ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Rumplestiltskin was spinning and Baelfire cried, "Papa, Papa! They've come for Morraine." Rumplestiltskin grabbed his cane and he, Bindi and Baelfire left the tent.
"No! No! Please!" Morraine's father said.
Morraine's mother sobbed. "No! No! No!"
"No. No. Please! Please!"
"No. Don't take her! No. You can't take her. She's my baby. Don't take my baby."
"Nonsense. She is a fine, strong girl. She'll make a fine soldier," Hordor told them.
"It's a mistake," Morraine's father argued. "She's turning fourteen. Only fourteen."
"At the orders of the Duke! The Ogre Wars have taken their toll this season. More troops will turn the tie."
"They lowered the age again, Papa," Baelfire said.
"I know," Rumplestiltskin replied.
"Take her," Hordor ordered. "She'll ride with me."
"No!" Morraine's mother yelled.
"No, you can't have her," Morraine's father argued.
Morraine's mother tried to attack Hordor with a knife. The Dark One strangled her and the father using magic. She was forced to stop.
"The Dark One seems to think I can," Hordor stated before he and Morraine left on horseback.
"My birthday is in three days," Baelfire said. "They'll come for me in three days."
Bindi shook her head. "I won't let that happen, Bae. They won't take my big brother."
Baelfire gave her a small, sad smile and she hugged him.
"We'll find a way. We'll find a way," Rumplestiltskin reassured, putting a protective arm around Baelfire and Bindi.
Morraine's mother whined, "No!"
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - MR. GOLD'S SHOP
Mr. Gold was covering a piece of cloth with the lanolin in the back room of his pawn shop.
Emma entered and called out, "Gold! In here?"
"Well, it is my shop," Mr. Gold answered.
Emma entered the back room. "Whoa! What is that?"
"Oh, this is lanolin -- used for waterproofing."
"It smells like livestock."
"Well, it is the reason why sheep's wool repels water."
"It stinks. Um, if there was a reason you called the Sheriff's Department... If you want to talk about that quickly-"
"Yes."
"Or outside..."
"I just wanted to, uh, express my condolences, really. The sheriff was a good man. You're still wearing the deputy's badge. Well, he's been gone two weeks, now, and I believe that after two weeks of acting as sheriff, the job becomes yours. You'll have to wear the real thing."
"Yeah, I guess. I'm just not in a hurry. So, um, thank you for the kind words."
Emma went to leave and exited the main part of the shop.
Mr. Gold followed. "I have his things."
"What?"
He walked over to a box on the counter. "The sheriff. He rented an apartment that I own. Another reason for my call, really. I wanted to offer you a keepsake."
"I don't need anything."
"As you wish. Well, give them to Mayor Mills. Seems like she was the closest thing he had to family."
"I'm not sure about that."
"No love lost there, I see. Look, I feel that all of this stuff is headed for the trash bin -- you really should take something. Look -- his jacket."
"No."
"Well, look. Your boy might like these, don't you think? You could play together." He held up a couple walkie talkies, then grabbed another. "I have another if you'd like."
"I don't-"
"No, please. They... They grow up so fast."
"Thanks."
"You enjoy these with your boy. Your time together is precious, you know? That's the thing about children -- before you know it, you lose them."
HENRY'S CASTLE
Emma met Natalie and Henry at the castle, holding walkie talkies. She sat between them and handed them both one.
"Brought you two something," Emma said. "Thought we could use them together for Operation Cobra."
"Thanks," Henry answered.
"Oh, come on! What's up? You've been ducking me for weeks."
"I think we should should stop Cobra stuff for awhile. You don't play with the curse. Look what happened to Graham."
"Henry, I told you they did an autopsy. It was totally natural causes."
"Okay, whatever. You don't believe -- good. That should keep you from messing with it. And getting killed."
Emma looked at Henry. "You're worried about me."
"She killed Graham because he was good -- and you're good."
"Henry..." Natalie began.
Henry cut her off. "Good loses -- good always loses. Because good has to play fair -- evil doesn't. She's evil. This is probably best. I don't want to upset her anymore."
