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Chapter Text

Regina wistfully gazed out at the far-off lights of the village in the distance. Most of the lights ceased at the forest’s edge, but there were a few hidden places between the trees, their presence indicated by blinking lights, fireflies twinkling among the leaves of the trees.

The village was separated from her palace by fortified castle walls, but to Regina, it may as well have been an ocean away. The lives of people in the village were very different from her own. Not only did they have the freedom to go wherever they wanted, but they had the freedom to choose every other aspect of their lives as well, a luxury she was never afforded.

She was envious of them, always had been. She had been raised surrounded by stone palace walls that were as dark as night, her every minute part of a meticulously coordinated itinerary that her mother, Queen Cora, oversaw with an iron fist. Each detail of Regina’s life- how she dressed, even acted and spoke- Cora used as what she liked to call lessons for when Regina would become queen.

However, these “lessons” were really an excuse for Cora to berate Regina about every minute detail. Should she step out of line- eat the wrong dish, use an inappropriate facial expression, wear the wrong hairstyle- she would hear about it, always phrased in a way that made Regina feel that she was incapable of doing anything right. So much so that she was starting to wonder if her mother had faith that she would make a good queen when she assumed the throne within the next year.

Her father, however, was a different story. King Henry had always doted on his youngest daughter, even choosing to place her first in line to his throne once he passed over her older sister Zelena, a fact that had not endeared him to neighboring kingdoms and had made Zelena jealous for as long as Regina could remember.

She was shaken out of her thoughts by a knock on the door. She opened the door to find her mother’s maid, Eva, standing before her.

Regina sighed. “What does my mother want?”

“Only to see you, Your Highness,” Eva informed her. “I apologize, I know you like to know the state of your mother’s mind and her intentions before you come face to face with her, but I’m afraid this time I’m at a loss as to why your presence is requested.”

Regina nodded and followed her to her mother’s chambers. She found her mother seated at her vanity, applying yet more makeup. She was always telling Regina that appearances were everything, but she had never believed her, and therefore had never applied that concept to her own life. She would much rather spend her time outdoors riding horses.

King Henry was sitting on the bed, but as Regina entered, he rose and walked toward her.

“What’s going on, Father?” Regina asked.

The king took her hands in his, not meeting her gaze as he told her, “Your mother and I have news for you.”

“News?” Regina inquired, turning her gaze toward her mother.

“Yes,” the queen confirmed, turning and standing to join her husband and daughter. Her smile was jubilant as she informed her, “We have found you a husband! You will be wed within the month!”

“What?” Regina seethed, her voice quiet but deadly. “Who?” She turned toward her father, the man who tried to protect her from her mother. “How could you do this to me?”

“It was the best thing for the kingdom,” her father informed her. “Lord Locksley assured us that your marriage to his son Robin will afford his kingdom and ours the resources it needs to flourish. And as you should know, we need all the alliances we can get. Our coffers could use the extra income that Lord Locksley will provide, and I want to see you happy. The lord has assured us that his son is nothing short of a gentleman.”

Regina scoffed. Robin Locksley? That’s who her parents were marrying her off to? She had heard stories about the family who lived on the other side of Sherwood Forest from the servants’ gossip as she walked the secret passageways of the castle. The lord’s son was said to be consumed by his noble birth, ordering servants to wait on him hand and foot, never giving them a fraction of the thanks- or collateral- they deserved, keeping all of the wealth of the kingdom for himself and his parents.

“Absolutely not!” Regina refused. She looked beseechingly into her father’s eyes. “Father, I want to have the chance to meet someone and fall in love, not have my life decided for me.” Her anger grew to a wild fury as she realized, “You basically sold me to them! How could you do that?!?”

Her mother grabbed her forearm roughly, yanking her to stand before her. “Regina, you will be the next reigning monarch. As such, you have the responsibility to do whatever is best for this kingdom, no matter what it takes. And if that means marrying Robin Locksley, then so be it. You should be proud to serve our kingdom this way, do you hear me? I don’t want another word of this after tonight.

“Now, go get changed,” she continued, changing the subject. “Dinner with those pesky nobility starts in less than an hour, and as the future face of our country, you need to look your best.”

Fighting tears, Regina nodded and fled, running back to her room and collapsing facedown on her four-poster bed. Once the urge to cry had subsided, she stood and gazed out at the view beyond her balcony. She knew she’d never get away before dinner, but afterwards, she needed an escape.

********

Robin Locksley stood at the edge of Sherwood Forest, pondering whether he should venture into its depths for the rest of the afternoon or see if he could assist with anything at his family’s manor. Like many people who lived on the eastern side of Sherwood Forest, Robin spent a lot of time in the wood, often finding hidden treasures that he had never noticed before.

A tap on the shoulder alerted him to his mother’s presence. Like him, Lady Belle Locksley loved time spent in Sherwood Forest. However, her time there was often spent reading books, while Robin preferred to explore, practice with bow and arrow, or visit one of the forest’s many small taverns.

“Come with me,” she told him. “Your father and I have something we need to discuss with you.” Her face was serious, alerting Robin to the nature of the conversation he was about to take part in.

He nodded and followed her into the house, walking through doors flung wide open to let in the warm summer breeze. The house surrounded an inner courtyard, which was more like a garden than anything else. Flowers of every color and size surrounded a fountain, and beside the pathways sat benches so that the manor’s residents and guests could enjoy their surroundings and find peace and quiet when necessary.

His mother led him to one of those benches, where his father was waiting for him. Robin never understood how his mother and father had fallen in love. They were complete opposites: he was cruel and calculating, while she was kind and generous. All he knew was that opposites must attract, because he had rarely met a couple who were as happy as his parents.

He glanced at his mother apprehensively, then cleared his throat. “Hello Father. You wanted to see me?”

“Indeed,” his father confirmed. “You know of King Henry and Queen Cora, from the western end of Sherwood Forest, I presume?”

“Of course, Father,” Robin responded. “Why do you ask?” He knew now he was right to be nervous. According to rumors he had heard from servants and people who lived in Sherwood Forest, the queen had squandered much of the kingdom’s wealth, spending much of it on jewels for herself and the rest on trinkets and fine gowns for her daughters, Zelena and Regina. According to the rumors, her daughters were cut from the same cloth, seeking nothing but the best of everything they bought.

“They have offered you their daughter Regina’s hand in marriage. You will be wed in a month, which will give you both time to acclimate yourselves to your future spouse’s culture. After that, you will be wed in the most lavish celebration this kingdom has ever seen.”

Robin was appalled, but he knew he shouldn’t be. It was just like his father to arrange his marriage to the privileged princess without his consent. One glance at his mother showed him that while she, like him, disapproved of his father’s plan, she wasn’t going to fight him on it. If he was going to accomplish avoiding marriage to the princess, he would have to seek outside help.
In the meantime, though, he would attempt to use his wits to sway his father’s decision.

“Father, what can we possibly gain from an alliance with their kingdom? They’re practically bankrupt thanks to their lavish tastes, they can’t increase our assets.”

“Ah, but they can contribute to the kingdom in other ways. Or have you forgotten that you are my only son? The kingdom needs another heir, or, should catastrophe strike, there will be no one to inherit except my brother Peter. And you know well how I want to avoid that at all costs.”

Robin nodded. The brothers had been at odds ever since Robert had been given the title that Peter felt he deserved.

“That doesn’t change the fact that you can’t decide my life for me,” he reminded the lord. “I have the right to decide who I marry, and I want the chance to fall in love. And you can’t deny the fact that love exists, as much as I know you want to. After all, you found it with Mother, despite your differences.”

“You are marrying the princess, even if I have to drag you to the ceremony myself!” his father shouted. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Nothing you say will change my mind,” Robin told him.

Robert stood, pointing in the direction of Robin’s room. “Out of my sight! I don’t want to see you again until you will agree to marry Princess Regina!”

Without another word, Robin walked toward his room to change. He needed an escape, and he needed it as soon as possible.

********

Regina looked cautiously around the corner of the hallway to ensure that she wasn’t followed. She had used her knowledge of the dark and drafty secret passageways laced through the palace walls to sneak through to the castle’s back entrance. She glanced around, once again making sure she wasn’t followed, before she snuck across the hall and opened the back door.

Once at the stables, she picked up an apple for her horse, Rocinante. While two of the servants were her close friends and she trusted them, he had been her closest confidante since childhood.

“Ready to ride, Rocinante?” she asked, stroking the horse’s mane before she jumped onto his bare back. He neighed, and with that, they set off for Sherwood Forest.

While she always craved freedom from her mother, Regina rarely snuck out. She always worried that one of the servants would secretly spy on her and report back to her mother, which would make the few times she did go beyond the palace gates even more difficult.

Emma and Mary, who attended to Regina and Zelena’s needs, however, had frequently ventured into Sherwood Forest, unlike many of Misthaven’s other inhabitants. They had told Regina how to find the best taverns to escape to, their directions clear enough that Regina soon went from traveling with one of them to visiting the taverns on her own.

Her favorite was Granny’s Tavern, which was a small establishment nestled deep in the forest. As she approached the tavern, the clouded windowpanes showed just enough of the tavern within for Regina to know that Granny and Ruby, the proprietor’s granddaughter, were busy tonight.

She entered to boisterous laughter coming from a group of men sitting at the center table. As she walked to the bar to order herself something to drink, one of them caught her eye. He had dirty blonde hair and blue eyes that seemed as deep as the river that flowed through the forest. One quick glance at his friends told her that he was the most handsome of the lot, as one was skinny and had much darker hair than his companion, one had red hair and freckles that, while adorable, didn’t set her heart aflame, and the other was a bearded man who was as wide as he was tall.

As she sat at a table, her wandering eyes returned to watch as the man who had caught her eye from the moment she entered the tavern stood and walked toward her, mug in hand. His callused palm came to rest on the back of her chair. “Mind if I join you, milady?” he asked, his accented voice so soft that the tiniest fragment of her heart broke off and was lost to him with just five words exchanged between them.

“That depends,” she told him. “This seat comes with a price. Are you planning on telling me your name, or should I save the seat for someone who has better manners?”

“Milady, need I remind you that you haven’t given me your name either, and yet I’m perfectly willing to sit with you. If you’d visited this tavern often enough, you would know that Granny and Ruby don’t allow just anyone to eat here. So, you should know that my intentions are honorable.”

“You first- you did initiate our interaction, after all,” she countered, not willing to relent.

“All right,” he agreed, his arms now crossed over his chest. “It’s Phoenix. And you are?”

“Phoenix, unusual name,” she commented, not willing to relent just yet.

“My parents enjoy watching birds,” he replied. “You’re avoiding the question, milady.”

“It’s- Reina,” she responded, remembering just in time to use the alias that she always fell back on when she visited the tavern. She didn’t want to reveal her real name just in case one of her mother’s spies was there. She wore a cloak and one of Emma’s dresses to further disguise herself as well.

He smiled. “You have an unusual name too, milady- strange, but just as beautiful as you are.”

Her heart fluttered at the compliment. The suitors that Cora had brought to the castle had tried to woo her with unwanted affection, choking her with flattery until she felt sick from the insincerity of their words. Somehow, Phoenix’s compliment, instead of making her never want to see him again, warmed her heart. Maybe it was the sincerity in his eyes, the bright smile he was giving her, or his soft voice. Or perhaps it was just Phoenix. Whatever it was, she found herself smiling and gesturing for him to sit down.

He did so, with such a smug expression that she wanted to wipe it off his face with either a kiss or a slap- she couldn’t decide which.

“So tell me, Phoenix, what’s your story?” Regina asked.

“Tyrannical father, kind mother. We work with the people around us to ensure that the Locksleys have everything they need, and they repay us with kindness, and their help, whenever they can give it. What about you, milady?”

She paused. How much should she tell him? She decided to echo his vague answers. “I have the reverse, actually. Heartless mother- sometimes I think I mean that literally. Father who I love, but who often doesn’t protect me from her. Sister who follows Mother’s lead in everything.”

“And what of where you live?” he asked. “Do you live on my side of the forest, in the forest itself, or do you live under the rule of King Henry and Queen Cora?”

“The latter, I’m afraid,” she lamented, ducking her head, hating that he lived somewhere where she would never be able to visit him easily. She had never been to the other side of the forest or visited the Locksleys’ lands.

But wait. Soon, she would be one of those dreaded Locksleys. She felt his hand cover hers as her eyes filled with angry tears.

His finger lifted her chin, and she saw nothing but concern in those fathomless eyes. “Milady, what’s troubling you?”

She choked back another sob before informing him, “My mother has promised me to someone who lives on the Locksleys’ lands who I’ve never met before. We’ll be living on my side of the forest- but I still have no desire to marry except for love.”

The fingers of both hands entwined with hers on the table before he spoke, his voice just as dejected. “I know how you feel. My father just informed me today that I’m to wed someone who lives in Queen Cora and King Henry’s kingdom. I was dreading it, but after discovering you live there, I wasn’t…”

“Until you found out that I’ll be marrying someone else,” Regina sighed. She felt connected to this man in a way that she had never experienced before. They both had similar relationships with their parents, both betrothed against their will. It was almost as if they were two halves of a whole.

A comforting squeeze of her hands drew her attention back to focus on him instead of their circumstances. He wrapped his arms around her, and her head coming to rest on his chest. “Have faith,” he told her, his velvet voice reassuring her in a way that she thought she couldn’t be soothed about this, of all things. “We’ll find a way to make it work. How often do you come to this tavern?”

“Not often enough,” she groaned. “And like my mother, I doubt my future husband will allow me to come here. Having a place to relax is something that’s more befitting of a man than a woman.”

“It shouldn’t be,” he stated adamantly enough that to her surprise, despite the topic, she believed him. “Women need somewhere to find refuge as much as men. If that happens to be at a tavern in the middle of Sherwood Forest, who is he to tell her not to go?”

“Her husband. The man who owns her,” Regina grumbled.

“When I marry, my wife will never be my property,” Phoenix vowed. “She will be free to go wherever she wishes whenever she likes. I don’t want her to feel that she is a prisoner in her own home.”

