The Life We Will Fight For

What and where and how and who?

The news spread like wildfire throughout Storybrooke, and so as the two Reginas were sitting down with Tinkerbell to get as much information out of her as they could, more and more people were joining them in the diner.

„So, let me get this straight: if you say it disappeared... it's gone, then you mean...", Regina began for what felt like the tenth time, still trying to wrap her head around it.

„... then that's exactly what I mean. It's gone! Where it used to be, there's nothing now."

„But, where did it go?"

„I have no idea!"

„And does it still exist somewhere else?", asked Regina's other half, her hand protectively resting on her round belly trying to calm down her daughter who was clearly upset about these news and missing her father.

„Again: I don't know! I just came here to tell you what I heard. No one seems to know any more than this at this point. That's what I hoped YOU can find out! As you can see, I happen to not have any magic right now."

„So how did you hear about this? Where did you hear about this?"

„I heard people talk about it all around the Enchanted Forest, taverns, markets, trade fairs. Places where people gather who travel a lot. At first I didn't think too much of it, but when I heard the same story repeated over and over... of people who have seen it. Or... not seen it, rather. Or of people who went missing."

Both Reginas shot up. „What do you mean, people who went missing?"

Tinkerbell leaned across the table and lowered her voice as if she was about to tell them something secret and too juicy for others to hear, even though by now the diner was packed with people, and still you could hear a pin drop.

„Those who are from this Wish Realm but had settled in the Enchanted Forest after the realms were united seem to have disappeared along with it! I've heard from men and women missing their spouses, parents, friends..."

„Well, then it all makes sense", concluded Emma who had sat down at the table next to them, „It's not that they're both YOUR men that connects Hook and Robin... but what they have in common is that they're both from the Wish Realm! So this is not some personal vendetta against you, it's..."

„... Much more complicated than that", said the queen, „Thank you for your contribution, Ms Swan, but as usual, you're not helping!"

„At least that would explain the locator spell...", said Alice, „why it just stopped. If my papa was still somewhere reachable from here, it should have worked. But... he isn't."

„Then how come you are still here?", asked Robin gently squeezing her hand.

„I'm not from the Wish Realm. I was born in the same realm as Ella and Lucy."

„Just as our babies", said Regina, „We saw them in the ultrasound after Killian and Robin disappeared. So those who aren't directly from that realm don't seem to be affected."

Tinkerbell nodded, „That's the conclusion I reached as well. I talked to a young boy, fifteen or so, who told me both his parents disappeared, but not him. But, wait a minute", she wondered, „Why are YOU still here?"

She looked at Regina's other half, confused.

„Why wouldn't I be?"

„Aren't you from the Wish Realm too? Their version of Regina?"

„No, I am not", she replied triumphantly.

„Then how..."

„She's me, Tink", Regina stated, eager to return to the topic of finding Killian as quickly as possible, „It's... a long story. In short, Robin, the true love you prophesized for me, died and in my mourning I split myself in half."