This was quite hard to write for some reason, but I finally got it all down in a (hopefully) coherent way.
OhEmG to answer your question Will was kept at the castle for his safety. Snow and Charming would have kept Emma away if possible but Emma is far too stubborn for that.
Thank you all for your kind reviews, for spending all this time reading this story, and don't worry - i would never kill Daniel. I love his character way too much to do something like that to him.
"Absolutely not" Snow's firm voice cut through the debate, her stern gaze fixed on her displeased daughter. The arguing had begun when Daniel had asked if Mohrion's defeat had ended the war. This prompted Emma's immediate suggestion that they go to the war front followed by Snow's emphatic denial and the resulting argument. Though it was a decision that affected the entire group, the others kept mostly quiet, letting mother and daughter argue back and forth. At one point they had all been on the wrong side of an argument with one of the two and knew it would be of little benefit to cut in.
"I don't care if you are the most talented warrior any world has ever seen." Snow continued. "You're not going anywhere near that battle. And that is final."
"I have a responsibility to figure out what that magic might have done." Emma insisted.
"There are no guarantee it even affected the war." Snow countered. "You could be putting yourself in unnecessary danger for absolutely no reason."
"If I may interject." Serafine cut in calmly. "If I had to guess what that burst did, it likely acted as a signal to the wars occurring not just in this realm, but in all realms as to what has happened."
"Well then someone can go check on that." Emma glanced pointedly at Evan before looking back at her mother. "And we can go check on the war in our kingdom."
"Let the armies deal with it." Snow refused. "It is their duty."
"And what of my duty?" Emma asked firmly. "Chris is out there risking his life."
"And you have already risked yours." Snow cut her daughter off, frustrated both strangely proud and frustrated by her daughter's refusal to back down. "You have put yourself in more danger than anyone else. You have done your part, let someone else finish this."
"Mohrion might be defeated but Regina is not." Emma pointed out. "He may have been the bigger threat but that doesn't mean she is not one. You know how badly she wants to hurt you. Revenge is a powerful motivator."
Snow shook her head at the thought. "All the more reason to keep you clear of this war."
"I think it's safe to say I've already been involved in the most deadly part of it." Emma crossed her arms, knowing she was starting to sound more arrogant than confident. "I handled it, and I can handle Regina."
"But we don't know the toll defeating Mohrion and accepting your full powers before you were of age has taken on you." Serafine pointed out coolly.
"And the potential effects of taking on all of that dark magic to save Daniel." Evan added, ignoring the glare he was getting from his former charge.
"Emma I am just trying to do what is best for you." Snow pleaded with her daughter. "We all are."
"What if I promise not to get involved?" Emma offered. She didn't want to reveal her real reason for needing to go to the war front to her mother. Although it might convince her mother to let her go, she didn't want to worry her unnecessarily about her father's fate. "At least not physically. We can help. Between the four of us we have powerful magic that can make a difference. You're the best archer our kingdom has. What if the tide of that battle is not turning in our favor, can we really live with ourselves knowing we could have done something to help?"
Snow sighed deeply and closed her eyes. "You are manipulating me emotionally."
"Yes I am." Emma admitted freely. "But it doesn't make my points any less valid. And while we are standing here arguing lives are being lost. Lives we could be saving." Emma held up her hand before her mother could speak. "And do not tell me it is not my responsibility to save them. Like it or not I will one day be a ruler, and I have a responsibility to protect my people. I understand that your instincts as my mother are overriding the decisions you would make as a ruler but it does not change the fact that we cannot abandon our people. We may be of the same blood but our experiences have made us different. While it is your first instinct to protect me, it is my first instinct to not abandon the people who rely on me. Like it or not, this is a war, and we all have a responsibility, ruler or not. If we expect our people to fight for us, we must be willing to fight for them."
She could see her mother faltering but she knew she hadn't won quite yet. "I'm not asking to fight on the battlefield. Father and the others can handle Angharad and his men. But what they cannot handle is Regina. She is still a threat. More than she wants revenge on you, she wants one thing, power, my power. Her lust for my power will cloud her judgment. It will make her vulnerable. I'm not asking to do this by myself, I am just asking to be able to fight for my people."
"Emma…" Snow sighed.
"Please." Emma begged. "I need to see this through."
With a deep breath Snow turned to Serafine. It pained her to admit it, but when it came to a situation like this, Serafine knew her daughter better. "What do you think?"
"I think you should let her go." Serafine admitted. She knew that determination, she had fostered it, when Emma set her mind to something there was very little that could be done to deter her. "Emma is well trained. If she believes she is capable of something, you'll be hard pressed to sway her otherwise. She won't be alone. But you are her mother and ultimately it is your decision."
Snow nodded, closing her eyes as she contemplated the decision before her. "Ok." Snow looked at her daughter pointedly. "But only from afar."
"I promise." Emma nodded.
"Emma I'm serious." Snow warned. "If I'm going to let you anywhere near that I have to have your word that you won't run headfirst into battle."
"You do." Emma promised.
Snow looked at her daughter warily. "I fear I know how you plan to get to the battle front?"
