Prince Charming

"I will always find you."

David, more commonly known as Prince Charming (and with an alias of Prince James), is one of the main characters of Once Upon a Time. He is the father of Emma Swan and the husband of Snow White. He is a leader among men and a battle-tested warrior entirely worthy of his royal status. He is the ruler of the Enchanted Forest and leader of the Royal Council. When the Queen's curse traps him in Storybrooke, Maine, he lives as David Nolan, a man who had been comatose for years and is married to Kathryn Nolan.

Before the Curse
"Did you ever doubt I would?"

King George's son is chosen by King Midas to slay the dragon that plagues his kingdom, the prince agrees and, as a token of the riches that will be given to his kingdom, Midas turns his sword to gold with his hand. Sadly, after the king leaves, the prince is stabbed by a soldier he defeated and thought was dead. King George is devastated and makes a deal with Rumplestiltskin to get his son back, however, Rumple tells him that he cannot raise people from the dead. Charmins is introduced as a young farm boy who struggles to get by, living with his mother who tells him that a girl in the village is up for marriage, however, Charming refuses because he wants to marry only for love. Charming is later told by his mother that when he was born, he had a twin brother, but he was traded for the farm because they were really struggling to get by. Charming is taken by King George to pose as his brother and slay the dragon. James, as he is now called, goes with a group of soldiers to slay the dragon, however, he is told to do nothing, as his brother was a brave man, not him. Despite this, after the soldiers are killes, Charming swoops in and slays the dragon with hs brother's golden sword. After this, Charming must give up his life on the farm for an arranged marriage to Kind Midas' daughter, Princess Abigail, as King George threatens to kill his mother if he does not, as he wants the riches that would come with Midas' partnership. Charming is forced to oblige after taking his mother's ring which he promised to give only to his true love.

Prince Charming is out travelling with his fiancee when their carriage is suddenly robbed and his jewels taken, including his mother's ring which he intended to give to Abigail. The prince later returns to the forest and captures the person who robbed him in a net, he is surprised to discover that it's a woman and even more surprised to discover that she is wanted by the Evil Queen for high treason. He finds out she is Snow White, however, she addresses him simply as "Prince Charming" to which he is not accustom to. He asks for his mother's ring but she cannot find it and tells him that she must have sold it to the trolls, Charming and Snow then go on a quest to the Troll Bridge to retrieve it. Once there, Snow's nagotiations with the trolls does not work and they soon pull out swords, as does Charming. As the sword fight ensues, Snow manages to escape, saying that the trolls don't know the forest like she does, but, she notices that Charming is not with her and looks back to see him being overpowered by the trolls. She returns and uses her dark fairy dust, which she had intended for Regina, to defeat the trolls, they get back Charming mother's ring. As Snow is cleaning Charming up, he reveals his name to be James (although this is an alias). However, he soon returns to his fiancee, saddening Snow who is now interested in him, and vice versa.

Snow White is completely devastated that she cannot be with Prince Charming, whom she is in love with, and decides to go to Rumplestiltskin to retrieve a potion that would wipe Charming from her mind, in exchange for some of her hair. Snow is hesitant to take it and so puts it off. Meanwhile, Charming is still engaged to a woman that he does not love and craves Snow White, he sends her a letter via dove explaining a meeting place should she want to run away with him, Snow receives the note and decides she must find Charming. Snow gets caught almost immediately after stepping foot on the palace grounds and is thrown into the dungeons with Grumpy and Stealthy, dwarves. The three of them escape but in a battle, Stealthy is killed and Grumpy is taken, Snow admits who she is to save him but instead of being locked up again, she is taken to King George. He tells her that she must tell Prince Charming that she doesn't love him, Snow wonders why she would do that and he tells her that if she doesn't, he would kill Charming. Snow finds Charming who is excited to see her, however, she tells him that she doesn't reciprocate his feelings and that she doesn't want anything to do with him, leaving both him and her devastated. Charming must now go through with his wedding and Snow takes her potion, subtracting him from her memory completely.

The days leading up to Prince Charming's wedding to Princess Abigail are lessening and Charming begins to panic as he is still in love with Snow White. He runs away to find his true love and royal guards are sent out to find him, however, the person that does find him is Abigail herself. He apologizes but she tells him that there is no need as she does not want to marry him either as her true love is another, Frederick. She takesx him to a gazebo where a golden statue of Frederick stands, however, Charming learns it is not a statue, it is him, having been accidentally turned to gold by King Midas. Abigail tells Charming that if he retrieves some water from a lake with magical properties to free Frederick, she will help him find his true love, Snow. He travels to the lake and has a run-in with the siren that guards it, after failing to seduce him, the siren takes Snow White's form and kisses Prince Charming, to which he doesn't seem to be too unhappy about. She then drags him down to the depths as they kiss but is betrayed by Charming when he stabs her, killing her. The prince collects some water from the lake and pours it over Frederick, reviving him. Frederick thanks Charming by giving him his horse which Charming uses to find Snow White. Charming learns from Red Riding Hood that Snow loves him.

