Note: This is a sequel of 'Forest of Fireflies'. If you want a detailed understanding of the story/characters, please read the first instalment.

If you would like to proceed by reading this fic first, here's a brief summary/recap that will get you ready for this story:

Daniella is the daughter of Regina and Daniel. She grew up in Wonderland without her parents, but she made her way back to the Enchanted forest. Time runs differently between realms, and whilst 16 years had passed since Regina had lost Daniella in the Enchanted Forest, Daniella was 10 years old because of the time spent in Wonderland. Soon, Regina found her and took her in. This was at the height of the Evil Queen's reign.

During the curse, Daniella maintained her memories and have always had a rough relationship with Henry because of his insistence that Regina was evil. After the curse broke, Daniel was brought back to life and he ended up 'reversing' the dark curse because he, Regina and Daniella were back together again.

Everyone was transported back to the Enchanted Forest. A while after, Regina was confronted by Zelena, who wanted to kill her for revenge. Zelena uses Daniel's doubts towards Regina's actions and her past as the Evil Queen, to get back at her sister. She encourages Daniel's secret affair with a childhood friend named Lena.

Zelena causes Lena to give birth to her child within a couple of days of being pregnant and Regina finds out about Daniel's disloyalty. Out of rage and betrayal, the couple is banished from the kingdom. Daniella doesn't get to learn the name of her younger half sister.

Forest of Fireflies ends with Daniella finding confidence in herself.

City of Starlight picks up 5 years into the future...

(Daniella's POV)

It was visiting day, otherwise known as the day when the Charmings would come over to the Dark Palace so that Henry could spend some time with mother and I. Looking back at the past five years, I could say that I'm actually quite surprised at how everything turned out. Peace seemed to have settled nicely across the lands. Even though there were no wars between the kingdoms, small grudges remained. Luckily, they didn't really lead anywhere. The Charmings now control what used to be King George's land. They've originally taken over some parts of mother's kingdom as well, but given her cooperation with them, they've slowly returned those sectors back to her rule. I daresay, Henry had done better than I had expected. Having him as the 'bridge' between our families made a profound difference.

Originally, I was worried that mother would enact a plot against Snow again but even though she wouldn't admit it, I know she had let go of the past. As communication between all of us has improved, I no longer felt as scared of the Charmings as I used to. Sure, their snarky remarks about the past would make me uncomfortable but at least none of us were out for each other's heads. Even Rumple seemed to have backed down from pursuing any sort of vengeance against mother for holding Belle captive in the months leading up to, and during the curse.

I could say that everything is good, but I know that isn't true. We never talk about father anymore, but I know mother misses him just as much as I do. However, I'm not sure if she's hating herself in the process either. Although I couldn't tell for sure, I believe she doesn't regret banishing him. She'd rather keep the better memories of him in her mind rather than what came after. In the rare instances we manage to talk about him, she shifts the conversation from herself and towards me. I'm grateful that she's concerned about my feelings but I just wished that I could do something whenever I catch her crying before the empty glass coffin that once encased my father's stiff corpse.

Ever since it became clear that Mama's less...evil these days, there seemed to be a rush of powerful men from the kingdom and other alike who clearly approach her for reasons other than diplomacy. I find it repulsive, and so does she. Our kingdom is the only one in the Enchanted Forest run independent of male influence and recently, I've been noticing how some other kingdoms wanted to change that. To benefit themselves of course. I knew that there was no way mother would ever let any of those vermin take over our lands. Geographically, we've been blessed with advantages in production and trade. She'd never wield that power over to men. At the dinner table, I once swore that I wouldn't marry. Mother laughed and said that when I meet 'the guy', I would even turn my back on her for him. "Besides Daniella, I've seen the way they look at you in balls and parties. You're a beautiful young lady now. The only thing stopping those boys from approaching is the threat of your magic and the way your brother seems to act around you."

I couldn't help but let a smile lift the corners of my mouth. It was true that Henry does seem to be protective around me and all. But then again, I wouldn't allow anybody to hurt him either. Once, I nearly set a squire on fire if Henry hadn't noticed that I was there and told me that he was simply playing around with his friend. I don't think that boy looked at me the same way again.

As I looked out at the horizon from my balcony, I twisted my hands. The last visiting day had been 9 months ago. Even though I've kept in contact with Henry through the compact mirrors that mother gave us when we were 11 years old, I missed seeing him in person. Although mother controls the richest kingdom in the Enchanted Forest, it's undeniable that the Charmings held the highest level of adoration from their subjects. Consequently though, Henry has to attend many events, visits and functions. I've seen glimpses of him in diplomatic meetings between the leaders of the Enchanted Forest, but I've rarely had the chance to talk to him face to face. As the meetings usually entailed the head of state and the immediate heir apparent, I would see Snow, David and Emma in the room, but not Henry.

