Shattered Sight

"Shattered Sight" is the 76th episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
Storybrooke is in a state of chaos with all the residents under Ingrid's spell of Shattered Sight at each other's throats. Emma and Elsa race against the clock to free themselves of the ribbons and take down the Snow Queen and her curse. David can only watch when Regina clashes with Mary Margaret in an epic battle. Meanwhile, Gold gathers Belle and Henry as he prepares to leave town forever, Will Scarlet looks to square his tab with Hook, and Kristoff's thick-headedness leads Anna to a heartwarming discovery.

Plot
"Previously on Once Upon a Time..."

Young Gerda and Helga are being kidnapped by a shady man who kicks Ingrid backwards, causing her to unleash her unbeknownst ice powers in order to protect her younger sisters. After this has taken place, the three girls are seen handing out yellow ribbons from a kite they were playing with, and promise that they will be there for each other so long as they each have one. Years later, Ingrid goes to attack the Duke of Weselton with her ice magic only to accidentally hit Helga square in the heart, killing her momentarily. Soon, she is seen professing to Gerda that it was an accident, but Gerda can't accept this, exclaiming that Ingrid killed their sister and that she's a monster; she then traps her in a magic urn. Emma and Hook are seen watching a recording from the former's stolen video camera which she has no memory of, and they soon discover, to their shock, that the Snow Queen was once her foster mother. Gold meets Ingrid on a cliff and asks her about this spell of hers, knowing that it will bring out the darkness of everyone in this town, but she assures him that it will do more than that: they will tear themselves apart until everyone is dead. Ingrid casts the spell of Shattered Sight over Storybrooke. The spell of Shattered Sight rains down on the town; Emma tries to conceal her baby brother as the falling glass finds its way into the sheriff's station through a vent, whilst David and Mary Margaret receive full blasts to the eyes. Their sight, like the rest of Storybrooke, becomes metaphorically shattered as they stare at one another in utter contempt. ONCE UPON A TIME

Act I
Boston, 1982

Ingrid, who's just arrived in our world and is thusly still dressed in her extravagant Snow Queen gown, is seen calmly making her way through the busy streets of Boston, confused only slightly by what she sees around her, as some of the residents stare in disbelief. She soon arrives at a window bearing a glowing sign which reads "PSYCHIC", and her attention is caught. It isn't long before she enters the establishment, at the center of which is a small, circular table with a crystal ball resting on top, and a woman's voice is immediately heard saying, "You have traveled a great distance, but I can help you!" Said woman then emerges from behind a curtain, dressed in colorful swathes and jewelry, and introduces herself as Madame Faustina. Ingrid greets her respectfully as "sorceress" and asks if she is able to use her powers of crystal-gazing to show her a girl not yet born. Madame Faustina deduces that this girl is special to Ingrid, and Ingrid confirms this, explaining that this girl will arrive in a town called Storybrooke at the age of twenty-eight.

The psychic raises a hand, assuring her customer that Madame Faustina knows all. She then invites her to sit at the table, where the crystal ball awaits, and the two of them are soon seated opposite one another. Extending her arms in an excessive manner, Madame Faustina wonders how Ingrid shall be expressing her gratitude, at which the Snow Queens smiles, nods and says, "Thank you." The psychic grows confused and iterates that she was referring to payment, wanting to know how Ingrid will pay her, and Ingrid proceeds to remove her fine necklace, handing it to the woman before her and asking if it will do. Madame Faustina accepts it with a smile, before contorting her hands around the crystal ball and commanding its "spirits" to hear her and obey. She then professes to see a child, much to Ingrid's excitement, and elaborates that this child is a girl who is special. Ingrid confirms she has many gifts and asks to be told more, at which Madame Faustina reveals that the child's name is... Susan. The Snow Queen does not look impressed.

"Liar!" Ingrid exclaims as she bursts out of Madame Faustina's store, going on to say that the child's name will be Emma Swan, for the apprentice's scroll promises this. Madame Faustina, now wielding a baseball bat and adopting her natural city accent, argues that she's doesn't know anything about any scroll, before advising Ingrid to get out of there or she's going to get a "wicked beating". The Snow Queen tells her that, where she's from, charlatans such as herself are severely punished; she then raises an arm towards the faux psychic, hoping to blast her with ice magic, only to discover that her magic doesn't work in this land. She is shocked, and Madame Faustina raises her baseball bat, addressing Ingrid as "fruitcake" and telling her that this is her last warning. "Your trickery changes nothing," says Ingrid, turning her back on the charlatan and walking away, continuing to mutter to herself, "I will find Emma. She is coming and I will find her and I will wait for her as long as I must. And then I will have what I deserve." Present Day

