CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE: All I own are my original ideas and characters…And a subscription to Netflix…And Hulu…In order to watch more of this show…Everything else belongs to those that own OUat and whatever else I reference…Though if I owned Killian…Okay on with it.
A/N: So after posting the first chapter, I went to bed, and when I woke up, my phone told me I had a few new e-mails…Three reviews, five favorites, and six followers! I'm so happy right now! What a wonderful thing to wake up to! So! If you look at the end of this chapter, you will be able to find my responses to the reviews. Just a heads-up. Glad you enjoyed the first chapter, and I hope you enjoy this one too. Now, on with the story!
"PAPA!"
Ariel's cry cut through the hearts of all those in the room. They all knew how much she loved her father, and after losing her mother, she would lose him too?
"Your Highness, there is nothing you can do for him."
Ariel squirmed, attempting to be released. All she wanted was to be near her Papa. Was that too much to ask?
"Why was I not told about this?" Silence descended the room, everyone fearing how to answer the princess' demand.
Finally, Sebastian stepped forward. "Your Highness, with both your birthday and the approaching wedding, your father thought it best not to alarm you."
The arms around Ariel dropped as they saw the murderous look in her hazel eyes. This was no little girl anymore. This was the next Queen, a fiery woman with her father's temper and her mother's ability to get what she wanted. No one wanted to get in the middle of that.
"Sebastian," Ariel said very quietly, approaching her father's most trusted advisor. "Let me explain this very carefully to you. I am the crown princess. My father is very ill, and that means I will be taking over not long after I have been married. If I am not informed as to what is going on in my kingdom, I will have to find other sources. I know your ears aren't quite what they used to be. Maybe another place in the castle would be better for you, perhaps retiring even. What do you think?" Ariel looked around at all the assembled advisors, knights, doctors. No one responded, afraid of angering the princess further. Usually she was fair, sweet, and kind, but this was different. Her father had been ill for quite a while and she had not been informed. Reasonability went out the window as soon as her father's safety was in danger.
"Ariel, stop. This isn't helping your father."
The redhead slowly turned to Peter. "Neither is me not knowing. The only reason I knew was because I accidentally walked in on this!" Her arms flew up as she motioned to the room they were in. There were at least six doctors around her father, all doing different things. "I was not even informed when he slipped into a coma. If you all think me unable to handle this news, what faith do you have that I can run this kingdom?"
Hazel eyes swept the room, looking to see what the assembled members of her father's court truly thought. Did they still think her a child?
Percival, one of the knights and Ariel's uncle, stepped forward. "I have all the faith in all of the lands that you will be a wonderful queen, and rule with the love your father ruled with. I believe you will bring this kingdom to new heights, and perhaps will be the best ruler this kingdom has ever seen. You have inherited your father's ability to understand what has to be done and the ability to fight, but you have your mother's diplomacy. You were made to rule, and you will accomplish so many things. I know not how anyone could doubt you."
Murmurs of agreement went through all those present, but Ariel's eyes stayed with Peter's. "LONG LIVE THE PRINCESS!" he yelled, his eyes still holding Ariel's.
The call was continued, all those present yelling it out. Ariel felt pride swell in her. This was her kingdom, where she belonged, and she would fight for it, no matter what the cost.
"Have you heard from her?"
Mira looked up at her friend's worried face. She rarely saw him looking anything but calm and collected. Maybe that's what made the knot of worry tighten in her belly.
"No, and Emma said she wasn't at the apartment," Ariel sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Moe wouldn't dare, no one else holds a grudge against her here. No one really knows her here, with being trapped in the asylum and all."
"I take it no word from her?"
Ariel shook her head, her lip between her teeth. "No. No calls, no texts, no emails. It goes straight to voicemail when I call her. I don't understand it."
Rumplestiltskin sighed and approached Ariel. She was sitting at the table her and Belle usually shared for meals, her hair crazy from running her hands through it and her eyes looking as if she was holding back tears. "Why don't you get cleaned up, dearie? I'll keep an eye on things here."
Mira smiled gratefully at her friend. "Thanks, Rump."
The Dark One's eyes narrowed at the nickname Mira had picked up. Apparently even Rumple was too long, so Mira had adopted "Rump." Rumplestiltskin didn't really mind since it was Mira, but he couldn't exactly say he liked being called "butt."
"Yes, yes, move along, dearie, before I change my mind."
Mira gently placed her lips on her friend's cheek in a chaste kiss. "Thank you for everything. For the record, I'm team Rumbelle."
