The next thing everyone knew, it was a brand new day. They were all still cautious and alert to look out for either Mr. Gold or Zelena and it was quiet in town for the most part, but you can't take your chances in a town like Storybrooke. After all, it was a normal town for 28 years and now it was just a land of adventure. Right now, David and Emma were attempting to assemble a crib in the Blanchard loft as Mary Margaret was sitting comfortably in a corner as her stomach had grew larger overtime.
"I've seen the enemy battle plans that were used are easier to decode than this." David muttered as he looked over the schematic.
"Let me see," Emma said before she took the schematic from her father and took a look. "Alright, it says, 'Take screws E, with washers D, through bar C, using wrench F, which is not provided'." she then read aloud before suddenly looking frustrated.
"Why don't we just call Marco?" Mary Margaret suggested as she cradled her baby bump. "He's really good at this sort of thing."
"No!" Emma protested.
"No! We're fine." David added.
Mary Margaret sighed at them before she looked back at her husband and grown daughter. "Should we even be doing this?" she asked. "Ever since the showdown between Regina and the Wicked Witch, we haven't seen Zelena or Gold at all. Shouldn't we be focusing on her next move?" she then added in concern.
"We are. We just can't stop living." Emma reassured her mother.
"Yeah, this crib is a statement," David added confidently. "We're not gonna lose another baby."
"And thanks to us, you won't." Evie said as she and her mother suddenly came into the loft.
"That's right," Regina added. "I'm finished."
"So? Did it work?" David asked her hopefully. "Were you able to put up a new protection spell?"
"One that can't be undone by blood magic," Regina nodded and soon explained to them. "Which means, Zelena won't be able to put her hands on that baby."
"Any idea why she would want to?" Mary Margaret asked her step-mother curiously.
"The number of spells involving baby parts would surprise you." Regina began to say.
"I guess that's what happens when someone like Rumplestiltskin who takes babies away gets involved." Evie shrugged at that.
"That greeny is clearly one twisted witch," Regina remarked about her half-sister. "But as long as we're in here, we're safe." she then added before patting down a box that she and Evie had brought along.
"That's useless," Emma sighed in frustration. "I think we need to stop playing defense and start taking the fight to her."
"Did you not see how I barely outwitted her yesterday?" Regina glared. "She has magic! Powerful magic."
"I have magic too. You've seen me use it," Emma defended. "I just can't always control it, but if we teamed up, if you taught me-"
"Now why does this feel so familiar?" Regina interrupted with a smirk.
"I'm ready this time." Emma reassured her.
Regina laughed a little bit. "Okay, but if we do this, we do this my way," she then added strongly. "I taught Evie some magic, so I'll do the same for you."
"Be afraid, be very afraid." Evie whispered to Emma much to the blonde woman's amusement.
"This isn't drinking stale coffee at a stakeout, or whatever you did as a bail bonds person. This is a way of life," Regina continued to tell Emma. "You have to fully commit to it."
"Not a problem." Emma promised.
Regina nodded at that. "Meet me at my vault in one hour. Evie, are you coming with us?" she then instructed before briefly speaking to her blue-haired daughter.
"You go ahead, Mom," Evie replied softly. "I think I'm gonna hang out with Mr. Nolan and Ms. Blanchard for a little while longer."
"Well... all right, my fairest one..." Regina said with a nod.
"She never called me that." Mary Margaret murmured to Emma and David.
"Remember, if anything goes on, you call me." Regina then reminded Evie.
"Yes, Mom, of course," Evie reassured her mother before hugging her. "Good luck on your magic lesson with Emma."
"Thanks, but she might need it more than me." Regina whispered before she hugged Evie back, then the two waved goodbye to each other.
Evie then came further inside the loft to get comfortable, looking curious at the sight of disembled crib parts.
"And no complaining. I'm doing this," Emma soon said to her parents assertively. "It's the only way. And yes, I will be careful."
"We know." Mary Margaret reassured her daughter.
"Don't worry, we'll watch Henry when he gets back from the store." David added.
"Henry's coming?" Evie beamed hopefully.
"Actually, I'm not so sure that's the best idea." Emma suddenly said, causing Evie to frown rather quickly.
"What?" Mary Margaret asked out of concern. "What is it?"
"Well, you guys are tired," Emma reminded her parents. "You need to rest."
"I'm pregnant. I'm not sick with the flu." Mary Margaret scoffed and smirked.
"Yeah, I know. It's just um... Well, it's... Cradle cap!" Emma soon began to try to explain. "Last time you guys had him, you overwhelmed him with baby tips. He's 12, he doesn't want to talk about pregnancies. It's not fun."
"I guess that's a good point," Evie remarked. "I don't remember much about being 12, but I don't think I wanna hear about baby stuff."
"Oh, we're fun." Mary Margaret defended herself from her daughter's remarks.
"I'm just saying, maybe Henry disagrees." Emma suggested.
"No." Mary Margaret shook her head.
"He'll get there." Emma insisted.
"I hate to admit it, guys, but Emma's right," Evie soon said. "You gotta remember, he doesn't remember who you are."
"Well, if we're not fun, who is?" David wondered.
"I think I have a pretty good idea of who." Evie said with a small smirk.