The last of the glass from the spell of Shattered Sight settles down on Storybrooke as Ingrid victoriously makes her way through town, happy to hear the sounds of intense arguing from nearby and afar. Suddenly, an arrow fires at the wooden pole beside her head and sticks there, just missing her, and she looks across the street at Granny's Diner to see that Grumpy is running away from Happy, who's wielding a crossbow. Grumpy is exclaiming that "he's coming" while Happy exclaims that he isn't happy, and Granny herself soon emerges along with the other five dwarfs, none of which appear particularly elated. Ingrid's smile grows wider as she witnesses this, and the final shards of mirror behind her begin swirling into a small vortex behind her and glow brightly before disappearing. The Snow Queen continues her with her stroll.

"Prince Charming," Snow White says with sarcasm biting her voice as she and her husband, who are in separate cells of the sheriff's station, sit across from one another and stare scornfully. She adds that, finally, she's seeing him clearly, and David wonders what it is she sees. Mary Margaret then calls him a fraud; a shepherd who has no business being royalty. He retorts that he sees a spoiled little princess who ran away from her troubles; who always runs away. The two of them stand up in anger and get very close to the bars keeping them apart, with Mary Margaret saying that she can't believe she had a child with him, and him firing back that maybe she didn't, for it could be Whale's. They then return to the opposite sides of the cells as Kristoff, who's shackled to the desk and observing the two of them along with Anna, comments that if this is what marriage is like then he's glad she keeps postponing theirs. Anna, who's immune to the Snow Queen's curse, assures her fiancé that he doesn't mean that and is just under the effects of the spell, but he disagrees, proclaiming that he's seeing clearly now too and is beginning to think that this haircut wasn't his only bad idea. Anna knows that this isn't really him talking but still finds it upsetting, so she decides to go and see her sister while he just stays there handcuffed where he can't hurt anybody, but her, with his words.

She walks away and he tries to get free of the cuffs, but can't, while Emma stands in the back room with Elsa, cradling her sleeping baby brother in her arms. She guarantees the Ice Queen that that isn't what her parents are like, and Elsa recapitulates that they're their worst selves, like when Anna put her in the urn; she didn't mean what she said either, or so Elsa hopes. "I didn't," Anna assures her, showing up from behind, but she adds that that doesn't make any of this less horrible. Elsa hugs her sister comfortingly and tells her it's okay, reminding the princess that she's immune; all three of them are, and they're together. Emma reiterates that it's all alright, for she's the savior, and Anna asks if that's like a real job there, to which Emma says, apparently, it is, and she promised all these people that she'd give them their happy endings and she will, she's just not sure how at this moment. Suddenly, Anna gets an idea, asking if they know how the Snow Queen got the idea for the curse. They don't, and so she tells them that it's from a legend called The Trolden Glass. Emma has never heard of this, but Anna says that its origin isn't important and what matters is how they broke the curse. Elsa wonders what was done, and Anna struggles to remember for a second, before coming out with, "...They had to kill the king. So, in this case, that would mean Ingrid."

Elsa doesn't believe that killing is ever the answer, suggesting that they simply reason with her instead, but Emma points out that she's beyond that, adding that they all want another way but if it comes between Ingrid and the town then she's going to do what has to be done because they're out of options. She then asks Anna how she is with kids, and Anna says she loves kids, so Emma hands her little Neal. Anna takes the child but isn't happy about being the babysitter, wanting to be by her sister's side if this has to happen because the Snow Queen is her aunt too. Emma apologizes, but explains that someone has to stay there with everyone else, and Elsa agrees, urging her sister to stay with Kristoff. Anna reminds them that this was her plan, and Elsa knows this; as Emma kisses her brother on the forehead and walks away in preparation to leave, the Ice Queen assures Anna that she's the smartest person she knows and she's her sister which means she needs to stay safe. She adds that Ingrid is a problem she and Emma have to solve, at which Anna asks if she trusts Emma. Elsa answers positively, saying that Emma is her friend, and Anna accepts this, reluctantly telling her to go. Elsa leaves as, in the background, Mary Margaret and David can be seen continuing to argue as Kristoff joins in on the yelling as well.

Over at the Mills family mausoleum, Regina can be found trying to escape, but she's unable to break through the containment spell that she herself put in place. She tries multiple times before simply banging on the doors in anger, lamenting the fact that she's sealed in her own vault. "This is... this is... this is the savior's doing," she eventually concludes, her anger worsening as she makes her way down the stairs beneath her father's tomb. She comments to herself that she should have incinerated Emma years ago, exclaiming that this is what she gets for being subtle before turning to a nearby mirror on the wall and wondering what the hell it is she's wearing. In a quick flurry of purple smoke, Regina becomes clothed in one of her old Evil Queen ensembles, staring at her new reflection with a loving expression before whispering, "I've missed you..."