Snow White is now living with the seven dwarves but is angry all the time, due to the potion she took subratcing her love, she, however, thinks it is down to her hatred of Regina and decides to kill her. However, the dwarves convince her to first go to Rumplestiltskin to get him to reverse the effects of the potion. Prince Charming hears of this and decides to follow her, when Snow gets there, Rumple tells her that there is no reverse for the potion and goes onto say that true love is the most powerful magic there is, gesturing the empty space on his shelf signifying that he was never able to bottle it. Snow goes on to ask him if he has anything to help her kill Regina, he gives her a bow and arrow that never misses. When Charming arrives, Snow has already gone and he is faced with Rumplestiltskin. He is told that if Snow were to kill Regina, she would become just as evil as the woman she kills. Charming cannot allow this and asks for her whereabouts, Rumple gives him it in exchange for his cape, the prince obliges and leaves. When he finds Snow, she is about to fire at Regina, he dives in the way and takes the arrow to the shoulder. Snow is infuriated and gets the arrow out, she soon realizes that Prince Charming is the man she forgot, however, when he tries to stop her from killing Regina, she ties him to a tree and leaves him, with him calling after her begging her not to do it. Snow realizes she cannot kill Regina and receives a true love's kiss from Charming, she now remembers him and the two are happy to be reuinited at last, however, it isn't for long when Charming is carted off in a jail cart by King George's men, Snow is left there and promises to find him.

King George plans to have Prince Charming beheaded, however, his execution is interrupted by Queen Regina who offers all the gold that Midas' partnership would have given him. George wonders why she wants him and Regina explains that she needs him as bate to trap and kill Snow White, his true love. The prince is distraught at the idea but his "father" allows it, Charming is taken into Regina's custody. He is locked into a magic mirror. Meanwhile, Snow White, Grumpy, Doc, Dopey, Happy, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Red Riding Hood and Red's Granny are all outside the castle fighting to get in and save Snow's true love. The attack is successful but when Snow makes it to Charming, he is just a reflection, she is then caught by Regina and taken away with her. Regina uses Charming's life as leverage over Snow to make her eat a poisoned apple, which Snow does, and collapses.

Charming is freed from Regina's clutches with a little help from the Huntsman, Charming goes to find Snow White who has already taken a bite out of the evil queen's poisoned apple. However, Charming is transported to the forest where he runs into Rumplestiltskin who steals his mother's ring. Rumple puts a charm on it to glow whenever it is near Snow, Charming wants it but must pay a price for it: placing the egg with love potion in it with the dragon Maleficent. Charming confronts the woman who seems harmless, until she turns into a raging dragon. Charming struggles to slay her but soon manages to overpower the dragon with his fighting skills, and place the egg with her. Charming gets the ring back from Rumple and goes to find Snow White. Charming rides his steed across the beach and finds Snow in her glass coffin, the dwarves tell him that he's too late but he asks for one last kiss, he is granted this request and kisses Snow White, releasing a burst of truw love across the land, Snow wakes up. Later, whilst on a stroll, Charming proposes with his mother's ring and Snow, his true love, accepts. ("A Land Without Magic"/"Pilot")

The royal council is under attack from King George's men who must be battled, off, Charming tells Snow to go to "the cabin" to wait with his mother, Ruth, until he meets her, however, Snow is captured and poisoned by George into not being able to have any children. Charming goes to his mother who is excited about meeting her future daughter-in-law, however, Charming hears attack and tells his mother to go inside, he fights off George's soldiers, killing them, but he soon sees that his mother has been hit by an arrow to the chest, at this point, Snow and Lancelot arrives, and the brae knight diagnosis that the arrow is poisoned and can therefore be cured, Charming decides to go to Lake Nostros, however, when they arrive, they see that the lake is empty. Charming and Lancelot manage to find one last morsol of water and give it to his mother, however, it does not work, her dying wish is that she see her son's wedding, so Lancelot marries Snow and Charming there in the lake, Ruth sadly dies. It is soon revealed that Ruth never took the sip and it was slipped into Snow's cup, allowing her to once again have children with her love.

Snow and Charming overthrow Regina's army in battle and rouse inthe Evil Queen herself into following Snow White so that the Blue Fairy may ensnare her with fairy dust so that they may take her prisoner. The royal council meets and Charming, along with many others, agree that Regina should be executed. After the meeting is over, Snow voices her unsurities over this, however, Charming reminds her that every act he's seen from Regina has been one of evil. Snow says that she saved her life once, but Charming says that that woman is gone. At the execution, Regina's final words are that she regrets not being able to cause more pina, more death and above all, not being able to kill Snow White. Charming orders the archers to fire but Snow steps in, telling them to stop and saving Regina's life in the process, Charming is confused and Snow tells him that killing is not the way as there's no coming back from it. Regina is taken back to her cell where Snow, with Rumplestiltskin's help, tests her repentance. The princess sets the Queen free and Regina proceeds to strangle Snow and stab her with the knife intended for her, however, it has no affect due to the protection spell Rumple has put over Snow with a strand of Regina's hair. Charming and Snow banish the Queen with threat of death if she ever harms anyone in their kingdom again.

Prince Charming and Snow White say their vows and wed so that they may live happily ever after... for about three seconds until their wedding is crashed by Queen Regina. Regina apologizes for being "late" and Charming and Snow note that she's not queen anymore, and is nothing more than an evil witch. Regina, publically, announces that she will destroy their happiness if it is the last thing she does. Prince Charming finally snaps after Regina threatens the entire kingdom with a curse and throws his sword at her, however, Regina becomes a cloud of black smoke and disappears, taking the sword with her. ("Pilot"/"The Thing You Love Most")

Charming and Snow attend a royals' ball along with Prince Thomas, and, after she is all dolled up, Cinderella. Charming and Snow alos congratulate Cinderella and Thomas on their wedding day where Snow goes to dance with Ella. Later on, Cinderella becomes pregnant, but, unfortunately, she may not be able to keep her baby because a deal she made with Rumplestiltskin promising him her first born after he gave her the princess lifestyle. Ella, Snow, Thomas and Charming all plan to lock up Rumple by means of a trick, Ella gets him to sign a contract with an enchanted quill which freezes him up. Rumple is taken to a specially-built cell, however, Thomas disappears, and Snow and Charming are the first people Ella runs to, thinking Rumplestiltskin is behind it.

