Breaking Glass

"Breaking Glass" is the 71st episode of Once Upon a Time.

Summary
Regina reluctantly teams up with Emma to search for the Snow Queen after Sidney, who is once again Regina's prisoner in the mirror, discovers her whereabouts and agrees to lead her to the location. With Belle babysitting baby Neal, a nervous Mary Margaret and David prepare for their first date night away from their child and find themselves on a mission to track down Will Scarlet, who has escaped from the town jail, and Elsa sees Anna in the Storybrooke woods. Meanwhile, back in the past, young Emma finds herself a kindred spirit when she befriends a girl who, like her, is a runaway orphan.

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

Marian collapses due to the Snow Queen's ice curse; Robin is later seen alerting Regina, who is then shown her true love's frozen wife. To Mary Margaret, Regina exclaims that Robin Hood is honor-bound to stay with Marian, and therefore she has to save her. Raising her gun, Emma asks the Snow Queen why the hell she's been following her. We see the Snow Queen creating some sort of ice sculpture in the woods, and Emma later theorizes that it was something other than a curse that brought her to Storybrooke. When David asks where she is, his daughter replies, "She's gone." ONCE UPON A TIME

Act I
In her ice lair, somewhere in Storybrooke, the Snow Queen is seen waving her hand over a frozen something, emanating magic and thus causing the ice to neatly schlep off, shrinking into snowflakes with then melt into water, all of which swirls about in the air around her before finding its way elsewhere. As the ice continues to clear, it becomes apparent that she hasn't been thawing a frozen something... but carving a frozen someone. And that someone, false life created by the Snow Queen, opens their brand new eyes with a bright blue flash of light.

Over at the local Sheriff's Station, Emma places a large cardboard box down on a desk and opens it, telling Elsa, who's nearby, that somewhere in these records there's got to be something on Anna. We then see that dozens of like boxes litter the office, all of which presumably proved unhelpful in the blondes' search, and Elsa comments that there must be a better way of going about it, pointing out that, while they're reading files, her sister is out there somewhere; they have to confront this Snow Queen. An agitated Emma assures her new compatriot that she would if she could, but they have to find her first and also they have to be careful because this woman is tricky, seeming to know both of them whereas they don't remember anything about her, and something tells the savior that that is not an accident. Elsa wonders if the Snow Queen took their memories and Emma explains that she's really good with names and faces - it was her job - so the Snow Queen definitely took them, but the question is: why? She adds that they need to find out what the hell she's up to, and as she begins going through the cardboard box she earlier set down, Hook is seen entering with yet another one, saying that they're old city records from the Mayor's office, per Emma's request.

She smiles, and he smiles back at her, before a certain someone is heard yelling, "Oi! Someone's forgotten about me dinner!" Emma rolls her eyes as Will Scarlet, locked in the cell behind her, says that he'll have the bangers and mash, but she turns to him and says that he'll have the water and Pop-Tart, proceeding to hand said foodstuffs through the bars. Taking the Pop-Tart, Will points out that somebody's already had a nibble, to which Emma replies that she's had her shots. Will sarcastically comments what a relief that is and begins eating the Pop-Tart - chewing with his mouth open - before asking when he'll be free. Emma replies that he'll be free when she says so, much to his annoyance, and Hook, having only just started going through his box with Elsa, says that he's off to take Henry sailing unless there's something Emma would like him to do. Up close to her new boyfriend, Emma simply tells him to make sure Henry wears his life vest, and Will comments, sarcastically again, that no one will ever see through Hook's strategy of "befriending the son to get with the mum".

Annoyed, Hook menacingly suggests that Will keep his thoughts to himself, and the prisoner remains silent as the pirate steals a quick goodbye kiss from Emma before leaving. From the box she's searching, Elsa discovers a brown envelop full of photographs and tells Emma to look, wondering why there are pictures of her mixed in with the city records. Taking them, Emma explains that Regina abused her power a bit as Mayor and was looking for any reason to run her out of town. She smiles at one of the photos, saying that it's the first time she and Henry went for hot cocoa, and hands it to Elsa, followed by one of her walking him to school for the first time. However, the next picture shocks Emma to her very core, and we see that it's one of her and the Snow Queen conversing in the latter's ice cream parlor. Elsa wonders what's wrong and Emma shows her the picture, saying that it's she and the Queen, leading Elsa to reconfirm that the savior doesn't remember any of this, which she doesn't. However, she knows someone who may... the person who had the photos taken.

