PAST - NEVERLAND
It was nighttime, and Hook and his crew were sailing the ship through the waters of Neverland at night. Hook walked up to the helm and he was carrying a lantern. Smee was by the wheel and was eating cake.
"Mr. Smee, we are to return to Neverland with a full hold... not full bellies," Hook said.
"Come on, Captain," Mr. Smee replied. "Pan will never notice if a few cakes are missing."
"You can eat as many cakes as you want after I find a way to destroy the Dark One. Until then, we keep Pan happy."
"Of course."
Hook began to look entranced as a woman's voice could be heard. "So you hear that?" The voice continued.
"It's beautiful." The sounds of waves crashing came and the crew were too entranced by the Siren's song to notice that they were heading straight for rocks. Suddenly the singing stopped, and the men came back to their senses.
Hook glanced back through his telescope and saw that they were going to get shipwrecked. "Rocks dead ahead!" He raced back to the helm, and forcefully tried to steer the ship away from the rocks, successful in his actions.
Mr. Smee stood beside Hook. "That voice, captain... What was it?"
Hook breathed heavily. "The most dangerous creature in all the seas... A mermaid."
---
A young Ursula sat on the rocks where Hook's ship was heading. She was watching Hook sail his ship back to safety. Ursula looked sad. A moment later, her father, Poseidon appeared, and he wasn't happy.
"Why did you let that ship go?" Poseidon asked.
"I'm sorry, father, but I couldn't," Ursula replied.
"But I told you to. And I'm..."
"Poseidon, King of the Sea. Yes, yes. I know, but still... I want to use my voice to make people happy, not to hurt them."
"That's what your mother wanted, and look what happened to her."
"I miss her, too, father. But she's the one that taught me to sing, and I know she wouldn't want me to use my voice like this."
"She also wouldn't want you to let her murderers sail free. She would want you to avenge her death."
"No! That's what you want! Just because one human hurt mother doesn't mean they're all bad."
"Enough! As long as you live in my ocean, you will live by my rules."
"Then maybe I don't want to live in your ocean."
"Ursula, pout all you want, but I expect you home by high tide." He disappeared in a rush of water.
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE - MR. GOLD'S CABIN IN THE WOODS
Ursula was outside on the veranda, overlooking the lake, as she listened to someone singing on an old radio. She was unaware that Cruella had come outside.
"Darling," Cruella called. "Come. You're missing out on all the fun."
Ursula turned off her radio and followed Cruella.
---
August was still tied up on a chair. Mr. Gold and Regina were standing together, watching him struggle against his bonds.
"I already told you... I don't know anything about this author," August said.
Ursula entered with Cruella and walked over to August, holding a knife against his throat. "Well, perhaps you could use a little incentive."
"Oh, that knife is not gonna make me remember something that I don't know."
"Wait," Regina said, using her magic to take the knife from Ursula for herself.
"Is there a problem?" Ursula asked.
"I knew she'd never the stomach for this," Cruella stated.
"Please," Regina retorted. "I was torturing people back when you were still playing with puppies. This sorry excuse for a man used to be made of wood. So let's light a fire under him and see what happens." She produced a magic fireball in her hand.
August suddenly looked scared. "Okay. All right. You know something? I actually, uh, do remember something about the Author." Regina threw her fireball into the fireplace, lighting a fire. "Um..."
"Don't hold out on us," Ursula told her.
"W-when I was in Hong Kong, uh, before the curse broke, I met a mystic. His name was The Dragon. I don't know how he knew about the book, but he had been looking for the Author for years." He was looking at Mr Gold as he said this.
"And what did this "dragon" learn?" Mr. Gold questioned.
"He died before I could ask."
"Oh, well, that's something you two are about to have in common." He stood and walked towards August.
"And after he died... I took his research. And I brought it with me to Storybrooke."
"Do you really think this man-child is telling us the truth?" Maleficent asked.
"Well, it wouldn't be the first time he's lied to my face," Mr. Gold said. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pay a visit to his trailer to find out." He walked over to coat rack and took his jacket.
"While you're doing that, shall we carry on with the rest of the plan?" Ursula questioned.
Regina looked surprised. "Rest of the plan? What aren't you telling me?"
"You're gonna have to do a lot more than just kidnap a marionette and torch a few logs for us to tell you everything," Mr. Gold told her. "In the meantime, be content that you've finally chosen the winning side."
Regina walked over to the fire and stared at it for a few moments, before smoke quickly began to rise to the top of the chimney.
