I took my time to get dressed, I scanned through my dresses, all princesses dresses in various styles and colors, but I remembered the clothes in Storybrooke from last time, I liked those better. I liked the dress Josephine wore, black pants and shirt. I prepared for my leave when the servants came in and bowed before me. I pointed to my small wooden crest that's easy for me to carry since it's much lighter, "leave this here."

He bowed before me again, "yes, princess."

I dine with the family, but Caspian is not here, which causes me to worry for him. I debated myself if I should ask, but decided against it since it is not formal. The King gave me the letter and finally made an agreement with the Master in the grand room, "Give him my eternal thanks."

I courtesy before the King, "Yes, Your Majesty." I quietly thanked him for letting me stay for a few days then he continued, "we look forward to your return."

I don't want to come back and I don't think I ever will anyway, but I didn't say that out loud though. I couldn't tell him the truth about the Master since his eyes are everywhere but I silently prayed for their safety as I walked out of the grand room. My thoughts were redirected to Caspian when I hadn't seen him all day, so I began my search for him.

I remembered his room is at the East wing, I believe. I searched each room without being unnoticed by the guards. I found him on the third floor of the East wing, two rooms down from his brother, "Caspian?"

I immediately apologized when the brother looked at me, so I bowed before him. Caspian glanced at me then went back to his task, writing something.

"Princess …"

The truth is, everyone knows me as Sima of the Dark Kingdom. The Master warned me if someone finds out if I was the last of Mills' family, but I do not believe I am not the Last Daughter as he claimed last night.

"Princess Sima of the Dark Kingdom."

I controlled my anger when he said that, I hate when people call me that, I am NOT part of the Dark Kingdom. He introduced himself, Logan, "I apologize on behalf of my brother."

My eyes crossed as I looked down at him, what did he do wrong? I simply smiled in kindness, "no apologies needed."

"Our great-grandmother told us stories of the Enchanted Forest past when everyone was at peace and the story of another world called Storybrooke. He takes it to heart and I believe he told you?"

He doesn't believe the stories, then I realized why the elder was sick in bed, she's great-grandmother, but where's the grandmother, I wonder. "He makes the stories realistic," I respectfully nodded in understanding, then gave a quick glance to Caspian.

"He's an extremely imaginative child," in his apologetic tone. He angrily crossed his arms, throwing a tantrum, "She wouldn't lie!"

Logan gave an explanation regarding his tantrum, "he is close to her and goes to her room every waking moment."

There's nothing wrong with that though, he loves her. It seems he's sad too to see her go. "You have my condolences," bowing before both of them.

Caspian put Logan on the spot to show me the room, "show her!"

"It is unimportant, Caspian."

"Show her the room, now!" Caspian demanded him to show me something that seems so important but he doesn't believe any word from the stories. He thought carefully if it's wise to show me the room then nodded in agreement, "I will only show you to prove the stories are untrue." Logan ordered him to stay in the room then I followed him. It was the very top floor near the tower, behind the bedroom, a secret room.

"This is our family," pointed at the walls, wrote every name, and crossed out if died. Near the door, there's Regina and Emma, then her son, Emmett, and another family tree of Charmings, Nolan.

"Someone rewrote our family tree," he showed me the paper wall behind it that shows only the Charmings and Emma, but no Regina. "The stories tell us that we are a lineage of Emmett who is the son of Regina and Emma," which stated the impossible to have two women having a child then carefully tore down the rewritten paper, pointing at Emmett Nolan, the son of the Charmings.

I felt conflicted about this information, two different sides of the stories, but is it true? I observed every name on the wall to follow Emmett Mills, but it stopped on the third wall. What happened there? Why did it stop? Logan showed me where his family is currently at, the very bottom on the same wall where it stopped, "see."

Emmett's family ended, but Emmett Nolan's line kept going. Someone at that time rewrote this, but why? He seems to know my question, "no one knows the significance of the rewritten history." The point is, if it's true then Emmett's lineage would have kept going to prove they are from the Mills' line, but they weren't, right?

I sat in the carriage, I don't know what to make of this, smiling enjoying the outdoors ride then I wanted to take a longer detour; even though I know this is not happening. The guards and the servant have their orders from the Master. Did the Master purposely save me for this reason?

