"The storm is getting worse." Smee's gaze desperately darted between the sea and his Captain's cold stare. "We can't keep control of her much longer. The sails are already beginning to tear."

Behind them, their shipmates were struggling to keep the Jolly Roger afloat. A row of men clung to ropes in attempt to keep in masts in a stable and functional position. The young man in the crow's nest – the Jolly Roger's newest recruit – was clinging onto the low barriers as the ship rocked from each side. The group of the lowest deckhands arguably had the most labouring task of scooping buckets of water from the ship, after countless waves sent floods on the deck.

The pirates tried to call out to one another for updates and support, but the roar of the restless sea drowned out their voices. Each man was scrambling about the ship in a disorderly fashion. It was a rare occurrence that the crew was caught in a storm; they usually lay their anchor at the first few signs of coming bad weather.

Hook had been determined that they wouldn't give in to nature's tricks. Instead, he battled with the ship's wheel, baring his teeth as he was repeatedly showered with salty sea water. This wasn't his worst voyage, and it certainly wouldn't be the last.

"Capt'n!" Smee half-fell, half-stumbled his way over to the side of the ship, quickly grabbing on to one of the ropes as the vessel lurched deeply to the right. After checking that his hat was still resting upon his head, he shakily made his way back to Hook's side. "Captain, we need to sail the ship to a harbour. She can't survive these kinds of conditions."

"We?" Hook barked. "I don't think there's any bloody 'we' in this, Smee. This is my ship, I make the calls, and I say-"

Hook was interrupted by an ominous cracking sound from behind. As he turned, he saw that the mast of the ship had begun to splinter near the base, making it stoop slightly towards the bow of the ship. The crew had stopped their work to gape at the tall structure, eyes wide.

"Get rope and steady the mast. Make sure it lasts until we reach the shore." Hook's snarled and faced the wheel once more. He grunted as he used most of his body weight to swing the wheel to the right. "And tell the daft urchin on lookout to lend a hand on deck, preferably before he and his damn telescope become shark bait."

"The damage could've been worse," Smee observed in the light of the falling sun, scratching his chin doubtfully. "At least she still works."

"We'll need to work through the night to patch her up."

Though the Jolly Roger had anchored at the harbour before the storm in the open seas had hit its worst, the ship still maintained multiple wounds. The mast survived the storm, though it would need to be temporarily secured with wood around the base to keep it somewhat sturdy, and the tears in the sails would need to be patched or replaced. The hatch to the belly of the ship had been left open, so most of the cannons would need to be cleaned and refilled, as well as most of the open food barrels. Aside from items being tossed around, the only part of the ship that remained relatively unscathed was the Captain's headquarters.

"Smee, get the maps." Hook sighed. "We're going to the tavern. I'm afraid I'll need something stronger than rum tonight."

As Smee scurried away, shouting from one of the older, brawnier shipmates caught Hook's attention.

"Aye, Captain, abandon your ship again!" A bitter laugh escaped his lips as he tossed the rope he was holding, spitting at the ground where it fell. "All in favour for another wench who drank your rum, whispered sweet promises, and made you fall head over arse trying to keep up with her seductive charms. What an ironclad leader we have in our midst!"

Though he kept a calm external appearance, Hook's heart was pounding faster than the swiftest vessel in all the realms; the demons within his head awoke at the shipmate's harsh words. He had spent many sleepless nights battling with their quiet, sinister whispers. You put her before you're brother's ship. You failed to protect her. You were only her distraction. She could never truly love a man like you.

At this point, Hook couldn't decipher whether they were tormenting him about Milah or the blonde maiden.

Hook pulled his flask from his side pocket and took a deep drink. The whispers were lulled back into a sleeping silence, though he knew it wouldn't be long until they returned with more ominous words to tear down the walls of his sanity. He would definitely need something stronger than rum if he wanted the devils of his mind to remain quiet for a few more hours.

He didn't expect Smee to keep the reason for their journey quiet for long, as the ship would always figure it out eventually, but Hook didn't expect it would be a matter of hours before word got out. He knew that chasing after the man who took another woman from him might seem reckless in the eyes of his men, but he'd hoped he would have more time to form an explanation to highlight the necessity of his plight.

