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In the Enchanted past, after she had married King Leopold but before she engineered his murder, Regina falls off a balcony. Darn the luck, Tinkerbell saves her and then tries to save her some more. Deciding that Regina needs love (which is arguably true), Tink defies Blue's orders, steals some pixie dust, doses Regina with it and flies her majesty to a tavern where she said the Queen's love will be waiting for her. All she has to do is find the man with the lion tattoo. Regina chickens out before she even crosses the threshold and flees. When Tink later confronts her about it, Regina lies and says the man was awful, then calls Tink a little moth and orders her to fly away. As a punishment for her defiance, Blue tells Tink (Green) that she no longer believes in her, which strips the fairy of her wings.
In the Enchanted Present, Neal enlists the help of Robin and his son to summon the Shadow to Rumpy's castle so that he can ride its coattails to Neverland. It works better than I expected. Also, Mulan decides to join Robin Hood and his merry band after she learns Aurora and Phillip are expecting a son, and that Aurora can never be hers. Aw.
Neverland Present. Pan tells Henry that magic is dying in all the worlds; that's why Pan needs Henry. He's the savior. It must run in the family.
Also in Neverland, Regina meets up with a down-on-her-luck wingless Tinkerbell. There are some death threats and such. Just another day at the office for our illustrious Mayor Queen. Finally, thanks to Snow White's belief, Tink says she'll help the gang find Henry.
I'll be back with the full recap ASAP. In the meantime, please join us on the boards, where we're crushing Regina's heart with our bare hands.
Want more? The full recap starts right below!Previously, on Once Upon A Time, Pan gives Emma a map that will lead her to Henry. Hook says Pan is a demon. Demon or not, Pan tells Henry that he has the heart of the truest believer. When Neal and Mulan arrive at Rumpy's castle, they find Robin Hood. Using Rumpy's crystal ball, Neal learns Emma is in Neverland. Charming is struck by an arrow laced with the poisonous Dreamshade. Hook's interest in Emma grows.
Now, on Once Upon a Time, we open in Neverland at night. Emma and crew are looking for Pan's lair, but while they set out on a straight course for it, Pan has moved his camp. The magical map reflects the change. Team Henry wonders how they'll find him. The camera operator has no such problem, though. We cut to...
Pan's Camp. Henry is sleeping at the base of a tree when Pan's "Cuckoo," wakes him up. He throws the boy an apple, but Henry refuses saying he doesn't like them. "It's a family thing." Ha. No matter, Pan says the apple is just for target practice. For emphasis, he shoves his crossbow in Henry's face. What a charmer. No wonder his parents let him get lost. The title card features Tinker Bell. Hurrah!
Enchanted Forest. At Rumpy's castle, Neal searches for a way to make a portal. He explains to Mulan and Robin Hood that if Emma is in Neverland, that must mean Henry is there. He has to get to his family. Neal tells Mulan and Robin to look for beans, magic mirrors, ruby slippers, or perhaps some ash -- something that will create a portal. When Neal knocks something over in his search, Little John (Jason Burkart) bursts in at the ready, but Robin tells him to stand down. An adorable little boy peeks out from behind John, crawls through his legs and runs into Robin's arms. It is his son, Roland (Raphael Alejandro). Neal smiles when he sees the child. Does he do so because the boy is adorable? Well, perhaps. Does he do so, because he's thinking of his own son? It seems likely. Does he do so, because he's not above using a four year old as means to an end. Absolutely. Way to go, Neal. You're gonna worm your way into fandom's heart, any century now. We cut back to...
Neverland. Regina, who has been agitating to use magic the entire time, again pleads her cranky case. Snow points out that they don't even know where the camp is, which strictly speaking, doesn't seem true. That is, they have a map. And sure the X which marks the spot keeps moving, but I bet Regina's powerful enough to work with that. It doesn't matter though. Hook says Pan will have shielded the camp from magic, so he fears the whole endeavor, "...would end in your death, and more importantly, mine." Ha. Instead, Hook suggests they use someone Pan trusts. Charming makes sure to get in a dig at Hook, but he's not talking about himself, but rather, "...a fairy who lived here when I was about. She might still be on the island." She can serve as their informed, inside source. "She might even have some pixie dust left. Perhaps we can fly in." Emma corrects him. "You mean fairy dust." Charming says, "No, pixie dust. It's stronger, like nuclear fairy dust..." The thing is I think Charming just pronounced it "nu-cu-ler." All right, while this isn't the largest national podium, it's the best I've got, so all of you English speakers out there, I want you to repeat after me. It's "NU-CLEE-ER." Please, never again say it like "nu-cu-ler." Never, ever, ever. And if one of you could send George W. Bush a link to this page, I (and a grateful nation) would be much obliged. If you have the ability to travel back in time and get it to him before his two terms in office, the sky is the limit, baby.