"It's not as bad as you think." Emma held out her hand. "Just take my hand. It'll be ok."
Snow shook her head as she took Emma's hand into her own. "I'm supposed to be the one reassuring you."
"Well nothing about us has ever been normal." Emma smiled reassuringly as Daniel held onto Red and Evan to Evander, Serafine connecting them all. "Hold on."
The warfront waged before them. Their enemies had been pushed back but Angharad and Regina's forces were unrelenting. Emma looked over to Daniel, her eyes pleading for his help. "I know you can't use your magic to help him win, but please protect him for me."
"I will do my best." Daniel promised, disappearing before anyone could raise a question as to where he was going.
Serafine had dispatched Evan to contact their forces in other lands and Red had disappeared in search of Graham, leaving only four of their group remaining on the hillside. Emma glanced at her mother, already knowing the answer to her question before she asked it. "You're not going to help the archers are you?"
"And leave you alone to do God knows what?" Snow shook her head, surprised her daughter would even entertain the option. "Not a chance."
Holding back her deep sigh, Emma surveyed the landscape before her. She knew her mother was only trying to protect her but it was endlessly frustrating to not be trusted and used in battle like she had been for so long in Altair. Instead of her fighting, she put her analytical skills to work, finding the weaknesses in the enemy lines and where the most potentially dangerous areas still lay. She turned back to her mother and held her hand out for her bow. "If you're not going to use it may I?"
Snow gave her daughter a firm look. "I thought you said you weren't going to get involved."
"I said physically, and this is from afar." Emma gestured to indicate their distance from the battle. "It may save lives and it won't put me in danger."
"It's not calibrated for you." Snow warned, but her resolve was giving in. She knew if she didn't give her daughter something to do, it would be much more likely for her to get herself involved in something dangerous.
"I've managed under worse conditions." Emma shrugged as she took the bow and quiver from her mother. She tested it briefly before pulling out an arrow, rolling it between her fingers to feel the weight and bend of it. She pulled some grass from the hillside, letting it float away in the wind to get a gauge of the direction and intensity of the blow. Picking her first target Emma drew the bow, breathing slowly as she waited for the perfect moment. When she saw the movement she knew she had a lock on her target. She released the arrow, sending it flying through the air and burying it into weak spot of an enemy soldier's armor, felling him instantly. She immediately drew again, dropping one soldier after another before they had time to realize where the attack was coming from.
Snow watched her daughter in awe. She was amazed by the precision and skill Emma moved with. She was deft with the bow and the arrow, adjusting to the weapon almost instantly. Snow both feared and felt pride at the calmness with which Emma shot, never hesitating once with her aim as she took down countless enemy soldiers before they could strike a blow at their allies.
Snow could feel Serafine's close presence beside her. "She's incredible." Snow whispered.
"She has your talent." Serafine's simple reply was quiet, neither wanting Emma to overhear.
"She has more than my talent." Snow shook her head in aw. "I could never shoot with that kind of calm and precision. Not with the weight of the world on my soldiers."
"She's a special girl." Serafine replied. "She's been trained well. She knows how to get the job done and she always does, no matter what."
"That's exactly what scares me." Snow admitted as she watched her daughter closely.
Emma saw it first only out of the corner of her eye. It was on the edge of the battlefield where many had already fallen, but two individuals were locked in an intense battle. It wasn't just that Regina was battling Chris in hand to hand combat, it was that with every move, she could see Regina was getting closer and closer to the one thing that protected him from her deadly power.
"No" the world seemed to spin in slow motion as Regina's sword caught the chain of the medallion around Chris's neck, shattering it, breaking the magic bond it had surrounded him with.
Before Snow had a chance to react Emma was already running toward the pair. "Emma!" Snow yelled desperately after her daughter, fear clawing at her heart. But before she could follow Evander had already taken off, following after the girl he had sworn his life to protect.
As Emma neared the dueling pair, she flung her hand out, sending Regina's sword flying. Regina's head snapped up, a twisted grin spreading across her face. "The princess shows her face" Regina taunted. "Were mommy and daddy too scared to let you near me?"
"No I was off dealing with matters a little more important than you. In fact I've been taking care of your special friend." Emma replied sharply. She saw the surprise and hesitation flash across Regina's face. "That's right, Mohrion is already dead. He can't help you anymore. It's just you and me, and I think we both know how that is going to end."
"You may be able to defeat me, but would you do it even if it meant his life?" Before Emma could react Regina had plunged her hand into Chris's chest, causing him to gasp in pain as her fingers closed around his heart.
"No." Emma lunged forward, only to stop when Regina held up a warning finger.
"Uh-uh" Regina shook her finger. "Any closer and he dies." Regina looked over Emma's shoulder to where Evander was wielding his sword, waiting for the moment to take his shot at the woman. "And yell your guard dog to back off as well."
"Evander." Emma held out her hand, telling her guard to lower his sword. She knew he was just trying to protect her but it wouldn't get them anywhere in this situation. She turned back to Regina, a cold glare in her eyes. "You won't get away with this"
"You see I think I will." Regina grinned smugly. "You give me what I want, and your precious prince lives."