"Are you going to come along too, Evie?" Emma asked.
"Well, I guess I could," Evie shrugged before nodding. "Just to make sure Henry will be okay unless Mom needs my company."
Emma smiled as that sounded pretty nice to think about so far.
MEANWHILE ON THE STORYBROOKE DOCKS...
"Ah, Harry, I gotta tell you, it's good to have you back," Killian smiled at his son who began to look out to sea with a spyglass. "I'm sorry about our disagreements."
"I'm sorry too, Dad," Harry replied. "I'll try not to make a big fuss over something so trivial again."
"It's okay, son, I'm glad you care so much about some things and find them very important to you," Killian coaxed as he put his hand on his son's shoulder in comfort. "I just hope that you can find it in yourself to forgive some mistakes, but not worry about it too much. We're still much better off than your grandfather and I."
"Aye, Dad..." Harry nodded at that. "Captain Dad?" he then asked.
"Aye, Harry?" Killian replied, chuckling in amusement at what his son just called him.
"Permission to hug?" Harry asked as he held out his arms hopefully.
"Permisson always granted for that, my boy." Killian smiled warmly.
Harry smiled back and soon, the pirate father and son shared their rather tender moment with each other until two voices suddenly spoke up.
"Captain Hook!"
"Captain."
"Uncle Smee! Miss Samantha!" Harry beamed once he recognized those voices as the Smee siblings began to approach the pirate father and son.
"It's about time, Mr. and Miss Smee. You know how much I abhor waiting," Killian greeted the two. "What is it that's so urgent?" he then demanded.
"Whoa, wait..." Samantha said as she suddenly looked over at the pirate teen.
"Ahoy there." Harry greeted innocently.
"Harry?" Samantha asked before looking back at her and her brother's captain. "Wait... You two are on speaking terms?"
"Never mind that right now," Killian glared. "Get to the point of your urgency."
"Erm... uh... right then..." Samantha grinned bashfully as she rubbed the back of her head nervously.
"It's just that me and the men were talking about how we haven't seen much of you since we all ended up back here." Smee added.
"Is there a point to that rather odd observation?" Killian demanded out of annoyance and impatience.
"What's keeping us from crewing up again?" Smee asked.
"Yeah, you know," Samantha added. "Hitting the high seas, getting back to pirating."
"You mean, other than being attacked and turned into Flying Monkeys? Have you forgotten? There's no safe passage out of this town," Killian replied and scoffed before reminding them of what happened before. "Your brother has already been a rodoent, Miss Smee. Does life as a simina interest you and your brother as well?"
"Fair point." Samantha grinned nervously.
"Of course there's safe passage," Smee soon explained. "We could outrun them."
"Not with that torso of yours!" Harry smirked.
"Harry..." Killian warned his son.
"What? Am I wrong?" Harry shrugged innocently as Samantha began to quietly snicker much to the dismay of her own brother.
"If we had a fast enough ship, the Jolly Roger for instance," Smee then reminded their captain. "You haven't told me whether you found her during the time none of us can remember."
"Other than that argument that you and Harry had of course." Samantha added.
"What happened during that time isn't important." Killian huffed.
"Because you remember," Smee retorted and reminded him. "Is our ship okay? What happened to it?"
"My ship..." Killian sighed before answering rather vaguely. "And all you need to know, Mr. Smee, is that the Jolly Roger isn't here. So there will be no outrunning of anything."
"Well, I mean, what if we found another ship?" Smee then suggested before pointing out to the docks where many other boats were, including one certain one. "Any one of these!"
Across the water was Leroy, Nova, and Dee Dee in a boat known as the SS 7D.
"DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT, YOU PIRATE PUNKS!" Leroy yelled out and shook his fist while Nova sighed and face-palmed.
"Papa, please, don't humiliate me~" Dee Dee blushed nervously.
"Mr. Smee, I've tried letting you down easy, now let me be more direct," Killian sighed before he began to confess certain feelings. "I have no intention of leaving this town and neither should Harry."
"Wait, huh?" Harry asked as he glanced back over at his father out of confusion.
"Captain, I agree with you," Smee soon sighed and said. "This place has its bright spots. I have never tried anything quite like frozen yogurt before. "
Elwin seemed to narrow his eyes suddenly as he was shown to be walking down the street in the background along with Lonnie.
"But the Wicked Witch is here," Samantha then added. "And with that sort of danger, what possible reason do you have to stay?"
Killian soon looked up and over to see Emma, Henry, and Evie approaching before he faced the siblings sternly. "My reasons are my own. Question them again at your peril." he then commanded.
"Sir." Smee and Samantha replied nervously as they suddenly left.
"Wait here, okay?" Emma told Henry in a hushed voice before she walked over to Harry and Killian. "Didn't they used to be rats?" she then ased out of confusion.
"It was just Uncle Smee, Miss Samantha was spared in the process." Harry clarified.
"Ah, okay then..." Emma replied.
"But in many ways, Mr. Smee still is," Killian replied. "To what do I owe the pleasure, Swan?" he then asked.
"I was wondering if you could take care of Henry again." Emma requested.
"If we want to get close to me, you just have to ask," Killian smirked. "There's no need to use the lad as an excuse."
