Well, it would be a wild ride. Merlin's old magic and wisdom would clash with contemporary society, causing chaos and maybe some opportunities for him to use his powers in new ways. There could also be people who try to exploit or study him.
It might involve Merlin being both fascinated and confused by modern technology. He could encounter people who either fear or revere him. Maybe he'd try to use his magic to help solve modern problems or find a way back to his own time.
Well, it could be that you wake up and find the world has changed completely, like it's in a post-apocalyptic state or something. Or maybe you have a special mission to fulfill that you weren't aware of before.
One common theme is Merlin's struggle to fit in. In modern day settings, he has to deal with new technologies and social norms while still being true to his magical self. Another is the reimagining of his relationships. For example, his friendship with Arthur might be portrayed differently in a modern context.
A really cool modern day Merlin fanfiction is 'Merlin: The Modern Mage'. It shows Merlin as a sort of superhero in the modern world, using his magic to fight against modern - day villains. The story has some great action scenes and also delves into how Merlin adjusts to modern society. It also has some fun nods to the original Merlin story, like his relationship with Gaius in this new modern setting.
It made me really stressed. I had to hurry everywhere and couldn't do things at my normal pace.
In a Merlin - joins - the - Avengers fanfiction, there could be some really interesting scenarios. Merlin's magic could add a whole new dimension to the Avengers' battles. He could use his magic to heal the Avengers quickly or create illusions to deceive their enemies. Maybe he'd have some clashes with Tony Stark at first because of their different approaches to problem - solving, but eventually they'd learn to work together.
Well, Merlin might take the baby under his wing and protect it with his magic. Maybe he'd have to hide the baby from those who would use it for evil purposes.
Well, he might show off some really old - fashioned but extremely powerful magic that would shock everyone at Hogwarts. Maybe he'd befriend Harry Potter and teach him some ancient spells that could defeat Voldemort in a whole new way.
One reason could be related to Arthur's relationships. If Arthur has a love interest or close friendships that Merlin wishes he could have with Arthur too. Like, if Arthur is spending a lot of time with a particular noble or a lady, Merlin might be jealous because he wants that same level of closeness with Arthur.
One possibility is that Merlin uses his ancient and powerful magic. He might be able to counter Voldemort's dark spells with his own brand of magic that is based on nature and balance. For example, Merlin could use his ability to control the elements to disrupt Voldemort's attacks.
Well, if Merlin gets drunk in a fanfiction, it could lead to some really interesting character interactions. He might lose his usual inhibitions and act more freely. This could result in him getting into trouble with the court or the knights. He could also make a fool of himself in front of Gwen, which would be quite embarrassing for him later when he sobers up.