Aurora and Phillip were currently welcoming their old friends back into their home after they suddenly appeared once Storybrooke was no more and they were going back to where they belonged along with their descendants.
"How've things been since we left?" Snow White asked her old friends. "The ogres?"
"Defeated. We're restoring our kingdom and our lives." Aurora informed her proudly.
Snow White nodded before smiling. "And congratulations." she then said kindly.
"Is it that obvious?" Aurora asked as she smiled back.
"You're glowing." Snow White explained calmly.
"Why is she pregnant and I'm the one who's sick?" The Evil Queen rolled her eyes in the background.
"We have much to celebrate. And know that you and your friends are welcome in our kingdom," Phillip soon told their friends. "If you need anything we're at your service."
"Thank you, but all we need is horses. We have our own kingdom," Prince Charming replied calmly. "Our own castle."
"Our castle was destroyed in the curse." Snow White reminded her husband as she put her hand on his blood-stained shoulder.
"Well played, Your Majesty," Hook snarked to The Evil Queen. "You laid waste to everything."
The Evil Queen rolled her eyes in response.
"Not everything. Her castle still stands." Aurora then clarified with a gesture toward the evil regal.
"Of course it does," The Evil Queen stated rather smugly. "I protected it."
"Well, technically, the castle doesn't belong to her," Prince Charming retorted. "It was Snow's before she took it."
"Well, to be fair, I married into it." The Evil Queen countered.
"That you did. And now, we're taking it back," Snow White then said before she smiled and took a step toward The Evil Queen. "And you are coming with us."
The Evil Queen scoffed and shook her head at that. "You can't be serious." she then said.
"Regina, everyone out there is scared and confused. They need hope. What better way to do that then to return united?" Snow White defended and explained calmly. "You're coming with us. I know you don't like it. You'll learn to. For our good. For yours."
The Evil Queen glanced away, still a little unsure about that, but she remained silent.
"Thank you again for your hospitality," Prince Charming said to Phillip and Aurora. "We should begin preparations."
"Good luck to all of you." Phillip smiled as he shook hands with his fellow prince.
"You should also know something, it's not just our descendants who are with us, but one of your own." Prince Charming then said.
"You mean... our future child?" Aurora wondered as she rubbed her stomach.
"Maybe yes, maybe no, but we thought you would like to know," Prince Charming replied. "A daughter named Audrey."
"Audrey..." Aurora repeated with a small smile. "I have always wanted a daughter named Audrey."
"Should we let them meet their daughter?" Prince Charming asked Snow White then.
"I think that might be a good idea since we're back in Misthaven for the time being." Snow White added.
"It might be different than what you or the descendants might expect though." The Evil Queen spoke up.
"What?" Snow White asked out of confusion. "What are you talking about, Regina?"
"Well, the descendants did come with us, but there was another price when I cast the spell to keep Pan from taking over Neverland and sending us all here," The Evil Queen explained. "I had to age down our descendants in order to protect them."
"Age them down?" Prince Charming asked. "You mean, they're not teenagers anymore?"
"Most of them anyway, they'll remember Storybrooke and the fun times they had, I decided to keep the fun on the condition of them being aged down to start over and have a better chance at becoming Fairy Tale descendants," The Evil Queen tried to explain. "It was either I could age them down and bring them to Misthaven with us or they would be sent somewhere else and have no idea who they really are at all, such as Evie being my daughter. I thought I would try to help everyone else since you two had to send away your own descendant: Emma."
Snow White and Prince Charming looked soft at that.
"I'm very sorry." The Evil Queen then said.
"Well, it's better than nothing, right?" Snow White replied softly. "Plus, I suppose at least this way, the descendants can learn more about their Fairy Tale heritages."
"I'm just sorry I couldn't save Emma or Henry for you guys," The Evil Queen said softly. "We might as well go and see them," she then added before looking at Phillip and Aurora. "We'll also show you your daughter if you wish."
