Edited From Neverland to the Fading Lands

by Sara K M

Edited (Hopefully). This can be read as a Neverland one - shot. However, the rest of the chapters are a crossover with C. L. Wilson's Tairen Soul miniseries. Since it is written entirely from Emma and Charming/David's POV, I any Once fan could follow it. Therefore, I am marketing it as a regular fic. Parings: Swanfire, Snowing. Edited - map of the Fading Lands and other kingdoms.

11. From Neverland to the Fading Lands

Chapter 11

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time or the Tairen Soul miniseries.

Key

XXXXXXXX means POV change

OOOOOOOO means time change

XXXXXXXXX

OOOOOOOO means POV and time change

Plain italics means speaking through a spirit weave or speaking through a bond

**around italics means flashback**

around italics means a character reading text silently

I am overjoyed I finally have a review, and that this story does seem to be understandable to an audience who hasn't read the Tairen Soul series. But I will still ask my readers to tell me if there is anything they don't understand about this story, especially the Tairen Soul components, as I know it's unfamiliar to a lot of you. However, if there is anything you don't understand about Emma, David, or Snow and Henry (since I now have sections with them in it), tell me that as well. I need to know if this story has problems!

If you think the story has no problems, I'd love to hear how great I'm doing! Please either PM me or write a review for the story.

Thanks again goes out to my anonymous reviewer! Love ya who ever you are!

Charming came downstairs the next morning feeling better than he had since he had arrived in this world. He still wished Snow and Henry were with him, but for the first time in two - and - a - halfweeks, he had talked to his Snow yesterday! She told him she was teaching again, as a way to keep busy and to keep an eye on Henry. She told him Henry couldn't wait to show how well he was doing on his horse. He told her about the world he and Emma were in and about their new friends. He tried to explain about this truemate bond that allowed him to communicate with Snow. It was wonderful to be able to share their lives like that. And tonight, they would do it again.

He sat down at the table next to Emma. She nodded at him. Emma never had been a morning person.

Charming turned to look at the food. There were more serpent's eggs, kecka and sckeel fruit, and fresh cinnamon rolls. He loaded his plate up with everything. Serpent's eggs were always a favorite of his, going back to the days on the farm. Keck and and sckeel fruit were fruits he enjoyed when he lived at the palace with Snow. When they went back to Storybrooke, her really was going to miss the food here. But he shrugged. It was more important to be with all of his family, and Storybrooke had good food, too.

Like Cinnamon rolls, he thought as he took a bite of one and watched Emma do the same. At least they could agree on a few foods. Charming knew Emma wasn't fond of most of the food here. The only problem with cinnamon rolls was they reminded him so much of Snow. She does love her cinnamon.

"So" Rain commented as they all began to eat. "I think someone has some news for you."

Suddenly, Charming and Emma realized they had an extra person at the table today. In addition to Rain, Ellysetta, Bel, Tajik, Gil, and Rijonn, Galen had finally joined them.

"Some of the dahl'reisen have vague memories of someone coming from another world from deep in the mountains nearest to their home, between the Fading Lands and the former Eld territory. It may and I repeat may have been a portal at one time."

Both Charming and Emma turned and looked at each other with joy and hope in their faces. Had they finally found a way home? Was it really happening?

"Don't get too excited," Galen warned them, seeing their faces. "If it was a portal at one time, it isn't anymore. Some of them also have memories of fey coming in and out of that area without anything happening." Charming and Emma's faces lost some of their joy.

Ellysetta looked at Galen. "Could it be restarted with some kind of spell or weave, Galen? Maybe there's something about it in the Hall of Scrolls?"

Emma and Charming nodded again eagerly. "We'll have to check that out. Of course, we need to find out where it goes first. Or how to make it go where we want it to go. I'm done with landing in strange worlds! I want to go back to Storybrooke!" Emma explained.

"Definitely," Charming agreed. He took a bite of serpent's egg.

Ellysetta nodded as she finished her kecka fruit, the blue juice dripping down her fingers. "All you have to do is tell the Mirror of Inquiry you want information on that particular portal."

Emma nodded, looking decidedly uncomfortable about talking to the mirror again. Why was that? Something about it reminding her too much of Regina. He wished he knew how to help her, but if he implied she was scarred in anyway, Emma wouldn't take it well. He had already learned that lesson. She was so much like her mother.

"There's another problem, though. Four or five dragons, remnants from the resent mage war, have taken up residence right in front of it. We'll have to find a way to get past them first," Galen added, as he ate a serpent's egg.

