History NightmareFuel / OnceUponATime

* We've gauged from the fact that Cinderella's still pregnant when Emma arrives when she had first gotten pregnant in the enchanted forest world 28 years ago, that the town resets itself and everyone inside it every X amount of time. They reset to how they were when the week/day/etc started. Anything that happens to the citizens is undone when the loop resets. So if for example someone died they'd be alive again next reset with no memory of ever being dead. Regina is an all-powerful witch with unlimited access to her greatest enemies who are powerless to stop her from doing anything she wishes, free from any repercussions, [[AndIMustScream and they wont even remember anything she does to them and can't be permanently killed]].

* Snow's friend and mother figure turns against her and she doesn't even understand ''why'' at first. [[spoiler:She only finds out what Cora did to Daniel years later.]]

* In the Season 2 premiere, the [[spoiler: Wraith]], a monster that can best be described as a even more demonic version of a ''Literature/HarryPotter'' Dementor. Its arrival in Storybrooke is announced by an earthquake which causes the town to shake and car alarms to go off. Did I also mention it happens at night? Sure, it was [[spoiler: sent by Mr. Gold to kill Regina]] and failed, but it did suck the soul out of [[spoiler: Prince Phillip]].

** There is something ''deeply'' unsettling about [[spoiler: hearing Aurora speak, then realizing that Cora is speaking ''through'' her.]] Then you remember [[spoiler: how many hearts Cora has/had in her vault and [[ParanoiaFuel trusting anyone becomes just a bit harder]]...]]

** Cora's concept of love with regards to Regina and vice versa. As far as we know, it's been years since Regina [[spoiler: pushed Cora into the mirror to Wonderland]] and she ''still'' has power over Regina. ''[[TruthInTelevision Being abused messes you up]]''. And Cora deciding that the kindest thing to do is wait until the Curse is broken and Regina is broken with nothing in the world and then step in. So that Regina will ''need'' her.

** And, of course, we can't forget that her magnum opus of [[spoiler: making Regina watch her mother literally rip her boyfriend's heart out and be powerless to stop her]] is incredibly terrifying and naturally did a great deal to shape Regina.
** Cora was banished to Wonderland. [[spoiler:Then she took over Wonderland]].

* Rumplestiltskin ripping out [[spoiler:Milah's heart]]. [[{{Jerkass}} She's hardly sympathetic]] but ''damn'' Rumple, that was ''cold.''

* [[spoiler: Frankenstein!Daniel grabbing Henry and Regina by the throat. While covered in blood. Because he's ripped off Whale's arm.]]

* Aurora's dream. We don't even get to see it, but the sheer horror in her voice is enough to convey the feeling. And then the fact that Henry had the same dream makes it extra creepy.
** The next episode we actually see the dream and it's even '''worse''' than described! It's basically like a scene out of ''Film/TheToweringInferno'' with Henry and Aurora in the middle of it.
** [[YourMindMakesItReal If you get burned in the dream, you get burned in the real world too.]] No thank you.
* Red having to choose between [[spoiler: to save Snow White or her mother. A Tearjerker when she ends up killing her mother to save Snow]]
* The death of [[spoiler: Billy/Gus, whose body was found in two pieces. It was bad enough when it seemed he was killed by a werewolf, but finding out he was killed by an ax and split in two...]]
* Cora showing everyone how [[spoiler: to ''really'' use the hearts of people. Turns out, Regina was just too nice (such as it may be) to use the hearts to make them puppets or raise the dead.]]
* Rumplestiltskin writing out Emma's name ''over and over'' was incredibly creepy. [[spoiler:Until it turns out that he had just saved them all.]]
* Hook was being a murderous creepy bastard in "Queen of Hearts". The fight with Emma was less ShipTease than it was predatory. Not to mention almost [[spoiler: killing Belle in cold blood.]]
* [[spoiler: Yay, Archie isn't dead! But now he's tied up on Hook's ship with Cora making it clear that they intend to ''torture him''. What makes it worse is that this is happening to the adorkable Archie Hopper.]]
* [[spoiler:What's worse than suddenly waking up handcuffed in a mining cart in a dark tunnel with no memories? Suddenly waking up sprawled on the ground, in the middle of the night, with a gunshot wound in your back and a complete stranger alternately panicking over you and screaming at another gloating stranger, ''with no memories''. Oh, and then the other gloating stranger gets hit by a huge moving thing, and you and the first stranger nearly get killed. God, Belle ''cannot'' catch a break.]]
** [[spoiler:And then the first stranger tries to kiss you. No wonder Belle freaks out!]]
* The Yaoguai. On one side, it's a lion-like monster with a mane made of fire. On the other, [[spoiler:imagine being cursed to become one, only able to communicate by writing, then sent to a country where no one understands your writing.]]

