The Evil Queen had thought for the longest time that no one would ever understand her pain. That no one could even come close to knowing how she'd felt, losing everything so quickly. She never thought she'd find another who could relate to her. Or that she felt empathy for. But here she was.

She'd just finished attempting to intimidate yet another village into telling her where Snow White was. Regina knew the little brat had been there. But no one would speak up. Pathetic little wretches. She was stalking moodily back to her carriage, when a body collided with her's.

The Evil Queen managed to maintain her balance, and was unharmed – but pissed. Her looked around to glare daggers at the low-life scum that had bumped into her, her eyes landing on a girl on the ground. She was young, about 18. Hardly old enough to look as scared as she did. And it wasn't because she'd just ran into the Evil Queen.

"I-I'm sorry–"

The girl stammered out, scrambling to get up and bolt again. But as she stood, her hand was caught by another. An older woman who resembled the younger girl, presumably her mother. And Regina recognized the glare the mother gave her daughter immediately. The pure anger and disdain. Regina's hands clenched into fists.

The older woman had broken out into a mixture of scolding the girl and spluttering apologies to the Evil Queen. But Regina wasn't listening.

"Shut it, you fool. Go back to whatever pathetic little hut you crawled out of."

She spat harshly, her eyes narrowing at the woman. Her jaw clenched when the older woman tried to leave, trying to drag the girl with her.

"No, she stays. You go."

Regina snapped. The woman seemed shocked and confused, and somewhat angry, but she went away with only grumbled complaints under her breath. Meanwhile, Regina placed her hand on the young woman's back, escorting her to her carriage.

Once they were moving, Regina got the girl to talk. And Gods, had her suspicion been right. This girl was on the run from her mother, who was trying to force her to marry some man double her age. Her mother had wanted to control every aspect of her life, using her to get out of the poor position they were in. And the girl was terrified. Torn between wanting to live her own life and feeling she was selfish for doing so. Regina felt her blackened heart ache.

"Your mother does not, and will not dictate what you can do with your life. I wont allow it."

The Evil Queen declared firmly, looking into those wide, terrified eyes. Glassy like a mirror's surface. Regina saw her own reflection shimmering behind them.