224Here we go! Yet another fic update coming in!
Not super long, but it'll get us going for the final stretch of the story.
Hope you enjoy!
Emma was trying to fit in with the whole palace life, she truly was. But the banishment was bothering her more than she'd let on, and Regina could tell.
At least she had Henry and Regina to abate some of that melancholiness. Though for all their attempts, Emma's smile didn't quite reach her eyes.
After Snow's banishment, Emma had proceeded to pack her things up, and much to her surprise, Henry had been right there. He had been listening in, and when Emma had tried to talk to him, try and get him to stay, he refused. After some coaxing on his part, Emma agreed, and that's where they were now. In Regina's palace.
At first, Emma wouldn't hear of Regina's offer to stay in the palace. "You wanted some space, remember?"
Regina had let out a sad smile. "Like you said, we're not that great at this staying away thing. Besides, the only reputable inn in this kingdom is with Red, and I don't imagine you want to spend time with her quite yet, right?"
That closed that argument, and Emma acquiesced to staying in the palace - but in her own room - and tried to move on.
But the problem was that Emma was a thief at heart, and living carefree was not exactly what she had been planning.
Regina had tried multiple times to talk to her, but Emma rebuffed every attempt, citing one reason or another.
But after 6 weeks, Regina had had enough.
"You do know I'm not upset with you anymore, right?" Regina asked. She went to sit down beneath the tree in her garden, where Emma was also perched, looking up at the night sky, arms wrapped around her knees.
Emma cracked a smile. "Yesterday's kissing certainly gave that idea."
Regina also smiled at the memory. They had lasted about a week before Emma and Regina were practically inseprable, kissing at every moment they could. "Then, why won't you talk to me about what's bothering you? I know you miss your home, even Henry sees it. Just tell me what I can do to help."
With a sigh, Emma turned to look at her. "There's nothing you can do. Actually, you shouldn't have to do a thing anyway, it's not your fault. It's my parents'."
"Then?" Regina asked. "What's holding you back?"
"That I can't help people anymore. Believe me, my parents said plenty of stupidities in the past, and the only reason I stayed was because I wanted to keep helping people. Living here...it's just showing me how much people still need help. No matter how much you try and help, people aren't used to accepting things from monarchs."
Regina hummed. "And why can't you continue by yourself? You might not have a multitude of helpers, but you always seemed quite skilled that I figured you could handle on your own. And I imagine it wouldn't take you long to get your own merry band together."
Emma blushed slightly at Regina's compliment. "It's not that. It's just that there are treaties set up, detailing how thieving is divided. I think I told you about it?"
"You did," Regina agreed. "But it always struck me as particularly puzzling that thieves would have rules and territories."
"Seems somewhat counter-productive right? But it was set up almost a decade ago when my parents first set up the village; with their sunny disposition, it didn't take long for nearly every faction of thieves in the Enchanted Forest to agree to it. Basically everyone has a piece of land that they can take from, and any infraction is dealt with strictly and swiftly."
"What about kingdoms? How are those divided?" Regina asked.
Emma shrugged. "I think those are rotatory or something. People pick and choose who they want to rob from."
Regina nodded. "And joining as yourself would just mean that you would be once again under your parents' thumb I'm assuming?"
"You got it."
"Then why not go rogue? You have Ban, you still have your skills, and pissing your parents off would be a bonus, but you can still help people, on your own terms."
The idea sounded very appealing to Emma but…"My costume is quite well-known around the Enchanted Forest. People would know who I am, and they would want answers from me."
Regina scoffed. "I dare any fool to try and storm the Evil Queen's palace and try that."
Emma let out a laugh at that.
"But nonetheless, let's see if we can't spruce it up a bit." Regina said, standing up and heading back towards her room. "Go get changed and meet me in my chambers."
Emma did just that, thankful that her room also had an entrance from the garden. Traipsing around in her thief clothes would surely not bode well for her. That Sidney Glass already had a strong dislike for her. She didn't need to give him more reasons.
