Early the next morning, Gold was still in bed with Cherry, cuddling her gently. Cherry lightly snored, her face mostly pink, babbling nonsense a bit, as she cuddled into him to keep them both warm as it was a bit chilly that morning. Gold held Cherry close too, their legs entangled to help keep them warm. Cherry seemed to purr from the cuddling as she nuzzled up against him. Gold gave a sleepy smile, as he was still asleep but enjoying the cuddling.
"Boy... I think I wanna marry you~..." Cherry sang in her sleep.
Gold murmured a little. "If ya like it, should put a ring on it~" he murmured.
Cherry seemed to giggle in her sleep. Belle soon came by, looking tired as she saw them and smiled softly before she decided to climb into the bed with them before falling back asleep. Gold moved his arm so Belle could cuddle close before putting it so it touched both ladies. Cherry giggled as she nuzzled a bit more.
"Love you both..." Belle whispered as they took in the "Gold sandwich".
"Love you too..." Gold agreed.
"I love Rock & Roll~" Cherry sang.
Belle giggled as they all shared a cuddle sandwich with each other.
"Ready?" Ursula asked Facillier about him boosting the Siren song.
"Ready whenever you are, my dear." Facilier grinned and nodded as he went to get himself ready for their plan.
Ursula started to sing, directing it specifically to Katie, though it wouldn't affect the younger girl yet until the boost from Facillier. Facilier waited until the right time as he took out a talisman before it started to glow and he began to help out Ursula in the song so that they could attract Katie at will. Ursula grinned as she continued to sing. Katie woke up, and grabbed her dressing gown and slipped on her shoes, quietly and stealthily making her way to Facillier and Ursula's cabin.
"Keep singing!" Facilier grinned during the song.
Ursula shot him a playful glare to that, but continued. Killian had slept over with Katie, promising David and Mary Margaret that nothing weird would happen, though he was unaware of what had happened as Katie was leaving home suddenly. Katie slowly but steadily made her way, coming into sight of the two.
Facilier smirked before he looked out the window. "The princess arrives." he then informed his lover.
Ursula smirked, gesturing for him to open the door so the girl could enter. Facilier nodded and soon came to the door and opened it up, gesturing with his other arm to have Katie inside, though invitingly. Katie entered, still in her slight daze. Once Katie was inside and the door shut, Ursula stopped her Siren song.
"Welcome," Facilier smirked as he closed the door behind Katie and stepped over to her side. "We've been expecting you, my dear."
"How did I...?" Katie asked confused after blinking a few times and clearing her head.
"I guess you must've missed seeing us, Princess Katie," Facilier said before smiling darkly. "I know we've missed seeing you, dear~"
Ursula chuckled. "Come in child, and take a seat~" she told her.
"Did I sleepwalk here? I'm sorry..." Katie apologized, though was a bit wary of the dark smirk.
"No, no, it's all right, just come sit down," Facilier insisted as he smirked at Katie. "We're not mad at you or anything. We just want to talk to you for a minute."
Ursula pulled out a chair for her.
Katie gave a nervous smile but did take the seat. "What would you like to talk to me about?" she asked softly.
"Do you enjoy our company?" Facilier asked, beginning to ask just to make her comfortable before he would lead into the main motivation of their plans. "At least one of ours?"
"Y-You're both very nice." Katie said softly, politely.
"Would you like to maybe spend a little more time with us?" Facilier asked with a smirk.
"As much as that sounds fun... I have work~" Katie tried to deny, without hurting their feelings.
"No, I think you can spare a few minutes..." Facilier smirked. "We're not done with you just yet... You, like most people, especially in this town, have a dark side. You may be sweet, helpful, and thoughtful, but... There's a lot more to you than just that. Isn't there, my dear?~"
Katie swallowed nervously to that. "Well, almost everyone does." she did agree softly. She nervously crossed her arms and subtly covered over her heart by nervously gripping her own shoulder.
"Yes, but you... You have true potential..." Facilier grinned. "And that's why you're invited... We won't hurt anybody or even you... But if you're ample enough, you can join us... Onto the 'Other Side'."
Katie looked to him confused at that a little. "You want me to 'Join the Dark Side'?" she asked.
Ursula couldn't resist an amused snort at that.
"It would be good for you, my dear," Facilier grinned. "Besides, you had so much fun yesterday, didn't you?"
Katie bit her lip. "What if I don't want to?" she had to ask quietly.
"Oh... You will play along..." Facilier smirked as he got in Katie's face. "Otherwise, the consequences might be hazardous to your health... I have friends in... Low places... So to speak~"
Katie looked at him, wide-eyed.
"So I want you to think very hard about this decision before you say no right away," Facilier continued with a smirk. "It would be wise not to say yes~"
Katie bit her lip and looked down.
