As always, thank you for your patience. I have actually started work on another OUAT story entitled Dynamite. Since I am working on them both I would like some feedback as to which I should give priority to writing and updating so I will be including a link to a survey at the end.

Please do review, since I am writing this as I go I can really use the comments that you give me to improve the story in the future. Plus I just love hearing what people think. I hope you like it.


The sun beamed down field as Regina bent down and adjusted her daughter's cap, trying the best she could to keep the sun out of Danielle's eyes. Not that Danielle was to cooperating, she simply squirmed anxious to continue the walk.

"Pony" she said. Regina stepped back, surprised to understand the words that were coming out at her daughter's mouth.

"What was that darling?"

"Pony, we go to see pony."

"Yes, we will go to see the pony."

"Now?"

"Yes." Regina was still in shock and moved to adjust Danielle's bonnet once more before she was interrupted again.

"PONY NOW!"

"Ok, yes, pony now."

Regina stood up and took Danielle's hand again and looked over at her father with a look of shock.

"I told you there was no need to worry some kids just need more time than others."

"But Bridget said that most children speak months before and that wasn't just a word…that was a sentence."

"You have an intelligent little girl my dear what can I say."

Regina smiled. "Did you hear that darling your grandpa thinks you are intelligent."

"Papa I want to go to pony NOW." Danielle insisted yet again.

"And so we shall my darling" Regina said as she started to walk forward again, glancing back at her father once more with a smile wider than she'd given in quite some time.


Two years later

"You're sure you want to ride on your own, I can always ride with you."

"Mommy I am almost four, plus grandpa said he thought I was ready."

"Grandpa doesn't know everything darling" Regina said as she double checked the saddle straps for the third time.

"How old were you when you rode by yourself for your first time mommy?"

"I was…I can't remember." Regina said, smiling down at her daughter.

"You were three Regina, the same age Danielle is now, she will be fine." Henry answered.

"Well…that was an entirely different situation." Regina countered

"Francis thinks that she is ready" Henry responded back.

"And what kind of qualification does he have?" Regina asked.

"He has been master of this stable for nearly 20 years."

"Francis you really think Danielle can handle riding on her own?" Regina asked, turning to the man who had been cleaning the horses stalls on the other side of the stable quietly during the entire conversation.

"Yes your majesty, but she won't really be alone. We will all be close by."

"Mommy can I ride the pony now?" Danielle asked slightly pulling on Regina's dress.

"Yes, of course you can." Regina said as she reached down and picked Danielle up and placed her on the horse. Before walking around front and grabbing the reins and leading the small horse out of the stable.

"Are you holding on tightly?"

"Yes mommy."

"And you remember everything that I thought you."

"Yes mommy, now let go. The horse needs to know to trust me."

"Where did you get so smart, I'll be right here." Regina answered as she slowly backed up and watched her daughter trot in circles all by herself.

Henry walked up and stood by his daughter, "I think I was just as nervous when you rode for your first time, but you became a natural."

"I supposed you are right, she will be fine." Regina answered, trying to persuade herself more than anyone else.

"Of course your mother thought it was crazy for you to riding in the first place."

"Yes, it was too unlady like, she did have her opinions didn't she?"

"And she still does." Henry answered.

"What do you mean by that?"

"She thinks that you are spending too much time with Danielle."

"She is my daughter…surely she must understand that."

"Perhaps she does. But she just wants the best for you two. There are other people to care for Danielle, Bridget and Francis for example."

"Oh Father, not you too, what would I do with the time I spend with Danielle?"

"Focus more on being the Queen."

"What does that even mean…Father I must admit sometimes I think that things would be so much simpler if I were not Queen, just a mother."

"Regina do not say such things, Danielle is happy here."

"Yes I suppose you are right…"

In the distance a branch broke beneath of the weight of an unseen figure who walked away for the private conversation between father and daughter.


As I said before here is a link to a survey so you can let me know which story I should be focusing on more Danielle or Dynamite. Thanks for reading.

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