Storybrooke

Present Day

"Look out!" Emma shouted to Killian as a fairy – her name was Bethany, Emma thought – flew overhead and aimed her wand at him.

He was slow to react, so Emma shoved him bodily with her shoulder and waved her hand, sending Bethany end over end across the sky and through the sheets of rain that were now falling.

"Thanks, Love. You're brilliant," Killian said, righting himself. As he lifted his hand from the ground, he grabbed a chunk of broken pavement and flung it at another fairy, who was closing in on Emma while she grappled with a third, Kelly.

The airborne fairy was struck and, stunned, flew into the window of the bakery. Emma, still fighting, kept an eye on her, but she did not come out again.

Mary Margaret and David, who were fighting alongside them, were not to be outdone. Leaning over, David cupped his hands and allowed Mary Margaret to step into them before launching her into the air.

At the apex of her flight, Mary Margaret lined up her bow and fired at Joy, a fairy with golden tinges to her wings. The deliberately poor shot missed, but Joy spiraled frantically out of the way and ran into Bethany, who had been attempting to reorient herself. They collided hard, falling to the ground, and were slow to get up.

Graham, refusing to use his firearm on their brainwashed adversaries, was relaying on his taser; though for the most part the fairies were staying out of his range. Emma had hoped he would bring Lily with him to the fight, but Lily had left the hospital in the middle of the night - at Graham's encouragement - to get some sleep.

Turning her attention back to the battle, Emma took advantage of Joy and Bethany's discombobulation, shoving Kelly away and then knocking them out with a sweep of her hand. Unable to counter the magic, the two fairies dropped to the wet pavement once more.

Emma grinned, even as the icy rain felt like needles pricking her, beating her skin. Forcing the discomfort from her mind, she suppressed a shiver.

"Good job, honey!" Mary Margaret shouted.

"Thanks!" Emma shouted back as the third fairy, Kelly, charged her again. "Whoa!"

Killian growled, lunging towards Kelly and swinging the flat of his sword at her. "Get away from my wife."

Kelly fluttered away from the sword and back into David, who rendered her unconscious with an elbow to the head.

Killian gave him a mock salute. "Guess we're lucky you showed up, mate."

"You better believe it," David grinned; and together, the five of them huddled together and faced the few remaining fairies, who were beginning to regroup.

Mary Margaret, breathing hard, nocked another arrow and observed their opponents. "Something's wrong."

"Yeah, no kidding," Emma said. "Our friends have been turned into robot zombies."

"No. That's not it," Graham said, looking over their opponents. "Where's Mim?"

Emma frowned, deflecting a shot from a wand. "Seems pretty clear she's testing her shiny new army."

"No. Where is she?"

Blinking some rainwater out of her lashes, Emma glanced around at the hovering fairies, realizing what her mother was trying to say. Although it had been hard to notice in the middle of battle, looking now at the group as a whole, she could see Mim was not among the fairies.

"It's a setup," she murmured, breath frosting in the air. "This was all a distraction. Mim wanted our attention here."

"So she could do what?" Killian asked, as the fairies circled them like sharks, searching for an opening in their defenses.

Emma's pocket suddenly pinged, though she barely registered it as her cell phone.

"What was that?" Killian asked, shifting beside her.

"Phone. I got a text," she rapped out dismissively, eyes fixed on the fairies, trying to time their rotation.

Mary Margaret, shoulder to shoulder with Emma while training her bow on the fairies, said, "Check it."

"Now?" Emma asked, and suddenly realized it could be Ashley.

Ariadne.

Sliding her hand into her pocket, peripherally aware of her four allies surround her protectively, Emma took her phone and scanned the text. "It's from Starkey," she began, confused. Reading the words, Emma felt as though the earth was swiftly tilting below her. "No. No…Gold – Adi-"

"What happened?" Killian asked.

When Emma didn't immediately reply, Mary Margaret said, "Emma what happened?"

"Mim broke Gold out. He's going after Ariadne," Emma said, the words coming from her in a moan.

"Go," Mary Margaret said. "We've got this. If the Evil Queen couldn't kill us, these guys will be a walk in the park. We'll protect the town. Go."

"I-" Emma began, then said, "Thank you."

"Swan, take me with you," Killian said. Though he never made his requests of her sound like demands, this one did.

Nodding grimly, Emma thought of home, and they were transported in a cloud of white magic.

One Year Ago

The Underworld

Hades is not going to be happy.

Regina had barely spoken the words when the dock below them burst into a conflagration of hot blue fire. Killian pulled Emma away from the side of the ship, praying the Jewel wouldn't catch a spark.

The fire dissipated as quickly as it had roared to life, revealing Hades.

"What have you done?" he demanded, stalking across the dock, trying to get a look at his dead pet. "You destroyed my hydra. How? It shouldn't have been possible…"

Nervously, the three exchanged glances. Was it possible he still didn't realize his crystal was stolen?

"That's because you underestimated the savior," Killian said, flashing a smirk. "She's really quite astounding, you know."

Hades narrowed his eyes. "How nauseating. But there's no way. My hydra's soul-"

"Is gone," Regina said, smirking gratingly. "If you wanted to kill us, maybe you should have done it yourself."

"Speaking of…" Levitating himself to the deck of the ship, Hades circled Killian appraisingly. "Someone seems a bit more…lively than when I last saw him."

Forcing his most obnoxious grin, Killian said, "Told you she's a wonder. She can even raise the dead. You might be out of business soon, my friend."

"Very funny." Leaning over the railing of the deck, Hades watched the dark outline of his monster sink deeper into the toxic river.

