Next chapter up,

Thought I would try and get through as many of my stories as I could seeing as it was the bank holiday... I only managed this one chapter out of the whole day, :/ fail.

But here it is and hopefully you'll all like. Thank you to the person that nicely commented last chapter. I am glad its one of your favorites... hope it continues to be.

I am trying to get to at least 20 reviews before I get to chapter ten on this story so if anyone kind enough to help me achieve that I shall love you all forever.

As always - don't own OUAT

The next morning and after breakfast, Regina took off as fast as she could for the outside grounds but not before throwing a wave over her shoulder when she heard Maleficent shout to her about their magic lesson later that day, the blonde watched her jump down the stone steps and out the doors before rolling her eyes and turned to leave the room.

Making her way down the familiar trail Regina makes sure that she is visible from the window lest somebody decided to look out. She had to make sure that people saw her loitering about so that she were covered. Coming to a stop at the small path she turns and makes her way South instead of West that would have led her to the lake. She had only ever been this way a few times seeing as it led further to the Mountains and which the blonde had told her to stay away from.

That was then and she did as she asked. This was now – and it was her destination.

She followed the gradually narrower track that went from earthy to more gravelly as she came to another smaller clearing as she spied the large Mountains just up ahead before hurrying on with her journey. Eventually after fifteen minutes of stumbling and hissed words as she scraped her knees along the rough surfaces. Her path led her to a small bush that was sitting innocently along the gate lines as she smiled and moved closer.

She had never told anyone of her earlier explorations and more so when it had led her to the discovery of a small opening that had been concealed underneath a bush that led to the outside. She hadn't dared go further for fear of getting lost and as per the older woman's wishes. She crawled the rest of the way and shuffled closer, nudging her way past the thick branches taken hold in the ground before she had to push herself the rest of the way.

A few fidgets and angry growls later, she rolls out the other side and takes a small tumble-down the hill. She doesn't move from where she comes to a stop and just looks up at the sky, before pushing herself up on her elbows and takes a look around her new scenery. It was pretty much the same as on the other side of the gate as she lifted herself from the floor before a smile creeps over her face.

On the other side of the gate

She had done it, gotten out. And so with another look at large castle that stood behind the huge looming barrier, she laughs and takes off down the hill. She doesn't stop walking/running until she gets to flatter ground, coming to a stop she takes a look back and was surprised to see just how far she has gotten and brokers a guess she is halfway down before turning and carrying on her way.

Her path leads to her the forest as she stops for the third time and takes a long look at the towering mass of trees that lay just a few feet ahead. She knew now she was in territory far beyond that of the Faeries… well at least she thinks but as far as she knows the blonde had never taken an interest in the forest below them, only to gloat and laugh when people got stuck there and never to come out.

She idly wonders if she would be one of those that – if she went in would never return and that has her hesitating a little. But dismisses it as she knows she could find her way back out. As much as a nine-year old could be cocky, she did pride herself a good navigator and has always been able to work her way around the grounds of the castle.

Sure this may not have been said castle and looked as daunting as it did huge. She was still confident and so with that she makes her way closer and keeps going until she disappears from sight. Inside she takes everything she passes in great detail; she had never been surrounded by so many trees and so doesn't want to miss anything from the plants to the different looking trees, down to the animals that lived there.

This was so much better than the grounds that she had been limited to wander as she slides down a small bank and lands in a large pile of leaves at them bottom. Why Maleficent didn't want her to go here she had no idea but she was glad she did and so stood as the sound of running water catches her attention and she takes off in the direction as she comes out behind the tall trees to see a stream.

She eyes the rushing torrent of water before spying a small ledge and so sits down letting her feet dangle over the side and peered very carefully over the edge to see her reflection. A while later sees her lying on her stomach as the fish she had been watching had caught her attention and so settled down to look at them for a while before realizing they had been making her hungry and so decided to get one.

She belly shuffles further to the edge never taking her eyes off the squiggling water dwellers and with a careful eye. Which she had to admit had been far better in recent months then what it ever had been before – she plunges her hand into the water and emerges victorious as a struggling fish is held tight within her clutches. She smiles happily before edging back away from the water and places it on the ground.

She sits and watches it flap madly on the floor, it flips and squirms but slowly they fall until only light twitches are left before it still altogether. She waits until she can sense its death before picking it back up, she looks at the limp creature in her hand before starting to walk again. She walks until she finds a small flat surface and places the fish in the middle before kneeling down next to it.

