X Marks the Spot

Chapter Five

During the forgotten year, within the Enchanted Forest…

His back was pressed firmly against one of the Jolly Roger's sides and his leg caught within one of the ship's floorboards, while his enemy held his sword to his throat as Black Beard glared up at the other pirate Captain and shouted angrily, "Finish it!"

Hook prepared to follow through while he raised his blade, then he replied, "Fancy a shave, do we? Well, I'll be happy to oblige."

"Wait!" the red headed Princess pleadingly cried out, causing the darkly dressed pirate to pause. "Eric's not on board. You have to get him to tell you where he is."

"You heard the lady," Captain Hook coldly answered as they both looked over at Ariel and then turned back to one another. "Where is he?"

Black Beard smiled while he kept his eyes on his nemesis and stated smugly, "So, that's what this was... A rescue mission for some wench? Ha! They were right about you, Hook. You have gone soft."

Killian glared down at him as he responded, "I can either make this painful... Or quite painful. Now answer!"

"I have him stashed safe and sound on a deserted island," the fancier dressed pirate Captain replied as he looked between Hook and the woman pleading for his and his enemy's help. "Only I know where. I was planning to ransom him when the time was right."

"Whatever it is, I'll pay it," Ariel swiftly answered, not caring what it was he wanted.

He turned back to look up at Hook and responded, "Money's not what I'm after anymore."

She looked at him in confusion as she asked, "Then what is it that you want?"

"The satisfaction of proving Captain Hook is no longer a pirate," Captain Black Beard haughtily replied.

"How are you gonna prove that?" Hook asked arrogantly, unaware by just how much his coming decision would cause him trouble.

Black Beard knocked the blade away from his throat and then he smiled as he answered smugly, "By giving you a choice. Surrender the Jolly Roger to me, and I'll tell you where I'm holding her prince. Or refuse, and he dies along with me."

Present day…

Black Beard sat within a jail cell inside the sheriff's station for a while before he was pulled from his thoughts of one of his last encounters with his nemesis as a smarmy looking man with short gray hair, wearing a fancy black suit, and who wielded a cane entered the room after Regina left him alone, while the visitor spoke up saying, "Captain Black Beard. I'll admit, I'm more pleased you've arrived here in Storybrooke then I ever thought I could be."

"You have me at a disadvantage, Sir…" the pirate responded smugly, turning away while he kept his eyes trained on the bars between the two cells before him. "You certainly know who I am, despite my… less than desirable alteration to my image. I've seen you around, yet I don't believe I know you. Why would a man such as yourself care to come see me within a brig as dastardly as this one?"

"Around here, people call me Mr. Gold," he replied, then raised his hand and swiftly transformed himself from that of his non-magical appearance and back into the true form that everyone from within all other realms know him as. "Surely you recognize me now, don't you? I believe we've met on more than one occasion in our pasts."

The pirate sat up and stared at Rumple with surprise as he answered, "Dark One… here in this…"

Gold finished for him as he said, "Fairytale Hell? Home of magic and non-magic creatures alike? Bizarre and disgustingly picturesque corner of a non-magical world? Yes, I am undeniably the Dark One and I'm trapped here, just as you are now. Live here long enough, you will likely come to be a changed man much like the enemy you're stuck in this cell for after trying to kill him. Luckily for me, I'm not one of those fortunate souls saved by the Savior. And if you wish to remain as lucky as me, I suggest you accept my help."

"I don't understand," Black Beard responded in disbelief. "Why would you want to help me?"

"Because we both want the same thing," the Dark One replied smugly. "We both want to see Captain Hook pay for his many offenses against us. Myself even more so than you. Going after someone he cares about to make him weak is a good way to get your revenge. But as you failed when you attacked his lover's son and was easily bested when the boy's powerful mother struck you down with her magic, it means that you underestimated him and those who care about him. You became hasty and attacked without thinking. You failed to kill him because you wounded Hook in a way the Savior can heal him. Worry not, I have something even better for him in mind. Something, a little more subtle than an outright attack."

The Captain stood on his feet while he glared at the other villain before him and stated coldly, "I'll admit I failed because I became cocky and challenged him to a duel. I should have shot him then and there when I had the chance. I saw the look on his face when I threatened the boy. I knew Hook would give his life to protect him. Since I've arrived, I've seen how he feels about all these heroes. I just didn't expect this world's proclaimed Savior to arrive in time to save him. I never thought Hook was capable of love. Nor did I expect for this woman to actually love him back. Whatever does she see in him?"

Rumpelstiltskin answered, "That is the million dollar question now."

"Why is it you want my nemesis dead?" Black Beard continued. "And if your hate for Hook is as strong as you say, then how is it that the almighty Dark One has failed to kill him yourself?"

"Things here in Storybrooke are a bit more complicated than they are back within the Enchanted Forest," he responded with frustration. "But believe me, it hasn't been for the lack of trying."

The pirate replied, "You didn't explain why you want to see him dead so badly. Hook and I go back a long way. How exactly did he offend you?"

Gold flicked his wrist and the cell door opened widely, then he answered, "You haven't known that one handed pirate for nearly as long as I have. And my hate for him is worth more than your petty desire to steal back a ship."

"My hate for Captain Hook is more than a simple desire for what rightfully belongs to me," Black Beard spoke again angrily. "He traded the Jolly Roger for a magic bean, which I gave him without question because I believed the ship was what he valued more than anything else and that it would destroy him to lose it to me. After it was taken from me again, I set out to find the Jolly Roger and imagine my surprise when I discovered it was once more in possession of my enemy. Hook has stolen my crew from me more than once, humiliating me in front of them and on one of our last encounters he nearly killed me. Had it not been for some mermaid he betrayed, I would have been food for sharks after he shoved me off the ship's plank. Captain Hook is weak. But he mocks me and all that a true pirate stands for. I hate him."

"You're right about one thing," the Dark One responded. "He is weak. Hook is only alive now because he is protected by this town's heroes. I would like nothing more than to see him obliterated once and for all. Come with me. I can give you something that will cause trouble for Hook. Trust me, you'll like what I have in mind."

The pirate looked for any sign of deception as he cautiously left the cell, then asked skeptically, "If I agree, what is it you want in return? I know about the kinds of deals the Dark One grants to anyone willing. I came here with nothing, but the clothes on my back. Not these ones of course, but…"

Gold smiled, then he stated, "Don't worry, dearie. My price is something you will not hesitate to give up when I give to you your enemy's demise. But we can talk about that price later. There's much to do."