Chapter 21
The Way We Almost Weren't
PART 1
Emma had just got Neal home Tally ran up happily "daddy's home".
"Hello my Sugar Plum Fairy" he said
"Hi David" he added nervously hoping he understood he only took the baby to protect it.
David looked at him "welcome home Neal".
Mary-Margaret said "Emma told us why you took the baby. After discussing it we decided it was very brave of you and clearly you just wanted to protect him".
Neal asked "so what have you decided to call the little guy"?
David said "there's this tradition. Back in the Enchanted Forest when a new royal is born you usually announce the name at coronation ceremony".
Mary-Margaret said to Emma "we would have done it for you if we could have".
Emma asked "you're not going to hold him out in front of the clock tower and present him like lion king are you"?
David replied "of course not, in fact we've decided to forgo all pomp and circumstance for a nice potluck at Granny's".
Mary-Margaret said "the important thing is to mark the occasion. To remind ourselves after all we've been through we're still together as a family".
At that moment Henry came in "Dad".
Henry ran up to greet Neal "Hey Buddy"
Henry said "check this out I think I found us a place".
Emma asked "you're looking at apartments"?
Neal asked "why not?"
Tally added "we discussed that we can't stay at the bed and breakfast, or our car. And it will be too crowded here".
Henry showed Emma the place he found "what do you think"?
Mary-Margaret asked "yes Emma, what do you think".
Emma said "I think... your grandparents can't decide what to call your uncle and they are using a fairy-tale tradition to buy themselves some more time".
At Granny's Henry read his book to the baby "the bandit leapt on top of the carriage and stole the prince's jewels. The Prince chased her on horseback through the treacherous forest".
Emma said "seriously I can't hear the kids name yet but I have to hear this story again".
David replied "he should know where he comes from".
Emma asked "are you sure you want the first thing he knows to be that his parents fell in love during an armed robbery".
Neal said "actually I told him the traditional story in the Clock tower before Zelena showed up. And it's not too different from how we met".
Hook asked "how did you two meet"?
Neal said "as you know back then I was a thief and I'd just stolen a car. I parked it in an alley and decided to sleep in the back seat. I awoke the next morning to a banging sound and I saw someone using a rock to stick a screwdriver in the keyhole. It wasn't until the car was in motion I decided to reveal myself. You can't drive and beat someone up at the same time".
Emma said "You almost gave me a heart attack, Henry did the same thing when we were looking for Ashley"
Tally asked "is that why you asked daddy if he taught Henry that".
Mary-Margaret decided to mention "difference is I wasn't armed".
Ruby said "except with a rock"
David added "I still have the scar".
Mary-Margaret argued "which healed" then said in a baby tone to the baby "but that's only how we met, it's not how we fell in love".
David said "that was more complicated". He turned a page in the book "there were black knights when I saved your mothers life".
Mary-Margaret turned another page and said "or the attack on the troll bridge when I saved his".
David turned one more page "but it wasn't until I saw my mother's ring on her finger I knew there was no other woman I could ever love".
Mary-Margaret said "I wish you would have told me then, we would have saved so much time".
David asked "how could I? I had to get to my wedding"
Hook was confused "did I miss something, you were previously engaged"?
Ruby said "to Kathryn, though she was Princess Abigail back then".
Hook asked "King Midas's daughter, the man who could change anything into gold. Why would you leave that opportunity"?
David answered "what can I say, my heart was destined for another".
Ruby said "you just had to find her first. She had run away and was living on a farm".
Mary-Margaret mused "it sounded like such a peaceful existance at the time living everyone and everything behind".
Hook commented "like mother, like daughter"
Emma mumbled "not now".
Neal asked "have I missed something, what's the connection".
Emma said "it doesn't matter".
Regina came up and said "I think it does, are you planning on going back to New York"?
Henry asked "why would leave, this is our home"?
Tally said "I don't want to go, everything is here".
