A white house with blue shutters near the window, and a huge bush was next to the porch with a banner that said: Welcome Home, David! Kathryn and David stood outside of their home while David looked at the house and the sign, Kathryn looked over at her husband. "You know, you had that same look on your face before we bought it, too," she admitted to him, looking at the house. "You couldn't see the ugly windmill on the lawn, and said you'd never buy an old lady's house," she smiled, looking back at her husband. "Do you remember what made you change your mind?" she asked.
David looked around for a moment, noticing that the windmill was gone. "Well, I see the windmill's gone," he stated the obvious.
Kathryn looked at David, rubbing his arm gently. "Come on. Everyone's waiting," she said gently, they started walking up the front door.
"Who's everyone's?" David asked.
Once David and Kathryn walked into their house, the whole neighborhood clapped and cheered as David walked through the door. David looked around at them, they all gathered in a half-circle around him and his wife. He looked at Kathryn with a smile, putting his arm around her.
"This is Jay," Kathryn introduces him to David.
"Good to see you," David said, shaking Jay's hand.
"David," Jay said with a smile on his face—happy to see him.
"How are you doing?" David asked, smiling.
"And this is Ellen—his wife," Kathryn told David.
"Ellen, hi," he said with a smile, shaking Ellen's hand.
"Pleased to meet you, too," Ellen said with a smile.
"Welcome home, David," said a man.
"Hey," said Dr. Whale when David and Kathryn came over to greet him.
"Dr. Whale," said Kathryn, shaking his hand.
"Hi, David," said Dr. Whale, shaking his hand.
"Hi," he muttered with a smile.
"Look, I know this is a lot, but it's good for you," Dr. Whale said to David. "The smallest thing could trigger your memories. Just try and have fun."
"Thank you, Dr. Whale," David said, nodding as he sighed. "I'll do my best."
Emma and Henry were at the welcome party for David, they were sitting on the stairs.
"You know why he doesn't remember? The curse isn't working on him yet," Henry said to Emma.
"Henry, David has amnesia," Emma tried to explain to him.
"Which is preventing the curse from replacing his fairy tale story with fake memories," he explained back.
"Right. Because everyone here has fake stories that prevent them from remembering who they are."
"Right. And now's our chance to help him. We just have to get him to remember that he..."
"He's Prince Charming," Emma interrupted him with a smile.
"We just have to jog his memory by getting him and Miss Blanchard together."
"Didn't we just try that?" Emma asked, eyeing him cautiously.
"And it woke him up," Henry said, smiling.
"Hey," said David, walking over to them. "You're the ones who saved me, right?"
Emma stood up, smiling at him. "Oh. Yeah, I guess."
"And you're also the only ones I know here," David said while he looked at the crowd of people he didn't know.
"You can hide with us," Emma joked.
"Fantastic," he said, taking a toothpick and stabbing a carrot with it. "Thank you."
"So, you ever use a sword?" Henry asked, looking up at him.
David chuckles at the question. "I'm sorry?" he asked, confused.
Emma looked at Henry and took a deep breath then looked over at David—glad that Henry didn't go much into detail about the cursed thing.
"Emma, you like live with Mary Margaret, right?" David asked. Emma nodded. "You know if she's coming tonight?"
"No, she couldn't make it," Emma told him, knowing the real reason why Mary Margaret couldn't make it.
David nodded at the answer believing her.
Kathryn Nolan and Regina Mills were in the kitchen. Regina standing near her with a glass of punch in her hand. Kathryn was at the table trying to clean it up.
"You should go out there," Regina told Kathryn.
Kathryn ignored her words as she continued cleaning up.
"There's plenty of food. Go," Regina demanded gently at her. "Be with your husband."
Kathryn stopped what she was doing and sighed heavily. "I lost him once. Now I have him back. But it's like I still don't have him back." Shaking her head slightly, looking down at the plate in her hands. "You have no idea how that feels."
"Actually, I do," Regina looked at her, eyes intense. "I lost someone once, too."
Kathryn looked at Regina. "Really?" she asked, shocked.
"Yes," Regina said gently. "But the love I lost, there's no bringing him back," she looked at the other for a moment before taking a step forward with a smile. "You have a chance here. Go to him."
"You're right," Kathryn nodded, agreeing with her. Setting the plate down on the table, took a few steps toward the entrance of the living room. Stopped as she turned halfway down toward Regina. "And, Regina, thank you. Thank you for being such a good friend. It's been so lonely, I'm not used to having one."
"Neither am I," Regina agreed.
"Well, like it or not, you have one now," Kathryn smiled then laughed, turning around and walking back into the living room with her party guests and her husband.
Regina looked after Kathryn, smiling sadly to herself as she lowered her eyes to the ground. Thinking of the day she lost her love.
Kathryn walked over to Emma, Henry, and Dr. Whale with a concerned look on his face. "Have you seen David?" she asked.
"Uh—" Emma looked around then back to Kathryn. "He—"
"No," Dr. Whale said simply.
Kathryn looked at them both then around at her party guest, wondering where her husband went too.
David was walking down the sidewalk, taking him toward the school. He spotted Mary Margaret on a stepping ladder, taking down a birdhouse that one of her students made a while ago. He was just staring at her while she did that. "Did you not get the invite?" he asked her.
Mary Margaret looked at him, shocked seeing him here and not at the party with his wife. "David!" she called out softly, smiling slightly.
"Here," David said, jumping over the white fence and walking over to her with a grin. Mary Margaret watched him, stunned that he jumped over the fence. His hand stretched out as she smiled at him and handed the birdhouse to David. Slowly got down the ladder with David's help. David climbed up the ladder and put the birdhouse up on the tree, perfectly. While Mary Margaret watched him do it. "So I heard you resigned from the hospital. Was it me?" he asked her, looking down at her. "Because of what I told you. About how I felt. About you." He said, getting down from the ladder and standing in front of her, pausing for her to answer. "Come on. Don't tell me it's one-sided."
