Third Person POV:
STORYBROOKE
Mr. Gold knocked on the door to Mary Margaret's apartment and Emma answered.
"Ready to go, Miss Swan?" Mr. Gold asked.
"Almost," Emma replied.
Mr. Gold entered the apartment and Henry and Aubree entered the room with a suitcase and their coats.
"Do you think we'll be cold where we're going, or warm?" Henry wondered.
"I think layers are always a good idea," Emma replied.
Mr. Gold frowned. "I thought the terms of our agreement were quite clear. You owe me a favour - you alone."
"I'm not leaving Henry and Aubree here with Cora lurking about, so either we all go, or we all stay."
"Then, we'll have to purchase two more plane tickets, won't we?"
Mary Margaret helped Henry and Aubree put on their jackets as Emma said, "Wait. We're flying?"
"Don't worry, I'm covering expenses. Even the new ones."
David overheard the conversation as he came down the stairs and interjected. "You're a real gentlemen, aren't you? All right, Gold, you're going out there with my family. Just know, if anything happens to them..."
"Then you'll what? Cross the town line? And David Nolan will hunt me down in his animal rescue van?"
"I'll be devastated. This isn't a threat. It's a request. Take care of them."
"I promise no harm will come to your family. After all, we have a deal."
---
Mr. Gold, equipped with the shawl around his neck, was driving. Emma was in the passenger's seat and the twins were in back. They were heading down a deserted road in Mr. Gold's car.
"So... Where are we going?" Henry and Aubree asked.
"Logan International Airport," Mr. Gold replied.
"I think they meant after that," Emma said.
"Let just take things one step at a time, shall we?"
"You really think that shall's going to work?"
"Well, if it doesn't, and I revert to my cursed self, we're all going to have some problems. It'll work."
They passed the 'Leaving Storybrooke ' sign and a wave of magic passed over Mr. Gold. There was a brief pause.
"So?" Emma wondered.
"My name is Rumpelstiltskin. And we're going to find my son."
--
At Mary Margaret's apartment, Mary Margaret was in the kitchen when David entered wearing two gun holsters.
"You like the holster, huh?" she asked.
"I miss carrying a sword," David admitted.
"Well, it looks good on you."
"Come on. Leroy has the dwarves on Cora watch. They've got eyes everywhere, but they could use our help."
"Really? How hard can it be to find a powerful sorceress in a small town?"
They went to leave. When they open the door, they found Regina, who was preparing to knock.
"Apparently, not very hard," David commented.
"Regina," Mary Margaret said. "You're back."
"I know you think I'm responsible for poor Dr. Hopper's death," Regina told them.
"He's... Alive," David informed.
"What?"
"You were framed," Mary Margaret explained.
"Who would do that?"
"Your mother. She's here."
"But... But that's... That's... Not possible."
"When we found a way back, so did she. We were wrong... and we're so sorry."
"I know. But if Cora's here, then we're all in danger. Please, you have to let me see my son and daughter. I can protect them."
"They're not here."
"What?"
"Mr. Gold asked Emma to help him find his son," David replied. "They left town about an hour ago with Henry and Aubree."
"And no one told me?"
"We didn't know where you were," Mary Margaret answered. "And, to be honest, Regina, I don't think Emma has to run anything by you."
"No, I suppose she doesn't." She left.
"That went well."
"With her, it doesn't get much better," David said. "Come on. Let's go find Cora."
"Where?"
"No idea. But I know who to asked." He handed a quiver of arrows and a bow to Mary Margaret and they left.
---
David, Mary Margaret, Leroy and Hook were at the docks.
Hook, who walked with an obvious limp, said, "You didn't even ask me about my recovery."
"How are you feeling, Hook?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Come closer and feel for yourself."
David hit Hook. "You want to lose the other hand? Where's the ship? Come on. Archie told us. It's shielded somehow, isn't it, mate?"
"Aye... That it is. Follow me. I don't know what you expect to find. Cora won't be there."
"Well, maybe she left something behind that will tell us where she went. Let's go."
"No funny business," Leroy warned. "I'm watching you, pirate."
"Yes, Dwarf. That should deter me from any maleficence."
"Oh, don't worry, Leroy," Mary Margaret reassured. "He'll help us."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because you're a pirate. You know which way the wind blows, and, right now, it is gusting towards us."
"Oh. I see where your daughter got her gumption. Follow me."
They arrived at the pier where the ship was anchored. Hook walked up the invisible stairs and disappeared behind the shield. The rest followed suit.
"You sailed this ship from our land. Can you sail it back?" Leroy questioned.
