Blue Fairy

Reul Ghorm, better known as the Blue Fairy, is a supporting character on Once Upon a Time. She was the leader of the fairies in the fairytale world, and presumably the most powerful creature in all the land, capable of performing the most exquisite enchantments. She was responsible for indirectly instilling in Rumplestiltskin the idea of creating a curse that would transport everyone in her world to a different one, a curse that was later brought forth by the evil Queen Regina. In Storybrooke, the Blue Fairy's counterpart became the Mother Superior, the leader of the local nuns.

Before the Curse
When Rumplestiltskin becomes corrupted by his newly gained magical abilities, his son, Baelfire, calls upon the Blue Fairy to help his father and the curse that has taken over him. Blue explains to the boy that his father can never return to his normal self, however, explains that they could go to a land without magic. She gives him a magical bean, which is apparently the last of its kind. After Rumple refuses to give up his power and leaves Baelfire to go to the new land alone, he angrily calls out for the Blue Fairy. She tells him that there's no way to get back with Baelfire without paying a great price, which is giving up this land in exchange for the next. She accidentally admits that there is a curse that can perform this act, but takes pleasure in the fact that she knows he will never be able to enact it. Rumplestiltskin vows to do whatever it takes to get Baelfire back.

Many years later, a depressed Jiminy makes a wish upon a star, and the Blue Fairy shows up. She tells him, however, that it's not possible to bring back the boy's parents. Jiminy says that he has to make it right, but she tells him that there might be another way. She suggests that he help the young boy, who will grow up to face many challenges. Jiminy wants to, but he can't escape his parents. The fairy asks him what he'd like to be if he could be something else. He doesn't reply, only thinks about it, bathed by the sounds of the crickets, but she hears him loud and clear. She then turns him into a talking cricket, complete with the top half of a suit and a top hat, as well as a tiny umbrella. She then tells him that he will live as many years as he needs to help the boy, and urges him to find Geppetto.

When Snow White's mother, Queen Eva, becomes gravely ill, Johanna, one of the servants, tells Snow White of a secret that she isn't supposed to know. She tells the young girl that Eva has a secret connection with the Blue Fairy, and that she should go to her if she seeks a way to save her mother. Snow does this and goes out in the middle of the night, seeking the aid of the fairy. Despite having difficulty finding the correct star to wish upon, the Blue Fairy finds her. Snow tells the fairy of her problem, that her mother is dying and they cannot find a cure, but Blue explains that there is nothing she can do, as preventing an inevitable death is not pure magic. A desperate Snow begs Blue for anything to help, so she offers her a magic candle that will save her mother's life, but take the life of another. She promises Snow to never tell anyone of this offer and then Snow takes the candle, reluctant to use it as she wants her mother to see her as a good person. She decides to not use the candle, resulting in her mother dying. After the funeral, the Blue Fairy comes to see the corpse, but it turns out it was actually Cora in disguise, and she was the one who poisoned the queen.

When Tinker Bell is late returning to her home, she is confronted by the Blue Fairy, who is waiting for her inside one of the flower pods. She angrily tells Tink that she’s late, adding that she has already broke every rule in the book, such as curfew, dust discipline and getting big for no reason. Tink explains herself by telling Blue that she was helping Regina, however, Blue warns Tink that Regina is dark and she’s lucky to be alive. She tells Tink that Regina is not a woman who can be helped as she’s surrounded by darkness; however, the green fairy points out that its all the more reason to help her. She then asks blue for pixie dust, but she’s instantly denied of it and then asked to leave Regina alone. Blue then demands Tink stay where she is while under training before flying away. However, once she’s gone, Tink disobeys her trainer and leaves to find Regina. Blue catches Tinker Bell leaving Regina’s palace and scolds her for stealing the pixie dust, telling her it cannot be forgiven. An upset Tinker Bell begs for a second chance, but Blue explains that this was her second chance. The green fairy begins crying and apologizes, asking for a chance to prove herself again, however, Blue states that she cannot for one tragic reason; she no longer believes in her. With this being said, Tinker Bell loses her wings and falls to the ground, becoming a normal human. A disappointed Blue flies away, leaving an upset Tink behind.

