The Horse & I

Alicia Knights walked down the stairs in the Charming's castle, suddenly finding it hard to watch where she stepped over her puffy dress. She cursed silently before stopping to rest, her heels making it impossible for her to move faster.

"Fuck these medieval ways, we should invest in electricity," she snapped to herself. After ten minutes she reached the bottom of the stairs and sighed happily. Just as she was about to jump off the last step, her heel caught the end of her skirt and Alicia tripped, falling boobs first onto the stone floor. She groaned as she flipped her body over, hearing a slight chuckle from above her.

"There's no need to laugh, Henry, or else one day you'll trip down the stairs mysteriously," Ali spat an empty threatened. The boy shook his head. Alicia took the chance to really look at Henry Mills. He wore a fancy suit he was now required to wear after being coronated an official prince of the Enchanted Forest. His short brown hair always had life to it and his chocolate eyes had a spark that never seemed to fade away. He was the light that the kingdom needed years back when everyone struggled against the many curses that were always being placed.

He was Emma's only son and Regina's adopted one. Henry didn't like to talk about his father, especially after his unpredicted death, but Henry approved of Killian and Emma's love life. And he was excited for the wedding to happen.

"Sorry. It was just so funny how you landed," he said, still chuckling.

Alicia soothed her dress off and looked towards the kitchen door. Her stomach growled and she groaned.

"You're hungry, huh?"

Ali nodded her head. He chuckled again and got out of her way to let her enter the kitchens. She headed in, ready to eat her worries away.

"Miss Ali!" She heard the head chef yell her name. Chef Colette, the best cook throughout the Enchanted Forest. Alicia smiled. Colette was her second favorite person in the world, right after Regina. She hoisted herself onto a stool and turned to face the cooks.

"Queen Snow told me you were coming today, so I made you a lot of cheesecake," Colette said and Alicia sighed happily. She grabbed a fork and slammed it against the counter.

"I'm ready," she breathed and the chef smiled proudly as she placed a plate full of different cheesecakes. As Ali consumed the various mini samples the chef had placed out, she noticed the other cooks rushing around, desperately getting things done. Alicia glanced at Colette.

"What's with the rush?" She asked politely while gesturing to the others. Colette hummed as she whipped a bowl filled with fudge.

"It's the food for the dinner reception tonight."

Alicia continued to chew. Once she finished and gave her honest compliments to the chef, she got up ready to leave.

"Please excuse me, Colette," Alicia said. The chef gave a quick bow before the young girl ran out of the kitchens.

Ali jogged up the stairs and into the room the Charming's had gifted her with, where various dresses were scattered. Choosing her dinner outfit, she decided it would be a good time to go for a quick ride with her horse. Alicia knew the guests for the wedding would be arriving the next day and she wouldn't have a moment alone to herself.

After changing out of her day dress, she quickly threw on her riding clothes and grabbed her boots. She struggled to put them on but once she did, she ran out her room, slamming the door behind her.

Alicia pounced down the stairs, confident she wouldn't trip again. She strolled towards the grand family room, where most of the Charming's and her family sat. Ali walked to a glass stand where her sword and gloves patiently waited to be used.

"And where are you going?" Regina asked as she saw Ali out of the corner of her eye.

"For a ride out with Raine. I won't be out long, I promise," she responded and Regina stopped her.

"Take a guard with you, Alicia, I won't have you running out there alone."

"I won't be alone, the horse will be with me."

Huffing, knowing she won't win against Alicia on the subject, Regina waved her off.

"Be back before sunset," she simply muttered before sipping on her tea.

"Your horse is in the third stable to the right, Ali," Emma added. Alicia nodded as she strapped her sword around her waist and ran out, giving a rapid wave to her family before disappearing through the back door.

She ran to the stables, greeting the stable boy before walking over to stable number 3. Alicia smiled to herself when she saw her gorgeous horse. She was a pinto horse from the Cimarron. Raine was obedient and very gentle with her ways. She was a white horse, with splotches of cocoa brown splattered on her. Her long mane was twisted back into braids and she looked majestic.

"Hey girly, we are gonna go for a run okay?"

Raine neighed in response and started to clop her feet. Alicia unlocked her stable door. Raine immediately walked out to greet her owner. Ali cooed at her horse and began to massage her temple. The horse nuzzled her head into her masters hand, pleased to be getting attention.