I was lost in my thoughts going through my memories as I read through the red book and brown leather once upon a time that my friend had to tap my shoulder for attention.

"Governor Mills?"

"I apologize, is there a need you're in my office?" There are only five people in my committee who know the true identity of Lady Beelzebub and she's one of them. It's hard to describe but she's hard but kind, with a light brown skin tone with determination to prove she's not a bad person. People have received her wrong when she is always shouting orders, but she doesn't mean to do so.

"I receive word from the guards that Lady Alice is on her way."

I changed into my governor protector mode, "send an alarm to everyone to retreat to their prospective home, one tent per family, and fill up all the equipment on the wagon cart. Each family can have one large sack of meals to take with them. Send the carts to every family on the way until they are empty. "

She was about to leave to start her task, "Have two people per wagon, one each way with a starting point between mile 20 and 30. We don't want to give Lady Alice any suspicions about our whereabouts."

"Yes, Governor, I will do so immediately," she returns with concern about my books and equipment. "Gather a group of men and women to put the remaining supplies at the underground cabin. I will reside to protect the cabin."

I helped my people to put supplies on the wagon, barrels of weapons, ale, and various different things for our needs. We always divide ¼ of each supply per family because I still feel the responsibility to take care of everyone beyond my borders. They shouldn't suffer for the mistake of Josephine harming the other side of our family. One last cart to go, seven barrels each wagon, and everyone know not to go on the main road where the guards will be marching towards us. The family has already disappeared without a trace, walking throughout the forest to hide from Lady Alice.

I have little magic to plant corn in case of an emergency such as this. That's another story for another time. My friend, Lydia, was the last to go and I thanked her, "I will send word when it's safe to return." I quickly entered my cabin, underground to find my seeds. I kneeled miles from the cabin to recite the words, she who walks through the narrow twin rows. I threw 20 seeds into the air as the corn grew thousands of rows that you would not see where it ends.

I changed into old rag clothes with a bun wrapped on my head then made myself sweat from the hot sun. I hear horses galloping through the corn rows, the head guard in an orderly tone, "search the grounds!*

I pretended my hands were muddy as I washed my hands with a rag on the bottom of my dress, "Sir, how can I help you?"

"Where's your husband?"

I was shunned and speechless for a moment when my friend Lydia with her children ran and yelled happily through the corn. Lydia looks up to the head guard, "she's with me."

"My name is Lydia and my husband was killed serving under our Queen, and I believe you heard of him. Robert of Edinburgh."

"Yes, he's an honorable guard. You have my deep sincere apologies, ma'am." He questionably looks towards me, displeased that I am here but Lydia continued smoothly talking without any hesitation in her tone, "she's here as my guest, sir. Her name is Ida and her family perished in a fire." The other guards return from their search and one of them whispers in his ears.

"We're taking her in. We have ordered from the Queen."

Lydia started to panic but I shook my head not to do anything, mumbling, it's okay. Lydia was about to fight but I shook again, no. I moved forward willingly when the jail carriage rode around the cornfield. My mind went back to that awful prison cell that the Master locked me in after I arrived from the White Kingdom, just cause. I asked a question that was most displeased to the Master. I was thankful that I didn't bring the stone with me. I hated that cell, it made my memories hazy for staying so long. It's when I realized he was only using me to get the stones. He saved me for one reason only because the only way to get the stones is through me or is it someone else.

I secretly smiled at the memory of the twins and their seeds. I followed every order, killed more than thousands of people under Master's orders until I finally broke free of him. It was the day he realizes that he has no use for me, the day the magic broke free.

I remember the earth shook and there's smoke rising from afar when I asked the Master, "what happened?" He investigated the debris on the ocean then found a group of men who told him that the ship exploded like magic, but they didn't know who it was. He knew it wasn't the Queen, but someone has magic, he felt that the magic is growing throughout the Enchanted Forest. He let me go the following day and he has found another way. Thankfully, I found her first before the Master even checked up on me once in a while like a few days ago.

