XV. "We need to find them!"
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
The Dwarves are down in the mines, continuing to look for Fairy Dust. Happy attempts to gather everyone up. "Pick axes down, brothers! First round at Granny's is on me!"
"Come on, Leroy. We're going to miss happy hour," Doc tells him.
"Granny's running a two-for-one special on mead," he adds.
"Just cause it's called happy hour, Happy, don't mean you got to be there. We got work to do," Leroy argues, continuing axing at the mine wall.
"But you're tired. We all are. A break could help," Happy replies, looking at him.
"Charming asked us to mine for dust – Fairy Dust. To help bring Snow and Emma back home. And that's…what I'm…going to do!" Grumpy snaps and continues hacking at the wall with his axe until he suddenly breaks through the wall and falls into another cavern. The Dwarves look at it and step back before calling David down.
David arrives, bringing Henry and Mother Superior along with him. He enters the mine and encounters Happy. "Where is he?" David asks, and Happy guides them to where Leroy fell through the wall. Below, David sees Leroy and several of the other Dwarves, along with hundreds of diamonds lining the walls and ceiling of the mine.
"Are those…?" Henry wonders, marvelling at the hundreds of diamonds.
"Diamonds. They're back. The Magic brought them back," Mother Superior beams, smiling.
"You mean, the kind that become Fairy Dust?" He asks, looking at the Blue Fairy.
"Indeed. We just need to refine them – grind them up. Do you still have what remains of Jefferson's hat?" She questions, looking at David, who takes out the battered hat. "You lock this up. Keep it safe. Because, by this time tomorrow, we'll have enough Magic dust to make it work again."
"So, Mary Margaret, Emma, and Landon…?" The Mills boy says, filled with hope.
"That's right, kid. We're bringing 'em home," David promises him, smiling at the thought of getting his wife and daughter back.
(SPELLBINDING)
At Granny's Diner, David, Mother Superior, Belle, and the Dwarves celebrate with a round of drinks as Ruby serves them. "To the Dwarves!" David yells, and everyone cheers. "That was quite a spill. Are you okay?"
"I've had worse," Leroy replies, and Ruby goes to clear off a table where Billy is waiting for her.
"A mouse," Billy blurts out.
"What? Where?" Ruby asks, looking around.
"No. I meant me. I was a mouse," he corrects himself, blushing a little. "My name was Gus. I lived in Cinderella's pantry, I ate cheese, I gnawed on wood, but I preferred the cheese."
"And, why are you telling me this?" She wonders, looking at him.
"Uh, we haven't had a chance to talk since things…changed. I just wanted you to know who I was… Back home." Gus tells her.
"Uh, can I, um, still call you Billy?" Red asks him, smiling.
"You can call me whatever you want, as long as you let me buy you a drink after your shift. I already know Ruby. I want the chance to meet Red," Billy replies.
"Um, tonight's actually not great. Because-," Ruby tells him when Belle comes over, helping her friend.
"Uh, we, uh… We have, uh, plans," Belle lies, making Ruby look at her, glad for the assist.
"That's right, um… It's girls' night. I'm bringing the cheese. Which has nothing to do with you being a mouse. It has to do with the wine," she replies, looking at Billy.
"Okay. Um… Maybe next time," Billy says before leaving.
"Thank you," Red sighs.
"I can spot a girl in trouble. He… He seems really nice," Belle comments.
"It's… It's complicated," Ruby replies, thinking of her past. On the other side of the Diner., Henry drinks a cup of coffee when David joins his grandson.
"Is that coffee?" David asks, looking at the mug.
"No," Henry lies.
"Trying to stay up, huh?" He muses, and Henry nods, not wanting to go back to sleep and find himself in that room of flames. "Still worried about those nightmares?" He nods again. "Well, don't be. Cause, when you go to sleep tonight, I'm going to be right in the next room. Now maybe, lose the java, and go grab a cocoa." As soon as Henry leaves, Albert sits in the booth across from David.
"Congratulations, Sheriff. Quite a celebration," Albert remarks, making David look at him, annoyed and shocked.
"What are you doing here?" Charming snaps.
"You may have taken care of me in the old world, but, in this one, we get another go at each other." He warns his son.
"Whenever you're ready," David agrees to their continued feud.
"It's a big moment for you, isn't it? On your way to getting your family back," King George muses.
"Ah… Yeah, it must be hard for you. You know, watching good win," he argues.
"Good? So sure of yourself. But I know the truth. You're still just a shepherd pretending to be a Prince. You weren't fit to run the kingdom, and you sure as hell aren't fit to run this town." Albert snaps.
"I think the people of Storybrooke might disagree with you," the Prince replies calmly.
"Today. But I'm going to see to it that they see things my way," King George argues. "That they see you for who you really are. By the time I'm done with you, you'll wish you'd killed me when you had the chance."
"The people of this town know who I really am. And they've seen me defeat you before. So, if you want to try and take me down, they'll see it again," David assures him before leaving.
(SPELLBINDING)
In the back of the Diner, Granny is welding a sort of cage out of one of the walk-in freezers, and David enters. "Almost done. Let's finish clearing out those perishables," Granny says.
"What the hell is this?" David asks, watching Granny.
"We're making a cage. Know anybody who might want thirty-eight frozen lasagnas?" Ruby asks, holding some as she comes out of the freezer.
"I'm sorry, what?" He questions, looking between Granny and Ruby.
"I know. Nobody would believe it if you told them my lasagna was frozen," Granny remarks, avoiding the real question.
"No. Why are you building a cage?" Charming asks.
"Tonight's the first full moon since the curse broke. It's the first night of Wolfstime," Ruby tells him, and he nods, understanding.
"I thought you figured out how to control the wolf in you ages ago?" David argues, folding his arms.
"Yeah. But, thanks to the curse, I haven't turned in twenty-eight years," she reminds him. "I might be rusty. I can't let what happened last time – what happened to Peter – happen to anyone else."
"What about your red hood? That could keep you from turning," he replies, remembering what Snow told him.
"If I had it. I've looked everywhere. I even went to Gold. It's not in town. I don't think it came over with the curse," Red argues.
"Ruby, I know you. I trust you. Snow trusted you. Wolfstime or not, you won't hurt anyone tonight," Charming assures her, trusting her completely.
"Maybe. But I can't afford to take any chances," Ruby tells him, stepping into the freezer, and Granny shuts the door.
(SPELLBINDING)
The following morning, Granny enters the Diner, muttering to herself, and heads to the back to wake Ruby. "You awake yet, Ruby?" Granny asks. "Ruby, Ruby." When she gets to the freezers, she discovers that Ruby has escaped with claw marks lining the walls and the door. "Ruby!"
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Netherworld]–
Henry finds himself in a burning room from his nightmare and tries defending himself against the flames as he yells for help. Across the room, another person appears and calls out to them. "Hey! Hey! Who are you? Where are we?"
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Regina wakes Henry up before the person from the dream has a chance to respond. "Henry? Henry, wake up," Regina calls, pulling him from his pillow. "It's okay. It's okay. You're okay." She assures him, seeing how shaken up he is.
"Wh-what are you doing here? Where's David?" Henry asks, looking around.
"He got an emergency call this morning, and he asked me to look after you. He told me you've been having nightmares. It's okay. You can-," Regina assures him, touching Henry's hand, and he recoils in pain, shouting. She inspects his hand and finds a burn running up its side. "Is that a burn?"
(SPELLBINDING)
David and Granny search for Ruby in the forest after leaving the Diner, and Granny leads the way. "This way. Over here," Granny shouts, and they find Ruby sleeping on the ground. "Ruby. Ruby, wake up."
"Hey," David says softly.
"Where am I? What happened?" Ruby asks, looking around and realising where she is.
"You're in the forest. You must've fallen asleep here last night," he replies, helping her to her feet.
"I-I don't understand. You put me in that cage. You locked me up," she argues, feeling confused.
"The freezer was torn to shreds when I came to check in on you this morning," Granny informs her granddaughter.
