost smiled at that. Sure, Henry was getting nervous. Emma glanced over at the clock. She had told Regina she just needed to go in for a little bit after Lena had left, promising her that she would be home by six. She had underestimated the amount of work it seems. “Sorry ‘Gina,” Emma said. “Give me a moment to put things in their places and then I’ll be ready to go.

“Fine,” Regina sniffed. “Those reports will be on my desk Friday?”

“Of course Madame Mayor,” Emma said, flashing her a smile.

“Good,” she paused. “I made soup.”

“What kind?”

“Tomato.”

Emma wrinkled her nose. 

Regina sighed. “There’s also grilled cheese.”

“Oooh,” Emma said, rubbing her hands.

“You act like a child, genuinely,” Regina said fondly, shaking her head as Emma placed paperwork in folders.

“Alright,” Emma said, standing up. She turned towards her father. “David, is there anything else you needed before I leave?”

“Oh-” David was surprised by Emma acknowledging him. “No.”

“I’ll see you tomorrow then,” Emma said, she smiled at Regina. “Good to go?”

“I teleported here so you’ll have to drive me back.”

“Of course,” Emma said, grabbing her jacket. 

Regina waited until they got into the car. “Did you find it odd Lena didn’t give us anymore details about what she was supposed to fetch for Rumple.”

“Did you?” Emma asked. “You know her better then I do.”

“Emma.”

“Yes, I did,” Emma said, eyes on the road. “‘something that can vanquish the unvanquishable?’ That’s not something I necessarily am thrilled about Gold getting his hands on.”

“I feel the same.”

“Then why did you let her go?”

Regina sighed. “You saw her. She would have gone with or without my permission. She’s hell bent on getting to Camelot.”

“She’s not telling us everything,” Emma said. 

“I know… but I don’t want to push her.”

“There’s no harm in asking some questions.”

“I guess you’re right,” Regina said. “I’ll talk to her when she gets home.”

Lena woke up in a cell. 

Which, honestly, was not too odd of an experience for her at this point. She sat up, groaning. 

“Well look who’s finally awake.”

Lena looked to see none other then Lillian Luthor standing on the other side, smirking. 

“Why couldn’t you just be normal and I don’t know… send me a message for brunch?” Lena asked, placing a hand on her head where it was throbbing. “I thought we were past the kidnapping part of our relationship Mother.”

“You weren’t responding to my messages.”

“Messages?” Lena said as she glanced around the cell. With her magic it wouldn’t be hard to break out, but she didn’t want her mother to know about her abilities. So that option was out. 

“The attacks,” Lillian huffed. “Come now Lena, don’t play stupid.”

Lena huffed at that, but didn’t respond.

“I really thought it would only take one with L-Corp technology for you to seek me out,” Lillian said. “Yet it’s taken you weeks.”

“I’m sorry, you’ll find I have many enemies these days,” Lena said, standing up. She had no idea about the attacks, but she would play along to get what she needed. “And I assumed that my jailbird mother would be trying to lay low.”

“I needed to find you to speak to you,” Lillian said, she clasped the bars of Lena’s cell. “It’s about Lex.”

Lena felt a chill go down her spine, but she kept her face neutral. “Oh?”

“I know the only person he would trust is you to know if he’s alive,” Lillian said, sounding desperate.

“Oh, I see, wanting to know if your golden prince is still alive?” Lena asked, knowing her words came out bitter. 

“Oh stop that,” Lillian snapped. “You know full well Lex and I weren’t on the best of terms.”

Lena moved a piece of hair out of her face, only to realize she still had her watch on. 

She carefully guided her hands behind her back as she said. “He’s dead,” she hit the button on her watch, praying Kara would show up soon.

Lillian seemed to melt in relief. “He is?”

Lena nodded.

“Do I want to know how you know that?”

Lena was silent at that. 

“But you know for sure?”

“I do.”

“And he’s never coming back.”

“Hopefully,” Lena sighed. “Knowing him he’ll find some way to claw his way back from the afterlife out of pure spite .”

“Well I’ll be on the lookout for that,” Lillian said. “I have to go, I have no doubt your pet Kryptonian is on her way.”

“Wait,” Lena said, holding out her hand. Lillian raised an eyebrow. “You knew her identity.”

Lillian nodded slowly. “I did.”

“And you didn’t tell me.”

“I did not.”

“Why?”

Lillian just smiled. “Maybe it was because I couldn’t stand the thought of you being hurt and hoped that pesky reporter would tell you herself.”

“Bullshit.”

Lillian just shrugged. “Have a good day Lena.”

And with that, her mother left. 

Mere seconds later, Lena heard Kara’s voice. “Lena?”

“In here!” Lena called.

Kara rushed into the room, full super regalia on. 

“Lena,” She said, relieved. And in that moment, Lena couldn’t find the strength to be mad at Kara. Because Kara came. 

She always came for her. 

“Stand back,” Kara said. Lena took two steps back as Kara ripped the door off. Kara reached for a hug, then seemed to remember herself. “Sorry.”

“It’s alright,” Lena said. “Thank you for coming.”

“Of course,” Kara said. “So who was it this time?” She glanced around the room. “Seems like they didn’t want to stay and watch the show?”

“My mother,” Lena said as they exited the cell. “She wanted to have a little chat.”

“Oh Lena.”

“What?” Lena asked, turning towards Kara.

The other woman winced. “The back of your head… it isn’t looking the best…”

“Ah, yes,” Lean said. “Well I was knocked out.”

“You’re coming with me to the DEO.”

“Kara-”

“Please let Alex look at it?” Kara asked. 

And god if Lena was not weak to those blue puppy dog eyes.

“Fine,” She said, gritting her teeth.

“Thank you,” Kara said. 

“Let me call for my car-”

“I could fly you,” Kara said as they exited the building onto the sidewalk.

Lena paused. “What?”

“Carry you, I mean,” Kara’s face was slightly red. “It’d be quicker.”

“Fine,” Lena grit out. 

Kara grinned. Quickly, she scooped Lena’s legs out from under her in a bridal carry. Lena tried desperately not to think about how hot it was that Kara could pick her up that easily. For god’s sake she was still supposed to be mad at the woman! Lena found herself wrapping her arms around Kara’s neck. She tried not to think about how close she was to the other woman, but she was sure her heartbeat was giving her away. 

“Alright, hang on.”

Lena nearly screeched as Kara took off, zooming through National City. Lena squeezed her eyes tight, strengthening her hold on Kara’s neck. Thankfully, they arrived at the DEO before Lena could lose her lunch. Lena nearly lept out of Kara’s arms as soon as she touched the ground. 

“Jesus Christ,” Lena said.

“Sorry,” Kara said, sheepishly. “Guess I should have focused less on getting here quickly and more about not making you nauseous.”

“I think I might have a concussion,” Lena said, stumbling before Kara caught her. 

“You’ll be alright,” Kara said. “Brainy!”

Brainy scrambled towards them. “Miss Luthor!”

“Hi Brainy,” Lena said with a little wave, still trying to keep her lunch down. 

“Brainy, tell Alex to meet us in the sick bay,” Kara ordered. She turned to Lena as Brainy walked away. “Can you walk?”

Lena scoffed. “Of course I can,” She took two steps then stumbled again. “Maybe not.”

Kara once again picked her up in a bridal carry before Lena could even blink. 

“Here, I’ve got you,” Kara said, her voice as soft as ever.

“I can walk on my own, thank you very much,” Lena muttered, closing her eyes. God her head really did hurt. 

“I know,” Kara said. “But isn’t it easier to let me carry you? Just to the medical bay?”

“I’m still mad at you.”

“I know,” Kara said, sadness creeping into her tone. “I’m sorry. It never should have been like this.”

“Why did you do it?” Lena asked, though she had already heard this answer before.

“Because I couldn’t bare to lose you,” Kara said, finally setting her down in the med bay. “Because you liked Kara Danvers and everybody else knew I was Supergirl. You, however, liked me not because I was Supergirl, but because I was me. Kara Danvers who stumbles over her words and eats a ton of food and is a little too competitive for her own good.”

“And is loyal and kind,” Lena added. 

Kara smiled at that. “You always saw the best in me Lena.”

“I thought you did the same, that you believed in me,” Lena said, her heartbreak leaking into her voice. “But I guess I was wrong.”

Before Kara could respond, Alex entered the med bay. “Brainy said you needed me Kara?”

“It’s Lena,” Kara said, moving to the side to reveal the Luthor. “She’s been hurt.”

“Ah,” Alex said. 

Lena felt shocked. Had they gone back in time? This icy Alex Danvers resembled the one Lena had first met. Not the one merely a few months ago she had been at game night with. 

“Alex,” Kara said, her voice low, giving her sister a pointed glance.

“Let me see,” Alex said, making her way towards Lena’s head. Lena tried to relax as she felt Alex’s hands in her hair. “Good news, no bleeding. Doesn’t seem like you need stitches. Most likely you just have a concussion,” She took a step back. “I still would want you to stay here for 48 hours for observation.”

“Are you serious?” Lena asked, staring at her. 

“You couldn’t walk,” Kara reminded Lena softly. “Besides, Lillian could have done something to you in your sleep.”

“She wouldn’t-” Lena hesitated, before wilting. “Alright.”

It would be easier to get kryptonite if she was in the DEO anyways.

“So where have you been?” Alex asked.

“Off world,” Lena responded, not looking at the other woman.

“Doing what?”

“Vacationing in a small town.”

“A small town?”

“Alex, enough,” Kara muttered.

“I’m just wondering why Lena is keeping so many secrets.”

Lena snorted.

“What?”

“Do you really think you have the moral high ground on keeping secrets right now?” Lena asked, finally meeting the brunette’s gaze.

Kara tried to intervene. “Guys-”

“I would do anything to protect my little sister,” Alex said, not backing down from Lena’s gaze.

“And she needed protecting from me?” Lena asked. 

The two women stood in a silent staring contest before Lena finally broke eye contact, turning to Kara. “My mother mentioned something about attacks?”

“There’s been some incidents with L-corp tech,” Kara said. “No one was seriously injured thankfully.”

“Good,” Lena said. “She said they were to get my attention, so I think she’ll be staying off the radar for awhile.”

“Why did she want your attention?” Alex asked.

“She wanted to know about Lex.”

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

“Lex? But he’s dead,” Kara said.

“She wanted to make sure he was, after all, you never found the body,” Lena said. “My mother thought if he was going to tell anyone where he was, it would be me.”

“And have you heard anything?” Alex asked.

“Don’t you think I would told you if I had?” Lena snapped. “I’m upset not suicidal.”

“So he is dead,” Kara said.

“As far as I know,” Lena said, leaning back, her eyes closing. 

“We should let you rest,” Kara said. “I’ll come check on you later.”

“Thank you,” Lena said quietly. 

Kara smiled, and then the two Danvers walked away. 

“You need to calm down,” Emma said.

Regina was anxiously pacing in her study. It was early evening, both women having returned from work. Henry was in the kitchen doing his homework while Zelena watched TV. “She hasn’t checked in. We haven’t heard anything from her and she was supposed to check in hours ago.”

“Lena is a grown-up, she’ll be fine,” Emma said gently. 

“I need to go after her,” Regina said. “If something happened, I’ll never forgive myself.”

“Zelena won’t let you go alone,” Emma said.

“Will you be alright watching Henry?” Regina asked.

“Of course,” Emma said. She reached out her hand, taking Regina’s in hers. “Stay safe.”

“I will,” Regina said, moving to grab the device off the shelf. She made her way to the living room. “Zelena!”

Zelena hopped up. “Surprised it took you so long to cave. I’m interested to see where our little sister lives.”

“I am too,” Regina admitted. “But we need to focus on finding her.”

“Then shall we,” Zelena motioned. 

Regina fiddled with the device before opening a blue glowy portal. 

“Woah,” Henry said from the kitchen. 

“Stay back, we’ll be back soon!” Regina called to her son. She turned to her sister. “Ready?”

“As I’ll ever be.”

The two stepped through the portal. 

Chapter Text

It had been thirty six hours since Lena Luthor had entered the DEO and she was bored . She saw very few people, and had even less to do. Kara refused to give Lena her laptop or phone, concerned about the strain of the screen on her eyes. So instead Lena had been reduced to reading and writing.

She heard a knock on the open door. She glanced up to see Kara entering her room. She appeared to have just come from CatCo as she was in her regular reporting attire. The blonde adjusted her glasses. “Hey.”

“I cannot believe I never saw through the disguise,” Lena said, shaking her head. 

