Henry watched the stranger over Emma's shoulder while he ate breakfast at Granny's with her and Mary. Emma had met him the night before, but she didn't have much to say about him, only that his name was Killian Jones and he was from out of town. Since the name "Killian Jones" wasn't anywhere in his book, Henry had to conclude that Killian really was from out of town, not just cursed to think he was like David. Henry couldn't figure how any outsider could find their way to Storybrooke, but he surmised that Emma's influence weakened the curse enough to let other people see the town. More people coming to town meant more people who weren't under the Evil Queen's control and who could help Emma vanquish her.

Emma didn't get it though. She thought David really did come from out of town and she suggested that Killian was able to come to town because it had never been really cursed, but Henry knew she only thought that because she didn't believe in the curse, so he didn't think much of it. She had to embrace her destiny eventually, he reasoned. Meanwhile, she and Graham had yet to decide what to do about Priscilla Jefferson's abrupt disappearance. Henry suspected Regina had something to do with it, but then again he was quick to blame her for anything that went wrong in Storybrooke.

He said goodbye to Emma as she went to work and he went to school with Mary, planning to learn more about Killian Jones the minute he got the chance.


Regina sat in her office drinking a glass of whiskey as she held up a picture of the stranger in Storybrooke that Sidney had snapped the day before. Something about Killian Jones seemed familiar, something in his face she recognized, but she couldn't tell what. In any case, whoever Killian Jones was, she had to get the situation under control before he caused as much trouble as Miss Swan. Unlike the case with Miss Swan, she had yet to find any dirt on Killian Jones that she could use against him, but she'd find something on him.


The valley behind the cottage Briar Rose lived in with her parents bloomed bright yellow with a thousand buttercups smothering the long, emerald green grass. Her skirt was still a little damp from collecting dew that morning, but was quickly drying under the noon sun. As Briar Rose walked home after picked apples at a nearby orchard, she took her time to admire the tall oak tree that had she had played on as a young child. Sometimes she climbed the tree and sat in its branches for hours watching insects, birds, deer, and wild dogs. Other time she'd pretend to be a princess hidden away in a tower plotting her escape from an evil witch. The tree seemed so much larger then, but she was almost 18 and too old for such games anymore.

As she continued the walk home, Briar Rose heard the sound of hooves approaching. Travelers passed by the farm from time to time, so Briar Rose didn't feel concerned. She made it to the house at the same time as the rider, a pale woman with short dark hair who wore armor bearing the king's crest. A long sword rested on her hip like determination rested on her face.

Briar Rose approached the stranger, "Good morning. What brings you here?"

"I'm searching for a girl called Briar Rose, on behalf of Queen Leah. Is that your name?"

"Yes..." Briar Rose narrowed her eyes in suspicion. There was no chance the queen knew her, a simply country girl, so she guessed it was a prank by one of the villagers. They'd always thought her a little odd, since she was raised by three fairies. The armor and sword did look authentic, so she wasn't sure. "Would you like to come inside and meet my parents?"

Hua Mulan looked uncomfortable, but accepted the invitation.

Briar Rose found her mothers inside going about their chores; Mother Flora, the eldest and tallest, repaired old clothes before winter set in; Mother Fauna cleaned out the fireplace; and Mother Merryweather, the youngest and shortest, spun wool her loom to replace the blankets that had been stolen last week. "I'm back," Briar Rose announced, "And I've brought company."

Her mothers looked up from their tasks smiling. "A guest!" Mother Fauna poked her ash-covered cheeks out from the chimney, smiled widely, and rushed over to the front door, where Mulan, in a show of good faith, was unstrapping her sheath. Fauna took the sheath from her hands and tossed it over to Mother Merryweather, before dragging Mulan to the dining table. "Sit, you're just in time for lunch!" Mother Flora and Mother Merryweather, who had still held Mulan's sword, dropped their chores and went to the dining table as well.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Hua Mulan grimaced, "but I have a mission to complete. I was sent to Queen Leah to escort Briar Rose to the castle."

Silence smothered the small cottage like a heavy cloak. Mother Fauna's smile fell to the ground. "The queen...the king and queen...w-want her? Now? No, no it's too soon."