Anyhow, Emma finally puts two and two together and realizes the fairy Hook is talking about is Tinker Bell. Regina startles at the mention of her name. Hook asks Emma if she knows Tink. Emma says, "Every kid in the world... knows her." Regina says this is a bad idea. "Mark my words, this Tinker Bell is not going to save us." We cut to the...
Enchanted Past. Queen Regina is dining in solitude at Leopold's palace, when Rumpy appears at the other end of the table. When she didn't show up for today's lesson, he assumed she was dead. He rises, surveys the banquet spread out before Regina and smiles at the sight of, "...Roast swan. Tee hee hee. That's amusing. You'll get that, later." Ha.
Regina's not sure she wants to continue her lessons only to end up like Rumpy. He hones in on her persecution complex, which Regina doesn't bother to deny. She feels like a prisoner, since she's married to a man who's heart is still with his dead wife, and his, "...insipid daughter. It's intolerable. I have nothing to do and nowhere to go. I need freedom. I need options." Rumpy says that can't be done. She thinks she's the diner at a feast, who can choose to taste a little love here and a little darkness there. "What you don't realize is, you are the feast, and the darkness has tasted you." Did it vomit, soon after?
Regina calls him vile and orders him to leave. Rumpy continues: "The darkness likes how you taste, dearie. It doesn't mind the bitter. And now that it's started the meal, it's going to finish it. You can no more fly from your fate, than can that swan. See you tomorrow, and don't be late. Ooh, and bring that simmering rage. It's all you have." Give me a moment, I have to rewind and find the writing credit. Aha! Jane Espenson. Just as I suspected. Jane, your words are more delectable than anything on Regina's table. I'm going to have to guard against transcribing every syllable, or I'll never make deadline.
Once Rumpy disappears, Regina storms off to her bedroom. Out on the balcony, she looks down at the courtyard below. She closes her eyes and starts to bang on the railing. "I... just... need..." The rail gives way and Regina falls off. Before she can splatter on the courtyard, she is surrounded by sparkly green light. Looking up, she sees a fairy, dressed all in green and asks what she's doing. The fairy answers that she's giving Regina a second chance, and wafts her back up to her chamber. Regina says, "Who are you?" The
fairy answers, "I am Tinker Bell." Whee! I love Tink (who, here is played by Rose McIver). Commercial.
At an open air tavern, Regina tells Tink her twisted version of Snow's alleged crimes against her, and whines about her marriage too. "I may be the queen, but alone in that forest, I feel like nothing." Tink says, "No wonder you jumped." Regina denies this and says she fell. Tink's not buying that, but she pretends like she is. Regina insists she fell, but admits if she had jumped, she had good reasons. Tink tells Regina she can help her find what she needs. Regina needs love. She's never known pixie dust to fail at finding it. Regina thinks her happy ending looks like Snow's head on a plate, but Tink tries to talk her down. As a fairy, she can help Regina. "You might try believing in me." We cut to...
Neverland. As Emma and the gang trek through the jungle, Regina suggests to Emma that they combine and use their magic again. Leave it to Jane to sneak HoYay into the subtext. Emma refuses, because magic always comes with a price. Regina points out that sometimes not using it also has its price. Emma is intent on finding Tink and enlisting her help. Regina sneers something about how Emma must think that's the best plan because her boyfriend came up with it. Emma's all: "My boyfriend? Hook? What's your problem?" Snow adds, "She just lost Neal." Regina actually appears contrite when she says she's sorry. "I'm just worried about Henry." We cut to...