“There are very few who have,” Kara said, moving to sit beside Lena’s bed. “How are you feeling?”

“Much better,” Lena said. 

“I’m glad,” Kara said. She adjusted her glasses. “Um, I thought you should be one of the first to know. Remember that article I wrote on Lex last year?”

“Of course.”

“I won a Pulitizer for it,” Kara said.

Lena couldn’t help but smile. “Oh Kara that’s wonderful.”

Kara blushed at that. “Yeah, well… I couldn’t have done it without you.”

“Well I don’t know about that,” Lena said. “What are you working on now?” 

Kara eagerly began discussing her new projects. As Kara talked, Lena couldn’t help the ache she felt in her chest. It was so easy to fall into old habits with Kara. They sat and talked as if nothing had changed, and yet everything had.

Regina and Zelena appeared in a large penthouse. Zelena whistled. 

“So she’s rich rich,” Zelena said walking around. 

“Focus, we need something for the tracking spell,” Regina said. They began looking around, Zelena making her way to Lena’s bedroom as Regina looked around the living room. There were bookshelves from wall to wall filled with books.

“Regina!”

Regina found her sister holding up a picture frame, the glass was cracked. Yet the frame and photo hadn’t been pitched. The picture depicted Lena and a blonde woman with glasses. They both looked extremely happy with the woman’s arm around Lena.

“That must be Kara,” Regina said, drawing on her earlier conversations with Lena. 

“I think we found who she was running from,” Zelena said. 

“Maybe,” Regina said, moving to the closet. “Here,” she held up an MIT sweatshirt. “We can use this.”

“Want to do the honors?” Zelena asked.

Regina smiled, motioning with her hand and the sweatshirt glowed.

Lena nearly fell out of bed as her two sisters appeared in clouds of green and purple. 

“What happened to you?” Regina asked, moving towards her.

“Regina,” Lena groaned, as Regina grabbed her face, moving her around to inspect her as Kara stared in shock. 

“Regina nearly had a heart attack because somebody forgot to check in,” Zelena said. 

“Oh god, I’m sorry,” Lena said. “Things have been happening so fast.”

“Why are you in a hospital bed?”

“Regina, I’m fine, I promise. They’re just keeping me here under observation. I have a concussion,” Lena said. 

“I’m sorry, who are you?” Kara asked, finally getting over her surprise. “And how are you here?”

Regina glanced at Lena, her gaze questioning. 

Lena sighed. “Kara, my sisters, Regina and Zelena.”

“Sisters?” Kara squeaked out. 

“Well, half,” Lena said. “From my mother’s side. It’s kind of a long story.”

“How did you get a concussion?” Regina asked.

“She was kidnapped by Lillian Luthor,” Kara said. “And Supergirl saved her.”

“Supergirl?” Regina asked, and upon seeing Lena’s gaze, everything clicked.

Of course. Luthor . Henry had said it himself. And Kara Danvers as in-

Regina met the bright blue eyes of the woman across from her. That was the secret Lena had discussed. She was in love with Supergirl. And then Regina remembered Rumple’s request. “something that can vanquish the unvanquishable” He wanted kryptonite. 

Lena was going to give the Dark One kryptonite.

“Supergirl?” Zelena said, her mind working a bit slower.

“We are having a very long discussion when we get home,” Regina said, pointedly to Lena. “Did you get what you came here for?”

“No.”

“Came here for, what is she talking about Lena?” Kara asked.

Lena bit her lip. 

“Oh this should be good,” Zelena said, conjuring up a chair for herself. 

“Actually, I was hoping you two could give us a moment,” Lena said, motioning towards the door.

“Lena-”

“Regina.”

Lena met her sisters’ eyes, begging her to just have a moment to explain to Kara without an audience. Even if she was still mad at the other woman, Lena understood if she didn’t explain this, she was being a hypocrite.

“Fine,” Regina said with a nod. “We will be right outside this door, come along Zelena.”

“I’m coming,” Zelena said, she paused by Kara. “you touch a hair on her head, I’ll make your life so awful you’ll wish you never left Kansas.”

“But I’m from Delaware,” Kara muttered as Zelena and Regina exited the room. She turned back to Lena with wide eyes. “Lena, please, what’s going on?”

Lena sighed. “How much do you know about King Arthur and the Round Table?”

And so Lena summarized it. She told her about growing up in Camelot with Arthur. About Regina and her father, how they had taken her in without a second thought. Then she explained to her how she had fled after learning the truth. How she had reconnected with her sisters, memories of her past returning to her. Finding out about Snow White cursing her. Kara asked questions occasionally, but mostly just listened. 

“Well, if we’re sharing,” Kara said as Lena finished up. “I guess it’s time I told you some things I should have told you a long time ago.”

And so Kara did. Kara explained her childhood on Krypton to her. Kara then went into how hard it was growing up because it was hard to adjust to everything around her. She told her about Jeremiah. She told her about Astra and how Alex had killed her. How Kara had discovered how horrible her parents were. She told her the truth about Mon-el, and the League, and Argo. She told Lena about Barry and Oliver and the Legends. The chaos they had caused on other Earths, meeting Kate Kane a year ago. 

“That’s… a lot,” Lena said.

“A lot? Lena you’re literally a legend,” Kara said with a laugh, causing Lena to smile. 

“Yes, but well…”

“What?”

Lena crossed her arm. “It’s weird, to hear about this whole other life that you never told me about. I mean… we’re supposed to be best friends Kara.”

“We are best friends,” Kara said, reaching out her hand.

Lena took it and squeezed it. “Best friends don’t keep secrets like this.”

“I know,” Kara said. “And if I could, I would take it back. I’ll make it up to you. Regina said you needed something?”

Lena hesitated. She didn’t want Kara to give over the kryptonite because she guilt tripped her, that felt wrong. “Kara, it doesn’t matter what I need, my forgiveness is not contingent on that. I just need time.”

Kara nodded. She held out her pinky finger. “No more lies?”

Lena rolled her eyes but linked pinkies with the blonde anyways. “No more lies.”

Kara smiled. “Good. Now, what is it you’re here for?”

“I-” Lena paused. God, this was so much harder then she thought it would be to ask. “I need kryptonite.”

Kara dropped her hand in surprise, her eyes going wide. “What?”

“There’s a man in Regina and Emma’s dimension. He wants the kryptonite for his collection,” Lena explained softly. “There are no Kryptonians there. It wouldn’t harm anyone.”

“Unless you needed me for something,” Kara pointed out. 

“But we won’t,” Lena said. She gave Kara a small smile. “Look, it removes some kryptonite from this Earth. Isn’t that a good thing?”

Kara’s brow was furrowed as she crossed her arms. “Why are you giving it to him?”

“I need it to go home,” Lena admitted. “To Camelot.”

“Camelot?”

“If we get there in time, I can potentially stop the fall,” Lena said. “Please Kara.”

Kara sighed. “Is there no other option?”

Lena shook her head. 

Kara looked away from her, out the window. “Alex will think I’m crazy, you know that?”

“I know,” Lena said.

Kara bit her lip. “Can you promise me it won’t hurt anyone?”

“It won’t.”

“Then I’ll give it to you,” Kara said.

“Thank you.”

“I guess I should call your sisters back in here?”

“If you wouldn’t mind.”

Kara got up and then paused. “When will I see you again?”

“Soon,” Lena said with a small smile. “I can’t leave Sam in charge too much longer. I have to come back and take charge of L-Corp again.”

Kara nodded. “Be safe?”

“I will,” Lena said. 

Regina and Zelena leaned against the wall outside the med bay. They got a few odd looks from some military personnel but no one spoke to them. Just where had they ended up?

“Do you think they’re making out yet?” Zelena asked.

Regina elbowed her in the side.

“Ow,” Zelena said, rubbing her side. “You should be nicer to me.”

“Act your age and I will,” Regina said. 

“Excuse me.”

Regina and Zelena turned to see a woman with cropped hair making her way towards them dressed in some sort of combat suit. 

“Who are you?”

“None of your business,” Regina said, closing her eyes. If Lena could just hurry up-

“It is my business,” the woman said. “I’m the director of the DEO. Now who are you?”

“Does it matter?” Zelena asked. “We’ll be out of your hair as soon as our sister is done.”

“Sister?” the woman said, she moved towards the door of the med bay. 

Zelena stepped in front of her. “Ah, ah, ah. They’re talking right now.”

“My sister is in there and if you did anything to her-”

“Ah, so you’re Kara’s sister,” Regina said. “You’ll have to wait a moment, her and Lena are talking right now. They should be done soon.”

“You’re telling me you’re Lena’s sisters?”

“That would be correct,” Regina said. “Now, you can either wait patiently out here with us, or you can try to fight your way inside. And let me promise you, you will not make it.”

The woman scoffed but crossed her arms. “How exactly are you related to Lena?”

“Half-sisters on her mother’s side,” Regina said. 

“She’s never mentioned you.”

“We recently reconnected,” Regina said. 

“Well just-”

At that moment the door opened and a sheepish looking Kara Danvers stood in the entryway.

“Kara, are you alright?” Alex asked, examining her sister.

“Alex, I’m fine,” Kara said. “Can we go talk real quick?”

“Sure,” Alex said. She turned to look at the two women. “Stay in the medbay until I get back.”

Neither women responded to that making their way into the medbay. 

“So?” Regina asked. 

Lena just gave her a weak smile. “She’ll give it to us.”

“Are you crazy?” Alex hissed. 

Kara and her stood in the storeroom as Kara removed a lead-lined box that held the smallest shard of kryptonite they had. They occasionally used it for experimentation because of it’s size. It would be perfect to give to Lena. Enough to weaken Kara, but not totally incapacitate her. 

“She needs it.”

“You have lost it,” Alex said. “Kara, do you really want to give this Lena kryptonite?”

Kara frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Kara, that is not the same Lena that left National City a few months ago. What if she uses it on you?”

Kara shook her head. Alex was right, Lena was different. But Kara knew her friend. “Lena would never use it on me.”

“Kara as director of the DEO-”

“Oh don’t pull the director card now,” Kara said. 

“You are acting ridiculous. Acting like a doormat will not get her to forgive her.”

“No, it won’t,” Kara said. “She’s taking the shard off world, Alex. I can explain it more to you later. The important thing is it’s my weakness, I should be able to do with it as I please.”

“Kara-”

“Enough Alex,” Kara said, moving around her. “I’ve already decided.”

Alex just sighed and followed Kara up to the med bay. “I want it on the record I hate this.”

“I know.”

“And I think you’re being unreasonable.”

“I know.”

“And that if this comes back to bite us in the ass I told you so.”

“I got it Alex,” Kara said, rolling her eyes. 

They found the three sisters in soft conversation. Now that she knew they were related, Kara could easily see the resemblance. Lena had Regina’s hair and Zelena’s eyes. 

She coughed, causing all three women to turn towards her. 

Kara held out the box, which Lena gingerly took.

“If that kryptonite is used against Kara I will wipe you off the face of this Earth,” Alex threatened.

“I know,” Lena said. She gave Kara one of those sad little smiles of hers. “I guess this is goodbye for now.”

“Good luck Lena,” Kara said. 

“Alex,” Lena nodded toward the Director.

The woman crossed her arms. “Lena.”

“Alright! Let’s get going,” Zelena said rubbing her hands. “Emma is going to be so jealous Lena.”

“Don’t I know it,” Lena muttered as she turned the device on, creating a blue portal.

Kara frowned at that. Lena had mentioned an Emma that was Henry’s mother (though Lena had made it quite clear that Emma and her sister Regina were not married). But why would she be jealous?

Before she could ask, the three disappeared, leaving the Danvers sisters alone.

“How could you not tell us you knew Supergirl?” Regina asked.

The three sisters were sitting in the living room, along with Henry and Emma.

“This is so weird,” Emma said. 

“We’re a bunch of fairy tale characters come to life, and comic book characters are where you draw the line?” Lena asked. 

“I think it’s cool!” Henry said. 

“We should focus on Camelot,” Lena said. 

“Right,” Regina said. 

“Who’s watching Henry?” Emma asked.

“What?” Henry asked. 

“You are not coming with us,” Emma said. “Neverland was enough of an adventure for you, you don’t need another one.”

“But Ma-”

“Your mother is right,” Regina said. “We won’t be able to focus if we’re worried if you’re alive or not. Ruby and Belle will come stay with you.”

“What about grandma and grandpa?” Henry asked.