Even more years later, Blue Fairy is sat in the clouds when Nova, a very clumsy fairy, flies up to sit beside her. She gives the Blue Fairy a large sack of fairy dust, but Blue scolds Nova on her clumsiness and explains tat fairy dust is the most powerful substance in the world. Nova understands this and then goes on to complain that she thought she'd be a fairy godmother by now. The Blue Fairy laughs at this and tells Nova that she is a dreamer. Blue leaves Nova to take the fairy dust to the dwarf mines and then flies away. Many nights later, after Nova falls in love with a dwarf named Dreamy, the two arrange to meet up at Firefly Hill so they can run away together. The Blue Fairy and the head dwarf named Bossy intercept Dreamy and Blue tells him that the two don't belong together and speaks about Nova's dreams of becoming a fairy godmother. She adds that if they were alone then they could bring untold happiness to the world. Eventually, she and Bossy manage to convince Dreamy into breaking up with Nova.

Snow White, along with Bashful, Dopey, Doc, Grumpy, Happy, Sneezy, Granny and Red Riding Hood plan on making an attack on King George's castle to rescue Prince Charming, who has been taken prisoner. Things grow complicated when they realize that Regina is in the area, so they believe its a trap. Despite this, the group advances on the castle, with assistance from the Blue Fairy and her fellow fairies, and they manage to wipe out some of King George's guards. Blue and her allies swoop in when the guards outnumber the heroes and they use fairy dust to eliminate the enemies. When Snow finds Charming, she discovers that he has been kidnapped by Regina, and she's asked to meet up with the queen. Later on, Snow's friends find her lying on the floor, appearing dead as she is under a sleeping curse, but this is unknown to them.

When Regina receives word that Snow White and Prince Charming have defeated King George's army, she attempts to speak to Snow alone. Whilst running through the jungle, Snow falls and is approached by Regina, who mocks her for apparently leaving the battle. Snow explains that the battle is over, stating she's won. Regina smugly says that depends on her definition of victory. Snow offers Regina parley to negotiate the terms of Regina's surrender, but the evil queen isn't happy about this and states her terms would be Snow's death. With that, Regina attempts to cast deadly magic on Snow, however, she's stopped when Snow yells "now". She turns around to see the Blue Fairy dashing towards her. Before she can react, she is suddenly frozen by magic and taken prisoner by the royal couple. Later on, Blue attends the royal council meeting when Regina's fate is discussed. Blue points out that the magic they used to restrain her will only work for so long, so another solution is needed. It is then reluctantly decided that she is to be executed. On the day of the execution, as the guards shoot their arrows at Regina, Snow calls off the execution and Blue freezes the arrows with her magic, narrowly saving the evil queen's life.

Geppetto and Pinocchio find themselves lost at sea on a wooden raft. Their ship crashes when Monstro the Whale breaks it. Some time later, Geppetto is seen stranded ashore, recuperating, and he is left broken-hearted by the sight of the lifeless Pinocchio, back to being a mere wooden puppet, face down on the beach. Geppetto takes his marionette in his arms and sobs over the loss of the only son he ever had, until the powerful and benevolent Blue Fairy appears and turns Pinocchio into a real, living boy. Geppetto is overwhelmed with joy, and the child is filled with excitement. Geppetto is very thankful towards the Blue Fairy, and the head fairy tells the child to be brave, truthful and unselfish, and as long as he does that he'll always remain a real boy.

A few months later, Prince Charming and Snow White discuss how to defeat the Evil Queen's Dark Curse with their allies. Just before everyone votes to going to war, the Blue Fairy flies in with an enchanted tree. She claims that the tree, if fashioned into a vessel, will take one person and whisk them away to another world, so that they could come back for everyone else and save them. The plan is for Snow White, whilst pregnant with Emma, to go through with her child in order for both of them to escape the curse, despite the fact that the wardrobe would actually be able to transport two people. Blue does not reveal this due to the deal she made with Geppetto; he will not build the wardrobe unless his son, Pinocchio, can go through it also, due to the fact that he's a real boy due to magic and the curse might send him back into his wooden state. ("Pilot"/"The Stranger")

Inside was is supposed to be Snow White's baby's nursery, a heavily pregnant Snow looks sadly at the not-yet-complete magical wardrobe she may have to use to transport herself and her baby away from her home in the Enchanted Forest. She then approaches the Blue Fairy, who's hovering within the nursery, and we see that her husband Prince Charming is in the room with her. Snow asks the fairy what is to happen should the plan fail, as they all know a magic wardrobe is a long-shot, and Blue tells the princess that they shall all be transported to the Queen's new land; they will lose their memories and become slaves to her darkest desires. Therefore, they have to have faith that Snow's child will find a way to save them, but Snow points out that if they don't know who they are and they can't tell their daughter that she's the savior, then she won't have any way of knowing what to do. Blue explains that, someday, when the time is right, their story shall reveal itself to her, and she tells the uneasy princess that she has to trust her. Snow wonders what the fairy means by their "story", and Blue admits to not yet knowing, but says she does know that it will happen. Snow wonders further how Blue can be so sure, and she says that she has the one thing that Snow needs now more than anything: hope. "Good luck, Snow. Have faith," she tells her before flying out the window. However, Snow White goes into labor the day the wardrobe was finished, ruining the original plan, and Charming has to put the newborn baby Emma inside instead, alone. The Dark Curse arrives moments after and the Blue Fairy is transported to the small town of Storybrooke in Maine, USA, where she lives as the town's nuns', who are all former fairies, Mother Superior.. ("Pilot"/"The Stranger")