Charming thought about that for a moment. He had fought dragons before, back in the Enchanted Forest. From most people's standards, he had done pretty well, too. Still, that was one dragon at a time. This seemed to be a whole pack of dragons. Could he handle that? "I do have some knowledge of fighting dragons, from the Enchanted Forest," he told his hosts. "I should be able to do something about them." He bit into his sckeel, enjoying the spongy taste of the yellow fruit.

Rain finished his sckeel fruit and then replied, "That's good to here. But I have to wonder if you might be out of practice a little. Hasn't it been quite a while since you've been to this Enchanted Forest? We'd be willing to help you with them, of course," he added gesturing to all of the people at the table. "But I think it would be a good idea for you to practice first. Ellysetta's father is in charge of the Warrior's Academy here. I can tell him to help you."

Charming paused for a minute thinking. When he fought dragons back in the Enchanted Forest, he did it without any practice. Still, as he thought before that had been one at a time. This time he'd have help from friends, though. That would make it easier, right? At the same time, Rain was probably right. What harm would it do to practice a little? Charming certainly wouldn't want to cost him and Emma their chance at seeing the rest of their family because he was arrogant. From what he understood, his brother had been arrogant, and paid the price for it. He wouldn't be like that.

"Yeah, okay. That sounds like a good idea. As long as you're okay with going to the Hall of Scrolls by yourself, Emma? We still need to find a way to make the magic work for this portal."

Emma looked at him in disbelief. "Of course I'm okay with going there by myself! I did it a few days ago when you were practicing speaking in spirit! I'm a little too old to need my father holding my hand everywhere I go! Stop being so overprotective!" She took a huge bite of cinnamon roll.

Charming shook his head at his daughter. "It was just a question, Emma. I didn't mean anything by it. I just wanted to make sure you could handle the Hall of Scrolls for the rest of the time we're here. I didn't want you to think I was abandoning you. I'll probably have to spend quite a bit of time on this training ground."

Emma looked embarrassed. "Oh. Sorry. It's just that sometimes, especially last week…you'd think I couldn't do things myself, or didn't want me to do them… It was annoying." She turned away from him.

Charming sighed. "I'm sorry about that Emma. I know you're a capable young woman. More than capable. It's just that I was having a hard time with you trying to take care of me and protect me when I was recovering from the burning room last week. I never got a chance to do that for you. A father should protect his daughter, not the other way around, you know?"

Emma turned around. "I guess. Maybe we could work on protecting each other while we're here?" She gave him a small smile.

"I'd like that." Charming would have liked to give her a hug, but he still wasn't quite sure how Emma would respond to that, and he didn't want to push his luck.

"So, a recap. You will be going to the Warrior's Academy today?" Rain asked. Charming looked up at him and the others. He had almost forgotten they were there, after having such an intense conversation with Emma.

"Sure," he replied nodding. Charming saw Rain pause and look deep in thought. Knowing what he knew about these people now, he guessed Rain was contacting the man who was in charge of the Warrior's Academy through a spririt weave. That way he would know they would be coming over.

"Let me warn you," Galen added, looking at Charming. "The man Rain is talking about, Shannisorran v'en Celay, is the toughest chatok we've ever had. He'll prepare you yes, but he'll make you wish you were dead before that."

Charming gulped. Was this really something he wanted to go through with? He had killed dragons before, with no practice or training at all. And Rain told him he'd have help. But then he looked over at Emma. Didn't they just say they'd protect each other? How could he do that if he didn't do everything to prepare himself? He thought of Snow and Henry. They'd want him to everything he could possibly do to help to get him and Emma home; he knew that. This was the best way he could do that.

"Thanks for the warning," he told Galen. "But I'll do it anyway." With that, he finished his breakfast.

As soon as they were all done, Emma headed to the Hall of Scrolls and Charming followed Rain, Ellysetta, and Galen to the Warrior's Academy. Just like the Hall of Scrolls, the building was build of white stones that sparkled in the light. The roof, however, held gold blades that pointed to the sky and statues of warriors holding curved swords. There were four small gates at the front of the building, each in front of the other. The first gate led to a room which showed a young boy in training. The second led to a room which showed boys using swords and daggers. The third seemed to be focused on using magic in battles. The last showed a warrior ready to fight with all weapons and skills he had available.

