AUTHOR'S NOTE:

-All mistakes are my own

- I'll post more frequently soon (I hope)

DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters nor do I own the show, I just borrowed the characters.

Two.

Emma had been talking for hours, leaving not even a single detail out. And while Emma talked, Regina had been listening. Intrigued by the girl's… woman's story. So, when Emma finished up her story, Regina had nothing to say. She didn't know what to do, or say. She just sat there, and snapped out of the trance when Emma asked, "so, what now? Are you going to send me back to my parents, in Lucidia, or…?". Regina smiled, "we'll talk further after you've slept. I'll tell the guards to escort you to one of the guest rooms. In the meantime, I'll make up my mind, and make the decision. Dismissed.". Emma somehow recognized the tone, a tone that said not to object, or there'd be consequences. So, Emma didn't object and walked out the room, and as if he knew it, a guard came walking up on her, and escorted her to one of the guestrooms. If he had recognized her, he certainly didn't show it. Emma made herself comfortable, and got startled when smoke appeared in the mirror, and revealed a face. "Good evening, Princess Emma. I'm the magic mirror, and I am basically every mirror inside this castle. Which means that I can see whatever it is you're doing at all times. If I see, and know that you tell a lie, I'll have to report that to Her Majesty. Now, if there's anything you need, just call for me, and I'll appear. And I've got a message for you, from Her Majesty herself. She wishes you goodnight and hopes that you'll have a nice stay here. She wishes to speak to you in the morning about whether you'll be allowed to stay in Obscuria or not. I'll notify you when it is time." With that, the mirror transformed back into itself. Emma smiled, Queen Regina may be known as 'The Evil Queen', but she's certainly got style. With that, Emma changed into one of her nightgowns she'd packed, and crawled into bed. Falling asleep immediately. She wakes up with sunlight shining through the curtains. However, she didn't wake up from the sunlight, she woke up from the voice calling out her name. "Princess, wake up, Her Majesty wishes to see you in ten minutes!" the Magic Mirror exclaims, sighing. He knows that he's the one in trouble if the Princess doesn't show up in time. When he sees that the Princess is awake, he smiles. Now it is out of his hands, he decides it's time to give the Princess some privacy. However, he does tell her to go to the Queen's study, before he disappears. Emma hastes herself into some clothes, before quickly running a brush through her. Emma hopes that she remembers the way, or she'll be late. You can't let a Queen wait. Emma knows that all too well. Her mother had made sure Emma knew that from ever since she was a little girl. Her Mother, Snow, had been one for manners, and got irritated every time Emma ignored her demands about manners. And so, Emma runs in the direction she believes the study was. She'd taken a few wrong turns, but eventually she'd found the study. Knowing it to be rude to just walk in, she softly knocked, waiting for a response. There was a muffled "come in" to be heard, so Emma opened the door and went inside. Not forgetting to close the door behind her. She waited for a sign that she could sit down. The sign didn't come until a few minutes later when the Queen looked up, and gestured towards one of the chairs. All she said was "Sit.". It wasn't a request, it was more like a demand, and for a second Emma feared what would come next. But she shook her fear away, she had come so far. So, she sat down, as asked. "So," the Queen started, "I hope you've had a goodnight's sleep?". Emma nodded, "yes, I've slept perfectly fine, Your Majesty.". "Good dear, I've thought about the fact of you being here, in Obscuria. And I've come to a decision. So, are you ready to hear what it is, or do you plan on leaving?" she said, and Emma shook her head "No", "No, I do not plan on leaving, Your Majesty. Unless you want me to. But for that, I'll need to hear your decision first, so yes, I'm ready to listen.". "Good, good, dear. Then I shall share my decision with you. I hope that you understand that your identity is one that many will talk about, should they know who you are, and that you're here. If your parents somehow get word of you being here, that would mean war, so, I decided, that you're allowed to stay in Obscuria, however there are a few conditions.". Emma nods, waiting for the Queen to continue. "One, you are to go by another name. Second, you are to start like everyone else, at the bottom. No matter what you are already capable of. You start at the bottom of the chain, as a servant. Once you convince me that I can trust you, no matter the circumstances, then maybe, I'll think about promoting you. There's also no special treatment for you. And the last condition, you are to stay inside the castle walls at all times. No exceptions, unless someone of the Guard accompanies you, or me, myself. Am I clear?". Emma nods, she's not happy, but also not unhappy with the outcome. "Yes, Your Majesty, however, I do have one question. How will I convince everyone that I am someone else than Lucidia's long Lost Princess?". The Queen laughed at that, "good question, dear. However, I have a solution to that problem, but therefore, I do need to know what your new identity will be.". Emma nodded, she'd have to trust the woman. She thought of a good name, and went with the name Rulf used. Emma Swan. She had seen many swans in her time with Rulf. She'd been so obsessed with the animals, that he had started to call her Emma Swan. She looked at the Queen, and said firmly, "Emma Swan. My name will be Emma Swan.". The Queen laughed at that, "very well, Miss Swan, then you're dismissed for the day. I suggest you rest well, and enjoy your time as royal guest for the last time. Tomorrow you'll get to work. I will make sure, that everyone here will know you as Emma Swan. They'll forget there ever was a Princess Emma.". Emma nodded, and got up, before she turned back to the Queen, "will only Obscuria forget about me, or will this… solution … also affect Lucidia?". The Queen looked up, at Emma and smirked evilly. "Well, Miss Swan, that is for me to know, and for you to find out.". Emma sighed, and left. Trying to forget about who she used to be. From now on, she wouldn't be Princess Emma anymore, nor Emma the Knight, from today on she would be Emma Swan,

