ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
The Evil Queen's carriage went back to the castle. The Evil Queen saw a group of people on her land and said, "Stop the carriage." Regina and her father got out of the carriage. "Good day, citizens. Enjoying the meadow?"
"Indeed," the pastor replied. "It seemed perfect for our wedding ceremony."
"It is lovely. But see, the thing is, these are part of the royal lands, and I don't recall giving you permission to marry here. The groom: We didn't know. We had just... Uhh!" Regina ripped the heart of the groom.
"Oh!" everyone cried.
"Your majesty," Henry said. "Could you be overreacting because of what day it is?"
"Don't talk to me about this day, Daddy," Regina told him.
"But you need the support of your citizens, your majesty. To alienate them would be short sighted and weak."
"I'm not weak! I was going to spare you, but someone just made me angry." Regina crushed the groom's heart. "Next time there's a wedding, book the church... Make your way home. I have someplace to go." Regina left.
DANIEL'S GRAVE
"Mother," Regina said.
"It's been too long," Cora stated.
NEW YORK - PRESENT
Regina and Robin Hood had a drink in a bar.
"So..." Regina began.
"Yeah," Robin said.
"So you moved on... With her."
"That's not fair. You understood. You agreed."
"Understanding it and seeing it are different."
"That's hardly the most important point here. My son. Zelena's not gonna keep wearing that glamour, and Roland's not gonna understand where his mother's gone. For him to lose her again..."
"A forgetting potion. Just take him back to before the fake Marian showed up. He'll lose time, but it's better, right?"
"Yes. Thank you... God, poor Marian... And Zelena... Just killing her like she meant nothing so she could play out this sad farce with us. I just... I wanna... But I can't. I mean, I-I knew that things didn't feel right, but I just didn't know why."
"I'm sorry. This was all about me. For her, this was all about... Making sure I never get my happy ending."
"If by happy ending, you mean us, then... At least, in a way, that's possible again. Look, it's messy, I know, but... Between us..."
"Is a huge obstacle. And it's going to get bigger every day, and not just for nine months either. It's a lifetime she has cooking in there. No matter what happens from now on, there's going to be this child. You're tied together in a way... In a way we'll never be. I'm such an idiot to think that life wouldn't kick me in the teeth again."
"I hear you. Just..."
"Just what?"
"What do we do now?"
NEAL'S APARTMENT
"Can't believe this survived all that time," Emma said.
"This place that belonged to your..." Lily trailed.
"His name was Neal. He was a lot of things to me. Now he's just gone, thanks to her."
"Sorry? I think I just felt it kick," Zelena told them. "You wouldn't want to rattle an expectant mother now, would you?"
Regina and Robin Hood returned and the former said, "Everyone, pack up. You, too. We're going back to Storybrooke. Tonight."
STORYBROOKE - GRANNY'S DINER
"What is this?" Isaac asked.
"It's a bagel," Mr. Gold replied.
"Is it?"
Hook entered and said, "Did you hear?"
"This is why I hate this place," Mr. Gold muttered. "Are you sure you wanna start the day by tangling with the Dark One?"
"Hmm. The Dark One who can't strike back without charring his heart. You're toothless, old dog. So I get to give you the good news. Emma's already on her way back. And guess what? She didn't turn evil after all. So I get to find my happiness, and you will never find yours. Now for you, never is a long, long time."
"Well, that's bad news," Isaac noted. "Emma's in charge of happy endings around here. The ink has to contain her blood. It has to governed by her dark impulses. No dark savior... No ink." Mr. Gold coughed. "You okay? What was he saying about your heart?"
"I'll be perfectly fine once I find another way to get that ink," Mr. Gold told him.
"You think there's a loophole?"
"Well, there always is. Let's go." Mr. Gold coughed again. "Forget walking. I have a better idea."
---
Emma, Nevaeh and Regina parked their car. Hook, Henry, Jefferson, Mary Margaret, David, Scarlet, Grace, Tobias, Tatiana and Maleficent came to welcome them. Emma and Nevaeh hugged Henry, Jefferson, Grace, Tatiana, Tobias, Scarlet and Hook but the former refused to hug her parents.
