Warnings for this chapter: Character death and mention of possible rape.

Chapter 64

Coraline was standing by the makeshift fire pit. The day was breaking just over the horizon. She took in a deep breath and held it. She wanted to greet the day in peace, but of course, fate had other ideas. She took another deep breath. She drew the sword at her side and made sure that it would draw easily as she rode off into battle. She walked over to her horse. She checked the swords there. Then she grabbed her lance and mounted the horse. She was about to ride away from the clearing when she heard Will behind her.

"Leaving without me?" Will asked, walking up towards Coraline with her horse trailing behind her, reins in hand, ready for battle, too.

"Yes," Coraline stated truthfully.

She wanted to do this alone. She would survive it. She could do what had to be done. She wanted to do this because she thought that she had to do it alone. They wouldn't understand her reasoning or her methods.

"Do you think that they don't want you?" Will asked her as she mounted her horse to follow.

"I know that do, that's the problem," Coraline replied, trotting away as her mind wandered.

Her body contorted in pain. She was acutely aware of what was going on. Her chest was on fire, but she could call out for help. There was no getting away from it. She knew that her heart was gone and that she had Neal's now. She could feel her body accepting the half-heart. She could sense her mothers and Belle and Ruby in the room. Her magic called out for them, but it was blocked by something.

She tried to open her eyes, but she couldn't. Her body felt heavy and tired. It wouldn't listen to her commands. Her back arched in an inhuman movement. A scream tore from her throat.

"BLUE!" she heard one of her mother's scream.

This was a dream. It had to be a dream. There was no way that the Darkness could cause this much pain. She'd already fought it. She'd let the love of her family fill her. This was not how this was supposed to happen.

She could hear mumbles in the background. She couldn't make out what anyone was saying. Everything was muffled. It didn't matter how much she tried to concentrate on one voice and pull it out of the abyss that was surrounding her. She couldn't focus on any of them.

"How is that a problem?" Will asked catching up to her.

"Because they can't let me go when they need to. They will fight beyond the need and they don't understand that I don't need to be there for them to understand their love. Don't get me wrong, I love them with my entire being, but that doesn't stop the Darkness within. I am the Dark One. I am no longer meant to have a family. It is part of the Curse."

"But, I thought that they would help you deal with that," Will stated.

"They tried."

"And?"

"There is nothing that can cure this Curse except death," Coraline told her.

She heard Will gasp at the knowledge she was giving her. It was the truth. She knew that Regina and Emma had exhausted every avenue that they could. She was proud of them for trying but there was still nothing that they could do to stop it. She was special in the fact that she wasn't tethered to the dagger, but she still couldn't escape the fact that she still had the darkest and most evil of all magics flowing through her.

"Does Regina know?" Will asked her.

"Of course she does. I wouldn't keep something like that from her. But, it doesn't matter. There is nothing that they can do for me," Coraline replied.

"Sure there is," Will told her.

"Like what?"

"They can love you," Will said like it was the most obvious answer.

"She's still fighting the Darkness."

"Do you think she'll wake soon?"

"I have no idea, Regina. It is all up to her, now. We have to wait on Coraline."

"She told us to give her three days," Red added.

"We will wait," Regina replied.

"For how long?" Belle asked, worried that Regina wouldn't do as Coraline asked.

"As long as it takes," Regina answered.

Coraline felt her body recoil at her mother's answer. Regina just wouldn't stop. The hand fasting ceremony gave them a new birth of hope. They were holding on to the fact that their love for their daughter would be enough. Coraline hoped it would be too, but she knew that she also had the love Charming and Snow, along with the love of Belle and Red, inside her now.

The dreams that she was having in the moments of non-clarity were dark and depressing. Some of them made her want to kill herself. If this is what the sleeping curse was like, then she didn't want to ever cast one on someone. She'd read the journals that Henry and Snow had written. She couldn't imagine being in that Hell, but now, she was in one anyway.

"Why can't you just accept that they love you and want to help you?"

"Because I can't be helped," Coraline hissed at her.

"Why not?"

