Doom strolled into the Chateau d'Onterre library, wearing only his casual clothes and no mask. He'd expected a quiet afternoon of reading and was totally caught unaware by the fact that his and Loki's library was filled with Overtakers. Amora, Skurge, Grimhilde, Cruella, Blackheart, Ardyn, Sarah Sanderson, and Loki were scattered around the room. Loki gave Doom a coy little wave, and Doom staggered back in surprise.
"Oh, are you the butler?" Blackheart asked upon seeing Doom. "I need a new glass of wine. Mine got spilled."
"YOU THREW IT IN MY FACE!" Cruella shrieked in rage.
"You deserved it!" Blackheart insisted.
"Doom is no servant, demon!" Doom spat in anger
The silence that descended upon the room at was practically deafening. There, for everyone to see, was the true face of Victor von Doom.
"You healed your face, I see," Amora remarked.
Loki shook his head. "No, he didn't. The scar is still there."
"There is little need to draw attention to my disfigurement," Doom huffed.
"Wait a minute," Blackheart said. "So you're telling me that all this time, underneath your mask, you were just hiding one measly scar?"
"Courtesy of your father, Mephisto," Doom said, gesturing to the scar. "I can still feel his wretched claws on my flesh when I sleep."
"If that's all my father left you, you got off easy," Blackheart said. "I've seen what daddy dearest has done to his victims. A scratch on your face is nothing."
"He marred the perfection of my handsome face!" Doom replied with a venomous tone. "Anything less than perfection is unacceptable!"
A devilish grin spread on Blackheart's face. "You know, I give my dad a lot of shit, but he's actually brilliant. He knew that one stupid scar would bother you worse than a disfigurement, and if it still stings, that means it's cursed flesh so you can't even heal it without paying a hefty price. Oh that's fucking wicked."
"Do NOT mock me," Doom warned.
"I, for one, understand completely," Grimhilde chimed in. "I do not know what I'd do if my beautiful face became marred in such a manner."
"I can help you find out," Blackheart said with a grin.
"If you try it, I shall prove to you that there are many ways to kill a demon," Grimhilde threatened.
"I'm thrilled you've finally graced the others with a glimpse at your true face, Victor," Loki said. "Can I assume that Victor has succeeded in his endeavors to obtain immortality?"
"Not quite," Doom replied. "My quest to obtain immortality has shown me that there need not be such a divide. I am both Victor and Doctor Doom. They need not be separate. And thus Doctor Victor von Doom has indeed gained immortality."
"Is he always this dramatic?" Ardyn asked.
"Everyone in this faction is," Amora answered. "It's part of our charm."
"I must admit myself surprised by this turn of events," Loki said, ignoring his companions. "But I am quite pleased indeed."
Doom briefly contemplating telling Loki about Imshael, but he refrained. It was not the right time to share that particular detail.
"Now that we've established my current status," Doom continued, "I find it most pertinent to ask: why are there Overtakers in my private library?"
"I brought them here as a part of a little contest," Loki said. "Amora, Grimhilde, and Sarah all stake claim to a golden apple engraved with the words 'For the Fairest.' Naturally, they sought my wisdom to select the true fairest amongst them, yet I could not truly be an impartial judge. However, the God of Mischief would not leave these beautiful women without a solution. They shall each attempt to court Empress Celene and conquer all of Orlais to prove whose beauty holds the most power."
Doom saw what Loki was planning right away: he was recreating the Judgment of Paris as a means to bring the Orlesian Empire to heel. Doom wasn't sure whether to admire Loki's audacity or to roll his eyes at his fellow Overtakers' foolishness. Loki smirked, practically reading Doom's thoughts on the matter.
"Very well then," Doom said. "As you were. I have other matters with which to attend."
"A moment, Victor, if you'll afford me that," Loki requested.
Doom nodded and the two men took their leave from the library. They proceeded into the upper levels of the ballroom where the giant dragon statue was eye-level for them.
