Emma turned over in bed as a voice called again from behind her locked bedroom door.
"Come on, Emma! You're going to be late!" She growled and slowly got out of the warm, fluffy bed. She hissed as her feet hit the cold, tile floor. Slippers were quickly applied to the situation, helping the matter. She walked over to her mirror and began brushing her hair, which was full of knots and snarls, and every time she pulled the brush through, emitted another groan from the girl. There was a light knock on the door, making Emma's head turn.
"Come in."
Snow White entered the room, smiling as brilliantly as ever. She walked over to her daughter, who rolled her eyes.
"Emma, you need to move faster! Everyone will be here soon, for you, I might add." the queen said as she took the brush from Emma's hand, brushing her hair twice as fast. Emma covered her face and cried out from the yanking of her hair.
"Sorry sweetheart, but we only have so much time. And since you decided to sleep in…"
"I'm sorry if I don't want the whole kingdom celebrating today with me!" Emma argued, huffing and crossing her arms. Snow finished her hair and set be brush down. She manipulated her daughter's hair for a minute, with a beautiful ending product of a braid that started on the top left side of her head and ended falling over her right shoulder. Snow smiled at her handy work. She went to the wardrobe and pulled out a light pink dress with frills and sparkles. Emma groaned and threw her head back as she set it on the bed along with some pink shoes.
"Mom! You know that totally not me! Can't I wear at least a blue or a purple? Or maybe-…"
"No! You may not wear pants! And I will check to see if you have them on underneath." Snow was getting frustrated. Her daughter was a tom boy in every sense of the term, which made it a drag getting her ready for parties. "But if you wish you may pick out another dress." She left the room rubbing her temples. Emma heard her go downstairs, so she jumped into riding pants and a light jacket. There was a rope ladder under her bed that she retrieved and hung out her window. She climbed down and raced across the grounds to the stables, where Ellie was waiting for her. She got in the door and went to her stall. The pure white horse whinnied at her arrival and Emma stroked her mane, giving her a sugar cube. She removed the horse from its stall and put her saddle on. She hopped in and led the horse into a run, through the meadow. She loved the feel of the wind in her hair, her bouncing in the saddle, and pure freedom. She could have ridden away, leaving the frilly dresses and fancy parties behind, but for some reason, she didn't.
"Emma!" a voice cried out from behind. Emma whipped her head around to see her father chasing after her. She turned back around and leaned forward, quickening her horse's pace. They moved swiftly through the open space, Emma trying to escape. She finally gave up and slowed Ellie, bringing her to a walk. Charming finally caught up, pulling next to his daughter.
"And just where did you think you were going?"
"Not to the party." Emma replied grumpily.
"I know you don't want to go, but you have to. It's for you. If you don't people will ask questions like 'why isn't Princess Emma at her own birthday party?"
"Because she doesn't like so much civility and wants to spend the day with her horse, making her own happy ending." the girl said defiantly.
"You know, you are just like your grandmother…" said Charming.
"Why?"
"All she ever wanted to do was ride her horse as a little girl. That's how she met your mother."
"Wait, who are we talking about?"
Charming gasped and bit his tongue. Why hadn't Snow told their daughter all of this? He sighed.
"The Evil Queen, Regina."
Emma gasped. Her parents hadn't told her this? Why?
"And of course you would keep this from me, to 'protect me because you love me'." the girl said with fake sweetness and her voice much too high. "Well, if you really loved me, you would tell me these things!" she cried as she rode off, back toward the castle. Charming rode after her, but never caught back up. She put Ellie back in her stall and dumped a whole bag of apples in for her performance that day. Tears in her eyes, she ran up to her room and locked the door. She threw herself down on the bed and thought, angry at her parents. There were several knocks at the door.
"Emma? Emma, please come out." called her mother.
"Why should I? So you can lie some more?" There was a silence.
"Emma, we just-…"
"Yeah, I know, wanted to protect me. Well, you can save it and just go away!" she screamed. Snow covered her mouth and leaned into Charming, who was standing right behind her. He held his wife to his chest like she was his life line.
"I hope you're happy, you made your mother cry!" he called, angry and trying to guilt trip his daughter.
"Yeah, I am happy! Maybe now she'll think before she lies to me about my family!" Emma screamed, red in the face. She heard her parents leave the hallway. She was so sick and tired of being the 'product of true love'. There were so many expectations and stereo types and living with true love was a real pain in the ass. She grabbed a bag out of her chest and filled it with a change of clothes and some food. Emma snuck out and got into her parents bedroom, stealing her father's sword. She went back down to Ellie and hopped on, securing both her bag and the weapon. She put on a cloak to keep warm in the setting sun and rode off, in search of some answers.