Chapter Two

Sibling Rivalry

A/AN: Well you guys get to find out who Zelena's engaged to in this chapter! I'm sure some of you won't be happy, but don't stop reading because things aren't what they seem! Thank you to all who reviewed/followed/favorited last chapter!

Emma felt like her heart would burst as her longtime friend confessed his love for her. She would be leaving this burdensome life as soon as the castle was asleep, but she would have to endure her sister's graces for the next few hours. She raced through her hidden shortcuts from the backside of the castle until she reached her bedroom. She was surprised to be met by a fuming Johanna.

"MISS SWAN WHERE HAVE YE BEEN? THE PARTY IS IN HALF AN HOUR AND YOU'RE SKIRTS ARE TORN!? DID YOU TAKE A NOTION TO ROLL IN THE MUD!?" Johanna boomed, the color in her cheeks contrasting perfectly with her hair.

"Chill Johanna…I have another dress I can wear." Emma said coolly ignoring the maid's meltdown.

"Well you better get dressed then!" She huffed as Emma opened up her wardrobe. She pulled out a sparkling white dress with silver flowers sewn into the fabric.

"Are you sure you should wear that one Miss?" Johanna objected quietly, her voice returning to a normal octave.

"Of course I should. Zelena wants everyone to look their best, so I'm going to give her my best." Emma smirked, purposely picking out the dress Zelena had begged her to give to her after a passing merchant had gifted her with it. She knew her sister would be seething with jealousy when she seen her wearing it, but she deserved every bit of it.

Today would be her last day in the kingdom, and she wanted her chance to shine one last time. Zelena had her time in the spotlight long enough, and if Emma could rob her of a little bit of that satisfaction today then it would all be worth it.

"Well let me help you then." Johanna replied compliantly clearly familiar with their sibling rivalry.

Emma turned gracefully in the dress, admiring herself in the mirror, "Don't you think I'm the bell-of-the ball?" she chortled lightly, turning to the maid.

"You're very beautiful Miss. I'm sure you'll catch the eye of passing suitor tonight and then your father will be giving both of his daughters away." Johanna smiled admiringly at the blond princess.

"Yes I suppose he will." Emma sighed feeling a pang of loneliness fill her chest. It was a shame her father would never be a part of her special day, but she couldn't take this life anymore. She was ready to be free of it, even if it meant being a pauper's wife. She would rather have a life full of love than be tied to a loveless marriage full of royal obligations.

"Shall we go then miss?" Johanna encouraged lightly.

"Yes let's go." Emma complied before ripping her gaze away from the mirror where a former princess stood. She would be a princess no more after tonight. Once she gave herself away to her new husband, she would be a scorned woman, but she didn't mind. He was the only one who truly loved her besides Johanna. She almost wanted to confess everything to kind old woman, but she kept her lips sealed because Johanna may have been loyal to her, but she was even more loyal to her parents. They would never stand for her decision and would probably send her away if they ever found out what her plans were.

Emma walked into the grand ballroom that was just starting to fill up with guests from all over the world. She picked up her skirts and scurried into a far corner to keep herself from prying eyes until she heard Zelena's irritating syrupy sweet voice.

"Emma I was looking all over for you!" Zelena gushed throwing her arms around her sister.

"Yeah I was just looking for you too." Emma lied feigning a smile.

"Come with me! Mother and father are looking for you as well!" Zelena exclaimed prying her out of the solitary corner she was hiding in.

Emma followed her older sister who was wearing an emerald green dress that was cut a bit too low for her liking. Zelena was already engaged but it seemed like she wanted all the nobles salivating over her.

Emma scoffed in disgust at her sister's choice of attire causing the ginger haired girl to turn towards her, "Sorry I think I got choked on something." she lied again, trying to mask her reaction.

"Well I'll get you some water. Mother and father are over there." Zelena supplied pointing her in the direction of their middle aged parents. Snow White had long dark raven hair and ruby red lips. She had a few thin age lines under her eyes, but she still encompassed a youthful appearance. Charming looked mostly the same except a few grey streaks in his thick blond hair.

Emma walked towards them, glad to be free of Zelena's overbearing "kindness" for a few moments. Charming's eyes lit up when he noticed his daughter walking towards them.

"Emma this is Rumplestiltskin. He's your sister's betrothed." Charming supplied directing her attention to a man with wispy brown hair that was graying slightly.

He had warm brown eyes and smiled faintly at her, "Ahh I see where this family gets it's good looks from." he complimented her in his thick brogue, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Ahh the pleasure is all mine you're highness." Emma returned bowing gracefully. Rumplestiltskin was marrying her sister to secure an alliance, but Emma knew her sister always fancied the king. He was almost twice her age, but he had no heirs nor had he ever been married.

