A/N: Hey everyone, sorry for the snail's pace of updating lately. This year's been crazy for me so far. I'm going to try to start updating this story more often. Thank you everyone for reading! Hope this chapter is worth the wait!

Chapter 15:

Harry and Gil walked into Mr. Gold's Pawnshop. Gill looked up and chuckled at the little doorbell that rang above their heads. Next, like a little child in a candy store, he looked around the shop with bright eyes. His mouth fell and formed into a smile, as he took in the sight of all the magical objects. "Wow, dude! Look at all this stuff!" Gil said to Harry.

"Don't touch anything," Harry whispered back to Gil with a tone. Subtlety, he slid Uma's seashell out of his pocket. He watched as it glowed softly, telling him which way to go. Harry put the shell back in his pocket, "This way."

Gil however was still too preoccupied with all the objects around him. "Wow, look at this!" He said, motioning towards a music box on a nearby shelf. Gil wound the handle a few times. Harry rolled his eyes as the music played for the next couple seconds. Suddenly the music stopped and a spring loaded crow with a sickle leapt out of the box right at Gil. Gil jumped back with a start, the sickle just missing him as the spring reached its full length. A second later, as quickly as it appeared, the crow was pulled back into the music box, leaving the two boys standing there motionless.

Finally, Gil came to and shook his head. "They really should put a warning label on these things!" He sighed. Harry rolled his eyes.

"What did I tell you?" Harry replied in an annoyed tone, shooting a glare at Gil. "Have ye forgotten we have a job to do?"

"Oh yea," Gil answered. His smile was replaced with a look of concentration. Within a few moments however, Gil was back into admiring the shop's items.

Harry let out a soft sigh of frustration as he rubbed his forehead. "Gil!"

"Sorry," Gil responded in a sheepish tone. He quickly walked back up to Harry.

"This way," Harry repeated leading them down another aisle until they came up on an open area near the back counter. Looking down at his pocket, Harry saw the seashell flash. "This must be where stop number one is."

"Can I help you gentlemen?" A voice said suddenly. Looking over, Harry and Gil saw Belle approaching.

Harry looked at Belle as a smile formed on his face. He pushed his bangs over to the side. "Well, well, well. Who might you be my dear? The little shop keeper I presume?"

Belle raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?" She answered, taken aback by their rude demeanor.

"He thinks you're cute," Gil said, stepping up. "Quite ravishing." Harry glanced over at Gil and gave him a quick jab in the shoulder.

Belle made a face. She quickly became irritated with them over the next few exchanges. "Is there something I can help you two find?" Belle finally replied with a tone of aggravation. "Or would you prefer me to show you the door?"

"Oh why yes there is," Harry. "Ya see, I'm looking for a certain box. I believe it's around here."

"A box?" Belle asked sarcastically.

"That's right lassie," Harry replied. "And I be certain it's right here."


Evie, Jay and Carlos all stood in awe at the sight of Maleficent. She stood silent for the next few moments. No words were needed though, the waves of pure anger and darkness that seemed to radiate from her spoke volumes. Evie looked from Maleficent to Mal and back to Maleficent. It was at that moment she fully understood why Maleficent had come to be known as the Mistress of All Evil.

Mal looked over at her mother. Within those few seconds, Mal quickly could tell that Audrey's attack on Lily almost seemed to hurt Maleficent as much as Lily herself. She could sense that beneath Maleficent's darkness and anger, there was pain and worry for Lily, worry that she might never see her eldest daughter again. Mal couldn't take it; this was the final straw for her.

Evie's eyes then widened as she glanced back at Mal again. Mal's face had met her mother's and at that moment it was like something inside her snapped. Now Mal held the same look of pure hatred as her mother. Like Maleficent's, Mal's eyes were cold and hallow and for the next couple seconds, green sparks jumped around her pupils again.

Evie understood Mal's anger; Mal had every right to be absolutely furious with Audrey and Uma. Evie was furious with them too and wanted to stop Audrey and Uma more than anything. However, despite all that, the look in Mal's eyes scared her. It showed no sign of humanity. Evie could tell now Mal didn't just want to stop them…she wanted more…she wanted pure cold-blooded revenge. It was like they were back on Isle, but this was worse. In that instant, any kindness or feeling that Mal had developed seemed to have completely evaporated. Evie couldn't comprehend it; she refused to.

