based on the promo — theory

I thought the writers said Cora could not take Emma’s heart in that moment because Emma was not her original target, and Emma was sacrificing herself to save Snow. So I’m not sure that Emma’s innate magic or status as the savior was what kept Cora at bay. I don’t think that the writers want us to think Emma (or anyone else with love) is invincible all the time. I think Regina could rip out Snow’s heart in the right circumstance.

I think Regina is going to grab Snow’s heart with the intention of taking it but then realise that Snow will suffer more with the guilt of her actions if she leaves Snow’s heart where it is.

I also think that either Regina may not have anything to do with the empty hearted curse or that Rumple put the idea into her head. In Skin Deep, Belle told Rumple that “All you’ll have is an empty heart and a chipped cup”. Rumple is up to something. Perhaps Rumple is trying to speed things along with Bae and uses the curse to try and get Bae to love him. Bae finds out in the series finale hence the game changer to his and Rumple’s relationship. All magic comes with a price, perhaps the price for Rumple is that, in trying to make Bae love him again, Rumple may have lost Bae for good.

I think that line from Belle in Skin Deep was more a statement on how he had love, true love, but he’s throwing it away for power (gah, just like Cora did to him. Jane Espenson, you sneaky woman). So now he’ll be just as lonely and miserable as before but with the reminder of cup. And she also tells him that he’s going to regret it. And we can see he instantly does after she leaves and he closes his eyes in pain. I don’t think that particular line has anything to do with this.
However, Rumple is probably up to something, but I don’t think he put the idea in Regina’s head. In the promo he tells her “why don’t you just give up this revenge?” I think he wants the blood fighting to stop but he doesn’t want to actively involve himself because then it gets messy and emotional, and Rumple doesn’t know how to love anyone outside of Bae and Belle yet. He’s still learning how to love those two and to add more to his life is way too hard for him, thus why he reacts so badly to Henry in The Queen is Dead, telling him “it’s your fault” when he got stabbed. He likes Henry but he wants not to. I do think Rumple has some sort of plan that we haven’t been made aware of yet, but I’m not sure it has anything to do with this curse.

@PriceofMagic wrote:

I just think it’s a little suspicious that Rumple just so happens to find the crate with the two potions missing that just so happen to be the ingredients need for this empty hearted curse. As for who Rumple hates, Hook. And wasn’t Hook trying to get Rumple to take his heart so he can be reunited with Milah. Rumple may be happy to oblige him since Hook hurt Belle and Belle isn’t around to tell Rumple not to.

Suspicious maybe, but Charming is there looking for clues too. I think they’re trying to figure out what Regina is up to. Had Charming found the box, he would have asked Rumple if anything was missing. Only Rumple would know what was missing and what that meant. Charming knows swords, not magic.