Their mouths were moving, but the shock was deafening. It took me a moment to fall into reality again. Mary Margaret was spitting out questions faster than I could process them, and David was in the background telling me places to go and people to find. All I could manage to say was I'm fine.

Mary Margaret's eyes were filled with tears and remorse. It was obvious she hadn't slept in days. I couldn't figure out where they were, though. At least they were together. Even though I don't really know them, even though I've barely spent time with them, I knew that they were more powerful when they were together. Even though I don't know them, I trusted them. They were heroes and courageous. They were my parents and they were going to fix this.

"Where are you? How did you escape Regina?" Mary Margaret asked.

"I never saw her. One second I was with you, and the next I wasn't." My fingers began to tremble with a confusing combination of excitement and anxiety. On one hand I wanted I really wanted to be home in Storybrooke and to get back to something normal. But on the other hand I wasn't done getting to know Aladdin and wasn't quite ready to leave just yet.

"And she hasn't come looking for you?" David asked.

"No, I think she is. Her men are riding around the woods looking for someone…I'm assuming that's me." I said softly. Aladdin was just outside and he could walk in any moment.

"Stay on high ground. Keep your eyes and ears open at all times. They won't hurt you, because Regina wants you, but they will take you at all means." David listed off. He sounded determined and knowing. He has been hunted by Regina's men once or twice before, so he knows how they operate. What they didn't know is that I had a seasoned traveler guiding me through these woods. Aladdin knew how to elude Regina's men just as well as David.

I decided to ask the question we had all been avoiding, "Where are you guys?"

Mary Margaret's eyes fell, and David's jaw tightened. He was the one who broke the news that they were back in Storybrooke. Regina had pushed them into the portal and it sent them home. In my heart I knew it, but it was validated that I was completely alone in a foreign land. They tried to tell me they were going to get me, bring me home, and everything was going to be okay. But my faith was quivering now more than ever. I figured there's no way they were going to get me. Mary Margaret and I dried up all of our resources. That door was closed a long time ago. If I were ever going to see them again, it would need to be something I found within myself. I was going to have to do this, with as much help from them as I could get. Even through their talk, I could hear Aladdin walking around outside. He was getting closer and it struck fear in my heart. If he found out who my parents are, and he realized who I really was, I would have no one here. That wasn't something I was willing to give up yet. Not when I have such a journey ahead of me. Without being rude, without giving up too much, I rushed the conversation.

"I'm never coming home, am I?" I said with a sound of defeat. Aladdin was walking by the window.

"Don't believe that. Don't believe it for a second, Emma. We are going to bring you home. I promise you that." David said with such confidence that I felt a wave of relief.

The screen started to quiver. Hues of black and white filtered in and invaded the screen. Their image was beginning to fade out, and their voices were dimming. All I could see was Mary Margaret's eyes growing with panic.

"We'll find you!" She yelled, over and over again.

"I'll be waiting." I said back just as the screen was replaced with the picture of Regina and me.

Just as my fingers released from squeezing the necklace shut, Aladdin opened the door. He carried in a bucket full of water and threw it over the roaring fire. Smoke filled the cabin as we pulled our bags over our shoulders and headed out an adventure of a lifetime. It was so dark out that I could barely see my own steps. Eventually we created our own torches to carry. As long as the darkness filled the night, not one word was going to come from our mouths. We both knew that ogres were blind. They rely on their hearing to stalk their prey. With our bags and torches we crusaded through the night using only the stars as our map. We must have walked miles before ever breaking. A quick sip of water here, a short rest there was all we needed to reenergize our bodies. Both of us had enough motivation to push through the pain and tiredness. The silence forced me to confront the remorse I was feeling. That conversation may be the last one I ever have with Mary Margaret and David. There was so much left unsaid. Not only was I walking away from the opportunity to go home, but I was also walking away from the opportunity I have always wanted. I was walking away from the chance to know my biological parents. To make matters worse, I was becoming the stereotypical girl who was about to throw everything away for a boy. A boy I barely knew. I'm not even sure how I found myself in this position. When did I become the girl who would follow a boy she liked around the world? One minute my body was screaming for me to turn around and run in the opposite direction. Another minute my heart was saying to just trust in him. I must have wrestled with this for three hours before I could find a resolution that didn't make me want to vomit. I decided that I would help him find Agrabah, but as soon as we reached it I would turn around and find my own way home. Once I carved out a legitimate plan my spirits really picked up and I found the motivation to continue on this trek. Aladdin was practically running. He was constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure I was keeping up with his long strides. Last I checked, I was the one who was supposed to be navigating this adventure. Every so often he would stop to let me take the lead, but ultimately I just wasn't quick enough for him. As soon as the sun crept over the mountains we ditched the torches and exercised our voices. We took turns chugging water from the bottle, and shared an apple. It was enough energy to keep us pushing through even if the stars had dimmed for the day.

