August opened a door—which Emma Swan and Mary Margaret Blanchard were already in—he closed the door and bolted the lock, he turned to look at Emma. "No one is getting through that," said August with a smile.
"Wow, when are you installing the torture chamber?" Emma asked, jokingly.
"You don't like it? I call it medieval chic," August said, still smiling.
"I don't care what it looks like as long as it keeps Regina and her skeleton keys out," said Mary Margaret.
"This is pretty handy for a writer. Where did you learn how to do all this?" Emma asked, impressed. She ran her fingers across the bolt on the door.
"Woodshop. Eighth grade," said August.
"Oh! Speaking of school, I have to get going," said Mary Margaret. She walked into the kitchen and grabbed the stuff that she needed for school.
Emma followed her with her arms crossed. "Are you sure you're ready to go back?" she asked a bit worried.
Mary Margaret chuckled. "After a stint behind bars, how touchy can a room full of fourth-graders be?" She grabbed a stainless steel mug and poured coffee into the mug as Emma leaned against the counter. "Besides, aren't you the one we need to be worried about?"
"Me? Why?" Emma asked, confused.
August was at the table, putting his tools back into his bag. "Well, you did threaten to take Henry from Regina," he said.
Emma turned to look at August. "Oh, that wasn't a threat," she said. "I'm hiring Mr. Gold to help build a case against her."
August looked at Mary Margaret then Emma looked at Mary Margaret. "She tried to frame you for murder," she said to her friend.
"But you do know what happens if you win?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Yeah."
"And you're ready? To be his mom?"
"Yeah," Emma breathed, nodding.
Mary Margaret smiled at Emma then all three of them heard the walkie-talkie screech.
"Code Red! Code Red!" Henry said over the walkie-talkie.
Emma pressed a button to respond to Henry. "Hey, Henry. What's going on?" she asked, releasing the button.
"Meet me at Granny's. It's an Operation Cobra emergency," said Henry.
"I'm on my way," said Emma.
Emma was outside with her jacket on, along with the walkie-talkie in her hand.
August was right behind Emma with his bag on his shoulder. "Emma, wait up," he called out.
Emma glanced over her shoulder. "You heard the kid. Operation Cobra calls."
"I didn't think you believed any of that," said August.
"I don't. But sometimes, it's the only way to get through to Henry."
"A custody battle against Regina isn't going to accomplish anything. You need to look at the big picture. That's the only way you're gonna understand what you're up against. That's the only way you'll know how to beat Regina."
"Okay, new guy, how's that?" she asked, intrigued.
"Take the day off. Come with me, and I'll show you."
"And where exactly would we be going on this magical mystery tour?" she asked, as they walked across the walkway then they stopped and looked at each other.
"If I told you, you would never come," he said with a smile.
She walked away from him, leaving him in the middle of the road on the walkway.
"Come on, take a leap of faith," he called to her. "You come with me and I promise you, you'll find exactly what you're looking for."
Emma turned as she was still walking. "My kid needs me. I don't have time for faith," she called out to him then turned around and kept walking toward Granny's.
August stood there as he watched her walk away from him, a frown appeared on his lips.
Henry was sitting at one of the booths at Granny's Diner, he was flipping through his Once Upon A Time book when Emma came in and walked over to him, sitting across from him.
"Hey, what's the emergency?" Emma asked.
"Shh." He put his finger up to his lips and looked up at Emma. "This is sensitive," he whispered.
"If it's sensitive, why are we at Granny's out in the open?" she whispered.
"I'm hungry," he admitted. "Who else knows that we hide the book in the Sheriff's station?
"No one. Why?"
"Someone changed it. There's a new story in it."
"Why would someone add a new story?"
"To tell us something we need to know about the curse."
"And what would that be?"
"I don't know. The story isn't finished." Henry shrugged, turning to the unfinished story in the book.
"Why would someone go to so much trouble to add a new story, and then not bother finishing it?" Emma said, confused about why they even bother putting it in the book.
"That's what's weird. The story's about Pinocchio. Everyone knows how that ends."
"Well, maybe that's why it was left out."
"Or maybe there's more to it." He flipped to the page where a boat was in the ocean and the storm was brewing.
"Henry, you are gonna be late for school. Let's go." Emma got up from the booth and started walking toward the door.
Henry sat there and stared at the picture in the book, sighing softly. Wondering why they didn't bother to finish this story when everyone in the world knows how it ends. It was curious. He wished he had the answers to it.
It was storming heavily that night, the boat was all over the ocean water, and Geppetto had his hand on the rope that was tugging the small boat. "Hold on, my boy!" he yelled to his son—who was wooden and not a real boy—who was holding onto the other rope for dear life, and the ocean drenched him.
"I'm trying, Father!" yelled Pinocchio to his father.
Geppetto was tugging and pulling on the rope, trying to make the makeshift boat get away from the whale—it was chasing them.
"Faster, Father, faster! He's catching up!" Pinocchio yelled to his father in a panic.
Geppetto pulled a lever and yelled to his son, "The current, it's too strong!"
Fear was coursing through both of them as they hung on for life. They didn't want to get swallowed and eaten by this whale.
"Don't let go!" Geppetto yelled to his son.
Pinocchio was slipping from the boat and Geppetto screamed and fell onto his knees while Pinocchio dropped on his butt, looking at his father.
"What is it?" Pinocchio asked.
"We must abandon ship," said Geppetto. "Take this." He handed him a life preserver. "It's the only one."
"No, Father. I am made of wood. I'll float. We can both survive."
"No. We don't risk."
Pinocchio screamed when the ship swayed hard.
"Take!" Geppetto yelled, shoving it toward him.
"No, Father. You take it." Pinocchio pushed the life preserver. "Save yourself!"
The whale opened his wide, big mouth to swallow the two whole—including the makeshift boat.