"Hey," Emma greeted. "All right. Maleficent... This is Lily. This is your daughter."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - DANIEL'S GRAVE
"You show up on the anniversary of killing the man that I loved?" Regina said. "To what, rub salt in the wound?"
"To apologize," Cora replied.
"I see. How did you get out of the looking glass?"
"I borrowed a rabbit. Wonderland's an amazing place. And I've learned a lot. I understand now why you had to send me away. Without me, you've become your own person, and... And I'm very proud of you."
"What do you want, Mother?
"To help you. You've got beauty and strength and power. I just wanna help you get that final piece... Love."
"I had that piece. You took it and tore its heart out."
"The Stable Boy."
"Daniel! His name was Daniel."
"Yes. I made a terrible mistake. You see, I was fine with a loveless marriage. I thought you'd be the same. And now I realize that you feel things more deeply than I do. No, you really do. You deserve more than I had."
"Little late, isn't it?"
"Oh, we both know that's not true. I had an encounter with a certain wingless fairy who told me of a failed attempt to connect you with your soulmate."
"You met Tinker Bell?"
"Indeed. She told me, Regina. There is someone out there for you, someone you're fated to be with, and I'm here to find him."
"I'll believe it when I see it."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT
Regina led Zelena to her new home.
"No, I mean it," Zelena said. "I've no reason to escape."
"And with that cuff, you won't have the magic to do it either," Regina told her. "Oh, look. Home."
"Mmm. Dank. Isn't it? I'm glad I thought of it."
"And right upstairs, our O.B., Dr. Whale, gives the finest care this side of the fictional alps. The perfect temporary home."
"Yes. This home is temporary. But me being in your life is not, because this..." She ra a hand along her stomach. "Means forever."
"Okay, Zelena. You wanna start talking truth? Tell me, why are you so confident? Tell me, what's gonna make you feel safe at night once that baby's born?"
"The fact that if you kill me, Robin will always know that you murdered the mother of his child."
"You underestimate me, Zelena. Enjoy your new home."
MR. GOLD'S SHOP
"Get anything on blood magic, but be quick," Mr. Gold said. "I've just remembered something in the back that might help." He ripped his heart and watched the last red spot. Someone entered.
"What are you doing here?" Isaac asked.
"What do you want?" Mr. Gold wondered.
"I want the Author..." Regina replied. "Finding him was my idea before you stole it... What's wrong with you? You look terrible."
"Nothing. I'm fine."
"Oh, it's your heart, isn't it? It's finally happening."
"Yeah. It's dying. Bad news for you and me both."
"You said it would kill your ability to love. You didn't say that... The Dark One can't die, not like that."
"No, but Rumpelstiltskin can. A friendly warning... You don't wanna face the Dark One when there's no one else at home. So I suggest you don't antagonize me."
"Oh, but it doesn't really matter. By definition, when I get my happy ending, I'll be... Guess what? Happy. So I don't really care what you'll be up to."
"No, you... You're just being short sighted. Look. I have the quill. You and I can... Work together. We... We could figure out a way to... To find that ink."
"Yes, you look like you're up for some serious collaboration... Thank you. I'll figure out the ink on my own."
"No, no, no."
"Goodbye, dearie."
"No."
Regina left with the Author and Mr. Gold passed out.
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Cora entered a pub.
"You are too good for this place, m'lady," the Sheriff of Nottingham said.
"You'd be surprised. Who are you?"
"They call me Nottingham. The sheriff of Nottingham, actually. Come."
"My name's Cora, and I'm looking for a man."
"Well..."
"A specific man. He has a tattoo on his arm of a lion... Right here."
"Robin Hood. Sounds like you're talking about Robin Hood."
"Tell me more, sheriff."
"Oh, no, no, no, you don't want him, darling. He is a sanctimonious blowhard who thinks he's better than all the other thieving bastards because he steals from the rich... To give to the poor and won't shut up about it."
"That sounds insufferable."
"Mm."
"But my daughter has her heart set on him. The things we do for our children."
"Mmm. Well, he's all married up now, I hear, to some sickly little tart that no one else would want."