Henry gave Emma back his walkie talkie and left. Natalie glanced at Emma worriedly. She turned in the direction Henry had gone, letting out a sigh.
SHERIFF STATION
Emma made her way back to the station and threw her keys on her desk. The Sheriff's badge was there. Emma was about to put it on.
Regina entered and said, "Oh, I'm sorry. that's not for you."
Emma frowned. "It's been two weeks -- promotion's automatic."
"Unless the Mayor appoints someone else within the time period, which I'm doing today."
"So who's it going to be?"
"After due reflection -- Sidney Glass."
"Sidney from the newspaper? How does that even make sense?"
"Well, he's covered the Sheriff's Office for as long as anyone can remember."
"And he'll do whatever you want him to. You just cannot stand the fact that things have been getting better around here, can you?"
"Better? Are you referring to Graham's death as 'better'?"
"No."
"He was a good man, Miss Swan. He made this town safe, and forgive me for saying it, but you have not earned the right to wear his badge."
"Graham picked me to be Deputy."
"He was wrong."
"No. He knew what he was doing. He freed this office from your leash. You're not getting it back."
"Actually, I just did. Miss Swan, you're fired." She took the Sheriff's badge off the desk and left.
---
Emma made her way to Mary Margaret's apartment.
Mary Margaret came in, seeing Emma trying to pry a toaster open with a knife. Music was blaring and there was a half empty bottle of whiskey on the table.
She turned off the music and asked, "Toaster broken?"
"It wasn't when I started with it," Emma replied. "Pretty sure it is now. Just needed to hit something."
"What's going on?"
"Regina fired me so she could put one of her own puppets in as sheriff. It's my job."
"I never heard you so passionate about it before. What happened?"
"I don't know, I just... I know I want it back."
"There must be a reason."
There was a knock on the door and Emma said, "Maybe I just want to beat her."
Emma answered the door, seeing Mr. Gold. He had a large binder under his arm.
"Good evening, Miss Swan," Mr. Gold greeted. "Sorry for the intrusion. There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"I'll let you two talk," Mary Margaret said before leaving the room.
"Come on in." Emma ushered.
"Thank you," Mr. Gold answered. "I, uh... I heard about what happened. Such an injustice."
"Yeah, well, what's done is done."
"Spoken like a true fighter."
"I don't know what chance I have. She's Mayor and I'm, well, me."
"Miss Swan, two people with a common goal can accomplish many things. Two people with a common enemy can accomplish even more. How would you like a benefactor?"
"A benefactor?"
"You mind?" He gestured to the table and he and Emma sat down. He put the binder on the table and opened it. "You know, it really is quite shocking how few people study the town charter."
"The town charter?"
"Well, it's quite comprehensive. And the Mayor's authority? Well, maybe she's not quite as powerful as she seems."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Rumplestiltskin and his son and daughter were walking in the woods.
"It feels wrong to run away," Baelfire said.
"It's worse to die, son," Rumplestiltskin told him. "I'm not having you or your sister taken away to the Ogre wars."
They encountered a beggar along the path who said, "Alms for the poor? Alms for the poor?"
"Yes." He gave him a few coins, then he, Bindi and Baelfire moved on.
"Are you sure there's no other way?" Baelfire asked.
"Oh, I can't lose you or Bindi, Bae. You two are all I've got left, son. You don't understand what war is like - what they do to you." The sound of approaching horses became audible. "Quick, hide! In the ditch - hide. Go, go! Go!"
"Stop right there!" Hordor and several riders on horseback surrounded Rumplestiltskin and his son and daughter. "What are you doing on the king's realm?"
"We have some wool to sell at the fair at Longbourne."
"I know you, don't I?" Hordor got off his horse and walked up to Rumplestiltskin. "What was your name? Hm? Spindlehanks? Threadwhistle? Hobblefoot?"
"His name's Rumplestiltskin,' Baelfire and Bindi said.
