Chapter 4: an unusual meeting of a Saviour and her Queen.
Three years have gone by and Snow and Charming's Kingdom was on the brink of financial ruin. Due to the many wars that have cropped up over the last three years. That were instigated by Blue through the use of her main lacky Tinkerbelle, the cost of constantly having to send an army against the neighbouring kingdom's armies except for the Dark Kingdom as Regina wouldn't go to war with the kingdom that had her saviour in it. Instead Regina would send reinforcements to help protect the light kingdom. Sending the huntsmen along knowing that Snow would trust him over one of her dark knights.
The huntsman would lead the dark army into the battle following Charming's lead, their enchanted armours and weapons giving them the edge in the battles. It took awhile but eventually the declarations of wars dwindled down giving them a much needed break. Emma who was now old enough to join the battles was given her own army to lead into battle. Something she was rather proud of, as was Regina whom Emma had finally gotten to meet. Their first interaction was on her seventeenth birthday when she heard someone speak through one of the mirrors in the hallway leading to her bedchambers.
It had sounded like an argument but the people arguing were not the voices of people she knew. The main voice though drew her in like a moth to a flame. The other voice while sultry gave her a chill down her spine. Like it was void of life. Emma had turned to face the mirror in question and the image of two women with a familial resemblance to each other fascinated her. "Hello? Why are you two arguing in my mirror?" questioned an amused Emma.
Upon hearing Emma speaking both Cora and Regina stopped arguing, and looked in the direction of the mirror they heard Emma coming through. "Who are you dear?" questioned Cora, as she gave Emma her most menacing looks.
Emma visibly gulped as she cowed to the look she was receiving. "Uh, I am Princess Emma Swan of the Light Kingdom, Knight Leader of the second guard." Returned Emma as she regained her confidence when she saw Regina looking at her through the mirror. Something about the Dark Queen drew her in. gave her the strength she needed to withstand the darkness that poured through the mirror from the older woman who must be Regina's mother.
"Ah yes the famed Saviour. Tell me dear how is it that you are able to communicate through my daughter's looking glass?!" stated Cora her voice dripping with a malicious vibe. Making Emma feel like Cora was going to put her arm through the mirror and rip her heart out of her chest.
"Leave her alone mother, can't you see that she is just curious as to how the mirror is showing us in her castle?" interrupted Regina as she sensed the tension between her mother and Emma rising to dangerous levels.
"Now Regina darling I was handling it, we don't need that insipid daughter of your enemy messing with my plans for you." Declared Cora as she used her magic on Regina to try and bring her in line to what she wants. Completely ignoring Emma who was watching it all unfold in the mirror.
"Mother stop please, I will do as you say, I will be good I promise." Breathed out a struggling Regina. as many unpleasant memories of Cora doing the same thing to her when she was her current body's age for the first time. With her using magic to control her.
"Let her go! She did nothing wrong!" shouted Emma as she desperately tried to think of a way to get to the dark queen's aid. Her inner saviour just begging to come out and defend the woman being magically restrained by the older woman. Emma had only just learnt how to teleport in her recent magic lesson with Red and Dorothy. But Emma had never been to the Dark Castle before but she had been to the dark forest that surrounded Regina's castle she often rode her noble horse Apricot practicing using her now enchanted sword while riding on the practice targets that her father had set up in the trees. Charming might not be aware of Emma learning how to use her dark magic but he was aware that she did like to practice her skills with a sword on her own.
Mostly because before when she used train with the other knights under her command she accidently let her emotions take control over the sparring match and her magic got involved. She accidently hurt her sparring partner with an elemental ball of energy on the arm holding the sword. Ever since that moment Emma practiced on her own. She healed the knight of course surprising her father who was watching her train. He hadn't realised just how advanced she was with her light magic. He didn't think Blue was all that great at teaching Emma magic. He honestly thought that what Blue was teaching Emma would be useless in a real battle.
Regardless of what she had been doing in her magic lessons teleporting to such a great distance was dangerous for Emma to do but in this moment when someone else's life was at stake she didn't think about the consequences of her actions she just simply engulfed herself in white smoke while concentrating hard on the dark forest that surrounds the boarders of the Dark Castle's defensive walls that surround the apple orchard, royal gardens and the open field set up for horse riding and horse show jumping obstacles.