I squinted as my eyes focused on a small moving dot along the road that snaked down the hill and past the mountains. I smiled. I then took my time to walk through the corridors of the palace until I reached the landing on ground level. As Henry's carriage rolled to a stop in front of the steps below me, I straightened my dress. Then, the door opened and a familiar ruffle of brown hair poked out. Henry stepped down and I ran towards him. We collided in a hug and laughed.

"Hey, I was literally talking to you yesterday, Dani."

We parted and I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, but seeing you in the mirror is different from real life."

When Snow, David and Emma stepped out from the carriage as well I was a little surprised to see that they had all come. They made eye contact with me so I gave them a smile and a little curtsy, as per the custom. Snow waved me off and said, "Forget that, it's only us here. Strictly speaking, we're all family aren't we?"

I cringed at the term and it seemed like everybody shared the same feelings as me. Snow, seeming to understand the awkwardness said in an exasperated breath, "Ok, I was just trying to you know...be friendly."

We all laughed after that. It's incredible how far we've come in the span of five years. Our exchange of pleasantries were interrupted when Henry suddenly shouted, "Mom!"

I turned to the direction that he started sprinting off in and smiled. Coming down from the marble steps, was Mama, dressed in a simple yet elegant black dress. She had changed since taking Equinox for a ride this morning. As Henry hugged her, she chuckled and whispered, "How's my little prince?"

He replied with a playful whine, "I'm not little anymore. See? I'm taller than you, AND you're wearing heels. Anyway, I'm alright. How are you?"

They parted as mother chuckled and said something under her breath. Then, she raised her eyebrow in the direction of the rest of the Charmings. "Whilst I do not mind welcoming the rest of you here, I thought I was only meeting with Henry today."

Emma stepped forth and by the look on her face, I could tell that something was wrong. "Regina, we just thought that it would be easier if we told you in person."

Mother frowned and her voice dropped a tone as she asked, "Tell me what?"

"I'm afraid we might have to go in, because this will be a long conversation."

Once we had all settled down on the couches in the library, Snow was the first to speak. Her words came as a shock to mother and I. "Regina, if Rumpelstiltskin's powers were yours for the taking, would you take it?"

There was silence. She put down the goblet in her hand and tried to conceal the absurdity of the question as she answered carefully, "No. You've seen where the darkness has taken me. The people I've lost because of it."

I took a sharp intake of breath as mother continued, "Why do you ask?"

The three Charmings seem to have visibly let out a breath that they had been holding so with just a slight tone of annoyance and amusement in her voice, she said quickly, "Do you really think I'd undo the future I've been trying to build for my daughter, these past five years?"

Emma replied, "No, we don't doubt you. Which is why we have to ask you to help us. Mr Gold has well..."

In a low voice, mother murmured, "What has he done?"

"He wanted to rid himself of the darkness, so he stole the author's pen from Henry and tried to write himself a new story; one where he isn't the Dark One," David replied.

I gripped the goblet in my hand tightly. "Has he succeeded?"

"Yes and no. He kind of got what he wanted, but not in a good way," Henry began. "His heart was darkening from all the dark things that he has committed and it's getting back to him. Belle's looking after him right now, but she told us everything we needed to know. She gave Emma the dagger so that we could help him."

After looking at the cursed blade that Emma drew out from her belt, Mother frowned and shook her head, "Henry, I don't understand."

"He's dying. Actually, he's unconscious right now. By forcing the pen to give him a new story, he has isolated the darkness from himself, but he will die if someone doesn't take in the dark magic. Belle told us that the darkness will always inhabit somebody, and the first person they will look for, is the one with the darkest heart."

"Me," was all mother whispered.

I shook my head defiantly and said, "No. That won't happen. We just need to find a way to hold the darkness in. Perhaps a vessel or something."

Snow gave me a sad look and said, "It doesn't work like that. The apprentice who appointed Henry as the next author has died because he tried to hold in that darkness. It didn't work. Unless Regina has an idea of how to deal with this, we must find someone to be the next Dark One."

Mother replied, "You're seeking for my help when it was Rumple who caused this? Why not let the darkness continue to inhabit him?"

"Regina!" Snow remarked before continuing, "Rumple is dying anyway, of his dark heart and we promised Belle that we would help her. And...don't you owe it to them?"

Mother glanced away and took a deep breath. Then, she whispered, "I don't know how. I doubt I even have a book about the Dark Ones in this library. Even if I wanted to help, I wouldn't know how!"

"But you-"

"I know the consequences of being the Dark One, Snow. Trust me, I've dealt with one ever since I was eighteen years old. I-" She was suddenly interrupted when the candles in the library blew out.