Emma said "it's normal, and safer, end of discussion". And with that she left to make sure it was.
Hook said "I'll go after her".
Neal said "not without me your not".
Henry cried "wait dad". He handed Neal his book. "Take this, it might help her remember where she belongs".
Neal took it and followed Hook who had already left.
Emma was on a bench wondering about her life. Hook came up to her "you're making a mistake".
Emma replied "I don't want to talk to you about this".
Neal said "I agree with Hook, and Henry, and Tally..."
Before he could list everyone else who thought they shouldn't leave Emma said "well, look who's changed their tune. Only the other day you were ready to send Henry and Tally back to New York alone on a boat".
Neal said "to save them from Zelena, who is now powerless and behind bars". He sat down next to her and opened the book and put it on her lap "Henry thought this would remind you, what you're leaving behind, your family".
"Thanks, except this isn't my family" she said gesturing to the book. "They're fairy tales, they're stories of princes and princesses, and where everyone had a crazy, twisted upbringing".
"Gee, nice to know what you think of me" Neal replied.
Emma said "you know what I mean, it's too much, every time the latest disaster dies down more chaos ensues. And when the next calamity happens I don't want Henry and Tally anywhere near it".
Neal said "good luck, I think you'll be outvoted, and trust me it will be a landside".
Emma got up and cried "I'm their mother, I do not need anyone's permission to do as I choose with my children".
With a stone glare Neal got up too and said "And mine, and you forget Tally is all ours, but Henry is ours and Regina's. She wants him to stay, and is it really best for them to spilt up our family"?
Hook said "you defeated Pan, and the Wicked Witch, and broke the curse, yet you keep running, what are you looking for".
"Home" Emma answered
Neal said "and you think that's New York"?
Emma said "I don't know, when I was kid I ran away and back then I thought 'what if I'm making a mistake, what if I miss this place"?
Hook asked "did you"?
Emma said "No, every place I went I never missed when I left". She turned to Neal "you told me once that you know you have a home, because when you leave you just miss it. So I'm going to keep running until I feel that no matter how long it takes".
Hook asked "and leave your parents, don't you care about them, or anyone in this town"?
Emma said "of course I do".
Neal cried "what the hell is that".
Emma and Hook saw him looking behind them. And when they turned around and saw some sort of beam reaching to the sky".
The rushed towards the direction and found it coming from the barn where Zelena had planned to cast her time-travel spell. Emma got a message from David
Zelena killed herself. The
result being her magic no
longer had any tether and
cast her spell.
"Zelena died and her death triggered the time travel spell. I have to close it down".
Hook asked "has your magic returned"?
"No" Emma replied.
Hook said "then we're messing with anything".
The doors burst open and pulled them in Hook dug his hook into the ground and Emma grabbed his coat cuff but Neal got pulled in. Emma called out his name and the cuff she was holding ripped and she got pulled in. Hook said to himself "one of these days I've got to stop chasing this woman" and let go allowing himself to fall through himself.
They fell in what appeared to be the enchanted forest. "Neal" she called.
Neal helped her up and replied "I'm here Emma".
Then Hook appeared and looking around said "we seem to be back in the enchanted forest".
Neal replied "Gee, you don't say".
Hook added "the only question is when"?
Emma walked over to a tree and said "I have a pretty good idea".
Neal and Hook saw what Emma was looking at. A wanted poster for Snow White. Neal said "if you want to accuse someone of murder, treason and treachery you shouldn't use such a flattering picture".
Emma suggested "like a picture of someone committing the crime".
Neal said "don't remind me".
Hook said "all things considered if could be worse. We could have ended up in the middle of the Ogre wars. Or smack dab in the belly of a whale".
Neal agreed "trust me the Ogre wars were brutal, we're lucky not to have ended up there".
Emma raised an eyebrow and asked "you know this how"?
