The rhythmic clang of pickaxes echoed through the mines as the dwarves worked tirelessly. Leroy, true to his stubborn nature, refused to take a break, even as the others paused to rest. The glint of determination in his eyes was matched only by the sweat on his brow as he swung his pickaxe with renewed vigor.

"You're gonna burn yourself out, Leroy," Doc said, leaning against his shovel.

"I'll rest when we find something worth resting for," Leroy shot back, his voice gruff.

Moments later, his pickaxe struck something different—harder, brighter. Leroy froze, his heart racing as he chipped away at the surrounding rock. The other dwarves gathered around as he revealed a cluster of glittering diamonds embedded in the wall.

"We did it!" Leroy exclaimed, his face breaking into a rare grin. "Fairy dust!"

Cheers erupted among the dwarves as they marveled at their find. Within hours, the Mother Superior arrived to inspect the diamonds. She nodded approvingly, her serene expression glowing with pride.

"This is what we need to create the dust," she told David, who had come to oversee the operation. "If all goes well, we'll be ready to bring Mary Margaret and Emmett back by tomorrow."

David glanced at Jefferson's damaged hat, now safely stored in a secure case. "Make it happen," he said, his voice steady. "We're running out of time."

Ruby stood behind the counter at Granny's, her thoughts racing as she wiped down the surface. The full moon was approaching, and the unease gnawed at her. It had been 28 years since she had transformed into her wolf form, thanks to the curse. Without her red hood, she wasn't sure she could control herself.

Billy, the tow truck driver, approached the counter with a friendly smile. "Hey, Ruby."

"Hey, Billy," she replied, forcing a small smile.

"I was wondering… maybe you'd want to grab a drink sometime?" he asked, his voice hopeful.

Ruby hesitated, her hand tightening around the cloth she was holding. "I… I don't think so, Billy. Not tonight."

Before he could press further, Belle appeared beside her. "Sorry, Billy. Ruby and I already have plans—girls' night," she said smoothly, giving Ruby a pointed look.

Billy nodded, though his disappointment was evident. "Another time, then."

As he walked away, Ruby exhaled, her shoulders relaxing. "Thanks," she said to Belle.

Belle smiled gently. "You don't have to go through this alone."

Ruby glanced down at the counter. "I don't want anyone to get hurt."

Across town, Regina sat on the edge of Henry's bed, watching him sleep. She hadn't left his side since his last nightmare, her maternal instincts driving her to stay close. When Henry began to stir, his breathing quick and shallow, she leaned closer.

"Henry," she whispered, her voice soft but urgent. "Wake up."

Henry jolted awake, his eyes wide with fear. He clutched his hand, which was red and blistered as though it had been burned. "Mom," he gasped. "It was the room again. The fire… I could feel it."

Regina's heart clenched at the sight of his pain. She held him close, whispering soothing words until he calmed down.

Later that morning, Regina called Mr. Gold to the mansion, her tone sharp and laced with urgency. The events of the previous night had shaken her deeply—Henry's nightmare wasn't just a dream, and now, it had gotten worse. She couldn't ignore the burn mark on his hand, evidence of something far beyond her control.

By the time Gold arrived, his cane tapping rhythmically against the floor as he entered, Regina was pacing the living room, her arms crossed tightly. Henry sat on the couch, his knees pulled to his chest, his face pale and drawn.

"Regina," Gold said smoothly, his tone tinged with mock sympathy. "You seem troubled."

Regina shot him a glare. "Spare me, Gold. Henry's condition has worsened since yesterday. I need answers—now."

Gold raised an eyebrow, glancing at Henry. "The boy again. What new horrors has he encountered?"

Regina gestured for Henry to speak. The boy hesitated, then held up his hand to show the faint red burn still etched on his skin. "It's from the dream," he said softly. "It hurt… like I was really there."

Gold's eyes flicked to the mark, his expression growing serious. Without waiting for an invitation, he stepped closer, his sharp gaze studying Henry intently.

"Tell me what you saw," Gold said, his voice unusually gentle.

Henry hesitated, glancing at his mother for reassurance. Regina gave him a small nod, her hand resting lightly on his shoulder. "Go on, Henry."

"There was a room," Henry began, his voice trembling. "Everything was red. Red walls, red curtains, and they were on fire. I could feel the heat, the smoke. And… there was a woman. She was staring at me through the flames. She didn't say anything, but it felt like she knew me."