---
Emma, Hook, David, Derek and Mary Margaret were out searching for Regina/August. Odette was watching Alise. They were walking in the direction of the cabin, and it was clear that Emma and Derek were wound up, and Mary Margaret sensed it.
"It's okay, Emma, Derek," Mary Margaret said. "As long as he's with Regina, Pinocchio will be all right."
"We don't know that," Emma replied. "Derek and I just wish we hadn't let her ditch us."
"Swan, you and your deputy couldn't have known that she'd drop that tracking device," Hook stated.
"Yeah, but we let her talk us into thinking kidnapping him was a good idea. If anything happens to that kid, it's our fault."
David bent down to inspect the tracks they'd been following. "Uh, the tracks end here. Looks like the rain washed them away."
Hook turned to look at Emma. "Oh, would now be an appropriate time for a locator spell?"
Mary Margaret looked into the distance. "We may not need one. Look." They all stopped to look at the smoke traveling towards them. It engulfed Mary Margaret, before disappearing inside of her. The others looked on in concern.
"Mary Margaret."
"What the hell was that? Are you okay?" Emma asked.
Mary Margaret spoke in Regina's voice. "I have to make this quick. We don't have much time."
"Regina?" David realized.
"Pinocchio's fine. He's back to his old self, or older self."
"August," Emma and Derek noted.
"But there's something else you need to know... Gold is here. We're holed up in his cabin, and he's in town for more than just The Author. But he won't tell me why, which means whatever it is he's planning... it's bad." Regina left Mary Margaret, and Mary Margaret was back to her normal self.
"So the Dark One's returned," Hook commented.
"Yeah," Emma said, turning to look at Hook. "There's only one person who can help us drive him back out."
---
Emma, Hook, David, Derek and Mary Margaret were in Gold's shop. Belle was with them, and they had just told her the news that Mr. Gold had returned. She looked shocked at the news.
"H-h-he's here?" Belle stammered. "Th-that's... That's impossible."
"Well, did you really think he'd stay away?" Mary Margaret replied.
Emma rushed forward. "The dagger... you need to hand it over so we can stop this fight before it starts."
Belle looked confused. "The dagger? I-I don't have the dagger. Killian does."
Hook looked shocked by the news and looked amongst everyone. "Who? Me? Well, I haven't seen that cursed blade since you commanded the Crocodile to leave the first time."
"But y-you took it from me last night to hide it where no one could find it."
"After the lifetimes I spent searching for a way to destroy the Dark One, I'm pretty certain I'd remember holding that dagger in my hand."
"Okay, well, if I didn't give it to you, then who..."
"You gave it to Gold..." Derek finished, turning to face Hook. "Disguised as you. He's back, and so is his power."
"Even when I didn't think he could deceive me anymore... He found a way."
"Banishment was too good for that demon. We should have driven that dagger through his heart when we had the chance," Hook said.
"Then your name would be written across it," Emma reminded him.
"It's a small price to pay to ensure the Crocodile wouldn't come back again."
Derek turned to Hook. "I know you're angry, but we defeated him before and we'll do it again."
"Yeah, but the question is, how?" Mary Margaret said. "We don't even know what he's planning."
"First, we save August," David told the group.
"Yeah. You do that. I'll find out the Dark One's secret," Hook said.
"How are you gonna do that?" David wondered.
"The sea witch Ursula. Remember when I said I had a past with her? Now's the time to use it."
"How?" Emma and Derek questioned.
"By taking a page out of your book, Swan, Howard. I'm gonna return her happy ending."
"Can you really do that?"
"Aye. Because I'm the one who took it from her in the first place."
---
Regina, August and the Queens of Darkness were still in Mr. Gold's cabin, and they were waiting for Gold to return. Regina sat next to August, and she had the page of her and Robin Hood in her hands, slowly unfolding it.
August sighed and asked, "What's that... more kindling?"
"This page appeared to someone very important to me," Regina told him.
"Robin Hood?"
"How do you know about Robin Hood?"
"Just 'cause the boy doesn't remember being me doesn't mean I don't remember being the boy."
"Well, you're right. Robin did find it. But this page... it depicts something that didn't happen. And I think you know more than you're saying."
Cruella noticed that Ursula suddenly got a bit shifty. "What's the matter, darling? Is there something out there?"
"It's nothing," Ursula reassured. "Just gonna go stretch my tentacles."
---
Hook was in the woods near the cabin, trying to get Ursula to come to him. He had blown through a shell to get her.