Briar Rose looked to her mother, eyes wide with concern, "What to do you mean 'too soon'?"

"Honey," Mother Flora placed a hand of Briar Rose's shoulder, "Do you remember the story of how we found we?"

"Of course," Briar Rose replied, "My blood parents gave me to you because I wasn't safe with them and we've been a family ever since."

"That's right dear," Mother Merryweather took her hand. "We have been wait for the right time to tell you the whole truth. Your blood parents are...they're the royal family: King Stephan and Queen Leah."

Briar Rose snatched her hand away as if she'd been burned. "The king and queen?"

Mother Merryweather continued, masking her hurt feelings, "We didn't tell you the truth sooner because they instructed us not to. When you were born, a dragon named Maleficent cursed you and your blood parents feared she would kill you. So they gave you to us, so that we could hide you from her."

"So, the princess... the one they never let anyone see.." Briar Rose's voice whittled down to a whisper.

Mother Flora confirmed, "Yes, my dear, you are Princess Aurora."

Briar Rose made a choking sound as her face gradually darkened, "I am not a princess! You can't - you can't just keep that kind of secret for so long." She audibly suppressed a sob. "I thought my blood parents were dead."

"We never said they were," Mother Flora argued.

"And you never corrected me! You never told me anything." Briar Rose screamed. "You knew they'd come back for me, but you never prepared me for it. How could you do this me?"

Mother Merryweather nagged a finger, "Don't raise you voice to us. We told you as much we believed it was safe for you to know."

Briar Rose shook her head, "And you thought the best thing to do was lie to me for entire life?"

"We wanted you to have a normal childhood," Mother Fauna explained, "to let you grow up without the curse hanging over your head."

Tears in her eyes, Briar Rose pushed past her mother to leave out of the front door, but Mulan stopped her.

"I'm sorry you had to learn the truth this way," Mulan told her, "And I'm sorry your life is going change in ways you never anticipated, but I'm afraid you can't run from who you are."

"You have a lot of nerve presuming to know who I am," Briar Rose snapped, shaking Mulan's hand off her shoulder. She took around to the room, at the concerned faces of the other four women. "Do you want me to go?"

"We promised the king and queen that we would return you to them when the time came." Mother Flora answered quietly.

Briar Rose scowled at her, "So you'll just let them take me."

The three fairy remained silent, but their eyes gave their answer.

"Fine." Briar Rose...Aurora signed. She turned to Mulan, "Fine. I will go back with you."


Henry frowned when he saw Regina standing outside the school to pick him up. He'd been hoping he could run by the police station to hang out with Emma, but now he'd have to spend the evening with his mother.

"Are you coming to over to my place tomorrow to do our project, or should I go over to yours?" His classmate Conner Yang asked.

At least, Conner was his classmate this year. Since Henry was the only person in town who aged, he had always moved up a grade every year while every other kid stayed behind. When he went to first grade while the rest of his class stayed in kindergarten, he thought he was just getting promoted for being a good student. But when the same thing happened the next year and he told his mother, she told him he was imagining things, and that his new classmates had always been his classmates.

"No sweetie, August Booth is seven years old, just like you, and he was six last year, just like you," she had told him, no matter how much Henry protested that August had been older than him last year. It didn't seem to bother her that Henry gave up trying to make friends at school because nobody remembered being his friend for longer than a school year; maybe she even preferred it.

'When the curse breaks, the other kids can finally grow up with me.' Henry smiled at Conner, "Your place sounds good. Is Flora going to be there?" Conner lived with his older sister Flora, whom Henry knew was actually Mulan.

"Yeah, I think so. I'm pretty sure she doesn't have to work tomorrow," Conner replied.

"Okay, I'll be there." Henry confirmed. He and Conner said their goodbye's and Henry slowly walked over to his mom.

Regina glanced at Conner, who stood by the curb waiting for the bus. "Who was that?"

Henry rolled his eyes as he got into the car, "After all this time, you still don't know any my classmates?"