Pinocchio stood up and dived into the ocean while Geppetto watched, his mouth wide open in shock. "Pinocchio!" He screamed out.
It was daytime now, Geppetto was ashore and lying unconscious, hugging the life preserver. He slowly woke up and looked around, then he got on his hands and knees.
"Pinocchio," Geppetto called out. He looked back and forth, "Pinocchio!" He looked down at the life preserver and smiled to himself. "You saved me." He chuckled softly to himself. "Where are you?" He called out once more as he got onto his feet. "Oh, where are you?"
His smile faded when he looked over to his right and saw Pinocchio facedown in the shallow water. He slowly started walking toward him then he sprinted into a run. He started crying. Couldn't believe his own eyes. He picked up his son in his arms and started crying even harder.
"No!" He sobbed out. He hugged Pinocchio close to his body, tears spilling out of his eyes and onto his cheeks. "No." He rocked back and forth, he placed his hand on Pinocchio's cheek. "I wish that I could save you, my boy." He pulled him close to his chest again and cried once more, rocking back and forth.
The Blue Fairy came flying down toward Geppetto and Pinocchio. "We still can," she said.
Geppetto looked up, watching the Blue Fairy coming toward them. He held his son up and toward the Blue Fairy. "Please, save him," he begged.
The Blue Fairy looked at the wooden boy and lifted up his blue wand. At the wand's end lit up with a light blue, the wooden boy turned into a real boy. He has red hair, pale skin, blue eyes, and freckles across his nose and cheeks.
Pinocchio fluttered his eyes open slowly and Geppetto looked down, in shock. He couldn't believe that she turned her son into a real boy.
Pinocchio looked up at the other. "Father?" He said.
Geppetto looked at the Blue Fairy and smiled and she smiled back. He lifted up Pinocchio's hands, making him see that he had turned into a real boy. "Pinocchio, look!" He said with a smile.
"I'm a real boy," said Pinocchio with a smile, looking at his own hands. He looked up at his father. "I'm a real boy!" He exclaimed.
The Blue Fairy giggled at the excitement, watching them both.
"Thank you," said Geppetto, looking at the Blue Fairy. "I don't know how I can ever repay you. This is all I ever wanted."
"You and Pinocchio have found each other," said the Blue Fairy. "Now go, live your life together as a family."
"Here. Come, my son," said Geppetto.
Pinocchio stood up gently while Geppetto stood up with the help of his son.
"Remember, Pinocchio, be brave, truthful, and unselfish. So long as you do that, you will always remain a real boy," said the Blue Fairy. She blew a kiss to the boy with a smile on her lips.
Geppetto placed Pinocchio's hat on top of his head. They both smiled at each other. Finally, they can be together and Pinocchio is alive and a real boy.
August was in his room, sitting at his desk with the same red hat in his hand and he was smiling at the memories that he had with his father. He then frowned as he picked up the phone that was near him, dialed a number he waited for the person to pick up. "Mr. Gold?" he said. "We need to meet. It's about Emma. There's a problem." He swallowed as he listened. "Mm-hmm." He set the phone back down on the receiver and got up from the chair, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair.
He walked toward the door and was about to turn the doorknob when he placed his free hand on the door frame. He could feel his leg stiffening as he stumbled back onto the bed and grunted in pain. He slowly pulled up his pants leg, revealing a wooden leg. He breathed out heavily as he tilted his head back, closing his eyes.
He was running out of time and he needed Emma to believe in magic before it's too late. Before he turns into the wood completely. He wished he could go back in time and change some of the things he had done in his life but he can't now. If only.
The kids were playing and getting onto their bikes while Mary Margaret stood, watching the kids with their smiling faces. She didn't realize that Regina was even behind her until she said her name.
"Ms. Blanchard," Regina said as Mary Margaret turned around to face her. "I see you're back."
"Yes," Mary Margaret said with a small smile. "Isn't it wonderful? Everything worked out."
They stared at each other for a moment before Regina looked away for a moment and then looked at the other woman. "Henry forgot his lunch. Have you seen him?" Regina asked.
"He's with his mother," answered Mary Margaret, referring to Emma.
Regina leveled her eyes. "Ms. Blanchard, is there a problem?" she asked.
"Not anymore. Though someone did go to a lot of trouble to make it look like I had done something horrible." She took a breath in. "But they failed."
"Yes." Regina breathed out. "Sidney Glass. Who's safely incarcerated."
"If it was Sidney."
"Well, ask your roommate. He confessed."
"Of course he did."
"Are you insinuating something?"
"Yes, I am," said Ms. Blanchard, nodding her head. "But I forgive you. Even if you can't admit what you did, I forgive you anyway." She smiled at Regina sadly. "Your life must be filled with such incredible loneliness if your only joy comes from destroying everyone else's happiness. It's so sad, Mayor Mills, because despite what you think it won't make you happy." She shook her head gently. "It's only going to leave a giant hole in your heart." She turned slightly away and pointed from behind her. "There's Henry now." She stuffed her hands into her blue cotton jacket and walked off.
Henry appeared beside her mother—who was watching Mary Margaret walk away.
Henry stood in front of Regina and asked, "What are you doing here?"
Regina cleared her throat and looked at his lunchbox in her hands then at Henry. "You forgot your lunchbox," she said, holding it out for him to take.
"Thanks," he said uncertainly, taking it from her hands gently.
Regina placed a hand on Henry's shoulder and guided him to a red bench that was nearby, and they both sat down. "Henry, it's time for a change," she said. "I think it's time to transfer you to a new class with a new teacher"
"Why do you want me out of Ms. Blanchard's class?" Henry asked, confused. "Is it because you framed her?"
Regina whipped her head quickly to look at Henry. "Henry!" she gasped. "Do you really think I'm capable of doing something so horrible?" she asked.