Killian considered the risk of shoving Hades overboard, wondering if it would work. But if regular magic users could teleport themselves, Hades certainly could return himself to the ship before he touched the water.

"Look at my poor baby," Hades sighed. "First Cerberus, now my hydra." Making a fist, he whirled on them, tilting his head. "That's enough. I have kept you all alive to appease Milah, but even I have my limits. You have caused too much interference in my happy little world, and I have fought too hard to let you ruin it." Scalp bursting into flame, he sauntered towards them, letting his crisp suit slowly catch fire for dramatic effect. It burned completely away to reveal his Grecian -style robe.

Sidling away from Emma and Regina, Killian laughed. "Then why didn't you send us back the moment Milah freed me? You know, when she finds out what you did to us, she will never forgive you." As he spoke, he continued to move, turning Hades away from the women. He hoped they would take the opportunity to poof themselves away from the ship.

"She will. Eventually, she will. She never seemed to care about all the people you killed in your pirating days together, did she?"

Behind him, a purplish cloud began to gather, and Killian felt great relief for the queen's survival instincts. He just hoped Regina would think to protect Emma, as well.

Advancing on Killian, Hades said, "Milah didn't even mind leaving her son behind, so why would she care very much about a grandson? No, she will forgive me."

As the vapor of Regina's magic cleared, Regina wasn't gone, but Milah was there, next to her, with a handful of wrinkled parchment clutched in her hands. Eyes filling with humiliation and rage, her body shook. "How dare you say those things about me?"

Blue fire dying out, Hades turned from Killian and faced her. "Milah?" A shudder seemed to run through him. "Where – how did you get here?"

"I brought her," Regina said triumphantly, as though presenting her favorite knight of the Royal Guard. "Got the idea when you said she was the only reason we were still alive."

Almost supplicant in his entreaty, Hades held out his arms to Milah and laughed weakly, saying, "Please, my dear, pay no mind to what I say to them. I didn't mean a word. I know how you regret leaving your son – you've told me so many times. But I wanted these-"

"Why didn't you tell me…" Milah asked, giving the parchments in her grasp a shake "…about this?"

Arching his neck, Killian tried to get a look at the papers. He quickly recognized the page size and shade of eggshell white, and the font and colorful paint scheme upon it. It was pages from Henry's book.

"She found them," he elatedly realized, "The pages Hades made Liam tear out."

Whatever they contained, was it enough to stop Hades?

Smiling thinly, Hades said, "Milah – I need to explain-"

"You're bloody right you do," she hissed, crossing the deck and waving the pages in his face. Killian saw more of the rich-hued pictures adorning the parchments, but they were moving too fast to decipher. "Three hundred years. Three hundred years we've known each other, and not once did you ever bother to tell me?"

Retreating, Hades struggled to respond. "I – you must understand, Milah, I had to keep-"

Milah continued on as though she hadn't even heard him. "You never bothered to tell me I was the child you gave away? Well, why don't you tell me about it now? Go on."

Killian felt his jaw fall. Milah? The daughter of – how? It seemed too coincidental to be true. And yet…it explained everything.

Dropping to his knees, Hades said, "It's…It's all in the pages you hold, Milah. You already know."

"I want to hear it from you."

Eyes downcast, Hades said nothing.

Lips curling in a disgusted sneer, Milah said, "If there's anything I despise more than a liar, it's a coward. Fine."

With a shake of the pages to organize and flatten them, she began to read in a voice that trembled with violence. " '…but to possess the Olympian Crystal, Hades had to make a sacrifice. Kronos, its keeper, agreed to trade it to Hades in exchange for one thing: an immortal life.'."

"Milah, I had-"

But Milah read on." 'Hades, conflicted, withdrew from the negotiation for reflection. Certainly, it was a high price to pay. But the lure of gaining complete mastery over the Underworld was a strong draw, one he was unable to resist.' "

" 'One day, while watching his daughter Melinoe play with her mother Persephone, Hades devised the beginnings of a plan. Kronos had demanded only an immortal life, the life of a god. If he turned Melinoe into a mortal, he would have both saved her and met the requirements of the deal.' "

Pleadingly, Hades said, "It wasn't that simple. You have to understand that. My plan was to eventually restore you to godhood and-"

" 'So Hades turned the girl mortal, wiped her memories, and took her to a small village, claiming he was a fisherman who had found her washed up on shore - perhaps from a shipwreck. Taking pity on the child, a poor married couple offered to adopt her. Discovering Melinoe could not even remember her own name, they gave her the name Milah.' "

A lone tear trickled down Milah's face, and she stopped reading. "There's more. About Persephone leaving you to return to Mount Olympus after finding out what you did, and you getting control over the whole Underworld by using the crystal to lock up all the other gods. But I think everyone gets the idea. You didn't fight or kill Kronos. This story says you just gave him further immortality. So that even the crystal could not destroy him."

"Sweetheart…" Though Hades made the correct expression and tone of voice, filled with regret, something was missing. Something real, something…human.

Milah threw the papers at his feet, and he scrambled to pick them up and hold them against his chest, as though he could hide them, take away everything she'd read.

"You know what makes me angriest of all, though?" Milah said, wiping at her eye. "If you had just told me, I might have been able to forgive you. We could have gotten to know each other as a real father and daughter. And you carried on the lie. For hundreds. Of years."

"I couldn't tell you the truth." Finally standing, Hades took her hand. "I had to keep it a secret. If any of the souls here found out you were my daughter, they could have used it against me – you. Against you. They could have attacked you, kidnapped you. I had to keep that from happening, even if I had to keep the truth from you too."