"Well sorry for being too busy running this entire town to memorize everyone's names and faces," Regina replied sarcastically as she started the car and began driving hom. "I don't think you should being hang out with someone like that. Promise me you'll stay away from him."

"Someone like what? You just said you didn't know anything about him." Henry pouted. "Besides, he's my partner for a class assignment; we have a make a presentation about our favorite country and it's due next week. We're working on it at his home tomorrow night."

"And you decided that without telling me?" Regina shook her head, "Well, maybe I should have a talk with Miss Blanchard about what kind of assignments are appropriate for a boy your age."

"You don't think the assignment is inappropriate; you just don't want me spending time with anyone who isn't you." Henry accused.

"Sweetie you're being ridiculous," Regina brushed him off, "When are you going to learn that I'm only looking out for you?" They spent the rest of the car ride in uncomfortable silence until Regina at least attempted a compromise. "Okay, you can go to Conner's house, but you have to call me every hour to make sure you're alright and focusing on your homework. Does that sound fair?"

Henry's sour look changed to neutral resignation, "I guess."

The following day after school Henry and Conner took the bus to Conner's apartment and go there just as Flora returned from work, still wearing her navy blue scrubs and carrying bags of supplies for their project.

"Hey guys," she smiled at them and unlocked the door. "I'm gonna get some rest, but if you need anything wake me up. I already ate on my break, but if you're hungry you can order takeout with my credit card; nothing too expensive please."

After Flora went into her room and shut the door, the boys sprawled on the living room floor and got to work. A few hours later, they got hungry, so they decided to order sandwiches and fries from Granny's. By 9:00 PM they decided they had made good enough progress and tried to play video games, but Flora woke up and sent them to bed.

As they lay on Conner's bed in their pajamas, Conner whispered to Henry, "Can you keep a secret?"

Henry nodded, squirming with excitement; he almost felt like a normal kid - going to a friend's house, having a sleepover, sharing secrets.

"You know the Zimmer twins? They just moved into the missing lady's house."

"Priscilla Jefferson's? Why would their parents move there?"

Conner shook his head, "They don't have parents. Their mom died a few months ago and their dad isn't around. They've been living in an abandoned warehouse every since, but since Miss Jefferson's house is empty..."

"They're get in so much trouble for that!"

"Shhhh," Conner hissed. "I know, that's why you can't tell anybody. Anyway, since the house is really from town, they have a hard time getting food and stuff up there. They can't be seen going into the woods too often, you know. I've been helping them out and bringing them stuff, but could you help too. They really need it and if the police find out, they'll be sent into foster care and split up."

Henry thought back to how Emma described her foster care experience - not in great detail but enough to make him shudder. "Of course I'll help."

"Thanks, you're the best Henry," Conner smiled at him. "But you can't tell anyone, especially not your mom."

"Not a word," Henry promised.


Mary was sitting at the kitchen table, wrapped in a fluffy white duvet and grading homework, when Emma got down the stairs wearing her red leather jacket, jeans, boots, and badge. "No hot date tonight?" Emma joked.

"Hmm?" Mary looked up. "Did you say something?"

"You know, I don't think I've ever seen you go on a date," Emma noted.

"Well, likewise," Mary replied defensively.

"Yeah, but you know dating isn't my thing."

Mary turned her chair, letting one arm drape across the back so she could face Emma. In contrast to Emma's tough, practical look, Mary wore an over-sized sweater, pajamas pants, and striped socks. "I'm sure it isn't," she drawled. "Are you going to work tonight? I though you didn't have any night shifts."

"Graham and I traded shifts." Emma explained as she pulled her curls into a ponytail. "And as much as I'd like to stay and chat, I've got to get to work. Don't wait up."

"Stay safe," Mary chirped as Emma went out.

Nothing noteworthy happened all night, not even a bar-fight, and Emma almost went to sleep a few time from sheer boredom. She decided the best thing she could do at the moment was go on patrol, so she got in her squad car and drove the length of the town. Once, she saw Mr. Gold arguing with the newcomer, Killian Jones, outside the library, but neither man was getting physical and she figured it wasn't her business. They quieted when they noticed her. Gold had a look of cold determination; Jones had one of trepidation; Emma ignored the unease it caused her.

