Short hiatus is over. A lot happened. Beta started school again, I'm swamped at work, and I've had several bad days. I'll try not to leave such a gap in between chapters again. I could put blame on Withgirl for slacking but she wrote 95% of this chapter so my fault sorry.

Also an "executive" decision was made weeks ago, I must continue writing or my beta will probably hurt me so onward we go...

Surprisingly no trigger warnings this time. Warning for Cora's guest debut, sassy as ever.

Enjoy.

Madison yawned audibly and continued to stir her hot chocolate.

As soon as she had gotten the call from Dawn, she had of course rushed to the address she had been given, but she had been more than surprised to find that she had been led to a featureless dirt road. To top of the weird, Dawn's car randomly appeared as if it was moving across some kind barrier. She had still gotten in without question and allowed herself to be driven into Storybrooke. Honestly, when she actually saw the quaint little town she had been a little disappointed, after all of the cloak and dagger activities, she felt like there should be something more to it. But still as she looked around the diner she was currently sat in with all of the curious looks she received, she thought that maybe there was something more to this place.

Dawn had ungracefully asked her to stay here, apparently she had something important to do before she could even think about explaining her strange behavior to her best friend.

Stretching slightly, she felt some of her muscles crack and decided that she was far too tired to think about why everything was so strange and made the decision to just be patient and go back to her drink.

It didn't take long, however, for the ringing of the bell to steal her attention, and a moment later she gave the newest diner patron a dazzling and yet suggestive smile.

Regina's eyes widened slightly and she came straight over to the familiar girl.

"Nice to see you, Mayor Mills," she winked.

The mayor failed to reply straight away, and instead fell into the booth opposite her, finally managing to say, "Miss Zambrano?"

"Hi," the girl beamed at her.

"How…why are you here?" she asked, trying desperately not to sound rude, but the thought clearly hadn't occurred to the young woman as she replied almost instantly.

"Dawn called me and told me to get my ass here, so I did," she laughed.

Regina's eyes clouded over for a moment, and Madison thought for a moment that she was clearly afraid that Dawn had told her something, finally the older woman made her reply, "Did she say why?"

Madison tilted her head at her reaction, before just shaking it, "No she didn't…she's been acting strange lately. But honestly, I've learnt to just not question her anymore."

Regina didn't show any sign of finding her response humorous and Madison furrowed her brow, she was sure that the woman would at least smirk and nod in agreement. In that moment she decided that something had definitely happened between Regina and Dawn, she clearly saw the same expression on the mayor's face as she had seen on her best friends about half an hour before. Now that she thought about it, she was sure that she had seen the exact same expression, blinking a few times, she decided to file that little bit of information away for later and added, "You know she had an imaginary friend for way longer than most kids. She is definitely weird, but I think that's what makes her awesome. I mean only she would chose to have the Evil Queen as her imaginary friend, right?"

Regina's expression became unreadable and Madison only felt her confusion increase.

"Go on," Regina said and Madison decided not to question why the woman seemed to be fully invested in the conversation.

"Well as hard as it is to admit, some imaginary friend made her happier more than I could. I thought about telling her that it wasn't real but it would have been out of jealousy. It's one thing to be a lonely kid with a friend who disappears often but then there was me, five years older than her and she was the only friend I've ever had my entire life," Madison said as if it was a confession. It only made Regina want her to continue. The girl looked down at her hands, feeling guilty, "I never told her that. She already had a tough time finding a family, I didn't want her to spend any time trying to me feel better. I didn't want to put that on her. She was barely four when we met. I let her live her fantasy after I…uh…I took her to the park. It was her birthday, I didn't have much but she was never picky about my surprises. I left her at the swings for two minutes and when I came back there was a group of kids surrounding her. She's always been a little sister to me, my impulse was to fight them off but she was being really brave."

"Did she fight them?"

"In her own way. She was only six, she still had hope. I found this bony, three foot tall little girl standing up to the insults they were throwing at her. I heard one of them yell to her that no one cared about her and that no one loved her. Before I could even react she yelled back him. She said, "She cares about me, she loves me." Unfortunately, I came to find out she wasn't talking about me."

"She was talking about the Evil Queen?" Regina asked almost hopefully.

"Well I didn't find out until later that the woman was the Evil Queen, she said something like 'Regina loves me…'" Madison trailed off and looked up at the woman who was biting her lip, "Holy shit…"

"Madison…" Regina began only to be met with a raised hand.

