Plans

As the soft, orange glow of the morning sunrise peeked through the bedchamber window, Snow White awoke from her sleep with a newfound hope of finding her daughter. For the first time in years, it actually seemed possible that the timeless search for her daughter would come to an end. She felt her being fill with joy at the thought of finally reuniting with her daughter. However, it quickly faded as she recalled the betrayal of Red, someone who she once considered a friend. Consumed by rage, Snow White sprung out of bed and called to her guards, demanding that they release Red from her temporary cell and bring her to the court room. She then sat down on her thrown and put her mind at ease by recalling the memory of the Graham's execution. Snow White was comforted by the fact that Red was now experiencing the same pain that she faced after Emma was taken from her. She asked herself if this was how her step mother felt when she finally got her way. Does revenge always feel this good? Yes, it must. She felt proud that she robbed Red of the happy life she always envisioned and couldn't help but chuckle at the idea of Red in despair over her dead husband.

"Kneel for the queen," Snow said as Red walked into to the throne room.

Red stood in the center of the room with her hands balled into fists at her sides. Her red, tear-rimmed eyes glared up at Snow. All compassion that she once felt for the queen was gone, replaced by intense hatred and an emptiness that could never be filled. "You will never be my queen," she replied, earning a slap across the face.

"Never speak to me like that. I am indeed your queen and you will bring me to Princess Emma, my daughter," Snow shouted as she looked down at Red with disgust.

"I will gladly bring you to her! I can't wait to see the look on your face when she kills you for murdering her father." Red said this with a smile. She knew that Emma would never feel any affection for Snow after what she did to her father and was confident that Emma's magic was so much stronger than that of the evil queen.

"We shall start looking for her this afternoon, wolf." Snow didn't dare look at the wolf, knowing full well that Red was right. But she didn't care. She was determined to locate her daughter and convinced herself that she helped Emma by killing Graham. She saw it as the only way to restore her family.

"We shall find MY daughter near the dark castle." Red knew exactly where her daughter was, but the dark castle was protected. Although Red was aware that it was nearly impossible to get near the dark castle, she was willing to take the risk- even if it meant dying in the process-because it was for her daughter.

"Regina's castle," Snow said as she carefully analyzed the situation. She could feel the thudding of her heartbeat intensify as she recalled the falling out she had with the evil queen. They haven't seen or spoken to each other in many years.

"Indeed." Red could sense Snow's panic as she looked at her face. Her thin, wispy eyebrows were raised causing the slight creases of her forehead to furrow. She was in a daze, her glossy eyes staring blankly at the distance as she delved into the depths of her memory. With a smile, Red mocked, "Better call your mommy so you can ask her if you can enter her castle without being killed by her." She couldn't help but laugh as Snow White snapped out of her daze and looked at her with a death glare.

"She was never my mother," Snow snapped. The words "my mother" barely escaped her breath as she parted her lips in reply to Red. She was left with a bitter taste in her mouth as she referred to Regina as her mother.

"Indeed, just like you will never be Emma's mother." Red smiled again as she was led out of the room in preparation to look for her pup. "Soon, Goldie, we will be reunited." With a final grin, she took off her cape and and transformed into her wolf form.

Regina couldn't bear to leave Emma alone after the shocking news the princess just received. She gently stroked Emma's golden locks as she let her princess sleep peacefully in her embrace. Her eyes remained fixed on Emma as she noticed that some of her black feathers fell silently to the ground, replaced by white ones. While she slept, Regina observed the way Ducky would gaze affectionately at Emma. She spent the entire night watching over the woman and the little black swan, like her entire world revolved around this woman.

"Ducky?"

The little swan slightly turned her head to look at the queen, hesitantly taking her attention away from Emma. She waddled over towards Regina and mounted her lap where Emma's head lay. "Yes, your majesty."

Ducky made herself comfortable by nestling in Emma's golden mane, brushed by the moon's iridescent glow.

"Tell me, Ducky. What does Emma do all day and night after I come and visit her?" The queen patted Ducky's little, dark head and smiled as the soft, fuzzy feathers lightly brushed against the crevices of her fingers. She looked at Ducky longingly with her piercing hazel eyes, anxiously awaiting an answer.

