CHAPTER 1
It was late in the night, as the stars above sparkled like diamonds, deep in the Enchanted Forest, where a lone castle received a rare visitor. This castle hardly got visitors, as it was miles from any inhabited village. This is where Queen Snow and her King, nicknamed Charming, sent their only daughter for protection, under the supervision of two of their closest friends. These two friends - Mulan and Princess Aurora - were walking under those very stars the night the mysterious visitor arrived. The two were enjoying the clear sky and the warmth of the summer night. It wasn't going to be long before fall crept in, so they took full advantage of the fair weather before it was too late. They were in the middle of their conversation when their ward, Princess Emma, joined them beneath the stars.
"Princess Emma." Mulan greeted. Emma smiled back. When they first arrived at the isolated castle, Mulan took her duty very seriously and hardly let the Princess out. But after three long, dull years, she eased up and they all had free rein to run about the castle and its grounds as they pleased.
"It's such a beautiful night." Emma commented. "I'm going to miss these nights once winter comes."
"Yes," Aurora agreed. "But they will return. They always will." The trio walked about the garden for a bit when Mulan stopped them.
"What is it?" Aurora asked.
"It's unusually quiet, isn't it?" Mulan asked. The other two listened. Usually the crickets chirped their song and owls hooted from the tall trees. Tonight, all was silent but the sound of their own footsteps. Looking to the forest, they saw a fog creep up out of the trees, sitting low on the ground like a ghostly blanket. "Perhaps we should get inside, just to be safe." Mulan suggested. The other two nodded and started to head for the castle when a horse's whinny echoed through the quiet. Looking back, they saw a carriage speeding down the trail connecting the lonely villages. It was clear whoever was inside was of high status, as they were preceded and followed by several horsemen and the carriage itself, even in the moonlight was clearly made for someone like royalty. They came upon the turn just in front of the castle gates and the carriage tipped over in a crash and a great cloud of dust. The trio gasped in unison.
"Stay here." Mulan ordered before running over to check if everyone was okay.
Coal black horses pawed at the dirt, attempting to get up, but failed as they were stuck in their harnesses and still attached to the carriage. Mulan helped to free and calm them and tied them to a tree. They seemed fine, so she moved to the carriage. She forced open the door and was met with a woman.
"Oh, thank you." The woman said.
"Are you okay? Are you hurt?" Mulan asked.
"I'm fine. Just a few bruises. But my daughter... help her out, please." The woman moved out of the way to reveal a young woman passed out cold. Mulan helped the woman out of the carriage and climbed in to retrieve the girl.
"Oh, thank you again." the woman said to Mulan. "This may seem a bit forward, but I have a very important meeting that I am already running very late for and I still have such a long distance more to go... Can my daughter take lodging here while she recovers? I shall retrieve her when I am on my way back, which may be in about a couple months yet."
"Of course." Mulan answered. "Your daughter will be in good hands."
"Thank you so much." The horsemen righted the carriage and hooked up the horses once more. The girl's trunk full of clothes was taken out and left with her new hostesses. The woman took off in the carriage and the trio were left with their new guest.
Mulan carried the girl to a guest bedroom beside Emma's and laid the girl in the bed. After a quick examination, all that was found was a minor bump on the head.
"She should wake soon. If she has not by morning, we will have Victor look at her." Mulan answered.
"I'll watch her." Emma volunteered.
"No, Princess. You need your sleep." Aurora said.
"It's fine. If she does not wake by the time I go to bed, you can take over." Emma said. "Just a few hours."
