A/N: Hello guys! Super excited to get back into this story and for you guys to see what journey the characters go on next! This is the second book so please read the first book 'Not so Once Upon a Time' first to understand

Gideon Gold

I had just awoken from a nightmare. The nightmare was about Robin and Neal. Neal had been killed by Fiona, and Robin had been killed by a person I couldn't recognize, but I couldn't do anything.. I was being held back.

It's only been twelve hours since the ball, but what happened to the two of them is already starting to haunt me.

Charlie and her uncle had shown me nothing but kindness, and I should be grateful, but instead, all I felt was annoyance.

I had the power to stop it. I had magic for God's sake! But now they're gone, and it's my fault.

This is my price.

Charlie kept telling me that if anyone is at fault, then she is too. But there's nothing she could've done to prevent it.

I opened my eyes after what felt that (and probably was) hours of laying there, the sun beaming into my face immediately.

I turn away from the window and rub my eyes. Maybe if I rub them hard enough I'll walk downstairs to Neal and Robin eating breakfast down there.

Unfortunately, that was not the case. I had walked downstairs after minutes of reluctantly getting out of bed, only to find Peter Howells. Unlike her uncle, Charlie was nowhere in sight.

"Your breakfast is on the counter, but it might be cold," Peter stated lazily. He sounded as if he had just woken up too.

I grab my plate and scan both the kitchen and the living room to see if Charlie was around.

"If you're looking for Charlie," Peter began as if he was reading my mind. "She went to town. She had an appointment of some sort."

I wondered about what her appointment could be, but then I realized it could be for.. lady things. So I stopped wondering.

I just wanted to thank her and say goodbye.. Because I'm going to go find Neal. At least I know where he went. It's my fault he got captured, it's my responsibility to rescue him.

Even if it means I have to go back to the place I never wanted to step foot into again.

I grip my plate as my thoughts consume me. I want to tear down my grandma's castle and not be there to see her wrath. I want her to feel as much anger towards me as I do her.

I tried to gently place my plate on the table, but I ended up throwing it down with a ton of force. It caused me to receive a look from Peter.

"Sorry," I murmured and ate my food in silence.

Peter didn't say anything either, until he did, "If you don't want to stay here, you don't have to. I like having help with the work, but you're free to leave at any time."

So he enjoys having me as a slave? I nodded, not wanting to make conversation but I guessed I had to socialize.

"Did you and your wife have any children?" I wasn't sure why I asked. There weren't any pictures of kids, there weren't any rooms, there weren't even any here.

Peter shook his head, a sad look appearing on his face. "Nah, we couldn't.. Madeleine wanted kids, though. She was over the moon when Charlie was born. She's the closest thing either of us had to a daughter."

I didn't mind listening to him talk about his wife. He seemed happier when he did, so I didn't interrupt. At least he can talk about someone he loves and not burst into tears.. If I talked about Roderick right now, I would probably break.

"That's why I don't mind having a wanted murderous criminal in my house," He joked. "Emmeline and Jebediah raised Charlie well. If she trusts you, it's fine."

Murderous criminal... "Is that what the posters are calling me now?"

"They love to exaggerate it. They get them more gold," Peter explained, but I didn't feel reassured.

Once the sun rose more, it shined right through the kitchen window and onto the fruit bowl that was placed in the center of the table. I wondered what miracle happened that allowed Charlie to attend an appointment so early.

"Do you need me to do the dishes?" I asked Peter once I finished my meal. I was always the one so disgusted by doing the chores around this cottage, but I needed something to do with my hands before I ended up pushing my nails into my palms.

That was an old habit I picked up years ago- It started as physical pain I caused myself so I could focus on that instead of the dagger-sharp words Fiona would throw at me.

And I needed something to focus on rather than Robin, Neal, or Roderick- So dishes it is.

"It's fine, I can do-"

I cut off Peter's hospitality with a desperate "Please, just let me do them..."

I could practically feel the sympathetic look Peter Howell was giving me. "Well, I'm not going to say no to someone who's insisting. Just make sure the water is hot instead of cold."

Peter retreated to who knows where as I turned the faucet on, letting the water cool as I gathered the rest of the dirty dishes that were around the downstairs area.

