|PRESENT DAY, HYPERION HEIGHTS|
Henry had left a couple of hours ago, presumably to continue helping Jacinda search for Lucy. She couldn't tell them what really happened, as much as she wanted to. After all, they'd never believe that she got sucked up by some sort of magic would they?
But, as much as Regina tried to ignore her emotions, she felt quite depressed about the whole thing. None of this was fair to her, nor was it to them. She hated the fact that a few weeks ago, life was so much easier. Despite being under a curse, she at least didn't have to deal with anything in her past. She didn't have to remember any of the pain she had felt. And, she didn't have to suddenly relive Robin's death.
She'd tried to tell herself that she was over it beforehand, but as soon as that girl, who turned out to be his daughter, brought it back into her head she'd realised that there was no point in trying to deny it anymore. She'd always missed him.
"Afternoon."
She looked towards the door from her hospital bed, only to find the person who she'd been waiting for, for what seemed like a century. Detective Weaver. Or should she say, Gold.
"Where the hell have you been?"
"Poking around, sorry it took so long.", he responded. It was so obvious that he'd been awake for a while now, just from his slightly annoying voice.
"Yes, you should be sorry. For all of this.", she snapped at the end of her sentence.
"Sorry for what?"
"For not doing something! For not making sure that something like this didn't happen. Even when they were pulled into that demonising hole you could've done something other than stood there like an idiot!"
"What could I have done?", he responded. It was at that point when Regina realised that he was right. There wasn't anything he could do, and she was just angry at him for the sake of being angry.
"I'm..sorry."
"It's fine. I actually just came here to wonder how you were.", he said in a weird tone.
She glared at him. "Seriously?"
"Well, yes?"
She paused before rolling her eyes. "I'm fine."
"Good, because whatever was in that poison must've not had it's effect."
"Poison?", she asked whilst slowly becoming a bit paranoid. She didn't remember noticing any poison before she was shot. Not like she would, seeing as it happened so quickly, but still.
"Yes, I heard from a few sources that there was some sort of substance on the arrow that you were shot with. The doctors claimed it was 'unidentifiable' so I think we can both presume it was magic."
She went silent for a second. It wasn't exactly reassuring knowing that she could have some venomous magic in here. Either way however, she didn't seem to notice anything.
"Well, I'm obviously fine so there can't have been any."
Gold sighed. "Well, I best be off then.". Regina opened her mouth as if to ask him something, but he left before she had the chance.
|PRESENT DAY, ?|
"Lucy, you don't seriously think we can believe these people, can we? They're probably just lying to keep us here", Robin whispered to her whilst the crowd behind them spoke quietly.
"I'm not sure but I don't think they're bad. Besides, even if we could get out of here, do you know how to use your magic?"
"Of course I d-", Robin hesitated in the middle of her sentence, ".. no, no I don't"
"Then, we're going to have to find another way! Let's just try and see what's going on here first, then maybe you'll figure it out.", Lucy slowly stopped crying and trying to be brave about it for once.
Robin, irritated, decided to go along with it, before turning around and speaking to the crowd of foreigners behind her.
"Okay folks, sorry about that. Listen I don't know what you had planned beforehand but Lucy and I have lots of questions and we're going to need answers so you better talk."
The man, or the one who claimed to be Robin Hood, spoke up. "That's alright. What's your name by the way?"
"I'm..", Robin hesitated for the second time in the past minute, "..Amelie."
A couple of people mumbled in the crowd in front of her before Lucy grabbed her shoulder. "What are you doing? There's no point in using that name anymore."
"Just, trust me on this okay? We barely know these people and for all we know they could be Belfrey's spies or something. Let's just go along with this, okay?"
Lucy nodded, before Robin turned around again.
"Amelie, are you sure that's your name?", Michael asked.
"I'm pretty sure I would know my own name mate. Anyhow, are you going to give us answers or what?"
The other Robin looked at her. It was almost as if he recognised her from somewhere, but he couldn't put his finger on it. Lucy was planning on telling her who he said he was, but she wasn't sure if she was ready for it. After all, if she really was more suspicious than she was then there wouldn't be much of a point. So she kept quiet.
"Okay then, let's move."
A small group of people, including Robin Hood and some other figures resembling castle guards sat down in front of Robin and Lucy. The room was generally quite similar to the one that Lucy had stayed in, except much bigger and much more decorated.
"Alright then, first question.", Robin blurted out. "How many different realms have people come from to get here, and if so which ones?"
"About 10 or 11, and they're mostly from different versions of the Enchanted Forest and the Land Without Magic.", one of them responded.
"Different versions?"
"Yes, there are different variations of every realm."
Robin seemed puzzled. "So, when you say variations you mean the same places duplicated and with a slightly different history?"
"Essentially.", Robin Hood responded.
"Does that, by any chance mean that there are multiple versions of.. the same person?"
"There are people who look the same as other people, and who had certain parts of history the same in some cases but nobody is the same person.", Robin Hood responded.
"Okay.. so I wouldn't be able to meet another version of me here by any chance then?", Robin questioned.
It was at that point when one of the many people interjected. "I'm sorry, is this really necessary?"
"Yes. Yes it is. Because Lucy and I need to find our way home and you need to help us."
Quite a few people sighed. Robin, already knowing what they were going to say, quickly made a statement. "Yeah, I know you think that there isn't a way about this place but, if you were to know anything about my.. well technically our overly complicated family, you would know that we don't give up easily."
Robin Hood ended up smiling at that. She reminded him so much of his old life, despite not knowing why.
"Anyway. Our second question: Who is this chief and when are we going to meet him?"
Everyone grew silent.
Robin, unamused spoke on. "Anyone going to tell us?"
It was at that point when one of the people in the crowd spoke up. "You can't visit the chief on your own."
"Why?"
"Well, no one can. It depends if he wants to see you or not."
"Seriously? You put all of your trust in this guy's theories and yet you barely even get to see them?" Robin disapprovingly said. The entire system seemed so stupid to her, it was difficult to believe they were actually following it.
"Just be quiet, please.", Robin Hood said.
"No, I need to know who indoctrinated you into actu-"
"Robin!", Lucy said from beside her in a harsh whisper. She then turned to look at the little girl next to her. "We shouldn't start arguing with them, we need these guys to like us!"
Robin pouted in annoyance. "Fine, you have a point.", she turned around.
"Okay folks, you know what? I have a deal for you. We'll stop asking you all of these questions tonight if you agree to give us some shelter and help us find our way to the chief so that we can fix this mess. Clear?"
A couple of them whispered to each other, obviously doubting that they'd ever 'fix the mess' that they had. But after all, there wasn't much else they could do.
"Alright then, you have yourselves a deal."
"Thank god..", Robin said in relief. Although she knew getting home wouldn't be easy, at least she was on good terms with these people.
"Well then, we best be getting something to eat.", Robin Hood said as they started walking towards the door.
"Oh yeah, about that..", Robin said before he paused in front of them.
"Do you guys have any food? We're kinda hungry."
[a/n: okay then! that wraps up this chapter! These notes are getting shorter and shorter each time because I have nothing else to say. Anyway, I really hope you're enjoying this so far and read on!]