AN: Thanks so much for the many favorites and reviews! I'm so happy to see a positive reaction! So excited that I decided to post the second chapter today!
However (and this is the part that you all can skip), there was one review in particular from one 'Guest' that was quasi-critical, but on the whole didn't give me much to go on. I love criticism. Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike you all telling me my work sucks; but you have to give reason and you have to be explicit because sometimes I don't understand things. And please, OH PLEASE sign the crap in. That's actually what pisses me off, when people leave criticism, but don't sign in. I promise that I am not going to jump on you for criticism; I will want to have a conversation so that I can see if there's a way to fix it or something I could do different. Don't be that guy that doesn't sign in. All authors hate that guy. Because if we do want to talk to you because we think that what you have to say makes sense or we want to explain ourselves, we have to take a big bold chunk of text that probably no one will read through to try to have a conversation…
This note is for my one Guest—next time, please sign in for the reasons stated above, and so I can type with you one on one; have a full on conversation and all that. This was your review: "So there are gay kings and queens yet people have a problem with Regina being queen alone? Or Emma competing for her hand? That doesn't make much sense tbh. Introducing the other challengers particularly with their associated histories detracts from your story and turns it from something that could be serious drama to a comedy. Is that what you intended?" Quick side note: When you put this much into a review and ask questions, I feel the need to respond and answer; that's why with the huge AN (sorry everyone else). To answer your questions… Yes, there are gay kings and queens in parts of different lands, and yes, Regina's court thinks she needs to marry a man and that Emma shouldn't be in the competition. Think of it like Regina lives in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia, South Carolina—any bible belt state and Ariel and Eric, and Red and Belle live in NY or any of the 13 states and D.C. that now celebrate marriage equality. Make sense now? It's not pretty, but it's common life in most places… If I'm reading your 'challengers' line correctly, I do know that it will be comedic; I like to think I'm a funny lady and have more trouble writing the drama than the funny. I categorized it as romance/drama instead of romance/comedy because drama will ensue and it won't just be one big soap opera, at the same time, it's not going to be witty, funny and quippy. And I mean... Don't all dramas have funny parts? So, yes, I guess that was my intention to make it funny; again, Queen Nan's done an excellent job with her "Enchanted" if you want the same story but completely different… Sorry if I sound bitchy, I'm not trying to be, just trying to have a conversation… see if we understand each other…
Okay, thanks! Hope you all enjoy!
They'd gathered into the dining hall. Regina sat separately from the rest, and paired the royals up into tables that she knew would get along the most: The Eastern and Northern Kingdoms of the Enchanted Forest—allegedly Princess Emma and Prince Alexander were quite chummy growing up; The Western Kingdom of the Enchanted Forest and the Caspian Kingdom—the two most… progressive lands, what with the rulers being queer, and the princes Chip and Arely being the two most handsome of them all; the Southern Kingdom of the Enchanted Forest and the French Kingdom—the two knights would have plenty to discuss; and Far, Far Away and Stormhold—a table of two ogres, a star, a quarter star-three quarters human, and two humans should have plenty of entertaining talk.
Regina looked over all of her competitors as she sat, Graham to her immediate right, Genie her immediate left. She fixed her gaze on the furthest table to the only toe-headed blonde in the room. She rested her head on her hand and smirked as she watched the blonde sniff at the food foreign to her, decide it was okay, and take a huge bite—Regina decided to bring a traditional dish from each land into the meal, which made most of everyone's plates foreign.
"Your Majesty?" Genie asked quietly.
Regina pulled from her stare and looked over to the Genie, "Yes?"
He glanced back to the princess before asking, "Are you not satisfied with your meal?"
"Of course I am, I just got a little carried away with the excitement of the party." She took a bite.
"Your majesty?" Hook looked toward her from his seat next to Graham, "I think we will in fact need that small table Bae suggested."
"Why's that, Hook?" She reached for her chalice.
"Well, Prince Arely is making his way over here."
