This is a bit of an unusual writing style for me. The idea came to me while I was driving and listening to the Florence + The Machine song Seven Devils. Hearing it made me imagine this scene jumping back and forth between people in a frantic manner mirroring the panic each character was feeling (Snow, James, and Red for Emma's safety, and them Emma with her fear of the forest and fear of her magic manifesting.)

In reference to Emma's note - I tried to misspell it so it would seem believable that a six year old would write it. It was awkward and I know the wording is a little formal for someone that young - but you get the point of it.

The name Serafine is not in any way a reference to Beautiful Creatures or that character. I just liked the name for a magical being - it is in no way an indication of her true intentions for Emma.

I real hope you like this chapter. It was hard to get write but I finally got it to where I like it. Enjoy! and tell me what you all think

REVIEW!

James smiled as he watched his daughter tear around the palace gardens keeping the guards on their toes. He laughed at the simple joy that radiated from her, how she treated every day as a gift and lived life to the fullest. She was truly an amazing little girl. He was so lucky he got the chance to be her father. He couldn't believe she was turning six years old tomorrow. So much had changed in the six years since she had come into their lives. Emma had made James feel things he didn't even know were possible; she made him a better person. The childlike wonder she viewed the world with was a much needed breath of fresh air from his duties as a King. Emma had a way of simplifying everything and allowing him to see what really mattered.

As James watched her play Rumplestiltskin's warning rang in his mind. Tomorrow Emma would be six and James had no clue what was going to happen to his little girl. He was so scared for her. Despite years of researching they were still no closer to understanding what power rested inside of Emma.

What if Rumplestiltskin was right? What if Emma couldn't handle her power and it destroyed her? He couldn't imagine life without his littler girl; she was too much apart of him. Every day she surprised him with how incredible she was. When Snow had become pregnant and given birth to William when Emma was five they had been worried Emma would be jealous of her new brother after being the center of her parents attention for so long. But Emma had taken it in stride, surprising both her parents by being the most loving and incredible big sister they could imagine from the day William had entered the world.

He sighed and turned to walk back into William's nursery where Snow and Red were waiting. Time had run out, they had to figure out what to do.

"It's tonight James." Snow looked up at her husband. "What are we going to do?"

"I don't know." James admitted. "We've looked everywhere and we haven't found any answers."

"Not everywhere." Snow pointed out.

"We are not bringing that man into her life." James said firmly.

"That man is the only reason we know about this." Snow pointed out.

"No." James shook his head. "Having him see her once is bad enough. I will not allow him to corrupt her or use our little girl for his twisted schemes. I swore to do whatever it takes to protect her, and keeping her from him falls under that category."

"James." Snow dropped her head. "We are at a loss. We have absolutely no idea what is going to happen tonight. I'm so scared for her."

"I know." James pulled his wife close and whispered. "It terrifies me too."

Emma ran up the stairs to her brother's nursery, taking out a few guards in the process. She had so much to tell her parents. As she approached the room she heard voices inside. Emma pressed herself against the wall and listened. Immediately she felt guilty. She wasn't supposed to eavesdrop and she always tried to follow the rules. She rarely got in trouble and it wasn't just because with one sad look and her father melted, she genuinely was an obedient daughter, just a little free-spirited at times.

Emma was about to make her presence known when she heard her name. Her interest piqued, Emma remained quiet.

"We certainly can't have her here tonight." Snow said. "Who knows what will happen. It's not safe for anyone in this castle if she's here. We have to take her out into the forest."

"You're right." Red agreed. "Even if nothing happens, taking her away, just as a precaution, would be best."

"Well someone has to be with her." James said. "Snow?"

"I can't..." Snow swallowed. "I can't leave William. I'm not ready yet. What if something happens? I can't leave him without a mother."

"Don't talk like that." James said.

"We all know it's a possibility." Snow argued. "I'm just stating the facts here James. We don't know what we're dealing with when it comes to Emma. What about you?"

"I have that meeting tonight with the representatives from the other kingdoms. We're on the brink of war. This may keep peace for us all. If I don't go talks could break down completely." James said. "I need to be there, for all of our safety."

"Red?" Snow suggested.

"I would." Red said apologetically. "But Graham is going out of town tonight and Michael isn't feeling well. I don't feel comfortable leaving him with Granny when he's ill. You understand Snow. It's so hard to be away from your baby when they need you. I love Emma and would do anything for her, but I can't."