Pan's camp. Pan laces arrows with the deadly Dreamshade, alludes to the William Tell legend, and decides to have an apple shooting contest. Henry is to shoot an apple off of Felix's head, using a poisoned arrow for motivation. Perhaps Henry is a fan of '80s music, because instead, he decides to shoot that poison arrow at Pan's heart. Darn the luck, Pan catches it, and oddly doesn't seem to take offense. We cut to...
Emma and crew. The women lead the way, so Hook pulls Charming aside and makes it clear he knows Charming was wounded by a poison arrow. Once Charming knows the ladies are out of sight, he shows Hook his wound. Hook says he's sorry, and says Charming has days, or weeks at most. He won't see summer. He suggests Charming tell Snow, but of course the goober doesn't want to. Charming is hoping that pixie dust can help him. I hope it cures the dumb streak that runs straight through the heart of his heroism as well. We flash back to the...
Enchanted Past. As Tink and Regina walk away from the tavern, just take a moment to appreciate the set decoration here. Look at the daisy chain of Black-eyed Susans adorning the tavern. Regina asks Tink if she really thinks her plan will make Regina happy. Tink is sure it will. When the clock chimes, Tink says she's late, but promises to see Regina soon, shrinks down to fairy size and flies off into the twilight.
Tink lands in a bed of improbably brightly colored tulips. She stands before a green one, which I imagine is her bed, but when the front petal drops, blue is waiting inside. Tink tries to disarm the boss lady with flattery, but Blue (who calls Tink "Green") reads her the riot act. "You're late. You have already broken every rule in the book. Curfew. Dust discipline. You got big for no reason." Tink tries to explain that she's helping Regina. Blue asks if Tink knows that Regina is the daughter of Cora (the heart ripper-outer) and the pupil of the Dark One. Blue says Green is lucky to still be alive. She pronounces Regina surrounded by darkness and beyond help.
Tink argues that Regina sounds exactly like someone who does need help and asks for some pixie dust. Blue says, "Not a chance. You fly away from this one, Green." Tink says, "My name isn't Green. It's Tinker Bell. And I can't believe you want me to ignore someone who needs help. That's not very fairy-like." Blue says she'll be the judge of that. She ends the discussion and pretty much puts Tink on house arrest. Tink agrees with Blue, only until the older fairy flies off. Once she's alone, Tink heads back to the Enchanted Forest. Commercial.
Enchanted Forest. Present. Rumpy's Castle. Neal's big plan is to use Roland to summon the Shadow, then he (Neal) will grab it and ride it to Neverland. Robin isn't crazy about using his toddler as bait. Neal's able to convince him otherwise though, even though Robin seems to have a firm grasp of all the possible ways this could go wrong. I get that. I mean, this is why we need mothers. The thing is, the way in which Neal convinces him flies in the face of Robin's history with Rumplestiltskin (sic). You see, when Robin tells Neal that his wife died, and Roland is all he has left, Neal uses that common bond to appeal to Robin. He asks how Robin's sick wife was able to live and bear their child. Robin says, "You know how." Neal says, "My father. He saved her, and your son." NOT HARDLY, SHOW. Robin tried to steal a healing wand from Rumpy. Rumpy locked him up. Belle set Robin free. He took the wand to heal Marian. Rumpy then tried to kill them, and Belle saved them that time, too (although I don't think Robin and Marian know about that part). I can see Neal getting the story wrong, but why does Robin? It's his own story. Ugh. He gives in to Neal but tells him he only has one shot at this cockamamie plan. Neal says, "You've got to understand, this is my second chance." We cut to...
