i don't own ouat. yadda yadda
SQSQSQ
It is rumoured that humans are all descendants of wolves. As the humans started evolving, some found they would transition between the two with the phases of the moon. They became known as moon children, and later as werewolves. Many humans lost the ability to connect to their wolf as time went on. It led to the jealous and fearful persecuting the wolves. Wolves and moon children alike were hunted and slaughtered. The battle divided everyone into sides, including best friends and rulers of all the lands, Isidore White and Evander Mills.
There were many kingdoms with several smaller royal family rulers. They all reported to King Isidore and King Evander. The two best friends were the oldest known rulers, and were thus appointed rulers over all. The land was divided in half officially as to which rulers answered to who. Unofficially, there was a peace treaty to rule jointly. As the wolf issue become more and more prominent, it split the best friends apart. The more tumultuous the wolf debate, the more magic users lashed out on the wolves' behalf.
Evander Mills and his wife Clara were in favour of saving the magic users and the moon children. He still had the gift of being connected to his wolf. He fought valiantly that the wolves were ancestors, and family didn't murder family. He wanted to foster a sense of equality and civility between magic on nonmagic inhabitants.
Isidore White and his wife Sylvi wanted all magic users and moon children destroyed. They didn't view the wolves as ancestors, but as monsters who wouldn't hesitate to murder them. Kill first to avoid being killed was their motto. Isidore's wolf wanted to connect. The White Wolf was one of the strongest wolves in history, the alpha of alphas. Isidore, however, wanted nothing to do with the wolf.
The difference of opinions divided the unified kingdoms into two warring lands. The kingdoms split down the middle of Mist Haven. Evander sealed his borders with magic, vowing all who sought refuge would have sanctuary within the borders. Isidore set up round the clock guards at the border to dispose of any magical beings or moon children that ventured past the border.
The two men grew old and bitter, vengeance nearly destroying both kingdoms and its occupants. For a century, the elders watched as more and more wolves were forced to be dormant or into hiding. War, famine, strife. They decided to restore peace once again for future generations. Just before the men died, a prophecy was given by the mother faery, Maia. 'To reunite the lands and the people, to free the wolves, the heir of the first White princess shall wed the current heir to the Mills Kingdom. They shall be tied in magic and true love. The lands shall reunite, and magic and wolf alike will be free to roam as they were meant. They shall bring peace to the lands once more.'
For centuries following, the White Kingdom did everything in its power to ensure only male heirs were born. The White Wolf pack died out, the gene becoming dormant in the royals. The Mills' wolf became dormant. The wolves in the kingdom chose to swear fealty to their leader, but they'd found it best if their leader was able to run the kingdom to keep them safe instead of shifting unexpectedly.
In the time it took for the White Kingdom to have a princess, nearly four hundred years passed. Many generations who were familiar with the prophecy passed on. The wolves were greatly diminished in number. The prophecy a long forgotten lore. The magical elders didn't forget as they observed Queen Eva giving birth to King Leopold's daughter, Princess Snow White.
Twenty eight years later, the princess had wed and become queen, Her mother-in-law's sacrifice ensured she would bare life. King George of Pine Creek had not forgotten about the prophecy. He knew one day he would lose his power over slightly more than a quarter of territory in the Mills Kingdom. Despite his best efforts, little Emma Isidora White Nolan was born on October 23rd.
The White Kingdom over the past century had started allowing magical advisers into the castle. They couldn't leave their designated wing, and they were more slaves than anything, but they all knew what Emma's birth meant. Blue had been assigned as Faery godmother to the White family as soon as they'd opened their doors. She may hate them all , but this little baby was going to ensure the Whites of old never returned. To spite Snow, she gifted the babe the heart of the truest believer, something Snow couldn't refuse. It was the faery's way of sticking it to the queen.
Emma grew up to have her mother's pale skin and bright green eyes. Her blonde curls came from her father David, a simple shepherd forcibly turned prince. The little girl had an impish smile and a knack for causing trouble. As the girl began to walk, it became clear that little Emma enjoyed causing mischief despite her parents' best efforts.
