Here it is, the finale of Cora's arc! But the season 2 is not over, don't worry. :) I remind you that the story is divided in 3 arcs.

The chapter was entirely written by me. Hope you'll like it. Read and enjoy! ^^

Disclamer: I own nothing, OUAT goes to Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, and SM goes to Naoko Takeuchi/Toei.

The Dark Queen rises. Battle for the light. / Fallen Queen. The Suicidal Flames.

Storybrooke

Emma made sure that her parents were both asleep, and then, she whispered to Lux:

"No matter what, don't tell them girls and I went after Cora."

"Are you asking me lying to the former queen and knight?" – the cat asked.

"You know them, they wouldn't approve." – Emma sighed – "I have to go. I promise I'll be back, before the sun fully rises."

At those words, Emma very quietly left the apartment, to meet her friends on the main street, after what they would go face Cora. Meantime, Danielle quietly went to the living room of Regina's (and now hers too) huge house, and stared at the mirror. She concentrated, thinking: "Show me Cora…" After a moment, the mirror revealed Cora, standing in the park, holding the Dark One's dagger. As soon as she saw what she needed, Danielle quietly left the house. She was mentally apologizing to her mother for leaving like that, not informing about this. But she knew Regina would never permit her face Cora, while the Sailor Guardian duty had to be done. A few minutes later, the Chosen Six were standing under the clock tower, near the library door.

"Well, it's time girls…" – Rosalie said nervously – "Are you all ready?"

"Of course we are, Rosalie." – Emma said with a nod – "I know how scared we all are, but let's not make it stop us."

The girls all nodded, and then they grabbed their magical items and held it above their heads, each shouting their transformation quotes:

"Light Crystal Power!"

"Aqua Star Power!"

"Fire Star Power!"

"Wind Star Power!"

"Lightning Star Power!"

"Rose Star Power!"

A moment after, the six of them changed in their sailor uniforms. Then, they rushed to the park of Storybrooke, where they knew they would find Cora.

Enchanted Forest

Cora, being a young woman, arrived at the mill, where she and her father worked. She saw that her father was sleeping, obviously because he was drunk. She awoke him, after what he commented that he was having rest.

"You're always resting!" – Cora protested, throwing his bottle aside, breaking it – "You were supposed to take the flour away this morning! I would like to eat this week."

So, Cora had no other choice than make her father's work herself. She took several bags of flour and brought it to the king's castle. One young lady, obviously a princess saw how Cora was heavily holding three bags, and as soon as they passed next to each other, the princess tripped the miller's daughter, making her fall and drop the bags.

"Oh, you… stupid girl!" – Cora exclaimed.

"What happened?" – the king asked.

"This peasant fell. It's how it is with them." – the princess replied.

"Are you alright?" – the king asked.

"Just fine…!" – Cora said.

"I'm not addressing you." – the king said harshly – "Eva, are you alright?"

"She ruined my shoes." – Eva replied.

"I don't think the young lady did it on purpose." – Henry, the king's son commented, on Cora's defense.

"You won't get any money for the flour, and you'll apologize to Eva." – the king said sternly to Cora.

"But that girl tripped me!" – Cora protested, not believing what the king was asking.

"Watch over your tongue!" – the king said – "This is Princess Eva, from the northern kingdom. She's a honorable guest. She's a very important woman."

"She's merely a girl!" – Cora said harshly, all her rancor evident towards Eva in her tone.

"And who are you, miller's daughter? What's your name?" – the king asked.

"Cora."

"On your knees Cora!" – the king ordered.

Seeing that she had no choice, Cora sat on her knees.

"And apologize! Apologize, or otherwise we won't ever buy your flour. There are other millers." – the king threatened.

"I am apologizing to you, Princess Eva." – Cora said, knowing she and her father would starve, if their flour won't ever be bought by the king's court.

Eva grinned in satisfaction, and the king instructed Cora to not get up until he and others don't leave the place, and said that she should know her right place.

Storybrooke

Cora was holding the dagger tight in her hands. Very soon, she would have the whole Storybrooke at her feet. She would never kneel to anyone, may it be Snow White, her prince, or the Sailor Guardians.

"They're just little girls… Very soon, they'll see where their place is…" – Cora thought.

No, she would never surrender to them; she would never permit the heroes to humiliate her. Her thought got interrupted, as she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Don't make any move from there, Cora!"

Cora turned around, and saw that it was Sailor Light, accompanied by her five friends.

"The Sailor Guardians…" – Cora commented.

"Yes, and we're also called the Chosen Six, because we were chosen to protect the realms from evil, which is in this case, you." – Emma said.

"We fight for the peace, goodness and love!" – Danielle added – "We get our power from divinity! I am Sailor Fire, the Guardian of fire and courage!"

"My power comes from thunder, but also from my intelligence! I am Sailor Lightning!" – Emily said.

