Chapter 25: Pride is a Dangerous Thing
In the tower, Alice tosses and turns in her sleep dreaming, while her papa sleeps nearby.
Dream Hook says, "That painting is gorgeous, Alice. The calm before the storm."
Dream Alice replies, "I don't think I like it."
"How is that possible? It might be your best one yet," Dream Hook asks.
"It's... I mean, it's beautiful. It's just... it makes me want to see the real ocean. I'm done painting for a while," Dream Alice replies, sadly.
Dream Hook says, his heart breaking for his little girl, "I'm sorry you're trapped in here, Starfish. I know it's not fair. But you know what? I might have something that'll make you smile. I was saving it for your birthday, but today is better." He hands her a small box, hoping it makes her smile again.
"Is it sand?" Dream Alice asks, touching the contents.
Dream Hook, smiles and says, "Well, I figured if I couldn't take you to the sea, then I'd bring a piece of the sea to you."
"Thank you, Papa. I love you," Dream Alice says smiling.
Dream Hook replies, "I love you, too." He begins gasping and choking for his breath.
Dream Alice cries, "Papa! What's wrong? Papa! What's happening to you?! Papa!"
Dream Gothel says coldly, "I am," as she's holding out her hand using her magic to squeeze his throat.
Dream Alice screams, "No!" as Hook goes flying out of the window.
Alice wakes up screaming and panting, frantic from her nightmare.
Hook wakes up and rushes over to his daughter, "Hey. Don't worry. It was just a bad dream."
Alice, still trying to catch her breath, says, "I saw the witch again. She's coming for me."
"It was just a nightmare," her papa reassures her.
Alice argues, "It's not! It's real! You have to believe me."
Hook says, "You do see the world in a special way, Alice. If you say the dream means something, then I believe you." He gets up and puts on his boots and straps on his sword.
Alice looks at him and asks, "What are you doing?"
Hook tells her, "Making sure the dream doesn't come true. I'm getting you out of this tower, once and for all."
Alice asks, "But how? You've tried everything. Will we go find Tinkerbell once I'm free?"
Hook says, "Almost everything. The truth is... there is one more thing I can try. It's a dark path that I always feared to take, but I don't have any other choice. Keep this close by (hands her the black knight chess piece) to remember me. And yes, we will go find Tinkerbell once I've freed you."
Alice says fearfully, "Okay, but I'm scared, Papa. What if something happens to you? What happens to me?"
Hook says, "Come on. I'll be fine. And I swear... I will return as soon as I can."
Alice says, "Then take this to remember me." She hands him the black rook chess piece.
Hook smiles at her, "My little rook. You are the bravest girl I know. Look, soon all of this will be over, and all the chess pieces will be together again." He gives her a hug and kiss and climbs out the window.
A short time later, Hook enters a dark cave and walks toward the prison cell. He can hear the prisoner giggling.
Hook calls out, as he nears the prison cell, "Come out where I can see you."
The Dark One giggles and says, "Ooh, it's Captain Hook! Oh, what a lovely treat! Oh, come closer. Clos-s-er." He giggles some more. "You know, it's been so long since I talked to anyone except rats and leeches."
"Oh, I didn't come for the conversation," Hook informs him.
"Of course you didn't, dearie! And so, what brings Captain Hook home? Finally ready to seize his revenge? Finally ready to kill me? Or try?" The Dark One says in his impish way.
Hook says, "I'm not that man anymore. I finally learned what it meant to live. I'm willing to set aside my revenge to ask…"
The Dark One says, "Hmm?"
"To ask you for your help," Hook says begrudgingly.
The Dark One cackles and sniffs, saying, "Yes! I thought I smelled desperation. My speciality. So, tell me, what's the problem, eh? Is it a plague? A woman? A curse?"
Hook says, "A daughter. A witch has locked her in a tower, and I-I need magic to set her free."
The Dark One replies, "Oh, well, that's doubly tragic. For you have come to the wrong place. No magic here," as he waves his hands around in his cell.
"I know this place drains your power," Hook says.
Weakly, the Dark One replies, "Yes. Drains me."
"But if you help me... If you help me free my daughter from her prison... I'll finally free you from yours," Hook offers.
"Uh, a d-deal?" he says skeptically.
Hook sighs and says, "Yes, a deal."
The Dark One claps his hands together and says gleefully as he giggles with delight, "Indeed! Oh! Oh, I remember! I used to love those! There is something. A magic weapon with the power to shatter any prison. But it's terribly difficult to obtain. Terribly, terribly, terribly difficult."
"Just tell me where it is," Hook responds growing frustrated.