"In the day and night, she is my mommy." Ducky's tail fluttered vigorously as she told the queen of how Emma was her swan mommy. Regina could sense the fondness Ducky felt for Emma through the rhythm of her movements and excitement in her sweet, little voice. "Every night she sings for me and tells me tales of a queen that was once dark who became a white queen with a little bit of love."

"Does she now?" Regina's eyes shifted toward her princess and she let out a little smile. A new warmth filled her body as she imagined Emma sharing her story and singing to her. "She has a very nice voice. I wish she would sing for me." She again felt the love this little creature felt for Emma and was thankful that Emma had Ducky and Ducky had Emma.

"She only sings to the one she loves the most. She sings the song of the beloved," Ducky says in a matter of fact tone.

"Does she now?" Regina again smiled to herself as she looked at the woman that lay in her lap. She felt soothed by the gentle rise and fall of Emma's chest against her own as she took each breath. However, she could sense the pain of Emma's broken, dark heart and noticed the tear stains on Emma's cheeks. Her always white gown was now almost dark, indicating her loss of hope. She was dying already.

"Ducky, what will happen if Emma dies? What would happen to you?" Regina asked with concern.

"I will go swim with the other dark swans, without any care of life." Ducky snuggles against her queen. "But my Goldie would never leave me. She promised." With those words, Ducky began to drift asleep.

The queen couldn't leave the two of them in there so she transported them to her bedchambers. She gently placed a blanket over Emma's motionless body and tucked her into bed. She was determined to keep an eye on her princess and did so until the day started to appear. Regina watched in awe as she saw the beautiful princess transform into the beautiful swan. As the rays of light reflected against her soft, glowing skin, an orderly array of delicate feathers began to appear. After watching Emma fully embody her swan form, Ducky happily ran to her, hiding inside of her right wing. The swan hugged Ducky, protecting the little swan from any harm. This scene reminded Regina of a time when a little Snow White would run to her room after a nightmare, looking for motherly comfort, and Regina would give it to her.

As Regina's thoughts became louder, they were interrupted by the intensity of someone's eyes on her. She tilted her head up to find that Emma was looking directly at her. As they locked eyes, Regina noticed a new dark feather fall from the swan's body. She smiled and walked to the swan, placing a soft kiss on her dark head.

"How are you feeling, swan?" Regina asked her, fully knowing that the swan wouldn't be able to respond. With just one look, Regina realized that she understood the swan more than the swan understood herself.

Emma looked at the queen with sad eyes, remembering the pain she felt from the loss of her father. The swan gracefully lowered her head and held Ducky against her chest, guarding the baby swan as she slept. What appeared to be a single teardrop slid gracefully down the swan's face and fell to the floor with a thud. She knew she had to hold back her tears and be strong for her little Ducky.

"You are her mother Emma, and I am proud of that. Of you."

Emma couldn't help it as a surge of happiness filled her body. She used her mouth to remove one of her dark feathers and gave it to the queen. The queen couldn't believe what she saw. A white feather appeared in the place of the dark feather that the swan had just plucked from her body. The queen then noticed the special way in which the swan bowed to her. She looked at the swan for a couple of minutes and she understood.

She was Emma's only hope.

"Are you sure the princess is close?" Snow shouted to Red.

The wolf just kept walking, ignoring the presence of the queen that she now hated. She knew her daughter was close and that they would be there in a day or two.

Snow really wanted to see her daughter as she was about to turn 18 tomorrow. "How time flies," she thought to herself. She couldn't help but try to picture what her daughter would look like. Was she a beautiful, blonde teenager? Or maybe a dark haired girl? Did she resemble James or did she look more like herself? She imagined a perfect embrace, a perfect mother and daughter reunion moment. However, she knew in her heart that Emma would never see her as her mother.

As Snow followed Red, she saw how concentrated she was. It was obvious to Snow that Emma became Red's daughter and she could see the connection that they had. Regret filled Snow's mind as she realized that Emma would never love her after what she had done to her father.

Minutes and hours passed and the night had fallen. The stars shined brightly overhead, glistening with life as a chilling breeze pierced through the air. All was quiet. Everything motionless, except for their own footsteps which echoed throughout the forest. The wolf led the queen to her once sweet home, where she shared so many good memories with her family. Now, that was taken away from her, never to return. As the queen and her army grew tired, Red decided to let them sleep while she guarded the house. She knew that her daughter loved her and only her so she was not afraid of losing her to Snow.

Goldie locks was her daughter, not Snow's.