When she went to Regina's room, the latter was lounging on her chaise, a goblet of wine in her hand, and a pensive look on her face.
Before Emma could ask if something was wrong, Regina said, "I was thinking we could add some wooden armour to your new suit. Help you blend in, and provide some protection."
Emma frowned. The idea did sound good, but…"Wouldn't the wood weight me down?"
Regina shook her head. "Not if it's a magical tree."
Emma gaped. "So it's true? Your knights are all decked out with the Elsemeare bark?"
Regina scoffed. "Hardly. Only a few handful of my most trusty knights are. But you've heard of it?"
"Yep. It's all part of the myth that surrounds the Dark Kingdom," Emma said. "That, and that your knights can breathe fire."
"Honestly," Regina said said with a sigh. "Unless they are magical partitioners, they do not breathe fire. Now, let's get your new costume started, shall we? I'll use this as a base?"
Emma nodded, holding her arms out as if she was at the tailor.
Regina began to circle her, the goblet in her hand. "First, let's darken the colour a bit. Still green, but even more of a forest green."
Before her eyes, Emma saw the transformation. The leather was slowly tinting to a darker green, and with each comment made, purple mist would surround that area and change the material to her specifications. Richer leather for her gloves, sturdier soles for her boots, more pouches for her tools. Then came the armour. It truly was light, the wood not weighing her down at all, but when she tapped it, she could feel its sturdiness. It covered her shins, her forearms, and her shoulders and biceps. Lastly, her hood.
"While it is quite shaded, it doesn't provide much in terms of hiding your identity. Haven't you ever considered a mask or some fabric to hide your face?" Regina asked, going to stand in front of her lover.
Emma shook her head and rolled her eyes. "You can imagine my mother was never keen on hiding a face completely. In her eyes, that just made a person look like an evil bandit."
Regina understood Emma's eye roll and flicked her wrist. The hood was now completely black, and there was a fabric covering the lower half of her face. "How does it feel?"
Emma inspected her new costume. "Much better. Just a pity I can't kiss you right now."
"Oh?" Regina pulled down the black fabric and leant forward to kiss her lover slowly. Emma wasted no time in pulling the queen closer to her and deepening the kiss.
Once they finally parted, Emma pulled the fabric back up over her mouth. "I don't suppose you also have a secret passageway to the stables from here, do you?"
Regina let out a rich laugh. "Rest assured, I do. That eager to test out your new suit?"
Emma nodded. "Yep, plus I have heard that the sultan of Agrabah is looking to have his coffers lightened."
"Sultan Jafar would be a nice target," Regina mused. "Very well. Go forth, my brave Dark Thief."
Emma grinned behind her mask. "Is that my official title now?"
"It could be. Do you like it?" Regina asked.
"Yep, has a better ring than Shadow Thief. Plus it compliments your being the queen of the Dark Kingdom."
Regina agreed. "Then it shall be. Now go, and make good time, I want you back soon."
"Going to miss me, my Queen?" Emma asked.
"Immensely," Regina admitted. "Now head to the garden towards the trellis, and push forward. Go down the tunnel, and you'll come out in the secret stables. My own personal steed is also there."
"If you ever want to join me…"Emma started, the idea forming in her head.
Regina chuckled. "Hardly. I am more for big entrances than stealth. My methods would include fire burning and destruction."
"Fair enough," Emma quickly nipped that idea in the bud. Definitely not now. Maybe in the future.
And so, with a few more kisses, and a stealthy goodbye to Henry, Emma took off to Agrabah with Ban, eager to get back in the game. She went through the portal which would cut her travel down to a mere day, and headed towards the towering Agrabah palace.
A fresh beginning. It was just what she needed.
And that was that!
Next up we get to see more of Emma's adventures in Agrabah. Next up will be an update on Equals, which is already written, I just have to edit it. Then I have a SQ Halloween fic in the works, so woo!
Love to hear your thoughts!