Regina's POV

"You're..."

"Yes, it's me." He says a soft smile covering his lips. "Been a few years, not that I could remember them all to be honest. Been kind of preoccupied, you know, with being in this cell and all."

"I'm confused, who are you?" Emma asks cocking an eyebrow in confusion.

"Oh, pardon my manners; The name's Merlin." He says holding his hand out for Emma to take.

"You! You're Merlin?" Emma asks her eyes wide.

"At your service miss Swan." He replies smirking at her shocked face. "Ah my apologies again, I can see the future. That's how I knew you'd be here."

"Hold on a second!" Regina yells out making everyone turn toward her with shocked eyes. "Are you telling me that the young man I met when I was a child was you?"

"Yup, guilty as charged." He says nodding his head. "Oh sorry about the whole, you know, using your DNA to make a baby thing; but it turned out alright in the end."

"There is no way (Name) comes from your DNA." Regina states making Merlin place his hand over his chest as if to look wounded.

"Wow that hurts my feelings," He says pushing his bottom lip out into a pout.

"Okay, I don't know how much more I can take of this. Are you ready to get out of here?"

"OH yes please, it's awfully dark and dank. Not exactly the four seasons. Plus I'm sure (Name) is getting pretty tired by now." He says hold his wrist out for Regina to remove his brand.

READER'S POV

As your body slams into the solid stone wall behind you, you cough making blood escape your mouth and land on the floor in front of you. Pushing yourself to your feet your legs shake uncontrollably as you suddenly start to feel weak. Fighting a witch who was centuries old was hardly easy, especially after you felt every single brand be broken from her control. Apparently She had felt it too cause she had suddenly went into berserker mode.

"If you can get close to me and remove this brand I can help you." Elliott says into your mind making you nod slowly in response. You could use a dragon's help. Taking a deep breath you create a lighting orb and with a quick flick of your wrist send it flying straight into the old ladies chest sending her flying backwards. Using her fall as an opening you rush over and placing your hand on Elliott's brand feel the warmth emanate from it as it slowly melts away leaving nothing but beautiful onyx scales.

"What have you done you insolent brat!" Gothel yells making your head snap toward her as she sends a ball of fire at you. Before it is able to hit you, Elliott drops his wing in front of you shielding you.

"You will never harm another human being!" Elliott roars making the castle shake.

"You can't kill me Elliott, you're still in love with me." Gothel replies smirking at him.

"You're wrong Gothel, I used to love you; but you killed that love the day you killed my mate and tried to kill my child. I will roast you alive until there is nothing else left." He slowly turns toward you and says, "Move child, once this battle starts I will not be able to protect you from myself."

"Okay yeah, I'm just gonna-" You say as you hurriedly make your way from the courtyard down the stairs toward the dungeons. "God how many stairs are there?" You exclaim until you finally make it to the bottom only to feel something wrap around your wrist and bite down hard causing you to scream out in agony. Looking down you see a three headed snake coiled around your wrist; its scared rage filled eyes stared back at your own as its venom starts to course through your veins.

"Well fuck," You say as you fall to your knees your body starting to convulse.

"(NAME)!" You hear your mother cry out your name in panic making your eyes slowly find her as they start to glaze over.

"Mommy," You breathe out and before you have a chance to take another breath your body jerks and before your eyes go dark a bright light surrounds you making air instantly fill your lungs. "Holy son of a bitch!" You cry as you gasp for air. "Dear god, I never want to feel that again."

"Well you shouldn't run around when there are angry mythical creatures on a revenge mission." A man you didn't know says making you stare at him in confusion.

"Um, who are you?"

"Details best kept for later, now can you stand?"

"Uh yeah," You reply not sure how to respond. Looking around you spot a tall muscular man and your eyes widen with wonder. "Can I touch your ears?" You ask as you stride up to him.

"Um I don't know," He replies his brow furrowing.

"If it makes you uncomfortable then I won't press the issue. You're a Kitsune right?" Everyone stares at you in shock and you just roll your eyes. "What? I watch Anime,"

"Right, those Japanese cartoons you got Henry addicted too." Emma says and I smile guiltily.

"Hey, he enjoys them; and they're awesome. Anyway we have to get out of here."

"What about Elliott?" Emma asks and I gulp down a breath of air.

"He's fighting Gothel, he told me to leave."

"Well then shall we be off to his rescue?" The man from before says making you tilt your head at him.