"Now... Are you in or out?" Facilier asked sharply. "Your fate rests on your final answer with us."
"I'm sorry, I won't join the 'dark side'." Katie said quietly but firmly.
"What a shame..." Facilier replied with a sorrowful frown, shaking his head before smirking. "I always knew that Cherry was the smart one between you two."
"I-If you hurt me she'll never come back to you." Katie warned them.
Ursula frowned a bit to that.
"Yes... You do have a point..." Facilier smirked. "But she'll still have to come over to come pick you up, won't she?"
"You could just let me go and I'll not mention this and she'll spend normal time with you." Katie tried, and started to stand while gently pushing 'Baron' a little further away.
"We could do that... But I don't think I will..." Facilier smirked before shadows appeared to restrain Katie into her seat. "I think you better stay and get comfortable because you're going to be here for a while."
Katie winced as she was tugged back down, and paled a bit.
"Now... Sit back... Relax..." Facilier smirked. "This won't hurt... Not a physical level at least~"
Katie's heart increased its speed to that, though she winced a little.
Ursula looked to Facilier. "Breakfast?" she offered.
The shadows grinned darkly and fiendishly around Katie, even attempting to corrupt her own.
"Yes, breakfast sounds lovely, my dear." Facilier nodded in acceptance.
Katie tried to fight back, not letting them corrupt her. Her skin paled even more as the shadows' darkness was still affecting her though. Ursula went to make some breakfast on that notion.
"Ah, ah, ah," Facilier smirked. "You shouldn't fight like that... It'll be hazardous to your health, dear~"
Katie sent him a slight glare to that. "They should stop trying to corrupt my shadow." she told him.
"I'm sorry, but they wanna have fun with you," Facilier smirked. "Now... Are you hungry?"
Katie shook her head, she wasn't hungry right now.
"Suit yourself... See you around then..." Facilier smirked as he went to join Ursula for breakfast, leaving Katie alone with the shadows for a while.
Cherry suddenly shifted in her sleep as she woke up with a gasp and sat up in the bed, panting heavily as she sweated profusely and her heart began to race.
Gold woke up and looked to her. "Are you alright?" he asked.
Belle stirred a little in her sleep, but didn't fully wake up yet.
"Something... Something's wrong..." Cherry panted.
"What's wrong?" Gold asked as he sat up.
"Something's... Going on..." Cherry said, trying to figure out what it was as Belle began to wake up. "I think it's... Katie..."
"Katie?" Belle asked. "Are you sure?"
"I'm not fully sure, but I think so..." Cherry replied as she held her head. "Something's happening."
Gold looked to Belle. "Why don't you call the 'Charmings' and get them to see if Katie is there still? we mustn't jump to conclusions." he suggested and said, knowing Cherry was probably right, but hoping not for his younger lover's sake.
Belle nodded and she soon decided to do just that, calling right away as she tried not to worry too much, especially around Cherry who was quite sensitive about these sorts of things.
"I don't know what exactly is happening, but Katie's in some sort of distress," Cherry said softly as she held her stomach, looking a bit queasy as it gurgled, sensing her stress and worrying situation. "Guuugh..."
Gold gently rubbed her back in a soothing manner.
"...I wonder..." Cherry soon said, suddenly getting an idea as her head went up.
"What do you wonder?" Gold asked.
"Someone did this... Someone heinous... Someone... Someone like my parents..." Cherry guessed as she held her stomach.
Gold looked thoughtful.
Cherry soon got up and away from him as she opened a drawer in her desk and took out the tarot cards that Facilier gave her after their first night together as a reunited family. She flipped through the many cards and soon found one that made her gasp in horror as she found one for Katie that was marked "future" which had her being sent on a river in a boat with her parents looking on with darkness and hatred in their eyes. "We have to save Katie!" she then gasped. "They're gonna send her away somewhere else!"
"Does the card say where?" Gold asked as he got up and snapped his fingers instantly dressing himself and Cherry, knowing the youngest one would want to move quickly, as Belle was busy.
"I... I don't know..." Cherry replied as she checked the card. "...If I didn't know any better, from my Mythology education growing up, I'd say that's Charon and the River Styx somehow."
"May I see?" Gold asked.
Cherry glanced over and soon held out the card for him to see too. "Charon is the driver of the boat for The River Styx," she then educated in case he didn't know. "He takes you over to Hades in Greek Mythology into The Underworld where the dead go to die... But that can't be... They wouldn't be that blackhearted, would they?"
"I do know about the Mythology, dearie," Gold said. "And well your father would." he said.
Cherry grimaced. "...Is there an Underworld in this place too?" she then asked.
Gold nodded.
"No..." Cherry said, shaking her head. "They can't do that... Why?!" she then stopped and held her chest as her heart sank in her chest in possible realization. "...To weaken me..."