I began to wash them as Fiona had taught me. The memory of her doing so began to fill my brain, but I pushed it back. I don't want to think about her.

I sat a plate down and just let the water run over my hands. It felt so nice, and I began to not worry over everything. I could only think about the water on my hands. The moment was short-lived as soon as Charlie entered the cottage.

"I'm back!" She called out as if I wasn't in the room next to the door. I don't think she saw me because I heard her running up the stairs moments after. I went back to focusing on my task- Only a few more dishes left, and then I needed to find another distraction. Or maybe now that Charlie is back, I can devise a plan.

I whipped the dishes clean and just sort of sat them aside. I didn't know where any of them were supposed to go, so what was I supposed to do?

Charlie came back down the stairs. "Oh! I was wondering where you were." She started to walk towards me.

"I've been here.. All morning."

Charlie nodded slightly and started leaning against the kitchen table. "How are you feeling?"

"You don't have to ask me that every morning, Charlie." I didn't mean to be bitchy about it, but I hate that question. 'How are you feeling?' 'Are you okay?' 'How are you doing? 'I'm always obligated to say 'I'm fine' otherwise, it feels rude.

Charlie pressed her lips together. "Right, uh, sorry. But I have an idea I wanted to run by you, actually-"

Before she could share her idea, someone burst in through the front door. My first instinct was to hide. I crawled under the table, thinking that it was Fiona or her goonies coming to take me next.

"Charlotte Madeleine Flynn!" A woman hair identical to Charlie's stormed in. A dark-haired man followed swiftly behind her, and it wasn't hard to conclude that those are Emmeline and Jebediah. Charlie's parents.

Charlie turned to her mother with a shocked expression. "Maman! I didn't think you two would be back so soon."

"Oh, yeah. We were back so soon. Do you know how worried your father and I were when we heard about the fire? When we arrived back at the cottage to see it burnt to ash?" Emmeline Flynn was hysterical as she pulled Charlie into a hug. Jebediah Flynn just looked at the two relieved, but I couldn't help but stare at Charlie and her mom hugging.

Motherly affection is something I knew Robin, Neal, and I always craved. The closest thing I ever got to it was the aggressive touches Fiona gave me, but I know those don't count.

I slowly raised myself from behind the table when I realized It was safe. Peter ran into the room next, and I suddenly felt like I was intruding on an important family reunion, but they hadn't noticed me.. And I don't want to be noticed. So I stayed put.

Once Charlie and Emmeline were finished with their hug, Emmeline turned her attention to Peter.

"Peter Howells!" She yelled and threw one of the couch pillows at him. My jaw dropped but Charlie was behind her, trying to hold back a giggle.

As Emmeline was making her round on Peter, I looked back over to Charlie's dad to see how he was reacting.

But then we made eye contact because he had already been looking over at me. Now that he's seen that he's gotten my attention, he began to walk toward me, but Peter stopped him before he could get any further. Emmeline wasn't throwing pillows anymore.

I don't know what look Peter was giving him, but Jebediah glanced from Peter to me, to back to Peter again. "Is that..?"

The guy from the posters. I knew he would say.

"Gideon, yes. From the posters. But he's harmless."

I'm not harmless. I could end him where he stands right now, but that's too much of a debacle to clean up.

"Gideon? Okay," Jebediah looked over at me once again. "Are you alright, Gideon?"

Never mind.

No, I'm not alright, but I still don't fully trust Charlie, let alone her dad. I'm not going to rant to him about my problems. I also feel like a sarcastic response would fit here, but my brain can't seem to formulate one right now.

All I do is shrug. "I suppose."

Jebediah didn't argue with my lazy response. "What about the other two?"

I almost flinched. "Not here."

"Père," Charlie sent her dad a warning look, one that was saying 'Don't push it.'

Don't push it.. That gave me a reckless idea.

I'm gonna go and push my luck.

"It's fine, Charlie," I said to her and looked toward the back door. "I'm gonna go... Garden."

I sped walked away before anyone could protest. I felt how my magic was stirring in my hands from anticipation. The idea was incautious, but I couldn't just wait for Neal to walk through the door.

I was going to break him out. Then I'm going to find Robin.

I headed straight toward the tree Robin and I had practiced our magic on. The poor tree is going to have to feel my anger again.