Down in her vault, Regina is seen with a spell book in one hand as she sorts through potion ingredients with the other. Tired and frustrated, she shuts the book and places it down, retiring from her task and begging her Magic Mirror to "please tell me that you've found her". Sidney's face then comes into view and he asks which "her" that would be, wondering if she means Snow White, Maid Marian or maybe Emma Swan, going on to comment that it's so hard to keep track of her majesty's nemeses. Regina says that she's not in the mood for games and needs to know where the Snow Queen is hiding; if she can't unfreeze Marian herself, then she'll force her to do it. Sidney replies that he hasn't come across the Snow Queen yet, which he's sorry to say, and Regina informs him that that is his new task; "Find that Snow Queen... or you'll learn what 'sorry' really feels like!" Sidney obliges, disappearing from the mirror.

Belle cradles and comforts baby Neal in her arms over at Mary Margaret's apartment as she and David watch. David points out that Belle's a natural and reminds his wife that she has all the emergency numbers so, if anything happens, Neal will be okay. Mary Margaret argues that she's not worried about emergency numbers; she's worried about leaving him at all, pointing out that, between the Dark Curse and the Wicked Witch, they don't exactly have the best track record with their babies. As Belle continues smiling down at the littlest Charming, David assures his wife that their child will be fine, adding that they need this time away, especially her. "So what do you say? You ready for our evening stroll?" he asks, and the nervous mother nods hesitantly.

Emma's car pulls over in the town graveyard and Elsa asks the driver if she's okay. Emma explains that the pictures, which she has resealed in the brown envelope in her hand, just remind her of when she first got there and she and Regina hated each other; she then amends herself to say that they did not mix. Elsa points out that it seems as though they've come a long way since then, but Emma points out in turn that it looks like they're right back at it, and she just wishes she could fix it. She prepares to exit the car, asking Elsa if she's coming, but Elsa answers negatively, saying that she thinks this sounds like something the two of them (Emma and Regina) should talk about alone and that, if things were getting better between them before, maybe they can again. Emma doubts it, explaining that she screwed Regina over and once you screw someone over, there's no getting them back. As she opens the car door, Elsa asks the savior what makes her say that, to which she replies, "Experience." Envelope in hand, she gets out of the yellow bug and begins to approach the Mills family mausoleum. Hopkins, Minnesota 1998

A young Emma is seen making her way down the aisle of a grocery store, coming to a selection of Pop-Tarts. She then stops, as she notices a girl staring at her, but the girl soon smiles and walks away and Emma's attention is returned to the tarts. She takes a box, inconspicuously, and stuffs it under her coat when she believes no one to be looking. She then discretely begins making her way back up the aisle where she's stopped by the store manager. She asks Emma what she's got there, but before she can remove the Pop-Tarts from her coat, the girl from earlier suddenly arrives with a shopping cart in tow, telling Emma that she's been looking all over for her. Emma looks confused, and the girl whispers to her to just go with it, taking the box from Emma's coat and thanking her for hanging on to it, proceeding to toss it into the cart. The store managers asks if these two girls are on their own, but the one with the cart explains that her parents are outside in the car, having sent the two of them inside to grab a few things. The manager buys their story, walking away with a simple "okay", and a relieved Emma thanks her new friend for preventing things from getting ugly. "No kidding," she replies, "You know that whole stuffing things under your shirt thing never works? You need one of these." With that, she takes a credit card from out of her pocket, telling Emma that it allows them to buy whatever they want. Emma nods and says she'll remember that next time, beginning to walk away, but Lily tells her to wait, pointing out with a smile that the two of them are part of each others' cover now; "So, what do you say? Wanna go shopping?"

The two girls are next seen exiting the store with shopping bags in tow; while Emma is surprised that that actually worked, her new partner in crime is cautiously checking her surroundings, soon telling the blonde to hold on to her bag and run. Emma is surprised, wondering why, and the girl tells her to trust her, before yelling, "Go!" The two girls begin running as it becomes apparent that a man in the car behind them is following them, calling out, "Hey!" and driving in pursuit of the young ladies. They keep on running and, luckily for them, a minibus blocks the road and makes it so the car can't go any further, thus allowing the two of them to make their getaway. The girl directs Emma into an alleyway where they hide, smiling as the man in the car drives past without noticing them. As relief washes over the pair, Emma introduces herself, and the girl reveals her name to be Lily, before thanking Emma for her help. Through heavy breathing, she replies, "You have my back... and I got yours."