** Also in 2.12, "In the Name of the Brother," we find out the fate of Dr. Whale's brother: [[spoiler: he ''is'' the monster Whale/Frankenstein raised from the dead, who is not in his right mind and brutally kills their father. He has just enough sanity to beg his brother to kill him again--but Victor can't do it and ends up locking him up "for his own good."]] This reaches NightmareFuel proportions when you realize that Whale's homeworld was NOT ever subject to Regina's/Rumplestiltskin's curse, so time continued to move forward there. That means the brother has been locked up, alone and insane, for ''twenty-eight years.''

** Also, [[spoiler: when Rumplestiltskin discovers that a boy will be his undoing, he simply says he'll kill the boy. That boy turns out to be Henry...]]
*** Which brings to [[spoiler: Gold blaming Henry after Hook's attack in the scariest way possible. You read that right. ''Henry''.]]
* Mary Margaret [[spoiler:manipulating Regina into killing her mother, sounding absolutely sincere the whole time that she just wants them to know love. You really get a sense of just how scary an [[TheUnfettered Unfettered]] version of her would be.]]
** Forget that, Ginnifer Goodwin's acting in "The Miller's Daughter" was [[spoiler: itself creepy. She sounded psychotic or at least mentally disturbed with her whispery tone throughout the episode.]]
* The preview for the next episode has eerie music and it ends with [[spoiler: Regina about to rip Mary Margaret's heart out. At least we had the courtesy to know someone would die in "The Miller's Daughter."]]

* Regina in "Welcome to Storybrooke," both the flash back and the present. The fact that she's sympathetic makes her more terrifying. Trying to [[spoiler:steal a new family]], mind-controlling Graham, then the scene [[spoiler:when she puts back Snow's heart]]. She's not evil... she's ''insane''.
* A beloved fairytale character that ''everyone'' grew up with... renowned for her goodness... [[spoiler:is now suicidal because she murdered a bad guy in a particularly cruel way. She was ''begging'' Regina to kill her.]]
** Plus [[spoiler:she now has darkness growing in her heart, which is enough of a sentence of doom that Regina is perfectly content to just sit back and watch it happen.]]
* Really, Owen and Kurt's experiences throughout ''Welcome to Storybrooke'' could just as easily belong in a horror movie. They're out camping in the woods when there's a huge and terrifying storm; the next day they come across a town that appears normal at first glance, but there's something subtly wrong with it. The lady that they befriend ''seems'' nice at first, but it gradually emerges that she might be controlling everyone in the town somehow, and she's growing more and more insistent about them staying with her. ''Permanently.'' [[spoiler:Then, when they refuse, she tries to hold them prisoner; what's more, Kurt sees her talking to a ''glowing, bloody heart'' that seems to affect her henchman in some way. Scared yet? When they try to escape she chases after them with the sheriff; Kurt sacrifices himself to buy more time so that Owen can get away - and when he comes back with the authorities, there's no trace of the town, ''or'' his father.]] It's like something out of ''Series/{{Supernatural}}'' or ''Series/TheTwilightZone''.

* Mary Margaret slapping Gepetto after learning he lied about the number of people the wardrobe could transport. It seems perfectly reasonable, but then [[spoiler:she insists she didn't want to do it, and it was actually the darkness in her heart beginning to manifest.]]
* It turns out that Lacey... [[spoiler:rather likes Mr Gold's dark side. And the episode ends with him continuing to beat a man when he's already well down. All while Lacey looks on with absolute ''giddiness''. Eeeep.]]
* The beginning of "Lacey": It's Henry's birthday and the Charming family (including Rumple and Bae) are celebrating it in Mr. Gold's shop. After the birthday boy blows out the candles, Gold tells him he can choose any one object in the shop as his present. Henry chooses a wand and Gold shows him how to wield it... [[spoiler: and immediately turns him to porcelain. Then he tells everyone that he must do this because of the prophecy and then ''smashes'' Henry to pieces. AND THEN we find out it was just a nightmare of Gold's. A nightmare... but still really creepy.]]

* Regina's... [[KillEmAll little plan to get Henry back in 2x20]] and the fact that she honestly doesn't understand that this is a bad thing. [[spoiler:And then she wipes Henry's memory.]]

