OUAT: Reunited and It Hurts So Much

Last time on “Once:” Cruella became suicidal as she tried to keep her past association with the Author (AKA Isaac) from Gold. She kidnapped Henry, delaying Regina’s road trip to save Robin from Marilena. Gold separates the rescue party, making it so Emma faces Cruella alone. She ends up blasting the villain to save Henry, sending Cruella to her death. Mary Margaret and David show up after finding (and leaving) the Author at Gold’s cabin, revealing that the Author made it so that Cruella could never kill again. Henry wasn’t in much danger. Is Emma going dark now?

(Or a month-long vacation complete with a huge sleeping pill)

So, earlier in the week, I made a post on my tumblr about how I decided to have a drink during the show due to all the Outlaw Queen feels I anticipated. I figured it would be a nice way to end my Sunday night. Turns out I really needed it by the end of the episode.

But we’ll get to that. Though I may need another drink by the time I do.

We open in the Enchanted Forest where the Apprentice goes to a room. He contacts a ball of pink and blue smoke that rises out of a cauldron, telling…it… that he’s taken care of the Author by trapping him in the book. The Ball of Smoke says they better hope he doesn’t cause more havoc. The Apprentice then asks about the girl he banished and the Ball of Smoke says she’ll be forever linked to Emma.

In case you haven’t figured it out, the Ball of Smoke is the Sorcerer.

Gold and Isaac bury Cruella in a plain pine box. Isaac tosses down the napkin from Club Gatsby, saying his goodbyes. Across the way, Emma watches with a mixture of guilt and distrust.

At Granny’s, she confers with her own private little council—her parents, Hook, Henry and Regina. They try to assure her that Cruella’s death wouldn’t turn her dark—she was trying to protect Henry, she couldn’t know Cruella was unable to kill anyone. In a lot of ways, Cruella was so desperate, it seemed she may have committed suicide by savior. No matter what, though, Emma remains unconvinced.

Maleficent then walks in and the Charmings are convinced she’s there for them. She says she isn’t (though one gets the impression she will eventually come for them) but that she’s there for Emma. But not to bring her to Gold—they aren’t working together anymore. They have separate agendas and Regina looks damn proud of her friend. Maleficent asks for Emma’s help to find her daughter, Lilith “Lily” Page.” Emma’s eyes grow wide at the mention of the name.

(God, she looks so beautiful)

She goes to do some research, going through Storybrooke’s microfilm collection of old newspapers. Emma discovers an article about Lily being found in the woods. Thus we go to our first flashback…

("Everyone really is related on this, aren't they? Maybe not by blood, but geez...")

We’re in Minnesota, 1999. Emma is going over a list of supplies needed for a camping trip. She’s in a new foster home and going on a vacation with them. Her family seems to like her and her foster dad tells her to go get a sleeping bag. Emma goes into the garage but hears a noise. She grabs a bat and demands that the person show themselves. In a corner, she finds her old friend Lily. She tells Emma that she’s in trouble and needs help. Emma is not willing to help her, telling her that she has a good chance at having a family at last. Lily will put that in jeopardy.

(Reunited)

Emma’s foster dad discovers them in the garage and asks Emma who the other girl is. Lily introduces herself as a friend of Emma’s from their last foster home. Emma doesn’t contradict her and so the foster dad invites Lily to stay for dinner. Lily accepts despite Emma’s death glare.

Regina appears behind Emma and says it’s amazing how Emma knows Maleficent’s missing daughter. She asks how and Emma says they were friends a long time ago. Regina remembers Emma mentioning this friend way back in Breaking Glass. Emma wants to know why Regina’s really there. Regina says that she needs to get to New York to rescue Robin and Emma needs to find Lily. So they should go on a road trip together. She gives Emma a speech about defying fate and Emma accepts.

Gold and Isaac take a drive through town. In the process, Gold spots Belle and Will (drink!) walking hand-in-hand down the street. He tells Isaac to wait in the car while he deals with something.

