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Disclaimer: I don't own The Lion King or Swan Queen. Though if I did, they would definitely not be separated. Ever.
"Good morning my darling." Snow said as she pulled the curtains to let in the morning light.
Emma groaned into her pillow. "Five more minutes mom."
"You need to get up Emma. It's a big day for you." Snow said. "Every royal in this family has to go on a hunt before their coronation. The stag hunt is to establish our role-"
"As the royal protectors of the realm!" Emma said and threw the blanket from her body. Waking Argo.
"I know mom. You and dad have been forcing these royal obligations down my throat since I was born." Emma said and stood from her bed.
"Emma you're 16 now. You have to take this seriously! Your coronation is in 2 days!" Snow said exasperated.
"I know, it's just I don't-" Emma stopped and took in the sight in front of her. "What the hell is that?"
"This is your hunting dress." Snow said and held the hideous white poofy dress up to Emma's trim form.
"Hunting dress?" Emma said and looked at her mother like she had 2 heads. "That's an oxymoron." Emma said under her breath.
"Honestly young lady, I don't know what I am going to do with you." Snow said and threw the dress on the back of Emma's vanity chair.
"Just let me do this my way. No dresses, no special saddle, no help from you or dad. Just let me wear my own clothes, take my own bow and ride my own horse and I promise I will uphold the family honor and bring back a stag." Emma said.
"You think this is what this is about? Us worried about the family honor?" Snow said and approached her daughter.
Emma crossed her arms and looked at the ground.
"Emma that's not what this is about at all. When you're older you'll understand." Snow said and brushed a stray curl from her daughter's eye.
Emma jerked away from her mother's affection.
"You and dad keep telling me that when I get older I'll understand. Well I'm older and I think I'm starting to understand who I'm supposed to be." Emma said.
"That's wonderful my love." Snow said and went to hug her daughter but Emma shied away.
"I need to get ready." Emma said and Snow turned from her and left the room with a sad nod.
As Emma descended the stairs Snow realized how stupid it would have been to put Emma in a dress. She had never seen her daughter look more beautiful. Emma had on tan riding pants with dark brown front lace up boots, and a navy blue riding coat. Her long blonde hair was braided and hung over her shoulder.
The main hall was filled with nobles all there to wish Emma luck on her hunt. Whispers of 'she looks gorgeous' and 'oh my has she grown' as she descended down the stairs.
"You look beautiful." James said and kissed Emma on the cheek. "You can do this." He said and Emma took a deep breath.
"I know I can." Emma said and smiled. "Just promise you'll let me."
James just smiled at his daughter as she turned from them and walked into the courtyard. Snow and James watched their daughter mount her white horse and strap a pack of arrows to her back.
Emma put two fingers into her mouth and gave a shrill whistle, which brought the same look of disgust to her mother's face as it always did. Emma laughed. Argo came charging down the grand staircase barking and tail wagging the whole time.
Emma laughed at her oldest friend as he joined her horse Apollo in running down the main road towards the wood.
James and Snow watched the retreating form of their daughter disappear on the horizon.
"Do you think she'll be alright?" James asked.
"James. She is a better shot than I am. I have no doubt in my mind that she will bring home the biggest stag our family has ever seen." Snow said.
"You hold the record for biggest stag. You think she's going to beat your record?" James said.
"I think you have little faith in our daughter." Snow said.
"It's not her I worry about. It's the rest of the world." James said.
Snow laughed. "I'm just sad she didn't wear the dress." She said.
"Have you met our daughter? We can barely keep her bones together, let alone her clothes. Why would you ever think she would wear a dress on her coronation hunt?" James said.
"Worth a shot I guess." Snow said and looked to James who refused to move from his spot in the middle of the courtyard.
"She will be fine James. Now come on." She said and walked into the castle.
"I'll be in in a minute." James said and watched Snow turn away.
"Pssst." James said.
"Did you hear that?" Red said to Grumpy.
"Ooh sorry." Grumpy said embarrassed.
