Last time on Once: The Black Fairy threatened Zelena, which riled her up. Refusing to listen to Regina, Zelena stormed into the mine and her magic turned the crystals dark, which was the Black Fairy’s plan. Regina and Zelena argued and Zelena was about to return to Oz before realizing she didn’t want to leave. She used a magical heart she found in Oz with an old friend who ultimately became the Tin Man to drain her magic, ruining the Black Fairy’s plan.
Meanwhile, Snow and David went venue hunting with Emma, Hook and Henry. David kept finding things wrong with every venue until he revealed that he didn’t think planning a wedding now was a good idea. Not when Emma’s doom hung over them. Emma agreed and said they could plan once she faced the Final Battle.
At the end, Emma used a restored crystal to heal Blue Fairy. The Black Fairy was not pleased because Blue knows a big secret she doesn’t want Rumple to know – the real reason she abandoned him.
dun dun dun!
(That seemed to go a little better. Now let’s get on with the episode).
We get an early title card after the recap as two fairies fly across the title. We are then told it is many, many years ago as Fiona is in the middle of labor. Malcolm is there, supporting her. There’s a lot of heavy breathing, groaning and pushing before she lets out a yell. Candles briefly go out before reigniting, echoing the scene where Emma gives birth to Henry. A midwife doesn’t even blink as she swaddles the baby, announcing that it is a boy. Fiona admires her baby, declaring him perfect and Malcolm says they need to find the perfect name for him.
The window opens and the two fairies fly in, growing full-sized to reveal Blue and Tiger Lily. Malcolm asks who they are and Blue introduces them as fairies. She also explains that Tiger Lily is their son’s fairy godmother. Fiona says she’s heard of them but thought fairy godmothers came alone. Blue confirms that’s true but this is a special occasion. She reveals that there is a prophecy that states that a baby born on that day was destined to be The Savior.
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| Behold we bring you tidings of good-ish news! |
Oh snap!
We cut from baby Rumple to adult Rumple. He’s concentrating as he does something with a dragon’s egg. Hook pretty much asks how it will help and Rumple explains that it’s a dragon egg that never hatched. There’s a breath trapped inside that should revive Blue Fairy. Emma notes that that’s pretty dark even for him and he asks her if she has any other ideas. She doesn’t and he makes a snide comment about the usefulness of Saviors as he cracks open the egg. Green smoke rises from it and Blue breaths it in but doesn’t wake. Emma makes a similarly snide comment about his usefulness.
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| Rumple is not amused. |
Rumple storms outside and uses his magic to send a garbage can flying across the street. Belle follows him and asks if he feels better. He admits he doesn’t. She says he’s putting too much pressure on himself to defeat his mother. Rumple reminds her that the Black Fairy has their son’s heart and vows to not lose another son. Belle promises that nothing will happen to Gideon as long as she’s alive but Rumple worries that their family is forever cursed to have children ripped apart from their parents.
Emma interrupts them and tells them to come back inside. It seems the dragon’s breath worked and Blue starts to wake up. Snow sits by her side and Blue is happy to see her. Hook rushes forward, asking about the wand while Snow tells him to give Blue a minute. Blue says the other half of the wand is located in the center of Storybrooke but she struggles to talk so Snow tells her not to say anymore. And then she begins to choke Blue because Snow isn’t snow. She’s Cora the Black Fairy. And David is really Cora Gideon! The Black Fairy warns everyone to stay back before leaving with Blue. Gideon tries to follow her but Rumple slaps the anti-magic cuff on him, declaring that it’s time to get his heart back.
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| Now you see Snow White... |
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| ...and now you see the Black Fairy |
(I couldn’t help myself with the Cora jokes. Who else remembers the good old “Everyone is Cora” meme?)
