The Princess and The Pauper Chapter 1
Just a warning before you start - some characters especially Charming and Snow may seem out of character but then again to remember this is an AU! DO NOT READ if you want a fanfic dedicated on the Charmings trying to find Emma, I repeat DO NOT READ IT! This story isn't focused mainly on the Charmings! So if you expect a lovey dovey story about the Charmings finding Emma this is not the right story. This story focuses a lot more on the twins and their lives and Rumbelle and Captain Swan and a tiny bit of the Charmings! But the Charmings are not the main focus! So please keep that in mind before reading this story!
The screams were getting louder and louder as the minutes ticked by – it was time; finally. After nine months the babies were finally arriving, and both mother and father couldn't have been more ecstatic at the news. The first clue had been the puddle of water that had pooled at her feet – which had quickly soaked through the bottom of the creamed colored nightgown she wore to bed. Charming had quickly bolted out of bed upon hearing his love shriek in agony as she doubled over in pain – holding on to her rounded belly.
"It's time." She muttered through gritted teeth as she looked up at Charming – a somewhat calm smile plastered on her face. They couple knew that the birth of their daughters would not only bring immense joy to their lives but also terrible heartache. At the time it had been their only solution – the only solution to finally getting rid of the Evil Queen. However now as Snow and Charming welcomed both her daughters into the world they weren't sure whether it had been the right solution.
"Well, well, well. The time has finally come hasn't it?" An impish voice said from the darkened corner of the room. On instinct Charming grabbed the sword that was always kept under the bed at night – for protection.
"You stay the hell away from my family." Charming said in a threatening demeanor, pointing his sword directly at the beast's chest.
"Tehehe. Isn't that cute." The imp said as he walked into the light. His scaly greyish skin gleamed faintly in the moonlight. "But a deal's a deal dearie! And nobody breaks a deal with me." The beast said with a smile. With a snap of his fingers one of the bundles that had been nestled in Snow's arms disappeared – reappearing instantly in scaly man's arms.
"Please, you can't take her." Snow pleaded as she cuddled the baby closer to her – scared that he would take their other child as well. "You can't take Emma."
"Oh don't you worry dearie. Emma is going to be in excellent hands. Aren't you Emma?" The imp said as he carefully ran his scaly hand over the babe's head. Emma slowly opened her eyes for the first time – her beautiful green eyes shining brightly as she grabbed a hold of one of the Dark One's scaly digit; wrapping her tiny fist around it. "Oh she's going to be a smart one alright and very powerful indeed. She's going to be perfect." His eyes snapped back towards the eager parents – who were both frozen in their respective places - with only the ability to speak. "It has been a pleasure doing business with you. And remember, don't even try breaking the deal, or else you will have to pay." The imp said with a smirk, giving the couple one final look before disappearing in a cloud of purple smoke – still holding on to baby Emma.
When the pair finally obtained their freedom of movement, Charming quickly scurried towards Snow who had collapsed on the bed – still clutching onto the baby Edalene; named for her nobleness. "She's gone. She's really gone." Charming could only nod in agreement as he wrapped his arms tightly around Snow and their daughter as the parents sobbed the loss of their daughter – Emma.
"Emma! It's time to wake up dearie!" Emma's beautiful green eyes snapped open at the sound of her papa's voice coming from outside her bedroom door. Sitting up she ran a hand through her messy mop of blond hair. It was untamable, that was what Belle - their maid - always said when she tried to tame the girls curls. Even though her papa often reprimanded her for being so nice to Belle, she knew deep down of the feelings her papa held for the brunette. Despite his cold heart, Belle didn't seem to mind living in the Dark Castle – the only thing that was bothersome was the occasional screams of agony that came from deep down in the dungeons; both Emma and Belle had learned not to question Rumple's authority when it came to that.
"Emma!" Emma sighed deeply as she rolled out of bed – nearly tripping over the pile of blankets that had fallen to the floor during the middle of the night.
"Yes papa, I'm up." She said loudly as she made her way to her dresser.
"Belle's made some breakfast and after I want you to join me in my lab for your daily training ok?" Belle rolled her eyes as she listened to her papa babble.
"Yes papa." She sighed in relief when she heard his quick footsteps getting quieter and quieter. Ever since the age of ten, Rumple had made it his duty to train Emma with her magic daily - with no exceptions. So every morning after breakfast one would find Emma and Rumple together in his lab practicing some various magic techniques. The rest of the day Emma was free to do as she wished – whether she spent her time in the library or outside in the gardens, she couldn't help but feel incredible lonely. Her papa had forbidden her to venture outside the grounds – much to Emma's dismay. She had never questioned why – trusting her papa's better judgment, however her seventeen – soon to be eighteen – year old self was starting to get really tired of the four corners of the grounds.
After spending a good five minutes debating what to wear, Emma finally decided on a soft cream and blue colored gown her papa had recently brought back from the town over. Running a fine brush through her curls she quickly dashed out of the bedroom and made her way down the long spiraling staircase.
"I'm sorry I'm late Belle." Emma said breathlessly as she plopped herself down in one of the brown mahogany chairs that surrounded the round kitchen table. Belle gave her a warm smile as she placed a bowl of piping hot porridge in front of her.