Back in the present, Regina continues staring down at one of her spell books as Emma enters the not-so-secret vault, bringing with her the photographs that she was earlier looking through with Elsa back at the Sheriff's Station. "Miss Swan," Regina acknowledges, not bothering to look at her, "What an unpleasant surprise. Unfortunately, I'm a little busy trying to save my true love's wife. Or haven't you heard?" Not in the mood, Emma hands Regina the pictures and asks her what she knows about them; sighing, Regina accepts said pictures and says that it appears Emma and the Snow Queen are old friends - frenemies, at best. Taking the pictures back, Emma assures the former Mayor that she has zero memories of this conversation and was hoping she might, pointing out that Sidney took these pictures when he was ordered to spy on her and wondering if he ever said anything about what's going on there or why she was arguing with the Snow Queen.

Regina tells the blonde that he never mentioned anything, unhelpfully suggesting that maybe Emma skipped the tip jar at Any Given Sundae, and Emma deduces that she needs to talk to Sidney, but no one seems to know where he is. She asks Regina if she's seen him but she replies that she's been too busy working on Marian - the problem Emma created - and Emma decides to let her get back to it. After a pause, she asks if there's any progress on thawing out the maid, but Regina tells the savior that it's none of her concern. "It could be," Emma tries, much to Regina's aggravation, and the former continues in saying that she knows she's not sorceress of the year but if she wants some extra juice for the spell then she should let her know. She then begins to leave and a surprised Regina evocatively asks if she's offering to help her. Emma confirms this, pointing out that, despite everything, Regina's done a lot for her; "You've had my back and I want you to know that I have yours." Regina smirks and says, "Miss Swan, one thing's abundantly clear: you've never had my back... and you never will." Emma appears saddened by this.

Out in the graveyard, Elsa remains waiting patiently in Emma's yellow car as the night begins to draw in, along with the fog. Suddenly, however, a mysterious voice is heard calling her name from afar, and the Ice Queen appears evoked. The voice soon gets clearer and it becomes apparent that it belongs to Anna, which worries Elsa even more when the word "help" is added to her cries. She hurriedly exits the car, looking out into the mist, and Anna's figure is seen standing in the distance. "Anna!" the Ice Queen yells, which is met by, "Elsa... help me!" Anna then begins walking away, and Elsa follows.

Act II
Upon exiting Regina's family mausoleum, a very sullen-looking Emma immediately notices that Elsa, who was last seen waiting in the savior's yellow beetle car, is no longer there. Worried, she quickly rushes over to the vehicle anyway and opens up the door, poking her head in and checking the inside just to be sure. She calls out the Ice Queen's name, but there is no audible reply; she's nowhere to be seen. She then pokes her head back out the car and begins looking suspiciously at her surroundings. She calls Elsa's name again, but again, there is no reply to her frantic yelling.

Regina is seen staring down at a framed photograph of her and Robin Hood, heartbroken over having lost him to Marian, and when she looks utterly defeated, Sidney appears in his mirror, alerting his Queen of news: he has found the Snow Queen's lair. Regina demands to know where it is, but Sidney says he believes a little quid pro quo is in order, adding that he's growing tired of his glass prison. She replies that they shall only discuss his freedom if his information yields results, but he refuses to give up his leverage before he's received anything in return, insisting that he's not an imbecile. She points out that she's trapped him in a mirror twice and if he finds them too constricting then perhaps he'd like to return to his cell at the hospital. Sidney pauses; "Upon further reflection," he comes out with, "It appears I don't have the leverage I thought. Listen closely, I will lead you to her." Regina is listening.

David and Mary Margaret enter the Sheriff's Station as the latter is telling the former that she needs one of the good walkie-talkies, as opposed to the short-range ones he lets Henry play with. He points out that they're only going on a short hike and will be gone less than an hour, but she points out in turn that they'll have no cell reception and she wants to be sure Belle can reach them. David soon realizes that she's looking for a way out of this, which she doesn't respond to, and he tells her that they are going on this hike. She agrees, but adds that they shall be reachable, and her husband sighs before grabbing a walkie and saying that it'll do. As he attaches it to his belt, he explains that he'll call Belle and tell her where to find their walkie at home and then she'll be able to reach them wherever they are, whether they be on a drive or on a hike or having fallen through a portal to Asgard. Mary Margaret nods, calling him her hero, and the two of them exchange a kiss. As they go to leave, however, David notices something: Will Scarlet is absent from his cell, meaning he's escaped from jail. Initially he appears worried, but then he smiles and exclaims, "Come on, let's go!" She soon realizes that he wants the two of them to track the thief down and he convinces her to do so by pointing out that it'll be just like old times: a prince and a princess on an adventure, but without the Evil Queen on their trail.

