"You know who The Wicked Witch is, Audrey?" Chad asked as he came over abruptly.
"I believe I just said that." Audrey snarked at him.
Chad grinned bashfully at her.
"Which old witch?" Carlos asked.
"The Wicked Witch! Pay attention!" Audrey complained and crossed her arms.
"Audrey, are you sure?" Ben asked his girlfriend as he approached her.
"Yes, I saw it myself when I was with your mom at your dad's shop," Audrey nodded and explained herself. "You believe me, don't you, Benny Boo?" she then added.
"Oh, sure, of course I believe you," Ben reassured her with a small smile. "You didn't get hurt, did you?" he then asked out of concern. "I mean... The Wicked Witch did some pretty heinous things and if you saw her and she saw you..."
"She did see me, but she froze me and your mom before we could do anything," Audrey explained. "The Wicked Witch is Ms. Blanchard's midwife." she then revealed.
Soon, everyone looked at each other as Audrey explained what she saw before they all began to look doubtful... except for maybe Chad. She explained how this was probably very important to her until the others just saw it as an excuse to shame someone for being different like how the others treated Mal for being the daughter of Maleficent which ran the purple-haired girl out of town into parts unknown.
"You gotta believe me! You guys gotta believe me!" Audrey begged as everyone else seemed to ignore her and leave the diner. "Come on, guys..." she then added.
Ben glanced at Audrey softly, giving her a sign of hope before he seemed to leave like the rest of them, causing her to feel a bit broken inside. Chad, however, seemed to stay by Audrey's side which made her feel slightly good, but she also wasn't sure.
Ben then checked his phone to see that he had a text from his mother, telling him to come straight to the pawnshop. "We'll have to pick this up later," he then told his friends. "Mom needs me."
"I hope everything's okay." Evie replied.
"She just said to come to the shop as soon as possible." Ben explained as Evie suddenly heard her phone ping.
"Excuse me a sec." Evie told him.
"Of course." Ben nodded as he got ready to go and meet his mother.
"Huh, that's weird," Evie commented as she saw what her phone said as it was a text from Regina. "My mom wants to see me too."
"I guess we should pick this up later then, huh?" Ben guessed.
"Yeah, I guess so," Evie nodded. "Well, good luck with your mom, Ben." she then added.
"You too, Evie." Ben replied as they soon parted ways for the time being.
Audrey and Chad came out of the diner after Evie and Ben split up.
"I'm not sure I like this, Chad," Audrey glared as she crossed her arms. "Something really stinks about this."
"Oh, sorry about that, Audrey, I'm trying out a new cologne," Chad said before he took out a tiny bottle. "My mother recommended Eau de Pumpkin, but I don't think it's working out for me."
"Not that! But still, eww..." Audrey rolled her eyes. "Can you believe Benny would do this to me?"
"You mean walk out of the diner?" Chad asked as he seemed to be slightly unfocused.
"Well, yeah, but I mostly meant not believing me and siding with Evie of all people," Audrey scoffed and explained. "She's the daughter of The Evil Queen who cursed all of your parents for 28 years. Who would trust someone like that?"
"You're starting to sound like what happened with Mal due to being the daughter of Maleficent." Chad reminded her.
"That's my point, Chad. How can anyone trust the descendants of villains?" Audrey told him firmly. "If anything, people should be trusting us! Me, the daughter of Sleeping Beauty and you, the son of Cinderella. Sure, Ben's mother met a beast who had a castle, but she's still a hero and everyone listens to him no matter what like he's king of the school or something even though Evie's mother is the mayor."
"I guess you're right about that." Chad had to admit.
"Of course I'm right! I'm a woman." Audrey smirked smugly.
"Teenage girl." Chad reminded her.
"Don't correct me, Chad; it's unattractive." Audrey retorted.
"Sorry, Audrey~" Chad said bashfully then.
"You're forgiven... for now," Audrey smirked before she walked off. "Anyway, I better get going."
"Uh, where exactly are you going?" Chad asked, seeming to be clingy around her all of a sudden even though she was Ben's girlfriend right now.
"Wherever I can," Audrey said, dismissing him as she went to walk away from him. "Someone's gotta set the record straight about The Wicked Witch in Storybrooke."
"Hey, before you do whatever you're gonna do, I was wondering if maybe you wanted a... loyal friend by your side?" Chad asked, sounding a little too eager. "Partner in crime? Sidekick? Or maybe just a lackey to do your bidding, um, change tires. Or smoothie runs?"
Audrey gave him a bit of a deadpan look at first.
"Please?" Chad then added as he crossed his fingers hopefully.
"You can be useful." Audrey soon said.
"Yeah?" Chad asked.
"Fine. Just come with me." Audrey said as she walked down the street with him by her side.
Chad grinned eagerly as he followed her.
