In regards to the last chapter, yes, it was an April Fool's Day joke. Disregard the death of Mary and everyone in the dinner. And the Squid, and Regina's fish bowl house, and really anything else that seemed overly silly.
Even though I do really want to kill Belle off for her own stupidity. I mean really, she is just, ahhh. She is still emotionally blackmailing Gold and forcing him to change into something he's not.
And then there is the whole not letting him use dark magic thing. Belle, Sweetie, when you are up against a god, a god, and on his home turf, where he is, IS, all-powerful, and when you are fighting to protect your CHILD, it is not the time to pull your punches.
And anyone with a basic understanding of philosophy will tell you that Gold is right, you can't make a good dead evil, you can't make a wrong decision the right one. You can make a wrong decision that is good, like not killing a murder. Or the right evil decision; like a soldier killing the enemy. You can use Darkness for the right reasons, but you can't change its nature.
And really, being a hero is not about compassion and having forgiveness, anyone can have that, even villains. Being a hero isn't doing what is morally right either. It's doing the right thing, whether it's good or evil, hard or easy, it's making the tough choice even when it's not convenient.
Something Belle is incapable of.
"And… there." Gold said stopping up the completed potion. He then quickly magics away the rest of the potion, 30 feet under the bedrock of his house to be exact. He then used his magic to open all the windows in the place and went out the door.
"Do you have it?" Regina asked.
Gold held up the vial, which was made with onyx mixed into the glass and black metal bands around then outside. "Pour this into the well after the portal opens and Cora will bounce off this world and into another."
"That's all we have to do?" David asked, looking confused.
"I would hope dropping a vial down a hole would be a simple concept for you Charming."
"I just, everyone has been saying how complicated portal magic is, I excepted something harder."
"Believe me, handling dragon piss is not what I would call easy. But yes, us mages like the spells to defend our homes to be as simple as possible."
"Any details we need to worry about?"
"The potion is not a cure-all, one vial equals one portal blocker, and we have to wait for it to open before we throw it in, we do it before it's time and the potency might lesson to the point of being ineffective."
"So now what?" Henry asked.
"Now, we wait, and hope for the best."
"So, we get to Lake Nostos, then what?" Philip asked as they kept moving, having lost the zombies they slowed down enough to regroup and catch their breath before continuing at an, encouraged, pace.
"We have Hook dig until we hit pay dirt." Emma said.
"I think you mean pay water." Lancelot said.
"And why am I digging?" Hook asked.
"Because you're a pain and annoying. And so were putting all that energy you use into flirting toward a more productive task." Emma replied.
"My not being your favorite person aside, with Cora after us I'm sure she will figure out the plan, probably sooner rather than not. And my only having one hand would make digging slow. Now I don't know about the rest of you, but when a homicidal, heartless witch, who we ticked off, is after us, I find that speed is the most important thing."
"And just how often does that happen to you?" Mary asked.
"I met Cora after her daughter sent me to rip her heart out and kill her. Of course, she left out the part where Cora hadn't had her heart in her chest for several decades. So that meeting took a sudden turn in her favor rather quickly."
"How did you survive that one, surely not by your wit or cunning?" Lancelot asked.
"She realized I was more useful alive than dead."
"You should hope we keep thinking the same about you."
"This should do the trick." Gold said, carefully hanging the mirror above the well's opening. "No one is opening a doorway here without us knowing about it."
"Gold." David said. "Not that I don't have complete faith in you. But how sure are you this will work?"
"Can you think of a reason it wouldn't work?"
"Well, this whole plan depends on Cora coming through here, what happens if she comes through some other place?"
"Then we had all better update our life insurance to include a 'killed by fireball' policy." Gold deadpanned. "Charming, tell me, would you run through a wall to get into a room with a flawlessly usable, unlocked, door?"
"No."
"Same thing here. Magic used to go through realms is about as difficult as it comes, especially for some worlds, getting here is virtually impossible. She will want to use a tried and true method to get here, and at the moment, there are only two ways that we know works, magic beans, and the wardrobe ashes. If she had a bean, she would be here already, and the only way to power the ashes are these waters."
