They woke up sprawled on the floor in the TCHQ, all of them back to normal, including wearing normal clothes, which Tessa was a bit sad about. She had loved her flowing green dress with brown details and would have loved to wear it for a longer time than she got to do now.
"Wait", Toby said as he sat up, frowning, "there are still just fourteen of us."
"Rachel's still gone?" Miranda asked and looked around.
"Think she woke up earlier and went through her door?" Rowan asked. Toby concentrated, then shook his head, still frowning in confusion.
"I'd be able to reach her from here; my power's are amplified by this place, but she's still blocking me out."
"Do you think she somehow managed to avoid being sent back here?" Jade asked. "That she's still in the Enchanted Forest?"
"That should not be possible", Ella replied. "Ollivander would not have allowed that. Would he?"
Rachel blinked at the sun shining through the trees, then sat up. She was still in the Enchanted Forest and still herself. The horse she had stolen from King Midas was tied to a tree nearby, where she had left it when she stopped for the night, and she still wore the clothes she had taken from the stable boy. She did feel a bit sorry about knocking him out and stripping him of his clothes, and leaving her beautiful red dress behind, but riding was certainly made easier when wearing trousers.
She rose and walked over to the nearby stream, splashing water on her face and drinking a few mouthfuls. Her reflection showed that Ollivander's concealment charm had worn off during the night, but hopefully she would not encounter anyone that might remember her later on. She checked her pocket and felt the improvised envelope with the diamond. Charming had asked her to give it to his mother – their mother – Ruth and tell her that if he did not go through with his marriage to Princess Abigail, she needed to be ready to run. The diamond he sent should be able to help her on the way.
Rachel rose from her kneeling position by the stream and walked over to the horse, checking that he was ready to go. Then she got up on his back and walked out onto the road, trotting south through the forest. She did not know how far away the southern border of King Midas' kingdom lay, but hopefully she would be there soon. She could feel Toby's presence in her mind, but she pushed him away and urged her horse to go faster. Explanations would have to wait.
Emma grunted as the guards threw her into the cell. She heard them lock the door behind her and then walk back through the maze of tunnels that was the dungeons of the Evil Queen's castle.
"Are you alright?" a concerned female voice asked to her left. Emma nodded and sat back up.
"Yeah, I think so", she said and brushed some dirt from her hands, before looking in the direction of the woman occupying the neighbouring cell. She was hidden among the shadows and all Emma could see was that she wore the same kind of worn, white gown that she now wore, a thin cloak, and that she had black hair.
"I'm... Leia", she said and rose.
"I wish I could say it was nice to meet you", the woman replied, glancing in the direction that the guards had vanished in.
"Under the circumstances I get it", Emma remarked and leaned against the steel bars between their cells. "What's your name?"
The woman shook her head.
"I dare not speak it here. The Queen doesn't know who I am. My silence is the only thing keeping my family safe."
"She's pretty ruthless, huh?" Emma mumbled. Regina might not have done anything terrible to her, except keeping her awake the entire night, but she guessed it was different for others.
"Here", she said and reached into the pocket of her dress, pulling out a piece of bread and holding it out to her fellow prisoner. "Are you hungry? I swiped it off a food tray on the way down."
The woman slowly rose and walked over to her, the light of the torches slowly illuminating her features. She smiled at Emma and accepted the bread and, in that moment, Emma recognized her.
"What?" the woman asked. "What is it?"
"I saw you", Emma replied, stunned, "in the village, with the Queen. I wanted to help, but..."
"It's alright", the woman said, shaking her head slightly. "If you had tried to free me you'd just ended up in here a day sooner."
"What did she put you in here for?" Emma asked. The woman glanced out into the tunnel, then stepped even closer.
"I knew where Snow White was hiding", she whispered, "but I refused to tell the Queen."
"You gave up your freedom to ensure Snow White's?"
"Yes", the woman replied. "I believe her to be innocent."
Snow White's wanted poster came to Emma's mind; no doubt keeping her hideout a secret would be considered the worst crime against the Queen.
"How long are you in here for?" she asked, trying to guess if she would suffer the same punishment. A flash of pain passed through the woman's eyes.
"Same as you", she answered, "just one more night."
Emma frowned.
"Really? One night? Why; is Regina going soft?"
"No", the woman replied. "One night, because tomorrow everyone in here is to be executed."
It appeared Prince Charming was an excellent tracker, but also quite bad at hiding his own tracks, meaning Hook had no trouble following him through the woods. He had checked himself in the water surrounding the castle and found that Rumplestiltskin's disguise still worked, meaning he would not be in danger of changing history more than what had already been done by asking Charming to help him find Emma. Now he was hiding behind some bushes, watching as the Prince waited for Snow White to exit her hiding and walk into his trap.
They did not have to wait long before the cloaked bandit walked out of her home, an old hollow tree, was trapped in the net and hoisted up into the air with a surprised scream. Charming laughed as he stepped out of his hiding.
"I told you I'd find you", he remarked. "No matter what you do, I will always find you."
"Is this the only way you can catch a woman?" Snow White snarled. "By entrapping her?"
"It's the only way to catch thieving scum", Charming replied. Snow White scoffed.
"Aren't you a real Prince Charming?"
Charming chuckled.
"I have a name, you know", he pointed out. Snow White shook her head.
"Don't care. Charming suits you. Now cut me down, Charming."
"Why would I do that?" the Prince asked and reached into his tunic. He pulled out a folded parchment, unfolded it and held it up for Snow White to see. From his hiding place Hook could not see what it showed, but from Snow's expression he could guess it was one of her posters.
"Snow White", Charming said, nodding at the parchment. His prisoner looked away, seemingly defeated, at which point he folded the poster and tucked it away again.
"Relax", he said, "I'm not going to turn you in. All I want is the ring you stole."
Snow White, now having regained her confidence, shook her head.
"Not the jewellery type."
"Indeed, I noticed", Charming chuckled. Snow White pouted slightly.
"I don't have your ring", she clarified.
"Then why don't I believe you?" Charming asked.
"She's telling the truth, mate", Hook said, stepping out from his hiding place. The Prince spun around, his sword half-way out of its sheet. At the sight of someone dressed in royal clothes he frowned. Hook took the opportunity of a swift bow.
"Prince Charles", he introduced himself. "Lovely ball the other night; the mutton was a tad overcooked, but that happens."
He gestured towards Snow White in the net, who looked just as surprised as Charming.
"Snow White doesn't have your ring", he said, "but I can tell you who does. My princess. And I need your help to get her back."
"She has my ring?" Charming asked. Hook nodded in response, causing the Prince to groan.
"That's two women who've robbed me. Where is she?"
"Well, that's the problem", Hook replied. "The Queen's castle."
"Actually", Snow White said, "that's not a problem at all."
The two men on the ground looked up at her, causing her to smile sweetly.
"I know it well; it used to be mine. I can get us in there, but not from up here. So, you let me down..."
She turned towards Hook.
"You get your princess..."
She turned towards Charming.
"You get your ring, and I never have to see your charming face again."