The morning sun barely crept over the horizon as Mr. Gold stood at the door of Mary Margaret's loft, his cane tapping softly against the wooden floor. Emmett Swan leaned against the kitchen counter, arms crossed and face unreadable.

"It's time," Gold said, his tone as sharp as his gaze.

Emmett frowned. "Time for what?"

"For you to fulfill your end of the bargain," Gold replied, his lips curling into a sly smile. "We're leaving Storybrooke to search for Saffire."

Emmett exchanged a wary glance with Mary Margaret, who looked as though she wanted to protest. David stood beside her, his expression a mix of concern and resignation.

"You're really going to trust him?" David asked Emmett, his voice low. "After everything?"

"I don't trust him," Emmett replied bluntly. "But I gave my word."

Gold's smirk deepened. "Wise choice. Let's not waste any more time."

Reluctantly, Emmett grabbed his jacket and followed Gold out the door. Mary Margaret placed a comforting hand on his arm before he left. "Be careful," she said softly.

Emmett nodded, his jaw tightening. "Always."

As they drove out of Storybrooke, Emmett glanced back at the town in the rearview mirror. It felt like he was leaving behind more than just the place—he was leaving behind a life he didn't fully understand yet.

Gold, seated beside him, seemed unbothered by the weight of the moment. He clutched a shawl tightly in his hands, his eyes fixed on the road ahead. As they crossed the town line, a faint shimmer of magic surrounded him, and Emmett watched as Gold's demeanor shifted. For a brief second, Rumplestiltskin flickered in his place, his golden skin and sly grin unmistakable.

"Well," Gold murmured, his voice laced with satisfaction, "it seems the potion worked."

Later that morning, Regina arrived at Mary Margaret's loft, her expression equal parts determined and frustrated. Mary Margaret and David were seated on the couch, their conversation halting as she stepped through the door.

"I'm here to clear my name," Regina announced, her tone clipped. "I didn't kill Archie, and you know it."

Mary Margaret stood, her gaze steady. "We do know. We've learned that Morwenna framed you."

Regina's eyes narrowed slightly, though she masked her surprise well. "Morwenna? I had no idea she was here."

David folded his arms. "Don't play coy, Regina. We know she's your sister."

"She's not my sister," Regina snapped, her voice rising. "She's a manipulative liar, and I want nothing to do with her."

Henry appeared from his room, his face lighting up when he saw Regina. "Mom!"

Regina's tense expression softened immediately as Henry ran to her, throwing his arms around her waist. She hugged him tightly, her fingers threading through his hair.

"I missed you," Henry said, his voice muffled against her shoulder.

Regina kissed the top of his head. "I missed you too, my little prince."

For a moment, the weight of the accusations and the tension in the room faded as mother and son reunited. Henry clung to Regina, refusing to let go, and she smiled despite the storm brewing in her mind.

"You're staying, right?" Henry asked hopefully.

"Yes," Regina replied, her voice soft.

Meanwhile, at the docks, David, Mary Margaret, and Leroy confronted Hook, who stood smugly on the deck of his ship. "What do you want now?" Hook asked, feigning boredom.

"We're coming aboard," David said firmly. "And you're going to help us."

Hook raised an eyebrow. "Am I now? And why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, we'll make sure you never leave this harbor," Leroy growled.

Hook smirked, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword. "Fine. Come aboard, but don't touch anything."

The group climbed onto the ship, their eyes scanning the deck for any signs of Morwenna. Hook led them toward a tarp-covered cage near the stern.

"What's under there?" Mary Margaret asked, her bow already drawn.

Hook pulled the tarp back with a flourish, revealing a human-sized Anton, fast asleep. "Morwenna's little project," he said casually. "She shrank him to make him easier to transport. Clever, isn't it?"

Mary Margaret approached cautiously. "Anton?"

At her voice, the giant stirred, his eyes fluttering open. When he saw David, his expression twisted into rage. "James!" he bellowed, lunging at him.

David barely had time to react before Anton's massive fist swung toward him. Mary Margaret loosed an arrow, striking Anton in the shoulder and driving him back. "It's not James!" she shouted. "This is David, his twin brother!"

Anton paused, confusion flickering across his face. "Twin?"

"Yes," David said, his voice steady despite the tension. "James was my brother. Whatever he did to you, I had nothing to do with it."

Anton hesitated, his breathing heavy. "Morwenna said you'd betray me."

"She lied," Mary Margaret said firmly. "She's using you."

Anton's shoulders sagged slightly, the fight draining out of him. "Then what do you want from me?"

"To stop Morwenna," David replied. "And to protect this town."

Back at the mansion, Regina sat with Henry, listening as he recounted everything that had happened while she was gone. His innocent excitement was a balm to her frayed nerves, but her mind kept drifting to Emmett.

As Henry continued talking, Regina's heightened sense of smell picked up the faint scent of something floral—Mary Margaret's perfume, still lingering in the air. The smell was suddenly overwhelming, making her feel lightheaded.

"Mom? Are you okay?" Henry asked, noticing her sudden pallor.

Regina forced a smile. "I'm fine, sweetheart. Just a little tired."

Inwardly, she couldn't shake the feeling that something was changing—something she couldn't quite name. As much as she tried to focus on Henry, the gnawing uncertainty about her own condition and the future loomed large in her mind.

Regina stood under the dim light of the docks, her dark cloak blending into the shadows. Across from her, Hook leaned casually against a barrel, his hook gleaming in the moonlight. His smirk was infuriatingly self-assured as he relayed the news.

