Pinocchio squirmed helplessly as he tried to get himself out of the mud pile he was in. He looked down to his wooden legs and wished that he was a true human boy, one that could be strong enough to pull himself out of this mess. Instead, he was just a moving puppet who has been trying for what felt like hours upon hours to free himself from the disgusting brown goo. His eyes gazed up at the setting sun, his papa was going to be worried about him. He already knew that his papa was already worried sick. Pinocchio felt his heart sink as he dropped his head down, knowing that he will never be found in these parts of the woods.

A gentle voice up above him spoke, "Do you need help? You seem a bit stuck. I have heard of the saying, 'stick in the mud' but I never really thought I would actually see one until now. This day is such full of surprises"

Pinocchio gasped as he heard a gentle giggle from up above. He looked around and around but couldn't find anyone. All he really could see was the tops of the trees and the wind whistling around them. Maybe he just imagined the voice? It wouldn't be the first time that he's heard something talk to him.

But then again, what if it was a fairy who had heard his plea? Papa had always talked about how fairies were amongst us and they could come in our most dire of times. Maybe his wish really was being answered right now? Pinocchio turned back to the setting sun before he looked back up to the treetops.

"Yes, I do need help!" Pinocchio yelled out, "Please, I need to get back home to my papa. He's going to be worried sick! I am supposed to be in by nightfall and have gotten myself stuck trying to rush home"

Pinocchio listened and waited but didn't hear anything after that. He let out a sigh before he gasped as he noticed his body was being lifted effortlessly out of the mud and up high into the trees. Pinocchio looked over to one of the branches and noticed a little girl with a turquoise skin and greenish hair in a red dress.

"Hello" the little girl said kindly, "You should be a little bit careful next time. The Evil Queen does not really like other magical beings like you and I"

Pinocchio sighed, "I know, I just got so lost in playing that I didn't see where I was going… thank you, good fairy!"

The little girl giggled, "I'm not a fairy! I'm a nymph! A guardian of the forest, but you can call me Dawn"

"My name is Pinocchio" Pinocchio introduced as he gave a shy smile.

Dawn barged into Granny's Diner, it stated on the Hours of Operation that the Diner closed just 45 minutes ago but the door was left open for her. She glanced down to the counter and saw hot food there just waiting for her to eat. Dawn breathed out a sigh of relief as she practically threw her binders and folders on top of the counter just to sit down and eat the food. Her stomach growled impatiently as she chewed down the chicken enough to swallow it and satisfy her body. The elderly woman came in, not surprised that Dawn was already helping herself to the meal in front of her.

"Hmph! I should be grateful that the mayor starves you" Granny croaked, "You look like you could really fall in love with my cooking"

"Thank you so much for remaining open, Granny" Dawn said, "Regina had me working on some sort of child case for these set of twins and she still was mad at me for not being able to finish something I didn't know she wanted me to start on"

"I figured" Granny let out, "Why do you put up with her anyways? The last receptionist died of a heart attack because of her!"

"Because it would be great on my resume when I apply for Boston" Dawn paused before she said, "If I can apply for Boston"

"What do you mean?"

Dawn sighed, "Everytime I bring it up, Regina hollers at me that this is the best job and nothing else will suffice, she refuses to write down anything for me on the recommendations list, and she'll give me impossible tasks to do that she knows I will never finish in time just so that way I can miss the deadline for applications again this year"

Granny could only give a toothless grin and shake her head, not knowing what else to say for the poor girl. Dawn has always been a great Secretary to Regina, everyone in Storybrooke can see it but Dawn's boss. The poor girl works from sun up to sun down, always running around for Regina and while the other woman just strolls around with power. Dawn was brave to even consider the job since no one else would, it was almost like a death sentence to work for that woman.

"Let me guess, you asked again, didn't you?"

"This afternoon"

"Dawn…"

"Come on, Granny, I really want to leave" Dawn sighed, "My back is in pain all day from the imaginative weight that she pulls on me! It's insane! I had to ask again"

The bell chimed, making Granny and Dawn turn and look at who came in, everyone knew Granny's Diner was closed at this hour but a stranger. The man came in and looked around with curious eyes before he looked over to the pair at the counter. He smiled and made his way over as if there was nothing peculiar about his presence.

"Hi, are you Granny?" the man asked.

"Y-Yes, I-I a-am" Granny cleared her throat, "How can I help you?"

"I'm looking for a room but the front desk said to come into the diner for assistance" the man said.

"Damn Ruby, always leaving when the full moon rises" Granny huffed, "Excuse me, dear, I will be right back, do you want something to eat?"

"No, I'm fine" the man waved his hand.

Granny quickly left to go scold her granddaughter, leaving the two alone, making Dawn suddenly aware that she couldn't quite swallow, "That looks good"

Dawn jumped and glanced to her food before she nodded, "It's the Chicken Mushroom, you should try it"

"Next time she's open" he smiled, "What's your name?"

Dawn almost choked on her plate as she realized how rude she was to not introduce herself or it could've been that they could hear Granny and Ruby arguing in the small room that connects the Diner and the Inn. She turned and looked to the man who didn't seem to notice the two women arguing, only her.

"Oh, sorry, I'm Dawn"

The man blinked a couple of times before he muttered, "It can't be"

"I'm sorry?" she asked.

"Nothing" he breathed out before he said, "You- you have a lovely name, is what I was thinking. No doubt you were named after your red hair, I suppose"

Dawn shrugged, "Not too sure, that's the name the nun's gave me at the nursery"

"How about that?" he said slowly.

Dawn blushed under his gaze as she turned away from him before she noticed that she didn't know his name.

Dawn hesitated before she asked, "What's your name?"

"August" he responded.

"I am so sorry, dear!" Granny suddenly let out, "Some of my employees like to sleep on the job"

Ruby scoffed from behind Granny before she muttered, "Whatever"

"You were saying you wanted a room, I can go with you to the Inn and get you settled in" Granny said to August.

"Thank you, ma'am" he nodded.

"You, wait here until Dawn is done eating and then clear up" Granny turned to her granddaughter, "And don't try the whole "I'm going to the bathroom" crap, you hear me?"

Ruby rolled her eyes, "Yes, Granny"

"And you" Granny said, "Try to keep your head up. The mayor is only doing her worst to you because you're doing your best at your job"

Dawn could only smile, that was the only energy she had as of right now. Granny seemed to sense it as she reached over and gave a firm squeeze to the woman's arm before turning back to August. She waved him to follow her as Dawn turned and looked to August, his gaze seemed to linger on her just a moment longer before he slowly got up and followed Granny out of the Diner. Ruby seemed to notice this too as she leaned on the counter and watched with a more flirtatious gaze. When he was out of sight, Ruby cleared her throat to get Dawn's attention.

"So… who is he?"

"His name is August" Dawn mentioned, "That's all he really said"

"Well, honey, I think this stranger is going to be coming over here often," Ruby smirked.

"Why do you say that?" Dawn asked.

"Because he's so into you!" Ruby let out, "I can see the look anywhere I go and that man was giving you my signature look! I actually feel kinda jealous…"

Dawn shrugged, "Sorry"

"Doesn't matter" Ruby shrugged, "There are other men in town but if I were you… I'd figure out who this mystery guy is and have fun with him"

Ruby had a mischievous twinkle in her eye as if her own plan was getting her excited about what was to play out. Dawn just scoffed and shook her head as she continued to eat her food. Ruby would flirt with a pencil if it had cologne on it, she holds the title with pride of being the most flirtatious woman in town. But Ruby couldn't help but wonder when she would be seeing August again and hoped he wasn't going to leave town any time soon.