Agreeing with Regina's advice that Emma needed more help harnessing and controlling her magic, the two women set off to see Regina's sister Zelena.

After a couple hours of riding in The Queen's carriage, Regina peered out from the window and could see Zelena's castle coming into view.

Emma turned to her and asked "Regina? What is it?"

The Queen smiled, "We're nearly there. I can see my sister's castle now."

Emma leaned over The Queen to get a view for herself.

Zelena's castle was just as enormous and amazing as Regina's. Emma marveled at how beautifully the green limestone of the castle glistened in the sun. How magnificent it sat, at the edge of the emerald waters, tucked away between smooth hills of rolling green grass, sprinkled here and there with the fullest and greenish of trees.

"Wow.." Emma replied, "Your sister Zelena.. She must really have a thing for green.."

The Queen rolled her eyes, "..You have no idea.."

Emma shrugged off Regina's obvious sarcasm, "Well, this should be interesting. I hope she can help."

"I believe she can, Emma." Regina replied, "Zelena.. knows a thing or two about harnessing one's power and strength... She claims to also know how to defeat the Chernabog creature."

"What?!" Emma exclaimed, "if that's true, than why hasn't she already defeated and killed him?"

"Mmm.." Regina gazed out the window of the carriage once more, "...Zelena has her reasons for doing, or not doing, certain things. I've learned over the years to not ask questions sometimes."

"I don't even know what that means."

Emma replied.

Regina looked back at Emma.

Giving her a reassuring smile, she put her hand on Emma's thigh and gave it a tight squeeze, "Don't worry my dear. I know my sister will help us. That's all that really matters."

Still unconvinced, Emma smiled back, placing her hand over The Queen's.

Emma watched as the carriage drew closer to the castle. The dirt road under the hooves of The Queen's two black horses began to slowly disappear, as the the trail of dirt became green cobble stones shaping themselves into what would be the driveway to Zelena's front door.

They came to a slowed stop just in front of the castle doors. Seconds later, Claudius opened the carriage doors, offering his hand to The Queen.

Taking Claudius's hand to steady herself, The Queen exited the marvelous black carriage.

With Her feet planted firmly on the ground now, Regina stretched her arms out cracking her neck and back. "Phew! Glad we finally made it Claudius! I don't know how much longer I could sit in there.."

When Regina turned to look at Claudius, she saw that he still stood at the carriage door, hand outstretched, waiting for Emma to make her way out.

Moving her eyes from her guardsman to the carriage, Regina placed her hands on her hips and said to Emma, "Well?? What are you waiting for my dear? We're finally here."

"Regina... I don't know.." Emma started, poking her head out the door "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Growing a bit agitated now, The Queen replied, "If I didn't think it was a good idea, Ms. Swan, we wouldn't be here! Now, come out of that carriage so we can get this over with."

Slowly, Emma materialized from the black box, taking Claudius's hand and stepping down onto the cobble stone.

"Marvelous!" The Queen exclaimed, her smile returning to her red-stained lips.

Emerging now from the entrance of the castle, Emma could see a tall, slender woman. Her hair was the color of fire, and her skin was as smooth and creamy-white as ivory.

Sharing the same ruby red lips as Regina, Emma could see they were related.

Her stature was so powerful, and strong.

"Ah, Sister..!" Zelena exclaimed, "You made it I see."

"Yes Zelena, of course I have." The Queen replied, "I'd like you to meet Emma. Emma Swan."

Feeling her face flush with embarrassment, Emma looked up to meet Zelena's eyes. They reminded her of crystal blue pools of the ocean. Zelena was so beautiful! Emma thought to herself.

"Hello," Emma said to her, "It's very nice to meet you."

"Mmm, yes.." Zelena quipped, "Indeed."

"..oh!" Emma added, "And thank you so much for helping us out. We can use all the help we can get, honestly."

Confused, Zelena shifted her attention from Emma to Regina, "Am I helping you again, dear sister?" Zelena took a few steps closer as she continued, "Was ripping out your heart not enough?"

Emma's confused expression joined Zelena's, as they both glanced at The Queen.

Smiling her infamous ruby red smile, Regina replied "Now Zelena, I'm sure you remember the situation with Chernabog -"

Cutting her off, Zelena added, "Oh yes! The demon, Of course.." Trailing off, Zelena turned to Emma and explained "Your Queen has a habit of meddling in affairs she shouldn't be, you know." Giving a wink to Emma, and turning back to her sister, "Please do go on Regina. You know I just love a good groveling..."

Zelena was delighted to have Regina ask for help, it was a very rare occasion after all. She was so delighted, in fact, that she smiled and scooped her sister in for a hug.

Without a flinch, The Queen just stood there, stiff as a board, as Zelena patted her sister's shoulders mockingly.

"I am not groveling Zelena! For once, can we just be civil to each other? I am only asking you, as your sister, for a bit of help."

"Mmm hmm..." Zelena smirked, "Call it what you want Regina. Anyway, what do you need?"

"Wait, wait.." Emma chimed in, "Regina, does Zelena still have your heart?"

"Why yes dear, when would I have a chance to take it back?"

"I don't know, I'm just surprised I guess.." Emma trailed off.

"Don't be," Zelena added, "My sister always reminds me that 'love is a weakness', isn't that right sis?"

Emma's gaze went from Zelena to Regina, as she waited for an answer.

"..yes," Regina quipped, "Something like that."

