I swear, you all deserve a medal for this level of patience, waiting for this chapter to come out.
Also I'll try to come back and fix the grammar and spelling when I get a chance, so forgive me if something doesn't make sense, or is incorrect.

I own nothing associated with Once Upon A Time.

His skin felt like it was on fire, as if he might set alight, burning into nothingness. The wizard knew this would happen to him; that this magical sickness would come, but he had not known it would happen so soon.

"Stop, please, I need to catch my breath," Merlin said, coming to a stop. He wiped his brow again, and eyed Mulan, who looked concerned yet still annoyed.

The officer watched him closely. She knew, by the anguish on his old and worn face, that this wasn't simply a fever he had contracted. "Merlin, I think I should get you to a healer, this isn't right," Mulan said, taking a step closer to him, her dark eyes wandering up and down the wizard's frame.

"I'll be fine, it's –" he paused and looked into her wary eyes. "It's started, Mulan, it has begun sooner than I had thought," he said as his deep voice began to break near the end.

The armoured officer walked up to him, now placing aside her feelings and helped him to stand more upright. "What do you mean?" Mulan asked, worry lining the question.

The wizard lifted his head and peered around, making sure no one else was close by. He rested his tired eyes on Mulan and wiped his mouth before speaking. "Last night, when you came back, and we went to rest at an Inn nearby, do you remember what I said to you?"

"Merlin, you need to be more specific, as we talked over a number of things," Mulan sighed, now helping the wizard to walk, heading towards their horses which were stabled close by.

The hot sun in the sky seemed to have worsen the fever Merlin had, causing him to bring his arm up to cover his face. "I'm sorry, what do you remember me telling you about the tablet?"

Mulan frowned, not liking the wizard's roundabout way of getting to what he wanted to say. "Please, Merlin, can you just say what you need to? I'd rather be told something twice, then to be told nothing at all," she said to him, now letting go of his heated body.

The dragon eyed him for a moment, before she ventured towards the stable man; giving him a few coins, and then went to collect both horses.

Merlin hunched over slightly watching the officer, waiting for her to return before he shared more.

Mulan had to help Merlin mount his horse, and it was then she felt something strange hit her, as if some invisible pulse collided with her body, and then passed by. She paused for a brief moment, not sure what it was, but decided to let it go, and would ask the wizard what it was later.

"Let me get on top of the gilding, and we can talk more then," Mulan said, now walking away from Merlin.

Everything seemed to quieten around her, as she sat upon the leather saddle, her senses becoming sharp, yet it felt out of her control. The dragon peered at the wizard, as a puzzled expression crossed her fair face.

Merlin had been watching her closely, and gave Mulan a small smile when he saw her looking at him. He could tell now, by the wondering gaze she was giving him, that she could feel it too.

"I guess you can feel it, can't you?" he asked, wiping his face. He wrapped the tanned coloured rein around his bony hand, giving the gentle beast a pat with the other, letting her know to start moving.

"Merlin, what is going on?" Mulan asked, bring her horse closer to his, glaring at him seriously.

Both horses trotted side by side, down the city's partly crowded path that took them towards the front gates.

Merlin glanced at the dragon and then at the sky, noting how much of a bother the sun was being. He brought his annoyed gaze down, and softened his face, tilting his head to the side as he looked at her. "What you're feeling, and what you will continue to feel, is the tablet's affects," he explained.

The dragon pulled her gilding to a sudden stop, and stared at Merlin. "How close are we to it?" she blurted, not giving a second thought to who was around them.

He shook his head, and waited until the officer brought her horse back to trot, coming up alongside him. "I believe we are quite close now, as its affects have made itself known to me, which is why I have a fever."

Once they reached the front gates, the guards eyed them, throwing suspicious looks their way, but did not say a single word. They opened the wooden barricade, allowing the duo to venture out, leaving the safety of the city.

When Mulan knew they were both far enough away, she leaned towards the wizard and asked about the tablet's location. So far, Merlin had avoided answering her, and she couldn't understand why.

"You know I cannot tell you this, yet," Merlin replied with a smile. He could now feel the cool breeze caress his hot skin, soothing the fire that seemed to engulf his entire body. He knew he would not die from this, nor would it become any worse, as it was just a side effect and would soon subside.

"Merlin, I am growing tired of your verbal ducking and weaving. This is important, you need to tell me," Mulan rebutted with an air of ire.

"All in good time, Mulan, all in good time," he answered, avoiding her narrowed eyes.

They rode for a bit longer, until the dragon interrupted the silence, deciding she would ask as many questions as she wished, in the hopes to pry more information from the tight-lipped wizard. "Does the tablet create pulses, energy that indicate where its location is?"

Merlin hummed, contemplating how to answer the officer. After a small amount of time, he turned his head and eyed her. "Yes and no."

Mulan fought the urge to sigh loudly and roll her eyes. How did Scathach put up with this, she wondered, now giving the wizard a tired look.

Merlin let a tiny chuckle escape his dry lips. He didn't mean to be so vague, it was necessary for him not to divulge too much, as he had to wait for Emma to reach him first. He turned his somewhat amused demeanour away, and thought back on the blonde youth, wondering if she had unlocked all of her abilities yet?

"Can Zeus feel the tablet's energy?" Mulan inquired, but did not look at the wizard this time.

"No, thank Freyja," he replied, and then looked to his left, eyeing out the path ahead. "But I should probably clarify something," he added, now bring his wandering gaze to rest on Mulan. "The only reason you can feel it, is because you're a part of its creation, so don't be surprised of you feel it more as time passes."

Mulan shook her head and huffed. "Why am I feeling its presence now, Merlin? Why didn't I feel it last night, or last week?" she asked. The dragon was becoming annoyed and wasn't quite sure why. She thinned her lips, now guessing she was letting herself become too emotional over Eos' return, and it was causing her to lash out. This would become a problem, she thought, noting she needed to stay focused on the task at hand.

"The time of you feeling it, matters little," he said, and pulled his horse to a stop.

The miffed officer gave the wizard a confused look, and turned her horse about, bringing it closer to him. "Why did you stop?"

"Go after her, Mulan. Go after Eos," Merlin said in a serious tone, looking her dead in the eye. Even though he would like to have the dragon's help, he could go on by himself. It wouldn't be easy alone, but in reality, none of this was going to be simple, at least not in the end.

"Merlin, you know I have a duty to follow, it would be selfish of me to ignore this fact," the dragon remarked, her dark eyes searching the old man's, trying to understand why he would even suggest this.

"I'm not asking you, Mulan. I am ordering you to leave me and go after Eos," he said in a gravelly voice, bring his head up slightly to peer down at the officer before him.

Mulan frowned, her lips parting in disbelief. She was quick to recover though, and moved her gilding to come even closer to the wizard's mare. "I made this pledge centuries ago, wizard, so how dare you order me to abandon it," she growled.

Merlin could feel the fever come back, but he tried to ignore it. "We need her, we need Eos," he said, wiping his brow and watched the look in Mulan's eyes change. "Like you said, she may have important information, and it would dishonourable to leave a fellow god behind, would it not?"

The wizard knew which cards to play, to push the officer towards his reasoning, in the hopes she would do as he asked. He didn't like to play this sort of game, but sometimes certain methods of persuasion needed to be performed.

Mulan flicked her head away, giving it all a very serious thought. She then stared at the path they had ventured down so far. "The King of the West has taken her," she said and turned her hardened gaze to fall on the wizard. "I would have to head in the same direction as you, Merlin. So if I chose to go after Eos, then we will continue to travel together."

Merlin nodded at this, giving the woman a small smile. He was happy to know that the idea, the very notion for the officer to go after her lost love, was possible. "Then let us be off, the day isn't getting any younger," he said while patting the mare.

Scathach raced ahead, edging around the city, making sure she didn't come in contact with a single soul. It would take her longer to reach the ship this way, but it she'd rather not risk an accidental encounter.

The ringing bells continued to echo out into the night, still causing the locals of the city to scatter, frantic to understand what was happening while they were busy finding family and friends.

The chaos caused the warrior to have flashes of the battle field. She paused, letting the images come and pass, allowing them to be played out, trying to understand their need to be recalled. Scathach summed them up to being a side effect of having her entire memory recovered, which made her wonder if Merlin had gone through a similar thing.

Once the flashes had finished, she picked up the pace again, heading towards the docked vessel. The flashes happened a few more times, but seemed to have settled when she reached the cave, now seeing Milah's ship amongst a few others.

The pirate's crew where running about preparing to set sail, while Jacob gave the orders, keeping a careful eye on the whole scene. It was his unwavering devotion to keep the crew busy and efficient that caused him not to see the redhead slip onto the ship, climbing over the side, and ducking into Milah's cabin.

"Sascha!" Regina gasped, jolting up and off the pirate's chair, eyes darting about in question.

The warrior spun around, hands still gripping the handle of the door, and crouched down, trying to hide herself out of instinct. She flicked her head from left and right, trying to see if Emma, Red and Aureate where also in the room.

"Where's everyone else?" she asked, now letting go of the door and standing to walk into the middle of the room.

The brunette fought not to roll her eyes, thinking back on how everyone ran off into the thick of the chaos outside. It all seemed rather silly for each of them to do, when they should have stayed together. "Red and Aureate shifted, racing off into the city, and Emma chased after them," she replied.

Scathach took a small step back when the dark haired princess came closer. For a moment, each female eyed one another in silence.

Regina's face drew in as she begun to question the queer behaviour, unsure why the redhead edged back when she came within a certain distance of her. "Sascha, what is the matter?" she asked, not enjoying the uneasy feeling rising in the pit of her stomach.

"I-I just need you to stay away from me, I am not –" the redhead became stuck, afraid of what the truth might bring, but quickly recovered. "I'm not feeling very well, and I don't want to cause others to become ill too," she finished, hoping this explanation was good enough for the brunette to accept.

Regina turned her head away slightly, her eyes still watching the woman in contemplation. Something felt off about the way Sascha had explained the odd action, and something else felt out of place about the warrior when she thought about it. Regina decided not to pry, as she thought it was probably in her best interests not to add more worry to what was weighing on her mind already.

The princess turned away from Sascha and sat back in the padded chair, chewing her bottom lip for a moment, thinking over Emma. She had managed, so far, to push away the wandering thoughts of the blonde, which had seemed to seep into her mind, even in the most inopportune times. But the intensity of this situation, the discord outside, had intensified everything, causing her to think over no one else except for her.

Regina's face gave a tiny flush, as she remembered she had tried to kiss Emma. She scorned herself though, for not having a better grasp of her own impulses.

"Is anyone looking for them?" Scathach asked as she peered down at the brunette, coming closer to the edge of the table.

Regina was broken from her thoughts, and gazed up at Sascha with a slight look of bewilderment across her face. She returned to the present, shaking her head back and forth. "The Boat Swain, Jacob, said he couldn't afford a single man to leave, as the ship needed to be prepared to set sail when Milah returned…" Regina paused, now recalling what had been said to her.

The brunette frowned at the redhead, before she continued to finish what she was saying. "Actually, Milah was supposed to return with you, so where is she?"

Scathach's jaw flinched, as she thought over how the captain was heading towards the castle, yet all the girls were anywhere but there. "She went off to the castle, in search of you all, but when she finds out none of you are there, I dare say she'll head straight back for the Baelfire."

Regina glanced away, looking over the room for a second, and then rose from the chair. Her desire to see Emma, safe and unharmed, was growing too strong for her to bear now, causing her pace about the room as they both waited for everyone to return.

xxx

Zelena made sure to check the back door had been locked once more, before she would join her fathers at the front of the shop. She grabbed the handle, turning it a few times, checking to see if it was firm and then made her way out of the work area, towards the front where she saw Archie and Marco gather up their belongings.

"Are you sure we should be leaving, this really doesn't make a lot of sense," Marco commented while adjusting his husbands collar, until Archie took both of his hands.

"I dare say the city will be unsettled for a few days, and I don't want to be working and worried about you both, so the castle is the best option," Archie replied, giving Marco's hands a small squeeze before letting them go.

Both men looked at one another for a moment longer, still conserving in silent gestures of care and worry. That was until their daughter reached them, carrying her bag and indicating she was ready to leave.

"You're sure the back door is locked?" Marco asked, glancing behind the young woman, looking over all his works before he brought his wandering gaze to rest on her.

Zelena rolled her eyes and replied. "Of course, and I checked it twice, as you asked me to do."

Archie's face produced a small smile, enjoying the momentary interaction between the two, and interrupted Marco before he could ask Zelena to check again. "Everything is secure, and I'm sure it will all still be here when we come back," he assured, hoping his husband would stop fretting over the shop, and worry more about himself and them.

Marco scratched his short white beard and waved his hand. "Fine, let us be off then," and moved to open the front door, stepping out into the madness of rushing people, afraid of the giant creature that was going to attack the city.

Just as Zelena walked past Archie, he stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder and gave her a serious glare.

