Super sorry I haven't updated in a while. I started working recently and just got back from being in England for 6 months.

Just to clear something up: Regina kissing Maddie in the last chapter broke the curse on every child-they are not sick anymore. We are also jumping to around 3x16 in the chapter.

Sorry if there are any mistakes.

Chapter 21: A Strange World

The people of the Enchanted Forest woke up in a place some recognized as Storybrooke though no one knew or remembered how they got there. The last thing they remembered was being swept up by Pan and Regina's curses. It's as if they never left but Emma and Henry's arrival confirmed they had been gone a year.

After a flying monkey attack, they deduced that is was none other than the Wicked Witch of the West who had put this new curse on them, though they still had no idea what for. She had yet to reveal her plans to anyone but they were determined to figure it out.

Regina was beside herself after finding out the Wicked Witch was indeed her sister, at least partially. Her mother always liked surprising her. She just wished she anticipated more surprises even after Cora's passing. Her sister had challenged her to a fight to prove Zelena was the stronger sister. Regina wasn't going to let her sister hold that title but she was definitely not ready for a fight after just learning the dreadful news though the talk with Robin slightly helped, even though she had just met him.

She had been growing closer to the outlaw ever since their initial meeting near Zelena's residence but she had no idea why there was a sudden attraction to the thief; that was until she saw his lion tattoo. She didn't want to be attracted to him just because fate said she should be or that they were meant to be. But she couldn't focus on that right now for she had a witch fight to attend.

Robin, on the other hand, couldn't get the Queen out of his mind. She had entrusted him with her heart and that was something he didn't take lightly. He was searching for a good place to hide it from Zelena so he decided to venture to part of the woods neither he nor his Merry Men had travelled yet. He climbed a small hill and what he found on the other side made him gasp. Hundreds of people were lying on the ground unconscious. He looked for any movement among the masses but saw none. He made his way down the hill and over to the closest person, laying his hand upon their neck to check for a pulse. There was one. He began trying to coax him awake but nothing was happening.

He looked around for anyone but he knew he left his Merry Men back at the campsite. The only thing he could think of was splashing water in their faces. He pulled out his canteen and dumped what was left of the bottle. The man began coughing violently as Robin helped him sit up. "You're alright, mate. Can you tell me who you and all these people are?"

The man took a minute to respond. Once he got his bearings, he looked around and saw all the familiar faces from his army. "Are they…?"

"No. They're not dead, just unconscious from some sort of spell." Robin answered trying to calm the man down. The man began licking his lips. "Poppies."

"What?" Robin asked.

"Poppies." The man said more firmly. "Everyone is sleeping due to poppies. They're indigenous to our land."

"Oz?" Robin questioned a little stunned to see this many people from the Land of Oz.

The man nodded. "We came to defeat the Wicked Witch though these woods don't look like those of the Enchanted Forest."

"Is that where you were last?"

"Yes though my memory is a bit foggy." He replied.

Robin nodded expecting such an answer. "Help me wake your friends then we can figure out where to go from there." The man nodded and they instantly got to work.

About an hour and a half later, everyone was awake and just as confused as the first person that awoke. Robin was most interested in a young teenager he found amongst the many people. She seemed out of place and he wanted to know what she was doing with these people to begin with. She was searching through the crowd for something. Robin noticed she was becoming more panicked with every group she passed. "Are you looking for someone?" He asked as he walked up to her.

"A few people actually." She replied as she continued to look at the people as she passed by them.

"There are a few people that haven't been accounted for in town as well." Robin told her. "We are still trying to figure things out."

Maddie turned around. "So what's the deal with this place anyway? Where are we?"

"You're in a place called Storybrooke." Robin replied though he wasn't too familiar himself. "It's a small place in a land without magic, though this section does contain magic." He could see the confusion on her face and he smiled nervously. "I really shouldn't be the one explaining all of this. There are some people in town that could do a better job though right now might not be the best time."

"Why's that?" Maddie questioned.

"There's a showdown between Zelena and Regina on Main Street." Robin told her which seemed to catch her attention quite a bit.

"Like magic?" She asked quickly. He nodded and she instantly took off running. He began chasing her. "Where are you going?"

"Main Street!" She yelled back.

"No, you can't. You might get hurt!" He yelled trying to catch up to her while making sure nothing happened to Regina's heart. She flung her hand back and Robin dropped to the ground as vines began wrapping around his body. "Sorry!" She yelled to him who was now struggling on the ground trying to break free from the vines.

By the time Maddie found Main Street, Regina and Zelena were already face to face while the citizens of Storybrooke gathered around to watch the show. Maddie wasn't going to sit back and watch like the rest of them. She stepped towards the citizens. "Hello mother." They heard a female voice from behind them. The people moved to reveal a petite teenage girl. Zelena glared at her. "Madeleine. I see someone has woken you."

The teenager started walking towards the pair in the middle of the circle. "And it appears it was just in time too."

