It's now daytime in the Underworld's version of Storybrooke, and near the broken clock tower on Main Street lies a steam vent in the ground. Down below it is a stone prison where a beaten and bruised Avia Swan is laying unconscious on the hard floor. But, suddenly, she awakens to a sound of a loud scream in the distance.
Avia gasps, breathing heavily, looking around. Through her pain she manages to pull herself up to her feet with the help of the stone wall. "Let me out of here!" She yells. Avia starts to step out of the open cell until -
"Stop." A voice tells her. "Don't move." Avia looks at the young girl who is sitting in the opposite cell. The girl looks to be about her age. "He wants you to think you can escape, but... you can't. No one can."
"I won't be held a prisoner." Avia tells her as she places her foot roughly down on the first step.
"Don't!" The girl exclaims. "He'll hunt you down."
"What more could Hades do to me?" Avia asks, looking at the girl. "And anyway, this is nothing compared to what I've gone already gone through."
"I don't mean Hades." The girl says, frightened.
"Then, who?"
The girl cowers down, shakily. "Just don't." She begs.
"Look, I can't stay here. I can't do nothing." Avia says, stubbornly. "My family is here to save me, and I need to move so they can find me." Avia grabs onto her ribs, hissing slightly from the pain of her standing.
The girl looks bewildered. "How do you know they're here?"
"Because - " Avia flinches. "I was sent a message."
"How do you know that wasn't one of Hades' tricks?"
"Because I know. My family wouldn't give up on me." The girl looks away, unsure on how to respond. "So, do you wanna help me out here?" Avia asks, looking around the cave. "What's keeping us in here?"
"Something you don't want to face." She answers, scared.
"Well, I can't do nothing. I have to go." Avia ignores the pain running through her fragile body and steps out of the open cell, and begins to walk towards the girl.
"Are you mad?"
"Maybe." Avia shrugs. "But my family can save you, too. Come with me." She holds out her hand to the girl. The girl whimpers with hesitation, but she finally takes Avia's hand. "Are you ready?" Avia asks the girl. She quickly nods her head, though fear was evident on her face. "Alright. Go! Go!"
The two start to run through the stone prison when the roar of a beast is heard, alarming the girl. "I told you we'll never make it."
Avia stops. "Maybe I won't. But you will. I'll distract the hell beast while you run. And once you're free find Emma Swan. I'm Avia Swan. I'm her sister. Go!"
The girl runs away, leaving Avia alone to face the beast. She turns and looks down the long hall as three sets of glowing red eyes appear, scaring Avia.
The beast, Cerberus, steps out growling.
Over at the graveyard, Snow is walking, looking at the gravestones, when David approaches.
"Snow, what are you doing?" He asks. "We've got a lot of ground to cover."
"David, these graves." Snow sighs. "They're all from my father's kingdom. They were my subjects." She says, disheartened. "I was supposed to protect them. And now how am I supposed to protect our daughters in the Underworld?"
"Because you're not doing this alone." David reminds her. "Snow, we will find Avia and we will protect both our daughters. We always do. Now, come on. Emma is looking for Avia in the woods just south of here. She's good, but nobody's better at tracking than her mother, Bandit Snow." Snow lets out a faint laugh. "Let's go help her." They both begin to walk towards the woods until Snow notices something that begins to upset her. She approaches a gravestone and looks at it with horror. "What is it?" David asks. Snow kneels down, placing her hand onto the gravestone. "Snow? What's wrong?"
Enchanted Forest...
"Princess Snow, you must stop him." A peasant man begs a young Snow White, who is sitting next to Regina on a throne, holding a wanted poster for a one-eye thief. "The bandit and his men - They're terrorizing our villages and roads."
"But my father - he's on a diplomatic mission." Snow explains. "I'll send word to him."
"By the time it reaches him, we will all be dead. We need help now." He pleads.
"Fear not." Regina tells the man. "My stepdaughter will take care of all of you."
But Snow furrows her brows at this. "I will?" She quietly asks. Regina gives her a silent nod as a scared Snow looks forward.
"What do we do?" The man asks. "People are dying." But Snow is silent. "Princess Snow?"
"I'm sorry." Snow quickly stands and runs away. Regina stands to stop her fearful stepdaughter. "I'm so sorry." She apologizes again before exiting the room.
Everyone watches in shock, except for Regina, who lets out a wicked smile.
Outside the palace, Snow White is running through the woods, still upset, and still afraid. As she is wiping away her tears, she becomes distracted and ends up falling into a deep hole, hitting the ground hard. She looks up, realizing she's trapped.
"No." She groans. "Help! Anyone!?"
After a few moments of silence, a hilt of a sword is lowered down in front of her. "Grab on." A young man's voice tells her. "I'll pull you up."
Snow grabs onto the hilt of the sword and the man easily pulls her out of the hole, using only one hand. Once out, Snow cleans herself off. "Thank you." She finally looks up at the handsome young man.
"You gotta watch out for hunter traps." He places his sword back into his sheath.
"I'm Snow White." She smiles.
"Yes." The man nods, obviously already knowing that. "You certainly are. I'm Hercules. But you can call me Herc."
Underworld / Present...
"You knew Hercules?" David asks, taken aback.
"We were friends when we were kids." Snow explains, sadly.
"Define 'friends.'"
This causes Snow to chuckle at her husband. "Do I detect a hint of jealousy?"
David smirks. "Oh, it's not every day your wife tells you that she was friends with a god."
"A demi-god - " Snow corrects him. " - who also happens to be dead."
"Hey, I'm sorry." David says, sincerely, seeing how upset this makes his wife. "I was just giving you a hard time."
"No, I know. I know." Snow assures him when something comes to mind. "David - " She begins, standing up, with his help. " - if he's down here, he has unfinished business. We have to help him find a way to move on."
"At the expense of searching for our daughter?"
"No, of course not. But, David, think about it. He's Hercules. He can help us. We save him. He can save us."
Meanwhile, Emma and Killian are walking through the woods.
"Emma, love, we already covered this trail." Killian points out. "It was cold."
"Then we cover it again, and we keep going until we find a trail that's hot." Emma tells him.
"Emma, you haven't slept since we got here. Maybe you should rest, love." He suggests.
Emma shakes her head, stubbornly. "I'm not resting until I find Avia."
Regina, Robin, Karley, and Nick meet up with them. "There's no sign of Avia in the North Woods." Regina tells them.
"Well, we have to keep going. Maybe out by the Troll Bridge."
"Wait." Regina stops Emma from walking away, getting an idea.
"What?"
"There may be a way to make our search quicker."
"How?"
"In Storybrooke, I have schematics - maps - of the whole town." Regina remembers. "Every last inch of it."
"So, you think the equivalent maps of this town are here?" Emma asks, unsure.
"Everything else is." Nick points out.
"We're on it then." Robin says. "You keep working here." He tells Regina. "I'll go get you your intel."
"Wait." Regina stops him. "Take Nicholas.
"It might be dangerous."
Regina shakes her head. "My mother's gone now. The office should be empty. And no one knows it better than Nicholas."
"And no one knows the woods better than me." Karley smirks, fist pumping her brother.
Regina smiles at her children. "Nick will be fine. You'll be there to protect him." She says to Robin.
Robin kisses Regina before walking away with Nick. "Alright. Let's go."
"Alright." Regina takes Karley's hand. "Let's get back to it." They turn around, noticing Emma and Killian are missing.
"Emma?" Karley calls out.
"Hey, we found something!" Emma suddenly shouts out. They walk to where Emma is, finding her kneeling down, looking at leaf with blood on it with Killian hovering over it, closely.
"Blood." Regina says.
"There's a trail of it. It's not dry yet. It's fresh." Killian tells them.
Emma quickly stands, looking around. "Avia. Avia!?" They walk through the woods, searching for the young Swan. "Avia!?" But they find a girl hiding behind a tree stump instead.
"Not Avia, but I know her." The girl tells them.
"Who are you?" Emma asks, helping the girl up. "Where's Avia?"
But before the girl can answer, they hear the beast roaring loudly in the distance. "We have to get out of here." The terrified girl tells them.