When the smoke cleared Emma found herself pressed up against the dark castle's outer defensive walls at the very edge of the dark forest. 'ugh that could have gone better, looks like I will be climbing over this wall.' Thought Emma as she prepared herself for a tough climb over the reinforced stone wall. Being careful not to loose her footing she eventually managed to climb over the wall landing with a thump on the ground on the other side firmly in the dark castle's boundaries. Emma then made a mad dash across the grounds winding her way through the Apple orchard looking for a way to get inside the castle without being seen.
Even though the dark kingdom's knights would never hurt or attack Emma as Regina would punish them for insubordination. The light and Dark kingdom's have been at a tentative peace ever since the day Emma was born. one of the royal guards spotted Emma running through the orchard and called out to her, " hey princess over here!" when she heard the guard Emma sprinted in the direction of the voice. The guard matched her speed silently guiding her towards the servents side entrance that the guard knew the Queen of Hearts would ignore. Emma followed the guards lead hoping that she would take Emma in the right direction.
Turns out her trust in the dark royal guard was the right thing to have as the guard had led her right up to the room that Regina and Cora were fighting in. Regina was now freed from her mother's magical grip but they were locked in a fierce magical battle. Balls of fire flying in every direction as they bounced off the defensive shields both witches erected in the nick of time. Emma stepped into the room once the guard had opened the door. The guard followed her in and slowly crept behind Cora poised ready to strike but only held back form taking the final blow from a look from her queen. Mulan stepped back and waited for Regina to give her the sign to proceed.
Emma however joined in on the magical battle sending her own magical balls of energy and fire balls at Cora coming to the defence of Regina. at one point during the battle Cora was about to rip out Regina's heart from her chest but Emma being the saviour and ever brave knight stepped in front of Regina taking her place. "Oh you foolish girl!" said Cora as she moved her hand to get a firm grip on Emma's heart. "Don't you know that love is weakness?" taunted Cora as she tried to pull on Emma's heart but failing to do so as her heart just wouldn't budge from its secure place in Emma's chest.
"No it is strength!" declared Emma proudly as a bright white light burst out of her chest sending Cora flying backwards into the wall at the end of the long dinning room sending the food spread out over the table in every direction. Regina who was in complete shock walked around from behind Emma to stand in front of her brave young saviour. She reached out to touch Emma's chest just above where her heart resided just to be sure that Emma still had her heart in it's place. Feeling satisfied that Emma still had her heart she removed her hand once she registered the knowing look on Emma's face.
Regina stayed in close proximity to Emma as she found herself drawn into her like a magnet trying to reach its connected other half. "Hi I am Emma, you must be Regina the ex- Evil Queen. Nice to finally meet you. I have heard so much about you from my tutors and from what my parents and godmother told me about you." Said Emma holding out a hand for Regina to confusedly shake.
While Regina and Emma made official introductions Cora briefly watched then teleported herself out of the castle back to her hiding place in Rumple's abandoned castle. She was soon greeted by the Blue Fairy. "You failed me Cora, you were supposed to get your daughter under control so that she rescinded back into darkness. She has to be dark for my plan to work." Barked an angry Blue, who then conjured the box keeping Cora's darkened heart safe. Cora noticing that Blue had the box with her heart in it in her hands began to panic.
"I tired I did but that meddling genie that is stuck inside my daughter's mirrors interfered by letting the saviour see and hear us through a connected mirror in the Light Kingdom's castle. I was not aware that Regina communicated with Snow White and her husband through mirrors." Pleaded Cora, while silently begging the fairy to not crush her heart.
"You were careless, and arrogant you failed to see beyond your thinking of power being all that you need. I should have known better to think a heartless witch like you would underestimate the power of light magic. Why do you think I have been making sure to only teach the most basic of magic to the saviour. She must have been learning the more practical offensive and defensive magic on her own or she had another teacher." Uttered Blue getting of track with the conversation.
Cora just stood there and listened to the fairy go on in a rambling monologue taking in every bit of information she could gleam without getting interrupted. While over in the Dark castle Regina a and Emma were having a very awkward first meeting. Awkward for Regina at least because she had watched from a far Emma grow up and become the seventeen year old woman she was that day. So Regina wasn't sure what to say to Emma after her warm greeting.
"Hello Emma, I am Regina. I am sorry but I am not sure what to say as my last name because since I am widowed to your late grandfather, my late father was the youngest son of King Xaiver, and my mother is the daughter of a miller but is known more for being the Queen of Hearts. While I am sure you know me as the Evil Queen which your mother so aptly named me. Sorry I am rambling. It is nice to meet you Emma." Replied a very nervous Regina.