"There's always the guard." James suggested half-heartedly. "She does love Lancelot."

Emma felt the tears burning her eyes. No one wanted her. She had no clue what they were discussing but it had become pretty evident that in terms of importance she had fallen to the bottom of everyone's list.

She took off to her room before anyone caught her listening where she wasn't supposed to. She threw herself on her bed and sobbed, her parent's words playing over in her mind. They didn't care about her; they wanted her gone, out of the way, out of the castle, out of their lives.

As she thought about what her mother had said a memory came crashing back into her mind, a memory that she thought had been lost long ago. It was the memory of that day, the day when Regina's army has besieged the castle. There had been a magnificent battle but Emma remembered none of it. She had been found hours after the battle had ceased lying unconscious in a remote corridor of the castle. No one seemed to know how she had gotten there. When she woke up, her mother and father waiting patiently at her bedside with tear stricken faces, she had remembered nothing.

That is up until this point. Her mother's words, no her mother's choice had triggered the memory to return. Emma sat up, gasping for air. She had been right all along. Emma had been warned but she had chosen not to listen to her. There was no way she could be right, her parents loved her, or so Emma had thought up until this point.

'Well fine.' Emma thought. If her parents didn't want her she would make it easy on them. No one would have to come with her to the forest tonight. She would go alone. She knew it well enough to manage on her own and she was familiar enough with the castle to slip out undetected. She set about packing what she would need and writing a note to her parents telling they no longer had to worry about her. When the time was right, she would slip away. She wondered if anyone would even care to notice.

Back in William's nursery the adults were continuing on with the conversation. "What are we saying?" Snow shook her head. "Listen to all of us, talking about how busy we all are. Too busy for Emma, our little girl, when she needs us more than anything else.

"You're absolutely right." James took his wife's hand. "I can't even believe we just had that conversation. We have to do what's best for Emma, no matter what. I'll go with her tonight."

"No." Snow shook her head. "You need to be at that meeting, for all of us, for Emma. It won't matter if she gains control over her magic if she doesn't have a safe place to come home to. I'll go with her tonight. I'll keep her safe."

"What if you can't?" Red asked gently.

Snow took a deep breath. "Then I want to be with her. Even if it's the end for her, for both of us, I want to be there. I need to be with my baby, no matter the cost."

James looked at his wife sadly, knowing she was right. Once she had made up her mind there was no persuading her another way, especially when it came to their daughter. Snow had been even more protective of Emma since the siege. They had almost lost Emma that day. Snow took it the hardest. It took him weeks to convince her it was ok to leave Emma in someone else's care, even for a little while. She was fiercely protective of their daughter. If Snow wanted to be with Emma, he knew there was no stopping her. "Ok you will go with her. Now let's figure out what our plan is."

"All right." James turned his back from as the last light of the setting sun disappeared over the horizon. "Times up. We have a plan, we have to act now."

"I'll secure the village." Red nodded. She turned to her friend. "Be safe Snow. Take care of her."

"I will." Snow promised as her friend departed from the room. She turned to James hesitantly. "Now it's just us."

"Yes my darling." James tucked a lock of his wife's raven hair behind her ear. A cry of indignation from the crib caused both to gaze lovingly at their son. James laughed. "Well the three of us."

Snow gently lifted her son into her arms. "We could never forget you sweetheart." Snow gazed at her son for a few minutes not speaking. She gently stroked his cheek. "What if I don't come back?"

"You will." James promised. "You and Emma will come back tomorrow and we'll have a grand celebration for her sixth birthday and we'll all be together. Everything will be fine."

"James even if we do make it through the night, even if she makes it through the night." Snow took a deep breath to calm her down. "We still don't know what we're dealing with. The danger is not just tonight. It's the rest of her life."

"Shhh." James gently took his wife's face into his hands. "I'm not going to let anything happen to our family. I will always protect us."

"What if you can't protect us from this?" Snow asked, tears in her eyes.

"Then we won't be able to say we didn't try." James promised.

"I love you so much Charming." Snow kissed James passionately. Snow pulled away reluctantly, now wanting the moment to end but knowing it had to. "Where is she anyway? We need to get ready."

"Eliza has her. She's safe, don't worry." James assured his wife. Not quite ready to let her leave him just yet.

"How much longer will we be able to say those words?" Snow said grimly. "She's safe?"

