Emma looked down and had to stifle an eye roll.
Fucking. Figures.
Angelic was the only word to describe Emma's current look. She was in a long white dress, with big, flared out sleeves and her bright blonde hair hung around her face in loose curls.
This asshole is a walking fucking cliché.
Hook couldn't be more predictable if she had a fucking crystal ball.
When she took on the dark curse to save Regina's ass, she was transported back to the Enchanted Forest. Somehow, Storybrook followed right behind her. All of Storybrook. The residents, the buildings, the cars. Everything. Snow and David took up residence in the White Castle (also predictable) while the rest of the town sprawled right outside the castle walls. As much as she really didn't want to deal with these people, it made getting her bear claw fix from Granny's pretty damn convenient.
Everyone's current mood was all, "Save Emma." Please. They rely on Emma to do the saving. Well, Emma and Regina, but no one likes to admit that. Truthfully, it's mostly Regina doing the saving and Emma getting the credit. Maybe that's why Emma didn't even hesitate when she took on the dark one's energy to protect Regina. Regina has never hesitated to sacrifice herself when saving the town or Henry. Or Emma. And if anyone was going to get her out of this mess, she was 100% sure it would be Regina. Not that she particularly wanted out. The darkness gave her a tricked out, amplified (but definitely bitchier) version of herself. She kind of liked it.
So, Emma came up with a plan to not only get everyone to lay off the saving BS for a while (seriously, she needed some time to test drive this whole darkness thing), but also persuade them to do her bidding if the need arose. She placed a charm on herself so that when she was alone with someone, they would see the version of her they wanted her to be. It would be their dream Emma coercing….uh, talking them into doing her dirty work. These idiots would be deluded enough to think the darkness wouldn't corrupt her completely and actually have a positive effect. She'd lure them in and…well, probably not kill them (probably), but build an army of mindless minions. Hook was her first target.
Thinking back on the stupid shit he said about trading his ship for her and her being his happy ending (never mind what her happy ending entailed) it came as no surprise that she was dressed as the quintessential damsel in distress. It still enraged her to no end, but she knew she had a part to play.
"Killian, do you think you could take me to the castle? I need to see Sn...my mother." He ate that shit up as much as her parents did. "It's such a long walk." It's not that long of a walk. "And I'm clearly not dressed for a long trek." Because you are a misogynistic, medieval, douchebag who wants a frail (seriously, are my hips smaller?) helpless maiden (sorry about your luck there, buddy) to need him. Oh, she'll need him alright. Having a pirate at her beck and call would come in handy. He claimed to be reformed, but in time, with the right persuasion, she could fix that. The "I love you," before she took on the darkness laid the perfect groundwork for her. I gotta stop telling dudes I love them in these life or death situations. It tends to make them clingy. For right now, she needed to get to Snow. This Merlin business needs to be redirected before he comes here and screws everything up.
Smiling down at her, he nudged her head up with a finger under her chin. "Of course, love." Naturally, he wouldn't question why the dark one was a walking embodiment of one of his wet dreams right now. Sitting behind him on his horse, she wrapped one around him and laid her head on his shoulder. He is eating this shit up. As if confirming her exceedingly low expectations of him, he squeezed her hand before grabbing the reins and taking off. This is too easy.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
As she walked into the throne room, the white robe shifted into a pink poufy ball of taffeta. Long, loose locks twisted and turned into tight curls that hung in tendrils around her head. Her mother was un-fucking-real.
"Emma! It's so lovely to see you. My, don't you just look….breathtaking." Snow's eyes shone with a glint of pride Emma had never seen before. The anger bubbled low in her throat. Throttling her out the window now would kind of ruin the plan. Currently, she was needed. Emma had to convince her to at least postpone the search for Merlin. She needed time to adjust and feel this whole thing out and hey, maybe even stay this way. So far, she couldn't really see a downside. Maybe if she put Merlin's visit off long enough, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it. She'd be the dark one forever. Or at least until someone stabbed her with the dagger. And seeing as how Regina was the only one who knew where the dagger was, Emma was confident she'd live forever.
Why does it always come back to Regina? Now there is someone who would never betray her. After Regina's initial freak out about Emma sacrificing herself for her, (How could you be so stupid? You are such an idiot! Why would you give up your happiness for mine?) they settled into their version of a friendship. It was stronger this time and maybe a little bit flirtier. The darkness lowered Emma's inhibitions a bit and she always did have an eye for the mayor. Angry banter sounded a whole lot more like flirting these days. Emma didn't mind so much. It wasn't about control with Regina either. Not like the handless wonder who she flirted with knowing it would benefit her. No, Regina was fun. Regina was a challenge. Regina made her dark heart beat faster and time slow down all at once. Obviously, Regina, took over the parenting duties of Henry, but Emma tried to see them whenever she could. Henry seemed, rightfully, cautious of her at first, but now to him, it was just Emma with even less of a filter. He knew she was capable of terrible things, but being around him and Regina seemed to tame the darkness a bit. Truthfully, if anyone was keeping Emma from going full scale evil overlord, it was those two.