Then again, he was the leader on this vessel. What he wanted, the crew wanted. They were united. As far as Hook was concerned, there were no laws that pirates abide by, so anyone wanting to persist in arguing against him was an enemy. He considered himself a fair and honourable captain, though he would not tolerate rebellious hooligans on his ship.

After a few minutes, Hook ambled onto the ship, a small smirk playing on his lips. Once a few feet away, Hook stood opposite the man, his hands loosely on his hips. The man narrowed his eyes, leaning his weight on the hand resting against the ship. He had the advantage of being taller and better built, but he had expected a more fierce approach, so the unusual calm and amusement in his captain's face unsettled him. The rest of the ship silently overlooked.

Tension built around the two as they stared at one another, each unwilling to back down. The crewmember remained still and solid, while Hook casually paced left to right. It only took a moment for him to notice what suitable punishment would befall upon his challenger, and mere seconds for him to swiftly unsheathe his sword and strike it down upon the man's hand, neatly separating the man's hand from his wrist. Hook's delight at such a sight lasted for the few seconds it took for the man to fall to the floor, cursing as he cradled the remains of the bloody stump to stomach.

"Does anyone else want to join this man in declaring mutiny?" Hook yelled as he turned to face the rest of the men, who were quickly beginning to return back to their roles. After a few moments of silence, Hook laughed and made his way back to land, aiming towards what he assumed was a village. As he walked, he shouted: "Let that be a lesson to you, lads. I've killed men for much less. Make sure he's as far away from my ship as possible by time I get back."

"Capt'n," Smee appeared, breathless, by his side. He was trying to balance all of the maps within his arm's grasp without damaging them, though his short stature equated to equally short arms. "Mind lending me a hand here?"

Without a second's thought, the pirate unscrewed his metal hook and dropped it onto the pile of rolled papers, causing Smee to lose what little control he had over them. As the maps fell to the floor, Smee sent disgruntled glares to Hook's retreating figure.

As the cool liquid slid down his throat and burned in his stomach, Hook began to feel more at ease. The gentle hum from the locals was somewhat satisfying, and he was glad that the floor beneath his feet was firm and steady. For now, the voices in his head had abandoned him, and he was able to concentrate on matters of real importance, such as deciphering which map was needed in order to find the hunter Gaston that Maurice had mentioned.

Due to Smee's insufferable muttering over the maps, and which would be the quickest route, Hook had sent him back to the ship after confirming how often they would have to stop and restock. Finally alone with his thoughts, Hook's mind wandered to the source of his recent dilemmas.

He wasn't sure why he always became so fixated upon unattainable women.

First, there was Milah. Even though she had openly admitted her commitment to him, and they had then spent a short while happily travelling the seas together, she was legally bound to another. Yes, Hook didn't abide by any written laws, but he had always had the suspicion that her heart would forever remain with the one who crushed it. Despite his constant displays of cowardice and evil, he suspected that the Dark One was her true love. No display of affection could cover the pain she harboured for the loss of her husband and son.

Now, there was the maiden from the bar. Hook had notably less history with this lass. A few hours could hardly compare with the few months he spent alongside Milah, though it was as if there was an invisible tether between the two of them, and the longer he spent with her, the more threads were added between them. He would see the world through her playful eyes when she talked, and it was a bright and mysterious place. Her laugh reminded him of the tinkling music he once heard long ago, and the constant aching in his chest was soothed when he held her within his arms.

Though it was still almost full, Hook downed the rest of his liquor and signalled for another. If he was going to survive the coming days until he discovered the meaning behind her disappearance, he would have sooth his inflamed passions with drink in the meantime. Without caution, it would be his weakness.

"I spy a man trying to drown his troubles in drink."

Hook glanced up as a man slid onto the bench opposite him. He was in the more youthful years of his life, and his eyes contained a flicker of joy that seemed to burn like an eternal flame. He had only been in his presence for a mere amount of seconds, but from his pleasant expression and slight bounce in his movements, Hook could tell that this man rarely let anything get beneath his skin. The sheer positivity was already having a draining affect on the tipsy pirate.

