Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time
Prologue
"What exactly are you saying?" King David, otherwise known as Prince Charming, looked around the table in the War Room of their Winter Castle.
Grumpy groaned, "They're uniting to plan an attack."
"Why are we surprised?" Queen Snow White asked as she leaned back in her chair. This was all too familiar, worrying about the future of their kingdom, scared about the future and safety of her family. "Your 'father'," she snorted, "and my stepmother tried this before, why are we surprised they finally joined forces to try it again. And probably successfully."
Charming slammed his fist against the tabletop, "They will not take our kingdom. We will fight this."
Jiminy Cricket sighed and looked up into the magnifying glass that made it easier for everyone to see him, "Violence is not the answer." He reminded them.
"It worked last time." Grumpy mumbled, "We stopped the Evil Queen's curse then, this time I say we kill them both. Then we can stop worrying about this."
"No, we will not stoop to their level." Snow stated firmly, "We will not murder them, we just need to stop them before they actually attack the kingdom."
"Stopping the Evil Queen's magic will be most difficult." Red reminded them.
"We have light magic." David reminded them, "The fairies are going to help, we will defeat them, but we will have to fight. I want the guard mobilized for review." He glanced at Red and Grumpy, "Are you two prepared to do that?"
"Of course." Red stood up and looked at Grumpy who mumbled something under his breath before following her out of the room, his pick ax firmly secured over his shoulder.
Snow let out a long sigh, causing Charming to look down at her. He reached out and laced their fingers together. "We will handle this Snow. We will work together, we always figure it out. This is no different."
"It feels so different." She mumbled. They quieted as the door flew open, "Emma." Snow stood up.
"Seriously, no one thought to include me in this?" Emma stood with her hands on her hips, her blonde hair pulled up in a low ponytail, her stance wide in her riding clothes.
"Emma, you should go back to your room." Charming told his daughter.
"I'm seventeen," Emma argued, "I'm not a child anymore, I can help."
"You need to do what your father says, Emma." Snow walked over to their daughter, "This is to keep you safe."
"No, this is to make sure I'm still alive so maybe Prince Neal's kingdom will come to our aid." Emma crossed her arms defiantly.
"We need the room." Charming stated flatly, waiting until everyone fled and the door was slammed shut behind them, "Emma, while Prince Neal's kingdom has not volunteered to aid us in this, there's still hope. And your marriage,"
"Will not be happening." Emma stated flatly.
Snow and Charming looked at each other, "I thought," Snow started, "Emma you and Neal have been friends for so long, I thought you were happy with this."
"I will not marry a man who will not stand up for his family. I'm supposed to be his family. I'm not going to marry him. And his kingdom can't fight Regina's powers anyhow." Emma argued.
"What are you talking about?" Snow asked. "Emma, we need more forces."
"No, we need more magic." Emma argued.
"You are not going out there." Charming put his hands on her shoulders, "We are not putting you in harm's way."
Emma rolled her eyes, "I can fight her. My magic is strong and if we find another ally to help, we can take the kingdom."
"The answer is no." Charming stated flatly. "You will not fight. Red is taking you away from here. To the woods on the border of the Enchanted Forest."
"Your majesty," Grumpy appeared, "King Philip and Queen Aurora and King Thomas and Queen Cinderella have arrived with military."
"See," Charming faced his daughter, "we don't need your magic. You will go with Red. And when this is over we will end our agreement with Prince Neal's kingdom. If you don't wish to marry him, we won't force you."
Emma continued to scowl, but sighed and nodded in resignation, "Fine."
OUAT
Snow, Cinderella, Aurora, Red and Emma watched the purple cloud move closer to the kingdom, "Red, she needs to go now." Snow stated flatly.
"Mom, I can stay, I can fight, I can help." Emma pleaded.
"You'll go with Red. Right now." Emma pulled her daughter into one last hug. "Go, be safe." She pushed her daughter away and faced the window once again. "We need to tell David, Thomas and Philip it's coming."
OUAT
Emma pulled out the map she'd found in the library and glanced at it, "Emma, let's go!" Red called out.
Shoving it into the small bag she was taking with a change of clothes and a few other provisions she threw open her chamber door, "I'm ready."
"Good," Red looked at her skeptically, "let's move." She grabbed Emma's arm and rushed her down to the stables where two horses were prepared for them to ride out into the woods.
OUAT
"We did the right thing?" Emma asked, looking up at David.
"Yes, we did. She needs to be safe." Charming confirmed.
"You did what any parent would do." Thomas told them, "That's why we sent Alexandra off." He referred to his and Cinderella's daughter.
"And we sent Charles away." Aurora spoke of her and Philip's son. "You're giving her the best chance you can."
"Her best shot." Snow murmured as she pulled Charming in for a hug. "We need to get prepared, let's go find the troops.
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Red pulled her horse to a stop and grabbed onto Emma's reigns, "What are you planning?"
"What?" Emma asked.
"You're about as good at hiding a secret as your mother is." Red rolled her eyes, "What are you planning."
Emma sighed, "I need to get to Arendale."
"Arendale?" Red quirked an eyebrow at her.
"Queen Elsa has light magic. She's very powerful and could be a strong ally to turn the tide of this impending war. I need to get passage on a ship out of here. Water is the easiest way to travel." Emma explained.
Red looked back at the kingdom. They would need the additional help. "Go." Red decided.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Go. Bring back this Queen Elsa and her army." Red opened the bag on her back and pulled out more provisions and another change of clothes. "Good luck. And stay away from royal ships. Your parents' orders were very clear, you would never be allowed passage. And you don't want to wind up on a ship loyal to King George or the Evil Queen." Red advised.
"I can take care of myself." Emma told her rigidly.
"You wouldn't be Snow and Charming's daughter if you couldn't." Red smiled, "Be safe, Emma." Red pulled her into a brief hug before turning her horse around and heading back toward the Winter Palace.
Emma stared at Red's retreating figure and then turned her horse in the direction of the nearest port city in the Enchanted Forest. Reaching in her bag, she pulled out her map of the Enchanted Forest and glanced down at it, Port Cheshire. Tucking the map back in her bag she lightly kicked the sides of her horse to spur him on.
OUAT
XOXO
MAS