"What the bloody hell is that?" Killian asks.
"It's coming." The girl panics. "Hide me. We have to go - now!"
Emma quickly teleports them away to safety.
They then reappear in the Underworld's version of Snow and David's apartment.
"Your parents' apartment?" Regina questions. "Really?"
"It's the first place I thought of." Emma says as she removes a sheet off one of the sofas. "Here." She instructs the girl. "Lie down."
"What if whoever - or whatever - lives here, you know, comes home?"
Karley picks up a framed picture. "I don't think we have to worry about that." She shows them the picture of Snow and David.
"Bloody hell, this place is just waiting for your parents to die, Swan." Killian realizes.
"Creepy." Emma frowns.
"I think we're safe here, then." Karley states.
"It's officially a cold day in hell when I move in with the Charmings." Regina jokes.
"Mom." Karley shakes her head, rolling her eyes, amused.
Emma sits down next to the girl. "Are you okay?"
"I will be." The girl says, shakily.
"And Avia?"
The girl stares tearfully at Emma's hopeful eyes. "I - I don't know."
"Where is she, lass?" Killian asks.
"In an underground prison. I escaped through the tunnels. They let out in a cave, somewhere in the woods, and next thing I knew, you found me." She says, looking at Emma.
"Where is the cave?" Emma asks. "Could you find it again?"
"Yes." The girl nods. "But it's being guarded by something terrible."
"What's guarding the cave?"
The girl shudders as she thinks about it. "It has three heads. Its - Its teeth can crush your bones with a single bite. And those eyes - " She shakes. " - they burn right through your soul as it finishes you off. Nothing can defeat this monster."
"That's not true." A voice says. Everyone turns to find that Snow and David have arrived. "I know exactly what this beast is - " Snow smiles, confidently. " - and how we can defeat it."
Enchanted Forest...
Young Snow White and Hercules are sitting at a makeshift camp that belongs to Hercules.
"So, are you really a god?" Snow asks.
"Demi-god." He corrects her. "My mother was mortal."
Snow nods, intrigued. "I've never met a demi-anything before."
"I can't join my father on Mount Olympus until I complete my Twelve Labors."
"And then you'll be immortal?" Snow asks.
Hercules smiles. "That's the idea. But as much as I like discussing my family tree, you can't avoid yours forever."
"I can't face anyone until I figure out what to do about the bandits." Snow tells him, remembering why she ran from her palace in the first place.
Hercules thinks for a moment before suddenly getting an idea. He stands up and offers his hand to Snow, which she takes. "I've got your answer." He grabs a bow, handing it to her. "You're gonna fight them."
Snow appears shocked by this. "Me?" She questions. "I'm not a hero."
"You will be after I train you."
"No."
"Snow - " Hercules grabs a leather satchel from his tent before walking back to her. " - you can't let the fear of failing stop you from trying." He then opens the satchel revealing a collection of golden medals. "This medal - " He points to the first one. " - it was for the first Labor I ever completed - defeating the Nemean Lion." Snow looks on, impressed. "I was scared." He admits. "But I didn't back down. I fought the lion, and I won." Snow just smiles at his excitement. "And I wouldn't have this medal if I'd been too afraid to try."
Snow laughs. "Easy for you to say."
Hercules smiles, placing his satchel down. "Snow, I'm going to teach you how to stand up to those bandits so they never show their faces in your kingdom again."
"Why are you doing this for me?" She wonders.
"Because you're gonna make a great Queen one day." He says, placing his hand gently on her shoulder, passing her the bow, and turning her around. "I'm a good judge of character." He then helps her get into the appropriate position to fire the arrow. "And also, it gives me an excuse to spend as much time as I can with you before I complete my final Labor." Snow turns to him, bashful. "I only have a few fleeting moments down here." She turns forward as Hercules places the arrow in the bow. "And I want to enjoy them."
"So, what exactly is your last Labor?"
Hercules sighs. "It's the most difficult one of them all - " Snow looks at him, seeing his fearful eyes. " - defeating the three-headed hell-bound - Cerberus."
Underworld / Present...
Snow, Emma, Regina, and Karley enter the diner. "You really think she'll know where he is?" Emma asks.
"Of course." Regina says, confidently. "We need someone who sees everyone." She then smiles at the Blind Witch behind the counter. "Hey, child-muncher. We're looking for someone."
"Why should I help you, Regina?" The Witch asks. "You burned me alive."
Karley steps up next to Regina, smiling proudly. "Actually, that was me and my brother. Mom just helped us with her fireball. It's so great to see you again." She says sarcastically. "Oh, wait." She chuckles, knowing the Witch can't actually see her. Regina smiles at her daughter.
The Witch scowls. "Your mother and daughter now?"
"Funny how life works, doesn't it?" Regina glares. "What do you think happens when you steal from a witch, Witch? You die."
The Blind Witch lets out a tired sigh. "Fair enough. So, who are you looking for?"
"His name's Hercules." Snow tells her.
"You know, from the myths." Emma adds.
The witch chuckles. "I know who Hercules is. He comes in here on his lunch break every day." She informs them, bitterly. "And no matter how hard I try to fatten him up, his muscles are always bulging. It's a shame." She smiles. "He'd make a great Sunday roast."
"Lunch break from where?" Snow asks, sternly.
Snow then arrives at the docks where Hercules is lifting down a heavy boat.
"Herc." She calls out. He turns to her with a blank expression as Snow approaches him. "You don't recognize me, do you?"
After a moment of looking closer at her, he recognizes her. "Snow?" He scoffs, looking her over. He starts to feel overwhelmed, not expecting to ever see her again. The two old friends embrace in a hug.
Snow steps back, looking him over. "You're still so young. When - How did - "
"You mean, how did I die?" Hercules assumes. "That - That's not important. What are you doing down here? I mean, how did you - "
"I'm not dead." She quickly answers, realizing that's what he is asking. "I came down here to find my daughter."
"You have a daughter?"
"Two, actually." Snow smiles. "And a son. It's kind of a long story, but it's been quite a life."
"I wish I could say the same." Hercules states, sadly.
"I'm so sorry." Snow says, quickly wiping away a stray tear. "What if I told you there might be a way for you to leave the Underworld once and for all?"
"I never finished my Labors. I can't move on until I do."
"I know. And Cerberus is here." She reveals.
Hercules then becomes instantly afraid. "Here?"
"He's - He's guarding a prison where my daughter is being held." Snow explains. "And, Hercules, you're the only one strong enough to defeat that beast. It's your destiny."
"Well, that hero died." He says, uninterested.
"Only if you let him. Don't forget what you taught me. You can't let fear of failure keep you from trying." She reminds him as he ponders over this.
Down in Hades' lair, surrounded by five different colored rivers, Avia is thrown like a rag doll before the Lord of the Underworld by his two guards.
"Oh, this is going to be quite an exciting day." Hades says, looking down at Avia.
Avia, through her bruised eyes and bloody face, glares up at the man. "It will be when my family kills you."
Hades laughs. "Why does everyone say that? You can't kill me. I'm Hades. This - " He chuckles, waving his hand around his lair. " - This is death."
"And they will figure out a way to get rid of you for good. They always do."
Hades crouches down to Avia's level, looking her battered, petite body up and down. "You know, we have quite the punishment for Dark Ones like you, but I see you've already met my pet. And you're about to realize his master is not nearly as friendly."
Avia just stares up at Hades, trying her best to remain strong.
Over at the Underworld's version of Storybrooke's Town Hall, Nick and Robin walk towards the mayor's office.
Nick starts to reach for the doorknob. "Wait!" Robin quickly stops the boy. Robin walks over to the door and reaches for the handle himself, revealing a protection spell. "Protection spell."
"Looks like Cora left this place locked up." Nick says as Robin looks around.
"Not completely." He says, spotting something. He walks over to the sofa nearby and moves it away from the wall to reveal a vent. He kneels down and begins to force the vent open. "Okay." Robin takes his bow and arrows off from around his back and places them aside. "You stay here."
"No way." Nick refuses. Robin furrows his brows at the boy's attitude. "Someone needs to stand guard outside, and only one of us knows where to look in my mom's office." He explains.