"It's the best way to do it, in my eyes." Hook sighed before swallowing a large mouthful of the amber liquid. "Though if you're interested in making small talk, I'm afraid I'm not the man for it. If you're here to talk business, then you better get a move on, mate."

The man frowned for a moment, though his smile lingered. If Hook had been in less brooding mood, he may have found the foolish face amusing.

"Harvey. Most just call me Hal." He offered his left hand for Hook to shake, at which the pirate just stared with one eyebrow raised. The hand was quickly retracted and replaced by an awkward cough. "I understand that you're Captain Hook?"

"My reputation precedes me. Go on."

"I may have some information that may interest you." Hal's voice quietened as he awkwardly leaned across the table. "Though in return, my wife and I would like to secure passage on your ship."

Hook narrowed his eyes. "Why?"

"My wife has become weak with an illness that is foreign to this land. We have sought every possible doctor, but to no avail. With Greta ready to give birth any day now, we have not the time or money to seek a witch." Hal's tone lowered. "Legend foretold that there are magical creatures in the kingdom of Arendelle; they might be able to cure her of her ailments."

"And what information do you think would be valuable enough for me to go out of my way to get you to this land?" Hook leaned back into his chair and scratched the stubble on his chin. If this man had seemed in any way endearing in his efforts to Hook before, it had certainly been replaced by irritation now. "What have you possibly got to offer me?"

"New information about the Dark One. I hear that he is whom you are seeking."

Hook paused. "I'm listening."

"I hear that the Dark One has only one fatal weakness; one that is not easily overcome." Hal's words began to flow quicker as he spoke, relieved that he has finally grasped the man's attention. "Though I've heard that once you know of his weakness, and how to take advantage of it, there is a way to kill him."

"Tell me what it is." Hook's voice had lowered immeasurably as he straightened his back, leaning towards the man as if it would get the information out of him faster. "This weakness of his, is it a weapon? A person?"

"I'm afraid that I do not know." Hal said sadly. "All I know is from what my dear Greta was told by her brother."

"And how did he find this out?"

"He was driving the carriage that the Evil Queen was in when she captured a woman." Hal's voice was close to a whisper now, conscious of anyone who could be listening into their conversation. It was not his place to discuss dealings with the Evil Queen, and doing so could land his brother-in-law in a great deal of trouble for betraying the Queen's policy of discretion. However, Hal was desperate. He was sure he would do almost anything that would help Greta at this point. "Despite spending many a month within the Dark One's abode, this woman – his servant – had learned many things about him, possibly about how he can be defeated. Although by the sounds of it, she wasn't all too willing to give any information out. Greta's brother heard a lot of arguing during their ride."

Hook sat back for a moment, remembering his dealings with Maurice not so many hours ago. He had mentioned that he had a daughter – Belle – that he suspected was being held prisoner by the Dark One. Considering that he's never seen the Dark One comfortably in the presence of anyone for any length of time, Hook believed it was safe to assume that Maurice's daughter and the female servant that Hal mentioned were the same person. Even if they weren't the same person, he only needed to find one of them to find out more about the Dark One for now.

"This girl." Hook mumbled, half-consumed in his own thoughts. She may know where Hook's barmaid is being held. She may also know how to kill the Dark One. "Where did your brother-in-law take her?"

"A small tower just outside of the kingdom's borders." Hal explained. After a moment of scanning one of the open maps on the table between them, Hal pointed to the place that Greta's brother had described earlier. "She shan't be there long though. When Greta's brother came home this evening, they were already preparing for another departure."

A slight panic ran through Hook. This was the only solid lead he had, and he didn't want it slipping away before he had the chance to follow it. "Where are they headed?"

"I'm afraid that I do not possess that information. They only reveal the Queen's next movements to those who are directly assisting her in order to prevent potential threats to her. My brother-in-law is off duty right now, so he wasn't told."

As the words left Hal's tongue, Hook knew that he would have to plan a quick departure if he wanted to find the servant – this 'Belle' girl – and discover what she knows about the Dark One. Even if she does not possess the knowledge of how the Dark One can be killed, she may at least know of something – maybe something of sentimental value – that may be used in order to manipulate him, should Hook get the opportunity to do so. A person who lived with the Dark One seemed a more viable option than some hunter named Gaston with an unconfirmed location.

