"You look lovely darling." Pinocchio purred into Emma's ear to irritate her.
Emma turned to look at him with a frown on her face, she looked down at the gown that surrounded her and patted the tulle that puffed the skirt out dramatically.
"You know I dislike these functions normally and today it's all about me." She huffed as she adjusted her dress accordingly.
Her response earned her a hearty laugh from the boy who stood to her side, she rolled her eyes at his playful antics and slapped his arm for good measure. As she finished her adjustments to the dress, her mother knocked on the door and entered, Snow White was dressed in an intricate lace gown with flowers laced in her her styled up-do. Emma smiled at her mother as she placed the tiara she had been gifted on her 16th birthday on her head finishing her outfit off.
"Emma you look lovely." Snow breathed as she took in her daughters appearance.
As Snow said that Charming walked through the door dressed in his own finery for the occasion.
"I couldn't agree more with your mother." Charming chuckled.
Emma's father was also like her best friend, she was overly close with him due to sharing some of his many qualities. Her appearance was the perfect match of both her parents, her father's fair hair and skin and her mother's eyes and cheekbones, her personality however was mostly her fathers. She had the shortest temper and rarely fell for the same mistakes twice and more often than not saw the bad in people before she saw the good.
Emma walked to her parents and engulfed them in hugs thanking them for their compliments.
"Pinocchio could you give us a moment?" Charming asked.
Pinocchio nodded and exited the room but not before giving Emma a wink over her parents shoulders to her bemusement.
"We want to talk to you about your plans for tomorrow." Snow began, she looked up at Charming who nodded.
"We know you wanted to travel the lands... and well we've both agreed you can."
The statement made Emma open her mouth in glee but her excitement was cut short.
"But we're sending Mulan along with you." Charming finished for her mother.
She looked at the pair through squinted eyes, she was excited about the adventure part because she'd wanted to get to know her subjects and visit new lands, meet new people and make her own future but she did not want Mulan along with her, She was never as fond of the woman as her parents were mostly because of a dispute when she was younger.
"Really? Mulan. Not Aunt Red or one of the dwarves? Even Regina would be more fun." Emma grumbled.
Her parents looked at her and shook their heads and rolled their eyes. Emma was not an only child but she was the duos first, she was born under a time of hardship for the pair and that made them cherish the moments with her because they were never predictable, especially with her unpredictable magic.
"We'll discuss this later." Snow said with more authority than necessary.
Emma rolled her eyes but followed her parents out of her bedroom where she found Pinocchio with a devilish gleam in his eyes. She could already tell he'd been eaves-dropping, Emma sighed and resigned herself to attempt to have a good time at the ball her parents had arranged for her.
When Emma entered the ballroom she was announced as "Princess Emma" and the room erupted in applause, she curtsied as customary and made her way around the room greeting guests and dancing with those who asked, many of which her parents hoped would take her heart. It wasn't until a man roughly 20 years of age came up to her with a smirk plastered on his devilishly handsome face that her night became more interesting. He was dressed in an outfit that showed off the hairs that graced his chest and the clothes her wore hugged his body in all the right places showing his defined muscles, his eyes were a fierce blue that held so much mischief it took Emma's breath away.
"May I have this dance Princess." The man said as he bowed extending his hand in the traditionally way.
"You may." Emma said through a tight throat. She swallowed and bowed in turn before taking his hand.
Their contact made a spark run down Emma's spin which made her eyes widen in shock, she was surprised to see the same startled look in the man's eyes too but that didn't deter him from placing a hand on her waist and him starting to lead them in a dance in time with those surrounding them.
"Who are you?" Emma asked curiously as they danced.
"Someone very bad for you Princess." The man said, the mischievous look returning to his eyes.
She huffed and rolled her eyes.
"You already know my name and who I am, it's only customary that you exchange information back." Emma countered.
A grin formed on the man's face as they came to a part in which required him to dip her.
"My name is Killian." He said through his grin.
"It's nice to meet you Killian." Emma replied.
They danced a while longer and as they did Emma realised that many eyes were on the pair, it was slightly unsettling. Even her parents were watching them curiously. Once the song ended the pair bowed to each-other again and separated. Emma headed towards a person holding refreshments and took a glass of wine, when she turned she was face to face with her mother.
"Who was that?" Snow asked casting a glance at the dark haired man.
"He said his name was Killian." Emma said as she took a sip from her drink.
Emma looked at the man to find he was already looking at her as she lifted the glass to her lips and Killian winked at her, which caused her to almost cough. As the night progressed Emma often found Killian's eyes following her around, and as people began to leave Killian came to say Good bye, he kissed her hands which sent shivers down her spine and she bit her lip in surprise again. When everyone was gone she went to bed and dreamt of the gorgeous blue eyed wonder.