"Ruby. Ruby, it's alright," David promises her.
"No. It's not. I don't remember anything from last night. This is exactly what I was afraid of. Oh my God. Did I do something last night?" Ruby wonders panickedly.
"Ruby, all we know for sure is that you broke out and ran through the woods. There's no reason to assume the worst," he tells her when his phone vibrates, and he answers it. "Sheriff. Yeah. Okay. I'll be right there."
"What is it?" She asks, growing scared and nervous about her missing time.
"Somebody left their car double-parked in front of the cannery," Charming informs her. "I got to go check it out on our way back into town. Hey. Relax. Everything's going to be okay."
(SPELLBINDING)
David, Ruby, and Granny arrive at the docks via the Sheriff's car and find Billy's tow truck there. "That's Billy's truck," Ruby tells them.
"Great. Who do I call to tow a tow truck? What is it, Ruby? What's wrong?" David asks her, seeing her confused and anxious face.
"I smell blood," she announces.
"Where's Billy?" He wonders, and she heads off, following the scent of blood with David trailing behind her. Granny discovers Billy's torso underneath the truck.
"Here," Granny announces, and nearby, Ruby screams, discovering Billy's lower half sticking out of a dumpster.
"It was the wolf! It was me!" Ruby cries, and Granny pulls her granddaughter into her arms.
(SPELLBINDING)
At Mary Margaret's apartment, Regina makes Henry show his burnt hand to Mr Gold, who she called over for advice. "Oh, yes," Mr Gold muses, inspecting it. "You were quite right to call me."
"So y-you can help? It was just a dream," Henry argues, not realising what's happening to him.
"Well, what you're describing's certainly not a dream," he replies.
"Then, what was it?" Regina asks, concerned about her son.
"A side effect. You know, it's remarkable you'd cast a curse you know so little about. Landon knew more about it, being a good student to Maleficent at a time," the Dark One remarks, making Regina and Henry look at him.
"My victims are not supposed to wake up. That's why I certainly never cared what happened to them after. …Until now," she argues, and Mr Gold, using the potions kit he brought, begins preparing a potion. He carefully drips the various liquids into a pendant attached to a chain.
"When people fall under a sleeping curse, the soul travels to a Netherworld, where it resides until awoken," Mr Gold explains. "Now, this world is between life and death, and it's very real. However, even when the curse is broken, sometimes, in sleep, the victims find their way back to that world. Victims like you." He looks at Henry.
"This other world is tormenting my son every time he sleeps. I want you to give him something that will keep him from going there," the Evil Queen demands, wanting her son safe.
"Well, I'm afraid that's not possible," he tells them. "I can, however, provide you with something that will allow him to control his actions whilst in that world. And once one controls something, one no longer need fear it." He holds up the finished product - a necklace.
"A necklace?" Henry asks, looking at it.
"You wear this while you're sleeping. Once you control the journey, fear will stop. And then, you can come and go as you please," Rumpelstiltskin replies, extending the necklace to Henry, but Regina stops him from taking it, unsure about this.
"Everything comes at a price with you. What do you want for this?" Regina asks, looking at Mr Gold.
"For a house call? You couldn't afford it. But this is for Henry. This one's on me," Mr Gold assures them, handing the necklace to Henry, who, this time, takes it, admiring the necklace and hoping that it works.
(SPELLBINDING)
After finding Billy's body and truck, David, Ruby, and Granny are still at the docks. "It had to be something else, Ruby," David argues.
"No, I did this! We both know it," Ruby snaps.
"No. A few months ago, everyone thought Mary Margaret was guilty of murder. She needed someone to believe in her. I didn't do that. I am not going to make the same mistake with you!" He assures her he wants to be better and knows Ruby will never hurt anyone.
"Mary Margaret never killed anyone. I have," she argues, feeling immense guilt, even if she's unsure if she did it.
"I know who you really are, Ruby. Even if you've lost sight of it," Charming promises her.
"It doesn't change the fact that I am going to turn again tonight, and somebody else could get hurt." Red shouts.
"Maybe this isn't the place to have this discussion," Granny argues, looking around nervously about someone overhearing them.
"It's okay. I'll protect her," David promises them.
"No! Lock me up. If the freezer couldn't hold me, maybe a jail cell will. I don't need to be protected from other people, David. Other people need to be protected from me," Ruby snaps.
(SPELLBINDING)
David locks Ruby in a cell at the Sheriff's station after she pleads with him. "You'll be safe in here tonight," David assures her.
"Thank you, David," Ruby says, smiling slightly.
"Thank me in the morning. By then, I'll have found whoever really killed Billy," he tells her, and Albert enters.
"You already have. That thing. That she-wolf," Albert declares, pointing at Ruby in the cell.
"Get out. Whatever issues you have with me, don't involve her. There's no proof Ruby had anything to do with what happened," Charming snaps, glaring at his so-called father.
"It seems to me that you're allowing your emotions to cloud your judgement." He retorts calmly.
"Leave him alone," Ruby growls, glaring at him.
"Protecting your friend at the peril of everyone else. I knew you'd slip up, shepherd. It was only a matter of time," King George muses, smirking at his plan to frame Ruby and have David fall from grace.
"What do you want?" David asks, glaring at him.
"Justice. Hand that over to me, and let the town decide her fate," Albert demands.
"Never. I know exactly what kind of justice you have in mind," he snaps, standing tall before King George.
"This town is bigger than you think. I start telling people that you're putting their lives in danger to protect your own interests? You'll have a mutiny on your hands," King George warns him.
"Yeah, we'll see. You want her, you have to go through me," Charming sneers.
"I look forward to that," Albert replies, smirking before leaving.
(SPELLBINDING)
Later, Albert gathers up a mob before the Sheriff's station, lying to the citizens of Storybrooke. He tries to open the front door but discovers it has been chained shut. Not particularly bothered, he turns to address the crowd. "We won't cower in fear of this creature any longer! We know who she is, we know where she's hiding. So why is she still alive?" Everyone cheers in agreement with his lies. "Because she's being harboured by one person – David Nolan. How many more people have to die before our Prince decides to act?"
"Yeah!" The crowd shouts.
"If he won't protect you, I will," He yells, gesturing for a man to break the chains. They make it inside; the mob heads towards the jail cells. However, they find the cell empty, and Ruby and David escape without them realising.
(SPELLBINDING)
Meanwhile, Ruby, David, Granny, and Belle gather at the library to protect and secure Ruby as she finds a set of shackles. "These should work," Ruby announces, showing the others.
"Thanks for letting her hide here. The Sheriff's station isn't safe," David says, looking at Belle.
"Of course. It's, uh… It's not every day you find out your friend's-," Belle replies, smiling stiffly.
"A monster?" Ruby questions, looking at her.
"Hunted. I was going to say hunted," she argues lightly.
"The crowd's six blocks from here," Granny announces, making the others look at her.
"You… You have wolf hearing, too?" The bookworm questions, looking at Granny.
"It's not all it's cracked up to be, especially when you run a hotel," she argues, cringing a little.
"The only way we're going to get the mob to stand down, is if we prove Ruby had nothing to do with Billy's death. I'm going to need your help. If the mob comes this way, call us. Come on," David tells them, and Granny and David exit the library, needing to clear Ruby's name.
(SPELLBINDING)
Belle and Ruby are now alone at the library; Granny and David are leaving now. Ruby still hasn't chained herself up. "You need to leave," Ruby warns Belle. "The moon's going to be up soon."
"But will the chains hold?" Belle asks, looking at them.
"Hopefully," she replies, dread filling her body.
"Then, I'm staying. Think of it as girls' night. What's wrong?" The bookworm argues, seeing her friend's face.
"I know David wants to believe the best, but I've killed before, and I'll do it again. Everyone in this town is right to be afraid of me," Red snaps, feeling guilty about her missing time.
"Okay, well I'm not," Belle tells her.
"You should be," Ruby argues.