Slamming a clenched fist on the railing of the ship, Milah made a strangled noise. "Because that's just what I've always enjoyed; someone deciding what's best for me."

Taking her shoulders, Hades pleaded, "Listen. I have a plan. I've always had a plan. You are going to be a goddess again. All I need is one more piece to the puzzle. You can reclaim your immortality, go to Mount Olympus, where you belong. When the Dark One's infant is born, it will be possible."

Killian felt cold. Belle…

"What?" Milah gasped.

"Yes. You see, a power born completely from darkness, combined with my abilities and the crystal, can complete the ritual and restore you to what you were."

As if not hearing him, Milah stared blankly. "Oh... That's it. That's why you tortured Killian. That's why you have a vendetta against Rumple. Those papers from the book, they said you needed me alive to complete the ritual and make me a goddess again. That you planned on waiting until I grew up, but of course I got married young and then had Bae. And you didn't want to take me away from my son. Even though I left him, you were afraid I'd blame you for separating him and me – like you separated us. And before I could work up the courage to go get Bae…"

"That vile creature - that little peasant on a power trip - killed you," he filled in bitterly. "And he," Hades added, pointing at Killian, "let it happen right in front of him. Not only that, his earlier cruelty and goading of Rumpelstiltskin had exacerbated the situation."

Emma, clutching Killian's hand, broke in. "Hey. What happened to Milah was not Killian's fault. Let's get that out of the way right now."

Hades mimed locking his mouth and throwing away the key. "Pssst. Gods talking here, please." With a dramatic sigh, he looked at his daughter. "I can return humans to life. But death is practically the antithesis of a god. A soul into a goddess…isn't as easy. But I got lucky. You didn't immediately move on, because I had…taken care of the Underworld judges. I needed that spark – that kickstart that would revive and transform you. Not just any spark would work, though. What better power source than pure magic – in this case, created of Dark One magic, one of the most powerful in history? A magical life for an immortal life."

Suddenly feeling nauseous, Killian resisted the urge to place a protective hand over Emma's stomach. In his experience, savior magic was much stronger than Dark One magic. If Hades had any inkling of the power Emma currently held…

Milah laughed sharply. "So you were planning on taking Belle's baby once it's born, and then killing it just so I can go schmooze with a bunch of stuffy deities on a mountain all day?"

"Gold's baby. And I originally signed that contract ownership over to myself to make sure it could never affect you – even if it was tied to Rumpelstiltskin, I don't like to take chances."

Milah arched her brows. "Am I supposed to thank you? You are not going to do anything to the baby. Belle's, Rumple's, call it what you want. But it's innocent."

"I am trying to make things better for you, stop being so difficult!" Hades roared. "How can I repair what I did if you won't let me do it?"

Killian could tell that Milah was at the end of her minimal allotment of patience. In the old days, she probably would have begun a lengthy tirade against him.

What she did, though, was unexpected. Reaching out, she pulled him into a hug. "Father. I love you, and I forgive you," she whispered. "You've been my best friend over the last three centuries." Pulling back, she looked at him. "But after all our time together, I thought you would know what I wanted more than anything. More than even being alive again."

It was then that Kilian fully understood. She'd changed as much as he himself had over the last few centuries. Just he'd grown past his anger and darkness, she'd become more compassionate and receptive to others.

And although Killian would never be able to reconcile with his own father, he hoped desperately Milah could with hers. Even if it was Hades.

Cradling one side of her face, Hades asked tenderly, "What do you want, child? Anything in my power, it's yours."

"The same thing you wanted when I came here," Milah said, a tear running down her face. "To reconcile with my child. All I want is to move on, to find my boy and be with him."

"But, Melinoe. You were destined for greater things. You were supposed to be a goddess. Even you sensed this; hence your restlessness in life."

Clearly and firmly, Milah said, "Maybe that is true. But it's not what I want now. I want my son."

Wearily, Hades turned from her and stared at the water where his pet disappeared. "We will never be together again."

Turning him to her, Milah smiled ruefully. "We had three hundred years together. And I will cherish every one. But Bae needs me, too."

Folding his arms, expression clouded, Hades said, "Well, if that is what will truly make you happy… then I will help you move on."

"Thank you. Thank you, father," Milah said, taking his hands. Sliding her gaze over to Killian, Emma, and Regina, Milah added, "But you have to let them leave. Promise me."

Hades made a face, but said, "As long as they don't interfere any longer. Fine."

"Then you've given me more than I could ever ask for." Her face softened, and she glanced to Emma. "Can I say goodbye to Henry first?"

"Definitely. I'll get him," Emma offered. Regina, watching Hades suspiciously, seemed about to protest. But in another whirl of smoke, Henry appeared.

Turning in a circle to get his bearings, Henry quickly recognized his location and the people around him. "Moms? Killian? Grandma? What's going on?"

Wiping at her tears, Milah said, "Oh, Henry… could you come here? Please?"

Emma and Regina both tensed, and Killian couldn't blame them. But Hades didn't make any threatening moves.

When Henry met Milah, she began speaking to him in a low voice. Killian couldn't make out what she was saying, but they conversed quietly for a few minutes. Then, Henry suddenly gave her a tight hug. Milah hugged him back.

When they parted, Milah looked over Henry's shoulder to Hades and said, "I'm ready."

Appearing disappointed and resigned, Hades replied, "Very well, daughter."

Before Killian could process it, a portal, whirling at the edges, had opened near the stern. It looked like a smaller version of the ones Killian had seen in the cave, with Liam and James.