"You might have won against others until now, but I feel like the winds change directions! I am Sailor Wind!" – Cecilia pursued.

"I believe waters can reflect a person's history, but it reflects nothing but all the crimes you committed! I am Sailor Aqua, the Guardian of water!" – Alexandra said.

"Roses are the symbol of love or friendship, and it's also my specialty! I wonder if you ever got those precious flowers from anyone. I am Sailor Rose!" – Rosalie added.

"And I am Sailor Light! In the name of the Light, we will punish you!" – Emma finished.

Cora made a step ahead, and with a grin, said:

"I expected you, Sailor Guardians… This is the perfect moment I waited for."

Then, she raised her dagger, about to shout her first order to the Dark One. Emily gasped, not wanting her father being under her orders, to eventually be killed. She had to do something; Gold said that he trusted her! And Emily really wasn't the kind to betray someone's trust, especially when it came to her family. Before Cora had the time to shout her order, Emily used her attack:

"Divine Thunderbolt!"

With those words, Emily sent a thunderbolt to Cora's right arm, which made her drop the dagger in pain. Emily then nodded in Alexandra's direction, silently instructing her to paralyze Cora for a moment. Alexandra raised her hands and yelled:

"Oceanic Purity Ball!"

Cora got prisoner in the ball of water, trying to escape it using her magic. Acting quickly, Emily grabbed the dagger and called for the Dark One to appear.

"Dark One! I am summoning you! Appear to me!"

A second later, Mr Gold appeared to his daughter. Emily gave him the dagger back, saying:

"Here, as I promised, I protected it. Go away now."

"But... It's Cora you're fighting against…" – Gold protested.

"I know." – his daughter replied – "But it's our fight, it's about the town and the Eternal Crystal. Plus, she planned to kill you…"

Gold looked a bit shocked (but he sort of expected this) for a short second. After giving a quick look at Cora, he looked back at Emily and tried change her mind again:

"I could finish her in one second! Let me do this!"

"No, that wouldn't be fair…!" – the girl exclaimed – "You must go, please… The dagger must be out of her disposal sphere. For our safe, Gold…"

Seeing that the girls wouldn't let him stay and that they looked determinate as ever, he only nodded and teleported away. A second later, Cora managed to break the water prison and she glared at Alexandra.

"You have no idea how I hate you and your attack… Get this!" – she shouted, sending a fireball in the girl's direction.

Sailor Aqua's reflexes were fortunately good enough to avoid her attack. Rosalie and Danielle decided to send their own attacks on their enemy.

"Love Roses Chain!" – Sailor Rose yelled, sending her belt around Cora.

"Flaming Arrow!" – Danielle shouted, her arrow-like flame flying straight in Cora's direction.

But Cora was a powerful witch. She used her telekinetic powers to get free from Rosalie's chain and avoiding Danielle's attack under the wire. The two guardians gasped, disliking the fact that Cora avoided their attacks that easily.

"This fight will be far from easy…" – Sailor Fire thought for herself.

Enchanted Forest

At the king's castle, there was a masked ball, organized in order to find a bride for Prince Henry. Cora arrived there, wearing a red dress and a black and red mask. When she saw the prince, she walked in his direction. After a short moment, she commented:

"Did the king really reunite all those rich women, in order to sell his son to one of them…? Poor Prince Henry…"

"You're very honest." – Henry replied with amusement.

"I…" – Cora said, and then she pretended that she had just recognized him – "Oh God… you are him. You're the prince… I'm very, very… I'm a goose, am I not?"

"I don't know, let's find out. Can a goose waltz?" – Henry asked with a smile.

They both walked to the dance floor and began their dance. Cora commented:

"I won't stand in the way on someone purchasing you."

"So, what are you doing here?" – the prince asked.

"I'm just here for the free food." – Cora answered, which made Henry smile.

A few moments after, the king approached the dancing couple and asked his son the permission to dance with Cora. Henry agreed and left them dance alone.

"Your Majesty… I didn't expect that honor." – Cora said to the king.

"That's not an honor. Did you really think I wouldn't recognize you? You have straw on your dress; you brought the mill with you, miller's daughter."

"You can't judge me, while you're selling your own flesh and blood."

"Arrogant girl! The kingdom goes through wars, and we need gold, yes. But we're still much higher than your kind. Now, go away, you have nothing to offer!" – the king said in a despising way.

"I can spin straw into gold, and solve all your worries." – Cora said, making the king laugh – "But since you insulted me, you shall not get my benefice. Good luck at marrying your son."

Cora began walking away, but the king grabbed her arm and to her surprise, shouted:

"My loyal subjects! We have a really special guest here! This woman claims that she can spin straw into gold!"

As everybody in the hall laughed, the king pursued:

"And she intends to show us that! Bring the wheel!"