"So, Dad's alive?" Ben asked his mother after he came into the pawnshop and she began to barricade the door.
"That's what Emma and the others told me, yes," Belle nodded in response. "They thought I would know though and I figured you could help me along with our company after the others went away."
"Company?" Ben then asked.
There was a small mew heard and Ben then turned around to see Killian there holding a certain kitten.
"This is yours, I presume, young man?" Killian asked Ben as he was carefully holding Oliver in his arm and keeping his hook out of the young cat's way.
"Oliver!" Ben beamed and smiled as he carefully picked up his cat. "Oh, uh, thank you, Captain Hook." he then added.
"You're very welcome," Killian nodded. "I could really use some company of my own after Harry and I had sort of a little disagreement."
"Disagreement?" Ben asked out of concern.
"Aye. We had a bit of a spat with each other," Killian sighed as he explained. "Children can be so unpredictable."
"No offense, right?" Ben spoke up.
"Maybe." Killian shrugged at him.
Ben glanced away, not sure how to feel about that as he continued to pet Oliver in his arms who began to purr after that. "So, Mom, what can I do to help?" he then piped up.
"Take care of Oliver and help me look through these books," Belle replied. "These should help us figure out what's going on with your father and Storybrooke with a Wicked Witch loose in town."
"Oh, believe me, I know quite a big deal about the Wicked Witch situation," Ben replied. "Or as some kids around here would say 'Wicked Witch Sitch'."
"Sitch?" Killian asked. "Is that one of your little slang words you kids say nowadays?"
"More or less, yeah," Ben nodded. "It pretty much means trouble."
"It sounds lazy if you ask me," Killian remarked. "Why not just say situation?"
"I dunno, sir, I'm not in charge of how teenagers function." Ben shrugged.
Belle smirked warmly before she gave Killian a book. " Uh, watch the cover of that one." she then advised the adult pirate.
"I'm dealing with a hook here." Killian retorted.
Soon, a noise could be heard coming from the door of the shop. Someone was trying to get in.
Hurriedly, Belle scrambled down from the ladder and rushed to the door. "It's him. It's Rumple." she then told Ben and Killian.
Pushing harder, the person behind the door finally succeeded entering the shop. Then, he collapsed on the shop's floor, revealing to be a rather old and familiar face to Belle and Ben.
"Neal? Neal!" Belle cried out as she crouched down beside the man.
Ben looked very wide-eyed as he didn't expect to see his big brother again especially at a time like this. He was very shocked, but luckily, he reacted properly and soon took out his phone to place a very important call.
LATER AT THE HOSPITAL...
"Ugh..." Neal groaned as his eyes slowly opened and he found himself inside a hospital, but not only that, he was surrounded by Goldie, David, Killian, Belle, Ben, Carla, and Carlos. "What? What happened?" he then murmured.
"You're in the hospital," Goldie said to him. "Book Lady and Pirate here say that they found you at the door and you were passed out or something."
"Also, they have names." Ben spoke up.
"Yeah, I know." Goldie shrugged in response, not seeming to really care.
"Wait... is this Storybrooke?" Neal asked as he looked around his surroundings. "I thought we left."
"It's a long, complicated story, Mr. Cassidy." Carla spoke up.
"Yeah, it's about to get even crazier too," Carlos added. "Especially when Ms. Emma comes by."
"Emma? Ugh... I think I hit my head harder than I thought..." Neal groaned as he rubbed his head.
"Yeah, we feel that way too sometimes when Jordan Glass tries to interview us for the school paper or on her weblog." Ben added.
"Hmph!" Jordan glared as she overheard that before flipping her hair in the air and stormed off suddenly.
Ben grinned bashfully before rubbing his arm nervously and then looked over as a certain other someone soon came into the room right away.
"Neal. You're here," Emma said as she rushed inside, seeming to be a bit out of breath. "What happened?"
"I... I don't know," Neal explained breathlessly. "I remember seeing the yellow bug cross the town line and next thing I know, I'm running around a forest back in Storybrooke, where, apparently, has been a whole lot going on."
Killian looked thoughtful before he spoke up. "Are you gonna tell him or shall I?" he then pondered.
"Tell me what?" Neal demanded.
"Neal, everyone thinks that Dad's back." Ben piped up.
"Back? I just watched him die," Neal replied in disbelief. "What do you mean he's back?"
"Take it easy," Emma reassured him until she took a closer look at his palm, seeing scars that formed a triangle and beneath the base and both sides of the triangle, there was an additional wave shaped scare. "What the hell is that?" she then wondered as David took a picture of the scar.
"Whatever it is, it's probably important." Carla guessed.
"No doubt." Carlos agreed.
"No idea," Neal explained. "It was there when I woke up."
"Belle, can you do some more research?" Emma then asked the librarian.
"Yeah, sure. Absolutely." Belle nodded.