Mr. Gold is sorting through a few items in his shop as Hook enters, wondering where Belle is and if she's turned homicidal on her husband yet. Gold tells the pirate that it's none of his business and asks what kept him, to which Hook replies that it's like swimming with sharks outside and the minute one of the townspeople tastes blood they'll tear each other apart. Gold tells him to count his blessings he's not one of them, and Hook wonders why it is he was spared cloud's curse. The Dark One explains that it's because his heart wasn't in his chest, but there in the shop under protective custody, so to speak. Hook asks what it is the "crocodile" needs and he explains that, once he's finished packing, he's going to take Belle to the town line; he needs Hook to find Henry and do the same thing. "So, you still think you're leaving?" the pirate questions as Gold retrieves the sorcerer's hat from his wall safe, as well as the dagger, and calls Hook "he of little faith", before explaining that, tomorrow night, when the stars in the sky align with the stars in the hat, he shall finally cleave himself of the dagger and be on the other side of that ice wall before dawn.

Hook asks if this means there's a way out of Storybrooke, to which Gold simply says that one always finds a way, leading Hook to ask further if the Dark One is so powerful why he doesn't just magic his grandson to his side. Gold explains that that would entail him knowing where Henry's mothers have locked him away for safekeeping, so, unless Hook really, really has no use for that tongue of his, Rumple suggests he slithers back outside into the hostile current and find the boy. He then lifts a small glass vial containing some sort of red substance and says he'll be needing this; the pirate takes it and tells the Dark One that he won't win, for villains never do, but Gold tells him not to be ridiculous: "When Belle and Henry wake up tomorrow morning in New York City, they won't remember a thing about tonight. I will tell them the Snow Queen destroyed Storybrooke whilst I saved everyone I could. I won't be a villain, I'll be a hero." Per his master's request, Hook begrudgingly sets off outside while Mr. Gold shuts his suitcase.

Over at her old ice cream parlor, Any Given Sundae, Ingrid is seen waving her hand over the carrot sherbet ice cream and making it disappear with her magic, revealing two purple rocks to be hidden underneath: memories harvested with the magic of the rock trolls. The Snow Queen scoops them out with her hand but soon holds one in each, displaying them both out in front of her and smiling, knowing that her master plan is all coming together at long last. She then exits the store and finds that Elsa and Emma are waiting for her, the latter of which tells her to stop. The Ice Queen adds that this must end, and Emma assures Ingrid that their magic is a part of them now; they control it and they control it really well. Ingrid is proud of them both for having finally embraced who they truly are, and the two young blondes attempt to throw their magic at the villainous ice witch. However, nothing happens, much to their shock, and the savior suggests that they do it again. Again, nothing happens, and the two of them begin to notice that the yellow ribbons tied around their wrists have begun to glow. The Snow Queen explains to them both that the love that flows through their ribbons is without equal, and its strength protects the life force that they all now share. Elsa realizes that her aunt has made it impossible for them to hurt her, and Emma says that they have to get the ribbons off, however, Ingrid tells them that there's no need; "Soon, you won't wanna hurt me. Soon, you will love me... for real." She walks away, beaming with joy.

Act II
Richfield, Minnesota 1999

"Hey, look what the new girl brought with her!" a young boy, Kevin, is heard exclaiming as he records footage using a young Emma's stolen video camera, which she is desperately trying to get back (see "Breaking Glass"). "Give it back, Kevin!" Ingrid - the group foster mother - soon shouts from out in the hallway, entering the room and telling the obnoxious child that the camera is Emma's, not his, and that they respect property in this household. She approaches him and takes the camera back as he reluctantly adheres to her rules. She then gestures for him to leave and he does so, leaving Ingrid and Emma alone in the room together. The latter is handed her video camera and told that everything's okay; Ingrid assures her that, despite being new there, she's going to be just fine, before leaving the room and alerting the rest of the children that it's lights out in fifteen, reminding them to brush their teeth. Emma, looking unsure of herself, goes to leave the room as well when the doorway is suddenly blocked by Kevin, who tells her that it's her choice: she can either give him that camera tomorrow or he can make her life a living hell. He smiles wickedly before heading off, and Emma appears indignant.