"We'll stop this from happening." Gold told her.
Cherry bowed her head, looking grave and glum already as she shut her eyes.
"Hello?" Mary Margaret asked sleepily on the phone.
"Mary Margaret, I'm sorry for calling so early, but is Katie with you?" Belle asked softly.
"She's in bed I think..." Mary Margaret yawned softly. "Did you want to speak with her?" she asked.
"Oh... We just want to make sure she's home..." Belle smiled softly. "Cherry seems to have gotten it in her head that something might be wrong with her."
Mary Margaret got out of bed and came to check. She then checked the bathroom and for a note. "She's not here... Maybe she went out to the store and forgot to leave a note... While in her nightclothes and dressing gown." she told her, the last bit slower as she noticed Katie's next day outfit was left untouched.
Belle frowned as she felt concerned and worried. "Oh, Mary Margaret..." she said softly, trying not to over worry.
"I'll ask Killian if he knows, and Edward." Mary Margaret decided and gently but firmly shook Killian awake.
Belle nodded, trying to keep calm on the other line.
"Ten more minutes, dear..." Killian mumbled sleepily.
"Killian, did Katie tell you where she was going?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Huh? Oh... No..." Killian groaned and shook his head before he yawned and stretched, rubbing his eye sleepily. "She's probably just having a jog or something."
"In her nightclothes?" Mary Margaret raised an eyebrow.
Killian looked around before shrugging. "Well... I dunno... It's too early for guessing games..." he then said to her.
Mary Margaret sighed. "Try seeing if Edward has seen her," She told him. "Killian hasn't seen her." she told Belle.
Killian nodded as he soon went to get up to start the day, though he yawned on the way.
"Oh, d-dear..." Belle frowned as her face paled. "I-I'm sure she's closer than we think."
"David and I will search too." Mary Margaret said.
"Thank you, Mary Margaret," Belle approved. "I better check on Cherry and Rumple."
"Alright, speak soon." Mary Margaret replied.
"Thank you," Belle nodded before hanging up and she came to see her two lovers. "I'm afraid Katie isn't home, but Killian is going to ask Edward if he knows anything."
Cherry let out a frightful gasp before she turned away, staring down at the floor as she looked miserably hopeless.
"We'll save her, dearie." Gold said to her.
"We will," Belle smiled warmly before hugging Cherry by her shoulders, giving her a sweet kiss on the lips. "We promise."
"I'm so glad I have you guys." Cherry said softly, smiling back, though a bit sadly.
The search for Katie proved to be hopeless as no one had seen her anywhere, though Cherry began to have a feeling of where to check after the others mentioned of not having seen her at all and she soon began to lead the way to the cabin, memorizing of where to go since she was a regular visitor, especially after what was promised after she refused to stay with her parents. She walked a bit faster than the others, looking very firm and aggressive.
"Cherry, slow down!" David called out.
"If you can't keep up, then you can just go back home." Cherry replied firmly.
Gold wisely kept silent, but easily kept up with Cherry. Mary Margaret was pushing through herself, being strong to save her daughter.
"We can't stop now," Cherry told the others as she kept on going before glancing back. "Nothing will stand in our way-"
WHAM!
"Erm... You all right, Bear?" Killian asked as Cherry walked right into a tree when she wasn't looking.
"If one of you laughs, I will kill you..." Cherry grumbled as she fell over before spitting up some grass that got into her mouth as she looked over. "We're almost there."
Gold helped Cherry up.
"Maybe that cabin needs removed," Mary Margaret huffed. "Too many bad guys take residence there."
Cherry dusted herself clean, glancing at him for the help before she kept on going with them following as she led the way to the cabin.
"What're we gonna do, hire a demolition team?" Belle shrugged.
Gold made sure to stick close to Cherry.
"Maybe we could let Regina burn it down when no one lives there anymore." Mary Margaret said.
"Oh... Okay." Belle nodded.
"We'll worry about that later." David said, comforting Mary Margaret the best that he could.
In the cabin, Katie was looking quite pale, shadows under her eyes a bit more visible as 'fighting' with the shadows had left her feeling weaker. She looked to the door though, feeling Killian coming closer.
"They're on their way~" Ursula told Facilier.
"Excellent work," Facilier smirked. "I knew that girl would come to her senses."
Katie glanced over slowly. "She won't return to you..." she said quietly.
"You sound sure of yourself," Facilier smirked. "Especially once she sees what I have as the upper hand~"
Katie merely looked at the door as they could be heard now. Facilier walked over to the fireplace and tended to it a bit, glancing back at the door. Ursula stayed at the table as if there was nothing going on.
"Oh... Okay." Belle nodded.
"We'll worry about that later." David said, comforting Mary Margaret the best that he could.