Snow becomes pregnant with Charming's baby but fears its safety believing that Regina's threat at their wedding was genuine. Charming tells her not to worry but Snow wants to go and visit Rumplestiltskin as he can tell the future, despite Charming warning her off it, he and Snow go to his cell for information. Rumple tells them that their child will be a savior who breaks the Dark Curse, in exchange for this information, Snow releases to Rumple her child's name: Emma. There is a meeting of the royal council and Geppetto and Pinocchio are told to build a wardrobe from a magical tree, so that Emma may travel through the curse safely. Snow goes into labor soon enough and births a baby girl and the castle becomes under attack by Regina's men. Charming, Emma in one hand, sword in the other, fights off the soldiers and manages to make it to the wardrobe room where he safely places Emma within the magical vessil. Charming is then struck down and found by a distraught Snow. The curse goes upon them. ("Pilot"/"The Stranger")

Season 1
"The right thing to do... was not to lead me on."

- Mary Margaret Blanchard

At the local hospital, Mary Margaret is seen volunteering, decorating the bedside tables of the patients with small flower vases. She puts one down on a table and an elderly person reaches their hand to her, which she takes. In a separate room, the label reading "John Doe" can be seen on a patient's wrist. Mary Margaret enters the room and leaves a flower arrangement on the table. The patient is the real-world counterpart of Prince Charming, who is in a coma. Mary Margaret doesn't seem to even recognize him, and quickly leaves the room.

When Mary Margaret's class go to the hospital which she volunteers at, Henry notices a John Doe and believes him to be Prince Charming. Mary Margaret is skeptical, naturally, and they take the case to Emma who agrees with Henry that Mary Margaret should read to him to see if it jogs his memory, she later reveals that the real reason is so that Henry can realize that the curse isn't real. Later, at the hospital, Mary Margaret is reading to John Doe the story of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves" from Henry's storybook and he squeezes her hand, Mary Margaret, shocked, immediately alerts the doctors, however, Dr. Whale tells her that it was probably nothing. It is then revealed that he was lying in aid of Regina. Soon enough, John Doe goes missing and Mary Margaret, Emma, Sheriff Graham and Henry go into the woods looking for him. They are alarmed to find his tag with blood on it but are relieved to find him, awake, with no memory, near the toll bridge. John Doe is taken back to the hospital, very lucky to be alive, and, a hopeful Mary Margaret goes to talk to him when a certain someone shows up: Kathryn Nolan, his wife. John Doe is revealed to be David Nolan and Mary Margaret is devasted that she missed her chance with him. Emma wonders how, after all this time, Kathryn shows up now, Regina assures her that she found him using Emma's idea to check surveillance tapes, Emma thinks this is bull.

While the other residents of Storybrooke are more concerned with the collapsing mine shaft, Mary Margaret continues to visit David who is still hospitalized, it appears he is enjoying her company when he has it. He also starts to wonder how he ended up in the hospital. In between Mary Margaret's visits, David is visited by his wife, Kathryn, who keeps on showing him photographs of his past life to try and regain his memory. David pretends to remember his dog to get his wife to stopm and later tells Mary Margaret that he still doesn't remember. Whilst out on stroll with her, David tells Mary Margaret that he feels like he knows Kathryn, but doesn't actually feel anything for her, he goes on to say that the only thing that makes sense to him since he woke up, is her. Mary Margaret is shocked but cannot respond as they are interrupted by Kathryn who continues with David. Springing from this, Mary Maragret resigns her volunteerment at the hospital to avoid David.

Kathryn brings David home from the hospital where he is greeted by all of his old friends. He soon finds Emma and Henry and asks Emma the whereabouts of Mary Margaret, Emma tells him that she opted not to come. David sneaks out of his own party to find Mary Margaret hanging a bird house in a tree, he informs her that he didn't choose Kathryn and doesn't love her, he tells Mary Margaret that he is in love with her. Later that night, Emma finds Mary Margaret angrily washing dishes and figures out what is going on, her advice to her friend is to let David figure out his own life but advises her not to date a married man. The next day, Mary Margaret is told by Regina to stay away from David, who, Mary Maragret finds out, has now left his wife. David tells Mary Margaret that he will be on the toll bridge later that night and if she chooses to meet him there, they will be together, and if she doesn't, he will back off. Mary Margaret is talked into going by Emma, who thinks the fact that David left his wife for her is reason enough, so Mary Margaret waits that night on the toll bridge. David is looking at a map of Storybrooke and asks Regina directions to the bridge, she gives him fake ones which lead him to Mr. Gold Pawnbroker & Antiquities Dealer, Mr. Gold gives him the correct diretions to the toll bridge, but, David turns around to see a windmill that he thinks used to belong to him due to something that Kathryn earlier said, he then begins to remember his life pre-coma. David goes to the toll bridge and tells Mary Margaret that he chooses Kathryn, devastating her.