Now she’s the one gripping his hands as she pulled him toward her to kiss his cheek. “On behalf of every woman in my kingdom, thank you,” she said softly but adamantly. “You have no idea what it’s like, whoever you are about to marry is so lucky to have you as her future husband.”

He flushed, a deep crimson that put a satisfied smirk on her lips. “As is your future husband. Not every woman is as strong or as passionate as you.”

She brought his hands up to her lips to kiss his knuckles. “How are we going to make this work? With both of us betrothed…”

“I don’t know, but I do know that we will,” Phoenix said emphatically. “I feel such a strong connection between us that you must feel it too. With that, anything is possible.”

She nodded in agreement, then glanced through the windows at the brightening sky. “Oh! I need to go! I’m so sorry- but how will I see you again?” she asked as she cast a longing look in his direction.

“Meet me here at the same time tomorrow night?” he suggested. “And I don’t plan on parting ways just yet, please allow me to walk you home, milady.”

She considered his offer. “Only as far as the edge of the forest,” she compromised. “You have your own home to get to.”

He readily agreed, and they set out. Once they had reached the forest’s boundary, Regina pulled Phoenix to her, kissing his cheek. “This has been the best night, I can never thank you enough,” she whispered fervently.

He kissed the top of her head. “My thanks will be seeing you tomorrow night. Or did you change your mind?” he asked, a teasing note to his voice.

“Never,” she responded adamantly. “You won’t be able to get rid of me that easily.”

“Good,” he whispered, and with a last kiss to her forehead, Phoenix was gone.

When she got to her room at last, collapsing on her bed, she stared up at the ceiling in despair. She knew it was practically impossible, and Emma at least would laugh at her for this later, but she knew that she was already starting to fall head-over-heels in love with Phoenix, thoughts of their night together coaxing her into the most peaceful sleep she had had in years.

********

Robin returned in a daze to the manor, thoughts of Reina filling his mind. Despite his kingdom’s belief in equality between men and women and the freedoms that allowed them, he had never met a woman with as much fiery passion as Reina. The light in her eyes, her spirit, and her wit filled him with a yearning he had never known before.

But what would they do about the fact that they were both supposed to marry other people? He didn’t know yet, but he was determined to see that beautiful smile that he saw when he closed his eyes every day for the rest of his life.

Chapter Text

Regina woke to Emma shaking her shoulder, her long blonde hair brushing Regina’s chest as she tried to get her up. “Wake up, Regina, your parents are expecting you at breakfast any minute now.”
“Ugh, can I just stay in bed? Please?” the princess pleaded. “I don’t want to see them today.”

Emma sat on the bed beside her as Regina sat up. “What’d they do this time?” She was no stranger to being angry at parents. Her own had left her at the castle the day she was born with nothing but a blanket embroidered with her name and a note pleading with the king and queen to care for their daughter. Having just given birth to Regina, Cora had initially wanted to turn her away, but pleading from Henry and her favorite servant, Eva, had made her reconsider. Eva, who had been raising Mary for two years at the time, begged to be allowed to raise Emma as her own. Cora had relented, and ever since, Mary and Emma had been sisters in the truest sense, and their closest friend had always been Regina.

“One of the worst things I can imagine them doing- Mother not only arranged my marriage, but if she has her way, I’ll be marrying that horrible Robin Locksley! Meanwhile, I went to Granny’s last night, and met someone… but he’s promised to someone here as well, so even if we get to see each other again, we’ll never get to be together.”

“And he’s probably a peasant too, right?” Emma asked. “So even if it wasn’t for the fact that you’ve both been promised to other people, your mother would never approve. What can I do to help?” While Mary always advocated for following the rules, Emma, like Regina, was more adventurous. However, Regina’s older friend enjoyed tales of romance more than her sister and friend, so Regina knew that Mary would be willing to help in any way she could as well.

“Cover for me when I go see him tonight?” Regina asked.

“How about I go with you and Mary covers for you?” Emma suggested as a counteroffer. “That way, you have someone watching your back, and someone to make sure this man is worth your time. What’s his name?”

“Phoenix,” Regina informed her, a wistful smile growing on her lips. “He’s… I know you’re like me, you’re independent, but Emma, he actually understands that. I told him how things are here, what I imagine Robin’s going to be like, and he said that he would allow his wife to live as independently as she liked. No fancy dinner parties, no balls, no awful dresses-“

“He sounds too good to be true,” Emma commented skeptically.

“That’s what I thought at first too- but I believe him, Emma, and if you had seen the look in his eyes when he was telling me his thoughts on the matter- you’d believe him too, I know you would.”

“Are you- you’re not in love with him already, are you?” an incredulous Emma asked. “You know I love adventure as much as you, but that sounds like a terrible idea, even to me. You know what your mother will do to him if she finds out.”

Regina was shocked. “Emma, I thought you were the one of the three of us who always took the most risks! Who are you, and what have you done with my friend?”

“Just trying to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into,” Emma told her gently. “You know I’ll help with any scheme you come up with- Mary too, especially when she finds out the circumstances. I’m just trying to make sure you look at the situation from every angle so you know the risks.”

“All right, thank you,” Regina responded gratefully. “I appreciate it.”

“Anytime,” Emma assured her. “Now, you go have breakfast and I’ll update Mary on the plan.”

********

Regina’s day was filled with dreaded preparations for Lord Locksley’s son’s arrival to the castle in three days. The only thing keeping her from beating her head against a wall with frustration were the thoughts of Phoenix that completely monopolized her focus.

Her mother noticed. “Regina, you need to focus. You’ll need to know all you can about the Locksleys’ culture before you become one of them. You’ll want to please your future husband, and knowledge of his way of life is a first step.”

“Mother, as I’ve told you, I don’t want to marry Robin Locksley!” Regina cried. “Why does my opinion not matter in a decision regarding how I live my life in the future?” Her anger was fueled by Phoenix’s words from the night before. Surely, if there was even the slightest chance that he was telling the truth and there were some people on the other side of the forest that believed that women should be given the same freedoms as men, there was a possibility that she could help people in her kingdom adopt their beliefs as well.

“Stupid girl,” Cora scoffed. “You’re young, you don’t know what you want. And even if you did, there is no guarantee that it would be in this kingdom’s best interest. It’s time you learned that I know what course of action is best for you.”

“Mother,” Regina said slowly, trying to rein in her temper while showing her ire at the same time. “You’ve been training me to become queen of Misthaven for as long as I can remember. If I don’t know how to effectively run the kingdom now, will you ever trust me to rule?” She thought she knew the answer, she was just curious what her mother’s response would be.

“No, of course not,” the queen stated plainly, her words a knife to Regina’s heart and self-esteem. “You’re always running off with those servant girls, you never take any of your lessons seriously.”

“What lessons?” Regina asked incredulously. “Needlepoint? How to dance? I think it would be much more efficient if I spent time learning about the kingdom’s assets, allies, and enemies, don’t you?”

But she had made her first mistake, a fact that was made clear when she saw the smug smile on Cora’s face. “Foolish girl. Diplomacy is as much about conversing during a dance as it is about council meetings with your allies. You need to learn about the customs of other lands so that you can more easily persuade others to follow the best course of action for Misthaven. Flattery is everything, dear, and the first step toward that is all of those “lessons” you claim are a waste of your time.”

Regina was tempted to ask what would happen if she didn’t want to be queen. But she knew that if she wasn’t queen, Zelena would be, and Zelena was her mother’s daughter in every way. Having her in charge of the kingdom would ensure that workers were taxed unfairly, and the kingdom’s money would be used for frivolous purposes instead of being used to benefit the entire kingdom. Finally, she spat out, “When I am queen, I will be the one deciding what is and isn’t proper behavior for a queen, Mother. And I’ll tell you now: it won’t be anything like what you’ve done before.”

As she turned and walked away, Cora called after her, “Oh, that I’m well aware of dear. But mark my words, you’ll be thankful for being next in line to the throne one day.”

“I doubt it,” Regina muttered as she turned and walked away, shoes echoing on the cold stone floors as she walked away from her mother.

********

When Robin woke up, he kept his eyes shut, willing the image of the beautiful woman he had met the night before at the tavern to remain in his thoughts for the rest of the day. In his mind, it seemed almost as if meeting her had been a dream, the best dream that he never wanted to wake from. Her purple dress brought out flecks of a lighter shade of brown in her eyes, and those eyes were perhaps the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

Then he remembered her smile, and he immediately took back his previous statement. The way she had smiled at him as he was telling her his people’s views on women’s roles in their society was alight with a passion that he had never seen in anyone else. It gave him hope that maybe the princess of Misthaven wouldn’t be as spoiled as the people of Nottingham believed.

Speaking of which… what were he and Reina going to do about their current situation? He knew that he didn’t want to even meet the princess of Misthaven, let alone marry her. The connection he felt to Reina was too strong for him to even contemplate marrying another woman.

Suddenly, he had an idea. He knew it was a risky one, but he had to try. His father enjoyed making deals more than anything else, so he may be able to make a deal that would allow him to not marry the princess and marry Reina instead. He hurried to the room where his father dealt with matters of the estate.

“Father,” he greeted the older man, who was sitting at a desk poring over documents that Robin was unable to read upside down. “I want to make a deal with you.”

Robert immediately looked up, crossing his arms over his chest. “And what deal is that? You know every deal with me comes at a price. Are you willing to pay it?”

“I will agree to meet the princess and spend time alone with her, uninterrupted by anyone- servants, you and Mother, her parents, et cetera- for an hour. If, at the end of that hour, I do not wish to marry her, you will allow me to marry whomever I wish, regardless of their social status.”

The lord’s arms unfolded, his fingers meeting each other as his elbows rested on his desk. “I would like to amend that deal. You may have time alone to get to know the princess, but you will spend an entire day with her. And you will have an open mind when you meet her and truly give her a chance. Who knows? She may surprise you.”

Robin was skeptical that he would need an entire day to know if he enjoyed the princess’s company or not. He had only known Reina for a little over an hour, and by the end of that hour, he had felt the connection between them so strongly that he knew that no other woman could possibly hope to compete with her.

On the other hand, this was more than he had ever hoped for. He had expected his father to never agree, or ask for something unreasonable. Compared to what he had imagined, this was doable. He nodded and held out his hand. “Agreed.”

“Agreed,” Robert confirmed, shaking his hand and nodding. “I will send a messenger to Queen Cora and King Henry and see if they are agreeable to arranging for the two of you to spend the day together tomorrow.”

Robin nodded and left. He didn’t know how Reina would react when she found out what he had done, but he knew it was for the best. And in the meantime, he would daydream about running his fingers through her long ebony hair, which had been tucked in the hood of her cloak the night before, until he saw her again.

On his way back to his room, John stopped him. “You seem preoccupied, mate, what’s on your mind?”

John was the only person apart from his mother that he could trust at the manor, and had been with him the night before. He knew he could tell him. “Do you remember the woman I was talking to last night?”

“Impossible to forget her- you couldn’t keep your eyes off of her.” John commented, as if the answer should have been obvious to the heir to the Locksley estate.

“I’m meeting her again tonight. And if all goes according to plan, I’ll be marrying her, as soon as I fulfill my end of my deal with my father.”

“One moment, mate,” John cautioned. “You’re not marrying her unless I meet her first. And I’m sure Will and Tuck will say the same. How about we all spend time together tonight, and then let you have time alone with her?”

“All right,” Robin agreed. He did want Reina to meet and get to know his friends, and them, her. While he knew he would ultimately follow his heart, it would be much easier if he had his friends by his side.

********

As Emma had predicted, a doe-eyed Mary had readily agreed to make excuses for Regina that evening. So long after night fell and many in the castle were asleep, she donned the same purple dress of Emma’s that she had borrowed the night before and she and Emma surreptitiously set off to Granny’s tavern.

When they entered, Regina’s chocolate eyes were immediately drawn to Phoenix’s blue ones across the tavern. He had been sitting with the same group of friends as the night before, but the moment he saw her, he stood and walked toward her. She met him halfway, and their arms wrapped around each other. In the same moment that she let out a sigh, he hummed with contentment.

She pulled back just enough to look up at his face. “I’m guessing you had a day that was just as trying as mine?”

“Indeed. And there are things I need to tell you, but first, let me introduce you to my friends. They want to meet you.”

It was at that moment that she finally remembered that Emma was standing right behind her, waiting to be introduced. Gesturing for her to come forward, Regina told him, “As does mine. Phoenix, this is Emma, one of my best friends.”

“Only one of them?” he asked, a twinkle in his eye.

“My other close friend, her sister, is covering for me. As you may have guessed from our conversation when we met, my mother wouldn’t approve of me being here.”

“The same is true of my father. But I say we should forget about the parents that force us to do things we don’t want to do for the moment and have some fun while we get to know each other better, and then we’ll talk about important matters before we part. Are you in agreement, milady?”

“Absolutely,” she said, taking his hand as they followed him to the table where he had been sitting. There she met Will, who seemed to be the one most likely to get the group in trouble, John, who was every inch Phoenix’s right-hand man, and Tuck, who seemed the most sensible of the group. The tavern’s proprietor, Granny, and her daughter, Ruby, joined in as well, embarrassing the men by relaying stories of their youth to Regina and Emma.

She and Emma sat talking with the men for what seemed like a lifetime. Through it all, Regina learned many stories about Phoenix and the group he called his Merry Men, which had her laughing so hard she cried tears which Phoenix gently wiped away with the tip of his finger.

At last, Regina and Emma noticed the late hour, and Regina asked Phoenix if they could talk privately. The crowd around them rapidly dissipated, leaving them alone at a table meant for far more than two.

“What did you want to tell me?” she asked, reaching across the table to take his hand in hers.

“I made a deal with my father. If I spend the day tomorrow with the woman he’s chosen for me to marry and have an open mind while interacting with her, he’ll allow me to choose who I marry. I don’t want to, but it’s the best solution we have at the moment.”

She pondered his words for a moment. “As much as I hate the thought of you being with someone else, you may be right. What if I find out where she lives, and find you while you spend time with her? I’ve been told I’m spending the day with my intended as well, but I’m sure I can sneak away.”

His eyes lit up. “As much as I would love that…”

“Please? It would make my day, my mother’s making me spend the entire day with my intended as well. It would be the one bright thing in my day if I got to see you,” she begged.

