A Step Forward

***A Step Forward*** is the nineteenth episode of the eighth season of *Once Upon a Time*, and the 174th episode overall.

## Plot

### Past

Immediately after leaving Hyperion Heights, Drizella and Anastasia appear in the New Enchanted Forest. They return to the Tremaine Manor, however find it is now inhabited by the Muffin Man. He is warm and inviting.

Soon, it seems the Muffin Man isn’t fond of the sisters. Drizella and Anastasia confront him, reiterating that it was their home, to which the Muffin Man responds by using special magic to trap them inside the manor. Insisting that they have “now got their wish”, he leaves and summons a Gingerbread Monster to kill them.

Drizella finds herself unable to destroy it magically. Anastasia loses faith in her, putting a strain between them once more. However, Drizella claims that there are many magic books in the library that they can train with to kill the monster and escape from their prison.

After an exceptionally long while, Drizella uses magic to summon a plant, then kills it successfully. Anastasia is then taken hostage by the Gingerbread Monster. It tries to kill her, but Drizella blasts it with magic and it detonates. The sisters embrace, but Drizella finds them unable to magic their way out of the house.

### Present

Regina attempts to track down Drizella and Anastasia for help defeating Carabosse and Caradoc. Her immense focus causes her to neglect Zelena, who is down following the postponement of her wedding. When another earthquake hits, Zelena, Robin and Roger travel to investigate, and discuss the voices Zelena heard at night and the possibility of there being different Guardian rules now that the Dark One has been vanquished.

Carabosse hires the Muffin Man to create a second, more powerful Gingerbread Monster. Regina travels with Diaval and Lanval deep into the faraway forest, eventually finding the Tremaine Manor. Using strong magic, Regina frees Drizella and Anastasia. Regina, still bitter at Drizella for poisoning Henry, fills the sisters in on the United Realms and their new foes. Drizella wants revenge on the Muffin Man.

Zelena, Robin and Roger find that the fissure caused by the earthquake contains water. Back in Storybrooke, Drizella reunites with and apologizes to Henry and Ella. Of course, Henry does not forgive her, but Ella is willing to give her a chance. When the Gingerbread Monster rampages acrosss town, Diaval (who takes the Muffin Man's form), Lanval and Roger kill it. Regina, Drizella and Ella capture the imprison the Muffin Man. Afterwards, Regina asks Drizella for some advice on sisterly conflicts.

Henry, Ella and Lucy discuss Drizella's return, with Henry begrudgingly agreeing the past is the past. Zelena, Alice, Anastasia and Moana discuss the line of the Guardians. Alice and Anastasia reveal that they lost their powers and as such are no longer Guardians. When Moana attempts to use the Dark One Dagger, she finds that she cannot, indicating that she is not a Guardian either... meaning Zelena is most likely the next one.

## Characters (in order of appearance)

* Drizella Tremaine
* Anastasia Tremaine
* Muffin Man (first appearance)
* Evil Queen
* Wicked Witch of the West
* Robin Hood, Jr.
* Roger Radcliffe
* Gingerbread Monster (first appearance)
* Carabosse
* Diaval
* Lanval
* Henry Mills
* Cinderella (New Enchanted Forest)
* Alice Jones
* Moana

## Timeline

* The past events where Drizella and Anastasia return to the New Enchanted Forest take place after they leave Hyperion Heights in *Sisterhood* and before Henry lands a job interview in New York City in *Breadcrumbs*.
* The past events where Drizella destroys the Gingerbread Monster take place after the death of Rumplestiltskin in *Leaving Storybrooke* and before young Henry leaves Storybrooke in *Hyperion Heights*.