Chapter 36

When she woke the sun was barely up. She sighed as she stretched. The world seemed at peace for once. She knew that she was about to end that peace, but she needed to protect her family. There was nothing that she wouldn't do for them. Hell, she'd already died and became the Dark One. What was a little more, right?

She shook her head. She knew that she couldn't think that. She loved them. They weren't asking her to do this. She was volunteering. She was doing this on her own. They wouldn't be able to stop her even if they wanted to. She knew that. She knew that they didn't want to let her go because they knew what it might cost her, but she was determined. She got that from both of her mothers. She wasn't going to back down. She didn't know how. Also something that she got from the both of them. Today would be no different. She would ride out with Will and Nicola. They would deal with this because they were the immortals, magic or not, and they couldn't be killed by the Silver Army.

"Want some coffee?" Emma asked as she joined her daughter on the front porch of the cabin.

"Sure," Danni answered quickly.

Emma handed her a steaming cup. She watched as she sipped it slowly. She smiled at her daughter. She couldn't help but notice how much Danni resembled Regina. There were little things that made her a "Charming" or a Swan, but there was so much of Regina in her.

"You look so much like her," Emma said.

"Who?"

"Regina," Emma answered and then took a sip of her own coffee.

"I would hope so. She is my mother and the one that bore me. But, I am told that I favor you in ways as well, Ma," Danni stated.

Emma laughed. She had to admit that she was closer to Danni now, but there was still some distance. She knew why and she accepted it, even if she didn't like it. She wasn't going to push. She knew what that was like.

"Thank you for bringing me here," Danni said interrupting her thoughts.

"I know how you feel."

"Do you really?"

"Well, partially, I do. You think that you are some great hero and that is all you were born to do, but you aren't sure that you are capable of being the hero that everyone craves. You've proven yourself over and over, but you still wondering if it will ever be enough. There are things that you wanted with your life that you're not sure you'll ever get now."

"Wow...Snow laid it on thick did she?" Danni asked.

"I just don't think she thought about having a daughter that was completely disillusioned with everything. She wasn't sure what to do with an adult daughter that was slightly older than her as well. We've butted heads...a lot. I won't lie about that, but in the end, we are family and we protect each other, even if it is from ourselves. Trust me when I say that things haven't always been as easy as you think they have. They haven't. We've fought for everything that we have and we continue to do so. So, I want to you to know that we will never stop fighting for you even though we have Remy. She didn't replace you, Danni. She couldn't."

"But, she did in so many ways."

"She isn't the Survivor, Danielle. She never has been. She's known this world more than any other, just like you, but she hasn't had the Darkness to fight against like you have. The Silver Army will be the first major conflict that she will see. The fight for the Brannonulf isn't even on her radar or ours really. It is something that we are monitoring because we aren't going to let Ruby lose the kingdom."

"Neither will I," Danni added.

"What do you need me to do?" Emma asked her suddenly very serious.

"I need to know that you and Mom aren't going to stop me if I run again. The magic is too strong here. At least in Storybrooke, I have some semblance of control. I don't know how much longer I can stay and still fight the Darkness inside. Can you give me that?"

"Done."

"I need to know that you will try to stop Will if she follows me," Danni stated.

"I won't do that. Not again. I can't promise you that, Danni, so don't ask it," Emma informed her.

"Why not?"

"Because she loves you. It almost destroyed her last time. It will if you do it again and we hold her back. I will not be responsible for her heartbreak. If she chooses to follow you, for whatever reason, I will give her my blessing. She deserves her happiness, too, Danni. She has already done enough for this family. Loving you shouldn't be a punishment for her loyalty. Besides, she can't help loving you any more than you can loving her," Emma explained.

"Fair enough," Danni replied. "But, make sure that Quinn, Rachel, Santana and Brittany make it back, if I don't. Promise me to care for them and get them back to New York. I don't want them to be here longer than they have to be. They shouldn't have come with me to begin with, but Rachel...she is a stubborn one and still thinks that she owes me."

Emma laughed. She knew what Danni meant. Rachel and Regina were alike in so many ways, but yet so different. Finding out that she was a descendant of the throne of Vulcannon just made it more obvious of their similarities.

"We will do our best, but you already know how they'll react," Emma replied with a grin.

"That is all I can ask for," Danni said as she sipped on her coffee again.