They threw me into a prison cell, old rusted bars, several women, and 2 men in the cells. I'm not surprised, "everyone alright?" I wanted to be sure they are not harmed at the moment, oh I know it's a stupid question but only one replied. A woman farther back, "she has my child. I can't find her."

I can't see her even though I can hear as clear as day, "Where did you last see her?"

"I tried to hide her behind the house, but there were too many guards. They killed my husband because he didn't pay the wages."

"My apologies, ma'am. We'll find her."

I sat against the back wall, trying to make myself comfortable as I thought I went back to twins of the cornrows. It was exactly 23 years ago, and it was 4 years before the ship exploded. I was looking for the clues of my families and it led to them. It was the strangest family but I love them dearly. They were a mixed wolf and human clan but the strangest part was that they weren't part of any clan that I have known of like they were a special kind of clan.

I was following the trail when I heard from a friend of a friend of the secret clan that knows something about the Mills line, so that's how I found them. I dropped my weapon when there's someone blowing the horn. Several men pointed arrows, I immediately threw my arms up, "I come in peace! I mean no harm!"

"Make way. Make a way."

I curiously wondered who's behind that voice, a strong older voice, she's wearing a helmet, a white helmet with colored drapes on her face, her robe is breathtaking as if it was sworn from 3 blind women. "All-mother?"

They seemed to respect her with the utmost importance when they all bowed before her, "all-mother." They refuse to speak a word in front of her, "follow me for I know the answers you are seeking."

I was afraid to ask who she was but I followed her anyway, everyone was dead quiet with a close eye on me. I swallowed my throat in fear of being shot at but I bravely walked with an elder woman. I entered the large well-lit cave and ordered me to sit opposite of her, "my name is Teresa and I know what you seek."

I honestly don't know what I am looking for exactly, "who are you?"

"That's not the right question, Sima for who I am is unnecessary at the moment."

For some reason, I felt it's my mission to find Queen Regina for answers, "Behind the cornrows," pointing behind her tent, "If she welcomes you, she will bring you into a cave."

Behind the cornfield? My eyes crossed, questioning "I don't understand, ma'am."

"She Who Walks Through the Twin Rows. Queen Regina paid a terrible price for her malfeasance for having begotten a daughter for her eyes are everywhere as black as night."

If I am hearing this right, did she say that Queen Regina put a curse upon us because of her mistake? "Her daughter lives in the corn?"

She didn't answer and showed me the way as my eyes widened in complete surprise, thousands of miles of cornrows. Where did that come from? I looked up at the bright sun onto my face, preparing the courage to walk between the twin rows, then I redirected to Teresa, "what will happen?"

"Go."

I inhaled one last time to bravely force myself to walk into the cornfield. The corn grew taller so that I couldn't see the stars or even out there the moment I just walked inside. The fear crept me inside knowing people have died here. I abruptly turned when I heard a crowd of noises to kill her and some said to get her. The large black wolf tore apart into two and used the corn to hide from them. One man ran through me in torches, running from the black wolf.

The people slowly turned into dust and changed into a difference, I leaned closer to see who it was, it was beautiful blue eyes that are like glass looking back at me, indistinguishable twins, and the only difference is their hair. It hit me that they are spirits of what happened in the corn maze once upon a time. With the large heavy chin that the girl carried, I could feel the weight on my shoulder as she threw it at the large wolf. She yelped away as it tourchs her skin, the mark partially split on her wolf black hairs.

I lost my way through the corn maze, not paying attention to the sounds and noises of people screaming and their tears, my heartfelt heavier than usual that I didn't want to leave the corn. How do I get out of here?!

Sima.

A whisper in the air between the corn, confused and more terrified that I must get out of here.

"Who's there?"

Sima Mills.

It knows my name but this time the whisper became louder and thicker, you could feel the evil coursing through your veins when you heard your name. I repeated, "who are you?"

"Don't listen to them," she studied me, walking around me, "you're from the future?"

The future? "I'm sorry but who are you?" The dark skin tone and her black eyes reminded me of Teresa, "you're the black wolf?"

She pointed beyond the cornrows where the spirits appeared before her eyes, "oh yeah, that was an unfortunate incident, but no fault of my own." I looked down at her dirty muddy hands, then I heard my name again, "ignore them, Sima. Follow me."