"Are we still in the Enchanted Forest?" I asked, looking around at the completely dry, barren terrain in front of us.

"Yes…We're nearing the edge, however."

"How will we know we've reached Agrabah?" I asked through deep, concentrated breaths.

"There is a body of water that runs between Agrabah and the Forest. Tale stands that the sand beneath the water is saturated in blood from the fallen soldiers of the Sultan War. The water is pure red. Once we reach that, it's only a few miles' swim before we are in Agrabah."

The climate took a drastic turn. It was suddenly dry and hot. It was like we suddenly shifted from the Forest to the desert. It happened so suddenly that my lungs couldn't adjust quickly enough to the air quality. I snatched the bottle of water from his hands and polished off the last drop. He laughed at my desperation. He said the air in Agrabah is definitely different from that of the Forest, but it was also richer in ways. He said Agrabah was known for their pure, clean land. It wasn't polluted or dirty. Everyone staked a claim of pride in their homeland, and respected it. If only he could see what Americans do to our land. He enjoyed telling stories of Agrabah. It was obvious how much he loves it.

"But when the wars started the land became obsolete. No one cared any longer."

"How did the war start?" I asked in curiosity.

"Well, there has always been a war brewing in our land. It's just never resorted to violence until recently. There are two brothers who were in line to become the Sultan. One brother, Jabar, was kind and giving. He was like his father in many ways: a perfect ruler. The other brother, Jafar, struggled with modesty and selflessness, but knew the villagers' true desires. When time came for the Sultan to name one of his sons the heir he couldn't choose. They were both good men, in his eyes. He decided to give both of his sons the opportunity to rule. The Sultan split the land in two. Jafar ruled the East end of Agrabah, while Jabar ruled the West. The West prospered in almost every way, while the East was stricken with poverty and damnation. It was obvious Jabar was the better Sultan. But Jafar was convinced that he was given the poorer soil, the worst economy, and the lowest of agricultural means to strive. Jafar was determined to keep his rule in power. He decided to declare war on the West, with the hope of claiming both territories as his own."

"Why wouldn't he just ask his brother for help instead of declaring war on him?"

"You see, Jafar wasn't just selfish, he was petty too. He didn't want Jabar's help. He wanted to prove that he was the better ruler. Once the wars started every man was called in to fight. Both the West and the East called on the men from every family. Little did anyone know that these wars would rage for years to come. The male population was nearly diminished when Jafar realized the only way for him to be the true victor is if his brother was eliminated. But Jabar was bigger, smarter, and better than his brother. The only way he was going to conquer him was through powers of the darkest, strongest, most powerful genie that has ever lived. That's when the wars ended, and that's when Agrabah became a place people feared."

"Was your father asked to fight?" I asked timidly, but truly curious.

"Yeah…He was." His words were gentle and full of pride.

The history of Agrabah was fascinating. It was truly a tale of a divided family. A father was forced to choose between his two sons, and instead of choosing, he gave them equal parts to share. But sometimes enough is never enough. His sons took something beautiful and tainted it with spite, revenge and jealousy. They ruined their father's legacy because they couldn't swallow their pride long enough. Aladdin continued to tell tales of Agrabah and the brothers who ruled it. He said there is a myth that Jabar's body lies in the Cave of Wonder with the very lamp that Jafar activated to release the genie that killed his brother. No one has ever been able to prove it, though Aladdin finished.

"Why not?"

"Because the Cave of Wonders is exactly that. It is a cave people only wonder about. It's believed that this cave is full of jewels, rubies, and diamonds, but every person that has ventured inside has never survived to tell the tale."

We stopped to sip water. He sat on the sands while I sat on a rock covered in moss. Even if I was sitting on a rock, my stomach nearly ravenous, and I was sipping on water that I could taste the sand, I was still so enthralled in his stories that I didn't care about anything else. I was content just listening to his voice.

"The most interesting part about the Cave of Wonders is that it is completely made of sand. From the structure to the floor is made of sand. Through the worst storms it still stands strong. I think that it's cursed. There's no way sand could stand years of weather without every deteriorating. It doesn't just doesn't make sense.

"If it's cursed then that's the reason why no one can survive. It must be repelling people for some reason." I wiped my mouth and stared at him.

"All I know is that the first person to survive the Cave of Wonders is going to be a very rich man in every sense of the word." He chugged from the bottle once more before screwing the cap back on.

The Cave of Wonders was becoming increasingly enticing. If the myth was true, then inside that cave was an answer to both Aladdin's and mine problems. The lamp would give us three wishes. We could each wish for what we want and need. If we went to the Cave of Wonders, if we ventured inside and tried, it would be better than walking around only wondering and never trying.

