Maleficent dragged a hand through her hair in frustration before punching the mirror. She heard the gasps around her, but her focus was on the shattered pieces sprinkling to the floor. She couldn't believe her child was in the Underworld. Hades had promised he'd get what he wanted one way or another if she wouldn't grant his favour. She'd been pregnant at the time and terrified that doing as he asked would drain her and both she and her children would be dead. It was deja-vu except ten time worse since it was her child this time instead of her.

"Mom! You just broke the only mirror large enough for us all to see Em without fighting." Lily grabbed a clean burp rag and wrapped her mother's bleeding hand.

Zelena sighed and walked over, healing Mal's hand before restoring the mirror. "And people say I'm dramatic. Emma needs us, so pull yourselves together so we can come up with a plan."

"I'm going!" Henry raised his eyebrow and dared them to tell him differently.

Regina walked over and placed her hands on her son's upper arms. "No, Henry. The Underworld is dangerous, too dangerous for you. We can't help Emma if we're focused on keeping you safe too."

Henry stamped his foot and pouted. "That's not fair! I can use magic now. I can help!"

"You can, sweetheart, by staying here and looking after Roland and Leia. There are dangers down there you can't imagine, and I won't have you getting hurt. We will bring Emma home safely." Regina gave him a small smile as she rubbed his arms and then pulled him into a hug.

Mal raised an eyebrow. "What makes you think you're going, Regina? After all, isn't this what Emma deserves?"

Regina sighed. She knew the glaring silence was too good to last. Maleficent wasn't one to ignore problems. "No, she doesn't deserve this. No one deserves to be taken to the Underworld. Emma needs me! My mother wouldn't have asked for my magic if Emma didn't. She's not one for helping others."

"Enough!" Zelena picked up Roland who was crying and trying to push a chair up to get at the mirror. His adoration for Emma knew no bounds. "Arguing won't help us save Emma."

Lily nodded and flopped onto the couch. "You know Emma needs Regina, Mom. I'll stay here with the kids. This is one mission I do not mind being left out of."

Maleficent frowned as she studied her daughter. "Do you think we leave you out, sweetheart?"

"Sometimes, but it's whatever. Focus on Em. She needs to get out of there like now."

Maleficent sighed and started pacing. "I can get us there, but Charon won't arrive until the moon is high. We've got a few hours before then. Regina, start channeling your magic into overdrive. Emma will need as much as possible."

"I'm going."

Regina and Maleficent looked at each other before staring at the redhead. Maleficent raised a brow. "You just had a baby, dear. You should stay."

"If this is because of Mother-"

Zelena shook her head and took Regina's voice away for a second. She was frustrated at causing this mess. "No. I- I know Hades."

Everyone's jaw dropped as they gaped at her. It was a cinematic masterpiece if it were a movie. Regina got over her shock first. "What do you mean you know Hades? No one just knows a god."

Zelena looked at Maleficent, worry etched all over her features. "We had a thing once, back in Oz. He played me, said he truly loved me and stupidly I believed him. All he wants is True Love's kiss to restart his heart so he can come rule this world."

Regina scoffed as she dragged a hand through her hair. "I can't believe my sister had an affair with the god of the dead."

"Shut up, Regina." Maleficent pulled Zelena into a hug. "That may be a reason he wanted Emma, but there's another reason. It's not your fault. We'll get her back."

Henry had stopped listening a long time ago. Lost in thought, he didn't notice Lily scooting closer to him.

"Kid, you okay?"

He nodded before looking up at Mal. "Charon? The ferryman to the Underworld, he's real?"

Maleficent sighed and took a seat in the armchair. "He's very real. Thankfully he keeps his hood up most the time or he'd scare the souls right out of his boat."

"I thought he only took dead people and Dark Ones. Why do you know him?" Regina eyed Maleficent skeptically.

"It's more complicated than that." Mal stared up at the mirror wishing Emma would come give her a status update, but she knew it took a lot of magic to do that. "The exception is waived for those born from magic, that are magic. It's why he allowed Emma passage. Down there her magic is a powerful bargaining chip for the residents if they capture her. It works whether she's alive or dead. She's in danger enough without… we need to get her out of there. If she's still alive and safe enough to use the mirror then Hades is making it so she's safe. I can't guarantee what will happen if his favour can't be met."

