#enchanted forest au

[the-darkdragonfly]

Happy Birthday @donteattheappleshook

Here, have some crack ♥️

Not much happens, it's soft and fun and there's a bath or two...

Evermore - A Captain Swan Tale

Bare feet slipped against the sea soaked shore as she leapt from the boat into the pulsing cold of the harbour, hissing a creative explicit out between clenched teeth, hands tugging against the roll of the tide while she pulled the small craft up into the pebbled beach; the hull scraping against the shore in protest as she tied a clumsy bowline knot. 

Cursing again, she yanked the rope free to redo it; if she lost another boat, she’d never hear the end of it. 

Her fingers hummed with cold, the frigid air of deep winter sinking down into her bones, but the lights in the forest danced the way she’d come to recognize and she hopped quickly up into the boat again to pull the small bag of provisions from its secured place, hefting the satchel onto her shoulder.

The boots she’d discarded before leaping down into the frigid surf- you’ll be cold regardless, love, might as well keep your shoes dry- snugged comfortably back onto her feet, socks pulled from where she’d jammed them down into the toe as her small boat washed towards the familiar foreign shore. 

♥️♥️♥️♥️

Read the rest here.

♥️♥️♥️♥️

Tagging:

@elizabeethan @donteattheappleshook @sailtoafarawayland @teamhook @wefoundloveunderthelight @caught-in-the-filter @ultraluckycatnd @veryverynotgood @snowbellewells @hollyethecurious @jrob64 @kmomof4 @artistic-writer @gingerpolyglot @xarandomdreamx @justanother-unluckysoul @zaharadessert @xsjax @karlyfr13s @tiganasummertree @wyntereyez @klynn-stormz @onceratheart18 @rkrbirdgirl @ouatdaily @blowmiakisscolin @courtorderedcake @winterbaby89 @pirateprincessofpizza @superchocovian @deckerstarblanche @jlsadphoenix @alexa-fangirl-forever @stahlop @undercaffinatednightmare @lostintheskyfaraway @anmylica @motherkatereloyshipper @last-tsarina @lfh1226-linda @hookedmom @yikes-00 @midnightsuki @paradiselady19 @jonesfandomfanatic

[isthatmyjacket-covenofchaossq]

young queen Regina and knight Emma, pls and thank you

[introvertedexhuastedpigeon]

swan queen - arranged marriage enchated forest AU

[deadlyflames]

and the world has somehow shifted

Swanfire - Tangled AU - role swap

Snow White and Prince Charming are unable to beat the Evil Queen and King George after the monarchs align themselves with a dragon and a sea witch. Years later, Snow White and her husband live as outlaws at the edge of the enchanted forest, with a band of rebels as their subjects. Their daughter, Emma, is known as the rebel princess, and she takes up her parents' mantle of fighting against the tyrannical rule of the evil queen.

After centuries in Neverland, Baelfire is rescued by his father and taken back to the enchanted forest. To keep him safe from Regina, who grows more powerful by the day, and any of his countless enemies, Rumplestiltskin ensures that his son remains hidden away. For the past 4 years, Baelfire has been locked in a tower, in a deep valley surrounded by steep cliffs and mountains, protected with a powerful barrier spell.

And both their worlds were shifted when the princess without a crown managed to break through the spell that kept the boy in the tower separated from the rest of the world.

Lots of people in the swanfire au have the tangled au with Emma as Rapunzel (lost princess) and Neal as Flynn Ryder (thief using a fake name).

But Emma has canonically cosplayed as Flynn Rider.

Plus Neal is an artist like Rapunzel, and his dad would absolutely lock him in a tower to keep him safe. So i think this version works too

[swanqueenffprompter]

The Enchanted Forest was steeped in shadows, a world of secrets and power, where rulers sat on thrones built of fear. Queen Regina, feared by all as the Evil Queen, stood in her private chambers, the firelight casting flickering shadows across the dark stone walls. The burdens of rulership were heavy on her shoulders today; she was plagued by disobedient guards, petty squabbles among nobles, and a kingdom filled with resentment and whispered curses.

