The Heart of the Truest Believer

"For those who immerse themselves in what the fairy tale has to communicate, it becomes a deep, quiet pool which at first seems to reflect only our own image; but behind it we soon discover the inner turmoils of our soul - its depth, and ways to gain peace within ourselves and with the world, which is the reward of our struggles."  -Bruno Bettelheim The Uses of Enchantment

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

We left off in S2 with young Bae being brought to Neverland and us being shown a drawing of Henry at the age he currently is. "Time and Space" issues are brought in to play here. How is Henry at age 11 known to Pan back when Bae was a young boy as well?
Let's also note that we been shown drawings of Milah and Belle, as well as island drawings in Rumple's old house. I guess Milah liked to draw.


"Emma, the minute I let go of the belief that things will get better is the minute I know they won't."  That's what Hope is. To hold on to the positive that things will get better. Sometimes, that's all we have. If you give in to the easiness of the power of just giving up, then you never even gave yourself a fighting chance for things to get better, to win... to have your happy ending.  Trust me, I know. Hope is all I got.

It's a leap of faith, trust and Pixie Dust!

"I spent more time than I care to remember to leave this place to kill Rumpelstiltskin, and here I am sailing right back in to its heart with him as my guest of honor."

There's more here than meets the eye. This is such a great way to jump into season three.  It's the stuff of legends- To see the trials of these characters trying to find their way.  These characters are suffering from pain they won't let go of, and for a few, have even forgotten they still carry around.  But they are learning. They are being challenged and tested with these new experiences, all in an effort to help them grow.  They all play a role in this fantastical game of life, and each role brings their own unique skills and knowledge to this new call to adventure.

We each have our own life experiences. Those individual and unique experiences lived through choices and circumstances provide us with information and lessons- even if we're the same age.  Sharing wisdom from experiences is a good thing, but sadly, not everyone wants to take advice.

What is Neverland's role in all of this?  Why does game playing Pan want Henry's very special heart?

When Rumple is brought to tears at the sight of the toy doll, what is its significance- what pain is it conjuring up? Rumple has been in pain for years over losing Bae. He's also lost Milah and left Belle behind in Storybrooke. And if we go further back, he has his own daddy issues as well.

The Power of Belief... and a World of Imagination 

Be Careful! Imagination is a wonderful and powerful tool. It can bring beautiful things to life, but it also can create very dark things too.

Portals take you to wherever you think of- thoughts created in your own mind and feelings from your own heart bring you to a new land. "Time and Space" may have no meaning in these places.

* Greg and Tamara believed their mission was to destroy magic and discover that a group of teenagers; The Lost Boys, are the ones known as the "home office."
* Henry believes his family is coming to rescue him.
* Emma starts to understand the power of believing.

11 Years Ago: Department of Corrections

Emma's is being coached with her breathing during labor- and her big push. A male child is born to imprisoned Emma at 8:15.  Through her painful cries the lights flicker like lightening. Emma is sure not to torture herself with looking at the newborn, as she is giving him away. She is told that she can still change her mind. But Emma knows she can't be a mother.

Present Day:

The six grownups are on board the Jolly Roger traveling through the spiraling watery portal headed for Neverland. Hook holds the wheel tightly while his passengers hold on tightly.  Once through the portal we see the waters are calm and the night sky is clear.  Emma is focused on Neverland and her goal to save Henry.

Angry Emma blames her mother for everything that's happened to Henry and Neal.  "You say good always wins... it doesn't. I didn't grow up in some fairy tale land. My experience is different and that's all I can go on."  The Charmings' are working hard to right the wrongs so they can be a family.  They stay optimistic no matter what- because it is who they are.

The Greatest Regret of My Life

Regret is a painful thing to live with. Regret haunts these characters.  They regret the wasting of time and not doing and saying things they should have or could have done/said or actions they could have taken. Some took the easy way out and didn't even try. While some held on to anger because that too is an easier way to get through something, than to trust you can let go of anger, move on, and find happiness.  But we know there are no shortcuts in life- Ever!

* Emma regrets breaking the curse and not just taking Henry.
* Snow and Charming regret their missing time with Emma, but are grateful that Emma found them and broke the curse.
* Gold regrets choosing his power over Bae on that faithful day way back when. I'm sure he has more than a few more regrets.
* Neal let Emma go so she could break the curse and fulfill her destiny. He regrets not going after her and telling her he love her.  His belief in love wasn't strong enough to overcome his fear of rejection.

The Island

Imprisoned Henry falls through the portal with his captors, Greg and Tamara; whom by the way, don't know the extent of their jobs and boss.  Greg and Tamara think they're going to destroy Neverland- the mother-load of magic. These two blind followers don't ask the home office/boss any questions about anything, they just believe in their cause. They quickly discover that their communicator is nothing but a child's toy filled with sand.

The home office just wants the boy, Henry. They're not making any more deals with the duo. Greg's shadow is ripped from his body; his body drops to the ground.  Tamara is shot in the back with an arrow. Henry runs away.

Gold/Rumple is the one who will go get Henry. He takes this on because he wants to succeed. He sees that Emma doesn't believe. She doesn't believe in her parents or in magic- not even herself.  He asks her "When have you ever taken a real leap of faith? You know the kind where there's absolutely no proof?"  Emma is one that needs evidence and for someone to tell her what to do. Gold/Rumple warns Emma that Neverland is a place where imagination runs wild, and sadly... Emma's doesn't.  He twirls his cane/walking stick and disappears off the ship only to appear near hurt Tamara. She apologizes to him about Neal, explaining she didn't know who they were working for. Gold can't forgive her, so he rips out her heart and crushes it.

Mermaids are Liars

To be fair, Emma is a fighter.  Hook gives Emma Baelfire's sword for the upcoming fight. Hook has a parental-like love and compassion for Bae, and he misses him. The two drink a toast to "Neal".

David tries to steady the ship as pissed off mermaids attack the ship.  He's determined not to be capsized by fish, so he fights back.   Regina throws her magic fireballs at the water, managing to chase the mermaids away. Snow and Emma catch a mermaid with a net and bring her on deck to be their hostage.  The hostage uses a conch shell to send out a warning. "Let me go, or die."  Thunder claps overhead. She doesn't need her friends to kill these people, "You'll kill yourselves."

The storm kicks up and Hook blames the mermaid for calling the storm. The gang get all fired up wanting the mermaid to call off the storm. As the gang bicker and fight with each other on how to handle this situation, the storm strengthens and the waters get rougher.  Emma wants them to calm down so they can think it through.

Regina magically turns the mermaid into a wood carving thinking it would stop the storm, but in turn creates a huge tidal wave to approach.

I love the point that Emma understood that the intensifying storm was manifested and aggravated by their anger and not the mermaids. Emma pleads with them to stop fighting but to no avail. So she does something desperate- she takes a leap of faith... right off the ship and into the stormy sea.

 

Under water she gets hit the head with a piece of equipment and is knocked out and she is rescued by David and the team work of the gang. This ends the storm and the night sky clears. Emma was right.

Homecoming for Baelfire

"Who are you?" 
Gravely injured Neal fell through his portal right back to the Enchanted Forest.  He wakes up on Aurora's cot; where he's well enough to be questioned. Once Aurora, Mulan and Prince Philip realize he is Henry's father, Aurora offers her "walk through sleep/dreaming communication services" to tell Emma Neal is alive and he loves her.

Neal/Baelfire tells Mulan how he got to the Enchanted Forest. He thought he was going to die and he thought of that place- growing up there. That's how portals work; they take you wherever you think of.  He also mentions that the other world thinks "that this place is just a fairy tale, like a, like a legend, like we're all just characters in a story."  They even made a movie about Mulan.  Aurora awakens to inform Bae she couldn't make contact.  Bae knows his father can help, as he always had a plan.  They head to Rumplestiltskin's castle.  They cross the dry bed of Lake Nostos.

Once inside the Dark One's disheveled castle, they find Robin Hood has taken up residence there.  Baelfire grants him title to the property, but first wants to look around for some magical item left behind by his father. Bae learns that his father spared Robin Hood's life and Robin owes him a debt.

Bae finds Rumple's old "enchanted" cane/walking stick; one that was marked, keeping track of Bae's growth.  Bae uses the cane to expose a door hidden by a "cloaking spell" that contained (magical) items.  Even though he spent his life running from magic he understands it is the only thing that can help him. With some concentration and deep thought and deep feeling about something he believes in (here it is Emma), Bae is able to jump right in an use magic.  He sees Emma in a small crystal ball- in Neverland.

Henry's New Playmate

Now on the run through the dark jungle, Henry is helped by a hooded boy who claims he can get them to safety from the Lost Boys.  Henry asks him "Are you a lost boy?"
"I was. But I escaped, and now they're after me too," states the boy.  With no time for questions the boy and Henry keep moving.

Later, the boy asks Henry "Did the shadow take you too?"  Henry tells of his kidnapping by people who work for Pan.
"I'm sorry. If he sent for you, he wants you. If Pan wants you he will get you," the boy tells Henry.  Henry asks "Why does Pan want you?"

