Princess Regina put the riding crop back where she got it from and was getting Rocinante ready so that Emma could ride him. She was leading him out of the stall and Emma was walking besides Regina since the last thing she wanted was to piss this horse off. She did like that Princess Regina's horse had his own personality and wasn't dumb as a brick like some of the horses she had seen.

They had been walking for a while until there was grass everywhere that the eye could see. It was a nice contrast to the stall that Emma had just finished cleaning. Even if there was grass and a few trees, it was a beautiful sight to behold. She was used to dirtier places.

Princess Regina had finally stopped and Emma almost walked right into her. She turned around, "Emma, it's time to start your lessons. It will begin slowly because I want you to have more than enough time to be comfortable around Rocinante. First, you can't start riding because he has to allow you to."

Emma chuckled, "I have to 'allow' a horse to let me ride him?"

She nodded, "Yes, he deserves respect. Once you respect him, then he will respect you in return. Until then, he won't allow you to ride him."

Emma looked at Rocinante and it was as though he understood her because he made himself look taller. The blonde began to slowly approach him with a hand stretched out. She wasn't sure if she was able to pet him, so she was standing there like an idiot with her hand out.

Princess Regina had giggled a little at Emma and waited a few seconds before putting her hand on Emma's. She was guiding her hand so that it was level with his nose and had placed Emma's hand on it.

"Is this the part where he bites off my hand and I become a pirate?"

"No, you're safe as long as you're with me. Just be patient."

A few minutes had passed before Emma saw Rocinante relax a little.

She was starting to pet him carefully just like you would pet a dog. He seemed to appreciate the gesture because he had learned in a little more. Emma was feeling a bit at ease with him with Princess Regina helping her. She didn't want this "lesson" to end because she loved the way that Princess Regina's hand was touching hers.

Princess Regina had moved her hand away from his nose and they move to the side of him. She has Emma gently touch him again and Rocinante remains still as he relaxes more. They do this until Emma feels better about being near the horse.

"Well Emma, it looks like you have won him over with your charm."

"If you weren't here, then I bet he wouldn't be won over."

"I doubt that's true, Emma. Normally, I would keep introducing you to him, but you look like you want to learn to ride him."

Regina had removed her hand from Emma's and Emma felt her hand become a little cold despite it being warm. She was getting used to feeling Regina's hand on her own. It was like it was meant to be touching hers.

The brunette approached her horse, put her foot in the stirrup pad, and pulled herself up while her other leg swung over the saddle. She made sure her other foot was in the stirrup pad as well before holding onto the reins.

"You might see other people that ride horses use their riding crops, but I will never use one on my Rocinante. He doesn't need it and I would never raise a hand to him. He understands me in a way that Mother never will."

Princess Regina said a command and her horse obeyed without hesitation. Emma walks next to her as she faces down her nemesis. They locked eyes and Emma was determined to not let a horse beat her.

It was now Emma's turn to ride him and she was coaching herself so she wouldn't be so scared. She did respect him and that was half the battle, right?

Regina was there to steady her as she put her foot in the stirrup pad. She silently prayed that he would stand still for her. She swung her leg over just as Regina had done. She felt like a King sitting on top of his throne.

"No wonder you like being up. I can see a lot more than being on the ground."

"You haven't experienced the best part, Emma. Remember to respect him and take the reins. I'll be guiding you the entire time."

"Sure thing, Princess."

Regina was walking and Rocinante was following her. He was behaving himself which made Emma a little suspicious. Regina noticed that her boot was untied, so she bent down to tie it. Since she was so distracted, he took his chance to buck Emma off. Emma had landed on her ass as Regina stood up.

"What happened?"

"Your horse bucked me off!"

Emma swore that she heard him neigh happily.

Regina held out her hand to Emma, "He likes to be a troublemaker sometimes. Let's try this again."

Emma was back riding him again and Regina never took her eyes off the pair. It was amusing to see the two that she cared about the most trying to get along.

She seemed to be successful riding him as Regina was talking to her about horses. Emma loved the way Regina's eyes lit up as she spoke about them.

"Rocinante and I grew up together, so our bond is very close. He was there for me when my father died."

"I'm happy that you had such a loving companion to care for you."

Regina smiled, "I know that I can always trust him. It's humans that you can't always trust. Mother told me that love is weakness, but I love him."

She pet him as they walked and Rocinante was enjoying every minute of it. He wasn't glad that Emma was riding him, but at least his master was with him.

Emma didn't want this moment to end, but the horse had other plans. He thought that he had behaved enough and bucked Emma one more time.

This time, Emma was on alert and didn't fall as badly as last time. She did feel bad when she landed on the ground. When Regina tried to make an attempt at helping Emma up again, she tripped, and fell on top of her.

The two women were inches apart and Emma was about to kiss her when another horse approached them. The moment was ruined by none other the The Queen, Cora.

"What are the two of you doing? Emmet, get off the ground at once and help Regina back on her feet!"

The two of them scrambled to their feet and Emma bowed to Cora. She was embarrassed that she missed the opportunity to kiss Regina, let alone was almost caught by The Queen.

The two of them walked back to the stables and Regina taught her how to the groom Rocinante. He didn't fight with Emma this time since he thought Cora berating Emma was enough. Regina even let her give him a few apples which he gladly thanked her.

"You know, he isn't so bad after all. I thought he was going to bite my hand, but then he licked me!"

Regina smiled as they walked back to the castle and she held onto Emma's arm all the way there. Emma couldn't stop from smiling either.