To the untrained eye, it looked as if Maleficent and Ursula were standing in the middle of a road that cut through a forest with nothing else in sight. However, Maleficent and Ursula both knew enough about magic to recognize how the glare from the sun wasn't quite right directly in front of them. The barrier spell hid the town well, but there was always a way around it.
The squealing of tires drew their attention behind them. Cruella's car rounded the corner down the road going way too fast for this street and skidded to a stop right before the two witches, leaving black skid marks on the road behind it. Rumple stepped out of the car from the passenger seat and gave Maleficent and Ursula a suspicious once over.
"I don't believe we've met, dearies," Rumple said. "What exactly are you two doing out here all alone in the middle of the street."
"We seek entrance to the town concealed behind this barrier spell," Maleficent said.
Rumple tried not to let the surprise show on his face. "So you two are from a magical realm?"
"What was your first clue?" Ursula asked with a chuckle.
"I think you two had best move along," Rumple said. "Storybrooke is not for you to conquer."
"Is that so?" Maleficent asked. "Well you'll be pleased to know that we have very little interest in this Storybrooke town itself. We merely seek a special book which lies within."
By this time, Cruella had also exited the vehicle and was standing next to Rumple.
"Oh? Are you looking for the Author as well?" Cruella asked. "The Dark One and I were just about to find him and force him to write us our happy endings."
Rumple shot her a venomous glare for revealing such sensitive information.
"The Author, you say?" Maleficent asked, rubbing her chin in thought. "Hmm, perhaps there is more to the Book of Prophecies than I had originally anticipated."
"You know, I didn't catch the names of you lovely ladies," Rumple said, trying and failing to mask his frustration at their presence.
"I am Maleficent. Mistress of All Evil."
"The name's Ursula the Sea Witch."
"Different versions of the same story," Rumple muttered in recognition.
His home world, the Enchanted Forest, had a version of both Maleficent and Ursula as well. However, the two women standing in front of him were most certainly not the same as the Maleficent and Ursula he knew. There were many worlds in the universe, and Rumple knew all too well that there were different storybooks with different takes on the same characters. Just how different these two were, he did not know.
"Oh! You know, I once knew two ladies by those names," Cruella said. "They were unfortunately a bit lacking. Not nearly dark enough for my tastes."
"You won't have to worry about that with us," Ursula replied with a laugh. "We're as dark as they come!"
"I propose we work together," Maleficent said.
"Cruella and I don't need your help, dearies," Rumple said. "Now be gone."
"Why exactly do you not want them to join us?" Cruella asked, suddenly suspicious of Rumple's intentions. "Wouldn't it make more sense for us to have help?"
"Trust me, I have a plan, and they do not factor in," Rumple said.
"We have the same goal in mind," Maleficent argued. "And we'll need each other to cross the barrier spell."
"What? A barrier spell?" Cruella asked, turning to glare at Rumple. "You didn't think to mention that before?"
"Would you have come if I did?" Rumple asked. "Look, I'll confess things are not quite as I said. In truth, I was banished from Storybrooke six weeks ago. We cannot simply walk into the town. But, if you'll follow my directions, I'll make sure that-"
Cruella kicked the cane out from under him, causing him to fall to his knees, and pulled out a bedazzled pistol. She pointed it at Rumple menacingly with murder in her eyes. Maleficent and Ursula both smiled at this display of bloodlust. Perhaps this Cruella woman was their type of person.
"No more encores, Rumple," Cruella warned. "I'm finished with your hazy instructions and your empty promises. No more tricks. If we're about to walk into a trap, darling, tell us now. Because out here, you're nothing more than a cripple with a real world ability to die."
"Yes, yes, you're right, you're right," Rumple said hastily, his entire tone changing now that he was at Cruella's mercy. "All that we seek is just beyond that line. And that is the truth. So, please, if you think you can waltz into that town and face all of that light magic without my help, then be my guest. But if you can just trust me, you won't just get inside Storybrooke, you'll be invited in."
"What do you think, Cruella?" Ursula asked. "Is he worth giving a chance?"
Cruella sneered. "He's stabbed me in the back to get what he wanted before. And it's not like the citizenry of Storybrooke will invite any of us in with him at our side if he's been banished."
"Yes they will, dearie," Rumple said, pulling himself up off the ground and propping himself up with his cane. "Because I won't be by your side. And that's why this time will be different: because this time, all of the power will be in your hands."
Cruella lowered her gun and glanced over to Maleficent and Ursula who both nodded in approval.
"Alright," Cruella began. "Start talking."
The note slid under Fish's door as she was situating a new wig on her head. The Overtakers weren't exactly the note passing sort. Typically Maleficent just sent out a telepathic summons when she needed them, and Maleficent had given them all time off while she and Ursula were off in Storybrooke anyway. Curiosity overtook Fish, and she picked up the note.