Neverland. Emma calls Regina out on falling behind. They're nearly at the place where Hook thinks Tink lives. When Regina tells Emma to go on ahead, Emma asks, "What did you do to her?" With a straight face, Regina says, "What? Why would assume I did something to her?" Um, because Emma's met you, Reggie. Emma asks if, back in the Enchanted Forest, Regina killed Tink's brother or stole her halo. Regina makes it clear Tink isn't an angel. She admits they have a complicated history, and says if Tink sees her, she won't help. "If she is the way in, well then, trust me, my staying out of her sight is probably best for Operation Henry." Emma says, "Operation Henry?" Regina says, "That's what I've been calling it in my head, because..." Emma smiles. "He'd call it that." Regina adds, "He'd have a better name. But, it's the best I could do." Emma says she'll get Tink then come back for Regina. Regina tells her, "Don't bother. It's better if we never see one another. And if you don't find her, keep going. Just get Henry. Don't worry about Tinker Bell." Emma asks, "What the hell did you do to her?" Regina laughs in resignation. "What I always do." We flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Palace. Night. Tink flies into Regina's chamber. She has the pixie dust and is raring to go, because she thinks saving Regina will be her own salvation. Regina realizes Tink lifted the pixie dust. Tink says not to worry about her. Then she adds words that are most magical to Regina's royal ears. "This is about you." She sprinkles Queenie with dust and they fly through the night. Tink then shoots out another trail of pixie dust. Regina asks what it is. Tink says it's her happy ending. They fly to the magical trail's end. Stopping outside a pub, Regina says she needs a moment. They look through the window and see the telltale green pixie magic is settled on one man. Tink tells Regina her true love is the man with the lion tattoo. This is her chance at love and happiness, with no baggage. She can let go of it all and have a fresh start. Regina says, "I can be happy," but she doesn't quite believe it. Tink does, though. "I know you can." She leaves Regina to her fate, which is never a good idea. Without Tink there to encourage her, Regina only opens the door, but then she panics and runs off into the night and a future filled with murderous vengeance. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Regina is sitting alone where Emma left her, when she hears a noise in the brush. She calls out, "Let's get this over with." Tink emerges and says, "A complicated history. That's one way to describe it." Tink's once bright green costume is now dark. She looks worn and haggard. Since the tact fairy wasn't invited to Regina's christening, she outright says, "You look terrible." Tink realizes Regina is trying to provoke her. Regina says, "Come and get me." Tink says, "You think you're so smart, but you are going to fail." She blows some pink dust in Regina's face. Regina swoons and falls to the ground. Tink smiles us into commercial.
Hook has led Emma and her parents to Tink's tree house. Charming gets up the ladder, and starts looking for pixie dust, but Hook says she wouldn't leave it lying around. They end their talk when Emma and Snow arrive. Emma says it reminds her of someplace. Snow is surprised it isn't more cheery. Emma finally realizes where it reminds her of, "...where I used to live. That's it." Snow looks around and gets it, "Because it's just a place to sleep...." Emma wonders what Snow would know about that. Snow answers that she didn't always have a canopied bed, in palace. "I had a place like this too, once. [...] A tree stump, when I was running from the queen. Believe it or not, I understand this Tinkerbell. The real question is, why does she have a ladder? Fairies have wings." Charming announces that he's found something. It's Regina's handkerchief. They realize that if Tink had been tracking Regina, they're in the wrong place. We cut to...
A cave. Maybe? Is that a cave? It's some hole in the ground, at least. Regina regains consciousness, to find herself tied up. They argue whether Regina burned Tink, or Tink interfered in Regina's life. Regina figures Tink wants to kill her, but can tell by how she feels that the fairy didn't knock her out with magic. She sniffs, licks her lips and then purses them. "Maybe poppies, but they're wearing off. And since you had to resort to that, it only means one thing -- you don't have magic." Regina rises to her feet and holds out her bound hands. "But I do." Tink says she knows, then whips out a poisoned arrow and holds it to Regina's throat and says even Regina's magic can't stop Dreamshade. Regina asks, "How the hell did you get like this." She met you, Regina. Also, Blue. Yes, you and Blue are the reason we can't have nice things. We flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Palace. Regina's chamber. Tink flies in and asks why Regina isn't glowing with new love. Regina opens her mouth, so we know lies are soon to follow. "Because it didn't work. The pixie dust, it was wrong. I went in and met him and he was awful, just awful." Tink asks if she went to the right man. Regina lies that she did -- the man with the lion tattoo. "That wasn't the problem." She says the problem was Tink and pronounces her a terrible fairy. Tink realizes Regina didn't go in and tries to console her. "It's okay. You were afraid." Regina says she isn't afraid of anything. Regina can't believe she let Tink distract her. Tink tries to convince Regina she needs love. Regina says, "I had love and he's dead. And I've suffered. And what you sent me toward wasn't going to change that. Goodbye." Tink asks, "What about me." She's in big trouble and has stolen for Regina. Regina says, "As I've said, you're a terrible fairy." Tink thought they were friends. Regina doesn't have friends, she has victims. She actually says as much. Well, she doesn't admit to the second half of that. Instead, she says, "Fly away, moth. Don't let the doors catch your wings on the way out." We flash forward to...