On the other side of the portal, strange structures and colors dominated a landscape Killian had never seen before. Although he'd held no preconceptions as to what Bae's better place was, this curious land would have never even entered his mind.

He couldn't help but wonder where and what…or maybe when it was.

Milah stood, transfixed. Killian wondered if she was even breathing.

"What if he doesn't want me there?" she asked, sounding terrified. The spiraling edges of the portal lifted her hair into a whirl, and she patted it down in an uncharacteristically nervous gesture.

Henry, who had not left her side, took her hand. "It'll be okay, Grandma. You gotta give him a chance, to give you a chance."

Kissing the side of his face, Milah smiled fondly, leaning her cheek against the top of his head. "You're a wise boy, Henry."

Unable to help his own smile, Killian swelled with pride for both Henry and Milah. Finally, Milah was going to attempt what she feared most – reuniting with her son.

Now it was just up to Bae.

"Tell him 'hello' for me," Henry begged Milah earnestly. "Tell him I miss him."

"It'll be the first thing I say to him," Milah assured Henry.

"Thank you," Henry said, hugging her again.

After a few more seconds of embracing her grandchild, Milah slowly let him go. "Well," she said, looking around the deck of the ship, "I suppose…"

Walking to Hades, she placed her hands lightly on his shoulders. "Thank you for reuniting me with my son."

"And you're sure it's what you want?"

"Yes, more than anything. I am glad I got to meet you." She kissed his cheek lightly. "Don't be a stranger."

"As I said, I cannot reach you where you are going," Hades said sadly. "But we can speak through the portal. I will miss you, daughter. And I am sorry."

"I forgive you. But promise me -" She shook him lightly. "Promise me you will let my friends go home."

Hades groaned. "I already did!"

"Promise me again!"

"I promise."

With a nod, Milah left him. Killian realized she was coming towards him, Regina and Emma next, and tried to prepare himself for what to say.

But as always, Milah took control of the situation, first going to the other women and giving Emma an affectionate hug, and nodding at Regina. "Goodbye, Emma and Regina. Thank you for protecting and loving my grandson. And, Emma - we didn't know each other long, but I still feel like you became my friend. I am glad Killian found you."

"Goodbye, Milah," said Emma warmly. Regina only nodded back at Milah, but for her, it was a more cordial goodbye than Killian would've anticipated, given her initial distrust of Milah.

When Milah raised her eyes to Killian, he felt a familiar warmth in his heart, though it was lacking any of the passionate, romantic inclinations he used to harbor. "Goodbye, love." There was not a farewell that could encompass centuries of love, and he didn't know what else to say. "You will never know how much it means to me that I got to see you again."

"I think I actually do." Milah grinned her fearless grin. "Goodbye, Killian. Thank you for the happiness you brought me." She embraced him, placing her mouth close to his ear. "Marry that girl, you hear me?" she whispered.

He almost laughed. If only she knew. "I will miss you, love."

"I will miss you, too," Killian told her as he gently released her. "Be happy."

Glancing at the portal, Milah said, "It will be a while until he can trust me again, I'm sure. But we will get there. As long as we can try."

"Good luck," he said.

Slowly, Milah backed away from them and into the portal. She gave one last wave, and then Hades closed the portal.

Staring at the deck, drifting in his own thoughts, Hades at last said to them darkly, "I made a promise to her. You may leave, if you can find a way. But do it quickly. My patience will not last long."

He then started to disappear, fading away instead of a traditional teleportation.

"Wait," Regina said. "One other thing. I agree to your earlier terms."

"Terms of what?" Hades asked blankly.

"Restoring Graham to life. Take my magic. Send him home."

Hades' eyebrows rose. "Hmm. All this sentimentality getting to you, your Majesty? You're really going to do this?"

Swallowing, Regina nevertheless said confidently, "I am sure, obviously, you idiot. Or I wouldn't have said anything."

"Disappointing," Hades said. "I expected more of you than blind altruism. Fine." With a rapid click, he snapped his fingers.

Killian noticed nothing spectacular. No magical ripple pulsed through the air, and Regina didn't seem affected.

However, when she lifted her hand, palm forward in its typical fireball summoning position, nothing happened.

Misery crumpled Regina's face. Emma placed a consoling hand on her shoulder, but Regina shrugged it off, glaring at Hades appraisingly. "Wait. I want to be sure," she said, taking out her compact mirror. "Emma?"

Opening it, Emma made a hand motion. The mirror rippled, and revealed Graham beside the real Storybrooke clock tower, looking around in shock.

"Aaaahhhhh!" Killian heard a scream in the background. A very familiar scream. "Everyone, run! Ghosts! The dead are here to haunt us!"

Emma closed the compact, rolling her eyes.

"There you go, he's home and you're useless," Hades smirked at Regina. "Congratulations, little miss nobody." With that, he vanished from the deck.

"Mom…" Henry ran across the deck and threw his arms around Regina reassuringly. "You did the right thing."

"I know". Regina leaned on him tiredly.

"You okay?" Emma asked.

"Yes," she huffed. "It's just…Sometimes doing the right thing bites."

Killian was about to laugh and agree, but across the sky, he suddenly noticed a dark shape moving, cloaking the red haze in shadows.

"What is that?" Emma asked.

"Nyx," Killian said, his stomach twisting. It was beginning. The destruction of the Olympian Crystal was already undoing the commands Hades had given it. The other gods were being freed. "She's returning to her duties."

"Which means…" Regina began.

