Here is chapter 2.

Back in Storybrooke, Operation Mongoose was slowly progressing. Regina and Henry were combing through the town records to find the owner of the lakeside mansion which was filled with potential storybooks. While they were searching, Emma was talking to Belle since it was Mr. Gold who had pointed them to the ballroom portal to Arendelle, and it was hoped that she knew something about it. They were sure if they found the owner, they would find the Author.

"Belle? You in here?" Emma called as she walked into the library.

"Hello love, Belle's not here" Hook greeted her turning from the evidence board he had been using to help free the prisoners of the hat. "She went to see if there were any useful books in the Crocodile's shop, can I be of assistance?"

"I need to know what you know about that lakeside mansion and Gold's magic hat." Emma replied.

"Sure thing love, are the two connected?"

"Gold may have found the hat there. So I thought if I knew more about the hat, I could trace it back to the owner."

"Alright Swan. I don't know much, but I do know the Crocodile was gathering enough magic in the hat to cleave himself from the dagger. The first one I know got sucked in was an old man that seemed to know a lot about the hat and what Gold was doing," Hook recalled. "The mansion however belongs to some great sorcerer. Oh and we followed the same cursed walking broom to the portal and the old man."

"A walking broom?" Emma inquired skeptically.

"I assume it was enchanted," Hook answered, "Gold didn't speculate."

"Okay. Thanks. I have to go track down Henry and Regina, but I'll talk to you later." Emma said as she gave Killian a quick kiss and left.

"Mom. I don't think we're going to find anything here." Henry said as he put down the file he was combing through.

"There has to be." Regina stated, desperately flipping through the dwindling pile of records.

"Don't worry, we'll find another way." Henry said as he hugged Regina.

"Okay," Regina sighed.

Knock! Knock! Knock! "Regina! You in there?" Emma called.

"Well it is my house," Regina mumbled as she went to open the door. "Come in Emma. Did you find anything?"

"Kind of. How did you and Henry do with the town records?" Emma responded as she walked into the house.

"Not so good. We didn't find anything useful." Henry said coming into the hall. "What did you find?"

"Belle wasn't at the library, but Hook was so I asked him about the mansion and hat instead. He said that he and Gold followed an enchanted broom to the Arendelle portal. He also said they followed that same broom to an old man that seemed to know a lot about Gold's plan and the hat." Emma informed them.

"Okay, so where is this old man now?" Regina asked.

"That's the problem," Emma replied. "He's in the hat."

"So where do we go from here?" Henry wondered out loud.

"Belle and Killian have been trying to figure out how to free the prisoners of the hat." Emma stated, "When they figure it out we can talk to the old man and see what he knows."

"You sound optimistic. How do we know the Bookworm and Handless Wonder will figure it out?" snapped Regina.

"Killian is determined and Belle has always figured it out in the past. So yes, I am optimistic." Emma retorted. Then her phone rang. "Sheriff Swan."

"Hi Emma. It's Belle."

"Hi Belle. What's up?" Emma asked as Henry and Regina watched her.

"Well I've been going through all the books I can find to figure out how to free the people in the hat."

"Okay. Did you find anything?"

"I think I did. Meet me at the lakeside mansion as soon as you can... Oh and bring Regina." Belle said excitedly.

"Alright. See you soon. Bye." Emma replied almost as excited as Belle sounded and hung up her phone.

"What happened? What did she find?" Regina demanded impatiently as hope began worming its way back into her heart.

"She found something. She didn't tell me what, but we need to meet her at the lakeside mansion ASAP." Emma stated.

"Well what are we waiting for?" Henry said, "Let's go!"

Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review.