"We would love to meet our daughter," Aurora smiled softly. "She knows us already, right?"
"Yes, she does," The Evil Queen nodded. "You got separated from her, it's a bit of a long story, but perhaps it's better this way."
"Thank you, Regina." Phillip replied softly.
The Evil Queen smiled a little at that as she soon walked away along with Prince Charming, Hook, and Snow White while Phillip and Aurora smiled before their smiles quickly disappeared.
"You know we can't pretend this didn't happen. They've returned," Aurora soon told her prince in a worried tone of voice. "We have to tell her."
"Aurora, we can't. You know what'll happen to them," Phillip reminded her strongly. "What she'll do."
"We both know if she ever found out we hid this, she would take it out on our child and possibly our daughter as well since she's with them," Aurora retorted. "We have no choice. She has to know. We have to trust that they can take care of themselves. It's not up to us to save them."
Phillip looked soft and thoughtful in response.
Soon, everyone was adjusting to the change of the descendants being teenagers into suddenly preteens, though as for Dee Dee, as well as others around her age like Hansel and Gretel, they were turned into babies so that they could have a fresh start in the new life they didn't get to properly enjoy in Storybrooke.
"Oh, she's just so adorable~" Nova cooed as she carried Baby Dee Dee in her arms and was surrounded by the other former nuns who were back in their fairy forms.
"And it at least seems like the gang is all here," Tinkerbell said as she looked at her fellow fairies. "I've missed you all so much."
"We've missed you too, Green-I mean... Tinkerbell," Blue replied softly as she nodded at the former fairy. "What do you think you'll be doing with your time in The Enchanted Forest? I mean... I took away your wings after all." she then wondered.
"I suppose I'll go to whoever or whatever calls for me," Tinkerbell said softly. "If that's okay with you after all."
"Of course, Green... You can follow your own path," Blue nodded. "Though maybe you could give us all an extra hand, especially in my case since you have parental experience until I separated you from your child."
"Yes, of course," Tinkerbell nodded. "Who can I help you with, Blue?"
"My darling little Jane..." Blue replied as she glanced over at the girl who seemed to have a turquoise tint in her hair. "I had to come out to her and tell her the truth that I was her mother all this time because her father ended up being that nasty and uncontrollable force of Neverland."
"You mean Peter Pan was Jane's father?" Tinkerbell asked.
"Yes, but I trust you to help me look after Jane and try to control her magic as a young fairy who needs training if she's going to be somebody's fairy godmother someday," Blue nodded and explained. "Nova already decided she is much happier with Grumpy the Dwarf and they're going to raise the girl known as Dee Dee together, so I trust you to help look after Jane."
"I would be honored, Blue," Tinkerbell said. "But first, I think another reunion is in order."
"Of course, I understand," Blue replied. "Away with you then."
Tinkerbell nodded and soon walked off to go and see a certain somebody while travel preparations were underway for everyone else. Meanwhile, the dwarves were adjusting back into being dwarves while Nova stood with Grumpy as she held onto Dee Dee.
"Grumpy, look at us," Sneezy sniffled and smiled at his fellow dwarf while Dopey and Ebony, who had cat ears on her head while also being humanoid, were helping Doug get ready. "We're back to normal."
"We're handsome again." Happy added out of delight.
A certain cricket soon flew over on Grumpy's shoulder to chirp a greeting to the dwarf.
"Hey Jiminy, is that you?" Grumpy chuckled and smiled.
Jiminy chirped affirmatively.
"Where you've been?" Grumpy then asked the cricket.
Jiminy chirped in reply.
"Really? No kidding?" Grumpy replied.
Jiminy then chirped more information to the dwarf.
"Okay... Okay!" Grumpy replied after he understood what Jiminy said, then the cricket flew over to young Scarlett and the two of them saw Tinkerbell coming over to them. "Hey, Your Highness," he then spoke up to Prince Charming. "According to Jiminy 50 more Storybrooke folk landed not two miles from here. They're popping back all over the place." he then explained.
