The Historian (No 16)

by DeadGirlEtarnal

As a Historian, it is their job to watch over the land and record everything that happens, but unlike the Author, they write facts, not fiction, or manipulate the story. Landon Mills loves to write and begins writing stories, much to his Mother's love and when Storybrooke appears, that doesn't stop even when the Saviour rolls into town in her yellow bug. OCs only.

13. Who has Magic now?

XII. "Who has Magic now?"

–[Real World: Past]–

Meanwhile, in busy New York City, a man in a tired business suit walks through the bustling and crowded streets, travelling by foot, then by the subway, until arriving at his apartment. Inside, the man notices that it's now raining outside, and his window is still open from earlier. As the man attempts to close the window, he accidentally drops his phone on the fire escape below. Huffing with frustration, and the window still open, the man leans against the window sill to lean through the window to the fire escape when suddenly, a pigeon lands on the ledge, spooking the man a little, and then quickly flies away. When the man looks up, he spots a postcard from Storybrooke left behind and turns it around to find the word 'broken' written there.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Prince Phillip and Mulan swiftly ride towards an abandoned castle on horseback; when the rescuers arrive, they discover Princess Aurora lying on a dais, seemingly under a sleeping spell. Phillip cuts through the vines that have overtaken the palace while Mulan hangs back, letting him rescue his beloved Princess. "If this works, we don't tell her everything," Phillip suggests, not wanting to worry her. "Not right away." Mulan nods, silent so she doesn't reveal herself. Prince Phillip kisses Princess Aurora, breaking the spell with a pulse of pure white Magic that spreads throughout the land. The Princess wakes up with a loud gasp.

"Phillip…" Aurora gasps, looking at her Prince.

"Yes, Aurora," He replies, smiling at her lovingly and stroking the hair away from her face.

"I told you not to come after me," she argues, and he pulls her into a sweet kiss before they pull apart, and Phillip helps Aurora up and off the dais. "How long have I been asleep?" She wonders, looking around at the overgrown vines. "What happened?"

"It doesn't matter. The worst of it is over," the Prince assures her. "Now that we're together, we'll restore this castle and our kingdom. As we dreamt. We'll be here always."

"Where is everyone? Why does it need to be rebuilt?" The Princess asks, looking at her beloved.

"It's a long story. And you, my love, need rest," Phillip assures her, not wanting to make her worry so much after only just waking up.

"I've had my fill of rest," Aurora argues, never wanting to sleep again after everything.

"Come with me. Our people have gathered in a new safe haven. We must join them," he tells her, leading the Princess out of the castle with Mulan following the couple closely in case they are attacked.

"A safe haven… From Maleficent?" She asks, not understanding as she's been asleep for the last twenty-eight years.

"No. Worry not – she can no longer harm us," the Prince assures her, though he doesn't know what happened to the powerful Dragon-like woman.

"First, she goes after my mother, then me. Forgive me if I'm still a bit wary," Sleeping Beauty argues.

"Don't be. There are new dangers now. But nothing we can't handle," Phillip tells her, smiling.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

The purple clouds of smoke swirling around the town of Storybrooke grow denser with Mary Margaret and David on the main street in thickest. "What's happening?" Mary Margaret gasps, looking around frightfully.

"Let's find out," David replies before the purple smoke dissipates, leaving them not far across from Granny and Ruby's happy reunion.

"Oh!" Granny cries, engulfing her granddaughter in a happy hug, and then Ruby spots Mary Margaret.

"Snow?" Ruby gasps happily, rushing to embrace her best friend, who returns the hug. Meanwhile, the 'seven Dwarves' find their happy little family.

"Your Highness," Leroy says, making Mary Margaret beam at them and sharing a giant group hug. "The curse… It's broken?"

"Well, it appears so," David comments, stepping towards them.

"So, what do we do now?" Ruby wonders, looking at Prince Charming and Snow White.

"Now? Now I find my daughter," Mary Margaret replies firmly, not realising that Emma is standing behind them.

"So, it's true?" Emma asks, making everyone turn to see the blond woman. Mary Margaret rushes to her grown-up daughter and cups her face before hugging her. Emma doesn't return the gesture, still shocked by everything Henry has been telling her since meeting her son.

"You found us," she mutters, and David hugs his wife and daughter.

"Grandpa?" Henry questions, looking at David, who smiles at the boy.

"Yeah, kid. I suppose so," David laughs, pulling the boy into the family hug.

"She did it. She saved you," he beams happily.

"She saved all of us," Mary Margaret agrees, looking at her grandson.

"I… Well…" Emma stutters, looking at everyone in shock and still trying to wrap her head around everything.

"Uh, then why are we still here?" Leroy argues, gesturing to the town.

"That, my friend, is an excellent question," David replies, not having the answers.

"Well, what was that smoke?" Mr Clark asks, all of them scared.

"Who did this? What was that smoke?" The Heroes wonder, looking at their leaders for help.

"A-And why?" Walter asks.

"And what was that smoke?" They question when Mother Superior joins the group of Heroes.

"Magic. It's here. I can feel it," Mother Superior announces, making them look at her.

"Magic? In Storybrooke? You're the Blue Fairy. Do something Magical," Henry beams, smiling at the Blue Fairy.

"It's not quite that simple, Henry. No wand, no fairy dust… Matters are complicated now," she argues, shrugging.

"Let's go to the person responsible for bringing it – the Queen," Leroy snaps, glaring down the street.

"No, wait. It wasn't Regina," Emma tells them, not suspecting Regina, but Mr Gold, missing from all the events from the day, especially because he betrayed them earlier at the library.

(Spellbinding)

Mr Gold and Belle stand by the well in the woods after the purple smoke disappears and the appearance of Magic in Storybrooke. "My darling Belle… You have to tell me what happened to you," Mr Gold asks, holding her in his arms.

"I was abducted," Belle replies, looking at him.

"Regina," he growls, and she nods. Then, she shakes her head, trying to remember that time, but it goes blank.

"I mean, I think so," she tells him. "I don't remember who actually abducted me, but I remember being in her castle. She locked me away until her curse, and I've been in the asylum ever since."

"For twenty-eight years?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, and she nods. "All these years, you've been here. Alive."

"Is… Is that… Is that why you did this?" The Beauty wonders. "Why you wanted Magic? For revenge?"

"No, no. But it might come in handy," The Dark One argues, shrugging and moving away from the woman he loves.

"No. No," Belle snaps, knowing how much Magic corrupts people.

"I cannot let this stand, Belle. I will not let this stand!" Mr Gold snaps.

"Look, promise me. Promise me you won't give in to your hate. Promise me you won't kill her. Promise me, and we can be together," she begs him, wanting to get on with their lives.

"Sweetheart… I promise," he lies, already knowing what he plans to do to Regina before pulling her into a loving kiss.

(Spellbinding)

On the main street, the Heroes walk towards Mr Gold's Pawn Shop, needing answers about the Dark Curse and the purple cloud of smoke. "Is there anything that you want to ask us? You must have questions," Mary Margaret asks, looking at Emma.

"The only questions I have are for Mr Gold. Why did he double-cross me, and what did he do to this town?" Emma argues, storming towards the Pawn Shop.

"Uh… Shouldn't we talk about 'it' first?" She questions, wanting to connect with her daughter as Snow White, not just Mary Margaret Blanchard.

"What?" The blond woman asks, looking at her.

"Us, your life, everything?" Snow wonders.

"Can we do everything maybe later? Like, with a glass of wine. Or…several…bottles," Emma mutters, still trying to get her head around all this.

"I know it's a lot to take in – for all of us," David assures her.

"And we don't want to push, but we've waited for this moment for so long-," Mary Margaret argues.

"Yeah, so have I. I've thought about this moment my entire life. I've imagined who you might be. But, of all the scenarios that I concocted, my parents being… I-I just need a little time. That's… That's all," Emma tells her parents when an angry mob begins forming the confused and scared Fairy Tale characters.

"Come on!" A man shouts, making the Heroes turn to look behind them and see an angry mob running down one of the cross streets.

"Snow," David mutters, and Archie quickly approaches the group.

"There you are. Come with me. I need your help. Dr Whale's whipped everyone into a frenzy. They're going to Regina's house. They're going to kill her!" Archie informs the Heroes.

"Great, let's watch," Leroy suggests, making the others look at him in shock.

"No. No, we cannot stoop to her level," he argues. "No matter who she is or what she's done, killing her is wrong."

"He's right. Please. She's still my mum," Henry argues and thinks about his uncle, who promises to protect Regina.

"We have to stop them," Emma agrees, looking at Henry.

"If the Blue Fairy is right and Magic is here, Regina and Landon have their powers back. They'll be marching into a slaughter," David reminds them, and the Heroes run towards the direction of the mob.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Phillip and Aurora talk while Mulan surveys the area before them. She pauses and then crouches down to feel the ground. She feels a slight vibration and draws her sword. A Wraith bursts through from below, throwing Mulan backwards as Phillip draws his sword and swings it wildly at the Wraith. "Phillip!" Aurora screams fearfully as she watches her beloved eventually hit the medallion chain around the Wraith's neck, causing it to fall to the ground, and the Wraith flies away. The trio gather, and Phillip bends over to pick up the dropped medallion. "What was that thing?" Aurora wonders, looking around as if expecting it to come out of nowhere again.