"Okay... Here we are..." Cherry glared as she crossed her arms. "Casa de Mama and Papa... Everybody ready?" she then asked firmly.
The rest of the group simply nodded.
"Let's go." David told Cherry.
"Right then!" Cherry replied as she soon kicked the door in. "Welcome to 'Gotcha!', I'm your hostess: Cherry!"
"Ah... Dear... How nice to see you..." Facilier grinned innocently as he stood by the fireplace. "We were wondering when you'd stop by for a visit."
"If we'd known you were bringing guests I would have made tea for everyone." Ursula gave a chuckle.
Katie looked at them. "Whatever happens, don't join them." she started to say.
"Katie..." Killian said softly as he came to the older, yet smaller woman.
Edward soon came to join Killian, flashing a glare at Facilier and Ursula.
"All right," Cherry said, storming towards her estranged parents. "Why did you take Katie? What's this about? I thought we had an understanding when you came by last week."
"Oh, we did... But... We couldn't find ourselves to go along with it..." Facilier smirked as he patted her on the head.
"Killian, Edward~" Katie gave a small smile.
Mary Margaret realized they were the ones she saw first so wasn't upset Katie hadn't said her or David's titles.
"Are you hurt?" Killian asked, checking Katie over on one side while Edward took the other. "You don't look so good."
Facilier smirked as he allowed the reunion before approaching the others in the cabin. "Hello, there... Can I interest you in some breakfast muffins?" he asked, holding out a plate of muffins for them.
Cherry whacked her hand in the air, making the plate and muffins fly up and hit the floor as she was beyond irked right now.
"Tired and weak, but physically I'm okay other than that." Katie told them softly.
Edward smiled a bit before snarling towards Facilier and Ursula.
"Not for long..." Facilier whispered.
"All right... So what is this?" Cherry asked sharply. "What do you want?"
"Oh... Nothing much... Just... Your attention..." Facilier smirked, cradling her face before he soon swooped in right behind Katie and reached deep into her insides and soon ripped out the half of her heart as it was beating and glowing.
Even Ursula looked shocked to that. Katie let out a pained grunt, and unlike would be expected she was still alive though.
"Now... I've got your attention," Facilier smirked before backing up from Edward who looked ready to lunge out. "Look out there, Shorty... One wrong move and the heart might end up in the fire if you're not careful."
Edward glared as he stepped back then, stomping the floor in frustration as he crossed his arms, looking a bit like a child.
"Katie..." Cherry gasped frightfully before she groaned and sighed. "...What do you want?" she then lightly demanded.
"I'm going to make you a deal, just call off your monsters," Facilier smirked as he kept the heart closeby. "Your Beast... Your Beauty... Your Pirate Friend... Your Monster of a Man... Your Prince Charming... Your Maid."
Cherry narrowed her eyes before looking at the others to nod at them as a signal to back off for right now. Mary Margaret glared, but stood down for now. Gold glared too, but stepped back.
"Now... Let's recap on our last chat," Facilier grinned as he came Cherry, pinching her cheeks a bit. "I might let her go on one condition..."
Cherry looked up to show that she was listening.
"You stay with me permanently..." Facilier demanded.
"And if I refuse?" Cherry asked, though she had a pretty good idea of what the alternative would be.
"She might be faced with an early grave..." Facilier smirked as he kept the heart close to him. "Will you stay?"
Cherry looked down from him and soon went to sit and think about this, looking very worried for Katie's sake from the sadistic choice. Ursula was looking shocked to that.
"Don't do it..." Katie said, her voice very soft.
"It's a simple answer..." Facilier said as he looked down to Cherry. "Yes... Or no..."
Cherry looked between all of them, she didn't want to stay here, but she also didn't want Katie to die because of her as Killian and Edward did whatever they could to defend and protect Katie. "...Fine, I'll stay..." she soon said softly in defeat.
"Cherry!" Belle gasped.
"Just don't hurt Katie..." Cherry continued emotionally.
"You've made an excellent choice, my dear..." Facilier grinned. "I knew you were a smart lady."
Katie looked to Cherry, shaking her head a little.
"I'll be back to visit soon..." Cherry said softly to the others behind her.
"No... You will not..." Facilier replied darkly. "They will all live... Just without you... And you will stay with me forever to live your true destiny and legacy as the daughter of The Shadow Man."
"Forever...?" Cherry nearly whimpered. "Without my... My family?"
"I'm your family..." Facilier reminded. "And that's all that matters..."
"I'm her mother, and I never agreed to completely remove her from them, just that she stays with us instead." Ursula glared.
Mary Margaret looked horrified and Gold was glaring. Katie could only glance over, no emotion on her face due to no t really feeling any right now.
"Princess..." Killian whispered softly and forlornly.