She looked the direction he indicated and nodded, "Very well." She snapped her fingers and was instantly transported to a table for two a few feet behind the advisors.
Arely shook his head thinking he just saw an illusion before moving again around the advisors to the small table, "Your Majesty." He smiled.
0~0
Across the room, Princess Emma stopped pushing the only dish she recognized around on her plate and saw Arely standing in front of Regina's now separated table from the advisors.
"Hey what do you suppose that's about?" She pushed on Prince Alexander's arm.
Alexander rolled his eyes, "Obviously, he's trying to get ahead in the competition."
Emma looked at him innocently, "Ahead in a competition that hasn't even started and is based first on our strength and our character?"
Alexander stood and wiped his mouth, "Oh, teeny, tiny, Princess Emma's brain…" He patted her hair, "Of course it's started, Sweet Pea." He kissed her hair as he stood and slowly made his way across the room.
0~0
"Prince Arely." Regina smiled and gave him the hand he was waiting on.
He kissed the top of said hand then gestured, "May I sit down?"
"Of course." The queen kept her smile on her face.
"Do your advisors remind you of just how stunningly beautiful you are?" He leaned on the table and gazed into her eyes.
This action only made the queen smirk, "One of my advisors is my brother… The rest of them have their sights on other women."
"Why?"
"Because they know that I am not an accomplishment. I am not another notch on a bedpost. They know that." She took a sip of her wine from her chalice, "Do you?"
"Do I know you're not a notch?" At the queen's small nod, he chuckled a little, "I see my reputation precedes me."
0~0
"Oh, hey! Artie!" Shrek pointed to Prince Alexander as he walked by, "You need to finish that pint and get in line." He looked at his plate, "Are we ever going to have something appetizing? Where is the worm stir-fry?"
0~0
"Your Majesty?"
Regina looked from Prince Arely, "Prince Alexander."
"I wonder if I might interrupt?"
"Well, Prince Arely was about to go into what I am sure is a very long-winded, unsound explanation as to why I'm not a notch on his bedpost, so please. Do interrupt."
Arely chuckled, "I can see when I'm not wanted." He stood up.
Regina took his hand, "Who said you weren't wanted? You were invited, weren't you?"
"I… yes…?"
"Then you're wanted." She winked at him, "I need to make time for everyone, you see."
0~0
Emma watched Prince Artie stand from his table and cautiously make his way over to the queen. She tried to keep her gaze from said queen because gods, she was damn beautiful. She decided that she was going to cautiously bide her time and wait to be the last to go up. Heavens forbid she look anxious.
0~0
"So, you pick out your own colors for every outfit your seamstress makes you?" Regina had to hide behind her chalice.
It wasn't funny. Except that it was a little amusing. It was sad more than anything else. Here was this man, this prince, who so desperately tries to hide himself from everyone that the only person he ends up fooling is himself.
"Yes, and when we marry, I bet I could do wonders for your wardrobe…" Prince Alexander's eyes lit up with a hint of excitement.
"I bet you could." Regina took a sip to keep from laughing out. Then she realized his hidden insult, "Are you saying something needs to be done with my wardrobe?"
Alexander put his hands up, "Of course not! Your wardrobe is lovely!" He paused only for a half second before, "You could use a splash of color though."
"Mmm," She mumbled before the man behind Alexander caught her eye, "Prince Arthur." She smiled.
"Hello your majesty." He was obviously nervous.
"I guess my turn is up." Alexander stood gave a slight bow to the other prince and a full bow to the queen of the Shadow Lands, "Your Majesty."
"Prince Alexander." She bid him farewell then looked up at Artie, "Is it your turn to get your leg up?"
"I suppose so." He wiped his forehead as he sat down. He patted a beat on the table and looked around, "So… You have quite the collection of representatives…"
Regina smirked, "I do. Tell me, Artie, are you even of age to marry yet?"
"Did I win already?" He asked nervous, then, at her look, he shook his head, "Oh, 'cause I'm young and you're just… Yeah. I've just passed my eighteenth year."
