Chapter One
Full Summary: Based on Tchaikovsky's ballet 'Swan Lake', Princess Emma is the 18 year old daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Her birthday celebrations are cut short when Regina curses the princess to transform into a swan every day until her 21st birthday. Unless a man worthy of her makes a vow of everlasting love: she will die. Can her childhood love, Prince Killian, from the neighbouring kingdom find her in time?
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. This is purely for entertainment purposes and no profit or funding is being supplied to the author.
Then…
The warm spring breeze blew gracefully through the newly blooming flowers, and carried the sweet scent of new grass throughout the kingdom. The colossal trees that decorated the grounds of King James and Queen Snow White's palace were overflowing with fresh, crisp, mossy green leaves that shook with the passing wind. The sun beat down deliciously onto the earth and dried any trace of the winter that captured the land for the past few months. Birds twittered, fawns pranced, and rabbits hopped from place to place on the beautiful spring day.
All throughout the castle, shutters were being flung open and glass doors were being left ajar, letting the balmy gusts of air weave into the halls. The stony walls were suddenly as alive as the atmosphere outside, and the patrons that were housed in the palace were rejuvenated with new energy.
The young, kind Queen walked with her daughter out of the large French doors overlooking the grounds from the Grand Hall.
"Mama, look!" Emma pulled her hand from her mother's grasp, and Snow watched with a gentle smile while the young princess raced towards the castle gardens. She came to a stop before a small flower bed and knelt before it, studiously gazing at the small white flowers that were sprouting from the soil. Snow stopped behind Emma and crouched beside her on the grass.
"They're snowbells." Snow gently reminded Emma, reaching out to gently touch one with her fingertips. Emma smiled up at her.
"Grandmother named you after these, didn't she?" The Princess asked gently, looking back down at the small white bells. Snow smiled sweetly.
"That's right. My hand-maid, Johana told me that these little flowers survived in the harshest winter our land had ever seen. The same winter I was born in." Snow replied, patting her daughter's flaxen hair. Emma leaned her head into her mother's hand. "I think of both her and my own mother every time these flowers bloom in our garden here."
"So do I, Mother." Emma wistfully answered. "I wish I could have met them."
"Oh, they would have loved you!" Snow exclaimed, capturing her daughter in a tight hug. Emma squealed with delight and fell back into her mother's embrace. The Queen pressed a light kiss on the Princess' head and stood, holding her tiny hand within her own. "Come on, it's time for you to get cleaned up for tea with Queen Ella and Princess Alexandra."
"Yes, Mother." Emma replied, skipping ahead towards the castle and disappearing inside. Snow sighed and turned back towards the little snowbells. They waved daintily with the spring breeze. She smiled.
"I wish you were both here. I miss you." She reached down and gently plucked a single flower from the garden. She held it to her nose and inhaled the sweet aroma. She smiled wistfully at the plant and followed her daughter inside, twirling the flower between her fingertips.
Emma stood on a small, raised pedestal before the floor-length mirror in her chambers, her hand-maid Grace pinning back select curls with sweet little flower clips. Her summer gown, made with layers of pure white cotton and tulle, lightly brushed the surface of the platform as Emma swayed back and forth. Snow was sitting peacefully on the bed, the snowbell flower resting on the blankets beside her.
"Miss?" Grace addressed the princess, a slight smile on her face.
"Yes, Grace?"
"I'm afraid that in order for me to finish styling your hair, then you need to remain still." She answered amused, smiling at the princess in the mirror. Emma comically froze and Snow shared a smile with Grace when she stood back, her work completed. "There you are Miss. Is that all, Your Highness?" Snow bowed her head.
"That will be all, Grace. Thank you." With a final bow, Emma's handmaid left the room and she moved to step off the platform. Snow raised her hand and the Princess froze. "Just a moment, dear. I think something's missing."
Snow rose from the bed, the little snowbell in her hand, and she gently lifted Emma's head to look at her. She slipped the flower above her ear and secured it in place with a few strands of hair. She held Emma's head in her hands, the Princess looking curiously at her. They shared dazzling smiles.
"Perfect."
Now…
Emma soared high above the ground, a vision of white contrasting starkly against the lavender sky. Her wings beat gracefully, the kind of grace only a swan princess could have, as she softly settled onto the still, sparkling lake once again. She made eye contact with a small field mouse that stood from the shore, watching curiously. She ducked her head in a bow, and the little creature did the same.