Robin ponders for a moment, not liking the idea, but knowing that's true. "Be very careful."
Inside the mayor's office, Nick climbs through the vent from the other side.
"Hello, darling." A familiar voice greets him.
Nick stands up and is shocked to see Cruella De Vil smiling at him. "Cruella."
"Tell me, how is that friend of yours?" She chuckles. "You know, the one who killed me?" She asks, her voice dropping into a more serious tone.
Meanwhile, down in the tunnels of the mines, Emma is leading Regina, Snow, Karley, and Hercules through.
"This is the tunnel she said she came out of." Emma explains. "Avia's in here somewhere."
"Alright, wonder boy, are you sure you can do this?" Regina asks.
"Regina!" Snow scolds. She then turns to Hercules, placing a gentle hand on the young man's arm. "I know you can do this." She assures him.
"We'll find your daughter." Hercules promises. "Don't worry." He then steps ahead of them, and stops shortly, his face filled with fear. "Wait for me here."
Holding out his sword, Hercules puts on a brave face and walks further into the tunnels, ready to face the beast.
Enchanted Forest...
The peasant who had visited young Snow White and Regina asking for help is handing over a bag of coins to the thief that has been terrorizing his village.
The thief pours the coins into his hand. "Where's the rest of it?" He asks, angrily.
"That's all we have." The scared man tells him. "I swear."
Suddenly, an arrow flies between the two men, hitting a tree. Everyone turns to see Snow White. "Leave my people alone!" She demands.
"Princess Snow, please, help us." The peasant begs.
"Where's your daddy's army?" The thief mocks her.
"I don't need an army." Snow claims as she approaches the group of thieves. "Return what you've taken from these people and leave my kingdom - " The thief smiles, clearly amused. " - or the next arrow lands in your good eye."
"I'd like to see you try."
Snow goes to grab an arrow for her bow but, instead, she clumsily drops them all onto the ground. She bends down, picking them up, embarrassed, as the thieves laugh. He walks towards her and stands on the arrows, snapping them. "Run back to your palace, little girl. These are my woods now."
Hercules, who was standing behind, watching, suddenly punches his fist fiercely into the ground, shaking it, and knocking people off their feet. "Leave her alone!" He yells. The thief glares up at the young man. "Or you're going to have to answer to me."
The thief stands to his feet, no longer wanting to be apart of this. "Your boyfriend won't be around to protect you forever." He warns Snow before he and the thieves walk away.
Hercules kneels down, placing his arm around a distressed Snow to comfort her.
A while later, the thief walks through the halls of King Leopold's palace.
"We did exactly what you asked." He says, approaching Queen Regina.
Regina smiles and places a bag of coins into his hand. "There's more where this came from."
"Are you sure you don't want me to kill her?"
"I won't turn her into a martyr for these people to worship. No." She scowls. "I have to turn them against her. And these miserable people will finally realize the truth. I am meant to be their queen."
Underworld / Present...
Back in the mines, Hercules makes his way further down into the tunnels until he reaches the darkened tunnel where the beast growls. Hercules stops walking at the sound of the beast, which steps out of the shadows, revealing its three heads and glowing red eyes.
But it becomes too much for Hercules, just as it did before. He drops his sword in fear and runs away.
On the other side, Snow hears the growling and quickly becomes concerned. "Herc!" She yells out.
"Come on." Emma urges, walking towards the growl.
But before they go any further, Hercules runs towards them, taking cover behind them. The beast continues to growl and its footsteps are heard approaching them. As Snow grabs an arrow for her bow, a whistles is heard, and the beast turns silent.
"What the hell was that?" Regina wonders.
"I called him off." Hades walks around the corner, revealing himself.
"Who are you?" Emma asks.
"My uncle." Hercules answers as Hades walks closer.
Regina scowls at this, realizing who the man is. "Hades?"
"Don't look so surprised." Hades tells her. "Who'd you think was in charge of this place - your mommy?"
"Well, if this is your realm, maybe you can answer a few questions. Like why does this hell-hole look like Storybrooke?"
"I have my reasons, and I don't have to share them with you."
Hercules steps forward. "Leave them alone, Uncle."
"There's that famous courage people love to talk about." Hades mocks his nephew. "Oh, Hercules, did you really think you could face Cerberus again?"
"Again?" Snow questions, perplexed.
Hades gasps. "You mean he didn't tell you?"
Snow turns to Hercules. "Cerberus killed you."
"Yeah, I didn't want you to know." Hercules tells her. "Snow, I couldn't let you down." Snow gives him a sympathetic look.
"Well, it's nothing to be ashamed of, Nephew." Hades tells him. "After all, losing your life to my little pet is what finally brought us together as family."
Snow looks at Hades, stepping forward, confidently. "We're not afraid of you."
Hades gasps again. "Oh. Snow White. Or is it Mary Margaret?" He chuckles. "My nephew said you were a spitfire, but trust me, you should be quite afraid of me because the next time you interfere with my family, I will come after yours."
"Bring it." Emma tells him. "We're not gonna rest until we find Avia."
"Oh, and that must make you Emma." He chuckles. "Since your sister likes to send you messages, I told her I would deliver this one personally." Hades holds up a bloody picture of the Charming family.
Everyone's faces fall at the sight of the bloody picture. "Avia." Karley gasps.
"What did you do to her?" Emma asks.
"It's not what I've already done you should worry about now. It's what I'm about to do." Hades then drops the picture onto the ground before teleporting away in a poof of blue fire.
Inside the mayoral's office, Nick and Cruella are standing opposite of each other, staring one another down.
"So, darling, this is actually quite fortuitous." Cruella states.
"What do you want?" Nick asks.
Cruella scoffs. "Why, you, of course." She says, walking towards him. "I need your help. You see, Hades, the being that runs this place, has set up the most awful conundrum. For those of us in this ghastly Underworld, we have two choices - leaving for a better place or a worse one." She explains, glaring down at the boy.
"I think I know where you'll end up." Nick tells her, smugly.
Cruella sighs, heavily, rolling her eyes. "Charming." She says, walking past him. "And probably quite correct, which is why I need a third choice - " She looks back at him, determined. " - to go back to the real world. Oh, how I miss it. The music, the gin, the glamour - the gin."
"You're already dead. No one can change that."
"Actually, one person can - the Author. Oh, yes, that's you now."
"No." Nick refuses. "The Apprentice told me it's impossible."
"Because he didn't want you to." Cruella argues. "But, Nicholas, you can. The Author's power is far greater than that bearded old man wanted you to believe."
"I destroyed the quill."
"Oh, yes, yes, I know what you did. We hear it all down here. But I'm guessing you don't know much about the quill, do you?" She asks, walking past him again. "The sorcerer bequeathed the quill to all of you, but it is now a simple pen. It is a magical energy. It is a living, breathing entity."
Nick is baffled by this. "It's alive?"
"Oh, yes. And when you broke it, Nicholas, you sent it right down here to the Underworld, its purpose unfulfilled. It epitomized unfinished business." She explains, walking closer to him once again. "And now you are going to find it down here with my help. And you're going to send me right back to our world."
Nick scowls. "Why would I ever help you?"
"Mm, because, Nicholas, if I come back to life, guess what happens? The girl who killed me - your friend - is no longer a murderer." She grins. "You see?" She places her arm around the boy. "You see, by helping me, Nicholas, you can restore your girlfriend to the pure soul she once was. You can save her."
Meanwhile, inside the Underworld's version of the loft, Snow is upstairs in what is supposed to be her daughter's room, sulking on Avia's bed when Regina comes upstairs.
"What are you doing?" She sighs. "We have to find Avia."
"How am I supposed to help my daughter, Regina? Hades has her, and we all know we won't find her unless he wants us to." Snow explains.
Regina is surprised by this. "Since when do you give up on your daughters?"
"I'm not giving up, but I can't help Avia when I'm the reason she is here in the first place. This is all my fault. I thought I was doing the right thing for my daughters. And then I try to save Avia with the help of the one person I thought was the bravest. Hercules was destined to kill Cerberus. But now - "
"Now is not the time to give up." Regina interrupts. "Need I remind you I dedicated years to knocking you down? But nothing could stop you." She points out.