Zelena paled. She knew firsthand what he was capable of. She hated the thought of Emma owing him a favour. The possibilities on what that could be were endless, and none of them were good. "What favour? Do you know?"

Maleficent nodded. "The Phlegethon is the river of fire. It leads from the Underworld to Tartarus. In the Cave of Decision you can either get sucked into the river and taken to a worse place, Tartarus, where you're tortured mercilessly. You can also so to Asphodel Fields if you've led a life neither extraordinary nor evil. It's for the ordinary. Beyond that is Elysium which is for the distinguished. It's a blissful, happy place for the ones who've earned it. Some souls choose to be reborn instead of staying in Elysium. If they are reborn three times and each time earn their way to Elysium, they get to spend their time in an eternal paradise called Isle of the Blessed. A few souls are so terrible that the gods and goddesses force them to return to their world and try to make amends. They're given three chances. If they fail all three times, they'll be sent to a level of Tartarus even I have never seen."

Regina lost her patience, not wanting to wade through a novel before getting to what the god of the dead needed from Emma. "Your point is?"

"Patience is a virtue." Maleficent rolled her eyes and looked around the room. "Hades asked me thirty years ago to return to the Underworld. Naturally the entire afterlife is powered by ancient magic…"

"Ancient magic you, Lilith, and Emma possess." It was starting to become clearer to Regina now. Hades needed Emma's magic.

Maleficent took Regina's voice. "Interrupt me one more time and I'll harvest your magic and just leave you here."

"What does this have to do with Emma?" Henry didn't understand. If Mal and Lily had the magic too, why didn't Hades ask either one of them? Emma was having a hard enough time as it was without having to try and please someone who ran Hell.

"I was pregnant, and you can imagine how draining two magical babies are if Cy caused Em so much trouble. Phlegethon was somehow being drained, and covens were nearly wiped out. Hades asked me to provide the fire enough magic to eternally exist, but I barely had enough to give it what I did before I had to stop or risk my babies' lives and my own. Needless to say, he was pissed. If he wants Emma, he expects the same from her."

Regina tilted her head, studying Maleficent. "Why can't you do it when you get down there then?"

Maleficent pursed her lips, entirely annoyed by Regina at this point. "I'm no longer the most powerful sorceress. Emma is, and he'll only want her to do it. I haven't taught Emma how to dragon yet. It's going to be stressful so you need to harvest as much magic as you can. Send it into overdrive because while Emma's trying to power the river, you need to power her."

Henry stared between them all, not liking this plan. "Why does the river need to be powered at all?"

Mal went to explain, but Regina held up a hand. "I got this." She turned to Henry. "The Underworld houses departed souls. If they've gone on to Tartarus that means they've been a terrible person. Without the flames, the souls can escape and wreak havoc, including escaping the Underworld entirely and returning to their world to do inexplicable things. No one wants that. The river is also how the souls get to Tartarus in the first place. If it's somehow been drained then we're all at risk against whoever is down there."

Henry's face blanched as his eyes widened. He'd always known Emma was the Savior, but if she managed to prevent all the dead evil souls from being unleashed then she really was the ultimate hero, a superhero!

"You save Mama, Mom?" Roland peered up at his mother, not understanding much of what was said, but he knew Emma was in danger and needed help.

Zelena was pulled from inside her head at Roland's little hands squishing her cheeks. She was so nervous she could throw up. Between Hades and her mother she didn't know which one she was looking forward to seeing the least.

"Yes, Ro. We're going to save Emma."

SQSQSQ

Hades smirked as Emma eyed him warily. Emma's instincts were warring inside her. Part of her felt she should listen to him and the other part told her to run. The only problem was there was nowhere to run to. Hades sneered, entirely disgusted with the pirate, before smiling. "Let's take this somewhere more comfortable."

Cora grabbed Emma as the blue flames around them dissipated. Snow collapsed to the floor as David eyed his brother. James was doubled over as he dry heaved. Milah was holding up Hook who had turned clammy and cold.

"Sorry about that. Magic is much stronger down here." Hades turned to look at Emma who was no drinking a bottle of water. "Especially yours. Would you like anything? Tea, coffee, doughnuts?"

