Author's note: Hey, so I decided to experiment a bit with the idea that my story and what has been happening in the show are happening at the same time. This might be an awful idea but writer's block has led me here. Just tell me what you think.
Chapter 5: Mission impossible
In our world, Eric was tossing and turning in his sleep. He couldn't take it anymore. He didn't understand why all of a sudden these feelings for Red were surfacing. Sure they dated when they were cursed and he thought she might be the one but subconsiously he knew she wasn't, which is why he had always put himself in danger, but now that the curse was broken those feelings should have vanished. He realized the only thing to do was to go on without Red and Charles. So he got back into his scuba gear and was about to dive into the freezing cold water when something held him back. He turned around and saw Red. " Eric, where are you going? You're planning on going ahead without us?" asked Red draped in her hood.
"I think it's best. In fact, Ruby. I think you and Charles should go back to Storybrooke. " said Eric
"No, we're here to support you. We aren't leaving you when you need us the most. Besides, I'm a tracker if the trail of pebbles stops I can still find Ariel." Said Red
" I can find her myself." Said Eric
"What are you going to do have the power of love guide you?!" demanded Red "Just because magic is back doesn't mean we have it and newsflash love has many powers but guiding you through the ocean to your true love isn't one of them. "
" The truth is I want to go after her without you." said Eric
"Why?" asked Red
" Not telling." Said Eric
"We are not playing that game. You are telling me why you are throwing my love and support for you and your wife out the window after all the things we've been through. We went to see Rumplestilskine together. We saved Ariel together. Even as Ruby I've tried my best to support you when you wanted to go out in dangerous storms and when Ruby thought you were crazy even then I tried to get you the help you needed and now you say you just don't want me with you. So, I deserve to know why." Said Red
"You want to know why? You really want to know why?" asked Eric " It's because I think I'm falling in love with you!"
"You think you're falling in love with me?" asked Red
Eric nods "I had a dream that we were sitting around the fire telling Charles the story about how we met which lead into you talking about Peter and how the wolf killed him. I made a joke about it which prompted you to flirt with me and then before we knew it we were…" said Eric
"Like we did on that island?" asked Red
"Exactly. I guess, I just thought if we were away from each other these feelings would go away and I could concentrate on finding Ariel." Said Eric
"Eric, we have a history as the people we were cursed as. So, there may still be some left over feelings from that. Ruby and Patrick were really into each other and Ruby broke Patrick's heart because she couldn't deal with his insanity. I'm sure Patrick was very hurt by that. I know you love Ariel and you wish the Patrick side of you wasn't looking back but running away isn't going to stop the feelings; he'll still look back. If you don't want him to you need to focus on bringing the Eric side out more." Said Red
" But I still love you." Said Eric
"Do you or do you just love the support I can give you because I'm here? If you really want to know if you love you me. There is only one thing to do… kiss me." Said Red
"What?" asked Eric
"You heard me. Kiss me." Said Red "It will prove to you that you aren't in love with me."
Eric kisses Red and starts to feel tingly all over and felt a rush he only felt when he kissed Ariel suddenly he woke up again. He pinched himself to make sure he was awake this time. Then he put on his scuba gear and dove off the island and swam as fast as he could away from Charles and Red who were still sleeping. He decided he wasn't going to stop until he found Ariel.
Back, in the Long lost Fairy tale World, Ariel, Eric, and their new friends who called themselves Vanessa and John were having dinner together. Vanessa was telling the story about how she saved Eric on the night of his birthday. Ariel kept shaking her head as Vanessa was telling the story… " I realized someone had fallen off the ship so I took off my dress and dove right into the water. I swam with all my might and I noticed Eric. I took him and swam with him to shore. I then put him down and started pumping on his chest. Praying every second that he was alive before long he started to cough up water I gave one final kiss and then I thought I saw someone else in the water but it turned out to just be a shadow so I got my dress back on and ran back towards town. " said Vanessa
"Why didn't you stay so I could thank you?" asked Eric
"It was late and I wasn't supposed to be out at that hour. I had to rush straight home before anyone missed me. I would have stayed if I could have." Vanessa lied.
"How did you find us this time?" asked Eric
"John and I saw you go out there and then we saw your boat tip over. We knew the only right thing to do was go rescue you, your highness. I was very happy and surprised when I realized it was you I was rescuing again. " said Vanessa
"Thank goodness, you did and I'm very glad it was you. I've been thinking about you ever since my birthday. I can't think about living my life with anyone but you,Vanessa." Said Eric getting down on one knee and taking out a ring "Will you marry me?"
