Authors Note - As much as I've enjoyed reading "Adventures in Disneyland" by Rosesdancinginmymind I want to take my own crack at this idea. Her story is written very well, and also super funny. The description of Disneyland is pretty accurate for someone who has never had the chance to journey to the Magical place. I have had a Disney Annual pass for quite a while now and I go about every other weekend or so, depending on scheduling. So I know a little about the place and the way it works, and the way the cast members are supposed to act and some things that the general visiting public haven't been preview to. Like, back scene stuff, Walt Disney's fire station apartment, Club 33, the real ghosts of Disneyland and several secrets here and there. The idea of a OUAT meets Disneyland story is like vocabulary candy for me, so I'm going to take a shot at it, and see what sorts of feedback I get. I loooooove Disneyland and would revel in the chance to combined two of my favorite things into a story that allows both ideas to shine in their own perfection. Having these fairy-tale characters meet their likenesses, as well as watching them experience Disneyland for what it is and all the magic it contains (without having any actual magic) as well as bringing some REAL magic to the "Magic Kingdom" by unleashing Regina and Gold upon it...well yeah I just want to see it...so if you like it I'll keep it coming, if not I'll bow out and call it a wash.
Oh, and I own nothing...none of Disney is mine (sadly) and neither is any part of OUAT!
P.S. This story will undoubtedly be Swanqueen heavy, just in case anyone was wondering!
Henry Mills had just graduated from Elementary school and was now several days into his summer vacation, before the start of a new chapter in his life would begin. Junior High School! As extroverted as little Henry was, junior high struck a terror in him he didn't even know he had. This kid had been through magical hell and back. His great grandfather body snatched him, and he barely bat an eye at the idea. But you throw him into a school where the teachers are no longer singing animal enthusiasts, classrooms no longer loaded with happy little bewildered 5 through 11 year olds. Instead somehow replaced with disgruntled ex villains, and the newly exhausted, and pubescently bored adolescents Henry once called friends. With which now they find him slightly annoying, and a bit of a risk as a friend. You never knew what might happen to you if you were to hangout with Henry Mills. As far as those kids were concerned Henry meant, kidnapping, poisoned turnovers, evil branches on a family tree, grandparents as young as their parents and basically just a giant threat to their quiet sleepy existence. As bored as these pre-teens were, that all seemed a little too much for just a friendship.
The last few days had been spent at majority in his room at the mayoral mansion. No life threatening evils after him or his family at the moment. No operations to sneak around with Emma over. Even with his dad still in Storybrooke, Henry found himself much more inclined to lay on his bed daydreaming and making pictures on the ceiling. He didn't want to have anymore hot chocolate with either of his biological parents if it meant talking crap about the other, trying to give intel to his dad about his mom...or in the case of both, casually throwing out little spiteful digs at his adoptive mother. Henry had been through the ringer and now just wanted to slowly sink into his mattress. He'd occasionally considered if he'd melt so far into his sheets that perhaps he'd disappear into Narnia, and he could start over as Prince of some other far away land.
The lackluster start to Henry's break hadn't gone unnoticed by his mother though. Regina had been witness to the slump in her sons demeanor. So much so that she had stayed up for the last couple nights considering calling the one person who's number she'd wished would magically vanish from her phone. Maybe she could handle a childhood crisis that requires two parents by simply text messaging her co-parent. That's something that co-parents do right? Text? Divorced parents perhaps, and that's precisely how Regina felt about this situation. At least she had after having a conversation over a table at Granny's with Emma several months ago. When Emma so nonchalantly referred to Regina as her "ex wife". Things had gotten less volatile since Neverland, but Emma was still the stubborn thorn in Regina's side, and Regina was still the snarky "other mother" in the way of Emma's happiness with Henry. With a sigh of relenting spite Regina opened her contact list and pressed send.
