Chapter 1

"Its here!" awakened from her restless sleep, Chrissy jumped up from her makeshift bed as the ringing of the bell from the tower in the middle of the town continued. She could see the purple smoke which was now covering half the town coming towards the building she'd seekin refuge in because it had been so cold the night before and quickly made a run for the stairs. So many thoughts going thru her head, one she knew it was getting way to close she'd never make it out of town, 2 she didn't know what it was and what it would do all she knew was she had to get out of the line of fire and fast.

She'd made it towards the main door but before she could make her way outside it swung open and there stood Regina. The mayor of storybrooke. She was left with more questions then answers as she became a barrel of confusion. "There's something i need to tell you" Regina said.

what sounded like thunder clapping outside caused Chrissy to hold her ears and scream, "It's ok, your gonna be ok" Regina reassured, all Chrissy could do was shrug her off and back away "Stay away from me..."
Regina was trying to tell her something but Chrissy just yelled "Stay. Away!" again, she didn't know this woman, she'd seen her around town a lot overlooking construction sites and making sure everything was running smoothly.

She'd ran into Regina once, she'll never forget the look of complete and utter shock on her face as she went from angry and indifferent to just frozen in place, the platonic lines on her face forming into that of a smile of what, recognition. She didn't see how like she said she didn't KNOW her.

All she could say was sorry and tried to duck underneath her but Regina called out to her "Please wait" She said quickly, not knowing where she was going but wanting to get away all Chrissy could do was flip around and utter a "Yes Miss mills?"

"oh please call me Regina"

"No, I- I don't think that would be right. I- I gotta go..."

"Please don't rush off" She quickly said, desperation evident in her voice, "I'm sorry I have somewhere I need to be" She lied and quickly made her exit not bothering to look back behind her.

back to the present, "I've wanted to tell you something for so long!" It was getting harder to hear anything and Regina had to pretty much yell at this point "I don't even know WHO you are!" Chrissy cried.
"Thats not true at all! I'm sorry I couldn't tell you before, believe me I wanted to. I can tell you now. Chrissy your..." the door swung open and the wind hit Chrissy at full force, knocking her to the ground the last thing she heard before everything went completely black was the bells being rung from overhead and Regina calling out to her.

ooooooooooooooo

(Flashback)

"Get your fresh fish here, just caught and gutted this morning!" A merchant called out, "Muffins get your muffins here!" Another called out, little Regina with her nose pressed against the carriage door jumped up excitedly "Mommy can I have a muffin. Please?"

Her mother Cora who was staring out the carriage with disdain gave her a daughter a look of dis-approval. "Don't be silly my dear, sweets are for common folk and stop moving around like that its unbecoming of a future queen. You must always sit up with grace and poise and always remain stoic never let anyone know what it is your really thinking or they will use that against you" She chastened. Settling down a look of disappointment evident on her face all she could do is sit there in silence. It wasn't so much the muffin as she wanted to explore and look around but her mother would never allow it and even if she did she'd have to have several guards with her at all times.

They eventually made a stop near what looked to be a broken down old shack, what was in it she didn't know but Regina was all the more curious. Her mother said she had some unfinished business to take care of and forbid regina from leaving the carriage even going as far as threatening the guards with their lives if something were to happen to the future queen.

Once out of the carriage her mother soon disappeared into the shack leaving Regina to her own devices, she was staring boredly at the trees overhead and kicking her legs up and down.

All at once she heard something, brushing it off as if she'd just imagined it she heard it again and all but bolted from the carriage. The guards calling out to her and giving chase. She wasnt paying them any attention she was following the screams. She followed it to a bread stand.