On her third birthday, Emma showed the first glimpses of magical ability. Snow was trying to force her into a frilly pink dress bigger than the little girl. Emma wasn't having it. Everyone knew she didn't like pink, but Snow had insisted anyways. When Snow tried to force the dress on Emma, the tiny blonde's hand lit up in a white ball before the dress exploded like confetti pieces. Snow had the guards lock Emma in the wing of the castle sealed off for the magic users to prevent using unauthorized or unsupervised magic. The only room left was the windowless tower room Snow had tried to lock Regina Mills in once upon a time.
For two years, Emma was kept in the magic wing. There wasn't a lot of trouble to get into there, but Emma always managed it somehow. She blasted a chunk of the outer wall in the main room when she was five, just after her birthday. It was the last straw for Snow. She couldn't handle Emma anymore. She couldn't deal with all the questions on where Emma was or Emma questioning why she was locked in the tower, why she didn't love her. Out of all the children she could have had, how did she, a White, wind up with a magically errant daughter?
"Blue, I need you to tell me why Emma is like this. Why does she have magic? Why is she always causing problems? We are the good ones, the heroes. Why is my daughter like this?"
The fairy grew annoyed at the White Queen. "You've locked her away in a tower with only one visit a fortnight if she's lucky, Your Majesty. Instead of trying to learn about Emma's magic and helping her control it, you've shut her away and deprived her of sunlight, fresh air, love, and compassion. How is a child supposed to learn to be decent if they don't have an example?"
"It's just who we are. It should be in her DNA."
"And it is, but there are several things in her DNA. Emma cannot control her magic without lessons. She cannot be so virtuous as you wish without receiving an unwavering example."
Dark brows furrowed as Snow started pacing the room. "What do you mean there are several things in her DNA?"
Blue stared pointedly at her. "I know history was never your passion, but did you listen to any lessons, Your Highness?"
"You will not insult me like this. I am your queen! Answer my questions immediately and properly."
Blue did her best not to roll her eyes. "The Fae prophecy." Snow stared blankly so Blue continued. "The last prophecy ever given by Maya Faye, mother of all magical faeries." More blank stares were received from Snow. "Child, sometimes I think that tutor was a waste for the lot good it did you. The heir of the first born princess to the White Kingdom is fated to the current heir of the Mills Kingdom. Emma is yours only in name. The start of her conception marked the day that Emma belonged to Regina. They will wed once Emma is of age and a thousand year old peace long lost will return once more. It will be a time of rejuvenation and peace, the joining together of the lands again to blend the magical and non magical. There will be no borders or magical assassinations under their reign."
"I'm not surrendering my child to the Evil Queen! She murdered my father!" Snow spun and glared at the fairy, her arms crossing over her chest, chin raising in defiance.
"You told her mother about Daniel and got him killed. I'd say the scales are even. A child isn't born evil, they're made evil. Locking your daughter in a windowless, soulless room and rarely visiting is a sure way to bring forth the darkness. Emma could be well behaved and a hero if you took the time to invest in her."
"How dare you speak to me that way you insignificant moth! I am queen here! I love my daughter. I refuse to allow her to be given to her. I need to send her away. Fetch me Mulan."
Blue left the room and eavesdropped as Snow talked to the warrior. She didn't like Emma particularly as she was often the target of Emma's pranks, but the girl was savior to the magical creatures. She was going to break their cage, so she couldn't just let her get sent away.
Snow fumed. Emma had always reminded her too much of Ruth. She wasn't particularly fond of David's mother. She was too independent, too fiery, and refused to accept her place. She wanted to meddle in things that she had no business in. Emma was just as fiery, and had sass for days. The magic was too much for Snow. No White had ever had magic. It was specifically banned outside the ones she employed to keep the White Kingdom safe. She couldn't control Emma. Locking her away had been to keep Emma safe, as well as the people. Snow didn't want to send Emma away, but it was the only way to keep her from Regina.