"Just because you're older now, doesn't mean you will not be punished for destroying half the furniture in your room, young lady," he said, giving her a look of disapproval on the whole incident.

Zelena thinned her lips and tried not to argue the point with him, seeing that she had done something wrong.

"But," Archie added, slowly drawing her into a hug. "I'm very glad to see Milah has helped you with your problem, and that there is way for you to feel more yourself now."

The amber haired woman closed her eyes, and hugged her father back. Even though she couldn't use her magic abilities, as the torc around her neck prevented it, she was happy to be able to walk around freely again.

"Hurry up you two!" Marco remarked, popping back into the shop and eyeing them both. "It's madness out there, and the sooner we go, the sooner we can settle and find out what is going on."

xxx

Emma managed to push and shove her way back towards the smugglers area of the island, almost becoming dizzy by the flashes of faces passing her by. She had hoped to find Red and Aureate, but they seemed to have become a part of disorder around her, now almost impossible to find.

The blonde looked up, eyeing the houses tops above her, and decided that she could probably see them both better from higher up. She managed to reach a window's ledge just above her head, pulling herself up to climb the side of the house. The blonde didn't want to enter the actual residence, in case people were still inside.

Emma managed to keep her body flat against the building, and slowly lifted her upper body closer to the thatched roof, reaching out to drag the rest of her body up with a firm grip. She hadn't thought it would be a difficult task, when she was on the cobbled street below, but she quickly learnt that while it looked simple enough, it was in fact not.

Once the blonde had placed herself, along the rough surface of the roof, she rolled onto her back, ignoring the hard scabbard and caught her breath.

She then rolled over to her left and got to her knees, crawling higher to the very point of the roof, and peered at the city around her. It was then she noticed that fewer bells were ringing now, and she could only make out three in total. She scanned the area to her right, following the sound, and saw that there were a number of lights coming from the castle.

The blonde's heart skipped for a moment, worry engulfing her mind, hoping her parents were okay, but it quickly passed as she continued to sweep her eyes about, now turning them to her left.

It was then something truly odd occurred.

A tall building came into sight, and two figures atop it that caught Emma's sight, two very familiar beings, also peering about at the city below. The blonde got to her feet, not caring if she could have slipped in her haste, and cried out to Aureate and Red.

Both shape-shifters flung their head's about and soon found Emma, causing them to call back to her.

Red grabbed the guardian's tunic, fisting the material tightly in her excitement. "Emma! She's okay," the teen almost squealed into Aureate's ear.

The gold eyed woman pulled the girl's arm away, not enjoying the roughness or noise. She glanced about, over the edge of the stock house, and weighed up a very serious decision. Once she knew she could do it, the guardian grabbed Red, ignoring the girl's scream, and jumped off the roof.

Emma's jaw dropped, her heart stopped, and she watched the loc'd haired woman fall to the ground, shifting into her bear form just before landing, with Red clinging to her back. If Emma ever thought she had crazy ideas, it was Aureate who had made her feel normal.

A few of the city's guards saw the giant golden bear clawing its way towards the crowd, which in turn caused them to rush towards it, weapons ready to take the beast down.

Emma yelled out to her friends, seeing the small group of armoured men chasing after the duo.

"Halt that beast!" a guard cried out, aiming his spear towards the bear.

Red flung her head around, her dark locks sprawling out about her face, blinding her sight for a moment. This did not affect her grasp on Aureate though, as she held fast to the bear, feeling the guardian turn sharply to their right, and become almost weightless for a moment.

Red whipped her head back and looked up, now realising that Aureate had leapt up, clawing her way closer to Emma. Red would have felt calmer at this point, knowing they were all going to be reunited, but as a spear swizzed past her ear, driving itself into the wooden wall of the house, this feeling never developed.

Emma gritted her teeth and raced towards the duo, as a blinding need to protect her family from the guards below almost enveloped her. She threw her arm up, ready to draw her weapon, but she paused, now letting her mind catch up with her actions, realising that it was probably best not to pull Balmung free.

Aureate shifted back to her human form, once she felt both her and Red were now safely on the thatched roof.

The guards below all halted, almost all at once, becoming confused about the scene before them.

Emma peered down at them, but swayed back, more concerned about the other two next to her. "Are you completely out of your mind, Aureate?!"

The guardian eyed Red, making sure the spear had not hit her, and then turned her head about to look at Emma. "Swan, there is big snake, do we fight it?"

Emma blinked as she twitched her head at the question, not understanding where it had come from. She moved closer to the pair, and grabbed Aureate by her arm, pulling the woman to lead her away from the sight of the guards below. "What are you talking about?" she asked, now frowning at the guardian.

Red wandered closer to them, but she couldn't help but look over towards the castle, which was not that far off from where they were. Something moved just beyond the walls of the stone, something her wolf-eyes could capture.

"Snake," Aureate said, undulating her arm to show the Swan what she meant. "Do we fight it?"

"I know what a snake is, Aureate, I just don't understand why you think we have to fight it," Emma corrected, letting go of the guardian.

"Because you are Swan, you are saviour," Aureate said plainly, and swept a lock of hair back with her hand, eyes searching the blonde's.

Emma thinned her lips, her forehead now lining with the thought of what was said. She wanted to say "no", that it wasn't her place to do this, that she could walk away and allow her father and mother to defend the island.

"I think we need Sascha, as she's the only person who is probably skilled enough, in things like this," Emma replied.

Aureate gave a small and panged look, offended with how the Swan thought she was not skilled. "I am skilled, I am enough," she rebutted, and then glanced at Red, hoping the other shape-shifter would back her up.

Emma glanced at Red, following the guardian's line of sight.

Red was staring at the castle, unaware of either Emma or Aureate. The hairs on the back of her neck stood up, seeing the creature shift about again, its form still unknown to her in full.

Aureate's eyes now caught what the teen was looking at. She moved away from Emma, and stood next to the girl, the guardian's nostrils flaring in disgust.

Emma would have interrupted them in question to what they could see, but it was the shouts of the guards below that snagged her attention.

The blonde looked down, observing the thatched roof, as she heard the men's voices below her. She jolted back, almost falling over as she saw a spear head pierce through the fibrous material, almost skewering her in its wake.

Aureate's and Red's ears twitched, making them turn about to see what was going on, as Emma's voice broke their observation.

Another shout was heard, followed by another spear head bashing its way through, alarming the guardian to the situation at hand.

Aureate gave not a second thought, as she quickly grabbed both Swan and Red, forcefully tugging them back and away from the danger. She told them both to hold onto her, shifting into her other form when she spoke.

Emma and Red waited until the guardian was almost finished transforming, and then launched themselves at her, climbing up onto her back as fast as they could.

Red wrapped her arms around Emma's torso, shutting her eyes as she wished not to watch what was going to happen next.

Emma fisted the thick fur on Aureate's back, and braced for the inevitable clash of the street below, hoping the sudden jolt wouldn't knock them both off the bear. But it never came. Somehow Aureate had managed to slide down the side of the building, digging her curled claws into the planks, easing their landing to the cobbled street.

The guardian may have been a hulking mass, but when she needed to move, she could move. Aureate made straight for the ship, not caring who might try to stop her, whether they are friend or foe. She had one goal, and that was to get both of her friends to safety.

xxx

David clasped the crossbow tightly and fired off another shot, seeing the bolt smash against the creatures scales, harming it in no way. He knew this was hopeless, yet he was starting to second guess if the sea-serpent was really trying to attack the castle, as it seemed to try and come closer, but made no threatening gestures.

This puzzled the king, unsure if he should ask his men to set the cannons to fire at it. But he knew the longer he waited, the more his city would be enveloped in panic, looking to him for safety.

"Your Majesty, what do you wish for me to do," asked the general, eyeing the king and then the sight below the wall.

"Just-just tell the men to wait, I need to know if this thing will attack," said David, handing the crossbow to Alvar, not looking at anything else other than the sea-serpent.

The creature sunk back under the water, only to breach it once more and snake its way towards the direction the arrow had come from.

David's eyes went wide, seeing it coming closer, its scales shimmering in the moon's light. It was bigger than anything he'd ever seen.

"My King, it's coming closer to the wall, should I give the signal?" Alvar asked, gripping the crossbow within his hands, as if the action would transfer the fear rising inside him, and place into the wooden weapon.

David held up his hand, letting the general know to stand down. "Wait – just wait. I don't think it's going to attack," he said, leaning his body over the edge, trying to see the serpent in full.

Both king and general held their breaths, watching the creature lift itself up closer to the wall, almost coming in contact with the stone that protected them.

David's brows drew in, as he peered into the strange beast's eyes, noting how very much like a humans they appeared to be, as their fine blue colour came ever closer.

"David…" Alvar droned out, not caring he had address his king in such a formal manner.

"Stand down – wait!" David snapped, not breaking his gaze with the approaching creature.

The serpent's talons clicked and scraped along the cracks in the stone, elevating its scaled body up even further towards the awaiting king.

David was transfixed by its brilliant blue eyes, eyes so human he could swear he had seen them before.

"Who are you?" the king let the question slip from his lips, as if someone else had asked it for him.

The serpent's massive head was almost level to David's body, allowing the king to see it in all its detail; from its forked antlers, long single whiskered muzzle, blue scaled face, to its long sharp white teeth. The serpent's nostrils flared, blowing hot and salty air onto David's face, which drew him out of his awed daze.

"I am the former ruler of the North, I am Maleficent," she answered in a thunderous tone.

xxx

Milah held onto Morcant's arm, hoping not to lose her first mate, as they barged their way closer to the castle. She also could have sworn she heard thunder just before, but couldn't see a cloud in the sky, eyeing the moon hanging high above them.

"This is madness! And really, I don't think Emma and the others are in danger, they're in a bloody castle!" Morcant huffed, becoming frustrated with random people's limbs beating against him now and again.

"We are getting the girls and leaving, I don't care what you have to say about it, just keep moving," she said back, pulling him with her. Milah wasn't trying to be cruel; she was just filled with such a worry over their safety. And for the life of her, she couldn't understand why, but didn't wish to question this driving motherly desire at that moment in time.

The first mate gave a heavy sigh and cooperated with his captain. As he made his way through the crowd, freeing up a path for Milah to pass through, he caught sight of a female he had seen before.

"Hey, Captain, isn't that the lady who was on the Baelfire?" he asked, pointing towards a group of three people, who were also heading towards the castle's gates.

Milah flicked her head about, trying to see what he was pointing at, and then she saw the familiar colour of amber. It appeared that Zelena and her fathers were also headed in the same direction, which begged her to chase after them, in the hopes that it would be easier for her and Morcant to get in.

"Follow me, we have to catch up to them," she ordered, tightening her grasp on his forearm.

xxx

Marco looked worried over the flocking people, which caused his mind to flood with images of his shop being broken into, or set on fire. It was madness how people sometimes tended to go feral when panic was rife.

"Don't worry, I am sure the shop will be fine," Archie whispered to his husband, seeing the lines on Marco's face deepen.

"You can't guarantee that, you can't be sure it will still be there by tomorrow morning," he clipped back, his voice thick with worry.

"Are you sure the castle is safe?" Zelena asked, coming up beside Archie.

She slipped her hand into his, as if her father's touch would ease her tense feelings. It wasn't like her to be a clingy person, but there were certain times where she felt that another's company was what she needed most.

"The castle is the safest place on the island, unless you feel where the pirates congregate is safer," Archie replied in jest, trying to lighten the situation.

Both Marco and Zelena gave the russet haired man a serious look, not enjoying his sense of humour at that moment. Archie sighed, thinking to himself that he at least tried to ease their panic.

"Father, I am being serious here. I just feel that running towards the danger isn't exactly a wise decision," she remarked.

"See, our daughter even doubts this plan, we should turn around and head back," Marco added, glancing at Archie.

The adviser was ready to argue his point, giving them a number of reasons as to why this was the most logical thing to do, but he didn't get a chance as he heard Zelena's name being called out.

The trio turned about, eyeing the crowd of people around them, trying to see where the voice was coming from.

Milah called out the amber haired woman's name again, this time seeing they had stopped. She waved her hand above her head, catching their attention.

They ventured towards one another, now banding together, and continuing to head towards the castle once again.

"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be back on your ship?" Zelena asked Milah, letting go of her father's hand and came to stand next to the pirate instead.

Archie and Marco gave Morcant a warm smile, causing the thin man to shoot back an awkward look, his eyes wandering down along their body, coming to notice that both of the men were holding each other's hand. He straightened up and flicked his head forward, trying not to think back over the sight.

"I have to get Emma and the others, as they were all at the castle, last I knew," Milah answered. She smiled at the other woman, seeing how she was still wearing the torc, which allowed her to remain in a more normal complexion.

"I'm glad to see its still working," the pirate added quickly.

Zelena didn't say anything back, giving the captain a nod instead. She was happy to have it on, that it stopped her skin from being green, but she didn't enjoy not having her magic.