"Don't worry about it. I've got nothing better to do anyways. But you know your papa." Belle said as she sat down in front of Emma – digging into her bowl of porridge. The duo ate in silence – the only noise coming from the clanging of utensils.
"Good morning to the two of you." Emma looked up from her bowl as her papa casually strode into the kitchen. She couldn't help but smile knowingly as she caught him staring at Belle – that kind she dreamed of being looked upon like one day; the kind of stare that only true loves share.
"Good morning papa." Emma said brightly as she finished off the rest of her porridge. Standing up she walked towards the sink and started to carefully scrub the porcelain bowl with the soapy sponge.
"Don't bother doing the dishes Emma, it's my job." Belle said quickly getting out of her seat. Rumple smiled from the corner of the room as he watched his two girls bicker over whose job it was to do the dishes. With a snap of his fingers the white porcelain bowl that Emma had been washing vanished – leaving both girls dumbfounded as they looked at Emma's empty hands.
"It's much easier that way isn't it?" The imp gave the pair a childish smile as the two girls burst in a fit of giggles. Yes sometimes Emma got really lonely but she loved her papa and Belle more then anything. They were her family and she wouldn't have it any other way.
"Princess Edalene? Are you awake?" Edalene opened her soft luscious green eyes as a quiet knock came upon her door.
"Yes Sarah, I'm awake." The princess called from her bed. A shiver went up her spine as she placed her feet upon the cold floor. The door to the bedroom opened and her personal attendee – Sarah – walked in. Sarah was a young woman only a few years older then Edalene herself, and she had been her attendee for the past five years. Walking towards the large bay window Sarah pushed open the navy blue curtains – allowing the warm sunlight to fill the large room.
"You're mama and papa are waiting for you in the dining room milady." Sarah said curtly before walking towards the big dresser that was next to the door. "You can wear this, you've got some visitors today and I've been instructed to dress you up nice and proper." Edalene sighed loudly as she looked at the golden silk gown Sarah held in her arms. When she was a child, Edalene loved dressing up in fancy ball gowns: blue, pink, green any color suited her. However now, everyday getting dressed was a hassle and she hated it. It took her over half an hour to get ready in the morning: putting on her clothes, getting her hair fixed and pinned up and finally she always needed that touch of powder on her flushed cheeks.
"You're ready. Now hurry up and get downstairs." Sarah said, pushing Edalene out the door. "Good luck." Edalene frowned slightly as she made her way through the long hallways – saying hello to the dozen employees of the castle as she went. Opening the large double doors that leads to the dinning room she paused - her parents were sitting in their regular seats at both ends of the table, it was the presence of two strangers however that brought the princess to a pause.
"Edalene darling." Snow said. The queen gracefully got out of her seat and walked towards her daughter who still stood frozen in the doorway. "Now be nice, you know how your papa can be." Snow whispered – running her hand through her daughters long blond locks. "Now Mr. Jones let me present you my daughter Edalene. Edalene this is Prince Charles Jones and his son Killian and they come from the Southern part of the Enchanted Forest. They have come here today to discuss possible future alliances between both parts of the realm." Snow explained as she guided Edalene towards the dinning room table where both mother and daughter promptly took a seat next to one another.
Edalene would've been lying if she had said Killian wasn't attractive – cause he was; in that shaggy kind of way: he had dark black hair and these piercing blue eyes, he also sported a scruffy beard that she couldn't picture him without.
"Milady." Killian immediately got on his knees – grabbing her hand he placed a soft kiss upon her delicate pale skin. "It's a pleasure to meet you. I've heard much about your astounding beauty and let me tell you, you look ever more beautiful in person." Edalene scoffed loudly – earning herself a cold harsh glare from both her mother and father.
"Edalene!" Snow said loudly, shocked by her daughter's behavior.
"I'm so sorry Charles, my daughter can be so very rude sometimes." Charming said apologetically as he turned his glance towards the king.
"Oh it's no problem King David." Killian said – taking his seat once more.
As much as Edalene found the young prince attractive, she was certainly not going to dumb herself down for a guy – much less to please her parents. She knew that the day would once come, the day when her parents would forcefully force her to marry someone she didn't love; and she wouldn't bow down like that. She loved her parents, she really did, but however she couldn't help but feel out of place sometimes – almost as if something was missing.
"Now David, I think you and I both know what must be done in order to fully become alliances." Edalene quickly looked away before Killian could catch her gaze.
"Of course, I think it's an excellent idea for our two kids to marry. Don't you think Snow?" Charming glanced over at Snow who gave him a small smile. "It shall be done then." Edalene tensed up at the mention of wedding – she was not getting married, anytime soon anyways. Just as she was about to open her mouth she felt her mothers warm hand on her own which immediately shushed her. Now how was she going to get herself out of this one?
"Now Emma dearie, you have to concentrate." Emma sighed as she closed her eyes once more as she listened to her papa's soothing voice. She could hear his quiet footsteps as he walked around the room. She was holding onto a long a very pointy arrow – one which could easily kill anybody it came in contact with; anybody except her papa of course. She took a deep breath – her grip tightening around the arrow. Without a moments hesitation she flung the arrow straight in front of her – smiling in success as she heard a soft groan. Opening her eyes she clapped her hands excitedly as she saw the arrow had dug itself right in her papa's chest.