Emma was juggling three small rocks. They were trolls from Arendale on loan to her mother. The trolls were wise and Emma learned a great deal about magical control from them, and about her destiny. Emma was fascinated by the Evil Queen. The few times she saw her mother, she was always going on about this evil woman who killed her grandfather. Emma always wanted to know more about her.
"What are you doing?"
Pretending to be startled, Emma sent the rocks tumbling down on top of Blue. "Oops."
Blue glared as the rocks popped open and climbed off her. "Princess Emma, you're in danger."
Emma shrugged, not at all alarmed about the statement. "I'm always in danger according to mother. What did I do now?"
"You know about Queen Regina." Emma nodded, attention instantly snapping to the faery. "Your mother is trying to send you away so that you can't bring peace to the lands and free the magical creatures. You must run, Emma."
"I'm five. Where can I run?"
"I can get you to the edge Forbidden Forest. If you can make it through there, the boundary to Queen Regina's castle is at the end. She will protect you. We have to go now. Otherwise your mother will send you to a land without magic and you won't ever get to be free, or help any of us."
"My stuff!" Emma protested as Blue dragged her to her feet.
"You have to leave it, Emma. We need to go! Right now!"
Emma conjured her blanket and her pocket watch. It had a mirror on one side and a clock on the other. It was one of her favourite possessions.
"I know you know the way out. Move, Emma!"
Rolling her eyes, Emma growled. "When we're free, I'm going to make you a target for my knife throwing."
Emma used magic to move the armoire. Behind it was a small hole in the wall. She crawled through it and moved it back into place once Blue was through. She didn't wait for the fairy as she crawled through the tunnel to one of the secret passageways. It took a few minutes, but Emma finally found the tunnel that led to the unlocked garden door on the perimeter wall.
It was dark by the time Blue and Emma made it to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. The moon was high and Blue knew the wolves would be out. Hopefully they'd smell Emma's wolf and leave her alone. She was bound to the White Kingdom and could go no further.
"Run, Emma. No matter what you do, don't stop running until you're in Queen Regina's kingdom."
"How will I know?"
"You'll know. Don't stop running. Go!"
Emma was scared, but she ran. She could use some magic here, but something was keeping her from using it fully. It was draining much quicker than normal. Her little legs didn't go very far very fast. In the middle of the night, the Forbidden Forest was even more terrifying. Twisted branches casted frightening shadows and produced snagging roots to trip even the nimblest creature. Menacing creatures lurked, but none dared to get close to the regal kid who reeked of wolf and magic.
Red was running through the forest when she heard a frustrated growl turned tiny howl. The full moon brought out her wolf, and she was supposed to be running. She couldn't ignore the cry for help though. It shocked Red to see a tiny blonde child all alone in the middle of the woods. The girl smelled of wolf. Perhaps she needed help transitioning. She trotted forward and nudged the girl with her nose.
"Nice wolfie. Don't hurt me. I'm Emma." Emma's first instinct was to run, but the feeling shortly fled and was replaced with a want to play. The wolf was nearly as tall as her, with dark fur and glowing yellow eyes. Slowly, Emma reached out and scratched the wolf between the ears, earning her a contented sigh.
'I'm Red. I won't hurt you.'
Emma wasn't sure if her mind was playing tricks on her or if this creature was magically conveying thought. She tied the blanket around her waist and looped the watch's chain around her neck before darting off after the wolf.
Together they played tag in the light of the moon, Emma completely forgetting her orders to run. The wolves around thought it odd, but they kept their distance. Emma was never one for playing gently though, and after a few rounds of tag. Red tried to take it easy on the little wolf girl, but the fourth tail yank was one too many. Losing control for a second, Red whipped around and snapped at the child, teeth sinking into Emma's arm.
Red quickly drew back and made to lick the wound as an apology. Emma growled and shoved the wolf away before poofing herself to a different part of the forest. She quickly found she was lost. Emma pulled out her pocket watch knowing the Evil Queen watched mirrors.
"Regina, are you there? I need help." Silence greeted her and Emma tried a few times before anything happened.
Back in the castle, the genie interrupted the queen's night reading. "Your majesty, a child is trying to call you through the mirror."