He resided in Albannach and his kingdom had assisted Astyn in the ogre wars. Zelena was only twelve at the time, but Charming had offered him the hand of one of his daughter's in marriage when they come of age. Zelena procured that honor since she was the elder sister, but Emma had no complaints about the arrangement.

Emma had never properly met the king before but something seemed oddly familiar about him. She felt nauseated when Zelena returned with her glass of water. She took it and gulped it down greedily, hoping it would rid her head of the vertigo.

"I'm so glad to see you Rumple." Zelena smiled warmly to the king. He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips but something felt off about the kiss in Emma's mind as if it were forced.

"Emma manners please." Snow chastised giving her a sharp glance as she gulped down the water.

"Sorry mother…I'm just not feeling so well." Emma admitted as she examined Rumplestiltskin who assaulted her mind with images of a man holding a dagger that he thrust in another man's back before vanishing into nothingness.

"Maybe your dress is too tight sis." Zelena scoffed enviously at the sparkling white gown.

"And maybe you shouldn't bend over in yours. I would hate for anything to spring loose in that thing." Emma comeback resulting in a stinging slap across the face from her mother, leaving Zelena in tears. Emma stared horrified at her mother as she touched her right cheek.

"How dare you! Apologize!" Snow White demanded furiously. Charming stared at her hard, but she noticed a flash of sympathy in his eyes.

"Tell her to apologize first!" Emma growled through gritted teeth tired of being pushed around by her older sibling. She was seething, and she hoped everyone knew it.

"Zelena has nothing to apologize for. You've embarrassed all of us in front of everyone, so it's you who owes the apology." Snow White reprimanded.

"Fine…My apology is this…I hope you all see Zelena for who she truly is, a manipulative lying witch!" Emma remarked furiously before sauntering towards the appalled red head,

"And on another note, this dress looks better on me!" Emma stomped off despite the loud protesting of her mother. Johanna tried to grab her on her way through the doorway, but she pulled away stiffly. She slammed the door of her chamber, locking it and hoping no one else disturbed her the rest of the night. She tore off the dress, leaving it in a heap on the floor. She stomped on it and kicked it in a far corner.

She hadn't noticed the hot tears streaming down her face until she gazed into the looking glass. She grabbed her satchel and filled it with a few changes of clothes and gold coins for the road. She pulled on a loose peasant dress she'd stolen from a clothesline in the servant quarters.

"No more corsets for me." Emma smiled triumphantly as she walked towards her bedroom window. She threw a rope over the side and shimmied down it carefully. It was already nightfall, but she knew Bae would already be waiting for her. She stared back at the castle that had once been her home as sounds from the party wafted into the night.

"I shall never step foot on your soil again." Emma swore before spitting on the ground, turning in the direction of the forest. She walked a quarter of a mile until she heard a familiar whistle. She squinted her eyes towards the trees to see Baelfire walking towards her.

"I didn't expect you'd be so eager to see me Swan." he teased lightly before approaching her.

"Well they made it quite clear I wasn't wanted. My mother wanted me to apologize to Zelena for talking back, but I refused, so she slapped me." Emma explained, oblivious to the fact she was crying again.

"Aww Em don't cry! I'm sorry your parents can't see her for who she really is, but I promise you that I'm always on your side no matter what." Bae assured her, wiping her tears away gently with his fingertips.

"Thanks Bae, but I'm not a princess anymore." Emma sighed, referring to her appearance.

"You've never looked more regal in your entire life, and you're right. You're no princess. You're a queen who stood up for what she believed in." Bae declared taking her hands in his own.

"I love you Baelfire." Emma resonated kissing him fiercely. He returned her kiss with much fervency until they had to break apart for air.

"They'll be time for that later but let's get going. We need to get out of here before someone discovers you're missing." Bae pointed out, and Emma nodded.

"I'll be great if I never have to see this place ever again." Emma said bitterly as they walked off into the night as she bid her old life farewell.

A/AN: I will go further into Zelena's reaction in the next chapter and what happened during the rest of the party. I hope you guys noticed how Snow and Charming are toward's Emma in this story. In their normal lives, they couldn't wait to get back to their daughter but in this timeline they've easily parted with her. Like I said some things would be different and some would remain the same. Please don't hate me! The next chapter will be Rumple centric too. Belle is also coming up very soon. I think you guys are really going to enjoy what I've got planned for them. I promise it isn't evil or twisted like the show has been throwing at us! Please review!