** And then when she [[spoiler: erased his memory of the entire conversation]]. Imagine if she'd had magic throughout all Henry's life. What would she have done to the kid once he discovered the curse... ''shiver''
* Maleficent's [[spoiler: dragon form]] in the previous season was scary enough. [[spoiler: The demonic beast that she becomes in season 2]] that Hook has to face is another thing altogether. A shrieking, snarling, leaping incarnation of NightmareFuel.
* The show's [[AdaptationalVillainy version of Peter Pan]] is perhaps the biggest piece of DarkerAndEdgier it has ever done or will ever do. [[spoiler:He's a magical being so powerful that he can send his disembodied shadow to other worlds to kidnap little boys and bring them to Neverland. During the day they're happy as the Lost Boys, but at night their memories return and they all cry about missing their families, who Peter refuses to let them return to.]]
** Everything regarding Pan is pure AdultFear. As much as younger viewers will appreciate how creepy the Shadow is, it's the adults who'll best acknowledge just how utterly sinister the idea is, [[spoiler: the thought of waking one morning to find your child has vanished, never to return.]] Even worse, [[spoiler:the Shadow isn't Pan's sole method of taking children. He's also the show's version of The Pied Piper, and has been seen to draw potential Lost Boys to him with the music from his magic flute.]]
** If the general premise isn't bad enough, the [[spoiler: actual shadow just plain old looks very creepy.]]
** Also, [[spoiler: it's not just his own shadow. According to the Lost Boys, the reason he's able to keep people in Neverland is that if anyone dares attempt to leave, he ''rips their shadows from them''. And apparently it's a very painful and fatal process too.]]

** [[spoiler: We finally meet him in person in the third season premiere, and he certainly lives up to the creepiness built around him. "Let's ''play.''"]]
* [[spoiler: Greg/Owen's ColdBloodedTorture of Regina. Particularly when a magic spell causes Snow to start feeling the pain Regina is going through.]]

* The Lost Ones are the definition of [[CreepyChild Creepy Children]]. [[spoiler:Peter Pan]] as well, mostly because Hook's crew of hardened pirates talk about him as TheDreaded.

* An in-universe version for the rescue team, when Tink gets frustrated with their lack of an escape plan and reveals what Pan did to [[spoiler: Greg and Tamara.]] Sure, [[spoiler: Tamara was actually killed by Rumplestiltskin,]] but ''they'' don't know that, and there's a definite 'OhCrap' vibe starting up.

* Pan has imprisoned [[spoiler: Wendy Darling]] for many years and is using her to make her brothers do his dirty work.

** Also, the truth that Peter Pan [[spoiler: is a PsychopathicManChild turned back into a real child]] just makes him all the more disturbing.
*** The whole scene where [[spoiler: young Rumple is snatched by the shadow and rather than save him, his father grabs his hand and tells him that the shadow is "his friend" with whom he made a deal: he'll abandon Rumple in exchange for becoming a boy again, a boy who will never grow up due to being one with Neverland. His father rationalizes this action with "I was never meant to be a father", but also tells Rumple that he doesn't want his child around to remind him of being an adult. The poor child is hearing from his own father that he values his own youth more than being a parent to him. Then his father lets go of his hand and as the shadow takes the crying, screaming Rumple up into the air, it forces him to look down to see his father transform into a boy before his very eyes. And that's the last he sees before getting taken away from Neverland. Just imagine how that would absolutely emotionally scar a kid having to go through that! It was simply horrifying.]]
* TheReveal that Pan [[spoiler: swapped bodies with Henry just before being sucked into Pandora's Box.]]
** [[spoiler: Jared Gilmore's]] bone-chilling portrayal of Pan. Hearing Pan's cold, remorseless words coming out of his mouth is just shudder-inducing.
** Especially in ''Going Home'', when he casually and emotionlessly [[spoiler: rips Felix's heart out to power the Curse]]. It's just downright disturbing [[spoiler: to see ''Henry'' doing that]].
* In ''Going Home'', the Blue Fairy [[spoiler: is revived when the Shadow is destroyed and her own shadow returned]]. That's great for our heroes, but is there a time limit or did the same happen to ''everyone'' [[spoiler: who was killed by having their shadows removed]]? Did [[spoiler: Greg]] just suddenly [[spoiler: come back to life in Neverland]] with no way to escape? And is [[spoiler: he alone]] or [[spoiler: are there others]]?
** It gets even worse for Greg. Anyone from "the Real World" won't have memories of Storybrooke's existence. Considering how Greg spent most of his adult life obsessing over childhood events in Storybrooke, built his entire life on getting revenge on Storybrooke, and considering how [[spoiler: no one's going to give him nice new memories. Greg's now stuck in Neverland, all alone, with no memory of where he is, or why he's there to begin with]]
*** Tinker Bell said that [[spoiler: Greg's body was rotting away when she stole from him. So if he were revived, [[BodyHorror he'd be a zombie.]] Yeah, let's hope he stayed dead for his sake.]]
*** [[WildMassGuessing Maybe your shadow only returns if you're in the same realm as]] [[spoiler: the Shadow]] when it dies?

