XI. "You belong here."
One night, Regina and Henry silently eat dinner at home until the doorbell rings. "I don't recall us expecting any company," Regina muses and gets up to answer the door, finding Emma there. "Sheriff Swan. What are you doing here?"
"Henry invited me," Emma replies calmly.
"Do you honestly believe I'd allow you into my house for dinner, after all the threats you made to my family?" She argues, glaring at the blond.
"I didn't come for dinner," the Sheriff says.
"Then, what did you come for?" The dark-haired woman wonders.
"You," Emma sneers, and Regina looks confused and turns to look into the kitchen, discovering that Henry is gone. She turns back to Emma to find several other Storybrooke citizens have gathered behind the blond woman. "We all did." Regina turns around and starts retreating into the house when she sees Henry holding a noose at the top of the stairs.
"Henry," Regina gasps.
(BLESSING)
The mob brings Regina to the main street, where an apple tree springs up in the middle of the road. They tie her to the tree as she protests violently, and the rest of the town watches on. "No… No…. Let me go. I command it!" Regina cries.
"After everything you've done to all of us?" Ruby argues, glaring at her.
"My apologies, Your Majesty, but my conscience is clear!" Archie declares.
"You're not Queen anymore, sister!" Leroy shouts.
"Tighter! She needs to feel our pain!" Granny yells.
"You took our love and ripped it apart!" Mary Margaret sneers, glaring at her stepmother.
"And now, you're going to pay!" David declares, and Emma approaches Regina and picks one of the blackened apples off the tree. She holds it in front of Regina before crushing it in her hand.
"Rotten to the core," Emma growls, looking at the crushed apple and then at Regina.
"I just wanted to win… For once," Regina argues, and Emma grabs Regina by the throat.
"You took away our happiness, and now it's our turn to take away yours," she snaps, letting go of Regina's neck and walking towards the crowd. David pulls out a sword and hands it to Emma.
"…What? Henry. Henry, please don't let them do this to me," the Evil Queen begs, looking at her son.
"You did this to yourself," Henry replies calmly, and Emma steps forward. Wielding the sword, she aims for Regina and swings.
(BLESSING)
Before the sword hits Regina, she awakens from the nightmare and jolts upright in bed. She quickly gets up and heads to Henry's room, having a bad feeling. Inside, she seems to find Henry under his blanket, but Henry isn't there, as the boy's supposed figure is a pile of pillows. Regina walks out of the room, carefully closing the door, not wanting to wake Henry, and she goes back to her room.
(BLESSING)
Meanwhile, Emma and Henry drive along the road that leads out of Storybrooke. "Is that all your stuff?" Henry asks her, looking at the box in the backseat.
"All I need," Emma replies, shrugging and keeping an eye on the road.
"Wait. You want to go now? We're leaving now?" He wonders, surprised.
"Uh-huh. I'm getting you out of here. Away from all this. Away from her," she tells him determinedly.
"No, no. Stop the car! You can't leave Storybrooke. You have to break the curse," the Mills boy exclaims.
"No, I don't. I have to help you," the blond woman argues.
"But you're a hero – you can't run. You have to help everybody," Henry tells her.
"Henry, I know it's hard for you to see it, but I'm doing what's best for you. That's what you wanted when you brought me to Storybrooke," Emma retorts.
"But the curse… You're the only chance to bring back the happy endings," he argues, but Emma won't listen.
"Henry…" she sighs, and Henry does something drastic as he reaches over and grabs the steering wheel. "Henry!" Henry causes the car to veer off the road and into a ditch. "Henry! What were you doing? You could've gotten us killed!"
"Please! Please, don't make me go! We can't go!" The Mills boy shouts. "Everything's here… Me, your parents, your family, Uncle Landon. Please, Emma. They need you. Your family needs you."
(BLESSING)
In the Enchanted Forest, two guards bring Prince Charming before King George. "Did you really think that I would let you get away? Hm?" King George muses, looking at his son. "You appear to have had quite the adventure since then."
"Whatever it is you're going to do to me, get on with it," Prince Charming snaps, glaring at his so-called father.
"I took you in as my son, and you betrayed me," he sneers. "I would've given you everything. The crown, the kingdom. All you had to do was marry King Midas' daughter. But, you decided to follow 'true love'."
"Losing my life for love… That's a sacrifice I am happy to make," the Prince argues.
"As you wish," the King replies, signalling the guards, who drag Prince Charming over to the guillotine, where they secure his head under the blade. "Release the blade." The blade falls but magically dissolves into water before reaching Prince Charming's neck. "What is the meaning of this?" The Evil Queen enters with her brother and cohorts.
"Sorry to drop in on you," Regina muses, smiling as she steps towards the King.
"Regina. What do you want?" King George demands, glaring at the mighty Queen.
"I want the man you pretend is your son. And I'm prepared to pay any riches Midas promised you in return for him," she informs him, glancing at Charming.
"What do you plan to do to him?" He asks, only thinking of the gold.
"Oh, I promise he'll suffer. Far more than some swift and simple beheading," Landon assures the King.
"How?" King George demands.
"By using him to destroy his one true love. By using him to bring an end to Snow White," Regina replies, smirking.
(BLESSING)
Regina walks around Storybrooke, still unaware that Henry is missing, when she notices from her window that her apple tree is wilting. When she investigates, she finds the apples are beginning to rot. She heads for Mr Gold's Pawn Shop. "Your Majesty. To what do I owe the pleasure?" Mr Gold asks, glancing up at her.
"My tree is dying. Why?" Regina asks, glaring.
"Perhaps, it's your fertiliser," he muses, playing it off.
"You think this is funny? Well, I'll tell you what I think. I think it's a sign of the curse weakening because of Emma. But do you care? No. You're content to just sit back and do… Whatever it is you're doing, while all my hard work burns," she growls angrily.
"That's not all, is it? Come on. You might as well get everything off your chest," Gold suggests, knowing there's always more with Regina.
"I don't know what you're talking about," the Mayor argues, frowning.
"Henry. Miss Swan wants him," Mr Gold informs her, and she growls angrily.
"She'll have that boy over my dead body," Regina sneers, never wanting to lose her son, ever.
"The curse was meant to take away Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness. Perhaps, you giving up Henry is just the price to keep the curse unbroken," he argues.
"I think I'd rather just get rid of her," she retorts.
"Well, well. You're going to have to be quite creative," the Dark One muses. "We both know the repercussions in killing Miss Swan. The curse will be…"
"The curse will be broken. That's because you designed it that way. Undo it," the Evil Queen orders Rumpelstiltskin.
"You know… Even if I wanted to, I couldn't. Magic… Well… Is in short supply around here and dwindling by the minute," Mr Gold argues, shrugging.
"You want the curse broken. Why?" Regina asks, glaring at him.
"That's not something I care to discuss," he replies, hiding his own secrets.
"Don't bother. You can shove your reasons," she hisses. "I want to strike a new deal. One where I can get rid of Emma without shattering the curse."
"Unfortunately for you, a negotiation requires two interested parties, and I'm already planning a trip." Rumpelstiltskin hums.
"I'll give you anything," the Mayor tells him.
"You no longer have anything I want, dearie. But I will give you a piece of advice, free of charge. I'd plan a trip of your own," Mr Gold suggests, smiling. "Because, once people waken up and remember who you are and what you did to them… They are going to be looking for blood."
(BLESSING)
Regina growls as she walks into town and comes to the school, finding Paige's bike locked in the bike rank. She sticks a 'White Rabbit' card to the back of it before walking away, coming up with a plan to get rid of Emma for good.
(BLESSING)
Emma returns with Henry to Storybrooke after their argument and enters Mary Margaret's apartment. "Oh. Thought you'd left?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at the blond woman.
"Mary Margaret…" Emma sighs, walking towards her.
"But I couldn't tell for sure, because you didn't bother to say goodbye," she retorts coldly. "Do you remember when I left? When I ran? What you said to me? You said, we have to stick together. That we're like… Family."
"Yeah. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have left," the blond woman says, sitting at the kitchen counter.
"You're right – you shouldn't have. So why, after everything, did you just go?" The teacher asks her.
"I don't want to be Sheriff. I don't want people relying on me. I don't want this. Any of it," Emma confesses.