Neal answered "my childhood was in the middle of the Ogre wars. They needed so many soldiers any able-bodied citizen were forced to fight. I was three days shy of my fourteenth birthday when they decided anyone fourteen or over had to fight. Fourteen, children were being pulled from their home to fight what seemed to be an endless war. My father became the dark one to save me from being forced into the Ogre wars, then went onto the battlefield, destroyed the Ogres and lead the children home".
Emma got the book out of her bag and asked "you went through first, what were you thinking of".
Hook asked "you think it works like any other portal"?
"Of course" answered Emma.
Neal answered "I was thinking about how much I wanted us to be a family in Storybrooke, which made me think of the kids, which made me think of the story... oh dear".
"The day my parents met" Emma suggested closing the book.
Neal nodded.
Emma answered "I knew it, we should have left the moment we defeated Zelena, this would have not happened in New York".
Hook asked "and like any other portal it didn't stay open for the return trip".
Emma said "great, we're trapped in the past".
Hook said "but I bet real estate is much more reasonable here".
Neal said "this is no time for jokes, we need to think of a way out of here".
Hook asked "I understand your frustration, but we've been in dire straits before. There's no reason to be antsy. We have out wits; we just need to be constructive. So, either of you know how to get back"?
Neal said "not a clue" and they both looked at Emma
Emma asked "how should I know how to get back to the future? Who do I look like? Marty McFly"?
Hook asked "Who".
Neal said "it's a film where a kid goes back in time in a DeLorean".
Hook asked "is he some sort of wizard"?
Neal said "No, he just..."
"Wait" said Emma. "Maybe a wizard is exactly what we need".
Knowing what Emma was thinking Neal begged "please don't say it".
Emma said "Rumplstilskin, we have to find Rumplstilskin".
Hook warned "get down" as a troop of black knights rode down the road next to them.
They followed the black knights hidden behind the undergrowth in the forest. The black knights stopped outside a village and forced all the people out of their homes. A black carriage drove into the village and Regina came out as the Evil Queen. Neal whispered "no way".
The Evil Queen declared "listen to me very carefully. Whatever squalor and despair your pathetic lives have been able to tolerate until this point is nothing compared to the pain and misery I can inflict if I leave here unhappy".
Emma said "that's Regina".
Hook replied "not Regina, the Evil Queen".
Neal commented "there was a time I never thought she could look scarier, I stand corrected".
Emma said "she's even worse without the sensible pants suit".
Gepetto came forward "please your majesty we are a peaceful village, what do you want from us"?
The Evil Queen said "justice".
Emma commented "that's Marco"
The Evil Queen said "if I find out anyone in this village has been helping the bandit Snow White they will suffer dearly". The knights brought forward a woman with a bag over her head. "Here's what helping Snow White looks like".
When the knight took the bag off the woman cried "help me, she's going to kill me".
The Evil Queen asked "who wants to be next"? as the woman continued to plead for her life.
Emma attempted to come out of their hiding spot but both Neal and Hook grabbed her wrist. Neal asked "where are you going"?
Emma replied "to help that poor innocent woman".
Hook reminded her "when Belle figured out Zelena wanted to change the past she warned us it could be dangerous. Messing with events could cause untold damage to all of us".
Emma asked "so I'm just supposed to let her rot or die".
Neal answered "I don't like it any more than you do, but... we have no choice".
Hook added "not if we want to stand a chance to get back to the world we know".
Emma commented "we need to Rumple the sooner we get out of here, the better".
As Regina left Hook said "there's one thing you two need to do first" looking at some washing on a line.
Neal changed into a white short and brown leather vest while Emma got on a peasant outfit with a brown cloak. "Is this really necessary" Emma asked.
Hook said "what would you have done if Regina had spotted you back there"?
Emma replied "my guess, run"
Hook said "even if you had, she had seen you, she may remember you when you arrived in Storybrooke".
Neal said "and if she'd remembered us when we arrived in Storybrooke she would have taken things to a whole new level of mean".
Emma said "she'd remember a glimpse of a face thirty years in the future".
