BWW Recap: A Hero is Lost on ABC's ONCE UPON A TIME

As the episode begins, we find our heroes gathered at Granny's diner discussing Rumpelstiltskin's return. They are all not sure how Rumpel could still be alive after he died before their very eyes, and are unaware of as to why the Wicked Witch would want to keep him locked in her cellar. Hook believes Neil is the one who brought Rumpel back to life, for he expressed such a desire in the Enchanted Forest. Regina also decides that she must go investigate the Witch's home for potions or special ingredients that might have contributed to her Capture of Rumpelstiltskin.

We then spot the Wicked Witch in the forest of Storybrooke. She attempts to use Rumpel's dagger to summon him, but fails. The Witch believes she cannot control the Dark One because he has escaped her, and sends one of her flying monkeys to re-capture him.

In Rumpel's old shop, Emma tells Belle that the gang believes Rumpel is still alive. She asks Belle to search the shop to try and find some sort of clue as to how he could be resurrected. Hook agrees to stay with Belle and help her search the shop. As they begin to their task, Neil stumbles into the shop, clearly sick or hurt.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Belle and Neil begin to raid Belle's old library to find information on how to bring back the Dark One. They light a candelabra to brighten to room a bit- however, much to their surprise, the candelabra turns out to be Lumiere! Apparently, Lumiere could not hold up his end of a deal with Rumpelstiltskin as a human, so Rumpel reduced him to a candelabra as a punishment. When Belle inquires why she has never seen him before in the castle, Lumiere explains that he is only visible when his candles are lit. Belle asks if he knows of any books in the library that could possibly aid them in resurrecting Rumpelstiltskin, but Lumiere is hesitant to contribute to their cause due to his past with the Dark One. However, Belle promises that she will convince Rumpel to return him to human form if he will aid them in their quest. Lumiere agrees to this deal, and directs Belle to a book on the shelf that contains a key to the vault of the Dark One; in the vault, they will somehow be able to restore Rumpelstiltskin. Belle and Neil immediately leave to search for the vault. In a shocking plot twist, the Wicked Witch appears in the library after they have gone; it is revealed that Lumiere is working with the Wicked Witch.

Meanwhile, Henry is beginning to grow suspicious of why Emma has brought him to Storybrooke. When he questions is mother of her intentions, Emma refuses to give up any information. Henry wears her down, and Emma promises to tell him her secret eventually, but for now he needs to trust that their presence in Storybrooke is necessary.

Neil is taken to the hospital; he does not remember how he returned to Storybrooke or how he was hurt. He has a mysterious scar on his hand in shape of a triangle type symbol. Belle agrees to do research on the symbol to try to discover its origin. Emma also informs Neil that Henry has lost his memories, thus he does not remember Neil is his father.

In Storybrooke, the Wicked Witch visits a very pregnant Snow White in her apartment. Snow remains unaware of the Witch's identity, for she has been operating under the name Zelena. Zelena asks Snow if the troops have any leads in the search for the Wicked Witch (ironically!), and Snow admits that no one has any ideas as to her whereabouts. Zelena gives Snow some orange juice that she claims will help her baby, but the smirk on the Witch's face might suggest that the juice has been tainted with a poison of sorts.

While going to investigate the Witch's house, Regina runs into Robin Hood, who had been hiding in front of the Witch's house. The former thief was attempting to shoot the Witch with a bow and Arrow as she came home. Robin desires to help Regina search from some dirt on the Witch, and Regina reluctantly agrees to let him be her partner in crime.

Neil remains in the hospital. Hook goes to visit him, and the two end up making a truce on the whole Emma-Neil-Hook love triangle. Despite Emma's wishes, Hook lets Neil out of bed, and Neil goes off to find his father, whom he heard is roaming around the woods.

Charming and Emma are already at work searching for Rumpel in the woods. Emma admits to charming that she is considering moving back to New York after the current curse has been broken, for she wants to return Henry to a normal life. Suddenly, Charming and Emma spot Rumpel running through the woods. They catch up to him, and it is clear something is wrong with the former Dark One; he complains of hearing too many voices. However, he wearily tells Charming and Emma that he knows where the Witch is; unfortunately, he is then attacked by a flying monkey, and runs away from the father and daughter.