Gold's expression darkened, and he straightened, his fingers tapping lightly on the head of his cane. "The netherworld," he murmured.

Regina's eyes narrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"

Gold turned to her, his tone suddenly clinical. "When one falls under a sleeping curse, their soul doesn't simply rest. It enters a netherworld—a realm between life and death. A place of fire and shadows, where those affected by the curse linger until the spell is broken."

Henry's voice was small but filled with fear. "So… I'm stuck with these dreams forever?"

Gold's lips curved into a faint smile as he reached into his coat. "Not quite, lad." He pulled out a small, intricately carved gold amulet and held it up, the metal catching the morning light. The delicate runes etched into its surface seemed to pulse faintly, as though alive.

"This," Gold said, his voice almost reverent, "is an anchor. It will allow you to control your actions in the netherworld. You won't be at the mercy of the curse anymore."

Henry reached for the amulet, but Regina's hand shot out, stopping him. Her sharp gaze fixed on Gold. "Free of charge? I don't believe you."

Gold smirked, leaning slightly on his cane. "Consider it an investment. The boy has potential."

Regina's fingers tightened around Henry's shoulder, her protective instincts flaring. She didn't trust Gold—not for a second—but if this amulet could help Henry, she couldn't afford to refuse.

"How does it work?" she asked, her tone icy.

Gold handed the amulet to Henry, who cradled it in his hands, his expression filled with a mixture of awe and fear. "When you wear it while sleeping," Gold explained, "it will ground you. Anchor your soul, if you will. You'll be able to navigate the netherworld on your terms, rather than being a mere victim of its whims."

Henry looked up at his mother, his voice tentative. "Can I try it?"

Regina hesitated, her heart torn. She hated the thought of Henry being exposed to the dangers of the netherworld, but the burns on his hand were a stark reminder that the alternative was worse.

"Fine," she said at last, her voice firm. "But if anything happens to him, Gold—"

Gold raised a hand, his smirk softening into something almost kind. "Relax, dearie. The boy will be fine. Better than fine, even."

Henry slipped the amulet over his neck, the weight of it settling against his chest. He touched it lightly, the cool metal grounding him in a way he couldn't quite explain.

"I'll try tonight," he said, his voice filled with quiet determination.

Regina knelt beside him, her hands on his shoulders. "I'll be right here, Henry. If anything feels wrong, you wake up immediately. Promise me."

"I promise," Henry said, his eyes locking with hers.

As Gold prepared to leave, he paused at the door, glancing back at Regina. "A word of advice, dearie. Don't underestimate the boy. The netherworld is a dangerous place, but sometimes, it reveals more than it hides."

Regina didn't respond, her gaze fixed on Henry. She wouldn't let anything happen to him—not while she had breath in her body.

By midday, chaos erupted in Storybrooke when Granny found Ruby's cage destroyed, claw marks raking its metal bars. David and Granny tracked the scent through the woods, eventually stumbling upon Billy's tow truck. The scene was grisly—his body lay nearby, torn in two.

Ruby, found wandering the woods with no memory of the night before, panicked when she saw the body. "I did this," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I couldn't control myself."

David frowned, shaking his head. "I don't believe that."

"David, look at me!" Ruby pleaded. "I'm a monster. Lock me up before I hurt someone else."

Reluctantly, David escorted her to the station, where he placed her in a cell. "We'll figure this out," he promised.

Albert Spencer arrived at the station, his smug expression darkening the already grim atmosphere. "You can't protect her forever, David. The people of this town won't stand for it."

David squared his shoulders. "Ruby's innocent until proven guilty. I won't hand her over to you or anyone else."

Spencer sneered. "You think you're a hero, don't you? But heroes fall. And when you do, I'll be there to watch."

That night, an angry mob gathered outside the station, their shouts echoing through the town. Spencer riled them up, accusing Ruby of murder and demanding justice.

While the mob stormed the station, Ruby escaped and sought refuge in the library with Belle. Despite Ruby's warnings, Belle stayed with her, determined to help. Meanwhile, David and Granny discovered Ruby's red hood and an axe covered in blood hidden in the trunk of a car registered to Spencer.

