𝙁𝙪𝙜𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚 [𝙋𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙋𝙖𝙣]

③:⑤

Almost Home
Present day
Enchanted Forest

Mulan and Snow led us through the forest. Crickets could be heard loud and clear as the night sky looked down at us. Emma was following close behind me as Aurora struggled to keep up with her.

"We're getting close," Snow announced.

A loud grunt along with ripping fabric could be heard from the princess with anger management.

Mulan continued leading the way as she scolded the princess, "Aurora, you've got to keep up."

"Sorry, but I'm not exactly dressed for the woods," Aurora shot back, "It's cold out here."

"Then maybe, you should have listened to me and stayed back," Mulan said, causing a silence to fall upon us.

I felt Emma's presence begin to stray from me, so I turned around to check on her. She handed Aurora her leather jacket and began talking to her.

I ignored the two's conversation, wanting to keep up with the leaders. We soon reached an overlook, like the one from my days in Neverland. The three of us stared at the rubble of the once great castle.

I let out a quiet, "Woah," and Snow nodded.

"It's totally destroyed," She whimpered.

Mulan turned toward Aurora and Emma and yelled, "Up here."

The two came rushing up the hill.

Emma's eyes sparkled as she looked on, "Is that it?"

"Yeah," Snow nodded, "That's our home."

I turned to my left out of curiosity to see a familiar broken down village. I turn to it and feel my heart beat faster.

Snow's hand landed on my shoulder, "go."

I turned to her then back to the rubble, "Are you sure?"

"Meet us back at the island," Snow removed her hand from my shoulder and walked back toward the girls.

I watched as they walked the path to the castle. Once they were gone I looked back at the village, the place I grew up.

I took a breath before walking up to the nearest building. Its roof was completely gone and its walls were cracked. The curse must have been powerful.

I haven't visited this place since the queen wrecked it all those years ago. I had promised myself to never return, but curiosity got the best of me.

I had heard that the remaining villagers had rebuilt the town after a couple of years, causing more families to move in and grow. Matter of fact, my old friend Robin lived here with his wife and son. His Merry Men also lived around the village with their own families, if they had any.

I couldn't help but wonder where Robin Hood ended up. I knew he wasn't in Storybrooke because I hadn't seen him during nor after the curse. The only member of the Merry Men I saw was Will. The lucky bastards must have been outside of the borders when the curse hit, just like the refugees of the island.

Wherever they are, I just hope they're okay.

I looked around the empty village for what felt like hours. Although the memories I had here weren't exactly happy, I couldn't help but acknowledge that what happened here was what made me who I am.

I was one of the most well known people in all the realms, and I wouldn't change it for anything.