Neal said "you want to risk the possibility"?
Hook said "and sadly red leather jackets don't come into fashion here ever".
Emma said "the only lasting impression I'm concerned about is the one this corset is making on my spleen".
Hook said "your discomfort is a cross I'm willing to bear".
Neal said "Emma we're both a little uncomfortable, this is vest a little on the tight side, but we can't risk even dressing differently if we want to the future to be the same way as when we left it".
Hook said "if we want to protect the timeline we must proceed with all caution". He put the hood of her cloak up "you're not from a world of magic I am. The smallest change can have catastrophic consequences. Things must happen as they always did".
Neal said "we know about the butterfly effect".
Hook asked the butterfly what"?
Emma said "can we talk about this when we get back".
They were walking down the road towards the dark castle when they heard horses and a carriage approaching, fearing it was the Evil Queen again they hurried to hide again. Instead of a black carriage and black knights it was a white carriage with knights dressed in a white uniform. When they stopped at a log blocking the road they head the carriage door upon. "Worry not, it is but a fallen tree".
Emma didn't need to see to know who it was as David appeared as Prince James.
Hook said "your father, we should go".
Emma couldn't help but look up to see her mother, seeing Emma smile Neal looked up and recited "and the bandit jumped on top of the carriage and stole the prince's jewels".
Emma was leaning on a branch which suddenly broke and alerted Snow White to their presence. She fell out of the tree but instead onto the carriage she fell onto the ground. Though not aware they were there the knights and David were aware the tree in the road was a decoy. After picking herself up seeing the knights watching out for a thief Snow White ran deeper into the forest.
Neal asked "is it just me or does it look like she's running in the wrong direction"?
They saw the carriage and knights move on after the log was cleared. Emma said "you know what you said about small changes have consequences, what about big changes"?
Hook asked "why? What did we do"?
Neal asked "were you asleep earlier"?
Hook was confused so Emma explained "that bandit was Snow White, this was the moment my parents first met"?
Hook understood "and now because of us they didn't".
They saw the dark castle from a distance "there it is, the dark ones castle" Hook stated".
Emma said "it's a little more imposing than the Pawn shop. Was it a nice place to live"?
Neal said "he didn't get that until after I was gone".
Emma asked "so what do we do, walk up to the front door and introduce ourselves. Hi, we're from the future".
Hook say "I better stay back".
Neal asked Emma "would you mind going alone because I really would rather not see him either"?
Hook said "the only reason I'm staying back is because the dark one and I have a complicated history, I wager he'd want to kill me on sight".
"I'll take that bet" they heard in a high pitched voice. They spun around and saw Rumplstilskin as he laughed.
Neal muttered "that laugh is so irritating".
Rumplstilskin said "I can't tell you how long I've been looking forward to this, oops I suppose I just did" he used his magic to strangle Hook.
Emma cried "stop"?
Rumplstilskin threw her back and Neal rushed over to help her up "I don't know who you are dearie but why don't you run off and let me enjoy my killing in peace"?
"He's not going to hurt you" Emma tried to explain. "You have to listen to us".
Rumpltilskin asked "and why should I listen to you"?
Neal had a thought and said "you want to know why? How about the rest of this story: once upon a time there was boy called Baelfire". That certainly caught his father's attention enough for him to let Hook go so he continued. "When his father was consumed by darkness he went to the blue fairy help. She gave him a magic bean which he used to open a portal to land without magic where the darkness couldn't be unleashed. He and his father loved each other but the hold the darkness had over his father forced him to abandon Baelfire, left him alone in a world without magic. Want to hear the rest of the story, you have but one choice"?
"What do you know about Bae"? Rumplstilskin asked.
Neal said nervously "quite a lot, I know what happened when he arrived in the land without magic. I also know you're planning to enact a curse in hopes of reuniting with him".
Rumplstilskin asked "and how do know"?
"Me" Emma interjected. "I met your son and eleven years later broke the curse so you could find him. I'm the product of True Love".