Neverland. In hopes of making it easier for Tink to kill her, Regina rips out her own heart and holds it in front of Tink. "Don't let the poison do it. You should do it. Go ahead. Crush it." Oh, I don't know what to root for, here. I mean obviously Tink isn't going to kill off Regina right now, because the writers aren't going to let her. Regina dares her foe. "Show me who you are, Tinker Bell." Tinks whispers, "Gladly." Commercial.
Enchanted Past. Tink flies out of Regina's chamber and straight into Blue, who orders her to stop and accuses Tink of stealing their dust. Tink says she was just trying to prove she's a good fairy. Blue says, "You could have proven that by being a good fairy -- by listening to me." Tink was following her instincts. Blue says Tink's instincts are so far from correct, and her crimes can't be forgiven. Tink begs for a second chance, saying they always tell people they deserve them. Blue says, "But Tinker Bell, this was your second chance." Wait a minute. What was her first chance? If she blew the first one just by being a little late and appearing big in front of Regina (you know, for which Blue ordered her to stay in fairy land), then I must say fairy justice is anything but. This whole Regina encounter should be considered the first blown chance. Tink begs for a chance to regain Blue's trust. Blue says, "You can't, for one simple, tragic reason. I no longer believe in you." Tink gasps and looks back at her wings which disintegrate. Our poor little Tink plummets to the courtyard below. She looks up at Blue, who despite the tears in her eyes, flies off in a huff. We flash forward to...
Neverland. Tink gives Regina's heart a little squeeze. Regina winces. Tink wonders if Regina knows what she cost Tink. When she walks away, Regina gets a good look at Tink and says, "Your wings." For years, Tink has been going over and over their shared history, and she wants to know why Regina lied. She knows her spell to find Regina love worked. "Why couldn't you just go through that door and meet your soulmate. Was being happy such a terrible fate?" Regina says it was. She admits she never went in. She was afraid if she let go of her anger -- that without it, she would float away. "That anger was all that I had. What would I be without it?" Tink says she'd have been happy, but Regina thinks she would have been weak. Tink says, "And look what good it did you -- that strength you gained, because I'm holding your heart in my hand and I'm not hearing one reason not to squeeze it into ash." Neither are we, Tink. Neither are we.
Regina says if Tink thinks Regina was afraid and did the wrong thing, then she'd better recognize, "...Fairy, right now, you're making the same choice." She makes Tink take a good look at how revenge turned her (Regina's) heart small, hard and dark. I'm just glad it looks so much darker than Snow's did. Regina warns that if she makes the same choices Regina did, Tink is looking at her own future. "The choice is yours. Kill me, or act like the fairy you are." Tink spits that Regina said she was a terrible fairy. Regina tells her to prove her wrong. "Pick hope over anger. Choose love and help me get my son back." Tink asks if she loves her son. Regina says, "Very much. With Henry, I finally got something right." Tink thinks it's too late for her, but Regina says, "Only if you kill me." Tink says she won't kill Regina, but she won't help her either. "Besides, it's probably too late. He's been with him too long." She hands Regina back her heart and turns away. We cut to...
Pan's camp. Pan is tempting Henry to walk on the wild side. He says that in Neverland, no one ever tells you no. You can do as you will. Henry wonders if the boys ever hurt themselves. Pan says it happens all the time. "At one point, I had four boys with missing fingers. Cost of the game. They don't mind." Henry is sure he doesn't belong in Neverland, but Pan insists they've been waiting for him since long before he was born. Henry doubts him, so Pan explains that Neverland runs on imagination and belief, but Henry's world stopped believing. "Magic is dying, and you, Henry, need to save it." Henry says, "In my world, you mean." Pan laughs. "In every world. You need to bring it back. That's your destiny. To return magic. To be the savior." Henry says his mom is the savior, not him. Pan scoffs that sure she broke a curse, but maybe that's not what makes her the savior. Maybe having Henry is what made her the savior. "Think about it. You're descended from the greatest of light and of dark. What -- is it a coincidence that the spawn of the Dark One met your mother? You were created for a reason, and I can help you find it." Pan doesn't just think Henry's the savior of magic -- he believes it. He pulls out a scroll and says it bears proof that Henry is the savior magic has been waiting for. Henry considers the scroll but then drops it. "I don't believe you." Pan says, "You remind me of your father," then leaves Henry to contemplate those words. We cut to the...
