San Francisco, Present Day
A boat horn blared in the distance as Regina held a small vial of clear liquid, a small smile appearing on her face as she gazed at it.
She then glanced over her shoulder expecting Henry to be beside her. She instead saw him leaning against the dock that overlooked the harbor - he stared at his cell phone as if waiting for it to ring.
She cleared her throat as she joined him and asked, "Henry, is everything alright?"
Seeming a bit out of sorts, he looked over at her and answered, "I missed a call from Jacinda, and now she's not picking up. I just... I don't know. I feel like something's wrong.
Roni couldn't help but smile as she assured him, "Well, if she needs you, that woman is not shy." She then told him, "Put your phone away and focus. We came here for a reason. Now... put these on," as she handed him a pair of gym shorts.
A gym then came into view, filled with people riding workout bicycles. Upbeat dance music played throughout the space.
Henry tried to get settled on his bike before he grumbled, "Now I'm even more confused. Did I just drive halfway down the West Coast to work my quads?"
Roni fisted his arm as she appealed, "Just play along and pretend you love every second of it."
The red-haired instructor then told her class: "Good morning, beautiful souls," as Roni nodded toward her and explained, "This is who we're looking for."
The woman then continued, "You're all about to sweat like your life depends on it." She then flipped her hair back to reveal none other than Zelena.
She then offered the class one final piece of encouragement: "All right, my cycling monkeys. Grab onto your bikes and fly! Whoo!" as she turned up the music and swung her towel around.
New Enchanted Forest, Four Years Ago
The morning after Drizella's threat - and Alena's summons - Lucy sat in the courtyard, clutching the brown and gold storybook. A saddened and frightened expression held on the little girl's face as she glanced around at the remnants of her birthday party.
She knew her Aunt Alena would break the curse, but she was scared to be away from her family. She didn't want to be cursed, and she didn't want to say goodbye.
Henry and Ella huddled together in discussion as they watched their little girl. They then walked over to her; she rose to her feet as she continued to hold the storybook.
He then reassuringly began, "Hey, Luce. We hope what Drizella said still doesn't scare you." He then bent down to be on her level and continued, "We stopped her once, we can stop her again. Okay?" placing a comforting hand on her arm.
Lucy nodded before her mother added, "That's right. Remember how we told you we were going to come up with a plan?"
The little girl nodded once more before Ella told her, "We now have one to make sure the curse can't hurt us."
"Yeah. And you're a part of it," Henry spoke - only to receive this question from his precocious daughter: "Does that mean I get a sword?"
Henry and Ella couldn't help but smile. She then said, "One thing at a time, sweetheart," earning a giggle from Lucy.
Ella then suggested, "Why don't you start packing, all right?"
Lucy looked thoughtful for a moment. Her brown eyes then lit up and she stated, "I'll pack the journal Aunt Alena gave me. I already started filling it with our memories - that can be how I help."
She then began walking away, as her parents placed comforting hands on her arm and back. When she was gone, Henry wrapped his arm around Ella's shoulders.
Worry etched across her features and her tone as she surmised, "I don't know about this, Henry. Are we doing the right thing?"
Though equally worried, he assured her, "If my mom can't buy us some time, it's the only way to keep her safe, to keep all of us safe."
In another part of the realm, Regina walked toward a gate. As she neared the wooden and metal structure, she read across the top "Emerald Acres Farm." A wooden sign hung underneath that read, "There's no place like home."
She then placed her hands on the wooden posts and looked around the farm, where she spied a cooking cauldron, a wagon, and a pig pen. She couldn't help but smile as one of the little black pigs squealed.
Two arrows then whizzed by her and landed on either side of her hand - she let out a sharp exhale. She quickly removed the arrows and spun around to see a hooded archer.
Upon recognition, Regina chuckled and said, "I'm impressed." The archer then removed the hood to reveal Robin, and the brunette continued, "You're getting good."
Robin smiled and chuckled as she jogged over to her aunt. "Aunt Regina," she began as she pulled her into a hug.
"Oh, Aunt Regina, I'm so sorry. I thought you were an intruder."