"Why am I not surprised you're making this about you?" Emma scoffed at first. "I need your help because Regina needs to train me in magic. We think together, we might be able to defeat the Wicked Witch." she then added and explained.
"Well that's the first reasonable plan I've heard since this all began. Magic is part of you, Swan," Killian advised. "Don't forget I was there when Cora tried to steal your heart. I saw the power inside of you. It's about time you embraced it. It's what makes you the savior."
"I'm not embracing anything. I need to learn magic to defeat Zelena and make sure everyone here is safe," Emma insisted strongly. "After that, I'm done."
"Done with what, exactly?" Killian demanded.
"He doesn't belong here, not anymore," Emma explained as she looked at Henry who waved at Dee Dee and she soon noticed him, prompting her to wave back at him. "He belongs in the real world, in New York, in the life that he remembers. It was good. And it didn't involve vile villains."
"Who are you calling vile?" Harry glared suddenly.
"Harry..." Killian warned his son before looking back at the blonde woman. "What about the life you remember? You can't just pretend like this never happened," he then added to her. "Trust me. I spent the last year trying to do just that. Return to the person I used to be, and it didn't work."
"Why?" Emma soon demanded. "What happened over the last year that you're not telling me?"
"It matters not. Just take it from me, just this once," Killian replied while Harry looked curious. "No matter how much you wish you could go back to your old life, you can't."
Emma looked soft before she then agreed. "Be on your best behavior for Henry, all right?" she then asked the pirate teen.
"You're not my mommy." Harry huffed.
"Harry Jones!" Killian called firmly.
"Well, she isn't!" Harry shrugged in defense.
"What am I going to do with you?" Killian sighed and shook his head at his son.
"What's with the attitude?" Emma asked Killian out of concern.
"That's what I would like to know," Killian replied as he gave his son a bit of a look. "We just now made up, I don't think you wanna ruin a perfectly good father and son bond, now do you?"
"No, Dad." Harry admitted with a sigh.
"Well, keep that attitude and behavior of yours in check or else you'll be grounded in the brig tonight." Killian told his son.
"Fine." Harry muttered and crossed his arms.
Emma could tell that this would take some time and patience, but she soon left after dropping Henry off into Harry and Killian's care for the time being.
Meanwhile, David and Mary Margaret were walking along the shore under an umbrella together.
"We can't just sit back and do nothing." David reminded his wife.
"You're right," Mary Margaret replied out of determination. "We can be as fun as any pirate captain."
"Exactly. Henry obviously did a lot of growing up in the past year," David nodded. "We just have to adjust accordingly." he then added.
Soon, the two of them suddenly stopped as they saw a crowd forming around the beach in a certain spot near the water.
"What's going on?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"Hey, uh, what's going on here?" Goldie asked as she seemed to appear out of nowhere. "Does anyone know what happened?"
"She just washed up on shore." Granny explained as she stood with Ruby and Kiara.
"Who did? Who's here?" Mary Margaret asked before David helped her push through the crowd to see a certain redheaded woman sitting on a rock. "Ariel?!" she then gasped once she recognized the woman instantly. "Where have you been? We thought you'd been turned into a monkey!"
"A monkey?" Ariel replied, amused from that accusation. "No, I'm a girl who turns into a fish!"
"Yeah, we know, but what happened to you?" David asked.
"I'd been under the sea. Searching. I traveled to every known realm looking for Prince Eric," Ariel began to explain. "I was with Melody for a while, but she seemed to disappear from me too." she then added.
"Your daughter, right," David nodded once he remembered who Melody was. "So Eric is missing. For how long?" he then wondered.
"After Pan failed, I woke up here like everybody else. I couldn't find him or Melody," Ariel continued to explain. "I didn't understand what happened until I overheard everybody saying that we had all gone to the Enchanted Forest and been there for a year without knowing it."
"So you still don't know what happened to them?" David guessed.
"That's why I came back here," Ariel nodded and confirmed. "I thought maybe I'd overlooked something, that he'd be here, but obviously you haven't seen them."
"We're sorry. We've been trying to piece together what happened. All we know is that we're up against Regina's sister: The Wicked Witch," Mary Margaret replied apologetically. "Though I have seen Melody around lately so you're at least in luck there." she then added, knowing how important it would be for the mermaid mother and daughter to reunite.
"At least I know where my daughter is now," Ariel remarked. "Do you think that The Wicked Witch might be responsible for Prince Eric's disappearance?" she then added.
"Without our memories it's impossible to know everything." Mary Margaret advised.
"Maybe for us, but what about Hook?" David suggested.
"The pirate?" Ariel wondered.
"No, a seafood shack." Goldie snarked.
"No one asked for your help." David warned Goldie.
Goldie shrugged with a small smirk.
"Yes, he wasn't part of the Wicked Witch's curse. He has his memories," Mary Margaret explained to Ariel to prevent an argument between David and Goldie and to get back at the task at hand. "Maybe he can, I don't know, shed some light on what happened to Prince Eric."
"Well, do you think he'd help me?" Ariel asked hopefully.
"He helped us save Henry, I don't know why not." Mary Margaret smiled.
"I guess now you just gotta find him." Goldie advised.
