The Outsider

"Fear can hold you prisoner- Hope can set you free."  - Red, The Shawshank Redemption

** All photos posted here are chosen for a reason **



Why don't you come with me little girl, on a magic carpet ride

My active imagination and love of adventure, fantasy and escapism can be traced all the way back to my very early childhood, where my refuge from life in Manhattan/N.Y.C. and a tumultuous household was found primarily in books.

In the city there are so many things and people to be afraid of, and my sister, brother and I were warned about every single one of them. Still, I witnessed way too much. So, for a long time I ended up being afraid of just about everything. And as much as I was exposed to the harsh reality of the world, I was overprotected and kept on a very short tether that didn't let me venture outside of the confines of a few yards of the apartment building; except to go to the school that was ten blocks away. Imagine that! Ten whole blocks.

Our apartment in Queens was built over a row of storefronts which included a barber, deli, dry cleaners, bar (my father would call the ginmill), and my favorite, an old candy store on the corner. The candy store was owned by an elderly couple, Mr. and Mrs. Rubin.  The store was very old fashioned, appearing very much like you walked right into a classic black and white 1940's movie. It was small and dark, and it had a long candy counter with round stools so you could sit and have a prepared treat. There was an old phone booth tucked along an even darker side wall. My sister, brother and cousins would buy loose candies stored in small clear bins, and every once in a while, a delicious Egg Cream. My father would buy the newspaper to check sports scores and to see if he won any cash from a horse race he placed a bet on. This little dingy and tired candy store was the hub of a lot of activity.  Most importantly, this is the place I would go to read comic books. I was rarely able to buy one, but the owners would let me sit in the store and read all the comics I wanted to.

All through my life I'd read anything that would let me fly away to another world, where I could imagine I was someone else, someone free to seek adventure, someone special, someone who could do great things, someone who can give to others, someone beautiful and brave, someone who falls in love with the Prince and lives in a beautiful castle... someone whose dreams come true.

Even when I was too young to read looking at the pictures and illustrations in books was enough to send my imagination someplace wonderful. It was amazing and still is. Sure, I can also blame my "issues with reality" on that too. But who would I be if I'd not traveled and explored the universe via magical stories. I'll tell you who I'd be- someone without imagination, creativity, and dreams.

You can find so much in a book- Education, answers, inspiration, adventure, and yes, you may even find yourself. For my very young self the places the tales would take me and the awe and wonder they provided, gave me hope my whole life through. Hope that there is a whole world outside of the confines of my City street and hope that there was something more, something better out there, and that I could be something more than just a dreamer of a magical life- Hope that I could live and share a magical life.

Dream on

Belle was trapped in the library and in the world of books until a little push from Dreamy and her trusty book in tow enabled her to use her knowledge and find strength and freedom to discover other layers of herself; in this episode it's her warrior spirit.  Belle joins the hunting party, becoming a hunter. But her hunt ends up being a sort of search and rescue instead. Later we see Belle become the hunted, when Regina captures and cages her. It is important to note that in this episode we hear a couple of people say "It's not your fight" but Belle got herself involved anyway.

Belle is a very observant girl.  She was calm, perceptive and smart enough to read and translate the SOS by the suffering Yaoguai, and being compassionate to the beast she was able to help free him from the curse that trapped him. We also see Belle's intuition and awareness at work in Storybrooke while looking for Hook's ship by listening carefully to the sounds on the dock, watching the birds land on the imperceptible mast and tossing sand onto the ghost ship- she is able to see the invisible.
Belle also frees Archie from his kidnapping and lovingly let's Rumple go freely to find his boy. She is brave and selfless.

I must inject a note that Henry is quite the architect. So far we've seen him recreate the pages of the fairy tale book when it went missing, and now we see him redesign the apartment with his own hand drawn blueprints. 

Life is an adventure, it's how we learn. We face many things on the path and they show us who we are and who we're not. You may not know who you truly are, or know who lives beyond the mask you yourself wears, or the you you keep locked away, until you're going along an ordinary and comfortable existence and something Earth shattering happens leaving you broken and lost and even angry. For some, this heartbreaking catastrophe will leave them jaded and disenchanted for the rest of their lives, causing them to just give up, giving in to the situation; it's as if, in some weird way they feel they are cursed or "sick/infected."  But for others, it is this very dramatic shift in life that once left them crumbled and hopeless, gives them a chance to face the challenges of these horrible circumstances and fight with everything they have, never giving up, to make change, to do something important or noble for themselves or others, to ultimately rebuild themselves and their life.

There may come a time in your life when you're spun around from your normal and have to face life through a new set of eyes. Will you discover you're not who you thought you were?  Are you courageous and brave? Do you have a warrior spirit? There's only one way to find out... Hitch your wagon to a star and you'll go far!


Love potion number 9

Last week I wrote about not crossing a line, but this week is a bit different. Rumpelstiltskin must cross the border of Storybrooke into a new frontier to journey to find his boy. Rumpelstiltskin loves Bae and is driven by that love to let go of his fear, leave everything including Belle behind, and cross into another new unknown world. The shawl represents hope to Rumple, as it is an anchor that keeps him connected to Bae. All is good as long as it's not Rumple's security blanket as well. Nonetheless, Rumpelstiltskin has a goal, he is fighting hard is to bring his family back together, no matter the cost. He needs to make things right with his boy so they can move forward together.

I was troubled that Rumple uses the entire potion on the shawl. I think he should have saved some for a rainy day.

A pawnbroker offers "secure loans" to people who use their personal items/property as collateral or pawns, if you will.  Do the items in Mr. Gold's shop represent hope for each resident of Storybrooke, and he is the keeper of these items, keeping them safe for them? Are those items triggers for them or are they discarded attachments of the residents? Will all of those items be reclaimed by their rightful owner after a debt is paid? I have so many questions about Mr. Gold's shop.



Things to Note...Questions to Ask...

๑ David admits to Mary Margaret that he grew up on a farm. Does she know the truth of his identity that he's pretending to be a Prince?
๑ Baelfire.
๑ Fire: around the head of the creature. The burning village. The Fireball 
๑ The shawl is a connection to Bae and Milah
๑  Is it possible Bae doesn't want to be found and Hook is privy to that fact?
๑  The potion enchants an object not people
๑ Water
๑ Pennsylvania
๑ Sleep. Wake up- Awaken
๑ At Archie's funeral Ruby (of course, a wolf) looked Cruella Di Vil-ish in her fur jacket and dark sunglasses.
๑ Prince Philip under a curse cast by Maleficent.
๑ Test. Experiment
๑ Communication- language book translate
๑ Learn, listen observe- be aware
๑ Umbrella
๑ Right- Wrong
๑ Alcohol- wagon
๑ Hunting party- search and rescue
๑ Death. Funeral. Wake.
๑ Not dead
๑ Balance: Scale. Bicycle
๑ Books. Plot. Write. Draw. Charts. Blue prints. Diagram. Directions.
๑ Fresh Start. Redesign. Do over.
๑ Clean up your own mess-make things right.
๑ This world. Real World. Illusion.
๑ Words misspelled/wrong
๑ Who is this new stranger, this outsider?
๑  For fun- There's an adorable place called Storey Brook Bed and Breakfast.
and  there is a Storeybrook Dr. in Newburyport, Maine

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  The Stranger or The Outsider (L’Étranger) is a novel by Albert Camus published in 1942.
๑  The Outsider is a non-fiction book by Colin Wilson-Wilson explores the psyche of the Outsider, his effect on society, and society's effect on him.
๑  Yaoguai: "Yao Guai 妖怪" is simply the Chinese term that means "monster" or "demon".   A reference to T’ien-kou described this creature as a demon that looks like a large dog with a fiery tail.
Yaoguai are mostly malevolent animal spirits or fallen celestial beings that have acquired magical powers through the practice of Taoism. Not all yaojing are actually demons.
 - Video Game
๑ The Chickadee plate is Maine's general issue plate. The first and only slogan "Vacationland" appeared on the plate in 1936.
๑ Off the wagon, Slang . again drinking alcoholic beverages after a period of abstinence.
๑ On the wagon, Slang . abstaining from alcoholic beverages. Also, on the water wagon; British , on the water cart.
๑ The Monkey's Fist can be used as a weapon or even as an anchor in rock climbing. Pirates have also used it to hide stolen precious gems.
๑ D. McLean:
- Don (Donald) McLean. 1971 Album American Pie, contains the song Vincent.  Recorded a song titled (The Pattern is) Broken in 2010.
- Author Russel D. McLean wrote The Good Son and The Lost Sister
๑ Shawshank Prison is the fictional prison in Maine.
The Shawshank Redemption: a movie based on a Stephen King novella "Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption that appears in his collection Different Seasons- subtitled Hope Springs Eternal. 


