As "Once Upon a Time" season 3 dives into Zelena, spoilers regarding the Wicket Witch and other characters have surfaced.

Firstly, spoilers confirm that episode 17 will see the appearance of Blackbeard, the infamous pirate who will butt heads with Hook.

“Blackbeard obviously is very much a dreaded pirate," says actor Colin O'Donoghue, "and you get to see Hook interact a little bit with him — I can’t tell you how or why, because that will give away too much – but and it harks back a little bit to all the old Errol Flynn films and stuff like that. It’s good old-fashioned, swashbuckling fun."

According to TV Guide, "Once Upon a Time" season 3 episode 17 will have Ariel returning to ask for Hook's help in locating Prince Eric, and together the pair also try to search for his stolen ship.

Do you think Blackbeard has stolen Hook's ship as well as Prince Eric?

Meanwhile, spoilers also confirm that episode 18 will see the return of Young Cora (Rose McGowan) as well as Eric Lange and Eva Bourne as Prince Leopold and Young Eva.

In this episode, we are expected to get more backstory on Zelena and Regina, and spoilers suggest that Zelena's father may be revealed as well.

“We’re flashing back to Leopold’s younger days to fill in more Regina backstory,” says Ginnifer Goodwin to TVLine. “[Revisiting] Snow White’s childhood and her parents can take us there very easily, to show how the Evil Queen’s family, how those royals intertwine with my family’s royal lineage.”

Are you excited for so many interesting "Once Upon a Time" season 3 episodes before the finale?