Full Summary: Based on Tchaikovsky's ballet 'Swan Lake', Princess Emma is the 18 year old daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. Her birthday celebrations are cut short when Regina curses the princess to transform into a swan every day until her 21st birthday. Unless a man worthy of her makes a vow of everlasting love: she will die. Can her childhood love, Prince Killian, from the neighbouring kingdom find her in time?

Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended. This is purely for entertainment purposes and no profit or funding is being supplied to the author.

Emma remembered very little from before.

She could remember the melodic chime of her mother's laugh. She remembered the warmth that spread throughout her body when her father hugged her tightly. She remembered the weight of a sword in her hand and the tight coil of her bow's drawstring. She remembered the sight of the setting sun from her room in spring and the touch of the first snowflake in winter.

But most of all, she remembered his eyes. She could still picture the way those cerulean orbs shone when he whispered sweet nothings to her by the lake beneath the moonlight. She could still see how they glistened when he danced with her beneath the chandelier in the grand ballroom. She could still see the dread that captivated him when Regina burst through the doors of her 18th birthday celebrations and changed their lives forever. She could still see the determination that filled his face when she watched him through the crystal mirror that Regina had set up as she tormented and stripped away at Emma's hopes and dreams of freedom.

On a night like every other since, Emma stood by the shimmering lake and watched as the full moon slowly traversed the sky. Her eyes furrowed sadly when the light's reflection on the water moved further away from her. She knew it was time. She dipped her foot into the body of water and calmly made her way towards her fate. She breathed in deeply when the light hit her. She closed her eyes, raising her arms gently as her body was captured by the light.

The magic flowed through her petite form. Her pure golden hair moved gracefully with the force of the power penetrating her body. She bended, molded, followed the magic. It pierced every fibre of her body and changed her from the inside out.

Her eyes snapped open and watched, entranced. The princess' porcelain skin suddenly grew feathers. Her arms became pure, white wings.

She settled gently on the cool lake. The sky grew brighter, the beginning of the dawn eminent. She hung her head and saw the face of a graceful white swan stare back at her. Emma watched as her reflection faded with the appearance of the golden sun. A lone tear slipped from her emerald eyes as the day began anew.

She had lost count of the days, but she knew her time was running out.

Killian remembered her as clearly as the waters of Lake Nostos.

He remembered her flowing, golden hair that shined brighter than the sun. He remembered her eyes that mimicked the colours of the forests that they so loved to play in when they were children. He remembered her smile was the epitome of happiness and it had the power to lift him from the darkest depths of sadness. He remembered her kindness, her compassion, her grace.

He missed her dearly with each passing day. Since the night she was taken, Killian searched for her. He had exhausted every possible resource he had in the desperate search for his princess. He had tried making deals with the Dark One, who had turned him away with a wave of his hand and a slam of the door. He had tried using magic from the Blue Fairy, who had sorrowfully rejected his requests with a simple 'any magic I give to you would not be strong enough to undo this'.

Days, weeks, months, years passed by. Killian poured himself into maps of the kingdoms and the thick tomes from King James and Queen Snow's library. He joined the daily patrols into new territory with the undying hope of finding her. He trained harder than he had ever before, engaging in swordplay and archery. He had no idea what the Evil Queen had planned for when he found her.

At night, Killian stood in the gardens of the colossal castle that belonged to her parents. Just before the sun would set each day, he would watch while a herd of pure white swans flew overhead and deep into the forest. He longed to follow them, to fly until he found her. He would gaze at the moon in the sky and feel a sense of sorrow fill him to the brim. His eyes would prick with hot tears and trail down his cheeks. He looked to the sky and hoped that Emma was doing the same, just to feel close to her.

He was running out of time.

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