Across the wall, written in magical script were the following words I am warrior. I am fey. I am the steel no enemy can shatter. I am the magic no dark power can defeat. I am the rock upon which evil breaks like waves. I am Fey! Warrior of Honor! Champion of Light! "Look at that carefully," Galen suggested to Charming, pointing to the script. "Read it over and over again until you know it in your head. Lord Shan will make you say it in your sleep by the time he's done with you." Charming nodded and began reading the words over again until he thought he could remember them.

Then Rain and Galen took him by the shoulders and led him inside the Warrior's gate. Ellysetta followed behind them. Standing inside was a tall, broad man with green eyes and extremely pale skin. "Greetings, Galen, Feyreisen," as he greeted Rain he bowed his head. "Hello daugher", he smiled when he saw Ellysetta in the background. Just as all the other fey, he spoke with an accent

"Hello, Gepa," Ellysetta replied, giving him a shy smile and then leaned in and embraced her father. Charming looked down, trying not to feel too jealous. Would Emma ever give him a hug that easily?

"So is this our new chadin?" the man asked Rain, as he noticed Charming for the first time. "You say he speaks Celierian and I should speak that while he's here. Is he one of the border lords? That's the only reason why I could think of for a Celierian to train in the fey Warrior's Academy, bond - son."

"No, he speaks Celierian, but he isn't actually from Celieria, bond – father," Rain replied. Charming got the impression "bond" in this case meant "in – laws." "It's complicated, but apparently he's at least partially fey, since he has a daughter with shei'dalin power and a truemate bond with his wife." The man nodded, looking even more confused. "He apparently belongs in another world where most of his family is, including his shei'tani. He needs help to get back there. You can help him by preparing him to face several remnant dragons that are guarding the portal."

The man seemed to try to absorb all of that information, then nodded slowly. "Okay."

Galen smiled from the background. "Chatok, this is David, your new chadin. David this is Lord Shan, your instructor. You will be his student."

Charming nodded to Lord Shan and he nodded back. "I appreciate you helping me. I know you're uncomfortable with teaching someone who hasn't grown up in your world."

Lord Shan nodded, but then shrugged. "It's true; it's not common to open the Warrior's Academy to someone not from the Fading Lands. But I trust my bond – son's judgment. If he says you would benefit from my assistance, than you shall have it. Besides, I know what it's like to be separated from your family. Circumstances saw it that I wasn't able to see my daughter for twenty – four years. And I was only able to see my shei'tani for a few hours every few years. It's hard. And if I could have found a way back to them sooner, I would've."

Ellysetta smiled at her father from the background, full of love. He may have been separated from her for almost as long as he was from Emma, but they sure embraced the family bond quicker than Emma seemed to be able to. He had to put that out of his mind. These people were trying to help him. "Okay, so where do we begin?"

"Let's go to the weapons training room," Lord Shan replied as he led Charming down the hall. Rain, Ellysetta and Galen disappeared as they did. "Normally we train you how to do magic here, too, but I won't be doing that. First of all, I understand your magic may be limited. Second my ability to do magic is limited because of these." He held up his hands. Two small black arrow – looking things were pierced through his palms. Most of his hands looked burned, as if the man had spent a lot of time in the burning room.

Charming's eyes widened in shock. "How?...Why?...Is there anything…" He couldn't even complete a sentence!

But Lord Shan smiled gently at him, understanding automatically. "How is the High Mage. Don't worry, I already killed him. Why is because the filth also attached a tairen to my soul. But unlike my daughter and my bond – son, I can't control it at all. If I didn't have these pierced to bind most of my magic, the tairen in me would probably kill you, and there is nothing I could do to stop it. And no, there is nothing I can do about it. My daughter and my shei'tani suggested they could try to remove the tairen that the High Mage tied to my soul. But if they failed…I could hurt them, or even kill them. It's not a risk I was willing to make. So I accepted the sel'dor." He shrugged. "Pain is life. That's my motto. It got me through some unbearably hard time when the High Mage held me captive. You'll do well to remember it, too, if you're going to train with me."

Charming nodded, remembering Galen's warning. They entered the weapons room. Against one wall, there were racks of straight swords, curved swords, and black and red daggers. In the middle of the room, there were high jumps, one was four feet tall and the other was five feet tall. There were holes four or five feet wide, that were obviously designed to be jumped as well. On the other wall was the largest climbing wall Charming had ever seen.

"So, I see you already have your own sword," he pointed to the sword strapped to his waist." Charming nodded. "Show me what you can do with it."

Charming nodded and took out his sword. Lord Shan grabbed on from the straight sword rack. They bowed to each other and began fencing. Charming was impressed at how quickly this came back to him. Of course, he always had good sword instincts anyway, considering he'd killed a dragon with almost no training. Eventually, however, Lord Shan overtook him and won the match.