"You haven't seen him around, have you?" David asked her.
"I think I saw him at the docks, but he probably moved since then," Goldie shrugged. "You know how unpredictable that pirates can be sometimes."
"I guess we'll just have a look around." David then said.
"Say, you were in Neverland too, weren't you?" Ariel suddenly asked Goldie.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, I was, I'd rather not think about that though," Goldie replied. "My name is Gilda Locksley, but most people call me Goldie as in 'Goldilocks and The Three Bears'." she then introduced myself.
"My name is Ariel and I was The Little Mermaid," Ariel nodded and greeted Goldie in return. "Funny." she then commented.
"What? You're gonna laugh at my name now?" Goldie asked, sounding unimpressed already.
"No, it's just that I thought that story was 'Goldfish and The Three Seals'." Ariel explained.
"I guess it's a regional thing." Goldie shrugged.
"Have you ever met a seal?" Ariel asked.
"Three Bears, Ariel. Goldilocks and The Three Bears. Think about that for a second." Goldie emphasized and reminded her as she put her hands on Ariel's shoulders slightly and shook her a little.
"Oh, sorry," Ariel giggled bashfully. "Anyway, let's go and try to find Captain Hook." she then advised.
"Great idea, Mermaid." Goldie smirked.
"My name is Ariel." Ariel reminded her.
"I know." Goldie smirked.
"Forgive Goldie," David spoke up."She might have golden hair, but she has a silver tongue."
"Is it a dinglehopper?" Ariel gasped and cupped her mouth as she seemed to take that too seriously.
"This is gonna be a long day..." Goldie muttered and rolled her eyes.
Meanwhile, Killian brought Henry, Evie, and Harry to Granny's Diner. Harry decided to have a fish sandwich while Evie had a cheeseburger and Killian and Henry appeared to be sharing fries. Harry glared at Henry slightly as Killian played a certain game with the boy that involved a pair of dice. Henry groaned as Killian seemed to beat him.
"You wanna know the secret to winning?" Killian asked Henry as he took another one of the boy's fries off his plate.
"Practice?" Henry guessed.
"No, my boy," Killian explained before showing him the dice. "Loaded dice."
"That's cheating." Henry accused.
Hook: Only if you get caught," Killian smirked. "I learned that from my old friends Tulio and Miguel." he then added.
"I think it's cheating either way." Henry suggested.
"Spoilsport." Harry coughed to himself.
Evie then stepped on Harry's foot and shushed him with a warning look on her face while Henry glanced back at the pirate teen.
"The point is, you win," Killian instructed before a certain group came into the diner, causing him to get up and go over to the others. "Practice. Harry, teach Henry how to practice." he then suggested before walking away.
"Oh, sure. Leave me to babysit." Harry muttered.
"Watch it!" Evie whispered and hissed to Harry, not liking his attitude toward her former little brother right now.
"Hook. This is a friend of ours, Ariel." David introduced as he gestured to The Little Mermaid.
"She's looking for someone who didn't return to Storybrooke with the rest of us." Goldie added as she crossed her arms.
"He's from a maritime kingdom, and he loves to sail. Perhaps you came across him on the high seas?" Ariel began to explain and describe hopefully. "His name's Prince Eric."
"Sorry, lass. I wish I could help, but I've never heard of him." Killian replied, much to their shock and dismay.
"Come on. Think hard, Hook," David insisted. "Are you sure you can't remember anything that can be useful?"
"My apologies, mate, but if I'd run across a prince during my adventure, I think I'd remember it." Killian replied apologetically.
"I just... I don't understand," Ariel frowned. "How could he vanish without a trace?"
"That's it. Maybe he didn't." Mary Margaret suddenly said as that gave her an idea.
The other then gave her a bit of a look.
"Whatchu talkin' 'bout, Snow White?" Goldie asked.
Mary Margaret sighed sharply at that question. "What I'm talkin' 'bout is maybe when the curse brought us back here, it brought our things, too. Gold's shop is filled with them." she then explained.
"And if we find something of Eric's, we can use a Locator Spell to track him." David then concluded in realization.
"And you should be able to find your daughter since she hangs around town all the time with the other descendants." Goldie said to Ariel.
"Really?" Ariel asked hopefully. "You think so?"
"I know so, she especially hangs around that kid Piper Geiger." Goldie nodded.
"He's supposed to be the next Pied Piper." Mary Margaret added knowingly.
"Oh, thank you, Goldfish!" Ariel beamed and giggled. "Oops, I mean, Goldilocks."
Goldie just rolled her eyes, feeling slightly annoyed and bothered with Ariel already. "Let's just get outta here." she then suggested.
"Sounds like a plan," Killian then said, about to go back over to where he was sitting. "Best of luck with that."
"Oh, wait. No. You should come with us," Mary Margaret said, suddenly stoppig him. "You might remember something that we won't. Or can't. You'd be far more helpful than us."
"Well, someone has to keep an eye on the boy." Killian pointed out to Henry.
"Well, Mary Margaret and I can take over." David offered.
Killian looked soft about that before speaking quietly for a moment. "Could we have a talk for a moment?" he then requested.
David looked curious, but soon followed Killian over to the other side of the diner. "What is it?" he then asked the adult pirate.
