Its waters are said to have magical properties that can return to you something that was once lost.
Two days have passed since Snow White ended all memories of her knight in shining armor, the one and only Prince Charming. The royal wedding is hours away; the gown's been made, the cake's been decorated, guests have arrived, and all is accounted for except the main attraction: Prince Charming himself.
Ever since Snow White left him high and dry, Prince Charming has been searching for an explanation and a way out. He doesn't want to marry the beautiful Princess Abigail. She's a nice lady, but she's no Snow White. And he also doesn't want to see his beloved farm destroyed or his mother hurt. He wants Snow White, and as he's said all along, he'll do anything to find her. Even if she truly doesn't want him.
So when she left him to dry his own tears, Prince Charming devised a plan, albeit a trite one: run away. King George won't find him, therefore, he can't make him marry King Midas' daughter. He'll find Snow White and they can run off into the Enchanted Forest and live happily ever after.
Great plan, but slightly predictable. And who knew that Princess Abigail felt the same? Whoever thought to ask her? Maybe she wanted her own Prince Charming. Say, a guy named Frederick?
And who better to help her get him than the bravest guy around. If Prince Charming can help her get Frederick back, the wedding's off. Who cares about King George and his less-than-empty threats of death and destruction? That's a problem for a different day. True love is on the line.
Two days have passed since Snow White ended all memories of her knight in shining armor, the one and only Prince Charming. The royal wedding is hours away; the gown's been made, the cake's been decorated, guests have arrived, and all is accounted for except the main attraction: Prince Charming himself.
Ever since Snow White left him high and dry, Prince Charming has been searching for an explanation and a way out. He doesn't want to marry the beautiful Princess Abigail. She's a nice lady, but she's no Snow White. And he also doesn't want to see his beloved farm destroyed or his mother hurt. He wants Snow White, and as he's said all along, he'll do anything to find her. Even if she truly doesn't want him.
So when she left him to dry his own tears, Prince Charming devised a plan, albeit a trite one: run away. King George won't find him, therefore, he can't make him marry King Midas' daughter. He'll find Snow White and they can run off into the Enchanted Forest and live happily ever after.
Great plan, but slightly predictable. And who knew that Princess Abigail felt the same? Whoever thought to ask her? Maybe she wanted her own Prince Charming. Say, a guy named Frederick?
And who better to help her get him than the bravest guy around. If Prince Charming can help her get Frederick back, the wedding's off. Who cares about King George and his less-than-empty threats of death and destruction? That's a problem for a different day. True love is on the line.
So Prince Charming agrees. It's a win-win for him. And for the lovely Abigail.
Only there's a catch. Frederick is not lost. He does not need to be found. And he's not dead. Technically. Turned into gold, yes. But not dead. And the cure? Magical water from Lake Nostos.
Another catch. The lake is guarded by a deadly monster. No one knows what the monster looks like because no man has ever returned.
Ah, but this monster has not fought against the noble and brave Prince Charming. (Who, by the way, had been a simple shepherd just a month before. But that was before). Prince Charming is sure he can win, hands down. He'll get that water and return in a jiffy to bring good ol' Frederick back to humanity.
Princess Abigail is overjoyed, and only slightly concerned for his safety. She hands him a leather canteen, points him in the general direction of the lake, and wishes him good luck.
Now, if I knew that I was about to face a monster that has killed every man before me, my plan would be to get in and get out. No surveying the landscape or peering into the surprisingly clear lake water to see my reflection. No, I would fill that canteen up and high-tail it out of there.
Prince Charming, however, must have felt it was his obligation to go above and beyond his duty. Sure he'd get the water, but he'd also kill the monster. So, ever so slowly, he fills his canteen, waiting for the dreaded beast to appear.
But like all great plans, it's thwarted when the monster turns out to be none other than a beautiful, did I say beautiful?, young maiden. She's dressed in the finest white silk dress and sashaying her hips at Prince Charming. Seconds pass before he calls her out on her devious plan. She's nothing more than a siren. He can resist her. It's Snow White he loves.
Only there's a catch. Frederick is not lost. He does not need to be found. And he's not dead. Technically. Turned into gold, yes. But not dead. And the cure? Magical water from Lake Nostos.
Another catch. The lake is guarded by a deadly monster. No one knows what the monster looks like because no man has ever returned.
Ah, but this monster has not fought against the noble and brave Prince Charming. (Who, by the way, had been a simple shepherd just a month before. But that was before). Prince Charming is sure he can win, hands down. He'll get that water and return in a jiffy to bring good ol' Frederick back to humanity.
Princess Abigail is overjoyed, and only slightly concerned for his safety. She hands him a leather canteen, points him in the general direction of the lake, and wishes him good luck.
Now, if I knew that I was about to face a monster that has killed every man before me, my plan would be to get in and get out. No surveying the landscape or peering into the surprisingly clear lake water to see my reflection. No, I would fill that canteen up and high-tail it out of there.