"Well, it appears no one is getting what they want..." Facilier told Ursula coldly as he stepped closer to the fireplace. "I think Katie should come with me to meet my friends... On the other side..." he then said with a malicious grin.
"But... You said you would let Katie go..." Cherry said, feeling worse now.
"I said I might let her to if you made the right choice." Facilier emphasized with a smirk.
Gold silently and subtly summoned the magic stop cuff. Ursula grabbed Cherry and the half of heart with her tentacles, pushing Cherry back to her friends while about to put the half back in Katie's chest before the shadows could drag her off or remove themselves from her. Mary Margaret looked surprised. David held onto Mary Margaret protectively. Cherry grunted and yelped from the suddenly grab and push as her hands drew forward helplessly for a moment before Belle caught her into a hug.
"Katie!" Killian and Edward gasped as the shadows hissed around Katie to drag her away.
"My dear... We didn't agree to these terms..." Facilier said, grabbing Ursula suddenly.
Mary Margaret held to David, but looked to Katie worriedly. Katie didn't fight but didn't seem to want to get dragged off either.
"Well, I didn't agree to you trying to kill Cherry's friend whether she agreed or not!" Ursula glared, while she couldn't put the heart back in the girl's chest she tossed it to Killian and Edward so one of them could catch it. "And I certainly never agreed to keep our daughter away from her friends and other family!" she glared.
Killian flinched before he caught the heart and stood close beside Edward.
"It's okay, Cherry, it's gonna be okay." Belle whispered as she hugged the younger woman, though it looked like a mother cradling her young daughter.
"Belle~..." Cherry muffle-whined from the coddling before gasping as she sensed something coming.
"Then I'm afraid I have no more use for you," Facilier told Ursula coldly before he held out his hand. "And now, I believe it's time for a little princess to go."
"Don't take my daughter!" David called out.
More and more shadows soon came into the cabin, making it look too pitch dark to see anything like they were all blanketed in darkness and when the shadows disappeared, Katie was suddenly vanished when the light came back.
"Where did you send my daughter?!" Mary Margaret yelled angrily.
Ursula slapped Facillier. Gold slyly and subtly approached, the cuff hidden in hand. Cherry couldn't help but feel natural instinct from her mother slapping her father as she flinched and curled up slightly.
Facilier grunted from the slap, rubbing his cheek before chuckling with a wicked grin on his face. "Heh... I wouldn't worry about her... She lived a good life," he soon said without fear. "She'll be watching over you from now on... If she hasn't looked up at you enough as it was."
"What are you talking about?" David glared, looking ready to punch him right on cue.
"Oh... I'll tell you... Only if you settle down..." Facilier smirked at the others.
Mary Margaret narrowed her eyes. Gold slapped the cuff on the man then so he couldn't harm anyone else and couldn't use magic to escape. Cherry crossed her arms firmly before she helped herself up as she nearly had murder in her eyes.
Facilier suddenly grunted before glaring towards Gold. "For shame, Rumplestiltskin, you've changed dramatically..." he then said coldly.
"TALK!" David and Killian both demanded.
"Well I'd say it was for the better, dearie," Gold smirked. "And I suggest you listen to them." he added.
"Oh, she won't be terribly hurt unless my special friend on the other side decides to or not..." Facilier smirked.
"This place... This friend... Who... What... Where?" Cherry demanded venomously. "WHEN?"
"Where do you think she is?" Facilier quizzed her.
"This card mentions she's going down a river that I fear is the River Styx into the Underworld..." Cherry said, showing the card before her eyes widened. "Oh, you didn't... You did not..."
Facilier just grinned, only to get punched suddenly in the face by David and kicked down by Edward, both of them and Killian, looking sharp and menacing in rage.
"Well, pirate, going to join them with me?" Gold smirked about to get a kick in himself.
"Gladly, Crocodile," Killian glared, coming beside him. "I get the first kick though." he then demanded before kicking Facilier around his stomach area.
Cherry was very angry with her father before she sharply sighed and closed her eyes, feeling emotional as she held her chest before her heartbeat increased and her stomach turned and she let out a pained groan, holding her stomach.
"Cherry, are you okay?" Ursula asked her daughter, in concern from that.
"Get away from me..." Cherry shook her head, backing away from Ursula.
"I think you've done enough." Belle coldly told Ursula as she comforted Cherry.
Ursula shot a glare at Belle. "I didn't know he was going to send her away or hurt her." She told Cherry.
Belle glared back in defense as she lightly stroked Cherry's hair in comfort.
"My stomach and heart hurt..." Cherry groaned as she hugged herself while burying herself in Belle's chest.
"It has begun... The true moment..." Facilier smirked at Cherry's shift. "She could've joined me and my friends on the other side... But she chose poorly... And now her friend is going to suffer just because of the choice she made... I knew she was destined for the darkness the moment I sent her into your castle..." he then added to Gold.
