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CHAPTER FIVE; WELCOME BACK

Sage's eye lids fluttered open, revealing the night sky that hovered above her. Her entire body ached with the pain of falling from the damn sky and landing on the rough ground. She craned her neck around, searching the area around her. She was in a grass clearing with tall trees surrounding her. Of course, she couldn't exactly pin point where she was but one thing was clear.

The portal jumping brunette was back in the Enchanted Forest.

Obviously, Sage didn't mean to go through the portal or activate it but it's been so long since she had used the damn thing that she accidentally open it. The pocket-watch was still griped tightly in her sweaty palm, the chain tangling around her fingers. Surprisingly, Sage was calm. Most people would freak over the fact that they traveled over realms but she's done it so many times that it was easy to adapt to the situation.

Although she didn't really dress for the occasion. Clothing attire in the magical worlds are very different from the Magic free world a.k.a Storybrooke. Sage was dressed in blue skinny jeans, a black V-neck, and her usual dark brown quilted faux leather jacket. Yeah, if anyone sees her in modern clothing they are going to stare.

"Okay, Sage, think. What do I do know?" She whispered to her, brushing off the dirt from her outfit. "Find Emma and Snow. That's what I'll do. Find Emma and Snow."

But her thoughts were interrupted by a loud roar in the distance. Her eyes widened as she realized what the hell she'll have to face. "Okay, Sage, new plan." She panicked slightly, slowly backing away. "Run from a very pissed off Ogre."

Before she could even turn to dash away, the Ogre appear from the trees. Ogres were ugly, nasty beasts that were just as tall as trees and had strength just as much as Giants. The thing about Ogres was that they are blind, their eyes a whitish-blue, and are attracted to sound.

So all Sage had to do was stab him in the eyes. But considering she had no weapon and couldn't get close to its eyes, Sage was basically screwed. Another roar erupted through the forest, causing Sage to fall back onto the ground. The Ogre stomped towards her, making the ground shake beneath him. She closed her eyes and prepared for the worst. Out of defense, Sage pointed her hand at him, almost like it would block any attack when it wouldn't.

But her eyes quickly opened once she heard a cry of pain. She watched in amazement as the Ogre was forcefully pushed back into the forest twenty-feet away, slamming into a row of trees. Her hand shook in fear as Sage stared at it, curiously wondering how the hell she did that.

After the Ogre was violently tumbled into the trees, he ran off in a hurry, fearful of what Sage could do next. Then again, Sage was afraid too.

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Wandering around the Enchanted Forest at night with Ogres running around was probably not the best idea. But what other choice did Sage have? She couldn't just stay in the same place and pray that someone helpful would find her. Her goal was the same; find Emma and Snow. Since the Enchanted Forest was vacant, thanks to Regina who transported everyone to Storybrooke, there was no markets or possible shelters.

The night was only getting darker by the minute and a cold chill was sweeping in. She wasn't frightened about what or who was lurking around the corner but was scared that she wouldn't be able to find the girls.

Leaves cracked under her feet as she walked aimlessly down a path, her hands warming up in the pockets of her leather jacket. For a split second, Sage considered just letting the search wait until morning but her stupid stubbornness got in the way, determined to find her friends.

Before she continued walking, her whole body froze once a the cold feeling of metal was pressed against her neck. A sword. A women from behind leaned into her ear. "Move and I slit your throat."

Out of the corner of her brown eyes, she saw that the women was Asian with her hair in a tight ponytail and was clothed in armor. "Look, I don't want trouble." She stated sternly.

Sage scoffed. "Well, apparently I do."

Within a second, Sage flipped the women onto the ground as the sword fell to the ground. She straddled the girl while holding her arms to the ground with a strong grip. "Who the hell are you?" Sage hissed, taking the whole bad cop facade.

Before the attacker could respond, a female voice called out. "Sage! Don't!"

The girl looked up and finally saw the two people she's been looking for, Snow and Emma. Sage let out a laugh of relief before letting go of the women and sprinting over to the two girls. "Thank God!"

Her arms wrapped around the two, hugging them tightly before releasing, a wide smile on their lips. "I've been looking for you both for forever!"

Emma then smirked a tad bit. "How did you get here?"

"Well..." Sage cupped her hands together in front of her, awkwardly continuing. "I figured you shouldn't be alone. I mean it's a dangerous place and there was vicious birds and-"

"You got sucked into a portal, didn't you?" Snow chuckled, amused.

Sage rolled her eyes, sighing. "Yes."

"This is Mulan." Emma introduced, pointing to the women who had threatened Sage.

"Nice to meet you, Mulan. Sorry about that." She greeted, an apologetic smile on her face.

Mulan, who was currently brushing off the specks of dirt on her armor, smiled slightly and stood up straight, like a solider. "I apologize as well. I had not realized that you were companions with Snow and Emma."

"Let's take you back to camp." Snow grinned widely, grabbing Sage's hands with excitement. "We've got a lot to talk about."

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"So, you found the Wardrobe." Sage questioned, biting into the red apple as she spoke to Snow and Emma. The four girls went back to their camp, which was really a clearing near the the lake. She had meet Princess Aurora, who Sage already knew she wouldn't be fond of. Aurora seemed more girly than a fighter, very fragile and ignorant.

They had a camp fire that was able heat everyone up, thankfully. Snow and Emma were both explaining about what had happened here since they arrived. "Yes, we thought it could be used to get back to Storybrook but we had to burn it before Cora got to it."

Sage knitted her brows together. "And Cora is Regina's mother, right?"

"Yes, have you met her before?"

"No but I've heard about her. All I know is that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in Regina's case." Sage grumbled. "What about Mulan and Aurora, I thought everyone in the Enchanted Forest were taken away by the curse."

"There was this corner of the forest that the curse didn't get to. It's a sort of safe haven for the survivors." Emma explained, thumping her foot onto the ground as she talked. "What about you? How's everyone back home? How's Henry?"

"He's good. Everything's fine even though the town went into a short panic. David and Henry are still searching for a another portal."

"What about you? How did you get here?"

Sage exhaled, fumbling with the pocket watch that was hanging from her neck. "With this. Jeff pointed me in the right direction, I guess. I completely forgot about this watch but I remember I use to use it before the curse. It's a portal, just like the hat, but it still different."

"Why can't we just use the watch to go back home?" Snow exclaimed, hopefulness filling her eyes.

"Because of two reasons. One, the portal only teleports one person. Two, its dead. I don't know what happened but it doesn't have any magic in it left. I guess since it's been used by me many times and people before me, it just got old." Sage mumbled, rubbing the glass of the clock. "Now it's just a pocket watch that doesn't even tell the right time."

Emma was silent for a moment. "In the morning, we'll head back to the Haven."

"Okay." Sage smiled. "I could do with some sleep, at least for tonight."

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While this chapter does take place during Episode four, it doesn't contain any of the material. Guess, next chapter is exciting! Hook and Sage are finally going to meet, ahhh! I literally cannot wait to write their scenes since I have planned a majority of good stuff. But this is the time for celebration since I hit 600 followers and I am so happy! Thank you all so much! Please comment, since I love your guys feedback, and vote for some support! Thank You! By the way, the Gif is what Sage is wearing :)