"A child? I do not know any child. What do they want?" Regina quirked a brow. No one dared call her through the mirror. It was always her doing the calling in. She set down her book and stared expectantly at the mirror.
"I've no idea, but the girl is insistent she talk to you. What do you wish me to do? It looks like she's in the Forbidden Forest."
"Let her through. I'll entertain it just this once."
Regina watched as wide, fearful green eyes came into view. "Who are you?"
"Emma,. Please, Regina, I need to get to your castle. They're going to send me to a new realm. I need your help!"
"That is hardly my problem, dear. Why would I help a stranger?"
"I'm magic. My mother is trying to send me to a realm with no magic to avoid my destiny to you."
"To me? You're mistaken, child. I don't even know you."
Emma growled as she nearly tripped over another tree root. "Blue and the rock trolls tell me the same tale. I'm fated to you to bring the lands together when I'm of age. Magic will roam free once again, and we will both be happy. Please help! A wolf bit me and I fell in a mud puddle. My knee stings, and I forgot my shoes. It's scary. You have to help."
"I do not have to do anything. You're a complete stranger, and I do not trust Blue. You could be lying to me for all I know." Regina felt an odd pull towards this girl, and she didn't like it at all. A blonde curl fell in the girl's face as this Emma ran. Something was clearly wrong and all Regina wanted to do was reach through and pull her to safety. Which only made her feel the urge to lash out more.
A tree root snapped and a muffled "Get her!" was heard. Green eyes quickly up whipped up towards the sound. Soldiers surrounded Emma before she even knew what happened. "Regina! Regina, help me! They found me! Regina!"
The last thing Regina saw was terrified green eyes pleading for help as gruff voices shouted before the mirror went dark. She scrambled to restore Emma's image so she could save her, but the connection was well and truly severed.
Emma screamed as the guards closed in on her, leaving her no choice but to snap the watch shut and try to fight them off. Emma didn't know which guard finally grabbed her, but she found herself being dropped down a vortex that had sprung from a hat of all places. The guards dropped her as they hit solid ground, and she took off.
They had landed in the woods. Emma wasn't sure they were even in a different realm until she came upon a house that was all lit up. There wasn't any torches, so she wasn't sure what magic they were using, but she took her chances and went in. The few people in the diner were all large grown men, and one woman with brown hair and an odd looking white dress.
The woman rushed over to Emma. "Honey, are you alright? Where did you come from?"
Her gut told Emma that she could trust these people to keep her safe, so she put on her best performance yet. Tears filled her eyes anew and her bottom lip quivered. "Bad guys hurt me. They chased me in the woods. Don't let them get me!"
The men in the diner looked the kid over. There were leaves, sticks, and dirt in the girl's hair. Her body was coated in mud. Her knees were bleeding. She was barefoot, and her muddy footprints were coated red. There was a bleeding scratch on her cheek, and rips in her red pants and white top. Her arm looked to have some sort of bite. The clothes almost looked medieval, but then again it was Maine. A lot of people around here came to use the woods for LARPing and fairs. Maybe the girl ran away from the Renaissance Fair.
Snow's guards finally stormed in, causing Emma to yelp and cling to the woman as the men in the diner all stood up and blocked their paths. When swords were drawn by the guards guns were pulled out by the patrons. The guards were quickly corralled when one shot took down the most aggressive guard.
It took police nearly an hour to show up. The waitress introduced herself to Emma as Rachel and tried to get Emma to eat, but Emma wasn't having any of the strange concoctions put before her. The cook, Max, finally got Emma to eat a few rolls and slices of cheese.
The cops took Emma to the hospital. Emma was terrified. She'd never seen anything like it. A nurse brought them to a room where the cops took photos of her injuries before Emma's wounds got cleaned.
The nurse winced at how torn up the bottoms of Emma's feet were. "Child, were you running over barbed wire?"
Emma just shook her head no and tried not to scream at the pain. At home she was always punished for making noise. She just knew these people couldn't be told about home.
"I am not trying to hurt you, honey. We just need to get you cleaned up. Can I put you in the bath?"