"I'll help out too." Ben added.
"I'll send you the picture." Emma told them both.
"Okay." Belle and Ben replied.
"Guys, can we have a minute?" Neal soon asked.
"Yeah, of course." David reassured him before he and the others began to leave before Emma sat down on Neal's bed.
Killian looked over at Carla curiously and she soon looked back at him as they left the room with everyone else.
"It's good to see you," Neal said to Emma softly. "And even better to have you remember me." he then added.
"It's good to see you, too." Emma said softly before Goldie stayed behind a bit to hear what the two were going to talk about.
"Has it really been a year?" Neal then asked.
"Yeah." Emma nodded in response.
"When can I see Henry?" Neal asked, sounding pretty hopeful.
Goldie looked a little broken inside before she turned her head as a tear rolled down her cheek before she fully left the two alone, unaware that their conversation continued on without her eavesdropping.
"Neal, I don't-" Emma began to say.
"I know, okay?" Neal interrupted. "I can't just come barging back into your life, but-"
"No, it's not that," Emma then interrupted him. "My memories came back, but his... he doesn't remember anything. The curse. His old life."
"Me." Neal added in realization.
"You." Emma confirmed.
"What does he know about his father?" Neal then demanded.
"What I knew until about a week ago, which was that you let me go to jail and never came back for us." Emma explained.
"But I didn't have a choice," Neal reminded her. "You know that."
"Yeah, I do know that, now, but I didn't during that whole year." Emma reassured him.
"So, my son has no clue who I really am? He just thinks I'm the jerk that abandoned him?" Neal asked, sounding heartbroken until he sounded hopeful and determined. "We have to get his memories back. We have to fix this. There has to be somebody who can. The Blue Fairy or my father that-"
"Neal," Emma stopped him. "He was really happy in New York with our life." she then added.
"You don't want him to get his memories back?" Neal asked in sorrow.
"Maybe that's for the best." Emma replied softly.
"But I'm his father," Neal retorted, starting to sound angry. "I want him to know who I am."
Emma looked unsure, but wasn't sure what to say to Neal in response to that. She soon had to leave, leaving Neal all by his lonesome, but he was about to be given some other company really soon.
"Thought, you could use some sustenance." Killian said as he placed a bowl of jell-o before Neal.
"Nothing like a green blob to get the appetite going." Neal scoffed at the dessert.
"Well, I gather it has great medicinal properties." Killian shrugged.
"They put you on babysitting duty, huh?" Neal then asked. "What, no one trusted me to stay here?"
"Emma's simply concerned about you," Killian explained. "She thought it best you weren't out in the cold running after your father."
"Thank you, by the way." Neal then told him suddenly.
"For playing nanny?" Killian wondered.
"For getting Emma the message to come back." Neal clarified.
Killian had a small smirk at that. "You would have done the same." he then replied.
"Yeah," Neal nodded. "What's it feel like to play the hero after being a pirate for so long?" he then wondered.
"Unfamiliar, especially since I had to lose someone near and dear to me on the way back into this town," Killian simply stated. "And you? How does it feel to play the villain?" he then added.
"I'm a villain now?" Neal asked, sounding offended somewhat.
"Well, if you truly had hand in bringing your father back, I suspect you had to use the darkest of magic and paid an even darker price, though I'm sure you felt the end justified the means." Killian explained calmly.
Neal stood up from that. "I should be out there looking for him and set things right with him and my son," he said out of determination. "Question is, are you gonna stand in my way?" he then added.
"I am in your way." Killian retorted before he came over a bit closer and then suddenly hugged Neal.
"What the hell are you doing?" Neal demanded.
"This is long overdue. Sometimes, when I look at you all I see is a man," Killian reassured him. "I forget then beneath it all you're still that boy, the one I looked after all those years ago." he then added in a fatherly voice.
"Yeah, I haven't forgotten." Neal replied softly.
"We got caught up in so much nonsense over a women." Killian then noted.
"I need to do this, Killian," Neal suggested. "You know that, right"
Killian sighed and he soon stepped aside as needed. "You've got 10 minutes. Then, I alert the others you've gone." he decied to say.
"Thank you." Neal nodded.
Killian also nodded and soon allowed Neal to leave before he sighed sharply to himself. He glanced out the window, seeing Harry with some of his friends as they walked off down the street together and he seemed to form a real bond with Gil. Carla glanced over her shoulder as she noticed that and decided that she wanted to help Killian and Harry, but she wasn't sure what she was going to do yet.
Meanwhile, Regina and Evie were walking down the street together as Regina brought her daughter up to speed about Mr. Gold being alive and that they had to figure out what to do about The Wicked Witch that was loose in Storybrooke.
"Uncle Gold is okay?" Evie asked.
"Yes, but I don't know where he is and what The Wicked Witch wanted with him," Regina nodded. "We're going to figure this out, my little princess... one way or another."
