Chapter 2 – Deadline

Within her mayoral mansion Regina paces restlessly.

Regina: "Argh, this is useless! I can't do it!"

Emma rolls her eyes at Regina's sudden outburst.

Emma: "Jeez Regina, five minutes in and you're already giving up."

Regina sighs with frustration.

Regina: "Well, your commentary isn't helping, Swan."

Emma ignores Regina's slight barb.

Emma: "Light magic comes from love and happiness…"

Regina crosses her arms, clearly annoyed.

Regina: "Don't you think I know that?"

Emma raises an eyebrow curiously.

Emma: "So…just think of something happy and draw magic from that."

Regina throws her arms up in protest.

Regina: "I'm trying to! But every time I do, I think of everything I've lost…which makes me go all 'dark-side' when summoning magic."

Emma nods her head reassuringly.

Emma: "Okay, so we're going to have to get you to break the 'bad' habit if we're going to have any chance against the Evil Queen."

Regina rolls her eyes.

Regina: "Thank you Captain Obvious for yet another useless observation!"

Emma laughs to herself, irritating Regina even further.

Regina: "What's so funny?"

Emma smiles happily.

Emma: "You're meant to be the nice one."

Regina rolls her eyes and turns away.

Emma: "Okay wait, I've got an idea."

Regina scoffs and turns slightly back towards Emma.

Regina: "This should be good…"

Emma ignores Regina's rebuke as she moves around to be in Regina's full view.

Emma: "I want you to summon magic again…"

Regina shakes her head as she interrupts Emma.

Regina: "What makes you think this attempt will be better than the last half a dozen times?"

Emma shakes her head as well.

Emma: "Just humour me, Regina! And if it doesn't work we'll give up for real, okay?"

Regina sighs deeply.

Regina: "Okay! Now explain again what you want me to do."

Emma eyes the door before speaking.

Emma: "Sure, but not here. Follow me…"

Emma leaves the room with an unhappy Regina in close pursuit. As Emma leads them down the stairs Regina speaks up.

Regina: "Where are we going?"

Emma turns towards the rear of the mansion.

Emma: "Outside…"

Regina stops dead.

Regina: "I'm not going out there! She's probably out there lying in wait…"

Emma rolls her eyes as she turns back to look at Regina.

Emma: "Oh grow up, Regina! Do you think if she really wanted to hurt you four walls would stop her? No matter how elaborately decorated they are…"

Regina exhales with frustration but still follows Emma out into the courtyard. Once out there Emma turns around and smiles.

Emma: "Now let's begin, again…"

At the wishing well, the Evil Queen slowly regains consciousness. Glancing around she finds Henry crumpled in a heap. Concerned, she rushes over and rolls him over only to find him grinning from ear to ear. She shakes her head from side to side and speaks, relief flavouring her words.

Evil Queen: "I presume you're alright?"

Henry nods his head emphatically.

Henry: "That was awesome!"

Henry continues to smile as a single page from the newly destroyed storybook floats gently down and lands right behind the Evil Queen. Oblivious to the runaway page, she shakes her head and smiles with relief as she helps him to his feet.

Henry: "Did it work?"

The Evil Queen raises an eyebrow curiously as she glances around.

Evil Queen: "I don't feel any different, what about you?"

Henry shrugs.

Henry: "I feel the same as before…would we even be able to feel different if everything was, different?"

The Evil Queen shrugs slowly as she thinks for a moment.

Evil Queen: "In truth, no one's managed to cast that spell in all of history. So your guess is as good as mine, Henry. "

The Evil Queen begins to look around. With her back now turned, Henry casually moves over and picks up the lonesome storybook page from the ground. The Evil Queen speaks as Henry eyes the new page.

Evil Queen: "Although, the texts that accompanied the spell spoke of clues or hints that would appear and show that the spell-caster's new found fate was indeed on track."

Henry smiles as he looks at the image before him.

Henry: "You mean like this one?"

The Evil Queen turns quickly around to Henry. Her eyes widen briefly at the page in Henry's hand. She moves over to him as he hands her the page.

Evil Queen: "Where did you get this?"

The Evil Queen pauses but before she can withdraw her obvious question, Henry answers.