They eventually made it to the castle's gates, Archie asking the guards to allow them entry.

"I'm sorry, but no one is allowed to go in, King's orders" the guard to the left replied.

Archie frowned, telling them that he was one of the king's advisors and could pull rank on the man. But the guards made no indication that they would budge on the order.

"It was given to us by our King, so no matter what you say; we cannot allow you – any of you, to enter."

Marco didn't like the way Archie's face drew in, but knew his husband was not the type to yell or lash out to get his way. "Perhaps we should head back, maybe it's for the best," the craftsman said.

"Oh bloody Hel, we're not going anywhere," Milah blurted, stepping towards the guards. She was sure she and Morcant could knock them out, if they needed to. "I am here to take Emma and the others back with me."

The guards shot each other a look of uncertainty, as neither of them had dealt with a situation like this before.

"We are sorry, my lady, but no-one is to enter," the guard to the right said in a gentle voice.

Milah narrowed her eyes, but she was drawn away from the idea of punching the man in the face, feeling someone's hand touching her arm. The captain turned to see who was trying to get her attention, looking at Archie's glasses and then his eyes.

"Emma and the others left not long ago. She said she had to find Sascha," the adviser explained, letting go of the woman's arm.

Morcant looked at Milah, and then back at the adviser, feeling this had now been a huge waste of time.

"Well…" was all the captain managed to say, and stepped away from the others.

Morcant walked up beside her, whispering in question if they should leave.

Milah nodded, and said her goodbyes to the trio, wishing them luck on wherever they needed to be. But they all jumped as they heard the rumble of something far off, over the castle's walls. The pirate could have sworn she thought it sounded like a giant talking, but knew that was a silly notion, and then grabbed Morcant, pulling him away with her.

The noise came again, causing the people around them to yell and scream, fleeing the castle's walls.

The city's guards held strong, even if their faces were painted in fear.

Archie then decided that perhaps it was for the best to leave after all. He looped his arm around Marco's and grabbed hold of Zelena's hand, telling them it was time to go.

Milah and Zelena shot each other a look, each wondering what was causing the thunderous sound, but they both had their own affairs to deal with, which left them to ponder in silence.

xxx

The bear's paws pounded down the pathway, its huge frame frightened flocks of people in its wake, screams filling the night once more.

Red gritted her teeth, holding onto Emma with all her might. It had felt like they'd been passing houses and places for ages, but she knew it had only been moments. The dark haired teen just wished they made it back to the ship in one piece, hoping no more guards came after them.

The smell of the sea creature entered the bear's nostrils, causing Aureate's primal side to enrage. The internal struggle to stay focused on their current destination was difficult to maintain, but she managed all the same.

Emma glanced about, searching out any possible threats. She held tightly onto the golden bear's fur, hoping she wasn't hurting her friend with such a forceful grasp.

As the trio reached the cove, where the ships hid amongst the cave, Emma's sword began to whisper to her. Balmung was saying something, but she couldn't make out what the words were, and decided to listen closer when they had arrived at the ship.

"Princess Emma!" a solider called out, waving his plated arm to catch the blonde's attention.

Emma flicked her head about and tried to see who had yelled her name. But Aureate made no attempt to slow down.

"Aureate, wait, there's someone calling out to me," Emma said, pulling herself closer to her friend's ear.

The guardian ignored both voices, and raced head long towards the entrance of the cave, almost barrelling over a few other crewmen in her rush. She felt her muscles throb and her bones ache. Even now, being in what she considered more of her natural form, her body was lashed with pain. The time of choosing what she would become was more dire than before, but she refused to let it get in her way, as the Swan and others needed her help.

Jacob almost fell over backwards as he flung around at the noise, seeing the giant bear clamber up the plank and onto the deck of the ship.

All the crewmen knew of the shape-shifter, but this still didn't stop them from flinching or gasping as Aureate halted her massive body, now shifting back to her human form.

"Well I'm glad to see yo' all fine and safe," Jacob said loudly, his head turning to see if Milah and Sascha were close behind. After a moment, the boat swain knew his captain was not with them. He turned his questioning gaze towards the girls and walked towards the trio.

"Where's Captain Milah and Lady Sascha?" he asked as he approached them.

Red and Aureate looked at Emma, as they both did not know where either Milah or Sascha were. Emma shook her head, not knowing the answer. "I thought they would be here with the ship," she replied.

Jacob spun around and ordered the men to finish up, as they might have to set out to find their captain. He turned back around, and was about to say something more on the subject, but was interrupted as a rather anxious brunette coming up beside him.

"Emma!" Regina blurted, as she almost raced towards the blonde.

It was an awkward moment for them both, as Regina appeared to be going in to hug Emma, but pulled back suddenly and gave her a rather heated looked, folding her arms across her chest.

The blonde frowned at the display, almost puzzled by the annoyed look on Regina's face. What had she done to warrant such a reaction?

"Giant sea-snake," Aureate said, breaking the tension between the blonde and brunette.

The unimpressed glare was shifted from Emma, and then placed upon the guardian. But Aureate wasn't one to shy away from such things, unless it was the Swan who appeared that way.

"What?" asked the boat swain, as his brows drew ever closer together.

The guardian's eyes slid from looking at Emma and Regina, and settled on Jacob. "Giant snake, at castle," she replied.

Balmung whispered to Emma once again, its voices saying something she couldn't understand. It was in that moment Emma realised how she could help, and no one would have to fight.

The blonde grabbed Regina by both forearms and looked at her. "Oh my gods, Balmung's ring can stop the sea-snake!" she almost cried out, eyes wide in realisation.

The surprised looks of each individual went unnoticed by the blonde, as her gaze was fixed on Regina.

"Emma! That's a brilliant plan!" Red chirped and raced towards her friend, hugging her in relief.

Jacob scratched his head, uneasy about all the excitement, and boiled this odd display down to normal female behaviour. He turned about to give another order, but froze as Sascha walked towards them.

Emma smiled at Red and gave her a quick squeeze back, once she had let go of Regina's arms. The brief rejoice was cut short as the saviour felt the pit of her stomach drop.

All the females turned and watched the redhead approach them. Emma could hear Aureate begin to growl in a low tone, but Red tugged on the guardian's tunic, hissing at her not to make such a noise.

Sascha eyed them, and then spoke to Jacob, letting him know where Milah was, and that she should be back at any minute, once the captain knew the girls were no longer at the castle.

Emma leaned in towards Regina, but did not look at her, as her eyes remained on the warrior. "What's wrong with Sascha?" she whispered.

The brunette flicked her head around and darted her eyes between the blonde and the redhead. "I'm not sure really. But I am glad to know I am not the only one who can sense it," she whispered back.

Emma's gaze remained on Sascha as she nodded in agreement. She then swung her head to her left and asked what Aureate and Red could sense, guessing they could tell her more.

Red gave Aureate a stern look and shook her head, telling the guardian not to say anything.

Emma frowned at them, but the vexed expression fell away as she heard the familiar captain's voice boom out from behind them.

"If you were all of my children, I'd have all clean the ship for a month!" the pirate yelled out, strutting across the deck, as she was followed by a rather tired looking first mate. She hadn't meant the statement though, throwing humour about to ease the worry she'd been carrying, which was now subsiding.

Sascha's forehead creased as she ducked away, heading back towards the cabin, where she knew she should probably stay. She was grateful though, that neither of the girls had tried to hug her, or touch her.

Milah observed her partner's secret departure and then brought her eyes back towards the others.

"Milah!" Red said happily and rushed off towards the smirking pirate. The teen wrapped her arms around her, and then pulled back after a very brief hug, realising how she must have appeared. She gave the captain a sorry look and stepped back.

But Milah didn't scorn the teen for the abrupt display of affection, instead she continued to smile at her, as she placed her hand on Red's shoulder, and brought her body to stand next to the girl.

The captain thanked Jacob for his outstanding work, and said that she would take over from here, momentarily letting go of Red's shoulder and throwing her arms up to signal everyone to gather at the deck of the Baelfire.

Emma waited until Milah left a pause in her command, and told the captain she had to go back to the castle.

After a few moments of "whats", "whys" and eye rolling, the captain placed her hand over her face and walked off. These girls are more trouble than a giant with a growth spurt, she thought to herself, almost saying the words aloud.

"Okay, that's not what I expected her to do," Emma remarked, easing her head to her right, looking at Aureate with a confused expression.

The guardian shrugged, and then saw Red almost have the same look plastered across her face as the Swan.

Regina's lips curled in a bitter display, as she didn't want Emma racing off again. The princess latched her hand around Emma's upper arm, gripping it firmly and peered at the blonde youth.

"Emma, is it really necessary for you go back? I am sure your parents have enough guards and weapons to fight off the creature," she said in an almost wavering voice.

Emma looked at Regina as she thinned her lips, her forehead becoming lined as she stared back at the brunette. She didn't like how Regina looked worried, but she knew she had to do something.

Aureate slinked up beside the duo and looked at Regina. "The Swan must train, this is good practice," she said in a serious tone.

Emma gave the loc'd haired woman a small smile, as she admired the guardian's unshakeable confidence in her.

Red's eyes darted between her friends and Milah, as she tried to decide who she should speak to first. She opted for her friends in the end, as she saw the captain round the crew up and spoke to them.

"I agree with Regina, your parents can fight the creature without you needing to be there," the teen said as she approached them, and stood beside Aureate.

The guardian looked betrayed as the other shape-shifter had not sided with her. But Red arched her brow at Aureate. They both shot each other looks, discussing the matter in silence.

Regina rolled her eyes at Red and Aureate, as she continued to grip Emma's arm, which she had no intention of letting go of.

"Emma," Regina said, getting the youths attention.

"What?" she asked. The blonde eyed the princess' hand, which was still on her and then looked at her in question. She tried to tug her appendage back, not liking the fact someone was holding her back, even if it was Regina.

"Emma," the brunette said again, but this time her voice had a hint of desperation.

"Regina, please let me go, I have to fight it," she said, now trying to step back and away from the clinging princess.

The worry in the brunette's face nearly broke the blonde. Emma knew almost without a doubt now, that Regina cared about her, really cared about her.

If it hadn't been for Milah ordering her crew, Red and Aureate facially yelling at one another, or the absence of Sascha, Emma may not have had the courage to do what she did next.

The blonde ripping her arm back, noting for a second the panged look on the brunette's face, but she knew she wouldn't see it there for very long. Emma dove in and placed her hands around the princess' soft face, drawing her in towards her lips, and kissed Regina.

In all honesty, Emma didn't know how else to tell Regina to trust her, that she cared about the brunette as well, and that everything would be okay. In hindsight, Emma perhaps shouldn't have done this, as her quick departure was made also more painful when she pulled herself away, running off the ship and back towards the castle.

Regina stood frozen to the spot, her arms still bent, and her hands open in a delicate manner. She slowly turned around, watching Emma suddenly disappear out of the cave.

Red and Aureate bolted after the blonde in an almost instinct like manner, but both where pulled back by a rather annoyed pirate. "Oh no you both don't, you're staying here. I'll get her myself!" Milah remarked in an agitated tone and let go of duo as she stamped off, barking a few more commands before trudging down the wooden plank.

xxx

David continued to raise his hands up, ordering the men to stand down, that the creature was a friend and not a foe.

The shocked and wary looks on his soldier's faces let the king know this was going to be difficult to explain later on, as he wasn't all quite sure what to say about the matter in all honesty.

Maleficent hissed at a man who was aiming a cannon at her, not appreciating the insinuation. He fumbled for a moment and tilted the weapon's muzzle away from her, hoping not to anger the creature further.

"Yes, she is still here, at least I suspect she is," David yelled back in reply to the question before.

The dragon's eyes widened as she heard this. "Regina, she is most certainly alive, and on the island?" her voice boomed in question, causing the air around the king to feel as if it was quaking.

David wasn't sure if he'd go deaf by the time this conversation had come to an end, but he was most certainly glad that this situation was not filled with blood and death.

"She and my daughter were going to leave on a ship, but with the city in panic, I suspect she could still be on the island," David yelled. He had hoped to see his daughter one last time, but didn't hold high on that request. The solider he had sent off before, to search for her had not returned yet.

Maleficent's long face turned away from the king, her eyes sliding back and forth in contemplation. It was strange, she thought, how she could not pick up the princess' scent. She swung her head back around and peered down at him.

"Why would Regina leave with your daughter?" was all the sorcerous could think to ask.

David shook his head. "Perhaps it is the will of the gods, that Regina and Emma travel together?" he proposed, knowing the full reason as to why both girls were placed together.

Maleficent narrowed her gaze at him, trying to decipher the truth of his words. "Freyja has made her plans known to me, yet Regina was not discussed in these, so why is she a part of it all?" she questioned in a rumbling tone. She brought a clawed hand up, and clutched the lip of the castle wall, so to get a better hold on her current position.