"Me and the others have been trying to figure out what to do with the Wicked Witch too." Evie then said.
"That's very brave of you, my dear, but it might be dangerous to have children involved in this sort of adventure." Regina advised.
"Hey, we're not children! We're almost adults and you know that." Evie pouted.
Regina sighed. "Don't make me feel older than I already am, Evie," she then smirked. "Otherwise you'll be grounded."
"Mom!" Evie playfully whined.
"My cursed town, my rules~" Regina playfully retorted until she stopped suddenly. "Did you hear that?" she then asked.
"Huh?" Evie wondered as she looked around in alarm.
A twig was soon heard snapping as Regina and Evie looked around.
However, Regina looked firm and determined if necessary. "Show yourself, you winged freak!" she then demanded.
Soon, an arrow was shot out while Evie yelped and jumped back in fright while Regina suddenly caught the arrow in midair. Eventually, the source came out as an archer, but he wasn't just any archer. It was none other than Robin Hood.
"Apologies, ladies. I thought you were the Wicked Witch." Robin said to the mother and daughter.
"And I thought you were a flying monkey." Regina replied once she spotted the outlaw.
"Doesn't anyone say hello anymore?" Evie rolled her eyes to herself.
"I do hope my mistake hasn't cost me my head, Your Majesty." Robin then said to Regina before bowing to her.
"You know who my mother is?" Evie asked.
"Her reputation in the Enchanted Forest precedes her as well as yours, Princess." Robin explained humbly.
Evie smirked warmly as that seemed to be a highlight for her day.
"I didn't catch your name." Regina then prompted for a proper introduction.
"Robin of Locksley. At your service." Robin then said, holding out his hand to be shook.
"The thief." Regina realized as she put his arrow down into his hand.
"And older brother to Goldilocks." Robin then said.
"Wow... this fairy tale family tree really gets around." Evie blinked and remarked.
"Well, as we're tossing labels around, aren't you technically known as the Evil Queen?" Robin retorted to what Regina called him.
"I prefer Regina," Regina replied before she glanced at his crossbow and arrows. "You think, you can bring down the Wicked Witch with sticks?" she then added with a scoff.
"I'm certainly going to try." Robin said, sounding determined.
"Don't you need a bucket of water for that?" Evie wondered.
"Somehow, I don't think that's going to work, young lady." Robin replied.
"I'm afraid, we're too late," Regina retorted. "She's long gone."
"Well, perhaps she left a trail." Robin suggested.
"We were hoping the same thing." Evie nodded.
"Well then, you've got yourself a partner." Robin smirked warmly.
"I don't remember asking for one." Regina scoffed.
"You didn't." Robin countered.
Evie giggled a little as she could tell that having Robin Hood around in her life was certainly going to be interesting.
"Just don't get in our way." Regina told him with a sharp sigh.
"I wouldn't dream of it." Robin reassured her.
Regina soon looked thoughtful around him. "Have... have we met before?" she then wondered.
"I doubt, I'd ever forget meeting you. Unless, of course, it was during that pesky year no one can recall," Robin replied. "All the more reason to find that witch. Perhaps she can offer some insight into our lost memories."
"He makes some pretty good points, Mom." Evie remarked.
"Fine, let's get going then." Regina rolled her eyes slightly as they followed the famed outlaw into the farmhouse together.
Soon, the mother, daughter, and outlaw began to search around the farmhouse to see if they could find anything of interest.
"Nothing useful here. Unfortunately." Regina concluded out of frustration.
"So, none of these contain magical properties?" Robin wondered.
"Well, a good witch covers her tracks, but a better one can uncover them," Regina explained as she continued to search for a hint. "We'll find her. Just be patient."
"Not even ruby slippers." Evie added, thinking that that would be a clue.
"Ruby slippers? Surely you mean silver." Robin corrected.
"...I'd say no, I mean ruby slippers, but I should know better than to question my fairy tale heritage." Evie remarked.
"Yes, you should, my dear." Regina agreed to that.
Robin continued to examine Regina and Evie curiously. "You know, I've heard many stories about the great and terrible Evil Queen, but, from this angle, the 'evil' moniker seems somewhat of an overstatement," he soon said to the former regal. "Bold and audacious, perhaps, but not evil. Especially with your sweet and helpful daughter." he then added kindly.
"The name served me well," Regina retorted as she turned to face him. "Fear is quite an effective tool."
Robin then suddenly stepped closer and he took a bottle of whiskey from the shelf. "What about this? Is this magical?" he then wondered.
"Not exactly, but it is a liquid that can conjure courage, give strength or even act as a love portion of sorts," Regina explained before laughing a bit as she properly explained to the outlaw what the drink was. "It's called 'whiskey' and no, it's not magical. Especially not the next day."