Emma's nose scrunched up. "No, thanks. Why are we…" She looked around at the familiar tunnels. "Are we under the library?"

"Of course. The elevators are like an exclusive pass for the underlings. Makes them feel all special when they get to walk past the little readers and open the doors. Not just anyone gets to ride them." Hades smirked and narrowed his beady eyes on James.

"Right, well, uh, what did you want me for?" Emma absolutely did not want to be in these tunnels. She knew these weren't the ones exactly where she'd once killed her mother, but they were similar enough that she just wanted to get the hell out before Mal came. God, she'd been so hateful to her after learning the truth. She'd wasted so much time with her.

"I won't let her do anything without guarantee of her safety." Cora wasn't sure this wasn't a trap, and the last thing she needed was to be responsible for destroying her daughter's happiness again.

Meg pursed her lips and shook her head side to side in true diva sass. "Look who found her heart and knows how to use it."

"Let me show you the levels here so you understand what I need from you." Hades held out a hand to Emma, but the blonde looked around at everyone else nervously for what to do. "I know you don't know the rules down here, but gods and goddesses generally don't hurt each other so long as we maintain respect."

Emma's jaw dropped. "You think I am a goddess?"

Hades nodded while Meg laughed. "You are the magical savior. You're the most powerful light magic user to ever exist, and you're one of the most powerful sorceresses in general. The child you've growing inside you will be the most powerful in existence so far." Meg stepped forward, face going stoic. "You're key to our survival, Emma. We don't want you hurt. We need your help. Only you can do it."

"Do what? I'm not about to face a zombie or some weird shit. I won't put my baby at risk."

Cora placed a hand on Emma's lower back. "Of course not. No one would let that happen."

"What do you want with my daughter?" Snow moved closer to Emma. She didn't like how Cora was behaving with Emma. She was up to something, but for once they were both on the same page. No one was going to hurt Emma.

Hades sighed. This bunch of peasants was going to cause him problems, he just knew. He couldn't hurt them though or Emma would never do what was needed. "Follow me. Don't stray from the path or you will get permanently lost. Emma, I'm going to show you the levels of the afterlife."

Emma gasped as they were transported to a gold gated almost cinematically comical depiction of heaven. The gates opened as music played and Emma's jaw dropped. "Please tell me cartoons don't have the afterlife right."

"No. This is Elysium, reserved only for the pure-hearted and extraordinary. The gates are permanent, but beyond that, the experience is entirely personal." Meg moved to loop arms with Emma, freeing her from Cora's side. "No two people have the same experience here. Everyone here is blissfully happy."

Everyone looked around, overwhelmed with how content they all felt, how their own version of happiness was bursting to life before them. Snow saw the cloudy ground give way to her castle where her favourite horse was roaming free, her mother and Johanna walking the gardens as her father leaned out the window of the library and watched. David saw his mother and father at the farmhouse fawning over his son...oh he didn't want Neal here though. He wanted to be back in Storybrooke with his son and his wife, working on being better people so his mother could be proud again. James saw his bedroom in his castle with dozen of half naked women with plates of food and endless alcohol. Cora saw herself in a large living room with her daughters, their children, Emma, and some people she didn't recognize. Henry walked in holding a little one. Her heart broke as she realized she'd never have this opportunity. Emma saw her home full of everyone she loved as her daughter ran around laughing and playing with her cousins and her brother. Someone was cooking. There was food everywhere, laughter, talking. Home. It was all Emma had ever wanted.

Hades had planned on showing Emma a person in her life who had made it to Elysium, but they were all emotional enough. "This is where the mortals who have lived the best lives go. They can either remain here or choose to be reborn. If they're reborn three times and make it here all three times, they get to spend eternity in paradise. They're the elite of the elite. You, Emma, will go to Mount Olympus with the rest of the gods and goddesses."

Emma frowned, her blissful bubble popped. "What? No. I want what I just saw."

Meg flicked Emma in the middle of her forehead. "Goddess. Get that through your head. Once you are truly here you can have whatever your heart desires. Did you have a gargoyle dropped on your head time or two? Goddess."

Snow smiled and moved towards Emma. "Were your father and I with you?"