Zelena then walked up and surmised, "Well, luckily, she's got her father's aim." She then unlatched the gate and warned her daughter: "Those were warning shots, weren't they?"
"Yes, of course, Mother. Just warning shots," Robin reassured her with a slight smile.
With a hug, Regina then told her sister: "Zelena, it is so good to see you." She then gestured toward her niece and marveled, "And Robin? You're, what, 23 now?"
"25," Robin clarified with a bright smile and a giggle. Regina turned back to her sister and spoke with wonder: "She sure has grown up fast."
"Not in our realm," Zelena pointed out. "Right. Well, I'm not here to discuss timelines," Regina began.
She then took a breath and continued, "Drizella's free. And she's going to cast the curse," earning worried looks from both her sister and niece, the latter glancing at her mother.
"Going to? We can't stop her?" Zelena then questioned.
Regina shook her head. She then told her, "But that doesn't mean it can't be broken - it seems that Alena is following in Emma's footsteps as the Savior."
Zelena crossed her arms and surmised, "Well, at least that's some good news." She then studied her sister's expression and perceived, "But that isn't all you wanted to tell me, is it?"
"No, it's not," Regina confirmed. She then took a breath and explained, "Drizella isn't any less dangerous - and she has help. She was rescued by some creatures."
With a rueful expression, Zelena spoke, "Let me guess. They look like shadows in cloaks, but they scream like hyenas."
Regina couldn't help but be surprised as she asked, "You know them?"
"They're not creatures. They're witches. It's a dark coven, and one that I was invited to join. This was dropped off on my porch yesterday," Zelena explained before she pulled a coin from the pocket of her apron.
"Have you seen it before?" she then questioned as Regina took it from her. The brunette and Robin then both peered at the object.
The red-head finished, "It's a symbol of the Coven of the Eight. When it comes to witches, they're the worst of the worst."
Robin then worriedly began, "If they're here, I have to warn…"
"No, don't worry," Zelena assured her as she placed a comforting hand on her arm, "Look, darling, we'll warn everyone, okay? We'll protect our loved ones."
She then turned to Regina and told her, "She's got a case of young love."
The brunette then turned to her niece and sympathized, "Well, then, all the more reason to get going." Robin nodded.
Regina then offered, "Hook's looking for Rumple, but…well, you know how he is." Zelena rolled her eyes before her sister continued, "So, I say we fight witches with witches. What do you say?" a smile making its way across her features.
Zelena untied her apron before she smiled back and stated, "Let me get my wand."
San Francisco, Present Day
As Kelly's cycling class finished, the participants exited the studio and talked amongst themselves.
The red-head then marched over to Roni and Henry, who were getting off the bikes. Kelly then demanded, "What the hell are you doing here, Roni? This is my happy place, and you are the epicenter of my unhappiness."
Roni panted as she tried to placate, "Yes, no, I-I know. Um, I'm sorry to barge in like this, but, uh, we…" nudging Henry's arm, "we really loved your class."
Kelly only scowled - not buying one word. Henry was also out of breath as he added, "Big time. Very inspiring. Very."
Annoyance turned to condescension as Kelly told him, "Hi. Whoever you are, stop talking. Be somewhere else."
Henry quipped, "Great. Glad I came all this way." He then moved past Roni and Kelly and headed toward the exit.
Kelly then addressed Roni: "Who's that? New boyfriend? Hmm?" feigning interest in the brunette's life.
A horrified expression took over Roni's features as she furiously protested, "No. No! God, no. No, no, no, no. He's uh…" gesturing in the direction he walked off. She then calmed and explained, "He's just someone who needed help."
Angered, Kelly told her, "And what do you need, Roni? Why are you even here? Because every time I see your face, I see the bitch that ruined my daughter's life."
Roni then attempted to defend herself, "I didn't ruin her life," only for the red-head to argue, "You gave her a job at the bar, a ticket to Amsterdam, and the idea that only losers get an education. And now, instead of going to Vassar, she's at a foam party in Phuket and probably never coming home because Mum... just isn't as cool."
Roni remained genuinely apologetic as she tried to explain her point of view: "I'm sorry. But I don't think you understand the whole story here." She then sighed and suggested, "Hey, let's grab a drink. Okay? Just one. For old time's sake?"