"You sure this is such a good idea, mate?" Killian queried out of concern. "Let's be honest. There's only one obvious explanation why the little mermaid here can't find her prince. He's dead. There's no reason to ply her with false hope." he then added grimly.
"In my experience, there's no such thing. You just have to believe. Now go. Good luck.
Killian sighed sharply and was soon shown to be leaving along with Ariel.
"Hey, where's my dad going?" Harry frowned as he felt like his father suddenly just abandoned him for no reason.
"I'm not sure." Evie shrugged.
"So your dad knows these guys named Tulio and Miguel?" Henry asked Harry. "Do you know anything about them?"
"What? Oh, uh, I don't know, they found a lost city of gold with John Roxton and Allan Quartermine, I don't care," Harry replied as he stood up and went to go after his father. "I think I need to get to the bottom of this."
"Wait! Harry! Think before you act!" Evie cried out before she sighed and shook her head. "That boy is going to get himself into some serious trouble someday." she then muttered to herself.
Henry looked over at Evie, looking curious. "Is he your boyfriend or something?" he then asked.
"What? Ew. I mean no," Evie replied and shook her head again. "Harry is just a friend right now."
"Just a friend?" Henry smirked.
"Easy, kid," Evie smirked back. "Don't dish it out if you can't take it."
"What does that mean?" Henry wondered.
"Well, if you tease me for hanging around a boy, I just might do the same to you if you hang around a girl you may or may not like." Evie explained with a smirk.
"Oh..." Henry bit his lip bashfully.
Evie chuckled a bit, though tried to take it easy since Henry wouldn't remember being her little brother. "Though, uh, is there anyone you happen to find cute?" she then asked. "Maybe back in New York?"
"Well, I don't know if she's back in New York since I never saw her before." Henry admitted and blushed.
"So you do like someone more than a friend." Evie smirked.
Henry blushed a bit more. "Maybe, I don't really know her, but she seems pretty," he then confessed. "Could you maybe help me talk to her?"
"Sure, Henry, what are big sisters for?" Evie replied before she cupped her mouth suddenly.
Henry raised an eyebrow at her.
"I mean... you can just think of me as your big sister in Storybrooke if you want," Evie then covered up as best as she could. "You just remind me of the little brother you've always wanted."
"Wouldn't you want a little sister instead?" Henry wondered.
"I'm open to everyone and I just see something special in you," Evie smiled. "Like how my mom looks at you."
"I guess that makes sense." Henry admitted.
Evie smiled as she looked hopeful about spending some time with Henry and giving him a helping hand. Even if he didn't remember her being his older sister in another life with him as her little brother, but she would just make the most of it while she still could.
Eventually, Killian brought Ariel over to a certain pawnshop in town and there was a familiar face to the former mermaid inside.
"Belle?" Ariel called.
"Ariel?!" Belle gasped once she spotted the former mermaid. "W-Where have you been? I-I-I w-was worried I'd never see you again." she then added before hugging her right away.
"I've been looking for Eric and Melody," Ariel explained with a small smile. "They've been missing since we all returned."
"We were hoping we could find something of his here." Killian added.
"Oh... Of course. To see if he's still in Storybrooke." Belle nodded in understanding.
"Have you seen anything of his?" Ariel asked hopefully.
"I, um, only just started sorting out things with Ben's help," Belle explained before seeing that Ariel was hopeless for a moment. "But, uh, don't despair. Let's start looking." she then added.
"Okay." Ariel nodded before starting to look through the shelves with Belle.
Killian took that time to go into the backroom and then saw a certain boy in there.
"Ahoy, Captain." Ben greeted.
"Ahoy, young Crocodile-I mean Benjamin," Killian nodded his head. "Have you happened to see a cloak around here?"
"Hmm... with a monogram or a gold clasp on it with a squid lady?" Ben asked.
"I suppose either one of those will do," Killian shrugged. "If you don't mind me looking back here."
"I don't think my father would want you back here, but I won't tell him," Ben replied. "Let me see what I can find, all right?"
"Very well," Killian nodded as Ben began to look about his father's back room. "Also, have you seen The Little Mermaid's guppy?"
"Guppy? Little Mermaid?" Ben muttered as he looked about until an idea hit him. "Oh, you mean Melody."
"Whatever you say," Killian shrugged at that before he chuckled and found his old telescope. "I've been wondering where you've went." he then remarked to his telescope before looking through it.
"Well, I think Melody is getting ready for something later tonight that she says is private, but that's all I can tell you about her," Ben said before he looked around and found a certain cloak that had a golden clasp on it. "Captain Hook, do you think that maybe Melody's mother is looking for this?" he then asked.
Killian looked over and then took a closer look at the clasp. "That must be it." he then nodded.
Ben smiled as he let Killian take it and bring it over to the former Little Mermaid.
"That's Eric's," Ariel realized. "How did you know that was his?" she then wondered.
"I, uh—I wasn't sure," Killian explained. "I saw the sea-creature clasp and remembered that he was from a maritime kingdom."
"He is. He was. And now he's here." Ariel nodded before hugging the adult pirate suddenly.
"We now just what to do," Belle said before she faced her son. "Ben, do you remember where that locator spell is that your father often used?" she then asked the teenage boy.
