(Regina's POV)

Tears sharper than shards of broken glass pricked my eyes. As I pulled Daniella in, I murmured over and over again, "I'm so sorry, Mama's so sorry." I turned her towards me and felt my heart shattering once more as I surveyed the bruises on her neck. Although I made them disappear with ease after hovering my hand over the purple patches, guilt continued to sit heavily in my abdomen. I had hurt her. I had hurt my little girl. My hands shook as I cupped Daniella's face. She tried to shrug away but I gripped her with the slightest of force and looked into her eyes. I whispered, "You have to trust me, for real this time. I didn't mean to do that. I'd never ever harm you, firefly. What just happened...that was not me. I love you and I'd never watch you suffer. Mama's so sorry, I really am."

She swallowed but gave me a little nod. I released her, sobbing in disgust at my own behaviour. How could I have ever mistaken her for Snow? The answer rested uncomfortably in my mind but I didn't want to think about it. I didn't want to think about how perhaps I'm the Evil Queen and nothing more. I breathed in my daughter's sweet scented hair and held her closer, not wanting to let go. She has every reason to lose faith in me, and with my control over the kingdom balancing on a thin wire as well as Daniel leaving me this morning, I cannot afford to lose her. I moved my hands slightly and came across something hard and leathery on her arm. I touched it and as we parted, I looked down. I tugged her arm forth and saw one of those pesky magic restraining cuffs. I frowned worriedly whilst asking, "Who put this on you?"

She replied in one breath, "Snow's guards."

"What did they do to you?!" I breathed angrily.

Before she could reply, the guard who had pushed me over approached us and said, "Your Majesty, if I may intervene, I was meaning to convey the incident to you."

I looked up with a newfound annoyance. "What do you mean, you were meaning to? Does this not concern my daughter-"

"My Queen, you ordered no one to disturb you upon your return last night."

My mouth dried up. Indeed I had. My cheeks grew hot so in order to conceal my own mistake, I spat, "In the future, anything that relates to my daughter has to be reported to me immediately. But no matter for now. Continue. Why does she have this cuff on her?"

I waved my hand over the leather band and after removing it, burned it ferociously with a fireball. The guard replied, "Her highness found herself in a meeting between Snow White and her loyal circle. According to the princess, they didn't want her there, but she resisted. Consequently, two of Snow's guards took her out forcefully. Another black guard and myself were walking along the hallway when we saw those two bastards handle her highness without respect. We came forth and they left her in our care. I took her to Yvette afterwards."

I looked up at the guard after a moment and stated, "Go and notify every guard and knight loyal to me. We shall meet in the war room in ten minutes. Make sure that no one else is allowed access, not even to the hallway to leads to the room."

The guard nodded before walking off. I sighed and turned back to Daniella who was breathing heavily beside me. I pressed my forehead against hers and whispered, "If I ever do that again, you'd fight me back with your magic won't you?"

She looked uneasily at me so I gritted my teeth and prompted, "Promise me you will. If I...if I lose control again, don't worry about me. Make sure that you're safe, because that'll always be my priority, firefly."

My vision blurred as she nodded silently. Then, she leaned slowly into me, whispering, "I'm sorry that I kept asking. I shouldn't have-"

I silenced her gently with my finger. "No, you don't need to apologize for anything. This is Mama's fault, not yours. I'm going to explain everything in the war room." As I helped her up, I whispered, "First, I need to wipe the memory of every witness here. I'm afraid the unCharmings will use this incident against me if they found out what had happened."

I put my arm around Daniella's shoulder and without hesitation, I flicked my other hand across the air. Whilst the people standing in the gardens were caught in a daze as the memory spell took root, I surrounded my daughter and myself in magic to take us to the war room.

(3rd Person POV)

The young stableboy ran as fast as he could down to the stables. Once he got there, he was out of breath. Luckily, there was barely anybody down at the stables in the morning. Those who needed to leave the palace had already departed.

"Sir Colter," he greeted as he caught his breath. The Stablemaster turned around and frowned at the state of the boy before him. "What is it? You look troubled."

