'Once Upon A Time' episode recap - "Dark Hollow"

We open on a flashback to five days earlier in Storybrooke as Gold was telling Belle that she had to stay in Storybrooke. Belle watched Hook's ship disappear and then Archie, Mother Superior and the dwarves came rushing up. Belle told them that Henry was kidnapped, taken through a portal and that everyone went on Hook's ship to go save him. Grumpy asked Belle why she stayed behind. Belle replied that she had to, then took out the protection spell that Gold gave her. Mother Superior recognized the spell and asked Belle why. She replied because Gold told her that "others were coming."

A red car comes speeding toward Storybrooke with two young men in it.

In the mines, Grumpy asked Belle who Gold told her was coming, but she said he wasn't specific. Mother Superior told the dwarves they need to open a vein in the mine that would carry fairy dust all through Storybrooke so they start hacking away with their axes.

The men in the red car are speeding closer to Storybrooke.

Belle asked Mother Superior to cast the spell but she replied that Gold entrusted Belle to do it. Belle cast the spell and suddenly a bright white beam coursed through town from under the ground and into the sky above Storybrooke.

The beam chased the speeding red car and knocked off its bumper leaving only the bumper behind the town line and the men unable to enter Storybrooke.

Back to present day in Neverland. Regina and Gold show Ariel where Storybrooke is. She replies that she can get there if she crosses realms. Gold then tells her that Storybrooke is protected by a cloaking spell and how to get around it. Ariel assumes they want her to bring back something. Gold then asks her bring back an object that will help them defeat Pan. She needs them to more specific. Gold says he can't risk telling her the exact object needed for fear Pan will hear it. Gold then gives something to Ariel, tells her to find Belle once she's in Storybrooke and that Belle will.know what to do with it. Ariel then asks where she can find Eric is Storybrooke. Regina replies that she'll be told where he is nce she's completed her task. Regina also tells Ariel that she will only have legs for 24 hours. Ariel goes on her way.

Pan senses that someone's leaving Neverland. He tells Felix that they just need to contact their friends in Storybrooke and they can handle the situation. He also tells Felix they need to get Henry "ready." Pan then wants that he wants to "have a chat with our friend in the other cage."

Neal tells the gang that Pan's shadow is the only way off Neverland and they have to capture it, which Emma thinks is "insane." Hook then says that Pan's shadow is rarely with him. Neal says they can capture it without getting near Pan as long as they know where to look for it and he does. Emma wants "Shadow duty" as does Hook. David wants to find Tinkerbell and fill her in on the plan. Emma says that'll meet back at Tinkerbell's, get Henry and then get back to Storybrooke.

Back in Storybrooke, one of the dwarves says that he misses Snow and Charming but is enjoying the "no killing." Grumpy doesn't want to hear it and maintains that Snow and Charming will return. Grumpy then sees Ariel, who's fin becomes legs as she walks out of the water. Ariel asks Grumpy where she can find Belle.

The two men in the red car see Grumpy and Ariel talking through binoculars and one says, "The home office was right. She's here." The other man says they "follow our orders, find out why she came and make sure she never leaves this town again."

Belle is at Granny's Diner, but isn't hungry. Archie approaches and correctly assumes that Belle misses Gold. She tells him that Gold said he was going to his death and she feels useless. Archie reminds her that she protected Storybrooke with the cloaking spell and how important that is. She thinks the dwarves were the real heroes and she thinks Gold lied when he said people were coming to Storybrooke because he doesn't need her anymore. Suddenly, Grumpy appears with Ariel telling Belle that she's wrong. Ariel tells Belle that she came from Neverland and that Rumplestiltskin/Gold sent her. Belle is overjoyed that he's alive, then Ariel gives her a sanddollar that he asked her to give Belle. Belle doesn't know what to do with it. Belle and Ariel go to Gold's shop in search of the magical object. Suddenly, Belle uncovers something and a yellow glow appears. It's a message from Gold saying he hopes Belle raised the cloaking spell because dangerous people were headed to Storybrooke. Gold goes on to say he's found a way to defeat Pan and live but he needs a hidden object from his shop.

Back in Neverland, Emma asks Mary-Margaret how long she's going to not talk to David. Emma says she understands why David didn't tell them he was sick because he wanted them to keep the focus on rescuing Henry. Mary-Margaret warns Emma that both Neal and Hook have feeling for her, but Emma says all that matters is rescuing Henry.

In Pan's camp, Pan wants Henry to "take a stroll" with him. Henry replies that he doesn't want to go anywhere with Pan and that he knows his family is in Neverland to rescue him. Pan then asks Henry if his family is in Neverland, why haven't they saved him yet? Henry thinks Pan is keeping them from him, which Pan denies. Henry then mentions how Pan keeps disappearing into the forest so.He.knows he's keeping something from him and walks away from Pan. Felix approaches and tells Pan that "they're losing the boy." He then asks Pan if the cage should be brought. Pan says he has another idea.

