Chapter Twelve: The Dark Forest

…

I'm not a perfect person

I never meant to do those things to you

And so I have to say before I go

That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me

To change who I used to be

A reason to start over new

and the reason is you

~ The Reason, Hoobastank

…..

Special thanks to shhjustmehere and Mindy the Magical Moose for suggesting songs! You guys are awesome. And as always, great thanks to everyone who follows, favorites, and reviews!

Emma rubbed Ace's neck apprehensively, nervously smiling at her parents as Robin put some saddle bags of supplies on the horses. "Are you sure you want to go alone?" her mother asked, wringing her hands together nervously, David's hands on her shoulders.

"Mom, Dad, I'll be fine!" she insisted for the umpteenth time, rolling her eyes. "It's not going to be that big of a deal! Really." They nodded, though worry was still clear in their eyes. Henry rushed forward and gave her another hug before backing off to stand next to his other mother and father. Emma gave them a sharp nod of her own as she walked over to the stirrup and lifted her boot into it, climbing into the saddle. Killian also got atop his mare, and Morgan leapt aboard Shadowmere with great grace. She waved to the small group that had gathered to send the off, before turning and nodding at Morgan. The woman clucked to Shadowmere and they started off at a brisk trot into the forest. Still looking back at everyone and smiling bravely, Emma clucked to Ace and pressed her heels gently into his sides, moving up and down with his movements as they jogged after Morgan. Killian gave everyone an exaggerated salute and winning smile before following suit.

Morgan led them on at a steady pace, speeding up to a gallop in short bursts. Forest turned into plains, and plains turned into rocks that turned into mountains that turned back into forest. They were cantering through a yellow plain of long grass and wild wheat, when they approached towering trees. They looked much like those that had been in front of Baba Yaga's hut, skeletal and of ebony bark. But these had much thicker trunks and rich heads of dark purple leaves. "What the hell?" Emma breathed, just as Killian's horse, who she heard him call "Bitsy", spooked, rearing and flailing her hooves out in front of her. Killian himself was caught off guard by her behavior, desperately trying to hold on and control her while not stabbing the mare with his hook. She continued flail, finally bringing her front hooves down as she writhed and bucked, ears flat back and eyes wild. Morgan was frantic, though her imposing stallion stood stock still and merely pointed his ears toward the horrifying spectacle with mild interest as Ace began to move around nervously.

"Morgan! What's happening?" Emma asked.

"The dark forest is scaring her!" she said.

"Really? Never would've guessed!" Killian yelled above Bitsy's whinnies as he struggled to keep a hold of the reins and keep her from bolting. "Bloody hell!" Watching him fight for stability above the terrified horse who was now getting so worked up that she was sweating, Emma couldn't take simply sitting by idly and keeping her own mount calm. She leapt off of Ace and ran over to Bitsy, raising her hands placatingly.

"Shh, shh, whoa girl, steady!" she crooned as she moved closer. Bitsy stopped just long enough for Emma to snatch the reins and hold her steady, allowing her to calm after another moment of struggle.

"Thanks love," Killian nodded gratefully, and Emma shrugged as she went back to Ace and hopped back in the saddle, turning to Morgan.

"What scared her?"

"This place, and rightfully so. The dark forest is where the Vorpal Blade is kept, and not because it's filled with fluffy bunnies. The horses sense its foreboding." Killian huffed, and Emma smiled softly at his indignance that only Bitsy freaked out.

"Well-" she began, but was cut off by a sudden and bloodcurdling crack as the tree in front of her gave out a shudder and groan and fell forward, trunk splitting and blood-red sap coming out. Ace reared up in fear, but Emma kept a tight hold n the rains and calmed him as soon as all four of his hooves were back on the ground. But there was a shocked squeal beside her and her head whipped around to see Killian holding on for dear life as Bitsy bolted right into the imposing forest. Her blood ran cold as in the millisecond it took her to take action images flashed before her eyes of him lying dead in a ditch somewhere or fallen into the jaws of a huge bulky beast. "Killian!" she screamed, whipping the reins forward and kicking Ace's sides, propelling him forward like a bullet after the runaway horse and rider. As soon as she was underneath the dark trees any light that filtered through seemed distorted and wrong. There was the sound of trees falling and splitting all around her, and she knew something was after them and had made Bitsy run. She kept her eyes glued to the white rump of the mare and the leather coat flowing out behind her pirate as she and Ace navigated the forest behind them. Around her the splitting of tree trunks continued, with an undertone of an eerily familiar laugh that Emma couldn't be sure she'd actually heard. Bitsy slowed rather suddenly, hooves skidding along the moldy ground and Killian thrust into the mare's neck by his momentum. Emma pulled back heavily on the reins as well, and Ace pawed at the ground until they stopped right next to Bitsy and Killian. Leaning over Ace's neck and looking down, Emma could see the four of them had stopped just short of falling down a sharp ravine at breakneck speed. She and Kilian breathed a sigh of relief in unison as they turned to each other and offered exasperated smiles, just as another tree split somewhere to their left. Emma looked around frantically around, brushing her hair out of her eyes just in time to see a huge black trunk just about to fall on them, glowing eyes laughing in the shadows. As it completely blocked out all around her, all she could do was put her arms in front of her and scream.