James took William from his wife's arms and placed him in his crib. He took both of Snow's hands into his. "I believe in our daughter. She is strong just like her mother. There's never been a challenge we haven't been able to face. This one will be no different."

"But Rumplestiltskin said the could destroy her." The tears in Snows eyes threatened to spill over.

"But he also said he believed she would be strong enough." James insisted. "Rumplestiltskin had it in his twisted mind that Emma would be a force unlike the world had ever seen. For her to be that, she needs to be alive. He knows more about this than anyone. If he believes she'll be strong enough, so should we."

"I guess you have a point." Snow whispered.

"We have nothing to worry about other than getting her through tonight." James said. "After that we take it one step at a time."

"You're Majesties." Lancelot burst into the room in a state of panic that was out of character for the usually calm head of the guard.

"What is it Lancelot?" James pulled his wife into his arms.

"It's Emma." Lancelot managed to get out.

"What about Emma?" Snow's voice was filled with fear.

Lancelot looked at the couple with grim eyes. "She's gone."

"What do you mean she's gone?" James voice came out more harshly than he intended but he didn't care. This was his baby.

"No one has seen her for hours." Lancelot began to explain.

"How did you let that happen?" Snow looked at him.

"I don't know." Lancelot admitted. "It seems Emma convinced Eliza, Evander, and her teacher that she was supposed to be with one of the others. Emma rarely causes problems so no one suspected anything out of the ordinary."

"Still for her to disappear from the castle?" Snow cried. "That's no small feat."

"She's your daughter and she knows this castle like the back of her hand." Lancelot elaborated. "It would be no trouble for her to slip out undetected."

James put his hand to his forehead. "How do you know she left and she's just not off somewhere in the castle playing some game to amuse herself?"

"Because Emma knows the repercussions of slipping off unattended. After the last incident I don't think she's likely to repeat it." Lancelot pulled a piece of parchment form his pocket. "And there's this."

Snow took the parchment from Lancelot and began to read it intently, James looking over her shoulder. 'Mother and Father,' Immediately Snow knew something was off. Emma never called her parents by such formal terms, but she couldn't dispute it, the writing was definitely Emma's.

I heard you talking. Im sorry to be so much truble. I didnt relize you wanted me gon. I no you are all to busy for me so I will make it eazy on you. Father go to your meeting, Aunt Red be with Will, and Mother stay with Will. This is not the first time you have picked him over me. I thot you loved me, that you wuld always love me. I gues I was rong, I gues those were lies. No one has to take me away tonite. Im alredy gon.

Emma

"Oh my God James." Snow dropped the note and covered her mouth with her hands. "What have we done?"

"It's going to be ok." James tried to calm his wife down but it wasn't working. He was just as upset as she was. He looked up at Lancelot. "Alert the guard. I want everyone out looking for her. I don't care what it takes. Find her."

"Right away." Lancelot disappeared.

James turned to his wife. "I'll lead them. I'll find her. You wait here with Will…"

"Absolutely not." Snow shook her head. "This is my fault, I need to be out there."

"This isn't your fault…" James started.

"You read the note." Snow cut in. "She heard what we said. She doesn't think we love her. We all played a part in that. I will not stay here while our little girl is in the forest, alone."

"Ok." James nodded, knowing there was no persuading his wife otherwise.

"I'll go to the village and get Red." Snow decided. "With her tracking abilities we'll have a better chance at finding her."

"That's a good idea." James nodded. "Go."

"I love you James." Snow grabbed her cloak. "Find her."

"I will find her." James promised as his wife left. "I will always find her."

Emma whipped around, a sound behind her startling her again. She had been in this forest hundreds of times but never by herself and never at night. It was scary. She shook her head and tried to get her bearings. Aunt Red had taught her how to track, how to pick up on the direction someone had gone, how not to be caught.

She didn't want to go back ever. If they didn't want her, she didn't want them. But she knew they would come after her, some fake attempt at care to get whatever they wanted from her. They probably wouldn't even come themselves; they'd send the guard and stay in the castle with their precious favorite child. No, Emma wouldn't go back to some place she wasn't cared for. She couldn't be found.

Emma pulled her dress higher to keep it from dragging on the ground, leaving a path. Her steps were light and quick, leaving no trace. But she knew her scent remained. She had to hide that. The river! Aunt Red had told her water masked scents.