"Do not try and convince me that is a coincidence," she replied instantly, "It's you, isn't it?"

"Allow me to explain."

Madison nodded slowly and replied in a rather breathy manner, "I don't know how you can, but give it a shot."

It took more than an hour to explain the full story to Madison, which rather surprised the mayor considering that she didn't actually know the whole story of Dawn's life. It was rather easy to explain what Storybrooke was and who exactly its citizens used to be, but when it came to where Dawn came into the story, she merely told her everything she possibly could. Magic was perhaps even easier to explain since she had means of demonstration, a simple fireball and the girl couldn't really deny the truth. To her credit, she didn't faint at the sight of magic, nor did she deny any one thing that Regina said to her.

After a pregnant silence, Madison finally said in a hollow voice, "You killed her mother?"

Regina slightly inclined her head and replied, "It would seem that way."

"I thought you loved her!" she shouted.

Everyone in the diner turned to their conversation, but quickly turned away under the frightening gaze of the mayor.

"I do love her," she whispered, "but you have to understand, I was very unstable at that time, I know I promised to never harm her, but that was not a promise that the Evil Queen could ever keep, no matter how much I love her now."

Madison inspected her for a moment and decided that she wasn't going to accept this, this couldn't be how Dawn's happy ending ended.

"You're going to believe this Jabber-thingy?"

"Jabberwocky," Regina corrected.

"Whatever," Madison sighed, "You cannot seriously believe a psychotic woman, are you sure that you did it?"

Regina shrugged her shoulders and replied, "no, but it certainly sounds like something that I would have done."

"If you can't remember, why are you taking her word for it?"

"The sheriff just spent the morning trying to convince me of the same," Regina laughed almost bitterly, "She has concocted some idiotic plan to try and prove my innocence, but honestly, the odds don't seem to be in my favor."

"Well while blondie does that, I'll keep Dawn company and make sure she doesn't do anything insane."

"You're helping me?"

Madison smiled genuinely at the woman's hope and nodded, "I love her and I want her to be happy. She was the happiest I've ever seen her in that hotel room, so there is no chance in hell that I am going to allow her to give that up. As long as you promise that you'll make her that happy again, I will help you."

"I…promise," Regina replied with a smile tugging at the corner of her lips.

After a moment of silence, Regina reached into her coat and pulled out an envelope, "Can you give this to her? She's likely to violently burn it if I were to try."

Madison laughed in agreement and reached forward to take it, "I'll try, but it may take some coaxing."

Regina nodded her thanks and the moment was interrupted by Ruby coming in the front door, "Regina, Cooper is terrorizing customers."

"Cooper?" Madison asked with a furrowed brow.

"A dog."

"I didn't take you for a dog person, Mayor Mills," Madison laughed.

Regina rolled her eyes and stood from the booth, "I'm not, it's a long story."

Ignoring the people's stares got harder every day but Dawn braved the people as she walked towards a building she hadn't seen in what felt like ages. Just looking at the sign brought her both guilt and relief. The shelter felt like something normal. Something safe. But she had also abandoned it. Still she walked up like she owned the place, which surprisingly she still did, and shoved her key in the door. They were minutes away from opening and maybe if she was lucky this was one of the days Ruby decided to work the diner instead of here. Dawn moved around the shelter managing to avoid both Henry and Will as they walked around to get the place open for the day.

After watching Henry pass from the corner, she snuck off to the puppy area and spotted one in particular in which was supposed to be very special to the makeshift family that had once loved her. Knowing the shelter's routine fairly well, she let the puppy out and sat with her back against the counter. The dog took tentative steps and sniffed around until its nose found the tip of Dawn's right boot. The puppy stared at her for a moment before stepping in her lap and laying down on her.

"Hi, Lola," Dawn whispered. At the sound of her name the little brown retriever happily wagged her tail. The teen smiled down sadly at the dog feeling as though she'd taken advantage of the dog's natural trust in her. The puppy was always just happy to see her content with at least having this instead of a home. The guilt only grew at the thought. She promised the puppy a home but it was empty as now she had no right to place this small creature into a loving family.

Lola sniffed her face and started to jerk on her pants to come play. Dawn instead chose to scoop the puppy up into her arms and hold her against her chest, "I'm sorry. I don't have a home for you anymore…I don't even have a home anymore."