Emma froze. She met Regina’s eyes. Neither of them had felt right about telling Henry about what his grandparents had done. They weren’t sure what to say, or how to explain it.

“They’ll be busy bud,” Emma said.

Henry frowned at that, but didn’t argue with her. 

“So all four of us are going?” Lena asked.

“As if I would let you go without me,” Zelena sniffed.

“And Miss Swan just insists on going nearly everywhere I go,” Regina said. “She would somehow come even if I told her no.”

“You know me too well,” Emma said with a smile. 

“So we’re doing this,” Lena said. 

“Let me call Ruby,” Regina said, getting up.

“Supergirl, huh?” Emma said.

Lena shrugged. “It’s not as odd when you’re used to it.”

“God, I would love to see where you’re from,” Emma said. “I’ve missed being in the city.”

“Well, maybe after Camelot you can come visit,” Lena said with a smile.

“Oh me too?” Henry asked, eager.

“We’ll see, you’re still supposed to be in school mister,” Lena said. 

Henry huffed at that. 

Emma got up off the couch and found Regina in her study finishing her call. She flashed Emma a small smile as she said. “And Snow can’t know… Yes, I understand… it’s of utmost importance Ruby… no I can’t explain it right now, maybe when we get back… yes… yes… of course Belle may come too… maybe she can convince my son to get off those incessant video games and start reading again… thank you Ruby…. Bye now,” Regina hung up, sighing.

“She said yes?”

Regina nodded. She bit her lip as she got lost in thought. Which Emma thought was insanely attractive, but didn’t say anything.

“Emma, this is going to be extremely dangerous, I’m not exactly sure what we’re walking into here-”

“And?” Emma raised an eyebrow. “Regina, you know if you’re going, I’m going to.”

“Emma-”

“I’m going,” Emma repeated.

Regina just sighed.

“We’ll get through this, we always do,” Emma said with a smile.

Regina nodded. 

“You need to get some good sleep, I’ll talk to you in the morning,” Emma said. 

Lena stood in front of Rumple’s store, lead-lined box in her hands. 

“Are you sure about this?” Regina asked for the millionth time.

“Yes,” Lena said, and she opened the door to the shop. 

Inside Rumple stood, grinning his cheshire smile. “If it isn’t the Mills sisters, do you have my payment?”

Lena opened the box, showing Rumple the green stone.

“Yes, yes,” Rumple said. 

“Do we have a deal?”

“Here,” Rumple handed her the beans. “A deal is a deal.”

Lena handed him the box.

“Be wary Morganna, the Camelot you left is not the one you return to,” he warned, and with that he disappeared into the back of his shop. 

“He’s right, we should be careful,” Regina said. 

“We will be,” Lena said. She motioned. “Come on, let’s go.”

Lena gasped as they stepped through the portal. She swallowed, a lump in her throat.

It was almost just as she remembered. The large castle dwarfing the village people moving in and out. And though some change had taken place, it was still… home. The four of them thankfully had changed appearances before they arrived so they blended in.

“Look,” Emma hissed as she pointed. Lena was shocked to see a small army a distance away from the city. Just barely visible from where they were standing. 

“Looks like we made it just in time,” Regina said.

Lena looked around before finding a man moving a cart nearby. He had a shaggy beard and wasn’t exactly rich based on his clothing.

“Excuse me,” Lena said, as politely as possible. “Whose army is that outside the gates?”

“You must be living under some rock if you haven’t heard about the Camelot civil war,” he said gruffly. “It’s why you got such a hassle at the front gates lass. Didn’t want the rebel army sending in no maiden spies now did we?”

“Civil war?” Lena said, furrowing her brow as he moved away.

“The final battle of Camelot,” Regina said. “Mordred versus Arthur. The only thing to destroy knights of the round table was the knights themselves.”

“So what’s the plan?” Emma asked.

“I need to figure out what’s going on,” Lena said, turning to them. “I’ll scout the camp see if Merlin is there. Zelena will come with me. You two can stay here and see if you can find anything on Merlin.”

They nodded. 

“We’ll meet back here in an hour,” Regina said. 

“In an hour,” Lena repeated.

Lena and Zelena transported to the edge of the camp in the woods.

“You wait here,” Lena said.

“Now wait a second-”

“I’ll be right back, I promise,” Lena said.

“Lena-”

But Lena had already made her way through the tents. Ducking away from soldiers, Lena tried to look for familiar faces.

Then she saw one in a tent.

Queen Guinevere sat at a vanity, her eyes glazed over as she looked at her reflection. She didn’t seem to notice as Lena entered the tent. 

“Gwen?” Lena asked, voice soft so as not to startle the woman.

The woman turned towards her, and her eyes went wide as saucers. “Morganna?”

Lena lowered her hood. 

“Morganna,” the woman gasped, raising a hand to her mouth, her eyes watering. “Does this mean… am I-”

“You’re not dead,” Lena said, her heart breaking in her chest. Lena remembered Guinevere as full of life and happiness. Her smile brightening up the dreary days of Camelot. Instead she saw a broken woman in front of her. Lena kneeled in front of her friend. Clasping her hands in hers. “Gwen, what’s going on?”

“We were so happy Morganna,” Gwen whispered. “I don’t know when it started, but the paranoia started creeping in,” she squeezed Lena’s hands. “The whispers of the court started getting to him. He believed I struck up a relationship with a knight named Lancelot. But I didn’t,” the tears were starting to flow. “Morganna please, believe me.”

“I do, I do,” Lena said. 

“We were just friends, but Lancelot’s admiration turned to obsession. Instead of helping rid me of him, Arthur believed I was encouraging him. Lancelot took me with him when he fled Camelot and Arthur believes I went willingly.”

“So that’s what this is about? Lancelot and you?”

“Yes,” Gwen wiped her eyes. “Arthur declared war on Lancelot and his allies because of me. But now it’s evolved, Lancelot found Mordred, Arthur’s bastard. Lancelot has said he’ll place him on the throne, with Lancelot as regent and me as his wife.

“Do you have no heir?”

Gwen winced. “I can’t have children.”

“Oh Gwen…”

“I’ve made my peace with it,” Gwen sighed. “Arthur refused to. We should have just taken Mordred in, raised him as Arthur’s heir.”

“What about Merlin, surely he would have intervened by now,” Lena said. 

“Oh Morganna…” Gwen looked at her. Lena couldn’t help but see her old friend’s age in that moment. The crow’s feet on the side of her eyes, the gray creeping her way into her hair. Gwen sighed before saying. “Merlin is gone.”

“What? No,” Lena said.

“He disappeared weeks ago, before I was taken,” Gwen said. “He was last seen by his latest apprentice, Vivianne. But she said he was acting normal before he left.”

Lena frowned. Well at least she had a starting point. Vivianne. She looked back up to Gwen. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“No, I cannot leave,” Guinevere said. “Lancelot will attack Arthur immediately. Morganna you have to stop this before it starts.”

“I’ll try,” Lena promised. “I have to go find Merlin, he’s the only one who can talk some sense into Arthur,” she turned to leave.

“Morganna.”

Lena turned back towards her old friend.

She gave her a sad smile. “It was good to see you, one last time.”

“Don’t talk like that,” Lena said. “We’ll make it out of this, I promise,” And with that, she slipped her hood back on. 

The four met as they said they would.

“Not a trace of him anywhere, but I mean, the city’s huge,” Emma motioned “He could be anywhere,” Emma crossed her arms. “What about you guys?”

“We found a lead,” Lena said. “We’re looking for a girl named Vivianne.”

“How are we supposed to find her?”

“She’s supposedly Merlin’s apprentice, which means I have a pretty good idea where we can start,” Lena said. “Come on.”

They made their way through the woods. 

“What else did you find out?” Regina asked as they trekked along. 

“They’re trying to put Mordred on the throne,” Lena said. “They’ve captured Guinevere as well. Gwen says that Arthur has grown paranoid. I think finding Merlin might be the only way to stop this war.”

“So it’s even more important we find him,” Emma said. “Got it.”

“So where exactly are we going?”

“Merlin had a small cottage in the woods,” Lena said. “He would allow students who didn’t have the best homelife to live there.”

“Why not the castle?” Emma asked.

“My father wasn’t exactly known for his generosity,” Lena said. She pointed. “There.”

Emma wanted to laugh. Of course that was Merlin’s cottage. It was like something out of a disney movie. Wooden walls and a thatch roof. Ivy climbed up the walls, and the glass windows had the curtains closed. Smoke came out of the chimney, indicating someone was home. 

Emma followed Lena towards the house. She simply moved her hand over the door, unlocking it. The interior was simple. A table with two seats. Books everywhere.

And there, by the chimney, sat a young woman who could have been in college. She had dark hair and big doe eyes that went wide when they entered the cabin. 

“Who are you?” She asked. 

Emma noticed her hand inching towards the fire poker by her side. 

“Are you Vivianne?” Lena asked. 

“Who’s asking?” the girl asked. 

Lena motioned with her hand and the young woman was tied up in chains. “I am. Now, are you Vivianne?”

“I am,” The woman grit out.

“Good,” Lena said. “Now, where is Merlin?”

“I don’t know,” Vivianne said, struggling against her chains.

Emma’s lie detector immediately went off. She coughed. “Try again.”

“I don’t,” she insisted. “And even if I did, I wouldn’t tell you.”

Lena ignited a fireball in her palm, startling Emma. “I don’t have time for your games.”

“Lena-” Regina said, but her sister ignored her. 

“Do you know how burnt a human being can be, and still survive?” Lena asked, her voice colder then Emma had ever heard it. “Especially with magic healing? I do.”

“You wouldn’t dare,” Vivianne said, calling Lena’s bluff.

“I’m Morganna Pendragon little girl,” Lena said, taking a step forward. “There’s little I wouldn’t do.”

The girl swallowed at Lena’s name. 

“I would listen to her,” Zelena said.

Emma glanced over at Regina. Regina was biting the inside of her cheek, her concern evident to Emma. 

“I’ll ask you again,” Lena said. “Where is he?”

Vivianne glanced from Lena’s face to the fireball and back. “Fine, fine. I’ll take you to him.”

Lena extinguished the fireball. “Good choice,” she motioned with her hands and the chains turned into simple handcuffs. “Show us.”

Regina and Emma walked a little distance behind Vivianne, Zelena, and Lena as they trekked through the forest. 

Emma glanced over at Regina who was studying Lena. Regina glanced back at Emma, and motioned to Lena, motioning as if she was doing magic and then closing her eyes. 

Emma frowned in confusion. What was Regina trying to say?

Regina rolled her eyes. Making a fireball quickly in her palm and then folding her hands against her head as if she was asleep.

Emma’s eyes widened as she realized what Regina was indicating. Emma motioned to Lena to double check.

Regina nodded slowly. 

Fuck, Regina was worried about Lena exhausting herself with all this magic. That couldn’t be good.

Lena was beginning to feel antsy. Was the girl just leading them in circles? They didn’t have time for this. They finally arrived at a cliff face.

“There,” Vivianne said motioning to the solid rock. “That’s the entrance.”

“That’s a rock,” Zelena said drily.

“No… it’s not,” Lena said. She lifted her hand, searching for large amounts of magic, finding it mere feet in front of them. She waved at the door, forcing the magic to disperse. In it’s place stood a large entrance.

“You three should wait here,” Lena said, turning to them. “Let me scope out the situation. If I’m not back in fifteen minutes, come after me.”

“Fine,” Regina said, though Lena could tell she wasn’t happy about it.

Lena conjured another fireball in her palm and entered the cave.

The first thing that hit Lena’s nose was mildew, which made sense considering the amount of moss covering the walls. The other smell, however, was not one that Lena recognized at all. She continued down the tunnel, her footsteps echoing against the stone. She finally caught sight of rusted iron bars. Lena increased the flames to reveal a man sitting on the floor. 

He glanced up at her, his brown eyes meeting her green ones. 

“Hello Merlin.”

Chapter Text

Merlin looked worse for wear. His dark hair was streaked with gray, and his robes were tattered. He looked even more aged then Gwen, the stress of the years finally catching up with him.

“You’re late,” Merlin simply said, standing up.

“I’m sorry?” Lena said, surprised.

“You were supposed to be here two days ago,” Merlin said dusting himself off. “I was worried my visions were wrong,” he smiled that crooked grin of his. “It’s good to see you old friend.”

Lena stared at him. “You have a lot of nerve, you know that?”

“Part of my charm.”

“You gave Snow the spell.”