Henry: "It just floated down on the breeze…"

The Evil Queen inspects the image showing two men, one carrying a backpack and the other with a hook for his left hand, holding an image of themselves in their hands in front of Storybrooke's clock tower at ten past ten in the morning. The Evil Queen grabs Henry's left wrist and checks the time on his wristwatch.

Evil Queen: "It's only nine-fifteen…"

Henry looks down at the image before speaking.

Henry: "So, this hasn't happened yet?"

The Evil Queen shakes her head quickly. She looks Henry up and down, before turning her attention back to the image.

Evil Queen: "Okay, judging from your clothes the one on the left is you Henry."

Henry nods quickly and points to the man with the hook.

Henry: "And the man with the hook is Killian and we're under the Storybrooke clock tower at ten past ten. But what is it supposed to mean, mum?"

The Evil Queen falters briefly at Henry's last word before regaining her composure.

Evil Queen: "I don't know…this is all new territory."

Henry sighs briefly.

Henry: "Surely, the texts mentioned something else?"

The Evil Queen frowns before remembering something important.

Evil Queen: "All they said was that the Author and the fated soul whose life he would change would be given hints to guide them on their new path."

Henry smiles and takes the page from the Evil Queen.

Henry: "This one is mine then! So, where is yours?"

The Evil Queen scoffs lightly.

Evil Queen: "It's probably with my better half!"

Henry sighs. Glancing away he spies a new page on the ground a few metres to his right. He points to the page and speaks.

Henry: "Oh, ye of little faith! Look over there."

The Evil Queen looks over with disbelief, before rushing over and retrieving the loose page. She turns it over to see an image of a lifeless Regina crashing into a bewildered Evil Queen in a blinding flash of light.

Evil Queen: "This one's for me alright, it looks like Regina and I merging into one being again."

Henry smiles as he looks the image over.

Henry: "So, these predict our future then?"

The Evil Queen's mood suddenly becomes grave.

Evil Queen: "No, I think it's worse than that, Henry."

The Evil Queen checks Henry's watch again.

Evil Queen: "I believe that if these two events don't play out according to these images then the spell won't change my fate at all and instead make things far, far worse than they already are."

Henry's demeanour turns grave as well.

Henry: "How can they get worse?"

The Evil Queen laughs lightly.

Evil Queen: "Oh, just that our spell could reverse its effects and tear a giant hole in the space-time continuum! Or whatever it was that crazy, white-haired guy in the DeLorean said."

Henry smiles happily.

Henry: "That was Doc…"

The Evil Queen raises an eyebrow.

Evil Queen: "The dwarf?"

Henry laughs to himself.

Henry: "No, another Doc. But if things are getting bad enough that even you're using pop culture references then I've got to get to Killian, like right now!"

The Evil Queen nods her head briefly.

Evil Queen: "Then this is where we part ways, my son."

Henry nods as the Evil Queen grabs his shoulders and draws him into a warm embrace. Henry smiles happily.

Henry: "I'll see you on the other side…"

The Evil Queen moves Henry to an arm's length away from her as she raises another suspicious eyebrow at him.

Evil Queen: "Other side of what?"

Henry gives her a knowing smile, to which she rolls her eyes.

Evil Queen: "Never mind…"

The Evil Queen lets go of his shoulders and disappears in a cloud of dark purple magic. Henry is left smiling for a moment until he sighs deeply.

Henry: "Should've got a lift to the docks..."

Henry laughs to himself as he turns around.

Henry: "Docs…"

Henry shakes his head from side to side before setting out at a run towards Storybrooke Harbour's dockyard.

As the residents of Storybrooke peacefully go about their days errands a magical portal opens up in the middle of the main street, opposite the clock tower. A group of soldiers emerge from the portal's swirling vortex, one of which carries a large elaborately decorated cone-shaped object. As the last of the large group exits the vortex the portal begins to destabilise before disappearing completely. One soldier strides out ahead of the others, he begins giving the rest orders.

Captain: "The Emperor's magic will gather the townspeople here before us. Until that time you are to fan out and find the queen!"

The soldiers all nods without question and begin to spread out through the sleepy town. The Captain shouts to the soldier holding the large elaborately decorated cone-shaped object.

Captain: "You there, here's as good a place as any soldier."