Everyone gathers to see Regina and Emma off. Regina emerges with the Snow Queen’s scroll, saying she isn’t going to go off on a journey with a little magic of her own. She hugs Henry while Emma asks her parents to keep an eye on him. Hook then says his goodbyes, telling Emma to be careful. She assures him she’s not going dark and points out he came back from being a villain. Hook tells her it’s still a struggle but he has her to keep him on the straight and narrow. He worries who she’ll lean on outside Storybrooke. Emma kisses him before she and Regina get into the yellow bug, ready for their Team Mom Road Trip.

(Thelma and Louise)

Regina asks Emma what happened between her and Lily, so we cut to another flashback. Lily settles down at the dining room table with Emma’s foster family. She looks around and sees things like a chore wheel and it looks like a good home to her. Lily keeps lying, though, whenever asked anything by Emma’s foster parents. She claims they are best friends and are connected. And she said she wanted to see Emma again. Emma glares at Lily until excusing herself to get something from the kitchen.

Lily follows her and Emma lays into her about lying. Lily—accurately—points out that Emma hasn’t contradicted her. Of course, Emma doesn’t want to tell her new family that she met Lily while stealing Poptarts and that they were caught trespassing. Emma just wants Lily to get out but Lily says that she needs to be around Emma, that’s better when she’s around Emma. Emma then sees a news broadcast that reveals that Lily is wanted for a robbery. “I can explain,” Lily says.

(Oh, Lily)

Emma and Regina go to Lily’s last known address in Lowell, Massachusetts. Emma is a bit weirded out, given that she was living in Massachusetts around the same time. The address is to a rundown apartment building that looks like it’s used more by squatters than people who actually pay rent. Emma bangs on the door she believes is Lily’s and a man wanders down the hall in his robe. Emma says they are looking for Lily Page and he tells her that she’s dead. That she died in a car crash and good riddance. Emma lunges for him and Regina has to serve as her conscience, telling her he isn’t worth it. Emma lets him go and she leaves with Regina.

(Because he looks like such a reliable source)

Belle and Will share a meal that I guess is takeout from Granny’s as Belle asks if Will’s okay to be by himself for a bit. Mary Margaret and David need her to watch Baby Neal. He agrees and once she’s gone, Will realizes he’s not alone. Gold emerges from a backroom and says he needs Will to steal Belle’s heart. Will makes a smart remark about doing that already. Gold reveals that Regina took Belle’s heart and is keeping it hostage in her office. Will agrees to steal it.

(Drink!)

I still believed at this moment that Belle still had her heart and Maleficent was watching a heart from Regina’s Vault o’ Hearts just to mess with Gold’s head.

In the car, Regina asks Emma if she wants to talk about the death of her friend. Emma doesn’t think there’s anything to talk about. After all, she and Lily hadn’t seen each other in years. She turn the conversation to how Regina is going to rescue Robin from Zelena. Especially without magic. Regina is not above violence but doesn’t seem to have a clear plan.

She’s saved from answering further when a wolf crosses their path. It’s a nice call back to the pilot, where a wolf (Ruby?) prevented Emma from leaving Storybrooke. Now, I wonder if the wolf is Lily or some spirit form of hers. It’s in the eyes.

Emma drives off the road and experiences a flat. Regina spots a sign for a gas station and diner. She suggests they go there, get something to eat and get some help for the tire. Emma agrees and goes into the diner, ordering a coffee and something for her headache. The waitress pours her coffee and Emma grabs her wrist, spotting a familiar star birthmark on her arm. Though the waitress’ name tag says “Starla,” Emma realizes she has found Lily.

(Quelle coincidence!)

Back in the past, Emma pulls Lily into the garage for a private chat. Lily explains that she had been crashing with her newest boyfriend and she thought they were on a food run. Instead, he shoved a gun at her and revealed they were robbing the store. Emma asks why Lily didn’t just run away and Lily says she was too scared to defy him. Emma says she can’t stay there but Lily has nowhere else to go. So Emma agrees to let her stay the night but then she’s buying Lily a bus ticket with some money she has stored. Lily is cool with this plan…as long as Emma goes to her boyfriend’s place to retrieve a necklace for her. It’s the only thing she has from her biological mother and she won’t leave town without it. Emma agrees.

