A/N I think we are getting close to the end, darlings. My muse is drifting towards other tales. Also, sorry this took so long. I had written this chapter and had it sitting there starting at me but I wasn't happy with it so after a while I re-wrote it and now I'm much happier. Enjoy!

Chapter Thirty-Two

Atlantis

Emma's first thought is 'Are you kidding me? I've been married for less than a minute!' as she struggles to keep her feet on the shaking ground.

"Bloody hell. I know that roar." Killian mutters as his eyes widen and he whips around towards the sea. Several wedding guests start pointing and Emma turns her head to watch several enormous tentacles spring from the waves as the beast sounds another mighty bellow.

"What is it?" Emma asks Killian as she steps in closer.

Killian looks at her with fear in his eyes and swallows hard.

"A kraken." He says amidst another bone-rattling roar.

"You've fought one before?" David asks worriedly but Killian is shaking his head before David finishes his question.

"No. I outran it on my ship. The fastest ship in all the realms almost wasn't fast enough." He says with a worried look at Emma.

"Second fastest." A strong voice says from a few yards away and everyone turns to watch a tall handsome man in a strange navy uniform with dark eyes and caramel-coloured skin, stride up the aisle towards them.

"Nemo?" Killian says in a shocked voice and the man grins charismatically.

"That's Captain Nemo, pirate. And I'm fairly certain that my ship could give yours a run for its money." He says as he walks up to clap Killian on the back with a teasing grin.

Killian returns his grin and embrace, and opens his mouth to speak as the kraken sounds another bellow.

"It seems there has been quite a lot happening here in Atlantis since I left." Nemo says as his gaze slides appreciatively towards Emma and he whistles low.

Killian grins wider and gestures his arm out to Emma.

"Captain Nemo, may I present my wife, Mrs. Emma Swan." He says with a wink at his bride and Nemo takes her hand and lifts it to his lips.

"There are not many men that I envy in this world, Mrs. Swan, but you, I'm certain, have just made this pirate one of them." He says before brushing a kiss across her hand.

The kraken roars again and Emma pulls her hand back with an apologetic smirk.

"Maybe introductions and pretty words can wait until after the present crisis?" she says and she looks around to see that they are now flanked by the rest of the Storybrooke crew. Belle pushes forwards with Hope cradled in her arms.

"Rumple is missing." She says miserably, holding Hope closer as everyone else takes an irritated sigh.

"Of course he is." Emma says as she throws up her hands.

Zelena takes that moment to gently shoulder her way past David and with a guilty glance at Regina, she speaks.

"Confession time, I suppose." She says in a forced cheery tone and everyone turns to her, waiting for the creature at sea to finish another deafening roar before attempting to speak.

"I thought I had a bit more time before the Dark One made his move but [She turns to Regina] I have taken to heart what you said to me last night about trust starting somewhere." Zelena says in a stiff, awkward way and then with a loud sigh, she continues.

"I have been in league with Rumple for some time now. I was the one who got the information about Atlantis from the lady pirate and sent the Dark One off looking for it. I also dropped the idea of the healing pools to Emma that day she visited me, at his behest. He needed someone to fetch the amulet for him and knew that the Saviour wouldn't rest until she found the bloody thing."

Everyone is staring at Zelena, slack-jawed, as they process the notion that they have all been manipulated so skilfully. Regina recovers first and with a resigned expression, asks,

"Why? What do you both get out of attacking Atlantis?"

Zelena seems to shrink in on herself as she looks down at little Robin with a sad smile.

"A place for our children to grow up without the stigma of being the offspring of evil. Without the judgemental glances from the entire town weighing them down." She says, her voice breaking and tears welling in her eyes.

Another roar makes everyone cringe and then Henry looks at Zelena with a sad smile.

"It's really not that bad, actually. [turning to Regina] No offence, Mom." And Regina smirks.

"No, that's fair. I was evil." She says with a shrug.

The massive creature roars again and then Belle interjects.

"Alright, so what exactly has Rumple done to Atlantis?" she asks angrily.

Zelena shakes her head before responding.

"I don't actually know. He's not exactly one to divulge the details of his plans to anyone, is he? Although, I'm fairly certain that that wasn't part of his devious ploy." She finishes, gesturing to the angry creature, growing ever larger from the sea.

"If I may, your friend is attempting to seize the magic heart of Atlantis for himself. Only that would awaken its protector." Plato states in a stern voice from behind Snow and David.

Everyone turns to him and Emma steps forward.

"What exactly is the 'heart of Atlantis' and where do we find it?" Emma asks in slightly huffy tone and Plato narrows his eyes slightly in suspicion. Emma takes a mental step back.

You have to believe me when I say that none of us are a part of this plan to take over Atlantis… [she locks eyes with Zelena for a moment] anymore." She says determinedly as Killian steps in behind her.

"We need a way to stop the Crocodile. Can the kraken be called off?" he asks Plato suddenly and the older man stills.

"The beast will not slumber again until the threat is gone from Atlantis. It was put in place to defend the heart of Atlantis, if it fails in that, it will destroy the whole city to keep our many treasures and secrets from being used for evil purposes." He says with a wary on the sea.

"I believe that is why you called for me?" Nemo says seriously, stepping closer to Plato with a thoughtful expression and the old man nods slowly.

"I sent for you when the strangers first arrived. The Dark One worried me." He admits guiltily.

"So if we can get the Dark One away from Atlantis, the creature with retreat?" Killian asks with a quirked eyebrow and everyone turns to watch Plato nod.

"Great. We just need something that will hold the Darkest of Dark Ones long enough to whisk him away home. Sounds easy." He says, sarcasm dripping from every word.

"There isn't very much that can hold Rumpelstiltskin now. I doubt that squid ink would stop him for more than a second." Emma says, thinking out loud.

Socrates, who has been silently listening until now, speaks up in an uncharacteristically serious voice.

"Squid ink, no. But kraken ink would."

Everyone turns towards him with mouths slightly ajar.

Snow recovers first.

"Wait, kraken's have ink?"

Socrates nods to her and goes on.

"Yes. It will immobilize anything; magical or not, indefinitely. The only way to free them from the kraken ink is to give them the same amount of kraken blood." He finishes.

Emma blinks rapidly as she keeps up.

"And I don't suppose you have a vial or two hanging around of both of those…" she asks as she turns towards the sea beast and gives a resigned sigh.

"No." Socrates confirms and Emma takes a bolstering breath and turns to her friends.

"Well, first things first, I need something to wear that's less poofy and more… fighty. Then I think we are going to need a plan to get some of this kraken ink and blood."

Emma looks down at her dress and gives one last, sad sigh before she waves a hand over herself, her fairytale gown dissolving into magic and being replaced by her usual jeans and leather jacket.

Regina takes her cue from Emma and starts magically preparing herself for a battle. Snow steps in front of her and with a quirk of her head, silently asks for the same treatment. Regina waves her hands around and the rest of the Storybrooke gang is suddenly clothed and armed for battle.

"You are a very intriguing group of people." Nemo says contemplatively as he runs his gaze over all of them.

"We do try to impress." Regina says snidely, sauntering by Nemo with smirk.

Plato looks to Emma with a worried expression.

"I'm afraid, if you cannot subdue the Dark One, we will be forced to use deadly means to protect our city."

Belle pales noticeably and Emma nods tersely.

"If we can't get him out of Atlantis, I may just use deadly means, myself." She says as she unsheathes her sword with a fierce expression.