"Not to worry I am just as nervous as you are. It's not everyday you meet the woman of your dreams. Wow did I just say that out loud?" replied Emma, getting all fidgety in her nervousness. Regina then sat down at the dining table and gestured towards Emma to do the same.
"How did you get here? I didn't see or feel you teleport into the castle or this room…" inquired a curious Regina as she is slowly getting over her nervousness.
"I teleported to the edge of the dark forest near the wall that defends the bottom edge of your apple orchard. I climbed the wall then ran through the orchard. Your guard who is standing stiffly over in that corner over there called out to me when she saw me and led the way to this room. It is a very nice dining room by the way. This was my grandfather's castle when you were married to him wasn't it?" replied Emma, her own curiosity coming into play.
"Yes it was, but let's not talk about my past with your grandfather, it wasn't a pleasant time for me. Tell me about how your horse riding is coming along? I have seen how you ride when you have gone to battle. Though that isn't the only way to ride a horse, have you been practicing the jumps?" responded Regina, tyring her best not to let her negative emotions associated with Leopold.
"Yes I have but I am not as good as my mum tells me you are. Would you show me sometime? I would like to get better at it so that my riding isn't just as a knight." Asked Emma. Emma used her magic to teleport two of Granny's mini chocolate cakes. As her coming her to Regina's castle meant that she would miss out on enjoying the cakes as a special treat for her birthday. At least more of a treat then she usually got from Granny on the days she trained with her dad. On her birthdays though Granny always made her favourites and wouldn't ever grumble if she ate more then two during the day. In the Light Kingdom her birthday is usually a large celebration. Everyone in the kingdom is invited to celebrate the day the 'saviour' was born.
Emma though was hoping that Regina would want to celebrate it with her, by eating these cakes with her. "What are those?" asked Regina picking up one of the cakes and sniffing it, "oh wow it smells delicious…"continued Regina her mouth practically watering in anticipation of eating the cake.
"They taste just as good as they smell. Eat it, Granny made them for my birthday. I was on my way down to the kitchen's to eat some when I heard you and your mother arguing through the mirror. Emma took a bit of hers first just to show Regina that there was nothing wrong with them. Regina seeing the enthusiasm that Emma took to eating the cake, took a bite out of her own. Relishing in the sweet velvety flavour that hit her tastebuds. When they had both finished eating the cakes Emma drummed up the courage to ask "Um, Regina would you come to my birthday ball tonight?"
"That sounds lovely, what is the dress code for your ball?" replied Regina, once the shock of being asked to join in on the celebrations. Over the last few years she has wanted to go join her former step-daughter in celebrating the birth of the saviour, but she never received an invitation. Much to her bitter disappointment considering all the help she gave the light kingdom in defeating the wars that was sent their way. So getting a personal invitation from the saviour herself was a pleasant surprise.
"This year the theme is knights and damsels, I wanted to be able to dress as a knight for my birthday for once. I really don't like wearing the big ball gowns my mum favours whenever we throw big balls. So you can dress as either a knight or a Queen in your case, as I seriously doubt you are Damsel in distress." Explained Emma.
"You would be correct, well then I will just have to surprise you. You should probably get back to the light kingdom, enjoy your day and I will see you tonight at your ball." Replied Regina giving Emma her signature smile that has gotten many a woman and men to follow her into her bed. If the look in Emma's eyes were to say anything it was that if Regina gave Emma the say so she would give her virginity to her in a heartbeat. If Regina was still fully her Evil Queen persona she would've bedded the saviour right then and there.
These days though she knows better, that someone like Emma her first time should be done right. Be memorable, instead she decides to get to know Emma first see if they would be more then just a one night stand. If the undeniable pull towards Emma was more then just physical attraction. Perhaps the ball tonight would give her an idea. If nothing else she might at least gain a new friend.
Emma gave Regina a respectable nod before engulfing herself in white smoke and teleporting herself into the throne room of the light castle. When she gets there she is greeted by a frantic Snow. "Where have you been? We have been searching everywhere for you, it has been hours since your maids came to get you to come down to breakfast!" probed a frantic Snow.
"Calm down mum, I was just over at the Dark Kingdom Castle I heard Regina fighting with her mother the Queen of Hearts in one of the mirrors in the corridors near my chambers. Her mother then started to magically strangle Regina, I had to go help. It is the way of a hero isn't it?" replied Emma, trying to get her mother to calm herself down.
"So did you save her?" asked Snow, as Emma took her seat on her own throne. Emma sat down on her own smaller throne on her mother's side. So that they could continue the conversation.