"Because I am the God-damned Dark One. There is no help for an evil as pure as mine. The fact that I let anyone around me live is because I want it. There is nothing good about me except that little girl who has taken my place amongst them. I gave her that life. I gave her the future that I wasn't allowed to have," Coraline explained.

"You are going to kill him, aren't you?" Will asked, suddenly frightened of her.

"Well, I wasn't told to bring him home alive, was I?" Coraline questioned meeting her eyes.

There was a silent war between them. Will wasn't sure how to proceed with the information that she had about Regina's daughter. She wanted to protect the family as much as Coraline did, but there were lines that even she didn't cross. She knew that she could take the punishments that Regina dished out, but she wasn't sure that she could stop Coraline from committing murder.

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you feel like you have to kill him?"

"Because he deserves it."

"Who made you like this?" Will inquired quietly.

Coraline stopped short. Her eyes were pure fire. Will could actually see purple and green flames burning in her darkened eyes. But, there was more than hatred. Will couldn't name it, but she wanted to. There was just something about her that Will couldn't shake. Coraline felt incomplete to her and she didn't understand why. She'd felt incomplete for years herself. She didn't know how to help her, but she felt like she wanted to. She had to suppress the urge to reach over and take Coraline into arms, promising that everything would be okay. She didn't know that. No one did, except the Dark One….

"There has to be something else that we can, Blue," Regina demanded.

"This is her fight. You can't do it for her. She willingly took every ounce of True Love that you gave. She took from three True Love relationships. Triple the threat against the Darkness. If anyone can handle that, it is Coraline. You just have to have faith in her."

"I do."

"Then talk to her."

"And, tell her what?" Regina asked, her voice broken and full of worry.

"Tell her how much you love her. Let her know that you aren't going to abandon her no matter what she does. She needs to know that she'll always have a home with you," Blue instructed.

Regina just nodded. Her entire body screamed out for her daughter. She would give up her magic if she knew that it would heal that half-heart and bring Coraline back to her. She could reconcile that she had two daughters. One would be Remy and the other Coraline. She wasn't willing to give her up.

Belle was on the other side of the room. Her heart ached and she couldn't voice the pain. Somehow when Coraline gave her magic, their hearts combined in a sisterhood of sorts. Belle would always know the pain that Coraline felt and would still recognize her no matter what. She wouldn't forget. She couldn't forget the woman that she wouldn't be raising that she thought of as a little sister. She would only know that woman before her that sacrificed her own well-being in order to give the entire town a chance at happiness.

Blue eyes met brown and held. Regina wanted to say something but she was unsure of what to do. It had already been two days. They both knew that Ruby had been staying away because she was still preparing the well to be her tomb. Belle already had the potion ready. She'd add to the water supply later. And, she'd monitor the town to make sure that everyone got enough of a dose to erase Coraline from their memories. Regina just nodded at her. She knew that the mayor knew of the plan. The only wild card was Emma, but with her nod, Regina accepted that responsibility. They only had one more day. If Coraline would just awake, they could…

"Is Ruby ready?" Regina asked.

"Yes."

"Are you?"

"Yes," she answered the Mayor just above a whisper.

"I won't be angry."

"I know."

"This is what she wanted."

"I know."

"I just love her so much."

"We all do."

"I've barely had six months with her and I have to let her go…"

"But, you'll have her again soon in your arms as a babe," Belle told her.

"I know."

"She's giving us all another chance at this."

"That isn't making losing her like this any easier."

"I know."

"I thought that love, True Love was the most powerful magic there is," Regina stated.

"It is."

"Then why isn't working?"

"I don't know."

They could smell the early morning fires burning in George's camp. The smells of food and dirty men flowed through the woods and across the small field that George had decided to make camp in. They were surrounded and didn't even know it. He had never been the greatest strategist, but this was just plain stupidity.

"Do you think he knows were coming?"

"I don't know," Coraline answered.

"Call for the attack?"

"He's mine!" Coraline bellowed as she dropped the lance into a fighting position and charged the field before her.

They didn't stand a chance. They weren't ready. These men weren't knights or soldiers. They were peasants that for some foolish reason decided to follow George to their deaths.