"You're married. It should be no-sided," Mary Margaret said, trying to get it through David's head.
"What it should be doesn't matter. Whoever married Kathryn, it's not me. I didn't choose her." He paused. "I'm choosing you." They both looked at each other for what seemed forever. "I know you feel it. I can tell."
Mary Margaret closed her eyes, sighing heavily. "I know you think that we have this connection," she started saying, opening her eyes as she continued, "but maybe it's because I happen to be the person who saved your life," she paused, letting him sink the words in. "So why don't we leave it at that?" she said, walking past David with her head down as David stood there, saddened by the thought of them never getting together.
A guy that was seven feet tall was wearing gear. Gear that was animal skin and fur. The guy has a headgear that is a dragon's head over the top of his head. He was growling at Prince James with a spear, walking forward while James swung his sword but the guy held up his spear to make sure James didn't hurt him. Both grunted while moving back to give each other space before going back at each other. The guy swung his spear a few times in the air while hitting James' shield and knocking him back a few yards away from him almost falling over the edge of a cliff. "Ah!" James cried out.
James fell, chest first but half a second later he quickly got to his knees while the other guy went toward James, a low growl left his lips. James quickly got out of the way before the other stabbed him, he got up on his feet and swung his sword at his opponent while putting his shield up to protect him. James swung his sword at his opponent a few times but those times the other's spear every single time.
James' opponent's spear went straight through James' shield and tossed him over to his left, landing a good few feet from him, James yelled out as he dropped his shield and sword. James lay on the solid rock ground unconscious, the opponent growled once again as he pointed his spear at James. He slowly walked over to him, lifting his spear in the air then James rolled over and grabbed his sword while his opponent's spear went to the ground James stood up quickly and sliced his neck with the tip of his sword and stood a step back and plunging the sword into his chest.
"Next time, make sure I'm really dead," said James to his opponent, setting his foot on his chest and pushing him off. James' opponent staggered back and landed it with a loud bang, Prince James walked over to him and stood there for a moment, making sure he was dead. After a moment, people started cheering and clapping at James' accomplishment.
"Well done," said King Midas, walking down the stairs alongside James' father—King George.
"Well done? That's an understatement," King George said. "Did you see what my son did to that brute?" he asked the other, looking over at him. "He just killed the unkillable." They finally reached James, his father patted his son's back.
"A valiant feat for sure. But it is still just a man," King Midas said to King George while looking at Prince James. "Can he do the same with a dragon?"
"Do fairies sprinkle dust? Do trolls live under bridges?" King George asked the other sarcastically.
"Father, relax," Prince James said, placing a hand on his father's shoulder. "I can kill whatever beast you set after me," he said, looking at King Midas.
"My kingdom is plagued by a dragon like nothing you've ever faced before. He has killed every warrior that's tried to slay him," King Midas explained to Prince James.
"He's yet to face me," Prince James said with confidence, looking at King James.
"My kingdom needs this threat vanquished," said King Midas.
"And my kingdom needs gold. I'm sure we can work something out," said King George.
King Midas lifted his hand and one of his guards came over and helped him take off his glove, looking over at his guard over his shoulder. "Careful. Remember what happened to Frederick," he said quietly and calmly to his guard, the guard took off the King's glove.
King's Midas' hand glowed red, like the fire embers. He looked at Prince James, his face serious. "Your sword," he demanded. Prince James pulled his sword from his belt and held it up in front of both King and himself, King Midas placed his fingers on the sword and it glowed red as well. "Consider it a down payment," he said, pulling his hand away. "You'll get the rest when you deliver the dragon's head to me."
"It's a deal. Forgive me if I refuse to shake on it, King Midas," said Prince James.
They both laughed, leaning forward slightly. "Come. Let's discuss the details," King Midas said to King George.
Both Kings' started walking toward their carriages, along with the guards following close behind them.
"A toast to our fearless Prince!" said a guard, all the guards cheering for the Prince.
"No. There's no celebrating today. This was but a simple test. The task before us is too big, too important to make light of. Just because I was easily able to kill this brute doesn't mean—" All of a sudden, a spear went through his chest, making him stop talking. The Brute was still alive, he growled lowly.
Prince James collapsed on the ground, all of the guards brought out their swords and walked over to Prince James's dead body, looking down at his body.
A few guards walked around the circular table while King George stood beside his dead son. Prince James was lying on a small gold bed and pillow, still in his suit and armor. "Goodbye, my son," he said sadly, he nodded to his guards to take his son away.
Four of the guards came—two on one side and two on the other side—and lifted the bed, his father watched for a few seconds before looking away.
"Your Majesty, there is no time to grieve," said a guard. "If Midas learns he is dead, he will find another warrior to slay his dragon. And we will never see an ounce of his gold."
"Yes. Yes. The kingdom must survive," King George agreed.
"So what are we to do?" the guard asked.
"I have asked for help. It should be here soon," King George answered.
"Oh, it's here," said a familiar voice. They turned around and saw Rumplestiltskin with his smug smile.
King George looked at his guard. "Leave us," he demanded. He nodded and walked out of the room.
"Move," said the guard, telling the other guards to leave.
"So this is how you treat my gifts? You really must be more careful," Rumplestiltskin said, walking closer to King George.
"He was not a gift. He was my son," King George said to Rumplestiltskin, he followed him while Rumplestiltskin stood in front of the fireplace.
"A son I gave you," he reminded the king.
"In a deal we made. You did me no favors," King George fired at him.
