Thunder cracked over a jagged dark mountain. An open cave revealed the Coven symbol carved into the ground. The witches then appeared in black robes, and they began to chant.
Gothel looked at her sisters while Drizella removed her hood. She held an object in her hand - she and Gothel exchanged a glance before the young woman unfurled the object, revealing the Dark Curse's scroll.
Drizella gazed down at the scroll. Longing filled her voice as she spoke, "I have waited so many years to cast this curse."
She then flitted her brown eyes toward Gothel and told her, "Thank you for everything." The witch offered a dignified nod.
"You finally found a mother figure," Lady Tremaine interrupted. Gothel seemed a bit taken aback while annoyance fumed over Drizella's features. Tremaine gestured with her bound wrists and stated, "You do realize she's just using you."
Drizella pointed out, "You can't control me anymore. Now I'm going to control you," fury breaking through her triumph. With a breath, the triumph then returned: "You see, in this new land, you're going to think that you cast this curse."
"Why the hell would I cast a curse?" Tremaine challenged, her face conveying the absurdity of the notion.
"To save Anastasia, of course," Drizella offered, "You're going to think that you did all of this to help her, when actually, you'll be in service to me. And then, I'm going to rip her from your arms…forever."
Tremaine gave her daughter a stare that reeked of both anger and annoyance - as well as slight worry. Drizella then finished, "Now, stop asking silly questions, and go to sleep," flicking her wrist and causing her mother to collapse unconscious on the ground.
Regina then strolled up and quipped, "Still working through those mommy issues, I see. I bet we can help with that."
Zelena then added, "We pretty much invented that."
"Regina. Zelena," Drizella stated, a little surprised but not at all threatened. She then bragged, "Sisters together again. Afraid that's not going to be enough."
With a smug smile, Regina told her, "Oh, she's not the only one I brought."
"Hello again, love," Hook seethed as he appeared behind Gothel and held his hook against her neck. Ella and Jack did the same to two of the witches as they drew their swords.
"Always a pleasure, Captain," Gothel flirted - only for Hook to move his hook closer to her neck.
With a saccharine smile, Drizella feigned fear: "Ooh. A pirate, a princess, and Jack and the beanstalk. Ooh, how will I ever defeat you?"
Regina then threw her across the cave, and she landed on her back. Drizella grunted as she struggled to sit up.
"You want a witch fight? Happy to oblige," Regina challenged, an air of triumph in her voice. Drizella then managed to rise to her feet - only for Regina to flick her wrist and shove her against one of the stone pillars.
She choked and grunted in pain. Zelena then poofed the scroll out of her hand and into her sister's.
Regina held up the scroll as she pointed out, "But as you can see, you will not be casting this curse."
"That's wistful thinking, and you know it. You know this curse will be cast," Gothel matter-of-factly interjected - receiving a glare from the woman in question.
With her words strained, Drizella spoke, "Exactly. That's why you - Regina - are going to cast it."
Regina still choked her as she questioned, "What?"
"Show her," Drizella offered as she looked at Gothel. "May I?" the witch then asked, a disingenuous smile beaming across her face.
Hook still held Gothel in his grip and looked to Regina for confirmation. She offered a nod, and he shoved her away before he stepped aside and unsheathed his sword.
Gothel then strolled over to one of the hooded witches, who leaned against one of the remaining stone pillars. Drizella smiled just before Gothel removed the hood - revealing Henry.
His mouth bound and his eyes bloodshot, his face lost all natural color, and he sweated profusely. Ella unreleased the witch before she rushed to his side - Regina shouted his name before she did the same.
He collapsed on the ground - his family and friends looking on with immense worry.
Ella took his face in his hands as Regina untied his bound hands. "Baby," Ella managed to get out between her terror, her countenance completely distraught.
Henry coughed before Regina spun around and demanded, "What did you do to him?"
"What witches do best…we poisoned him," Gothel matter-of-factly stated, her tone drenched in nonchalance.
Henry continued to cough, and his wife and mother both exhaled sharply. Regina then focused her hands over his chest and began pulling the poison out - her attempts futile.
Ella's voice broke as she shouted, "It's not working!"
"And it's not going to," Drizella pointed out, "As a matter of the fact, the only thing that can is a trip to a land without magic."
Regina then pleaded, "Don't do this, Drizella. You've already succeeded in casting the curse - why do you need to do this to Henry?"
With a flourish of her hands, she answered, "It's simple, really. I need to ensure your cooperation in the Land Without Magic. Think of it as an incentive. I can't have you trying to break the curse, can I?"
"I can't just... can't just cast this curse. It takes time, and... ingredients," Regina tried to reason as she looked down at her son.
