In the backroom of Ms. Wood's shop, Derek checked in on Clark, who was still under the sleeping curse. He went into the front of the shop.
"Any change?" Ms. Wood asked.
"No. He's not improving. He needs true love's kiss. He won't wake up until Laura Reed comes back."
"Until? Well, that's rather optimistic, isn't it?"
"What are you talking about?"
"They're up against your mother. The only chance Elastigirl and Jack have of defeating her is with the squid ink."
"Which is why you sent the message through Clark."
"Which would be beneficial if we knew that message was delivered. But alas, given the super's condition, we don't know. As such, we must take precautions. We have to consider the possibility that when that portal opens, it won't be his family that comes through. It'll be Evelyn."
"And neither one of us wants that."
"We have to find where they're coming through and destroy that portal."
"But whoever came through would die."
"Exactly. But I'm confident between the two of us, we can summon up enough power to complete the task."
"Well, what if we're wrong? What if that portal opens up, and it's not my mother? What if Laura Reed and Jack do defeat Evelyn and go through it?"
"Well, I believe in this world, they call that a win-win."
"How exactly is that?"
"If we stop Evelyn, you're protected from your mother's wrath. If, on the other hand, we stop Elastigirl and Jack, well… you become the only father in your daughter's life, now don't you? Look, magic is unpredictable in this world. If something unfortunate were to happen while you were attempting to help…" She scoffed. "Hilary could hardly blame you for that, could she?"
"No. I can't lie to her. I am trying to be a better father."
"You won't be able to be a better anything if Evelyn comes through. And if she does, she will be a threat to everyone, including your daughter. So, if you truly want to be a good father to Hilary, to protect her, if you want to be better, prove it."
The group soon arrived at the cell.
"Huh. The Witch's cell. I haven't been here since before Syndrome's curse." Laura Reed looked amazed. "This is where she told us you were going to be the Savior."
"She knew?" Jack asked, surprised.
"Oh, it was prophesized. Come on."
Inside, they found the cell empty.
"The squid ink- it's not here." Holley noticed.
"Wood said we would find it."
They began to check the crevices of the walls.
"Well, was there anyone else in here with her? Could they have taken the ink?" Finn asked.
"No, she was kept alone." Laura Reed replied. "Visitors were forbidden. She was too dangerous to allow any human contact."
"How'd she keep from going crazy?" Jack commented.
"She didn't."
Holley found a piece of paper tucked into the wall.
"What is it?"
"Is that a message?"
"Yes. And I think it's for you." Holley handed Jack the paper.
"Why would you think... that?" Jack unrolled the paper to see his name written over and over again.
-
Hilary was reading the 'Incredibles' story to Clark from her book.
Derek soon entered the back room. "I think this time, it'll happen the other way around."
"You think so?"
"I do." He kneeled in front of Hilary. "Which is why I need you to stay here and watch Clark for a little while."
"Where are you going?" Hilary asked, suspicious.
"Ms. Wood and I need to prepare for Jack and Laura Reed's return. Coming through the portal won't be easy. We need to make sure everything's in place."
"Really? You're really going to help them?"
"I promised you I was going to do better, to be better. So yes, I'm going to do everything in my power to see to it they come home safely."
"Wow. You really have changed." They smiled at each other.
"I'll be back as soon as I can." Derek stood up and left the room.
-
Derek and Ms. Wood entered the warehouse. Everyone else had already left.
"I'm really glad you, uh, came to your senses."
"Let's just get this over with."
'It's right through here."
They arrived at where the monsters had collected canisters of laughter.
"Ah, yes. Should suit our purposes, no?"
"How much do we need?" Derek asked.
"All of it." Ms. Wood scoffed.
"How are we going to do that?"
"With a little help from an elf." Ms. Wood took out a wizard staff. "Dead one. Believe me, no one mourns him." She waved the staff and magically absorbed the power from the canisters.
-
The group was still scouring the cell in search of the ink. Holley glanced at the compass on Jack's knee as he looked at the paper with his name written on it.
"What does this even mean?" Jack wondered.
"She was obsessed with you, Jack-Jack. You were the key to breaking the curse." Laura Reed explained.