Knowing that she couldn't do what she claimed she was capable of, Cora refused, justifying herself by needing some time. The king then said that Cora would spend the night in a tower, full of straw. If she succeeds to turn it into gold, she could marry the prince. Otherwise, she would die.

Storybrooke

Cecilia and Emily decided attacking Cora on their turn. They positioned themselves and Sailor Wind was the first to shout:

"Howling Wind!"

As soon as a wolf-like wind attacked the witch, Sailor Lightning didn't wait long to use her own attack.

"Glowing Thunderstorm!"

A vertical thunder hit Cora right from above her. Cora fell on her knees and hands, as both attacks dissipated. The six guardians did not move, which was the right thing to do, because it didn't take long for Cora to get up on her feet. She glared angrily at the guardians and shouted:

"Nobody… makes me fall to their feet… NO ONE DOES THAT TO ME!"

Very angry, she used her powers to push the girls far behind them. They got a bit hurt, by falling harshly on the ground. Cora approached them, commenting:

"Who's under my feet, now? Surrender, before it's too late."

"Never!" – Emma exclaimed as she stood up.

She magically made her Nebula Wand appear in her hand. Sailor Light raised it above her head and she screamed:

"Heavens Princess Kiss!"

A powerful burst of light went out of Emma's weapon. But Cora was quick enough to send a burst of fire out of her hands, blocking Emma's attack. Emma concentrated all the energy she had in her body, hoping this would give more power to her attack. But Cora was vicious and sly. She knew what Emma's weakness was. Keeping the fire go from her left hand, she rose her right hand in the guardians' direction, as about to attack them. Emma gasped, scared for her friends, after what she lost concentration on her attack. So, Cora pushed her fire further, making Emma fall on the ground, dropping the Nebula Wand. Alex and Rosalie knelt to their friend, in order to check if she was okay and help her get up. But the witch pushed them away, and approached the trembling Sailor Light. She said with an evil grin:

"Look at yourself… What can you do against someone like me? Like I once said, you're not worthy the power of the Eternal Crystal."

Before Emma could back up, Cora grabbed the brooch on her chest and pulled it away. A moment after, Sailor Light turned back to her normal form.

"No!" – Danielle shouted.

"It can't be!" – Emily exclaimed, and then tended her right arm – "Dark Thunder!"

"Blazing Fireballs!" – Danielle joined her friend.

They indeed hit Cora and made her fall, making her drop Emma's brooch. Before the girls could do anything, Cora made the brooch fly to her hand.

"Damn it…" – Danielle commented.

"You're right, Danielle, everything goes bad for you… but good for me." – Cora said – "Soon, the Storybrooke you knew will no longer exist. I failed at becoming the Dark One, but I'm powerful and dark enough, to activate the true potential of that crystal."

"You're wrong… it's not what the Eternal Crystal was made for. It's not its true purpose." – Emma protested as she slowly stood up – "The Eternal Crystal exists to make the good, to keep the realms in peace… to make everyone live happily…"

"Nonsense!" – Cora shouted – "Peace, love, friendship… all of this is merely weaknesses; it's nothing against the power."

As the Chosen Six were staring angrily at Cora, the woman pursued, truly believing in the truthfulness of what she was saying.

"And power is much above all your silly beliefs and values. That crystal is power, so why would it serve things like friendship and love?"

Enchanted Forest

Locked in a tower, Cora was watching out of the window, considering about jumping, in order to escape. But the high was great and she knew the idea was bad. Suddenly, Rumplestiltskin appeared in the room, surprising Cora.

"That won't work. You'll indeed escape, but you'll die. And so, the escape loses its sense, don't you think?" – the Dark One said.

"Who are you?" – Cora asked.

"And who are you?" – Rumple asked back.

"Cora."

"It isn't a pleasant name… sounds like something is breaking." – Rumplestiltskin commented with an amused grin.

"How did you get in there? If you could enter, I can exit." – the young woman said.

"If I understand your condition well, this is your way out." – Rumple said, pointing on the wheel – "And it's a good coincidence that spinning gold from straw is what I love do. It's like destiny."

Cora began to protest, saying that nobody can spin gold from straw, but she got cut as she saw how the Dark One actually did it in her eyes. Surprised and impressed at first, she then asked:

"You want to help me?"

"I want you to help me." – Rumple corrected her – "And you will, because the future is my talent."

Cora asked what he possibly could want from her, after what Rumplestiltskin made a contract appear. Cora took it in her hands and read it.

"My firstborn?" – she asked.

"She's very important for me." – the Dark One commented.

"She…?"

"Yes, I can see the future. Didn't you listen?" – Rumple replied – "I can get what I want only if you stay alive tomorrow."

Then, Cora asked him to teach her spin gold, instead of him doing it for her. Agreeing, Rumple changed the terms and conditions of the contract, and he said his own name to her, commenting that she deserved to hear it. Cora signed the contract, and they began. Cora tried to spin gold, but it didn't work, which frustrated her.

