There have been so many posts on tumblr stating the similarities between SQ and The Lion King 2 so I got inspired and wrote this!

Review are greatly appreciated and encourged!

Thanks to the best beta in the world Witchylove14!

In the kingdom of King James and Queen Snow White a celebration was being held. The king and queen had finally had an heir, after many years of fighting for their kingdom. Peasants and nobles alike had traveled from the far reaches of the kingdom to see the young princess.

Everyone gathered in the courtyard of the castle to see the King present his new child to the world. James handed the young child to Rumplestiltskin, who blessed the child and held her up for the world to see. The crowd erupted into thunderous applause, throwing blessings at the new princess.

From the back of the crowd a woman stood holding the hand of her three year old child.

"Someday you will live in that castle child." She said and stared into the dark chocolate eyes of her beautiful child.

"But we have much work to do. We will let them have this happy day, but soon everything will come crashing down around them." She turned and drug her daughter after her, throwing distain at whoever crossed her path.

8 years later.

Princess Emma rolled over in her bed and saw the bright sunlight slipping through her bedroom curtains.

"It's today!" she said to the large black wolf dog sitting on the edge of her bed. She jumped from her bed and quickly ran down the corridor.

"Morning Johanna!" Emma said, almost running the poor woman over.

"Princess Emma please slow down!" Johanna yelled as she composed herself.

Emma didn't hear her. The only thing occupying her mind was the large oak door at the end of the corridor.

Little Emma grabbed the large ornate handle and pulled with all of her body weight.

"Help me out Argo!" she yelled at the large dog as it grabbed the tail of her shirt and tugged.

Jacob a member of the King's guard saw the young Princess struggle and gave the handle a good yank.

Emma looked up at the man with her bright green eyes. She gave him a huge smile, brighter than the sun.

"Thank you Jacob." Emma said and stormed into the room.

"You're welcome Princess." He said and chuckled at the young girl's antics.

Emma sprinted right for the bed.

"DAD! DAD! DAD!" She screamed and jumped onto the huge bed.

"Your daughter is awake." Snow said to her husband.

"Before sunrise, she's yours." James said.

"Dad you promised you would take me to the village today! You never let me go by myself so you better not break your promise!" Emma said from her spot sitting on her father's chest.

He looked up and saw his daughter staring at him with challenging eyes.

He chuckled. "Okay I'm up, I'm up. Have Johanna get you ready and I'll take you into the village." He said and got up.

20 minutes later the King had his daughter situated in front of him on his golden horse.

They were walking through the town as the peasants bowed and yelled well wishes to the royal family.

"Dad why do they bow to us?" Emma asked.

"Because we are their rulers and it is a sign of respect." James told her.

"What does that mean?" Emma asked.

James chuckled at his young daughter. She was very inquisitive.

"Let me try to explain this to you. What is your favorite food?" James asked.

"Apple pie!" Emma said loudly and smiled.

"Well see Mrs. Horrace over there?" James said and waved at the old woman. "She grows the apples we use to make the apple pie you love so much. So in return for her delicious apples, we pay her for them and offer her protection from other kingdoms and bad people that would try to steal them from her. So without us, Mrs. Horrace would have no protection, and without people like Mrs. Horrace we would have no one to protect. We respect them and they return it. We may be royalty but we are no different from them. We are all connected. We need each other. We are one." James said.

"So all of these people depend on us to protect them?" Emma asked.

"Yes they do; a job that will someday be yours." James said not noticing the large gulp that the small child took.

What if I don't want all of them to depend on me? Why can't I just be me? Emma thought as they approached the border of the village.

King James stopped his horse at the edge of the path that led down the mountain, where the village and castle sat on top of.

Emma looked across the land that would someday be hers.

"What is that over there daddy?" Emma said and pointed at the darkened area of the landscape.

"Those are the outlands. You must never go there. The people that live there cannot be trusted; don't ever turn your back on them; they practice dark magic." James said and turned the horse back towards the castle.

Emma couldn't help but take one last glance over her shoulder at the forbidden lands. I wonder what else is out there. She thought.

When they returned to the castle they saw the Queen having tea with Emma's godparents.

"Aunt Red! Uncle Grumpy!" Emma said and dismounted, quite ungracefully.

She fell flat on her ass.

"Emma dear!" Snow yelled and stood from her seat.