Zelena has apparently moved in with Regina as she tries to set up some furniture. But it falls apart as she expresses some frustration. Regina comes in and says that it’s hard to adjust to not having magic, reminding Zelena that she did it during the curse. She sees it was frustrating having to turn on lights by hand but she got used to it and Zelena will too. She also reminds Zelena that by giving up her magic, she saved Storybrooke. But Zelena feels helpless, especially while putting together Ikea products, and wonders how she can protect herself and Peanut without her magic. Regina gets an idea and holds up her car keys.
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| Ikea always wins |
Back at Gold’s, Belle tries to get Gideon to tell her where his heart is. She says that he managed to resist the Black Fairy’s magic once before. But he explains that she punished him for doing that and now he experiences a great pain whenever he tries. It’s clear that he’s in pain now so Rumple convinces Belle to stop her interrogation. Emma enters, saying she just got off the phone with her (real) parents and that they are looking for the wand. She hopes they find it soon so she can go after the Black Fairy.
Rumple doesn’t comment on that and instead turns to Belle, saying he has a way to talk with Gideon but he needs something from her. She asks what it is and he says he needs her trust. She pauses before saying that she trusts he will do what’s right for Gideon and their family, which seems to be all he needs. He pulls out a vial and says it contains the sands of Morpheus, telling Gideon the best place for them to talk is in the dream realm. He tosses some sand on Gideon, who falls asleep, and then tells Emma he needs her to come too. He tosses sand on her and Emma meets the floor before she can protest. Rumple then uses it on himself, leaving Belle alone with three sleeping people.
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| Belle has some objections to this plan. |
Emma and Rumple walk through a haze-filled forest and he explains that the dream realm is like a maze. She wonders why she’s there and he reveals it was to make sure she didn’t try to defeat the Black Fairy before he could get Gideon’s heart back. They then stumble on a small cottage as a woman’s voice sings an indistinguishable lullaby. Inside is a rocking cradle and Rumple stops it, briefly hearing the woman’s voice clearer now. He reveals that this was the cottage where he was born and Emma realizes they are in his dream, not Gideon’s. Rumple leads her out, determined to find her son – and get away from that place.
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| Home Sweet Home? |
We see baby Rumple in the cradle as Fiona sings a lullaby. She senses a disturbance in the force and jumps up, brandishing a sword. But it’s only Tiger Lily, who is concerned as the sword is apparently knew. Fiona says she got it once she learned the truth about Rumple – that the Savior will face a great evil and die in the final battle. Tiger Lily regrets giving her the book that revealed that but still hands over more books of fairy lore as Fiona is determined to protect her son. Tiger Lily tells her that the fairies are supposed to protect him and Fiona is supposed to raise him.
That seems to calm Fiona and she asks if Tiger Lily wants to hold her son. Tiger Lily agrees and as she takes Baby Rumple, Fiona grabs the wand she left on the table. Fiona says the only way she can protect her son is to become a fairy and she chants some strange words. Magic swirls around her and she becomes a fairy, which amazes and scares Tiger Lily.
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| Tiger Lily might be regretting this whole fairy godmother deal. |
(This scene also reveals that the great evil Rumple is supposed to face will be born in the same winter as him and have a crescent birthmark).
We return to the ugliest green station wagon ever. Zelena asks Regina what it is and I’m pretty sure it’s a safety hazard. But it’s apparently Zelena’s new car. Regina starts to give Zelena some lessons but Zelena struggles withe basics, losing her temper easily. When she crashes into some trash cans, she’s ready to throw in the towel and wants to find another way to protect Peanut. Regina, though, tells her its not just about Peanut.
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| This looks like it should've been scrapped years ago. |
She gets vulnerable for a moment and says that she knows Henry will want to help fight the Final Battle. However, she knows that there could be casualties – and though she doesn’t say it directly, it’s clear she expects to be one. Regina needs Zelena to know how to drive so she can take Henry to New York so he can start fresh. Zelena is touched that Regina trusts her with Henry but Regina is really entrusting Zelena to Henry. So Zelena steels herself to practice driving again.