"Hush, boy! Hush, girl!" Rumplestiltskin instructed.
"Rumple-" Hordor began. "Ah, the man who ran. Is this your boy and girl? How old are they? What are your names?"
"I'm Baelfire and I'm thirteen," Baelfire replied. "She's Bindi and she's twelve."
"When's your birthday?"
"In two days time."
"Hush, boy!" Rumplestiltskin repeated.
"Did you teach him how to run as well, Rumplestiltskin?" Hordor asked. "Did he tell you? Did he tell you how he ran and the ogres turned the tide of the battle, and all the others were killed, and he returned home to a wife who could not bear the sight of him?"
"Please..."
"You see, women do not like to be married to cowards."
"Please don't speak to my boy and girl like that."
"It's treason to avoid service. Take the boy now."
"No, no, no, no! What do you want?"
"What do I want? You have no money, no influence, no land, no title, no power. The truth is, all you really have is fealty. Kiss my boot."
"I don't understand-"
"You asked my price. Kiss my boot."
"Not in front of my boy or girl."
"Kiss my boot!" Rumplestiltskin got on the ground and kissed Hordor's boot. Hordor, along with the other knights, laughed as he did so. Hordor then kicked Rumplestiltskin in the stomach and he fell to the ground.
"Papa!" Baelfire and Bindi cried.
Hordor returned to his horse and the group left. Suddenly, someone was heard coming towards Rumplestiltskin, Bindi and Baelfire. It was the beggar.
"No, no, no!" the beggar said. "No! It's okay. Let me help you. Let me help you home."
"Thank you, old man," Baelfire and Bindi replied.
The beggar helped Rumplestiltskin up then the latter said, "I don't have any money to pay you."
"I can think of another way," the beggar told him. "You just leave me whatever you can spare, and I'll find a way to be your benefactor. Come."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - REGINA'S OFFICE
Regina, Sidney, and several reporters were gathered inside.
Regina began her introduction. "Everyone deserves to feel safe in their own homes. That's why Sidney Glass is my choice for the post of Sheriff. This man has put the needs of Storybrooke above his own for as long as any of us can remember as chief editor of the Storybrooke Daily Mirror. Please welcome your new Sheriff!"
Regina was about to pin the Sheriff's badge on Sidney when Emma entered.
"Hang on a second," Emma said.
Regina frowned. "Oh, Miss Swan, this is not appropriate."
"The only thing not appropriate is this ceremony. She does not have the power to appoint him."
"The town charter clearly states the Mayor shall appoint-"
"A candidate. You could appoint a candidate. It calls for an election."
"The term 'candidate' is applied loosely."
"No, it's not. It requires a vote. And guess what, Madam Mayor? I'm running."
"Fine. So is Sidney."
"I am?" Sidney asked, earning a look from Regina. "I am."
"With my full support," Regina added. "I guess we'll learn a little something about the will of the people."
Emma pursed her lips. "I guess we will."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Rumplestiltskin and the beggar sitting by the fire shared some stew. Baelfire and Bindi were asleep.
"Another day gone," Rumplestiltskin said. "There'll be no fleeing, now."
"No. You need to find another way," the beggar told him. "You need to choose a different path."
"Choose? What choice do I have?"
"Everyone has a choice."
"I'm the town coward. The only choice I have is which corner to hide in. I'm lame, friendless... The only thing I've got is my boy. And they're going to take him away from me. If they take him away, I would truly, truly become dust."
"Not if you have power."
"You may as well say diamonds."
"Get a hold of yourself! Think. Why do you think that someone as powerful as the Dark One would work for a useless fool like the Duke of the Frontlands?"
"Tell me."
"The Duke has the Dark One in thrall. He's enslaved him with the power of a mystical dagger and on the blade is written a name – the true name of the Dark One. If you steal the dagger, then you would control the Dark One yourself. And then no one would be able to take your son and daughter away from you."
"To keep a man like the Dark One as a slave? No, I... I-I can't. I'd be terrified."