"Never," Kelly stated before she stormed off.
Henry then rushed back in the room - he fretted, "I got to get home."
Confused, Roni then questioned, "Hmm? What? Why?"
Worry etched over Henry's face and in his tone as he explained, "It's Lucy. She's in the hospital. No one knows what's wrong with her. I'm... I'm getting on the first plane to Seattle. Do you want to come with?" Roni's brown eyes widened with fear the more he spoke.
"Uh…" Roni uneasily began as she glanced back toward the exit before she turned back to him. Though sympathetic, she knew what she needed to do: "I-I really wish I could, but I... I can't explain it. Kelly's really important. I will be there as soon as I can. I promise. But you go."
She then placed her hands on his arms and told him, "Go be with them. Be with your fam... Help Jacinda. And take Alena with you - you need someone to be there for you."
"Here," Henry then told her as he passed her the car keys. He then rushed back out of the room.
Roni watched him leave - her countenance growing more and more worried. It then changed to steely resolve as she considered what - and who - she fought for.
While Roni and Henry sought out this help, Alena decided to take Emma and Lily to the park. Once they arrived at the picturesque little spot, she bent down on her girls' level.
She smiled as she told them: "Mommy is gonna sit right here and watch you play, okay?"
"Otay!" both girls excitedly answered. Lily then added, "So much fun!" as she clapped her hands.
She then grabbed her sister's hand, and they ran off to the playground. Alena sat down on the bench and watched as they began to play.
They climbed to the top of one of colorful metal towers before Lily asked, "What play?" Emma only shrugged.
Her brown eyes then lit up and she suggested, "Curse break!"
Lily gasped before she squealed, "Save Daddy!"
With an excited clap, Emma exclaimed, "He and Mommy togeter! Let's go!" Her sister nodded before they both slid down the slide.
Emma then asked, "Where go, Lily?"
"Mean lady!" she answered, her face contorting in anger. Her twin copied her expression before they clasped hands once more.
They ran over to the sandbox and plopped down in the middle. Emma grabbed one of the shovels and yelled, "Hide!"
She then began ferociously digging while Lily looked on with wide eyes. The little girl then grabbed a sand bucket and lifted it above her head.
"Ahh!" she cried out before she slammed the bucket into the sand. She then repeated the action several more times.
"No!" Emma then shouted as she shoved the shovel into the sand. Lily gave her sister a confused look as she asked, "What wrong?"
"Her runned away!" Emma complained. "Her did?" Lily questioned, her eyes going wide once more.
Emma nodded before she announced, "Catch her! No more curse!" "No more!" Lily repeated before they ran off once more.
This time, they ended up at the see-saw. With her index finger extended, Lily pointed to the bar that held the see-saw and shouted, "Tere her is!"
"I see! I see!" Emma spoke as she jumped up and down. She then hurriedly covered her mouth and suggested, "Quiet, Lily. Sneak up and scare."
Lily nodded before she and her sister tip-toed up to the see-saw. "Got you!" Emma then shouted before she poised her hands.
Lily tilted her head as she asked, "What doing?"
"Magic!" Emma exaggeratedly whispered as she moved her hands around in circles.
With an excited clap of her hands, Lily furiously nodded in reply. She then poised her hands like her sister.
"Woo-shh," the girls shouted as they pretended to zap the "mean lady" with magic. They furrowed their eyebrows as they began to concentrate.
The harder they focused, the more that small sparks erupted from their hands and fingers. However, the sensation disappeared as quickly as it came.
Giggles then erupted once the girls "defeated" the villain. They raised their arms as they cheered, "Gone! Gone! Daddy save!"
"Celbrate!" Lily then suggested, and the twins then ran back to the tower. They quickly climbed it and shared a hug when they reached the top.
When they pulled away, Emma said, "Bave like Grandma Snow and Grandpa Charming! Fight curse too!"
"Fight!" Lily repeated. She then added, "True love win cause Mommy and Daddy!"
Emma nodded excitedly before she exclaimed, "Yay!" She skipped around the platform as she began humming a song.
Lily watched her for a moment before she slid down the slide. She then ran over and hopped on the merry-go-round.
