Chapter 31

Danni wanted to laugh, but knew that she couldn't. Rachel wouldn't take too kindly to it. She knew that Rachel would go find Will and hope for better. She just looked so different in a pair of leather (and the amount of fight that it took to get her in them was almost too painful for Danni to even deal with) pants and a padded tunic. Danni wasn't going to take any chances on hurting the smaller woman.

"What?" Rachel finally asked when Danni's staring became too much for her.

"I am just trying to wrap my head around what you are wearing."

"Is this not the correct attire for a training individual?"

"Oh it is. It is just the fact that you are wearing it. I am surprised that you actually are."

"While I admit that this isn't fashionably appropriate for me, it is needed for my training. It is very flexible and I like the colors. They complement me. However, I still dislike the fact that you have given me leather to wear. I understand that it is necessary, but I can't believe that there isn't some form of alternative for me to wear," Rachel stated.

"There is," Danni replied holding back a grin.

"Then why do I have these?"

"Because it would be nothing," Danni added letting her grin go.

"Wait, what? It would be nothing. What would be nothing?"

"There would be no pants. Hence it would be nothing. You would have nothing to wear."

Rachel just stared at her for a moment. She took a deep breath and centered herself. She knew that she was in a different land. She would have to live by their rules. It didn't matter that she didn't believe in it. This was for her safety, so she would just have to deal with it.

"Very well, then. What should we start with? What do you want to teach me first?"

"What do you think that you would like to start with?" Danni asked as they walked through the armory.

She wasn't sure what she wanted to start Rachel on. This was her decision, so she wanted her to pick something. She couldn't really see Rachel welding a sword or a spear. A bow might be the way to go, but she wasn't sure that Rachel had the strength to pull the string back. Danni shook her head to herself. She watched as Rachel moved around the tables and stands looking at the weapons and hardware. This was not what Rachel should be doing and she knew it, but Danni knew that there was nothing she could do to convince her otherwise. She made a mental note to find Quinn and Santana to try to her help her with Rachel. She needed help and they were the only ones that could actually talk some semblance of sense in her.

"You're stalling," Rachel accused when she turned around to see Danni still standing there lost in thought and no closer to helping her pick a weapon to start training with.

"I am."

"Why?"

"Because you are a pacifist, Rachel. You don't believe in violence, but you want me to teach you how to hurt someone. War and weapons are all about hurting someone else in order to survive and protect your ideals and people," Danni told her.

"I understand that," Rachel stated.

"Do you?"

Rachel cocked her head at Danni. She might not understand what Danni was saying, but she wanted to protect her family. She wanted to help Danni and she couldn't see any other way to do it. She needed to be able to fight in order to help them strategize against the Silver Armored Army. It was bad enough that she wasn't being taken seriously here, but for Danni to not believe that she could handle herself hurt.

"Rachel, I am not trying to hurt you. I am not really," Danni told her as she handed her a spear, thinking that she could keep her further away from the death and pain with it. "Now, try to stab me with it."

"What?" Rachel asked, her eyes widening as big as she could make them.

"Stab me," Danni told her.

"I don't see the point of doing that."

"I know. Stab me. I want you to take that spear and stab me. Well, try at least," Danni pushed.

"Seriously, what would that prove?" Rachel questioned.

"I want you to stab me."

"I have no reason to stab you, Danni."

"You have no reason to?" Danni inquired as a mischievous smile crossed her face.

She dug in her right foot the dirt floor. She prepared her body for an assault as her mind began to come up with insults to hurl at Rachel. She knew that Rachel might very well hate her after this, but she knew that she would need it.

"That's right, you don't. This isn't your family. This isn't your fight," Danni started.

Rachel spun on her. There was a fire in her eyes. She held the spear, but still didn't make a move towards Danni with it. She stood firm. Danni knew that she struck a nerve.

"In the morning, I am going to send you all back home through the mirror. You've done too much. This is not where you are supposed to be. You belong on stage, Rachel and you know it. The Enchanted Forest isn't your home. There are too many things here that you don't understand. There are too many things here that can hurt you and you don't want to realize it."

"Because no one wants to teach us about it," Rachel countered.

"Because this is our world, our fight, our family. You are nothing here. You know that. That is why you are so angry. You need to go home, Rachel. You can't help. You'll just get hurt. Just leave it. This isn't your problem and this isn't going to work. You are too small to fight anyway. Why did you ever think that you could learn to fight? You don't have the build for it. You never have and you never will. Just go home, little girl," Danni said with as much venom as she could knowing that her words would cut deep.