** The reveal that [[spoiler: Walsh, Emma's boyfriend, is a flying monkey]]. Yes, you read that correctly. Apparently they also have the ability to take [[spoiler: human form]]...
** As "Witch Hunt" reveals, the opposite may be true. [[spoiler: A majority of the flying monkeys, perhaps Walsh himself, used to be ordinary people before begin transformed]].
*** Turns out Walsh [[spoiler:is actually the Wizard of Oz, who Zelena turned into a "circus animal" so he'd obey unquestioningly.]]
** [[spoiler: Crosses into Funny in a twisted sense: Regina's crazed look as she tells Robin that she's found something that she hadn't had in a very long time. Someone to destroy.]]
* As Little John chases a turkey towards the town line, we're led to believe he's about to lose his memories. [[spoiler:Turns out this time, the flying monkeys will drag you away before you even reach it, and turn you into one of them.]]
* [[spoiler: "Feed the madness and it feeds on you, feed the madness and it feeds on you, feed the madness and it feeds on you... (giggles)"]]
* Nightroot supposedly cures you of your worst fear. Turns out instead [[spoiler:it makes that fear into a physical being that looks exactly like you, can move inhumanly fast, and will kill you if you can't summon up the courage to deal with it.]]
* The scene where it's revealed that Zelena has [[spoiler: Rumplestiltskin's dagger]]. She proceeds to emphasize her power over him by [[spoiler: ''shaving him with it'']]. The whole thing is creepy as ''hell''.

* Right now, we know what Zelena's motive is, and it's terrifying. [[spoiler: She wants to undo all of reality and turn back the clocks, not only so that she can become the favorite, but because she wants to ERASE Regina from existence. And not only that, but all of that screwing around with time would no doubt result in Henry, Emma, and Snow and Charming's unborn child being eradicated as well. The other villains of this show have never even attempted to do something this terrifying.]]
* Eva remains a beloved graceful and benevolent figure. We thought that she had always been like that, before a flashback revealed that she had briefly been a mild RoyalBrat. Another one proved that she willingly put an obstacle in the marriage of her former fiance, telling everyone that his beloved, who was sincerely in love, had lied to him. Then, while he was on the verge of crying, she droped this bombshell:
--->'''Eva''': You will find a worthy wife who will give you a pure child. One pure as snow.

* Zelena's confrontation with Dorothy in "Kansas". As soon as Dorothy picks up that bucket of water, we all know what's going to go down, but the effects of Zelena dissolving into ooze are downright terrifying. [[spoiler: It's all faked to traumatize Dorothy (and us), but still.]]
* Rumplestiltskin has an ''entire room'' in his castle filled with magical items that even he considered too dark, dangerous, and unpredictable to use. Think about that: An entire room's worth of items that even The Dark One, master of dark magic, didn't dare unleash. The very idea is enough to send chills down your spine.

* From the fourth season: [[spoiler: [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Marshmallow]] is back. He's a dozen times more terrifying than in Frozen, and just as readily ticked off.]]
* Although Regina and Mr. Gold have somewhat reformed themselves a bit, it's scary to think that even with the second curse, there are still unreformed thugs and villains from the Enchanted Forest like Bo Peep and [[spoiler:what appears to be the real Snow Queen played by Creator/ElizabethMitchell]] in Storybrooke.

* [[spoiler: Helga's death]] really showed how disastrous ice/snow magic can be. After freezing [[spoiler:Helga]], Ingrid's touches cause her body to be shattered to pieces.
* The Snow Queen [[spoiler:casting a freezing curse on all of Arendelle.]] It's even more terrifying than [[Disney/{{Frozen}} Elsa's eternal winter]]. Elsa made a lot of snow, the Snow Queen [[spoiler:''freezes everyone and everything''.]]
** In the next episode it's revealed that the curse lasted [[spoiler: as long as the Dark Curse did - Arendelle and all of its inhabitants were stuck in ice for 30 years.]]

** And then Ingrid casts the same spell on [[spoiler:''all of Storybrooke!'']]
* Mr. Gold throughout "Smash the Mirror". He has officially cast off all pretense of being reformed and is back to full Dark One malevolence. The scene where he [[spoiler: rips out Hook's heart]] is especially terrifying.
* Hook using the hat to [[spoiler:absorb all the fairies]] was completely chilling. The whole thing was like some supernatural horror flick where the monster attacks and kills the characters one by one.

* The Spell of Shattered Sight more than lives up to the hype. Seeing the shards enter and crack the eyes of Snow and Charming is especially horrific.