 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ Fun bit of info- Claude is played by Paul Lazenby and on LOST we have a character named Nurse Susie Lazenby in Dave, The Beginning of the End, The Life and Death of Jeremy Bentham, Happily Ever After, The New Man in Charge.
✈  4
✈  Armory: The armory in the Swan Hatch was used to hold weapons, drugs/medicine, and prisoners.
✈  Books. Plot. Write. Draw. Charts. Blue prints. Diagram. Directions.
✈  Recruit. Sign up/call to Adventure
✈  Bagua. Octagon
✈  Bore- boar
✈  Ship
✈  Balance: Scale. Bicycle
✈  Listen. Hear. Look. See.
✈  FATE
✈ Words misspelled/wrong
✈ Banish.  Exiled
✈ Clean up your own mess-make things right.
✈ Coward:  Desmond. Charlie
✈  What it takes:
-  Jack believed he didn't "have what it takes". We learn a bit about this in White Rabbit.
- Although he didn't have use of his legs, Locke believed he did have what it took. We see this in Walkabout.
✈  Adventure:
Locke- Walkabout and The Substitute
Desmond- Flashes Before Your Eyes
Michael/Kevin- Meet Kevin Johnson
Ajira Airways specialized in adventures
✈ Lighthouse
✈ The Hunting Party
✈ Tabula Rasa
✈ Fire + Water 
✈ ... In Translation

 Enough of my rambling... Here's your episode recap! Enjoy!

Mr. Gold/Rumple drives out to the line that borders Storybrooke and the outside world.  He's kidnapped Smee to use as a guinea pig to test the potion he's created. Smee doesn't want to be pushed over because if he crosses the line he'll lose his memory.  Of course Smee was willing to bestow this cruel fate upon Belle.  Gold pours the potion on the red "rag" hat that is important to Smee; His grandmother made it for him when he was a boy. "It's always brought me good fortune." 
Gold kicks Smee over the line and energy charges through his body.  The potion works! Smee knows his own name and knows Rumpelstiltskin, The Dark One. "I remember everything!"  The experiment was a success. Rumple pulls Smee across the line back into Storybrooke and sends him on his way.
Rumple says out loud to himself "I have a trip to plan."

Mary Margaret/Snow White speaks at Archie's funeral. They all knew him as a true friend. "And though he may not be gone, he will always live on inside of us, reminding us to be our best selves... to do the right thing, to always fight for what we believe in. So we shouldn't think of today as goodbye- just as a way of saying 'Archie, we'll be listening.'"  Geppetto cries, "I miss you so much, my friend. Well, at least you're in a better place." He places Jiminy's umbrella against the headstone.

On board the ship, prisoner Archie fears Hook, who wants to know where the Dark One's dagger is.  Archie doesn't know anything about a dagger. Hook believes him.  He shares with Archie that it's the Dark One's weakness and asks if he has any others. Archie doesn't say anything. Hook threatens Archie with his desire to always have wanted to dissect a cricket.

Belle meets Gold/Rumple at his shop where he reveals to her "I did it. I can leave."  He shows her the tiny bottle of potion, explaining that when he pours the potion onto the object he holds most dear,  that object becomes a talisman that allows him to cross the town line and still remember who he is and who he is looking for- "My boy."   Belle asks, "What will you enchant?"   Rumple retrieves a shawl from a safe hidden behind a painting. This is all he has left of his Baelfire.  Belle would like to go with him, and although Rumple truly wishes she could, he only has enough of that potion for one object. Rumple locks the shawl back up in the hidden safe.
Rumple- "Hey... this is my journey, Belle. This is my journey. I'm afraid it's something I have to do alone."
Belle hugs him, knowing this true.

Belle is sitting alone reading a book and drinking in the tavern when she overhears a man speak about a fearsome beast that's ravaging a faraway land; whose eyes burn with fire. They call it the Yaoguai and no man has been able to kill it- but they will. There's room on their wagon for more men to join them. {Note her mug is glass bottom.}

Belle seems lost in her own happy thoughts when Dreamy asks her "Looking for an adventure?"  He's there to thank her for the advice she gave him last night. "It worked. Nova and I are running away together."  Belle feels that wonderful, but you can see her attention is also pulled over to the recruits getting ready to leave on their adventure.  Dreamy encourages her to sign up.  Since Belle always dreamed of heroics and adventures she'll stick the safety of her books because they provide her with happy endings.
Dreamy- "Well, maybe this one will have one too."
Belle doubts it. The last time she faced a beast it didn't end well.
Dreamy- "What are you talking about?"
Again Belle is instantly drawn to the newly expanded Team Yaoguai. The leader tells his group "Men, follow me. Yaoguai awaits."
Dreamy nudges her to get on that wagon, "Go. Take a chance." Belle thanks him, packs her book in her bag and heads on an adventure. Dreamy stops her long enough to give her a pouch of Fairy Dust; it may come in handy.  Belle declines his gift because she's seen what magic does to people.
Dreamy- "You've seen what dark magic does. Fairies use this for good. Now go be a hero."

12:05 marks the time on the Storybrooke Free Public Library clock tower. A large blue banner announces the library will opening soon.  Belle gets busy putting books in their proper places when she's interrupted discovering a man reading a book in a dark corner. She recognizes this is the man who broke into her cell at Queen's palace and wanted to kill Rumpelstiltskin. The pirate still wants to kill Rumple, but right now he'll settle for her. Brave Belle pushes over a large book cart that crashes down upon the pirate, giving her a chance to escape into the old elevator.

Once inside the elevator she calls Rumple on his cell from her cell and tries to tell him that she's trapped in there because she's running from a man who broke in and wants to kill her; the man is a pirate missing a hand. Unfortunately the communication between the two crackles and breaks up, by a poor connection/signal- Rumple can hardly hear her.

Adventurer, and now hunter, Belle reads her book while she rides on the back of the hunting party wagon. She is asked by one of the men if she expects to defeat the fiercest creature in the land with a book. Another amused hunter comments that "Maybe she means to bore it to death."  Belle insists the book will tell them how to find the Yaoguai. The book isn't written in scribbles, as the men perceive it to be, it is written in another language; one Belle knows how to translate. Belle teases them with a hint to the whereabouts of the creature. But not caving into their bullying, she sends them in the direction of the lake. With their destination determined, they literally kick Belle off the wagon, tossing her book as well.  "Don't forget your book! Hahaha."

Undaunted, Belle picks herself up and reads aloud from her book- "The Yaoguai prefers mountain habitats to all others. The Yaoguai hybernates by day and hunts by night."

"Please be asleep." Armed with her dagger, Belle makes her way toward the Yaoguai's den, inadvertently stepping on a twig and waking the creature.  Belle runs from the fiery Yaoguai, tripping and falling to the ground, when an arrow is fired at the Yaoguai from a masked person.  {Mulan} The creature runs off.  Belle thanks Mulan for saving her life, but Mulan is annoyed Belle ruined her hunt; as it took her weeks to track the Yaoguai there.  Mulan chalks Belle finding the Yaoguai in a day to good luck, but Belle shows her it wasn't luck, but her book. Armed with her book, Belle could help Mulan find it again. Sadly Mulan demands Belle stay out of her way.

Back in the library elevator, Belle fears the pounding on the other side of the doors. The doors open to reveal Rumple is there to rescue her. He assures her she has nothing to fear "I'm here now."

Henry is sitting alone on the bed when Emma enters asking the kid if he's hungry; she manages to wrangle him up a PopTart. Henry, obviously feeling blue, declines.
Emma tells Mary Margaret "Well, that went well", as she feels awful she's doing all she can to sooth Henry's loss.

