Chapter 13: What We Are Made Of

As Alex explained his plan to Snow and Darlene, Darlene couldn't help but think there was some flaws. However Darlene knew better then tell Alex as his plans always had a habit of improvising whether she knew it or not. Snow on the other hand had no bothers with Alex's and and to her immense surprise found out that she was liking it and him more and more. Alex as it turned out was a clever strategist and had come a long way from the guy Snow had almost killed with an arrow that one time when they met.

"I don't know it seems risky." Darlene said, "a little too risky, but hey your plans tend to change on a daily basis anyhow." At this she couldn't help but chuckle, after months of traveling and becoming closer with her best friend Darlene realised that this was one of the more likely traits that she would miss, come the time to leave.

"It's like this is every day to you." Snow noted and yet Alex wondered why people were always surprised by this. In the days before the TARDIS, Ahsoka and Darlene, Sky and Alex often made plans that got them into trouble, so naturally Alex had made a habit of improvising whenever the moment seemed necessary. Those were the good old days, thinking of Sky now just hurt too much. Sky had turned his back on Alex the moment Darlene was killed the very first time on Skaro.

Darlene and Sky had been lovers and had become quite close in a way that Alex and Ahsoka never were. It wasn't until Sky had embraced his destiny during the battle of Trap Street and became the Dark Brother in which Darlene had no choice but to stop the relationship. Things only got worse when Sky had murdered Ahsoka as revenge for Darlene, and when Alex had resurrected Ahsoka, the final battle came. And Darlene not Alex was the one who had stopped Sky in the end.

Bringing Alex and Darlene where they were now. On the cusp of Darlene's final adventure with Alex, and Alex who was set on finding out the answers to his mysterious past. "Alex?" Darlene asked breaking Alex's train of thought, "are you alright?" At this Alex cleared his throat and said.

"Yes, yes everything is fine." However something told him that after this adventure was done, everything would not be fine and never would be again. Things would never be the same. "Anyway," He said as he gathered his courage and began to take his steps. "Time to see what we're made of."

Darlene and Snow couldn't help but smile. And it was nice to see them this way. Snow after a rocky start had grown more trusting of the two and Alex could see that if things went right and they all survived this, they were going to become best of friends. And in a way that was all he needed, "geronimo" Darlene said taking his hand and at this Alex couldn't help but smile as he tapped some buttons into his wristrap like device, the Vortex Manipulator.

The Dark forest leading up to the Queen's palace was unlike anything Darlene had ever seen, designed to trick and confuse even the most unassuming traveller. It was a miracle that even she was able to navigate the forest. And looking back on it she found herself hating Alex's plan. Why did she have to do this? Why couldn't Snow do it as Darlene was disguised as Snow anyway.

Although sneaking around in Snow's clothes, Darlene had to admit that it was somewhat of a thrill just to be in her favourite fairytale. And to top it all off, this sounded just like a plan out of one of Darlene's other favourite tales, Robin Hood, given how she was dressed in a hood and carried Snow's quiver, filled to the brim with Snow's arrows.

Just at the edge of the forest Darlene saw it, the Evil Queen's palace, and it was just as she imagined, tall, dark and evil. As Snow had explained that palace had once belonged to her father and mother, the King and Queen, however once Regina had murdered her father, Snow was forced to flee as she suspected that Regina would now be coming after her. Turns out she was right. However as she had discovered secret tunnels growing up, Snow had found that these secret tunnels led directly to the Queen's chamber which lay the perfect groundwork for the plan.

Darlene was now navigating these tunnels as reached the end of the Dark Forest. These tunnels had a strange claustrophobic feeling and went on for what seemed like forever, however after what seemed like an hour Darlene found a door and opened it. Darlene prayed that the Queen wasn't home. But was met with a failure.

The Queen was indeed home and had just finished what looked like a heated argument with a mysterious stranger, to which Darlene assumed that this stranger was Rumplestiltskin. As he looked just as Alex had described, a tall man with scales for skin and greasy brown hair. "Well then," Rumple said in a high pitched voice that sent shivers Darlene's body "I hope it was worth it." Then Darlene watched as with a swish of Rumple's hand he dissolved in a cloud of black smoke. Darlene had to look away at this moment as the black smoke reminded her of an old advisory, the Trickster, the one who had been the source of all Darlene's problems.

Regina turned her back for a moment and it is was at that moment that Darlene chose to reveal herself. "Hello," Darlene almost immediately regretted these words as Regina turned round to face her, "sorry to here that argument over there." She then unloaded one of Snow's arrows bearing a white flag of a4 paper, "yeah I know it's not the actual one but nobody had any cloth." At this Darlene half chuckled but quickly stopped as Regina walked forward to her.

"You should be dead."

"I get that a lot." Darlene said honestly whilst dropping her bow of surrender. Regina studied Darlene a little more closer and Darlene prayed that she accepted this offer. Or Alex's plan was going to fail.

"I trust by that crude method." Regina smiled pointing towards the bow "that you and your friends are surrendering?"

"Nope." Darlene said smiling, "god I hope you're right about this Alex." She said softly so that Regina wouldn't even hear. "Just me and you heard that right. I'm surrendering unto you." She then unequipped the quiver from her back and tossed it to the floor, Darlene then mustered her courage and smiled defiantly at Regina. "I think that's a very good idea." Sudden a small chill of silence fell over the room as Regina decided what to do next...