"Something bad," Phillip replies, looking down at the medallion in his hand, not realising what will happen.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

After their adventure in the woods, Mr Gold and Belle arrive at the Pawn Shop. "You, uh… You wait here, Belle," Mr Gold tells her. "I'm going to find you something to wear. You've spent enough time in these rags."

"Thank you," Belle replies, smiling sweetly at him, and he goes into the back room while Belle waits out front, amusing herself as she looks around the shop. After stepping into the back room, Rumpelstiltskin puts on a pair of gloves before pulling a chest off one of his shelves and opening it to find inside the Wraith's medallion.

(Spellbinding)

Meanwhile, the angry mob reaches Regina's house, with Dr Whale leading the charge as he bangs on the door. "Open up!" Dr Whale shouts. "Open up, or we're coming in!" Landon answers the door angrily, throwing it open, making a few flinch backwards as he steps over the threshold with Regina behind him.

"Can we help you?" Regina muses, loving the fear she sees in their eyes, even if it's not just for her.

"That smirk isn't going to last forever, Regina," he snaps, glaring at her. "You took everything from us, and now-."

"What? Now you're going to kill me?" She questions, and Landon steps towards Dr Whale, who takes a step back.

"Eventually. But first, you need to suffer," the Doctor argues. "And your brother can't stop all of us."

"Wanna bet?" Landon growls, towering over the crowd.

"Listening to you has been enough suffering for all of us," Regina remarks, and Landon pushes Dr Whale off of the step onto the ground as the mob makes space for him in fear. "That's right. You wanted to see your Queen? Well, my dears. Here… She… Is." She extends her arms in an attempt to do Magic, but nothing happens. The mob flinches but soon realises that she can't perform Magic, but forget Landon is there.

"She's powerless!" The mob shouts.

"What?" She gasps, looking at her hands.

"Get them!" They scream, and Landon steps before them, blocking them from his little sister.

"I don't think so," Landon sneers, thrusting his hand out and blasting the mob with a pulse of green Magic, knocking them back. "Who has Magic now?" Emma comes rushing through the crowd with the rest of the Heroes behind her.

"Stop!" Emma shouts and looks at Landon as he stands before the mob protecting Regina. "Landon! Stop!" She stands there carefully, seeing Landon glaring at Dr Whale, who looks up at him fearfully but pushes it aside and turns to Emma.

"Why should I listen to you?" Dr Whale snaps, standing to his feet.

"Because I am still Sheriff," she argues, glaring back at him.

"And because she saved you. All of you!" David snaps, looking at the citizens of Storybrooke.

"And because no matter what Regina and Lanon did, it does not justify this," Mary Margaret agrees, looking at her husband and then at the others.

"We are not murderers here," Emma snaps, and Dr Whale looks at her.

"Well, we're not from this world," Dr Whale retorts, sneering at her.

"Yeah, well, you're in it now," she argues, and David pushes Dr Whale away from his daughter.

"Okay, Whale. We're done," David tells him, but Dr Whale pushes him back.

"Back off. You're not my Prince," Dr Whale sneers angrily.

"Who are you, Whale?" He wonders, looking at him as he doesn't recognise him from the Enchanted Forest.

"That's my business," the Doctor replies.

"Well my business is making sure this town doesn't go to hell," Charming retorts. "So, whether or not I'm your Prince, isn't the issue. We have a lot to figure out, and this isn't the way to do it."

"And Regina and Landon's death won't provide any answers. They need to be locked up. For their safety and, more importantly, for ours," Mary Margaret suggests. Emma looks at Landon, who raises his hands in surrender, and Regina looks at her brother, hoping he has a plan to get them out of this mess safely. Emma steps towards them, and Landon wraps his arm around Regina as they follow the mob of Fairy Tale characters with the group of Heroes to the Sheriff's station.

(Spellbinding)

Emma leads Landon and Regina into the station with her parents, and Henry follows them before locking Regina and Landon in separate cells so they can't do anything. "So, we're prisoners now?" Regina asks, stepping into the cell.

"The curse is broken. Why didn't we go back?" David asks, stepping towards the bars.

"Because there's nothing to go back to. That land is gone," she argues, shrugging.

"We should get to Gold," Mary Margaret tells them, and the Sheriff, Snow, Prince Charming and Henry leave. Once alone, Regina attempts to Magically unlock her cell door but is unsuccessful.

"That was just sad," Landon mutters, earning a glare from his sister. Landon holds out his hand and conjures his Historical Ledger. "You sure the Enchanted Forest is really gone?" He looks at his book, missing it.

"I thought it was," Regina mutters, looking at her brother. "Get us out of here." Landon looks at her and goes to move when Mr Gold enters.

"Magic is different here, dearie," Mr Gold informs the evil twins.

"We noticed. I assume this is all your doing," she questions.

"Most things are," he muses.

"Get to it, Rumpel. What do you want? You're here to finish the job?" The Evil Queen asks, glaring at the man.

"No, no, no. You're safe from me," the Dark One assures the twins.

"I feel so relieved," Landon remarks sarcastically.

"I made a promise to someone that I won't kill you," Rumpelstiltskin argues.

"Who could elicit that from you?" Regina wonders, looking at him.

"Belle," he replies and sees the look on the Mills siblings' faces.

"She's alive," Landon muses, smirking.

"You are a dreadful liar," Mr Gold remarks, looking between the twins.

"I could've killed her, but I didn't," Regina argues, shrugging.

"Yeah, you did much worse than that. You kept her alive, so you could kill her when it suited you. A fate worse than death. Which, incidentally, is exactly what I've got in store for you," he tells them, looking at Regina before waving his hand and freezing Landon as he grabs Regina's arm, pulling it through the bars.

"Landon!" She shouts as the Dark One takes out the medallion from his pocket and pushes it into the palm of the Evil Queen's hand. "Is that…"

"Yes, dearie. The one thing no one can escape – destiny. And, I promise, yours is particularly unpleasant," Mr Gold muses, removing the medallion. Regina inspects her hand; though it appears unmarked, she knows better. "Have a good day, Your Majesty. Oh, your brother will unfreeze soon, but tell him, if he wants to live, he won't come after me." He exits the Sheriff's station, smirking as his plan unfolds.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Mulan, Aurora, and Phillip carefully move around the castle as they make their way out. "Cretin. In your land, you call it a Wraith," Mulan explains, looking around carefully.

"I'm sorry. Who is this?" Aurora asks, pointing at the warrior.

"A friend," she replies, removing her helmet and revealing herself to the Princess.

"You're…a girl," the Princess gasps.

"Woman," the warrior corrects her. "My name is Mulan."

"In your absence, she's helped me like no other. We fought many battles together," Phillip comments, making Aurora look between them.

"With a woman," Aurora repeats, staring at them.

"And now, we have another to wage," Mulan warns them. "The Cretin – the Wraith – is one of the most dangerous creatures in all the known lands. A soul sucker. According to legend, it marks its victims and removes their souls – damning them for all eternity." They hear screams from around them. "Those are the sounds of the souls that stopped trying to escape. But fortune favoured us, as we all avoided the mark. We need to begin our journey."

"It's okay. We'll be safe with our people," Phillip assures the Princess, hugging Aurora closely, and finally notices the mark on the palm of his hand.

"Phillip, what is it?" Aurora asks, seeing his hesitancy, but he quickly hides his hand before the women see it.

"Nothing," he says quickly. "Everything's fine."

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

Mr Gold ventures to the woods, bringing his Dark One Dagger and the medallion, which are hiding from Belle so she won't know what he's done. He drops the medallion onto the ground and then raises the dagger. "The Dark One summons thee," he says before stabbing the ground with the dagger.

(Spellbinding)

Meanwhile, Regina abruptly awakes in her cell, feeling a burning pain in her palm and looking to see the visible mark. "What is it? What's happening? Gina!" Landon shouts. Regina shows him the mark, and his face goes pale. "I'll sort this out, I promise," he tells her before disappearing in a cloud of green smoke.

(Spellbinding)

Mr Gold watches as the Wraith emerges from the medallion before flying off for its prey.

(Spellbinding)

David and Mary Margaret watch as Emma leads Henry into the car with Ruby for his safety while dealing with Regina, Landon, and Mr Gold. "Keep him safe, Ruby," Emma pleads, looking at it.

"Don't push it, Snow," David warns his wife as they stand away from Emma and Henry.

"I'm not…" Mary Margaret argues, rolling her eyes.

"You guys ready?" Emma asks, looking at her parents, still finding the whole situation confusing, and she's not sure what to do anymore.

"We need to talk," she announces, startling the blond woman, wanting to connect with Emma more, even when they've got more pressing matters.

"I… Well, I don't… I just… I don't want to talk," the Sheriff argues, just wanting to deal with everything else instead of her family drama.

"Well, I do, kay. Gold can wait. I can't," Snow retorts. "I mean, you're my daughter, and… I want to talk to you. I know that we have talked. But, we didn't know that we were talking. And we talked about things we probably shouldn't even have talked about – one night stands and the like."

"One night stands?" David repeats, looking at his wife.

"Whale," she replies, making him gape in shock.

"Whale?!" He shouts in surprise.

"We were cursed. That is neither here, nor there," Mary Margaret argues. "The point is, we did not know that we were mother and daughter and, now, we do. And, so… Please, let's talk."

"Okay. What do you want to talk about?" Emma asks, trying to rip off the bandaid.

"We're together – finally. And I can't help but think you're not happy about it," she comments, seeing the blond woman is ready to bolt.