I breathed, "What the hell..." Mother's pointed glare scolded my careless use of language, but I was not paying attention to that. Suddenly, the stained glass windows on one end of the library broke and a gust of wind rushed towards us. Terrified, I rushed to mother's side but something black darted between us. Then, I felt someone pull me back. We could only watch as a vortex of blackness surrounded mother, encircling her in a mass of violent magic. I screamed, "Mama!"

I could barely see her full face as the black jets of magic grew denser and denser. I advanced forward but mother shouted, "No! Stay back firefly! I don't want to hurt you!"

I found myself in Henry's arms yet I shouted to Snow, "What is it doing?!"

In a fearful tone, she replied, "What darkness does, snuff out the light. It'll turn her into the Dark One."

I turned back to mother just to watch her face being covered entirely by the black jets of dark magic. Then, I turned to the side and swallowed, eyeing the dagger in Emma's hand. "No!" she shouted as I lunged for it.

I missed and stumbled over because Emma jerked to one side. Before I could use magic to take the dagger from her hand, she suddenly thrust it into the dark vortex. Snow and David screamed, "Emma!"

Even mother was concerned for I heard her struggling voice shout, "What are you doing?!"

"Regina, I can't let you take in the darkness. You've come too far for Henry and Daniella." Turning to her parents, she continued in a desperate voice, "You figured out how to take the darkness out of me once. You can do it again." Then, she walked forward and let the inky jets of magic encircle her instead. Mother fell to one side and now, the darkness shifted its focus to the saviour. Emma let out a cry as the magic seized control of her. Mother held onto me the circling magic suddenly disappeared, along with her. With a clang, the dagger fell to the ground. Henry came forth and picked it up. Then, with shaking hands, he read, "Emma Swan."

After a moment, mother broke the silence by exclaiming, "How could she have been so stupid?!"

"Regina!" David shouted. His wife immediately added, "She saved you from the darkness!"

"Yes, but now she's a problem...for all of us!"

Snow stepped up to mother and shook her head, "No, she's still good!"

As she unwound her arms from my back, mother replied, "I hope so. It's not like she rode off on a unicorn. She got sucked up by a vortex of evil."

"Where is she? Where has she gone?" I questioned, hoping to break the tension between mother and the Charmings that is sure to build up.

Henry the raised his arm, with the dagger in hand. "Dark One! With this dagger I summon thee!"

We all waited in absolute silence but no one came. Henry repeated again, this time a little more desperately, "Dark One!"

Mother quickly took the dagger from his hands and said gently, "Put it away before you hurt yourself, dear. I thought you knew the dagger's rules?"

"With it, I can summon the Dark One from any corner of the world."

Mother raised an eyebrow. "Well there you go. She's not in this world."

"What?!" Snow replied before mother continued, "Well it seems like you will need my help afterall. Whilst our dear Rumple will live, you only have one magical ally for now, excluding Daniella of course."

I already didn't like the direction where this conversation was heading so I quickly cut in and said, "I want to take part-"

"No, and it's not up for discussion, Daniella."

"But Mama-"

She turned around and gave me a glare but I ignored it and reasoned, "Please. What if...what if you somehow end up being the Dark One and these are the last minutes that I'll spend with you before I lose you to the darkness?"

Mother's face was unreadable but Snow actually stood by my side as she said, "Regina, she's one of us. Henry's definately taking part and given that Daniella has magic, perhaps she could find a chance to use it for good."

I looked pleadingly at mother. Finally, she nodded. I smiled as she turned away and said to the Charmings, "I trust that you have a bean yes?" Snow nodded so she continued, "I just need something that belongs to Emma so that I can direct the portal to take us to where she is."

"Right umm, would you be able to take us all back to our palace now then?" David asked.

Mother nodded and murmured, "Hang on." Then, she closed her eyes and surrounded us in her magic. We teleported right into the middle of the courtyard of the Charming's fortress. As soon as we had touched the ground, Henry walked off to find something of Emma's with such speed that we had to run to catch up with him. Given the heavy skirts that I was wearing, I was not particularly happy that Henry didn't tell us where he was going first. If he did, I could have used magic to meet him there instead of running as if we were on a wild goose chase.

When we entered the interior of the castle however, we met up with no less than those dwarves loyal to Snow, Granny, Red and...Captain Hook?!

Whilst Henry continued to run past them, they stopped us when Hook asked in a tone of worry, "Where is she? Where is Emma?!"

I gave mother a look before anybody could reply. She returned a baffled expression towards me. Snow answered the pirate as she said, "She's taken by the darkness. She took it so that Regina wouldn't become the Dark One. But she's...she's gone to another land. Henry's just run off to fetch an item of Emma's so that we can open a portal to take us to her."