Hey guys,
I'm pullin' rank here as second-in-command (Hey, I put a roof over your head so, yes, I can do that. No lip, babes!). Everybody, report to the Corridor of Darkness I left open in the Conference Room. We're going on a little field trip while Malef and Ursie are off world. Get there ASAP – Got the concept?
Your host with the ghost,
Hades
P.S. Wear sensible footwear – lookin' at you Fishy
Fish groaned. She had hoped to spend her time popping back over to Gotham to shop for some new outfits, but she knew she couldn't refuse. Even though Hades was a blowhard, he did resurrect her. That meant she in particular needed to be there. Fish changed her shoes and followed the note's directions. After stepping through the dark portal, Fish found herself in valley surrounded by purple and blue rock faces with nothing but a pile of rubble in front of her. Hades was standing with Blackheart, Jafar, Pain, Panic, and a few Cauldron Born dressed in construction equipment.
"Oh please tell me I'm reading this situation wrong," Fish whined.
Russell and Steve stepped out of the portal next. Steve squinted at the sunlight and looked like he was ready to dart back into the portal. He clearly wasn't yet acclimated to his daywalking abilities.
"So what exactly was so urgent that you needed all of us?" Russell asked.
"Did you happen to see Doom and Loki behind ya, babe?" Hades asked. "We're kind of on a tight schedule here, and I hate repeating myself. Like, um, hellooo punctuality means somethin', babe.
Russell shook his head. Everyone knew all too well that Doom and Loki had just ignored their summons, something no one else present had had the good sense to do.
"Oy, fine, okay, whatever, let's go," Hades said. "See here babes, this is Malef's old base of operations, Villain's Vale, or, y'know, what's left of the place. Bit of a fixer upper, am I right? Which is exactly why we're here: to play fixer upper. We're gonna put it back together again so that I, er, we can surprise Malef when she gets home."
Blackheart grimaced. "I signed on to join a band of world conquerors, not a construction crew."
"Do you see these nails?" Fish asked, holding up her perfectly manicured purple finger nails for dramatic effect. "Do you think they stay this way on their own through manual labor?"
"See, I'm hearing a lot of nyeh-nyeh-nyeh when I should be hearing more 'Oh yes Lord Hades, what would you like for us to do?'" Hades said. "Come on, with all our powers combined, we can get this done in a day. Maybe two."
Fish, Blackheart, Russell, and Jafar all grumbled at that, but they knew Hades was going to make them help no matter what they said.
"This should be fun!" Steve said. He was the only one smiling. "We used to do carpentry work all the time with the Fellowship of the Sun. You know, it was kind of a holy thing since Jesus was a carpenter!"
"He and I aren't exactly on speaking terms," Blackheart said.
Some days Storybrooke was just like any other average New England town. Other days, a giant demonic bat monster was terrorizing the populace. Today was the latter. Regina, the mayor of Storybrooke, had successfully performed a ritual that freed the local convent of fairies from imprisonment inside of a sorcerer's hat (a state that Rumplestiltskin was responsible for). However, the process also released the fearsome Chernabog onto the town. The ritual had been translated by a linguistics professor at Oxford over e-mail, so Regina assumed something must've gone wrong in the translation.
Regardless, giant scary monster attacks were basically an average Tuesday for the populace of Storybrooke, and the local hero contingent had these situations down to a system... until the moment they didn't. Normally when Regina combined her magic with that of Emma Swan, the fabled Savior, it destroyed dark creatures with little difficulty. However, the Chernabog was particularly enduring, and it was continually tearing through Storybrooke searching for something. But as to what that something was, no one knew.
That made it all the more suspicious when Regina's phone started to ring with Rumple's name flashing on the Caller ID. Dangerous dark magic was his forte after all. However, when she answered the phone, it wasn't Rumplestiltskin who spoke.
"Regina, who is it?" Emma asked.
"Cruella De Vil," Regina said, surprise evident in her tone of voice.
"What's wrong, darling? Surprised to hear from me again?" Cruella asked.
"Mostly just confused at how a villain whose career went to the dogs managed to get her hands on the Dark One's cell phone," Regina replied.
"I stole it from him back in New York," Cruella said. "That giggling little stump of a man tracked down me and a couple of friends of mine and told us a sad tale about a perfectly wretched little town he was living in until he ruined everything."
"And... where is he now?" Regina asked cautiously.
"How should I know? I knew better than to get involved with him again," Cruella replied. "But, you see, he dazzled me and my girlfriends with tales of a town where villains could get redemption. You know, he told us all about how you changed, and we've changed too! But it's hard out in the cold real world. Please, let us come in. We promise to be on our very best behavior."