Mal, we'll stop them and get Lily back to normal! Evie thought desperately. Her best friend had come too far to become evil again! You're not evil, remember that! We'll stop those two but I won't let you be the cost of it!

"Mal," Evie said quietly. "This is what Audrey and Uma want-"

"Quiet Evie," Mal said in a soft, venomous voice that shocked everyone in the room. Mal then stepped away from Evie and walked up to her mother.

"Malefic-" Emma began. Maleficent ignored her and with a wave of her scepter, she, Mal and Lily all disappeared.

After a couple seconds of silence, Doug groaned, as he slowly tried to get up. Hearing Doug's voice snapped Evie back to reality. "Doug!" She cried as she rushed forward to help him up. "Doug, are you ok?" Jay, and Carlos all walked over to help. In the meanwhile, Emma tended to the bookshop keeper, who was still unconscious.

"Y-yea, I think so," Doug answered, still somewhat dazed. "Wait, Doug? Is that my name?"

"Uh yea…" Carlos said as he helped Doug get to his feet. He looked at Jay and Evie. "It's just like with Jane. She didn't have any idea who she was either."

"That must really be some curse," Jay added, shaking his head.

"Well we can help everyone remember later," Carlos said, changing the subject. "Emma, do you have any idea where Maleficent took them?" Emma shook her head. Carlos sighed in disgust.

A moment later, Regina and Henry joined them. Both were wide eyed as they took in the sight of the damage and debris.

"How about you?" Carlos asked Regina.

"How about I what?"

Looking over, Emma saw Regina and Henry. "Maleficent appeared and took Mal and Lily," Emma called over, cutting Carlos off. "Any idea where she might be heading?"

Regina shook her head. "No."

"You're the mayor though aren't you?" Jay said. "If anyone would know, wouldn't it be you?"

"What do I look like, the resident dragon detector?" Regina snapped. "Beside's I left my dragon radar at home."

"Mom," Evie said.

Regina took a breath. "But if I had to guess, I'd say Maleficent will find somewhere safe to put Lily and then she'll go after whoever did this."

"It was Audrey," Emma continued. "She must have attacked Lily. By the look of things here, it must have been some battle." She then turned back around and noticed the bookshop keeper beginning to stir.

Regina raised her hands over the debris. Everyone watched as a couple gold lines appeared between the bookcases and the window followed by another brighter gold line between the counter and where Lily was found. "Yea, a one-sided battle," Regina commented. "There's only one magical trace here."

"One magical trace?" Emma thought for a moment. "It must have been a sneak attack," she said. "Lily probably didn't even know what hit her." Everyone just stared at her.

Suddenly the wail of sirens broke the silence as an ambulance arrived on the scene. Once it stopped, some paramedics tended to the injured people outside the shop while paramedics went into it and brought out the now somewhat conscious bookshop keeper. Showing her sheriff's badge, Emma informed them of what she knew about everyone's injuries. She then climbed into her car, followed by Carlos, Jay and Dude. Evie and Henry got into Regina's car. The two cars then sped off behind the ambulance for the hospital.


Flashback:

"That was fun!" Mal said, laughing evilly as she ran out of the "Ursula's Fish and Chips" diner. A chorus of frustrated yells soon followed. "Ah, music to my ears!"

"Such a delightful sound," Evie agreed stopping next to her.

"That's definitely a way to spice things up a bit," Mal snickered. "You know though E, chopped jalapenos do look a little like pickles. Clearly Uma's so stupid though, she can't tell the difference. Guess instead of 'Ursula's famous tatar sauce' it'll be 'Ursula's famous super spicy sauce.'"

Evie laughed.

Mal smiled. "But that's not all. I loosened a few ketchup bottle tops too."

"A few?"

"Ok, all of them."

"That explains the screams."

Mal nodded, replying with a devious smile. "Come on E! Let's see who else's day we can ruin!"

"Right behind ya!" Evie answered. "Hey Mal, where are Jay and Carlos?"

"Those two are being little goody two shoes and tending to their parents' shops today," Mal replied. "They didn't want to have fun today."

"Their loss," Evie said.

"Yea," Mal agreed. "Let's go!"