“All right. But, Reina…” he drifted off. “I am a man of honor, so I do intend to keep my word. I know it will be challenging, but don’t make that more difficult for me, if you can.”

“How would I make it more challenging for you?” she inquired, a gleam in her eye as she reached out to caress his cheek.

“That, for starters,” he muttered, warmth and frustration in his eyes as he gazed at her. “Just- don’t make it obvious that we share a connection, all right?”

She nodded, and with a soft kiss to the back of her hand, they parted.

On their way back to the palace, Regina and Emma saw a peddler selling trinkets across from the inn.

“Ladies, is there anything you want, anything at all? This lamp,” he indicated a tarnished bronze lamp sitting beside him, “has the power to give you your heart’s deepest desires.”

Regina saw that Emma noticed as she glanced at the peddler with interest. “What will it cost me?” she asked. “All magic comes with a price, after all.”

“Nothing, dear lady,” the peddler hurriedly assured her. “You said so yourself, each gift comes with its own price.”

“Not worth it,” Emma declared, grabbing Regina’s arm and starting to pull her toward the castle. “Come on Reina, let’s go.”

“No,” Regina stated firmly, thinking of Phoenix. She could maybe use it to be with him. “I’ll take it.”

“Then it’s yours,” the vendor said, passing it to her.

Once she was safely in her room, Regina took a closer look at the lamp. She saw writing on it that was dusty, and therefore unclear. She rubbed the lamp, and a fairy popped out of the lamp in a rush of green smoke. She was blonde and had on a short green dress. “I’m Tinkerbell!” she said cheerfully. “What is your wish, mistress?” she asked.

“What do I wish?” Regina asked. “I’m not exactly sure… how does this work?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know! You rubbed the lamp, so I’m to grant you three wishes. Now, what is your first wish?”

Chapter Text

Regina’s thoughts immediately turned to Phoenix and their complicated dilemma. But as the peddler had reminded her, all magic comes with a price, so she had to ask: “Are there any restrictions to that? After all, I’ve always been taught that all magic comes with a price.”

“Unfortunately, yes, Because true love is the most powerful magic of all, I can’t make anyone fall in love. I also can’t kill anyone or bring someone back from the dead. Magic can do many things, but controlling life and death is something that is beyond its ability. Anything else lies within the realm of possibility, so don’t hold back. If you want something, you need only to ask.”

While Regina heard her words, her thoughts were still fixed on Phoenix. He was one of the townspeople, and she was royalty. But if she used a wish to become one of the villagers… Her heart soared as she considered all of the opportunities that would give them.

“What if I used a wish to become a peasant? Would you be able to do that?” she asked hesitantly, hardly daring to hope that her desire to be in the same social class as Phoenix could become more than just a wonderful dream.

“Of course!” Tinkerbell exclaimed, her eyes glittering with excitement. Her face grew serious. “I must warn you, though. That type of wish would alter the memories of all who know you as what you are. It would be as if your role in their lives never existed.”

Images of Phoenix’s smiling face flooded Regina’s memory. No matter what the cost, she knew she had to be with him, especially if it meant that she would be away from her horrible mother and sister.

But at the same time, what about the welfare of the kingdom? Cora and Zelena would squander what remaining funds they had, leaving the kingdom destitute without the resources it needed to survive.

Then, she had an idea. She knew that she could use her new role as one of the villagers to influence her kingdom for the better. It would just take some time and strategizing.

Finally, she nodded. “I’ve decided my first wish. I wish for you to make me a member of the working class.”

Tinkerbell nodded slowly. “As you wish. Go to sleep, and when you wake in the morning, your wish will be granted.”

Despite her excitement at having found the start of a solution to being with Phoenix- they did still have to deal with the fact that he was supposed to marry someone else, after all- Regina fell asleep quickly, dreaming of finally being able to be with the man who she cared for more with each passing day.

********

Instead of the soft blankets she was used to, Regina woke to something that was much more rough covering her. She discovered that she was lying on a bed that was filled with straw, and a wool blanket was covering her. It wasn’t nearly as soft as the fleece blanket she was used to.

She was immediately aware of two familiar voices calling her name, “Regina, we need to get up! The princess will be waiting for us! And you know how she despises tardiness.”

The princess? Oh, they must be talking about Zelena, Regina thought as Emma and Mary each shook one of her shoulders in an attempt to get her out of bed.

She sat up. Glancing at the darkness framed by the room’s only window- a luxury in the servants’ quarters, she knew- Regina immediately flopped back down on the bed. “It’s still dark, Zelena doesn’t have to be awake for another three hours. We can sleep a little longer.”

“Regina, you know we can’t. We need to help prepare her breakfast before we wake her up, and you know how she doesn’t like tardiness,” Mary chastised her.

“So get up,” Emma said, reaching out to pull the covers back. “We have work to do.”

By the time they woke Zelena, Regina was already exhausted from the day’s work. After she had quickly stuffed the lamp beneath her mattress, she had helped Emma and Mary in the kitchens before, but because of her role in the kingdom, no one had ever given her the most arduous tasks. After a morning of kneading dough, lifting heavy iron machinery to put the bread in the oven, and other work, Regina wondered if she had bitten off a little more than she could chew with her wish.

Then she thought of Phoenix, and she knew her efforts would be worth it once she saw him. But first, they had to get Zelena ready for Robin Locksley’s arrival.

For the first time, Regina contemplated just how advantageous it was that she wouldn’t have to marry the nobleman. Not only would she not have to deal with the trappings of being a princess, but she wouldn’t have to deal with the pompous man’s company for an entire day, let alone a lifetime. She had dreaded it the moment her father had told her about the arranged day spent in her betrothed’s company. Now that Zelena would have the role of occupying him for the day, Regina found that she did not envy the girl who had once been her sister. In fact, to her surprise, despite the fact that they had never gotten along, she felt sorry for her sister.

Zelena’s green gown swept the floor as they followed her out of her chambers. Emma held Regina back once Zelena had walked toward the grand staircase and Mary hurried off to continue chores. “We’ll join her later. But first, I want to catch a glimpse of the man Zelena will marry.”

Regina grinned and nodded. They hid at the top of the grand staircase in a hallway to the left and peeked out at Zelena and their- her, Regina reminded herself- parents. While she was thankful to have a break from her mother, a pang of loss filled her heart at the thought that her father no longer held that role in her life. Despite his flaws- especially his lack of strength when confronting her mother- Regina loved her father dearly, and always strived to make him proud.

Suddenly, a knock sounded on the oak front doors of the palace. Regina saw Zelena’s eyes gleam with barely suppressed excitement. The door opened, and when she saw who was standing on the other side, Regina’s legs gave out and she landed in a crumpled heap on the floor.

*****

Robin entered the halls of the Misthaven palace, apprehensive about what- or rather, who- he would find there. The one ray of light in his day was that he would likely see Reina.

As he had approached the palace amid a crowd of his father and his advisors, who had come to discuss matters of estate with the king and queen, Robin had looked for Reina, but to no avail. It seemed that she was a specter in the night; invisible, unless one knew where to look for her- and more importantly, how to look. Despite his best efforts to catch a glimpse of her raven tresses, he hadn’t spotted the girl who had completely captivated his attention for the last few days anywhere.

With far more pomp and circumstance than he felt was necessary, he entered the palace with his father and the rest of his father’s advisers. He was met by King Henry, a small older man with white hair, and his wife, Queen Cora, who was the more intimidating of the two. Her formidable presence was emphasized by her severe hairstyle and austere expression. Between them stood the princess. Auburn curls framed a pale face with icy blue eyes. Although she was smiling, the smile didn’t reach her eyes. He sensed a frigidity about her that was such a stark contrast to the warmth held in Reina’s soft expression that although he had given his father his word that he would give the princess a chance, he knew he would never feel the same way about her that he did about Reina.

The king interrupted his thoughts, gesturing toward his daughter. “Robin, I would like you to meet my daughter, Princess Zelena.”
Robin was momentarily confused. Hadn’t his father told him the name of the princess he would be marrying was Regina? He tried to remember, but the memory was hazy, and he suspected that was largely because he didn’t want to marry the princess of Misthaven in the first place. Shaking his head, trying to clear it, he focused on Zelena, bowing and takig her hand to kiss it.

Suddenly, he heard a commotion in the hallway at the top of the grand staircase. Concerned, he ignored the admonishments of the older adults around him and ran up the stairs, and what he saw lying on the ground made his heart stop. He would know that figure anywhere, even passed out on the floor, eyes closed and hair askew, as he saw her now.

It was Reina.

********

Regina woke to a pair of blue eyes that coaxed her into their depths. She knew she could spend an eternity gazing into those eyes and never grow tired of them.

Then she remembered who those eyes belonged to, and she immediately shot up and backed away as much as she could, which wasn’t far, given that someone had laid her on her bed, which was pushed against the wall of the room that she, Emma, and Mary shared. “What are you doing here?” she asked Phoenix- no, Robin, she corrected herself, still hardly daring to believe the truth. “Don’t you have a princess to entertain?” Her heart stung as she spoke, but she refused to examine her emotions until after he left.

“Yes, but seeing to your needs comes first, milady,” he said matter-of-factly, his expression betraying no guilt for abandoning Zelena. “Making sure you have everything you need to live long and well is what is most important to me.” His hand reached out to cup her cheek, and she leaned into him, resting her cheek on his palm.

“Of course, but-“ she wanted to ask him why he hadn’t told her who he was, but she suspected that it was the same reason she hadn’t told him her true identity- or what had been her identity. The anonymity of a false name allowed for more freedom than the expectations that went along with their lineage. The only question remaining was: who was the real Robin? The kind, helpful man she had known in the tavern, or the condescending son of a lord?

He caressed her cheek. “Don’t worry about it now. Instead, you should be worrying about getting better. Do you know why you fainted? Have you eaten yet today? Drank enough water?”

She shook her head. Seeing his concerned expression, she rapidly clarified, “I have, don’t worry. The reason I fainted has nothing to do with that.”

“Then why?” he asked.

She hesitated. Should she tell him? She trusted him implicitly- as Phoenix, at least. But given the results of her first wish, she wasn’t completely sure he would believe her. “I would tell you… but I’m not completely sure you’ll believe me. I know you trust me, it’s just- this is something that it would be hard for anyone to believe. You might want to sit down.”

Once he had, soothing her by running his hand up and down her arm, he coaxed her gently, “Tell me.”

Regina pondered how to tell him her secret for a moment, then decided that being blunt was the best policy, whether Phoenix- Robin- believed her or not. She wasn’t sure if she even wanted him to believe her- she didn’t know now what his personality was really like. Were all the rumors about Robin, the rich, spoiled son of Robert Locksley, true? Or was Phoenix, the kind man she had come to know, his true personality?

Looking into his eyes, though, she can’t imagine that someone who looked at her with such gentle sincerity could ever have the personality she’d always heard Robin Locksley possessed. So she decided to take the plunge for now, and determine his true character traits later.

“You know me as Reina- but really, I was Princess Regina, youngest daughter of King Henry and Queen Cora and next in line for the throne. Until last night, when I was given a lamp that contained a fairy that gave me three wishes. I used the first wish to become my alias- Reina- permanently, so I could be with you. Except now…” She trailed off. Now, everything was so convoluted she didn’t know where to start untangling it. And she was sure that if he believed her, she wouldn’t need to finish her last sentence.

She used that moment to look into the pools of his eyes. There was nothing but understanding, but she couldn’t tell how deep that comprehension ran. “Now, everything’s a mess,” he finished for her.

“Exactly.” She couldn’t help asking: “How did you believe me so easily?”

“Simple. I thought I remembered the princess’s name being Regina, so when I was introduced to Zelena, I was confused, and the memory was hazy, as though it had been tampered with.”

Suddenly, his eyes filled with horror. “That reminds me- I should go. I was supposed to spend the whole day with the princess I’m going to marry-“

“Me,” Regina interrupted.

“But now, to honor my deal with my father, I have to spend the day with her. But make no mistake,” he added, reaching out to brush a lock of hair away from her forehead, “I’m quite certain I won’t feel a connection to her like I do to you.” And with those words, he rushed off to find Zelena.

********

As he spent the day with Zelena, Robin couldn’t help making comparisons between the two sisters as they went through their day. He suggested that Zelena show him the stables, an activity he was sure Reina- Regina, he corrected himself, loving how the name sounded even in his mind- would love, given that he knew she rode bareback, a talent she had shared with him as he had walked her back from the tavern on the night they met. Having learned her true identity, he wasn’t sure now how much he knew of Reina- Regina- was true, but he did know that much. Her love for her horse was too genuine for him to doubt.

Zelena, however, could barely stand the smell of the steeds for a minute before she begged Robin to go somewhere else.

He ignored her though, moving down the line of stalls looking for one particular horse: Regina’s. He wondered if Rocinante would still be here, even though his mistress was no longer the princess she was born to be.

At last, he found him eating hay in a stall at the far end of the stables. The horse immediately recognized him and trotted over. Robin reached out a hand to pet his nose.

“That horse seemed to recognize you,” Zelena mused curiously. “How? You haven’t been here before.”

Robin was at a loss for words. If he admitted he’d met Rocinante before, Zelena would at best be confused and at worst be suspicious. Finally, he said, “Our paths have crossed, or at least, I have seen horses like him many times in the past. It may not be the same one.”

His nonchalant answer seemed to appease Zelena, and she proceeded to choose their next activity, since she had so greatly disapproved of Robin’s. Her selection was tea on the terrace overlooking the grounds, and the entire time, Robin couldn’t help thinking that the experience would have been much more pleasurable had Regina been the one beside him- and if the experience had taken place on the grounds themselves. The palace, while it bordered the forest, overlooked rolling hills on the opposite side, and Robin longed to explore the area, but knew he would never be able to with Zelena as his hostess.

By the end of the day, he longed to find Regina, sweep her off her feet, and take her away from all of the trappings they were under. He couldn’t help wondering throughout the day how her new life as a member of the working class was treating her. He knew it would be challenging, but remembering the night they had met, he knew that she could handle anything, that they could conquer any situation as long as they were together.