The moon rose quickly, casting its bright light onto the water. Emma settled beneath the light and waited patiently for the wicked magic to turn her back. A veil of rich, purple smoke captured the Princess and obscured her senses. She closed her eyes and held her breath, waiting for the impending transformation. She was surrounded and unable to escape the magic. She extended her wings and her neck, letting the craft change her once more. Within moments, Emma felt human again.
Emma exhaled heavily and relaxed her arms. Her eyes snapped open and she gently walked from the lake to solid ground. Her dress swished on the ground as she walked. The mouse squeaked at her. "Hey Gus." Emma replied, a soft smile on her face. "How was your day?"
The Princess walked solemnly along the lake's edge. Her eyes watched transfixed while the water lapped at the wet mud just before the grass on which she walked. Her little mouse friend, Gus, followed her soundlessly as he bounded over blades of grass and under twigs that had fallen from the trees above. Emma stopped at the fallen oak tree she had claimed as her own private haven and sat silently, resting her hands on the bark on either side. Her long, golden curls flowed down her back, tickling her skin through the material of her dress, when she looked to the starry sky above. Gus squeaked lightly as he scurried onto the log and settled beside her hand. Emma scratched his head with her index finger, her face the vision of peace.
Her eyes scanned over the scene that had become her home, from the deep woods that housed many woodland creatures; both friend and foe, to the massive castle on the other side of the lake that her captive occupied. No doubt Regina would visit the Princess once again tonight, as she had done for every night in the past two years. While Gus and a few other animals brave enough to be in the Princess' company while human were considered her friends, Regina was her only human companion and the thought made Emma incredibly lonely.
She thought of Alexandra; the daughter of King Thomas and Queen Ella who ruled the kingdom on the other side of the forest, her oldest and dearest friend. She thought of Melody; the daughter of King Eric and Queen Ariel who presided over the kingdom by the ocean, her sweetest and most caring companion. She thought of Killian…
"Lost in thought, are we dear?"
Emma snapped from her daydreams of a young, dark-haired boy with cerulean eyes and locked her gaze with the woman standing by the water. She stood quickly and narrowed her eyes at the Evil Queen. Gus scurried into the bush.
"Are you here to torture me again, Regina?" Emma asked, standing strongly before her step-grandmother. Regina smiled sickly.
"I have to tell you Little Swan, you're so much more charming as a bird." Regina taunted the young woman, walking leisurely towards her. Emma stood her ground when the Evil Queen stopped beside her, facing the lake.
"What do you want, Regina?" Emma stared at her profile, barely visible in the moonlight. She turned her head to the water when the Evil Queen began waving her hand grandly. The water rippled and shimmered, almost as though it was becoming a looking glass.
"I want to show you something, Princess." Regina smiled sinisterly, sneering her title at the blonde, "There was quite a development, according to your father. It amused me."
Emma locked eyes on the lake and watched as the vision of her father, looking much older and weathered than he did the last time she saw him, appeared on the water. He was standing at the head of the war room table, their family's closest consultants sitting around. She saw her mother standing at his side while his hands moved animatedly. Her eyes were sad yet determined as they stood before a map, pointing to woods they have yet to search. She watched, entranced, as they seemed to concoct a plan, no doubt a strategy to find their lost princess. They seemed so full of hope that it was painful. Emma froze when the image moved to show a young man, not much older than her, standing at the King's left side. She knew those eyes anywhere…
The image vanished and Emma frantically reached out her hands as though she was trying to salvage the looking glass. Regina sneered at the Princess' futile attempts. "Don't get your hopes up dear…"
Emma looked on in despair when Regina whispered the next words next to her ear.
"Despite their best interests, they have no hope in finding you." She disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke and Emma was left alone once more. She collapsed to her knees in the dirt, and silently willed the waters to transform once more. They had seemed so close and the tears pricked from behind her eyes. She missed her family dearly; her strong and gracious father, her wise and kind mother…
It felt like hours had passed when a small squeak had Emma tearing her eyes from the lake. She looked down to see Gus, looking up at her with a small flower in his tiny hands. She softly reached down and extracted the white trinket, smiling gratefully at the mouse. She remembered when she had told Gus about the flowers, not sure if he could understand her at all. It was just nice to have someone to talk to.
A small snowbell rested daintily in her palm. Emma's heart soared when she remembered her mother's words from long ago.
If these sweet, little flowers could survive the harshest winter of all time, then this Swan Princess would survive the harshest torment that Regina could possibly create. She was determined not to let the Evil Queen beat her.
She would make it home again.
Okay, that's the first chapter. The next will be the same day, but from Killian's perspective. After that, the real action begins.
Let me know what you guys think :)