Leroy/Grumpy approaches the two ladies "The Dwarfs have been thinking... We have to ask... When do we go back? {Emma asks 'Back? Where?'} The Enchanted Forest- our home."
The ladies question their want to go back. Emma feels "We fought really hard to get here."   The men are concerned about what Regina did to Archie Storybrooke isn't as safe as they thought.  Emma assures them they will find her; there's only so many places she can hide. They've dealt with Regina before, they'll do it again.  But the men's concern isn't just about her. The curse is broken.
Leroy/Grumpy- "There's a whole world full of people beyond the town line that don't know who or what we are. Ever think of what might happen if one of them were to come pay us a visit?"
Ruby feels he's right, and wonders what would an outsider think if they see magic and a girl turning into a wolf. Folks weren't exactly understanding even in their world. Emma doesn't want them to worry about 'what ifs', "No one is here."
Leroy/Grumpy- "Yet. Maybe they come-maybe they don't. That doesn't change the fact while we might enjoy things like penicillin... we're a bit homesick.

Mr. Gold/Rumple and Belle are crossing street when Belle asks him "Where are you going?" Rumple shares that the shop has many wonderful things in there that he can use to make sure that pirate never goes near her again.  Belle doesn't want Rumple to deal with this, feeling they need to report this to the sheriff so they can take care of him.  "You're so close to finding your son, please, please don't let your hatred for this man get in the way of that."  But he tried to harm Belle and she wonders why.  Although Rumple's issue with Hook doesn't concern Belle, he finally reveals the root of their battle. "Many years ago I was married to a woman named Milah... until Hook crossed our paths."
Belle- "She was Baelfire's mother?"
Rumple- "Yeah. And because of that marauding cur- he grew up without her. He took my wife. He took Bae's mother... so I took his hand."  
Belle understands that's why Hook attacked her, but she asks about "her" and what he/Hook did.  Rumple is hesitant to reply, so Belle tenderly takes his hand assuring Rumple he can tell her anything.
Rumple- "She died. That's all that matters."

They enter the shop to find everything in shambles, broken, and the precious shawl he kept locked away in the safe behind the painting is gone. This is why Hook attacked Belle; to get Rumple out of the shop.

Hook watches Rumple's return to the maelstrom of the shop via his looking glass/telescope perched on a rooftop across the street. Mr. Smee arrives to give the Cap'n the stolen shawl and asks what it is.
Hook- "It's the end of the Crocodile's hope. Now he's trapped here."

In a fit of anger, Rumple smashes the miniature ship that sits on the glass counter. Belle calms him, although Rumple is motivated to "retrieve what's mine."  Compassionate Belle wants to help him but Rumple insists "This is my fight!"  Belle feels this is my fault. If Hook had never attacked her then Rumple never would have left the shop. Rumple is fired up. "How do you propose we get the shawl back?! Have you dueled with a Pirate before? How exactly are you gonna help me?!"
Helpless, Belle isn't going to sit there and do nothing. Rumple demands she go back to the library, lock the door and wait for him to dispense with this problem. She wonders if Rumple will cast some sort of spell that gives her "no choice" if she doesn't do what he says.  No, Rumple trusts she'll do as he wishes; as she trusts him to be a better man. "Belle, please. Hook has may be cost me the chance of finding my son, I don't want to lose you too. Here, look. {A gun} I want you to take this just in case Hook is stupid enough to come after you again. Point this. Pull this trigger and the gun will do the rest for ya, alright? Alright?!"  Belle wants him to promise that him going after Hook is just about getting the shawl back. Rumple doesn't reply to her, he only walks out. {Note the scales behind them.}

Belle is retrieving a bucket of (clear) water from the well when one of her fellow Yaoguai hunters hangs her into the well. The Yaoguai wasn't at the lake and perhaps Belle purposely sent them in the wrong direction. Belle states she must have misread that.

Masked/hooded Mulan comes to Belle's rescue and fights off the men; even though it isn't her fight. The men are stunned to discover this tough person behind the mask is a woman.  Belle, who didn't expect to see Mulan again, thanks her.

Mulan has had to put up brutes and fools like that when she served in the Emperor's army. She only wishes she had someone to stand up for her.  Mulan's right leg was cut during the fight, but she knows she'll survive.
Mulan- "The sun should be setting soon. We need to move out."
Mulan was impressed that Belle tracked the Yaoguai in a matter of hours, but it took her weeks. "You track the beast, and I'll kill it." Belle will be honored to help her.

At the library, Belle picks up the books knocked over in her scuffle with Captain Hook. Amongst the pile she discovers what she believes is a sailor's knot. {Although it looks more like a baby's rattle to me. lol}

She investigates her finding in a nautical book; locating the page with instructions to make the Monkey's Fist knot and determines "Hook came here on his ship."

Mr. Smee makes his way past The Rabbit Hole and right into the wake of angry Rumple. "Leaving town, Mr. Smee? I spared your life... this is how you repay me? That object you stole from me- I want it back."  {Rumple magically/telepathically chokes Smee.}

Smee admits giving it to Hook; they met on a rooftop. Hook didn't tell Smee anything because Hook knows exactly what Smee is... a sniveling rat! With that, Rumple magically turns Smee into a rat. Every bit of Smee transforms except for his special red hat.

Belle walks the dock in search of Captain Hook's ship.  Listening carefully, she notes a creaking sound and is drawn to watching the birds land on the invisible mast. Knowing she's onto something, she tosses sand from the sandbox toward the area. "Found you."  Belle walks up and crosses the threshold of the invisible to the visible, she is aboard the ship.

Armed with her gun, she descends down to investigate the ship. Inside one of the rooms she hears a muffled voice call out, "Down here."  Stunned, she finds the voice belongs to kidnapped Archie. Belle uses a sword to free Archie and instructs him to find Mr. Gold and tell him she's here and bring him back to the ship.  They heard sounds above them, but Belle hurries Archie off.

While David and Mary Margaret are cleaning the dishes they note Henry calling someone on the phone. David wonders who he's calling, so curious Mary Margaret picks up the extension to listen in; Henry's called Archie's office to hear his answering machine/voice mail message.  David promises the boy that things will get better, all he has to do is hang in there.
Henry- "Doesn't feel that way."
David knows that. Mary Margaret touches her heart/chest to convey she feels his pain.  Just then the door opens and Pongo runs in.  Mary Margaret wonders "How did he get in here?"  Emma is the culprit. She and Marco had a chat over how much Henry loves this dog and decided Henry should have him. Henry is up for taking care of Pongo; as a matter of fact he'll take Pongo outside and clean him up.

Mary Margaret thinks giving Henry Pongo is a great idea, but four people and a Dalmatian in the loft will get cramped.  Emma agrees but feels they'll get creative.
Mary Margaret suggests "Or... we can get our own place."
Emma and David simultaneously say "You wanna move out?!"
Emma- "After 28 years isn't this what we've all been waiting for- to be together under the same roof?"
Mary Margaret says yes; she just imagined a bigger roof with turrets. "Being here in Storybrooke, we have a chance at a fresh start. Let's take it.

Belle continues her search aboard Hook's ship, coming across a key that opens a box containing gold coins and a bell. She is interrupted by Hook holding the stolen shawl. "Looking for this?" asks Hook. He claims the shawl now belongs to him and gets hold of the gun and points it at her {head-between her eyes}. "My dear Belle, you should have stayed with your books. Real life can get so... messy."

"It's just ahead."  Belle states to Mulan on their quest to find the Yaoguai. Mulan credits Belle's books for serving her well.  The pain in Mulan's leg causes her to voice her discomfort, but wants to press on to save her village. Although Mulan can't even walk, Belle asks her how she's going to kill the Yaoguai. But Mulan confesses she's not going to kill it, Belle is.

Mulan feels that even though Belle isn't a soldier, she has good instincts and has confidence in her smarts on tracking the beast and more. She shares a story about a time when people didn't she had what it took, but she proved them wrong by showing them she had "warrior spirit." Once she found something worth fighting for she fought for it with everything that she had, never giving up. The fate of Mulan's village depends on Belle. Telling Belle not to be afraid, Mulan gives Belle her sword.