Rumplstilskin said "well that's speculation, part of my curse, but I haven't done it".
Neal added "yet, you haven't done it yet".
Emma said "but you will and you will succeed".
Rumplstilskin said "to know for sure you'd have to be"...
Hook finished "from the future mate".
Rumplstilskin answered "I was gonna say seers, time travel hasn't been done mate".
Emma said "yeah well someone's cracked that code".
Rumplstilskin asked "then answer me this, do I find my son"?
Neal answered "yes, through the love of his children".
Rumplstilskin asked "I have a grandchild".
Neal smiled "two actually, a boy and girl".
Rumplstilskin excitedly asked "how do I find him"?
"He..." Emma started.
"Don't tell me" Rumplstilskin said changing his mind. "If I succeeded I don't anything in my head that might throw it off".
Emma said "it might actually already be thrown off.
Rumplstilskin said "you've changed things, what have you done"?
Emma said "we interrupted the moment my parents first met".
As they entered the Grand Hall of the Dark Castle Emma said "thank you Mr... I mean Rumplstilskin. I know time travel is hard to swallow".
"Not as hard as the other conundrum you've presented. Why haven't a killed him" Rumplstilskin said gesturing to Hook".
Hook replied "if it makes you feel any better it wasn't from lack of effort. Let's just say we buried the hatchet".
With a giggle Rumplstlskin asked "yes, but why not in your skull".
Emma muttered to Neal "was he always this homicidal"?
Neal muttered back "not until he became the dark one. After he took that power this was him on a merciful day".
At that moment Belle came in "oh, you're back, do you need anything"?
Emma said "Belle".
Belle asked "sorry, do I know you".
Emma remembered the Belle at this point in time wouldn't know her. "Sorry no, Mr... Rumple... the dark one told me a lot about you"
"Has he"? Belle asked.
"No" Rumplstilskin replied "go away and read a book or whatever it is you like to do, come back and clean later".
Belle said "you could ask nicely"?
Rumplstilskin replied "I could also turn you into a toad".
After Belle left Neal commented "or a cockroach".
Hook added "or a rat".
Emma said "good to know he likes branching out. How did he and Belle ever end up together"?
"What"? Rumplstilskin asked. "First you tell me I let the pirate live, now you're telling me I fall for the help.
Neal commented "according to the book, she fell for you, from a ladder. But let's tackle one thing at a time, my wife's existence please".
Sitting down Rumplstilskin asked "right, your parents. Who are they"?
Emma answered "Snow White and Prince Charming".
Rumplstilskin humorously repeated "Prince Charming".
Emma remembered he didn't get the well known nickname until after he met her mother "but here he's known at Prince James".
Rumplstilskin asked "King Georges son, whose marriage I've just arranged".
Neal said "he can't marry Princess Abigail"?
Rumplstilskin asked "why ever not"?
Neal gestured to Emma "have we not just established he needs to marry Snow White for my wife to be born".
"Originally the ring he's supposes to give her gets stolen by Snow" Emma informed him.
Rumplstilskin said "it's quite a tale you're spinning".
"I'll show you, it's in the book" Emma said turning to Hook who had the book in his satchel. She put the book on the table in front of Rumplstilskin but when she tried to find the page where her parents met she found it blank".
Neal said "where's the words? where's the pictures"?
"The ripple effect" Rumplstilskin said "when you change things in the past anything from that point onwards is uncertain, the future as you can see is a blank page".
Emma said "we need to get Snow to steal that ring".
Rumplstilskin said "you're in luck, King Midas is throwing an engagement ball tonight. Prince James will be there, so will his ring".
Emma said "then we need to get Snow there".
Hook asked "how? We don't know where she is".
Rumplstilskin said "allow me". They followed him over to a crystal ball that showed Snow talking to Blackbeard.
Hook said "it appears she's trying to secure passage on his ship".
Neal said "that, is a problem".