Before Rumplestiltskin had a chance to respond, Mira had already made it halfway across the library and exited into the staff area. Rumbelle? As in his name and Belle's? She had made a couple name? Really?
As soon as the door was shut behind Mira, she let loose a sob. It was silent, but her whole body was shaking. She couldn't lose someone else, especially not Belle. Belle was her best friend, her roommate, her coworker, her fellow lover of books. She wouldn't be able to handle losing Belle. She just couldn't.
"This isn't helping, Mira," the redhead angrily told herself. "You need to get yourself together. That's the only thing you can do to help Belle. Come on. For Belle."
She could do this, and would. For Belle.
The forest was dark and cold as Ariel walked through, her cloak pulled tightly around her. Braches kept catching on her dress and hair, but she couldn't do anything about it now. She hadn't had time to change into more logical clothing if she wanted to go undiscovered. She had told the council she was going to take a nap and had ignored Peter's looks. He had never known when to let her be, but he wouldn't be able to get in to check on her anyway. Mira locked her door and had blocked the secret passage and quickly exited down the tree next to her balcony. She used to use it to meet up with Peter, but not anymore.
"Princess Ariel, what do I owe the pleasure?"
"Save it, Dark One. I need your help."
"Oh, feisty tonight, are we?" The Dark One let loose a giggle and exited the shadows. He was cloaked in what looked like darkness, but Ariel was not afraid. Her mother had told her of the Dark One, how he was once a man named Zoso, but now was cursed until another killed him. It may have been just wishful thinking, but Ariel thought she could see the pain behind his eyes. "What could possibly be desperate enough that the fiery Princess would come to me, hm?"
Ariel pulled her hood back as she stepped more into the clearing. "My father, he is very ill."
"Yes I know, but how does that involve me?"
"Did everyone except me know?" Ariel grumbled. "I need magic to heal him."
"Magic comes with a price, Princess. You should know that better than anyone." Ariel cringed, the pain of her mother's loss still raw, even years later.
"I know. But the kingdom needs him, and so do I."
"Oh, very well. Your father is close to death, Princess. The price will be high," the Dark One approached the Princess slowly, appearing to almost float over the ground.
"Name it."
"You must retrieve something for me that was taken long ago."
Ariel shook her head. "I know of your dagger, but I cannot retrieve-"
The Dark One held up a hand, silencing the redheaded Princess. "No, Princess, not the dagger. I assume you know the stories of Ursula?"
"The Sea Witch?"
The Dark One nodded. "Yes. She has my heart."
Ariel's face took on a puzzled expression. "But you cannot be killed anyway, at least not easily."
"That is correct, Princess, but I also cannot feel, or be killed. I will forever remain as the Dark One, and that is a burden I cannot handle."
Ariel nodded. "Very well. Your heart for my father's life."
The Dark One held out a gloved hand, which Ariel shook. "You must be quick. The king will not make it until your wedding without magic."
Ariel nodded and pulled up her hood. "I will leave tonight. Farewell, Zoso."
"Farewell, Ariel."
"I love a good mystery novel, but this is not exactly what I would call a good story." Mira and Rumplestiltskin were in the forest, hoping Belle had taken a walk and lost track of time. It wasn't likely, but they were hopeful.
"What do you mean, dearie?"
"Well, Belle has gone missing for no good reason, there is no hint as to where she could have gone, but also no reason as to her disappearance. There's no plot, no motive, nothing."
Rumplestiltskin followed Mira carefully, the cane making it difficult to walk through the forest. "This isn't a story, dearie."
Mira turned and raised her eyebrows. "Yes, of course this isn't a story. It's just Rumplestiltskin looking for his missing love, Belle, with a mermaid. Naturally."
"Oh, yes, I had forgotten you were a mermaid with the legs and all."
Rumplestiltskin was met with a dark look before Mira turned and continued on. "The stories got it wrong, you know. I was first human before I was a mermaid. It's true I wanted my legs, but that's about the only accurate thing."
"You know, dearie, I don't believe I know your story. How is it you became a mermaid?"
"I made a deal I shouldn't have," Mira said quietly and Rumplestiltskin frowned at her. He knew what that was like. But what would have made Mira fall for a bad deal?
"Care to elaborate, dearie?"
"Not particularly," Mira grumbled. She was tired, hungry, and really didn't like discussing her past life. She really didn't like thinking about all she lost. It hurt too much.