At two in the morning, she double-backed on Baron Street ready to returned to the station when she saw a dark figure come from the Mills' back door. Her first thought was of Henry's safety. She parked reflexively, popped out the vehicle, and approached the stranger.

"You better have a damn for reason for being here," she growled. If that bastard had laid a hand on Henry...

The figure frozen and a familiar voice came from his mouth, "Emma?"

"Graham?!" As she got nearer, Emma recognized Graham, though he wore a panicked, wild-eye expression. "What the hell? I though you were at the animal shelter."

"I do work at the animal shelter, but..."

"But what? What are you doing here?" Emma's eye moved from his face to his half-buttoned top and undone belt. "You're fucking Regina!"

"Please keep it down, I can explain!"

She hissed, "You lied to me and put me on the night shift so you could get laid? Are you fucking serious?"

"Emma-"

"While Henry's in the house? That's disgusting."

"Actually he's at a friend's house tonight," Graham replied, "He doesn't know about this."

"Then I wish I was Henry right now." Emma wrinkled her nose.

Graham looked defeated, "I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have done that to you."

Emma didn't feel like yelling at him any more, not when he looked this pathetic. "Go home, Graham, I have a shift to finish."


Storybrooke gave him the creeps, and the fact that the Crocodile resided in this town didn't help matters. Killian had spent his first two days trying to find the Dark One's dagger with no luck and he began to wonder if it had even come over with the curse. There was a lot he didn't understand about this or the Dark One's plans, but he knew if he wanted his revenge, he'd have to figure out quickly.


Everything about King's George's palace felt too large; the endless hallways, the dizzying ceilings, the hulking furniture constantly made David feel out of place and unsure of himself. Any other thirteen year old shepherd boy might been glad to welcome into the king's palace, but David didn't trust King George and that mistrust extended to everything belonging to the king. The king's guards had ordered David from his home without an explanation and he wanted nothing more than to go back.

When he first arrived, servants stripped him, bathed him roughly, cut his long hair, and dressed him in plain white linen; no matter how much he protested or how humiliated he felt, they kept to their tasks. He felt like a prized cow being combed and prodded for flaws. Then they sent him for a private audience for a king, something he never would have anticipated. What could King George possibly want with him?

When the king saw him, his neutral expression softened to something close to affection, before reverting back. "You do look just like him," King George remarked.

David tried to not fidget in front of the stern, powerful man, "Like who?"

King George didn't look surprised. "Your parents didn't tell you about your twin brother." It was a statement, not a question.

A knot formed in David's throat, "I had a twin brother, James, but he died when we were babies."

"So, they took the coward's way out and lied to you," King George remarked coldly. "They sold James to me, and he is now my son."

The words brewed in David's mind for a few minutes before he fully comprehended them and, just as coldly, he answered, "My mother and father would never do something like that; they're good people. You're the liar."

The few attendant courtiers gasped at David's audacity, but King George hushed them. He addressed David, "You are an ignorant child, and for that I cannot fault your outburst, but know that such behavior will not be tolerated here."

"And how long do I have to stay here?" David asked.

King George signed deeply. "I am brokering a marriage alliance between Prince James and the daughter of King Midas. King Midas and Princess Abigail will be arriving in the palace in a fortnight to finalize it, but James... James went riding his horse a week ago and has not been seen since. If he is not present for the royal visit, all my hard work will be undone. Until he's found, you must take his place. You'll be trained and education to approximate James' normal behavior. Nobody can know that the crown prince is missing."

"What if he isn't found?" David asked.

King George gave David a hard look with the answer neither of them wanted.


In hindsight, David always suspected the plan to impersonate Prince James would end in disaster. Not only had he offended King Midas - by mistake, how was he suppose to King Midas despised witches because one had killed his wife?! - and ruined King George's alliance, he had started a brawl in the middle of the throne room and came out bleeding from a knight wound to his side. The last thing he saw before he fled the palace was King George barking an order to the court warlock, Bo Peep. She raised her left toward David and magic came writhing from her fingertips to swirl around David like smoke.

He made it deep into the woods before he realized he was no longer human.