"Of course. You're the Evil Queen," he answered.
"Enough. Those fairy tales are not real. Ms. Blanchard should never have given you that book. She should be grateful I'm not trying to get her fired." Regina ranted.
Henry quickly got up from the bench and stared at his mother. "Go ahead and try. It won't work," he said. "No matter what you do, Snow White will have her happy ending. She and Prince Charming will be together. The curse will end. Good will win. And I'm not transferring classes." He walked away from her.
August came into Mr. Gold's shop, Mr. Gold is with a customer. August closed the door behind him as the bell rang, he was limping a bit.
"Oh, Mr. Booth, I'll be with you in a moment," said Mr. Gold. The customer was bent over as he was looking at an item that Mr. Gold had pulled out for him. "On second thought, tell me, as one admirer of antiquities to another, do you think it's worth my while having this clock repaired?" He asked while August walked into the store further.
Marco turned around and looked at August with wide eyes.
August stopped walking and stared at Marco with surprise.
Mr. Gold watched August's reaction and smirked to himself. "I'll take your silence as a 'yes,' then."
"You know I'm very busy right now, and I'm just a one-man shop," said Marco with his Italian accent, talking to Mr. Gold. "But I'll get to the clock as fast as I can."
August turned his face away, trying not to breathe in and out.
Marco picked up the tower clock, it was wooden with royal-blue walls and golden designs on it with a darker blue for the roof. He walked past August and tilted his head down, gesturing his farewell. "Good day," he said as he walked past.
"How are you?" August said under his breath as he watched him leave the shop.
"First time seeing dear old dad since you arrived at Storybrooke?" Mr. Gold asked once Marco left the building.
August whipped his head around to look at Gold. "I'm sorry…," he started to say but his words fell flat.
"You know, what surprises me is, why a man who claims to be at death's door can't even bring himself to say hello to his father. What are you afraid of?" Mr. Gold said, generally curious.
"That's my business," said August.
"Oh." He shrugged lightly. "Fair enough. Let's talk about ours. You claim to be the only person who could make Ms. Swan believe. That you could get her to do exactly what she was brought here to do. And yet, for a man who's running out of time, you don't seem to be in much of a hurry."
August started walking toward Mr. Gold again as he spoke. "It's not me showering us down. It's her. All she can think about right now is getting custody of her kid."
"Sounds like Sheriff Swan needs a course correction," said Mr. Gold.
"She's coming to you for legal advice."
"And you want me to steer her toward you."
"I can get her there. To believing. Trust me."
Mr. Gold started laughing at the thought of him convincing Emma to believe before it was too late for August. He waved his hand for a moment then shook his head as he stopped laughing. "I'm sorry. It's just that knowing who you are and your nature, trust is a big ask." He walked behind the counter while August watched him carefully. "Fear not. A gentle nudge I shall provide." He walked behind the curtain and into the back room where he works.
August was hoping that it would be enough of a nudge to get Emma to him. And he was hoping that Emma would believe him in the magic. To what she was born into before it was too late for him. He just hopes that she will believe him. And soon.
Pinocchio was in the shop with his father, Geppetto. Pinocchio was working on a clock with his father. They have been working on it for almost a month and Geppetto came up behind his son.
"Align the gear on the spindle," Geppetto instructed Pinocchio, "now press the spring."
Pinocchio pressed the spring softly and all the little gear spun and moved once the little boy pressed it.
"Oh! Good work. You fixed it, eh? Bravo." Geppetto lightly patted his son's back.
Pinocchio looked over at his father and smiled.
The little door opened on the clock and Jiminy was tied up behind the cuckoo bird, he was grunting and slightly struggling against the ropes.
Geppetto walked around to find Jiminy. "Did you do this, Pinocchio?" he asked, disappointed. He started untying the rope from Jiminy. "Remember what the Blue Fairy told you, about being a good boy?"
"Thanks. It's okay. He meant no harm," said Jiminy as he flew in front of Pinocchio and onto the table, he exhaled deeply. "I'd be laughing, too, if I wasn't so dizzy."
Geppetto started chuckling and Pinocchio smiled as they watched Jiminy for a minute.
The Blue Fairy was flying in and they all stopped and watched the fairy come in, Pinocchio turned to her.
"I'm sorry. I meant to be good," said Pinocchio quickly.
"I'm not here because of you, Pinocchio," said the Blue Fairy. "I'm afraid I bring bad news."
Geppetto walked over to his son, resting his hands on his shoulders gently. "Wait in your room, my boy. Go on," he murmured.
Pinocchio walked toward his room quickly.
"Hang on, Pinocchio. I'll come with you," Jiminy called to Pinocchio as he flew to follow the boy up the stairs.
"What is it?" Geppetto asked, turning to the Blue Fairy.
"The Evil Queen," she simply said. "She has threatened the entire kingdom with a curse. A curse that will rip away all that we love."
"Then we must stop her," said Geppetto.
"It's too late for that," she said sadly.
"So all is lost?"
"No. there is hope. If you will help us."
"Me?" He pointed to himself, taking a step forward.
"Snow White is about to give birth to a child. A child who will save us all when she reaches her 28th year. But only if she can be protected from the powerful effects of the Dark Curse," explained the Blue Fairy.
"But how can I protect this child?" He asked, still confused about how he could do it.
"There is an enchanted tree. Much like the one you carved Pinocchio from. If fashioned into a vessel, it can protect the child from the Queen's magic. Will you do this?" The Blue Fairy asked, hoping that he would do this before it was too late.
He shook his head lightly. "I cannot lose my boy," he said. "I have lost so much. I cannot lose him, too."
"Then build the wardrobe. That's how you will save us all," she begged Geppetto.
