Part 1

"Where is she," asked Neal looking around, "Where did she go?"

"Um," said Emma, "I don't think we're in Gold's shop anymore."

"Then where the hell are we," Neal asked even though like Emma he clearly saw a bunch of woods around him.

"I don't know," said Emma, "Guess we'd better start walking."

"That's your plan, just start walking?"

"You got a better one?"

Neal felt in his pockets only to discover that his cell phone wasn't there. He had left it on the table in Gold's shop. Emma did the same. She found something in her left coat pocket and pulled it out. It was nothing but the invisible chalk. That wouldn't help them now so she placed it back. She then searched her other pockets and found her cell.

Emma pointed her cell upward in several different directions.

"That's just great, no reception and the battery is almost dead."

Emma began rounding the curve of the path.

Less than ten minutes ago she and Neal had been at the back of Gold's shop ready to protect him. Cora had made her way in and Neal took a defensive stance in front of Emma. Though Neal's act was noble it did them no good since Cora whisked them out of the way with a wave of her hand, the two of them disappearing in a purple haze.

"Can't you just use magic to get us back?" Neal asked. "I mean you did with that invisible chalk and that force field thing."

"Now you're wanting me to use magic? A few hours ago you were being judgy over the fact that I was magical."

"That was before magic got us stuck in the middle of nowhere. Now maybe it could get us out."

"I am not using magic."

"Why not, what's the harm?"

Emma looked at Neal, "You seriously did not just ask me that considering you're the one who's against magic."

"Sorry wrong question." Neal placed his one hand in his pocket, his other still holding the sword. "So how is it you're magical anyways?"

Emma looked over at Neal, "Cliff notes version: I'm the product of true love. That's supposed to be the most magical of all powers so whatever it was my parents had got transferred to me. Guess you could say it's in my DNA."

"Now that's a first. Normally I've only heard of people learning magic, not it being genetically altered in them.

"Lucky me," Emma said trying not to be impressed.

In truth she was. She had used magic a couple times before, first with true love's kiss to wake up Henry and second to use a dream catcher to discover what had allegedly happened to Archie. Today though was the first time she really allowed herself to feel the power.

She enjoyed it immensely but that's also what had scared her deep down. She had seen the dark side of magic first hand with Regina, Cora, and even Gold. Emma could understand why Neal had spent years running from magic. It was scary and also addicting. It could become a crutch if the user let it.

That was why she was not allowing herself to use it now. Other than not knowing what to do, or how to get them back in a magical way, she was not willing to risk magic becoming a lifeline even if it was one she was born with. She would find a balance and a line and drawing that line right now seemed like the right thing.