Chapter 1 – New Beginnings
Note: I was very taken aback by the amount of follows this story got off of only 500 words. I have many ideas for this; there will be some set up throughout Emma's childhood, teen years and adult years before we embark on the final battle. Thanks for your reviews and I hope you enjoy!
It had taken months for James to build a suitable home for his wife and newborn. He had trekked into town and bought an axe with some money he had pan handled. He cut down trees, affixed them together. When he had built a roof and structure he retrieved Snow and Emma from the cave they had been using for cover. It was a slow start but it was something.
"I'm not sure we can do this without money Snow. I'll have to find somewhere to work. We have so little now that any little bit will help us." James had been working so hard to keep his family going. Not only did he build a house but he hunted game and scavenged for berries. He built a bed and a baby carriage. Life in this world was no harder than his former life as a shepherd, but James always loved hard work.
Snow nodded, "I know James but this world is so different from ours." She looked out the window at the new land they lived in, "Regina said this land is terrible, we can't let Emma be corrupted by this place. She is the only one who can save our friends." The sleeping baby nestled in her arms.
"How about we get her walking first? We can figure out how to raise her as we go." James wrapped his arms around his family. "We'll make this work, if we have to keep things from Emma about this world than that's what we will have to do Snow."
A small frown appeared on her face, "Will that make us bad parents? Emma is scarcely a few weeks old and we are already planning on lying to her."
"I know." James sighed, "We will tell her in time but, like you said, we can't let the temptations of this world alter her focus. She is the savior, she has a destiny."
Snow White and James smiled at baby Emma. She was so tiny and so much depended on her. "Do you think she'll fair?"
James scooped Emma from Snow's arm. Emma cooed in her father's arms. "We can train her. I will teach her to sword fight, you will teach her how to hide and maneuver quickly through the woods. She will be a warrior. She will be the Savior."
Five years later
Snow and Prince James had the time of their life raising Emma. They didn't have their old priorities of fighting the Queen or trying to find each other, instead they got to indulge in teaching their daughter to talk, walk and see her grow into an adorable, feisty child.
Emma had shown an affinity for combat after James had brought home some plastic swords he had purchased from a toy store after a day of work. He had found a job working at a hardware store in town, since Snow and he didn't have the same finances as other people he was able to use the money to furnish their home and provide an easier way for him to go to work within the first few weeks. They had agreed to keep the outside world from Emma but they liked to make up for it by bring the outside world in. She had an array of books and toys, some could've been similar to toys she might have played with in the Enchanted Kingdom but others were made with materials foreign to them, like plastic. They did however draw the line at electronics, which was a part of this world they didn't want to partake in.
James' daughter was a natural, her first moves were very basic, block and parry, but she had perfected them like a professional swordsman. She always giggled and laughed when she fought, he knew later in life, she might not have the same happiness towards the exercise but for now, he let her have fun in the fight.
Snow was teaching Emma of their world. "This is Red." She said holding a portrait she drew of her dear friend, "She is one of my best friends, but Emma, Red has a curse."
Emma gaped, "What kind of a curse Momma?"
"You see Emma, her curse is to turn into a wolf when the moon is full and when she takes off her enchanted cloak she will morph into a large wolf, but Red was a good wolf. She was – is on our side."
The blonde little girl sighed, "Momma, where are all these people? How come I haven't met any of them?" She held up the other illustrations Snow made of a cricket and 7 dwarfs. "I want to meet Grumpy, I think he could use some cheering up. And—and Jiminy cause I really want to see a talking cricket! I saw one last night and he didn't talk to me he just chirped at me. I asked him all sorts of questions but he never answered. He just chirped!"
Snow giggled slightly before catching her amusement, it really wasn't funny that Emma so desperately wanted to meet the people of her world but she couldn't help but laugh that Emma tried to talk to a cricket from this world. "Well my dear Emma, a horrible woman cursed these friends of ours. They need our help, but we can't do that for another twenty-four years."
Emma's little face grew wide, "That sounds like a really long time."
"It is." Snow admitted pulling Emma onto her lap, "But that gives us a lot of time to get ready for this battle. Do you know what a battle is, Emma?"
She nodded, "Like when Daddy and I play with the swords."
Snow nodded, "Yes- I suppose it is like that." Emma was still young and she would learn more as she got older, for now she had learned enough about the curse, but she still had a lot to learn about the inhabitants of it. "Now this is Ella. She is one of the many princesses in the Enchanted Kingdom, like you."
"I don't feel like a princess." Emma huffed crossing her arms. "I need a crown and pretty dresses to be a princess! Like Princess Ella!" She pointed at the picture Snow held.
"How is everything going in here?" James asked peering into Emma's room.
Emma jumped up and into her father's arms, "Daddy!"
James caught Emma as she jumped, "Hello to you too Emma!" he laughed, "I brought you home something special."
A grin of pure delight grew on Emma's face, "What is it Daddy? Is it a new sword? Is it a real sword?"
He laughed, "Not quite." James set Emma down. "Close your eyes." Emma covered her eyes with her hands. James left the room and returned with Emma's present. "Now open them."
"Is it a kitten?" Emma asked having never seen the fluffy little critter her father was holding except for in books.
James put the kitten on the ground. "It is Emma. She is your kitten."
"I get to keep her?" she smiled stroking her hand against the kittens head. "Do I get to name her too?"
Snow smiled, "Of course dear." James wrapped his arm around Snow as they watched Emma play with her new pet. They had agreed the night before that Emma was at an age where friends were important, since they couldn't let someone from this world in, they decided it was time for Emma to have a pet.
The fluffy black kitten rolled onto its back swatting at Emma's hands playfully, "I'm going to name her Princess, like me."
Years flew by fast for the Charming's. Emma grew like a sprout, she was ten and already sword fighting like a master. James' hadn't expected she'd taken such a liking towards it but it was undeniable. His daughter was a natural, and the Evil Queen had a match ahead of her.