Neal did not find it easy to return to the place he'd called home for years. He felt as if the whole experience in Storybrooke had been a dream. A lousy one at that.
Alright, so where is that potion?
He started to look around the apartment, ignoring the memories that came back. He soon found the bottle underneath his bed and put in his pocket.
Neal went down the stairs and remembered that the last time he was there, Hook had attacked his father.
Suddenly, a bag went over his head and someone roughly took the vial out of his pocket! Neal tried to resist, but he was knocked out cold.

Neal had now been gone for a whole week. August had been expecting a call from him. A call that wasn't coming.
What's taking him so long?!
He decided to go talk to Gold again. If anyone cared about Neal, it was him.

August found Gold in his shop as usual. He was currently wrapped in an emotional hug with Belle.
"Sorry to interrupt your little scene." said August, causing the two to fly out of each other's arms.
"Mr. Booth, your timing could not be better." retorted Gold sarcastically. Belle looked at August in confusion.
"So... you're Pinocchio?" she asked.
"The boy of lies himself." he replied. Belle sent him a compassionate look as Gold ushered her to another room.
"So... mr. Booth, what can I do for you now? Any lamps you want to take with you?"
"Baelfire's missing."
Gold's humorous expression melted instantly and old lines of worry creased his way. He waited for August to continue.
"I sent him to get a magic potion for me, something that could make me human again, it was in his apartment in Manhattan. But he hasn't called me."
"You sent him to get a magic potion? And he agreed?"
"Well, it took a little persuasion."
"How little?" demanded Gold.
"A taser, maybe two... give or take?"
He regretted what he said instantly as Gold sent a small flash of fire from his hands that caused August to reel in the pain that the burn gave him.

"RUMPLE!" Belle's voice was enough to stop Gold once more. Belle helped August get up.
"Thank you." muttered the wooden man and rubbed his right temple. "Look, Gold, you and I both know the danger that is out there. And yeah, I sent Neal there. That's that. I need us to work together on this."
Gold sent him a look of disgust: "I don't need your help, Booth. Now please leave. You're no longer welcome here."
August left the shop, disappointed.

Suddenly, the entire ground shuddered!
August collapsed to the ground and saw trees and vines sprouting out from everywhere!
The fail-safe! The Queen activated it!
He looked back and saw through the shop window that Gold had reached the same conclusion and was talking really fast with Belle. August got up and ran for his camp. He had to protect the magical artifacts he'd gathered for the plan.

The destruction of Storybrooke was imminent.

Regina had placed a magical barrier preventing anyone from entering the caves. Emma was working on breaking it, but it was taking precious time that they did not have. Charming had gone away to the field to get the beans whilst Snow was preparing everyone for transport to the Enchanted Forest. The group had tried to get Gold to help, but the Dark One and Belle had disappeared entirely leaving it up to them to fix whatever was happening.
As they were babbling real fast, they were interrupted by someone they did not expect.
"Maybe I can help?"
It was Captain Hook.
Oh, this is my final straw!
Losing all patience, Emma punched the man right in the face. They didn't have time for crap like Hook!
"STOP! I can help!"
Emma snorted: "We don't have time for you. We have to get these people out of here!"
"And I have a ship."
Snow glanced at Emma. "Emma, he has a point. Storybrooke will be destroyed within minutes. And we have a potion to cure the lost memories!"
Emma grabbed Hook by his throat. "Why?! Why would you help us, after all you've done?!"
"Sim-ple. I want to live, pretty miss."
Emma let Hook go and nodded at Snow who dragged Hook towards the crowd of confused Storybrooke citizens and yelled at them to follow her.

August ran back towards his campsite. Backwards, he thought he heard Snow yell something, but he didn't really care.
I have to get the hat. The hat is everything.
It was fortunate that the area surrounding the campsite was already in the woods and thus largely unaffected by the massive chaos in Storybrooke. He found the hat, perfectly intact and having nowhere else to put it, he placed it on his head and started to run back.
This would make a great story if I had time to write it!
Pinocchio had trouble navigating the rubble and debris in Storybrooke, but he managed. There was barely anyone still there, but August was just looking for Emma.
And he finally saw her, running with his father and a small bag.
Their eyes locked.

Knowing that it would take Charming too long to get the beans back to the ship, Emma(not telling Snow) had gone after him whilst avoiding the flying vines that threatened to rip the whole place apart. He finally found his car toppled over.
"DAD!" she yelled involuntarily and busted the door open. "Dad!" she said again and helped Charming out, grabbing the beans. Charming woke up to his daughter's touch and regained his strength.
Suddenly, he noticed that Emma had stopped and looked behind him to see what had shocked her so.
It was a BARRIER of nature. Woods, vines, grass, plants, you name it. It was reminescent of when the Curse broke, but far more threatening.
"RUN!"
And so they ran. Emma held to the bag with her life as she jumped around the obstacles until a hat entered her view.
Jefferson?
It took one look at the man's face for her to realize it was not Jefferson.