"Yes. Yes, I did," he said, turning around to face King George. "Shame you and the Queen couldn't conceive a child on your own." Taking a few steps forward toward the king. "My price for that was a pittance. But now that she is gone, well, I assume that conceiving another heir is out of the question, let alone a dragon slayer."
"Then let's do another deal," he paused for a moment. "Bring him back. I need my son to do this." Another pause. "I'll give you anything."
While Rumplestiltskin was listening to him, he was walking around the small area then he turned to look at King George. "Anything?" he asked.
"What do you want?" King George asked him.
"There's a magic wand I desire. It belongs to a certain Fairy Godmother who's patron to your family. I want to know her whereabouts."
"Done. Now tell me. How do I bring my son back to slay the dragon?"
"Bring him back? No, that's out of the question. He's dead. Magic can do much—but not that."
"But you just said—"
"Nothing about resurrection," Rumplestiltskin interrupted.
"Then my kingdom is lost," King George said, looking away in disappointment as he walked to the table placed his hands on the table, and sighed heavily. "I'm alone."
"Oh, dear. Oh, dearie, dearie, dear," Rumplestiltskin walked toward the king. "Did I not tell you that I could have your son slay the dragon?" King George looked over at him. "And am I not a man of my word?"
King George stood up straight, looking at him sideways. "I thought you said he was gone forever!"
"Oh, that he is," Rumplestiltskin said, walking around the king. "But his brother—"
"His what?" King George wiped his hand to look at the Dark One.
"His twin brother," he said, taunting the king. "Did I not mention there was another?" he giggled his high-pitched giggle.
A man with longish shaggy hair who was wearing shaggy farm clothes was on a farm and watching the sheep eat the grass. He looked behind him as he watched his house with a smile on his lips. His name is David and he looked exactly like Prince James.
Mary Margaret was in her apartment, in the kitchen, and she was washing a dish intensely. Emma was standing there watching her with a smile on her face, her hands on her hips trying not to burst out laughing. "You might want to ease up or the Brillo's Pad's gonna press charges," she joked, making Mary Margaret look up.
"The dishes were just piling up," she said, looking down at the sink and setting the plate down.
"This have anything to do with David stopping by?" Emma asked, walking toward her. Mary Margaret's face paled instantly when she mentioned him. "I saw him sulking away as I pulled up," she explained as she took off her jacket and set it on the chair, sitting in another chair.
"We just—He just—" she stuttered over her words.
"I know what you both 'just'. And you did the ring thing."
"He made a pretty compelling case."
"But he's still married. I know. I was just at the party."
Mary Margaret closed her eyes for a moment, wrinkling her eyebrows. "What do I do?" she asked, opening her eyes to look at Emma.
"You need to stop cleaning and have a drink," Emma stated, getting up and walking to a cabinet, grabbing a bottle of liquor into the cups, Mary Margaret walked over and sat down in the chair. "Here's the thing. I don't know a lot about relationships—other than having many that failed." Screwing the lid back on the bottle and setting it on the island, sitting in a chair. "But generally speaking," she looked at Mary Margaret, "if you think something you wanna do is wrong," picking up one of the glasses and handing it to her, "it is." She paused, letting her words sink in. "So you gotta stay strong, and he has to figure out his life." They both lifted their glasses in the air, smiling at each other. "Cheers." They clinked their glasses together and took a sip of their liquor.
David was sitting in his living room with a box of pictures, he had a few pictures in his hands and putting one picture behind another, trying to remember his life before he woke up.
"You look different," Kathryn said, walking toward her husband. David laughed softly, nodding as he looked down at the photos. "Your hair. It's longer," she said, putting her hand on the back of his head and combing her fingers through his hair while looking at the picture. David set the pictures down on the coffee table in front of him. "You used to always have a buzz cut. You used to complain that long hair was itchy and hard to take care of."
While Kathryn was talking, he kept looking at the pictures of him and Kathryn. "I guess it grew while I was there," he commented. He held up a picture and stared at it, trying to remember but nothing.
"So, I was gonna go to bed. Do you want to join me?" she asked.
He looked at her, setting the pictures down on the table. "You mean 'go to bed' or 'go to bed'? he asked.
"Whatever you want," Kathryn whispered with a hint of a smile.
"Why don't we just sit and talk some more?" he asked, not wanting to do whatever Kathryn had in mind.
Kathryn leaned in and pressed her lips against his and David kissed back, he placed his hands on the back of her head. David pulled away immediately from the kiss and looked at her. "This...," he started saying, "...isn't right."
David was chasing a sheep around with a wooden stick. "This way. Come on. Come. Come on," he yelled at the sheep as the sheep ran from him, the sheep and David went in a circle a few times before the sheep finally got into the sheep pin with the other sheep being held. "Ah!" he smiled down at the sheep. "Didn't see that coming, did you?" he asked, knowing that the sheep couldn't talk back.
"Honey!" said Ruth—David and James' mother—she walked over to her son and waved at him, getting his attention.
"Mother, how was the market?" he asked while tying up the fence where the sheep were being held.
"It was interesting," said Ruth as she carried a bag of vegetables.
"Interesting? Normally you come back cursing the prices," David said, walking over to his mother.
"Oh, well, that's still the case."
"In there," said David, pushing the sheep in with the other sheep, and closing the fence door.
"But this time, I had a very interesting talk with the grain merchant," Ruth said softly.
"Grain? We don't need any grain," he stated obviously.
"He has a daughter. She's ready for marriage, Ruth said rather quickly. "He thinks the two of you would make a great couple."
"Mother!" David sounded embarrassed that his mother was trying to set him up with a woman.
"I know, I know. I hate myself for even bringing it up," she admitted.
"Let me guess? She has a dowry that would save the farm?" he asked.
"We are running out of options," Ruth admitted.