Her lance struck through several men before sticking in one and breaking. She screamed in frustration. She still couldn't see his tent. Men were running around, scrambling to their arms and armor. The Wolves were on the outskirts keeping them rounded up. It was like shooting fish in a barrel. Easy pickings, one by one, they fell.

She drew one of the short swords on the side of her saddle and proceeded to hack her way through the growing throng of men. Finally she saw George. The old grey royal stood surrounded by what was left of his royal guard, older men that couldn't see that his rule was over and so far gone.

"COWARD!" she yelled as she kicked her gelding into full gallop, rushing him.

Will stood by watching, defending herself, as Coraline charged full tilt. She screamed out for the Knight as she saw the lance rise at the last possible moment. She knew that Coraline couldn't stop. There was no way without magic and Coraline didn't seem to be a sorceress to do that. Her horse broke on the lance and she was flung over the horse's head.

Will saw her hit the ground hard. Her heart lurched at the sight. She drew her sword, cutting down all the men around her. She started to run straight for her. As she climbed over bodies, mud, muck and gore, she reached George and Coraline.

Coraline was bloody, beaten, and breathing hard, but she could see the Darkness in her eyes. They had completely gone black. There was no color. There was no emotion. And, then she spoke. Will felt her skin crawl as she slowly walked closer, hoping to stop her from killing him.

"You dared attack my mother's people," she hissed at him.

Will could see a bit of spittle fly from her mouth and land on his face. She had him by the collar of his tunic with her left hand. In her right she had her sword lifted and the tip in his throat. It wouldn't take much more for it to pierce the skin and sink through. Will knew that she had to be careful in how she approached this.

They were pacing. Regina knew that they had to do this. She had to let her go. This was Coraline's battle. She'd known that from the beginning, but now that it was time…she couldn't do it. She couldn't let her go. She couldn't tell the town that she died to save them. She couldn't let her be the martyr. It wasn't her job. If anyone should have died, it should have been her. She had done so much evil. Her child shouldn't have been the one to pay for her deeds.

The tears were nonstop. Emma tried to comfort her, but even she didn't know what to do. She blamed herself for this. She felt like she should have done something more. She was literally made of magic and she should have been able to save her own daughter from the Darkness. It wasn't fair. Her daughter shouldn't have had to come back to them in order to save them from a dark future. Emma vowed as she watched Coraline's breathing become more and more labored that Remy and the townsfolk would never be unprepared for anything again. She'd get with Will and they would start a militia, magical and non-magical. They weren't going to get caught with their pants down again. Emma would make sure of it.

"I won't let your life be in vain," she told her daughter as she kissed her forehead.

The tears grew as sobs racked everyone in that room. Blue and Tink weren't immune to the growing sadness. True to their words, they continued to pull darkness from Coraline's body, but even they knew it wasn't enough. She was now the embodiment of the root of evil. It didn't matter how much they pulled out of her. She would still succumb if the True Love magic didn't stop it. Blue watched as they all began to lose faith.

"I will never forget you, my friend," Tink told her.

Regina broke. She fell beside the bed of her daughter, gripping her hand, willing Coraline to wake and live. Every time that Emma tried to move her, she would just go back. Snow tried to talk with her, but Regina wouldn't budge. No one blamed her, but no one wanted Coraline's last thoughts to be about her crying mother.

"I will never let you go, again," Regina vowed, letting go of Coraline's hand and rubbing her protruding stomach. "I love you."

A bright light flew through the room. It circled Regina and then Coraline. Tears still continued to fall. Her breathing became shallower. Belle stepped forward and laid a hand on Regina's shoulder. Three days had come and gone. It was time.

"Regina…"

"I want to go with you," she mumbled.

"I'll tell Ruby," Belle replied.

And, they watched as Coraline's body drew its last breath. The collective sobs could be heard in town as wailing began in that room and flowed into town. As Ruby came to collect the body, Belle was the only one who knew that Coraline wasn't completely dead. Her magic and her body had to find a way to make Neal's heart whole, but she couldn't do that in the Realm with no Magic. She needed the Forest to heal her.