"My ship?" Hook replied. "She's a marvel. Made from enchanted wood. We weathered many a storm together, seen many strange, glittering shores. But, to travel between lands, she must go through a portal."
"Yeah. What do you know about Cora's plans?" David asked.
"Cora's not the most communicative of lasses. I will tell you this - whatever malice she has in mind, her weapon of choice is in here."
Hook gestured to a tarp covered box. Leroy and David pulled back the tarp, revealing a cage. Inside, was the shrunken giant from the beanstalk. He was unconscious/sleeping.
"Who's that?" Mary Margaret wondered.
They gathered around Anton's cage.
"So, Cora used magic to make him travel-sized," Leroy said.
"Whatever she intends to do with him, it's important," Hook told them.
"Oh, I think you know exactly what she intends," David retorted. "You're holding out."
"Well, either have your lovely wife torture it out of me, which I promise will be fun for both-"
David grabbed Hook by the throat and shoved him against the wall. "Why don't you and I have some fun?"
"I don't know what she's planning. Why don't you wake the bloody giant and ask him yourself?"
Hook extended the key to the cage. Mary Margaret took it and unlocked the door. She crouched down and touched Anton on the shoulder who startled awake.
"Hey... It's all right," Mary Margaret told him. "You're safe now." Anton crawled out of the cage. "What's your name?"
"Anton," the shrunken giant replied. "Where's that witch?"
"She's gone."
"What did she do? She made me small."
"Come on. Let's get you out of here," David said.
"You."
"Me?"
"You!" He punched David in the face, causing him to fly backwards.
"David!" Mary Margaret cried.
"Hey!" Leroy called. "Hey, over here, you big-"
Leroy attempted to distract Anton, but was thrown down the stairs of the ship. Anton lunged at David who had drawn his gun. He easily hit it out of his hand.
Mary Margaret shot an arrow past Anton's head and ordered, "Step away from my husband."
"You may have me outnumbered, but this isn't over," Anton warned. "You think I forgot what you did? I didn't. You'll pay for your evil. I promise! You'll pay!" He fled the ship.
---
Belle was watching television in a common room at the hospital.
Ruby entered with a basket of items. "Hey. You don't remember me, do you?"
"Sorry, no, I... I don't," Belle replied.
"I'm Ruby. You used to come into my Granny's diner a lot. Before. I thought you could use some comforts from home. You were always telling me about Jules Verne, so I brought you my favorite - The Mysterious Island."
"Thank you. Were... Were we really friends?"
"Yeah, we were."
"Then tell me the truth. Before I was brought here, I was hurt. I was bleeding, and then this man came. And he... He healed me. Then, I saw him hold a ball of fire in his hands. How... How is that possible?!"
"The nurse said the tranquilizers can give you wicked nightmares."
"No, I know what I saw. And I don't ned any more tranquilizers or-"
"Belle..."
"Don't call me that. Why does everyone keep calling me that?" A nurse entered to restrain her. "I don't... I'm telling you, I don't..."
"Take it easy. Take it easy," the nurse told her, sitting her down in a chair and injecting a sedative into Belle's arm.
"Has she been like this the whole time?" Ruby asked.
"More or less. We've had to keep her heavily sedated. Okay, let's get you back to bed."
"No..." Belle protested.
"Here we go. There." She escorted Belle from the room.
Greg entered and had seen the outburst. "Everything okay in here?"
"Everything's fine, Mr. Mendell," Ruby replied. "She's all right. How are you?"
"Much improved."
"Well, then, rest up. The sooner you're better, the sooner you can be out of our quiet little town."
---
David, Mary Margaret and Leroy were sitting in a booth at Granny's Diner.
"David... Did the giant just say he'll make you pay? For what?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"I have no idea," David answered. "I've never seen that guy before."
"Well, he sure knows you," Leroy said.
"No. It's not about me. He just thinks it is."
"Your brother," Mary Margaret realized. "That's who he thinks you are."
"It's the only thing that makes sense. Come on."
"Where are we going?"
"To find out just what kind of trouble my brother got himself into. Leroy, get your head looked at and gather the dwarves. We need to keep an eye out for this giant."
Aubree's POV:
BOSTON
Emma, Henry, Mr. Gold and I arrived at the airport. We picked up our boarding passes from the desk and entered the line for security.
I trie breathing slowly to calm my nerves. The idea of flying in a plane scared me. This would be my first flight, and I really, really didn't want it to crash.
"Have you ever been outside of Storybrooke before, Mr. Gold?" Henry asked.