Robin nodded in response to that before facing Evie. "Are you old enough?" he then asked her.
"To drink or vote? No, sir." Evie replied.
"Just checking." Robin replied before he reached up to take two glasses down from the shelf before giving the former regal a questioning look.
"Ooh~" Evie whispered once she realized what the outlaw was up to.
"You wanna have a drink?" Regina asked Robin out of disbelief. "Now?
"Well, in the last few days we've survived a curse, woken up in an entirely new realm and forgotten a year of our lives," Robin defended as he rolled up his sleeves and poured two glasses of whiskey before handing one to Regina. "I'd say we've earned it. Wouldn't you?"
Regina gave him a smile until she noticed that he had a certain tattoo on his right arm, causing her smile to fade away as the tattoo struck a chord with her.
"Mom? Are you okay?" Evie spoke up, looking worried about how stunned her mother suddenly looked.
"Is something wrong?" Robin asked, but without a word, Regina left the house. "Regina!" he then cried out.
"Mom..." Evie frowned in worry.
"You better go after her," Robin advised. "I'm sorry if I caused you two any grief."
"I don't think it's your fault, Mr. Locksley, but thank you," Evie replied. "Maybe I can see what's biting her butt."
"That sounds rather unpleasant." Robin commented to himself as Evie went after her mother as quickly as possible.
Regina continued to walk off, not stopping once as Evie did her best to catch up with her mother as it was hard to catch her breath due to being rather cold outside this time of year.
"Ever since it happened I haven't been able to stop thinking about Rumple's sacrifice," Belle said to Neal on the way to The Vault of the Dark One. "I mean, how he died to save everyone in Storybrooke."
"It was pretty crazy." Ben nodded as he let Oliver walk by his feet.
"You know, that wasn't it," Neal advised his younger brother and father's new love interest. "He died to save us. His family."
"At least, he died a hero." Belle said softly as Ben nodded.
"Were you surprised he had it in him?" Neal then asked them.
"Of course not." Belle replied.
"Why? Were you?" Ben added.
"I don't know. I mean, my papa was never the most selfless guy," Neal replied and explained. "I know, he wished, he'd never let me go through that portal. I know, how sorry he was, but now, that I have a son of my own, I can't imagine ever doing what he did."
"He regretted what happened with you so much. He was willing to do anything to get back to you," Belle soothed. "He wanted another chance when Ben was born."
"It's a lot of pressure, he put a lot on me during The Dark Curse, but he just didn't wanna make the same mistake twice with a new son." Ben added.
"Well, that's one thing about him I can relate to because I would do anything to get back to Henry." Neal said to them as they continued along the path until they noticed something different.
"It's getting colder," Belle remarked before she noticed snow on the ground and pointed it out. "Look."
"Come on, lets get what we came here for," Neal soon said once they found the clearing. "Let's get our father."
"Agreed." Ben nodded.
And so, they went off together.
"Gold!" A certain voice soon called out.
"That sounded like..." Ben said softly to himself.
"Emma!" Neal exclaimed and added once he saw the woman before seeing her as well as Goldie. "Goldie? Is that you?"
"The one and only." Goldie smirked in response.
"Neal, Ben, what the hell are you doing here?" Emma asked the brothers.
"You expect me to stay in bed while you're looking for my dad?" Neal retorted smugly.
"Right. I forgot, who I was dealing with." Emma smirked.
"So our dad... did you get a lead on him?" Ben piped up.
"Yeah, Charming, Emma, and I just saw him, but he took off again." Goldie explained.
"So, it's true? He's alive?" Ben asked hopefully.
"Yeah, he is." Emma confirmed.
"How he'd seem?" Neal asked softly.
Emma sighed sharply in response. "Uh, I don't know what that witch did with him, but he seems a little crazy. When I asked him about her, it was like he wanted to tell me, but he couldn't." she then tried to explain.
"Hmm... that sounds very curious and complicated." Ben remarked.
"How do you think we feel?" Goldie rolled her eyes in response.
"Well, he can't be far. Come on," Neal then said, about to head off, but then noticed that Emma was giving him a worried look. "You wanna waste time dragging me back to the hospital? `Cuz that's the only way you gonna get me there." he then added as he sounded determined.
"Fine. Let's go." Emma then said out of equal determination.
And with that, Ben, Emma, Neal, and Goldie headed off together.
"So, New York, huh?" Neal asked Emma curiously.
"I liked the pizza." Emma replied.
"Me too." Goldie added.
"Did Henry like it?" Neal wondered.
"He loves pizza." Emma simply replied.
"I meant living there in the city." Neal explained to her about what he meant by that.
"Oh, yeah. I did, too," Emma nodded and then added. "Finally had time to do all the things we normally couldn't."
"Like what?" Ben wondered.
"Go to the park, seeing a movie. Go to the zoo, just do nothing." Emma listed.