"Of course, I will, your highness!" said Vanessa
Ariel cries and runs out of the room and out the front door of the palace. She then runs towards the ocean. Eric and John go after her as Vanessa goes to one of the bedrooms. Triton pops up "What's wrong, dear?"
Ariel shakes her head sadly and then gets down on one knee.
"He asked that human girl to marry him?" asked Triton
Ariel nods sadly.
"I'm so sorry, Ariel. " said Triton "But, I won't let you get turned into sea foam. I'm going to see Ursula. I'd rather have no power than no daughter."
Ariel shakes her head indicating that she didn't want him to do that for her.
"You're my daughter. I'd give up anything for you." Said Triton
Triton goes down into the water.
Back, in our world, Eric had been swimming for many hours before the sun finally came up. He found it a thousand times easier to follow the trail without a flashlight because at night you were never sure what was in the water. As he followed the trail he couldn't help think that Triton didn't want them to be followed because of the way the trail twisted and turned in different directions. He suddenly had the awful feeling that he was going to run out of pebbles when he came upon a mysterious whirl pool. He stopped trying to figure out how to get around it when he noticed the trail stopped which made him wonder if the mermaids got around it. So, he dove right in and got washed up on an odd beach. He slowly got up and looked around. It was a desolate place but yet it seemed very familiar. Before he could go back into the ocean a young Asian female warrior pointed a spear at him. "Who are you? How did you come to be here?" asked Mulan suspiously.
"My name is Prince Eric. I came through a whirlpool from a town called Storybrooke. Who are you?" he asked
"I am Mulan and I ask the questions here." She said
" Wait, this is home isn't it?" asked Eric "This is what remains of our land since Queen Regina's curse has struck."
Mulan nodded once. "Now, come with me."
"I'm afraid I can't. I'm on a mission to save my true love. I can't be distracted by having a tour of our land. " said Eric
"I'm not giving you a tour. I'm taking you prisoner now come with me." Said Mulan. Eric starts to run back into the water but his legs suddenly fuse together and he falls over.
"Damn it, stupid magic!" yelled Eric
"Aurora! Help me with this one!" yelled Mulan. Aurora came over.
Aurora and Mulan pick up Eric and put him on a horse. Then Mulan herself gets on the horse that already has Snow and Emma tied to it and rides off to the safe haven. When they get to the safe haven. Mulan hands Eric to Emma Snow kicks Aurora and starts running. Emma goes after her with Eric in her arms. Mulan then takes knun chucks and hits Snow in the back of her head knocking her out. " You heartless bitch!" yelled Eric.
"Quiet! Take them to the pit." Ordered Mulan
Emma, Snow, and Eric are thrown into a prison. "You three look like you need help." Said a voice
"Who are you?" asked Emma
"A friend," said Cora coming out of the shadows. "My name is Cora"
"Regina's mother…" Eric trailed off.
"Hello, Eric. I haven't seen you since the night before Regina and Leopold's wedding. My how you've grown. " said Cora
"It has been a long time and I'm sorry, Cora but we don't need your help. This is all your fault anyway." Said Eric
Cora chortles "My fault? And how did you get to that conclusion?"
" Right before I was locked away I stole your daughter's dairy and did some digging. Turns out your daughter has kept this dairy for a very long time. From what I read you killed her boyfriend which led her to need to get rid of you. So, she got Rumplestilskine's help and he gave her the curse that sent most of us to Storybrooke wiping our memories clean. The curse was broken by the sheriff over here but we never came back home so I had to track down my wife so we could be together which led me to a whirl pool which sent me here where some warrior princess took me prisoner. So, yes. I blame you." Said Eric
"Well, I guess the apple didn't fall far from that tree." Said Emma
"I was just trying to give my daughter the best life she could have and I'm not going to take advice on how to raise a child from a fish man who's never had any." Said Cora " You need help to get out of this prison. I happen to be offering mine. I can get all of us out of here if you just trust me." Said Cora
"Blinding trusting a woman with an evil reputation? That's a wonderful idea. While, we're at it why don't we just kill every last man, woman, and child left in our land!" said Eric sarcasctically
"You want to get back to your quest don't you? And I'm sure those two want to get back to wherever they came from. So, I'm your only choice. Aren't I?" asked Cora
"She's right. It's not like we can break ourselves out." Said Emma
"Like hell we can't, Sheriff!" said Eric
"That's big talk for a fish out of water." Said Cora
"Well, I'd rather die down here than trust you." Said Eric
"Whatever, Regina wrote in that dairy it isn't true." Said Cora "She and I had our problems but it wasn't as bad as you think."