"We've looked everywhere. There's no ink in this cell."
"Well, it has to be. She told Clark."
"You were in a Netherworld. Maybe something got lost in translation."
"No. She heard right."
"You found it?"
Finn held up a small empty bottle. "In a manner of speaking. There was ink in the cell."
"That witch…" Jack mumbled.
Suddenly, Holley grabbed a rock and threw it against a lever just outside of the cell. The door to the cell fell, trapping the four of them inside.
"Holley, what are you doing?!" Jack shouted.
"Helping me." Evelyn and the Muntzes arrived. Evelyn took the compass from Jack.
"No!" Jack cried. He tried to phase through the cell, but couldn't.
"Don't waste your energy, dear. The Witch herself couldn't escape from this cell. Thank you, Holley. We couldn't have done it without you."
The three turned to face Holley, shocked.
"Why would you do this?" Jack asked, shocked.
"How could you?" Laura Reed added.
Evelyn chuckled. "Don't blame her. She was only doing what she was told." She pulled out a pair of Hypno glasses.
"You hypnotized her?" Jack realized.
"Actually, I did. It was a gift." Katherine corrected him.
"Forgive us. We'd love to stay, but Pixfare awaits." Evelyn and the Muntzes turned to leave, but Jack called out to Katherine.
"Katherine. Wait. Please don't do this. My daughter's in Pixfare. She needs me."
Katherine turned back to the cell. "Perhaps you should've considered that before you abandoned me on that mountain."
"You would've done the same."
Katherine came closer, getting in Jack's face. "Actually, no." She took out the shriveled petal that the dinosaur had on his necklace. "Do you know what this is, Jack?"
"The petal that the dinosaur kept." Jack tried to snatch it from her, but she pulled her hand back.
"Uh-uh-uh. Yes, indeed. An explorer always keeps a souvenir of her conquest, but this... well, this is much more than a mere trinket. This is a symbol - something that was once magical, full of hope, possibility. Mm. Now, look at it. Dried up, dead, useless. Much like you. The time for making deals is done, just as I'm done... with you." Katherine turned around and rejoined Evelyn and Charles as they left.
-
Michelle frantically ran into the monsters' warehouse. "Robert! What is it? What's the emergency? Robert."
She found Robert staring vacantly down at the floor at the empty canisters.
"They're gone. They're all gone."
-
Hilary was still reading to a sleeping Clark when Michelle, Robert, and the rest of the monsters came in.
"Where are they- Derek and Wood?" Michelle asked.
"What's going on?" Hilary wondered.
"All the laugh power has been drained from the canisters."
"They stole it?"
"They snuck in after our shift and took everything. Nobody steals from a monster." Robert said angrily.
"Except the Witch." John said.
"...and Syndrome." Two other monsters said.
"If they're not helping Jack and Laura Reed, that…" Hilary suddenly realized. "that means my dad lied to me."
Michelle kneeled in front of Hilary. "I'm sorry, Hilary."
"We need to find him. We need to stop them. We need to help Jack and Laura Reed."
In his monster form, Jack tried to break the cell bars, while the rest of the group watched.
"We aren't going to break it down, Jack-Jack." Laura Reed tried to make him stop. "It was enchanted to hold the Witch. We don't have a chance."
Jack gave up and returned to human form. He sat against the wall.
"This is my fault." Holley sighed sadly.
"No, it's mine." Finn disagreed. "Evelyn hypnotized you because I failed to protect you."
"That's very sweet, but I think it's my fault." Jack said. "I'm the Savior and I'm not doing much saving, am I?"
Laura Reed sat down next to Jack. "We're going to win this fight, you know. Good always defeats evil."
"You sound like Hilary."
"Guess optimism runs in the family."
"I think it skipped a generation."
"You should know better than anybody. You broke the curse."
"What have I done since then? I got us stranded over here, burned down the door, let Evelyn get the ashes, and now the compass. The only reason I ever broke the curse was that it was exactly what Wood wanted me to do. I had nothing to do with it."
"What are you talking about?"