Geppetto nodded once, agreeing to build the wardrobe. He wanted to do this for his son. He wants to protect him more than anything in this world. He would have to figure out how to protect him while helping Snow White—and everyone else.
"I have to save him. I have to get Henry away from Regina," said Emma in a serious tone.
"I must admit your intentions are admirable," said Mr. Gold. "However, I won't be taking your case." He started walking away from her from behind the counter.
"What? You know what Regina did," said Emma, walking along with him.
"Yes, but we can't prove it." He looked at her and sighed heavily. "And given the Mayor's sway in this town, any proceedings against her would be long, drawn out, and futile. The only certainty is, that Henry would suffer. I can't do that to your boy."
Mr. Gold started walking away and Emma walked along with him once more.
"So we leave him in the same house with that sociopath?" she asked, anger rising in her voice.
"I'm sorry, Sheriff. My mind's made up."
"Well, then change it," said Emma, her voice rising. "The only person I've ever seen go head to head with Regina and win is you."
"That's because I know how to pick my battles," said Mr. Gold.
"Then pick this one," Emma begged.
"I'm sorry, I'm afraid I'm just simply not the man to help you beat Mayor Mills."
Emma looked at him, dead in the eyes. "No. You're not." She stalked off and out of the shop. Mr. Gold watched her leave the building.
Emma started knocking on the door, loudly and aggressively at Granny's Inn, she took a step away as she waited for August to answer the door.
August opened the door and poked his head out, "Emma," he said.
She turned around to look at him, "Hey," she said. She walked past him, opening the door more, and into his room.
August stood there, looking at Emma, surprised. "Take it easy," he said. He closed the door. "Is everything okay?"
She turned around and faced August. "No. I am just about out of options."
"Just about?" August echoed.
"You told me to beat Regina, I need to see the big picture." She paused. "Show it to me."
David had just got done with his shift at the animal clinic, he locked the door and exhaled as he turned around. He noticed that Regina was at the hood of her car, she was bent over and peering into the hood.
She hit her head on the hood. "Oh, ow!" She cried out and placed her head on the back of her head.
David started walking over to Regina on the other side of the road. "Car trouble?" He called over to her.
Regina removed her hand and looked over to see David walking toward her. She placed a hand on the edge of the car hood and sighed frustratedly. "It won't start," she complained. "Got a car full of groceries, and well, it hasn't exactly been a banner day.
"Yeah, now, let's see," said David, walking to the driver's side and opening the car door, turning the key and the battery started clicking. He stopped and looked at Regina. "The battery's dead."
"What?" She exclaimed in disbelief.
"I don't have any jumper cables, but I can give you a ride home in my truck," he suggested.
Regina quickly looked at him. "No, no. Thank you, but I couldn't impose."
"I insist. Unless you want to have a car full of melted rocky road." He joked.
Regina laughed softly. "Sure."
David and Regina got the groceries from Regina's car and put them into David's truck. She was grateful that David had been there to save the day.
Once they arrived at Regina's home, they walked up to the door and unlocked the front door, David glanced around before she spoke. "Thank you for being my knight in shining armor," she said with a smile.
"It's more like flannel. But you're welcome." He smiled back.
"Hey, why don't you stay for dinner?" When he didn't answer right away, she continued to speak, "I bought more than enough for me and Henry. And…" she paused for a second. "Well, I'm making lasagna."
He was hesitant before answering her. "I shouldn't. It's getting late, and I've got to get up early tomorrow for work."
"Of course," she said softly, smiling. She opened the door and once David set foot through the door, she closed it gently.
They walked further into the home, Regina was in front of David and she glanced back at him. "You can just set the bags over there," she said, pointing to the small table that was against the wall.
Regina walked toward the dining table and there was a folded-up note that said: Mom, in Henry's handwriting. She picked up the letter and started reading it to herself.
David looked over at her, a worried expression on his face. "What is it?" He asked.
Regina didn't answer him straight away as she finished the letter. "Henry," she said, setting the letter back down on the table. "He's having dinner with Archie after his session instead of coming home."
"I'm sorry," he said.
"Lately it seems like he'll do anything to avoid spending time with me." She sighed. "But I shouldn't be burdening you with my problems. You've already helped me more than enough for one day." She smiled sweetly. "Thank you."
David started walking but stopped and turned to look at Regina, and she walked toward her. "You know what, I do love lasagna," he said suddenly.
Regina turned to look at him and smiled widely. Her plan was set in motion and she would do absolutely anything to get back at Mary Margaret. Even if it was to steal her man.
Geppetto, Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, and the Blue Fairy were in the Enchanted Forest looking for the magical tree that Geppetto needed to build. They were deep and the Blue Fairy was ahead of them.
"The Evil Queen will stop at nothing to destroy Snow White and Prince Charming's happiness," explained Blue Fairy. "We must stop at nothing to undo her curse."
Jiminy landed on Pinocchio's shoulder and he glanced at the cricket for a moment then back at the Blue Fairy.
All four of them stopped in front of a beautiful large tree. They all looked at the tree with open mouths. They were impressed with how large and green it was.
"It's beautiful," commented Geppetto.
"This is the last enchanted tree in the entire realm," said the Blue Fairy, as they were getting closer to the tree.
"It can be done," said Geppetto confidently, leaning against the tree. "I can make a beautiful wardrobe out of this." He glanced up at the tree.
"The tree contains enough magic to protect two from the Queen's curse," said the Blue Fairy. Geppetto glanced up at the fairy, and a slight frown came to his lips. "Before the curse strikes, before Snow gives birth to her child, she and the Prince will enter the wardrobe and travel to a distant land, a land without magic, where Snow will give birth to her child. Then when she reaches her 28th year, she can begin the battle that will defeat the Evil Queen." Geppetto slowly got up and away from the tree. "You see why it is vital that you complete the task at hand?"