With my new plan already in place I followed Aladdin quietly. He wasn't going to agree to go into the Cave of Wonders. No one has survived it before, so why would we? But one very vital piece of information I've withheld from him is the last piece to the puzzle. I was the Savior. I had something inside of me greater than some. That must mean something. I decided that tomorrow I would lead us to the Cave of Wonders and I would go in whether or not he was with me.

It took me a couple of miles to realize we had moved away from sands and back into a densely settled area of trees and moss. It felt like we were walking away from our goal. Aladdin kept looking over his shoulder. The night was falling upon us and the ogres were raging in the distance. We crawled through a small overhang. It was on higher ground and a safe place to rest our eyes for the night. Our original thought was to continue through the night, but neither of our bodies could push forward. Aladdin took to collecting wood for a fire, while I offered to find some water to replenish our bottles. Enough distance was between me and him, when I pulled out the locket from underneath my shirt and clutched it in my palm. The brightest of stars shined directly on me. Hanging in the sky in all of its beautiful glory was the North Star. It was full of hope and wanting. Every night it shined brighter than the last. Closing my eyes just as tightly as I clenched the locket, I wished for just one more chance to talk to my parents. If I had the chance to talk to them again I would tell them how badly I wanted to get home. If I could talk to them again I would tell them that I'm mad they gave me. If I could just talk to them one more time I would tell them how even though I'm so angry with them, I'm so glad I found them. I would make sure they knew that I wanted a true chance to be a family. This small wave of hope washed over me. It flooded my heart and drowned all of my worries and fears.

I gathered all of the water I could in my bottles before retreating back to camp. He was sitting by the fire warming his hands. Standing this far, and with the flames of the fire flickering against his shadow, a side of him I've never seen before was revealed. It was like the flames lightened all of the dark edges. His eyes were softer. It lightened the dark edges and showed a boy who was dealt a crap hand. For the rest of the night we sat by the fire eating, drinking, talking and laughing. After spending almost a week together, we were beginning to really understand one another. I knew he was desperate for his family. All he talked about was his brother. They used to be inseparable. They used to have adventures bigger than life and run wild through the forest. Their mother loved but hated how free-spirited they were.

We finally settled in for the night, pulling our blankets up to our chins and nestling in. He laid his head so close to mine I could smell the campfire ash in his hair. Never has he slept this close before. He claimed it was because he wanted to keep me warm, but I know it's because he just wanted to be close. Lying on his back, with his arms folded behind his head, he looked up to the open sky.

"I'm lucky to have found you." He said softly and simply.

"We're lucky to have found one another." I replied.

This small, dorky smile spread across my face. My heart has never felt so full. This disaster I found myself in was beginning to shed light. There was more to this than being lost and abandoned. Maybe this whole time I've been thinking I'm lost, but really I'm right where I'm supposed to be. Maybe Aladdin was always the one meant to find me.

His head fell to the side, and our eyes swam in one another's. It all happened so fast, and I barely had a second to breathe before I felt his lips pressing against mine. They were soft. They were perfect.

My head rested on his shoulder, as my eyes slipped into a sweet, comforting sleep.

The next morning I woke up with the sun gleaming in my eyes, smoke filling in the wood and an apple lying by my head. Throwing the blanket off, I picked up the apple and found myself completely alone. Before I began to panic I heard splashing water not too far off. Peering through the trees I could see him bathing himself. His fingers pushed through his dark tresses, down his very toned stomach, and along his dark arms.

"Good morning…" I said as I made my way to the small pond he was swimming in.

"Good morning, Emma." He smiled and brushed the water from his nose.

This is the first time I've had a chance to look at him. His body was perfectly chiseled. With the dirt washed from his face, he looked about ten years younger. He started out of the water. His shorts were clinging to his thighs. Without looking like too big of a stalker, I wiped off the drool and picked up my chin and quickly tossed the clothes lying on the ground at him.

"I'll let you wash up, if you want." He shook his hair free of the water.

"Thanks."

Our arms brushed passed one another's as he headed back up the path. This isn't a situation I know very well. Aladdin was my first kiss. Now I found myself in a cliché conundrum where the guy makes a move, gets what he wants, and then leaves the girl wondering what it all means. Moments like these are when I wish I had an older sister. Hell, I'd take a mother right now. Instead I washed up, tried to clean off my clothes, and then played around with my hair to make it look somewhat cute. However, cute in the Forest can translate to barely manageable in the real world. He was at the campsite loading up our bags when I finally emerged from my bath. He threw mine directly at my chest, causing me to stumble over my feet and make me look like an even bigger loser than I already do.

"Ready to go?" He pulled the strap of his bag over his shoulder and started off.

