Little warning: Regina can fulfill her threat regarding the hairbrush

Both the Queen and the princess got up from their seats, when they heard Johanna's words and a moment later followed their maid. Ruby – finally! – was found and now she was safe in the palace. Well, that was what they were hoping for because they could not be sure what kind of damage happened to their niece and friend. But the most important was that the girl was alive and in one piece. It was all what mattered right now.

Less than two minutes later three of them stopped near Ruby's bedchamber. As Regina saw, in the room were only the doctor and Johanna's niece, who was helping him.

"Wait here." Regina said as she entered Rose's bedchamber, because Snow wanted to see her friend, too. The young princess was about to protest, but her mother's raised eyebrow silenced her immediately, so she only nodded.

"Your Majesty." The doctor and Jane said in the same time and bowed as soon as they saw her.

"How is she?" The Queen asked and looked at the fifteen-years-old girl.

Her poor little puppy lay unconscious on the bed. Her head was wrapped in a bandage, as well as her right hand. Even so, the woman knew that her injuries were more serious.

"She will survive, although she has several broken bones. Recovery will be really painful for the young miss."

She slowly nodded, her eyes were still on Ruby who breathed smoothly, as she listened to the doctor's words. She knew that Rose will be in pain, but at least she will survive. And her life was more important than anything right now.

"Thank you, doctor." She said quietly, when the man put his things back to his bag. "And... how long she'll be unconscious?"

"If all goes well, to three days she should wake up, Your Majesty."

"Thank you for your help." She smiled slightly and the man bowed again and then left the bedchamber. The Queen sighed with relief and then for a brief moment looked at Jane, who still was in the room. "Has anyone informed Cecilia that her granddaughter returned?"

"Yes, Your Majesty. Nathaniel went to inform her about this."

"Excellent." She nodded and looked at the younger woman, again. "Can you please contact the fairies? Tell them that I ask about their help. It would be helpful if they could give us some fairy dust. Ruby suffered enough and I won't let her suffer anymore."

"As you wish, Your Majesty." The maid bowed and left the room, too.

Regina sighed as she walked to the bed and sat down on the nearby chair. Then she gently grabbed her niece's hand.

"It's all right, my little puppy. You're safe now." She started quietly, carefully watching the unconscious girl. "I won't let you down. Not again, I promise. Everything will be all right." And then she got up and leaned toward her and put a kiss on her forehead. "I'll see you later. I love you, sweetheart." She added and then left the room.

Before the door Johanna and her daughter were waiting at her.

"How is Ruby?"

"She's hurt and unconscious but the doctor said that she'll survive it." She said as she looked at the young princess who sighed with relief and smiled slightly, and then looked at Johanna. "You said that the boy found her. Where is he?"

"He's waiting at you in the throne room, Your Majesty."

The Queen nodded and began to walk toward aforementioned room, but was stopped by her daughter's quiet voice.

"Mother..."

"Five minutes, Snow. No more." She said as she turned and looked at her child. "And then prepare yourself for your history lesson. Understood?"

"Yes, mother, thank you." The young princess was about to enter the room, when her mother opened her mouth again.

"And once you finish your lessons, I expect to see you in my study. I believe we have much to discuss."

The girl swallowed quietly and slightly nodded. She was so happy that Ruby is back that almost forgot about it.

"Of course, mother."

Regina entered the throne room a few minutes later and was welcomed by a young (she would say that he was eighteen, maybe nineteen-years-old) brown-haired man who stood next to the window. He bowed deeply as soon as she closed the door behind her and looked at her with admiration.

"Your Majesty."

"Good morning young man." She said and walked up to him. "May I ask you about your name?"

"I'm Graham, Your Majesty." He bowed once again.

"I was told that you found my niece." She smiled slightly. "Thank you, Graham."

"I'm just glad I could help."

The Queen nodded and then looked out the window. It was possible to see the forest from here. In fact the Dark Palace was surrounded by forest.