"Is he alright upstairs?" You ask your mother making her skip the back of your head. "Ouch! What the hell?"

"Manners (Name)," She replies as they all set off back toward the courtyard.

"Dammit! I just came down these stairs now I gotta walk back up them?" You groan out in disapproval.

"Exercise is good for the soul, my youngling." The Mystery man says as he rushes past you up the stairs.

"Youngling?" You say curiously. Turning to your mother you cock an eyebrow making her hold her hands up and say, "Not now (name)."

"But mom?"

"Not now, we have bigger fish to fry."

"That we do," The man says as he takes the steps two at a time. You pause briefly as your friends slowly pass you until you feel a hand on your shoulder. Glancing up you see a pair of blue eyes gazing down at you and you smile softly. "It's good to see you again Captain."

"Likewise Princess," He replies a playful smirk covering his lips. As we start to follow behind our friends I roll my eyes and say, "Will you ever listen to me and stop calling me that?"

"No, probably not." He replies causing you to roll your eyes.

"Is he... Is Jefferson?"

"He's fine lass. He's taking care of the baby dragon as we speak." Killian replies and you let out a sigh of relief.

"That's good." You reply as you head off after the rest of your group who was now in the courtyard where Elliot was dueling with Gothel. Your eyes fall upon the Gothel's as a smile covers her lips. You follow her eyes to the Mystery man and cringe when you see her smile.

"Merlin, how lovely for you to join us." Gothel calls out as the fight between her an Elliot briefly pauses.

"Gothel," He replies his eyes turning sad. "'You've kept me caged for a while now." His eyes glance at Elliot as he softly says, "Ease yourself Elliot, this fight isn't yours. You have a child to raise." Elliot narrows his eyes at Gothel angrily before he leaps into the sky and disappears from sight.

"Will he be alright?" I hear Emma ask and Merlin nods.

"Mer-merlin?" You find yourself saying as your heart clenches in your chest.

"You know I cannot use dark magic, which means I cannot hurt you." Merlin says to Gothel ignoring your words.

"I know," Gothel chuckles as she runs a hand through her graying hair. "Which is how I was able to catch you."

"No matter how much hate and anger I have for what you have done to my children, I cannot touch you."

"Sucks being a goody-good doesn't it?" She replies chuckling making his eyes turn sad and regretful. "You wanna know exactly what Fiona said when she died?"

"Stop!" You yell out as you cover your ears, not wanting to hear anymore.

"You'll never find her Gothel, she's out of your reach.' Funny isn't it, how even when she was dying she only thought about her little innocent baby sister."

"Stop it!" You cry over and over as you feel someone wrap their arms around you.

"Come now child, haven't enough people died trying to protect you?" Gothel sneers and you see red.

"Shut up!" You scream out as your body moves on its own sending an overwhelming bolt of lightning straight into Gothel's chest that shoots straight through her body killing her instantly. As you realize what you had done your eyes widen in fear. "Is-Is she?" You ask aloud your mind not wanting to register.

"Come on Princess, don't look." Killian says he reaches for your hand.

"Don't touch me!" You yell out your heart racing as your throat starts to close up.

"(Name), calm down. You didn't mean to do it." Regina says as she closes the distance between the two of you.

"Mom, I-" you pause your eyes focusing on Gothel's corpse. "I killed someone."

"It's not your fault." She says as she places her hands on your shoulders.

"How is it not my fault when I did it? I sent the bolt soaring into her chest. I DID IT."

"(Name)," Emma starts but I push away from them.

"You don't get it do you? I'm just like him."

"Him?" Emma asks her eyes narrowing in confusion.

"My father!" You scream out starling them.

"I'm not a murderer (Name)," Merlin says as he looks over at you.

"You are not my father!" You yell tears filling your eyes. "I don't even know you. The only father I know is the one who used to kill people in front of me. Who-who used to make me watch as he tortured anyone from innocents to bookies and killers; that is the kind of father I had." You paused as the memories filled your mind. "I'm exactly what he wanted me to be." Turning you bolt. You had to be anywhere but there. You hear people cry after you but you just couldn't stop. How could you? You were a villain. You murdered someone. No matter who or what they had done. You had killed a person, and that was all you think about. No matter how bad you wanted it, you'd never be what they called a good person.

Jefferson's POV

"Have you found her yet?" Jefferson asks as the search groups come back to the camp.

"Not yet, but it shouldn't be too much longer." Robin replies as he runs his hand through his hair.

