The Enchanted Forest - No Curse AU

Happy halloween everyone, I hope you're having a good day, here's a story to celebrate. (Well three mini stories)

All Hallows Eve was a day looked forward to immensely by everyone in Queen Snow and Prince David's kingdom. It marked the end of the harvest year and was a day to celebrate both the living and the dead, as was tradition. When Snow and David had taken over as the rulers they had tried to restore as much order and peace as possible, on holidays such as today that sentiment was out in full force; the day had been spent making sure that everyone would have enough food for the winter, that all the buildings would be safe from any bad weather, and making sure everyone would be warm enough. Throughout the kingdom people were hosting their own feasts, and at the palace it was no different, all of David and Snow's friends had been invited to a ball that evening, which was something that their five year old daughter, Emma, had been looking forward to greatly.

"Mama, why do I have to wear this mask?" Emma asked as she stroked the pale grey/ blue mask which was on the dressing table in front of her, it wasn't that she didn't want to wear the mask, it was just that she wanted to hear the story again.

Snow took her daughters hand a led her over to the bed where Emma's dress lay, although some royals would have left dressing the child to a governess Snow and David preferred a much more hands on way of parenting, unless of course they were unable to. "Because you're meant to go in disguise to scare away any bad, but that's just a bit of a silly game, we wear these now mainly because it's fun." She told her daughter, not wanting to scare her, Emma still often had nightmares and would climb into bed with them; not that David or Snow minded of course.

Emma frowned slightly. "But there's not going to be anyone bad there?"

"Of course not sweetie," Snow assured as she crouched down in front of her, "and even if there were daddy and I would protect you."

"Okay mama." Emma smiled she trusted that her mother wasn't lying, and she knew that her father had once fought a dragon and won, so she had faith.

"Good." Snow smiled. "Now let's get this dress on you," she said excitedly, "so you can be a…"

"Baby swan!" Emma shouted excitedly.

"Yes, it's called a cygnet sweetie."

David led Neal by the hand into his and Snow's bedroom, David was wearing clothes almost identical to the ones he was married in, though this time it was white with a dark grey cape. Neal was in a matching outfit, though his was without a cape and was in dark grey. When David opened the door he was met by the sight of the two girls he loved, Emma on the bed, and Snow threading some white feathers through her own dark hair.

"You both look beautiful." David announced bringing their attention to him.

Emma immediately bounced off of the big bed and ran towards her father, who scooped her up into his arms, while Neal bounded towards his mother. Emma giggled when David pressed a big kiss to her cheek.

"You look adorable, my little cygnet." He told her, and she did, her dress was a slightly lighter grey than Neal's outfit was, and the skirt of it was puffed out and was covered in light grey feathers.

"I'm a baby swan, daddy." Emma told him matter-of-factly.

"I know, baby, that's what they're called, cygnets." He told her with a smile.

"Nope," Emma shook her head, her golden curls spinning out as she did so, "baby swan"

"I tried to tell her." Snow told him with laughter in her voice as she walked over to her husband and daughter.

"You look beautiful." He leant down to kiss her squishing Emma in between the two of them. "Shall we go?" He asked her when he realised that Emma was starting to get restless.

"Wait, we all need our masks." Snow reminded him. "Neal, baby, come here."

"Silly daddy." Emma giggled.

"Daddy is very silly isn't he?" David chucked as he picked up Emma's mask.

"Mama swan, daddy swan, and two baby swans!" Emma announced when they were all in their masks.

"Very clever Emma." Snow smiled.

"How many is that, Emma?" David asked.

"One, two, three," Emma counted them all in turn, "four!"

The family had a great time at the ball, David especially enjoyed being able to dance with Snow for most of the night, without being interrupted by matters of importance. He also enjoys being able to dance with Emma standing on his shoes for the first time, he had danced with her on the previous occasions of course, but this was the first time they could dance properly.

The entire kingdom enjoy the firework show put on for them, and the flying lanterns being lit; each person whispering a wish inside before they set them off into the air. Neal had gone to bed soon after that being only young, however Emma had been permitted to stay up until the end of the party, it was a special night after all.

"I'll be back in a second." David whispered into his wife's ear as he left her talking to Red, who had a wolf's mask, and set off across the room.

It took him a little while due to many people stopping him to talk, however he finally made it to where Emma and her friend Alexandra had last been sat, he panicked slightly when he didn't see them. However he then saw a slither of grey peeking out from beneath the red table cloth. He crouched down and saw the two girls curled up together, fast asleep, Emma was slightly smaller than Alexandra as she had been born earlier but their golden hair made the girls look very much alike. He unfastened his cape from around his shoulders and covered the girls with it, he then stood back up and made his way back across the dance floor, stopping to talk to Thomas and Ella on the way.

He held his hand out to his wife, bowing slightly as he did so, when she placed her hand into his he pressed his lips to it in a kiss. "Will you do me the honour of the last dance, your majesty?"

"Hmm," she feigned considering it, "I suppose I could."