"You must stop thinking about it." – Rumplestiltskin commented – "What matters in magic, is feelings. Remember a moment you were so angry, that you would have killed if you could."

Cora stared at the Dark One a moment. Then, she asked:

"Is that how you do?"

"… Yes."

"And what's your moment?" – Cora asked with interest.

"Long time ago, a man asked me to kiss his boot, in my son's eyes. Now, I mentally come back to that moment, and I grab his throat and I rip out his veins with my teeth. And that's how, dearie, you make magic."

Cora looked at him fascinated, with a smile on her face. Then, Rumple said that he would help her. He sat behind Cora, and gently took her arms.

"I was forced to kneel… I did nothing wrong…" – Cora started as she began to spin, while the Dark One began kissing her shoulder – "…but I was forced to apologize… to a child. I understood that no matter how hard I work, I'll never climb higher than I am now."

"What do you want do to them?" – Rumple asked, whispering the words in Cora's ear.

"I want make them bow…" – Cora said with a small smile, while Rumple pursued giving kisses to her shoulder – "… I want their knees to crack against the stones, to make their necks from bending…"

"Look…" – Rumple suddenly whispered.

Cora then saw that she succeeded to turn straw into gold. Cora looked at it fascinated, and said with relief:

"I will live…"

"Not only live. You will fight, until you put them all on their knees." – Rumplestiltskin pointed out, as he kissed Cora's temple.

"So, let's pursue." – Cora replied, with determination.

The next morning, she showed in front of the king's court how she turned straw into gold. Rumplestiltskin was watching the scene from afar. The king took the straw of gold in his hands, barely believing his eyes.

"But… you're only a miller's daughter…" – he commented, astonished.

"I'm much more than that." – Cora said with pride.

"You deserve him." – the king said, as Prince Henry approached Cora.

The prince knelt in front of her, took her hand and asked:

"Cora… would you give me the honor to become my wife?"

"Yes." – Cora replied, after what Henry kissed her hand.

Rumplestiltskin was watching the scene with mixed feelings. On one hand, he was glad that he was closer to reach his goals, but on the other hand, the woman he began to love was marrying another man.

Storybrooke

"Emma!" – Mary Margaret gasped as she suddenly awoke.

David, who got awaken by his wife's scream, asked:

"Mary Margaret… something's wrong…?"

"David… I had sort of a nightmare… it's like Emma is in danger."

Then, she got up from her bed and walked upstairs, to check on her daughter. Her heart began beating faster, as she saw the bed empty. She quickly ran to her husband, and said with a very worried, almost panicking voice:

"David, Emma is gone!"

"What? Where would she go in the middle of the night?" – David asked alarmed.

"Let's ask the cat." – Mary Margaret said.

The couple approached Lux, who was (apparently) asleep on the couch. They shook him a little, forcing him to open one eye.

"Lux, where is Emma?" – the worried mother asked.

"What are you talking about…? Let me sleep…" – Lux replied, turning on his other side, his back facing the husband and wife.

"Don't pretend being ignorant." – David stated – "You know very well where she went, don't you?"

The cat sat and sighed. Despite his promise to Emma, he couldn't lie to David and Mary Margaret. They had to know the truth.

"She, along with her friends, went battle Cora." – the cat said.

The couple froze for a moment, and then Mary Margaret asked, clearly alarmed:

"And you allowed her do this?"

"You know her, she wouldn't give up!" – Lux protested – "Sooner or later, Cora had to be fought against anyway…"

"Okay, let's not panic…" – David said to his wife, even though he wasn't feeling any better about this – "Just one thing: does Regina know?"

Regina was asleep in her room; until she got suddenly awaken by the phone ring. After a moment, she grabbed her phone to see that it was Mary Margaret. Annoyed, she spoke in the phone:

"You better have a good reason to call me almost at 3:00 am…"

"It is." – her stepdaughter said in the phone – "It's about our daughters… they went battle Cora."

"What..?!" – Regina gasped – "Wait, it can't be, Danielle is in her room…"

But the mayor got proven wrong, as she checked her daughter's room. Alarmed, she said:

"We must find them! Before the worst happens…"

Regina quickly got dressed and went out her house. She knew her daughter was strong and she trusted her, but she had a really bad feeling about this.

Enchanted Forest

Cora was trying her wedding dress, as Rumplestiltskin appeared behind her and said:

"What a beautiful sight!"

Then, he approached her and they kissed. Cora said, playfully:

"How dare you? I'm a married woman!"

"Not yet." – Rumple protested with a smile – "The wedding's tomorrow."

Cora and Rumplestiltskin kissed once more. Then, the Dark One commented:

"Your dress is divine."

"The royal bride must be in snow white." – Cora replied.