Meanwhile, Regina makes her way through the town woods with her compact pocket mirror in tow, inside which is Sidney. She tells him that she's walking due north and wonders where to go next, and so he instructs her to head past the Toll Bridge, then go east; the Snow Queen isn't far. She looks determined, but worries when she hears some twigs snapping nearby. Quickly, she snaps her compact shut and shoves it in her pocket, only to have Emma emerge from behind some bushes. The savior looks surprised to see Regina, who demands to know what she's doing there, and Emma explains that Elsa ran out on her and she thinks she may have gone to confront the Snow Queen on her own - she's afraid she's in trouble. Regina sighs before being asked the same question and explains that she intends to force the Snow Queen's hand and make her reverse the damage she's inflicted on Marian. Emma wonders how she even knows where she is but Regina exclaims that explaining her magic to a beginner is a waste of her time, adding that the Snow Queen is east of the Toll Bridge. She tries walking past Emma, but Emma suggests that the two of them stick together since the best shot of finding Elsa is to go the direction of the Snow Queen. She asks Regina if she minds the company, but Regina asks in turn if it matters whether or not she minds; if she says "no" then Emma will just come anyway. She continues walking, and Emma shrugs and follows.

In flashback, Emma and Lily are seen to be enjoying a junk food picnic on a grassy hill overlooking a lake, with the former rushing her sandwich into her mouth. Lily points out that it's not going anywhere and Emma laughs before explaining that, where she comes from, if she didn't eat fast then the big kids would steal things from her plate. Lily wonders if that was around where they are, but Emma tells her that it was back in Boston; she sneaked out overnight and hopped a bus. Lily asks why she left and Emma explains that this little girl from her home, Cecelia, got adopted; she watched her get in the station-wagon with this perfect-looking couple (see "Snow Drifts") and realized that no one was going to look at her the way those parents looked at Cecelia... Emma's too old, and has missed her chance, and there was no point of her staying another day if she was just going to keep feeling... "Invisible," Lily finishes for her, claiming to know what it's like to live someplace where it feels like no one cares about you, let alone understands you. Emma asks her new friend if she was in a home too, and Lily pauses, before being asked by the blonde if that guy chasing her was from social services and trying to take her back. After hesitating, Lily answers positively, and Emma wonders what it is she's going to do. Lily then smiles and points to the two luxuriant mansions across the lake, explaining that people use them in the summer, but now that it's fall, they'll be empty; she figured she'd pick the nicest one and then crash there for a while. Emma likes the idea, and so Lily proposes another one: that Emma come with her. Emma smiles, surprised, and Lily points out that they'd be better off if they stuck together. They smile at one another before their attention is turned back to the mansions close by.

Elsa runs through the woods of Storybrooke towards Anna, hoping to catch up with her, but she eventually comes to the edge of a cliff, below which is a bunch of sharp rocks and a river. "Elsa!" Anna is heard calling, and the Ice Queen spots her sister standing atop an even higher cliff across the river. Elsa tells her not to move, assuring Anna that she'll be right there, and she proceeds to shoot powerful ice magic from her hands, creating a lavish, snow-covered staircase from her cliff to Anna's. It becomes more crystalline as she steps on it and continues running, and her sister continues begging for help. When Elsa finally makes it to the upper cliff, Anna suddenly falls backwards out of sight. The Ice Queen is unsure of what to do.

Act III
David and Mary Margaret are holding hands as they continue their nighttime hunt for Will Scarlet; he looks excited whereas she looks annoyed, going on to exclaim that she should be home with Neal, not chasing after some thief. David tells her to just give it a little longer, but Mary Margaret points out that they've been out for over an hour, which is the longest she's been away from the baby since he was born, and she thinks that's a pretty good start. He concedes, telling his wife that she's right, and suggests that she head home (he kisses her) whilst he deals with the Will situation. Mary Margaret is happy with this arrangement and stays where she is while her husband walks away; she then turns around and begins to head home, but stops when she hears the sound of frantic digging from close by. She turns her head and sees Will Scarlet attacking the earth with a small spade in the near distance, but tries to tell herself that it probably isn't him so that she can go home in good conscience... but she can't; with another glance, she realizes it definitely is him and begins approaching.