She could see the anger rising in Rachel's eyes, but more importantly she could feel it in herself. She was riding that dangerous line between stability and evil. She knew what she was doing though. She was almost there. Just a few more barbs and Rachel would break. She just knew it.

"This isn't a stage, Rachel. People are going to get hurt. They may die and most of them will do it willingly. They have trained for years with their weapons. They've slept with them. They are an extension of their bodies. It is part of them and they are part of it. Most of them don't know anything else. You sing and dance. While the dancing might help you move on the battlefield, singing isn't going to do anything for you but get you killed. This isn't a game. This is life or death, Rachel. If you can't stomach the fact that I've asked you to stab me, then you are no use to anyone here. So either grow up and stab me or go the fuck home!" Danni stated.

That was it. Rachel had it. She spun the spear around and took two steps towards Danni before she jabbed at her. It was full of anger and not very coordinated, but it was valiant attempt.

Danni knocked the blow to the said, grabbing the spear and pulling Rachel towards her. When Rachel got close enough to her, she jerked the spear away from her and threw it somewhere behind her. With Rachel off-balance, she spun her around and grasped her around the waist.

Rachel actually growled. Danni fought hard from laughing at her, because she wasn't sure how Rachel would react in her ire. Rachel had never been really angry around her before. This was uncharted territory, but she knew that it was important. Rachel needed to learn that anger wasn't a useful tool in a fight.

"Why?" Rachel asked as she began to calm down.

"Why what, Rachel?" Danni replied in question.

"Why did you do that?"

"Do what? Push you? You needed it, Rachel. You needed to feel the anger in order to know that you can't use it in a real fight. Anger is your enemy. It makes you not think clearly. And when you don't think clearly, you get hurt."

"I understand that," Rachel stated.

"Do you? You still tried to attack me. You let your anger take over. I could have really hurt you, but I knew what you would do. I know you, Rachel and this isn't you."

"Would you really send me home?" Rachel asked her.

"If it comes down it, yes, I will," Danni answered as she let her go.

"Why?"

"Because I care too much for you. I can't die. That is a bonus of being the Dark One, I'm immortal here. I can't die. There is nothing that can hurt me. I can do things here that I can't back in New York, Rachel. Just like there are things that you can do in New York that I can't. I am not trying to make you feel bad but you can't fight. This isn't your fight."

"But, it is," Rachel stated with as much conviction as she could.

"Why is it? Rachel, explain it to me. Tell me why you think you have to fight."

"You know why," Rachel replied.

"No, I really don't. I have an idea why you think that you have to, but it is just an idea that you have come up with. It is the same idea which made all of you follow me here. This isn't your fight, Rachel. It never was. I know that you took care of me when I landed, literally, in New York, but this isn't your fight. I know you want to help. I understand that, but you don't have the training, knowledge of this world or the understanding of magic that I do. I can't teach you that in a few days, Rachel. It takes years to do all that and we don't have that kind of time."

"Find a way then."

"You aren't going to give this up are you?"

"No."

Danni sighed. She looked down at the spear on the ground. She knew that Rachel wasn't going to have the stomach for battle or death. She needed to find another way to teach her.

"I don't know what to do," Danni admitted.

"About what?" Rachel asked.

"The blood and gore, Rachel. I know that you aren't going to be able to handle it. And, if for some reason, you do manage to end up the battlefield, I'll be more worried about you than the enemy. That isn't good for anyone."

"I can handle the blood."

"Really?" Danni asked as she reached down and picked up the spear.

She placed the spear head in her tummy. She moved just enough that she smacked Rachel against her hip with the spear's pole. Rachel grabbed the pole to stop it from hitting again when she noticed that Danni was moving it out to try to hit her with it again. She held it tightly as she felt Danni moving it more.

"Do it," Danni demanded.

"Do what?"

"Stab me."

"No."

"Prove that you can handle the blood, Rachel. Stab me. Do it!" Danni commanded.

Rachel faltered a bit with spear. Danni could see it in her eyes. She wanted to drop it, but Danni couldn't let her. She needed to know what she was in for. Danni kept jarring the pole and trying to disarm her, while she kept the spearhead in her gut, hoping that Rachel would do something.

"I'm not understanding why you think this will help me!" Rachel yelled at her, gripping the pole harder and trying to not push forward too much.

"JUST DO IT!" Danni shouted at her.