I closed my eyes and did the first spell I could think of. I threw an orb at the tree, hard and fast. I watched as it sizzled off the tree before throwing another one.

My brain was thinking about so much- It was thinking about what Neal would say if he saw me doing this (He would look at me confused and ask why I can't just scream, and I would reply with this isn't going to damage my vocal cords, charming), how Robin could've been here doing it with me if I had just held on. What Fiona could be doing to Neal right now. Where Robin went. All the abuse Fiona made me endure. The orbs were flying out of my hands now, hot tears streaming down my cheeks until I eventually snapped.. And the tree broke off its roots and fell back.

"Jesus Christ," I mumbled, but I couldn't not think about how powerful that felt.

Because I'm angry, and I can't hold it back.. And Fiona is going to fucking feel it.

All of my belongings (which isn't a lot) are being aggressively thrown into this small bag. It's so small that I had to use a spell from the spellbook to make the inside of it bigger, but I couldn't let anyone know I was leaving. I knew no one would let me go if they knew where I was going.

The sun had barely risen. The sunrise was pretty today, but I didn't have time to admire it. I needed a head start. I wish I had Robin's bow, though. I feel much more reassured.

Once I made sure I had everything, I quietly walked down to the kitchen to get some food.

And then I froze because Charlie was already awake.. At the buttcrack of dawn.

Her eyes flicked from whatever she was drinking to me. "Where are you going?"

"To town." The lie was half-assed. I hadn't planned on running into anyone on my way out.

Charlie's gaze went to my bag. "Nothing in town opens for a few more hours."

"I figured I could get a hike in."

Charlie sighed. "You're going after Neal, aren't you?"

"No. I'm going on a hike."

"Gideon."

"Fine! I am." My shoulders relaxed out of defeat. I hadn't even noticed they tensed up. That's probably how Charlie could tell I was lying.. She's smart like that.

Charlie sat her mug down on the table. "Okay. What's your plan?"

"My.. Plan?"

"Yes.. Your plan."

I didn't have a plan. I was just going to get in, get Neal, get out and hope for the best. Maybe if my luck was great, I wouldn't have to see my grandmother.. But that seemed unlikely.

"Get in and get out and don't die." That is what I answered.

Charlie pressed the palm of her hand to her forehead. "It's too early for this. Was it that easy when you three escaped?"

"... No."

She nodded. "I'm coming with you, then."

Neal would find a way to kill me from Fiona's castle if I let her come. "Uh, no. You're not."

"Yes, I am. Fiona isn't after-" I noticed her flatter, but I didn't point it out. "Fiona wants you. She wouldn't suspect me there."

"Or she could take you too, and then we would both be stuck."

"It would be more reasonable for the two of us to go and you know it."

I tried to think of an argument, but I eventually caved in. "Is there anything I can say that would make you stay here?"

"Nope."

"Okay, well... You can come, but if anything happens to you, that's on you and not me."

She grinned despite how I just some-what insulted her. I won't apologize, though. I'm right.

"Great. I'm already packed."

I scrunched my nose. "How did you know I was leaving?"

Charlie had already started going back up the stairs before turning to me. "Because they would do the same for you."

I didn't say anything as she went back up the stairs. She was right. I know that if it had been different, and that Fiona had captured me, I wouldn't want them to come after me. I know that's how Neal feels, but if Charlie knows he would've come after me, then he's probably expecting me any minute now.

Charlie came back down after a few minutes with a bag that's even bigger than mine, and with Neal's sword. "Alright. Let's go."

We both left the cottage. I wasn't sure how to get to the castle from here, so I started heading the way we came from Charlie's old village.

"Your parents are going to be worried you're gone."

Charlie looked at me and then looked back at the woods ahead of us. "I'm an adult. I don't need their permission to leave but.. I'm sure they can figure out where we went anyway."

She's right, so I just nodded. Then we kept walking in silence, heading to my version of hell.

"Actually.." Charlie stopped us. Did she change her mind already? "Let's go to the Whittaker Palace. I have an idea."

Neal Nolan

I was dreaming of her again. I was dreaming of the way her auburn red hair flowed perfectly down her shoulders. I dreamt of her smile when we danced, the way she easily defeated me when we sparred. I was dreaming about Charlie again.