"No matter what you might've done in your past, David sees the good in you and… And that tells me one thing," she replies, smiling.
"What?" The She-Wolf asks, looking at her friend.
"That it's in there. So if we can all see it, why can't you?" Belle wonders, trying to help Ruby.
"You really think so?" Ruby muses, though the guilt is too much.
"Trust me. I'm sort of an expert when it comes to rehabilitation," she jokes.
"Maybe. Maybe, you're right. But the town's right, too. I am a monster. And that's why I need to make sure I don't ever hurt anyone again," Red argues.
"No, no, no. Wh-What are you doing?" The Beauty yells, watching Ruby grab and use the chains to chain her friend to the bookshelf.
"I can't let you stop me. The mob wants a wolf, I'm going to give them one. I need to pay for all I've done," Ruby snaps.
"And they'll kill you!" Belle shouts, trying to break the chains
"Isn't that what I deserve?" She questions before heading outside.
(SPELLBINDING)
Meanwhile, David and Granny are on the main street of Storybrooke; she sniffs Billy's jacket to pick up on the odour, trying to help Ruby. "This way," Granny announces, leading them to a parked car. "The trunk." David pops the book inside, and everything appears to be normal. However, underneath, they find Ruby's hood and a hatchet in the spare tyre compartment.
"The wolf didn't kill Billy," David realises, looking at Granny.
"Ruby's hood," she declares, picking up the red hood.
"So she'd be forced to change back into a wolf. So whoever killed Billy could pin the murder on her," he tells her.
"Who would want to hurt my Ruby?" Granny wonders and David goes to the driver's side and smashes the window to find the registration.
"This isn't about Ruby. It's about me. Spencer," Charming growls.
"King George?" She asks, looking at him in shock.
"He needed a reason to wrestle power away from me, so he created one." David tells her, and they hear a wolf howling in the distance.
"She's out," Granny announces.
"The mob. They're going to kill her," he snaps, racing off with Granny not far behind.
(SPELLBINDING)
Albert and his mob of misinformed people have now gathered outside of the library, having learned where Ruby is when Red howls. "She's close," Albert announces. He leads the mob to an alley where they find Ruby hiding behind a dumpster. "There you are," he smirks, drawing his gun and goes to shoot the wolf, but before he gets the chance, Granny shoots his firearm out of his hand with her crossbow.
"The next one goes between your eyes!" Granny threatens them, making the mob step back from the threat.
"Ruby!" David shouts, and the crowd protest angrily at David's arrival. "Listen to me! Ruby didn't kill Billy. He did. He stole her cloak and killed Billy in cold blood to make it look like a wolf. All to get you to think I wasn't leading this town as I should." The wolf growls, causing the mob to start moving forward. "Hold up! Somebody already died because of what this man did. Let's not spill more blood. She won't hurt anyone. She's just scared." He assures them before slowly edging towards where Ruby hides with the hood in his hand. "Ruby? I know you're in there, so listen to me. It was Spencer, not you. Don't let him trick you into thinking you're a monster." The wolf threateningly growls at him. "Alright, alright. Poor… Poor choice of words. Please. Ruby. I know you. I know the real you, and I know you can control the wolf. Ruby. Ruby? Ruby." David's hands inch closer, not far from Ruby, as the wolf lets him closer. "It's me - David." Red stops growling and obediently sits, allowing David closer, and he throws the hood over Red, transforming her back into a human.
"You saved me," Ruby mutters, looking at him thankfully.
"No. You saved yourself. I just reminded you of what you already knew," David assures her, and behind them, there is a commotion amongst the crowd. They run over and find Granny on the ground, and David helps her to her feet. "What happened? Where's Spencer?"
"He's gone," Granny says, and David looks at her and then up at the streets, trying to find Albert. "Go. Go."
"Okay," he agrees, getting into his car with Ruby joining him, wanting to help take down King George.
(SPELLBINDING)
At the beach, Ruby and David find Albert standing beside a fire. "You think you can hide from a wolf?" Ruby snaps.
"I wasn't trying to hide," Albert argues.
"You killed an innocent man," David growls.
"He was a mouse," he retorts, dismissing Billy.
"He was better than you'll ever be," Ruby argues.
"You want to make a deal? It's not going to happen," David tells Albert.
"I'm not interested in making a deal. I just want to see the look on your face when you realise something," Albert replies.
"And what's that?" He asks.
"That you're never going to see your wife, or your daughter, again," King George says, smirking.
"What are you talking about?" Charming questions, frowning.
"You really should be more cautious with something so valuable," Albert warns him, pulling out Jefferson's hat and tossing it into the fire.
"No!" David shouts, watching it burn.
"It doesn't matter how much Fairy Dust you gather, or how much you rally the town behind you. Your family's gone," he muses, and David jumps towards him, punching the King across the face and knocking him to the ground. David draws his gun and levels it at Albert in his anger.
"David, don't," Ruby warns him, not wanting him to lose himself.
"I told you – you should've killed me when you had the chance," Albert grins, and David decides against shooting him and lowering his arm.
(SPELLBINDING)
David and Ruby watch Henry sleep at Mary Margaret's apartment, letting him rest after everything. "He may never see his mother, uncle, or grandmother again. How am I going to break that news to him?" David asks her, looking at Ruby after watching Albert burn the hat that would have brought them back.
"You won't have to," Ruby assures him.
"Travel between worlds is as hard as it comes," he reminds her. "Fairy Dust on its own isn't enough. It took an entire curse to get us here in the first place. Without the hat…"
"You'll find another way," she tells him.
"You don't know that," Charming argues, feeling hopeless.
"But I know you. And I know you'll never give up until you do. And David? You're not going to be doing this alone," Red promises him.
"Thank you," David says, smiling softly at his friend as she turns to leave.
"Do you mind giving Granny a call?" Ruby asks, looking at him.
"Sure. Why? What for?" He wonders.
"I may have left Belle chained up in the library. Somebody should probably…" She replies, looking guilty about her choice.
"Unchain her?" Charming says, making her cringe.
"Yeah," Red mutters.
"Yeah, I'll take care of it. Where you going?" David asks, curious.
"I've still got a few hours of Wolfstime left," Ruby replies, smiling. "You helped me regain control. I want to do something I haven't done in a very long time."
"What's that?" He wonders.
"Run," she says before leaving, and David hears a howl outside and can't help but smile.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
Emma finds Mary Margaret sitting alone in the woods, deep in thought. "What are you doing?" Emma asks her mother.
"Uh, just thinking," Mary Margaret replies, looking at her daughter.
"Come on. Mulan and Landon have some ideas where Cora might be hiding," she tells her, and they head back to camp, where Aurora is currently sleeping with Mulan and Landon discussing Cora, the Historian glancing at the sleeping Princess.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Netherworld]–
Meanwhile, Aurora is in the burning room from her nightmare. She screams as the flames jump at her. Suddenly, Henry appears across the room, wearing his necklace. He closes his eyes, and the fire gradually subsides. "Wait. Don't be scared," Henry assures her.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
Aurora suddenly wakes up from her dream, scared. "Snow! Snow!" Aurora shouts.
"Hey. I'm here. It's okay, it's okay. It was just another nightmare," Mary Margaret assures, pulling her into a hug to try to soothe the scared Princess.
"No, this time was different," she argues, panicked. "There was a little boy. He… He put out the fire. He talked to me."
"A little boy?" Snow questions, looking at her.
"What'd he say?" Landon asks, making the others look at him.
He said… He said his name was Henry," Aurora replies, and Landon looks at her surprised.
"The Netherworld…"
(SPELLBINDING)
Hook finally manages to make his way down the beanstalk, and when he jumps down, he finds Cora waiting for him. "My dear Captain," Cora greets him. "It seems you've been on quite an adventure. The compass, please."
"Yes, that. Well…" Hook sighs, looking at her. "Matters grew complicated. It's eluded me for the moment. The details of the affair are a bit of a bore."