"You are the reason for so many disappointments in my life," she spit at him.

His eyes went wide. He had no idea who she was or why she was there. She knew that and she didn't care. She didn't need to introduce herself to him in order to kill him…cold blood or not.

"My grandfather defeated you. My mother cut you off and sent you away. But, yet, you still keep coming. You are not my blood. You are nothing to me but bug that doesn't know your place. But, you will soon, in the depths of Hell."

Will was too late. She plunged the sword through his throat. She kicked him in the chest to get him off her blade. She then spun around and decapitated him. There was never an explanation. There was never a chance to beg for mercy. His fate ad been sealed back in the Winterlands when she saw that boy without his tongue.

She picked up his head. Looking at the deathly parlor, she ripped his cloak from his body. She wrapped his head up in it and walked over to his gleaming white horse. She tied the bundle off on it and then returned to his body. She wiped her sword off on his tunic and sheathed it.

The golden-eyed wolf-man joined us. He was covered in blood and guts. He stood beside her and waited for her to say something to him.

"You can do what you want with the bodies. They are of no consequence to me. Eat them. Burn them. It doesn't matter. I have what I came for," Coraline told him before looking for her fallen steed amongst the bodies.

"Will I see you again?" he asked her.

"No."

She didn't give him time to respond. She grabbed the arms and food. She dug around until she found the royal standard for the kingdom. She walked calmly and without any reservation back to the gleaming white horse of George. She attached everything to the stutter-stepping horse.

She looked around the battleground. She no longer had a lance to raise the colors on. She needed something. When she didn't find what she was looking for, she walked around until she found her lance. She magically fixed it, cleaned, and prepared it for the standard. She crossed the grounds again. She attached the standard to the lance, mounted the horse, and rode away. She didn't wait. She didn't care. Her mission was over.

Will just stood there, wordlessly, and watched her go. Part of her ached to follow her, but she didn't know if she could. She had just watched her kill the former king with no remorse. Was this what Regina was scared of?

They were at the edge of town at the well. Regina and Belle stood by stoically as Ruby held Coraline's body. Regina had wanted to prepare it, but Belle wouldn't let her.

Belle didn't know how she could go through with this. She was the only one who could see the faint rise and fall of Coraline's chest. She was the only one who would hear the distant heart beat if she'd put her ear to her chest. Belle was the only one amongst them that knew that she was still alive and fighting. She deployed the potion in the early morning, before Regina had come to the Abbey to collect Coraline for the burial. It would be starting just after breakfast as the sun crested over the trees of Storybrooke's resident forest.

Coraline had known that her fight was going to be a long one and possible a losing battle. That is why she chose each of them to have a different part in her farewell. She knew that she couldn't be around them as she continued the struggle against the Darkness. She hadn't wanted her family to see how it was going to tear her apart and destroy her on a daily basis. She knew that if they saw it, that she would stop fighting if only to end their misery. In turn, she would become dark and destroy them instead. It was a no win situation. Either they thought that she died or she would end up killing them all. She picked the lesser of the two evils.

She felt weightless as her body floated over the well's opening. She could sense Ruby, Belle and Regina. She wondered if they were actually going to do it.

"Geppetto did good work," Belle told Ruby.

"He did considering the timeline we gave him."

Regina had silent tears flowing down her face. She looked from her sister to her newest friend. How had they come to this? How had everything gone so wrong that they were burying her daughter in the magical well outside of town? Where had she gone wrong?

"This isn't your fault, Regina," Belle told her.

"Then whose is it?"

"No ones. Coraline knew the risks of taking on the Darkness and she still chose to fight it. That is a sign of strength, Regina. You should be proud of her. She stood up against it and defeated it. She may have become a martyr, but it doesn't matter," Belle stated.

"Why not?" Regina asked, raging rising.

"Because you are pregnant with her."

Regina felt herself deflate. She knew that Belle was right. Coraline had come back to make sure that her life wasn't as hard. She was paving a better tomorrow with her death. It was a strange paradox that she had to sacrifice herself in order to keep a loving home and a happy childhood.