"The queen wants to see you today."

That is quite possibly the worst statement I have ever been woken up to.

My eyes flutter open and unfortunately, I'm still in my cell. It's supposedly cold here, but I've been in and out of cells my whole life. The air has become just one warmth for me. The cell Fiona has me in now seems to be somewhat new, but not new enough to not start attracting bugs or rust. I know I've never been in this one because I mark the walls of them all.. And this one's walls are clean. Well, as clean as they can be.. Considering they're rock.

It reminds me of when Robin and I reunited.. The day we escaped.

I hadn't seen Robin, Gideon, or even Charlie the days I've been in here. That's a good sign, it means they most likely got away. That's the only thought that's making me stay sane while I'm here.

I turn my attention towards the rusted bars and at the person behind them. Technically, that's me, but for me, that's Dennis. There I see Dennis in all his glory. His black hair was so untidy that it looked like a bird laid a nest there, and there was dirt across his cheeks. I couldn't help but notice how exhausted he looked. I also couldn't help the urge I had to wipe the dirt from his cheeks. Dennis and I hooked up a couple of times before he decided to start working for Fiona instead of against her.

Then I remembered what Robin had said that same day.. That Fiona's goonies were under some sort of spell. If that was the case, then Dennis had no choice but to obey.

I couldn't stop the nagging thought that maybe he still cared. I knew that if I could somehow get him back to normal, like how Roderick had before he died, I would. That's how I felt. I didn't know if he reciprocated any sort of feelings, or if he felt any at all.

I still loathe him, but that doesn't erase the past.

I didn't respond to Dennis and leaned against the wall. Dennis took a glance at me before flicking his wrist with ease to unlock the cell door. I see he's getting that magic thing down pretty well.

He grabbed my wrist and dragged me out of the cell.

"Stay there," Dennis stated and pulled chains off the wall before securing them on my wrist. I still wasn't speaking.

I wasn't expecting Dennis to talk either, but then he opened his mouth. "You're the only one we got. So you can stop stressing yourself over that redhead and Gold."

My eyes shot up. "What about Robin?"

"We didn't get her either." He tightened the restraints.

I studied his face. His eyes, mostly. I wanted to see if there was still any emotion behind the dullness of them.

"Why did you lie to Fiona about what happened that day?" I asked softly. That caused some emotion to flicker. Caused his brown eyes to come back to life. I couldn't tell if it was shame or surprise. Is he surprised I remembered? Or ashamed that he lied.

Of course, I could remember, though. I wouldn't have escaped if he hadn't.

The emotion was short-lived as he narrowed his eyes at me. "I didn't lie to her. You escaped."

"You could've fought me."

"You had a sword pointed at me." Dennis pulled me forward and shoved me towards the door. "Walk."

"Why does Fiona always pair me with you?" I snapped. "You're aggressive. Why can't I be paired with Carmen?"

"If you think I'm aggressive, you haven't met her."

"Unfortunately, I have."

I can feel Dennis' eye roll at the back of my head.

We walked in silence out of the dungeons and to the castle's hallways. I wondered where I was being moved to. The caves, maybe?

My hands were itching for my sword. Not even to use it, but to just hold onto it for the comfort of having a weapon. I could use it to get out of the chains, though. I'm not stupid enough to try and leave again. The goonies and Fiona would be expecting that. I'll figure out a plan soon.. I just hoped Robin and Gideon weren't doing what I think they'll do.

They'll try to break me out, and I don't want that.

Dennis directs me to some bedroom I had never seen before. I take a look at it as soon as I step through the door frame. It's nice and clean, but I can tell someone inhabits it.

I watched as Dennis walked over to the wardrobe and pulled clothes out. The motion made me flicker down to my own clothes. I was still in my suit from the masquerade. They couldn't be bothered to give me anything else.

"If you wanted to change your clothes, you could've left me outside of the room," I remarked.

"They're not for me." Dennis threw the clothes at my face.

"Thank you for the warning," I grit out and examined the clothes. I realized immediately that these were his. I couldn't hold back the blush that crept onto my cheeks as I remembered how we would trade clothes a lot when we were seeing each other. I started to question that if these were Dennis' clothes.. Then this must be Dennis' room. (Goonie privileges, I guess)

But the Dennis I had feelings for.. He's long gone.

