Ch.1: A New World

        It was daytime, when she fell out of the portal she'd ended up going through, having escaped Kai's prison world. Because she'd been injured from her time in that prison world, falling through the portal and landing on the forest floor hurt. 

        She looked around at where she was, seated on the ground. At first, she thought it was the Mystic Falls woods, but it seemed too bright and woodsy. It wasn't the Bayou in New Orleans. There was too much plans and leaves. Not enough bare ground. Then she realized where she was, hearing a bunch of horse hoofs, as if they were galloping in sync. Like they were being instructed by someone on a coach. Since coaches and buggies didn't exist anymore, she assumed where she was. The Enchanted Forest. She wouldn't have minded if she wasn't injured, but there weren't any hospitals in the Enchanted Forest. In her predicament, she needed either someone that knew how to tend to her wounds, or someone that could heal her. She'd used up what energy she'd had left to escape though, so she didn't have anything left to get help. Plus, everything was blurry and going black. She'd gotten quite injured from Kai. She'd lost a lot of blood. She also knew that his arrow in her leg had opened up an artery. The arrow was the only thing keeping her from fully bleeding out from it.

        The noble Original got to his feet. He'd just sacrificed himself with this brother. He'd thought the only way to stop his grief that was overwhelming him from Hayley's death was to reunite with her in death. However, he realized that his plan had at least half failed. He was certain that he'd died, but he was certain that this wasn't the peace he'd wanted. This was nothing more than unfamiliar woods. He didn't know where he was. 

        Suddenly, from what smelled like the middle of the woods, he smelled the familiar scent of blood. Human blood accompanied by the person he'd always love deep down, no matter who he loved this century, nor how many miles apart they were. He was confused, since she'd been a vampire when he'd left all those years ago. 

        In a blur, he followed the scents. No matter what had happened between them, nor how she was a human now, he'd always save her when she needed it. It had always been him in the past, and even though he'd left years ago, that didn't mean he'd stop saving her from danger. 

        Once he found her, he blurred over, kneeling by her, where she lay on her side, quite pale from blood loss. 

        "Katerina." 

        He slid an arm under her, pulling her gently into his arms, on her back, and pulled the arrow out of her leg, before biting his wrist and putting it to her lips, forcing his blood down her throat to heal and save her. 

        "Stay with me, Katerina." 

        When she woke up, she realized that she was healed. She also saw that she wasn't alone. He was there. The ex that had left her many years ago. 

        She sat up, which he helped her do, even though he didn't need to. 

        "Katerina," he stated, a hand on the side of her face. 

        "Thanks, but what are you doing here?" she replied, knowing all too well that it had to have been him that had saved and healed her. She wouldn't expect anything less from him. 

        "It's a long story, but I died with Klaus. I wanted to reunite with Hayley. I thought it was the only way to stop being overwhelmed by my grief. When I died, I ended up in these woods."

        She couldn't believe what he'd told her. Klaus and Elijah both choosing to die for some reason. She was shocked at that, as well as the fact that Elijah had fallen in love with the wolf girl she hadn't liked very much. But if they both had died, then she knew there had to be a very good reason. She couldn't be that mad at him, when she didn't even know the full story.

        "I was never a fan of the wolf girl, but whatever happened to her, I'm sorry," she replied, knowing for him to actually want to die, he had to love her deeply, and she knew how much Elijah cherished each love he found throughout the centuries. She rested a hand on the side of his face. "I'm sorry about Klaus, too." After all, she'd forgiven Klaus a long time ago for the death of her mother, as well as hunting her for 500 years. Despite him being formerly her enemy, she'd miss him in a weird way. 

        After a few moments, she put her hand down, as did he, and they both got to their feet. 

        "Do you know where we are, Katerina?" he asked of her. 

        "It's called the Enchanted Forest. It's the world of fairytales that most of us grew up on. Prince Charming and Snow White, the Evil Queen, Captain Hook, etc. The only question is when we arrived. I ended up in Storybrooke, Maine for about a year when I was a vampire, so I know about this place. I've never been here, but Regina that created Storybrooke talked about her world a lot. I left Storybrooke though, when I heard about Damon opening up that tomb of vampires. According to what Regina, the former Evil Queen, and Rumple have said, we need a magic bean if we want to get out of here. We need to find out when we arrived. That way, we don't mess with their timelines. If we're in the right one, I say we find Captain Hook. If not, we might be lucky enough that Regina in this world will listen and help us. Rumple's past self...he's want something valuable in return, which I don't think either of us have with us," she explained to him. 

        "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go talk to a witch," he replied, once he'd taken in everything after a moment. She had no reason to lie to him. He believed her. Besides, she seemed different as a human. 

        "In that case, we'll wait for a ball. It'll be the easiest way to get through. In my understanding, Regina's castle is heavily guarded, and I'd rather not kill her guards. That would be the opposite of gaining her trust," she replied. 

        Eventually, they got to a tavern, where they had a drink and she had something to eat. Then, when news came around, they got to the castle, where they joined the ball with his handy compulsion. They hadn't changed, since they weren't planning on staying long. They then were able to sneak away and down the hall, where they eventually found her room. Although she'd never been here, she recognized it from the book she'd had the honor in having a peak at years ago. They didn't need to open the door, since she'd left it open. 

        Elijah stood in the threshold, while Kat took a few steps inside her room, before stopping, keeping her distance. She knew how horrible Regina's past self had been. She didn't want to take too much of a chance with this version of her. 

        "Regina," she greeted.

        The witch that always wore black turned around to see who dared to sneak into her chambers. During a ball that was being held, no less. 

        "Who are you, and what the hell are you doing here? I should have you locked up. Both of you," she replied, noticing that there were two people, but only one had spoken, saying her real name. 

        "My name's Katherine. I know who you are, because the land you're going to bring selective people to when you cast that Dark curse. I've been there. I've met your future self. I'd like to think that your future self and I are friends. We're alike. I'm coming to you for help. I ended up here, but I'd rather not be in your world. I'd also rather not have to give something of value to you know who to get out of here. Elijah here's with me. He's from the same world that I'm from. We'd both like to get out of here." 

        "Friends, you say?" she inquired. 

        "Yes. We've both been down quite a dark path. We both have killed, and in fairytale terms, we both have been known as the villain. And both of us lost someone we cherished. Your future self and I shared stories. And I was the one that stood up for you during my time in that new land of yours. Nobody else understood you," she replied to her without sharing very much. She needed her to trust her, but she also knew that she couldn't share any extra information if she didn't want to screw up her timeline. 

        "Very well. You've been convincing. I'll have someone escort you two to your chambers. You can stay here until I find a way to get you two where you belong," she replied. Between the clothes and the things she'd said, she believed her. Besides, there weren't many left alive now that knew what her real name was. 

        After about a few weeks staying at Regina's castle, they were able to get out of the Enchanted Forest with her help. When they did, they didn't end up where they were hoping. Instead, they ended up in what Kat recognized to be Storybrooke, Maine. The town that Regina had created. 

        "I guess we're not going home, after all," she commented. "Looks like we might be staying here for a while. Welcome to Storybrooke, Main," she added.