"Will you tell me one day?"
Rumple's voice was quiet, not pushing at all. He was only trying to help, and Mira knew that, but that didn't make it hurt any less to remember.
"Belle told me I had to tell her one day or she'd set me up with Whale, so I suppose I could tell you at the same time. But I truly don't know how long until I will be ready to discuss it."
Rumple gently placed a hand on her shoulder and squeezed. If anyone knew about loss as Mira did, it was Rumplestiltskin.
"I'll make you a deal, dearie. You tell me yours, and I'll tell you mine."
Mira smiled gratefully at her friend. "Deal, but you have to tell Belle your story too."
The Dark One nodded. "I know. But I'm not sure how ready she is to hear it."
The redhead smiled sadly at her friend. "Don't focus on that. Let's focus on finding her now."
"Alright."
Ariel had easily slipped back into the castle and gotten everything she needed together, including a not she left in Peter's room, and was on her way to find Ursula before anyone had even noticed her absence. She knew Peter would be unhappy with her, but that didn't really matter to her. They had been at odds since the night of her birthday, and she didn't really care about angering her love again. It was inevitable already.
No, her mind was now focused on how to get to the Sea Witch's cave and find the heart. She knew it was dangerous, but she could not lose her father too. She wouldn't be able to handle that loss, and she doubted the kingdom could either. No matter how much support they gave and the faith they had in her, she knew she was not ready to rule.
She had heard the legends of the Sea Witch, of course. How could she not? She had loved a man, but he had betrayed her. Her heart became as cold as the ocean and magic became her trade. She had been blamed for many young couples that had gone missing near her cave. The legends said she cursed anyone who loved like she could not. Ariel had always believed the stories. It was hard not to, growing up in a land filled with such magic, but she found herself wondering how much of the story was the truth, and how much was just a story.
The fiery princess had found the cave easily enough. Most everyone knew where it was, though it was usually avoided as much as possible. Ariel had always felt drawn to it, but she knew better than to let curiosity control her actions. Now, she was heading straight into the cave that felt just like a trap. She knew Zoso would never trick her, simply because he never broke his deals, but also because he had always watched over her the best he could since her mother had passed on. Ariel didn't know why, but Zoso had always been protective of her family, though only from the shadows. She knew he would have healed her father on his own, but he must have needed his heart badly. Ariel also knew he would heal her father even if she failed, but she wanted to help him like he had helped her.
"Why, if it isn't Princess Ariel, the fiery beauty of the kingdom?"
Ariel winced, knowing she had been caught. She slowly turned, not knowing what to expect. Upper body of a human and lower of an octopus, perhaps? But, no. What met her was so much more shocking.
"Mother?"
"So she wasn't in the forest, at the apartment, at the library, which, by the way, is closed for the first time since Belle and I opened it up, or at Granny's. She wasn't with Rumple, obviously not with me, and Ruby hasn't seen her. What the hell is with people disappearing in this town?"
Emma smiled sadly at the pacing redhead. No one had heard anything from Belle, including her father. Emma had swung by Game of Thorns just in case, but Moe told her "I want nothing to do with that demon's whore. That isn't my daughter." Mira had, of course, threatened to strangle him with a baseball bat (apparently it's possible) when Emma gave her a summarized version, but Emma had managed to calm her down. They had decided against telling Rumple.
"You asked the Dwarves and talked to your parents, Henry asked around at school, Ruby is currently attempting to sniff her out, who else is there to even ask?"
"Well, we could ask the one who kidnapped her last time," Emma said thoughtfully.
"And that would be…?"
"William Smee," Rumple said, food in hand. He had decided everyone needed to eat some lunch seeing as it was two already, so had gone to Granny's. He had also been able to check with Granny, but still nothing.
Mira whipped her head around sharply. "Did you say Smee? As in Captain Hook's Smee?"
Rumple nodded, not noticing Mira suddenly go pale as he set up the table for eating.
"Why did he cross over but not Hook, I wonder?" Emma asked, munching on a fry.
Mira choked on her tea.
"Careful, dearie, it's hot."
"I'm sorry, did you say Hook didn't cross? As in you saw him over there when you went through that portal?" Mira asked, her appetite suddenly gone.
"Yeah. Real pompous jerk, too. Not at all what I expected."
Mira swallowed slowly, wondering how neither of her two friends had seen her distress yet, but knowing it was good they were so distracted. Mira knew they were all attempting to keep calm about Belle by thinking logically and not focusing on the emotional part, but this was just ridiculous.