"Wives can be gotten rid of, so I hear."
"I think I could help you find him... For a price."
"Maybe I'm closer to finding what I was looking for than I realized. Let's talk some more."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - REGINA'S VAULT
"So if I have this straight, you thought Emma was going to go dark, and she didn't. So the whole operation's dead?" Regina questioned.
"Right," Isaac confirmed. "The energy of her darkest potential has to charge the ink."
"Okay, let's think."
"It's a shame. I mean... Writing a happy ending for the Evil Queen. Well, you... you've always been a favorite of mine. Very clear goals plus totally damaged personality with a self-destructive streak? A recipe for compelling. And of all the characters I've written for, you really do get screwed over the most."
"I'm well aware."
"By the way, I-I was only working with Rumpelstiltskin because he was able to protect me. So, you can trust me."
"And you can really do as you say? Take a look at this. This page... It says my happy ending is possible, doesn't it? I mean, it has to exist for a reason."
"Whoa. I wrote this. I mean, the story with this drawing in it, from my... Well, a-a little experimental writing I did for another book that I never got the chance to write. Where did you get this?"
"It just turned up one day in Robin's things."
"I don't know how that happened, but it... Yeah, it suggests that something is looking out for you."
"Something? Well, could you be more vague?"
"You know as well as I, there are forces greater than all of us. But no matter how you got that, gosh, I am a fan. I'd be happy to write whatever you want if... You only had the ink."
"Oh, I already figured that part out. I know exactly where to find it."
GRANNY'S DINER
"You're so beautiful... Sorry. I just... Just... You are, that's all," Maleficent stammered.
"So how are we gonna get revenge on Snow White and Prince Charming?" Lily asked.
"Now that I see you, I don't wanna waste our time on revenge. I understand why you want it. It's suddenly so clear we should only look forward."
"Seriously? We're gonna let them get away with this?"
"We can be happy in the future or we can be angry about the past."
"Let's do both. Look, all these years since I figured out what happened, I-I've been trying to figure out how two humans could get me away from a freakin' dragon. But now I get it. You're a pushover. What'd they do, rub your belly? Give you a dragon treat?"
"Lily... No. I did everything I could. But all I wanna do now is enjoy our time together. I am your mother."
"Well, I'm grown up now. I don't need grooming advice from Annie Hall. I gotta go."
"Wait! Wait. Please. If you go, if you leave town, you can't get back in. I can't leave at all. I'll crumble back into the dust that I was before Gold revived me."
"Man, that's a bummer."
"Please. Can't you just wait a little while longer? Things could look different in a week."
"Send me a postcard."
---
Mary Margaret opened her door. It was Maleficent.
"David," Mary Margaret called.
"I'm not here to kill you," Maleficent told them.
"Okay..." David began.
"I just... I just want my daughter. Lily isn't with you?"
"She's leaving."
"And you think we can help," Mary Margaret added. "Come in."
"You cast the second curse," Maleficent reminded them. "Can you... Is there a way for you to seal the borders the way Regina did?"
"I don't know how to do what you want. But that wouldn't be the right way, anyway. If she's upset, you have to get to the heart of what's wrong."
"I don't know what's wrong. I don't know her."
"Well, she's acting a lot like Emma did when she first came here," David said. "She had these... Her walls were always up."
"She was afraid that if she opened herself up to me, I would let her down like everyone else had," Mary Margaret added. "And... Ultimately, I did."
"If you have any way to help... You didn't give her back to me then, but please, if you can help, do it now," Maleficent begged.
"Yes. Come on, David, let's find her."
---
Lily was waiting for a bus at the bus station.
"Thought I might find you here," Regina said. "Fair warning... bus service in these parts can be spotty. It's going to be a wait."
"Missed the part where that's your problem. Shove off," Lily retorted.
"I bet that mouth got you lots of attention back at the group home, but it doesn't work here. Now... Listen up. I've got some talking to do."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - REGINA'S CASTLE
"Cora. How... I thought..." Henry trailed.
"Yes, hello, get out, Henry," Cora told him and Henry left.