Regina paused for a moment. Cruella was about as sincere as teenage abstinence promise ring, and there was no doubt in Regina's mind that Cruella and her friends would cause trouble. However, deep down, Regina knew that she only had the opportunity to change because others afforded her the chance. But the risks seemed to outweigh the feelings of hypocrisy that nestled in Regina's gut.
"Sorry dear," Regina said, "but we have enough problems without inviting you and your fr-"
A vicious roar echoed from outside, stopping Regina cold. The Chernabog was close, and it was getting angry.
"Is one of those problems a Hellbeast with bat wings and devil horns?" Cruella asked.
"How did you know that?" Regina asked suspiciously, sharing a look with Emma Swan.
"Because that was the same ghastly noise it made when it tried to kill me," Cruella said. "You know, I could tell you exactly what it wants and how to defeat it."
"How convenient," Regina said sarcastically.
"They've been living in a Land Without Magic, how could they do it?" Emma whispered. "It had to have come out of the hat."
"I know," Regina relented with a groan. "Okay, fine, tell us what you know, puppy chaser."
"And then you'll let my friends and I in?" Cruella asked.
"If your information pans out, then we'll consider letting you in," Regina said. "Those are my terms. Take them or leave them."
"You've got a deal, darling!" Cruella agreed.
And so Cruella fed Regina all the information that Rumple had given her about the beast's desires and weaknesses. "Well, you see, the beast hungers for the heart with the greatest potential for darkness."
Regina's stomach sank. With Rumplestiltskin banished from Storybrooke, she was the only one of note in town with a substantially darkened heart. There was little doubt in Regina's mind that it was after her heart. Emma must have guessed at Regina's feelings, because she put a comforting hand on Regina's knee.
"Hey, we don't know it's after you," Emma whispered assuringly. "And even if it is, I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."
Regina nodded in thanks. Truthfully, Emma's words did make a difference, even though Regina still feared for her life.
"Go on," Regina said to Cruella.
"There's only one way to stop it," Cruella explained. "Church bells."
"Excuse me?" Regina asked.
"Yes, yes, it's all very Sunday School special, but it does work," Cruella continued. "Ring a church bell when the beast is in range, and your Chernabog problems will be over."
"Mother Superior's convent has one!" Emma said.
"Then let's go," Regina said with a nod. "If this works, Cruella, we'll give you and your friends the means to enter town."
Cruella flashed a wicked grin at Maleficent and Ursula and gave them a thumbs up.
"Smashing!"
Sora, Donald, and Goofy entered the main chamber of Yen Sid's tower to find their elderly master pouring over a book of some sorts.
"Master Yen Sid!" Sora yelled, skipping over to the table. "Guess who's got two thumbs and just got his powers back stronger than ever!"
Yen Sid glanced up and gave Sora a slight smile. "I am most pleased to hear that. And it may be just in time as well."
"What's goin' on?" Donald asked, approaching the table.
"Aw, gwarsh, is it Xehanort or Maleficent again?" Goofy asked.
"Of that, I am not certain," Yen Sid said. "For you see, this tower is one of many outposts that I keep throughout the worlds to keep the peace. I have many former apprentices who watch over them diligently. However, one of my apprentices has not reported in for the past two months, and it is most unlike him to go for that long without sending word. I fear he and the magical treasures he is guarding have been compromised."
"Got it! We'll hop in the Gummi ship and head that way to check it," Sora said.
"Unfortunately, this particular world is rather unique," Yen Sid continued. "Conventional means of transportation through Gummi ships or Corridors of Darkness will not suffice. However, all of my outposts are linked by a hall of magical doors located beneath this tower. The Keyblade will guide you to the correct one."
"We won't let ya down, sir!" Goofy said with a salute.
"Right!" Sora nodded.
However, before the trio could depart, the door behind them opened, and Riku and King Mickey entered, finally returned from their excursion in the Realm of Darkness.
"RIKU!" Sora yelled, tackling his friend with a hug.
"YOUR MAJESTY!" Donald and Goofy yelled in unison as they did the same to Mickey.
While Yen Sid was very happy to see his friends return from the dark realm safe and unharmed, it was most troubling that they did not return with Aqua in tow as they had intended.
"I am pleased to see you have returned safely," Yen Sid said. "But what happened to Master Aqua?"
Riku and Mickey both exited their cheerful reunions with somber faces.
"We were too late to save her," Mickey said sadly. "When we found her, she'd already been turned into a vessel for Xehanort."
Yen Sid's eyes widened in horror. "Then he must have all thirteen seekers of darkness by now. Aqua cannot have been more than a recent acquisition as of our preventing him from taking Sora."
Something inside of Sora stung with guilt. Aqua never would have been taken if Xehanort had just gotten him. Sora shook his head. He couldn't think like that now. They had important work to do.