A guard had displeased her, a minor offense, yet it prickled her pride. It wasn’t uncommon for her to inspect the dungeons herself; fear was a currency, and its careful administration was essential to maintaining her control. With a swish of her black cloak, Regina swept out of her chambers, heels clicking against the stone floor as she descended into the bowels of her castle.

The dungeons were dark, cold, and damp, the air heavy with the scent of mold and despair. She marched down the corridor, her steps echoing off the walls, intent on berating the guard who had riled her earlier that day.

Regina descended into the dungeons with an air of command, her black cloak billowing behind her, heels clicking sharply on the stone steps. It was a routine inspection, something she did periodically to ensure that fear, her most valuable weapon, remained sharp in the hearts of her subjects. The dungeons were always cold, damp, and filled with the stench of despair. She liked it that way—every crack of stone, every flickering torch reinforced her control.

Tonight, however, something felt off. As she neared the lower levels, she heard faint cries, not unusual in this part of the castle, but these were different. They were high-pitched, desperate. The sound of a child crying.

Her brow furrowed. There are no children in my dungeons. The thought unsettled her. She quickened her pace, rounding a corner, and that’s when she saw it.

One of her guards was inside a cell, towering over a blonde woman, his hand raised as if to strike. The woman was on the ground, battered and bleeding, her arms wrapped protectively around a small boy. The boy was sobbing, clinging to her with wide, terrified eyes as he cried out, “Mommy, please! Stop hurting her!”

Regina froze, her blood boiling. This was not how she ruled. Cruelty was a tool, yes, but this—this was barbarism. It wasn’t her way.

The guard brought his hand down to strike the woman again.

“Enough!” Regina’s voice cracked like a whip through the dungeon. With a wave of her hand, magic surged from her fingertips, throwing the guard across the cell. He slammed into the opposite wall and collapsed, unconscious or worse—she didn’t care. Her heart pounded in her chest, not from the exertion of magic, but from what she had just witnessed.

The woman gasped, her body trembling as she tried to push herself upright. Her face was bruised, blood trickling from her lip, but her arms never left the small boy, who was still sobbing into her chest.

Regina stepped forward, her anger seething just below the surface. The air around her crackled with power, her eyes blazing as she looked down at the unconscious guard. How dare he act without her sanction? How dare he defy her authority and inflict such cruelty—especially on a child?

“Who are you?” Regina demanded, her voice low and commanding as she turned her gaze to the woman on the ground.

Emma looked up at her through swollen eyes, defiance still flickering despite the pain. She coughed, wincing as she tried to shield her son from Regina’s imposing figure. “Emma,” she rasped, her voice hoarse from screaming. “Just… please… he’s just a boy.”

Regina’s eyes flickered to the child, his small face buried in Emma’s torn cloak, his body trembling with fear. He couldn’t have been more than five years old. The sight of him stirred something deep within Regina, something she hadn’t felt in a long time. Pity? No, it was more than that. Anger, perhaps—anger that this boy had been subjected to such terror.

“Why is there a child in my dungeons?” Regina asked, her voice sharp but quieter now, as if trying to understand what had happened. “I gave no order for this.”

Emma gritted her teeth, her arms tightening around the boy protectively. “He’s my son,” she whispered. “We… we were captured together. I told them not to hurt him. But they didn’t listen.”

Regina’s stomach twisted, a wave of fury surging through her. She was the Evil Queen, yes, but this—this was a violation of her rules, her control. She would never allow a child to suffer for the sins of the mother. Her rule was built on precision, not mindless cruelty.

"And?" Regina asked, stepping closer, her eyes boring into Emma’s. “What did you do to be here?”

Emma looked up at her, defiance still in her eyes despite the pain. “We were running and...We were on your land, though I didn't know it at the time,” she said quietly. “Just trying to survive.”