Not knowing what a bath was, Emma didn't respond. The nurse removed Emma's clothes, careful of her knees and especially her arm.
"Honey, what bit you?"
Emma hissed as her open wounds contacted the warm, soapy water. She'd never had a bath before. One of the maids came in once a week and scrubbed her skin raw with a rag, but she'd never had anything like this before. If she wasn't hurt so, Emma was sure she might enjoy it.
The doctor dressed Emma's wounds and assessed her. He and the nurse were whispering quietly in the corner for a few minutes before he came back over. "Sweetheart, I've to clean your arm now. It's going to hurt okay? Try not to move."
It was difficult for Emma not to scream. Whatever they put on her arm burned, white foam exploded and oozed onto the floor. The wound began to bleed anew. Emma was shaking and trying to jerk away as the nurse held her in place.
The doctor was quick to dole out commands. "Lola, I'm going to need you to start an IV with amoxicillin-clavulanic. Get her a tetanus shot. Take some blood samples. I don't think she's ever had any vaccines. I need to know if I have to put her in isolation or not."
"What about her arm?"
"Keep it wrapped in gauze until the bleeding stops. Apply some polysporin. I'll reevaluate it in the morning."
Emma gave a low growl as the nurse wrapped gauze tightly around her arm before sticking something into her arm.
"Sorry, honey. I know it's never fun getting shots. Have you ever been to a doctor before?"
Shaking her head no, Emma clutched her now filthy blanket tighter. She watched as tubes filled with red from where the nurse had poked the needle into her arm.
Lola noted the fear in dark green eyes so she set about explaining everything she was doing. "Honey, I'm going to need your blanket."
"No!" Emma clutched it tighter to her chest, coating the sheets and her hospital gown in dirt.
"I'll give it back. I'm going to wash it so it isn't dirty anymore. Have you ever seen a TV?"
At Emma's head shake in the negative, Lola went about explaining the television to Emma and turned on some cartoons. "I'll bring it back soon, all clean and smelling nice."
A blonde woman walked in a while later holding Emma's blanket. The little blonde eyed her warily, sensing the magic about her.
"Hello. Are you Emma?"
Emma magicked her blanket to her, glaring skeptically at the woman. "Who are you?"
Ingrid smiled and stepped closer. "My name here is Sarah Fisher, but back home I went by Ingrid." She smiled at Emma's gasp.
"The Snow Queen. Grand Pabbie talked about you. Oh no! You work for Snow White too."
Ingrid watched as the heart rate on Emma's monitor spiked. "Sweet girl, I would never work for the White Kingdom. You know the rock trolls. Who are you?"
"Snow's my mother. She sent me here so I couldn't take away the magic borders when I am of age to marry." Emma pouted and sunk back into her bed.
"Who are you supposed to marry? You're just a baby."
Glaring, Emma practically shouted. She hated being called a baby. "I'm a big girl! Regina was supposed to be my wife, but she didn't want me either so the guards took me and brought me here. Don't let them get me. They'll hurt me."
Ingrid took time to assess Emma as she tucked a curl behind the girl's ear before stroking her cheek. "I won't let anyone hurt you, sweet one. You know I have magic. There's nothing in this mortal realm that will get to us."
"They'll never stop looking for me. You'll get hurt."
"We won't stay in Maine, Emma. There's a lot of world to discover in this realm. It's much larger than home. You can get there a lot faster than a horse and carriage too."
Emma's face lit up. "Horses? Can I finally see one? I was never allowed out of the castle."
"Your parents kept you locked in the castle?"
"No, they locked me in the magic tower. If I was good, I could go to the main magic hall if I'm good. People didn't like my magic tricks, and my mother got angry. She said I was bad, and couldn't be with everyone else anymore."
Anger bubbled and rose to the surface. Ingrid knew all too well what it was like to be disliked and feared for your magic. Her sisters had accepted her, initially at least. She couldn't imagine Emma being abandoned right from the start. "I will never make you feel bad for you magic, Emma. Magic is a gift, a wonderful part of you to be embraced and celebrated."