"Then, perhaps, instead of controlling the power, you need to take it."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - MR. GOLD'S SHOP
Mr. Gold was staring at the flame from a lighter. Regina entered and he put the flame out.
"Regina," Mr. Gold greeted.
She flipped the sign on the door to the 'closed' sign.
"Shall I move some things?" Mr. Gold questioned. "Make a bit of space for your rage?"
"You found that loophole in the town charter," Regina said.
"Legal documents -- contracts, if you like. Always been a fascination of mine."
"Yes, you love to trifle with technicalities."
"I like small weapons, you see. The needle, the pen, the fine point of a deal. Subtlety -- not your style, I know."
"You're a bastard."
"I think your grief's getting the better of you, Regina. Shame what happened to Graham."
"Don't you talk about him. You know nothing."
"What is there to know? He died."
"Are you really going up against me?"
"Not directly. We are, after all, both invested in the common good. We're just picking different sides."
"Well, I think you picked a really slow horse this time. It's not like you to back a loser."
"She hadn't lost yet."
"She will."
"Never underestimate someone who's acting for their child."
"He's not her child. Not legally."
"Oh, now who's trifling with technicalities?"
GRANNY'S DINER
Henry and Natalie were sitting at a booth at Granny's Diner reading a newspaper. Emma entered and sat next to Henry.
"How was school?" she asked Henry.
"Okay," Henry replied.
"You're reading that paper pretty hard."
"Sidney wrote it."
He passed the paper to Emma and she looked at the article about her. 'Ex-Jailbird -- Emma Swan birthed babe behind bars'. "Is it a lie?"
"No."
"I was born in jail?"
"Yes. These records were supposed to be sealed. Tell me you aren't scarred for life."
"I'm not. Well, not by this."
"Good. Then, let's throw this out and we will get our news from something more reliable. Like the Internet."
Henry frowned. "This is what I've been trying to tell you -- good can't be evil, because good doesn't do this kind of thing. My mom plays dirty -- that's why you can't beat her. Ever."
"I have a new ally. Mr. Gold said he's going to help."
"Mr. Gold? He's even worse than she is. You already owe him one favor. You really don't want to owe him any more. Don't do this."
Natalie met Emma's eyes. "Henry is right. Gold is dangerous and you need to be careful around him."
---
Emma and Natalie entered Regina's office at the Town Hall, newspaper in hand.
"This was a juvie record," Emma said. "This was sealed by court order. I don't know how you got it, but that's abuse of power and illegal."
"Oh, I'm sorry," Regina replied. "You didn't want people to know how you cut their cords with a shiv?"
"I don't care what people know, but this hurts Henry."
"He would've learned eventually. We all lose our heroes at some point."
Emma, Natalie and Regina exited the office and walked through the building.
Emma continued. "He doesn't need to lose anything more. He's depressed, Madam Mayor. He doesn't have any... Any hope. Don't you see that?"
"He's fine," Regina said.
"He's not fine," Natalie argued. "I mean, think about it. Watching his adoptive mother throw an illegal smear campaign against his birth mother? You don't think that would be upsetting?"
"All I did was expose him to the truth. And as for the legality -- I did nothing wrong. But you, Miss Swan, and Sidney will have a chance to get into all that at the debate."
"Debate?" Emma repeated.
"Yes, Miss Swan, there's a debate. You two can talk about jail time and juvie records and maybe even your new association with Mr. Gold. He's a snake, Miss Swan. You need to be careful who you get into bed with."
"I'm not getting into bed with anyone. I'm just fighting fire with-"
Regina opened the door and an explosion was set off, setting the next room on fire. Emma, Natalie and Regina were thrown back from the blast. Regina's ankle and Natalie's arm were crushed by a piece of debris and were immobilized.
Emma freed Regina, while Natalie managed to free herself, and said, "All right, come on -- let's go! We got to get out of here."
"I can't move!" Regina cried. "You have to get me out. Help me!"
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Baelfire, Bindi and Rumplestiltskin were outside their house. Rumplestiltskin wound wool up on short sticks made of wood. Baelfire and Bindi soaked wool in hot sheep's fat.
