Child of the Moon

“Courage is the mastery of fear, not the absence of fear.” - Mark Twain

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


Can you see the real me? 

When I was a little girl I would sit for hours and hours thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. I'd imagine myself in many roles, trying to see what role would be the best fit.  But what did I know; I was just a kid imagining some fanciful things. Perhaps it is a little exercise we all do in our youth in exploring self and the person we long to be. But there is so much more to us than just a job we fill. We are more special and powerful than we can imagine.

So, who are you?

We spend our lives trying to discover our true self.  We've all thought about it and wondered... Who am I, really?  Where do I fit in? What is my purpose in life?  Can the real you be found?  We are multi-faceted beings and we go through a lot to try to understand the many layers of ourselves. Through our good and bad life experiences light is shed, illuminating a little bit more of our true self.  For some people it is a tragic experience that leads them to seeing their true self. They had to be completely broken and lost and had to rebuild themselves from nothing into someone new.  We're diamonds in the rough. Mother Superior tells Henry about the fairy dust process- You grind them up, refine them. That's a good example of changing form and having a new life and new purpose.

Can you hide any of these facets or should we let the light shine on them and learn to be one with all of them?

We all have beauty inside of us but we also have a beast inside of us too. Some people are afraid of who they really are and hide parts of themselves away. For Red/Ruby, her cloak ends up being a crutch for her fear of turning into the wolf and dreading her wolf side and wild nature, believing it is completely bad.  She had to come face to face with herself.  Once she learns a few things about that side of her she can see the truth, gain control and is no longer afraid- she is free.  It's an awakening.

Although we learn about the two sides of Ruby in this episode, we do get a nod to the Native American Indian Spirit Guides and Totems.

Free your mind
Dreamscape

Henry, in a way, could be considered a "child of the moon", in that his sleep time allows him to travel to another place.  Henry is learning not to fear his altered state of consciousness. Mr. (Dr.) Gold gave Henry encouragement in the form of his words and with his talisman remedy to not let fear overshadow control of his dreaming experience. Without being fearful Henry can gain control of himself and the environment... and calm Aurora.  Henry and Aurora are sharing more than a lucid dream- it's a consciousness level outside of time and space; where they exist in the same mind space where they can communicate with each other.  You can think of it like a shared video game; a multi-player experience. But this type of experience can take place under many other conditions such as, of course, a curse or spell, but more realistically through meditation and even the use of drugs can aid in such an adventure.

Both Henry and Red/Ruby are guided through an experience of a sort of higher consciousness where they are able to alter a form of themselves (lit. shape-shift for Ruby) and let go and move beyond the confines of the human body. This makes Ruby feel more alive than ever before.


Child of the moon

Red/Ruby longed to be part of Anita's pack, her family, but David and Henry are also longing to be reunited with their family. And let's not forget that Spencer's anger comes from not having a family.  For Red/Ruby, she felt lied to by Granny, but Granny has only been doing what she feels is best to protect her Ruby. Parents do whatever they can to protect their children.

We see that Belle has clarity about people and things, and Ruby gains clarity.  Yet I kind of feel that as much clarity and freedom Anita and the pack seemed to have, she and they still had some unresolved issues in understanding coexisting with their own human side and humans in general.

So maybe they're all children of the moon- maybe they all have a little wolf in them.



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

๑  The diamonds discovered overhead in the dark mine looks more the sparkling stars in the night sky.
๑  Mr. Gold's medical bag, jars and the cabinets that contain hearts are apothecary in nature and used by Alchemists.
๑  First Aid Kit: Gold/Rumple has a medical Doctor bag that contains apothecary/spell/ritual items and potions.
๑  FYI- Anita is my mother's name.
๑  Spencer/King George doesn't call Fairy Tale Land home he calls it "the old world." 
๑  Mother Anita is part wolf, yet wears feather motif.
 - "Hope is the thing with feathers" - Emily Dickinson
๑   Regina woke Henry from the nightmare and his left hand is burned.
๑   Dr. Gold/Rumple?  House call
๑   Diamonds
๑   Eyes
๑   Stream
๑   Arrow
๑   Station
๑   Hatch
๑   Cabin
๑   Sunk- sink (Sync)
๑   Mutiny (Ship)
๑   Harbored
๑   Dock
๑   Perception
๑   In Red Handed Granny tells a tale about her, the hunting party and the wolf. Later Granny reveals she has some traits of the wolf.
๑ Belle/Emilie de Ravin played Claire on LOST.  On ONCE Belle has clarity, she can see the truth. She is also nurturing.
๑ Awaken

Vocabulary and Research...

๑  Child of the Moon:  The Rolling Stones- B side to Jumping Jack Flash
    - Child of the Moon: Shakira's 2009 single "She Wolf."
๑  Mead: Honey wine
- George Herbert Mead (1863–1931) was an American philosopher, sociologist and psychologist
- a meadow
- Mi'ad, also misspelled "mead", an Arabic term for resurrection
๑  Ruby:
- Gemstone
- The brightest and most valuable "red" called pigeon blood-red, commands a large premium over other rubies of similar quality. It's the birthstone for July Latin for Red
- A programming language
๑ The Wolf is a predominant animal.
- Pack (canine), a group of wolves that live, feed, and travel as a family group
- In Native American culture the wolf pays many different roles.
Native American Astrology: Birth and animal totem: Here are a few...
Wolf- Birth totem wolf individuals arrive on this plane of existence to learn the gift of the seer. Starting Totems: Wolf, buffalo, frog, plantain, jade and brown bear.  
Bird:
- Symbolism- Mother
Mouse:
- Looking at life in great detail, awareness of surroundings, and finding your way.  Mouse medicine is one of the strongest amongst our animal allies, but is often over looked because he's small.

๑ Anita: means Grace, merciful
-  Amblypodia Anita: species of lycaenid or blue butterfly found in Asia
๑ Quinn: In Goidelic/Gaelic the name represents priest, or chieftain with added emphasis on wisdom and loyalty.
 -The New York Triology a series of novels by Paul Auster: the protagonist in the story is Daniel Quinn  1). City of Glass 2). Ghosts 3). The Locked Room
๑  One of Us is a novel  by Michael Marshal Smith.  The plot centers on a small time ne'er-do-well, ex barman who has found a lucrative line as a REM temp taking care of people's unwanted dreams and memories. However when he finds himself burdened with a memory of a murder he is forced to find the real culprit and face up to his own past mistakes.
๑  Mutiny: is a conspiracy among members of a group of similarly situated individuals (typically members of the military; or the crew of any ship, even if they are civilians) to openly oppose, change or overthrow an authority to which they are subject
๑  Mahabhuta: In the Mahabharata mention is made of Chitragupta (lit. "hidden picture").  He is the son of Brahma and a minister of Dharma and his duty is to examine a list of the good and evil actions of men (the Agrasamdhani) after their death. "Nothing is lost of either piety or sin that is committed by creatures. On days of the full moon and the new moon, those acts are conveyed to the Sun where they rest. When a mortal goes into the region of the dead, the deity of the Sun bears witness to all his acts. He that is righteous acquires the fruits of his righteousness there."

 ✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈  Claire was lied to and told her father died when she was two
✈  We/I have work to do
✈  Eyes
✈  (Jack) Shephard
✈  Diamonds
✈  Cabin (in the woods) Jacob's cabin
✈  Arrow (Station)
✈  Hatch (Swan Station)
✈  Sunk- sink (Sync)
✈  Further Instructions:  John Locke was told by Boone he could bring the family back together.
✈  I'm also noting the episode  ?  (Question Mark)
✈  Nobody does it alone
✈  "What's the point in being afraid? "
✈  Shannon needed someone (Sayid) to believe her/in her
✈  Ben Linus stole Alex from Danielle. The others kidnapped Waaaaalt.  Kate raised Aaron for a while.
✈  The Moth-  Hooded Charlie is involved in a cave in with Jack and is there to rescue him.
✈  Good win- Goodwin
✈  In S6 Widmore returns Desmond to the Island; referred as the Package
✈  A few examples of the refrigerator/freezer and food pantry:
- Jin was held prisoner by Keamy in the walk in refrigerator/freezer in  The Package- and in Sundown
-  Sayid was held in a food pantry in  Enter 7 7 and  Namaste
- Everybody Hates Hugo
- Dave:  Hurley's hidden pantry in the jungle 
- Follow the Leader
- Adrift: Kate finds the food pantry and Apollo Bars
- Orientation:  Desmond- "...The projector's in the pantry."
- Lockdown:  Henry Gale climbs up through the pantry in the hatch
- The Cost of Living:  Eko and Yemmi
- S.O.S.:  Rose organizes a food pantry on the beach
- Cabin Fever:  Gault instructs Sayid and Desmond to the food pantry below the galley
✈  One of Us : Sayid was chained to a swing for 3 days, handcuffs, Juliet's "trip" to the "Island", Mittelos BioScience, Anagram for Herarat Avaiation: A Variation Earth or A Variation Heart.