 

The boy shows him Pixie Dust in a tiny vile that he wears round his neck. He stole it from him because he thought he could use it to fly away and go home, but it doesn't work- it's useless.  Henry tells the boy not to worry, as his family is coming to rescue him and the boy can go with them.  Henry's family is different than the other boys who believed their families were coming to save them. "We always find each other."  The boy warns that if they did Pan would rip their shadows into oblivion. Henry promises it's going to be okay. "Don't lose hope. All we need is time."  The boy claims there's a place the Lost Boys can't track them- The Echo Caves is the hiding place.

On the run, the two boys end up at the very edge of a dangerous cliff. Fearing this is the end, the boy wants to give up and give them the Pixie Dust, "Maybe they'll let us live."
"No. It's our way out."  Henry rips the Pixie Dust from the boys neck. The boy doesn't believe that the Pixie Dust works- but Henry does.  Henry opens the vile, holds onto the boy, and takes a running leap off the cliff. The magical Pixie Dust and Henry's belief gives them flight!

Henry and the boy make a bumpy landing in a tiny clearing. Henry tells the boy "See, if you believe... anything is possible."
"You couldn't be more right, Henry," the boy replies.  This lying boy already knows Henry.
 The amused boy tells Henry "Let's make it a game, a puzzle to solve."  The boy reveals that he isn't a Lost Boy and he doesn't work for Pan... he is Peter Pan. Pan reveals that he used Greg and Tamara, giving them a reason to hate and to fight for something. It is easier to get people to hate something to  than to believe.  Henry asks "Why did you bring me here?"  Pan explains  his quest to find the ever elusive "heart of the truest believer" and Henry proved that is the owner of that very special heart.
Pan paces and claims "And now you and it are mine."   Pan with his dagger and his Lost Boys circle around Henry.  "Let's play!"

Rumple's Blast from the Past

Rumpelstiltskin meets up with Pan's right hand boy, Felix. Rumple and Pan have history. Felix relays that Pan welcomes Rumple to stay in Neverland for as long as he likes- with one caveat... "If you're here for the boy, well... that makes you Pan's enemy."
Rumple feels, "Then nothing's changed."  Felix warns if Rumple goes against Pan he won't survive, and Rumple agrees with that, but Rumple's real question is "How many of you I take with me?"  That is Rumple's answer. This is all going to get very unfriendly.  Felix throws a handmade doll on the ground for Rumple. This trinket from Pan stirs up some pretty deep painful emotions in Rumple.
Felix calmly digs at Rumple. "It's funny how the things we haven't thought about in years still have the ability to make us cry. See ya 'round, Dark One."

On shore of the island, Regina feels she can repair the Jolly Roger and they can execute the pirate's plan. Emma wants her to save her magic because Pan already knows they're there. "It's time we stop running. Gold was right this land is run on belief. All of us have been too busy being at each other's throats to be believers. I was as wrong as anyone else. But it's time for all of us to believe- Not in magic, but in each other." 
Regina asks "You wanna be friends? After everything..."  But Emma doesn't expect that.  They need to cooperate. There's a lot of history here and a lot of hate.  Hook makes it a point to tell Emma he fancies her from time to time. Do they have history?   Emma assures them they don't have to do it the "right way", they just have to succeed. The way they do that is by being who they are- "A Hero, a Villain, a Pirate, it doesn't matter which because we're going to need all those skills whether we can stomach them or not."
Regina asks the "savior" what her skill is.  Emma looks her right in the eyes and says "I'm a mother. And now I'm also your leader so either help me get my son back or get out of the way."  Fighter Emma leads the group inland.


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

๑  Mother is the giver of life- the nurturer.
๑  Is the shadow the "dark side" of Pan or someone else- or does everyone have this "shadow"?
๑  "It may not have always seemed like it, but family was important to dear old dad"
๑  This family needs better communication skills and confronting past pain
๑  Electricity
๑  Imprison
๑  Communication
๑  Crystal ball- a smaller version than the one we see in The Wizard of Oz movie
๑  Island, beach, shore, jungle
๑  Hook plans to sail around the island and take them by surprise
๑  Signal fire
๑  Sun and Moon
๑  Arrow
๑  Game, puzzle, toys, doll
๑  Fire + Water
๑  Under water
๑  Lady of the Lake
๑  What Happened to Frederick 
๑  "'Cause I broker her heart."
๑  "Why did you bring me here?"

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  The Elder Scrolls Oblivion: Echo Cave
๑  Indian Echo Caverns is a show cave in Derry Township (Dauphin County) near Hummelstown, Pennsylvania
๑  Oblivion Castle in the Kingdom Hearts video game: It is a world found in the realm between Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and Kingdom Hearts Re: Chain of Memories as the only real world in the game. It also appears within cut scenes in Kingdom Hearts II, Kingdom Hearts II: Final Mix, Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix. It also appears as a digital copy in Kingdom Hearts coded and Kingdom Hearts Re:coded. The castle was ruled by Marluxia of Organization XIII, and consists of thirteen floors and twelve basements.

✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  8:15
✈  Execute
✈  Leap of faith
✈  Island, beach, shore, jungle
✈  Birth
✈  Push
✈  Water. Under water
✈  Storm
✈  Electricity
✈  Communication
✈  Arrow
✈  Fish
✈  Batteries
✈  Echo- Mr. Eko
✈  "Fire + Water "
✈  Said planned to sail the boat around the island and take the Others by surprise
✈  "Because you broke his heart." - "Left Behind"
✈  "Flashes Before Your Eyes"
✈  Examples of "Why did you bring me here?" being said in episodes:
"A Tale of Two Cities"
"LA X"
"The Package"
"The Candidate"  ("Why did he bring me here?"
"The End"

I was reminded of a LOST episode with handmade dolls. "The Man Behind the Curtain"
These dolls were gifts to Ben Linus on his birthday from Annie.

The Cricket Game

"You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be." - Albus Dumbledore

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


So, if you're tired of the same old story... Oh, turn some pages

Regina is a woman who wants to change she just wants everyone else to see it.  I feel like Emma is talking about herself with that statement as well as Regina. Emma is also being given a chance to make changes in herself and already admits "Well, I'm not me."

Change is, in a way, killing off your old ego/self, putting an end to an old behavior or way of thinking, acting and reacting to things in life and being aware of choices and consequences. Now one must be absolutely conscious of the choices and decisions they make, as to not repeat the negative and painful way of life. Change also involves letting go of pain caused in the past.  Letting go doesn't mean for one to avoid memory of the past, on the contrary.  Those memories of the experiences in life that deeply challenged you emotionally are actually pivotal moments in your own personal evolution.

Letting go isn't just about letting go of the bad things or bad people, it's also about letting go of old broken and flawed understanding, ideas, notions, impressions, interpretation and perception. An example of that comes with Snow White saying "I'm letting the woman who saved my life go." Sure, once upon a time Regina saved Snow, but no matter what, that is the past. Snow can't hold on to the person Regina once was, or even the person Regina came to be.  But Snow can move forward from all of that as positively as she can, and maybe, just maybe, Regina will learn and let go of her own tortured past and move forward as well- freeing her to become a better Regina.

Right now Regina has to walk a line and not cross it. The line- is keeping herself in check and not snapping and getting defensive.  She needs to be aware of what makes her revert and not act upon that emotion in a negative way.  But will she be able to do this, especially when faced with her mother? Regina doesn't like Cora, but she loves Cora.

Mama's gonna put all her fears into you- Of course, Mama's gonna help build the wall

Controlling mother Cora is motivated by her own twisted view of how to show love to her daughter.  As much as Cora may want the best for her daughter, so far we've seen that Cora really only loves Cora.  Regina is suffering with traumatic childhood and young adulthood memories that are contributors to the evil Regina we've witnessed.  Is there any chance Cora has changed over time? Could Cora be motivated by love instead of power? Can Regina to forgive her mother for the past, or will she continue hanging on to it?

Being a parent doesn't come with instructions, and something new is learned every day. Good parents make mistakes too, but they learn from them. Each new generation learns how to protect and nurture a child from the generation before, all leading and following by example. This is also evident in dysfunctional families.

Parents never stop being parents no matter how grown up their child is, but parents must also walk a line. Families must work together, learn together and grow together.

Magic is here

Many of us live our lives in search of magic. We look high and low. We look for it in strange places, in bottles, powders, potions or pills. We even hope it is something we can acquire or even purchase from someone else. Is magic really so elusive? I feel magic can be found simply by... believing. Believe and trust it is in you and around you.

Magic has always lived in Emma. All she needed was a little push and encouragement; and she gets that from Mr. Gold/Rumpelstiltskin. Emma is just now discovering that all she has to do is "will it" to be so and she could accomplish wonderful things. She still has much to learn about magic, and she must be careful to use magic for good and never cross a line and use it in a negative way.