* Snow and Charming refusing to trust Ursula and Cruella and suggesting Regina go back on her deal with them is unsettling enough given their usual personas, but then they meet up and Snow tells them if they say a word about whatever happened between the four of them back in the Enchanted Forest, she'll rip out both their hearts herself. No Shattered Sight necessary, she really is willing to get that dark over whatever the hell it was. [[spoiler: Maleficent told them that since Emma (who has yet to be born) is the product of True Love, she has either the potential to be a great hero or a great villain. To make sure Emma wouldn't grow up to be a villain [[MamaBear Snow]] and [[PapaWolf Charming]] did something that made Maleficent lose her baby to protect their own, but it's not made clear ''what'' the hell they did.]]
* Maleficent is pretty damn scary in "Unforgiven". Several times, instead of just walking up to Snow like a normal person, she teleports ''[[JumpScare right there]]'' in front of her. When faced with a problem (some soldiers who don't want to move), she turns into a dragon and roasts them on the spot. [[spoiler:After being resurrected]], she claims that her goal isn't to destroy Snow's happiness, but to make her pain "as long, as unyielding, and as everlasting" as her own, in a chillingly cold tone that could give ''Regina'' a run for her money.
* [[spoiler: August's]] torture in "Poor Unfortunate Soul", with him being held over the fireplace by Gold [[spoiler: as his ever-growing nose gets closer and closer to the flames.]] The scariest part of all is the look of absolute sadistic ''glee'' on Gold's face through all this.
* Rumple realizes that those who had previously been under a sleeping curse would be immune to the one that's just been cast. He starts talking to Regina about a [[spoiler:"resourceful young man" who's quite "protective of the storybook"]]. The next shot of this scene shows [[spoiler:Henry holding the book and running to the Sorcerer's house]] while a Rumple in a voice-over heavily implies what will happen to him if he gets found by the villains.
* We eventually find out that Madeline, AKA[[spoiler: Cruella's mother]] is/was a sadistic dog trainer who uses her dogs to terrify her daughter. That would be bad enough on its own, but these two Dalmatians, especially with their [[RedEyesTakeWarning red, slitted eyes]] look like demonic animals. The first scene with them, when they are literally hunting down an innocent little girl, is even more terrifying. As is the scene where [[spoiler: Cruella gets them to turn on her mother and ''eat her.'']]
* When we finally meet the Author, it turns out [[spoiler:he grew dissatisfied with simply recording the stories he saw, and started interfering with them through stunts like posing as a peddler with select information that would cause people to take the actions he wanted. He'd even started changing the stories in the book, effectively removing any kind of free will from the world whenever he wanted. And why? Because he thought it would make a better story than how things were supposed to turn out. This guy can turn you into as horrible a monster as he wants despite your own best efforts, if it'll satisfy that childish desire, and there's nothing you can do about it.]]
* TheReveal of what's happening to Rumplestiltskin's heart: [[spoiler: It's turning completely black. If that last little bit of red goes out, he'll lose any ablity to love.]] Remember all those evil deeds, the ones that made his heart dark in the first place? Those were when he could still love. Just imagine what he'd be like when the process is done.
* The confrontation between [[spoiler:Cruella and her mother, Madeline. Madeline sets her dalmatians on her, but Cruella uses her new magic to take control of them and command them to attack and kill her own mother. Madeline's screams and Cruella's smile when it happens is chilling. Not to mention the scene where Cruella is seen sewing some fabric and fur together for a new coat...]]

* Operation Mongoose gives us Snow White as the Evil Queen. Ginnifer Goodwin portrays her almost identical to how Lana Parrilla normally plays Regina. Special mention to [[spoiler: the scene where she kills Doc.]]
** [[spoiler: The Dark One being freed from its need for a human host, killing the Apprentice and nearly consuming Regina before Emma stops it by forcing it into herself. Yep, the Savior is now the Dark One. Be very afraid.]]
* [[spoiler:This far and no mention of Chernabog who, by the way, is every bit as terrifying and powerful as he seemed in Night On Bald Mountain as both Emma and Regina could only STUN rather then actually hurt him. Then there's the scary thing that he wasn't really killed.... his summoning spell was merely interrupted.... meaning he very well could come back.]]

* TheReveal of this season's possible BigBad: [[spoiler: King Arthur. This great king of legend, this paragon of all that is good and just, is a VillainWithGoodPublicity in this world. Even Prince Charming is fooled.]]
* Put yourself in Gold's shoes: [[spoiler: You've just woken up from what basically amounts to a traumatic operation to find yourself ''once again'' at the mercy of a crazy lady, who ominously states she plans to mold you into a 'hero' - "and then, I have a job for you." No wonder he looks terrified.]]

* What [[spoiler:Arthur]] does with the Sands of Avalon: compelling [[spoiler:Guinevere to love him and stay loyal to him, mindlessly obedient, turning on Lancelot and doing whatever he wishes to help him get the dagger]]. Although also lying to/manipulating the people of Camelot with the illusion is bad too, this essentially amounts to not only MindRape, but actual rape since she is not his wife by her own will, something of a theme for villains on this show. On top of that, the Sands also get used on [[spoiler:Snow and Charming]], which surely will contribute to Emma giving in to the Darkness when they are made to turn on her. And we have no information yet on how or even if the Sands' power can be broken.

* Emma demonstrates just how easily she is slipping into darkness when she [[spoiler: rips Violet's heart out for the purpose of breaking Henry's heart so she can get the last ingredient for a spell to release Merlin.]]

* The final scene in the episode, where we get to see countless ranks of dark-cloaked, hooded Dark Ones with glowing eyes all gathered, whispering, urging Emma to take Excalibur and use its power to destroy all light magic, is extremely unsettling.

