Back in the Enchanted Forest

When the magic of the curse dissipated, Emily opened her eyes and looked around. She saw they were now in the woods, dressed in the same clothes they were wearing when they left the Enchanted Forest. Charming's shirt still had blood stains from where the Black Knights stabbed him. They were standing in front of a small pavilion and there was also a young man and woman who were surprised to see them, "Snow?" asked the woman, "What happened?"

"We're back," said Snow White, sadly.

The woman was Princess Aurora and the man was Prince Phillip. Aurora had helped Emma and Snow when they were in the Enchanted Forest about a year before. Regina, Emily, and Hook were standing to the side of the pavilion, as Snow and Charming told Aurora and Phillip what was going on, "How've things been since we left?" asked Snow, "The Ogres?"

"Defeated," said Aurora, "We're restoring our kingdom and our lives."

"And congratulations," said Snow.

Aurora smiled, "Is it that obvious?"

"You are glowing."

"Why is she pregnant and I'm the one who's sick?" asked Regina, as she stepped away.

"Regina…" said Emily.

"We have much to celebrate," said Phillip, "And know that you and your friends are welcome in our kingdom. If you need anything we're at your service."

"Thank you, but all we need is horses," said Charming, "We have our own kingdom. Our own castle."

Snow put a hand on her husband's shoulder, "Our castle was destroyed in the curse," she remined him.

"Well played, Your Majesty," said Hook, "You laid waste to everything," Emily and Regina glared at the pirate.

"Not everything. Her castle still stands," said Aurora.

"Of course it does. I protected it," said Regina.

"Well, technically, the castle doesn't belong to her. It was Snow's before she took it," said Charming.

"Well, to be fair, I married into it," said Regina.

"That you did," said Snow, "And now, we're taking it back." She stepped up over to Regina and Emily, "And both of you are coming with us."

"You can't be serious," said Regina.

"Everyone out there is scared and confused. They need hope. What better way to do that then to return united? You're coming with us. I know you don't like it. You'll learn to. For our good. For yours"

Emily hated to agree with Snow but she had a point. She nodded. Charming looked at Phillip and Aurora, "Thank you again for your hospitality. We should begin preparations."

Phillip and Charming shook hands and Phillip said, "Good luck to all of you." Then, Charming, Snow, Regina, Emily and Hook walked away to prepare for their journey.

A while later they were heading out, Hook wasn't joining them though. He decided to head out on his own and find the Jolly Roger. The group was walking through the woods with Snow, Charming and Emily at the front. Snow and Charming were each of leading a horse. While Emily was riding, "Regina's castle is just beyond the mountains," said Snow

"I think you mean our castle."

"That's going to take some getting used to. The last time I was there was just after my father's death. And I've always dreamed of returning. I just never imagined it would be with Regina by our side."

Emily smiled. She was glad that Snow was willing to give her and Regina a chance. Just then, Grumpy came up to them, "I wouldn't count on that, sister. The Queen… she's missing."

The rest of the group rested while Snow and Emily went to look for Regina. Thanks to Snow's tracking skills they found her very easily. When they saw her, Regina was using a knife to dig a hole in the ground. "What are you doing?" asked Snow.

"So, now you're following me?" sighed Regina.

"We were worried."

"And it looks like we were right to be," said Emily, "What are you burying?

"Nothing that concerns you."

"And why does that make me think it does?" asked Emily, "What have you done?" Just then Emily saw the glimpse of something red. "Is that a heart?"

"Go away!" said Regina, as she buried it.

"It's your heart, isn't it?" asked Snow.

"I'm not having this conversation with you."

Emily stepped forward, "I know you miss Henry.

Regina stood up, "Not as much as I did when that was still beating in my chest."

"This isn't the answer, Regina. You can't just bury your heart in the woods."

"Watch me," said Regina, as she went back burying her heart.

"You won't feel better. You won't feel anything."

"That's the point," said Regina, as she stood back up, "I can't keep walking around knowing that I'll never see Henry, that he doesn't even remember who I am."

"I know exactly how you're feeling. I miss Henry just as much as you. I've lost just about everyone I've ever truly cared about in my life…. Henry, my brother, my parents, your father… So, I know that you will get better. But only if you have that," said Emily, as she pointed to Regina's heart.

Snow stepped forward, "I just said good-bye to my daughter. For the second time. Henry, too. So, I know how you're feeling, too. And I know that your heart might be causing you pain, but I promise you, it will let you feel something else soon enough."

"What's that?" asked Regina.

"The one thing Henry always wanted you to find. Happiness."

"I can't be happy without him."

"Find a way. For Henry."