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

The Dwarfs are down in the mine working hard on trying to find dust/diamonds so the fairies can help bring Snow and Emma back home. Happy commands his brothers to put their pickaxes down; he's buying the first round and Granny's running a 2 for 1 special on mead. The Dwarfs are excited to hit happy hour- except for Leroy/Grumpy. He's very motivated to help Charming, "We got work to do."  Happy tries to reason with him noting Leroy's tired- they all are and could use a break. Focused Leroy takes three hard whacks at the rock wall and ends up bursting through it, falling into a cave opening.

Charming speeds over to the mine in the Sheriff's car.  Once in the mine he shines is flashlight down into the opening where Leroy tumbled down into, and finds him along with Doc, Dopey, Bashful and Sneezy. The light from the flashlight reveals that the magic brought the diamonds back.

Mother Superior/the Blue Fairy tells Henry these are the diamonds that they'll use to make fairy dust. "We just need to refine them. Grind them up." She asks Charming if he still has what remains of Jefferson's hat; he presents it to her. Mother Superior tells him to lock it up and keep it safe. "By this time tomorrow we'll have enough magic dust to make it work again."  Henry and Charming are hopeful and happy because they're bringing Emma and Mary Margaret home.

The gang is celebrating and toasting (with mead) over at Granny's.  While cleaning up a booth Ruby is surprised a visit from Billy. They haven't had any time to talk since things changed. He confesses he recalls who he was "back home"- being a mouse named Gus that lived in Cinderella's pantry. He ate cheese, gnawed on wood.  Billy wants to buy Ruby a drink after her shift. "I already know Ruby. I want the chance to meet Red."  Nervous Ruby begins to say that tonight's not great, and is met by Belle, who finishes Ruby's sentence... "Um, we have, um, plans."  Billy looks disappointed. Ruby explains it's Girls Night and she's bringing the cheese. "That's right. Which has nothing to do with you being a mouse, it has to do with the... wine."
Billy- "Okay. Um, maybe next time." He leaves and Ruby thanks Belle.
Belle- "I can spot a girl in trouble. He, he seems really nice."
Ruby checks out the time on the clock and replies "It's really complicated."

Charming and his mead walk over to Henry sitting alone in a booth. Charming asks "Is that coffee?"
Henry says no; although not the truth.  Charming realizes the boy is trying to stay up. "Still worried about those nightmares? {The kid nods 'yes'.} Well, don't be. 'Cause when you go to sleep tonight, I'm gonna be right in the next room. Now, maybe loose the java and go grab a cocoa."  Henry smiles and leaves the booth. Spencer/King George immediately takes the seat Henry just vacated and congratulates the new sheriff.
Charming- "What are you doing here?"
Spencer- "You may have taken care of me in the old world, but in this one... we get another go at each other."
Charming- "Whenever you're ready."
Spencer- "It's a big moment for you, isn't it? On your way to getting your family back."
Charming is a bit smug, "Yeah, it must be hard for you. You know, watching good win."
Spencer- "Good?  You're so sure of yourself. But I know the truth. You're still just a shepherd pretending to be a Prince. You weren't fit to run the Kingdom and you sure as hell aren't fit to run this town."
Charming- "Well, I think the people of Storybrooke might disagree with you."
Spencer- "Today. But I'm going to see to it that they see things my way, and that they see you for who you really are. By the time I'm done with you you'll wish you'd kill me when you had the chance."
Charming gets up "The people of this town know who I really am. And they've seen me defeat you before. So if you want to try and take me down... they'll see it again."  Neither man is intimidated by the other; both share a smug and cocky smile with each other. We see that Spencer is angry.

In the kitchen, Charming comes upon Granny welding a cage out of the walk in freezer/refrigerator to house Ruby; tonight's the first full moon since the curse broke- it's the first night of Wolf's-time.  Granny keeps busy with her construction project (padlock w/key)- keeping herself in the room with them. {BTW, Granny has 38 frozen lasagnas} Charming's aware Ruby figured out how to control the wolf in her ages ago.  Ruby admits that thanks to the curse she hasn't turned in 28 years and she might be rusty. "I can't let what happened last time- what happened to Peter happen to anyone else."
Charming wonders about her red hood- it keeps her from turning.  Ruby looked everywhere for it; even went to Gold. "It's not in town. I don't think it came over with the curse."  Charming, knowing Ruby feels adamant that they all trust her and Wolf's-time or not, she won't hurt anyone tonight.  But Ruby can't afford to take any chances. Granny locks Ruby in the walk in cage.

Snow and Red run from the Queen's army though the dark forest. Thinking that they lost them, the girls are confronted by a soldier. Snow fights him off and the girls take off running again but Snow is stopped in her tracks when she sees her wanted poster posted on a tree. She rips it down in frustration.
The girls hid from the torch carrying soldiers.  Snow looks at the crumbled up wanted poster and wonders "She's never going to stop, is she?" Red is upset that her hood is torn and this panics Red, insisting Snow get away from her. But Snow isn't leaving her.
Red- "There's a full moon tonight. Wolf's-time is beginning. This hood is the only thing that can protect me from turning."
Snow- "It's just a tear. Maybe it'll still work."
Red is worried if it doesn't. "You saw what I did to Peter. This thing- this wolf... When it takes over me I can't control it. Please, Snow, find shelter. I'll go further into the woods and find a place to hide. For your own sake we have to split up."  Snow agrees, but just for tonight. "Let's meet up in the morning by the stream. And then we'll find a safe place for both of us- maybe a nice cabin in the woods."
Red asks Snow why she's being so kind to her, even though Snow saw what she is; a wolf.
Snow- "I know who that's not who you really are. We're in this together, Red."
Red smiles, puts her torn hood over her head and takes off deeper into the woods.  We see that a young man with glowing eyes like Red's wolf eyes, is hiding behind a tree, keeping his eyes on her.

Granny enters the diner to open up and hurries to check on Ruby. "Are you awake yet, Ruby?"
But Granny sees that her cage was no match for the wolf, as Ruby has clawed her way out.

Henry is screaming for help from inside the {Disco} inferno room.  Through the flames he can see a figure crouched down with their back turned away from him in the opposite corner of the floor/board; he calls out "Hey! Who are you?! Where are we?!"
Regina- "Henry, wake up."  She wakes him from the fiery nightmare. The boy wakes up confused. "What are you doing here? Where's David?"   Regina tells him David got an emergency call this morning and asked her to look after him. He also mentioned Henry's been having nightmares.  Regina reaches out for the boy's arm, he winces back in pain; his left hand is burned.

Armed Granny leads Charming/David through the forest to find Ruby.  They find her sleeping in/under a twig den. Granny knew where to find her.

Granny- "Ruby, wake up!"
Ruby- "Where am I? What happened?"  They help her up; telling her she's in the forest. Charming, "You must have fallen asleep here last night."
Ruby's confused; she remembers being locked up in the cage. Granny informs her the cage was torn to shreds. Ruby starts freaking out as she doesn't remember anything from last night; this is exactly what she was afraid of. She asks if she did something last night. All they know is that she broke out and ran through the woods and there's no reason to assume the worst. The sheriff gets a call on his {buzzing} cell. "Somebody left their car double parked in front of the cannery. I gotta go check it out on our way back into town."  He assures her everything's going to be okay. {Granny is nodding 'yes' too.}

Red wakes up {on rocks} claiming "It worked."  {Her cloak}
At the stream, she removes her cloak and it is taken by a young man who runs off with it. She takes off after him.
For a moment it seems as if she's lost him, but is right behind her holding her cloak over a flaming torch. "Looking for this?"  Red begs him not to (burn it) "I need that!  He asks what could she possible need that old thing for. "Unless... it protects you from something."  He knows a wolf when he sees one.  Infuriated Red tackles him to the ground. "How do you know what I am?!"  The young man now tumbles her on to her back "Because I know how to recognize a child of the moon." He shows her his glowing wolf eyes for a moment.
Red- "You're one too?"
The young man reveals "Name's Quinn. I picked up on your scent last night. You never had anyone talk to you about this, did you? Teach you about what you are."
Red- "My parents were killed by hunters when I was a baby- I was raised by my Granny..."
Quinn- "And she kept the truth from you. Made you wear that. (Red picks up her precious cloak) Still blacking out, right? Still losing control when you turn? Probably even hurt someone. I know how you feel. I've been there. But it doesn't have to be this way."
Red- "What do you mean?"
Quinn- "What if I told you there was a way to control it, so you never have to be afraid of what you might do again?"  He tells the hopeful girl to follow him.