"Well, dearie, I know how we can bring Miss Nolan back." Gold said.
"So is that our next adventure then?" Killian asked Gold. "We're going to the Underworld?"
"It looks that way." Gold said to Killian.
"Then we'll go," Killian said before kicking Facilier between his legs at one point. "Whoever's going anyone."
Cherry just turned away from Ursula, not wanting to listen to anything she had to say. "Liar..." she whispered out, nearly hissing. "I felt loved for once in my life and you were just lying to me to get me in trouble. You were gonna turn me over to the dark side and make me plunge Storybrooke into Hell. 'Papa' even tricked me into going into Rumplestiltskin's castle to take his greatest treasure and he abandoned me in the forest until I lost all of my memories... Why should I listen to anything you say?"
"I just wanted you to stay with us, and with us being evil, you being so would allow you to be happy," Ursula said quietly. "I wasn't going to allow any harm to come to your friend." she added.
Cherry glanced over before turning her head firmly, ignoring Ursula's words. Ursula sighed softly.
"Then we'll go," Killian said before kicking Facilier between his legs at one point. "Whoever's going anyone."
"I don't understand, what's happening?" Cherry said, coming between the men.
"Going to the Underworld to get Katie back." Edward replied.
"Oh..." Cherry said softly. "But... Charon needs a soul in order for the Underworld gateway to open... Goldibear, you said you had a way inside?" she then asked.
David snorted in the background. "Goldibear..."
Gold sent a warning look to David. He then gave a smile to Cherry. "However I do have a way and no one else need die." He told her.
David flinched nervously from the look.
"...Very well," Cherry replied to him. "Whatever it takes."
"Should I come too?" Belle asked.
"Someone should stay behind and look after Aurelia," Cherry suggested before she magicked up three straws. "All right, my dears, let's draw straws. We did this all the time when I was a kid."
"I will come along as I am needed." Gold said, not needing to draw the straws.
"I will come too..." Ursula said firmly.
Cherry looked between him and Belle then befroe glancing over at Ursula.
"Erm... You want to come along?" Belle soon asked Ursula.
Facilier soon went to crawl away while he still could since they were distracted before Edward soon grabbed him by his collar, lifting him up off the ground by a few inches. Ursula nodded firmly, but not nasty.
Cherry glanced over before rolling her eyes. "All right... Ursula... You can come..." she then said to the woman who was supposed to be her mother.
Ursula flinched to the name usage.
"So what should we do with Shadow Man over here?" Edward asked as he dangled Facilier. "Cherry, any final blows?" he then added, sounding like a big brother.
"Not now, Edward." Cherry replied firmly.
"Easy, Bear..." Killian whispered in warning.
Belle stepped aside a bit as it was time to do some planning.
"So what do we do?" Cherry asked Gold as she came to his side and hugged him. "How do we get to the Underworld without death?"
"Belle, dear, I'll need my dagger." Gold said quietly.
Cherry looked up curiously then.
"Only if you promise to be responsible and harmless with our friends." Belle reminded, sounding a bit firm for a moment.
Gold nodded. "I promise." he said.
"All right... I'll miss you both very much... I'll stay behind and look after Aurelia, you can both see her one last time before you go." Belle said warmly before she hugged her two lovers before kissing them both sweetly on the lips.
"Thanks, Belle..." Cherry said softly. "I guess we should all take this time to say goodbye and spend final moments with those we need to see before we go... Yes?" she then suggested, trying to sound mature about the situation.
Gold kissed her back just a little since they were in public.
"Good luck getting Katie back," Facilier glared. "You could've had a good life, Cherry. I would've shown you a really good life and not the life you once thought you had."
"I was abandoned in The Enchanted Forest being chased by Rumplestiltskin; I think this is a big step-up from that." Cherry said coldly, turning her back at him as she crossed her arms.
"Maybe we should take him in case we need to trade for Katie." Gold smirked.
Facilier let out a nervous gulp.
"So hold onto him for now and we'll cross through barriers with the Crocodile's help with the Shadow Man." Killian soon decided with a smirk.
"Very well then," Edward smirked back. "I think that's a good idea."
"What do you think?" Gold smirked to Cherry.
"Hmm... He can help us get to the Underworld then?" Cherry asked with her hands on her hips.
"He'll make good trade to bring Katie back." Gold smirked.
Cherry then looked back with a firm nod to Killian and Edward.
"Ursula... Help..." Facilier demanded.
Gold smirked. "Bring Facilier along and meet me by the lake." he told Killian and Edward.
Killian and Edward nodded in agreement.
"Rumple, um... Do you... Do you want to say goodbye to Aurelia...?" Cherry softly asked Gold as she tapped her knuckles together. "She's just a baby and won't understand, but, uh... She should know that Mom and Papa are going to be gone for a while, right?"