But Regina gets a call. Snow says she needs Regina to put on her “mayor pants” and Regina’s not too thrilled by her tone. However, Snow doesn’t care and explains that they are looking in the center of Storybrooke – the clocktower – but can’t find the wand. Since Regina created Storybrooke, Snow hopes she can figure it out. Regina notes that fairies are all about love and hope (really?) so Blue didn’t mean the literal center of Storybrooke but rather its heart. She and Snow both realize where that is.
Granny’s.
Zelena is ready to drive there but Regina tells her she needs to sit this one out. Regina uses her magic to exit the car while Zelena remains in the driver’s seat, disappointed.
We cut to the mines where Fiona has Blue tied up. She sings the lullaby we heard in Rumple’s dream as she carries a rolled up kit of some sort. She sits by Blue, who insists that she’s not afraid of Fiona though her demeanor suggests otherwise. Fiona blames Blue for all her problems and says they are going to play a game, unrolling the kit to reveal some medieval torture devices. She insists that she will find out about the wand but Blue vows not to talk. Removing what appears to be a wand, Fiona says there are other ways to get that information.
In the Enchanted Forest, a mother hangs up her laundry as her child lays in a bassinet nearby. It almost looks like Fiona and Rumple but we learn its not when Tiger Lily and Fiona pop in while the mother is distracted. Tiger Lily coos over the baby and insists she doesn’t look evil. Fiona checks for the crescent-shaped birthmark but the baby doesn’t have one, proving Tiger Lily right. Fiona is determined to check every child born that winter to find the one destined to kill her son and is growing frustrated they haven’t found the baby yet, especially as it is the last day of winter and that baby was last one born during the season.
Fiona and Tiger Lily return to their camp of sorts as Fiona rocks Baby Rumple, promising to keep him safe. She says there’s something else they can try and reveals she wants to combine two ancient spells. Tiger Lily is concerned, saying it’s dangerous to create a spell. Fiona insists it is the only way and that it could help protect others since this Great Evil could hurt other children. She asks Tiger Lily to get her into the Great Fairy Vault and that together they can make sure that no mother is separated from her child.
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| Yellow really is her color. |
We return to the Dream Realm where Emma asks Rumple about his mother, saying she understands the complicated relationship one can have toward a parent who abandoned them. She says she needs to know that he will be on her side during the Final Battle. Rumple snaps at her, insisting that he doesn’t have any warm feelings about his mother. He says she never did anything for him – she didn’t even name him. Rumple assures her that he looks forward to Emma defeating Fiona and just wants to find his son.
Gideon calls out to him and thanks his father for fighting for him. Rumple hugs him, promising that he would do anything for his son. He asks Gideon about his heart but Gideon really doesn’t know where it is – the Black Fairy has it really hidden. Rumple worries all is lost but Gideon says that what he needs to help defeat the Black Fairy is there if he’s willing to learn more. As the image of baby Rumple in a bassinet appears, Gideon tells his father that he needs to learn why the Black Fairy really gave him up.
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| Who knew a bassinet could look so ominous? |
Snow, David and Hook enter Granny’s and she asks them to stop Regina, who is looking around for the wand. But her pleas fall on deaf ears as the other three begin to look through the diner. David and Hook decide to move the jukebox and find a hidden space under the floorboard. The wand is there and Regina asks for it. Hook asks her to prove she really is Regina and Snow suggests using a codeword. Regina insists she is herself and the Black Fairy shows up to confirm it. She demands the wand and Regina’s like “fight me.” The Black Fairy takes her up on the offer and Regina poofs them out of the diner.
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| Hopefully they put that back for Granny. |
Regina takes the Black Fairy outside and they bicker before Black Fairy shoots Regina with some magic. Snow, David and Hook race outside but Regina tells them to stay back. Fiona is about to hit her again when she is hit instead – by Zelena in her car. The Black Fairy disappears as Zelena gloats.