********

Regina spent the rest of her day helping with chores in every corner of the palace. Every so often, she would catch a glimpse of Robin and Zelena- and every time, she would look away. He didn’t need her prying into his life, least of all his time with her sister. She knew it would be immediately apparent to him how different they were, and from there, it was for him to decide which of the two he preferred.

All the same, she couldn’t help thinking that their lives would have been so much simpler had she never made that wish the night before. She kept remembering that she had two more wishes- but if they turned out as disastrous as the first, she wasn’t sure that she wanted to use them.

Late in the afternoon, the cook asked her to carry a tray of tea and sandwiches into the king’s study, where he and her mother had been meeting with Lord Locksley and his men all day.

As she approached the door, she heard someone speaking. “Yes- all control of trade agreements and alliances will be handed to you. Our children have no knowledge of such things, and cannot be trusted. The alliance with Underland must proceed, or we are all ruined.”

Regina was stunned. Alliance with Underland? But she thought… Dropping the tray, she ran to find Robin, not caring what she interrupted. This was too important.

When she finally found Robin and Zelena in the entrance hallway of the palace, she froze. Her former sister’s arms were around Robin, the two locked in what appeared to be a passionate embrace.

She gasped and ran towards the stables. If she couldn’t trust Robin, then she knew she would have to concoct and execute a plan on her own.

Chapter Text

Regina rushed to find Mary and Emma. While she couldn’t find Mary, who was likely preparing some minute aspect of Zelena’s day with Robin, she eventually found Emma in the kitchen with Eva.

One look at Regina’s face was all it took for Emma to gauge the nature of the situation. She took Regina’s hand and pulled her into the pantry. “What’s wrong, Regina?” she asked worriedly.

She hesitantly answered, "If I told you something crazy, would you believe me?"

"Of course," Emma replied immediately. "There's nothing you could say that would make me doubt you."

Regina doubted that. Emma likely thought that it was something more minor than it was, Unlike Mary, Emma was practical, and therefore less likely to believe a tale like the one Regina was about to tell her.

And as she told Emma her story, she watched apprehensively as Emma's eyes grew wider by the minute. But loyal friend (and now sister) that she was, she didn't voice her doubts. While she was skeptical about matters that Mary would believe on faith alone, she had always prided herself on being able to detect when someone was lying, an ability she called her superpower. Regina prayed that she relied on that superpower and believed her when she saw that Regina was telling the truth.

“I- I don’t know what to say,” Emma breathed. “I don’t recall any of this.”

“That was a side effect of the wish- you wouldn’t remember anything about the way our lives were before,” Regina reminded her. “Do… do you actually believe me?” She waited with bated breath for the answer. If she couldn’t get Emma and Mary to believe her, she didn’t know what she’d do.

“Why wouldn’t I?” Emma asked, perplexed. “You’re my sister-”

Regina tried to correct her, but she forged ahead, her best friend’s efforts to remain correct ignored. “Even if you’re really only my friend, we’re sisters in all but name from what you’ve told me. Besides, my superpower isn’t going haywire. If nothing else, that tells me that you’re telling the truth, as difficult as it may be to believe. But what are you going to do about Robin?”

Regina let out a frustrated sigh. “I have no idea. I thought I knew him, but clearly not- between his true identity and what I just saw, I don’t know what to believe, or if I should even trust him.”

“Maybe give him a chance to explain the circumstances behind what you saw,” Emma suggested. “But even if what you saw isn’t what you think, you should get to know him better before you do anything else, regardless of whether you are Regina or Reina.”

Regina nodded. “You’re right. I just… I don’t know what to hope, but all I know is that what happens next needs to be what is best for the kingdom. Which reminds me…” she began as she filled her friend in on what she had overheard.

“Alliance with Underland?” Emma echoed. “Are your parents insane? That will never end well. Their ruler may act like he has power, but nothing good can come of that. That’s almost as bad as your father trying to get you to marry Robin Locksley, of all people.”

“Whoever he is…” Regina mused. She wanted nothing to do with him, but knew that she knew of two different personas: Robin, the pompous future Lord Locksley, and Phoenix, the kind man she had been instantly drawn to. But who was the real man? If she ever saw him again, she would need to find out, as much as she hated the idea. But she believed in second chances, and though some might think that he had sealed his fate with what she had just seen, she wanted to be fair and provide an opportunity to hear him out.

But the question remained: did Robin even want to be anywhere near her anymore? Or did she now come second to Zelena?

********

After the day he had had, all Robin wanted was an evening spent with his friends and hopefully the woman who never strayed far from his thoughts at Granny's tavern.

Yet when he was finally inside the tavern, he didn’t see Regina's raven tresses anywhere. He asked Will if he had seen her, and his friend readily told him, “Haven’t seen her, mate. But have you tried Granny’s new recipe? It’s even better than her chicken and dumplings.”

Robin tried the dish as requested, but wasn’t able to fully appreciate it or the conversation around him due to his wayward thoughts. As the sky started to brighten, he decided to take matters into his own hands, and set off for the Misthaven castle.

When he approached the castle, the first question that plagued his mind was how to find the woman he was looking for. He headed to the servants' quarters, thankfully avoiding the guards thanks to his skills sneaking out of his own house.

At last he found the room that he recognized as Regina's from his brief time there earlier that day. He knocked and a groggy Regina answered the door.

"Wh-what do you want?" she asked, covering her mouth to stifle a yawn. Then, as she became more aware of who was standing before her, her eyes widened and her tone turned harsh as she demanded in a whisper, "What are you doing here? Haven't you done enough damage for one day?"

"I sincerely apologize," he said. "But I had to see you. Precisely what damage are you referring to?"

Her expression could only be described as stone cold as she crossed her arms over her chest. "You really don't know? Does kissing Zelena ring any bells? Or do you kiss so many girls that they all blend together after a while?"

"What?" Robin questioned incredulously. There was no way he would kiss Zelena. Unless…
There had been one moment. Zelena had insisted that he kiss her, which he had refused.
But in her efforts to force him to comply, she had grabbed him by the collar and pulled him towards her. Then she had embraced him, and had he not pulled away, she would have succeeded in getting her wish. Reina- who he had to remind himself was Regina- must have seen when Zelena's arms had trapped him in their grasp.

"That wasn't what happened," he rushed to explain, following his statement with an explanation of what had truly transpired.

She raised an eyebrow. "She tried to kiss you and you pushed her away? You really expect me to believe that? You hid your true identity from me, after all."

"So did you," Robin pointed out, feeling that she needed the reminder. "And I'm sure that was for the same reasons I did- to protect your identity, and prevent your parents from forbidding you to exit the palace walls again, am I correct?"

Regina lowered her head. "What makes you think you know me so well?"

He couldn't resist chuckling. "For one thing, I'd be charred to a crisp by now if you didn't. You have a way with words, milady, that easily wounds your enemies."

Her frown deepened, shoulders stiffening defensively. "So what do you suggest?"

"That we spend time together, get to know each other better," Robin readily replied. "After all, it's clear now that we don't know each other as well as we thought, and the only way to rectify that is to spend time together."

"That is, assuming you'd rather spend time with me instead of your precious fiance," Regina muttered. Clearly, she was still bitter about seeing him in a compromising position with the girl who was once her sister. The story she had told earlier was hard to believe, but looking into her eyes, he knew that secrets between them were over.

Her arms came to rest at her sides, which Robin took as a good sign. He took one of her hands in his. "I'll admit that we don't know each other as well as I'd like. But never doubt that to me you are worth a thousand times more than your sister."

She sighed, seemingly resigned. "Fine. How exactly do you suggest that we get to know each other better?"

"By spending time together, of course," Robin replied. "I thought that we might go to the Water Festival together. It's in two days' time. There, we'd have an opportunity to get to know each other without anything getting in the way."

"Oh really?" she retorted. "Fine, I'll go. But how will I know that the way your subjects treat you is because you forced them to or because they genuinely like you?"

"I am a man who lives by a code, milady," he informed her. "I would never force my subjects to do anything that wasn't in their best interests. And I would certainly never use them to woo you."

She nodded. "Fine, I'll go. But if I get a single inclination that you're not being your true self, we're done."

"Fair enough," Robin agreed, nodding his head. "So I will see you at midday two days from now."

With her soft, "Until then," Robin turned and headed back the way he had come. They may have some hurdles to jump through, most of them still unresolved, but he had faith that they were now heading in the right direction.

Chapter Text

The day of the Water Festival dawned bright and clear. Regina was nervous- after all, she had never been to Sherwood Forest, not even with her parents on a diplomatic mission for the kingdom, and would be there in the evening, so she would have to make her way home in the dark. She suspected that if she asked, Robin would escort her home, but she knew that she couldn't be completely certain of that. After all, the rumors she had heard about him for years spoke of a Robin Locksley who was far different from the man she had known as Phoenix. She was eager to finally discern which of the two was the real Robin Locksley, and she knew- she hoped - that seeing him among the people of Sherwood would help her see the real Robin.

First, though, she had to get through another day's hard work. She had learned quickly that the life her friends led was no fairy tale: constantly cleaning the palace to ensure that everything was spotless, cooking and scrubbing the pots and pans they had used until their hands were wrinkled from being in the water for so long. She had long been aware that her mother worked the servants too hard and never gave them a vacation, which was why she had always helped Mary and Emma when she could. But even then, because of her role in the kingdom, they had never let her do the more arduous tasks, and while she was grateful for that now, she wanted to find a way to make it better for all of them.

As she worked, she had a lot of time to think, and her thoughts strayed to Tinkerbell and her remaining two wishes. After seeing what the daily life of peasants in her kingdom was like, she wanted to use her remaining wishes for the betterment of their lives. 

At the same time though, now that she was aware of Phoenix's real identity, she knew that she needed to return to her former life. The thought of Zelena, her spoiled, selfish sister, marrying someone like Robin and gaining all the power necessary to completely destroy their kingdom was a thought she didn’t want to contemplate. Though she hoped that Robin was sensible enough to refuse her sister’s whims that would destroy the kingdom even more and had more of an iron will than her father, she knew that Zelena was cunning and persuasive, traits she had inherited from their mother. Even if Robin kept his wits about him, there was no guarantee that Zelena wouldn’t find a way to destroy everything Misthaven had.

By the time the hour had arrived for her to get ready for going to the Water Festival with Robin, her resolve had strengthened. She would spend this time getting to know the real Robin Locksley and find out whether or not the rumors she had always heard about him were true. From there, she would decide on her next course of action.

******"*

Regina had never had so much trouble choosing what to wear. She was used to having as many dresses as she could wish, all in her preferred color and style, at her disposal whenever she wanted them.. However, as a member of the working class, she had had to be thankful for the fact that she, Mary, and Emma were all the same size, something that she had taken advantage of when Reina was her alias for frequenting the taverns, and she did again on this occasion. She was borrowing Mary’s red dress, which brushed the shorter girl’s ankles, but fell to just below Regina’s knees. A black ribbon tied tightly in a bow at her back allowed her to draw the dress tightly against her waist. Instead of the shoes whose straps would crisscross, covering her feet, with a high heel that she would always need to be wary of, she was wearing much more sensible boots that nevertheless were a perfect match for her dress. 

She stopped by Granny’s tavern on her way through the forest, curious to see how the proprietor and her granddaughter would interact with her now that they were members of the same class. Before Tinkerbell had granted her wish, Granny and Ruby were the only ones who knew her secret: that Reina was in fact Princess Regina of Misthaven. That fact had made them both protective of her, especially Granny. The woman was three times Regina’s age, but she was feisty, with a no-nonsense attitude that made patrons of her tavern know that they all needed to maintain civilized behavior when they entered her establishment. It was the reason that Regina had always chosen Granny’s tavern whenever she needed to get away from her mother’s overbearing presence. She trusted them, and she knew that even though their relationship had likely changed, she needed to see the two strong women to give herself a boost of courage before she met Robin on the other side of the forest.

She entered the tavern and went up to the counter. Ruby turned, and before Regina could even say anything, she greeted her with a cheerful, “Hey, Reina. Ready to take a load off after a hard day? Wait one minute, I’ll get your usual. Then I’ll take a break so you and I can catch up, it’s been ages since you were last here. Go sit in one of the booths and I’ll be there in a minute.”

Regina found a booth in the corner of the room, as far from prying eyes as she could get. Even as the princess of Misthaven who would inherit the throne upon her father’s passing, she had never enjoyed the attention from other people that came with her role in the kingdom. As she surveyed the room, she saw Robin’s friends Will and Alan sitting at one of the nearby tables. They must not have noticed her, or Robin hadn’t told them the information she had entrusted him with, for which she was grateful. She may have told him who she was out of necessity, but she knew that if the information was more widespread, she could end up in a situation that was even more tangled than her present circumstances. 

“I thought you were interested in Phoenix?” a voice asked. Turning, Regina found Ruby’s green eyes alive with mirth, and just a hint of concern. She supposed that she would be looking at her longtime friend the same way if she had caught her looking at another woman the same way she looked at Belle, who ran the village’s library. Her gaze at the moment, however, held nothing that should have raised Ruby’s suspicions.

“I am,” she rushed to assure her friend. “But as you likely already know, Will and Alan are his friends. I was looking at them and thinking of Phoenix.” This conversation was so strange to her. Knowing her true identity, Ruby had never sought her friendship. Even though she and her grandmother knew her, it was possible that Ruby had always considered her companionship out of her reach. Now that she was a peasant, though, it would seem that their relationship was more than that of mere acquaintances, and after a lifetime of only having two real friends, Regina was looking forward to this opportunity to get to know Ruby better. 

“Fair enough,” her new friend acknowledged. “So how was work at the castle today? Was Zelena as mean as ever?”

Regina groaned. That was one aspect of her life now that she did not enjoy. She had always known that Zelena was rude to the people who waited on them hand and foot, but had never imagined that she treated them with the cruelty that she had shown Regina ever since she made her wish. It was clear that when in private, Zelena was nothing but reprehensible to the servants, and if she ever regained her previous place in their kingdom, Regina would make sure to have a word with her father about Zelena’s behavior. She didn’t want to say anything negative about her sister, but she was, “Horrible. She doesn’t know when to quit. Catering to her every whim is definitely something I don’t relish doing.”