"She's very important to me." She started, being unable to look at him. Because it was still too painful to talk about. "Just like my two other children."

The boy listened attentively. The whole kingdom – if not the whole Enchanted Forest – knew that the princess Snow White and Ruby (niece of Alexander, one of the best knights in the whole kingdom and who was also a former personal guard of the princess and the Queen) were best friends since they were babies and that the King and the Queen treated her as the member of their family, so he was not surprised that she said it.

"Her life is more important than anything so it's why I ask you to tell me what you want. I will give you everything what you want for saving her life."

"I really don't want anything, Your Majesty." He said quietly, when she looked at him again. "I have everything what I want."

"I'm sure there must be something what you would like to have." She said with a small smile, because Graham blushed slightly. "You really don't need to be so shy."

"Actually there is one thing, Your Majesty." The boy lowered his head. "I... I know about her."

Regina frowned, hearing his sentence. He know what?... She opened her eyes widely as the realization hit her. Heavens.

"What do you mean?" She asked. She hoped that she was wrong and he did not know about her niece's second nature.

"I know that she's the wolf." Shit. She cursed in her mind. Not even the guards and the servants knew about it. "But I won't tell anyone. I promise." He added when he saw that she opened her mouth.

"You won't?"

To tell the truth she was quite surprised. She thought that he might blackmail her or something like that. But it was a nice surprise.

"I won't. In fact I live with wolves, Your Majesty. They raised me and are my family." He started calmly. "In the night I found a young, badly wounded wolf so I took it to my home. You can imagine my surprise, Your Majesty, when in the morning instead of a wolf I found a young girl"

She was able only to nod.

"If I had known before, I would bring her to the castle in the night" He took a deep breath. "I really don't want any award, Your Majesty. But I thought that maybe... I thought that maybe one day I might meet your niece again? Of course if she wants it, but I've never met someone who can change into a wolf."

"I'll talk to her as soon as she wakes up."

"Thank you." Graham said with a small smile and bowed. "May I go now, Your Majesty? My friend is waiting for me at the gate." He pointed at a big white wolf who patiently sat right in front of the gate.

"Of course. And thank you again, Graham. If you need anything, you know where to find me."

Regina was in her study, clearly lost in thought.

Ruby was safe in her bedchamber, although she was still unconscious and Tinker Bell, who arrived during her conversation with Graham, was taking care of her. Her niece had several broken bones and they needed to use magic in order to save her life. Well, to tell the truth they did not have to, but Regina refused to think about the pain Ruby would feel if they did not heal her.

No. No one deserved to feel such pain, especially not her niece. Her little puppy suffered enough during her absence.

The Queen sighed heavily and began to rub her nose.

Ruby almost died there. Fortunately heavens had mercy for her and sent Graham to save her. She did not want to think what would happen if this young man was not in the forest then. But even if she did not want to, she did. And nothing, absolutely nothing will erase the vision of her little girl's head hanging over the fireplace.

She shook her head and sighed again. There is no need in thinking about it. Rose is alive and in the castle, and no one will hurt her again or – heavens help her – she will kill everyone who will try.

And, of course, she will punish hunters who dared to break the royal order.

She sighed one more time and opened the drawer and then looked at the wooden brush. She still had to talk to Snow about her disrespectful behavior and, to be fair, she had no idea what she should do.

When she found out that Snow and Ruby snuck out of the castle, she was afraid that something bad will happen, but luckily the girls returned safely. She threatened them then, that she will spank them, but the truth is she was not able. Because she also was a teenager once (well, not so long ago, she is twenty-three-years-old after all) and also snuck out (but never in the middle of the night. Well... maybe once, in order to get a secret wedding, but even then she was with someone adult – her brother in law and her first husband, and well, she was eighteen herself), but when her mother found out – and Cora almost always knew what is going on. Lucky she learned really fast what her mother wanted to hear – she punished her so severely that she could not sit, walk and even sleep for a two months without crying.

