Chapter 3

Centuries ago

Her natural light golden-brown hair stood out along with her emerald eyes when the Dark One Rumpelstiltskin sent her away from the Enchanted Forest to another realm. When she opened her eyes after she was forcibly sent into a portal, all she saw was forest. One endless forest. She gets herself up slowly, regaining her position that was slightly dizzying. She didn't know where she was, the only stories that she heard from her father was only one place that has such vast forest, Neverland. She looked if anything looked like the Dreamshade, figuring if there was anything like it then she would know where she is. However, the plants here seemed normal. There were no lethal plants that she can recall, not even Dreamshade, so all she knows is that she was not at Neverland.

But where is she?

A couple of footsteps as she crosses inside the forest, she hears twigs, not knowing what to expect. She then finds herself confused as she sees a bow and arrow lying on the base of a tree stump, she goes towards it as she feels the weapon luring her to get it. She gets the bow and arrow and the pull that she felt is now gone. The twigs, the sounds of the forest life immediately take over as the sound becomes longer. She is befuddled as to what's going on and takes a breath of air, only to find that it was only a squirrel. She doesn't do anything to it for squirrels are harmless however when she sees it leaving away, she suddenly gets a message.

A note that wasn't there before. It says: Welcome to the realm of The Ebon Forest visitor, as you didn't kill the squirrel, let this note be your guide of what you will face. The Ebon Forest is the homes to all kinds of creatures, all that is non magical to the mythical and the unheard-of animals are all here. Once you entered here you no longer age, as this is an ageless realm. To survive in this realm, in this island of forest, is to kill all animals. This extraordinary realm is all about survival. When the challenges get harder you will get a new weapon that will be potent to killing the animals, be wise to not lose any of your weapons or else. Very few have gone out and it takes centuries to get out from all the creatures that we have. Heed this warning or not is your choice.

The note ends and she can't help but be shocked at what the note says about the realm, of what she's forced to do. She wanted to cry. She's not a fighter. She cares too much about any living thing, human, animals, magical creatures. She's an empath and feels for everything and knows that this is going to be a challenge for her. Looks like the Dark One, Rumpelstiltskin, chose the right realm for her, she thinks sarcastically, placing someone like her who is delicate to put her with ruffian creatures. She doesn't know if she can do it, can make through the forest and survive. However, she's a Jones and her family is all about surviving. Her parents taught her to how to use weapons even though she doesn't like using it to maim or kill someone. She hasn't done that yet and now she has no choice but to survive and kill every animal that is here. She can do it… right?

Present

When Emma and Mary Margaret were finally out of the Enchanted Forest, they found themselves in a dry well. They quickly deposit themselves out of the well to find Henry, Ruby, Regina, and Mr. Gold standing there looking at them. Henry immediately engulfed them in a hug as did Ruby after that, they parted slightly and hear of what is going on. Henry said that Regina saved them, they look to her as she explains, that she believed her mother would be coming through the portal and decided to protect Henry by killing her, however Henry persuaded her to stop the curse believing that it wouldn't be Cora coming through but his mom and grandma.

Now with that finished they all ran out of the woods to Mr. Gold's shop where Mary Margaret wakes up her husband. Then life was good now for everyone except for one, Emma Swan.

While everyone was happy and relieved, Emma was not. She couldn't help to glare at Mary Margaret for not letting see Killian's reaction and seeing if he was going to come or not with them through the portal. She didn't get an answer, it all happened so fast that she didn't know what to feel. Scratch that she knows what she feels, she is sad and… heartbroken? She rubs where her heart is, where the pull was between her and him. The pull is still there, but very faint. She should've been relived but she's not. She wonders why and doesn't find the answer or in actuality she knows what it is however not willing to admit it.

They got back to the apartment as Emma goes to her side of the room and grabs a different set of clothes and heads the bathroom to get a shower. She was glad she got there first before Mary Margaret as she needs a shower. Not because of the long days and nights spent in the Enchanted Forest, but processing everything that happened with Killian Jones then try to forget it even though she found it fruitless. She didn't talk to anyone besides telling everyone that she was fine and that the Enchanted Forest was okay. She doesn't really want to talk about it and then when she was finally at peace Mary Margaret told her that their friends were planning to do a welcome back dinner, tomorrow night. She only nodded and cursed in her mind.

Her first night back and she slept through the night. When the next day came, all she could do was wait for dinner to come fast, as she just wanted it to get it over with. Throughout the day the only thing she can concentrate on was her vivid dreams. If she can call them dreams that is when it wasn't. For the first time she saw memories. Memories of her and Killian, sometimes with Liam, and then her daughter. They were all clustered around seeing images of her past, seeing the scenes that barely last five minutes as they kept changing. When she woke, she thought that she would've toss and turned during the night when the memories were playing however, she was surprised that it didn't. The most shocking thing that she learned from last night to prove that it was all real was Henry. Her last dreams of memory were Henry. From leaving the Enchanted Forest then coming back here to meet Neal until her memories of when she was in jail giving birth. For that memory showed her that Neal wasn't Henry's father but instead her husband's.