"What about Henry? What about Landon?" Mary Margaret argues, knowing that Emma's come to care about her son and she's falling for Landon hard.
"I took him with me," she tells her, and Mary Margaret looks at her in shock.
"You abducted him?" The raven-haired woman gasps.
"Maybe," the former Sheriff mutters, knowing it was a bad idea.
"So, you don't want people to rely on you, but you took your son? Now, that sounds like a stable home for him. What the hell is wrong with you?" Mary Margaret snaps, disappointed in her friend.
"I want what's best for him," Emma argues.
"And running is what's best for him? Or, is that what's best for you? You're reverting, Emma, into the person you were before you got here. And I thought you'd changed," she retorts. "I thought you were settling down?"
"You thought wrong," the blond woman says, thinking about Henry and Landon.
"Well, regardless, you have to do what's right for Henry now," the teacher reminds her.
"What's that?" Emma asks, feeling like she already knows the answer.
"Oh, I don't know. You're his mother – that's your job. So, you figure it out," Mary Margaret replies before heading out of the apartment but stops at the door. "I hope you at least gave Landon a goodbye note."
(BLESSING)
Snow White and her little army station themselves outside of King George's castle. She spies on the guards through a telescope. "If we're going to get him out, we're going to have to get over that wall. There's a soldier on every parapet," Snow informs the others.
"We're going to need some air support," Granny suggests.
"Air? I know just the person who can help us – someone who owes me a favour," Grumpy tells them, and they hear a noise from in the forest behind them. Everyone turns, aiming their weapons, when Red wanders out, blood near her mouth.
"Don't shoot. It's only me," Red announces, coming closer.
"Uh, Red, you know, you got someone on your chin," Snow tells her.
"Sorry," she replies, wiping the blood away.
"What were you able to find out?" The Princess asks, looking at her friend.
"Your Prince is still alive," the werewolf informs them.
"Then, why don't you look happy?" Snow White wonders, seeing the dreaded look on her friend's face.
"Because I also heard word the Queen and Historian are here," Red announces, and the little army looks around worriedly.
"She knew I'd come for him," she mutters.
"It's a trap," Granny warns her.
"Indeed. It matters not. I can't stop now. But I'll understand if any of you want to turn back," the raven-haired rogue argues, looking around at her friends.
"No! Not a chance!" The group protests firmly.
"Oh. Well, then there's no time to waste," Snow announces, and the group sets out towards the castle.
"Why is the Queen and her brother doing this?" Red wonders.
"I destroyed her happiness. And now, she wants to destroy mine," she replies, thinking of the past.
(BLESSING)
The Evil Queen and the Historian enter the dungeon where Prince Charming is being held. "Leave us," Landon orders the guards, who leave them alone.
"What do you want?" Charming asks, looking between the siblings.
"Hm… I suppose I see the allure. I wonder if you'll be quite so incorruptible after your precious Snow is gone." Regina muses, smiling at him.
"Whatever she did to you, leave her alone and take my life instead," he argues, wanting to protect Snow White.
"Oh, who said anything about taking her life? Oh, no. I have a far more satisfying brand of punishment for her," she assures him, turning and beginning to walk out of the cell. She takes out a leather satchel and pulls out the poisoned apple.
"Now, sister, don't show off," Landon mutters. "We have things to do."
"You're quite right, brother," the Evil Queen retorts, linking arms with him.
(BLESSING)
Regina stares at her decaying apple tree from her office window when Jefferson enters, having seen the 'White Rabbit' card. "Jefferson. So, you got my message," Regina muses, glancing at him.
"How could I miss it? You know I watch her," Jefferson argues, glaring at the Evil Queen.
"It must be so painful, your daughter Paige being oh, so near," she comments, turning to face him.
"Grace. Her name is Grace. You should know that – you changed it. What do you want?" He asks.
"Your help," the Mayor replies, hating the idea.
"And what makes you think, I won't kill you after everything you've done?" The Mad Hatter wonders, stepping towards her.
"Because you don't have it in you," Regine argues. "If you did, you would have done it twenty-eight years ago when I brought you here. Because you know if I'm dead, you'll never get back to your daughter. And I have a way for us to both get what we want." Regina retrieves Jefferson's hat box and places it on the table.
"My hat," Jefferson mutters, looking at it.
"Yes, my brother kept it for safekeeping," she explains. "And I want you to use it again,"
"I can't make it work. No one can. Not here. Not without Magic," he argues, shaking his head.
"Well, then you're in luck, because I happen to have some. Not a lot… But hopefully, enough… For one last journey," the Evil Queen tells him.
"Where?" The mad man asks.
"Back to our land. Where there's a solution to a very delicate problem I have… How to get rid of the one person who could break my curse," Regina informs him.
"Emma. And why shouldn't I let her do just that? End the madness and go home," Jefferson argues.
"To your hovel? Selling fungus at the fair? Why? When you could just stay here in the mansion I gave you?" She retorts. "My problem, Jefferson, is the same as yours. It's family. We both want our children back, and we both can get them, if we work together."
"Why should I trust you now?" He asks.
"You shouldn't. But it's the only offer you've got. After we're through, I'll wake up your dear Grace, so she remembers who you are," the Mayor promises him.
"No. Remembering is the worst curse. Two lives in her head, like me. I want to forget. I want you to write us a new story, a fresh start, here," the Mad Hatter argues, wanting a life with her precious daughter.
"Well, my dear Jefferson, then that's exactly what you'll have. Oh. After we take care of Miss Swan," Regina assures him.
(BLESSING)
Snow White, the Dwarves, and Granny wait outside the castle when they hear a howl in the distance. "Thank you, Red," Snow whispers. "Do it." One of the Dwarves fires a flaming arrow into the sky. "Move out."
"I miss Stealthy," Grumpy grumbles. The group starts towards the castle.
(BLESSING)
While in the sky, the Blue Fairy and the rest of the Fairies are waiting for the signal. They see the flaming arrow below them. "We're a go. Fairies! Attack!" The Blue Fairy shouts, and a massive horde of Fairies swarm the castle.
(BLESSING)
Below, Snow White and company begin scaling the walls of the castle. Once up, several guards attempt to attack them. They fend them off and continue down to the courtyard.
(BLESSING)
In the courtyard, Snow and company battle with King George's guards. They eventually manage to defeat all of them but are stopped when another wave of guards arrive and surround them. However, they are saved by the swarm of Fairies, who wipe out all the guards with their Fairy Dust. The group continues into the castle.
(BLESSING)
Henry returns home and decides to see August, avoiding everyone else and goes to the bed and breakfast and knocks on August's door. "Hang on," August says before answering the door, and Henry pushes his way into the room.
"August, please. I need your help. Emma wants to leave," Henry tells him urgently.
"What? Slow down," he suggests calmly.
"Y-You were going to make her believe. You have to," the Mills boy argues, not wanting Emma to leave.
"I know, Henry. I'm sorry. I… I failed," the writer sighs.
"Failed?" Henry asks, looking at the man.
"I tried to show her. At first it was my legs, and now… Now take a look… At the unvarnished truth," August argues, pulling back his sleeve and revealing a wooden arm.
"It's wood," he mutters, looking at it.
"Yes," Pinocchio whispers.
"All of this… I was right. The curse… It's real!" the Mayor's son exclaims, beaming as he knows it's not his imagination.
"You're a smart kid," August replies, smiling, but he feels it's too late now.
"And you're Pinocchio," Henry realises.
"What gave it away?" He retorts.
"But, why are you turning back to wood? Your story… You should be real," the Mills boy wonders.
"I'm changing back because… I haven't exactly been a good boy. And… Well… If the curse doesn't break… This doesn't stop," the writer explains a little.
"So, we show Emma that you're turning back into the puppet you were, and then, she has to believe. And, when she does, she could break the curse," Henry argues, but August has already tried that.
"I tried that. She doesn't want to see, so she doesn't," August tells him. "There's nothing more that I can do. I-I'm getting tired. It's hard to ride and it's hard to walk. Soon, it's going to be hard to breathe."
"So, we have to do something fast," he suggests.
"There's nothing to do. And with what little time I have left, I want to spend it with my father," Pinocchio replies.
"Marco," the Mayor's son mutters.
"Told you you're a smart kid," August teases a little.
"So, everyone's giving up," Henry sighs.
