The storm came to Storybrooke for the first time. The harsh wind, hard rain, dark clouds, all came at once. The people took shelter at the house of the fairies while the storm is devastating the entire town.
Rumple visited Belle or rather Lacey at the moment in the bar where she's fond of visiting.
"I'm sorry but I don't think this place is open right now", she said when she saw Rumple came in.
"Then why are you here?" he asked.
"Well, there's a storm outside and I'd rather be stuck here with the booze than those people at the nun's house", she answered.
Rumple nodded and went to the bar to make them drinks. He secretly poured the potion he got from Cora into her glass before handing it to her.
"Well, then I hope you don't mind me hanging around here for the meantime", he said.
Lacey took the glass and smiled.
"If you're over there to make me drinks, then I wouldn't mind", she replied and drank the whisky.
Memories came rushing back to Belle. She looked at Rumple who is staring back at her. She went to him over the bar and hugged him tight.
"Oh, I thought I lost you forever", he muttered.
"You will never lose me…never", she whispered in his ears.
The loud thunder outside broke the moment. Belle pulled away from him.
"What is going on outside?" she asked.
"It's Regina. It's a bit hard to explain. We need to turn her back to evil in order to save her life and now that she's evil again, she's planning on destroying the town. I am sorry, Belle that I have to bring you back like this", he answered.
Belle touched his face gently.
"I would want to come back like this. Take me to the library", she said.
Rumple frowned.
"What? Why? All of the people are in the fairies' house", he asked.
"I might be able to help. I never told you before but sometimes I would browse through your books in your library back in your castle. I know about the Dark Offering. It's the only thing that made sense on why you need to turn her evil again. I think I can find something that will help her get back to us", she answered.
He looked at her in disbelief not because she looked through his books without his permission but because of her desire to help Regina even though she locked her up for 28 years.
"Rumple, please…I was able to see the good in you and I wasn't wrong. I believe there's good in her too", she pleaded.
He nodded in agreement.
"Alright. I'll take you there", he said.
Regina appeared inside the clock tower, the highest point of the town. Facilier followed behind her. She opened up her arms and the clock tower exploded exposing them to the storm which doesn't seem to bother her at all. There are no trace of any strand of emotions in Regina's eyes, only the cold depths of darkness lies within.
"Is this how you're going to destroy the town? Through a storm?" he asked.
"The storm will destroy the town but it will not erase it. Magic built everything in here and so magic will unbuilt this town", she answered.
The way she said it sent chills to Facilier which surprised him. He was never afraid of Regina before until now. As time goes by, she goes colder and colder if that's even possible.
She then began chanting a spell and her hand glowed in purple light. Fear struck in Facilier's eyes as the words became clearer in his ears.
"This is the end then", he muttered.
Rumple came to Snow's apartment and found everyone in there including Cora and Hook.
"What are you still doing in here?" he asked them.
"We're brainstorming. Where is Belle?" Emma answered then asked him back.
"She's at the library trying to find a way to help Regina and us", he answered.
Snow smiled briefly.
"You were able to bring her back", she muttered.
"Thanks to Cora", he replied and nodded to her direction.
"I hate to break this…what it is that's going on but as you can see the storm is not stopping and all of our lives are still in danger. Anyone thinking of something? I am very much open to suggestion", Hook intervened.
David's got an idea.
"What about you ship? Maybe we can sail them out of here", he asked.
"My ship is a marvelous thing but she can't carry the entire population of Storybrooke especially in the middle of the storm and besides, I think the ocean in here is made because of Storybrooke so unless any of you can create a portal out of this town then the storm in the sea will never end", he answered.
They all went silent. They are running out of options and the town is running out of time.
"What about Dr. Facilier?" Henry suddenly suggested. They all turned to him. "He got in Storybrooke from another realm, right? Maybe he can open a portal from here to another realm too", he expanded.
Even Rumple and Cora were impressed by his idea.
"Where is he now?" David asked.
"With my daughter…he's looking after her", Cora answered.
Suddenly, Rumple's phone rang.
"Belle? Right now? Alright, we'll be right there", he answered then hung up.