"Come along, Ducky." After Emma's encounter with the queen in the morning, she ran around the castle with Ducky. Though she hadn't seen the queen since morning, she wanted to explore every corner of the castle. She had a childlike innocence as she roamed each corridor, her laughter echoing against the stone, cold castle walls. Regina could see the beautiful girl running with her little swan behind her. She felt a sudden sense of responsibility to protect this girl.

Emma continued running, laughing as Ducky tried aimlessly to keep up with her. She was much faster than Ducky since her somewhat longer legs allowed her to cover a greater distance with a smaller amount of steps.

"Ducky, hurry up!" Emma shouted, slowing down a little so Ducky could catch up. Ducky's little legs made it very difficult for her to keep up with Emma's pace.

"Coming your majesty." Emma started running again once Ducky caught up.

"Ducky how many times do I have to tell you to call me ….oh ouch that hurt." Emma crashed into a strong, sturdy body. A pair of muscular arms grasped her by the waist and lifted her off the ground in attempt to protect her from any harm.

"Oh god, that was close. Are you okay, my lady?"

Emma recognized that familiar voice instantly. She knew right away that it was her uncle August. Upon looking at his face, she was greeted by his familiar radiant smile. His white teeth glistened as he opened his mouth to speak, enhancing the definition of his chiseled jawline. His face still had the same unshaven texture that she remembered. It had been so long since the last time she saw him. Oh how much she had missed all the games they played and the secrets they exchanged. He was never the same after Belle's accident, even though he tried his best to never change with Emma.

"Are you alright my lady? Are you hurt in any way?" August asked as he helped Emma stand up. She looked at him and couldn't help but admire how handsome he was.

"Your majesty!" Ducky came running to her mommy. "Are you okay? Are you harmed?" Emma looked at Ducky, kneeled, and held the swan close to her cheek.

"I am fine my dear and my name is Swan or Goldie, remember." Emma smiled at her Ducky as she kissed her little swan's dark head.

"Swan, that's a beautiful and odd name to have," said August. He had a hard time holding a conversation with the little swan as he was transfixed on the woman. His mind could only focus on the beauty that she possessed. He found it fascinating that she had the same name as his little niece, Emma; especially because naming a child Emma was banned by Snow White.

"Tell that to my parents," she replied, smiling at her uncle who was completely unaware of who she was. She put Ducky down.

"Care to join me for a walk? It is the least I could do for almost harming your beauty." Emma blushed. She nodded with approval and walked beside August and Ducky.

She was happy that she could talk to her uncle about nothing and everything, free of judgement. She told him about Baelfire and her best friend Lilith, the daughter of the fearless Maleficent. His presence made her feel at home, a feeling she hadn't experienced for a very long time. August told her about how he was in love with one of the maids from the dark kingdom. Belle, her nanny. Emma knew August had been trying to win over Belle for the longest time, but he lost hope when she was kidnapped. Years later, she reappeared on the side of the road without any memory. She walked to the dark palace and had been living there ever since then. August told Emma everything that had happened between Belle and him, but he knew it wasn't love.

"She is as distant as a star." August smiled at Emma as they entered the royal gardens.

"Maybe someday you'll find someone worth living for." Emma smiled at him and then looked at the swan in her arms sleeping.

The queen could not bear it any longer. She noticed how her soldier had been looking at her precious Emma and she would not tolerate it. The queen transported herself to the royal gardens in search for Emma and her soldier.

"Princess Swan."

Emma looked at the queen and smiled brightly. "Regina!" She ran to the queen and hugged her firmly. Regina couldn't help but hug the beautiful swan tightly, pulling her as close to her body as she could. She felt a special connection from their embrace and she knew that Emma was no one's but hers.

"My sweet princess I have been looking for you." The queen had some news for her precious princess and made Emma look directly into her hazel eyes.

"I am aware you will be 18 tomorrow. I want to celebrate with a ball because I know how much you like to have fun." The queen only had eyes for the princess and had nearly forgotten about the soldier's presence.

"Really, Regina? A ball for me? Thank you Gina!" Emma hugged the queen again, even tighter than before. Ducky rubbed her little head against the queen's cheek, too.

The soldier was confused as he looked at the interaction that the queen had with the princess. He had never seen or heard of this before. The queen looked happy and seemed to really care for the beautiful princess. He hoped this beautiful swan could melt the icy heart of the queen.