"Keep that fire good and stoked, Bae, Bindi," Rumplestiltskin instructed. "The sheep's fat needs to be liquid and get that wool good and soaked."
"Why are we doing this, Papa?" Baelfire asked. "This is good wool. We can spin and sell-"
"These are our keys to the castle, son. And once I'm inside there's something I have to take."
"What do you need to take?" Bindi questioned.
"That old beggar? He told me a fine tale – about the Duke and his magical dagger."
"What does it do?"
"If I own that dagger, I control the Dark One." He pantomimed stabbing someone with a dagger. "If I kill the Dark One with the dagger, I take his powers."
"By god's name," Baelfire commented.
Rumplestiltskin, with excitement, said, "Imagine me with those powers. Can you imagine me with those powers, Bae, Bindi? I could get to redeem myself. I could turn it towards good. I'll save all the children of the Frontlands – not just you, my boy, my girl."
"I'd love to see that, I'm sure Bindi would too, but if the law says I'm to fight, I... I can fight."
"No, no, no! The law doesn't want you to fight, son. The law wants you to die. That's not battle – that's sacrifice, son. You look at that red in the sky. That's not the... The fires of the battlefields – that's the blood of our people, son. It's the blood of children. The blood of children like you. I mean, what sane person would want to get involved with that?"
"So, it's true."
"What?"
"It's true. It's true you ran."
"I had no choice, son."
"And Mother?" Bindi asked sharply. "Did she leave you like the knight said? You told me and Bae she was dead."
Rumplestiltskin spoke in a low voice. "She is dead."
"So, what do we need to do?" Rumplestiltskin knelt down beside them.
"The Duke's castle is made of stone, but the floors and the rafters are made of wood."
"Why does that matter?" Baelfire and Bindi wondered.
"Because wood burns."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - MAYOR'S OFFICE
Emma went to leave, but Regina grabbed her arm and stopped her.
"You're going to leave me, aren't you?" Regina asked.
Emma broke free of Regina's grasp and walked into the room on fire. Regina tried to get up on her own, but Emma came back with a fire extinguisher. She got the fire under control and cleared the way to the exit. Regina put her arm around Emma and Natalie's shoulders and they left the building. Outside, a reporter took a picture of them leaving and sirens sounded from a distance.
"Oh, ow, ow!" Regina yelled. "My ankle! Set me down gently!"
Natalie scoffed as she held her injured arm. "You're making a scene."
Emma frowned. "Seriously? You're complaining about how Natalie and I saved your life? You okay, Natalie?"
"The firemen are here," Regina said. "It's not like we were really in danger."
Natalie nodded. "I'll be okay."
Emma nodded before turning back to Regina. "Fine. Next time I'll just... I'll just... Ah, you know what? Next time, I'll do the same thing. And the time after that because that is what decent human beings do. That's what good people do."
Emma walked away from Regina and Natalie followed Emma.
Henry was standing by the fire truck, talking with a firefighter.
"Did Emma and Natalie really rescue my mom?" Henry asked.
Regina was on a stretcher with an oxygen mask. She overheard Henry and threw off the mask in anger before crying, "Enough!"
"Regina," the paramedic called.
"I'm fine," Regina replied.
Sidney ran up to Regina with a camera and took a picture. "Nice shot of the victim?"
"Sidney? What the hell are you doing? Are you trying to hand the election to her?
"But it's news."
"She's the competition, you fool."
Natalie's arm was checked out, but to her relief, it wasn't broken.
Emma and various townspeople were talking in a group.
"Did you really rescue Regina?" Mary Margaret asked.
"She did!" Henry cried. "The fireman said it. They saw it."
"You are a hero," Ruby said.
"We should see if they have a picture of the rescue," Mary Margaret suggested.
"We could make campaign posters," Granny said.
"Oh, people would love that!" Archie exclaimed. "That's a great idea. Wait, so..."
The group walked away, leaving Emma, Henry and Natalie alone.
