Princess Emma Swan was the only daughter of King Charming and Queen Snow White. They were benevolent rulers whom everyone loved – villager and servant alike. Their kingdom was surrounded by forests with an enchanted lake situated in the midst of the trees.

Emma, with her long blonde hair and eyes the color of emeralds, took after her mother Snow White, being the fairest of them all. Emma also had her mother's strength, while she had the courage and bravery of her father. One would think that Emma's life as a princess in a palace would be glamorous, but things aren't always as they seem. Despite the goodness of her parents and their people, there was still evil lurking around the kingdom in the form of the evil sorcerer, Rumplestiltskin. It was her parents', as well as Emma's, own dealings with him that led her to the library of their castle looking for a way to break curses without true love. As Emma combed the various, worn books, she thought of that fateful night seven years ago.

At 18, Emma had met Neal – a prince from the kingdom of Seabrooke. It didn't take very long for Emma to fall for him. Within a couple years, Emma knew she had found her true love, just like her parents. She knew she had found the one she wanted to spend her life with. It was clear that Neal felt the same because a few months before Emma's 21st birthday, he proposed. Emma couldn't imagine being any happier than she was in that moment as tears of joy streamed down her face. When Snow and Charming found out the news, they wanted to throw a ball to celebrate the happy couple, and on the night of Emma's birthday, everyone had gathered at the palace. Everything was going perfectly well – Snow and Charming were watching their daughter dance in the arms of her fiancé amongst the other elated pairs. Everyone was having a wonderful time – that is, until Rumplestiltskin and his long lost daughter, the Wicked Witch Zelena, made an appearance.

Long ago, shortly after Snow found out she was pregnant with Emma, it was discovered that Zelena had been planning to enact the not yet successful time-travel curse in order to get back at her half-sister, the former Evil Queen, Regina. Before Cora was married to Regina's father, she had a relationship with Rumplestiltskin and had gotten pregnant. Cora knew this pregnancy and a connection of this kind with the Dark One would ruin any chance at her being royalty, so she gave up her baby girl. Years later, when Zelena discovered her true parentage, she made her mission to find her family and get back at the sister who got everything. A time travel curse required ingredients of courage, wisdom, love, and innocence. Nothing was more innocent than a baby, and a baby that was the product of true love – like Emma – was icing on the cake. With their child in danger, Snow and Charming made a deal with the Dark One, knowing he was the only one powerful enough to stop Zelena. However, unbeknownst to Snow and Charming, Rumple had gone behind their backs to make a more enticing deal with Zelena – which would mean that Rumple would take Emma from Snow and Charming and give her to Zelena when born. Thankfully, the feud between Regina and Snow White had long since ended, and Regina was able to find a way to protect Emma from both Rumplestiltskin and Zelena. Neither one of them liked being thwarted and vowed to get back at the king and queen. They decided the perfect night to enact their revenge was the night of Emma and Neal's engagement ball.

Rumple and Zelena combined their powers to shoot a wave of magic at Emma; when Neal pushed Emma behind him to protect her, they soon discovered the magic was deadly – Neal couldn't be saved. With Emma being the product of her parents' true love, she had powerful light magic – powerful enough to defeat Zelena. Once Zelena dissolved into nothingness, everyone thought that would be the end of it. As Emma's protective instincts had faded, she soon realized the reality of the situation and began crying over the body of her deceased fiancé. Rumple, however, would prove that no one breaks a deal with him, and no one defeats his daughter and gets away with it. So, he cursed Emma with an unbreakable curse – the princess would take the form of a swan each day from sunset to sunrise. The only way it could be broken is if Emma found her true love. But for Emma, that was the man laying lifeless on the floor.

As Emma brought herself back from the painful memories, she recited the words that Rumple had told her when he had cursed her: "By night one way, by day another. This shall be the norm until you share in a love so true. However, if true love is not found by sunset on your 28th birthday, you will cease to be human and will remain a swan for all time." – complete with Rumple's signature creepy giggle. Emma placed the last book on the shelf, and sank down against it. She let out a sigh as she thought about her attempts to move on. She didn't even care about the curse – it was about finding someone to spend her life with. She allowed herself time to grieve, but she knew that Neal would want her to find love again. While Emma had tried to give love a chance – she had met quite a few eligible nobles, but there wasn't anyone she felt like she could fall for. Her parents were optimistic (sometimes a little too much) and refused to give up, but Emma was tired. Her 28th birthday was only two months away, and she did need to break this curse.