Regina felt her sobs start to stop. She rubbed her pregnant belly and promised herself that she would never let Remy want for love. They would love her so much that she wouldn't know anything about hatred or evil, if Regina could help it.

"We will all love her to pieces," Belle stated.

Regina nodded. Ruby lifted Coraline's body a little more until she was sitting on the ledge. They all looked down into the well. They could see the bottom. It was still full of water. Belle dropped another potion into the well.

They watched as the potion and the magical waters merged. The swirling magic turned a faint purple. Regina looked to Belle, wondering what she had done.

"She asked for this. Please drink this, Regina," Belle said handing her a small vial. She waited until Regina drank it and passed out before she told her, "I'm sorry."

"Now?" Ruby asked her.

"Now."

Ruby eased Coraline's body further over the ledge and into the well. She held her just under her arms so she would fall through the portal feet first. Ruby and Belle both leaned over and kissed Coraline's head. Her eyes shot open full of venom and darkness.

"Forgive me, Coraline. I love you. Godspeed. Now, Ruby, let her go," Belle commanded.

Ruby pulled her hands back and watched Coraline fell through the portal. The magic engulfed her pulling her further and further until there was nothing to see but purple swirling water. Belle backed away from the well and fell to the ground. Her heart felt broken in two.

Ruby reached over for the cap and lifted it into place. She sealed the well with metal and concrete. When she was done, she went to Belle, who stood and sealed the well with magic. Once she was happy with everything, they picked up Regina and headed back to town. Now, they would attend the memorial service of Remy Swan. The potion would kick in and they would move on until Coraline came back to them.

Belle looked at the clock tower. It had stopped again. She wondered what it meant, but didn't ponder it too much. Tomorrow was another day and she was going to have to spend the night removing all traces of her sister from the town. No one could ever know what happened.

She rode into the castle like Caesar into Rome. Her head was held high. There was no worry on her face. She had killed a man like it was nothing because for her it was nothing.

She stopped at a rail and dismounted. She heard the clop, clop of Will's horse behind her. She didn't wait. She bounded up the stairs and entered the castle major. She headed straight for the throne room. She needed to get this over with and see what her mothers would do to her.

She entered the throne room. Inside she saw Snow and Charming one side with a ten year old Neal. She smiled at the young blond boy and knew that her heart had kept him safe when they came back. She looked over and saw that Ruby and Belle were together. And for once, everyone could that Belle was pregnant again. Young Danielle, whom Coraline had yet to actually meet, was standing off to the side with a very tall Price Henry. He eyed her but smiled, realizing that the badass heroine of his favorite stories was actually his baby sister. He actually saluted her. She couldn't help but smile back at him.

As she neared the dais, she noticed that the court had gone quiet. She didn't care. She marched towards her mothers, grotesque sack of head in her hands, and kneeled before them.

Regina stood and walked down towards her. She held out the cloak wrapped head for her, not bothering with any announcing or explanations. She just handed it to her. Regina took it with a steady hand and touched her shoulder. Coraline lifted her head and met her mother's eyes. Mahogany warred with her black. She knew then that Regina could see the Darkness surfacing and she was afraid.

"You were only gone two days," Regina stated.

"It was all I needed."

"And, Will?"

"Is finishing up a diplomatic mission with the Ulf," Coraline stated.

"The Ulf?"

"They have sworn allegiance to the Swan Kingdoms," Coraline declared.

"You found the Ulf."

"Yes."

"And they swore to us?"

"Yes."

"Why?" Regina asked.

"Because of your laws against hunting them and Red is their Alpha."

There was a collective gasp amongst the peerage. Red was a well-known Alpha, but for the Ulf to lay claim to her, she must be royalty in her own right. By now, it had gotten out that she was the bastard half-sister to Regina. Red was loyal. She would never make a play for the throne, any of them, and the people all knew it. It was another reason they loved the Wolf.

"What are their terms?" Regina asked slowly, still holding the cloaked without knowing it.

"That you allow Red to be their Queen and join the federation."

"That's it?"

"Yes," Coraline answered.