"Where is that infernal creature?" Hook wondered.
Suddenly, tentacles crushed him and he grunted in pain as Ursula said, "Right here, captain."
"Wait. I want to offer you a deal."
"After what you did to me? I don't think so."
"Gold was wrong. You don't have to find the Author to get what you want." He gasped in air when Ursula released her tentacles from around him.
"And why should I believe a word you say?"
"Because I know what it is you desire. And I know exactly where to get it."
"You still have it?"
"The Dark One... he's here for more than just the Author. If I return your happy ending, you're gonna tell me exactly what he's doing in Storybrooke."
"You got yourself a deal."
PAST - THE ENCHANTED FOREST
Hook and his crew were in a tavern. A now human Ursula was singing, and all the men in the tavern listened, entranced by her voice.
Ursula sang, "♪ I'll tell you a tale of the bottomless blue ♪ ♪ And it's hey, to the starboard, heave ho ♪ ♪ Look out, lad, a mermaid be waiting for you ♪ ♪ In mysterious fathoms below ♪ ♪ Mysterious fathoms below ♪" She finished and was met with applause.
Hook had been watching her and finally stood before making his way over to her and said, "I'd recognize that voice anywhere. You're the mermaid who nearly sank my ship. But you didn't. For that, I owe you a drink."
Hook and Ursula sat at a table in the corner of the room. They both had a drink.
"After I let you escape, my father said I had to obey his rules if I wanted to live in his ocean," Ursula said.
"Ah. I see you don't take well to ultimatums?"
Ursula chuckled. "I broke into his vault and stole this. It lets me walk on land." She showed him a bracelet.
"Well, you're a brave lass."
"My father wasn't always so cruel, you know. He used to be happy. Listening to my mother and me sing used to bring him joy."
"What changed, love?"
"My mother was killed... By a pirate. That's why he forbade me to sing, except to guide sailors to their doom. He turned my voice into a weapon. But it's all I have left of my mother. Singing is the only way to keep her spirit alive."
"You have a rare gift. Your voice can soothe even the most haunted soul."
"You really think so?"
"For almost a century, my every waking moment has been consumed by one thought... making an evil man pay for what he did to the woman I loved. Listening to your voice... took away that pain. If even just for a brief moment."
"That's all I ever wanted. To make people happy."
He smiled. "Well, that's what you're doing. So, why are you singing in this rat's nest?"
"I'm saving for passage to Glowerhaven. My mother said it was her favorite place to sing. I'm trying to earn enough gold..."
"Oh, you don't need gold for that trip."
"I won't?"
"Not if I take you."
Ursula chuckled again. "You'd really do that for me?"
"Meet me at the docks tomorrow morning."
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE
Hook and Ursula were standing at the docks, and Hook's ship was nowhere in sight.
"So, where exactly did you bury my treasure?" Ursula asked.
"Oh, I didn't bury what you're after," Hook told her. "It's aboard the Jolly Roger."
"So where's the Jolly Roger?"
"Ha. Back in the Enchanted Forest. Now, can you still open portals underwater, or did you give up that power when you became the monster you are?"
"The monster that you made me."
"Can you open the portal or not?"
"Yes, I can. But I'm afraid I'll need something from the Jolly Roger to know exactly where it is."
Hook pulled a piece of wood out of his jacket. "Piece of the rigging. Did you really think I'd trade my ship without taking a souvenir?" He handed the wood to Ursula who just held it. "What's the matter... you don't like the ocean?"
"I haven't dipped my toe in the sea since I was banished to this world. Stand back." She used her tentacle to touch the water, a small whirlpool appeared.
"It didn't work."
Ursula chuckled. "Yes it did."
He looked down and saw that his ship was caught in a glass bottle. "Bloody hell."
"Looks like you're not the only thing that's changed."
PAST - ENCHANTED FOREST
Hook had just left the tavern, and as he made his way back towards the docks, he sensed that someone was following him, so he stopped and went to turn and said, "The last man who tailed me ended up with a dagger in his gut." He went to attack whoever was following him, but was grabbed by two men and a hood was put over his head.
Two men dragged Hook onto his ship, both holding onto his arms to stop Hook from attacking them. One of them removed his hood, and let go of him and stepped back.
Hook scoffed as his eyes landed on Poseidon. "You dare drag me onto my own ship? You're a dead man."
"You listen to me," Poseidon said. "My daughter is not going anywhere near this vessel tomorrow."
Hook chuckled. "Well, threatening me isn't gonna make her change her mind."