"Yes, I mean, no, I mean..."

Daniel chuckled and said, "Calm down, and then tell me. I can't understand you if you speak in blocks of uncoordinated words." He sat down on a stack of hay and gestured for the boy to do the same. Then, the boy started with caution laced in his voice. "This is about your daughter, sire."

"Daniella? What's happened, is she alright?"

"Umm, I don't think her Majesty would approve of my message, but I..."

Daniel smiled sadly and put his hand on the boy's shoulder. "It's alright. I won't tell her that it was you who delivered the message. Please, tell me everything if this concerns my daughter."

Finally, the boy explained, "Well, I was just going up to the castle via the pathway through the gardens when I heard the Princess arguing with the Queen. I hid behind a bush as soon as I figured that it was getting serious. They were in the middle of the pathway so I wasn't able to escape or get past of course. I'm sorry, but I was too engrossed by it all to leave. But anyway, she...she..."

Daniel looked intently at the boy and whispered, "What did Regina do?"

"She started choking the Princess with her magic. I think everyone was too shocked to react, but uh, a guard managed to push the Queen over. Something overcame her majesty. I don't think she meant to do that to her daughter since she wiped everyone's memories after that. The guards scoured the gardens and brought everyone there before her. No one knows of the incident except I, as I managed to hide from them." The boy finished and twisted his hands nervously.

Daniel stood up in disbelief so the boy worriedly said quickly, "I'm sorry sire, I-"

"No, you did the right thing. But, please leave. I need some time to think."

The boy followed his master's orders and left as quickly as he could. Once Daniel was left alone with the horses, he sat back down on the block of hay. He put his elbows on his knees and hunched over, thinking about what the boy had told him. He needed to see if Daniella was alright, but he also feared seeing Regina. Body shaking, he let out a puff of air as he didn't know what he can or should do. Regina was not only the Queen but she had lived many more years than him. He had been killed when he was only in his early twenties, and life just stopped. A horse whinnied and he stood up to tend to it, but his troubling thoughts never left him.

(Daniella's POV)

"You might be wondering why I have summoned you all at this hour," Mother started. It was true that most of the servants looked perplexed. "However, I believe I must inform you about a potential threat to the kingdom, and more importantly my family. On the day we arrived back at the palace, a Witch wagered a conflict with me. You may note that this Witch is rather distinctive as her skin is...green." There were some raised eyebrows amongst frowns and whispers but mother continued, "Although we would expect her to pay us a visit soon, I want every guard to be on alert. Anybody else is to immediately inform myself if they have any information on the Witch's actions or plans. Is that clear?"

There was a sea of murmurs across the room as they muttered, "Yes Your Majesty."

Before they were dismissed, mother added, "Oh, and this information must not be passed into the knowledge of staff not loyal to myself. I would advise that you do not speak of this outside this room. If you have any questions, go to the head of your legion. They are fully aware of what everyone needs to do."

I held my breath all throughout mother's speech. When everyone had left, I turned to her with an uncomfortable lump with my throat and said, "Why does the Witch want to hurt us?"

Mother sighed and gestured to the war table. Once we had sat down, she began, "The Wicked Witch of Oz...or rather, Zelena, is my half sister."

"You have a sister?!" I exclaimed in shock. Didn't she always say that she was an only child?

"Apparently, but I didn't know until she threatened me. Turns out, your grandmother had a child before she married your grandfather. The child was abandoned and now we have a jealous green witch."

My stomach twisted in a large knot and I swallowed. I frowned as I churned possible theories of Zelena's history in my head. Then, I slowly said, "So, I assume she's angry that grandmother kept you and raised you to be queen?"

Mother put her arms around me and said, "Yes, but she won't tear this family apart alright? I simply won't stand for it. I'll fight to my last breath if it means that your father and you are safe."

I shrugged away and asked, "But how powerful is she?"

"Unfortunately, she won't be an easy feat. However, uh, I realized that the only way we can defeat her is if I regained the full extent of my dark magic."

