For the sake of this chapter, we're going to pretend that Snow found out that Cora was the one to kill Eva before Regina cast the curse.

Warning: Sexual and physical abuse/harassment is a theme towards the end of this chapter. Read at your own risk.

Chapter Twenty: Welcome Back, Snow White

Snow stared where her daughter had been just moments before. She had sudden flashbacks to right before the curse hit. Charming took Emma out of her arms and to the wardrobe. In one moment, she had the tiny bundle with her. The next, she was alone. Her heart felt as empty as her arms. She remembered crying so hard, she didn't think it'd ever stop. Having to give up Emma was the hardest thing that she'd ever done. For 16 years, she had no clue that it had happened to her. However, as soon as the curse was broken, the memories, the heartbreak all came running back. The baby she had once cradled so close, was now a beautiful young woman. She would forever remember Emma's cries as Charming took her away, they were forever engrained in her memory.

Now Emma had been ripped from her once more and she could still see Emma's face. The despair in her eyes, almost pleading Snow to fix it. But just as she hadn't been able to save her the first time, she hadn't again.

Cora had killed her mother. Regina killed her father and enacted the curse that would cause her to lose her baby. Now, Zelena had stolen that very same child 16 years later. As the gears worked in her brain, making the connection, something in Snow snapped. She stormed out the door of the pawn shop, heading straight for her car. Charming and August rushed to keep up behind her.

"Snow!" Charming called out after her. "What are you doing?"

"I'm going to get our daughter back," she replied, her voice scarily calm.

Charming wanted that, more than anything, but he was confused. They had just watched Zelena pull her through a hat. "We have no clue where Zelena took her."

Snow turned around to face him. She had a look in her eyes that he hadn't seen in quite some time. She meant business. "Which is why I'm going to the one person who I know can help us."

Charming and August got into the car with her, nearly surprised at how fast she was speeding. As they pulled out of Main Street and headed through the suburban part of the town, it became quite clear where she was going. Soon, they had pulled up in front of Regina's mansion. Snow stormed up the steps, banging on the door. Regina opened the door, looking surprised to see a quite angry Snow standing there.

"What? The town not want to go back?" She asked.

"Your sister kidnapped my daughter," Snow seethed.

Regina raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"She stole one of the hats we had and dragged her through it!" She stepped closer so she was right up in Regina's face. "I am sick and tired of your family taking away people that I love!"

Regina looked Snow up and down, unsure of what to say at first. She knew just how fierce Snow could be. This was the woman that had fought her to take back her kingdom. The woman that had gone from a dainty princess to a fierce bandit. Even so, she had spent 16 years watching timid Mary Margaret. Regina could've done anything to her and "Mary Margaret" would just take it laying down. She had to remember that she was gone, Snow White was back and here to stay.

"Do you know where she would take Emma?" Charming spoke up from behind his wife.

"No, but I could try to find her. If Zelena took her to somewhere in this world, a locator spell would work."

"Let's do it."

Together, the group headed to the loft. Charming felt a sinking feeling in his stomach. Like Snow, he was being hit by a bunch of memories. One of the bigger one being the moment Regina's knights opened the door to the wardrobe. While he was glad that Emma got to safety, he had a moment of panic too. Where was she? Would she be safe? Who would look out for her? He felt like he had failed for not being able to stop the curse in the first place. Once again, he felt like he failed. He hadn't been able to protect Emma from Zelena.

All this time he had been trying to be a good father, trying to get to know her. But could he even be a dad, when he kept losing her? When they got Emma back-and he would do all he could to get her back to them, they always found people in this family-was he going to be worthy enough of being her father? Rationally, he knew he was being crazy, but he couldn't help it. He just wanted to get his daughter back. Even if he felt that he was a failure, at the very least, Snow was an amazing mom. She didn't deserve to keep losing their baby girl.

When they got back to the loft, Snow grabbed Emma's baby blanket, cuddling it close to her. In a way, it still smelled a bit like her daughter. Emma being missing without it seemed to be worse. She knew how precious it was to her. She had managed to sneak it in between portals, when she hadn't done that with anything else. Charming could tell what she was feeling and put her hand on her back.

"We're going to get her back before she'll even miss it," he tried to assure her.

Snow just bit her lip before turning to Regina. Clearly, she was hesitant to let the former queen set a spell upon her daughter's most prized possession. At the same time, she knew it was necessary. She held it out to her and Regina took the blanket into her hand. She focused the spell on it and watched it glow. Snow held her breath and leaned into Charming. However, almost as soon as it lit up, the light faded away.

"What does that mean?" August asked, speaking his first words since his sister had been kidnapped.

"She's not in this realm, anymore," Regina replied, giving the blanket back to Snow. "I'm sorry."

