Hook was still lurking around the Storybrooke Docks later that night. After what he had done to Ariel in the past, he was still guilt-ridden. And now, knowing that her prince Eric had died, he felt terrible for his part in his death.

Ariel came walking through the docks again, and Hook had seen her. He raced after her. He had to do the right thing and tell her the truth. No matter if it made her – and everyone – hate him.

"Ariel!" he called out. "Wait!"

Ariel turned around. "What is it?" she asked, turning around and looking at him.

Hook took a breath. "I have a confession. I haven't been entirely truthful with you. With myself. You and I met before. Our paths crossed during the missing year."

"What?"

Hook sighed. "The pirate Blackbeard had kidnapped Eric. You asked me to find him."

Ariel was at a loss for words. "I … I don't understand," she began. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I was too ashamed. I sacrificed saving your prince for my ship. I am so sorry, Ariel."

Ariel slapped Hook across the face, hard. So he knew what had happened, and he didn't bother to tell her? Could he have saved Eric? "You're a coward! And a monster! You let a man die for your ship? What kind of person does that?"

"The kind who's empty. Who believes that a ship can fill a void left by a broken heart."

"And that makes it okay?"

"No. It doesn't. I would give anything to take it back. To make things right." "Anything?" Ariel asked.

"Yes. Anything," repeated Hook.

"How am I supposed to trust a man who no longer believes in love?"

"I still do," Hook whispered.

"Then, swear to me on it. This woman that broke your heart? Do you still love her?"

"Yes."

"Then swear to me on her name."

"I swear on Emma Swan."

Ariel smirked. She stared at Hook and smirked, which questioned Hook. Whywasshesmirking?Hook thought.

"Thank you, Captain," Ariel continued. "That's exactly what I needed to hear." She waved a hand,

and a green glow hovered over Hook's lips.

It took him by surprise. What had happened? And when did Ariel know magic? Unless this wasn't her. It was a trap. "What the hell?" He looked at Ariel again, who disappeared in a cloud of green smoke, and Zelena appeared. It was a trap—a trick. Ariel wasn't here at all. But, instead, Zelena. "Zelena? It was you? Where's Ariel?" he asked, taking his sabre out of the holster and aiming it at Zelena. But she magically threw it out of his hands.

"Relax," Zelena said calmly. "She was never really here. After leaving you on your beloved ship, she found where Blackbeard had been keeping her prince."

"She found him?" Hook asked. "How do you know that?"

"My spies are always circling, Captain. Through every realm. They are always circling. Ariel found her Prince on Hangman's Island, which was outside the force of the curse. They've been living happily ever after ever since. Don't you love a good twist?" She smirked. She was happy with what she had pulled off.

"I don't understand," Hook said, staring back at Zelena. "Why would you pretend to be her?"

"To corrupt your love. As I said earlier, I've known about your dirty little secret for quite some time. Seen the guilt on your face over the decision you made that day. I knew it haunted you, and I knew I could use it."

"Use it for what?"

"When you invoked the name of your love in a selfish plea for redemption, I was able to curse you. More specifically, your kiss. See, the next time your lips touch Emma Swan's, all of her magic will be taken. Everything that makes her special, that makes her powerful, that makes her a threat, will be gone."

"I won't do it. I'll tell her. And then she'll defeat you. They will all defeat you."

"Then I will kill her myself. I will make her suffer. All of them."

"No. You won't. You could have killed Emma before. But you haven't. You need her power removed. It's why you didn't kill her when she came to town. It's why you had a monkey look after her in New York instead of killing her then. I don't think you can."

"That no longer matters," Zelena said calmly. "Because you are going to remove her powers. I may not be able to hurt Emma, but I can hurt those around her. Her parents. Her friends. Her child." My plan will make them all suffer. And they won't remember any of this.

"Do not go near them."

"Yes. You've become quite fond of the boy, haven't you? I will enjoy turning him into a monkey's breakfast."

"I'll stop you."