"Eight, to be exact," Drizella clarified as Gothel smiled. She then told her, "And I have seven of them right here. The only one I'm missing... the most important one, and, of course, the hardest to find... is magic from a witch who crushed the heart of the thing she loves most."
Regina once more looked down at Henry - her expression full of worry. Drizella then offered, "So…Regina. What'll it be? My curse…"
Henry then began coughing once more. Ella tried to be reassuring as she gently spoke, "Hey."
"Or his life?" Drizella finished - Regina couldn't help but sob as she considered the impossible choice before her. What could she do?
Storybrooke, Four Years Ago
Alena stepped out of the portal, tears still clinging to her cheeks. She used her sleeve to wipe them as the orange and yellow faded from existence.
When she pulled her arm away, she realized she still wore Ella's clothes. Fresh tears then began to flow.
She covered her mouth to hide the sobs as she didn't want to worry anyone - but she had no idea how she was supposed to keep living as though nothing had changed.
As she blinked away the tears, her blue eyes roamed the room around her - the bedroom she grew up in. The decorations - from the flower bedspread to the pictures of family to the movie and music posters - all remained the same as when she was in high school.
Yet, the room that used to invoke fond memories now only produced shadows. Shadows of the last months of her life - from catching up with her brother and Regina, to meeting her sister-in-law and niece, to making all sorts of new friends, and to falling desperately in love, she made a lifetime worth of cherished memories.
How in the bloody hell was she supposed to move forward knowing she couldn't get to any of them?
She then sank down on the floor, her head falling against the bedpost. She let out a ragged breath before she glanced over at her bags - her heart rate quickened when she didn't spy the familiar off-white fabric.
She slid over to her bags and frantically tossed them aside. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Jack's shirt tangled in the handles.
When she unwound it, she held it close to her chest. The tears didn't seem to stop.
The true love they shared - the true love her family shared - had to be enough to break this curse, right? They had to find each other…and defeat Lady Tremaine.
She let out another shaky breath as she clutched her love's shirt. It wouldn't be the same as being in his arms - but it would give her strength until she saw him again. Until she saw all of them again.
Gods, this was so bloody unfair. She had no idea how, when, or where she would be reunited with her family - or how this bloody curse would even be broken.
Alena then heard her parents' voices drifting up the stairs. She shook her head as she tried to find some semblance of her life here.
And in that moment, she knew what she had to do.
She had to find a way to live her life as she did before. It would be the only way she could live without falling apart.
It was the only way she could find the strength to make it until she could see the light again - when she could see the end of this curse.
She then took a deep breath before she rose to her feet. She then picked up her bags and deposited them on the bed and slowly unpacked - leaving out one outfit for her to change.
Once she changed into the jeans and t-shirt, she glanced over at Jack's shirt laid across the bedpost.
She let out a sigh as she realized she couldn't put it away just yet. She placed it on her pillow before her cell phone beeped, startling her.
Once she calmed, she grabbed the phone and read the Facebook notification. She then gasped when she read the date.
She knew time passed differently - but two days? She had only been gone for two days.
Her head spun. Now she understood why her parents and grandparents would sometimes still complain about the ridiculous time lapses and timelines caused by various curses.
Alena sank down on the bed and buried her face in her hands. "Normal" was sounding more and more far-fetched.
She then heard her mom laugh - likely at something her dad said. She couldn't help the smile that made its way across her features.
She still had people who loved her. She still had reasons to move forward - one being her graduation. She still had an amazing life.
And she would keep living that life - and hold onto the memories of everyone she loved in the New Enchanted Forest - until all of her family could be together again.
With one more deep breath, she then rose to her feet and began making her way down the stairs.
New Enchanted Forest, Four Years Ago
Henry still lied on the ground as he groaned and coughed. Regina and Ella attempted to help him as they looked over him with faces full of worry.
He then managed to speak: "Ella."
"Henry," she said before he apologized, "I'm so, so sorry." Her heart broke as she lamented, "We have to do something."
Regina clutched the scroll as Drizella pointed out, "There's nothing you can do except cast the curse."
Henry continued to labor in pain as Hook's worried expression flashed - not only for his friend but for his sheer empathy for Regina, knowing the pain of separation all too well.
"Fine. I'll do it," Regina stated as she rose to her feet, determination locked in across her features.
Henry then protested, "No, no, no!" as his mother began walking toward Drizella and Gothel.
"Regina," Zelena then intervened as she grabbed her sister's arm. "Zelena, move," she demanded.
The red-head then argued, "This is not what he wants."
Hook then sidled up next to them and interrupted, "Wouldn't you do it for Robin? I would for Alice." He then glanced at Regina and spoke, "Let her do it, Zelena."