The stoned cracked somewhat under her weight, sending the soldiers to remain fully alert, in case the dragon changed its mind about being neutral.

David gave Maleficent a fearful look. He had met the sorcerous only once before in his life, and it was when he was much younger. But even still, with all that time passed, he could remember how she had a tempter, which should not to be trifled with.

"Freyja plans on joining the lands through Emma and Regina," he answered in a level tone, knowing the dragon would be able to hear him, realising its hearing was far better than a human's. David eyed the soldiers around him quickly, and knew they wouldn't reveal anything that had been spoken about, so he need not worry on what was being discussed.

Maleficent's eyes narrowed even further than before. She knew not what he meant by this, and guessed that perhaps Regina and Emma were related in some way, thus able to join the West and East as one, thus bringing the North and South to become one as well. But blood relation seemed rather far-fetched when she gave it a second thought over.

"How would this be made possible?" the sorcerous inquired in a more shallow tone than before. She had tried to not make her voice crack and rumble, as she knew it frightened the others.

The king rubbed the palm of his hand, as his nerves got the best of him. He forced them apart though, and eyed the massive creature. "Emma and Regina will have a child together, which will unite the lands."

Maleficent's eyes widened with this confession, and tilted her head somewhat to the side, as if the information was weighing down her thoughts. But within almost a flash, the dragon whipped back her head and let out an echoing and thunderous laugh.

David had heard nothing like it before and the sound sent shivers down his spin, while he held his hands firmly over his ears. A few of the men threw themselves to the ground, wrapping their arms around their head and yelled somewhat from the noise. The king could understand that even some of the bravest men would come to cower in front of a dragon, even if this one wasn't going to harm them.

Once Maleficent had finished her mock-like laugh she swung her head back and smirked at the courageous king. "Even if this is all true, that the All Mother would make this so, what, pray tell, makes you think Regina would choose your daughter?"

The question wasn't to put down King David's own child, but rather as she had specifically asked this question in the hopes he would divulge more of the plan to her.

David had not taken it that way though. The king clenched his fists and strained his jaw, but his lips remained firmly closed. The question was taken in offence, and he had no intention to try and convince the sorcerous otherwise, that his daughter was a good person, with a good heart, and anyone should be glad to have his daughter's affection.

"I do not intend to offend you, King of the East, I simply wish to understand the situation more," Maleficent said, seeing the king looking upset.

David's demeanour began to ease with the correction, causing him to sigh audibly as he let go of the mistake. "Emma is very special person, and has certain circumstances surrounding her past that would allow a true union of the lands to be brought about. I am unfamiliar with Regina's background, and therefore I can't say more about the reason behind my grandmother's choice in the foreign princess," he explained.

Yes, while Emma had remained secret about Regina's true identity, David had known along, and had shared only part of this knowledge with his wife, well that had been until they had spoken to Emma in the gardens. After that, Snow had a number of questions to ask and few things where not as welcomed as others.

"You will explain it all to me in good time, King of the East, but for now, I need to know if my current condition can be reversed," Maleficent said. She swayed her massive frame away from the wall and looked about at the castle's exterior.

David knew what she was trying to do, he could tell she was looking for somewhere to crawl up and be on the land. "Head towards the west of the island, there you can come ashore and we can both try to solve your current problem," he yelled out, and pointed his left arm towards the area he wished for her to head towards.

Maleficent nodded and propelled her snake-like body towards the other side of the island. She knew she should try and find Regina as soon as possible, but she would rather do this in a form that she was far more familiar with, that and she didn't want to frighten anymore of the King's people than she all ready had.

xxx

Emma had not gotten far before she was forcefully tugged back, Milah grabbing the blonde youth with a vice-like grip.

"Emma! For Woden's sake, will you stop running off like that!" the captain barked, trying to carry her voice over the others around them.

The youth struggled against the pirate, almost slapping the other woman in the process. "Let go of me, I have to do this," she remarked in a frustrated tone, clenching her teeth together as she tried to pull her frame away from the captain.

"Emma!" Milah snipped and adjusted her grasp on the girl, forcing Emma to turn about and look at her. "Listen to me young lady; you stop acting like this right now! Or do you intend on ending up on the bottom of the sea, because that's where you'll go if you keep running headlong into danger" the captain commented in a firm tone.

They both glared at one another for a moment, no longer noticing the chaos around them, and while the silence from Emma continued, this allowed Milah to talk on.

"I have been on this planet for many more years than you–" Milah paused, thinking over the fact that Emma had once been a Valkyrie and that she had probably out lived the pirate by hundreds of years. "Mhm – what I meant to say was that I have been on this planet, in this lifetime many more years than you. And the way you race off to fight something, without any forethought is truly maddening to watch," she said. The captain's features shifted from stern to concerned; almost pained in their appearance.

Emma's defiant glare began to melt away, the longer Milah confessed how much she worried about her. Why did people have to care about her so? Wasn't she supposed to be the one who was concerned about everyone else's life?

"Emma, I don't care about some prophecy that you're supposed to be a saviour, who goes about fixing and solving all the problems in this world. Just because you're destined to sunder that bloody tablet, does not mean you're invincible," Milah warned.

"You will drive yourself into madness, if you continue to ignore this simple fact. You're not a Valkyrie anymore, you're a mortal who has been given a second chance, please don't throw that away," the captain continued to explain.

Emma's eyes welled as she stared at Milah. The blonde could feel her steel exterior begin to break. She had been pushing her worries and fears so deep down, that she thought they may never touch her there. And she quickly summed this up to being the reason as to why she had reacted so abruptly towards her mother and father over the incident with Granny.

Milah squeezed Emma's shoulder, seeing the blonde's eyes wander momentarily away from her. "Emma, there is a lot of people that care about you, and will help you fight when the time comes. So please don't burden yourself, for there are enough shoulders to help lighten the load."

Emma's green eyes searched Milah's bright grey ones, only noticing now how they shone, even if the light around them was from torches and lanterns. She had also realised that Milah wasn't who she appeared to be most of the time, that there was a deeper layer to the pirate.

"I'm scared, Milah. I'm sacred I can't do this, that I won't be good enough," Emma confessed in almost a whisper.

The captain gave the blonde a warm smile. "Emma, everyone you meet is scared of their own short comings. The fact you're so young and willing to take on this burden, speaks volumes of how brave you really are."

Emma shut her eyes and sighed. "Thank you," she said in relief filled tone and then flung her arms around the captain, digging her head into the crook of Milah's neck and held her tight.

The pirate held the blonde back. It was then she notice she could not hear the alarm bells ringing anymore, which in turn caused the people around them to stop and look upon one another.

Both Milah and Emma pulled themselves back; just enough to look around and wonder what was going on.

"Is the creature gone?" Emma asked with a puzzled look.

Milah shook her head, not quite sure how to answer her. The pirate peered about, trying to find a solider, to see if he knew.

"Everyone please move back to your homes and establishments. The threat has been dealt with, I repeat…" A rather heavily armoured guard yelled out the sentence again, as a number of other armoured men behind him walked the same path, urging people to move along.

Milah quickly grabbed Emma by her arm and led the blonde away. The captain knew who the man shouting out the message was, and he knew who she was in return. In fact he had been after her for a number of years, and hadn't managed to capture yet, and she would be damned if he was successful tonight.

"Emma, I need you to pick up the pace, we need to get back to my ship immediately," the dark haired captain urged.

Emma did as she was asked, but decided not to question why Milah was so anxious to get back, suspecting something dire must have arisen within the captain's memory.

"Will you please stop pacing so, you're making my frail head spin," the old Norn said and then turned her attention back to Verdandi, who was reading from the Runes.

Skuld gave the old woman a cross look but complied with her request, coming to stand still as she waited for her sister to continue reading.

Verdandi brushed back her dark long hair, as a few locks had tumbled in front of her face, blocking her sight somewhat. She cleared her throat as she internally read on for a moment, finding her place again.

"…And there she saw the tree, its branches thick and twisted, gnarled and knotted, reflecting the passage of time it had endured. Balmung was waiting for release, and so it would come by the chosen's hand. The Swan will take the godly weapon in hesitation, and thusly use it in hesitation as well, for the tablet's release will come at a price. The sundering still has yet to come, and it remains so by her hand alone, even at the cost of love."

Urdr, the oldest of the Norns, nodded at the last part, remembering this reading from long ago. "I am pleased to know this is still true," she confessed.

Skuld looked over to her sister, Verdandi, and rolled her eyes once she saw she was looking back at her. "We already know Svanhvit has taken Balmung and she will destroy the tablet, I have told you this before, Urdr," she said in a rather annoyed tone.

Urdr flicked her head around, causing her grey tangled hair to sweep back over her shoulder. "And you should pay heed to how fate works, and not trifle with such things," the old Norn warned, narrowing her eyes at the young woman.

Verdandi agreed with Urdr's remark, as the Norn was the bearing of fate, and knew of such things. "Sister, please don't interfere with what must transpire. I know you still hurt, but you must move on, for Svanhvit never loved you like you did her."

The bitter truth stung the young Norn's heart, causing her to grit her teeth in anger, denying the allegation in ignorance. "How dare you say such cruel things, Svanhvit did love me, she was just too afraid to admit it," Skuld spat back.

Urdr turned her gaze to Verdandi, a single brow rising up as she eyed the woman next to her. Verdandi quickly glanced at the old woman, not liking how the young Norn was acting irrationally. She had thought her sister had come to forget the Valkyrie from her past, but this was clearly not the case.

"You will come to love another, Skuld, but this cannot happen unless you let Svanhvit go," Urdr said, bringing her cautious expression to rest on the young woman.

Skuld clenched her fist and tilted her head slightly. "I don't want to love another, Urdr," she almost growled. "Svanhvit and I were meant to be, I saw our future, and we were happy."

Verdandi's eyes bulged when the old Norn cackled, slapping a bony hand onto her knee as she turned her sitting body to face more towards Skuld. "What you saw was but one side, which no longer exists," Urdr explained. "I am the Norn of Fate, I know what will be, and you and Svanhvit where never truly meant for each other."

Skuld's neck strained as she swallowed a lump back. The Norn wanted nothing more than to punch the old hag in the face, but willed herself not to, knowing it would be a foolish and dishonourable act to carry out.

Verdandi watched on, her eyes widening as she was unsure how this discussion, which was becoming very heated, was going to end. Although she was the Norn of the present, she still could not foretell how the future would turn out, as this was Skuld's gift alone. All the middle aged Norn knew was that Skuld wanted to become physical with the old woman.

"For someone who has the gift of foresight, one would think you'd be able to leave the past where it should be," Urdr pointed out as she smirked ever so slightly with the comment.

Skuld took a step closer to the two women, her eyes narrowing at Urdr.

"Uh – I think we should probably check on the situation with Zeus, don't you agree?" Verdandi asked, craning her head back and forth between the two females, hoping the change in subject might diffuse the tension that was quickly rising.

Skuld darted her eyes over to Verdandi and allowed herself to ease, swaying her upper body back to stand tall again.

Both Norns nodded in agreement, but didn't say a word to one another.

Urdr looked away from Skuld and stood up to walk closer towards Yggdrasil's trunk. Verdandi let out a sigh, glad that she was able to end the small feud, but knew many more would probably come in time.

All three of them stood beside each other; Urdr to the left, Verdandi in the middle, and Skuld to the right. They took each other's hand, creating the bond between future, present and past to strengthen, so they may peer into the Runes of the tree.

Once they had each read from the Runes, taking in the information, Urdr cackled at a certain part, and pulled her hood over her head. "I find it very amusing how he loses more than just his pride," the old Norn pointed out, looking at both females with a wrinkled grin.

"Deserves the pervert right, the way he carries on, it's disgusting," Verdandi commented, screwing up her face as she remembered what the foreign god had done to other women.

Skuld didn't contribute as she turned away and walked off. The Norn was satisfied with the information, but she had a lot to think over. If Urdr was right, that if she tried to trifle, as the old Norn would put it, would Svanhvit still fulfil her fate?

"Skuld, don't leave," Verdandi called out, hoping her sister wouldn't do something foolish.

"Leave her be, Verd', she needs to reflect on what she has come to know," Urdr said in a gentle voice.

The dark long haired Norn nodded at the old woman, and paused for a brief moment. "Oh, I think Frigg is about to join us," she stated, her eyes glazing over slightly.

Urdr turned about, feeling the familiar energy of the goddess. The All Mother had a flare for arrivals, but this time it seemed less flashy and more urgent.

Freyja appeared from nothing, as if she had slid from a transparent veil from beyond. The goddess glanced at Skuld, both of them looking at one another, but not breaking either of their strides as they passed each other.

"Skuld," Freyja said as she came within a foot of the Norn.

"All Mother," Skuld replied, passing the goddess without so much as a pause.

They had greeted each other this way for many centuries, not really conversing unless it was necessary.