"That's good. At this rate we'll have the whole kingdom back in no time," Prince Charming smiled and nodded in approval at that. "Grumpy, you and the dwarves, spread the word. All new arrivals make haste for the Queen's Castle." he then instructed.
"Consider it done." Grumpy replied before he soon left along with Nova and Baby Dee Dee.
"Who's our pretty little girl?~" Nova cooed as she held onto Baby Dee Dee.
Baby Dee Dee seemed to smile and coo at both Grumpy and Nova. Doug soon began to stare at his new baby cousin like she was some sort of strange genetic mutation.
"Dougie, whatya think of your baby cousin?" Grumpy asked the bespectacled half-dwarf boy.
"...why isn't she an egg?" Doug asked as he looked up at Grumpy and Nova.
"Excuse me?" Nova asked.
"Oh, dwarves are hatched from eggs," Grumpy explained to Nova. "Remember when we first met when I was a year old and I saw you from my dreams before I hatched?" he then asked her.
"Oh, yeah, you were only one and you said you looked young for your age." Nova chuckled and smiled in memory.
"So how come Dee Dee isn't an egg?" Doug then asked, making the other dwarves look down and around at the baby girl in Nova's arms.
"Well, Dee Dee wasn't born a dwarf like you were, Doug, she isn't a fairy either and fairies are often born from the sound of a baby's laughter." Nova then explained.
"Babies are born from laughter?" Doug asked.
"Well, fairy babies are anyway," Nova said with a small smile. "Most of them for that fact, but Dee Dee was born to a human mother and father so that's why she looks like this and why she isn't an egg like when your ather and uncles were born."
"Wow... I have a lot to learn about babies..." Doug commented and blinked with wide eyes.
"You'll learn within time, Kitten," Ebony purred and smiled sweetly. "Just like the way your father did when you were born."
"Did I come from an egg or was I a baby like Dee Dee?" Doug wondered.
Harry was shown to be standing with Carla and Carlos, though there was something very different about Carla: her hair was black and white just like Carlos' which began to make them wonder if they could be related somehow. Harry was just as curious as the two of them, though he saw his father doing something and decided to go and see what he was doing. Hook soon got a horse and was beginning to load up before glancing over as he spotted his son coming his way.
"Dad, why do you have so many supplies?" Harry asked his father softly as he approached.
"Well, you know what they say about preparation and all that." Hook replied as he tended to his selected horse.
"You don't need so many supplies when it's not too far away." Harry remarked to his father.
"Yeah, there's no need to overload your horse," David added as he walked by suddenly. "We'll have everything we need over there."
"Aye. That would be lovely if I were going to the Queen's castle." Hook nodded as he looked distant suddenly.
Harry blinked and frowned out of concern.
"You're not coming with us?" David asked the adult pirate.
"You're a perceptive prince, aren't you?" Killian replied.
"Where are you going?" David asked.
Hook sighed before he looked at them both, but mostly at David right now. "Listen, mate. The Enchanted Forest is your home. Mine is the Jolly Roger." he then answered as calmly as he could.
"But Dad, we don't even know if The Jolly Roger is even here." Harry reminded his father.
"Regina told me how that bloody thing worked," Hook easily countered. "It returned all of our belongings to this land as well as us. It means that somewhere out there is my ship. All I have to do is find her."
"And what if you can't?" David asked.
"I'll just have to take another one, then, won't I?" Hook replied as he soon finished his preparations. "That's what pirates do."
"Huh. And here I thought you're gone and changed." David muttered as he stepped back.
"I tried the hero thing. Didn't take." Hook replied.
"So, that's it?" Snow huffed as she walked by while Hook began to mount on his horse. "Emma's gone and you're gonna go back to be a pirate?"
"Back, my lady? I've always been a pirate." Hook remarked.
"And I'm comin' with you." Harry piped up.
