As this is an AU, I am taking some creative license as to what exactly happened to the Enchanted Forest during the curse, just fair warning!

Chapter Three: Rash Choices

6 Years Ago

Emma sat on the grass in the garden, feeling the wind rustle through her hair. Her mother always told her not to sit in the grass in one of her nice dresses in such a fashion, but she wasn't around. No one was. The words she overheard from the previous evening echoed through her head. If she hadn't snuck downstairs for some more cookies, she never would've heard it. She wasn't sure just what to believe.

"There you are," a deep voice called from behind her. "I've been looking all over for you." Emma didn't have to turn to know it was her father. She'd recognize that tone from anywhere. "When you didn't show up for your lessons, your tutor informed me."

"I didn't feel like going."

Derek sat beside her. "That's not like you. All you could speak about yesterday evening was that book you finished up."

Emma shrugged, playing with a dandelion that the gardener had missed. "I wanted a day off."

"What's wrong, angel?" Derek asked, stroking her hair.

"Nothing."

"Emma." He tipped her chin up so her green eyes were looking into his brown ones. "We don't keep secrets, remember?"

"That's funny," Emma replied, bitterly.

"Hey, I don't like that tone. Wanna try again?"

Emma sighed. "Sorry, Daddy." She plucked out the flower and blew on it, watching the little white fuzz go everywhere.

"So, tell me what's got you so upset."

"Am I adopted?"

Derek's body stiffened. "Why would you ask me a thing like that?"

"Last night I was just…exploring and I passed the kitchen. Susannah and Claire were cleaning up, they were talking about how I don't like either of you. They said I was adopted."

Derek pulled his daughter onto his lap and cuddled her close. "Oh Emma," he whispered, stroking her hair. "You were not adopted. And you do look just like your mom."

"Really?"

"Really. We adopted August and Alise. Don't you think we would tell you if it were true?"

Emma sniffled, shrugging. "I don't know."

"I'm sure that was very scary to hear. But don't worry, Pumpkin. You are very much my little girl, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy."

"That's my girl. Now, since you've already missed half your lessons, why don't you let me attend to some business and then we can go horseback riding? Just us?"

Emma smiled. "That sounds like fun."

"Good." Derek kissed the side of her head and gently set her down. "You go clean up a bit, I'll meet you by the stables in a bit." He watched Emma walk away before heading towards where he knew the maids would be cleaning. He'd have to tell Odette to get replacements for Susannah and Claire straight away. They would be swiftly reminded of their place and that spreading such rumors would lead to unsavory consequences.

In the Present

Emma stared at the letter, shaking. She read the words over and over again, hoping that maybe, just maybe it would all be some sort of joke. There was no way it could be real! A mixture of anger, confusion and sadness burned through her body. A dangerous combination, a lethal combination.

All those rumors she heard, all those times her mother told her that she grew in her stomach…lies. Vicious lies, and for what? She had a legacy to supposedly fulfill, people who were counting on her. Who even were these people? She had heard of the lost kingdom of Misthaven, but thought it was some sort of urban legend, a myth. At least that's what she had been told.

More lies.

She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. She wanted to do so many things, but nothing would come out. Not even her magic. She was too stunned, too angry for even her worst magic to seep out.

It just seemed so cowardly, a note. A note that she may have never even been given after her "parents" died. Could she even call them that? Yes, they had never treated her any less, but they had lied to her! And who were these other people? Snow White and her "prince Charming". They had given her up for her "best chance". How did she even know if that was true, Odette certainly hadn't! So many questions and yet the only people who could give them to her were either dead or cursed in some magical land some place.

And then it hit her…not nessecarily.

Alise knew, August knew. And they hadn't told her. Suddenly, August's way of dancing around the subject made sense. He couldn't lie to her, not without risking into turning into the wooden boy he just was. But her sister had. Time and time again. She had thought if her parents wouldn't tell her, at least she would. And if Alise claimed for it to be false, then it must be so.

The letter fell out of her hands and she picked up the tiny portrait again. The queen's eyes, she had seen those eyes in the mirror, same with that chin. The man's hair was pretty spot on with hers. Where were they? Why were they cursed in the first place?

Emma let the portrait fall from her fingertips, snatched the letter back up and stormed out of her chambers, down several staircases until she reached the meeting room she knew her sister was conducting business in. Two knights stood outside, holding guard.

"Princess," one said as they both bowed. "Her majesty is a bit busy at the moment…"

"I don't care," Emma said, darkly. "I need to get in there. So, move." She normally would never have spoken to them in such a style, she was raise better than that. But it didn't matter now.