Jiminy was flapping his wings and was glancing between the fairy and Geppetto.
"Pinocchio wasn't always a real boy." Geppetto stood behind his son, placing his hands on his shoulders. "When the curse strikes, when the things love are ripped away, he will be turned back into wood again, won't he?"
"I'm afraid it's impossible to say."
"Uh." Jiminy cleared his throat. "You're frightening the boy."
Geppetto turned Pinocchio around and got to his knees, to look him in the eyes. "No, no. Shh." Trying to calm him a bit. He glanced at the fairy. "I will build your wardrobe. On one condition." He paused and placed his hand on his shoulder. "If Pinocchio can take the second spot in it."
Jiminy flew next to Geppetto and Pinocchio. "You can't bargain like this. Not when the entire realm is in danger." He landed on Geppetto's shoulder as he stood up.
"If I don't, I will lose my boy. Maybe forever." He didn't want his son. All he wanted was to have a child. Nothing else mattered to him at this moment. He just wanted to save his one and only son from this curse. "I can't risk that. Snow can raise the child without her husband."
"Geppetto, think about the example you're setting for Pinocchio," Jiminy whispered to the man."
Geppetto shrugged Jiminy off his shoulder and looked at him with level eyes. "You may be a conscience, but you have not earned the right to tell me what to do." He took a step but before he could, Jiminy flew in front of him, stopping him.
"Please, I'm only trying to help," said Jiminy.
"Help? Help like you helped my parents?" He snapped.
Jiminy was taken aback by what Geppetto said.
"Your debt to me can never be fulfilled. But a start would be staying out of this. You understand?"
"Yes," Jiminy whispered, his head hung low.
"Good." Geppetto lifted his hand and motioned for Pinocchio to come closer to him, picking him up in his arms. "Pinocchio goes, too, or no one does," he threatened.
"And what will we tell the Prince and Snow White?" asked the fairy.
"You will tell them that the tree contains enough magic to protect only one," Geppetto explained. He looked at his son for a second then back at the fairy. "Do we have a deal? Or no?"
Back in the castle, the Blue Fairy was hovering in the air, looking at Charming and Snow White. "The tree is enchanted," said the fairy. "If fashioned into a vessel, it can ward off any curse." She looked at Geppetto. "Geppetto, can you build such a thing?" she asked.
"Me and my boy, we can do it," he said with a smile.
"This will work," said the fairy. "We all must have faith."
Geppetto, Jiminy, and the Blue Fairy all looked at each other, knowing the truth in the Enchanted Forest.
The Blue Fairy looked at Snow White and Charming. "This is, however, a catch. "The enchantment is indeed powerful. But all power has its limits, and this tree can protect only one."
Snow and Charming looked at each other with a little bit of fear in their eyes.
Geppetto looked down, trying not to look at anyone in the eye.
"A choice must be made," said the Blue Fairy.
Pinocchio looked up at his father and Geppetto placed his hand on his head and then started playing with his toys once again.
August was on his motorcycle and Emma was sitting behind him as she wrapped her arms around his waist. He stopped at a stop sign when Emma yelled over the engine, "August, you're gonna tell me where we're going and how it's gonna help me beat Regina?"
"We're going on a trip, Emma, so I can tell you somebody's story," August answered.
"Whose story?" she asked curiously.
"Mine," he simply answered.
August turned left and they were now leaving Storybrooke, Emma held onto him as she waited a bit longer for the answers that she needed.
David and Regina were sitting at Regina's dining room table, David was eating while Regina was looking over at him with a smile on her face. She was happy that David had stayed with her.
"How did you like it?" she asked.
Before he answered, David picked up a napkin and wiped his mouth, "Best lasagna I ever had." He smiled at her, setting the napkin down on the table next to his plate. "You really know how to work some magic."
Regina smiled even more and looked down at her plate.
"Here, let me get the dishes." He stood up as he was gathering up his dishes.
"Oh, no, David," she said, looking up at him as she held a glass of wine in her hand.
"No, no," he said quickly as he picked up the other dishes that were on the table. "It's the least I can do."
She gave a soft laugh. "You saved me from having to call a tow truck today and now you're doing my dishes?" she asked shockingly, eyebrows rising slightly. "Doesn't seem right." She leaned back slightly as David got her near-empty plate, standing up as he walked toward the kitchen.
"Please. The last couple of weeks haven't exactly been easy for me, and you've been there the whole time." He walked over to the sink and set the plates on the sink.
"I can't help it. I feel responsible for you," she said. "Ever since I found you." She leaned against the counter near the sink.
He ran the water over the dishes. "You know, after all this time, no one's ever told me the story." He dried his hands with the dish towel and turned to face her, leaning against the sink.
"What story?" she asked.
"About how you found me."
"It's probably I'm the only one who knows it." She smiled at him for a moment then chuckled to herself as she glanced down at the floor, remembering how she found him. "I was working late. It was a cold night. It must've been 10 below. And on my drive home, I realized I'd left my phone at the office. I remember thinking just to forget about it and I didn't really need it. But something inside me told me to turn around and go back."
"And that's when you saw me?" he asked.
"You were on the side of the road. Unconscious. So cold you felt like ice. The doctors said if I'd found you 10 minutes later, it would have been too late."
David's eyes widened slightly and sighed gently.
"It's amazing, isn't it?" Regina asked. "If I hadn't forgotten my phone, I wouldn't have been on the road at that time."
"Yeah, it's almost…" David started to say, he was trying to find the right words. "Almost like the universe wanted you to find me."
They looked at each other for a moment, Regina walked through the little space that they had between them and she was about to kiss him when he took a step back.
"Uh…" David looked at her for a moment. "I'm sorry. I hope you didn't get the wrong idea."