I felt my heart thud strongly against my chest as the realization came to me. "Mama...you were behind the massacre weren't you? By killing those people, you'd regain your dark magic." I had tried to keep my voice even to avoid any hint of judgement. It seemed to have been received well on mother's part as she nodded and replied, "Yes, that's why I did that. Daniella, I-"

"It's ok." If it meant that we could save the kingdom and our family from the hands of the Wicked Witch, perhaps getting rid of the source of rebellion in Wonderland is a good thing. After telling mother my thoughts, I immediately tried to shake that notion away. Killing isn't right...

"This is not going to last forever. I recognise that my reign before the curse wasn't one of peace and kindness, but hopefully, after we've dispatched of this witch, things will change. You have to know that I will do whatever it takes to keep our family safe, that's my priority."

"I understand," I nodded. However, I was still confused over something. "Wait, you keep saying 'we'. How am I able to fight this witch?"

"Oh my dear," mother began as she took my hands. "I must be asking too much of you, but I believe the only way we can defeat Zelena is with my dark magic and your light magic. You have powerful magic because true love runs in your veins. I cannot defeat my...counterpart alone. I'm afraid you'll have to use your magic, but I'll hold her off so that you can attack the witch."

"I-"

"I know. I don't wish this upon you, but you'll do this for us, for the kingdom right?"

I nodded, "Of course, I'm just...I don't know if my magic will be enough!"

"Yes it will be. Trust me, firefly. You have powerful light magic and it'll only grow stronger since your father is here with us now."

I still wasn't sure if my powers would be enough to defeat the witch but I braved a cooperative face and nodded. Then, mother added something else to my surprise. Quietly, she began, "Oh, and I suppose I'll have to tell you about something I've kept as a secret."

I felt the temperature of the air around me drop several degrees as she continued, "These ideas weren't mine. They were a suggestion, which I've taken because I believe they are valid and logical. Your father approves of her aid. However, he doesn't know the nature of the plans, nor do I wish for him to ever find out."

"Who's her?" I asked with a lump at the back of my throat.

A clicking of footsteps behind me came closer and closer. I bit my lip and tightened my grip on mother's hand as I turned around in nervous breaths. There, before us, was her. Dressed in a midnight blue silk gown, with detailed sparkly embroidery on the bodice. Her brown chestnut hair was piled up regally, and dripping from her ears were a pair of dazzling diamond earrings that matched her heavy pendant. She held her arms wide open as if she was inviting me into her embrace but it just made me edge closer to mother.

"Daniella, my sweet darling granddaughter. Why, I'm delighted to finally meet my heir."

I didn't know what to say, for I was too shocked. A magnitude of emotions rushed through me. I was hurt that mother seemed to have forgiven Cora and even collaborated with her despite the fact that she had killed my father. I was also confused how she could be alive and literally talking to me as if our complicated family history was nothing.

That night, I had two consecutive nightmares before I was able to sleep till morning. I knew mother felt guilty for what had happened earlier today, with her loss of control over magic. She had dismissed all the maids in our chambers, and insisted that she'd take care of me herself. After she had left, it still took me a good half an hour before I was able to fall asleep. The first nightmare came almost as soon as my eyelids shut. I was back in Wonderland, in the cabin with the spinsters. Linota and Irene had left me to Lyra's care. However, in my dream, Lyra had magic. I had messed up the stitching on something I was sewing together and she lifted me into the air, and choked me just as mother had. Before I woke up, she glared at me and repeated what she always had. "No one wants you, that's why you were left here with us!"

That phrase woke me up and I was almost frightened to death again, when the flickering candle on my bedside table cast large looming shadows on the wall opposite my bed. I wanted to curl up in my mother's bed, but her magic earlier scared me and I didn't dare interrupt her again. I know what happened was an accident, but I still couldn't help but feel paranoid that she'll glare at me as if I were Snow White. Besides, I couldn't bring myself to bother her again. I had always been a bother to Lyra and the spinsters; maybe I was becoming some kind of a burden to my mother too...I quickly shook that thought from my head. No it's not true. She says she loves me. She cast the curse for me. She went to enormous efforts to wake me from my coma.