"I'm not afraid of you. And I'm not leaving without that." Belle shows bravery in the face of Captain Hook.  In spite of her loyalty Hook feels Belle's fighting a lost cause, "What makes you think his son wants to be found, hmm? I'm doin' that boy a favor."  Belle, feeling Hook has hurt Rumple enough; stealing his wife.  But that's only part of the story. Hook's been hurt too.
Hook- "Tell me Luv, if a woman comes to you {He seductively gets in her face} begs you to take her away... is that theft?"
Belle- "Why would she leave him?"
Hook- "Because he was a coward. And because she loved me. I should have burned this the moment I acquired it."
Belle- "Why didn't you?"
Hook- "Because she made it."
Belle is sorry she died, but vengeance won't bring her back.  Hook exposes the fact that it wasn't an accident she died from. Of course Rumple left out an important detail to Milah's passing- he killed her. "He ripped out her heart and then he crushed it right in front of me."  Rumple will do anything to hold on to his power. Hook feels that's why anyone who has gotten close to Rumple has either run away or been killed and asks Belle what makes her think she's any different, and why would she want to fight for a man like that.
Belle- "Because I still see good in him. And because I believe he's changed. Because his heart is true. And yours... yours is rotten." She manages to knock him down, grab the shawl and get topside. Hook appears in front of her; he knows his ship like the back of his (hand). Rumple makes his appearance on deck.
Hook feels the crocodile looks different in this world, "Like the coward I met so long ago- limp and all."
Rumple- "And yet you still can't kill me."
Hook asks the Dark One what magic he'll hide behind today. Not magic, but good old fashioned ass kicking. Belle gets Rumple to stop by showing him what he came for, what is going to get him back to Bae- the shawl. Hook informs Belle she's wasting her time, as Rumple can't resist "He has to prove that he's not a coward."  Rumple warns Belle to turn away because this isn't going to be pretty.

Belle calls attention to herself to draw the fiery Yaoguai closer to her. Although she is nervous, she pushes forward in her task of destroying the beast. She lures it closer and with her sword she cracks open a water pipe and douses the beast with water, putting out its flames. The suffering Yaoguai writes a message in the mud which Belle translates... "Save me."

Compassionate Belle helps the beast by sprinkling the fairy dust she received from Dreamy onto the beast. This magically breaks the spell cast my Maleficent and transforms the beast back into Prince Phillip. Maleficent is an evil sorceress from his Kingdom determined to do everything in her power to keep him from his love, Aurora. She exiled him to that land and turned him into the monster. He tried to warn the villagers but no one understood what he really was, except Belle.

Belle admits he's not the first beast she's faced. Phillip is forever in her debt. His repayment will be to help get a Doctor for hurt Mulan. It will be Phillip's honor to help bring her back to the village.

Aboard Hook's ship Rumple continues beating up Hook.

{I put this clip in because it was my favorite Rumple moment of the episode. I got a great laugh from his reaction to Hook's mouthing off.}

Belle wants Rumple to stop trying to kill Hook, pleading that there's still good in him. "I see it. I've always seen it. Please, please, show me I'm not wrong." Rumple stops, but warns Hook to take his little ship and sail until you fall off the edge of the world. "I never wanna see you again." Rumple gets in one last slap. Belle and Rumple leave with the shawl in hand.


At Granny's Diner Mary Margaret is excited to look through fliers of houses For Sale in Storybrooke. {Note items of interest on the flier} But David, who grew up on a farm, is distracted by burying their friend that morning. That event makes David realize he doesn't want to die here/in Storybrooke. He wants to return home; to the home Mary Margaret says doesn't exist, where the Ogre's have returned and Cora's in power. David feels that's exactly the reason to go back- to fight, to make things right. But Mary Margaret's tired of fighting and feels they have a chance here, a chance to be together.
David- "But what if we don't belong here. Isn't it worth it to fight for what we really want."
Mary Margaret- "Unless we don't want the same thing."

Henry is busy drawing and coloring blueprints for a redesign of the apartment for if David and Mary Margaret move out. Emma asks the kid if he's plotting his escape from Shawshank. He wants to make Mary Margaret's room an Armory; for weapons and stuff, to protect them from Regina.
Emma assures worried Henry that she won't let Regina hurt him as she hurt Archie.
Henry- "What if she wants to take me back?"
Emma says that's not going to happen.  There's a knock at the door, one that's stirs up Pongo.  Archie has returned and shares it was Cora who kidnapped him.  This makes Emma realize they're wrong about Regina doing it.
Henry- "I knew it. Maybe we should let her know."
Emma- "Yeah. But something tells me either way we're gonna pay the price."

Rumple and Belle drive out to the line/edge/border of Storybrooke.
Rumple- "This (shawl) would've been lost if it wasn't for you, Belle. I would be lost. After everything you've learned about me, after everything I've done, why haven't you given up on me?"
Belle- "I learned a long time ago that when you find something that's worth fighting for... you never give up."

Belle leads Prince Phillip over the ridge to her friend, Mulan {reading Belle's Yaoguai book by campfire light.} Mulan is happy to see Belle alive. Belle has defeated the Yaoguai- with a little help.
Mulan asks the young man "Who are you?"
Prince Phillips- "I was the Yaoguai."
Belle- "He was cursed. So I helped him, so now he's going to help you." She not going with them as she has another beast to face. The ladies exchange weapons; Belle returns Mulan her sword and Mulan returns Belle's book. The brave ladies say goodbye to each other.  Phillip properly introduces himself to Mulan.

Looking out over the Kingdom below, brave and proud of herself, Belle, states aloud "I'm coming back, Rumple."
"Isn't that sweet? Still fighting for true love- even to the bitter end." It's Regina on horseback with a few soldiers.  Belle wonders how Regina found her.
Regina- "You really should be nicer to your traveling companions, right Claude? Take her to the tower!"
Belle is taken and thrown into the Queen's paddy wagon, claiming she can save him; break his curse.

Regina- "You already tried and failed. That monster's beyond saving. I'm sparing you a lifetime of pain and misery."
Belle- "You, you can't keep us apart forever. I'll fight for him. I'll never stop fighting for him!

Rumple pours his potion on the special shawl as Belle holds it for him; he uses the entire bottle and then tosses the empty bottle aside. Belle drapes the shawl over Rumple's shoulders. He's ready. "Here we go."  Rumple let's go of Belle's hand and steps over the orange line, where magical energy flows through him. Belle is nervous waiting to see if Rumple "remembers" from the other side of the line. It worked! The two are able to hold hands across the line.
Belle- "Now you can find your son."
Rumple- "Oh, Belle, I so wish you were coming with me."
Belle- "It doesn't matter."
Rumple- "Why not?"
Belle- "Because you'll find him. And when you do, I'll be here waiting for you when you get back."
As they kiss goodbye across the line, a gunshot is fired causing Belle to fall over the line and into Rumple's arms. {She took experiences magical energy through her body.}  Hook fired the shot.
Rumple is panicked.  "Belle! Belle!"
Belle- "Who's Belle?"
Rumple has blood on his hands from Belle's wound. {I'm not positive but it seems that Belle's feet seem to stay on the line for a time.}
Hook, pointing the gun at Rumple, tells him not to fear, as she'll live. "She'll just have no idea who you are."
Rumple- "What you've done cannot be undone."
Hook- "Well now you finally know how it feels! Well go ahead Crocodile, do your worst!"
Rumple places Belle back over the line into Storybrooke and he's about to unleash a fireball at Hook a car approaches causing Rumple to get out of the way and protecting Belle- but the speeding car hits Hook and crashes, hitting a big rock. Rain pours down.

Dreamy

"If you can dream it, you can do it"- Walt Disney

Dreams and the Dreamer
FLASHBACK: to my childhood, where I'd literally sit for hours on end dreaming about a wonderful life somewhere else, imagining a future where the dreams I dreamed would come true.  Even as a young child I knew there was more to the world than what I was experiencing in our tiny city apartment.  Here I am, an adult, still dreaming. The heart wants what the heart wants. Maybe I suffer from a lifelong bout of Wishful Thinking. We're very protective of the things and ideas that belong to us.  So, how and when does one know it's time to let a dream go?

From a distance one can look at the beauty and wonder the world has to offer and long to be a part of it, or one can stop being a bystander and go out and truly live life and make things happen and dreams a reality.  Yet again, therein lies the Fate and Destiny debate.  Do things really transpire strictly due to hard work and determination and money, or is it that some things are just meant to be.  Of course this would also mean that some things aren't meant to be, or simply seem like a hopeless situation.  In any event, should we believe the Universe plays a role in our lives too; putting everything in order making it seem like miracles and magic are involved.

On the surface this week's episode is an inspiring tale of being a dreamer and having dreams you feel you're born with and meant to fulfill.  But look deeper and we see much more.  Leroy and Astrid's paths cross in Storybrooke.  They both have their own paths to walk and individual dreams and goals, but it may be that their paths were meant to cross only for a short time (or a long time), to show each other the light and to act as a conduit to help themselves and others find their way.  Their "connecting" serves a purpose- to give each other hope and encouragement, show love and compassion, and give each other motivation that anything is possible.  Leroy and Astrid and all the people of Storybrooke and Fairy Tale land, including Dwarfs, are capable of love and achieving dreams. They just have to wake up and find their light and in turn light the way for others.

