Part 5
Thé shakes her head at the size of the crowd gathered at the docks. All of them are keeping their distance from her and where she sits casually sprawled out on the only wooden platform that has no ships or boats tied to the brackets, a ¼ empty bottle of gin for company. The sea for once is not it's usual calm; every now and again a roiling wave rushes to the shore and raises up to splash across the dock. She is finally joined by Emma, Regina and the Charmings when the last flicker of light on the horizon begins to dim.
"I have most of the ingredients but I don't have water from Avalon."
Thé glances up at the small group standing next to her and pushes herself to her feet. "No worries," she tells them with a smile before rummaging in the battered leather bag slung across her shoulder. "Ta da!" she says, producing a clear vial of liquid with what looks like lightning bugs dancing inside.
"It's beautiful," murmurs Snow.
"You should see Avalon itself. Now that is a sight to see," reminisces Thé. "Is Morgana still the Lady of the Lake?"
"I believe so. I've never had the pleasure of meeting her but we have met her son, Lancelot."
Thé jolts and blinks in shock at the news the prince imparts to her.
"You didn't know?"
"No, Mary Margaret I didn't. But it's good news to hear," she says with a small smile. "Full night is almost upon us. Regina and Emma, if you could release the ingredients into the sea."
"And what are you going to do?" asks David suspiciously.
"Call out across the planes to guide the ship here," she winces in reply.
"It's the hardest part of the ritual," comments Regina.
Thé frowns at Regina, her words making her wary of the once Evil Queen. "You know a great deal about this ritual."
"My mother once performed it when I was much younger."
"Cora summoned Davy Jones?" exclaims Zelena as she, Robin, Rumplestiltskin and Belle join the small group.
"She wanted something of his but she couldn't compel him."
"Let's keep mum on the detail that Cora is the mother of you two. At least until we're well out at sea," suggests Thé with a glint of an eye, making sure the gathered party know that it isn't actually a suggestion but a command. "Now that we're all here; Emma you take the anemone and the fog, Regina you take the pearls and sea shells. You need to drop the anemone back into the waves and uncork the vial of abysmal fog and drop it in after. Then at the same point Regina -"
"I know what I have to do," she interrupts. "Soon it'll be too dark and we'll have to wait until sunrise."
"Which would just be awful," snarks Zelena sarcastically.
"Well the longer it takes us to get Killian back, the longer you're stuck with that bridle of mine strapped to your wrist. And if you continue to be a pain in my ass I'll disregard Robin's plea and place it on your face which will not only continue to mute your magic but also your voice. So do we have an understanding?" glares Thé.
"Fine," the Wicked Witch huffs and gives a roll of her eyes in reply.
"Good. You all stay back. And keep the dwarves back with Killian until I say otherwise," Thé murmurs that last part to David.
David, Mary Margaret, Robin, Zelena, Belle and Rumplestiltskin watch on as the three differing women head to the end of the dock; the brunette striding confidently in her dark grey pantsuit, the purple and green haired woman seemingly gliding over the wooden boards in her six-inch red suede heels, and the blonde nervously shuffling the contents in her hands as she approaches the sea with the others, her red leather jacket barely moving even as the wind kicks up. The group watches on as Emma kneels at the end of the dock and carefully pulls the anemone from it's watertight container and lets it loose in the water. Gold leans forward as she drops the vial of abysmal fog, a side smirk appearing when the Saviour steps automatically backwards as the fog spreads out of the vial the moment it reaches the waves. The darkness surrounding them, only broken by the electric lights dotted around the dock, thickens as the fog envelops the sea.
"Should that be happening?" worries Mary Margaret.
"Not to worry deary, it's not called abysmal fog for nothing," Gold tries to reassure the school teacher.
The group have to turn their faces away as Regina casts the powdered pearls into the bulging fog. The moment the substance touches the fog each granule burns brilliant white, blazing like the stars now hidden from their view. They hear the jingle of the sea shells as they too are tossed into the bulging fog only instead of hearing a splash of water from the shells hitting the sea, the sextet hear them crunching as if something was standing on them and smashing them to smithereens. Then there is complete silence. They look to one another in fear but force themselves not to react when they see Gold continues to be calm and has returned to watching the three women - now backlit by the dimming white light of the pearls. They watch as Thé opens her vial of water and holds it open in cupped hands, presenting it as a gift to the belching fog. Sound crashes back into existence around them.
"What…" Robin tries to ask but, like his companions, is too amazed by the sight before him to say anything else as tendrils of water rise out of the vial and seemingly embrace tendrils of fog reaching out to it.
Within the water they see gold flickerings that look like lightning bugs but seem to zoom around much more sedately. The little lights appear to dance through the water and then they suddenly expand when they touch the fog. When all the water in the vial is gone a soft humming fills the air at such a pitch that everyone on the docks can feel the hairs on their arms and the backs of their necks rising up. As the humming turns into a crooning aria the fog swirls until it takes the shape of a cyclone - the opening of it facing the docks. The three women remain where they stand as the opening grows larger and larger. The golden lights from the water of Avalon and the dimming white lights from the crushed pearls spin until they blur together.