"Oh, I am. But, see… Here's the thing – no matter what the circumstances, for twenty-eight years I only knew one thing. That my parents sent me away," the Saviour explains.

"We did that to give you your best chance," Snow argues, trying to get Emma to see it from their perspective.

"You did it for everyone, because that's who you are," Emma replies, shrugging. "Leaders, Heroes, Princes, and Princesses, and that's great. A-And amazing. And wonderful. But it doesn't change the fact that, for my entire life, I've been alone."

"But, if we hadn't sent you away, you would've been cursed, too," she tells her, but Emma sighs, looking at the parents she missed out on for the last twenty-eight years.

"But we would've been together. Which curse is worse?" The blond woman argues, and Snow and Charming look at her, seeing the hurt in Emma's eyes. "Come on. Let's just… Let's go find Gold."

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Mulan, Phillip and Aurora make it out of the castle and onto their horse through the woods as they head for the Safe Haven. "We should camp here tonight," Mulan suggests, slowing the horses down. "The Wraith only appears when light is absent. That's why it ran when it first appeared. Light is its adversary."

"And you want to stop. Now?" Aurora questions, looking at the female warrior.

"It's looking for a mark – something alive. Our best bet is to be still until night passes," she explains.

"She's right. We have to rest here," Phillip replies, setting up a makeshift shelter for Aurora to sleep in for the night. "Here. You should sleep."

"No. I-I can't," Aurora argues, not wishing to sleep ever again after being in the Sleeping Curse for so long.

"Just relax. It'll come," he assures her, not understanding how she feels.

"No, I mean I won't sleep. Not after what I just went through," she tells him, and Phillip's demeanour changes, and the Princess notices. "What's wrong?"

"I just missed you so much," the Prince replies, not telling her the real reason for his change in demeanour.

"And now, you don't have to," Aurora says, smiling.

"I'm going to find wood to build this fire. I'll be back in five minutes," Phillip tells her before kissing her frenziedly as if it will be the last time they see each other.

"That's a 'see you in five minutes' kiss?" She wonders, looking at her Prince.

"I'm making up for lost time. I love you," he replies, needing to say those words one last time.

"I love you, too," Sleeping Beauty repeats, watching him leave their campsite, not realising it might be the last time she sees him again.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

Mr Gold makes himself a cup of tea when Emma, Mary Margaret, and David enter his shop. "What can I do for you?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, turning around to see the Charming family.

"What you can do is tell us what you did," Emma replies, glaring at the man who betrayed her not a few hours ago.

"I'm sorry. You're going to have to be more specific," he retorts, playing innocent though he already knows what the Sheriff is talking about.

"You know damn well what we're talking about," David snaps, frowning at the powerful man.

"You double-crossed Emma, you, uh, took your…potion, from her," Mary Margaret says, adding to her husband.

"And did who knows what to this town," he retorts.

"And, worst of all, you risked Henry's life," Emma growls angrily at the thought of Henry being again put in danger.

"Well, that is quite a litany of grievances now, isn't it?" Mr Gold muses, looking at the Charmings.

"Maybe I don't need answers. Maybe, I just need to punch you in the face," she argues, stepping towards Mr Gold, knowing she'd like to do that more than anything at that moment.

"Really, dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own, alright? Did your dear boy Henry survive?" He questions, making Emma stop and glare angrily at him.

"Yeah," the Sheriff replies shortly, glaring at the man as he brings up her son again, even though the Dark One betrayed Emma again.

"Is the curse broken? And let's see. Uh, Miss Swan. How long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you're reunited. Seems like, rather a punch in the face, I deserve a thank you," the Dark One argues, looking at the blond woman.

"Twist my words all you want. What was the purple haze that you brought?" Emma asks, though she already knows.

"You know… Magic," Mr Gold muses, smirking as he has plans that need to happen with the arrival of Magic in Storybrooke.

"Why?" Mary Margaret wonders, looking at Rumpelstiltskin.

"Not telling," he teases them when they hear a loud explosion that rocks the building and Storybrooke.

"What the hell was that?" Emma exclaims, looking around, and they rush to the window to find all the transformers blowing up outside.

"That… Is my gift to you. That… Is going to take care of Regina," Rumpelstiltskin informs them.

"You bastard, Rumpelstiltskin!" Landon roars, appearing in front of Mr Gold in a cloud of green smoke and fisting his suit. "You summoned it! Just to get back at Regina for locking up Belle?"

"You know I would," he argues calmly, though on the inside, he knows that Landon could snap him in half if he wanted to.

"Landon," Emma calls to him. "What's going on?"

"Undo it Gold, now, or I'll kill you," Landon snaps, ignoring Emma, who glares at the men.

"You know that's not possible," the Dark One argues, and Landon raises his wrist about to strike Gold, but Emma tackles her boyfriend to the floor, almost taking Mr Gold with them, too.

"That's enough!" Emma snaps, glaring at the men. "We're getting out of here before I have to arrest you for real, Landon. Come on." She gets up and tugs on Landon's jacket, getting him to his feet and leading him out of the shop. "We're not done." Emma looks at Mr Gold before pushing Landon out of the shop with her parent's not far behind.

"Oh, I know. You still owe me a favour," Mr Gold replies calmly, watching as they leave, and Belle comes out from the back room, having heard everything. "Hey."

"You lied to me," Belle states, feeling hurt about all the lies he spews at everyone, even her.

"No, I-I kept my word. I will not kill her," he argues, though Rumpelstiltskin knows she's right.

"No. You toy with words like you do people," she retorts angrily. "You're still a man who makes wrong choices. I thought you'd changed."

"What? In the hour you've known me?" The Dark One questions, and Belle sighs, having enough of his lies and heads for the door. "Belle, I… I'm sorry. Belle, I'm sorry. I am." But she doesn't want to listen to his lies anymore and walks out of the shop, leaving Rumpelstiltskin alone.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

At the campsite, Mulan tries starting a fire with a flint while Aurora watches, and they hear more souls screaming. "Where's Phillip?" Aurora wonders, growing worried and frightened for them and Phillip.

"I thought he was in your tent?" Mulan argues, looking at Sleeping Beauty and frowning.

"He said he was making a fire," she tells her.

"I'm making the fire," the warrior replies, gesturing to the flint.

"I can see that," the Princess snaps, worried about Phillip.

"He left. The voices are gone," Mulan announces, looking around as the soul screaming grows distant.

"W-Why would he leave?" Aurora gasps, looking at the warrior.

"Because he was marked," she realises and leaves.

"What are you doing?" Sleeping Beauty asks, watching her.

"Going after him. He's sacrificing himself for you," the warrior argues.

"No, for both of us. We have to get him," Aurora retorts, getting to her feet and wanting to save Phillip.

"I'm going alone. You'll only slow me down," Mulan tells the Princess, not wanting to be slowed down.

"No, I won't slow you down. Mulan! Mulan!" She shouts, but Mulan doesn't stop to wait for Aurora as she chases after her. "Mulan, wait! Mulan! Mulan!"

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

The Wraith cuts the power off at the Sheriff's station, where Regina is still in her cell. "Hello?" Regina calls, looking around, but no one answers. "Who's there?" The Wraith enters and pulls the door off of the cell. Emma, Landon, David, and Mary Margaret arrive as the Wraith begins sucking out Regina's soul.

"Hey!" David shouts, smashing the Wraith with a chair, but it retaliates by throwing furniture around the station.

"Gina!" Landon shouts, running into the room and going towards her.

"Over here!" Mary Margaret yells, using a lighter and an aerosol can to create a makeshift flamethrower, driving the Wraith out the window.

"What the hell was that thing?" Emma asks, looking at the others.

"A Wraith. A soul sucker," Landon explains, moving towards Regina and checking on her through the bars.

"Did I-?" Mary Margaret wonders, looking at the evil twins.

"Kill it? No, it's regenerating. It'll be back," Regina replies. "It doesn't stop until it devours its prey – me."

"That's not going to happen." Landon promises her.

"So, how do we kill it?" Emma asks.

"There's no way. Can't kill something that's already dead," he replies, looking at his girlfriend.

"Then, we have a problem," she sighs.

"No, we don't. Regina does," David argues, earning looks from everyone in the room.

"What?" Regina and Landon snap, glaring at Prince Charming.

"David?" Mary Margaret questions, looking at her husband in shock.

"You want to let her die?" Emma asks, surprised.

"Why not? Then it goes away and then, we're safe," David argues, shrugging.

"That's quite the example you're setting for your daughter, there," Regina scoffs.

"No, you don't get to judge us," he snaps.

"Let me ask you something. Where do you think that thing came from? Gold," she argues.

"I made a promise to Henry. She's not dying," Emma tells them, looking at Regina and then Landon, who smiles at her.

"If it can't be killed, what do you suggest?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at the Evil Queen and Historian for suggestions.

"Send it somewhere it can't hurt anyone," Regina tells them, and Landon grabs the keys from Emma's office and opens the cell.

(Spellbinding)

Emma and Regina go to the Mayor's office, and Regina pulls out the hat box containing Jefferson's hat. "Did Henry really ask you to protect me?" Regina asks her, looking at Emma.

"Yes," Emma replies, and Regina pulls out the hat. "That hat. You had it all along?"

"What do you mean?" She ponders, faking as she already knows what the blond woman is saying.

"That's Jefferson's hat," the blond woman states, pointing to the top hat.

