Once Upon A Time and all it's characters do not belong to me, sadly I only get to play with them. They belong to ABC. Not Sure if I will write more on this or if it will be a one shot.
"Raise the alarm!" As the first rays of morning light came over the horizon the guards doing their early morning rounds rang the alarm bells announcing trouble within the castle. Rushing from their chambers Snow and Charming grabbed the first guard they could find.
"What is happening?" Snow demands as she grabs the guard's tunic, staring him down.
"Majesty the princess is missing, the door to her chambers was discovered open and her horse is missing from the stables. The castle is being searched as we speak, but there is no sign of her so far." The guard replies trembling in fear that a horrible fate may have befallen the most beloved princess in the realm.
At this proclamation the royal couple run to their daughter's chambers praying it is not so. That perhaps the guards had simply missed her under her blankets, but their hopes are dashed as they rush in to find the bed covers tossed to the floor alongside the princess' bed clothes. Looking at each other they silently agree to send out a search party right away, fearing that perhaps their daughter had been kidnapped.
"Send out the troops! Search high and low until you find her!" Charming bellows as he finally processes what has happened.
Mean while in the enchanted forest
Little Emma smiled as she rode her horse hard and fast, towards the castle she was told never to go near. She knew it was forbidden, but she was eight now and she figured she could make her own decisions. She wasn't afraid of some old witch like her parents. She would find the evil queen and prove she was brave enough to be a knight. Then her parents would have to let her train. It was her dream to be the greatest knight in the realm, but all her mother would tell her was that wasn't very ladylike. Squealing with glee Emma caught sight of the castle as she bounded over the last hill. She slowed her horse to a trot as she approached the village surrounding the castle and tied off her horse before venturing forth on foot. Grinning she found the servants' entrance to the castle and scurried inside, no one noticing one small child.
Once inside she wondered which way she should go to find the witch, but quickly set off figuring she would find her soon enough. Sneaking along the corridors Emma peeked into many doors. All leading to mundane rooms like the library or a dinning room. As she traveled upstairs she had a bit more luck finding bedchambers, but none contained the queen. That was until she came to a hall with the massive double doors at the end. She ran to them knowing this must be the right room. Pulling out the tiny wooden sword, her father had given her for her last birthday, Emma gathered her courage and cracked open the door. Not seeing the witch she slowly crept along until she reached an open door leading to the bedroom. Eyes widening and heart pounding Emma crept up to the bed staring at the beautiful woman sleeping there. She couldn't be a witch. She had no warts and her nose was very cute, not hook like at all.
Sensing a presence Regina slowly drifted awake ready to crush the heart of whoever dared to disturb her. Confusion quickly over came her though when she saw a small child with a tiny wooden sword staring at her in awe. Not wanting to break the moment Regina remained completely still wondering how such a child had gotten into the castle let alone all the way to her rooms. As their eyes meet Regina gasps knowing exactly who this child is. With those eyes, that face, and the unruly golden curls it could only be the princess. How had she gotten there though? Snow would never have let her wander so far, which meant she had to have escaped one castle and traveled all night to sneak in to see her. To what purpose would she come here? Why would she want to meet the evil witch her mother had no doubt warned her away from?
"You don't look like a witch!" The little child declared with a stubborn set to her jaw, looking so much like snow at the moment that if she hadn't had those golden locks it would have been like traveling back in time.
"What should a witch look like my dear?" Regina replied with a small smile ghosting over her lips, instantly amused by this tiny princess.
"Witches are ugly with hook noses and warts! You don't have any of that! You are much too pretty to be a witch!" Her lower lip poking out in a pout Emma looked around as if wondering if Regina hid the witch in her wardrobe.
"Would you like me to do some magic to prove to you I am a witch? I would rather not be ugly, but perhaps I can show you something pretty?" Smiling wider Regina waited for Emma's reply and as the small girl nodded Regina held out her hand between them making a rose appear out a burst of sparkles. Putting on a bit of extra show try to make the princess smile. Regina was unsure why she hadn't alerted the guards yet of the intruder, but wanted to see what the girl would do.
Slowly stepping forward Emma stuck out one finger gingerly poking the rose, a look of awe coming over her face as she felt a real flower right in front of her. Then she lowered her eyes as if considering this new evidence.
"My mommy says you're evil, but I don't think she knows you. You are too pretty to be evil!" Emma stated poking out her adorable little lip again. Smiling Regina thought about how to answer this demanding little princess, wondering how she could be so unlike her parents at such an early age.
"I knew your mommy a long time ago, and I have done many very bad things to her. Many people call me evil. I don't know if it is really true though. I only want to be happy." Smiling a bit sadder Regina stood using her magic to dress instantly in one of her more child friendly outfits. Looking down at the small girl Regina grabbed her hand instantly knocking her unconscious and picking her up in her arms. Smiling sadly at the tiny girl Regina could only think of how she had braved what no other dared, to try to know the Evil Queen.
Purple smoke enveloping the two, and distantly Emma's steed in the village, they disappeared only to reappear in Snow White's throne room. Walking up to the stricken looking queen Regina quickly handed the girl over.
"You may want to keep an eye on your child Snow, I don't like being woken up with a wooden sword pointed at me." With a smirk she disappeared in smoke again, leaving little Emma behind.