"So she will come through here, you can guaranty it."
"No, on one can guaranty that. But I know Cora, she is too fond of herself to risk any other way of transport, and the odds of her having access to another form of transportation is extremely in our favor."
"I had a girl and her name was Lize
She puts whiskey in her pies
Whiskey-o, Johnny-o
John rise her up from down below
Whiskey, whiskey, whiskey-o
Up aloft this yard must go
John rise her up from down below
Oh whiskey straight, and whiskey strong
Give me some whiskey and I'll sing you a song"
"Then remind me not to let you have a drop every again." Lancelot said sternly.
"My good knight. You have your passions, your sword, your shield, your horse. I am a sailor, a captain, our loves are first and always, our ship, followed by rum as a close second, and then any other form of alcohol as a third, whiskey being at the top of the list."
"Then why not sing about your ship."
"My love is a tall ship My love is a tall ship.
and a sweet brigan tine,
One of the old girls
seldom not seen,
And she heaves to the wind, boys.
See how she glides
With stars in her hair
and mist in her eyes.
No finer was seen,
To many's the Ocean
my true love has been,
And the wind in the rigging
it whispers her name,
While Chris on the bows
watches o'er the main.
The song was cut short by a rock flying past Hook's head.
"Why must you sing and dig?"
"Once again, sailor, we sing as we work." Hook said, once again digging the shovel into the ground. "If you want me to not sing about a lass from a Camelot port, you could help."
Lancelot just grunted, but then the ground started coming up and floating into the air.
Hook screamed before falling into the water.
"Well, that was fun." Emma said smiling.
"What in the seven hells?" Hook yelled after coming up for air.
"You asked for help."
"Why didn't you do that earlier?"
"The singing was kind of good." Emma admitted. "Just don't do it drunk."
Emma then took out the ashes and poured them in.
At first, nothing happened, but then the water started to move, going faster and faster, until finally, it looked like a whirlpool, getting larger and larger until it finally took up the entire pool.
"All aboard." Emma said. Taking out the compass. Mary came over, as did Hook. "What about all of you?"
"We can't leave."
"But, Cora…" Mary said, very concerned for her friends.
"This is our home, Snow, I'm sure you understand, we can't just leave it for her to conquer or destroy in our absence."
They all nodded, in understanding or agreement with what was said. "Where will you go?" Emma asked.
"There are other groups, small pockets left after the curse, we will find them, everything will be all right." Lancelot said smiling to reassure them.
"Ok." Emma said. She then walked away from them a small distance and bent down to write something in the dirt. When she finished, she came back and gripped the compass as hard as she could. "Ok, let's go home. Hang on or you could come out anywhere."
And then they jumped.
Lancelot, Philip, Aurora, and Mulan watched until the vortex diapered.
"Let's go." Philip said.
"Somethings coming." Gold yelled, dropping the potion into the well before taking a step back. "If Cora is coming, she won't make it through that." Gold said.
David still drew his sword anyway. He then noticed Gold's look. "Better safe than sorry."
Gold rolled his eyes, but then he created a fireball.
"Do I get a weapon?" Henry asked.
"No." David said.
Gold gave him a sling shot.
And then they waited.
And waited.
And… waited.
"Um, how long should this take?"
"I, don't know. Depends on what they're doing over there."
And waited.
"Maybe the connection is just taking a while." Henry said.
"You think they are getting the spinning wheel of death." Gold asked. Henry just looked at him like he was speaking Elvish. "I Google, I use the internet, I know things."
"Sure."
A…N…D… waited.
"Anyone hungry?" David asked.
"A little." Henry said.
"I could run down to Granny's. I bet they will be hungry, could get them some ice tea and burgers." David said.
"Bring me back an ice cream." Henry said.
"Me too." Gold said.
David then left.
And still, waiting.
"Rock paper scissors." Henry said. Crying out when he lost again to Gold. "How do you do that?"
"I'm the Dark One, manipulating is what I do, and you have to know a person to manipulate them." Gold said. "And I can see the future."
Henry just glared at him. "Can you see when they are coming through?"