There was admittance and then came intense ache in her chest. She would never say in any way she missed Regina but she could admit that even though she cared deeply for Emma and appreciated the savior's ability to understand her and be patient with her, the sheriff's apartment just wasn't home. 108 Mifflin Street had felt like home even since the first night she spent there. It felt safe. But Dawn refused the thought that Regina felt like home and that she felt safe. Obviously it was the house and nothing else, but still the thought made her feel terrible. Ruby and Belle, Emma, and even Henry had been understanding to say the least. Now it felt like their efforts meant nothing.

They sat together in silence even though puppy desperately wanted to play. Dawn's shoulders began to shake and Lola sensed the emotions coming off of her and snuggled closer to her. Though, she wasn't the only to notice the mood shift. It wasn't too hard to believe that Ruby could sense Dawn's presence a mile away.

"Dawn?" Ruby questioned dropping her clipboard onto the counter. The teen jolted in her spot and scrambled to get up, gently setting the puppy down. Ruby noticed her frantic movement and her nervousness but she also couldn't miss the tear streaks on her cheeks. Dawn shifted foot to foot knowing how pathetic she must've looked to her. She was also painfully aware that she'd never apologized to Ruby even though she intruded in her house at nearly midnight indirectly asking for comfort on several occasions.

"Hi," she said weakly.

"Hi."

"I'm sorry I left you," Dawn murmured looking down to her feet as she held back the urge to sniffle. Lola looked curiously at both the humans in front of her. Though she quickly sensed the wolf in Ruby and obeyed when the brunette commanded her to sit with a look.

"Pup, it's okay-" Ruby tried before feeling the wind being knocked out of her as Dawn swiftly forced her into an embrace. The older brunette only let herself be stunned for a moment and quickly was sobered by the evident signs that Dawn was crying into her chest. She snaked her arms around the girl and held her tight.

"Pup…" the wolf trailed off not really knowing what to say anymore.

Dawn wasn't usually one for physical attention so she took the moment to appreciate it despite the reason that had brought the child to tears. She wasn't sure when this would ever happen again. If she was honest, an Alpha and their pup built a bond like the one they had now over years but here they were after only a few months. Though their bond wasn't as connected as it should have been as Dawn tended to stray from most forms of affection. Surely both Belle and Granny were aware that as unrealistic as imprinting sounded, it was very real and things like this- like hugs- were what made them completely entwined. She felt it every day, with every emotion and feeling Dawn had throughout her day but the lack of physical contact up until now created a void that was visibly closing.

Dawn suddenly pulled back but not completely away, to Ruby's relief, and looked up to the woman, "I have to go."

"No, you don't. You don't have to hide from us, Pup. Henry and Will have been so impatient about when you were coming back. We're not mad."

The teen's brow creased and she pulled away completely, "You should be."

"Well, I'm not."

"Why?" Dawn asked angrily.

"Because you're my pup, Dawn."

"That's a load of-"

"Don't you dare," Ruby snapped throwing a sharp finger at the younger brunette. Lola noticeably cowered at the tone. "An Alpha only has one pup that's not their own flesh and blood and I chose you. It means something. If you haven't been absorbed in hating Regina so much then you would have felt it…I feel every emotion that runs through your body all day, every day. You are my pup. Don't tell me it means nothing."

Dawn stood there silently for minutes looking from Ruby to Lola to her boots. More than a few words struck her at the core. She had convinced herself that she had been merely not caring about Regina being fine without her, she hadn't even noticed she had been forcing herself to try and hate the woman. She wouldn't admit it though.

"What-"

"I love you, Dawn. That's what I just said," Ruby said in a softer tone. "I know you love me too but you've got to start to heal or something. What you're doing isn't healthy."

"I have to go."

"Pup-"

"I'll be back soon. There's just something I have to do."

Ruby nodded seeing no point in arguing, "I can sense it, Pup. Whatever you're about to do, please be careful."

"I'll try my best," Dawn said looking Ruby intently in the eyes. After a moment Ruby's eyes flashed gold and so did Dawn's shortly before she disappeared in a cloud of smoke. Ruby sighed softly before sharing a knowing look with the puppy at her feet.

"Don't even say it," Ruby growled, picking up the dog and her clipboard.

"I still think that this is a foolish plan, Emma," Regina sighed as she stared at the half burnt candle sat in the middle of her dining room table for the second time.

"She's a ghost what can she possibly do to us?" Emma laughed, "Besides who else do we know who knows everything about Wonderland and isn't batshit insane?"

"You honestly see my mother as the pinnacle sanity?"

Emma shrugged and replied, "Anything is better than Jefferson right? Besides you found a better spell, she'll answer your question."