It showed Blackbeard leaving and Snow looking upset "maybe not".
Emma said "she can't escape to that farm without the money she's supposed to get for the ring". She turned to Rumplstilskin "can you help us".
He replied "on opening your portal to the future yes, as for your parents, that's your mistake, only you can fix it".
Hook said "if she's trying to secure passage I know a Captain that might be able to help us. Me".
They watched a younger Hook drinking and gambling in a tavern. Emma asked "is this even a good idea? What about preserving the future"?
Hook said "given the amount he's drinking if he remembers anything he'll blame it on the rum. Your job is to keep him occupied giving me enough time to offer Snow passage in exchange for the ring".
Neal said "and my job is to make sure getting back to the ship beforehand proves more difficult". Emma took off her cloak and opened the top of her dress. "What are you doing"?
Emma replied "making sure he stays occupied, shouldn't prove to be that difficult". Neal and Hook watched as she sauntered up to the younger Hook and then made their leave. While Hook went back to his ship Neal waited outside the tavern. Neal couldn't help himself, he had to keep peeking in and had to stop himself from going back in watching Emma flirt with the younger Hook. Eventually he saw them heading out and it was time for him to play his part. When they started walking towards to docks Neal pretending to be drunk walked right into them and hanged himself on Hook. Neal's drunk routine didn't last too long since Neal hadn't thought it over much. Emma glanced at Neal over her shoulder and knew it was up to her now. She stumbled pretending to be too drunk to walk but he decided to carry her aboard. "Here we are, the Rolly Joger" he declared mispronouncing the name of his own ship.
Smee said "Captain, how did you... I thought you were still below deck. And why does your vest keep changing".
To keep Hook from asking what Smee was talking about Emma said "I seem to remember a nightcap was promised". As she went to get below deck she added "find one, and I'll be waiting".
Below deck he found Hook was still there "what are you doing here"?
He asked "I could ask the same as you, I thought you were going to keep him occupied".
"I am".
"By taking him back to my ship".
"His ship".
"You know what I mean".
"I stalled as long as I could thought you would be done by now, I'll try to keep him above deck so you can get out".
Hook hid as he saw himself coming down, the younger Hook said "I hope you're not having second thoughts".
Emma said "I just got tired of waiting" and she started kissing him forcefully. Eventually Hook grabbed him by his shoulder and punched himself in the face.
Emma said "are you kidding me how is that not going to have consequences".
Hook said "he was asking for it, and like I said, he'll blame the rum".
They rushed to King Midas's castle, and watched it from a distance. "So much Pomp and grandeur, Snow should have no trouble sneaking in" Hook declared.
Neal asked "and how do we get in"?
Hook asked "do we need to"?
Emma said "of course we do, we can't just wait here, I don't like leaving things to chance".
"Me neither" they turned around and saw Rumplstilskin "which is why I never do". He showed them an invitation "an invitation to the ball".
Emma said "so you'll be inside to look out for her".
Rumplstilskin answered "no, I'll be far too busy opening your portal home, this is for you".
Hook said "so when we're done inside you can open our portal".
Rumplstilskin replied "there's a powerful wand that fell into my possession. Legend is it has to power to recreate any magic ever wielded. With a little work it can recreate whatever portal brought you here".
Emma said "please do it quickly, we'll be in and out before you know it. I want to get the hell out of here".
Rumplstilskin giggled and said "confidence, I like it".
In an aristocratic tone Neal said "now milady shall we go to a ball"?
"Wait", said Rumplstilskin, "you can't go like that". He waved his hand and suddenly Neal was dressed in a dark gold doublet, Emma was dressed in red gown and Hook had silk black vest under a black and brown jacket. "The saviour can't come this far and not play princess for a day".
Emma said "but, I'm not suppose to stick out, what if someone remembers me in the future".
"Because what you had on before was such an perfect disguise" Rumplstilskin pointed out.
Neal said "he makes a fair point".
