To Ignite

17

Miss Ida gave her an idea for how to show the queen she cared. A birthday present- not that she had any idea on what to get her for her birthday.

That was just another pothole in the road to befriending Reggie (?) that Emma was not particularly happy to see.

So instead of using her break to spend time with the other maids or napping and eating like she usually would, she decided to go into town to find a present for the regal beauty.

It was ironically around harvest time so apple themes were all over the town. Even more than you'd expect for the Evil Queen's kingdom.

If the blonde didn't find the perfect gift in this apple paradise then she doubted she'd fine anything for the Queen in time for her birthday.

Green eyes looked around the town in wonder, she noticed the smiles on everyone's faces as they did apple picking, bobbing for apples, and eating all types of apple themed desserts. She wondered how her old kingdom could say such horrible things about a person who's people and kingdom's happiness and longevity rivaled their own.

Maybe the Queen wasn't the one who was actually jealous, maybe it was her mother.

The blonde shook her head wanting to clear her mind on those toxic and negative thoughts on a joyous day like today.

"Getcho apple scones here! Getcho apple scones here only 2 for 5 bronze pieces! 5 for 3 silver!" She heard a baker yell out. A bunch of people began making there way to him.

She chuckled and began wondering if whether or not she should try an apple or an apple dessert for the first time today. But decided against it not to anting to be trampled by the hungry crowd.

Instead she made her way towards a jeweler contemplating getting the queen a simple bracelet or necklace when she saw the perfect gift on a stand right next to it.

It was a purple leather bound book that looked smooth to the touch. It had a holographic apple with a bite taken out on the cover that looked gold and then red at certain angles.

Wasn't there red and golden delicious apples?

Then there was fastener with the Dark Kingdom's insignia on it. She immediately grabbed it and asked "Hello, how much for this book?"

The old merchant looked at the book she was holding like it was one of his children, "One of my finest works. It would be either 35 silver pieces or 3 gold pieces."

Emma grabbed her pouch filled with her money and began digging through it, pulling out every silver piece she came across.

"If you don't mind me asking" the merchant began "who is it for?"

Counting the amount in her hand, the maid told him, "a birthday present for the queen."

The graying man's jaw dropped, "the- the queen will be using th-this book? M-my book?"

Emma nodded and began to look around hoping there was a doctor on standby because the man look like he was about to pass out, or have a heart attack or stroke. She didn't know but it didn't look good.

"Um, you know- you know it looks like this book is on sale for only 20 silver pieces or 1 gold one as long as you remember to tell the queen 'you get this book from Pedro,'" he blushed and gave a small smile.

The relief the young woman felt was instant cause she was running a little low on silver once she got to 23. She handed him the money and said "you gotta deal."

She grabbed the book and began to skip back to the castle.

She began to wonder who she could get insight from on whether or not this gift seemed good enough for a queen when she remembered Henry.

The former princess began to hustle to the library when she ran into a body.

"Shit, why do I keep doing that?"

"So you make a habit to run into people in the halls Swan?" a smooth voice asked her.

Jade eyes looked up to see that the body happened to be the sexiest body she has ever laid eyes on, which also happened to be the queen.