“Running from what?” Regina’s voice softened, though the hardness remained in her eyes.

Emma hesitated for a moment, as if weighing whether to answer. “From the war. From… from people like him.” She nodded toward the unconscious guard. “People who think they have the right to take what they want, hurt whoever they want.”

Regina’s gaze flicked toward the guard again, disgust curling in her chest. She had built her kingdom on fear, yes, but it was a calculated fear, not this senseless brutality. She knelt down slowly, bringing herself level with the boy, whose sobs had quieted but whose body still trembled against his mother.

“What’s your name?” Regina asked, her voice soft, though still commanding.

The boy didn’t answer at first, peeking out from behind Emma with wide, tear-filled eyes. Regina could see the fear in them, the kind of terror that only a child who had seen too much could carry.

Emma gently stroked the boy’s hair. “It’s okay, Henry,” she whispered. “You can tell her.”

“Henry,” the boy whispered, his voice so small it was barely audible.

Regina’s heart tightened. Henry. She didn’t know why, but hearing his name sent a jolt through her, as if the boy were something more than a nameless child in her dungeons. He was real, innocent, and he had been dragged into her world of darkness and fear.

She stood, her gaze hardening as she turned back to Emma. “This guard will be dealt with,” she said firmly. “And you—”

Emma’s body tensed, her eyes filled with fear, but she held herself tall, defiant.

“—you and your son will be moved,” Regina finished, her voice calmer now. “You don’t belong in the dungeons. This treatment was not my order.”

Emma’s brow furrowed in confusion, disbelief flashing across her bruised face. “Why?” she asked, her voice shaky. “Why would you help us?”

Regina stared at her for a long moment, unsure of the answer herself. There was something about Emma—her strength, her fierce love for her son, her refusal to break—that Regina found both frustrating and admirable. She didn’t know why she was helping them, only that she couldn’t leave them here, not like this.

“Because I don’t condone this kind of cruelty,” Regina said, her voice firm. “Not to children. Not to anyone who hasn’t earned it.”

Emma’s lips parted in surprise, but before she could speak, Regina turned on her heel, her cloak swirling around her. “Follow me,” she commanded, not waiting for a response. “We’ll find somewhere more suitable.”

As Regina led them out of the dark, damp dungeons, she could feel Emma’s eyes on her, wary but no longer filled with fear.

[princess-and-the-swan]

MC Fic Rec: Seal the Deal

By @hollyethecurious | Rating: E

“Then we have a deal,” The Dark One murmured. “When you return home, you’ll find your father well and healthier than he’s ever been. All the pain and suffering a distant memory.” Emma released stuttering breaths of pure joy, her eyes stinging with the happy tears pooling in their corners. “Thank you! You… you’ve no idea what it means to me. What he means to me.” “I only hope he’s worth the price you’ve agreed to pay,” he replied, his hand still firmly enveloping her own. “Which we shall begin working towards tomorrow eve.” Emma cocked her head to one side, brows deeply furrowed. “What?” A cunning grin pulled at his lips. “You agreed to give me your firstborn child, did you not?” “I… yes?” “Well…” his pregnant pause and suggestively raised brows caused Emma’s heart to palpitate painfully in a vice of dreadful understanding his next words clamped into place. “With no husband to assist in the matter, how else did you presume to give me your firstborn?” Complete

Read it on AO3

[ohmightydevviepuu]

fanbinding: for tonight you're only here to know

MOAR concertina books! here's another dos-a-dos for the collection, modified this time for a little secret art action from @carpedzem-art 😍(artwork used with permmission as the basis of the story)

story: for tonight you're only here to know fandom: once upon a time category: captain hook / emma swan

the story is written in three parts, so i typeset it in three signatures for the dos-a-dos. the story ends with a book-within-the-book so i made two title pages, one for the fic and one for the book--mostly because i so enjoyed playing with the stock images.

the 'covers' are paste paper from an artists' event at the new york city Center for Book Arts, with the images transferred on using a foil quill. the signatures are sewn in with a three-hole pamphlet stitch. the idea for this bind came from an example in Making Handmade Books: 100+ Bindings, Structures & Forms by Alisa Golden.

title pages are inkjet on clearprint vellum textblock is neenah cougar 80# text weight fonts: treefrog, lost dragon demo, 1938 STeMPEL stock images: mystic black heart, octopus, magic potion, hand-drawn star

[chicken-needle-soup]

More of the AU where the clump Is trapped in an enchanted forest!