"Yes, Mom, I'll go get it right now if you need it." Ben nodded.
"Yes, I think we might need it for Ariel." Belle smiled.
"BRB then." Ben smiled back as he headed off to the backroom suddenly.
"BRB?" Ariel asked out of confusion.
"Be right back," Belle explained. "A lot of teenagers don't have time to use full words."
"It's weird if you ask me," Killian rollled his eyes. "And people say that pirates are complicated to understand like that time that Long John Silver had a lobster instead of a talking monkey or parrot."
"A lobster?" Belle asked with wide eyes.
"Don't ask, okay? Don't ask." Killian replied.
Belle blinked at that before simply nodding in response as Ben came back with a bottle.
"What's that?" Ariel asked Ben.
"This is a locator spell, so whatever object it's poured on becomes enchanted and returns its self to its rightful owner," Ben explained. "May I borrow that cloak, ma'am?" he then asked.
Ariel nodded and soon removed the cloak she wore around herself and put it on the table.
"Thank you, this won't take long." Ben then said as he accepted the cloak and began to pour the bottle's liquid all over it to absorb the fabric with magic.
"Thank you, Belle. I know that you've been busy trying to find a way to break your Mr. Gold out of the witch's control," Ariel said with a small smile. "You didn't have to do this."
"No, I did," Belle insisted as she smiled back. "Perhaps a little good news around here will be contagious."
The spell soon started working on the cloak and it started flying away.
"You better go after that." Ben suggested.
"Let's go!" Ariel nodded as she and Killian soon began to follow the cloak.
The pirate and mermaid continued to follow after the cloak all through the town. Soon, they made it over to Storybrooke Harbor.
"We must be getting close," Ariel said hopefully. "Maybe he's on one of those boats."
They soon watched the cloak as it fell onto the water and was sucked in.
"It must be searching." Ariel said hopefully.
However, things began to look grim as the water submerged the cloak, rendering their search in finding Eric to be hopeless.
"If the spell worked, and it's taken us to Eric, then he's gone." Ariel then realized before frowning emotionally and then hugged the adult pirate next to her.
"I'm sorry." Killian said softly as this had to be a sad moment for the former mermaid.
"I saved Eric from the sea once before," Ariel frowned. "I just never thought I would lose him to it in the end."
"A sailor couldn't hope for a better resting place." Killian coaxed.
"Thank you." Ariel said to him then.
"I didn't do anything." Killian replied out of confusion.
"You found Eric cloak. I would've never stopped looking for him. At least now I know that our story's over," Ariel explained kindly. "I just wish I knew how it ended. You're more than a pirate, Hook. You have a true heart. I'll always be grateful that you tried to help me." she then added warmly.
"What of your daughter since she's still in town?" Killian wondered.
"I'll find a way to get back to her," Ariel replied grimly. "If you happen to see her, tell her that her parents will be reunited again very soon."
"Very well then." Killian nodded.
Ariel nodded as well and soon left to continue her search in finding her Prince Eric to reunite her family properly.
Killian watched her go before sighing until he felt a presence close behind him. "All right, you better come out of hiding right now," he then demanded with a sharp sigh. "A pirate always knows, lad."
"Damn." Harry cursed as he soon came out from behind a barrel.
"Harry, what are you up to now?" Killian asked his son, nearly sounding exasperated.
"You abandoned me at the diner and you were starting to like Henry better than me," Harry pouted. "It's like ever since you reunited with him, I don't exist anymore."
"Harry..." Killian sighed as he came forth to his son and placed his hand on the pirate teen's shoulder. "As much as I like Henry, he's not my son. I'll never love him as much as I love you."
"Really?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Really, really," Killian confirmed with a nod. "There's no need to be jealous."
"I guess the green-eyed seamonster was starting to get the best of me." Harry admitted bashfully.
"You just need to understand, Henry needs a father figure in his life after what happened to Baelfire," Killian advised his son. "No matter what happens though, you're my #1 boy and you always will be."
"Promise?" Harry asked hopefully.
"You should know by now, Harry," Killian smirked. "Captain Hook never breaks a promise."
Harry chuckled and nodded. "You're right. You're right." he then admitted.
"Of course I'm right, that's why I'm the captain of The Jolly Roger," Killian smirked as he ruffled up his son's hair. "Tell you what, next time I hang around Henry, you can come along," he then offered. "I mean, if you want to."
"I think I'd like that, Dad." Harry said with a small smile.
"It's a date," Killian smiled back. "I'm sorry you felt jealous."
"I'm sorry I got jealous too, Dad," Harry replied. "I guess I'm still edgy because of what happened to me back in Neverland."
"We're father and son, we're going to fight sometimes, but you should know that no matter what, I'm never going to stop loving you," Killian told his son gently. "You'll never do anything to stop this pirate's love for his favorite sea urchin even if he's prickly and spiky at times."
"Guess I learned from the best." Harry smirked.
"You have indeed." Killian smirked back before he watched Ariel leave and then sigh.
"You have to tell her something, don't you?" Harry guessed.
"Indeed I do," Killian nodded. "I just hope she understands."