Emma, Neal and Hook are forming a plan to capture Pan's shadow. Emma goes to fetch Neal's star map, which they hid. Once alone, Hook tells Neal that he "owes him thanks for being so understanding."

Neal doesn't understand. "About Emma and I," Hook replies. "Emma and you?" replies Neal. Hook then tells Neal about his kiss with Emma making like Emma told him then faking an apology. Neal replies that it must have slipped Emma's mind because she's so focused on rescuing Henry. Emma returns with the star map and senses an awkwardness but Neal says everything's fine and they don't need the star map to capture Pan's shadow. They just need a coconut. Neal then says they need to go to "Dark Hollow," which he explains is the darkest part of Neverland where the shadows mull about.

Back in Storybrooke, Belle and Ariel search Gold's shop for the hidden magical object. Ariel finds a button of Eric's in the shop and tells Belle about him. Belle remembers Gold saying she'd find the object "through the strength of our love." Belle then picks up their chipped tea cup. Belle then opens the cupboard where Rumplestiltskin/Gold would keep the tea cup and placed in its spot. A bright yellow beam appears, which makes a key appear on the floor. Belle lifts up the floorboard and discovers a box. Belle tells Ariel that it's Pandora's Box, which legend says "contains the greatest evil." Ariel gets worried but Belle assures her that they are fine as long as they don't open it. Then, the two men in the red car appear with guns and tell Ariel and Belle that they are who they were trying to keep out of Storybrooke. The two men tie up Ariel and Belle and take Pandora's Box. One of the men asks Ariel what Rumplestiltskin/Gold told her about the box.

Ariel replies that she isn't afraid of them or their guns. The other man demands to.know about the box, but then Belle says it's magical and they don't really know who they're working for. Then, the other man says, "Peter Pan." They tell Ariel and Belle that Greg and Tamara were just "patsies," and their real mission is to see Rumplestiltskin/Gold fail and that Pandora's Box never gets to Neverland.

Back in Neverland, Pan tells Felix to "ready the surprise" and to make sure Henry doesn't find out what he's up to. They then part ways, but Henry has been lurking and follows Felix.

David and Mary-Margaret are walking and he mentions how she hasn't spoken to him since he revealed that he has to remain in Neverland or die. Mary-Margaret ignores and continues toward Tinkerbell's.

Neal, Emma and Hook are heading toward "Dark Hollow." They have to cut through some brush blocking their way. Emma offers Neal her sword to use. It's Neal's sword, which Emma tells Neal Hook gave her when they thought he was dead to remember Neal by. Emma senses the awkwardness again and Hook tells her that he told Neal about their kiss because he thought she'd told him because he thought it meant something. Emma replies that him telling her Neal was alive "meant something" and she thanks him. Hook then tells Emma about the deal Pan offered him, to see if he'd leave a friend to die because they were vying for the same woman. She's surprised he chose Neal considering he's a pirate. Hook then vows to Emma that he will win her heart "without any trickery." Emma says that it isn't a "contest," though Hook says she'll have to choose. She replies she just has to choose the best way to rescue Henry. Then, Neal reappears and tells Emma and Hook that he's found "Dark Hollow, where victims of Pan's shadow reside, to spend all eternity in darkness."

Back to Storybrooke. Belle and Ariel struggle to free themselves but.to.no avail Ariel refuses to give up hope of finding Eric, telling him how she feels and taking off the bracelet to reveal to him that she's a mermaid. Belle then tells Ariel that for them to escape she has to get the bracelet off so her fin returns and she can wiggle out of her binds. Belle gets the bracelet off of Ariel, her fin returns, she gets free and unites Belle. The two men are gone but they can't leave Storybrooke because of the cloaking spell. Ariel is afraid of what that'll do with Pandora's Box. Belle thinks they'll destroy it so.it never gets back to.Neverland. Ariel asks what could destroy something so powerful? Belle thinks they will use a dwarf's pick axe.

Back in Neverland. David thinks they've almost reached Tinkerbell's. He yells at Mary-Margaret for not talking to him. She finally yells back at him for not telling her he was shot by a Dreamshade arrow. David replies that he hoped he'd find a cure and she would never have to know. Mary-Margaret then demands to.know why he didn't tell her. David replies that he was scared and didn't want to force her stay with him.in Neverland. Mary-Margaret says she'd gladly stay in Neverland as long as he was by her side and that he should have told her. David apologizes. They hug.