"No," Mr. Gold replied.
"Are you worried about meeting your son?"
"No, Henry, I'm fine."
"How about we talk about all this later," Emma suggested. "We're next."
Henry, Emma and I began taking off our shoes to put in the boxes.
"It must be really hard not to use magic - being like everyone else," Henry said.
"You've got to put your shoes in."
"How terribly uncivilized," Mr. Gold commented before taking off his shoes.
Henry went through the metal detector, then I did.
He glanced at me. "Bree, are you okay?"
I shook my head. "What if the plane crashes when we're on it? Or what if one of the engines explodes? Or what if the pilot can't control it? Or what if-"
Henry smiled. "If you're feeling scared, you can hold my hand, okay?"
I nodded. "Thanks. You're the best brother ever."
We listened as the TSA Agent said, "Uh, scarf and cane go in the basket."
"What?" Mr. Gold asked.
"Scarf and cane go in the basket."
"I can't."
"You have to," Emma told him.
The man behind them said, "It ain't rocket science, buddy. You ever been on a plane before?"
"Have you ever been impaled upon a can before?" Mr. Gold shot back.
"My... Father's a little nervous," Emma replied. "We're headed to a family reunion. Sorry."
"Father?"
"Just put your shawl in the bin. I'll help you get through."
"If I let this go, I could forget who I am."
"I'm not going to let that happen."
"Okay."
Mr. Gold took off the shawl and put it in the box with his cane. When he did so, he stumbled. He went through the metal detector with a blank expression. Emma grabbed the shawl from the box on the other side and put it around his neck. Mr. Gold gave a slight nod and they began putting their shoes back on.
"Guys, there's a Cinnabon here!" Henry cried.
Third Person POV:
STORYBROOKE
Hook entered a deserted alley near the docks. He placed a card - the Queen of Hearts - onto the ground. When he turned, Regina had appeared behind him.
"Hello, Hook," Regina greeted.
"Regina," Hook said.
"Expecting my mother? The one you were supposed to kill?"
"Oh, that. Well, I didn't want to deprive you of a happy reunion."
"Well, it's your lucky day. She and I have made amends."
"And you're here to thank me? How sweet."
"She wants to know if they've found the ship."
"Well, you can tell her, she can ask me herself."
"She decided it wouldn't be prudent for her to be out and about."
"Well, then it is my lucky day. And you can tell her they found the ship."
"Well, did you get her things off it?"
"I've been tied up in bed - not in the good way."
"She needs her things."
"Oh, I'll bet she does. Well, there's good news, then. A giant got loose from the hold."
"You lost a giant?!"
"Well, a shrunken giant."
"How is that good news?"
"Because, when he got free, he took one look at the Prince, and became extremely murderous."
"Hm. A giant in town who wants to kill the Prince. This is just the distraction we need."
"That it is, dear."
---
Anton was attempting to navigate the streets of Storybrooke. He dodged cars as they honked at him.
---
In the woods, Anton was sitting on a log and looking forlornly at the river. Regina approached him.
"Get away from me!" Anton cried.
"I'm here to help you," Regina told him.
"No. You're human. I hate humans." She continued walking towards him. "Don't come any closer! Or I'll kill you."
"Look, I hear you're in town 'cause you want to kill someone. I can help. I have no love for this Prince, either, and if you want to destroy this town to get to him... Well, I'm happy to do my part. This will make you bigger. It will return you to your former glory."
He took the proffered mushroom and took a bite. In a puff of blue smoke, he returned to his former giant size.
"Now, get to work!" Regina said. "As I'm sure you're aware, that mushroom won't last forever."
BOSTON
Emma, Mr. Gold, Henry and Aubree were waiting by their gate. Mr. Gold was pacing back and forth.
"Do you want something to eat?" Emma asked.
"No," Mr. Gold answered.
"Is something wrong?"
"Stop asking me that! I'll be right back." He left.
Emma glanced at Aubree. "Are you all right?"
Aubree shook her head. "What if the plane crashes?"
"That doesn't happen very often, Aubree. You're going to be just fine, okay?"
"Okay."
Mr. Gold entered the public bathroom. He entered one of the stalls and locked the door. Still anxious, he started pacing back and forth, until he dropped his cane and began violently punching the toilet seat cover dispenser on the wall. Afterward, Mr. Gold leaned against the wall and looked down at his bloodied hand,. He waved his hand over the wounds, but nothing happened. He tried again with the same result.
Henry entered the bathroom and called, "Mr. Gold? Mr. Gold? We're boarding soon. Are you company?"