The two friends walked down the busy market place street, purposefully knocking things over as they went by.

"Hey!" An older lady yelled.

Mal ignored her and continued on her way. A little further up, she could see a painter standing on some rickety scaffolding trying to repaint his store's sign. She could tell he was nervous; his hand shook violently as he tried desperately to paint. Suddenly something else caught her eye. Near the scaffolding, she saw a boy about her age dressed like a pirate. He held a hook over his left hand and had a treasure chest shaped locket around his neck. "Harry Hook," Mal muttered under her breath. She growled at the sight of him.

Mal watched as Harry snuck up to the scaffolding.

"Is he really going to do what I think he is?" Evie asked. "That's low, even for him."

"What do you expect?"

Suddenly Harry grasped one of the poles holding the scaffolding up and began to shake it. Thinking he was about to fall, painter threw his brush as he grasped the corner of the platform and hung on for dear life.

"Earthquake test!" Harry said before shaking the pole again. This time, the ladder the painter had used to get to the scaffolding fell over. Additionally, the rickety scaffolding seemed like it was about to fall apart.

The painter's face was as white as a ghost. He screamed as he held the corner tighter, his body shaking violently. "Please stop, I hate heights!"

Evie shook her head.

"Let's go," Mal muttered softly.

Before Evie could say anything, Mal was already several steps ahead in Harry's direction.

"Well if it isn't the wittle pirate wanna be, Long Johns' slime ball," Mal said, giving Harry a look of disgust as she approached. "What does Uma have you doing this time? Looking for barnacle cleaner for your little sail boat?"

"Mal," Harry spat.

Mal smiled. "That's my name. I guess that little brain of yours can actually remember something." Mal looked to the side as a smirk spread across her face. "I'm actually kind of impressed."

"What do you want Mal?" Harry retorted. He let go of the pole and took a step towards Mal, glaring at her. She returned his look, staring straight into his eyes. The smile on her face widened, annoying Harry further.

"Oh, I just wanted to see what you and your pathetic friends were up to."

With Harry distracted, Evie reset the ladder against the scaffolding and was now creeping up behind him. Suddenly, she reached up, grabbed his necklace, and snapped it off of his neck. Harry roared with anger as he spun around. Acting on the opportunity, Mal grabbed Harry's hook and ripped it away from him.

"Ew," Mal said twisting her face. "Don't you ever wash this thing?" She then skipped to a nearby gutter and sewer drain.

"Don't!" Harry said warningly.

"Ya don't?" Mal replied with a raised eyebrow. "Well then, allow me."

"Don't you dare!"

Mal laughed and dropped the hook into the sewer line. The hook rolled with the moving water towards the sewer opening.

Harry yelled as he ran for the sewer line, trying to catch up to the hook.

"Don't forget this!" Evie yelled as tossed his necklace into the nearby trash. Harry looked over his face red with rage. With another laugh, the two girls disappeared from sight into the crowd.

"I love messing with him," Mal said with a deep sigh.

"We're rotten-" Evie began.

"To the core!" Mal finished.

A smirk crossed Evie's face. "You sure about that?"

Mal raised her eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"You just wanted to mess with Harry," Evie grinned. "That painter had nothing to do with it?"

"What are you talking about?" Mal retorted. "No, of course not! I'm mean, and cruel, and evil! Plus nothing beats messing with Uma's little eels!"

"Ok," Evie replied.

"I never helped anyone! I'm rotten to the core! Don't ever forget that!" Mal responded. "Unless you want to wake up with spiders in your bed!"

Evie just smirked.


Present Time:

Mr. Gold walked through the debris of the now abandoned bookshop. As he looked from side to side, a small smile crossed his face. "I admit, I did not foresee this turn of events, but it seems things will work out better than expected," he said softly. He then reached into his suit coat pocket and pulled out a small, glowing blue stone. In his other hand, Mr. Gold held a black and silver dagger that said "Rumplestiltskin" along it. "Her power and darkness are growing…she might even be more powerful than Maleficent now. This is quite the opportunity. And now…thanks to those two and dear Lily…not only will I get my happy ending, but if things work out favorably, I'll be free of limits of this dagger and will keep my power."


This chapter and the following chapters will start to bring together some of the little details scattered throughout the story. Keep a sharp eye out! Please read and review.