“What’d she do this time?” Ruby asked sympathetically with a grimace.

Regina chuckled darkly. “What didn’t she do? Made us wash her even though she’s perfectly capable of doing it herself, had us help her put on the simplest of dresses, put on her makeup, and bring her food all day and run errands for her. It’s surprising that she isn’t as big as a house with how much she consumes. She doesn’t move around the castle either, all she does is sit and order us around all day and whine for her mother.” This last grievance was something that had irked Regina even before her wish, but annoyed her to no end now. “And when she isn’t doing that, she’s talking about Robin Locksley.” Hearing her sister talk about the man who had consumed her every thought since they met a few days before was worrisome. Like her mother, what Zelena wanted, Zelena often got, and if Robin was even half the man that Phoenix had been (which, she had to admit, still remained to be seen), Regina didn’t even want to think about the two of them spending time together. Zelena would likely ruin what little goodness there still was in Robin, something she didn’t want to see come to pass. 

"Oh yes, how is the pompous king wannabe?" Ruby asked. "Is he as terrible as everyone always says?"

"I… don't know," Regina confessed, not wanting to share her full story but wanting to be honest with her friend at the same time. "I'm hoping to find out soon though." She was well aware that she wouldn't know Robin after only one night spent in each other's company in addition to the time they had already spent together, but she hoped that it would at least allow her to have a better idea of his character- and, more importantly, whether she could trust him or not.

********

Robin entered Granny's tavern and while he did notice that Will and Alan were there, his eyes seemed to be immediately drawn not to his friends, but to Regina, who was sitting in a corner booth talking to Ruby. 

He chuckled. Apparently they had had the same idea: come to the tavern to get rid of a few jitters before their evening began. 

The two women seemed engaged in their conversation and Robin didn't want to interrupt, but soon he remembered that Will and Alan were there and walked over to them, stopping to order a drink along the way. Of course, he didn't want to show up to the Water Festival inebriated, and had no desire for his mental state to change for the entirety of the evening. However, he did want to have just one drink now to get the edge off a little bit. He had no idea what ridiculous rumors said about him in the Enchanted Forest, but if they were anything like what was said about Zelena in Sherwood Forest (and perhaps about Regina too, before her wish had wiped away all traces of her life as princess), what was said was the furthest thing from reality, and he would have to work hard to ensure that she didn't leave him tonight with the wrong impression of him. Anyone else would question why he was trying so hard when she had kept her true identity from him, especially when her story bordered on the realm of unbelievable, but he had done the same to her in keeping his real identity from her, so in his eyes they were even.

"Care to join us, mate?" Will asked, patting the empty space in the booth beside him. 

Robin hesitated. He wanted to, but, "If I join you, I'll be here for hours, and I only have a little time before I need to meet Reina." He would have kept her true identity a secret from everyone he knew, but he hadn't wanted to share the burden of their complicated situation alone, so he had told John, but the secret hadn't spread further than that amongst his friends, for he trusted John to keep his secrets. Will, on the other hand, was known among them for having a loose tongue, so he had kept Reina’s real name a secret from him.

“Aw, come on, mate,” Will complained. “Sit back, have a pint of ale with us.”

“You know well that I prefer whiskey,” Robin reminded him needlessly, well aware of how many nights he had spent with his friend in this very tavern. 

“Ale, whiskey, it doesn’t matter,” Will responded, waving to Ruby, who rose from where she was still talking with Regina and walked toward them. “Either way, you should have a drink with us.”

“Will, I’ve told you, there’s no need,” Robin said. Turning to Ruby once she was within earshot, he apologized. “I’m sorry, Ruby, you have been pulled away from your conversation with Reina for no reason. All is well here.”

Ignoring Will, who was calling after him, Robin walked toward Regina, who stood. "Are you ready to go?" he asked her.

"Shouldn't I be asking you the same question?" she asked, raising an eyebrow as she looked beyond him to his friends. "It seems like Will wants you to stay."

"He does," Robin acknowledged. "But the purpose of tonight is for us to get to know each other better. Will and I can have a drink together another night."

"All right," Reina said, holding out a hand. "Shall we?"

With that, he put his hand in hers, and Robin couldn't help marveling at how perfectly their hands fit together, their fingers intertwining without any conscious thought behind the action.

With that, they walked out of the tavern, and Robin smiled down at Regina. He couldn't wait to see what this night together would bring.

********

As she and Robin drew ever nearer to his lands, Regina grew more and more anxious. She knew that she was safe with Robin, but she had no idea what she would find at this Water Festival. People in Misthaven had whispered terrible things about Robin and his people for so long that although she wanted to keep an open mind, that wasn't as easy of a task as it should have been. Murmurings of his conceited nature, how it was said that he believed everyone should agree to his every ridiculous request, had made their way to her ears for so long that she knew that only the words of his people tonight and the way they treated him could begin to convince her otherwise.

It was immediately apparent to her when they had reached the festivities. Booths were set up at intervals around the perimeter of the field that was next to the forest. The booths took up every square inch as well, leaving room in between them for people to walk. As Regina neared the center of the festival grounds, Robin at her side, she saw that the centerpiece of the festival was an enormous spout of water which broke off into several different springs. Children were running under each of the arches formed by the fountain, their happy shrieks of laughter warming Regina’s heart. 

“So what’s the story behind the Water Festival?” she asked, “What does it celebrate?” Their lands had never been very amiable before their betrothal (or so she had thought, she realized bitterly as she recalled Cora’s rendezvous with Robin’s father), so she had never known much about the beliefs or customs about Sherwood before.

As they ventured even closer to the fountain, Robin began to explain. “In Sherwood, we value nature above all else, because it gives us life. Like this festival, each of our four biggest festivals of the year celebrate one of the four elements: fire, earth, air, and, of course, water. The booths you see around us all incorporate the element in some way, whether that’s with a craft for children or a demonstration of what that element can do.”

The last part of his explanation piqued Regina’s interest. “Something that element can do? Like magic?”

“Sometimes,” Robin shrugged. He gestured at the booths that surrounded them. “Let’s take a walk around. It’ll be easier to show you than to try to tell you.”

With that, they began to stop at each booth- though Regina doubted that would last very long, as there were far too many booths at the festival for them to possibly have enough time to stop at each of them. One booth was a game where she and Robin pulled levers, which allowed water to move along a predetermined track. On the tracks were wooden ducks, which with the movement of water were able to race to the end of the track. Regina was frustrated, but couldn’t help laughing, when Robin beat her not just once but twice. Another booth had miniature versions of the fountain that resided in the center of the field, with a flower as the source of the water. 

Another booth had blankets that were entirely made of water. Regina was skeptical about the concept, but then Robin asked if he could borrow one of them for a moment, and when the woman selling them handed one over with a smile, he wrapped the blanket around Regina’s shoulders. She immediately felt the waves envelope her in nothing short of a soothing embrace. Like the ocean that she could never stay away from during their rare trips to the sea, the blanket moved gently over her, its motions reminiscent of the body of water she loved most. She sighed, holding the blanket close and wrapping it more tightly around her. A more comfortable- and comforting- item she had never found in her entire life.

“How did you make this?” she asked the proprietor, a woman with dark skin and long curly hair. 

“Magic,” she answered simply. 

Regina stared down at the blanket in wonder. Remembering where she was and slightly embarrassed at her overreaction to the comfort the blanket could bring, she extracted herself from the blanket, folded it, and handed it back. “It’s lovely, thank you so much for letting me try it.” She rummaged in the pouch at her waist for the Sherwood currency she had brought with her in anticipation of wanting to buy a souvenir. “How much would you like for it?”

"Oh, didn't Robin explain? It's free, dear," the woman said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"What?" Regina asked, turning to look at him. Why was it free? Was it just because he was the son of a lord?

"He comes to help me at my cottage whenever he can," the woman explained. "Things aren’t as easy for me as they used to be, so Robin lends a hand."

"I haven't been able to come as often as I'd like lately," Robin admitted. "You should take the money, Ursula, you need it more than we do."

"Yes, please," Regina insisted, rummaging in her pouch again, but the older woman insisted.

"Nonsense. If Robin is bringing you to see me, you clearly mean a lot to him. Any friend of Robin's is a friend of mine."

She laughed when she saw Robin's cheeks turn red as cherries. His arm wrapped around her and he ushered her away from Ursula's table. 

As they walked, she wondered about what she had just witnessed. She didn't know if this theory would hold true for everyone they met that night, but it was clear that Robin had positively affected at least one person's life in his kingdom.

They continued to make their way among the booths, witnessing everything from crafts to food that were all related to the festival's theme. Naturally, Regina wondered if what she had witnessed between Ursula and Robin was an anomaly, if he only selected a few of the townspeople to help in his spare time. However, everyone they met had nothing but positive things to say about the lord's son. 

She marveled at each new booth they visited, but the only one that stood out just as much as Ursula's table was manned by a girl with flaming red hair. It was clear in the way she flipped her long hair and batted her eyelashes at Robin that they not only had met before, but that there was some kind of history between them- or at least, the girl wanted his attention in a way that made Regina see red. She watched Robin closely, wondering what he would do, and to her immense satisfaction, he seemed to be completely oblivious to the girl's agenda. His attention was focused on the table before him, and Regina's gaze shifted to below where the redhead, who was around their age, was now talking incessantly, trying to monopolize Robin's attention.

On the table were several beautiful conch shells of various sizes and colors. Only when Regina picked one up to examine it did the woman seem to be brought back to her senses. "Do you like them?" she asked, hope filling her eyes, which were as blue as the summer sky.

"It's lovely," Regina acknowledged easily, holding it up. As the shell got closer to her ear, she thought she heard a sound that was unlike any of the sounds around them, but was near and dear to her. Every time they visited their palace on the coast, Regina had wished that she could bottle that sound and take it with her wherever she went, and to her amazement, that seemed to be exactly what the woman had done. The closer the shell got to her ear, the louder the crash of waves against the shore became and she closed her eyes and listened, the sound taking her miles away to her parents' palace by the sea, where she had spent every moment of each trip they took there jumping in the waves and swimming. She knew that was why she had enjoyed Ursula's gift so much as well: this festival and all of the wares sold reminded her of the happiest times she had ever had in her life.

"This is amazing," she praised the artisan, and the woman beamed.

"Thank you so much. I grew up by the sea, and now living in Sherwood, I had to find a way to keep my home with me, so I made these. They're meant to be soothing, to lull babies and young children to sleep. However, I find that sometimes, the people who need them most are adults. Everyone needs a way to calm down, right! So I found a way to do that for people with the sounds of the ocean that I love."

"It's incredible," Regina praised, unable to resist bringing the shell even closer to her ear, her eyes almost closing as she listened to the calming sound.

The redhead nodded her thanks and continued, "That's not all it does, either. Once you've had the shell for awhile, it will start to get to know you, including the sounds you enjoy the most. It can easily adjust to emit birdsong or even the voice of the person you love the most.

"It can be used as a communication device as well," she said, handing a second shell to Robin. "Go ahead, try it. All you need to do is think of someone and hear that person's voice in your mind, and you'll be able to hear them and communicate with them."

Regina concentrated for a moment, hearing Robin's soothing voice in her mind. "How do we know that the connection has gone through?" she asked, but her question was immediately answered when she heard the sound of Robin's breathing resonate directly in her ear instead of the .

"Robin?" she asked in wonder, and his chuckle resounded both beside her and in the shell that she was holding to her ear. 

“Hello, milady,” he whispered, and Regina couldn’t stop smiling at the sound of his voice coming through the shell and the infinite possibilities this would open up to them. Communication between the two sides of the forest tended to be in exchanging letters only or traveling through Sherwood Forest, and with this woman’s wares, they would be able to bypass the time that that method of communication took and be able to talk to each other whenever they wished.

Her eyes met the blue ones of the merchant, hoping that hers conveyed her wonder and amazement. “This is amazing. How did you accomplish this?”

She grinned, her sky-blue eyes filled with mischief. “Now, I won’t share tradesman’s secrets- but I will say that I have always loved singing and wished to share that gift with those around me. That’s how the shellphone came to be.”

“Would you like one?” Robin asked, his smile indicating that he knew the answer to his own question. 

Instead of answering him, Regina asked the inventor, “How much are they?” 

“Oh, there’s no cost at all for a friend of Robin’s,” the proprietor said, reaching out and stroking Robin’s arm with a familiarity that made Regina see green and red all at once. Yes, she and Robin were using this time to get to know each other better, but at the same time, how dare this woman use such familiarity with him? If everything turned out the way Regina hoped it would, Robin was hers .

“Ariel, I must insist,” Robin said, extracting a pouch similar to Regina’s own from a pocket. “You have six sisters and your father to support.”

Six sisters? Regina thought that having one sister was bad enough. She couldn’t imagine having to keep track of what so many sisters were doing all at once. If Ariel’s sisters were anything like Regina’s, keeping track of their movements was necessary- and would likely be tricky, considering she had five more sisters to keep track of than Regina did. Despite her earlier jealousy, Regina felt a sympathy for Ariel that she hadn’t expected given the girl’s overly flirtatious behavior. Curious and trying to begin a friendship with someone who clearly has some role in Robin's life, she asked, "How on earth do you manage to look after that many sisters? I only have one, and I barely know what she's doing from day to day." Realizing something, she held out her hand. "Robin has forgotten his manners, so we haven't been properly introduced. I'm Reina."

At the prospect of giving Ariel her alias instead of giving the girl her real name, Robin glanced at her quickly, then looked away, clearly not wanting to raise suspicion. While it was clear that Robin trusted this girl and that by extension Regina should too, she didn't want the same thing to happen with Ariel that had happened with Robin. The less people who were involved in the complicated mess that was her life at the moment, the better.

"I'm Ariel," the other woman said, holding out her hand for Regina to shake. "It's a struggle, I'll admit," she added with a laugh. "Six sets of friends, six potential suitors…"

"Suitors?" Regina repeated in surprise. "You don't look old enough to have six younger sisters old enough for suitors."

"Appearances can be deceiving," Ariel admitted. "I'm older than I look."

