Henry woke with a start, his body jolting upright in bed as the echoes of Aurora's voice lingered in his mind. His chest heaved as he processed the dream—no, the message—he had received in the netherworld. It was the clearest yet: Mary Margaret and Emmett were alive in the Enchanted Forest, but they were in grave danger, caught in Morwenna's web.

He wasted no time, slipping out of bed and rushing down the stairs, his footsteps echoing through the mansion. Regina, already in the kitchen with a cup of tea, turned sharply at the sound of his arrival.

"Henry? What are you doing up so early?" she asked, her brow furrowing at the sight of his pale face.

"I saw her again," Henry said, breathless. "Aurora. She told me—they're alive. Mom and Grandma are alive in the Enchanted Forest. But Morwenna is after them."

Regina's face tightened, her knuckles whitening as she gripped her cup. "Morwenna," she muttered, the name dripping with disdain. "If that witch is involved, this is far worse than I thought."

Henry's eyes were wide with fear. "We have to do something, Mom. They need our help."

Before Regina could respond, the front door opened, and David stepped inside, shaking off the early morning chill. "What's going on?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning the room.

"Henry had another dream," Regina said, setting down her tea. "He knows for certain now—Mary Margaret and Emmett are alive."

David's expression shifted from shock to relief to determination in an instant. "Where are they? What's happening?"

Henry explained everything he could remember, his voice trembling with urgency. "Morwenna's got Aurora. She's threatening everyone. And she's after the compass."

David clenched his fists. "Then we don't have much time."

Regina didn't waste a moment. She left Henry with David and made her way to Mr. Gold's shop. The bell above the door jingled softly as she entered, finding Gold seated at a table near the window, a rare sight of calm. Belle sat across from him, her smile warm and her demeanor relaxed as she sipped her tea.

"Am I interrupting?" Regina asked dryly, her sharp tone cutting through the peaceful atmosphere.

Gold glanced up, his expression hardening. "Regina. Always a pleasure. To what do I owe the honor?"

"We need to talk," she said, her eyes flicking toward Belle. "In private."

Belle frowned, glancing between them, but Gold nodded and rose from his seat. "Excuse me, my dear," he said, brushing a kiss to Belle's hand before following Regina into the back room.

Once the door closed behind them, Gold's playful smirk faded. "What is it now, Your Majesty?"

"Morwenna," Regina said bluntly. "She's alive."

Gold's face darkened, his grip tightening on his cane. "Impossible. She was supposed to be dead."

"Well, she's not," Regina snapped. "She's in the Enchanted Forest, and she's targeting my son and your precious Baelfire's ticket home."

Gold's expression turned calculating. "What exactly do you want from me?"

Regina's voice softened, a rare vulnerability creeping into her tone. "Help me stop her, Gold. You know what she's capable of."

Gold leaned on his cane, his golden eyes narrowing. "Morwenna is dangerous, yes, but she's also strategic. She'll exploit every weakness she can find. And you're not exempt from that, Regina."

"And neither are you," Regina shot back. "Belle is your weakness, and if Morwenna finds out—"

Gold raised a hand, silencing her. "I'll help you. Not because of your pleas, but because I have no intention of allowing Morwenna into this world."

Regina arched an eyebrow. "No strings attached? That's new."

Gold smirked. "Consider it self-preservation."

Back at the mansion, Henry was resolute. Despite his burned arm and his mother's protests, he was committed to helping Aurora again. "I have to," he insisted, holding up the amulet Gold had given him. "She needs me."

David knelt in front of him, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "Henry, I know you want to help, but this is too dangerous. Look at your arm—you're getting hurt."

"But I can do it!" Henry protested. "I want to be a hero, like you."

Regina's voice was firm as she entered the room. "Henry, you've already done more than enough. You've been incredibly brave, but now it's time to let us handle this."

Henry looked between them, his eyes brimming with frustration. "So I'm just supposed to sit here and do nothing?"

"No," David said gently. "You've given us what we need. We'll find another way."

Later that day, David and Regina met with Gold to finalize their plan. Gold explained how he had once been imprisoned by a magical quill infused with ink from a deep-sea squid. "The ink was powerful enough to immobilize me," he said. "If Snow and Emmett can retrieve it, they might have a chance against Morwenna."

"But how will they know to find it?" Regina asked.

Gold shrugged. "That's your problem."

