Let's Sail Away, Love

Chapter 1: The Princess

Emma woke up to a soft, sweet voice in her room saying, "Miss Emma, it's time to wake." She was groggy but still excited. Today was her 24th birthday! There was to be a grand ball in her honor tonight.

Her parents invited all eligible suitors to come to their kingdom. They both understood the meaning of true love but also the duties of governing a kingdom. She was to spend her morning dressing and preparing for tonight's special occasion.

"Thank you," she rose up from bed stretching as she sat up, "that'll be all."

The maid nodded and left the room. Emma immediately stood and went to shower. It only took 20 minutes to get completely clean and fully awake.

She put on a simple gown the reaches the floor. It was a light blue, long sleeve dress the fit her figure just right.

Emma walked out of her room and bumped in to her mother, "Emma, good morning. And a very happy birthday to you as well." She gave her a warm and tight hug, "Thank you, mother. Where is father?"

"He is in the library with your brother."

"Oh okay, I will be right back." She said as she ran down the hall to the room with a million books. She smiled as she saw her father reading her favorite book, Myth after myth.

Her little brother, James, was only 6 years old. He was named after their late uncle. Emma and James were very close despite such an age difference. Their father had been reading to him, as he did to Emma many years ago.

James noticed her presence almost as soon as the door opened. "Happy birthday, Em!" He yelled as her ran in to her arms. She spn him around a couple of time before putting him down.

By this time David had gotten up from the sofa that he and James were sitting on. "Happy birthday, honey." He kissed her forehead.

"Thank you, both of you," Emma began, "Now, father, I came to ask you about the suitors."

"Emma, I know it's not-"

"Actually," she interrupted, "it's not about that. I just have a minor concern about the 'True Love' factor. I want what you and mom have. Do you think I'll find that?"

David smiled looking back on his adventure with Snow. His smile faded once he remembered the struggle it was, "I don't know, Emma. Maybe you will, maybe you won't. But you'll never.know unless you go get ready ready. C'mon now go your mother must be waiting." He practically pushed her out the door.

She didn't complain, Emma just kept walking and David and James went back to reading.

As Emma walked back to her enormous room, she started day dreaming about her true love. Remembering storiesthat her mother's friends told her about. Like the slipper Cinderella dropped, true love's kiss that awakened both her mother and Aurora, and Rapunzels daring rescue. She thought that although meeting at a ball intended for that purpose wasn't exactly a romantic story, she should give it a shot.

"Oh Emma, I'm glad your back. Okay so what dress?" Snow held up two different dresses. One was navy blue, with an indented neck line. It had rhinestones on the neckline and white lace on the bottom.

The other was red and long sleeved and a bit off the shoulder. It to had a thin line of rhinestones on the neckline and complimented her waistline.

Emma.thought they were beautiful. She had become accustomed to the princess life but she was modest about it and she had many friends that were not royalty. Ruby or 'Red' being one of them, she and granny lived in the castle with them. Ruby was Emma's confidant. Emma could tell Ruby anything without worry that she would tell the Queen. Ruby also suggested the red dress.

"I don't know which one I love more," Emma said.

"I strongly recommend the red one," speaking of, Ruby appeared in the door way, "happy birthday, Your Highness." She said with jokingly mocking bow. Emma smiled and thanked her with a hug.

"Then I think I'll go with that one, thanks Red," they all laughed. She went in to the restroom, undressed, and put on the red dress. She asked her mother to zip it up.

They all thought she looked beautiful although her hair and makeup still weren't done. Emma could easily take care of that with a flick of her wrist, if she could control her magic. Snow White did her hair and Ruby did her makeup.

Emma's hair was done in a simple bun with her bangs shaping her face and a bejeweled headband to hold them in place. The makeup was simple but beautiful. Ruby had applied a thin line of black eyeliner and mascara with a noticeable blush and unnoticed cover up. A bright shining smile appeared on Emma's face but soon disappeared. Looking at herself, Emma realized that her dreams of true love were going to be a lot harder than she dreamed. Snow knew the look on her daughter's face all too well, " Emma, what's wrong?" Emma took a deep breath and explain her predicament to Ruby and her mother.

" Well, Emma, this might not be the bandit hitting a shepherd with a rock story that you want but it's a start." Ruby tried reassuring her. Emma put on a fake smile but ultimately asked them both that she could be alone. They both agreed without hesitating and said they would both be back to get her for the ball when it was time.

Emma nodded in agreement and sat by her window staring out at sea. I wonder what this is like, she thought as she gazed upon the vast sparkling blue ocean. Then something caught her eye. A new ship, one she had never seen before. It was a pirate ship. A real smile grew on Emma's face. Pirates? Don't sound so bad, she thought.

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There you go the first chapter of my new story I hope you like it and keep reading next chapter of my favorite characters shows up