I tried to recover from my blush by saying, "Red isn't my color."

Dennis looked down at the shirt and back up at my face. "Don't complain about what I give you." He left the room after that.

"Well, then."

I made my best attempt at changing with these chains on. It wasn't easy, and I couldn't get my undershirt off, so now I was left with just a new change of pants and a white button-up.

"Dennis!" I yelled and kicked the door. Knowing him, he probably locked me in here.

To my surprise, the door opened, but I wasn't greeted by Dennis.. I was greeted by fucking Mark.

I take back everything I have ever said of thought about Dennis being my least favorite goonie. Mark is.

Seeing his face made me fill up with anger. Seeing his face made me remember how careless he was with my sword.. How his carelessness led to someone dying. How his carelessness led to my best friend's love dying. Also, him throwing Gideon in the woods. That pissed me off too.

My next move was one of the most reckless moves I have ever done in my life, but I couldn't hold it in even if I tried. I stormed up to Mark and shoved him against the wall, pressing my chains hard enough to his neck that I could see his skin turning red.

"You better be fucking grateful I don't have my sword, because I would feel no mercy stabbing you with it."

Mark wasn't struggling at all, which made me even angrier. "Dennis, get your dog off of me."

Dennis seemed unfazed as he leaned against a wall near us. "Charming, get off of him."

"I'm no one's dog, especially not his," I spat.

Mark grinned psychotically. "I'll get Fiona."

God damnit.

I let go of him. I don't want to find out what Fiona's punishments are for people who hurt her goonies.

Clearly, nothing bad if Mark is still here.

Dennis' eyes darted from Mark to me. I pretended I didn't notice how his eyes flicked me up and down. He moved from his position against the wall and over to me. He was about to grab my arm and I didn't want him to do that, so I put my arms up and turned away.

"I'm walking, I'm walking."

"You don't even know where I'm supposed to take you."

"Tell me, then."

"Mess hall. Mark, take him."

I spun around. "What?"

"You were complaining about me earlier," Dennis shrugged. "And I'm getting bored. Mark, will you take him to the Mess Hall?"

"I don't want to take him-"

If looks could kill, then the look Dennis was giving Mark would've left him on the floor. "You do what I tell you to do."

Mark rolled his eyes. "Fine. I'm hungry anyway."

Dennis gave no response and stalked off to god knows where. I started walking towards the Mess Hall. I've never walked this route toward it, but it wasn't hard to figure out. I examined the walls and noticed how this corridor and the Mess Hall have the same wallpaper, and I could smell the faint smell of cornbread.

Mark skipped up beside me, and I wanted to shove him again. "Did you know Dennis volunteered to guard you?"

I scrunched my nose. "No? Why would I know that?"

"He could've told you. He finds you attractive."

I don't know what Mark was trying to egg on, but it wasn't working. "Does he?"

"Yeah. He was really pissed when he found out about you and Carlie."

"Charlie." I corrected.

"Don't care."

"Stop talking, then. And if you thought I was mad about seeing your face, you'll know better than to talk about her."

The rest of the journey to the Mess Hall was filled with grateful silence. Once we approached the inside, I scurried away from Mark as quickly as I could. I could feel the curious eyes on me, the other people Fiona had taken who didn't have an opportunity to escape as I did.

Even the cooks behind the tables were giving me curious expressions, but I did my best to ignore them and make my plate off food.

When I turned around, a group of kids that looked to be fourteen approached.

"What was the outside world like?" One asked.

"Did you see any animals?" Interjected another.

"Why are you back?"

Even if I didn't feel like talking, I still gave them a bright smile. "Let me sit down and then I'll answer all of those."

The teenagers followed happily behind me and all gathered around when I found a place to sit. As I ate my food and answered their questions, I wasn't hating it as much as I thought. I think I was just hungry.

The kids eventually got bored and went away. I expected more people to show up, but I was sort of relieved when no one else did. My eyes wandered around the Mess Hall. It's been so long since I had been in here. Being down in the mines didn't allow me to come up here. The cooks would come down and bring us food. It was a part of our punishment, not being able to talk to people who weren't in the mines.