Regina sighed. She knew Emily and Snow were both right. She bent down and picked up her heart. Then she pushed it back in her chest. She gasped as it was restored into her body. She looked at her friend and her stepdaughter and said, "Now… let's get back to our castle." The three of them walked away. They took a few steps when Snow and Emily heard some rustling in a bush and then there was a blast of wind.

"Did you hear that?" asked Snow. Regina turned back at them and Snow continued, "There was something there. In that bush."

Regina checked behind the bush, "There's nothing here, unless it flew away."

Emily looked up in the sky and saw something flying toward them, "It did!"

It was flying against the sun so they couldn't really see what it was but it was big and they could hear it screeching.

"We need to find cover!" said Snow.

"No," said Regina, "I don't run from monsters.," she formed a fireball in her hand, "They run from me." She threw the fireball at the creature but it turned just in time to avoid getting hit.

The creature dove at them and Snow shouted, "Regina!" as they all hit the ground. The creature grabbed Regina and started to fly away with her, "Regina!" Shouted Emily and Snow. They both jumped up and were able to break her free of the creature's grip. The claw of the beast tore the sleeve of Regina's dress and scratched her arm. "It's too fast," said Snow as they got back up.

"Well, I'm open to suggestions," said Regina.

Then they heard a man shout out, "Get down!" The three women hit the dirt as a arrow hit the creature in the shoulder. It shrieked in pain and flew away. Then a man came out from behind them hold his hand out, and said, "Milady," He saw the scratch on Regina's arm, "You're injured."

"It's Your Majesty," said Regina, "And I'm fine."

"A simple thank you would suffice," said the man.

"We didn't ask for your help," said Regina, as she stood.

"Well, I'm grateful for the assistance," said Snow, as she took the man's and he helped her up.

Then, he offered a hand to Emily, "Thank you," said Emily, as he helped her up.

The man shook Emily's hand, "Robin," then he shook Snow's hand, "Robin of Locksley." Then he turned to the other men he was with, "And these are a few of my Merry Men."

"Lady Emily," said Emily, as she introduced herself.

"Snow White," said Snow, as she introduced herself.

"At last we meet," said Robin, "You know, there was a time when our faces graced Wanted posters side by side."

A larger man looked Regina and Emily, "If you're really Snow White, why are you with them?"

"Them?" said Regina, "Show some respect. Or at least some restraint at the buffet."

"You'll have to excuse Little John, but before you cursed this land we spent many a day running from your Black Knights."

"Well, I'm sure you deserved it…"

"Regina," said Emily. She looked up in the sky, "What the hell was that thing?"

"I have no idea," said Robin, "We've never encountered the likes of it before." They heard it screech in the distance.

"Come on," said Snow, "This way. We need to warn the others."

They met back up with Charming and the others and told them about what happened with the creature. Robin and his Merry Men agreed to join them on their journey to the castle. Regina watched as Robin talked with Neal and Belle, as they walked. Then, she looked at Snow and asked "So, what do you think of our new friend? Can we trust him? He is a thief."

"Think of it from his perspective," said Snow, "How do you think he looks at you?"

"Point taken."

"He's kind of cute, huh?" said Emily.

"He smells like forest," said Regina.

They were close to the castle they reached a crossroad where a path lead to the castle. They could see it in the distance when they saw some brush blocking the path. "Look!" said Charming.

"What happened?" asked Snow.

"That's exactly what I'm about to find out," said Regina. She walked up to the line of brush and touched the air about fit and a wall of green magic appeared, "A protection spell. The entire castle is encircled by it."

"Didn't you do this?" asked Charming, "Undo it."

"Well, don't you think, if I could I'd be half way home by now?" said Regina, as she walked up to the others, "No, someone hijacked it.

"Who?" asked Emily, "Who's in there?"

"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out whoever 's eating my porridge. Nobody sits in my chair. Nobody takes our castle."

"Hey," said Charming, "We've got a lot of people looking to us. They're scared and rightfully so. Let's get them to safety first."

"They'll be safe when whoever is in there is dead," said Regina.

"Rushing in there is a bad plan, Regina," said Emily, "You know that."

"I can offer save harbor in Sherwood Forest," said Robin, "It's not far. We can offer food, shelter, and a thick canopy no creature will spy you under."

"Do you have weapons?" asked Charming.

"We're lousy with them," said Robin.

"Fine," said Regina, "Lead the way. But we're coming back. And whoever did this… is going to suffer."

"Regina, it's our home," said Snow, "We'll make it safe again."

One Year Later…

When the magic of the curse dissipated, Emily opened her eyes and was shocked to find herself in her bedroom in back in Storybrooke. She got up and looked out the window and saw it looked like another normal morning in Storybrooke. "The hell?"

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