"Really? Stealing my protection spell and climbing the beanstalk without me might seem like a bore to you. But to me, it's a betrayal," she snaps, glaring at him, almost reminding him of Landon.
"I was going to bring it to you. Our agreement remains," he assures her. "We are going to Storybrooke together. I'll get it back."
"I don't have time for your games. I've crossed through too many worlds to be brought short at the brink of success. Who was it who bested you?" Mrs Mills asks him.
"The Swan girl – Emma. Rest assured, it won't happen again," Killian tells her.
"No, it won't. You chose her, and the consequences of that decision," Cora snaps, betrayed.
"Oh. Are you going to kill me now? Go ahead. Try," Hook goads her.
"So brave. No, I'm not going to kill you. I have something far more satisfying in mind. I'm going to leave you here with your thirst for revenge unquenched, while I complete our journey without you." She replies, smirking.
"There's no need to be rash. We can… Discuss this," he argues.
"Your pretty face buys you a lot, but not my time. It's too valuable," the red-haired woman retorts, annoyed.
"I can do this. I can get it back. You need me," Killian snaps.
"No, I don't. You've had your chance. Now, it's my turn to do this. The right way," Cora argues, and Hook lunges towards her, but she disappears in a puff of smoke.
(SPELLBINDING)
Cora reappears in a hut with several drawers filled with hearts from the people of the Haven. She takes one out of its box and blows on it, causing the rest of the hearts to begin glowing. The drawers slide out, and the hearts beat louder. Still holding the heart, Cora steps outside, with the graves around her at the Haven. "Rise," Cora commands, and the corpses spring from their graves and stand to their feet. They start to march into the woods, following her commands.
(SPELLBINDING)
Emma, Mary Margaret, Landon, Aurora, and Mulan still hide in the woods. Emma holds up a picture of Henry in front of Aurora's face. "The boy you saw in your dreams - is that him?" Emma asks her, trying to confirm it.
"Yes. That's Henry," Aurora confirms, looking at the photo.
"That's impossible. It was a dream. How could you dream of my son?" She argues, looking at the others.
"I have no idea," the Princess replies, sighing.
"Maybe it wasn't a dream," Landon says, making Emma look at him.
"What?" Emma asks, looking at her boyfriend.
"That room… I've been there," Mary Margaret announces, making the others look at her.
"When I told you about it, you didn't say anything," Aurora snaps, glaring at Snow.
"You were terrified. I didn't want to make things worse by telling you I thought it might be real." She argues, shrugging, though she feels bad about lying to her.
"A room in a dream is real?" Mulan questions.
"The sleeping curse. It has to be. I went through it, Aurora went through it… Landon?" Snow asks, looking at him as he's deep in thought.
"Henry's been through it because I wouldn't believe him," Emma mutters, and Landon looks at her.
"Emma…" Mary Margaret gasps.
"What else did you lie about?" Aurora asks, glaring at her.
"I was… I wasn't lying. I was protecting you," She argues.
"What did he say – Henry? In the… In the dream?" Landon wonders, looking at Sleeping Beauty.
"He just said his name. He… And then, I woke up, and… It was over," Aurora replies, looking at him
"Emma. It's going to be okay," he assures his girlfriend, looking at Emma as she paces around the campsite.
"We are so far from okay," Emma snaps nervously, feeling on edge.
"No. We have a way home now," Mary Margaret argues, making the others look at her.
"We have a compass, and the wardrobe ashes are still with Cora," she reminds her mother.
"Any attempt to steal from her would be suicide," Mulan warns them, and Landon nods; even he's not sure they'd make it out alive, not all of them anyway, and he wasn't going to chance it.
"Not anymore. We can stop her," Mary Margaret tells them.
"How?" She asks, looking at Snow. Landon jumps to his feet, making the four women look at him.
"I don't know about here. But I know someone who does… Rumpelstiltskin. He'll know a way," Landon announces, and Mary Margaret smiles.
"Henry. We can talk to him. Now we can communicate," Emma realises, smiling.
"Wait, wait," Aurora argues, looking between them.
"Oh yeah, Princess. You're going back to sleep," she retorts, turning to Sleeping Beauty.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Netherworld]–
Aurora appears in the flaming room in the Netherworld, following Landon's advice. "Henry! Henry!" Aurora shouts. "Henry! Henry!" The Mills boy appears on the other side of the room.
"Hello? Hello?" Henry asks, trying to hear her.
"Henry! Henry, it is you!" She yells.
"Yeah! Who are you?" He wonders loudly.
"My name is Aurora. I'm with your mum, your uncle, and your grandmother," the Princess explains.
"Are they okay?" The Mills boy asks, happily at the news of his family.
"Yes, they're fine. They just want to come home. And they need your help," Aurora replies.
"Okay, so what do I need to do?" Henry questions.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
At Mary Margaret's apartment, Henry suddenly jolts up from his dream. Regina and David, asleep near his bed, are awakened by his yelling. "They're… They're alive. They're alive!" Henry declares, smiling after talking with Aurora.
"Who? Who's alive?" David asks him.
"My mum, uncle Landon, and Snow," he claims, grinning.
"I told you, kid. I told you!" Charming beams, hugging him.
"Was… Was it that woman you saw? Did she tell you this?" Regina questions, looking at her son.
"Her name's Aurora. She said they have a way home, but there's someone in their way – someone they need us to help them stop. Someone only Mr Gold knows how to defeat." Henry explains.
"Who?" She wonders.
"Your mother," he replies, and a look of dread appears on her face at the thought of her mother, and if Landon has to deal with their mother, he may be a lost cause.
(SPELLBINDING)
Belle and Mr Gold are having lunch in the morning at Granny's Diner. Granny serves them burgers and fries. "They smell delicious, Granny," Belle comments, smiling.
"They are delicious. Didn't take any Dark Magic, either," Granny replies, smiling and glancing at Mr Gold. "Oh, and, uh, I charge extra for the pickles." He hums at her, not taking the snide remark at heart as she leaves, going back to the counter.
"I have a complicated relationship with her… As I do with most people," Mr Gold tells Belle.
"Well, it, uh… It did take me a little time to get to know you. They will," Belle assures him.
"You know, you should try it with ketchup. Condiments are this world's most powerful Magic," he jokes, smiling, but it turns sour when Regina enters the Diner and stalks towards their table.
"Gold. We need to talk," Regina demands.
"Do we?" The Dark One questions, and Granny sees an oncoming altercation and decides to get everyone out of their way.
"Folks, I think I may need to close early. Uh, everybody out," Granny shouts, making everyone look at her and about to move.
"No. It's okay. We're civil," Regina assures her, waving the older woman off.
"Yeah, for now. Belle, you remember the woman who locked you up for twenty-eight years?" Mr Gold muses, making Belle glance at the Evil Queen.
"Uh, I should probably just-," Belle stutters nervously.
"No, no. Please, stay where you are. Whatever she has to say, won't be a secret from you. Whatever she wants, she won't get," he argues.
"I'm actually coming about the one thing that might unite us," Regina informs him.
"And what on earth can that be?" The Dark One asks, looking at her,
"Cora. She's coming from our land. I need your help to stop her," she informs him, making Rumpelstiltskin look at her.
"But she was dead. You told me you saw the body," he argues, frowning.
"Apparently, you taught her well. She's not, and she's on her way. And I don't think I need to remind you how most unpleasant that would be for both of us." The Evil Queen reminds him. "And if she worms her way back onto Landon's good side, we're all in trouble."
"For you. I can handle Cora," Mr Gold snaps, thinking of his pass with Cora.
"That's not how she tells the story," Regina muses, smirking.
"I won in the end," he argues, glaring at her.
"Maybe. But there's a big difference this time. This time, you have someone you care about. This time, you have a weakness," she warns him, glancing at Belle.
"I'm… I'm sorry. Who… Who is this woman?" Belle asks, looking between them.
"Someone you'll never meet. So you say she's coming. Where is she now?" Mr Gold asks her, thinking of a game plan to deal with Cora.