Out in Storybrooke's woods, Emma and Regina are walking and the former is asking the latter which way she should turn as she follows her to the Snow Queen's lair, and Regina sternly tells her to go right. The blonde then asks if they're using a locator spell, wondering if they should be following some sort of floating object or not, and Regina sarcastically writes her off as having become a "magic expert". Emma simply points out that that's what's been done in the past, but the former Queen and Mayor assures her that there are many enchantments that she has yet to be exposed to, going on to say that she would know that had she bothered to study the craft. Emma argues that she's learning as she goes, saying that there aren't exactly a lot of online classes in this sort of thing, and adds that, when Regina helps her, she seems to learn pretty fast. Regina then says she doesn't have time for lessons, and Emma says she knows, chalking it up to Regina being busy; she then tells her that she thinks it's admirable to be helping the wife of the man she loves.

Regina freezes, and turns to look at Emma for the very first time during this conversation. "So I've impressed you?" she asks with faked enthusiasm, "Well that makes it all worthwhile then, doesn't it?" Emma asks her why she's doing that, pointing out that she's just trying to give her credit and be nice, but Regina wonders what comes next, asking (again, sarcastically) if Emma's going to start complimenting her outfits or giving her makeovers or braiding her hair or calling Robin Hood and then hanging up; "You're trying to win me over so that I can assuage your guilt for what you've done, but I won't! Intentionally or not, Miss Swan, you brought Marian back! You ruined my life, and there is no coming back from that! Because I know you think you didn't mean to, but you hurt someone. So do as I do... learn to live with it." Regina turns around after her little sermon and finishes it up by saying, "Welcome to my world," before continuing her trek. From behind her, Emma, who's stood still in a stunned silence, looks rather hurt.

Lily's fist is seen being slung through the window of a door before she reaches through and unlocks it, granting access for she and a young Emma. The two girls enter one of the luxuriant mansions from earlier, stunned by just how luxuriant it truly is, and Lily turns to Emma and says, "Not too shabby, huh?" The blonde nods. The two young ladies are next seen standing in front of the couch, surrounded by junk food, some of which has been eaten, some of which hasn't, as they play a racing game on the PlayStation, laughing as they do so. It appears that Lily wins and she begins cheering to herself as Emma laughs and falls back down on the couch, defeated but not caring. Lily sits down beside her and Emma exclaims that she sucks at this, leading Lily to ask if she's ever played before. Emma explains that she's never lived in a place that could afford any sort of games console, but Lily assures her that she'll get the hang of it. She asks if she's hungry, going to grab some of the various junk foods from the coffee table, but Emma suddenly notices something on her partner in crime's forearm and wonders what happened - it's a mark on her wrist, in the shape of a star.

Lily says that she's had it for as long as she can remember, adding that she likes to pretend it's some kind of symbol, like Harry Potter or something. "Like you're one of a kind... like you're special," Emma realizes, and Lily says she knows it's stupid, but Emma assures her otherwise and her new best friend smiles before grabbing a marker pen from amidst the junk food. With it, she draws a similar star shape on Emma's wrist and tells her that she's special too. The blonde thanks her, touched, and goes on to spot a video camera nearby, rising from the couch to go pick it up. She brings it back and starts recording, allowing Lily to wave at the camera, and the two girls film themselves smiling and making funny faces. When it's turned off, Lily makes Emma promise to stay friends, and there won't be anything they can't come back from no matter what; Emma likes the idea, and so she promises. "For real?" Lily asks. "For real," Emma reassures her.

Back in the present, Elsa continues wandering through the woods in search of her endangered sister, calling out for Anna in hopes of a reply. She soon gets one, and Anna's figure is seen rushing past the screen. Elsa tries following it and comes to a large patch of snow in the middle of a clearing, at the center of which her still and emotionless sister is standing, not saying a word and purveying nothing on her face but a mere blank expression. Elsa immediately runs to hug her tightly, telling her that she was so worried she'd never find her, which is when the Snow Queen approaches and says, "But I'm so glad you did." Elsa commands the Queen to stay away from the two of them, assuring Anna that it's okay and she won't let her hurt her, but the Snow Queen simply waves her hand and Anna turns entirely to ice, before drifting away in the breeze in the form of snowflakes. The whole thing was an illusion; the pretend Anna was in fact the person the Snow Queen was earlier seen carving out of ice back in her lair.