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

๑ Perception: What do you see and hear?
- Looks like one this, but is something else.
๑ Pongo's perspective/visual review of memory still didn't give the full picture of what he experienced that night. The dog felt this wasn't Regina and couldn't communicate a warning to Archie.
๑ Dreamcatcher: Connection for Emma and Neal. Tallahassee
๑ Evidence
๑ Learn. Knowledge.
๑ "Well, I don't know how it is in Fairy Tale Land, but in the real world... its usually hard to find evidence. This has been way too easy, unless someone wants us to find evidence?"
๑ Umbrella/parasol
๑ Game: Pieces are being removed and/or moved around from/on the playing field.
๑ Welcome banner: it looks like "EMMA" was an afterthought. lol
๑ Some of the gang considers Storybrooke home. This could be because they are with their family and family = home.
๑ Snare- trap
๑ Fish
๑ FATE
๑ Alive. Live. Life. Breath
๑ Dead. Death. Kill. Late. Execute. Assassination.
๑ Test. Rehabilitation
๑ Snow and Charming were technically married already at Lake Nostos by Lancelot in
Lady of the Lake
๑  Henry is 11 years old. Time has passed since Emma arrived in Storybrooke
๑  Granny's gets a lot of attention tonight.
๑ "Do not tell me what we can or can't do!"
๑  Archie got his PHD from a curse. Doc one of the Seven Dwarfs got his title from the magical carvings on an ax.
๑  Snow and Charming trick Regina into a trap, just as Charming did with trapping Rumple for Cinderella in The Price of Gold
๑ Every person is motivated by something. Rumple is behind the whole Regina bringing residents of the Enchanted Forest to Storybrooke
๑ Golden glowing ring of memories
๑ Henry the father. Henry the son

Vocabulary and Research...

๑ Execute: This word is very interesting, as it can seem to take on opposite meaning.

• To accomplish, carry out, perform, produce, inflict
• To begin, start, put into action
• To end, kill, behead, purge

๑ Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on a field, at the center of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch.
- Cricket (insect), family Gryllidae, also known as "true crickets"
- Cricket (darts), a game using the standard 20-number dartboard
๑ Pescartarian (creatures): Occasionally used to describe vegetarians/those who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish.
 - pesce in Italian translate to fish
๑ Pongo is one of the 101 Dalmatians or The Great Dog Robbery. Pongo and Missis Pongo (or simply Missis) are a pair of Dalmatians who live with the newly married Mr. and Mrs. Dearly and their two nannies. Cruella de Vilis the villain of the story.
- a genus of orangutan


 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  Swan. Arrow. Sheriff/security Station
✈  Eyes
✈  Being watched. 2 way mirror.
✈  108
✈  Vessel. Ship
✈  The path
✈  Tabula Rasa: Clean slate. Do over. Second chance.
✈  Tacos/ Taco night. Lasagna
✈  FATE
✈  "Don't tell me what I can't do!"
✈  Cuffs. Cell. Prison.
✈  Fire. Ash.
✈  Test.
✈  Suffering
✈  Gift. Package
✈ "There's always a choice" is spoken by:

• Sayid replies to Kate  The Greater Good
• Desmond to Charlie in Happily Ever After

✈  A few examples of Banished:

• Sawyer is told by Hurley he'd be banished if he doesn't change in Left Behind
• Charles Widmore in  Dead is Dead 
• Ben - The Incident part 1
• Ben talks about Napoleon being banished from the island of Elba in Dr. Linus
• Locke banishes Kate and Sawyer UN-banishes her in Eggtown
• Sayid in Sundown
• Jughead

✈  Parenthood:

• Jack felt he wasn't cut out to be a dad in Lighthouse
• Michael was thrust into becoming Walt's dad
• Claire ended up keeping the baby she wanted to give up for adoption
• Kate raises Aaron for a few years

✈  Shannon needed someone to believe in her.  Abandoned
✈  Jack needs his surgical team to believe in him, and wants his father to believe in him. Jack needs to believe in himself. The Incident pt2
✈  Desmond, the man, was "the package" kept on the submarine by Charles Widmore
✈  Nobody does it alone- The End
✈  Locke is not a what but a who: a man. He tells this to Ben in LA X pt2  and to Sawyer in
✈  To the "Island" residents Season 6 Locke isn't Locke, but the Monster/Man in Black disguised as (dead) Locke; a substitute


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

 When we last saw Cora and Hook, it was daylight as they were aboard the ship with Storybrooke in their sights. Now it is night/dark and they have docked at the pier.  Hook's ready to part way with Cora so he can go and skin his crocodile. Cora wants him to rethink that, but Hook sticks to their deal. Cora magically disappears and appears a few steps away making Hook realize Cora can use her dark magic in Storybrooke. This means Rumple will have power as well.

A fisherman approaches the visitors asking if they need anything; the tackle shop's not open until morning. He'd be happy to open early for them if they want to try and snare some pescaritian creatures. The fisherman also compliments them on their fine vessel, and asks when they got in.
Cora's response is "What vessel?"  She magically makes the ship disappear. The fisherman finds that to be a neat trick, and wonders if she's some sort of magician back in their land. Cora, having had enough of the fisherman's curiosity, turns him into a flopping floundering fish on the dock. Hook spares the fish by pushing into the water. Cora's hid Hook's ship from prying eyes. For what they both want to do they need the element of surprise.
Cora- "Let's go have a little look at this Storybrooke, shall we?"


David and Mary Margaret are canoodling in her bed. She's happy to be back and is thinking 28 years is too long.  Henry bursts into the apartment with Emma; excitedly announcing taco shells were on sale. Henry asks the adults what they're still doing in bed since it's the middle of the afternoon. They couple claim they needed rest. Flustered Emma's preparing taco's for the ton of people who will be at Granny's welcome back party tonight. David feels it's impressive that they can still provide her with a few traumatic childhood memories at the stage of the game

Regina sits high on her horse and watches the burning of the Kingdom below.  A guard/soldier tells the Queen they've received word that Snow and the Prince have defeated King George; his army has fallen and the Kingdom is theirs.  George's fate is unknown, but without his forces they are now alone. "We cannot defeat them."
Regina- "Do not tell me what we can or can't do!"
The guard/soldier informs Regina that Snow White is alone on her way back to meet the Prince. This is good news to the Queen. She doesn't care how many men he loses to keep them apart until Regina finds her. "I will not let them defeat me."

Snow White runs through the dark forest and trips over a rock. She is met by happy Queen Regina. Regina asks "Leaving the battle so soon?"  Snow feels "The battle's over, Regina. Our army is too great. You can't win."  Regina feels that all depends on Snow's definition of victory. Snow offers Regina parley; to negotiate the terms of her surrender.  A bit stunned, Regina says her terms are simple, "Your death."   Once Regina lunges to attack Snow, Snow calls upon the Blue Fairy, who freezes Regina's body in place.

It was all a trap. Regina should have surrendered when she gave her the chance. Charming informs Regina that her reign of evil is over; And the Kingdom is his and Snow's.

The gang welcome Mary Margaret and Emma home with a celebration.
Emma tells Granny about the tacos she made. "I can't tell you the relief of cooking something that I didn't have to kill first."
Granny- "Don't I know it. Meatloaf back home- what a bitch."
Charming makes a toast; thanking everyone for coming. "Um, Mary Margaret and I have a saying... That we will always find each other. And while I believe that with all my heart, I'd like you all to raise your glasses and join me when I say- Here's to not having to look for a while. To Mary Margaret and Emma!"  Cheers!! And in walks Regina and her lasagna.  She apologizes to the shocked guests for being late.  Emma invited Regina, as she helped get them home. "No matter what she did in the past, we owe her our thanks now."  Emma was going to tell her parents earlier, when they were busy "resting".  Snow is upset, "Emma! She tried to kill us- yesterday."
Emma- "No she didn't. She's trying to change for Henry. He believes in her. And right now that's enough for me. I couldn't have changed if I wasn't given a chance, so, she gets one too."
Regina serves Henry lasagna. Henry's glad she came; so is Regina.  Leroy is reluctant to eat Regina's lasagna; accusing her of adding a secret ingredient- poison. Regina cooks with red pepper flakes, it gives it some kick. Leroy takes the plate.

The celebration is sweet. Everyone is eating, drinking and spending time together... except for Regina who sits alone in a booth.  Regina leaves and Emma hurries after her. Outside Emma tells Regina that Archie made a cake, "You don't wanna stay for a piece?"  Regina says she's fine and thanks Emma. She also thanks her for inviting her.  Emma shares that Henry wanted it, and she's glad they got to spend some time together. Regina is too; she'd like to see more. Maybe Emma would consider letting him stay over some time, as she still has his room waiting for him.  But Emma's not sure that's best. This seems to trigger Regina defenses and she replies, "Because you know so much about parenting in the five minutes you've been with him. Talk to David. At least he took care of him while you were away like I did, during the 10 years you were away the first time!"  Emma recognizes Regina's attitude and just thanks her for coming.  Regina apologizes for snapping at Emma and knows she shouldn't have done that. Emma accepts her apology and goes on to share that Archie said she was trying to change and she is and goes on to detail more about Regina's struggle not to use magic, etc.  Emma sought advice about inviting Regina to the party first and Dr. Hopper thought it a good idea.  Regina feels it was a good idea to invite her, but she's taken aback by Archie sharing "confidential" conversation with her/people.