Season 1
Leroy walks into the nunnery where organisation for the Miners Day festival is happening. He approaches Mary Margaret and asks her where he can sign up, the teacher looks at him, surprised, before turning away from him. Leroy says that he wants to volunteer to sell candles but Mary Margaret says that he doesn't and that he made that abundantly clear that morning. He looks over to Sister Astrid, who is talking to Mother Superior, and back to Mary Margaret, saying that he saw the light and that someone showed it to him. He asks her what difference it makes as it looks like she can get all the help she can get and Mary Margaret gives in, saying that she needs help manning the candle booth, warning Leroy that there is to be no swearing, no drinking, and that she gets to call all the shots. She hands him a clipboard and he signs his name. Over at Astrid's conversation, Mother Superior is heard asking, "You ordered how many tanks of helium?" Leroy is distracted by this as Astrid tells Mother that she meant to order twelve. Mother Superior looks at the bill, telling her that she ordered twelve dozen. She tells her to return them but Astrid, distressed, says that there are no refunds. Mother Superior scolds her, saying that they needed that money and that Astrid knew that, reminding her how "he" feels about them. Mother Superior hands her the bill, telling her to fix it and to fix it now, before walking away. Astrid sighs and sits down.

At the convent for the nuns, Mother Superior and August Booth meet up to have a secret discussion. Mr. Gold watches from afar, and when Mother Superior heads back inside the convent, he stops her to talk to her. Mother Superior, instinctively assuming he is there to collect the rent, explains it has already been paid. However, Gold explains that is not his reason for visiting her. He asks her who the man she was just talking to said he was and asks what he wanted. Mother Superior tries to keep the information confidential, but Gold blackmails her into revealing it. Superior explains that he wanted advice and council as he has just come to town after being separated from his father for a long time and he has just now found him. Gold asks if they have reunited yet, but Superior explains they haven't even spoken yet. Gold asks why, so she explains they had a difficult parting. This then all leads Mr. Gold into believing August is actually his son, Baelfire.

When Regina Mills creates an apple turnover containing the apple used to put Snow White to sleep, she intends on Emma Swan eating it, but Henry Mills eats it and is put under the curse. He is thus taken to the hospital where numerous medical staff, including Dr. Whale take care of him and try to stabilize him. However, as Mary Margaret reads to him he takes a turn for the worse and his heart rate begins to drop. When Henry is announced dead, Mother Superior is called in. When Emma and Regina arrive at the hospital, she tells them that they're too late as Henry has died. Mother Superior and others mourn the death of the young boy shortly after the terrible news had been delivered. However, shortly after, Emma kisses Henry and unintentionally awakens him and breaks the Dark Curse with true love's kiss. Mother Superior points out that her kiss broke the curse, angering Regina. Mother Superior then warns Regina to find a place to hide as people will come looking for her.

Season 2
"Please, Mother Superior... You're our only hope."

- Snow White

After Snow White and Prince Charming are happily reunited with their daughter, Emma Swan and her son Henry, the seven dwarfs begin to question why they weren't transported back to their world and what the purple smoke was. The Blue Fairy approaches them and explains that it magic has returned and backs up this statement by explaining that she can "feel it". Henry asks the Blue Fairy to do something magical, but she tells him it isn't that simple because she has no wand or fairy dust. The Blue Fairy joins a group to find Rumplestiltskin, but on their way they join an angry mob that is headed for Regina's house. They follow them in hopes of saving the evil queen; which they do successfully.

In the town center of Storybrooke, outside the town hall, a crisis center has been set up after the destructive events caused by the Wraith. The Blue Fairy is at the center, helping people in need. As Red makes announcements to people, Blue tells her that things are getting out of control as people are in a panic and they don’t know what to do. Red reassures Blue and tells her Prince Charming is most likely working on a plan. Later, Charming asks Blue if it is possible for there to be a tree in their world, like the one they used to send Emma as a baby. She tells him it is possible for there to be one, but hopeless without fairydust. When Blue attends the meeting at the town hall to hear Charming’s plan, she sees that Regina has regained her magic, so she, among others decide to leave town, but Charming convinces her otherwise.

