Disclaimer: Not a damn thing… though I would be all over trying to write for this magical, wonderful, awesome show!
Author's Note: I figured while having withdrawals and trolling the Captain Swan tags on tumblr, I would entertain myself with a little shot of an Alternate Universe, Lieutenant Duckling story. We'll see if it helps with the with-drawal… fingers crossed! LOL
Any who, this is an AU (as already stated, but I like doing that), based in the Enchanted Kingdom/Master Kingdom of Enchanthopia (Uh huh, that's where I am in life).
I tried to incorporate all the kingdoms, even allowing Regina a little disgrace and a whole lot of random redemption (I just feel she could have handled her shit better, that's all, but I overly like her). Honestly, I kind of made everyone friends/frenemies. But all will be explored further.
Pairings: (you don't like, you don't have to read, my friends) Killian/Emma, Snowing, Outlaw Queen, RumBelle, and OC with the reigning kingdoms' offspring. I have included A LOT of OUAT characters (Henry is a prince and Regina's son, because I like him too. But he's close friends with all the princes and princesses!). Some are in character, some are out of character, I'm still working out some of the nuts and bolts, if you get my drift. (Honestly, I am VERY open to suggestions, so if anyone wants to see anything or wants to tweak something, please let me know!)
Plot: Life in the Enchanted Kingdom hadn't always been peaceful, but the life the Queen and King had somehow procured for their daughter was that of a dreamer's paradise. And, sure, the young princess had a way with getting into trouble, but she was adventurous and curious. The perfect combination for a future queen. And, yes, it helped that the King and Queen had a young charge that was hell-bent on protecting their precious princess for her entire life.
It made it easier for them to sleep at night, in all honesty.
During the Princess' two-week long birthday celebration, a long forgotten prophecy begins to unravel.
Will the kingdom fall to darkness? Can the Princess and her band of Regal Heirs save their kingdoms, their parents, and each other? And about love, where does that all fit in?
Pf, they thought chasing mermaids and sword fighting was hard when they were little? Aren't they in for the ride of their lives!
PROLOGUE
6 Years old
"I'm going to tell!" Emma rolled her eyes as she stared at Baelfire. He folded his arms, glaring at her with such intensity, she was, for a second, nervous of him actually telling his father on her.
But it was only for a second.
"You're being a baby, Bae." She stuck out her tongue.
"You're not acting like a princess, Emma. You're acting like a boy." Baelfire turned to the girl, Alexandra, who had finally caught up with them. "It's because you're always with Killian and Liam."
Emma stood a little straighter. "I am not always with them!"
Just as Alexandra was about to retort, shadows casted over them. The three small children looked to see Snow White and Ella standing in front of them. Black hair and icy blue eyes stared at the three from behind Ella's giant beige gown.
"What's wrong, children?" Ella gave them a warm smile, moving to kneel at their level.
Snow was eyeing her daughter with a look of amusement and reprimand.
"Emma took my sword! How am I supposed to protect the kingdom from pirates?!" Bae crossed his arms, stamping his foot hard against the stone of the walkway. Ella's head tilted to the side.
"You're protecting us from pirates? Your highness, I did not know we had such a brave knight amongst us." She looked up at Snow.
"Baelfire, that is very noble of you." Snow knelt down besides her best friend. Her hand immediately went to her daughter's wrist, sliding down to ease the small wooden sword from her hand.
"Mama! I want to protect the land from pirates too!" Emma pouted.
"You can't, Emma! You're a princess." Alexandra scrunched her nose. "And princesses never fight, right mama?" She looked at Ella.
"Oh, Alex, I have known many princesses in my day who have put up a good fight." Ella snuck a look to Snow, who simply rolled her eyes.
"What I am wondering is, what pirates are you protecting the kingdom from? We haven't had a pirate in," she paused, her eyes moving up in thought. "I don't even remember stories of pirates visiting our kingdom."
Bae glared over to the boy that stood straight behind the two queens. "He's a pirate!"
Snow and Ella both turned to look at Killian, his ice colored eyes stormy.
"He is NOT a pirate!" Emma screeched, causing both queens to lean back slightly. Bae's glare was instantly on her as Alexandra sighed, her tiny had covering her face in innocent shame.
"Bae, Killian is not a pirate." Snow assured him. She laughed and handed him his sword, before pulling him into a hug. "I do believe I heard Prince Phillip arrive. I'm sure the two of you would be happier playing knights in King David's study. Liam and Henry are both in there."
Baelfire's eyes lit up and with a short bow he was bounding through the garden towards the entrance of the castle.
"Well, I think it's time for tea." Ella stated, standing up. She smiled down at Alexandra. "We have raspberry tea and chocolate cake?" The little girls eyes widen and before either adult could say anything, she too was bounding towards the castle, the ribbons on her dress flying like a tail behind her.