* What's worse than one Dark One menacing Storybrooke, or even two? [[spoiler: ''Every Dark One ever'' menacing Storybrooke.]]

* To follow from above, seeing [[spoiler:every Dark One coming out of the misty forest]] in the title card.
* The scenes where the various characters are followed by, stalked, and eventually surrounded by [[spoiler:the Dark Ones]] is quite chilling.
* The thought of [[spoiler:Gold with the power of ''every Dark One'']].

* We meet the new BigBad, Hades. The master of the Underworld, with instant knowledge of everything that happens in it, and holding absolute power over anyone once they enter his turf. Emma and her team have some level of safety from still being alive, but everything else is his to command to stop them.

* Cerberus. Just...[[HellHound Cerberus]]. Gone is the goofy giant dog from the Disney movie, here is the true Guard Dog of the Underworld. An above-average sized dog with '''6''' glowing [[RedEyesTakeWarning BLOOD RED EYES]], fur as black as the night and three snarling dog heads! It is a beast of a creature. And what's worse? [[spoiler: It KILLED HERCULES! In this universe, Hades has won! He has defeated Hercules!]]

* The River of Lost Souls, basically the Dead Marshes from ''The Lord of the Rings'' which it's impossible to escape from once you so much as touch the water. The countless souls trapped there are constantly moaning in despair, and by episode's end [[spoiler:Milah]] has joined their number.

* We are treated to a detailed shot of [[spoiler:Zelena tearing the Scarecrow's brain from his head, presumably killing him]].

* Remember sweet old [[Film/TheWizardOfOz Auntie Em]]? [[spoiler:She's not only dead in the Underworld, but a few minutes after she appears, she is reduced into a puddle by Hades for simply being willing to help the heroes. [[note]]Though the next episode, "Last Rites," [[HopeSpot implies this isn't permanent]].[[/note]]]]

* The idea of what the Olympian Crystal [[CessationOfExistence does to someone]] is bad enough, but being blasted or stabbed by it is clearly a horrifically painful and agonizing experience. And of course, having one of those destroyed by it be [[spoiler:Robin Hood]]. [[note]]Thankfully mitigated by WordOfGod later changing said result from complete CessationOfExistence to [[SarcasmMode "merely"]] KilledOffForReal.[[/note]]

* The idea of [[spoiler:Hyde]] now being in charge of Storybrooke, and of all the characters from the Land of Untold Stories (including many villains) now being free to come there to either take over or achieve their happy endings.
* The idea of [[spoiler:the Evil Queen, now completely free of Regina's goodness and redeeming features, able to wreak havoc and gain revenge. And she now has all the power of the Dragon at her disposal]].

* The figure in Emma's vision bears a disturbing resemblance to a [[HumanoidAbomination Dark One.]] [[spoiler: As it turns out, it's the Dark One's ''son''.]]

* Jekyll turning out to be [[spoiler: EvilAllAlong]]. In fact, the past events shown [[spoiler: Jekyll killing the woman who didn't love him before blaming Hyde, who legitimately loved her]] are so morbidly horrifying that one would not be blamed for [[SympathyFortheDevil feeling terrible for Hyde]].
* Jekyll [[spoiler: [[AssholeVictim gets impaled from behind]] [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice by a spike on the Jolly Roger]] from a blow from Hook, who was fighting to defend Belle. This, in turn, causes [[DiscOneFinalBoss Hyde to bleed to death]] as well. The worst part is, Jekyll ''deserved what he got but Hyde did not.'']]

* What Rumple describes of the Black Fairy's realm of chaos is bad enough (and what she does to poor Blue). But having [[spoiler:Gideon kidnapped by her, raised there, only to return pure evil and ready to kill Emma]] is horrifying. Once again, if [[HorrifyingTheHorror something scares and disturbs Gold]]... Not to mention we now know the Black Fairy is out there in the woods, just waiting to strike--and there are at least two babies we care about, plus Aurora's baby, and if it isn't only babies she targets then we can add everyone who goes to school in Storybrooke.
* Seeing Snow and Charming die, even if it's just a fantasy version of them, is rather upsetting. From the look on Regina's face, she was upset too, even if she tried to downplay it. The fact this led to [[spoiler:Henry almost killing her, and apparently pursuing her for revenge in the second half of the season]], is even worse.

* The glazed cataract look in Henry's eyes as his Author powers take over, and the very strange hieroglyphic/cuneiform writing he produces. And according to Isaac this will keep happening until he never comes out of the trance and has to be put in a padded room. The kicker? [[spoiler:This is all because the ending of the book and everyone's stories is coming, and it is something no one wants to experience.]]

* Fiona's Curse [[spoiler: ''explodes out of the Clock Tower'' while everyone is dancing and singing at Emma and Hook's wedding, their faces turning from joy to absolute horror. Talk about a HopeSpot for the citizens of Storybrooke. Emma swears that, no matter what Fiona throws at them, they're going to win... and then we get a lovely close-up as the Curse devours all of them]]. Fade to Black.

