Pixie Dust Never Fails
At the start of the episode we are shown a discontented Evil Queen, feeling lonely in her loveless marriage and bored in the empty castle. Because she skipped her magic lessons, she is visited by Rumplestiltskin, who informs her that once darkness has taken ahold, it will continue until it has taken over. He needs her darkness and rage to complete the curse, and fuels it at every opportunity. Upset, the queen starts hitting the banister on her balcony when it breaks off. (Makes us feel a bit concerned for the rest of the structure if a light hit can make it fall.) Anyway, while falling, the queen is rescued by pixie dust by none other than Tinkerbell. She tells her that pixie dust never fails, and that all Regina needs is love to be happy again. She promises to return that evening, but is stopped by the overly strict Blue Fairy. Despite being warned against Regina's nature, Tinkerbell steals the dust and flies back to the castle. The two fly toward the village, where pixie dust lands on Regina's true love, a man with a lion tattoo. Regina begins to go in, but suddenly is filled with tremendous fear. She has held onto darkness for so long that without it she feels lost. She bolts from the tavern without ever going inside.
The next evening, Tinkerbell returns expecting to find a glowing Regina, but instead is greeted harshly as the queen tries to cover up her cowardice by saying that Tinkerbell is a terrible fairy for bringing her to such a distasteful man. Tinkerbell sees through it and urges Regina to let go of her darkness, but the queen banishes her from the castle. Closeness has unnerved the queen ever since her tragic end with Daniel, and she pushes the friendship away just like she did her true love. Unfortunately, the Blue Fairy is waiting, and is furious at her disobedience. Being a fairy requires belief, and because Blue no longer believes in Tinkerbell, her wings are taken away.
At the start of the episode we are shown a discontented Evil Queen, feeling lonely in her loveless marriage and bored in the empty castle. Because she skipped her magic lessons, she is visited by Rumplestiltskin, who informs her that once darkness has taken ahold, it will continue until it has taken over. He needs her darkness and rage to complete the curse, and fuels it at every opportunity. Upset, the queen starts hitting the banister on her balcony when it breaks off. (Makes us feel a bit concerned for the rest of the structure if a light hit can make it fall.) Anyway, while falling, the queen is rescued by pixie dust by none other than Tinkerbell. She tells her that pixie dust never fails, and that all Regina needs is love to be happy again. She promises to return that evening, but is stopped by the overly strict Blue Fairy. Despite being warned against Regina's nature, Tinkerbell steals the dust and flies back to the castle. The two fly toward the village, where pixie dust lands on Regina's true love, a man with a lion tattoo. Regina begins to go in, but suddenly is filled with tremendous fear. She has held onto darkness for so long that without it she feels lost. She bolts from the tavern without ever going inside.
The next evening, Tinkerbell returns expecting to find a glowing Regina, but instead is greeted harshly as the queen tries to cover up her cowardice by saying that Tinkerbell is a terrible fairy for bringing her to such a distasteful man. Tinkerbell sees through it and urges Regina to let go of her darkness, but the queen banishes her from the castle. Closeness has unnerved the queen ever since her tragic end with Daniel, and she pushes the friendship away just like she did her true love. Unfortunately, the Blue Fairy is waiting, and is furious at her disobedience. Being a fairy requires belief, and because Blue no longer believes in Tinkerbell, her wings are taken away.
I Believe
Meanwhile back at the Dark One's castle, Neal has figured out a way to get to Neverland. The island is run on belief, and if Robin Hood's little boy Roland says those words, then the shadow will come to him. Robin Hood is against it, but gives the idea one chance to honor his debt to Rumplestiltskin. Roland has to say, "I believe," and the shadow comes in. Before it can take him, Neal grabs on to its heel and rides it back to Neverland. But when he lands, Felix is there to capture him.
After the shadow escapade, Mulan decides that life is too short to hide how you feel. She goes back to Philip and Aurora's castle, which looks remarkably like Monkey City (foreshadowing for the two of them being turned into Flying Monkeys later on?) and tries to tell Aurora about her feelings for Phillip. But Aurora tells her that she is pregnant, so Mulan tearfully remains silent. Her hopes dashed. she returns to Robin Hood, who has offered her a place among his Merry Men. He extends his hand to welcome her, and we see on his arm a lion tattoo, making him Regina's true love.
Meanwhile back at the Dark One's castle, Neal has figured out a way to get to Neverland. The island is run on belief, and if Robin Hood's little boy Roland says those words, then the shadow will come to him. Robin Hood is against it, but gives the idea one chance to honor his debt to Rumplestiltskin. Roland has to say, "I believe," and the shadow comes in. Before it can take him, Neal grabs on to its heel and rides it back to Neverland. But when he lands, Felix is there to capture him.
After the shadow escapade, Mulan decides that life is too short to hide how you feel. She goes back to Philip and Aurora's castle, which looks remarkably like Monkey City (foreshadowing for the two of them being turned into Flying Monkeys later on?) and tries to tell Aurora about her feelings for Phillip. But Aurora tells her that she is pregnant, so Mulan tearfully remains silent. Her hopes dashed. she returns to Robin Hood, who has offered her a place among his Merry Men. He extends his hand to welcome her, and we see on his arm a lion tattoo, making him Regina's true love.
A Moving Target
The gang is trying to fight their way through the jungle following Pan's map, but he keeps moving his camp as part of his game. Hook decides that their best bet is to talk to a native of the island that Pan trusts - Tinkerbell. Regina lags behind, knowing that the fairy will be unlikely to help after their history, but Tinkerbell finds her anyway and knocks her out with poppies, taking her back to her house. She is miserable, disheveled, and missing her wings, not to mention furious at Regina for her betrayal. As she holds a Dreamshade-laced arrow tip to Regina's neck, Regina pulls her heart out and show her the result of choosing anger over hope. The heart is dark and hard, and she warns Tinkerbell that if she follows in that same path of darkness, then she will experience the same fate. Tink sees a change in Regina, and chooses not to kill her.
When they are reunited with the rest of the group, Snow finds common ground with the fairy, and offers her the one thing she has always wanted but has never been able to have: a home. She agrees to help them, and we get a nice moment where Snow says that Charming is her home. Can these two be any more adorable?
The gang is trying to fight their way through the jungle following Pan's map, but he keeps moving his camp as part of his game. Hook decides that their best bet is to talk to a native of the island that Pan trusts - Tinkerbell. Regina lags behind, knowing that the fairy will be unlikely to help after their history, but Tinkerbell finds her anyway and knocks her out with poppies, taking her back to her house. She is miserable, disheveled, and missing her wings, not to mention furious at Regina for her betrayal. As she holds a Dreamshade-laced arrow tip to Regina's neck, Regina pulls her heart out and show her the result of choosing anger over hope. The heart is dark and hard, and she warns Tinkerbell that if she follows in that same path of darkness, then she will experience the same fate. Tink sees a change in Regina, and chooses not to kill her.
When they are reunited with the rest of the group, Snow finds common ground with the fairy, and offers her the one thing she has always wanted but has never been able to have: a home. She agrees to help them, and we get a nice moment where Snow says that Charming is her home. Can these two be any more adorable?