Emma Swan was lost. After being pushed through a portal to pre-curse fairytale world, she had found herself laying on the ground, her body aching and her mind spinning.

'Holy crap,' Emma said as she opened her eyes to see only tree tops.
She was hoping for a cottage, anything really, but instead found herself in some forest. I mean, this place was called the enchanted forest, but she still felt bitter disappointment.

After a moment of letting her eyes sting from tears and feeling a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach, she pulled herself onto her feet, shook her 'stupid over emotional' self off, and took another good look around.

There were trees. That was all she could see, and it scared her to bits. What if this was the infinite forest? She also shook that thought off - she had some of her parents faith, and knew that, despite being trapped in a different land in a different time, that there was always hope.

Looking down at herself, Emma brushed off some of the mud she had picked up from the ground, and as she was brushing down her skinny jeans and red leather jacket, she swore she saw something in the corner of her eye. She stopped what she was doing, and looked up. In the nearby distance, she could see two people - one tall, one short - walking through the forest together. Emma knew she needed to take this risk if she wanted any more hope of getting out of her, so she followed her instincts and walked slowly and quietly towards the two strangers.

Stepping through the forest, trying not to tread on any branches, Emma soon realised it was a woman and a small red headed child. The child wasn't familiar to her, but Emma swore there was something about this woman, she was almost certain she knew her.
The woman was walking in front of the child, apparently leading him somewhere, and Emma got the feeling she shouldn't surprise them. She just wished they'd turn for just a second, so she could see the woman's face, and know for sure it was who she suspected.

Thud. The woman quickly whipped herself around, her glaring eyes searching for the one responsible for the noise. She was in no mood for lurking strangers today.
Emma, completely mortified, picked herself up after tripping on some twigs, and stared right into the face of the woman.
They held stare for a few moments, long enough for Emma to know exactly who this was. A magnificent black outfit, long dark hair, a deep red perfect pout and those oh so familiar brown eyes. This was pre-curse Regina - the evil queen.

'Who are you,' the queen's voice rung out, 'and what are you doing in my forest?'
The queen's glare held Emma's, and it took all Emma could not to run. She knew that this wasn't the mayor, this was a person who took no hesitation in murder, but she also knew that she could get through to the Regina she did know, so she stayed routed to her spot.
Before Emma had chance to speak, the queen raised her hand, sending Emma flying backwards into a tree, and with another wave, branches started to entrap Emma into the tree, making it so she could barely move.

Regina, after putting a spell on the boy's feet (presumably to make him not run away), started walking towards Emma, glaring at the strange blonde as she did so.
'I said, who are you?' she spoke, now mere meters away from Emma.
Emma, knowing the best chance of escaping this tree was to accommodate the queen and answer her questions, said, 'Regina, it's me, you know me, it's...' but she trailed off, not knowing whether or not to give her real name. Couldn't that change the future? Then again, maybe just being here could.
'Excuse me?' the queen said, laughing, 'I think I know who I know better than a poor lost girl wandering my forest, and I certainly haven't met you before. I would have remembered,' Regina said, taking a moment to let her stare stray from the blonde's eyes and look her up and down.

'Regina, please, I know you don't think you know me but we need to talk.' Emma gushed, not knowing what in the world she was supposed to say.
'Is that really a way to address royalty?' the queen said, raising one eyebrow into a perfect arch. 'However, today may just be your lucky day.'
Emma didn't really know what that meant, but hoped it had something to do with being able to talk and convince the queen she did in fact know her. She watched as Regina put her hand into a pocket, pulled out some kind of dust and - stepping even closer to Emma - blew it over her face.
Before Emma had time to think about what substance Regina was blowing on her face, she was out cold.