Freyja returned her attention to other two Norns within the garden. As she walked towards them, she noticed that the circling pond around the entire garden was lower than normal, but she didn't think on this longer than she would have liked to, as Urdr greeted her loudly.

"All Mother, I take it you need our help once more, no?" the old Norn said with a warm smile, clapping her bony hands together.

Freyja pulled her curious gaze from the body of water around the garden and looked at each woman, sliding her blue eyes back and forth in silence.

"We have seen Zeus' fate, and it is still as prophesied," Verdandi said, hoping this was the answer the goddess was searching for.

Freyja rested her firm gaze on the long haired woman, but still said nothing.

Verdandi slowly became uneasy with the goddess' current state and glanced at Urdr beside her. "Is she all right?" she whispered to the old Norn.

Urdr ignored the question, as if it hadn't been asked in the first place. "No, this is not the answer you seek, is it? For you seek to know of Svanhvit and Flora's fate, and if they remain on the path of uniting the lands."

Freyja's brows drew in ever so slightly. "Please refer to them as Emma and Regina, for this is who they are," she corrected.

Urdr this time was the one who glanced at Verdandi, her single brow arching as it had done before with Skuld.

"Nothing new has arisen, if this is what you fear," the middle aged Norn replied. "In fact, I can sense they are growing closer to one another, rather than further apart."

Freyja let out a relief-filled sigh. "Thank Ymir for that," she said in a cheerful voice, her face releasing a relaxed smile.

Both Urdr and Verdandi eased when they saw the All Mother return to a more neutral character, one that was pleasant in nature.

"We will keep a careful eye on Skuld though, dear All Mother, as she still carries the poison of her past with her, as if it was something to hold onto," the old Norn commented.

Verdandi thinned her lips at the statement, not liking how Urdr worded the young woman's love as poison. Even if the comment was true, she still didn't like it.

"Good and I owe you much thanks for this, but there is still something I wish to know, aside from my fallen Valkyrie's fate," Freyja said.

The goddess glided towards the two waiting females, and placed a gentle hand on each of their shoulder, so she could guide them towards the trunk of Yggdrasil.

Skuld paused and turned back to look at her sisters and the All Mother, who were wandering off towards the colossal tree. Once she was satisfied that they were all busy, the young Norn slipped away, hoping to find some answers with someone else she knew who might help her.

The Baelfire creaked as its weathered body was slowly directed out of the cave system, which was guided by a number of men pulling the ropes that connected with the vessel. Since there was no way for the ship to be turned about, it had to be manually removed from the area by a group of men along the docks. Once the ship came within a certain distance of the mouth of the cave, it could be swung about and sailed out from there.

The cabin was filled with silence, as each female listened to Milah, the captain ordering the men about, telling the workers on the dock to pull more to the left or right.

Emma and Regina sat across the room from each other, the princess in Milah's chair, and Emma on a long chest opposite of the brunette. They had yet to speak to one another; in fact the blonde youth hadn't even looked at the brunette since she got back. And this caused Regina to become impatient, almost angry at the way Emma wouldn't acknowledge her.

Perhaps the cloaked blonde was embarrassed about kissing her? The brunette suspected.

Aureate tucked her aching body far away near a set of draws to the right of Regina, as she fought to remain in control of her driving urge to attack Sascha. Something about the redhead was seriously off and sent the guardian on high alert. Something dark and sickly lay just underneath the surface of the warrior, and the longer Aureate stared at her, from the other side of the cabin, the more she could swear she could see the creature underneath.

"What is wrong with you?" Red whispered to the guardian, coming to sit next to her golden eyed friend.

Aureate flinched, but remained fixed on Sascha. She let a small growl out, and then pressed her lips firmly together, shutting the noise away, but not the rumble in her throat.

Red stroked the woman's loc'd hair aside, as if Aureate was in her other form. "Hey," Red said in serious tone. But Aureate remained staring at the warrior, her eyes now narrowed in suspicion.

Sascha glanced around the cabin, noting how each female had opted to sit away from one another, except for Red, who within in this reflection had come to sit with Aureate. What exactly is going on? She wondered.

"Emma?" Scathach said, catching the blonde youth's attention.

Emma snapped her wandering gaze of the cabin's roof and rested her green eyes upon Sascha, somewhat wide in confusion to her calling.

"Can I talk to you – outside – alone?" the warrior asked and chanced a quick look around the room, checking to see the reaction on everyone's face.

Regina's brows crept closer to one another, her lips pursing, causing the faint scar on her upper lip to become more prominent. But the brunette didn't say a single word, as her eyes narrowed in question.

Red watched Emma rise up from her sitting place, but she became distracted by Aureate, as the guardian let a small growl slip out again. After a brief moment of reflection, the teen clicked onto what Aureate was so upset over.

The teen tugged on the guardian's tunic, capturing the woman's full attention, and gave her a stern glare. "Aureate, stop it. Sascha isn't evil, you need to stop acting this way," she said, her eyes searching the other shape-shifters in a serious manner.

Emma stood up and waited quietly for the warrior to lead her out of the cabin. Strangely enough, the redhead kept her distance, making Emma feel as if she had done something wrong, and this is why Sascha wished to talk to her, alone.

As soon as the door closed, Aureate growled out, almost clawing her fingers into the hard wooden floor beneath them. Her aching body and feral response to Sascha had taken its toll, and she had to shift.

Red edged back, picking up on the uneasy feeling, knowing the guardian was trying to transform.

Regina's already confused expression deepened, watching the guardian stager on all fours, towards the middle of the cabin and then let out another guttural growl. She gripped the arms of the padded chair, as if the sight of Aureate changing had caused a slip of fear to form within her chest, making her fingers curl in anticipation.

There was something innately different about the guardian's transformation this time. And as Regina stood from the chair, looking at Red with a slight vexed expression, she could see that even the other shape-shifter knew something was up as well.

Red continued to edge back and to the side, one small step after another. She wasn't afraid, she was simply being cautious. The teen knew that Aureate wouldn't hurt her, but this change was far more dramatic than she'd seen it before.

Aureate growled and snapped, fingers pressing down, almost causing the wood to crack as they formed into thick claws. The woman's face contorted, her white teeth tightly gripped together. She let out a rushed and sharp breath of pain, arching her back up.

Regina stepped closer to Red, and noticed the teen was doing the same, edging closer to her in return.

Aureate craned her head around and growled. The guardian's eyes shimmered for a second and then her gold fur burst from under her skin. Her frame enlarged and rippled, as her eyes remained on the two females.

"Red," Regina said, letting the teen's name slip from her lips.

"Aureate isn't dealing," Red replied back, now wrapping her long fingers around Regina's upper arm, pulling the princess closer to her trembling frame. Okay, the teen was a little scared now, but she still trusted Aureate.

The guardian slapped a heavy padded paw down on the floor, taking a calculated, yet tiny step towards the two females. She began to growl from the bottom of her throat, letting the rumble climb slowly up towards her gaping mouth.

"Aureate, please don't do this, this isn't you," Red said in a firm and reassuring voice, mustering all her courage to confront her friend.

Regina was impressed the teen had pulled off such an act, even if she could feel her shaking in fear. But if the guardian made any attempt to harm them, the princess would throw a fireball at the bear, and high-tail out of the cabin, with Red tight in hand.

Aureate had no intention in hurting either Red or Regina, for she was only interested in taking the fake Sascha down. The guardian let out a short grunt, as if to say she wouldn't harm the duo, and then swung her massive body around, smashing the cabin door down in one clean sweep, as she barged her shoulder into it.

Regina flicked her head around and glanced at Red in shock, only to return her surprised gaze back onto the lumbering guardian.

Both females raced towards the smashed entrance, and proceeded to watch Aureate approach Sascha and Emma in a furious manner.

Milah stopped mid-sentence, mouth gaping, hearing the crash of wood and then at seeing the giant golden bear appear on the deck of the ship. She took a few steps forward and waited to observe the bizarre event unfold, completely confused as to why Aureate was acting in such a way.

The crewmen on the ship paused and shot one another confused looks, some rubbing their eyes in disbelief in what they were witnessing.

Even the men on the docks stopped what they were doing, studying the massive beast in the torchlight of the cave.

Emma spun around, hearing the stomping sound, her eyes becoming wide as she gazed upon Aureate's hulking form coming at them, and then frowned at the sight, unsure what was going on.

Scathach didn't get a chance to see Aureate, but she did feel the guardian's presence, as the giant bear's paw slammed into her chest a moment later. The warrior was flung across the deck, like a ragdoll and rolled a few times before she stopped.

"Aureate?" Emma whispered. She reached up for her sword, and on her first attempt, pulled Balmung from its housing, the ringing sound of the blade sung out, but the guardian did not falter in her movements.

Emma froze, holding Balmung tightly, gripping the handle in part fear and confusion. She became puzzled as to why the ringing of the blade had not affected Aureate, and had not caused the guardian to change back.

Milah and the crew sprung to action, the sailors moving closer towards the battling duo, as the captain jogging down the stairs leading up to the poop deck, yelling at Aureate to stop.

The guardian bellowed out a long rumbling roar, breaking it off with a grunt, and swung another paw at the redhead. She was determined to destroy the evil pretender, and protect the others from it.

Scathach rolled out of the way though, her teal eyes flashed wide, as she realised that creature that had attacked her was supposed to be a friend.

Aureate grumbled at the missed attack and decided to ram the redhead instead. Her thick head collected the warrior's shoulder as the woman tried to get up, causing the redhead to be thrown to the side again.

Emma held Balmung as she strode towards the guardian. "Aureate – Stop!" she cried out, her heart struck with fear, hoping the guardian wouldn't kill Sascha.

Milah joined the blonde's command, also telling the guardian to cease her advances.

Regina and Red had managed to weave their way through the crewmen, and stood beside the cloaked blonde.

"What is going on? Why is Aureate behaving this way?" Emma asked the duo, her eyes darting back and forth between them.

"I think Aureate can tell something is different with Sascha," Red replied, rubbing her forearm in an anxious manner.

"Different? What is that supposed to mean exactly?!" Emma asked in haste, her arms swinging out in question, frustration taking hold of her.

Red jolted back a little; afraid the sword might hit her. "Sascha isn't – she's not quite – she's changed," the teen replied, finding it hard to explain what she could feel, but knew that the warrior wasn't bad or evil, somehow this presumption didn't enter Red's senses, unlike Aureate's.

Emma shifted her eyes to look at Regina and then grabbed her arm tightly. "Can you stop Aureate? I know you have magic – and I can't stop her with Balmung – but I can't use my air magic on her, because I don't want to hurt her – but she's going to kill Sascha, and–"

"Emma. Stop," Regina interrupted, giving the blonde a stern look, not enjoying the grip she had on her. "I will do what I can, but I need you to calm down," the princess said, placing a firm hand on top of Emma's. The contact seemed to have work, as the blonde's clawing fingers relaxed and slid away.

They looked at each other a moment longer, before Regina turned and pushed her way past Emma, letting the blonde know she wasn't happy with her. The princess felt hurt that Emma had only acknowledged her when she had too, and it wasn't like she was the one who kissed the blonde and then ran off, so why was she being punished for it?

The crew knew not what to do, as they waited for their captain's order, on whether they should stop the bear, or remain out of the way. So they pooled together in a cress-like shape, waiting for their leader's command. Jacob and Morcant looked at each other in silence, weighing up the thought that one of them might have to step in.

Scathach managed to duck and weave the swiping bear's sharp claws, becoming confused and agitated. The warrior tried to remain focused on not allowing her death-touch to be released, but the attacking guardian was making it hard for her to keep it at bay. If only she had a better grasp of her ability, the warrior wouldn't have to put most of her efforts into holding back, and could defend herself better.

Aureate was furious. She had an unbridled urge to tear the dark creature apart before her. This thing couldn't be Sascha. It must be some abomination that is pretending to be the warrior. This thing must have snaked its way into the group somehow.

"Aureate – stop it!" Milah yelled, striding towards the raging guardian. "You're going to get yourself killed!"

The guardian roared as she stood up and lunged at Sascha. This time Aureate knew she would have the deceiving creature where she wanted her, if she used both paws and her teeth, pinning in the redhead.

Aureate descended on the fake Sascha with such force, that the woman buckled under her weight and was driven into the deck.

Regina ran towards the golden bear and moved to stand in front of Aureate. She had to make eye contact with the guardian for the spell to work, as it required the other subject to being paying attention.

The guardian growled at the redhead and then slowly widened her jaw, sizing up the woman's head to her mouth, making sure she could crush the creature's skull. She thought, just for a second, that it was odd how the fake Sascha wasn't fighting back, but this mattered not, as she would end the creature's life now.

"Aureate!" Regina called out in a loud tone, hoping the volume of the request was adequate enough to pull Aureate away from Sascha.

The golden bear momentarily looked up at the brunette, allowing the princess the chance to enact the command.

"Sleep," Regina said, drawing an open hand down, as if she was physically pulling the guardian's eye lids shut.