I have no idea what's going on but thankfully, she continued, "the twins are trying to lure you to the other side of the cornfield, but good thing I found you first.

Every few generations of Mills' line comes through here and only three come out alive. I hope you'll make it through the cornfield, it's a test for each generation, worthy to hear our story."

I don't like the sound of that, but I respectfully questioned, "what kind of test?" I hated it when she kept ignoring my questions when she stopped. I almost bumped into her with a whisper, embarrassed that I was not paying attention, "sorry."

"First thing first, the twins like to play games and they change the direction of the cornfield.

Second, do you see the white mansion?" pointing west and it looks like it's only five miles down, so I nodded when I spotted white columns and red doors, "yes, I do see it."

"Go there. Be warned, they will tempt you or otherwise, so I urge you to ignore them. If you try to harm or touch them in any way, you will cease to exist and be buried between the twin rows."

"Is that a threat?!" I angrily shot her a look with my arms on my waist.

"No, it's not, consider this a precautionary warning for your safety."

I quietly sighed with more confusion and questions why she is protecting an evil behind the twin rows. "What is this place? Who are you?" I pressed the questions, demanding the answers I wanted to know. I grumbled when she gave a vague answer, "I would like to give you a piece of advice, there will be a girl who will come for your protection, do not order a kill upon her head for your fate is much worse than hers." She bid me good luck and I have no idea what happened next but the next thing I know, she disappeared right before my eyes as I looked around; where did she go?

The cornfield is taller than the white mansion and I can see it as clear as day, but nothing else. I couldn't even see the night sky. Without thinking, I began my journey towards the white mansion as I stopped at the track when I saw my family laughing together, for a moment I forgot I was still in the cornfield.

"Come here, Sima. Father was telling a joke."

My little brother, a spitting image of our father, dark raven hair with bright hazel eyes, and my older sister, brown long wavy hair with light black eyes that seems more of a brown colored eye. Her face, so pretty, always kept her face smooth as stone without any powder on her face. She believes in perfection in everything, always wore, well way better than me. I ran into them, tightly embraced them, my family.

"What the matter, little sister?" She returns the hug with concern, "is your fever returning?"

I shook my head, "no, Jes." I looked around for my mother, "where's the mother?"

"Hello, Sima," mother entered from the formal room, but her voice sounded different than I remembered. I remembered her voice was always sweet and soft, but hers is a little rougher around the edges. I suddenly became confused about my surroundings, feeling something was wrong that I wasn't supposed to be here.

I forgot all about it when my father told a joke about 3 older sisters who kept forgetting what they were doing. We laughed together, he always makes ridiculous old jokes about his sisters. We played games together, took walks through the forest and you name it. This was the most memorable day of my life that I didn't want to end.

The swarm of the Queen soldiers broke into our mansion and I fought against them then with a quick glance through the window, a cornfield. I picked up my father's glass about to throw at them then lit a candle to burn them, I remember doing this.

Do not touch or harm them in any way.

They are playing against my memories, without thinking I threw the glass at them then held the lit candle, but again, I battled my mind and fought with my hand not to throw the candle at them.

Get out of my mind!

Stop playing games with me!

I felt thrown back into the cornfield with great relief, I never forgot that worst day of my life. I killed one of the guards with fire which caused him to fall backward, hit his head. I began to hate the twins to force me to relive those memories. I forced myself to get up and continue my journey and I stopped, the white mansion is not there anymore but behind me. What? Was it due west? It was this way, was it? I couldn't remember anymore. I heard both waves of laughter of a young child, loudly in the air between the corn maze.

I found myself in the battle arena with my master's tutor to teach me how to fight and my moves. My master's tutor trained me longer than six hours a day to prepare for the kills. Slam, groaning, I felt the back of my head slam onto the floor with his hand around my throat. I angrily pushed his arms away, "again!"

I flipped back up, with fire within me to kill him, I hated him and his guts. He is the best in his field and the master's apprentice. I could feel his jealousy for me and how protective my master is towards me. I know he hates me too and has every ability and opportunity to kill me. Today is my day to kill him and I know it in my heart.

"Again!"