Spending all of this time walking and barely talking was giving me a migraine. All I wanted to do was talk this through with someone. Every time he even breathed in my direction my heart skipped a beat, thinking Maybe he's going to say something. Maybe he's going to kiss me again. But instead he would either spit an enormous ball of phlegm or cough. It was killing me pretending this silence was comfortable. In my lifetime I've watched women fawn over men. They fall over the first boy to look at them and call them "cute". It has always been my greatest distinction that I haven't been a love-struck girl. I've been independent, smart, witty, and kind, but never love-struck. Now I find myself in the exact position I never wanted to be, and my expectations of this boy are heightening with each step we take. But my expectations from him aren't unattainable. They are basic human needs. All I could ever want from someone is honesty, consideration and compassion.

The longer we left things unsaid, the greater my anger was growing. It got to a point where I started envisioning bodily harm coming his way. We were approaching a fork in the road, and I decided to take this physical obstacle as a metaphorical one, as well. I stepped around him and stopped him from proceeding. His dark eyes narrowed in on my blues, and penetrated my soul with a knife.

"What are you doing?" He asked impatiently.

"What are you doing?" I shook my head and paced in a half circle. "Are you really going to pretend like nothing happened last night?"

"What are you talking about?" His hand slithered through his hair. It was enough of a gesture to relieve the tension from his mouth.

"You know what I'm talking about."

Confronting him was making him uncomfortable. If being confronted with his misfortunes made him squirm then good enough for him. He was not going to kiss me and then pretend like it meant absolutely nothing. As I looked into his eyes look I looked into them the way I did last night, I could see the smoke of anger billowing up.

"It didn't mean anything to you, did it?" I said simply, trying not to sound as deflated as my heart.

"It did." His arms flailed, his patience was tested and spat out the only words that made sense to him.

"Then why are you so afraid to talk to me?"

"There's just not a lot to talk about." He dug his hands into his pockets and did everything to avert my gaze.

"Thanks." I licked my lips and shook my head. "Thank you for reminding me why I have never trusted anyone before. For reminding me why boys are so selfish, inconsiderate, pigs." I turned around on my heel, but reverted backwards to finish my last thought. "You know I thought you were different. I thought you were misunderstood, maybe had a bad string of luck, but were man enough to see a good girl who would do nearly anything for him. But I was wrong. Thank you for proving me wrong and showing me who you really are before I looked too stupid."

With saying all that I swung around in my dramatic exit, but he pulled me around and stood so close to me that I could his heart beating in his chest. I could smell the mixture of sleep and berries on his breath. Even feel the blood pumping in his fingers.

"Nothing you say can make this better."

"It meant something to me." He said firmly.

"Then why are you acting like it didn't?"

"Because that kiss means more to me than anything I have ever done. Because if I admit that our kiss was as meaningful as it was then I admit that I'm scared as hell. Because I would be telling you that I think I'm falling so in love with you." His bag fell from his shoulder and both of his hands grabbed my face. He blended our lips together in a fury of passion. My fingers played with the bottoms of his dark locks. His hands moved from my face to my neck, to my side. I never felt so crazed. My body was pumping adrenaline so quickly my heart couldn't keep up. It felt like my heart was going to literally burst through my chest. Our lips parted for half of a second to pull in air before they were locked together again.

I always thought my first kiss was going to be awkward. It's my first kiss, so how was I going to know what to do with my lips or my hands? This was not even close to being awkward. It was borderline perfect. It's like my body just knew what to do. My hands moved through his hair and clutched the sides of his shirt. My lips moved swiftly, matching every one of his motions. We were so in sync.

Both of us pulled away and panted and struggled for air.

"I've never felt this way….I'm scared." I whispered.

"Me too." He answered.

Just as he placed his forehead against mine a stampede of horses rode through. Men dressed in a black and chains surrounded us. He pulled my hand. We sprinted down a hill. My feet gave out underneath me and slid. It felt like a million little needles were being dragged along the skin of my thigh. There was no time to tend to it. The horses were so close behind us I could feel their hooves nearly stepping on my boots. Ahead was a cliff. The rushing of the river echoed through the cavernous mountains. We looked behind to see the men so close to us they could touch me. Like we've done before, our fingers locked and we took a leap of faith. The water could be shallow, it could have huge boulders, it could be filled with venomous fish. All we knew was that our chances in surviving were greater with the unknown rather the Queen's men.

His fingers never slipped from mine. We held on for dear life. Our bodies fell so smoothly into the water it was like a hand slipping into a glove. When I opened my eyes I couldn't even see Aladdin. Not because he was missing, but because the water was so dark all I could see was red. Instantly a jolt of excitement helped me find the energy to pull our bodies up to the shore. Aladdin was struggling to get himself to his feet. I lay on the sands laughing, throwing my hands in the air with a victorious grin. He fell to his knees and laughed too. We finally found it. We had finally reached Agrabah.