Aureate's eyes rolled into the back of her skull as they closed. She slumped over, now fully pinning the warrior underneath her.

"Move the bear," Milah yelled out, racing towards the guardian's motionless frame. "But don't hurt her," she quickly added, not quite understanding why Aureate had attacked Sascha in the first place.

The crew flocked around the golden beast and pushed her body onto her side.

Scathach let out a sharp and desperate gasp for air, but didn't move. The warrior had used all her willpower, holding back her inner darkness from being unleashed, that she had forgotten to breathe in before the bear landed on her, which almost crushed her.

But as the warrior inhaled more air, she knew she had not escaped the incident without injury, feeling at least two of her ribs were broken, making it a very painful task to gather the air she needed back into her lungs.

Emma rushed beside the mortified captain, followed closely by Red, who stood on the other side of the pirate.

"Sascha?" Milah rasped as she knelt next to the redhead, grabbing her hand without giving the danger of the touch a second thought. The captain waited for the redhead to say something, but as she gasped for air, cringing with a painful expression, Milah knew Sascha was injured. The captain flung her head around and searched for Morcant, until she caught sight of him.

"Get the healer and a stretcher, she's not breathing properly," the captain explained, and then averted her worried gaze to look at the other females, resting her grey eyes on Regina.

"Can you heal her?" Milah asked in a tense voice, as she felt the redhead's grip on her hand tighten when she tried to breathe.

Regina nodded, and came to kneel beside the captain. The princess tucked a rogue lock of dark hair behind her ear, listening to the warrior's breathing, making sure she could pinpoint the exact location of the injury.

The brunette leant over the redhead, and gently pressed her hands in on the woman's side, feeling for the fracture she was sure would be there.

Scathach hissed in pain, gritting her teeth, and then growled as her brows drew together, almost touching.

Regina stopped pressing immediately, noting that even the slightest amount of pressure was producing more pain than she had thought it would. She turned her dark eyes to her side, peering at Milah with a cautious look. If the redhead had been seriously injured, to the point where one of her ribs had broken, and then pierced a lung, this meant it was out of her capabilities to repair. And if Regina attempted to heal such a server wound, without the aid of another, she could harm herself as well.

"What's that matter? Why aren't you healing her?" Milah asked, peering back at the brunette.

Emma and Red glanced at each other, and then looked back at the scene before them.

The crew stood around, eyeing the captain and brunette in silence, unsure what any of them could do to help. Jacob looked about, hoping Morcant could wake their drunkard of a healer, and that the man would even be useful enough to help. Why Milah kept that scurvy dog around puzzled him to no end.

Regina shook her head at the captain and then tried to explain herself. "I can't simply heal her, Milah. Sascha's injuries are far too great for me to repair her, and I would require the help of another to begin to fix the damage that has–"

"Marco's daughter!" blurted the pirate abruptly, her eyes wide with the idea.

Regina frowned at the dark haired woman, not quite understanding what that was supposed to mean.

Milah quickly stood up and pointed towards Jacob, asking him to follow her, as she needed to go and retrieve the only other magic user she knew of. The boat swain shot into action and followed the bustling, almost jogging captain, as she rushed off the ship.

Emma looked at Regina and then at Red, unsure of what she should be doing, and was about to ask the princess what she could do, but as Morcant returned, healer close in toe, the blonde decided to stay quiet.

Morcant rolled his eyes, not pleased with the healer's inebriated state, and grabbed the old man by the shoulder. "There, that's the patient, and she's badly injured, so you need to help her," he said in an agitated tone, pointing at Sascha, and then shoved the man towards the redhead.

The healer's stout frame shook somewhat, from the years of alcohol abuse it had received, making it an unusual scene to watch, as he stooped down to inspect Sascha.

"Could you take a deep breath for me please," the healer asked, smacking is cracked lips together with the request. He adjusted the length of his sleeves, rolling them back as he'd done so in the pass a thousand times before, and peered at the red headed woman.

Regina shot the man a look of disgust. "You can't be serious! She could have multiple broken ribs, and you're asking her to take a deep breath?" the brunette snipped, looking at the healer with a dagger-like stare.

Morcant rolled his eyes again and huffed as he approached the healer. "Forget it, just go back to the medical room and be useless there," he remarked, grabbing the old man by the scruff of his shirt, pulling him up.

The healer grumbled and cursed at the first mate, telling him he didn't have all the information, so how was he supposed to know. But Morcant didn't want to deal with drunkard and so he ignored him.

"Should we move her?" the first mate asked Regina, peering down at her with a look of true concern.

Regina shook her head as she gaze up at him, her mind partly wandering back and forth on what to do. "No, that would be unwise," she replied. The princess tried to remember her training with Maleficent on how to treat serious injuries, but her mind wasn't cooperating with her, only drawing blanks on the subject.

Morcant then turned and looked at the slumbering giant bear, scratching his head. "And what are we supposed to do with that?" he asked in an exhausted tone, turning to face Emma with the question.

Emma glanced at Red and then back at the first mate. "I guess she's okay where she is, I mean it's not like she's in the way, or causing any more harm," she postulated, sheathing Balmung as she answered the tall man.

Red walked over to Aureate and placed her hand on the bear's soft fur, rubbing it as she looked back at Sascha. This was all a big misunderstanding and she wished she could have explained this to her friend, before it had reached this stage.

Morcant eyed the teen for a moment, and then gave his first order, telling the men to help the dock workers pull the vessel back to where it was before, guessing it was best for them to return to the port.

Red's eyes darted away from Sascha and towards Emma, her anxious gaze alerting the blonde to how she felt.

Emma thinned her lips, titling her head to one side, letting her sister-like friend know she was equally concerned over it all as well.

"Emma, could you help me for a moment," Regina asked, but didn't look at the blonde with the request.

The cloaked youth stammered for a second, before she quickly bent down, coming to kneel beside the brunette. She tried to not look Regina in the eye, still afraid that the princess may be upset. Emma wasn't stupid, she knew Regina was annoyed at her for the kiss, and the blonde was conflicted on how best to approach the situation, that she had created.

"Yes – um – what do you need me to do exactly?" the blonde asked, glancing at the brunette, so as not to come across as being rude.

Regina couldn't help the frown forming as she looked the blonde, but she put her feelings aside for the moment, knowing she had to deal with Sascha first, and then Emma second.

"Can you talk to her, please, I don't want Sascha passing out," Regina asked. The princess remembered Maleficent warning her of the dangers that a patient faced, if they fainted while severely injured, and she knew very little about the warrior, so someone else needed to keep the redhead awake.

Emma's brows crept together, confused on why that would be a problem, but she guessed the princess knew what she was talking about, and so the blonde spoke to Sascha.

"Hey, Sascha, I know you don't remember this – but when I was baby, and you were a raven – you use to sing to me," Emma said, and then continued, wanting to elaborate on it more. "At least, that's what Merlin told me, I really don't remember it, which is kind of funny, how we both can't remember…"

Scathach wheezed then, but didn't try to speak. She wished she could though, but breathing on its own was hard enough. The redhead desperately wanted to tell Emma she had remembered singing to her, but it would have to wait for another time.

Emma chanced another glance at Regina, and saw the brunette was staring at her with a less upset look than before. The blonde snapped back to talking to Sascha, not wanting to appear she was more worried about Regina's reaction, than keeping the warrior awake.

"I've wanted to thank you, actually," the blonde admitted, reflecting on the day she and her grandfather had been attacked. "You know, you saved me when I was roughly the same age as Red."

Regina leaned back a small amount, shifting her weight to her right, so she could turn to face the blonde more, becoming quite interested in what Emma was sharing.

Red sat beside Aureate and listened on, remembering that day herself, and how Granny and she had gone to the tree house, and how Sascha had been turned into a human.

"I was so scared that I had no-one else in my life, and that Merlin may be dead, and you were the only family I had left. And even though you weren't human, at that time, it didn't matter to me, because I loved you regardless of what you were," Emma confessed.

Regina's features softened as she heard this, but the brunette remained still, and glanced back at Sascha, making sure the redhead had not passed out.

Scathach tried not to tear up, she had tried to display a tough exterior, not showing any sort of emotion, other than gritting her teeth from the pain. But in all honesty, the warrior was moved by Emma's words, and wished she could reach out and hug the blonde tightly.

"And when I held you, when you allowed me to wrap my arms around you, I wished you were human, so you could hold me back," Emma paused, noticing Sascha's cheek glinted in the torch light. It was then the blonde realised the warrior was quietly crying.

The blonde reached out and placed a gentle hand on the redhead's forearm, unsure if Sascha was tearing up because of the pain. Emma turned her head and peered at Regina with a panicked look. "Can't you relieve some of her pain? Even just a little?" she asked.

Regina darted her eyes away from Emma, and looked at Sascha. As she watched the redhead, allowing a few short moments to pass, she suspected the tears were not from the pain of her broken ribs.

Regina looked back at Emma, her dark brown eyes studying the blonde's green. "Emma, I can't, I'm sorry, but I can't risk harming Sascha more," the princess said, but knew she had not explained herself properly.

"What I mean is; I can't perform any form of healing on her, as the injuries are far too great for me to attempt to heal on my own. I could come to harm Sascha more, if I tried to take on the task without knowing what I am doing fully," she explained further. The princess had kept out the part about also injuring herself as well though, not wanting to share that part with the blonde.

Emma shut her eyes as she heard this, feeling terrible about the situation more so than before. And wondered when this night would end, if it would end at all.

The crew of sailors pooled together at the front of the ship, and waited for Morcant to give the next set of orders, as they had docked the ship again. They all wished to be either off on the high sea, or getting some shut-eye, seeing how the night was already reaching a late hour.

Morcant told them to head to bed, guessing that Milah wouldn't try to set sail until tomorrow now. With the captain's partner injured badly, he assumed Milah would want to make sure the warrior was going to make a full recovery, before going anywhere else.

xxx

David slid off the steed and ran towards the shore, coming to meet the sea dragon, before she crawled completely out from the lapping water's edge. He also noted how much larger the dragon appeared even closer up, and from a different angle.

'Maleficent, I have told my men you are no threat to them, and that you need our help. So I hope this information is true, and that I can help you return to your original form," David said in a loud voice.

The colossal dragon's blue eyes blinked a few times, before she spoke to the king. "What I have said to you, is true," she said, her voice cracking and rumbling into the night air.

Maleficent snaked her body around David, but did not block him in, wanting only to speak to the royal in a more private manner.

Although she was fine with the thirty or so group of soldiers, that had accompanied the king, she still preferred to keep some of what she wanted to discuss directed solely towards David alone.

"I also wish to know if Princess Regina is still on the island, as this information is dire to my mission," she added in her thundering tone.

David took a few steps to his left, following the dragon's body, which curved around him, thinking how the creature's body was a lot like the castle's wall, colossal and somewhat scaled in pattern. He looked up at dragon's face, peering into the sorcerous' blue eyes and spoke. "I have sent word to a few of my scouts to find my daughter, which will lead you straight to Regina as well, as you already know."

Maleficent nodded at him, and then dug one of her giant clawed hands into the sand, turning her massive frame around to peer out at the city to her left. She observed the lights off in the distance, and took a large breath of air, reflecting on how best to approach this situation still.

David's forehead creased as he glanced up at the sea-serpent, and then looked at his men, wondering how he was going to help the sorcerous return to her human self. In fact, how did she end up like this in the first place? He questioned.

xxx

The craftsmen's shop door swung open, displaying a desperate looking female, who rushed towards Marco in a frantic manner.

"Zelena – I need to see Zelena!" Milah cried out, her voice was strained and tired from almost running the full length of the way there.

Archie and Zelena appeared from the back of the shop, and looked at the pirate in confusion. Marco's mouth gaped somewhat as he turned his head away from Milah and stared at Archie. The adviser peered at his husband, shooting him a puzzled look back, as they were both at a loss as to what was going on.

"Milah, what are you doing here?" Zelena asked, walking towards the panicked captain.

Jacob bustled in at that moment, huffing and puffing from trying to keep up with the captain, internally cursing himself for not being in better shape. He could fight all day, but when it came to long distance running, he would surely be taken by the wolves.

"I'm – I'm sorry, I couldn't, ya move so bloody fast–" he gasped and bent over, placing his hands onto his knees and tried to catch his breath, waving his left hand at the others, letting them know not to bother with him.

Milah glanced at the boat swain for a second, rolling her eyes, and then looked back at the amber haired woman. "I'm sorry, I know it's terribly late, but I need your help," she said in a tense voice.

Zelena darted her eyes at her parents, and then walked up to the captain, eyeing her for a moment, seeing the desperate look in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" Zelena asked, studying the captain's worried face.

Milah's brows shifted in and up, as she spoke to the young woman. "Sascha, she's been badly injured, and I need someone else to help her, someone who also knows magic."