Emma looked at her son. "This is how good wins. You do something good and people see it, and then they want to help you."
"Maybe you're right," Henry replied.
"You see, Henry? We don't have to fight dirty."
In the pile of debris, Emma and Natalie noticed the same fabric that Mr. Gold was preparing in his shop when the former had talked with him earlier.
Emma picked up the fabric and made her way to Mr. Gold's shop, followed by Natalie.
MR. GOLD'S SHOP
Emma and Natalie entered and Mr. Gold said, "Loads of visitors today. Do hope you're not going to break my little bell." He stared at Natalie, seeing a resemblance, but he couldn't quite determine if it was truly her or not.
"You set the fire," Emma told him.
"I've been right here, Miss Swan."
"Take a whiff. It smells like your sheep crap oil. Turns out it's flammable."
"Oh. Are you sure? There's some construction working on at City Hall at the moment. There's loads of flammable solvents used in construction."
"Why did you do it?" Natalie asked.
""If" I did it. If I did it, that would be because you cannot win without something big. Something like, uh... Oh, I don't know. Being the hero in a fire?"
"How could you even know I'd be there at the right time?" Emma questioned.
"Maybe Regina's not the only one with eyes and ears in this town. Or maybe... I'm just intuitive -- were I involved."
"I could've run and left her there."
"Not the type."
"I can't go along with this."
"You just did. This is just the price of election, Miss Swan."
"A price I'm not willing to pay. Find another sucker."
"Okay, go ahead -- expose me. But if you do, just think about what you'll be exposing and what you'll be walking away from."
Emma headed for the door as Mr. Gold said, "Oh, yes. And, um... Who you might be exposing."
Natalie glanced at Emma. "No matter what happens, you did the right thing. And that's something you should be proud of."
Emma nodded. "Thanks, Natalie."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Baelfire, Bindi and Rumplestiltskin were outside the Duke's castle. Rumplestiltskin lit one of the torches they'd made earlier and set a pile of straw on fire. The fire spread along the castle's walls. Burning wooden joints and cracks sounded as the fire spread inside the castle and burned ceilings and rafters. Some burning rafters fell to the ground. Rumplestiltskin entered a hall with flags standing along the walls. Rumplestiltskin put one silver-green banner aside, revealing the hidden dagger behind it. He took the dagger. Briefly, the name Zoso written on the blade could be seen. Then, Rumplestiltskin left the castle.
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - TOWN HALL
People were standing outside. Above the entrance, there was a banner about the debate for the Sheriff's election. Mary Margaret was stapling posters promoting Emma on the bulletin board. She ran into David, who was also putting up posters.
"David!" Mary Margaret greeted. "Hi!"
"Mary Margaret," David called. "Hi."
"I was just, uh..."
"Yeah, yeah. Me too."
"How are things?"
"Okay. Oh, I got a job. Yeah, I'm working at the animal shelter."
"Really?"
"Yeah."
"So. Sidney." She nodded to the poster David was holding up.
"My wife is friends with Regina, so..."
"Oh, right. How is Kathryn?"
"Good. She's meeting me here later."
"That's wonderful. Well, I'm all out of posters. I'm going to go get some more."
Sidney was getting ready for the debate. Archie was practicing his opening speech.
"Citizens of Storybrooke," Archie greeted. "Uh, we welcome you to, uh... Welcome, citizens of Storybrooke, uh... Uh, we welcome you, citizens of Storybrooke. Welcome, uh..."
Emma was waiting at the podium. Mary Margaret came up to her and handed her a piece of paper and a bottle of water.
"I'm not going to win," Emma said.
Mary Margaret frowned. "What are you talking about? Everyone's talking about what you did in the fire."
"No, Henry is right -- I can't beat Regina at this. Not the way she fights. Watch and see."
"Is this really just about beating Regina."
"It's just..."
"Henry."
"I want to show him that good can actually win."
"That's why you want to win it for him, but why do you want to win the election for yourself?"