"I'm afraid that I don't have a choice. I'm sorry, kid, but I'm out of Operation Cobra. Now, it's up to you," he tells Henry.
(BLESSING)
Meanwhile, Emma and Archie sit in Granny's Diner, talking about Henry. "Emma, I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you don't have any case for custody," Archie tells her.
"Even after everything she's done?" Emma asks in disbelief.
"Which you can't prove," he argues. "Let me just ask you a question – with this w*r raging on, who really is getting hurt here?"
"I know. Henry. But isn't it a good thing that he's spending time with me? I'm his mother," she reasons.
"Yes, you are. And so is Regina. And l-look, the court is going to come in and look at him and see how he's been since you've come into his life," Dr Hopper explains.
"And he's been happier, right?" The blond woman argues.
"Maybe. I mean, objectively?" Archie retorts. "He's skipped school, he's stolen a credit card, he's run off, he's… He's endangered himself, repeatedly. And so, in the eyes of the law, it's not so-."
"And what about in your eyes? What do you think?" Emma asks him.
"I mean, a while ago, I told you to engage him in his fantasy life, and… And perhaps I was wrong, because he's only retreated further into it," he tells her.
"You think he's better off with her?" She wonders.
"I never said that," Dr Hopper argues.
"Do you think that she would ever hurt him?" The former Sheriff asks, though she already knows the answer deep down.
"No. Never. I mean, everyone else, but not him. Look, right or wrong, her actions have all been defensive. I'm not judging, but… In many ways, your arrival has woken a sleeping Dragon," Archie explains. "And that's with Landon constantly trying to thwart her every move."
"Tell me honestly – has he been better off since I got here?" Emma wonders, not wanting to hurt her son anymore.
"It's not a matter of better off," he reasons. "It's… It's a matter of this w*r has to end. If you two are going to be in his life, you have to figure out the best way to do that."
(BLESSING)
Snow White enters the dungeon, spotting Prince Charming in his cell. "Charming… Charming!" She shouts.
"Snow…" Prince Charming mutters, and she grabs the key and opens the cell door, only to discover that there is only a mirror in the cell with Prince Charming's image/
"You're… No… No… Oh, no!" She shouts.
"The Queen took me to her palace," he tells her.
"But I'm rescuing you," the rogue Princess argues, feeling hopeless.
"Snow…" Charming mutters.
"Is this always going to be our life? Taking turns finding each other?" Snow wonders.
"We'll be together, I know it. Have faith," the Prince assures her, and his image becomes obscured by purple smoke. When it cleans, an image of the Evil Queen is in his place.
"I just had to stop you. I have no interest in cleaning tongue marks off my mirror," Regina remarks.
"Let him go. Your fight is with me," Snow growls.
"My thoughts exactly. Have you ever heard of a parley? We break off all this messy fighting and have a little talk. Just you and me. Come unarmed," she suggests, having other plans in mind.
"Where do I meet you?" the Princess asks, wanting the fighting to stop.
"Where it all began," the Evil Queen informs her.
(BLESSING)
Snow White and her group gather in the castle's main room after her altercation with the Evil Queen. She starts unloading all of her weapons. "Stop trying to talk me out of this. The castle is secure – I'm going," Snow snaps at her friends.
"Keep the little knife between your tuffets," Grumpy suggests, wanting her protected.
"I promised I would come alone and unarmed. It's a parley. There are rules," she argues.
"You're too noble for your own good," Red comments.
"I'm not. But, enough of you have risked your lives because of something that's between the Queen and me. I will not let anyone else get hurt because of me," the Princess tells them.
"Except you," she retorts.
"Thank you for your concern, but this ends today," Snow says, and the Dwarves block her path when she tries to leave.
"We can't let you go," Grumpy argues.
"I'm not asking. Thank you for your support. I love each and every one of you, but this is something I have to do… Alone," she argues and leaves, needing to stop the Evil Queen and save Prince Charming.
"I don't like this. I don't trust that Queen," Red comments, looking at the others, who nod in agreement with her words.
(BLESSING)
Regina leads Jefferson down a set of stairs leading to what appears to be an underground tomb. Several urns and boxes line the walls. "Watch your step," she warns the Mad Hatter.
"What is this place?" Jefferson asks, looking around.
"Where I've kept the last bit of my Magic. The only Magic in this world is in the things I brought with me," Regina explains, and Jefferson places his hat in the centre of the room, but nothing happens.
"It's not spinning. It's not working," he states.
"It needs to absorb the Magic that's here. I have some things left. A few trinkets," she suggests, taking a box from one of the side walls and dumping its contents into the hat. Once again, nothing happens.
"It's not enough. You need something that still works," the Mad Hatter suggests, and Regina pulls out Daniel's ring and holds it up. The ring is produced by Magic. Daniel's face reflects in the middle. "Who's that?"
"Someone long gone," the Evil Queen mutters.
"Well, whatever or whoever it is, it still has magical properties. Give me that, and let me see what I can do with it," Jefferson tells her, and she hesitates, not wanting to lose another piece of her heart. "If you want your son back, if you want your revenge, give it to me." Regina agrees and drops the ring into the hat. A slight purple vortex begins to form, but the hat stops spinning.
"What's wrong? Why isn't it opening a portal?" Regina asks him.
"The Magic – it's not enough. We can't go anywhere," He informs her.
"Then you failed," she hisses angrily.
"Maybe not," the madman argues. "There's enough Magic to touch the other side, just not to get us there. There might be enough to… Reach through and retrieve something."
"I can bring something back?" The Mayor asks, looking at the hat.
"Is there an object that can help you? Perhaps, I can open it enough and reach through and grab it," Jefferson tells her. "It would have to be small. Something that you can take with your hand. Is there anything like that that can help you?"
"Yes. Yes, I believe there is," Regina agrees, thinking of one good moment.
"Then, you need to direct me to the time and place where this object exists," he informs her, handing the hat to Regina.
"How?" She asks him.
"Think about it. Guide the hat," the Mad Hatter instructs, and Regina closes her eyes and thinks for a moment. A proper vortex forms when she places the hat back on the ground. "Excellent. It appears to be working. Now, what is it we're after?"
"An apple," the Evil Queen replies, grinning.
(BLESSING)
Snow White enters the stables from Regina and Landon's childhood, the designated meeting place between the two women. "Hello, Regina," Snow greets her stepmother.
"Follow me," Regina orders, leading the rogue Princess into the field, where they come to a tombstone. It has a heart etched into it. "Do you remember when I ran down your runaway horse, Snow? Do you remember when I saved your life?"
"Of course. It all looks the same," she muses, looking around.
"Not quite. This is new," the dark-haired woman argues, gesturing to the tombstone.
"Is that…" the Princess gasps, looking at it.
"A grave. Daniel's grave," Regina reveals
"Daniel? I thought…" Snow argues, looking between Regina and the tombstone.
"He ran away? I told you that to spare your feelings out of…kindness. But he died because of you," she tells her.
"I-I'm… I'm sorry," the raven-haired woman apologises, feeling dread.
"I'm sorry, too. But nothing can change what happened. What you did. You promised to keep my secret. You promised, but you lied," the Evil Queen sneers at Snow White.
"I was very young, and your mother-," Snow argues.
"She ripped his heart out because of you. Because you couldn't listen to me," Regina snaps angrily.
"You took my father. Haven't we both suffered enough?" She retorts, not wanting anyone else to die.
"No," the dark-haired woman says, pulling the poisoned apple from her satchel.
"What is that?" The Princess asks, looking at the poisonous fruit.
"It's just a morsel. Did you know that apples stand for health and wisdom?" Regina muses, admiring her work.
"So, why do I get the feeling that one might kill me?" Snow wonders.
"It won't kill you. No, what it will do is far worse," she argues, smirking. "Your body will be your tomb, and you'll be in there with nothing but dreams formed of your own regrets."
"And you're going to force me to eat it," the raven-haired woman guesses, looking at her stepmother.
"Of course not. It wouldn't work anyway," the Evil Queen explains. "The choice is yours. It must be taken willingly."
"And why would I do that?" Snow White asks, not seeing the big picture.
"Because, if you refuse the apple, your Prince, your Charming, will be killed," Regina informs her.
"No…" she gasps, thinking of the man she loves with all her heart.