"Who's Jefferson?" The Evil Queen asks, playing innocent, and Mary Margaret, David, and Landon enter with brooms for improvised torches.

"Torches – for when it comes back. I know it's old fashioned, but so am I," David retorts, shrugging.

"So. How does it work?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at the Magical hat. They bring the hat and torches into another room, needing the space.

"It will open a portal to our land. All we have to do is send the Wraith in there," Regina explains.

"Oh, yeah. Just that," David retorts sarcastically.

"I don't understand. I thought our land was gone?" Mary Margaret questions, looking at Regina and Landon.

"It is. But, sending it to a place that no longer exists… Well, that's banishing it to oblivion," Landon argues. However, he has his suspicions about the Enchanted Forest surviving, especially because there are only half the people in Storybrooke there should be. The lights begin flickering as they hear the Wraith approaching, so the Heroes light their torches.

"Regina. Landon," Emma mutters as the Evil Queen attempts to open a portal with the hat, but it only slightly spins.

"I'm trying," Regina snaps, trying to work the Magic, but it seems futile when the doors to the room burst open.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Mulan tries tracking Phillip in the forest when she hears a noise behind her. She slowly draws her sword and turns to discover that it's only Aurora on horseback. "I found one of the horses," Aurora announces. "I'm coming with you."

"You need to stay here. It's dangerous," Mulan snaps at the Princess.

"I wasn't asking for your permission," she argues firmly, wanting to find her Prince.

"That thing out there is dangerous," the warrior reminds her. "And Phillip? He left to protect you. So, even if I don't believe in his methods, I'm going to honour his wishes. I'm going to keep you safe."

"I never asked him to," the Princess snaps, glaring at Mulan.

"He never had to. Everything he does, he does for you," Mulan argues. "And now, he's going to die for you. Love is sacrifice. Something you clearly don't understand."

"I'm not going to let him face that alone," Aurora tells her, wanting to be beside Phillip.

"He won't. But, with all due respect, Your Highness? Phillip's best chance is me," Mulan snaps, wanting to help her friend.

"You love him," she states, looking at the other woman.

"What?" The warrior questions, looking back at Aurora in surprise.

"Phillip. You love him, too," Sleeping Beauty repeats, clarifying.

"I owe him much. We fought many battles together side by side, nothing more," Mulan argues.

"Deny it all you want. I know love when I see it," Aurora retorts.

"You're wrong," she tells her, and they hear the Wraith in the distance.

"Phillip…" the Princess gasps, looking at Mulan.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

The Wraith bursts into the room, heading towards Regina as she tries to get the hat to work. "Regina!" Landon snaps, holding his arms out, producing flames to keep it away from his sister.

"I know," Regina shouts, and David uses his broom torch to keep the Wraith at bay. Mary Margaret grabs an alcohol bottle from a nearby table and pours it along the railing in front of them, creating a barrier.

"David!" Mary Margaret yells, gaining his attention, and he gets the idea as he gets behind the barrier and lights the railing on fire.

"Hurry!" David shouts, looking back at Regina, who glares at the hat hatefully as it doesn't want to work for her.

"It's not working!" Regina exclaims, still unable to get the hat to open a portal.

"Move, Gina," Landon sighs, extinguishing his flames and moving towards Regina and Emma. He grabs the hat from Regina, who lets him and takes a deep breath, looking at the others. "Here we go."

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

In the forest, Phillip, armed with a torch, tries provoking the Wraith. "Come on, you bastard!" Mulan and Aurora arrive, finding him. "No! Stay back!"

"Phillip, what are you doing?" Aurora asks, looking at him in worry.

"I know what I'm doing," he assures the two women.

"No, please. We can help you fight!" She argues, wanting to help him.

"Go! It will find me," the Prince warns them as the Wraith howls, growing closer. "I've been marked. It's too late for me. Go! There's no other way."

"Yes, there is. Give me the talisman, and I can mark myself. You can live," Mulan argues, holding out her hand.

"This is my choice. To save you. To save both of you," Phillip tells them, wanting to protect his beloved and his friend.

"No, Phillip, I don't want to live without you," Aurora sobs, looking at him close to tears.

"Neither do I," he replies, and the Wraith arrives, bursting through the trees. "You two need to keep each other safe.

"Phillip, no!" She shouts as Mulan holds the Princess back.

"I love you," the Prince proclaims, looking at Aurora as the Wraith attacks Phillip and begins sucking out his soul.

"No!" Sleeping Beauty cries. "Stop! Phillip!" The Wraith drops the Prince, who collapses to the forest floor as the Wraith disappears. "Phillip! Phillip!"

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

The Heroes continue to hold off the Wraith while Landon focuses on his Magic. "It's not working!" Regina shouts, watching her brother.

"What's the problem?" Emma asks, looking at the twins.

"I'm trying to focus. You shouting isn't helping," Landon argues, opening his eyes and turning to the others,

"Now would be the time!" David shouts, and Emma touches Landon's shoulder, triggering Landon's Magic. The hat suddenly begins spinning, and the purple vortex appears on the floor. "It's coming!" The Wraith gets past David's defence and charges towards Regina and the hat.

"Regina!" Emma yells, pushing Regina out of the way, causing the Wraith to fall through the portal. However, on the way down, it grabs Emma's ankle and drags her through the portal.

"No!" Mary Margaret, David, and Landon shout, and the Historian grabs Emma's hand, edging towards the centre of the portal.

"I'm not losing her again," Mary Margaret shouts as Emma and Landon fall through the portal.

"Landon!" Regina screams, losing her brother, her other half, her best friend and only supporter.

"Neither am I!" David shouts, and Mary Margaret jumps into the portal after Landon and Emma. David jumps towards the vortex, but the portal closes quickly after the three before Charming can get through it. He ends up landing on the floor and crushing the hat as Regina looks on in horror.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Mulan and Aurora place Phillip's soulless body on the dais at the castle where Aurora spent her time in the Sleeping Curse. "This palace was to be our home," Aurora mutters, stroking Phillip's face. "You have to spend eternity here."

"How did you end up here in your cursed state?" Mulan wonders, looking around the castle and then at the Princess.

"You're not the only one who knows about sacrifice," she replies, and Mulan takes out the medallion and hands it to Aurora.

"You should have it," the warrior tells her, and Aurora looks at the medallion cautiously.

"Thank you," Sleeping Beauty mutters, feeling like she could cry for 100 years.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Past]–

David frantically swipes at the floor as if the vortex will reappear when he notices the crushed hat underneath him. He gets up and stalks towards Regina. "Where are they?!" David roars angrily at her.

"I have no idea," Regina replies, looking at the spot she last saw her brother.

"Are they dead?" He asks her, glaring at the Evil Queen.

"The curse - it destroyed all the lands," she reminds her.

"Are they dead?!" Charming snaps.

"I don't know!" The Mayor shouts, overwhelmed with anger and sadness.

"I should've killed you myself," David sneers, wanting his family back.

"Well, then. What's stopping you?" Regina questions, Magically throwing David up against the opposite wall. Not bothering to question it, she makes the vines protrude from the wallpaper, holding the Prince in place while attempting to strangle him. "You think you're some Heroic Prince? Please. You're nothing but the son of a shepherd. I should've killed you when I could. And now… Now I can." Henry and Ruby burst into the room after everything, and the boy looks at his mum as she tries to kill David.

"Mum?" Henry calls, making Regina turn her attention towards her son.

"Henry, what are you doing here?" She asks, moving towards him, but stops, seeing him flinch slightly.

"What are you doing?" He asks her, looking at David.

"It's okay. You're safe now," the Evil Queen assures him, and the vines disappear, making David fall to the floor. Ruby rushes over to her friend, checking him over and helping him to his feet.

"W-Where's my mum, Uncle Landon, and where's-?" The Mills boy asks, looking around, hoping to see them, but they're nowhere in sight.

"They're gone. They fell through a portal. They're… Henry, I'm sorry," Regina says, almost breaking down at the thought of losing her brother.

"No, you're not. You really are the Evil Queen. I don't want to see you again," Henry snaps, overcome with anger and loss.

"No, don't say that. I love you," she argues, needing her son more than anything now.

"Then, prove it. Get Emma, uncle Landon, and Mary Margaret back," he suggests. "And until then, leave me – leave everyone – alone."

"But where will you go?" The Mayor asks, looking at him, and David steps forward around Regina.

"With me," David announces, and Regina looks at him in shock as Ruby and David lead Henry out of the room, leaving Regina alone.

"Landon…"

(Spellbinding)

Mr Gold sits in his Pawn Shop and spins straw at the wheel to clear his mind when Belle enters, having some time to think. "Hi," Belle says, looking at the man, remembering every time she watched him spin straw back in the Enchanted Forest.

"Hey," Mr Gold replies, looking at her and stopping.

"I, uh, went for a long walk," she tells him, walking into the shop.

"I thought you didn't want to see me?" He wonders, looking at her.

"I didn't. But I… I was worried," the bookworm replies.

"Well, the beast is gone and Regina…lives," the Dark One informs her, shrugging.

"So, uh… You didn't get what you wanted," Belle retorts.

"Well, that remains to be seen," Mr Gold muses, and she notices the chipped cup and picks it up.

"You, uh… You still have it. My chipped cup," she comments, looking at the cup.

"There are many, many things in this shop. But this? This is the only thing I truly cherish. And now, you must leave," he tells her, and Belle looks at him in surprise.