Rumplestiltskin couldn't suppress a giggle, and said:

"When you know the future, you notice irony everywhere…"

"You know, I thought I wanted this… to be white and shiny… to provoke admiration. But then, I thought…" – Cora said seriously – "Fifth in line for the throne… it would never happen, if I don't verse lots of blood. While what you give me…"

"I can give you nothing…" – Rumple interrupted her – "…besides darkness and exile."

"And love." – Cora corrected him, and then she took Rumple's hands in hers and confessed – "I want this."

After a short moment of thinking, the Dark One suggested:

"What if… what if I change the contract? You'll owe me not any firstborn child, but… you'll owe me my child?"

"I can make the deal." – Cora replied with a smile.

"As do I." – the Dark One replied with joy.

"Rumple… can we really do this?" – Cora then asked.

"If you truly want this."

"There's something… it's the king. He humiliated me. Because of him, I felt like I wasn't supposed to. I want to kill him." – Cora stated, very serious – "I want him to see his own heart in my hand, so he would know what I'll be doing, before I crush it."

"That's why I love you…" – Rumplestiltskin commented, with a bright smile.

Then, Cora asked him to teach her doing this, which he agreed to do. Cora decided that she would do it that day, and Rumple suggested her to seal this promise, by a kiss.

Storybrooke

The guardians, especially Danielle were staring Cora in a despising way. But the old woman didn't seem to care. She got what she wanted; soon she would be queen, the only and unique ruler of this town. As she was stroking the crystal in the brooch and grinning in anticipation, Emma stood up and asked:

"Why… why this obsession for power…? Why would you prefer this to love? I can't understand this…"

"Only she can understand herself." – Danielle commented harshly – "She can't live without it. Power is what she lives for, without giving a care if this would mean doing harm to her own flesh and blood!"

"Why being so rude?" – Cora said, turning to the red dressed guardian – "I'm not against sharing that power. You, Regina and I can have it all. You are powerful, Danielle, why wasting time in… helping others and stuff like that?"

"Why would I care to explain? You won't understand anyway." – Danielle replied, her voice getting harsher – "You know nothing about love!"

"I know it well, and it's a weakness!" – Cora protested – "Without it, you can reach your goals; you can climb much higher than you can imagine! I know it by experience."

Danielle shook her head in absolute disagreement.

"Love is what really makes you want to live… You are a monster! You killed my father, separated me from Regina! You made her suffer, because you think power is all what matters!" – Danielle said with anger, before asking – "Did you even love Regina?"

Cora's anger was rising very quickly, especially after that last question.

"Shut up!"

She used her telekinetic magic to push Danielle violently against a tree, and the girl couldn't suppress a small cry of pain as her back hit the trunk. Cora grinned as her granddaughter fell on the ground and didn't stand up. The Guardians quickly reacted.

"Rose Petals Twister!"

"Heavenly River Shine!"

But Cora avoided the water attack, and she send a fireball to Rosalie's attack, the flame going through the twister of petals. But the girls weren't about to give up. Rosalie, Alex, Cecilia and Emily were about to attack all together, but Cora took the Eternal Crystal out of the brooch and made the crystal levitate above her hand. The girls stopped, shocked by the scene. Cora raised the crystal above her head and there was a strange purple glow emitting from the precious object. A dark wave of energy made the guardians lose their balance, who fell on the ground and Emma stared at the scene, shock and fear on her face. The sky began getting darker, and Cora said:

"It began… Storybrooke is about to become mine…"

Cora was so amazed by the Eternal Crystal's power that she didn't notice Danielle stand up, behind her. She was slowly approaching her evil grandmother, thinking:

"No… it won't happen… not as long as I live…"

Emma noticed her friend approaching their enemy, but she pretended not to notice, in order to not give the clue to Cora. Danielle pursued her thoughts, as her body heat was rising, and an orange-red glow began to border her. "I summon the great power of fire!" – she thought – "Fire, come to me! Help me destroy that evil!"

Then, in one very quick move, Danielle pushed Cora and grabbed both her forearms in her hands. Cora obviously dropped the Eternal Crystal on the ground and this angered the woman.

"Stupid child!" – she exclaimed – "You better let go of me!"

Cora wanted to push the girl away, but surprisingly Danielle was holding her very tight, and more to that, Cora began to feel an unpleasant heat at her wrists. "She's… she's burning me!" – Cora thought. Once again, she tried to free herself from the girl's grip, but she hadn't enough time. Before she knew it, she and Sailor Fire were inside a column of fire. The heat was very unbearable now and Cora began to shout. But she was not the only one. Danielle was screaming too. Emma and the others could do nothing more but stare at them, as they were burning in the column of fire.

"Danielle…" – Emma whispered.

"It burns! Damn it, it won't end this way, do you hear me?!" – Cora shouted at Sailor Fire, the pain evident in her voice – "I won't lose against a girl!"

"Don't you know Cora…?" – Danielle said, her voice weakening due to the effort she was putting in her attack and the pain she was going through – "I'm not just any girl… I'm the goddess of fire!"