"That is why. I want to show him that a hero can win. And if I'm not... If I'm not a hero and I'm not the savior, then what part to I have in his life? Okay. There it is."
"There it is."
Emma drew back the curtains a third time. She noticed Mr. Gold entering the Town Hall.
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Baelfire and Bindi were waiting in the woods for Rumplestiltskin return. After a while, Rumplestiltskin joined them in the woods.
"Papa!" Baelfire and Bindi cried.
"Oh, Bae, Bindi," Rumpelstiltskin greeted.
"Bindi and I were so worried for you," Baelfire said. "Are... Are you burned? The castle-"
"I'm fine, son. I'm fine. I need you to go home and wait for me there."
"Come with us – please. We have a bad feeling."
"Bae, Bindi, this is something I have to do on my own. Go home, son! Take your sister!" Baelfire and Bindi hesitated to leave. "Go home and wait for me, Bae, Bindi. I'll be back. You two go." Baelfire and Bindi turned and left, looking back at their father for a moment. As soon as Baelfire and Bindi had left, Rumplestiltskin took out The Dark One's Dagger. He held it up in the air, so he could read the name written on the blade by the light of the torch. "Zoso! Zoso! I summon thee-" At first sight, nothing happened. Rumplestiltskin lowered the dagger and turned around. Standing behind him, the Dark One frightened Rumplestiltskin. Rumplestiltskin quickly took a few steps backwards. The torch fell to the ground.
"You were asking for me?" Zoso, who was wearing a hood his face is in the shades, said.
Rumplestiltskin, in order to keep Zoso at a distance, advanced the dagger. "Submit, oh Dark One! I control you."
"Yes, you do. Wield the power wisely. You can wield it anytime now. It's almost dawn. That means it's your son's birthday. I bet Hordor and his men are already on their way to your house."
"No, they can't take him."
"You don't control them. You control me. Have you ever wondered was he really your child at all. Unlike you, he's not a coward and yearns to fight and die in glory."
"No..."
"What a poor bargain that would be to lay down your soul to have your bastard son. So, I ask you, what would you have me to do?"
"Die!" He stabbed Zoso. They fell to the ground. In the torch's light, the Dark One's face changed revealing that he was the beggar. Zoso laughed. Rumplestiltskin recognized him. He was shocked. "It's you. You are the beggar."
Zoso's rasping breath was audible. "Looks like you made a deal you didn't understand. I don't think you gonna do that again."
"You told me to kill you."
"My life was such a burden. You'll see. Magic always comes with a price. And now, it's yours to pay."
"Why me? Why me?"
"I know how to recognize a desperate soul." Zoso stopped breathing and died.
"No! No! Stay! You have to tell me what to do! Tell me what to do." Rumplestiltskin hand which held the dagger changed to a grey color. Removing the dagger from Zoso's body, Rumplestiltskin noticed that his name was written on the dagger's blade.
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - TOWN HALL
Archie gave his opening speech. Emma and Sidney were sitting on either side of him.
Archie looked at the audience. "Tragedy has brought us here, but we are faced with this decision. And now, we ask only that you listen with an open mind and to please vote your conscience. So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you to the candidates -- Sidney Glass and Emma Swan. Glass. Swan. Sounds like something that a decorator would make you buy. Wow, crickets. Okay, uh... Uh, Mr. Glass -- your opening statement."
Sidney walked up to the podium. "I just want to say, that if elected, I want to serve as a reflection of the best qualities of Storybrooke. Honesty, neighborliness, and strength. Thank you."
He sat back down and Archie called Emma. "And Emma Swan."
Emma walked up to the podium. "You guys all know I have what they call a, uh... Troubled past. But, you've been able to overlook it because of them, um... Hero thing. But here's the thing -- the fire was a setup. Mr. Gold agreed to support me in this race, but I didn't know that that meant he was going to set a fire. I don't have definitive evidence, but I'm sure.And the worst part of all this was -- the worst part of all this is-- I let you all think it was real. And I can't win that way. I'm sorry."
Mr. Gold got up from the audience and left.