Regina turned to her scribe. She nodded and he notated all that Coraline had said into the record. She would talk with Red about it later. She would give her the option. Ulfland was so close to the Dark Kingdom of Rumple's that it would be advantageous for them if she would take their throne. It would bring them one step closer to bring peace to the masses.

"What is this?"

"Proof," Coraline stated quickly.

"Do I want to know?"

"That I cannot answer, my Queen," Coraline told her as she slammed a fist to her breast in salute, bowing her head as well.

Regina pulled one side back just enough to see what was in the bundle. The horrified look on her face brought Belle to the dais. She took the bundle, looked inside then waved over a page. She bent down and whispered into his ear before shooing him out the room with bundle.

"It's over?"

"Completely."

"And, that was the only course of action that you could take."

"It was."

Regina looked up then to see Will behind her. She could see the worry and the fear on Will's face. Regina's fears had come true. Her past had come back to haunt her in the form of her daughter. Her daughter had taken her punishment for her and was now the Dark One. Regina didn't know what to do. If she threw her newly knighted daughter out of the kingdoms, surely Coraline would cause some sort of backlash. If she kept her, she didn't know that she could rein her back in once the darkness surfaced.

"Well, good job, Ser French. Please take your leave and rest. I am sure that you deserve it."

Coraline nodded at her mother and left the room. Will approached slowly, with the principle of taking her place behind Regina. She knew that Regina knew more than she was letting on, but she was still Regina's Vulcannonian and under contract. She couldn't contradict in her court. She would wait for a private moment.

Belle looked around the gymnasium. She was surprised to see that many people there. She knew that Regina wasn't their favorite person, but she supported the town and kept it prosperous. They owed her for that. She helped save them from the Darkness and the Dark One, again. The least that they could do was give their condolences about her magical, future daughter.

One by one the people came by and wished her well. They apologized for her loss. When they had all had their chance, Belle went to the refreshment table. She grabbed a glass. She walked up to the mic.

"I would like to propose a toast."

Everyone stopped and turned to look at the small woman. Those that didn't have a glass got one quickly. Belle searched the crowd until she found Emma and Regina, together, with Henry.

"To the woman who saved us. To Coraline, Emma and Regina's daughter!"

The crowd erupted into cheers and drank a healthy amount from their glasses. Belle saw the spell starting to take effect. She knew that they needed more.

"To Wilhelmina, daughter of Pyroxes of Vulcannonian, defender of our Queen Regina!"

More cheers. More drinks. More of the spell released. She realized that no one knew why they were gathered there anymore. The room wasn't one of mourning. It was a celebration and to make it seem more like one.

"To Regina and Emma, bless your coming wedding and child. To our Queen and Princess. To the Sheriff and Mayor!"

This time the room erupted into a raucous. No one could hear themselves think much less remember that they were there to celebrate a loss, not the happiness of a coming life. It was the perfect cover. Slowly the townsfolk made their way to the happy couple, congratulating them on their coming nuptials and Regina's magical pregnancy. No one seemed to care. They were all happy and that was how it should be.

Only when Belle looked around the room, she noticed the one thing that was missing.

"Come back to us, Coraline," she said under her breath and finished her drink, hoping to forget.

"Belle?"

"Yes, Regina?"

"What am I supposed to do with her?" Regina asked her.

"Love her."

Will took that moment to lean forward. She needed to talk to them. She needed to know what she could do to protect the family from Coraline. She didn't want to be in that position, especially knowing that she was Regina and Emma's daughter, but she didn't see any other choice at the moment. Coraline was a loose cannon. She wanted to be prepared.

"What do you think, Will?" Regina asked her, being pulled into the conversation before she could question them.

"I think that the Darkness is still strong in her. She can tap it at will, but she doesn't have a firm enough control on it. Or, she may have some trigger. I don't know what it is, but she is dangerous. I am not sure how far I could trust her on the battlefield if she was needed."

"Is she ruthless?" Regina asked.

"Yes, she is. But, she is also methodically and quick in her carnage. No a single man she struck down suffered. She made sure that they died quickly. It was a small relief to see, but the amount of death that she wrought on that field. It was almost instantaneous and very unnecessary."

