Plot summary
Victoria strikes a deal with Weaver in an attempt to free herself from jail and wake Anastasia. In flashbacks, Rapunzel steals from Mother Gothel's garden to save her family, and is trapped in a tower in exchange. After six years of captivity, Rapunzel escapes using her hair, but finds her husband Marcus has married Cecilia, gaining a stepdaughter, Ella. Gothel tempts Rapunzel with a Wonderland mushroom, which she uses to poison Cecilia's heart, leading to Cecilia running away. One day, Anastasia and Ella fall through thin ice but, to Rapunzel's disbelief, Marcus only manages to save Ella.
Rapunzel seeks Gothel's help, who magically seals Anastasia's last breath with the price of keeping Anastasia in the tower. However, Rapunzel tricks Gothel, who becomes trapped in her own tower until someone in her bloodline takes her place. In the present, Victoria strangely gives full custody of Lucy to Jacinda, claiming to be a changed person. Victoria retrieves the Once Upon a Time book and shows Lucy her unfortunate life story as Rapunzel, convincing Lucy to give up her belief in happy endings. As Lucy sheds a tear, Victoria uses it to awaken Anastasia as Lucy falls unconscious.
Credits
Adapted from Wikipedia contributors, Once Upon a Time season 7. HTML formatting and reference markers removed.