Mr. Gold ignored Henry.
STORYBROOKE
Mary Margaret and David watched from a distance as Anton terrorized the town.
"That's right!" Anton yelled. "Run! Run!"
Anton picked up a car and threw it in David and Mary Margaret's direction, then continued his path of destruction. The citizens of Storybrooke scrambled for safety as Mary Margaret and David followed Anton.
"Head to the town hall!" David instructed. "Bring anyone you find on the way! Somebody get Leroy!"
"Guess we found our giant," Mary Margaret commented. "I just didn't think he would be so..."
"Giant?"
"My mistake."
"Ever stop one before?"
"Nope."
"Well... Here's to new firsts." He yelled to Anton to get his attention. "Wait! You don't have to do this!"
"Yeah, I do," Anton replied. "You destroyed everything in my life. Now you're going to know what that feels like."
"The man who hurt you? That wasn't me. That was my twin brother James. We were separated at birth. He was raised by a... A ruthless king."
"You're not James?"
"No!"
"Then where is he?"
"He paid the ultimate price for his arrogance. He's dead! There is nothing more you can do to him."
"We're on your side, Anton!" Mary Margaret added. "We're here because of you. You know our daughter Emma. You gave her the magic compass."
"Emma?" Anton repeated. "Let me talk to her. She says you're okay, then I'll stop."
Leroy arrived and joined Mary Margaret who said, "She's kind of out of town."
"Really?"
"But when she gets back, I know she'll really want to talk to you."
"How convenient. Everyone I'm looking for isn't around! All you humans do is lie, and cheat, and kill, and I'm sick of it!" He charged after them.
They ran down the streets of Storybrooke as Anton chased after them.
"So let me get this straight - you got a twin brother?" Leroy asked.
"Yeah," David replied.
"His name is James?"
"Right."
"Well, your name is James."
"No, actually, it's not."
"It's Charming, then?"
"No, that's the nickname I gave him," Mary Margaret said.
"Hey, hold on. What the hell is your name?"
"David," David answered.
"Your curse name?"
"My real name!"
"What, you're David, James, and Charming? Is David like a middle name?"
"No! It's my name-name."
"You know what? I'm going to call you whatever I damn well please! Is that okay?!"
"Sure, Leroy."
"So, what's the plan?"
"Lead the giant away from here, so he can't hurt anyone."
"Wait," Mary Margaret said. "If we keep heading in this direction, we're going to hit the town line."
"Okay, new plan."
The three stopped near the docks and David approached the giant.
"What are you doing?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Giving him what he wants," David answered. "Anton! How about we make a deal?"
"I don't make deals with humans," Anton retorted.
"Just hear me out. I'll surrender myself to you, if you spare the lives of everyone in Storybrooke."
"David, you can't do this," Mary Margaret told him.
"If you don't, the whole town will suffer. I can't allow that. Well, what do you say?"
"Deal," Anton agreed.
Anton lunged towards David and tried to jump on him. Mary Margaret pulled David out of the way at the last second and Anton ended up jumping straight through the ground. Stuck, the mushroom's effects wore off and Anton seemed to disappear in a puff of blue smoke. All that was left was a large hole in the ground.
"Where did he go?" Mary Margaret asked.
"I'm not sure," David replied.
They stepped closer to the hole to investigate and found Anton hanging on to an underground pipe.
---
The dwarves, Granny and Ruby arrived on scene with a truck and some rope. Anton was still hanging on the pipe below.
"That better hold," David said.
"It'll hold," Leroy told him.
"I got this," Granny stated, tying the rope to the back of the truck and Leroy threw the rope down the side of the hole.
Mary Margaret kissed David. "Most people would let that giant die after what he's done."
"You wouldn't," David noted, wrapping the road around his waist and began shimmying down the hole. "All right, Anton, I'm coming down!" He got down to Anton and extended his hand. "Take my hand."
"No!" Anton yelled.
"No?"
"I don't want to go back up there. I should just let go!"
"You'll die."
"Maybe death hurts less than life."
"If you really wanted to die, you would have let go already. Now take my hand!"
Anton grabbed David's hand and the people above pulled them out of the hole.
"Come on," Leroy said.
"Almost! A little more!" Mary Margaret replied.
David and Anton were successfully pulled up. Mary Margaret hugged David.
"You saved my life," Anton told David.
"That's what we do," David replied.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome," Leroy commented.
"We're not all the same, Anton," David said. "I don't know what my brother did to you, but... That's not us."
"You have no idea," Anton stated.
---
The group entered Granny's Diner.
