alyssa.

before the crown. before the curse. before everything broke.

the tragedy of regina mills is that emma swan met her too late... until now.

Before the Crown a swan queen AU where emma and regina meet as teenagers in the enchanted forest

“I know,” Regina replied. “I want to.”

Emma glanced at her briefly, then looked forward again. “You’re going to get caught.”

“Not if I’m careful.”

“You’re not as careful as you think you are.”

Regina’s brows lifted slightly. “And you are?”

Emma smirked faintly. “More than you.”

Regina is already promised to marry King Leopold, and Emma is just an orphan not knowing her place in life.

They become friends and as Regina marries the King, she takes Emma to the castle with her as her maid.

But when the King realises that Emma is good at fighting, he sends her away to train to become a knight.

When Emma returns many years later, Regina has already killed the King and turned into the Evil Queen... but deep down, she's still the Regina that Emma has learned to love over the years...

idea so inspiring that Before the Crown, chapter 1 is now posted 🖤⚔️👑

work in progress - updates on wednesdays

Fabulous party. You know, I haven't seen this much love in a room since Narcissus discovered himself.

Emma took one final step closer, closing the space between them again. “If we’re being honest...” she said, her voice catching slightly, heavy with intent.

Then, with quiet certainty, she said, “You don’t get to hold back either.”

Regina felt her chest tighten, a quick, involuntary jolt that made her pause.

Emma’s voice softened—but didn’t waver.

“I just told you how I feel. So you don’t get to hide behind doubt and call that your answer.”

Regina’s walls flickered—cracking under the weight of it.

Emma’s gaze didn’t leave hers.

“I need you to be honest with me too.” And then, more vulnerable than anything she’d said yet, “About how much you want me.”

**

What starts as a simple visit quickly turns into something neither of them expected. Words are said. Walls begin to crack. And in the quiet spaces between them, truths they’ve been holding in, start to surface.

(I know this isn't the most even way to represent animal groups but I tried to go off of what I saw mentioned most in the notes)

looking for something to read? 👀 look no further

archive of our own: read here!

thinking about how Regina is such a complex character inspired this fic. read below!

AO3: read here!

this is for the epic girls, iykyk.

AO3: read here!

FFN: read here!