The Captain points to the ground between them. The soldier nods briefly before setting the cone down on its tip. He then places his hand on its flat top surface, causing the cone device to light up. The soldier backs hastily away as the device begins to spin slowly. It hovers there silently for a moment before suddenly plunging itself into Storybrooke's main street. Once imbedded, a burst of magic radiates out from the device as cracks form in the street's paved surface. Another wave of magic radiates back towards the device, energising it. The new energy causes the device to spin increasing faster until a large whirlpool forms, some ten metres across.

The Captain smiles savagely at the terrified soldier standing next to him.

Captain: "Now we wait for them to come to us."

The Captain eyes the whirlpool with glee as another portal brings a second wave of soldiers to the unsuspecting town of Storybrooke.

A magic ripple flows through the Mayoral Mansion's courtyard, surprising Regina. She stops channelling magic and looks up at Emma, concerned.

Regina: "Did I do that?"

Emma shrugs as she glances around curiously.

Emma: "Do what?"

Before Regina can respond another stronger magical wave blows back over them, slowly retracing the path of the first. As it moves by Regina and Emma they both cry out and collapse to the courtyard's stone pavers. Each of them clutches their chest as the wave slowly recedes. Once free of the magic they look at each other in askance as they try to catch their breath.

Emma: "That felt like my heart was being crushed…"

Regina shakes her head while drawing in a heavy breath of air.

Regina: "You see, bad things happen whenever I use light magic."

Emma rolls her eyes.

Emma: "Regina, this is Storybrooke, bad things happen every week!"

Regina rises to her knees before moving to rest against one of the many stone seats of the courtyard.

Regina: "Yeah, usually because of me!"

Emma slumps against another stone seat opposite Regina.

Emma: "I know! So why are we yelling?!"

Regina rolls her eyes.

Regina: "Because right now, it's the only thing that feels any good."

Emma begins to laugh to herself.

Emma: "You know…it was probably just one of the dwarves striking a lump of fairy dust."

Regina laughs out loud.

Regina: "That wasn't fairy dust. And besides, it's like nine o'clock in the morning…those slackers wouldn't be out of bed yet!"

Emma smiles as they both begin to stand. Once up, they look in direction the magic wave approached from.

Regina: "No, that magic came from the centre of town."

Emma raises an eyebrow at Regina.

Regina: "Hello, I was mayor for twenty-eight years…"

Emma nods with agreement.

Emma: "We should go check out what that was all about."

Regina takes a deep breath before nodding once. Regina and Emma begin to walk towards the mansions back door. Suddenly a blast from an approaching soldier flies past them, exploding a small statue in right front of them.

Emma instinctively grabs Regina and ungracefully hurls her into the safety of one of the courtyards nearby gargoyle statues. Emma then dives in behind another statue opposite Regina. Emma shouts out as the soldiers continue to fire upon their position.

Emma: "Regina, are you okay?"

Regina scoffs as she straightens her clothes out within the confines of her new shelter.

Regina: "I'm alive, if that's what you're asking?"

Emma attempts to seek a peek around her statue but is thwarted by yet another blast.

Emma: "Who the hell are these guys?"

Regina shakes her head with frustration.

Regina: "I'll be sure to ask them when they stop trying to kill us!"

Emma growls as another blast explodes a stone sculpture next to her. She pops her head up and briefly sees more soldiers attempting to flank Regina. Emma shouts over to Regina inviting a few blasts toward her position.

Emma: "Regina, behind you!"

Regina gasps before she instinctively produces a fireball and hurls it at one of the two soldier's flanking her. The soldier instantly turns to ash causing Regina to smile. She lines the second soldier up and hurls a fireball at him as well. The ball strikes the soldier squarely in the chest making him stumble back a few paces. He shakes the fireball off before continuing on undaunted.

Regina raises an eyebrow before throwing another fireball at the soldier. The second one hits its mark but only knocks the soldier back a single pace. The soldier recovers as Regina is taken aback by her magic's sudden loss of effect. Emma sees her falter and so teleports a nearby fountain to a place above the soldier and lets it go. Before the soldier can fire on Regina the fountain crushes him into a cloud of ash. Regina turns to Emma and nods quickly. Emma smiles and rolls over to join her as the rest of the soldiers find more secure positions. Emma exhales forcefully as she nears Regina.

Emma: "What the hell just happened? Why didn't those fireballs work?"

Regina sighs as she gets into a better position to see the moving soldiers.