the Evil Queen's… no, Queen Regina's servant. And she was determined to proof to the Queen that she could be trusted, because she wanted that promotion. And she'd do whatever it takes to get Queen Regina's trust. Even if it meant being just a servant.

THREE MONTHS LATER…

Emma worked as hard as she could. She was clumsy sometimes, and had a hard time to forget who she used to be. Everyone only ever called her 'Emma' by her friends or 'Miss Swan' by her superiors. No one seemed to identify or recognize her as Princess Emma, and she was glad with that. She had been allowed to go outside once, in these last three months, with guards by her side so that she couldn't escape or run away. She had realized in her first weeks that servants had a hard life. You needed to be able to bear meaning nothing. You were not allowed to share your opinion, and you got ordered around. It meant getting up at sunrise and going to sleep late at night. Most nights you'd be woken up for some reason. And, in Obscuria, if you refused to do what was asked, complained or did something else inappropriate, you'd get locked up in the dungeons. Sometimes just a night, sometimes days, only to be left to the Guards' mercy. Queen Regina ruled with an iron fist, but she was actually quite happy with that. It meant that there were strict rules. Of course, things weren't always fair, but it showed that life isn't just easy. Life as a servant made you harder. Emma didn't have to learn to build up walls around her soul, she already had some walls. She hadn't had the easiest life as Princess in Lucidia. She couldn't count how many times her mother had scolded her for not acting the way a princess should. She was just not like everyone else. Sometimes she wondered why her mother couldn't accept that. But she wouldn't get to linger on that for too long. She got called up. This time by the Queen herself. She wondered why that was, but she had no time to think about that, as servant you never had, because you had to run to the other end of the castle.

Meanwhile: Royal Quarters

Regina sat behind her desk. She was thinking about how the blonde had proved herself. She was not the best servant, but she sure was loyal. She even seemed to deal well with the fact that she didn't get treated like a Royal, but that she was now on the bottom of the chain. She hadn't heard the blonde complain once, that surprised her. 'Or maybe she's just afraid of ending up in the dungeons when she does', said a voice in her head, but she was sure that that wasn't it. No, Emma wanted to prove herself, and she wanted her trust. She was content with being a servant, because once she got the Queen's trust, she might get a higher place in the chain. Yes, that must be it. She called upon her mirror, "Sidney, get me Miss Swan. Now!".

Mere minutes later, Emma knocked on the doors that led to the Queen's chambers. The door swung open, and Emma walked in, head bowed, as servants do. It shows off that you're on the bottom of the chain, and not equal to the one on top, which is of course Her Majesty. As soon as Emma stood next to the Queen, she curtsied, and asked politely as always, "what may I do for you, My Queen?". The Queen gave no response and Emma almost started to think something was amiss, the Queen was never hesitant to give her orders. But then the Queen stood up, and made her way over to one of the couches, and gestured for Emma to follow. Emma hesitantly followed, and didn't dare to sit down before she got a sign that she was allowed to. That's what Emma had learned as a servant. Never assume, and always wait for orders. She'd had troubles with that at first, but she understood now, and so she patiently waited for the order to come. The Queen looked Emma straight in the eye, and Emma still wondered how one could be so beautiful. She got amazed by the plump red lips and the low-cut dresses that seemed to fit every curve and the Queen's perfect olive toned skin. "Like what you see, Miss Swan?" Suddenly snapped back into reality, she tore her eyes away from the Queen and blushed. "No, Your Majesty, well.. yes, I like the sight but…" she got cut off, "Stop rambling, Miss Swan, and take a seat.". "Y-Yes, of course, Your Majesty" she muttered, before she sat down on the other couch, across from the Queen. Not for the first time she thought about her parents. What were they doing right now? Did they even remember her?