"There has to be another way!" Charming insisted. "A stronger spell? One that could show us where she went?"

"I can look into it," Regina told them. "But even if I did, I'd need a wand or a portal strong enough to get to her, something I'm not sure any of us have."

"Well we have to try."

"I won't rest until I get my daughter back," Snow told her.

Regina nodded. She expected no less. "I know. Despite our past, I had no part of this. Zelena is wicked, truly. I'm going to get Emma back, I promise."

Snow, Charming and August all shared a look with one another. They knew that Regina had nothing to do with her sister's deeds, but it was still a conundrum. Could they trust the person that had cursed them in the first place? Even though she had no part in Emma's kidnapping, if they hadn't been cursed, none of this would've happened.

At the same time, they had to find Emma, one way or another. They had to pick the lesser of the two evils at this point, which meant trusting the enemy.

When Emma came to, she found herself laying on something hard. She blinked a couple of times and looked above her, there was a bunk. Looking from side to side, all she saw was a bright white room. She slowly sat up and tried to use her powers to get out of the room, but no sparks flew from her hands. She looked down and saw a cuff on her wrist. She recognized it from her lessons. It was powerful enough to stop whoever was using it from using their powers.

Slowly, she got off of the bed and looked around the room. The door was metal with a small window with bars in it. She attempted to open it, but to no avail. She was locked up.

In a sudden moment, she wanted Snow and Charming. They would know what to do, how to get her out of there. Snow had told her stories of escape in the past, but she could barely remember any of them in that moment.

There was a cloud of green smoke and once it faded, Zelena stood there. She smirked down at Emma, circling around her.

"Well, well, well, someone's wide awake."

"Where the hell am I?" Emma demanded.

"Your tact is lovely."

"You stupid witch, I swear to God…"

"You'll what?" Zelena mocked confusion and when Emma was silent, she tapped her ear. "I'm sorry, guess I can't hear you?" Her smirk returned and she stopped pacing. "You, my darling, are in Oz."

"Bring me back Storybrooke."

"Oh, I will. Once you do something for me."

"And what could you possibly want?"

"You see, for years now I've been trying to perfect a time traveling spell."

Emma cocked her head. Early on when she was learning about magic, this had been one of the first spells she had asked about. The ability to turn back time and get something right was very appealing. However, her teachers ("Sarah" included), had told her that it was impossible. No one had ever successfully done it. Emma had thought that it sucked, but accepted it and gone onto learn other spells.

"You once told me that a time travel spell is impossible," she told her.

Zelena nodded. "Ah, clever girl. What I said, was that no one had ever gotten it right. I have finally found the right spell and you're going to help me set it."

"You're a powerful witch, how could you need my help?"

"I need a heart, a pure heart. I was going to take yours, but your parents' precious true love," She rolled her eyes as she made a face. "Prevented me from doing just that. However, here in Oz, there are plenty of pure hearts. So, I'm going to make you a deal. Either you help me get one of them or surrender your own."

Emma's eyes widened. She knew that Zelena was wicked, but this was crazy. Either she killed an innocent citizen of Oz to return to her own family or she committed suicide. Both weren't just going to hurt others, but who knew what exactly Zelena wanted to use this time travel spell for. Anything in the past could have drastic consequences for the future. She doubted that there was anything Zelena felt sorry about, she wanted to most likely go back in time and hurt someone.

"You're crazy if you think I'd do anything to help you," Emma replied.

Zelena shook her head. "You'll change your mind. Unfortanately, this is only something you can decide. The longer you wait, the longer you'll be here. Enjoy your time, Emma."

With that, she was gone once again. Emma sunk onto the bunk, doing her best to get the cuff off her wrist, but it seemed to be on like super glue. She tried to use her magic to get it off, but of course that didn't work. Throwing herself back on the bed, she let out a frustrated scream.

Months ago, life made sense. Yes, the only parents she ever knew were dead. At the same time, she still felt like she had most of the answers. She was the youngest royal in the palace. She had powers because she was the product of true love. There were no threats to her, unless one would count how she treated herself. She wondered why she was drawn to the woods, but that was that. She wasn't happy, she was actually pretty miserable, but even so everything added up just fine.

Then Alise gave her that box and it had a domino effect. She had made her way to Storybrooke, broken a curse and met her biological parents. While things were confusing there, she was actually happy. She had her parents, her brother. She was getting to know the townspeople, those she would've grown up with. In a way, she grew to love the chaos and disorder.

She had grown to love Snow and Charming.

Though, she had never told them that.

She thought back to just a few days ago when Charming had uttered those three words to her. She hadn't said it back. She wasn't ready, or so she thought. She hadn't even called them "Mom and Dad", yet. She had been planning on it, in the right moment.