Hook gazes through his telescope while he and Cora spy on "not yet broken" Regina from a nearby rooftop.

On this gray overcast and moist day, Archie walks Pongo down by the docks. He's met up by Regina.
Archie greets her, "Beautiful day, isn't it, Regina?" 
Regina- "Why should I answer you, Bug?"
Archie's just making friendly conversation. Regina calls him out on repeating things to anyone with an ear and telling Miss Swan about their sessions. Archie was only trying to help Regina and would never betray Doctor-Patient confidentiality.
Regina- "Doctor? Doctor?  Need I remind you you got your PHD from a curse."
Hooded Ruby jogs by to make sure everything's okay. Regina tells her it's a private conversation, "Go take yourself for a walk."  Archie assures Regina he can be trusted. He's lucky Regina has changed.

"I fear the Queen will never change. We must dispense justice."
The Prince agrees and asks what their options are. This round table meeting is with a few important Enchanted Forest residents; including the Blue Fairy, Grumpy, Red Riding Hood.  The Evil Queen has been captured by magic that will only keep her powerless for a short while. Granny, while continuing her knitting, suggests banishing her to another realm.  Jiminy feels it would unconscionable to condemn another realm to the suffering that we've endured.  Red feels he's right. "She's our problem and we have to deal with her."  The Prince feels the only certain thing is as long as the Queen lives the Kingdom is in danger. "We must kill the Queen..."   The meeting ends, and privately Snow asks her Prince if he's sure about this. The Prince wonders what other choice is there, "As long as she draws breath, she will come in after us- after you."
Snow- "There's always a choice."  She reminds him that he took an arrow to save Regina/stop Snow from killing her; she wonders why this is different.  The Prince took that arrow to save Snow, not Regina. That was assassination- this is an execution.  If they don't stop her now, there's no telling what she'll live to do.

Regina is spotted by Ruby entering Archie's office building.
{Dr. Archibald Hopper,  M.D. Psychiatrist}

Archie works in his office while Pongo rests a few feet away. Regina arrives knowing it's late, but she wants to talk. Pongo barks, seeming to pick up on a vibe or something fishy about Regina. Archie retrieves Regina's file; knowing how hard of a struggle it is for her to change. Regina chokes Archie and magically freezes Pongo in place. The choke hold on Archie includes a nifty smoke show and then the magical evaporation/disappearance of Archie.

It is revealed when Regina turns down an ally, that this isn't Regina that performed this horrible act toward Archie, but evil Cora transformed to impersonate her daughter.

Emma and Henry share a meal at Granny's diner. Henry asks her what it was like "over there", so she tells him about it.  Henry wants to walk alone to the school bus, but Emma won't let him, even though David let him and she used to let him. But Emma isn't David, "Well, I'm not me. I'm walking you, 'cause that's what mothers do. And I'm doin' it."

Pongo's made his way over to Granny's where he tries to communicate with Emma and Henry. It's Ruby who can interpret "dog barks."   With trouble brewing, Emma decides 11 is old enough to walk to the bus alone, while she goes to investigate missing Archie. Pongo directs the ladies to Archie's office.

They discover dead Archie. Ruby thinks she knows who did this.

In the Enchanted Forest, prisoner Queen Regina gets a visit from her father, Henry.  Henry feels this is all his fault, as he's failed her as a father and should have done more to protect her. He asks for her forgiveness. But there's no need for that; How could Regina blame the one she loves the most. He's the only one to stand by her till the end.  To save his daughter, Henry begs her to show the Prince and Snow regret for what she's done and the pain she's caused- show them she can change.

Regina, now in the interrogation room at the Storybrooke sheriff's station, is happy to see that the station is now a family run business.  Regina asks Emma "Why am I here?"
Emma- "You know why you're here. Because of Archie."  
Regina admits to an earlier argument with Archie but doesn't know anything about Archie being killed. David divulges that Ruby saw her going into Archie's building late last night, to which Regina feels Ruby's lying. Regina was home. Regina asks Emma, after everything she's done to change and to win Henry back, why would she toss it all away now.
Regina feels the fact that Archie's dead proves sloppiness; sloppiness is not the hallmark of Regina's evil doings.  David knows Regina's incapable of change, no matter how many times they give her a chance.

Regina is marched to her execution. Hooded Rumpelstiltskin is in attendance, as well as Henry, who is hopeful for his daughter. Jiminy Cricket appeals to Regina, to meet her end with a clean conscience, "Do you have any last words?"  Regina turns on the tears, "Yes, yes I do. I know I'm being judged for my past. A past where I caused pain. A past where I've inflicted misery. A past where I've... even brought death. When I look back at everything I've done... I want you all to know what I feel... and that is... regret.  Regret that I was not able to cause more pain, inflict more misery, and bring about more death! And above all else with every ounce of my being I regret that I was not able to kill Snow White!"
The Prince calls for the arrows and the men to take their aim. Smug Regina is blindfolded and the determined Prince calls "Fire!" The arrows are launched and Snow yells "Stop!"  The Blue Fairy  magically stops the arrows and they fall to the ground.

Snow feels this is not the way. Regina's blindfold is removed and she is taken back to her cell.  Regina is pleased.

Emma, David and Mary Margaret talk about Regina's fate from behind the 2 way mirror. Emma feels they can't lock her up because she believes Regina didn't do it; she saw how Regina reacted to the news about Archie. She feels the old Regina would have reduced this building to ashes. Regina's a woman who wants to change, she just wants everyone else to see it, "I know that look. I know her. I believe her."  Emma thinks one problem may be that David and Mary Margaret are angrily attached to the "Queen" from the Kingdom, but here she's "Regina".  Emma the sheriff says she's innocent until proven guilty and suggests they let her go and then they find the truth.

At the castle David questions Snow's decision to show the undeserving Queen mercy.  But what Snow heard out there was a woman who didn't want to appear weak in her final moments. David argues that what he's seen of Regina has been every moment filled with evil, and that is exactly Snow's point. Snow has seen another side to the Queen, a side from before, when she was good and saved Snow's life. Snow feels if she's changed before, she can change back.  Snow wants to show Regina mercy is the first step in giving her a chance to rehabilitate her black soul.  The Prince feels they can't take the chance when the whole Kingdom is in danger where Regina's concerned.
Snow informs him "There's no going back from killing."  The Prince will do whatever Snow feels is the right thing to do, but he reminds her there's no coming back from that either.


Troubled Snow White wanders into the courtyard and is visited by Rumplestiltskin. He notes her being troubled. He went there to witness the Queen's execution; even had his heart set on a wee souvenir. He's disappointed in Snow calling off the execution and is amused by Snow's novel thought that Regina can be redeemed. Rumple asks Snow how she plans to accomplish such an impressive feat, but Snow doesn't even know if it's possible.
Rumple- "Maybe you need someone to show you that it is possible." He'll provide Snow with a test to help determine whether the Queen can truly change. Suspicious Snow questions trusting Rumple, especially when she knows he wants the Queen dead. "You never make a deal without a price."
Rumple- "Maybe I just want her alive."  Snow doubts that.  Rumple admits to having motives, and he can help Snow with hers, "Do we have a deal?"

David, Mary Margaret and Emma look for clues in Archie's office. David finds that Regina's file is empty.  Mary Margaret automatically chalks that up to Regina killing the kindest soul in this town. David recounts all the circumstantial evidence toward Regina, but Emma thinks maybe that's the point.
Emma- "Well, I don't know how it is in Fairy Tale Land, but in the real world... its usually hard to find evidence. This has been way too easy, unless someone wants us to find evidence?" {WTF, Emma?!}
They toss around the being "framed" notion but there's only one name on the list of possible suspects that would resort to killing to get what they want...

Belle brings Rumple a delicious picnic lunch to the shop. They are interrupted by Emma, David and Mary Margaret's visit.  Rumple greets them, "Ah, nothing warms the heart like a family reunited. You have your mother's chin, Miss Swan."
Emma- "We know you killed her."
Rumple- "And your father's tact."
Emma informs the duo that Dr. Hopper is dead and she thinks Rumple has something to do with it; because all of the evidence points to Regina. Emma insists its a frame job. Rumple's sorry to disappoint, but it wasn't him and he can prove it. He suggests they ask the witness.
Emma- "No one was there."
Rumple has David bring him Pongo, the witness.  Belle didn't know Rumple was such a dog person.
Rumple- "Well, a long time ago, in another life, I got to know a sheepdog or two."
Unless Rumple speaks "dog" Emma wonders how Pongo's gonna tell them anything. The answer is magic, of course. Rumple shares that it won't allow them to communicate, but it will allow them to extract Pongo's memories. He also tells the group not to fear trickery from him to fool them, its Emma who will be using magic for this task.  Emma wonders how.
Rumple- "You have it within you. Told me so yourself. (to Mary Margaret) You witnessed it, didn't you?"  He shows Emma a Dreamcatcher, one that's capable of capturing so much more than dreams.