That night, Emma is seen sneaking down the stairs of the foster home in an attempt at running away, but as she makes it towards the exit, the lights are suddenly flicked on and the young blonde is shocked to see Ingrid waiting for her on the couch. Her group mother, clutching a mug, tells her that she's making cocoa and wonders if she'd like to join, but Emma, pausing awkwardly, eventually denies the offer. "Suit yourself," says Ingrid, going on to explain that, by her count, there are fifteen separate subconscious signs or tells that a new foster child displays when they're going to run away on his or her first night; in the brief time they were together, Emma showed seven... not that Ingrid blames her, because she did the same thing when she was younger. "You ran away?" Emma asks in disbelief, to which Ingrid replies that she tried to, but the people in her life intervened. She asks the young girl if she wants to know why, but she asks in turn if it matters; Ingrid says that it did to her, recounting for the child that those people stopped her because they cared about her.

"Lucky you," Emma says, somewhat jealously, but Ingrid soon retorts, "No, lucky you. Because now that you're living under my roof, I'm gonna care for you. The way they cared for me." Emma advises her not to waste her time, for she isn't interested, and Ingrid nods, again telling her to suit herself and saying that she won't stop her if she decides to leave. This surprises Emma, who is told that this simply means more cocoa for Ingrid, and as she goes to leave, Ingrid adds, "I understand how hard it must be to live under the same roof as someone like Kevin, who's deathly afraid of spiders. Any spiders, really. Small spiders, big spiders, even the rubber ones I keep in my desk. In the drawer. On the right. Behind the box of staples. Poor Kevin. It's a shame you can't stay, Emma." But Emma finds herself stepping back from the door and, considering Ingrid's words, she smiles as she arrives at the decision to "hang around for one more day". Ingrid smiles also, saying that that works for her, and the two blondes exchange grins.

In the present, Emma hastily enters Gold's shop, followed by Elsa, and calls out for the proprietor of the establishment, needing his help. When she hears no reply, she tries calling out for Belle, but again, no one answers. She soon comes to the conclusion that they're gone, and Elsa wonders what the two of them are to do now. Thinking for a moment, Emma says, "We do it ourselves." This confuses the Ice Queen, who watches as her friend makes her way behind one of the display cases and takes out an antique knife. She then places the blade under her ribbon in an attempt to slice it off.

Outside, the townspeople are seen brawling with one another on the streets as Hook walks past them, with Doc ordering a mute Dopey to speak for once in his life before he pushes his fellow dwarf over, causing him to roll onto his back in a ball-like fetal position before springing back up into a sitting stance. Hook ignores such things, being aggressively told to "move it" by an angry Granny as she makes her way past him with a crossbow in tow, and stepping on by Will Scarlet as he's seen removing the wallet from the pocket of the Storybrooke citizen who's lying on the ground, unconscious. The pirate continues his search for Henry.

Anna looks out the window at such occurrences as Mary Margaret and David continue arguing in their cells. The latter tells his wife that what she just said is ridiculous, to which she fires back that at least she knows how to swaddle a child correctly. David exclaims that he swaddles their son just fine, but she exclaims in turn that he's a baby, not a breakfast burrito. Anna, making sure the baby is still sleeping in his stroller, approaches the couple and begs them to stop it, adding that she expected more from the two of them. She requests that they use their heads and think back to what it was like before the spell changed them; sure they had issues with each other, but they were minor. "Minor? Minor?!" yells David, "When I first met her, she hit me in the face! If that wasn't a sign, I don't know what is!" "Yes, you responded by hanging me in a net from a tree," Mary Margaret retaliates, "You're a real Prince Charming!" Anna points out that he is Prince Charming, and that she's Snow White, and while the events they mentioned sound terrible, they also sound romantic. She begs them to be able to see that, because if they can then maybe they can defeat this dark spell.

Snow asks for someone to slip her a poison apple and put her out of her misery, at which Kristoff, who's still chained to the desk, pipes up and beseeches her to pick him for the job. This causes David to tell him to "shut it", referring to him as "ice man", but Kristoff asks who David is calling "ice man", referring to him in turn as "stable boy". David exclaims that he's calling him ice man, wondering what he's doing selling ice in Arendelle anyway since the whole place is frozen. Kristoff argues that ice is a very important commodity, but Anna shushes them, before being called "Swiss Miss" by Mary Margaret, who says that the princess does know her: "I pick flowers, I talk to birds, I do all kinds of warm, fuzzy things. You know what else? I kill. Yeah, that's right, Snow White's a murderer! I killed the Evil Queen's mommy, and I said I was sorry, and I didn't mean it." Anna tells her that that's horrible, and Mary Margaret asks if she still wants to hold hands and sing "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah", but Anna simply groans, walking away hopelessly.