"We leave tonight." Hook decided. There was little time to waste, and he was sure he could manage sailing through the dying storm. "Bring your wife and whatever bare essentials you need, but hurry. We depart in a half hour. Once I've acquired the servant girl, I'll take you to Arendelle. By the looks of it, it isn't too far from where the girl is being held."

Hal nodded, unable to contain a smile from spreading across his face. He showered Hook in thanks before disappearing to the upstairs of the cavern, almost bounding up each step. The man had more energy than the rats on his ship when they were being chased by a broom.

Although, a pale-faced Hal clutching a handkerchief in his hands returned a few minutes later as Hook was gathering his maps. Hook looked at him in confusion, as the man slowly slid back onto the bench. The man in front of him, who could barely contain his excitement just moments ago, was almost shivering.

"What the bloody hell is wrong with you?" Hook demanded, impatience slipping into his voice. His time was precious, and this man seemed lost in it. "We need to get moving."

"My wife is in labour." Hal mumbled. He stewed in his thoughts for a few moments, before realising what situation had befallen him. "We need to delay the trip, just for a few hours until she gives birth."

The pirate sighed, irritation rising once more. "We don't have the time. If I'm to catch Belle before she is transferred elsewhere, we need to leave now."

"But we can't move her." Al pleaded, grabbing Hook's sleeve and clutching it desperately, as if it would stop him from leaving. "The strain from her illness and labour are already taking a toll on her body. We need to keep her in a safe, clean environment until the twins arrive."

Though slightly offended by the man questioning his ship's hygiene standards, Hook could see his point. He knew that he could sympathise with this man and wait a while longer, but he chose not to. Doing so would compromise his own situation, especially now that he was time bound. Besides, if Hook had once abandoned one of his own crew members when he stayed too long at a dock once, Hook could leave this man. He had to make sacrifices sometimes.

"I'm sorry, lad. The Dark One has already taken the life of one woman whom I held dear to my heart. I can't risk him taking another."

"And by doing so, you'll have taken the life of the one woman whom I hold dear. Besides, only cowards break their word." Al's tone hardened, his shoulders tensed. "Please, Hook. You are my wife's only solace now. Without your help, without the magical creatures' help, she will die. My unborn children could die, too."

Hook swallowed thickly. He could already feel the stabbing pain from a seed of regret taking root in his heart. His revenge would cost him the value of his word, one thing that Liam had always insisted he kept, and the life of an innocent woman. A wife. A mother. The thought reminded him of Milah, and the guilt she fared after abandoning her son, believing that she would be the cause if Baelfire took after his father.

Had it not been for the thought of Milah's first love, of the crocodile and his sickening sense of humour, Hook might have faltered. The damn barmaid had a strong hold on his heart, and he couldn't risk losing her to him before he had a chance to really know her. Losing someone else from his life for the sake of a couple of strangers was a cross he was not willing to bear. He needed a cause, something – someone – to prevent him driving himself to insanity.

"Sorry, mate." Hook grunted and swiftly pulled his arm from Hal's grasp, making his way to the tavern's exit. He tried to ignore the heavy sensation in his chest as he walked. "I have to find this woman before she is moved again."

"My wife will die! What about this do you not understand?"

Hal stumbled out of the tavern after the pirate, though didn't pursue him as he strode back to his ship. Changing Hook's mind seemed like a futile attempt at this point, and Hal couldn't be far from Greta; he needed to return to her soon. Labour was already weakening her, and though he did not want to admit it, she didn't have long left. Instead, he shouted from the doorway, his voice hoarse as he tried to maintain his dignity by keeping control of his emotions.

"Let my children's names bear a weight on your rotten heart." Hal shouted, jaw trembling as he tried to maintain his composure. "Hansel and Gretel. Do you hear me? They will grow up with hatred in their hearts for the pathetic excuse of a man who broke his word and killed their mother. Should they ever cross your path in the future, I plea they show you no mercy."