Rumple passes the Dreamcatcher over Pongo's head and body and it becomes enchanted- glowing with memories.  Rumple gives the Dreamcatcher to Miss Swan, "You show us how." 
Emma- "How?  It's just a jumble."
Rumple- "Will it. Will it... and we shall all see."
Emma peers into the golden glowing ring of memories, but can't see anything.
Rumple whispers to her "Yes, you can."  So, Emma focuses and a clear visual review of the night Archie was killed by Regina appears via Pongo's perspective.  Again the group determines Regina is a murderer and Emma was wrong about Regina's innocence.

Motivated Emma storms out to get Regina. Mary Margaret warns that Regina has her powers back and even though Emma has magic, she doesn't know what to do with it. Mary Margaret knows going after Regina without a plan is a mistake.  Even if the dwarfs construct a cell to hold Regina, they need a way to contain her magic until then. Mary Margaret suggests Fairy Dust; Leroy said they were processing a new batch of it.  It's stopped Regina's power before, but the problem is she'll see them coming.
Emma- "Leave that to me. Trust me, we're locking her up."

Regina is looking into her glowing candle.

Snow White pays a visit to Regina in her cell. {Snow is armed with a dagger.}  Regina notes Snow's stopping her execution and then defying her Prince to be there, "Should I be worried there's trouble in paradise?"  Snow isn't there to talk about her fiance.
Regina- "Then why are you here?"
Snow shares her feelings on knowing Regina wasn't always like this. The woman who saved her life all those years ago had good in her.
Regina continues handling and looking into the candle, "That woman lost much. And now she's gone."
Snow- "Maybe. But as hard as you've tried to bury her... I think she's still inside you."
Regina is adamant. "No, she's not."
Snow- "All you need (she unlocks the cell lock, opening the door) is someone to help you let her out." She's letting the woman who saved her life go. She's giving Regina a chance to start fresh; to leave evil behind in that cell; Just like that.
Regina chokes Snow against the bars "You make change sound so easy. (Snow pulls the dagger on her and Regina takes it from her.) Did you really think this would protect you? Since I can't use magic... I can think of no better way than to kill you than with the blade you had meant for me. Goodbye Snow White."  She stabs Snow! But Snow's not even hurt! Regina feels that's impossible.
Snow- "No. That's magic."  The Prince arrives and reveals this time it wasn't thanks to Fairies; Thanks goes to Rumple, who took one of Regina's hairs and used it to fashion a protection spell. "Now there's nothing you can do in this land to hurt Snow or me. You're powerless against us."
Regina feels she's been tricked.  But it wasn't a trick, it was a test; one that Snow truly hoped Regina would pass. And since she didn't take the chance to change she's now banished to live alone with her misery.
The Prince- "As long as you're alive in this world- you can't hurt us."
Snow tells Regina "You saved my life once. And now I've saved yours. So we're even. And if you ever try to hurt anyone in my Kingdom again I will kill you."

Emma, David and Mary Margaret arrive at Regina's home. {108}  Regina assumes Emma is there to apologize, but she's not. Emma tells Regina "I saw you do it."  She saw her choke the life out of Archie; she saw this by using magic.  Regina continues to claim her innocence and questions how they can trust Gold when he's probably the one who is behind this. But it is clarified that it was Emma who used magic, not Gold.  Regina now understands that "the savior" can use magic, and assumes Gold warned Emma that magic always comes with a price.
Emma- "Yeah, that's a price we're both gonna pay."
Emma knows that Henry believed in Regina and now his heart's going to break.  Regina will not let Emma poison Henry against her, but Emma feels that's an interesting word choice "Since you already did."  Regina panics; wanting to see him because he deserves to hear her side of the story, "He's my son!"  Emma snaps "He's not your son! He's mine! And after this you're not getting anywhere near him! Do it!"  "Do it" is a call out to the Blue Fairy who was hiding nearby to throw a ball of fairy dust at Regina- But Regina catches it and tosses it at Snow and her Prince {the magic does nothing to them} and asks them "Did you really think that would work again?"

Regina is fired up! "You. You will not keep my son from me!" She uses magic to push Emma down. So much for Fairy Dust.  Emma feels she doesn't need her "new found magic" to save her because she's already won. "There's no way Henry will swallow your lies about Archie now. You can pretend all you want but we know how you are- and who you will always be."  You can see this statement hurts Regina, so she magically makes herself disappear.

Emma, David and Mary Margaret wait for Henry's bus to arrive. Emma is anxious doesn't think she can do "real parenting stuff" and tell Henry the news. She wonders how she can be a parent if she never was one. That happens to be a concern to David and Mary Margaret as well and for them it's no different than what Emma is going through. Mary Margaret and David can figure it out and so can Emma.
Emma- "You don't know me, you don't know what I was before Storybrooke. And trust me, I was not parent material."
David- "We know who you are since you've been here."'
Emma- "What if I revert? Regina did."
David- "You're not going to. The Emma I know was great with Henry."
Emma- "I was his parent for five minutes!"
David- "And I was yours for five minutes too, but things are different now, for all of us. We don't have to go through any of it alone. We're family."
Henry's bus arrives and Emma meets the independent kid he can hear the latest news about Regina from her first.
Regina cries as she watches from behind the wheel of her car {via the side view mirror} as the duo chat.

Regina's father Henry announces she has a visitor- Rumple.  Rumple insinuates to be Regina's only friend, but Regina feels he's no friend.

Regina- "Have you come to relish my suffering?
Rumple thought she'd might like someone to help raise her spirits; especially on a day like today. 
Today is a special day, it's Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding. Neither Rumple nor Regina received invitations to witness the two love birds declare their true love. Regina is upset that Rumple made it so there's no way for Regina to stop the wedding or harm the love birds in this land.  The imp confirms the explicitly of his deal, but insinuates Regina could carry out her wishes toward the couple in another land. Regina's friend magically disappears.  Motivated Regina calls upon her father to bring her carriage "I have a wedding to get to."

Hook keeps busy sharpening his hook while he waits on the dock for Cora to return.  Mom of the year, Cora, returns, having gotten what she wanted; her daughter has truly lost everything now.  She also tells the Captain that she's already started on helping Hook get his revenge on Rumple, "Or didn't you notice the little gift I left you in the hold of your ship."  Hook wonders what it is.
Cora- "Not what- Who."
They board the invisible ship where Cora leads Hook down to the hold where she brings him face to face with the person privy to Storybrooke's deepest secrets; including Rumple's. This is someone who can help determine Rumple's weaknesses here. Dr. Hopper is Hook's gift.  Hook wonders "Well, if that's him, who did you kill?"
Cora- "How do I know? It's my first day in town."
Hooks impressed that Cora disguised the body to look like him, "If death wasn't punishment enough... marvelous work."  Cora feels now Hook will have all the knowledge he'll need, although it may take some work, "But this cricket will chirp."

Queen of Hearts

“True life is lived when tiny changes occur.” ― Leo Tolstoy

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


It's these changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes

Regina is trying to change- trying to be a better mother and to break her cycle of anger and the want to control people and things. Everyone deserves a chance to make change. It seems as if Regina is going to have to face a very tough hurdle in her evolution, but she'll have to literally come face to face with it and confront it; just as she did when letting go of Daniel. With the inevitable arrival of Cora, will Regina stay strong with turning over a new leaf, or will she become weak and cave and give in to her old dirty angry magical habit?

Emma is changing as well. She is discovering she is more powerful than she realizes and that "magic" lives in her.  Sure, she is learning about "magic" and about her place and destiny in the universe. But more so, she's learning to heal from past choices and to learn what it is to be part of a dedicated and loving family.

Quit playin' games with my heart

This is all like a chess game.  A few key players are somewhat aware of that.

Could it be Rumple's way of bringing the family back together? Rumple is where he wants to be, and has been for a long while- all the players and pieces are in place. It seems his motive is to "play things" so he can find his long lost son, Bae. Rumple's quest has been going on for many years. He utilized the impending birth of Emma way before Regina's sleeping curse, to use as a sort of fail-safe for himself and his quest to find Bae (and whatever else he had up his sleeve). This of course, would also connect (only should Bae really be Henry's father) the members of Rumple's own extended family.

There's something that I can't ignore, and I don't even know if it's a bit of information worth holding on to, but, in the episode Desperate Souls Mr. Gold encounter with the original "Dark One" mentions the possibility that Bae isn't even Rumpelstiltskin son; calling him a "Bastard." Was that just the Dark One taunting Rumple or an allusion to something else, like maybe that Bae really isn't Rumple's blood son? If this is the case that would change some things in the game.