 

 He lifts the hidden hatch door in the ground and leads her down into the ground in what used to be the Grand Hall of the Castle, until it sunk underground. "Now it's all ours."

Quinn tells her "We are all the same. Come. Anita's expecting you."
Red- "Who's Anita?"

Anita enters; revealing her glowing wolf eyes for a moment. "Well done, Quinn. You finally found her. You've grown so much."
Red- "You know me?"
Anita- "I'm your mother."  Red is confused.

Charming, Ruby and Granny arrive at the dock in the sheriff's car to find it's Billy's tow truck that is in question. Ruby smells blood. Granny finds Billy dead under the front end of the town truck and screaming Ruby discovers another body dumped into a red dumpster. "It was me! It was the wolf!"

Henry shows Gold/Rumple his burned hand. Regina was right to call him. Henry wonders if he can help. "It was just a dream."
Gold feels what Henry's describing isn't a dream; It's a side effect. Regina seems uneducated in that. Gold- "You know it's remarkable you'd cast a curse you know so little about."
Regina- My victims are not supposed to wake up. So I certainly never cared what happened to them after... Until now."

Gold opens his medical/Doctor bag and prepares a remedy as he tells them more. "When people fall under a sleeping curse the soul travels to a netherworld- where it resides until awoken. Now, this world is between life and death. And it's very real. However... Even when the curse is broken, sometimes in sleep... the victims find their way back to that world... Victims like you."
Regina- "This other world is tormenting my son- Every time he sleeps. I want you to give him something that will keep him from going there."
That's not possible. But Gold provides Henry with something that will allow him to control his actions whilst in that world. "And once one controls something - one no longer need fear it." He gives Henry the necklace that he filled with liquid from the blue bottle. Henry's to wear it while he's sleeping.
Gold- "Once you control the journey, the fear will stop. And then you can come and go as you please."
Regina stops Henry short of taking the necklace knowing that everything comes with a price with Gold/Rumple. Gold knows Regina couldn't afford his "house call", but this is for Henry. "This one's on me."

Back at the docks Ruby is still freaking out about the vicious attacks and blames herself; she knows it. But Charming feels it's something else. He replays that a few months ago everyone thought Mary Margaret was guilty of murder "She needed someone to believe in her, I didn't do that. I am not gonna make the same mistake with you!"
Through her tears Ruby says that Mary Margaret never killed anyone, but she has.
Charming- "I know who you really are, Ruby- Even if you've lost sight of it."
This doesn't change the fact that she's going to turn again tonight and somebody else can get hurt.  Ruby demands Charming lock her up. If the freezer couldn't hold her maybe a jail cell will. She doesn't need to be protected from other people- other people need to be protected from her.  Granny walks away with Ruby.

"Granny lied to me" Red tells Anita. {The story about Anita being killed by hunters.} Anita tells Red that granny's been lying ever since she stole her away from her when Red was just a baby.  Granny did this to hide the truth about who Red really is. "She believed the wolf was something to be ashamed of. I see things differently. Humans want us to believe we're the monsters. The moment you believe them... that's when you become one. You're not the first to learn the truth about yourself through tragedy. So many of us spent so much of our lives suppressing the wolf... they have no idea how to control it.  They just need help. Help embracing their true nature.  The only way you will ever control the wolf is by accepting it as a part of you."  Anita can teach her how. Red can start by getting rid of her red hood cape. She removes it and hugs Anita.

Charming/David locks Ruby in a jail cell. He still thinks by morning he'll find out who really killed Billy. {What about the body in the dumpster?!}
"You already have... it's that thing, that she-wolf."  Spencer enters the Sheriff's office and Charming demands he get out.  Charming doesn't want Spencer's issues with him don't involve Ruby; there's no proof Ruby had anything to do with what happened. But Spencer feels Charming is allowing his emotions to cloud his judgment- protecting his friend. Spencer knew shepherd would slip up, it was only a matter of time. Spencer wants "justice" and Ruby handed over to him to let the town decide. Charming won't do it as he knows what kind of justice Spencer has in mind.
Spencer-"This town is bigger than you think. I start telling people you're putting their lives in danger to protect your own interests you'll have a mutiny on your hands."
Charming- "Yeah, we'll see. You want her you have to go through me."
Spencer- "I look forward to that."

The moon is rising.
Anita- "It'll be like nothing you've ever felt before. The pine needles under foot. The air rushing over your fur. Your brothers and sisters at your side. Your mind won't want to believe it. It will tell you a wolf is invading your body, trying to take over. And if you believe that for even a moment- you'll black out... and lose control- like you have every other night you've turned. But.. if you give in to the wolf... you'll realize the truth... You are the wolf. {Wolf sees their reflection in a puddle- she is the wolf}  And when you accept that... you will finally be in control."

 Red wakes up to find Anita and the human pack watching over her. Anita asks her how much she remembers.
Red- "All of it."
Anita- "You finally became the wolf.
Red- "I don't have to be afraid anymore." 

 

Spencer checks the chain locks on the (back) Sheriff's door and tells the townspeople that they don't have to be afraid of this creature any longer. "We know who she is, we know where she's hiding. So why is she still alive?! Because she's being harbored by one person- David Nolan! How many more people have to die before our Prince decides to act? If he won't protect you I will."  A citizen cuts off the lock and all march into the office and find the cell empty.

Ruby is prepping to be shacked to a huge pipe next to the fire hose inside the Storybrooke Library. Charming thanks Belle for letting Ruby hide there, as the Sheriff's Station isn't safe.  Belle's happy to help. "It's not every day you find out your friend's..."
Ruby- "A monster"
Belle- "Hunted. I was going to say hunted.
Armed with her crossbow, Granny tells them "The crowd's six blocks from here."
Belle- "You, you have wolf hearing too?"
Granny- "It's not all its cracked up to be. Especially when you run a hotel."
Charming needs Granny's help to prove Ruby didn't have anything to do with Billy's death; it's the only way to get the mob to stand down.

The human-wolf pack wakes and hides from the sound of hunters.  They hear footsteps come down the stairs- it is Snow White.  Red tries to stop Quinn from choking Snow; as Snow isn't there to hurt them. Quinn wonders what other reason humans would enter their den. Frantic Red claims Snow is a friend who stood by her even after learning the truth (after she killed) "Without her I never would have been able to escape my village alive!"  Anita commands Quinn let her go.  Snow thought the Queen's men had killed Red when she didn't show up at the stream this morning.

Snow learns Red's new friends are her "pack."  Red assures Snow she doesn't have to fear them. Curious Anita asks how Snow found them.
Snow- "I tracked wolf prints here- (to Red) like you taught me."  She wasn't go to leave without Red, and suggests they go find that cabin they talked about. But Snow sees that Red wants to stay with the pack. "I don't have to be ashamed of who I am here. I found my home. I found my mother."  She also reveals that Granny lied. Red apologies to Snow, knowing she risked her life to go back there for her.  Snow understands because she would do anything to be with her mother again.  Snow assures Red she'll manage on her own, she hugs Red, thanks her and says goodbye. Red thanks Snow. All of a sudden an arrow is shot right into Quinn's chest/heart.
Snow- "They found me."  As the Queen's men command the pack stand down, Anita, without hesitation, breaks the neck of the soldier and the rest of the pack fight the others.  Quinn is gone/dies.

Ruby comes out of room 13 and tells Belle she needs to leave because the moon will be up soon. Belle is hopeful that the chains will hold so she can stay with Ruby. "Think of it as girls' night."  Although David wants to believe the best, Ruby has killed before and will do it again, and everyone in the town is right to be afraid of her.  Belle isn't afraid, "No matter what you've might have done in your past... David sees the good in you and that tells me one thing... that it's in there. So if we can all see it why can't you?"
Ruby- "You really think so?"
Belle- "Trust me, I'm sort of an expert when it comes to rehabilitation."
Ruby- "Maybe. Maye you're right. (She cuffs Belle) But the town's right too. I am a monster, and that's why I need to make sure I don't ever hurt anyone again." Ruby can't let Belle stop her- The town wants a wolf she's going to give them one. "I need to pay for all I've done."  Belle is upset, "They'll kill you!"
Ruby- "Isn't that what I deserve?"  {She exits out a door- B-511}

Granny sniffs Billy's work shirt for his scent and directs David- "This way."

