Ya see, it’s weird, but with each passing day, I keep feeling even more that Neal’s gonna be brought back in the finale. I’ve got my end of season headcanon with the baelfire thing with the time unraveling, and it all plays out so perfectly in my head.
They erase time back to when they all arrived in FTL, exact same shot, everyone looks over at Neal who is all O______O because the last thing he remembers is he died, and Belle gives him a bear hug because he’s back. Then they go over and wreck Philora’s picnic, because they’ve now figured out that they need to break through the floor to get to the Well of Wonders because the OUAT twist is that it’s that specific water that can harm the Wicked Witch, (which is why she had it boarded up in the first place so no one could use it against her). Then up pops Nyx, who happily gives them water to use on Zelena, because she’s been trying to break the laws of magic, and Nyx does not approve. Then she also gives some water to Belle and Neal, telling them that Rumple’s sacrifice in 311 means he’s granted a second chance and a happy ending. So Regina goes to dump water on Zelena at the castle, and Belle and Neal set off for the Vault again. This time they just need to pour the water into the keyhole, which is a lovely little mirror to the last time when it all went wrong, because they were led there by lying FLAMES and the symbol that was BURNED into Neal’s hand was the triangle, which is the alchemical symbol for FIRE, so this time they’re using water which is the total opposite, water extinguishes the harmful effects of fire, which means no nasty side effects this time around. And meanwhile back in NYC, Emma and Walsh are working together on their end to get back to where the others are, or there’s a plan in place to meet in SB again, either works, but the point is that at the very end, Emma and Neal are gonna see each other again and the season will end with an epic TLK.
I mean, it all fits together perfectly in my head. We KNOW that they’re gonna be messing with time because it’s Zelena’s big plan, so, yeah, I just can’t rule it out that at least some part of my crackpot headcanon could happen. It would explain Neal’s promo slogan. It would fit with the “second chances” theme in multiple ways, not only would Neal get a second chance at life, but Rumple gets a second chance too, and they get a second chance to take out Zelena. It would explain why they’re not bothering to dwell on Neal’s death right now, because there’s no point taking up screentime with that when he’s gonna come back eventually anyway, (don’t get me wrong, I will FOREVER be pissed that they’re not bothering to give him the attention he deserves right now, but from a we’ve-got-a-story-to-tell-in-a-restricted-amount-of-time perspective, the writers could justify it to themselves if he’s gonna be back). And it would give their heroine the most fricking EPIC love story of all, that even defied death, and let’s face it, the fricking Saviour should get a love story that defies death. No other love story could ever top that, and Emma “Saviour” Swan deserves to have the most dramatic, overcoming IMPOSSIBLE odds, love story ever.
*sits on corner and waits for the season finale*