Ced woke up . He gazed around to see everyone facing the imp , all except Hazel , who lay in a corner .

" What has happened to her ?", he asked .

"Oh ! Nothing much . She made a deal with me ." , said the imp .

A deal with Rumplestiltskin ...that couldn't be good .

"What do you mean ?",Amber enquired, " A deal for what ?"

" For your release , of course .", the imp said.

"What did you get in return ?",asked Ced, anxiously .

The imp's lips twitched into a malicious , sadistic grin . " Her memories ."

"What !", said Ced .

"HOW DARE YOU ! I'll have your head ,you good for nothing ,minuscule ,nasty freak .You !" , came Amber's outburst .

"Remember my dearest , it is only because of you that she had to make the deal in the first place ."

Amber did not have anything to say , her face was a canvas of guilt .

Were Hazel's memories gone ? So , would she not remember any of it , anything about the realm , anything about , him?

"I know why he did this." said the Huntsman, " Obviously , now Hazel wont remember anything of this realm . She wont be able to help us and without her ..."

Rumplestilskin looked indignant and offended . " You know I wouldn't do that !", he pouted .

"So has she forgotten everything ? Does she not remember her family too ?" asked Ced. 

"Oh no ! Certainly not .She remembers all except this realm ." said the imp .

Ced saw Amber sneer at the imp. The Huntsman put his hand around her shoulder, to calm her down. Odette looked worried and Ced...he did not even know what to feel.

" I will be leaving you now , folks ." said the imp , "I shall take the liberty to suggest that you transport the young lady back to her homeland . I don't think she would take seeing anything related to this realm very nicely ."

The imp took his position on a gigantic cooking ladle .

"Now , if one of you would open the door please ."said he .

Everyone glared at him .

"Oh . I guess you're not in the mood . Never mind ." said Rumplestiltskin , snapping his finger . Simultaneously , the door opened , the cold air gushing inside .

With that , he soared off to the skies .

"Well , we have the talismans now ." said the Huntsman ,"I think I'll just grab them ."

Ced nodded gravely .

He saw Amber walk up to Rumplestiltskin's desk and pick up an old , yellowing parchment of paper , a map of Fantasy Realm , though different from the normal editions . She examined it for a few seconds and then, put it in her pocket.

"What do you think you are doing, you colossal idiot, stealing from the imp ? Do you still not understand his nature?" said Ced .

" Amber , please tell me you don't intend to take it . The imp is the last person you want to owe a debt to ." warned the Huntsman .

" I don't care ." she said , " I am willing to bear the consequences ."

" You don't know what you are talking about." said the Huntsman .

" You are right . I don't ." she said , looking him straight in the eye .

" We must not delay in taking Hazel to Snowflake ." Odette suggested. " What will happen now ?"

"She will probably be sent back to her world , for the time being ." said the Huntsman .

Ced felt an itching worry , the same worry that he saw on Odette and Amber's faces . How long would Hazel be gone ? What would they do without her ? Would she ever remember ?

All these questions plagued his mind , having him to nurse a suppressed outburst within himself .

He looked at Hazel , serenity all over her face.

"Well ,Sleeping Beauty." he thought , " You'd better be awake soon ."

******

The earth seemed to be gone from beneath her feet as she saw the Wolf slowly morph into Pete . As he neared her , her cheeks became hotter and adrenaline rushed through her ...

Hazel closed the book shut .

"Gibberish !",Hazel said , "Red likes Hansel , she is supposed to be with him. Stupid fanfiction!"

Wait . What she just say ? Where in the world did she get that idea ?!

Hazel shook her head . Her mind really had no boundaries .

"Hazel ." , she turned to see her mom .

" You never told me about your day out with your friend .", said mom .

" My friend ?" ,asked Hazel . Since when did she have friends ?

" Why ! You sound as surprised as I did when I first heard of this from your gran ."

" Oh..kay ." , was Hazel's reply .

Perhaps her mother sensed Hazel's cluelessness because she said , " She came to drop you off . You had fallen ill and fainted .You have an extraordinarily pretty friend , Hazel . What was her name again ? Amber ! Yes , that was it ."

Amber ...Hazel did agree that the name sounded very familiar . Then why couldn't Hazel recollect any of the previous days happenings ? What was up with her head ?

" I can't seem to place it , mum ." , said Hazel , extremely perplexed .