* The trailer itself plays horrifying orchestral music as Fiona's Curse swirls around town and eats everyone, with giant letters proclaiming "A Final Curse", "A Final Quest", and finally "The Final Battle". Cut to Fiona in Gold's shop [[spoiler: opening a box '''containing her wand''' - her personal weapon]].
* Fiona has become [[spoiler: the manipulative mayor of the town just as Regina was in the beginning, has Emma locked in an ''asylum'', and seems to be trying to convince her that her adventures were AllJustADream]]. Worse, [[spoiler: she's sent everyone back to their original worlds and plans to destroy all the realms - forever. She is honestly more terrifying as the mayor than she ever was as the Black Fairy]].
* [[spoiler: Gideon is fighting Emma again...because the heart given back to him was a ''fake'' and Fiona ''is still controlling him.'']]

** [[spoiler: By forcing Emma to stop believing, she will cause the destruction of all the realms forever. She even gets Emma to ''burn the Storybook.'']]
** [[spoiler: Upon regaining her wand, she will create a new universe where she reigns supreme with her family (Gold and Gideon) at her side and she'll have the power to bring back the dead as she pleases.]]
** [[spoiler: She uses her wand to read the runes and learn that Gideon ''must'' be the one to fight Emma, effectively meaning that if one kills the other, ''it's the end of Light Magic forever.'' So she uses Gideon's heart, hides it in the Mines and remote-controls him with her magic, telling him to kill Emma at any and all costs - even if she dies before he can complete his mission, '''he cannot stop.''']]
* To show Emma that Henry is losing his mind trying to convince her by stealing the book, Fiona [[spoiler: ''throws him down the stairs'' with magic, landing him in the hospital. WouldHurtAChild indeed. Even worse when we realize that this is the first time a villain has ever physically injured Henry. She came very close to averting his InfantImmortality.]]
-->'''Fiona:''' Next time, it could be [[spoiler: [[ImpliedDeathThreat your neck, or worse]]]].
** Oh, and the camera that Fiona shows Emma doesn't show anything but [[spoiler: Henry tripping and falling when trying to steal the book. After all, how could she push him if she never touched him?]]
* Out of ''every villain'' we have ever seen in the franchise, Fiona is by far [[spoiler: the one who came closest to eternal victory]]. An excellent and terrifying display of power and intelligence for the BigBad and [[TheChessmaster Chessmaster]] of the entire series.
* We get ''several'' shots of the destruction of all worlds. The Evil Queen holds it back for as long as possible but eventually [[spoiler: she is consumed by it. The destruction barely stops in time, leaving the remaining Fairy Tale citizens standing on a tiny piece of floor left in the void. '''That''' is how close Fiona was to ridding the universe of our favorite characters once and for all.]]
* [[spoiler: [[AndIMustScream The look of pure misery on Gideon's face as his mother's final command forces him to stab Emma.]] As she is stabbed, Light Magic ''explodes out of her'', causing her to drop and Gideon to disappear from existence to be reborn as a baby. Also counts as a major TearJerker. Thank goodness for TrueLovesKiss.]]
* Emma [[spoiler: [[TheHeroDies actually dies in her fight against Gideon.]] Once again, thank Zeus for Henry and TrueLovesKiss.]]
* One final piece of FridgeHorror. [[spoiler: Fiona's body may have been destroyed using her wand but (as Rumple didn't kill her with the Crystal, which no longer exists in full form) her soul is ''definitely'' still intact and is no doubt ''in the Underworld'' now... just what kind of horror could she unleash down there with no one barring Zeus himself powerful enough to stop her? [[HistoryRepeats Might there one day be a repeat of Nimue's attempt to return to the living, except this time by the Black Fairy herself?]]]]
** [[spoiler: Also, "Last Rites" showed that the souls trapped in the River of Lost Souls are now able to come out and eventually regain sentience now that Hades is gone. And that means Fiona may not return alone...she could bring her hubby, Peter Pan, with her.]]

* Lady Tremaine kidnaps Cinderella's fairy godmother and [[MoralEventHorizon murders her with her own wand just for helping Cinderella]]! [[spoiler:It's a shocker she turns out to be a BigBadWannabe.]]

* The conversation between Drizella and her mother in the Tremaine manor. [[spoiler:Drizella, who was constantly [[AbusiveParents abused]] by her mother, is now subjecting her to a '''FateWorseThanDeath'''.]] Also counts as a SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome.
--->'''Drizella''': [[CruelMercy Death is too merciful for you, mother.]]

* [[spoiler:At the start of the season, we're led to believe [[AbusiveParents Lady Tremaine]] is the season's main villain, then we're led to believe [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Drizella]] is; but the main villain turns out to be [[TheChessmaster Mother Gothel]], who [[OutGambitted out-gambits]] both of them and leaves them trapped in a well together.]]