"Very well. Good night, Princess." Mulan said before leaving the room. Aurora followed her, so Emma was left alone with the sleeping girl. Emma pulled up a chair to sit beside the girl and watch for any sign that she will wake. The girl seemed to be about Emma's age with raven hair as black as the night sky and full lips and smooth olive skin. A small scar graced her upper lip and a mole sat just off the corner of her mouth. While some may call them flaws, Emma found they only enhanced her beauty. In fact, Emma could not keep her eyes off the stranger. She was so beautiful. A thought, so sudden and odd, it surprised Emma to even think of it flitted through her mind - what it would be like to kiss those lips. Emma looked around as if she might find someone putting those thoughts into her head. Sure, it was quite lonely in the castle, but never had Emma thought of something like this. She usually imagined meeting a roaming woodsman, or perhaps a ship captain, but never a female stranger.
Speaking of said stranger, the girl's eyes fluttered and she moaned in pain. Emma gasped. She was awake!
"Mother?" the girl mumbled, blinking the dizziness away.
"No, I'm Emma." Emma greeted the girl. "You were in an accident. Your carriage tipped over and crashed. Your mother had to continue on her journey, but she promised to come back for you when she finished her business in another village."
"Oh." The stranger stared at Emma and she was starting to feel a bit nervous.
"Um... so, what's your name?" Emma asked.
"Regina." Regina stared up at her hostess. Her golden blonde hair and emerald eyes reminded her of someone... someone she knew a very long time ago.
"Regina." Emma echoed under her breath, not realizing she'd said it out loud. Even her name was beautiful.
"Where am I?" Regina asked.
"In my castle. We're deep in the forest and we don't get many visitors. Ever. But I hope you like it here." Emma bit her lip. She really hoped that didn't come out as creepy. Regina nodded, still staring at Emma.
"Oh! Where are my manners? Do you need anything? Food? Water? Are you in pain? We could get Victor in here if you need medicine." Regina's lips turned up at the edges from Emma's rambling. Yes, so much like... Regina shook her head, both at the thought and Emma's questions.
"I'm fine." she answered.
"Okay. If you need anything at all, just tell Mulan or Aurora, or even me. My bedroom's just next door, to the right. I'm kind of a heavy sleeper, so you might need to speak up or jump on the bed to wake me but..." Regina smiled and bit her lip. The gesture made Emma's brain turn to mush. What was she talking about again? God, this girl was gorgeous!
"Umm... I- I guess I'll just let you rest. I... uh... g-goodnight." Emma backed away and nearly crashed into the wall before leaving the girl alone. Emma's heart was pounding and she had butterflies in her stomach and was mentally kicking herself because she probably looked like an idiot to the girl. Some princess I am! she thought. Crawling into her own bed, she snuggled under her sheets and the excitement of the night weighted her eye lids and she instantly fell into a deep sleep.
Once the Princess was in her own dream world, she had a dream - one she'd already had long ago, but seeing the stranger that night brought the memory back. She was sitting up in bed, something having woke her from her dream-sleep. A girl her age with dark flowing hair stood by her bed. The girl crawled into her bed and sat over her. Emma's nightgown was pulled down by the neck to expose her upper body to the girl. The girl began to kiss her, then moved down to lightly bite at her neck, then kiss down to her breasts. The girl sucked at the side of her left breast, leaving a purple mark. The action sent a curious feeling to wash over her, just as all the candles in her room flickered to life on their own. The girl sat up and Emma recognized the face of her lover. Regina's dark eyes glittered in the candlelight and her ruby red lips curled up into a coy smirk.
Curiously, Regina got up off the bed and began to walk away. Emma watched as she dropped to the floor to scurry under the bed. Emma wanted more of her wonderful lips and followed. Taking a candle, Emma dropped to the floor herself. Peering under the bed, she was only met with the amber eyes of a black cat.
Emma gasped as she was pulled from her dream. Her maids had yet to draw her curtains, so it had to be about sunrise now as she guessed from the soft light peeking from beneath the curtains. That dream had felt so real. Taking a moment to see if it somehow had been real, Emma untied her nightgown and peered inside. No mark on her breast, but there was a notable wetness in her underwear. She knew of sex and was taught of the things that may happen, such as dreaming of being with men and her body's responses to said dreams, but it had never been so intense as this dream had been. Emma wondered if being with a woman was like being with a man? Not that she ever had experience with either. She hardly even had experience in talking to a boy. She was promised a ball and a chance to mingle with people her own age on her eighteenth birthday, but it had been cancelled due to a looming threat on her family's kingdom. This upcoming birthday was promised that delayed ball and Emma was hoping with all her heart that this one wouldn't be cancelled. She wanted to find her true love as her parents had when they were her age.