At the Town Hall, some men are setting up a banner announcing the Sheriff's election debate. Mary Margaret is nearby sticking up posters in favor for Emma on an announcements board. She goes around to the other side and is shocked to see David. Pleased to see him, she says hi, and he says hi back, seemingly pleased to see her. She tells him she was just putting up posters, so he explains he was too. She awkwardly asks how things are, so he tells her they're good and announces a job he got at the animal shelter; Mary Margaret seems proud. She then looks over to David's posters and notices he is putting them up for Sidney. David explains that Kathryn is friends with Regina, so that's why he's supporting him. Clearly hurt by the mention of Kathryn, Mary Margaret awkwardly understands and then asks how she is. David tells her Kathryn is good and she'll be meeting him at the Town Hall later. Mary Margaret angrily begins to staple her final poster onto the board and then she leaves in a hurry, stating she needs more posters.

In the morning, Mary Margaret gets dressed in a hurry, telling Emma that she is late for a science fair, this is a lie as revealed when she walks into Granny's Bed and Breakfast to be there when David walks in to get coffee for he and Kathryn. Emma soon walks in and busts Mary Margaret, telling her that she can always spot a liar. Emma tells Mary Margaret to stop what she's doing as she will just end up getting hurt, Mary Margaret obliges and is later seen buying chocolate, she bumps into Kathryn and sees that she is buying a pregnancy test. Later that day, Mary Margaret finds a baby dove trapped in some wire mesh and takes it down to the animal shelter where David works, she is told that it must be returned to its flock or it will be alone and unhappy for the rest of its life. Mary Margaret does not allow this to happen and drives the dove out to the woods, followed by David despite her declining his offer to help. Mary Margaret is trying to rescue the dove but endangers herself when she falls onto a cliff-ledge, luckily, she is rescued by David. She admits that she has been going to Granny's everyday at 7:15 to see him, he admits that he has been going for the same reason at the same time, to see her. The dove is freed and Kathryn's pregnancy scare is revealed to be a fals alarm, Mary Margaret tells David that they must stay away from each other, however, they find this so unbearable that they actually kiss, this is viewed by Regina.

David texts Mary Margaret to meet him at their special place, the Toll Bridge. Mary Margaret walks up behind him eagerly and tells him that she received his text. David grabs Mary Margaret's arm and mysteriously tells her to follow him. As David leads Mary Margaret alongside a river, she becomes worried. She tells him that he's scaring her and asks what's wrong. David tells her the thing that is wrong is that she's late. They then arrive at a small picnic that David has set up. He adds that the wine is getting warm. Touched, Mary Margaret kisses David. Giggling, she tells him they have to stop doing this, but he says they've only just started. She asks him for them to figure out what they're doing, so he says they will...tomorrow. Mary Margaret agrees with tomorrow and then they continue to kiss by their picnic. Later, Mary Margaret cannot say where she's been which creates an awakward situation.

At Granny's, Mary Margaret and David converse from seperate tables, still hiding their scandelous affair, until they're interrupted by Emma who begins to ask Mary Margaret about Henry. David is later seen buying two Valentine's Day cards, one for Kathryn, and one for Mary Margaret. David interrupts Mary Margaret's girls' night out to give her the card but accidentally hands her the one intended for Kathryn. This upsets Mary Margaret deeply as she finally comes to terms with what she has been doing, she walks away after telling David that she always thought that if two people were really meant to be together, they'd find away, but that maybe her and him need to find another way.

Kathryn announces to David that she's been accepted into law school in Boston and intends to go, David is worried about this and tells his wife that he needs to take a walk, however, he leaves out the fact that the walk is with Mary Margaret, his misstress. Mary Margaret insists that David finally tell Kathryn the truth about them and David obliges, however, when push comes to shove, David wimps-out and tells Kathryn that he is leaving her because ever since the coma, he hasn't really reconnected with her. David then lies and tells Mary Margaret that Kathryn knows everything, well, he thinks he is lying, but little does he know that Kathryn is busy finding out the truth about the affiar from Regina. Kathryn then humiliates and slaps Mary Margaret in public and the entire town knows of the affair, Mary Margaret comes accross David washing the word "TRAMP" from her car, she confronts him about him lying to her. His explanation is that he didn't want anyone to get hurt, it is noted that he failed at that miserably, and Mary Margaret tells him that what they have is destructive and must stop, she severs their relationship and is left the twon harlot. Kathryn tells Regina that she intents to got o Boston alone and explains that she never really loved David either, she left a note for him and she leaves, however, Regina breaks in using her skeleton keys, finds the note to David telling him to sieze his chances with Mary Margaret, and Regina burns it in her firplace.

Emma Swan, the sheriff of Storybrooke, investigates the disappearance of Kathryn Nolan, there was a crash of her car on her way out of town and she had vanihsed, with all of her luggage still in the trunk. David is taken into questioning and swears that he knows nothing of Kathryn's sudden vanishing, Emma, always being able to spot a liar, believes him. Contrary to Emma's beliefs on the matter and David's plead, the phone records (of course, provided by Regina) say otherwise and implicate that David is guilty. Emma refuses to take him into custody but after Regina points out how unethical she is being, Emma forces herself to do so. At the miner's day festival, David sees Mary Margaret sell candles and she, in-turn, sees him get taken into the back of the sheriff's car and taken into custody.