"Mother, please. As poor as we are, love is one thing I can afford," he leaned in a little closer toward his mother. "I will find a way to save this farm. But I won't do it by marrying for riches. When I marry, I want it to be because I choose to spend the rest of my life with someone I love," he explained to his mother, turning around and grabbing the stuff he brought with him.
"When are you going to learn?" Ruth asked, playfully slapping his shoulder then he turned around to face his mother and patted his chest softly. "You can't have everything."
"Well, perhaps he can," said a familiar voice.
Ruth backed away slightly knowing who the voice was—it was Rumplestiltskin, also known as the Dark One. David looked at his mother, confused about who this guy was and how she knew who he was. Rumplestiltskin did his little evil pitch laugh.
"A twin brother? And you have him to that man?" David asked his mother, not believing that it was true. He pointed to Rumplestiltskin, mad that his mother didn't tell him that he had a twin brother that he knew nothing about.
"We were poor, barely surviving," Ruth tried to explain to her son. "Then he came along with an offer," she said while looking over at Rumplestiltskin. "One of you for the farm," she looked back at David.
"Why didn't you ever tell me?" David asked his mother, hurt in his voice.
"The deal forbade us from ever speaking of it. Your father regretted the decision the minute that man took your brother. He carried the guilt with him to his grave," Ruth tried to make him look at her, holding his hand tightly to her heart.
"Hate to interrupt this tender moment. Time is of the essence," Rumplestiltskin said to them, looking at them.
"Mother, wait in the house while I deal with this," David said, lovingly squeezing her hand. Ruth looked over at Rumplestiltskin and then back at her son, she walked back into the house while David looked over at the Dark One, he walked closer to him. "What do you want from me?" he asked, standing in front of him.
"Not me, dear. The King." He smiled at David. "He needs a Prince to slay a dragon."
"I'm not a dragon slayer," he said.
"No, but your brother was," he corrected him. "This newfound kinship will be your salvation. Simply play the part. The King's knights will take care of everything else. All you must do is deliver the dragon's head to Midas."
"What's in it for you?" he asked, walking closer to him.
"What's in it for me is my business. You should be asking yourself what's in it for you. You do this, your poor mother...," he looked toward the house. "Well, the King is gonna make sure she never wants for anything ever again. Your farm will be saved. And you, should you survive, you shall come home the conquering help," he paused for a moment, letting his words sink in for David. "Now don't tell me you don't want that."
It took David a long to decide what he should do, he wants to help his mother and save the farm but he also doesn't want to leave his mother all by herself. Then the realization hit him, he knew that he had no choice. He had to go do this, not only for himself but for his mother. "I don't have a choice, do I?" he asked.
"Oh, everyone has a choice, dearie. Just make sure it's the right one," Rumplestiltskin said, smirking.
Mary Margaret has a newspaper with a cup of coffee at Granny's Diner. On the front page, it says Welcome Home, John Doe! with David's picture on the page.
"I'm a hell of a doctor, huh?" Dr. Whale, talking to Mary Margaret as she jumped, she wasn't expecting him. "No way he wakes up on someone else's watch," he said, standing in front of her and she just stared at him, shocked.
Mary Margaret nodded and smiled at him. "Hello, Dr. Whale," she said tightly.
"So I heard that you resigned from the hospital. I hope it wasn't because of me."
"Why would it be because of you?" she asked, confused.
"Well, our date. I never called you after. I know. I know, it's not classy. And I'm sorry. But if you can find a way to get over it, you know where to find me. Have a good day," he said, walking away with his hands in his pockets as Mary Margaret went back to reading the newspaper again.
As Dr. Whale walked out, Regina Mills walked in and walked straight to Mary Margaret, sitting down in front of her. "Miss Blanchard, may I have a word?" she asked.
Mary Margaret folded up her newspaper and set it down on the table, looking over at Regina. "Of course," she agreed.
"I wanted to talk to you about my friend, Kathryn. But more specifically, I wanted to talk to you about her husband, David." Regina leaned in. "You don't belong together. He's not yours. He's taken. Find somebody else."
"I haven't done anything," Mary Margaret said quickly.
"Really? So he just left his wife on a whim?" she said, bluntly.
"He did what?" she asked, shocked and confused. She couldn't believe that David left his wife, she never would have thought that he would do that.
"You don't know," Regina finally came to realize that she may not know what was going on. Mary Margaret shook her head, confused by all of this. "Well, I suspect you soon will. So listen carefully, dear, because it's in your best interest. Stay away. He's in a fragile state. He doesn't know who he is or what he's doing. And you're this close to wrecking multiple lives," Regina said nastily, Mary Margaret leaned back in her chair as her face was turned down. "So before you do something that can't be undone, let him remember who he was." Regina got up and walked out of Granny's Diner while Mary Margaret watched her leave, speechless.
David—James' twin brother—was looking at himself in his shield. He was clean shaved and his hair was shorter now. He looked exactly like his twin brother. He couldn't get over it now that he had cleaned up.
"There he is. Our savior!" King Midas said alongside Aide. "The man who is going to tear the dragon limb from limb." David smiled at the king while he pulled the sword out and as he was about to put it back in the sleeve to protect it, King Midas placed his hand on the sword. "You do this and you'll be a legend," he said in a serious tone, he patted his shoulder and walked off with the side walking behind him, David watched them for a second then he went back to looking at the sword and his shield.
"Here, let me," said a knight, helping fix his shoulder pad. "You fastened it wrong. Here, give me that," he demanded the sword, taking the sword from him.
"How will I fight? How will I protect myself?" he asked, confused.
"You won't. You still stay outside the cave while we kill the dragon," he said. "If you don't come out of this alive, Midas won't give our kingdom any gold. You might have the title of hero, but not the job." Upon hearing the dragon screeching, David turned around quickly looking up at the mountain.
