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Once the purple fog faded from her vision, Astrid looked around and continued to eye her surroundings, realizing that they were indeed in the Enchanted Forest and not in Storybrooke anymore.

"Snow... What happened?" Aurora's voice spoke up as everyone looked over at the confused princess.

Snow looked up and over at her while simply answering her with a distraught look on her face, "We're back."

Astrid recognized the female voice and smiled just barely at her old friend. Aurora quickly spotted her and rushed towards her, a grin upon her face, saying, "Astrid?" The brunette hugged the teenager tightly and added, "It's so good to see you!"

"You too. I just wish it had been under better circumstances." Astrid replied once they parted from the hug as Aurora gave her a look of confusion but didn't question her.

Astrid then noticed a familiar man move to the right of the princess as she started in shock, "Phillip?" The man smiled and nodded as Astrid quickly hugged him, him hugging her back also.

"It's good to see you again, A," The prince commented once they too also parted from the hug as Astrid replied, "Yeah, you too. You're here, saved from that Wraith...?"

"Yeah. I'm good." Phillip nodded, knowing what she meant.

"That's good." Astrid murmured.

"You just know everyone we come across, don't you?" David spoke up towards his teenage daughter as he now stood beside her, greeting the couple with a smile.

"What can I say? No one forgets about this face," Astrid smirked while gesturing to herself and also removing her black mask from her face.

That earned a snort from Hook, Phillip, David, and even Peter. "I think it might be the attitude." David knowingly said.

Astrid only shrugged, not bothering to deny that statement, saying, "That too."

"How have things been since we left? The ogres?" Snow suddenly spoke up as the group now stood underneath the small gazebo.

"Defeated. We're restoring our kingdom and our lives," Aurora answered and smiled at her prince.

Snow gave her a knowing smile and replied, "And congratulations."

Aurora smiled sheepishly, saying, "Is it that obvious?"

"You're glowing," Snow confirmed with a nod. Astrid realized then that the princess was pregnant.

"Why is she pregnant and I'm the one who's sick," Regina remarked as she turned around, facing away from the group.

Phillip spoke up, "I know we have much to celebrate, but any friends or family of Astrid's are welcome in our kingdom. If you need anything, we are at your service."

"Thank you, but all we need is horses. We have our own kingdom, our own castle," David replied.

Peter sighed and spoke up, "If I remember from what I was told, your castle was destroyed in the curse."

"Well played, your majesty. You laid waste to everything," Hook remarked and Peter smirked as he crossed his arms.

Aurora then shook her head and replied, "Not everything. Her castle still stands."

Regina slightly smirked, saying, "Of course it does. I protected it."

"Well, technically, it doesn't belong to her. It was Snow's before she took it." David commented.

Regina smirked, saying, "Well, to be fair, I married into it."

"That you did. And now, we're taking it back... and you are coming with us," Snow spoke up, making Hook and Peter share a look.

Regina laughed at that and replied, "You can't be serious-"

Snow cut her off, saying, "Regina, everyone out there is scared and confused. They need hope. What better way than to return united? You're coming with us." She looked over at Peter and added, "And so are you. Astrid agrees. I know you both won't like it, but you'll learn to. For all of our good."

"Thank you again for your hospitality. We shall begin preparations," David said while shaking Phillip's hand.

The prince smiled at him, saying, "Good luck to all of you. And it was good seeing you again, little sister." The last part was directed towards Astrid who smirked and replied to him, "Likewise, big brother."

Phillip smiled and tightly hugged her again before parting once more, Astrid laughing some and nodded before moving back over to stand beside her love.

Astrid fell out of a portal and landed on the forest floor with a thud; She leaned up onto her knees and looked around breathlessly, seeing a lot of trees around her.

"What realm am I in now?" Astrid sighed after standing up and brushing herself off.

Astrid began walking down the road, fixing her hood on her head while her sea blue eyes scanned the woods for signs of movements. Her senses and instinct told her that she was being watched.

She gripped the hilts of her swords on her hips tightly, ready to pull them out if any threat came at her.

A few minutes walking further on the trail, a masked bandit jumped out and landed in front of her, his eyes widening some when she grabbed the handle of her battle axe from her back and moved it in front of her in defense, her own eyes narrowed.

"Attack me and you will surely regret it," Astrid lowly warned, her body now in a fighting stance with her battle axe ready to strike at the large man.

"Uh... Hood?" The man called out in uncertainty while taking a step back.

The outlaw chief then jumped out from where he hid in a tree and landed a few feet beside them agilely, his hood covering his face. He calmly stepped over to the two and then stood casually beside his uncertain friend.

The chief outlaw was bearing a bow and a quiver of arrows on his back as he calmly yet mockingly spoke up towards the hooded girl, "If you don't lower your weapon and cooperate nicely, then we will have no choice but to steal your possessions. I do admire your valor but your plan seems astonishingly poorly thought out."

Astrid gave a snort of annoyance and simply kicked the leader hard in his groin as he stepped back with a pained groan, her now swinging her battle axe ferociously.