"Oh." She shook her head and took a step back. "I'm sorry. I just got caught up in the moment and…"
"You don't have to apologize. I just… We…" He was trying to find the words. "This is great like it is."
Regina nodded and smiled at him. She walked over to the sink and stopped the water she frowned as she looked out the small window above the sink. Her plan didn't work and she didn't know what her next move was now.
David walked out of the kitchen got his jacket and walked toward the front door.
After a few minutes, Regina came behind him and David turned around with a smile on his face.
"Thanks again for dinner," he said.
She smiled once more with her drink in her hand and nodded.
David walked out of the house and closed the door behind him.
Regina turned toward the mirror and looked into it as she drank her wine. After a moment, she was filled with anger by the second, she gripped her glass tight and threw the glass at the mirror, and the drink and the mirror broke into pieces.
Queen Regina was in her carriage followed by the black knights in front and behind the carriage, she leaned against the window and looked into the forest as she smiled to herself.
"No!" Snow White screamed out while Charming held her from behind, they were in their bed as Snow was going into labor.
Doc got a wet cloth and dabbed Snow with it on her forehead gently.
"Doc, do something," said Charming urgently. "It's gonna be okay," he said to Snow. "The wardrobe's almost finished. Just hold on."
"Circumstances have changed," said the Blue Fairy, who fluttered in through the crack of the window of Geppetto's room, Pinocchio was sitting on the floor near the Enchanted Trunk.
"What do you mean, changed?" Geppetto asked.
"Snow White is going to give birth early. The savior will be born at any moment," explains the fairy.
Geppetto stood up and looked at the Blue Fairy.
"Pinocchio can't go," said the fairy with a soft voice. "Snow White must accompany her daughter or all will be lost. She must be protected. This is a land with no magic. She will need someone to guide her. Someone to make her believe in her destiny. Who better than her mother?"
"But we had a deal," said Geppetto confused on how the fairy could go back on her word.
"There is no time to argue. The curse is almost upon us, and I must return to the fairies to make final preparations. It is vital that you tell Snow White what I just told you. Her child is our only hope. She's the only one who can save us."
"And my boy?" Geppetto asked, placing a hand on his son's shoulder. "What will happen to him?" He took a step forward toward the Blue Fairy.
"All we can do is have faith that one day the savior will restore all that we have lost." She turned and flew out of the window to help the other fairies.
Geppetto sighed heavily as he looked down. He couldn't believe this. This couldn't be happening. They had a deal and he was going to make sure that his boy was safe and not be a part of this curse.
"Shall we tell Snow White?" asked Pinocchio.
He took a moment to answer his son. "No," he said, making his decision. He slowly turned around to face Pinocchio. "Get in the wardrobe, my boy."
"Geppetto, you can't," said Jiminy. "Things have changed. The savior needs her mother."
"No, she needs someone to protect her. To make her believe in her destiny. My boy, he can do that."
"I don't understand, Father, she said…" Pinocchio started to say.
"I don't care what she said. All that matters is you are safe."
"But you told me to be honest, Father. You told me not to lie."
Geppetto got down on one knee and placed his hands on Pinocchio's shoulders, looking into his eyes. "Sometimes, we have to lie to protect the people we love. You must look out for the child in this new land. You must protect her."
"I don't want to go. I don't want to leave you," said Pinocchio sadly. He leaned in and hugged his father tightly.
Geppetto sniffled and pulled away from his son, looking at him once more. "Pinocchio, you must remember what the Blue Fairy said. In 28 years, you must make sure the savior believes. Promise me you'll do that. That is the only way we'll see each other again."
Pinocchio was hesitant. "I promise," he said.
"Good, good." He placed his hand on his son's cheek. "Here."
"There will be many temptations in this new world, Pinocchio," said Jiminy. "But as long as you remain brave, truthful, and unselfish, you will not fail."
Geppetto walked over to the Enchanted Trunk and opened the wooden doors. "Here. Here, here." He whispered while Pinocchio followed him.
Pinocchio climbed into the Enchanted Trunk placed his back against the wall and sat down, crossing his legs as he looked at his father. He didn't want to leave his father, but he had to do what he was told. Both of their hearts were breaking into a million pieces, wishing that they weren't separated.
"You'll find me again," said Geppetto. "And on that day, I will look at you with pride. You will be a great man, my son."
Geppetto and Pinocchio leaned in for one more tight embrace before they parted ways for a long 28 years. Geppetto pulled away and kissed his forehead while Pinocchio's tears were slipping down his cheeks.
Pinocchio leaned against the trunk as he continued to cry.
Geppetto stood up and looked at his son one more time, remembering every detail of him before the curse could wipe his memory of his son. He slowly closed the doors of the trunk. The trunk started to rumble, it felt like an earthquake.
Once it was over, Geppetto quickly opened the trunk's doors and Pinocchio was gone. The Enchanted Trunk worked. But Geppetto was hoping that it wouldn't work at all and now his boy was gone. He turned around and tears started slipping out of his eyes and down to his cheeks.
August and Emma continued down the road and made a right turn onto a small bridge, he stopped on the side of the road and parked his bike, cutting off his engine. They were sitting in front of a small restaurant, Emma looked between the restaurant and August, confused about what they were doing there.
Emma got off the bike and took off her helmet. "What the hell is this?" she demanded.
August was still on his bike, taking off his helmet. "Last I checked, it was a diner," he answered.
"No more screwing around. I am not a character in one of your books. What the hell are we doing here?" She was angry, she didn't want to be here at this diner.
August got off his bike and stood in front of Emma, looking at her. "I think you know." He took out a small cutout piece of article paper from his pocket. "You've been here before. This is the diner you were brought to when you were found as a baby."
"So, you found an article about me. So what? I thought this trip was supposed to be about you."
He folded the article and put it back into his pocket. "It is," he answered. "This is my story. And it's your story."
