Looks Can Be Deceiving

Chapter Four: Lies And Secret Identities Don't Make Friends

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Maybe the plot (is there a plot? oooo philosophical). Oh, and the dialogue. Just a little bit. Un pequeno.

A/N: Oh, boy. Snark ahead. Proceed with caution. I think the next chapter is my favorite. All time favorite. Unless I write another chapter in the future and that becomes my favorite. Then I will squee, drop dead, resurrect myself, maybe become a zombie, eat a couple brains, and then squee some more. Enjoy my silliness! - the exclamation point denotes a command not a suggestion :)

"By the order of King Henry," Sir Kay pointed his sword menacingly at Mills. "You are hereby charged with crimes of treason, piracy, the use of forbidden magic, theft-"

August, who managed to shuffle his way closer to Emma during the confrontation, nudged her. His voice a mildly annoyed whisper. "Can I punch him again?"

The blonde in question was tempted to give him the go ahead. Instead she moved to stand between Sir Kay and Mills. The action prompted by the uncharacteristic scowl seeping into the brunette's features and the ominous flicker of magic sparking at her fingertips. A fireball appearing in the palm of her hand. "Whoa, relax you two. Lets just put away the sword and the, uh, magic fireball and talk this out."

The knight refused to lower his sword, his eyes never leaving Mills as he growled lowly at Emma. "You do not have any authority regarding the arresting of criminals, Champion. This witch is a fugitive wanted for crimes against the Crown. She has wrought havoc across the entire Enchanted Forest and-"

Regina's scowl worsened. The pathetic excuse for a knight knew nothing of her supposed crimes. Knew nothing of the why behind the what. The fool would stupidly follow her mother's command without question. He, like the Champion and all others who'd sought the missing Princess Regina, did not bother to wonder why she ran in the first place. She remembered her first day of freedom from her mother. Remembered her horribly orchestrated disguise. The one that'd led her to her capture by the first unit of Dark Kingdom knights her mother had sent after her. If she hadn't learned her lesson from that experience, hadn't placed her current glamour upon herself she was sure this idiot knight and his equally simple minded companions wouldn't have even bothered to ask her why. All they could see was a beautiful dark haired, bright blue eyed, exotic woman with full red painted lips and an enticing figure. She doubted the Champion would be as stupidly enraptured by her mere presence if she knew what Mills really looked like.

Yes, Sir Kay had always been quite eager to do as Queen Cora commanded. The memories of his service under her mother only further fueled the magic crackling just beneath her skin. Without a second thought, Regina shot a bolt of magic at the knight. Purple smoke engulfing his brawny form. Clearing and leaving a large red toad in his place. She almost patted herself on the back for a job well done when only the faintest croaking noise emitted from the toad. She almost had the childish urge to stick her tongue out at the former knight. A smug smirk, however, would do.

Sure, Emma had caught on to the way Sir Kay had said champion and witch in the same exact loathsome tone. Yeah, she couldn't really stand his attitude. And, okay, maybe a part of her wished ill will toward the knight. But... Emma looked from the croaking toad to Mills and then back again, that was just not cool. Her wide green eyes shifted between the former knight and Mills once more, her words coming out in a tone that clearly displayed her distress. "You turned him into a toad."

The announcement only caused Regina's smirk to grow wicked, her twinkling eyes watching the ugly red creature hop about. Croaking frantically. "That I did."

"Could you, maybe, turn him back?" If her building horror wasn't distracting her, Emma would have winced at the way her voice was steadily raising in decibel.

"Hm." Regina pretended to contemplate the request. It was exceedingly clear she was mocking the blonde in the mirthful glimmer that never left her eyes. "I'm afraid not, dear. I like him much better this way."

Emma's stunned stare, her shocked demeanor, morphed into a glare. "Sir Kay might be a pig headed jerk but he was my lead on finding Princess Regina."

At the sound of her royal title, Regina stiffened. Her amusement over Sir Kay's predicament faded completely at the blonde's words. She turned the full force of her glare upon Emma. Now that she had the magical skeleton key she'd been trying to retrieve from the leader of the slavers, she no longer had a need for the Champion. She'd gotten what she wanted and was no longer required to maintain the docile flirtatious ruse. "Then I suggest you find a new lead."