"With them," Regina replies grimly.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
The four women and Landon walk through the forest, though he has a strange feeling, and Mulan notices his stiffness and stays on alert. "How close are we? Henry could already be waiting in that Netherworld," Emma snaps, wanting to return home to Henry.
"No, we planned to meet back there in two hours," Aurora assures her.
"You're not going to leave him waiting," Landon assures both women, seeing Emma's look and pulling her into his side.
"Yeah, but what if he's-?" Emma argues, scared and worried about Henry.
"He was fine," Aurora tells her.
"There. That looks like relatively safe high ground," Mary Margaret tells them. "We'll set up camp there. Aurora, you'll settle in and find Henry – get the information we need from Rumpelstiltskin. And we do this fast, in and out. It's still dangerous out here." Aurora accidentally gets caught on a branch and stops, which Mulan notices.
"Is something wrong?" Mulan asks, seeing the burn marks.
"No, just caught on something," Aurora argues, not looking at her.
"That does not explain your arm," she snaps, but the Princess covers her arm with her shawl.
"What about my arm?" The Princess asks.
"The burns you're hiding – they're not from the sun," the female Warrior argues, wanting to protect her.
"I… Brushed against a poison leaf," Aurora lies.
"You said that this Netherworld was full of smoke and flames. Aurora, if that's where you were burned, you should not return," Mulan snaps.
"I don't have much of a choice, do I?" She argues, though she wants to be helpful after everything.
"You're choosing to go in deeper, and staying under longer to find this boy," the Warrior retorts. "I vowed to Prince Phillip to protect you, not to help some strangers find a portal to another land."
"Mulan, I was cursed to spend eternity in that horrible sleep," Sleeping Beauty says firmly. "And, the only reason I'm here is because you and Phillip risked your lives to save me. Every day since my waking has been a gift, so let me do something with it. It's my turn to help someone else. I'm going to go back in and find that boy."
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Henry is lying down on a makeshift bed in Mr Gold's shop after talking with him about what's happened, and Regina enters with a familiar-looking blanket. "I brought your blanket…from your bedroom back home." Regina comments, putting the blanket over Henry with David and Mr Gold in the background.
"Thanks. So, Cora… She's pretty powerful?" Henry asks, looking at Mr Gold and Regina.
"Yes, but, uh, not as powerful as I am," Mr Gold assures the boy.
"Debatable," Regina mutters, earning a look from the Dark One.
"Actually, no, it's not," he argues.
"You sure you're okay to do this, kid?" David asks, looking at his grandson.
"I was born to do this. I'm done reading about Heroes. I want to be one," Henry assures him, wanting to help.
"Well, sometimes being one is knowing when not to run into the fire," he reminds him.
"I'll be okay," the Mills boy promises him.
"Look, whatever he faces in there, will be far less dangerous than what he'll face if we fail." Mr Gold argues, looking at the Prince.
"I can do this," Henry tells them.
"Get on with it. Fast," David demands, not liking this at all.
"Alright, Henry. Just relax. And soon, you're going to drift off," Mr Gold says calmly.
"What do I tell them?" Henry asks.
"Just listen to my bedtime story, and all will be clear," he replies and sits beside Henry's bed, placing his hand on Henry's forehead. "Once upon a time, Snow White and Prince Charming needed to stun a very powerful magician, long enough to lock him up in a dark dungeon."
"That was you. They used Cinderella to trap you with a Magic Quill," the Mills boy mutters, and Rumpelstiltskin moves his hand across Henry's face, causing him to fall asleep. He continues the motion as he speaks.
"Yes, indeed a quill. And yet, it wasn't the quill itself, but the ink that captured the Dark One – harvested from the rarest species of squid, from the bottom of a bottomless ocean. Impossible to find, unless you're a Mermaid… Or me. I happen to have a private supply. In my jail cell… That is where they will find it," Mr Gold explains.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
The four women and Landon set up camp, and Mulan watches over Aurora as she sleeps. "Hey… It'll be okay," Mary Margaret assures Emma. "You'll see Henry again. This will work." They hear a noise in the woods.
"What was that?" Emma asks, looking around.
"Stay here," Landon warns them, lighting his hands on fire.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Netherworld]–
Aurora and Henry both arrive at the room in the Netherworld. "Henry! Henry! Can you help us?" Aurora shouts over the roaring flames.
"Yes! I know what you have to do to stop Cora! You have to go to-!" Henry yells back, and the flames flare out, muffling Henry's voice. "Rumpelstiltskin's cell!"
"Where? We have to go where? Wait. Where do we have to go?" Aurora asks, not hearing him properly.
"Rumpelstiltskin's-!" He shouts again, but it gets muffled by the flames again.
"Henry! Henry, I…!" She yells, and an unknown voice comes from somewhere.
"Aurora!" The voice calls to her.
"Whos is that?" The Princess asks, looking around.
"Did you hear me?" Henry shouts.
"No! Henry, say it again! I-!" Aurora yells.
"Aurora!" The voice calls again.
"Did you hear that?" She asks again.
"No! Aurora, what's going on?" Henry wonders, looking at her.
"Aurora!" The voice calls are becoming more urgent.
"Do you hear that?" Aurora shouts before suddenly being sucked into a vortex and lifted out of the room.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
Mulan is the voice Aurora hears in the Netherworld as she tries waking the Princess. "Aurora, wake up! Aurora, wake up! Wake up!"
"Henry wasn't finished," Aurora argues, looking around.
"The time for that is over," Mulan snaps as Cora's Zombies invade their camp. Mulan draws her sword and fends them off with Landon by her side, keeping Sleeping Beauty safe. Elsewhere, Emma and Mary Margaret are also fighting off the Zombie horde. "
"Emma, watch out!" Mary Margaret shouts, watching a Zombie tackle Emma to the ground, causing her to lose the compass. It rolls a few feet away, and a Zombie comes along, picking it up.
"The compass. The compass!" Emma yells, and Mary Margaret shoots the Zombie with an arrow, causing the compass to fall back to the ground as Emma scrambles to grab it. "Any idea how to kill these things?"
"None! Mulan! Mulan?" Mary Margaret calls, looking around for Aurora and Mulan, but they're nowhere in sight. "Landon?"
"Where is she?" She asks. "Where's Landon?"
"Emma, we've got to run for it!" Snow warns her, runs towards Aurora and Mulan, and finds Landon lying on the ground.
"Landon!" The Saviour yelps, kneeling beside him and shaking him awake.
"What's going on?" Landon groans, looking around. "Aurora! Damn! Mulan, she knocked me out. I hate when that happens."
"Are you okay?" Emma asks him, checking for blood.
"Yeah, I'm fine," He assures her, getting up. "We need to find them! Now!"
(SPELLBINDING)
Meanwhile, Mulan is helping Aurora navigate through the forest. "Come on - hurry. Aurora, go." Mulan shouts as the Zombies catch up to them. One grabs Mulan and drags her to the ground while the others swarm Aurora.
"No!" Aurora screams, and Mulan fights off the Zombie horde, but when she gets up, she realises Aurora is gone.
"Aurora!" She shouts, looking around in fright.
(SPELLBINDING)
Emma, Mary Margaret and Landon successfully escaped the Zombies. "You still in one piece?" Emma asks, looking at her mother and boyfriend.
"Yeah, pretty much," Mary Margaret replies breathlessly.
"Peachy," Landon groans, holding his head. They hear rustling in the bushes, and Mary Margaret draws an arrow but stops when Mulan emerges.
"They took her. Aurora's gone," Mulan tells them, and Landon groans.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Henry awakens from his dream, and David rushes to his side, checking him over. "Henry. Are you alright?" David asks him.
"Did you see her? Did you tell her?" Mr Gold asks him urgently.
"No. I… I didn't get the chance," Henry replies. "Something… Something happened. She… She got sucked out of there." They all notice that Henry appears in pain.
"Henry?" Regina asks, stepping towards her son.