Poseidon held out a small shell. "I don't need to change her mind. You do."
"How's a seashell gonna help me?"
Poseidon waved his trident over the seashell and the shell glowed momentarily. "It's now enchanted to take away her reason to leave... her voice. Or rather, her singing voice. If she can't sing, she'll return to the sea, where she belongs."
"She told us what that voice means to her. I won't betray her, not since she spared my ship."
"What if I could offer you a way to destroy the Dark One and to be able to leave Neverland permanently?"
"What do you know about my feud with the Crocodile?"
"I know you've spent a lifetime searching for a way to kill him. I can offer you magic that will finally set you free."
"What kind of magic do you mean?"
"Squid ink. A single drop is potent enough to paralyze any being, even Rumpelstiltskin."
"And all I have to do is steal your daughter's singing voice?"
"It's simple, pirate. Just show her how awful humans really can be."
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE
Hook and Ursula entered Mr. Gold's shop, where Belle and Will had clearly just been kissing. They pulled away as Ursula and Hook walked towards them.
"Do hope we're not interrupting, but we need the thief's assistance," Hook said.
"And how do I know that you're really Killian?" Belle shot back.
"Oh, now you decide to question my identity?"
"If he were the Dark One, lover boy here would already be dead," Ursula pointed out.
"Yeah, she's got a point there," Will agreed. "But why should I help you?"
"Because for once, we want the same thing... the Dark One gone," Matthew answered. "The key to making that happen is in here." He pulled out the glass bottle with his ship inside.
Will bent down slightly to look at the ship. "Right. That your sister's ship, is it? Bit small, isn't it?"
"Careful, mate. It's unwise to insult the size of a pirate's ship. And you spent more time in Wonderland than anyone he and I know. You must have something that can restore it."
"You're in luck. I think I might have just what you need."
REGINA'S DREAM
Regina was walking alone through the woods, looking at the page of her and Robin Hood kissing.
"Regina!" Robin Hood called.
"Robin?" Regina said.
"Regina!"
"Robin! I don't understand. How did you get here?"
"That doesn't matter. The only thing that matters is I'm here with you now." They kissed passionately, happy to be reunited.
Regina pulled away smiling, but it quickly dropped. "Someone's watching." She turned to see the Evil Queen walking towards them. "What the hell are you doing here?"
"Get away from him!" the Evil Queen yelled, throwing a fireball at the two of them.
PRESENT - STORYBROOKR
Regina gasped and woke up.
Maleficent, who'd been watching her sleep, said, "If you're having trouble sleeping, I have something that might help."
"I'm fine," Regina told her. "Thank you."
Mr. Gold entered the cabin and shut the door behind him. "Hello, dearies."
"Tell us... did you find anything at the puppet's trailer?" Cruella asked.
Mr. Gold chuckled. "Of course not. I didn't even look. The man's a born liar. He never would have cracked so easily. Instead, I paid a visit to the fairies. Or rather, a visit to their ample supply of magic." He pulled out a small potion vile. "Now, this potion can temporarily reverse any spell those do-gooders cast. They made him real. This can undo that. I promise you, dearie... This is gonna hurt." He removed August's gag and forced him to drink the potion, and very slowly August turned back into wood. "Now... Let's see if we can pull this puppet's strings."
---
Emma, Mary Margaret, Derek and David pulled up before a bridge in the truck and all got out, straight away heading in the direction of Gold's cabin.
"Gold's cabin's up ahead," Emma said. "We go on foot from here."
"Anything from Hook?" Mary Margaret asked. "Think he's managed to turn Ursula yet?"
"If she hasn't turned them," David said.
"Really? We're thinking that now?" Emma retorted.
"Well, they kind of went to a dark place this morning."
"Do you blame him? If Gold did to me what he did to Hook, I'd want to shove that dagger through his heart, too. And judging from Derek's look, he might too."
"Emma, that's not you. You're not..." Mary Margaret was cut off.
Derek interrupted and defended Hook. "It's also not Hook. Or me. Relax. She's just saying she understood where he was coming from. Come on. Gold might not hurt a kid, but August? Who knows what he'll do to him?" He and Emma continued walking in the direction of the cabin.
CABIN
August was completely wood again, having gone through the painful transformation. August turned back into a man again.
"When you said it was temporary, you weren't kidding, were you, darling?" Cruella said.
"You see, you may no longer look like the puppet you once were, but it matters not," Mr. Gold told August. "That potion you just drank has activated that... built-in lie detector of yours."