At those words, the fire glowed in a much brighter light that it was too painful to look at it. The five guardians closed their eyes and they began to sweat, due to the high temperature the fire was radiating.

David, Mary Margaret and Regina were looking for the girls. They were trying to think where they could be at that moment. Suddenly, Regina saw a high fire-like column, going high up to the sky.

"Danielle…" – she whispered and ran in the direction of the column of fire.

Mary Margaret and David, who noticed it too, hurried to follow her. They only hoped that they wouldn't arrive too late…

Enchanted Forest

Cora arrived in the king's room, while he was busy counting all the gold Cora produced. As he saw her, he asked what he could do for her.

"I don't love your son." – Cora stated.

"I didn't expect this from you. There's nothing to love him for anyway, to be honest…" – the king commented – "But this isn't a question of love, but of an advantageous union."

He approached his soon to be daughter-in-law, too her hands and pursued:

"Love is weakness. It's not for strong women like you. It would be easier to make your choice."

"My choice?" – Cora asked.

"To run away with an evil being, you thought nobody knew, for love, or… or to stand on my son's side, with a crown on your head, and the subjects at your feet."

A silence followed between the two, until Cora broke it.

"To make a choice between love and power, there's no need to have a heart…" – she placed her hand on the king's chest – "Don't you think?"

A few moments later, she went out, holding a box, in which was placed a glowing heart.

Storybrooke

Suddenly, the fire dissipated and the guardians could finally open their eyes. The first thing they noticed was that Cora was lying lifeless on the ground. Emma said quietly:

"She did it… Danielle, you did it…!"

But then, Emma and others noticed that Danielle was lying on the ground too, not moving. She was also in her normal form, no longer wearing her red sailor uniform. They ran to her, their heartbeat rising.

"Alex, hurry up, heal her…!" – Emily exclaimed.

Alexandra nodded and placed her hands above their friend, and she said:

"Aquatic Heal."

But nothing happened. She didn't wake up. The guardian of water began to sob, and she whispered in horror:

"No… nothing happens… she's… she's dead!"

"The attack was too powerful…" – Rosalie said – "…that it destroyed her."

"No!"

The five girls turned around, to see that Regina, along with Mary Margaret and David, just arrived here. She approached her daughter's lifeless body and fell on her knees and began sobbing. Regina didn't care that she was crying in front of everyone, all what bothered her mind at that moment was that she lost her girl, the person Regina loved the most. Mary Margaret and David hugged in sadness. Emily brought her hands to her face, and said quietly, tears rolling off her eyes:

"There must be something we can do… She can't be dead like this…"

"I can't believe this is happening…" – Cecilia added.

Alexandra hugged Rosalie, seeking for comfort. Regina began to stroke her daughter's hair, while more tears came. Emma got a flash in her mind. Seeing Danielle, her friend, dead, reminded her how she saw everyone she loved in this state. Her hair even turned silver, for one brief second. Suddenly, Emma said:

"Maybe… maybe there is a way…"

Everyone looked at Emma with a questioning look. Regina asked, with a broken voice:

"How?"

"Remember, I… died, when we battled against Queen Exitumia. But girls brought me back to life, using the power of their pens. I should try doing the same, using the power of the Eternal Crystal."

"You… you think it's possible…?" – Regina asked with hope.

"In the Heavens, Queen Serenita saved our souls with that same crystal, so I think it should work." – Emma replied.

Emma grabbed the Eternal Crystal, and after she put it back in her brooch, she transformed into Sailor Light again. Then, she took the red pen out of Danielle's pocket. Sailor Light was holding the Eternal Crystal in her right hand and the red pen in her left hand. She closed her eyes and the crystal began to glow in a pure white light. A couple of moments later, the pen slowly began to twinkle. Everyone around was looking at it breath cut, hoping with all their hearts for the miracle to happen. But then, Emma turned to Regina and said:

"I think… I need your help, Regina."

The mayor looked at Sailor Light with confusion. The guardian of light pursued:

"The Eternal Crystal needs the power of your true love."

Regina didn't wait long to place her hand above the Eternal Crystal, almost toughing it. She closed her eyes and began to think about how she loved Danielle. She remembered the moment she discovered she was pregnant and how she told Daniel about it. It was the happiest moment of her life… Then, she thought about the moment how heartbroken she felt when her daughter's "death" was announced, after hours of difficult labor. She then remembered the moment she realized that her girl was very well alive and was already in Storybrooke. After that, another precious moment came to her mind. It was the day Danielle agreed to live with her, under the same roof. Then, there was the moment when she came back from the Enchanted Forest, after a long parting. Regina didn't immediately realize that her daughter's pen began to glow in a bright red light. But as she saw it, a tear of hope escaped her eye. Then, Emma put her crystal back into her brooch and she concentrated on the pen. A small sparkle-like drop fell out of the pen, right on Danielle's heart.