"You took my kingdom." Snow tells her angrily. "You cast a curse that separated my girls from their father and me. I lost my daughters for thirteen years."
"And then you found them. You defeated me in a way no one thought was possible. You made me your friend by never giving up on me. So what's the difference this time?"
"How am I supposed to save my daughter from Hades when all I have is speeches about hope?" Snow grimaces, tearfully.
"You're right. But you're no longer Mary Margaret. And to prove that, you'll need to show Hades who you really are: Snow White." Regina smiles.
Enchanted Forest...
As Hercules wanders through the woods, he comes across young Snow White attempting to break her bow.
"What are you doing?" He exclaims, running towards her.
Snow sighs, wiping away a tear. "I'm done, Herc. I tried to be a leader, but I am not cut out to be one. Regina will make a better queen than I could ever hope to be." She says, defeated.
"So you're just going to abandon your kingdom?" He asks in disbelief.
"I don't want to be Snow White anymore."
"That's a shame because I was really starting to like her."
"I was crazy to think that I could stand up to those bandits."
"No one wins every battle, Snow, especially their first." Hercules reminds her.
"You did." Snow points out.
Suddenly becoming nervous, Hercules lets out a heavy breath. "Can you keep a secret?" He asks, uncomfortably. Snow nods. "My first Labor nearly killed me." Snow furrows her brows, confused. "It's the truth. The Nemean Lion. Do you know why no one could kill it? Cause his fur was impenetrable, like steel. With every blow I struck, all I did was blunt my sword."
"So how did you defeat it?"
"When I had exhausted myself and I thought that the beast was going to kill me, I accidentally dropped my torch. I set the brush surrounding us on fire." He reveals. "The flames singed the lion's fur from his body."
"He wasn't invincible anymore." Snow realizes.
"And I slayed him." Hercules concludes, proudly. "Don't you see? If I hadn't failed, I never would have figured out how to succeed."
Snow thinks for a moment, taking everything Hercules is telling her in. "Okay." She exhales, grabbing her bow. "So, how do I stop these bandits?"
Underworld / Present...
At the docks, Hercules is carrying two heavy anchors when Snow drops his sword in front of him.
"Pick it up." She orders.
Hercules shakes his head, walking past it. "It's pointless, Snow. I can't defeat Cerberus. We're just going to antagonize my uncle and hurt your daughter more."
"I could care less about your uncle. My daughter doesn't deserve this, and I owe that to her." Snow says, firmly.
"I'm sorry." He says, regretfully, walking past her. "I can't help you."
"Herc, how did Cerberus kill you?" She asks, following him.
"Why does it matter?" He asks as he picks up two concrete blocks to move them.
"Because - Because that is the only way we're gonna figure out how to defeat him next time."
Hercules sighs, placing the blocks down. "He has three heads, Snow. Okay, when I would face one, no matter how valiantly I fought, the other two would attack. I never should have fought that beast alone."
Snow smiles. "Well, that's it. That's why you're going to win this time. You're not going to fight him alone."
"You want to face Cerberus with me?" He asks, stunned.
"Herc, I became that hero you always believed I could be. And we are going to fight that three-headed beast, and we are going to win. And we are going to save my little girl." She says, confidently.
Hercules nods and smiles, ready to be a hero once more.
Meanwhile, over at the apartment, the young girl, who was trapped with Avia, sits down on the sofa next to Emma.
David, who is looking out the window, becomes concerned. "Regina?"
Regina looks up from where she is sitting. "What is it?" David quickly moves away from the window. "Did Snow talk Muscles into giving it another go?"
"I don't think so."
Killian runs down the stairs in a panic. "Incoming!"
Suddenly, the apartment shakes and the bed from upstairs comes smashing down below, almost hitting them. "Run!" Emma shouts, helping the girl. "Just go!" They all run out of the apartment, heading downstairs. "Let me guess - the Cerberus?"
As they run down the stairs, they miss Cerberus who bursts through the door, roaring ferociously.
Enchanted Forest...
Back at Snow's kingdom, the thief is, once again, terrorizing the people of the village. He walks up to an elderly lady and traces his finger down the necklace she is wearing.
"What do we have here?" He asks before snatching it off her neck.
"Give it back!" Snow White appears, ordering the thief.
"Princess Snow."
"Give that woman her necklace." She demands. "Then leave here and never come back."
"I seem to remember you delivering a similar warning yesterday." He recalls.
But this time Snow grabs an arrow with ease and places it in her bow, aiming it at the thief. "Give that woman her necklace." She releases the arrow, sending it into a nearby tree.
This only causes the thief to laugh, assuming Snow failed once again. She then places another arrow in her bow, aiming it again at the thief. "Careful." He warns her. But Snow shoots the arrow at his weapon, knocking it from his hand. "What the - " He gasps, looking back at Snow, shocked.
Snow smiles, drawing another arrow and aiming it at the other thieves. "Lower your weapons." She orders them. "Or do I need to disarm all of you?" When they don't comply, the villagers join in, grabbing sticks and pitchforks while Snow turns back to the main thief.
"You think you're tough, Princess? This isn't over."
"Yeah, it is." The thief finally gives in and drops the woman's necklace on the ground, causing the rest of the thieves to drop the stolen belongings and they all then make their way out of the village. Once they are gone, Snow lowers her bow and sighs in relief while the villagers cheer. She runs over to Hercules and he picks her up into a hug. "I did it!"
"I knew you could do it." Hercules says, proudly.
Snow sighs, gratefully. "Thanks to you."
"I guess you don't need me to train you anymore."
"Does this mean you're going to leave to defeat Cerberus?"
Hercules nods. "Do you want to come?" He grins.
"I'd love to. But, Herc - " She looks around the village. " - I think my people need me more right now."
Hercules nods, agreeing. "You're gonna make an amazing queen."
"And Olympus will be lucky to have a hero like you."
The two stare at each other for a tense moment before slowly leaning into one another and gently kiss on the lips.
Underworld / Present...
In the streets of the Underworld, David, Regina, Karley, Emma, and Killian run to meet Snow and Hercules.
"Are you okay?" Snow asks. "What happened?"
"Cerberus." David tells them. "He found us."
"Where's the prisoner?" Snow asks, seeing that the girl is missing.
"She ran when the hell-bound attacked." Emma says. "We gave her a head start, but there was only so long we could hold it off."
Snow sighs. "We should split up. We have to find her before that monster does."
David nods. "Go. Come on."
Snow and Hercules make their way towards the broken clock tower and they immediately find the cowering girl. "You shouldn't be here." The girl panics.
"We're here to help." Snow tells her.
Suddenly, the girl's eyes widen and she points behind Snow and Hercules. "He found us."
Snow and Hercules turn around to see the three-headed beast pounce towards them and roar. "What now?" Hercules asks.
Snow looks around before pointing to the library. "We get her in there."
"Come on." Hercules grabs the girl and they rush inside the library, taking cover, hiding against the wall. "Any bright ideas?" He asks Snow.
"We hit all three heads at once." She suggests just as Cerberus smashes a window, startling the trio.
"How are we gonna do that?"
Snow turns to the frightened girl. "With her help. Give her your dagger."
As Hercules tries to hand his dagger to the girl, she shakes her head, backing away. "No, I can't do that."
"Yes, you can." Snow tells her right before Cerberus starts to bang against the door causing them to back away. "You can." Snow continues to encourage the girl. "You have to try." The heavily panting girl grabs the dagger, having no choice but to agree. Snow grabs an arrow and places it in her bow while Hercules, now without a weapon, rips a pipe off the wall and uses it to defend himself. "Ready?" Hercules and the girl both nod. Soon enough, Cerberus bursts through the door. "Now!"
Snow shoots her arrow at a head and Hercules and the girl stab the last two heads with their weapons. Cerberus evaporates in a puff of black smoke, allowing everyone to sigh with relief. The girl nearly faints from the excitement, but Hercules is there to catch her in time. "Whoa. Hey, hey. Hey."
The girl stands back up with his help, smiling widely. "I guess I'm not used to all that excitement."
