Emma

Emma's memory of the day was a little hazy, but she had no doubt a woman had saved her. It was the day the storm knocked her overboard her ship. Her parents had arranged for her to have a celebration for her birthday. She was 18 now, and her parents had invited several princes from neighboring kingdoms to meet her. She was supposed to find a husband soon, someone to rule with. Her parents believed in true love and did not pressure her to pick someone, but to mingle and meet potential suitors and that when she met the right one she would know.

But Emma did meet the one, but they were not a prince. In fact, they weren't a man at all. She felt it the moment the woman rested her hand on her cheek. Her memory of her was hazy, but she had deep brown eyes and hair as dark as the night sea. Her voice, Emma sighed at the thought, her voice was magical. But as soon as her parents found her, the woman was gone. Emma could have sworn she heard splashing, but that's beside the point.

Emma told her mother as soon as they were back to the castle. Her mother, Snow White, was hesitant but supportive of her daughter's initiative to look for the girl who saved her.

"You're sure she's real?" Her mother questioned again, but playfully this time.

"Yes," The blonde huffed, pushing her mother aside with a smile. "She had the most beautiful voice. If I heard it again, I would recognize her."

Emma walked to her window, she had the perfect view of the sea. She opened her windows wide and rested her elbows on the sill, her head resting in her hands.

"I've never seen you with this look on your face," her mother chimed in.

"What look on my face?" Emma stared out at the ocean. She had this feeling in her chest, a longing, to dive under the waves. Maybe her mystery girl was there.

"Like love."

Emma hadn't told her father yet, but her mother reacted well when she had told her. She was hesitant to hear what her father would say about her feelings for her savior.

"I want to look for her, Mom," Emma turned to her mother and rested back against the window sill. Her blonde hair fell in curls down her chest and she twisted the ends in her hands nervously. Her mother mimicked her daughter, Emma realized that's where she got it from.

"We can talk with your father," Snow White twisted the ends of her dark hair as she spoke.

Emma sat down with her parents after their dinner. Her mother held her father's hand in one and Emma's in the other to show her support. Her mother had a funny way of being the best mediator if an argument were to break out. She had soothed many disagreements between Emma and her father before.

"Father," Emma started, biting her lip. "I didn't wash up on shore by myself."

Her father, David, had a curious expression. "No?"

"A woman saved me. She pulled me from the sea and helped me to breathe again. She saved my life dad. You know how you said when you met Mom you knew she was the one?" Emma pulled her hand away and stood. "She's the one dad."

"She? Are you sure you didn't imagine it?" David looked to his wife hesitantly.

"I'm sure. I heard her singing. I have to find her." Emma looked to her parents hopefully. "Let me find her like you found each other."

"Your mother and I will talk," David sighed heavily. Emma nodded in response and hurried out.

Her blue dress whipped behind her in the wind as she ran down the shore. Her toes felt at home in the warm sand. She climbed down the rocks to where she woke up on the shore. Emma didn't have a plan to find her mystery girl, but she thought if she went back to where she saw her maybe she would get some ideas.

Emma planted herself in the sand and watched the waves. A sudden noise around the corner caught her attention. She quietly crept around the large rock. To her surprise, a pile of debris was moving. An old fishnet someone had thrown out with some cloth bags, then something more shocking happened.

A girl poked out from under the cloth. A girl with raven hair, light skin, and big brown eyes just like the woman who saved her.

"You," Emma exhaled.