The Swan Princess

Invited

The queen lowered herself to the ground and sat next to her precious princess. Her heart thumped in her chest as she shifted closer and closer to her dear Emma. Her entire body could barely hold itself together with the anticipation of the ball that would soon take place. Regina placed her hand on Emma's shoulder and started to tell her about all of her preparations for the ball. Excitement and adrenaline ran through her veins as she explained the details of the party. Everything had to be perfect. She wanted everything to be as graceful as her swan, as beautiful as her princess.

"I think that a mixture of white and red roses would work perfectly together," Regina said to Emma.

"What about white, red, and black roses? While the white rose symbolizes innocence and purity, the black rose symbolizes maturity, darkness, and death. Remember, I'm not an innocent little girl anymore," Emma emphasized as she gazed at Regina's full, red lips, not caring that August was looking. Her body slowly drifted closer to her queen, their faces only inches apart. Emma could feel the queen's warm breath brushing against her skin as she exhaled deeply.

"What do red roses symbolize, Miss Swan?" Regina asked faintly while looking intently at the princess' pale, pink lips.

"They symbolize passion, my queen," Emma replied as she bit her lip and looked directly into the queen's eyes.

Regina tried to turn away, but was overcome with desire at the sight of her beautiful princess. She longed to mark Emma as her property. She wanted to lock her up in her bedchamber so no one else could see her. No one but her.
Emma, on the other hand, wanted to kiss the queen so badly. Her lower lip quivered as she imagined what it would feel like to press the queen's luscious lips against her own. She wished she could run her hand down the queen's body and touch every inch of her. Emma wanted her queen. Why couldn't she express her love for the queen? Everyone assumed that the queen had a heart as cold as ice when, in reality, her heart was full of love and passion. Emma squeezed her eyes shut and turned away from the queen's gaze.

"Regina can you do me a favor?" Emma asked as she tried to focus on anything other than those full, red lips.

"If it is in my hands, so be it. What is it that you desire, my swan?" Regina asked as she looked at both the princess and the little swan.

"I wish that my mom and my best friend Lilith would be able to attend this ball. Although my papa cannot be there, I would feel so much better if they could come. I want to see them." Emma hugged Ducky close to her, afraid of how the queen would react. She glanced up at the ceiling, hoping that Regina would consider her request.

"If that's what you desire, then that's what you shall have." Regina's mouth curved into a sincere smile.

"Really Gina? Are you sure you are capable of such a request?" Emma looked at the queen with those big doe eyes. No matter how grown up Emma thought she was, Regina still saw the innocence in her. She wanted that innocence for herself. She was selfish with her little swan.

"Oh sweetheart you have no idea what I am capable of," Regina responded in a sultry tone. Her eyes glistened as she looked seductively at her swan.

"I am dying to find out." Emma looked at the queen with a daring smile. There was a long pause as they both stared at each other, daring the other to make a move. As always, time stood still when their eyes met. Those hazel, brown orbs interlocked with those emerald, green ones and the world around them seemed to disappear for just this instant.

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Snow and Red had been waiting for hours, trying to find a way to enter the heavily guarded castle. They could not come up with a plan to get past the queen's soldiers, let alone break the magical protection spell surrounding the castle. Out of ideas, the ex-friends finally sat down near each other, contemplating life and looking at the stars. They waited patiently for a sign, hoping that perhaps some miracle would provide them with an answer of what to do.

"Tell me about her, wolf," Snow said coldly to Red, waiting to hear more about her daughter and the life that she never had the chance to experience.

"What do you want to know?" Red loved talking about Emma, even if it meant conversing with Snow White. She couldn't help but boast about her because Emma was her pride and joy.

"Tell me what her favorite smell was?" Snow wanted to know about all the little details she missed out on. She wanted so badly to be a part of Emma's life and tried to learn as much as she could about her distant daughter.

"She loved everything that had to do with apples. Their smell. Their taste. Once, she even described the sensation of biting into an apple as a splash in her mouth, like a sweet tide against her taste buds." Red answered Snow without a hint of doubt.

"Like Regina," Snow uttered.

"Oh, Emma loved hearing stories about Regina. She used to sneak into the castle all the time...with her father," Red muttered with a tone of sadness as she remembered that she would never again feel her husband's embrace. Tears shimmered in her eyes as she tried to fight the hurt she kept bottled up inside. Snow felt a sudden sense of shame for causing Red's pain.