It was just at this time that Quinn and Santana came back from the training fields with Will coming in just behind them. She looked like she a missive from Regina in her hands. She could see the concerned looks on their faces, but the glance that Danni gave Will made them all pause just out of Rachel's eyesight.

"What is she doing?" Quinn asked Will as she never broke her gaze from the women before them.

"She is trying to prove that Rachel doesn't have the stomach for war."

"The Hobbit will surprise you," Santana murmured.

Will looked at the Latina. She didn't question what she said. She was questioning the conviction that Santana said it with. She didn't doubt any of them. She couldn't because they had been with Danni for so long, but Rachel seemed to be the wild card. She knew that was why Danni was in the armory with her pushing her to her breaking point.

"YOU WANT TO SAVE THEM?"

"Yes!" Rachel answered.

"PROVE IT."

"I won't hurt you."

"BECAUSE YOU ARE WEAK. YOU CAN'T DO IT. YOU ARE BUILT FOR WAR, RACHEL. GIVE IT UP. YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEM."

"I COULD!" Rachel shouted back in defiance.

"PROVE IT. HURT ME. PROTECT THEM. I AM THE ENEMY. I AM THE DARK ONE. I COULD DESTROY ALL OF THEM WITHOUT THOUGHT. IT WOULDN'T EVEN EFFECT ME. COME ON, RACHEL. DO SOMETHING. HURT ME."

Quinn started to move towards her. She didn't want to see this. She didn't want Rachel to do this. She knew that Rachel would do something she hated if she thought that she had to, but this was too much. No one should have to deal with things like this.

"COME ON, YOU LITTLE MIDGET, DO SOMETHING. BE BIG AND BAD LIKE YOU WANT TO THINK YOU ARE. BEING A BROADWAY DIVA ISN'T GOING TO SAVE LIVES HERE. IT WILL GET THEM KILLED. HERE WE ARE WARRIORS, SORCERERES, AND FANTASITIC CREATURES. SO SHOW ME HOW YOU GOING TO SAVE THEM. PROTECT THEM AGAINST ME."

"There is no threat here, Danni. Yelling at me isn't going to make me hurt you. I will be ready to defend my family when the time comes, if need be, but I need you to teach how," Rachel said.

"So, you need better motivation? Fine. I'll give it to you."

Will's heart sank as she saw the fire growing in Danni's eyes. She had an idea what Danni was about to do, but she was powerless and too slow to stop it. Santana figured it out too late, but she still managed to phase into her Wolf form just as Danni moved. Quinn just watched in awe, dumbstruck by the display of power and too worried about Rachel to do anything.

Danni let go of the spearhead with her right hand as she lifted Santana and Will off the ground. She knew that they would be the first ones to react. She held them above Rachel's head, even though she didn't see them. Finally, she raised her other hand and pulled Quinn towards her against her will. She saw Quinn flailing and she turned her swirling eyes to Quinn's brightly turning green eyes. She whispered something to the Elf as she spun her around, pulling the slightly smaller woman into her chest.

She got the reaction she wanted. Rachel gasped. She tightened her grip on the spear so much that her knuckles were turning white.

Mumbling some words in Quinn's ears, she felt her finally relax against her. She raised her fiery eyes to the Wolf and Vulcannonian and whispered more enchantments. They floated closer to Danni and then behind her where Rachel could see them.

"SAVE THEM, RACHEL!" she commanded with the voice of the Dark One.

Quinn's body shivered at the malice in her voice. Will visibly cringed, but said nothing. Santana looked on with her golden eyes waiting for a moment to pounce. Rachel's body was vibrating. She couldn't hide the fear in her eyes.

Danni was beyond proving her point and she knew it, but in the moment, she couldn't stop. The Dark One had been slightly unleashed and it wasn't going to go back without playing some. She knew that it was a dangerous move, but she knew it needed to be done. She just hoped that they would all be able to forgive after it was all over.

Quinn didn't fight her as she held her close. She knew that the sight was very disturbing for the petite diva, but she was actually powerless to stop it. She tried resisting the more agitated that Rachel got, but it was to no avail. Danni had her trapped. She was sure that it was magic by the smell of it, but she knew that if Rachel actually charged, Danni would push her away and let her go. She wouldn't let any of them get hurt. She was trying to prove a point to Rachel and she was actually keeping them all safe. This would break the diva, but they would all be there to help her pick up the pieces in the end. She knew that was why Danni was doing it, here, now.

"SAVE THEM!" she shouted at her again.

Rachel was hesitating. Her body was going into fight or flight and she knew it. All she wanted to do was yell at Danni and tell her to stop. She'd made her point. She could let them go, but she would do it. She called down into that base part of human nature.