Her brown eyes roamed the colorful bars as she thought about how to make it go. She jumped when she heard her sister shout.
"Leave me, Lily!" The little girl wore an angry expression as she crossed her arms.
"Play someting different," she refuted as she crossed her arms as well.
"Celbrate curse broke!"
"Ready celbrate! Play Mommy, Daddy."
Emma furrowed her eyebrows at her sister's words. She then repeated, "Play Mommy, Daddy?"
Lily nodded excitedly before she explained, "They here! Play wit us."
Emma clapped before she climbed onto the merry-go-round. She then looked around and asked, "How go?"
Her sister only shrugged. Emma then furrowed her eyebrows and asked, "Posed to play?"
"Don't know," Lily answered. The girls then sat in silence for a few moments.
It was almost immediately broken when Lily said, "Push me! Fun!" Emma's brown eyes lit up as she nodded excitedly.
"Me first!" she then yelled, pointing to herself. Lily shook her head as she told her, "I go first. Me say it."
Emma crossed her arms as she argued, "No!" Lily huffed as she scrunched her nose.
The two girls stared at each other as though they both shared intense thoughts. Finally, Lily's eyes lit up as she suggested, "Both push! Mommy and Daddy tere!"
"They tere!" Emma shouted before she jumped off the merry-go-round - only to take a tumble into the dirt.
From her place on the bench, Alena's eyes widened until she saw her young daughter get up and brush off her pants. The worried mom then breathed a sigh of relief.
Lily stood up on the merry-go-round before she asked her twin, "Otay, Emma? Fell hard."
"I otay, Lily," she reassured her. She then held out her hand and said, "Come on! Push merry-round."
Lily nodded before she grabbed her sister's hand and stepped off the playground toy. They then each grabbed one of the metal bars and started to run.
Giggles erupted as they continued to sprint. They soon started to chant: "We win! We win! We win!"
Emma stopped abruptly, nearly causing Lily to run into her. She then complained, "I tired. No more run."
She then sank down in the sand. She tilted her head as she gazed down at the grains - a smile then made its way over her features.
She quickly drew something before she pulled her twin down beside her. "Look! Mommy, Daddy, me, and you!"
Lily clapped as she admired, "So pretty! Love it!" Emma smiled at her sister before she motioned to the sand.
"Draw too, Lily!"
She tilted her head as she thought. She then laid down in the sand and began running her fingers through it.
Emma laid down beside her and started drawing pictures of her own. The two girls hummed happily as their pictures took shape: some of their family, of princes and princesses, and of flowers and suns.
"So pretty!" Lily then called out as she looked at their creations. "Mm-hmm," Emma hummed in agreement.
Her brown eyes then roamed around and landed on the swing set. She gasped and spoke, "Go swing!"
Lily nodded before she said, "Mommy push!" Emma nodded her response.
The two girls then stood up and clasped their hands together. They then ran over to Alena.
They both put their hands on her knees and asked, "Swing us, Mommy?"
Alena smiled as she answered, "I would love to! Let's go."
She then took her girls by the hands and led them to the swings. She then lifted them up one by one and placed them in the swings.
"Are you ready?" she then asked them, her smile only growing as she clasped her hands together.
"Ready!" Emma shouted, smiling as well. "Let's go!" Lily added as she bounced in the swing. Alena ruffled their blonde hair.
She then placed a hand on their backs and gently moved them forward. As she continued to push, the more the girls giggled.
"Fun!" Lily shouted in between giggles. "Love it, Mommy!" Emma chimed in from beside her sister.
"I'm glad you girls are having fun," Alena told them as she pushed them a little higher.
The twins nodded enthusiastically as their giggles turned to laughter. They continuously bobbed their legs up and down as they swung.
Alena couldn't help but smile as she watched her beautiful girls. Being with them always made her day a little brighter.
She then jumped at the sound of someone calling her. She briefly stopped swinging the girls and looked toward the voice.
Her blue eyes filled with concern when she saw a frantic Henry rushing toward the three of them.
"Henry, what's wrong?"
His voice shook as he explained, "Lucy. Sh-she's in the hospital - I have-have to go. To be with her an-and Jacinda."
