A/N: This story begins shortly after "A New Friend," where 10-year-old Regina becomes friends with Daniel. Each chapter will take place during a different year of the Harvest Festival.
Disclaimer: "Once Upon a Time" and its characters do not belong to me. I'm only borrowing them.
Today was going to be an exciting day for Regina. She was heading to the Harvest Festival. The event was held every year, and she always looked forward to it. This year, though, she was even more excited than usual. Her new friend Daniel would be going, and she couldn't wait to show him everything.
Regina wasn't even bothered by her mother telling her to change her dress twice. Today she was going to have fun.
She looked around eagerly as they arrived at the festival. There was every kind of food imaginable—everything from chicken sandwiches and corn to apple cider and pumpkin pie.
Regina's mother frowned and her father laughed as Regina ran up to the booths, looking at everything. She was also looking around for Daniel. He and his family were arriving separately. As soon as Regina saw him, she smiled and waved, and he grinned and waved back.
"Can I walk around the festival, Mother? Daddy?" Regina asked.
"Of course you can," her father said before seeing the look on his wife's face. "If your mother says it's all right."
Regina looked at her mother.
"You may walk around, but don't make a spectacle of yourself," her mother said. "And don't get your dress dirty."
"Thank you, Mother," Regina said.
She made her way through the crowd toward Daniel.
"Have you ever been to a festival like this?" Regina asked as soon as she got over to him.
Daniel shook his head. "No, my village had a harvest festival, but it was nothing like this."
Regina took his hand. "There's so much to see here. Let me show you."
They walked around to the different booths, trying out the pastries and candy. They watched a man walking around on stilts and were fascinated by a man demonstrating new inventions.
Then, Regina saw a beanbag-throwing game.
"I bet I can beat you at this," Regina said.
Daniel grinned. "I bet you can't."
It was a close game, but Regina did beat him. However, next they played a ball-throwing game, which Daniel won.
"Now we're even," Daniel said. "Should we try some ice cream?"
A couple was selling homemade ice cream in multiple flavors. Regina wondered how they kept it cold.
"It looks good," Regina said. "I'll have a chocolate cone."
Daniel got a strawberry cone, and they walked for a little while, eating their ice cream.
"Oh no!" Regina exclaimed as ice cream fell on her dress. "Mother is going to be so angry."
"Well, that man with the new inventions was demonstrating that stuff that takes out stains," Daniel said. "It seemed to work pretty well."
Regina nodded and walked over to the man with Daniel. She was going to be in so much trouble if it didn't work.
"Sir," Daniel said as they walked up to the man. "Would that stuff you were showing earlier take out the stain on her dress?"
Daniel pointed to the stain. Regina thought that the man looked a little sinister, but she was desperate.
"Of course it would," the man said. "And, I will even remove the stain for free. You just have to promise me one thing."
Regina frowned. "What's that?"
"That you will come back and see me next year. I would like you to help me demonstrate an invention."
"All right," Regina said a little hesitantly. The man probably wouldn't be back next year anyway. After all, she had never seen him before.
The man poured the liquid on the cloth and dabbed at the stain. It disappeared.
"Wow," Regina and Daniel said simultaneously.
"It works quite well, doesn't it?" the man said.
"Yes, it's like…" Regina didn't want to say the word "magic."
"I will see you next year, Regina," the man said, and he walked away as Regina and Daniel both stared after him.
"Did I tell him my name?" Regina asked.
"I'm not sure," Daniel said, frowning. "At least the stain is out."
"That's true," Regina said. "Let's go play some more games."
Regina forgot about the man as she and Daniel enjoyed the rest of the day together.