The outlaws slowly backed away as she spun, aiming straight at the leader who leapt back and blocked the blow with his sword that led into a loud clang. "I suggest you leave because you will rob me of my few possessions," Astrid let out.

The leading outlaw backed away, his eyes hardening as he assessed the hooded teenager, him not knowing that she was just a teenager-- or a girl. "Clearly, that would make all our efforts pointless. I mean, taking my buddies out for a spin while not stealing anything? How crazy and ridiculous does that seem?"

"I was raised by vikings and a pirate and I will hesitate to hurt you," Astrid threatened him as a warning. She swung fiercely at the man again as he stood his ground and swapped blows with her.

"Oh really? You sure don't act like that," He sarcastically taunted, "You're all warning and possibly not even a real threat."

"Argh! I will bloody chop you into little pieces!" She exclaimed, swiftly replacing her axe with one of her twin swords and swung it towards him, managing to cut his right side and arm a little.

"I endeavor not to allow bloodshed if at all possible," The leader told her, measuredly retreating from her attack after glancing down at the cut she had made on him. "But in your case, that may prove rather difficult though extremely regrettable. I only seek material possessions, not blood or virtue. A few coins and jewelry can be replaced, lives cannot. I urge you to reconsider your actions."

"Or ?" Astrid remarked, "I have nothing to lose, my life doesn't bloody matter. But I do know, that I'm not going to die by you. You're just a murderous, treacherous, lying thief-"

He moved like lightning, his sword slamming into hers twice and them slapping on her hand, smacking her knuckles hard enough to disarm her. She let out a small, barely audible, pained groan and as she turned, he grabbed her and pulled her back against him, her back against his chest and sword across her throat, her hood now off.

"I may be many things, milady," The man began, "but treacherous and murderous are not two of them." He paused some as he considered the other two, "Lying and thieving... maybe a little more..."

"What I bloody have on me is little worth to anyone else but they were given to me by my family," Astrid breathlessly admitted as the man lifted the sword from her throat but kept her close to him.

"You seem like you don't have any family, girl. If you do, then where are they and why would they allow you to travel alone?" The man questioned as he assessed the teenage girl carefully.

Astrid shoved him back before quickly turning around to face him and taking a step back from him. "I'm just an orphan who was bloody abandoned by every person she considered to be a parent to her... Like I said, I don't matter. But my possessions... They are my reminders of the bloody family that I once knew."

The man nodded slowly and sympathized with the girl and removed his hood from his face, revealing himself, "The name's Robin Hood, and we won't hurt you. You have my word. You'll be welcomed in my group, a part of our family, if you wish."

"Why?" Astrid inquired with narrowed eyes, "Why would you help me now that you know of my past?"

"Because you remind me of myself. You just do what you have to in order to survive, well, life." Robin admitted, adding, "Welcome to my merry men crew, milady."

"Astrid," She revealed herself and resheathed her sword back in its case and added with a small smile, "And thank you."

Robin nodded with a small smile of his own and began walking beside her on the trail, leading her to his camp where his men waited. "What land is this anyway? The Enchanted Forest? I just arrived through portal, so..."

"You'd be correct. This is indeed the Enchanted Forest," Robin confirmed with a nod and a small chuckle.

Astrid stood by her father as he loaded his horse with supplies when something out of the corner of her eye caught her attention. She turned her head to see Hook loading a fairly large amount onto his horse and narrowed her eyes in slight suspicion.

She moved over to him as he heard her coming and turned to face her while also securing the straps along the horse's body. "Just the person I was fixing to go talk to," Hook began.

"That's a lot of supplies for going to the Queen's castle," Astrid also began, her hands rested lightly on top of the handles of her swords strapped on her hips. "Going somewhere else?"

"That's what I was going to talk to you about," Hook admitted, slightly sheepish, "I'm not going with them to the castle. And I want you to accompany me on my journey, like old times."

Astrid glanced back over at her parents and Peter who stood beside David and looked back over at the pirate in front of her, asking, "Where will you be going?"

"Oh, you know, going places, being me. After all, I'm a pirate and I can't live without my ship." Hook shrugged and swung his leg over the side of the horse and now sat upon the animal.

Shortly after, Snow and David moved over to the two of them, now standing on both sides of Astrid as David furrowed his brows and looked at Hook and let out, "Your ship? Hook, you don't even know if it's-"

"Regina told me how that bloody thing worked." Hook sighed, cutting off David before he could finish, "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 demanded, "Are you really going to leave Astrid like you did on Neverland all those years ago?"

Hook smirked about the first part of his sentence, "I'll just have to take another one then, won't I? That's what pirates do." He frowned and looked over at the girl in between her parents, "And that's why I asked her to go with me."

"What?" Snow and David both started in unison, "We're her parents and she's not leaving us-"

Astrid held her hand up and stopped her parents, saying, "As much as I'd want to go, I can't. I already lost my sister and nephew and I'm dying, I'm going to bloody stay with my family as long as I can... I'd really want for you to stay to, Hook, as you're part of my family also, but... I know you. You need to do this."