"I suppose it's safe to say that even she was saner than the Mad Hatter, when is your mother getting here?"

The blonde laughed and placed a hand on her girlfriend's shoulder, which instantly caused her to relax, "Neal probably just did something adorable and she got distracted, be patient your majesty, she'll be here."

As if to prove Emma's point, the doorbell rang out.

A few minutes later, Emma, Regina and Snow were each sat around the table and Snow stared intently at the candle that still haunted some of her dreams.

"Is this really necessary?" she finally asked.

"We need to help Dawn," Emma insisted and then proceeded to grab each of their hands.

Regina sighed and nodded, closing her eyes, she began the familiar chant, adding the mental questions they had surrounding the Jabberwocky, once it was done she released her former step-daughters hand, but kept the other in Emma's who squeezed it reassuringly.

The atmosphere in the room suddenly became much colder and Snow shivered.

"Must I really stay?" Snow asked as the color drained from her face, she wasn't a fan of what happened last time and she had no real desire to have a repeat of that horrible experience.

"I would actually prefer if you didn't," Regina replied, surprisingly her words came out softer and less scathing than usual.

Snow nodded and stood, Emma quickly jumped up offering to take her to the door, though honestly she was more worried that her mother may pass out judging by the expression on her face.

Regina watched them go, silently wishing that her girlfriend would hurry up and come back.

"We really must stop meeting like this, dear."

Regina visibly jumped and turned to see a translucent version of her mother sitting across from her, but unlike last time, she was the age that the former Evil Queen was much more accustomed to. Turning quickly, she saw a wall where the door was only a moment ago and she had to resist the urge to sigh.

"You don't need her here," Cora laughed.

Regina rolled her eyes and replied, "That doesn't change the fact that I want her here."

"You've made quite the astonishing transformation haven't you? Who would believe that you were once the most feared person in your realm, but then it would seem that it is genetic."

The mayor furrowed her brow and considered her words, she was sure that no one in her family history had instilled the same level of terror as she had. She knew that Cora was feared in Wonderland but the most infamous threat of that land had always been the Mad Hatter or the Jabberwocky.

"You look confused dear, should I explain at a slower pace?" Cora asked condescendingly.

Regina closed her eyes in frustration and stopped herself from pinching the bridge of her nose, she had forgotten just taxing it was to talk to her mother.

"It would help if I had the slightest idea what you're talking about."

"I assume that you've heard the story of the Mad Hatter," Cora began.

Regina nodded, "Jefferson worked in the Red Queen's court and traveled across realms to do her bidding, but I don't see how that is relevant."

"Of course you don't, because I made sure that you wouldn't. You see, an illegitimate child is not good for a queen's image, your husband certainly wouldn't have appreciated it considering the impossibility that she could have belonged to him."

"Illegitimate child…" Regina repeated slowly, she was more than certain that she'd remember having a child, but there was something at the back of her mind nagging her realize something.

"It was simple really, I poisoned the water supply with a memory potion and every servant and guard forgot that you were ever pregnant, even you forgot after nursing the child for three days."

Regina shook her head adamantly, she knew exactly where this was going and she most definitely didn't like the thought of it.

"You never even noticed when I took her away from you, for decades you believed that you were unable to have children and ironically your daughter was out there believing that her mother didn't want her," she laughed. Regina clenched her fists tightly, she was pretty sure that the nails cut her skin, but in that moment she couldn't bring herself to care, all she cared about was the fact that after all of these years, her mother was finally telling her the truth.

"Becoming apprenticed to the Mad Hatter, she went on to become more powerful, more ruthless, but she was still the same little girl who longed for her 'imaginary friend.'"

"Stop," Regina breathed as her mother finally confirmed just who her daughter was, that she had spent the last months being truly happy with her flesh and blood and never knowing it.

"You asked me here to tell you the truth," Cora sneered, "Considering how far you have strayed from my ideals for you, I see no harm giving you what you want. Where was I…ah yes, she took Jefferson on as her apprentice and used him to do all the menial jobs that she didn't deem worth her while. Of course I was under the impression that a child left in the woods would not survive long, but she had the uncanny ability to cross realms on a whim and for reason that I cannot fathom, she chose this dismal land and stayed here long enough for the foster care system to destroy her in the same way it did your dear girlfriend."

The younger woman scowled deeply at the apparition, "What does any of these have to do with the Jabberwocky?"

