True Love

A/N: Thank you for all of your kind words. I love you all!

Chapter 23- The Beginning Of The End

The wind whipped at the blonde's face as she stood next to the tense Queen. However hard Emma had wished, the morning had come and the war had truly begun. The Princess shifted from foot to foot as the army lined up in front of them, all fully equipped, wearing gleaming armour bearing the emblem of the Queen, and carrying freshly sharped weapons.

Regina seemed oddly calm, as if it were simply another day. She wore black armour, which practically glowed in the sunlight. A red cape hung from her shoulders, flapping gently in the wind as she surveyed the preparations before her.

"We should be ready to go soon." Regina murmured, turning to look at the nervous Princess. She reached out and ran a finger down Emma's cheek, making the younger girl jump. "It'll be alright my love."

"I know, I'm just a little jumpy." The Queen smiled, moving her hand to gently grasp Emma's chin, bringing emerald eyes to meet with dark chocolate.

"You'll stay safely inside, won't you?" Emma nodded.

"I will, you need to not worry about me." The Queen slipped her hand down to Emma's neck, pulling their bodies together.

"I always worry about you darling." Emma stared up into Regina's eyes, trying to ignore the pangs of pain in her heart.

"I know." There was a pause before Regina spoke again.

"All will be well again Princess." She said, looking deep into Emma's eyes. "No matter what happens, we shall be together."

"But-"

"I won't let anyone take you from me." Emma forced herself not to flinch when nails dug into her skin slightly.

"I know you won't."

"We will be happy, once this is all over. I promise you, everything will be perfect." Emma ignored the evil glint in Regina's eye and pressed a chaste kiss to her plump lips, before pulling away again.

"I wish to say goodbye to Graham, and to wish him luck." Emma muttered, feeling Regina tense.

"If you wish to do so, then I shall allow it." The blonde smiled up at the Queen.

"It won't take long and I shall be back to see you off."

"I shall wait for my goodbye kiss."

Xxxxxxxx

Emma weaved through the crowds of soldiers, searching for signs of the Captain. Max trotted next to her, looking all around as the various things going on at once. There was so much activity all around her; it was proving near impossible to find Graham.

Max yipped at her, gesturing towards as stressed looking Graham, whizzing through the crowd. Emma quickly followed after him; trying to catch up to the over worked man. When he came in reach, Emma reached out and grabbed his arm, pulling him off to the side so that they could talk in some kind of privacy.

"Emma? I thought you were with the Queen?" The blonde shook her head at him.

"I was, but I wished to come and see you." He smiled at her, but it faded when he caught her serious expression.

"I feel this isn't going to end with me saying goodbye to you."

"The other way around." He frowned at her.

"I don't understand." Emma wrung her hands, glancing down at Max.

"I don't have time to explain." She said nervously. "I came to make you promise me something."

"What?"

"If anything is to happen to me, I want you to take care of Max." He scrunched his face up at her words, concern shone in his eyes.

"Emma what are you talking about? What's going to happen to you?!"

"Please Graham! Promise me you'll take care of him?" Emma grasped his leather gloved hand and placed a faintly glowing dandelion in his hand.

"Emma tell me what's going on? I can help!" Tears pricked at the blonde's eyes, but she forced them back.

"It's too late for that Graham." He sighed, brushing away a tear which had managed to escape.

"I promise." He said heavily, tucking the dandelion away in his vest.

"Thank you." She whispered, and he pulled her into a hug which she immediately returned.

"And thank you."

"For what?" she asked.

"For being my friend." Emma smiled, pulling back to look at him.

"Good luck Captain." He bobbed his head at her.

"I don't know what you're going to do, but whatever it is…I hope it's worth it."

"Saving the people you love is always worth it, even if you're saving them from themselves."

Xxxxxxxxx

Emma quickly located Regina again, standing upon a podium, barking orders at people. She hesitated for a moment, before climbing up to stand with the Queen once more.

"Princess." Regina husked as soon as Emma was close enough to hear her.

"How long until you leave?"

"Any moment now." Emma nodded and Regina turned back to crowd to address them all.

"The enemy awaits us upon the field of battle!" she yelled, and Emma watched as the soldiers jeered and insulted her parents. "Today we shall be triumphant, and defeat Snow White once and for all!" They all cheered.

"In the name of your Queen I tell you to fight! And to win! Destroy all those who cross your path and claim your victory!" Emma watched as many of them began mounting horses, while others stamped their feet and clashed their weapons together.

"Now go! Fight for me my brave soldiers!" They all cheered once more, before the commanders began yelling their own orders. The blonde turned to look back at the Queen as the army began to leave the Dark Castle and make their way towards the field of battle, where her parents were no doubt waiting for them.

"Very inspirational." Emma said, and Regina smirked at her.

"You owe me a kiss." She said, invading Emma's personal space and looking down on the younger Princess.