"No, unfortunately."
And waited.
"76 bottles of beer on the wall, 76 bottles of beer, you take one down, pass it around, 75 bottles of beer on the wall."
"And people actually sing this on road trips?" Gold asked.
"I guess, never been on a road trip."
"If we ever go on one, you sing this song and I will drive us off a cliff by the third verse."
VOOOOM
Gold and Henry both shot up, running, or limping determinedly, over to look down the well.
"Ahh, Bloody hell love, you trapped us down a hole."
"Will you stop shoving, I need to get my bearings."
Up top, the boys just looked down the hole, and they saw a mess of blond hair.
Henry was about to yell, but Gold quickly covered his mouth and dragged him away.
"What?" Henry asked.
Gold was having a hard time not laughing. "For purely entertaining reasons." Gold then waved his hands and four rolls of pennies appeared. "Shall we make a wish?"
"You are evil." Henry said but was grinning while he said it. Then taking one of the rolls, opened it and, standing a small distance back, throw one into the well.
And a moment later. "Ouch, what the bloody hell was that."
And, grinning like idiots, they both started throwing pennies.
"Ahk."
"What?"
"You trapped us in a wet hole, and it's raining bits of metal."
"Wait a second…. HENRY….GOLD!"
Both stopped, trying to look guilty at one another, but then.
"I got the food." David called, and Gold got an idea.
A flick of the wrist later, Gold has to food in hand, and David is looking down into the well, dropping all the pennies in.
And Mary Margret was looking up. "David, you?"
"What…"
"David." Gold yells, coming up to the well. "WE leave you alone for five minutes, and you start throwing pennies into the well. Shame on you."
"But…"
"Yeah, shame on you." Henry says, before looking down the well. "Hi, mom."
"Hi Henry, I know it was you and your father."
Henry had enough sense to look guilty. "We'll have you out in a moment." Henry yells down and then looks at his father. "We'll have them out in a moment, right?"
"Yes. One second please." Gold says, concentrating on not pulling the well and the people out of the ground.
A moment later and a puff of smoke, and Mary Margret and Emma, along with some other person were out of the well.
And falling on their backs because of suddenly not being squashed against a wall.
"Ouch." Emma said, before looking at her husband, not happy. "What, a couple of mattresses to land on was too much to hope for."
"Hello to you too." Gold said.
Emma just smiled and ran over to him and Henry. "Oh, I missed you." She said, hugging Henry.
Or she might have been trying to pop his head off by squeezing him, it was kind of hard to tell.
Emma then looked up at Gold. "Follow my lead." Was all she said before turning around to help Mary and…
Hook?
Gold blinked, rubbed his eyes, and then blinked again.
No, he didn't see things, Hook was still there, leather coat, silver hook, smug smile, and an easily punchable face. It was defiantly Captain Hook.
"Hello, crocodile." Hook said before lunging for him.
Only for him to fall a moment later, gasping in pain and clenching at his heart.
"Bloody hell." He yelled, trying to stand back up. When he finally did, he raised his arm again to attack. And once again screamed in pain and fell. "What is this?"
"The blood oath." Emma said. "You swore my family would be safe from your sword, hand, and hook I believe." Emma then motioned for Henry to come stand near her. "Try again."
Hook jumped up ready to strike, only to fall again.
"You know, Hook, maybe you should stop this." Gold said, coming to stand over his enemy.
"Why the bloody hell would I do that." Hook asked, trying again to attack, this time with a knife in his hand, which didn't even make it half way to Gold's shin before the pain hit.
"Try and think. How did you get out of that well, and how is that little oath you swore is being enforced."
"Magic." Hook said, suddenly realizing his plight.
"Yes, magic." Gold then made a sword appear, and stabbed himself with it. He then kept talking with the sword in his chest. "You see, nothing you have could kill me. I'm as immortal here as I was back home." He then removed the sword.
"Doesn't explain why I can't kill you."
"Doesn't it, though." Emma said, before walking up and giving Gold, if you'll pardon my French, one hell of a kiss.