"Clearly patience is not a virtue that the savior taught you," she chuckled and then continued under her daughter's exasperated gaze, "I was of course more than surprised that my granddaughter was very much alive and intent upon making you a part of her life. The Jabberwocky was happy to help me with that issue, though her incompetence knows no bounds. Simply maiming the child was not what I asked for, but then I suppose I should have warned her that she's a realm hopper, and apparently a time jumper considering how convinced I was of her death."

Regina blinked a few times as the missing pieces in the story were falling into place, even if they were forming a disturbing picture, at least they had the picture.

Gripping the table she heard a loud knocking at the wall behind her, followed closely by the somewhat comforting sound of Emma's voice, "Regina?! What's going on?!"

"You hid all this from me because it was inconvenient?"

"You have always been foolish Regina, but cheating on your husband with that genie was a new level. I must admit that it was difficult to conceal the pregnancy from your kingdom and its king, but ultimately I would say that it was worth it, no matter how much you shortened your own reign by."

"You…" Regina trailed off, she couldn't even think of a word strong enough, at least not one her mother would understand.

"Come now, dear, Daniella turned out quite well, if you don't include the severe emotional distress she lived through, she may actually be more powerful than you."

"Daniella?" Regina choked out, she knew that was exactly what she would have named her daughter, and the thought that the daughter had existed all this time was physically hurting her in that moment.

"It is quite a nice name isn't it? Shame her adoptive mother opted to change it to Dawn."

Regina took in a sharp intake of breath as her mother finally admitted just who her daughter was, though it was more than obvious to her now, saying it out loud somehow made it official. It made it official that she had failed her daughter, it made the fact that she had taken her chance of a loving adoptive mother all the more repugnant.

Through her tears she didn't notice the crashing sound behind her, only turning when she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Under Emma's questioning gaze, she looked back over at the opposite seat and sighed in relief when she saw her mother was gone.

"Are you okay?"

Regina nodded with a sad smile and stood up, "I believe I need a remembrance potion."

Madison huffed into her third cup of coffee. She drove all night to get here and didn't want to fall asleep in a diner full of strangers who looked at her constantly. She noted one person in particular staring at her: Granny. The older woman had offered her a cup coffee after probably seeing her nod a little. Ever since, she had been keeping an eye on her not as any kind of precaution. She made a mental note to ask Dawn about it later.

Speaking of Dawn, it was starting to feel like her friend may have ditched her. Seemed unlikely but she wouldn't be surprised if it was payback for cutting all their phone calls longer times Dawn would've mentioned that something had happened between she and Regina. All this time her friend was feeling betrayed and probably many other emotions and she had no clue.

She sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. So wasn't getting the best friend award this year. Before anymore thoughts about being a terrible friend arose, someone slipped into the booth ahead of her.

"Hello," Madison said skeptically.

"Hi. You must be Dawn's friend," Belle asked.

"Does news really travel that fast around here?" Madison chuckled lightly.

"Somewhat…I just smell her on you," Belle admitted rather quickly. Only in passing did Regina mention that the young woman was aware of the town's origin story.

"Smell?" Madison frowned with the urge to sniff at herself. Her expression smoothed out at the snickering in front of her. Then she realized what that meant. "Oh…you're Ruby."

"Actually, no. That would be my girlfriend," Belle said and put out her hand. "I'm Belle. Also werewolf."

"Of course," Madison almost squeaked, she couldn't help but wonder just how long it would take to get used to this crap, though she knew she would eventually considering that she would never leave Dawn no matter how crazy things got.

Belle smirked slightly at her reaction, and said, "From what Regina told Ruby about you, I honestly thought that you would be here sooner."

Madison nodded, she had searched Storybrooke on the internet a couple times, though she had put the lack of results down to the fact that it was such a small town, she now knew the real reason, because technically this place didn't exist.

"It's a good thing I didn't try," she laughed, "I would have been driving through the forest for a few hours."

Silence fell between them and finally Madison said, "Isn't the beauty not supposed to be the beast?…no offense."

Belle laughed and shook her head, "It's alright, the beast was my ex-husband, it turns out that it isn't the best of ideas to expect someone to change."

"Why? People change all the time."

Belle furrowed her brow and asked, "What do you mean?"

"Well Dawn never trusted anyone except me, but after a few months with Regina it was almost like she was a new person. Once we sort out this crapfest of a situation, she will be happier than she's ever been."

"What makes you so sure that this situation can be rectified?" Belle asked.