Granny leads David to a dark/black car. In the trunk they see rope and blanket. David lifts the fake floorboard to discover Ruby's red hood/cloak and an ax. "The wolf didn't kill Billy."  David realizes Ruby will be forced to change back into a wolf so whoever killed Billy can pin the murder on her.
Granny- "Who would want to hurt my Ruby?"
David breaks the driver's side glass and finds out the owner of the car. "This isn't about Ruby- it's about me. Spencer."
Granny- "King George?"
David- "He needed a reason to wrestle power away from me so he created one."
A wolf howls in the distance- they realize Ruby is out and they're (the mob) are going to kill her.
{Granny puts the hood back}

Quinn is gone- with his eyes wide open.

Anita- "May you always run free beneath the moon's pale light."  Anita is angry with Snow for bringing the Queen's men into their den. Snow wants her to believe her that she had no idea they followed her there. Anita feels it doesn't matter. "Wherever humans go, death follows. The only way to stop them is to kill them first. Tie her up!"  When the moon rises they'll feast on a Princess; she'll pay for the life that they lost.
Red feels Anita isn't making any sense.
Anita- "You already made your choice, Red, you're one of us now- Act like it! Kill her!"
Red won't kill her friend- then Anita will, because this is what it means to be a wolf.
Wolf Red saves Snow from Wolf Anita's attack and inadvertently Anita is stabbed through the chest/heart.  Snow covers Red with her red cloak changing her back into her human form.  Red tells struggling to survive Anita that she didn't mean to... "I'm. I'm sorry mother."
Anita- "You chose her."
Red- "No. I chose me! I'm not a killer."  With that, Anita is gone/dies. {Eyes open?}

The Mob and their torches are gathered at the Storybrooke Free Public Library. {8:45 PM} The wolf's howl gets their attention. Spencer claims "She's close" and the mob marches past a chain link fence and come upon the wolf.

Spencer raises his gun to shoot it but is disarmed by crossbow Granny's arrow.
Granny- "The next one goes between your eyes!"

David arrives {with Ruby's red hood} informing the mob that Ruby didn't kill Billy- Spencer did. It was all Spencer's play to make it look like the wolf and to get the town to think David wasn't capable of leading the town as he should. {Someone in the crowd yells out "We're not sheep, David!"}  The crowd still wants to pursue the growling wolf but David pushes them back.
David- "Someone already died because of what this man did! Let's not spill more blood she won't hurt anyone. She's just scared!"  David gently makes his way toward the wolf with the red cloak.
David- "Ruby... I know you're in there. Listen to me... It was Spencer, not you. Don't let him trick you into thinking you're a monster. {Ruby doesn't like the word 'monster'} Alright- poor choice of words. Please. Ruby. I know you. I know the real you, and I know you can control the wolf. {He's closer now} Ruby? Ruby {He holds his left hand out to her so she can see it's him} It's me- David."

The wolf sits (and just about bows its head to him) and David covers it with the red cloak, letting Ruby {crouched down} reappears in human form.

Ruby is relived. "You saved me."
David- "No. You saved yourself. I just reminded you of what you already knew."
Their tender moment is interrupted by the crowd's attention to Granny on the ground.  Granny tells David Spencer is gone, "Go. Go."  Ruby leaves with David in the sheriff's car.

"You think you can hide from a wolf?" Ruby asks Spencer, who is standing over a campfire. Spencer wasn't trying to hide he just wants to see the look on David's face when he tells him that he'll never see his wife and daughter again. "You really should be more cautious with something so valuable." Spencer tosses the tattered magic portal hat into the fire and David is devastated.
Spencer- "It doesn't matter how much fairy dust you gather or how much you rally the town behind you... Your family's gone."  David punches Spencer, knocking him to the ground, and then David pulls his gun on him. Ruby halts crying David, but Spencer taunts "I told you... you should have killed me when you had the chance."  David walks away from Spencer and kneels looking at the burning campfire.

In the dark forest, under the full moon, Ruby buries Anita. "May you always run free beneath the moon's pale light. Goodbye, mother." Snow hugs her, "I'm so sorry. I know what it's like to lose your family."
Red- "I didn't lose my family today... I protected it."
Snow- "Thank you."
Red- "My mother wanted me to choose between being a wolf and being a human. Granny did too. You are the only person who ever thought it was okay for me to be both."
Snow- " 'Cause that's who you are. Come on... Let's go find the cabin.

David stands over sleeping Henry and tells Ruby "He may never see his mother or grandmother again. How am I gonna break that news to him?"  Ruby feels he won't have to.  David knows that travel between worlds is as hard as it comes. "Fairy dust on it's own isn't enough- it took an entire curse to get us here in the first place- without the hat..." Ruby feels he'll find another way, because she knows him and knows he'll never give up until he does; plus he's not going to be doing this alone.  Ruby asks David to give Granny a call because Ruby may have left Belle chained up in the library and someone should go unchain her; David will take care of it.  Ruby still has a few hours of wolf's time left, "You helped me regain control. I want to do something I haven't done in a very long time... Run." She's inspired! {She removes her cloak} Ruby runs out the door and a wolf howl is heard in the distance.

In the dark forest Emma asks Snow (sitting alone and quiet) what she's doing.   Snow's just thinking. Emma shares that Mulan has some ideas where Cora might be hiding. The ladies arrive at their campsite {burning campfire} pass by sleeping Aurora.
Aurora is dreaming she is in a flaming room- she is panicked and screaming. On the other side of the flaming room stands Henry; holding onto his talisman and closing his eyes to concentrate. He tells Aurora not to be scared.

The flames die down and the room quiets, but Aurora wakes up calling out for Snow.  Aurora shares that this wasn't just another nightmare, this time it was different; there was a little boy who put out the fire and talked to her. "He said... he said his name was Henry."

Broken

"You know that place between sleep and awake, the place where you can still remember dreaming? That’s where I’ll always love you. That’s where I’ll be waiting." - J.M. Barrie!

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

Purple haze all through my brain

A great start to season two and the arrival of magic is to immerse everyone in a glorious purple haze. Broken started very LOST-like, in that the story doesn't continue in a familiar setting we became accustomed to. This also brought the introduction of the (Manhattan Island) "stranger" and not knowing his true identity or place in the story as of yet.  Perhaps it's my own flashback to Desmond. Who the hell is this stranger? Well, he could be Bae, grown up and all alone, living in his own private Idaho on Manhattan Island. Perchance Henry's father or maybe, this stranger is connected to the Mad Hatter. I won't count out someone or something else altogether.

And then our fairy tale picks up right where it left off- in Storybrooke, that is. I found it very interesting that the events in Fairy Tale Land weren't flashbacks, as they ran simultaneously- alongside of Storybrooke events and seem to be heading to some criss-cross. It was GREAT!  A big X connecting realms. Dare I say it? Could we have ourselves a little LOST-type Sideways? Alright, I'll stop doing that- maybe. Nonetheless, upon hearing the Wraith roars and it seeming as if the Wraith can travel to and fro, it appears Storybrooke and this other land experiences are literally side by side of each other.

While watching events unfold in the realms I couldn't help but go down my metaphoric path of relating to things. Now, I'm not saying by any means this is the intention of the writers. I'm merely referencing the fact that I tend to associate certain things in stories (literary and/or visual) in this manner. It's fucking weird, I know. Maybe it's my stupid curse. Sure, Broken gives us insight to things and people being broken (and lost), in ruins, literally and emotionally. A rebuilding must begin so new life can thrive.

The events we saw in Fairy Tale Land had me feeling like it was a part of our own heart and/or mind- the parts that one could let get taken over by darkness caused by all the emotional hurt and pain we've had to live through. One can get stuck or frozen there.  And while one allows this darkness to take over these parts, we could be left with a tiny portion that isn't completely in the dark- that little bit of desolate and fruitless real estate that isn't completely dead- the one where Hope lives.  When healing happens and good seeds are planted it can receive light, be nurtured and love again. We learn that to the Wraith, light is its adversary- it wants to feed and claim more and more of one's soul. If light is present it can't get in to claim a soul. Again, in life we're marked- scarred by things that happen to us and how we might let it affect us. We trap or imprison parts of ourselves (heart and/or mind) as a means of protection and self-preservation; there is a section that is our "someplace safe."  But by staying stuck in the dark also keeps out the great experiences too. It seems to reason that if one can find a way to sweep away that pesky Wraith and kill the evil or simply let it go, then peace and freedom can be attained. It's all about the Love.

