286On the realm of tackling two birds with one stone, I'm going to be starting this story, as well as fulfilling the "Canon Divergence AU" prompt from SQ Week.
So, as you probably read, this is going to be an AU where Emma is the stable girl, in Daniel's stead. Now, this is inspired by the amazing shikabane-mai's art [one panel serving as the cover for this fic, and the link for the comic is on my profile], and I'm ecstatic that they allowed me to make a fic inspired by that small comic, so I can't wait to get started on this!
I've got a really long plot thought out, so I hope everyone enjoys the ride!
I will give out three points of information as a heads-up [potentially spoiler-ish]:
1- Although the comic says reincarnation, it won't be the case here. You'll find out how later on in the story.
2- Despite multiple events in this fic that I shan't go into detail here, this will feature a happy ending for SQ.
3- This fic will not include either Killian Jones or Robin of Locksley. More details on that further on in the fic.
Without further ado, let's get this show on the road!
Oh and italics are past/FTL stuff.
Emma pulled her cloak closer to herself, urging her horse, Milton, forward through the storm. It was pouring something fierce, and she could barely see in front of her. She was thankful that the sounds of the guards chasing her had receded some hours ago, when the rain first started.
She saw that the trees were thinning over to her right side, and she squinted towards that direction, seeing if maybe there was a town or village nearby. Spotting some lights, she urged her horse to change direction, crossing through the sparse trees, and towards the lights. A field spanned in front of them, and they started to make their way through it.
Now in the open, without the canopy of trees to relieve the brunt of the storm, the rain fell heavier on her. They crossed the open field, Emma trying to politely urge Milton forward, but also knowing that the poor creature's hoofs sunk ever so slightly every step he took, due to the wet earth. After a few minutes, she finally saw that they appeared to have shown up in front of an estate, or rather, behind it. She spotted some stables soon enough, and directed her poor horse towards the large wooden structure, jumping down when they arrived.
Once she opened the large barn doors, she led her horse through and into one of the unoccupied stalls. There were four other horses already inside the barn, neighing curiously at the new arrivals. Milton seemed relieved to get out of the rain, and Emma couldn't blame him. She herself was thankful for her good luck despite her tough run and hectic last couple of days. Now she would rest, and hopefully be able to get out before the estate's owners found out she was here.
She collected some rainwater into a bucket, filling it up in mere minutes. "Here you go big guy, you're probably really thirsty. Sorry for straining you today, but we're at least free for now. So you can rest. Tomorrow we'll ride out again."
Looking around, she saw a bale of hay looking very inviting. Removing her cloak from around herself, she spread it over the hay, inner side facing up. Thankfully the rain hadn't seeped too much through the thick fabric, so the inner lining was dry enough for her to lie on. She fell to sleep very easily, letting the sounds of rain and her fatigue pull her into unconsciousness.
The next day:
Hearing a throat clearing, Emma quickly shot up, panic settling as she stood and looked at the woman who had obviously caught her. All she had to do was play it smoothly, otherwise she'd be in real trouble.
"You could've at least warned of your arrival! I assume that you're here as the new stable girl?"
Thinking quick on her feet, Emma nodded. "Yes I am, ma'am. I do apologize for my barging in here, but I arrived quite late last night, and thought it would be rude to intrude."
It seems that her answer was acceptable, for the woman nodded. "Well, welcome to the Mills estate, girl. What is your name?"
"Emma Swan."
With a firm nod and an appraising glance, it seems that now she was less acceptable. With her worn clothes, she probably didn't look that professional. "Well I assume you'll be able to hold your own. Now, I don't have much time for chit chat, so I will keep it simple. You will be given an average stipend for doing your job correctly, and keeping this stable and the horses clean. I am Lady Cora Mills, and will be in charge of your employment. You will be housed in the stables for the duration of your employment, and I'll get the servants to bring by some...actual furniture to furnish your lodgings here." Lady Cora looked disdainfully at Emma's makeshift bed, probably wondering what class of barbarian she had just hired.
"Thank you, Lady Mills." Emma gave a small curtsy for effect.
That seemed to bolster Cora's sense of entitlement, and she nodded, before turning around and seeming to leave. At the door, she paused, and turned back around. "Incidentally, how good are your riding skills?"
Emma gave a nonchalant shrug and a lopsided grimace to convey her answer. Realizing that perhaps the casual answer wouldn't be so well-received by her new employer, Emma said, "Fairly average. I own my own horse and can ride him pretty well."
"Good, I suppose you'll do. My daughter has gotten into her that she would desire to receive riding lessons, and since my husband agreed to it, I have been tasked with finding a suitable teacher. Tomorrow I will bring her to you for your lessons."
"I look forward to it."
One year later:
"When will you learn, Regina? Love is weakness."
Regina was on the ground, cradling Emma's upper body to her, looking at her mother through eyes blurry from tears. Cora Mills stood imperiously in front of the couple, holding a red heart in her hand.
"Mother, please, don't do this!" Regina exclaimed.
"A Queen never begs, Regina, and how else do I expect you to learn your lesson? Clearly my other methods haven't stuck, and I won't have you jeopardizing your marriage to the king for this stable girl." Without another word, Cora began to squeeze the organ in her palm. A pained gasp was heard as the pressure began to build.