Regina: "I don't know…the first one worked, but then on the next guy it was as if I was throwing cotton candy at him."

Emma raises an eyebrow.

Emma: "I don't mean to sound insulting, but are you sure you weren't just getting weaker?"

Regina sighs heavily.

Regina: "They were exactly the same! Here, why don't you give it a go?"

Emma nods and glances up to see two soldiers coming her way. She hops up and fires a magical beam at the first soldier. He turns instantly to dust so she continues on to the second soldier. The beam hits him squarely as well but he is only knocked off his feet. Emma looks on in horror as he slowly stands up in front of her.

Regina sees Emma frozen and so conjures a small dagger she flings the dagger with magic at the unsuspecting soldier. The blade imbeds in the soldier's chest and he crumples into a cloud of dust. A sudden blast from a nearby soldier causes the wall in front of Emma and Regina to explode, catapulting them both a distance away. They hit the unforgiving stone of the courtyard hard as the rest of the soldiers move to surround them. They glance at one another but it's Emma who speaks.

Emma: "How come my magic didn't work?"

Regina laughs half-heartedly.

Regina: "It worked once, like mine."

Emma nods slowly.

Emma: "And then it didn't…do you think?"

Regina eyes dart from side to side

Regina: "They became immune?"

Emma shrugs.

Emma: "Is that even possible?"

Regina frowns.

Regina: "If it is, then whoever is enabling these fools to do so is insanely powerful!"

Emma sighs.

Emma: "Great, more powerful bad guys…"

Regina smiles as she moves around a little.

Regina: "Relax, Swan. We'll be triumphant like we always are."

Emma smiles as the soldiers surround them. One soldier speaks up.

Soldier: "Yield, witches…or die now by our hand!"

Regina shrugs and speaks only Emma.

Regina: "But first we survive today…"

Emma nods slowly. Regina then speaks up so the soldiers can hear.

Regina: "Alright! We yield…"

Suddenly the Evil Queen appears in a whirl of dark purple magic.

Evil Queen: "To no one!"

The Evil Queen produces a fireball but before she can throw it Regina shouts out.

Regina: "Wait, they're immune to fireballs!"

The Evil Queen halts before turning her conjured magic into a protective shield around the three of them. Once her shield is secure she turns towards Regina as the soldiers outside ready their weapons.

Evil Queen: "Explain!"

Regina looks around bewildered for a few seconds before the soldier's weapon firing outside the Evil Queen's shield jolts her back to reality.

Regina: "We think they're somehow gaining a collective immunity against the magical attacks we use on them!"

The Evil Queen laughs heartily.

Evil Queen: "That the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard!"

Emma shrugs.

Emma: "Well, you hit one guy with a magical attack and he dies and you hit the next guy with the same kind of attack and he lives."

The Evil Queen eyes Regina curiously, Regina nods slowly.

Regina: "Me too…"

The Evil Queen nods as well."

Evil Queen: "Do you know how much power you would need to accomplish what you're saying?"

Regina nods quickly.

Regina: "Lots! So, if you intend to use magic against these fools you'll have to hit them all at once."

The Evil Queen grits her teeth as looks around at all the soldiers.

Evil Queen: "Even I don't have that much power."

Emma nods slowly as the Evil Queen turns her attention to the soldiers still firing upon her shield. Emma's widen briefly, she places her hands in her lap before closing her eyes. While Emma's concentrating Regina speaks to the Evil Queen.

Regina: "Why are you helping now?"

The Evil Queen grabs Regina by the scruff of the neck and raises her up to meet her gaze. The Evil Queen looks deeply into Regina's eyes as she releases hold of her.

Evil Queen: "We are one, you and I. So, as much as I detest that notion…when you die, so do I!"

Regina smiles menacingly at her doppelganger.

Regina: "Whatever happened to rendering this pathetic little town to ashes?"

The Evil Queen sighs. Regina moves away a little as they both watch more soldiers file out and surround them at a distance.

Evil Queen: "There's still time for that…just concern yourself with staying alive long enough for me to rid this wretched place of these vile creatures."

Regina smiles as the Evil Queen eyes her attackers.

Regina: "You know pride comes before a fall."

The Evil Queen laughs to herself.

Evil Queen: "You would know more than most…"

Suddenly Cora's ornately carved wooden wreath appears in Emma's hands. Emma smiles and speaks up.