Busy trying to find common ground with someone that Robin clearly considered a friend, Regina almost didn't notice her wrap her arm around Robin's waist. She expected Robin to shrug her off, but he just squeezed her waist in return, and jealousy reared its ugly head again. How she was supposed to see this and not wonder where Robin's heart lay, she didn't know. 

She stormed off, her hand falling from Robin's. She glanced around at the nearby booths, walking toward one that had a woman with dark hair whose table was filled with small bottles that were filled with a blue substance that Regina guessed was water of some kind. 

"Trying to get away from someone?" the woman asked sympathetically, gesturing for her to come closer. 

"Yes," Regina admitted. 

"Yeah, Ariel may be nice and mean well sometimes, but she can be nothing but a flirt," the tan woman informed her, tossing her long braid over her shoulder. Holding out her hand, she introduced herself. "I'm Jasmine."

"Reina," Regina responded, holding out her hand to shake the other girl's. Gesturing toward her table with its various bottles, Regina asked, "What's all this?"

"Oh, let me show you!" the woman exclaimed, clearly excited to show off her merchandise. Turning behind her to the empty expanse of grass (Regina belatedly noticed that she was positioned at the edge of the glade), Jasmine opened the bottle and angled it so that the water could spill out onto the expanse beneath them. The droplets seemed to expand once they hit the ground, until what was in front of them wasn't grass, but what seemed to be a small pond. 

"Wow," Regina marveled, walking around the pond so she could examine it from every angle. “This is incredible. How did you come up with this idea?"

"I live in another land called Agrabah, a land where it doesn't rain often," Jasmine told her. "People in my kingdom need water to survive, so this is a way for them to have that. It may look like natural water, but unlike some natural water, like oceans, this water is safe to drink."

"Your kingdom?" Regina asked, noticing the way her new friend had phrased the sentence. Was it possible that she had met another princess completely by accident and pure chance?

"Yes," Jasmine confirmed, nodding. "I am Agrabah's princess."

Unsure if she should reveal her own secret just yet, Regina asked, "And you just came to Sherwood on your own, without any guards?" She was envious again, but for an entirely different reason this time. If only her mother had ever let her out of her sight long enough for Regina to have the freedom that Jasmine had!

"It's a long story, but yes," Jasmine said. "I am actually here seeking aid for my kingdom. The man who has overthrown my father, Jafar, is allying himself with the ruler of Underland, and I fear for the future of my country. My father and I were both imprisoned, but I escaped. Now I need to find allies in other kingdoms in the hopes that we can change the fate of my kingdom."

Regina hesitated. Should she tell Jasmine who she really was? She wanted to help her as much as she could, and to do that, she would have to entrust her with her secrets, despite only meeting her ten minutes ago. 

Before she could decide one way or the other, though, she saw Robin heading in their direction. To her surprise, Ariel wasn't hanging on his arm, and she wondered what had happened to her. From all appearances, she hadn't wanted to let go of the closest thing Sherwood had to a prince, and Robin, oblivious to her actions, was letting her do whatever she wanted. She wanted to hide from him, but knew that that was the immature course of action. Instead, when he approached and asked if he could talk to her, she silently followed him to a more secluded area of the festival grounds.

"What made you run off?" he asked, clearly unwilling to beat around the bush and getting straight to the point.

She groaned. Typical man. He was completely oblivious to what Ariel had been trying to do. "She seemed to be flirting with you and I thought I'd just make her job easier."

*Flirting?" he repeated in amazement. "No she wasn't. That's just the way Ariel is. She loves hugging everyone and is very touchy in general, and I know this about her, so I- oh," he realized, smirking. "You were jealous."

"I was not," Regina denied, her cheeks red as strawberries. 

"You were," Robin stated, his expression growing serious. "But you don't need to be, Regina. This, whatever is between us? I realize we're just getting to know each other, but I'm all in. All right?"

She looked into his eyes, finding nothing but sincerity there. "Okay." Leading him back to Jasmine, she introduced them.

"The princess of Agrabah," Robin said as he shook her hand. "It's an honor to have you here." Regina noticed that he immediately knew the princess's identity, and she cursed her mother for letting her be so ignorant even though she was going to be the one ruling the kingdom someday- if she ever decided to regain her former position, that is. 

"The honor is mine," she told him. "This is always such a wonderful festival, I bring my wares to it every year."

"What do you bring? I think I've missed them every year," he admitted, and Regina smiled as Jasmine showed off her portable ponds. It was clear that the princess was proud of her work, and rightfully so. Regina had never seen anything like her invention- or, truthfully, anything at the festival. Each of the inventors had crafted something unique, and Regina was impressed with their craftsmanship. She worried that she was turning into her sister and mother too, because she wanted many of the items on display. Robin's friends had kindly given her the blanket and shellphone, but she knew that she must not get much else, or she would be just as bad as the rest of her family. 

She noticed that the others' conversation had changed, that they were now discussing Agrabah and Underland, and she paid attention to the discussion once more. Was it possible that they would all three work together to see the ruin of the unjust rulers? She had yet to decide if she would trust Jasmine with her true identity or not, and in the meantime, she would still, of course, help to bring down Underland and her mother and Robin's father. They weren't certain what exactly was going on, but she knew that something was afoot, and it was up to them to stop it. 

As Robin and Jasmine spoke of the two kingdoms and what was transpiring across the lands, Regina contributed what she knew as best she could. She didn't really know the extent of the monarchs’’ betrayal and knew that reconnaissance would have to be done so they had more information to aid them in their efforts, but given that she knew at least one of the people involved extremely well (as did both Robin and Jasmine, she reminded herself), she thought that they each might be able to contribute something to the discussion.

Jasmine, of course, wondered how she knew so much about the royal family, thinking that she was one of their subjects. It was then that Robin's hand found hers and she squeezed it. It was time for her new friend to find out her real identity.

"It's a little complicated, but I'm one of the princesses of Misthaven," she told her new friend. "My real name is Regina."

Jasmine raised her eyebrows in confusion. "Why tell me that your name is Reina then? You seemed to want to be my friend."

"It's… complicated," Regina told her, exchanging a look with Robin. "I am the princess who will one day rule the kingdom, but technically I'm not at the moment thanks to a wish. I didn't want anyone else to feel like they had to deal with the complicated mess that is my life at the moment."

"That's brilliant though!" Jasmine exclaimed. "I don't remember Queen Cora and King Henry having two daughters, so I must not remember how things were before your wish, but your current position is advantageous to us. No one will notice you sneaking around, whereas if you were still Princess Regina, everyone would want to know your whereabouts at all times! You're in the perfect position to sneak around."

"You believe me, then?" Regina asked, astounded. How did she manage to meet the two people who would believe her so easily, without any proof to show the validity of her story? She knew that not everyone would- that not everyone should . Genies who granted wishes were supposed to be the stuff of legends, not real beings who were given to her in a magical lamp for free by a peddler. She wondered now who the peddler was. Clearly, he had known that what he was giving Regina was quite valuable, and would bring chaos and unimaginable choices to her life- and he knew a thing or two about magic, something Regina knew was not commonplace among many people in the kingdom. Stories her father had told her when she was a child had taught her that magic was to be approached with great caution. She knew now that she had not heeded his advice when confronted with Tinkerbell, that she should have taken more time to decide what her first wish should be. However, she had been so enamored with the effects of infatuation, what one might call love at first sight, that she had thrown caution to the wind, telling the fairy the first wish that came to her mind when she asked without thinking it through. 

"Of course," Jasmine said. "There are tales of genies and magic lamps in my land as well. In fact, I know a man who has used one. So it's not hard to believe that you have encountered a magic lamp."

Regina nodded. Returning to the original topic of conversation, she said, "When do we want to meet again to discuss what I've discovered?"

"Two days?" Agrabah's princess suggested, and Robin and Regina nodded. That would give them just enough time to gather information and hopefully discover what the elder rulers were planning. 

Nodding, she started gathering her things, and Robin and Regina helped her, putting the bottles in carpetbags and folding the tablecloth she had used. When they parted ways, Robin and Regina strolled away in silence. It was now the final hour of the festival for the evening, but Regina knew that it was a week-long event, so the same merchants would be back to sell their inventions the next day. 

At the edge of the forest, she made Robin pause. "You don't have to walk me all the way back to the palace. It would be the middle of the night before you returned, you'd lose any chance you might have to sleep."

"I appreciate your concern, but I'll be all right, I promise," Robin assured her.

"That may be, but it still may not be wise for you to escort me home. What would Zelena or my mother think if they saw you with me?" she asked him, and he pulled her closer until their foreheads touched. 

"I don't care what they think. Now more than ever, I know that I was meant to be with you, as Reina or Regina. That is, if you've forgiven Ariel for her overly enthusiastic display of affection earlier?" he asked, raising his eyebrows. Worry lines were etched on his face, and it was clear from his words and his tone that this had been bothering him since it occurred earlier that evening.

She saw the sincerity in his eyes and knew that what he had said earlier was true, that she didn't need to worry about competing with Ariel- or Zelena, for that matter- for his love. "All right," she said. "She's forgiven. But maybe only walk me to Granny's."

"Deal," he agreed. With that settled, they walked back through the forest, talking as they went. Determined to get to know him better (it had been the purpose of their outing tonight, after all), Regina had asked him about his years growing up on the Locksley estate and his friends. It had always been clear to Regina that the men she always saw Robin with were close, which was proven by his stories about them. She wished she had had a group of friends like that growing up, but her mother's strict ways had always prevented that, with the exception of Mary and Emma of course.

At last they reached the doors of Granny's tavern, and turned to face each other. "You're sure you'll be all right on your own?" Robin asked.

She nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Suddenly, they seemed much too close, their faces a mere foot apart. Suddenly, she grabbed him by the collar and closed the remaining distance between them, their lips melding together as if made for each other. His arms came around her and lifted her off her feet, spinning her around while the whole time, his tongue delved into her mouth and danced with hers, the intricate steps as old as time itself, yet so unfamiliar to her, given that she had never been kissed by anyone before.

When they finally came up for air, he reached out and stroked her cheek gently, the tenderness of the gesture making her melt for him in a way she had never known before. "I have to go," she reminded him. "And so do you."

"I know, but I-" he broke off, shaking his head. "Two days is too long."

"I know," she agreed. "But think about it: the sooner you go to sleep, the sooner we'll see each other again."

He smiled at that promise and they parted ways, Regina smiling all the way home. She knew that a lot of work still needed to be done, but she knew she could do it with Robin and Jasmine by her side.

Chapter Text

The next morning, Regina was dead on her feet after such a wonderful night, but she knew she had an important mission: take advantage of her current position in the castle to gather whatever information she could about what exactly her mother was up to. She realized that servant gossip was one place she could start- after all, she was by no means the only one who was practically invisible in the castle. She was sure that someone had picked up even a little scrap of information that would be useful to her. However, there was a certain danger in that plan as well. After all, gossip was just that: rumors that may or may not have a basis in fact. So she would use that method of gathering information if she had to, but she wanted to use her own sleuthing skills first. 

To that end, she did her chores without complaint, hoping they would lead her somewhere that would provide her with valuable information. At last, she was asked to deliver a tray of food to the queen in the throne room. Regina, of course, knew that her mother usually preferred to eat all of her meals in the banquet hall (despite the fact that the room was much too large for a family of four- or perhaps because of it, she noted, thinking of how Cora and her father often didn't get along). For her mother to be dining in such an unusual place, she must be entertaining very important guests- and knowing even an inkling of what was going on, Regina had a sneaking suspicion she knew who it was. 

Sure enough, she found Rumple and Cora sitting in the room with a few older men that Regina didn't recognize. Given that the men appeared to have come from a wide array of different kingdoms, Regina suspected that these men were leaders in the other countries who had somehow been ensnared in whatever scheme was brewing in their world. She walked as slowly as she could, knowing that the more time she took to deliver their meal, the more time she would be able to dedicate to gathering information. 

That plan was almost immediately ruined, however, by her mother. "Why are you taking so long? Don't you know how to carry a tray of food by now?"

Regina sighed. "I'm just trying to make sure I don't spill anything, Your Majesty." It was a good excuse, one she had come up with on the way there, but she was almost sure she knew exactly what the queen would say as a reply…

Sure enough, the older woman retorted, "Well, then you simply need to practice more, don't you? I don't want some clumsy oaf dropping every plate of food that is delivered to me." She smirked. "Besides, you would think it would be more careful. After all, dropped food might mean much more work than you, if you were foolish enough to prepare only one serving for everyone.

"Yes ma'am," Regina parroted, gritting her teeth as she spoke the words. She knew it was the response she wanted, and if she lost this access to her, she would never figure out what was going on. 

Apparently, she let too much of her irritation show, because Cora clicked her tongue. "Tsk tsk. I would have thought your mother would have taught you better than that. I'll have to have a word with her, and in the meantime, you simply will not serve me directly. You do realize that is an honor, do you not? Servants, like children, should be seen and not heard, after all."

Terrified that her easy access to her mother (and her best chance of spying on her and figuring out what exactly her plan was) might slip through her fingers, Regina quickly reassured her, "Yes, Your Majesty. I am so sorry, it will not happen again." It was perhaps dangerous to use such a formal way of apologizing given her true identity, but hopefully her mother overlooked it and lapped up the flattery it implied. 

To her relief, she was right. Cora simply smirked and said, "That's a good girl. I shall not have words with Eva about you just yet." She turned to the men in the room. "Now, where were we?"

"We need to figure out when to strike," Hades began. "I think it's unwise to enact the entirety of our plan all at once. After all, it's much easier to keep track of what's happening with one group of forces rather than several all at once."

"That is true," Cora mused, her chin cupped in her hand. "At the same time though, if we send out our forces all at once, we will ensure that the different lands can't help each other, so there is an advantage to that plan as well."

Regina balked at the idea as she slowly placed the contents of the tray down and arranged them on the table in the middle of the monarchs. Attack the lands all at once? What could these people who clearly didn't care about their kingdoms hope to accomplish with that dastardly plot?

As if he had read her mind, Robin's father asked the exact same question that was on her mind. In response, Hades said, "Do you really want to risk a world where the people govern themselves? They're much better off if we rule over them."