Before the pirate could say anything to mother, she gave him a pointed stare and commented in an unbelieving tone, "You're in love with her?!"

"For almost half a year now," said David as he scratched the back of his head.

"Yes, your majesty. So, it would be nice if I knew exactly what is going on and why you're standing here unharmed whilst Emma is gone," Hook snapped.

Before mother could interject, Snow proceeded to explain what had happened just a few minutes ago. After a few questions from Hook, Henry came back and handed Emma's baby blanket and a magic bean to mother. Just as she was about to throw the bean onto the ground however, one of the dwarfs, Leroy, stepped forth and said to Snow, "Hang on a second. You do realise we're coming along too, right?"

Mother drew in a sharp intake of breath as the dwarf began towards the Charmings, "We've been on the sidelines for too long sister. Missed too many adventures. Now it's embarassing. How do you think it feels like when someone asked you how it went and you had to reply that no one's asked you to go along? That you weren't needed? We aren't letting you turn your backs on us again. Not when we've been there, helping you fight the Queen!"

After Snow mouthed a quiet thank you and nodded, mother handed the bean back to Henry with a sigh. Confused, he asked, "What's wrong with it?"

"Well given the addition of the seven dwarves, a one handed man, a wolf and a grandmother, I say we cannot all fit into one magic bean portal."

"What?! Well then what do you suggest we do?" Snow exclaimed.

Mother rolled her eyes and magicked a wand into her hand. "This can open portals to other lands. However, we just need a vessel to take us there. A cabin or something..."

"My tavern!" Granny suggested as she stepped forth. Indeed, Granny's Tavern doesn't have the same ring to it as Granny's Diner back in Storybrooke, but it seemed that both grandmother and granddaughter preferred to keep to running the bed and breakfast industry.

"Perfect. Where is your tavern?" Mother asked.

"East village in the Whitemont sector. Not far from the castle, your majesty."

Mother then turned to me and said, "I can't teleport everyone one of us there in one go, but if we combined our powers..."

I nodded and instructed for everyone to make physical contact with another person. Once we were linked up, mother mouthed a countdown 3...2...1...

We appeared in the village seconds later, startling the villagers who obviously wasn't prepared to see the sight of seven dwarves, Granny, Red, a pirate and the Charmings. However, Granny wasted no time in leading us to her tavern. We must have made quite the spectacle when we burst through the door. Granny, Red, Snow and David went around asking the villagers in there if they could vacate for a moment. Whilst they were busy with that, Hook stepped up to mother in almost a threatening manner.

"You will get the darkness out of Emma. She didn't deserve to face whatever she is facing at the moment."

"Oh cut that attitude, pirate. I know you're hating me right now for what happened to Emma but believe me, it was her choice."

"She saved you-"

Mother lowered her voice and hissed, "I didn't need her saving. She's not my saviour."

"You wouldn't be here now if she hadn't taken the darkness for you. I'm merely telling you that if Emma doesn't come back with-" Hook suddenly stopped talking. I looked up to see mother's hand in the air, cutting off his voice. I looked worriedly around the tavern before whispering loudly, "Mama!"

She threw me a quick glance before turning back to the pirate and saying, "I am not obliged to come. This whole ordeal is not my fault in any way. Snow and David made a promise to Belle to fix her husband's mistake that unfortunately involves me. Emma could have left me to the darkness yet she chose something that would make you all worry about her. I have not disagreed to helping you so I would appreciate it if you could drop that tone when you're speaking to me. Understood?"

Hook seemed to nod his head a little so mother let him go. He coughed as he turned away to one side. Quietly, I came up to mother's side and whispered, "Was that necessary?"

I only received a sigh as a reply. Soon, every villager had left the tavern and we were the only ones left inside. Snow came up to us and said, "Ok, we're ready. Regina?"

Mother took out the wand from the folds of her dress and held out Emma's baby blanket. After waving it over the wool, it glowed green with magic. Then, she said aloud, "Hang onto something." After that, she waved the wand again. Immediately, we could all feel a portal being summoned for there was a howl of strong wind outside. As it built up momentum, the tavern started to shake violently. There were screams outside so Granny went over to the door and locked it. We couldn't risk accidentally letting somebody into the tavern at this moment. Right after she had done that, there was a lurch and before long, we were up in the air. A strange feeling overtook me at this moment and I felt a little sick. I just hoped that I wouldn't empty my stomach before we even landed wherever Emma was.

Author's note:

Hello fans of 'Forest of Fireflies'! How are you liking the prequel of this fanfic so far? I'm mainly going to be using elements of season 5 in this fanfic, but I will change it up a little, given that the gang never returned to Storybrooke. Please leave a comment if you have enjoyed this instalment!