"But we knew that preventing Xehanort from gathering his forces was not in the cards," Yen Sid said. "It only makes it more important that we gather seven guardians of light. Aqua will be saved from Xehanort's influence. We cannot despair or lose hope. Now then, Sora, please look into the outpost I spoke of. There may be a connection there. However, our friends have only just returned. Take some time to enjoy each other's company. After all, what are we fighting for if not the happy moments we share with our loved ones?"
Everyone tried to smile at that. It was hard with the news of Aqua being so fresh, but everyone knew they couldn't let that spoil the special moments they had together now.
Cruella's advice worked perfectly. Regina, Emma, and the other heroes managed to lure the Chernabog up to the bell tower and hit him hard with three powerful rings of the bell. The beast recoiled and dissolved into mist right before their eyes. And now it was time for Regina to keep her end of the bargain. Regina, Emma, Mary Margaret, and David all gathered at the town line. Though Maleficent, Ursula, and Cruella on the other side couldn't see into the town, they were perfectly visible to the heroes.
"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Mary Margaret asked. "Look, they may have told the truth this time. That doesn't mean they can be trusted."
"Mom, this doesn't sound like you, you always believe the best in everyone," Emma said.
"I'm also a realist," Mary Margaret replied. "Things were just starting to get back to normal in Storybrooke."
"Emma, she's right," David chimed in. "We know Cruella and how awful she was, and then her two friends? We don't even know the first thing about them. They could be worse than Rumplestiltskin."
"You're right, they could be," Regina said. "Cruella's horrible, and anyone who keeps company with her can't be an angel. But they probably aren't as horrible as I once was... and if I deserved a second chance, so do they. How can I sit here looking for my happiness and deny three others that same chance?"
"I'm with Regina," Emma said. "We let them in."
David and Mary Margaret couldn't argue with that. The decision was made. Emma passed to Regina the Snow Queen's magical scroll, the one thing capable of crossing the barrier spell. Regina gave it a light toss at Cruella's feet. Cruella eagerly picked it up, and Maleficent and Ursula gathered around her as she read it. As they did, the town and the heroes became visible to the trio. Cruella gestured for the other two to hop into the car, and, with the barrier open for them now, they drove across the town line into Storybrooke. Maleficent and Ursula could feel their magic returning to them. Even a few hours apart from it was incredibly unpleasant for them.
"Welcome to Storybrooke," Regina said, trying to muster enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Regina, you won't regret it!" Cruella said with a smile.
"I better not," Regina warned.
Cruella then put the pedal to the metal and took off down the street, coyly waving to the four heroes as she drove by.
Sora and Riku found a nice comfortable spot on the steps of the tower to sit and watch the enchanting view of multi-colored clouds and stars that decorated the skies around this strange little world in between worlds. Sora was busy regaling Riku with the tale of how he restored his powers in the Underworld.
"And then I kicked the fake you's butt!" Sora said triumphantly.
"Well that's how you know it was a fake," Riku said. "I mean, you beating me? That's unrealistic!"
Sora gave Riku a playful shove. "Jerk! I've beaten you at least twice!"
The two shared a laugh at that. No matter how much time passed, their friendship was always comfortable and they could pick right back up where they left off.
"Hey, so, I wanted to ask you about something," Sora said. "It might be a little personal, though."
"Go ahead," Riku said.
"So Maleficent said something during the fight," Sora said. "It could be that she was just lying, but I had to ask just in case. She said... you were keeping a secret from me about where your heart lies... are you?"
Riku was silent for a long moment, trying to figure out what to say. Sora instantly regretted asking. His silence was basically confirmation that Maleficent had been telling the truth. Sora didn't like the idea that Riku was keeping anything from him.
"Yeah, I am," Riku said without turning to face Sora.
Sora was more hurt than angry. His entire life was an open book to Riku. Sora shared everything he was thinking or feeling with Riku, and he did that because he assumed that that went both ways. Knowing that it didn't just made Sora feel overexposed.
"Why?" was all he could ask.
Riku let out a deep sigh. "Because I fell in love with you."
Sora immediately regretted how selfish he was for feeling hurt by Riku keeping that secret. Sora never even knew that Riku liked guys.
"Oh," was all Sora could say.
"Yeah," Riku said.
"Hey, look, I'm glad you told me," Sora said after a couple seconds. "And this doesn't change anything. I promise."
"That's... great," Riku said, unable to hide the disappointment from his voice. "Hey, um, it's been a long day. I haven't gotten to shower since I got back, and you've got that thing to check out. I'll see you when you get back."
Riku got up and walked back into the tower, leaving Sora alone to process what had just happened. Sora knew he'd said something wrong, but it was only after Riku had already left that Sora realized that maybe Riku was hoping he might reciprocate. But that was a question Sora didn't have a good answer for. Truthfully, he'd never even thought about Riku that way or even considered it as a possibility.
However, Riku was right. Yen Sid's outpost needed to be checked out. Things with Riku would have to wait for now.