"What is it?" Emma asked.
"She said she found something and you all need to come with me", he answered.
Belle is in the library sitting on the floor surrounded by books when the cavalry arrived using magic of course.
"Belle, what is it?" Rumple asked.
She is a bit hesitant to answer so she showed him the book instead. Rumple went through it silently.
"Belle, I don't understand this. This is the Book of Origins. How is this meant to help us?" he asked her.
"…because Rumple, that particular page is talking about Regina. It says there that a child will be born out of love and darkness. That the child will grow to be the most powerful dark witch of all. There is a reason why the ritual affected her differently. She is already powerful. She always has been. The ritual just made it official, the Daughter of Darkness", Belle answered.
Cora stepped back a little while Rumple is trying to wrap his head around it.
"It's impossible, Belle. Regina's father was a mortal. He was no magic practitioner", he said then stopped once he realized what Belle meant.
They looked each other in the eyes. Then he turned to Cora behind him.
"Tell me it is not true", he said to her.
The Charmings looked at them confusingly.
"I wish I can say otherwise", Cora muttered. "Now you see, you got your end of the bargain in our deal. I gave you our first-born child", she added.
Belle got up but didn't say a word.
"You knew about it and you never told me", he muttered.
"Rumple, you know what you have to do", Belle said.
He shook his head.
"I can't do this. I already lost a son and now…I just found out. I just found out she's mine and you want me to end her life", he exclaimed.
That alarmed the Charmings especially Henry.
"Whoa…hold on, I thought we're here to save Regina not kill her", Snow said.
"It is the only way. At this point, no magic can match hers, only the Dark One's. Only darkness can snuff out darkness", Belle explained.
"…but my daughter will die", Cora muttered.
"She's born out of not only darkness but also love. We have to trust that love is stronger than darkness. I know it is. We have proven that a million times. It's her only chance. It's our only chance", Belle said.
The idea of Regina dying is unconceivable in their minds but they don't have any more options. It is the best that they got. They all looked at Rumple who is still stunned by the revelation. How can he kill his new-found daughter? They have tried to kill each other before numerous times but never succeeded. He wanted her dead before but he couldn't proceed with the thought. Back then, it's all because he needed her for the curse and now he understands the real reason behind. He couldn't because somewhere in his guts, he can feel the very connection. Now, he's only choice to save his daughter is to end her life.
"Where are they?" he asked briefly.
Tears fell from Cora's eyes. She knows if it didn't work, she will never see her daughter again. All the regret came to her in a rush. Perhaps, she was too late to come to her. She waited too long. Now, she's about to die at the hands of her father without even knowing he is her real father.
Then, they all felt the ground beneath them shakes. Emma dropped to her knees gasping for air.
"What is happening?" Snow asked.
"It's Regina. She's starting", Cora muttered and used her magic to see what's going on. "She's using the dark magic of the town to destroy itself", she added
"Then what's happening to my daughter?" David asked.
"Light magic…there is too much dark magic in this place and she can't take it. She's suffocating", Rumple muttered.
Henry came beside Emma.
"Rumple, they are upstairs", Belle said.
Facilier looked at the damage Regina's doing all over the town. Large roots of trees came out of the ground ready to eat the whole town. Regina remains chanting for the extinction of Storybrooke.
Rumple and Cora came in the tower and saw Regina and Facilier upstairs. He stepped forward but Cora held his arm.
"I don't like this either but it appears as we don't have much choice", he said.
"I know. I am sorry for everything", she said.
He knows what she meant by that. He continued to walk until he reached the two upstairs. Facilier looked at him in surprise.
"Dark One, I'm afraid it's too late", he said.
"No, it's not", Rumple said and revealed his dagger.
Facilier saw it and immediately tried to stop him from killing his queen. Cora used her magic to stop him from grabbing the dagger away from Rumple.
"No!" Facilier yelled.
Rumple grabbed Regina away and turned her towards him. For a brief moment, he looked directly in her eyes and saw what's underneath the coldness and the darkness. He saw pain. He saw misery. Most of all, he saw love. Tears fell from his eyes and then he stabbed her with his dagger.