Mary-Margaret is Queen Snow and David is King James. Also, you will find some parallels with Emma and Killian, but that's part of the story. Hope you like!

RE-EDITED by my wonderful and highly recommended beta reader: "thetimeladyswan"

Disclaimer: This was just for fun. I don't own OUAT, or the characters.

SPARKLE OF A NIGHT

Chapter 1 Traditions & Royal Duties Nonsense

The red and orange rays of the sun are shining as dawn rises. The waves of the sea are calm, when a ship docks in the harbor.

Shouts of sailors are heard everywhere, and as the Captain is giving instructions to his crew on deck, a young Lieutenant approaches him and remains on his right.

The Captain dismisses the sailors in front of him to have a word with his Lieutenant alone.

"Here we are, the kingdom of the Enchanted Forest. I told you it would be beautiful, Lieutenant," Captain Liam Jones affirms, satisfied - as they are looking out at the view of the land.

"It is, Captain. Seems it was worth traveling such a distance," the young Lieutenant confirms, politely.

"And it will be more worth it when we attend the royal ball," Captain Liam declares, with a smile, as they're getting off the ship.

"I will never understand why a King would invite us," the Lieutenant comments, shaking his head lightly.

"Politics Lieutenant, but even with that it is an honor. Do not forget," the Captain states, kindly.

"I will, Captain. And speaking of …" he hesitates. "I must inform you that I am not a man of dances," the young man expresses, his tone uncomfortable, trying to find a way to escape of his responsibility.

The Captain pats the Lieutenant's shoulders, gently. "Oh, come on, Lieutenant! You've been to dances before," he reminds him, trying to cheer him up - while they walk on the docks, around their vessel, to make sure everything's in order with their ship.

The Lieutenant scratches the back of his ear. "Uh, yeah, but … all I find in those balls are labels, boredom and senseless traditions that force the royalty to do crazy things!" he explains, fervently, raising his arms to the sky dramatically in an effort to convince his Captain.

The Captain stops and turns to him, making the sailor stop abruptly before him - the young Lieutenant will make this difficult.

"Traditions are part of our history and culture, Lieutenant. There's no need to get anxious," Captain Liam Jones affirms, his tone changing to a teasing one at the end.

The Lieutenant rolls his eyes.

They both resume their walk, and the Captain gives orders to some of his sailors - as the Lieutenant is struggling with the idea of following his duties.

"I don't want to go, brother. Perhaps, you would find me more useful here with the sailors," the Lieutenant confesses, with a pleading voice, grabbing the Captain's arm to get his attention once again.

Liam sighs, turning to the Lieutenant and placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Killian, you are my little brother and I love you, but sometimes you are quite … stubborn," Liam affirms, meekly.

"I prefer to call myself a free thinker," Killian declares, his tone cynical.

"Anyway, you'll go," Liam states, looking into his eyes, firmly - he starts to walk again.

"But brother …" Killian insists, his tone still pleading - he won't surrender that easily.

Liam turns around to face him.

"Killian, you are about to become a Captain. You will be in charge of sailors and you will sail your own ship. I won't be there to remind you to set the example. Obey and that's it. Retreat, Lieutenant," Captain Liam orders, tone serious.

Lieutenant Killian Jones nods, politely, and retreats to his duties.

Meanwhile …

In the castle of the Enchanted Forest, the doors of one of the royal rooms are opened abruptly. The Queen enters with a big smile upon her face.

"Rise and shine, darling!" Queen Snow says, cheerfully, opening the curtains to let sunlight into the room.

The Princess doesn't want to wake up - she pulls the covers over her, from head to feet, when the light of the sun falls on her face.

"One more minute, Mother," the Princess grumbles from under the blankets.

Her mother, the Queen, approaches the bed.

"Sweetie, come on! Today's the ball and we have to get you ready!" Queen Snow exclaims excitedly, unsuccessfully attempting to rouse her daughter.

"We have like eight hours to do that, Mom," the Princess defends, still under the covers.

"Then we'd better hurry!" Queen Snow affirms, her tone optimistic, but the Princess doesn't make a move out of the bed.

"… Darling?" the Queen says, but the Princess doesn't want to cooperate.

Queen Snow sighs heavily - it is just one of those days.

"You're no longer a little girl, Emma! Get up!" Snow repeats, trying to remove the blankets, but the Princess pulls them tightly over her - the young Princess is making this morning very difficult.

"Do it for me, please?" Snow says, with a pleading voice - the voice that she knows her daughter can't resist.

The Princess grumbles. "Fine, but don't ask me to be animated!" Emma says, reluctantly, removing the covers and sitting up on the bed.

"I don't understand you, Emma. At your age, I was happy to attend a celebration like this," Snow says, her tone innocent, looking at the things on her daughter's dresser.