Another screech startled her. She looked around. She had no clue what was in these trees. Fear coursed through her body. She wanted nothing more than to be in her father's arms… No. He didn't care about her. His kingdom was more important. And her mother… well she would always choose William over Emma. She had proved that before hadn't she? She knew she had to keep moving.

Snow flew into the village. She didn't care how out of breath she was. She needed to get to Red. She needed to find her daughter. Her daughter who was out in those woods, alone, and it was all her fault.

"Red!" Snow shouted, pounding on her friend's door. "Red open up!"

"Snow?" Red pulled the door open; her son was nestled peacefully in her arms. "What is it?"

"It's Emma." Snow managed to get out. "She's gone."

"What?" Red put Michael down and turned to her friend. "What do you mean?"

"She left a note. No one's seen her all day. She's gone Red. She left." Snow said through shaking breaths. She collapsed into Red's arms.

"Snow." Red sounded as if someone had punched her it the gut. "Why did she leave?"

"She heard us talking, about how we were all to busy to be with her tonight. She misinterpreted it. She left a note saying she was sorry she was such a burden, that she didn't realize the love we pretended to give to her was a lie. She said she would make things easy on us and just leave." Snow sobbed. "This is all my fault."

"Snow, it's not your fault." Red assured her friend.

"No it is. You don't understand but it really is." Snow straightened up and wiped her eyes. "I'm sorry I'm such a mess."

"No." Red put her hand on Snow's shoulder. "She's your daughter and you're terrified for her. You're allowed to break down."

"I know you wanted to be with Michael tonight, that he's your family and Emma's not." Snow said. "But can you…?"

"Of course." Red cut her friend off. "You're wrong. Emma is my family. You have a better chance of finding her with me. Let me take Michael to Granny's and we'll go."

"Thank you." Snow's eyes shone through her tears.

"Anything for you, anything for that little girl." Red promised.

The river seemed bigger than Emma remembered, faster. She had never been scared of swimming, which shocked her parents after she had almost drowned when she slipped into this very river two years ago.

Emma took a deep breath. Her fathers voice rang out in her head. 'Fear is not real. It is a product of thoughts you create. Danger is very real, but fear is a choice.' She may have only been six but she was pretty sure the danger of this river was real, but whether she liked or not, she was her father's daughter. Fear would not hold her prisoner. She took a deep breath and jumped.

She plunged into the river, the icy water surrounding her. Emma gasped for breath, flailing around. As the river carried her further down panic began to fill Emma. 'Take a deep breath Emma. Calm yourself. There's no reason to fear. Fear gives others power over you. Don't give anyone that power over you. Be strong Emma. Don't be afraid.' James's words ran through Emma's head, calming her down. The irony of it was too good. The very people she was running from were helping her to do it.

She allowed the water to sweep her farther down the river, farther from her trail. There were two easy exit areas coming up, but that would be too obvious. She had to get out somewhere they wouldn't expect. Despite her young age, Emma was smart. Aunt Red had taught her well and she listened to every instruction, every piece of information given to her. Danger was very real in their lives. As much as her parents had tried to shield her, she knew they were trying to teach her to survive if she ever needed to. Those lessons were backfiring on them now.

Suddenly she caught sight of a branch sticking out from a rock face. Her instincts told her this was her out. Emma struggled to swim over to the side of the river but somehow she made it. Her hand reached out and grasped the branch but the water was too strong. Something caught her dress and pulled her under. Emma held on for dear life to the branch, panic setting in. 'Breathe Emma, fear is not real.' Emmatried to pull herself up but she wasn't strong enough. She was running out of air. She gave one last pull and some unseen force shoved her up out of the water. Emma gasped for air as the reached up for the ledge above.

Emma collapsed on the ground, looking at the river coursing below her. What had just happened? That surge of power running through her, what had that been? Whatever it was, it had saved her life.

Emma took a deep shaky breath. She knew she had to keep going. She quickly covered any traces that she had been there and took off into the trees, out of sight.

James glanced around. Emma could have taken off in any number of directions. He ran his hands through his hair; he had absolutely no clue where to start. The other search parties had already taken off; his was the last. He had stayed behind to organizethe search. Lancelot had convinced him to attempt to calm down by planning what areas everyone would search instead of frantically running around the forest himself. James had agreed and the knowledge that his every inch of the forest was being covered gave him some solace, but not much. Now he had to take matters into his own hands. He knew his daughter better than anyone of those men out there. He would find her.

"We need to go back to the castle." Red called behind her.