"Oh, Harry, it might be too dangerous for a boy your age and size to come along, and-" Hook began to disagree as he looked down at his son before he was faced with his son's piercing cobalt eyes that could match his own, though due to his son being aged down and having a similar charm that ran in the Jones family, he found himself stumped and unable to say no to his own son.
Harry sniffled and even attempted to cry as he looked up at his father.
"I regret teaching him the puppy dog eye trick," Hook sighed and groaned to himself before he shook his head. "Very well, son. You may come along, but you and no one else."
"...Except for Carla, right?" Harry asked hopefully and innocently.
"I already said yes to you, son, don't get greedy," Hook replied as he stepped down from his horse, then scooped Harry up to sit on his horse with him. "Don't ever say your old man never did you any favors."
"Aye, Dad," Harry nodded. "Sorry, Carla."
"That's okay, Harry," Carla softly told him. "I'll wait for you."
Harry blinked and blushed at that before nodding. "Right... I'll be back as soon as I can if my father lets me." he then promised her.
"Go forth and sail for an adventure, Harry Hook," Carla whispered warmly. "I believe in you."
Hook smiled warmly at that, but he soon made sure Harry held on tight as he got his horse ready and soon rode away with his son as they began their quest to go find The Jolly Roger. Carlos decided to stick around Carla as he felt a special connection with her somehow before he yelped briefly and saw that Dude came up between the two of them, seeming to smile at them. Carlos almost forgot that he liked dogs now, though mostly Dude, but he then smiled and pet the dog as they started to also get settled in The Enchanted Forest.
Goldilocks began to look soft, emotional, and bewildered about her new surroundings as she also tried to settle into Misthaven while Belle did her best to comfort her and Ben as well as Baelfire who had a certain task, he wished to take care of while in this environment.
"Don't worry, Goldie. We'll try to help you out in this world, and we'll find a way to get Ben and Neal's father back too, even if it takes a little magic." Belle comforted the blonde woman as she carried Baby Koda in her arms who looked just like a little teddy bear.
"It just feels weird being around here where it all began," Goldilocks commented. "I also wonder if I'll be able to find my brother and maybe we can rebuild our family after we lost our parents and we were separated from each other because I was trapped in Neverland for a while."
"Well, no matter what it takes or what happens, we'll be here for you as we're part of your family," Belle soothed her. "Aren't we, Benny?"
"Yes, we are," Ben nodded before he looked curious. "...Am I still allowed to date Audrey even though we're both little kids now?"
"Well, you'll have to hold off on certain things for a while, plus she'll probably want to spend some time with her parents since she was away from them for so long," Belle advised her former teenage son. "This will also be a good chance for you and your brother to bond."
"Okay, Mom..." Ben nodded at his mother.
Belle smiled warmly and proudly at that as it would be a big adjustment, but they would all try to do their best to get used to it.
Speaking of Baelfire AKA Neal, he came over to David and Snow to talk with them about a certain thing. "Hey. What Hook said just now about all of our stuff being brought back here; is that true?" he soon asked.
"What are you looking for?" David asked him.
"I was thinking maybe we can stop by my father's place on the way to the Queen's castle." Neal explained.
Snow gave him a small look in response.
"Neal, I know you're hurt, but Rumplestiltskin is gone." David soon told the other man.
"Maybe. Maybe not," Neal defended. "And if he's not maybe he can get me back to Emma."
Goldie looked briefly stunned and hurt as Neal still seemed to have feelings for Emma.
"Neal, it's impossible... Regina was clear," Snow told the father of her first grandchild. "The price of our return was a complete reset; No more portals... This is our realm for good, the descendants are starting over too so they can really get in touch with their Fairy Tale heritage and there's no way to cross over," she said. "Not without another curse." she then finished.
"We have to move on. This is our home now," David added. "Now, I know, you miss them. So do we. Even if there were some way to get to them, they wouldn't remember us. The best thing we can do for Emma and Henry is the only thing we can do: Let them be and know we gave them their best chances."
