My New Beginning

Chapter 2 Trouble Ahead

The rays of the morning sunlight shone through the small opening of the curtain, giving me the perfect wake up call. I opened my eyes, stretched, and walked over to my balcony. The feel of the breeze brush against my skin and the warmth of the sun made a perfect combination that called me to go horseback riding. I walked back into my room, waved my hands, and my attire changed into my black leather pants, black vest, and red velvet riding coat with my black boots. I grabbed my black gloves and walked out of my room. As I was descending the stairs, Henry was walking back up to his room.

"Woah, mom! Where are you going?"

I smiled, "I am going ride my horse, Louis. After your studies are finished, you can join me for a ride."

Henry was beaming. "I can't wait!"

"Good," I hugged him, "I'll see you when you're finished."

We parted ways, and I walked down the hall only to hear my name being called.

"Regina, wow!"

I turned around to face Snow, who looked stunned to see me without a hat, and my hair braided.

"Where are you heading off to?"

I smiled and answered her question, "I'm going take Louis out for a ride. It's been so long since I enjoyed a good horseback ride."

Snow smiled, "Enjoy your ride."

I nodded, opened the door, and walked out.

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

I reached the stables, and Emma was there brushing the mane on her brown Arabian mare that she gave the name of Princess. She was dressed in a dark blue riding coat, white shirt, gold vest, and white pants with her black riding boots while her hair was pulled back in a ponytail. I'm guessing she might be going out for a ride as well.

She turned toward me with a smile and greeted me. "Good morning, are you going for a ride?"

I walked up to Louis, my brown Arabian Stallion with a thin white stripe going down his nose and began to saddle him up. "Yes, I am. Care to join me?"

"Sure."

Emma saddled up Princess, and we mounted our horses at the same time.

I turned Louis to where I can see Emma. "Ready?"

"Yep," Emma smiled like she had something up her sleeve. "But first, you're going to have to catch us!"

Emma kicked her mare, and the horse sped out the stables. I laughed, shook my head, gave Louis's reins a flick, and we sped off in hot pursuit. We took the road through the forest. Emma was still ahead, but not by much.

I leaned into Louis's ear, "Full speed, Louis. Let's catch her."

With a flick of the reins, Louis sped up, and we caught up to Emma. Emma and I eyed each other. After giving her a little wave, I got Louis to speed past her. I could hear Emma talking to her mare.

"Oh no, let's go, Princess! Yah!"

I could hear the horse speed up, and then a loud screech filled the air. I saw a shadow on the ground which looked like a winged creature of some sort. It was huge. Suddenly, I heard Princess get spooked. I turned around to see Emma battling the winged creature off her causing her to fall, getting a horrible cut on her arm. I raced toward Emma, formed a fireball in my hand, shot it at the creature, and it burst into flames then turned into ash. I stopped Louis, jumped down, and calmed Princess. After she was calm, I ran to Emma.

I knelt next to her, "Are you alright?"

"Not really. Whatever that thing was," Emma showed me her arm bleeding profusely, "it scratched me before your scorched it."

I held her arm and waved my hand over the wound. The blood stopped, and when Emma lifted her sleeve, the scratches were gone, and there was no evidence of blood anywhere.

Emma smiled, "Thank you."

"You're welcome," I smiled evilly. "You know, if it wouldn't have been for that…that…thing, Louis and I would have won."

She laughed, "Oh really, Princess and I were right on your tail and would have passed you up if it wouldn't have been for that thing that attacked us!"

I chuckled, "Sure," and I offered my hand to Emma.

She took my hand, and the electric shock happened again. We didn't let go this time, and as Emma stood, I felt something that wasn't there the first time. Emma and I looked at each other, and we had the same reaction. What we were feeling, it was our emotions.

"Um…Regina…what's happening?"

I had an idea.

"Give me our other hand. I want to see something."

When we linked our hands, the same electric shock happened, but this time, the connection was more powerful than when we only had one set of hands connected.

I looked into Emma's eyes, "You're happy?"

"Yeah, I am happy that we are spending time together. We never had a chance in Storybrooke."

"No, we didn't. I wish we did."

Emma smiled at me, "You are happy as well."

"Yes, I am delighted because I finally have someone I can talk to and will listen to me. I am happy that I have you. I am glad that we are friends."

She nodded, "I am glad that we are friends. But this…" she tightened her grip on my hands, "this feels amazing."

I looked at our hands. "Emma, whenever you tightened the grip on my hands, this connection intensified, and now, look at our hands."

Emma looked at our hands, and they were glowing a golden color.

"What do you think this means?"

I looked up at Emma, and began to ponder, "I don't know," then Emma replied, "No, I don't think it could be that."

I shook my head. "Wait a minute, did you just read my thoughts?"

"Holy shit! How can this…" Emma started, then I answered, "Be possible? Our magic must have somehow connected, and now we can feel each other's emotions as well as read each other's thoughts."

Emma questioned, "Do you think we could do more than just that?"

"I don't know," I replied, "I will have to look in my books. Damn!"

"They are back at your castle," she finished my sentence, and I confirmed her, "Yep."

She released our hands, and I watched her climb on Princess.

"Emma, we need to ride at a moderate speed to give the horses a break."

