Chapter 3: training a saviour And Regina living as the dark not so evil queen.
After a few years of peace without the dark one being around, Blue became restless. Without Regina being the Evil Queen, and her own nephew Rumplestiltskin missing without a trace. There was less opportunities for her to torture prisoners in the dungeons of both the Dark Kingdom and the Light Kingdom. Not only that but she was saddled with the job of training the saviour in the usage of magic. Snow practically begged her to teach her daughter how to use her magic.
Blue however would only ever teach Emma the most basic of magic, Snow and James been non the wiser about the ins and outs of magic failed to notice that Emma wasn't being taught the kind of magic that would allow her to fulfil her role as the saviour. Most of the peasants thought Emma's job was to defeat all the 'evil' witches in the realm. Including the dragon shifting witch who resided in the forbidden fortress.
Snow on the other hand saw no need to interfere with other kingdom's problems not unless the ruling monarchs asked for their help. So Blue used Tinkerbelle to do her dirty work to drum up trouble within the Light kingdom. Getting the citizens to rally against one of the minor lords or ladies that ran the various villages in the kingdoms. Regina would send out her knights to take care of the problems much like she used to do, but nowadays it is done with less ruthlessness. She still ruled with an iron fist but rather than using her kingdom's citizens fear against them to keep them in line. She introduced a program that encourages the peasants to sort out the more mundane and simple issues with the local nobility.
So that she only had to deal with the more serious problems such as rumours that a neighbouring kingdom is wanting to go to war with one of the noble families within her kingdom, and any other serious crimes that the local nobility can't deal with themselves. Regina also found not having to go around hunting for her former step-daughter rather soothing to her soul. As she has found time to learn different aspects of the magical arts.
Regina had learned Alchemy, healing with light magic, healing with dark magic, and how to use magic while wielding swords, bows and arrows. She also took it upon herself to help her mother get out from the grasp of the Black Fairy who had convinced the Queen of Hearts that her desire for power could be furthered if she did what both the Black and Blue fairies wanted her to do. Including kidnapping Emma when she was out riding her horse. Regina of course had saved the young Princess without anyone in the Light kingdom being aware of her efforts. All Snow and Charming knew was that an unknown knight had found where Emma had been taken and brought her to safety at the light castle.
Regina had made sure to use a glamour spell to conceal her identity, thankfully this time around Snow wasn't able to see through it. But to Regina's surprise Emma was able to see through the glamour. Though Emma kept quiet about it, too busy being in awe of Regina as she had heard a lot about the Evil Queen from both Blue and the many governesses that was tasked with making sure Emma knew about the world she lived in, the history of her parent's kingdom. Charming made sure to train Emma in the ways of being a knight of the Light kingdom. Snow taught Emma how to shoot an arrow.
Out in the training yard Charming and Emma a sparring with wooden practice swords. James had a proud grin on his face as Emma parried his moves with ease, at 14 years old she has almost surpassed him in swordsmanship. As well as formed a true bond with her horse. "Come on dad, you can do better than that." Teased Emma, as she watched for James to leave himself open to an attack.
Then after a few parries Emma got her opening and she took advantage of it only for James to quickly block Emma's attack. That proud smile still firmly locked in place. "Nice try there kid, but you need to better watch for true opening and not feints." Instructed James as he thrusted in quick succession.
A few more thrusts back and forth until finally Emma bested James. "Good job honey, let's take a break. Granny has made those chocolate cupcakes you love. Shall we head down into the kitchens?" congratulated James as he got up off the floor. And walked over to one of the bench seats along the walls of the indoor practice drill room.
"Sounds great!" replied Emma excitedly. Getting to indulge in the delicious sweet treats that Granny makes in the palace kitchens is one of her highlights of the day, right alongside spending time with her Godmother Red. Since Red is agreeable to Emma learning how to use both her light and dark magic. Red had gotten her hands on a few magical tomes that taught magical users how to do defensive magic, healing magic, offensive spells and how to create various potions that help with tracking, enchantments for adding to swords and other inanimate objects.
Creating the various potions came easy to Emma, it was figuring out the right emotions to cast the spells was the tricky part. James and Emma walked in silence for a few steps before the urge to ask questions got the best of Emma. "So Dad, why didn't you and mum ever have another child?"