"I'm Hercules." He introduces himself.
"Megara." She smiles. "But my friends call me Meg."
"Thanks for the assist, Meg."
Later at Granny's Diner, Hercules wraps a blanket around Megara before sitting at a table opposite her as the others watch from the counter.
"I think we've met before." Hercules realizes.
In the Enchanted Forest, Megara runs from a roaring beast. "Please!" She begs."Please!" She runs into Hercules' awaiting arms.
"Hey, what is it?" He asks.
"It's the monster!"
Meg smiles. "You're - You're the boy that tried to save me."
Hercules sighs. "'Tried'?" He chuckles, lightly.
"I'm afraid Cerberus got me right after he got you."
Hercules looks down, saddened to hear of his failure to protect her.
"Run. Run." He orders Meg.
"No, he'll kill you." Meg exclaims.
"I don't care now. Go!"
Meg runs away just as Cerberus jumps out, taking her place in front of Hercules, growling viciously at him.
"I'm so sorry, Meg - " He apologizes, clearly upset.
Meg shakes her head. "What for? You may not have saved me back then, but you made up for it now." She says, taking his hand. "Thank you."
"Looks like Herc found a new friend." David says, noticing the two holding hands.
"Maybe defeating Cerberus wasn't Hercules' only piece of unfinished business." Snow assumes. "Maybe he needed to save her, too."
Emma narrows her eyes at her mother, seeing her sadness. "We're going to save Avia, Mom."
Snow nods. "I know." She sighs. "It's just - You didn't know me in the Enchanted Forest, Emma, but I was someone who took risks even when she was afraid. I was someone who - " She glances at Regina. " - I guess, inspired people. An old enemy reminded me of that." Regina grins proudly. "I just don't want to ever run the risk of forgetting who I was again."
"What are you saying, Snow?" David asks.
"I'm saying I want to be Snow White again." She states, firmly. "I don't want to be known as the one who only gives speeches about being a hero. It's time Snow White comes back. It's time for me to be who I used to be - " She looks over at Emma. " - for my daughters. It's time we find - " She looks up at David. " - our little girl, and we bring her home."
"Well, it's about time." Regina says as they all smile proudly at Snow.
Meanwhile, back at Town Hall, Robin is waiting impatiently for Nick to return.
"Nick!" He calls out into the vent. "Nick, are you alright?"
"Yeah." Nick assures him as he emerges, crawling out of the vent.
"Did you find anything?"
"Uh, no." He says, nervously. "Nothing. Dead end."
"Okay." Robin says, walking away.
But Nick looks on, troubled by his encounter with Cruella De Vil which he decides to keep to himself.
Over at the underground Fiery Cave, Hercules and Meg stand together near the bridge, facing the others.
"Do you think you can get to the prison through the tunnels?" Meg asks them.
"Yes, thanks to your map." Emma says, appreciatively.
"If it weren't for Avia, I'd still be rotting in that cell. You'll tell her that I did the right thing? That she was right to trust me?"
"I will." Emma promises. "Thank you."
"Are you sure you don't want us to stay and help?" Hercules asks, looking over at Snow.
"I think you've been down here long enough." Snow tells him. "And if you don't cross before your uncle finds you, who knows what he'll do?"
"I was right." Hercules smiles, as Snow gives him a curious look. "You became an amazing hero." Snow tears up, giving her old friend one last hug. They then pull apart, looking at one another longingly one last time before Hercules turns away and takes Meg's hand. They walk across the bridge into the bright light that appears before them. As the bright light fades, a royal castle on the top of a beautiful mountain appears in the distance.
"What is it?" Meg wonders.
"Olympus." He smiles before continuing on with Meg.
David steps next to his tearful wife, taking her hand, while Killian does the same with Emma. Regina places her arm around Karley as they all watch Hercules and Meg move on.
On the streets of the Underworld, the clock on the broken clock tower ticks.
Down below inside of Hades' lair, his own grandfather clock ticks another time, signifying that two souls have moved on. A bloody Avia sits, huddled beneath it.
"The prisoner you aided in escape - she moved on from this realm." Hades tells her as he walks into his lair.
"Good for her." Avia gloats. But her smile fades when Hades pulls out a sharp chisel. "Just do it." Avia sighs.
"Oh, this?" Hades chuckles. "No. This isn't for you. It's for your family." He kneels down, forcing it into Avia's small hand.
"I won't hurt my family."
"Why not?" Hades wonders. "You were so willing to do it before, young Dark One."
"That's not me anymore!" Avia shouts, causing pain throughout her body. She grimaces, cowering back.
"Now. Now. Wouldn't want you to get yourself worked up so soon. Listen, at first, I wanted your family to leave." Hades explains. "I really had such a smooth-running operation going here before they arrived - before you arrived really, but now I've decided they've caused too much damage, so my vindictive side - Did you know I have one? It wants to punish them." Hades stands back up. "So, from now on, for every soul your family frees - " Hades summons three blank gravestones. " - one of them is going to have to stay." Avia looks on, horrified by this. "And, young Dark One, you get to decide who." Avia is sitting silent down in Hades' lair. She refuses to cooperate with his wishes to choose three people to take the place for every soul they free, and this just frustrates Hades more. "Oh, come on." Hades exclaims. "All you need to do is choose three people to stay here. Carve their name." But Avia remains silent. "What's the problem? Is it the chisel? Not used to something so small? Do you wish for a sword, or perhaps a dagger instead?" He teases. "Or writer's block?"
Avia drops the chisel on the floor away from her, not in the mood for Hades' games. "I'm not doing it."
Hades looks at Avia with frustration. "I must say - I'm not angry. I'm disappointed." He walks closer to Avia, kneeling down in front of her. "And on second thought - I'm angry. I guess it's off to solitary. That's something you're used to, right, Orphan?" Hades grabs Avia by her hair, causing her to yelp out in pain as he forces her to stand. But due to her beaten body, Avia is only able to hobble along as Hades continues to drag her towards the rivers. "Now, listen carefully. This is the River of Lost Souls. Touch it and it will make you lost." He explains. "Reducing you to a mindless, tormented husk. So please, keep all arms and hands inside the boat."
Avia looks out, fearing what's to come.
Inside Underworld's version of Gold's shop, Rumple walks out and calls out to Peter Pan.
"Father?" When he receives no answer, Rumple finds a note resting on the check-out desk. He picks it up and begins to read it.
'My son - This shop is yours to do with as you wish. And my offer still stands. Use what's in the case when you want to accept it, and we can be a family again. Your father.'
Rumple places the note back on the desk and opens up the case which contains his father's infamous pied piper pipe that he used to call upon the Lost Boys in Neverland. But, despite everything Pan has said, the Dark One proceeds with his own plan for visiting the shop.
Rumple locks the front door and passes a cauldron he has boiling. He then grabs a jar containing an eyeball mixed in a colored liquid; the liquid is poured into the cauldron while he holds the eyeball in his hand, examining it for a moment, along with another item before dropping them into the cauldron. Rumple turns back to the desk and gently picks up the crystal ball and walks back to the cauldron, holding the crystal ball over it, causing it to boil more.
"Show me - " Rumple exclaims. "Show me who I seek." The crystal ball follows through and a vision of Belle appears. A confused Rumple watches his wife, going about her day in Storybrooke, enjoying breakfast with Leroy at Granny's Diner. He takes a step back, shaking until he accidentally drops the crystal ball, shattering it into pieces. "No, no!" He whimpers as he kneels down on the floor, hovering over the broken pieces. "Oh, Belle."
Meanwhile, at the Underworld's version of the Charmings' loft, Regina is holding up an arrow, examining it.
"Found more arrows." She says as Robin comes downstairs.
Robin lets out a heavy sigh. "You do not want to see what the hell dog did upstairs."
"So, we think we're ready?" Emma asks.
Rumple suddenly enters. "What are you doing?" He asks the group.
"We're gonna get Avia." David tells him. "What's it look like?"
"We know Hades will have her in some sort of isolation." Emma says. "Meg told us there's an entrance nearby."