"I don't know what you're talking about," August shot back, groaning as his nose started to grow.
Mr. Gold chuckled. "Excellent. The next lie is gonna hurt." He forced August towards the fire and dangled his nose in it, August clearly in pain. "What do you know about the Author?"
"I already told you everything." His nose grew once again. He grunted in pain as his nose got closer to the fire.
"Try again, dearie. Where is he?"
"I don't know." His nose grew once again.
"Do not fool yourself. I will get my answer."
"Okay."
Mr. Gold pulled him back. "Where is he?"
"All right. I'm gonna tell you what you want to know. The Sorcerer, uh, trapped the Author behind a door."
"The Sorcerer?" Cruella repeated. "A door? He's speaking in riddles."
"No, listen to me, Gold. You know about the sorcerer. You know I'm telling the truth. And she..." He turned to look at Regina. "She knows about the door. I know my papa gave you my things. There was a page that I took out of the book. Had an illustration of the door on it."
"Regina?" Mr. Gold said.
"They were just scraps of paper," Regina replied.
"Then you'll have no problem sharing them with us now."
"Well, I would if I hadn't already given them to Henry."
Mr. Gold nodded before looking back at August. "Do you remember what the door looks like?"
"Uh... Made of wood. Hand-carved frame. Gilt in gold," August replied.
"Where is the door?"
"All I know... Is... it's somewhere in Storybrooke."
Mr. Gold chuckled and patted August's back, before pushing August back onto the chair. "There we are, now. That wasn't so hard, now, was it? Since the sorcerer was the one who did the trapping, we will start our search for the door at his mansion. Maleficent." He started putting on his jacket.
"I'll stay here and watch the puppet," Regina said.
"No, no. Cruella will be our guard dog. Since you're the only one who's seen the drawing of the door, you're gonna have to help us find it." He left the cabin.
---
Hook and Ursula were back at the docks with the fluid that Will gave them, which would enlarge his ship to it's proper size. Hook was holding the glass bottle, and Ursula was preparing to drop the water onto the bottle.
"Be careful, love," Hook said. "That's distilled from Wonderland's finest mushrooms. Spill one drop, and, well, Storybrooke will have a giant squid in its harbor."
The ship inside the bottle began to glow yellow, and Hook threw the bottle into the water, as he and Ursula watched on. Moments later, the ship returned to it's original size.
"Now that's a ship fit for a pirate," Hook stated.
PAST - ENCHANTED FOREST
Ursula was singing on the ship again, and the crew were distracted, including Mr. Smee. Hook made his way down onto the deck, getting ready to set sail.
Ursula sang, "♪ fathoms below ♪"
"Mr. Smee, clear the deck," Hook ordered.
"♪ Below. Wayward Western winds blow ♪"
"I'd like a moment alone with our guest."
Mr. Smee whistled to signal the crew to leave Ursula and Hook alone.
Ursula continued singing. "♪ Poseidon is king and his merpeople sing ♪ ♪ In mysterious fathoms below ♪ ♪ Mysterious fathoms ♪" She stopped singing when she realized Hook wanted to talk to her. "I hope you don't mind. I thought your crew might like something to work by."
"Aye," Hook replied. "It's beautiful. I'm afraid I've got something to show you." He held his hand out to reveal the shell that Poseidon gave him.
"I know what that is. Why do you have that? Please don't use it!"
"Don't worry. I won't. But you must know... your father gave this to me. He thought you'd return home if you could no longer sing. In exchange for helping him, he offered me squid ink... a weapon that would finally let me get my revenge against the Dark One."
"And you would sacrifice that prize for me?"
"I know that voice is the only thing you have left of your mother. If I had something left of my love... Look, I may be a pirate... but I have a code. And I promise to never take that voice from you."
"But that means you'll remain trapped as Pan's servant forever."
"Not necessarily. You stole that bracelet from your father's vault. I'd wager that's where he keeps the squid ink."
"You want me to steal it for you."
"I'll take you to Glowerhaven and wherever else you want to go."
"Then we can both get what we want."
"Aye."
"Now you're thinking like a pirate."
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE
Hook and Ursula were on the ship, and were heading into the room where Hook was keeping Ursula's voice. Hook was in the process of taking in his ship, happy to see it again.
"Mm. I never thought I'd walk this sweet vessel again," Hook said.
"Yes, well, you can ogle your ship after you return my singing voice," Ursula told him.
