It's a cold day. The trees are bare, the grass is dying, and the floor of the forest is mostly moss and dirt. The uniformity of the scenery is broken up by a young woman lying amidst the moss and dirt. Her skin is fair, and her light hair is splayed messily around her. It isn't an elegant distribution. She's no princess. She begins to stir, and it isn't long before she realizes she doesn't know where she is. She stands abruptly, looking around frantically.
"Hello?" she calls, even though she knows there is little chance of anyone hearing her.
"Hello?" a man's voice calls back, to her surprise.
"Hello!" She cries out, this time more frantically. She isn't lost. Someone is there. Someone can save her. And maybe someone can tell her where in the realms she has ended up.
A tall, scruffy man emerges from behind a tree carrying a crossbow. "Who are you?" he questions. She understands his wariness.
"I'm Goldilocks," she replies, "and I'm extremely lost."
Emma Swan sits in Granny's Diner sipping coffee. Henry sits across from her, absorbed in a video game. Storybrooke has been quiet since they defeated Zelena, but Emma knows that just means something else will be happening soon. It's never quiet for long. The door jingles and Robin Hood bursts in, followed by a young woman she's never seen before. A small frown tugs at her mouth.
"Hey, who's this." she asks, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Goldilocks," Robin states simply. That gets Henry's attention. He turns in his seat with a grin.
"No way!" he exclaims, causing Emma to shoot him a pointed look. He smiles sheepishly and shrugs.
Goldilock's interest is already peaked, however. "What do you mean, no way?" she questions.
"Well—" Henry begins, but Emma cuts him off.
"Well," she repeats, "Henry just means we don't have visitors often. Are you from around here?"
"I could answer that question better," Goldilocks laughs, "if I knew where here was."
Emma purses her lips. "You're in Storybrooke."
"And what realm is that?" Goldilocks asks.
"See, Mom?" Henry whispers excitedly. "It's really her!"
Goldilocks glances at Henry. "Why is it that he seems to think he knows me?"
"Because," Emma says slowly, "in this realm, you're a story. Most of the people in Storybrooke are."
Goldilocks sits on a stool, her back against the countertop, a mug clasped between her hands. Henry's storybook lays on the counter, flipped open to the tale of Goldilocks and the Three Bears. She heaves a sigh.
"That's absolutely impossible," Goldilocks mutters.
Emma shrugs. "It happens. Stories travel, and people don't always realize they're true."
"I wouldn't exactly say true, but I understand. Is there travel between the realms very often?" Goldilocks ventures.
Emma frowns. "No, not really. Not now anyways. I'm still trying to figure out how you got here."
"We could ask Gold," Robin comments, "or maybe Regina."
Emma nods. "Good idea."
Belle stands with her head against Rumple's shoulder, watching as he sorts through a box of knickknacks. She is so glad to have him back. The time he spent under Zelena's control was torture. She had almost lost him again for the millionth time. Her head lifts when the doorbell chimes. Emma enters, followed by Henry, Robin Hood, and a blond woman she doesn't recognize.
"Why hello," Rumple greets them, flashing a grin. "What brings you folks here?"
"We've got a guest," Emma replies.
"Yes, I see that." he says, turning his attention to Goldilocks. "And what's your name, dearie?"
"Goldilocks," she replies with a lift of her chin.
"You don't say," he purrs, then turns his attention back to Emma. "And you don't know how she got here?" Emma shakes her head. "Well then, let's see if we can figure something out. Belle, if you would call Regina?"
Goldilocks crouched in the woods, her dress gathered up in her fist. She had the little cabin in sight. She was waiting for them to leave so she could cross the path in front of their house. She watched as the three men filed out, heading off to whatever gutter they spent their time in. She shivered.
Once they were out of sight, she ran across the path and all the way to the field she worked in. She would be late, but she had to avoid their torment. The wizards mortified her. Someday she'd find a way to stop them.
She lurched to a halt in the middle of the yard. A fragrance curled around her nose, enticingly warm. She couldn't quite decipher it, but it drew her to the house. Her stomach growled. She didn't realize what she was doing until she pushed open the door.
"No," she whispered to herself. Goldilocks only glanced around the dim cottage for a moment before she fled. The little room, however, with the dying fire and monstrous black cauldron, seared itself into her mind. It was the room of her nightmares, and she never wanted to see it again.
Regina smirks, eyebrow arching. "Goldilocks? How cute."
Goldilocks frowns at her. "Says the Evil Queen."
Regina's smirk morphs to match her frown. "Not anymore."
Goldilocks nods. "Good. So you think you can figure out how I got here?"
The smirk returns, accompanied by a chuckle. "Between Gold and I, I believe we can. Let's start from the beginning. What can you remember?"
"I remember going to sleep. I woke up in the forest, Robin Hood found me, and that was it."
Regina tenses at the mention of Robin, but she quickly drops her shoulders and recomposes herself. "Well, that's helpful. I suppose we'll have to search your mind."
"Wait," Goldilocks says, eyebrows wrinkling together, "how is searching my mind going to help if I don't remember anything?"
"The unconscious mind is more powerful than you think, dearie," Rumple replies, gesturing to the couch standing among the other things in his shop. "Why don't you lie down?"
Reluctantly she does so, eyeing him warily as he lets his hands hover on either side of her head. Her eyes slip closed as Rumplestiltskin's do. It is several moments before he opens them again. "Well, we have an answer. You were brought here by magic."
Regina rolls her eyes. "Obviously. Who did it?"
"Hm, deep voice, tall, shaggy hair. You were shouting at him before he sent you here, love. Not immediately before, but at some point. Ring a bell?"
"Calcifer," Goldilocks breaths, her voice full of horror. "How?"
"A very powerful spell that I can't seem to pinpoint. You're lucky you ended up in an inhabited realm," Rumple says.
"That's impossible," Goldilocks says.
"And why is that?" Regina questions.
"Because," Goldilocks says reluctantly, "because I turned him into a bear."
A/N: I hope you guys have as much fun reading this as I had writing it! I've loved OAUT for a really long time, so I thought I'd try my hand. I live off reviews (as soon as I remember how to breathe), so if you leave me one I'll love you forever! Until tomorrow, toodleloo!