Hello dear readers.

The idea for this story was brought to me by one of my readers on this site, so to begin, thank for trusting me with your idea and for the awesome brainstorming sessions, you know who you are. ;-) At first I wasn't sure about tackling a story involving a character who switches genders, but the more we talked, the more excited I became about writing this. With that said, I know that topics involving gender can be a sensitive subject, and even though I hope there won't be, I'm sure there will be parts that don't sit well with some people. I am open to all comments, but I just request that they be civil.

Those of you who have read my previous stories know that I usually update once a day until the story is done. For this story I will be aiming for an update once, maybe twice, a week. I want to get this story right, so I am going to take my time with it. I also don't have a beta, so any and all errors are my own.

I hope you all enjoy this tale. Without further ado...on with the show...er...story...

Much Love,
RegalQuill

"I forbid you from doing this! We can not let them in here!" Her Mother's hand clamped onto her wrist as they stood near the town line. Just across the barrier a luxury car, from an era long gone, sat idle by two women who had expressed their desire for a second chance. Emma rolled her eyes at the former bandit.

"In case you haven't notice, Mom, you're not in charge here. And why can't we let them in? Why are they not allowed to seek their second chance?"

"Because they are villains, Emma." Snow looked panicked at the mere thought of the pair being allowed to cross the border of Storybrooke. Emma narrowed her eyes, her suspicions raised.

"No, there's more to it than that. What's the real reason you don't want them here?" Snow wrung her hands and avoided her daughter's gaze.

"I just don't think they are sincere in their desire to start fresh." Emma's super power pinged. Her Mother was lying, but she just couldn't figure out about what. She gently pulled away from the woman's grip and took a step toward the Mayor, who stood silent as the two debated.

"I agree with Regina. They helped us with the Hell beast thingy, so look at this as an act of good faith. They deserve the chance to prove themselves. " She glanced at the brunette next to her and met the woman's chocolate gaze. She could see the brief instant of shock before it was swept away with a small grin. Emma returned the smile, then faced her parents once more.

The Charmings' eyes filled with hurt, as if the act of taking Regina's side was a betrayal of them. The Sheriff shook her head and handed the scroll to the former Evil Queen.

Emma watched as the Mayor pulled her arm back and sent the scroll sailing through the barrier.

"Nice throw."

"Don't act so shocked, Miss Swan, I was a single Mother to our son for 10 years. It only stands to reason I would pick up a few things." Regina smirked at the blonde.

"Oh, I wasn't shocked, Madam Mayor, I've learned to not underestimate you. On the contrary, I am rather impressed." Emma winked at the woman. Their banter was interrupted by the sound of an engine being revved. They both watched as the imposing white car rolled across the orange line on the asphalt and came to a stop next to them.

"Welcome to Storybrooke, dears." Regina greeted the two women in her best mayoral voice.

"Thank you, darling, I'm sure we will fit right in." Cruella responded. The Mayor and Sheriff followed the car with their eyes as it made its way into their town. Emma's eyes flicked towards her parents.

Snow had her forehead pressed against David's shoulder and his arms were wrapped around her in a tight embrace, as if he could protect her from all the wrongs of the world. Emma stared at them for a moment, unsure why they were so effected by the event that just occurred.

~~SQ~~

A month passed since the two newcomers had entered the town and for the most part things remained peaceful. A few eyebrows were raised when they provided Gold with assistance in his bid to re-enter the town. With Belle still in possession of the dagger the citizens paid the man little mind, secure in the librarian's ability to keep the Dark One's actions under control. If that was the worst act the two women ever committed, Emma was okay with that.

Emma's life with her parents had become strained over the course of the month. The Charmings nervousness only grew, as the two former villains made themselves at home in their town. Every time she or Henry entered the apartment the couple would react as if their home was being invaded. When she brought it up, her parents brushed her concerns aside with excuses about the need to protect Neal. She was not fooled by their flimsy explanations. When pressed, Snow, went so far as to tell her daughter that she wouldn't understand because she never raised a child before. Emma wanted to fire back, that the brunette hadn't raised a child either, instead she buried the hurt their off handed remarks caused, all for the sake of peace in their little family. In order to escape the oppressive atmosphere her parent's paranoia had created, she spent as much time as possible away from the apartment.

Because of the need to avoid her parents, the blonde found herself in the company of the Mayor more than ever before. Their relationship was on shaky ground after the whole Marian fiasco, but once Emma had sincerely apologized more times than she could count and Regina came to the realization that Emma didn't intentionally try to hurt her, they managed to work their way back to a strong friendship. Now family dinners and movie nights happened weekly. If Henry wasn't there they shared a bottle of wine and caught up on their favorite shows on Netflix. Regina would scoff and roll her eyes at the idiocy of the royal families on Game of Thrones and Emma would ogle one Dr. Torres on Grey's Anatomy.

On one such movie night, Emma decided to walk home to the loft after she left Regina's place. Her lips were pulled into a smile that she seemed unable to shed as she meandered her way across town. When she arrived at the apartment she opened the door and found the space void of any life. It wasn't unusual for her parents to take her little brother on a short stroll in the cool night air to help sooth his restlessness, so she shrugged as she locked the door behind her and made her way to her room. After she changed into her PJ's she slipped under the covers with a smile still plastered across her face.

