The Enchanted Forest

Six days prior to the Double Eclipse

Emma and Mulan tied Hook to a tree in the woods. Hook was laughing while they wrapped the ropes around him and tied him tight.

"You know loves, if you wanted to play rough, why didn't you just say so?"

"Okay listen you pervert, the next things I wanna hear of your mouth better be the truth. Being tied to that tree's gonna start being very uncomfortable if you have to go. Or maybe we'll just let you pee yourself."

"I already told you. I'm just a blacksmith."

"Sure you are. You don't want to talk to us? Maybe you'll talk to the ogres while they rip you limb from limb. Let's find out." They started to walk away, hearing the ogres coming.

"You can't just leave me here like this!"

"Can't we?" Emma countered.

"What if he's telling the truth?" Aurora asked.

"He's not."

"Good for you! You bested me. I can count the amount of people who've done that on one hand."

"That supposed to be funny? Who are you?"

"Killian Jones, but most people have taken to call me by my more colourful moniker – Hook."

"Hook…as in..." Snow pondered.

"Check my satchel."

"As in, Captain Hook?" Emma finished, shaking her head. The guy looked more like a cheap version of Jack Sparrow with more eyeliner than Maybelline or Max Factor.

"Ah, so you've heard of me."

"You better hurry up. They're getting closer. So, unless you want to be dinner, you better start talking."

"Cora wanted me to gain your trust, so I could learn everything there is to know about your Storybrooke. She didn't want any surprises when she finally got over there."

"She can't get there. We destroyed the wardrobe."

"Ah, but the enchantment remains. Cora gathered the ashes. She's going to use them to open up a portal. Now, if you'll kindly cut me loose."

"No. We should leave him here to die. To pay for all the lives that he took," Mulan said icily.

"That was Cora, not me."

"Okay, let's go. The stink of Guyliner's bullshit is starting to make me gag." Emma muttered.

"Wait. Wait! You need me alive."

"Why?"

"Because we both want the same thing. To get back to your land."

"You would say anything to save yourself. Why are we supposed to believe you now?"

"I arranged for transport with Cora. But, seeing how resourceful you are, I'll offer you the same deal. I'll help you, if you promise to take me along."

"How are you going to help us get home?"

"The ashes will open a portal, but, to find your land, she needs more. There's an enchanted compass. Cora seeks it. I'll help you obtain it before she does."

"So, Cora won't make it to Storybrooke, and we'll be one step closer to getting home."

"Sounds too good to be true," Snow said skeptically. She trusted this pirate as far as she could throw which wasn't very far.

"There's only one way to find out."

The three women huddled.

"You're not seriously suggesting we take him with us!" Emma protested to Aurora.

"I want to see my daughter. Snow, you want to see your husband and Emma you want to see your son. I'm willing to take my chances."

"Yeah, well we're not. I don't know how much YOU know about Captain Hook but I know a lot and he's a pirate. You can't trust pirates. And have you forgotten he's working for Cora? That woman will do anything to harm my family. I say we leave him here and try to find this compass ourselves."

"Or...we make him think we trust him."

"Mary Margaret...are you nuts! He'd try to kill us while we sleep or turn us over to Cora."

"Well then, let's make him think he's going to succeed."

"You tell me one thing, and whatever you say, I better believe it – why does Captain Hook want to go to Storybrooke?" Emma asked when she went back to the tree.

"To exact revenge on the man who took my hand… Rumpelstiltskin."

"Oh great so we're just expected to trust a pissed off pirate with a death wish?" Emma rolled her eyes.

"What other choice do you have? You can't find the compass on your own."

"Says a sexist pig," she retorted. "Okay Guyliner, we'll play along. For now." She slicked through the ropes with Mulan's sword, barely missing his arm.

"Watch it!"

"But I'm warning you...you screw with us and you see that little Vienna sausage between your legs? I'll personally do a Lorena Bobbit special on it and you'll need to start wearing more makeup because you'll be a girl!"