"W-What?" The Beauty asks, not wanting to leave him again after being away for so long.

"You must leave because, despite what you hope, I'm still a monster," Rumpelstiltskin replies, shrugging, not wanting her to get mixed up in his plans, and if she gets hurt again, he'll never forgive himself.

"Don't you see? That's exactly the reason I have to stay," Belle argues, wanting to stay by his side.

(Spellbinding)

David and Henry arrive at Mary Margaret's apartment, looking around and feeling the emptiness already. David sees Henry staring at a picture of Emma and Mary Margaret taken some time ago and another photo of Landon and Emma on one of their dates. "Henry?" David calls him, looking at his grandson.

"Yeah?" Henry asks, looking back at David.

"Don't worry. Emma and Mary Margaret, even Landon – they're alive," he assures the boy.

"How do you know?" The Mills boy wonders, moving onto the sofa.

"I have faith," Charming replies, sitting beside the boy.

"But…" Henry argues.

"Henry. Come here. I will find them. I will always find them," David tells him, wrapping his arm around his grandson's shoulder. "And your uncle, he's a resourceful person, he'll find a way back here."

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

Aurora rests her head on Phillip's chest, mourning him, when Mulan comes to fetch her. "We should leave this place," Mulan suggests. "It's not safe here."

"But the Wraith is gone," Aurora argues, not wanting to leave her beloved.

"There's more. You need to know everything. Much has changed in our land since you've been asleep," she argues.

"It was less than a year," the Princess says, not realising how much time has passed.

"In a manner of speaking. You see, as you slept, and Phillip and I searched for you, something worse happened," the warrior explains.

"What?" Aurora asks, looking at her.

"Are you familiar with Regina, the Queen?" Mulan wonders, though everyone knows about her. "And her brother, Landon."

"Yes," she replies.

"The Queen cast a curse on this land. A terrible, terrible curse. It ripped everyone away to another world," the warrior explains.

"But, we're still here," Sleeping Beauty argues, looking around.

"This corner of the land was untouched," Mulan tells her. "No one knows why. But something saved us. And, for twenty-eight years, we were frozen. And then… Time started again. The terrible curse's power was weakened. Phillip and I were able to resume our search. We found you. But the land is ravished with dangers more fearsome than you can imagine. For those of us who remain, we found a safe haven. We must go there now." They hear a noise coming from the hole where the Wraith initially appeared. The two women go to investigate.

"Something's in there," Aurora mutters, looking at the female warrior.

"Stay back," she warns her, stepping towards the noise.

"What did it bring?" The Princess wonders, and Mulan peers into the hole. "What is it? What do you see?" Mulan pulls back some of the rubble. "Mulan, what is it?"

"That… That is what brought the Wraith here. That's what killed our Prince," the warrior announces, moving aside to show Aurora, Emma, Mary Margaret and Landon lying amongst the rubble near the hole.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World:Present]–

The day after, Mary Margaret, Emma, and Landon's disappearance to the Enchanted Forest. Leroy and the rest of the Dwarves gather by the Storybrooke sign at the forest's edge. Grumpy spray paints an orange line, indicating the town's border, while he lectures. "This, gentlemen, is our mission," Leroy announces. "The great barrier of our existence – does it remain? We must investigate the line." He pulls out a handful of straws. "I made straws. Short one crosses. Draw." The Dwarves each pick a straw, one by one.

"With the curse broken, we can cross, right? It should be no problem," Happy argues, looking at the line.

"With Magic back, it could be even worse now," Walter reasons, looking around nervously.

"Like, vapourise us," Doc suggests.

"Let's go home," Bashful tells them.

"Guys! We are the Royal Guard. Towards loyalty to Snow White. This is our chance to prove ourselves to the Prince. We must do this," Leroy argues, and everyone finishes picking straws. "Show your hands." They reveal their straws, and Mr Clark ends with the short straw. "You're up, Snotty." Grumpy leads Mr Clark to the border. However, he hesitates to step over the spray-painted line.

"You know, what if we found a turtle and sort of nudged it over first?" Mr Clark suggests.

"Oh, for the love of…" Leroy groans, pushing Mr Clark over the line. The second he crosses the line. The second he crosses, a magical force begins to act over him. "Sneezy, you okay? Sneezu!" He shouts.

(Spellbinding)

On the main street, a few townspeople attempt to clear away the damage caused by the Wraith last night.

(Spellbinding)

Meanwhile, Pinnochio's wooden form is still on the bed in August's room at Granny's bed and breakfast. He blinks, coming back to life.

(Spellbinding)

Outside the town hall, the citizens of Storybrooke have set up a Crisis Centre. Marco puts up missing posters for his son, Pinocchio. "My boy… My poor boy," Marco mutters sadly. Ruby appears by the front as the one coordinating everything.

"If you are looking for a family member, come to the front table," Ruby shouts. "If you need counselling, Dr Hopper has a signup sheet. If the Wraith damaged your house, there are cots at the school."

"This is getting out of hand. People are in a panic. They don't know what to do," Mother Superior informs her.

"It's okay. It'll be fine," she assures the Blue Fairy. "We just need everyone to remain calm. I have a feeling our Prince is working on something right now."

(Spellbinding)

David arrives at Regina's manor, knocking on the door, and when she answers, he lets himself inside. "Tell me…about this," David says, holding up Jefferson's crushed hat.

"Surprised you don't have armed guards 'round the clock," Regina muses, looking at the Prince.

"Don't need 'em. We both know if you step outside, there's a line a mile long for your head," he argues.

"Who's going to risk coming at me?" She wonders.

"Take your chances, then," Charming retorts. "But I think that little wallpaper trick? Was an anomaly. If you had your abilities back, this town would be charcoal by now. You're having problems with Magic, aren't you? Right now, the only thing keeping you alive? Is that Henry wishes it. Now, this."

"It's the hat that pulled your loved ones away," the Evil Queen argues, looking at it with hate. "That took my brother."

"Well, where did you get it?" David asks.

"I've long since forgotten. You know what? Maybe, you should be less concerned with hats, and more concerned with taking care of my son," Regina snaps, glaring at him.

"Oh, because you took such great care of him," he retorts angrily.

"I will not listen to child care lectures from a man who put his daughter in a box and shipped her to Maine." She spits hatefully.

"Okay, listen. I need my family. There's Magic here now. There will have to be ways to follow them," the Prince argues, wanting his wife and daughter back.

"Follow them where? Into a sucking airless void? And good luck getting Magic to work. Because, as you said, you'd be charcoal," the Mayor sneers.

"Oh, frustrated, are we? Serves you right. You've earned every bit of this," David snaps, shrugging.

"Keep on baiting me, Charming. Right now, I don't have Magic and I don't have my son. But, when I get one, I get the other. And you don't want to be around when that happens," Regina warns him. "And I will get Landon back. Mark my words."

"If you have to use Magic to keep your son, you don't really have him," he argues before leaving.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

A young Regina rides along a road in the woods on horseback, wanting to escape her home and mother. "We're almost free!" Regina cries; suddenly, several vines magically appear and pluck the young Regina from her horse, suspending her in the air. Cora appears with a book opened in her hands.

"And I thought we were done with all this nonsense," Cora sighs, moving towards her daughter.

"Hello, Mother. What evil have you conjured?" She wonders, looking at the vines.

"Not evil, darling. A barrier spell," Mrs Mills informs her and gently blows across the book's pages, causing black dust to lift off the pages. The vines release the young Regina. "Designed to keep you where you belong."

"I can't leave?" The future Queen snaps.

"Not alone. Not without the King. We've been through this," Cora snaps. "In two days, you'll be married – you'll be Queen. After that, you're free to go – whenever you're with him."

"Momma, I don't want to marry the King. I don't want this life!" Regina shouts, not wanting any of this.

"You're just frightened of having all that power," she argues, and a young, skinny Landon comes over, leading the horse back over the border.

"I don't want power. I want to be free," the younger woman yells, wiggling around to get free.

"Power is freedom. Don't worry. I'm here to show you," the red-haired woman assures her.

"Mother, can you let her down now?" Landon asks, and Cora glances at her son, softening.

"Of course, my little boy," Cora replies, releasing the spell.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

David arrives after his talk with Regina at the Crisis Centre, where he spots Henry lurking around. "Henry! Have you seen Blue?" David asks. "Uhm Mother Superior?"

"No. But everyone is looking for you," Henry argues, and several people begin harassing David with questions, overwhelming him.

"Do we know where Rump- Mr Gold is?" Ruby asks.

"Wait! Does the Queen still have power?" Archie wonders frightfully.

"I thought I would find my boy," Marco argues.

"Please! We've got to be planning something!" Henry shouts.

"Hey, let me ask you something? Are the nuns still nuns? Or can they, you know, date?" Dr Whale asks.

"Uh, I don't know," David replies, becoming overwhelmed.

"Don't say it's me asking…" He adds.

"Blue!" Prince Charming shouts, spotting Mother Superior. "Could there be a tree on this side? The way we sent Emma through as a baby. Maybe I could go after them that way."

"It's possible, but without fairy dust to guide us here… No, it's hopeless," Mother Superior assures him.

"You'll find another way. In the book, things always look worse right before there's good news." Henry argues, and Leroy, along with the rest of the Dwarves, comes rushing in.

"Terrible news! Terrible news! We were out at the town limits. Tell them who you think you are, Sneezy," Leroy shouts, informing the townspeople.