Now presenting Yellow!

What is he, really? A Yellow pig? A human? A fairy, even?

This fella, who could easily be 8 to 138 years old, constantly confuses Red and Duck with his mysterious nature.

Could Yellow be the answer for the pair to finally escape the enchanted forest? They might be able to find out, but only if they manage to distract Yellow from wallowing on the first puddle he comes across!

[rawbutprecious]

“show off.” (For Emma)

Princess Emma looked over at the Huntsman while lowering the bow in her hand. The arrow that had just flown from the quiver . She couldn't help but beam a large smile at him. He'd been her guard for as long as she remembered to the point that he was more than her protector, but her friend as well.

"What would you expect from the daughter of Snow White?" she asked, playfully batting her eyes. "Come on... show me what you got. If you can do better than that... then.... hmmm.... I'll march around town proclaiming you are the best shot in all the land... while banging on a tambourine.

[pappelsiin]

it turned into au art 💫

[reginamillls]

have some of my 911 Once Upon a Time AU

* * *

"Uncle Buck-" Jee says and Buck looks down at her lap, but she wasn't looking up at him, instead her finger was pointed to the page of her storybook where a beautiful woman was laying amongst a field of flowers.

"I don't know bunny," Buck says amused. "I don't think I can fit in that dress."

"No that's you," Jee insists and she looks up at Buck then. "You but diff- differ-"

"Different?" Buck prompts and Jee nods her head smiling.

"You think I'm Beauty? And not the Beast?" Buck asks, curious now and Jee nods her head and she turns the page.

The beast in this storybook is massive. A tall creature that stands on it's hind legs. His paws are large, ending in wicked looking claws and his teeth are just as sharp. He's terrifying at first glance, but Buck has read this book with Jee before and he knows that the terrifying expression on the Beast's face softens as he finds love with Beauty.

His blue eyes, the same color as twilight, seem to shine when he looks at Beauty.

He should have wings. Buck thinks as his finger traces the illustration. It's wrong somehow, but Buck has never thought that before. The features are different, the color of his fur should be darker-

Buck shakes away the suddenly strange thoughts and Jee turns the page again.

"I've never been Beauty before?" Buck asks. In the dozens of times they've read this fairytale, Buck has been many things in their world of pretend. Dragons and Princes and Knights. He's even been Alice and everytime Jee-Yun has laughed and gone with their make believe.

She sounds so serious now.

Buck wants to ask know, he wants to know who the Beast could be - when Chimney comes in, a grim look on his face.

"Sorry Buck," Chim says as he comes into the room, wiping the grease from his forehead with a frown. "You need more than just my knowledge for the jeep. You need a proffesional."

Buck sighs, letting his head fall ontop of Jee's which makes her giggle and tell Buck that he had a heavy head. It was a little bit of a balm to the dissapointment he had in Chim not being able to get her to start.

"Is there even a mechanic in Storybrooke?" Buck asks. He's had his Jeep for years, and he's never needed help with it before, Buck can't even think of the last time he needed an oil change.

"There's one on the outskirts of town, right next to the lake. It's called Harbor," Chimney says. "Guy who runs it, he doesn't really come into town that much."

"You know him?" Buck asks and Chimney's brows furrow his gaze going distant for a moment-

"I've seen him in town," Chimney says finally, his voice more monotone then before, almost rehearsed.