They both turned back to the lake and looked out at the water. It was calm, but neither of them were. It was something they both knew. They knew that they wouldn't be calm until they had some sort of resolution. And, a nice resolution wasn't something that they were guaranteed.

"We should be heading back," Emma said.

"We should."

"Ready?"

"Not in the slightest," Danni stated.

"Don't worry about anything but the mission."

"Hard not to," Danni replied.

"Just remember that we've got your back. Don't worry about us. Worry about Will and Nicola. I'll take care of the rest," Emma told her.

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything. I am going to worry. I can't help that worry."

"I get it. I do. But you have to keep your mind on the mission," Emma stated.

"I know."

Emma moved just slightly. It was enough to lean into her. Their shoulders touched. She watched as Danni smiled. She knew that it was more than just a normal thing for Emma to do. It was a way for Emma to tell her that she was proud of her and she loved her. Danni understood. She reached around with her right hand and side hugged her mother.

"Ma," she started to say.

"Yeah?"

"I'm glad that I got to know you. You know the real you, not the story book you, not the legend, but you as my mother. I can see why Mom loved you and the more I get to know you, the more I can see you in me, too. I just hope that I ..."

"Don't even finish that Danni. We love you. We're proud of you. Just because you've chosen a different name doesn't change any of that. We understand. Circumstances weren't in your favor then, but they are now. Don't think for a minute that we will ever stop loving you or being proud of you. No matter who you are or what you become, be in the Swan Princess or the damned Dark One, you will always be my daughter and I will love you until I die," Emma told her.

"I love you, Ma," Danni replied as she gathered her further into a more full-bodied hug.

Regina stood in the courtyard. She didn't look worried, but Will could feel it rolling off her in waves. Emma and Danni weren't back yet. She could tell that Regina wanted to go look for them, but she was trying to give Emma time. Will had agreed with Emma to take Danni to the lake. They all knew that they needed Danni to have a clear head before going into this.

"You bring her back to me, Will. I don't care what she does or what she says. You bring her home to me," Regina commanded her quietly.

"As you wish, majesty," Will replied with a slight bow of her head.

"I don't care if you have to hogtie her. You bring her home. She can hate me if she wants. I need to know that she is safe first," Regina stated.

"Yes, majesty, I will."

Regina shook her head in agreement. She knew that Danni wouldn't like it, but she needed to know that she would come back first. She would let her leave, but she wanted to see her off this time. She didn't want Danni running. She wanted her to leave with her blessing. And, she would allow Will to go because she knew that Will would want to go with her. She wouldn't keep them apart this time. They deserved to be together.

Regina turned and looked at her knight. She was dressed in peasant clothes. Gone was her knightly garb and Regina understood why. They could move about the kingdom unhindered and unnoticed as commoners more than they could as knights. They would take not banners or flags. Only just enough weapons to defend themselves, which wouldn't be much considering who they were.

Nicola came out of the armory with a bow and two quivers. She, too, was dressed down for someone of her station. Gone were the jeans and t-shirt from yesterday. She looked like she belonged in the village just outside the castle. It made Regina wonder where she got the clothes so quickly, because she knew that the people working in the castle didn't dress that low. She hadn't been keeping tabs on the newest Vulcannonian. She'd left that to Will because she knew that was too sure about her own aunt.

Belle came out of the main part of the castle. She was followed by Rachel, Quinn and Santana. Regina knew that if Belle was there, then Brittany was with Ruby. It was a trade off they had established. Belle knew it was safer for Ruby to have constant contact with the outside world. Leaving Brittany was an easy choice. She had ways of contacting them with her Empath powers. It was mostly Belle, Regina, and Will that she contacted if she needed them for anything.

They were all waiting for Emma and Danni. Regina surveyed them all. The castle staff could tell that something was about to happen, but they continued their own tasks for the day. Nicola gave Will a look. They nodded between themselves. Nicola handed Will the arrows and the bow and then left the courtyard. Regina watched her go. Will just shook her head.

"She's getting horses," Will stated at the quizzical look that Regina gave her.

Regina just nodded. She looked around again. Nothing strange seemed to be happening. She didn't like it. There was too much at stake, but she knew that Danni was right. Sending Will, Nicola and her was the best idea for the kingdom, even if she really didn't like it. She knew that Emma agreed with her. But, they couldn't stop Danni from going. She would have gone on her own unless Regina expressly forbid it. They all knew that Regina wasn't going to do that, especially after they heard that it would be a command of the tattoo.

