Author's Note: In the last chapter, I never meant to imply that fathers cannot take care of their children. My father was a great dad and truly the best man I've ever known. If I offended anyone I am so incredibly sorry. My dad died when I was just 15. I'm very sensitive about him. I feel like I was being rude to my own dad and didn't even realize.

I intended the banter between the adults to be kind of playful in that first chapter. Obviously, at least to me, these characters do respect each other. The women do trust the men with their children. They were facing dragons after all, so they were bound to be a bit upset. Hopefully I will approach the rest of this story with more tact and sensitivity.

Thank you.

2044 words this chapter.

Dragon Wars, Chapter Two

The dragons attacked, breathing with fury onto the castle grounds. Cries and screams filled the air. The bushes and trees burned. The castle walls burst into flames at various locations. People ran inside or lied on the ground hoping to avoid the fires.

Kroll grinned evilly. "If this realm is to be our new home," he said evilly, "then we shall rule it."

Charming, Killian and Robin charged at him.

Kroll smiled and drew his sword. Charming and Killian attacked as Robin shot at the gold dragon. It let loose with fire but Robin ducked away.

Snow White rallied the archers, borrowing a weapon from one of them. They shot at the advancing army of dragons. The riders atop however, also had bows. They were evenly matched.

"We've got to do something!" cried Emma.

"No kidding," spit Regina.

Emma watched in horror as several volleys of arrows flew at her mother. With a wave of her hand she blew all of them harmlessly into the dirt.

"Thanks, sweetheart," called her mother, letting several arrows let fly. She hit several riders, knocking them off their dragons.

Charming ordered the guards to round the fallen riders up before they could attack.

They missed one. "Behind you, Emma!" cried Robin.

She spun around to find a rider advancing on her with a sword.

"Bloody bad form!" cried Hook. "She's unarmed!"

The lout moved on her anyway, flailing around with his sword. Emma jumped back, moved to the left, and dodged his attack.

"Nice footwork, Love," said Killian, still engaging Kroll along with her father. He grunted. "You...must have...had an excellent teacher."

Emma chuckled. "You would beg for a compliment," she said. The man lunged again, but Emma caught his arm. Then she hit him hard in the face. "That I learned from no one." She traded a quick smile with Hook. "At least now I have a weapon," she said, carrying the man's sword.

"Not the kind we need," said Regina. "Focus your magic. We need a barrier around the castle."

Emma nodded. She closed her eyes and thought of a wall around her friends and family. The air began to pulse. The dragons faltered. They looked startled, like they couldn't understand why they couldn't move closer to the land.

"That's it, Emma. It's working!" cried Regina, helping to generate the barrier.

Kroll grunted as Killian and Charming began to overtake him. He backed toward his dragon. The dragon hit Robin with its head, making it possible for Kroll to leap onto it. He realized the two witches were somehow keeping his army at bay. He didn't want to get stuck in enemy lines.

He reared his dragon up and managed to push it through the barrier just before it became strong enough to repel all the dragons.

Killian helped a panting Robin to his feet.

"I am alright," he said. "It knocked the breath from me."

Killian nodded.

"They can't get through our barrier," said Regina, coming to her thief. She rested her hand on his arm.

Emma and her mother joined the others, watching as Kroll and the dragons dangled above the magical field.

"This is not finished!" the dragon rider cried. "You may keep us from your castle, but do you have the power to cover all your lands? I think not."

He smiled evilly and flew away leading his army from the castle.

"I think this new enemy may be more then we can handle," Charming said ominously.

Snow nodded. She looked around at the blazing destruction.

"Emma," said Regina. "Help me with the fires. Concentrate on putting out them out."

Emma stared out her. "I don't..."

"You can do it, Swan," said Killian softly.

Emma smiled with uncertainty but closed her eyes. She pictured water dousing the flames, the oxygen going out of the fire, and the fury dying.

Slowly, fires began to extinguish one by one as both Emma and Regina worked their magic.

Regina smiled. "Good job, Emma."

Snow laughed. "Emma!"

"That's my girl," said Charming.

Emma felt a soft hand caressing her back. She looked up at Killian smiling. "Well done, Swan." She smiled back.

"Yes. Now, we just have to keep the rest of the Kingdom from burning," said Regina.

A short time later, Snow, Charming, Hook, and Emma gathered inside the castle, inside the main parlor.

Robin was speaking. "My men confirm it. Nearby towns have been attacked. The riders are on the move all over."

Charming sighed heavily.

"They move fast," said Snow.

"They have dragons!" cried Regina. "Of course they move fast!"

"My men are coordinating relief efforts."

"Thank you, Robin," said Snow.

"We need to warn the other villages and towns," said Charming, "but all we have are horses."

"They'll be sitting ducks," said Emma.

"We need to try," said Snow.

"We?" asked Regina.

Charming and Snow looked at each other. "Yes," said the prince. "People will look to us for direction, so Snow and I will go out and personally reassure as many people as we can."

Regina scoffed. "Reassure them. Do we actually have a plan?"

No one said anything. Then Emma groaned. "I can't think in this thing!" she cried, pulling at her gown. She turned to the grand staircase.

"Where are you going?" cried her mother.

"To change to something more appropriate for dragon butt kicking!"

Killian smiled.

As they waited, Robin left to lead the cleanup of the attacked villages. Snow went to plan her and Charming's trip, and Charming and Killian tried to brainstorm some sort of attack plan.

Regina went to get a stiff drink.

Finally Emma came back down the stairs. She held her gun and holster.