Buck has a moment of thinking it strange-

"I think your jeep has enough life in her to make it out that way," Chimney explains as he goes to the kitchen to clean up. Buck kisses Jee's head before setting her down on the couch by herself and goes to follow his brother in law.

"Do you want us to come with?" Chimney asks and Buck shakes his head.

"Nah," He smiles. "Jee missed her Dad, you to should snuggle up with her," Buck suggests with a grin. "Maybe watch a movie with her."

"Yeah," Chimney says and his eyes glance over to where Jee was arranging her stuffed animals carefully by her tea set. She was quietly singing to herself in one of the many songs she would make up on the spot.

Chimney's smile turns sad and Buck follows his eyes to the picture of Maddie that hung on the wall.

Buck feels something tighten in his chest, and he reaches out and puts an arm around Chimney, hugging him close.

They don't talk about Maddie outside of telling Jee about her memory.

"Get out of here before Jee asks you to stay," Chimney jokes, pushing playfully at Buck. "I don't want to lose my snuggle bunny for the night."

Buck goes to say his goodbyes, giving Jee an extra big hug and promising to see her soon.

The drive there is miserable. The jeep sputters and groans on the way there and Buck repeatedly pets the dashboard and begs it to make it just a little bit further.

It's not a long drive, Storybrooke is a small town, but it's the furthest he had to drive in -

He can't remember how long.

The shop itself is unassuming, more of a large garage connected to a small house than anything else. Next to it is a small junkyard, filled with rusting cars, broken appliances and a small biplane that surprises Buck to see. He doesn't remember ever seeing a plane fly over Storybrooke.

Shaking his head away from the strange thought, Buck moves to go into the shop.

There's a thick metal door up front, and Buck would think it looked unwelcoming if it werent for the crooked open sign. He pushes at it, and the hinges move smoothly despite the weight. It's well taken care of.

Despite how the outside looks, the inside feels more welcoming. There's a small couch next to a desk that sits at the corner of the garage. The couch is well loved but clean, and Buck can imagine sitting comfortably in it, maybe even reading from one of the many books that are crammed into the book case next to the couch.

A sign says to ring the bell for service and Buck does so, tapping it three times.

He rocks on his heels, turning to look at the shelf with his hands in the pockets of his jacket, pulling the fabric in front of him.

Buck reaches out again and taps the bell.

"I heard you," A gruff voice says and Buck turns to look at the owner of the voice.

He's a tall man, as tall as Buck is himself and broad.

The man steps from the shadows, and Buck's eyes widen.

There are scars on the man's face that span further down, hidden by the collar of the man's jumper. One of them pulls at his mouth, making it look like he was frowning.

Beyond the scars though are a pair of blue eyes.

The same color as twilight.

part two here

[27dragons]

Countdown to 2025: Dec 5

Enchanted Forest AU / Sandman - Dreamling / Carol

Hob stared at the enormous, ice-limned tree that was planted squarely in the middle of the path.

The tree that definitely had not been in the path when he’d come into the forest. He hadn’t strayed off the path the whole time, except for one brief moment when he’d spotted the pale blue petals of the magical flower he’d come into the forest for. He’d picked the flower and come straight back to the path, following his own footsteps in the snow.

The wind had risen not long after that, and it had been a matter of moments before the remainder of his footprints had been obscured. But he’d been back on the path by then, and confident that it would lead him home again.

But now there was a tree in the path that hadn’t been there before. The path curved around it on both sides, and continued past it, but Hob knew it wouldn’t be that simple. Not in this forest.

He shuffled to the left and then to the right, trying to peer past the tree without actually going around it. He couldn’t discern a difference.

“Think,” he ordered himself. “If there’s only one true path, which one is it? To the right, for the left is the Devil’s hand? To the left, where the heart lies?” His breath turned to steam in the icy air, puffing like a dragon, but it provided no answer.

The wind blew colder, and he pulled his shabby cloak more tightly around himself. “If I can’t go left, and I can’t go right, then the only way forward is straight down the middle, aye?” 