Over at the sheriff's office, Emma begins to ask David a few questions regarding Kathryn's disappearance. David assures her that he didn't do anything to hurt Kathryn, Emma tells him that she knows liars and says that liars actually have better material, she lets him go, convinced that he had nothing to do with the crime. Later, Mary Margaret finds David near the spot where the disappearance of Kathryn occured, he is acting rather strangely and keeps repeating to her that he has to find his wife, before walking away. Mary Margaret reports the scene ton Emma and her and Ruby go out into the woods to find him, Red eventually sniffs him out and they discover that he has no memory since he was questioned by Emma the previous day. David begins to believe that, due to his intense blackouts, he could have killed Kathryn and not even had known it. However, later, a human heart is found (presumably Kathryn's) in a box by Ruby, and the finger prints on the box implicate that Mary Margaret is in fact guilty, no David.

Mary Margaret is taken into custody for murdering Kathryn, to which she finds ridiculous. David goes to Regina to tell her that he believes in Mary Margaret's innocence, however, Regina tells him that everybody has their dark side, even the nicest of us. She states to David that evil isn't born, it's made. David tries to implicate himself in the murder by blaming the blackouts, however, Regina refuses tgo believe him. This worries David who goes to see Dr. Archie Hopper regarding his blackouts, in the session, he goes under intense hypnosis and begins to remember a part of his life as Prince Charming, telling Snow not to kill Regina, however, it's fuzzy to him and he believes this is a scene from one of his black outs telling Mary Margaret not to kill Kathryn. He now finds himself doubting her innocence and visits her in her cell, he reluctantly asks her if she had anything to do with kathryn's disappearance. Mary Margaret, shocked and apalled that David doesn't believe her, tells him to leave, he does so. Later on, Mary Margaret finds a key under her pillow and leaves her cell. However, she returns.

David catches up to Emma when coming out of the diner and tries to apologize for accidentally accusing Mary Margaret of murdering his wife. He tells her that he misspoke and believes in her innocence, Emma stops him there, telling him that what Mary Margaret needs right now isn't his words, but a miracle. As Mary Margaret's upcoming court-date comes closer and closer, she begins to panic as there is little or no defence against her due to such strong evidence. However, Emma gets that miracle that she prayed for when she sees Ruby running out of the parking lot, screaming, Emma investigates and sees a woman lying there, the woman turns around, it's Kathryn, and she's still alive!

It is discovered that Kathryn was kidnapped, drugged, and kept in some guy's, she doesn't know whose, basement. David comes to visit her at the hospital and apologizes to her for everything that happened between them, Kathryn assures him that there is no need to apologize for realizing that they weren't right for each other. David then shows up at Mary Margaret's welcome home party, however, Mary Margaret doesn't want him there and signals this to Emma who tells David to take Henry home, he is forced to oblige. Later, David finally manages to catch up to Mary Margaret and apologize for implying that she was guilty, Mary Margaret leaves, unable to accept his apology as she was hurt very deeply by what he accused her of.

Hours later, David locks up the shelter when he sees Regina across the street struggling with her car, and he offers her a ride home. At first she refuses, but eventually accepts. When they arrive at her house, she offers for him to stay for dinner, but David declines, saying that he needs to be up early for work the next day. Regina then picks up a blank card claiming Henry has left a note saying that he is having dinner with Archie after his session instead of coming home, so David decides to stay out of pity for the mayor. During their dinner together, David compliments her lasagna, and assists with dishes, while Regina thanks him for his kindness. As David thanks Regina for taking care of him, Regina in turn tells David the story of how she found him: After a night of work that was later than usual due to a misplaced phone, Regina found David on the side of the road, nearly frozen to death. After telling her story, Regina moves in to kiss David, but he rejects her, telling her things are great as is and thanks her again for dinner before leaving. As David heads home, a furious Regina stares at the mirror in the hallway before smashing it by throwing her glass of wine at it. David is among the rest of the townspeople who show up at Regina's door and blame her for cursing them. They then take her into the middle of town and tie her to her apple tree, still angry. Emma takes an apple and squeezes it to black mush, noting that its rotten to the core. They are all about to burn Regina, including David, when she wakes up, realizing it was just a dream.

Emma realizes that the curse is real after Henry is out in hospital after taking a bite out of Regina's poisoned apple turnover. Emma soon finds herself battling the dragon maleficent with her father's, Prince Charming's (David's), sword. She then defeats the dragon in a similar manor to how her father did, as an omage to him. Later, Emma gives Henry a true love's kiss which breaks the curse, David is walking down the street opposite Mary Margaret as he suddenly regains his memorys, he cries out her name and the two embrace, remembering their fairytale love. Charming and Snow are further-on seen holding each other as Rumplestiltskin's purple mist engulfs them, and the town...

Season 2
"I will find them. I will always find them."

After the purple mist dissipates, Snow and Charming are still in each other's arms and they are soon reunited with Red Riding Hood and Granny, as well as Snow's best friends, the seven dwarfs. This occasion is made even happier by the arrival of Emma, Henry by her side, who hugs his grandpa. This group are soon walking through town and Emma is reluctant to discuss the matter of finding her parents, as they are really not what she expected. They are soon alerted by Archie that Dr. Whale has put the town in a frenzy and they're all going to go kill Regina, Henry doesn't want this and so the group head over to the mayor's house and stop the mob, Whale tells Charming that he's not his prince, leaving Charming to ask who Whale even is, he does not give an answer. It is Charming who says they need to lock Regina up and he who asks her, in her prison cell, why they didn't go back, she tells him that the curse destroyed all the lands. The next stop for the very dysfunctional family is the pawn shop, to have a chat with Rumplestiltskin about why he brought magic back and risked Henry's life. Gold twists Emma's words and points out that everything turned out well. The moment is suddenly interrupted by an earthquake, leading them to stare out the window to see Storybrooke in despair. The trio next go to the sheriff's station where Regina is being attacked by a Wraith, a dark creature that Charming tries his best to fight but that Snow wards off with a cigarette lighter and some spray, causing a puff of fire, however, Regina says that they didn't kill it and that they need to send it some place where it can't hurt anyone. At the mayor's office, Regina takes out Jefferson's hat and tries to use it to open a portal whilst Snow White, Emma and Prince Charming all defend themselves with flaming brooms. The wraith attacks but as it does so, Regina fails to get the hat to work, however, the portal opens once Emma touches her shoulder, putting magic into the hat. The wraith is sucked in, but, unfortunately, so is Emma. Snow White jumps into it after her daughter, unable to lose her again, Charming is about to follow but is unable to as the portal closes a moment too soon. He then confronts Regina, asking her why he shouldn't kill her, she reciprocates by using magic to tie him to the wall with branches, she is about to pluck out his heart when Henry walks in, realizing she's just the evil queen. Until she proves herself, Henry goes to live with Charming, who promises that he will find their girls.