Hook took his hook out from its brace and the attachment was a key, which he used to open a safe, before attaching his back in place. He held the shell out to her. "Now, you know the deal I hand this over, you tell me every detail of the Dark One's plan." He handed the shell to Ursula.
The shell began to vocalize. "Oh, you hear that?"
Hook smiled. "Aye."
Ursula watched as her voice left the shell and began to travel towards her. Moments later, it stopped and disappeared back in the shell. "It didn't work."
"Why the devil not?"
"Because you're wrong, Hook. Villains can't get their happy endings." She sighed. "I never should have believed you when you said we could do this without the Author."
"I delivered your voice. It's not my fault if your magic can't get it out of the bloody shell. Now tell me what Gold has planned."
"Our deal is over. You get nothing!"
He angrily grabbed his gun, cocked it and pointed it at Ursula. "Our deal is not done. I have to stop the Dark One. He's taken too much from me already."
"You haven't changed one bit. Still the same selfish pirate, as always. Never go up against a woman with eight hands." She used one of her tentacles to knock the gun out of his hand. "Especially when you only have one." She knocked him out.
Ursula was on the deck of the ship, holding Hook in one of her tentacles. Hook was still unconscious. "Have a nice swim, Captain." She threw him overboard.
Hook landed in the water, and immediately went under from their heavy leather and not being conscious to try and stay afloat. Moments later, he reappeared and Ariel had a hold of him.
"Don't worry," Ariel said. "You can thank me later."
Ariel threw Hook back on his bed. He was conscious, but wet and cold.
"Are you okay?" Ariel asked.
"Aye," Hook replied.
"Good." She leaned forward and slapped Hook across the cheek hard. "That's for tossing Black Beard overboard before he could tell me where Eric was. I had to rescue that awful man to find him."
"Then why are you here? I thought you and your prince were living happily ever after."
"I was, until I got trapped in that bottle. After you traded the Jolly Roger to Black Beard, he used your ship to terrorize a lot of people, including some royals from Arendelle. The queen trapped your ship as punishment."
"Elsa did that?"
"And I accidentally got swept up in the magic, so thanks for letting me out. Was that the real Ursula? Why was she throwing you overboard?"
"Because I was so focused on getting what I want, I made a promise to her I couldn't deliver." He groaned. "Maybe she was right. Maybe villains can't get their happy endings."
"Maybe that's because villains always go about getting them the wrong way."
"I'm gonna need your help."
PAST - ENCHANTED FOREST
Ursula was back from stealing the squid ink from her father, and she met Hook on the deck of his ship, holding it out for him.
"I trust that you didn't run into any trouble," Hook said.
"Nothing I couldn't handle," Ursula replied.
"I've waited a century for this. I couldn't have done this without your help, Ursula. So, tell me, where do you want to go to first?"
Poseidon arrived on the ship without either of them noticing. "You're not taking her anywhere."
Hook saw his men draw their swords ready to fight. "Stand down, men. This is between me and the sea king."
"No!" Ursula cried. "It's about me. Hook told me what you asked him to do. You were trying to take away the only thing I have left of mother."
"So I wouldn't lose you the way I lost her," Poseidon said. "You may have fooled my daughter, but I know exactly what you are. You only care about one thing... your vengeance." He used his trident to take back the squid ink. "Now you'll never get it."
Hook angrily said, "You have no idea what you've just done." He attempted to draw his sword to strike Poseidon, but got frozen.
"You dare attack a deity?"
"I don't have to kill you to make you suffer. I know I'm not the only one consumed by vengeance." He suddenly turned to Ursula and held the shell out, it beginning to take away her voice.
"No!" Ursula yelled as her voice left her and entered the shell.
Hook momentarily looked guilty before turning back to Poseidon. "Now you'll never sink another ship with this."
Ursula said hoarsely, "How could you? You said you had a code. You said you'd never steal my voice."
"That was before your father destroyed my one chance at revenge."
"My father is a tyrant, but you're no better. Keep it. If this is what humans are like, no one deserves to hear it." She took off the cuff and jumpedboff the side of the ship.
"Ursula!" Poseidon called, turning to face Hook. "Give me the shell."
"And give you the satisfaction of returning it to her?" Hook said. "Now go. Before I destroy it and everything you hold dear."
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE
August was fully back to normal, the potion having finally worn off. Cruella was sitting in an arm chair watching him as she said, "Thank heavens that potion was only temporary. The scruff is so much more attractive than the timber."
Emma kicked open the door and entered the cabin. "I'm here for my friend."
"So, the savior found us, did she? Now leave." She pulled out her gun and pointed it at Emma.