Lord Shan put the sword down for a minute. Charming did the same. "Not bad," he said nodding. "You have good instincts with the sword. I know Rain had said you were part fey, but I have to say, I expected you to fight like a mortal, because you look mortal. But you fight like a fey. I'll be proud to call you my chadin."

Charming nodded, accepting the praise.

"Now," Lord Shan said grimly, "the real work begins. Have you ever used daggers? I noticed you don't carry them."

Charming shrugged. I've used them before, yes, but I'm more used to the sword."

Lord Shan shook his head. "You need to be comfortable with all weapons, chadin. Let me show you. These red fey'cha are poisonous. They are never to be trained with because their fatal, even to fey. But you should know how to use them, in case you need to."

Charming nodded as Lord Shan took a few black daggers of the rack for practice. They continued with the lesson for the rest of the day.

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OOOOOOOOOOO

Emma entered the Hall of Scrolls as soon as she finished her breakfast. She waved to Tealah, and then headed into the main room. She took a deep breath and headed for the mirror, reminding herself that this mirror was not Regina's and not made of dark magic.

"Mirror," Emma said as she stepped in front of the mirror with a face. Not Regina's, not Regina's, not Regina's, she repeated to herself over and over. "I need information on a portal in the mountain's between the Fading Lands and what was once Eld."

Automatically, several of the books and scrolls that Emma had been looking at before were magically picked up and placed back in their proper spot. Two new books were also added to Emma's reading. She sighed and headed to her work table.

She needed to find a way to make this portal work again to send them to Storybrooke. Maybe she'd start with one of the new books. As she opened one of them, Emma grumbled and slammed the book down in frustration. She had forgotten all of these books were in a different language! She set the two new books aside. She'd have to ask Ellysetta to translate them for her later. In the meantime, there were still other books and scrolls to read.

OOOOOOOOOOO

Near the end of the day, Emma sighed and got up. She hadn't read anything promising at all today. Sometimes this was so discouraging. She'd read, and read, and read, and find none of the information she needed at all! The few times she and David had found leads, Ellysetta and the others had told them they were not leads at all!

Would they ever get home? Would Emma ever see Henry again? The way he was always bursting with questions and curiosity? The way he'd greet her with a hug around her waist? Why was Emma always separated from him? First she had been separated from him when he was born because she'd had no faith in her parenting skills. Then she was separated from him when she and Mary Margaret ended up in the Enchanted Forest after the Curse broke. Then he was kidnapped and taken to Neverland. And now she and David were stuck here! Ugh!

And what about Mary Margaret? She always had a friendly face for Emma, from the very beginning. She tried to give her quiet motherly wisdom, even though Emma didn't always want to hear it. She was someone she could always depend on.

Emma shook her head as she began walking out of the room and on her way out the door. Doing this without David was going to be harder than she had thought. With David there, there was someone to help here with this overwhelming task. There was someone to converse with when things became difficult, even though that didn't go so well yesterday. And David, with his unbelievable optimism, would tell her they would make it home. She had never realized how much she was starting to depend on his help and support. Emma shook her head. David was doing the right thing, though. If they had to face a whole pack full of dragons, they needed to be prepared for that, too. She just needed to keep reminding herself that.

Tealah was getting ready to leave as well, Emma noticed as she walked past her station at the front. She seemed excited about something, as she rushed around, smiling from ear to ear. "So are you done for the day?" Tealah asked Emma as she packed up her things.

"Sure," Emma nodded.

"Great," Tealah replied brightly. "I have to leave a little early today. Grumli and I have courtship bells tonight!"

It took Emma a minute to realize that must be the fey term for "date." Great. Another couple with a mythical truemate bond, showing her what she could never have. "I see," Emma replied, trying to sound positive. The woman was being nice enough to let Emma use her Hall of Scrolls, so Emma shouldn't let her envy get in the way.

"Next week is our e'tanitsa bonding ceremony. If you and David are still with us, I'd love for you to come. I know we don't talk very much, but I've really enjoyed having you here."

Emma nodded, trying to find away to get out of going to what was obviously a fey wedding without offending the woman who was being so nice to her. The last thing Emma needed to see was a wedding ceremony for these mythical "truemate" couples that would always be together no matter what. She would never have that, no matter how much she'd like to have it with Neal.

"I'm sure Ellysetta and Rain would love to have you there as well. You should ask them about it tonight, and get back to me tomorrow," Tealah continued brightly.