When Grumpy accidentally finds diamonds in the mines, Prince Charming is called to the scene. He rushes to the mines in the sheriff’s car with the Blue Fairy by his side. They find the dwarves looking joyfully at the diamonds, so they join them. Blue is overjoyed to see that the diamonds are back, stating that magic brought them back. Henry asks if they are the kind that can be turned into Fairy Dust, so Blue confirms and tells everyone that they just need to refine them and grind them up. She asks Charming if he still has Jefferson’s hat, which he does. She tells him to lock it up and keep it safe because by tomorrow they’ll have enough magic to make it work again. Henry is pleased to hear that this means Emma and Snow White will be returning home. Later on at Granny’s Diner, Blue celebrates the dwarves discovery with a beer.

After Archie Hopper is murdered by Cora, under the disguise of Regina, Emma, Mary Margaret and David receive some solid evidence that Regina is responsible through extracting Pongo's memories. They decide to take the Evil Queen down. To do this, David suggests they use fairy dust, Emma asks him if that will work and he reminds her that it worked the last time. When the Charming's knock at the mayor's door for a confrontation, Emma signals Mother Superior and the nun fires a ball of magic at Regina in an attempt to ensnare her, the same way she did back in the fairytale land, however, Regina catches the magic in her hand. She asks Mary Margaret and David if they really thought that that would work twice. The confrontation soon ends with the Queen vanishing

It is the day of Archie Hopper's funeral and Mary Margaret gives the eulogy. The Blue Fairy and her fellow friends are present for the ceremony and she listens to the speech that is given. Mary Margaret gives a beautiful speech about how Archie will always be with them before the beloved conscience is buried. After the speech, everyone goes around giving their friends comforting hugs and the Blue Fairy engages in a hug with Belle. Later, the Blue Fairy is present at the wake where Emma is saddened that she cannot cheer Henry up. Mary Margaret comforts her, that is, until Grumpy steps out and says that he and the dwarfs would all like to go back to the Enchanted Forest, explaining that they're all homesick.

After learning of Regina and Cora's plans to use Rumplestiltskin's dagger to kill anybody they wish, Snow White and Prince Charming set out to get help from the Blue Fairy. Upon arrival to the nun house, Blue meets Snow and Charming and states that she senses a great deal of dark magic has been expelled. Charming explains what's going on, concerning Blue. Snow then says that her magic is their only hope at stopping the evil duo. The three go to Gold's shop in an attempt to find the dagger first, but when the Blue Fairy attempts to get inside using her wand, she finds herself unable to as a protection spell has been put on the shop. Charming suggests dark magic, but Blue refuses. Snow points out that Cora cannot get the dagger, so they should use dark magic as an exception, like she did before. Blue is confused by this accusation, claiming to have never told Snow such a thing. Snow states she kept Blue's secret, confusing the fairy even more. However, before they can discuss this any further, Charming gets a call from Emma revealing the location of the dagger, which is in the clock tower.

Mother Superior is visited at the town nunnery by Emma, Marco and Mary Margaret. They tell her that August, otherwise known as Pinocchio, is living in a trailer in the forest and is completely made of wood. She tells them that she is well aware of August's predicament as he came to her shortly after the curse had broken to ask her to reverse the affliction, but she declined. The three of them are curious as to why and Mother Superior explains that when she turned Pinocchio into a real boy, it was on the condition that he remain truthful, brave and unselfish, something which August has not lived up to, therefore, he has earned his fate. Later, after August is tased by Tamara, he tries to warn Emma and the others that she is a danger to them, however, he dies before he can quite get the message out. Henry points out that August's final act was truthful, brave and unselfish, meaning that he can be saved, and Mother Superior arrives on the scene, telling the kid that he's right. The Blue Fairy waves her wand and in a glow of magic the dead wooden body of August W. Booth is turned into the living little boy Pinocchio once more. Blue tells Pinocchio to do better this time, and the boy goes home with Marco where he receives a fresh start, his memories as August now being gone.

When Regina is kidnapped by Greg and Tamara, she is strapped down and tortured at the town cannery, being unable to use magic due to a machine-rigged cuff attached to her wrist. It is not long before Mary Margaret and David find Regina in the state she's in, nearing death, and untie her, saying that they'll need to get her to the aid of Mother Superior. They take the mayor back to the apartment where she lies in bed as the Blue Fairy of Storybrooke waves her glowing wand up and down Regina's body. She becomes healed and Mother Superior tells the Charmings that now that the cuff is removed, Regina should return to full health will time and bed rest, as should her magic.