"As I said, the choice is yours," the dark-haired woman tells her, knowing Snow will do it for her Prince Charming.
"I take that apple, and he lives? That's the deal you want to make?" The rogue Princess asks her.
"With all my heart," Regina promises her.
"Then, congratulations. You've won," Snow White declares and takes a bite of the apple. Within seconds, she collapses to the ground. Simultaneously, Prince Charming experiences a painful stabbing pain in his chest. He scrambles to the door of his cell.
"Snow…" Prince Charming gasps through the pain. "What have you done to her? What have you done? Snow!" He shouts through the bars. The poisoned apple rolls from Snow White's hand and disappears through the portal.
(BLESSING)
The apple appears in Storybrooke through the Mad Hatter's hat, and Jefferson catches it. "Is this it?" Jefferson asks, looking at the poisonous apple.
"Yes. Yes, it is," Regina replies, smiling and taking the apple.
"And my daughter? My Grace?" He wonders, wanting to be with her again.
"First things first. The deal's not done," she informs him. "Not until I solve the next conundrum. How to get this Saviour to taste my forbidden fruit…"
(BLESSING)
Regina returns home and goes to work in her kitchen, chopping up the poisonous apple and fashioning it into a turnover. While they're baking, Emma rings the doorbell, and Regina answers. "We need to talk," Emma tells her, cutting straight to the point.
"Yes, I imagine we do. I was just about to call you. Come right in," Regina replies, letting Emma inside the house. "Do what you're so skilled at and make yourself at home. I believe you came to see me."
"Right. Look, this isn't easy. I think that this… Whatever is between us needs to end," she says, moving into the house.
"At last, something we can agree on," the dark-haired woman remarks, heading into the foyer.
"I want to make a deal with you about Henry," the Sheriff suggests.
"I'm not making any deals with you-," Regina argues.
"I'm leaving town," Emma announces, surprising Regina.
"What?" She asks, turning to look at her.
"This… What we're doing is a problem, and I'm going to go, but I have conditions. I still get to see Henry. I get to visit and spend time, whatever," the blond woman suggests.
"And you get to see him. You're still in his life," the Mayor retorts, still unhappy about the deal. "What about my brother?"
"Look, in any deal, both parties are a little unhappy," Emma argues. "But, let's be honest – we both know the world where I'm not in his life no longer exists, and there's no one who can do anything about that." The timer on the oven beeps. "And I don't know about Landon, but I can't be in Storybrooke anymore.
"You're right. Would you mind following me for a moment?" Regina asks, heading into the kitchen and taking the turnover out of the oven. "So, what are you proposing?"
"I don't know. Just figure it out as we go," she replies, shrugging.
"But he's my son," the dark-haired woman argues.
"Yeah," the Sheriff agrees and goes to leave, but Regina stops her.
"Oh, Miss Swan? Maybe a little something for the road?" Regina suggests, not believing that Emma will just leave Storybrooke and her son, not even Landon, and she takes out a Tupperware container and gestures to the turnover.
"Thanks," Emma replies.
"If we're going to be in each other's lives, it's time we start being cordial. My famous turnovers. Old recipe. But delicious," she comments, packing up the turnover and handing it to Emma.
"Thank you," the blond woman says, taking it.
"I do hope you like apples," the Mayor muses, hoping her plan works.
(BLESSING)
In the Enchanted Forest, Red and Granny arrive at the stables as they search for Snow White while the Dwarves search the field. "Snow was here," Red declares. "I can smell it."
"Snow! Snow!" Granny shouts.
"She's over here!" Grumpy yells in the distance. "She's over here!" Red and Granny run towards the source and find Grumpy and the rest of the Dwarves gathered around the unconscious Snow White. "I found her lying here like this. Is she…"
"Granny, give me your dagger," Red requests, and Granny hands it over carefully.
"Maybe she's just sleeping," Bashful suggests as Red places the dagger under Snow White's nose.
"She has no breath. She's gone. She sacrificed herself… For true love," she mutters.
"She sacrificed herself for all of us," Grumpy whispers while the Evil Queen watches them through the mirror safely in her castle.
"It would appear sacrifice is overrated. Speaking of…" Regina muses and waves her hand, magically switching scenes to Prince Charming's cell deep within her castle.
"Snow! What have you done to her? What have you done?" Prince Charming shouts.
(BLESSING)
Regina enters Mr Gold's Pawn Shop, needing to talk to him. "I hope you bought travel insurance," Regina remarks, "because no one's going anywhere."
"Oh, really? And why's that?" Mr Gold asks, glancing at her.
"Because I found a solution to my Emma Swan problem," she replies, seeming proud of herself.
"Oh, yes?" He muses.
"An old, reliable solution," the Mayor informs him.
"A sleeping curse," Gold guesses. "Might I ask how you managed to obtain one here in Storybrooke?"
"By sacrificing the last bit of magic I had left," Regina tells him, shrugging.
"So, you made Magic from Magic. Well, I'm sure I don't have to remind you that, uh, all Magic comes with a price," Mr Gold warns her, reciting the same words he always advises people with.
"Then you can pay it," she snaps. "Because now, the curse is going to be stronger than ever. And you will be right here where you belong. Don't you understand? I won. So, whatever plan you had… Whatever reason you wanted the curse broken… Too bad. Because it's never going to happen."
(BLESSING)
At Mary Margaret's apartment, Emma hears a knock at the door and answers to find Henry there, and she lets him in. "Hey, Emma. Everything okay? You sounded strange over the walkie," Henry comments.
"Oh, um… No, I'm okay," Emma assures him and thinks about her conversation with Regina. "Just, um… Yesterday, when I tried to take you away, you were right. I can't take you out of Storybrooke. But I can't stay either."
"What?" He asks, looking at her in shock.
"I have to go," she tells him, not wanting to leave Landon and Henry, but she knows it's for the best.
"Go? You mean leave Storybrooke?" The Mills boy questions.
"Yeah. I spoke to Regina, and we made a deal," the blond woman explains. "I'm still going to be able to see you, just not… Every day."
"No! No, you can't trust her!" Henry exclaims, shaking his head furiously.
"I have to. It's my only choice. It's what's best for you, Henry. Every time I fight her, someone else gets hurt," Emma argues, wanting to do what's best for everyone.
"No, no, no! You're just scared. This happens to all heroes. It's just the low moment before you fight back," he assures her, trying to knock some sense into her.
"Henry! This isn't a story. This is reality," she snaps. "And things have to change. You can't skip school, you can't run away, and… You can't believe in curses."
"Y-You really don't believe?" The Mayor's son questions, looking at her.
"I… This is how it has to be right now. I made a deal, and I used my superpower. She's telling the truth. She's going to take really good care of you," the former Sheriff assures her.
"Yes, but she wants you dead," Henry argues.
"Come on, Henry!" Emma yells, getting tired of all this nonsense.
"You're the only one that can stop her," he tells her.
"Stop her from what?" She retorts. "All she's ever done is fight for you. It just… Got out of hand. I'm sorry." Henry rushes towards Emma and hugs her, but he notices a turnover on the table.
"Where did you get that?" The Mills boy asks, pulling away, and Emma turns around, looking at the desert.
"Regina gave it to me," the blond woman tells him.
"Apple!" Henry exclaims.
"So?" Emma asks, not seeing the connection.
"You can't eat that. It's poison," he warns her.
"What?" She gapes, looking at the kid in shock.
"Don't you see? The deal… It was all a trick to get you to eat that, to get rid of the Saviour," the Mayor's son tells her.
"Henry, come on. Why would she do that when I just told her I was going to go?" The former Sheriff argues.
"Because as long as you're alive, you're a threat to the curse," Henry repeats himself.
"Henry, you've got to stop thinking like this," Emma tells him, sighing.
"But it's the truth! And you leaving isn't going to change that," he argues.
"I'll prove it to you," she replies, grabbing the turnover from the kitchen counter.
"No!" The Mills boy shouts, grabbing the turnover from Emma.
"Henry… What are you doing?" The blond woman snaps.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this," Henry replies. "You may not believe in the curse… Or in me. But I believe in you." He takes a bite of the turnover, but nothing happens.
"See? You want to have some ice cream with that?" Emma asks. "And then we can go back to talking about…" Suddenly, Henry collapses to the floor. "Henry? Henry? Henry!"