"This is my fault." Regina says placing her hands on her hips.

"How is it your fault Regina?" Emma asks with a heavy sigh.

"When (Name) first came to Storybrooke she would have nightmares. Every night she would see the faces of the people her father killed. I wasn't exactly the best person to help her deal with all that so I sent her to the bug."

"You mean Hopper?" Emma asks and Regina nods.

"It seems that one of the times it happened; she was forced to clean everything, The body parts, the blood, all of it."

"Jesus!" Emma exclaims her eyes going wide.

"That wasn't even the worst part." Regina pauses as she remembers what Hopper said. "The body was that of her first boyfriend. He had promised to take (Name) away from it all and protect her but her father got wind of it, well you know."

"She never told me any of this." Jefferson says as he gazes into the fire his eyes filled with regret.

"She didn't tell anyone but Hopper, Hatter." Regina replies narrowing her eyes at him.

"I didn't know a thing." He clenches his jaw as he continues, "I loved her, but she didn't trust me enough to tell me any of this."

"Jefferson, can I talk to you for a second." Emma says as she pulls him away from Regina before the evil queen lost her temper. When they were far enough away from the group she turn to him and says, "Look I know you're upset; but now's not the time to-"

"Forgive me if I don't listen to you Swan," He says as he clenches his jaw. "I have to go to my daughter. Let me know when you find anything out." He says as he walks past her and the rest of the group and into the camp to where Grace was sitting with Roland. He forces a smile as he catches her eye.

"Did you find her daddy?" Grace asks hopeful and he shakes her head. "Don't worry, you will." Grace says a hopeful smile covering her lips. He nods as he leans down and gently places a kiss upon her forehead.

"I hope so." Jefferson replies holding tightly to his daughters shoulder.

"Excuse me," Jefferson hears a male voice say and turns to see the man known as Merlin standing a few feet away. "Can I talk to you? You know about (Name) and Fiona?"

"Uh yeah," He replies as he pats Grace's back and gives her a quick smile. She moves back over to Roland and instantly starts up a conversation. "What do you want to know?"

"It's not what I want to know. It's what I think you should know."

"Oh?"

"As you know I can see the future, and I know the past very well." He says as he glances at Grace. "She's beautiful, like her mother."

"She looks just like her, even acts like her." Jefferson replies a chuckle escaping his lips.

"She has her mother's spirit. Fiona was my pride and joy. When she was born it was like all the happiness had been bottled up inside one bundle of joy. She never cried. From the moment she was born until the time (Name) was born, Fiona was the epitome of light."

"And after?"

"When (Name) was born her mother, my dearest friend, died; and I, feeling guilt for what I had put her through, abandoned them. That was the first time I saw Fiona cry."

"Of course she would, she just lost her mother and her father ditched her."

"That was the only time Fiona ever cried. Even when she was faced with death she didn't shed a tear. Fiona had no darkness in her entire body that was until she had you send (Name) away."

"What?" Jefferson says his eyes narrowing at the wizard.

"Fiona never told you, but she inherited my gift of foresight."

"Okay, so?"

"It was when she first met you; she had a vision of your future. A future that did not include her, but her younger sister."

"Wait! Are you saying she sent (Name) away because she had a vision of (Name) and I together."

"I am." He exclaims causing Jefferson's heart to clench. "We are all tempted by the darkness Jefferson, some of us fall and some of us do not. The darkness preyed on Fiona's one true fear, a fear I am responsible for. She sent (Name) to the real world not knowing the true consequences of her actions. When Mother Gothel showed her what was to become of (Name) Fiona felt regret and knew that she had fallen prey to her fears." He paused as tears filled his eyes. "When she saw what (Name) was forced to do, it killed her. Not the poison she drank, but because of what she felt herself responsible for."

"But it wasn't her fault. She couldn't have known what would happen to (Name)!"

"Our minds are a terrible thing. Even though we are not aware of what our actions will cause, when they come to fruition we have only one thought on our minds."

"That it's our fault." Jefferson says as he remembers what he himself was responsible for.

"What my daughter is experiencing now is all the demons of her past coming after her. She doesn't know that what she did, although it was bad yes, wasn't really her fault. The stress of all she has gone through overwhelmed her causing her body to do the one thing it felt like doing. Lashing out. Gothel's death was an accident. Even if she herself doesn't believe it."

"What do you want from me?" Jefferson asks his mind racing.

"Whether she wants to or not, she needs to face these feelings; and for that she needs you."