David and the knights walked up the mountain. Knights before them all have tried to slay the dragon but none of them have succeeded in killing the dragon. Dead bodies were burned wagon was on the side of the walkway, and bits of pieces were in the fire.
The knights had stopped a few yards away from the entrance of the dragon's lair. "The dragon's lair is through there," said one knight to the other knights while pointing at the entrance with his sword. "You stay here. We'll be back," the knight said to David, knowing what he was thinking.
The knights took out their swords and walked up to the entrance of the dragon's lair. One knight stood with David as the rest of the knights went in.
"Did you know him well?" David asked the knight.
"Who?" he asked.
"My brother, the Prince."
The knight nodded, frowning. "Yeah, we knew him. He was the bravest man I ever met."
The dragon screeches once again but it blows out the entrance and a man screams out in pain.
"They need our help," said David as he tried to get to the other knights but the two knights held him back from going inside.
"We stay here. Our orders are clear," the knight yelled at David, pushing him back.
More screams came out from the entrance and more fire came out as well. "People are dying!" David said to the knight.
"Don't move! Stay back! yelled the knight at David. David escaped their hands and ran toward the dragon's lair. "Hey!" The two knights looked at each other as he let David run toward the dragon's lair. He helped one knight whose leg was on fire and he had black soot all over his armor and face, David dragged him away from the entrance as fast as possible.
The dragon came out of its lair, blowing fire out of its mouth, and flew over the three knights and David. They all ducked down from the dragon and the knight's sword fell out of his hands and onto the ground. David kept pulling the injured knight to safety as he was groaning in pain, he set him up behind a large rock and looked at him. "Where's your sword?" he asked the injured knight. He looked up and saw the dragon circling back to where they were staying. The dragon blew the fire and heard screaming in pain as one of the knights died. "Stay here. Stay," David said to the knight and ran over to the dead knight, he took the sword off of his body and dropped it because it was burning hot. The dragon came back again and breathed out fire toward David but he jumped out of the way just in time while covering up his face with his arms, looking up into the sky, watching the dragon. He looked down the path that he and the knights had come through and back at the dragon then he spirited down the path as the dragon came closer to David, the dragon blew out the fire once more which made David run even faster than before. The dragon went onto the mountain and crawled on the ground, following David, and yapping his mouth toward him.
David picked up a sword that was on the ground as he was still running away from the dragon. He saw a little opening and he jumped between the mountain and the rock and the dragon followed him between the small space. The dragon's neck got caught between the two as David pressed his back against the mountain wall, and the dragon's mouth snapped at David.
"Didn't see that coming, did you?" he asked the dragon with a smirk of triumph. He pulled away and swung the sword down on the dragon's neck, finally killing the dragon. The dragon's body collapsed on the ground, David turned around and looked at the sword in his hand then he looked up and around.
"Careful. Looks sharp," David said, standing in the doorway of Mary Margaret's classroom as she opened up leather with a knife.
"You can't be here," said Mary Margaret, setting her mail down on her desk as David walked further into the classroom.
"I needed to see you," he admitted.
Mary Margaret picked up booklets for her students, turning to face David. "Tell me you didn't leave your wife because of me," Mary Margaret wanted to know the truth. David was standing in front of her but she placed the booklets. "I do not want to destroy your marriage."
"You're not. It's me. I don't want to hurt her either," he admitted, he put up his hands to stop her. "But the most hurtful thing to Kathryn would be me pretending. She needs someone to feel about her the way I feel about you."
Mary Margaret breathed in sharply, closing her for a split second. "I'm really trying hard to stay away from you," she said, through her teeth while she started setting the booklets back on the desks again. "To do the right thing."
"What is the right thing?" he asked while backing up, letting her do what she was doing.
"Because you already have a life," she said, stopping once again and looking up at him.
"With someone I didn't choose," he said as the bell rang, the students started walking into Mary Margaret's classroom. "The man who chose that life, whoever married Kathryn, is gone. The man here wants someone else."
She closed her eyes for a split second then opened her eyes. "You really have to leave me alone," she said. She didn't want to say those words but she knew that she needed to stay away from David. She pushed him out of the classroom.
"Is that truly what you want?" he asked.
"Go," she said firmly, still pushing him out of her classroom.
"Meet me tonight. At least think about it," David said, turning around to face her before he got out. "I'll be at the bridge where you found me at eight o'clock. Think about it until then and then decide. If you don't show up, I'll know. And I'll never bother you again. But if you choose this, if you choose us," he smiled his charming smile at her, "you know where I'll be." He walked off, leaving Mary Margaret thinking about whether or not she should meet up with David or not.
Emma Swan was sitting at the police station behind a desk while reading a case file when Sheriff Graham came in with a box of donuts in his hands and stood beside her opening the box of donuts, she looked at the donuts and then up at him. "Sometimes the cliches are true," he said shamelessly.
"Okay. What do you want?" she asked.
"Remember when I said no night shifts?" he reminded her. "I need you to work tonight. Just this once."
"Why?" Emma whined.
"I volunteer at an animal shelter and the supervisor's sick and someone needs to feed the dogs," he explained.
"Very lucky you bought a bear claw," she teased, her hand went straight for the bear claw and took a bite while Graham closed the box.
Mary Margaret ran into the police station. "Emma, can I talk to you for a minute?" she asked, standing next to her desk.
"I'll just go patrol my office," Graham said, nodding once to Mary Margaret.
"Thanks," Emma murmured.
Mary Margaret waited until Sheriff Graham was in his office, and she turned her attention to Emma. "He left his wife. David. He left her. He left Kathryn!" she said a bit hysterical.