Emma raised her hands, ready to perform magic while Derek cocked his gun.
Mary Margaret was there first and knocked Cruella out by hitting her over the head with a frying pan, and Cruella fell to the floor unconscious.
"Nice one, Mom," Emma complimented.
"Well, first thing you learn as a bandit... back door's usually unlocked," Mary Margaret replied.
Emma turned to August and placed her hand on his shoulder. "August, are you okay? Did they hurt you?"
"I'll survive," August said. Emma used her magic to untie the ropes around his legs. "Oh. Well, I see somebody's been practicing."
"Well, I seem to remember someone telling me I just needed to believe in myself."
"I always knew you'd figure it out."
Emma knelt in front of him. "It's good to have you back, even if it isn't the way things were supposed to be. I'm glad I didn't have to wait 20 years to see you as you again."
August chuckled. "Me too."
"Come on. Let's get you out of here." She stood.
Ursula entered and stopped her. "No one is going anywhere."
Emma looked around for Hook and a worried expression crossed her face and she asked, "Where the hell is Hook? What'd you do to him?"
"Sorry, sweetheart. Your boyfriend's shark bait."
Emma raised her hands to strike Ursula with magic while Derek pointed his gun at Ursula.
Ursula used her tentacles to start strangling Mary Margaret. "Oh! Drop those hands and that gun, or your mother/friend here's gonna need gills to breathe."
PAST - SOMEWHERE AT SEA
Ursula was sitting alone in the same place as before, only this time not singing.
Poseidon arrived and apologized, "I'm sorry, Ursula. But I had to."
"Don't you understand?" Ursula said. "My singing was the only thing keeping mother's spirit alive, and now she's gone forever. You wanted me to choose a side. Well, father, I'm choosing one... mine!" She reached out and grabbed his trident, pointing it at herself.
Poseidon put his hands up in a surrendering motion. "Ursula, don't!"
"All you ever wanted was for me to remain your precious, little mermaid. Well, I'm not gonna be that anymore. In fact, I'm not gonna be a mermaid at all. You named me Ursula after the sea goddess of old. Legend says she was strong and powerful. Well, that's exactly what I want to be."
"Ursula, wait!"
Ursula pointed his trident at her tail and moments later, eight tentacles appear. "Now I'm even more powerful than you. And the whole sea will be at the mercy of my every whim. You don't need to protect me, father. You need to fear me."
PRESENT - STORYBROOKE - GOLD'S CABIN
Mary Margaret was still be strangled by Ursula's tentacle, and Emma, David, Derek and August could only watch on.
"Ursula, you don't need to do this," Emma and Derek said.
"That's where you're wrong," Ursula told them. "I can't have him leave with you. Not when the Author is the only one who can give me what I want."
Hook entered the cabin looking healthy. "That's not true."
Emma sighed with relief.
"How are you still breathing?" Ursula asked.
Hook walked further into the cabin and stood beside Emma before he said, "He and I are good at surviving. Or you're bad at killing. Either way, you don't need the Author to get what you want. I know why you couldn't release your voice from that shell. Only the one who enchanted it can do that."
"Wait. You don't mean..."
Hook nodded. "Aye."
Poseidon walked into the cabin and Ursula called, "Father?"
"Ursula," Poseidon said.
Ursula gasped. "How are you here in this land?"
"A young mermaid found me and brought me through a portal. I need to say something. I'm sorry, Ursula. I never should have forced you to use your voice as a weapon. It was just... Every time I heard you sing, I heard your mother, and it was too painful. I let that pain fuel my desire for vengeance, but it shouldn't have. It should have reminded me that I still had a piece of her... you. Let me return your voice so I can hear it one last time." He opened his palm, and the shell was there.
Ursula's voice traveled towards her and she started vocalizing. Moments later, her voice was back.
Poseidon sighed. "Now that you are whole again, I'll leave you in peace."
"Wait," Ursula called. "My voice is all we have left of mother. You took it from me once. I don't want to do the same thing to you."
"What are you saying?"
"I've missed you." She hugged her father.
Jackie had her hand on Hook's chest and his arm was around her. She and Emma smiled up at him as he helped return Ursula's happy ending.
"I've missed you, too," Poseidon said.
Mary Margaret noticed that Cruella was gone and asked, "Where's Cruella?"
"Uh, she must have slipped away, most likely to warn Gold," David guessed. "We should clear out before they get back."
Ursula silently thanked Hook again before leaving with Poseidon.
