"This will take us to another world. A world without magic, without hatred. We can be together." Regina whispered hesitantly, not sure as to how Emma would take her suggestion.

Emma shook her head. "Gina, we.. We would be leaving everything behind, I-I know they most likely hate me now b-but they're still my parents, w-what will happen to them?" Emma questioned, not quite understanding what the bean had the ability to do.

"They'll be okay, it'll only take us to this new world." Regina said, caressing Emma's cheek. "We don't have to do it though! We can travel far away, we can escape to another kingdom. It's risker, but it's still an option."

"I want to be with you, I want for us to be together… safely. As long as we're in their reach, we're in danger. I couldn't ... I couldn't live with myself if you were to be hurt because of me. I'll do whatever it takes to keep us alive." She exhaled heavily, and laid her hand atop Regina's. "Whatever it takes." She lifted her head, kissing Regina's cheek. "Let's do it."

Regina pulled the woman in for a tight embrace, burying her head into the nape of Emma's neck. The fact that Emma was willing to go so far for her - an utter stranger in truth, made what was left of Regina's heart flutter inside her cold chest. It was the first time anyone had truly put her first - not her mother, her father, her 'husband.' No one until the beautiful, golden haired princess.

She was the beauty who had come to love the beast.

The duo made their way outside, and towards a large open field behind the castle. The perfect place to enact the portal - and quickly. Sounds of charging hoofbeats and battle cries were beginning to grow louder with every second, and they knew they had very little time before they were to be caught again. Emma kept her arm protectively around Regina's shoulder as they ran across the tall grass they trudged through.

When they figured to be far enough out, they held tighter onto each other. Regina threw the bean out in front of them, and in an instant, they were basked in a bright, violent green light; adorned with the sounds of the ground being churned by the large, spinning portal now swallowing the land.

"You first, and I'll follow behind." Emma cried over the roaring, removing her arm from Regina's shoulder.

The Queen hesitantly obeyed. Without a second of thought, she closed her eyes, leapt forward, and went feet first into the spinning portal; the feeling Regina knew would be the closest she'd ever feel to be soaring through the air like a bird.

The sight made Emma's heart flutter, and her stomach flip half a dozen times. She lifted her foot and began to do the same - when suddenly she felt a sharp pain flood through out her body, and the sight of an arrow protruding from her shoulder. She gasped, and still began to trudge into the portal, but the attempt was fruitless. Emma found herself quickly pulled back by the large rope attached to the arrow, being dragged further and further from the rapidly closing portal.

"No!" She loudly screamed, manically attempting to remove the arrow. "No! Please, god, no! Regina! Regina, no!" She kicked at the ground, clawing, and sobbing all the while.

The portal closed a moment later, and the silence afterwards brought a horrid sense of finality into Emma's rapidly beating heart. Regina had gone through - and didn't know Emma hadn't. Regina was going to be by herself in this new world, while Emma was still in the Forest, still facing off against ... against ... whoever had shot her, and pulled her from the portal.

It was with that thought she finally pulled her tear filled gaze away from the large crater now resting in the land, and turned behind to face a large, vast army of - trees?

They looked surprisingly like men, except taller, and their bodies were that of a brambles and sticks, with a distinct face to each of them. They rode atop hog looking creatures that too looked like a statue a palace gardener would create from a bush, but were very much alive. A few of the soldiers held large spears carved from logs, others held clubs crafted from rocks, and then there were a handful with bows - one of them holding the rope Emma had been dragged back by.

"W-Who are you? What do you want with me?" She meekly whispered, dazed by having lost Regina, and by the sight before her. She opened her mouth to inquire again - but it was interrupted by the sudden crowing of a raven. It dove down from the darkened night sky, and began to multiply rapidly and spin with one another, until it was if they had created a small tornado of birds. It continued to do so until it reached the ground - and dissipated into the tall, slender frame of a beautiful woman.

"A-Are you their leader?" Emma mumbled, motioning weakly to the army.

"Yes, I am darling. But it's my turn for questions." She bent down and ripped the arrow from Emma's flesh. The princess cried out loudly, and her frame buckled in pain. Her cries were suddenly muffled as the woman's hand suddenly curled around her throat; her nails piercing Emma's pale flesh.

"Where's the Evil Queen?" The stranger hissed in her face.

Emma shook her head. "I-I-I don't know." She coughed. "A-A-A land w-without ma-agic, she s-said. W-We were supposed t-to go together."

"Well, sorry to put a damper in your plans, princess, but I couldn't let that happen." She threw the princess sharply into the ground, and stood up straight. "You're going to tell me all you know about her - or else, you'll never see your precious lover again."

"Who are you?" Emma whispered tearfully, unable to breathe properly due to the pain shooting through her frame.

The woman gripped her staff tighter, a devilish smile crossing blood red lips. "I'm surprised you even have to ask." She laughed. "My name is Maleficent - the Mistress of All Evil, darling. And you're my new prisoner."