Back in Gold's shop, Emma is now seen trying to cut her ribbon off using some sort of sharp horn, but the tip of her instrument quickly snaps off and she sighs in annoyance, giving up and conceding that the magic protecting their ribbons is just too powerful. Elsa supposes that the Snow Queen meant what she said about her love, to which Emma apologizes, saying that she was too busy trying to think of ways to punch her to return that. The Ice Queen, gently taking Emma's ribbon-bearing wrist in her hand, recalls that Ingrid explained how the love flowing through the ribbons is without equal. Emma stares at her wrist, getting an idea: the love might be without equal, but not without an opposite that's equally strong. Elsa doesn't understand what she means, and Emma theorizes that if Ingrid's amplified love put these ribbons on their wrists, then maybe what they need is someone's equally amplified hatred to get them off. Elsa says that Emma's a bit prickly, but certainly not hatable, while Emma tells the Ice Queen to tell that to Regina, before taking offense to having been called "prickly". Elsa points out that if Emma frees Regina while she's under the influence of the Snow Queen's curse, she'll kill her. Emma confirms that she'll try, but right now it's the best chance they have - "If Storybrooke wants to survive, Regina needs to hate me like she's never hated me before."

Emma and Elsa are next seen walking through Storybrooke's local graveyard, approaching the Mills family mausoleum wherein Regina has decided to contain herself during the length she's under the Snow Queen's spell of Shattered Sight. Meanwhile, inside the vault beneath the mausoleum, Regina - still kitted out as the Evil Queen - is seen reading one of her spell books before sensing the presence of one of her worst enemies. Her head turns towards the entrance and she smiles excitedly, knowing that she might have a change to kill the savior once and for all.

Act III
In the Snow Queen's ice lair out in the woods of Storybrooke, she is seen with the two purple rocks containing the stolen memories of Emma and Elsa resting in one of her hands, whilst the other hand hovers over them and, with her magic, causes the rocks to start glowing. She then begins pulling her second hand away and, as she does so, she extracts certain memories from the rocks, which come out in the form of tiny ice crystals, forming a stream. They form a small ring in mid air, at the center of which is a particularly large crystal which Ingrid taps with her index finger, causing it to glow brighter and begin swirling. She smiles at the sight, and soon the white glow overwhelms the screen.

In flashback, the claw of a claw machine is seen attempting to grab a stuffed dalmatian and failing, much to the chagrin of Emma, who's controlling the machine beside Ingrid as the two of them enjoy a day out together at a theme park. The young blonde tries again to grab the plush toy but fails, laughing as she says that she can't do it. Ingrid advises her to concentrate, and Emma heeds her foster mother's words, going in for another go. Ingrid tells her to trust her instincts and "let 'er rip" and, as Emma pours all of her concentration into this single task, moving the claw intricately and carefully, some of the lights begin blinking, and some of the machinery begins sparking. Emma is shocked by a sudden spark and backs away quickly, but Ingrid instructs her not to let go and win. Emma retakes control of the claw and works it downwards, finally getting a grip on the dalmatian and lifting it from its position. The two blondes celebrate as the plush toy is automatically carried over to the collection chute, and Ingrid picks it up and hands it to the young girl beside her, who unties some string from the dog's neck to retrieve a plastic ring that comes with it. She puts it on her finger, claiming to love it, and Ingrid points out what a great lesson this is: "If you push yourself and you ignore the flickering lights and the distractions of this world, you can accomplish anything."

Emma points out in turn that it's merely a plastic ring, not a scholarship to Yale, and Ingrid knows this, but assures Emma that she's a special girl who, someday, is going to surprise everybody with her extraordinary gifts. Emma tells her that she's going overboard, but Ingrid says she's serious, hugging her foster daughter tearfully as she adds that she's glad she got to know her. Emma then notices the tears, asking Ingrid if she's crying, but Ingrid denies this, saying she's just a little emotional... but the next thing Emma notices is the envelope from Twin Cities in Ingrid's purse, and she deduces that she's being sent away again. Ingrid grows confused, whilst Emma deduces further that that's why they spent the day together, and why she's crying. Ingrid denies this, grabbing her purse and removing the envelope, assuring Emma that she couldn't be more wrong. "Then what is it?" she asks, and Ingrid eventually explains that she's filling out the paperwork to adopt her... they're going to be a family. Emma grows moved and excited, and Ingrid, whose tears have flared up again, says that she knows it's a bit late and that Emma may not look at her has a mother - she knows how hard that is - but she promises that she will be the best big sister that she could ever hope for. Emma smiles, the envelope in her hand, and she hugs Ingrid, telling her that she loves her. Now Ingrid is moved, and as they continue to hug, she tells her future daughter that she loves her too.