She may have had breakfast not only an hour ago she finds she is still hungry… something happening more and more as the days go on and so with her hand, she holds it over the dead body as her palm heats up and a small light flickers into life. She lowers it over the body as it starts to glow brighter – she watches as the heat from the flame in her hand slowly starts to cook the fish underneath until she can smell its skin sizzling.

She keeps her hand over it until the sound can finally be heard before she pulls it back and looks down at the now perfectly cooked fish. She smiles at her catch as a small voice inside her head tells her that she doesn't have to share it with anybody as she picks it up and starts to nibble on it, a few minutes later and one small pile of fish bones neatly tucked in the corner, she sets off again on her adventure.

She ventures further into the forest. Listening to the birds calling to one another and the small creatures running about as they went about their day, she smiles as she walks following the stream downwards until coming to a little bank along the side of the stream. She stops on seeing footprints in the watery sand and wonders who else would be this far deep in the forest as she goes and sits on the small mound hill just above unaware of the eyes that had been watching her.

She lies down on the grass and looks to the sky, the bright blue color clear on the hot summer's day and sighs. It was all very well and good making her escape – being able to explore unknown land was exciting… for a while.

But it was missing something. She sighed again and dragged herself into a sitting position. Having the time to have been able to do what she wanted might have seemed like a dream come true… but she didn't feel it.

She leant back on her hands and looked around where she was. She watched the birds flapping about as they frittered two and from trees following each other before it came to her

Friends

She didn't have any.

She may have had people to talk to but none her age. Even the servers – yes she had them to keep her company but they were still all older than her and Maleficent – well she didn't even need to think her kid conscientious… apparently it was goodwill of her that Regina was there and so she brushed that thought off. She looked on at the frolicking birds a little forlornly, her attention focused on the happy animals in front of her that she never heard the sound of footstep's creeping up behind her.

She finds herself flying forwards as something heavy and fast barrels into her from behind and she – along with whoever, go tumbling down the hill until they land in on the sandy bank near the water. Regina spluttered partly in shock and partly because she had wet sand in her mouth turns over to try to find what it was that hit her only to find her body pinned to the ground by the force.

She squirms trying to move but finds it impossible as a small growl has her stopping and looking up, it was another body and so she was right in her thinking that it was a second person but she couldn't see for the long hair that was covering their face as she narrows her eyes trying to look only to have another growl directed at her and so resumes her squirming.

"It's no use"

She freezes again at the sound of the speaker and was shocked to find it's a girl. She tries again and gets a tighter grip on her hands for her efforts. The other young girl looks down at her smugly as she struggles knowing it's pointless. It's always pointless no one can escape when she had them like this but it's amusing to watch.

"You can't beat me."

She pauses once more as she gets her breath and listens to the smug almost gleeful sound as she talks as that little voice inside is telling her to fight back, to show them that she isn't to be messed with and that – coupled with the gloating tone has her angry.

"You should just give up now." The other girl insists as she settles herself comfortably at the dark-haired girl's expense. Regina glares much to her delight but soon that's wiped from her face as the girl underneath uses her feet, planting them on her stomach and with one big kick. She throws the attacker off her easily as she sends her flying a little, landing harshly on the grass above.

Having been forcibly thrown off the other girl doesn't move from her landing spot. To in shock and a little pain to actually register what happened as Regina to lies in the watery sand for a moment taking in what had happened, but not for long as soon she is on her feet. She watches the other girl slowly move and a growl of her own escapes her throat her anger now having been provoked by the mystery assailant and now she was looking for a fight.

On hearing the second and different sound, the other girl immediately sits up, her side a little hurt but she looks on as Regina is now towering over her a glare that is oddly murderous for a nine-year old on her face and a light in her eyes blazing as it danced around her irises. All at once the other girl can tell a threat and a very big one is standing in front of her and so minding her bruising side, picks herself up and faces her.

They don't move as they take each other in. Assessing the other in a bid to try to decide who the bigger danger is. Regina's inner voice is telling her to just attack – go straight for the throat and not care about what happens. After all, it was she who had been struck first and that calls for vengeance. The other girl is more hesitant to try to do anything. Her senses are all up and on end as she can tell there is something about the other girl who is making her so skittish – make her want to run in the other direction and not look back.

