That afternoon, both women dressed in warm pants, boots and fur jackets. The blonde in royal blue, the brunette in brown. Emma and Regina got on their steeds, Edward and Ricotane. Since the snow began to die down, they raced each other around for a while. Both women were laughing, having a great time. Emma had never seen Regina so happy.
Once to a nice open space, near a lake, they tied their horses to a tree. "Now," Regina started. "The two most important things about fighting is to always be aware of your surroundings." The queen drew her sword. She stalked over to the blonde who was now walking to meet her. She leaned in, their lips mere inches apart. "Secondly…" kiss. "Never." Another kiss. "Let your guard down." She pulled her sword up, but was met with Emma's. Not only did Emma back up, she blocked her. "Well done Miss. Swan. Let's see how you can keep up." The brunette sneered, then they began fighting.
For someone who had never in their life picked up a sword, only books, Emma was doing extremely well. It was rather impressive. They fought for a good two hours before they stopped. They had run around the space during their battle so they were a few yards away from where they were originally. Sweat dripping through their clothes, breathing heavily. They glanced at each other trying to catch their breaths. "Well…that was rather exhilarating." Regina breathed leaning against a tree.
"Indeed it was." Emma responded, plopping onto the cold ground, however, it felt great since she broke into a sweat.
"You fight rather well for a common girl."
Emma snickered. "I'm just good like that."
"I told you once, and I'll tell you again, cockiness does not look good on you."
They chuckled for a moment before Regina magicked a tray of meats, bread, and cheese. "Hungry?"
"Starving!" She ate like she hadn't eaten in months.
"Take it easy, dear. There is more where that came from back home."
"I know, but I'm hungry now. Fighting is hard work you know."
Regina shook her head with a chuckle. "I am well aware Miss. Swan."
As Emma slowed her eating, she asked, "You really think I'm good?"
"Not the very best, but yes. I think you fight extremely well for someone who's never picked up a weapon before."
"I have too! I use to hunt you know." she paused for a moment. "When I would go camping in the mountains, I would hunt my own food. Their weren't any butcher shops around, so I would hunt and cook my own food."
"Oh really? That's normally a man's job."
"Eh, it is what is. I never cared if people thought that about me. I had to fend for myself and I definitely didn't want a man to take care of me." the blonde made a face of disgust. "No thank you!"
"I think that's sexy." the queen husked, sending heat waves to Emma's core. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure." Popping another piece of cheese into her mouth.
"Have you ever been in love?"
The blonde froze, looked up guiltily into amber eyes. "Once."
"Can I ask what happened?"
"She left me for a common boy named Peter."
"How did you meet each other?"
"We met each other in town. She defended me when I got caught stealing some food for myself. My mom had just passed about a year then."
"A thief? And you were only thirteen years of age when you fell in love?"
"I was…and desperate times, causes for desperate measures. It's something I'm not proud of, but I hadn't eaten anything in two days and there was a drought that summer so my crops weren't flourishing. So I had nothing to offer the stores." Regina nodded to let her continue. "Her name was Merida. She was Scottish. She was the only one who understood me at the time. We spent all of our time together until she told me she couldn't love me the way I loved her. I begged her not to leave me, but she did. Which broke my heart of course. When she did, it took me three years to get over her...but when I did, I started taking different women to my home almost every night to drown out the void in my heart. I was about sixteen when that started happening. I was so alone and I would do anything to not feel that way." She paused for a long moment. "The day you sought me out, trying that suit on…I just wanted to feel like a somebody. I wanted to be wanted…like I had someone to try to look nice for; or at least myself."
Regina was quiet for a long time before responding. "I hope you didn't catch anything from all those vamps. If so, you and I will need to get you tested and treated immediately."
Emma laughed long and hard. "I'm not stupid Regina, I got checked regularly. Not to mention I would not receive, only give. I didn't know where they had been or who they had been with! One of the grocers sons was a physicians and would check me out. As uncomfortable as that was, I did what was necessary."
"Thank heavens!" The queen breathed. "I'm sorry you had to go through all of that Emma."
"It's not your fault. Besides, you did take me home with you." the blonde winked. "And I'd say that's a pretty great result!"
"Idiot." the brunette chuckled, throwing a piece of bread at her.
"Your idiot." She beamed.
When they made it back to the castle, Emma had noticed a dark stone building hidden with long vines. "Regina, what's that?"
"That's my vault. Why?"
"Maybe we can have a look to see where Snow is? You know, ask the mirror?"