"We gotta get out of here like now," Emma said, "Before Hades can stop us."

Storybrooke

Present day

"Oh, my god. Starkey," Emma said as the cloud of magic cleared around them, and the yard of their home became visible.

Killian saw his crewman, and though he had experienced many a violent sight in his time, Starkey's remains still turned his stomach.

A good and useful man, brutally killed for no reason. He would add it to the multitude of crimes the Dark One would pay for. As soon as possible, he would give Mr. Starkey a proper sea burial. "Thank you for telling me the truth about Adi when none of my crew would," he silently commended.

"Emma, please, look away. There is no time now," he said, heartache making his voice short. "We have to find Adi."

They rushed inside the house, tearing from one room to the next. Emma screamed Rumpelstiltskin's name again and again, demanding that he show himself, but of course she received no answer.

Throwing open the door to the study, Killian saw a young blonde woman lying quietly on her side, eyes closed. She was breathing.

"Emma, Adi's nanny – she's in here," Killian called, checking her pulse, which was throbbing and rhythmic.

Hurrying into the study, Emma peered over his shoulder. "Oh, man. Ashley. Is she alive?"

"Yes. She seems to be all right."

"I wonder where Alex is." Passing a hand over her face, Emma shuddered. "Where is Ariadne, Killian?"

"I…" Killian broke off as Emma crossed the room and searched through the window.

"What are you looking for?" he asked as Emma took out her phone and initiated a call.

"Zelena. I don't see her by the shed. I hope Gold didn't kill her, he hates her – Hello? Sean? Look, Ashley was attacked and Alex is missing…she's with you? Good, good. No, Ashley's okay. She's fine, really, but why don't you call an ambulance here just in case. Zelena might need one too; have them search the yard and under the shed. Okay. Yeah. Gotta go. Sorry. Bye."

As she ended the call, Emma's control vanished. Turning to the side, she threw an impressive right cross into the wall, leaving a fist-sized hole behind as a result.

For the sake of her knuckles, Killian was glad the walls were hollow. He was also glad to be nowhere in range of her hands at the moment.

"Killian, he took her," Emma said, voice so heavy with emotion it was barely audible. "What will he do to her?"

Shaking his head, trying to make sense of it all, Killian replied, "Why would he need her? What does he want?"

"What he wants is…Reynard…he thinks he can use her to save him," Emma babbled. "So-"

"He's with Miss Belle," Killian said. "Take us there."

Emma nodded and waved her hand, and once again they were covered in mist.

They arrived in front of a modestly sized home, with bright trim and flowerbeds clearly in the process of being staged for the spring. He'd been here before, but had not paid attention. Now he was looking, searching for any detail that might lead him to Ariadne.

Emma started instantly for the door, but Killian caught her arm. "Hold on, Love. We need a plan. The Dark One probably expects our arrival."

"I don't care. I'm getting Ariadne back."

"I know, but-"

Killian stopped talking as the door flew open and Belle rushed out, cradling little Reynard in her arms. "Get away, Rumple!" She screamed, and only stopped her headlong flight when she spotted them. "Emma, he has Adi; you have to stop him!"

Emma planted her feet and flexed her hands. She didn't say anything; she didn't have to. Her fury said more than any dramatic threats could've.

"Belle, take Reynard and get out of here," she hissed, eyes unswerving from the open door. "I'll take care of him."

Belle nodded, but before she could get much further, the Dark One emerged from the house, a baby car seat in hand. "Belle, I really don't want to freeze you, so please stop…"

And while Killian's anger over Milah's death had settled into a cold shell of revenge, his fury at seeing his innocent baby in the hands of his enemy was like a canon erupting in his head, a fire licking at his insides.

"Crocodile!" He snarled, and all his insistence to Emma about the need for 'a plan' was forgotten. He would kill the creature this time. Not for Milah, but for Adi.

Emma's hands began to glow with power, and vicious delight combined with triumph spread within Killian. She would stop him. She would save Ariadne. The Darkness was no match for her, with all her strength and rightness of purpose.

But then she faltered, seeming unsure what to do. And Killian realized her dilemma.

The crocodile essentially had a hostage in Adi. Emma couldn't risk striking the baby with wayward magic.

"Oh, it's you two. Wonderful," sighed Rumpelstiltskin. "You, Captain, cling to life like a cockroach."

Belle, who had begun to edge away, suddenly caught the crocodile's notice, and he began to drag her toward him by means of some invisible force.

"Rumple, don't!" Belle begged, sobbing, trying to no avail to dig her heels into the earth.

"We are saving Reynard," he replied. "Today."

"Not this way, you aren't," Emma said, and launched herself forward.

At the last moment, she disappeared, then reappeared in front of Rumpelstiltskin without the usual white smoke. Killian wasn't even aware she had a power like that.

Maybe she didn't either, because after her teleportation, she hesitated, failing to take advantage of Rumpelstiltskin's surprise.

Recovering, she reached for the handle of the baby carrier, but Rumpelstiltskin knocked her back with a reddish-black burst of energy.

Cursing, Killian drew his sword and charged. Nothing but Rumpelstiltskin's head would slake his fury at this point. He could avoid Adi. He had centuries of practice under his belt.

Unless the Dark One interfered and redirected his attack…

Blasted bloody magic.

"Enough!" Rumpelstiltskin hissed in a way that made Killian understand he wasn't the only father fighting for his child, and suddenly, just like Mim had done back at the Jolly, Killian found he couldn't move.

Looking immediately to Emma, he saw that she, too, was frozen, mouth open in a silent scream.