"I suppose I do." Regina wasted no time with talking, and leant down to capture Emma's lips in a deep kiss. The blonde wrapped her arm around the Queen's slim waist, while delicate fingers tangled themselves in blonde tresses. The kiss was short, but both women felt satisfied with it.

"I'll see you soon." The Queen whispered into Emma's ear, placing a light kiss just below it.

"Be safe." Regina nodded, kissing her once more upon the forehead, before whisking off down to where her horse stood. Emma watched as the Queen gracefully mounted the horse and sped off after her army.

"You'll see me sooner than you think."

Xxxxxxxx

Snow paced up and down her tent, while her husband studied battle plans. She was completely on edge, and was no longer able to just sit and wait like Charming.

"Snow everything is going to be fine." He tried reassuring, but his words fell on deaf ears.

"I can't just sit and wait for Regina to turn up Charming!" she snapped, continuing to pace. Charming sighed and stood, walking over and taking his wife in his arms, holding her close.

"We're going to get her back Snow, and when we do, everything will be perfect again." She relaxed a little into his embrace.

"What if you get hurt?" her voice quivered slightly.

"We either come out of this together, or not at all." He said and she nodded, kissing him gently.

"Come, we should check on what's happening." They left the tent hand in hand and were met by a blazing sunset.

"Well at least the weather has decided to be nice eh?" he said, smiling at his wife. The couple walked through the temporary camp, inspecting many of the soldiers who wandered around, all waiting for the same thing. A look out had been stationed up a hill, and would blow a huge horn when the Evil Queen came into sight.

Snow climbed upon a rock, and surveyed her army. They were strong, there was no doubt in that, but she still feared what was to come and whether they were ready.

A sound shattered the air, and Snow's head whipped to the hills as the ringing of a horn filled her ears.

"IT'S HER!" she heard someone yell behind her.

"THE EVIL QUEEN!" Yelled another. Charming quickly came to join Snow on the rock as Regina and her army came into view, galloping towards them. Snow gripped her husband's hand and turned to him, their eyes locking together.

"I love you." He said, kissing her on the forehead.

"I love you too." She whispered back, before turning to see Regina's army come to a stop. A huge gap was left between the two armies. Snow watched as her men all lined up, raising their weapon and awaiting her command.

"Good evening Regina." She called, locking eyes with her step-mother.

"Can we skip the pleasantries!" she snapped, glaring back at the younger Queen.

"Fine. Give us back our daughter!" she said calmly. Regina laughed loudly, making everyone tense.

"Or what?" Regina smirked at her step-daughter.

"I will kill you!" Even from this distance, Snow could see the evil look that flashed in Regina's face.

"So I either return your daughter or face death?" Snow and Charming both nodded.

There was a heavy silence all around, the only noise coming from the armour of the soldiers as they shifted nervously.

"Death it is then." Regina called out, and Snow closed her eyes momentarily.

"So be it!" she hissed, and raised her hand and drawing her sword. Regina mimicked Snow's actions and all the men braced themselves.

"CHARGE!" Screamed both women, and shouts filled the air as both armies rushed towards it each.

Xxxxxxxxx

Emma stood alone in the courtyard, holding the book from the Apprentice in her hands. Silence hung all around her as she stared down at the book. The blonde took in a deep breath, and readjusted her satchel. She pulled it round to her front and looked inside, double checking everything she cared about was inside. Emma wasn't sure if they would go with her, but having them with her was comforting. She placed her hand inside, running it along the soft fabric of her blanket. Her eyes glazed over the many drawing she had done, of Regina and Max and various other things. In that moment Emma wished she had a drawing of her parents as well. Nestled deep in the satchel, also sat Emma's doll from her parents.

Pushing the bag behind her, Emma focused on the book in her hands once more, and closed her eyes for a moment.

"Rumpelstiltskin!" she called out into the empty courtyard.

"I hoped you might call." Said a voice behind Emma, and she turned to see the Dark One leaning against the wooden pole which Killian had been tied to all that time ago.

"Is this all worth it? This future you want me to fulfil?" She asked, staring at him. "I hope whatever it is you want…you get. Otherwise all this will truly have been for nothing."

"I guess we'll have to wait and see dearie." Emma sighed heavily.

"Fine, but do this one thing for me." She said. "Will you show me how to work this spell?"

"I guess so." He shrugged, skipping over to where Emma stood. He plucked the book from her hands and looked the spell over for a moment, before waving his hand.

"Is that it?" she asked, frowning slightly.

"When it is time, the spell will activate at the wave of your hand." He said, before pointing to a bit in the spell. "But only if you do this bit."

"I understand."

"Be careful dearie, do it wrong and you won't get the results you're hoping for." She nodded at him.

"Here." She offered him the book. "I don't want this with me any longer." He took the book from her hand.

"I'd get going if I were you dearie, the battle's just begun." With that he was gone with a slight pop, leaving Emma alone once more.