Danni saw the change in her eyes. The sadness and fear disappeared. A sad, sick smirk crossed Danni's face and that was Rachel's breaking point.

She dug her right toes into the dirt to get traction. Her left foot moved slightly forward and did the same thing. Danni knew that Rachel had taken dance and practice stage fights while at NYADA, but this wasn't the same. This was real life. Someone could actually get hurt. When Rachel had her balance over her knees and the spears tucked securely to her side, she readied her mind for the charge that she was going to make.

Danni saw the telegraphed move. In a flash, she threw Quinn to the side as Rachel charged, screaming at the top of her lungs. Danni knew that the entire castle would be able to hear her.

Rachel for her part couldn't stop as soon as she started. She watched as Danni tossed Quinn to the side, but the damage was done. She'd sunk the spear into Danni's torso, but she hadn't stopped at the spearhead. She'd run Danni through almost completely down the pole to where her hands were sitting. She felt the sickly, sticky, warm feeling on her hands as Danni bled mere inches before her. She met her violet eyes with her own black.

Seconds later, she let go of the pole and backed away. Terror filed her eyes as she thought that she'd taken Danni's life. She fell to the ground. She saw as Santana and Will were lowered to the ground gently. Danni backed away from her, spear still buried in her stomach, before she tumbled to the ground. Quinn rushed to Rachel's side as she heard the death knell breathing coming from their friend just a few feet away.

Santana put herself between Will and Danni, and Rachel and Quinn. She didn't know who to check on first. Will was already at Danni's side. She was giving them a smile and laughing, as she continued to cough up blood.

"She did good," Danni said.

"Does it hurt?" Will asked.

"Like Hell. Do be a dear, though, and pull that thing out. I can't heal with it there."

Will nodded. She reached down and broke the pole to make it easier. She wrapped both hands around the now broke spear and pulled it out of Danni's stomach. There was a flash of light and a burning smell. Then, Danni sat up unscathed. She maneuvered herself up onto her knees.

She could see the hatred and the fear in the other women's faces. It was in that moment that she looked up and saw Brittany looking at them. She didn't look happy, and Danni knew it was her fault. She would deal with their wrath, but now, Rachel knew what taking a life felt like.

"I'm sorry, Rachel."

Rachel just looked at her. She didn't know what to say. Her hands were still covered with Danni's blood. She was in shock. She couldn't believe that she had just stabbed her.

"Take her back to the suite. Stay with her. Clean her up. You can all say what you want to me later and I'll understand. Right now, I need to get away from here. The Darkness…. I just have to go. Just know that I did this to save her from herself," Danni told them as she rose to her feet.

She didn't miss the raising of Quinn's sword or the almost silent growl that Santana gave her. She met their eyes and tried to issue an apology, but she knew that it would fall on deaf ears at the moment. It was surprisingly Brittany who stepped forward to calm the tension between them.

"Let her go. She needs time. As do we. She didn't hurt her, San. She made her realize what she was asking to learn. We don't think about it because we've never had to fight on for something this large or to this degree. We've always dealt with words or slushies. This is actual battle, with wounds and death," Brittany told them, before turning back to Danni. "Go calm yourself and get the magic out. We'll talk later. I know you'll need it."

Danni shook her head before hanging it. She walked out the armory only to see Regina and Emma standing in the courtyard. Her shame became greater at the sight of her mothers.

Brittany led the other women out. When her mothers saw the blood on Rachel's hands and then noticed the giant blood spot on Danni's tunic, they could only imagine what their daughter had done. And, then seeing the bewilderment in the four women's eyes only cemented their thoughts. When Emma moved to go to Danni, Brittany stopped her with a mere touch and a look. The blond Savior wasn't happy, but in her heart, she knew that Brittany was right. Danni needed time to process what she had done as well. Regina knew that the Darkness had pushed her to a degree, but it had ultimately been Danni reacting in order to protect Rachel. She knew that the other women would come to that conclusion but it would take time.

Danni was almost to the castle gate and her mounted horse when there was blinding flash of light. She conjured a sword in one hand and a fire ball in the other as she turned to face whatever the threat was. She was always prepared.

Her eyes grew as she saw a small statured woman, no taller than her mother Regina, stand up and brush herself off. She was dressed in jeans and a Wicked T-shirt. Any other day, Danni and company would be amused, but due to the events of the day and their stress over the Silver Army, the newcomer wasn't a welcomed sight.

"Can I help you?"