"Yes, but why go through all this? They've known that this entire time." 

"The people are restless," Cora explained gently, all if she was talking to a child. "We have to crush their spirit of rebellion now, before they do something they'll regret that would destroy the peaceful environment we've created."

The rest of the monarchs nodded along with her, and Robin's father, to Regina's dismay, seemed to agree with them. She knew she had to warn Robin and Jasmine, fast, especially when she heard Hades say, "We strike at midnight."

********

As soon as she left, Regina went straight to the room she, Mary and Emma shared. Digging out the shellphone Ariel had so kindly given her, she immediately called Robin. "We have an emergency."

"Hello to you too," he chuckled. 

"Robin, this is serious."

“All right, sorry, milady,” he apologized. “What’s wrong?”

She paused before saying, “I can’t discuss it now, there’s too high of a chance someone will eavesdrop. We need to meet.”

“Understood,” he rapidly assured her. “Where and when?”

She paused for a moment, trying to figure out which location was safest. The problem was that anywhere she could think of- his palace, hers, Jasmine’s, Granny’s tavern- there would be a high chance of them being overheard by the wrong people, which was something they absolutely couldn’t risk. “We need somewhere that we can guarantee we won’t be overheard. Do you have any ideas?”

There was silence on the other end of the line for a moment, then he suggested, “Meet me at Granny’s tonight. I know a place we can go.”

Trusting that he knew what was best, she ended the call. Hopefully, they would be able to rally their kingdoms in time. 

********

That night, she met Robin at Granny’s, but he wasn’t alone. Jasmine was with him, her hands nervously clenched into fists in her pockets. “All right,” she said once greetings had been exchanged. “Where are we going?”

Robin led them out of the tavern and through the woods, walking at a brisk pace, but not so quickly that the girls weren’t able to keep up. At last, they stopped below a tree, and Regina turned to the only man in the group, one eyebrow raised. “Why are we stopping at this specific tree?” She trusted Robin, she knew there had to be a reason- but there was nothing remarkable about the tree that she could see.

“Look up,” Robin instructed.

Regina followed his directions and she gasped. High above where they stood, a house was nestled in the branches of the tree. In fact, it would be almost invisible to the naked eye (especially in the dark) if she hadn’t known to look for something. The house’s walls were made of branches, leaves forming a roof that would keep them dry if it suddenly started to rain. “Wow,” she whispered, awestruck. “What is this place?”

“A safehouse,” he told her. “Anyone in Sherwood who needs one can simply come and find shelter, food, whatever they need at the time. It works just as well for a secure meeting location.” He smiled. “There’s books there as well. My mother wanted these to be places where people could make their lives better, if only for a little while. Fairies helped her create them, and their magic keeps it running, but as you may know-”

“All magic comes with a price,” she finished, having learned that lesson better than she ever would have imagined over the last few days. “So what’s the price of this magic?”

“It only works for each person for twenty-four hours at a time unless they are physically unable to leave,” Robin explained. “There are enough of these scattered throughout the woods that someone could go from one to the other for a week, and then circle back to where they started.”

“That’s amazing,” Regina breathed. “How did I not know about these before?”

He shrugged. “My father didn’t want enemies of the kingdom- Underland, for example- to be able to access them, so they’re the best-kept secret to outsiders, but anyone in our land would be able to use them.” He smiled down at Regina, and she found herself lost in his gaze for a moment. “As far as I’m concerned, you both belong in Sherwood as well, so that’s why I’m revealing the secret to you. Just don’t tell anyone, all right?”

“Of course,” Jasmine responded. For a moment, Regina had gotten so caught up in Robin and what he was saying that she had forgotten they weren’t alone. “Just one question: How do we get up there?”

“Easy,” Robin grinned, leading them around to the other side of the tree. He pressed a knot that Regina hadn’t noticed before, and a ladder descended to the forest floor. 

The three of them climbed up, and the second each of them crossed the threshold, a light lit the doorway. Regina would have asked what caused it, but she guessed it was the magic of the tree, keeping track of who had entered. 

Sure enough, when she began to explore the house, she found that everything they could possibly want- blankets, pillows, food, books, somewhere to sit and relax- was ready and waiting for them. “This is incredible,” she praised as she sank down onto a sofa with enough room for the other two to sit on either side of her, pulling a thin but warm purple blanket over her lap. “Every kingdom needs something like this.”

“They do,” Jasmine agreed as Robin served them each glasses of lemonade. 

Once he sat down, they both turned to Regina. “Well? What happened?”

She launched into the conversation she heard that day. With each word she spoke, Robin and Jasmine’s faces grew increasingly concerned. Once she had finished, Jasmine shook her head, her disbelief on full display. “His argument is ridiculous. There aren’t any uprisings among the people now- not anywhere that isn’t Agrabah, at least. Right?” she asked the other two. “You haven’t heard anything, have you?”

They shook their heads. “People may not have any love for my father, but my mother makes sure that everything the people need comes to them,” Robin said. “So I can’t imagine they would want to get rid of him, not when it could mean possibly alienating her to their cause.”

“I wouldn’t think they would want to rebel against you either,” Regina replied proudly. “I saw the way they reacted to you, Robin. Those weren’t the actions of people who were just being nice because you’re the prince. Your people genuinely love you.” She frowned. “I wish the same could be said of me. But thanks to my mother…” she trailed off. This was one of those instances when she wished yet again that her mother had ever bothered to have her spend her time wisely with things that would actually benefit the kingdom. Some of her lessons would be useful, yes, but others, not so much. Rather than learning needlepoint or how to play the piano (despite how much she enjoyed playing instruments), she should have been spending her time among the people she would one day rule. “Well, you’ve heard rumors, I’m sure.”

Robin nodded. “I have. But now I suspect that those rumors were talking about your sister and your mother, not you. When people don’t know someone, they tedn to make generalizations and use stereotypes that aren’t necessarily true- and I’m afraid that holds true for you as well.”

Jasmine cleared her throat. “All of that may be true, but that’s unimportant at the moment. What we need to figure out is: what do we do about the threat facing our countries?”

Regina glanced at her, then back at Robin. He had a starry look in his eyes, one she was sure was- or at least, had been- mirrored in her own eyes. Apparently, they had been completely oblivious to the world around them while they had been complimenting each other, lost in their blossoming feelings, and she felt bad about it. Her guilt faded away the instant she saw the twinkle in Jasmine’s eye. Her new friend apparently loved seeing the two of them interact, which probably meant that to an extent, she and Robin could continue flirting- which, of course, was perfectly fine with her as long as they didn’t go overboard. 

She couldn’t focus on that now though. Right now, they needed to figure out a solution to the potential catastrophes their countries were facing. “It’s tricky. We can’t just let them be completely unwarned and unprepared for it, but we also want them to not incite the very rebellion that Rumple is so inaccurately assuming is going to happen…”

“How about this?” Jasmine suggested. “We warn the leaders of towns and villages of what’s going to happen and give them enough weapons to distribute to those who are unarmed and defenseless with the understanding that citizens are not to act unless they are acting in self- defense?”

Robin nodded. “That sounds like a good idea, one that we need to act on immediately.”

“There’s one problem though,” Regina realized, turning to Jasmine. “Robin and I can get word to a fair number of the people in our kingdoms, but what about Agrabah? From what I understand, your people are far away, too far for you to be able to help them.”

To her surprise, Jasmine grinned. “Let’s just say I have a faster mode of transportation at my disposal thanks to the man I love.”

Understanding the urgency of their mission, they spent the rest of the night enacting their plan. Regina was surprised when Jasmine’s mode of transportation was a flying carpet that had been found in a place known as the Cave of Wonders. Regina had only heard of the place in legends, but apparently, there was some truth to them. She was dying to know how Jasmine had gotten it and the details of the adventures that no doubt accompanied its acquisition, but she knew all too well that they didn’t have time for that. 

After a quick kiss, Robin and Regina parted, each on the way to their own kingdoms. Regina was thankful for her current position as princess turned commoner at that moment, because she was able to successfully gain access to any area of the palace, but she also knew exactly where weapons were kept, which was something that wasn’t revealed to people who didn’t need to know the information. Personally, Regina thought that her mother was a bit paranoid for making that decision, but it worked in her favor at the moment, so she wasn’t going to complain… yet. Besides, she couldn’t say anything about it now and expect something to be done, but when she resumed her role as heir to the throne…

That brought her mind to the one thing she hadn’t figured out yet. How should she use her other wishes? She was a little surprised the fairy hadn’t checked in to see how the fulfillment of Regina’s wish was going, to be honest, but it was also possible that Regina had to rub the lamp for Tinkerbell to be able to leave it. Was there a way for Regina to change that? She would probably have to use a wish… but if she did that, she couldn’t fix the chaos in her kingdom. Ultimately, that’s what she needed: for the people in her kingdom to be able to live prosperously. She also had an idea for a third wish… but she would need to worry about all of that another day. What was important now was that her people were safe from the threat coming their way.

To that end, she traveled as quickly as she could to the house that belonged to the mayor of the nearest small village they ruled over. After knocking on the door, she found Walsh on the other side. “What do you want?” he snapped. Clearly, he was upset about being disturbed at this time of night- and she honestly couldn’t blame him, given that it was time for dinner. However, her years as future ruler of Misthaven had taught her that governing entities never slept, that the job was one that required one’s attention at any hour of the day or night. It was a lesson she couldn’t wait to teach him now.

“Your people are in danger,” she told him. Remembering that she no longer would be a face he would recognize, she explained, “Governing a town is something you should be prepared to do no matter the time of day. I do apologize for disturbing you, but this is urgent.”

“Not urgent enough to disrupt my time off, I’m sure,” he snapped. 

The next thing she knew, he had slammed the door in her face. 

She was at a loss as to what to do. She had no paper or anything to write with, and she would hate if the weapons she bore fell into the wrong hands. She would have to leave just this one town defenseless and hope that someone had weapons, a thought that was devastating to her, but she had other cities and towns to visit, so she didn’t have a choice.

Discouraged, she traveled through to the next city, Arendelle, thankful that although her mother had likely always wanted more subjects, their kingdom was small. Timidly, she knocked on Anna’s door, all the while praying she wouldn’t endure the same reception here. 

The young mayor answered the door, her red hair in its customary braids. "Hi! Can I help you?"

Taking a minute to remember that Anna wouldn't remember her, Regina said, "I'm Reina. I work at the palace and I heard something today that's worrisome- urgent even- and I had to come warn you." She thought it was probably wise not to use her real name, even if Anna remembered it, just in case she remembered it later once Regina was the ruler of her own country again. 

Anna must have seen something in her eyes that validated her words, because she stepped aside and gestured for her to enter. "Come in."

"I would, but I don't have time," Regina lamented. "Long story short, all of the monarchs in Agrabah, here and Sherwood are banding together and attacking their people because one of them has convinced the others that there is need for it, that the people are planning a revolt. I know the people won't be able to make an offensive move without making his words true, but the attack is still coming, so I thought it was best to bring these." She opened the bag and deposited the weapons. "Distribute them among your people and they'll at least be able to defend themselves against what's coming."

"This is… I can't imagine King Henry allowing this," Anna replied, shaking her head. 

"It isn't him, it's Queen Cora," Regina rushed to assure her. She was proud to say that her father was a peaceful man, and she had the thought that she could prevent all of it just by talking to her father. However, he wouldn't know her like he once did. Would he believe her word against the testimony of his wife? "I saw her and the ruler of Sherwood, Rumplestiltskin. They were the ones convincing the others of their plan." She didn't want to incriminate the other kingdoms. While yes, they had agreed, her mother and Rumple were the instigators behind the plan.

"I should've known," Anna muttered. Grabbing some of the weapons from the sack Regina carried, she said, "I'll distribute these among my people, and tell my sister as well. Andalusia was your next stop, correct?"

Regina nodded gratefully. "Thank you so much."

"No, it's you I need to be thanking. We wouldn't have known about any of this if it wasn't for you. Do we know when the attack will come?"

"Tonight at midnight, maybe sooner," Regina guessed. "I heard them say it was better to strike sooner rather than later."

A few minutes later, she was on her way back to the castle. Hopefully, they had acted in time and would be able to save their kingdoms.

Chapter Text

She might have been exhausted, but instead of falling asleep right away, Regina spent the entire night tossing and turning over what was going to happen next. So she heard when people started moving around in the town far below, the soldiers as they started ransacking houses, the villagers as they woke to the terrifying, but thankfully expected, reality of the attack. She got out of bed and watched from her bedroom window with her heart in her throat, her only source of solace the fact that she knew she had done everything she could to protect her people given the short notice she had had.

"What are you looking at?"

Part of Regina was tempted to answer that she wasn't looking at anything, that Mary should go back to bed, where her dreams could be undisturbed by the chaos currently turning the lives of people in the Enchanted Forest and the other neighboring kingdoms upside-down. Regina was the only one who needed to worry about it- and Robin and Jasmine, of course. 

She hesitated too long, though, because before she knew it, Mary had gotten up and rushed to her side. She supposed that once people at the castle were awake, it would be impossible to be ignorant of the mayhem that resided right outside their doors. Some of the nobility, she was sure, would demand answers, and she knew it would have to be her duty to tell as many of them as she could about the situation before her mother could get to them. She imagined her mother would spin lies that would get the lords and ladies of the court to believe anything she said- and possibly use some kind of magic on them too. She would do anything to ensure that the people she trusted to follow her every whim would not harbor any suspicions about what was going on in the village below. Otherwise, she would likely have a rebellion both inside and outside of the palace walls. 

As she began her day, Regina wondered for about the millionth time what her mother thought she was getting out of cooperating with Rumple. The man had never done any good for any of the kingdoms around him. It was an awful thing to say, given that he was Robin's father, but it was true nevertheless. Granted, her mother wasn't much better… why the rulers of their world were all corrupt, Regina had no idea, but she knew she wanted nothing more than to fix it. 

Little did she know, though, that the worst was yet to come. The true horror didn't start happening until Regina was knee-deep in her chores for the day. Out of one of the castle's many windows, she saw giants as tall as three of the houses they were ransacking combined picking up the village houses like they were toys, completely uprooting the people's lives. 