"So all 45 of you are gonna slip down into the deepest level of detention in the Underworld." Rumple says, sarcastically, making David roll his eyes with annoyance. "Hades knows you're here. He'll have put up barriers to keep the living out of all the places he doesn't want us going. You walk into his domain, you'll all be puffs of dust."
"So we get a new plan." Killian glares.
"Correct. Seven of you occupy yourselves as you will. Perhaps cleaning?" He says before turning to Emma. "You and I will go in with the assistance of a helpful dead person. I can extend their aura, if you will, so that two living souls can get through Hades' barrier."
"Wait a minute." Emma says, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the Dark One. "Yesterday, you hid in your shop. Today, you're gonna lead the charge to find a teenager that you so desperately wanted dead?"
"Yeah, because I realized that if I don't step in, we are never gonna get home, and I want very much to get home to my wife." He admits, roughly.
"Okay. So how do we get a helpful dead person to loan their aura so we can confront the god of the Underworld himself?"
"You leave that to me. I've got someone in mind. Someone I've known a long time." He says, glancing at Killian.
Out on Main Street, a deceased Milah, also know as Rumple's ex-wife, and Killian's ex-lover, is standing with a group of schoolkids, working as a crossing guard. She looks across the street and her face drops at the sight of Rumple waving at her.
"Morning, Dearie." He calls out. Milah, with hesitation, continues with her job, ushering her kids across the street. "Don't worry, I'm not dead. Just visiting."
Milah scowls at the man as she finally approaches him. "How'd you find me?"
"You are standing in the middle of Main Street, so, you know - " He smirks. "I must say, I do love the irony of your job. You watching children, keeping them safe, keeping them close."
"What do you want?"
"I have an opportunity for you. To help the new woman of the man you once loved."
"You?" Milah grimaces.
"I'm talking about Killian Jones."
Milah is taken aback. "Killian - He's here?"
"Unfortunately, for you, I won't give you the pleasure of seeing him. But I will give you the opportunity to help his new girlfriend. Her sister is receiving some, special attention from Hades." Rumple explains. "I need to retrieve her."
But Milah stammers, unsure. "I'm supposed to watch the kids."
Rumple shrugs. "Well, they're dead anyway. It's quite simple, really. Can you stand helping me if it lets you help him?"
Milah is silent, narrowing her eyes, menacingly at the man she once loved, but now despises.
Meanwhile, sailing across the River of Lost Souls, a ferry carries a beaten and bruised Avia Swan, who looks out across the waters at the fate Hades has in store for her.
Shortly, Avia is being suspended by chains above the waters. "Now, I want you to think about why you're here." Hades tells her. "You tried to escape. You freed another prisoner. You refuse to do what I ask, and do you know the most important reason?"
"Screw you." Avia spats, uncomfortably.
Hades laughs. "Hope. You and your family brought contraband, hope, into my world. and that is strictly forbidden. And despite some creative beatings, I still see hope in your eyes. You've been a very disobedient girl, Avia Swan. I would like to see that hope gone before you reach the water." Hades pulls the lever that begins lowering Avia. "You have interfered with my carefully cultivated existence, so - " The chains stop, allowing Hades to get right into Avia's bloody face. " - I am going to hurt you. Then I'm going to collect your family and hurt them." Avia is silently whimpering, desperately trying to stay strong for herself and her family. "So there's going to be no one left to save you. Feel free to go mad."
With that Hades' hair lights up into the iconic blue flames before he proceeds to leave Avia alone, hanging from the chain.
Back in town, Emma is walking down Main Street, meeting up with Rumple and Milah.
"Her?" Milah questions as she watches Emma cross the street.
"Yes, her." Rumple smiles. "Come. Let me introduce you. Miss. Swan?" He calls out, getting Emma's attention. "There's someone I'd like you to meet. This is Milah, my ex-wife." Emma is surprised by this. "And Hook's ex, also. She's also Baelfire's mother, of course. Emma knew him as Neal." He explains to Milah. "They had a torrid affair, which led Emma to go to prison."
Emma looks at Rumple, slightly embarrassed by this information he is sharing about her. "Yeah, well - "
"So, you've been with my son, and are currently with my former lover?" Milah interrupts. Emma is silent, standing nervously, as Milah looks at Rumple who is holding a small smile. "Is that right?"
"Huh." Emma manages to let out.
"I'm sure we're gonna laugh ourselves sick about all this one day. But I'm sure you now understand why I didn't invite your boyfriend along to join us." Rumple says to Emma. "I suggest you follow me before this gets even more awkward."
Milah gives Emma a distasteful glare as she turns to follow Rumple.
Over at Granny's Diner, Regina walks in and makes her way to the counter.
"Hey, where's your boss?" She asks the waitress. But the waitress simply points to the roof. "No, not some deity - your boss here - the Blind Witch?" The waitress eyes the back quickly which Regina follows just in time to see Cruella De Vil tiptoeing, trying her best to sneak out unnoticed. "Never mind." She exclaims as she walks to the back, where she finds Cruella attempting to leave. "You."
Cruella stops walking and lets out a sigh, turning around slowly. "Hello, darling." She says, bitterly.
"You can help." Regina says, relieved.
Cruella furrows her brows at this. "I can?" But her demeanor quickly changes when she realizes Regina wasn't exactly going after her. "I mean, of course I can."
"Tell me about the graveyard. I need to find someone."
"Oh, it's just a chat you want. Well, if you're looking for someone, simply use your magic." Regina goes silent, leaving her old rival to smile at this. "Oh." She comes to the realization. "Having trouble, are we? Magic's a little tricky down here, isn't it, darling?" Regina simply glares at the despicable woman. "Let's sit down and be civilized."
Emma becomes confused when they approach the Underworld's version of her home.
"The way in is here?" She questions. "So, what, the gates of hell are in my house?"
"As was the stone of Excalibur." Rumple reminds her. "Seems your pirate has the knack for targeting real estate with hidden value."
They walk inside and Emma is met with it being decorated similarly to her room back in the Enchanted Forest, from the unicorn mobile she and Avia were both to share, to the stuffed animals, and her princess bed. Emma looks around, feeling uncomfortable. She sighs. "Basement door?"
"Basement door."
Emma walks towards it and opens the door. She slowly puts her hand out, but a magical shield blocks her from getting through. She turns to Milah and Rumple. "It's a barrier, alright. So what is she gonna do?"
"Joining hands will be fine." Rumple says, taking his ex-wife's hand. Emma walks to the other side of Rumple and takes his other hand.
The three then make their way through the door and down the stairs. "It worked." Emma exclaims.
"Indeed. One step closer to Hell." They reach the bottom of the stairs, letting go of each other's hands. "The spell's gone." He tells them. "We'll be able to pass through on our own now. Thank you, Milah. You can run back to protecting the dead children."
"Hang on." Emma says, turning to Milah. "Milah, thank you so much. And there's something you should know. You son, Neal, Baelfire, when I was on my way down here on the River, I had sort of a vision of him. I think he talked to me."
This catches Rumple's attention. "What did he say?" Milah asks, tearfully.
"He said that he moved on." Emma smiles. "And that he was happy. Whatever he had to resolve, he did it."
"Thank you." Milah says, grateful for this information. "Thank you so much."
"I hear water this way." Emma says, moving on.
"That would be the River of Lost Souls. We can take it to where Hades will have your sister."
"I'm sorry, uh, 'we' can take it?" Rumple asks. "If you think you can get the pirate back for helping his new girlfriend, I doubt he's gonna swap the blonde for the dead woman."
Milah glares at her ex-husband. "You might be dark, but sometimes you're still an idiot, Rumple." Milah looks softly back at Emma. "I have my reasons. Let me come with you."
Emma ponders for a moment. "Okay." She agrees.
They turn to Rumple, letting him silently know that he has no choice in the matter, before they continue on towards the River.
"I see you're admiring my fur." Cruella De Vil says as she sits across from Regina in a booth at the diner. "Doe skin, of all things. I'm not saying it's Bambi's iconic dead mother." Regina grimaces at this. "And I'm not saying it's not." Cruella grins.
"Just tell me about the graveyard." Regina insists. "If I find a headstone, does that mean that person's here in - 'Underbrooke'?"