Merlin’s smile fell. “Ah, so that is what this is about,” he sighed. “Morganna it’s more complicated then you think.”

“Then explain it to me,” Lena said, feeling her desperation crawl in. How could her oldest friend do this to her?

“Sit.”

“No thank you.”

“Suit yourself,” Merlin began motioning with his hands as he talked. “As you know, I get premonitions, visions of the future. Even after you left, I kept an eye on you. I saw if you remained in the Enchanted Forest, Snow White would ambush you and kill you. If I gave her the spell, you would survive and even…” he motioned around them. “One day return to Camelot.”

“So you did it to secure your own future.”

Merlin shrugged his shoulders. “If that’s how you wish to see it,” Merlin tilted his head. “But that’s not what you really wanted to know, is it, you want to know the price.”

“We can’t find it anywhere,” Lena admitted.

“So let’s make a deal,” Merlin said. He smiled. “I tell you, you let me out of this cage.”

“Fine,” Lena said, not admitting she was planning to do that anyways. 

“Well, that to cast the curse, one would have to defile a pure heart,” Merlin said, motioning as he spoke. “The heart is consumed by the darkness, becoming a black as tar when you pull it out of someone’s chest. I assume Snow thought she would be the one to pay that price. But she was pregnant at the time, and the spell chose the more pure heart between the two of them.”

“Emma,” Lena whispered. 

“Yes,” Merlin said. “To have so much darkness in one would make them one of the most evil people to ever exist in any of the realm. They would only know hatred and greed.”

“But…” Lena frowned, this raised more questions then answers. 

“That’s all I know,” Merlin said, raising his hands. 

Lena sighed. Fine. “So, how do we get you out of here?”

“She used angels’ blood to keep me here,” Merlin motioned to the door. Lena stepped closer, examining. There was a crusty liquid on the edges of the door. “There should be Hellfire in my study in the castle,” Merlin said. “And you will need the holy silver knife from the cottage to apply it.”

“Fine,” Lena said. “I’ll be back.” 

And with that, she left the cave.

Emma could tell Regina was beginning to get antsy as they waited outside Merlin’s cave. 

“What could possibly be taking her so long?”

“He’s probably killed her.”

Emma, Regina, and Zelena all turned towards Vivianne who looked bored.

“Didn’t anyone ever teach you when to keep your trap shut?” Zelena asked.

“She’ll be fine,” Emma said to Regina, she turned back to Vivianne. “But what’s the big deal with Merlin? Why’d you lock him up?”

“Didn’t you know?” Vivianne asked. “He’s the anti-christ, a demon. He was sent her to create chaos and-”

Regina motioned with her hand, silencing the girl. “I think there’s enough of that.”

“So anti-magic rhetoric,” Zelena said, crossing her arms. “I didn’t think that would be common in Camelot.”

“Some might just see Merlin as a puppetmaster,” Regina said.

“Or maybe he actually is a puppetmaster,” Emma imputed. “I don’t think we should trust him just yet.”

Before either Mills’ sister could respond, Lena emerged from the cave.

“Well?” Regina asked.

“He’s in there,” Lena crossed her arms. “But someone decided to use angel’s blood while imprisoning him. So we’re gonna need to get some stuff to free him.”

“Like?” Zelena motioned. 

Lena sighed. “We need hellfire, and a holy silver knife. Regina, Emma, and I will head to the castle. Emma will sneak inside with me while Regina watches our… guest here. Zelena, you’ll head back to Merlin’s cottage to find the holy silver knife. We meet back here.”

“Holy silver knife, got it,” Zelena said with a nod. “I’ll see you in a bit then?”

Lena nodded and they set off towards the different destinations. 

Emma turned towards Lena as they walked. “Did you ask about the Roulette spell?”

Emma had to give Lena credit. 

She was a great liar. 

“No,” She said, simply and quickly. 

Emma’s eyes narrowed at that. “You’re lying.”

Lena blinked in surprise. “I did, but what he told me can wait until later, it’s not anything you’d want to know right now.”

“But I do want to know,” Emma said. “My parents were the one who cast the curse Lena, I need to know.”

Lena didn’t even look over at Emma as she continued walking. “We need to focus on this. I promise you, once we return to Storybrooke, I’ll tell you. Alright?”

Emma wanted to argue, but felt a hand on her shoulder from Regina. She glanced over at her to see Regina shake her head once. 

Though curiosity was clawing at Emma, she knew they were right. They needed to focus on their current task. They continued through the forest.

Zelena found the cabin easily enough. It just took retracing her steps and she was back there. The silver knife was out on a table. Simple, easy, great. 

Zelena exited the cabin and swore she heard a rustling noise. She scanned her surroundings and saw nothing. She frowned, but began her journey back towards the cave. 

Then she heard a noise again. She whipped around to see a young girl, frozen on the path. She couldn’t have been much older then Henry. She was dressed in a green hood, a quiver of arrows on her back and a bow in her hand. 

“And just who are you?”

“I could ask you the same thing,” the girl shot back lowering her hood. She had dirty blonde hair and a frown on her face. “What were you doing in Merlin’s cottage? Are you one of his students?”

“Gods no,” Zelena scoffed. “I was fetching an item for him if you must know.”

The girl drew her bow. “I don’t believe you.”

“Well too bad pipsqueak,” Zelena said. “I have a job to do.”

The girl let the arrow fly, Zelena caught it easily, however, burning it into a crisp in her hand.

“You’re a magic user,” the girl gasped. 

“I am,” Zelena said. “Now run along before I turn you into a toad or something.”

Zelena turned around continuing on her path, leaving the girl behind.

Breaking into a castle was much harder then Lena expected.

There were guards crawling everywhere, and near every entrance. 

Luckily, Lena knew of a secret one. It was one her and Gwen had used a lot as teenagers, sneaking in and out of the castle.

“So what’s the plan?” Emma asked. 

“There should be a passageway,” Lena said. “We can get in through there.”

“Can’t you just teleport us in?” Emma asked, tilting her head.

“Merlin has magical protections all over the castle, so no,” Lena turned to Regina. “Regina are you alright staying here with the girl?”

“I’m sure me and Vivianne will get along perfectly fine, isn’t that right Vivianne?”

Vivianne couldn’t say anything, so she just glared at Regina who smiled back. 

“Great,” Lena said, she turned to Emma. “Let’s go.”

They waited for a guard to pass, and then Lena made her way up towards the wall. She counted up from the bottom til she got to the fifteenth brick. She tapped it three times and an opening appeared. 

Lena motioned with her hand, and Emma followed her inside.

The tunnels were cramped and damp. Lena breathed through her mouth, trying to avoid the smell of whatever ancient mold filled the tunnels. She lit a fireball in her hand to light the tunnel up. It wasn’t a very long journey, and soon enough they reached what appeared to be a wall.

Lena paused, listening for a moment to see if there were any footsteps approaching. She couldn’t hear anything.

“Dead end?” Emma asked, confused. 

Lena rolled her eyes, glad the sheriff couldn’t see her in the dark. She extinguished her fireball, leaving them in darkness. Then she simply pushed on the door with her free hand, revealing the tunnel’s other entrance was inside the castle library, behind some bookshelves.

“Is this… the library?” Emma asked, glancing around. She whistled. “I think Belle would commit murder just to step in here.”

“Don’t get distracted,” Lena replied. “We need to get down the hallway to get to Merlin’s room.”

She opened the door to the hallway, peeking out into the hallway. No one there. They crept down the hallway, passing candlesticks and large tapestries. They finally found Merlin’s door. Lena jiggled the handle, finding it locked.

“Can you pick the lock?” Lena whispered.

“Not unless you have a bobby pin,” Emma said. 

Lena paused, what could they do. And then it hit her. “There should be another entrance,” Lena muttered. “Come on.”

They made their way down the hallway, pausing at the corner. Lena glanced around the corner, seeing two men down the hallway talking. They appeared to be some of Arthur’s knights. Lena quickly ducked back into the hallway where she and Emma stood, holding up a hand. They silently listened to their conversation.

“Are we sure this is the right decision Gawaine?” One asked.

“Are you doubting the King’s decisions?” Gawaine replied.

“I just doubt we can win this battle without Merlin,” the other man said. 

“We don’t need that malicious demon.”

“When don’t we need magic?” the other man scoffed. “At this point this battle is more of a suicide mission then anything!”

“If I didn’t know better, I'd think you want to join Lancelot’s side.”

There was a silence for a moment.

“What Lancelot did was wrong, we all know that, but he came the closest besides Galahad to the Grail, there has to be a reason for that,” Gawaine said. “Erec, we have been through a lot together, have we not?”

“Of course,” Erec sounded insulted. “We braved the dungeons of Maldac together. We thought we were going to die down there.”

“You trust me don’t you?”

“With my life.”

“Then trust me on this. We must stand with Arthur. How would you like to be remembered? As a traitor like Lancelot? Or a hero who followed his code of honor?”

Erec sighed. “You make some good points.”

“Of course I do, now come, we can do not good just standing around like this.”

They heard the two knights move down the hallway away from Lena and Emma as the two men continued to talk. 

Lena glimpsed around the corner again. It was now empty. “Alright, we should be fine.”

They continued down the hallway, trying to be as quiet as possible. This hallway in particular was familiar, and Lena couldn’t place her finger on why. And then it hit her. Lena paused as chills went down her spine.

“What is it?” Emma whispered, noticing her companion’s hesitance.

“I killed Uther in this hallway,” Lena muttered, shivering. 

They were silent for a moment before Lena moved towards a tapestry. It was large, depicting Uther’s win against the Earl of Cornwall. Lena moved it to the side to press against the wall, revealing a dark and dingy hallway.

Lena lit another fireball in her palm. They began making their way down the hallway. 

“Why do you have so many secret passageways?” Emma asked.

“Merlin wanted a back entrance in case anyone locked him out,” Lena said, feeling against the wall as they walked. 

“How did you find all of these passageways?” Emma asked.

“The one into the castle was one Gwen, Arthur, and I would use to sneak in and out of the castle. Arthur found it first, I don’t remember how. This one Merlin specifically showed me. He always wanted back entrance in case someone locked him out,” They walked a little further, before Lena’s hand fell on the door. “Here we are,” Lena pushed the door open, light filtering in the tunnel as she did so. 

Merlin’s study was one of Lena’s favorite places on Earth. Books and magical objects lined the shelves. Items Merlin had collected in his travels or had been given by diplomats. On the wall hung the legendary shield of Athena, Aegis, inscribed with Medusa’s appearance. The sword David used to slay Goliath sat on the shelf beside the sword of Mars. Lena remembered on days back when she struggled to focus, Merlin would pause the lessons for the day and allow her to pick out one item for her to tell her about. There were two tables in the room. One was a desk covered with papers, and then a workbench that Merlin did his magic work on. It was covered in magical ingredients. 

“Only thing missing is the Sorting Hat,” Emma joked as she looked around. 

“It does kind of look like Dumbledore’s office in the movies, doesn’t it?” Lena asked, walking towards the table. She scanned the items. There were the more common ones, holly leaves, buttercup petals, and then there were more odd ones… 

“Gorgon scales? Hydra blood?” Emma paused, her face going slack. “Please tell me that doesn’t read what I think it does?”

Lena glanced over at the large jar Emma had in her hand. “Oh, minotaur testicles? Much more common then you would think.”

Emma immediately set the jar down to Lena’s amusement. “What spell would you even use those for?”

“Duplication spell most likely,” Lena said, moving the bottles around as she examined the labels. “Perhaps a rage potion. You give one of those to a person at dinner and they’ll flip the table like they’re on Real Housewives of Jump City.”

“You have Real Housewives in your universe?” Emma asked.

“Focus Emma, please,” Lena said, continuing scanning the vials. She frowned. “The vial isn’t here.”

“Then where could it be?” Emma asked.

Lena moved away from the table towards the bookshelves. “Other ingredients that he has are missing as well. Nectar of the gods, the scream of a banshee… these are all rarer items. So he has to have hidden them,” Lena moved her finger along the books, scanning for traces of magic. She stopped on one with a smile, pulling it out of the shelf. “Here it is.”

“What?” Emma asked, confused.

Lena carefully carried the large book over to the table, setting it down gently. She opened it to reveal a compartment full of vials.

“Woah,” Emma said, as Lena looked through the different jars. 

Lena pulled one out with a dancing flame. It seemed impossible that it was still burning. There was nothing for it to feed on, and no oxygen was entering the jar. Yet, there was the flame, dancing around the jar. It changed to bright blue as Lena held it up. As if the flames were angry with her for disturbing their slumber.