"What?" Snow looked up, shocked. "Why? We should be searching the forest. We already know she's not at the castle."

"I can't just pick up a trail in the middle of no where." Red explained. "I need a starting point. The last place we knew where she was. That's the castle."

"Ok." Snow urged her horse on faster towards the castle; thankful it wasn't too far from the town.

They reached the bridge that led to the castle fairly quick. "James." Snow called as her husband came into view. "What are you doing here?"

"I remained behind to organize the search parties and to make sure every inch of the castle was searched." James explained. "Red, can you pick up a scent?"

Red quickly dismounted the horse and began to search the area. "My nose isn't strong enough in this form. She left too long ago." Red looked at Snow and James as if asking for permission to change into a wolf.

"Of course." Snow nodded. "I know you won't hurt her. Do what you need to we will follow."

Red nodded and removed her hood. She shifted into her wolf form. She began to sniff around the ground. Suddenly her ears perked up and she looked back at Snow and James before taking off.

"Follow her." James urged his horse after Red, Snow following close behind.

"James." Snow called to her husband. "Look at the moon."

James glanced up to see the full moons position in sky. "I know Snow."

"It's midnight." Snow's voice trembled. "It's starting."

Emma ran through the forest, making fast ground on her small legs. She had put a lot of distance between herself and anyone who could be following after her. She had no clue where she was going but she figured she'd know it when she saw it. Suddenly a pain unlike anything she had ever felt ripped through her body. Emma doubled over in pain, willing herself not to scream. She writhed on the ground, trying to get the searing pain to go away.

She bit her lip so hard she began to taste blood. The pain was absolutely unbearable. No amount of calming words could make it go away. Emma couldn't help it anymore. As another surge of pain washed over her body a scream ripped from her throat. No amount of self-control could help her now.

In another land a woman woke with a start. She felt a tug on her. Something was happening.

"What is it Madame?" A girl noticed her mistresses sudden startle. "Are you ok?"

"I have never felt something like this before." The woman stared at the ceiling. "It's intoxicating."

"Is there another one?" The girl asked.

"Yes." The woman whispered, gasping as she felt the power coursing through her. "Yes there is."

"Is she in need of our aid?" The girl questioned.

"Yes, she is young, and scared, and alone." The woman looked at the girl. "A power is being born unlike this world, nor any other has ever seen."

"Well where is she?" The girl stood up.

The woman turned slowly to look at a map on the wall. "Their land."

Red bounded through the forest, never hesitating once following the path left by the young princess. Red knew the child as if she were her own. She would not be deterred.

Snow recognized the forest around her. She knew where they were going. "James." Snow called to her husband. "She's going in the direction of..."

"The river." James finished grimly. "Emma's smart. She's using what we taught her."

"To hide from us." Snow whispered. "Oh my God." Snow covered her mouth with one of her hands. How had everything spiraled out of control so quickly? The thought of her little Emma out here, in pain, all alone, it was too much to bear. She couldn't believe she had let this happen.

Suddenly Red stopped short she sniffed around and looked back at Snow and James, transforming back into her human form. "The trail stops here."

"Where could she have gone?" James dismounted and looked around.

"Emma knows water can mask a scent." Red said slowly. "That trails die in rivers."

"She jumped in?" Snow gasped, looking with terrified eyes at the river. "She's so small. How could she survive that? James she couldn't survive that."

"Snow." James grabbed his wife's shoulders. "Our daughter is strong. She's survived that river before…"

"Barely." Snow's voice was broken. "She barely survived it once James, and only because you were there to pull her out. She couldn't survive it again."

"She survived this Snow. I know it." James promised his wife. "You know our daughter, you would feel it if something is wrong."

"Something is wrong." Snow cried. "I do feel it."

"Exactly." James said. "You feel it. Which means she can't be dead. She's still out there." James turned to Red. "If she got in she had to get out somewhere, which means the trail will pick up on the other side.

"That's true." Red nodded. "There are only two exits that would be manageable for Emma."

"Then lets start there." James nodded. "We're going to find her." He promised Snow again. He tried to believe his own promises. They had to find her, he couldn't bear to think what life would be like if they didn't.

Emma had tried to continue on during the brief respites in the pain but she hadn't made it far. Each time the pain resumed it got stronger, threatening to overtake her. She collapsed to the ground again. This time she began to notice a white glow enveloping her body.

'What is that?' Emma wondered as another scream burst out from her.