So when she caught them, she most likely got scared, that she will be like Cora and decided to take them to the almshouse, so they could work with people who suffered through the war or were injured during the hunt. She wanted to give them a chance to see for themselves what would happen if Ruby had lost control over the wolf, but Snow began to behave like a spoiled princess and Ruby felt hurt and fled. And then one of her biggest fears came to life – her niece was seriously injured. She wondered that maybe, just maybe, if she had not panicked and spanked them as she should do at the first place, none of this would have ever happened.

She sighed when she heard a soft knock on the door and closed the drawer. Then she closed her eyes and took a deep breath before answering. A few moments later, her older daughter slowly walked into the room.

"Hello, my dear." She said as Snow closed the door behind her, and waved her hand toward the chair. "Have a seat."

The teenager did as she was told and a moment later she sat in front of the wooden desk, trying to avoid eye contact.

"I'm sorry." The girl muttered under her breath and she had a hard time to understand her.

"I know. You already told that." She said and walked to her. Then she gently grabbed her chin. "What's wrong, honey? Why are you so sad?"

"Ruby... she... she looks terrible." The teenager bit her bottom lip for a moment. "Are you sure she'll be all right?"

"Of course I am sure. She's in good hands now." Regina smiled slightly although she felt unsure. What if the doctor was wrong?

"Really?"

"Really. You know Tinker Bell. She's quite a good healer." The Queen grabbed her daughter's hands. "And you know what I also know?"

"What, mother?"

"That soon both of you will fall into a trouble again." She smiled and squeezed her hands. "What reminds me that we need to talk about your behavior."

"Do we really have to?"

"And how do you think, young lady?"

"That I love you?" She asked innocently. The Queen just shook her head.

"I love you, too, but it doesn't change anything." She said and once again grabbed Snow's chin, because she lowered her head. "Do you know why you're here?"

"Because it's my fault that Ruby was injured." She whispered. "I'm responsible for that."

"Honey, I already told you that it was not your fault. It was an accident. Do you understand?"

"But Ruby..."

"No, Snow." She interrupted her. "Your cousin was hurt because some people broke my order. They are responsible for that, not you. Do you understand?"

To tell the truth it was not the truth, because she blamed herself for this whole mess. She should be more consistent in her decisions. Both as the Queen (but to be fair this one was easier) and as a mother. She cannot be always terrified that she will turn into Cora, because she was nothing like her.

Well, it was what she hoped, that is.

Her daughter looked at her for a few moments and then slowly nodded her head and muttered quietly that she understands.

"In that case I'll ask you again: Do you understand why you're here? I don't want to punish you until you know for what you'll be punished."

Snow took a moment to think and then slightly nodded.

"Did I really call Ruby a filthy wolf?" She asked hesitantly and when she saw her mother's facial expression, she winced and hide her face in her hands. "Heavens. She'll never forgive me."

"Believe me, dear, she will forgive you."

"How you can be so sure?"

Regina went back to her memories of her teenage years. Daniel invited her to his family home, because Cora was not in the kingdom then (to this time her mother believes that she was in the manor, doing homework) and she had a really great time with the whole Lucas family. But suddenly a young Rose fell in a bad mood and said something really disrespectful toward Alexander (the girl was mad because her uncle forbid her something, but she was not sure what it was now). Unfortunately her grandmother, Cecilia, heard that and Ruby was very apologetic little girl. But of course Alexander forgave her (she was so afraid that he will hate her forever) even before she said she was sorry. So it is why she was so sure. Not that she will tell it to her daughter, but still.

"I just know."

Snow sniffled and looked at her again.

"So sneaking out, vulgar language, bad attitude toward Johanna and being disrespectful in general. I can't believe I did all of it in one day."

"You forgot to mention lying." She added and smiled, when her daughter frowned. "As much as I appreciate that you took responsibility for sneaking out we both know very well that it was Rose who came up with this idea."

"You knew?"

"I'm the Queen, honey. I know everything." Regina smirked and the girl sighed. "And well, you're not a good liar, young lady."