* Gothel has already turned herself into a walking example of AdultFear, between her willingness to [[MurderByInaction kill her own infant daughter]] and how often she manipulates children to betray their own parents, such as what she did to Drizella. Who else did she target? ''[[spoiler:Robin.]]''

* [[spoiler:Nick]] really establishes himself as this when he [[spoiler:''kidnaps Henry and holds him captive in his apartment'']]. Who is his next target? [[spoiler:''Zelena.'']]

* Gothel has some sort of compel ability that gives her control over people. She uses it on [[spoiler: ''Margot'']]. She thankfully only wants [[spoiler: a sample of her blood, as the person Tilly is in love with]], but the implications of what she could do are horrific.

* [[spoiler: Wish!Verse Rumple, the one who was never moved to a HeelFaceTurn by Baelfire and Belle's love (''and'' who was driven insane by decades in his prison cell) is back, and in Hyperion Heights. The FinalBoss of the series has arrived...]]

* Wish!Rumple's [[spoiler: death, turning to dust before his own eyes and whimpering a cowardly "No more Rumple?"]]
** Even worse: [[spoiler: the dust flies into the fireplace and burns, symbolizing [[DraggedOffToHell where Wish!Rumple is going.]]]]

* The conversation between Drizella and her mother in the Tremaine manor. [[spoiler:Drizella, who was constantly [[AbusiveParents abused]] by her mother, is now subjecting her to a '''FateWorseThanDeath'''.]] Also counts as a CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* Whatever spell Gothel is using locks the witches - including Tilly - in a trance-like state that they can't free themselves from. Once they've given whatever magic they can give, they're ''[[{{Transflormation}} turned into trees]]''. The sway of the spell is so overpowering that when Margot tries to snap Tilly out of it, Tilly starts to cry while still in the trance, implying that what Margot says ''worked'', but the magic is so strong that she still can't break free.

* Regina's... [[KillEmAll little plan to get Henry back in 2x20]] and the fact that she honestly doesn't understand that this is a bad thing. [[spoiler:And then she wipes Henry's memory.]] [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Someone give the damn woman a hug already before everyone ends up dead.]]

* [[spoiler:Nick]] really establishes himself as this when he [[spoiler:''kidnaps Henry and holds him captive in his apartment.'']] Who is his next target? [[spoiler:''Zelena.'']]

* [[spoiler:Nick]] really establishes himself as this when he [[spoiler:''kidnaps Henry and holds him captive in his apartment.'']]

* [[spoiler:Nick]] really establishes himself as this when he [[spoiler:''kidnaps Henry and holds him captive in his house.'']]

--->'''Drizella''': [[Cruel Mercy Death is too merciful for you, mother.]]

--->'''Drizella''': Death is too merciful for you, mother.

* [[spoiler:At the start of the season, we're led to believe [[WickedStepmother Lady Tremaine]] is the season's main villain, then we're led to believe [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Drizella]] is; but the main villain turns out to be [[ManipulativeBitch Mother Gothel]], who [[OutGambitted out-gambits]] both of them and leaves them trapped in a well together.]]

* The conversation between Drizella and her mother is the Tremaine manor. [[spoiler:Drizella, who was consantly [[AbusiveParents abused]] by her mother, is now subjecting her to a '''FateWorseThanDeath'''.]] Also counts as a CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* [[spoiler:At the start of the season, we're led to believe [[WickedStepmother Lady Tremaine]] is the season's main villain, then we're led to believe [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Drizella]] is; but the main villain turns out to be [[ManipulativeBitch Mother Gothel]], who [[OutGambitted out-gambitts]] both of them and leaves them trapped under a well together.]]

* Lady Tremaine kidnaps Cinderella's fairy godmother and [[MoralEventHorizon murders her with her own wand just for helping Cinderella]]! [[spoiler: It's a shocker she turns out to be a BigBadWannabe.]]

* The conversation between Drizella and her mother is the Tremaine manor. [[spoiler: Drizella, who was consantly [[AbusiveParents abused]] by her mother, is now subjecting her to a '''FateWorseThanDeath'''.]] Also counts as a CrowningMomentOfAwesome.

* [[spoiler: At the start of the season, we're led to believe [[WickedStepmother Lady Tremaine]] will be the season's main villain, then we're led to believe [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Drizella]] is; but the main villain turns out to be [[ManipulativeBitch Mother Gothel]], who [[OutGambitted out-gambitts]] both of them and leaves them trapped under a well.]]

* [[spoiler: At the start of the season, we're led to believe [[WickedStepmother Lady Tremaine]] will be the season's main villain, then we're led to believe [[WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds Drizella]] is; but the main villain turns out to be [[ManipulativeBitch Mother Gothel]], who [[OutGambitted out-gambitts]] both of them and leaves them trapped under a well]].