Speaking of people I wasn't allowed to talk to, my eyes locked with a familiar ginger girl's blue ones. She grinned widely at me and started walking over. That girl, Astrid, was Gerard's sister, and just seeing her grin like that made me glad that she wasn't turned into a goonie too.

"What's up, Prince Charming?" Astrid fist-bumped me and sat directly in front.

"Oh, you know me, living life, breaking the rules."

"Yeah, I bet. Though I didn't think you would come back after you escaped."

"That wasn't of my own free will. I wouldn't have done it unless I knew I could free some of you."

"Some people would, with the right motivation.." Astrid's eyes trailed down, and I could tell she was thinking of Gerard. "It's good to see you either way," She said once she snapped out of her daze.

"Same for you. How have things been around here?"

"Nothing changed, which surprises me. Except Fiona has been meaner."

"Speaking of her, Fiona wants to see me later, and I don't know what she's going to do, but if I come back I need-"

I got cut off by Mark walking up to me. "It's time."

Robin Mills

My family. Take me to my family.

My family.

Take me to my family.

That was my only thought as the bright green lights of the portal consumed me. I was terrified and had so many thoughts running through my head, but that was the one that stuck.

I hit the ground hard, but my eyes stayed closed. I couldn't remember when I had shut them, but I was scared of what I was going to see when all I couldn't see was blackness.

I used my senses to get a general idea of what's around me. The scent of wherever I was was disgusted. It smelt strongly of urine and trash, but it didn't beat how loud this place was. I could recognize the sounds of people talking, screaming, and whispering. There were other loud sounds, but I couldn't recognize those. Another thing I could hear was the sound of my own breathing.

"Girl, are you good?"

I forced myself to open my eyes. There was a blonde girl hovering over me. Above there, there were tall towers.. Taller than any castle I've ever been to.

Then I noticed how I was laying in the middle of a sidewalk with people dodging me.

"Yeah, I just.. needed a break from all the walking," I lied.

The girl shook her head. "Tourists," She mumbled under her breath before walking over.

I took one more look around. I had completely forgotten about my ankle and had to remember the hard way by standing up and almost falling over.

Shit, I need to find a place where I can wrap that.

Standing up gave me a better view, but I still had no guesses on where I was. All of these places looked completely different from the Dark Realm..

And then I realized. I'm in the same realm as my parents.

A million thoughts crossed my mind. Is this Storybrooke? Is Storybrooke near here? Perhaps this isn't Storybrooke at all and my parents are just here.

I turned around and almost rammed right into a person.

"Watch it!" They yelled at me and walked off.

"Sorry.." I replied, but they didn't hear me.

I decided there was no use in staying in this spot. The portal was gone. No Gideon or Charlie in sight.

And Neal.. God, Neal. He's stuck with Fiona. Gideon might be too. I need to find a way to get back to them quickly.

I started walking, ignoring how much my ankle was throbbing. I need to find a non-busy part of wherever I'm at.

There were a lot of signs overhead on this sidewalk I'm on. All the signs had some weird names too. The Lion King? What the fuck is 'The Lion King?'

I saw a flashing Green sign next, and this one caught my attention more than any of the others. 'WICKED' Is what it said with a green woman on the front of it.

.. Mom?

I rushed to the doors that were under the pavilion, but when I tried to pull the doors open, they were locked.

I was about to use a spell to bust them open, but a deep voice yelled at me. "Oi! You need a ticket for that!"

"Sorry!" I yelled back and took one last look at the metal doors before walking again.

The more I walk around this place, the more confused I get. No one seemed to bat an eye that I looked like Cinderella- the girl who ran away from the ball.

But that's not the fairytale I'm from. Not all of us had the luxury of fairy godmothers, only evil fairies.

Maybe I'm not where my parents are at all. Maybe Fiona cursed me to this place. I mean, I doubt she had a bean laying around for nothing. I could've ended up anywhere, but I ended up in a place with advanced wagons, tall towers, and people. A ton of people.

I eventually came across the one area that looked even remotely like a forest. Even then, It didn't look like any forest I've been in, but it made me feel at peace nonetheless.