"A small drop…? Is that all?" – David whispered, as he was expecting something bigger.

"Just wait…" – Mary Margaret replied.

A second after, Danielle breathed deeply and opened her eyes. Everyone gasped in happiness and Regina took her daughter in her arms, without preventing tears of happiness to fall.

"Danielle… you're alive… my girl, you're alive…"

"Well… yeah, it seems so…" – Danielle replied with a small smile.

A moment later, they broke apart. Danielle hated to ruin a good moment with her mother, but she said:

"I… I did it… right…?"

"Yes, Danielle…" – Emma said – "The town is no longer in danger."

The guardians, David, Mary Margaret and Regina looked in Cora's lifeless body direction.

Without a word, Regina approached her now dead mother. She didn't speak, nor did she make another move. She just stared at Cora. Danielle couldn't bear Regina's silence, and she said:

"Regina… I…"

Regina shook her head and then, turned to her daughter and took her hand. She then murmured:

"All what matters is that you lived."

Enchanted Forest

Cora met Rumplestiltskin outside the castle, as he greeted her with a smile.

"I began to get worried." – he commented.

"And here I am." – Cora said, her voice almost blank.

The two kissed, but as the Dark One pulled away, he stated:

"Something's not right…"

"Yes, you're right." – Cora replied.

"What's wrong? You couldn't take the king's heart?"

"Yes, I could… but I decided not to."

A pause between them followed her words. Rumplestiltskin understood that Cora was stepping back, and the woman stroke his face.

"Sorry, my dear Rumple… I won't run away with you. You see, I have a wedding to attend… my wedding."

"Whose heart is in the box?" – Rumple asked carefully.

"It's mine." – Cora replied – "I had to. You said that nothing must stop me, until they kneel for me. My heart… was stopping me."

As soon as she explained this, Rumplestiltskin got a bit agitated. He said, his voice rising:

"You never loved me… never! You won't get out of this, we had a contract! I will take your baby!"

"You changed the contract, Rumple." – Cora pointed out – "You can get only your child. And the baby I'll give birth to won't be yours."

Storybrooke

Regina was in her crypt, staring at the coffin Cora was lying in, with small tears in the corners of her eyes. She slowly laid a red rose on the coffin. Suddenly, Mr Gold approached her, saying:

"Black always suited you."

"I'm here to burry my mother." – Regina said sternly – "So, if you came to gloat…"

"I came to… give her my respect." – Gold said, as he put his own rose on the coffin - "We had a lot of differences but Cora will always have a place in my heart."

Regina didn't reply. They both stared at the coffin for a moment. They got disturbed as Danielle entered the crypt.

"Well, I guess I should leave now." – Gold said, then he turned to the girl – "Danielle, you look good, despite your earlier… condition."

Danielle gave him an annoyed look, and as the man left, she slowly approached her mother. After a moment of silence, she spoke:

"You still loved her…"

"You have no idea how angry I was towards her, for what she did." – Regina replied – "But she was still my mother."

"Regina… I'm sorry." – Danielle said.

Regina looked at her daughter, who had a blank expression. It was like she was dealing with something inside her. Regina took Danielle's hand in her own and said:

"Look at me… You think you hurt me, by killing Cora."

Danielle looked in Regina's eyes, quite relieved that she could guess her thoughts, because those feelings were difficult to share. Regina pursued:

"In any circumstances, I would and will always choose you. I would have been much more devastated if you were the one lying in that coffin."

Danielle's eyes got teary and she hugged her mother. Regina stroke her hair, trying awkwardly to comfort her. At that moment, Danielle was like a little girl again, who needed her mother to be there. Regina knew very well what happened that night, the guardians told her everything. Danielle was doing her duty, but it seemed that this event would be something she would take time to digest.

"Please, don't bother your mind about this anymore… you are still a hero."

Danielle then smiled weakly and mumbled a "thank you". Then, Regina asked her daughter to go get some fresh air, and that they would meet later in the evening at Granny's for celebrating the Sailor Guardian's new victory. Danielle agreed and went out the crypt. Regina then took the box, which contained Cora's heart during long years. But now, the heart was not there. Instead, there were aches. It was like the heart, still connected to the body, burned with its owner. For a moment, Regina mused what would have been if she restored Cora's heart back into her chest. But then, she chased this thought away. What was done was done, she could blame for not thinking about it only herself. Good thing Danielle didn't know about the heart, otherwise this would have made her feel only worse…

Enchanted Forest

Cora was holding her newborn daughter in her arms, as the king's court was reunited in the throne room.

"Princess Cora." – the king called her, after what she approached him and stood in the middle of everyone – "Tell me, daughter, how did you call her?"

"Regina. Someday, she will be a queen." – Cora said, promising it not only for her subjects, but also for herself.

