Maya looked around. She had absolutely no idea where she was. She saw buildings, ones unlike any she had seen before. All around her, people milled. Maya was very disoriented, having just woken up in a place she'd never been before. She didn't even know what realm she was in, although it clearly was not the Enchanted Forest. Looking as far as she could, Maya saw a forest. Perfect. The woods were where she felt the most at home. She'd lived in the woods ever since her parents died when she was seven. At first, she'd lived there with her younger sister, Aryn, but Aryn had run away and left Maya alone. Maya was used to being alone by this point. She ran towards the woods and found a good tree, which she promptly climbed. She found a thick branch and lay down in it, thinking she could make this work. It appeared to be morning, and Maya realized she didn't know the date. Or the year. Something weird was going on. Maya marked her tree, and went back into town. She found a place that was serving food, and went inside. Under ordinary circumstances, Maya would just use her magic to conjure food, but she wasn't well trained in magic, and she didn't want to risk it in a whole new land. As she waited for an opportunity to steal some food, she eavesdropped on a couple of people - a very pregnant woman and a man.

"So, last we remember, Emma's leaving, and now, we're back in Storybrooke", the woman said.

"Yes", answered the man, "and obviously, time has passed."

"Oh yes", the woman said, patting her stomach, "I'd say about a year. But how did we get back here?"

"Must have been a new curse", the man replied. "Oh, our food's here."

Maya saw her chance, and snuck into the kitchen. Most of the food was unrecognizable to her, so she just grabbed some stuff and ran back to the woods, finding her tree. Once there, she pondered over what she had heard. She was in a place called Storybrooke, that she now knew. They said a year had passed, seemingly one they had forgotten. Which meant... a year had probably passed for her too. So she was 14 now. And the curse part... this must be the land without magic the Dark Curse had taken people to. She was one of the people who had stayed behind. Because she was a loner, Maya had not joined the refugee camp, and thus not been killed by Cora. So that's what had happened: the people who were cursed had come back for a year, and then been cursed again, taking everyone with them this time. And they'd all forgotten a year of their lives. Whatever. Now that she knew what was going on, Maya planned to go back to what she did best - surviving.

...

After a few days, Maya had become accustomed to this new town. She was actually liking it better than the Enchanted Forest - easier to steal food. She was just finishing up a meal when she heard someone running in her direction. She hopped down from her tree and ran to face them. It was a man, running very fast. He looked oddly familiar. He stopped when he saw her. "Maya?"

"Yes...", she answered, "Do I know you?"

"It's me, Baelfire."

"Bae?!"

Maya couldn't believe it. After her parents had died and her sister had run away, Maya had begun to feel alone, abandoned. That was when she had started to visit Neverland in her dreams. She had met Baelfire there, and they had become great friends, even though they had never met in person. He had really been in Neverland, and she hadn't. He had told her all about his life, and she him. Clearly, Bae had aged during the curse, for he was now a man. And he had escaped Neverland. Maya was so happy to see him, she almost cried. She hugged him, and then asked simply, "Bae, what's going on?"

"Honestly, Maya, I have no idea. And by the way, I go by Neal now."

"Neal. Got it."

Suddenly, Baelfire collapsed and began writhing in agony.

"Bae? Baelfire? Neal?"

He didn't respond to any of those names, but instead said, "Maya, run!"

And so she did.