Keeping the evil alive 

What is the point in keeping the evil alive? That would only give permission for the evil to continue to cause more pain. Unless the point to keeping it alive one hopes to transform the evil into something good. Storybrooke residents and Henry see Regina as evil, but let's not forget that Regina sees Snow White as evil, and Rumpelstiltskin sees himself as a monster. They all have two sides. We all have two sides. We all live trying to find and keep balance between them. Maybe these people are trying to do the same.

Regina's turn to the dark side reminds me of Anakin Skywalker (aka Darth Vader).  His turn to the dark side was also one that came later in his life; born out of fear, hate and loss. It is a darkness that was allowed in by the emotionally ailing person and given permission to gain power.  And again, that darkness can be doused by shedding light or simply allowing light in.

What's going on with August/Pinocchio? We can't forget that this usually tall-tale telling game player wanted to summon the dark one.  How did the purple haze of magic affect him? Did he return to human form or is he trapped in his wooden state?

A tale of two curses

Although Mary Margaret is pushing Emma to bridge the gap and truly unite their little reunited family, Emma is still somewhat distant. Emma feels her life was also "cursed" because she had to grow up knowing her parents sent her away and she's been alone and without her family. Although she is learning the reason her parents made this great sacrifice of love, it doesn't yet ease her own pain of abandonment. Snow might have to push a little harder to help Emma heal. A change will do her good.
Family is everything- it is home and home is where the heart is.


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

๑ Three went through the hat- The Wraith, Emma and Snow White.  In Hat Trick Jefferson claims the "hat's rule" is the same amount of people who go through- the same amount have to come back.
๑ In the recap episode the "Narrator/Magic Mirror/Sidney" referred to Charming as "James" and not David.
๑ Manhattan is an Island. Storybrooke- Island.
๑ Another Stranger. 
๑ Storybrooke postcard has no postage and no addresses to or from.
๑ Why did Regina respond to Emma with "Who's Jefferson?"
*  Technically, in the episode Hat Trick, Jefferson never admits to actually being the Mad Hatter - He hates Wonderland and he only wants the "hat" to work and is seen going nutty trying to make a hat to work. It's Emma who says to him "You think you're the mad hatter".  Before you get mad at me, I'm not saying he's not- I'm just cautiously letting things play out.
๑ Everyone should know who they really are and know each other now. This would mean children should remember who their real parents are. {Example- Jefferson and Grace}
๑ Two faces
๑ Mark: Scar, bruise, cut- X (marks the spot)
๑ Pigeon is in 7:15 and Red Handed. Homing pigeon, carrier/messenger pigeon.
๑ Dream. Dreamcatcher. Sleep.
๑ Wake up. Awaken
๑ Life. Death (Late. Grief). Rebirth (Regenerate. Rebuild)
๑ Right. Wrong.
๑ Time
๑ Why is Dr. Whale's true identity still unknown to the residents of Storybrooke and he ain't confessing who he is? And why is he the one spearheading the hang Regina brigade?
๑ I'm just wondering what is up with The Blue Fairy.
๑ Regina, Jefferson and Emma's names are those names in Storybrooke and in Fairy Tale Land.
๑ Mid town and Lower Manhattan. Subway train.
๑ Henry asks Emma to "protect" Regina and Phillip asks Mulan to protect Aurora.
๑ Phillip seems to always want Aurora to  rest and go to sleep.
๑ When asked "What was that thing?" Phillip replies- "Something bad."  In A Land Without Magic  Henry gives the same answer to Emma when she asks "What is that?" (purple smoke).
๑ Mulan indicates that she may come from a different land when mentioning "in your land you would call it a Wraith."  She knows it as Qui Shen.
๑ When Rump/Gold summons the Wraith with his own medallion, the Wraith wears one as well. When the Wraith goes to the jail to suck Regina's soul it isn't wearing the medallion. Just sayin'.
๑ Regina doesn't have the power to make the hat work- but energy from Emma through Regina gives it power.

Vocabulary and Research...
 
๑ Aurora- from the Latin word meaning "dawn" is a natural light display.
   - In Roman mythology, goddess of the dawn. She has two siblings, a brother (Sol, the sun) and a sister (Luna, the moon).
  - Sleeping Beauty
๑ Hua Mulan- takes her aged father's place in the army.
   -Molon/Mulan Khan- was the Mongol Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia.
๑ Dreamcatcher- In Native American culture, a dreamcatcher (the inanimate form of the word for "spider" or Ojibwe: bawaajige nagwaagan meaning "dream snare") is a handmade object based on a willow hoop, on which is woven a loose net or web. The dreamcatcher is then decorated with personal and sacred items such as feathers and beads. It catches and entangles bad dream and good
dreams slip on by.
 ๑ Wraith -Ghost/spirit
  - Wraith: The Oblivion- a role playing game.
  - Wraith: The Cobra Organization is the fictional nemesis of the G.I. Joe Team. is the code name of Charles Halifax, a Cobra mercenary who doesn't work for the money- he simply wants to fight, foster chaos and kill.
  - Wraith (Dungeons & Dragons), a type of un-dead in the Dungeons & Dragons game.
*  For you Muggles- "Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in decay and despair, they drain peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them... Get too near a Dementor and every good feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it can, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself...soulless and evil. You will be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life." - One can use the Patronus Charm as defense against the Dementors.
๑ The Three Broomsticks: Harry Potter- Quidditch (a game). The Tale of the Three Brothers.
-  The Three Billy Goats Gruff. The Three Pigs.
- Broomstick- a tool and mode of transportation for witches.
- Broomstick- a great American race horse
- Islands in the Sky by Arthur C. Clarke
๑ Broom in Jainism- an Indian philosophy that prescribes a path of nonviolence toward all living beings.

๑ The Shepherd King is a 1923 American silent film.
๑ David (name): Hebrew origin and the meaning of David is "beloved".  Biblical: one of the most remarkable personalities in the Scriptures. David was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier, statesman, prophet, and king.
๑ The Crystal Ball is a German fairy tale- about three sons. Two are turned into animals but can return to human form for 2 hrs a day (1 as eagle and 1 as a whale). The third escapes the witch mother's curse, seeks the king's daughter and is bewitched and held prisoner in the Castle of the Golden Sun.

๑ Music clues or just nods:
๑ Charley's girl: Coney Island Baby is the sixth solo album by Lou Reed, released in December 1975.

•  "Crazy Feeling"
• "Charley's Girl"
•  "She's My Best Friend"
• "Kicks"
•  "A Gift" "Ooohhh Baby"
•  "Nobody's Business"
•  "Coney Island Baby"
•  *  30th Anniversary Deluxe Edition bonus tracks
•  "Nowhere at All"
• "Downtown Dirt"
•  "Leave Me Alone"
•  "Crazy Feeling"
• "She's My Best Friend"
•  "Coney Island Baby"

- The song mentions "punching someone in the face" - Emma threatens Gold with that.

๑ NoMeansNo- A band formed by the Wright brothers - Wrong records label
The Day Everything Became Isolated and Destroyed (1988)
1. The Day Everything Became Nothing
2. Dead Souls
3. Forget Your Life
4. Beauty And The Beast
5. Brother Rat/What Slayde Says
6. Dark Ages 7. Junk
8. And That's Sad
9. Small Parts Isolated And Destroyed
10. Victory
11. Teresa, Give Me That Knife
12. Real Love
13. Lonely Possible

๑ John Guliak - 7 Stories and 13 Songs nod.

๑ Purple Haze- A song by Jimi Hendrix on the album A You Experienced. Genre considered psychedelic rock and acid rock. The term "purple haze" is known to refer to LSD (trip).