But it's also her curiosity that makes her stay. As well as her underlying fear, she wants to know how it was that she threw her off. If anything she is a little miffed and so decides to break stance. She stands up straight and crosses her arms the new if not unintentional tactic confuses Regina a little which causes her to shift her defensive stance as she wearily watches the other girl.

"How did you do that?"

The question puzzles Regina who cocks her head to the side. Not knowing how to take the sudden change in moods as the brown-haired girl waits for her to answer. After a few minutes of not speaking she huffs impatiently.

"Can you even speak."

The second questions gets a response as the raven haired girl bristles at the implication and instead of pouting like she very much wants to, she raises herself a little higher and lifts her head.

"Of course I can speak."

"Oh"

They fall silent after she speaks with them both not knowing how to proceed. "So how did you do that?"

Regina looks back at her as her annoyance rises slightly on hearing the repeated question. She doesn't know what she is on about and so sneers.

"What are you on about."

The other girl points to the sandy bank from where they had their altercation. "There… you threw me off."

"So"

"No one had done that before." Getting tired by her one sentence conversations she sighs again.

"Point being" At the slightly affronted look she gets in response makes her think she has been listening to the dry cutting Faerie for too long if this was how she spoke to people.

"I mean… what do you mean? Your small like me."

She nods and her demeanour seems to change as she mumbles her next part. "When I used to play with children from the village they could never beat me."

Being the oddly perceptive person that a nine-year old can be she notices the way she talked about playing with them in a past tense. "So why don't you play with them now?"

As if her words have made her sadder, her face falls more before shaking her head. "They always run away once they realize I'm a freak."

Regina frowns at hearing her speak. She had never heard anyone call themselves freaks before. The older blonde was always saying that what they where should be revered, and so did the servers… so far she had yet to know what it was they were talking about but what the hell, she watched the other girl become despondent as she moved past her and went to sit on the grass. Regina followed her movements before moving after her.

She settled herself down next to her much to the other girl's confusion as she looked at her, the raven haired girl caught the questioning look before speaking.

"What"

"Well like you said. I threw you off, the only one to have done so – so if that makes me a freak to then I guess that means we have to stick together." She smiled at the other girl who seemingly had perked up on hearing that and turned a little to face her.

"You… you want to be my friend?"

Just hearing her sadness made her feel uncomfortable but she nodded nonetheless smiling, she had to bite back a shriek when the other girl flung herself across the small gap and sent them both tumbling once more. They landed once more in the sandy pit but this time she wasn't bothered or angry as laughter overtook them eventually the other girl shuffled back a little allowing Regina to sit up as she looked at her.

"What's your name?"

If this really was her first friend, something she was giddy at but wasn't going to show then she had to know her name. The other girl had sat up on her knees and faced her wearing a smile far bigger than her own before brushing her hair out of her face.

My names Ruby"

It was later in the evening when Regina found herself running for what seemed like her life back up the path to the castle at the top. She had a fantastic day with her new friend, they had been everywhere. Once they had established that they indeed were friends and not enemies… though the other girl did still smell weird. She took her to all of her favourite places in the forest.

Which was literally all the forest

And was the reason Regina was legging it back as fast as she could. She had lost track of time and when she had realized it…

She had leapt up like a scalded cat much to Ruby's confusion once she saw the sun just passed the halfway line in the sky before turning to her new friend and saying she had to leave. The other girl was sad but nodded understanding as soon she would be called in soon. She stood and gave her a hug before watching as she ran the other way down the stream and back the way she came.

Panting and feeling her legs burn like nothing before. She comes to a stop at the small gap in the gates and wriggled through falling flat on her back and was feeling rather content to stay there forever, but knew that she had to get up and finish the rest of the way so begrudgingly got up and carried on moving. Eventually she managed to find her way to the lake where her legs gave out and she tumbled to the ground, this time not even bothering to try to move.

Her mind drifted a little on thoughts about whether it would be within her best interest to declare herself an outdoors person now… and if so then she had found a new spot of residence. She closed her eyes willing her pounding heart to slow never noticing the blue cloud that had materialized behind her.

"Having fun dear?"

Maleficent winced when the startled shriek pierced the silence and she unwrinkled her face after a few seconds to find Regina had flipped over like said startled cat and was staring up at her. The blonde smoothed out her dress and looked down at her.

"How did you?... wha?"

The blonde chuckled and before she knew it a blue cloud engulfed her and she found them back in the hall of the castle. She looked around to see the older woman moving back to her chair.

"How did you know I was there?"