“Hellfire,” Lena said, placing it on the table as she put the ingredients back in their hiding spot.

“Just how do you get that?”

“They’re remnants of summoning a demon,” Lena said as she walked around the shelf, finding the stone bowl she would need. “Hopefully Zelena’s gotten that knife by now.”

Zelena was almost back at the cave when she heard the rustling noise again. She sighed. She was a bit surprised that the girl had concealed herself so well, but she couldn’t admit that.

“Why are you following me pipsqueak?” Zelena asked, continuing to walk.

“I have a name,” the girl shot back as she continued to follow after Zelena.

“And what might that be.”

“Robin,” the girl said. 

“And shouldn’t your parents be looking for you, Robin?”

Robin ignored the question. “Who taught you magic?”

“An evil little man,” Zelena said, sneering as she thought of Rumplestilskin. “Be grateful you’ll never meet him.” 

“Do you think Merlin is a good teacher?”

“Please,” Zelena scoffed. “As if it’s hard to teach magic. My idiot of a sister taught an even greater idiot. It can’t be that difficult.”

“But… isn’t magic complicated?”

“Not at it’s core,” Zelena said. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you dodging the parent question.”

“I don’t need parents,” Robin said, her voice firm. “I can take care of myself.”

Zelena narrowed her eyes at that, but Robin just stared her down. 

“Why are you following me?”

“I need to find Merlin to learn magic,” Robin insisted. 

“You don’t need that crackpot,” Zelena sighed. “But I guess if you wish to tag along you may. Regina would kill me if I left a child unattended.”

Robin’s face lit up at that.

“On one condition,” Zelena said. “You listen to whatever I say until we get this situation sorted.”

“Fine,” Robin said, holding out her hand. 

Zelena shook it, wondering what she had just gotten herself into.

Regina, Emma, Lena, and, unfortunately, Vivianne, returned to the cave to find Zelena in conversation with a young girl holding a bow. Zelena glanced up at their approach, her face revealing nothing.

“Zelena, are you aware there’s a child behind you?” Regina asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Robin, my sister Regina,” Zelena said, motioning to Regina. “Her… friend, Emma Swan, and my youngest sister, Lena, formerly Morganna.”

“Zelena what’s going on?” Lena asked.

“Robin here wants to learn magic from Merlin, I couldn’t just leave her alone in the forest,” Zelena motioned. 

“Fine,” Regina said. “Did you get the knife?”

Zelena held it up. 

“Good, come along,” Lena said, motioning to the cave.

The six of them entered the cave, Emma basically having to push Vivianne in as they did so. Lena had a fireball in hand, lighting the way. Regina curled her lip at the smell. “Not much for taste.”

“It’s a cave, Regina,” Emma said drily. “What were you expecting? A postmodern interior design?”

“I’m surprised you know what that is Miss Swan,” Regina said, glancing around. “Now where’s-”

“Morganna.”

Regina caught sight of the wizard. So this was Merlin?

He was definitely not what Regina was expecting. When Regina pictured Merlin she pictured someone who was a mixture of Gandalf and Dumbledore. Not someone who just divorced his wife because he was in the middle of a mid-life crisis.

“I brought the hellfire,” Lena said, holding up the jar. 

“And you brought Robin too,” Merlin said, gazing at the girl who was partially hiding behind Zelena.

“How do you know my name?” Robin asked.

“He can see the future occasionally,” Lena said holding out her hand for the knife. “Never bet against him in a horse race,” She opened the jar, causing the fire to move a bit in an unnatural way. It was hitting the edge of the jar, as if it was trying to break through to get to the door. 

“It’s sensed the heavenly presence,” Merlin said. He motioned. “Just along the doorway should do it.”

Lena nodded, tipping the jar over so the fire could pour out into a bowl she had. It was weird to see fire act as a liquid, but Regina didn’t question it. 

Lena spoke some magic words over the blood. She used it almost like a butter knife to spread it against the door. The fire began spreading against the dried blood, eating away at it. The black crust on the doorway bubbled up and melted, releasing a foul odor in the air. In the chaos, however, Regina was so distracted she didn’t notice Vivianne managing to escape her chains and flee the room. A light flashed around the door. Merlin pushed it open, letting out a sigh of relief.

“There we go,” Merlin said, stretching. He popped his neck. “Now,” he smiled at the group. “Let’s attend to business, shall we?”

Chapter Text

“What exactly is your plan concerning Arthur and Lancelot?” Regina asked as they made their way towards the entrance. 

“I will speak to Arthur,” Merlin said. “If he legitimizes Mordred and gets Guinevere back by his side, much of Lancelot’s support will fall to the wayside. There’s only the matter of getting Guinevere and Mordred away from him.” 

They approached the entrance of the cave. Merlin sighed as he stepped into the sunlight, seeming to bask in being free once again. He did this only for a moment, turning towards the women. “However, Vivianne is now loose.”

“Good job Regina,” Zelena grumbled, earning a glare from her sister.

“If we want this to succeed, we will need to track her down,” Merlin continued. “Robin knows this forest better then anyone.”

Robin puffed up her chest at that comment, obviously pleased with the praise.

“One of you will have to go with her to capture Vivianne. She couldn’t have gotten too far,” Merlin said. “The rest will come with me and Morganna to Arthur’s camp.”

Regina and Emma pointedly looked at Zelena. 

Zelena sighed. Of course she got stuck with the babysitting job. 

“I’ll do it,” Zelena said. “Come along pipsqueak.”

“My name is Robin,” the girl huffed, and Zelena followed her through the trees.

Lena walked beside Merlin, in disguise, through Arthur’s camp. Regina and Emma trailed behind them slightly. The army had gathered on the edge of the city, and as they walked through, it was obvious they were beginning to prepare for war.

“Are you sure this is the best idea?” Lena muttered.

Merlin nodded. “Arthur needs all the help he can get, whether he’s willing to admit it or not.”

Lena felt eyes on them as they walked. People muttering to one another and staring directly at Merlin. “Quite the celebrity,” Lena teased. Merlin rolled his eyes, but smiled as they made their way to the tent in the center of the clearing. 

Arthur’s tent. 

“You two wait here,” Lena motioned. “We’ll be back soon.”

Regina and Emma nodded. Merlin and Lena approached the tent flap were two guards stood outside. 

One instantly recognized them. “Merlin, is that really you?”

“Sir Bedivere, it is good to see you have not abandoned our king in his time of need,” Merlin said with a nod. 

“The King will be eager to see you sir,” Sir. Bedivere said, moving the tent flap aside. 

“I would hope so,” Merlin said with a nod, making his way inside.

Inside stood Arthur, hunched over what looked to be a vast table with figurines to represent troops. 

Lena’s heart hurt. Her brother had aged, vastly. His curls were now peppered with grey. Uther’s crown lay on his head, and he wore armor with a golden dragon prominent on the breastplate. A sword, no doubt the legendary excalibur, sat on his hip as he surveyed his map. He didn’t even glance up, simply barking out a simple “Report.”

“Playing with your toys again?”

“They’re not to-” Arthur’s head shot right up. “Merlin?”

“Pretty sure they are,” Merlin said, picking up one of the wood figurines.

“Put that down,” Arthur hissed.

Merlin did so.

“Where have you been?” Arthur demanded. 

“I was imprisoned,” Merlin said casually, moving around the table. “I see you managed to get yourself in trouble while I was gone.”

“Imprisoned? By who? How-”

“That doesn’t matter right now,” Merlin said, examining  the figures.

Arthur seemed to finally notice Lena. “Who’s that?”

“Who?”

“The woman,” Arthur said. 

“Oh,” Merlin turned to Lena. He motioned with his hand for Lena to reveal herself. Lena felt a pit in her stomach as she shook her head.

Merlin glared her down. 

Lena sighed, motioning with her hand to get rid of her disguise. Arthur took a step back as Lena appeared.

“Hello little brother,” Lena said.

“No, you’re supposed to be dead,” Arthur said, his hand immediately going towards his sword. 

“I lied,” Merlin said drily. “And we need all the help we can get, so don’t even think about drawing that blade.”

“She killed my father.”

“ Our father ,” Lena pointed out. 

“You lost the right to call him that when you killed him,” Arthur said, glaring at her. 

Lena sighed, crossing her arms. So it was like that. 

Alright. 

“Morganna freed me,” Merlin emphasized. “So leave her be,” he motioned to the board. “What is your plan?”

“We plan to attack at sunset,” Arthur said. “We have been left no other option.”

“You could legitimize Mordred,” Merlin said. 

“Absolutely not,” Arthur said. “That is giving them what they want.”

“It’s also getting you what you want, peace,” Merlin said. “A majority of the knights will back down in the line of succession is affirmed. Also you need Gwen back.”

“Guinevere abandoned me in my hour of need,” Arthur said.

“No, she was taken,” Merlin said. “You need her. And Mordred. Both would be good.”

“Arthur, if you don’t take Mordred in, he will be your downfall,” Lena said.

“She’s right,” Merlin agreed. “Even if you win this battle, Mordred will be your death if he’s not legitimized. Get Mordred back, get Gwen back, announce you will make him your heir. That is your best path forward.”

Arthur was silent for a moment, glancing between Lena and Merlin. “Is it the only way?”

“The only way if you expect to survive this day,” Merlin said, Lena nodding. 

The man sighed, his age showing as he made his way to the table. “Perhaps it’s for the best if I don’t.”

Lena’s heart broke in her chest. “Arthur.”

He looked up at her. 

“Don’t you understand?” Lena asked. “If you fall, Camelot falls with you.”

Arthur scanned her eyes before turning to Merlin. “Is this true?”

Merlin nodded once.

Arthur closed his eyes as Lena and Merlin waited. 

“Fine,” Arthur said, his eyes opening. “If you can bring Gwen and Mordred, then I will do as you have asked.”

“Wonderful,” Merlin turned to Lena. “Do you think you and your sisters can handle that part? I will stay here and make sure nothing happens.”

“Sisters?” Arthur questioned. 

Merlin and Lena ignored him.

“We can work with that,” Lena smiled, raising her hood. “Lancelot won’t even know what hit him.”

Zelena had officially decided she hated woods. It seemed she had become spoiled in Storybrooke. She missed the flat surfaces. The ease of finding things. Being able to drive instead of walk everywhere. She was not currently enjoying the pain she was starting to feel in her legs and the constant need to fight bugs off. She followed Robin’s lead as they walked. The young woman seeming to have picked up on Vivanne’s trail. 

“How do you know so much about these woods?” Zelena asked.

“My parents were hunters,” Robin responded. 

“And where are these parents exactly?” Zelena asked, stepping over an overly large root. 

“I already told you, I don’t need them,” Robin retorted.

“Perhaps they need you,” Zelena said. Usually she wouldn’t push, but… well she was bored. The scenery wasn’t changing much as they walked. She was also quite curious at just how Robin had ended up outside Merlin’s cabin.

Robin scoffed at that. “They don’t.”

“And why do you say that?” Zelena asked.

Robin was silent for a moment, and then she said. “They hate me.”

Zelena was silent, which Robin seemed to take as disbelief. 

“They do, they told me themselves,” Robin said, defensively. “They think I’m a monster because of my magic.”

Zelena felt like Robin had just shot one of her arrows through her chest.

“Don’t touch me!”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it!” Zelena had said, nearly on the verge of tears.

“You can’t control it,” her ‘father’ said, his disgust evident on his face.

“Maybe if you could let me learn how to-”

“Then everyone would see what you are… wicked .” He spit out the word like it was rotten food he had accidentally taken a bite of. This man who was supposed to love her, staring at Zelena with such disgust.

Zelena swallowed. “Ah.”

“So if I can just get Merlin to train me, maybe I can actually control it and do some good with it,” Robin said, her face determined. “So… we have to catch this person so he can train me.”

“Why Merlin?”

Robin glared at her like she was stupid. “He’s the best magic user in all the realms.”

Zelena snorted at that.

“It’s true!”

“Perhaps,” Zelena said. “But he also taught someone how to trap him, so we can’t really say he’s the brightest, can we?”

“You don’t like Merlin.”

“Oh no, I couldn’t care either way about Merlin,” Zelena said, motioning with her hand as she talked. “But I learned a long time ago not to trust men in power, especially magical men in power. Perhaps he’s a good teacher, perhaps he’s not,” Zelena shrugged. “But perhaps you should let him earn your trust, instead of freely giving it.”