Meanwhile, Regina and Robin Hood are hard at work searching the Witch's house for potions or spells she could have been using to Capture Rumpel. In a charming scene, the pair begins to flirt with one another, and Robin even pours some whiskey for them. However, this flirtation does not last long; Regina notices the lion tattoo on Robin's arm, and recalls a conversation with Tinkerbell in which the fairy told her that a man with a lion tattoo would be the love of her life. Regina panics, and runs away from the Witch's house and her possible romantic fate with Robin.

In the woods of Storybrooke, Neil locates Emma and insists that he let her help find his father. Emma wearily agrees, because she knows she will not convince Neil to return to the hospital where he belongs. The two end up having a heartwarming conversation about their past relationship, and it becomes clear that some love is still roaming between them.

Back in the Enchanted Forest, Belle and Neil find the vault of the Dark One with Lumiere to guide them. As they fiddle with attempting to open the lock, Belle realizes that Lumiere has tricked them after he claims he has remained in the library for almost 200 years. Belle knows the Rumpel built the library for her, which was only a mere 30 years ago. Lumiere has no choice but to admit that he is working for the Witch, who desires for them to bring back the Dark One so she can control him with his dagger. The Witch was also the one who trapped him as a candelabra rather than Rumpelstiltskin. Despite this information, Neil is desperate to bring his father back to life; he uses the key to open the vault, burning his hand in the process. The Burn leaves a scar of the triangle symbol, the same symbol on the key to the vault. A figure then begins to arise from the vault, and it is none other than Rumpelstiltskin.

As the Dark One emerges, Neil collapses to the ground. The Wicked Witch appears, and reveals her Diabolical plan. By inadvertently coaxing Neil into opening the vault and recovering the Dark One, Neil has caused his own death, for the vault works as a trade off; whoever opens the vault must die so that the Dark One may live. The Witch gets ahold of Rumpel's dagger, and forces Neil's mind/soul in Rumpel's own mind. Rumpel shows signs of madness due to the overwhelming two minds inside his head. When the Witch instructs Rumpel to kill Belle, Lumiere holds her back so that Belle can escape safely.

In the woods of Storybrooke, Emma and Neil continue to look for any signs of Rumpelstiltskin. They receive a call from Belle, who has find some information on Neil's peculiar scar; she tells the pair of the curse surrounding the vault, and concludes that Neil must have in fact opened the vault in order to obtain the scar, but he does not remember doing so. Neil then collapses, and realizes that he is dying. He begs Emma to separate the two minds with her magic, but Emma is hesitant, for she knows doing so will kill Neil. However, they both know that if Neil is dead, Rumpelstiltskin will be fully restored without his madness, and he will be able to give them information about the Wicked Witch and her plan. Working for the greater good, Emma separates the two minds, and sure enough, Rumpel emerges from Neil's body. Emma immediately inquires about the identity of the Witch, and Rumpel verifies that Zelena is the Witch. Neil begins to die, and sadly Rumpel or Emma can do nothing to save him; heartbreakingly, they both say their respective goodbyes, and Neil slowly dies.

Charming and Emma rush to Snow White's apartment to locate the Witch, but she is nowhere to be found. Her husband and daughter inform Snow that Zelena is actually the Witch, and Snow is shocked at the news, considering they have been in close communication for a good amount of time. Charming and Emma also inform Snow that Neil has tragically died to save his father.

Meanwhile, the Wicked Witch speaks with Rumpelstiltskin in the woods. She reminds him that it does not matter that all of Storybrooke will soon know her identity, for she has the dagger that controls him. She orders him back to his cage in her cellar, and Rumpel has no choice but to comply.

To close the episode, Emma decides to shed a little light on her work in Storybrooke to Henry. She tells him that they came to the town because his father was in trouble, and unfortunately she could not save him, and he was killed. She assures Henry that his father was a true hero, and she is determined to hunt down his killer (the Witch) and seek revenge. Now that Emma is filled with thoughts of vengeance, it's not a far leap to assume she will focus all her effort on destroying the Wicked Witch.

Photos courtesy of ABC

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