How was Cora's dark side born? It's a terrible cycle of anger, hate and control to go through and to pass down to other family members. How can this ugly and harmful cycle be broken?

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

๑  "I'm Luke Skywalker. I'm here to rescue you"- Star Wars
๑  I know, I'm a dork. Mr. Gold's magic wand's transformation looks more like a Lightsaber. (Lightsaber crystals produce the blade)
๑  Cora knows everything; who is planning and doing things, how things work, she shape shifts/transforms how to travel, etc.  What if she's already been back and forth between lands, including Storybrooke?
๑  Emma felt that her role and part in this adventure is to Gold/Rumple's benefit.
๑  Rumple told Snow and Charming that Emma was the savior, but so did the Blue Fairy. And Cora is already privy to a savior's arrival in 28 years.
๑  I'm constantly wondering why Henry calls Emma Emma, and he calls Mary Margaret Mary Margaret, not Snow White or even Grandma. The other folks also haven't resorted to calling themselves and each other by their fairy tale monikers even though they supposedly remember who they are.
๑  Game/race. Chess. Pawn. Defeat. Win. Rules.
๑  Time
๑  Identity
๑   Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass- Queen of Hearts
๑   Peter Pan- Neverland
๑   Kneel- Neal/Neil
๑   The Queen of Hearts is aware of how the portal hat works.
๑   The Queen of Heart doesn't keep her heart where everyone else does. Hidden away.
๑   Ruby wears a shirt with an image of a leopard on it.
๑  Regina leaves a single red rose with "dead" Cora. She's also given a single red rose to the nurse that works in her secret underground mental ward.
๑   Change
๑   Death: Assassination, dispose, destroy, kill
๑   Dead, but not dead
๑   Sleep
๑   Wake up
๑   Lake Nostos is an old faithful friend, producing water when necessary
๑   Snow White/Mary Margaret can perform magic she learned by watching/sneaking into Cora's chambers and the from the Spell Book.
๑ Watch and learn.
๑ Gold/Rumple was wrong on a few counts in this episode.
๑ Cora creates a transparent dome over the island, making it a "snow globe" of sorts.
๑ Regina is capable of physically absorbing huge amounts of electrically charged particles; Electromagnetism.

Vocabulary and Research...

๑ The Queen of Hearts: is a character from the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. A foul-tempered monarch, who is quick to decree death sentences at the slightest offense.  Her most famous line is "Off with their heads!" The Queen is referred to as a card from a pack of playing cards by Alice. She is the ruler of the lands, alongside the King of Hearts. She is often confused with the Red Queen from the sequel, Through the Looking-Glass, although the two are very different.

•   one of the four Queens in several playing card games 
•   1981 song by Juice Newton 
•   a song by Fucked Up from their 2011 album David Comes to Life 

๑  The Knave of Hearts

• Jack of Hearts in a deck of cards
• In Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is on trial for his theft of the tarts

๑   Chess
 A chess variant: is a game related to, derived from or inspired by chess. Most of the pieces in chess variants (and chess problems) are borrowed from chess. The game goal and rules are also very similar. However, these variants include one or more fairy pieces which move differently than chess pieces.

• Alice Chess: played with two boards: a piece moved on one board passes "through the looking glass" onto the other board.
• Looking-Glass Chess: two separate games on two boards. A move on one board must be reflected 'through the looking-glass' on the second board. So a king is compelled to move multiple squares to reflect a queen's move.
• Reincarnation Chess: a captured piece can turn into a zombie, then reincarnate back into the game as a normal piece if captured again. 

๑ Old Faithful is a cone geyser located in Wyoming, in Yellowstone National Park

 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  Counter marks of 5 to keep track of days/time past
✈  Game/race. Chess. Pawn. Defeat. Win. Rules
✈  Task. Goal.
✈  Time
✈  Spiral
✈  Identity
✈  Pearl
✈  Make deals
✈  Ash
✈ The Project: The DHARMA Initiative Recruiting Project at Octagon Global Recruiting (ORG) Dharmawantsyou.com. Recruits are tested Online to see if you qualify to be part of the reconstituted Dharma Initiative.
✈  Boone accuses Shannon of being useless
✈ Charlie feels people think he's useless in The Moth
✈ Bring prisoners food:
In  He's Our You:  Sayid- "A 12 year old Ben Linus brought me a chicken salad sandwich. How do you think I'm doing?"
Other examples:
- Castaways bring prisoner Henry Gale food to his armory holding cell
- Juliet- brought prisoner Kate food to the rec room.
- Locke brings prisoner Ben food to his basement.
✈  The Other Woman: "Ben's exactly where he wants to be"
✈  The Moth:
     -Charlie to Jack- "I'm here to rescue you"
     - Charlie's hooded.
     - Locke skins the boar
✈  Change:
Everybody Hates Hugo: In Hurley's dream Jin tells him "Everything is going to change..."
Locke tells Hurley that "Change is good"
✈  Happily Ever After
✈  ...in Translation
✈  Live Together, Die Alone: Desmond claims the island is in a bloody snow globe.
✈ Desmond is believed to be the only person capable of physically absorbing huge amounts of electrically charged particles; Electromagnetism.


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

The Evil Queen's (Steel) Palace:
A cloaked figure with a small pail makes way up a spiral staircase and is stopped by one of the Queen's guards. The cloaked figure claims food for the prisoner.  The guard tells him it's not mealtime, "Who are you? Identify yourself, slave!"  The cloaked figure fights off two guards and is revealed to be Captain Hook. He steals the keys from the unconscious guard.

Hook enters the Fairy Tale Land cell that houses Belle. {Note count marks on wall and large center decoration.} Belle assumes he's there to kill her.
Hook- "I'm not here to kill you, Love. I'm here to rescue you."
Belle- "Rescue? Who are you?"
Hook- "A friend."
As he frees her from her cuffs, he tells her that they haven't much time; and that her father is in danger.  "He's being attacked by the very same monster who stole you away from your family in the first place." {The Dark One.} Hook also shares the rumors of a magical weapon that has the power to kill him.
Belle is confused. Surely he can't be talking about the same man, Rumpelstiltskin,that she knows. She would like the chance to talk to Rumple. But persistent Hook tells that Belle's father's life hangs in the balance and he needs to know where that weapon is and where to find it. Belle doesn't know what he's talking about and she has no idea how to kill Rumplestiltskin.
Hook changes gears; apparently Belle isn't the person he needs to help further his quest. "You don't?"
Hook- "Then I'm afraid I'm not here to rescue you."  He smacks the pretty, yet useless Belle; knocking her out. As he's about to finish her off, his hook is magically pulled off him by Queen Regina.
Regina- "No. Not useless. She's a valuable chess piece."
Hook- "Do I look like I'm playing a game of chess?

Regina notes his lack of manners toward her Royal-ness. "I know who you are... Captain. I know why you came here from Neverland... and I know all about the crocodile you wish to skin." Regina also notes his dedication and resourcefulness to his cause. "No one has ever been able to fight their way past my defenses before. She can't help you kill Rumpelstiltskin, Hook. But I can- If you do something for me. {She hooks him with his own hook, pulling him closer.} Care to join me for a drink?"

In Queen Regina's chambers, she pours a drink for hook. "Things are about to change in this world... radically. {Note vanity and many mirrors.} She has plans to enact a curse that will take everyone to a far-off land. This new realm can help Hook out because "It's a land without magic, where the Dark One will be stripped of his powers. There, you won't need any magical weapons to kill him. (Holding his hook under his chin) You can do it... with a mere flick of your wrist." Hook's interested.  Regina needs Hook to see to it that her mother doesn't follow her to this new land.
Hook doesn't seem to have an issue with this assassination task.

In Mr. Gold's shop: {Note obvious ticking clocks sounds.}
David continues to sleep while Regina watches over him.

Regina informs Mr. Gold/Rumple that there's no improvement in David yet. He needs True Love's Kiss and won't wake up until Mary Margaret comes back. Gold notes her optimism. "Until?"  He reminds her they're up against her mother. The only chance Emma and Snow have of defeating her is with the Squid Ink.; which is why he sent the message through David. Given the Prince's condition they don't know if that message was delivered.  Thus, they must take precautions and consider the possibility that when that portal opens "It won't be his family that comes through... It'll be Cora."
Regina is afraid, "And neither one of us wants that."
Gold feels they have to find where they're coming through and destroy that portal.
Regina- "But whoever came through would die."
Gold is aware and he's confident that between the two of them they can summon up enough magic to complete the task.  {Note the telescope, arrow globe, etc.}
Regina- "What if we're wrong? What if that portal opens up and it's not my mother? What if Mary Margaret and Emma do defeat Cora and go through it?"
Gold believes that in this world they call that a "win- win".  He explains, "If we stop Cora, you are protected by your mother's wrath. If, on the other hand, we stop Snow and Emma... well, you become the only mother in your son's life, now don't you? Look, magic is unpredictable in this world. If something unfortunate were to happen while you were attempting to help... (scoff) Henry could hardly blame you for that, could he?"  Gold looks hopeful that Regina would see his reasoning.
But Regina won't lie to Henry, as she's trying to be a better mother. Gold assures her she won't be able to be a better anything if Cora comes through; she will be a threat to everyone- "including your son." If Regina wants to truly be a good mother to Henry, she must protect him. "If you want to be better... prove it."

