This is my first story so bear with me. The first part to this is somewhat of a background. I am debating if I want to start of as everyone as adults or start them of as children. I guess you guys will just have to wait and see. I know this is a short start but like I said, it is just a little bit of background. Most chapters will be longer. Also, I do not own anything from Once Upon a Time. I may have some original characters in these but all characters so far are not mine.

As a child, Emma was schooled in the art of etiquette befitting a princess. Her parents were the King and Queen of White. It was a grand celebration, the day that she was born. Her mother was told by the healers how difficult it would be to be able to conceive. Queen Snow's mother was the same way. She had went through five miscarriages before Snow of the White Kingdom was born. However, true love had prevailed and brought forth a beautiful baby girl.

King David and Queen Snow were peaceful royals that always did good by their subjects. Cities in their kingdom had prospered under their wisdom and generosity. They were what the people know of as a true love pairing. Now this type of pairing is not at all common. Most will go throughout their lives not knowing their true love. Sure they would be content with just love but true love was a powerful thing. So powerful in fact that if something create with true love were to get into the wrong hands devastation could take root.

It wasn't until the age of four that Emma learned of true evil in the world. This evil came in two different forms. The first evil was that of the dark one known also as Rumplestiltskin. The dark one ruled over his one peace of land known as the dark forest. This he inherited after defeated the former dark one and taking his place. Like with most rulers, their lands were not enough. Unlike the King and Queen of White, he was not content with ruling just the dark forest. He wanted more land and more people to rule over. Because of this, he thought to fight for the lands but was wise not to pursue that option and instead opted for a subtle approach. He would use his son, Baelfire, to gain the lands he so desperately desired. The match between the Princess of White and the Prince of the Dark forest would merge the two houses forever. Now being just a child himself, Baelfire was yet to be coerced into doing the bidding of evil intentions. In future, Baelfire will find it hard to do what is right verse what he wants.

There was a snag in this plan of Rumplestiltskin's. True Love. It was the hope of the two monarchs of White that their daughter would marry for love. They hoped that their child will get the chance to feel what her parents felt for each other for someone else. Even though this was what they desired, they did allow Rumplestiltskin to embed the idea that their two children might one day be each other's true love. The two rulers were wary of Rumplestiltskin and his agenda to get the two children together but because of diplomatic reasons and their need to get their daughter around children her own age, they decided to allow they two children to visit each other every summer at the assistants of the King of Dark Forest. It was their concern that refusal to allow such civilities would result in rising tension between the two kingdoms which could turn into a bloody war.

Year after year, the two heirs met and learned to be friends. By her eighth year that friendship included another person. This person was a few years older. Four to be exact. Accompany this person was the second form of evil, Queen Cora of Summerland. Regina was her name. She was to be Emma's second friend for the rest of her childhood days. Queen Cora, Regina's mother had similar plans for her daughter. She too had wanted a stake in the prosperous lands of White. In the Enchanted Forest, same sex marriages were allowed no matter the status of the couple. It was not a worry to her whether her daughter liked women or men. Regina was to be used as a pawn to gain more lands for her greedy mother. Again, the Queen and King of White allowed their daughter to acquaint herself with the daughter of Queen Cora so that no tension would arise with this kingdom either

Poor Emma, not knowing what was in store for her made friends with these two heirs. If only she knew what her future would hold for the life of a princess is not really a dream come true but perhaps even with all the unhappiness that will befall her, she will find happiness and maybe true love as well.