"I'm fine." Emma said and quickly brushed off her riding pants.

"You really must start wearing dresses young lady. You're not a little girl anymore. You are a Princess, Emma you need to start acting like one." Snow said and removed a twig from Emma's mane of curls.

Emma just rolled her eyes and looked at her father. "Dad can I go exploring? I won't go too far I promise." Emma said and smiled at her father.

"That's fine." James said.

Emma put two fingers in her mouth and sent a shrill whistle through the air.

"Come on Argo!" she yelled as the large dog came rounding the corner.

She laughed at the disgusted look on her mother's face and ran down the dirt path into the woods.

"STAY ON THE PATH I'VE MARKED FOR YOU!" James yelled to her, but his daughter was almost out of sight.

James looked to the two people standing at his side.

"Red, Grumpy, keep an eye on her would you?" James said.

"You got it your majesty!" Red said as her and Grumpy tried to stealthily catch up to the Princess's retreating form.

When Emma felt like she was a good distance away from the castle she sat down on a rock.

"I hate this stupid Princess business. Emma do this. Emma do that. Emma you can't wear that. Emma Princesses don't do that. What if I don't want to be a Princess?" Emma said and gave Argo a rub around his ear.

"You don't care if I'm a Princess do you? You know what Argo? You're the only person who's ever liked me for me." Emma said.

As she patted the dog on the head again, she heard a twig snap. Emma stood up and brought her fists up to defend herself. Her mother would die if she knew the kitchen boys had taught her how to box.

"Watch it sister you're on my foot." Emma heard whispered from behind a large bolder.

"Aunt Red, Uncle Grumpy, come out now." Emma said and relaxed her stance.

The pair emerged from behind the rock and looked at the Princess with guilty looks.

"You two are following me aren't you?" Emma said and crossed her arms, blatantly pissed off.

"No we totally weren't following you. We were just taking a quick jaunt around the woods." Red said, but couldn't keep up the charade when she saw Emma's angry face.

"We were following you." Red added quickly.

Emma threw her head back in frustration and groaned.

"He won't even let me walk around our kingdom without escorts! Why didn't he just send the royal guard?!" Emma said. "This is ridiculous."

"Now Princess, he was just making sure you're safe. There are certain rules that are special for you because you're a Princess." Grumpy said and put his hand on her shoulder.

Emma shook it off. "I don't want to be special! I just want to be me! Why doesn't anyone just listen to me?!" She yelled.

"I'm sorry what did you say Princess?" Grumpy asked.

Emma rolled her eyes as he went back to his conversation with Red.

While the two were talking Emma looked to Argo and put her finger to her lips, telling him to keep quiet. As the two adults argued Emma snuck off into the forest.

Grumpy turned around to ask Emma something and the pair noticed the absence of the Princess.

"James is going to kill us." Red said and facepalmed.

An 11 year old Regina was left alone in the woods once again.

"That's just like Maleficent to leave me alone again." Regina said to the large white wolf dog at her side. She leaned down to nuzzle the face of the only true friend she has ever had.

"You would never leave me would you Athena?" She asked and Athena nuzzled back.

That's when both wolf and master heard movement few yards from them. Athena's hair stood on end as the sound approached them. Regina knew enough magic to protect herself so she started channeling as much magic as she could.

Just then a small blonde tumbled through the bushes and landed at Regina's feet.

The blonde looked up at Regina and gawked at her.

"Who are you?" Regina said and relaxed her body, sensing no danger from the young girl.

"My name is Emma. What's your name?" Emma said and extended her hand as Argo pushed her from behind.

Regina took her hand pulled her to her feet. "I'm Regina, and this is Athena." She said and motioned to her wolf.

"This is Argo." Emma said as he started circling Athena. They sniffed, barked and began playing. This made Regina laugh.

"They seem to like each other." Regina said and looked at Emma who had a mischievous grin on her face. Before Regina could plan a better reaction Emma slapped her on the shoulder.

"TAG! YOU'RE IT!" Emma yelled and circled Regina.

Regina looked at Emma as if she grew two heads. She's strange? She thought.

Then Emma did it again. "TAG! YOU'RE IT!" she yelled again.

"Hello? You run. I tag. What? Don't you know how to play?" Emma asked.

"Umm." Regina said. I train. That's all I do. I'm not allowed to play. That's for common people, says mother. Regina thought.