The lady adventurers arrive at Rumpelstiltskin's cell to search for the Squid Ink.  Snow states that she hasn't been there since before Regina's curse. "This is where he told us you were going to be the savior." It was prophesized.  Aurora claims the Squid Ink isn't there.  No one else could've taken it because he was kept in there alone.  Visitors were forbidden; He was too dangerous to allow any human contact.  Emma wonders how he kept from going crazy.  Aurora says he didn't. She discovers a scroll stuffed/hidden in a crack in the wall- a message for Emma. {Emma seems a bit- hypnotized}

Henry reads from the fairy tale book to sleeping David, just as Mary Margaret/Snow White did to coma patient, David.

"With one kiss, true love's power made everything right again. But this was not the end of their story... It was just the beginning."

Regina enters, "I think this time it will happen the other way around."  This is why she needs Henry to stay there and watch David for a little while as she and Mr. Gold prepare for Emma and Mary Margaret's return. "Coming through the portal won't be easy. We need to make sure everything's in place." Henry is surprised she's going to help them. Regina reminds Henry of her promise to do better- to be better. She's going to do everything in her power to see to it that they come home safely.
Henry- "Wow. You really have changed." This makes him smile.  Regina will be back as soon as she can.

Mr. Gold and Regina make their way through the Mines/tunnels to the glittery diamonds embedded in its ceilings. {Again, to me it reminds me of sparkling stars in the night sky.} Gold is glad Regina came to her senses. The (magic) in the diamonds should suit their purposes; feeling they need all of it. They're going to do this with a little help from a fairy. "Dead one. Believe me... no one mourns her."  He waves his now glowing purple-ish pink magic wand up toward the embedded diamonds; receiving power into the wand. {Changing color from pink to purple.}

Queen Regina enchants Hook's hook and clicks it into place on his left arm. This enchantment will enable Hook to rip out her (Cora's) heart. He's seen this done before.

The Queen warns that the enchantment will allow him to rip out only one heart; so he better make sure he does it right.  Hook curiously asks what "she" could've done to warrant such brutality.  But that's Regina's business. He's only to kill her and bring her body back to Regina. Hook feels that's easy enough. "When will I set forth on this murderous journey?"
Regina- "Immediately. But you won't be going alone."  She uncovers the body of Claude.
Hook doesn't immediately remember killing him in the cell block; he didn't recognize Claude without Hook's hook in his neck. "Forgive me, but isn't he a bit of dead weight?"
Regina- "I banished my mother to some far-off land some time ago. You're gonna need a portal to get to her. {She reveals the hat box/magic portal hat} The rules are simple... One goes in- One comes back, or in this case two in, two back. You'll arrive with Claude and return... with my mother."
Hook asks what far-off land he'll have the pleasure of visiting today.
Regina has the hat in hand and reveals "Wonderland."

Hook won't have to worry about finding Cora, as Cora will find him.

Prisoner Hook is commanded to "Kneel, before the Queen of Hearts." The Queen of Hearts uses the elephant trunk accoutrement to communicate with the Knave of Hearts. She asks, "Why has he come to Wonderland?"
Hook shares that he is in search of someone; in her native land she goes by "Cora."
The Queen comes out from hiding behind her mask and announces "In this land, she goes by Your Majesty. Leave us."

The Pirate gives his name; Hook. The Queen feels it's a clever nickname. Hook comes bearing gifts; a string of pearls, but the Queen is only interested in the hat/portal that brought him there. If she understands correctly, the same number that travels through returns. She sees Hook arrives with his dead traveling partner and wonders who he's to return with.
Hook- "You."  He plunges his hook into her chest to retrieve her heart, but nothing comes out. He's stunned.
The Queen- "I'm the Queen of Hearts. Do you really think I'd be so careless as to keep my heart where everyone else does? (She plunges her hand into Hook's chest) This is how it's done. Tell me who did this. Who sent you here to kill me? Who?"  In pain Hook discloses it was her daughter.
The Queen- "Regina? She... wants me dead? {She seems startled and gets angry} You're now going to tell me everything and do exactly what I want. Because when you hold a heart... you control it."

Cora's voice whispers- "You have the power."

Aurora looks over to Emma who is fervently looking over the scroll; and the compass sitting next to Emma.  The ladies are still looking for the ink that Gold told David would be in there.
Emma to Snow- "You were in a netherworld. Maybe something got lost in translation.

Mulan finds an empty vessel that once contained the ink in the cell. Aurora throws a rock at the mechanism that lowers the gate for the cell, trapping them inside. Cora and Hook are outside the cell and reveal Aurora's helping her.  Cora magically pulls the compass out of Emma's hand. Emma tries to get out, but Cora doesn't want her to waste her energy; Rumpelstiltskin couldn't escape from the cell either.  Cora also shares that Aurora was only doing what she was told; because Cora literally holds her heart. Hook admits being the one who took the heart and gave it to Cora as a gift.  Cora gives the heart a little squeeze and heads out, as Storybrooke awaits. Emma begs Hook not to do this, she fears for her son back in Storybrooke; Henry needs her.  Hook feels she should have considered that before he abandoned him on the beanstalk.
Emma- "You would have done the same."
Hook- "Actually, no."

He shows her a dried up magic bean that hangs on a (necklace) chain belonging to the Giant.  This is a souvenir of his conquest and a symbol of something that was once magical, full of hope, possibility, is now died up, dead- useless; much like Emma.
Hook claims the time for making deals is done; just as he's done... with her.

There's an emergency down in the mine. Ruby comes upon Leroy who has discovered all of the diamonds are gone.

Henry continues to read to sleeping Charming. "And yes, she was beyond hope, beyond saving. This was her end."
Ruby hurries in with the Dwarfs asking "Where are they?" They're looking for Regina and Gold.  They tell Henry that all the magic's been drained from the mines; they snuck in after their shift and stole it.  Leroy declares "Nobody steals from a Dwarf."  Except for the Queen and Rumpelstiltskin. Henry realizes if Regina and Gold aren't helping Emma and Mary Margaret, then his mom lied to him.  They need to find her and stop them and help Emma and Mary Margaret!

Emma tries in vein to break down the cell gate with her sword. Snow tells her not to bother because it was enchanted to hold Rumpelstiltskin; they don't have a chance.
Aurora claims this is her fault. Mulan claims it's her fault because she failed to protect Aurora. Emma believes it's her fault. As the savior she isn't doing much saving.   Snow {wearing her key necklace} tells Emma "We're going to win this fight, you know. Good always defeats evil."  Emma accuses her of sounding like Henry.  Snow guesses optimism runs in the family and Emma thinks it skipped a generation.
Snow- "You should know better than anybody. You broke the curse."
Emma- "What have I done since then? I got us stranded over here, burned down the wardrobe, Let Cora get the ash and now the compass. The only reason I ever broke the curse was because it was exactly what Gold wanted me to do. I had nothing to do with it."
Snow- "What are you talking about?"
Emma- "He told you I was the savior- It was his plan. Once I fulfilled that role, maybe that's all I was ever meant to do. Everything I've ever done,... he had it all mapped out before I was even born. I'm not powerful- I'm, I'm not... a savior. I'm a name on a piece of paper." Emma shows Snow the scroll with her name all over it. I'm a pawn. That's exactly why we are in here... and Cora's on her way to Storybrooke."

Hook asks Cora "Where are we going?"  They're approaching dried up Lake Nostos.
Cora- "Lake Nostos. The legend says its waters hold the power to restore what was once lost. It'll return the magic to what remains of this wardrobe. And then... We'll be able to cross worlds." Cora magically produces a geyser. She asks Hook that after all they've been through, why does he still doubt her.

In Wonderland
The Queen of Hearts is face to face with Hook.  He's told her all he knows. "Now have some honor and kill me!"  Honor, for a pirate who snuck into her palace to assassinate her? She feels her daughter should have come and killed Cora herself.  Hook misunderstands Cora's not killing him {although he's in pain} out of character and for mercy, but Cora's agenda is that she demands his help. Apparently Regina knows Cora's methods better than anyone and would know if Cora was controlling Hook; so this has to be Hook's choice. Cora tells him she's the only one who can give him what he wants... "This curse, my daughter plans to enact... this new land she's taking everyone to... you won't remember who you are. So tell me Captain... How do you expect to kill someone when you can't even remember him? Well, if you do what I say, I'll make sure you not only kill him... but that you remember every single moment."  Cora wants Hook to get her close to her daughter- and then she'll rip her heart out.