"You're manipulating them to gain control of Orlais," Doom said.
"Naturally," Loki nodded with a smirk.
"They are bound to discover your manipulations," Doom said.
"By that time, they will have played their roles," Loki replied. "Control of Orlais will be in the palm of my hands."
"So you think," Doom said.
"So I know," Loki countered. "Come now, I am no novice in art of subterfuge and deception. Trust my conniving intellect, Doom. The stars have hidden their fires, and light will not see my black and deep desires."
"Quoting Shakespeare does not make you wise," Doom said. "Why do you want Orlais? What value is this kingdom to you?"
"O, reason not the need," Loki said with a wink. "Loki wants it, so he shall take it!"
"Fine, keep your true motives to yourself," Doom said with a shrug. "It matters little to Doom. What did you wish to speak with me about?"
"Your immortality," Loki said. "I figured that you might be more forthcoming in a setting away from the rabble."
"What more is there to discuss?" Doom asked. "It is as I said. My endeavors were a complete success. Life eternal is now mine."
Loki eyed his lover suspiciously. "Have you devised a plan to obtain future golden apples yet? I don't suspect Odin is going to be very generous with them."
"A dilemma we will worry about years from now," Doom said. "By that point in time, the throne of Asgard will be yours again, and our arrangement will stand."
This answer seemed to satisfy Loki, and he did not press for further details. Doom resigned not to speak of the Imshael situation until he could be positively certain that Imshael had spoken truthfully, and that was something he would require time to test.
"Though a thought occurs to me," Loki said.
"And what might that be?" Doom asked.
"Your body has been reborn in its immortality," Loki said. "Therefore your flesh is virgin once more."
Doom smirked. "A state I'm certain you're more than happy to rectify."
Loki chuckled and dropped to his knees. "Oh yes, my lord, yes indeed."
Loki undid the latch of Doom's belt and went to work. There was more than one reason that Loki was considered to have a silver tongue.
Sanford Scolex, better known to friends and enemies as Claw, sat behind his desk, smoking a Cuban cigar that he'd purchased illegally and reviewing the financial paperwork of his various criminal enterprises. His criminal organization, M.A.D., had extensive global reach and raked in an awful lot of dirty money that Claw had then used to expunge his criminal record. The look on Inspector Gadget's face had been utterly priceless. Claw kept a snapshot of it framed on his desk to cheer him up whenever he felt a little down.
Claw's phone rang. At first he reached out for it with his robotic crab-like claw, but Sniffy, his pet white Persian cat, batted the claw away. After a quick glance in the waste-basket reminded Claw of the fate of the last phone he grabbed with his claw, he made a conscious effort to pick up the phone with his right hand.
"Helloooo," Claw answered.
"Hello Scolex," a deep and scratchy voice said o the other end. "Or should I call you Dr. Claw?"
"Actually, it's just Claw," he corrected. "One word like Madonna... or Cher. Whichever you prefer."
Claw laughed at his little joke, but the man on the other end of the phone didn't.
"What's your favorite scary movie, Claw?" the voice asked.
Claw was puzzled by this response. "Umm... beg pardon? Who did you say this was?"
"The man who's standing right outside your door," the voice answered.
"Oh very funny," Claw said. "Yes, I see what you're doing. But you couldn't have gotten past my security in the first place. A bit of advice: prank calls are a lower form of villainy. You want respect? Step your game up. Now buh-bye."
"If you hang up on me, it'll be the last thing you'll ever do," the voice warned. "Are you that eager to be cut up, Scolex? There's a lot less fat on you that I'll have to carve away now. Too bad for you."
"Wrong person to threaten," Claw warned as he hung up the phone.
Claw tried to get back to work, but a terrible noise from the outside hallway drew his attention away. Claw figured that one of his mooks had tripped over a potted plant again. He got up from his desk with a sigh and approached the door.
"Joel, if you've damaged the nipple cactus, I'm sending you back to work as a stripper," Claw called out through the door.