Neal looked soft about that and soon got out of the way once they were about ready to go off and move out to make way for The Evil Queen and Good King's castle. Goldie looked at Neal softly, but she didn't say anything to him and was concentrating on keeping Koda asleep until they would find a place to relax and get settled since they had to start their lives over after Emma and Henry left Storybrooke for good.
"You'll see them again," Belle spoke up to Neal, trying to comfort him. "Emma and Henry."
"Well, let's hope I don't have to curse an entire kingdom to get back to them." Neal replied.
"I heard you talking to David about Rumple," Belle then said. "You know, we never saw his knife. I think we can get him back."
Neal glanced at her before nodding at that.
"That won't happen to me, will it?" Ben piped up.
"What won't happen, kiddo?" Goldie asked him.
"Me becoming a Dark One?" Ben asked. "I mean, we're all supposed to follow our parents' stories and I'm the son of Rumplestiltskin... what does that mean for me?"
"You may be the son of The Beast, but you're also the son of Beauty," Neal reminded his younger brother, trying to help comfort him. "You see the good in people like you saw the good in Mal who was the daughter of The Mistress of Evil."
"I just wish I could've done more to help her," Ben sighed and frowned a little. "I hate that she felt like she had to leave Storybrooke to who knows where. She deserved a lot more than being known as a descendant from a villain."
"We know, dear," Belle coaxed. "You did your best, but just let it be reminder that you're not a monster. Your father may have been a Beast and a monster in the past, but he made up for it later and we'll find a way to bring him back. You'll see." she then added.
"Thanks, Mom." Ben replied softly.
"Of course, dear." Belle smiled at him.
Goldie looked soft at that as she continued to carry Baby Koda.
Snow and David continued to lead the way with their horses who were named Spirit and Rain.
"Regina's castle is just beyond the mountains." Snow told her husband.
"I think you mean our castle." David clarified gently.
"That's going to take some getting used to," Snow then admitted. "The last time I was there was just after my father's death, and I've always dreamed of returning," she admitted. "I just never imagined it would be with Regina by our side." she then finished.
"Maybe it will be good for her to try to write a new chapter in her own story." Evie spoke up as she came beside Snow and David, making the two of them stop.
"Evie, sweetie, where's your mother?" Snow asked the young girl out of concern.
"I dunno." Evie shrugged innocently and looked away.
Snow sighed to that and then went to look for Regina, soon coming across her. Regina was soon shown to be burying something when she thought she was alone in the woods.
"Mommy, what're you doing?" Evie soon asked, causing her mother to jolt suddenly.
"Evie, I thought I told you to go on ahead with the others." Regina reminded her daughter firmly.
"She was, but I decided that we both had to come and talk to you." Snow explained to the older woman as she came beside Evie for comfort and support.
Regina sighed at the younger woman. "So, now you're following me?" she then asked with a scoff.
"We were worried... And it looks like we were right to be," Snow told her. "What are you burying?" she asked firmer.
"Nothing that concerns you." Regina huffed coldly.
"Why does that make me think it does?" Snow retorted. "What have you done?" she asked.
Regina shook her head as she just continued to dig.
"Mommy, is that a heart?" Evie began to ask.
"Go away!" Regina replied angrily.
"It's your heart, isn't it?" Snow asked softer to that.
"I'm not having this conversation with you," Regina snarled. "Especially you, Evie, you're too young to understand." she then added.
"Mommy... You miss Henry, don't you?" Evie guessed, still being insightful and intelligent for her age and she also understood that burden because she felt it too deep within her own heart.
"Not as much as I did when that was still beating in my chest." Regina replied as she stood up firmly.
"But, Regina, this isn't the answer," Snow told Regina. "No matter how much pain you may feel, you can't just bury it in the woods."
Evie nodded as she felt the same way.
"Watch me." Regina challenged before she knelt down again and she resumed her work.
"You won't feel better," Snow pointed out. "You won't feel anything." she then added.