Ingrid accidentally brushed Emma's arm as she went to sit on the bed. Carefully she pulled up the sleeve of the gown that dwarfed the girl's small frame. "Baby, what happened?"
"Hurts. Heal me?"
"I can't when we're in here, but I will when we're out of here. What else hurts?"
Emma showed her the bandages on her knees and how cut up the bottoms of her feet were. "Blue wouldn't let me get my stuff. She said I had to run. My boots got left under my bed."
"I will get you all new stuff, Emma. I won't let you live with me without and personal items."
Green eyes widened. "I live with you?
"Of course, sweet girl. Why did you think I was here?"
Emma sighed, instantly saddened again. "Mother."
"Emma, that woman is a danger to all magical creatures. I'd never help her. The police called the Department of Children and Family Services who called me, so here I am. I'm especially glad I came now, because there's no one better to protect a magical baby princess than a magical queen."
Emma gave a warning growl. She needed to be understood. "I am a big girl. I'm five. Babies are little."
"Forgive me, my princess. You're a big girl."
"Blue and mother said there's no magic here. How?"
Ingrid just smiled, waving her hand to produce some snowflakes. "You are magic, Emma. It's a part of you. Just because you go someplace new doesn't mean that part just goes away. You have to have very strong magic though."
"Oh, I do. I have the best magic in the whole castle. Grand Pabbie was teaching me how to move someone else to me or away from me. He doesn't like it when I call it poofing. We just started though. You teach me?"
"You can teleport already?"
Emma waved her off. "Dats so easy. I was born doing that."
Ingrid chuckled as she regarded the tiny child. She looked about three and a half at most, definitely not five. Her wet hair was already curling up. Blues, greens, and grey made up her eyes. Ingrid had no doubt the colour changed with her mood. The pale white skin she obviously got from her mother. Luckily no one in this realm would ever question Emma not being hers.
"Can I do mirror magic here?"
"What?"
"Talk through mirrors. I need to tell Regina she's mean and I won't marry her no more. Mother was right. She's mean." Emma pointed to the bathroom where a mirror was.
Ingrid sighed. How could she get a baby to understand that Regina was one of the most complicated women in existence? "Child, I'm sure she had her reasons. You can try once we're in a safe place. Right now I need you to pick a name to tell the police men who are going to come talk to you. I doubt you want White as your last name."
Emma scrunched up her nose and shook her head no. She sat pondering a while before looking up excitedly at Ingrid. "Swan."
"Swan?"
"Yes, Swan. They were the last thing of the outside I saw before I got locked in the tower. They were pretty. The mother had babies and one was black and the others were gray. Grand Pabbie said that the mother loved her babies all even if one was different. I want to be a swan."
Ingrid carefully wrapped her arms around the girl. "Oh Emma, you are a swan. If you let me, I'll show you how a mother is supposed to treat her baby. You'll never feel caged or unloved again."
It took everything in Ingrid not to freeze everyone out of Emma's room when Lola came back in the next morning to clean Emma's wound. Emma whimpered and cried, tried to jerk her arm away. The little bicep was bright red, inflamed and clearly infected despite the antibiotics.
"What kind of bite is this?" Lola examined the wound, carefully turning and prodding the girl's arm. She'd never seen anything like this before, and she'd seen her fair share of dog bites.
"Can't you fix it? That's why Emma's here."
Ignoring the snappy blonde, Lola turned her attention to Emma's face. "I'll give you a lollipop once I clean it. It's going to hurt. I promise it'll be over soon."
Emma turned into Ingrid's body as she hid her face in her blanket. The burning pain radiating through her arm was the worst injury she'd ever had, and she couldn't use magic in here to make it go away.
"Shh, sweet girl. I'll heal you soon." The words were barely above a whisper in Emma's ear, but she heard them nonetheless. Ingrid smiled as she stroked Emma's hair. Already she had the girl's trust and affection. They were already on their way to being a little family.
The lollipop Lola gave Emma was like lighting a fuse in a mine field. Ingrid was not pleased at the developing sugar addiction. She went to grab Emma's blanket from underneath the pillow only to find at least a dozen sticks and wrappers from eaten lollipops.