When Claw opened the door, however, he found a grizzly sight. Joel and at least five other guards were slaughtered and dripping blood all over the hallway.
Claw gasped. "Oh good heavens!"
Claw slammed the door shut and whirled around to run towards the phone to call for help. However, when he turned around, he found himself face to face with the killer known as the Ghostface.
"Trick-or-treat!" Ghostface said with a cackle.
The killer attempted to stab Claw, but he quickly swerved out of the way, causing Ghostface to harmlessly stab the door. Claw attempted to run back towards his desk to grab the gun in his righthand drawer, but Ghostface was faster. Ghostface slashed out towards Claw with his knife, and Claw ducked down to avoid being cut. The killer brought his elbow back down, forcing Claw to the ground. Ghostface jumped on top of him, and the two struggled against one another. Ghostface attempted to drive the knife down into his opponent's face, but Claw grabbed Ghostface's wrist with his metallic claw. The assailant used his free hand to grab a clump of Claw's hair and slam the back of his head into the ground. Claw immediately saw stars dancing in his vision.
As Claw found himself too stunned to move or continue grabbing Ghostface's hand, the Ghostface killer ran his knife gingerly across Claw's neck without making a single incision. He then hoisted the knife up high over his head, and prepared to bring it down. Claw saw his life flash before his eyes, and he was sure he was at the end of the line...
Until the sound of a woman clicking her tongue twice caused the Ghostface to stop in his tracks.
"That'll be enough, Kieran," Fish Mooney said as she entered the room.
"Yes, mama," Ghostface said as he got off of Claw and stood back up.
Claw struggled to get to his feet and backed up into his desk, causing his photo of Inspector Gadget to fall over.
"I... I don't understand," Claw stuttered as he tried to catch his breath. "Fish?"
"Only my friends call me Fish," she said. "You and I ain't friends, Scolex, not after you refused my generous offer to take control of M.A.D."
"You... you were the one who sent this... this cretin loose on me?" Claw asked.
"Watch it, Claw," Ghostface warned. "Just because I'm helping Fish out doesn't mean that her presence will save you if you piss me off."
"Yes, Scolex, I sent Young Kieran here after you," Fish said. "You didn't take the carrot, so I presented you with the stick. I did warn you that there would be bloodshed if you refused me."
"M.A.D. is my organization!" Claw argued. "I built it with the sweat and toil of others! You can't just take it away from me!"
"You still get to be in charge and run the day to day workings," Fish said. "You just work for me and do what I tell you to whenever I tell you to do something. Now then, is M.A.D. mine or do I need Kieran to cut your throat so that I can negotiate with your successor?"
Claw let out an awkward laugh as he glanced down at Ghostface's knife. "Let's not be hasty, now. Did I say that I wasn't giving you control of M.A.D.? Because you see, what I truly meant was that I couldn't give you control of M.A.D. that day. Red tape and all. But it just so happens that it's ready for you now, Ms. Mooney. M.A.D. is all yours!"
"I do so love a man who knows his place," Fish said with a grin. "Come on, Kieran. It's time for us to go home."
Fish summoned up a Corridor of Darkness, and Ghostface walked through it.
"And remember, Scolex," Fish said as she stood in front of the portal. "If you don't keep your word, I'll have my friend cut you a new deal."
With her threat delivered, Fish proceeded through the dark portal and vanished from Claw's office. Claw let out a deep breath and hobbled over to his closet. He needed a new pair of underwear after that encounter.
Hook emerged from the captain's quarters to find Jafar already on the deck of the ship. Hook stretched and yawned to wake himself up before approaching his boyfriend.
"I've always hated morning time," Hook remarked.
And Hook had plenty of reasons to do so, though he did not voice them. His mind drifted back to that fateful morning long ago when he awoke to find his father gone. He'd fled in the middle of the night to avoid capture awaiting them at the next port. The life of a pirate wasn't always adventures and freedom. Sometimes it was about giving up the things you loved to save your own neck. Hook understood that now, but that didn't mean he forgave his father.