"That's the point," Regina retorted. "I can't keep walking around knowing that I'll never see Henry, that he doesn't even remember who I am."
"I know exactly how you're feeling and so does your daughter," Snow told Regina. "I just said goodbye to my own daughter... For the second time. Henry, too but I promise you it will get better." she then added.
"With your heart, Mommy," Evie then urged as she pointed to the cardiovascular organ. "And I feel Henry in my heart too, I miss him too, but you can still love me and I still love you."
"I agree with Evie," Snow nodded. "Right now, your heart might be causing you pain, but I promise you, it will let you feel something else soon enough."
"What's that?" Regina demanded, slightly stern in tone.
"The one thing that Henry wanted you to find and that Evie still wants you to find as well," Snow explained calmly. "Happiness."
"I can't be happy without him, but Evie is good company at least." Regina told Snow.
"Find a way... for Henry and Evie." Snow told her, rubbing her arm once soothingly.
Evie then came over and carefully lifted her mother's heart, brushing off the dirt from it.
"...Can I trust you with that?" Regina asked once Evie literally stole her heart.
"Of course you can, I'm your little princess," Evie assured Regina softly. "Do you want me to help put it back in your chest?" she offered gently.
"...You can help with that," Regina allowed before she gave Snow a firm look as a warning. "But just you of course."
Snow held her hands up and stayed back.
Evie gave a small smile and then gently took a hold of one of Regina's shoulders. "Hold onto both of mine." she said softly as she got the heart ready.
"All right..." Regina nodded before she put her hands on Evie's shoulders and hunched down to her currently preteen daughter's height. "Just try to be as gentle as you can, but don't be afraid to be firm if you have to." she then advised since she knew a lot about heart ripping.
Evie nodded to that and gave a small smile. She then held the heart against Regina's chest before gently and smoothly pushing the heart back into her mother's chest.
Regina grunted only slightly, but she smiled and nodded at Evie once that was done. "Now let's get back to our castle." she soon suggested after that was done.
"Did you hear that?" Snow asked as something rustled in the bushes and made her hair flutter a little in a sudden breeze. "There was something there." she told them.
Evie looked around frowning and then glanced over to the bushes. "M-M-Maybe it was a fox or something?" she then suggested.
"I don't think there are any foxes around here." Regina remarked to her daughter as she looked around cautiously.
Regina then turned around and joined Snow as well as Evie. All of them were of them are unaware of a peering red eye in the undergrowth behind them. As the creature flew off, rustling could be heard. Evie frowned and then noticed it in the sky, her eyes widening as she spotted the creature.
Regina soon briefly examined the undergrowth. "There's nothing here, unless it flew away." she then noted.
"It did." Evie said quietly with wide eyes.
Snow looked up too. "Run!" she said and started to run.
"No. I don't run from monsters. They run from me." Regina told them both and she soon launched a fireball at the flying monkey.
Winging sideways the monkey was able to avoid the fireball. Once again, the monkey dove down before snatching Evie from the ground, lifting her a few feet up in the air.
"EVIE!" Regina cried out, concerned about her daughter.
"Evie!" Snow also exclaimed before she forcefully pulled The Evil Princess down, making the monkey tear at her sleeve and drew some blood. "It's too fast!" she then warned about the monkey.
Evie shivered and huddled close, burying her face in Snow's shoulder out of fear and worry.
"I'm open to suggestions." Regina scoffed.
"Get down!" A man's voice shouted.
Snow dropped to the ground and pulled Regina down too while setting Evie down on the ground carefully. The Flying Monkey was soon struck by an arrow, causing it to shriek in pain before turning around to flee. Evie watched the monkey go and then turned to look as the man who spoke before approached.
"Mi'lady," The male then said and held out a hand to Regina. "You're injured." he then noted with a frown.
"It's Your Majesty," Regina corrected firmly. "And I'm fine."
"A simple thank you would suffice." The man told Regina.