"She told you I was the Savior. It was her plan. Once I fulfilled that role, maybe that's all I was ever meant to do. Everything I've ever done- she had it all mapped out before I was even born. I may have powers, but I'm-I'm not… a Savior. I'm a name on a piece of paper." He showed Laura Reed the last lines of the scroll. "I'm a pawn, and that's exactly why we're in here... and Evelyn's on her way to Pixfare."
-
Meanwhile, Evelyn, Charles, and Katherine were traveling through a field.
"Where are we going?"
"Lake Nostos." Evelyn explained. "The legend says its waters hold the power to restore what was once lost. It'll return magic to what remains of this door. And then... we'll be able to cross worlds."
They arrived at the dried-up Lake Nostos.
"I may be a simple explorer, but I know one thing. Lakes have water." Charles commented.
Evelyn blasted a hole open in the middle of the former lake. Suddenly, a geyser of water shot up from the ground. "After everything we've been through, why do you still doubt me?"
-
Derek and Ms. Wood were walking through the woods towards the well.
"You're sure the portal's going to open up all the way out here." Derek asked.
"There." Ms. Wood pointed. "This is where things once lost are returned to us. This is where Evelyn's going to come through." They reached the Pixfare Wishing Well."
The two of them looked inside. The water below was bubbling.
"Unless it's Laura Reed and Jack."
"I highly doubt that."
The group was still stuck inside the cell.
Laura Reed was analyzing the paper. "We're going to get out of here."
"How? By staring at that scroll?" Jack wondered. "It's not like it's going to magically open a door for us."
Laura Reed smiled. "Yes, it is." She stood up.
"What?"
"Ian Lightfoot used to talk about how they used to practice magic. They had a spellbook and, Jack-Jack, the spells were in the book.
"Yeah. Isn't that what a spellbook is? A book that has spells in it?"
"Watch." Laura Reed gently blew on the paper, causing the words to lift off the page.
Jack stood up, staring in amazement. "Whoa. Squid ink. Wood wrote the scroll in squid ink."
Laura Reed blew the words toward the door of the cell, which magically unlocked the lock. "Told ya. Good always wins." She smiled.
The group started to leave the cell.
"Wait." Holley stopped them. "I can't go. You have to tie me up."
"No. I'm not leaving without you." Finn refused.
"I can't be trusted, not as long as I'm under Evelyn's control."
"Then I'll get you out of it."
"Finn."
"I will."
"Finn... We gotta go." Jack reminded him.
"Do it." Holley urged Finn.
Finn put a boot on one of Holley's tires. Holley wished them good luck.
"Thank you. Good luck to you." Laura Reed replied, smiling. She turned and left with Jack.
The geyser at Lake Nostos gradually subsided, leaving behind a small lake. Evelyn took out the vial of ashes.
"And now the ashes. Would you care to do the honors?" Evelyn gave Katherine the bottle.
Katherine took the bottle and sprinkled the ashes into the lake. A whirlpool magically formed in the center of the lake.
"Here we go. We'll be in Pixfare soon enough. I really look forward to seeing my son."
Ms. Wood and Derek continued to stare down the well until they saw a change in the water.
"It's time."
"So what are we waiting for?"
They stepped away from the well, and Ms. Wood took out the wizard staff. She held it up towards the sky and summoned a thunderstorm. A clash of green lightning struck the well, which created an electric barrier.
"Doesn't matter who comes through now. No one can survive this."
Evelyn and Katherine stood near the whirlpool. Evelyn took out the compass and held it out for Katherine to grab.
"Now don't let go, unless you want to end up someplace that isn't Pixfare."
Katherine took the other side of the compass, and the two of them prepared to jump. However, a stretched arm and fist knocked the compass out of their hands. Evelyn turned to see Jack, Laura Reed, and Finn.
"You're not going anywhere." Jack argued. "This portal's taking us home."
"The compass. Get it." The trio split up.
"Find it first. I'll take care of them." Evelyn ordered Katherine.
Katherine proceeded to do so, only to be pursued by Jack. The two of them began to fight.
Evelyn took out a pair of Hypno glasses and tried to put them on Finn, only for him to deflect them with his gun.
"I may be the daughter of a famous explorer, but I bristle at the thought of someone losing their heart unless it's over me." Katherine picked up her sword and she and Jack restarted their fight.