"Emma?" Landon calls from the door, but when he hears her shouting, he busts open the door. "What's going on!"
(BLESSING)
Prince Charming attempts to break the lock on his cell door with a rock but is unsuccessful, sliding to the floor in defeat. "I will find you, Snow. I will always find you," Charming promises when two guards arrive.
"It'll be hard to do that without your head," the guard snaps. "Get up. The Queen is looking forward to your execution." They shackle the Prince and haul him out of the cell into the hallway.
(BLESSING)
The guards walk Prince Charming out of the cell when he slumps. "Get up! On your feet," the guard snaps again, and Prince Charming jumps up and attacks the guards. After incapacitating them, he flees down the hallway. Farther down, he encounters another guard armed with a bow and arrow, and another guard arrives.
"Shoot him!" The guard orders and the archer takes aim, but instead of shooting the Prince, they shoot the other guard.
"Who the hell are you?" Prince Charming asks, looking at the archer, who removes his helmet, revealing the Huntsman.
"A friend. I don't know you. But I know Snow White," The Huntsman explains.
"Is she okay?" He asks, and the Huntsman unlocks the Prince's shackles.
"The Queen was travelling to meet her. Her fate is in a precarious place. You must hurry. Follow me. I can get you out. I'll try and stall the Queen. The rest is up to you," the archer explains, handing the Prince a bag and a sword. "Your weapon and some provisions. Good luck."
"You're not coming with me?" The Prince asks.
"I cannot. I gave up my heart so that the Queen would spare Snow's. Don't let my sacrifice be in vain. Find her," The Huntsman tells him, and Charming flees.
(BLESSING)
At the hospital, Henry is wheeled in on a gurney as Emma and Landon follow. Dr Whale and several nurses attend to the Mills boy. "Henry, can you hear me? Come on, Henry. Wake up, please. Come on, Henry. Come on. You can do it," Emma begs, and Landon wraps his arm around her.
"Ma'am, let me take you to-," a nurse says.
"No, I am not going anywhere," she snaps, making the Nurse flinch back.
"Leave her alone and save my nephew," Landon growls, making the woman flee.
"There's no pupil response," Dr Whale states, turning to Emma and Landon. "What happened? Did he fall? Hit his head?"
"He ate this. I think it's poisoned," Emma replies, holding a baggie containing the turnover. Landon recognises it and glares at the apple turnover.
"His airway's clear. Did he vomit? Any convulsion or disorientation?" He wonders, looking between them.
"He took a bite of this, and then he just collapsed," she mutters tearfully. "So, run the test for arsenic, or bleach, or Drano, or whatever could've done this to him!"
"The boy is showing no symptoms that would suggest neurotoxins. So, whatever's going on, this is not the culprit," the Doctor argues.
"Well, what else could it be?" Landon snaps at the other man.
"I don't know. That's what I'm trying to find out," Dr Whale retorts firmly, not backing down from the angry glare Landon is giving him.
"He's going to be okay, though, right?" Emma asks, clinging to Landon.
"Right now, we just need to stabilise him, cause he's slipping away. Is there anything else that you can remember? Any little detail?" He wonders, hoping for some more information.
"We already told you everything. Do something!" Landon growls.
"Look, I understand you're frustrated, Mr Mills, I do. But I need something to treat. And, right now, there is no explanation. It's like…" the Doctor argues, and Emma thinks for a moment before grabbing Henry's backpack and dumping the contents onto the table, looking at the book.
"Like magic," Emma mutters, picking up the book. Her mind fills with memories of the fairy tale world, particularly when she was sent to the real world as a baby. When she comes to, Regina frantically rushes into the room, having heard the news.
"Where's my son?" Regina demands.
"You did this," she growls, grabbing the Mayor and dragging her to a storage room.
"Emma!" Landon shouts after her.
(BLESSING)
Emma slams the door and throws Regina against a storage rack before continuing her attack on the Evil Queen while Regina struggles to defend herself against the angry blond. Emma ultimately ends up pinning Regina against the wall. "You did this!" Emma shouts.
"What the hell are you doing? Stop this! My son-!" Regina snaps, trying to move away from her.
"Is sick because of you! That apple turnover you gave me? He ate it!" She growls angrily.
"What? It was meant for you!" The Mayor argues.
"It's true, isn't it?" The blond woman asks.
"What are you talking about?" Regina snaps.
"It's true, isn't it? All of it," Emma clarifies.
"Yes," she answers, hanging her head.
"I was leaving town. Why couldn't you just leave things alone?" The former Sheriff argues.
"Because as long as you're alive, Henry will never be mine!" the Evil Queen argues.
"He'll never be anyone's unless you fix this. You wake him up!" Emma yells.
"I can't!" Regina shouts back at her.
"Don't you have magic?" She asks.
"That was the last of it. It was supposed to put you to sleep!" The Mayor snaps, and Emma releases her grip on Regina.
"What's it going to do to him?" The blond woman wonders, calming down a little at the thought of losing Henry.
"I don't know. Magic here is unpredictable," Regina replies with dread.
"So… So he could…" Emma mutters, stepping away as her stomach drops to the floor.
"Yes," she whispers.
"So, what do we do?" The former Sheriff asks her, hoping for a plan to save their son.
"We need help. There's one other person in this town who knows about this… Knows about Magic," the Evil Queen tells her, and Emma knows who she's talking about because they've both gone to him for help.
"Mr Gold," Emma agrees.
"Actually, he goes by Rumpelstiltskin," Landon states, making the women turn to see him as he stands in the doorway. "Are you two ladies finished with your cat fight?"
(BLESSING)
The Evil Queen paces her chambers as the Historian lounges around when the Huntsman arrives. "Where is he? The prisoner!" Regina shouts.
"Escaped," The Huntsman announces, and she magically throws him into the wall angrily.
"Regina, remember what mother told you, don't break your toys," Landon muses, earning a glare from his little sister.
"A palace full of guards, and you let him escape?" Regina growls, glaring at her little toy.
"I did my best," the Huntsman argues.
"You failed. And do you know what happens to people who fail me, Huntsman?" She snaps, stepping towards him like a predator.
"I'll find him. You needn't worry. Leave him to me," he assures her.
"That won't be necessary. He's mine," the Evil Queen growls and sees Prince Charming through her mirror. She waves her hand, and Charming is warped through a portal.
(BLESSING)
The portal transports Prince Charming to a clearing in the middle of a forest. Lost, the Prince begins to run in a random direction, but it won't matter as the forest he's stuck in is exceptionally vast. Though Prince Charming arrives at another clearing, where Rumpelstiltskin is waiting. "Lost, are we?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, making the Prince turn to look at the Dark One.
"What are you doing here?" Charming questions, stepping towards him.
"I'm just here to help," he assures him.
"Well, no need. I'll be fine," the Prince argues, walking away.
"No, I don't think so. This is the Infinite Forest. There's no way out. Well, except… My way," the Dark One retorts, needing something from the man.
"I want nothing from you," Charming snaps.
"Not even this?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, holding up a ring that the Prince recognises.
"My mother's ring. It was just… How did you get it?" He wonders, wanting that ring back and to give it to Snow.
"The same way I get everything I want – Magic. The same Magic that allows me to do… This," the Dark One argues, flipping the ring and catching it in his hand. The jewel on the ring now glows. "This ring is now enchanted. The closer you get to Snow White, the brighter it will glow. Interested?"
"Give it to me," Charming demands, holding his hand out.
"Ah! It's not something for nothing, dearie. Time to make a deal," Rumpelstiltskin retorts.
"No! No more deals!" The Prince shouts, drawing his sword and tries attacking Rumpelstiltskin. However, the Dark One simply catches the blade with his hand. Charming draws back again but finds that Rumpelstiltskin has disappeared.
"Over here," he announces, standing behind him, armed with his sword. Prince Charming lunges at him. The two duel briefly until Rumpelstiltskin disappears and reappears again. "Persistent." Charming darts towards him, and they continue duelling. Rumpelstiltskin eventually gains the upper hand and holds the sword against the Prince's neck. "Had enough?"
"Never," The Prince spits, striking back and cutting Rumpelstiltskin's face, which he magically heals instantly. The Dark One again gains the upper hand in their fight and disarms Prince Charming to the ground.