"Tell me more about Hook," Mira said quietly, attempting to eat as her stomach turned in knots. It couldn't be him. He was dead, wasn't he?
"Uhh alright. We found him in the village, tied him up, got him to tell us about the compass, he and I climbed up the beanstalk, I left him up there, Aurora was caught but Hook released her, but that was a trap, he and Cora fought against us, we won. The end."
Mira frowned. "I mean tell me about him. Was he rude, a smartass…?"
"Oh, definitely a smartass. Not really rude, but he kept making these really…Sexual comments. Like when we were fighting, he said 'Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back.' He also called me love, lass, darling, et cetera. Really annoying. Infuriating actually."
That's the Hook I remember…
"What about looks?"
Emma turned to her redheaded friend. "Why do you ask?"
Mira shrugged. "I used to know him. In my other life. If it's who I'm thinking of."
Emma seemed satisfied with the answer and responded. "On a scale of one to ten? Six. Would be nine, but the attitude drops it a few points."
Mira chewed on her bottom lip. She had thought that habit was gone, but when she remembered her past life, her nervous habits came with it. "Blue eyes?" Emma nodded.
"As interesting as this is, dearies, perhaps you should save the girl talk for when Belle is back?" Rumplestiltskin cut in, his temper slightly flaring.
"Oh relax, Rump. I know you're upset with Hook for stealing Milah from you, but she never loved you, and you cut off his hand, and killed his love. Isn't that enough?" Emma and Rumplestiltskin stared at Mira as she sipped her tea. How did she know all that?
"Mira…How could you possibly know all that?" Emma asked slowly.
Mira rolled her eyes and sighed. "I told you I knew him, didn't I?"
"Do you understand?"
"I believe so…I understand the main parts at least. You are my mother's twin sister, you were cursed, and now reside here."
Ursula nodded and sipped her tea. "Correct. I assume your mother never mentioned me?"
Ariel shook her head. "I'm sorry, no."
"Good. I didn't want Morgana to tell anyone about me. We were both cursed when we were still girls, you see. I was cursed to live here for all eternity, your mother was cursed to…Well, you know that story. I rather not bring up the past if I need not to."
The redheaded princess nodded slowly. "Of course. But if I may, why do you have Zoso's heart?"
Ursula stood quickly, grabbing the teacups. "That is a story for another time."
Ariel sighed softly. "I need that heart to save my father."
"You will have to find another way, Angelfish. I have my reasons for keeping that heart. You may sleep here if you wish. It would not be wise to travel this late at night."
Ariel nodded in thanks and settled in to sleep. Her aunt bustled around her for a bit, but it wasn't long before Ursula was fast asleep.
"Ursula?" Ariel whispered quietly. Good. No response.
Ariel made sure to be quiet as she crept over to where she knew the heart was kept. Her aunt had carelessly looked in on it earlier and Ariel had seen it. Who else could possibly have a black heart like that?
By the time Ursula awoke, her niece was gone with the heart.
Captain Hook didn't take orders. He gave them. He was the captain of his ship. It was his domain. No one gave him orders.
"Hook."
Except her. Cora. More and more, Hook found himself questioning why he had stayed on her side. He would have been able to make it to Storybrooke without her. He had the bean, the ship, the crew. But for some reason he didn't understand, he had brought her along. Maybe it was because she had magic and she could help him kill that crocodile. But that didn't really matter now. He was stuck with her now.
"Cora."
"Don't you think a giant pirate ship might be a bit noticeable?"
Hook rolled his eyes. His ship. "Right, you are. Why not use some of your magic and hide it?"
Cora frowned. "Magic is different here."
"So you have no power at all?"
"Not at the moment, no."
Well there went the only reason to keep her around. "Listen, Cora, we're here in Storybrooke. Maybe you and I should go our separate ways. Really, it's been quite a journey, but-"
"-But I have no magic and you're not used to taking orders. Very well. Thank you for the help, and I wish you the best of luck."
"And to you. I will have one of my crew row you to shore."
"Oh, that is not necessary. I can row myself, thank you."
Hook nodded as Cora left to the lifeboats, wondering if that had been too easy. But that didn't matter now. He was in Storybrooke, he would find the crocodile, and finally have his revenge. Of course, Cora had underestimated the captain. He knew a pirate ship would be noticeable, but his ship was far from normal. It was reinforced with fairy dust and much of the wood came from Geppetto, though the old man didn't know that. Hook had traded an arm and a leg (no pun intended) to have that wood stolen, but no matter. It was well worth it. Hook now had a ship that no one outside of his crew could see, unless it was made visible. It was far from visible now. If one looked hard enough, they could almost see the outline of a ship, but no one knew to look for it. No, Hook and his crew were very safe at the moment.