"No. You won't. That sharp little hook of yours can scratch a mere mortal. But for me? You're out of your depth, pirate. The choice is yours. Kiss Emma and remove her powers, or everyone she loves dies." She smirked before disappearing in a whirl of green smoke, leaving Hook alone on the docks.

Hook went back to the Blanchard loft, and he knocked on the green wooden door with his Hook. He waited for the door to open. It did, and he was standing in front of Emma. Swan," he said. "I didn't expect to see you here."

"What do you mean?" Emma asked. "Where's Henry" Is everything all right?"

"He's fine. He's with his grandparents. I thought they might be back here."

"We haven't seen then," Emma said as Hook entered the apartment and saw Regina sitting at the table. "If you're not with Henry, what have you been doing all day?"

"I was enlisted to help Ariel find her lost prince."

"Really?" Regina asked. "That fish is in Storybrooke?"

"She was, yes," Hook answered. "And we found a clue in Gold's shop, which led us to discover that Eric had been shipwrecked on Hangman's Island just off the coast of the Enchanted Forest."

"Zelena's curse must not have reached that far," Emma stated.

"Ariel's on her way there now. She wanted me to say goodbye to Mary Margaret for her."

"Well, at the rate mermaids swim, she's probably already there," Regina said and got up from her seat. "Let's find out." She walked over to a mirror, standing in the corner.

Emma watched. "I thought you couldn't use mirror magic to look between worlds," she said, following.

"I can't. But after seeing the raw power you possess, I think that maybe you can."

Hook sighed. "There's no need. I'm sure she's fine. Anyway, it's bad to spy on such a private affair."

"How do I do it?" Emma asked Regina.

"Well, you've focused," Regina began. "You've let emotions awaken your power. Now you have to look inward."

Emma closed her eyes, focusing and looking inward, just like Regina had said—concentrating on what needed to be done. Everyone looked at the mirror before the surface rippled, and they saw Ariel on Hangman's Island, hugging Eric. Emma reopened her eyes, and she saw it too. She did it. She used her magic to look through a mirror.

"You did this?" Emma asked Hook in a whisper as she saw Ariel and Eric kiss. "You brought them together?"

"No," Hook said. "It was Ariel. She never stopped believing."

"Modesty?" Emma asked. You're full of surprises today." The mirror changed back – the image of Ariel and Eric disappearing from view as the door to the apartment, and they heard the laughter of David and Henry.

"Where have you guys been?" Emma asked as she turned around, looking as David, Henry and Mary Margaret entered the apartment.

"Only having the best day ever," Henry gushed. "David let me drive his truck!"

Regina's eyes widened. "You let him what?" she asked. There was no way her son was driving a truck underaged. Before she realised – Henry didn't know she was his mother. "Oh. As mayor, I can't let an unlicensed underage driver on the streets of Storybrooke."

"As mayor, you might wanna throw a little money at road repair," David said, and Henry chuckled.

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing," David replied. It was best she didn't know. He went over to the kitchen counter.

Regina eyed David. "This is a terrible mistake."

"She's right," Emma said in agreement. "Someone could've been seriously hurt."

"Only if you're a mailbox," Mary Margaret retorted.

"It was so much fun!" Henry said.

"What can I say?" David asked. "I've got a reckless, carefree, fun side."

Mary Margaret looked at Hook. "Killian?" she asked, noticing Ariel wasn't there. "Where's our friend?"

"It turns out her missing husband was back home," Hook answered.

"It's true," Emma said. "We just checked in on them on … Skype."

"She sends her regards, but she was too excited to wait."

Mary Margaret smiled. "A happy ending. Well, maybe our luck's about to change. Dinner at Granny's?"

"Can I drive?" Henry asked.

Everyone looked at him. "No!" they all said.

Hook turned to head for the door. "Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to it," he said.

"You're not coming?" Emma asked.

"Another time," Hook said, opening the door. He had many things to think about: scenarios that haunted him, People to distance himself from.

Emma followed him. "Well, if you change your mind, you know where we'll be. And Killian? Whatever happened this past year, whatever you're not telling me about? I don't care. I'm tired of living in the past."

"I know how you feel," Hook said before descending the stairs as Emma watched.