"Oh, will you stop calling me that. You know who I am. I'm Tom Clark. I own the Dark Star Pharmacy. What's going on here?" Mr Clark sighs, looking at everyone.

"If you cross the border, you lose your memory all over again," he tells everyone.

"A-And coming back doesn't fix it?" Archie wonders, and Leroy points at Mr Clark.

"If it did, would I have come running in yelling 'terrible news'?! If we leave, our curse selves become our only selves," Grumpy argues, and the crowd begins to panic.

"I wonder if my mum knows?" Henry asks, and David separates himself from the crowd and attempts to leave while Henry and the others follow. "I can help!"

"People! Everybody! Everybody meet back here in two hours. I'll tell you my plan to fix everything," David assures them, moving away as they settle down.

"What's the plan?" Ruby asks, talking to him alone.

"I don't know. But I got two hours to figure it out," he replies, sighing.

(Spellbinding)

In the living room of Regina's house, she attempts to magically light a candle. "Come on…" Regina groans, trying to get it to work so she can get Landon and Henry back. The candle briefly flickers and then goes out. "Light, damn you!" She picks up the candle and throws it in the fireplace in frustration. She heads to the front door, where she tentatively surveys the area outside her house. Seeing that the coast is clear, she walks to her car when Archie approaches her.

"Regina! I thought you might want to talk," Archie suggests, looking at the Evil Queen.

"Oh, right. The conscience thing," she sighs.

"It's what I do," he reminds her.

"I'm in no mood," the Mayor growls, wanting to be left alone.

"That's too bad, cause… Cause I think talking about your pain might be very helpful. Might help you learn who you truly are," Dr Hopper suggests, wanting to help her.

"I know who I am," Regina argues, getting into her car.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

At the castle, the young Queen does a young Snow White's long raven hair. "What do you think, Snow?" Regina asks, letting the girl admire herself in the mirror.

"It looks beautiful," Snow gushes.

"No, dear. You look beautiful," she assures her. Snow looks in the jewellery box on the table next to her and pulls out Daniel's ring, which is attached to a chain.

"What's this?" The young Princess asks, showing the future Queen the ring.

"What?" The young Queen asks, seeing Daniel's ring. "That's mine." Snow puts the ring around her neck.

"It's pretty. Where did you get it?" Snow wonders, admiring the ring.

"Daniel gave it to me," Regina replies mournfully.

"The stable boy. The one who left you," she says, still not knowing what happened to Daniel.

"He didn't leave me," the young woman argues.

"What?" Snow asks, shocked.

"He was killed," Regina tells her.

"Oh, no…" she gasps.

"He was killed because you couldn't keep a secret from my mother," the future Queen sneers.

"By… But she said… She told me she was going to help you," the young raven-haired girl argues, and Regina pulls on the chain around Snow White's neck and begins to strangle the girl. "My mother corrupts young souls. If you were stronger, none of this would have happened." Regina snaps out of her vivid daydream, finding herself still with Snow White in her room, brushing the young Princess' hair.

"It's pretty. Where did you get it?" Snow asks her, admiring Daniel's ring.

"I don't remember," Regina replies, and Landon enters the room.

"Mother wants a word," Landon informs them.

"Why don't you tell her I will be there in a moment, favourite child," she informs him, looking at him through the mirror.

"Now, now, don't be so bossy," he jokes. "Hello, Snowdrop."

"Hi!" Snow squeaks, blushing at Landon, who smiles at her.

(Spellbinding)

The future Queen and Henry Senior walk outside the castle. "Daddy, you don't know what Mother's doing to me. It's like she's turning me into her. I have to get away," Regina sighs, hating this.

"Get away? But tomorrow's the wedding, child," Henry I argues, not understanding his daughter's fears and worries.

"I don't want to marry the King. I've told you that," she snaps.

"Well, you're certain it isn't just cold feet?" He wonders.

"Daddy, this is not cold feet. This… This is… This is insanity. I'm angry all the time. She's making me crazy," the young woman sighs, wanting to run away again, but she knows her mother will keep her captive till she marries the King.

"She wants to give you and your brother everything she never got for herself," Mr Mills argues, wanting his daughter to understand about his mother.

"I don't want her life. I want a life of my own. How did she get like this?" Regina wonders, sitting down on the chair by her vanity.

"There was a man. Well, not quite a man. Someone Cora knew before I met her. He brought Magic to her. Gave her that book of spells. He made her like she is," Henry Senior replies, thinking of the man Cora mentioned years ago.

"What was his name?" Regina asks.

"I don't know. Cora won't even say it," he informs his daughter.

"But the book is his?" She wonders, smiling as she thinks about getting the book so she can change her destiny.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

Regina enters Mr Gold's Pawn Shop, noticing that he's not there; she begins to rummage through his books when he enters. "The library's beneath the clock tower," Mr Gold remarks. "You closed it, remember? When you still had power."

"I need the book. I need to get my son back," Regina demands, glaring at him.

"Which book?" He ponders and smiles, catching on. "Ah. So, it's come down to that, eh? You need your mommy's help?"

"Give me the book," she orders.

"Do you really need the smell of the written word to get the Magic flowing again, love? Maybe if you relaxed, it would just happen," Gold suggests, shrugging.

"I don't have time. It worked once, I know I can do it. I just… I just need a shortcut back," the Mayor argues, wanting to get Landon and Henry back.

"Yeah, well, I don't have time, either. Leave. Please," the Dark One replies, but nothing happens.

"Well, how about that? Your 'pleases' have lost their punch," Regina retorts, glaring at him.

"Well, the fact remains, jumpstarting your Magic is not in my best interest," Mr Gold reminds her.

"You know what else isn't in your best interest? Having everyone know the Enchanted Forest still exists. Knowing that, you and I are keeping that little secret. You're up to something. And it doesn't involve going back home," she warns her old mentor, and she looks in a chest on the counter, but Rumpelstiltskin stops Regina. He Magically produces the old spell book.

"Careful, dearie. These are straight up spells. Rough in the system," he warns her, smiling.

"I don't care if they turn me green. I'm getting my son back," the Evil Queen snaps, snatching the book from him and heading to the door.

"Oh my…" Rumpelstiltskin mockingly gasps.

"What?" Regina asks, turning back to face him.

"It's just, holding that… I told you once you didn't look like her, but now… Now I can see it," Mr Gold muses, and Regina huffs. "Though, Landon has her Magical prowess."

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

Regina attempts to summon Rumpelstiltskin in her chambers, needing some help. She has difficulty pronouncing his name. "Rumpelshtil- Rumpelshtilshin, I summon thee," she says, looking around, and Rumpelstiltskin appears behind her.

"That's not how you say it, dearie. But then, you didn't have to say anything," Rumpelstiltskin argues, shrugging.

"What are you?" Regina asks, looking at the strange man in her room.

"What, what, what. My, my. What a rude question. I am not a 'what'," he retorts.

"I'm sorry. I… I don't really know what I'm doing," she tells him.

"That much is clear. Allow me to introduce myself – Rumpelstiltskin," the Dark One replies, smirking.

"And I'm-," the future Queen says.

"Regina. I know," Rumpelstiltskin interrupts the woman.

"You do?" Regina asks, looking at him surprised.

"But of course," he muses.

"Because of my mother, Cora. You taught her?" She questions, having heard from her father.

"My legend precedes me," the Dark One chuckles.

"People say I look like her when she was younger," the young woman replies, shrugging.

"Really?" Rumpelstiltskin questions, taking a closer look at her. "I don't see it. No, that's not how I know you."

"Oh? How then?" Regina asks, looking at him.

"I knew you long ago, dearie. It's been some time, but I knew this day would come. I've been waiting for it. And I'm so happy, we're back where we belong," he replies, laughing as he thinks about his plans for the future.

"And where's that?" She wonders.

"Together," the Dark One tells her, smirking.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

Regina sits under her apple tree, still rotting from the curse weakening around Storybrooke, tightly grasping the book that once belonged to her mother, which she recently received from Mr Gold.

(Spellbinding)

At Mary Margaret's apartment, David practises his speech when he talks to the townspeople and stands before the mirror while Henry watches, a little amused. "People of Storybrooke. I know we're trapped together again, and things look bleak. But… They're not," David says, looking nervously.

"No, keep going. You were on to something," Henry encourages his grandfather.

"No, I wasn't. I did the fighting, Snow did the talking," he argues, pulling the hat out of his bag.

"Can I see that?" The Mills boy asks, looking at it.

"Yeah," Charming replies, handing it over.

"I think I know what this is," Henry announces, grabbing his book and flipping through the pages in his book until he finds the story about the Mad Hatter. "It's the Mad Hatter's hat. It's a portal between worlds."

"The Mad Matter…" The Prince mutters, and Henry looks at him.

"You've heard of him?" He asks.

"No. I-I mean, yeah. I mean, the Prince me doesn't know him, but David had memories of reading Alice in Wonderland in school. I need to get it to work again. Who is he? I-I mean, who is he here?" David replies, confused with two lives in his head.

"I don't know. Maybe he'll check in at the Crisis Center. You could check after the thing," he suggests, shrugging.

"What thing?" The Prince asks, forgetting about the meeting.

"The meeting? Where you tell us about your plan, remember? The speech you were doing?" The Mayor's son reminds him.

"Right. I'll be back for that," Charming assures him, leaving while Henry tries to accompany him.