Regina plunged her hand into the young girl's chest and pulled out her heart as the crowd erupted in simultaneous gasps. "Regina!" Emma and Snow both yelled but the Queen didn't flinch. Maddie grabbed her chest and breathed heavily as she stared at the woman she knew as the Evil Queen and her Aunt Regina. Zelena was not fazed by her sister's sudden action. She was more intrigued if anything. "Crush it." Zelena said with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "You'd be doing me a favor."

Regina eyed her sister carefully and knew she meant it. If this girl's death was not going to hurt Zelena then there was no point in killing her. She shoved the young girl's heart back into her chest as Maddie let out a gasp still trying to regain her breath. "Is the Evil Queen losing her touch?" The Wicked Witch laughed seeing just how weak her sister was.

"You have a daughter?" Snow asked as she looked at Madeleine and could definitely see the Mills family resemblance. Many were just as confused as Snow was, including Regina. She was not expecting to suddenly gain a niece. She once thought she had no family left, now they just keep springing up out of thin air.

Zelena waved off the pregnant woman. "A mistake I should've taken care of years ago."

Maddie finally spoke up again once she caught her breath. "Wasn't torturing me back in Oz good enough?"

Zelena rolled her eyes. "Honestly doll. I have done nothing but treat you with decency and this is how you repay me? Now be a good girl and run along before you do something you'll regret." Zelena turned her attention back to Regina.

Madeleine threw her hands out and blasted her mother with her magic. The citizens were stunned Maddie would go against her mother, let alone have magic. Zelena stumbled back a bit but was not fazed too much. As Zelena and Madeleine's green and white magic combined, they entered into a power struggle as the crowd watched the light show before them. Regina watched her newfound niece carefully to see just how powerful she really was and if she could be an asset to her in the future. It didn't take too long for Zelena to win control over her daughter, sending Maddie flying through the window of one of the nearby shops.

Snow wanted to rush to the teenager's side but David didn't want her near someone with magic who they never met before.

Zelena turned back to Regina. "Now, where were we?"

Regina wasn't wasting any more time. She sent a traffic light flying at her sister but Zelena easily swatted it away as if it were a fly.

When Maddie was finally able to stand up, ignoring her cuts and scrapes, she saw her mother throw Regina into the clock tower. She winced knowing how painful going through glass was having just gone through some moments before. She watched three people run into the building while the crowd looked to the sky to see what was going on.

Maddie knew she couldn't stick around any longer for her injuries were started to get to her and her mother would be back once she was finished with Regina. She disappeared in a puff of white smoke, oblivious to the townspeople still gathered in the street. They were distracted by Zelena flying out the clock tower window.

"As it turns out, Zelena wanted my heart. It's a good thing I wasn't stupid enough to bring it with me." Regina said still trying to catch her breath.

"Any idea why she wants it?" David questioned.

Regina turned towards him. "Well she got your courage. And she wanted my heart. Those are ingredients."

"For what? A curse?" Emma asked furrowing her eyebrows.

"We're already in Storybrooke. We've already lost our memories. What else could she do to us?" Snow asked though no one knew the answer.

Emma shook her head trying to come up with a solution but nothing was coming to mind. "So now what?"

"We find that girl." Regina replied as they stared down at the crowd and destruction below them.

Maddie reappeared at the place where the rest of her army was. Nox came running over to her as she sat on the floor of the forest. "What happened to you Mads?"

"Nox?" She asked confused. "When did you get here?"

He shook his head. "I have no idea but what's with all the scrapes?"

"Oh." She looked down at the blood all over her arms and legs. "I was just thrown into a window. No big deal." She waved her hand and began healing herself.

"You got better at that." Nox realized. "I guess mother has been hounding on you to practice."

Maddie nodded slowly. "I guess she has though I don't remember. Do you know where she is? I can't find her."

He shook his head no. "The important thing is that you're alright and I'm back." Nox said with a smile as he helped her off the ground. "Everyone has a lot of questions."

"I don't think I can answer them." She said honestly. "I have no idea where we are but I do know my mother is here."

Nox nodded. "I figured. Does the person who woke us up know anything?"

Maddie's eyes grew wide. "Oh no!" She went running in the direction she left the poor man who was now tied to the ground by vines. He was still there when she arrived. "I am so so sorry, sir."

He mumbled something but she couldn't understand him due to a vine covering his mouth. She waved her hand and all the vines retreated to where they came from. "Come again?" She asked.

"I was trying to help you and you tied me to the ground!" Robin yelled. She could see he was angry but she didn't mean to upset him. She just needed to be at that witch fight. "I'm really sorry, um…?"

"Robin Hood." He responded as he reached down and grabbed the bag Regina's heart was in.

She reached out her hand and put a smile on her face to try to relay just how sorry she was. "I'm Madeleine." He looked at her hand suspiciously. "I won't hurt you, I promise." He hesitated for a moment then shook her hand.