"Why?" Hook asked quietly and hopped off of his horse and now stood in front of her again.

"Emma. Your feelings. You know the usual. I'm gonna bloody miss you— more than I'd care to admit— but all I can say is... Come back when you can, alright?" Astrid answered, her blue eyes glistening with tears as she held them back and smiled up at him, "And be safe."

Hook slowly nodded, knowing what she was really saying. He knew she was hurting and just trying to push him away, so that when her time comes and she dies, he won't have to see that. But he didn't want that at all. He wanted to be there for her, but he needed to find himself first.

"You too, Kid," Hook barely spoke up as he was quickly engulfed in a tight hug by the girl. He wrapped his arms around her and had his hand on the back of her head in reassurance. "Hey. Doesn't matter where we are, how far apart we are, or whatever, you will always be my daughter and I will always love you, AJ." He quietly admitted to her before kissing the top of her head.

She smiled up at him and slowly stepped back in the spot in between Snow and David, saying, "I love you, too, Dad. May we meet again."

Hook swung his leg over the side of his horse and sat on the saddle again and nodded, saying, "May we meet again." He smiled once more at his adopted daughter as she returned the smile and watched his horse trot out of the field before taking off in a sprint until soon, Hook was no longer in sight.

Snow wrapped a reassuring arm around her daughter as Astrid remarked towards her father in amusement, "Well, you don't have to feel bloody threatened of him for now, Dad."

"What- I didn't feel- Very funny, Astrid," David laughed with a roll of his eyes before adding seriously, "I'm actually glad that you have him in your life— one more person to look out for you."

"That's probably the nicest thing I've heard you say about Hook," Astrid joked with a nod while David sighed some.

"Hey." Neal suddenly spoke up as he moved over to where they stood, "What Hook said just now about all of our stuff being brought back here. Is that true?"

"What are you looking for?" David asked.

"I was thinking maybe we can stop by my father's place on the way to the Queen's castle," Neal admitted.

David sighed, starting, "Neal, I know you're hurt, but Rumplestiltskin is gone."

"Maybe, maybe not," Neal said, "And if not, maybe he can get me back to Emma."

"Neal, it's impossible. Regina was clear. The price of our return was a complete reset." Snow spoke up, "No more portals. This is our realm for good. There's no way to cross over, not without another curse."

"Or Stormfly-" Astrid murmured to herself, no one catching what she had said. But she knew it would be pointless as Emma and Henry doesn't even remember them now.

"We have to move on." David pitched in, "This is our home now. Now, I know you miss them. So do we. Even if there is some way to get 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 nodded and looked down, earning a sympathetic look from Astrid who added, "Bae, it's gonna be okay. It has to. If it's not okay, then it's not the end." Neal nodded once more but a little less sorrowful but still upset.

***

Astrid and the rest of the group had been trekking through the forest for an hour or so as Astrid noticed that her mother kept up with her pace to walk beside her, like she wanted to speak with her though she refused to say a word.

Astrid sighed and began first, "You know, for a while I wanted nothing more than to get back here. But now that we are back, I want nothing more to get back there."

Snow faced her daughter with a look of sympathy and replied, "Everyone misses Storybrooke, Astrid, but as far as we know, there's no way to get back."

"I know. No way back. I get it." Astrid sighed, not wanting to be reminded of this set of news.

"I know you miss Emma and Henry-" Snow started as Astrid snorted and remarked, "Emma and Henry? This has bloody nothing to do with them. I was just saying that for your sake."

"My sake? What do you mean?" Snow inquired curiously yet in slightly amused.

"Yeah. You knew Storybrooke longer than I have, just thought you wanted to bloody talk about it." Astrid shrugged and sarcastically said, "Because I only miss Granny's lasagna from over there."

"Granny's still here with us, you know that," Snow pointed out while giving her daughter an odd look.

"Yeah, and?" Astrid retorted before speeding up her pace and now walking ahead of her parents, not bothering to listen in on their conversation.

"How's she holding up?" David asked in concern as he looked at the back of his youngest daughter's head.

Snow sighed and followed his gaze, saying, "I'm not sure, but I think she's hurting more than she's letting on." She glanced at her husband before adding, "Definitely more sarcastic."

David sighed and murmured, "Yeah, I've noticed that she does that when she gets more stressed or upset-- That and get a slight English accent."

"Must be because she was raised by a pirate who has an English accent and the parents who raised her as a child in Berk also had English accents," Snow remarked as David shrugged in agreement.

It had been a year living with the Merry Men and Astrid and Robin had grown close, their relationship started out as friends, then as uncle and niece, and now they were so close that everyone thought of Astrid being Robin's daughter as he thought of her as his kid.

It took Astrid longer to trust the man than it did for him to trust her, though, because of her past with Orvar and Hook— the said pirate.

But, nevertheless, the girl sees Robin of Locksley as her father figure, though she tried not having another father but he wormed his way into her heart.

Astrid was shooting arrows at targets pinned to trees with her bow as Roland watched her in wonder. She was shooting them perfectly, all in the center of the targets.