Zelena's eyes went wide, as she reached up and touched the torc around her neck, realising she would have to take it off if she wanted to help. "I-I don't know if I am the right person, I don't really know much –"

"Please!" Milah begged and clutched Zelena's hands, hoping the woman would at least try. "I can't lose her, Zelena. I can't lose Sascha," she added, her voice almost breaking.

Marco and Archie looked at each other, understanding what that fear would be like, as they imagined they'd feel the same way about each other. The craftsman peered at his husband, asking him in silence to say something to their daughter.

Archie adjusted his spectacles, and then took a small step towards both females. "Zelena, dear, if you can help in anyway, please do so," he asked. "You have to at least try and help, even if it means your – um – skin is temporally a different complexion."

Zelena looked at her father and then at her feet, slowly bringing her unsure gaze to wander up along the captain's frame, and stop at Milah's grey eyes.

"What do you need me to do?" she asked.

xxx

Red hadn't meant to fall asleep, but the warm fur of Aureate's body, lulled the teen into a false sense of comfort, and allowed the exhausted girl to slip away to the land of slumber.

Emma looked at Red; thankful the lanky teen was getting some rest, but also still quite worried about Sascha's condition. She rubbed her thumb over the warrior's clammy hand, hoping her touch was some sort of comfort for the redhead, listening to the wheezing sound she made with the contact.

"If Milah knows another magic user, one like yourself, how will you both fix her?" Emma asked, finally breaking the silence between her and the princess.

Regina swept a lock of her hair back over her ear, as it had fallen out of place again. "We can both heal Sascha at the same time, without the complication of either of us burning out – so to say – from trying to repair a serious wound, such as this."

The princess may have learnt a lot, and was quite skilled for her age, but everything had a price, and magic was the one the most demanding of abilities when it came to payment.

Regina thought over how painful it would be, if she had tried to heal Sascha on her own, only making it halfway before she became fatigued, leaving the warrior with half a fracture to deal with. It was just as bad as a full one, in her opinion, like mending a large and deep gash by simply wrapping it, which is absurd. And there was also the fact she may harm herself, pushing too far and causing damage to her own being.

"Nothing is free from its own reflection," the brunette whispered, remembering the quote, one that Maleficent had said to her on a number of occasions. She had not understood it at first, when she was younger, but over the years of training that she was made to endure, the princess definitely came to understand what it meant.

"What?" Emma asked, looking at the brunette with a puzzled expression.

Regina jerked her head around, frowning at the blonde, and then realised she had spoken the sentence aloud. "Oh, it was something my teacher use to say to me," she replied.

Emma continued to look at her, waiting to see if she explained what it meant. Nothing is free from its own reflection, what the Hel was that supposed to mean?

"There is always consequences to the things we do; or anything that does something. It basically entails the fact, that nothing is free from producing something by doing something," Regina explained, and then constricted her face, reflecting on what she had just said, feeling as if she could have explained it better than that.

"Like when I kis–" Emma paused, realising in that moment she had started to speak, without thinking of what it was she about to say, almost bringing up the fact she had kissed Regina.

"Like when you, what?" the princess asked, staring at the blonde with a narrowed look.

"Nothing," Emma blurted and darted her green eyes away, letting them rest on Sascha's fragile breathing. "I hope Milah returns soon, I'm really worried about Sascha, she's getting worse."

Regina chewed the inner of her lip, biting back the urge to pry as to what the blonde was about to say before. This insentient dancing back and forth was wearing on her nerves, but she wasn't sure on how to address the awkward situation her and Emma had fallen into. It was obvious the blonde liked her back, and she in return felt for Emma, but how were they supposed to get pass the fact a goddess had set them up together? And why was it so important that Freyja place them together?

"Emma," Regina said, turning her head away from Sascha, noting the warrior was still doing okay, but her skin was becoming pale. "You never explained to me why your goddess placed us together, other than the fact if we married, our union would join the lands. But I don't see how that would matter so much to her, as I could marry another from your side, and still do the same."

The blonde darted her eyes away from the brunette, as her skin formed small bumps, feeling a wave of shock roll over her. Emma had worked it out, a while back, that the amulet she wore, the one that had her child's soul placed within it, wasn't meant for her; well not entirely. The All Mother, she guessed, had planned that Regina would be the one who carried her child's unborn soul, and they; by some amazing will of the All Mother, would have a child together. It was a pretty cunning plan, when the blonde thought back over it, now and again, but she still wasn't sure how she would explain this to anyone else, let alone Regina.

"Do we really have to talk about that, right now?" Emma asked, giving Regina an almost grimaced look with the question.

The princess glanced about, seeing Red fast asleep, along with Aureate, and the first mate peering out at the docks, probably eagerly waiting to see Milah return. She and Emma were pretty much alone, so she had not thought it an inappropriate time to talk.

Other than the fact Sascha was right in front of them, she didn't think the warrior was all there, seeing the woman's eyes partly roll into the back of her head at times. She had gathered Sascha might be in a stage of delirium, due from the pain, but still thought that the sound of their voices, hers and Emma's, was what kept the redhead awake.

"No, we don't," Regina replied in a small, almost defeated tone.

Emma closed her eyes for a brief moment and sighed, feeling a wave of relief that she didn't have to deal with that problem just yet.

"But you do have to explain to me why you thought it was appropriate to kiss me, and run off," the brunette added.

Emma's eyes bulged as she flicked her head around to look at Regina. "W-what?!"

"Don't avoid the question, Emma, you need to explain your reasoning to why you did that," Regina reaffirmed.

"I just – you wouldn't let go of me, and I had to go, but you looked so hurt, and then I –" Emma paused, her mouth open, but no words came up.

"Then you, what?" Regina snipped, sounding agitated.

"I couldn't think of any other way to tell you that I cared, that I loved you, and that you had to trust me, and I would be okay to go save the city. So I thought that by kissing you, you'd understand, and let me go," Emma blurted, rushing her words to get everything out, as she was afraid of making Regina angrier.

The princess' features changed a few time, from intense, surprised, and then into an appearance of almost uncertainty. "You love me?" she managed to ask.

Emma frowned at the comment, but then shot her eyebrows up; coming to a shocking realisation she had admitted this in her explanation. She darted her eyes away, and then brought them back to look at Regina, with an almost painful gaze.

"Yes," Emma pushed herself to say, as the single word seemed to have become lodged in her throat.

Regina had guessed the blonde was quite smitten with her, even after she knew the goddess' influence wasn't present anymore, but to actually hear Emma say those words, it was as if she wanted, no – needed – to hear them again.

"Emma," the brunette said, reaching out to place her left hand on top of the blonde's right, which was resting on Sascha's forearm. "I –"

"Milah's back!" Morcant yelled out, causing the cry to echo loudly within the cave, interrupting Regina for a moment and waking Red, who jolted up, observing everyone in silence.

Emma eyed the brunette's hand, and then pulled her arm back, avoiding the contact with an awkward jerk. It wasn't that she didn't want Regina touching her, she just couldn't keep her heart from beating so hard in her chest, couldn't stop her mind from spinning with thoughts of uncertainty.

Emma didn't want to hear Regina tell her that they should just be friends; that the youth didn't know what she was talking about. Emma couldn't keep hearing the excuses, the rejections; it was hard enough that Regina was the first person she thought of in the morning, and the last, as she fell asleep. The blonde didn't need to add any more torment to the mix of what she was already going through.

The captain jogged up the plank, looking over her shoulder at Jacob and Zelena, making sure they had kept up with her.

"I see you brought a familiar face back to the ship," Morcant commented, letting the captain catch her breath for a moment. He then looked over to the boat swain and smiled at the man, glad that his friend had managed to keep up with the captain.

Milah nodded, but did not reply back; instead she reached out and took hold of the amber haired woman's hand, pulling her towards where Sascha lay. "She's just over here, and Regina is the girl with the dark hair," the pirate said in an almost breathless state.

Jacob shot the first mate a wide grin, as they exchanged a few words. The boat swain was glad he could retire to bed now, knowing everyone who was of importance was on the Baelfire, safe and sound, well to a certain extent.

Zelena's chest rose and fell as she tried to catch her own breath, but she completely stopped breathing when she saw the giant bear, which was lying next to the injured woman. What surprised her more was the slender girl sitting against the beast, as if it was some house-hold pet.

"Oh my gods – what is that doing here?!" she sputtered, almost jumping on top of Milah, grasping the captain in fright.

"Zelena, the bear isn't the problem. Actually she's a friend, but that's a story for another time," Milah explained, pulling the amber haired woman's clinging hands away from her vest. "Here, let me take the torc off you, so you can help Regina," she added, taking hold of the metal ring around the woman's neck, undoing the contraption.

Regina's ears pricked up when she heard Milah say the woman's name. Her dark eyes becoming wide as she looked up, staring at them both, not believing what was happening in that moment.

Emma felt her tunic tighten around her waist, and then she was tugged to the side, only to be pulled up in a swift and silent manner by Regina. The blonde gave her a cautious gaze, feeling somewhat afraid as to why the brunette had grabbed her like that. "Regina, what–"

"I think the woman next to Milah could be my sister. I mean it's possible that there are other women, who are called Zelena, and can also cast magic – but she – she looks a lot like my mother," Regina whispered to the blonde, eyeing the amber haired woman, almost not believing what she was seeing.

Red rocked her head back and forth, studying the two groups of females, who each looked like they were going through a number of different things, all at once. But it was what Regina said to Emma that caught her undivided attention, causing the teen to stare at Zelena in shock.

Scathach closed her eyes and tried to focus on trying to take in more air, but the pain was becoming unbearable, and she dreaded every moment of it all. The warrior felt conflicted, as she thought she was being weak for not pulling herself together and getting up, but also knowing she had her limits, and unfortunately having a number of broken ribs, and her left lung punctured was one of them. The warrior groaned, getting the others attention, as she heard none of them doing something to help her.

Milah snapped into action and raced to Sascha's side, calling out to Regina and Zelena to do what they could. The captain held the torc in her left hand, as she had not placed it aside when she removed it from Zelena's neck. Milah stared at if for a moment and then Sascha, but she pushed the idea that had popped into her mind away, and then looped the torc on her belt, so she could hold the warrior's hand in both of her own.

Regina continued to stare at Zelena, more so now that the woman's skin was changing to a green colour within a matter of seconds.

Zelena gave her complexion a regretful glance, but promptly knelt down next to Sascha, inspecting the redhead with a keen eye, as she tried to ignore her unfortunate change.

Regina glanced at Emma, hoping the blonde didn't think she was mad for confessing what she had before. But as the blonde remained looking at the green woman, Regina concluded Emma was more interested in that, than her abrupt and unfounded claim.

"Regina, could you try to heal Sascha now?" Milah asked, becoming anxious the longer this was taking.

Regina shifted her eyes from Emma and nodded at the captain, coming to kneel down next to the pirate, while peering at Zelena. She placed aside her own revelations and thoughts, only allowing herself to focus on the task at hand, knowing she could ask her many questions after this was over, to both Emma and Zelena.

The brunette then directed the amber haired woman, informing her on how to perform a dual regenerative spell, as each of them needed pool their abilities together, so it would work correctly.

Zelena nodded at her, understanding it all easily enough, glad that the woman across from her knew what she was doing, and also thankful that no one was calling attention to her complexion. Although she didn't enjoy a giant bear sleeping directly behind her, she couldn't say she's felt unsafe, as no-one else seemed to care about it.

Zelena placed her hands down, palms open and waited for the brunette to place her's on top. When they touched, she was struck with a number of indecipherable symbols, causing Zelena to look up with a frown, also seeing the brunette had a similar look on her face.

But it was the strange, almost ethereal-like voice that whispered to the princess at the end of the images, which alerted Regina to conclude this woman, Zelena, was in fact her sister.

"What was that?" Zelena asked, pulling her hands back as if the brunette had burnt them.

Regina let the echoing voice of her mother settle, before she spoke. "Zelena, we need to heal Sascha first, I'll explain it all to you later."

Emma and Milah glanced at each other, as they didn't quite follow what was going on. The blonde then decided to go and sit with Red, wanting to stay out of the way.

As Emma sat down, adjusting her scabbard to a comfortable position, Red turned and asked what the deal with Zelena and Regina was.

"I'm not sure really. Regina thinks the woman is her sister, but this is the first time I have ever heard her say she even has a sister," Emma replied in a whisper, her eyes on the two females, watching them place their hands on Sascha again.

"That's what I thought I heard – I mean I didn't purposely listen in, I just happened to hear it," Red said in a low voice, trying to keep their conversation private.

Emma leaned back, pressing her body against Aureate, feeling the guardian's chest rise and fall. What really struck Emma, at that moment, wasn't how all these events seemed to come about, forming coincidences left and right, but the fact something had pushed these events to come about… Had Freyja made everything just so? Did the goddess know if Regina was with her, that the princess would meet her sister? And what was up with that, she wondered, why didn't Regina mention she had a sister in the first place?