"We just have been too busy making sure you become the Saviour you have always been destined to be. Once we get you trained enough to be able to protect this realm from the villains here in the Enchanted Forest, then your mother and I might try for another child. Why do you ask?" explained James, the best way he can given the limited knowledge he has of how to best approach this sort of topic. The more sensitive chats were Snow's forte. He was better at topics that had to do with swordsmanship, horse riding and taking care of livestock.
Eventually they made it down to the kitchens where Granny was hard at work to getting the food ready for the palace's lunch time meal. Upon seeing the King and Princess enter her domain her whole demeanour changed. "Your Majesty, your highness; how did your morning spar go?" greeted Granny as she briefly looked up from rolling out the dough for Emma's favourite stuffed cheese bread.
"Great! I managed to best dad!" answered an overly excited Emma, much to the amusement of both James and Granny. Emma's face lit up when she noticed the two already set plates of chocolate cupcakes. The two royals sat down at the small table just to the side of the main preparation tables. Then quietly ate the cakes in a comfortable silence. When they had just about finished eating the cakes Red came into the kitchen, placing a kiss to her grandmother's cheek in greeting before walking over to Emma to do the same. Emma blushed with the affection shown to her by her godmother. She loved her godmother very much but as a young teen she was beginning to not want such an overtly public display of affection. Especially not in front of the other palace servants.
With a loving chuckle Red sat down next to Emma. "You ready to join me for our mid-morning run?" inquired Red, winking in the Princess's direction. While the oblivious Charming focused more on eating then paying attention to what Red and Emma were talking about. Emma simply nodded, then got up to follow Red, but before leaving the kitchens she gave her dad and granny a kiss on the cheek in goodbye. "Have fun sweetie, try not to be late for lunch. You know how your mum gets when you are late for meals." Said Charming as Emma and Red left the room.
From the kitchen Red and Emma proceeded to head out to Red's cottage located on the edge of the castle grounds. Doing so at a fast jog so that the castle guards won't get suspicious. Seeing them jog or running is less of a worry than if they were to just walk slowly. This way they both keep up the pretence of going of a run, they make short work of reaching the humble cottage. Red may have a high status within the castle but she still preferred to live a humble life. More to give her some privacy of being a werewolf and so that she could get in contact with the fairies that were working against Blue.
Snow and Charming were still after all these years non the wiser about the true nature of the leader of the fairies. Snow and Charming were however aware of the part of the prophesy that was added to the dark curse making sure it backfired on Regina. which is why they were grooming Emma to become the Saviour they believe will be the one to reunite the two kingdoms. What they didn't know is exactly how Emma was supposed to do it. They assume she would need to defeat all the villains of the realm and bring Regina into the fold of the 'good guys'.
Red though had been clued in about the full verse of the prophesy. She knew that Emma will first marry the former Evil Queen uniting the Light and Dark kingdoms then she will be required with Regina to defeat the Blue fairy. Which is why Red had been teaching Emma how to use all of her magical abilities not just the parlour tricks Blue had been teaching Emma. Snow's inability to see the true nature of her fairy godmother was why Red had to take on the responsibility to make sure Emma knew everything Red could find about both light and dark magic. She had asked her friends amongst the well known bandits and thieves in the realm and her friends Belle and Dorothy.
Red had met the hunter Dorothy in her travels across then magical realms and stumbled into her while running as a wolf. The wicked witch of the west had cast a spell on her to keep her from the Emerald city. Dorothy the determined Witch hunter was going to defeat the wicked witch once and for all but Red stopped her. Showed her a better way of dealing with Zelena then killing her. They soon fell in love while on that particular adventure, and ever since Red and Dorothy had been courting. They wanted to get married one day but Red knew that now wasn't the time. They had to defeat the Blue fairy before their union would be recognised in the Enchanted Forest. Because Blue refused to recognise same sex unions true love or not.
When they enter Red's cottage they were greeted by Dorothy, "Hey wolfie, hi little saviour!" welcomed Dorothy with a warm and inviting smile and hugs.
"Hi Dorothy! Glad to see you again, how is Oz?" asked an excited Emma, she took a seat at the dining table where the current magical tome they were working from was currently opened at the page they last left it.