At the other end of town Emma sat with her heavy booted feet flung up on her desk. She'd half a mind to kick them off for it was shaping up to be another hot muggy June night in Maine. Somewhere inside the back of her brain though she could hear the Queens surly voice barking at her about the professionalism she lacked as sheriff. Emma let her sweat slicked arms fall from the chairs rests and land at her sides. Her head slowing tilting backwards over the backing of the awkward wooden seat. Had she not technically been on duty she'd have let her eyes shut and the drooling begin. As the thought became a greater possibility, one eye slowly starting to give in, her phone buzzed on the desk sending her feet flying to the ground! At this time of night she'd guiltily hoped there was some sort of big bad, or gooey gross evil that needed some savior slaying. When she saw the screen light up with "Mayor of Mayhem" and a candid picture of Regina, face red with rage, shouting at an unlucky Neal...her hopes had been dashed. Regina only ever called to bitch about the paperwork Emma wasn't doing, and more recently only about Henry. Since Snow had taken the reigns as Mayor, Regina was just as bored as everyone else and she had really started to hover. Hover over Henry, and every little sulk, or sigh he made had her in a tizzy. Calling the phone book till she had answers. Always ending her search with Emma, though the brunette woman would deny it to the death, probably even to herself. She rolled her eyes, and cracked her knuckles. Getting comfortable before reaching for her phone to take this undoubtedly delightful call.
"Hello Regina." She let he eyes fall shut in exasperation.
"He's been in there all day. Moping at the table for meals, only leaving to eat and use the restroom. When I go up to tell him that his father has requested his presence for lunch...nothing!" Regina's breath seemed stifled yet ragged. Emma cocked an eyebrow and just barely squinted an eye open in curiosity. They'd helped bring Henry home together, while his looming death and theirs had been a huge possibility and yet...she'd never heard this desperation in the Queens voice before. It had her attention. "I hate calling you. I really do. I was just going to text you, but I unfortunately have to relent to you on this one." She could hear Regina audibly try to keep herself from vomiting at the admission. "I can deal with wicked, and vengeful foes. I can even handle traversing realms and overgrown pixies...but one thing I will have to confess you trump me in, is a knowledge in teenage angst. I don't remember being one and I've even less experience dealing with them daily. You however grew up with plenty. So you need to fix this Miss Swan."
Emma inwardly chuckled at the statement, not because she found it humorous, but because Regina's way of asking for help wasn't in fact asking for help but demanding she right some sort of wrong that the former mayor found her guilty of. "I have to fix this? Why what did I do to break it? Regina, he's a young boy. On summer break, with little to no friends his own age. You figure it out. It's pretty basic science. He's bored! Take him out. Do something with him. I don't know...teach him a fucking magic trick." At that Regina puffed out a grunted laugh. Emma knew Henry cared even less about learning magic than she did about hearing of Hooks affections for her. "Regina, I really don't have time to rack my brain on how to entertain the kid. I mean it's not like he's been much more enthusiastic with me either!" Silence met her on the other end. She waited...
"Please, Emma." It was small. For a second Emma thought she had imagined it. Could the heat be getting to her more than she'd assumed? Was this delirium? Two words Emma had rarely if ever heard from those perfectly pointed lips. All that came out of hers was what could only be described as a confused moan or attempt at Klingon. She didn't believe it till it happened again. "Emma? Did you hear me?" She couldn't think clearly. Never had a conversation between the two of them led to Regina clearly asking her for help...without of course it being some sort of trick. But this felt different and it had Emma dumbfounded. "Miss Swan!" And she snapped back, there's the Regina she knew.
"Sorry, sorry. I dropped my, uh...paperwork."
"I'd believe that if in the year you were sheriff under my watch, you'd ever completed any paperwork. So, will you?"
"Will I what Regina?" She lets out a heat laden sigh.
"Dammit Emma, you know good and well what. I don't need to ask again. Just..." The pause felt like a curse all in itself. "Help me." Emma's lips curled into a smug grin.
"Yup, ok. I'll help you. Take him to Snow tomorrow and I'll meet you at the station to talk about it yeah?" She shuffled through some newspaper on her desk to make it sound like she'd been busy at work when she took the Queens call.
"Ok, could we perhaps meet here instead of your office? I have air conditioning and your building is just a hot box festering with whatever that pungent smell you exude is." Emma just shook her head. Never without a dig are we Reggie.
"Whatever, that's fine. I wouldn't want this humidity to damage your quaff."
"Thank you dear." It was anything but cordial, only Regina could turn a term of endearment into something almost vulgar. With that the line clicked off and Emma was left listening to her heart beat drum through her own speaker.
"Witch!" She threw her feet back on the desk and decided now was the perfect time to get started on that nap, Regina had rudely kept from happening.
Starting short...I have one more Chapter to post, just want to see how you guys like it before I start to write out the Disney parts. Hope you enjoyed it so far...I look forward to hearing all your feedback! :)