"And what is it you want?" Emma asked, her voice laced with disdain.
"For starters?" Regina raised an eyebrow. "Your power. I'll take care of your kingdom and your wretched family later."
"You can't handle my power." Emma laughed darkly and shook her head. "I barely can. If you attempt to take it on, it will kill you."
"You can't handle it because you are not worthy you spoiled brat." Regina spat coldly. "I have fought my entire life to get where I am. I have sacrificed everything. I will be able to handle the power because I am worthy."
"You have a twisted sense of worth." Emma replied coldly. "Your greed will cost you your life."
"Well see about that." Malice dripped from Regina's voice as she responded, undeterred by Emma's warning. She squeezed Chris's heart tighter, leaving him gasping for breath. "Give me your power or the prince dies."
"Don't do it Emma" Chris wheezed, pleading with his eyes. "It's not worth it. I'm not worth."
Emma shook her head, refusing to let tears form in her eyes. But she couldn't keep the emotion out of her voice as she spoke. "I'm not going to let you die Chris."
"And I can't let you give up everything that makes you so incredible for me. " Chris argued. He was struggling to remain standing with the pressure Regina was putting on his heart. "You are destined for greatness Emma. I won't let you sacrifice that for me."
"How disgustingly sweet." Regina sneered at the two. "Just as pathetic as your parents."
"Emma." Chris warned, trying to convince Emma to refuse the deal.
"Your time is running out princess" Regina snapped, cutting them off. "What will it be? Your power or the prince's life? Dear girl, can you really live with yourself if you let him die?"
Emma could see Chris was fighting to stay conscious. She knew she was backed into a corner and time was running out. In her mind, there was only one choice. "Fine. I'll do it."
"Emma no!" Chris argued, immediately being silenced by Regina's hand clenching around his heart.
"I have to Chris." Emma tried to explain, fighting desperately to keep the tears out of her eyes. "It's the only thing I can do. She has me beat because she has something I love."
"Love is weakness dear girl. It will always be your downfall." Regina claimed triumphantly. "Now how do I take your power?"
Emma sighed and turned to the witch. She straightened her back and held out her hand. "Give me your hand."
Regina looked distrustingly at Emma's outstretched palm. "I'm not touching you"
"We have to be in contact for this to work." Emma said simply.
"There has to be another way." Regina insisted.
"There is no other way." Emma shook her head, trying to remain as patient as she could with the woman's arguing. "I am the one who has lived and trained in magic for ten years, learning the most knowledgeable people on the subject in any realm. Now do you want my magic or not?"
Regina stared silently for a moment, contemplating the decision before her. She did not trust the girl, but Emma was her mother's daughter, and Regina knew she would do anything, give up anything for those she loved. "Fine." Regina held out her hand, waiting for Emma to take it. When the girl did she wouldn't meet Regina's eyes. "You are just as pathetic and weak as your mother, blinded from what you need to survive by your ridiculous love for others."
Emma locked her arm around Regina's wrist, freezing the woman's movements before she could react. Emma's eyes finally flickered up to meet Regina's, a smirk gracing her upturned look as defiance flashed in her eyes. "I wouldn't say that."
Rage filled Regina's body as she tried to squeeze Chris's heart, to kill him in retribution for Emma's insolence. She looked back at Emma, enraged, when she realized she could not. As gasp escaped her body as she felt herself becoming weaker. "What are you doing?"
"I'm draining your powers and binding your ability to ever practice magic again." There was an unnerving calm to Emma's voice as she spoke. Her face was nearly void of emotion as she drew the energy from Regina's body. "Looks like I'm not the one who was blinded by their desires."
"How dare you." Regina snarled. "You lied to me."
"I never claimed to be honest." Emma replied coldly, dropping Regina's limp hand, freeing the woman from her hold. "You can live out the rest of your miserable life without the thing you treasure most."
"At least I can still kill him." There was a growl to Regina's voice as she attempted to crush Chris's heart in her hand. Sparks erupted from Chris's chest as Regina's hand was thrust outward, leaving Chris gasping in relief.
"It's over Regina." Emma could see the rage boiling up within the woman in front of her, remaining undeterred by the anger. "Just give up."
Knowing her protectors were likely very worked up already, she chose to turn away from Regina, leaving the seething queen behind. There was nothing more she wanted from the woman, she didn't deserve any more of Emma's time. In Emma's mind, it was over. As she took a step forward she heard a scream of rage rip from Regina's throat.
"Emma look out!" The world seemed to move in slow motion in time to the horrid sound of one metal blade scraping against another rang through her ears. As she turned she saw Chris's sword meeting the one she had removed from Regina's hand only moments more. They were both mere inches from her face. She didn't even have time to think before it happened. It was instinctual. A burst of white magic exploding forth form her, knocking Regina and every enemy soldier in its wake to the ground, unconscious. It was then that the world began to spin, a high-pitched ringing filling her ears, drowning almost everything else out. She heard her name being called distantly, muffled by some barrier. Vaguely she felt herself began to sway. Before she realized what was going on, her knee's gave in, the ground coming up to meet her before someone's arms caught her as the world faded to black.