Snow wakes up and gets up when she sees Cora "Cora…"
" She wants to help us." Said Emma
"No. " said Snow "I'm not the sweet naïve little girl I was when you knew me, Cora. My friends aren't that naïve either. We'll find our own way out of here and we don't need your help."
"You're being held prisoner in a giant hole on a mysterious island and you don't need my help?" asked Cora
"I've had to go through worse than this. Your daughter sent a huntsman to kill me, I had to live out in the woods hunting and stealing to get by, I had to deal with werewolves, I took a potion and lost my humanity causing me to try and kill your daughter, I was cursed so that I couldn't have any children, I was put in a coma and kept in a glass box, my daughter was shipped to another land, and then I forgot who I was and I was labeled a home wrecker and a tramp, was framed for murder, and pulled back here and taken prisoner. So, I think I can handle breaking myself and my friends out of prison and get back to my husband and my grandson Henry." said Snow
"My, you've been through quite an adventure. " said Cora "Haven't you? Perhaps, you don't need my help but your legless friend might."
"I might not have legs but I still have a brain and my pride." Said Eric
Suddenly a soldier appears above them "You three! Our leader wants an audience!" He brings down a ladder and Eric uses his arms to move over to the rope and Emma helps him get on as he climbs to the top, Emma, and Snow follow. They are led to a cabin and out steps a black man in armor. "Lancelot!" said Snow running over and hugging him
"Snow. I'm sorry, I didn't know you were the prisoners Mulan brought I would have never locked you up if I knew." Said Lancelot.
"Lancelot, this is my daughter Emma and our friend…" said Snow
"Eric." Lancelot interrupted " I thought you were underwater with your bride."
"I was but when the curse hit I became a man again and we were separated from each other. When it broke I went to find her and she was gone so I followed a trail she left me. Only, problem was the trail ended in front of a whirl pool that brought me here and changed me back into a merman at a very inconvenient time. I need to get back to the ocean so I can continue my search. " said Eric
"I think it's best if you stayed here. If you all stayed here. The land is much more dangerous than it used to be. The ogres are back." Said Lancelot.
"As in fe fi fo fum, ogres?" asked Emma in disbelief
"Those are giants." Said Eric "Ogres are much worse. We'd have better luck if he told us Ursula had returned."
"Who's Ursula?" asked Emma
"She was an evil sea witch who put Ariel under a curse. I died trying to rescue her. " said Eric
"If you died how are you here with us now?" asked Emma
"Ariel made a deal with Rumplestiskine for a resurrection potion. It started to take away her life so I made a deal with him to give her her life back and make me a merman so we could be together." Said Eric " Her father,Triton ,doesn't want us together, though. I think he's planning on getting her to remarry which is why I need to get back on my mission. " said Eric
"And we have a family in Storybrooke and I think I know where we can get a portal." Said Snow
"Where?" asked Lancelot suddenly curious
"I don't think it's a good idea to talk about my plans in the open not with Cora around." Said Snow
" Don't worry about her. The curse stripped her power." Said Lancelot
"Still it's Cora." Said Snow and Eric together
"If you must leave I insist you take my best warrior with you… MULAN. " said Lancelot
"Deal. Thank you for always looking out for me." Said Snow
" Lancelot, how about helping me get back to the ocean?" asked Eric
"I'll lead you there myself. Old friend." Said Lancelot
Back in the Long Lost Fairytale world, Triton swims deeper and deeper until he gets to Ursula's cave. Ursula is waiting for him when he gets there. "You're here. I've been excepting you, Triton. I assume you're ready to give up your power?" asked Regina
"Yes but you must bring my daughter back to normal." Said Triton
"Just sign right here." She said conjuring up a contract and a pen. Triton takes the pen and signs the contract.
Meanwhile, the present fairytale world, Lancelot and Eric ride on a horse with Eric holding on to Lancelot's waist "I'm glad no one can see us out here." Said Eric as they were riding towards the beach
"It shouldn't be too long until we get to the shore." Said Lancelot and Eric sighed "is everything all right?"
"Not really. I think I may be in love with someone. A girl I fell in love with during the curse. I've been thinking about her more and more. Her name is Red… Red Hiding Hood. " said Eric "She and my footman Charles were with me when my mission first started but I went on ahead without them. I just can't be distracted by Red right now."
"Then you did the right thing." Said Lancelot. "I'm sure she'll understand."
The sky was rainbow colored on the horizon when they finally reached the ocean. Lancelot got off his horse and then helped Eric off and led him closer to the water.