"Yeah, I realized." The teenager crossed her arms and took a deep breath. "So what now, mother?"

The woman said nothing, just looked carefully at the desk. Well, toward the drawer, that is. The princess winced slightly when she realized what it meant.

"As much as I hate to admit it..." She started, looking at the desk, too. "I deserved it."

"Indeed."

"So..." Snow bit her bottom lip for a moment and once again looked at her mother, who sat now on the desk. "Can we..."

"Start?" She finished for her. The girl nodded.

"Yeah."

"Come, honey." Regina gave her hand which Snow accepted.

A moment later the Queen opened the drawer and took a wooden hairbrush. Her daughter watched her carefully, but said nothing. She knew better.

Corporal punishments were very popular in the Enchanted Forest, especially among the royal families (but it does not mean that peasant children were not punished like that by their parents), because as they believed, nothing can make a better ruler than good teachers and a proper punishment. She, of course, as every child, was punished in that way not once.

Before her father married Regina, her punishments were supervised by Johanna, since her biological mother was dead. Her father never raised his hand on her, although he knew about everything and always talked with her about her behavior.

But once (and even before, when she and Regina were close already) he married Regina, it was her who took responsibility for her punishments, as her mother. It was quite embarrassing at the beginning, but then Snow had to admit that she prefered to be punished by Regina than by Johanna. And well, Regina did not spank her often.

"Are you ready?" The Queen asked quietly. Her voice was calm and gentle as always.

"If I say no, it will change something?" She asked as she just now realized that she was bent over her mother's laps.

"Not really."

"Then go ahead."

"Do you remember the rules?"

"Yes, mother. I'll get as many smacks as many years I have."

Regina nodded, although she could not see it.

"That's correct, young lady." The woman said as she picked up a hairbrush. A moment later she hit her daughter for the first time.

Snow closed her eyes, but said nothing. She knew there is no need. Then she felt another hit and another... To tell the truth is hurt but it was not painful. If she knew better, she would say that her mother did not try enough.

She hissed because the last four smacks were the hardest. But she was not surprised. They always were. But still, it did not hurt at it should.

"It's over." Regina said quietly as she put the hairbrush on the table and then helped Snow to get up. A moment later the princess sat on her knees and looked at her questioningly.

The Queen smiled slightly and kissed her daughter's forehead. She knew she should say something, but the truth is that she had no idea what she should say. She was confused. As always when she had to punish one – or more – of her children (and by that she meant her daughters and her niece. Lucky Hermione was a good child and her only problem was a bedtime. She hoped nothing more.). She did not spank her hard. In fact she did not even try. But despite this, once again, she started questioning her role as a mother. Did she make a good decision? Or maybe she should react different? What if Snow hates her now? What if she is just like Cora? Maybe she should never be a mother?

"Why are you crying, mother?" The confused princess asked quietly and tilted her head.

"I just..." To tell the truth she had no idea why she was crying. In fact she had no idea that she was crying at the first place. "I just love you so much, my dear, and I don't know what I'd do if I lost you. Or Hermione and Ruby."

"You won't." The girl said quietly and then hugged the woman. "And I love you, too, mom."

"I'll never stop loving you." She said and kissed her forehead once again. "And I will always be here for you."

If only Cora could hear her daughter now, she would laugh cruelly and once again would call her a stupid girl, who believes in fairy tales.

"I know." The princess smiled. "May I visit Ruby?"

"But don't be there too long, honey."

"I won't." The girl hugged her last more time and then got up from her knees. A few moments later she left the room and began to run toward her best friend's bedchamber.

If only Snow stayed there for a few more moments, she would hear a loud sound of broken vases.

THE END

I woud like to thank you for all your comments and support, because this is the end.

Well, not really, because soon something should appear ("The Queen") but this one ends here.

Do you have any questions or maybe would like to read something more about our Little Troublemakers and our beloved (the not so happy) Queen and what will not be in "The Queen"?

Anyway, thank you for everything,

White Little Devil