-  "Purple haze" is mentioned in a passage in the Charles Dickens novel Great Expectation; chapter 54


✔ Golden LOST Thread Woven into the Tapestry of this Tale

✈ 8:15, 108
✈ Island
✈ Subway train
✈ MacCutcheon Whiskey
✈ Bagua. Protection
✈ Swan
✈ Black smoke
✈ FATE. Faith
✈ Destiny
✈ Push
✈ Drugs- trip
✈ Banish. Castaway
✈ Head. Heart- Hearts and Minds
✈ Ruins (Temple- some place safe)
✈ Late. Gone. Dead.
✈ Life. Death. Rebirth (Regenerate. Rebuild)
✈ Wheel. Well. Wine.
✈ Searching- SEARCHER Penny's boat
✈ In the LOST Universe Charlie's girl is Claire
✈ In Stranger in a Strange Land  Jack and Juliet were marked.
✈ Son of a Shephard- Jack and then David Shephard
✈  In Further Instructions John Locke uses aerosol can and his torch to fight the polar bear- Snow uses aerosol can and lighter on the Wraith.  In the jungle Hurley says "Who's there?" before coming upon naked Desmond.  Regina asks "Who's there" before the Wraith arrives at the jail.
✈ In Not in Portland Jack told Kate not to come back for him. And in The Man from Tallahassee that is brought up.
✈ In What Kate Did Mr. Eko tells Locke a story about the temple in ruins.
✈ In All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues John Locke asks Boone "Don't you feel it?"
✈ In The Economist Elsa's boss is old fashioned (technologically).


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

A horse with a red plume and silver horseshoe medallion; this horse belongs to a top hatted Hansom cab driver.  A man in a dark suit and tie, carrying a dark backpack, listens to his mp3/ipod music (left ear-bud only) as he crosses a NYC 1-way street- making his way to his apartment.  He passes many horse drawn Hansom cabs/carriages, rides a subway train (Via 5 Ave. And I assume it's at 59th St. the Broadway line).  He gets in an old fashioned gated elevator and pushes the button.

He enters his one room (Manhattan Island) apartment. His decor looks to be acquired old goodies and keepsakes; a stereo, a rotary phone; collections include records, books, microphones, clocks/radios, cameras and monocles. A rainstorm starts up when he opens his door, to which the frustrated man to close the window that has been left open.  He drops his mp3/ipod out the window and watches it crash through the levels of fire escape; this disappoints him greatly.  A light colored pigeon with a card stuck/attached to its foot flies right to the man's desk.  The rain stops and the sun comes out.
It is a postcard with a message...

Two people on horseback are riding across the dry land. They arrive at the overgrown dead vine ridden alter that houses the literal resting place of Aurora. She has been sleeping on a cushion and pillow for 28 years.  Prince Phillip uses his sword to cut through the dry vines to get to her. {Note Bagua type insignia and spinning wheel. There are stars in the design on the ground/tile.}

The Prince tells his armored and veiled riding companion "If this works, we don't tell her everything- not right away." The companion nods in agreement.  Phillip kisses the sleeping beauty and a ripple wave flows through everything.  The sleeping beauty takes a deep breath and awakens and says "I told you not to come after me."  The share a giggle and kiss some more, while the companion turns away from them.

Aurora looking around seeing the devastation asks how long she's been asleep and wonders what happened. Phillip assures her it doesn't matter and the worst of it is over. "Now that we're together we'll restore this castle and our Kingdom, and as we dreamt, we'll be here always."

Aurora- "Where is everyone? Why does it need to be rebuilt?"
Phillip- "It's a long story and you my love need rest."  {WTF?! She just fuckin' woke up!}
Aurora has had her fill. Phillip informs her that their people have gathered in a new safe haven and they must join them.  Aurora wonders if this safe haven is from Maleficent.
Phillip- "No. Worry not. She can no longer harm us."
Aurora- "First she goes after my mother then me, Forgive me if I'm still a bit weary."
Phillip assures her not to be, as there is new dangers now- but nothing they can't handle. The happy reunited couple kiss.

Purple haze... I mean magic "smoke" makes its way through Storybrooke.  Reunited Snow and Charming wonder what's happening- they'll go and find out. They are reunited with the now aware Granny and Red and the Seven Dwarfs, who bow before their Queen.  They all have many questions including "What was that smoke?"

Mother Superior joins in with an answer "Magic. It's here. I can feel it."   Little Henry enters the picture and wonders "Magic, in Storybrooke? You're the Blue Fairy, do something magical."  But the Blue Fairy informs Henry and the rest that it's not quite that simple. "No wand. No fairy dust. Matters are complicated now."   Leroy suggests they go to the person responsible for bringing it "The Queen."  Emma tells them to wait, as it wasn't Regina.

Mr. Gold and Belle are still at the well where we left them last season.  Belle tells him she was abducted by (Regina) who "locked me away until her curse and I've been in the asylum ever since."
Mr. Gold is troubled- "For 28 years. All these years you've been here, alive."
Belle sees his growing anger and asks if that's why he did this- wanted magic- for revenge.  Gold assures her "No. No. But it might come in handy."  Belle is very concerned. Gold insists "I cannot let this stand, Belle! I will not let this stand!"
Belle- "Look... Promise me. Promise me you won't give into your hate. Promise me you won't kill her." Gold looks sort of dejected. Belle continues, "Promise me, and we can be together."  That's what Gold wants and you can see how moved he is. Tenderly he touches her face. "Oh. Sweetheart... I promise." They kiss- but we see Gold 'thinking'.

The (re) united Storybrooke residents march down the middle of the street together. Snow tries to open dialogue with her daughter, Emma. "Is there anything you want to ask us? You must have questions." Focused, Emma's only questions are for Mr. Gold. "Why did he double cross me and what did he do to this town?" 
Snow is concerned- "Shouldn't we talk about it first?"
Nonchalant Emma asks "What?"
Snow- "Us. Your life? Everything?"
Emma suggests they do "everything" maybe later- like, with a glass of wine- several bottles.  Charming knows it's a lot to take in, "for all of us."  Snow doesn't want to push, but they've waited for this moment for a long time, and so has Emma.
Emma- "I've thought about this moment my entire life. I've imagined who you might be. But of all the scenarios that I concocted, my parents being... I, I just need a little time, that's all."   Just then, a loud group of residents run through the streets on  a mission.  Archie runs up to inform Emma "There you are! Come with me. I need your help. Dr. Whale's whipped everyone into a frenzy. They're going to Regina's house- they're going to kill her."
Leroy- "Great. Let's watch."
Archie feels they can't do that. "We cannot stoop to her level. No matter who she is or what's she's done, killing her is wrong."
Panicked Henry feels he's right "Please. She's still my mom."  Emma knows they have to stop them. Charming notes that if the Blue Fairy is right and magic is here, Regina could have her powers back. "They could be marching into a slaughter."  He looks Snow right in the eyes and without a word they seem to acknowledge the same idea.  The group all run off to Regina's together.
The time on the clock tower-

While Phillip and Aurora chat, his armored and veiled associate investigates a "sensation" they're tuned into. All of a sudden the ground brakes open and the Wraith bursts up through it, knocking the armored/veiled person down. Phillip tries to fight off the wraith with his sword and inadvertently cuts off the Wraith's gold medallion/amulet and the upset Wraith flies away.  Phillip picks up the medallion. Aurora asks "What was that thing?"
Phillip- "Something bad."  He picks up the medallion.

Rumpelstiltskin and Belle arrive at his shop.

He's going to find her something to wear, as she's been in those rags long enough.  Alone, he makes his way to the back office, passing by a rack of women's clothes, unlocks an ornate armoire, puts on black gloves and removes a (gold) box from it. He has possession of a Wraith medallion.

Dr. Whale pounds on Regina's door demanding she come out or they're going in.

Smiling and calm Regina opens the door. "Can I help you?"  Whale threatens that her smirk isn't going to last forever. "You took everything from us, Regina, and now..."  Regina asks "Now you're gonna kill me?"
Whale- "Eventually. But first you need to suffer."
Regina pushes Whale away from her stoop. "Listening to you has been enough suffering for all of us. That's right. You wanted to see your Queen. Well, my Dears. Here. She. Is." With grandness she gestures her 'cast a spell' hands out to the crowd- but nothing happens- no magic. She's powerless! The crowd wants to take advantage and not let her get away.  But Emma, who is still the sheriff, makes them let her go. After all, she saved them- all of them.  Emma tells Whale "We are not murders here."
Dr. Whale- "Well, we're not from this world."
Emma- "Yeah, well,  you're in it now."
Charming steps in "Okay, Whale. We're done."
Whale- "Back off! You're not my Prince." {Check out Regina's look}
Charming- "Who are you, Whale?"
Whale- "That's my business."
Charming- "Well, my business is making sure this town doesn't go to hell. So whether or not I'm your Prince isn't the issue. We have a lot to figure out, and this isn't the way to do it."
Snow steps up- "And Regina's death won't provide any answers. She needs to be locked up... {Regina smirks) for her safety. And more importantly for ours."