Alicia clipped the required riding garments onto the horse before guiding the horse outside. She then swung her body onto the horse and Alicia clicked her tongue. Using her thighs, she squeezed Raine's sides, indicating a gallop to which the horse responded.
Heading straight into the worn down dirt trail, Alicia could feel all the worries that had tortured her head disappear into the wind. She felt sudden hatred for herself when Raine let out a neigh of pure happiness. Alicia hadn't been the best owner when it came to taking her horse out to stretch her limbs.

"Enjoying yourself, Raine? We should stop soon for you to have a drink," Ali muttered. Raine understood and changed course. They found the Canorous River, the biggest river in the Enchanted Forest. Ali climbed off Raine and grabbed an apple out of her satchel.

"Such a good girl," Ali praised her companion as she held out the apple and watched Raine eat it out of her hand. Alicia patted her side afterward. She found a comfortable rock and leaned up against it. With a content sighed, she closed her eyes.

Alicia's thoughts rushed off into what her life would've been if Regina hadn't saved her from the streets. She would still be thieving. A pirate with no honor whatsoever and a crook. She would be a thief with no mercy, no manners, and a cold attitude. She would be lost.

She owed much to Regina. Her entire lifestyle had changed for the better with the queen around. Ali went from a homeless and troubled child to a future queen. It honestly frightened her just how much she had changed in so little time.

Alicia opened her eyes again when she felt Raine nudge on her arm. She pushed the horse away but understood what she was trying to get at.

The run was setting, almost disappearing behind the horizon line and Alicia knew she wouldn't make it back to the castle before the dark filled in. In fact, she gave it about ten minutes before the dark completely engulfed her.

"Oh damn," she mumbled and jumped onto Raine's back. She quickly clicked her tongue and Raine took off at high speed. Alicia was annoyed at herself. How could she let time get the best of her? She would get a scolding from Regina, Snow, and Robin all together. She would be told how dangerous it is for a young lady to be out in the dark, where thieves resided and Regina would lecture her for not taking guards with her.

She gasped suddenly as she dodged a hanging branch off the tree.

The run came to a harsh halt when Raine whinnied loudly. Alicia grabbed the reins and tried to seize control of the horse again but had no such luck. Ali was knocked off her horse and landed on the ground with a loud grunt.

"What the hell was that?" Alicia snapped at her horse. She attempted to climb back onto the horse but Raine wouldn't let her.

"What the devil has gotten into you?" Ali snapped and once again tried to mount the horse. Raine backed away.

Alicia huffed and crossed her arms.

"Fine. I won't mount you, but we have to keep going now," she said and grabbed the reins of the horse and pulled her along. Raine obeyed but seemed wary of her surroundings. Ali grew concerned. Raine's unsteadiness began to put the girl on edge.

The two came to a small clearing. Alicia stopped when she heard rustling noises around her. She backed up against Raine with a frown. Raine clopped her hooves and huffed. When she heard more noise, Ali drew her sword and steadied her feet. And she listened.

She only heard the hoots of an owl and the music of the lonely cricket before she lowered her weapon back into its safe. She looked to Raine and this time, the horse let her mount.

"Come along, Raine," she whispered into her horse's ear. Ali gave one last suspicious look around as Raine walked away slowly.

It wasn't long before they found the dirt path that would lead straight back to the castle. Alicia was more than happy to find it. She encouraged Raine to go faster.

Ali guessed she pushed the horse too much, for she soon found herself on the floor again, but this time with a huge gash running down the side of her leg. Raine cried out for her master but she couldn't bring herself to stand on all fours either.

Alicia gasped in agony as she watched blood begin to escape her wound. She groaned as she thought of ways she could make it back to the castle with an injured leg. Ali could only imagine how she would look like to the rest of the royals. Her hair matted in filth, her skin smeared with mud, and her clothes reminded her of when she used to live on the streets. Alicia groaned.

She scolded herself for not learning how to perform a healing spell. She made a mental note to remind Rumple or Regina to teach her.

She glanced over at Raine, who still struggled to stand on her own. Alicia guessed the horse had taken a sprain with the fall.

"Stay down, Raine!" Alicia commanded and the horse listened.

Ali could do nothing but lay on the ground feeling defeated. The sting in her leg wouldn't disappear and she was beginning to feel lightheaded from her loss of blood.

She heard footsteps approach her. She even heard her horse panic for a bit. But Alicia was too tired to try to defend herself against whoever it was. She could only hope it was Regina or David, coming to her aid.

But then she heard a voice,

"Need a hand, love?"

And she was certain it didn't belong to Regina.

*unedited*

QotD: Preference; dogs or cats?

I prefer cats. My cat is so much smarter than my damn dogs. She receives me at the door and everything.