Regina grinned wickedly. She had been so busy with Emma the past few months it felt like a lifetime that she had been down there. "What an excellent idea! Come along." When they were in the queen's vault, Emma looked around in amazement. It was full of books, potions, and little trinkets. "Don't touch anything." the queen commanded. However, Emma had just caught that statement when she had picked up a human skull. Regina turned when she didn't get a response. She huffed then snatched it from the blonde. "I said, don't touch." The way she had said it made the blonde's core moist with desire.
When they reached the mirror, the queen asked where Snow White was. She saw the raven haired beauty with her dwarfs and Charming. They were settled outside a hut, warming themselves by a fire singing as Charming played a guitar. Just as Regina had expected, she saw ogres bringing her food and animal corpses to feast upon. "I knew it!" Regina spat with venom. "She will surely pay!" She waved her hand before turning away, storming to a bookcase, picking up the biggest one.
The brunette was so focused, she didn't even see Emma standing in front of the magic mirror. The blonde looked closely at the mirror and whispered, "Mirror, mirror on the wall, show me the origins of which I came from." The mirror swirled around for a moment before an image of a woman in a brown cloak was walking with the same basket she was found in.
The young woman looked down into the basket then sobbed, "I will always love you little one, but I must protect you from the Evil Queen." A leather covered hand reached out to cover the baby more from the harsh winds of the winter. "If she knew I had a child, she would surely take you from me." The woman sobbed more. "I hope to see you again one day." She saw the woman place her on the stoop where she lived before she turned around to walk away. When she did, Emma let out a loud cry. This got the queen's attention. She turned to see Emma standing in front of the magical item then lunged into action.
"Emma what did I say about-" she stopped talking as soon as she saw the younger woman's face swirling with mixed emotions. Sadness, anger, shock…she looked quite ill. Before Regina could turn to see what she was in such shock about, the mirror was a reflection. "What did you see?"
"My birth mother." she whimpered.
"Well…who was it?" The blonde remained silent as her rosy face continued to fade to white. "Show me what you showed Emma Mirror! Now!" When she saw the scene of Emma being left at the stoop of her home, she thought she felt her heart break into two…until she saw that face…the face of a brat…the face of innocence. She gritted her teeth and flared her nostrils. "Snow White…" She turned to Emma, who fainted as soon as the brunette pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry, my love, I will have my revenge if it's the last thing I do." With a wave of her hand, they were in her bedroom. She removed Emma's clothes and replaced a nightgown on her then tucked her in.
Regina started pacing. She was just as much in shock as Emma was. How could she have not known Snow was pregnant? Even if she did, she wouldn't have harmed the child. Since she took a potion to leave her childless, she would have raised Emma as her own. No wonder she had gotten so fat. It had been twenty-five years since her Emma was left on that doorstep. And no wonder Emma acts like such a brat time to time, she has royalty in her blood. Suddenly, Regina was hit with a realization…I'm the reason she was left orphaned. This left the brunette completely depressed. However, if I would have known, maybe I would have let it go. Then I would have kidnapped her and we would be where we are now. Maybe? Regina shook with mad frustration. Now, I have to kill her. She left a poor child in the wilderness, IN the dead of winter with a complete stranger! She's dumber than I thought! With all her thoughts, she broke the mirror above her dresser. This woke Emma in a fright, which Regina quickly ran to her, placing her arm over the blonde's shoulder. "I'm here, my love."
"When did we get here?"
"You fainted darling. I brought us here."
Emma rubbed her head. "I just can't believe this. I'm so angry."
"I am as well. She will pay for what she did to you…but…I must confess…it's my fault she abandoned you." the queen paused. "If-if it weren't for my blood thirst, then maybe you could have had a real family."
"No." Emma furrowed her brow. "I loved my mom. I wouldn't have traded her for anything in the world." Emma paused for a long moment before she spoke again. "I may have been abandoned, but I grew up loved. I had a happy childhood…I wouldn't take it back. I wouldn't be the same person I am today. I would probably be some spoiled princess, and the thought of that makes me want to gag."
"To be fair, you do come from a royal bloodline so it explains your bratty behavior from time to time." Regina chuckled. "It also explains why you are very brave and well with a sword. And if you were a spoiled princess, I still would have kidnapped you when you were older…I would have corrupted you either way." This made the blonde grin lightly. "There's that beautiful smile." The queen leaned forward, placing a gentle kiss on her cheek.
"Everything happens for a reason Regina. Like you told me last night, we are meant to be." She placed a hand over the older woman's. "I am your true love, as you are mine. I believe we would have ended up together anyway. No matter who I grew up with or how. You and I are destined to be together." The women beamed at one another before Emma's face fell again. "You do still love me right? Even though I am Snow Whites daughter…you're sworn enemy"
"Emma dear, like I said, I would have captured you either way. Whether is was by force or not…we are destined to be together. To tell dear old Snow that I made her innocent little offspring fall for me and see the look of complete horror in her eyes, makes my heart soar."