"Underbrooke." Cruella laughs. "Oh, you are clever. No, it just means they're passing through, that's all. Who are you looking for?"
"Well, never mind who. I just - I want to know where they are."
Cruella goes along with it and picks up her fur bag, placing it on the table. "I have a map here. Now that I've been made mayor. Oh, thanks to your recently departed mother." She says, taking the map out of her bag. "It's got a list of cemetery plots, and you have to know how to interpret the headstones." She opens the map across the table. "You see, there's three - what would you call them? Settings?" She explains as Regina listens intently. "If the headstone is upright, it means the person is still here in town. If it's tipped over, it means their soul has gone on to a better place, okay? Happy person, tippy stone."
"And the third setting?" Regina wonders.
"If it's cracked - " Cruella says, discontentedly. "Well, that's bad."
"Bad?" Cruella remains silent, afraid to say. "They got pulled under to - " Regina shrugs. " - wherever is worse than this place?"
"Yes. But no one who's anyone goes there anymore." Cruella attempts to laugh.
However, the two know that's exactly where the lover of fur is supposed to end up.
On their way to rescue Avia, the three of them are sitting in a boat, crossing through the river.
Emma looks down into the water where those trapped are 'swimming.' "I hope this boat you found doesn't spring a leak."
"This boat is the best thing we could have hoped to find." Rumple tells her. "After we pick up your sister, it will take us all the way home."
Emma and Milah stand as the boat reaches the dock. "This is it." Emma says, sensing Avia. "She's down there. I feel it."
"I'm not leaving the boat." Rumple says as Emma steps off, narrowing her eyes suspiciously at the Dark One. "It's too valuable." He goes on to clarify. "You're capable of getting your dear sister on your own, I'm sure. And don't even think about using magic. Hades would notice anything this close to his home base."
"If he's not moving, I'm not, either." Milah says, not trusting her ex-husband. "If he tries to steal this thing, I'll give a shout."
Emma nods, gratefully, before making a run to rescue her sister, leaving Rumple and Milah alone together, sitting in silence.
Avia is still dangling over the River of Lost Souls, with the chain lowering slowly. Emma runs out of the tunnel, relieved to see her sister.
"Avia!" She shouts. Emma watches as Avia hangs helplessly. The chain suddenly lowers Avia a much lengthier amount, startling Emma. She looks around, realizing they're running out of time. "Avia." Emma runs to the narrow post that stretches out across the water to where Avia is being kept. Emma becomes more panicked when the chain lowers Avia more. So, she takes her chances and steps out on the post, putting one foot slowly in front of the other. "Hold on, Avs. I'm coming for you." She continues to walk across, nearly falling off at one point. But she manages to steady herself, but Avia being lowered more makes her rush. Emma runs across, jumping onto the platform and grabs Avia in time, pulling her over the platform to unchain her. "I got you." Avia groans out in pain. Emma kneels down, placing both hands gently onto her sister's face. "Avia - " She exclaims, seeing the bruises and cuts aligning her little sister's face.
"Emma - " Avia cries out. "I told you to let me go. You can't be here. Nobody should."
As a tear falls from her eye, Emma smiles softly. "When will you understand? I'm never giving up on you."
This causes Avia to bursts into tears, relieved to see her sister, but afraid of what may happen to them. Emma lets her own tears fall as she carefully brings Avia into her arms, allowing her to cry into her. She places a gentle kiss to the side of Avia's head as Avia's cries shakes them both.
On the River of Lost Souls, still docked, Rumple and Milah are sitting face-to-face, waiting for Emma to return with Avia.
"So, you're married now." Milah comments. "That's real."
"Look, about your, uh, unfinished business, if it is love for the pirate, then it's definitely off the table." Rumple states.
Milah shakes her head in frustration. "My unfinished business was never Killian."
"Then why - "
"It's Baelfire." She retorts. "Our son." She says, tearfully. "I should have been there for him. Not punished him because I'd grown to hate his father. I was selfish. I thought if I could change that, do something generous, maybe I could finish what I need to."
"So you want to move on." Rumple assumes.
"Yeah. So I can see him, and I can say to him, 'Son, I'm sorry for - " Milah chokes back her tears. " - everything."
"He'll forgive you." Rumple assures her, softly. "I betrayed him, as well." He admits. "As a grown man, he re-entered my life, and he forgave me. He'll do the same for you."
Milah nods, looking hopeful. "That's a nice thought. It's just - I really want to see him again."
"You will. And when you do - " Rumple shrugs with a small smile. " - tell him hello from his papa."
A while later, the two are now standing at the ledge of where it drops into the River of Lost Souls. Milah is crouched, looking over the waters, while Rumple stands watching.
"They should be back by now." Rumple says, concerned.
"They all look so lost." Milah says, feeling bad for the lost souls in the water.
"Yes." Rumple agrees as he steps up to her side. "Yes, they do."
Suddenly, Hades appears behind them. Milah gasps, but is frozen in place by Hades' magic. Rumple draws out his dagger. "Get your hand off that squiggly little thing." Hades chuckles. "I'm not here to fight."
"Yeah, well, perhaps I am."
"Oh, even when I'm here to talk about a deal."
Rumple furrows his brows, putting the dagger down. "A deal?"
Hades smiles. "Let's chat."
"Thank you for coming." Regina says to Snow as they walk through the graveyard.
"Anything to take my mind off worrying about my daughters for a few moments." Snow says. "And, anyway, I couldn't let you do this alone." She then stops at a grave. "I found him." She turns to Regina, who stays frozen in her position. "It's okay, you can look."
Regina turns to the grave and sees that the tombstone, revealing the name Daniel Colter, is tipped over, meaning he has completed his unfinished business and moved on to Mount Olympus. "It's tipped." Regina says, relieved. "He's not here."
"He's moved on." Snow adds. "He's happy." Snow rubs Regina's arm, comfortingly, as she walks away, giving her stepmother time alone.
Regina sighs. "Daniel, I'm so glad you're somewhere better. But I'm also sorry I missed the chance to see you." She smiles, kneeling down. "You were my first love, Daniel - " She places her hand on top of the stone. " - and you will always live in my heart. I just needed to know you were okay."
Meanwhile, Rumplestiltskin is sitting in a chair, being handed a beverage by Hades, inside his lair.
"You knew we were there the whole time." Rumple realizes.
Hades laughs. "Yes. You betcha. You know, I'm a fan of yours." He says, as he begins to play a game of pool. "I mean, there are Dark Ones, and then there is you." Hades proceeds to hit a ball with the stick, shooting it across the pool table and successfully knocking several of the other balls into their respective holes. "You're quite the worthy rival to my hot throne."
"So is this how you treat rivals?"
"Did I say 'rival'? I meant 'supplier.' You've sent so many lovely dead people my way. I mean, Regina does okay, but you've been at it longer, and she gotten, you know, ugh lately." He chuckles. "So what I really need is you back up there doing your thing, and your friends - I want them down here, not doing their thing, because frankly, they piss me off." A smile comes across the Dark One's face. "So I need you to sink that boat you found because it's their way out of here."
"Well, I was gonna use that boat, too." Rumple tells him.
"No problem. I'll just wave my manicured hand, and boom, you'll be in bed with Mrs. Dark One by ten. You in?"
"Well, you can destroy that boat yourself, I have no doubt."
"I could do it myself, yes, but I want you to do it. So, are you a man I can do business with, or do I simply have to kill all of you?"
"But my ex-wife saw you just now." Rumple points out. "She'll tell everyone."
"I'm sure that's a puzzle you can solve." Hades says without a doubt. "Now, just how eager are you to get home?" He asks, leaving Rumple to contemplate this.
Back at the River of Lost Souls, Milah is finally unfrozen and finds Rumple standing behind her.
"What the hell!?" She exclaims, angrily. "Hades was just here. What's going on, Rumple?"
The Dark One doesn't answer, though. He simply holds out his hand, and Milah turns around to find that he obliterates the boat that is supposed to take everyone home. "Congratulations, Dearie. I've finally become the man you always wanted me to be. The one who takes what he needs."
Milah then realizes she is no longer safe. "Emma!" She yells, loudly.