"I have the proof right here.." Zelena proudly exclaimed. Putting out her hand, palm side up, as a small lock box materialized in her grasp with a swirl of green mist. Zelena stared down at it in her hands as she spoke, "It is a bit sad though, don't you think Emma? For someone to use their heart as a pawn."

Regina could see the sadness build behind Emma's eyes as her sister spoke.

"You know damn right well that is NOT the truth Zelena!" The Queen responded.

"Is it not?" Emma asked Regina, "You did tell me you voluntarily let Zelena take your heart.."

The Queen turned to face Emma, "I wasn't trying to use my heart as a pawn Emma, everything I have told you is true. I've no reason to say otherwise."

"Alright." Emma replied, still a bit unsure of what to believe.

"Emma.." The Queen began, "As I've explained before, after I denied Chernabog to take you as a sacrifice, and called off our 'deal', I was afraid he might take my heart for himself and use it to control me. I could never forgive myself if I hurt you."

"Ah!" Zelena added, "So you have told your lover your original plan to sacrifice her? I do wonder though, sis, Have you also informed her about the truth of her parents?"

"My parents? What is she talking about Regina?? What happened to - "

Cutting Emma off and raising her voice over Emma's, The Queen replied angrily "Zelena! Enough!!"

Quickly, she extending her arm toward Zelena, mimicking a squeezing motion with her hand, choking her sister from a few feet away.

Zelena, now pulling at her own throat as she gasped for air, was turning blue in the face.

"You have met me at my limit, Zelena!"

The Queen gritted through her teeth, squeezing harder and harder, "Will you help me or not? 'Dear sister'".

As she struggled to breath, Zelena tried to speak, but was only able to let out a squeak.

"What's that you say sis?" Regina mocked her through her devilish smile, "I can't hear you.."

"Regina! Regina, stop!" Emma pleaded horrified. Attempting to pull Regina's arm away she exclaimed, "She can't breath!"

With an automatic reflex, Regina pushed Emma to the ground.

"Sure she can!" The Queen insisted, continuing to hold her sister prisoner to her grasp, "She's just not trying hard enough!"

Standing back up, Emma's emotions got the best of her, and she felt a surge of energy racing toward her fingertips.

When it felt like the energy would burst from her hands, she held her palms out toward The Queen, and braced herself for what she felt was coming.

A bright white light glowed at her hands, right before shooting out a bolt of energy, like lightening, toward The Queen.

Regina was thrown against the side of the black carriage, as the bolt of energy hit her, and Zelena was finally able to breath again.

As The Queen stood back up, dusting the dirt from her clothes, Zelena approached Emma, "Thank you for that.. Em.. Emma, was it?"

"Ohhh don't thank me Zelena," Emma replied sternly, "It's your fault Regina reacted that way!"

"Me??" Zelena cried, "What did I do?"

"Don't play stupid!" Regina yelled at her sister as she approached them again, "You know what you were trying to do!"

"ENOUGH! Both of you!" Emma shouted, squeezing her eyes shut in frustration.

When she opened them, both the Queen and Zelena saw a glimmer of icy blue swirls in her eyes.

"Ahhh.. I see now what you need help with this blonde beauty.." Zelena trailed off, now showing a bit more interest in the situation. "Regina, why didn't you tell me your lady friend was a 'hybrid' ?"

"A what?"

"A hybrid?!" Regina questioned, "Don't be ridiculous Zelena. Emma is not a hybrid!"

"Ohh! But she is sis," Zelena argued, "And you and I both know what that means.."

Still standing between the two sisters as they argued, Emma was growing more and more confused by the minute.

"Can somebody please explain to me what you're talking about?!" Emma exclaimed, "What the hell is a 'hybrid' and why do you think I might be one?!"

"Not 'might', dear," Zelena corrected her, "definitely".

"Whatever!" Emma answered.

"Emma, a hybrid is someone who can fully harness both light and dark magic together." Regina explained, "To the absolute fullest of their potential."

"Ok.. So, isn't that good though?" Emma asked.

The two sister exchanged glances before Regina continued, "Well, the truth is, it can be good. If the person is able to control the two Magics thriving inside of them. Otherwise, it is said that one of those magics ends up consuming the other and creating something terribly unstable. What's more, through out the history of hybrids, the dark magic has always won."

"And, even more than that," Zelena chimes in, "no hybrid has ever survived it."

"But it doesn't matter," The Queen added, "because Emma is not a hybrid!"

"Whatever you say, sis..."

There was a moment of awkward silence that passed between the women, then, Emma proclaimed, "It does matter, Regina. Because I will survive it. I'll be the first."

Zelena smiled at the look of horror on her sister's face after Emma spoke.

"Great!" She replied, "we'd better get started then!" Zelena continued, "if you are ever going to stand a chance, we need to train as soon as possible!"

The Queen turned to Emma, "Are you ready?"

"Yes, of course." Emma replied.

Taking Emma's hand, Regina explained, "This will be hard, I know that. But I do feel if anyone can do it, it's going to be you."

"What do you mean, Regina? Are you talking about me harnessing both magics?"

"Yes Emma."

"Pfft please! I'll be fine, really. You don't have to worry about me. I got this."

"Alright my pretties," Zelena commanded, "hang on to your hats, we're going for a ride!"

With a quick wave of her hand above her head, The Queen, Claudius, Emma and Regina were whisked back to the Queen's castle .