The following day, the family- including Regina- was gathered around the table for dinner. Marali saw Emma smiling at her again. She'd been doing it all day.
"Quit it." She snapped to her quietly.
"Or what." Emma whispered calmly. "You'll throw a fire ball at me?" Marali's eyes widened. That little sneak! She'd followed her! Emma smiled smugly. "Looks like we're even." Marali's hands balled into fists. She was furious. Without warning, one hand burst into flames, setting the table on fire. Marali didn't even notice, but Emma screamed in horror, leaping back. Regina instantly put it out, just as Marali noticed what had happened. She looked at her hand in horror. She hadn't meant to do that!
"Where did you learn that?" Regina snapped. Marali looked down.
"Marali," Snow said, concerned. "Regina asked you a question. Marali folded her arms across her chest stubbornly, refusing to answer.
"Well isn't it obvious?" Emma snapped. "She's been copying Regina. She's been practising at night." Marali's eyes locked with Emma's. If nobody else was around she would have floored her. A tense silence filled the room. Eventually, Snow broke it.
"Marali, is this true?" She asked her youngest.
"She only knows anything because she's been sneaking off at night to meet up with some stupid wannabe knight!" Marali retorted. Emma scoffed.
"That's nothing compared to sneaking off and learning dark magic-"
"Don't speak so soon." Snow warned her. Emma looked flabbergasted. She gestured to her sister.
"But she-"
"Did something totally different from you." David butted in. "But both problems are easy to fix. You will both now share a room. Regina with cast a spell over that room to prevent magic being used inside it. There will be guards posted both outside your door and window. You will be responsible for each other. If one sneaks of, the other will also be punished. We clearly cannot trust you both to be sensible so you will stay with your mother and I during the day. Is that understood?"
"But that's not fair!" Both girls yelled back.
"Not fair?" David said, fighting to keep his cool. "Not fair was putting yourselves in danger. Emma, did it ever occur to you that we know nothing about this boy? He could be anyone! He could be a spy for George…"
"That's ridiculous!" Emma said, getting frustrated.
"It is not." David responded calmly. "It is accurate. Lest assured he will not be one of the guards posted outside your room. What's his name?" He asked. Emma remained stubbornly silent.
"Marcus." Marali responded. "He just turned sixteen and joined up."
"You little rat!" Emma yelled.
"An eye for an eye, dimwit!"
"Enough!" David called. Both girls fell silent. David turned his attention to Marali. "And you, Marali. Did you even think about what using dark magic could have done to you? There are reasons your mother and I were careful about what Blue taught you. You risked turning dark. Maybe it is best you don't use your magic…"
"No!" Marali responded. "I need it to protect myself!"
"No you don't. There will be no need for you to protect yourself. And even if there was you are a perfectly skilled fighter…"
"I've had it!" Marali said, storming off. Using the distraction Emma ran to the door on the other side.
"What part of staying with us did you both not understand?" David called out, but was ignored. Both parents got up with a sigh. David followed after Emma, and Snow after Marali.
Snow knew exactly where Marali would be- up on the only balcony in Regina's castle. She knocked at the entrance so as not to startle her.
"Hey." She said gently, coming and standing beside her at the wall. Marali hastily wiped her face and sniffed, trying to pretend like she hadn't been crying.
"Hey." She replied quietly. Snow gently took Marali's face in her hands and wiped away a loose tear before Marali pulled away. Snow took her hand.
"We need to talk about it." She said gently. "This is important, Marali. I need to know why you thought dark magic was the best option." Marali's only reply was a shrug. "We can wait here all night if that's what you want. But neither of us is leaving this balcony until I get some answers." Snow said, slightly more sternly. A few more minutes of silence went by before Marali gave a frustrated sigh and mumbled something under her breath. "Honey, I have to hear it for it to count." Snow prompted. Marali sighed again.
"I was learning Regina's magic because I'm scared George will hurt me again." She said slowly. She looked down, embarrassed. Snow made her look up.
"Honey, I will never let that man, or anyone connected to him, hurt either of my children again. I promise you that. But why are you embarrassed?" Marali shrugged.
"You and dad never get scared." She muttered. Snow made Marali look up.
"Of course I do. Every time something happens to you or your sister I get scared. It's my job as your mother. Do you know what else it is my job to do as your mother? Protect you. And that is why you don't need to worry about George. Now that we know his plans and have Regina on our side, we can beat him easily. So I don't ever want to see you using that magic ever again, understood?" Marali nodded.
"Yes mama." She said quietly. Snow wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Good. Now, let's go find your father and your sister and all make peace before bed."
"Mom?" Marali asked, clearly trying her luck with something. "Now that you know I won't use dark magic again, do I still have to share a room with Emma?" Snow didn't even need to answer, her look was enough for Marali to know she would be sharing a room with her sister for the foreseeable future.
Just then, Charming came charging out onto the balcony.