"Who is Lorena Bobbit?"

Snow and Emma smiled at each other.

"Someone you wouldn't want to know," Snow taunted.

But the threat had the desired effect. Hook's eyes lowered to his groin where Mulan's sword was pointed. Winning these women over was going to be bit more difficult than he'd hope but he still had that enchantment on his hook that could rip out a heart and for the moment the only woman he had a chance of getting close to was the one they called Aurora.

"Move...and remember if you try anything I'll make good on Emma's threat!" Mulan hissed.

"Up ahead. We'll find the compass just over the ridge."

They had reached the edge of the forest, seeing a tall beanstalk in the distance

"Let me guess – the compass is up there?"

"Oh, yeah."

"So, how do we get to it?"

"It's not the climb you need to worry about, Emma. It's the giant at the top."

"You have GOT to be kidding me!" Emma exclaimed.

Storybrooke

That same day

"Regina. Are you here to see me?" Archie asked her when she showed up at his office.

"I've been trying to keep my promise to Henry, but it's been difficult."

"To not use magic."

"It's been two days."

"That's an excellent start. Come on in."

"It's just that... magic is the way I've always gotten everything," she said when she walked into the office.

"It sounds like it's also the way you've lost everything. Regina, this is your chance to start over, to earn Henry. "

Suddenly Dr. Whale burst into the office, Archie cursing himself for not locking the door.

"Dr. Whale, this is highly inappropriate," he informed him coolly.

"Send me back."

"Excuse me?" Regina asked.

"To my land. Send me back to my brother."

"Why don't you check the "Missing" board like everyone else?"

"Your curse only brought the living."

"Well, then I'm sorry for your loss. But I'm afraid I can't send anyone anywhere."

"Can't or won't?"

"Dr. Whale, I have to insist. Please. Go!" Whale glared at him and left. Archie closed the door behind him and locked it to avoid any further interruptions. "Sorry. What you said isn't entirely true, is it?"

"I'm sorry?"

"About the curse only taking the living. The grave of your father's here, right?

"I don't care about Whale or his brother. I brought who I wanted. Mostly everyone...and a few of Maleficent's enemies but she wanted them sent outside the barriers."

So that explains why Beth and David were separated, he thought angrily.

"Anyone else? If you want help, you have to try and trust me. Stopping magic is a lot harder than starting."

"Had you said this to me earlier, I would've told you you had no idea what you're talking about. But you do, don't you?"

"I do. My magic was unlocked the moment I arrived in the OZ and reacted to my emotions. I couldn't control it. I still have trouble when I'm angry as you found out."

"His name was Daniel. I preserved his body with an enchantment spell. He's dead, but frozen, and I've kept him in my family mausoleum."

"Because you couldn't let go of him. If you can't let go of the past, Regina, it's doomed to haunt you."

"You know what? I think this has been quite enough."

"Regina, wait. I... I can help you."

"I doubt it. "

She got up to leave and tried the door to find that it wouldn't open, even unlocked. She attempted to unlock it with her magic and found that she couldn't.

"You did that!"

"And I'll do it again. There's no point in being stubborn with me because, as I've said, I've faced far worse than you."

"I'm shocked you didn't blast Whale. You were tempted, weren't you?"

"As tempted as I was to strangle the man that killed my Ambrosia. I may have been timid during the curse and before I was enchanted but living in the OZ all those years 'toughened me up' so to speak."

"You can bring Daniel back."

"No, Regina, I can't. I'm not that powerful."

"Don't lie to me cricket. I've seen what you can do. You were taking my life force and you can restore it too!"

"Resurrecting the dead comes with a price. It can only be done by someone who has a bond with the person they are trying to bring back and has to be done within moments after death, before the soul is taken to its place of rest. Don't you think I would've wanted to bring my Ambrosia back? I have…every day since she died but its too late. Her soul is already at rest. So is Daniel's. We…we have to let them rest…"

"I can't," she said sadly. "Can you?"