When the mob cornered Ruby in her wolf form, Spencer aimed a gun at her, his expression triumphant. But before he could fire, Granny disarmed him with her crossbow, her aim steady.

"Back off," Granny snarled, stepping between Ruby and the mob.

David arrived moments later, holding up the bloody axe. "Spencer's the real murderer," he announced. "This was never about justice. It was about power."

The mob hesitated, their anger giving way to uncertainty. David approached Ruby, gently placing the hood over her. As the fabric settled, Ruby transformed back into her human form, her eyes filled with relief and gratitude.

David and Ruby pursued Spencer through the woods, finally cornering him near a fire where he had destroyed Jefferson's hat. David pointed his gun at him, his finger hovering over the trigger.

"You don't deserve to walk away from this," David growled.

Spencer smirked, his defiance unwavering. "Go ahead. Prove me right."

David hesitated, then lowered the gun. "You're not worth it."

Spencer's expression faltered as David turned away. "We'll find another way to bring them back," he said to Ruby. "No one's stopping us."

The mansion was quiet, save for the soft ticking of a clock in the hallway. Henry had finally fallen asleep, his breathing steady, the faint glint of the amulet visible against his chest. Regina sat just outside his room, perched on a chair with her arms crossed and her mind racing. The events of the past day had left her shaken, and her protective instincts were sharper than ever.

A quiet knock on the front door broke the silence. Regina rose swiftly, her heels clicking softly against the floor as she made her way to the door. When she opened it, David stood there, his face grim.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice low. "Henry's finally asleep."

"I know," David said, stepping inside. "But you need to hear this."

They moved to the kitchen, keeping their voices hushed. Regina's eyes darted toward the staircase, ensuring that Henry wouldn't be disturbed. David placed Jefferson's charred hat on the counter, the once-intricate fabric now burnt and mangled once again.

"This is what Spencer did," David whispered, his frustration evident. "He destroyed the hat in a fire like Jefferson before we could use it to bring Snow and Emmett back."

Regina's jaw tightened, her fingers tracing the edge of the ruined hat. "That bastard," she muttered, her voice icy. "He's trying to sabotage everything."

David nodded. "He stirred up the mob against Ruby, used her wolf form as a scapegoat to push his own agenda. And when that didn't work, he resorted to this."

Regina leaned against the counter, her thoughts spinning. "He's not just targeting Ruby or me. He's targeting you. He wants to discredit you, take away any authority you have."

David's expression hardened. "I know. And I'm not going to let him win."

Regina looked at him sharply. "Do you have any idea how much time we've lost because of this? That hat was our only way to bring them back."

David's voice softened, his frustration giving way to determination. "I know it's a setback, but we'll find another way. We always do."

Regina glanced toward the stairs, her thoughts momentarily drifting to Henry. "We don't have much time. Henry's nightmares are getting worse, and I won't let him suffer while we figure this out."

David placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "We'll fix this. For Henry. For all of us."

Regina sighed, her shoulders sagging slightly. "I just hope we're not too late."

Outside the mansion, the streetlights cast long, flickering shadows. From the cover of a dark alley, Albert Spencer watched the house with cold, calculating eyes. His hatred for David burned brighter than ever, fueling the venomous thoughts swirling in his mind.

"They think they've won," Spencer muttered to himself, his fists clenched tightly. "But this is far from over."

As David's silhouette passed by the window, Spencer's scowl deepened. He wouldn't stop until David was ruined, stripped of his power and influence. And if he had to use every dirty trick in the book to make that happen, so be it.

With one last glare at the mansion, Spencer slipped back into the shadows, his mind already plotting his next move.

Back inside, Regina returned to Henry's room. She eased the door open quietly, peering inside to check on him. The boy was still asleep, his brow furrowed slightly even in rest while holding that gold locket. She stepped inside, pulling the blanket higher over his shoulder.

Her fingers brushed against the amulet around his neck, and for a moment, her steely demeanor softened. "I'll protect you, Henry," she whispered, her voice barely audible. "No matter what."

The faint glow of the amulet reflected in her eyes as she straightened and returned to her chair just outside his room. She sat down, her posture tense, her thoughts tangled with fears and plans. The fight wasn't over—not by a long shot—but she would face whatever came next with her usual relentless determination.

And as the night deepened, Regina stayed at her post, guarding her son from both the dangers of the waking world and the nightmares that sought to claim him.