The day went by fast thank goodness and soon the sunset would pass, and the welcome back dinner begins. Everyone came at the right time including Regina who came in a little bit late, she smiles that she's here until she sees Mary Margaret's reaction along with everyone else's. They were clearly taken back, and she only responded that she helped them come home. Her friend that she still can't see as a mother tried to make a defense however was thwarted back when she wanted to kill Cora, not them. She tried to do the right thing end of story and the party continues with everyone being wary at first then slowly but gradually feels comfortable with Reigna's presence.

Nothing much really happened, Emma talked to some people however she mostly ate in silence with her running thoughts going from one thought to another. Eventually someone asked the complete story of what happened at the Enchanted Forest. Mary Margaret easily told the story, trying to describe every little thing, everything that includes from running into Captain Hook to Lake Nostos. She ignores it all and silently refutes that it's not Captain Hook but Killian Jones. Making him a villain instantly and oh of course Mary Margaret just has to add something wrong with him whenever with Emma. People stare at her, she still ignores. She rubs her forehead trying to not to forget images from last night that she is forcing herself to see. It doesn't work much to her annoyance then suddenly she feels her heart.

The pull that was like a tug of rope suddenly lured itself back, making her to take a breath of air or else she'll collapse. One moment the tug was very faint then all in one second it comes slamming into her. She closes her eyes and then opens them as she puts her right hand at her heart and rubs it. In a blink of an eye before she places a thought in her mind about the whys of what is happening, she knows and discreetly smiles a real yet short smile.

He's here.

Only one person paid attention to what's happening to Emma Swan. Mother Superior though known as Reul Ghorm or most known as the Blue Fairy. She paid attention to Emma the most when Snow was talking about the Enchanted Forest, and she can tell that the savior is ignoring everything around her. She seemed to be troubled that is until she sees the magic around the savior's heart. At first it was very faint as she can see and swiftly, she can see it crystal clear understanding the state she's in. That the savior is cursed and knows her true love is near. She can see the pull it's buzzing something that she has never seen before in the entirety of her life as a Fairy, it's puzzling and yet fascinating not knowing what this means. As she keeps watching Emma, the pull gets closer, the magic burns brighter and then she sees the savior get up and leave the diner, following the pull of magic.

Minutes later Emma couldn't contain her emotions no longer as she feels the pull becoming stronger, as if he's closer, and decides right there out by whim to find him. This time she goes to him. When leaving the diner, she was still ignoring everyone, and everything save for the tug. When she pasts the entrance/exit of the diner she changes her pace to walk a bit faster and follows her heart. Not even less than five minutes later her heart bursts when she sees Killian Jones walking at the sidewalk on her side as he goes toward her. She practically runs to him and not taking the surroundings around her. If she did then she would've known that her parents, Mary Margaret and David were behind her a couple of a paces back as they hide themselves once it's clear they see a shadow of an outline of a figure one that Mary Margaret knows as Captain Hook.

"This is different, Swan," Killian says, "you jumping to me. Nearly frightened me love however I sense that something has changed."

At first Emma blushes as she did nearly jump onto him. "I did not jump; I ran to you."

"Same thing love." She rolls her eyes.

"I believe." She simply states and as Killian looks, he can see it in her eyes, where there is no doubt, no hesitations, or asking any questions why. The words were powerful as she says the next words, "I'm ready."

"What changed?" he asked with a contemplative face.

"As I left through the portal, I was thinking about you. I think something happened as I was leaving the portal because when I went to sleep last night, I was getting memories of the life I had with you." She takes a pause.

"I feel that you're leaving out something important love." He acknowledged accurately.

She couldn't help to blush because he was right. She takes a breath and says "the fight on Lake Nostos when you dropped the sword. Look no one's done something like that to me never. I was in shock and then when I dropped my sword when I saw the compass, I knew that everything changed. I knew that I could trust you, that I believe in you. However, the instant when I got back here, I was heartbroken, and I knew the reason why. I love you."

Killian couldn't help to grin and say, "Would you say that again, love?"

"You don't need me repeat it again Killian." Emma says looking at him and she can't help to see his grin, knowing she was going to fall, she then sighs and shakes her head. "Okay, I love you Killian." She waits for a moment and then remarks, "can you please kiss me now?"

"Is that what you want?"

"Yes, I've been waiting for you to kiss me pirate."

"Bossy."

"Just kiss me."

"As you wish."

He leans into Emma, taking in her scent as he moves his right hand to fix one of Emma's blonde tresses behind her ears with care. When that was done, his hand moves to her waist, touching her waist as if he's holding her then he moves his face and looks at Emma, seeing this cursed Emma for the last time etching it to mind for safekeeping. Their eyes closes and he kisses her softly that was filled with tenderness. It felt like a chaste kiss, but it wasn't as their kiss lingers on in the dark night at the middle of the road where their only witnesses are Mary Margaret and David when a gentle warmth emanates from them and engulfs the town.

They slowly pull apart as Emma finds her balances as surges of memories engulf her. She holds on to her husband Killian and when she takes a breath a moment later, she looks up to see her husband's eyes on hers. When he says, "welcome back love."