"Mother, no!" Regina tore her eyes away to look at Emma, her sweet Emma, who gave her a lopsided smile, and through the pain, breathed, "I love you. I'll keep my promise, you'll see."
"Emma, please don't leave me." But it was futile. The light quickly faded from her eyes, and Emma became lifeless; she was gone. Regina began crying harder, desperately giving her a kiss on the lips, hoping that True Love's kiss would somehow resurrect her, just like those stories said would happen.
But Emma did not wake.
Many years, and a different realm later:
"Alright kid, here we go, 108 Mifflin Street."
Emma felt drained. This 10-year old boy came out of nowhere to inform her that he was the child that she'd given away a lifetime ago, and that she needed to take him home. Despite her reservations on wanting to get involved at all with the child, the alternative - which would've included putting him back on a Greyhound bus by himself - didn't sit right with her. Which is why she and the kid had sped through the I-95 to get to Storybrooke, his home. It was a pretty quiet ride for the most part, wherein the awkward silence did the job. Though she did have to endure this far-fetched theory of his about fairytales being real at one point.
Which is why, after an eccentric meeting with Archie - Henry's shrink and Jiminy Cricket, apparently - she was glad to have reached the address given to her, ready to get back to her normal life, without curses or fairytales or long-gone children.
"Please, don't leave!" Henry pleaded, not budging out of his seat.
Emma got out of the car with a huff and made her way to the passenger side of the car, wrenching the door open. "Not my call kid, I have no right to just show up in your life just because we share DNA. Now, you're going back home, your parents must be worried sick, and I'm not about to become responsible of making them wait any longer."
"But-"
She gave him a stern look. "Now."
The kid finally complied, sighing as he stuffed his book back in his bag, and got out of the seat. Slinging the backpack over his shoulder, he stood there while Emma closed the door. "You have to help me!"
"You can ask your parents to help you," Emma responded succinctly, going to pull the wrought-iron gate open.
"I only have my mom, and I don't want to lose her, and you're the only one who can help!"
Emma knew about the futility that was getting a good family and wanting, wishing, hoping desperately that they wouldn't abandon or leave her. They were still a little ways away from the porch, so she kneeled in front of Henry. "Are you going to be sent back? Is that what this is about?"
"No, but she's the Evil Queen, and I can't lose her!"
Standing back up, Emma fought the urge to roll her eyes. Again with the fairytales. Striding up to the doorway with Henry at her heels, Emma pressed the doorbell, and leaned against one of the pillars, out of the way, with hands in her pockets.
Not a few seconds later, the door was wrenched open, showing a brunette with short hair that brushed her shoulders, and who only had eyes for her son. She knelt in front of him and pulled him into her arms after a quick once-over to make sure he had no visible wounds. "Henry! Are you alright? Are you hurt? Where were you? I was so worried!"
Henry looked at her sheepishly before exclaiming, "I'm sorry, but I found my real mom, and she'll fix everything, you'll see!"
Of course, Henry had no malicious intent behind the words, but both women flinched at the different connotations that they had inferred from his phrase. Regina was stuck on the word 'real' and what that would mean for their little dynamic. Emma was left gaping at how Henry seemed to think she'd fix everything, let alone any one single thing. As Henry pushed past his mother and went inside the house, he left a kneeling and tearful woman alone with Emma.
Seeing that the other woman was still shell-shocked - and for good reason - Emma pushed herself off the column, and walked towards the other woman, squatting in front of her. "Hey, you okay? Kid seems a bit intense-"
For Regina, it seemed like time stood still.
She hadn't even registered that the supposed biological mother was there as well when she had first seen Henry on the other side of the door. By the time she did realize it, the woman was in front of her, offering a warm smile as she crouched in front of her. And then she focused on who she was looking at, her features, and she took a deep breath. It couldn't be.
"Sorry we had to meet under these circumstances. Here, let me help you up." Still with a smile on her face, Emma held out her right hand for Regina.
She took it with her own right hand, and it felt like a long-forgotten memory, or taking a sip of water after going for a long time without it. Her touch was exactly as she remembered it. A strong arm pulled her up, and now they were standing in front of one another, and Regina realized the height differences were the same. She was using all her willpower to not jump into the blonde's arms, or kiss her senseless. Her Emma had died in her arms, this woman couldn't be her.
Emma still hadn't gotten a single peep out of the woman in front of her, but she didn't want to push her boundaries. It was awkward enough that Henry had said what he did, but this? The woman might chew her out for intruding. Not to mention that the other woman still hadn't let go of her hand, but Emma had to admit she didn't particularly mind the contact.
It seemed that the woman finally came out of her reverie, and flashed a polite smile. "My apologies. I'm Regina Mills, and you are?"
"Emma Swan." Regina's mind was reeling. She even had the same name!
Since they were still holding hands, Emma shook it, as an impromptu handshake. The previously polite smile Regina had had now morphed into a genuine one. It seemed that she had enjoyed the little antic.
"Would you like to come in?"
So, what does everyone think?
This fic will be switching between past and present. I will tell everyone that there will be plenty of additional ways this fic will diverge from canon, so just sit back, and enjoy! I'll be updating this fic as soon as I finish with Welcome to Storybrooke, which only has one chapter left, so it won't be a long wait!
And that concludes my participation with SQ Week, and I'll get back into my regular schedule with Such a Heavenly View and drabbles, followed by A Thief in the Night.
I'd love to know your thoughts!