Emma and Derek asked August, "Are you okay?"
"I'm okay," August replied as he was helped out the cabin by Mary Margaret and David. Derek followed, wanting to get back to his girls.
Emma turned to Hook and questioned, "Hook, what's wrong? You gave Ursula everything she wanted."
"But I almost didn't, love," Hook replied. "I was so desperate to figure out what the Crocodile was up to, I almost became the man I used to be. You have no idea how easy it is to fall back into the darkness."
She moved closer to him. "Whatever mistakes you made with Ursula, you fixed."
"Aye. But it's a stark reminder of something."
"What?"
"With all this talk of authors and the book, we've never discussed one fact... I was a villain."
"But you're not anymore."
"Neither is Regina, but she still lost her happy ending. If we're to believe the rules of the book, then it's only a matter of time before I lose mine."
"Wait. If you're afraid of losing your happy ending, that means you found it. What is it?"
"Don't you know, Emma? It's you."
She teared up at his words, and continued to look at him for a few moments, before leaning into kiss him. A lone tear made its way down her cheek.
---
Regina, Mr. Gold and Maleficent were walking back towards the cabin, after having an unsuccessful search at the Apprentice's mansion for the door.
"Well, that was a royal waste of time," Regina said.
"The door may not be in the sorcerer's mansion, but it's somewhere in Storybrooke," Mr. Gold told them. "We will find it."
Cruella screeched to a stop in front of them in her car.
Mr. Gold, surprised to see her, asked, "What are you doing here? Where's August?"
"They rescued him... the heroes," Cruella informed.
"You had one simple task."
"It wasn't my fault! We have a mole."
Maleficent looked at Regina. "Who would be foolish enough to cross us?"
"I know exactly who. Ursula. She sold us out for a reunion with daddy dearest."
"All right," Mr. Gold said. "We may have lost our informant, but we still have his information." He turned to face Regina. "Bring us the illustration of the door. Maybe there's something in it the puppet missed."
---
It was night, and Hook, Ursula and Poseidon were at the docks.
"I suppose this is farewell," Hook said.
"It is, but first, I have to hold up my end of the deal," Ursula replied, nodding at Poseidon, before he left them on the dock. "Gold's plan... I'm afraid it involves Emma and Odette. She's the only way he can secure happy endings for the villains and I hear word that he will restore what once was for her."
"Well, I thought he was gonna get the Author to rewrite everyone's stories."
"It's not that simple. The Author can't just change things in this world because he didn't give everyone their happy endings here."
"Emma did."
"She's the savior. And as long as there's a savior, the Author can't give the villains what they really want. And the Dark One knows this."
"The Dark One's gonna try to kill Emma?"
"Worse... he plans to fill one her heart with darkness forever and cast an unbreakable curse on the swan princess."
---
Emma was making a hot drink in the kitchen in the Blanchard apartment when Regina entered. Henry was looking through the book, Alise was next to him looking at it, and August was asleep on the couch. Derek and Odette were sitting at the kitchen table, watching their daughter with a smile.
Regina sighed and walked up to Emma as she said, "We're lucky he's okay."
"It wasn't luck," Emma replied. "You got us that message. Thank you."
"I need your help with something."
"What is it?"
"I had a dream today... Robin Hood came back, we were finally together, but then, I... The Evil Queen... showed up with a fireball in her hand."
"I may not be Archie, but it sounds like you're afraid of the villain you used to be and the one you might become again."
"No, I don't think that's it. In my dream, I don't think the Evil Queen was there to hurt Robin. I think she was there to protect him."
"From what?"
"I don't know. I just... Felt it. You used to track people for a living. Can you get me a phone number, a way to contact him, anything?"
"Yeah. Yeah, I can do that."
"Mom!" Henry called.
Emma brought August the hot drink.
August was awake and didn't look happy to see Regina and also looked surprised. "What is she doing here?"
"Oh, it's okay," Emma told him. "I promise."
Regina sighed. "August... We need to talk about how I'm going to keep up my cover with Gold. The only reason I was able to come here... is because they think I'm stealing this page. We didn't find the door at the Sorcerer's mansion."
"That's because it's not there," August said.
"What?" Henry asked.
"But... You said you didn't know where it was," Regina reminded him. "And your nose didn't grow."
"My nose didn't grow because I wasn't lying," August replied. "When Gold asked me, I didn't know where the door was because I didn't know where Henry was keeping this page. Regina..." He pointed at the page. "This isn't just an illustration. This is the door. The Author is trapped inside the book."