"Thank you, old friend." Said Eric
"Before you go tell me where were Snow and her daughter going and what's their plan?" asked Lancelot
"Why are you interested in that?" asked Eric
"I'm just curious. So?" asked Lancelot
"I don't know. Snow never told me." Said Eric
"You must know something." Said Lancelot
"Really I don't." said Eric
"We'll see about that. " said Lancelot who lifts up his arms and manipulates a tidal wave so that it holds Eric captive.
" You're not Lancelot. Who are you?" asked Eric "Who are you?!"Lancelot suddenly changes in a cloud of purple smoke to Cora. "Cora. What did you do to Lancelot?"
"I killed him a long time ago, dear. Been posing as him since that day. Now, where did Mulan take them?" asked Cora viciously
"I told you I don't know!" yelled Eric
" Well, you better think hard about where they might be because if you don't figure it out I'll be forced to kill you and your friends." Said Cora
"My friends?" asked Eric. Cora throws beams of magic at five different places on the shore and Red, Charles, Ariel, Triton, and Colin are all trapped in the water the way he is. "Let them go!"
"Of course. I'm not an unreasonable woman but first you tell me what I need to know." Said Cora
"Eric, don't tell her anything! We'll be all right!" said Ariel
"Ariel is right we've dealt with much worse than this bitch!" said Red
"Strong words coming from someone who is imprisoned by magic." Said Cora
" You're just lucky it's not a full moon tonight or I'd tear you to shreds myself." Said Red
Cora does a hand gesture drowning Red and then springs her magical water back into position.
"Leave her alone!" yelled Eric
"Don't tell her anything! We can handle this! Think about Snow and Emma!" yelled Ariel
Eric nods at her "Do whatever you want to me and my friends I'll never tell you what Snow's plan is. Never! Even if I'm wrong about it!"
"Perhaps, the stakes aren't high enough for you. Why don't I amp them up!" said Cora. Suddenly the ten headed Scylla monster appears behind them.
"If you care about my daughter you will tell Cora exactly what she wants to know!" demanded Triton
"Eric, don't!We're not worth it!" said Ariel "I love you!"
" This is bigger than us." Said Charles "This is about protecting our friends so whatever happens do not tell her anything."
"I don't know you but you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders. You know what to do." Said Colin
"I learned a long time ago that you have to make very difficult decisions even if they may hurt the people you love. Ruby taught me that. You'll make the right decision." Said Red
"All right, all right! You win, Cora. I overheard Snow saying something about going to her castle. She thinks that there is a portal there that can get her and Emma back to Storybrooke ." yelled Eric
" Scylla! Attack!" yelled Cora "Have fun watching your friends die, dear and by the way, you were right in the pit you shouldn't trust me."
Suddenly an arrow comes out of nowhere and hits Red in the shoulder.
"Red!" yelled Eric. Suddenly the Red being held captive turns into a pile of sand.
"I'm over here." Eric looked over to where the voice came from
"It's an illusion! You twisted witch!" yelled Eric at Cora as the others melted into sand and the water holding Eric turned back into regular ocean water.
"Doesn't matter if you know that now. You already told me exactly what I want to know. So, if you excuse me I'm off to visit my daughter and grandson. Have fun with Scylla. " said Cora who disappears in purple smoke leaving Red, Charles, and Eric to deal with the monster.
" How did you know where I was?" asked Eric
"Followed the trail and then I tracked you the good old fashioned way. You really think you can out run a tracker?" asked Red
"I'm very glad that I can't especially like this!" said Eric. Red hands Eric a crossbow. "Where did the crossbow come from?" asked Eric
"Granny always made me bring some weapons when I went out in case of emergency. It's a habit. " said Red
"Thank God for that." Said Eric
They start shooting arrows at Scylla. When it's closer enough Charles throws a sword at it piercing it's stomach and causing it to crumble into dust.
"Red… Charles, I'm sorry I left without you. " Said Eric
Back, in the fairytale world's past, Eric and the huntsman just met up with Ariel. "Ariel, I'm sorry. " said Eric
"Not as sorry as you will be. " said the huntsman
"What do you mean?" asked Eric
" Ariel is a mermaid. She's the one that really saved you on your birthday. She gave up being a mermaid for you. Unless, she gets true love's kiss in two days she'll die. She put her life on the line for you. " said the huntsman
"Ariel, is this true?" asked Eric
Ariel nods slowly but then gestures that she's going to let him go because he isn't in love with her."You're giving up your life for me? No one has ever done that before." Said Eric. Suddenly, she morphs back into a mermaid and gets sucked into the ocean .