“Starla” exits the diner as Emma follows. She insists she isn’t this Lily Page person but Emma is certain she is. Finally, Lily drops it and admits to it. She says she got into some trouble a few years back and so she faked her death, giving herself a new life. Emma insists that there’s a lot she needs to tell Lily but Lily says she hasn’t thought of Emma in years. That she has a good life now, with a husband and a kid.

A bus pulls up and Lily goes to meet it. It almost looks like she’s telling the truth as she approaches a dark haired girl. But then she offers the girl a week’s worth of burgers if she’ll let Lily walk her around the corner. The girl agrees because free food and they disappear from Emma’s sight. But Emma’s super power has been on point this season (she never had much interaction with Marian aside for a few brief moments at Granny’s so I doubt she could pick up on the deception) and she knows Lily is lying.

(This kid needs better Stranger Danger training)

Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke, David and Mary Margaret go to visit Maleficent. She’s holed up in Regina’s office, keeping watch over Belle’s heart so Regina doesn’t lose her leverage over Gold. Or her element of surprise with Zelena in New York. They want to apologize but she shuts them down and pretty much throws them out of the office.

(Not having any of it)

Emma and Regina find Lily’s house and break in. They find no evidence of a child or a husband, so Emma’s already proven Lily’s lying about that. Regina then finds evidence that Lily’s lying about so much more: She knows about her fantastical origins. There’s a whole board set up like something out of Law and Order episode. Lily’s tried to pinpoint where Storybrooke is located and she has strings connecting a lot of the fairy tale characters residing in the town. Emma and Regina don’t have much time to gape at Lily’s work. They hear a car start up and see Lily drive off with Emma’s yellow bug. They race outside and Emma hotwires another car she founds there. She and Regina get in and pursue Lily.

(Regina's picture on Lily's Wall of Crazy)

In the past, Emma sneaks into Lily’s boyfriend’s house. It’s covered in graffiti and looks a lot like the Place That Shall Not Be Mentioned from Smash. She manages to find Lily’s necklace, a golden moon on a chain. Emma returns home, looking for Lily but finding her foster parents instead. They demand to know where she is and she says she was looking for Lily. So are they because they noticed all the money for their vacation is missing. Emma realizes that Lily tricked her into leaving the house and grows upset. But her foster parents aren’t done. They reveal they know the truth about Emma and Lily—that they were found trespassing. And that Lily is wanted for armed robbery. Emma explains she knew and that’s why she was trying to get Lily out of the house but the parents are upset. Foster Dad asks Emma how he could put their children in danger. Emma realizes she’ll never be part of their family and runs off.

(It is a pretty necklace)

Gold shows up at Regina’s office and Maleficent once again shoots him down. She steps away from the desk to confront him, tempting him to come inside. But Gold knows Regina. He is able to spot her protection spell. But he reveals to Maleficent that he’s just the distraction while someone who isn’t kept out could steal the heart. Maleficent turns around in time to spot Will leaving through a window. Oops.

Emma and Regina chase down Lily in The Fast and the Furious: Fairy Tale Edition. They manage to run her off the road. Emma confronts Lily, who confirms that she knows she is Maleficent’s daughter. She knows that all of Emma’s evil was transferred to her as a baby and she was exiled to this world, thanks to Emma’s parents. Lily wants to go to Storybrooke and exact revenge on them. Emma may be pissed at her parents but she’s not going to let her former best friend hurt them. They fight and Emma pulls a freaking gun on Lily. 

(WTH?)

In the end, Regina has to talk Emma down by telling her this is a road she doesn’t want to go down because the way back isn’t easy. As the former Evil Queen, she knows that firsthand. Emma puts the gun away but says Lily is coming with them because she promised Maleficent.

Teen!Emma waits at a bus stop when Teen!Lily shows up. Emma says she ran away because she’ll never fit in and Lily ruined it. She tells Lily to go back to her family but Lily reveals they threw her out. That since Emma left, Lily’s life has spiraled downward and she keeps making bad decisions. Even when she tries to make good decisions, they blow up in her face. Things go better when she’s with Emma. But Emma says she keeps ruining her life so she can’t be around Lily. She gives her the necklace and runs off.