Emma and Elsa continue making their way towards the Mills family mausoleum when the former tells the latter to stand back as she picks up a rock from the ground and throws it at the doors. This causes a containment spell to become visible, which Emma recognizes, and she proceeds to raise both hands whilst closing her eyes in order to focus her magic in an attempt to undo it. Nothing happens, to her annoyance, but Elsa steps up closer to her friend and assures her that she can do it. Emma flexes a little before trying again, refocusing everything and soon causing the containment spell to vanish in a bright flash, resonating with the light which briefly emanates from her palms. Elsa appears impressed while Emma comments that she's still getting a hang of the controlling the magic thing but, lucky for them, the next part should be easy for her. "What's that?" Elsa asks as they head inside, to which Emma replies, "Being prickly." She opens the doors and enters along with the Ice Queen whilst, down in the vault below, Regina awaits the savior's arrival. Emma becomes shocked upon entry due to the Evil Queen's royal costume, remarking that it's a little late for Halloween, but Regina merely appears murderously excited, getting to her feet. Emma asks Regina how she's able to walk in that thing, to which she replies, "With the poise of composure of a Queen."

She adds that Miss Swan has perfect timing, for she was just reading up on how to turn her into a garden topiary; she then asks what Elsa's doing there. Elsa replies that she wanted to see Regina's face when she learned the truth, leading Regina to wonder to what truth she is referring. It is at this point that Emma admits that she lied to her, for she knew all along who Marian was and she brought her back on purpose. "Tell me something I don't know!" the Evil Queen requests, and Emma tells her that what she doesn't know is why she did this: not only did the savior want to break her heart, she wanted her to see her and Hook together; see the happiness she could never have, and then ruin it again, just like her mother did. In response, Regina says that she's been waiting a long time for this and throws a fireball at the two women. However, Emma and Elsa both raise their ribbon-bound wrists and make it so that the fireball burns the ribbons only, which disappear in a burst of sparks. Regina appears shocked and becomes more-so when Emma flings some defensive magic at her, causing her to fly backwards into the wall and fall down. The two blondes quickly exit the vault as the Evil Queen gets to her feet and starts to give chase. Emma and Elsa can be seen running quickly away, back through the graveyard, as Regina's voice can be heard from down below, angrily yelling, "Swan!"

Act IV
Hook attempts to open the door to Regina's office, only to discover that it's locked. Instead, he calls out for Henry, who's sat inside, for he knows he's in there and needs him to come with him now. Henry exclaims that there's no way he's going anywhere with a dirty pirate, and Hook takes offense to the word "dirty", retorting that he bathes quite frequently. Henry then declares that he never liked Hook and likes him even less now that he and his mother are together. "Emma used that word? 'Together'?" he asks excitedly, but Henry simply orders him to go. Hook sighs, saying that he needs to bring the boy somewhere safe, but when Henry doesn't budge, Hook resorts to retrieving the red substance earlier given to him by Gold. He uncorks the lid of the vial and throws the contents at the door, thus breaking Regina's containment spell, and he proceeds to announce that he's coming in. He opens the office door, which has now become unlocked, but immediately trips over on a patch of marbles that Henry has put in place. With the pirate taken down, Henry excitedly makes a run for the door, right past Hook and out of mayoral building altogether. As he gets to his feet, Hook exclaims that he's just trying to do what's best for Henry, but it's too late; the kid is gone. When Hook tries to give chase, he is stopped by Will Scarlet, who tells the pirate that he's been looking for him, and is there to pay him back for that shiner he gave him (see "The Apprentice"). Hook says that now isn't the time, but Will disagrees, curling his hands into fists and proposing that they see how hard Hook is without his girlfriend around to protect him. He goes for the punch, but Hook simply moves out of the way and pushes Will in the back, causing him to smack into the wall and pass out. The pirate then calls out for Henry and exits the area in pursuit of him.

Emma and Elsa enter Ingrid's ice lair, which is located out in the woods of Storybrooke, but they are unaware of where the Snow Queen herself is actually lurking, for the lair appears empty, and so they act cautiously as a result. Elsa soon notices the mirror which was used to cast the spell of Shattered Sight and the fact that there's no longer any glass left in it, and the Ice Queen draws Emma's attention to this fact. The two of them stare at the empty mirror as Ingrid peers her head out from behind a pillar of ice, watching her two "sisters" with an expression of glee upon her face as they remain completely oblivious to her presence.