"Ms. Fisher, can we have a moment?"
Emma pouted as Ingrid handed her to Lola. She liked the nurse, but she wanted to get out of this strange place and have her wounds healed already.
Ingrid gave Emma's hand a quick squeeze before stepping to the side with the officer. "What can I do for you?"
"The men we had in custody, we have to release them. Despite not having any identification, we can't hold them. There's been no claim on the girl from our canvas or the news coverage. They seem pretty intent on getting Emma, for whatever reason."
"So why are you letting them go? What if they come after her? It's your job to protect us."
The officer had the decency to look sheepishly apologetic. "Look, we can only do something if they do. You have a few hours before they're released. I recommend gathering your stuff and leaving the area for a while. Do you have family anywhere else?"
Ingrid sighed. This world's protection was useless. "I'll arrange it with the social worker." She gathered up Emma and rushed them out of the hospital, not wanting to waste another moment in getting Emma to safety.
SQSQSQ
Meanwhile, back in the Enchanted Forest, Regina was panicking. It was rare that anyone rattled the queen so, but she couldn't stop thinking about those haunting green eyes. They plagued her every time she closed her eyes.
"CLIVE!"
Her head guard appeared quickly, nearly stumbling in his haste to enter the room. He kept his eyes downcast to avoid seeing the queen's personal chambers. "Yes, Your Majesty?"
"Fetch me Maleficent immediately. If she protests, tell her that the unicorn would make a lovely decoration for the front gates."
Maleficent rolled her eyes and was tempted to roast the guard who dared wake her from slumber, but Regina rarely summoned her. This should be good. With a flick of her wrist she dressed in her see-thru black teddy before poofing to Regina's bedchambers.
"It's about ti- what the hell are you wearing?" Regina's eyes bugged out at the dragon's unexpected apparel.
Mal pouted and sulked a bit. "Oh pity. Are we not going to mess up your pristine sheets tonight?"
Regina glowered. "I don't have time right now, fire breath. I need to know all you know on the Fae Prophecy and Snow's child."
Smirking wickedly as she circled Regina, Mal let out a humourless chuckle. "You finally want to know? You both have had centuries to care, to figure out a way. Instead, your family ignored it, and the White Kingdom murdered the few princesses that were born. What have you done, Regina?"
"It's true?"
Mal raised a brow at her former student. "Be more specific, dear. I don't have all night and I will leave if you keep in riddles."
"The child, Emma, she came in the mirror. She said her mother was sending her to a realm without magic, and asked for my help."
"Obviously you didn't, so the magical shift that rocked the kingdoms was your fault. Do you have any idea what you've done?" Mal sighed and glared at Regina. The woman was incredibly dense sometimes.
"What? No, I -"
"Regina, that wasn't just any child you let be taken away. That was the magical savior. She was going to free us all, to break the borders and allow us to be uncaged once again. You were going to get your happy ending, the rift between the founding families be mended. You sent away our hope. The shift has turned people from light and hope towards the darkness and despair. Sometimes you're absolutely dense."
Regina felt her anxiety boil over. Her voice rose a few octaves, coming out surprisingly whiny. "What'd I do? How do I get her back? I can't sleep. Every time I close my eyes, I see hers."
"Emma is five, barely sleeping through the night. She a far ways off from being of age to join you in marriage. You've access to other realms. Send the Huntsman."
"I have his heart. He'll never do it. He'll never bring me Emma."
Mal shook her head. Absolutely dense. "He will, because he is the wolf keeper. You're Queen of the Wolves, but he is keeper. The wolves have your loyalty and respect. They trust him to advise them and pass on your messages. They love him like any dog loves their trainer. The chance to bring the White Wolf home, to resurrect the extinct race, He'll find her and bring Emma home. I've heard tales from the magical grapevine about how Snow and her idiot treat that poor little girl. She'll be happy in a land where she can be herself without banishment and punishment."
"Snow abandoned the baby she has been talking her whole life about having? Why?"