She sat as the younger girl tagged after her coming to a stop on front of her chair as the Faerie looked to her. "I sensed you,"

"Sensed me?"

"Hmm - mmm" Regina looked at her shrewdly. "How"

"Magical signatures" On seeing the blank look the older woman groaned… how did they not go over this for the millionth time.

"When two people or creatures have magic or are magical… they have signatures that surround them. A bit like an aura, it shows to another, tells them where they are or how powerful they can be… lets them know whether it's worth it or not to fight them."

The younger girl stood there and listened as she explained giving her a lot to think about before the blonde came to a stop. "Got it?"

She nodded. "Good"

It was quiet again before Maleficent glanced at her before. "So, did you have a good time out there"

The younger girl looked back at her, it was clear the older woman knew and so had no point in denying it, so sighing she nodded. "I did thank you,"

"Good"

It fell silent again as Regina bit her lip. "Are you mad?"

The Faerie lifted her head back up and smirked at the apprehensive look Regina wore and inwardly took amusement from it before shrugging.

"No"

"…No" She shook her head,

"No… well at first when I realized that once again you were late and had kept me waiting. That was before I couldn't feel you around the grounds, I had visions of me taking those curtain ties you called plait's and wrapping them around your throat.."

'So much for family love'

"But then I was told that wouldn't be advisable… nor very acceptable."

"By who"

"Ingrid"

The blonde glared at the small snort she let out.

"Big bad Maleficent scared by a mere maid."

The dark Faerie refrained from acting out her first fantasy and let the younger girl laugh. She kept up her glares though as Regina eventually stifled her giggles.

"So what did she say"

She waited for the answer as the blonde rolled her eyes before taking on a demeanor that Regina could only attribute to sulking as the Faerie sniffed a little before mumbling.

"She threatened to leave."

She snorted again.

"Soooo I can thank Ingrid for the sparing of my life because your too afraid to actually wash something for a change" The blondes head snapped up as her eyes narrowed in on her gleeful face.

"Do you know how hard it is to find good help? I could do it all by magic but why waste the energy… Besides, I don't think even magic could get those sheets as white as she can." She adjusted herself in the seat before pausing and lifting her head again, Regina eyed her weirdly as she seemed to sniff the air before frowning a little and sitting back down.

"Did you happen to meet anyone by chance today?"

She nodded slowly. "I did… why?"

She waited for her to speak as the older woman thought carefully over her next words… "And you… have no idea who she is."

The younger girl thought about it before shaking her head, "No… her name's Ruby"

"No I mean- never mind." But now her need to know had taken hold and she moved a little closer. The blonde watched her movements. "What are you doing."

"Tell me"

"No… why should I?"

"Tell me"

"Go away,"

"I'll sit on you." At that the faerie sat straighter, a frown appearing on her youthful face. "Like hell you will."

Regina pursed her lips and shrugged. "Alright then… tell me." Maleficent glared before dropping her head to her chest. How had it come to this? She used to be feared… adored, loathed… powerful, well she was still all those things but now she was all those added with the fact she was here sitting and arguing with a nine-year old.

What had her life become.

She opened her eyes again and lifted her head. "No, but this can be your new lesson given we didn't get around to having tonight." She gave her a pointed look in which she did have the grace to look sheepish at.

"Did you notice or sense anything weird today?" She asked as Regina crossed her arms and thought about it, now that she mentioned it she did find something a little off with her new friend, but seeing as it was her first friend… her own age she ever had, she didn't want to offend her by asking. But nodded and looked to her.

Maleficent nodded. At least her senses were sharp, before she carried on. "Well seeing as its clear you haven't a clue I am going to let you figure this one out all by yourself." A contumelious smile adorning her lips at the look of burgeoning protest forming on the younger girls face

"And when you have the answer come back to me and then I'll tell you why it might not be such a good idea to have her as a friend."

Regina stood still in front of her wondering about her last remark as it was clear the blonde had finished the conversation by the way she was waving her hand, she slowly turned around and made for the door leaving the older woman to what it was she was doing and slipped out into the hall.

Why would she say such a thing? Surely having made a friend the blonde would have been at least happy for her, in spite of her more introverted tendencies. She walked down the corridor mulling over just what was wrong with having Ruby as her friend. As far as she knew the other girl was harmless.

She kept questioning the blondes reasoning for saying it all the way to her room as she shut the door behind her and didn't come back out until dinner.