28 YEARS AGO

Cora lays in the coffin as Regina mourns over her. Regina asks her hired assassin, Hook, if Cora put up a fight; Nothing Hook couldn't handle.  Regina would like a moment to say goodbye, alone.
Regina- "I'm sorry mother. Without you I never would have become the person I am now. But I had no choice. I had to do this. After you killed Daniel you told me something I've never forgotten- Love. Is. Weakness. Well, mother, you are my weakness because I love you. That's why I couldn't risk taking you to the new land with me. Your grip on my heart is just too strong. And for what I need to do... I can't have any weakness. {Regina cries and places a single red rose on Cora's chest.}Goodbye, mother."

Once Regina leaves the crypt/vault, we see Cora isn't dead and she didn't take the opportunity to kill her daughter. Cora tells Hook there's a change in plans.  They must protect themselves from Regina's approaching curse

Thunder rolls in.
Cora bangs her staff to the ground, sending a vibration which magically creates a transparent dome over fairy tale land-island, thus protecting her, Hook and whomever else...

Regina's approaching dark smoke curse rolls over the protective dome.

Hook asks Cora if it would've been easier to reconcile with Regina before her curse destroys the land. But Cora feels her daughter doesn't need her, not now, not when she thinks she's about to win. "But I still have a place in her heart and the curse won't last forever. It will end. In 28 years they'll be a savior... and she'll break it."  Cora assures Hook he won't even notice the 28 year wait, as he'll be frozen; like all those in that corner of the land. But when the curse ends, they'll resume their quest. And when it does Regina truly will have lost everything and then she'll need Cora. "That's when we'll go to this new land. You'll get your revenge. And me, I'll... help her pick up the pieces."

28 YEARS LATER

Regina and Mr. Gold make their way through the forest to the portal. The portal is the well; where things once lost are returned to us. Gold feels this is where Cora's going to come through. He doubts it will be Mary Margaret who comes through.

Snow tells Emma they are going to get out of there. Emma wonders how, by staring at that scroll? It's not like it's going to magically open a door for them.  That gives Snow and idea.  Apparently as a little girl, Snow would sneak into Cora's chambers and watch her practice magic; using her spell book. Snow tells Emma to "watch."

Snow gently blows onto the paper and the ink/words float off of it and over to the cell gate, it creates an opening for them.
Snow- "Told ya. Good always wins."
Aurora wants to be tied up because she can't be trusted while Cora has her heart.  Mulan will get it back for her.  Aurora is tied up and the trio of ladies leaves.

Cora gives Hook the honor of pouring the ashes into the watering hole she created. The water swirls around and becomes the familiar swirling portal. {Like the portal hat.}
Cora- "Here we go. We'll be in Storybrooke soon enough. I really look forward to seeing my daughter."

At the well, Gold declares "It's time." Regina wonders what they're waiting for. Gold holds his magic wand to the sky and heavy dark clouds roll in, thunder and lightning approach. A lightning bolt hits the well, where now inside it swirls green with electricity/energy. Gold feels it doesn't matter who comes through now. "No one can survive that."

Cora will deliver Hook to Rumplestiltskin. She instructs Hook not to let go of the compass unless he wants to end up in someplace that isn't Storybrooke. As they're about to take the plunge an arrow is shot right into the compass, tossing it from their hands. It's the trio of ladies; they will take the portal home.  Cora tells Hook to find the compass while she takes care of the girls.  Cora throws fireballs at Mulan, while Emma sword fights with Hook and Snow tries to shoot Hook with arrows.  Cora magically disappears. The little pouch with Aurora's heart is just about to fall into the portal when Hook uses his hook to catch it.  This pirate bristles over a woman losing her heart, unless it's over him. {What a guy!} Mulan gives Snow her sword; as it deflects Cora's magic. Mulan will get Aurora her heart.   The softy, Hook, continues his sword fight with Emma; although he flirts. Cora whistles to get Snow's attention. Emma reveals to Hook she has the compass in hand as she knocks him out.
Emma- "Now, let's go home!"

Gold and Regina are still waiting at the well when Henry arrives with Ruby. Henry asks his mother "You're not helping Emma and Mary Margaret, are you?"
Regina- "I'm helping you, Henry."
Henry wonders what she's talking about. Ruby feels their going to kill them/Emma and Mary Margaret; Gold magically tosses her back.  Regina tells Henry that they can't let Cora come through the portal because he has no idea what she would do to them.  Henry passionately feels Emma and Mary Margaret are going to defeat Cora and they're the ones that will come through.  Gold feels Regina's right, "It's gonna be Cora."
Henry- "No. It won't. Good always defeats evil. (Looks at Regina) You should know that more than anyone."
Regina- "What I know is that my mother will destroy everything I love. And that means you. And I can't let that happen."

Back at the Lake Nostos portal, Snow faces off with Cora. Emma tries to help, but Cora uses magic to fight. Snow gets a moment to ask Cora why she wants to go to Storybrooke.
Cora- "Because my daughter needs me. And now I'm going to give her the one thing she's always wanted... your heart. Goodbye, Snow."  As she swings to plunge her hand into Snow's chest, Emma pushes Snow out of the way and ends up in her place. Cora hand penetrates Emma's chest. "Oh you foolish girl. Don't you know love is weakness?"

 Cora is unable to pull out Emma's heart. Emma has a revelation! "No. It's strength." This magically blasts Cora far away from her.  Stunned Emma wonders what that was. It will be a great discussion when they get home. Snow and Emma hold on to the compass and jump into the swirling portal.

At the well the energy/electricity is still bouncing around while awaiting the arrival of the portal travelers.  Henry is freaking out, feeling his mother is going to kill them. "We have to turn it off!" He's adamant they're going to make it through; he knows it. "You said you wanted to change... to be better. This is how. You want me to have faith in you- have faith in me."

Emotionally touched and teary eyed, Regina tries to physically intervene with the energy in the well. They don't think she helped... When in dramatic fashion, a hand reaches up from the well! Emma and Mary Margaret have returned!  There is much hugging for the reunited family.  Mr. Golds just quietly walks away.  Henry tells his family that she/Regina saved them. Emma thanks Regina.  Ruby hugs Snow and whisks her off to Charming so she can wake him.
Emma tells Regina that her mother is a piece of work; to which Regina is quite aware.
Regina- "Welcome back."
Emma, still hugging Henry, thanks her.

Back at Mr. Gold's shop, Mary Margaret arrives to find the 7 Dwarfs watching over sleeping Charming. Snow kisses her Prince, producing a wave of electricity and wakes him from his slumber.  Yay!
Charming- "You did it."
Snow- "Did you ever doubt I would?"
Charming- "No."  They passionately kiss. Regina lurks in the background.
Charming- "Though the burning red room did give me pause."  {More kissing!}

As Gold is putting away his magic wand in a wood box of other magic wands, Emma joins him to talk. Gold feels apologies are in order, but Emma they aren't and understands why he wanted to keep Cora out of there.
Gold- "Just remind me never to bet against you in the future, Miss Swan."
Emma- "It's not really a bet when the game is rigged, is it?"
He wonders what she is referring. Emma shares that she saw the scroll in his cell. "You wrote my name again, and again and again."
Gold just wanted to make sure it would stick. 
Emma- "The ink was there all the time. You could've gotten out."
Gold- "I was exactly where I wanted to be. You needed to find that, so all this could occur."
Emma- "You created the curse, Gold. You made me the savior. So everything I've ever done... it's exactly what you wanted me to do."
Gold- "I created the curse, Dearie. But I didn't make you. I merely took advantage of what you are... The product of true love. That's why you're powerful. And everything you've done, you've done yourself."
Emma- "So you don't know."
Gold- "Know what?"
Emma- "Cora... tried to rip my heart out- but she couldn't. She was blasted back by something inside me. By... By..."
Gold- "By magic. Whatever that was, I didn't do that- You did."

Mulan has never plunged a heart into someone's chest before, but she will do her best to replace Aurora's heart. Mission accomplished! Aurora shares something that Cora told her. "When a Wraith consumes a soul it's not trapped there forever. It can be reunited with its body."  The duo will try to save Philip.

Cora stares disappointed with their failure.
Hook- "Really, Cora. After all this time why do you still doubt me?"  He shows her the dried up bean on a chain.  Cora finds that bean to be petrified, useless. But Hook's now aware of the water's regenerative properties. "Perhaps it's time to do some gardening."  He

Back at Gold's shop Henry tells Regina he was right, "You really have changed. Thank you." They share a genuine hug.
Ruby suggests diner to them, her treat, over at Granny's. Emma's in as long as it isn't Chimera. They all leave- leaving Regina all alone. Gold enters and congratulates her on reuniting mother and son. "Maybe one day they'll even invite you for dinner."

The gang walks together to Granny's. Time on the Storybrooke Free Public Library- 5:10.

In the cloudy horizon a ship can be seen. Cora and Hook make way toward Storybrooke. {Cora has her now dried up single red rose in hand.}