"I see."

"I don't think you do, my Queen."

"What do you mean?" Belle asked, noting the edge in Will's voice.

"Who is she to me?"

"What are you asking?"

"There is some connection between us. I can feel it. I know that she can, too. What haven't you told me about her? What happened to us in Storybrooke? What don't I know?" Will questioned.

Regina sighed. She was about to tell Will everything when Belle touched her shoulder. Regina stopped and let Belle lead the conversation.

"What did she say to you?" Belle inquired.

"The night before the battle, she told me that she released me."

"Did you feel anything when she said it?" Regina asked, concern coloring her voice.

"My heart dropped. I felt like it broke, but there was no pain. It was like a ghost or an idea was just gone from my heart and I was able to move on without any issues. I couldn't explain it."

"What else?"

"I'd felt closer to her the longer we rode. There was a magnetism between us until last night. Then there was nothing. I didn't feel anything for her. She was just a curiosity for me and someone that I needed to watch because those were my orders from the Queen."

Regina rubbed her face. Coraline was breaking ties. She knew that she couldn't control the Darkness. She'd come home to let them know that she was still alive, but Regina had a feeling that she was going to run away again. Coraline had come home to prove that she could control the Darkness and she'd failed. She would go away again until she felt in control and then she would come back. She knew, because it was what she would do.

"Wilhelmina, I release you from your contract to this throne," Regina said quickly.

She looked into the two sets of brilliant blue eyes before her. She gave them a weak smiled. She knew what she had to do. She just hoped that she wasn't too late.

"Will, you are her True Love. You imprinted on her in Boston and brought her home to us. I held you back because I wasn't sure that you were the right person for her. But, I was wrong. You two are perfect for her. You compliment her and your challenge her. You are her other half. What you felt in that field was her breaking the True Love bond between you. She did it magically and if you can find her and kiss her, the bond will start over. You are her soul mate."

Will looked perfectly aghast at the thought. She didn't want to be in love, but she couldn't explain her sudden need to find Coraline. She nodded at Regina and left the throne room.

"Regina, you realize that you just gave a Vulcannonian Princess your blessing to court your daughter and love her completely?" Belle asked.

"I do."

"You will never cease to surprise me, my Queen."

"And, you won't either, my Bookworm."

They hugged. Having grown together over the past few years, Belle knew that there was more. She didn't want to push. She would wait for Regina to tell her.

"Belle?"

"Yes, Regina," she replied.

"Coraline is closer to you and Red than she will ever be to me and Emma. I understand it even if I don't like it. I need to know that you will support her, even if it is against me," Regina stated.

"I always have," Belle said.

"I know. But, can you still? Did you see the Darkness in her eyes?"

"I will. She is as much my sister as she is your daughter. Yes, I saw it. I've seen it before. I loved Rumple once upon a time, remember? I will always love her. I will always be there for her. I will never give up on her," Belle swore.

"Good."

"She's going to run, isn't she?"

"Yes."

"What about Will?"

"Hopefully she can stop her," Regina replied.

"And, if she can't?"

"Then, we will just have to find Coraline and bring her home again. We've lost her once to this Darkness. I will not lose her again. I will never stop fighting for her," Regina declared.

"Neither will I," Belle vowed.

In Coraline's rooms, Will burst through the door. She saw a small bag packed and a hand full of beans. She knew what it meant. Coraline was running.

"You're leaving?" Will asked as soon as her blue eyes found Coraline's redden dark eyes.

"I have to."

"Why?"

"I killed him in cold blood. They are scared of me. I frighten my own family."

"You don't frighten me."

"I should."

"How can you?"

"What are you talking about?" Coraline asked.

She hadn't noticed that Will had been stalking her through the rooms. She hadn't stopped packing to see what the Vulcannonian was doing. She didn't notice that she was upon her until it was too late and Will held her in her arms.

"I am not letting you go that easily," Will told her.

"Mom released you?"

"She did."

"Will…"

"No, Coraline, I remember everything now. As soon as she released me, I remembered. I am not going to mourn you again. I am not going to let you go without a fight," Will told her.