He sighed. "No. And what makes it harder is knowing that bitch Bastinda holds my wife's soul in her possession and the only chance she has of being freed is her sister who may or may not be powerful enough to do so. She needs me."

"But how are you going to get back? Jefferson's hat doesn't work anymore and there are no magic beans."

"I'll find a way Regina."

She sighed. "I wish I could go back and change what happened. Daniel didn't deserve what was done to him. My only consolation is that my mother is dead and can't hurt us anymore."

"She isn't Regina."

"What?! But...but I saw her body."

"The Queen of Hearts is alive and well. I've seen her."

"When?" she demanded.

"Right before I came here. She was seeking sanctuary in the OZ but Bastinda refused to give it to her." Archie picked up his silver tea service tray and waved his hand over it showing the Tower throne room where he and Bastinda sat on their chairs while Cora was on the floor at their feet held by a binding spell.

Oz (The Outer Zone)

Ten years earlier

"You should be fortunate you don't have your heart, witch because I would be forcing you to watch while I crush it to dust. YOU are responsible for my prisoner escaping!" Archie yelled when he rose from his chair. Cora looked up at him, her dark eyes glittering with rage. "Do you really think you have the power to go up against me?"

"I know I do," she sneered.

He gestured and she began convulsing.

"I didn't think so. Now WHERE is Killian Jones?"

"I...I don't...know..." she croaked.

"Try again!" he barked.

"I...lost track of him after...ahhhh!"

"Commander, let her speak," Bastinda advised.

"The only words I want to hear are the whereabouts of Killian Jones." He zapped her again and kneeled beside her. "Now, talk!"

"I swaear I don't know!"

"Vy-Sor!"

The advisor raced into the room. "Commander?"

"Bring Lylo. I want her read." He gestured and Cora was lifted off her feet, her wrists and ankles chained. She was dragged to a chair and forced to sit down when Lylo came into the room. He placed his hand on Cora's forehead.

"Heartless Queen speak truth. Doesn't know where pirate is."

"Thank you Lylo. You may go now."

"You are far too kind to our slaves, Commander," Bastinda scolded.

"Sorceress, sometimes you must give a little to gain a little, if you'll forgive me for saying."

"You always are forgiven, dear. Now, what should we do with this?" Bastinda gestured to their angry prisoner.

"I think a few months in one of our prison domes will humble her...if she can be humbled but somehow I doubt that." Archie held out his hands and Cora began to shrink as she flew into them. He clapped them together and she vanished.

Regina burst out laughing. "You...shrunk her!? I didn't think anyone could do that without using a Wonderland mushroom or potions."

"We can. We can even shrink ourselves but Dellia has always been better at it than I am. Cora must've beren released after I was sent over here."

"What do you have against Captain Hook? I know why Rumple hates him."

"He tried to rape my wife, Regina and by rights he should've been executed because doing harm to any member of the royal family is an automatic death sentence but Cora found out when the war started and broke him out. And that pirate better not show his face here."

"I don't want HER here either. I'm...I'm not always strong when she's around."

"Neither was I with my parents."

"What do you mean?"

"We have a lot more in common when you think. I haven't always been a good person, You know that now. Did you ever wonder why I became a cricket?"

"I didn't care," she answered honestly. "I just knew you were my enemy."

"I hope you don't have anything planned because this will take a while."

"No, I don't." She picked up her cup and took a sip while he talked and realized he was right. They did have more in common than she realized. After he was finished she set her cup down. "So that was how you became a cricket. It wasn't what I expected. But...there is something I need to say...I wanted to thank you."

"Thank me?"

"For being the father figure Henry needed. There were a few times during the curse when I thought..." She laughed nervously. "I can't believe I'm telling you this but...I thought about marrying you to maybe...give Henry a father but we would've been married in name only. Only know I know I would've had a very angry Ozian princess on my hands."