"What else?" Snow listened carefully.

"Emma loves to sing, and she is definitely not ladylike let me tell you that. She does not like dresses and refuses to wear them, with the exception of important occasions. Pants and a t-shirt is her go to outfit. She is skilled with a sword and is so good with following trails. She got that from me, from her mother," Red said proudly. She smiled ear to ear as she waited for a reaction from Snow.
It never came.

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The next morning, Regina made sure that the two swans were well taken care of in her bedchambers. She made a little pool in her gold plated bathtub for the swans to pass the time in. Meanwhile, the queen was excited to start making arrangements for the ball. Every time the queen's servants approached Regina for her approval, all she would say was, "It has to be smooth and graceful, like a swan."

Everyone was noticing the sudden change in the queen's behavior. She was unlike her normal self. With a positive attitude and a hint of excitement, she ordered the servants to spread word of the ball. All the princesses and princes, all the queens and kings shall be invited. Most importantly, one of her most loyal servants had a special invitation to deliver.

"Belle dear, follow me." The queen guided a silent Belle along a long, narrow corridor. "My dear Belle, I have a very important job for you today."

"I am at your service, your majesty," Belle replied as she observed the corners of the queen's mouth curve into a smile. Regina was beaming and her whole face lit up. This was the first time she had ever seen the queen smile. In fact, no one had ever seen the queen smile; well, not a sincere smile at least.

"You must pay a visit to your dear friend, the wolf, and tell her that a ball will be taking place here at my castle. She must know that all the queens and princesses are to be invited. Now, off you go little one and don't keep wasting my time," Regina said, grinning at Belle.

Belle was so happy to finally see her friend, Red. She had missed her immensely. Since her kidnapping, she had lost more than three years worth of memories. Where was her little Goldie locks? What was her life like? What had happened to her? Where was her father and siblings?

Belle ran as fast as she could to the house that she so vividly remembered. Her Goldie locks would always be waiting there with an empty stomach and a huge appetite. This was a memory that Belle never lost from the days where she would visit the little family every morning. She ran and ran until she finally saw that familiar little house.

"RED! RED! Darling, where are you?" Belle shouted with happiness, trying to look for her best friend. She thought to herself if not best friends, perhaps something more.

"BELLE? For goodness sakes, you're here!!!" Red ran full speed to her friend and hugged her tightly, pulling her into her body. She missed the little brunette.

"Oh Red, how I have missed you! I have an important message for you, my dear friend. The queen has requested your presence at a ball that will be held tonight at her castle. All queens, kings, and their heirs are invited to celebrate Princess Swan, for she has finally come of age and is eligible to rule the dark kingdom."

"I didn't know Regina selected someone to rule her kingdom." Snow mumbled behind Red. After she heard all the commotion that Belle and Red had made, she walked over and greeted Belle saying, "Hello, Belle."
"Hi," Belle replied, looking at Snow with a pitiful smile. "As I was saying, the Queen wants you there with all of the guests."

Red opened her mouth in protest, but stopped herself before speaking. She wondered why the queen would want her presence tonight. It didn't matter though because that would be her way of entering the castle. Maybe that was the sign she was looking for. "We shall be there," Red replied as she hugged her dearest friend goodbye and watched her leave.

"We?" Snow asked.

"Oh, don't worry. I haven't forgiven you. Like I said, I want to see you break when you see my daughter back in my arms and not yours."

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"My dear, Maleficent. What a nice surprise. I assume you received my letter?" Regina asked, not looking up from her royal desk while she performed her queenly duties.

"My daughter has permission to attend the ball, but with one condition my dear." Maleficent observed the body of the queen that she once possessed. She knew that she could still get Regina to have a little fun with her.

"You should pay me a visit again, like old times. I think it would be quite lovely having you under my sheets." Maleficent looked at Regina hungrily as she moved closer to her.

"My dear Maleficent, I thought you decided to stop doing those visits, remember. You decided to stop once your daughter was born. Though it does sound quite lovely, I must say that I would have to think about it first."

"That is alright, my dear. I know you wouldn't be able to resist a night of pure passion with the Dragon Queen, would you?"

Regina smiled, watching Maleficent disappear. Surely she couldn't deny a night of passion. Well she COULD deny a night of passion with the dragon, but not with her sweet swan. A rough night of passion indeed.

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Rumple couldn't help but spy on the queen all day. He saw joy growing in Regina's cold heart.

"Oh deary, love is weakness."