"It's not a question of where, dearie... but who. This magic is in the hands of another famous captain. And you and I both know... pirates don't give up what's theirs without a fight," the Dark One informs him while he giggles. He then gives Hook the name of the pirate who has what Hook seeks. Hook nods his thanks to the imp and leaves to find the pirate in the local village.
A short time later, Hook approaches a tavern. As he opens the door, music and laughter can be heard. A pirate recognizes Hook as he enters and greets him.
"Captain. Is it really you?" the pirate asks approaching Hook.
"Mr. Smee. It's been too long. Hey, how's the Jolly Roger?" Hook greets his former first mate with a handshake.
Smee says, "Shipshape and ready to set sail. If you want her back, just say the word."
"Well, as much as I miss her, I'm here for another treasure. I've been told that the captain who holds it is here. A man named Ahab," Hook tells him.
A pirate gets up from his table and turns towards Hook and says, "If it's Captain Ahab you seek... then your search is over. Though your trouble, alas, has just begun. It's dangerous to seek me out, old man."
"Well, it's a dangerous thing to call me "old man." Hook informs him.
"Ah. The legendary Captain Hook," Ahab replies.
Hook says, "Mm-hmm."
"Well, it's nice to finally meet you. And, you know, people, they... they always tell me that... that... that I... am what you used to be, huh?" Ahab boasts.
"No, I'm what I used to be, mate," Hook tells him coldly.
Ahab laughs and says, "Care to prove it, hmm?"
Hook says, rubbing his chin, "Well, look, I'm not interested in fighting. I'm here looking for a magical weapon. Maui's Fish Hook. Now, I've been told that you've taken possession of it."
Ahab, chuckling says, "I have. But no washed-up former pirate is gonna take it from me."
"Careful with those threats, lad. If you really know who I am, then you know how this will end. Anyway, I'm not interested in bloodshed. I see you have a taste for the dice. Now, how about we place a wager, right? Your magical fish barb for, let's say, the, um... the Jolly Roger herself?" Hook offers to Ahab.
Ahab chuckles and agrees.
Smee says, "Three dice. One roll. And may the best captain win." Ahab tosses the dice and rolls three 5's.
"Oh. That's quite a toss. It's gonna be hard to beat that. But Lady Luck has been on my side before," Hook says to Ahab and rolls the dice.
Laughter rings out through the tavern as Hook's dice roll is revealed - three 6's - a winning roll!
"Well, come on, then. Sorry, mate. I hope you have better luck with that white fish of yours," Hook says smugly.
"You may be lucky, but you're no pirate anymore. I see right through you," says Ahab tossing a bag that contains the fish hook at Hook.
Hook asks, "I'm sorry?"
Ahab informs him, "You see, that white whale keeps me sharp. But you... I heard that you gave up your crocodile."
Hook says, "Don't believe everything you hear."
Ahab says, "People are talking... saying that Hook went soft. Lost your edge."
"You want to know what this is for? I'm gonna use it to kill the Dark One. Believe me, I never lose sight of what matters most," Hook boasts, waving the bag with Maui's Fish Hook in it at Ahab. He then turns and leaves the tavern.
Back at the Dark One's prison cell, Hook approaches the cell and says, "Dark One."
The Dark One says, "Hmm?" Giggling he says, "Yeah. Oh! Hook. Yes! It's Captain Hook."
"I brought what you asked for," Hook informs him, holding up the fish hook.
The Dark One laughs, "Ohh! Oh, yes! Yes! Oh, the magic! Closer. Bring the magic closer. Come on. Break the bars. Break the bars. Be a good boy. You and me! You and me. Look at us. The Captain and the Crocodile working together. Who ever would have thunk it?"
"Don't push your luck. Now let's break Alice out of that tower. Tell me how this thing works," Hook says impatiently.
"Oi. So the rumors are true, hmm? Captain Hook has gone soft," Ahab says from behind Hook.
Hook turns and says, "Ahab. What are you doing here?"
Ahab informs him, "I'm catching you in your lie, Captain. I mean, not only are you not killing the Dark One, but you're helping him. You... You have given up your great white whale."
The Dark One says in a sing-songy voice, "No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Now there's a fly in the ointment!" In his normal voice,he says, "Don't listen to his buzzing. Listen to my voice. Think of the tower. Think of your daughter. Don't listen to that idiot. Don't let him in your head."
Ahab says, "Oh, I'm already in his head. Look at you. Look at you, letting the Dark One do your dirty work because you can't." He chuckles, "Hell, you can't even save your own daughter without him. Tell me... What's her name? Alice?"