Emma: "Hey Queenie, try this!"

Emma lobs Cora's magical wreath to the Evil Queen who smiles savagely as she catches it. The wreath glows, before dissolving into magic within the Evil Queen's hands. The magic turns dark purple and begins to charge with small bolts of lightning. The Evil Queen moves her hands outwards causing the purple magic to move out and charge her shield. The shield turns suddenly black and explodes, sending out a shockwave of electrified magic through the mansion's courtyard, rendering the surrounding soldiers to ash. The Evil Queen smiles before suddenly collapsing to her hands and knees. She sinks to the floor as Emma rushes over. Regina watches Emma sit the Evil Queen up. Emma glances over towards a frozen Regina.

Emma: "Regina, help me! She just saved us, you know?"

Regina's eyes narrow with distaste.

Regina: "She saved herself, Swan."

Emma rolls her eyes as she grabs one of the Evil Queen's slackened arms.

Emma: "Yeah, and us along with her! I heard what she said…you two are magically linked. Now grab an arm before we're overrun, again!"

Regina growls before moving over to grab the Evil Queen's other arm. They both struggle to carry her through the Mayoral mansion. Emma speaks as they near the front door.

Emma: "What the hell is she made of, stone?"

Regina turns towards Emma affronted.

Regina: "Hey!"

Emma smiles as she glances at Regina over the Evil Queen's sunken head.

Emma: "No offense intended…I'm just saying would it kill the pair of you to do a little cardio every now and then?"

Regina growls under her breath.

Regina: "Don't blame us because swaggering around with your buccaneering boy-toy has made you soft!"

Emma laughs as they move sideways through the mansion's front door.

Emma: "I knew the old Regina was still in there somewhere."

Regina shakes her head as they make it out to Emma's yellow car.

Regina: "Yeah, well…just get the door before I have to, quite literally, pick myself up out of the gutter."

Emma smiles as she quickly opens the passenger door.

Emma: "Twice in one day would be too much, huh?"

Regina rolls her eyes.

Regina: "Just hurry! I'm…she's not exactly light."

Regina and Emma lift the Evil Queen into the front passenger seat and buckle her in. They both move around to the driver's side. Regina folds the driver's seat forward and climbs into the back seat. Emma takes the driver's seat and turns the ignition key. As the engine shudders to life the Evil Queen stirs slowly. She glances around confused until her gaze falls finally on Emma. Emma gestures past her to the mansion as she speaks.

Emma: "Back there, thank you…"

The Evil Queen raises an eyebrow until she follows Emma's arm towards the mansion behind her. She nods quickly once before looking straight ahead.

Evil Queen: "Don't mention it…ever again."

Regina pats Emma on the shoulder.

Regina: "Now can we leave?"

The Evil Queen and Regina exchange glances before Regina gives a brief nod. The Evil Queen smiles before turning her attention towards her seatbelt.

Evil Queen: "Why am I bound?"

Emma smiles as they round a corner. The Evil Queen sways heavily within her restraint.

Emma: "Safety."

The Evil Queen turns to Emma, raising an eyebrow again.

Evil Queen: "Yours or mine?"

Emma smiles happily.

Emma: "Yours…"

The Evil Queen nods briefly before raising her eyebrow again.

Evil Queen: "Your driving's that bad?"

Regina bursts out laughing as Emma shakes her head.

Emma: "Great, another one!"

Emma tries to change the subject as Regina calms down.

Emma: "Who were those guys?"

As Emma turns another corner she suddenly slams her foot on the brake. They all look on in horror as the large vortex in the centre of town slowly appears ahead of them. Lightning crackles and thunder crashes around the swirling vortex as it burrows deeper into Storybrooke's main thoroughfare.

Emma: "What the hell?!"

Emma looks from Regina to the Evil Queen and back again. Regina shrugs and points towards the Evil Queen in front of her.

Regina: "It's probably got something to do with the fan-boys she dusted back there."

Emma looks to the Evil Queen questioningly.

Evil Queen: "Don't look at me! It's not one of mine."

Suddenly the town's welcome sign crash lands in front of them before lifting off the ground again and sailing off through the air towards the swirling vortex before them.

Regina: "Whoa! What the hell?"