Back in the Dream Realm, Rumple holds his baby blanket and feels stupid. He doesn’t think it’s helping and Emma pretty much tells him it won’t until he’s ready to learn the truth. She again reminds him that she understands what he is feeling and that she also hates being vulnerable. But she tells him to do it for Gideon, who assures his father that he believes in him. So Rumple tries again, letting himself be more open to the memories the blanket will show him.
We hear Fiona’s lullaby again before Rumple, Emma and Gideon are whisked away to a beautiful room that appears to be inside a flower. Gideon says it is the Secret Fairy Vault as they watch Fiona prepare a potion while Tiger Lily watches baby Rumple. However, Tiger Lily realizes Fiona is preparing a curse and tries to stop her. Fiona pleads with Tiger Lily to let it happen, insisting it is the only way to protect her son. Tiger Lily reveals it is the Dark Curse and that it is destined to send all the children to the Land Without Magic. Fiona says it’s the only way and that fairies are supposed to protect children. Tiger Lily agrees and says Rumple’s death as the Savior would save children too. Emma, Gideon and Rumple react to finding out he was once supposed to be the Savior.
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| "I could've been a hero the entire time?" |
Fiona then rips out Tiger Lily’s heart and says she’s willing to kill her son’s own fairy godmother to keep him safe. As she squeezes the heart, magic pulses past her and her yellow dress turns black. Tiger Lily realizes that Fiona is the great evil as the camera focuses on the crescent mark on Fiona’s wrist. She says that evil wasn’t born, it was made and that Fiona and her son are destined to destroy each other.
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| The Black Fairy is born. |
Rumple, Emma and Gideon wake up in the pawn shop. Regina is there and shows them the wand pieces. She tells Emma it’s time to go fight the Black Fairy but Emma reveals that she’s not the Savior destined to defeat the Black Fairy. Everyone is surprised to learn it’s Rumple and Belle is overjoyed, believing this proves she was right about him being good deep down. He puts the wand together and prepares to fight his mother.
It’s foggy by the lake as Rumple waits for his mother. She shows up and he reveals that he knows why she gave him up. He says that deep down, he likely always knew he was destined to kill her. Rumple says she gave him up because she didn’t want him to kill her. Fiona, though, insists that he still doesn’t know the whole truth. She says she can show him.
We return to the Secret Fairy Vault as Fiona continues to hold Tiger Lily’s heart. Blue arrives and takes the heart back, returning it to Tiger Lily’s chest. Tiger Lily goes to drawer and says there is a way to ensure that Fiona and her son won’t have to fight each other. She pulls out the golden shears and says that they can remove Fiona’s magic, disconnecting her from the fate. But Fiona refuses to give up her magic, insisting she needs it. Instead, she uses the shearers on Rumple, despite Blue pleading with her not to deny him his destiny as a hero. Once she disconnects him from his fate as the Savior, Blue banishes her. Before she gets sucked into the abyss, she promises Rumple that she will never stop looking for him.
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| Talk about a time out. |
Back at the foggy lake, Rumple asks her why she didn’t tell him the truth and instead let him think she hated him. She pretty much says she thought it would be easier. If she thought the memory was going to change his mind, she is wrong. He calls her out for using the shearers on him, noting he made the same decision, and says it was a selfish move. Rumple says she cursed him to a life of cowardice but she keeps insisting that she did it to protect him, so they could be a family. She says the world is a cruel place and he agrees, saying its because of villains like her…and him.
He asks about Gideon and Fiona says that everything she did made him stronger. That doesn’t seem to be the answer Rumple wanted. He talks about the decisions he made regarding Baelfire and Gideon and Fiona thinks he understand her. She asks him if she’s forgiven and if they can be a family now. Rumple stares at her with watery eyes as we cut to black.