Finn looked conflicted over what to do. Laura Reed ran over to him.
"Go!"
"No, but you need the compass."
"And Holley needs help."
Finn handed Laura Reed his gun drove back to Holley.
"I had no idea you had such a soft side." Jack commented.
"I don't. Just like a fair fight." Katherine replied as they continued to fight. "Good form. But not good enough." She grabbed Jack's leg and managed to flip him onto his back.
Laura Reed heard a whistle and turned around to find Evelyn right behind her. The two began to face off.
Katherine had Jack trapped on his back against her sword. "Normally, I'd prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a man on his back. But with my life on the line, you've left me no choice. Bit of advice: when I jab you with my sword, you'll feel it. You might want to quit."
Jack felt for the compass buried in the sand under his back. "Why would I do that when I'm winning?" Jack grabbed the compass and held it up.
Katherine was momentarily distracted long enough for Jack to push her off of him. They briefly dueled, until Jack got the upper hand.
"Thanks." Jack, with the compass in his fist, pulled back his arm and punched Katherine in the face. She collapsed to the ground, unconscious. "Now let's go home!"
Derek and Ms. Wood watched the storm brewing inside the well. Michelle and Hilary arrived.
"Dad?" Derek and Ms. Wood turned around, surprised at the sound of Hilary's voice. "You're not helping Jack and Laura Reed, are you?"
"I'm helping you, Hilary."
"What are you talking about?"
"You're gonna kill them." Michelle proceeded closer, only to be knocked out cold by Ms. Wood's magic.
"Sorry, dearie."
"Dad, what are you doing?"
"I can't let Evelyn come through the portal. You have no idea what she would do to us."
"Jack and Laura Reed are going to defeat her. They're the ones that are gonna come through."
"Hilary, your father's right. It's going to be Evelyn." Ms. Wood agreed.
"No. It won't. Good always defeats evil. You should know that more than anyone."
Derek got closer to Hilary. "What I know is my mother will destroy everything I love, and that means you, and I can't let that happen."
Laura Reed and Evelyn have still yet to engage in a fight when Jack charged at Evelyn in monster form. Evelyn dodged him.
"Jack-Jack, run!" Laura Reed cried.
The two of them made a break for the whirlpool, but Evelyn stepped in front of them, blocking their path. She threw the two of them back onto the ground. Evelyn then came up to Laura Reed. Jack tried to get up, but Evelyn threw him back to the ground.
"Why do you want to go to Pixfare?" Laura Reed asked Evelyn.
"Because my son needs me. And now I'm going to give him the one thing he's always wanted- a super's head. Goodbye, Elastigirl."
"No!" Jack shouted.
Evelyn took out a pair of Hypno glasses, but Jack pushed Laura Reed out of the way just before she put them on her. Instead, Evelyn ended up putting the glasses on Jack.
"Jack-Jack!" Laura Reed cried.
"Oh, you foolish boy. Don't you know? Love is weakness." Evelyn smirked but then noticed that the glasses weren't working.
"No, it's strength." Jack argued.
Suddenly, a burst of white light spread out from Jack's body in all directions, blasted Evelyn backward. The glasses fell off. Jack stood, frozen in shock. Laura Reed rushed over to him to make sure he was ok.
"What was that?" Jack asked, still freaked out.
Laura Reed smiled through her tears. "That's a great subject for discussion... when we get home."
Laura Reed grabbed Jack's hand and the two of them dashed towards the whirlpool.
"You ready?"
"Yeah. Let's go."
They both jumped into the portal.
In the forest, Hilary tried to run towards the well but was restrained by Derek.
"You can't! Stop it! You can't! You're gonna kill them!" Hilary shouted. "Please! No! They're going to make it through! We have to turn it off! You're gonna kill them!"
Hilary managed to break free from Derek's grasp, but he quickly pulled her back.
"Oh! Hilary! What are you doing?"
"Jack and Laura Reed are going to come through. I know it. You said you wanted to change, to be better. This is how. You want me to have faith in you? Have faith in me."
Derek stared at Hilary, sadly, knowing that she was right. He turned and walked toward the well.
"Derek." Ms. Wood called to him.