I countered and blocked him and flipped his body onto the floor, but he threw me onto the wall. He chuckled, "nice try, little girl."

Instead of preparing to push him, I flinched to grab his arm to let him fall onto the ground. I quietly grumbled when he caught himself on the right side of himself. He's taunting me with his eyes that he'll always be better than me. I ordered him to go again, "Again!"

"You're way over your head, little girl."

I put my arms down, puzzled at that phrase, he never said that. Did he? I search through my memories trying to remember what he said right before I choked him, it was an accident actually. He took one step forward then turned around me, a mistake he made because I could easily slam into his throat and I did but this time it was my mistake when she caught my hand a moment before he dropped dead. She magically pushes me with both of her hands on my chest, hard then throws me into the air and painfully onto the dirt ground, back onto the cornfield.

She gave me a smirk, kneeling before me when I grumbled while rubbing my head. "That hurts."

"I warned you, Sima."

She lightly scowled at me with a smirk, "you're lucky that I convinced them not to kill you." She pointed in the same direction, the west, "the house this way," I looked up wondering who's talking and laughing, but I couldn't tell if it was a boy or a girl, "one more."

"Looks like you have to play one more game with them," she helped me get up, "good luck."

Why can't she stop them? "Why are you letting them do that to us?"

"I don't, Sima. It's the price of our curse and your price of the sacrifice to see what's more important ... to you."

I was puzzled by the way she sounded like the twins are someone dear to her when she said 'our,' that it hit me, "they are your family?" I sadly sighed when she disappeared between the rows as if she's a ghost of the cornfield. The white mansion is north this time as I turned but she said west, but there's no house there.

The twins like to play tricks on you.

Fine. "You want to play a game then let's play!" I shouted into the air with determination to beat their games and mind games. I stepped into a plain field with a large black triangle painted onto the ground, the twins stood before us on the opposite end of the pointed triangle. They kept laughing then the girl began as she threw a small white ball into the air, "let's play a game."

"What are you doing?!"

The wolf shouted with a kind voice at them, displeased that they did this to show their faces to me. The boy replied with an eye roll, "you can't because it's playtime."

"After this, you'll let her go?"

The girl shrugged with laughter, "we'll see."

"We are still not going with you, Bee. You'll never catch us even after this."

"That remains to be seen," the boy threw the ball at her and she perfectly caught it then redirected to me, "do you catch the ball right or left?"

"Left," I replied. I do better with my left than right, even so, I can use both hands.

"This is one of the oldest games in history, Trigon and it goes back to ancient Egypt," she pointed at the outer point of the triangle that I needed to stand there. The twins did the same on their end, one at each corner; which makes a triangle.

"The rules are you throw the ball at them and make them drop the ball. When the catchable ball is dropped, the thrower gets one point; however, you're only allowed to catch your chosen hand. For you, it's your left.

To win the game, you must earn 21 points."

Okay, that sounded easy enough, "what do I get out of it if I win?"

The wolf nodded towards the twins and they replied at the same time, "we'll let you go." The wolf conjured a scoreboard with a quiet laugh to herself, mumbling, she's so going to lose. Before the game started, I lost, they added the ball each round and they kept throwing at me then I lost my balance. They all laughed at me when I fell backward with the ball all over me. No fair! They like to play tricks. The field changes back into a cornfield much to my disappointment, they will never let me leave.

"Wait!" I scream at the top of my lungs, "one more!" I demanded their attention, now, "one more!" There's no answer, and I'm silent but I tried again, "you're never going to let me leave so why don't we make the best of it and let us play one more game?!"

Only one girl with bright blue eyes appeared before me with her arms crossed the same as I always do when I'm angry or forced to listen when I don't want to. "One more game?" She shot me a look, uncertain about my request, "please."

"Do you know what you're asking?"

I do, if I lose, I'll never leave and die between the twin rows, "yes, I do. If I win this time, I am free to come and go as much as I like."

She nods in agreement, "and the conditions?"

"You can choose the game, but this time, the wolf gets to play with us."