"Regina, stop dwelling on it. We'll be fine. Danni will be here soon with Emma. I promise there is nothing to worry about now. We'll take care of this," Wilhelmina tried to tell her.

"I am not worried about you or Nicola, Will. I am worried about my daughter. I could lose her because of this and I refuse to lose her again."

"You won't lose her, Regina. She's fighting to just be. You know how strong the Darkness can be. Be proud of her. Give her space, but lend her your strength. She'll need it. Give her your blessing. She craves it. Give her your love. She grows with it. But, most of all, never give up on her. She never has given up on this family. So don't you start to give up on her," Will commanded Regina in a voice that Regina hadn't heard since she was younger.

"I'm not giving up on her, Will. I can't. She is my blood and my child. I will never give up on her," Regina replied just loud enough for Will to hear.

"Then tell her that," Will said as she walked away to find Nicola and to make sure that they were packed for their quest.

Regina hung her head. She knew that she hadn't spent enough time with Danni. She couldn't really being the Queen, but she knew that she needed to make time. She had made time for Remy and for Henry. She would make time for Danni as well. She would let her know that she was loved. She wouldn't let her forget it.

Just then there were two plumes of magical smoke. Emma and Danni emerged from them. Emma had a large smile on her face, happy to see her family again. Danni looked tense. She looked rested and relaxed, but there was a tension in her eyes that even Regina could see.

Emma walked over to Regina and gave her a kiss. She spoke with her quietly and quickly before moving off to check on Nicola and Wilhelmina. It surprised everyone but Regina and Danni.

Danni stood there, in jeans and a t-shirt, wondering what she was going to do in the forest. She knew that she had to find someway to stop the Silver Army, but she wasn't sure how without going all crazy evil Dark One on their asses. It wasn't that she didn't want to do that. It was more of she was afraid of what would happen if she did. She remembered George and how easy it was. She remembered beating that man in the alley way to protect Rachel...Rachel...

She looked over to her friends. She noticed Brittany's absence. When Belle nodded at her, she knew that she was with Ruby.

"We ready?" she asked as Nicola and Will joined them again in the courtyard.

The two Vulcannonians nodded. She nodded at Emma and then joined them. There was nothing that really needed to be said. As so she crossed the courtyard to get on her horse, she waved her hands and changed her clothes into something a little more peasant like.

Regina wasn't going to let it go down like that though. She crossed the courtyard and raised her hand to Danni's horse. The horse nuzzled her hand as she came up along side it. Danni didn't forget her mother's affections for horses, but she wasn't ready to face her yet.

"You're not just leaving like this," Regina told her.

"I have a mission that you gave me," Danni stated.

"Yes, you do, but I don't think that I have quite dismissed you for it, yet, knight," Regina almost hissed at her.

Danni shook her head. She dismounted the horse and stood in front of her mother. Regina wasn't the most regal woman she knew, but she was the most awesome. Quickly, she dropped to her knees and waited for Regina to say something more to her.

"Stand up," Regina told her.

Danni did and met eyes just like her own. The fire was there but she wasn't afraid. She knew that her mother didn't want her going for the simple fact that she was her daughter and nothing else. It didn't matter that she was the Dark One and immortal. Regina didn't care about any of that. She only wanted to keep her daughter safe and for some reason because of everything that Danni had been through, Regina thought that she'd failed her somehow.

"I will not let you go until you know that I love you."

"I know you love me, Mom. Everything that you have done since I came home has shown me that. I know that you never gave up on me. I never gave up on this family. I need to do this for you...for Remy...for Henry...for Neal...for us. If I can't stop this army, magic dies. I don't want that happen."

"I don't either, Danni..."

"No buts, Mom. You are strong, but I am stronger. You know it. Ma knows it. The knights know it. I am the Dark One. No one messes with me without consequences. I would say that coming to the Enchanted Forest to eradicate magic is messing with me. Hurting Santana when we were on a scouting mission to help Ruby was messing with me. Sending missives that all magical beings are going to be sought and destroyed is just plain threatening me. I don't deal with threats well."

"I know that. I remember. Do me a favor though, this time, hmmm?"

"I promise I won't bring you back anyone's head."

"Or any other body parts," Regina added.

"Yes, ma'am."

Regina smiled at her daughter. She reached out her hand and conjured a sword. It was Danni's sword.