Regina glances around in time to see the red town line as it approaches them steadily. Houses are torn from their foundations and hurled into the air as the red line advances leaving nothing but forest in its wake. Regina taps on the back of Emma's seat.

Regina: "Swan, drive!"

Emma speaks without looking back.

Emma: "Drive where?"

Regina turns around quickly.

Regina: "Anywhere, just go!"

Emma glances into the rear-vision mirror before speaking.

Emma: "Holy crap!"

Emma slams her foot down on the accelerated causing the car's wheels spin violently. They screech loudly before suddenly finding traction. As they speed down the road Emma looks back at Regina through the mirror.

Emma: "What was that?"

Regina laughs to herself.

Regina: "That would be the town line retreating…along with the town!"

Emma shakes her head.

Emma: "How is that even possible?!"

Emma looks back at Regina who can do little more than shrug.

Regina: "Don't ask me! I'm the good one, remember?"

Emma gives a fleeting glance towards the Evil Queen, before turning her attention back to the road before her. The Evil Queen turns to Emma and speaks with more energy than before.

Evil Queen: "It's a magic siphoning spell."

Emma nods slowly before turning to the Evil Queen.

Emma: "Okay, how long 'til it stops…sucking?

The Evil Queen shrugs as she shakes her head from side to side.

Evil Queen: "I don't know…either it'll cease of its own accord or it'll stop when the magic runs out."

Regina gasps in horror.

Regina: "Even I know that that's really bad!"

Emma shrugs as they round another corner.

Emma: "So we're without magic again, what's the big deal?"

Regina leans forward to speak.

Regina: "Not this time, Swan."

The Evil Queen nods in agreement.

Evil Queen: "In any other realm you'd be right, Emma. But this town exists as a magical bubble within a barren, magic-less realm."

Emma looks from the Evil Queen to Regina as Regina finishes the Evil Queen's thought.

Regina: "And its game-over when that bubble bursts!"

Emma eyes the two other women suspiciously.

Emma: "Okay, the whole 'finishing-each-others-sentences' thing is kind of creepy…"

Regina sighs deeply before speaking hastily.

Regina: "Swan, focus!"

Emma growls as she grips the steering wheel tighter.

Emma: "Fine! I get it, whirlpool bad!"

The Evil Queen nods quickly again.

Evil Queen: "Really bad…"

Regina rolls her eyes as she leans back.

Regina: "Yeah, no kidding!"

Emma eyes Regina through the rear-vision mirror.

Emma: "Well, do we have a plan?"

The Evil Queen turns towards the swirling vortex as it comes into view once again.

Evil Queen: "The whirlpool appears to be drawing in the town's outer limits first. It should slow as it consumes more of Storybrooke's magic."

Emma nods slowly.

Emma: "So, that buys us a little time…"

Regina shakes her head slowly.

Regina: "Not a whole lot actually…"

The Evil Queen smiles savagely.

Evil Queen: "I have an idea that could get you some more."

Suddenly the Evil Queen disappears in a cloud of dark purple magic. Emma stares at her empty seat is disbelief.

Emma: "Great! We'd she go?"

Emma looks back towards Regina in askance. Regina smiles before leaning in again.

Regina: "Her strength has returned. I can…feel it. I think I know what she's planning."

Emma nods as Regina continues.

Regina: "Swan, save up your magic and gather everyone you can in the centre of town. Hopefully, we'll see you soon."

Regina nods quickly before disappearing in a cloud of white magic. Emma growls to herself.

Emma: "Great! Her too…"

Emma shakes her head as she speeds hastily towards the centre of town in her little yellow bug.

Henry runs down from the well and through the woods and out to the docks. He sees the Jolly Roger gone. Henry sees a man nearby and rushes over to him.

Henry: "Smee! Where's Hook taken his ship?"

Mr Smee laughs as he stops to speak to Henry.

Smee: "Nowhere, Henry! But if you're really out here looking for the Captain he's aboard the Roger's sister ship over there."

Henry eyes Smee suspiciously as her follows his outstretched arm. Henry's gaze halts at the end of the pier, where a little wooden runabout is moored. Smee smiles and pats Henry on the back.

Smee: "I think he'd welcome your company, sailor."

Henry raises an eyebrow briefly.

Henry: "Aye, thanks. Don't let me keep you, Mr Smee."

