A/N I have been sitting on this chapter for months. I had originally planned to release this chapter along with a art piece I'm creating to go with it. However, it's taking me absolutely forever. It's a difficult angle and I'm really trying to pull off something amazing. Life has changed a ton… I wish I could explain it to you easily. If you don't care, feel free to scroll down. I'm still trying to get through college and get my Environmental Science degree, but chemistry has kicked my ass as well as finances. I quit my job about a month ago and while it's less stressful to go to school and focus, I'm going to need to look for a job soon which I'm not looking forward to. Right now, I've been trying to focus on my creative projects. I make write music and also have been creating industrial hybrid music while also juggling art and writing with my school work. I've been blogging a lot on a platform called Steemit under the name Amethyst Midnight. It's where I post my original artwork, music, writing, poetry, and whatever else I create. I'm also on Instagram and Facebook under the same name.

Anywho, I've realized how much I want to inspire people and just make people happy with my creations which is why I've come back here. You all have really helped me grow and become a talented writer, and I don't know if I've expressed enough gratitude to you all. I feel like a douche for picking up and ditching these stories. I want to finish this one especially, but hopefully Wicked Turmoil too as a thank you for all of your support. It is really support that keeps the world alive. Without you all, I don't know if my writing would have grown the way it did. I am eternally grateful to you all. If you wish to support me in other ways. you can find me on the various platforms I mentioned.

"I can't believe this," Regina was saying as she anxiously paced around their tent, "How are we going to recover from something like this?"

The other two women could feel the erratic energy zapping off the Queen. Emma especially could see the lines of worry on the brunette's face which wasn't something she showed often. Her anxiety was at a maximum, yet she held a large breath momentarily before releasing slowly.

"How are you going to recover, you say?" Maleficent half chuckled with a grimace, "I can't move my fucking arm, let alone move anything without aching."

Maleficent's poor skin was bruised in colorful splotches from her impact with the ground. Even though she had been in her dragon form, the damage done reflected dramatically on her human body. Regina had just finished cleaning up the bloody mess of her friend, finding that the projectile had shattered the dragon witch's right shoulder blade, leaving that arm useless.

"Is this arrow made of...gold?" Emma asked, twirling the deadly fascination around. She could swear there was a pulse emanating from it but she brushed it aside as mind tricks from a long day.

"You're observant," Maleficent replied sarcastically from the cot she was laying on.

"Isn't gold a bit excessive for a weapon though?" Emma asked with true curiosity, "It's precious and I mean gold is not supposed to be very hard so how did this do such damage?"

"Rumpelstiltskin can weave gold from straw," Regina told her, walking over and reaching her hand out for the weapon. When Emma placed it in her palm, Regina waved her other one overtop, producing a light glow, "So in regards to availability, it's endless. It's been imbued with Dark Magic which is why it did this."

Regina's hand extended towards her wounded friend.

"The Dark One? Wasn't he your mentor?" Emma asked in bewilderment.

"Life is complicated, my dear," Regina said over her shoulder, walking over to her wounded friend, "That imp has no sides but the ones that amuse him in the moment."

Emma was shocked at hearing her parents were willing to work with Dark Magic. It wasn't that it was Evil; the blonde had learned over time that Light and Dark are two sides of the same coin, but that wasn't the viewpoint of her parents. The Charming's were desperate; they were willing to do anything and everything to get their child back. Surely it must have been her father's idea; would her mother ever have the heart to dip into the dark?

"I think there was a curse in this arrow capable of frying magick circuits,"

"Please don't tell me that," the blonde witch groaned, "Magick is all I have left in this world."

"It may only be temporary," Regina tried to reassure her, "But I don't know for sure. Maleficent, I am in your debt for you helping me today; I don't know how I will ever repay you if we don't win-"

"-Your words are just words to me right now, Regina," the blonde witch sighed sadly, "All I want to do is sleep but I have no idea how I'm going to pull that off."

Regina placed a sympathetic hand on Maleficent, guilt riding up her spine to choke her as she spoke, "I'm going to make you a mild sleeping potion with some healing properties; the healing effects may not work right now with the Dark Magic still in your system but it's worth a try. Emma can you stay with her until I'm back?"