Meanwhile, deep in the dusty cavern below the library, the Charmings stood frozen. Not in fear, but by magic. Gold approached them with a wicked smirk.

"Hello, dearies, fancy meeting you here."

"What are you doing here, Rumpelstiltskin?" Snow's voice wavered as she tried to stare the man down.

"I could ask you the same thing, but I already know why you're here." He stepped closer to his captives. "You're here in a vain attempt to make sure certain, shall we say, dark deeds never come to light. Unfortunately, for you, I can't let you succeed."

"Remember all those years ago, we made a deal. I made sure a certain prophecy would come to pass and in exchange you would owe me a favor?" The pixie haired woman's face paled in response to the man's words.

"Ah, so you do remember. Then this is fairly straight forward." He met the fearful eyes of Snow White. "I am here to collect."

He pulled a small dagger from the pocket of his jacket, along with a vial that contained a clear liquid. He approached the couple and with a twist of his fingers their arms lifted of their own accord to present the Dark One with their palms. He slid the knife across the flesh of Snow's palm first, blood appeared like a line of red pearls on her alabaster skin. He pressed the end of the dagger against the scarlet liquid and watched as it gathered on the point of the blade before he tapped it on the lip of the vial. The clear fluid inside turned a pale pink. He repeated the motions with David and when the Prince's blood joined Snows, the potion glowed a crimson red.

"Now, I bet you both are wondering what this potion will do." He swirled the liquid in the vial. "Your blood was the final ingredient we needed to bring our dear friend back." Snow's mouth went dry, as her eyes flicked to the pile of ashes just feet away.

"Who?"

"Oh, your Highness, I think you know exactly who I am talking about, but since you want to play the naive Princess, I'll tell you." Snow tried to swallow past the lump in her throat.

He walked over to the pile of ashes and proceeded to pour the potion in the center of the mound.

"We are here to resurrect Maleficent, The Queen of the Dragons!" He couldn't help the evil giggle that escaped his lips when he glimpsed the horrified looks that graced the faces in front of him.

Wind howled through the cavern, the ashes lifted into the air in a vortex of magic. The Charmings struggled to escape the confines of their magical bonds, but it was useless. They watched with dread as the vortex condensed in front of them and regrouped into the form of a woman. As the dust settled, the pair came face to face with the hate filled eyes of their foe.

The blonde's first instinct was to slay the couple where they stood. She waved her hand, to do just that, when she realized her magic was absent from her being. The effort to draw if forth caused her to sway on her feet. She was braced on both sides by none other than Ursula and Cruella. Gold stepped into the woman's line of sight.

"Welcome back to the land of the living. As much as I know you want to smite those who wronged you, your power will take some time to regenerate. Until then, I've created a safe place for you and yours to stay. If it's acceptable to you, I will transport you there via magic." Maleficent narrowed her eyes at the man.

"What's in it for you, imp?"

"Free of charge, dearies. I'm just a sucker for a family reunion." The blonde stared at the man for a few moments before she nodded her head. With a wave of his hand the trio disappeared in a cloud of red smoke.

He twitched his fingers in the Charmings' direction. The couple staggered as they found themselves freed from their frozen state. Without a moment of hesitation, David ran at Gold with his sword at the ready. Another giggle and a simple flourish and the Prince charged through the last trace of magic the Dark One had left behind.

Across town, another blonde began to struggle in her sleep. Her mind was flooded with the sensation of flying, the flap of leathery wings filled her ears and she could feel the cool breeze as it flowed across her scales. The oxygen in her lungs scorched her insides as it ignited and the fire blazed from her mouth to engulf the forest below her. With a great gulp of air, Emma sat up in her bed, beads of perspiration ran down her overheated skin. She panted in the darkness of her room as her heart beat a staccato rhythm against her ribs. Her fingers curled into the covers in an effort to ground herself.

What the hell was that? She swiped her hand through sweat soaked hair and rolled out of bed. After a quick shower she threw on her favorite sweats and hoodie and went downstairs. The apartment was still dark and held no sign of her family. Emma exited the building in search of some fresh air and something to distract her from the dream she had just experienced.

As she made her way down Main Street she was met by the sight of her parents. They couple kept a steady pace, so focused on each other that the town around them went unnoticed. Neal rested peacefully in David's arms. When they drew closer Emma could feel the anxious energy that clung to them.

"Hey guys, everything okay?" She studied their faces as she greeted them. David's grip on Neal was a bit too protective for a simple walk in the moonlight and Snow's complexion was paler than normal in the glow cast by the street lights.

"Neal was fussy so we went for a stroll to calm him down." The brunette glanced at the infant asleep in his father's arms. Emma's lie detector screamed inside her head.

"I'm glad he's feeling better. I'm going to head to the station for a bit, catch up on some paperwork." She gave the pair a false smile.

"Okay, honey, don't stay out too late." David responded as he took Snow's hand and led her back to the loft. If she didn't suspect something was up before, she certainly did now. Never in all the years since she showed up in Storybrooke, did Snow not harass her about working late, but tonight it was like it didn't even matter. Not for the first time, Emma wondered what skeletons were hidden in her parent's closet.