"Will…"

Without any preamble, Will kissed her. She could feel the magic flowing between them. She felt the sudden connection and burst of True Love fill her entire being. She knew what she had been missing for years. She understood her heartbreak in the clearing after knowing that Coraline had tumbled with the golden eyed man-wolf.

"I am not letting you go, again," Will replied forcefully.

"You have to," Coraline whispered through tears.

"Why?"

"Because I can't control myself."

"I'll help you. We all will. I am not giving up. I will follow you to Hell and back. I'll burn for you. Surely you have to understand that. Tell me that you don't love me. Tell me that!"

Coraline reached down to the bed. She gathered her bag and the beans. She turned to look at Will and hoped that she had enough strength to do what needed to be done.

"I'm sorry."

"No, you don't get to make this decision alone," Will demanded.

"You need to move on," Coraline told her.

"I love you!"

"You can't."

"Why not?"

"Because I am the Dark One!"

"I don't care!" Will yelled back at her.

"You should."

Will leaned forward to capture her hands. She wanted to make her stay. She wanted to kiss her until she agreed to do it.

"Coraline, please…" she pleaded.

"Will…I can't. I am sorry…" she stated as a burst of energy flowed through her hands, pushing Will away from her and across the room.

The tears in her eyes flowed freely. She threw a bean at the wall and watched as the portal opened. She blocked Will from coming after her with magic and jumped into the portal. She could hear Will's screams as she fell through. She let her mind go as she tumbled.

Noises filled her ears. The smells of an industrious city surround her. She heard voices and then a cry for help. She stood up. She looked around at the concrete and asphalt wondering where on Earth she landed. She stumbled down the alley way until she found the person calling for help.

"Get off her," she called at the looming figure in front of her.

"What's it to you?"

"She's with me," Coraline lied.

The small brunette turned to look at her. She knew that she must be a sight in her tabard and sword shirt. The black leather pants weren't out of place though. She could see the pleading look in her eyes. Coraline rose to her full height and puffed up, ready for a fight with the goon that had the woman pushed against the concrete brick wall.

"Funny, I thought she wanted to play with me," he hissed at Coraline.

"Well, as you can see, she doesn't."

"Too bad. I've got something nice and big for her. We could both do her," he suggested.

Coraline saw red. She grabbed the man by his throat, pulling him away from the petite woman. She threw him against the other wall of the alley. She turned around to look into the woman's scared brown eyes, but she didn't have time to assess the situation before she was clocked with a piece of pipe or 2 x 4. She wasn't sure what it was. She just knew that it hurt like Hell.

"Run," she told the woman as she turned around with a feral smile at the man.

She heard the smaller woman run to the end of the alley as she began to beat the man. She didn't hold back. She pummeled him. She wanted him to think twice before he tried to hurt another woman in this city. She also didn't care if he died. When he fell to the ground, she tried to right herself and brush the debris of the alley off her.

She stumbled a bit, but managed to make her way to end of the alleyway where she'd seen the other run. She looked around. It was a big city and one she hadn't been in before. She sighed. Damn, her side her. And, then it hit her. Fuck! She was in a land with no magic. Pain was going to be her new friend again.

"Are you okay?" the woman asked as she started to make her way down the sidewalk.

"I thought I told you to run."

"I called the cops."

"Great."

"You need a hospital."

"No. No, hospital."

"Why not?"

"They ask too many questions."

"Thank you by the way. My name's Rachel."

"That's nice."

"What's your name?"

"Coraline."

"Well, Coraline, you can come home with me for now. We'll sort out what to do with you in the morning. Can you walk? I live just up the street."

"What city is this?" Coraline asked while nodding and heading with the small woman whom she was leaning on now due to the pain.

"New York."

"So, this is New York."

"Home sweet home, yeah," Rachel said enthusiastically.

"It is now."

The end?

A/N: Don't kill me. I am still hiding in the corner from the last chapter. I promise that I have something in mind for the sequel. Just bear with me. I promise that I'll post something for it soon. Maybe, even later today, depending on the responses. Love you all, ~JET