"Looking for this?" The Dark One human. "So brave. So gallant. So pointless. Bravery won't get you out this forest, dearie. Magic will. Trust me. This is a deal you want to make, because we both want the same thing."
"What's that?" Charming asks.
"Why, you and your true love to be together, of course," Rumpelstiltskin argues.
(BLESSING)
Mary Margaret leaves Granny's Diner and heads for her car when David approaches her, needing to talk. "Hey," David greets her.
"David," Mary Margaret replies, looking at him, still unsure what to feel about him after everything.
"I was wrong," he tells her. "About you, about me, about… Everything. I didn't believe in you, and I wish I had a good reason why. But, it's like I keep making these wrong decisions, and I don't understand why they keep happening. You know, ever since I woke up from that coma, my life hasn't made a lick of sense. Except for you… And what I'm feeling? It's love, Mary Margaret."
"David, why are you here?" She asks him.
"Because Kathryn put a down payment on an apartment in Boston. She's not going to use it, but I am. Unless, you give me a reason to stay," Nolan declares.
"David… I can't," the teacher argues, tired of trying to be together with him.
(BLESSING)
In the Infinite Forest, Rumpelstiltskin holds up a vial of the bottled 'true love' potion. "Behold. The most powerful Magic of all… True love," Rumpelstiltskin "Ah! Careful. This is all I have left of it."
"What do you know of true love?" Charming argues, glaring at him.
"Well, not so much as you, perhaps, but not so little as you might think," he retorts, thinking of Belle.
"You? You loved someone?" The Prince asks in disbelief.
"It was a brief flicker of light amidst an ocean of darkness," the Dark One remarks, shrugging.
"What happened?" Charming wonders.
"She died. That's the thing about true love, dearie. It can slip through your fingers. It's the most powerful Magic in the world. The only Magic powerful enough to break any curse. It must be protected at all costs," Rumpelstiltskin argues, giving the man some advice along the way.
"I don't understand. What exactly is it you want me to do?" He asks.
"I want you to help me protect it by putting it in a safe place for me," the Dark One says, producing an egg-shaped container, which he places the vial inside.
"And where is that?" The Prince questions.
"Inside the belly of a beast, of course," Rumpelstiltskin retorts, shutting the egg-shaped container and tossing it to Prince Charming
"Why hide it?" Charming wonders.
"Let's just say, I'm saving it for a rainy day," he retorts.
(BLESSING)
Emma and Regina enter Mr Gold's Pawn Shop with Landon trailing behind them, brooding after Emma and Regina unleashed on him after confirming that he's been lying to both of them about remembering everything from the Enchanted Forest. "Do my eyes deceive me, or is that the look of a believer?" Mr Gold muses, looking at Emma.
"We need your help," Emma replies, ignoring his comment.
"Indeed, you do," he says. "It seems quite the tragic ailment has befallen our young friend. I told you, Magic comes with a price."
"Henry shouldn't have to pay it," Landon growls, stomping towards Mr Gold, who moves back a little at the imposing figure.
"No, your sister should, but alas, we are where we are," the Dark One argues.
"Can you help us?" Emma asks, pushing Landon away from the shop counter.
"Of course. True love, Miss Swan… The only Magic powerful enough to transcend realms and break any curse. Luckily for you, I happen to have bottled some," Mr Gold informs them.
"You did?" Regina questions, surprised.
"Oh, yes. From strands of your parents' hair, I made the most powerful potion in all the realm. So powerful that when I created the Dark Curse, I placed a single drop on the parchment. Just a little safety valve," he explains, smirking.
"That's why I'm the Saviour. That's why I can break the curse," Emma realises.
"Now you're getting it," Rumpelstiltskin retorts.
"I don't care about breaking the curse. All I care about is saving Henry," she argues.
"Which is why it's your lucky day. I didn't use all the potion. I saved some… For a rainy day," Mr Gold remarks.
"Well, it's storming like a bitch. Where is it?" The blond woman demands and all of them want to save Henry.
"Where it is isn't the problem. Getting it is what should worry you," he warns them.
"Enough riddles. What do we do?" Regina asks.
"You two do nothing. It has to be Miss Swan," the Dark One informs them, looking between the evil twins and Emma.
"He's my son. It should be me," she argues.
"All due respect, but it's her son," Mr Gold retorts, pointing at Emma. "And it has to be her. She's the product of the Magic. She must be the one to find it."
"I can do it," Emma assures them.
"Don't trust him," Landon mutters, leaning towards her.
"What choice do we have?" She argues.
"That's right, dearie. What choice do you have?" Mr Gold adds, making the couple glance at him.
"Where is this magic?" The blond woman asks.
"Tell me, Your Majesty, is our friend still in the basement?" He muses, glancing at Regina.
"Oh, you twisted little imp. You hid it with her?" Regina snaps, and Landon looks at his sister.
"Oh, no, no. Not with her. In her. I knew you couldn't resist bringing her over," the Dark One retorts, smirking.
"Who is 'her'?" Emma asks, looking at the Fairy Tale characters.
"Someone you should be prepared for. Where you're going, you're going to need this," Mr Gold informs her, opening a long box on the counter and revealing a sword and a scabbard.
"What is that?" She wonders, looking at it.
"Your father's sword," he replies.
(BLESSING)
Emma goes to the hospital, needing to see Henry as she holds the book. "Henry…" she says, talking to a comatose Henry. "You were right about the curse. I should have believed you. I'm sorry." She places the book under his pillow. "For when you wake up." She kisses Henry on the forehead. Regina and Landon arrive as the blond goes to leave. "Say what you got to say. You got ten minutes."
"You know where to meet?" Regina asks her.
"Yeah. Don't be late," she replies, leaving Regina and Henry alone as Landon stands away, leaving them some privacy.
"I'm sorry…" The Mayor mutters, stroking his head as Jefferson lurks in the shadows.
"Pity, isn't it? There's nothing harder than not knowing whether you'll ever see your child again," Jefferson comments, making the twins look at him.
"Jefferson, now is not a good time," Regina snaps, wanting to be alone with her son.
"For you. Well, for me, it's the perfect time. I'm here to collect. Where… Where is she… My daughter?" He asks.
"Emma was supposed to eat that apple, and she didn't. As far as I'm concerned, that makes our deal null and void," the dark-haired woman argues.
"I did what you asked, and you're going to screw me over again?" The Mad Hatter snaps.
"Look at it however you want, Jefferson. The fact is, I'm done with you," Regina retorts, dismissing him.
"But I'm… I'm not done with you," Jefferson argues.
"What are you going to do? Kill me? I know you want to, but I also know you can't," she muses.
"Do you?" He wonders.
"Yes. You don't have it in you. Now, if you excuse me, I have to save my son," the Evil Queen snaps before storming away.
"So, friend, how are you?" Landon asks, moving towards him and pulling out a set of keys. "Ever wanted to get into the Dark One's good graces?"
"What do you mean?" Jefferson asks, looking at the keys.
"Go into the basement. Best place to find it," he suggests before moving towards Henry and sitting beside Henry's bed. "You don't have to worry about anything. We'll save you. You believe in everything, so just know we can do it."
(BLESSING)
Emma heads to the bed and breakfast and knocks on August's room door. "August? Please open up," Emma calls. "I know you're in there. Open the door."
"I can't," August replies, and Emma breaks down the door and finds August lying on the bed inside, almost completely turned to wood.
"No. What's happening to you?" She asks, finally seeing the truth.
"You can see it now. You believe," he gasps.
"Yeah. I-I do, but… H-How do I stop this?" The blond woman argues, not believing in herself.
"Break the curse," Pinocchio tells her.
"I'll try – I promise. But I got to save Henry first, and I need your help," Emma tells him, needing to save Henry before breaking the curse.
"No, you don't," August argues.
"Yeah, I do. This is all too much. I-I just… Talked to the Evil Queen, the Historian, and Rumpelstiltskin about a quest to find Magic. I can't do it, August. I can't. No normal person can," she disagrees, freaking out.
"Luckily for us, you're not normal. You can save Henry. You can save all of…" He assures her, and the remainder of August's body turns to wood.
"August?" The Saviour gasps.
(BLESSING)
Outside the library, Emma waits for Regina and Landon with her sword, and finally, the evil twins arrive, and the three of them enter the building. "What is this place?" Emma asks, never getting an official tour of the town.