"You might need this," she told her as she affixed it to the horses saddle.

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me. Just come home. I don't care what happens out there, Danni. You come home to me."

Danni nodded in understanding. Regina took the opportunity to hug her daughter. During the embrace, Danni saw Rachel's eyes. They were wild and scared. When Regina broke the hug, she called her over. Rachel slowly walked towards them, unsure of why or what she was doing.

"Rachel, this is my mother. She is the Queen. You, my dear, are a princess and Vulcannonian. Do not worry about that for now. Learn from my mother. She will teach you things that no one else can. And, if you have time," she stated as she mounted back on her horse. "Ask Belle for the legends of Danielle Coraline French, Knight of the Realm. I think that you'll find them very interesting, but achingly familiar."

She grabbed the reins and spun the horse towards the portcullis. Nicola and Will took the lead and started out the castle at a mere walk as they were waiting for Danni to catch them. She sat a little higher in the saddle and turned around to face her family and friends. They were all there for her and she knew it. This wasn't just some normal scouting missing that the Vulcannonians were doing for the Crown. This was a royal going out to protect the family. She stood in the stirrups and turned to face them. She waved as she neared the portcullis with all of them following her to its archway.

"I'll be back in three to four days time. Do not worry. You will all see me again," she promised them as she lead the horse out the gate.

As soon as she was clear, she raised her heels into her horses flank. A faint "yah" could be heard from her lips as they all pushed their horses into a canter. A cloud of dust followed them as they went in search of the newest threat to the kingdom.

Rachel stood beside Regina. There hands clasped together for some reason. Emma stepped up behind them with Quinn beside her.

"She'll be back."

"I know she well," Regina answered."

"She promised," Rachel added.

"And, she always keeps her promises," Quinn finished the thought out loud for them all as took Rachel's other hand.

Miles away just outside of the Golden Kingdom, the Silver Army was setting up camp. They had no worries about the kingdom. Midas was not a threat to them and they didn't seek to destroy him...yet. He would be dealt with later. No, he wasn't their main target.

The General came out of his tent. He was awaiting today's scouting reports. Surely they had been spotted by the Three Queens and someone would be sent. He wasn't going to reason with them. He wanted magic destroyed and he would have it. He didn't care what the people of the Enchanted Forest thought. They didn't understand the problems that magic caused. He'd seen it. He wanted it gone. He'd spent his life finding a way to get to the Enchanted Forest in order to stop it and he would stop until he did.

He was sure that if they stayed there long enough someone would send an emissary. He would see them and then would sending the packing back to their crown with his demands. All magical creatures and beings would be surrendered and he would allowed the kingdom to live. If not, he would attack.

So far the smaller kingdoms had acquiesced to his demands for the most part. He knew that they had sent out their prisoners and troublesome beasts, but he wanted more. He had his ways of getting information and he'd found out that taking down the Three Queens would be the only way for him to get what he wanted. So he turned his sights on them. It wasn't hard to find those that wanted them deposed. It was rather easy while they were on the outskirts of the kingdoms and their allies.

But, now, he was at the heart of the kingdoms. Midas was a fierce ally to the Three Queens and wouldn't turn on them. He really didn't expect him to, but the knowledge that troops were be rallied for a defense was troubling.

"Dedrick, my liege," a scout stated as he neared.

"Come."

"Your reports," he said as he handed over the parchments.

"Dismissed," Dedrick stated as he took the parchments and waved the man away with his other hand.

The scout scampered off to his tent to await further orders. He knew that Dedrick was slightly off-kilter, but he wasn't going to say anything against him. He was a former scout for King George as were most of the troops gathered. George had no love for magical things either and only used them when they could benefit him.

As Dedrick read over the parchments, he noticed the same thing. The kingdoms were closing ranks. They knew he was there, but they weren't in any hurry to pursue him or find out what he wanted. They were bidding their time it looked like and waiting for the Three Queens to make a move.

He went back to his table and gathered his maps. He didn't have a big enough force to take on multiple armies, but the kingdoms didn't know that. He had most of his elite guard around him and scouts scattered through out the land. His biggest concern was the Ulflands. He had more scouts there than anywhere else. And, he found that most armies in the larger kingdoms had an Ulf retention. This troubled him more than anything.

"It doesn't matter, though," he said aloud. "I will find the bastard that did this to you, Claire and I will kill him. I will destroy this world if I have to. You will be avenged."