Rumpelstiltskin was going to do it. The crocodile was going to do who-knew-what to Adi, right in front of them, and there was nothing they could do to stop it.

Then, a tremulous, soft voice vibrated through the air as if testing it.

"You have to stop. Rumple, I know you don't want to harm an innocent baby."

The Dark One whirled on Belle. "Of course I don't want to, Belle. It's never been about want. It's about doing what I must to preserve this family. Besides, it matters not. I have seen the future, Ms Swan will have more children."

Belle, momentarily thrown, babbled, "What?"

"In nine months, she will give birth to a boy, Dylan. I had a vision," the Dark One rambled. "She may miss this child, but she can take comfort in the other."

Killian absorbed the words, let them pass through him…he couldn't process it now, couldn't think about it. He had to push it aside. Adi. Adi. Adi.

Disgusted with his words, Belle held Reynard closer. She was now only a step or two away from her husband. "So you are going to hurt Adi, then. What are you planning to do? Use her magic? Transfer Reynard's illness into her?"

"Belle, you don't understand. You all think this baby has magic, but you're wrong. She is magic. Light magic. It is wound into the very fabric of her existence, the same as her blood and oxygen. She's an…I don't know if I can quite describe it. She is an anomaly. An aberration. Such things are not supposed to exist. If I can harness it, it will be powerful enough to eradicate Reynard's disease. It's like nothing I've ever seen before."

"But if her magic is as essential as blood or oxygen to her, and you take it away, then-"

"Sadly, she is unlikely to survive without it, yes. And I am truly sorry. But-"

"You're saying sorry to me? Rumple, you cannot do this."

"And I cannot survive losing another son. I will not. With magic like this, the girl was probably destined to be a savior, anyway. And so, she can save Reynard."

"Not. Like. This."

"You're willing to let your son die? Belle, it's her or him. A life for a life. That is the way the laws of magic work."

Belle threw her hands in the air. "You're right! You're right. And today, you might save him. Today. But that price will always be over his head, and yours. Forever. And one day, it will be collected."

Rumpelstiltskin, eyes heavy with sorrow, looked down at Ariadne.

"Do you remember the price of everything you did to get back to Baelfire?" This time, Belle's voice was gentle, almost kind. "Do you? Because I do."

Choking up, the crocodile stroked the thick mass of Ariadne's hair, and she cooed happily at him, taking his finger in her small hand. "He died. He died."

"I know," said Belle tearfully. "We cannot save our Reynard just to lose him again. There must be another way. I'll never stop believing that. And we can find it, together. So please, don't do this. For once, put your faith in me, in love, in us. For real."

Hesitating a moment longer, Rumpelstiltskin finally, tenderly, placed Ariadne's car seat on the ground and crouched before it. "Stay good, young lady. That power you have can be used for great or terrible things," he instructed the baby.

Then, walking over to where Belle held Reynard, he kissed his son lovingly.

"My precious boy, your mother is the greatest human being I've ever known. Listen to her. I love you."

"Rumple," Belle said, alarmed, "what…"

Moving to where Emma and Killian were still frozen, Rumpelstiltskin stood before Emma, clasping his hands behind his back. "Not long ago, I asked you how you spared little Ariadne the darkness. You told me to figure it out, and I believe I have. It should have been obvious." With a glance to Killian, the Dark One went on. "When the captain drained all the darkness into Excalibur, he cleansed all of it from you as well, including the darkness that had begun to attack your developing baby. When he sacrificed himself, he didn't know it, but he had saved his child as well as you."

Drawing the Dark One dagger from his suit, Rumpelstiltskin smiled weakly. "I can do the same, right now. For my boy. If there is no darkness, there can be no illness."

Weighing the weapon, the dagger that had ended and bound so many lives to it, Rumpelstiltskin closed his eyes.

Blackness, hideous tendrils of ghostly magic began to thrash and twist away from his body, inelegantly and haltingly, as though the darkness was desperately clinging to Rumpelstiltskin. As though it knew its time was finished.

Then, all that was left was a humble little spinner man, a spell broken, gazing at his True Love with wonder in his eyes.

Almost reverently, he placed the dagger in Belle's hands. "Sweetheart…"

"I can't," Belle pleaded. "I can't kill you."

Nodding, he took the weapon back from her. "I know. I know I have already asked more of you than I ever should have. I'm sorry." A small bit of fear flashed through his eyes. "I'll do it."

Tugging him to her, Reynard squished between them, Belle kissed Rumpelstiltskin desperately. "I don't want you to go."

"But I must. You know it's the only option that can truly save our son."

Belle shivered. "What if you don't move on? If you're down there with Hades, who knows what he'll do to you?"

"Hades no longer has complete control of his domain." Rumpelstiltskin glanced to Emma. "Miss Swan and the Captain restored things to how they should be. He cannot interfere with the natural order of the Underworld any longer. Even if I had unfinished business, I cannot be trapped there indefinitely."

Belle nodded through her tears. "I just…I can't believe we're talking about this like it's normal, like it has to happen. There must be another way."

Rumpelstiltskin sighed. "Not without hurting the little girl." He swallowed hard. "Please don't give me the time to change my mind."

To Emma and Killian, he said, "My magic is in the blade, so I can't release you. Once I'm dead, though, the spell will be undone, and you'll be able to move again. Please…be kind to Belle. Watch over her for me."

Belle whimpered. "It was you," she said, terrified and admiring. "I knew you'd be the one to defeat the darkness."

Rumpelstiltskin gave her a shaky smile. Then, he took the dagger and plunged it into his own body with an anguished howl. Killian would never have believed it unless he'd seen it happen in front of him.

