Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-24674051-20141121060938/@comment-4975807-20141121203858

Hmcooper4 wrote: Another thought is that Rumple said that it was to be a descendant of Cora that would cast the curse.

Not a descendant, per say. Rumplestiltskin was led to Cora after having a vision of her daughter being great importance in the future. That's why in the contract deal, he asked for her first-born child.

Edward Zachary Sunrose wrote: Applegirl wrote: Wow, that's actually a very cool theory! It seems plausible considering what we now know about the storybook page and the life that could've been for Robin Hood and Regina had they met in the tavern. From there, it would've make sense for them to start a life and perhaps a family together, especially since that is the kind of life Regina wanted when she was with Daniel. A simple, happy life with the person she loves. Though that does bring into question if Regina just lived a normal life, would Zelena still have found Rumplestiltskin? My bet is he would've let her cast his curse (she is the first born after all) since Regina was no longer in the running due to opting for true love rather than a life of vengeance. That brings up so many things.... Zelena herself would be different, too. I believe she would still be jealous of Regina (for different reasons in this alternate timeline) for having a husband and happy life and knowing she herself could never have that.

During Lily's first episode appearance, I was listening to a OUAT fan podcast and one of the listeners had an idea that Lily was a younger version of Regina or an alternate version of Regina. I could see how this idea came about since Lily bears a strikingly similar appearance to Regina. I never thought she could be her daughter, but maybe that could work. I got the impression that "Quite A Common Fairy" comes AFTER "The Doctor"/"It's Not Easy Being Green", timeline-wise. So Zelena would've fled to Oz by now. I think that Rumple would have always gone for Regina. He probably would've killed Robin and framed someone powerful. Maybe King Leopold (after all, divorce isn't possible in the Enchanted Forest to our knowledge. He'd still be her husband.)? So Regina, still knowing magic, would've cast the Curse. But that doesn't explain why Lilly would be OUTSIDE Storybrooke and not in it. I know A&E said we'd see her again, and the star-shaped tattoo suggests she's important, but I think she was just a plot device to draw parallels between her and Regina, and get Emma to Ingrid. I completely forgot about the timeline. Judging from the first magic learning session Zelena saw between Regina and Rumplestiltskin when she was in Oz, it definitely looks to be sometime before "The Doctor" since Regina is very inexperienced with magic. Something about her facial expressions, which still look innocent and naive, didn't indicate to me that she had gone through the events of "The Doctor" episode in which Daniel's resurrection "fails" and she becomes more dark.