"Who are you?" the woman asked.

"I am Princess Danielle Coraline French, Princess Royal of the Enchanted Forest, and you?"

"Princess Royal, eh? Then we have something in common. Oh, please put the weapons away, I am not going to hurt you. I am simply looking for my relation. Once, I know that she is safe, I will be on my way with her and you can go back to your storybook life," the woman told her.

"I think not. I am sworn to protect this house and everyone in it, regardless of their relation to me or my family. So, again, I ask for your name, stranger," Danni stated very authoritatively.

Will was resisting her body's want to "hulk" out as she left Rachel, Santana, Brittany, and Quinn's sides in order to be of help to Danni if need be. Regina was moving to not put anyone in her magical cross fire should things go awry. Emma drew the sword at her side, but waited to see what was going to happen. She slowly made her way to Danni's side.

"Before I answer, who is your mother?"

"Why do you need to know?"

"Just curiosity," the stranger told her.

"I am," Emma stated stepping closer to Danni.

The stranger regarded her. She shook her head. And then looked around at the gathering of people now surrounding them, some waiting for orders, others waiting to see what was going to happen between them all. And, that is when she spotted not only Regina, but Rachel as well.

"Don't care. You have my granddaughter there. I merely want to take her back with me."

"Who is your granddaughter?" Emma aske looking back that four friends of Danni.

"The petite brunette named Rahkel Beri," the stranger replied.

They all turned to look at Rachel. She was still trying to deal with the trauma of hurting Danni that she hadn't heard what the woman said. She looked up into Danni's pleading eyes and felt Will move closer to her as Quinn and Santana took another step forwards in defence.

"Wilhelmina?" the stranger called out in question.

Then all eyes were on the Vulcannonian. She left Rachel in Brittany's care as she moved again towards Danni and to get a better look at the stranger. The closer she got, the more she realized that she knew the woman before her. It had been many years, but it was her and recognized her.

"Aunt Nicola?" Will asked as she reached over for Danni to drop her sword to a more non-threatening stance, and continued past the Dark One to make sure that she was correct.

"It has been a long time, Wilhelmina."

"It has, Aunt Nicola. I thought you were dead like the rest of the Vulcannonians. How did you get here?" Will asked her.

"Funny you should ask that…I went through a looking glass in a big black and white mansion."

There were collective gasps behind them. Nicola looked around them at Rachel and then noticed the blood. Will could see the fire in her eyes start to grow.

"EVERYONE STAND DOWN!" Will called out.

"Will, who is that?" Regina questioned from her position.

"My Queen, I would like to formally introduce you to my aunt, Princess Royal of Vulcannon and General of the Vulcannonian Fire Legions, Nicola Fayer, sister of Pyroxes the Great. Aunt Nick, I would like to introduce you to my Queens, Regina Swan, daughter of Cora Mills and Prince Henry, fifth son of King Xavier, son of King Felix of Florin. She is the Queen of the Winterlands. And, my Queen Emma Swan, daughter of King David Charming and Queen Snow White of the Summerlands, daughter of Leopold and Ava White of the Winterlands. Both of which I serve with my life as Vulcannonian knight to families of the House of Swan, the House of Mills, and the House of White," Will stated between them.

"Pleasure to meet you, Highnesses."

"And, you as well, Princess Nicola," Regina replied before asking. "You're looking for Rachel? What business do you have with her?"

"She is my descendent and she doesn't belong in this world anymore. I have come to take her home to her mother and to her sister. They are worried about her," Nicola told them.

"Beth?" Quinn asked.

"Ah, there's the High Born mother," Nicola replied as she bowed her head to Quinn.

"What about Beth? What happened to Beth? And, what do you know?"

"Mir zenen di mentshn fun fayer aun zi tut nisht visn vos zi ken ton aoyb zi gevalt. Zi iz Vulcannonian, aun deyn kuzine, Wilhelmina. Helf mikh mit etvas,*" Nicola stated.

"She doesn't know?" Quinn and Will both asked at the same time.

"No, she doesn't. Shelby didn't want her to know. I didn't want her to know. She shouldn't have come here. I can't stop her from becoming what she was meant to be," Nicola told them.

"And, what is that?"

"The Princess Royal General of Vulcannon, leader of the Fayer Legions, and an heir to the throne should Pyroxes' line falter…it is her destiny, besides her voice…" Nicola answered.

*"She is from the People of Fire, and she doesn't know what she could do if she wanted. She is Vulcannonian, and your cousin, Wilhelmina. Help me with this."