"And another war won on our side." Ella mumbled to Snow. The queens laughed as Ella shook her head and moved to follow her daughter; her hand ruffling Killian's hair as she passed.
Snow sighed looking at Emma. "My love, please try and behave. You know everyone is here for your birthday celebration in a few nights."
"They were picking on Killian." Snow looked at her daughter and then to Killian who had an eyebrow raised to her daughter.
"Sweetheart, Killian is older than you three. I'm sure his feelings were not hurt, were they?" Snow took Killian in. He had been the one to fetch the queens to tend to their children.
She felt it was more out of protection for Emma than anything, but that was to be expected given the past between The Dark One, Baelfire's father, and Killian's own father. The young child wasn't sure if the Dark One would punish Emma for teasing his son.
"No, your highness, my feelings were spared." Killian held is head a little higher. The perfect gentleman, even at the delicate age of eight years old. "Baelfire is just jealous that I travel so much on ships."
Snow gave him a soft smile. "That is to be expected for a future Navy Sailor." Her hand moved to smooth his hair back. She stood up. "I expect we should all be going for tea now?"
Killian nodded and held his hand out for Emma. The young girl huffed and charged forward, leaving both her mother and friend in her wake.
"Well," Snow smiled and took the hand Killian still had out, his eyes wide at the disappearing princess. "I see we both have a long road ahead of us with that one, don't we?"
Killian look at his queen, unsure of the proper response. His hand closed tightly around hers, his head nodding.
"I think you're right, your majesty."
"Don't ever give up on her, will you?" Snow gave the young boy a knowing smile.
Killian bowed his head. "She'd have to wish me to give up before I ever do on my own accord, your majesty."
Snow's smiled widened.
10 years old
"OI!" Emma tackled Phillip straight into the ground. Henry and Liam, who were both supposed to be watching the young princess and prince, shook their heads.
"You're such a boy, Emma!" Phillip shouted from underneath her. Emma glared at him and grabbed a hand full of snow from the ground on which they laid and fluffed it into his face.
"You two are useless." Emma looked over her shoulder, but before she could properly acess the new voice, she was hoisted off of Phillip. Her body was instantly warmed as the lanky arms held her tightly to an even lankier body.
"It's not like either of them were endanger." Came a very similar voice to the one that had pulled her off the young prince.
She watched as Henry moved and pulled Phillip up from the ground.
"Let go of me, now." Emma commanded.
"As you wish." The warmth disappeared all too quickly. "You have one job." This statement was directed to the older boys.
She dusted herself off, eyeing Killian in his navy wool coat and gray scarf.
"Why should we protect the dear princess when every time we blink you're doing it for us." Liam challenged his younger brother.
Killian glared at him, his eyes darting to Phillip and Henry. "My lords, your mothers are asking for you."
Henry sighed. "It's like she knows the exact moment I start having fun."
"Both of us?" Phillip whined.
Killian nodded. "Liam, I suspect father wants you as well. Queen Regina wants to be heading home."
"And let me guess, you get to stay here for another month or so?" Liam rolled his eyes at his brother pinking cheeks.
Emma, who had remained unusually quiet, tilted her head. "You're not returning to Mills?"
Killian watched as the three boys left the courtyard. His shoulders fell, his straight stance turning to a more relaxed stature. He looked over to Emma, his grin widening. "My father wants me to continue my education with the cricket for another few weeks, and then I'll return to Mills, the next time Queen Regina and King Robin come down to your kingdom. Which would be about a month, if I had to guess."
Emma's lips turned into a daring smile. "Did you ask to stay here, for me?"
Killian shook his head immediately, his cheeks suddenly reddened, contradicting his actions.
"Well, then, pirate." His eyes lips quirked up into a smirk. "I believe we have a battle to face."
"Battle?" And then, a snowball hit him square in the face.
12 years old
Emma sat in her bedroom, rolling her eyes like a wind mill as her mother brushed her hair.
"What did you think you were doing?" Snow's voice was haggard. She didn't remember being like this as a child. Not that her daughter's behavior really shocked her. At least not in it's entirety.
"I wanted to see a mermaid." Emma looked at her mother in the reflection of the mirror. "Bae started it."
"Bae started it? Emma, he is our guest. He is the Dark One's son. What were you thinking putting your life and his life in danger?" Emma winced at a particular snag from the brush that Snow seemed to run through unapologetically.
"We're safe, aren't we?"
Snow scuffed. "Thank the heavens that Killian has the good sense to watch you like a hawk. Had he not jumped in after you and Bae, you both could have drowned!" Snow slammed the hair brush down. She took a deep, if not shaky, breath.
"I just wanted to see a mermaid! Like Ariel or Melody! They can turn into mermaids magically!" Emma ignored the part that they were, in fact, mermaids and that magic made them human.