Just before the tree came crashing down on her and Killian, it stopped, and Emma could see the white shimmer of a magical barrier protecting her and the pirate from it. She sighed yet again as the tree moved back from them, and in a few seconds was facing the other way, smushing dead grass and dark brown vines rather than Killian and Emma's heads as someone clucked and hoofbeats sounded a little ways off. In just a moment Morgan appeared with a bemused yet annoyed look on her face. "What part of 'the Dark Forest is dangerous do you not seem to understand'?"

"Oi, my horse spooked," Killian huffed.

"Hers didn't," Morgan pointed out as she pointed at Emma. She opened her mouth to argue but Morgan wouldn't even let her start. "Whatever, I understand. You two are connected at the hip or whatnot. That's not important. It'll be night soon, and you do not want to be out in the middle of this place at night." Emma's eyes narrowed, but she did not retort to Morgan's insinuation, instead focusing on her point about danger.

"Was that thing that scared Bitsy one of the monsters in this place?"

"No," Killian said. "Whatever that was, it's been following us for quite some time. I've no clue what it is however."

"I can't be sure either," said Morgan. "But what I do know is that we need to find a dry place to sleep and set up a fire. The creatures that dwell here hate light. I'll also make a magical barrier around us that should keep us safe."

"Thanks Fay," Killian said. "The bottom of that ravine would probably make a good place."

"Aye Captain," said Morgan, analytical eyes on the bottom of the ravine. She smiled playfully at Emma and Killian before kicking Shadowmere. The great black stallion whinnied a sound like an owl's screech before cantering right towards the ravine.

"Morgan, no!" Emma yelled, reaching out her hand to the woman and surprised at how her heart pitched at the thought of her frie-guide hurt. But like, most likely with, magic Shadowmere sailed over the edge of the ravine, mane flowing behind him like a cloak of darkness, the cloak of his rider waving like a flag in the wind behind her. He landed gracefully onto the moldy leaves of the ground, spinning around on his hooves to end the performance with a rear of prowess and victory. Emma rolled her eyes at Morgan's triumphant smile. "How do we ge-" before her questioned was finished Morgan waved her fingers and a cloud of purple smoke clouded Emma's vision. When it faded away she and Ace were on the floor of the ravine, looking over at Killian and Morgan. "Fair enough."

….

Emma shifted uncomfortably in her bedroll. Every time she closed her eyes those laughing evil eyes burned on her eyelids, and the urge to know what it was that was stalking them gnawed at her like a puzzle left unsolved. Sighing in resignation to her insomnia, Emma sat up and stared at the gently crackling fire. Or the remnants of what should have been a gently crackling fire. All that was there was charred kindling with cracks in it that glowed orange, embers dying amid ash. Emma looked up into the canopy of trees, unable to judge the time, though she knew it was night. She'd remembered Morgans earlier warning about the forest's dwellers and their detestation for light, so she got up with a lazy groan and walked to the edge of their camp. Morgan and Killian slept soundly in other spots by the fire. She moved quietly as not to wake them as she snuck over to the magical shimmering wall Morgan had put up. Reaching out a tentative hand, Emma was able to put her hand out. Carefully she walked outside the barrier, careful to keep one boot in as she grabbed a moderately large rock and put it on the line of the wall, effectively creating a patch that would allow her to get back in once she had more wood. Quietly and warily she walked out into the darkness, eyes groping for loose wood anywhere amid the gloomy forest. She could barely make out any timber amid the darkness that was the land's namesake, but after wandering a bit farther out she'd amassed quite a bit. She turned to head back to the camp when suddenly, right in front of her own eyes was another pair, glowing, pupilless, neon blue. She dropped her kindling in an instant and reached for the sword at her belt, but the eyes seemingly without a body shoved her down. She spit out dead leaves as she leapt to her feet, sword now at the ready. The wind whipped her hair around as she saw the eyes circle her. Everytime they came to close she swung her sword, but met nothing more than empty air. The eyes screeched and flew at her. She brought her sword down on them but hit nothing and was sent flying, spine colliding with a tree trunk and sending a shot of pain through her. Consciousness threatened to slip from her as flashes swam before her vision and the eyes mocked her, and she realized she must've hit her head. But she heard a voice and the sound of foliage moving and quite suddenly Killian burst from the night, eyes wide and worried. His eyes landed on Emma and he knelt beside her, helping her to stand.

"I heard a scream," he whispered as he looked around and Emma recomposed herself. She looked around too, but the eyes were gone.

"Yeah, that thing was here. I guess it's gone."

"Well what the bloody hell were you thinking?!" he hissed. "You could've been killed!"

"I was just gathering firewood!" Emma retorted, barely making out Killian's shape in the gloom but hoping he could hear her anger.

"Don't!"

"I will if I want to! Are you forgetting who's in charge here?"

"You hardly let me forget, princess."

"Maybe I would if you weren't always reminding me of who you are, pirate."

"I don't want you hurt!"

"I don't want you hurt either, but I trust you'll be fine on your own!" Killian gulped audibly, and Emma sighed.

"You're right. I'm sorry. And I hope you know that not only do I trust you with your own life, but I trust you with mine." He couldn't see her smile as his sincere words reached her.

"Thanks, but I think we should get back to Morgan." As if on cue, a bloodcurdling scream then sounded back the way camp was. Killian and Emma searched until they found each other's eyes. "Morgan."