"This is Granny's," Leroy informed. "She makes a mean lasagna and runs an inn, so I'm sure we can set you up with a room till you find a place."
"Thanks, but I think I'll set up camp in the woods," Anton replied.
"The woods?"
"Yeah, I'm better off alone. I'm not too good at fitting in."
"You're in the right place. Storybrooke's got all kinds - dwarves, fairies, werewolves, you name it. Ruby, beers all around!"
"We all miss our land," Anton," Mary Margaret told him. "But this is our home now."
"You never think about going back?" Anton asked.
"Of course we do. It's just not possible."
"We have no way to get there," David added.
"How's the farmland here?" Anton questioned.
"Pretty good. Why?"
Anton took out the vial with the piece of beanstalk. "The stem is from a beanstalk. If I plant it, it should be able to grow some magic beans. And then, you just may have a way."
---
Mary Margaret, David, Anton and the dwarves gathered in a field. Anton checked the soil.
"Well, what's the verdict?" David wondered.
"Soil's got a nice loamy feel," Anton replied. "Lots of minerals. The beans should grow well here. Only one problem."
"What's that?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Cora. This is why she brought me. She wanted me to grow beans. So whatever she plans to do with them... Can't be good."
"Then we won't let her get to them."
"No one touches our crop," Leroy said.
"Your crop?" Anton repeated. "I thought you guys were miners?"
"Work is work. it's what we do. So what do you say? You up for some help?"
"Okay."
"Happy!" Leroy called and Happy handed an axe to Anton. "Here. To help break up the earth."
Anton looked down, and the name 'Tiny' appeared on the handle. "'Tiny'. My brothers used to call me that."
"Axe never lies."
David frowned. "Wait a second. I did my time in the mines. How come didn't get one of those?"
"'Cause you ain't a dwarf. Welcome aboard, brother."
The dwarves and Anton began hacking away at the earth while they whistled.
---
Belle was reading in her room at the hospital.
Greg entered. "Hey. It's okay."
"Who, uh... Who are you?" Belle asked.
"My name's Greg, okay? I... i'm a patient here, just like you. I... I'm really sorry to bother you, but... I'm the one that was driving the car in... In the accident."
"Oh. Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Yeah, they, um... They patched me up pretty good. Look, I... I overheard you talking. About how you saw a guy with a ball of fire."
"And you think I'm crazy, too. Well, I did see it. I-"
"Hey, I know that you're not crazy."
"You do?"
"'Cause I saw it, too."
---
David exited Granny's Diner with two coffees. He handed one to Mary Margaret, who was waiting outside.
"Here's to not getting squashed by a giant," David said.
"I'll drink to that," Mary Margaret replied.
"Sometimes I wonder how things would've turned out if I had been raised by King George instead of my brother. You know, would I have been... corrupt like him?"
"Never."
"Same blood ran through our veins."
"Mm, but your hearts are different. You may not believe it, but trust me - I know you, Charming. I had a lot of fun today."
"Fun?"
"Uh-huh."
"Almost getting killed is fun?"
"Yeah. I missed our adventures."
"Me, too. It was kind of fun. You know, we could this all the time. When the beans grow, we could go back. Everyone could go home."
"I don't know."
"What don't you know?"
"Home is where our family is. And that's here. I don't know if Emma would come with us, and I am not going to be separated from her again."
"You're worried about her."
"Aren't you?"
"Of course, but... Emma... Emma can take care of herself, and I'm sure wherever she, Henry and Aubree are, they're safe."
BOSTON
Emma, Henry, Mr. Gold and Aubree had boarded the plane and were waiting for takeoff. Henry had a box of cinnamon buns on his lap.
"You good, kids?" Emma asked.
"You kidding?" Henry replied. "A trip with you, first plane ride, and we're going on a quest like in the book. The only thing that could make this day better? Is more frosting."
Aubree nodded slowly, gripping the seat. "I agree, except the part about the plane. It'd be so much cooler if we rode a horse or something."
Henry glanced at her. "Yeah, that'd be cooler. Want a cinnamon bun? It might make you feel better."
She took one, keeping the other hand firmly on the bar to her right.
Emma looked down and noticed Mr. Gold's bandaged hand. "It's going to be all right. We're going to find your son."
"I know," Mr. Gold said.
The takeoff announcement began. "Welcome folks, to Ajira Airlines regional flight fifty-three, with nonstop service to New York City. Our flight time tonight is forty-two minutes. Please sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride."
The plane engines started. Mr. Gold stared blankly ahead. Aubree gripped the seat bars and whimpered quietly.