I felt around for my doll under the heavy bed covers and when I found her, I hugged her tight. With that stance, I fell back to a light slumber, that was easily disturbed by my second nightmare. This time, it concerned father. He was arguing and although I couldn't see who he was shouting at, I could already guess that he was upset at mother. His exact words became a blur to me when I awoke in cold sweat and found myself in tears.

With that, I miserably lay in my sticky bed and hoped that the morning would come quick.

(3rd person POV)

A few days later...

As Daniel watched Regina spit furiously at a pair of guards, his heart sank. He found it hard to replace the image of the Queen before him, with the kind girl he fell in love with. It just simply didn't sit right. He knew he shouldn't, but he felt as if he was caring less and less when Regina simply dismissed him. He no longer argued against her. He no longer tried to get her to let him stay by her side. It seemed like he was losing his daughter too, but he couldn't blame the girl. Regina told him about the incident with Snow White's guards and although he was shocked and disappointed, he couldn't bring himself to agree with Regina's decision. Daniella shouldn't be kept to the confines of her chambers!

He knew that it was perhaps the threat of the Wicked Witch that made Regina angsty and irritable but he was finding it harder and harder to convince Regina of anything. He finally decided to let her have her way. Of course, Daniel didn't know what she was really up to.

He wanted to see Daniella again but she seemed as unwilling to talk about things as her mother was. That's why Daniel found himself watching them from a distance. It confused him to see his daughter school an indifferent expression whilst watching Regina punish the knight before them with magic. Daniel felt so hopeless as he watched the man suffer. After watching for a few more seconds, he turned away and made his way to the stables. He couldn't bear to witness the two people he was supposed to love dearly, stand without flinching at such cruelty. When Daniel arrived at the stables, he saw a wagon coming in via the peasants' entrance. It was his job to help whoever came in with their horses so he was glad that there was a distraction from thinking about what he had just seen. However he was surprised and even a little excited when the woman on the wagon lowered her hood. With a gasp, he exclaimed, "Lena!"

The woman regarded the stablemaster with a frown until she recognized him. She got off from the horse and flung her arms around him. "Oh my gosh, Daniel! You're alive! I thought...I thought you were dead!"

Daniel laughed whilst steadying her. "Yeah, I mean, I had technically been dead for a bit-"

"What?!" Lena exclaimed in a mixture of concern, surprise and shock.

"Magic," he replied with a wink as he took the horses and led them into the stables. "Anyway, it's true that it's been a long time. How are you, Lena? I haven't seen you since I left our village!"

Lena's golden curls bounced as she replied excitedly, "I'm doing fine, but it's you I'm curious about! You haven't been working here the whole time have you? I've never seen you around the palace premises."

"Oh no, I was dead remember? Magic brought me back whilst we were in that other land."

"Storybrooke, you mean?"

Daniel nodded. Then Lena shrugged that off and said with an amused smile, "I don't think I entirely believe you about the 'dead' part of your story but given that we've just survived a dark curse, anything's possible I suppose."

Daniel chuckled and said sadly, "That's true." After a brief pause, he inquired, "Wait, why are you here? Did you work in the palace?"

"Yes, I'm a laundress. I used to be a spinster actually, but they shifted me to work on the laundry perhaps around a year and a half ago, if you want to leave out the technicalities of the curse," Lena replied with a grin. Daniel led her to a block of hay to sit. When they sat down, Lena continued, "So you, Master Colter, what happened? I remember one day you were there in the village and the next, your brother told me that you had left to work in the stables of an estate. Which one was it?"

Daniel sighed and looked away from his childhood friend as he replied, "The same one the Queen grew up on."

Lena did a double take and raised her eyebrows as she whispered, "Really? What was that like?"

There was a sliver of a smile on his face as he answered truthfully, "It was memorable. The best and worst moments of my life happened on those grounds. You see, I was killed there-"

"The Queen kill you?!"

"Oh heavens no! Cora did, her mother. Otherwise known as the Queen of Hearts."