Killian knew instantly what was going through her mind. "Is this wise?"

"We can't just wait inside the castle while Crazy Dragon Guy smokes the whole realm," Emma said as she tied on her gun holster. She had traded her gown for comfortable jeans, a t-shirt, and of course, her leather jacket. "I'm going to find them," she said.

"Emma, they have dragons," said Charming.

"Fire-breathing dragons, Love."

Emma cocked her head. "You don't have to come."

Hook looked hurt. "I'm not the type of man to let his lady walk into danger, let alone the kind that comes with scales and fire."

Emma looked at Charming with embarrassment. She whispered to Hook, "Do you have to call me that in front of my father?"

He smirked. "What, 'my lady?' You are, aren't you, Swan?" He pulled her closer and pecked her cheek. Then he whispered, "I thought sure after our recent nights..."

"Sh!" she warned him, giving him her elbow to push him away.

Charming looked amused but uncomfortable at the display. "He's right that you aren't going alone. No way. Your mother and I are needed to calm everyone or believe me we'd go with you."

"No need," said Killian. "Your majesties have a greater purpose. The wretched dragons are reeking havoc as Kroll promised. Your duty lives with your people."

Emma nodded. "Plus, I got this. I am the sheriff, after all. Even if this isn't Storybrooke and OK, maybe here in Fairy Tale Land Sheriff's aren't always good, my point is...I'm going!" She sent them both a glare and stomped off.

"Move your butt if you're coming, Pirate!" she yelled back. She reached the front entrance, in time to pass her mother.

"Emma? What are you doing?"

"Taking the fight to them!" she cried out as she left.

"What?" asked Snow in alarm.

"Have no fear, I shall be at her side," said Killian, moving past the princess.

Snow caught his arm. "Keep her safe?"

"Of course," he said with a bow.

She gave him an appreciative smile.

Charming nodded in his direction. Killian returned it and followed after Emma.

"They'll be fine, right?" asked Snow.

Charming sucked in an unsteady breath. "Sure."

She looked at him with a lopsided grin. "Thanks for the reassurance," she said with sarcasm.

He gave a weak laugh and kissed her head. "We have to trust them both."

She nodded. "Right. We do have other important jobs."

"We do," said Charming, strapping on his sword.

Snow picked up her bow and arrows. "I just want one last look at Neal and Henry," she said, running up the stairs.

Regina emerged from another room. "This castle is protected. The boys will be safe."

"I know. Thank you," said Charming.

"Roland will remain here as well," said Regina. " I've spoken to Marian. She's graciously agreed to watch them all."

Charming smiled. "You're getting good at sharing kids, huh?"

Regina laughed. "It's helps that I'm no longer a cold blooded killer. We aren't bosom buddies, but we get along, for Roland's sake."

Charming nodded. "Marian will have Granny and Red to help her with the kids, as well as the dwarves. We're gathering as many refugees as we can into the castle. Unfortunately that includes children who've lost their parents." He sighed.

Regina looked at him with compassion. "You're doing what you can, your highness."

Her use of his title made him raise his eyebrow.

She laughed. "Hopefully most of the children will be reunited with their families once we get this chaos under control."

"I truly hope so, Regina."

"I'll start working protective barriers over as many villages as I can," she said. "Maybe I can also find out how this whole mess started."

"Do you think...Rumple brought them all here?"

"Honestly? I don't know, but I was convinced that he had nothing to do with us coming back. If the two things are related, then maybe that changes things and he does have some plan."

"They have to be related, Regina. What are the odds?"

"That's what Kroll seems to think."

Snow came bounding down the stairs. "OK, I'm ready. Oh, good, you're here Regina. You may want to have a word with Henry. He's being...difficult."

Regina growled. "I swear I heard about the teen years, but add in a princely title, weapon-wielding grandparents, and two sort-of stepfathers not to mention a mother with questionable self-control and you have a whole new definition of hell!"

Snow and Charming stifled laughs. Charming smirked. "Just one of his mothers has questionable self-control?"

She silenced him with a glare.

Henry appeared, wearing a red coat befitting royalty and a sword strapped to his side. "I'm going to after Mom and Killian and help them find the dragons."

"You...are...not," said Regina, slowly climbing the stairs. "I have all sorts of spells that will harmlessly incapacitate you and I'm not afraid to use them!"

"Mom!"

"Henry! I don't have time for this! Go upstairs, stay put, and guard the other kids."

"Seriously? Guard duty?" he asked with a slight lift to his voice.

"Is he happy about that or not? I can't tell," whispered Snow.

Charming shook his head.

"I'm in charge? Not Herschell?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "You're 14! Of course, you're not in charge!"

"Well..." added Charming, jumping in, "With us all gone, you are the head of the family."

Henry beamed. "I'll watch the castle, Gramps."

"Good," said Charming with a smile.

Regina glared at Henry but kissed his cheek.

"Be careful, Mom."

She smiled. "I will. I'll see you soon."

Henry then looked at his grandparents. His earlier bravado faded. He looked liked a scared young man, which of course was what he was.

"It will be fine, Henry," said Snow.

"We'll see you soon," said Charming.

He nodded. "I'll keep the others safe," he said. He looked at Regina. "And I won't give Herschell any trouble."

Regina smiled. "Thank you."

Charming nodded affectionately at him, took Snow's arm and exited. Regina smiled at Henry and also walked to the door. She looked back and saw her son looking at her and smiling.

She hadn't felt like they all had so much to lose in a very long time.