Emma watched me climb on Louis. "I know."

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

We arrived at my former castle, where it still stands majestically without a blemish.

"Wow!"

Emma was amazed, and I exhaled, "Welcome to my misery. The place where the Evil Queen was born and reigned for many years."

Emma took my hand in hers, "It's okay, I'm with you now. You don't have to feel this way anymore."

"You know," I turned to look at her and smiled, "you are right. Come on, let's find my books."

We dismantled and left the horses in the stables. I led Emma inside and meandered our way up to my room. Emma couldn't get over how large the room was and when she walked out onto my balcony…

"Holy Toledo, Batman! This balcony is massive!"

I burst into a peal of laughter. "Holy Toledo, Batman?"

She walked back into the room with her hands on her hips. "Did you find your books?"

I picked up my books and sat on my chaise lounge chair. "Yes, I did."

Emma sat at my feet as I was skimming through one of my spellbooks. No luck, I closed it and put it on my side table.

"Can I help?"

"Yes," I replied as I skimmed through another book, "take one and see what you can find."

Emma picked up a book, sat down on the lounge by my feet, and we both began to read. I wasn't having any luck. I have already gone through five books, and Emma was still on that first one. I hope she's finding something.

"Regina, I think I found something."

I sat up and peered into the black leather book she was reading. I was speed reading a section on magical cores.

"Yes! That's what I was looking for! Read what it says."

Emma swallowed hard then began to read, "When two magical people share a bond, it is ubi…ubiqui…what the hell?"

I couldn't help but laugh, then I helped her, "Ubiquitous."

She continued, "Ubiquitous for their magical cores to form a bond. When the two magical persons join hands, an electric shock is felt, then what happens next depends on the bond between the two persons."

"Wait," I took the book from Emma and continued to read aloud, "Bonds can form many connections on different levels depending on the two magical persons. The connections made could be emotionally, mentally, or it could go as far as linking hearts and souls…soul mates."

I closed the book, held it on my lap, and closed my eyes, "Miss Swan, what in the world is happening to us?"

"So, it's back to Miss Swan, your Majesty? Do you think I forced this on you? You are sadly mistaken if you believe that!"

She was getting on my last nerve. "Look, let's take a deep breath and focus. Whatever is happening to us, it is happening whether we like it or not. So, if we are going to figure out what type of bond we have, we will have to work together."

"Promise me one thing."

I turned to face Emma, and she requested, "Please stop with the Miss Swan thing. We are now passed that since we are no longer in Storybrooke, where you are the Mayor, and I am the Sheriff."

I smiled and nodded, "It's a promise."

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

After putting our horses back in the stables, we walked inside where heard a commotion coming from the Council Chamber. Emma and I exchanged worried looks then we decided to join the loud meeting. Of course, Snow and Charming are the brilliant minds behind this along with Grumpy, Doc, Captain One Hander, a new commoner by the name of Robin Locksley who was standing next to a fox and a bear standing on their hind legs and wearing clothes, Geppetto, Granny, and Red. They were talking about the winged creature that was terrorizing the village.

"What's going on here?" Emma made our presence known.

Charming began, "We were just listening to complaints about some winged creatures screeching and harming the people in the villages."

"During our ride, we were attacked by one of those. These things are becoming a nuisance and need to be taken care of," I stated the obvious.

Emma snapped her fingers, "I have a plan," and she pulled out a map of the Enchanted Forest with the castle as the focal point. We all gathered around the table, and Emma explained, "There are four watch towers; north, south, east, and west. If we have someone stationed at each watchtower, we will have a good chance of locating where they are coming from."

Grumpy nodded, and Charming said, "Sounds like a plan."

* * * * *MY NEW BEGINNING* * * * *

After we ate supper, I helped Henry get ready for bed and told him good night. I returned to my bedroom and changed into my nightgown.

"Regina, are you there?"

I walked out onto the balcony. "Yes, I am here."

Emma walked out dressed in her nightgown and looked as if she was about to break down into tears.

"Emma," I took her into an embrace, "Are you alright? What happened?"

She broke down into tears, "I'm getting set up by my mother!"

"What do you mean you are getting set up?" Oh, no, I understand now. "Snow is trying to set you up with someone."

"With Hook," Emma replied through sobs, and I exhaled, "Emma, Snow is not in charge of your love life. You are a grown woman who knows her heart better than anyone. She needs to realize that you are not a little girl. She needs to let you make your own decisions."

"I know, but because we are here in the Enchanted Forest, she thinks she can revert to the way you guys were when you were younger."

I broke the embrace and took her hands in mine. "As a friend who has a lot of experience in that department because of her mother, I want you to do what I didn't do."

Emma looked at me, questionable, "You want me to tell her to stay out of my love life?"

I nodded, "You need to talk to her. She needs to understand that you grew up in a different culture than what we did. She also needs to be told true love finds its way on its own and not by the force of the hand."

"What did I do to deserve a friend like you?"

I smiled, "Just being you."

Emma exhaled, "I fear that there's going to be trouble ahead."

"I agree, but it will turn out alright in the end."

I gave Emma a reassuring squeeze to our joint hands then she sighed, "I hope you're right."