Awhile back, Snow had asked her if they could find a way to go back home, what would she do? Would she go to the Enchanted Forest or return to the kingdom that overlooked Swan Lake? She hadn't had an answer for her back then. If anything, she wasn't sure that she would pick either of them. Now she knew what she wanted. She wanted to be a family with them. They'd let her see August, they were supportive of how close they were. She wanted to try to make up for all that lost time, just as they had been with her.

She hadn't said any of that, though. Now, she worried that she'd never get a chance to say that ot them.

"You can't think that way," she muttered to herself.

She remembered Charming's motto: "I will always find you." It worked for not just Snow, but for her too. Emma had found her way through realms before, she could do it again, that much she was sure of.

The door to the cell slid open and she jumped up, ready to attack if necessary. Suddenly, she heard a familiar accented voice.

"Get your hands off of me! I'm walking, I'm walking!"

Emma listened closer. She was convinced it was…but no…it couldn't be.

"I'm not a bloody sack of potatoes!"

"It's her wickedness's orders," a gruff man said. Emma saw him first before her eyes laid on the person he was roughly bringing through the door. Her mouth dropped open.

There she was. Her tangled curls were pulled up in a bun, just as she had worn them a year prior. She was wearing that all too familiar green dress and dark brown leggings. The pocket watch that August had given her hung from her waist.

"Tink," Emma breathed.

Tinkerbell looked up, her eyes widening. Without another thought, she ran to her, throwing her arms around her. Emma hugged her back tighter, burying her head in her shoulder.

"Emma! What the hell are you doing here?"

"It's a really long complicated story. It's just really good to see you."

"Likewise."

The door slammed shut again, but neither girl acknowledged it. They stayed in each other's grip, neither wanting to be the first to pull away. When they finally did, Tink looked her up and down, smiling.

"It's only been a year but you look so much older," she took in her outfit, a plaid button up shirt over a black tank top along with some jeans. "What are you wearing?"

Quickly, Emma launched into all of it. She didn't know that Tink had known about the curse all along, so she explained that part too. She ended with how Zelena had kidnapped you.

"I am so glad you finally know the truth," Tink told her.

Emma raised an eyebrow. "You knew?"

She nodded. "It killed me not to tell you. I know it did August, too." She bit her lip upon mentioning her former lover. "How's he doing?"

"He's good. I know he really misses you. How in the heck did you end up here?"

Tink continued to bite on her lip. While Emma had discovered the truth about the curse, clearly August hadn't filled her in on what Derek had done to them. Just as she wanted to honor the secrets he kept in the past, she wanted to continue to do that then.

"It's just a really long story," she shook her head. "All you have to know is that I never meant to leave you, either of you."

"I always knew that," Emma replied, honestly. "You loved August. When I find a way out of here, we can leave together."

Tink smiled. "That sounds amazing." Her eyes went to Emma's wrist and it faded. "Is that a magic preventing cuff?"

Emma nodded. "Yes, but we can find a way around it."

"I still don't have my wings, Emma. If I had found a way out, I wouldn't still be here."

"Well, between both of our knowledge, I'm sure we'll find something out."

Tink's smile returned as Emma took hold of her hand.

"Yes, we will. Now, how are you? Did they hurt you at all when they brought you through here?" She started looking her up and down for any possible injuries. Emma couldn't help but laugh. She now knew just why her and August were such a good match for each other.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. I guess I know now why they put me in here," she gestured to the bunk beds. "I've never had to share a room before, but there's a first time for everything, I suppose."

"I've spent the past year alone in my cell. I'll gladly take your company."

Together they sat down onto Emma's bunk, as the younger girl continued to describe Storybrooke and what August had been up to. She wasn't stupid, she knew exactly why Zelena had placed Tink her cell. She thought it would be an incentive to make her crack and that she'd try to hurt her to move things along. Zelena didn't realize just how loyal Emma was. She would protect Tink as much as she could. She didn't know how her old friend had been locked up, but it didn't matter. They had each other now and they'd find a way out.

Dorothy was relishing in her rare moment of peace as she looked out the window. Her feet were killing her and she was exhausted. This was how her life had been for the past year, ever since he showed up. If she ever saw Zelena again, she was going to wrap her hands around her neck and…

"Dorothy!"

She flinched, shutting her eyes.

"Just great, his majesty is awake," she mumbled under her breath.

"Dorothy! I do not have all day!"

"Coming!" Dorothy yelled back, scurrying to the main hall. There he stood, the new "king" of Oz. He would never be the true leader, that was her. But so long as he had the tools that Zelena had given him, there wasn't much she could do about it.