"But aren't we," the blonde shivered with disgust. "Related?"
Regina laughed so hard she cried. "Oh heaven's no! I have never once considered that girl my child. Not even step daughter. She was just someone I raised…partially. I have never loved her, or her father for that matter. I do not in any way consider her family. She is just royalty…but so am I."
Suddenly, there was a loud bang outside the castle. They heard people screaming with fear, when one of the guards came barging in. "Your Majesty! The ogres are attacking!"
Both women stood quickly running to the door. "Get the army ready. Prepare for battle! We will be down in a moment!"
"Yes your Highness! Right away!" He disappeared in a second, leaving the two women behind.
"Well Miss. Swan, shall we conquer these vulgar beast and continue this conversation later?"
"It would be my pleasure!"
On the battlefield, Regina was spewing fireballs at each large beast she came into contact with. Every person that did not belong in her castle was killed with a thrust of her hand. Emma was dressed in a silver armor, battling off people who tried to strike her or the queen. She had taken everything her books and Regina had taught her and put them to good use. She was royalty after all, but she didn't let that get into her head. The only thing that had pushed her harder on the battlefield was that people were trying to hurt Regina.
She also had right to the throne, which made her feel as if it really were her kingdom to defend. Which, technically, was true, but she wasn't thinking of this while fighting. She would discuss it later with Regina. When she came across the ogre's she took a slingshot, that Regina had given her before the stepped out the castle, she shot them in their faces then stabbed at their shins.
Out of nowhere, a woman with raven hair started sword fighting with her. When Emma looked at her, she realized it was non other than Snow White. She fought harder then yelled, "YOU!"
She other woman sneered with a smirk, "Yes it's me! This is our kingdom! We are taking it back!"
They fought for a while, shocked that the woman didn't realize who she was fighting. "Do you even know who I am?!"
"Any foe of Regina's is a foe of mine!"
Emma battled her with more fire. "Of course you wouldn't!" She spat. "How would you remember the baby you gave away!"
The fighting seized immediately. Snow's face in complete shock. "You-you're my child? Emma?" Emma only glared with hatred. She covered her mouth with one hand, while dropping her sword. She lunged forward to hug her long, lost daughter, but Emma held up her sword. "Emma! You can come home with us! We can be a family!"
"I think not." Emma spat. "I had a mother who loved me, and now I have someone else to love me."
The woman looked frazzled for a moment before her eyes shot up in horror. "NO! She has you under some spell! She is the Evil Queen!"
This angered Emma immensely. "She is NOT evil! I love her and she loves me!"
"No, NO! You can't love her!"
This game was getting annoying to the blonde. She brought her sword to the woman's mid-section. "A bit late to start parenting don't you think? You're twenty-fife years too late! But you know what? She loved me with all every fiber in her until I watched her die in my arms." Tears stung her eyes, she tried blinking them back, but failed.
"I am so sorry you went through that Emma."
"YOU DON'T GET TO CALL ME BY MY NAME!" She screamed. "All my life I've wanted to know who my real parents were, but I don't want to. I was happy and loved and that's all I could have ever asked for." With spewing anger she pointed the sword closer, Snow's hands in the air surrendering herself.
"I will not stop loving you. Even if you kill me and live with that monster!"
"SHE'S NOT A MONSTER!"
"You don't know her like I do!"
"She's different!" Why am I arguing with someone who thinks they have a say so in my life? "You don't own me! I may be your child, but I do not love you!"
"I understand your anger Emma, but we can work things out!"
For a brief moment, she lowered her sword to take in her words. Snow smiled, letting out a breath. Emma looked into Snow's eyes, seeing her serenity. Her eyes swollen from the tears she shed, then logic hit her. She was abandoned…she could have retrieved her or seen her whenever she wanted, but she never did. She could have been apart of her life at any given moment, but she didn't. Emma lifted her sword once more then plunged it deep into the woman's stomach. Her tears grew into a sob. "I don't think so…I had a mother and it wasn't you." She plunged in deeper, their faces inches apart. "You chose not to be apart of my life when I had no one, and for that, I do not wish to know you." Emma yanked her sword out, watching her birth mother fall to the ground.
Everything seemed to be in slow motion after that. The blonde turned to see someone about to impale Regina. She ran has fast as she could to get to her Queen. She suddenly felt an excruciating pain plow through her upper back. She screamed in pain. When she turned to see who had stabbed her, it was a man with the same eyes as hers. Emma knew then and there it was her father. Her vision blurred before crashing onto the cold ground right before Regina. The last thing she remembered hearing was Regina screaming her name in horror.