"And how is that?"
"That 7-year-old boy who found you, that was me."
Emma took a couple of steps back, in shock that this was the same boy who had found her. She didn't want to believe it but she knew deep down that it was true.
Somewhere in the middle of the forest, a tree trunk burst open, revealing Pinocchio. He poked his head out and looked around in the forest, wanting to see how the real world is to his world—back at home. He jumped out of the tree trunk and slowly turned around in a circle. The jet engines roared as Pinocchio started to breathe heavily and started panicking.
Pinocchio was about to get back into the trunk but another whooshing sound came from the tree trunk and knocked him on his back, knocking him out for a few minutes.
"You must look out for this child in this new land. Promise me you'll do that. That is the only way we'll see each other again."
"I promise."
Pinocchio blinked slowly as he stood up and picked up his red hat, putting it back on his head. A whooshing sound came from around the tree trunk and Pinocchio jumped. A baby Emma started crying from the trunk and he turned to look inside as he slowly walked over to baby Emma and picked her up, trying to shush the baby from crying. He looked around the forest, trying to find a way out of this place.
"Why are we in the woods?" Emma asked as they walked into the dense forest.
"All the answers you've been searching for are right where I found you," answered August.
"See, you're not that 7-year-old boy. I wasn't found in the woods. I was found on the side of a highway."
August turned his head to Emma. "Why do you think that? Because you read it in the newspaper?" He questioned. "Did it ever occur to you that maybe that 7-year-old boy lied about where he found you?" He asked.
"No." She answered. "But it occurs to me that you've been lying to me about everything." She was a little bit behind him and stood there while August turned to face her. "And I'm done listening." She turned and started to walk away from him.
"When I found you, you were wrapped in a blanket."
Emma stopped in her tracks at the mention of the blanket.
"And the name Emma was embroidered along the bottom of it," he continued.
She turned around and started walking back to him, her mouth slightly open.
"That wasn't in the article, was it?" He asked. "How would I know that, unless I was there?"
"Okay. Let's say you were that kid. Why lie about where you found me?"
"I lied to protect you."
"From what?"
He pointed behind him, a tree that he was standing behind. It was the same tree that he and Emma came out of. "That."
She looked at the tree and crinkled her brows in confusion. "A tree?" she asked.
"You've read Henry's book, right?"
Emma scoffed and hung her head low for a moment.
"You know about the curse, don't you? Your role in it?" He paused for a moment. "It's true, Emma. We both came into this world," he started to say as he walked up to the tree, "through this tree."
Emma walked up to the tree and looked at it up and down. "You're asking me to believe that you are a fairy tale character?" she asked.
"Pinocchio."
"Right, of course, Pinocchio. Explains all the lying."
August looked down and Emma realized something.
"You're the one who added the story to Henry's book."
"I needed you to know the truth," he said, looking at her.
"The truth is you're out of your mind. And you're not even a very good liar. Why not write the end to that story?" Emma didn't believe him at all, she didn't believe in fairy tales or made-up stories.
"Because this is the ending. And we're writing it right now."
"And how does this story end?"
"With you believing."
They looked at each other for a long beat before Emma said, "Not gonna happen." Emma walked away from him and August looked at her in shock and disbelief and walked after her.
"Emma? Emma, wait," August called out. He stumbled slightly as he was walking to catch up to Emma, he clutched his leg and fell onto his back with a grunt.
Emma turned around quickly and walked toward him. "What is wrong with your leg?" she asked.
August started laughing as he looked up at the sky. "I failed," he said.
"What are you talking about?"
"It doesn't matter. You don't believe." He started to get up slowly.
Emma started walking toward him. "If you think that by making me feel sorry for you that something is gonna change, you are wrong."
August finally got up to his feet. "I'm not screwing around here. Whatever you believe or don't, this is real, Emma. I am sick."
"That's an understatement."
"You ever been to Phuket? It's beautiful. Amazing island. Full of pleasure, the perfect place to lose oneself. That's where I was when you decided to stay in Storybrooke."
"How do you know when I decided to stay in Storybrooke?" she asked.
"Because at 8:15 in the morning, I woke up with a shooting pain in my leg. That's 8:15 at night in Storybrooke. Sound familiar?" he asked. "That's when time there started to move forward again.
Emma stared at him in shock. There are things he wasn't supposed to know and things he shouldn't know. She didn't know what to believe at all. She still didn't want to believe in fairy tales because those are for little kids.
"I was supposed to be there for you, and I wasn't." He hung his head low as he spoke then he looked up at Emma. "Because I was halfway around the world, I got a painful reminder of just how far I had strayed. If that tree won't make you believe, maybe this will." He sat down on a long, wooden branch and revealed his wooden leg.
But to Emma, it was just a real—and human—leg. She was confused about what he was trying to show her. "How does that prove anything?" she asked.
He was confused for a moment then looked down at his wooden leg. "Look."
"August, I'm looking."
"You don't see it, do you?"
"See what?"
"Your denial is more powerful than I thought. It's preventing you from seeing the truth."
"Okay, one of us is losing it here. And it's not me."
"You don't want to believe," he said, shaking his head with a heavy sign. "After everything you've seen, why can't you just do it?"
"Why is it so important to you that I do?" she asked.
"Because I, the town, everyone needs you."
"I don't want them to need me."
"Well, that's too bad because we all do."
"You're saying that I am responsible for everyone's happiness? That is crap. I didn't ask for that. I don't want it!"
"Right now. A little while ago you didn't want Henry either. But then he came to you and now you are fighting like hell for him."
"For him!" She cried out. "Because that is all I can handle right now. And I'm not even doing a good job at that. Now you're telling me I have to save everyone? That is beyond ridiculous. I don't want any of it."
