Part 1: Nassau

Dark streets were illuminated with dying torches. Silhouettes of stray cats darted about the street corners into alleys. A cloaked figure traversed the streets clearly trying not to be noticed as they glanced in various taverns that were well occupied. In the dark streets the only noticeable thing about the near invisible being was a polished brooch that bore the seal of the city they had come from. They slowed as they reached a tavern at the end of the street, well stocked in both beer and pirates.

They glanced down at a scrap of parchment in their hand, then back inside before entering the facility. Men laughed loudly at crude jokes, barmaids poured drinks, and others entertained men's other needs. Men, women, and other undeterminable people blended together here. The messenger wove through the masses knowing they had found their mark in the darkest corner of the tavern.

In the corner of the room sat a man with an untouched tankard on the table. At the man's lips sat a double-barreled cigar holder, the cigars burnt at a low ember light. Their one visible hand rested idly, while the other was unseen, but it didn't deter the messenger.

Their mark didn't look at them, but they knew that the man had already seen them. They would either be killed or heard by the man, but none of it mattered so long as the message was received.

"You had best stash your cloak now. Your gold has already marked you."

The messenger undid their cloak and pulled the hood off their head reveling that they were clearly not from the area. The young man under the cloak was far too clean shaven and groomed to be a pirate.

"Flynn Rider," the man remarked with a touch of surprise, but remained cool, "You are a long way from home," the pirate sat up removing the cigar holder from his lips, and placing it on the table not caring if it burnt the old wooden surface.

"I have come to seek your help," Flynn placed a sealed scroll on the table between them.

The pirate raised his brow, but didn't touch the parchment, "You have a legion of knights at your command, and a king to support you," the word 'king' came out emphasized in distaste.

"You are in Nassau for a reason. Either you are hiding or on the hunt,"

"Perhaps I chose to give my men a vacation from the paradise of your lands,"

Flynn ran a hand down his face, "I didn't have to come here. I could have chosen anyone else to do this job."

"Why are you here, princeling?" The pirate seemed to lose interest in his needs with each passing moment.

"Rapunzel has gone missing," he hissed the name in a low voice.

The pirate glanced about the room clearly checking to see if anyone was missing. To Flynn it seemed that no one cared, or no one wanted to cross the pirate. Slowly the bright blue eyes of the pirate returned to meet Flynn's, "And why come to me? Of all the vagabonds, and heroes, why choose to come to a pirate?"

"Because of this," he placed a small green hat with a red father on the table.

The pirate's eyes flashed a deep red color as a metallic flash flew through Flynn's vision. A large silver hook was embedded in the hat he had just placed upon the table. Slowly the hook was pulled back with the hat attached, by the hooked arm. The sounds were not noticed by the tavern folk as the drinks continued to pour.

"Where did you find this?"

"On her balcony. There was no sign of struggle," Flynn began to speak, but the pirate cut him off.

"After all this time, why should I bother now?"

"Because the king didn't send me," Flynn tapped the scroll and quickly retracted his hand back when the pirate snatched the letter with his hand.

With the flick of his hook, the pirate had undone the seal and read the letter.

Flynn waited as the pirate rolled the scroll back up and tucked into his jacket.

"Very well. We will leave for Corona in the morning."

"That's it?" Flynn asked, "No other questions?"

The pirate shook his head, "Do you have passage back to the city?"

Flynn shook his head. The royal guards had dropped him off at Port Royal and he had traversed here in secrecy.

"See you are at my ship before the sun rises." The pirate raised himself from the table tossing a few coins on the table next to the still untouched drink, "I will get you back safely."

Flynn was about to ask another question when he was cut off with a sharp look.

"I am doing this for Marina,"

Captain James Hook turned about sharply and left the tavern melting into the darkness as Flynn tried to follow.

-One year ago—

"We are leaving?" Eddard Teynte questioned his captain as they loaded cargo into the Jolly Roger, "What about the trade route?"

Captain Hook paused on the gangplank and looked back at Teynte, "It's for the best that we don't do this job. The king has made it very clear that our business here is done, and our pardons are certified."

The quartermaster began to raise another protest, when Hook raised his hand to silence him, "We will not talk about it here,"

Teynte knew almost immediately what had happened. Word had reached the king about the queen's affections towards the captain. Teynte had tried to warn the captain, that such dealings would ruin them, but it was clear that the king was going to release them before his wrath could ever be unleashed.

"Alright, you scallywags!" Teynte bellowed at the others, "You heard the captain! Let's load her up and make ready to sail!" Teynte hoisted a powder keg up onto his shoulder and hauled it up the gangplank, knowing he was going to have to have another heart to heart with the captain to get him back to his iron and ruthless self.

He glanced over his shoulder at the castle that now seemed to loom above them and frowned. If only his captain hadn't had a soft spot for music, then perhaps they wouldn't be in such a predicament.