Regina simply glanced at the strange man. "We didn't ask for your help." she then retorted before standing up.
The man hummed and pouted firmly.
"My dear little princess, are you okay?" Regina cooed gently to her daughter.
"I think so, Mommy." Evie nodded, sounding a little shaky but she didn't cry.
"Well, I'm grateful for the assistance." Snow said as she took the man's hand.
"Robin. Robin of Locksley," the man introduced himself, shaking her hand before turning towards his companions. "And these are a few of my Merry Men." he said.
Regina rolled her eyes at this "Robin of Locksley" while Evie looked curious and entranced.
"Snow White," Snow introduced herself.
"At last we meet," Robin told her. "You know, there was a time when our faces graced Wanted posters side by side," he then smiled. "And we know of her majesty but who is the young lady with you?" he then asked.
"This is my daughter," Regina introduced. "Princess Evelyn, but you can call her Evie."
"H-Hello." Evie greeted and waved at the strange older man.
"Hello, young lady," Robin greeted the blue-haired girl. "I hope that you're well."
"I think I'll be okay." Evie said with a small smile.
"If you're really Snow White, why are you with her?" Another man soon asked as he saw Snow White and The Evil Queen together.
Regina closed her eyes, allowing Katie to work her magic as she tried to tolerate anything that would come along with it until what Little John said made her feel frustrated. "Her? Show some respect. Or at least some restraint at the buffet." she then huffed at the rather portly man.
"Mommy..." Evie murmured as that sounded a little rude.
"You'll have to excuse Little John, but before you cursed this land, we spent many a day running from your Black Knights." Robin then tried to soothe Regina.
"Well, I'm sure you deserved it," Regina retorted before she looked up at the sky. "What the hell was that thing?" she then wondered.
"I have no idea," Robin told them. "We've never encountered the likes of it before." he added.
"I saw it, Mommy! I know! I know! I know!" Evie piped up like the child she was.
"Do you now?" Regina asked her daughter.
"Uh-huh!" Evie nodded. "That was a Flying Monkey."
"Come on. This way, we need to warn the others." Snow said and then led the way back to where the group would be.
"Flying Monkeys...?" Regina murmured, sounding dubious, but she didn't accuse her daughter of lying or making it up before she nodded as stranger things have happened and this was a fantasy world after all away from The Land Without Magic. "This is probably the only time I'll ever say it without being sarcastic, but I think Snow White is right." she then said next.
"This time." Evie added quietly.
Regina smirked a little before they soon continued onward.
Neal looked surprised to see a certain other person there. "Good to see you again, Robin." he then greeted the famous outlaw.
"You too, Baelfire." Robin smiled to Neal.
Belle then cleared her throat. "Well, we've come a long way, haven't we?" she smirked as she approached the two men.
Robin turned to look at her joyfully. "Belle!" he smiled as he gave her a hug. "I believe you already know she was treating a poor thief far better than I deserved." he then said.
"She does that a lot." Ben piped up as he came over to meet Robin Hood.
"Who do we have here then?" Robin asked as he looked down.
"He's my son and Baelfire's younger brother," Belle explained. "It's a long story."
"I see a lot of you have been busy since you left Misthaven." Robin remarked, seeing the many descendants who followed their respective parents.
"You could say that, yes." Belle nodded.
"And what of you? What of your journey? Were you able to find your son in Neverland?" Robin then asked Neal.
Regina glanced at Robin as she began to look thoughtful about him. Snow and Evie both glanced at Regina rather curiously themselves.
"Yes, thank you." Neal nodded to the outlaw.
"I don't mean to pry, but I don't see the boy.
"It's complicated but, uh, he's safe." Neal explained. "He's with his mother."
Robin looked soft about that, but he nodded.
"We've certainly missed you, but there's one person who's missed you more than the rest of us all put together." Belle told Robin.
"Really? Who?" Robin wondered.
"We'll show you once we're settled in." Belle suggested.
"It'll be worth the wait." Neal added with a knowing smile, knowing exactly who Belle was referring to.