As Emma rose from the library floor and dusted off the back of her pale blue dress, she thought about what she could do. As she made her way to the throne room to get advice from her parents, she suddenly had an idea. If anyone would know how to break this curse, it would be Regina. She continued on to the throne room to tell her parents about her plans. Emma could tell they weren't surprised, but they were still clinging onto that hope that could sometimes be infuriating.

"Emma, sweetheart, your birthday is still two months away. You began falling for Neal in that timeframe," Snow said.

"I know I did, but that was without being cursed and being terrified of growing feathers if I stepped out of the kingdom," Emma replied angrily. However, she thought better of it, "I'm sorry, Mom. It's just – just that it's been seven years. It's not like I haven't tried."

"We know. And like we told you – he doesn't have to necessarily be from nobility," the former shepherd smiled at his daughter, "as long as you truly love him, that's all that matters."

Emma gave a small smile to both her parents – she almost believed their optimism. But the fact was, she was running out of time – she wasn't going to stake her future on maybes and ifs.

"I love you for caring so much and for believing I could fall for someone again, but I have to be realistic. Regina will know of some other way to break this curse, and that's why I'm going over there." Snow and Charming nodded in understanding before Emma left the throne room.

LDLDLDLDLDLD

As soon as Emma arrived at Regina's castle and found out from one of the guards where she was at, she waltzed into the drawing room and said, "Regina, I need your help."

"Well, hello to you too, Emma," Regina replied, although she knew full well that Emma wasn't one for beating around the bush.

"Sorry, I just…," Emma began, but Regina put a hand up to stop her.

"I know what you need, Emma," the dark-haired woman replied – with a look of sympathy across her features for her friend.

Emma followed behind as Regina led her to another part of the castle. As they arrived in the library, Regina led her through a door that led into the section of books that revolved around magic.

As Regina began scouring the shelves, Emma asked, "Regina, what exactly are we looking for?"

"A potion," the dark-haired woman answered, without turning from her place at a bookshelf.

"All these books are full of potions, spells, and curses, Regina. I think I need some more information," Emma said.

Regina then turned toward Emma and looked up with hands on her hips and sighed, "I don't know much about it. I just know it's powerful enough to break any curse – even ones cast with the darkest of magic."

Emma nodded and began looking through the books on another shelf.

A couple hours later, Emma groaned at her place from the table in the middle of the room as she said, "Regina, we've looked through all the books. I don't see anything about this potion you told me about."

The dark-haired woman looked up at the blonde in front of her with crossed arms as she said, "I don't understand why it's not in here."

"Are you sure you even have it?" Emma asked.

Regina looked at her with a raised eyebrow as she answered, "Yes. I'm positive."

Emma sighed as she brought a stack of books back over to the shelf. As she forcefully placed them back, she slid down against the wall beside the bookshelf.

"This potion is my last shot at breaking this curse. I don't know what I'll do if we don't find the information about it," the blonde said.

"I can't believe I'm saying this – it must be the result of the time spent with your parents – but I know that paper is in here somewhere. And we will find it," Regina said before going back to continue looking through the books.

As Emma started to get up, she saw something out of the corner of her eye – it was a large book that had been shoved behind the bookshelf. As she pulled out the red and brown book – clearly worn with age, she began flipping through it. She stopped when she came across a yellowed page.

"Hey, Regina, is this potion on a yellowed page that says something about Atlantica?" Emma asked as she studied the page.

"Yes, How would you know…" Regina cut herself off as she looked up to see what Emma was holding. Emma made her way across the room and handed the page to Regina.

She read the words on it as Emma watched her curiously. "So, is this it?" the princess broke the silence. "Yes, it is," Regina answered, as she handed the page back to Emma.

"So, why hasn't anyone found this potion before?" Emma questioned.

"Well, that's because the only person who had it has eight tentacles and an affinity for turning people into sea worms," Regina stated. At the confused expression on Emma's face, Regina clarified: "The sea witch, Ursula. And since that little mermaid turned human is now chummy with her, she'd probably help you out."

Emma folded up the paper and held it tightly in her hand as she said, "Thank you, Regina. I really appreciate this."

"You're welcome. I know you'd do the same for me," Regina answered.

Before Emma turned to exit the library she smiled and said, "No other hope speeches?"

Regina rolled her eyes as she replied, "That's about all I could muster earlier. I'm not your mother."

"I know, but I'd understand if you did," Emma said.

They both knew Emma was right – Regina's first love Daniel had been killed by Regina's mother, Cora. This set Regina on a dark path, but she was able to forgive and redeemed herself. Shortly after, she met Robin Hood – the outlaw that stole from the rich to give to the poor and his young son, Roland. Regina fell in love with both of them, and now she and Robin had been married for three years. A year ago, they welcomed their own daughter, Amelia, into the world.