"No."

Cora busted out laughing. Regina would have loved seeing this. David frowned and gave Emma a warning look. James was entirely amused at what a spitfire Emm was.

Hades cleared his throat and got their attention. "Asphodel Meadows is where most mortals wind up. Their lives are neither extraordinary or horrible. There's still happiness, just not the paradise we were in."

The ground literally shifted as Hades finished his statement. Gone were the gold gates and blissful feeling. In its place was just meh. It felt almost exactly like the Underworld, but less ominous. No one charged at them to attack Emma. People seemed entirely indifferent to them. It was literally an entire existence of average, middle of the road. Emma, David, and Snow knew after the bliss they'd just left what a true downgrade this was. Cora knew she'd be lucky to get anywhere even remotely towards average existence. James was tempted to jump off this path and hoped he'd get stuck here.

Everyone gasped as an older man stopped what he was doing and walked forward. Snow was so excited she nearly leapt right off the pathway. She would have too had David not grabbed her.

James frowned, not having the slightest clue who this man was. Emma seemed to be the only person equally as puzzled after her initial shock of someone noticing them. The man was dressed like royalty though. "Do you know him?"

"Daddy!" Snow gleefully clapped her hands together and impatiently bounced up and down as she waited for Leopold to finish walking over to them.

David bowed as he smiled at the man. His wife constantly told tales of the man, enough that he felt like he personally knew the king. "Sir."

Cora sneered as the insipid princess and her sheep boy fawned all over the former king. Snow was currently bouncing with excitement as she told her father about her son. Not once did she mention Emma. Glancing over, she noticed Emma glaring at the group. Regina might never be ready to face Leopold, but she had a feeling Emma was about to deal with him for her.

Emma watched intently, glaring at the man Snow called a father. She hated him with a vengeance for what he'd done to Regina. As each second passed, her anger boiled and festered until she couldn't stand it anymore. They were all happily embracing and joking jovially as if everything was perfect, as if he'd done no wrong. Without though, Emma leapt at him and landed a right hook with more force than she even knew she had.

"Emma!" Snow gasped in outrage as David helped her father up.

James decided immediately that he liked this girl more with every passing second. Clearly Emma was wasted on the do-gooders. "Nice blow, kid."

"Emma, how could you? This man is your grandfather." Snow was on the verge of bursting into tears, not sure whether she wanted to be furious at Emma, saddened that her father had been assaulted, or frustrated at herself for letting that happen.

Emma shrugged. "We all know this man is nothing to me. Nothing."

"Young lady-"

"Shut up! You don't get to talk." Emma swung at him repeatedly. "You forced an eighteen year old girl to marry you." She landed a punch to his left eye. "You didn't even talk to her or explain anything before you robbed her of her innocence." She punched him in the jaw. "First times are horrible enough without the lack of communication. You just took and took from her, never asking how she felt. You ignored her unless you required 'wifely duties'. Regina is so-" Punch to the right cheek. "much-" Punch to the left cheek. "more than a glorified-" punch to the mouth. "trophy. She's the most beautiful, precious gift you nearly ruined." Emma landed a final blow to the man's nose, pleased with the crunch that followed.

David finally managed to pull Emma off of Leopold. She was struggling and protesting to go attack him further, but Snow had been more than traumatized. Leo was bleeding from his nose and mouth. He had two black eyes, a broken nose, and a split lip. He was impressed at the damage she'd caused in just a minute or two.

Leopold spit blood out onto the ground before appraising the wild child that had just attacked him. She could pass for David's child, but no child of his daughter's could have such blonde hair. Snow was everything perfect from his wife, and he just knew her children would take after her. "Child, do you know who I am?"

"The scum of the Earth! Do you realize how lonely and isolated you made Regina? Not included in any of your family traveling or excursions, only to be brought out for balls or court sessions, only to warm your bed whenever you pleased so you could think of your dead wife. She was a child! If you weren't already dead I would kill you myself." Emma struggled hard against David, but he had his arms wrapped tightly around her stomach and she was afraid he'd hurt her baby.

Snow frowned, taking in his words. "We didn't- Daddy said she never wanted to go. Regina spent all day in the study reading or at the stables. We didn't leave her out."

