A/N: Hello! I'm back with an AU! This will be a Captain Swan fic, possibly Emma centered, set in the Enchanted Forest. I've had this idea for a while and I hope it's not too similar to other AUs out there but I do hope you give it a chance. There's a little bit of info on the changes to canon this story is going to go by, so please read those to understand the AU aspects and the things (most of them) which don't change. I hope you like this, either way, please do let me know! Happy reading! -S

A little backstory on this fic so no one gets confused:

Killian went to Neverland with Liam, which then, like on the show, lead to Liam's death. Killian became a pirate and spent a century or two in Neverland, but he never met Milah and therefore isn't on a mission to revenge her death; he's just living his devilishly handsome, smug pirate life. And since he never met Milah, he never lost his hand either. I'd like to let him keep the hook, but it doesn't make much sense here. He has lived a few centuries, but physically I'm gonna say he's a little younger than on the show, since Emma is too. He's in his mid 20s or so.

Regina never activated the first curse. Her marrying Snow's father, losing Daniel and hating Snow happened, but after trying to harm Snow, she was sentenced to exile where she still is during this fic.

Emma was raised by her parents as a princess, so she never went through the traumatic childhood she did on the show, but this doesn't change her personality dramatically in this fic. She's naturally guarded when it comes to the psychological stuff and strong as hell. And because she was never raised in the "Land Without Magic", she never had Henry at age 18. Sorry Henry. Emma, as you will find out, is 19 going on 20 here.

Because of what happened with Regina, Snow has always been very protective of Emma and tried to shield her from any danger.

David was raised like he was on the show, but because Regina never managed to drive Snow into the bandit lifestyle, Snow never stole from David; they met through other means.

This is set in the Enchanted Forest, so magic is very much a thing of which everyone is aware of.

I think that's all the important information for now!

Happy reading!

Emma ran through the long hallway of the castle. She wasn't sure where she was going, but she needed to go. Her mind was going a mile a minute and there was no space in it to think about where her feet were taking her.

All her life she had been told the story of her parents and the true love they shared. She'd heard it from both of her parents, from her maids and other castle staff, from her seven uncles and from people she barely knew. The love story of Princess Snow White and the common farmer David was a story for the ages. A proof, that true love truly is the strongest of all magic.

Nothing prepared Emma for the news of what her walking fairytale parents expected of her. She had no idea. And she wasn't happy.

Arranged marriage! She could not believe the words coming from her parents' mouth.

"Arranged marriage!" Emma had exclaimed, desperate to have understood her mother wrong.

"It's not exactly an arranged marriage, honey, it's simply something out of our hands." Queen Snow had tried to tell her wild-eyed daughter.

"No, it's out of MY hands! That's like, the definition of arranged marriage!" Emma had said, crossing her arms over her chest, fuming.

"I'm sorry, Emma." Her father had stepped in. "You're expected of this because of a choice I made, years ago, but trust me: I was only trying to do what's best for you and your mother."

Emma had sighed angrily, throwing her hands in the air.

"And how is that exactly?" She demanded.

Snow had placed her hand gently on her husbands shoulder and gave him an encouraging look. David had given her a small nod in return, before sighing deep and turning towards his daughter again.

"20 years ago, when your mother was expecting you... Something horrible happened." He had paused for a moment, trying to figure out a way to share the story and Emma waited impatiently.

"Regina poisoned her. Yet another attempt to ruin your mother's life, the last attempt; she was thankfully caught soon after and sentenced to life in exile. Anyway; your mother was very sick. She was... Dying. We tried everything we could. We had the best doctors and witches in the land try to cure her but with no luck. Eventually, I turned to the unspoken option your mother did not approve of." His voice had gotten quieter, almost like he was ashamed.

"What was it?" Emma had asked.

"Rumpelstiltskin." Was Snow's reply.

"The Dark One?" Emma had gasped. Everyone in the Enchanted Forest knew of the Dark One.

"Yes." David had finally found his voice again. "I was desperate."

Snow had taken his hand into hers in a supportive gesture.

"I found a way to contact Rumpelstiltskin to ask him for help. Turns out, he did have the means of saving your mother and you. But he wouldn't do it without getting something in return." David had explained, ending his sentence in a meaningful silence. Emma wasn't sure what to make of it.

"Okay... What happened?" She had asked.

"Turns out he had recently fathered a son." David had replied.

Emma's eyes widened. "No." She said. David had given her a slow nod, his expression apologetic.

Emma had opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. She couldn't find the words.

"I'm sorry, Emma, but I couldn't let your mother and you die." David had almost whispered.

"So," Emma finally spoke up again, "The reason I was born at all... Is because you promised I would marry the dark one's son?" Emma had summarized the information she had just received.

"I guess you could put it that way..." David had replied with an unsatisfied expression.

"When... When am I suppose to marry the Dark One junior?" Emma had questioned, trying to joke in the uncomfortable situation.

Her parents had then shared a look. "Once you turn 20." Snow finally said.

Emma had felt like she couldn't breathe. Her 20th birthday wasn't even 6 months away. She had planned to see the world, finally leaving the walls of the castle. Learn to sword fight, meet new people, sail across the seas, ride a horse in the forest... This could not be happening.

"I-I need to go." She had muttered as she got up and moved towards the door.

"Emma-" Her father began, but her mother stopped him. "Let her go, David."

So, Emma ran.

Let me know what you think and if you want me to continue! -S