The coward, finally, truly, giving everything for the ones he loved.

Turning away, Belle collapsed, sobbing and burying her face in Reynard's swaddling blanket as she crushed the baby to her.

Feeling and weight began to return to Killian's limbs, and he knew he would be able to move again shortly. Though he sympathized with Belle, he was more concerned with getting to Adi's car seat and making certain she was unharmed.

He could not hear Ariadne crying, and just over the curve of the carseat's side he could see her partially obscured little face. She seemed alert and suffering no ill effects from her kidnapping.

A great sense of relief struck him. Adi was secure, there in front of him. Soon he would be able to take her in his arms, comfort her and tell her she was safe.

Beside him, Emma was twitching, likely having the same thoughts.

But as Belle's sobs began to subside, a flash of purple light pulsed.

Killian barely had time to understand what he was seeing before the light dimmed and Mim appeared, tapping her wand against her thigh.

"Well, where's the oversized lizard?"

Belle, who had been lost in her own misery, started. "Mim!" she cried and, tucking Reynard against her, lunged for Ariadne's car seat.

Mim merely sighed and waved her wand. Belle and Reynard were instantaneously whisked away to some unknown location, disappearing before their eyes.

"I will say one thing for the old walking raisin, though," Mim added conversationally as she walked up to Emma. "He did know how to cast a good spell. He's done all the hard work, getting Ms. Swan under control. I just have to reinforce it."

Killian felt his limbs stiffening up again, and panic rose in him as he realized what was happening. Mim was putting them in stasis again, to –

To kill them?

"The wings aren't enough. It pains me to admit it, but Blue is still stronger. And I won't be able to hold my spell over my sisters, not forever. But the power this baby has…" Shrugging, Mim stepped over to the car seat, unlatched the straps, and lifted the baby from it. "Well, I've seen it in action. Fairies, you know, we can give magic. As Blue did with Rumpelstiltskin's mother. But that means we can also take it away."

Killian's heart sank, and he fought the spell with all his power, pushing and kicking and thrashing.

Or at least, that is what his mind commanded his body to do. But his body could not obey, and he remained paralyzed as ever, watching in horror as Mim placed the end of her wand on Ariadne's forehead.

Beside him, Emma was no doubt enduring the same struggle.

But she was winning.

Somehow, she was fighting the spell, slowly but surely overcoming it. Her hands moved first; but slowly, like she was fighting a current.

He concentrated on Adi again, hoping somehow, the baby would direct the power she'd demonstrated at the hospital at Mim.

But she wasn't.

Maybe magic removal was not an inherently dark power, or maybe Adi's reflex was not responding.

Either way, there was nothing to stop Mim from slowly, slowly sapping the power from Ariadne.

And if the crocodile had been right, it would kill her.

No, no please, no. Emma, Love, please hurry. Please save her.

Emma pushed and thrashed and fought. He could feel her struggle more than he could see it; on the outside, she was still barely moving. But little by little, she was winning.

Even so, Mim noticed and frowned, pausing her progress to stare at Emma. "How…how are you…" Shaking her head, she returned her attention to Ariadne, doubling her efforts.

With a final effort, Emma broke free. Mim extended the wand and attempted to put another spell over her, but Emma countered it with ease.

Deciding to try another tactic, Mim dropped Ariadne. Killian nearly felt his heart stop.

Emma's eyes widened, and her hands gestured quickly. Adi disappeared, then reappeared just as quickly inside her car seat, cushioned perfectly with no dangerous 'landing' to her fall.

"Nice job, Swan. Now, finish that slag."

Emma crouched and launched a radiant beam of magic towards Mim.

The dark fairy, however, was able to move supernaturally fast. She darted in a blur to the side, cleanly evading Emma's attack.

Adapting immediately, Emma turned as though she would try again, but when Mim sprung into movement, Emma abruptly about-faced with her real attack, anticipating where she would be.

Shrieking as she was caught in the undiluted power of Emma's magic, Mim tumbled to the ground, her limbs trying and failing to catch herself.

"Now Emma has you," Killian thought smugly. "And you can reverse anything you might have done to Adi."

Stalking over to the fairy, Emma's face was pure murder.

Killian tried to call out to her, to remind her they should keep Mim alive until they could confirm Adi was safe, but the stasis magic still held him. Curse Rumpelstiltskin and curse Mim…

Emma, though, was no fool. He knew that, and he knew he could trust her judgement.

When Emma had come within a body-length of her, Mim snarled, jumped to her feet, and magically dislodged a window from Belle's house, hurling it at Emma.

Extending her power in a burst radiating outward from her body, Emma shattered the glass before it even came near her.

The frame whipped across the lawn in several different pieces, embedding into the soil. Fragments of glass went flying back at Mim, who hastily shielded herself with a purple barrier of magic.

Emma launched herself forward - through the barrier, somehow disrupting it - to tackle Mim. The women fell hard to the grass, still fighting.

The tip of Mim's wand sparked, and she tried to make contact with Emma's skin. Baring her teeth, Emma twisted, wrestling and grappling until Mim was below her.

Drawing back her fist, Emma connected with Mim's nose. The small flash of white light that accompanied it indicated Emma had backed up the punch with magic.

If Killian could've moved his mouth, he would have grinned.

Mim screamed in pain, unfurled her wings, and beat them furiously up at Emma.

Not expecting such an unorthodox attack, Emma leaned back, instinctively covering her face with her arms. Mim took instant advantage, shoving her with such strength, Killian knew it had to be fueled by magic.

