So, first new chapter! Also I'm currently trying to finish up the flashback sequences so for this part of the story there won't be too many Storybrooke-chapters and they will be somewhat short. Just so you all know!
Present Time
Storybrooke, Maine
It had started snowing heavily not long after they had reached the docks and a cold, salty wind blew in from the sea. Wolfgang took a deep breath and once again wondered why he felt so at home in this climate, as if he belonged out on the now grey waters.
"This must be very different from Australia", Filipi pointed out. "I'm surprised you're not complaining about the cold."
"It feels strangely familiar, actually", Wolfgang responded. The blonde raised an eyebrow at him.
"Don't tell me; you're secretly a merman."
He chuckled briefly, before gazing out across the sea again.
"I think it's got to do with Hook", he admitted sourly. "That symbol on the cowhide somehow connects me to him."
"Hey", Filipi said, "that cowhide might provide you with a connection to him, but it does not mean you two have to be best friends forever."
"I doubt that's possible", Wolfgang muttered. "He should have told me that he knew stuff about the missing year and my doings there."
"I don't know why you're so upset", Filipi admitted. He shot her a quick glance; he had told her and the others that Hook had information about the missing year, but he had left out the detail about him attacking Filipi. He could not see why he had done that in the first place; Filipi was the one he had spent most time with here ever since they had arrived and he felt very comfortable in her company.
"Wait", Filipi suddenly said and pulled him in behind one of the boats on land covered in a tarpaulin. Wolfgang frowned at her before looking in the same direction. Further away on the pier, past the corner and close to the boathouses, a man in a long leather coat approached a man in a red cap. He was followed by a teenage boy.
"What's Henry doing with Hook?" Filipi hissed. "I heard the others say that he would be going out with Leroy today because Hook was going to attend that meeting at Granny's."
"Something's wrong", Wolfgang agreed. "I'll text the others."
He pulled out his phone and typed three words: Henry. Docks. Now. This he then sent to all phones possessed by people in the group.
"Do you think we can get closer?" he asked as he put the phone back in his pocket. "I'd like to hear what they're saying."
"Let's try", Filipi said and slowly moved out next to the boat, sneaking up to the next boat along the line. Wolfgang followed and cursed silently when they were still unable to hear the conversation. Carefully they moved to the next boat, trying to stay out of eyesight from the man in the red cap in particular, since he was turned in their direction.
"...Mr Smee", they now heard the leather clad man, Hook, said. Filipi grinned triumphantly and Wolfgang joined her; they had found a good hiding spot.
"Like from Peter Pan?" the teenage boy, Henry, asked. The eyes of the man in the red cap, Smee, widened in surprise.
"You remember?" he asked.
"I've seen the movie a million times", Henry responded.
"It's quite a common name in the seafaring world", Hook interrupted, a small smile playing on his lips. "As luck would have it, he's making sail to New York and would be happy for the company."
Wolfgang turned towards Filipi, who mouthed New York in surprise. Wolfgang's eyes narrowed as he looked back at the trio further down the pier; what was Hook trying to do? Was he kidnapping Henry? Why?
"I am?" Smee now asked, earning himself a glare from Hook. "I mean, I am."
"Really?" Henry asked. "Where's your ship?"
Smee hesitated and turned around, eying the ships tied to the pier.
"There she is", he eventually said, pointing at one of the sail boats.
"You're stealing it, right?" Henry said.
"You want to go to New York or not?" Hook asked in turn. Henry paused and seemed to consider the question.
"He's running away?" Filipi hissed.
"Looks like it", Wolfgang muttered, picking up his phone again. So far no answer, but it had been delivered to everyone in the group. Most likely they had not bothered to answer when interpreting the message as urgent.
"Why are you helping me?" Henry asked and looked up at Hook again. Now it was Hook's turn to look taken aback and his gaze dropped. Smee looked uncomfortable and tried to find something else but the boy and the pirate to look at and turned sideways. He then stopped, staring out over the sea.
"Captain?" he said, his voice weak. Wolfgang quickly followed the sailor's gaze and saw something moving high up among the grey clouds.
"Smee, we need to get the lad to the boathouse", Hook ordered.
"Why, what's going on?" Henry asked. Wolfgang guessed that he was looking in the same direction as everyone else and that he most likely saw the large, black, winged creature sweep down from the clouds, unless he was blind.
"Killian, what is that?" Henry asked, sounding scared.
"So much for keeping magic a secret from him", Wolfgang growled and jumped out from their hiding place. Hook's eyes widened briefly at the sight of him.
"Run, damn it!" Wolfgang yelled at him while drawing his wand. He more felt than saw Filipi joining him. Hook grabbed Henry by the arm and pulled him along towards the nearest boathouse, Smee following.
"What spells are good against flying monkeys?" Filipi asked, being partly interrupted by the creature's screeching cry.
"I'd say we wing it", Wolfgang responded, grinning slightly at his own pun before raising his wand. "Stupefy!"
The black monkey screeched and avoided the red flash of light with near impossible speed.
"Immobulus!" Wolfgang shouted. The monkey avoided the second flash as well by veering upwards and suddenly its screech seemed to intensify.
"We've got company", Filipi said, paling somewhat as a horde of monkeys swooped down from the clouds, aiming for the boathouse.
"Let's go!" Wolfgang ordered and started running through the snow as the monkeys flew into the house using the waterway. A shot from a gun cut through the air and Wolfgang hoped that it had been a hit.
"Wolf! Fili!"
He looked back and saw Ella, Chris, Toby, Rachel and Indira running towards them.
"Where's Henry?" Indira asked just as a second shot was heard.
"Inside the boathouse, with Hook", Filipi responded. "Where are the others from your little meeting?"
"Heading in the other way", Rachel responded, waving one of the phones in the air before putting it back in her pocket. With that everyone readied their wands and pointed them at the ever attacking horde.
"Expulso!"
"Stupefy!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
"Reducto!"
"Evanesco!"
"Immobulus!"
A set of monkeys dropped into the sea or vanished in puffs of smoke as the spells hit them, but a group escaped inside the boathouse, shrieking in triumph.
"No!" Hook yelled from inside. The members of the group all turned towards one another.
"You think..." Ella begun.
"No", Wolfgang responded. "No, that's impossible."
"Not at all, dear."
The British voice caused all of them to spin around and raise their wands towards the Witch. She laughed.
"Should we go through this again?" she asked. "Your wands cannot harm me."
"Stay away, Zelena", Chris ordered. The Witch smiled.
"I have no need of coming any closer", she said. "My pets will fetch what I need for me. However..."
She tilted her head with a wicked grin.
"You are all starting to really annoy me by constantly standing in my way. I think you'd all look much better over there."
She flicked her hand and sent the seven members of the group into an alleyway to their right, sending them crashing to the snow-covered ground. Wolfgang grunted and got up on his elbows only to see Zelena's triumphant grin as she placed a glimmering green wall at both ends of the alley, preventing them from getting out.