Chapter 14
Seeing the Worst

The Swan-Cassidy's were on their way to Granny's Diner to meet David, Mary-Margaret, Regina and Henry for lunch. Henry was still searching the book for the author. As they approached the diner they saw Ursula and Cruella leave and as Ursula passed Hook who was coming up to the diner as well she gave him a look. When they reached him Neal asked "what was that about"?
Hook replied "nothing".
"Nothing gets indifference" said Neal. "Ursula's look said past and I have a feeling it wasn't pleasant".
Hook replied "as a ship captain of course I've faced many a vile monster but it's nothing to worry about".
Just then David came out "Emma, good thing you're here we gotta go". "Right Now" said Emma "We just came to meet you for lunch and I'm dying for a grilled cheese". David replied "well your mother and I feel we should keep an eye on our newest residents" and he looked in the direction of Ursula and Cruella. "We have a gut feeling they're up to something". "I guess duty calls" Emma said kissing Neal and Tally goodbye.

Ursula and Cruella got to Mr Gold's pawn shop the same time as Neal. The moment Belle saw Ursula and Cruella she got a bottle of something and said "try anything and you two will hop out of here as toads".
"Well hello to you too darling" replied Cruella.
Neal asked "you've met before"?
Ursula said "the last time we saw each other things may not have gone well".
Belle asked "you mean the part where you kidnapped me or the part where you threatened to crush my windpipes"?
Ursula said "we're here for redemption, let's leave the past in the past. I hear congratulations are in order".
"Congratulations" Belle repeated confused.
Cruella said "on defeating the dark one and who would have thought a simple chamber maid defeats the most powerful sorcerer in all the realms".
Belle asked "you've seen him"?
Neal mentioned "they said they left him in a dive bar".
Cruella said "he was a real mess, reduced to old cowardly ways"
Ursula added "it's obvious now why he was so afraid of losing his powers".
Neal mused "wouldn't be the worst thing, before the powers he a decent person and a great father. After he got his powers and he was no longer decent and I speculated if he was as great a father anymore".
Cruella asked "but surely the both of you are revealing in what happened to him".
"Of course not" cried Neal
"No" Belle cried. "I could never take delight in his suffering. Now did you come in to buy something or did you just want to be mean".
Cruella answered "I was hoping to find a hood ornament for my vehicle, something flashy". As Belle went to check inventory Neal kept an eye on them not trusting them."

As soon as they left the shop David and Emma started following them. David suggested Emma call Neal to ask what happened in the shop. Emma found it odd that David was so untrusting, he had mentioned he and her mother had run-ins with Ursula and Cruella but although her super power wasn't going off she got the feeling was more to it than that. Belle had noticed a box missing but when Emma and David checked Cruella's car they found nothing. David said he needed to talk to Mary-Margaret so Emma was left to check security footage. Hook came in with a bag from Granny's. "Neal mentioned you were working and missed lunch so I got you your grilled cheese".
"With fries I hope" asked Emma.
"Onion rings" replied Hook. "Like you always have with your grilled cheese".
Emma smiled "just testing.
Hook asked "so what you working on".
Emma said "ATM security footage we're trying to check if Ursula and Cruella stole something from Gold's shop. Which reminds me how exactly do you know Ursula"?
Hook replied "I told you I've encountered many a vile sea monster one of them happened to be Ursula, but it isn't anything to worry about".
Emma asked "is everyone keeping the past from me today? My parents just say they had run-ins with Ursula and Cruella and you say your past encounter with Ursula is nothing to worry about".
Hook said "perhaps your parents like myself don't want the Saviour to worry about something that doesn't need to be worried about".
The computer dinged telling Emma the download of the footage was complete. "Enjoy your witch hunt".

Later that day Neal came to see Emma at the station after work. "You seem distracted" he said.
She took his hand and lead him over to the sofa "not distracted, just thinking".
"About what"?
"After I got the footage from outside the shop I saw Ursula with a box and my parents were unconcerned, not only that they went to take a hike".
"Villains steal something and a couple of heroes decide to go hiking".
"I know that's what I thought but then Regina asked me to come to the Mayor's office to talk to Pinocchio hoping to jog August's memory. When he couldn't remember anything she went very evil queeny. I didn't do anything because I know Regina is trying to change. Maybe I want to see the worst in Ursula and Cruella because that's all I know them as. If Regina had taken that box I wouldn't have done anything so maybe I shouldn't just because Ursula and Cruella took it. They did say they're trying to change".
Neal asked "did I miss something"?
Emma said "as a kid everybody was always letting me down, friends, social workers, foster parents. I got so used to being let down I just see the worst in people until they prove me wrong. When my parents went on their hike I thought they were lying to me, but they would never lie to me. The fact that I thought they could means I've been believing the worst for too long, now I'm going to try and see the best".
At that moment Mary-Margaret and David came in, David said "we have some bad news. Turns out Ursula and Cruella were up to something".
Mary-Margaret said "they resurrected Maleficent".

Marian stays Marian - 1
Marian becomes Zelena - 2