Alena felt her own hands shaking with worry. She then took a deep breath before she told him, "Of course you should go. They both need you, Henry."
He nodded before she asked, "Do you want me to come with you?"
With a deep breath of his own, he spoke, "Uh, yeah, actually. Roni suggested it, and if you don't mind, I'd really appreciate it. I just can't…"
He trailed off as his voice became even more shaky than before. Alena wordlessly wrapped him in a hug.
When they pulled away, she assured him, "We'll get you home, and Lucy'll be okay. Just…just think about how much you care about her - and Jacinda."
He nodded his reply. He then said, "So, uh, we should get to the airport so we don't miss the flight."
"Airport?" Alena questioned, "What about your car?"
"Roni's driving back. She still needs to talk to, uh, Kelly," Henry hastily began. He took a breath before he continued, "Apparently, she's important. But I got the feeling she's not too thrilled with Roni - I'm not even sure she likes her."
Alena tilted her head in thought as she considered who Kelly could be. She fought a smile as she asked her brother, "Does she have red hair? And she's kind of intense?"
"That's actually pretty spot-on," Henry surmised as he gave her a curious look. He then questioned, "How did you know that?"
"Oh, uh, Roni mentioned her in passing when we got here. I guess she figured I wouldn't be tagging along, so she thought she'd let me know who you guys were finding," Alena lied, and she truthfully wasn't entirely sure how she came up with it.
"Yeah, yeah, that makes sense," Henry agreed, though his eyes roamed around the park, and he kept shifting his weight from one foot to the other.
Alena squeezed his arm to get his attention. When she had it, she told him, "I'm sure Roni and… Kelly will work out their differences, and they can take the bug back. Flying is much faster, and we need to get back as soon as possible."
He only nodded as he was still distracted. He finally took a calming breath and spoke, "I'll, um, call the airport about tickets, and you can get the twins ready. Let me just…"
He dug around in his pockets until he found his phone. He gestured with it toward Alena before he rushed off to make the call.
Alena then looked back at her girls - who had been uncharacteristically quiet. She then noticed that their brown eyes were filled with sadness and worry.
She bent down on their level and assured them, "Lucy will be okay. She has lots of people taking care of her - and we're going home so she'll have more people with her."
"Otay, Mommy," Emma replied with a nod of her head. "Be otay," Lily added.
Alena couldn't help but smile at her sweet girls. She then lifted them out of the swings, and they walked over to join Henry.
He hung up the phone and said, "Got the tickets. You guys ready?"
Alena offered a nod in reply while Emma shouted, "Go make Lucy better!"
Henry couldn't help but smile at the little girl. He then surmised, "Having us around may actually help her. That's what I'm hoping anyway."
Alena could tell her brother was trying to convince himself more than them. So, she did her best to reassure him: "I'm sure it's just what she needs. Let's go make it happen."
She then furrowed her eyebrows as an airport shuttle pulled up near the sidewalk. She gestured toward it and observed, "I'm guessing that's our ride."
Henry bobbed his head back in that direction before he nodded his confirmation. "I just thought it'd be easier for all of us."
Alena hummed her response. She then pulled out her phone and spoke, "Let me just shoot Roni a quick text." Her fingers quickly glided over the screen.
After a few moments, she looked back up and told him, "Okay, I need to grab our things from the car, and then we can go. Why don't you head over to the shuttle?"
He only hummed his response before he headed over to the bus. Alena hurried over to the car before she - with the twins' help - gathered their belongings.
She barely registered the fact they had walked when she took her seat on the shuttle. Her mind wandered to her precious niece lying in a hospital bed.
She didn't understand how this could happen, and she worried about what would happen next. Lucy may have her family's resilience, but she was still a child fighting to get better.
As she looked down at her girls, her heart sank in her chest. She could clearly imagine Jacinda's pain, and she hoped she'd never have to live through it.
She then glanced out the window as the sights of the city whizzed past. She wasn't sure how things fell apart so quickly, but she had to believe that Lucy would be okay. She had to believe that Regina could convince Zelena to help them. And she had to believe that all of this would be worth it in the end.