Emma could feel the red flush of anger coursing through her jumping nerves and painting her pale cheeks red. During the few days she spent tracking Rose with Ping and Mills, she'd never seen such an infuriating side of the brunette. Not once had she experienced such haughty dismissal from the other woman. She was used to the subtle seduction, the almost playful amusement. The easygoing and near carefree way Mills had about her. She felt herself take an unconscious step closer. Unwittingly drawn in by the fire in those dark eyes. "The princess has been missing for months and hasn't been sighted once. Everyone that's been sent after her vanishes. He's my only lead!"

Regina took an involuntary step closer, beckoned by the furious electricity sparking in emerald eyes. A barely noticeable brush of pink found its way across her tanned cheeks and she practically snarled at the irksome blonde. "Did you ever stop to think about why that is? Maybe the princess doesn't want to be found. Least of all by the likes of you!"

Without notice, Emma took another step closer. Leaving less than a foot of space between them. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means, Champion," Regina spat the word out, making it clear just what she thought of the title attached to Emma. "That you are little more than a insolent peasant with whom the princess would not be caught dead associating with."

"Well, excuse me," Emma growled back, lips contorting into a snarl. "I wasn't aware you knew Her Royal Highness on a personal level."

Regina scoffed. If only this idiot woman knew who she was speaking to in such a manner. "As a matter of fact I-"

Ping stepped away from the rest of their companions, who had been watching the two women volley insults. He cleared his throat loudly, preventing Regina from continuing her furious tirade and giving herself away. Despite their earlier disagreement, Mulan made a promise to the Dark Kingdom Princess. A promise she intended, to the best of her abilities, to keep. She owed her life and Aurora's life to Regina. If the brunette hadn't been there to help them escape Maleficent, the warrior was sure her life would be forfeit and an even worse fate would have befallen Aurora. Not only did she owe Princess Regina a life debt, they'd struck a deal. In exchange for Mulan's assistance with her quest, Regina would aid the warrior in reclaiming her lost empire. Provided the princess' mission was successful.

"We know where to find your princess, Champion." Aurora ignored the looks thrown her way from both Regina and Ping. She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at Regina's look of shock and betrayal. She was still upset with the other woman for handing her so easily over to the slavers. It wasn't Aurora's fault that she didn't have skill of deception Regina had acquired under the guise of Mills. Plus, she could practically feel the strange tension sparking between Emma and Regina. Noticed the way their gazes strayed to one another's mouths before, with growing flushes, they returned to hardened glares. The attraction between them was almost palatable. In all her time spent traveling with Regina she never saw the other princess react to anyone else with such ferocity.

Emma glanced skeptically at the annoying brunette. "You do?"

"Yes." It might have been the jealous little voice ever present at the back of her mind that urged Aurora to continue with her traitorous statement. The voice that she tried desperately to ignore. The one that claimed there was something between Ping and Regina, something they were keeping a secret from her, something that had an ugly feeling festering inside of her. She couldn't stand the secretive looks her warrior shared with Regina. Couldn't stand it when Ping took Regina's side or came to her defense. Ping was meant to be her protector. It might be childish, it might be unladylike, and it might be wrong, but if she had to use this so called Champion to distract Regina from what was hers then so be it. "First, I must know what it is you have planned for Princess Regina?"

"Well," The question seemed easy enough for Emma to answer. Seemed like a no brainer actually. That was, until August released a low chortle. One that he tried to cover up with a fake cough, his blue eyes settling tauntingly upon Emma. How was she supposed to tell these people, these strangers, that she was meant to marry the princess? "I guess we'd take her back to the King and Queen and… then we would, um, I would, ahem, they want me to-"

Feeling a bit sorry (not at all sorry) for his friend, August jumped to the rescue. A wide grin stretched across his handsome face and more than a hint of mirth coating his words. "The King rewarded his Champion with the princess' hand in marriage so I expect they'd be planning the wedding."

"Pardon me." Regina struggled to breathe in the air that'd been knocked out of her back into her lungs from the sudden sucker punch the information hit her with. "I must have misheard you." Indeed, she must have. Her brain was still processing the strange comment. Dissecting each and every word in order to determine where the misunderstanding had occurred. "I'm sure you didn't mean to imply that the princess has been betrothed to," She casted a distasteful glance in Emma's direction. "That."