Enchanted Forest. Present. Mulan lays out the logistics of their plan to bait and snag the Shadow. Robin is impressed. While they prepare, Neal admits that while he's hoping to save his family, even if he succeeds, that might not be enough to reunite them as a family. He loves them, but he's not sure he can earn back Emma. Mulan asks why he wouldn't. He admits, "'Cause I screwed it up the first time. Hopefully, I'll get another chance. When Emma told me she loved me, I waited way too long before I said I felt the same. I won't make that mistake again." Um, what? Will someone on the crew get my Jane a copy of the season 2 DVDs, please? Neal certainly did screw it up the first time, but not by waiting too long to tell Emma he loves her. He screwed it up by going along with August's sadistic plan to send Emma to prison, for Neal's crimes. Mulan is sure Emma will forgive him. I'm sure that Mulan is probably right, but on top of Neal's retcon regarding Rumpy saving Marian, I'm starting to think that at the end of last season, he didn't fall through a portal to the Enchanted Forest. He fell through a portal to another show.
Anyhow, Neal tells Mulan that he learned his lesson the hard way. When you love someone, you don't keep it in. You say it. He's not wrong about that, but when you love someone, you also don't send them to prison for your crimes, and keep their magical destiny a secret from them. That's the real problem. Asshat. Mulan takes Neal's retcon to heart. While she lets his wisdom steep, Little John comes in, carrying wee Roland. Robin preps him for what's to come and then asks the tike if he remembers his lines. Roland says, "Yeah. I say..." Robin, Neal and Mulan stop the boy from saying any more. They get into position. Roland stands before the window and on his father's cue, he says, "I believe." Nothing happens at first, so Neal suggests the boy says it one more time. Robin says, "No, I'm sorry, mate. That's it." Which, I wouldn't let my kid be bait for a demonic Shadow, but if I did, and the Shadow was a slow poke, I guess I wouldn't see the harm in letting the kid repeat himself.
It doesn't matter. The windows fly open. The Shadow flies in. Robin scoops up Roland, who yells in fright. The Shadow reaches out its wispy arms and grabs the boy by the hand. Mulan springs into action. Sword in hand, she slices at the Shadow, 'til it releases its grasp. The Shadow recoils from Mulan's blade. When it flies out the window, Neal runs for it, jumps off the ledge and latches on to the Shadow's leg. Mulan, Roland, and Robin watch in amazement, because this cockamamie plan actually worked. (P.S. the little guy who plays Roland was trying not to laugh throughout the whole grabbing scene. I am not taking off any points for that though, because he's so little, and so darned adorable.) Commercial.
After Neal is gone and Roland falls asleep, Robin asks Mulan if she'd like to join his Band of Merry Men. "You'd be the first woman. I hope that's no deterrent." Mulan smiles. "I've been in that position, before." Glad to see someone remembers their backstory. Mulan is honored by the offer, but says there's someone she needs to talk to, before it's too late. Robin nods. "A loved one?" Mulan says, "We shall see." We cut to...
Aurora's Palace. She's watering plants when Mulan arrives. Aurora's smile is radiant when she sees her friend and grabs her by the hand. Mulan asks if Phillip is there. Aurora says she can get him. Mulan says, "No, that's unnecessary. It's you I want to talk to. You see, I..." She interrupts herself to ask why Aurora is smiling at her. Aurora says she can tell Mulan is bursting with news, but she says she is, too. "Phillip and I are expecting a baby." Mulan's smile fades. She summons it back up, as tears well in her eyes. Voice hushed, Mulan declares that excellent news. When Aurora hugs her and says, "It's like a dream come true," Mulan's smile, like her own dream, disappears. When Aurora asks Mulan her news, the warrior announces she's joining Robin Hood's band. Aurora can't believe she's leaving them. Mulan says she's afraid so. She hugs Aurora one last time and bids her goodbye. Only when she turns to walk away does Mulan let the tears fall. And the HoYay subtext rapidly becomes text. We cut to...