Mr Smee bows his head slightly before walking away smiling to himself. Henry turns and moves towards the squat vessel in front of him. He draws in a deep breath as he reads the boat's name aloud.

Henry: "The 'Jolly Nuisance'…"

Henry smiles as Hook emerges from the boat's cramped cabin. He sees Henry and smiles.

Hook: "Henry, how fares the day?"

Henry laughs to himself.

Henry: "Weird and getting weirder…where's the Jolly Roger, Killian?"

Hook stops and glances out over the harbour to the open ocean beyond.

Hook: "Probably out sailing tranquilly over some mighty ocean's shimmering surface..."

Henry raises an eyebrow.

Henry: "But it was just here this morning."

Hook turns back to Henry, and eyes him suspiciously.

Hook: "This morning?"

Henry nods emphatically.

Henry: "Yes, we were aboard while we were talking…"

Hook nods while concern begins to colour his features.

Hook: "Of Regina's unhappiness, aye. But we were never aboard the Roger, Henry."

Henry draws in a lungful of air.

Henry: "Wow, things really have changed!"

Hook raises a suspicious eyebrow.

Henry: "Are you feeling okay there, sailor?"

Henry nods briefly.

Hook: "Then you'll remember that I had traded my ship for your mother's safe return...you do remember this don't you, Henry?"

Henry thinks hard for a moment. Suddenly a string of memories flood into his mind. He shakes his head before speaking out loud.

Henry: "Okay that's weird, but yes, Killian. I do remember now…"

Hook sighs lightly with relief.

Hook: "Aye, well that's a weight off!"

Henry nods once before turning to the mouth of Storybrooke Harbour. He speaks to himself softly.

Henry: "Holy crap, it worked!"

Hook overhears Henry.

Hook: "What worked?"

Henry is shaken back to himself.

Henry: "Ah, never mind. But I have a feeling everything's about to change. And change for the better…"

Hook laughs to himself.

Hook: "Well, I wouldn't count on that!"

Hook pulls out his phone before continuing.

Hook: "All I know is that the weather-ape your mother got for this accursed thing said there was a zero per cent chance of rain. But alas, any sailor worth his salt knows these storm clouds brewing would suggest otherwise."

Henry turns back towards to as lightning and dark clouds cover the main body of town. He glances down at his watch before speaking to Hook.

Henry: "We should check it out. People may need our help, Killian."

Hook smiles before nodding once.

Hook: "That may be a tad premature, but non-the-less it is better to err on the side of caution with such matters."

Henry nods happily.

Henry: "Great, follow me…"

Henry leads Hook off the docks and towards the main street of Storybrooke.

Emma comes to a screeching stop, her little yellow bug narrowly missing one of Storybrooke's blue postal boxes. She hurries out of the car and into several distressed residents. Archie and his dog Pongo join them as well.

Archie: "Emma! What's going on around here? Who are all these soldiers?"

Emma glances quickly around before speaking hastily.

Emma: "Archie! The short version…chaos and I don't know."

Archie's demeanour turns grave as Emma turns towards the soldiers near the giant whirlpool not too far from them.

Archie: "What should we do?"

Emma turns back to him and the steady stream of residents now joining their swelling ranks.

Emma: "Bring everyone who is nearby and meet me outside Granny's in a few minutes!"

Archie nods along with the other frightened townspeople.

Archie: "Where are you going?"

Emma turns to the soldiers and begins to move away. She shouts back over her shoulder.

Emma: "I'm going to get some answers!"

All the townspeople move away except Archie. He shouts out to Emma as she walks.

Archie: "Alone? But it's not safe, Emma!"

Emma shakes him off as she begins to move towards the soldiers.

Emma: "Just go, Archie!"

Archie concedes defeat and joins the other residents of Storybrooke. Emma sighs with relief as she sees him move away. As she nears the soldiers and the swirling vortex she speaks pointedly

Emma: "You are their leader?"

The Captain nods curtly.

Captain: "I am their captain."

Emma nods as equally as curtly.

Emma: "Okay, so who are you and what are you doing here?"

The Captain smiles as he glances into the syphoning spell's swirling vortex.

Captain: "That does not concern you just yet."

Emma sees red.

Emma: "The hell it doesn't! This is our town and we didn't order any magical whirlpools, so take what's left of your soldiers and your demonic magic and get the hell out of our town!"