"So why did you tie me to the ground?" He asked as they began walking back to where the Ozian camp was.

She smiled sheepishly. "I needed to be at that fight." She took a deep breath. "You'll probably never talk to me again after this but the Wicked Witch is my mother."

He stopped dead in his tracks. "What?"

"It's true." She nodded. "But we came to stop her."

He pointed in the direction of the camp. "That's you're army?" She nodded with a grin on her face. "And you have magic?"

"Naturally." She responded. Nox came running up to them. "There you are! I've been looking for you. Why did you run off?"

"I had some business to take care of." She answered trying to stifle back a laugh as a picture of Robin tied to the ground came to mind.

"Who's this?" Nox asked looking over at Robin.

"Relax Nox." Maddie said noticing how protective he got. "He's the man that woke us all up."

Nox eyed him carefully before returning his gaze back to Maddie. "Well, we should really get back to our camp."

"You go back." She told him. "I need to speak to Robin."

"But Mads-"

"Nox. You don't have to protect me." She said firmly. He clenched his jaw before turning around and walking back to the others. She knew he was happy about that but he was just going to have to accept that she was independent and no one could tell her what to do.

"I can't stay and chat." Robin said as he began walking once again though in the direction of his own camp. "I have my own business to take care of."

She jogged a bit to catch up with him. "Can I come with you then? I have a lot of questions."

He really didn't want her to come along but he wasn't one to be rude. He had a feeling wherever she went she brought trouble with her, especially since she was the daughter of the Wicked Witch who was trying to kill her mother. It seemed to him that he would be targeted by the Witch if he was associated with this girl. He didn't say anything though he just kept walking and she just followed.

"You look like you live in the woods." She noticed his scruffed up look and dirt wardrobe.

"I do." He nodded not too interested in making small talk.

She sighed. "I understand if don't want me around. I get that a lot, but I just need some answers."

He felt bad he was giving her the cold shoulder. That usually wasn't like him but now that he has been a father for quite some time, he wasn't just thinking for himself. He was thinking about the safety of his boy. "I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." It wasn't exactly a lie but it wasn't the whole truth either.

She nodded. "I understand."

They reached his campsite and he introduced her to a few Merry Men followed by his son Roland. He was shy at first, as much five year olds are, but he came out of his shell after a few minutes. He liked Maddie and warmed up to her rather quickly. Robin was surprised but didn't question it too much. "I need to do something before we get to questions." She nodded and was happy to play with Roland while she waited for him to come back.

Robin walked to the spot where he had talked to Regina earlier that day and decided to hide her heart around there. It was pretty dark which made it difficult to see but he made do. The woods were his home, even if they were new to him he would figure it out quickly.

He heard heavy breathing and footsteps coming closer to him. He stopped and hid behind a nearby tree. He saw the light first then the person carrying it. It was Regina. "Did the plan work?" He asked stepping out from behind the tree practically startling her.

"That depends. Is it still here?" She asked afraid of what the answer might be.

He lifted the sack in his hand. "Right here."

"You didn't hide it?" She asked rather annoyed. This was her heart he was messing with.

"I got tied up." He replied.

She glared at him and put her hands on her hips. "You got tied up?" She asked like she didn't believe his excuse.

"Seriously, Regina. This girl used magic to tie vines around me."

"Wait, a girl with magic?" She asked intrigued. It has to be the same girl.

"Yea, she was-"

She interrupted him. "Where is she now?"

"Playing with Roland." He told her then realized maybe he should be more concerned. "Why? Is she dangerous?"

"I'm not sure." Regina answered honestly. "But I have a plan."

"Are you going to share it with me?" He asked though he already knew the answer.

"Not just yet." She replied with a smirk. "But I would appreciate it if you held onto my heart just a little longer."

Robin was surprised to hear that after he failed her the first time. "Are you sure you're willing to entrust something so valuable to a thief like me?"

He saw the glimmer in her eye as she smiled even more. "Can't steal something that's been given to you." She turned away quickly before he could see her blush. He looked down at the sack that contained her heart then back up at the Regina who was already walking away. "You still owe me that drink!"

She smiled widely though he couldn't see. "I suppose I do." She replied as she kept walking without ever glancing back.

As she walked back to her mansion, her mind wandered to the girl with magic, her niece. She didn't know what she wanted from her though. To break her? To gain her help? Have a relationship with her? Was that even possible?

Having Henry here didn't help matters because he wasn't all here. His memories were lost to him and she didn't know if he was ever going to get them back. She wanted to be his mother again but right now, she couldn't be. Keeping her distance from him was so tough to do but seeing that she now had a teenager to deal with, it might just take her mind off of it.

Nothing made sense to her anymore but her plan was already in motion even if no one else knew it. Soon, they would have a bit more information on this Wicked Witch which is what they all needed and a certain niece of hers was going to provide it whether she liked it or not.

Sooo? Whatcha think?