There was a little girl about her age, fiery red hair, halzenut eyes and what looked like a potato sack for clothing. her feet were filthy and she had soot all over her little face. The bread merchant currently had a hold of her hand she was desperatly trying to pull away but his steel grip proved it to be impossible. "Steal from me Eh, well I'll make you pay for that you little thief"

"Let me go!" the girl shouted "Please"

"I will get my payment one way or another" The man growled, he pulled out a huge pick ax like knife and in that moment Regina grabbed a rock from beside her and chucked it at his head. He stopped mid swing and yelled "Who threw that" His eyes fixating on regina as she cried "I did!" Forgetting all about the girl he released her and stomped towards Regina "I'll teach you to meddle in things that are not any of your business girl. I'm gonna rip your tongue out and feed it to my dogs!" He took hold of her shoulder and Regina froze in place, before he could make another move the guards who'd been chasing her ran on scene and immediately pulled out their swords when they noticed what was going on "Unhand the princess at ONCE" the head guard bellowed, immediately he dropped the knife in his hands and backed away his eyes going wide "T-The princess?"

"Yes. My daughter" He flipped around and there stood cora, completely stoick faced as if she'd found the entire thing amusing but everyone backed away none the less. "M-My queen. Please forgive me" He stuttered "Had I known I never would have..."

"Yes but you did" Cora finished "And for that, I can never forgive so you must pay. With your life." The merchant began begging for his life and Regina feeling pity tried to intervene but the guard caught her before she could speak out. Cora lifted her hand slowly in the air in a circle life motion the merchant freezing in place, he tried to scream but it was cut short and he grabbed his throat as if in agony.

"You did threaten to cut out my daughters tongue" Cora said quietly "Dont worry, you'll get this back" She said staring at her palm "you just wont need it anymore" She motioned for the guards to take the merchant, They dragged him off leaving the little girl who'd started the whole mess standing there dumb founded.

Cleaning her hands of the whole mess she turned her attention to the girl "Look at you, such a little thing to have caused this big of a mess. What shall I do with you, shall I turn you into a toad?" The girl gasped, "No? well then, lets see..."

"Mother please dont hurt her!" Regina cried out, "It wasn't her fault."

Her mother gave regina a "i dare you to speak again" look and she quieted, "Ah I have an idea." She said after a moment "Since you cost me one of my bread merchants your going to have to pay off your debt my dear. In the mills" The girls eyes went wide and she started to scream as the guards went to grab her but she ducked and even kicked one in the shins.

He cried out in pain and Cora rolled her eyes "Shes just a child you morons." When it became clear they were not going to be able to get ahold of her cora merely sighed "Oh for heavens sake" And lifted a hand stopping the girl and freezing her in place. "My you are a little trouble maker, aren't you?" She seemed amused now, "What's your name sweetie?" The girl refused to speak, "You will answer me girlie or I'll turn you into a bug that I can squish very easily under my boot" She threatened, the girl nodded gently and cora smiled "Good girl" Before putting her down. "Whats your name" She asked again. "Christiana" She said slowly, staring down at the dirt and kicking up a little with her foot. "Where are your parents?" She asked, all she could do was shrug.

"Well Christiana, it seems my daughter regina has taken a liking to you. You will be her maid, you will do whatever she asks of you and if you ever pull something like this again or try to steal from me or step out of line even once I will make sure you never see the light of day again am I clear?"

All Christiana could do was nod. "Good" She snapped her fingers and the guards took ahold of her arm, tying both of them up together and attaching the other end to the horse pulling the carriage. He motioned for her to follow and told her not to try any sort of trick.

"Mother I don't understand why she cant ride in here with us" Regina said quietly, her mother turned her wrath on her and merely replied "She isn't clean yet, she's going to need an extensive cleaning before I will allow her to step foot into the castle and as for that little stunt you just pulled I will deal with you later."

Regina gulped and the main guard from earlier tried to duck his head in and apologize, Cora merely stared him down and replied "You put my daughter in danger and for that I am relieving you of your dutys." The guard tried to explain himself but cora used her magic to twist his neck until it made a sickening pop.

His body fell limp beside the carriage and all regina could do was look away, she motioned for the carriage to pull forward. Little did anyone know this was the start of a thrilling adventure.

To be continued.