The two knew what Alise had instructed them, but Emma didn't exactly look thrilled. They also knew of her magic and while the princess wasn't one to practice dark magic, they weren't about to be her test dummies. One stepped aside, well his partner opened the door for her. Emma stormed in just as Alise finished her thought. The queen saw her angry sister standing there and tried to remain calm.

"Emma, hello, I can be with you in a few…"

"No!" Emma screeched, earning her a stare from each and every royal member that had traveled from Agrabah.

"Emma," Alise warned.

"You shut your mouth!" She didn't care who saw, if her sister was humiliated. Maybe she would understand just how she did. Emma shoved the scroll into her sister's hands.

"Now is not the time…"

"Read it or I can read its contents for all of our friends here!"

Alise cast an apologetic look to their visitors before glancing down at the scroll. Her face grew pale as she realized just what it was and she slowly gulped.

"How…" She whispered.

"That fancy box you gave me, mom's," Emma bit back.

Alise nodded, slowly. This was bad. This was really bad. She never would've given Emma the box had she known what was inside! What was her mother thinking? Her father had always said…well there was no time for that. She slowly gave the letter back to Emma and turned back to the other royals in the room. "I apologize; however, this meeting must be cut short. Please enjoy this beautiful day, we shall resume tomorrow. Dahlia and Sasha would be happy to show any of you to your chambers for the evening."

The guests rose and exited the room, though their mutters about how rude they found the princess were not missed. Alise didn't even care about that in the moment. She could rectify how Agrabah viewed them, she wasn't sure how easily this could be fixed.

"Emma," she said, softly.

"I asked you! All those times and you said no, that you and August were adopted but not me!"

"I know. Mom and Dad, they made us lie. Dad, he didn't want you to feel any different, he felt the burden was too great…"

"I don't give a damn!" Tears sprung to Emma's eyes. "You, August, Mom, Dad, they all knew the truth! Everyone, except me! I didn't even know about my own past!"

"Please, calm down," Alise begged.

"Why? You don't want the people of Agrabah to know what a pack of liars run this kingdom!"

"I don't care about Agrabah right now!" Alise put her hands on Emma's arms, but her sister pulled away. "I know you're upset. August and I, we told them they were wrong, we tried, but it was no use. It doesn't really matter though, this changes nothing."

"Are you kidding me?!" Emma shook her head. "This changes everything!"

"Mom and Dad raised you, they loved you, you are a member of this family."

"How can I even believe that?" Emma asked, her voice cracking. Alise tried to hug her, but the princess pushed her away. "I can't…I can't be here right now."

"I'll come with you to your chambers, we can have some tea…"

"No." Emma shook her head. "I mean here. In this palace."

"Well, we have our summer palace, in Swan Lake…"

"Not what I meant either. Misthaven was abandoned, but it still exists, right?"

"Yes, but no one's there. It was probably taken over by ogres or something."

"I don't care."

"You can't just go there…"

"You don't get to tell me what I can do!"

Emma stormed out of the room, pushing past her brother in the process. August stared at Alise in shock. The queen sunk down into a seat, burying her head into her hands. August walked over, placing a hand on her back.

"How?" The prince whispered.

"That box I told you about, the one mom never let me open or play with, the one she said she wanted to give to Emma. It had a letter in it, describing the whole thing."

"Why would she do that?"

"You know that she was the one who wanted to tell Emma, it was always Daddy who said no."

"She can't go to Misthaven."

"I don't think we'll be able to stop her. She's mad, Auggie. Really mad. I think…you should go with her."

"Me?"

"It's your job to protect her. Plus, you're from there."

August just stared at her for a minute. This wasn't like Alise. Normally she'd be telling him to calm her down, to insist that she wasn't leaving. Instead, she was demanding that he follow her to their abandoned former kingdom?

"Ally…"

"I have to stay here, as queen. I will explain everything to Hank, I'll try to clean up the mess with Agrabah. You go with her, keep her safe. When you return, we'll talk about how to proceed. She needs to get this out of her system."

Before he could say another word, Alise jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. He sighed and hugged her back tightly, kissing the side of her head.

"I'll protect her," he whispered.

"I know you will. I'm sorry I gave her the box."

"It's not your fault. Mom and Dad should've always been up front and honest."