Elsa is both shocked and devastated, and the Snow Queen suddenly creates a pair of shackles out of ice, grasping Elsa by the wrist and keeping her bound the ground. She demands to know where Anna is and what the Snow Queen did, but the latter explains as she approaches that Anna was never really there, apologizing for all the theatrics; "An icy illusion because... I needed you." Elsa wonders what for, and the Snow Queen nods, thus using her magic to make Elsa kneel. "Look at yourself... so much fear... imagine what you could do if you only learned to control it. You had a chance to do so once, but... you squandered it. Fortunately, for me, the more frightened you are, the stronger those chains will hold... and that's all I need. For now. You... out of my way." The Snow Queen then kneels down in front of her supposed niece, adding, "I would tell you that everything's going to be fine, that I won't hurt you... but your worry, your fear... are exactly what's needed right now." She then smiles, stands up and walks away, leaving a tearful and terrified Elsa to ask, "What are you gonna do?" The Snow Queen turns to her, smiles, and says, "I'm going to build a snowman."

Act IV
Multiple holes have been dug in the earth by Will Scarlet, and still he continues to dig strenuously, eventually retiring the activity with a simple, "Bollocks." He wonders "where the bloody hell" the something is, and as Mary Margaret approaches, she asks what it is he's looking for. He tells her that it's not really her concern, and she suggests that maybe he should have made a map for whatever it is he's looking for. Will explains that he did make a map, "thank you very much", and Mary Margaret asks if he lost it. He says that he didn't, telling her that it's safe and sound in his travelling sack, but she realizes that the reason he's not travelling is because he buried the sack... and the map, which he confirms, reiterating that he buried the map to find the sack and the sack he's trying to find; he screwed up, and it happens to "the best of us". Mary Margaret doesn't think so, and so Will amends himself to say that it happens to "the best of us when... we've had a touch too much to drink". That she buys, and he wonders what it is to her anyway, since it's not as though she's the sheriff. Mary Margaret then informs him that she's the sheriff's wife, and he asks if she's married to the blonde, who she says is her daughter; she's married to the other sheriff.