"Oz is fine, the wicked witch has left so that helps with the realm getting better and more prosperous. Oddly enough though even the Wizard has left the Emerald City. Glinda is currently ruling over it. and the circle of light witches is helping her. Although the seat of the west is currently unoccupied. As I have no interest in filling it and Zelena is still wicked. I feel more at home here in the Enchanted Forest with my Wolf here." Replied Dorothy, giving a flirty wink at Red when she mentioned her.
Red winked back while Emma was distracted with reading the magical book.
"Alright Emma, which spell are we going to work on today?" asked Red as she came over to look at the page she was reading.
"It is a healing spell, it says that I would need to channel my deepest feeling of love when healing a wound. When healing using light magic. But if I am wielding my dark magic at the time when healing it requires more focus and to channel the emotion that I would use when using dark magic, be it anger, rage, despair or any other negative emotion. Dark magic requires you also envisioning the wound as being healed.
It also says that here are not so pleasant side affects if using dark magic to heal rather then using light magic. But the sting of dark magic can be dulled if I were to infuse the dark magic with just a little bit of light magic." Explained Emma.
"Well then you will need a wound to practice healing with, Dorothy can I cut your arm a bit? It won't be too deep." Inquired Red of Dorothy, Emma watched them while they teased each other with their eyes and facial expressions. 'I want what Red and Dorothy have together some day.' Thought Emma as she watched Red cut the meaty part of Dorothy's arm above the elbow.
"Ouch Wolfie, careful with that knife would you?" whined Dorothy as she clutched at the now weeping cut. Emma walked over to where Dorothy was sitting and placed her hand over the wound as instructed, she channelled her love for her parents, Red and Granny. As the spell ignited a warm tingling sensation engulfed her entire hand in a white smoke, with golden sparks emitting from underneath her palm as it slowly clotted the blood and stitched the edges of the parted skin around the cut together.
"Ooooh, that tingles." Exclaimed Dorothy as she felt Emma's magic heal her arm. Emma, Red and Dorothy continued to create wounds for Emma to heal, both on herself and on the other two women until Emma had got the hang of healing with light magic, then again with dark magic. Then when lunchtime came around they cleaned up what they were doing before turning the page to the next spell for tomorrow's lesson.
A few months went by and Emma got better with her magic as well as her swordsmanship. Her latest lesson was how to wield her sword while riding hard and fast on her horse. It was dodgy going but Emma was slowly getting used to it.
While over in the far edge of the dark wood's the apprentice could be seen walking through a large dead tree trunk. Purple is in the hidden library of prophesy's concealed deep inside a fallen dead tree trunk. Ancient decaying magic still lingers around the entrance to the tree trunk. She is reading the scroll that contains the full prophesy that a small section of it was added to the dark curse to ensure it played out the way it was meant to.
The sorcerer's apprentice enters the room carrying the current book of stories containing the most recent author trapped onside it. The author had been manipulating the story to the detriment of those who are important to the prophesy which was why the apprentice had trapped him inside. He had bought the book to the library to prevent the author from continuing to help blue and the black fairy destroy everything that Purple and the apprentice's challenging work in making sure that the prophesy comes true.
There have been many versions of the prophesy dedicated to two specific souls who have been given a multitude of bad hands. Had their lives ruined over and over by the Blue fairy. This time around is the one where they will be finally able to defeat the blue and black fairies. To have their happy lives they have long deserved to live. It has taken a lot of effort to find and derail the various flunkies that the fairies had recruited from interfering with these two soul's lives.
"Eric, there you are I was beginning to think you weren't going to make it back here." Welcomed purple giving the apprentice her friendliest of smiles.
"Sorry my dear, trapping that meddlesome author took longer than I thought it would the black fairy almost prevented me from completing my task. But thankfully I was able to persevere." Replied the apprentice as he took a seat across from the fairy.
"I almost didn't make it either, Blue has sent her dim-witted fairy Green to monitor my movements. She even faked having Green's de-winging ceremony so that no one would expect her to be around to grant any wishes." Continued Purple like her and the apprentice were simply carrying on a conversation that had been interrupted.
"Really Blue sent Tinkerbelle after you? Has Blue gone completely bananas or what? That nitwit couldn't tell the difference between a true wish and a fake one if she had it slap her in the face!" exclaimed the apprentice as he fidgeted in his chair.
"Yeah well Blue has always been a bit bonkers about this prophesy. Do you think it is finally coming true? That the Saviour can defeat Blue for good?" questioned Purple.