"You most certainly would!" they heard Azkadellia say angrily when her image appeared on the tray.

"Dellia!" Archie whispered and picked the tray up, caressing the image tenderly.

"Archie, it's time. DG is in the OZ."

"How?"

"Bastinda summoned a travel storm and sent Lannot's men through when Lylo sensed her magic awakening."

Archie snorted. "Lannot couldn't find his way through a patch of dirt without having his face shoved in it."

"He's dead. She took his life force and made Zero the head of the army."

"Oh she has? Then I suppose it's time for Commander Ozopov to come and take it back, now isn't it?"

"Go to Daddy's farm. They came through in Lannot's travel storm so the token Mother gave them should still be there. Be careful Archie, I love you."

"I love you Dellia. I'll see you soon."

Archie stood up and gestured, his construct appearing beside him. "I'm going to leave him here in case you need him, Regina but I want you to act as if he is me to the others."

"But he's just a construct!" she protested.

"I am yes but I have all of Archie's knowledge and memories. I can still help you Regina. It will be just like it was during the curse, him being here the whole time yet not." The construct sat in Archie's chair and poured himself another cup of tea. Archie teleported back to his house and and opened his bedroom closet, finding a garment bag hanging in the back. He unzipped it and took out his old uniform, still looking as clean as it had been the last time he wore it.

It's time, isn't it?

Yes, Pongo, it's time. We're going back to the OZ but first we need to go to Kansas to pick up a way back.

He held out his arm and waved his hand over the Dalmatian. Pongo vanished in a puff of smoke and his tattoo reappeared on Archie's arm. Archie gestured again and teleported out.

Topeka, Kansas

This wasn't how it was planned! Elmer Gulch thought, slamming the door to his squad car as he surveyed the ruins of the Gale farmhouse. When he first heard the reports of twister activity near the Gale farm he assumed it was nothing other than typical Kansas weather but when he'd discovered DG's drawings in the rubble he realized that the time had come to take her back to the OZ. He reached into his pocket and took out the travel storm token he'd been given prior to their departure from the OZ years earlier. As far as he knew, he held the only means of getting back to the OZ but someone had activated a travel storm and the bodies of the Longcoats he'd found confirmed Hank and Emily hijacked their travel storm to send her through in a hurry.

"What the hell happened? Why are you still here?"

"Commander Ozopov," Elmer sighed with relief and shook his hand. "You don't know how glad I am to see you! It looks like a travel storm was activated here but not with this." He held up his token. "The witch found out DG was here but thank God they didn't get to her. I need to get back there and find her again before she does."

Archie took the coin from his hand and tossed it, activating the funnel cloud. "We're running out of time!" he shouted over the rising winds. "The double eclipse is in six days."

They jumped into the cloud.

"Where are we going, Jiminy?"

"The Northern Island!" Archie called back. "DG has to learn who she is before she can go to the tower and I hope to the goddess we find her in time!"

Oz (The Outer Zone)

The Northern Island

Wyatt quickly remembered why he preferred travelling by horseback instead of driving. He had such a terrible time keeping the wheel of the truck straight that DG kept asking him to stop so that she could drive while Glitch kept complaining how he was being tossed around like a sack of potatoes. Thankfully Raw was keeping his mouth shut. Two passengers bitching was stressful enough. Worse, they were travelling through gods knew how many feet of snow. He wished his mentor had decided to send the girl to someplace warmer and easier to get to but the tasks Jeb Mysticos gave him were never simple.

He heard the clatter of metal and the truck suddenly stopped. "What was that?" he asked.

"I don't know." Although DG was a skilled mechanic, she hadn't worked on a truck that was from the forties to the early fifties in at least two years. Hank had one in the backyard of the farm but he sold it to a neighbor to help pay for DG's hospital bills.

"You all right?" he called to Glitch and Raw in the back.

"Yeah, just freezing." Glitch answered.