"Your oversized friend, Anton, has been stewing in his resentment for humans," Hook said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Morwenna thought he'd be useful for... a bit of chaos. But now he's a loose cannon."

Regina's eyes narrowed. "Where is he?"

"Near the outskirts of town. He's been shrunk down, but his temper? Oh, that's still giant-sized." Hook chuckled. "He's not fond of humans, and I imagine he'll be less fond of you."

Regina turned sharply on her heel, her cloak billowing behind her. "I'll handle it."

"Careful," Hook called after her. "You might get squashed."

Regina ignored him, her mind racing. She wasn't doing this for Hook or Morwenna. She needed to restore some semblance of peace in Storybrooke—for Henry's sake, if nothing else.

By the time Regina reached the outskirts of town, Anton was pacing angrily near the tree line, his smaller form no less intimidating as he muttered furiously to himself. Regina approached cautiously, holding out a small vial containing a mushroom.

"This will restore your size temporarily," she said.

Anton glared at her but took the mushroom. "Why should I trust you?"

"You don't have to," Regina replied coolly. "But if you want answers, you'll need it."

He hesitated, then consumed the mushroom. Within moments, his body expanded, his colossal form towering over the treetops. He roared, his rage echoing across the town, before stomping towards Main Street.

David, Mary Margaret, and a small group of townspeople gathered near Granny's Diner when the ground began to shake beneath their feet.

"What now?" David muttered, grabbing his sword.

Anton appeared, his enormous figure blocking out the streetlights. His voice boomed, "Where's James? Where's the coward who betrayed me?"

David stepped forward, raising his hands. "Anton, listen to me. I'm not James. I'm his twin brother, David. James is dead."

Anton's expression twisted with anger. "Convenient excuse! Humans are all liars!"

Mary Margaret stepped up beside David, her tone calm but firm. "We're not lying. And we're not your enemy. Emmett is our son—he's proof we're different."

Anton's gaze shifted. "Where is this Emmett?"

David and Mary Margaret exchanged uneasy looks. "He's… out of town," David admitted.

The giant's face darkened. "Out of town? How convenient! All humans ever do is make excuses!"

With a deafening roar, Anton slammed his fists into the ground, sending townspeople scattering. He charged towards David, who stood his ground, sword at the ready.

"If it's me you want, take me!" David shouted. "But leave everyone else alone."

Anton leaped towards David, but the earth beneath him gave way, and he crashed into a hidden sinkhole. Dust and debris filled the air as Anton's massive form fell through the ground, his size shrinking as the mushroom's effects wore off. By the time the dust settled, Anton was human-sized, clinging to a pipe and struggling to climb out.

David rushed to the edge of the pit, calling out, "Anton! Hold on!"

"Why should I?" Anton shouted back, his voice choked with despair. "I should've known better than to trust humans."

"You're wrong," David replied, his voice resolute. "We're not all the same. Let us prove it."

Mary Margaret rallied the townspeople, and together they worked to lower ropes and ladders into the sinkhole. Leroy took charge, shouting orders as the dwarves formed a chain to pull Anton out.

When Anton finally emerged, his face was streaked with tears and dirt. David extended a hand, which Anton hesitated before taking. The townspeople cheered, and Anton looked around in surprise.

"Why?" he asked quietly. "Why would you help me?"

"Because it's what we do," David said simply. "We take care of each other."

Later, as the adrenaline of the day's events faded, Anton sat with the townspeople near the diner. He explained Morwenna's plan to use him to grow beans that could create portals between realms.

"I don't want to help her," Anton said. "But I do want to grow the beans. If we do it together, we can control how they're used."

Mary Margaret nodded. "We won't let Morwenna get them. We'll protect the farm."

The dwarves stepped forward, pledging their help. Leroy handed Anton a pickaxe, and as he gripped it, the name "Tiny" appeared on the handle. The dwarves cheered, welcoming Anton as one of their own.

That night, Mary Margaret and David sat on the couch in their loft, the room quiet except for the crackling of the fireplace. David stared into the flames, his thoughts far away.

"What's on your mind?" Mary Margaret asked, resting her head on his shoulder.

"I've been thinking about James," David admitted. "What kind of man would I be if King George had raised me instead?"

Mary Margaret took his hand. "You would still have a good heart. That's who you are, David."

He smiled faintly, squeezing her hand. "Today reminded me how much I love doing this—helping people, protecting them. But it also made me think about the Enchanted Forest. It's still out there, waiting to be saved."

Mary Margaret sat up, her expression firm. "If going back means losing Emmett, I'm not going. He's our son, David. We can't leave him."

David nodded, his gaze softening. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Across town, Regina stood in her private study, the faint glow of candlelight illuminating the edges of her face. The spellbooks and magical relics scattered across her desk spoke to her desperate search for answers, but tonight, her focus faltered. She pressed a hand to her temple, the dull throb of a headache lingering like a warning she couldn't decipher.

Her gaze wandered to the enchanted mirror on the wall. For a fleeting moment, she considered summoning her reflection, but the thought of her own doubts and fears staring back at her was too much to bear. She turned away, clutching the edge of the desk as a wave of nausea rolled through her.

Regina dismissed it as exhaustion—her body reminding her she hadn't rested properly in days. Yet, deep down, an unspoken worry gnawed at her. Something had changed, and though she couldn't name it, the unease refused to leave her.