I smiled when the fear showed in her eyes, swallowing her throat, she's afraid of her. Why is she afraid of her? I know she'll protect me and make sure I will win. I noticed one thing about this, even though I can't hurt or touch them, she's protective of her family. "Come on!" she disappeared between the twins rows, threw my arms up, "you chicken?!"

They brought me to the same plain field with a small circle net in the middle. The boy didn't like the idea but agreed because he wanted to play. Then the wolf appears beside me, whispering to my ears, "you shouldn't have done that."

I don't care. They wanted to play, so that's going to happen, I replied with a whisper, "you are going to help me win."

"We agree to your terms, but there's a condition," the girl crossed her arms and the twin nodded in agreement.

"Speak," one simple word and I don't care what it is because this time I am going to win.

"When you lose, you serve under us."

The wolf growled to herself, displeased with that idea but I confidently replied, "I agree to your conditions, I will forever bond to you as promised if I lose." Three of them walked into the circle, so I followed them. Two against two, the twins and us, one side of the circle and we on the other.

The wolf begins explaining the rules, "Spikeball is the name of the game, we rotate and we can't stop moving around the net. We have three touches before it bounces off of the net to the other team. There will be no catching and cannot stop until one of us reaches point 21. For example, while we are rotating, I throw the ball to you then you bounce the ball onto the next to another team."

I understand that perfectly clear, "how do we score points?"

She answered, "if the team cannot return the ball with three touches, the other scores one point. If the team hits the ground, rims or bounces the ball more than once, lose one point."

"Three touches? … LIke me you then the net and they have the ball?"

The boy conjured a yellow hairy ball, I have never seen that kind of ball before, "okay. Let's play."

8-5, panting and sweating from catching, running, and throwing the ball to Bee, and several times they tried to trick us by throwing low or far which wasn't against the rules. I accidentally threw the ball too hard which got her upset when she dropped the ball and the twins laughed. 8-4.

"Why did you do that?! Get your heads out of the clouds, Sima!"

"I'm trying, Bee!"

I rolled my eyes when they were trying to distract me and I chuckled along with their laughter. I have not had this much fun since I was child.

"Yes!"

11-12. We are one point ahead of them when they hit the black rim around the next.

"Reggie, what are you doing?"

"It was an accident! I was throwing it at the net!"

We continued rotating, and I almost fell onto the ground catching the ball when the boy purposely threw a little too far when Bee yelled at me, "get it!

"Got it!" I slammed onto the ground and threw the ball to Bee and the girl grumbled, "aw man. So close."

15-18. We are winning, I beamed proudly, 3 more points and we will win. We can do this. I have to win. I am out of breath, I don't know how much longer I can keep rotating in circles. I threw my arms up when the ball bounces the ball more than once, "what was that?!"

The twins continue laughing at our continued mistakes, 19-17.

Bee replied, "it's okay. The game is not over yet."

They did it perfectly and the only times they kept losing points was when they hit the rims. I swallowed my throat at the last round, 20-20. Oh no. I eyed Bee than the twins, I rubbed my hands with more focus and energy into this game more than I ever had in my entire life. I don't know how long we played this game, but it feels like hours. How do we trick them to lose the game? I stopped for a moment while still playing, I remembered what Bee said, what's more, important to me.

It's a trick. It doesn't matter if I win or lose because they wouldn't let me leave anyway. I noticed the similarities between them when I quickly looked between them, they are siblings and … family. I remember I always let my mother win the game and I only wanted to spend time with her. There are more important things than winning.

"Throw the ball!" Bee shouted at me, but I slowly dropped the ball instead, purposely.

"I remember playing chess with my mother and there are few times I would let her win because I wanted her to be happy. The only thing I wanted was to spend time with her and that was more important than winning. The family has more value in our lives than winning the game. I am happier to meet you even though you tricked every single one of my moves to make me lose.

Thank you. I will give my life to you and our family. If you want me to stay, I will gladly do so."

They seem surprised by my answer, unexpected like no one has done that before, "you want to stay? With us?"

"Yes, I'll stay with you."

They sadly sighed while waving at me, flicking their hands as I teleported in front of the house, the white mansion as I heard their voices.

"Thank you for playing with us.

Come back again next time, cousin."

I smiled as I looked back to the cornfield, mumbling, "I will, I promise."