"Oh. Well, you probably wanna go see her alone, don't you?" Harry guessed as he began to turn away.
"Wait," Killian said as he stopped his son just in time. "Harry, why don't you come with me? I could use the company." he then offered.
"Well, okay, if you don't mind." Harry replied.
"I never mind your company," Killian reassured him. "You can be my good luck charm."
Harry smiled at that and Killian miled back as the two ran off together to go after The Little Mermaid.
"Ariel! Wait!" Killian cried out.
"What is it?" Ariel demanded as she stopped walking.
"I have a confession. I haven't being entirely truthful with you, with myself," Killian sighed before he began to admit to her about the truth. "You and I met before. Our paths crossed during the missing year."
"What?" Ariel asked out of confusion.
"Eric had been kidnapped by the pirate Blackbeard," Killian admitted. "You asked me to find him."
"I don't understand. Why didn't you say anything?" Ariel frowned.
"Because I was too ashamed. I sacrificed saving your prince for my ship," Killian replied. "I am so sorry, Ariel."
"Oh, Dad." Harry frowned.
Suddenly, Ariel glared as she slapped Killian in the face. "You're a coward and a monster! You let a man die for your ship?! What kind of person does that?" she then complained, sounding emotionally devastated.
"The kind who's empty, who believes a ship can fill a void left from a broken heart," Killian admitted. "Especially after what happened to his own son."
Harry frowned as he began to understand his father a little bit better now.
"And that makes it okay?!" Ariel glared.
"No, it doesn't." Killian sighed.
"But please try to understand, he would do would give anything to take it back, to make things right." Harry piped up strongly.
"Anything?" Ariel asked curiously.
"Yes, anything." Killian nodded since his son was right about him.
"How am I supposed to trust a man who no longer believes in love?" Ariel huffed and pouted.
"I still do." Killian insisted.
"And I believe that he still does too." Harry added.
"Then swear to me on it," Ariel demanded from Killian. "This woman who broke your heart, do you still love her?" she then asked.
"Yes." Killian nodded.
"Then swear to me on her name." Ariel demanded.
"I swear on Emma Swan." Killian vowed strongly.
Ariel smiled at that. "Thank you, Captain. That's exactly what I needed to hear." she then added before throwing some magic on the adult pirate's lips.
"W-What?! What was that?!" Harry gasped. "Mermaid magic?" he then wondered.
Ariel then smirked and hit him next with the magic.
"Hey! What are you doing?!" Harry complained.
Ariel then smirked at the pirate father and son and soon transformed into who she really was who was none other than The Wicked Witch of the West from The Land of Oz. That's right, people. It was a double cross the whole time.
"Zelena? It was you," Killian glared before he pulled his sword out. "Where's Ariel?"
"Relax. She was never really here," Zelena smirked as she knocked the sword out of his hand. "After she left you on your beloved ship, she actually found where Blackbeard had been keeping prince."
"She found him?" Harry asked, sounding angry and confused. "How do you know that?"
"My spies are always circling, Captain. Through every realm, always circling," Zelena explained wickedly. "She found him on Hangman's Island, which was outside the force of the curse. They've been living happily ever after ever since. Don't you just love a good twist?" she then added.
"No!" Harry glared.
"Good, because that was a rhetorical question." Zelena smirked.
"Argh." Harry glared and growled.
"I don't understand. Why would you pretend to be her?" Killian demanded.
"To corrupt your love. As a said earlier, I've known about your dirty little secret for quite some time, seen the guilt on your face over the decision you mad that day," Zelena explained evilly. "I knew it haunted you and I knew I could use it."
"Use it for what?" Harry asked.
"When your father invoked the name of his love, in a selfish plea for redemption, I was able to curse him, more specifically his kiss," Zelena explained to him before facing Killian and explained more to him. "See, the next time your lips touch Emma's Swan's, all of her magic will be taken. Everything that makes her special, everything that makes her powerful, everything that makes her a threat, will be gone." she then added.
"I won't do it," Killian glared. "We'll tell her and she'll defeat you."
"Then, I'll send the Dark One to kill her before you can." Zelena challenged.
"No, you won't. If you could have killed her, you would have. You need her power removed," Killian glared. "It's why you didn't kill her when she came to the town. It's why you had a monkey look after her in New York, instead of kill her. For some reason, you can't."
"It no longer matters because you're going to remove her powers," Zelena smirked as she continued to taunt them. "I may not be able to hurt Emma, but I can hurt those around her. Her parents, her friends, her child."
"Do not go near them." Harry glowered.
"Oh, yes. You've both become quite found of the boy, haven't you?" Zelena teased. "I will enjoy turning him into a monkey's breakfast."
"We'll stop you!" Killian proclaimed.
"No, you won't. That pointy hook of yours can scratch a mere mortal, but me? You're out of your depth, pirates," Zelena taunted. "The choice is yours. Kiss Emma and remove her powers for everyone she loves dies." she then added before poofing away in a cloud of green smoke.
"Dad, what are we going to do?" Harry asked worriedly.
"I'm not sure, Harry, but you better come with me before anything else," Killian advised. "We almost lost each other before, we better stick together until we figure out what more to do before you warn everyone about what happened."
"Aye-Aye, Dad." Harry nodded and saluted his father respectively.