"Some… Something's wrong," he tells them, and she pulls back Henry's sleeve, revealing a burn.
"Henry…" She gasps, looking at the burn in shock and fear.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
After being taken prisoner, she's taken to the pit at the Haven, and Cora enters with a tray of food. "I thought you might be hungry," Cora says, playing nice with the girl. "I hope you enjoy stew." She places the tray before Aurora, who looks at it suspiciously.
"I enjoy anything that masks the bitter aftertaste of poison," Aurora remarks, glaring at the woman.
"Plucky. I like that," she muses, smirking.
"You might as well go. I'm not going to tell you anything," the Princess snaps, putting on a brave face.
"Oh, I know. That's alright. You've nothing to tell. You weren't my target," Mrs Mills argues.
"The compass – sad you lost it?" Aurora questions, smiling.
"I suppose. But now, I have something to trade for it," Cora replies.
"They'll never trade me for that," Sleeping Beauty argues.
"You might be more valuable than you know," the red-haired woman assures her, planning her next moves already.
"To who? They just met me, and they're trying to get back to their families. Do you really think they'll sacrifice that for a stranger?" Aurora questions, annoyed and wishes to be left alone.
"Your newfound companions? You may not know them, but I do. Snow and her daughter just can't help themselves. No matter the personal stakes, they won't let an innocent die," Cora argues and thinks of her son. "And I know Landon very well. He will stop at nothing to get back to his family.
"We shall see," she snaps, wondering about Landon; though she knows how much he cares about Emma, he seems sweet and kind in a way.
"And what stakes do you have in their cause, Princess?" Mrs Mills muses. "It's not as though you'd travel back with them. Oh… What a sweet, misguided notion. Did you really think you could have a life there? Find another prince? You've forgotten Phillip already."
"Phillip is in my heart every moment of every day. If there was anything I could do to bring him back, I would," the Princess replies, looking at her.
"Is that so? What if I told you that when a Wraith consumes a soul, it merely travels to another realm? But that soul could be brought back to this world? Show me a little courtesy, and I may explain how," Cora reveals, and Aurora angrily kicks the food tray at Cora. "Oh! You stupid, ungrateful girl!"
"I'm not as stupid as you think, nor my loyalty so easily bought. You can bring me a hundred meals and make me a hundred promises, but I will never help you!" Aurora growls and Cora magically throws Aurora against the wall, knocking her out.
"Plucky…" She mutters before approaching a crow perched on a cage in the pit and gently stroking its chest. "Tell them." The crow flies out of the dungeon.
(SPELLBINDING)
The crow reaches the group in the forest and sits on Mary Margaret's shoulder, making Mulan and Emma draw their weapons, and Landon uses his Magic. "Wait," Mary Margaret tells them as the crow caws, seemingly 'talking' to Snow before flying away.
"What the hell was that?" Emma asks, looking at her mother.
"Cora. We have until sundown to bring her the compass. If we don't, she'll kill Aurora," she informs the others.
"Give it to me," Mulan demands, holding her hand out.
"Hold on, Mulan. Just give us a minute to consider," Emma argues.
"There's nothing to consider. A compass is not worth Aurora's life," she snaps.
"We need a plan to get back Aurora and keep the compass," Landon reasons, looking at the Warrior.
"My vow to Phillip was to protect Aurora. That promise is all that is left of him, so it shall be done," the female Warrior argues and attempts to grab the compass out of Emma's hand.
"Hey. Hey! I climbed a beanstalk for this. You go get your own," Emma snaps.
"Give it to me!" Mulan demands angrily.
"Mulan. Mulan. Give us a few hours, please. If we haven't defeated Cora by then, you can have the compass," Mary Margaret assures her.
"You can't hope to defeat her. We no longer have access to the Dark One's assistance," she argues.
"Yes, we do," Landon replies, making the women look at him.
"How? Aurora's gone," the Warrior snaps, glaring at him.
"Aurora isn't the only one who's been under a sleeping curse. I can go back to that Netherworld," Mary Margaret declares, catching on to Landon's idea.
"The door to that place is closed. You said it yourself," Mulan argues.
"There may be a way… A way for me to go back into a deep slumber. One that can let me access it again," she reasons.
"Another sleeping curse?" Emma wonders, looking at Mary Margaret and then Landon.
"No, not another curse. I don't need one. I've been under already," Snow tells her. "I need to go into a sleep where my natural defences slip away – where my mind stops protecting me."
"How?" She asks, growing worried about her mother.
"Your sleeping powder…" Mary Margaret questions, looking at Mulan. "If I inhale it, I will fall into a deep enough sleep that I should be able to do this."
"I used the last of it on the Giant," Mulan argues.
"Then make some more," Landon snaps, then softens. "Please."
"The poppy plant is extremely rare in this kingdom, but I know of a place that may grow some more. It's a bit of a journey from here," she tells them.
"Can we make it by sundown?" Mary Margaret asks, and Mulan nods.
"We have to hurry," Mulan agrees, though she isn't sure what will happen to Aurora during that time.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Regina is tending to Henry's burns after coming back from the Netherworld and wishing Landon was here even more. "Here. Let me take care of this," Mr Gold offers, magically healing the injury.
"What caused this?" Regina asks, looking at her former teacher.
"When you venture deeper into the Netherworld instead of away, there are risks. Someone woke Aurora before her soul was ready to return," he explains. "The violence of that act tore her away and injured Henry. We're lucky it wasn't worse. He's going to need some time to recover before he can be sent back."
"Out of the question," she snaps, protecting her son.
"Not a chance in hell. We'd be monsters to even consider risking his life again," David agrees with Regina.
"Careful with your tone, Charming. I understand your concern for the boy, but I know Cora," Mr Gold snaps. "Without our help, Snow and Emma will soon be dead. And then… A true monster will be on her way to Storybrooke. And Landon may be under her thumb again, and none of us want that."
"Agreed," Regina sighs, thinking of how cruel Landon was, especially after their mother's death. "Aurora is gone. Why do we need to send Henry back to that fiery inferno with no one there to receive our message?"
"Because someone will be there," David replies, making Mr Gold and Regina look at him.
"Who?" She asks.
"Snow," he tells them.
"Well, that's an awfully big assumption," the Mayor argues.
"No. No, it's not. She was there once before. She can go back. She can find a way. She will – I know it. And I'll be waiting," Charming replies.
"You're going to this Netherworld?" Regina questions, shocked.
"I faced you. How bad could it be?" David argues, shrugging.
"It's not as simple as that. You can't get there," Mr Gold warns him. "You haven't been under a sleeping curse."
"Well, then put me under one," he snaps.
"If we do that, there's a chance you might never wake up," the Dark One tells him.
"Sure I will. When I see her, she'll kiss me, and I'll be fine," Charming assures them. "Now, put me under. I've spent far too much time looking for my wife. It is time to bring her home."
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
In the pit, Hook tries awakening an unconscious Aurora, having other plans. "Wake up. Wake up. Come on, sweetheart. Wake up. Wake up. Wake up," Aurora gradually comes to and realises who it is, backing away. "On your feet. Hurry." Killian orders her, helping the Princess to her feet.
"No! No! Are you going to kill me?" Aurora asks, panicked.
"If I were here for that, then waking you first might not be the best course of action." he argues, breaking the shackles on her wrists.
"So what? Did Cora send you?" She questions, confused.
"Cora has no idea I'm here," Hook assures her.
"I don't… I don't understand," the Princess mutters.
"Look, I know you're sleepy… Isn't it obvious? I'm setting you free," Killian tells her.
"What is this? Some sort of pirate's ruse?" Aurora asks, not trusting him.
"Cora's denied me passage to Storybrooke, and my vengeance. And now, I'm going to deny her her wishes, starting with the compass. In pirate terms, you might say I'm firing a shot across my enemy's bow," he explains, smirking as he has other plans.
"You'd risk your life to break in here, all so you could thwart Cora?" She asks him.
"I don't like being double-crossed. Now, go," Hook says.