Belle smiled softly at Cherry's thoughtfulness around the newest member of their family. Gold nodded, his face gentling even more.
"Very well..." Cherry nodded before glancing back at Ursula. "Last chance to back down if you have the courage." she then said, a bit flatly and carelessly.
"Catch you in a bit." Killian told the others as he and Edward escorted Facilier out of his cabin, hitting his head on the way.
"Oops." Edward rolled his eyes with a smirk.
"No, I'm coming with you," Ursula said. "I'll go with the Victorian and the pirate." She said quietly.
"Very well," Cherry replied. "Let's get out of this place then. We better get ready. Where's Aurelia right now?" she then asked Belle.
"Wherever Ruby and Dorothy are," Belle nodded before she took out her phone. "I'll call them now."
Ursula went to catch up with the boys. Killian glanced over before shrugging and allowing Ursula to come along. Edward kept a steady eye on her for just in case.
"I can help with that heart if you wish." Ursula said quietly to Killian.
"Oh?" Killian replied, a bit suspicious, but a bit more open to listening to what the woman had to say.
"First you're best fixing your heart back together." Ursula advised first.
"You can do that?" Killian asked then.
Ursula nodded. "It'll hurt a bit to do and put back, but it'll make sure the half gets back to full strength again." she told them.
"...Very well," Killian replied. "We shall see what happens."
"Would you like me to do it for you? Your second can crush my throat if I try anything other than what I said..." Ursula asked then promised.
"Hmm..." Killian paused thoughtfully. "...All right, I know what you've done before and who you hurt... But I'll give you a chance if you think you deserve it."
Ursula stopped, waiting for him to stop too. She held her hand out for the half. Killian soon looked over and soon took a deep breath as he reached deep into his chest, grunting and straining a bit before he soon took out the half as it beated and glowed from his chest before he held it out to her.
Ursula blinked in surprise. "I was going to do that for you, I just needed to hold Katie's first..." she said, soft in her surprise. She however shook her head and then took the two halves, joining it together again for now, before putting it back in Killian's chest.
Killian grunted just a little bit before he was restored, looking approving towards the woman. "...Thank you." he then said softly, very thankful, especially since she kept true to her word.
Ursula gave a small nod and tiny smile. Killian gave a small smile back.
Katie slowly opened her eyes when the shadows released her, she looked around slowly as she sat up.
"Oh, my... Are you all right...?" A voice asked Katie when she came to.
"Wh-Where am I?" Katie asked quietly as she focused on the direction of the voice.
"You're in my home..." A mysterious man said before he appeared in front of her, stepping forward with a small smile. He had dark blonde hair and clear blue eyes and appeared to be wearing a darkened suit.
Katie blinked to him, looking a bit confused. "Who are you?" she had to ask, though had a suspicion.
"You don't know me, my dear? Well, allow me to introduce myself," The man smirked before he gestured wildly and pointed at himself proudly. "Name's Hades: Lord of the Dead, at your service. How do you do, Miss?" he then held out his hand to her with a light and dry chuckle.
Katie slowly stood up before taking his hand wary but polite for now. "Nolan," she said quietly. "S-So I'm in the Underworld?" she asked quietly.
"Oh... You really don't know, eh?" Hades smirked. "But yes... Let me show you a whole new world... My world~" he then added before his hair went into a blue blaze to emphasize and prove his point.
Katie swallowed nervously but then started to giggle a little, a bit hysterical as her mind reached up with the realization. "I'm undead and the King of Hell looks like a businessman with his head on fire~" she said through the laughing.
"Hey! I'll have none of that!" Hades glowered at Katie from her laughter as he grabbed her and pulled her up into a standing position. "Maybe you'd like to play 'Fetch' with my pet, huh? Let you know more about your new home and what business I attend to in this realm."
Katie winced at the grabbing and pulling her laughter fading slowly. "Let me guess your pet is a Cerberus." she said, a bit breathless from her laughter.
"Smart girl," Hades smirked as he dragged her. "Let's see how you fare against him~"
Katie made herself look worried, though would show Hades otherwise.
Hades soon set Katie down on what looked like a seat and smirked before he pushed her, revealing that the seat was a slide and she soon slid down and all around, spinning in a few loops before she ended up falling on the ground down below and Hades was suddenly in a throne with a crowd of people around who were jeering like this was a Roman Coliseum. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's game with our newest contestant: Katie Nolan! Now Katie, the rules are simple," he then began to address with a smirk. "Cerberus will fetch and you run and try to save your precious soul before it goes into the fire or Olympus... The game starts when I say-FETCH, CERBERUS!" he then suddenly called out, starting the game without even giving her time to prepare.