"We should be arriving at our destination soon," Jafar remarked. "The Heartless stationed at the helm assured me of that."
"I'm still not particularly keen on having those demons steer my ship," Hook said with a sneer. "A monster of darkness doesn't possess the instincts or the talent of a skilled pirate."
"Don't over-inflate your sense of self-worth," Jafar warned. "We've had nothing but smooth sailing all night even without you at the helm."
Hook sneered but remained silent. Within the hour, the Jolly Roger arrived at Isla de Muetre to find... absolutely nothing. Nothing but open water as far as the eye could see. The island was gone despite Pete leading them there and the navigational charts indicating that their location was correct.
"But... but it should be right here!" Pete said, utterly dumbfounded.
"Well who here is really surprised?" Winnie asked. "We hath been following the navigational skills of an incompetent buffoon!"
"I have had about all I'm gonna take o' you!" Pete warned angrily.
"Try it, big boy!" Winnie countered. "I'll send you straight to-"
"SILENCE!" Maleficent ordered.
The Overtakers obeyed, and only the sounds of the splashing waves could be heard. Maleficent walked over to the bow of the ship and scanned the horizon carefully.
"Ursula," Maleficent said.
"Yes?" she replied.
"Search beneath the waves," Maleficent instructed.
Ursula nodded and dove overboard, disappearing in the water after a few seconds.
"Isla de Muerte was definitely above water last time I was here," Pete said.
"I've never known an entire island to sink," Hook added.
"Clearly you never heard about Atlantis," Hades said. "Sheesh, I was there. Croesus was bribin' everybody to keep his boardwalk afloat. I even lent him Pain and Panic for a couple days until his check bounced. His bank went under... literally."
Hook cocked his eyebrow in disbelief. "I swear you just made that up."
"Actually didn't, babe. Learn your mythology," Hades replied.
Jafar shook his head. "His world is inherently ridiculous. Don't even bother trying to make sense of it."
"Hey, my world isn't the one where a guy named Ayam Aghoul lives," Hades countered.
"Point well taken," Jafar relented.
Ursula popped up out of the water so that her torso was visible again.
"Isla de Muerte is definitely down there," Ursula reported. "Looks like it's all in tact too. I can whip up an underwater charm for you surface dwellers to come down."
"Yeah, um, helloooo, water and me?" Hades said. "That's like... well, hey, water and me. There is no worse comparison!"
"Fear not," Maleficent assured him, "we hold the power to force Isla de Muerte to come to us."
Maleficent produced the Fist of Might from the folds of her robes and used her magic to attach the gem to the wood of her scepter. The energy coursed through her staff, mingling with her own natural powers and the ones she'd absorbed from her Storybrooke counterpart. The power was greater than anything she'd ever dreamed of. Maleficent let out a cackle as she embraced this new power. Pete, Winnie, and Hook recoiled from their leader. Hades and Ursula looked on with admiration and support. Jafar glared on with envy filling his heart.
"RISE!" Maleficent ordered.
A storm crackled and whirled about overhead, and the sea followed suit. An immense maelstrom began to swirl about in front of the Jolly Roger. At the eye of the storm, Isla de Muerte rose from the bottom of the sea to greet Maleficent. Hades wrapped his arm around Maleficent.
"That's my girl," Hades said as he gave her a peck on the cheek.
"That's some powerful magic!" Pete said, obviously still in awe at the feat.
"Indeed it is," Jafar agreed.
Hook dropped the anchor and put out the gang plank. As the Overtakers exited the ship, Jafar placed a protection spell over the Jolly Roger to ensure that no harm would befall it whilst they were inside. The caverns of Isla de Muerte were damp and covered in algae and barnacles from years under the sea.
"Someone really should have tidied this place up," Ursula remarked. "Usually bottom feeders keep places under the sea from getting this slimy."