"Yes I did it!" She said happily as Rumple gave her a warm smile.
"Glad to know you enjoy having your father impaled by an arrow." He said teasingly, promptly pulling the arrow out of his chest; vanishing it with a snap of his fingers. "Good job today Emma." He said proudly as he pulled her into his arms. "I'm so proud of you, you know that?" He told her – caressing the golden locks tenderly. "You've grown up to be such an amazing young woman. I can't believe you're going to be eighteen soon." Emma smiled up at the man before pulling him into a hug once more.
"I love you papa." Emma whispered against the mans chest.
"I love you too Emma."
The pair was interrupted by Belle who walked into the room holding onto a platter of tea and biscuits. "Oh, I didn't mean to disturb. I could always just come back later." Belle babbled quickly as she tried to leave the room.
"Nonsense Belle!" Rumple said loudly as he walked towards the brunette. Grabbing the trey from her open hands he carefully placed it upon the work surface - among the various flasks and tubes that littered his workstation. "You're part of our little family as well." Belle's eyes twinkled brightly at his words as she quickly started to pour tea in the three white and blue porcelain cups she had brought. "Now the real question is, what are we going to do for your birthday? Eighteen is a special year and we have to celebrate." Rumple said as he looked from Emma to Belle – awaiting suggestions. "How about we throw a ball and I force everybody to come." Emma quickly shook her head at the suggestion.
"Papa, I don't you to force people to celebrate my birthday." Emma sighed as she sipped her piping hot cup of tea. "I know what I want." That clearly got the attention of both Rumple and Belle, considering they both immediately turned around to face her.
"Anything you want you shall have milady." Rumple said jokingly as he bowed down to kiss her hand. "It is your birthday after all.
"I want to go outside. I want to go outside the grounds. I don't want a big party, nor do I want to be surrounded by people I don't know. I want to go outside the grounds and meet people for myself." Rumple sighed deeply as he gave Belle a side-glance. "Please papa." Emma looked up at him – giving him her best puppy dog look.
"Emma you know how dangerous it is out there, I've told you plenty of times."
"Yes I know, but we could go together and even Belle could come with us – you'd protect us. Please papa, that's all I want."
"Ok fine."
"Rumple are you sure that's wise?" Belle asked giving him a stern glance.
"She's my daughter Belle." He muttered harshly. "I know you care about her, but I think I know what's best for my daughter." Belle immediately stopped talking.
"I'm sorry sir." She muttered apologetically
"We'll talking more about this later." Rumple said angrily. "Now both of you get out of here I've got work to do." Belle and Emma quickly scurried out of the room. "Oh and Belle." Belle turned back around to face him. "It's that time of the year again so I want you to scrub the marble staircase – and don't try and cut corners cause you know that I will find out." Belle nodded solemnly.
"Yes sir."
"Now go – the stairs won't clean themselves."
Emma couldn't help but feel bad for the young maid. Cleaning the marble staircase was the toughest job the Dark One could possible order her to do. "I'm sorry Belle." Belle looked up at Emma – confusion written all over her face.
"Why are you sorry Emma?" Belle asked the young girl as the pair made their way towards the main hall of the castle
"You were only looking out for me." Belle smiled.
"Don't worry about it, I was out of line. I shouldn't have questioned your papa's authority like that. He raised you well for all these years – I am only the maid after all."
"You're more then a maid Belle, you're like the mom I never had."
Even though Belle had only been around for a few years, the two girls had bonded and now they couldn't imagine life without one another. When her papa had first brought Belle to the castle he had been very weary about having the two girls interact with one another – but as the years went by he soon came to realize that Emma needed a female role model in her life and Belle fit the position perfectly.
"That's a very nice thing of you to say Emma. And you're like the daughter I never had."
"You never know, things could change – there's always time for you to have a daughter." Emma gave Belle a knowing smile – causing the brunette's cheeks to turn a bright shade of red.
"Don't you let your papa hear you say such things." Emma chuckled softly. "Anyways I should get started on the staircase, you know how your papa is."
"I'll help you, I've got nothing better to do anyways." Emma leaned down to pick up the grey bucket next to the kitchen sink and with a lazy flick of her hand the bucket immediately filled up with warm water. Belle grabbed two sponges and followed Emma out of the kitchen.
"That was incredible rude of you Edalene!" Charming spat angrily at his daughter as they made their way out of the council room. "Now your birthday ball is coming up missy and you better behave and be nice towards Killian considering that he is going to become your husband in a few months."
"But papa I don't want to marry him." Edalene stopped walking and turned towards her papa. "I never asked for this, I never wanted to be a princess."
"Well you don't have a choice in the matter Edalene. I am your father and you do as I say, are we understood." Edalene just glared at him – no words would come out. "I said are we understood Edalene?"
"Yes sir." With that Edalene turned around and stormed out of the hall – tears pooling in her luscious green eyes – she wasn't getting married, there was no way she was going to allow it.