"So, humiliating my enemies is all it took so bring this out of you?" Gold sent over their connection.
"Oh, shut up." Emma sent back
"Him. He is your husband?" Hook yelled, looking like a slapped fish, whatever that looked like. "I thought you had good taste."
Emma just kicked him in the face, sending the man into unconsciousness.
"I rather like this side of you." Emma turned to see Gold smiling.
"So, you beat Cora, I'm impressed." Merlin said, accepting a cup of tea from Belle. After dropping Hook off at the station, Gold took Emma home for a much-needed shower.
When Emma saw that shower Gold was honestly surprised, she didn't kiss it, especially the hot water nob.
"Yep, she should be good and trapped over there." Emma said, taking an offered cup from Belle.
"So, what about Hook?" Gold asked.
"Well, he can't hurt you, or us. So unless you think he can damage your reputation by spouting off about how much he hates you, I say we let him go." Emma said.
"Plus, he hasn't done anything here, so locking him up would be illegal. And charging him with his crimes from back home might set a dangerous precedent."
"Oh, very well. But if I find that moron breaking into my shop or my home, I will not be responsible for my actions." Gold said.
"Good, now that that is settled, there are some children I need to kiss and love on." Emma said, but then stopped halfway out the room. "Oh, um. Do either of you know how to…"
"What?" They both said at once.
"My breasts, they, well."
"Dried up." Merlin said.
"Yeah, I wouldn't be embarrassed, but Merlin is here." Emma said.
Both men chuckled, and with a wave of Merlin's hand, Emma felt her chest warm. "That should do it. It might feel a little weird at first, but the warmth should go away in a day or so."
"Thank you." Emma said. She then walked out of the room, and scurrying feet could be heard in the hall. "Come on boys, let's go say hi to the kids."
Gold just smiled at Merlin. "Do you really think Cora's beat?"
"No. You?"
"If she gave up that easily, the world would be a very different place. She'll be looking for a way here."
"Well, she won't find one." Merlin said, but Gold didn't look convinced.
After all, Cora was very determined, and Gold honestly wouldn't place money on a bet either way.
I am so sorry this took so long, I'm turning into a holiday poster. (A person who only posts on or near holidays).
This one was just so hard to do. And it was just so stupid, I couldn't get over the fact that everybody just left the Enchanted Forest without bein confronted/ having to fight Cora. It was like I was sitting down with the story at one point, talking about it.
Me: So, where is Cora?
Story: What do you mean?
Well, where is she? She can't not show up at the river, she has to do something. Right?
No.
Oh, I get it, it's a trick ending, right?
No.
Oh, then she secretly shrunk herself and is in Hook's pocket? That could work really well.
No, it really wouldn't. And still no.
Then, she must have turned herself into a cloud, and transported through the portal and then flown up into the forest when no one was looking. I can just picture it now, it's really cool, let's do that.
Still no. Besides, we established the potion would stop Cora.
Then what are we going to do?
You'll see.
Arg.
So, yeah.
On to the reviews.
Power214063, thank you, it was the kick I needed to let the story win and not mess with Cora's lack of involvement in the river scene.
GiggleboxGirlie, Twyla Mercedes, Prince-Slytherin, ramen-luver101, and especially katniss12. I got you, all of you. Yes Grace5231973, it was all an April fool's joke, congrats on being the one to figure it out.
GiggleboxGirlie – Sorry about your brain.
Twyla Mercedes – Yes old friend, killing Belle would be fun, see previous comments as to why. Regina is crucial, for other reasons that will be addressed sooner rather than later I hope. As for Red, she died because she was there, what can I say.
Prince-Slytherin – See the previous comment as to the killing of Ruby and Granny.
Ramen-luver101 – Yep, lots of death.
katniss12 – Wow, a little extreme, but I hope you didn't actually stop following.
And Grace5231973, good job figuring it out. And I have some plans for Hook.
It's annoying, when I started this story, season 2 hadn't finished yet, Lacey was still a week away, some plans have had to change, but, unless this next season reveals ANOTHER long lost family member, I think I got a handle on it.
*quickly knocks on wood.