This is based on another amazing prompt from the SQ facebook group. This is an Enchanted Forest AU and basically the only thing from the show are the characters. No curse, even the reason for the feud is different. These chapters will probably be smaller than my usual, but I'd prefer that over extremely long chapters. I don't know how many chapters this will be either, so we'll find out together. Sandra, this is for you.

Read~Enjoy~Review

Chapter 1-Introduction

Once upon a time in the Enchanted forest, there were four Kingdoms. In the North was the Kingdom of Cinder known for their lumber and coal. In the East was the White Kingdom known for their fish, cattle, and corn. In the South was the Black Kingdom known for vegetables and medicine. In the West was the Kingdom of Frell, known for their gold, fruits and vegetables. For generations the kingdoms had worked together in trade and economy. When King Henry and Queen Cora of the dark kingdom announced the birth of their daughter Regina, the royals gathered and celebrated. At that celebration, it slipped that King Leopold and Queen Eva of the White kingdom were also expecting. They had not wanted to share their news as this was a celebration for someone else, and Eva knew right away that Cora was upset that the news got out.

Tensioned flowed from there and continued as the children aged. Prince Thomas wed his Princess Ella in the Cinder kingdom and while the other royals came to celebrate, Princess Snow White and Princess Regina Black had been told to stay apart. Neither of them knew why their parents fought, but they were both fiercely protective of their parents, so they both hated each other. Snow felt rather smug when her wedding was announced before Regina's and she married her Prince David Charming. Regina's fiancé, Prince Daniel of the Frell kingdom had wanted to marry Regina, but had to wait until his older brother was wed as he was the one set to be king.

When the ogre war broke out, Daniel, Thomas, and David were all sent to lead their army's in the fight. Unfortunately, only Thomas and David came back. David told of how Daniel had saved him and, in the end, was the death of Daniel. Though Regina knew she should be proud of him, she was angry that he was dead, and the others weren't. Snow got everything Regina wanted. So, when Regina gained the throne, one of her first orders was that they only dealt with the other kingdoms if it was necessary.

Regina was a good ruler and her people were happy, but rumors about their queen were numerus and serious. Because she was great with potions and magic and because she never did court another man, she was known as a hateful, evil, woman outside of the kingdom. It didn't help that she built walls along the Black Kingdom borders and made it near impossible for others to enter. Her people were free to come and go, but in order for others to enter, there had to have been a request granted by Queen Regina, and that was hard to achieve.

When Queen Snow gave birth to her daughter Emma, she received a letter from Queen Regina telling her that one day, her daughter would belong to the Queen. Because of this, Princess Emma was raised basically under lock and key and was not allowed much freedom. She was always watched, always guarded, and never got to do the fun things other children got to do.

When the Princess turned twelve, she met the most extraordinary girl who told her what the world was like outside the palace walls. Her grandmother was one of Emma's new baby brother's nursemaids and Ruby got to come with when she'd some watch the Prince. Baby James was Emma's second brother and she was sad when he was a boy. Emma remembered when David the Second was born and overhearing her father say he wished Emma had been a boy so their heir would be a king and not a queen. He had said it to one of his friends and though Emma had never told anyone what she heard; it had hurt her.

Ruby and Emma became fast friends and through the years, the brunette wasn't the most positive of influences. She taught Emma how to break out and sneak away, taught her about meads and other drinks that made Emma feel funny. One night, she also taught the princess about kissing and self-satisfaction. Emma blushed at that, but it had also got her thinking about her life. She'd be expected to court and marry at some point and Emma already knew she liked females over males. Though it was not unheard of, it also wasn't something any royal in the past had done, so Queen Snow and King David quickly decided it would not be good for Emma to be with another woman.

At sixteen, Emma had come up with a rather unusual way to get back at her parents for not letting her court women. If they were so worried about what it would look like for her to be with women, then she'd show them what it looked like for her to be with men. By the fourth story that came out, their precious princess had earned some unsavory nicknames and Snow and David were mortified when their family doctor informed them that she was pregnant. Emma had refused to end the pregnancy, despite what her parents begged her to do, and ended up having a baby boy shortly after her seventeenth birthday.

Growing up, Emma had heard stories of the feud between the White and Black kingdom from the people in their kingdom. One thing everyone had agreed on was the fact that King Henry was a kind and good man who tried so hard to keep the kingdoms on good terms. Because of this, and probably to punish her parents even more, she had named her son Henry.