"Do keep up, dear. The girl has magic. She's been locked in the tower, you remember the tower don't you? She's been locked in there for three years. A month after she turned two, Emma was at the royal wedding for Aladdin and Jasmine when she made the monkey throw the food at the guests. Snow tried to cover it up, but there was talk. There's still talk, so she had Emma locked away."
Regina launched herself at Maleficent, fists curling into the sides of the blonde's teddy and shaking the woman. "What else do you know about Emma?"
Mal laughed and dislodged Regina from her before magicking herself a robe. "Darling, my information doesn't come free. If you want to know more about the Savior, it's going to cost you."
"Whatever you want, fine. Is she safe right now?"
Fearful brown eyes blinked at her expectedly. Mal thought about messing with Regina, but the blatant fear wasn't something she'd ever seen before. "If she was dead, there'd be no light magic left. The White Kingdom would finally have the power to overthrow you, to kill out all the magic. Emma's alive, though I don't know what state she is in. Getting bit by a werewolf, even if was necessary, can't be pleasant."
"Emma is okay, then? All I have to do is send the Huntsman to look for her? I'll send my best men, all that I can spare. I will not have my happy ending taken from me again. I will get her back if it's the last thing I do."
"Sit, dear. We've a lot to discuss. There's much to know about Emma and her many prophecies."
SQSQSQ
Emma and Ingrid bounced around for the next decade. They never stayed in one place for longer than a few months. They'd both had such broken hearts, that it took a while for them to trust fully that the other loved them. Over the years, they'd grown to be a more solid unit than Lorelai and Rory.
Ingrid finally found a place that both she and Emma liked when Emma was fifteen. They'd gone to Hopkins, Minnesota of all places. It had a moderate climate with enough winter months for Ingrid to feel comfortable. It was quiet enough for them to both to practice magic some.
Neither had to worry much. It'd been years since they last had Snow's guard onto them. They'd made friends. Ingrid signed Emma up for fencing and self defense classes. She didn't want her baby unprepared to fight in any way possible. Both were excited to set down roots finally.
At least they had peace for two years before all hell broke loose.
"Mama, can I bring Becca over after school? We've got a project to work on."
"Baby, you know tonight is our night to celebrate your birthday."
"Oh, right. Do we have to? We could just hang without the whole birthday thing, yeah?"
"Emma, we always have a cupcake and movie night on your birthday. It's tradition."
Sighing, Emma agreed. They didn't have many traditions, weren't able to with all the moving. She knew how much it mattered the few they did have. After school, Emma rushed home, excited to see her mom.
Ingrid hugged Emma close. when she came home. Something had just felt off about today, despite being her daughter's seventeenth birthday. She couldn't believe her daughter was always had dinner, popcorn, movies, and ended the night with a cupcake. She would never tire of this.
Together they sat on the sofa with their heart shaped grilled cheese sandwiches, sweet potato fries, and popcorn.
"Ma, we can watch The Nightmare Before Christmas?"
Ingrid shook her head in amusement. "You and that movie. Alright then. Hit play."
Emma laughed and nudged Ingrid's shoulder with hers. "You knew I'd pick this one all along."
"You have for the past six years, baby. It'd only make sense you did again this one."
Regina's guards had been tracking Snow's, determined to close in on the girl before them. They'd gone over six years without any luck in sighting the princess. Something about tonight, the seventeenth name's day, felt different. The girl finally came of age. They couldn't let the White guard hurt her.
Ingrid pulled out a giant chocolate cupcake and a blue star candle as the credits rolled on the movie. She lit the candle before hugging Emma tightly. "Happy birthday, sweet girl. I love you. Make a wish."
"Love you too, Mama." Emma hugged back before going to lean over the candle.
Before Emma could blow out the candle, the alarms triggered on the protection spells surrounding their house. Ingrid jumped up, ever stoic as her magic flared.
Emma stood up, face full of panic. She didn't want to run again. She liked it here. Most of all she didn't want to lose her mom. The fear was evident in her voice when she called out for Ingrid.
The front door shattered as it was kicked in. Ingrid turned to face Emma for a second, ice blue eyes conveying all her emotions.
"Run, baby."