"Okay, slow down," Emma said, looking at her.
"He did it for me. He wants me to be with him. He wants me to meet him tonight," Mary Margaret said, walking to the other side of Emma, nervous.
"That's—" Emma started to say.
"I mean, I'm trying so hard to be strong, but he just keeps coming. I mean, how do I stop it?" she asked. "You know, how do I let him down? What would you do?" She went back to the other side of Emma.
"I'd go," she said simply.
"What?" she exclaimed.
"Well, he left her. It's one thing to say that he wants you, but it's another to actually make a choice, and now he has. That's all you can ask for." Emma shrugged, taking another bite from her bear claw.
"Given her new friendship with Kathryn, I don't think Regina would be happy."
"All the more reason to do it," Emma said bitterly.
Mary Margaret chuckled lowly, staring out into the window. "Good Lord, is this really happening?" she asked more herself than Emma.
Emma looked up and smiled," she said, taking another bite of her bear claw.
David was staying at Granny's Bed and Breakfast, he was pacing around in his room for a moment and he went to set the room keys down on the dresser. He looked into the mirror, staring at himself for a moment and fixing up his hair. He was nervous about meeting up with Mary Margaret in the forest. He walked toward the window and peered out it, looking down at the ground and then looking up at the clock tower. He looked down at his hand with the wedding ring on his left ring finger.
King Midas, King George, Prince James—David—and one of King Midas's knights stood around the dragon's head—on a silver platter. "He has done it. Everything you asked for and more," King George told King Midas. "My son battled the dragon and prevailed."
"Bring it to the palace," King Midas looked over at the knights. "Put it between the Chimera and the Mapinguari."
King George leaned over to David. "We did it. We pulled it off," he whispered to him.
"Yes. Now how much longer before I can return home?" David asked in the same whisper tone.
"That's a discussion not for now," he whispered back.
King Midas stood in front of King George and "Prince James". "From this day forth, may that beast's head be a reminder to us of the valiant warrior who killed it. The bravest, most noble Prince I have ever met. You have earned my utmost respect." He bowed his head in respect, smiling lightly.
"We treasure that respect, King Midas, just as we respect your treasure," said King George.
"Yes, yes. You were promised gold, and gold you shall have," said King Midas. "But I did not get to where I am by thinking small." He looked between the two. "I stand before you now because I dared to dream big. I was not just looking for a dragon slayer. I was looking for the strongest warrior in the land. A hero. Someone who could unite the kingdoms. Someone I would be proud to call family," he said the last part to "Prince James". King George and "Prince James" looked at each other. "Bring her," King Midas yelled for his knights to bring in his daughter—Princess Abigail. "Gentlemen," he looked at the two men while the two of them looked at his daughter and walked into the large room with two knights by her side. "May I present my daughter Abigail," he said, Abigail, standing next to her father. "Beyond gold, beyond anything, I value her most. I promised her I would only give her a hand in marriage when I could find a companion worthy of her. And now, I have."
"He killed the dragon?" Princess Abigail asked her father, he nodded once as she looked up at "Prince James". "I guess he'll do."
"And so, Prince James, I offer you my daughter's hand in marriage."
"King Midas, I am humbled by your generous offer, but I can't honestly say I'm...," "Prince James" started saying before his father interrupted him.
"My son! Always so humble," King George said with a smile, before placing his hands on his shoulders pulling him closer and whispering into his ear. "If you say anything but yes, you will be responsible for the destruction of everyone and everything in our kingdom. You will marry this girl, or I will kill you. I will kill your mother. I will turn that farm to ash. Do you understand me?" He pulled back and placed his hands on his son's cheeks. "I'll take your silence for wisdom. Follow it. I know you'll make the right decision."
David was out on the sidewalk of Storybrooke while holding a map to find his way back to the Toll Bridge, along with his phone in the other hand. He turned back around, not paying much attention when he heard Regina's voice.
"Mr. Nolan?" Regina asked.
"Oh!" he yelped but laughed it off.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," she said, smiling. "I was just heading home from work and I saw you. Are you lost?"
"Yeah. Yeah, kind of," he admitted while nodding, breathing out a laugh. "I'm looking for the toll bridge."
"Ah! Where you were found. Trying to jog your memory?" she asked.
"No, I'm meeting someone."
"So you've made your choice?" she asked, a bit bitterly.
He started at her for half a second, nodding once. "Yes."
"Well, I don't suppose I can convince you to change your mind?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.
He smiled briefly. "I can't change what I feel," he admitted.
"No, of course not," she said, a soft scoff left her lips. "Walk down the street to Mr. Gold's pawn shop. You'll find a fork in the road. Go left. It'll take you to a hiking trail that leads directly to the bridge."
"Thank you. For understanding," he said, walking past her as she smiled to herself.
"Good luck, David," she called out to him, turning around and he looked back. "I hope you find what you're looking for."
David didn't say anything but he started off by running and trying to be at the Toll Bridge before Mary Margaret if she was coming. Regina stood there, watching David run to meet up with her.
Mary Margaret was standing at the Toll Bridge, wearing a dress and a short pink cardigan, she was looking around as she waited for David to arrive. She looked at her watch for a split second before looking back up, excitement grew within her bones. She looked up into the sky and saw a full moon.
David walked past Mr. Gold's pawnshop at a quick pace, rounded the corner, and saw cars and a sidewalk. He looked back and looked down at the map that he folded up, he walked back to the door of Mr. Gold's shop and opened the door, walking in. "Hello?" he called out, looking around as he softly closed the door behind him. He walked in further and looked at the puppets that were on the counter, looking back up and around the shop. "Hello?" he called out again. He looked down through the glass cabinets and saw a tea set, stopping in his tracks as he looked up and sighed heavily, looking to the right of him, and saw a glass figurine.