"You stay here," Wyatt ordered DG as he climbed out. It was hard to see through the blowing snow but when he checked underneath the truck he could see the axle. He groaned with frustration. he grabbed the axe from its handle on the side of the truck. A panel opened up and Glitch and Raw poked their heads out.

"Aw, what now!" Glitch moaned.

"Broke axle!" Raw called over the howling wind.

"No kidding. Come on let's go. We're walking," Wyatt said as he walked to the passenger side door and helped DG get out. They bundled themselves up as tightly as they could and made their way through the deep snow as quickly as they could. DG spotted a tall white mountain in the distance.

"What we're looking for is over there!" she called out through the heavy scarf she had wrapped around her face and neck.

"Ice mountain!" Raw called out."

"That's the Northern Island?" Glitch asked incredulously.

"I know its around here somewhere," Wyatt confirmed.

"Frozen in time in a sea of ice. Just like my dad said it would be." DG said as she started down the hill.

The Talon of the Dragon Grand Master was about to face his final trial. Zero and his men had tied the aging wizard to a chair and wheeled him into the Sorceress's office but he refused to answer her questions. Now he was hooked to one of her viewers. He sent out a powerful masking spell, making the viewer only see nonsense.

"Focus, Lylo. Don't let him sway you," the witch instructed. The alchemist thrust the tip of the electric prod into the Mystic Man's neck. He slumped in his chair. Finally an image appeared in the tank of the Northern Island palace concealed by the wall of ice created when the curse was enacted years before.

"The Northern Island," the witch whispered. "She's going to see Mummy."

"Is he with her Sorceress?" Zero asked.

"Yes. Have the grooms prepare our horses. We have a reunion to attend."

And I have a grave to put a certain Tin Man in, Zero thought excitedly. This was the chance he'd been waiting years for and he had some interesting information he planned to use for the occasion.

Break his will then break him.

"What about him?" the alchemist demanded, indicating the Mystic Man.

"Take him to his new quarters," she commanded.

The Northern Island! Oh, Mother you cannot send her there now. The bond has not been reforged yet!

Azkadellia struggled to take control once again but she was finding it more difficult this time. Once again they would be face to face in the place where the first battle began but she couldn't let DG and Wyatt face the darkness without her or their magic and the bond to protect them.

She cannot find the emerald. In the wrong hands it can be destructive. It will only serve the light when it is in my possession. Please Lurline, help me now! Bring Archie to me, quickly!

Grabbing the axe out of Wyatt's hand, DG began to chop away at the icy fortress, revealing a frozen set of doors. She held her palm up and the House of Gale symbol glowed, serving as a key to the magical lock. Once they were inside DG paused in front of a large portrait of her mother, Glitch standing behind her.

"My mother was the queen?"

"That makes you princess," Raw said as he bowed.

I'll be damned, Wyatt thought. I was right after all.

His memory took him back to the day of her funeral where he'd served as a pallbearer, recalling his suspicions that the princess had survived after all and hearing once again the Mystic Man's sharp warnings to let it be.

You always had me in mind to protect her, didn't you old man?

"You knew my mother," DG was saying to Glitch.

"I knew I wasn't an idiot. Or a convict," he said to Wyatt. "I was the queen's advisor."

As DG recalled the stories Hank taught her she ran upstairs with the three of them trailing behind her and found herself in an old bedroom, all of the furnishings covered with white sheets. A fur lined coat was draped over one of the chairs. Raw touched the coat. "Sad. Mother waited. Couldn't stay."

Glitch lifted the sheet off an old harp while Raw stood in front of the bed, horror filling him at the sight that met filled his vision. He saw the younger DG on the bed, heavy chains of dark magic wrapped around her throat and the Tin Man kneeling on the floor a few feet away from her a second set strangling him as he fought desperately with the little magic he had to protect her.

"Bad things. Bad things happen here," Raw moaned. "We go. We go now," he pleaded as he took DG's hands in his.

"No. No! I need to know. Raw, please." DG begged.

