The Girl and the Nutcracker ~ A Once Upon a Time Story

When Clara woke up in her room at Granny's, she heard a knock on her door. Clara walked towards the door, and when she opened it she saw Regina.

"Regina? Is everything alright? You look... distraught." Clara asked as she let Regina enter the room. Regina sighed, "I- I saw him."

Clara was confused, "Him? There are a lot of hims in Storybrooke, you're gonna have to specify yourself."

"Daniel." Regina responded, "I saw Daniel... I thought I was imagining things, but I visited the mausoleum and his body is gone."

"How does a dead man suddenly become alive?" Clara asked and then she looked at Regina in realisation, "Doctor Frankenstein..."

~ The Enchanted Forest ~

After centuries of being on Neverland, Clara had made her way back to the Enchanted Forest again with Pan's permission. She told him she'd become an alliance to the Dark One, so she could come closer to the Heart of the Truest Believer in some way. What she didn't tell Pan, is that she was searching for a magic bean for Baelfire, so he could finally escape the island.

When she entered the Dark One's castle, she was immediately transported by magic to another part of the castle. Now, she was standing right in front of another woman, who was startled by Clara's appearance, "Who are you?"

"Who are you?" Clara asked her instead, "You're not the Dark One."

The woman shook her head, "I'm waiting to talk with him, my name is Regina." She held out her hand, and Clara smiled as she shook Regina's hand, "Nice to meet you."

The man was now done with his talk, and Rumplestiltskin turned to look at Regina, "You can let yourself out. Our work is done."

Regina started to argue with the Dark One, and Clara watched their quarrel. The man stood next to her, "She's something, isn't she?"

"She seems nice enough." Clara answered and she took a good look at the man next to her, "Hey... aren't you the guy that almost got killed my a couple of mermaids and by Pan?"

He gave her a look of recognition, "Yeah, that was me. I remember you, you saved me with your light magic." The man showed the hat in his hand, "The name's Jefferson. I'm a traveler."

"Really?" Clara asked in wonder, "I love traveling. Haven't done it that much over the years, but I remember visiting DunBroch as a kid..."

Jefferson nodded, "Those people with the funny accents and the red hair? Yeah, I've been there too. Nothing is more special than Wonderland, though."

"Wonderland? That sounds... wondrous." Clara replied with a smile, "I've never heard of it."

"Maybe I'll take you there one day, show you the best parts. I know a hare who can guide us around." Jefferson responded as he went back to observing Regina and Rumplestiltskin.

Rumplestiltskin and Regina were arguing over bringing back the dead with magic, and that it'd be a waste of time to teach Regina magic as long as she believed in that possibility.

He then walked away out of the tower, and Jefferson approached Regina, "Pardon me... for eavesdropping, but I think you need to look elsewhere for assistance?"

"What do you know about it?" Regina asked and Jefferson gave a shrug, "I hear things. Jefferson's the name, and I'm a man who travels and sees much, and I know the man who can do what you want... bring back the dead. He's uh... you might say, a wizard. I can bring him to you."