"So how exactly are we going to get to the Enchanted Forest?" Merlin asked, following them as they exited the shop and into the parking lot. Opening the door to a golden Cadillac- miraculously made to fit as many people as were in their group, Merlin noted- Rumplestiltskin helped them in and drove down the road.

"Magic, obviously," Rumplestiltskin answered, pulling to a stop in front of the town diner- The one were Ruby worked, Merlin remembered from the other day. The engine purred to a stop, and Merlin fumbled with the seatbelt buckle as he rushed to follow them inside, the bell above the door signaling new customers. It was as packed as yesterday, if not more so. Almost every booth was filled, save one tabs in the back by the window. Emma ushered everyone to it, chairs screeching as they were pulled collectively across the floor.

"Hey guys! What can I getcha?" Ruby rolled over, menus nearly spilling out of her arms as she handed them over. Charming and Snow had already begun looking through, Snow leaning her head against Charming's arm as he flipped through the pages. Gwen was like that with Arthur… Merlin thought, a twang of pain filling his heart. It only felt like yesterday, when he had lost them.

"….ou okay?" Ruby's voice broke through his thoughts. Blinking, he looked up to stare into her brown eyes, and couldn't help but notice her eye shadow was the same bright red as her waitress uniform shorts, as well as the red beret she and on her head. Her eyes darted to the rest of the group, who were also looking at him with concern.

"Excuse me?" he stammered out, rubbing his forehead free of sweat. Her brown hair swayed as she leaned over him, placing a hand on the back of his chair- most likely to stay standing up straight, he figured. Out of the corner of his eye he noticed bright red highlights on the underside of her hair. Jazz music played on a tinny speaker overhead.

"I said are you okay?" she repeated, "you were kinda spacing out there." Merlin nodded, heaving a sigh.

"Yeah, I'm, uh, fine, thanks," he said quietly. Ruby pulled out a notepad, beginning to scribble all over it.

"Well, what do you want?" she asked. Merlin raised his eyebrows, processing what she had said. Nodding suddenly, he answered hastily, "Oh, I'll have uh, bacon." With everyone staring him down, it was the only thing that jumped out at him on the menu. Of course, having eaten it the other day his mouth began to nearly water at the thought of the sizzling pig fat, having never had it back home.

"Hey Emma," Ruby said, slipping the notepad into her apron pocket, "what happened to the old geezer with you yesterday?" Emma cocked her head, stealing a quick glance at Merlin.

"What about him?" she asked. Ruby shrugged, spinning in a circle on her rollerblades.

"You know- the visitor from England?" she reminded her. Without a word, Emma pointed to Merlin, who was squished between Belle and Mary Margaret. Ruby chuckled, shaking her head as she took him in.

"Very funny, Em," she laughed, "but seriously, what happened to him?" Emma nodded, keeping her finger on Merlin.

"That's him," she insisted.

The waitress' mouth formed a slight o-shape as she looked him up and down, taking in the baggy clothes on his skinny frame. he noticed her eyes fall on the red neckerchief for a split second before she gasped in a hushed whisper, "Does he know about the curse?!" Emma nodded.

"That's why he's here," Emma said, then added, "well, not really, but we assume it has something to do with it." Ruby bit her lip, crossing her arms. The hat she wore was tilted at a jaunty angle. Merlin grinned- he could probably lop it off her head with a quick flash in his eyes, no doubt. In a few minutes, Emma had pulled out the book again, filling Ruby in on the details.

"So your name is Merlin?" she asked.

"That is what the humans called me," he agreed, "as well as the name given to me at birth."

"And you were the crochety old man here with Emma yesterday?" Again, Merlin nodded, wincing internally at the insult.

"That is incredible!" Ruby guffawed, "wait- if you have magic, what do the wizards call you?"

"You mean the druids?" Ruby rolled her eyes, waving it away as if it were a fly buzzing annoyingly in her ear.

"Yeah, yeah," she droned, "whatever- what did they call you?" Merlin felt the heat rise to his cheeks. If he had told anyone about his powers back in Camelot, he certainly would have been killed, not sharing stories around a so-called campfire. Everyone was completely enraptured, Mr. Gold clasping his hands as if offering a business proposition.

"Oh, don't mind us, dearie," he laughed, motioning for him to continue. Coughing, Merlin sunk down in his chair, resting his hands on the tabletop in case he ever decided to pull himself back up.

"Well?" Snow chimed in, "what did the wizards-"

"Druids-"

"-call you?" The look on he face was one of whimsy, a child being read a bedtime story.

"The druids-" he stressed the term, "-called me Emerys." Belle wrinkled her nose.

"That doesn't sound very nice on the tongue," she commented distastefully.

"Well that was before I was given this destiny, so I'm sorry if it isn't to your liking," he said sarcastically, then stopped himself, eyes quickly darting to ruby. While he was telling them the story she had pulled up a chair, managing to squeeze hers next to him at the table. Another waitress glared at her as she rolled passed, obviously jealous that she was distracted by friend instead of doing her job.