"Well, that's too bad Emma." He stood up and in front of Emma. "Because that doesn't change the truth. You're our only hope."
Emma looked him, straight in the eyes. "Then you're all screwed." She turned around and started walking out of the forest with tears coming down her face, trying not to cry anymore in front of August.
Small kids were in a room, making their beds and putting their clothes away as a baby was crying while the kids were doing their things in the small room. Baby Emma was crying in her crib while Pinocchio got up from his bed and peered into the crib, trying to make her stop crying.
"Shh. Don't cry, Emma. Look at me. Watch this," said Pinocchio. He started making a silly face while pulling his ears and wiggling his tongue at Baby Emma.
Emma stopped crying and looked at him.
"There. That's better, right?" he asked, he pinched his nose and wiggled down onto the floor next to a bunch of tools.
"Do those tools belong to you?" Asked an older man, looking down at Pinocchio, his eyes wide.
Pinocchio looked up at the man. "I was just trying to fix the crib," he said. "I didn't want Emma to fall out and get hurt."
The man in the suit walked over to Pinocchio and got down on one knee, taking his arm. "Don't ever touch anything in this house again," he said. "Nothing belongs to you."
"Yes, Mr. Raskind," said Pinocchio, looking at him in the eyes.
Mr. Raskind grabbed all of his tools and put them back into his toolbox, he got up and walked out of the room with his toolbox.
Pinocchio looked away and stood back up to look at Emma. He was only trying to help. He didn't expect to get into trouble by helping.
"Hey," said an older boy, "you okay?"
Pinocchio looked over at the older boy and nodded.
"Can you keep a secret?" he asked.
Pinocchio nodded once again.
The older boy took out a roll of money out of his jacket pocket with a sly smirk on his face.
"Wow. Where did you get that?" He asked, looking at the money in the boy's hand.
"Stole it from the sock drawer," he answered. "It's enough to buy us all bus tickets out of here."
"You're leaving? When?"
"Right now. You wanna come?"
Pinocchio looked at Emma for a moment before looking up at the older boy. "I told my father I'd take care of Emma. Can she come? Please?" He begged.
The older boy scoffed. "We can't take care of a baby. You want to stay here for the rest of your life? Be my guest." He turned and walked out of the room.
Pinocchio watched the older boy walk away and he thought about it for a good few seconds before he said, "Wait!" He called out.
The older boy turned and walked back with a few older kids with him. Then, Pinocchio walked to Emma's crib and looked at Emma with a frown, he whispered: "I'm sorry, Emma." He kissed his fingers and placed them on her forehead, walked away to follow the other older kids to get a bus ticket and get out of the foster care system.
Once and for all. He knew this was going back on his word for his father but he knew that he didn't want to stay here any longer. But he didn't know that he was going to regret that decision.
August stood a distance away in front of Marco's workshop, Marco was working on the wooden castle clock that he took from Mr. Gold's shop and he was murmuring in Italian.
August opened his mouth about to say something but at first, he was hesitant to interrupt him. "Align the gear on the spindle, then press the spring," he said.
Marco looked at him for a moment then he went on to do what August had said. He went to align the gear that was on the back of the clock and the cuckoo sprung out and started cuckooing noises. Marco looked at August and smiled at each other.
"Who taught you that?" Marco asked.
"My father," answered August.
"He taught you well." He smiled. "He must be very proud."
"I don't know about that. I don't think I became the man he wanted me to be."
"Have you tried to make it up to him?"
"I made him a promise a long time ago." He walked toward Marco slowly. "By the time I got around to making good on it, I think it was too late." He stopped a foot away from the work table.
Marco set down a dirty rag on his work table and walked toward him. "But you kept your promise. You realized your mistake and you tried to fix it. That's important." He explained. "If I had a son, that would be enough for me."
August looked at Marco for a moment, and then Marco went back to the cuckoo. Then, August looked up at a shelf and noticed a wooden whale, it was small. It reminded him of what his life used to be.
"You look like you might be short-handed," said August.
Marco chuckled and went back to pick up the tools that were on the table. "I get by," he said.
"How would you feel about taking on an assistant?" he asked, looking down at the pavement.
Marco looked up and smiled. "I can't pay you," he said.
August looked up at him. "That's okay," he said gently. "I just feel like fixing things."
Marco smiled and took a step around the table and toward August, lifted up his hand, and beckoned him to come in. "Come in," he said.
August looked at Marco and his heart swelled with joy, he couldn't be happier that he was spending time with his father but he wished that he could remember who he was. And not some stranger.
"This has been a problem for me from the day I picked it up," Marco said, pointing to the cuckoo clock. "You remember."
Henry was in his bed with his, trying to sleep. "Code Red. Code Red. Henry?" Emma said through the walkie-talkie.
He lay up and grabbed the walkie-talkie from under his pillow. "Emma, what's wrong?" he asked in a groggy voice.
"I need to talk to you," Emma said.
"About Operation Cobra?" Henry asked with hope.
"No, about us. Meet me downstairs."
Henry got out of his bed, put on his slippers, and grabbed his jacket as he walked out of the room, putting on his jacket. "If my mom sees me out here talking to you, she'll get really mad," he said when he finally got outside to talk to Emma.
Emma didn't say anything at first, she turned and looked at Henry. "Henry, I need to ask you something very important. Do you want to get away from Regina? Do you want to come and live with me?" she asked.
"More than anything," he said with a big smile on his face.
"Okay, then buckle up, all right?" Emma said with a smile.
Henry quickly buckled up. "Why Where are we going?" he asked.
"We're leaving Storybrooke," she answered.
Emma drove down the street and was heading out of Storybrooke. She wanted more than anything to have Henry back in her life. Never in her life, had she wanted more to have Henry back. She truly cares about Henry and loves him more each day that she gets to spend with him.