Initially I was sad to hear that the happy and productive Dwarfs don't fall in love, marry, have children, etc. But that didn't mean they really can't.  By evidence of Dreamy all it took was a little magic. The Dwarfs are told and believe they're built a certain way and hatched for a specific purpose; to live a happy but perpetual and familiar life deep down in the mines working with each other.  They may have a wonderful purpose but they are sheltered.  Yet they are contributors to giving light and making magic; they bring joy to themselves and to everyone, that's what makes them happy.  There is more to life.  Shouldn't they have all of life's experiences too? We know the Dwarfs feel sad and loss when Snow White is cursed and the Dwarfs assume she is dead and put her in the glass coffin, so they do feel emotions and empathy.

Everything in the universe is connected. The people we meet and connect with, whether it's for a moment or a lifetime play a role in the story our own life is writing. In a sense, our stories write themselves. Even though there are "spells and curses" on ONCE and in real life, I'd like to believe that there are also many stars to be wished upon. We have a choice in which to put our belief in.

Which came first...the chicken or the egg?
I must address the issue of hatching dwarf, Dreamy, knowing he saw a beautiful woman before he hatched from the egg in the mine.  Sure, it was the fairy dust that "accidentally" spilled from Nova's bag and fell "specifically" upon his egg, but how and when did he see her?  Another line of dialogue that I can't ignore is the remark by Astrid when she comments about Leroy's great boat- "I can't even remember the last time I was on it".  

"Whoever you think I am, I'm not"
Bossy tells Dreamy "The ax never lies".  When Dreamy wanted Doc to take a look at him when he wasn't feeling like himself, Bossy tells him "You gonna trust a dwarf that got his medical degree from a pickax?"  So, apparently the name or title you are given isn't a true representation of the real you- the whole you. No one is one dimensional, we are multi faceted. Keep in mind that one goes through many changes and/or rebirths on the journey.  

There is evidence of guiding, teaching and learning going on, not only in Storybrooke, but also in Fairy Tale Land.  Again, this makes it seem as if the realms are not really disconnected.  I get many of the same feelings about ONCE as I did while watching LOST -that the journey we see them on is an adventurous journey to enlightenment; awakening, birth, death and rebirth.  We witness the "ready to be born Dreamy" hatch- well, literally punch his way out of the egg and appear filled with wonder and a knowing about beauty, love and dreams.  He asks questions and wants more out of life.  He learns many things over "a year's time".  This special Dwarf in some ways has more clarity than his Dwarf brethren.  Then there's a transformation as the deep painful "Grumpy" emotion is brought to the surface of Dreamy's being, and also the changes Leroy goes through in Storybrooke. All of those changes are a necessary part of the journey.

In this episode Mary Margaret and Leroy do good deeds to help others.  Granted, Leroy took drastic measures to sell the candles, but it was for the greater good.  Doing good deeds is an important step, as it helps cleans their own Karma.  We also see them punishing themselves, which of course they have the power to stop doing.

By the way, Mary Margaret has always reminded me of a Nun; with her short hair and the way she dresses.  Are we sure she's not really Sister Mary Margaret?  Nonetheless, the role she has right now and the things she must experience are there to help her face her true north and find who she truly is.  I do believe all of the things they experience in both realms, the tests and trials are there to help them grow and find their way.

Emma's ridiculous superpower of knowing when people are lying is for the fuckin' birds!  Does she know Sidney and Regina are lying to her and she's just not saying anything about it?  Is Emma lying to herself? She needs to gain some real clarity about things. She has a lot to learn and a lot to face.

Dreams Are Made in the Atmosphere
Re-imagining your world- it's still just a dream...so, is it literally a dream?  I'm going to ask the same question I asked during my time on the "Island" - how is this adventure actually happening?  What is real and what isn't?  I've made no secret about my notes for ONCE being seen from the perspective of (not only a LOST fan) but also a student of LOST.  There is a relationship between both stories.  I also feel as I did with LOST that there is an altered state of consciousness - altered reality involved with this current colorful adventure.  And with all of the visuals to the "celestial" it seems just as in LOST there is a Cosmic-collective consciousness aspect to this journey.  Also LOST-like: Realms and Flashes blur and crossover, there are "time and space" issues, and of course we have unequivocal connections to the "Island and DHARMA.

LOST was very metaphoric in its storytelling and so is ONCE.
Let's think about this-
When Leroy tells Mary Margaret "...You got your reasons for being here, I got mine!"  It feels like they choose to be "there",  like there's an option not to be "there".   Of course they chose to volunteer selling the candles, but could they be people who volunteered to join in on this learning adventure or is Leroy's comment about being in an "emotional place".  Could these people have paid to go on a Destiny Destination adventure without even leaving their homes, or is it via the same technique the DHARMA Initiative uses- or all of the above?

This beautiful fairy tale shares a goal with LOST- find who you truly are, to leave, and to go home.

** All photos posted here are chosen for a reason **

Things to Note...Questions to Ask...
๑ Dream. Dreaming. Mind. Head.
๑ Awakening. Birth/Beginning. Late/death. Rebirth/New beginning. Karma
๑ Candle booth- August W. Booth
๑ Purpose in life- Destiny
๑ ID. Identity- No identity
๑ All of the Numbers were represented in this episode
๑ Dreamy/Grumpy is part of a team of 8 brothers; first to be hatched 
๑ Mr. Gold doesn't like Nuns/teachers.  I guess Rumpelstiltskin doesn't like fairies
๑ Well: AKA Mine
๑ Mine: something that belongs to me 
๑ Miner - Minor
๑ Transform- Coal into diamonds- diamonds into fairy dust
๑ Diamonds
๑ Polaroid pictures 
๑ This world. Your world.
๑ Game. Team
๑ A Nun (aka Sister) is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life
๑ Nun- Teacher. Learn. School
๑ The conveyor belt machine has familiar sounding {"Island"} sounds.

Vocabulary and Research....
๑ Dreamy is a 1960 album by Sarah Vaughn
๑ Dreams:
- Hope, belief in a positive outcome
- Wish, hope or desire for something
- Goal, something one wishes to accomplish
Dreams- An experience during sleep. Successions of images, ideas, emotions, and sensations that occur involuntarily in the mind during certain stages of sleep. Dreams have been seen as a connection to the unconscious. The events in dreams are generally outside the control of the dreamer, with the exception of lucid dreaming, where the dreamer is self-aware. Dreams can make a creative thought occur to the person or give a sense of inspiration
- Gilgamesh reported his recurring dreams to his goddess-mother Ninsun
๑ Dreaming- a term used in indigenous Australian cosmology and spirituality
๑ Cosmic consciousness is the idea that the universe exists as an interconnected network of consciousness, with each conscious being linked to every other. Sometimes this is conceived as forming a collective consciousness. The idea bears similarity to the ancient Buddhist concept of Indra's net, Teilhard de Chardin's conception of the noosphere, Hegel's Absolute idealism, Satori in Zen. The use psychedelics such as LSD and Psilocybin mushrooms have asserted that they have had direct experience of the cosmic consciousness.
๑ Firefly- They are winged beetles, and commonly called fireflies or lightning bugs for their conspicuous crepuscular use of bioluminescence to attract mates or prey.   These larvae emit light and are often called "glowworms".  In America, "glow worm" also refers to the related Phengodidae. In many species, both male and female fireflies have the ability to fly, but in some species, females are flightless. Firefly systematics, as with many insects, are in a constant state of flux.
๑"100,000 Fireflies" is a song and the debut single by American Indie pop band The Magnetic Fields, featuring on their 1991 debut studio album Distant Plastic Trees.