David turned to Regina. "We need to send a message. A direct one."

Regina hesitated, then nodded. "I'll prepare a sleeping curse."

"What?" Henry exclaimed, stepping into the room. "You can't use magic like that!"

Regina softened, kneeling in front of him. "This isn't dark magic, Henry. It's necessary. And I'll only use it for good."

Henry hesitated before pulling the amulet from around his neck. "Give this to Grandpa," he said. "It'll help him find the fiery room."

David placed a hand on his grandson's shoulder. "Thanks, Henry. You've done more than enough."

Regina prepared the curse, infusing a spindle with the potion. David pricked his finger, his body falling limp as the spell took hold.

David awoke in a mirrored hall, torches flickering around him. The air was heavy, and his reflection stared back at him from every angle. For a moment, he was disoriented, unsure of how to proceed.

The amulet around his neck began to glow faintly, pulling him toward a specific spot. He placed his hand on the ground, feeling the heat radiating beneath his palm. Summoning his strength, he slammed the hilt of his sword into the floor, shattering it. The ground gave way, and he fell into the fiery red room.

"Mary Margaret!" he called, his voice echoing in the oppressive heat.

Snow White lay on the blanket near the campfire, her heart pounding in her chest. Mulan's sleeping powder was strong; its effects washed over her like a wave, pulling her under faster than she expected. She closed her eyes and prepared herself for the fiery room, where she hoped to find Henry waiting to bridge the gap between their worlds.

The world shifted around her, and when Snow opened her eyes, the familiar red glow of the fiery room surrounded her. The heat was oppressive, the flames licking at the edges of her vision. She stepped forward cautiously, her voice steady despite the eerie silence.

"Henry?" she called out, searching for the boy she hoped would be there.

No response. Snow's stomach churned as she scanned the space, her brow furrowing. "Henry, where are you?"

The flames flickered, casting strange shadows across the room. Suddenly, a figure emerged through the smoke and heat, walking toward her. Snow's breath caught in her throat, and she felt a pang of confusion and relief all at once.

"Mary Margaret?" the man called, his voice achingly familiar.

Her heart skipped a beat. "David?" she whispered, her voice cracking as the figure stepped into the light.

It was him. Prince Charming, her husband, looking as steady and determined as ever. Snow's knees nearly buckled, and she had to steady herself before rushing forward.

"David!" she cried, throwing her arms around him. The oppressive heat seemed to fade in his presence, and for a brief moment, she felt safe.

David held her tightly, his voice low and comforting. "Snow, it's really you."

They pulled back slightly, and Snow cupped his face in her hands. "I thought I'd meet Henry here. How are you—how is this possible?"

David's expression softened, and he gestured to the amulet around his neck. "Regina and Henry gave me this. It helped me find you. I needed to see you."

Snow nodded, tears threatening to spill over. "We don't have much time, David. Things are worse than I thought."

David guided Snow to the center of the room, where the flames seemed calmer. "Tell me everything," he urged, his voice steady.

Snow took a deep breath and began. "Morwenna is alive, and she's hunting us. She has Aurora, and she's demanding the compass in exchange for her life. But we know we can't let her get it."

David's expression darkened. "The compass is your only way back to Storybrooke. You can't give it to her."

"I know," Snow said, her voice firm. "But Morwenna is stronger than we thought. She has her corpse army, and she's growing more powerful by the day. If we don't stop her soon, I don't know what will happen."

David's jaw tightened. "Gold warned us about her. He said she can't be allowed into the Land Without Magic. If she finds a way to cross over, she'll wreak havoc."

Snow shivered despite the heat. "We can't let that happen."

David nodded. "Gold told me something else. There's a way to stop her—a magical ink that can trap her. It's in Rumpelstiltskin's old prison cell. You need to find it."

"Magical ink?" Snow repeated, her brow furrowing. "Do you think it's strong enough?"

David placed his hands on her shoulders, his eyes locked onto hers. "If Gold believes it's strong enough, then it is. You have to trust me, Snow. You have to get to that cell before Morwenna gets the compass."

Snow nodded, determination flaring in her chest. "We'll find it. We'll stop her."

Mulan were at her side immediately, their faces etched with concern.

"What happened?" Emmett asked, helping her sit up.

"I found David," Snow said breathlessly, her heart still racing. "He told me where to find what we need to stop Morwenna."

Mulan's eyes narrowed. "What did he say?"