Rumplstilskin said "and don't worry I returned those rags before they were missed. It's a miracle the timeline hasn't imploded already. As for being remembered" he materialised a mirror. Inside they saw three different people staring back at them. "a glamour spell, this is how you will appear to one and all. Now run along and make sure Snow White gets that ring, once your parents story is back on track the future will be too".
"Just when I thought the clothes here couldn't get worst" Emma said through her teeth as she entered the ball room on Neal's arm.
Neal said "I know you're not used to dresses, I remember you wore a pantsuit to our wedding instead of a dress."
Suddenly they were in front of a man who judging by the crown on his head was a king. He said "King Midas, father of bride, who do I have the pleasure of welcoming into my kingdom"?
Neal said "allow me to introduce my...brother" gesturing to Hook "Prince..."
"Charles" Emma said noticing Neal struggling "His name's Prince Charles and I'm Princess... Leia".
King Midas looked to Neal "and you good sir"?
Neal said "I am Prince...Caspian".
Midas said to the herald "announce Prince Charles, Prince Caspian and Princess Leia".
As they walked on Emma said "Mary-Margaret and David are always going on about this ball and that ball, what are the big deals about these thing"?
When she suddenly saw the dancers, she'd never seen anything as graceful or elegant. Seeing Emma face Neal asked "does that answer your question my dear".
Neal led her over Emma stopped him "you know I can't dance".
Neal said "then it's a good thing you have a partner who knows what he's doing".
Emma said "you know how to do this"?
Neal said "I've seen it done, think I picked up a few steps, you however are a born princess and are sure to get the hang of it soon".
Neal was right, the moment they started dancing she found her feet instantly knowing what to do.
Suddenly the doors burst open as the Evil Queen came in, Emma whispered "what is she doing here"?
Hook came over and said "isn't it obvious, she was invited".
Neal shook his head and said "this was not part of the plan, this is not good". Some black knights came in behind Regina "and getting any better".
A few gold knights came over to King Midas and informed him Snow White was spotted. "Snow White the bandit, get her".
Regina turned to her black knights "well you heard him".
Neal said "right, he had to see her for it to work which makes it harder for her to get out".
They sneaked out unseen to see if they could help Snow White escape, when they ran out onto the battlement they saw her climbing down. They knew she must have stolen the ring and as she rode off Prince Charming yelled "you can't hide from me, no matter where you go I will find you".
Emma turned to Neal and Hook and said "mission accomplished".
Then she was pushed over by a black knight with a crossbow attempting to shoot Snow White.
As Emma got up Neal turned him round "excuse me, but I believe you owe my wife an apology"?
The Black Knight replied "the only woman I show respect to is the Queen". As he turned back to shoot Snow White Emma pushed him over causing him to miss his shot but that's when she saw the ring and showed Neal and Hook.
Neal said "she must have dropped it as she made her escape. Unless she has that ring the story can't move forward".
More Black knights appeared Hook said "go, you have to get that ring to Snow".
Neal added "we'll handle things here" as Emma ran to follow Snow White one black knight ran to cut her off in the ballroom.
When she was in the ballroom Emma thought she might be able to make it out without incident. Then a Black knight yelled "stop her, she helped the bandit Snow White escape".
She got surrounded by other black knights and found herself face to face with the Evil Queen who asked "going somewhere"?
Emma said "Regina".
The Evil Queen cried "show some respect, it's your majesty".
Emma said "your majesty forgive me, my respect must have been knocked out of me when I was knocked over by one of your knights who then refused to apologise. I did nothing more then knocked him to pay him back for his rudeness".
As Emma tried to get around her but two Black Knights grabbed her arms. The Evil Queen said "I don't believe you, and you're not going anywhere. Snow White might have left the party early but I expect your night is just beginning. Take her away" Neal and Hook made it to the ballroom just in time to see Emma get arrested. Things were looking bleak and the chance of getting back to the future was becoming minuscule.