Charming is the one who closes the jail cell door on the now prisoner, Regina.  He asks "If the curse is broken why didn't we go back?"  Regina informs him and Snow it's because there is nothing to go back to. "That land is gone."  Snow tells Charming they should get to Gold. {Why didn't she call him Rumpelstiltskin?} Snow, Charming, Emma and Henry leave. Regina tries her hand at magic on the lock, but to no avail.  Rumpelstiltskin/Gold appears to her. "Magic is different here...Dearie."  Regina noticed. "I assume this is all your doing."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Most things are."
Regina wants to know what he wants. "You here to finish the job?"  He assures her, "You're safe from me."  He made a promise to someone that he wouldn't kill her. Regina wonders who could elicit that from him.  Rumple comes right out with it. "Belle."   Regina looks surprised and asks "She's alive?"
Growing angry, he tells Regina "You are... a dreadful liar."  Regina could have killed Belle, but she didn't. Rumple feels she did something much worse than that- "You kept her alive so you could kill her when it suited you. A fate worse than death. Which, incidentally, is exactly what I've got in store for you."   With his gloved hands he pulls her left hand through the bars and puts the medallion in her hand, and as it's marking her he tells her "Yes, Dearie. The one thing no one can escape... Destiny. And I promise... yours is particularly unpleasant." {Regina seems to know what this medallion is all about.} He enjoyed that.

The veiled/armored person tells the duo "Qui Shen, In your land you would call it a Wraith."
Aurora- "I'm sorry. Who is this?"
The Veiled one- "A friend" and removes her head gear to reveal a pretty Asian girl, who corrects Aurora by clarifying she's a woman. Phillip shares that in Aurora's absence, Mulan has helped him like no other; they fought many battles together. And now they have another to wage.
Mulan- "The Qui Shen, the Wraith, is one of the most dangerous creatures in all the known lands. A soul sucker. According to legend it marks its victims and removes their souls damning them for all eternity."   They hear the (sounds) howling moans and screams of it's trapped souls- trying to escape. "But fortune favored us as we all avoided the mark. We need to begin our journey."
Phillip assures Aurora they'll be safe with their people. He hugs and kisses her, and sees his left hand has indeed been marked. He hides this discovery from Aurora.

In the forest the Dark One/Mr. Gold/Rump uses his powerful dagger as a tool to summon the Wraith; alongside of the medallion he put down on a spot on the ground. We see Regina bolt up in her cell when the Dark One puts out the call for the Wraith.  The Wraith literally manifests out from the medallion as black smoke and into it's soul sucking form; complete with his own medallion. The Wraith takes off in pursuit of imprisoned and marked Regina.

Emma sees Henry and Ruby off. {In Ruby's car} She tells Ruby to keep him safe.  Charming sees that Snow is troubled and really wants to talk with Emma, but he tells her not to push it. Snow says she won't, yet as soon as Emma walks over asking them if they're ready, Snow doesn't miss a beat and says "We need to talk" to Emma.  But Emma, hems and haws, not wanting to talk.
Snow- "I do. Gold can wait. I can't. And you're my daughter... and... I want to talk to you. I know that we have talked. But, we didn't know that we were talking. And we talked about things we shouldn't have even talked about- One night stands and alike."
Charming- "One night stands?"
Snow- "Whale."
Charming- Whale?!"
Snow- "We were cursed! That is neither here nor there. The point is we did not know that we were mother and daughter... and now we do... and... so, please let's talk."
Emma says okay. "What do you wanna talk about?"
Snow- "We're together- finally. And I can't help but think you're not happy about it."
Emma- "Oh, I am. But... see... here's the thing- no matter what the circumstances for 28 years I only knew one thing... that my parents sent me away. "
Snow assures her that was so she had her best chance.
Emma- "You did it for everyone. Because that's who you are. Leaders. Heroes. Princes and Princesses and that's great and amazing and... wonderful. It doesn't change the fact that for my entire life... I've been alone.
Snow- "But if we hadn't sent you away... you would have been cursed too."
Emma- "But we would have been together. Which curse is worse? Come one- Let's, let's... go find Gold."  She walks ahead. Charming grabs hold of Snow's hand.

In the forest the three travelers ride on horseback.  Mulan suggests "We should camp here tonight night. The Wraith only appears when light is absent that's why it ran when it first appeared. Light is its adversary."  Aurora remarks "And you want to stop, now?"   Mulan explains it's looking for a mark- something alive. Our best bet is to be still until night passes."  Although obviously uneasy, Phillip says she's right. "We have to rest here."

Phillip prepares a tent and tells Aurora she should sleep. Aurora says she can't. Phillip tries to encourage her to relax, it'll come.
Aurora- "No. I mean, I won't sleep. Not after what I just went through. (She sees he's troubled) What's wrong?"
Phillip looks her in the eyes. "I just miss you so much."  Aurora smiles and tells him "And now you don't have to."  Phillip, still obviously afflicted, tells her he's going to find wood to build them a fire and will be back in five minutes. He kisses her passionately yet desperately and Aurora notices. Phillip insists he's making up for lost time.  The say "I love you" to each other. Aurora is smiling and seemingly full of hope, while handsome Phillip walks away with tears in his eyes, never turning back to look at her again.

In his shop (it's dark outside/night) Gold/Rump pours boiling water from a silver tea kettle into an ornate silver teapot, when in enters Emma, Snow and Charming. "What can I do for you?"
Emma demands "What you can do is tell us what did you do."  Gold feels she needs to be more specific.  Snow jumps in "You double crossed Emma, you took your potion from her..."
Charming- "And did who knows what to this town."
Emma- "Worst of all you risked Henry's life."
Gold- "Well, that is quite a litany of grievances, now isn't it?"
Emma- "Maybe I don't need answers, maybe I just need to punch you in the face."
Gold is amused by this. "Really, Dearie? Allow me to answer your questions with some of my own, alright? Did your dear boy Henry survive? {Yeah} Is the curse broken? And let's see, uh, Miss Swan... How long have you been searching for your parents? Looks like you're reunited. Seems like rather a punch in the face, I deserve a 'thank you'."
Emma- "Twist my words all you want. What was the purple haze that you brought?"
Gold- "You know... Magic."
Snow- "Why?"
Gold- "Not Telling."
Just then a huge and loud disruption hit the dark street outside the shop, shaking the ground and causing car alarms to go off, glass to break and the street lights to explode. A loud roaring is heard as the electricity outside the shop is going crazy, snapping and sparking angrily.  Emma asks "What the hell was that?" Gold tells them "That is my gift to you. That is gonna take care of Regina."  But Charming and Snow tell Emma to "Come on", that they need to take care of this. {Why not listen to Gold and just let this thing take care of Regina?!}  Emma whispers to Gold "We're not done."  He knows, as she still owes him a favor.  The trio heads out.
Disappointed Belle comes out from behind the two curtains {the doorway to the back}. "You lied to me."
Gold- "No. I, I kept my word. I will not kill her."
Belle is getting teary. "You know, you toy with words... like you do people. You're still a man who makes wrong choices. I thought you'd changed."
Gold- "What? In the hour you've known me?"
Belle is stunned at his remark, and as Gold is apologizing she storms out into the electrical storm outside.

Aurora sits alone in her tent while Mulan tries to cause a spark to make a fire. The Wraith roars in the distance. Aurora wonders where Phillip is. Mulan thought he was in Aurora's tent.
Aurora is concerned. "He said he was making a fire."  But here is Mulan trying to make one. Mulan looks around and determines "He left. The horses are gone."   Nervous Aurora asks why he would leave. Mulan informs her "Because he was marked." She's going after him. Apparently Phillip is sacrificing himself for Aurora. But Aurora corrects Mulan, stating his sacrificed "for both of us." Aurora is going with her, although Mulan doesn't want her to slow her down. Mulan takes off and Aurora runs after her a few seconds later.

Aurora immediately finds herself alone in the forest with the roaring/howling sounds in the distance. Frightened, she calls out for Mulan.

The Wraith makes its way down the dark streets of Storybrooke.
The light flicker in the jail housing nervous imprisoned and marked Regina. "Hello. Who's there?"  The Wraith {Minus the medallion} arrives to suck Regina's soul, when Charming, Snow and Emma arrive to intervene. Charming fights the Wraith, but it fights back, tossing Charming and furniture around until it goes back to its soul sucking task.