"I know you're there." She called out, looking into the shadows where a shaggy wolf sheepishly emerged. He padded over to her and Emma knelt down to pull him close. He cried into her chest, and Emma stroked his fur gently as he made whining and huffing sounds.

"I'm going to miss you too." She whispered, her own tears streaming down her face into his white fur. He shook his head so that his dandelion fell from behind his ear into Emma's lap, making her frown. He nudged it with his nose, encouraging Emma to pick it up.

"I can't take this." He huffed at her, and bumped his head against her leg. "Fine, but Graham has your other one." He nodded at her.

"He's going to take good care of you." She whispered, kissing his head. "I love you."

She straightened up and flexed her arms, readying to poof away, but stopped at a yip from Max.

"No, you're not coming with me." He growled at her, pushing up against her. "It's too dangerous! You could get hurt." He merely huffed at her and Emma caved. "Together till the end." She muttered, waving her hand and poofing them both away.

Xxxxxxxx

Swords clashed, and screams rang out as defeated soldiers collapsed everywhere. Fighting in the middle, Snow and Regina went head to head, their swords crashing together as they fought in vain to kill the other.

"You took my daughter from me you bitch!" Snow screamed, slashing at Regina who dodged.

"You tried taking my true love! AGAIN!" Regina roared back, bringing her sword down hard on Snow, who barley deflected it. The younger brunette stumbled, and the older Queen took her chance, bringing her sword down on Snow.

A great flash of light erupted all around, blowing everyone apart. Regina went flying back words, landing in a heap on the ground, looking around for the source of magic. Her eyes widened when they met emerald ones, looking at her sadly. The Queen scrambled to her feet, noticing everyone had stopped fighting to look upon the Princess who had joined the battle.

"Emma?" Snow said whispered.

"Look at all these men, these innocent men, laying down their lives over nothing." Emma said calmly.

"No!" Snow shook her head, but Emma turned to Regina.

"I knew you would do a lot for revenge, but this?" Emma didn't wait for a reply and instead looked upon each of the soldiers around her.

"Your Queen's have led you here under their own personal gain." She said loudly so that she could be heard by everyone present. "Both are here thinking they finally have a chance to defeat there enemy, and have ignored the consequences of their actions."

"Emma what are you saying?" Snow said, still sprawled on the floor. Emma approached her mother and offered a hand to help her up. Suddenly Charming burst through the crowd to join his wife, staring wide eyed at his daughter who smiled at him.

"I know you only wanted me back, but your actions have caused so many terrible things to happen. You resurrected the Evil Queen, and if it weren't for you, none of this would be happening." Emma looked at her parents sadly. "I love you with all my heart, I truly do."

"Emma come home please." Snow begged, reaching for her daughter. Emma said nothing in reply, and instead turned to Regina. The blonde briefly glanced at Max, who was sat next to Graham, who had forced himself to the front of the crowd.

"Emma, what are you doing?" Regina asked, her face confused.

"Falling in love with you was the furthest thing from the mind when we met, but after sometime I met a different woman entirely…I met Regina. And I fell in love with her." Regina smiled at Emma. "I would have moved mountains for you, but after a while I realised something." There was a pause before the Princess spoke again.

"I'm in love with Regina, I have been since the day we met and will do from now until the end of the world. But you…you're not Regina."

"Emma no." The Queen whispered.

"You are the Evil Queen." Emma could feel the tears on her face, but she ignored them. Reaching down, she pulled the ring from her finger, and took Regina's hand, pushing the ring onto a delicate finger. "This belongs to you, it always will."

"Emma please don't do this." The Princess squeezed her eyes shut, and plunged her other hand deep into her chest, reaching for the rapidly beating organ she found there. Closing her shaking fingers around the fragile muscle, she pulled it free.

"This also belongs you. My heart, body and soul are yours Regina." Tears streamed down the blonde's face now. "But I can't love someone who isn't there, it hurts too much."

The Princess turned away from the now crying Queen, and returned to the centre of the battlefield.

"I love you." She said, looking first to Regina, then to her parents. "Both of you. But I do not belong in this world, I never have." She bowed her head, fear of her next move taking over her body and halting her movements. Words suddenly filled her mind, as a warm feeling filled her with strength.

Just look up and you'll see me

Emma raised her head, and locked eyes with ghostly form Eron once more. He smiled at her, and nodded. She smiled back and waved her hand, causing magic to fill the air. There was a crack and the earth before her crumbled away and instead was replaced by a swirling portal, magic crackling off of it.

"My Prophesy is fulfilled." She said loudly.

"Emma!" Screamed her parents and Regina together.

"Don't forget me." She said, before jumping into the portal. The last sounds she heard were the screams of her loved ones, before she plunged into darkness.

The End.

A/N: There will be a sequel. It's going to be called Love, Fate and Magic. Could be published tomorrow or in a month, so keep an eye out.

Thank you for reading, I love you all! Till next time Kids.