Finally Emma couldn't pretend to play nice anymore. All she had been hearing about for the past week was "truemate, this," and "truemate that." She would never have one! She couldn't! So would these people stop rubbing it in her face! She turned and face Tealah. "Actually, I don't think I'd like to go to the ceremony, thanks. I'd bet David would though, seeming as he such a fan of everlasting love and all. But as for me, I could do without another seeing another truemated couple!" With that she walked off in a huff.

Tealah ran up behind Emma. "Okay," she began calmly. So calmly, it got on Emma's nerves. She began to walk off again. Tealah caught up with her again. "Emma," she called as she ran, "Grumli and I aren't truemated. An E'tanitsa bonding means a bond of the heart. We chose the bond ourselves. Grumli can't have a truemate bond because he's already bloodsworn his soul to Ellysetta. Now what's wrong?"

Emma sighed. Apparently not all fey had truemate bonds after all. What did that matter for her, though? She and Neal still weren't going to work out. And she wasn't about to tell her problems to someone she barely knew. "Nothing's wrong," Emma replied, hoping she sounded nonchalant. "Sorry I blew up at you before, but don't you have a date…or courtship bells, I guess you call it?"

Tealah shrugged. "I do have courtship bells, but Grumli won't mind waiting. It just sounds like you have a problem you'd like to talk to someone about. Someone…maybe, let me guess here, who doesn't have a truemate bond?"

Emma thought for a minute. On the one hand, Emma didn't like to talk about her problems with people she didn't know very well. It required a trust that didn't come naturally to her. On the other hand, Tealah was right. If she was ever going to talk through her problem, it was going to have to be with someone without a truemate bond. Unfortunately for Emma, everyone she was even a little close to here had a truemate bond. Still, why did she have to "talk it through" anyway? She and Neal were done. End of story. "No thanks, I've got to get back to the palace for dinner."

She started to walk away. But then Emma paused, curious. How come Tealah was okay with not having a truemate bond? She needed to understand more about Tealah's relationship. Of course, Emma wasn't going to talk about her problem. But she was burning with curiosity about this e'tanitsa bond, and about this Tealah and Grumli. So Emma ran back to Tealah, hoping to catch her before she left. "Wait!" she called out.

Tealah turned around. "Yes? Did you change your mind about talking?"

Emma shook her head. "No. Not really. It's just… how does an e'tanitsa bond work? How come you're okay with having that instead of the truemate bond?"

Tealah smiled. "Let's go back inside. We'll talk there. I'll just send a message to Grumli that I'll be a little while." She paused for a minute, seeming to be deep in thought. From what Emma knew about the fey now, she was pretty sure Tealah was talking to him through a spirit weave.

"Okay," Tealah began as they sat back down at one of the tables in the main room of the Hall of Scrolls.

"An e'tanitsa bond is like I said. A bond of the heart that both people agree to, because they love each other."

Emma nodded, still confused. "But how do you know it will work out? Isn't the truemate bond supposed to be the 'perfect love'?

Tealah sighed. "Truemates do have a lot of benefits heartmates don't have; that's true. Like the ability to communicate through the bond and feel each other's pain, without magic. And a guarantee of never having to live without the other. " Emma nodded. She had heard this already, when Rain was explaining about the truemate bond to David.

"But that doesn't mean you can't have love in an e'tanitsa bonded relationship. As for how you know it will work out? You know you love the person. I love Grumli enough that I rather have him as an e'tan than wait for my own truemate. I don't want anyone else."

Emma nodded, absorbing the information. "Doesn't it bother you that everyone else seems to have a truemate relationship? Don't you want what they have?"

Tealah chucked. "I can see why you would think that everyone has a truemate relationship, given who you've met here."

"And my parents," Emma added.

Tealah looked surprised, but replied, "Yeah, them too, apparently. But in actuality truemate bonds are extremely rare among fey, and even rarer among people who are only partially fey, like your parents."

Emma nodded, beginning to understand a little more why Rain made such a big deal about the fact that David had a truemate bond with Mary Margaret. "Most fey die before they ever find a truemate. So many chose an e'tanitsa bond instead, so they can enjoy love while they can. Life is precious. It's to be enjoyed, while you can. And they're no greater joy than love. " Tealah smiled brightly at her.

Emma nodded, absorbing that information, too.