Suddenly through blurry eyes she noticed someone appear before her. It was a woman, a beautiful woman glowing in blue light. Emma's head pounded and every inch of her body hurt. She couldn't be sure if she was really seeing this woman or not. She whimpered as the woman knelt down next to her.

"Come now child." The woman spoke gently. "I know it hurts, but the pain will end soon."

"How do you know?" Emma shrunk away.

"Because we have all gone through this pain." The woman spoke softly. "Each of us when our magic manifests itself feel the same pain. The more intense the pain, the more powerful the magic you have inside you."

"Magic?" Emma whispered.

"Yes child." The woman nodded. "Magic and a very powerful magic at that. Unlike anything I've ever seen before."

"Do you know a lot of people with magic?" Emma asked.

"Yes dear. I know many." The woman said. "There are many of us where I am from. Many girls and boys like you. I take care of them all."

Emma looked like she wanted to respond but she cried out in pain again. "Here." The woman held her hand out carefully. "May I?" Emma nodded pitifully. The woman ran her hand gently over Emma.

Emma relaxed immediately. "How did you do that?"

"Magic dear." The woman explained. "I have it just like you do. With control, magic can allow us to do great things. I can teach you how to do that. Would you like that?"

"Yes." Emma nodded. "Who are you?"

"My name is Serafine." The woman smiled. "I am a great power from another land."

"What land?" Emma asked.

"One that I'm sure you haven't heard of little one." Serafine said. "Now that I told you mine name, could you tell me yours?"

Emma looked at the woman guardedly. She had been taught never to talk to strangers, but she had also been taught to trust her instincts. And her instincts told her this woman had good intentions. "Emma."

"Well Emma, what are you doing out here all by yourself?" Serafine asked. "Don't you have a family?"

"No." Emma shook her head.

"Don't lie to me." Serafine warned gently.

"I'm running away." Emma admitted. "I overheard them talking. They don't want me."

"That can't be true." Serafine looked at the girl. "You look well cared for. You have nice clothes; I can sense that you come from true love. Surely your parent's must love you."

"They did." Emma avoided Serafine's eyes. "But they don't want this. I overheard them talking. They're scared of me. They don't want me to hurt my brother. They love him more than me. They wanted to get rid of me."

"Oh child." Serafine pulled Emma into her arms. "I can make all that pain go away."

"You can?" Emma looked up at Serafine with wonder in her eyes.

"Yes dear." Serafine nodded. "If you want me to."

Emma looked thoughtful for a second before tensing up as another wave of pain washed over her. Serafine touched the girl and immediately the pain dissipated. "You can make all the pain go away?" Emma asked. Serafine nodded again. "Do it."

"As you wish dear." Serafine moved her hand over Emma, a blue glow surrounding her. She had been watching the progression of the girl's magic. It was growing more and more powerful with each passing moment. She knew the full manifestation had yet to come and if she had any idea of the girl's power it would be big. "Emma a pain is going to come soon that not even I can make go away. But once it's over the pain will be gone, your powers will be here, you'll be fine."

"Ok." Emma nodded bravely.

Serafine felt the intense power begin to course through Emma's body. It was coming. "Get ready Emma. You are strong enough. Prepare yourself. Calm your mind, can you do that for me?"

"Yes." Emma whispered. "Someone taught me how to do that."

"Good." Serafine nodded, happy to see her memory wipe had worked. "I need you to do that for me now. It will help."

Emma began to convulse violently as her body began to glow with a bright white light. Serafine held the girl tightly to her, trying to calm her pain to no avail. The girl's power was too strong.

Emma screamed as the power erupted from her, sending a bright white light into the air. Serafine knew she was running out of time. They weren't safe in this land. Someone would come for them soon.

She held onto Emma as her power continued to come. This was more than she could have imagined. This girl's power was unlike anything imaginable.

Finally the light collapsed back into the girl and Emma slumped in Serafine's arms. "Emma?" Serafine asked. She worried whether the small girl had been able to survive something so powerful.

"Yes?" Emma's reply was weak.

"We have to get out of here now." Serafine said.

"Why?" Emma whispered.

Serafine stood the little girl out in front of her and put her hand on her shoulder. "This land, it's unkind to people like us. The King and Queen have not only banned magic from this land, they have sworn to rid it of anyone who possesses magic. We have to run before we're caught."

"Where will we go?" Emma asked.