"Bad things..." He turned to the Tin Man for guidance.

"Tell her, "Wyatt pleaded softly.

Raw touched the mirror, replaying the image of the possessed Azkadellia entering the room and using dark magic to kill her. As they watched, Wyatt's throat suddenly felt tight as if there were something wrapped around it and he could barely breathe.

Let go of me! he growled in his mind. He felt the pressure ease and his breathing stabilized.

"She tried to kill me!" DG cried.

"No," Wyatt said sadly. "She did kill you."

"But that can't be!" They now watched as Lavinia brought her daughter back to life with her own magic and whispered to her the location of the emerald.

"Mother never could leave well enough alone," the witch said in Azkadellia's voice as a Longcoat disarmed Wyatt. Zero stood behind the witch, smirking with satisfaction.

You're just loving every minute of this, aren't you, you sadistic son of a bitch! Wyatt thought angrily as he watched the trooper hand his pistol to Zero.

The two sisters now stood face to face, similar yet terrifyingly different as one's soul was locked inside a dark cage, begging for release. Azkadellia pushed again with her light when she saw Ambrose step forward, warning the witch to leave DG alone.

That's it. Be strong for her! Fight for your child!

The witch continued to question DG about the emerald and Azkadellia felt her light grow stronger as she watched her sister stare the darkness down and refuse to give in.

That's it DG. Kep your memories sealed tight as I have sealed his. She will not unlock you easily.

Yet the witch did not stop trying. She manifested a small lantern with Lavinia's image inside it calling her name. DG smirked at the witch and slammed the lantern down on the ground, creating a purple mist that blurred the witch and Longcoats line of sight. She, Glitch and Raw seized the opportunity and ran leaving Wyatt behind.

He called once again to his inner dragon and entered attack mode, taking down two Longcoats before he lunged at Zero, delivering a punch that sent his silver pistol flying out of the other man's hand.

Two Longcoarts started to pursue the three escapees before the witch called them back. She opened her leather jacket and summoned the mobat demons.

"Bring her to me," she commanded. Three of the demons caught Glitch and forced him onto the floor facedown while the others continued staling DG and Raw.

Up in the bedroom Wyatt was on his knees in pain yet like the dragon he recovered from his wounds and stood to fight again "Now I know why they call you Zero," he taunted. "Still can't fight your own battles."

"I do my share." Zero said and waved his two companions back.

"I am the Dragon. Face my wrath but you will never earn the right to call yourself a master," Wyatt chanted icily.

"No sword this time Cain," Zero sneered. "I took you down once and I'll do it again."

"No, you had your bitch do it for you." Wyatt rushed toward him slinging punches until Zero's cohorts grabbed him, one holding him while the other pummeled him with his fists. "And you still can't fight me!" he shouted as he broke free from his captors and rushed Zero again.

Now the destroyer and the dragon were face to face. All the strength of the darkness flowing through his heart, Zero delivered a painful that brought Wyatt crashing to the floor and picked up the silver pistol.

"No iron suit for you this time," he said breathlessly. "No wife and child crying for years to free you from it," he lied.

"My family's alive?" Wyatt gasped as blood seeped out of his mouth.

"Hardly matters now, does it?" Zero said and raised the pistol, firing a single silver bullet into Wyatt's chest, directly to his heart. A kill shot.

Inside his vest, the toy horse began to glow with magic forged from a bond that had been formed in the light and broken, calling to the bullet. It buried itself deep into the wood. The force of the shot threw Wyatt back and he fell through the stained glass window into the cold, icy lake.

Zero stared down at the lake, a satisfied smile on his face. He threw the pistol onto the floor. There was no sense taking it as a trophy. Seeing his enemy's body sinking into a frozen grave was all the trophy he needed.

The mobat demons carried DG over to where the witch stood and dropped the terrified girl at her feet. The witch smiled down at her.

"Welcome back little sister. There's no place like the OZ." she said with a menacing grin.