The Frog Princess

"So, he got to you too."

Emma's feathers ruffled and she nearly fell head-first into the water. She looked around, trying to find where the voice came from.

"Down here, miss."

Emma looked down, and saw a frog sitting down on a lily pad, "My name's Tiana."

Emma stayed silent for a moment, thinking about how quick her wish had been granted.

"What's your name?" Tiana asked.

"Emma."

Tiana smiled, "You aren't really a swan, are you miss?"

"I'm not quite sure." Emma admitted, "Are you not a frog?"

"Would I be asking you these questions if I was?"

Emma nodded, "Who did this to you?"

"The Shadowman. Well, Navine. That stupid frog must have flies flying around in his-" Tiana stopped talking and licked her lips. She opened her mouth as a fly flew by, and caught it with her tongue and swallowed.

"Navine?" Emma asked, cocking her head to the side.

"Yes, but he doesn't matter. He's just another thorn in my side."

"Hey!" A voice yelled from behind Tiana.

Tiana rolled her eyes and turned to face the male frog, "Just keep mincing."

Emma frowned, "Who exactly is the Shadowman?"

"A evil man, twists up your words and spits them out. He's the king of voodoo in New Orleans. He's got some nasty friends on the other side."

"I don't think he's the one that cursed me, this was another man. His name was Dr. Facilier."

Tiana jumped back, "That's the Shadowman you fool!"

Emma stayed quiet, now feeling more stupid than ever. Tiana saw this and felt guilty, "I'm sorry Emma. I didn't mean to say that."

Emma stayed quiet, like she did a lot these days.

"Do you know why he did this to you?"

"Not completely. I mean, he said that I, 'Princess Emma' was the only thing standing in the way of his plans. He said he is going to take over my kingdom and burn it to the ground."

"You're a princess?" Tiana asked.

Emma frowned, Damn, she thought. Another conversation ruined because she had made another stupid comment of her being a princess.

"I wonder what he wants with you. I mean, he's usually not one to feel threatened."

Emma ignored Tiana, and looked to the side. Passers-by were staring at Emma and Tiana. To the all they heard were whoops and croaks.

"The sun is setting." Emma announced, and began to waddle up to shore.

"What are you doin'?" Tiana asked.

"Getting out of the water."

The moon then rose, and Emma transformed back into her human state. Tiana was staring at her in awe, "You just…. I thought you were a swan…"

Emma shrugged, "I am. Sometimes." She admitted, "Just during the day."

Emma was quite surprised that she could still talk to Tiana, given that she was human again. Tiana clearly felt the same way.

Emma picked up the ends of her dress, the one made from swan feathers. When she transformed, this was always the outfit she wore.

She turned around and waddled in the direction of the castle.

"Emma."

Emma nearly screamed when Regina materialized in front of her. Instead, she tripped over her own orange flats and fell. Regina rolled her eyes and helped Emma up, "Dammit, Regina!" Emma shouted, brushing off her dirty dress, which had begun to molt.

"Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you."

"Well, job not well done."

"Your parents want to talk to you."

"They're already embarrassed of me, whoop!"

Regina bit her lip, "We've been… talking."

Emma adjusted her tiara and stared at Regina, "whoop…?"

"Your mother and I are very opposed to this, but your father insisted."

"Whoop are you whoop-ing about?"

Regina exhaled, "He wants you to live here, at the lake."

Emma rolled her eyes and sat down crisscross applesauce on the grass, "Whoop I'm not surprised."

"You aren't? "'

"No-whoop! I heard what he said in the castle after you found me. H-whoop! He's embarrassed of me. It was only a whoop of time."

"Snow really is something...she nearly beat him to death after he suggested-" Regina put quotes around that word- "We leave you here."

"And you? Do you want to leave me here?"

"Emma, you know I don't. That's why, despite what your ridiculous father said, Snow and I have rebuilt your bedroom in the castle, and Charming has no clue about."

"Really?"

"Yes, really. We got rid of your bed and dug a huge hole in the ground, about the size of this lake. We filled it with water so you could sleep there. Only the water is much cleaner. And yes, I know human girls don't sleep in the ocean it's a 'just in case' sort of thing. Because well, who knows what you're capable of now. There is an open skylight in case you want to fly around in the morning, frolic with your animal friends, whatever you want to do. Anyway, it's basically everything a swan would want, ."

"And yes, I did add fresh grass. So if you're hungry at night, the Royal cook won't have to scrub the dirt off his fingers before he makes a meal for Snow and Charming." Emma licked her lips, and Regina rolled her eyes when she saw.

"The Royal Gardener will plant new grass every other day, because who knows how fast you go through that stuff."

Emma was in a daze, and Regina snapped her fingers in front of Emma's face. She looked mortified, "S-Sorry."

Regina shrugged, "You can't control it."

"Anything else?"

"Oh, yes. Your mother and I will be checking in on you every now and then at night to make sure you're adapting well."

"'Adapting?'"