"That's horrible! I hope you don't mind me asking, but whatever for?" Lena exclaimed. Daniel was stumped for he didn't know how he should answer. For the first time, he felt as if his past was preventing him from being comfortable in front of a close friend. Nonetheless, he was aware that he should answer Lena truthfully. He hung his head and revealed, "I uh, I actually have a daughter. You would have heard of her. She's named after me."

Lena's frown was quickly masked with a quivering voice, "You don't mean..."

Daniel nodded and surveyed Lena's shocked eyes. Then, she stuttered, "Princess Daniella?! She's yours?!"

Daniel nodded and explained, "Lady Mills didn't kill me for that reason. She had no idea that Regina was pregnant. Rather, she killed me when she found out about our relationship."

Lena's open mouth closed as she thought about the appropriate thing to say. Daniel gave her a small smile and said, "I know. It must be hard to take in."

"Wait, so if you're the Queen's...well, if you're the father of her child, why are you working here in the stables?" Lena questioned quietly.

He shrugged and murmured under his breath, "Maybe it's for the better."

A long silence hung between them. Biting her lip, Lena put a hand on his arm before saying worriedly, "Hey, you ok? I know it's probably inappropriate of me to insinuate anything, but you look tired. How are things? You've seen the Queen and your daughter right?"

"Yes, yes of course. I spend my evenings with them. Daniella's a lovely girl but I regret that I can't really do anything to help her right now. After recent events, she's been more heavily guarded. She mostly keeps to her room. I can see her but-" Daniel paused. He didn't really know how to explain everything.

Lena sighed and said, "You don't have to explain if you don't want to. I just hope that you're alright. You were my closest friend and I don't want to see you unhappy."

Daniel whispered, "Thanks, Lena." She stood up to leave but he said quickly, "I just don't know what to do."

She sat back down slowly and tilted her head. "What do you mean?"

After taking a deep breath, Daniel poured out everything he had kept within himself for the past week. With hands over his face, he murmured, "She's so different. She's not...her. She explained everything but I know that there's still many things she keeps hidden from me. I honestly don't know how to feel about it all. And Daniella. I didn't even know she existed until a week ago, when I was brought back to life. Lena, the curse; we broke it. You know what that means. It's supposed to be true love, yet-" Daniel paused and shuddered.

Lena put her arm around his back and rubbed it, letting him to recompose himself. A fresh wave of pain rippled through his body as he continued with a dry mouth, "Yet I don't feel it. We aren't equals. She's a Queen, I'm a peasant stableboy. I'm not even enough for my daughter. I can't do anything to support her. She's grown up without her parents for the majority of her life, and now she's being raised as royalty. I have no power, no control of my life."

Lena nodded with a tight frown. However, she softened her expression as she asked softly, "Have you talked to the Queen?"

"She doesn't listen to me. Besides, I'm in no position to convince her to do anything."

"Perhaps, but if she loved you, she'd consider what you had to say."

Daniel looked up at Lena with a concerned gaze. "Are you telling me that she-"

Lena quickly reworked her sentence, "No! I didn't mean it like that. I'm just saying that she has her reasons, but don't feel discouraged that you cannot do anything."

Daniel swallowed and sighed heavily. Shaking his head, he said, "Sorry I should have never told you about all this."

"No no! It's alright. I want to help. You're troubled and if you feel lonely, then you feel lonely. I'll be working in the palace from now on, so I'll always be there to support you as a friend. You know that. Remember that promise we made each other when we were kids?"

Daniel chuckled when he thought about that moment in his past. "Yeah. I wonder if those rocks we stacked as reminder of our friendship still stands."

Lena shrugged sadly and said, "I'm not sure. The village was destroyed before the curse." That sparked Daniel's interest. With a heavy heart, he inquired, "Destroyed? How?"

Lena looked like she didn't want to answer so Daniel already knew the reply. He sighed and made another promise to himself; a promise that permitted him to put himself first. He ignored the possibility that someone would walk in on him, and leaned his head on Lena for he was grateful that his childhood friend was there to listen...unlike his fiancée.