Snow uses an aerosol can and a lighter as a torch weapon at the Wraith and this causes the Wraith to retreat out through a window. Regina gasps for air as she explains that was a Wraith- a soul sucker. Snow wonders if she killed it, but Regina says no; it's just regenerating. "It'll be back. It doesn't stop until it devours its prey... Me."  {She holds up her left hand, I guess to show them her mark- but I'm not too sure anyone saw anything there- who knows? Maybe it was just a mudra gesture.}  Emma asks "How do we kill it?"  Regina informs them "There's no way. Can't kill something that's already dead."  Emma feels they have a problem. Annoyed Charming interjects with "No, we don't. Regina does."
Snow- "David?"  {Why did she call him David?}
Emma- "You wanna let her die?"
Charming- "Why not? Then it goes away. Then we're safe."
Regina- "It's quite the example you're setting for your daughter there."
Charming- "No! You don't get to judge us!"
Regina- "Let me ask you something- where do you think that thing came from? Gold."  {Don't they already know that? Gold just told them that!}
Emma tells Charming that she made a promise to Henry. "She's not dying."  Snow asks Regina "If it can't be killed what do you suggest?"  Regina feels it's best to send it somewhere it can't hurt anyone."

In Regina's office she breaks out the hat box portal. Regina asks Emma "Did Henry really ask you to protect me?"  Emma says yes and this makes Regina happy.  Emma sees the top hat and declares "The hat. You had it all along."
Regina- "What do you mean?"
Emma- "That's Jefferson's hat."
Regina- "Who's Jefferson?"
On cue, Snow and Charming enter with three straw brooms {all different color poles} to use as torches- for when it comes back. This is Charming's old fashioned touch, because he's old fashioned.

They all enter the room with the giant golden (Storybrooke) Tree medallion and Regina explains how it works. "The hat will open a portal to our land. All we have to do is send the Wraith in there."
Suspicious Snow doesn't understand "I thought our land was gone."  Charming lights the brooms. {Note the hat shows signs of wear and tear.}

Regina - "It is. But sending it to a place that no longer exists... well, that's banishing it into oblivion." She tries to get the hat to spin to create the portal as the Wraith nears. The electricity goes haywire. The Wraith roars and blows open the doors!

Mulan {With her lit torch} feels the ground. Aurora comes up behind her on one of the horses she found. "I'm coming with you."  Mulan tells her she needs to stay here, it's too dangerous. But Aurora wasn't asking permission. {Another LOST phrase we heard a few times.}
Mulan- "That thing out there is dangerous, and Phillip asked me to protect you, so even if I don't believe in his methods I'm going to honor his wishes. I'm gonna keep you safe."
Although Aurora never asked him to, Mulan informs her she never had to. Because everything he does he does because he loves Aurora. "And now he's gonna die for you. Love is sacrifice. Something you clearly don't understand."   Aurora won't let him face that alone.  Mulan feels Phillip's best chance is her/Mulan.   Aurora realizes Mulan loves Phillip.  Mulan feels she owes Phillip much, as they fought many battles together side by side- nothing more.   Although Mulan can deny it all she wants Aurora knows love when she sees it. Mulan claims Aurora is wrong.  A roar is heard in the distance; as well as sorrowful moans. They fear for Phillip.

The roaring Wraith is face to face with Regina, Charming, Snow and Emma. They're armed with their lit torches.  Regina is still spinning the hat to try to get it to work- she knows the Wraith is right there and there's no time.  Charming swats his flaming broom at the Wraith, while partner Snow pours MacCutcheon's Whiskey on the gate railing. Charming closes the gate and lights it on fire.

While he continues to fight the Wraith, Regina still can't make the hat work.

Phillip swats his flaming torch. "Come on you bastard!"  But he is alone in the dark forest.  Mulan and Aurora approach him on horseback and he demands they stay back.  Aurora insists they can help him fight.  Phillip tells the girls "It will find me. I've been marked. It's too late for me. Go! There's no other way!"  Mulan says there is. She wants the talisman so she can mark herself and he can live.  But it is Phillip's choice to save her- both of them.   Crying Aurora doesn't want to live without him and neither does Phillip.  As the Wraith approaches, Phillip tells the girls "You two keep each other safe. He looks back slightly over his right shoulder (not making eye contact with either girl) and says "I love you. He tosses his torch (still holds the medallion in his left hand) and allows the Wraith to take him. The girls scream.  The Wraith sucks his soul and then Phillip drops the medallion, enabling the Wraith to disappear into it. Phillip is motionless on the ground.

Regina claims "It's not working!"  She tells Emma the problem is magic works different here. Charming yells over to her "Now would be the time!"  Once Emma touches Regina's arm, {Regina's hands on the hat} the hat gets to spinning. David yells "It's coming!"  The Wraith heads towards Regina, but Emma pushes her out of the way. The Wraith is sucked into the hat- the Wraith's sucking light ray grabs Emma's leg and drags her in. Snow jumps in after them! "I'm not losing her again!" Neither is Charming. He jumps, but the portal is closed!

Phillip lays in Aurora's old resting place. Aurora shares with Mulan that the palace was to be their home; they would spend eternity there. Mulan wonders how she ended up here, in her cursed state. Apparently it had something to do with sacrifice.  Mulan puts the medallion in a light/gold pouch. She thinks Aurora should have it.

Charming is devastated and crying as he holds the tattered hat. "Where are they?!" Regina claims to have no idea. He asks "Are they dead?"  Regina claims the curse destroyed all the lands.
Charming- "ARE THEY DEAD?!"
Regina- "I don't know."
Charming is very angry. "I should have killed you myself!"
Regina asks what's stopping him. Angry Regina all of a sudden has some power. She pushes Charming up against the wall and summons the bark of the tree wallpaper to trap him; it's choking him. "You think you're some heroic Prince? Please. You're nothing but the son of a shepherd. I should have killed you when I could. And now... now I can."
Henry enters with Ruby witnessing this.  Regina makes all innocent. Henry asks what she's doing. Regina feels it's okay. "You're safe now."  Charming is released from the trees. WHile Ruby tends to him, Henry asks "Where's my mom? Where's...."
Regina (teary eyed)- "They're gone. The fell through a portal, they're... Henry, I'm sorry."
Henry (crying)- "No you're not. You really are the Evil Queen. I don't want to see you again.
Regina- "No- don't say that. I love you." {She tenderly touches his face.}
Henry- "Then prove it. Get Emma and Mary Margaret back. And until then leave me- leave everyone alone."
Regina- "Where will you go?'
Charming- "With me." The two men and Ruby walk out.

In the back room of his shop Rumpelstiltskin spins at his wheel; I image to get his mind off of things. Belle enters after a long walk.
Rumpelstiltskin- "I thought you didn't want to see me."
Belle didn't, but was worried.  Rumpelstiltskin states "Well, the beast is gone- Regina... lives."
Belle- "So, uh... you didn't get what you wanted."
Rumpelstiltskin- "Well, that remains to be seen."
Belle notices that Rumpelstiltskin still has her chipped cup.
Rumpelstiltskin is very sweet. "There are many, many things in this shop... but this... this is the only thing  I truly cherish. And now you must leave. {What?} You must leave because despite what you hope... I'm still a monster."
Belle smiles at him. "Don't you see... that's exactly the reason I have to stay."

Charming and Henry enter the apartment.  Henry looks at a photo of Emma and Snow is a light color frame.  Charming assure Henry that the two girls are alive, as he knows this because he has faith. "I will find them. I will always find them."

Aurora rests her weepy head on {Sleeping} Phillips chest/heart.  Mulan suggests "We should leave this place. It's not safe here."
Aurora- "But the Wraith is gone."
Mulan- "There's more. You need to know everything. Much has changed in our land since you've been asleep."
Aurora- "It was less than a year."
Mulan- "In a manner of speaking. You see, as you slept and Phillip and I searched for you... something worse happened. {What?} Are you familiar with Regina the Queen? {Yes.} She cast a curse on this land- a terrible, terrible curse. It ripped everyone away to another world."
Aurora- "But we're still here."
Mulan- "This corner of the land was untouched. No one knows why, but something saved us. And for 28 years we were frozen- and then time started again. The terrible curse's power was weakened and Phillip and I were able to resume our search. We found you. But the land is ravaged with dangers more fearsome than you can image. For those of us who remain... we found a safe haven. We must go there now."
They hear a crackling noise. Mulan readies with her sword. Something is in there {a pile of rubble}.
Aurora- "What did it bring? What is it? What do you see?"
Mulan moves a piece of debris and Aurora asks her what that is.
Mulan- "That. That is what brought the Wraith here. That's what killed our Prince."
Guess who...