Robin seemed to ponder over her words as they continued forward, and Zelena let her. After all, silence would perhaps be the better choice for their task.

Just as Zelena began to feel as if they had been walking around in circles, she heard a branch snap. Both Robin and Zelena whipped towards the sound. Zelena frowned slightly as Robin drew her bow. Was it their quarry? Or simply some other animal wandering around the forest.

They moved quietly, watching a very nervous Vivianne stumble away through the forest. It was quite obvious that the girl had injured herself somehow. No doubt in her desperation to run from the cave. 

They got a bit closer before Zelena finally spoke up. “Going somewhere?”

Vivianne immediately stumbled trying to get away. 

Robin let her arrow fly, which pierced through Vivianne’s clothing, pinning her to a tree. Vivianne threw a spell in her direction, which sent Robin flying. Vivianne scrambled to get away from them, only to come to face with Zelena.

“Uh-uh,” Zelena said, holding up a fireball as Robin stumbled back to her feet. 

Obviously sensing this was the end, Vivianne threw out a last attempt at magic, sending a fireball straight at Robin.

“Robin!” Zelena cried. 

Mere milliseconds before impact, Robin disappeared in a cloud of lime green smoke, appearing a distance away. The fireball struck the tree instead. 

Instantly, Zelena incased Vivianne in the same chains Lena had and then grabbed a nearby rock. She hit the woman over the head. Hard .

She slumped to the floor.

Zelena breathed heavily, glancing up to see a panicked Robin.

“Are you alright?” Zelena asked concerned.

Instead of responding, Robin nearly tackled her in a hug. Zelena had never been one for physical affection, but she still found herself pulling the girl closer to her. It hit her then just how young Robin was. She was still a child. A child who had been cast out of her home like Zelena had been. In that moment, Zelena felt an urge to protect her and make sure she never had to go through anything like Zelena had. 

Robin took a step back. “Sorry,” she muttered.

“It’s quite alright,” Zelena said. She glanced down at her prisoner. She was of half a mind to turn her into a flying monkey, but knew she couldn’t… yet. “Let’s get our prisoner back to camp, yes?”

“So what’s the plan?” Emma asked as she tied a scabbard to her waist. While she had gotten much better with magic, she wasn’t really keen on the idea of trying to rely on it in battle.

“We go in, we get Gwen and the boy, we get out,” Lena said, her arms crossed. “We incapacitate anyone who stands in our way,” she motioned with her hand as she talked. “We’ll teleport to the edge of the camp. I should know where Gwen is.”

“Lena, are you sure about all this magic usage?” Regina asked. 

“I’m fine Regina.”

“It’s just with freeing Merlin and-”

“I said, I’m fine ,” Lena said, her tone scathing. 

Emma glanced over at Regina. All the magic usage was getting to the younger woman. From the constant teleportation, to freeing Merlin, to the chains, Emma was surprised Lena hadn’t collapsed.

“We should get going,” Lena said, offering her hands.

The two women took them and they appeared on the edge of the army’s camp.

“Do not draw attention,” Lena said. “If they ask, we are servant women for Queen Guinevere. Got it?”

The other two women nodded.

They made their way into the camp, avoiding who they could. Lena was about to turn to make their way down a path that should lead to Gwen’s tent when she heard a familiar voice.

“I’m sure that’s not true.”

Lena pulled back a tent flap to see Guinevere on her knees in front of a young child. He had dark curls on his head and was clinging onto a well-loved lion toy. 

“It is,” the boy argued. “My mother said he hates me.”

“Arthur doesn’t hate you,” Guinevere said, moving a curl out of his face.

“Gwen,” Lena hissed. 

Guinevere glanced up. “Morganna?”

Lena entered the tent followed by Regina and Emma. “We’re here to get you out of here.”

“Is that Mordred?” Emma asked, motioning to the boy. 

“It is,” Gwen said. “Mordred, this is your Aunt Morganna.”

Lena met the green eyes of the little boy staring up at her in wonder. Lena wasn’t expecting Mordred to be so… young. He had to be at the most seven or eight. Lena was expecting someone much closer to Henry’s age.

“We need to get both you and him out of here,” Lena said. “Now.”

“I’m afraid that’s not going to be possible.”

They turned to see a man flocked by two guards.

He was tall, one of the tallest men Lena had ever seen. He looked to be around Guinevere and Arthur’s age. He had a well-maintained beard and his hair was a dark chesnut color. He was dressed in armor, ready for battle. 

“You are unlawfully holding the Queen and the heir to the throne,” Lena said. “We are leaving here no matter what. What matters is if you plan to make us use force or not.”

“You’re going to have to use force then,” The man said, flashing Lena a smile. “I don’t know who you think you are, but you are facing Knights of the Round Table. I’m afraid you will not be making it out of here alive.”

“I am Morganna Pendragon,” Lena said, a fireball appearing in her palm. “And I’m afraid it is you who will not be leaving here alive.”

The man’s eyes lit up in recognition. “Ah a worthy opponent then. I am Sir Lancelot and I will be glad to claim your death Kingslayer .”

“Lancelot, please,” Guinevere said, trying to appeal to the knight. “This is madness.”

Mordred whimpered, clinging onto Guinevere.

“Get them out of here,” Lena said motioning to Regina. “Emma and I will take care of them.”

Regina nodded.

“Not so fast!” Lancelot said, moving forward, but Emma blocked the swing of his sword.

“Regina now!” Lena said, throwing a fireball towards one of the men who immediately screamed as his clothes caught flame.

Regina grabbed Guinevere and Mordred and disappeared in a puff of purple smoke.

The other man turned towards Lena and charged her as Emma and Lancelot went back and forth. Lena moved her hand, throwing the man through the tent wall. 

“Need help?” Lena asked.

“No I got it!” Emma called.

Lena didn’t know if she agreed. It was becoming increasingly apparent that Lancelot was overwhelming Emma. However, then Emma side-swept his leg, sending him to the floor. 

“A knight doesn’t fight that way!” he coughed from the ground. 

“Well good thing I’m not a knight,” Emma said. 

“Let’s go,” Lena said, grabbing Emma.

“No! Wait-”

Lena and Emma disappeared, reappearing in Arthur’s camp.

“Good job,” Lena said. 

“Thank you,” Emma said. 

Regina approached them. “Are you two alright?”

“Yeah,” Lena said, feeling very, very, drained. “Where’s Gwen?”

“They’re with Merlin and Arthur in the tent,” Regina motioned. 

“Do we think this gamble is going to work?” Emma asked.

Lena sighed. “We can only hope.”

The three women noticed a commotion. They turned to see Zelena and Robin approaching them, dragging a struggling Vivianne behind them.

“We caught her!” Robin said excitedly as they approached the women. 

“It was much more difficult then I thought it would be,” Zelena noted, glaring at the woman. “She was unconscious for a good part of the journey,” she smiled. “So what about you guys?”

“Everything went well,” Lena said, crossing her arms. “We will have to wait to see what Merlin comes up with."

Chapter Text

With some messengers, and some back and forth negotiations, the Camelot Civil War never occurred. Amnesty was given to any knight willing to pledge their allegiance to the round table once more, a very generous act that Merlin had pushed for. The others had been banished from Camelot, never to return. Lancelot and Vivianne both sat in the dungeon of the castle, though Merlin was considering talking to Vivianne in a week or two. 

“She’s just misguided,” he said. “Afraid of her own powers.”

Lena hoped he knew what he was doing. 

Lena and her sisters, along with little Robin had been invited to the celebratory feast of course and they had all enjoyed themselves. Emma and Regina had been drinking and laughing. Zelena had been ranting about something to Robin while the younger girl listened attentively. 

And Lena had slipped away, wanting to enjoy the little time they had left before they had to leave. 

She stood on a balcony of the castle, glass of wine in hand. Lena had forgotten just how beautiful Camelot could be at night. 

 She could hear and see the lights and sounds of the feast going on below… but she didn’t particularly care to. It was nice, how quiet the evening was. She was sure the villagers were having their own feasts throughout the city, glad that war had been stopped. 

Lena sipped on her wine. 

“Morganna?”

Lena turned to see Gwen coming out onto the balcony. “Hi Gwen.”

“What are you doing out here?”

“Just thinking.”

The two women sat in silence.

“Will he be alright?” Lena asked, swirling the wine around in her glass. 

“Who? Mordred or Arthur?” Gwen asked, leaning on the balcony railing. 

And all of a sudden, Lena felt like a teenager again. When she and Gwen would do this exact same thing and discuss everything. Arthur, and Uther, and Merlin, and the kingdom, and dragons, and knights. It felt like a lifetime ago… it was a lifetime ago. This was no longer Gwen standing next to her, but Queen Guinevere of Camelot. 

What a hard thing to accept, that the Camelot Lena had returned to was not the one she left. Even if she wanted to, she could never live here again.

“Both,” Lena said, answering Gwen’s question.

“Arthur is… Arthur,” Gwen said. “We’ve talked, and I hope things are heading in the right direction,” She sighed. “I sound foolish saying it but… I love that man. Even after everything, I still love him.”

Lena’s mind darted to Kara, but she said nothing. 

“As for Mordred… he seems alright, for now. I think the loss of his mother, only to then be kidnapped by knights in an attempt to put him on the throne would rattle any child,” Gwen said, she straightened her spine. “But he’s my responsibility now, and I will do right by him.”

“Good, that’s good, can I give you some advice Gwen?” Lena asked.

Gwen nodded, hesitant. 

“Love him. That’s all he needs,” Lena said, turning to once again look at the lights in the village below. 

“I will,” Gwen said. “I promise,” she stared at Lena in silence for a moment.

“What?” Lena asked, looking at her old friend.

“Nothing it’s just… you’ve changed, Morganna,” Gwen said, a sad smile on her face. “You just have an air of melancholy that I’m not used to seeing on you.”

“Being here is a lot harder then I thought it would be,” Lena admitted. “And when we leave, I don’t think I’ll ever see Camelot again.”

“Then let me say this,” Gwen took Lena’s hands in hers. “You, Morganna Pendragon, have had one of the biggest impacts on my life. You were one of my best friends growing up, and I don’t think I would be the person I am today without you.”

Lena felt emotion well up in her throat. “I feel the same way about you.”

Gwen seemed to accept that. “I’m going back inside, are you coming with me?”

“In a moment,” Lena said.

Gwen nodded, leaving Lena on the balcony. 

Lena glanced up at the stars. No trace of Krypton here. 

Lena sighed, downing the rest of her wine. She would have to return to real life. To L-Corp and Kara and actually face the music of her life before all of this went down. But now… it didn’t seem as scary. Lena had gone to Oz and Camelot, she had made a deal with the Dark One, she freed Merlin from his prison, and she even faced down a group of angry knights who intended to kill her and Emma. 

The board of trustees wasn’t looking too scary now. 

Lena smiled at that. She took one more moment to try and imprint the image of Camelot in her mind, and then turned and headed back inside. 

“I don’t think that’s the case Miss Swan,” Regina said, rolling her eyes. 

“No, I swear, line dancing was apart of the curriculum!” Emma said motioning with her hands. “The physical education portion.”

Emma knew she was perhaps a bit more then tipsy. It had been a long day, what could she say? Now she was for some reason trying to explain to an unconvinced Regina that Emma had learned line dancing in school after watching some of the guests dancing. “What about you?” Emma asked, changing topics.

“What about me?” Regina asked, seeming assumed. 

“Dancing!”

Regina’s eyes grew sad for a moment, as they always did. “It was a part of my education… no doubt another way to attract the king. I did enjoy it though, for many years. And then when I was married, I hated balls. I felt like nothing more then a pretty thing to be stared at. Of course Snow loved them,” Regina rolled her eyes at the mention of Emma’s mother. “Which only made me hate them even more. But still… I’ve always loved dancing.

“Do you know any of these dances?” Emma asked, motioning to the floor.

Regina watched for a moment, studying their movements. “It’s been awhile but… yes.”

Emma felt her heartbeat pounding in her ears as she stood up. She offered Regina a hand. “Dance with me?”

Regina’s whole face lit up as she took Emma’s hand. “I’d love to.”

Zelena watched silently as Robin talked with Merlin. 

She felt a bit of a twinge in her cold dead heart. She had grown quite fond ot the young girl in their adventures and she would miss her when they returned to Storybrooke (though she would never admit that to her sisters). Oh well, at least she would be able to learn magic under Merlin like she wanted, right?

Zelena frowned as Robin’s face dropped at something Merlin said. 

She interrupted him, saying something, but he just gave her a small smile before responding. 