(If only they knew how connected they were)

Belle returns to the shop and Will reveals he has something for her. He shows her her heart and she’s confused. Will explains that Regina took it and so he got it back. I kept waiting for Belle to say “I know” or reveal that it wasn’t her heart. But she grew upset and asked Will how he knew. There went my theory that Regina returned the heart after confronting Gold and was just bluffing.

Anyway, Will reveals Gold. He puts Belle’s heart back in her chest and then tells her that he’s letting her go. That Will was the one who would take care of her heart from now on because he deserved her. Gold essentially says his goodbyes. Will tries to grab Belle’s hand, but she pulls away as she watches Gold leave. Looks like Gold may not be out of the fight for Belle’s heart after all.

(Have hope, Rumbelle shippers!)

Regina tells Emma that they need to load Lily into the car and get to New York. She’s lost her leverage against Gold and can’t chance Zelena finding out they’re on their way. Lily and Emma reach a truce and everyone prepares for the last leg of the Team Mom Road Trip.

On the bus, Teen!Lily gets a seatmate. It turns out to be the Apprentice, who talks to her about her necklace. He says it’s very special and so is she. He says he’ll tell her all about her birth mother and apologizes for the role he played in separating the two.

So that’s how Lily learned about Maleficent.

Okay, I need to take a moment before I continue. No doubt recapping this is going to cause another spike in my blood pressure and reawaken the HIMYM series finale-level rage I felt last Sunday. So let’s all take deep breaths.

Ready?

As Emma and Lily watch, Regina knocks on a door and calls for Robin. It takes a few times but he opens the door, amazed that Regina is on the other side. He hugs her and she tells him she missed him. He says he missed her and asks why she’s there. Regina says there isn’t time to explain. She asks where Marian is and Robin tells her that she went down to the store to pick up some groceries. Regina says that gives them some time, ordering Robin to get Roland so they can leave. Robin doesn’t understand.

(A fleeting moment of happiness)

Marian returns though and demands to know why Regina’s there. She goes to stand next to Robin, latching onto his arm. Regina yells at her to get away from him and reveals that she’s really Zelena. Robin and Marian deny it and Regina threatens Marian until Robin yells at her to stop it. He tells her that he’s with Marian now and that’s the way things are.

Then Marian steps aside and reveals the Six Leaf Clover of Oz before transforming back into Zelena. Robin recoils and looks like someone just sucker punched him in the gut. Zelena looks quite smug and Regina is glad she revealed herself. She tells Robin to get Roland and to get in the car with her. But Robin says he can’t.

(Look at the pain. I say we should have a Hoodie group hug with him)

Earlier in the week prior, I came up with a theory that Zelena had already stolen Robin’s heart. That she was holding it somewhere safe, waiting for the moment Regina showed up. When Robin said he couldn’t, I thought it was because Zelena had his heart and had commanded him to never leave the apartment. God, I wish that was the case.

Regina tries to get Robin from the apartment and he clarifies that he can’t leave Zelena in New York. She asks why and Zelena’s like “Oh, yes, Robin. Tell her why.” With pain in his eyes and looking like his heart has shattered into a million pieces, Robin reveals that Zelena is pregnant. Emma has an “Oh, crap” look, Lily has no clue what is going on, Regina looks like her heart has also shattered into a million pieces, Zelena looks like the cat that ate the canary and I look like this:

Aside from those last five minutes, I enjoyed this episode immensely. I can’t wait to see how this plays out between Emma and Lily. And I think Maleficent won’t have much trouble when she reunites with her daughter next week.

About those last five minutes…Interviews with the creators have said that the baby is real. So Robin and Regina have to deal with that though I doubt we’re ever going to have to deal with the true ramifications of Zelena’s deception on Robin. (Trigger warning ahead) While Robin is now going to feel even less worthy of Regina and Regina is going to feel guilt-ridden about Robin being targeted because he loves her, I doubt we’re ever going to address the fact that Robin was technically raped. His consent was attained through deception.

(Never mind the fact that his happened within three months of leaving Storybrooke. Sometimes the fact the plots on this show occur in such short timelines can really muck things up).

Dear creators, please stop tormenting us Outlaw Queen fans. Please, please:

Just let our babies be happy. Okay?

Next week: Fall out! Reunions! Snow’s in danger! CORA FREAKING MILLS!