August headed up the stairs, asking one of the maids to pack for him and to arrange for a carriage to be ready. He remembered from when Derek traveled to Misthaven after their arrival that it was a 2-day trip, one way. He made sure to remind them to pack plenty of food, they could stop for shelter in a nearby kingdom for the evening and arrive at the old palace by the next. He also added that his swords should be packed as well, in case the lands had indeed been overrun by ogres or trolls.

Next, he stopped by Emma's chambers. She was throwing all she could find into her trunk. He gently entered, sitting on her bed.

"We leave as soon as we're packed," he told her.

"We? You're not coming with me."

"Yes, I am."

"I have no interest in being around you!"

"Emma, I know you're upset and I don't blame you. I can't blame you. What you need to know is that I wanted to tell you. My papa always told me it was my job to protect you. When Mom and Dad took us in, they said that they weren't going to tell you the truth. I was afraid if I told you, that they'd kick me out. That I'd end up in an orphanage."

"Oh, so you did it for you." Emma rolled her eyes.

August sighed. "No, I didn't. I didn't care what happened to me. I just cared about keeping you safe and I couldn't do that from the inside of some children's home."

Emma paused, taking in his words.

"I am sorry that they lied to you, I'm sorry that I never told you. I wanted to, you have no idea…" He gave her an apologetic look. "I understand that you are angry. I will accompany you to Misthaven, we don't even have to talk, but I'm coming."

The princess bit down on her lip and turned to face him.

"Hand me my baby blanket and then we can go."

August nodded, picking up the knitted fabric. "This is what you were wrapped in…the night I found you in the woods, when you came through. You were so tiny…"

Emma simply took the blanket and folded it up, putting it inside. "That's why I felt so drawn to the woods, wasn't it? It's where I came through." August nodded again. "And your papa, he lied to my…Snow White and her prince."

"Yes."

Emma said nothing else, she threw the top down to the trunk and made sure it was secure. August lifted it into his arms and carried it down the stairs. Emma looked around the room, letting out a deep breath. The letter and portrait were tucked away in the trunk. Everything else, it meant nothing. She wished August wasn't accompanying her, because it meant he would be a part of her plan.

Reaching into the pocket of the smock on her dress, she pulled out a bean. It was one she had discovered one day while out walking the grounds. Her magic teachers had informed her it was powerful, that it could take anyone to where they wanted to go. She wanted to go to Misthaven, to see if it was truly abandoned. Once she did, she would use the bean to take her to where these people were. She would break the curse. It was what she was meant to do in the first place. She knew she was thinking rashly, she didn't know of this new place or what lay ahead. She wasn't even thinking of what she would do once she broke this curse.

All she knew was that her entire life had been a lie and she wouldn't stand for it, not anymore.

Downstairs and outside the palace, the carriage was being loaded up, prepared for a long journey. August and Alise were bidding the goodbyes, clearly emotional. Both thought it would be just a 4-day journey before they were reunited, a week at the most. Emma wouldn't force August to go with her to wherever the bean would lead, but she had a feeling he would want to. Who knew when she would get back to this place, if she ever did. At that moment, she didn't care. Had she given herself more time to think, perhaps she would have. But, teens rarely think about the consequences. Especially ones that had been scorned.

Alise turned to her sister, enveloping her into her arms. "I love you, Emma," she whispered. Emma just stood in the hug. "I know you're upset with me…but you have to know I wanted to tell you." Things were silent for a few moments.

"I love you too," Emma replied, finally. "I can't imagine what it was like to keep such a secret." Alise began to cry, but the princess had little sympathy as she pulled away.

"I…I'm sorry."

"Goodbye, Alise."

With that, she boarded the carriage with August, ready to start off on their journey.

August attempted to start a conversation with his sister several times throughout the trip, but she wasn't up for it. They stopped that evening in a neighboring kingdom, staying at an inn. Emma didn't sleep. She stayed awake, staring up at the ceiling above her. August's room was beside her own and she could hear his soft snoring. She wondered how he could possibly sleep. How did any of them sleep with such a secret that they carried around?

Emma wasn't a saint, she knew this. She knew that she had lied in the past, but never something to such a level. How did they all go about acting like nothing was going on? There were random moments when things seemed strange, but outside that there were smiles, hugs, balls, bedtime stories. All those times she had gotten ready with her mother for a ball, all those times her father read her bedtime stories. They knew the truth and they didn't tell her.

She almost understood August's position. He had wanted to protect her and he was right, how could he do so from an orphanage? But Alise? She was already adopted!