"To my home." Serafine explained. "To the safe haven where you can be with many others just like you. Does that sound ok Emma?"

"Yes." Emma nodded, her youth showing in her scared eyes.

Serafine herd the sound of horses and turned to Emma. "I need you to hold on to me tightly Emma. The first time is always a little difficult. I'm sorry there's no time to prepare you."

"It's ok." Emma wrapped her arms tightly around Serafine's neck.

"Good girl." Serafine stood up and looked into the distance, using her extraordinary sight to see the horses approaching. "We have to go now Emma. Don't let go."

"I won't." Emma promised.

Serafine held Emma's head to her shoulder, protecting her from the blue wind that enveloped both of them. In an instant they were gone, safe from any danger.

"I can't get anything James." Red looked around.

"That's because she wouldn't have come out here." James stared down the river. "She's too smart for that. She knows how to track. She wouldn't be so obvious. She got out somewhere else."

Finally he spotted it, a branch hanging out over the river that looked like it had been pulled on. "There." He shouted and ran up the river towards the area with the branch.

"James." Snow called after her husband.

James didn't listen. He got to the land above the branch and looked around. There was no sign of disturbance. He turned to Red. "Anything?"

Red turned around carefully before staring off into the woods. "It's here, it's faint, but I've picked up her scent. She was here."

"How did she get out of the river here?" Snow looked down the ledge. "That would be difficult for me James. She's five, how could she possibly have managed that."

"She's six now." James whispered he looked up at his wife. "You and I both know how she managed it."

Snow covered her mouth and nodded slowly. James pulled her into his arms. Suddenly a terrible scream ripped through the night.

"Emma!" Snow turned in the direction of the scream. She knew it was her daughter.

All three of them watched as a column of blinding white light shot up from the forest. "Oh my God." Red gasped. "What is that?"

"That, is Emma." James said quietly. He stared for a few more moments before shaking it off. "We need to go now."

All three nodded. Snow and James mounted their horses as Red tossed off her hood and morphed back into the wolf. They took off in the direction of the light. As much as he knew his daughter was in pain, he took the light as a sign of hope. A sign that she was still there, a sign that she could be found. So when the light disappeared panic set in. He urged his horse on faster.

When they got to the site the light had emitted from Red stopped and turned around in circles. She switched back to her human self and looked at James and Snow helplessly.

"What is it?" Snow asked. "Why did we stop?"

"The trail ends here." Red said quietly.

"What do you mean it ends?" Snow asked. "This is where the light was coming from."

"Yes." Red nodded. "But her trail ends here. It doesn't go forward."

"Maybe she backtracked." Snow suggested. "She's smart maybe she backtracked along the same path to cover her tracks and diverged somewhere back there. We were so bent on getting here you could have missed it."

"No." Red shook her head. "I know Emma's scent. I wouldn't have missed that."

"What about the river." Snow suggested. "She could have gone back into the river."

"She could have." Red nodded slowly. "But Snow."

"What?" Snow's eyes were filled with tears.

"Someone else was with her." Red whispered.

"What do you mean?" James asked.

"I don't know." Red shrugged. "It's nothing I've ever smelled before, no one I've encountered, none of your enemies that I've met. They just appeared and then the disappeared, it's a point scent."

"Then maybe it's a fluke." James suggested.

"Their scent disappears with Emma's." Red looked at her friends.

"What does that mean?" Snow looked from Red to James, both were sharing a look. "What?"

James took a deep shuttering breath and turned to his wife. "It means she's gone. Whoever was here took her with them. They disappeared, like magic… with magic. It's untraceable." James struggled to get out the last sentence. "Emma's gone."

"No." Snow covered her mouth and shook her head. "No, James, no."

James pulled his wife into his arms and robotically stroked her hair. He couldn't calm his wife or promise her it would be ok because he no longer believed that himself. His little girl was missing. Something in his gut told her they wouldn't find her tonight, that they might not find her ever. If she wanted to stay missing she had the ability to and if someone was helping her, she had the ability to survive for who knew how long.

Snow stared at the spot her daughter had last stood. She knew in her heart where it had been. The thing that terrified her most of all was that she could no longer feel Emma. She knew she wasn't dead; death she would have felt. Their bond had been severed. Emma had been ripped from her life. Snow sobbed uncontrollably. "Emma."

I stole one of Will Smith's quotes from After Earth. It was just to perfect not to use. I know this was long and kind of jumped but I think it works.