We return to Malcolm and Fiona’s cottage as he drinks in front of the fire. Blue and Tiger Lily bring his son back to him and tell him Fiona is gone. He assumes that means she is dead and they don’t correct her. Tiger Lily tries to assure him that she died protecting their son. Malcolm doesn’t know how he’s supposed to be a parent without Fiona. It’s clear he really loves her and already blames his son for losing her. Blue and Tiger Lily leave the baby there as Malcolm names him Rumpelstiltskin.
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| Tiger Lily knows this is a bad idea. |
At Granny’s, Rumple tosses down a black lump of a heart. Emma asks if it is the Black Fairy and he tells her that the Black Fairy is no more. David thanks him while Snow says that the wedding can happen tomorrow. Just because the Black Fairy is gone doesn’t mean you can’t still take things a little slower, Snow. Emma assures Rumple he did the right thing and calls him the Savior.
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| Why does everyone keep trusting this man? We're six season in, people! |
Rumple goes back to his shop and returns Gideon’s heart. Gideon hugs his mother and thanks his father before apologizing for what he did under the Black Fairy’s control. Rumple assures him he has nothing to apologize for. Belle praises Rumple for saving their family and standing up to his mother. He tells them that they should always remember that everything he does is for them, which likely hints that he didn’t kill his mother. Even if I didn’t already watch the end of this season, the fact there are three more episodes left is also very telling.
We cut to Emma’s house as Henry arrives home. Hook stops him and starts giving a rambling speech that made it pretty obvious where he was going. So I’ll cut to the chase – Hook asks Henry to join Operation Best Man and puts him in charge of the wedding rings. While this is sweet, it does highlight the fact that Hook’s only other friends are Mr. Smee and David, his future father-in-law. I feel like this is a minor highlight of how stupid it was to kill off Robin. Emma has no maid of honor (from what I remember) so Henry could have been her man of honor while Hook could’ve asked Robin to be his Best Man.
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| Everyone in this town needs more friends they aren't related to. |
Anyway, Hook then says he’s leaving for the night. Emma says he doesn’t have to go but Hook doesn’t want to risk any more bad luck ahead of the wedding. So he’s going to take his superstitious pirate self to the Jolly Roger and see her at the wedding.
The episode ends with Rumple standing in an alleyway. And to the surprise of probably nobody, Fiona shows up alive and well. She asks if their plan worked and Rumple says it did because everybody trusts him, no matter how many times I yell at them not to trust him. He says that Gideon and Belle are safely tucked away and won’t witness what is about to happen. Fiona notes that he enjoys being the Dark One and he says that enjoying darkness is a family trait. She promises Rumple that their family will get their happy ending after Emma’s big day the next day.
The day she dies.
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| Look at happy she looks about someone's death. |
dun dun DUN!
Honestly, this almost feels like two different episodes. When I went to save screencaps for this post, I had to keep double-checking the episode. It felt weird that the same episode that featured Zelena running over the Black Fairy with a station wagon was the same as the episode dealing with Fiona’s transformation into the Black Fairy.
But here we are.
Fiona’s backstory was interesting as well as the fact that Rumple was supposed to be the savior. This story served as the epitome of the show’s mantra – evil isn’t born, it’s made. Fiona allowed herself to be so consumed about protecting her son that she didn’t care who she hurt or kill in the process, turning her evil. Her decision – and also Malcolm’s neglect – then led Rumple to live a life where he felt his only option to improve it was to embrace darkness as well.
And our heroes still trust him. *Sigh*
It’s also a little frustrating that Blue and Tiger Lily saw that Malcolm was not going to be a good parent to Rumple and they didn’t decide to find a better family for him. I don’t know if the writers meant to show that sometimes it wasn’t best to keep children with their biological parents but that’s how I interpreted it.
Anyway, we’re finally up to the musical episode. Keep your eyes out for that recap.
Next time: The Black Fairy looms over Emma’s wedding as everyone suddenly starts singing in the Enchanted Forest.
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