The Queen Returns

Trying

Hey guys! First of all I'd like to apologize once again for the delay on this chapter. As you may already know, I was on vacation, so I didn't really stress myself with this. I was planning on updating this a few days ago, but I have what is called Skier's thumb on my left hand. It hurts real bad. I hope you guys are not mad.

Enjoy!

"Always so impatient, Swan" chastised the brunette. She had always thought that Emma was in a rush to do everything, even when things couldn't be rushed. Regina couldn't really blame her, when she wanted something, Regina got it. No matter what. She figured the Sheriff was the same as her.

Emma pouted slightly, "C'mon Regina, please!" she insisted trying to look adorable. Her face reminded the older woman of her son, Henry. Now she knew where he had gotten his pleading faces from.

"Miss Swan, that doesn't work with Henry and it is certainly not going to work for you" she replied.

Emma  sighed, running a hand through her blonde hair, "Well, I had to try... But can you just do it? The sooner we find out, the sooner we'll catch this... whatever and the sooner we can get home".

"We?", raising her eyebrow "Since when are we a pair?" she asked smugly. Oh, how she loved to see the blonde woman squirm. It's not like they were enemies anymore, dare she say it, the felt like friends. But Regina spoke for both of them when she said she liked the harmless banter and making each other uncomfortable. Still, for Regina, nothing could surpass making Snow squirm in her seat. Even though she would not admit it to anyone, she had already forgiven her, but the pain and resentment lingered still. But she had accepted that it was all because of her Mother and Father - no, Rumpelstiltskin's fault, they had planned it all. Regina and Snow had just been chess pieces, puppets that had been used to fulfill their purpose and then thrown away. The older sorceress pushed those thoughts away from her mind and concentrated on the present. Her gaze focused on Emma Swan.

"Since now. Regina I really need your help, I know that you have your plate full but y'know I wouldn't be asking you if I could do it myself".

Now it was Regina's turn to sigh, "I will try, Emma. But I will not promise that I will get it right".

'She must feel unsure about having to use the Dark One's magic' thought the blonde Savior.

"You do know I can hear your thoughts, right?" Regina's voice startled Emma.

"Huh?" Emma asked, confused.

"I am able to hear what's going on in that charming head of yours. For your information, I do not feel unsure about myself, I do feel unsure of what can happen in the case that I... lose control and set myself on killing someone" Regina's mask wavered a fraction, but she replaced it almost immediately. Almost immediately was not fast enough to prevent Emma to see the slip up.

"I have faith in you, Regina. I know that you can do it!"encouraged Emma, "I'll be here in case anything happens" she reassured.

Regina chuckled darkly, mostly to herself, "Do you not remember what happened last time? I practically ran you over with my magic and you could not stop me. What is going to make this time different?" 

Emma's green eyes locked on Regina's warm brown eyes."We are not even sure if you'll turn back. You trusted me before with magic, do it again! I know you can do it" as she stepped closer to Regina and managed to put her hand on Regina's shoulder. A gesture of trust and faith. Emma believed in her, so could Regina.

The shorter of the two woman took a deep breath and closed her eyes. Years of using magic coming in handy at that moment. Her mind erased from all thoughts. All but one. Looking into the past. Searching for the knowledge only the residual magic would offer her. She called upon her magic and she shined with it. Her body covered by the shimmering gleam. Emma's eyes widened slightly, she had expected Regina's dark purple magic, but she was ultimately surprised when she saw that Regina was using light magic. Regina, the former Evil Queen, the cold Mayor, mother of her son and recent Dark One, was using one of the purest forms of magic. Light magic that was just like Emma's.

Regina frowned slightly in concentration. Without the aid of someone who had seen the past and the future before, her attempt was rather difficult. She concentrated harder on her goal.

An image flashed upon her mind. A forest. The same woods they were in. The same place they were just standing. A vortex of magic, dark magic. Spinning into the wilderness that was that part of Storybrooke. The image started to fade slightly and Regina focused even more. Her mind feeling the slight strain, she zeroed on the image once again. From the portal a tallish figure stepped out. Regina could tell it was a man, but words that she couldn't hear were said. The man was wearing the hood of his cape, meaning that the brunette couldn't tell for the life of her who this mystery sorcerer was. Her eyes tightened as she tried to see it from another point of view, looking for anything that could help identify the man. She felt that this stranger was familiar, like she'd met him before. But the brunette could not pin point who he was, or where did she know him from.

She let go of her magic and her mind felt at ease. The mental strain no linger bothering her.

"Did it work?" asked Emma immediately after she saw Regina open her eyes and saw the magic being dispelled. She heard the other woman sigh- that never meant something good in Emma's opinion.

"It worked, I saw the portal and the figure. I am afraid that all that I can confirm is that it was a man, but he never took or moved the hood off his face". Regina lifted her hands to her temples, she felt a bad headache, probably because she had not been prepared to enact that kind of magic. As soon as Emma saw Regina's hand moving and rubbing her head, she became concerned. Not that she would blatantly admit it.

So instead she asked the woman if she was alright. Regina, being who she was, simply waved the blonde off saying that she was alright. Emma decided this moment to mention to the older woman something about her magic.

"Regina?" she asked as a way to start the conversation.

"Yes?"

"How many kinds of magic do you have?" Emma asked as innocently as she could. At Regina's raised eyebrow, she decided to rephrase. "Well, you had dark magic before, it is purple. Then you used light magic, and as far as I know the Dark One's magic is black..."

Regina sighed once again, "I have no words for this complete lack of intelligence. As you stated by yourself, Miss Swan, I have three different degrees of magic. Light magic, dark magic and a not so dark, dark magic". She felt annoyed at Emma's stupidity, 'Why should I expect something more? She's the daughter of two of the most idiot people I have ever had the non-pleasure of having acquaintances with'.

"Before you ask again, yes it is extremely rare for someone to have three different degrees of magic and yes, I am aware of my recent usage of light magic" that surely made the blonde snap her mouth shut.

After a few seconds of silence, Emma decided to break it.

"Can you help me to find out who crossed over and why?" she asked.

Regina stopped massaging her temples and looked at Emma, seriously. "Of course. We also need to know how did that person find a portal that lead to Storybrooke".

Emma smiled and she stood next to the brunette, "So, are you ready, partner?" laughing silently at the last word as she nudged the other woman with her elbow. Regina simply huffed and demanded to be taken home in the yellow fish can. But she smiled. She liked Emma Swan even though she would not admit it to anyone. Most of the times, not even to herself.

Darn it! My hand hurts from writing and I'm sure that my butt is as flat as a sheet of paper!

Tell me what you thought, and I ,once again, apologize for the delay of the chapter. That was all for today's chapter. See ya!