"Thank you," Sleeping Beauty whispers before leaving, but Hook stops her momentarily.
"You can thank me by doing me one favour," Killian wonders.
"What?" Aurora asks, looking back at him.
"Give Emma a message. Tell her that the deal still stands. If she provides me passage back to her realm, I swear I will help her find that dust that opens the portal," he tells her, needing a way to the Real World one way or another.
"You really want to assist us?" She wonders, confused.
"It hurts Cora and helps me. Of course I do. Now, go," Hook replies, watching her leave with a smirk.
(SPELLBINDING)
The three women and Landon continue travelling through the woods to find the poppies for their plan. "Once we crest this ridge, we'll be near the woods of the dead. The last poppies in this realm have taken seed there," Mulan explains.
"You okay?" Emma asks, looking at Mary Margaret.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mary Margaret replies stiffly.
"Hey. Wait. Wait. No, no, no. You look nervous. This Netherworld… How bad is it? What's it like?" She asks, watching her and glancing at Landon as he looks around in case one of Cora's Zombies is following them.
"It's like you're, um… Lost, drifting in the dark. No one to talk to, nothing to do. Except think of all the people that you love, and how you'll never see them again." Snow explains.
"Henry was lost in that dark too because of me," the blond woman mutters.
"What are you talking about?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at her daughter.
"He tried so hard to convince me I was the Saviour," Emma grumbles, feeling guilty.
"Stop it. Nobody would've believed Henry's stories," she argues.
"But his mother should have," the Saviour reasons.
"Okay. You want to play the blame game? If I hadn't told Cora about Regina's true love, Cora never would've killed him. Regina wouldn't want revenge," Snow tells her. "The curse? Never would have happened. We could spend all day trying to figure out why each of us should feel guilty, but it will not help us get home."
"You really think we're going to make it back?" Emma asks.
"If there's one thing your father's taught me, it's not to give up. Now, it's time for me to go back to sleep," Mary Margaret replies, settling herself in the grass.
"It's Regina," she mutters, making Mary Margaret look at her.
"What?" Snow asks, shocked.
"Regina. That's who we should blame," the blond woman reasons, then looks at Landon. "No. It's Cora's."
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
When Henry enters and watches her work, Regina prepares the Sleeping Curse potion using supplies from Mr Gold's shop. "It smells funny," Henry comments, making a funny face as Regina smiles, looking at her son.
"I know, sweetheart. It's a curse. It's not meant to be pleasant," Regina argues lightly.
"So the potion's finished? Mr Gold had everything you needed in his shop?" He wonders.
"Yes. We're almost ready," she replies, smiling stiffly.
"So this is how you do it – Magic?" The Mills boy questions.
"There are many ways. It's never easy," the Mayor explains.
"And… Have you been using Magic?" Henry asks her.
"Henry, I told you I wouldn't, and I haven't. Except for… With Daniel. …And now. I've really been trying," Regina assures him.
"It's okay. At least you're using it to help people now," he argues, smiling at his mother.
"I'm trying. And after this, I won't," she promises him.
"I know. Will David be okay?" The Mayor's son wonders, worried about his granddad.
"He'll be…asleep. And in there, he won't die. Gold's explaining everything to him right now," the Evil Queen informs him.
"It should be me. I can go in there without a curse and still come back," Henry argues, wanting to be useful.
"Henry. David and I have many differences, but, on this, we agree. We won't let you risk your safety. It's just not worth it," Regina replies, pulling him in for a hug.
"It is to me. He won't wake up," he retorts.
"Unless he succeeds. And if there's one thing I know about your grandparents, they always find each other," she assures him. "Like I know your uncle, he'll make it back to us. No matter what."
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
The three women and Landon finally find a single poppy in the forest. "It's beautiful," Mary Margaret comments, looking around.
"I'll use my dagger to crush the seeds. We're doing this the old-fashioned way," Mulan tells them, grabbing her weapon before picking the poppy.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Mr Gold discusses the process with David as they stand by the spinning wheel that he's brought with him. "What do you mean, the old-fashioned way?" David asks, confused.
"You're about to join a quite distinguished club, Mr Nolan. Before such innovations as the apple, back when the sleeping curse first came to be, a more direct method was required…" Mr Gold explains, musing to himself. "Through blood. By pricking one's finger on the needle of a spinning wheel, one falls under the spell. Your Majesty, you did his wife. I'm sure you'd like the honours." Regina dips the needle end into the sleeping potion and then places it back onto the spinning wheel.
"It's all yours," Regina announces.
"Good luck," Henry says, looking at David.
"It's going to be alright," David assures him.
"How do you know?" He asks.
"Well… How did you know Emma would save you after you ate the turnover?" Charming questions, smiling.
"I… I believed in her," the Mills boy replies.
"The way Snow and I believed she'd come back to break the curse. That's the kind of faith that runs in our family," David says, and Henry takes the pendant from around his neck and gives it to David.
"This helps control the flames in the room. It'll keep you safe," Henry tells him.
"I will guard it with my life," he promises, taking it and putting it around his neck.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
Mulan grinds up the poppy with her dagger while Mary Margaret sits down and prepares herself. "The powder's nearly ready," Mulan announces.
"How long will the effects last?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at the female Warrior.
"It's difficult to say. Maybe an hour, or much less," she replies.
"Well, I shouldn't need much time. As long as Henry's in there when I am," Snow argues.
"I'll be right here. Say hi to my son for me," Emma says, smiling, and Landon comes over, and she lunges into his arms.
"She'll be okay," Landon assures her, and the poppy powder is finally ready. Mulan holds the handful of powder up to her face and blows towards Mary Margaret, who inhales it, knocking her out.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
David stares at the needle as Mr Gold spins the wheel, and Regina and Henry watch from the side. "When I awake, I'll be in the fiery room?" David asks, still trying to wrap his head around all this.
"Not exactly. That room is where those who've already awoken from the curse return. You, however, are being put under for the first time," Mr Gold reminds him.
"Then how will I know where to go? How the hell am I supposed to find a room with no door?" He argues, needing answers.
"And that, dearie, is the conundrum we're all depending on you solving. Now, I say this with the utmost sincerity… Good luck," the Dark One replies and again begins spinning the wheel. This time, David extends his hand and pricks his finger on the needle before quickly succumbing to the curse.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Netherworld]–
When David arrives in the Netherworld, he finds himself in a dark room lit only by a single torch. He picks the torch up and begins to wander. All of the walls around him are mirrored. "Snow!" He shouts.
(SPELLBINDING)
Meanwhile, Mary Margaret arrives in the flaming room. "Henry? Henry? Henry? Henry?! Where are you?" Mary Margaret shouts, looking around.
(SPELLBINDING)
David wanders through the mirrored part of the Netherworld and looks in a mirror, noticing that Henry's necklace is glowing blue. He holds it in his hand and realises the necklace is glowing brighter the closer he gets to his destination. It continues to shine brighter until it burns his hand. He drops the pendant on the ground and bends over to pick it up, but instead touches the floor itself. He draws his hand back when the floor burns him. "The room…" David mutters and uses a torch, which appears to be made of glass, to break through the floor. It shatters, and he falls.
(SPELLBINDING)
David lands in the flaming room with Mary Margaret, who looks to see her husband. "Charming?" Mary Margaret shouts. "Charming?"
"Snow!" David yells.
"I don't understand. I… Henry should be here," she stutters, looking at him in shock.
"I wouldn't let him come back. This is… This is too dangerous," he explains.
"You found me," Snow smiles, looking at him pleased.
"You found me. I knew you'd be here," Charming beams.
"I don't know how much time we have," Mary Margaret warns him.
"Gold… He says there's a way to stop Cora. We have to stun her like we did with him," David explains.
"The quill," she mutters.
"It wasn't the quill, it was the ink. There's a jar of it in his cell where we kept him. Get it. Get it, stop her, and come home," he tells her.
"Charming, how are you here? There's no way for you to be here, unless…" Snow realises, gasping.