Neverland. Hook, Emma, Snow and Charming confront Tink. Snow has her bow drawn. Emma and the men draw their swords. Emma asks where Regina is. Tink holds up her hands as if to ward them off, and asks, "Who the hell are you?" Emma says, "A pissed off mother. Where is she?" Regina stumbles out of the cave and assures Emma she's fine. Tink asks them to lower their weapons. "You may stick me, but I'll take you down with me." Regina tells them it's okay to stand down. Tink won't hurt them.
Hook asks if Tink will help them. Tink cracks, "Well, look who the queen dragged in. Hello, Hook." Hook gives her an impish look and a nod. "Lady Bell." Regina says, "She's not going to help us." Hook tries to flirt her into helping. Regina explains Tink has no magic. Charming says, "No pixie dust?" Regina says, "Not even her wings." Emma asks, "How?" Tink says, "I guess people just stopped believing in me. And even if I wanted to help you, he's too powerful."
Snow cocks her head and says, "But you know where Pan is." Tink says it won't do them any good. Snow says, "Let us be the judge of that. Does he trust you?" Emma asks if Tink can get them inside Pan's compound. Tink says, "Maybe," then crosses her arms and asks why she should help them. Snow says, "Because I believe in you."
Tink tries to hide it, but she's disarmed by Snow's profession of faith. Emma tells Tink if she can just get them inside, they'll take it from there. Tink wants to know what's in it for her, other than a death sentence from Pan, once they're gone with their boy. Emma says Tink can come with them. Snow adds, "That's right. Home. That is what you want, isn't it." Tink tells them to listen closely. Pan trusts her, so he'll let her in. Just maybe Tink will leave a way open for them, but they'll only get one shot, so they'd better have a good plan. They head back to their camp, but Charming lingers for a moment, looking at Tink's cave. Snow turns back and asks if he's okay. He covers, by saying he just wants to get Henry back, then changes the subject and asks how Snow knew it would work to offer Tink a home. Snow says that when she was living as a bandit, all she wanted was a home. "The thing is, I never found it until you came along. Even now, when I'm with you, I mean -- that's all I need." Snow can't help but notice how stricken Charming looks and again asks if he's okay. He sighs, smiles and tells her he loves her. Snow starts off, saying, "Come on. The last thing we need is to get lost in here." We cut to...
Pan's camp. Henry finally reaches down and retrieves the discarded scroll. He unrolls it to find that sketch of himself that Pan has had at least since the time his Lost Boys snatched young Baelfire from Hook's ship. We cut to the...
Neverland sky. Once the Shadow flies over land, Neal releases his grip and falls a long way down to the ground. Wincing, He gets himself to his feet. From behind, Felix says, "Welcome home, Baelfire." Neal turns to face Felix, who continues, "Pan will be so happy to see you." We cut to...
Operation Henry's Camp. Hook cuts into a coconut and hands it to Emma so she can take a drink. Tink leaves her seat by the fire and crosses over to Regina, who is sitting apart from the group, and leaning against a tree. Tink asks if Regina ever went back and found the man with the lion tattoo. Regina says, "No." Tink shakes her head and says, "Unreal. Do you know how selfish that is?" Regina knows it's a lot of things, but doesn't understand how it's selfish. Tink says, "Because you didn't just ruin your life. You ruined his." We flash back to the...
Enchanted Forest. Robin and his men are sitting around a campfire when Mulan joins them. Robin extends his hand in welcome, to give us a good, if unsurprising view of the lion tattooed on the underside of his forearm. Fittingly, it's not just a lion, but a Richard the Lionheart shield.
Despite the glaring retcons, I'm giving "Quiet a Common Fairy" an A-, because I so enjoyed it. And, if I forget (or accept) those retcons, I like so much about it. I even like the Regina flashbacks. She's not a mustache twirler in it. She did something selfish, and for the wrong reasons (fear, and the desire to hold onto her anger), but it wasn't a terrible thing on its face (refusing to go into a pub and meet a guy), yet it had drastic consequences for Tink, for Robin, and for Regina herself. I am digging the layers, here. Some fans are upset that Robin and Regina would have been each other's true loves, but I don't think the show is saying at all (in fact I think there were lines in this episode to the contrary) that if you lose your true love, you can never love again.
I'll be back soon with coverage of "Nasty Habits." In the meantime, please join us on the boards, where we're crushing Regina's heart with our bare hands.