"Sounds perfect." Ben remarked.
"Yeah. Life was good," Emma nodded. "Really good."
"It didn't get lonely?" Neal wondered. "Just the two of you?"
"Henry had tons of friends in school and I had someone," Emma explained until she realized that last bit was probably too much to share with Neal. "Sorry." she then quickly added.
"Why are you sorry? Of course you did," Neal told her calmly. "It's not like we were... or you even remembered."
Emma chuckled a little at that.
"Was it serious?" Neal wondered.
"He proposed." Emma simply stated.
"Wow." Neal admitted.
"And then he turned into a flying monkey." Emma then added which sounded really strange, but probably not so much after being involved with Storybrooke for a long time now.
"Sounds intense." Neal chuckled and gave Emma a smile.
Goldie continued to watch Emma and Neal distantly and quietly, looking like she had a lot on her mind right now.
"Go ahead and laugh," Emma scoffed and smirked as Neal laughed. "I almost married a monster from Oz. It's hilarious."
"I almost married a minion of my evil grandfather Peter Pan," Neal retorted and laughed along with her with a small smile. "So, I know what you're saying."
They soon continued to walk on for a while.
"Sorry about your, uh, boyfriend, Ms. Swan." Ben spoke up, deciding to break the uncomfortable silence.
"That's all right, kid." Emma replied calmly.
"I'm sorry too, believe it or not." Neal added.
"...Really?" Emma asked Neal.
"I care about you, Emma. Always will," Neal promised her. "I just want you to be happy. Even, if it isn't with me."
Ben smiled at that while Goldie looked a bit distant again.
"We were happy. Once." Emma reminded him.
"We never found Tallahassee." Neal retorted.
Emma paused for a moment until her cell phone started to ring, so she answered the call. "Belle, what'd you find?" she then asked after a few moments.
"The symbol on Neal's hand. It's from an ancient talisman," Belle explained on the other line as she was looking through a certain book. "A key, that opens the Vault of the Dark One. I think, he may have used it. To resurrect Rumple. Back, when we were in the Enchanted Forest."
"Wait, so he brought Gold back?" Emma wondered.
"That's where it gets unclear," Belle replied. "The vault will only restore the Dark One in exchange for another life (optional addition) unless a selfish act of true love is preformed to save the lost soul."
"Whoa. Hang on a minute. What?" Emma asked, looking wide-eyed and startled about that.
"It's a one-for-one trade," Belle explained. "If Neal used that key, he should be dead right now."
Suddenly, as if on cue, Neal collapsed on the forest ground, screaming in pain.
"Neal!" Ben yelped as Oliver yowled in both fright and surprise.
"Neal? Neal! Neal, what did you do?" Emma cried out frantically as she knelt beside him.
"I have a bad feeling about this." Ben said nervously.
"This is my fault," Goldie muttered. "This is all my fault."
"Hey now, how is it your fault?" Ben asked her. "You didn't do anything."
"I just ruin everything... everything I touch turns to shit," Goldie replied through hurt tears in her eyes. "I have no real reason to stay in this town any longer."
"Goldilocks, no, I'm sure it's going to be okay." Ben said as he tried to stop her as they looked over at Neal in concern.
"I think Gold is inside you," Emma said to Neal. "I think that's how you're still alive."
"How do you feel?" Ben asked his big brother.
"I heard our father's voice in my head," Neal groaned as he tried to answer his younger brother. "He's in there. He's in me."
"He said, there was no room," Emma realized. "He meant you."
"When did this happen?" Ben asked.
"When I saw Gold earlier and he sounded like he was going insane." Emma explained to the teenage boy.
"I need you to help me, Emma," Neal grunted and panted. "Use your magic. Separate me and my father."
"Really? You'll die." Emma asked and reminded him.
Goldie looked very distressed over that fact.
"I know, but you need my dad more than me to figure out who the witch is," Neal replied through straining as his face and Rumple's face morphed here and there, looking like Mr. Gold was trying to break free from trapped inside his eldest son. "To save the town. You need to do this."
"I've never done anything like that before," Emma reminded him. "Not that big."
"Do it. To save you and Henry," Neal urged Emma. "Do it, please."
Emma looked concerned, but she soon took Neal's hands in hers. Focusing her magic on him, there was a sudden flash of white light. Neal then collapsed on the forest floor as now Rumple was kneeling opposite of Emma.
"Neal? Neal, are you okay?" Emma panted breathlessly as she rushed to Neal's side in order to support him.
"What have you done?" Rumple demanded in concern.
"It's okay, Papa. I told her to." Neal reassured his father in a feeble voice.
"But why?" Rumple asked worriedly.
"So, you can tell her, who the witch is," Neal explained wearily. "So you can defeat her."