✔  Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale 
★ Dream. Dreaming.
★ Awakening. Birth/Beginning. Late/death. Rebirth/New beginning. Karma
★ ID. Identity- No Identity
★ 4. 8. 15. 16. 23. 42
★ Being watched
★ Scale-Balance
★ Swan. Hatch. Arrow. Station. Wheel. Sydney
★ Well
★ Ax
★ Nuns. Sister.
★ Candle. Light. Lantern. Lighthouse
★ Time. Pace- Charlie Pace
★ Egg- yolk
★ Chicken- Chicken Coop- Sayid: He's our You
★ Watch
★ Diamonds
★ Volunteers
★ Game. Team
★ Brothers
★ Custodial services- janitor-work man
★ School. Learning. Teach/teacher
★ Hero
★ Star- Catch a falling star and put it in your pocket 
★ Polaroid pictures
★ "Don't tell me what I can't do"
★ "Whatever you think I am, I'm not." 
★ "It doesn't matter who we were. It only matters who we are."- A Tale of Two Cities
★ The Substitute- Locke was a gym teacher. Dave: game in the Santa Rosa gym.
The Beginning of the End: Hurley and Jack play HORSE in the Santa Rosa gym
★ Sundown
★ Special
★ Mr. Eko- Nuns. Woman selling Virgin Mary Statues filled with heroin stashed inside of them in Nigeria
★ The Black Rock was a slave ship filled with slaves and mining equipment; Magnus Hanso was the Captain
★ Desmond- boat, sailing.  Kelvin fix up Desmond's crashed boat
★ The Candidate- Locke tells Jack about his father (Anthony Cooper) being his first official passenger when he got his private pilot's license.  This episode is also about punishing yourself.
★ The Long Con- Sawyer to Charlie "Man, I thought these people hated me, but I gotta hand it to you... Stealing a baby, trying to drown it, now that's a new low."
★ White Rabbit- Sawyer to Boone- "Taking my place at the top of everyone's most hated list. Sucks, don't it?"


Enough of my rambling...Here is your episode recap! Enjoy!

Up in the atmosphere in the white puffy clouds sits the Blue Fairy.  Nova clumsily flies over carrying a sack of fairy dust. The Blue Fairy warns her to be careful as fairy dust is the most precious substance in all the land. "Its magic is what powers the world. This is the year's supply. We must be cautious- because next year you'll be doing this alone."   Nova didn't think she'd be still picking up dust next year; she thought she'd be a fairy godmother by then.  This amuses the Blue Fairy. "Oh, Nova...you really are a dreamer."  She tells Nova that her journey is just beginning and asks her if she can make it home from the mines with all the dust safe.  Looking a little panicked Nova nods 'yes'.  They both take flight, but Nova doesn't realize she's spilling fairy dust from her bag onto the Earth below.

The fairy dust makes its way down deep into the mines and lands on a specific egg. Dwarf eggs are awaiting their birth; literally to hatch from an egg.  Watchy listens in on the early (but ready) hatching egg with his stethoscope.  Bossy notes that this unit isn't scheduled to hatch until sundown.  Nonetheless he must be eager to get out before the rest of his brothers.  A smiling bald and bearded dwarf punches his way out of the egg and is welcomed into the world.  The happy new dwarf looks around in wonder and awe.

At Granny's
Leroy cracks open his egg and eats.  Walter/Sleepy and  Mr. Clark/Sneezy ask Leroy to scoot over a seat so they can sit together, but Leroy doesn't move; he rudely tells them if they want that seat they'd need to drag their sorry asses out of bed a little earlier.   Leroy loses his appetite when Mr. Clark sneezes in the direction of the egg/food whilst telling Leroy he's a real ray of sunshine- as usual. Disgusted Leroy gives them the seat.

Mary Margaret enters the diner, clears her throat to get everyone's attention and makes her announcement/speech.  "I'm sorry to interrupt your morning, but I just wanted to remind everyone that a very special occasion is upon us... Miners Day.  As always the nuns of Storybrooke are hoping that everyone will get involved and will help sell their exquisite candles.  All we need are a few energetic volunteers. So, who wants to join me?"
Everyone ignores her and goes back to their breakfast; whispering to each other.  Mary Margaret asks approaching Leroy if he wants to volunteer, but he tells "sister" he wants to leave and she's blocking the door.  Mary tries to get him to volunteer but Leroy feels "Oh, yeah, right.  Quite a team we'd make. Town Harlot. Town Drunk. The one person in this town that people like less me... is you. If you're coming to me- you're screwed."  Mary is hurt, but knows there's some truth to that.

Emma joins  Mary Margaret on her walk from Granny's.  Emma inquires about Miners Day and wonders why Mary is beating herself up over it.  Mary explains its an annual holiday celebrating an old tradition. "The Nuns used to make candles and trade them with the miners for coal."  They used it as a fund-raiser. Emma's puzzled by the use of coal as opposed to lobster; as they're in Maine.  The obviously dejected Mary Margaret tells Emma its an amazing party and everyone loves it.  She also reveals she had 10 volunteers last week and they all dropped out; because of the thing with her and David- a few told her so.  Mary Margaret has never been a home wrecker before.  {They walk by a shop window decorated with Christmas season North Pole} Emma feels it will blow over; Mary Margaret made a mistake with David but feels she doesn't have to do charity to try to win people's heart's back.  Desperate Mary feels she has to do something and this is the best she can do. "Love ruined my life."
Duty calls, so Emma heads down to take care of things; she encourages Mary Margaret to "Hang in there. And if there's anything I can do to help- I will."  Mary knows and thanks her.

Astrid (Nova) is sparkling up the MINERS DAY sign with fake snowy flakes.  Some slips out of her hand and lands on passerby Leroy.  Leroy looks up to see where it came from and smiles when he sees Astrid atop of the ladder.  She apologizes. "I was so busy trying to get the lights to work that I didn't realize I was about to knock it off the ladder."

Leroy takes a look at the lights for her and sees the problem is she is overloading the transformers.  He warns her if she kept messing around with these lights the whole thing could have blown up on her.  He fixes the problem and Astrid considers him her hero.
Leroy- "I'm nobody's hero, sister."
Astrid- "Oh, you can just call me Astrid."
Leroy- "I call everybody 'sister'. I'm Leroy"  He lights the lights.  Astrid asks if he's an electrician.  Leroy admits to being in the custodial services game."   He feels it's not wonderful.  He really wanted to do was sail; he even bought a boat, a real clunker. He was going to fix it up and sail around the world and say goodbye to this hellhole. He apologizes to the sister for that comment.
Astrid- "It's okay. You know, someone once told me... you can do anything as long as you can dream it."
Leroy- "You really think so?"
Astrid- "Sure! Look how easily you fixed those lights. I bet you can do anything."   She dusts some more of the flakes off of his face and heads back to the volunteer center.  They both are happy.

Emma takes Polaroid pictures of Kathryn Nolan's abandoned car; found on the side of the road with the engine running, no one around, by a gym teacher.
Sidney comes by with his camera to take a look and do some freelance reporting.  Kathryn Nolan is M.I.A.

Sidney- "Kathryn Nolan- Whose husband very publicly left her?  I mean, the story writes itself.  If I get a scoop like that, the Daily Mirror would have no choice than to take me back."
Emma tells Tiger to calm down, as he doesn't work for Regina anymore.  Emma runs down that Kathryn got accepted into law school in Boston.  Maybe after David dumped her she decided to leave town- car broke down and she hitched the rest of the way.  That's what she'd do if she decided to run away from her problems.  They open the trunk and discover Kathryn's suitcase. {Note box with arrow point up.}  Emma feels it's time to pull Kathryn's phone records to find out who she spoke to last.   Sidney suggests Emma not go through the sheriff's office because it would take days; instead he has a contact at the phone company and can get it in a couple of hours.  David drives up and Emma has to break the news to him. Sidney asks, "You think he doesn't know?"   Emma's about to find out.

The playful and happy Dwarf's are being fitted and prepared for their purpose. Bossy trims the early hatched dwarf's beard and informs him that he's getting cleaned up.  The early hatched dwarf is very inquisitive.
The early hatched dwarf- "What am I?"
Bossy- "You're a Dwarf."
The early hatched dwarf- "What am I doing?"
Bossy- "Being cleaned."
The early hatched dwarf- "Who is the woman I saw?"
Bossy is taken aback- "What woman?
The early hatched dwarf- "The one I saw before I hatched. She was beautiful, I wanna see her again."
Bossy- "Ha! You must be dreaming. There are no female dwarfs.  Dwarfs don't fall in love.  Dwarfs don't get married. And Dwarfs don't have children. Why do you think you were hatched from an egg?"
The early hatched dwarf- "Then what do we do?"
Bossy- "We work."
The early hatched dwarf- "And we like it?"
Bossy- "We love it! We even whistle while we do it. We mine the diamonds that get crushed into dust that give light to the world.  You and your seven brethren will bring joy to yourselves and to everyone. Come on- this is your team. These are your brothers.  Everyone grab an ax,  it will give you your Dwarf name"
Stealthy is the first to be named; then Happy, Doc, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful and Dopey. 
The early hatched dwarf grabs his ax and the name Dreamy appears on it.  Bossy tells Dreamy that the ax never lies.
Bossy-"Okay, folks, grab a lantern and move out. Today is the first day of the rest of your lives. Welcome to the mines!"
All of the Dwarfs whistle Heigh-Ho and head out.