"Why are you here?" Regina asked.
"I have news. I found your man."
"You found him?"
"He's on his way."
"He's on his way? Mother."
"Come." Cora used her power to change Regina's dress.
"You remembered. I love this color. I can't believe you did all this."
"I told you, I've learned."
"Thank you. For the dress."
"Oh, you're welcome, darling. Now turn around and meet him."
The Sheriff of Nottingham arrived, not Robin Hood and said, "Your majesty."
"I think I'll leave the two of you alone. Enjoy your evening together."
CASTLE GARDEN
"You know, this apple tree used to stand near where I grew up?" Regina said. "There was a Stable Boy I liked once, and we used to meet underneath it."
"Stable Boy?" the Sheriff of Nottingham repeated. "Well, you certainly have come up in the world since consorting with a lowly Stable Boy, I'd say."
"Have I? I don't feel like I've gone anywhere but down."
"Oh, you just need... Some manly arms to lift you up. Now you let me be the strong one so that you can be weak when you want to be."
"Weak?"
"Well... Feminine."
"Manly arms... Like these?"
"Hello, there... Oh! Glory of... What are you doing?!"
Regina used her magic on Nottingham's fake tattoo. "That's not a real tattoo. That's magic. Who put that on there?"
"Stop it. Ah!"
"Was it Mother?!"
"Ah! Yes! Ah! She told me to pretend to be your soul mate, and that I could be the king. Ah, just it off me!"
"What does she get out of it?"
"Ow! Just stop it!"
"What does she get out of it?!"
"She said that she wanted you to have a child."
Regina stopped her magic. "What?"
"She said she wanted you to have a child. And I... and I don't know why."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - BUS STATION
"You know about Snow and Charming getting you banished, putting Emma's potential for darkness into you," Regina said.
"Sent me through the portal in my eggshell, like baby Moses in his basket. And unless you have any ideas about giving them what they deserve..." Lily trailed.
"Let's not worry about what they deserve. Let's work on what we deserve."
"I deserve them dead."
"Well... You do have some darkness in you, don't you? Thing is, a lot of that darkness, that actually belongs to Emma. And right now, it's good and riled up. And riled up savior darkness is exactly what I need."
"The only thing you need, lady, is to get out of my way."
"And here I thought we could have a civil conversation... Guess I should just cut to the chase." Regina cut Lily's hand.
"Hey! Stop! Ah! You're out of your mind!"
Regina put Lily's blood into the ink. "Welcome to Storybrooke."
Lily's eyes turned yellow.
David, Mary Margaret and Maleficent were driving. They heard a noise. Lily, turned into a dragon, was on her way.
"Lily?" Maleficent called as Lily flew away. "Lily."
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST
Cora met Regina in her bedroom and asked, "So how did it go? He's not still here, is he?"
"Oh, but he is," Regina replied. "He wanted to see the dungeon."
"Oh, for heaven's sake, you're having a tantrum. There. He's home now, poor thing."
"Why'd you let him go? Don't you want someone else to suffer for what you did? Like usual."
"I don't understand. I thought you were getting along."
"Well... I haven't known a lot of love in my life, but... I do know that's not what a soul mate feels like."
"Your so-called "soul mate" is a married, moralizing sap. The one I found is much better."
"You were never interested in my happiness."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT
Regina visited Zelena with the Author and said, "Hello, Zelena."
"Oh, visitors," Zelena commented. "I'll put the kettle on."
"I've got The Author and I've got the ink. I wanted you to witness the moment he writes me my heart's desire. See, this is my town and this is my story. You've just been a supporting player this whole time."
"Yeah, see, I'm not here to support you. I'm here to replace you. Out with the old, and in with the new."
"Really? We'll see about that."
"Wait. What exactly is he going to write?"
"Oh, I've given that a lot of thought. There are so many good options. But I think, after much deliberation, I've come up with the perfect ending for you, sis."
HARBOR
"What are we lookin' at?" Emma wondered.
"The horizon," Hook replied.
"Is it doing something?"
"Well, I just thought you'd find it calming."
"It is. So is rum."