"Who is she then, Dad?" Ben then asked as calmly as he could. "Who is the Wicked Witch that's been terrorizing Storybrooke?"
"Zelena," Rumple explained softly. "And she has a little helper with her."
"What? She's the witch?" Emma wondered.
"Ms. Blanchard's midwife, right?" Ben asked Emma.
"Yeah, but what she could want?" Emma nodded and then wondered.
"What she doesn't have." Rumple explained as he shook his head.
"There has to be some way you can save him, right?" Emma then asked as she looked down at Neal in worry.
"No." Rumple admitted in sorrow.
"It's too late, Emma." Neal replied softly.
"Just hang in there, please," Emma told him as she began to sob. "You never even had a chance to see Henry. For him to remember you."
"It's okay. He doesn't need to," Neal replied with labored breathing. "He just needs to know that, in the end, I was a good father."
"Neal, no..." Ben frowned.
"Ben, you're very lucky... you were raised by the better version of our father," Neal told him softly. "I'm very proud to have a little brother like you."
"And I'm lucky to have a big brother like you." Ben replied softly as he had tears forming in his hazel eyes.
Overhearing the conversation, Rumple turned around again and watched the scene as his eldest son handed Emma a necklace.
"I saved this for you to give to you again. Take it," Neal told the mother of his son. "Go find Tallahassee. Even, if it's without me."
"Neal." Emma pouted through her tears.
"Hey, I'll be watching over you guys from somewhere. Promise me..." Neal urged as his breathing got weaker and weaker. "just promise,... Promise me, you'll both be happy."
"I promise. I promise." Emma said before hugging Neal.
"Ben... Be a good boy... and boyfriend... and friend... I know you can do it." Neal then added.
Ben sniffled and nodded as he wiped his eye. "I will." he then promised his brother.
"No, no, no. I can fix this." Rumple begged as he knelt beside his eldest son.
"No, you can't. You can't," Neal said as his breathing became labored. "Thank you, Papa. For showing me, what it is to make a true sacrifice. It's about saving the ones that you love."
"No." Rumple frowned as he looked ready to cry next.
"It's my turn, now." Neal then said.
"No, I don't want to let you go." Rumple begged sadly.
"I need you to," Neal replied softly. "Please, let go."
"I love you, son." Rumple said in a crying voice.
"I love you, Papa..." Neal said as he breathed out one last time.
Ben frowned before he bowed his head and shut his eyes as a tear rolled down his cheek. He felt like he had to help his family somehow, but he wasn't sure how to. Rumple soon raised Neal's hand to his lips while subsequently reaching out carefully and closed his eldest son's eyelids.
"This can't be how it ends... this can't be the end of his story..." Ben frowned.
"I'm sorry, kid." Emma replied softly as this was a sad moment for them all.
Ben sniffled and wiped his eyes as this was truly heartbreaking for his family.
"I have to go," Emma soon said. "I'll give you guys justice." she then promised Ben and Rumple.
"Thank you, Ms. Swan," Ben replied. "I just wish I could do something to help my brother."
"You have a good heart," Emma told him as she put her hand on his shoulder. "Take care of your father while you still can."
"I will." Ben nodded at her.
Emma nodded as well and soon left to go and do what had to be done, leaving Rumple and Ben alone to grieve over the loss of Neal. The father and son were left alone, but they wouldn't be alone for long as they were both depressed in their own way, though they felt mostly the same emotions. Ben then decided to take a walk around the forest to try to help clear his mind a little while Rumple sat on a tree trunk and looked down at his eldest son's corpse.
"Hey, kid? You okay?" A voice soon asked.
Ben then stopped in his tracks and looked up to see a certain other blonde woman. "Oh. Uh, hi, Goldilocks." he then greeted.
"Please, just call me Goldie," The woman corrected. "Goldilocks makes me sound like a little girl who steals porridge from The Three Bears."
"Yeah, I'm not sure how anyone would get that idea." Ben muttered a bit sarcastically to himself.
"Hm?" Goldie asked, glancing at him a bit.
"Oh! Uh... Nothing..." Ben said before sighing a bit sadly. "Sorry, ma'am. I just have a lot on my mind."
"Yeah, I can tell," Goldie nodded. "What with The Wicked Witch on the loose and all. I don't know how it could get any worse, especially with your girlfriend's parents turned into Flying Monkeys."
"Oh, right... I nearly forgot all about that..." Ben muttered. "I was just taking a walk to clear my head about something."
"You wanna talk about it?" Goldie asked.
"It's kind of a long story." Ben replied.
"Well, I've got plenty of time." Goldie shrugged.
"Okay, well, it all started when-" Ben began to say until suddenly...
"That was rather ill-timed, your eldest son coming to the surface." A new voice suddenly said.
Ben and Goldie looked at each other before they snuck off with each other and hid deep behind some trees, then saw that Rumple had some extra company.