Getting to it was a challenge. I almost got hit by one of those black, white, and yellow wagons. Terrifying experience, wouldn't recommend it.

I walked through the grass. My ankle was still screaming at me, but at least the grass wasn't burning my feet. I found myself a nice tree to sit up against, too.

This is when people started giving me weird looks, but I didn't care. I had more things to worry about. I picked up my foot with my hand and examined my ankle. It's turned dark purple from the swelling. My face visibly cringes and I set it back down on the ground and leaned back against the tree. This time, I allowed the tears to come.

God, where the hell am I?

I let myself cry. So much had happened that I couldn't hold them back any longer. Neal was taken, I didn't know what happened to Gideon and Charlie after I fell, and I'm in a completely different realm entirely.

But I had told Gideon to let go. I couldn't let him fall with me. I couldn't leave Neal with any chance of escaping. I know Gideon like I know my own mind, he'll find a way to save Neal and me.

I compose myself and check my surroundings once more. This time, I noticed something I had noticed before. There was a line of people around a small cart.. And the guy on the inside seemed to be passing them food.

Food. I didn't realize how hungry I was until right this second.

I force myself to get up and walk over there. I could only hope more people were focused on my limp than my ballgown. Maybe someone will help me.

I joined the line of people and stared at the cart. I figured this was like a bar, and I needed to find a menu. My eyes rolled around until they found one.

Hamburgers.. Cheeseburgers.. Hotdogs.. Pretzels.

The only thing we have in my realm is pretzels, so I decided on that.

After a few more people got their food, it was my turn.

"Uh, a pretzel, please."

I tapped my good foot as the guy prepared the pretzel. I looked back at the line behind me. It was longer than it was when I got in it, and I couldn't help how that gave me sort of a pit in my stomach.

The guy extended his hand toward me. I realized he wanted me to give him money, and I didn't think the coins Charlie gave me would work here.

I don't have their money.

Shit.

"Er, I don't have money."

The man got visibly annoyed. "No money, no pretzel."

"Can't you just.. give it to me anyway? I'm starving."

"No money, no pretzel, kid," He repeated. "Go on, you're holding up the line.

My mind raced to find a spell. What's the name of that spell that will get people to do what you want them to do?

"Imperio," I whisper and flick my wrist. I want my pretzel.

"May I please have the pretzel?"

But nothing happened. The guy was still not giving me the pretzel and was showing no signs of doing that.

Why isn't my magic working?

"Kid, you're holding up the line."

I frowned and started to walk away, but what the person who was behind me ordered made me look back.

Because he didn't order anything.

"I'll pay for the pretzel."

I retook the few steps I had taken away from the stand back to it.

The worker looked like he was about to have a fit, but he let the guy pay anyway and handed the pretzel to me.

I smiled a little at the guy who paid. "Thank you."

He smiled back before ordering himself a hamburger. I started to walk away again, but then he jogged up beside me with his food.

"I saw you try to use magic back there."

I froze. "What?"

"I grew up around it, I know what that spell is.. Plus, it's not every day you see someone walking around barefoot in a ballgown in New York- actually.." The guy trailed off, but I focused on what he said.

New York. That's where I am.

"What do you mean you grew up around it?" If magic doesn't work here, then where did he grow up?

"I'm not from around here."

"Yeah, I'm not either. First time."

It was comforting, to have someone around who understood. Understood my confusion with this place.

The guy bit into his hamburger. "Where are you from, then?"

"The Dark Realm."

"Yeah, I haven't heard of that."

I ate a bit of my pretzel and had an idea. "Actually, if you know about magic.. I was wondering if you could help me find a town?"

"That depends. Where is this town?"

"I'm not sure, but it's called Storybrooke."

The guy choked on his food.

I raised an eyebrow. "You've heard of it, then?"

"Yeah... Yeah, I've heard of it alright. Why do you want to go there?"

"Because that's where I think my parents are."

The poor guy looked so confused now. "Wait.. What's your name?"

Did we not introduce ourselves? "Robin."

The guy's eyes widened, they widened so big that I thought they were about to pop out. "Robin?"

"Robin Mills."

His jaw fell open now. "Oh my god."

I couldn't help but start to feel insecure about my name. "What?"

"My name is Roland Fitzooth."