There was no doubting Derek had probably once been a very handsome man, he still was in some respects. It was hard to find him attractive when she knew the ugly that was hidden beneath him. He was wearing one of the newer outfits he had pressured the tailors to make him: a black suit that had some green here and there. That sick, sadistic smile went across his face.

"How are you supposed to greet me, Dorothy?"

Dorothy rolled her eyes and took hold of her skirt, curtseying. "Your…majesty."

"That's a start," Derek stepped forward, touching her chin. "You look quite lovely today."

"You look as old as ever."

Derek laughed, shaking his head. "Oh, I love it when you're sassy." He grabbed hold of her waist and she squirmed in his grip. "You make it very hard to resist."

"Oh Derek," an accented voice came from the doorway. "In the main hall of all places? I thought you were a king, act like it."

Both of their heads snapped up and Derek fell into such a state of shock, that Dorothy was able to get away from his slimy hands.

"Zelena," Derek said, his eyes narrowing. "Nice of you to finally show up, a year later."

"Oh darling, did you miss me?" Zelena fake pouted and moved closer. She glanced over at Dorothy and raised an eyebrow. "From the looks of it, maybe you've found someone new…"

"Don't be gross," Dorothy scoffed.

"Ah, it's one of those, like those maids you kept back home," the wicked witch nodded. "Guess no one compares to the best?"

"I wouldn't exactly consider my best mistress to be the one that exiled me to a new land," Derek bit back.

Zelena rolled her eyes. "I let you be king."

"Over these fools!" Derek threw his hands in the air. "You knew exactly why I did what I did! I had to train Emma, so she could rule like me…"

"If I have to hear about your plan one more time," Zelena interrupted. She started to mock the king in front of her. "Alise is too weak, she'd make a terrible ruler, August refused to be like me, Emma's the only one who can be shaped…" She rolled her eyes again. "You should know, that little Ally has been doing quite well in your absence. She and Hank have rose to the challenge."

"I'm surprised you didn't take over yourself," Derek replied with a scoff.

Dorothy looked between the two, feeling extremely uncomfortable. She didn't dare ask to be excused, though.

"Over your kingdom? I figured they deserved a break after you," Zelena retorted. She let out a dramatic sigh. "I think your tone will change when you find out I have something that belongs to you."

"I want nothing from you," Derek turned around to grab his sword, he had better things to do then deal with her.

"A quite pretty little thing, blonde curls, big green eyes…goes by Emma."

Derek paused in place, his body going tense. Zelena smirked at his reaction.

"That got your attention?"

"You have Emma?" He spun around. "She's with you?"

"Yes. She's in the asylum."

A smile spread across Derek's face, the one that made Dorothy shudder. Emma had magic. She could take them back home, he could reclaim the throne, Emma would be the rightful ruler that he had dreamed her to be. She was always so close to him; she wouldn't want to disappoint him. She would do just what he asked of her, whatever he asked of her.

"Bring her to me," he demanded.

"Oh, I will. When I'm done with her."

Derek tensed up once again. "What does that mean?"

"My time travel spell is just about complete, the only thing I need is a pure heart. Emma's is protected by true love, so I need her to break the spell, which I will convince her is best." Zelena smirked. "You can have…whatever's left." Her eyes lit up with pure wickedness.

Derek's jaw locked. "You are not going to kill her!"

"Why? You didn't even really want her. You just wanted to make sure you had one heir that would rule the way you wanted. It's not even your kingdom anymore."

"You both are just using her?" Dorothy found her voice, but neither paid her any mind. She folded her arms over her chest. Derek had mentioned something about an Emma many times, but he had no clue she was his daughter. From the way he talked about her, she thought the young girl was his apprentice or something of the sort. She had to help this girl, no father should be able to treat his daughter in such a way. And there was no way she was going to let Zelena hurt her.

"I'm going to get her!" Derek insisted.

"I've instructed the guards to not let you in and while you may be the king, this was my land first." Her eyes twinkled, as an evil smile went across her face. "Sorry doll, this is my happy ending." She used her wand to disappear in a cloud of green smoke.

Dorothy watched Derek's face turn into so many different emotions, she almost got whiplash. He turned to her, sword in hand.

"You're going to help me get into that asylum."

"How?"

Derek's eyes traveled down to her feet. "Those shoes. You brag that they can take you anywhere you want."

"The guards will just kill you, they have more loyalty to Zelena than you."

"Then we'll get ready for a fight, but you will help me or so help me, the Munchkin population is going to decrease."

How was that for a twist? I promise, a future chapter will explain just how all of this is possible. Please make sure to review. I have these next few chapters practically all written out for the most part, so the more reviews I get, the faster they get posted. As always, let me know what you want to see. Until next time, friends. =)