The Captain smiles at Emma clearly amused with her demands.

Captain: "Not until we have what we need."

Emma raises an eyebrow, the fire from a few moments ago still colouring her words.

Emma: "And what the hell is that?"

The Captain laughs to himself.

Captain: "Your undivided attention…"

Emma scoffs lightly.

Emma: "Well, you've got that."

The Captain shakes his head slowly from side to side.

Captain: "Your town's complete attention. Have them all gather here before us and they're lives will be spared."

Emma pauses a second before speaking with curiosity.

Emma: "Spared from what? You're sucking up the whole town with that whirlpool thing."

The Captain gives the syphoning spell a fleeting look as he speaks without emotion.

Captain: "Death…"

The Captain points towards the clock tower before smiling menacingly.

Captain: "You have until the longer hand reaches the top."

Emma quickly glances at the clock tower. She turns back to the captain in disbelief.

Emma: "That's only fifteen minutes! It's not time to evacuate the whole town, we need more time."

The captain laughs heartily.

Captain: "Once set in motion this spell cannot be stopped. And the longer you spend arguing the fewer people you can save."

Emma moves to argue further but stops. She growls with frustration and turns around hastily. She runs towards the crowd now gathering around Granny's dinner. As she nears them they all stop talking to one another and give Emma their full attention. Emma draws in a quick breath before speaking.

Emma: "Hey, everyone? Let's make this quick! By ten o'clock this whole town will be swallowed up by that giant thing over there. So, I need people to ring around…"

One of the townspeople shouts out cutting Emma off in the process.

Townsperson: "The phones are out!"

Emma rolls her eyes.

Emma: "Great! Alright then, I'm going to need people to go door to door quickly and spread the word that everyone must meet up here immediately."

The townspeople begin to protest but Emma waves them down.

Emma: "Don't ask questions, just move it people! But leave yourself enough time to get back to within a hundred metres of the whirlpool by ten."

Leroy emerges from the gathering. He confronts Emma with scepticism.

Leroy: "Why? What happens then?"

Emma sighs heavily.

Emma: "Everyone outside that area will die."

A stunned silence engulfs the gathering until Leroy nods and shouts.

Leroy: "Okay, people you have your orders. Now, let's hustle!"

The townspeople all nods and scatter about the town in a flurry of activity until only Emma and Granny carrying her crossbow are left.

Granny: "Well, that's a new way to scare off all my customers!"

Emma eyes Granny and her crossbow curiously.

Emma: "Shouldn't you be helping track down people?"

Granny laughs out loudly, surprising Emma.

Granny: "Ha! Running around is a job for the young! Go if you want…I'll watch them."

Granny points towards the soldiers as she strokes her loaded crossbow gently. Emma raises an eyebrow at her, sceptically.

Emma: "You any good with that thing?"

Granny scoffs as she raises the crossbow to her shoulder.

Granny: "I'm old, not frail!"

Emma smiles as she bows slightly.

Emma: "As you were then…"

Granny nods quickly once.

Granny: "Where are you going?"

Emma points down the road as she answers.

Emma: "Killian's still at the docks so I'm heading down there right now."

Emma turns to leave but suddenly stops as Granny shouts out to her.

Granny: "Emma, wait! That Mr Smee is way ahead of you. I saw him leave that way when everyone else scattered."

Emma nods and turns back around. She stands, contemplating her next more when Granny speaks again.

Granny: "You should stay."

Emma laughs to herself.

Emma: "And do what?"

Granny smiles warmly as she shrugs happily.

Granny: "I don't know…you could welcome your townspeople with open arms. They're going to be scared and frightened…the familiar face of their saviour will do wonders to ease their spirits."

Emma turns around towards the rest of Storybrooke, her demeanour grave.

Emma: "But I should be out there helping gather them together."

Granny laughs to herself.

Granny: "But you are. You gave the others their orders, now be a good leader and let them follow them."

Emma turns to Granny in disbelief.

Emma: "Since when have I become a leader?"

Granny nods as she glances around at the frantic nature of the residents of Storybrooke down the street.

Granny: "Since you broke the Evil Queen's curse."

Granny turns back to Emma and smiles warmly.

Granny: "Have faith, Emma…we will see this through as well."

Emma smiles awkwardly as the magic syphoning spell continues to draw in more of Storybrooke's magic.