"Emma," Snow moved and sat on the rocking chair in the corner of the room. "You're so adventurous. I was never as adventurous as you. At least not until I was old enough to know better. I don't know, maybe it's because we're always entertaining. Maybe we should limit the visits from Alexandra, Phillip, and Melody. You need to focus on becoming a ruler, my love."
Emma's eyes widen. "You're taking my friends away!"
"No, no, I just," Snow sighed. "We've all been talking about it for a while, now. Henry is turning sixteen in three weeks, he is technically the next king of Mills. Liam is practically a part of the Royal Navy. Phillip and Alexandra are starting their own royal lessons once winter comes. Even Melody is learning about both her sea and land kingdoms. As much as we know you all love being together—"
"What about Bae? He's not a prince? His father is the Royal Advisor! He still has to come here!"
"His father is a royal advisor, but it's not like before, with Princess Belle now living in the Dark one's castle, Bae would have more of a mother figure. He'll have more time with his father. He also has his own lessons to attend." Snow watched as her daughter's eyes began to drain of argument; of hope.
She sat up, however, as her daughter's eyes suddenly caught hers. The green was suddenly lit up, a cruel excitement swirling like a storm.
"Killian." Snow's heart instantly swelled with pain at the desperate tone lacing with his name from her daughter's lips. "He's not a prince and he is too young to join the navy. He will continue his teachings here with me."
"Oh, Emma." She had wanted to wait until after the ball for Henry's birthday. But she was just prolonging it. They had all prolonged telling their children that the long holidays would be ending for all of them, all too soon. "Killian is to return to Mills, where the Royal Navy is stationed. He will be studying there, learning the ropes as a true sailor."
Emma's eyes dulled and Snow swore her heart broke.
"We have a navy here." Her tone was suddenly authoritative.
"Our navy, here, is but a quarter of the royal navy, my darling." Snow reached for Emma, but dropped her hands as her daughter stepped back. "They are already trained. Once Killian has been in the navy, officially, he can come live in our kingdom and work with our soilders, but until then—"
"No," Emma shook her head, holding it as high as she could. "I won't allow for it. I won't." She turned on her heel, marching from her room. "FATHER!"
"Emma, you don't—"
"FATHER!"
Snow sighed. She stood up to write to Ella. She could hear her daughter's voice across the castle, screaming for her father. Her heart hung heavy as she walked towards her chambers.
14 years old
She stood as straight as she possibly could. Her dress was stiff and itchy. Her head was hurting from the weight of her hair that was elaborately woven up and her tiara that she had yet to wear. She stood across from him, his blue eyes red, his cheeks hollow in sorrow.
Her eyes flitted to see Prince Henry, his own eyes red, cheeks blotchy, as he stood at the head of the black wooden coffin, his sword drawn over it. There were many people in the crowd with red eyes and blotchy cheeks.
Her eyes moved back to Killian, She wished she could rush across to him, to grab his hands in her own. She knew she had to stay frozen in her stoic, solemn stance next to Baelfire and Alexandra.
Her eyes moved over, slightly, and she caught her father's. He stood tall next to Killian. The boy, only sixteen, was almost the same height as the king. She wasn't sure how or when that had happen, but he was just barely two inches shorter than David.
Her father gave her an understanding look. His own eyes moved to Henry, before his hand moved to the young sailor's shoulders.
Emma looked to see her mother's hands around one of Killian's, tears pouring down her face.
Yes, she was happy her parents were standing tall next to him, but a part of her was angry that it was not her standing there.
"It is a great tragedy to have lost such a young and bright solider." King Robin began to speak. His voice was gruff but there was genuine grief heavy in his words.
Emma's eyes watched as Henry took a shaky breath and took a step back into his mother's waiting arm. He was towering over the regal queen, who had a tight grip on her younger son's hand as well. She was not crying, but there was deep emotion across her face.
Looking around, discreetly, Emma could see the emotion carried from person to person, prince to princess, solider to solider.
She was startled out of her own thoughts by the whip of swords that were suddenly over their heads; over the black box. Her eyes widen as the box was slowly moved down the dock and sent to sail into the ocean. Flowers were immediately casted out, to follow the black box.
It was almost as if they were celebrating a ship's first cast to sea.
Her heart clenched as she thought of her friend, eternally sleeping.
Suddenly tears were streaming down her face, her vision blurred almost to blindness. She tried to take in deep breaths, tried to remain stoic and straight, but she felt herself falling.
Before she hit the ground she was in strong arms. For a second she thought it was her father's arms, but they were not heavy enough. They were still thin with youth.
An ugly sob escaped her throat, but she pressed her face deep into the arms' neck, her own arms nestling against the chest she was pressed into.
The ocean's scent suddenly stung her nose and her body recognized the young arms and the soft chest. It was neither Phillip or Bae, both still too young to have a man's scent and a hard chest.