Ingrid and a young Emma almost get splashed as a car drives past them, leading the latter to express that it's nights such as these that she wishes she had the power to "poof" home like Harry Potter; if she was like him she could be standing there in the cold one minute and home soaking in the tub in the next. Ingrid comments that that would be something, and the two of them smile at one another, before the elder of the pair asks her soon-to-be adoptive daughter if she remembers how much fun they had at the arcade the previous week. Emma answers positively, denoting it as the best day she's had in a long time, and Ingrid continues in asking if she remembers how the lights in the game flickered right before she won. "Yeah... weird," Emma replies, but Ingrid asks if it was more than just "weird" and if it meant that she was in fact on the cusp of a great self-revelation. Emma looks confused while, nearby, a car can be heard gearing up. Ingrid sees it heading their way and announces that she thinks it's time; she proceeds to take Emma's hand and drag her off of the sidewalk, pulling her in front of the oncoming car and telling her to stop it. Emma is deeply confused and scared. She tries to walk away, but can't escape Ingrid's grip on her hand.

Ingrid meanwhile encourages her to trust her instincts, again instructing her to stop the car, but the frightened Emma orders her to let go of her and finally manages to get out of the way as the car swerves to avoid them both. Ingrid approaches Emma once the car's gone by, apologizing for what she just did, but Emma, completely disgusted, asks her foster mother if she's crazy, pointing out that she almost killed her. Ingrid simply says that she made a mistake, explaining that she had a traumatic experience when she was younger that unleashed a power that she didn't even know that she had. Emma asks what she's talking about, reproached by her, and Ingrid explains further that she thought what happened at the arcade was a sign that Emma was coming into her own. Emma is shocked that Ingrid thinks she has powers like Harry Potter, but Ingrid assures the girl that that's fiction, whereas what she has is more real and more powerful than she could possibly imagine. "Great, I should've known the only person willing to adopt me would turn out to be a nutjob!" Emma yells, greatly hurting Ingrid, who tries to calm her. However, Emma orders the woman not to touch her, beginning to say something but finding it too painful. Instead, she just runs away. Ingrid tries chasing after her, but she is too slow, and it isn't long before Emma disappears from sight. Ingrid eventually gives up, resorting to simply calling Emma's name and fearing deeply that she has lost her "sister".

Regina runs into the sheriff's station in search of Emma, but instead she finds Snow and Charming locked in cells while Kristoff remains handcuffed to a desk and Anna tends to baby Neal. "Well, well, well," says the Evil Queen as those within the station become privy to her arrival, "Isn't this my lucky day? I had come here to kill Emma, but now I get to kill the two idiots who started it all!" David, aggravated, points out that it wasn't he who told Cora about the Queen's secret boyfriend, which leads Snow to ask her husband if he's selling her out. Annoyed, Regina orders them both to shut up, saying that they both deserve to die: Snow, for what she did, and Charming, for his whining. He appears offended by this, and Regina goes on to declaim that one's punishment should fit their crime. Deciding to punish Mary Margaret first, she recalls how the supposed hero took her first true love from her, so now she's going to return the favor by taking her baby. Mary Margaret becomes deeply worried, as does David, and the two of them beg the Evil Queen not to do it. Anna stands between Regina and little Neal and requests that her majesty be reasonable, pointing out that she's under the Snow Queen's spell and doesn't actually hate Mary Margaret and David.

"It does sound like she has her reasons," Kristoff identifies, to his fiancée's annoyance, and Regina soon declares that she doesn't know who either of them are but suggests that they go back to where they came from. With that, she raises both hands and causes both Anna and Kristoff to disappear in a large flurry of purple smoke. "Where was I?" she asks once they've gone, proceeding to extend her magic into opening Snow's cell door. This leads Mary Margaret to ask if Regina's going to use her magic to kill her too, wondering if she's afraid to get her hands dirty, but the Evil Queen assures the princess that she doesn't need magic to kill her. She then waves her hand and, suddenly, Snow finds herself holding a sword, before looking up to see that Regina is now holding one as well, finishing her sentence as she adds that magic is too good for the likes of her. Mary Margaret steps forward, sword at the ready, while Regina caresses her blade, looking towards the princess and announcing, "I wanna watch you bleed." With that, she aims her sword.