With her companion's nod, the queen slipped out of the tent to do her business.

The next few seconds were devastatingly silent. What was there to say? Silence was probably the best right now in this solemn hour.

Emma found the visions of battle flashing before her eyes. She remembered the fear when seeing Regina surrounded by countless soldiers. The ironic thing was, she had been more terrified of losing Regina than losing her own life in that blood soaked battlefield. It solidified all that she had been working on with herself, Regina, and her life. This was what she wanted: a life with Regina and if she was going to die trying to obtain it, then at least she gave it her all, right?

"I don't know what you've done to my friend, Emma," Maleficent said as she managed to shift to a more comfortable position, only succeeding when Emma came over to offer aid, "I didn't think I would ever see Regina fight for Love ever again. I thought there was no hope left and that she would wither away, alone, just like me. But to think the product of True Love would would win the heart of the Evil Queen! I suppose such a child would be irresistible, even I had to refrain from playing with the queen's possessions."

She chuckled darkly, making Emma uncomfortable, but the young blonde knew she meant no harm, especially now.

"I have no regrets aiding her," she continued, "Even if it truly does cost me my magick. I don't have much worth fighting for these days so fighting for someone with a chance of hope is nice for a change. It took time and you got hurt, but you managed to pluck the thorns from her rose bush. You've created a new story for this realm. I can't believe I'm saying this, but you make her happy. You've changed her. I honestly think you broke the Evil Queen."

Emma laughed lightheartedly, thinking about how crazy this entire story was. She really had come a long way from fleeing her parents kingdom.

"Don't let her hear you say that," Emma warned, "or she might burst you into flames."

"Hear what?"

Emma had the biggest grin on her face when the woman walked back in. Their eyes met and the sudden change of energy in those emerald eyes lit a smile on the brunette's own face.

"Oh, nothing. Your Majesty."

Maleficent rolled her eyes but there was a hint of a grin on her lips.

"Please leave before I die of disgust."

"Don't you want your medicine first?"

There was a sliver of light peeking in through the flaps of the Queen's tent displaying the rising day. Regina lie awake staring upward as the blonde snored lightly against her chest, thoughts of the coming events racing like hellhounds. Slender fingers ran through curly tresses, finding great comfort in such a mindless action. Emma stirred in her sleep and proceeded to entwine a leg with Regina's as if it were second nature. The queen smiled. Could she keep this moment forever?

The sound of footsteps grew louder from outside.

"Your Majesty," said a voice before the head of the huntsman poked through the tent entrance, "I am sorry to interrupt but I thought these were matters that shouldn't wait. There are two Lucian soldiers that require your presence."

Regina groaned loudly which was enough to stir the princess, her heavy eyes opening with confusion.

"Regina, is everything-?" Emma murmured.

"Graham, I'll be right out. Give me a minute."

Regina gave the sleepy woman a brief good morning kiss before telling her that there was business to attend to.

"I'll be back," she said and stood up, grabbing the robe next to the bed.

It wasn't very royal of her to come out in such attire, but to Helheim with it. It was still bright and early and only the Lucian's would be stirred at this time of hour. Regina had no room for embarrassment, especially when these soldiers were on her grounds.

Pushing through into the outside air, she looked off to the distance to see the sun was barely above the horizon and muttered under her breath.

"What is it?" she said blatantly, cutting straight to the matter at hand, "What is it that you had to disturb me at this ungodly hour?"

The two soldiers looked at each other uncomfortably, fearing for their own lives. It wasn't their fault, but it was always the messenger who took the brunt beating.

"Queen Snow," one of them said with a shake, holding out a scroll, "has requested dinner this evening to speak over matters of this war."

The Queen narrowed her eyes, snatching the parchment from their hands and unrolled it carefully.

"She thinks we're going to surrender already?" said an astonished voice from the tent as Emma emerged, tying her messy hair back in the process, "Tell my mother I have no appetite."

"Where are your manners, my dear Emma?" Regina said softly and grinned when she received a sneer.

Emma may not have seen this as an opportunity, but Regina was going to take this chance to prove that the princess was hers. Not by force, but by choice.

