Emma scribbled in the last answer to her letter. She had shared each set of directions as she solved them with Red, but the last one had been tricky. There were two verses in her head, which started with the same words, and neither made any sense for their final location.

"How many more clues?" Red asked, pulling her head back into the carriage after giving the coachman the latest instructions.

The Royal Carriage was one of many Regina kept; this one would seat another four people inside if required. With Regina's crest on the outside they would be given priority on the roads and be able to travel faster than if they had gone on foot.

"That's it, now it's just the name of the place I think. Does this mean anything to you?"

Emma passed her the piece of paper and Red skimmed down to the bottom lines, reading the words in Emma's handwriting. She paled as she realised where they needed to go.

"Is something wrong?" Emma asked when Red didn't speak.

"Near the Dwarf Mines, under Firefly Hill. Are you sure that's what it says?"

"Yes. Do you know where it is?"

"Emma, there's only one place they could mean."

Emma grinned, "excellent."

Red bit her lip, unsure whether to explain exactly where they were going. It was the one place Regina wouldn't want to follow them.

"You should tell the driver the location," Emma reminded her.

Red nodded and knocked on the ceiling of the carriage. When she felt them slow down enough for her voice to be heard she leaned out the window.

"Take us to the White Memorial."

"What is that?" Emma asked.

"Do you remember what I told you about the previous rulers of this land?"

"Vaguely. You said they lost their child and didn't want to rule so Regina took over for them. Are they dead? Is the Memorial for them? Or for their child?"

"They aren't dead, they're under a magical sleep spell and the Memorial is a safe place for them. Their friends can visit them and they are protected by their greatest allies, the dwarves."

"Oh, do you think it'll be alright if we go there? Will my friends get into trouble?"

"I know the dwarves and I knew the Queen. Depending on who is standing guard, the people are usually allowed to visit there and see for themselves that the ex-Royal couple are still alive. Apparently if you watch them for long enough you can see their chests rise and fall."

"Have you ever..."

Red shook her head, "I saw them agree to the spell and watched them put in that place but I never returned."

"You said they didn't want to live without their child, but surely a sleeping spell isn't the answer?"

"It was their choice, must be nearly seven years ago though sometimes it feels much longer."

"I've spent twenty-eight years without my parents. My friends said I was stolen away from them, I wonder if they felt the same."

Red wrapped an arm around Emma's shoulders; "you'll be able to see them soon."

As the carriage slowed then halted at the foot of Firefly Hill, Emma began double-checking her clothes, making sure she had a weapon in case it was some kind of trick. She didn't notice Red take a small mirror from her pocket, open it and leave it on the seat beside her while pretending to look out of the window.

"We're here. Firefly Hill and the White Memorial," Red spoke loudly.

They'd stopped the carriage a while back and covered the Royal crests on the sides, Red had suggested it explaining that the dwarves weren't too fond of the current Queen.

Stepping out of the carriage first, Red looked around as if expecting trouble. Emma followed shortly after and was surprised when there was nothing to indicate that the cave in front of them was anything special.

"The dwarves really don't like visitors," Red explained, seeing Emma's puzzled expression. "This way most people don't go any further, but don't worry it's completely different inside. They've set up magical crystals that absorb sunlight and stay lit for weeks after, though they dwarves can see pretty well in the dark after living in the mines. The glass coffins are decorated with fresh flowers, or so I've heard."

Emma took one uncertain step towards the cave, then another before stopping and looking at Red, "aren't you coming with me?"

"Of course, I just..." Red shrugged, "it's been seven years since I saw them. I've changed, but thanks to the spell they'll look exactly the same. It'll be strange."

For the first couple of steps inside the cave Emma could see clearly, but as they walked further it grew darker and then as her eyes adjusted she could see little pink sparks of light on the walls. They went on for a few minutes in that semi-darkness of the winding pathway until, up ahead, two torches lit the entrance to a larger space. Emma took a deep breath and entered.

There was a large, round, white-marble platform at the far end of the room. Upon that were two semi-transparent rectangular boxes, which Emma assumed contained the two be-spelled ex-Royals. There was very little decoration around them, though as she moved closer she realised there were words cut into the marble. She was about to began reading it when Red noticed the sleeping dwarf who was supposed to be on guard and pointed him out to Emma.

"Do you think we should wake him?" Emma whispered.

"He might know if your friends have been here," Red suggested, "unless he was asleep then too."

Emma smiled, "in a minute, I want to read what they've written here."

Red nodded and went to stand by the dwarf, trying to keep her gaze from wandering back to the two caskets.

On top of Firefly Hill sat the dwarf known as Grumpy. He often sat here when it was his turn at guard duty. During the day he couldn't see the fireflies, but he liked to sit and remember them and the young fairy he had once known.

He leaned against his upright axe, resting his chin on his hands as his mind wandered. So deep in thought he didn't hear the two strangers walk up behind him until one cleared his throat to get his attention. Grumpy ignored them, but they walked around to block his view anyway.

"We're here to see Snow White and Prince Charming," the elder-looking of the two told him. "I was told that is still allowed."

"Go away."

"We would like to pay our respects," the other began, but Grumpy sat back and raised his axe.

"Can't you leave them in peace? It's been months since the last gawker came around and nothing has changed."

"We're not like them Grumpy, we're here to..."

"How'd you know my name?" Grumpy peered closer, pointing the sharp end on his axe towards them, "I don't recall meeting you before. Are you her spies?".

"No," the younger raised his hands, "honestly. We have met before, I was just a lot younger then."

"Oh really?"

The stranger bent forward and rolled up his trouser leg, revealing wood where there should have been flesh, "it's me, Pinocchio."

Grumpy's eyes widened in amazement and then he shook his head, "not possible. The lad would barely be a teenager by now, not a full-grown man."

"It's true. I went to the other world, ahead of the princess and time must move differently there or something because I'm all grown up now."

"Prove it."

"How?"

"If you went with the princess, where is she? Break the curse on her parents and I'll believe you."

"That's why we're here. We're meeting Emma, we sent her a message to come."

"Yeah right," Grumpy resumed his seat, "and I'm a unicorn in disguise."

"It's true. I still remember the day my father finished carving the tree they used to send her away..."

"Everyone knows he made it."

"Not everyone knows about the mark on the back, caused by your axe..."

Grumpy frowned at him, then grunted. "Fine, so you're Pinocchio. Cave's down that way."

"You don't want to meet the princess?"

"Oh why not," Grumpy stood up and hoisted his axe onto his shoulder, leading the way to the cave.