Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-26221372-20150319011048/@comment-16953943-20150410230741

The Aprentice told Snow and David to guide Emma to keep her in the light. That's what they would have needed to do anyway spell or no spell, so, I don't think the Apprentice truly did anything other than send Lilly to a new world.

If the Author likes to make his stories more "interesting", wouldn't it make since for him to create a plot twist by makeing Snow and David THINK the got what they wanted, only to be shocked later to see thier daughter go dark (even if just for a little bit)?

Also I don't think the Author has direct control over the events, but rather can nudge them by inserting himself into the story in some way. He wouldn't have needed to come to Snow and David and tell them about the cottage where the Apprentice was if he could just simply write what he wanted to happen. This will probably be the loophole that explains how the Author has manipulated events, without taking away everyone's free will. (Or giving anyone the excuse "the Author made me do it.")

He may have sent Snow and David to that cottage, but he didn't force them to go through with taking Maleficent's child. They chose that on their own.

The only think I can't quite figure out is if everyone has free will, how come the Apprentice said "how could you make me do that to a child?" (or something like that), Is there some kind of code the Apprentice is bound to that says if someone is willing to do what it takes, he has to give them what they want? (or at least make them think so?)