The people, though, were fighting back. Even from the palace windows, Regina could see the chaos unfolding, the people using the weapons she had given them, and it made her heart soar. Maybe they would actually stand a chance against Rumplestiltskin's wicked plot. 

Inside the castle, of course, the nobles were in an uproar, trying to figure out what exactly was going on. Even though they demanded answers, Cora stayed silent, and it made Regina furious. How could she just stand there while her kingdom was being torn to shreds around her? 

It was right around then that her shell phone sounded, the sounds of the waves crashing on the shoreline distracting her. She immediately grabbed it and answered, knowing the others were likely seeing the same thing she was. "Robin." She hated how shaky and needy her voice sounded. Wasn't she supposed to be the fierce future queen of her people? Leaders didn't show their weaknesses to other people, especially other monarchs- or at least, that's what her mother had always taught her.

Knowing Robin, though, that probably- hopefully- wasn't the case. He had never once made her feel like she was any less worthy of his affection because of anything she had done, which had been most astonishing when he had been under the wish's influence and hadn't known her real identity until she had revealed it to him. He likely wouldn't be appalled by any of the thoughts running through her mind, and for that, she was grateful. What had she done to deserve him?

"Regina," he shouted, the din of the war in his own land making his words a little difficult to hear. "What's going on over there?"

"It's chaos," she replied honestly. "But nothing compared to what it sounds like over there." Inside the palace walls, she might be able to see the destruction the soldiers Rumple had incited were causing, but she didn't have to do anything about it- partly because she was no longer the princess she should've been- a mistake she wanted to rectify, but she knew she had to use the remaining two wishes on things that would be good for her kingdom, and with such a limited number of wishes from the fairy (what was her name, Tinkerbell?), she had to choose wisely. "Where are you, exactly?"

"I really shouldn't have answered this, I'm really in the thick of it," Robin admitted. "I'm where I belong- with my people."

Guilt and shame filled her at his words. Instead of cleaning up after one of the people who started this mess and allowed it to happen in the first place, she should be doing what Robin was doing: fighting with her people. It was what any good future monarch would do, she was sure of it, and the fact that she wasn't was… well, deplorable, honestly. 

"Regina? You've gotten quiet. Talk to me. What's happening?" Robin panted, reminding her even more just how much he didn't deserve someone like her- a coward who let others do the hard work for her. He was much too good for her.

"I- I should let you go," she stammered, not able to resist whispering, "Good luck."

Before he could respond, she ended the connection, putting the phone by her side. 

Well, that was unexpected. Instead of making her feel better, all Robin had done was make her feel worse about her situation. Granted, as a servant in the palace, she was expected to do certain things and be on a schedule that was fairly strict, but still. Uprisings were the perfect time to push the limits of what someone in her circumstances could do, right? She needed to come up with some kind of plan to get out of here, one that preferably covered for her absence… but at the same time, perhaps she shouldn't care about her absence from what she was supposed to be doing. The main thing she would regret about leaving the palace walls without leaving any kind of explanation behind was the possible fallout from Cora. She didn't even want to begin to imagine what would happen to Mary, Eva and Emma if she disappeared without a trace. Knowing the woman who didn't know she was her mother at the moment, it wouldn't be anything good, and Regina knew she had to prevent that at any cost while still doing what she knew she should as the future ruler of her people- even if almost no one knew her true identity at the moment. 

A plan started forming in her mind. She would have to enlist a little help, but she knew she could do this. After all, people were depending on her. There was no time to lose.

********

Once again, Regina was sneaking out of the palace. She wasn't doing it alone this time, though. Much to her dismay, Mary had refused to let her go alone, and if her sister had had her way, Emma would've been there too. Someone needed to stay behind, though, to let them know what was going on in the palace. Regina had wished more than anything that she could give her "sister" the shell phone so they would have a way to communicate, and to her amazement, it split in two right before her eyes. She fervently hoped that was just a feature of the phone and not Tinkerbell working her magic- after all, she had much bigger problems to solve, using a wish on this silly little thing was a waste when it could do so much more good for others. 

She and Mary had donned dark cloaks and grabbed as much food and as many weapons as they could safely carry. Regina was determined to help the villagers' cause, so their last stop before they left the palace was the infirmary, where she grabbed every remedy she knew how to use- which she was sure was still an abysmal amount compared to the need of the villagers. She prayed Doc would forgive her, but the short man was never one to turn down the chance to help others, so she imagined that what she was doing now was exactly what he would have done if he wasn't living under the same roof as her mother.

It didn't take long for them to find people in need of their help. They had planned to go around the soldiers' camp, but in doing so, they ran into a group of rebels who were trying to find chinks in their armor, as it were.

"Who's that?" they heard someone whisper. From what Regina could tell, they weren't far off, and she shot Mary a glance as they both ducked quickly into the shadows.

"They sounded like they were just ahead," another voice commented, his voice low.

"Are you sure?" the first voice, more high-pitched than the second, questioned. "It could be a fatal mistake if you're wrong, you know that."

Regina glanced at Mary, her eyebrows raised. Should they come out of the shadows, team up with these rebels? Chances were good that they were after the same thing, and as far as Regina was concerned, the more allies they had, the better. 

She stepped out from her hiding place, Mary's whispers of caution following her. She held her hands up to show she was unarmed (she wasn't, she had a knife down her side in addition to the supplies still hidden in the bushes, but that wouldn't help her case). "We're not going to hurt you. I think we have the same goal: defeating the soldiers and Queen Cora."

"Don't believe her, Gretel," the boy, who was about her age, said. "She's wearing a servant's uniform. She's probably loyal to the whole royal family, and can't be trusted."

"Wait a minute, Hansel," the girl pondered thoughtfully. From that sentence alone, Regina knew there was hope. "If they're really in her pocket, why would they be out here when they could be safe in the palace?"

"How should I know?" he asked, throwing his hands in the air. "They could be her spies, Gretel. Did you even think of that?"

While they were talking, Regina was wracking her brain, trying to think of a surefire way to win their trust that didn't involve telling them her true identity. She needed to stop using it as her way to earn people's confidence, mostly because one of these days, someone wasn't going to believe her. She could only imagine what they'd do with the information, and she wouldn't be able to stop her mother behind bars, that she knew for sure. It was hard enough from her position as a member of the lower class.

Would she have done any better as a princess though? Possibly not- probably not, actually. She had much more freedom in her current position than she ever had had as Princess Regina, that much she knew for sure. As the heir to the throne, she had rarely had a moment to herself. Any time outside of the palace that she had been able to do as she wished had been so meticulously planned that when she had started her excursions outside the palace walls at first, Mary and Emma had frequently asked her if it was worth it. She had always answered yes, never wavering in her belief that she needed to learn what life was like for her future subjects.

Just as Hansel and Gretel's voices crescendoed, she felt something jostle in her bag that she hadn't thought about enough: the lamp, and the fairy trapped inside. Was it reckless to wish for everything to go back to the way it was? Or for this war Rumple had created to go away and for no one to get hurt? 

Maybe she should ask for Robin's advice. He would likely tell her it was her decision, but she still valued his opinion. After all, he was a future ruler as much as she was, and clearly, as demonstrated by his actions today, he had a better head on his shoulders than she did. Who else would put their world's best interests first if not him? 

Silence drew her attention back to the conversation at hand, and she realized everyone was staring at her. "Sorry, what?" she quickly excused herself.

"I asked for irrefutable proof that you're on our side," Hansel repeated, his arms crossed over his chest. 

"Oh!" What to tell them?

Finally, she decided to tell them the truth- or some of it, anyway. She revealed what she had overheard in the throne room, the conversation that had led to the chaos that had ensued, and how she had distributed weapons to the leaders of the different towns so the innocent townspeople would have a fighting chance. 

As she spoke, she carefully watched the pair's faces. They seemed a bit less hostile, especially Gretel, and it gave her hope that at last, they would find some common ground and turn to helping each other instead of doing nothing but add to the hostility around them. 

"Well?" Mary asked when she was done. "Do you believe her?"

Hansel and Gretel looked at each other. Regina had always heard (mostly from the servants, having never experienced it for herself) that siblings could read each other's minds, especially if they were twins. She had never believed such a ridiculous notion (she never wanted to share thoughts with her frivolous, careless sister, after all), but in that moment, she suspected that the rumors might have some truth to them. The siblings' look wouldn't have been so weighted otherwise. Finally, Gretel held out her hand. "Tentative truce? We'll all spy on them, but if you betray us…"

"Wouldn't dream of it," Regina affirmed, shaking her hand. 

The moment was interrupted by the sound of men shouting, and it was only then that Regina realized just how loud they had been. Casting a horrified look at her new allies, she darted with them to the trees. 

Peering out, she saw exactly what she suspected: soldiers were walking past, some of them looking out from the tents. "Who's there?" one of them called out, and she turned horrified eyes to Mary, hoping the soldiers hadn't actually heard them. Sure, their conversation with the siblings hadn't exactly been quiet, but she would be surprised if the soldiers hadn't been making any noise of their own. They hadn't been that noisy, had they?

None of them answered, of course, not wanting their common enemy to find them. They approached regardless, though, and like the rest of her companions in hiding, Regina held her breath. It wouldn't be good for her to make noise now, that much she knew for sure.

Apparently they had been just noisy enough, though, or the guards had better than average hearing, because they were persistent in their efforts to look for them. 

All too soon, they were so close that Regina could see the whites of their eyes, and she held her breath, not wanting to make a sound. 

Then something ran across her feet and she tried not to audibly react, but then it was followed by another something running over her. As whatever creatures did so, they rustled the leaves, and she held her breath. Would they be caught?

"What was that?" one of their pursuers said, and Regina could see them glance around. Her heart was like a hare in her chest as she prayed they didn't find any signs that they were right in front of them other than the crackling of the leaves under their feet. If only those things hadn't run over her feet, then they wouldn't be in this situation. 

She glanced at the others. Should they bolt, or remain still as statues until the soldiers gave up looking for them? There was no way to ask for their opinion without getting caught, but she could see Hansel and Gretel both practically bouncing on the balls of their feet. Clearly, they wanted to flee, but felt it wasn't the wisest decision. They were ready to leave at a moment's notice, though, and she hated to think what living that kind of life must be like. She might detest her mother and some of the things she had supposedly done "for the kingdom," but there had been no sense of fight or flight, no need to flee (even though now there was). How complacent had her life been before her wish that she hadn't found a way to stand up for herself before she was just another face in the crowd? 

"I see them!" One of the guards shouted, and she saw Hansel dash off before her own instincts kicked in and she followed suit. 

They ran through the trees, the soldiers' shouting following them. Regina's heart was pounding as much as her feet as they flew through the forest surrounding the soldiers' outpost. They had to get away, or she had no idea what her mother would do- and honestly, she had no desire to know. The horrors her mother had inflicted on prisoners had always been hidden from her. It was a fact that had shocked others, but her mother had been so busy turning Regina and her sister into what Cora saw as the idea of a perfect future queen that she had never thought it was necessary to expose them to the more brutal parts of running a kingdom, a fact that Regina was regretting now. As the future heir, her father had made sure she had an idea of the ways their laws punished the people who disobeyed them though, a fact that she was grateful for now. What would she look like to these people who had been suffering under her mother's reign for years if she didn't even know the horrors her mother forced on those who deserved it (and sometimes on those who didn't)?

She had thought she knew where they were going, but all of a sudden, one of the twins was yelling, "JUMP!" and she glanced around, wondering what would possibly cause then to shout that command. 

Her eyes widened as she spotted the ledge they were heading straight toward, and she braced herself, sprinting as fast as she could for the edge. She was pretty sure she knew where they were, knew that at the end of this ledge was a cliff, that at the bottom of the cliff was a pond. Thankfully it was a pond too, or she wouldn't dare jump. Jumping into a moving body of water from this high up… it wasn't a notion she wanted to contemplate, that much she knew for sure. 

She flew out over the ledge, plummeting to the still water below. As she fell, she felt the air around her almost form itself into a cushion (presumably a waterproof one), and she had a feeling that even though she had practically ignored her existence, Tink was still watching over her. 

She landed on the water, and instead of it seeming like the hard floor of the palace (which is what she had always been told about jumping from great heights- not that she had ever gotten to experience it for herself), her landing was soft. She knew it was entirely thanks to the fairy residing in the lamp that was always at her side, and she resolved to rub the lamp and thank Tink herself. After all, she might have just saved her life, and at the very least made it less painful. 

The same couldn't be said for her companions, however- after all, they didn't have a fairy watching over them. She looked around, finally spotting Mary, Hansel and Gretel in the water around her. Hansel was coughing and sputtering, and she quickly hopped off the makeshift float Tink had conjured for her, very conscious of how it would look if she came off much better than he had after their free fall. 

She made her way to shore with the others, after making sure that whatever Tink had done to protect her from the potential severity of their fall didn't need to be preserved. Ultimately, she gathered that it didn't, given that it could just be created again with Tink's magic. 

"What do we do now?" she asked Mary, grateful that her friend had survived the fall. 

"You two should just go home," Hansel dismissed them, crossing his arms. "We were doing just fine until you two showed up. Now we're probably going to be more easily recognized, which makes sneaking into their base much more difficult- maybe impossible. Thanks for nothing."

Mary and Regina exchanged looks. Regina desperately wanted to help, to have more allies in this battle that was seeming more and more like the beginnings of a war, but she knew she had to respect their decision to refuse the few methods of assistance she could offer. Granted, they didn't know everything she could offer, but she didn't really want her access to magic to be the only reason they worked together. Having been a princess her whole life, she didn't want to be sought only for what she had access to. Genuine friendship was what she had always longed for. 

She and Mary looked at each other as the brother and sister walked away. They were back to square one, if not in worse condition. 

"So… are we going back home?" Mary asked. Regina could tell just how tired she was from her voice, and she supposed that was her cue to turn around and admit defeat now before they got into a worse situation. 

Regina nodded, and as they turned and started walking back home, she had nothing but a crushed spirit. She had done nothing but prove she couldn't help her people like Robin could. 

What was she going to do now?