"I'm so sorry." She breathe out, her eyes shut tight against the smooth fabric of his jacket.
"Me too." The voice whispered in her ear.
"I want him back." Sobs began shaking her, even in his embrace.
"Aye," her knees buckled, "me too."
"Come home with us, please come home with us." She felt him stiffen against her.
She couldn't believe she was asking him to leave Mills. Asking him to leave his studies; his father; his life. After losing his brother? She was being selfish.
A princess was never supposed to be selfish.
Just as she was about to take it back, to dry her tears and pretend that she hadn't just had a nervous breakdown, his body relaxed and his arms tightened around her.
"As you wish."
16 Years old.
"Over my dead body."
Killian stared at the princess.
Her blonde hair was loose in waves and curls down her back. She was standing tall, her chin up regally. She was wearing a house dress, that fell to the ground, hugging the curves that had suddenly began to show over the last year or so. The color was a dark green, making her own green eyes pop.
Grant you, they were right now popping in anger.
"Well, love, it's a good thing you don't make my decisions for me." He lowered his eyes back down to the book he had been reading.
"I'm sorry, I am the princess, and I say no." His eyes rolled, but remained on the book.
"You're being awfully difficult. I don't even know why you care." He had a few good ideas on why she might care, but nothing concrete. "I turn the age of a man in less than a month. This is my decision."
"No. Killian, you cannot join the navy."
He sighed and looked at her. He really wished King David had not made the formal announcement last night at dinner. He really wished he hadn't decided to spend his last few weeks before his duty would start in the Enchanted Kingdom. He should have gone to the Cerulean kingdom and stayed with Melody or the Forrest Kingdom with Phillip. Bloody hell, the Dark Kingdom with Bae would have been better than this.
"I can't believe you would still join." Her arms crossed tightly in front of her.
"Emma, I've been studying and training for this since I was twelve. I can't imagine it being that much of a shock."
"After what happened to Liam?" Her voice grew small. An ache, for her and Liam, tore at his heart.
He sighed and stood up. He towered over her, her body had yet to shoot up as his had. He was almost a foot taller than her.
"I need to honor—"
"Don't even try it." She spat her words at him, her mouth wrinkling in an ugly line. She took a large step back, challenging him.
She was no longer a child. The roundness of her youth had drained from her cheeks, moving comfortably over her bust and her hips. Her neck was more prominent, but by no means lanky or awkward, but rather like a graceful swan almost. Her eyes, once too big and too round, were now bright among her beautiful face. She was looking more and more like a regal ruler, than the adventurous and rebellious youth that had caused him many near death experiences.
Then again, Killian mused to himself, all the heirs to the surrounding kingdoms that made up Enchanthopia had packed their innocent, nativity, adventurous selves away.
"You know my greatest passion is the sea." He moved closer to her, his hands moving to her shoulders.
It was true, he always got a little anxious after so many months being away from the ocean.
"But what about," her mouth instantly shut.
What about what? They were friends. They had been friends since she could remember. His father was a Naval officer of the highest rank. He had trusted his children in the care of King David and Queen Snow after a deal with the Dark one had finally caught up to his wife. Regina and Robin had been in the middle of regaining control of the Mills Kingdom. It had taken years for everything to come to order. Henry, Liam, and Killian were almost permanent fixtures in the enchanted Kingdom.
"You must know how I feel about you, love." Killian took another step forward, their bodies barely an inch apart. "Which is why I have to do this. I need to make sure you're safe. That way, one day," he was at a loss for words. What would happen one day?
"I don't want to lose you." She had already lost him for a short time when her Princess and royal studies and duties had taken over. But she had gotten him back after Liam's death. He had stayed with them for a year before returning back to Mills; returning back to that bloody Royal Navy.
He leaned his head close to hers and she was sure he was going to kiss her. She was positive. But the kiss never came. His lips burned her forehead.
"Emma, love, you will never lose me."
Emma opened her eyes and stared into the eternal ice blue.
"I better not, Killian." There was a sharp command to her voice, that only a true princess could have.
He smirked, his head moving away, his hands slid from her shoulders.
"Killian." The sharp tone was mixed with something else.
"Yes, love?"
Her lips were over his before he even had time to meet her eyes. His hand moved to her hair, his fingers getting lost in the unruly curls.
There were sparks erupting across their skin, their lips, their tongues. Her hand had darted to the nap of his neck, grabbing what she could and pressing herself closer to him. His hand slid over her hip, gently squeezing the flesh under the thin gown. She moaned, tilting her head, allowing his tongue to run over her bottom lip, tasting her with a hunger he had never quite felt.
It was over before it had even begun, both pulled away for air; their breaths were haggard, their heart beats wild in their ears.
"Return to me." The sharp tone rang through his head.
He looked at her, making sure her eyes were locked on his.
"As you wish."