Hey guys! I love how much feedback I'm getting. I'll tell you what, keep sending me your suggestions and I'll take a tally. If I get more for Regina G!P, I'll pick her. If I get more for Emma, then I'll pick her. I haven't decided on which person I want, and my story would go as planned either way. Help me out guys x

Chapter 3

Emma woke up the next morning completely giddy. No one in the castle would call her glum, but her mood today was significantly different from how it usually was. The guards raised their eyebrows when the princess dramatically opened the doors to her bed chambers and waved hello.

She headed down to the kitchen and said hello to the cook, smiling to all of the staff.

"Good morning Princess Emma." They all bowed to her. No matter how many times she'd told them to just call her Emma, they still called her your highness and Princess Emma.

Rolling her eyes, she left the kitchen and headed down to the dining hall where she saw her parents sitting at the table waiting for her.

It was Snow who looked up first. "Good morning Emma, you're up early!"

Emma really was up early. It was just after sunrise and she found herself getting up as soon as the sun was up, wanting to chat more with Regina. She internally reminded herself to get up at her usual time no matter how excited she was because she didn't want her parents finding out. She wanted Regina to be her little secret, and she knew her parents would take her away if they were to find out.

"Yes mommy, I got a lot of rest last night." She walked over to her mother and wrapped her arms around her neck and willingly accepted a kiss on the cheek from Snow.

She quickly did the same with her father. "Good morning daddy."

Emma sat down at the table and accepted the tea offered to her. Placing a scone on her plate, she took a huge bite from it, causing her mother to scowl.

"Emma, we've talked about this. If you expect to be treated like a princess and treated like one, then act like one. I swear you and your father are identical."

Both women glanced at Charming who was now stuffing his face with a muffin and chugging his tea. Emma giggled at her father. She knew he was doing this to get the attention off of her and she loved him for that. She loved her mother dearly, but sometimes she tended to nag her to no end.

When Emma was finished eating, she headed off to her lessons for the day, desperate to talk to Regina.

Regina was currently in court listening to peasants complain about their problems. She didn't mind helping her people, but when two peasants got into an argument over a watermelon, she lost all her faith in humanity.

"What is it that you want me to do? Grant one of you the watermelon?"

The two peasants nodded. When one of them looked as if they were going to speak, Regina gestured towards the man, granting him permission to speak. She smirked when she saw he kept his gaze downward. Good peasant, knowing your place in society, she thought.

"With all due respect, your majesty, I want my whole watermelon. I deserve it and I think it'd be stupid and foolish—"

Graham, Regina's Captain started moving towards the man, expecting an outburst.

"Are you referring to your Queen as stupid and foolish? How dare you!"

The man didn't stop at that. "Well if her majesty is going to give my watermelon to the wrong man, then she is an idiot."

Everyone in the court audibly gasped, unable to believe that someone would talk to the Evil Queen in such a manner. All the people in the Dark Kingdom (and White Kingdom) feared her. Any who weren't would be now.

She called upon her magic to lift the man into the air, smirking at the sound of his screams. She personally didn't like killing, and if she did it would only be because she crushed their hearts. Today, she was not going to kill this man, she had something else in mind.

When she saw the other farmer meekly raise his hand, she kept her hold on the other man while she turned her attention to the farmer. "Yes?"

"Your majesty…I would be content with half the watermelon or you could even give him the whole watermelon. I-I don't want any trouble." The man was now on his knees, praying the Queen would spare his life.

Regina was pleased with how respectful the other man seemed compared to the man she was currently holding in the air. Yes, this was a complete waste of her time, but she was kind of amused with the situation. Out of all the things people had come to her for, this was by far the most bizarre.

"I appreciate your respect…" She motioned for a name.

"Liam." He said.

"Liam, I am granting you the extra watermelon that this man claims is his." The man's face paled as he saw the evil smirk that now appeared on the Queen's face. Considering the punishment she chose for another second, she waved her hand and smiled.

The court became so silent you could've heard a pin drop. Next to Liam, there were about 20 or so watermelons laying on the ground. He began to weep as he crawled over to Regina, planting kisses on her feet.

She was completely disgusted, but happy she could help nonetheless. "Return to the palace in 7 moons and I will have a job here in the palace for you." She turned to Graham and said, "Graham, please put the melons in a barrel and see to it that Liam here is safely delivered to his farm, watermelons in tow."

Graham nodded and motioned for Liam to follow him out of the throne room. Thanking the young queen once again, he exited the room.

Regina faced everyone in the room and said, "That will be all for today. I am tired and am going to retire to my bed chambers. No one shall disturb me." All of the nobility and guards bowed to her and she disappeared in a purple cloud of smoke.

Emma had just finished her lunch and was now in her room. Her parents had court and as a young princess she wasn't allowed to listen in. She still remembered the argument she had with her mother over it to this day.

"Mommy, can I come to court with you and Daddy?"

Snow looked at Emma and shook her head. "No sweetheart, court is for grown-ups. You know what that means don't you?"

Emma almost rolled her eyes at her mother. She truly hated when she talked to her like she was a child. Yes she was, but she was a lot smarter than people gave her credit for. "I am aware Mother. I just want to be able to come to court. I have a lot of positive things to offer."

Her mother wasn't budging. "I don't want you in court."

Emma knew she'd just annoy her mother by asking but she wanted to know why. "Why?"

