The only thing magic about this pipe is that only certain boys can hear it; boys who feel unloved; boys who feel lost.
Way, way back once upon a time Rumplestiltskin was a young boy, abandoned by his father, whom he loved. And that boy grew up to repeat the cycle of abandonment with his own son, Baelife, who in turn, abandoned his own son, Henry--but not for long. However that is not this story…yet.
You see, when Baelfire was a boy and Rumplestiltskin became the Dark One, life was tough for Bae. He had no friends because they were scared to be near him because of his father, no freedom because his father wanted to be protective. Basically, he was trapped and Rumplestiltskin
wouldn’t listen to reason.
But Bae is now listening to a different tune—that of the Pied Piper. Lured into the woods, boys are being kidnapped by the one with the mythical music. He has a face no one has seen. Only his patchwork cloak sets him apart. In the night he plays his music, luring young boys away from their homes and Bae has caught the bug.
Alarmed, Rumplestiltskin follows the music, for he too can hear it. In the woods, masked boys dance with ecstasy while the Pied Piper plays. Unveiling the masked musician, Rumplestiltskin discovers a long-forgotten foe:
Peter Pan.
You see, the music can only be heard by those who desire family, love, something they do not have from their family—especially their fathers. That may be why Rumplestiltskin can hear the music.
Anyway, all Rumplestiltskin has to do is ask Baelfire if he wishes to return with him or go with Peter Pan and live amongst his, shall we say, lost boys. But Rumplestiltskin is a coward and forces Bae home. While Bae may have chosen to be with his father, he is hurt even still that his father didn’t trust him with such a question of choice.
Again, the cycle of disappointment and hurt continues.
In Neverland, Emma still searches for her son, with the help of Tinker Bell, Regina, Hook and her parents, Mary Margaret and David. But without an escape plan from the island, Tinker Bell has backed out. She doesn’t want to be caught in Pan’s grasp. The group agrees with her—an escape plan is vital—but the only person who has ever escaped the island (Neal) is dead….or so they think.
However, Neal is very much alive and well and he has just run into his father. Rumplestiltskin, having just extinguished the vision of Belle (who insists on him doing the right thing), believes Neal is another hallucination. But Neal convinces him of his reality.
The reunion is short-lived. Neal has a plan on how to rescue Henry. At the edge of the sea, he calls out a squid. He hopes to extract its ink which will stun magical beings into a frozen position with just enough time to escape.
However, Neal is very much alive and well and he has just run into his father. Rumplestiltskin, having just extinguished the vision of Belle (who insists on him doing the right thing), believes Neal is another hallucination. But Neal convinces him of his reality.
The reunion is short-lived. Neal has a plan on how to rescue Henry. At the edge of the sea, he calls out a squid. He hopes to extract its ink which will stun magical beings into a frozen position with just enough time to escape.
In Peter Pan’s camp, Peter Pan tries desperately to convince Henry to stay with him, to get him to turn his back on his family. But what is Pan’s motive? Undo the Dark One’s magic? Hurt Snow White and Prince Charming? Just for the sake of a game?
Whatever the reason may be, Peter Pan knows that playing his pied pipe will reveal Henry’s heart: does he desire to abandon his family for a life of fun and games? But when Peter plays his pipe, Henry cannot hear the music.
This frustrates Pan. He must think of a new tactic.
Ink in hand, Neal and Rumplestiltskin ambush Peter Pan. Neal, having learned from the best, having once been a Lost Boy himself, knows Peter Pan’s capabilities and compensates for it, tricking Peter Pan into grabbing a
shot arrows shaft rather than its tip. Peter Pan is frozen and Neal easily carts off his son, who has been knocked unconscious.
Yet, before they can escape, Peter Pan reveals Rumplestiltskin’s undoing prophecy. Neal brushes it off for now, but eventually, he can’t trust his father to make the right decision when it comes to Henry, so he tricks his
father into touching the squid ink and son and grandson disappear into the Neverland jungle.
Whatever the reason may be, Peter Pan knows that playing his pied pipe will reveal Henry’s heart: does he desire to abandon his family for a life of fun and games? But when Peter plays his pipe, Henry cannot hear the music.
This frustrates Pan. He must think of a new tactic.
Ink in hand, Neal and Rumplestiltskin ambush Peter Pan. Neal, having learned from the best, having once been a Lost Boy himself, knows Peter Pan’s capabilities and compensates for it, tricking Peter Pan into grabbing a
shot arrows shaft rather than its tip. Peter Pan is frozen and Neal easily carts off his son, who has been knocked unconscious.
Yet, before they can escape, Peter Pan reveals Rumplestiltskin’s undoing prophecy. Neal brushes it off for now, but eventually, he can’t trust his father to make the right decision when it comes to Henry, so he tricks his
father into touching the squid ink and son and grandson disappear into the Neverland jungle.
Back with Emma and family, Hook reveals a cave where Neal lived as a young boy. In the cave, Neal may have left a clue as to how he escaped. What they find is a coconut nightlight that reveals a star pattern they may only be able to be decoded by Neal himself. Thinking Neal is dead, the escape plan seems hopeless.
Neal, who is carrying Henry to a safe place, is ambushed by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. They tie Neal up and take Henry back to camp. It’s there
that Henry wakes up, unaware of what has transpired. What he does remember is vague--something about his father trying to rescue him. But that’s impossible. His father his dead; his father abandoned him, just like his family. Right?
An evil grin crosses Peter Pan’s face. That’s right, Henry.
They’ve abandoned you. How about a little music to cheer you up?
It’s then that Henry can hear the music, joining in the raucous dancing of the Lost Boys.
that Henry wakes up, unaware of what has transpired. What he does remember is vague--something about his father trying to rescue him. But that’s impossible. His father his dead; his father abandoned him, just like his family. Right?
An evil grin crosses Peter Pan’s face. That’s right, Henry.
They’ve abandoned you. How about a little music to cheer you up?
It’s then that Henry can hear the music, joining in the raucous dancing of the Lost Boys.
Burning Questions:
1) What is Peter Pan’s motive in keeping Henry?
2) Where is Neal being held?
3) When will Emma and Neal meet up again?
4) When will Henry be reunited with his family for good?
5) Can Rumplestiltskin make the right decision and live? What is his undoing?
6) Is Henry “lost” for good?
7) When/how will David be cured?
~ Taryn
1) What is Peter Pan’s motive in keeping Henry?
2) Where is Neal being held?
3) When will Emma and Neal meet up again?
4) When will Henry be reunited with his family for good?
5) Can Rumplestiltskin make the right decision and live? What is his undoing?
6) Is Henry “lost” for good?
7) When/how will David be cured?
~ Taryn