"Gramps, you got to use me. Come on! The curse was broken cause of me. Let me help!" Henry shouts and hears the door shut. "Or…not."

(Spellbinding)

Mr Gold packs his bag with several brochures and maps for his journey out of town when David barges in, needing his help. "It appears when I bought that closed sign, I was just throwing my money away," Mr Gold muses, looking at Charming.

"Looks like it," David replies stiffly.

"Sorry to hear about your wife and daughter. If you're looking for a retrieval, I'm afraid portal jumping is just outside my purview," he argues, shrugging.

"Of course it is," the Prince mutters.

"So, what's the commotion outside?" The Dark One wonders.

"Oh, a little stir at the border. Problem crossing the line," Charming replies, and Rumpelstiltskin looks at him alert at the news.

"Do tell," Mr Gold requests, wanting more information as it delays his plans.

"Actually, I'm here to buy something. A way to find someone," he asks.

"Well, like a map?" Rumpelstiltskin wonders, though he already knows what the man wants.

"Something with a bit more kick. Like the ring you gave me to find Snow," David suggests, wanting to find Jefferson.

"Ah, yeah, Magic. Whom are you following?" The Dark One asks, intrigued.

"Not telling," he replies.

"So, do you have something of theirs, this missing person?" Mr Gold wonders, looking around.

"Yes," the Prince tells him.

"May I see it?" Rumpelstiltskin asks, holding out his hand.

"No," David replies, and Mr Gold pulls a vial out of the box behind him. "Pour this on the object, and then follow it. So simple, even David Nolan could do it." He holds it in front of him but pulls away when David goes to take it.

"What do you want?" Charming snaps.

"Peace. Leave me alone," he replies, handing it over.

"What do you care what David Nolan does?" The Prince wonders.

"Oh, no. It's Charming I worry about. I'd like a little non-interference guarantee," the Dark One informs him.

"Fine. If you give me the same. You and I – we stay out of each other's way," David suggests, and Mr Gold hands the potion over.

"Thank you for your business," he replies, and David starts to leave the shop, but Mr Gold interrupts him. "So, uh, what happens when you try and cross the border?"

"You lose your memory of everything of our old lives. Looks like we're stuck here," David informs him before exiting. Mr Gold smashes two of his display cases with his cane in anger.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

Regina and Rumpelstiltskin are still talking at the castle, and the young Queen needs help. "Oh, yes. I know everything about you, my dear," Rumpelstiltskin replies. "I held you and your brother in my arms. You were younger. More… Portable. There is much history between your family and me. History both in the past and in the future."

"Then, can you help me?" Regina asks, hoping for help with her mother.

"Possibly, yes. You seek power. The death of your enemies… The death of your friends?" He muses, smirking.

"No! I don't want to hurt anyone," she argues, still being so kind and caring.

"Hard to believe you're from the same family," the Dark One laughs, starting to stroke the side of her face. "So… Kind. So… Gentle. So… Powerful. You could do so much, if you just let yourself. Like your brother will."

"But, I don't know how," the future Queen scoffs.

"Well, let me show you the way," Rumpelstiltskin suggests, and a large, wrapped object appears in the room.

"How did-," Regina wonders, looking at the large object.

"Magic. It can set you free," he replies.

"I don't want to do that – use Magic. That's what she does. I don't want to end up like her," she argues. "I mean, my brother has started and he's almost changed completely from the person I remember."

"No, no, of course not. But that's the beauty of my gift. You don't have to. 'It' will do it for you," the Dark One informs her. "And your brother is only becoming the man he is supposed to become."

"What is it?" the young woman asks.

"A portal. A passage between lands," Rumpelstiltskin explains. "This is a portal to a specific, annoying little world. Use to me, but, for your purposes, a perfect. You're unlikely ever to see her again. All she needs is a little push. The question is, can you do it?"

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

Regina sits under her apple tree with the book. She opens it to a page depicting a tree. She gently blows across the pages, causing black dust to lift from the paper. She inhales the dust, causing her eyes to faintly glow for a moment. The black rotten apples on the tree are turning ripe once again.

(Spellbinding)

On the main street, David pours the potion on the top of the crushed hat. Nothing happens for a second, and then the top hat lifts up and flies through the air. David follows the hat down the street and comes across a flipped car, where a voice calls out from the inside. He pries open the door, revealing Jefferson. "Ah, thank you. No one heard me," Jefferson sighs, getting out of the car.

"You okay?" David asks, and Jefferson nods. "Good. That means we can talk." Charming drags the Mad Hatter from the car.

(Spellbinding)

The entire town is gathered at the town hall for the meeting, and Henry attempts to call David, who still hasn't arrived. "Come on, Gramps. Pick up. Come on…" Henry mutters, getting voicemail.

"Please, everyone. Just be patient. I'm sure he's going to be here any second," Ruby assures everyone, and Granny wanders around with her crossbow. "Granny, do you really need that?"

"We've got a lawless town, Ruby. Damn right I need it," Granny replies sternly.

"Try calling him again," she tells Henry, growing worried about David.

"He's not picking up," Henry replies.

"Just keep trying," Red pleads, and Regina blasts the doors open to the room, making a dramatic entrance and casually walks to the front with Granny, Ruby and Henry.

"My, what a nice turnout. No need for a fuss. It's just little old me," Regina muses, smirking as she steps to the front of the town hall.

"Regina. Think about what you're doing," Archie warns her, getting up.

"Bug," she sneers and magically throws Archie across the room, scaring everyone.

"Hey!" Leroy shouts and Regina does the same to him. Granny then fires an arrow at the Evil Queen, but Regina simply catches it.

"How sweet," the Evil Queen laughs, setting the arrow on fire and transforming it into a fireball. She flings it into the crowd, ultimately catching part of the wall on fire.

"What do you want?" Ruby snaps, glaring at the evil woman.

"Me. She wants me," Henry announces, making everyone look at the Mills boy. "Okay, I'll come with you. Just leave them alone."

"That's my boy," Regina sighs, smiling at her son and putting her arm around Henry's shoulder, leading him out of the room.

(Spellbinding)

David and Jefferson sit at a table outside with the hat between them. "Can you get me through?" David asks, hoping to get Mary Margaret and Emma back, even Landon, for himself and Henry's sake.

"No," Jefferson replies.

"Can you get them back?" He wonders, and Jefferson rolls his eyes. "Can you get it to work?"

"If you only knew," the Mad Hatter mutters.

"Okay. You had a little girl's tea set in your car and a stuffed rabbit toy, so I'm thinking you have a daughter you love. Well, I do, too. And a wife. And they're out there somewhere. In the Enchanted Forest, or a void, I don't even know. But I'm going to get them back," Charming argues.

"They're in the Enchanted Forest, that's for sure. I just can't get there," Jefferson tells him.

"It still exists?" David questions in shock, believing Regina.

"It exists. I don't know if that matters, since we can't go there," he argues.

"So, you won't help me?" The Prince asks the portal jumper.

"I'm a portal jumper, and you destroyed my portal, so you're out of luck," Jefferson reminds him, and David grabs him by his shirt collar.

"Well, I'm the closest thing left to a Sheriff here, so I can just throw you in a cell until you figure out a way." David argues, warning him.

"Then all we'll do is both sit. Stuck. Two lives in our heads, cursed worse than ever. Two lives, forever at odds. Double the pain, double the suffering," he retorts before suddenly bolting from the table and beginning to run down the main street. While chasing after him, David is stopped by Ruby.

"David, stop!" Ruby shouts, stopping the Prince.

"Get out of my way!" David snaps, pushing her aside.

"Regina has Henry," she tells him, making him stop pursuing Jefferson.

"But he has the way!" He argues.

"She has Henry! She's threatening everyone," Red snaps.

"She has Henry?" Charming asks, having heard her finally.

"She showed up at your town meeting – the one you missed," she tells him. "Her Magic's back. Everyone's panicking. They want to leave town – they're going to lose everything."

"Okay. Okay, but I have to go after him first." David argues. "He's my only hope of finding a way to get Emma and Snow back."

"Back to what? This town is about to come apart. You've got to do something," she shouts at him, needing his help.

(Spellbinding)

Regina and Henry arrive home after her dramatic arrival at town hall, and the first thing Henry does is run upstairs. "Now, I don't want you to think that things are just going to go back to how they used to be. Henry!" Regina shouts after him. Henry pulls a prepared rope from the blankets in the boy's room and throws it out the window. He doesn't get very far until Regina stops him, using magical vines like her own mother. "Don't fight it, Honey. You'll get a splinter," she warns him. The two of them are sitting in Henry's room.

"How long am I in prison? Till I grow up?" Henry asks her, hanging from the tree.

"Henry, I rescued you because I love you," she argues, just wanting her son back home.

"So, I'm a prisoner because you love me. That's not fair," he grumbles.

"You know where I come from. That was really not fair. Of all the places I've seen, this is the fairest of them all," the Evil Queen reasons.

"You ruined lives. You sent away Mary Margaret and Emma and uncle Landon," Henry snaps angrily, missing his family.

"That was an accident," Regina argues, not wanting to lose her brother.

"The way you treated me wasn't an accident," he replies. "You made it so no one believed me. You made me feel like I was crazy."

"But that's all going to change, now," she assures him. "Henry, you can know all the secrets. You can live in a house with Magic. Look what I could do." The dark-haired woman magically conjures a giant cupcake. "And I can teach you. You can do this and so much more. You can have all the friends you want come over any time, and you can show them everything in your book."