"They were probably scared by this here place," Pete suggested. "The whole island's said to be cursed by some dark magic."
"The island's not cursed, you great buffoon," Winnie said with a sneer. "I could feel dark magic dwelling beneath these stones by now if it were. That curse is just some superstition that thou wert gullible enough to believe!"
Pete huffed. "I saw Barbossa's curse with my own two peepers! It was real, see? Sora and some unwashed pirates broke it!"
"Then why didst thou not sayest so from the beginning?" Winnie asked.
Pete was practically red in the face. "BECAUSE YOU-"
"OKAY ENOUGH!" Hades said, flaring up orange and causing Pete and Winnie to jump back in fear. "YOU TWO HAVE BEEN NON-STOP NYEH-NYEH-NYEHING SINCE YOU GOT ON THE SHIP! And I have had ENOUGH! So you two are gonna ZIP IT AND THROW AWAY THE KEY! CAPICHE?"
"Yes sir," they both muttered quietly.
"GOOD!" Hades said before taking a deep breath and cooling back down to blue. "Now then, we gotta find the Fist of Ability in this washed up place. Lokes used a locator spell with my hair to find the last one, but I don't think that's gonna work on a gem meant for Poseidon."
"The gem shall seek out its twin," Maleficent announced.
Maleficent raised her staff in the air and prepared to cast a locator spell, however, her concentration was interrupted.
The seven Overtakers suddenly found themselves swarmed by a hoard of Cauldron-Born bearing maces and swords. Maleficent sneered as the skeletal warriors encircled the group. At one time, the undead Cauldron Born were hers to command, and it infuriated her to see them used against her.
"What the bloody Hell is this?" Hook asked.
"Is this part of what's guarding the gem?" Ursula asked.
"No, it is not," Maleficent said sternly.
She cast her glare over at a figure hiding in the shadows. Maleficent could not make out the face or shape of her opponent, but she knew quite well who it was.
"So you've decided to cross me yet again?" Maleficent asked.
The shadowy figure let out a bone chilling laugh and stepped forward.
"So good to see my old friends once again," the raspy voice of the Horned King said as he stepped into the moonlight.
"YOU!" Winnie shrieked with rage. "I'LL USE YOUR BONES FOR MARACAS!"
"You're looking quite youthful, Winifred," the Horned King taunted. "Freedom suits you. The decrepit old hag I knew had hardly the same spark."
"You talk a bloody good game, but you're hiding behind these cauldron warriors," Hook said. "You've always been a coward hiding behind the power of others, and you always will be!"
"Power is the use of the tools at your disposal," the Horned King remarked. "Though I don't expect an unwashed pirate to understand that."
"I bathe quite frequently, I'll have you know," Hook argued.
"Why are you here, Horned King?" Maleficent asked.
"Since you destroyed my former master, I've sought new employment," the Horned King said.
"And we're quite happy to have him!" Mephisto said as he walked into view.
"Master?" Winnie asked with a gasp.
"Apparently not anymore," Mephisto said darkly. "You chose my son and the consequences of that decision, Winifred. Even after all I've done for you. I gave you my finest spellbook, after all."
"Master, I meant thee no disrespect," Winnie said quickly. "I had not thought at first that Blackheart wouldst dare to defy thy will, but-"
"Oh stop your boot-lickin' you old bat!" Pete growled. "We work for Maleficent! Not some second-rate ol' demon! He must be a desperate ol' cuss if he's stoopin' to teamin' up with horn-head."
"Your murder of Morgan le Fay was quite the setback," Mephisto explained. "We had to make new friends to fill the roster."
"Take up your petty vengeance with Doom and Loki and leave us out of it," Jafar said.
"Oh I intend to settle with them later," Mephisto promised. "But right now, I'm going to make Ansem look bad and succeed where he failed."
Mephisto extended a greedy claw out.
"Hand over the Fist of Might, and I'll spare your miserable lives."