Madison was satisfied as she noted the genuine concern etched upon the woman's face, she had always wished to see an adult have that look for Dawn and in this town she felt as if Dawn had more people than anyone could ever wish for. All she needed now was to stop her best friend from being stubborn, and she would do anything that it took to make sure that it happened.

"I would like to think that the universe has already thrown too much at her, it seems unfair that in a place full of magic she still gets the short straw."

"Did you question why she asked you here?" Belle asked.

Madison shook her head, "All she had to do was ask me to come, but I would assume that there was a reason, why?"

Belle shrugged and looked over at the counter where Ruby would have been if she hadn't been at the shelter today and replied honestly, "Both Ruby and I wish for everything to go back to the way it was and I feel rather useless at the moment."

"You want to help?" Madison asked cautiously.

Belle nodded adamantly, and the younger woman asked what had been on her mind for a while, "Just how bad was the Evil Queen?"

Belle was silent for a moment and thought how best to answer the question. She couldn't deny that in the past she had no love for Regina, she had certainly not appreciated her years of solitude just because Regina was playing some game against her former mentor. But then, she understood how Rumple had the ability to send one past their breaking point and she had no doubt that he had done exactly that while trying to change Regina into the Evil Queen.

"The Evil Queen was…well evil," she said evenly.

Madison nodded and said, "And Regina?"

Belle felt a rush of relief as it occurred to her that the other woman saw Regina and the Evil Queen as two separate entities, just as most the people in town now did.

Before she could reply, the bell ringing out announced the arrival of a new diner patron. Out of habit, Belle turned and was met with the downtrodden expression on Dawn's face as she came over to the pair.

"About time," Madison said jokingly, "What could have possibly been more important than me?"

A small smile tugged at the corner of Dawn's lips, and then she turned to Belle offering her a sad smile. On instinct Belle knew exactly what her mate's pup needed and stood to accept the hug that Dawn instantly threw herself into. Though Dawn was Ruby's 'pup', Belle had come to recognize the signs of the girl's emotions. After all, anything that bothered her girlfriend, bothered her too. Without the need for words, Dawn somehow conveyed a 'thank you' for the librarian's unwavering support and then extracted herself from the lycanthrope's arms.

Madison stood from the booth and threw some bills on the table, waiting patiently for the moment to be over. Once Dawn turned to her, she offered the older woman a smile to which Belle returned, and then went to talk to Granny who looked very curious.

"So…" Madison began.

"I have something to show you, but I need to explain something to you."

"If you're talking about the fairy-tale stuff, I've already been told," Madison laughed.

Relief past over Dawn's face, before it crumpled in concentration, "Who told you?"

"Er…Belle," she lied.

"Then why do you look so…normal if she only just told you?"

"She talked to me earlier, she just came back to see if I was alright," she laughed, a sign Dawn knew to mean that her friend was lying. Deciding that she had more important things to take care of, she just nodded and began to lead Madison away from the diner.

Madison followed in silence trying to think what her best friend could possibly have in mind, she had no doubt that it had something to do with finding out about her past. As much as it pained her, she now knew that there was much she didn't know about the younger girl, but she was determined to not be scared away, no matter how weird it got.

Finally they came to a stop near the edge of the forest, Madison looked around to see that they were officially out of sight of everyone in the town, "You know this is a rather elaborate plan, if you wanted to murder me you could have at least been decent about it and let people find my body. I am your best friend."

Dawn rolled her eyes and replied, "Shut up, this is serious."

"Tell me what's going on and I'll be serious," Madison insisted.

The younger of the two nodded and pulled out the familiar compass, and Madison decided not to even mention that Dawn hadn't even scratched off the 'D.M.'

Closing her eyes in concentration, Dawn began to whisper and a moment later, a swirling vortex appeared in the ground.

Madison paled, this was certainly harder to comprehend than the little fire ball that Regina had shown her, at least she could try and pretend that it was fake for a second.

"I need you to come with me," Dawn explained. "I can trust you."

The older girl nodded without hesitation and grabbed her hand, stepping forward at the same time she distinctly felt as if she was falling down the rabbit hole, her twisting stomach certainly felt like a second later, however, she felt herself drop onto something incredibly soft but soon slid off as it wasn't meant to be sat on it.

She stood up rubbing at the back of her thigh, looking down at its multi-colored surface, she asked, "Is this supposed to be a mushroom?"

Beside her Dawn nodded as she stood. She inspected her surroundings, suddenly feeling a multitude of memories begging to come forward, "Yeah, they're everywhere in Wonderland."

How many of you already guessed it?