Charming visits Regina with the hat that took away Emma and Snow White, he asks her if she recognizes it but she lies and says that it slipped her memory as to how she got it. She tells Charming that she plans to get her magic back as well as her son, she warns him that when she gets one, she will get the other, he tells her that if she needs magic to get Henry, then she doesn't really have him. Later, Charming finds the town at a panic which is only worsened when the seven dwarfs run in explaining that if you leave Storybrooke, you lose all memory of your fairytale self, the town becomes livid. Charming talks to his grandson about the hat who recognizes it from his book as the Mad Hatter's hat, the prince next visits Rumplestiltskin and asks him for something that will help him find someone, similar to the ring he gave him to find Snow. Rumple gives Charming a potion, that, when poured upon an object, will lead you to its owner, the two agree to stay out of each others' way from now on. Charming pours the potion on the hat and it begins to fly, he follows it to a car wreckage where he rescues a man from the inside, Jefferson. He talks to Jefferson and learns that Emma and Mary Margaret are in fairytale land, however, Jefferson runs off before revealing anything important, Charming tries to run after him but is stopped by Red, who explains that Regina has magic and is threatening the town, who are all leaving, Charming makes it to the barrier and gives a speech to the townspeople, one convincing them to stay by assuring them that the two people they are, is a blessing, not a curse. Charming later goes to Regina to get Henry back, he asks the queen if fairytale land still exists, she says it does after giving Henry back to Charming, at an attempt of kindness. Later, at Granny's Diner, Charming assures Henry, who's upset, that their girls are alive, because he can feel it, Henry is reassured.

Charming and Henry are discussing names for their new mission to get Emma and Mary Margaret back when Charming reveals that he talked to Jefferson and that he didn't think he can help them, Henry refuses this and decides to find Jefferson himself, which he succeeds at. Henry learns of Regina's secret vault and calls Regina to meet him for lunch at Granny's Diner, only to then steal her keys and go to her father's grave. Henry pushes the tomb out of the way and discovers his mother's vault, and is intrigued, however, he is soon attacked by a two headed serpent in a box which Charming quickly snaps shut, revealing that it was quite easy to find Henry. They leave, saying that no one else must know of the vault. Later, Charming and Henry are talking and the former assures his grandson that he cannot get their girls back without him, he then says that he's the grandson of a prince and it's about time he learned how to use a sword. As Charming and Henry battle with toy swords, they are unaware that Albert Spencer, George's counterpart, is watching them.

Prince Charming is down in the Storybrooke mines with the seven dwarfs, mining for fairy dust that could help bring home Snow and Emma. He soon finishes his work and says that he's heading off to the sheriff's station, explaining that he's acting sheriff until Emma returns. Charming is soon visited by Rumplestiltskin who wants his help in tracking down Belle, his missing love. Charming obliges but soon discovers how many people Rumple has terrorized, Rumple asks Charming how his relationship with Snow works and he says it's through honesty, Rumple points out that he does not lie but Charming tells him he requires honesty of the heart. At Granny's Diner they discover that Ruby has seen Belle and uses her wolf-tracking powers and a sweater Belle was using to try and sniff her out. Red leads them to Moe French's florists and they go in, they soon discover that Moe is planning to send Belle out of Storybrooke so she will forget she loves Rumple. Charming wonders how he's planning to do this as every exit from town is guarded, however, he soon realizes that he plans to use to mines to get her out. The four of them hurry and Gold manages to save Belle with magic, to which she is grateful.

Charming is visited by Dr. Whale and the former punches the latter in the face for sleeping with his wife. Whale wants to know if it's true that Charming's trying to find a way to get back to the Enchanted Forest to get back Emma and Mary Margaret, Charming says that it is true and Whale asks if that means all of the lands exist still, Charming's unsure. Later, Charming tells Henry that he will be learning to horse ride but that first he must create a bond with his horse, he leaves him in the stables to get on with the task. Later, Charming goes to the hospital to see an one-armed Dr. Whale lying in bed, Regina is there and Charming soon discovers that Whale brought Daniel, her fiance, back and that he's a monster, Regina concludes that he'll go back to the place that he last remembers seeing her, the stables, however, Henry's at the stables. Charming and Regina rush to the stables to find that Henry's being attacked by Daniel and Regina manages to free her son, Charming tells him to leave and then locks Daniel in the room of the stables, telling Regina that her monster must be put down, however, she begs to talk to her fiance. Soon, Regina destroys Daniel with magic as he begs her to do so.