"I did mum, I stopped Cora from ripping out Regina's heart. I blasted her with my magic from within my heart. She left the castle after that. And I invited Regina to my ball tonight. She looks my age, how is that possible?" quizzed Emma, the image of Regina looking to be her age, when she should be at least eight years older than her own mother.
"Do you remember when your father and I told you the story of your birthday?" Emma nodded in response to Snow's question. "Well on that day Regina had cast the dark curse, you and I were going to travel through the Enchanted wardrobe in your old nursery. But the curse backfired on Regina, it regressed her body back to the age she was when I first met her, I was ten and Regina had not long turned seventeen much like you are now. You see Regina had saved me from a runaway horse. My father was grateful to her so he proposed to Regina. my father wanted someone who would be a mother figure for me, but I know now he also was looking for someone to warm his bed and to try for a male heir for the throne.
I didn't understand it back then, but I always noticed that Regina wore a lot of heavy makeup on her face and neck. She used to make sure to wear dresses with long sleeves. I saw underneath them one day, she had many dark bruises all over her body. My father must have beaten her, he was not one to be denied anything and if Regina ever said no to him I bet he would've made sure she knew not to. He used to do it to my mother when she was alive as well. I am just lucky he never laid a hand on me. But I think that might be due to Regina protecting me from him. She may of hated me back then, but she would never harm a child.
She waited until I was old enough to take care of myself before she convinced the genie to kill my father for her. I know Regina wanted revenge for my inability to keep a secret but, if I am honest with myself if I had never told Cora about Daniel I wouldn't have met your father and had you. As terrible as it was what Cora did to Regina and Daniel, I was only ten years old and had lost my own mother I was naive enough to think that Cora wouldn't do anything to harm Regina. I thought she would let Regina be happy with Daniel. I was wrong about that.
Ever since the night the curse backfired she has stayed looking like the eighteen year old who was forced to marry my father. She has the mind of her thirty four year old self. Regina has slowly come back to being the woman who saved my life from that horse so she is more then welcome here for your ball. Who knows Emma maybe you might be able to save her darkened heart." Explained Snow.
"Thank you for telling me all that mum, I have a running session with Red today I better get going. Will see you at meal time." Stated Emma before heading off to Red's cottage, where Red and Dorothy had prepared a day of fun for Emma to enjoy as a treat for her seventeenth birthday.
The day had gone smoothly, Emma enjoyed herself and then at the ball she got to dance with Regina who came as the most regal looking Queen whose dress colours matched the newly made formal armour set she was presented for entering the full knighthood ranks, that wasn't just as a ceremonial position. From then one Regina and Emma made sure to spend more time together to get to know each other better.
They bonded over horse riding, and it was on one of those rides that Emma was granted her first kiss. Given to her by Regina who was slowly falling for Emma. The kiss was a heat of the moment one. It wasn't expected but it was most definitely wanted. Regina had also started giving Emma more advanced magic training that she couldn't learn from a book. Became close friends until one day Regina asked Emma if she could court her. Emma bashfully said yes, and soon their days was spent doing more romantic things.
One time Regina took Emma out on a ride to where the door to Oz was located. They travelled through the door and went on a magical adventure while there they came across the wicked witch of the west who they found had a major case of envy over Regina becoming Queen and being able to grow up with their mother. Emma and Regina worked together as a team to get her to not try and kill them. Emma's light magic subdued zelena enough for Regina to talk her down and to see what their mother was really like and just how not so glamourous and great it was to be a Queen, married to a king who was kind to his daughter and peasants but cruel and mean to her.
Zelena had a magical disk that showed bits and pieces of Regina's life. It however never showed the nastier details that Regina explained until Regina added an enchantment to the disk so that Zelena could see and experience it all for herself. At the end of the vision from the disk, Zelena finally believed Regina and agreed to come back to the Enchanted Forest with them. Zelena moved into the Dark Castle with Regina, and the two sisters began to bond. Emma found that she rather enjoyed getting to know the red headed witch as well and Zelena and Emma became fast friends.
When Emma's eighteenth birthday became closer Emma overheard her parent's arguing about what to do about fixing the situation with the Light kingdom's dwindling treasury funds. Snow was suggesting that they marry Emma off to the son of their friends Queen Ella and King Thomas. Gain some funds from the joining of the two kingdoms, but Charming was against that idea. He knew how much Emma loved Regina and he didn't want to see Emma have to be separated from the woman she loved. Snow was oblivious to the romantic side of the relationship between Regina and Emma. She knew that they were close but she just didn't see how close they had become. It was much the same when it come to truly noticing the relationship between Red and Dorothy. Granny had tried to enlighten her but Snow just wasn't getting it.
