People of the town did not disperse after Snow White and her family left. They had a lot on their minds and they didn't feel like the matter was closed yet.

Grumpy once again called for everyone's attention. He waited for all the talking to die down before speaking. "Snow White is like family, and I would do almost anything for her, but she's wrong about this. I'm sure I'm not the only one who remembers what happened last time we listened to her about the Queen?"

Everyone nodded and the room filled with noise as they all talked to each other about the time Snow had gone to meet the Evil Queen and they'd almost lost her forever.

"We can't just stand here and let it happen again," Grumpy continued. "Something has to be done!"

"Snow didn't say we weren't going to do anything." The voice belonged to Red. "She only said that we must think clearly and proceed carefully. We should wait to take action. Everyone should be in on the plan." A few people throughout the room nodded in agreement.

"We can't afford to wait." Everyone turned to see the man they had come to know as Dr. Whale standing there. They all glanced at each other in confusion. Now that the curse had been lifted, they recognized each other, but this man was a stranger. However, they all turned back to listen to him as he continued to speak. "Who knows what the Queen's planning to do to us? She brought magic back for a reason. We can't just be sitting ducks."

Everyone cheered in agreement.

"It's settled then," Grumpy said. "Now we just have to figure out what to do."

A few people, like Granny and Red, shook their heads and left, not wanting to have any part in what was quickly becoming a mob mentality. They were both reminded painfully of the days of the hunting parties back home.

On their way out, Red bumped into Jiminy and Geppetto. She looked at them in surprise. "Where have you guys been?"

"Taking care of a few things," Jiminy answered. "We came back to see if everyone was still here."

"They're here alright," Granny confirmed. "They're in there hatching some foolish plan. Snow told them all to wait but tempers are running high and people aren't in a waiting mood."

"What? What are they planning to do?"

"We don't know," Red answered. "There's no talking to them, Jiminy. Everyone's too upset."

"Well, I have to try." Jiminy nodded at them as he passed by, Geppetto close behind him.

"Good luck," Red called to him just before the doors shut.

Jiminy was half-expecting a pitchfork-wielding crowd when he walked in, but he was relieved to see that things hadn't progressed that far, though they were getting close. "I'm going to try to find out what's going on," he told Geppetto. "You see if you can find the Blue Fairy."

Geppetto nodded and disappeared into the crowd. Jiminy tuned in to what was being said.

"So we'll go to her house," Grumpy was saying.

"Do you really feel that's the best idea?" Jiminy called out. People looked at him in surprise, not having noticed his entrance. "With such a large group, things could get out of hand quite easily."

"Great," Dr. Whale said sarcastically. "Now the conscience is here."

"We're doing this Jiminy," Grumpy said. "The only safe way to approach the Queen is in a group. We have to stay together so she can't overpower us."

"That could be dangerous for everyone involved," Jiminy said. "It would be too easy for someone to get hurt. You need the Queen alive if you have any hope of getting back to our world."

"We don't plan on killing her," Grumpy argued. "We're only going to lock her up." Everyone yelled their assent. "We'll meet back here in thirty minutes. Everyone should prepare." He looked directly at Jiminy. "No more discussion. It's time for action!"


Rapunzel sat in a cell in the Queen's palace rubbing at her sore wrists. She'd been thrown in there, and until recently, had been bound and gagged. It felt like hours had passed before she heard the voices. They were filtering through the door in the hallway outside her cell.

"I should have known you wouldn't be able to hold on to her." Unmistakably, the Queen's voice.

"I thought it would be more fun to watch you scramble after her, Your Majesty." Rapunzel shivered, recognizing the second voice as Rumpelstiltskin. Regardless, she moved as close to the bars as possible so she could clearly hear everything they were saying.

"I should kill you where you stand! How dare you risk the plan? Everything is at stake!"

"Not quite. See, it's really just your plan at stake, and to be honest, I don't care much about your plan. I got her for you, as promised."

"Yes. How did you manage to gain her trust?"

"Let's just say, I was not myself."

Rapunzel twisted her face in confusion. It had not been Rumpelstiltskin that gained her trust, it had been Bae.

"Ahhh…I should have known. You used your transformation powers. Very clever. So, tell me, who were you this time?"

"It doesn't matter now does it? Are we going to finish the curse, or not?"

"Yes. Her hair; you cut it. Won't the magic have been drastically diminished?"

"No, there is still plenty for what you require. Shall we get this over with? I'd rather like to be free of my dealings with you."

"No more than I, believe me," the Queen sneered. "After you."

Rapunzel heard footsteps heading her way and she backed away from the bars as the doors were opened and Rumpelstiltskin strode in, followed closely by the Queen. The doors of the cell flung open with a wave of the Queen's hand, and Rapunzel pushed herself as far against the wall as possible when Rumpelstiltskin approached her.

"You're not the only one who finds him repulsive, dear," the Queen said. "But don't worry, it will be over quickly."

Rumpelstiltskin gave the Queen a nasty look as he pulled out a vial of glowing liquid and unceremoniously dumped it over Rapunzel's head.

"Well, would you look at that?" the Queen purred, running her fingers down Rapunzel's hair. It had returned to its golden glow. "Elise was telling the truth. She was good for something after all."

Rumpelstiltskin pulled out yet another vial, this one with a sparkling, clear liquid. He dipped Rapunzel's hair into it and she inhaled sharply as she felt the power drain quickly from her. Her hair returned to the light brown color but the liquid in the vial now glowed brilliantly gold. It was enough to light the cell around them.

The Queen took a small parchment from her dress and smoothed it out, holding it flat while Rumpelstiltskin let a drop from the vial fall onto it. There was a quick flash of light and then nothing again.

"Perfect," the Queen smiled. "You may leave, Rumpelstiltskin. The curse is nearly complete."

"Yes, Your Majesty." He turned to give Rapunzel a wave and a quick laugh before he disappeared.

After the door shut behind him, Rapunzel looked at the Queen, tears on her face, her voice weak. "Why are you prolonging this? Just kill me. I can't take the waiting."

"Oh, child. I'm not going to kill you." She used a hand to lift Rapunzel's chin. "If anything, I should be thanking you. Your hair provided me with an ingredient to my curse that I desperately needed."

"Please let me go, I had nothing to do with trying to trick you. I told Elise that you would never be fooled."

"Smart girl."

"What did you do to her?"

"I didn't do anything to her." The Queen smirked and it seemed her thoughts were elsewhere when she added, "She does, however, have quite a nasty surprise waiting for her when she tries to use that curse."

"You gave her the curse?"

The Queen laughed. "Oh, my dear girl, no. I gave her what she thought was the curse. I never would have dealt with that repulsive woman, Ursula."

"And the boy that came to visit me; it was Rumpelstiltskin all along?"

"So it was a boy he played, was it? Interesting. He's tricky that way, isn't he?"

"What is the curse you keep talking about?"

"The Dark Curse is much too complex to explain in what little time we have left, but I will tell you that it will affect everyone in the realm." She laughed cruelly. "I will finally have my victory, and you made it all possible. I have to thank you for your help."

Rapunzel shook her head tearfully. "I don't understand."

"I know, dear." She almost sounded sympathetic as she opened the doors to leave.

"Please?" Rapunzel cried, making her turn back around. "Please let me go? I promise I won't tell anyone what you're going to do! I've been trapped in that tower my whole life. I just want to be free. Please," the last part was whispered as Rapunzel choked on her tears.

"Don't worry, dear. Within the day, it won't matter where you are, and you won't have any memories of that tower."

She was gone before Rapunzel had the chance to ask what she meant.