In "Dark Hollow," Neal says they wait for Pan's shadow to show up. He then takes out the coconut. Neal explains how using a flame will attract the shadow then he just traps it in the coconut. But, so the lanterns went out. Neal has a lighter but it isn't working. Hook offers to help but Neal declines. Neal thinks Hook is trying to.impress Emma. Emma can't believe they're fighting at this key moment. They fight over the lighter, dropping it. They both chase after it as three shadows appear. One each pin down Hook and Neal as Emma ducks. Each shadow attacks Neal and Hook, who each tell Emma to save herself. Instead, she opens the coconut, a flame appears and Pan's shadow is sucked into the coconut. Then, the other two shadows disappear. Neal asks Emma how she did it. She replies, "Regina." Neal is surprised she is teaching Emma magic.

Henry continues following Felix. Felix looks behind him but Henry hides so Felix continues walking.

Ariel and Belle find the men in the mine, neady to use a pick axe to destroy Pandora's Box. Belle pleads with them that destroying the box will cause people they love to die. The men say the same and they don't want to hurt them but will. Belle releases a cart that knocks the men down just as one is about to smash the box. Belle grabs the box as the men plead with her. The men then say they just want to save their sister, who has been Pan's prisoner for over a century. Belle doesn't understand how that's possible. The men tell Belle and Ariel that Pan has kept them alive to do his budding and w h eh they're done, Pan will free them and their sister. Belle tells the men that together they can defeat Pan, but they're of course skeptical. The men now worry that because they failed, h we'll kill their sister. Belle then tells them if they "get this box to Neverland, Pan is going to have bigger things to worry about." Ariel then asks the men their sister's name. One man replies, "Wendy Darling. If you see her, tell her John and Michael are waiting for her."

Back to Neverland. Pan lets Wendy out of her cage and tells her "it's time to.play."

Belle sees Ariel off and tells her to remember what she told her. She wishes Ariel luck as she she dives back into the ocean.

Back in Neverland, Henry follows Felix and finds a knapsack. He takes it, sees a ladder and follows the sound of someone coughing. He goes up the ladder and finds a Wendy, who tells Henry he shouldn't be there. He tells her that he lhought Pan was holding his family there. Wendy tells Henry she's sick and away from the camp so others don't catch what she has. Henry asks Wendy her name, she tells him and he recognizes her. Henry introduces himself and asks Wendy what's wrong. Wendy tells him that Neverland's power is fading and it's affecting more than the others. Wendy then tells Henry that he looks like his father. Henry is shocked Wendy knew Neal. She tells Henry that when Neal was a boy, he saved her brothers from danger. Wendy begs Henry to leave though h e wants to help. She says Pan is doing everything he can to save her. Henry goes to leave but promises to come back for Wendy. After Henry is gone, Pan emerges and praises Wendy's performance. Wendy tells Pan she didn't like lying to Henry. Pan tells her to see it as "motivation to do what needs to be done. For all of us. Henry has the heart of the truest believer and I need to control that heart for him to believe...in me." Pan then says Wendy has to go back to her cage.

Regina and Gold are talking by the ocean. Gold thinks Regina is jealous of him having someone to love. Then, Ariel appears in the ocean and gives Gold Pandora's Box. Regina then gives the bracelet the power to go from fin to legs whenever Ariel wants. Ariel thanks Regina. Gold then tells Ariel to go back to Storybrooke and find Eric. Before she leaves, she tells Gold that Wendy is Pan's prisoner and that her brothers are back in Storybrooke. Regina says that Henry is all that matters. Ariel reminds Regina that she now has the means to save him, thanks to her and Belle, so saving Wendy would be the least she could do. Gold tells Ariel to tell Belle that he loves her and that she was right that he will see her again. Ariel then swims away.

Emma, Hook and Neal are walking. Emma yells at them for fighting over a lighter at a crucial moment. Hook says they weren't fighting over the lighter. Emma replies that if she had to choose...she'd choose Henry because he's the only one she has room for in her life.

Tinkerbell, David and Mary-Margaret find each other. They tell her about their plan to use Pan's shadow to get off the island. Tinkerbell says she won't lift a finger until she sees proof of its capture. Then,Neal, Emma and Hook appear with the coconut. Tinkerbell then says she will help them. Alone, Neal tel k s Emma t h at Henry us all that matters.

Henry comes upon Pan. Henry tells Pan that he found Wendy. Pan makes like he wants to explain. Pan tells Henry that Wendy is dying because the magic of Neverland is "being sucked away." Henry asks Pan if he's the only one who can save magic. Pan says he is Henry asks Pan how he does it and Pan says it isn't how but where and tells Henry to follow him. Pan shows Henry Skull Rock and says that Henry is the only one who can get what they need to save magic. Pan asks Henry if he's up to the task. Henry says that he is.

image: ABC