Cora raised her baby above, and everyone in the throne room, including the king and Prince Henry, knelt and lowered their heads, honoring the newborn princess. Cora looked at the kneeling subjects, then to her daughter, thinking:

"She will be a queen… Nothing will ever be on her way. I will make sure of that. I promise this."

Storybrooke

Everyone was enjoying the good evening at Granny's. Even Regina made an effort to come, in order to not make Danielle feel bad again. Emma looked around, paying a particular attention to her friends. She grinned, seeing that Cecilia, Ruby and Granny were talking joyfully. They were having a really good time together. At that moment, it seemed like they always were a family, like they never ever parted. Then, Emma's eyes derived to her friend Alex. She was sitting at a table with Ashley and Sean, her parents. They too seemed to have a nice moment together. Alexandra was such a sweet girl that it didn't take her long to feel completely comfortable with her parents. To be honest, the parents didn't have a dark past either, which was creating a good atmosphere between them and their child. True, they almost sold Alex to the Dark One (which Emma still found very weird), but it was merely a mistake, which got arranged. Then, Emma gazed Rosalie, who was talking to Athena and Lux. This scene made Emma a bit sad. Her friend had no family to spend a good evening with. She had no real home; she still slept in the room at Granny's Bed & Breakfast. Athena was the only company she could have at the very late evenings. Those thoughts made Emma wonder what Aurora could be doing at that moment. Was she in some adventure in Mulan's company? Did she return to her castle, where she lived alone, since her husband died? Did she meet someone else?

"I wouldn't ask myself those questions if we managed to bring her here with us…"

Emma's gaze then fell on Emily. She was reading some book again. Emma grinned at that, her friend always thought it was the best way from all to spend time. But Emma also knew what made Emily love books and what they did to her. Emma could see that right now, books permitted Emily to distract from the problems she was facing. Belle had amnesia (thanks to a certain pirate), Gold was a difficult man to discuss with. Especially now, when he really wanted to find his son and that his love didn't remember him.

"The Belle incident would have never happened if Hook didn't arrive at Storybrooke…" – Emma mused – "I was silly to have that crush on him… especially that there's absolutely nothing to love in him! I mean, he worked with Cora for the gods' sake!"

Cora. The woman who started all this mess. Emma felt sad, remembering that moment when she saw Danielle lying lifeless on the ground…

"Stop it Emma!" – she thought – "Danielle is okay now."

But was she okay? Yes, she seemed better than she was in the morning, but still… Emma's thoughts got interrupted, as Danielle approached her with a smile.

"Hey, Emma… what's bothering you?"

"Nothing, Danielle. But tell me… how are you feeling?" – Emma asked.

"Well, I'm… still shaken a bit from the last events. But… Regina is there for me. I am so lucky to have her. And she has me. This makes us happy." – Danielle confessed.

The confession was simple, but it said a lot. Emma smiled, feeling a bit relieved. David and Mary Margaret approached their daughter. David put an arm around Emma's shoulder and said:

"Here's our heroine. I am so proud of you, Emma."

"I did nothing." – the girl protested – "The crystal was almost lost because of me. If I doubted in my actions less that could have never happened."

"Emma, but you brought Danielle back." – Mary Margaret stated – "And you kept Regina's happiness alive."

"Maybe you're right… Just too much happened today, I need to process."

"We understand." – David replied, after what he and his wife went talk to Ruby.

A few minutes after, Emma secretly went outside of the diner. She had to be alone for a moment. She sat and looked at the stars. Sighing, she rubbed her brooch, which contained the Eternal Crystal, and thought of the threats that were after it. Most of the problem her friend and her had was because of the villains' obsession for the crystal. But no matter what, they all had to stay strong. After a moment of thinking, Emma noticed the sky darken.

"What's going on…?" – she asked herself.

Suddenly, something fell from the sky. Before Emma was able to call the others, the object landed, revealing a ball-like toy resembling Lux. Confused, Emma inspected the toy, getting close to it. At that same moment, a little girl landed on top of her causing Emma to fall on the floor. Rubbing her back in pain, Emma sat up and she saw a little girl standing in front of her. She was wearing a white T-shirt, a blue skirt, burgundy boots and a red jacket. The girl seemed to be around six years old and she had blonde hair and blue eyes.
"Who are you?" - Emma asked, as the little girl was turning a bit scared.
"I'm Emma Jones." - the child replied Emma's confusion.
"Hold on, kid. How could you be named Emma, if I am Emma?" – the teen asked.
"You're Emma Swan?" – the little girl said - "Then you must have it."

Kid Emma then pulled out her bow and arrow, aiming it at the teenager Emma. The latter gasped in surprise.
"Hand over the Eternal Crystal or I will take it by force." - the girl said with some authority, as Emma got scared, seeing the arrow aimed at her.

A/N: The last part (from the moment Emma exits the diner to the end) was basically written by my friend. But I like usual edited it.

So, excited for the next arc? Reviews are always welcome.