"Hey, isn't that Snow White's midwife?" Goldie whispered.
"What's she doing here?" Ben wondered quietly.
"Staging that little escape," Zelena chuckled as she continued to talk to Rumple mockingly. "I can see, he'll no longer be a problem."
"My eldest son may be gone, but he gave his life, so I could tell the savior, who you really are, Zelena," Rumple retorted, making no efforts to suppress his hatred of the redheaded woman. "And now, it's only a matter of time before she and the others find you and kill you. Unless, of course, I'll manage it first." he then added before he swiftly got up while Ben and Goldie looked shocked.
"Please, you can't hurt me, but you're more than welcome to try," Zelena retorted as she brought out a certain dagger, causing Rumple to stagger backwards. "I do so enjoy watching futility wreck a man's will."
"The Dark One dagger..." Ben whispered.
"Your parents told you about that story?" Goldie guessed.
"My mom did," Ben nodded and explained. "She says that can make Dad do whatever just by speaking into it."
"Whoa." Goldie whispered in shock.
"There. Much better," Zelena smirked as she kept Rumple away from her to her liking. "Now that your head is no longer cluttered, everything's working properly, it's so much more entertaining."
"You may control me, but it's over Zelena. They know, who you are," Rumple retorted bravely. "You'll never get close to Snow White's baby now. To any of them. To whatever your unholy desires are."
"They may know, who I am, now, but it no longer matters. Not, when I have you, Rumplestiltskin," Zelena countered rather wickedly. "Not, when I have your beautiful brain. So, be a good little Dark One and get back in your cage."
Struggling one moment trying to resist the command, Rumple then finally turned around and left the woods. Zelena cackled to herself and soon went to leave shortly after him, leaving Ben and Goldie a lot more to think about.
"That witch! She's been trying to control and hide my father!" Ben gasped before glaring. "And she even got my brother killed!"
"Neal's dead..." Goldie frowned. "I never got to tell him how I feel."
"How you feel?" Ben asked before facing the blonde woman. "Goldilocks-I mean... Goldie... do you have a crush on my brother?" he then wondered.
"Maybe...?" Goldie blushed. "I mean... he's been a pretty good help to me, especially back in New York City when he saved me against that creep who goes by the nickname Bluebeard."
"Whatever happened to Bluebeard anyway?" Ben wondered.
"I don't know and don't wanna know," Goldie replied. "The point is that I was told by my boss Peter Pan to lure him along with Greg and Tamara and that's how we all got messed up and tangled with Neverland."
"My grandfather..." Ben nodded and realized.
"Ah, yes, I suppose Peter Pan is your grandfather," Goldie then said. "But yes, overtime I had to use and seduce him, but eventually... I felt close to him... I was hoping he could help me raise Koda... but now he's gone."
"So you're in love with my brother Neal?" Ben then asked.
"Yes!" Goldie admitted with tears in her eyes as she came over to the fallen man's corpse. "I don't know why, kid... I just fell in love with him I guess... even though I was trained to use and abuse him to get your nephew Henry into Neverland because Peter Pan craved the heart of the truest believer that was foretold about."
"I think I know how to save Neal then, but you have to trust me." Ben soon said.
"What?" Goldie asked.
"You have to give him the kiss of life." Ben explained.
"I don't think CPR is gonna help in this situation, kid!" Goldie glared.
"No, not that kiss of life, I mean like the kiss that Prince Charming used to wake up Snow White from her glass coffin." Ben clarified.
"You mean... True Love's Kiss?" Goldie asked.
"It's our only shot," Ben nodded. "I have faith that it will work and help since we live in a Fairy Tale town, but you have to have faith and hope that it'll work too... do you love Neal, Goldie?" he then added.
"Well, yeah, I guess I do." Goldie admitted and blushed.
"And does he love you?" Ben then asked.
"I... I'm not sure actually..." Goldie shrugged and rubbed her arm sheepishly. "He seemed more like he wanted to win Emma's love back and get his son back than be interested in me."
"Then there's only one way to find out," Ben advised. "Goldie, you have to kiss my brother awake."
"How are you sure that this will work though?" Goldie asked.
"I've seen Henry's book; True Love almost always works," Ben advised. "You only have one shot and you might as well make it count."
"Well, I guess I have nothing else to lose, right?" Goldie replied.
"Thatta girl," Ben nodded. "Now go on... Kiss him."
Goldie took a deep breath before slowly sighing. "Well... here goes nothing..." she then told herself before looking down at Neal's corpse and knelt down next to him.
Ben bit his lips and crossed his fingers, hoping that this would work as he put his hand on Goldie's shoulder. Goldie felt something powerful surging through her body before she took another deep breath, then leaned in to kiss Neal right on the lips as she closed her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek. One could only help that True Love's kiss could still work in this scenario.