She rolled over, another thought hitting her. Was it really Alise's story to tell? She had only been 9 when all of it happened…she was just a kid. It hadn't been up to her…it had been up to her parents…

Emma sighed, pushing back her heavy covers. She lit up a lantern and carried it to the desk, where some paper and an ink bottle with a quill sat. Carefully, she penned out a letter. She would find a messenger to send it to her sister, by the time Alise got it, it would be too late, she would already be on her way to breaking the curse. She let her know that she forgave her to an extent, that she understood as much as she could, but that she asked Alise to understand. She apologized for what she was about to do, but hoped she could understand. As she finished, the sun was rising over the horizon. August would be up soon, they could head out and finish their journey.

After some breakfast, which Emma barely touched, they were back on the road again. August kept staring at her, unsure of what to do or say.

"Did you know them?" Emma asked quietly, just barely loud enough to be heard over the horseshoes galloping across the brick road.

"Did I know who?"

"My natural parents."

"Not very well. I met them, once."

"What were they like?"

"Snow was very kind, she smiled a lot. Her husband did too, from what I understood they were very different rulers from everyone else. They actually defeated the Evil Queen and an evil king that was presiding over the kingdom."

"If they defeated the Evil Queen, how was she able to set the curse?"

"That, I couldn't tell you."

Emma nodded. "Mom included a portrait of them."

"You do look like Queen Snow, from what I remember. Well, with the prince's hair."

"So, I noticed." Emma looked out the window of the carriage, the surroundings whirling by.

"What do you hope to gain from this?"

Emma shrugged. "I don't know."

The rest of the trip was silent. By nightfall, they had ridden into Misthaven. Emma took it in, as best she could in the moonlight. It truly was deserted along with being rundown. They soon arrived at a palace, that definitely looked like it had seen better days.

"This is it," August said. He had never personally stepped foot inside, it would be interesting to do so. Carefully, he drew his sword. "You are to follow me, he told her." Emma rolled her eyes, though she obeyed as they stepped out. While August fiddled to find the lanterns, Emma carefully hid her blanket on her. She may have been 16, but she wasn't about to travel to some new realm without it.

Once they had proper lighting, they entered the palace. The wallpaper was peeling, portraits practically falling off as well. It was eerily quiet, with a smell that neither could really place. Emma just kept walking, unsure of what she was truly looking for. They made it up a few flights of stairs until they reached where they assumed the bedding chambers would be. Pushing open one door, she saw a room clearly fit for a king and queen. The bed was unmade and there was blood on the sheets. Down the hall, Emma pushed open another, grabbing the lantern from August to look around.

It was clearly a nursery, a fine one, clearly fit for a royal baby. Or it had been intended to. It was in shambles for the most part. The only things that had really stayed together were a few stuffed animals, a crib and a wardrobe. Even so, the intent was there. Emma looked around it, tears gathering in her eyes. It looked as if everything had been planned out. Broken porcelain dolls were littered on the floor, ripped books fallen from a shelf.

This was supposed to be hers.

They had wanted her.

She still had so many questions, so much was unknown.

"That's it," August said, softly. Emma turned to look and saw him pointing at the wardrobe. "That's what took me through and then you."

Emma nodded, walking closer and opening it. It was empty, no portal or anything. Not that she needed one.

"I have to be honest with you," Emma told him, softly. "I didn't come here just to see Misthaven."

"I'm confused." He watched as she reached into a pocket on her dress, removing a small bean, clear as day in the light from the lantern. "A bean?"

"A magic bean. It can take you where you want to go."

It all clicked for the prince. "Emma, wait…"

"I'm doing this. I'm going to find this cursed land and break it…"

"You don't even know how!"

"True love. It's what broke Mom's curse, remember? She stopped being a swan because Dad loved her for who she truly was. In all of my lessons, I have learned that true love is powerful. If these people are really my parents…then it'd be true love, right?"

"Emma, you just found out about them yesterday!"

"They brought me into this world. I have to give it a try."

Emma threw the bean across the room and watched as a large green portal opened. She tried walking towards it, but August grabbed hold of her arm.

"Emma!"

"Let me go!"

"You can't do this!"

"I can and I am! It's my responsibility to break this curse, I'm going to do it!"

"You're not thinking clearly! You're upset!"

"Maybe, but I'm doing it anyway!"

Emma yanked away from him and jumped through. August sighed, he had to go after her, of course he did. It was her job to protect her, wherever this damn portal lead them. He closed his eyes, jumping in, quickly, before it could close up.