"Emma," Red whispered, tugging on her friend's tunic.

The blonde turned her vexed gaze away from the group in front of them, and looked at Red, unsure what she wanted from her. "Yes."

"What do you think?" the teen asked.

"About what?" Emma asked back.

Red narrowed her eyes and thinned her lips. "You didn't hear a thing I said before, did you?"

Emma grimaced a little and shook her head. "No, sorry, I didn't. What did you say?"

"Do you think this is all happening for a reason – like – we're supposed to be here, right now, at this very moment?" Red repeated, peering at her friend with a serious look.

Emma stared back at Red, almost wondering if the shape-shifter could read her thoughts. "In all honesty, Red, I'm not sure. But I suspect the All Mother has played some part, making it come about, in her own way..." Emma paused as she thought about Merlin, wondering if her grandfather knew what was going on. She quickly concluded the wizard probably did, as he was the one who brought her up. In fact, Emma needed to ask Sascha more about where the old man went, but only after the warrior had fully recovered of course.

"Fuck!" Scathach gasped, feeling her ribs pop back into place.

Regina's face remained focused though, unlike Zelena's, who looked worried about the cursing coming from Sascha, wondering if the woman was going to be okay. "Is she–"

"She's fine, just concentrate on the healing process," Regina remarked, knowing what Zelena was going to ask.

Milah slid her hand down Sascha's lower leg, as she was unable to hold the redhead's hand anymore. It was awful to hear her snap and grunt in pain, but she knew the light coming from both females weren't hurting her, as it was the source of what was making her better.

Morcant's jaw partly hung open, in awe of the brilliant light that glowed under the young women's hands. He'd seen magic preformed before, but nothing to this degree. It was almost hypnotic, the way the light spiralled in a circular motion, sinking into Sascha's clothes and disappearing.

After what felt like ages, the light vanished, indicating the job had come to an end. Both Regina and Zelena slumped back, exhausted from using so much magic. It wasn't something either of them wanted to do again any time soon, feeling drained from the ordeal.

"She's going to be okay, Milah," Regina said with a small smile, looking at the anxious pirate.

But the captain knew this already, as she watched Sascha cough, trying to sit up. Milah dove forward, and grabbed the warrior, pulling her close to her chest. "Don't you dare make me worry like that again," she demanded, hugging the redhead.

Zelena leant back, trying to avoid the affectionate display, and turned about to look at the bear, seeing the other two females staring back at her. "Well this has been quite an exciting night, wouldn't you say?" she asked, trying to lighten the mood, while also trying to ignoring her unpleasant complexion.

Emma and Red glanced at one another, unsure how to answer that question, as they both had mixed feelings on everything that had happened recently.

"I just want to go to sleep, actually," Red admitted, yawning at the end. She was very pleased to see Sascha was okay, and Milah pouring an uncomfortable amount of kisses on the redhead's face, but she was also quite tired from all the excitement, and dearly wanted this night to come to an end.

"Go to bed then, I'll make sure Aureate is kept safe," Emma said, nudging her friend, encouraging Red to head off.

The teen rose and shuffled away, heading towards the entrance that would take her below the deck of the ship.

Emma watched the lanky girl disappear before she turned back, and looked at Zelena, but it was the intense gaze of Regina, off to the side of the amber haired woman, that caught the blonde's attention.

Milah gave Sascha one more brief kiss, and then moved to hug Zelena, thanking her for helping save her partner. "I don't know how to thank you," she said, and then turned her head about, to look at Regina. "Either of you," she added.

Regina shook her head and flicked her hand. "It's quite all right, I'm just happy you knew someone else who could help me heal Sascha," she said, and then peered at Zelena, knowing she'd have to try and explain what they both felt and saw, when they touched before. If only the princess still had her mother's book, she could have gone over its pages again, understanding more of what it all meant.

Zelena narrowed her eyes in suspicion, but decided to wait for the brunette to approach her, not wanting to come across as a difficult person, as her father's words reminded her to remain calm. And really, this night had already become confusing enough as it was, without adding more trouble to it.

Zelena quickly hugged the pirate back, and then moved away, standing up to adjust her clothing.

Sascha croaked a small "thanks", but her core still felt sore, almost as if it was bruised, but not broken. Both Zelena and Regina smiled at the redhead, but didn't say anything. Regina knew it would take Sascha a goodnight's rest, before she would be up for thanking them properly, which was fine; the princess wasn't looking for large bouts of gratitude for doing something she'd hope any good person would do. She could hear Tinker Bell in the back of her mind, saying a good person is someone who works in silence anyway. The reminiscing thought made Regina slightly homesick, wondering how her father and friend were fairing.

Emma stroked Aureate's golden fur, contemplating if she should leave the guardian asleep on the deck, or try to wake her. But when the blonde looked back at the small group, she decided it was probably best to leave her where she was, guessing Milah wasn't going to try and set sail tonight.

The blonde got up and walked towards Zelena, wanting to ask the woman about her skin colour, as she'd not seen anything like it before. "Excuse me; I'm not sure how to ask you this, but–"

Zelena flicked her head around and looked at the blonde, answering her question before she finished it. "No, this is not my natural colour, in fact I don't really even know why it turned green in the first place," she said, peering at her arm with a curled lip.

"Oh – well that must be, um, difficult for you to deal with. I mean I guess it would be – but I guess it's pretty interesting as well, and you don't look unattractive either – in my eye's that is, not that any part of you is unappealing…" Emma stopped talking though as she felt somewhat silly for rambling, not sure how she should react to the other female.

Zelena tilted her head to the side, smiling at the complement about her looks, and gave a slight chuckle. "Well thank you for thinking I still look appealing, even with green skin."

They smiled at one another, Emma starting to grin at the awkwardness between them, but didn't feel she had offended Zelena.

Regina wasn't smiling though, becoming somewhat jealous over the sudden closeness of them both. But she brushed the feeling aside, reminding herself that Emma had admitted to loving her, only a short time ago.

Milah helped Sascha to her feet, wrapping her arm around the redhead's waist, before she addressed the group, informing them that it was best they all tried to rest, and that it would probably be a good idea to talk more in the morning. The pirate then noticed that Red had already left, and felt a little guilty she'd not said goodnight to the teen.

"I can escort Lady Zelena home, if you wish me to," Morcant offered, eyeing the amber haired woman.

Milah peered at him, and then looked at Zelena, before she returned her narrowing eyes on her first mate. "Only if you swear to take her directly home, and come back immediately," she remarked. The captain knew he wouldn't try anything with the young lady, but she wanted to make it clear that she wasn't one to turn a blind eye to such things.

Morcant gave her a blank look, almost insulted by the insinuation thrown his way. But he didn't get to say something back, as the torc was shoved into his chest, while Milah gave him a serious look. "I mean it, Morcant, you protect Zelena and that's it," she said firmly.

The first mate nodded as he gave her a stern look, taking hold of the torc and walked over to Zelena, offering to take her back to her residence.

The young woman gave him a polite smile, and then indicated she needed to do something first, stepping towards Regina with an air of urgency.

"We need to talk, but I know it's late, so can you please come and see me in the morning?" Zelena asked, and then informed the brunette of where she lived.

Regina thinned her lips and gave her a sharp nod. "Of course, I'd expect you'd have just as many things to ask me, as I do you, but you're right, it's late and we both really need to rest," she answered, letting a slight yawn escape. The princess couldn't help but glance back at Emma, wanting to talk to her as soon as possible though.

Zelena smiled at Regina and then said her goodbyes to everyone, before she let the first mate lead her off the vessel.

Milah stuck around to watch Morcant for a moment, but when he disappeared she turned back around and wished Emma and Regina a peaceful night, turning away, helping a recovering Sascha walk towards the pirate's cabin.

Regina studied Aureate for a moment, wondering if she should wake the guardian.

"I'd leave her there, no one is going to hurt her, and I think she really needs to sleep off tonight's incident. Who knows, maybe Aureate needs to spend some time in her other form," Emma said, coming to stand closer to the brunette, but not too close.

Regina darted her dark eyes away from Aureate and rested them on the blonde. "Come to bed with me, Emma," she said bluntly.

Emma blinked at the request, and then jerked her head, wondering if she was more tired than she thought, swearing she just heard Regina ask her to go to bed.

The blonde chuckled, assuming she had misheard the brunette, and tried to laugh off the weird feeling rising up within her. "Oh my gods, I thought you said something else for a second there."

Regina didn't wish to repeat herself, so she grabbed Emma's hand pulled her towards the door that lead to the lower part of the ship. The princess was fatigued from using so much magic, and just wanted to rest, but this time she wanted Emma to sleep next to her, and not on the floor.

They descended the creaking wooden steps, and walked across the hard floors, Emma remaining silent, wondering how the brunette was dealing with the strange encounter with her sister, as she hadn't seemed to react all that much about it.

"Hey, Regina, was that woman really your sister?" Emma asked.

The princess halted and looked back at the blonde. "Emma, I don't mean to sound rude, but I really don't want to discuss that right now."

Emma's lips curled down as she darted her eyes away. "Sorry, I just thought you'd be happy to see her, that's all."

The princess peered at the youth for a second longer, but decided to let the subject drop, not wanting to talk about it anymore.

Once they reached Morcant's room, Regina reached out to open the door, but stopped, realising they could no longer stay in the man's cabin, as he was back on the ship now, and would require the space again.

Emma slipped her hand out of Regina's, as she felt the brunette's grip loosen. "Red sleeps in the medical room, perhaps we could rest there as well, if that's–"

"No, I don't want to share a room with anyone else," she remarked in a tired and grumpy tone, interrupting the blonde.

Emma was becoming confused as to why Regina was acting so odd. But then she remembered she had kissed and admitted to loving the princess, which could be why Regina was being weird. Or maybe she was just really tired?

"I'm sorry," Emma said, feeling guilty that she had not tried harder to just be the brunette's friend, as she had requested originally.

Regina frowned at her. "Why, what did you do?" she asked.

Emma shook her head and tried to explain her reasoning. "I over stepped our boundary today, as I know you only want to be my friend, but I could have stopped myself, and I didn't, so I'm sorry."

Regina shot the blonde a panged look. "So you don't love me?"

Emma blinked at her, being thrown off by the question. "What?"

"You said you loved me, and now you're trying to take it back?" Regina remarked in an almost accusing tone.

"No – no, I just thought you were upset from what I did today, and I guess that's because I went against your request, to just be friends," Emma tried to explain, but by the look Regina was giving her, she guessed she had only made things worse.

Regina mustered the last of her willpower, doubting if she should do what she wanted to next, weighing up the consequences. "Do you just want to be friends?"

Emma's brows crept together, her feature constricting, reflecting her confused manner. "Regina, I don't understand what you're trying to imply," she answered. "But if you're trying to get me to admit I feel for you, more than a friend would, then you already know the answer to that."

The cloaked youth was now becoming slightly agitated with the brunette, unsure if this was some game to her; that Emma's feelings were something to be toyed with.

Regina sensed the small change in the blonde's tone, and closed her eyes. "How do you know you love me?"

The blonde studied the brunette, but couldn't read her, as Regina kept her eyes shut. "Why are you asking me this stuff now? Why do you care how I feel, you're the one who wants to be my friend, so why should my feelings matter?"

Regina could tell Emma was taking this all the wrong way, so the princess let herself go, threw caution to the wind and decided to show the blonde what she was trying to get at. "You're an idiot, Emma."

But the blonde didn't get a chance to protest against this false claim, as she was suddenly pulled close to the brunette, her lips silenced by a pair of soft ones, pressing and moving against her own.

Emma's eyes widened as she realised that Regina was kissing her, really kissing her. After a second of more disbelief, the blonde reached around and pulled the princess closer to her, not wanting the contact to end, fearing Regina might try to escape. But Emma had nothing to worry about, as she felt the brunette slip her fingers into her wavy hair, and pressed a hand against the back of the blonde's head, deepening their embrace.

ShadowCub - I know right! They just keep making that sacrifice. And I assure you, I'm getting to the Regina/Emma mate section, all in good time ;)

Guest O.o - Thank you for understanding, it's been tough for me lately, and I really appreciate your lovely words of encouragement.

True2YourHeart - Don't worry too much about Emma, she's a tough cookie, and I'm sure the others will help her out, if she asks. I'm glad to see I've got you thinking though, keep up those ideas! Who knows, maybe you'll guess something that no one else has.

Guest o.O - I hope this chapter is all right, I did unfortunately rush a few parts, but I kind of need to speed things up a bit. This story is already a lot larger than I planned it to be, but I guess a good journey takes time to tell.

lost long ago - Screw your emoticons storyboard! You'll just have to put up with my shitty comments instead ;P

Thank you all for continuing to read, comment, and follow. I hope to get the next chapter out sooner than this one. I moved states, so I'm currently busier than usual. I'm sure things will settle down for me, and if not, then I'll just get use to it ;)