The Champion was more than a little offended by the comment. Before Mills' sudden personality one eighty it was quite clear the brunette was attracted to her. Wasn't it? "What? The King and Queen think I'm worthy enough to marry their daughter but the princess wouldn't?"

Dark brown eyes regarded Emma almost apathetically. Her flat tone not matching the growing snarl twitching at one corner of her red painted lips. "I can assure you, Champion, she would not react happily to being informed of her unwarranted betrothal to a foolish oaf of a stranger."

They were seconds away from coming to blows. Emma could feel the urge to knock this woman's teeth in trembling at her clenched fists. Yeah, she'd been the victim of verbal insults her entire life. She was an orphan, one of the 'uncivilized', and maybe a bit of a scoundrel. But never had the ruthless jeers riled her up the way Mills was. "How about you tell me where your best friend the princess is and we can ask her what she thinks."

"Trust me, dear." Regina could feel her magic crackling at her fingertips, ready to be expelled upon this loathsome woman. "I can tell you exactly what she would think of this farce of an engagement."

Aurora had to admit she was more than a little shocked by the news. Regina was to be married to a woman who had fought in a grand tournament for her hand. A Champion that was searching across the lands for her lost princess. A woman not unlike Aurora's beloved Prince Phillip. A woman that could quite possibly be Regina's True Love. It was exceedingly romantic and almost serendipitous. It could be fate, destiny. How could the Dark Kingdom Princess not be thrilled by the news? In that moment, Aurora vowed to bring Emma and Regina together. Easily forgetting the petty jealousy that'd prompted her intervention and focusing on her plans to unite the two. "We will take you to where your princess is headed."

Emma reluctantly turned away from Mills, green eyes dark with irritation. She was done playing games with these people. "How about you tell me and I'll take myself there. I'm sure Mills here will be happy to have me out of her hair."

"What a fine idea." Regina settled Aurora with a glare, fiery anger flickering in her eyes. "Please, Rose, do tell."

Aurora held her ground despite the other brunette's blatant animosity. "We will take you there on one condition."

Emma rolled her eyes at the words before offering a reluctant nod. Cueing Aurora to continue with her terms. "You must promise to see each of us to our journey's end."

"Yeah," Emma rolled her eyes once again, her arms settling across her chest as she bit out a sarcastic response. "That isn't cryptic at all."

"Promise or you lose the only two leads you have."

Emma turned to August for his input only to find him scribbling furiously in his stupid journal. With a heavy, resolute sigh Emma consented. "You take me to where the princess is headed and I promise to help you with your mysterious quest. But... you have to help me take the princess back to the Dark Kingdom."

The journey back to the tavern had been a tense one. Spent with Emma and Regina shooting scathing glares at one another. With the two women arguing over which road to take and what route would be more time efficient or less dangerous. There had even been a point where August had to physically restrain Emma while Ping stepped between them. Attempting to simultaneously halt Emma's advance and reason with Regina. There was another incident where a particularly heated argument between the two self proclaimed leaders of the group ended with Regina setting fire to the blonde's shirt. And in retaliation, because revenge was not below the supposed Champion, the blonde accidentally pushed Regina into a pit of quicksand.

Their petty rivalry continued all throughout the half days journey it took them to reach the tavern. Both women pulling juvenile pranks, arguing, and generally driving the rest of the group up the wall. By the time they reached their destination the Champion and her princess were at their wits end. Emma immediately dragged August over to the bar and ordered enough alcohol to fell an elephant.

Regina, on the other hand, forced both Mulan and Aurora into one of the tavern's rooms. Whirling on Aurora the moment the door was latched shut. "Are you insane or just plain stupid?"

Aurora raised her chin, nose in the air, and huffed. She fought back the scowl threatening to encompass her features. Scowling was unladylike and Aurora prided herself on being a proper lady. "They would have eventually discovered your plans. This way we will be able to keep an eye on your Champion."

"That obnoxious woman is not my anything. Do not attempt to fool me in to believing what you've done is meant to help me." Regina's fist clenched at her sides and fixed the other brunette with a dark, menacing glare. "That mouth of yours has landed me in yet another predicament and has compromised my plans. And all for your beloved Prince Phillip."