"Charming," said Mr. Gold.
"I'm sorry?" he asked, confused. He walked toward Mr. Gold—who was suddenly behind the counter.
"The mobile. Isn't it charming?" he asked, David, looking back at the mobile. "Exquisitely designed. Masterfully crafted. I can get it down if you like."
"No, no, I mean, it's very nice, but actually I'm looking for the toll bridge. The Mayor said there was a fork in the road by your shop, but...," David shrugged.
"Seems Miss Mills has led you astray," he said softly.
"Yeah. Yeah, you'd think the Mayor would know her own town," he said in a joking manner.
"One would think," Mr. Gold said, a flash of a smile came to his lips. "Out of the door, turn right, two blocks you'll find the trail. Can't miss it."
David started backing up out of Mr. Gold's shop. "Thank you," he called out to Mr. Gold, he stopped in his tracks when he saw a windmill.
"See something you like?" he asked darkly.
"Where did you get that?" he asked.
"That old thing?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. "That's been gathering dust forever."
David walked closer to the windmill and placed his hand, turning the wind pillars gently, and watching them turn in a circle. "I think...," he started saying, "...this belonged to me."
"Really? Are you sure?" Mr. Gold looked at him intensely.
"Yes," he whispered loudly. "I remember."
It was early in the morning, the sun was shining bright in the sky, the sheep were in their pin and the horse was neighing happily. Ruth was out carrying a pot of flowers and placing them on the wooden table while David was riding a white horse and jumped down the horse, walking toward her. "Mother!" he called out.
Ruth turned around when she heard his voice. "Oh, you're back! You're alive!" she said happily. running toward him and hugging him tightly.
"Yes," he whispered.
"Oh! Oh!" She couldn't believe he was alive and not dead.
"I did it," he hugged his mother in return.
"Are you hurt?" she asked, pulling away from him. "I've been so worried." Her eyes looked at him up and down, making sure he wasn't hurt.
"I'm fine, Mother. Really," she reassured his mother.
"Look at you. Look at you!" she exclaimed, placing her hands on his cheeks. "You look like—" She couldn't help being excited about how he looked now, she circled him and patted his shoulders. "Like a—oh, you look like a prince." They both laughed at that comment. "Come inside. I'll make us some supper. You should see the house, the farm. The King is going to take care of us. He's already started—" She started walking toward the house while David stood there not saying a single word, she stopped talking and walking altogether as she looked at her son. "What? What's wrong?" she asked.
David sighed heavily as he looked away from her, he started walking toward the table and stood in front of it. "Midas wants to unite the kingdoms," he turned to face his mother. "By marrying me to his daughter."
"What?" she asked, shocked.
"It makes the grain merchant's dowry look like sheep dung," he said.
"No," she said, walking closer to him while holding up her dress. "You were right to turn down that offer, as you must this one, too." Her hands were placed on his shoulder. "Every day you've been gone has shown me it was shameful of me to ever encourage you otherwise. Your freedom to choose is more important than anything. I'll give up the farm." She looked around at the farm.
"No," he said immediately.
"They can't force you," she said, shaking her head.
"Yes, they can," he said sternly. "And because of our ruse, Midas can never really know who I am, which—" he stopped talking, knowing that he couldn't finish his sentence.
She was waiting for her son to finish when she caught on, and she gasped softly. "We can't ever see each other again," she said gently, clearly heartbroken by this.
"Yes," he whispered.
They stood like that in silence, saddened by the news that he told her. "Then don't do it. Run away," she said, trying to encourage him.
"I can't. They will kill you," he said darkly.
"I lose you either way. At least I'll know you'll be happy."
"I already accepted Midas' offer," he said, she looked at him with disbelief. "I didn't come here for advice, Mother," he whispered, tearing up. "I came here to say goodbye," he said, voice cracking. Ruth nodded, looking down at the ground. "There's too much at stake. I couldn't let the kingdom suffer on my account. I couldn't let them hurt you," he paused, looking at her with sad eyes and taking a deep breath. "You were right about one thing. I can't have everything."
"My boy," Ruth said, looking down at their hands. "My sweet, sweet boy." She lifted them up and kissed his fingertips gently. "Give this to your wife-to-be," she said, taking off her ring. And the ring was gorgeous, too. It was a silver band with an emerald green jewel, it was stunning.
"Mother, I don't love her. I don't even know her. I can't take this," he said, trying not to take it from her.
"Just because you don't know her doesn't mean you won't grow to love her," she said, holding up the ring in her hand. "True love follows this ring wherever it foes, my son. I had it with your father. I've had it as your mother. Now you will have it. Take it."
"No. No." Shaking his head.
"Take it, and I'll know, even if I never see you again," she shoved it into his hand and held his hand into hers tightly. "I'll know you'll find love. I'll know you'll be happy." He nodded his head, wanting to make his mother proud and not wanting to let her go either, they both hugged and held each other close for what would be the last time they would see each other. David looked down at the ring between his fingers.
Mary Margaret was twisting the emerald ring on her middle finger, still waiting for David to come to the Toll Bridge. She was waiting anxiously for him, she looked up at the moon and smiled to herself. Hearing footsteps behind her turned around and saw David coming through the forest.
"You came," he breathed out.
Mary Margaret smiled and looked down for a split second then looked up at him. "You sound surprised," she said. "In fact, you almost sound a bit disappointed."
"I remember," David said suddenly.
"Kathryn?" she asked with a forced smile.
David nodded, walking closer to Mary Margaret. "Everything," he breathed out.
They stood there, looking at each other for what seemed forever. Mary Margaret was heartbroken all over again. David was sad that he had broken Mary Margaret's heart once again.
"And you love her," she whispered.