"Let's start with something easier." Emma said and picked up a long stick.

"I'll be the brave knight and you'll be the beautiful Queen. I'll protect you from bad guys!" Emma said and swung the stick around.

"You think I'm beautiful?" Regina said.

"Yea. Your eyes are real pretty. My parents have blue eyes. I've never seen eyes as dark as yours. I like them." Emma said matter of factly.

Regina smiled. "Can I have my own sword even if I'm Queen?" Regina asked.

"Yea. You should be able to do whatever you want, you're the Queen." Emma said and handed her another stick.

The two girls crept through the wood. Regina followed Emma's lead, since it was her game.

"Brave knight, what are we searching for?" Regina asked.

"Well my Queen, we are searching for a fearsome dragon that has been ravaging this land." Emma said as they approached a large cave.

"Do you think we can save the village Sir Emma?" Regina asked.

Emma turned to Regina and brandished her sword, "As long as we fight together and our hearts are true we will be victorious!" Emma said and smiled at the young brunette.

Regina giggled and they crept closer to the cave.

Emma stepped on a twig as they approached and they heard a groan come from within the cave. Argo and Athena started growling towards the sound.

"What is it boy?" Emma said to Argo.

"Emma?" Regina said beside her and Emma looked up to see the biggest ogre she had ever seen.

"Oh my god." Regina whispered. "What do we do?"

"Just back away slowly, and be as quiet as possible." Emma said as the two girls slowly crept backwards.

That's when Regina's foot hit a rock and she went tumbling backwards.

The ogre turned and screamed in their direction.

"Run." Emma yelled and helped Regina to her feet. The two were sprinting through the woods when Regina fell again.

"Emma!" she yelled and Emma turned to see Regina on the ground, the ogre quickly approaching her.

Emma picked up the biggest rock she could find. Aim for the eyes, she remembered her mother telling her.

She hit the ogre square in the middle of the eyes. This stunned him but didn't kill him.

Emma grabbed Regina's hand and they sprinted through the forest again.

When they came to a clearing in the wood the two girls stopped to catch their breath.

"Thank you." Regina said.

Emma smiled at her, but her smile quickly faded when Regina saw her being lifted off the ground. She was now in the hand of the ogre.

"Emma!" Regina yelled.

Emma tried desperately to escape the clutches of the brute but she was too weak.

She looked at the ogre's face and then she saw a branch shoot it straight through the eye. She looked down and saw Regina's arms extended towards the ogre.

It started swaying on its feet and it released Emma.

"Ahh!" Emma screamed as she was sure she was going to fall far.

She found herself gently floating to the ground.

"Cool." Emma said when she saw it was Regina easing her to the ground.

"You can do magic?" Emma said to Regina when she landed.

"Yea." Regina said looking at Emma with purple irises.

"Woah! Your eyes change too!" Emma said totally awestruck by the young sorceress.

"You are by far the coolest friend I have ever had!" Emma said.

"We're friends?" Regina asked.

"Of course we are!" Emma said and smiled at her new friend; both of them grateful for finally being able to say that. "That was a great game."

They were about to hug when they heard their names being called.

"Emma! Get away from her!" James yelled and came close to the two girls, followed closely by his wife.

"Regina! Come here this instant!" Her mother yelled from the other side of the field.

"Cora, get your child away from my daughter." Snow said with disdain.

Both girls looked at each other and at their parents. They didn't understand.

"Well Snow since your daughter is in my land, I should tell you to take your insolent pup away from my daughter." Cora said.

"Don't you dare call my daughter that, you filthy witch." James said and drew his sword.

"Dad stop! Regina saved me. She's my friend." Emma said to her father.

"Rude. Just like your mother. Dirt on your face, ripped pants? Well what do you expect with that breeding?" Cora said to Emma.

"You will not address my child. Emma she is not your friend. Now go and join your mother on her horse. We will discuss your disobedience later." James said and pointed towards his wife.

"Cora, you will take your child and I do not want to see you near my land or my daughter again." James said.

"Whatever you say, your majesty." Cora said mockingly. "Come Regina." She said in a harsh tone.

"Goodbye Regina." Emma whispered.

As if sensing Emma's words, Regina muttered under her breath, "Goodbye Emma."

Thanks for reading! Reviews are great!