Robin looked downtrodden as she came to sit back by Zelena. 

“So?” Zelena asked.

“He says he isn’t taking any more students,” Robin frowned. “he’s always planned on Vivianne being his last.”

Zelena also frowned. 

Robin crossed her arms, slumping farther in her chair. “He said the best he could do was make me a maid in the castle.”

“What a waste of your magical talents,” Zelena scoffed. She tore a piece of her food off. It was unfair to the young girl. Zelena would do it herself if not- Wait, why couldn’t Zelena just do it herself? Zelena paused. Well… like she said earlier. Regina had done it… how hard could it really be? “I guess I will just have to teach you myself.”

“Really?” Robin asked.

Robin held up a finger. “It would mean traveling with me to my world. You might not be able to return to Camelot.”

Robin paused, thinking it over. She met Zelena’s eyes. “Well… what’s your world like?”

“Regina, I need to talk to you.”

Regina tried not to be frustrated as Zelena pulled her aside. She had been enjoying her evening with Emma. 

Regina loved Henry, there was never any doubt about that. But it was nice to spend a carefree evening with the savior where they weren’t having to save lives. And Emma had asked her to dance of all things (it was after a few glasses of wine, but it still counted in Regina’s book).

Not that Emma was particularly good at dancing, but Regina couldn’t complain too much. 

Yet here her sister was, pulling her aside. 

“What is it?” Regina asked.

“Robin wants to come with us,” Zelena said.

Regina glanced over at the young girl who was watching their conversation closely.

“Zelena-”

“She needs to be taught magic, and Merlin isn’t going to do it,” Zelena straightened. “I want to take her on as my apprentice.”

Regina blinked at her sister.

Regina wasn’t blind. She had noticed how Robin had stuck closely to Zelena all afternoon. She hadn’t want to draw attention to how unusually kind Zelena was being towards the girl, afraid she would spook her sister. But Regina had never expected this. 

An apprentice? 

“I know we’ve discussed me moving out recently,” Zelena said. “ But until I do, She’ll have to stay with us… is that alright?”

Regina studied her sister for a moment. She had never seen Zelena as the matronly type… but then again many people would probably have said the same thing about her when it came to Henry. 

“You’ll have to do more then just teach her magic, you understand that,” Regina said. “She would be your responsibility.”

“I know.”

“And she’s not just some pet, she’s a human being.”

“I’m aware of that Regina, thank you for the vote of confidence,” Zelena said drily. 

“And you can’t let her into the vault until she’s got control over her powers, We don’t need her to set off another curse. Oh! And no tornado spells until she’s older.”

Zelena sighed. “ Fine . Are you done?”

“Yes.”

“Good, you can go dance with your girlfriend now.”

Regina tried to protest. “She’s not my-” but Zelena had already walked away. 

Regina sighed, turning to go find Emma.

Lena sat down beside her brother at his table. 

Arthur seemed so lost in thought, Lena thought for a moment perhaps he hadn’t even noticed her sitting down. And then he spoke. 

“When we were children, I often imagined the two of us at feasts like this, with Gwen by my side. Only, my father was also there, his hair gray.”

Lena was silent as her brother took a large swig of his cup.

“You took that away from me, and for that, I can never forgive you,” Arthur said, his words cutting Lena to the bone. “I will never understand how you could kill someone who had taken you in, raised you as his own…”

Oh… he didn’t know. 

“Uther was my biological father,” Lena said calmly, her eyes watching Gwen talk quietly with Mordred. “That’s why he took me in, I was his bastard child.”

“Is that why you killed him?”

“I killed him because he was never going to stop ,” Lena said, her voice sharp. “And it kept getting worse. I kept having to use more and more magic to heal you.” 

“So you killed him.”

“I killed him before he could kill you.”

“And I’m supposed to thank you for that?”

“No,” Lena said. “But you could at least understand he wasn’t a hero to look up to.”

Arthur was silent for a moment. It was hard for Lena to accept that the years had taken their toll on Arthur. No longer was he the same carefree and joyful young man. His time on the throne had changed him into a man Lena no longer recognized.  

“Don’t make the same mistakes he did,” Lena said, her voice soft. “Don’t treat that little boy like he treated you. Raise him to be a good king… a great king, even.”

“How can I do that when looking at him reminds me of one of the greatest mistakes of my life?” Arthur asked. 

“He’s your son, treat him as such,” Lena said. She noticed Merlin motioning her to the back of the room. Since the feast was ending, they would need to go along on their way. “It was good to see you Arthur.”

“Morganna.”

Lena turned back towards her brother. 

“Thank you, for aiding us in our time of need,” Arthur said, though it appeared as if the words were almost painful for him to squeeze out. 

Lena just smiled at him. “That’s what family does.”

Merlin escorted them to the edge of the forest, Robin in tow. 

“I want to thank all you for your aid,” he said. He turned to Lena. “I’m glad I could help you find what you were looking for, but I have… a warning, I guess I should say.”

Lena nodded. “Did you have a vision?”

Merlin nodded before saying, “Morganna, your return has brought forth numerous changes, things that were once lost are beginning to be found again, there is yet to be total honesty in Storybrooke, and the one that the darkness claims as it’s own is coming.”

Lena frowned. “What does that mean?”

Merlin just gave her an apologetic smile. “That’s as much as I’m allowed to say. You’ll figure it out, I’m confident.”

“Are you always this vague, or is it just for us?” Regina asked, obviously not amused in the slightest.

“Always,” Both Merlin and Lena answered at the same time. 

“I am thankful you came back to us, if only for a little while,” Merlin said, offering his hand. 

Lena clasped it. “Thank you for the information you gave us.”

Merlin pulled her into a hug, whispering in her ear. “Keep an eye on Emma. I’d be worried about what she does when she finds out.”

The two separated, and Lena nodded slightly so Merlin knew she understood. 

“Well, farewell,” Merlin said with a nod. “I wish you all the best of luck.”

And with that, Merlin turned on his heel and left, leaving them in the wilderness outside of Camelot.

“Time to go home?” Regina asked, turning to Lena.

“Time to go home,” Lena responded.

“Are you sure about this?” Regina asked glancing at Zelena, she motioned to Robin who looked both nervous and excited.

“I am,” Zelena said with a nod. 

“Alright then,” Regina said, picking up the magic bean. “Let’s go home.”

Somewhere in Massachusetts

Lilith Page was usually not one to smoke. 

Yet here she stood, outside of a dingy diner in the middle of nowhere, cigarette between her fingers. Her other hand played with the crescent moon necklace around her neck. Thankfully the diner wasn’t busy tonight. Just a few regulars which her coworkers could more then handle while she was outside for a smoke break. 

The truth of the matter Lilith, or Lily as she most often was referred to was about five seconds away from quitting. Not even quitting, just simply walking out the door and never coming back. She hated this job, hated this town, hated this… life. The only thing tiding Lily over at the moment was the cigarette she was puffing on and the knowledge she had put in her two weeks, and would able to leave soon. 

After all, there was business to attend to. 

It was time to find her mother, and to collect payment on the crimes committed against both her and Lily. 

Lily threw the cigarette down, smushing it under her foot. 

Lily Page was heading to Storybrooke.

Whether they were ready for her or not.

Chapter Text

“You still haven’t told us what you learned about the Roulette spell,” Regina said.

Lena paused.

They were sitting in the living room of Regina’s house. It was the day after they had returned from Camelot, and they were all taking it easy. Robin and Henry were upstairs playing videogames on Henry’s switch. Robin was fascinated by the device, as she was by all technology in the world without magic. Henry had been more then happy to teach her Mario Kart, which Robin had proven to be a natural at. Henry had barely blinked when Zelena had introduced him to Robin, and now it was as if she had been apart of their little crew all along. Robin was adjusting well to the land without magic so far. She had only been frightened by a few things so far (though Lena doubted she would ever admit she had been scared). 

Zelena and Robin were making plans to move to some sort of farmhouse on the edge of town Regina owned. She was currently paying to get it fixed up a bit before Zelena and Robin moved in. There, Zelena would begin tutoring her in magic while she found someone else who could help Robin catch up enough so that she could perhaps begin public school like Henry did. 

Currently, however, Zelena was sitting on the floor, fiddling with some sort of magic necklace for Robin. 

“It should help with her powers,” Zelena had explained earlier. “Don’t need for her to take someone’s head off on accident.”

Regina was sipping on a glass of her cider. She was sat beside Emma on the couch, though her eyes were barring into her older sister.

“That was the whole reason for our little visit,” Zelena agreed form her spot. “So spill it.”

“The price regards Emma, so that’s why I didn’t say anything in Camelot,” Lena said. 

“Me?” Emma asked, surprised. 

“Snow was pregnant,” Lena said. “So it seems the price was transferred to you instead of her.”

“So Emma was cursed?” Regina asked, furrowing her brow. 

“No, well, I’m not sure,” Lena said, matching Regina’s frown. “Merlin said the price paid for such a curse would be to turn a pure individual’s heart black with darkness.”

“But Emma’s magic is white,” Regina pointed out. “She has only ever done light magic.”

“Exactly,” Lena said. “So Snow must have transferred it somehow.”

“Is that even possible?” Emma asked, leaning forward. “Transferring darkness out of a person by magical means?”

“It is,” Zelena said, speaking up from the floor. She had paused her tinkering to partake in the conversation. “I remember… there was a book, in OZ, that discussed that matters. Obviously I did not pay much attention to it because well,” Zelena motioned to herself.  “I was bit busy with other matters. But it is within the wizard’s library.”

“Do you think my parents would just fess up?” Emma asked.

“No,” Regina said.  “Not about something like this.”

“It would be a good idea to know more about that procedure,” Lena said. “We don’t know if there were any side effects that could hurt you Emma.”

“I’ll figure out a way back to Oz then,” Zelena said, before musing. “I’m sure Robin would love to go see it…”

“I can also talk to my dad,” Emma said.

“You can try,” Regina said. “But I wouldn’t hope for too much.”

“There’s also another issue,” Lena said. “I have to return to National City.”

Zelena and Regina both frowned at that as Emma crossed her arms. 

“I can’t stay away from it forever,” Lena said, giving her sisters a sad smile. “And despite everything. That is still my home. I can’t just disappear. I have a whole life there. And it’s not as if I’m leaving forever.”

“When are you planning to return?” Regina asked.

“The end of this week,” Lena said. 

“We should have some sort of going off celebration before you leave,” Emma said, getting up to grab her jacket. “I have to get going though, I agreed to the night shift and it should start soon.”

Regina stood up as Emma did. “Stay safe?”

Emma flashed her a smile. “I always do. Bye guys!”

And with that she was out the door with Regina staring off after her.

Zelena quietly hummed a wedding tune as she continued to fiddle with the necklace in front of her, earning her a slap on the back of the head from Regina.

“Ow!” Zelena said, she glanced over at Lena. “You see how cruel she is to me?”

Lena just chuckled as Regina walked to the kitchen to start on some dinner.

Kara Danvers was working in a conference room with Nia when she brought up the ceremony.

“Do you know what you’re going to wear?” Nia asked.

“Yep,” Kara said, grinning. “It’ll be so nice to see everyone. Clark and Miss Grant agreed to attending.”

“That’s wonderful Kara,” Nia said. “What about Lena?”

While Kara had told Alex everything Lena had told her, Kara had been a little more sparse with the rest of the Superfriends. They knew Lena now knew, and that she had not taken it well. They knew that she was off world. They also knew she had been back recently, and had been kidnapped basically as soon as she had landed on their Earth. They also were aware Lena and Kara were on the way back to regaining their friendship.

As far as all of the fairy tale stuff… Kara saw that as Lena’s secret to tell, not hers. 

“Oh… I don’t know.”

“Did you ask her?”

“Oh… no,” Kara said, sheepish. “Kind of forgot.”

Nia just stared at her. “You ‘forgot’ to invite your best friend to one of the most important occasions of your life?”

Kara winced at that. “Well there were other more pressing things at the moment.”

“Didn’t you say she was coming back soon?”

“Yeah.”

“You should ask her then,” Nia said. 

Kara had a moment of doubt, would Lena even want to show up? Would she actually want to come? Then Kara remembered how happy Lena was for her when she learned about the award. Kara nodded. “Alright, I will.”

They returned to work, Kara promising she would ask Lena if she saw her before the ceremony. 

“Where are we going again?” Robin asked.