"What now?" he asks, confused, and she points out that he really should be taller and smarter, at which he asks - as he stands up - if the sheriff's wife just called him short and dumb. She points out further that he's not even going to try and run, and he assures her that he isn't, throwing his spade on the ground and explaining that he's too knackered. Mary Margaret then thinks to herself and realizes that he didn't really break out of jail - which confuses him - and comes to the conclusion that her husband let him go so that she'd have a little victory; do a little tracking, put a criminal back behind bars and feel good about herself; she bets that Will didn't even do anything very serious. He confers that he got drunk and broke into a library, and she laughs at the prospect of a "boozey bookworm", adding that, "This is David. This is so David." She tells the thief that he's allowed to admit the whole thing is an elaborate hoax, and he wonders what would happen if he did admit it. She offers to pardon him, but he doesn't believe that the sheriff's wife has that kind of power, at which she says that she's also the Mayor. Immediately, Will admits, "He did it," and Mary Margaret exclaims that she knew it, happy with herself. Emma and Regina come across Elsa's icy staircase in the woods and the former comes to the conclusion that the Ice Queen was there, at which Regina sarcastically tells her to please continue pointing out the obvious. Emma then says that "obviously" they're not going to step on it until they know that it's safe, but Regina says that of course it is, stepping on it anyway. "Hey!" Emma exclaims, and a perfectly stable Regina retorts, "You were saying?" The blonde says she doesn't know why she even bothers and, as she ascends the stairs, Regina says that that makes "two of us", ordering her to hurry up because she'd like to get to that Snow Queen before it's actually winter. Emma begins following her up the stairs, but as a cold breeze blows over them, the savior hypothesizes that something isn't right. Regina suggests that her "sparkly-blue-dressed friend" is closer than they think, but Emma denies it, saying for sure that this is not Elsa. Suddenly, the wind grows intensely strong and the two women find themselves compelled to fall on their knees; Emma exclaims through the overtly harsh weather that it's the Snow Queen and that she must have found them, and Regina utters to herself, "Sidney..." Confused, Emma asks what Sidney has to do with any of this, but Regina says nothing. The blonde then grabs her arm and begs for her to talk, wanting to know what it is she's not telling her. A young Emma is seen sleeping on the couch with Lily in flashback, covered by a blanket. The only noise being made is the fuzz of the television, but suddenly the sound of the door is heard. Emma wakes up immediately and sees a flashlight turn on down the hallway, quickly waking Lily and warning her that there's someone in the house, so they need to go. A disoriented Lily looks unsure of what's going on, before having the flashlight shone directly in her face. "Lilith?" a man's voice is heard calling out - the same man who chased them in the car - and Emma quickly grabs a large candlestick from the mantle, telling Lily to run while she takes care of this. Lily stands behind the defensive blonde, who tells the man that he's not taking them anywhere, refusing to go back into the system. The man addresses Lily as "sweetheart" and asks her what kind of nonsense she's been telling Emma, who turns to her tearful best friend, confused. She asks her what's going on, wanting to know who the man really is, but Lily remains silent. The man urges her to tell the truth, adding, "I'm your father. And you're coming home with me, you're mother's worried sick." A stunned Emma turns to Lily, and now both of them are tearful. "Your father...?" Emma utters, "You have a family?!" Lily doesn't know what to tell her, and Emma continues in saying, "I thought you were like me..." The blonde is utterly disgusted. "You lied to me!" Emma exclaims, back on the bridge with Regina, "You said you didn't have a clue where Sidney was! He was in your mirror the whole time?!" "Maybe I did, so what?! I don't have to tell you everything I'm doing!" Regina bites back, retrieving her compact and opening it up to reveal the face of Sidney, who says that he doesn't either. She realizes that he led them there and is working for the Snow Queen, calling him a traitor, but he points out who's talking, suggesting that maybe "your majesty" take a look in the mirror. He adds that, as Regina contemplates what she's done, she should know that the Snow Queen has a present for her that he says is well-deserved. He disappears from the compact, leaving Regina with nothing but her own reflection, and she calls out for Sidney, completely enraged. Emma then calls Regina's name, but the former Mayor tells her to save her moral judgment. Emma then tells her to look, and it becomes apparent to both of them that the staircase is being destroyed from the bottom up. They quickly get to their feet and begin running to the top, only just managing to make it by both leaping onto the land. Back over in the snowy woodland clearing from earlier, Elsa remains on her knees and shackled to the ground via the chains of ice attached to her wrists. She struggles for freedom, scared of what's to come, but - as the Snow Queen explained - her fear only makes the chains grow stronger. Knowing this, Elsa closes her eyes and tries to steady her deep breathing, uttering to herself, "I'm not afraid... I'm not afraid..." With one last heavy breath, the Ice Queen pulls hard on the chains and they disappear, creating a blue flash, accompanied by the sound of smashing, that briefly emanates upward. Elsa looks at her wrists, free, and begins smiling. She then puts her hands by her sides, determined. At the cliff edge, Emma and Regina are seen getting to their feet and dusting themselves off with the former asking the latter if she's okay. Regina doesn't respond, having seen something ahead, and Emma again says her name, wondering what it is that's the matter. Regina points out that they have a bigger problem than what they've just been through, and Emma turns to see the giant Ice Warrior (the "snowman" earlier referred to by the Snow Queen) just up ahead, blocking their path. He turns to them, his eyes glowing blue, and stomps his enormous foot. He then bangs his axe hard against his shield, ready for a fight.

Trivia

 * The title card of this episode features the ice staircase that Elsa creates, amidst a snowstorm.
 * Although credited, Jared S. Gilmore (Henry Mills) and Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold/Rumplestiltskin) are absent from this episode.
 * In this episode, David makes reference to Asgard, the home planet of Marvel superhero Thor; furthermore, Josh Dallas appeared in the 2011 Thor film as Fendral, an Asgard native.
 * Also, Lily makes reference to Harry Potter; since this episode's flashbacks are set in 1998, and the first book only came out in 1997, and the second in 1998 as well, this reference is based solely on them.

Production

 * The title of this episode was revealed by executive producer/co-creator Adam Horowitz, via his Twitter account, on August 23, 2014.

Gallery
Gallery of photographic stills used to promote the episode.