And then everything seems to stop as if time itself no longer exists. The cyclone freezes. The waves pause. Even the foam beginning to form on the crest of the waves halts in mid-air. The only thing moving in the bubble are the people watching on in fascination and some fear at the phenomenon occurring before them. Seconds pass, but it could be minutes or hours, before the cyclone simply blows away like ashes thrown into a strong wind. The waves fall back and the sea calms once more. The wind dies down and the clouds high above disperse to reveal the inky black sky filled with twinkling stars and a crescent moon shining down on their quiet little town.
"Did it work?" asks David.
"It did," whispers Rumplestiltskin, leaning away from the oncoming sight.
From the depths of the calm ocean a mast begins to rise out of it. Water crashes down into the sea when the bow springs forth, followed by the rest of the large three-masted vessel. Rumplestiltskin exhales before forcing himself forward, the other five slowly following after him. They quickly reach the three women; Regina and Emma stare in shock and amazement at the traditional-rigged ship anchoring by the dock, whilst Thé has her back to the incredible sight. Regina, whilst having seen The Flying Dutchman being summoned before, is still shocked by the sight of the ship in such close quarters. An eerie feeling encases the ship that seems to add to making all those that clap eyes on the vessel feel awed by it's presence. Along with a foreboding fear that floods even the most courageous when the ship docks and a line is thrown to the wooden platform they stand upon.
"What is it you wish of The Dutchman and her crew that you mortals dare force us from our heading and bring us to this godforsaken land?" a snarly voice croaks at them as the owner of the voice slides down the rope and spryly lands on the wooden dock.
Two blazing blue eyes belligerently stares down the gathered group, an age-spotted hand caresses his foamy white beard that almost hides his rosy cheeks. He wears a soft dark green hat that covers the short cropped brown hair interspersed with white and grey. The man seems to be quite fit (especially for his age) and his short sleeved tunic shows off his tattooed biceps but it also clings to a portly stomach that seems at odds with the rest of his robust figure.
"Well? Is there not a one of you who isn't a cowardly dog?"
"We'll be requiring cabins for our voyage. Have the crew take our bags to them, Mr Branigan," Athena commands the man in an icy tone, finally turning to face ship.
Mr Branigan freezes and only his eyes rove to find the face of the one that spoke. The rosy flesh of his cheeks pale when his eyes clap on to Thé's hazel eyes and emotionless face. The First Mate begins to stutter and quickly yanks his cap from his head and gives a gracious bow to the goddess standing before him.
"Get your lazy hides down here you dogs and fetch these valises!" he shouts out to the crew, not removing his gaze from Athena.
His command causes the crew to begin scurrying and scampering across the deck of the ship and down on to the dock via the hastily thrown gangplank to bring aboard the assorted luggage the group packed for their voyage.
"May I introduce you all to Mr Branigan, First Mate of The Flying Dutchman," Thé tells the group, giving the sailor a soft smile.
"An honour it is to be seeing you, my fair lady. But the Captain isn't one to enjoy being summoned...even by one as lovely as you."
"Laying it on a little thick, isn't he?" comments Emma quietly.
"He doesn't have to enjoy it. We have need of his services and he will provide them."
"Um...aye, my lady. But, uh, would you mind being the one to inform him of that?" asks Mr Branigan nervously making Thé laugh.
"Branigan where the blasted hell are we?" comes a deafening shout just before a tall dark-haired man appears and swiftly joins them on the docks.
"We were summoned Cap'n."
"'Summoned'? Then why is my crew carrying items aboard my ship instead of the beautiful sound of cannons blasting the bastards to The Locker filling the air?"
"That would be...well it's a matter of…"
"Just spit it out man!"
"Your crew is doing as I commanded," states Thé, her eyes flashing momentarily silver as she interrupts Mr Branigan's stuttered replies.
The blue eyed Captain swirls round to face Athena; his face emotionless with the exception of his eyes widening ever so slightly and a subtle twitch of his lips. Davy Jones stares at the young woman, taking in the changes since the last time he saw her. He forces himself to hold back his frown that her luscious mahogany locks are now a vivid royal purple and lime green. And so short. Before her tresses reached the base of her spine and now they barely kiss the length of her neck. The change of clothing is not as difficult to accept. Whilst her creamy peplos or crimson chiton were beautiful against her swarthy skin, the tightness of the crimson trews and the leather jacket add a darker edge to the goddess. Before he can react or say anything Davy notices the glare in her hazel eyes and pulls on his own anger.
"You have no right to summon me or command my crew," he shouts. "My crew and I are leaving. Never call upon us again!"
"No you are not," replies Thé bitingly. "You will take us to the Underworld and return us to this place."
"The Underworld?" chuckles Davy humorlessly. "You expect me to just sail you and this bunch of good for nothing mortals into Hades lair. Why?"