Emma glared at the man as he tried to clean his face. "You tell her or I will, and I mean everything."

Leo shook his head. "There's no-"

"There is every need. Do it now!" Emma shouted so loudly her voice came out more as a rasp. What she wouldn't give for some water, but she wasn't about to look weak in front of this man.

"Fine." Leopold shook his head, not understanding the need to bring up things this girl knew nothing about, wasn't even alive for. "I never asked Regina to go with us. Her job was to look after you when we were home. I was more than capable of looking after you when we were out."

Snow frowned and shook her head. She couldn't understand what her father was saying. How could he be so cruel to his wife? He wasn't like that to her mother. "But-"

"Regina stopped him more than once from entering your room in the middle of the night. You look too much like your mother, and he was never satisfied that Regina wasn't Eva. This man is scum, filth that you shouldn't be worshipping." Emma growled. "I could just-"

David swiftly grabbed Emma again and turned her away from Leopold before she attacked him again. "That's enough, Emma. You got your revenge. Leave it."

Emma was shaking with anger. A beaten face was nothing compared to the damage he'd done physically and emotionally to Regina. She elbowed David in the ribs and got him to release her before she straightened her shirt and walked over to Cora.

Cora smiled and placed an arm around Emma's waist. "Good girl."

"I should hit you too for forcing Regina into that, but Regina loves you. Him, she still has nightmares sometimes, and I-" Emma stopped when she realized the disgraced king was still listening intently. "I hope you rot."

Hades was shocked. He hadn't expected that reaction. Snow had done exactly as expected, but Emma, Emma had come in like a hurricane out of nowhere and destroyed the man in under five minutes. He was honestly impressed. Meg nudged him and nodded. They'd definitely picked the right person to do this. Snapping his fingers, they were transported to the fiery cave. He enjoyed watching people stumble. The pirate collapsed and nearly dropped himself into the molten river.

Emma quickly accepted the water bottle Cora had offered her. "What the hell is this place?"

Meg laughed. "Hell, princess."

Hades could see the rage still in Emma and knew Meg's particular brand of sass wouldn't remained unchecked for long. He needed that energy saved and purposed elsewhere. "This is the Cave of Decision. The underlings come here when their unfinished business is resolved. If they've led a positive life, they go to Asphodel Meadows or Elysium. The ones who haven't, well, their fate is much worse. Tartarus is frequently referred to as the Worse Place."

Emma frowned, getting a headache as she struggled to remember her Greek Mythology. "I thought Tartarus was a god."

"The ugliest." Meg sneered, staying back near the entrance.

Hades shot Meg a warning look to be quiet. "Yes, well, Tartarus contains the nine circles of Hell. It's surrounded by Phlegethon, this river of fire you see below."

Emma scoffed, peering over the edge of the cave ledge now that the fire had stopped bubbling up. "Seems to be a shallow river you got there."

"That's our problem." Hades agreed, moving to peer over the edge with Emma. He sighed when Emma jumped back from the ledge, clearly afraid he'd harm her. "The favour we all need down here is for you to use your magic and fill up the river."

"You mean…" Hades noded and Emma's frown deepened. "But I don't know how."

Cora looked between the two, wondering what silent communication was going on between them. "Don't know how to do what?"

"Maleficent will be here in a few hours. I suggest you take that time to rest up. We're counting on you, Emma."

Emma threw her hands in the air before dragging one through her hair. "Why me? Why do you need this?"

Hades pointed to the blobs that popped up through the fire only to burst instead of breaking free. "Those are souls, souls of the damned, and if they escape, they can return to their world and wreak havoc. Do you want to be responsible for the damnation of every existence to ever be created?"

"No, but-" Emma sighed and looked around as if the answers could be found lurking in the shadows of this cave.

"Take some time, think about it and rest up. You will be rewarded for your favour. I believe you know where the apartment is, even your house if you prefer. Go off then. I'll find you when it's time." Hades flicked his wrist and the group was engulfed in the blue flames, only to be deposited on the streets of Underbrooke again.

SQSQSQ

Milah struggled to hold Hook up. All the magic in combination with the beating he took, she had to get him help. "Emma, please!"

Cora grabbed Emma's wrist and shook her head no. "I can clean him up, but I can't heal him. I no longer have those powers."