Snow's face scrunched up in annoyance as she tried to think of an answer. "Because I said so." She knew that wasn't going to satisfy Emma, but it was the best she could think of. As long as she'd been alive, no one under the age of 13 sat in court.

"I know, but why do you say so? Do you have a reason?"

"No Emma, I don't have a reason. For once you're going to have to do what I say because I told you to!" She winced as the words came flying out of her mouth but it was too late to take them back.

Tears began to collect in Emma's eyes and she turned and ran away from her mother.

The thought of how her mother would speak to her when frustrated made her want to speak to Regina even more. What she loved about Regina most was that even when she seemed angry at her, she never spoke to her like she was better than her.

Speaking of Regina, Emma walked over to her mirror and sat down in the chair. Closing her eyes, she whispered "Show me Queen Regina." Tapping the mirror three times, she watched excitedly as the glass began to morph into a picture of the Queen's bedchambers.

She watched as sat directly in front of her in a chair, kind of like how Emma was. Realizing she had to talk first before Regina knew she was there, she whispered, "Regina."

She watched as Regina flinched nervously at first, and then her mouth stretched into a wide smile that reached her eyes. "Emma, how are you?"

"I'm quite well, and yourself?"

Regina smiled back at her. "I'm doing alright, thank you. How was your day, dear?" She'd never had an actual conversation with anyone before where she wasn't either threatening to kill them or where she was getting what she wanted.

"It was alright, kind of lonely, but you're here now. What about yours?"

Regina smiled at how thoughtful and well-mannered Emma seemed to be. She clearly couldn't see any traits in Emma that the two idiots that were her parents had. "My day was uneventful. I had two men come to court today to argue over a six-pound watermelon. That was the most interesting thing that happened to me."

Emma giggled at the Queen's story, the sound music to Regina's ears. This child was purely adorable. "My mommy and daddy told me I couldn't sit in court, so I didn't do much today."

"Do you mother and father not permit you to do things?" Regina was intrigued to hear about what Snow and Charming were like as parents.

Emma shook her head. "They're always watching me. I almost never have any time where I'm not being watched, unless I'm in my bedchambers. Even then, there's always someone outside the door to make sure I'm safe."

Regina wanted to cry at the sound of Emma's voice. It made her sad when Emma wasn't happy. All she wanted was for the little girl to smile. Deciding to change the subject, she wanted to know more about how the girl talked to her. "Emma, how did you even know I existed? I know Snow didn't mention me to you before, so how do you know I exist?"

Emma decided that she trusted Regina enough to tell her about the book. She padded over to her closet and grabbed the book and showed it to Regina. "One day, when I was alone, I sat down on my bed and this was in it. It has the stories of everyone from the Enchanted Forest."

Regina examined the unknown book. "May I see the book?" When she saw the girl's furrowed eyebrows, she explained, "You can pass it to me through the mirror, dear."

Emma cautiously handed the Queen the book through the mirror. When their hands touched, sparks traveled through both of them which caused Regina to audibly gasp. She tried to conceal it with a cough as she opened the leather book.

When Regina opened the book, she saw a picture of herself, Snow, and Charming in the throne room of the White Castle. Reading the first few words, she realized the book was telling her story and knew she had to read it all. "Emma?"

Emma had been staring at the Queen while she was reading. She thought the Queen was so beautiful, more beautiful than her own mother (she'd never tell her this of course). "Yes?" She blushed, realizing she'd probably been caught staring.

"May I keep this book and return it when I am finished reading it?"

Emma nodded. She'd do anything for Regina. "Keep it for as long as you want, Gina."

Regina's nose scrunched, feigning annoyance, but Emma could see the smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Did you just call me Gina?"

Emma smiled widely at Regina, so wide that the Queen had to stop herself from gushing at how cute the little girl was. "Gina, I have a lot of questions I want to ask you."

Regina figured that would be okay. "Alright Emma, ask whatever you like."

Emma thought about her first question and remembered she had wanted to ask Regina. "Why do you look so young still? You're older than my mommy and daddy but they look older than you."

"Magic." Regina eyed the girl's features to see if she understood this, and when Emma nodded at her she didn't press any further.

Emma moved onto the next question. "Why do people call you the Evil Queen?"

Surely Emma is too smart to ask such a question, right? "Emma, why are you asking such a question? Surely you've read the book so I'm sure you know why I was given that name."

Emma shook her head. "I've heard every story about you but the story you tell. Everyone calls you evil, but I have yet to hear your side. You have been so nice to me—you're my friend now. I don't see what everyone else sees in you. You are wonderful."

Tears ran down Regina's eyes. "That is the sweetest thing anyone has ever said to me."

Emma reached across the dresser and into the mirror and wiped Regina's tears away. This time, it was Emma that gasped at the spark she felt when she touched Regina. Quickly pulling her hand away, she reminded herself not to stick her hand through the mirror anymore, it made her hand feel weird.

Regina however couldn't stop thinking about the sparks and she made a mental note to ask Rumpelstiltskin about it later.

Before they could resume their conversation, Emma heard a knock at her door. Regina, sensing the girl's panic used her magic to make the mirror appear normal as the girls' parents barged through the door.

Even though the two spent hours talking to each other, it still felt like they didn't get to talk enough. Regina hated sharing her friend with two idiots.