"The Sorcerer has foreseen it. It is much clearer to him this time. The chant infused dust spell has begun its work on the Queen. She has already made changes within herself. She has yet to meet Emma in person, but still her dark heart is brighter than it was before. More red is showing in it now." Answered the apprentice.
'Great that is good news! How are Emma's sword and magic skills coming along?" enquired Purple getting excited to hear about the young teen she was meant to have been given to be her fairy god-child.
"Her father has been teaching her the ways of a noble knight whenever Snow is busy with court duties or taking care of her other duties as ruler. Emma has really taken to horse riding and has formed a true bond with her chosen horse, she has named it Apricot. She could certainly match the Queen with her natural talent and easy grace. I can see this as something the queen and the saviour will bond about. Emma's magical abilities however are slow going.
Since Emma can wield both light and dark magic. Although her parents refuse to acknowledge her dark magic. She struggles with finding the right emotions to allow her to use her magic. She is most proficient with defensive spells. I must say that what she can do is impressive considering how much her parents have limited what type of magic she can learn. Being the product of true love helps her with her light magic." Replied the apprentice.
"Well, the best we can do until either one of us can train her with her magic or even the Queen for that matter. We should get to working on what we do best. Deciphering prophesies and working behind the scenes to deal with Blue and Black's flunkies. Least we can do to help Regina and Emma." Declared Purple, as she refocused on the scroll she was reading before her friend the apprentice arrived.
"Yes my dear, we will…" said the apprentice as he pulled out other scrolls in the room to see what he can figure out.
Meanwhile, Emma was sneaking out of her bedroom chambers. As much as she enjoyed learning light magic with the Blue fairy, she had this niggling feeling that the fairy wasn't always telling the truth. Especially whenever Emma requested to hear the fairy's version of the story of why there was an enchanted wardrobe she can't use in her old nursery. She may only be a young teen barely fifteen seasons old. But she for her entire life that she could remember be able to tell when someone was lying to her. Blue for sure was always lying to her, she tried to get her mother to believe her when she told her on many occasions only that her mother was to blinded by her childhood connection and long-time friendship with the fairy to listen to Emma.
Much to the delight of Blue, who this entire time since her curse failed for the second time to be cast. So Emma would leave her chambers when she knew her parents were sleeping to go into the secret archive room within the castle's library. In this archive room her late step grandfather King George, hid the vast collection of dark magic tomes he had his most trusted thieves steal for him. Which is where Emma was headed at this moment. She crept through the cold corridors ever vigilant of where the royal guards were walking on their nightly patrol.
As she was walking she heard faint heavy footsteps coming in her direction, she then quickly dashed behind one of the suits of armour that adorn the long corridors in decoration. Clinging desperately to the shadows. For she knew if the guards caught her out of bed way past her curfew. Well then she would find herself being laid across her mother's lap her night gown bunched up under her armpits and her undergarments pooled at her ankles. Her mother would then use her soft riding crop to whip across her buttocks in even patterns, hard enough to create welts and blisters. Rendering it very painful for her to sit down for short periods of time. Those experiences were a strong deterrent for her to not get caught.
Emma was thankful she didn't get caught, but jumped slightly when she heard the soft bemused chuckle coming from one of the leather armchairs in the room. Emma turned around to see her favourite fairy Nova or what Blue calls her Pink. Nova liked to turn up at the castle during the hours Emma would sneak into the hidden archive room, as Nova has access to the books at the dark woods archive through the Purple fairy as she still maintains contact with the exiled fairy and her sorcerer's apprentice lover.
She had the current version of the once upon a time tomes with her on the coffee table in front of her. Ready for Emma to read it along with her. Emma took a seat next to the fairy and happily snuggled into the chair while they read the book together. Then once the book was read Nova went through the book about creating potions with Emma. Nova enjoyed this time with Emma as her great niece lived up to the charming name that her nephew's bloodline was well known for. Not that Emma knew of their familiar bonds. As only Nova's lover Grumpy knew about the connection. Blue wasn't aware that purple was Nova's biological sister as purple was exiled long before Nova came into her fairy powers.
They read together and even tried making some of the potions together before it was time for Emma to head back to her Chambers. She needed to get some sleep before she had to be up again. To start her day all over again.