"I don't know," he whispered back. "But I know I did. I remember how I felt. And—" he paused for a moment, trying to find the words. "I think I have to honor that."
"And everything you said to me—" Mary Margaret was hurt by all of this.
"Is true. I do have feelings for you. Intense feelings. Feelings I don't quite understand." He chuckled to himself, shaking his head.
"You're going back to her," she said softly, the hurt in her voice.
"It's the right thing to do," he admitted.
"The right thing to do was not lead me on," she said, arms crossing over her chest.
David stood there, looking down when she said that. She was right and he knew it. "I know," he said, agreeing with her.
"So you've made your choice," she said.
"I'm sorry," he said, pain in his voice.
"That's okay," she said, even though it wasn't okay. "I guess it just wasn't meant to be." She started walking off, pulling her cardigan close to her, trying to keep her arm. David stood there just watching her walk away from him.
Emma was in the squad car, drinking her cup of coffee. Seeing someone on a rooftop, she looked over as she stopped the car, parked it on the side of the road got out of the car, and closed the car door quietly. She ran in front of the car and ran toward where the shadowy figure. Hiding behind the hedge near the sidewalk, the shadowy figure came walking down the pathway. Emma stuck her hand out and punched the shadowy figure in the stomach. The figure went down to his knees and groaned in pain.
Emma stood up and looked down at who it was—it was Sheriff Graham. She was shocked that he was there. "This is volunteering?" she asked, anger in her voice as he slowly got up off the ground.
"Plans changed. Regina needed me to—" he started saying.
"Sleep with her?" she interjected.
"No," he whispered.
"Why were you sneaking out the window?" she asked, looking up at the house and then back at him.
"Because she didn't want Henry to know," he explained.
Emma was disgusted and shocked. "You did this with Henry in the house?" she asked in a hushed tone.
"He's sleeping. He doesn't know," he said, feeling ashamed.
"Oh, my God, I wish I was Henry right now," Emma admitted to him. "This is disgusting."
"I really do work at an animal shelter," he said, trying to make the tensionless.
"You can finish my shift. I'm done working nights," Emma said coldly, tossing him the keys to the cruiser. He caught them as he stared at her walking down the sidewalk.
David rang the doorbell to Kathryn's house, turning around as he looked beyond the yard, waiting for her to answer the door. Kathryn opened the door wide, looking at him in surprise. David turned around and looked at his wife with a smile on his face. "You were right. I did hate that windmill out front," he said to her, trying to make light of things.
"You remember," Kathryn said, trying not to smile, taking a step forward. "How much do you remember?" she asked.
"Enough. I know we weren't at a good place when I left. I know you thought I was leaving you, but I wasn't. I wanted to work things out. I just needed some time. Then I had my accident and got much more time than I expected. I'm sorry," he explained to her.
Kathryn listened and nodded. "I'm sorry, too."
"I know we have work to do. Let's see what happens."
Kathryn couldn't help but smile, nodding once again. "I'd like that," she said, her voice cracking slightly. David held out his hand for Kathryn, smiling at her.
"Prince James" and Princess Abigail held hands, they walked down a path toward King Midas and King George, their faces blank with no expression.
"Let this mark the beginning of a new era, of a new kingdom, united and strong," said King Midas, turning to look at King George.
"An era of mutual prosperity," said King George.
"Abigail, James," King Midas looked at them both, "as I stay to work out the particulars of our new land with King George, go to your new home at my palace. We'll be alone shortly. And the celebration will be beyond your dreams."
"Thank you, Daddy," said Princess Abigail, taking a few steps forward. "I trust that you know best."
King George took a few steps forward and lightly grabbed "Prince James" arm and pulled him away from King Midas and Princess Abigail. "I'm glad you made the right decision, Son." He held out his hand for David to shake.
"Thank you, Father," he said, shaking his hand gently.
"Come. I'm tired of waiting," Princess Abigail complained.
"Then our journey shall begin," said "Prince James". "I thought we might take the scenic route."
Princess Abigail seemed annoyed by this but didn't say a word and walked away toward the carriage.
"Smile, Son. You're on the road to true love," he whispered lowly, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Prince James" looked down at the pouch that had held in his hands as he walked off behind Princess Abigail, both Kings watched them.
"Prince James" and Princess Abigail were inside the carriage, and that carriage went down the path that the Evil Queen usually takes. A hooded figure was standing in a tree far up and watching the carriage from down below.
"Prince James" was looking out of the window of the carriage. "I told you the Troll Bridge would have been quicker," Abigail complained. "Are you even listening to me?" she asked, annoyed. Snow White was smiling down at their carriage.
"Halt!" said one of the knights. "There's something in the road." Snow smiled even bigger, watching everything unfold from her point of view.
At Granny's Diner, Mary Margaret sat at a table, twisting the ring on her middle finger, staring into space. The door opened and Dr. Whale walked through the door and spotted Mary Margaret sitting at one of the tables and walked up to her and sat next to her, sighing softly. "Rough day?" he asked.
"Don't feel like talking," she snapped.
"Come on, sometimes it's easier to talk to someone when you don't give a crap what they think," he said, looking at her with a smile as she looked back at him and then away as a smile came to her lips.
"You ever walk into a situation where you know exactly what's going to happen? And then you go into it anyway. And then what you were afraid of happens, you kick yourself because you should have known better. But that's just who you are. So you keep punishing yourself," she said in one breath.
Dr. Whale listened, shaking his head. "No," he said simply.
Mary Margaret looked over at him with tears in her eyes. "How do you do that?" she asked, curiously.
"By never doing what's expected. Keeps life interesting," he smiled at her. "Can I buy you a drink?" he asked.
"You can buy me two," she said confidently, he breathed out a laugh and nodded at her request.