Zelena turned to her new apprentice. They were parked outside of Gold’s shop, Zelena having borrowed Regina’s car that day. Regina had pointed out it was probably a good idea for Robin to get used to the technology of the world without magic, and one way was Zelena driving her places. Robin had also gotten a wardrobe suitable for this world as well, curtesy of Lena who had been more then willing to take the pre-teen shopping. She was dressed in a forest green hoodie and jeans. Her necklace from Zelena hanging around her neck. Her hair tied out of the way of her face. She looked normal, and Robin had even admitted the clothes were really comfortable. 

“Remember how I said I was taught by an awful old man?”

“...yes.”

“Well, I need something from him, and you’re coming with me,” Zelena said. She opened her car door. “Leave the bow in the car.”

“But Zelena-”

Zelena gave her a look and Robin huffed, leaving the long bow and her quiver in the car. 

“You’re going to be quiet and listen,” Zelena said. “This man can be dangerous.”

“Then why are you bringing me?”

“He’s what happens when you get too addicted to dark magic,” Zelena said. “And I need you to know what he looks like so you don’t ever interact with him, again.”

Robin nodded, still looking nervous.

They entered Gold’s pawn shop, Robin looking around in awe at the magical items around the room. Zelena did have to admit Gold’s shop was pretty impressive on first glance. Especially for someone who hasn’t been around other magical items.

“Ah, Zelena,” Gold emerged from the back of the store. “So good to see you my dear.”

“I’m sure,” Zelena said, her voice dry. “I need a way to get back to Oz.”

“So you came to me,” Gold said, smiling widely. “And you brought little Robin.”

Robin took a step closer to Zelena, but glared down the Dark One. 

“Hmph,” Gold said. “Oz… so you’ll want more beans?”

“Yes. What’s your price?”

Gold tapped the counter. “I don’t think you can have anything I want.”

Zelena grit her teeth. “Surely there’s something.”

“Hmmmm,” Gold said tilting his head. “Bring me a gallon of Lacausa nectar from Oz. It’s been quite awhile since I’ve had a taste.”

Zelena was surprised. It was an easy ask, a drink quite common in Oz, but Zelena didn’t know if Gold was aware of how common the drink was. Perhaps there was some other reason Rumple wanted her in Oz. However, Zelena was not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, and was not going to let a good deal pass her by.

“Deal,” Zelena said, offering her hand. 

Gold grinned, shaking her hand. “Let me get you those beans.”

Zelena and Robin appeared on the yellow-brick road. Robin stumbled, but managed not to fall. Zelena had managed to convince Robin to leave her bow behind in Storybrooke. 

“Woah,” Robin said, her eyes wide at the sight of the emerald city. “You used to live here?”

“I did,” Zelena said. “I’m going to have to disguise myself for us to enter the city.”

“Why?” Robin asked.

“People aren’t exactly my biggest fan there,” Zelena said, motioning with her hand to disguise her appearance.

“How’d you do that?” Robin asked. “Lena did that same thing in Camelot. When do I get to learn that spell.”

“I’ll teach you the spell eventually,” Zelena said as they continued down the road. “But I told you before, you have to learn the basics first.”

Robin huffed at that, but followed Zelena towards the gates. Once again, it was easy enough to make their way inside.

“Wow,” Robin whispered as they walked the streets of the Emerald City. Zelena couldn’t help but feel a bit of pride in Robin’s awe of her former home. It was beautiful. They got some odd looks because of their clothes, but no one stopped them. 

They finally made their way to the entrance hall of the palace where Zelena had seen Glinda last time. 

 “Hello?” Zelena called.

“Who goes there?”

Zelena frowned as Dorothy emerged. Her crossbow was in hand, but was not raised to point at Zelena as it had on her last visit. The insipid little dog was still following her around. Tator Tot or whatever.

“We’re looking for Glinda,” Zelena said.

Toto began barking at the two of them, startling Robin who stepped closer to Zelena. Zelena just gave the dog an unimpressed look.

“Toto!”

They all whipped around towards a familiar voice. 

Glinda glided into the entrance hall, a wide smile on her face. Zelena had no doubt Glinda saw through her disguise once again.

“That is no way to treat guests sweet boy,” she turned to Dorothy. “Thank you for your help, I’ll take it from here.”

“But-”

Glinda shot Dorothy a smile. “She’s an old friend.”

“If you say so,” Dorothy huffed, turning on her heel to walk away, Toto bounding after her happily. 

“Hello Zelena,” Glinda said. 

“Hello,” Zelena said.

“She knows who you are?” Robin asked, surprised. 

“Glinda is also a witch,” Zelena informed her apprentice. “And she’s known me for a long time,” Zelena turned to Glinda, deciding to get straight to the point. “We need your help.”

“Again?” Glinda asked, amusement twinkling in her eyes. “My, my, one might think you just wanted an excuse to come see me.” Before, Zelena could respond, however, Glinda turned towards Robin. “And who might this be?” Glinda asked, smiling at Robin. 

Zelena motioned to Robin, who had her hands in her hoodie pockets. “My apprentice. she’s very advanced at magic for her age.”

“She takes after you then,” Glinda said. 

Robin stood up a bit straighter at that, making Zelena smile. “Yes, I guess she does. However, we’re here on business.”

“What kind of business?”

“The kind that requires usage of the palace library,” Zelena said.

“Ah,” Glinda said. “What is it you seek?”

“We believe someone might have transferred a large amount of darkness out of an unborn child. I believe I saw a book on it-”

“I know which on you speak of,” Glinda said with a nod. “Let me show you where it is, and then while you’re doing research, I can show Robin around the Emerald City.”

Robin’s eyes lit up but she glanced over at Zelena for approval. “I see no issue with that,” Zelena said, smiling at her apprentice. Robin grinned in response. 

“Wonderful, come along,” Glinda said. 

They made their way down the hallways of the castle.

“So you and Zelena are friends?” Robin asked, looking at Glinda.

“Why yes, I believe so,” Glinda said.

Zelena blinked in response to that. Glinda thought they were friends?

Glinda glanced over her shoulder and winked at Zelena, causing Zelena’s brain to malfunction. Just what was going on here?

They reached the large library near the center of the palace. The floor was a checkerboard of gold and emerald, colors that made up the rest of the room. The books themselves, however, stood as a cacophony of colors covering the walls and the bookshelves. Robin’s jaw dropped upon seeing it, much like Zelena’s had the first time she had seen it. “Woah-”

“Welcome to the Wizard’s library,” Glinda said, motioning to the large room, lined floor to ceiling with books, before beginning to walk through the bookcases. “He might have been a fraud, but he did a fantastic job of collecting magical texts.”

“Wizard?” Robin whispered to Zelena.

“I’ll explain later.”

“Here we are,” Glinda said, pausing at a bookcase. “The information you seek should be somewhere here.”

“This is perfect, thank you Glinda,” Zelena said, Robin shooting her a weird look.

“Wonderful, well, shall we?” Glinda asked, motioning to Robin. 

Robin glanced at Zelena, and once again the older witch nodded, giving her a small smile.

Robin followed Glinda outside of the room, leaving Zelena to her work.

Emma and David sat in the silence of the Sheriff’s office.

Emma had been putting off asking her father, but she now had no excuse. The phone wasn’t ringing, and it hadn’t rung in an hour. Emma was off in thirty minutes. If she was going to ask, she would have to ask now.

“Dad,” Emma said. David perked up at that. Emma hadn’t called him that since their fight. “I have a question.”

“What’s up?” David ask, turning in his chair towards Emma. 

Emma didn’t look up from her paperwork. “Have you ever heard of siphoning darkness out of one person into something else?”

David froze in her purview. 

Bingo.

“Uh, no,” David said, clearly lying. “Why do you ask?”

Emma just continued writing. “Just something Regina has been researching since our trip to Camelot. Don’t know why yet,” she turned to her father. “Do you think it’s possible?”

“I don’t know kiddo,” David said, once again lying. “I don’t know as much about magic as Regina does. So maybe she knows more.”

Emma hummed at that. “I guess so.”

“Did she say anything on why she’s researching it?” David asked.

Emma just shrugged. If David wasn’t going to be honest with her, maybe he and Snow would try and confront Regina on what they knew. Or at least… that was the hope. 

Her parents were hiding something, and Emma wanted to find out just what it was.

Zelena wasn’t sure what to make of what she had just read. 

Zelena had been in the library for a couple of hours at this point, pouring through different books to find what she was looking for. And then she found it. 

It was in an inconspicuous leather bound book. There was nothing special about it. Yet, there it was on page 52. 

“Transferring darkness is not an easy task, nor is it one most aim to do. As noted in other works in regards to the addictive properties of darkness (Yaga et. al, Halliwell & Matthews), dark magic can be addicting, and those who possess darkness in their hearts often are not willing to give it up voluntarily. Most magic surrounding this, however, requires voluntary participation of that who is giving it up. (Spellman) 

However, it is not uncommon for those among royalty to ask for a sorcerer to remove the potential for darkness from their children before birth. Despite the unborn child’s lack of consent this may take place if the right ingredients are involved, with a sacrifice. 

It’s well known the dragon species have always been quite magical (for a lack of a better word). Besides many of them possessing magic themselves, pieces of them (such as eyes, scales, claws, etc) can often be used in spells. However, it’s Dragon eggs that withhold some of the most powerful magic. Besides holding baby dragons, the shell of a dragon's egg can keep one young forever, and the breath of a dead unhatched dragon can awaken someone whose magic has been drained. (Bouchard, Mim) And these uses are only with the rudimentary research we have. As one might expect, dragons are fiercely protective of their young, and therefore their eggs are hard to come by. 

However, there is a third usage we have yet to discuss. 

It is possible with the right sorcerer to transfer the aforementioned potential for darkness out of an unborn human child into the egg of a dragon. Oftentimes, the egg is then disposed of, for if it was to hatch, the being inside would be one who would destroy the realm it is in. 

There are other ways to remove darkness in grown adults such-”

But Zelena stopped reading at that point. 

A dragon egg? Just how the hell had Snow and Charming gotten ahold of a dragon egg ?  And even more importantly whose egg was it? Where was that egg now? Just what had Snow and Charming done? They had been worried that it effected Emma somehow, but it seems possible someone else’s life had been ruined in all this. Zelena got up. She needed to go find Robin. 

Robin stood with Glinda in the stables outside the Wizard’s palace.

Glinda had already showed Robin some of the highlights of the Emerald City, finishing their tour in the stables.

Robin hadn’t known much about Glinda before they arrived. She found Zelena often did things and then explained them later… which could be a little frustrating. But after walking around Emerald city, Robin had realized just how important Glinda was in the city. Glinda apparently ruled Oz with three other people. People knew her everywhere they went. Glinda was all smiles, greeting everyone as if they were an old friend. 

Robin wasn’t sure exactly what to make of the blonde witch. Glinda seemed thrilled to have Robin and Zelena there, but Robin wasn’t really sure why. Zelena had been acting very weird since she arrived, her teacher being nicer then she typically was towards other people besides her family and Robin.

Robin was lost in thought about this as she pet one of the horses in the stable. The horses in Oz were magical, their fur changing colors underneath Robin’s. They often drove people around Oz, but a few were kept in the palace stables in case Glinda or any of her fellow rulers went out. 

“Zelena should be done soon,” Glinda said, her voice was gentle as she played with the pendant around her neck. 

Robin touched her own necklace. Robin had noticed as soon as she received it how similar it was to Zelena’s. It was smaller, of course, and the gem was a bit darker. But it was definitely inspired by Zelena’s. And apparently by Glinda’s too. 

Glinda seemed to read Robin’s thoughts. 

“Pendants of the sisterhood of witches Zelena and I were once apart of,” Glinda said. “I see she made you your own version.”

“It’s supposed to restrain my magic,” Robin said. 

“Restrain it?” Glinda asked, furrowing her brow. 

“I-” Robin hesitated. “I can’t really… control it yet. So when I’m training we take it off.”

“Does it hurt?”

“No! No,” Robin said, shaking her head. Zelena had been worried about the same thing, but it just lowered the amount of power Robin could release. Zelena had explained it through the fireball spell (though Zelena said it might be awhile before Robin could cast that spell). If Robin accidentally cast a fireball, it wouldn’t be much larger then a match instead of a baseball like Regina or Lena threw. “It doesn’t.”

“Good,” Glinda said, seeming relieved. “And Zelena treats you well?”

“Of course she does,” Robin said, confused.

Glinda nodded, seeming pleased by this answer. “Are you ready to return to the castle?”

Robin nodded, following Glinda out of the stables.