When Aurora begins to have bad dreams as a result of her sleeping curse, Snow tells her that her husband, Charming, used to wake her up when she had the same nightmares and light a candle for her, sitting with her until she fell back to sleep, Aurora states that he really lives up to his name and Snow agrees before offering to help Aurora in a similar fashion. Charming is awoken suddenly in the middle of the night by Henry who himself has been awoken by his nightmare, Charming quickly rushes to his grandson's aid and asks him what's the matter, Henry explains that he had a bad dream and Charming lights a candle (as a reference as to what he used to do with Snow and her night terrors) and asks Henry to tell him all about it. Henry says that he was in a red room with no doors or windows, just a pair of red curtains which were on fire, and there was a girl in the room with him as he sat in the corner, Charming assures him that it was just a nightmare, however, little do they no that the girl was Aurora who had the exact same dream from her point of view over in the fairytale land where Snow and Emma currently reside.

Prince Charming is extremely happy to hear that the dwarfs have found some diamonds in the Storybrooke mines, meaning there's hope of getting Mary Margaret and Emma back. Charming celebrates with everyone at Granny's Diner but is less than happy to see Albert Spencer/King George is there too, he wonders what he wants and George threatens to expose Charming for the shepherd he really is, Charming refuses to accept this as he believes the people of Storybrooke see him a fit leader. Charming soon finds Granny welding a cage in the freezer for Red who fears the wolf may emerge in her that night and wants to take all measures to prevent it. Red escapes the cage and is found by Charming and Granny the next morning in the woods, having blacked out, Charming is called out to a truck that has been double-parked only to discover something much more gruesome - one half of Billy, Red finds the other half in a skip, yelling that she did it as the wolf and panicking. Charming locks Red up in the sheriff's cell but George visits, saying that Red killed Billy, however, Charming refuses to believe this for lack of proof. George leads an angry mob to the sheriff's station only to find Red's empty cell due to that Charming's hiding her at the library with Belle. Charming and Granny find Red's cloak and a bloody axe in the trunk of George's car, deciphering that he killed Billy, not Red, however, Red soon decides that she must die and faces the crowd alone, as the wolf, just as George is about to shoot the creature, Granny and Charming swoop in and stop him, Charming manages to remind Red that she controls the wolf and not the other way around, before draping the cloak around her. George runs away and Charming and Red catch him up, however, when they find him, he throws Jefferson's hat into a fire, meaning there will be little chance of getting Snow and Emma back, Charming, distraught, nearly shoots George, however, thanks to Red's encouragement, he decides against it.

Charming and Regina are startled when Henry wakes up and cries out that Emma and Snow are alive, he explains that Aurora, someone they're travelling with, told him via the sleeping curse's netherworld. Rumple, Regina and Charming put Henry back into a sleep after telling him that they need to use the ink from Rumple's old cell to defeat Cora, the current threat posed to Storybrooke. Henry tries to do so but Aurora is awoken too soon, he has a burn on his arm. The burn is soon heeled by Gold but they decide that it's too dangerous for him to go back. Charming volunteers himself for a sleeping curse as he believes Snow will find a way to locate him there. Regina makes a curse and Charming must prick his finger on a spinning wheel dipped in the potion in order to be affected by it, he does so and he is made comatose. Charming is now in the netherworld and must find the room with no door. He grabs a torch and uses it to smash through the floor, he falls through the ceiling and into the room, which is flaming. It seems empty, but Snow soon emerges, they are extremely happy to have found each other, Charming explains to her that she must obtain the ink from Rumple's cell and attempts to give her true love's kiss so that he can wake up, however, Snow wakes up too soon and the kiss is ineffective. Charming is left stranded.

Charming is still under his sleeping curse and is being read his own story by Henry, who is still optimistic about Snow and Emma's return so that Charming may get true love's kiss and wake up. Regina tries to assure Henry that he will awaken but is hiding her own skepticism. After Emma and Snow make it through the portal and back to Storybrooke, Snow rushes to Charming's aid and kisses him. A burst of true love is released and, after a short pause, Charming wakes up, reunited with his beloved Snow White. He is happy that she returned and she asks him if he ever doubted she would, he jokes that the burning, red room gave him pause. The pair kiss some more. After this happy reunion, the whole gang decide to go down to Granny's Diner to celebrate the princesses' return.

David and Mary Margaret spend the afternoon in bed together, happy to be reunited, when Emma and Henry suddenly enter the apartment, looking for tacos for the party. Henry wonders why they're still in bed in the afternoon and David quickly says that he was helping Mary Margaret rest, Emma is appalled by this. Later, at Granny's Diner, a party is held in the honor of Mary Margaret and Emma returning to Storybrooke. David makes a speech saying that he and Mary Margaret have a saying, that they will always find each other, he then toasts to not having to look for a while. The guests are shocked when Regina turns up and Emma explains that she invited her, Mary Margaret and David are none-too-happy. The next day, Archie's dead body is found by Emma and Ruby and Ruby tells them that she saw Regina going into his office the previous night as well as the two of them arguing. The mayor is taken into custody and where Mary Margaret and David assume her to be guilty, Emma fights for her innocence and the Charming family go and look for evidence. All signs point to Regina but Emma suspects a frame job, she goes to Mr. Gold, thinking that he might be responsible, however, he tells them he can use magic to prove his innocence. He gives Emma a dream catcher that she uses to view Pongo's, the only witness', memories, which prove Regina is "guilty". Emma goes to head Regina off but her parents stop her, telling her that she needs a plan, David suggests fairy dust, saying that it worked before. They go to see Regina who is offended by the accusation, when she advances on Emma, Mother Superior fires a ball of fairy dust at her, however, Regina stops it from affecting her, asking Mary Margaret if she really thought that that would work twice. Emma worries about telling Henry about Archie's murder, being new at being a parent, but Mary Margaret and David tell her that they're going through the same thing with her.