Nevaeh nodded. "You're not wrong."
Jefferson studied his wife before saying, "Veah, I can tell that your heart is uneasy."
Hook nodded. "I can tell your heart is uneasy, Emma. And it's Jefferson's and my job... Well, I hope it's our job, to protect your hearts, even when no one is physically trying to steal it."
Nevaeh met her husband's eyes. "You two don't have to stop us from going after Gold. Emma and I are smarter than that. He didn't turn her heart dark, and I didn't fall prey to the darkness, and we're not gonna fall into one of his traps."
"I'm not worried him getting to your heart," Jefferson said. "I was referring to Emma's parents."
"Oh, we talked about this," Emma said.
"Jefferson and I talked, you two walked away," Hook corrected. "I just wanna know, is anything gonna be enough? Or are you willing to lose them just to spite them?"
"Gimme back the rum."
"They've done a lot of good. Turned themselves into heroes. Yes. I know they didn't own up to what they did. But did you ever think maybe they were ashamed? And they wanted you to like them."
"I'd like them more if... I'd known they turned themselves around. I like when people find their good hearts along the way."
"They were trying to protect you, Swan. Twice. Before you were born, they wanted to make you happy. And when they found you again, they wanted to make you proud. Do you want both those to be failures?"
Nevaeh's eyes flashed. "They hold themselves as paragons of hope yet have done great harm."
"Aye, and they're trying to make up for their mistakes," Hook stated. "Nevaeh, I know you understand that."
She looked away and nodded slowly.
WOODS
"It headed this way," David said.
"She," Mary Margaret corrected.
"Thank you," Maleficent replied. "I'm worried. You need to be taught to fly, and she was way too low. If one wing tip hit a tree, she could be badly hurt."
"And maybe hurt a lot of people around you, too," David added.
"David," Mary Margaret called.
They found Lily.
"Oh, she... She looks like me," Maleficent stated as she approached the dragon.
"Be careful," Mary Margaret warned.
"She's my daughter."
Mary Margaret followed Maleficent, David followed Mary Margaret and said, "Mary Margaret, no! Stop! She's out of control! Mary Margaret!"
Lily hit Mary Margaret who cried, "Aah! Uhh!"
"No!"
Lily blew fire and flew away.
Emma, Nevaeh, Jefferson and Hook arrived near Mary Margaret and David.
"Mom?!" Emma yelled.
"She hit her head hard," David told her.
"No, stay still." Emma healed her mother. "It's gonna take time to heal inside."
"I'm sorry I let you down again."
"You didn't."
"No, I was selfish."
"Yes, you were, but at some point this has to stop."
"Emma, I'm not ever going to stop trying to protect you, not ever. I don't care what you do or say."
"I know. I need to stop punishing you."
"You do?"
"You're a hero... If it happened at my expense, it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the good person you became, and it doesn't change what you are."
"Which is what?"
"My mom. You wanted to make me proud, so you li... Omitted the truth, which was kind of self-defeating, but human. Cutting you out and trying to hurt you has just made me miserable... Anyway, I miss you and I forgive you." Mary Margaret hugged Emma.
Nevaeh nodded. "She's right... Mary Margaret, you've become a close friend and I don't want to lose that. I apologize for my behavior."
Mary Margaret smiled. "I forgive you."
"As do I." The two hugged.
---
Maleficent found Lily and asked, "Are you all right?"
"I'm not sure just yet," Lily replied.
"You know, I was going to give you something earlier. This was supposed to be yours, but I never got a chance to give it to you... It's too late, isn't it? You're too grown up for everything. You don't need me. And I know that I'm not... I'm not what you were hoping for."
"I thought that you'd be this scary dragon bitch, and we'd go get our revenge. You know, blasting all those who did us wrong... But you're just... This real person. And you're so frickin' open, it kills me."
"Why does that kill you? I don't understand. Please, tell me."
"Because you want a relationship, a future. And anyone who's ever wanted that with me, it's just... It's never worked out. I've always let them down. I destroy everything that I touch. That darkness they put in me, it's serious business."