At the brunette's cruel words, at the mention of her beloved, Aurora gave into her scowl. The other woman wanted to talk of plans, to accuse her of purposefully ruining those plans when Aurora hadn't an inkling of a clue what they were. The most she'd heard of Regina's apparent plans had been during the time spent as a prisoner in Maleficent's castle. The two witches were throwing barbed words and underhanded insults. Regina claiming that Maleficent owed a debt to her family. Maleficent claiming her debt was owed to Regina's mother specifically. Then the odd comment about knowing where it was hidden before verbal blows became magical blows. The longer she traveled with the Dark Kingdom Princess the more suspicious Aurora became of her exact motives. "What are your plans, Regina?"

"My plans do not concern you or your Prince, Aurora." Regina was practically seething, her eyes narrowed and lips curled into a fierce snarl.

"Regina, please." Ping broke his contemplative silence, recognizing that the squabble between the two princesses would not end well. "If you truly wish to part ways with the Champion I will make it so."

"And you!" Aurora turned her irate gaze toward Ping. More than a hint of jealousy swirling in her blue eyes and lacing her venomous words. "Why must you always take her side?"

Ping remained oblivious to the emotions fueling the accusation. Logic taking precedence over all else. "Regina is right. We can't trust the Champion or her storyteller."

Yes, Aurora could see the danger in trusting the two strangers. Yes, she realized it was possible the Champion might value the riches she would receive over the princess' hand. A realization deduced from August's continuous boasting. And yes, she knew her unwanted jealously was what landed them in this predicament. But there was also the chance that the new additions to their group could greatly assist them in finding Phillip. There was a chance that despite their relentless quarreling, Emma and Regina could find love in one another. "Yet you trusted them to aid in my rescue?"

"We wouldn't have been forced to do so if you were capable of avoiding capture for longer than a day." The Dark Kingdom Princess had to contain herself, had to push back her thoughts of throttling Aurora. Had to contain the feelings of rage and betrayal with biting sarcasm. "I wonder what we will be rescuing you from come tomorrow? Perhaps an ogre, hm?"

"That's enough." Ping moved from his perch against the dresser to stand in the middle of the room. Blocking either woman from lunging at the other. "You are both in my care. Whatever decision is made I will protect you both." He leveled each of them with a stern stare. "With or without the Champion."

Regina pursed her lips in thought, dark brows furrowed. Escaping the Champion now that the blonde believed they knew the location of her lost princess would be quite precarious. If Emma were to come to a sudden realization regarding their identities or become more suspicious than she already was, Regina had no doubt that the blonde would hunt them down to the ends of the earth and back. If there was one thing she learned about the woman it was the strength of her determination. After a moment a look of resolution overtook the brunette's features. "What do you believe would be our best course of action?"

"While I do not agree with Aurora's method in manipulating the Champion since we are uncertain of her true motives," He scratched at the small amount of stubble on his cheek, dark eyes narrowed in contemplation. "I do believe she could prove to be an asset to our cause."

"Do you believe she will keep her promise?" Her stare was inquiring, almost trusting. Despite her resolution to trust no one she often found herself considering the warrior's opinion.

Ping met her gaze and nodded. "Our successful rescue of Aurora has proven she can."

Regina pondered the warrior's words. She could admit, albeit begrudgingly, that Emma was a decent fighter. The blonde woman lacked in proper training and her skill set wasn't quite at Mulan's level but she garnered results in combat. Regina noticed how Emma almost predicted a strike before it was aimed at her, her instincts seemed to drive her. With a little training the Champion could one day posses the same finesse Mulan had. She had also noticed the enchanted sword Emma carried. Regina couldn't be certain without inspecting the weapon herself though she was confident it was Excalibur. How and where the blonde had obtained the relic was a wonder to the princess. It was said that Excalibur chose its master, that the chosen were destined for greatness. Yes, having the champion along would greatly reduce the risks of being captured by their enemies. And enemies? They had plenty. Maleficent in particular would not be in the best of moods after the altercation they'd had over the location of a particular treasure chest. And her mother, Regina refused to think about what would happen if they were found by the Dark Kingdom Queen.

"I suppose," Regina had to hiss the words through gritted teeth. "We will have to be extra careful not to give ourselves away. The Champion must not discover who I am, no matter the cost."