"Gee, uh, thanks, Mom. Listen, I was thinking, now that we are back in the Enchanted Forest and things seemed to have settled down, maybe we could throw a ball? I never got to…"
"OH! EMMA! Nothing would make me happier than a grand ball in the castle with my little girl! Finally, all of my hopes and dreams are starting to come true for you. Oh and you would look so stunning on Hook's arm. Hmmm, but Hook isn't a prince. Maybe we can find you some royalty now that we are back. I will start-"
"Mom!" She had to cut her off to shut her up. "Uh, yeah great, thanks. I was thinking we could do it in a couple of weeks?"
"But your father, the dwarves, Ruby, and a large group of the merry men are leaving on their quest to find Merlin in a few days. There is no way they'd be back in time and your father would hate me if he missed your first ball."
"Maybe they could wait to leave until after?"
Snow reached up and gently cupped her daughter's cheek. "Oh no, honey. They need to bring Merlin back to save you as soon as possible."
Condescending much?
"But Mom, look at me. I'm fine. Really."
"I know you think so, baby, but the darkness could be destroying you from the inside out. Best not to put this off." She gave Emma's cheek a little pat. Don't throttle her.
Emma pulled her best puppy dog face. "I just thought with it being my birthday and all…"
Snow gasped.
Bingo
"Oh Emma, I am so sorry, I completely forgot. Of course. Of course. You do seem to be doing rather well these days. I mean, look at you. The darkness has definitely given you better taste in clothes. I will have your father postpone the trip. We will throw you such an amazing ball, the likes of which have never been seen in any of the lands."
Gag me
"Thank you, Mom!"
Emma wrapped Snow up in a tight embrace and then turned on her heel and rolled her eyes as she left.
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Emma paced the hallway, deep in thought. Now that she was alone her newly trademarked black leather pants and long black coat were back. Her hair was once again done up in a neat bun.
The fuck am I gonna do at a ball? I can't dance. I have no good ulterior motive of getting everyone together. Snow will make waves with Hook if she tries to find me a date. Smooth move, Dark One. Way to think this one through.
Honestly, a ball was the only thing she could think of that would get Snow to postpone that damn Merlin quest.
Ok, first things first, she'd pay a visit to Regina to get the scoop. Emma spent a very brief time at one of these things during that whole time travel fiasco, but Regina could give her a detailed run down.
Wanna grab lunch?
It's 11:00
I'm hungry
You're always hungry
Dark One
This isn't a recent development
Bite me
You wish
Touché
Meet me at the office. I have a few things to finish up
Yes, your majesty
Snow may be the queen of the castle, but outside the castle walls, Storybrook was basically running the same. Regina was still the mayor, though Snow really wanted a better Enchanted Forest title for the position, like duchess or some shit like that, and was still very dedicated to her job. She even wore her mayoral power suits most of the time.
Emma poofed herself right outside the door to the mayor's office. Hook is so desperate for me to want him; he didn't even question my poofing abilities when I requested transportation. Moron.
She drummed her fingernails a few times against the door to signal her presence and let herself in.
Regina was typing away at the computer with her black rimmed glasses perched on her nose. She gave Emma the, "hang on a second" finger without even looking up.
The blonde sat sideways in one chairs across from Regina, legs kicked over one arm and her back draped across the other.
"Hurry up, woman, I'm staaaaaaaaaaaaarving."
"You are a child."
Emma grinned at the memory of bringing her lunch here and being told she ate like a child. She missed that time in her life, before the darkness. But Regina was miserable then, still on the search for the author. Although truthfully, she didn't seem much happier now. Robin keeps doing this back and forth bullshit with her. It's Zelena for fucks sake. Who cares if she's knocked up with your demon spawn? Who are you to be treating Regina fuckin Mills like an option? Regina deserves better. If she didn't think Regina would be upset with her, she would have already ripped his throat out.
"Traded in your dark look already? Probably the right choice. Black has always been my color. Although, I can't believe you brought that hideous jacket back. I was hoping you were done with it once at for all."
Emma looked down at herself to see her signature look back. Skinny jeans, brown boots, white wife beater, red jacket. Emma smirked. Hates this jacket, my ass.
"C'mon let's go, my treat. I need to pick your brain about something."
Regina cocked an eyebrow in question.
Emma sighed.