"Do you want to get married?"
0~0
Sir Patrick stood up and excused himself from his table. He slowly made his way over to the queen as soon as Prince Alexander stood. He caught the Prince's gaze as they crossed paths; both men took a subtly deep breath as they held each other's stare before curtly looking at the ground and moving on.
0~0
"I don't know… It'd be cool if my kingdom was stronger…?" He immediately covered his mouth, "That's not the right answer. I'm kicked out aren't I?"
Regina laughed, "No, Artie!" She reached over and gave a reassuring touch to the top of his hand, "You are not disqualified… Yet."
Artie's eyes widened a bit in fear then looked around, "Oh look. Sir Patrick, well, I'm gonna go before my foot makes it's way in my mouth completely."
Artie stood quickly gave a quick bow then ran back to his table.
Sir Patrick was turned, staring after the boy before turning back to the queen, "Your Majesty." He smiled after bowing his greeting and sitting down.
"Sir Patrick." She smiled and they stared at one another, "You've pain in your eyes."
"Not to be informal, but you've pain in your own." He said seriously.
"I suppose one as perceptive as a knight, one that's seen all and been through wars would know what pain looks like." She looked down.
"May I ask a question?"
"You may ask but I am not guaranteeing an answer."
0~0
Prince Dunstan stood from his place and gallantly made his way over to the queen's table.
0~0
He smirked as he nodded, "If you know that it won't make you happy why hold a Battle Royale?"
"How do you know it won't make me happy?"
"Knight's intuition?" Patrick sat back in his seat and shrugged.
"As if there is such a thing." Regina smirked and looked down as she thought about the question, "I suppose that I am doing this because I know in some way there is a possibility that somehow, some way I will be happy. Even though it is the smallest chance, it's the only chance I have of a happily ever after."
Sir Patrick nodded, but before he could speak, Prince Dunstan was standing at the table, "Your Majesty." He said with a smile.
Sir Patrick turned, "Ah, Prince Dunstan." He bowed then offered his hand to the lad, "You're right on time." He smiled, bowed to the queen and departed.
Dunstan looked at the queen, "I suppose it's my turn to tell you of all my accomplishments and why I'm so fitting to be your husband?"
Regina sipped from her wine and nodded, "I suppose it is."
Dunstan sat down.
0~0
Sir Gustave decided it was his turn to stand and greet the queen.
"Come on, Princess. When are you going to go?" Alexander asked as he watched the knight weave his way to the table.
"I'll go when I'm good and ready." Emma stabbed a huge bite of roast with her fork and shoved it in her mouth.
0~0
"Well, you'll be able to tell when I'm mad or glad because like my grandmother, I shine." He started, "Also, if we do fall in true love, we'll live for more than we probably care to remember. I'm an excellent swordsman, no novice to archery and jousting, and, as a side note, I've been told I can wake the dead in my sleep."
Regina's eyes widened with surprise, "Really? How?" She leaned in with curiosity.
"Well, snoring…" He grinned, "I was providing you with a fault."
Regina found the Prince utterly charming.
"Your Majesty?"
Regina looked up to find the other knight in her competition, "Sir Gustave."
Prince Dunstan stood and offered his chair to the other man, "Sir knight."
"Thank you, your majesty." Both men bowed mannerly before one departed and the other sat.
"You have a reputation, you know?" Gustave said as he sat before the queen.
"And what is that? That I'm ruthless, vicious?"
Gustave smiled with a slight shake of his head, "Your beauty makes men fall to their knees and give you anything you want. Is that why your kingdom is so prosperous."
Regina smirked at the man's attempt at seduction, "Are your knees weak?"
"Desperately so. I may not be able to walk."
The queen reached for her chalice again, not able to hide her grin any longer.
0~0
Prince Chip looked across the room to the only representative beside himself left to find her eyes on him. He gestured for her to go, but she only dug into her meal and refused to look back up at him.