"I had to see you," Charming argues.
"You're in a sleeping curse," Mary Margaret gasps.
"It was worth it," David replies.
"Now you're cursed," she grumbles.
"A curse you're going to break with true love's kiss," he tells her and leaps over the flames towards Mary Margaret. "Now…" They go to kiss, but the couple go straight through each other.
"No!" Snow shouts, trying to touch him.
"It's a Netherworld. We're not really here," Charming realises, and Mary Margaret begins to fade.
"I'm waking up," Mary Margaret states.
"It's okay. You'll get back, and then you'll wake me as I woke you. You will always find me, and I will always find you," David promises her.
"Yes. Will we always lose each other, too? Is that our fate?" She wonders, looking at him.
"No. I refuse to believe that. You need to have faith… In us," he assures her.
"I'm waking up," Snow repeats sadly.
"It's okay. You can do this," Charming tells her.
"Charming…" Mary Margaret mutters.
"I love you," David declares, smiling.
"I love y-," she tries saying but disappears completely, leaving David alone.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Storybrooke - Present]–
Regina, Mr Gold, and Henry are waiting for David to wake up, but it's taking too long. "Come on… Come back," Henry mutters. "Should he be in there so long?"
"I'm sure it's fine. I imagine they're just catching up," Regina assures her son but looks at Mr Gold, who shakes his head.
(SPELLBINDING)
–[Fairy Tale Land - Present]–
Emma, sleeping across from Mary Margaret, wakes up again as she emerges from the dream, not finding Landon about. "Hey. hey, you okay?" Emma asks her, and Mary Margaret suddenly stands up and jerks away from Emma. "What… What happened? What are you doing?"
"I'm looking for more powder," Mary Margaret snaps, searching.
"Well, I'm pretty sure we're out of that. What happened?" She argues.
"No. I have to go back in. He's all alone," Snow replies frantically.
"Henry? What? Is he okay?" The blond woman asks.
"No. David. He went under a sleeping spell so he could see me. He thought that my kiss would wake him, but it didn't. And now he's trapped," Mary Margaret argues.
"Okay, slow down. David is trapped in there?" Emma questions, looking at her.
"I have to get back. There's only one way to help him," she tells her.
"True love's kiss," the Saviour mutters.
"Yes, but… It won't work in there. We have to get back. If we don't-," Snow replies.
"We will. We will," Emma assures her.
"Now you're so sure?" Mary Margaret questions, looking at her and smiling a little.
"Yes. You told me to have faith, and now I'm telling you. We will make it back. Okay? Did you get the information?" She asks her, hoping for a way home or at least dealing with Cora.
"It's Rumpelstiltskin. He said the key to stopping her is in his jail cell," Snow informs her.
"Okay. Then let's go get it. Come on – get your stuff. Come on," the blond woman tells her, helping Mary Margaret, who goes to retrieve her things. Emma checks her pockets and then becomes frantic. "No…"
"What?" Mary Margaret asks, looking at her daughter.
"The compass is gone. And so is Mulan," Emma groans. "Landon?" She looks around and finds Landon lying on the ground again. "She's done it again!" She rushes to him and hears his snoring. "He's asleep," she sighs and tries waking him up, but it's complicated.
"Are you sure?" She asks. "I think she's used the powder."
(SPELLBINDING)
Mulan is shown running through the woods with the compass in hand.
(SPELLBINDING)
Cora enters the pit at the Hanve to find Aurora missing and Hook waiting for her. "Looking for someone?" Hook muses, smirking.
"Oh, don't tell me you were dumb enough to let her go," Cora groans, looking at her former conspirator.
"She was never going to give you what you wanted anyway," he argues.
"So, you freed her. And stuck around for the petty satisfaction of seeing me suffer?" She asks, looking at him and wondering if he is that foolish.
"Oh, watching you suffer is a tempting motivation, but it wasn't that," Killian retorts, smirking.
"Well, then you must have a death wish," Mrs Mills growls and magically throws, binding Hook against the wall. She removes his hook and traces it along his chest. "You know I have to k*ll you."
"You should try thanking me," Hook argues.
"Oh, really? Why's that?" Cora asks angrily.
"Because I've brought you a gift. It's in the satchel," he replies, looking at his belt.
"What is it?" She questions, annoyed.
"Customarily, surprise is part of the fun of gift giving. Open it," Killian tells her, and she removes the pouch from Hook's belt and looks into the bag.
"Is that…?" The red-haired woman muses, smirking.
"Indeed, it is. And with it, you'll get everything you want," Hook replies, smirking back at her.
(SPELLBINDING)
Mulan is running through the forest when an arrow zooms past her hand, hitting a tree with Mary Margaret, Emma, and Landon behind her. "That was a warning shot. Try to run, and I promise the next one won't be," Mary Margaret warns her.
"And I'll burn you, especially after hitting me over the head earlier and drugging me just now." Landon snaps angrily at the female Warrior, who looks at him fearfully.
"How did you find me?" Mulan asks, looking at them.
"I know a thing or two about tracking," Mary Margaret replies.
"All we want is the compass," Emma demands.
"Very well," Mulan replies, growing to draw her sword, but Mary Margaret and Landon see it, and Snow tackles her to the ground before she gets a chance.
"Give me the compass," Mary Margaret snaps.
"And seal Aurora's fate?" She questions, glaring at her.
"We learned how to overpower Cora. Once we get what we need, we will defeat her, and Aurora will be free." Snow assures her.
"Another journey – just as I predicted there would be," the Warrior snaps. "Our best chance to save Aurora is to make that trade now."
"Not going to happen. Without that compass, we can't get home," Landon argues.
"Then I hope you're prepared to use that arrow," Mulan wonders, and Mary Margaret draws her weapon back, but Aurora's voice stops her.
"Stop!" Aurora shouts, appearing through the trees.
"Okay, don't take this the wrong way, but how the hell did you get here?" Emma asks her.
"Let Mulan go. I said, "Let her go!" She snaps, glaring at Mary Margaret, who gets off Mulan, and Aurora helps her up.
"Nicely done," Landon mutters, pulling Mary Margaret beside him and Emma.
"Thank you," Mary Margaret mutters.
"Were you followed?" Mulan asks the Princess.
"I… I don't think so. Cora may know I'm gone, but she didn't see me escape," Aurora assures them.
"How did you escape?" Emma wonders, looking at Sleeping Beauty.
"It was Hook. He let me go," she replies, glancing back at Emma.
"Why?" The blond woman asks, frowning.
"Because of you. He said he wanted to prove to you that you should've trusted him. That if you had trusted him…" The Princess says. Landon groans, and Emma looks at him.
"Don't start," Emma mutters, wrapping her arm around him.
(SPELLBINDING)
Meanwhile, Cora holds Aurora's heart in her hand. Whatever Cora says, Aurora mimics while Hook watches the display. "You could've defeated Cora together. That the two of you could've gotten the remains of the wardrobe. Without him, you'll have to go up against her all by yourself. He only wants to help. I… I think he may care for you."
"Nice touch, that," Hook muses.
"But you know she won't trust you," Cora warns him.
"Ah, she doesn't have to. All I need is for her to believe that I was genuine in letting the girl go, which I wager she does now. You're welcome," he replies, smirking.
"Impressive. You took a heart," she remarks.
"Now you've a Princess," Killian tells her.
"Indeed, I do," Mrs Mills agrees.
"Now, can we get on with the business of going to Storybrooke… Together?" Hook asks her.
"Why not? I hate to travel alone. All we need is the compass," Cora replies.
"Which will soon be delivered," he assures her.
(SPELLBINDING)
The four women and Landon are still in the woods talking. "Did you find a way to stop Cora?" Aurora asks them.
"Yes," Emma announces, and Landon looks at the Princess.
"Where are we going?" She questions.
"Rumpelstiltskin's cell," the blond woman confirms.
"Great. Then lead the way," the Princess says, and the group sets off as Cora continues manipulating Aurora's actions.