Emma though had heard enough so she took off to her bedchambers to pack herself a bag. There was no way she was going to be forced into a marriage to a man she didn't know. Not when she was already found someone she loved deeply. She teleported herself into her bedroom and grabbed apricot's saddle bags she placed an enchantment on them to allow them to be able to hold all of her belongings without needing more bags or making them too heavy.
She then went over to her mirror set in her vanity that sat against the wall opposite the end of her Queen's side bed. She called out to the Genie like Regina taught her to do, for whenever she wanted to contact her in between their courting dates. "Mister Genie are you there? I really need to talk to Regina it is urgent!" Emma softly chanted into the mirror. She didn't want anyone to overhear her.
"Yes your highness I will get her for you. I heard what your parents were saying about marrying you off to another kingdom, your father though he tried to convince your mother to change her mind but Snow White is a very stubborn woman. But don't worry I am sure the majesty Queen Regina will help you deal with Snow." Responded Genie before he smoked out to get his Queen's attention.
Soon enough Regina appeared in the mirror, "Emma darling, what is the matter?" asked a concerned Regina.
"My mother wants to marry me off to one of her friend's kingdom to save the light kingdom from financial bankruptcy. I don't want to be forced into an arranged marriage, I want to be with you. Can I move in with you?" explained Emma.
"Of course you can, teleport yourself into my castle I will have the huntsman retrieve Apricot so that he is here with you. I will see you soon my love." Answered Regina, before phasing out of the mirror. Emma grabbed her bags and engulfed herself in her signature smoke, teleporting herself not the throne room of Regina's castle. She placed the bags down on the floor just as Regina had come over to where she was standing to take her in her arms in a warm embrace.
"Come on Emma lets go to my chambers and you can tell me everything that you over heard and what you think would be the ideal way to fix your parent's kingdoms finances." Emma simply nodded and allowed Regina to teleport them into Regina's bedroom. When they got there Regina walked them over to the two armchairs set over near the balcony doors. There was a small side table sitting in between the two armchairs. On that table a tray with two steaming teapots, and other small jugs containing some milk, a jar of honey and a plate piled high full of the small chocolate cakes that Emma loves that granny makes.
They take a seat together and pour themselves a cup of tea each, Emma naturally grabbed herself one of the cakes. Before delving into the full story of what happened to have Emma ask if she could move in with Regina. when Regina heard the full story she felt herself getting angry and took to pacing across the room to help her control the anger lest she took it out on someone.
"Your mother is so frustratingly stubborn. She was like that as a child as well. It used to drive me absolutely crazy. But don't worry I won't let her take you away. Not for any reason. I will try and convince her of one of your ideas to fix the situation. And I would like to ask your parents if I could take your hand in marriage. I have been thinking about it a lot lately. What do you think will you marry me?" rambled Regina as she continued to pace the room.
"Yes Regina, I will marry you. Will you please stop pacing though?" It is making me dizzy." Replied Emma as she came over to where Regina was pacing blocking her path.
"Was that a yes?" asked a shocked Regina, she never thought that Emma would say yes. Instead of answering her Emma simply pulled Regina into her arms then crushed her lips into Regina's. They kissed passionately, tongues seeking entrance before exploring each other's mouths. Hands exploring the other's bodies above their respective clothing. Only breaking apart when they struggled to pull air into their lungs. They rested their foreheads together, just relishing the comfort they felt being in each other's arms.
Before they could take it any further they were interrupted by the loud banging on Regina's bedroom chambers doors. "Hey Sis, you probably come out of there and into the throne room you have a rather irate Snow White panicking about where her daughter has gotten too." Shouted Zelena through the doors. Regina and Emma pulled themselves apart and exited the bedroom to prevent the red head from just barging in. It wouldn't be the first time that Zelena had done that interrupting their make out sessions before they could go any further much to the frustration of Emma.
"Hello Zee, how's it going?" greeted Emma shocking the red head. Emma laughed heartedly at the facial reaction of her friend. When she recovered from her laughing fit the three of them walked together into the throne room. Which surprised the light kingdom's monarch.
"Emma you are here? Why did you leave with all of your belongings?" interrogated Snow.
"Come Snow, take a seat we have much to tell you." Instructed Regina. Snow did as she was asked, then waited for Regina and Emma to explain everything.