A knock at her door shook her out of her thoughts.
"Come in." she called out. Aurora popped a surprised head in.
"Emma! You're awake early for once!" A maid walked past Aurora and began to do her duties: drawing the curtains back to let light in and pulling out a dress for Emma to wear for the day.
"Yeah. I had a... weird dream." Emma said. A weird dream I wouldn't mind having again...
"Oh. Well, our visitor has woken up and I think it'd be good for you to show her around the castle." Aurora suggested.
"Yeah. I will." Emma said. Seeing no reason to stay in bed any longer, Emma dressed and washed her face and went down to eat her breakfast. Upon entering the kitchen, Emma froze in place when Regina looked her way. Dressed in a white gown sprinkled with diamonds, she looked like an angel straight from Heaven. Then those lips curled up into a smile and Emma swore she was back in her dream again. Seeing everyone was staring at Emma's strange reaction, Emma made it to her spot at the table, which happened to be next to Regina, and stuffed her mouth with food to keep from saying something stupid. Unfortunately, breakfast didn't last forever and Emma eventually had to say something.
"So, Regina... Would- would you like a tour of the castle?" Emma asked.
"I would love that, thank you." Regina answered with a smile that released the butterflies in Emma's stomach again. Emma nodded, unable to say anything more and the two of them stood and began their tour. As they walked the halls, Emma couldn't stop thinking about her dream. She realized that she'd had it before. Once when she was very young. Thinking back, she realized it was an odd dream for a child to have, but she didn't understand the nature of the dream back then. When she woke up from it the first time, she'd cried to her father that there was a girl under her bed. Being a good father, he looked under there with her to prove there was no one there. Realizing it was just a dream, she'd forgotten all about it. Until now. Now, when the literal girl of her dreams was walking right beside her. The curiosity was getting too much and Emma just had to say someting.
"Regina? Have we met before?" Emma asked. Regina paused and looked at Emma. She seemed to search for something in her eyes but seemed disappointed.
"I don't think so. I am from a kingdom miles from here and I haven't been anywhere close to this place in my entire life." Regina answered and continued walking.
"Are you sure? Because I think... I think I've dreamt of you before." Regina paused again and looked to the princess.
"Now that you mention it, you do look familiar. I believe I've dreamt of you, too."
"Really?" Emma asked in a slightly overly-hopeful voice.
"Yes... There was a girl - you - and she was crying. So I sat in her bed with her to calm her down." Regina replied.
"And?" Emma asked.
"I heard my mother coming, so I hid under the bed. Then I woke up." Regina answered.
"Oh." Emma said.
"What, was your dream different?" Regina asked. Emma blushed.
"Uh, no. That's... that's what happened." She gulped.
"Well, I'm glad to finally meet you again." Regina smiled. She looped her arm around Emma's as if they were old friends and they continued their tour. Emma showed her the ball room and told her of her future birthday ball, the library where Emma showed Regina all her favorie books, and the kitchen where they snuck some sweets when the cook wasn't looking. Occasionally, Emma would catch Regina looking intently at her, which made the butterflies return. Emma had to keep herself from sneaking peeks herself or risk stuttering or saying something stupid. Or rambling. Or any of Emma's usual quirks. She really wanted to impress this girl, though she wasn't sure why. They seemed to be getting along well enough. But this girl seemed different than any other friends Emma's had in the past. There was something else there, though it would take time to figure out what exactly that was.
"Would you like to go out on the grounds?" Emma asked.
"Yes, please." Regina answered politely. The two girls departed for the outside.