"Red. Grumpy." James said under his breath.
"Alright I'm weirded out now it said my name." Red said.
"I heard mine too." Grumpy said and pulled her close. "Do you think it's a ghost?"
"Red! Grumpy!" James said a little louder.
"Yes all mighty ghost?" Red said.
"It's me!" James finally said and walked up behind them.
Both godparents jumped into the air.
"Don't do that! I have a fragile heart." Grumpy said.
"I want you two to keep an eye on her." James said.
"Yes your majesty. We live to protect the princess." Grumpy said.
"No need to grovel. Come on let's go." Red said and drug him along by his collar.
"Hey watch it sister! This is my best shirt!" He said as Red followed Emma's trail.
Up on a hill top a beautiful woman sat on a large black horse watching the young princess creep through the brush.
"Are you ready my love?" Cora said and put her hand on Regina's shoulder.
"Yes mother." Regina said, her eyes never leaving Emma's slim form.
"What is your goal?" Cora asked.
"Destroy the royal family." Regina said.
"And?" Cora prodded.
"And take my rightful place on the throne." Regina said.
"Excellent. Now Maleficent and Hook are setting the trap. You know the plan, now move." Cora said and Regina sprinted off on Rocinante with Olympic precision.
"Make me proud!" Cora yelled at Regina's fleeting form as she saw the fire start to engulf the young monarch.
"This is definitely the biggest stag that has ever been bagged!" Emma said as she secured the dead deer onto the back of Apollo.
"Mom and Dad are going to eat their words when they see this one! I can't believe they sent Uncle Grumpy and Aunt Red to follow me again. I'm so sick of them not letting me do things on my own. They should have known better than to send those two again. I figured out how to ditch them when I was old enough to walk." Emma said and Argo barked his agreement at her.
"Come on boys let's go home." Emma said and mounted her horse.
Emma went down the path some and that's when she smelled smoke.
"Argo!" she yelled. "Let's go." She said as dog and horse broke into a run.
The further she got to the castle the heavier the flames got. She turned around to call for the dog again, but she didn't see the branch approaching her. When she turned back to look ahead of her, her head collided with the branch and knocked her out cold.
Regina approached the young princess, laying on the cold ground and dismounted.
Regina took in her slim, athletic form and long blonde hair. Even out cold she looks gorgeous. Focus on your mission Regina, not on the Princess. She thought and picked up the unconscious Emma.
She laid Emma on the front of Rocinante's saddle and tied Apollo to the side of her saddle.
Argo started growling at the stranger that dared pick up his master, but when Regina looked Argo in the eyes he immediately recognized her, and his tail started wagging. It started wagging even harder when Athena came through the trees to join Regina.
Regina climbed on her saddle behind Emma and whistled for the two dogs to follow her.
Regina galloped through the path towards the Charmings' lands. She knew the path because it was all a part of the plan. Regina was so caught up in her plan working out that she didn't notice Emma slipping from the saddle. She quickly grabbed Emma by the hand and swung Emma's arm around her shoulders and hoisted the Princess onto her back.
Regina got into the clearing right in front of the castle where the fire stopped. She hopped off of her horse and untied Apollo from Rocinante's saddle.
She stroked Apollo's head and he nuzzled her face. "Good boy." She said to the white steed.
Argo walked up to her, tail wagging and jumped in front of Regina excited.
Regina kneeled down to his level as Athena walked up to join them. "Hello Argo." Regina said and ruffled behind Argo's ear. "Do you remember me?" Regina asked.
Argo licked her face to tell her his answer. "Good." Regina said as she heard the Princess stir from her position on Regina's horse.
"Oh dear god, my head!" Emma said as she almost slid all the way off the horse.
Regina used her magic and floated Emma safely to the ground so she didn't hurt herself more.
Emma stood up straight and rubbed her head. "That's gonna bruise like a bitch." She said as Argo approached her and nuzzled her hand.