"There's magical ink in Rumpelstiltskin's old cell," Snow explained. "It's strong enough to trap her. We have to find it."

Emmett nodded, his determination matching hers. "Then we don't waste any more time."

Snow took a deep breath, steadying herself. "David is counting on us. Henry is counting on us. We won't let them down."

The group rose, gathering their belongings as they prepared for the next leg of their journey. Snow's resolve was stronger than ever, the memory of David's unwavering faith in her fueling her determination.

The quiet loft was dimly lit by the soft glow of a bedside lamp. David lay motionless on the bed, his face peaceful but unnervingly still under the grip of the sleeping curse. His chest rose and fell in slow, even breaths, but to Regina, it felt like he wasn't there at all.

She stood near the window, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. Mr. Gold sat on the armchair by the door, idly twirling his cane as though the situation were merely an inconvenient errand. Henry was perched on the edge of the bed, his small hands gripping David's limp one, his expression a mix of worry and hope.

"He looks like he's just sleeping," Henry said softly, breaking the silence.

"He is," Regina replied, her voice calm but edged with tension. "But it's not the kind of sleep he can wake up from on his own."

Henry glanced up at her, his eyes searching hers. "Will he be okay?"

Regina hesitated, her gaze flicking toward Gold, who raised an eyebrow at her, clearly leaving her to explain. She knelt down beside Henry, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Your grandfather is strong, Henry," she said gently. "He'll come back to us. He always does."

Henry nodded, though his grip on David's hand didn't loosen. "I just wish there was something I could do."

Gold let out a soft chuckle, the sound dry and sharp. "Not every battle can be won by a young hero, I'm afraid. Sometimes, all we can do is wait."

Regina shot him a glare. "If you're not going to be useful, you can leave."

Gold smirked, tapping his cane on the floor. "Oh, I've already been plenty useful, dearie. It's your turn to deliver on your promises."

"Promises?" Henry asked, looking between them.

"It's nothing," Regina said quickly, standing and turning to face Gold. "Do you have any idea how long he'll be like this?"

Gold shrugged. "That depends entirely on Snow White. If they succeed, he'll wake up. If not…" His voice trailed off, and his smile turned sharp. "Well, let's hope they succeed."

Regina's jaw tightened, but she didn't argue. Instead, she turned back to Henry. "It's late. You should get some rest."

"I want to stay with Grandpa," Henry said stubbornly, his small chin jutting out defiantly.

Regina softened, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead. "Okay. But only for a little while. And I'll be right here."

Henry nodded, turning his attention back to David as Regina moved to the far side of the loft, where Gold had risen from his chair.

"Why are you really still here?" she whispered harshly.

Gold tilted his head, his smile sly. "Because I'm curious, Regina. You're playing the hero now, using your magic only for good. It's adorable, really. But don't think for a moment that I've forgotten who you are."

Regina's eyes flashed dangerously. "You don't know who I am anymore."

"Don't I?" Gold murmured, leaning closer. "You think you've changed, that you can wash away all the things you've done with your mother. But deep down, you're still the same Regina. And when the time comes, when you're backed into a corner, you'll do whatever it takes to protect what's yours—even if it means breaking every rule you've set for yourself."

Regina's hand twitched, her magic sparking faintly at her fingertips, but she quickly clenched her fist, extinguishing it. "Get out."

Gold grinned, his eyes gleaming. "As you wish."

He tapped his cane against the floor and walked out of the loft, leaving Regina standing in the shadows, her thoughts swirling.

Later that night, as the loft grew quiet, Regina found herself staring out the window at the darkened streets of Storybrooke. The town felt heavier than ever, the weight of what was at stake pressing down on her shoulders.

Behind her, Henry had fallen asleep beside David, his small form curled up against his grandfather's still body. Regina watched them for a moment, her heart aching in a way she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years.

"Snow," she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible. "You'd better succeed. For David's sake. For all of us."

Unbeknownst to them, a figure lingered in the shadows outside the loft. Albert Spencer, King George, stood across the street, his gaze fixed on the faint light glowing in the upstairs window. His lips curled into a bitter smile as he watched, his hatred for David burning brighter than ever.

"Sleep tight, Prince Charming," he muttered, his voice dripping with malice. "It won't be much longer now."

He turned and disappeared into the night, his dark intentions weighing heavily on the town like an unspoken curse.