However, instead of running, Katie waited until the Cerberus was in sight. "So cute~" she cooed. She then started to hum a tune, even if it wouldn't put it to sleep it would calm it at least.
The three-headed dog demon stepped out of a door and snarled viciously, running towards Katie and came to a stop just a few feet in front of her and soon roared loudly into her face. Hades smirked as he sat in a chair with three women who were catering to him and treating him like the god that he was.
"Oh, does that bad man make you work too hard, baby?~" Katie pouted in a singsong tone, gently scratching it under the chin closest to her.
Cerberus snarled before letting out a small whine and crept down a bit from the scratching.
Katie continued to coo-sing as she fussed over the Cerberus. "You are just an adorable baby, aren't the three of you?~" she gushed.
Cerberus's three heads shared looks with each other as he seemed to lower his body down closer to Katie.
"Hmm... I don't hear any screams..." Hades narrowed his eyes. "What is taking that mutt so long?"
Katie gave the other heads some chin scratches too so they wouldn't feel left out. "Gorgeous~" she said happily. "Oh, if you were mine I could fuss and pet you everyday~" she cooed.
Cerberus soon seemed to wag his tail, panting from all three mouths with three tongues dangling out.
Katie giggled a little. "How about a belly rub~?" she offered.
Cerberus soon crashed right down on the ground, nearly making the coliseum shake, panting excitedly to Katie.
"What is going on down here?!" Hades demanded as he came to see what was happening and looked disgusted. "Ugh! What?!"
Katie giggled as she gave him a belly rub, having to use both hands to be more effective.
"What do you think you are doing?!" Hades snapped at Katie.
"Adoring and fussing this gorgeous creature~" Katie told him.
"BAD DOG!" Hades glared, making Cerberus whimper and whine. "You're not supposed to play! You're supposed to taunt Daddy's newest victims or have you forgotten?"
Cerberus turned away, looking a little sad as their tail went between the legs.
"I don't know who you think you are, lady..." Hades glared right at Katie. "Or where you think you are... But I won't have this goofing around in MY domain."
"Don't you shout at him! He's a good dog and a wonderful creature!" Katie shouted at Hades. "In fact... By the Ancient Law, if he wishes I claim him as mine to become my familiar and trusted companion... I do this on the grounds of you being unfit to look after him!" she stated.
"Excuse me?" Hades smirked as the crowd looked horrified and scared for Katie. "Did you already forget where you are and who I am?"
"No, but the Ancient Law still stands," Katie said, then turned back to the Cerberus. "Want to be mine, baby?" she asked softly.
"He doesn't get to vote, he's a dog." Hades replied coldly.
Cerberus looked back between Katie and Hades, whimpering a bit.
"He's a sentient being, and he has feelings like everyone else... And he has three brains so he's smarter than you or me, " Katie said. She then removed her housecoat and tilted her head and neck so the Cerberus could do the bite if he chose to accept her. "Just one head as spokesdog to bite if you accept~" she told the Cerberus.
The other two heads looked to the one in the middle before the head expanded out a bit to sniff Katie before looking ready to bite.
"You can't be serious." Hades rolled his eyes.
"Very serious." Katie said.
"He's known me centuries long before you were even conceived... He wouldn't forget about me..." Hades narrowed his eyes fiendishly.
The middle head soon lightly barked at Katie before giving her a bite, proving Hades wrong.
Katie winced as yes it was painful, but when Cerberus let go again the bite healed but left a darker, blood-red color permanent bite mark that no longer hurt. She had to cover herself back up as she didn't want to give a free show to the coliseum and then gently pressed an adoring kiss to each head's nose. "Thank you." she smiled to him.
Cerberus smiled back.
"Goodness... What is this feeling?" Hades gasped as he walked off into a corner. "You might have just changed my whole outlook on life! I could change and be just a teensy bit nicer towards others, including my own pet." he then said, sounding different now.
"He's not your pet, he's my familiar and companion." Katie said in retort.
"He's been with me long before he's been with you," Hades glared, dropping the nice act before he pulled a lever, dropping her down a trapdoor instantly. "I'll deal with you momentarily!"
Cerberus whined and pouted as Katie was soon dropped through the floor and was being sent into a prison cell where another woman was who was shivering and looking quite scared and nervous.
"Go, escape the coliseum while you can!" Katie told Cerberus through their link. She cried out in pain though as she landed hard on the floor of the cell. She slowly sat up, clutching her wrist to her chest, and then looked over to the other woman.
"Whoa... Are you okay?" The other woman asked cautiously.
"I'm okay, hurt my wrist in the fall, but I should be fine," Katie said quietly. She then looked to the woman. "Who are you?" she asked after a moment.
"Emma..." The woman said softly. "My name is Emma Swan."
"Karie Nolan." Katie introduced herself softly, not clicking right this second.