"No one's going to want to come over here. They're scared of you," the Mills boy reminds her.

"You can make them not be scared. You can make them love you," the Mayor argues, high on power and Magic.

"I don't want that. I don't want to be you," Henry argues.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

The future Queen dresses for her wedding, though she hates the idea. Cora, Landon and the older woman enter the room, spotting Rumpelstiltskin's gift. "What's this?" Cora asks, looking at it.

"I don't know. A gift?" Regina replies, looking at herself in the mirror.

"Maybe it's a portrait," Landon guesses, and Cora magically removes the covering, revealing the portal, which is a looking glass.

"Oh, a looking glass. Not nearly as personal. I wonder, sometimes, if the people really love you," Cora muses, sighing in disappointment.

"I'm doing my best, Mother," Regina argues, looking at Landon for help and noticing that he's becoming more muscular.

"Oh, honey. I'm sorry. Come here," she says, and they stand in front of the looking glass. "Look at you with your whole life ahead of you. And it's going to be better than you can imagine. The King's not a strong man. The kingdom will be yours. Raise the tributes, form a personal guard, let everyone know where the new power lies, and you'll hold the hearts of your people in your hands."

"Is that what you would do, Mother?" The future Queen asks, looking at her mother.

"That's exactly what I would do," Mrs Mills replies, smiling.

"Well, the thing is, I don't want to be you," Regina argues, lunging at Cora, but is stopped by her Magic.

"What are you doing? You think it's that easy to get rid of me?" Cora snaps. "You're stuck with me forever, darling. Because I'm your mother, and I know best." Rumpelstiltskin appears in the looking glass behind Cora, making a pushing gesture. Regina's anger builds and then releases a burst of Magic, throwing Cora backwards through the portal, which shatters.

"Regina! What have you done!" Landon shouts, moving towards the shattered mirror. "What have you done!"

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

The citizens of Storybrooke pack their cars with their things and head along the road leading to the town's border. David and Ruby are in his car ahead of them, trying to stop them from going over the town line. They stop, angling the car sideways in order to block the way. Everyone angrily gets out of their vehicles while David and Ruby get out to confront them. "Get out of the way!" Archie shouts. "We have a right to go!"

"Listen to me! Listen!" David shouts at the mob, making them go quiet. "If you cross that line, you're going to be lost. Everyone who loves you will lose you. But there's something worse – you'll lose yourself. Look, I get wanting to leave here, I do. And I get that it's easier to let go of bad memories, but… Even bad memories are part of us. David, Storybrooke David, was – is – weak, confused. And he hurt the woman I love. I wouldn't give up being Charming just to be him, but, you know what? I wouldn't make the other trade, either. Because that David reminds me, not only of who I lost, but of who I want to be. My weaknesses, and my strengths. David, and the Prince. I am both – just like you. You are both. The town is both. We are both. Stay here, and every choice is open to you. Live in the woods if you want. Hell, live in a shoe if you want. Or eat frozen burritos and write software. Let's open Granny's and the school. And get back to work. I will protect you. She won't be able to hurt any of us. Not as long as I'm alive. Not as long as we all come together. As we did before. As we shall do again." Everyone is silent as they listen before getting back into their cars and driving back into Storybrooke.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Past]–

The young Queen heads along the path leading from the castle on horseback. She encounters Rumpelstiltskin, hating that she and Landon are arguing about their mother. "Leaving, are we?" Rumpelstiltskin wonders, appearing behind her.

"That was always the plan," Regina argues, getting off her horse and handing him the spell book. "Here. A gift. I don't want it."

"Uh, can't be a gift. It was mine to start with," he argues, and she turns to get back on her horse. "Before you go… Answer me this – how did it feel?"

"I loved my mother," she snaps. "And now my brother won't even talk to me."

"B-But that's not what I asked, dearie. How did it feel to use Magic?" The Dark One asks, looking at her.

"It doesn't matter. I-I'll never use it again," the future Queen argues, shaking her head.

"Why not?" Rumpelstiltskin wonders.

"Because I loved it," Regina reveals, hating herself.

"You've discovered who you are. You could do so much now, if you let me show you how," he replies, smirking.

"Through Magic?" She asks.

"Through many things," the Dark One says, hiding his true intentions.

"And what do you get out of it?" The dark-haired woman wonders, not understanding what he wants.

"Someday, you'll do something for me. Let me guide you," Rumpelstiltskin assures her.

"And I won't become like her?" Regina asks him, never wanting to turn into her mother, no matter what.

"That, dearie, is entirely up to you," he replies, laughing.

(Spellbinding)

–[Real World: Present]–

After learning about her abducting Henry, David barges into Regina's house, equipped with her sword. "I want to see him," David demands, bringing the sword to Regina's neck.

"Henry, come down! You won't be using your sword," Regina assures him, knowing she needs to be fair and unlike her mother with her beloved son.

"Whatever you conjure, I can fight," he argues.

"I mean, you won't need your sword," she tells him, gently pushing the blade away as Henry comes down the stairs. "Henry, you're going to go home with David."

"Really?" Henry asks, looking at his mother.

"Really. I shouldn't have brought you here," the Evil Queen replies. "I was… I don't know how to love very well. I wasn't capable of it for a very long time, but I know I remember… If you hold onto someone too hard, that doesn't make them love you. I'm sorry I lied to you. And that I made you feel like I didn't know who you are. But I want you to be here, because you want to be here. Not because I forced you, and not because of Magic. I want to redeem myself. Go get your things." Henry turns back upstairs happily, leaving Regina and David alone.

"Then prove it," David suggests, looking at the woman.

"How?" Regina asks him.

"Answer one question – does it exist?" He questions, and she looks at him, confused.

"What?" She wonders.

"The Enchanted Forest – our land. Does it still exist?" The Prince asks her.

"Yes. But I have no idea how to get back there," the Evil Queen informs him. "I can see I just launched you on a heroic quest. Just also make sure you take care of my son?"

"That, I can do," David assures her, and Henry returns downstairs with his things. The Charming boys leave the house, and Regina watches them, feeling lonely and sad as she loses her son a little more.

(Spellbinding)

On the main street of Storybrooke, all businesses are reopening, trying to get back to normal. The Dwarves, armed with their pick axes, file out of a building and cross paths with Mr Clark, still under the impression of the Townline spell. "What do you need those for?" Mr Clark asks them.

"Don't worry, brother. You've lost something. It's going to take fairy dust to get it back. So, we're going to do what we do best. Come on, boys. It's off to work we go," Leroy promises him before heading to the mine.

(Spellbinding)

In Granny's Diner, Marco sits at a table having coffee. Henry and David come in, and the boy whispers something in Marco's ear, making the older man smile and quickly leave.

(Spellbinding)

Marco arrives at August's room at the bed and breakfast, which he discovers unoccupied. He finds Pinocchio's childhood hat on the desk. He picks it up and sits on the bed, filled with sadness at the thought of losing his son again.

(Spellbinding)

At the town border in the forest, Mr Gold stands in front of the spray-painted line, wondering how he will get across without losing his memories.

(Spellbinding)

Meanwhile, Regina goes to burn her mother's old spell book but hesitates. She keeps the book and locks it in a cabinet.

(Spellbinding)

Henry and David stay at Granny's Diner, eating at the counter. "Hey. It exists, Henry," David reminds the boy. "The Enchanted Forest is still out there."

"And… So are they," Henry replies, smiling.

"Yeah," he assures him.

"But, how do we know they survived the trip there?" The Mills boy wonders.

"Because I can feel it," Charming promises him, smiling.

(Spellbinding)

–[Fairy Tale World: Present]–

As the four women and Landon travel across the deserted Fairy Tale World, Mulan and Aurora bind Emma, Mary Margaret, and Landon's wrists and pull them along behind their horses. "What is this place?" Mary Margaret asks, looking around, barely recognising the place.

"Our home," Mulan replies, and they arrive at an island, isolated from the remaining Enchanted Forest, that's populated by a small number of inhabitants that didn't get sucked into the Real World. They have set up a village-like encampment.

"It's like they're refuges," Emma mutters, but the Princess and warrior hear her.

"We're survivors," she snaps, glaring at the two women and Landon, who can't help but laugh. Mary Margaret knees Aurora in the gut and makes a run for it.

"Emma, run!" Mary Margaret shouts, and Emma and Landon follow, but she is struck down by Mulan and knocked unconscious. Emma kneels beside her and tries to wake her up.

"Mary Margaret! Mary Margaret! What did you do?!" Emma shouts, looking at Mulan.

"Take them to the pit," Mulan orders, and Landon stands before Mary Margaret and Emma.

"Over my dead body," Landon snaps, and Mulan swings her sword at him, and he dodges, but she nicks his side.

"Landon!" Emma shouts as Mulan hits Landon with the hilt of her sword in the face, making him fall on his back. Emma rushes to his side, seeing that he's barely conscious.

(Spellbinding)

Emma, Mary Margaret, and Landon are literally thrown into the dungeon by the guards as they arrive at the Safe Haven. "Be careful!" Emma snaps at them and kneels beside her mother and Landon's side, seeing him bleeding from his side. "Come on… Wake up. Can you hear me?"

"Do you need help?" A voice asks from the obscured shadows.

"Who are you?" She asks, trying to look at her.

"A friend," they reply before emerging from the shadows and turning out to be Cora. "My name's Cora.