Hook felt magic causing his skin to tingle. It enveloped and wove itself over his entire body. It left him feeling slightly better, but his whole body still ached. One eye was still swollen shut. He truly felt like he'd been beaten within an inch of his life. "Me ship, it must be 'ere."

Emma nodded. First they'd take him and Milah to the Jolly Roger, or this world's equivalent, and then she'd go to her house and wait for her mother to arrive. "We're taking Killian to the harbor. You're welcome to go to the apartment if you want."

David shook his head no. "We're going with you. No way you're wandering around here while everyone wants to kill you."

Snow was still reeling from hearing about her father, learning he wasn't the perfect man she'd idolized her entire life. Regina had saved her from… she shuddered at the thought. They'd turned Regina into a monster. The Evil Queen was her fault. She felt shattered, as if her entire life had been a lie, and the truth had stripped away everything she was to leave a gaping hole Snow didn't know how to fill.

The group managed to make it to the docks relatively unscathed. They were passing onto the piers when Snow gasped, torn out of her internal misery as a gigantic anchor whizzed past her head.

David spun angrily towards the direction the anchor came from. "Wait where you're tossing-" He stopped abruptly as the only one before him was nothing more than a teenage boy only a few years older than Henry. "Wha- how?"

"Sorry. Most people don't frequent the docks. I'll keep an eye out while you're here."

Snow took a few minutes to truly see the boy, study him as she blinked rapidly. David frowned at her odd behaviour. "Snow? Snow what's going on?"

Shaking off her husband, Snow walked closer to the boy. "Herc? Hercules, is that really you?"

Hercules turns to face Snow. He blinks at her and shakes his head. "Do I know you?"

Disappointment filtered through Snow. "It's Snow, Snow White. You were once in my kingdom." She wiped away tears and moved in to hug her friend.

Hercules allowed the hug, though he didn't hug back. He wasn't thrilled to see her here. Snow noticed his displeased face and quickly misinterpreted why he was unhappy. "I'm not dead. I, uh, came down with my daughter to get back the father of her child."

"You've a child?" Hercules looked to Emma and his eyes narrowed in confusion. "You're a grandmother? Time really does fly."

Snow nodded, beaming a smile at him once more. "I have a son too." She looked Herc over once more. "How did? Why are you still so young?"

Hercules laughed and shook his head. "Cerberus."

"Cerberus? What if I told you that we could help you move on? We could help you leave the Underworld?" Snow was suddenly excited again.

Emma rolled her eyes, not wanting to play this delusional game anymore. "I'm not her daughter. She does have an infant son, though. She drugged me, and kidnapped me here to rescue Hook. He died being a hero and wanted his death left alone. I'm pregnant, and she still brought me here, not caring how dangerous this world is at all."

"Emma!" Crimson painted across Snow's cheeks as she peeked a glance up at Herc, but his face was unreadable.

David looked between Snow and the boy, not understanding. "You know Hercules? How?"

"We were friends." Snow moved closer to Hercules, wanting to give him a hug, to make sure he was still okay after Emma's outburst. "He taught me to defend my people."

"Define friends." David's eyes narrowed, displeased at how his wife kept gravitating towards the boy.

Hercules rolled his eyes. "No need to be jealous. I'm dead. I met Snow when she was about fourteen. I promised to teach her how to shoot a bow and arrow, how to defend her people, and to be a good leader and queen." He turned his attention to Snow. "Do you remember what you promised me?"

Snow shook her head, trying to recall. She didn't remember ever promising the demi god anything.

Herc sighed in disappointment. "You promised me that you'd remain good and true. I warned you that if you didn't remember what your mother told you, that things would go very badly for you."

But I-"

"The last place a pregnant woman needs to be is in the Underworld, let alone the magical savior." Herc paused to smile and give a small bow to Emma. "Goddess." He turned back to Snow. "You were on your third life of being sent to Tartarus. You knew that if you didn't turn out good this time that you'd never escape. The tenth circle has never been used before, but it has your name on it."

Emma frowned. Tenth? I thought there were only nine; limbo, lust, gluttony, avarice and prodigality, wrath and sullenness, heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. What other one is there?"

