(A/N: I hope you enjoy it until next Monday!)

Episode 2: A Journey Begins

With the guards posted outside along with Ruby who she managed to somehow convince to stay out of her room, Emma changed into something a bit less regal. Climbing out the window towards a vine that wrapped up just perfectly beside the sill. Shimming down the vine to the ground, making haste to avoid being caught. This was her chance. The time for freedom and a life she'd always wanted. Removing herself as a pawn in play. It wasn't as if she was going to rule the kingdom anyways. Not that she wanted to, it was never who she was.

Concealing her face Emma kept a low profile to exit the kingdom. There was no way Regina had such a head start. Ducking from guards patrolling the area nearing the gates she heard the horn. They had realized she was gone. At least she had come this far. Along the way, she managed to dirty herself up a bit to mask her scent in hopes that Ruby's nose would lead her astray.

Hearing the sound of hooves pounding against the ground in the distance, Emma's face lit up. "That has to be her!" Without thinking she ran towards the sound and out in front of the galloping horse. Nearly being trampled in the process.

"Woah!" The person exclaimed, pulling back on the reins to ease up. Hooves up in the air Emma raised her hands in front of her to shield herself. Looking at her bewildered, "Ma'am are you alright?"

Hearing the voice Emma peered through the cracks of her fingers. Profusely apologizing, "Forgive me, I thought you were a friend of mine," she bowed, stepping backward, turning around to dash off. Hoping they didn't see her face from underneath the hood of her cloak. That's when she saw Regina ride by her. With a smile on her face, Emma tried to wave and was about to yell out to her but could feel the eyes on her from behind due to the commotion she had raised.

Swallowing back she lifted the bottom of her dress and began taking off in Regina's direction. Perhaps it was best Regina wasn't aware that she escaped journeying with her, for all Emma knew Regina would take her back being so close to home.

—~~~-~~~-

Regina continued to ride past the gates and into the woods. Following a path that began to fade away becoming more narrow too soon non-existent. "A dead-end of course…" she sighed, halting to look around, "Very well let's keep going anyways, no sense in turning around.." She kicked the sides of the horse, gripping its reins as it took back off.

Rushing down the blanked path leaves rustling up from the horse's hooves. Jumping over uprooted roots, tree stumps, and large rocks. Nearing a bridge connecting to another cliff over a river of water. Getting off her horse Regina stroked its mane before tying its reins to the tree before walking towards the bridge silently and alert.

Stepping onto the wooden bridge she found it to be old and a little rickety. Still, she continued to slowly ease herself across it holding onto the rope that bound it from one end to the other. Some rocks began to shift, sliding down the cliff in front of her. A rumbling had come from beneath the bridge. Shaking the bridge and rocks fell more and more, small and large. Gripping onto the rope tighter to better brace herself. At the mid-way point, roaring laughter echoed while three large trolls appeared before her, crawling up the sides of the bridge. Their weight she could feel weighing it down, destabilizing it.

"Well, look what got spit out of the ground." Regina laughed smirking at the trolls, "A few little stooges if you ask me."

One rammed down a large stone hammer into the neighboring cliff, "Don't insult us, you filthy human."

"Awww, am I ruining your appetite?" She smiled tauntingly.

Nostrils flared on the smaller troll, "Like we would eat you. You're probably covered in fleas."

The larger one lowered itself to Regina's level, "Pay the toll or die."

"Toll? And what happens to the fee?" She raised a brow, "I doubt I have anything you want on me. So, if you don't mind…"

"PAY THE TOLL. Give us your gold and that horse you think you are so clever in hiding." Roared the trolls.

Waving her hand in front of her face. Disgust plainly painted her face at the wretched smell of their breath. "Phew, someone is in desperate need of a breath mint," she continued to brace herself as one of the trolls swung down their hammer at her. Regina jumped, flipping herself upside down barrelling herself up and over the troll's head. They brought down their hammer again, this time hitting themselves.

Laughing she dodged again, running down their back, jumping onto the next troll before they knocked themselves off the bridge. Regina cupped out her hand, palm facing up, blowing dust and rubble into the second troll's ear. They moved their hand to whack the pest. Regina jumped back down to the bridge balancing on the rope.

"So annoying!" The remaining trolls shouted.

"Then leave back to your hole!" she shouted in retaliation.

"Never!" one charged at her, his weight shaking the bridge with each step of his feet. Regina felt it would certainly collapse at any given moment if they kept this up.

Swiftly she ran between their feet to the other side. Sticking her two pinkies in her mouth Regina whistled taunting the trolls, gathering their attention. "Look at that, it happens to be a toll-free bridge after all." She smiled smugly waiting for the next attack.

A roar escaped and the trolls both charged head-on. Swinging their hammers knocking down more rocks from the cliff, even managing to catch a tree or two in the process.