GRANNY'S DINER
Emma finished off a drink. Ruby, who was behind the counter, asked, "Another?"
"Oh, hell, yes," Emma replied.
Natalie nodded. "Definitely."
Ruby went to get another drink and Henry entered the diner, sitting on one side of Emma.
"Hey, Henry," Emma and Natalie said.
Henry pulled a walkie talkie from his backpack and handed it to Emma.
She looked at it. "What's this for?"
"You stood up to Mr. Gold," Henry explained. "It's pretty amazing."
"Well, he did something illegal."
"That's what heroes do -- expose stuff like that. I shouldn't have given up on Operation Cobra."
Regina and Sidney entered the diner.
Regina frowned at Emma. "I thought I might find you here. With a drink. And my son."
"Here to card me, officer?" Emma shot back.
Sidney shook his head. "Well, not at all. In fact, I think I'll join you."
"Here? I don't know. I think they're setting up a back room for the victory party."
"Oh, well, you'll have to tell me what that's like."
"Congratulations. ...Sheriff Swan," Regina said, pulling out the Sheriff's badge and placed it on the counter.
"Wait, what?" Henry asked.
People gathered in the diner.
Regina continued. "It was a very close vote, but people really seem to like the idea of a Sheriff brave enough to stand up to Mr. Gold."
"Are you joking?" Emma questioned.
Sidney shook his head again. "She doesn't joke."
Regina looked at Emma. "You didn't pick a great friend in Mr. Gold, Miss Swan, but he does make a superlative enemy. Enjoy that."
Natalie smiled proudly. "I told you. Congratulations, Sheriff Swan."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Hordor and a group of his knights were at Rumplestiltskin's house. They took Baelfire with them. Bindi ran out, trying to grab her brother to pull him back, but was kept away from him.
"Everyone's watching from behind their curtains today," Hordor said as a soldier holding the reins of Hordor's horse suddenly fell to the ground. Rumplestiltskin stabbed him with the dagger. Hordor knelt. "Dark One." Rumplestiltskin walked towards him. "No... Who are you?"
"Have you forgotten me already?" Rumplestiltskin asked. "What was it you used to call me again? Spindleshanks?" He snapped his fingers. "Hobblefoot."
"Papa?" Baelfire and Bindi called.
"Rumplestiltskin," Hordor realized.
"Wonderful," Rumplestiltskin said. "And now, you shall know me as the new Dark One. How about a little fealty? Kiss my boot." When Hordor bent over, Rumplestiltskin grabbed him, and then snapped his neck.
"No, Papa!" Baelfire and Bindi yelled as Rumplestiltskin killed the rest of the knights with the dagger. Bindi screamed and covered her eyes. Baelfire pulled his sister closer.
"Papa? What has happened to you?" Baelfire asked.
"You're safe, Bae. You are too, Bindi. Do you feel safe, son, dear?" He approached Baelfire and Bindi. Traits of blood were visible on the dagger's blade.
"No. We're frightened."
"I'm not. I protected what belongs to me and I'm not scared of anything."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
Emma entered the Sheriff's office and noticed a jacket hanging on the coat rack.
Mr. Gold walked in. "The Sheriff's jacket -- I thought you might want it after all."
Emma narrowed her eyes. "You do know I'm armed, right?"
"It's all part of the act, my dear. Political theater in an actual theater. I knew no one was going to vote for you unless we gave you some kind of extraordinary quality, and I'm afraid saving old Regina's arse from the fire just wasn't going to do that. We had to give you a higher form of bravery. They had to see you defy me -- and they did."
"No way. There's no way you planned that."
"Everyone's afraid of Regina, but they're more afraid of me. By standing up to me, you won the over. It was the only way."
"You knew I'd agree."
"Oh, yeah. I know how to recognize a desperate soul."
"Why did you do this?"
"We made a deal some time back, Miss Swan. We established that you owed me a favor. I know that can be a bad feeling -- owing someone. Now that you're Sheriff, I'm sure we'll find some way for you to pay back what you owe me. Congratulations."