Herc moved over to Emma. "One you do not want to know about, and hope you never have to see. You need to leave, Emma."

"Hades needs a favour."

"Be careful. He's my uncle, and we've come to an understanding over the years, but he's dangerous when he wants to be." Herc moved a few boxes near Emma's feet back over towards the loading area.

Snow was confused, humiliated, and angry. She was good, a hero! Why was everyone being so cruel? "I am good. I-"

James made no pretense about pushing Snow into the River of Lost Souls. The high pitched shriek was deafening. James grabbed David and prevented from jumping after her. Emma backed up as the sickly green river turned bright red, the level drastically dropping as the fire wrapped around Snow and sucked her down into it. They all watched in shock, uncomfortable and shaken as hundreds of souls had nearly escaped the fire while it consumed Snow.

"What is wrong with you? That's my wife!" David struggled against James, tears flowing down his face.

"Not even half the man." James sighed and released David, letting him stumble and fall onto the docks.

Cora shook her head. She still stared at the water in disbelief. The bane of her daughter's existence was finally gone. It was wholly unsatisfying though, as Regina hadn't gotten to play a part in it or even see her demise. "Don't touch that unless you want to end up stuck in there forever." David blinked up at her. "They don't call that the River of Lost Souls for nothing. I do believe you have a son to think about."

David scrambled to his feet. "Emma, do something."

Emma turned to James, eyebrow raised. "Was there a purpose for that?"

"Get to move on to Asphodel Meadows. Hades was getting tired of her." James smirked, evidently entirely pleased with hurting his brother without physically attacking him. He also got to move on to a decent place, so it was a win-win for him.

They watched as the man was engulfed in blue flames before disappearing. Emma sighed. She hated Snow, but it was unfair to go out like that.

David grabbed Emma by the upper arms and shook her a bit roughly. "DO something!"

"You really think it's smart to defy the man when we're in his world? I don't know about you, but I do not want to stay down here." Emma shrugged out of his hold and moved to help Milah practically carry Hook towards the last slip where his boat was.

Hook shuffled, eyes closed as he let them lead him to the ship. His good eye snapped open when they stopped. They hadn't reached the gangplank yet. Gasping, he struggled to make it to the person standing on the deck of his ship. "Brother!"

"Killian?" Liam raced down the gangplank and hugged his brother before stepping back and taking in the sore sight. "The hell happened to you?"

"Hades. What happened to you?" Hook tried to support himself on his own, but his legs were shaky and dizziness threatened to consume him.

Liam sighed. "Don't have a clue. I've spent centuries trying to figure it out."

Emma's eyes narrowed as her lie detector came to life full force, warning bells instantly going off. Something seemed very off about Hook's brother. "Try telling the truth."

Hook moved away from Emma, turning to face her, angry at the accusation. "Liam ne'er did 'nythin' wrong 'n his life. He died nobly. He is proof th' there is no way out o' here."

Liam smirked and looked at Emma as he spoke to Killian. "Stop. You're making me blush."

"You're hiding something. I've a built in lie detector, and you my friend, and sending it into a frenzy. Why don't you come clean so we can help you move on?" Emma crossed her arms over her chest and pursed her lips. She scrunched up her face in disgust when Liam took that as open invitation to check her out.

"Liam wouldn't lie, love. No one wants t' stay down 'here." Hook wasn't happy that Emma was challenging Liam. The Underworld was a nightmare. If Liam knew why he was down here, surely he would fix it so he could move on.

Emma stared Killian down. "I have put up with your shit since I met you. I've saved your life and covered your ass enough that you should trust me. You haven't seen him in hundreds of years. Hook!"

Hook thought about it a few minutes, looking between Liam and Emma. People do change over the course of several centuries, but Emma had been loyal to him, had the best intentions for him. He turned to Liam. "Why would ye lie t'me?"

Silver started down the docks towards him followed by the rest of their old crew. "He's got big secrets to keep."

The elation at seeing all the guys quickly dissipated as Hook realized Liam played a part in their deaths. "What did y' do to them?"

"He ain't the hero ye think, boy. He's in deep with Hades. Traded our souls for the Eye of the Storm so ye could run off without us and play hero." A crew member from the middle of the pack piped up.