"Just, getting used to your room. Oh, and we added a special bathroom just for you. Because if you do your business in that lake, The Royal-"

"Yes, I get it. Don't shit in the lake, right?"

"Basically."

Emma sighed, "I want to see this for myself."

Regina nodded, and grabbed Emma's hand. She then poofed them back to the castle into Emma's room. Correction; Emma's new room. She squealed with glee (A sound Regina hadn't heard her make before) and ran inside. She inspected everything in the room, the only thing she didn't like was the toilet room. There were two separate ones-one when she was human, and one when she was a bird. She didn't mind the human one, but despised the bird one. There was a little perch inside a cage, and a little wooden drain under it.

The bathtub she liked. Like the bathroom, there was one for when she was human and one for when she was a bird. A bath and a birdbath, a clever idea. Emma ran around, smiling at everything she saw.

Emma was about to jump in the water when she noticed the bed. It was literally a waterbed. The water was floating above the lake, held up thanks to Regina's magic, the water kept going up without stopping. On it was a large lily pad (Which Emma guessed was supposed to be her pillow) and a woven blanket made from tree leaves.

"I'm glad you like it."

Emma jumped, she had forgotten Regina was here!

"Yeah, Its pretty cool." Emma stated, her eyes now locked on the endless amount of grass in her room. She nearly passed out.

"Hey, Regina? I'm tired, I think I-I better go to bed." Emma faked a yawn, but Regina saw right through her.

"Eat to your heart's content Swan. I'm going to go eat my own dinner." She stated.

So that's what Emma did. She ate and ate and ate until a quarter of her room was just dirt. When she finished, Emma wiped her green-stained mouth and stepped into the water, not bothering to change out of her clothes. She stepped upon the waterbed, afraid she would fall through, but she didn't. Emma could pull herself up on the bed, the cold water felt good against her skin. She pulled the thin, woven blanket over herself and snuggled down into her pillow. She had never felt more relaxed in her life. So, like a swan, Emma curled up and tucked her head under her arm and fell asleep.

Emma woke up late into the morning, around two in the afternoon. She craned her neck downward and raised her wings. They were beautiful, but the slightest bit messy. She probably had rolled in her sleep last night, which ruined her feathers. Emma wondered why she cared, but began to preen her feathers anyway.

She finished quickly, and ate a quick breakfast before flying off. Emma was curious to see whether Tiana was still there or not, silently hoping she still wouldn't be reacting as she did when Emma turned into a human.

Emma settled herself in the water, and paddled around looking for Tiana. She didn't have to look long though.

"Princess Emma, you're back."

Emma turned around, relieved to see Tiana hadn't left.

"You can just call me Emma, you know."

Tiana smiled, "All right then. While Navine is over there doin' nothing, why don't you come join us? I have a feeling Navine will be pleased as punch to meet another royal." She rolled her eyes, which made Emma smile.

Tiana jumped ahead, checking every once in a while, that Emma was still behind her. When they reached the lily pad where Navine was sitting, Tiana had to clear her throat so he would acknowledge her presence.

"Oh, hello Tiana. Have you finally brought me my food?" He asked, like he was all high and mighty.

"No Mr. Do-Little, I did bring a friend though. Unlike you, she wasn't tricked by the Shadowman, because Princess Emma here has sense in that head of hers."

Navine put his makeshift guitar down and hopped over to Emma, "You are royalty?"

She nodded, and he smiled, "Why would anyone punish a royal? I did nothing wrong!"

"Except your constant whining." Tiana commented.

"What kingdom do you come from, princess?"

"Misthaven."

"Misthaven? Oh, and you do nothing wrong, yes?"

"Yes."

"You are just a gentle soul, who has your servants wait on you. Like a good princess, yes?"

"No." Emma responded.

"See, she unders-what?" He sounded surprised, because what princess would never rely on her staff. Ridiculous.

"I can fend for myself." She said.

"Bu-but, the men, they can fend for you. Protect the princess, like they should."

"But what if a man isn't around to protect me? I need to know how to protect myself."

Navine frowned, she had a point.

"Madame, how exactly do you plan to do that? It's not like you can learn how to defend yourself right away. I mean, I can teach you a few moves for you. But the advanced stuff is to hard for you."

"I can fight for myself, thank you. I am actually very skilled with a sword."

"What?" He asked, as if he had never heard of a sword-fighting princess before. Which he probably hadn't.

Tiana giggled, and I raised my chest in pride.

"Well, Ms. Emma, maybe you could show me these moves later. And maybe," he took one of her wings' with his slimy hands,"We can build a powerful relationship,no?"

"No."

Navine facepalmed, no woman had rejected him like that before, "Why, may I ask?"

"I am already married."

She now had another valid point, "Is your prince...,"

"Captain Hook."

"A pirate? Ugh, you have horrible taste. A handsome prince seems much more suitable."

"Technically, he is a prince now."

This pen is impossible!

This would be a morning to remember. He could just tell.