Lucidia: Five Years and three Months ago…

Snow walked to her daughter's room. She knew that Emma shouldn't be woken by her Handmaiden; she'd never responded well to that. Charlotte had had a shiner more than once because Emma had hit her. Since then Snow always woke her daughter herself. She knocked on Emma's door, "Emma, honey, wake up. Breakfast is ready!". She got no response, as always, since Emma liked to sleep in. So Snow simply opened the door, but what she saw wasn't what she expected. Emma's room was neat and clean. However, Emma was nowhere in sight. Then she opened the closet, and saw that clothes were missing. The window was open. It took Snow a while to realize that her daughter, Princess Emma, had run away. She ran down the stairs to the Guard's quarters. "Where's the Captain?!" One of the guards came running toward her. "He's been out all night, Your Majesty…". Snow sighed heavily, "so she has run away. She ran away from her home. Whatever did I do wrong?!". Snow exclaimed, clearly desperate to find out why her daughter ran away, but unable to find out, because she wasn't there. She had fled. That brought Snow White to tears, and she ran to where she knew she'd find her husband. "Charming!" she yelled as she ran into his arms, crying. "What is it, my Love?" James asked, rubbing his hand over her back. He had to know what it was that had upset his wife so badly. Then he realized that Emma wasn't with Snow, and he looked at her, even more confused. What had happened? Snow looked up, still crying, she said, "It's about Emma," Snow said," she's gone….".

Lucidia: Present Day

After years of searching, they hadn't found Emma. Both Lucidia's King and Queen were broken. They had searched every corner of the Kingdom, to no avail. They'd sent letters to every Kingdom, begging them to return their Princess. No reply ever came. And so, they'd tried to move on with their lives, by getting a new child, Prince Neal. He was raised differently, got everything he wanted. Riding horses, archery lessons, climbing trees… they gave him everything that Emma never got. All to make sure that he wouldn't run away, like their daughter had. But their life didn't feel complete, because Emma wasn't there. They still thought about her every day, and it hurt them more. Today, it's exactly five years and three months ago that Emma ran away, and the pain tore the King and Queen of Lucidia apart. They were just about to adjourn the Royal Council meeting, when a man, who looked like he'd traveled a great distance, came in. "Your Majesties, I know where your daughter is!" that got both the King and Queen's attention. "Tell us, where is she?!" The man looked to the ground. "I have reason to believe that the Princess resides in Obscuria…"

Back in Obscuria…

"Miss Swan...? Are you there?" Regina waved her hand in front of Emma, who had zoned out for a bit. Emma got snapped back into reality and blushed. "Oh, I'm sorry, Your Majesty… I got a bit lost in my thoughts. What were you saying?" Emma looked nervous, as if she was afraid of getting punished for not listening. "What I was saying, Miss Swan, was that I'd like to promote you to a place in my Black Guard.". A look of surprise crossed Emma's face, "Really?". The Queen rolled her eyes, "yes, really, Miss Swan. That is, if you want it...?" Emma had to fight the surge to jump up and hug the Queen for doing her that favor. "Of course I want it, Your Majesty, I've always wanted to be a Guard… but I was never allowed to be one…". The Queen smiled brightly, and it was genuine. Not many people could accomplish that, Emma had noticed, and she was so happy to finally get to see it. It was the most beautiful smile Emma had ever seen. "Well, then you'll get your chance now. I shall let the Captain know that you'll be joining the Guard and that they are to treat you like the other women that are in the Guard." Emma smiled, "thank you, Your Majesty, I really appreciate all you've done for me so far." That earned Emma another smile from the Queen. "Why thank you, Miss Swan. Now, I have more things to do today. The Captain will expect you at the training yard in an hour. Don't be late." With that, the Queen dismissed Emma. And as soon as Emma had her back turned to her, the Queen smirked. Sooner or later, Snow and Charming would find out that their daughter resided with the 'Evil Queen', but she'd make sure that when that time would come, Emma would be on her side, and not on that of the two idiots. She then got up and went to notify the Captain of her Guard that Emma would join them.

An hour later…

Emma ran as fast as she could to the Training Yard, where she was supposed to meet the Captain of the Queen's Black Guard. She found him looking at a swordfight between two of his guards. She went to stand next to him. "So, Cap, Her Majesty told me to meet you here…" The Captain looked up and smiled, "she's notified me about you. I'd like you to show me how good you are with a sword." Emma smirked. "Gladly, but aren't you going to tell me who you are? Or should I just keep calling you Cap?" He smiled, he liked her. "You've got a nerve, if you dare to ask such thing. How about this, if you win, you get to know my name, and if I win, you owe me a favor?" she smirked, she'd beat him with ease, she was sure of it. "Deal. But if I win, I don't want just your name, you'll owe me a favor too, which I'll be able to cash in anytime." He smiled, he didn't think she'd beat him, he's been the Queen's Captain for the longest of times, and no one had ever beaten him in a battle. "Deal.". They both prepared for the 'challenge'. And a half an hour later they were both prepared. "Alright, let's see which of us is the better swordfighter…" Emma said, smirking. "Indeed we shall" the Captain said, smirking all the same. He knew that the Queen would be watching from her chambers, so he couldn't afford to lose. Not from a woman. Emma stood in position, ready to fight. To win. He too. And then their swords clashed together.