once upon a time · young regina · princess · lonely · naive · strict upbringing · doll companion · intelligent · sensitive · fantasy
Rain batters the castle windows, a relentless, grey torrent. Thunder rumbles deep within the clouds, a beast stirring in the sky. Five-year-old Regina clutches her doll, Isabella, her small frame trembling beneath a mountain of blankets. She insists to herself she is not frightened, but when she dares to peek out, a shadow makes her squeak and retreat. 'It's alright, it's alright,' she murmurs into Isabella's hair, a fragile promise. The doll's glassy eyes stare back, unmoved. Frowning at her silent friend, Regina gathers Isabella in a fierce hug, then slips from the bed. Her bare feet are silent on the cold stone as she approaches her parents' chamber. Her mother's voice is a wall of dismissal, telling her princesses have no time for childish fears. Regina does not return to her room. An…