"Snow's throwing me a ball. I need to know what the hell exactly happens at these things."
"She didn't bother to discuss this with you first."
"Ehhh, it was kind of my idea."
To that, both perfectly sculpted eyebrows arched comically off her face.
"Listen, I can't really explain, I just, ya know, need your help."
"Miss Swan, what in pray tell, is the Dark One doing requesting a ball? What are you planning?"
"Nothing, Regina. Please, I just need you to help me."
She wasn't falling for it. The others did exactly as she said because they were so hopeful that what they saw before them was real, they were willing to give in to her. But not Regina. Of course not. Regina just saw Emma, exactly as she had always been. Wait. Regina just sees me as me?! This has to be some kind of trick. Everyone has expectations of her to be someone she isn't, someone they need her to be. Why would Regina be any different?
"Hey, not to change the subject, but do you have sort of protection spell on this office or something?"
"No, why do you think I should? You're really the only other magic user of note anymore and I trust you."
Emma felt a bit dizzy. So what if Regina didn't have some stupid expectations of her. It's not like she needed to use the charm anyway. Regina was pretty reasonable when it came to helping her out if she really needed her. And she would never try to lure the brunette into doing anything dark. She's worked way too hard on her redemption. Emma wouldn't break that trust. She just had a hard time wrapping her brain around the fact that Regina's version of the perfect Emma was just… well, Emma.
Fuck. I think I love her.
"So… lunch?"
"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on, Emma. You and I both know you, of all people, would never request a formal dance to be thrown in your honor. You abhor the very idea of being paraded around in front of people you barely know, in a dress you'd never be caught dead in, while they kiss your royal ass. You have never willingly played the princess card, so you are either plotting something or the darkness has addled your brain further than we first suspected."
If this were Hook, she could just bat her eyelashes and redirect until she got her way. It was that easy before this charm, she had to try even less now. But this charm had zero effect on Regina. She sees Emma the same as she always has, so she could cut right through the bullshit. Same as she always has.
Fuck her and her stupid perfect eyebrows and her beautiful lip scar and whatever other truth serum bullshit that is radiating off her right now.
"It's the only way to get Snow to call off the hunt for Merlin for a while. I'm not saying I want to be the dark one forever, but I want some more time to process this. And I want it to be my decision."
Regina didn't even bat an eyelash as the words came spilling out of Emma's mouth.
"Well, you are right in that giving Snow the chance to throw a ball for you would be the only way for her to postpone the quest. She's been foaming at the mouth to get 'her Emma' back. "
"You aren't mad?"
"Emma, it's your life. And honestly, you aren't that different-"
"To you. I'm not that different to you."
"That may be the case, but it's not like you are hell bent on destroying the world or sending us all to another realm on a wild goose chase."
"Yet"
"And maybe you don't particularly like anyone else and can be…"
"Bitchy"
"…short with them, but maybe they have it coming for the way they treat you. Honestly, you aren't a pet to be owned."
Yep, I am in fucking love with Regina Mills.
"It's scary how much you get me sometimes, Mills."
Blushing slightly, Regina looked down and straightened the papers on her desk.
"So what do you need my help with?"
"I've never done one of these things, not really. I don't know how to dance, what to wear."
"So you want a stylist?"
"Well, yeah, I guess. Plus, you know, I pretty much hate everyone, so I figured we could hang out that night, too."
"You want me to be your date?"
Yes. More than anything in the world.
Regina looked surprised at the implication, but Emma couldn't read if it was a good surprise or not.
"I think Snow wants to parade me around like some sort of dark debutante. I don't think I'm supposed to have a date. At least that's how I am going to sell it to Hook."
At his name, Regina scowled.
"Look, I'm over it, too, but what can I do? He's devoted himself to me like a little lost dog and he could prove to be useful someday. If I still cared at all, I would tell him to get bent, but I really don't see any harm in stringing him along. Shit, I flat out told him no for months and he persisted, so I don't see how this is much different."
"So teach you to dance, style you, and then play wingman?"
"Yeah, sounds about right. But not wingman to score. Wingman to keep everyone else the fuck away from me."
"When is it?"
"Two weeks."
Regina smiled a rare smile that actually reached her eyes.
"Your birthday."
Of course she remembered. It was the anniversary of her casting the dark curse. But even Snow forgot and she pushed a baby out that day.
"Yeah, I went in for the kill. Figured she couldn't say no to a ball on my birthday."
"Sucker."
Emma just smiled, "So, lunch?"
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: I honestly have no idea what this is. I only sort of know where it's going. I know I have other stories to work on, but this weird idea came to me when I saw the BTS pics of JMo in the white dress. It will probably only be another chapter or 2 at most.