Hook felt devastated. His whole image of his brother had been a lie. "Why?"

"I did what I had to do in order to save you." Liam moved towards his brothers. "I'm sorry. I just wanted to be the perfect role model for you."

"All ye did was set th' bar so 'igh I could do nothin' but fail." Both Hook and Liam looked utterly devastated.

Silver raised a fist. "Get 'em, Men!"

Cora waved a hand and froze the men. "Now, now. Surely there's a way to settle this without attacking them."

Chants of "Walk the plank" were chorused.

Liam nodded. "I'll walk it if you leave Killian alone. He had no idea what I did."

Emma rolled her eyes as cheers rang out and Liam walked towards the ship. "No one is walking the damn plank. Settle down. Liam, you owe these men an apology so they can move on. Guys, attacking Liam won't help you get out of here. It's been hundreds of years. It's time to let it go."

The immobile crew swore up and down, giving entirely new meaning to the phrase sailor mouth. Hook looked like a lost puppy who had just been kicked. Liam looked like he wanted to run, not ready to face consequences for his actions.

"Everyone is going to settle down. If you want to settle it with Liam, fine. Don't throw him into the harbour." Emma sighed, knowing she wasn't going to get through to these cavemen.

Hook was quickly outraged. "What? No! Emma!"

The men chased Hook and Liam up the gangplank. Cora, David, and Emma waited on the dock while the men ran around beating each other up and shouting. Milah started with them on the docks but quickly charged up into the ship and joined in the fight. Emma let them have five minutes before she nudged Cora to freeze them again.

Milah had been in the middle of the struggle and ran to Emma, shoving her hard when she had her feet firmly planted on the deck. "What the hell is wrong with you? Killian is hurt enough."

"Because they need to realize that hurting Hook and Liam won't bring the satisfaction they're looking for." Emma turned to look at the men, all frozen in awkward positions. "Now, I suggest if you want to move on that you let it go. Liam has been here nearly as long as you, and you could have dealt with this any time before this. I can send you on your way if you all grow up."

Silver glared. "Why should we believe you?"

Hook struggled and Emma flicked her wrist, freeing him. He walked over to Milah. "She's the savior. If Emma says we can all move on, we can stay onboard and move on."

James huffed, entirely pissed off. "You never would have been good enough for Killian." He spit on the ground causing Emma to scrunch her face up in disgust. One thing she absolutely detested was spitting.

Purple smoke cleared next to Emma, an arm snaking around her waist. Regina sneered down at all the pirates. "Perfectly fine, dear, because he's not worthy of Emma."

The entire crew was at a loss for who the new witch was. They started cussing and name calling until Regina took their voices. "Emma, what are you doing here?"

For a brief moment, Emma let herself sink against Regina's side, Regina's magic flooding into her. "I'm trying to send them on to the afterlife, but they're too busy fighting it out to care."

Regina raised an eyebrow, going into queen mode. "Perhaps we could just throw them all overboard instead?"

The chorus of outrage rang out and Regina nodded. "That's what I thought. Now, shut up and sit nicely while you ride out of here. Be thankful we didn't send you to Tartarus." Regina unfroze them and waited to see if they would all act decently. When they all huffed and just stood around, Regina nodded. "All yours."

"We're gonna leave. Killian, keep your crew in line." Emma moved back towards the gangplank.

Hook nodded, and pulled Emma into a hug. "Thanks, Swan."

Emma eyed Liam warily, giving a small nod. She stiffened when arms wrapped around her too tightly until she realized it was Milah. "Go. Go see Neal. He's waiting for you."

Regina could sense just how drained and weak Emma was. Maleficent hadn't been kidding when she said Emma would need all the magic she could get. She helped Emma off the gangplank. The horizon changed into a shimmery white as the boat headed off towards it before disappearing.

Emma smiled before turning round. Upon seeing her mother, the tears started as she launched herself at Mal, throwing her arms around her. She felt arms wrap securely around her and pull her in, tucking her into Mal's body. Her voice cracked as the weight of the day finally caught up to her. "Mama!"

A/N: this was going to be longer, but there's so much going into the next chapter that i split it up. i'll be attending the chicago con this weekend so i don't know how soon i'll update again so bear with me a little bit