Through the years, Queen Regina had perfected her craft and was a wiz at potions and other magic. Because of this, she still looked and felt as young and beautiful as the day she was twenty. She watched the other realms through her mirror and smirked when she saw her letter to Queen Snow had done the trick. She never was going to take the princess, she only wanted to make the stuck-up bitch of a queen be paranoid. She found watching the princess quite entertaining through the years. This girl had a backbone and quite often tested her parent's patience. It did sadden her when she watched her ruin her reputation simply because her parents were too closed minded to let her explore her sexuality, but she also didn't blame her. Regina herself had bedded both genders and did prefer women to men, though she never let herself become close to anyone.

Regina knew her reputation and didn't mind it one bit. It kept people from trying to get too close to her and let her rule her kingdom her way. If those other kingdoms actually knew how good she was to her people, and how good her people had it, they'd never leave her alone and want her advice and she didn't have it in her. The rumors all came from her anyway. She'd tell her maids and soldiers to say things like how she'd rip out someone's heart for looking at her the wrong way or snap someone's neck for talking back. Sure, it was something she could do, but she never would, but she didn't want the other kingdoms to not know that.

Snow and David tried pressuring Emma into a ball to meet a suitor, but the princess was not having it. She then requested a meeting with her parents as she had finally had enough. "I wish to abdicate the crown." She announced to the shock of her parents. "I know you have educated me and raised me to be the next ruler, but I also know Prince David the Second is also getting educated as if he were to get the crown. Give it to him for I do not want it. If being Queen means I must live by your rules and marry someone I don't love, then I don't want it. I will still do my duties as far as working with our people and showing up when we need to be somewhere, but I do not wish to be queen."

Regina watched and while she understood why the Princess would do that, she wished the girl would take the crown and change things. However, King David and Queen Snow almost seemed relieved that Emma announced this and were doing a not so great job at hiding their glee. Regina rolled her eyes and went back to the dragon in her bed.

The years went on and David the Second was more than happy to take over in learning how to rule while Emma was happy just raising her son. She had more freedom now and took him out for long walks and fun. He was four now and loved going to the frog pond and seeing any kind of animals. Emma noticed that her little one seemed lethargic and was coughing much more than normal. The doctor had said he just had a cold, but after two months, Emma knew it was worse. He rarely was out of bed and when he was, he was miserable. If he wasn't coughing in his sleep, he would cry out and say everything hurt. Though the King and Queen hadn't like how Henry had come into their world, they loved the little one and worried about him. They called healer upon healer and no one had been able to help him.

"I'm sorry, your majesties but there is nothing that can be done." The last one had said sadly. "All I can do is leave this medicine to help with the pain. It will not cure him, but he won't have so much pain."

Emma paced, refusing to believe there was nothing that could be done. "Ruby, he is my son! They have to help him." She said to the girl sitting by the boy, stroking his hair.

Ruby then got up and closed the door. "Emma, you must go see Queen Regina."

"Queen Regina of the Black Kingdom?" Emma asked, shock in her face. "I cannot. I am forbidden; we all are."

"Your son is dying, Emma, and if the rumors are true, Queen Regina can save him! She's amazing with potions."

"How do you know all this?"

Ruby shrugged. "I'm not the only ware in the Forest. The wares from her kingdom speak highly of her abilities."

"Even if that is so, why would she help me? She hates my family; our kingdom."

"You do not know unless you ask." Ruby said and could see the princess was thinking about it. "If you go to the wall on the north side, between the large willow and the creek, it is not guarded. Climb over it and make your way to her palace." Emma opened her closet and went to get dressed, but Ruby stopped her. "You can not dress as a royal and a dress will get ripped and get in your way."

Emma sighed. "I'll be right back." She was gone a few moments before coming back. "My brother's riding outfit will have to do." She said, holding it up.

"That's perfect." Ruby said and helped her dress. She slid a dagger into Emma's belt. "Just in case. You have to be careful about bandits and thieves."

Emma nodded and filled a few bags with coins thinking if she did get stopped, she could pull one out and pay them off. "What will Regina charge for this?"

Ruby shrugged. "I don't know. She's very wealthy so she may not charge anything."

Emma scoffed. "No one helps another for free. I guess I'll just have to find out."

Ruby talked Emma through the route to take and assured Emma she'd stay by Henry and find a way to get word to her should anything happen to him. Emma kissed Henry's burning forehead before leaving, sneaking past her own guards and making her way to the Black Kingdom just as night was approaching.