Gold and Regina play dirty politics and take opposite sides when Emma runs against Sidney for Sheriff, as flashbacks show Rumplestiltskin desperately try to find a way to save his son from being enlisted into war.
Emma tries to save two children from foster care by trying to find their birth father, as flashbacks show the Evil Queen coercing Hansel and Gretel into stealing an important artifact from a blind witch.
A dejected Sidney asks Emma for help uncovering evidence that could expose Regina's corruption, while Mary Margaret and David start seeing each other in secret.
David finally agrees to tell Kathryn about his relationship with Mary Margaret, as flashbacks show Charming helping Princess Abigail with a dangerous mission.
Emma investigates Kathryn's sudden disappearance and Mary Margaret and Leroy help the Nuns sell candles at the Miner's Day festival, as flashbacks show when Grumpy fell in love with a fairy.
David faces questions about Kathryn's disappearance and Emma gives Ruby a job as her assistant, as flashbacks show Red Riding Hood attempt to kill a wolf preying on her village.
Mary Margaret hires Gold as her attorney when she is arrested for the suspected murder of Kathryn, while flashbacks show Charming try to find Snow, whose memory is clouded by Rumplestiltskin's potion.
During her search for Mary Margaret, Emma finds herself trapped in the home of a strange man, as flashbacks show the Mad Hatter helping the Evil Queen in exchange for his daughter's safety.
Emma continues to search for evidence that will prove Mary Margaret's innocence, as flashbacks reveal the reason behind the Evil Queen's hatred for Snow White.
Regina's plan for Mary Margaret is thwarted following Kathryn's sudden re-appearance and Gold becomes wary of August, as flashbacks show what happened to Baelfire after Rumplestiltskin became the Dark One.
Regina works with Jefferson on a plan to get rid of Emma, as flashbacks show Snow attempt to reunite with Charming after he is kidnapped by the Evil Queen.
Emma and Regina are forced to work together in order to save Henry's life, while flashbacks show Charming's mission to save Snow's life after escaping from the Evil Queen.
As David tries to restore order in Storybrooke, Regina continues to seek a way to regain her powers, and the Dwarves make a discovery when they investigate the town line.
Mary Margaret, Emma, Mulan and Aurora head for Snow White's castle to find a portal to Storybrooke, as flashbacks show King George curse Snow, preventing her from being able to conceive a child.
Belle threatens to leave Gold if he doesn't change his ways and the Dwarves try to find fairy dust, as flashbacks show Rumplestiltskin's wife join a band of pirates.
Mary Margaret, Emma, Mulan and Aurora return to their camp only to find everyone dead. Back in Storybrooke, Regina begins to see a ghost from her past, as flashbacks show her training with Rumplestiltskin.
When a murder occurs in Storybrooke on a full moon, Spencer tries to bring the town against David by implicating Ruby, as flashbacks show Red Riding Hood find a pack of wolves who adopt her into their family.
Cora does everything in her power to steal the compass and find a way to Storybrooke, while after Aurora is kidnapped, and to protect Henry from further danger, Mary Margaret and David try to communicate with each other in the Netherworld.
Mary Margaret, Emma, Mulan and Aurora try to prevent Cora and Hook from getting to Storybrooke, as flashbacks show Regina enlist the help of Hook to find and kill Cora.