"Don't you see?" Regina said, "Maybe if we can talk to them face to face, they can see once and for all that you're happy here. With me."

Regina's vulnerable spot was showing. Emma forced an uncomfortable smile, not used to being among spectators.

"Emma, we did take a hit yesterday. Maleficent won't be of any aid. If there is any chance we can get through to your parents and end this slaughter, I'll take it. If not, it will give my soldiers a day to rest."

The blonde rolled her eyes yet proceeded to nod like a child who had lost an argument.

One of the soldiers presented a white feathered quill to the Evil Queen. Looking over for the nearest surface, she found a wine barrel and proceeded to sign her name on the bottom of the letter, agreeing to tonight's dinner.

"Here," Regina said quickly, rolling the parchment up and shoving it towards the soldier in front of her, "Now get out of here before you lose your heads for waking me up so early."

In haste, the two soldiers made their way out of the camp with Graham following shortly behind them for precaution. The Queen chuckled to herself, bittersweetly amused that her soulless demeanor was able to strike fear into hearts still with just a few words. She hadn't quite lost her touch.

The two women found themselves alone in their tent once again, both now sitting on the edge of the bed. Regina was quiet for a long moment, thoughts racing through her mind.

"I would have thought to see fear on your face," Regina admitted with a sound of disappointment, "to go into war again...Especially after yesterday's blow..."

"It was a lot," the blonde said quietly, "I honestly for a moment thought I was going to die, but it made me feel more alive than ever. It made me want to keep going, to keep fighting for what I believe in."

Regina looked at her and they met gazes. Emma had a brightness in her face but seeing the opposite in her lover's eyes made her stomach churn.

"Even if it means slaughtering innocent people for selfish causes?" Regina sighed and turned away, too ashamed to look at Emma, "I...I don't regret this war, I don't regret fighting for you, but, Emma...what if we lose? What if I lose you?"

"Isn't that why we're fighting?" fingers reached out and lightly touched Regina's arm, "So you can keep me around? Yea you're right, Regina, they were innocent, but they also chose to fight in a war only knowing one side of the story. Every choice has a consequence and killing them meant I was closer to freedom and to being with you."

"Yes, but…" The brunette put her other hand on top of the blonde's for comfort.

"Hey," Emma squeezed her arm, "Why the sudden cold feet? This isn't like you, Regina. Where's that soulless demeanor you always carry? Willing to go to any ends to get what you want?"

"That's just the thing… I don't know what I want anymore."

There was a sting in Emma's chest and Regina felt it as the hand on her arm began to retreat.

"I don't mean it like that," she caught her hand in reassurance, turning to look at her, "I mean that I'm tired. I'm tired of doing this. Of being Queen… Of everyone knowing who I am and bowing down before me."

"Told ya so…" Emma gloomily chuckled.

"What?"

"Ruling a kingdom sucks. Who would want that anxiety? That weight? Plus it's weird when everyone knows you. You can't do anything without people talking."

"Yea…" Regina laughed dryly. "I've thought about just running away, you know?"

A perplexed, surprised look flashed across the blonde's face, "Really?"

"I've dreamt of us in a cottage in the middle of the forest, away from all of this chaos. Away from these games of Light and Dark. Good and Bad. I guess your rebel ways have rubbed off on me, my dear," she sighed, "they're still my people though…" This new revelation was draining her faster than magic on a battlefield, "I brought them into this war and I have to bring them out. I can't throw my hands up and hand it over to my arch enemies."

"I hope you wouldn't," Emma replied, a new fire was burning deep in her eyes as she searched for the dying light to rekindle the brunette's, "If you handed the kingdom over to my parents, you would become an Obscurian enemy. Despite the ways of life being shit in the economy you've created, the inhabitants here still hate the Lucian people. It would destroy them. They couldn't live under Lucian rule; not with the mindset of my parents."

"I think I much preferred not caring about the welfare of others," Regina half-joked, "It really tiring."

She fell back onto the bed with another a large breath.

"Yea, it's a doozy caring for someone else other than yourself," Emma replied as she leaned down to kiss Regina, "It's going to be alright, " she whispered against her lips, "We'll find a way together."

"I hope so," the Queen replied before pulling the blonde completely on top of her.