Act V
Maine, 2001 Back in time, over in some far off mountain trail, Ingrid is seen wandering the road with her prophecy scroll in tow. It isn't long before she comes to a halt and unravels the scroll, hearing the apprentice's words echo through her head. Flashing back, we see the apprentice handing Ingrid the scroll and explaining to her that, when the time comes, it will lead her to her third sister. He opens the portal door as he does this which allows the Snow Queen access to our world (see "Smash the Mirror"). Ingrid continues to stand there on the mountain trail with the scroll in tow as the shot pans around her, and it isn't long before it zooms back out to reveal that she's now standing in Storybrooke, with the scroll literally having transported her there. She looks around, excited, before saying, "Hello, Storybrooke." Emma and Elsa continue making their way through the Snow Queen's ice lair when the Snow Queen herself emerges from behind them, exclaiming to the two of them that they have no idea how long she's waited for this moment. They turn to her, startled, and she soon notices that they're no longer wearing their ribbons, much to her disappointment. She asks what it is they've done, to which Emma replies that she's not much for accessories. Ingrid sorrowfully explains that those ribbons joined them together, but Emma tells the villainous ice witch to get it through her head that they're not her sisters and they're never going to love her. The Snow Queen sighs before sitting down, knowing that Emma actually believes that and admitting that it makes her sad, but she knows that that sadness won't last because, soon, she'll see that she's wrong. Ingrid goes to grab something but Emma orders her not to do it, her and Elsa both raising their arms in defense. The Snow Queen then reveals that what she was retrieving were the two purple rocks; Emma asks what the hell they are, and Ingrid tells her that they're the memories she took from the two of them, and now it's time to give them back. The savior wonders why, asking if it's so that they can remember just how badly she treated them, but Ingrid ignores her, instead explaining that the funny thing about time is that we romanticize the good and forget the bad, which is exactly what's in the rocks - they are the good memories, and nothing else; lovely moments the two of them shared with her that she'll cherish forever and, now, so will they. Emma informs her that magic can't make someone love you, and Ingrid tells her that she's right: magic can't create love, but, if someone loved you in the past, it can make them love you again, and she knows they've forgotten, but they both did love her, which is why, right now, they're not doing anything. She stands up and walks in between them as she says that they all know the only way to stop her is to kill her, and they're both hesitating. She turns to face them, now at the other side of the lair, with a smile on her face, and she finishes in saying that they don't have it in them. Both Elsa and Emma appear anxious. Storybrooke November, 2011 As a group of people leave Any Given Sundae, Emma is seen entering, wondering if the ice cream parlor is still open because she needs a couple pints for her son, who loves this place. However, she soon sees that the owner is Ingrid, and she becomes shocked while Ingrid grows excited. Emma asks her what the hell she's doing there and Ingrid, while stepping out from behind the counter, explains that ever since Emma arrived in Storybrooke she's been waiting for her to come into her shop because she wanted top give her her space by letting her come to her. Emma asks if she's out of her mind, frightened at the thought that she's been following her, and Ingrid, becoming emotional, says that there are so many things she wanted to tell her; so many things she wanted to say; "And look at you, you're all grown up!" She goes to touch Emma who springs backwards, ordering her not to do so before pointing out that this makes no sense, for Ingrid doesn't look a day older than she did over ten years ago. Ingrid explains further that, after Emma ran away, she came to Storybrooke to wait for her and people don't age there the way they do in a world without magic. The apprentice was right; he said that she would be there on her twenty-eighth birthday and here she is. Emma looks supremely freaked out by references to "the apprentice" and "magic", accusing Ingrid of being even loonier than when she ran away. Ingrid assures her that she's not, telling her that she knows that this place is special, as is she, and everything that Henry's been telling her is true. "No!" Emma rejects, "I know you screwed up my life, you're crazy! Crazy then, crazy now! You tried to kill me!" She then orders the ice cream lady to get out of her way, reaching for her cell phone in an attempt to call Sheriff Graham, but Ingrid takes out a purple rock as she tells the blonde that she's not going anywhere. "What's that? Your pet rock?" Emma asks, freaked out further, but Ingrid denies this, telling her that it's magic from her world. She proceeds to make a pulling motion with her hand and cause a purple stream of memories to flow from Emma's head into the rock, making it so that she forgets every encounter she's ever had with Ingrid in the past. When the process is complete, Ingrid prevents a now woozy Emma from collapsing, asking her if she's okay. Emma wonders what happened and Ingrid tells her that she slipped and almost fell, wondering if she still wants that ice cream. She makes her way behind the counter as Emma orders two pints of cherry vanilla, and Ingrid offers her some rocky road on the house for she looks like she could use it. She requests that she have a taste, offering her a spoonful of the ice cream which Emma then takes and consumes. "Now that is rocky road," she says, telling her that it's delicious, and Ingrid asks if she'd like to know her secret: "A lot of patience, a lot of love." Emma smiles, taking the three pints of ice cream and exiting the store as Ingrid watches on, feeling bittersweet.

Trivia

 * The title card of this episode features the main logo amidst a particularly powerful blizzard.

Production

 * The title of this episode was revealed by executive producer/co-creator Adam Horowitz, via his Twitter account, on October 21, 2014.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the episode.