0~0
"You're a horrible flirt." She stated plainly.
Gustave let out a loud chuckle, "That may be, but the rumors of your beauty don't lie."
"Well thank you, sir knight." Regina glanced around the room, "Oh, our time is about to be cut short." She gestured to the last prince coming their way.
Gustave stood, "So it has. I wish I had more time than to only show you what a horrible flirt I am…"
Regina laughed, "As do I." She waved goodbye as he turned to leave. Chip was quick to make it over to her, "Prince Chip."
"Your Majesty." Chip bowed.
"You are as handsome as your rumors."
"And you as beautiful as yours." Chip blushed and looked away from her.
Regina was awed by this, "Oh, and you're just as shy as I've been told as well."
"Shyness reflects poorly on royalty." He was obviously reciting something he'd been told repeatedly.
The queen knit her brows, "Do your mothers tell you that?"
Chip smiled and chanced a glance her direction, "No, one of them growls and the other scolds the advisors that tell me that then they tell them to educate themselves and read a book, that way they'd be useful."
"You have good parents."
He grinned wide and nodded, "Yes I do."
"And you just want to live up to what they want you to be…"
"Yes."
"I think that your shyness gives you an advantage to being just that man."
Chip blushed bright and looked around, "Well, my time is up I see."
The two royals watched as the princess in the competition stood, wiped her mouth and began stalking her way over, all with a determined look on her face.
Chip stood, took the Queen's hand, kissed it and walked off before Emma got there.
As soon as she approached, the announcement for dessert was made and plates were served to everyone in the room. Emma looked down at her chocolate cake—her favorite—and back up to the queen, "Chocolate cake?"
Regina looked around the room flippantly, "I try to please everyone. You, I might add, have had questionable looks on your face all night."
"I stick with what I know usually, but it was all delicious." She jabbed her cake and stuffed a large bite in her mouth, then after savoring, and before licking the frosting mustache from her lip, she looked back to the brunette, "Is there more?"
Regina handed the woman a napkin, "Of course. I would hate to disappoint the princess."
"Because you can clearly see that I'm the best candidate out there?" Emma said after wiping her mouth.
"I wouldn't say the best candidate. Though every candidate does have their faults."
"And mine is?"
"Table manners and tact." Regina didn't miss a beat.
"But I make up for it because I'm utterly adorable." Emma gave the queen a cocky grin.
"You're also arrogant." Regina deadpanned.
Emma wasted no time in her response, "But I make up for it because I'm utterly adorable." She repeated with the same cocky grin.
Regina appeared to be annoyed, but Emma could see in her eyes that she was having fun. The brunette stood, "I suddenly have a headache." She said before poofing over to her advisors and apologizing to the crowd.
Emma stayed in her seat and dug into her cake. Or she tried to, but she soon heard the impatient foot tap of her mother.
"Emma Swan White." The tone was scolding.
"Whuuh?" The blonde turned with a full mouth of cake.
"What did you say to her? She did not look pleased. You were the only one she did not look pleased with."
Emma swallowed, "Relax, mom. I was being nice."
"That was your way of being nice? Not waiting for the queen—the queen whose hand you're competing for by the way, to eat her dessert first? Not bowing or curtsying or kissing her hand? You just plopped down—look at me when I'm talking to you."
Emma rolled her eyes as she stuffed the last possible bite of cake and icing and crumbs in her mouth, "I will, when you start talking to me like I'm a grown up, not your little princess." She stood, "I'm competing for marriage mother. I don't need etiquette lessons unless my future wife says I do." She looked around, "Which she does, but that's not the point."
"Then what is the point?"
Emma opened her mouth and looked around. She saw the rest of the representatives gathering around a particular table, but couldn't be bothered to join, "I'm tired and I'm gonna go to bed. Goodnight, mother."
"I hate it when you call me that. It's so formal."
"Yes, I know, mother. I do it to annoy you." Emma smiled before walking out of the room.