"I don't mind a little darkness." Maleficent hugged her daughter. "Look... Why don't you stay for a week, and I can teach you about being a scary dragon bitch?"
"Okay. One week."
ZELENA'S CELL
"You're just mad because I have with Robin Hood what you've always wanted," Zelena said. "A child."
"No, I already have a child. Henry. No, what I'm mad about is you trying to come between us. About you trying to hurt me. Now I'm going to see to it that you can never hurt anyone else again. Our Author here is going to write you out of the story... Forever."
"Sorry, sis. I think you're bluffing. You'd never take away Robin's baby."
"That's not how I look at it. You see, as far as everyone will be concerned, including me, it'll be as though you never existed."
"Wait, can he do that? Just change all of your memories?"
"Absolutely," Isaac replied. "The pen is mightier than the... Well, everything."
"Well... I never knew our mother, but I imagine I'm getting to know her right now."
"Is that so?" Regina questioned.
"She tossed me in a basket, sent me to Oz. She gave up a baby without even blinking an eye. And look at you now. You are exactly like her!"
ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST - REGINA'S BEDROOM
"You'll never be happy," Cora said. "You don't know how. But you do understand power, and you're about to lose it. Your people want Snow White to be queen. And unless you start building a dynasty, she'll take back the kingdom, and you'll lose it all."
"And when I die of a mysterious illness, you're the power behind the child-sized throne, right?" Regina shot back. "Well, guess what, mother? I found a way to keep that from ever happening."
"What is that?"
"A potion, to take away your future claim on the royal line."
"But you're not pregnant."
"And now I never will be. I won't be a baby mill for you, Mother."
"You'd never do that. This is a sham."
"Is it? You made it clear you don't think anyone's going to love me. So why not make it official? After all, love is weakness."
"I was wrong about that. The man... I really thought he was a good match. I'm very sorry. Now, we both know you're not going to drink that, so put it down and we can fix this."
"You don't think I'm strong enough to do this?"
"Stupid girl. You think it'll make you strong to hurt yourself?"
"Oh, it does if it hurts you more." Regina drank the potion.
"No. No."
"Get the hell out of my life!"
"Oh, Regina. I really did come here to help you. I love you. I wanted you to have a child for your own sake. If I wanted to take your power... I'd find a much more direct way. Now please take one last piece of motherly advice. I hope you learn what it's taken me a lifetime to realize about myself. The only one standing in the way of your happiness is you."
"Go back to Wonderland, Mother. I don't need you."
STORYBROOKE - PRESENT - ZELENA'S CELL
"Well, the ink is drying," Isaac said. "So what do you want me to do?"
"Nothing," Regina replied. "You didn't know our mother, Zelena, but I did. And yet, we both suffered. She hurt you and she hurt me, too. But our own worst enemy isn't her or each other. It's ourselves."
Robin Hood entered and cried, "Regina! Is everything all right? I've been looking all over for you."
"Everything's fine. I'm so tired of standing in the way of my own happiness, and I'm not going to do it anymore."
"Aw. Another woman defining her happiness relative to the love of a man," Zelena commented. "It's sad, really."
"Oh, don't get it wrong, Greenie. Robin isn't my happy ending. My happy ending is finally feeling at home in the world. Robin's just a part of that world... A world that you're going to be forced to watch from a distance, with the most restrictive visitation rights in history. See you at the next ultrasound."
"So you don't want me writing anything?" Isaac asked.
"No. I already have everything I need."
"Well, I don't."
The Author wrote while Regina and Robin Hood kissed and disappeared.
"Regina!" Robin called.
Regina picked up the page and said, "What the... No."
"What does it say?"
""Vanishing in a cloud of smoke, the Author slips away with the ink to where... Mr. Gold awaits.""
MR. GOLD'S SHOP
"How?" Mr. Gold wondered. "No, no. I don't care how. And I don't wanna waste time."
"That's what I thought," Isaac said. "Are you okay here?"
"I soon will be."
He tried to help Mr. Gold. "Here."
"Let go of me. Go and write."
"Write on what?"
Mr. Gold created a new book: Heroes and Villains. "Now then... It's time Villains finally win."
Isaac started to write.