Soon, the pirate father and son rushed off together over to the Blanchard loft.
Killian knocked on the door with his hook only to be surprised to see who had answered the door. "Swan? I didn't expect to see you here." he then remarked.
"She lives here." Harry reminded his father.
"What do you mean? Where's Henry?" Emma asked frantically. "Is everything alright?"
"He's fine. He's with his grandparents," Killian reassured. "I thought they might be back here."
"Also, why do you look like you just saw a ghost?" Harry added.
"I don't wanna talk about it," Emma said with a slight glare to inside the room before she looked back at the pirate father and son. "We haven't seen them. If your not with Henry, what have you been doing all day?" she then added.
"I was enlisted to help Ariel find her lost prince and child." Killian explained as he and Harry soon walked into the loft.
"Really? That fish is in Storybrooke?" Regina asked out of surprise.
"Ma'am!" Harry gasped.
"What? I said fish." Regina shrugged in defense.
"Oh. I thought you said something else," Harry said. "Anyway, she was and we found a clue in Gold's shop. Which lead us to discover that Eric had been shipwrecked on Hangman's Island, just off the coast of the Enchanted Forest." he then added and explained.
"Zelena's curse must not have reached that far." Emma concluded.
"Ariel's on her way there now," Killian then said while Harry decided to be quiet for now so not to ruin things between him and his father. "She wanted us to say goodbye to Mary Margaret for her."
"At the rate mermaids swim, she's probably already there," Regina advised before she stood upand walked over to a mirror, prompting Killian, Emma, and Harry to follow her. "In fact, let's find out."
"I thought you couldn't use mirror magic to look between worlds?" Emma said out of confusion.
"I can't, but after seeing the raw power that you posses, I think maybe you can." Regina explained.
"Maybe we don't have to and everything's okay." Harry suggested.
"He might be right," Killian added. "Anyway, it's bad form to spy on such an affair."
Emma soon looked at the mirror out of confusion. "How do I do it?" she then asked Regina.
"Well, you've focused. You've let emotions awaken your power. Now you have to look inward." Regina instructed.
Emma nodded and soon closed her eyes and used her magic to make Ariel and Prince Eric appear and they seem to also be with Melody. She was surpised to see what she found. "You did this? You brought them together?" she then asked.
"No. It was Ariel," Killian explained. "She never stopped believing."
"Modesty? You're just full of surprises today." Emma smirked.
Harry soon looked confused once he saw Melody in the mirror along with her parents. However, before anything could be asked of it, the door opened and in came Henry, David, Mary Margaret, and Evie as they walked through the door and Evie now looked like she had seen a ghost.
"Where have you been?" Emma asked once she saw them.
"Only having the best day ever!" Henry beamed. "David let me drive his truck."
"My life flashed before my eyes," Evie added wearily. "I should've hung out with Doug instead today."
"You let him what?!" Regina asked out of protective shock until she noticed that would seem like an overreaction to Henry. "Oh. As mayor I can't let an unlicensed, underage driver on the streets of Storybrooke." she then covered up.
"As mayor you might want to throw a little money towards road repair." David remarked.
"Excuse me?" Regina demanded.
"Nothing." David and Evie suddenly said.
"This is a terrible mistake." Regina shook her head.
"She's right," Emma agreed. "Someone could have been seriously hurt."
"Only if you're mailbox." Mary Margaret muttered.
"Or Chad's scooter," Evie added before smirking. "Not that there's anything wrong with that." she added quietly.
"It was so much fun." Henry beamed.
"What can I say?" David replied boastfully. "I've got a reckless, carefree, fun side."
"Oh, yeah?" Harry rolled his eyes slightly.
"Killian? Harry? Where's our friend?" Mary Margaret soon asked the pirate father and son since Ariel was no longer around.
"It turns out her missing husband was home after all." Killian explained.
"Aye. We just checked on them." Harry added.
"On Skype." Emma quickly added.
"She sends her regards, but she was too excited to wait." Killian then concluded casually.
"A happy ending. Well, maybe our luck's about to change," Mary Margaret smiled. "Dinner at Granny's?" she then offered to the others.
"Can I drive?" Henry asked hopefully.
"NO!" Everyone else protested, much to his surprise.
"Well, I guess I'll leave you guys to it." Killian suggested.
"We're not going?" Harry asked with a pout.
"Another time, perhaps." Killian suggested and winked at his son.
Harry then got the message, but was still disappointed.
"Well, if you change your mind, you'll know where we'll be," Emma offered before she followed the pirate father and son out the door. "And Killian, whatever happened this past year, whatever your not telling me, I don't care. I'm tired of living in the past." she then added.
"I know how you feel." Killian replied before leaving suddenly.
Harry glanced at his father and soon followed him out of the loft while the family began to get ready to go out to the local diner.
Later that night, Killian watched from his telescope sadly as he watched Emma being embraced by her family as he felt doomed on what to do next. Harry also felt doomed, but he felt like he needed to go and tell someone about what he learned about Zelena along with his father and decided to go try and talk to someone. One just had to wonder though: if Melody was with Ariel and Eric in another realm, then how did Evie and the others in Storybrooke see her around town especially with Piper?