"Milah!" Rumple then yells out her name in order to make all that is about to happen seem like an accident. He raises his hand and uses his magic to throw Milah into the River of Lost Souls, allowing her to be consumed by the waters. Rumple takes a few steps closer to the water and kneels down, giving himself some time to accept what he has done, feeling a bit guilty. But he doesn't let this consume him for long, knowing that he still has to put on an act for Emma. "Hades!" He yells just as Emma runs through the tunnel, practically carrying Avia with her. "Hades!" Rumple stands up, stumbling back, furiously shouting the evil man's name. He turns around, facing Emma and Avia. "I tried to stop him." He says, frantically. "He blew my magic right back at me." Stunned by this, Emma looks out into the waters realizing Milah and the boat is gone. "Milah - I couldn't stop it. She's gone."
"Milah." Emma says, sadly.
Rumple turns back to the water.
In town, a sound catches both Snow and Regina's attention.
"What was that?" Snow questions.
Regina looks at Snow, perplexed. "A horse? Here?" As they look around, Regina spots what they are looking for. A horse is knocked over on the ground, injured.
"What's wrong with it?" Snow wonders as they approach it.
"It's hurt. It can't stand." Regina worries. But with a wave of her hand, she is able to heal the horse with her magic. And, in an instant, the horse stands to its feet, and lets out a cheerful neighing sound. Regina smiles at her accomplishment.
"Regina, your magic. You did it."
"I did." Regina says, astonished, as they watch the horse gallop away. She then creates a fireball in the palm of her hand.
"Regina, what are you doing?" Snow asks.
Regina shrugs, smiling down at it. "Just checking. I'm back."
Inside the Underworld's version of Emma's home, Emma is gently wiping down Avia's bloody face when the front door swings open.
"Avia!" Snow exclaims.
Avia's eyes widen. "Mom!" As soon as Snow runs up to her daughter, Avia jumps into her mom's arms, holding her tight. "I'm so sorry." She cries out. "I'm so sorry!"
"Shh!" Snow hushes, just happy to have Avia back in her arms. "Shh, baby. It's okay. We're okay. We're all going to be okay."
David then runs into the house. "Avia?" He looks around before seeing her in Snow's arms.
"Daddy..." Avia cries harder.
"Avia." David says, relieved. Snow hands Avia off to David, who picks her up in his strong arms, holding her close. "It's okay. We've got you." He whispers in her ear. "We've got you now. You're going to be okay."
Snow takes the opportunity to bring Emma in her arms, hugging her close. "I knew you could do it."
Emma simply smiles, hugging her mom back. Once David places Avia back into the chair, both parents begin to immediately look their daughter over. "Oh, sweetheart, look at you." Snow takes the wet rag from Emma and begins to finish what her oldest started. She begins to wipe gently at the blood on her daughter's face, careful of her cuts and bruises.
"How did you do it?" David asks Emma.
"Gold got us in." Emma tells them. "He got us help. He poofed us back here. He even had a boat to get us all back home. But it's gone." She informs them, dismayed.
"What happened?" Snow asks.
"Hades attacked. We lost the boat and - " Emma looks hesitantly up at Killian.
"What is it, love?" Killian asks.
"Milah." Emma reveals. Killian furrows his brows at the mention of his ex-lover. "It was Milah who helped us. But - " She glances at Rumple. " - Hades happened. I'm sorry."
Avia glances up at Rumple. "Everything I did to save my family all went to give you back your power." She says, disgusted. "But you saved me out there." She sighs.
"You're welcome." Rumple says even though Avia refuses to thank him.
"I'm sorry." Emma says again to Killian.
Killian smiles, sadly, but places his hand onto Emma cheek. "It's okay, love. You're who I'm meant to be with."
Emma smiles at this, leaning into him. "Okay." Regina speaks up. "We don't have a way out, but we didn't have one before anyway. My magic's working now. So let's do this heart split. That way, when we find an exit, we can get through it."
"Heart split?" Avia asks, looking around in confusion.
Emma kneels down in front of her. "It's a good plan." She assures her sister. "It'll work. Trust me. We're sisters. We can do this." Emma stands back up, facing Regina. "Do it." Avia looks nervous, standing up with the help of her parents, holding them both close.
Regina goes to do as told, but when she goes to reach into Emma's chest, a magical blockade stops her from getting through. "What was that?" Robin questions.
"Interesting." Rumple says.
"What the hell?" Regina scowls.
"What is this?" Emma asks. "Why didn't it work?"
Emma, Avia, Snow, David, Regina, Killian, Robin, Nick, Karley, and Rumple are gathered in the Underworld's cemetery, staring at three tombstones.
"Hades told me to pick three names and chisel them onto the headstones." Avia says. "He said whoever I picked would remain in the Underworld. But I refused to do it."
"Well, it looks like he did the picking himself." Regina points out.
Printed across three tombstones are the names: Regina Mills. Snow White. Emma Swan. Nick and Karley look at each other with worry. "What does this mean?" Emma questions.
"It means we're stuck here, and now we can't use your heart to save Avia."
Avia and Emma look at one another, holding each other closer. "Well - " Rumple sighs. " - I got our young Swan out in a day. But you lots managed to find a whole new way to fail. I'll be in the shop." He walks away.
Rumplestiltskin is being escorted down into Hades' lair where he himself awaits.
"Oh, there you are." Hades greets the Dark One.
"I destroyed the boat." Rumple says. "Now send me home." He demands in a hurry.
"Oh. Thank you very much for that. It means so much to me that you took care of it. It shows passion. Was it terrible to do?" Hades smiles. "I think you liked it."
"Stop fishing." Rumple spats, furiously. "I won't tell you that I liked it, because I didn't. Not in any way that matters. And I'll never do anything like that again."
"Wow, you really mean that." Hades says, impressed. "I'm blown away. Well, I suppose you're ready to go home now."
"I am."
"Good. Glad to hear it." Hades sighs, preparing himself. "Except - " He stops. " - things have changed."
"No, no. A gentleman always keeps his deals." Rumple reminds him. "You have to keep - "
"Hey - " Hades interrupts. " - I didn't say I wasn't keeping my deal. Sure, I'll send you home, just not today." Rumple looks at the evil man, petrified. "Why, you ask? Because you tried to hide something from me." With his magic, a crystal ball appears in his hand, frightening the Dark One. "Let's take a look at your Belle." An image of Belle sleeping appears. "So pretty. I mean, I've been watching her for hours, and she is simply darling. You put this crystal ball together so well. Using the eyeball - inspired." Hades laughs. "And then, butterfingers, you dropped it. Insane, after all that work. And I couldn't figure out why an image of your wife would affect you so strongly." He says, as he begins to circle around a nervous Rumple. "So I did a little digging and a little thinking, and I realized you weren't trying to conjure an image of her, were you? You were trying to figure out where you son went. You asked the crystal ball to show you your child, didn't you? So - "
"No, no." Rumple says, shakily, as the image of Belle reappears in the crystal ball.
"This is an image of your child - your next child. Belle doesn't know it yet, but she's pregnant." Hades whispers, amused by this. "And guess what." Hades waves his hand, and a deceased man named Fendrake the Healer appears before them. This man is someone Rumple made a deal with before he became the Dark One to save his son Baelfire from a snake bite. He made a deal to give the man his next child. "Remember him?" But Rumple, once the Dark One, killed the man to void their contract. "You two had a contract. You tried to void it by killing him during a certain potentially baby-making liaison with your protege, the Evil Queen's mother, Cora." Hades reminds him. "You rascal!" He chuckles. "Which seemed smart at the time, but it turns out death doesn't actually nullify a contract. Not down here. Because here he is. And - " He magics the contract. " - here's the contract. Which he just signed over to me." He then poofs the contract away, leaving Rumple to look down, shamefully. "So, just to be super extra clear, at any time, I can cash in the debt and take your baby. All magic comes with a price and now, Dark One, the price is you work for me." The look of fear still remains on Rumple's face as he looks at Hades. "And there's something I need you to do, that only you can do."
Hades' hair then lights up, flaming blue, as he revels in Rumple's suffering.