"Emma," the ex-goddess turns to the blonde at her side who takes a breath and calls upon her light magic. "That is why," Thé murmurs her gaze flickering to the stretcher Emma's magic transported from where the dwarves were guarding it nearby.
The Captain of The Dutchman rolls his eyes but his intrigue on why Athena would risk such a thing is too great. He turns to look at the magical stretcher holding the body it carries in a form of stasis. Davy's face blanches and pales when he sees Killian's empty form carefully lain out on the stretcher. Were it not for his ability to see the soul of a person, thanks to Poseidon, he would think the rugged pirate was simply sleeping. Davy turns from the sight, putting his back to the confused group of onlookers, and remembers the last time he had seen Killian.
"Please. You can bring her back. You have to!" screams Killian from where he cradles Milah's body on the deck of the Jolly Roger.
The pirate's crew inch back, fearing that their young Captain has lost his marbles and become deranged by the loss of the woman he'd given his heart to. Hidden by the abysmal fog - which opens the way for his ship to traverse the realms - Davy watches on as Killian cries tears of agony. Hours pass before Killian's pleas for Davy Jones to appear and bring the lass' soul back to her come to an end. His voice hoarse, his tears all cried out, the young man carefully and lovingly wraps the brunette in a soft white sheet. A burial at sea for a woman who had loved it just as much as he had. Her watery grave her final resting place.
"I hate you," Killian bites out, his dry gaze on the horizon as the splash of the body entering the sea fills the area.
Davy had watched on as Killian's anger and hatred for the Dark One, and Davy himself, had boiled inside him. He watched as the young pirate threw the bean out into the ocean and travelled far from the land that had caused him such heartache and misery. Never again would he be the same man, and never again would Davy have the chance to see him.
"Killian destroyed the darkness of the Dark One. We plan to return his soul to his body. But we need transport," Thé tells his back. "I cannot travel via Charon."
"So I am your only way," sighs Davy bitterly before turning around. "What's in it for my crew?"
Thé sneers at the Captain but takes the bag of Charon's obols from Belle and tosses them to the dark-haired man. The group holds their breath as Davy counts through the sword-stamped coins before retying it and pocketing the bag.
"There's only nine of you," he comments with a raise of his brow.
"The other four can be just in case," replies Thé.
"You always did like to cover all your bases," Davy chuckles. "Branigan, help me cart this on to the ship," he commands with a gesture to Killian.
"That went easier than expected," says Snow.
"Almost too easily," adds Zelena, a glint in her eyes that flickers out when Thé cuts her eyes to the witch.
"Mom?" calls out Henry as he approaches the group; the Merry Men, the dwarves and Granny dutifully following.
"Be good, and try not to get into any mischief," smiles Emma, giving her son a hug and kissing his forehead before giving him over to Regina for the brunette to say her goodbyes.
Snow, Charming and Belle say their goodbyes to the dwarves and Granny; the couple having already said a tearful farewell to their son when Demeter came to take him to Regina's house earlier in the day. Robin gives his own stoic farewell to his Men. Gold, Thé and Zelena remain separated from the parting crowd of well-wishers.
"Everyone, I'm sorry but we need to get aboard," interrupts Thé regretfully as final goodbyes are said and the smaller group disperse to board the Flying Dutchman.
"He's not quite how I pictured," whispers Emma to Regina as they make their way across the gangplank making Athena laugh.
"What, were you expecting him to be all tentacley?"
"Why on Earth would anyone expect that?" frowns Regina in bewilderment.
"Disney," explains Thé. "They get it wrong so often. Though I definitely wouldn't mind if a certain Captain Jack or Will Turner were real," she grins giving them a wink.
"Amen to that," Emma immediately agrees, her eyes widening when she realises what she said. "Do not tell Killian I said that."
Thé promises once she stops laughing but is brought to a halt upon reaching the main deck. A leggy brunette saunters across the deck pointing out the way to the cabins hastily made up for The Dutchman's latest guests. Davy returns to the main deck, having placed Killian's stretcher in his own cabin. The Captain forces himself to remember proper etiquette and swiftly introduces himself to the large group. He prides himself on being able to shake Rumplestiltskin's hand rather than punching the man. He turns to the last of the group, a beautiful blonde, but does not get a chance to introduce himself.
"So Megara you'll save," sneers Thé, flinching when Davy turns to her with soft eyes and reaches out to touch her. "Don't," she warns before turning away from the Captain and silently leading Emma to the Captain's cabin so the Saviour can stay with Killian.
A/N: So now you've met Davy Jones. My friend and I had a theory regarding him and that's where the flashback scene came from. I won't say anything more so as not to spoil what's to come in my story, but I'm sure some, if not all, of you can figure him out.
As I said in the last chapter this chapter ended up being longer than expected so I've split it into two. This is the second half. Again I apologise for how long it took to get you these chapters. It's not because of how long the original chapter was. Just have not had too many good days this last week; neither physically nor mentally. Thank you so much for your patience.
Please review and let me know what you think. Thanks for reading!
~Anna-Margaret
xx