Prince Charming, however, must have felt it was his obligation to go above and beyond his duty. Sure he'd get the water, but he'd also kill the monster. So, ever so slowly, he fills his canteen, waiting for the dreaded beast to appear.
But like all great plans, it's thwarted when the monster turns out to be none other than a beautiful, did I say beautiful?, young maiden. She's dressed in the finest white silk dress and sashaying her hips at Prince Charming. Seconds pass before he calls her out on her devious plan. She's nothing more than a siren. He can resist her. It's Snow White he loves.
Then the siren calls his bluff. He can resist her now, but what if she were Snow White? Immediately the siren morphs into Snow White before his eyes.
He knows it's still the siren and Snow White isn't really there, but...oh how she feels like Snow White and kisses like Snow White.
He must remain strong. She's not real.
But, oh how she kisses like Snow White...
And just like that, the siren body slams Prince Charming, who lost his sword during one of the kisses, and pulls him deep under the semi-murky water.
This is how they all died. Allured by their deepest desires. But Prince Charming has to keep his head. And when he spots a rusty knife, he snatches it up and waits for the siren to come to him. Then, during a deceptive underwater kiss, Prince Charming plunges the knife into the Snow White siren's chest. The siren turns back into the blond beauty and Prince Charming swims to safety.
Princess Abigail is happy to see him return and in a timely fashion. The water is poured over dear Frederick and voila!, he's back!
The two kiss then thank Prince Charming for his bravery. Prince Charming asks to borrow a few horses and supplies. He needs to find Snow White before it's too late. Perhaps he can change her mind that maybe, just maybe, she might really want him after all.
He knows it's still the siren and Snow White isn't really there, but...oh how she feels like Snow White and kisses like Snow White.
He must remain strong. She's not real.
But, oh how she kisses like Snow White...
And just like that, the siren body slams Prince Charming, who lost his sword during one of the kisses, and pulls him deep under the semi-murky water.
This is how they all died. Allured by their deepest desires. But Prince Charming has to keep his head. And when he spots a rusty knife, he snatches it up and waits for the siren to come to him. Then, during a deceptive underwater kiss, Prince Charming plunges the knife into the Snow White siren's chest. The siren turns back into the blond beauty and Prince Charming swims to safety.
Princess Abigail is happy to see him return and in a timely fashion. The water is poured over dear Frederick and voila!, he's back!
The two kiss then thank Prince Charming for his bravery. Prince Charming asks to borrow a few horses and supplies. He needs to find Snow White before it's too late. Perhaps he can change her mind that maybe, just maybe, she might really want him after all.
While bravery and nobility are great themes in the fairy tale world, Storybrooke is lacking such traits in men. There, men are cowards, cheats, and liars. They still want true love. They can still feel the pull of such love deep down inside where, perhaps, their true selves reside. For now, though, such authenticity is severely hidden beneath weak character.
And the bravest and most noble man in all of Fairy Tale Land has fallen the farthest. He is not one but all of those negative characteristics listed above.
Married to Kathryn, David Nolan feels no connection with her. Mary Margaret is his true love, but he chooses to hide his feelings towards her from Kathryn. For good reason because cheating is wrong and he knows it. Even if he doesn't really love Kathryn or want to be married to her. No matter that he feels trapped in a land that feels so wrong altogether.
Mary Margaret is fed up with his two-faced regime. He says he wants to be with her but stays with Kathryn. Not to mention that everything they do is in secret. If he really wants to be with her, it's time to tell Kathryn what's up and leave her.
David agrees. He'll tell Kathryn and leave.
But he can't do it. He doesn't want to hurt her. Especially now when her future is bright. (She just got accepted to law school). So he fumbles his way through what would have been an even harder conversation and denies that anything is happening. Things are just off right now. And maybe it's best if he leaves.
Kathryn wants to believe him, and so she does. Saddened, she lets him go and runs off to seek comfort from a good friend.
And the bravest and most noble man in all of Fairy Tale Land has fallen the farthest. He is not one but all of those negative characteristics listed above.
Married to Kathryn, David Nolan feels no connection with her. Mary Margaret is his true love, but he chooses to hide his feelings towards her from Kathryn. For good reason because cheating is wrong and he knows it. Even if he doesn't really love Kathryn or want to be married to her. No matter that he feels trapped in a land that feels so wrong altogether.
Mary Margaret is fed up with his two-faced regime. He says he wants to be with her but stays with Kathryn. Not to mention that everything they do is in secret. If he really wants to be with her, it's time to tell Kathryn what's up and leave her.
David agrees. He'll tell Kathryn and leave.
But he can't do it. He doesn't want to hurt her. Especially now when her future is bright. (She just got accepted to law school). So he fumbles his way through what would have been an even harder conversation and denies that anything is happening. Things are just off right now. And maybe it's best if he leaves.
Kathryn wants to believe him, and so she does. Saddened, she lets him go and runs off to seek comfort from a good friend.
But when best-friend Regina digs into her file and pulls out a pic of David and Mary Margaret kissing, Kathryn feels betrayed. And rightly so, given the recent conversation with her husband about such a topic. Not only that, but now her best friend has kept this affair from her. She's the last to know about the biggest nightmare in her life.