"No problem , dear . It must be because you are so tired ."

"Perhaps ." , said Hazel , without any conviction .

" Hazel ! Do me a favour , will you ?" , said Gran Luella , as she entered the room .

Hazel suppressed a groan within her .

" Here is a list of groceries . Would you mind running up to the market , to get these ?", said Luella .

"But gran ..."

" I know that you are not feeling well right now .But this might just make you better ."

" Your gran is right , Haze .", her mom agreed , "Go get some fresh air ."

"Mom !" , Hazel protested .

" Yes Hazel . You will be setting off this instant ." ,her mom stated with finality.

Accepting her defeat gracefully , Hazel walked out into the biting cold .

A few minutes later , she reached the bakery .

As she entered , a young woman stepped out . She looked at Hazel briefly , her icy blue eyes glinting at her kindly . Knowing nothing better , Hazel smiled . The lady winked at her , confusing Hazel to no end .

Hazel thought it best to put the matter aside and be done with the work she had been assigned to .

Half an hour later , with all the items on the list bought , Hazel started for home .

The streets had become abnormally deserted by then . " Probably due to the weather .", thought Hazel .

The sky was greying , almost on the brink of darkness .

Perhaps it was going to rain . Hazel was on her way , when she sensed something strange . An unwelcome presence .

She turned to see a few men , a short distance away from her .

" It's alright .", she calmed herself down , "It isn't like I have to be the only one on this way ."

However , even minutes later , they continued behind her .

Her sixth sense seemed to be shrieking its warnings now . " These men look like good for nothing scoundrels to me , Haze . You'd better get home fast , I am telling you ."

She quickened her pace , nervousness coursing through her . Simultaneously , she heard a rapid pattering of footsteps from behind .

That was when the worst happened .

The alley came to a dead end .

Ugh ! Curse the person who invented dead ends .

Hazel turned . The men had cornered her . Their gaze held something inhumane , as they inspected her and their smiles were made of pure malice , without a trace of kindness .

She put her hand in her coat pocket , encircling her fingers around what might be her only defence .

" What do you want ?" , she demanded , trying not to make her voice quiver .

Adrenaline made its presence felt in her veins .

As they neared her , the same question repeated itself in her mind ; Flight or fight ? Flight or fight ?

Fight then flight , she decided ultimately .

" Okay , now is the time ." , she told herself . With that , she took out the pepper spray and sprayed it onto the nearest attacker's face .

The man rubbed his eyes , shouting in pain .

As the other approached towards her , she flung one of her bags onto his face , with great momentum .

Well , let's hope her mom wouldn't mind a few damaged groceries .

She put down the other bags and then , she ran . She ran as fast as she could , with such speed that she felt like her heart might burst .

But her attackers were stronger . One of them caught hold of her . She struggled and kicked him to wriggle out of his control .

" No . Don't move .", said another , pointing a dagger at her , " Or your face might lose all the pretty it has got ."

He touched the curved blade . " And it will be painful , unless you comply ."

Hazel closed her eyes shut , as if wishing for a solution to appear .

" Well , well , well ." , she heard a voice , " Look who's gotten into trouble ."

She gazed ahead to see the same lady she had met at the bakery . Now that she thought of it , the woman looked oddly familiar .

" And we'd prefer you'd let her be in it , lady or else ..", the man threatened her .

"Oh ! I wasn't talking about her .", she said , "I was talking about you all ."

She charged , landing a kick on one of the men and a punch at the other .

"Go kid . Find a safe spot ." , she urged , as she landed another karate chop at one of the men .

As she fought , Hazel ran to the corner .

Hazel wondered whether the woman was a professional street fighter . Her hands moved so rapidly that it was difficult to tell which one moved first . It was a miracle , a lone woman taking over four well built and armed men .

Suddenly an image flashed across Hazel's mind . The woman's red cape bellowed in the air as she jumped several feet high and took over her opponent .

Hazel shook it off . It was all due to that god darned Red Riding Hood novel .

" Get out kid . The fight's over ." , the woman said .

Hazel came out from her hiding spot . "Thank you so much , I don't know what to say . You just saved me ."

The woman smiled . " Come on kid , let me drop you home .", she said , pulling the hood of her red jacket up .

*****

Author's Note

No prizes for guessing who the woman is !