"Did you just say destiny?" Emma asked with a huff. Merlin nodded.

"Yeah, I did, so what?" he said.

"What is your destiny?" Merlin rolled his eyes, a groan escaping his throat.

"If i need to answer that question I swear to the gods-" he muttered angrily, fingers clenching and unclenching. Emma rolled her eyes.

"Listen, kid," she sighed, "you aren't the first person to hear that around here, trust me," she grumbled with annoyance, "but how about we save that story for another day, okay?" She turned to Mr. Gold, "do you have any bright ideas on how to get back?" Belle chuckled as he mocked surprise, Merlin feeling as if he was a tad overdramatic- of course, he seems like the type of man to do so anyway. It almost reminded him of Gwaine in a way, with his over exaggerated motions and sighs.

"Do you doubt me, dearie?" he said with false shock, "of course I have a way there!"

"Well, what is it?" Charming finally decided to join the conversation, abruptly reminded of the ring.

"Well, in order to obtain it, we need to go to Regina's house," Rumple provided, leaning forward, an audible groan rising from everyone else, leaving Merlin confused- what was so bad about this Regina woman anyway?!

"Okay, well what are we looking for once we get there?" Emma sighed, rubbing her temples.

"The hat, dearie!" Rumple said, raising a finger, smiling as if a lightbulb just went off over his head- and possibly shattered. Emma shook her head, curling her hands into a fist.

"No…" she laughed nervously, "surely you don't mean….!" Rumple merely nodded as she trailed off, Merlin watching as her face paled to a ghostly white.

"Yes dearie," he said, "we need to get his hat."

"But he tried killing me and Snow last time he showed up!" Emma had to keep herself from yelling fully, her throat going hoarse, "and you want us to get it back!" Rumple rolled his eyes- whether or not people died during a quest was something he preferred not to bother himself with, Merlin could tell.

"Well, who was the previous owner?" Merlin shrugged, grinning, "I mean, he couldn't be all that bad-"

"You obviously know nothing," Mr. Gold cut him off, "the previous owner of the hat was none other than the creator!"

"And that was….?"

"The Mad Hatter himself, known here as a man named Jefferson," Snow filled him in. Merlin wrinkled his nose- there was no one he remembered back in Camelot with such a title. Americans sure had strange customs then, if they gave people titles like "The Mad Hatter."

"Alright, then let's just go to this Regina's house and get the hat-" Merlin said, a sudden thought popping into his head. If they were able to get to a different realm through this hat, then it might possibly help him find Arthur- granted he was still alive, which in the deepest corner of his mind he doubted.

"He died right in my arms…." Merlin sighed to himself, feeling tears prick the corner of his eyes. Ruby cocked her head, smearing the red lipstick she wore as she licked her lips.

"Who, Jefferson?" she said, folioing with nervous laughter, "because he isn't dead, he's trapped forever in Wonderland-"

"No, no not him….. not Jefferson…." Merlin was quick to correct her. I've definitely got to be more careful about what comes out of my mouth! he internally scolded himself. Ruby grinned, shrugging her shoulders as she leaned over, resting her elbows on the table.

"Alright, then who?" she asked.

There was no doubt that the entire group could pinpoint the exact moment the young wizard was about to shatter to pieces. Before he could stop it, tears were flowing like waterfalls, chest and shoulders wracked with sobs, what Merlin could only describe as a dagger slicing into his ribcage as he cried. Memories flooded his mind, each one worst than the last.

The Knights of the Round Table, charging into battle with their swords held high.

Gwen- Arthur's new wife and the Once and Future Queen of Camelot, waiting at the castle for her husband to return safely home.

Mordred, a fellow druid and honorary knight, betraying the King at the last minute. Merlin shook his head- the blood that had been spilled that night was splashed on everything; his clothes and skin and far had been stained with the stuff.

But the worst was how he had reacted when Merlin finally told him.

Merlin snapped his head up as soon as he felt a hand on his shoulder, finding himself staring at Emma, who's lips were pursed in a thin line on her face.

"We're attracting attention," she said simply, eyeing a few customers warily, although they too were recently freed from Regina's curse. The sheriff pointed to a group of construction workers as they walked in, all rowdy and covered in hair. All of them, however, had the courtesy to wave and incline their head towards the table, Snow and Charming returning the sentiment. "See that group we just waved to?"

"What about them?" Merlin wiped his nose on his sleeve, snot dampening the cloth only slightly.

"Those are the seven dwarves in reality," Emma explained. Pointing to Ruby, "this one? She's Red Riding Hood in the other realm."

"Over the river and through the woods, as they say!" she joked, raising a hand.

"I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with any of these stories," Merlin shook his head, casting his eyes down. The granite table top had little black dots in the smooth stone, creating small circular patterns all around. Emma slid Henry's book across the table to him.

"Well, I suggest you familiarize yourself with them quickly, because where we're going, you'll need the info," Emma ordered. The leather of the covers was smooth on Merlin's skin, and as soon as he opened to the first page- titled "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves", respectively- everyone was trying to yell over one another to tell him tales as old as time.