Hook threatens, "Don't you mention her name. Don't you ever mention her name!"
Ahab chuckles again, "Tell me, does she know the truth about her papa?"
"You want to see the real me? Then I'm happy to oblige," Hook says offering himself up.
Ahab clicks his tongue, "Oh, no, no, no, no." Then he chuckles, "Not here. I want people to see me defeat you. By that, I mean a duel, in public... in the light of day. You see, I think it's time that everyone sees the Hook that I see."
"No! Enough! Let me out! I'll r-r-rip his face off, take his other leg, give you his hand... Whatever you want. No one needs to know it's me. And then your legend will live on... forever. Otherwise, you are gonna lose everything," the Dark One argues.
"No. I think he means that he's gonna lose everything. Ignore the imp," Ahab says to Hook.
"Yeah, but the imp wants what you want. Freedom calls. I can help you if you let me. If you let me out!" The Dark One yells.
Hook yells, "No! No. No, this is my fight, Rumplestiltskin. It's a duel you want...Oh, it's a duel you'll get. Pistols at dawn. Tomorrow."
The next morning, at dawn, there is a crowd on the street awaiting Hook and Ahab's duel.
Smee opens a wooden box revealing two pistols. Hook and Ahab each take one and then stand back to back.
Smee says, "Ten paces. Then turn. Then shoot. One. Two. Three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten!"
Hook sees flashes of memories - holding baby Alice and naming her and then Alice in the tower asking him to promise to return. A gunshot rings out. Hook flashes back to his last conversation with Alice when he said he would return as soon as he could and that he loves her. Both Hook and Ahab gasp and groan falling to the ground.
Hook grunts in pain.
Smee rushes over to Hook and says, "You're fine, sir. Just nicked... which is more than I can say for Ahab. He may survive the day, but your aim was true as the North Star. What's the matter, sir? You did it, Captain! You won."
Hook says, "I haven't won anything that mattered." He groans and pulls the black rook chess piece out of his pocket and says, "I think... I think I've made a dreadful mistake. I have to leave." He gets up and picks up the bag with Maui's Fish Hook in it and hightails it back to Alice and the tower.
Once he makes it back to the tower, Hook climbs back up into the tower, silently cursing Gothel as he climbs.
Alice cries out, "Papa! I was starting to worry," as her father appears through the window.
Hook says, "There's no need to worry, Starfish. I'm here now. I have something in here that can smash this tower to pieces." Alice runs to hug her father. Hook exhales sharply as he's magically flung away from Alice.
Alice asks, concerned, "Papa?" as she goes near him again.
Hook yells, "Aah!" clutching his heart. There is a whooshing as Alice goes sliding back away from Hook.
Alice whimpers as a mark appears on her wrist and says, "Ohh! What's happening?"
Hook says with a strained voice, " I-I don't know."
Gothel says as she appears in the tower, "But I do."
Hook asks, "What did you do to me?"
Gothel scornfully says, "No less than you deserve. You're poisoned now, and it will corrupt your heart every time Alice draws near. You've both been marked."
Alice pleads with the witch from her dreams, "Please don't do this. He's my father. He's a good man."
Gothel delights in informing her, "Not good enough. Your father went on a little detour because there's more important things to him than his daughter. He fought a duel for his precious honor."
Alice turns to her father in disbelief and says, "You didn't come right back. You promised me."
Hook tells her, "I only stopped for a moment. I swear." Breathing heavily, he asks Gothel, "How did you do this to me?"
Gothel tells him, "I simply made sure the bullet was poisoned. Your pride did the rest." Then there is a whoosh as Gothel transports Hook and herself from the tower onto the ground below.
Alice, shouting from the tower, "Papa!" She sighs, "Papa."
On the ground Hook groans and grunts and says to Gothel, "You can't keep me from her. I will get her out." He grunts in pain.
Gothel says, "No. You will fail her again and again. You might as well go back to the tavern and have another drink."
Alice, shouting from the tower, "Papa, where are you?! Save me!" Hook grunts again.
"Such a heartbreaking cry for help," Gothel says.
Alice, shouting from the tower, "Papa, please help!"
"I couldn't let you free her. And now you never will," Gothel tells Hook and then she disappears in a puff of smoke.
Alice, shouting from the tower, "Please, Papa, save me! Help me, Papa! Please! Help me!"
Hook, on the ground far below the tower window, gets up and says, "I will save you Alice! I will save you and Tinkerbell and then we will be a family."
A/N: Sorry for the insanely long chapter, but I couldn't bring myself to break it into two separate chapters. Thanks for hanging in there.