She looked over at Henry's fallen form - and Ella crying at his side. She then stepped out of the way.
Regina then moved in front of Drizella and Gothel. "Alright. Let's do this." She then opened her palm and told them, "But know one thing. It is not over."
She then inhaled deeply as she glanced back at Jack. He offered a nod in return.
With a deep breath, he then added, "She's right - this is far from over. Alena will break this curse and defeat you - and there's nothing you can do about it."
Drizella only scoffed. "Oh, please, she's not as powerful as she thinks she is," her scoff changing to a smug grin, "And if she tries anything, Henry will suffer the consequences. I don't think she'd risk it, do you?"
Jack seethed while Regina defended, "You don't know Alena."
"Maybe, maybe not. But what I do know is that she will have no memory of her so-called destiny," Drizella taunted.
"What the hell did you do to her?" Jack demanded as he balled up his fist.
"Oh, please, no need to be so dramatic," Drizella told him as she crossed her arms. Her smug grin returned as she explained, "Getting that magic bean truly was inspired. And while you were off playing hero in acquiring it, I was there, too. Invisible, of course. So, when you plucked that magic bean, you had no idea that I sprinkled a potion on it - a potion that will erase all of Alena's memories of being some Savior."
Her grin turned to one of sheer satisfaction as she finished, "But don't worry, Jack, she'll still remember you - and the rest of her family - she'll just have no clue how to find you."
His brown eyes filled with anger. He warned her: "You won't get away with this."
"I already have," Drizella gloated, as Gothel smiled.
We'll see about that," Regina stated, her eyes glued on the brunette. She then caused a portion of her hand to bleed.
Ella then reassured her husband: "It's okay, Henry."
Regina then dropped blood onto the carved Coven symbol. The blood produced a lava-like substance that began to flow all around the symbol, meeting in the middle. It then produced a towering inferno that shot up in the sky, crackling as it did so. Gothel then began to control the fire, allowing the dark curse to seep its way into the flames.
As the magic imbued flames continued to rise, Alice and Rumple spotted them from the woods. "Is this it?" she then questioned.
Rumple then produced the chipped tea cup from inside his cloak. He presented to Alice by placing it in her hand.
"Take this. I've put Mr. Gold in a room…in my mind," he began as he pointed to his head. "This is the key," he continued as he then gestured to the cup.
"Get it to me, and it'll open. If it doesn't, you know what you have to do." He then placed his hands on her arm as Alice's blue eyes filled with worry.
A woman then called out, "Alice," as she and Rumple both faced the voice - revealing Robin. She gestured with the letter and spoke, "I got your letter."
"You came," Alice gushed. "Of course I came," Robin told her before she closed the distance between them.
Rumple looked away as Alice pulled her girlfriend in for a sweet kiss. She still held the teacup as she wrapped her arms around Robin's neck.
When they pulled back, they shared a hug. Robin then began, "I just had to see your face one last time."
She then took a deep breath and continued, "And I wanted to thank you - again -" pausing to chuckle, "For giving me my best friend back. I don't think Alena and I would have talked again without you."
Alice smiled. "I was happy to help. I just wanted two of my favorite people to get along - and to be friends again."
She then took a deep breath of her own and assured her love, "And this isn't the last time you'll see me," kissing Robin's hand, "We'll always know each other. Even if we don't."
Robin couldn't help but chuckle before they hugged each other once more.
Thunder then rumbled above them, and worried expressions enveloped both women's faces. Rumple then came back over and stood beside them.
The thunder continued to rumble as the palace came back into view. Tiana held a protective arm around Lucy and a sword in her other hand.
Back at the open cave, Ella fretted to Hook: "In this land, what's going to happen to Lucy? She's just a kid. How will I find her if I don't even know she exists?"
He looked thoughtful for a moment before he grabbed the white elephant sculpture from his inside coat pocket. "With this," he told her as he placed the small object in her hand and covered it.
When he released her, she gazed down at the elephant. "You'll know," Hook continued as she looked back at him - she then turned her attention back to the coming curse. A pained expression passed over the pirate's features, but he knew he did the right thing.
The growl of thunder forced everyone's eyes toward the rising flames. They soon filled a dark cloud in the sky as the family and friends - and foes - gathered reacted to the growing doom. Robin, Alice, and Rumple continued to look on in fear while Mother Gothel seemed in awe at the terrible sight. Tiana continued to hold Lucy close as Drizella wore a victorious smile. And Regina refused to go down without a fight.
The curse then spread throughout the realm, first taking Alice and Robin - as well as Rumple, then Henry and his family, and finally Tiana and Lucy. The rest of the land soon followed as the black clouds continued to swirl and swirl.