"That's true. But I also know how hard it was for me. You need to think of yourself." Emma nodded before Regina said, "So, I guess the plan is to now make a trip to Seabrooke?"

Regina already knew the wheels were turning in the princess' head. "Well, yeah. That's the only way to get the potion and break this curse."

"And how exactly do you plan on getting there? Swimming?" Emma couldn't help but laugh at Regina's sarcasm before she paused to think a moment. This plan was out of blue and quite sudden – normally, Emma didn't like going at things in a haphazard way, but she wasn't sure she had much of a choice. Suddenly, she remembered something.

"I think that the navy is scheduled to make a trip there. They're leaving in a few days."

"And let me guess, your father is going to be his usual charming self to convince Captain Jones to let you go with them," Regina remarked.

"Do you have a better idea?" Emma asked.

Regina shook her head no as she said, "I am sorry, Emma. I know how much of a burden this curse has been for you. Frankly, the sooner its broken the better. I live to see the day that twisted imp is outwitted."

"You and me both," Emma agreed before turning and exiting the library.

LDLDLDLDLD

"Emma, you know you can't leave the kingdom," Charming told his daughter, although he knew his efforts were futile. Besides the fact that Emma was a grown woman, she was incredibly headstrong and stubborn – traits he knew she had inherited from him.

"Your father is right, Emma. It's far too dangerous," Snow agreed with her husband.

"Look, I know you two are worried, but I'm doing this. You can't stop me," Emma told her parents.

"We're not trying to. But you know you have to be on the lake when you transform at sunset. It's part of your curse," Charming reminded Emma.

The princess then looked down at the floor – of course she knew this. She had just gotten so caught up in the fact that she found a way to break this curse, she hadn't considered all the ramifications if she left. Then, out of the corner of her eye, Emma saw a blue light coming toward them – the Blue Fairy.

"I am aware of your predicament, Princess. Perhaps I can offer a small bit of help."

"How?" Snow questioned on her daughter's behalf.

The Blue Fairy presented a necklace with a blue and green crystal attached to the end of it, "I bottled some of the water from the enchanted lake behind the castle and was able to create a potion with some other ingredients. Once I poured the potion over the necklace, it retained the enchantment from the lake. If you wear this, it will stop you from turning into a swan long enough to make the trip from Misthaven to Seabrooke. But once you are there, you must a find a lake. If you place this necklace in the lake, it will be bound with the enchantment as well. You will resume turning into a swan each day at sunset. Since you must be on the lake by sunset when you transform in Misthaven, you will have to do the same in Seabrooke."

Emma and her parents nodded.

As the Blue Fairy disappeared, Charming rose and kissed his daughter's head, "I guess I have a naval captain to go speak with." He then left the throne room. Emma rose as well to go to her room to begin packing.

As she was leaving, Snow asked, "Mind if I give you a hand, sweetheart?"

Emma was about to disagree, but she figured the least she could do was indulge her mother. After all, this was the first time Emma had left the kingdom in seven years. Emma nodded as she and her mother headed up the stairs.

Within 30 minutes, Emma had everything she would need for her journey. As she sat at her vanity and slipped on the crystal, she caught sight of the swan necklace Neal had given her for her 19th birthday, as well as her engagement ring. Snow caught her daughter's stare, walked over toward her and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"He would want you to happy, Emma."

"I know, Mom. And I will be once this curse is broken," Emma said.

"Emma, you know that if there would have been any way to stop Rumplestiltskin from casting this curse, your father and I would have. We should have never made that deal with him." Snow told her daughter, regret shining in her eyes.

Emma knew her parents had trouble forgiving themselves and blamed themselves for Emma's curse. Emma rose to her feet and hugged her mother. As she pulled away, she said, "This isn't your fault. You and Dad were only trying to protect me. Rumplestiltskin is to blame – he's the one who cursed me. But he hasn't won – I will break this curse."

Snow grinned as her daughter's determination mirrored her own, "I know you will. One way or another."

Emma rolled her eyes when she caught her mother's meaning, "Mom, how many times have we had this conversation?"

"I know, but hear me out. Love isn't easy and it isn't always what you expect. Look at your father and me. I robbed him and hit him with a rock. And then he trapped me in a net. And yet, we fell in love."

Emma couldn't deny her mother had a point, but this potion was a good plan – one she wouldn't deviate from. She was going to break this curse herself. But Emma just nodded and smiled at her mother before they both made their way downstairs for dinner.