"Grumli, like I said, has bloodsworn his soul to Ellysetta. A lot of warrior's did that a few months ago, after she healed them from torment. He can't have a truemate because his soul is already tied to the Feyreisa to protect her from harm first. But Ellysetta has Rain to love. I think Grumli deserves someone to love him, and I'm happy to be that person. As long as I'm alive."

Emma looked at Tealah strangely. "It doesn't bother you that Grumli has to put Ellysetta first? Isn't that kind of…I don't know…putting another woman in the middle of your relationship?"

Tealah laughed. "No. Like I said, Grumli isn't in love with Ellysetta; he's just bound to protect her. And since the mages are gone, there isn't much danger in this world, anyway. It bothered my father at first, because it would mean he wasn't bound to protect me first. He has a truemate bond, too, so he wanted me to wait for a truemate that would protect me at all costs. But I convinced him I'd rather have Grumli than anyone else, even a truemate."

"So…you're parents are truemated?" Emma asked, making sure she heard right.

Tealah nodded. "All female fey do. Girls are only born to truemates." Emma nodded. She remembered Rain had said something like that to David.

"You don't see what they have…and wish you could have it yourself?"

Tealah shook her head."Your parents, right? That's what this is about?"

Emma shook her head violently, her blond hair going all over the place. "No! This isn't about me! We're talking about you!"

Tealah nodded. "Of course. And no, I don't want what my parents have. I have love with Grumli. That's all I could ever want. I live my own life Emma, not there's."

Emma nodded. "Well, I should be going. And you have 'courtship bells', right?"

Tealah nodded happily. "Yes! Oh, and the e'tanitsa bonding ceremony? Please think about it. I love it if you came. Especially after our talk today. That is, if you're still here. I know you and David are still eager to get home." Tealah smiled at Emma as they walked out of the Hall of Scrolls again.

Emma nodded. "Yes we are. And I will think about it, Tealah." Tealah had given Emma quite a bit to think about tonight, Emma thought as she walked back to the palace.

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OOOOOOOOOOO

Snow and Henry had stopped at Granny's for a couple of sodas before heading back to the stables. "So Grandpa was really excited about how well my horse was doing?" Henry asked her excitedly as they picked up the drinks off the counter.

"Of course he was!" Snow replied, taking a sip of her soda. "He said he couldn't wait to see you ride him someday! Let's get to the stables so I can tell your grandfather how well you did tonight!"

As they walked out the door, Neal was walking in. "Oh! Hi Neal! Do you want to come to the stables with Grandma and me! I'm doing real good taking care of my horse!" Henry asked him.

"Sure, that sounds like fun," Neal replied cheerfully to Henry. "But can it wait for a minute? I'll buy you some nachos and you can sit over there," he pointed across the room. "I need to talk to…your Grandma for a minute."

Henry bristled. "Why do I have to sit over there?" he pointed across the room. "I have so had it with people trying to keep things from me! You're all a like you know that? You promise you're different, but you're not!" He stamped his foot and glared at both of them.

Oh boy. "Henry…" Snow began, trying to think of something to say.

"Henry, I'm not trying to keep anything from you. I just…have some things to discuss that you won't be interested in. Please, eat some nachos and drink your soda, and then we'll all go to the stables, okay?" Neal pleaded with Henry.

Henry sighed and picked up his soda and the Nachos Neal had just purchased. "You better not be lying this time. I mean it!" He walked off to the table Neal had pointed to still looking at them warily.

Snow sighed and looked at Neal. "Okay what is it?"

He shook his head and led her to another table across the room. "I know we haven't really talked since we got back…or some of us anyway." Snow nodded. "But I'd like to know what's going on. I have an investment in this, too. Or have you forgotten what happened between me and Emma in Neverland?" He was speaking low, so Henry wouldn't hear, but he sounded pretty angry.

Snow shrugged. "No, I haven't forgotten, but there's nothing going on, Neal. There not back yet, and they're nothing we can do about that right now."

"Or is there?" Neal sneered, still keeping his voice low. "I walked in while you were telling Henry you'd talk to his grandpa tonight! Obviously you've found a way to talk them! Why wasn't I told? Why can't I do it, too? Are you guys ever going to accept me as part of the family?"

Snow was becoming pretty angry at him herself. "No, actually you can't! It's just between me and Charming! And when did you become a part of the family anyway! You're Henry's father, yes, but that doesn't make you a part of our family!"

Neal stared at her in shock. "I actually think it does make me a part of the family. And I'd like to think that what happened in Neverland between me and Emma would be important, too, but I guess not. You hero types think you're perfect, don't you? So you have to be perfect to be a part of your family, right? I guess I'm not perfect!"