"Captain! The men have returned!"
Hook nodded at Mr. Starkey, his first mate after Smee disappeared. "Ready the men and the boats. We're going ashore."
A/N: Alright, there it is! The second chapter is a bit shorter, and I don't quite like it as much…But oh well. I had a completely different plan for this chapter, but this is what happened. So the third chapter will be what I had planned for this one. That one shall be called "Ships in the Night," and I have a small teaser below for it. I hope you all enjoyed! Thank you for reading! Note: I just realized that "Mira" looks and sounds like Milah. That was not meant to happen. It's actually because "Mira" means ocean, and Cruz (her last name) as in a cruise. So we're just going to never ever ever ever have Killian call her Mira, yes? Yes. Okay.
REFERENCES: Some, but not limited to: (1) The whole "I love you" "Always" thing was loosely based on Castle's season four finale, though I hadn't actually intended on that one…(2) "Bold and Nosy. I'm famous for that." – Macgyver. (3) "Most nights, I hardly sleep." – A Drop in the Ocean by Ron Pope (inspiration for this story). (4) The name of the chapter was "Fire in the Water" which is both a reference to Ariel/Mira's "fiery" hair and the song by Feist. References from this chapter will be posted in the next chapter.
THANKS TO:
Reviews: Nymartian: Thank you so much! I've totally fallen in love with her, which I'm not sure if that's good or bad, but oh well. I wasn't going to have that little blurb in this chapter (the previous idea would have been half Hook and half Mira), but due to your review, I just had to :) More Hook is also at the bottom in the teaser!
Snow: Thank you! I hope you enjoyed this one too!
BlackShadow483: That made me feel so great! I'm so glad you enjoy it! Seriously, thank you. It means a lot. I understand your obsession…I do the same, but I somewhat enjoy Emma/Killian because I could see how it would happen, but only short-term. They bond over the person they care about having their heart ripped out and losing loves, but yeah that's about it. I really like the idea of Emma/Killian friendship though, which you will see later on. Thank you so, so, so much! I keep worrying it's really boring to read (probably because I read over every part seven or eight times), but I'm glad you don't find it boring! Your review seriously just made me smile so much! I hope this update was soon enough, but sadly I'm not really sure how often I'll be able to update once school returns…Dramatic sigh…
Favorites: The Charmed Rose, Snow Whitex Prince Charming, JackSparrowsWench92, and BlackShadow483
Follows: TheGreatWhite, Snow Whitex Prince Charming, Nymartian, KissMeSlowly143, JackSparrowsWench92, odetted99.
STARTED: 29 December 2012. FINISHED: 29 December 2012. FINAL WORD COUNT: 3,701.
TEASER:
"Mira, no I don't recognize the name, love. I knew a Milah, but you are obviously not her."
The redhead kept her face calm, but damn, it was hard. How dare he compare her to Milah? But, no, that wasn't what he was doing. Mira knew her temper was acting up, but she couldn't help it. This was just wrong.
"Are you sure you don't recognize me? At all?"
Hook gave her a long look that made Mira feel as if she was naked, but she figured that was normal when you were being checked out by Killian Jones. Mira knew how to keep calm, but this was torture.
"No, I'm afraid not, darling. But I wouldn't mind getting to know you…"
Mira was baffled to say the least. How did he not remember her? Or maybe he just didn't recognize her? Her hair was cut very differently, and it had been quite a while.
But no. He knew exactly who she was. She could see it in those blue eyes of his. Other girls got swept away in those waves, but not her. She had braved those waters and knew them well, better than either would admit to anyone else.
"Maybe you know me by my other name, Ariel?"
"Ariel…Of course. I don't…I don't know how I could possibly not recognize you…Oh, I'm so sorry."
Mira's fiery eyebrows shot up. "So you have heard of me?" Hook went to respond but Mira interrupted him before he could start. "Save it, Hook. I know I was more than just a wench to get your mind elsewhere. I know you remembered me the moment you saw me. You were just scared to admit it. As always, scared to show your feelings, scared to get hurt. Hook, the coward. Who would have thought it? But I know you, and I know how scared you truly are right now."