"See? You don't understand, Mother. There's nothing to celebrate. These are just silly traditions and royal duties! Nonsense!" Emma states, fervently.

"Don't be stubborn, darling, you're a Princess," Snow recites, kindly, glancing at her.

Emma rolls her eyes and folds her arms, annoyed.

"And there is something to celebrate!" Snow exclaims, optimistically.

"Yeah, like what, Mother?" Emma asks, sarcastically, still sitting on the bed.

The Queen is about to reply to her daughter when King James enters into the room with a bright smile.

"Where are my favorite girls? Good morning everyone!" the King greets, happily.

He gives a kiss to the ladies, but the tension between them smells in the air.

"Is it something wrong?" the King asks, confused, glancing at his daughter and then at his wife.

"Ask your daughter," Snow replies.

"Don't even look at me, Dad," Emma states, upset, her arms still folded.

"I see. Is this about the ball tonight?" King James asks them, innocently.

Emma makes a face, gets up from the bed, angrily, without saying a word. She walks out onto her chamber's balcony, where the sunlight envelops her with its golden rays - her parents glancing at each other in recognition.

"Would you help me, honey?" Queen Snow asks her husband, tenderly.

The King sighs. "I got this," he says and then presses a sweet kiss on his wife's forehead.

"I'll see you later to make the last adjustments to the dress, darling!" Snow informs, raising her voice sympathetically.

"Yes, Mother!" Princess Emma responds, respectfully but upset - Snow leaves them alone.

Princess Emma is looking down at the rail of the balcony, deep in her thoughts when she feels the tender warmth of her Father's hug.

He doesn't say anything right away. They're just watching the amazing view of the village and the woods.

The King clears his throat. "The ball will be in a few hours," he announces.

"Yeah, I know. Mom has done anything but talk about it all morning," Emma says, with humor - they chuckle.

"Oh, Emma. I know your Mother can push you a little bit sometimes, but she loves you," King James offers, hugging her tightly.

"I know and I love her too," Emma says, kindly, looking at her Father.

"Then why are you so angry?" King James asks her.

"I'm not angry ... it's just ... I don't want to do this, Father," Emma explains, upset, her tone dejected.

"Emma, it's your chance to find your true love," King James affirms, gently.

"You really think I'll find it at the ball, don't you?" Princess Emma asks him, sardonically.

"Of course I do! That's how I met your Mother and we have been happy ever since," he declares happily.

Emma smiles slightly at that thought. Then, she looks to the horizon once again.

"And what if I don't want to meet anyone? I don't want to dance with a bunch of strangers and smile when I don't like them!" she adds, upset and disappointed.

"But it's the tradition," - they say in unison.

"I know," she adds, rolling her eyes.

King James shakes his head, lightly. "I don't understand you, Emma. You wanted this opportunity and I granted it to you. I could have married you to the Prince of the Northern Kingdom long ago. I could have forced you to that arranged marriage, but you insisted that you wanted to meet someone and marry for love. I understood because that's how it happened with your Mother and I," King James says, gently.

"I got it, Father. I'm sorry. It's just ... look out there!" Emma points to the kingdom with her finger - and adds - "The world is so big ... I don't know if I can find them," Emma confesses, her tone sad.

"Maybe you don't have to do it! Maybe your true love will come to you," he suggests optimistically.

Emma tilts her head a bit to the right, sardonically, and he gives her a fatherly look.

"I know you don't believe in our traditions, but give them a chance. You'll never know if you don't try," the King says, grinning.

Emma gives him a sincere and tender smile.

"Plus, they don't know that you will choose a husband tonight. They just think it is just another celebration," he adds, with a tone of complicity, placing his hands over her daughter's shoulders.

"... And what happens if I don't do this?" Princess Emma asks him, fearing the worst.

"Then I'm afraid you've missed your chance and I will be forced to continue with my royal duties. I'll proceed with the marriage, Emma," the King informs, his tone serious.

"Dad ..." she insists, with a pleading voice.

"You are royalty, Emma. You have responsibilities and one day you will be Queen. Choose wisely, darling," King James says, touching her cheek, gently.

Emma draws a slight smile on her face and nods, politely.

"Now, get dressed or whatever you the young ladies do at these kind of events and go to ball with your best smile …" he says, with a smile of his own.

"Okay," Emma whispers, still sad.

"I know it doesn't seem fair, Emma. Your mother and I love you, but it's just the way things are," he states, finally.

King James kisses her daughter's forehead and leaves.

Emma places her hands on the railing of the balcony and look towards the horizon.

"Then, I hope you come to me," Princess Emma says, out loud, and sighs.

Did you like it? Reviews are very welcome! Let me know what you think :)