Whistling Heigh-Ho while entering the classroom is Leroy.  He asks Mary Margaret where to sign up because he wants to volunteer to sell candles.  Mary reminds him that he made it very clear this morning at Granny's that he didn't want to.

Leroy- "Well...Maybe I saw the light. I mean, maybe somebody showed it to me.  What difference does it make, sister, it looks like you can use all the help you can get."
Mary Margaret admits to needing help manning the candle booth so she runs down some rules for him:
No swearing, No drinking- and I get to call all the shots."

Leroy overhears Astrid's conversation with another teacher/Sister about her ordering the wrong amount of Helium. She ordered 12 dozen instead of just 12; there are no refunds. This is a concern as they needed that money for the rent and they know "how he feels about us".  The teacher/Sister tells Sister Astrid to fix this.

Leroy asks Astrid what's the problem. Astrid feels she's an idiot because they get a stipend that she spent on Helium and now they can't pay the rent that is due next week. They won't get another stipend until next month. The only income they'll have until then is from the candles.
Astrid says they'd have to sell 1,000 candles; but last year only sold 42.  Leroy suggests she ask the landlord to cut her a break.  Astrid reveals Mr. Gold doesn't offer much leeway and if they miss a payment, they're out and would be reassigned and have to leave Storybrooke.  Motivated Leroy tells her she won't. "You know why  you only sold 42 candles last year?  Because you didn't have me. This year we're gonna sell all of them."  Mary Margaret overhears him.  Astrid is relieved and again calls Leroy her hero.

David closes the driver side door of Kathryn's car and asks, "She's just gone?"   Emma feels he doesn't really know anything; and she's trying to find out.  David mentions the last time he spoke to Kathryn was yesterday afternoon.
Emma- "Okay, look, I know there has been lies and deceit and I'm really not judging you, but... Is that the truth?"
David- "Yes, I haven't spoken to her since we... I ended things. Then I came home yesterday and all her things were gone and I assumed she was going to Boston that's what she told me. Am I a suspect or something?"
Since Emma knows when people are telling the truth and she feels David is, he's not a suspect. Kathryn hasn't been gone 24 hours and isn't even technically missing. But if she is, "Trust me. I will find her."

Regina prints out Kathryn's phone records and calls Sidney to let him know she has the records he wanted; she thinks he'll find them quite helpful.

Dreamy shovels coal and diamond chunks onto the conveyor belt as we watch it go through the familiar sounding {"Island"} machine, with its metal gears grinding and metal wheels turning- and is finally transformed into fairy dust.  Nova is standing next to her bag waiting for it to be filled.  Once her bag is filled she tried to close the spigot but it's stuck and she calls out for help.  Dreamy comes to her rescue!
Dreamy recognizes her! "It's you!"
Nova- "Do we know each other?"
Dreamy-"You're the woman I saw in my dreams... right before I hatched last year."
Nova- "You're one?!"
Dreamy-"I know, I look young for my age."
Nova inadvertently placed the bag on a dumbwaiter; the watch it get lifted up and carried away- headed for the furnace. In truly heroic form, Dreamy uses his pickax to grab hold of the bag-o-dust and saves it from the fire!  Nova feels she's an idiot. "All I ever wanted was to be a fairy godmother. That was my dream, but I can't even pick up fairy dust alone. I'm so clumsy."
Dreamy doesn't think that and feels she would make a great fairy godmother. "I believe you can do anything you want- as long as you can dream it."
They Introduce themselves as Nova and Dreamy.  Nova shares that as fairies, "We get to spend very little time in your world. I was thinking about making a stop on my way back.  Have you ever been to see the fireflies?"
Dreamy barely ever gets out of the mines.  Nova heard it's beautiful; they come out just after sunset on Firefly Hill.  She hints to going to see them tonight, but Dreamy just tells her to have a good time and walks away.  Nova thanks her hero and leaves. They're both smiling.

In Storybrooke
Mary Margaret is barking for people to buy their MINERS DAY CANDLES HERE; handmade by Storybrooke's very own nuns!  "Light your way to a good cause."   It's not working, so Leroy suggests they should pack it up; if the customers won't go to them, then they'll go to the customers, door to door. {Note all of the wires and the boxes labeled THIS END UP with an arrow pointing up}  Mary's concerned "If they hate us here, what makes you think they'll like us in their homes?"  That's Leroy's angle, "Exactly. They'll pay us just to leave."
Sidney is having fun playing ring toss onto the bottles when Emma heads over to ask him what the hell he's doing.  Registration was this morning at Kathryn's school in Boston and she didn't show up.  It looks like something did happen.  Frantic Mary Margaret asks Emma her fashion opinion regarding what looks more sympathetic; scarf on or no scarf.  Emma suggests scarf and Leroy hurries Mary Margaret because they're on a schedule.
Sidney wonders why Emma didn't say anything. "You're looking for a suspect, someone with a motive,  pixie cut over there's got one a mile high."  Emma feels Mary Margaret didn't do anything; trust her, she knows her. "Just get me those phone records."  {Note Honey cart- Winnie the Pooh}

Leroy and Mary Margaret have doors of every color closed on them. Sadly no candles are sold.

In the tavern the dwarfs are laughing, goofing off and enjoying each other's company while Dreamy sits alone.  Bossy asks distant Dreamy what's the matter "You barely touched your food."
Dreamy- "I don't know.  I can't eat. I can't sleep. I don't feel at all like myself. Maybe I should have Doc take a look at me."
Bossy- "You gonna trust a dwarf that got his medical degree from a pick ax? I wouldn't worry about it. Dwarf's don't get sick. Must be in your head."
Belle- "It's not in his head it's in his heart. You're in love."
Bossy- "That's impossible. Dwarf's can't fall in love."
Belle- "Trust me. I know love and... you're in it."
Dreamy- "What's it like?!"
Belle- "It's the most wonderful and amazing thing in the world.  Love is hope, it fuels our dreams. And if you're in it...you need to enjoy it. Because love doesn't always last forever."
Dreamy- "But if love's so great then why do I feel so bad right now?"
Belle- "You need to be with the person you love."
Dreamy- "Yeah, but, how do I know she feels the same way?  All she talked about was going to see some fireflies not loving me."
Belle- "But, what did she tell you about these fireflies?"
Dreamy- "That she was going to see them up on the hilltop tonight- that she heard they were the most beautiful sight in all the land."
Belle- "(giggle) She wasn't telling you about the fireflies. She was inviting you go be with her."
Dreamy- "You think so?"
Belle- "I had my heart broken enough... to know someone is reaching out.  Now go find your love! Find your hope. Find your dreams."

Back in the classroom Mary Marget urges Leroy to give the bad news to clumsy Sister Astrid about not selling the candles.  But Leroy doesn't want to disappoint her. "You Nuns are gonna be real busy making candles.  'Cause me and Mary Margaret just sold them all.  You're not losing the convent. You're not going anywhere!"   Excited Astrid hugs Leroy and Mary Margaret is stunned.

Mary Margaret is freaking out that they don't have $5,000 for the candles Leroy claimed to have sold.
Leroy assures her he has a plan. "Just give me till the end of the day. I'll figure something out."  Mary Margaret asks why this is so important to him.  Leroy looks over at happy Astrid and informs Mary Margaret that the Nuns are gonna have to leave. Mary is shocked and understands that Leroy likes Astrid the Nun. "Could you possibly pick anyone less available?"
Leroy- "Says the girl who went after a married guy! At the end of the day you're no better than I am. You got your reasons for being here- I got mine, and when I say I'm gonna get that $5,000, I'm gonna get that $5,000!"  He heads out.

Dreamy runs through the dark forest to the hilltop. Nova was afraid he wasn't going to show up and he thought he was too late.
Nova- "Well, you did cut it pretty close."
They look out to the village and naive but curious Dreamy comments "Wow! Look at all those lights! Are those the fireflies?"  These are the light of the village and beyond that are the lights of the Kingdom.  Dreamy thinks Nova's seen a lot of this world, but Nova sadly has only observed from a distance. "Flying over the world and being a part of it aren't exactly the same thing." 
Dreamy- "Well, at least you've seen the world. Me, I live in the mines underground. All I ever see is diamonds and dirt and dwarfs. You know, we could see it together.   Get a boat- sail all over, explore everything the world has to offer."
Just then the fireflies appear.  Nova kisses Dreamy and decides they should do it. Tomorrow night after she drops off the dust they'll meet back there and run off together and see the world.  Dreamy reaches out for her hand, "Sounds like a dream come true".