Mad and hurt, Kathryn rushes to the school to confront Mary Margaret.
Down the school steps, Mary Margaret is ending a call from David, who just reported that he told Kathryn everything. Mary Margaret is happy to be done with this part in their relationship and is ready to move on. So when she sees Kathryn, she's ready to face it like a woman.
One problem, David lied. A lot. When Kathryn slaps Mary Margaret, she's stunned.
David lied?
Yeah, well, he's lied to everyone. Kathryn wishes Mary Margaret well with the louse and marches out. She's going to law school in Boston. And since there's nothing she cares about left in Storybrooke, what better time to leave than right now!
On the flipside, Mary Margaret is angry at David. The whole town is calling her a tramp, even tagging her car with the filthy word. And she can't keep going on like this. He didn't want anyone to get hurt but now everyone is hurt. And if it's going to be like this, Mary Margaret and David shouldn't be together. So Mary Margaret calls it quits.
Mad and hurt, Kathryn rushes to the school to confront Mary Margaret.
Down the school steps, Mary Margaret is ending a call from David, who just reported that he told Kathryn everything. Mary Margaret is happy to be done with this part in their relationship and is ready to move on. So when she sees Kathryn, she's ready to face it like a woman.
One problem, David lied. A lot. When Kathryn slaps Mary Margaret, she's stunned.
David lied?
Yeah, well, he's lied to everyone. Kathryn wishes Mary Margaret well with the louse and marches out. She's going to law school in Boston. And since there's nothing she cares about left in Storybrooke, what better time to leave than right now!
On the flipside, Mary Margaret is angry at David. The whole town is calling her a tramp, even tagging her car with the filthy word. And she can't keep going on like this. He didn't want anyone to get hurt but now everyone is hurt. And if it's going to be like this, Mary Margaret and David shouldn't be together. So Mary Margaret calls it quits.
After a few hours to cool off, Kathryn decides there is one person she must see before she leaves. Regina Mills. Her only friend. Kathryn tells Regina her plans to leave and that she's given David and Mary Margaret her permission to be together. She can see they really love each other. Their love is real. For her, she needs to move on. So she thanks Regina for her kindness and leaves.
Regina just smiles...wickedly. Not happy that Kathryn gave the very people she despises permission to be together, Regina is set on ruining their happiness....again. And what better way to do that than for Kathryn to suddenly go missing.
Near the Storybrooke city limits, where fairy tale characters are not supposed to go, a single pair of headlights light up a broken down car. A man, who looks a lot like Frederick from Fairy Tale Land, steps out to survey the damage. The car is rocking in the ditch with the airbag deflating, but no driver....
Then we see Regina's evil smirk as she pulls out a lighter from the drawer right next to a can of red spray paint. Flicking the flame, Regina burns that letter from Kathryn. What did Regina do to Kathryn?
Regina just smiles...wickedly. Not happy that Kathryn gave the very people she despises permission to be together, Regina is set on ruining their happiness....again. And what better way to do that than for Kathryn to suddenly go missing.
Near the Storybrooke city limits, where fairy tale characters are not supposed to go, a single pair of headlights light up a broken down car. A man, who looks a lot like Frederick from Fairy Tale Land, steps out to survey the damage. The car is rocking in the ditch with the airbag deflating, but no driver....
Then we see Regina's evil smirk as she pulls out a lighter from the drawer right next to a can of red spray paint. Flicking the flame, Regina burns that letter from Kathryn. What did Regina do to Kathryn?
Okay, on a side note, the stranger, now known as August Wayne Booth, took Emma out for that drink. Like really out, as in outside, by a tree, at a well. The water's safe to drink, though. So fine in fact that some say that the water has magical properties and anyone who drinks it will receive something lost to them. Emma, the skeptic, just smiles and sips.
But later, when Henry's book, which had gone missing from the demolition of his castle fort, shows up in the gutter by Emma's car, she thinks twice about that magical water. However, hidden from view, August watches on. For it is he who has returned it, albeit altered slightly by adding some pages to the fantastical text. What was he up to?
Burning Questions:
1) What happened to Kathryn?
2) Is Fairy Tale Land actually beneath Storybrooke?
3) What did August do to the book?
4) Can David ever be Prince Charming again?
5) Do all Storybrooke citizens have some instinctual knowledge about the danger of leaving or that they are someone else than who Regina says they are?
~ Taryn
But later, when Henry's book, which had gone missing from the demolition of his castle fort, shows up in the gutter by Emma's car, she thinks twice about that magical water. However, hidden from view, August watches on. For it is he who has returned it, albeit altered slightly by adding some pages to the fantastical text. What was he up to?
Burning Questions:
1) What happened to Kathryn?
2) Is Fairy Tale Land actually beneath Storybrooke?
3) What did August do to the book?
4) Can David ever be Prince Charming again?
5) Do all Storybrooke citizens have some instinctual knowledge about the danger of leaving or that they are someone else than who Regina says they are?
~ Taryn