Derek approached the well and extended his arms over the electrical barrier. He used his gauntlets to absorb the storm into his body, effectively removing the barrier to the portal. The power threw him back. Despite the threat being removed, no one appeared to be coming through the portal.
"No!" Hilary cried.
"I'm sorry, Hilary. I'm sorry."
Suddenly, an outstretched hand came out of the well and grabbed the edge. Jack pulled himself out, followed by Laura Reed.
"Dad?"
"Hilary!"
"Dad!" Hilary rushed to Jack and the two of them tightly hugged. Laura Reed joined in.
"Oh! I missed you."
"I missed you, too."
"I missed you so much."
When they drew back from the group hug, they saw Ms. Wood silently walking away, Derek standing up, and Michelle finally coming around.
"What's going on? What happened?" Laura Reed asked.
"He saved you. He saved both of you." Hilary explained, smiling.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Are you okay?" Michelle ran towards Laura Reed, and the two of them also shared a hug.
"Where's my husband? I need to find him." Laura Reed said frantically. She and Michelle ran off.
"Um, your mom… She's, uh… She's… a piece of work, you know?" Jack told Derek while still hugging Hilary.
"Yeah, I do." Derek nodded. "Welcome back."
"Thanks."
Laura Reed and Michelle entered Ms. Wood's shop, with Jack and Hilary trailing behind. Clark was still lying unconscious. Barry and Susan were still gathered around the bed.
"Clark!" Laura Reed sat beside him, touching his face. She kissed him, which caused the sleeping curse to be broken. A pulse of magic spread throughout the room.
Clark woke up and gasped. "You… You did it."
"Did you ever doubt I would?"
He sat up and they kissed again.
"No. Though, the burning red room did give me pause."
They kissed again.
Ms. Wood was putting the wizard staff away when Jack came into the main part of the shop.
"We need to talk."
"Yes. I believe apologies are in order." She turned around to face him.
"No. No apologies are necessary. I understand why you wanted to keep Evelyn out of here."
"Just remind me never to bet against you in the future, Jack."
"It's not really a bet when the game is rigged, is it?"
"To what exactly are you referring?" She asked.
"Your scroll. I saw it in your cell. You wrote my name again and again and again."
"Just wanted to make sure it would stick."
"The ink - it was there all the time. You could've gotten out."
"I was exactly where I wanted to be. You needed to find that so all of this could occur."
"You created the curse, Wood. You made me the Savior. So everything I've ever done... it's exactly what you wanted me to do."
"I created the curse, dearie, but I didn't make you. I merely took advantage of what you are- the product of true love. That's why you're powerful. And everything you've done, you've done yourself."
"So you don't know."
"Know what?"
Jack came closer to her. "Evelyn... tried to hypnotize me, but she couldn't. She was blasted back with something inside me, by... by..."
"By power. Whatever that was, I didn't do that. You did."
Evelyn stared vacantly at the now-defunct whirlpool portal. Katherine had also regained consciousness.
"We failed."
"Really, Evelyn. After all this time, why do you still doubt me?" Katherine held up the mummified petal.
"That petal's petrified. It's useless."
"But these waters have regenerative properties. Perhaps, it's time to do some gardening."
Everyone was still gathered at the shop. Hilary approached Derek, who was standing off to the side.
"I was right. You really have changed." Hilary wrapped her arms around Derek, who cautiously returned the hug. "Thank you."
Jack reentered the room.
"Jack-Jack." Laura Reed reached out and took his hand, along with Barry and Susan.
"Looks like we have some catching up to do." Clark said.
"You have no idea."
"How about dinner at Mum's? On me." Michelle suggested.
"I'm in." Jack turned to Hilary. "Hey, kid, you hungry?"
"Yeah." Hilary broke away from Derek and joined Jack. "I'll see you later."
As everyone left, Derek began to tear up. Eventually, Derek and Ms. Wood were the only two that remained.
"Congratulations. You just reunited father and daughter. Maybe one day they'll even invite you for dinner."
The reunited group happily walked down the main street to the Diner.
On the horizon, a large blimp was heading near the town. Onboard, Katherine and Evelyn watched through the windows.
Katherine inspected the town through a pair of binoculars. "There it is."
"Pixfare."