Leroy is trying to persuade Mr. Gold to purchase his fixer-up boat for $5,000.  Mr. Gold thinks 3,000.  Leroy specifically needs five to help out a friend.  He offers Mr. Gold the boat in exchange for forgiving the Nuns one month's rent.  Gold would get the boat and the Nuns would pay him eventually; it's a good deal, he gets everything. Leroy thinks this rich guy could afford to give them time to make up one month's.  Mr. Gold agrees that he can- but he won't, as they have a "fairly specific rental agreement. If they miss a payment I'm within my rights to evict.... And quite honestly, it's gonna be a great relief to be rid of such distasteful tenants."   Leroy is shocked Mr. Gold doesn't like Nuns. "Who doesn't like Nuns?"  Mr. Gold has his reasons, "And they're mine. Let's just say I have a long complicated history with them and leave it at that."   Mr. Gold walks away leaving Leroy frustrated.  Leroy heads below deck.

Astrid shows up with a pie to thank Leroy for all his help. Mary Margaret told her she might find him down there.  Excited Astrid loves the boat, "I can't even remember the last time I was on it."  {Wait...What?!}   Leroy tries to hide all the unsold candles, but are seen by Astrid.  He comes clean and also admits he lied because he didn't want to let her down.  "I'm sorry, Astrid. I guess you believed in the wrong guy."   Disappointed Astrid walks away.

Emma's investigating Kathryn's disappearing act when Sidney gives her the phone records.  The records include an 8 minute call she made to David within an hour of the accident.  Emma feels that's not possible. Sidney suggests David is lying. Emma, "No. I know when someone is lying and David..."
Sidney- "It's right here on paper, Emma. Phone records don't lie, people do.  And our friends David does it better than most. Don't beat yourself up over this, You're not the only person David fooled."

Mary Margaret is drowning her sorrows at Granny's when Leroy sits next to her and orders whatever she's having.  Mary Margaret asks "Well...Did you get it?"
Leroy removes his hat and replies "What do you think?"   Upset Mary Margaret says he's right, "I was dreaming if I thought that the town harlot and the town drunk can accomplish anything."
Leroy- "Yeah. Just dreamin'"

Dreamy takes his bag and sneaks away from his sleeping dwarf friends.  He is stopped by Stealthy. "You know if you wanted to sneak out you should have come to me."  The rest of the dwarfs wake up.  They ask where he's going and question his leaving without even saying goodbye.  Dreamy reveals he's going to be with Nova because they're in love and they're going to see the world together.   Stealthy doesn't understand as they all thought they were supposed to live their lives in the mines.  Dreamy thought so too. "But things change when you fall in love. Suddenly anything seems possible."  Sneezy suggests he take his pickax with him; it might come in handy.  But Dreamy doesn't need it anymore.  All the dwarfs except for Stealthy hug Dreamy goodbye.

Bossy catches up to Dreaming in the forest telling him he can't do this. "You can't go to her."  He explains Dreamy has a responsibility to mine the diamonds they make into fairy dust.
Dreamy- "But I love her."
Bossy-"You're a dwarf, Dreamy. We're not capable of love. It's not how we're made."
Dreamy- "What if I'm different? What if you're wrong?"
The Blue Fairy appears "Bossy's not wrong, young one. What you feel...it's just a dream."  
Dreamy- "Who are you?"
The Blue Fairy- "I'm Nova's teacher. And if the two of you run away together it will not end well. Nova will lose her wings. But if you return to the mines and if you allow Nova to become the fairy that she was meant to be, the two of you will bring untold joy to the whole world.  Nova can be a great fairy- if you let her. The choice is yours."
Dreamy closes his eyes for a moment; thinking.

Mary Margaret is looking kinda buzzed {4 glasses}. She hopes Leroy understands that a relationship with Sister Astrid could never happen.
Leroy- "Yeah. Yeah. My whole life people made it their business to tell me what I can't do. She was the first person that said I could so anything... who believed in me. I didn't want to disappoint her."
Mary Margaret "But there are consequences to following through when the world tells you not to. I mean, look at me. I am a pariah in this town"
Leroy asks about her good memories. "Didn't you have moments with him that you love? Do you regret them?"  Mary Margaret doesn't regret them.
Leroy- "Isn't that what life's about? Holding on to your good memories. All I wanted was a moment with Astrid. One moment to give me hope that any dream's possible. You've had all that Mary Margaret, so stop feeling sorry for yourself and enjoy it.  Because I haven't."
Mary Margaret- "Well, if I had the dream I' sorry to say it wasn't worth it."
Leroy has a revelation "And sitting here drinking won't end this pain."
Mary Margaret- "What will?
Leroy- "I can only think of one thing."  He downs his drink and heads out.

Back at the Miners Day celebration Leroy is atop of a building with a pickax.  Panicked Mary Margaret emerges from the roof hatch and tells him not to jump.  Leroy's not gonna jump; he could hit someone and do a lot of damage; he's solidly built.  He's up there to get his moment!  He advises Mary Margaret to duck and takes a swing at the electrical box, knocking out all of the power.  "I'm selling candles, sister."

Nova waits on the hilltop for Dreamy. {Note the light of a lighthouse in the distance.}  He arrives to find Nova very excited; she has to show him something.  But Dreamy needs to talk. Nova shhh's him and magically makes a looking glass/telescope appear out of fairy dust in the palm of her hand. "Take a look."   Dreamy sees the amazing sailboat in the harbor. It has everything they need to explore- supplies, maps of all the Kingdoms and a sturdy sail.  Sad Dreamy tells Nova that he can't go with her.  Nova asks about their life together- their dream.  But Dreamy shares he is a Dwarf that belongs in the mines and she belongs with the other fairies- and that's never gonna change.
Nova- "Dreamy, you control what changes in your life. Never let yourself forget... your special."
Dreamy wonders why; what makes them different than any other dwarf or fairy out there. Nova feels it's their love that does that.  Dreamy doesn't think its love, he thinks it's a dream that they need to put away. Nova doesn't want to put it away.
Dreamy- "I'm not your dream, Nova.  Your dream is to be a fairy godmother and you could still be that."
Nova realizes he talked to the Blue Fairy.  He tells her it doesn't matter. What matters is he can't stand in the way of her happiness.  Nova insists he is her happiness and she loves him.  "Don't you love me?"  Dreamy cries "I'm a dwarf. I can't love".

Bossy tells the dwarfs to pick up the pace. "We're making magic here!"   Dreamy returns and asks for his ax. Bossy hands him the ax and the boys welcome him back. Dreamy claims there's no place he'd rather be. "Hi-Ho"   He swings his ax 10 times into the rock but it doesn't work; and the ax breaks. Bossy hands him another ax and the name GRUMPY appears on it.

Leroy and Mary Margaret sell out every candle and raise the $5,000.  Mary Margaret encourages Leroy to go over and tell Astrid the good news and have his moment.
Astrid is thrilled "You made it happen".   They look around at how beautiful the gathering is with everyone and their lit candles; looking very much like fireflies.
Leroy- "Listen, that boat of mine, I'm gonna fix it up... and, well...maybe you can be my first passenger.
Astrid would like that.  So, that's what they'll do.

Emma is looking through Kathryn's phone records when Regina comes in asking about her missing friend, Kathryn and not the black out. {Emma's office has electricity.}  Emma admits to finding something but not yet knowing what it means.  She won't divulge the information at this point of the investigation.  Regina "If you're covering for someone, if you're not doing your job, Sheriff Swan, I'll find someone who will."

Mary Margaret makes a SOLD OUT! sign and blows out her candle and heads out.  The word TRAMP is still quite visible on her vehicle. She and her unlit candle head back into the celebration where she is met by Granny who graciously lights her candle from her own candle.

David sees teary eyed Mary Margaret from a distance.
Emma needs to talk to David. She informs him she didn't get a hold of Kathryn and that she needs him to go to the Sheriff's Station with her.  Everyone, including Mary Margaret, watch as David is put in the backseat of the Sheriff car.