"Would you like a tour, or shall we just get to it?" Regina remarks.
"Lead the way," she replies, grabbing Landon's hand and interlocking her fingers with his. Regina approaches one of the walls and places her hand on it. The wall raises, revealing an elevator, and the doors open. "Whoa."
"Get in," the Evil Queen snaps.
"After you," the blond woman retorts, gesturing for Regina to go before her.
"It's a two-man job. The elevator's hand-operated. I have to stay up here and lower you down," Regina explains.
"And I'm just supposed to trust you?" Emma argues.
"I don't think you have much choice in the matter, Miss Swan," she retorts.
"I'll go with you, Emma," Landon assures her.
"This battle I'm supposed to fight… Who is it? What is down there?" The Saviour asks, looking at Regina.
"An old friend," the Mayor replies, and Landon looks at her in shock.
"Then why don't you go talk to them?" Emma wonders.
"Because her punishment here was different than everyone else's. I trapped her… In a different form. She doesn't want to hear from me. You have to trust me on that," Regina assures her. "And having my brother there will be your saving grace."
"Okay. We will go down there. But let's be clear about something… Your Majesty. The only reason you're not dead is because I need your help to save Henry. He dies? So do you," She warns her, and Landon sighs, hoping they'll get along soon for his and Henry's sake.
"Well, then let's get on with it. Now, this is what you're going to have to do," the Evil Queen tells her, and Emma and Landon enter the elevator as it lowers down to a shaft under Storybrooke.
(BLESSING)
Maleficent sits on her throne in the middle of a large chamber in her castle, musing to herself. Prince Charming ambushes her from behind the throne, holding his sword against her throat. "Where is it? Where is the beast that reigns over this castle?" Charming demands and she magically throws him across the room.
"That would be me. But, beast is so harsh. I prefer Maleficent," she muses, looking at him.
"I'm going to need a smaller egg," he mutters, looking at her confused.
"Such a shame. So handsome," Maleficent retorts, waving her hand and extinguishing all the candles lighting the room. In the darkness, she laughs, spooking the Prince.
"Show yourself, Witch," The Prince shouts, and behind him, Maleficent has transformed into a fire-breathing Dragon.
(BLESSING)
The lift carries Emma and Landon to the bottom of the shaft. They find themselves in a cavern. She starts walking through when she comes across Snow White's broken glass coffin. "That brings back fond and gross memories," Landon remarks, making Emma look at him.
"Still weirds me out that you knew all about this and you come from another land," Emma mutters, and Landon moves towards her.
"Just makes me very interesting," he argues.
"Yeah, that's true," she agrees. "I'm sorry about leaving without telling you."
"I know. And let's be honest, you belong here, Emma," the Historian tells her. "Because you have Henry here. Not just me. You belong here." The wall behind them turns out to not be a wall, but Maleficent, in her Dragon form, awakens.
(BLESSING)
Prince Charming hides from the Dragon behind a pillar. As the beast searches for the Prince, he notices a glowing weak spot near her head. "Come on!" He shouts, drawing Maleficent's attention to him again.
(BLESSING)
Meanwhile, in the cave, Emma posies herself to fight the Dragon. However, she decides against using the sword. "To hell with this," Emma mutters, dropping the sword on the ground and drawing her gun instead.
"Bad idea!" Landon shouts as she uselessly shoots at the Dragon, which only ends up provoking her. "I'm sorry, Mal, she's new to all this!"
(BLESSING)
Prince Charming continues being chased by the Dragon, and he manages to scale a set of stairs, allowing him to jump onto Maleficent's neck below. The Dragon struggles against his hold but manages to hold on for dear life. The Prince positions himself and plunges the egg container into the glowing weak spot near the Dragon's head.
(BLESSING)
Emma runs from the Dragon, falling into a large gorge in the cave. She looks over the edge, and the Dragon is nowhere to be seen. "I think she's playing with you, Em, be careful!"
"A little help!" Emma shouts back at him.
"I'm being moral support!" Landon argues.
(BLESSING)
With the egg securely inside the Dragon, Prince Charming escapes the castle by jumping through one of the windows and falling into the water below.
(BLESSING)
Maleficent flies up from the gorge in her Dragon form, spooking Emma. "I need to get out of here," Emma mutters.
(BLESSING)
At the hospital, Mary Margaret reads a part from the book by Henry's bedside, wanting to give him some comfort while his family is off trying to save him. "And, yes, she was beyond hope," Mary Margaret reads. "Beyond saving. This was her end. When Prince Charming saw his beloved Snow White in her glass coffin, he knew all that was left was to say goodbye. He had to give her one last kiss. And when he did, true love proved more powerful than any curse. A pulse of pure love shuddered out and engulfed the land, waking up Snow White and bringing light to the darkness." She stops and looks at the comatose Henry. "Henry… When I gave you this book, it was because I knew… I know life doesn't always have a happy end. But I thought…" Suddenly, the machines monitoring Henry start beeping and blaring loudly. "What is it? Dr Whale?" The Doctor and several nurses enter the room in a rush. "Dr Whale, what is that? What… What… What's wrong?"
"Nurse, get her out of here now!" Dr Whale snaps.
"What is it? What is it?" She asks panicky.
"His heart rate's falling. Come on, Henry," he mutters as he and the nurses try resuscitating Henry.
(BLESSING)
Elsewhere in the hospital, Jefferson, disguised as a nurse, enters the psychiatric ward in the basement, listening to Landon's words. He hands the Nurse at the desk a tea laced with sleeping drugs. "Your tea," he says, smiling charmingly.
"Thank you. What's the commotion upstairs?" The Nurse asks, sipping at her tea.
"There's a sick boy. He took a bad turn," Jefferson tells her.
"How tragic. Is there any hope for a…" She wonders before passing out.
"Recovery? Doubtful," he mutters, taking the keys and walking down a corridor with several doors on each side, where he walks past a patient mopping the floors. He also passes a door labelled ' '. "Landon would like to see that." Jefferson turns to one of the doors and unlocks it, turning out to be Belle's room. "Come with me."
"Who are you? Why are you doing this?" She asks, looking at him frightfully.
"My name is Jefferson, and I need your help to do something that I can't. There's a man. His name is Mr Gold. Find him. All you have to do is tell him where you've been, and that Regina locked you up," the Mad Hatter explains.
"Wait a minute, what?" The beauty questions.
"It's very important. Mr Gold's going to protect you, but you have to tell him Regina locked you up. He's going to know what to do. You understand?" Jefferson asks her.
"Yes, I-I have to find Mr Gold," Belle repeats, and Jefferson lets her out of the room.
(BLESSING)
Prince Charming swims to the shore from Maleficent's castle, where Rumpelstiltskin is waiting with a fire to warm the Prince up from his cold dip. "Impressive, dearie. Very impressive, indeed. Come warm yourself," Rumpelstiltskin remarks, smirking.
"I have done what you've asked. Return my ring to me," Charming demands, holding his hand out.
"Of course – you're in a bit of a rush. How rude of me," he replies, taking out the ring. "With this… Prince Charming… You will find her." He hands the Prince his mother's ring.
"Thank you," the Prince says.
"Something's missing," the Dark One muses before magically transforming Prince Charming's outfit into something more 'Princely'." Now, you're ready for your big moment."
"Why do you want us together? What do you get out of it?" The Prince asks suspiciously.
"I'm a fan of true love, dearie. And, more importantly, what it creates," Rumpelstiltskin replies, shrugging.
(BLESSING)
Emma stares, stunned, at the Dragon as it moves around the cavern. "Really?" Emma groans as the beast attacks, and Emma, again, attempts to shoot at it. Dropping her gun, realising it won't work, she spies the sword on the ground near her and rushes over to pick it up. "Hey!" She throws the sword towards the beast's belly when the Dragon turns to her. The Dragon disintegrates into pieces of ash, with the egg container resting neatly on top of the pile.
"Mal…" Landon mutters, looking at the ash as Emma picks the egg container up.
(BLESSING)
Prince Charming rides on a horse along a long stretch of land towards a forest, with the ring glowing the closer he gets. In the forest, he meets several Dwarves gathered around a glass coffin. "You're too late," Doc announces, revealing Snow White inside the coffin.