Season 3
Belle sadly watches from the docks as the Jolly Roger crew set off to their destination, Neverland. As she stands crying, Blue, Archie and the dwarfs come running up to her, excitedly yelling that they've been saved. Noticing the sad look on Belle's face, they ask what's wrong, so she explains that Henry has been kidnapped and taken through a portal. Blue wonders where the portal is to, but Belle doesn't know. She then reveals that she stayed behind because she had to, showing a potion and enchantment. Blue recognizes this as a cloaking spell. The fairy asks why they need this, so Belle explains that other people are coming. They head down to the mines and Belle notes that they need fairy dust. Blue explains that it runs through the walls, stating they need to open a vein and it'll carry the magic through town. The dwarfs dig a hole into a rock, but Belle becomes reluctant and asks Blue to perform the spell. However, the fairy states that Belle must do it as Rumple instructed her to. Belle does so, and a spell fires out, casting a cloak around the town. However, just before it completely takes form, two men that the spell was supposed to keep out make their way into town.

When the Jolly Roger crew finally return after rescuing Henry, who is actually Pan in the body of the child, the boat flies down from the sky and lands successfully in Storybrooke. A group of people arrive to welcome everyone back and Blue is present, greeting everyone as they get off the boat. Later, as everyone celebrates at Granny's Diner, Blue is approached by Tinker Bell and Regina. Blue and Tink awkwardly reunite, since they haven't seen each other after the latter lost her wings. Regina tells Blue to give Tink her wings back, but Blue states she doesn't take orders from her. Regina points out that Tink was able to get fairy dust working, but the green fairy points out it was only for a short time. Blue asks Tink how she expects her to believe in her if she cannot even believe in herself. Later on, after Pan releases the Shadow from the Jolly Roger sail, he sends it after the Blue Fairy. In broad daylight, Blue is chased near the nunnery by the Shadow, screaming with fear. Emma, Charming, Hook and Tink arrive just in time to witness the powerful fairy have her shadow ripped from her body and taken away by The Shadow. After Charming checks her pulse and announces that she's gone they cover up her body with a blanket.

After Pan steals the Dark Curse and enacts it on Storybrooke, the heroes of the town hatch a plan in order to stop him. In order for this plan to be achieved, they need the Black Fairy's wand so that they can cast a spell that will put Henry and Pan, who's bodies have been switched, back into themselves. With the Black Fairy having been banished by Blue many years ago, she retains possession of the wand, and so Hook, David, Neal and Tinker Bell arrive at the local convent, where Mother Superior's funeral is taking place. They request the wand from the other fairies but are refused such power, however, when the Shadow attacks, Tinker Bell proves herself by making pixie dust work and flying up in order to trap it in Bae's magic coconut, the candle inside of which she was able to light with magic. She then throws the coconut into a bowl of fire, finally killing the dark being, and when the Shadow dies, Blue's is returned and she is revived. She congratulates the Green Fairy on what she achieved and, for once, calls her by her name, telling Tinker Bell that she's earned back her wings and apologizing for being overly strict in the past. As a thank you, she hands over the Black Fairy's wand so that the plan to stop the curse may succeed. This leads to Pan's death and the undoing of the original curse, meaning that Blue, along with everyone else in town besides Emma and Henry, is transported back to her home in the Enchanted Forest. A year after Emma leaves Storybrooke, she drinks a potion that returns her true memories. The flashes that run through her mind include Tink and everyone else standing at the town line as the curse approaches.

Origins
The character of Blue Fairy/Mother Superior is based on the popular fairytale character of Pinocchio, the titular protagonist of the children's book The Adventures of Pinocchio, by Italian author Carlo Collodi, published in 1883. There are many adaptations of the story, the most popular - and the one followed closely by Once Upon a Time - being the film adaptation by Disney, from 1940, often deemed one of the best animated films of all time. The general story of Pinocchio is that of a lonely woodcarver named Geppetto who creates a puppet, fashioned like a young boy, and wishes that it became a real child. A fairy then gives life to the puppet and tells him to behave and be truthful, and in doing so he can go on to become a real boy someday. However, Pinocchio becomes prone to lying and disobeying his conscience, and gets in a sequence of problems and misadventures. When Geppetto sets out to find his son and Pinocchio rescues him with great sacrifice, the fairy finally transforms him into a real boy.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills released to promote the character.