A/N: Thanks to everyone encouraging me to write this story, alerting, reviewing, etc. and making writing that much more fun. :)

I hope you enjoy reading this chapter. Mistakes are all mine.

Chapter 9

Emma's POV:

Emma wandered around the large ballroom, dressed in a gorgeous white dress that was slightly asymmetrical and that she had inherited from her mother. She hated dresses in general and normally just wore them to please her parents. However, she had fallen in love with this dress right away.

As the blonde was on her way to Snow and Charming who were surrounded by several townspeople, she immediately took notice of a dark-haired girl standing close by. The brunette suddenly turned around and instantly gazed into Emma's emerald orbs. Emma felt as if her breath was stolen by the soul that was displayed in front of her. She moved closer, some inexplicable force pulling her towards the other woman. Emma didn't notice that the brunette also made a few steps in her direction.

The blonde princess wasn't capable of saying anything and before she could even try, her mother spoke up, extending a hand to the young woman with the ravishing dark hair.

"Emma. I want you to meet Regina."

The girl stepped forward, a smile beautifully grazing her features as she held out her hand to Emma.

"I am Regina, princess of the Dark Kingdom. It is a pleasure to finally get to know you in person."

The blonde made a curtsy before she placed a kiss on the back of the brunette's hand. Emma kept on holding her hand as she replied, her eyes easily finding Regina's once more.

"The pleasure is all mine, milady. My name is Emma."

The brunette immediately blushed due to the action. She had to admit that the rumors about the beauty of the White Kingdom's rebellious princess were not exaggerated at all. Young Emma truly looked like an angel... maybe an angel in disguise but one nonetheless.

"Why don't you show Regina around, love." Snow suggested after a while of silence.

"Of course, mother." Emma replied quickly.

The blonde linked their arms as she led the stunning beauty out of the crowded room. They walked in silence for a while until they reached a garden on top of the palace that also offered a breathtaking view over the entire White Kingdom.

White lilies plastered the garden as if they were the only plants existing. Only one bloomer stood out from the rest, showing of its crimson color and a quite different odor than the lily. It radiated a strong scent that the brunette immediately caught. She instantly recognized her favorite flower. It stood in opposition to the other flowers, but simply perfected the garden. Regina was fascinated by the beauty of it and the contrasts between the plants and especially by the princess.

Emma raised her left hand and all of a sudden, there were fireflies lighting up the place, creating fluorescent colors that were strengthening the plants' colors as well. Regina was stunned beyond words and totally breathless.

She managed to say something nonetheless, astonishment filling her voice.

"You practice magic?"

The blonde turned slightly, locking eyes with Regina right away and replied with a smile.

"Yes. You do, too?"

"No." The dark-haired princess answered swiftly, crinkling her forehead. She continued after a second.

"The only magic I have ever known is evil. However, this seems..."

"It is good." Emma completed the other's sentence, grinning sheepishly and she stepped forward until their bodies were a little bit closer.

"You don't fully believe me, do you?" By saying that, the blonde took another step, minimizing the distance and already feeling how perfectly their breaths mingled together.

As if they completed each other, as if the other breath had been missing and now they found that missing piece.

"I want to believe." Only a whisper left Regina's lips as she eyed the blonde.

Her eyes darted to Emma's lips for a second before she quickly looked into green-blue eyes again.

"I can make you, if it is what you desire." The White Princess muttered, a smile spreading on her young and flawless face.

Regina wasn't that much older than the blonde who was around the age of seventeen.

"Yes, please." Regina mumbled with a racing heart and a quickening breathing. Her skin even tingled because of the woman in front of her.

Emma softly laced their fingers and closed her eyes. Within a mere second of touching, their hands started to glow and sparkle and the blonde's eyes immediately shut open again.

"You do have magic. Yours seems to be one of the most powerful of all, if I may say so." Emma said, her breath hitching a little in her throat and something growing in her stomach… maybe it were butterflies or maybe just the impressive powers that the other woman held within her.

"Oh, no. I shall not want and need this kind of magic." The brunette said fearfully.

"Yours is entirely based on love. I don't see what is wrong with that." Emma replied, furrowing her brow and looking straight into the soul of the brunette. The blonde princess was certain that Regina was special and her magic was pure. She hoped that the woman would believe her.

Emma guided Regina to a bench nearby and they sat down.

Once their eyes met again, the dark-haired woman gave her response.

"You shall prove it to me. If you can teach me a magic that is not evil at all, I will believe."

Emma immediately grinned broadly and made an inner plan of showing Regina a magic that would be entirely pure. As soon as the blonde stood up, the brunette's heart instantly sank a little and she spoke up as fear was filling her voice once more.

"Don't go."

Emma turned around and gently squeezed Regina's upper leg before she gave a response.

"I will be back in an instant. I just wish to show you something."

The blonde smiled and walked off into the darkness of the garden.

Emma's eyelids fluttered open and the smile, which had grazed her face ever since she fell asleep, was still visible and displayed her feelings perfectly. She scratched her head a little before she tried to make coherent thoughts about the dream. The blonde was apparently thrilled to see Regina soon and even her unconscious strengthened that assumption.

It felt so weird though, as if she had really touched the fingers of the brunette and as if the touch had set a fire to her heart and touching something inside her, adding something she never knew she had lacked.

Emma closed her eyes for a second, shaking off her thoughts before she concentrated on what was really important for today. First thing on her list: returning the coat to Regina.