He took off out of the diner before Snow could blink.

"What happened to Neal?" Henry asked coming back over. "I thought he was coming to the stables with us." He looked so disappointed.

Snow felt like kicking herself. Had she just pushed Neal out of Henry's life just because she was angry at him? Sure, he had said some things that made her upset…but Henry shouldn't have to suffer fort that. Neal was still his father, and he had been trying real hard to be a good Dad. "Maybe he'll come tomorrow Henry," she sighed and took him by the hand.

OOOOOOOOOOOOO

Snow spent the rest of the day feeling guilty about her outburst to Neal. Did he really believe she didn't like him because he wasn't perfect? It wasn't as if she was perfect, anyway. Or had he forgotten what she had done to Cora and Regina? Causing Cora's death, and having Regina help her do it, was about as far from perfect as you could get!

Snow felt guilty while she was making dinner for her and Henry and guilty while they ate. She felt guilty while she tried to listen to Henry babble about what a great time he had at the stables. "Excuse me Henry, what was that again?" she asked as she put a piece of pork chop in her mouth.

"Well I was just saying my horse ate right out of my hand today! He's really getting to know me! Grandpa will want to know that, don't you think?"

"Of course, Henry. He'll be glad to know that!"

"And I'm sure Neal will…" Henry continued as he finished his potatoes.

Neal. Snow sighed. She'd have to apologize to Neal tomorrow and explain to him how she could talk to Charming. She'd even offer to give Emma a message for him. Maybe Neal was right; she should have told him they were communicating from the beginning. Snow would do it tonight, but she had a feeling he wouldn't want to talk to her.

They finished dinner and Henry watched TV for a while, and then went upstairs to finish his homework. Snow had some grading to do. Hopefully she could concentrate on it. She should have never have lashed out at Neal for asking if he could talk to Emma. It was a legitimate request. And she certainly should never have told him he wasn't family. No matter what happened, he was Henry's father. Why had she lashed out at him like that? What if it was her darkening heart again? Snow hadn't thought about that in a while, since they had returned from Neverland. She was too busy trying keeping busy and comforting Henry. But if it was, what was she going to do? Charming had said she had his support in fighting it. But how was that possible when he wasn't here?

Snow sighed. Maybe it was time for a cinnamon cocoa. That always made her feel a little better. But she really did need to grade those papers.

At 10:30 at night, she finally put them down. Could she contact Charming now? Snow took another sip of cocoa. Would it really work? What had he said to do? Find the part of her that always knows he's alive. She looked deep inside herself and finally found that part that belonged, literally, to Charming. Then focus on the love. Remember all the things she loved about him. Like his unwavering optimism. His bravery. How they always faced trouble together. The way he always had time for Henry. How he didn't mind even doing the mundane things with her, like dishes. The way his eyes crinkled when he smiled. How his hair turned blondish in the sunlight.

And what was that last thing she was supposed to do again? For a minute, she thought she had forgotten, and she wouldn't be able to contact Charming at all. And then, she remembered. She was supposed to wish she was with Charming. Oh how she did! Then he could kiss her and love her and tell her everything would be fine. He could protect her from her darkening heart. And suddenly she felt herself in with Charming, in his head, just like he had been in hers. Hi Charming! She exclaimed.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

OOOOOOO

Charming realized Galen hadn't been kidding when he warned him about training with Lord Shan. Lord Shan had him jump over the high jump for close to an hour and then engage in a sword fight. He had him jump over the "wide jump" for the same amount of time and then practice throwing daggers. And when Charming was sure he couldn't breathe anymore, much less practice fighting, he fell, hunched over.

Lord Shan immediately screamed at him, "Get up!"

Charming shook his head. He couldn't do this anymore. That's all there was to it. Maybe tomorrow.

But Lord Shan kicked him in the leg, "You get up! Your enemies aren't going to care that you're tired and weak! Now you get up, and repeat after me."

Charming took a deep breath. Lord Shan was right. The dragons would come after him even if he thought he couldn't fight anymore. And if they killed him, he'd never get back to Snow and Henry. But could he really do this? Could he get up again? He gathered all of his strength and pushed himself back to a standing position.

"I am a warrior," Lord Shan began.

"I am a warrior," Charming repeated.

"I am fey," Lord Shan continued,

Charming paused for a minute, but according to Rain and Ellysetta, he was partially fey, so he said "I am fey," as well.

"I am the steel no enemy can shatter," Lord Shan continued.