Emma was propelled a short distance backward, landing on her back. She immediately rolled to her feet and charged at Mim.

The fairy, barely able to get to her feet in time, threw herself desperately to the side to avoid Emma.

Emma didn't stop, but instead threw her arm behind her and fired blindly with her powers. It missed, but just barely.

As they fought, Killian felt himself getting closer and closer to freedom. Mim's spell on him was almost gone.

Making himself ready to battle the moment he was loose, Killian retuned his attention to the battle.

Mim was bleeding freely from the nose, most likely a result of Emma's punch.

For her part, Emma had grass stains and a tear on the back of her jacket, but appeared uninjured.

They were moving carefully now, circling one another warily. Mim had encapsulated herself within a purple bubble, and Emma was searching for a vulnerable point.

"What's the matter with your fairy army?" Emma taunted. "Did they decide to take the day off?"

"No, they're off serving as a nice, big distraction to the rest of your 'hero' friends," Mim said. "If I thought I needed them, I would've called them by now."

But Emma already knew Mim's army was causing a distraction. She'd had that very conversation with Snow White already. Which meant…

Emma was trying to distract Mim.

She was stepping carefully, very slowly herding Mim towards Killian.

Towards the nearly-free Killian, and his sword.

The sky rumbled loudly, but neither woman reacted to it. Instead, they drifted closer and closer to Killian.

Carefully, he tried to move a pinky. He was delighted to feel it wriggle freely.

There was another clap of thunder – closer this time, and lightning streaked the sky with hypnotic, crisscrossed currents of energy. It seemed too deliberate, too choreographed, to be anything natural. Was it possible…

Was it possible Emma was summoning it?

He wouldn't disbelieve it. Emma's powers seemed limitless.

While the storm continued its rehearsed dance in the sky, Emma never wavered. Her drenched hair swirled in the increasing wind, her shoulders back as she wound around Mim.

Her face was alive with the reflected color of lightning. She looked like a goddess of retribution, and Killian was both in awe and fear.

For the first time, Mim was beginning to look uneasy. Her focus moved from Emma to the sky, as if fearing a strike from above.

"All I want," Mim said, "Is to go back to the Enchanted Forest with my sisters."

"And I want my baby," Emma snarled.

They sprung towards one another at the same time, and Killian was temporarily blinded by flashes of purple and white.

He couldn't see either woman, only the streaks and whirls of raw energy around them.

Then…

From the sky…

A hot bolt of lightning, jagged and raw, blinked into existence, stabbed into the middle of the clashing women, and was gone.

"Emma!" Killian roared, and was finally granted the ability to surge forward.

It took him several seconds to comprehend that he had in no way been affected by the lightning. Neither had the surroundings: not so much as a spark had ignited the trees, nor had a puff of smoke risen from the grass – as if they had all been insulated.

In the center of everything was Emma, standing tall, her hands in fists and her chin held high.

Below her, shield dissipated, lie Mim in a crumpled, defeated heap.

Killian approached, drawing his sword in the event Mim was merely feigning her injury.

When he was closer, he could see that there was no way Mim was faking. Her breathing was ragged, pained, and she twitched uncontrollably.

He felt himself stare at Emma. "I didn't know that was possible. You are incredible," he wanted to say.

But…

He was too worried about Ariadne to use excess words.

"Undo what you did to my baby," he growled at Mim, pressing the point of the sword to her neck.

Coughing, Mim rolled over and away from them. She seemed to have not even heard him.

"I won't let her take my wings again," she whispered. "I won't."

Emma leaned down towards her.

Just as she was about to touch Mim, the dark fairy pressed her wand underneath her jaw. "No! No one will take my power!" she hissed.

With a stark, brutal understanding of what she was about to do, Killian flicked his sword to knock her wand out of her hand.

But he was too late.

Mim dissolved into smoky-purple ashes before their eyes, so suddenly that even if Emma could have reversed it, she wouldn't have had time.

The last thing to dissolve were Mim's wings, which stayed triumphantly glowing until they, too, crumbled away.

"Is this a trick?" Emma studied her own hands in bewilderment. "Or, or did I…?"

"No, Love," Killian assured her, feeling a bit disgusted. "Mim decided to take her power to the grave with her."

At the word 'power', both of their eyes went wide.

"Ariadne," Emma said, and they both ran to the car seat.

The baby was still there, curled into the cushioning as though she was in a cocoon.

"Wake up, kid," encouraged Emma, crouching down before Ariadne and stroking her cheek.

Ariadne did not stir, or wriggle, or any of the million little things she did when she was conscious.

"Come on, baby," Emma said, panicked now as she lifted the infant from the seat. "Ariadne, wake up. Please."

But the special spark that made Ariadne so alive was gone. What was left was nothing but a doll.

Heartsick Killian said, "Emma. Please call the Blue Fairy."

If anyone knew how to reverse fairy magic, it would be their leader.

Raise your hand if you were surprised that Milah was Hades' missing child! Wait. No one is surprised? Ok, Ok, I realize it was cliché. But with them, I wanted to do the most Once-y twist possible. PS, many, many, many months ago, TeamHook on tumblr requested another CS baby in this fic, and thus baby Dylan was written in. So, now Mim has Thanos-dusted herself, Adi is gone, and we only have one chapter left! I gotta tell you guys, the following chapter is probably the one I am most proud of in the whole fic. I really, really, hope you like it. Everything has been leading to it, and I hope I do it justice. (goes into the batter's box, and digs my cleats into the dirt) See you guys again soon!