Regina threw up a purple barrier to deflect one of the swings. Just then she let out her cry, letting down the shield. Jumping onto one of the hammers. Reaching for her sword, plunged it into the troll's arm and drove it up as she ran towards his head. Reaching his shoulder she pulled it out, turning to the last troll.

Frustrated, it used the other troll taking its hand and using it to hit Regina. She jumped and thrust her sword into one of its eyes. Pulling it out after swinging back to the other side of the bridge.

Sheathing her blade Regina held a wide smile on her face shortly after being startled by the shout of her name. Turning around to face her horse stood a figure of a blonde woman in a blue cloak.

"...Emma… wait…what?"

—~~ —~~ —~~ —

Her feet felt rough and swollen by the long walk. Emma stopped to sit on a tree trunk lifting up her foot onto her knee and rubbed one before switching to rub the other. Never had she walked this far let alone on a path so rugged. She had to be smart and choose shoes that weren't so…fancy. "Ugh, annoying, why couldn't I have something more practical? All this rubble and sticks are jabbing my feet…" Not even her not-so-best shoes weren't made for a trip like this. Emma half debated dispersing them and just walking barefoot. "How far did she even get? I should have stolen a horse from the stables. Or hit up a merchant on the outside before continuing…" she groaned, getting back to her feet.

So many things she never factored in but Emma still didn't regret her choice she was going to suck it up and keep trailing on. Grabbing a loose branch from a tree with some flowers and leaves Emma swung it around. "How does she do this? Wander around without anyone to talk to? The lands so vast between kingdoms…" She looked around plucking at the leaves.

Continuing forth Emma followed along the dirt path, not a road she was familiar with. This was new, thrilling, and exciting. Not long into the woods, the path vanished altogether. Sighing feeling almost defeated Emma heard a familiar cry.

Quietly she followed the sounds coming from up ahead. The voice was taunting its enemy. Her eyes lit up when she paused in the bushes. "Regina," she whispered under her breath in aw. Spotting Regina's horse tied up to a tree Emma walked over to it. Stroking its mane, smiling, glancing over at the bridge. Watching as Regina impressed her with how she fought. Never to cave to the trolls but beat them one by one. Standing on her tiptoes, leaning forward she was filled with excitement. Wishing she could fight the way Regina did. Sighing Emma leaned back daydreaming pulling back when she heard….

"...Emma… wait…what?" The confused look Regina wore as she walked over towards her. "But— but aren't you supposed to be in the castle? I saw Ruby take you away and…"

Her eyes shifted to the side, "Yes, well, about that… I sort of did a thing and snuck out. Convinced Ruby to stay outside my room and changed… then fled." Emma's shoulders slumped forward giving Regina a sheepish smile.

Her jaw dropped, "They need to stop trusting you so much… or at least know you're an escape artist by this point. Like seriously, how often do you just run off?" she tried not to laugh, though she was thoroughly impressed with the young princess. Clearing for a kingdom that prided themselves on their pure precious princess… they were not the best in watching over her, very careless she might add. "How did you even find me? What if something happened to you while you had run off? Or worse, you didn't find me and got captured by the Evil Queen?

Shrugging, "Eventually they'll give up," shaking her head Emma waved her hand dismissively, "I just tried to think like you and where you'd go. Also, I heard you in the distance… when I was feeling turned around. Nothing will happen to me, especially since I found you." Emma gave a large grin, "She'd be better off sending flying monkeys to capture me over those guards."

"Emma, you can't travel with me. I need to take you back," Regina frowned. "This is no place for a princess. Especially one that can't fight or protect herself." Trying not to laugh, Regina cupped her hand over her mouth to hide it from escaping. "Okay, I will have to agree. They are far better trained at fetching."

Shaking her head vigorously, "No! You can't take me back there! I'm just being groomed to a weapon or someone's wife. I refuse to live that life, Regina! My gods I don't even get to rule the kingdom. So please, please, I am begging you to let me travel with you. For you to teach me how to fight and how to properly use my magic!" Emma pleaded, her hands cupped together, her eyes big and doe-like.

Sighing Regina rested her hands on her hips looking at the blonde. She made a convincing argument and she knew that. But, could she just allow her to travel with her so simply? Her shoulders slumped forward, almost defeated, "I will teach you to defend yourself… but when it comes to the realm of magic I— I don't feel I would be the best teacher for that right now. I am sure my teacher Merlin can help you as he did for me."

Gasping in excitement Emma let out a squeal as she clapped happily, "Really? Wait, Merlin? The magician from Camelot?"

Nodding, "Yes. We will have to remain low so as to not be spotted and you can't tell people who you are either. We avoid anything with fairies or the Dark One." Laughing at Emma, Regina shook her head, "Yes, the one and the same."

Pulling her hood over her head a bright white smile gleamed in the sun rays, "Sounds like this is going to be a fun adventure!"