David is present at Archie's funeral as his wife give the beloved conscience and eulogy. Later, in order to cheer Henry up, Emma acquires Pongo, Archie's dalmatian, for the boy. Mary Margaret and David think that this is a great idea, however, the former believes that the four of them and a dalmatian in that small loft will begin to get cramped, before suggesting that her and David get their own place. Later, David and Mary Margaret are at Granny's Diner as the latter is flicking through real estate catalogs, she points out a house to David who says that the lawn is too small, she moans that he's said that about every house, but he reminds her that he grew up on a farm. Mary Margaret senses that this goes deeper than the house and David says that they buried their friend that morning which made him realize something - he doesn't want to die in Storybrooke. He tells his wife of his desire to return to the Enchanted Forest, despite Mary Margaret's warnings that it is not the same place that they left behind, saying that the ogres have returned and that Cora is in power. David tells her that that's exactly why they have to return, to fight for their kingdom. Mary Margaret tells the prince that she's tired of fighting, saying it's all they ever do, and David tries to point out that he's just trying to get back what they both want. Mary Margaret then realizes that the two of them want different things.

Mary Margaret, Emma and David show up at the town line to discover Belle who has fallen over the line and lost her memory, now terrified of Gold, Hook who has been hit by a car which has crashed containing an outsider who drove in to town. Emma comments that it looks like the world's come to Storybrooke. The Charmings head to the hospital where they plan to investigate the outsider, they take his phone and David tries to guess his pass code but to no avail. Emma arrives and hacks it easily, discovering that his name is Greg Mendell and that he is completely normal. It is suggested that they let him die and Dr. Whale tells them that that would be easy, as they would just have to allow him to succumb to his injuries. Mary Margaret and David are strongly apposed to this and tell Dr. Whale to perform the surgery, saying that they can think of the safety of the town after saving a life. They wait and Mary Margaret says that her nerves can't take it any more, asking if the surgery's almost over, however, they discover that it hasn't even started yet as Dr. Whale has fled. Ruby sniffs him out and returns with him soon and the surgery begins - Greg is okay. Mary Margaret and David want to question him with Emma, but she reminds them that they want him to think they're normal and normal sheriffs don't bring their parents in with them. Mary Margaret assures her daughter that they will be right outside. Later, Mary Margaret, David and Emma return to their apartment and to Henry when Mr. Gold walks in, he tells Emma that he's cashing in in his favor and that she must find his son with him. He tells the Charmings that if any harm is to fall upon Belle whilst he's gone, he'll kill all four of them.

Mary Margaret and David bid their daughter goodbye as she heads to New York with Mr. Gold and Henry in order to find the former's son. The royal couple, and Leroy, then head down to the docks along with Captain Hook in order to learn Cora's plans and the pirate takes them aboard his invisible ship where they soon discover the shrunken giant, Anton, sleeping within a cage. Mary Margaret wakes him up and sets him free, but upon seeing David, Anton becomes murderous and attacks the prince, causing Mary Margaret to draw her bow and arrow in his direction, making the giant flee the boat. At Granny's Diner, David deciphers that Anton isn't mad over something he did, but over something his twin brother, James did, and states that they must stop him. Mary Margaret, David and Leroy are next shocked to discover that Anton, in his fully-grown form, is terrorizing the town, hell-bent on revenge. They begin to run from him when Leroy becomes confused, thinking that James was David's name, however, the prince reveals that his true name is the same as his cursed name, David. Mary Margaret points out that if they keep running the way they're going, they'll cross the town line, and so David stops to negotiate with the giant, offering his life in exchange for the town's safety. Anton takes this deal and jumps towards David, making a hole in the earth where the magic keeping him big wears off and he is left human-sized and hanging from a sewer pipe within a pit, ready to fall. David and Mary Margaret gather a few of the townspeople to help pull him out, after David talks Anton out of committing suicide by letting go and falling. Once they've gained the giant's trust, he reveals that he has a plant that will be able to grow magic beans which can be used to create portals, such as one back to the Enchanted Forest. The dwarfs take it upon themselves to grow these beans along with Anton, but Mary Margaret isn't so happy, not wanting to return home as she fears that Emma may not want to go with them, however, he husband assures her that Emma can take care of herself.

Origins
Prince Charming is a stock character who appears in a number of fairy tales. He is the prince who comes to the rescue of the damsel in distress, and stereotypically, must engage in a quest to liberate her from an evil spell. This classification suits most heroes of a number of traditional folk tales, including "Snow White", "Sleeping Beauty" and "Cinderella", even if in the original story they were given another name, or no name at all. The one featured in Once Upon a Time is based upon the prince from the popular fairytale known across most of Europe, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs", the best known version being the Bavarian one collected by the Brothers Grimm. In the original tale of Snow White, when the princess protagonist is made comatose by a poisoned apple, it is Prince Charming who awakens her with a kiss born of true love. This is this story that is presented in the 1937 film adaptation by Disney as well as the one followed most closely by Once Upon a Time. In other languages, like Spanish and Italian, he is called the "Blue Prince". Many adaptations of "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" have been made over the years.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the character.