‘Once Upon a Time’ Hero and Villain of the Week: Emma’s Killer Revealed in Midseason Finale

Warning: This recap for the “Wish You Were Here” episode of Once Upon a Time contains spoilers.

Careful what you wish for. On Once Upon a Time, you might get exactly what you always wanted — at a terrible price.

The Evil Queen uses Aladdin’s new genie powers to banish Emma to an alternate universe, where she never became the Saviour and grew up as a pretty, pretty princess in the peaceful kingdom ruled by her parents. It’s a hoot to see this weak, scared version of the usually tough Emma, and it’s even more of a hoot to watch Regina try to villain her way into making Emma remember her heroic qualities.

But though this dynamic duo eventually gets its act together to return to Storybrooke, darker forces are at work. The hooded figure from Emma’s death vision finally arrives, and it’s someone we never could have predicted.

Here’s a rundown of this week’s episode…

Heroes of the Week: Emma and Regina

Emma, Regina, and Hook debate what to do with the red-jewel sword that Emma has seen in her death vision when they come across the Evil Queen at Robin Hood’s grave. When the EQ taunts Emma about her “sleeping beauty” mom, Emma lashes out with the sword — and ends up injuring the EQ! Turns out that special sword is the key to defeating the EQ without killing Regina, too.

But when they next run into the EQ, she’s got a trick up her sleeve: She’s taken the genie lamp, now housing Aladdin, and calls him up. Then, instead of wishing harm on Emma, she asks Aladdin to grant Emma’s secret wish: that she’d never become the Saviour.

Jump to an alternate universe in the Enchanted Forest. Emma is a carefree princess, singing and picking flowers in the forest. Snow and David are benevolent rulers, while Henry is about to be knighted.

Back in Storybrooke, Regina figures out that since she and the EQ are the same person, she can actually use the lamp to make a wish, too! So, she wishes to be sent to the same place as Emma. But once she arrives, she realizes that everyone there views her as the Evil Queen. Emma is terrified of her, and Snow and David want to kill her.

Regina finds a locked-up Rumplestiltskin and makes a deal: She’ll free him, if he gives her a magic bean to make a portal. He also gives her some advice: Emma is the Saviour as a response to Regina being evil. This spurs Regina to perform her best fake villainy — she captures Snow and David and promises to crush their hearts.

But when Emma shows up, instead of saving them, she gives over their entire kingdom! And she cries, too. This is not the Emma we know and love. It falls to Henry to vow to avenge his grandparents. Regina refuses to hurt him, of course, which wakes up Emma. She now remembers her hero status and wants to return to Storybrooke to finish their task.

Emma and Regina meet up with Rumple, who gives them the magic bean. But just as the portal opens, a familiar — and beloved — face shows up to stop them: Robin Hood! Regina is transfixed and won’t jump in the portal … which closes. Now, they’re stuck in this alternate universe for who knows how long!

Villains of the Week: The Evil Queen and Hooded Figure

While Regina and Emma are in the alternate universe, their loved ones are frantically trying to deal with the EQ situation. First, David hatches a (pretty stupid) plan to steal Aladdin’s lamp. He does, but makes a terrible wish for the EQ to get everything she deserves.

Well, nothing really happens — because as she points out, she’s gotten everything she wanted. Their entire family has been torn apart. David, who’s kicking himself, turns over the lamp to Jasmine. She uses a wish to take herself and Aladdin to Agrabah.

Elsewhere, Gold tries to use a spell to track down his son. When it fails, he goes to Belle and warns her that something nefarious has happened to the baby. Turns out the Blue Fairy was ambushed — by none other than Gold’s own mother, the Black Fairy!

Meanwhile, a portal has opened up in the diner, but it isn’t Regina and Emma, since theirs closed up. Instead, a hooded figure emerges and turns the EQ into a snake trapped in a cage! The hooded figure strolls through town and enters Gold’s shop.

He pulls back the hood: It’s Gideon, Belle and Gold’s son. And apparently, he’s there to kill the Saviour.

Once Upon a Time airs Sundays at 8 p.m. on ABC. Watch clips and full episodes of OUAT for free on Yahoo View.