"No. No! At least let me say goodbye," Charming argues, and the Dwarves remove the coffin lid. Prince Charming kisses Snow White, which causes the spell she's under to break with a pulse of pure white Magic spreading throughout the land. Snow wakes up with a gasp.
"You found me," Snow says, smiling.
"Did you ever doubt I would?" He jokes.
(BLESSING)
Later, the couple go for a walk along the shore. "How did you do it?" Snow asks the Prince.
"With this. It's my mother's ring," Charming explains, showing her the ring. "It… Led me back to you. And now… I never want it off your finger." He gets down on one knee, proposing, "Will you marry me?" He places the ring on her finger.
"What do you think?" She beams, and they kiss passionately before Snow breaks away.
"What is it?" The Prince asks her.
"There's the little matter of your father and my stepmother," The Princess reminds him.
"Ah. That. I'm open to suggestions," Charming replies.
"Here's one – let's take back the kingdom," Snow announces.
"How?" He wonders.
"Like we shall do everything… Together," She assures him, smiling.
(BLESSING)
On the main street of Storybrooke, David packs up his truck, ready to leave town. He looks at the clock tower one last time before driving off.
(BLESSING)
Meanwhile, Emma heads up the shaft with Landon in the elevator when it suddenly comes to a halt. "Regina!" They yell.
"What the hell was that? Regina!" Emma shouts, and they look up and see Mr Gold leaning over the edge of the shaft.
"Miss Swan? You got it?" Mr Gold asks.
"Mr Gold. What are you doing here?" She wonders, looking at him in surprise.
"I've come to check on you. I'm glad I did. Regina abandoned you and sabotaged the elevator," he replies, lying.
"What? We're coming up," Landon snaps, not believing the slimy crocodile.
"Now, there's… There's no time for this. You can't possibly scale the wall and carry that," the Dark One argues.
"Yeah? Well, I can try," Emma retorts and Landon gives her a leg up so she can climb onto the top of the elevator with the egg.
"No, you can't. Just toss it up," Mr Gold tells her. "Your boy's going to be fine. I promise. We're running out of time. Toss it up."
"You hold on to it. I'll be right up," she argues, tossing the egg to Mr Gold. Once he has it, he leaves. "Mr Gold? Gold!"
"Emma, just get up there!" Landon shouts, and Emma scales the shaft and arrives at the library. There, she finds Regina gagged and tied to a chair.
"Regina," the Saviour gasps, rushing over to her and ripping the tape off her mouth before untying her.
"He tricked you! How could you give him that?" Regina snaps at her, glaring.
"Where is he?" Emma asks, looking around for a hopeful glance at the man who backstabbed them.
"Gone. Gold. He manipulated all of this," she hisses.
"Come on. He can't be that far. We'll get Landon out first," the blond woman argues, and they head to the shaft, getting the elevator up, and Landon storms off. Suddenly, their phones all ring at the same time. "It's the hospital."
(BLESSING)
Regina, Landon, and Emma arrive at the hospital and rush to Henry's room in time to see Dr Whale and Mother Superior leaving the room. "We did everything we could," Dr Whale informs them.
"I'm sorry. You're too late," Mother Superior says, and Emma enters the room, where the Nurse is unhooking the machine from Henry.
(BLESSING)
In the back room of the Pawn Shop, Mr Gold unlocks the egg container. He takes out the vial of 'true love' and pockets it when he hears the front doorbell ring and quickly hides the egg. "Um, excuse me? Are you Mr Gold?" Belle asks nervously.
"Yes, I am. But I'm afraid the shop's closed…" Mr Gold informs her, having more on his mind than selling anything in his shop.
"I was, uh… I was told to… To find you and…" She replies, looking around. "Tell you that Regina locked me up. Does… Does that mean anything to you?" Mr Gold turns around, finds Belle before him, and looks at her in shock.
"You're real. You're alive. She did this to you?" He asks, moving towards her.
"I was told you'd protect me," the beauty says, and he pulls her into an uncomfortable hug.
"Oh, yes. Yes, I'll protect you," Rumpelstiltskin promises her.
"Um, I'm sorry. Do… Do I know you?" Belle asks, not recognising him because of the spell.
"No. But you will," Mr Gold assures her.
(BLESSING)
Emma clings onto Landon as they gather in Henry's room at the hospital with Regina, Dr Whale, and Mother Superior. "No… No…" Regina gasps.
"I love you, Henry," Emma mutters, moving towards him and kissing his forehead, which causes the spell he's under to break. A pulse of pure white Magic spreads throughout Storybrooke, and Henry wakes with a gasp.
"I love you, too," Henry replies, smiling. "You saved me."
"You did it," Regina gasps as the pulse of Magic awakens everyone in the town. Soon, a crowd gathers in Henry's room.
"Henry… What's going on?" Emma asks, looking as if more people were joining them.
"No…" She mutters fearfully.
"The curse. I think you broke it," Henry tells her.
"That was true love's kiss," Mother Superior informs them.
"No, no…" Regina whispers.
"If I were you, Your Majesty, I'd find a place to hide," she warns the Evil Queen. "And your brother too." She glares at Landon.
"Henry… No matter what you think, no matter what anyone tells you, I do love you," the Mayor tells him before fleeing the room.
"I'll protect her," Landon says before kissing Emma on the forehead and turning to Henry, ruffling his head. "Get stronger first before trying to find your own adventure."
(BLESSING)
After turning back from the edge of Storybrooke when the curse breaks and stops, David sees Mary Margaret in the street. "Snow!" David shouts, gaining her attention, and she turns around to find Charming there.
"Charming!" Mary Margaret yells, and they run towards each other. "You found me."
"Did you ever doubt I would?" He questions, and they fall into a kiss.
(BLESSING)
A dejected Regina sits in Henry's room back at their house as Landon watches her. She grabs one of his pillows off the bed and cries into it. "It's going to be okay, Gina," Landon mutters, moving towards the bed and sitting beside her.
(BLESSING)
Belle and Mr Gold walk through the woods, heading to the well further in the forest, when Belle suddenly stops as the curse breaks. "Wait," Belle says.
"No, no, we're very close," Mr Gold assures her.
"Rumpelstiltskin, wait," she repeats, and he stops, looking at her. "I-I remember. I… I love you." She leaps at him, hugging him.
"Yes. Yes. And I love you, too," he replies, smiling. "But, hey… There'll be time for that. There'll be time for everything. But first… There's something I must do." They reach the well at the edge of the forest - the well that connects to Lake Nostos in the Enchanted Forest.
"What is this?" The bookworm asks, looking at the place.
"This is a very special place, Belle. The waters that run below are said to have the power to return that which one has lost," Rumpelstiltskin explains, approaching the well and dropping in the potion vial. A thick purple smoke starts emerging from the well and beginning to spread.
(BLESSING)
Emma, Henry, and others from the town are still at the hospital. "Henry… What's going on?" Emma asks, looking at them. "If the curse is broken, why didn't they go back?"
"I… I don't know," Henry replies, and a nurse suddenly drops a tray she was holding after looking out the window.
"Are you okay?" She asks, turning to the scared Nurse. When she looks at the window, she becomes entranced by something outside.
(BLESSING)
Regina moves to Henry's room window, and Landon stays on the bed, looking around the room. She sees the purple smoke from the well spreading quickly over the town. "Gina, what is it?" Landon asks, moving towards the window. He looks at the smoke. "Oh, well, that's interesting."
"Landon," Regina hisses, slapping his arm.
(BLESSING)
Henry and Emma watch the purple smoke as it takes over Storybrooke, engulfing the town. "What is that?" Emma asks in horror.
"Something bad," Henry replies, watching as it gets closer.
(BLESSING)
Mr Gold and Belle continue watching the purple smoke pour out of the well. "I-I don't understand," Belle states, confused.
"We're in a land without Magic, Belle. And I'm bringing it. Magic… Is coming," Mr Gold announces, smiling proudly.
"Why?" She asks, looking at him.
"Why? Because Magic… Is power," he retorts, turning to her.
(BLESSING)
The purple smoke engulfs Storybrooke in darkness as Magic returns to those from the Enchanted Forest. Regina, still observing from the window, smiles. "I think our luck has turned," Regina remarks.
(BLESSING)
The smoke wraps around the clock tower in the centre of Storybrooke as the clock strikes 8:15.