"Oh... very well..." Robin nodded. "I'll try to be patient."
"Hopefully it won't be like waiting for your birthday," Ben remarked with his child-like mindset kicking in due to being aged down along with the other descendants. "That almost never seems to get any closer."
"Well, I hope it isn't for me either, young man." Robin chuckled warmly about that comparison.
Ben smiled bashfully as they continued to walk along with each other.
"So, what do you think of our new friend?" Regina asked Snow. "Can we trust him? He's a thief."
"Think of it from his perspective... How do you think he looks at you?" Snow told and then asked Regina with a small smirk.
"Point taken." Regina remarked.
"He's kind of cute, hm?" Snow asked with a smirk.
"...He smells like forest." Regina retorted with a firm pout.
Snow smirked a little to that. Regina just rolled her eyes before they continued along.
"Mommy, why is your face red?" Evie spoke up. "Are you flustered?"
"I... I am not flustered, I'm nauseous." Regina covered up, coughing a little as her voice squeaked and scratched at first until she tried to cover for herself.
Snow smirked to herself while Evie pouted a little bit about her mother being secretive.
"Look!" David soon pointed out, seeing the castle in the distance.
However, there was something around the castle to deny easy access that looked like a barrier around the castle.
"What happened?" Snow asked in surprise.
"That's exactly what I'm about to find out," Regina replied as she walked up to the crossroads and touched the air as crackling in the air materialized and prevented her from crossing any further. "A protection spell," The Evil Queen then realized. "The entire castle is encircled by it."
"Didn't you do this? Undo it." David suggested.
"Well, don't you think, if I could I'd be halfway home by now?" Regina retorted. "No, someone hijacked it."
"Someone must be in there after we left." Evie guessed.
"Who? Who's in there?" Snow asked.
Evie looked tempted to touch the spell herself to get a feel for it.
"I don't know, but I'm gonna find out whoever's eating my porridge," Regina replied strongly. "Nobody sits in my chair. Nobody takes our castle."
"Hey. We've got a lot of people looking to us," David spoke up. "They're scared and rightfully so. Let's get them to safety first."
"They'll be safe when whoever is in there is dead." Regina countered.
"Rushing in there is a bad plan, Regina... You know that," Snow told her.
"I can offer save harbor in Sherwood Forest, it's not far," Robin offered. "We can offer food, shelter, and a thick canopy no creature will spy you under." he said.
Regina gave Snow a bit of a look in response to that.
"Do you have weapons?" David nodded at Robin.
"We're lousy with them." Robin assured, in this case meaning more than what they would most likely use.
"Fine. Lead the way," Regina told the thief before she faced the others assertively. "But we're coming back. And whoever did this is going to suffer." she then added.
"Regina, it's our home," Snow said. "We'll make it safe again." she assured.
Evie then approached and went to put her hand on the area where the shield was. She soon placed her hand on the spell and felt the magic of the spell. She then stuck her tongue out and wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Ugh." she complained and started to wipe her hand on her dress.
"Evie, uh, you okay?" Ben asked his childhood best friend.
"It's so icky I can almost taste it," Evie grimaced. She then looked to her mother. "That felt so yucky, Mommy. Why didn't you feel yucky around it?" she asked, curious but making sure her tone was polite even through her disgust from the feel of the magic of whoever cast the spell.
Regina kept her firm look before she faced Evie. "It takes a lot of skill. I'll teach you someday." she soon said.
"It almost has a taste... nothing like your magic, which feels nice." Evie told Regina.
"What does it taste like?" Regina then wondered.
"It's green... but not a healthy kind... it's more... wicked." Evie tried to explain to her mother.
"Ooh... Like broccoli." Ben commented.
"...Did you say 'wicked'?" Regina asked as she began to look thoughtful. "Interesting."
Evie nodded in response as it looked like they wouldn't be able to go to The Evil Queen's castle for safety and shelter after all.