Deep in the forest, a tree branch cracked under the weight of the ice and snow, the sound echoing eerily as the wind died away. Hob shivered from more than the cold.

“It’s an adventure, Hobsie,” he muttered. He clutched close his cloak and the pouch in which he’d stowed the precious flower, squeezed his eyes tight shut, and stepped forward. And forward again. Three steps. Five. Ten. Twenty.

He should have run into the tree by now, surely. Or stumbled over a gnarled root.

A sound wormed its way into his hearing. He thought at first it was the wind, but it was too rhythmic. Music of some kind? A few more steps, and it was clearly singing of some sort. The wind returned, tugging at Hob’s cloak, pulling him forward until he could hear that there were several voices joined in the song.

It was in a language Hob didn’t know, but it was beautiful. The voices were clear and true and strong, and even if he couldn’t understand the words, they were full of joy.

“And who have we here?” asked a voice, deep and beautiful.

Hob’s eyes opened before he could wonder if it were wise to do so. 

Hob saw a man, taller than any Hob had ever met, slender and nearly as pale as the snow, with hair like raven’s feathers. His eyes were a dark void scattered with stars. His clothes were dark as midnight shadows, and as formless, pooling around him and shifting not with the wind but against it, as if they were creatures.

He was clearly not human. He was terrifying. He was awe-inspiring. He was--

“Beautiful,” Hob blurted, and clapped a hand to his mouth before it could betray his stupidity any further.

The man’s head tipped slightly. “Your name is Beautiful?”

“No,” Hob stammered. “No, your lordship, I’m-- folks call me Hob.”

“Hob,” the man repeated, and on his lips, Hob’s simple name sounded like an angel’s song. “Come, Hob.” He gestured with an arm that was just a little too long, drawing Hob’s attention to a blazing bonfire, surrounded by several dozen creatures ranging in size from a mouse wearing courtier’s attire complete with a needle-sized sword to a dragon several times larger than Hob’s own house. 

The pale man put a hand on Hob’s shoulder and urged him forward, gentle despite what Hob sensed was immense strength and power. “Come and warm yourself at the fire, and tell me what brings you this eve to my domain.”

[italymystery-swanqueen]

Everything Will Be Alright

I Promise You

[v-chase-art]

princess emma of the white kingdom (definitely guilty of breaking a fair share of other princesses’ engagements and not allowed to attend any royal wedding in the enchanted forest)

for the sake of peace between the kingdoms we should all hope she’ll meet one particular queen soon enough

[princess-and-the-swan]

MC Fic Rec: Her Dark Protector

By @belovedcreation | Rating: E

Growing up imprisoned in her own home by the Evil Queen Regina, Princess Emma would often hear tales of the Dark One - the only person her dark captor feared. In a desperate attempt to flee Regina's grasp, Emma calls upon the Dark One to make a deal that will set her free. But the man who appears is not who she expected. Dark One Killian Jones reluctantly makes a deal to help her reclaim her throne, but all magic comes with a price and this deal come with ties that bind the dark to the light. Complete.

Another Beloved Creation fic, but are you even surprised at this point? Alllll the kudos to Heather for yet another wonderful fic!

Read it on AO3

[charlieactuallydiesforreal]

Pim Pimling

Alive and... unwell.

After Charlie dies, Pim carry’s an immense guilt. He blames himself for starting the argument that lead to his death. His grief is inconsolable. He needs something, he needs closure.

So, he begins researching the afterlife. He gets so deep into his studies that he stops showing up to work. Allan and Glep are Not good at making people smile. So, pretty quickly, the Smiling Friends charity shuts down.

Meanwhile, Pim falls deeper. His eyes are strained, he’s needed glasses for a long time but hasn’t gotten new ones since he was a kid. But he needs to see, so he puts on his old pair. He ditches his work clothes, donning a mourning black tee shirt and shorts. No shoes even, just socks. And, of course, the only physical thing he has left of Charlie: his hat.