"Hey boy." She said and rubbed behind his ear. She then walked up to her horse and he nuzzled her face. "Glad to see you too Apollo." She said and petted his face.
That's when Emma noticed that she wasn't alone and dead in the middle of the burning wood.
She turned and saw the most beautiful woman she had ever seen in her life. She walked up to the woman and extended her hand.
"Thank you milady." Emma said and looked closer at the woman. "You saved me."
"Yes I did. I'm just glad you're safe." Regina said and grabbed Emma's hand. That's when they both felt it. Magic ran through both of their bodies. It made Regina's naturally chocolate eyes turn purple.
"Regina?" Emma said and pulled the sorceress closer.
"Good to see you too Princess." Regina said with a smirk and Emma's face lit up.
She pulled Regina into a bone crushing hug. "Oh my god! I never forgot you Regina." Emma said and it softened Regina's heart a little bit. I never forgot you either Princess. She thought, but didn't dare say aloud.
"Yes well I never forgot the day you almost had me killed." Regina said and pulled away, having the Princess so close to her was intoxicating. Her head was getting fuzzy in the strong arms of the blonde.
Emma laughed. "Oh come on Regina. You had fun and you know it."
Regina just smirked. That's when Emma noticed something.
"Athena! Hey girl!" She said and walked up to the white wolf dog. She stooped down to her level and the white dog licked the Princess's face.
Emma giggled. Traitor, Regina thought. But she does look cute when Athena does that. NO REGINA STOP! You have a job to do. Do not let your feelings get involved. You must reclaim your spot on the throne.
"So…" Emma said and stuck her hands into her pockets. She's cute when she does that. Dammit Regina. Regina thought.
"You look really good." Emma said and looked to the ground. "Still the beautiful Queen." Emma said and looked up, a blush creeping to her face.
"You look good too. Still a brave Knight I see. That's quite a stag." Regina said and gestured to Emma's horse.
"Yea." Emma said and kicked a rock. "Seems to be the only thing I'm good at." Emma said.
"I seriously doubt that." Regina said and took a step towards Emma.
Emma looked at her and was just about to take a step closer to the sorceress when she heard her name called.
"Emma! Are you alright?" James said and dismounted his horse, quickly gathering his daughter into his arms.
Emma pushed him away. "I'm fine, no thanks to you! I asked you to let me do this on my own and what do you do? Send Uncle Grumpy and Aunt Red!" Emma yelled.
"Yes and good thing I did! You ended up in the middle of a forest fire with an outsider!" James said and glared at Regina.
"She saved my life!" Emma said and glared at her father. "I would have been a burned piece of charcoal in the woods if it hadn't been for her. You owe her a debt." Emma said.
James looked towards Regina. "What do you want in exchange for my daughter's rescue outsider?" he asked.
"The only thing I ask is for acceptance into your kingdom. I have denounced the ways of the outsiders. I humbly ask to be a ward in your keep." Regina said and bowed to the King.
"She's asking for acceptance father. Please." Emma said at his side.
James groaned in frustration. "You are accepted into my kingdom, and since you saved the Princess I will offer you a place as a ward in my castle. But you will be on probation until I decide if you can be trusted or not." James said and mounted his horse.
"Emma come." He called over his shoulder at his daughter.
Emma walked over to Regina and hugged her once again. Both women felt the magic run through their bodies and shivered at the contact.
Emma leaned back and looked Regina in the eyes. "You know I didn't properly thank you for saving me." Emma said and pressed a sweet kiss to Regina's cheek. "Thank you." Emma said and pulled away from the brunette.
Regina stood there stunned and placed her hand on her cheek, savoring Emma's lips on her skin.
Emma mounted her horse and turned around to face Regina. "Coming or not Gina?" Emma said and giggled, taking off behind her father.
"This might be harder than I thought." Regina said under her breath and mounted Rocinante taking off after the Princess.
Keep reviewing and keep reading! I love all of you awesome people!
I hope to get the next chapter up at the end of this week.
Once again, reviews are encouraged and appreciated! Stay excellent.