Charming repeated that as well.

"I am the magic no dark power can defeat," Lord Shan persisted.

"I am the magic no dark power can defeat," Charming repeated.

"I am the rock which evil breaks like waves," Lord Shan continued.

Charming repeated that, too.

"I am fey! Warrior of Honor! Champion of Light!" Lord Shan finished with emotion.

Charming repeated, "I am fey! Warrior of Honor! Champion of Light!" trying to say it with the same emotion Lord Shan had used.

Lord Shan nodded. "Good. That's the fey warrior' s creed. Use it as your motivation when you don't think you can do this anymore. I will ask you to say it again."

"Now, this time I want you to fight with your sword while you're jumping over the high jump."

Charming gulped. He had managed to get back up after Lord Shan had worn him out completely. But fight again? At the same time as he jumped? How was he going to do that? But he remembered what the man had told him before. The enemies wouldn't care if he was tired. The dragons wouldn't give him time to rest. And he remembered the warrior's creed he had just been taught. The basic message of that was never give up a fight! It was something he believed as well, so he could easily embrace it.

He picked up his sword and headed for the high jump. Lord Shan picked up his as well. They dueled with each other for at least ten minutes, jumping back and forth as they crossed swords, when Lord Shan finally slashed Charming in the shoulder, causing him to drop his sword.

Charming sighed, figuring that particular duel was over. So he lost again, right? But Lord Shan had another surprise for him. "Get your sword again. Hurry up."

Charming looked at him strangely. He knew this guy was tough, but he'd never known of a duel that was continued after one of the parties had been hurt. Lord Shan looked at Charming sternly. "Pain is life, didn't I tell you that before? I'm going to teach you to fight through your pain. You may need to do so."

Charming nodded and picked up his sword again. Ouch! He didn't think he could handle it with such a big shoulder wound in his right side. Maybe the left? Unfortunately, Charming wasn't used to sword fighting left – handed and Lord Shan overpowered him easily again. This time he was gashed in the left leg.

"I ah…don't think I can do this…anymore," Charming grunted.

But Lord Shan shook his head again. "Pain is life. Remember that, and fight on. If you quite, you'll never win."

So Charming took a deep breath and stood, limping and picked up his sword again. The two men fenced again for several minutes.

This went on for another hour. By this time, Charming was covered in bruises and slashes. He was so tired and dizzy he didn't think he'd ever make it out of the room, much less back to Rain and Ellysetta's palace. Finally, Lord Shan called it quits for the day. "I'm going to bring my shei'tani in here to heal you. No sense in suffering long term – injuries from a practice session." For the first time since there training began, Lord Shan smiled at him.

After he was healed and provided with something to drink, Charming just laid down on the floor of the training room. He had to do this tomorrow, too? How? He was beginning to understand why Galen had said he'd wish he was dead, working with Lord Shan. How was he going to get through this? Was it really necessary? But then Snow's face flashed through his mind and Henry's grin as well. If it helped him get back to them, there was nothing he wouldn't do. Just because he had faced dragons before doesn't mean it would go so well this time. He needed to be prepared. But first he needed sleep. With that, he zoned out, right on the floor of the Warrior's Academy.

Charming woke up an hour and a half later. He'd have to hurry up. Rain, Ellysetta and the others were expecting him for dinner. But as he was leaving the building, he suddenly felt Snow's presence with him. Hi Charming! He heard her say, in his head.

So what did you think of that? Did you like Emma's conversation about the difference between e'tanitsa/heartmate and truemates? This conversation is important because of two reasons: 1. It will help Emma realize she doesn't need a truemate bond to be with Neal; she just needs to love him. 2. It explains to readers who aren't familiar with Tairen Soul something I don't think I've made clear. The truemate bond is extremely rare and most fey don't have a truemate. This makes it all the more impressive to Rain that Snow and David/Charming are truemates.

What did you think of Snow's argument with Neal? I'm kind of nervous about that scene; I'm not sure it really sounds like the characters. But I really wanted them to get into an argument, so I could make it clear that Snow was still worried about the condition of her heart. I thought Neal's place in their family was the thing that they would both be emotional about. But does it work for you?

Once again, I will ask you, please give me some reviews or PMs! Answer the questions I have above, and tell me if there is anything you don't understand! I need help to make this story work! If you don't think there is any thing wrong with the story, tell me how well I'm doing!

I love that I have readers, and even a few follows and favorites. But I need responses! And once again, thanks goes out to my anonymous reviewer. You're the best, whoever you are!