Remember this story? I am SO sorry it's been so long...I had to deal with Once season 5 disappointments before I could continue I hope you like where I went with this...this marks the end of the Undersorld arc... Next chapter will see the beginning of Swanqueen. Please comment, I hope you're still reading!

Chapter 8

Hades stumbled a step backwards, shocked by Robin's admission. "Excalibur?" he huffed out. Hades knew very well the power the blade of Excalibur possessed, and the thought of it being within his grasps nearly took his breath away. With the most powerful weapon ever forged by Hephaestus in his possession, it would make him unstoppable. Just as the thoughts passed through Hades' mind that perhaps these interlopers posed more of a threat than he thought, the sound of rattling chains drew his attention. He turned just in time to see a charging Prince Charming, crooked blade arching down towards him.

Hades reached up and grabbed Charming's wrist, stopping the blade inches from his face. His God-like strength stopped Charming cold, and Hades looked from the blade to Charming's struggling face and grinned. "What. You think you're gonna kill me, Prince Charming? A God?!"

Still struggling slightly, Charming smiled, eyes shining. "I'm not going to kill you," David rasped, tightening his grip on the dagger. "The Dark One is." Charming felt Hades' grip loosen as complete fear gripped his icy heart. The look of panic was all too satisfying. "Because I command him to."

Hades dropped his grip on Charming and took two big steps backwards. He looked over at his prisoners just in time to see Gold strain against the chains. Hades shook his head in panic. "No," he muttered. He knew the power of Excalibur...but he also knew the infinite power of the Dark One. Gold, at David's bidding, strained against the chains until they broke and clanged to the ground around him. He stood up and slowly turned towards where Hades was now cowering. Fingers crooked, Gold thrust out his arm towards Hades in a snap. Obeying their master, both Gold and Charming's chains leaped off their stones and sailed toward Hades. Within a flash the chains had wrapped him in a tight grip, from shoulders to ankles.

Everyone looked on in shocked anticipation at the change of events. With a slight smile, Gold started slowly twisting his wrist, commanding the chains to tighten around Hades' body. Hades huffed as the chains squeezed tightly around his chest, forcing the air from his lungs.

David looked on in shock when suddenly a shout rung in his ears. "NO!" Bo yelled as she pulled at Charming's arm, still holding the dagger taut. She met his eyes in panic. "You can't kill him! Please!"

David scrunched up his eyes. "What?"

"I'll explain. But, please stop him!"

Making a quick decision in his head, David turned to Gold "Stop."

Gold rolled his eyes and froze his hand, backtracking a bit to allow Hades some literal breathing room.

When Bo saw Hades take a deep breath, she did the same. The silence was broken by Emma's imploring voice. "Uh, Dad? A little help here?"

David whipped around to see Emma nodding at her chains in pleading. "Oh, right," David looked at the dagger then to Gold. "Release the rest of them."

With eyes of daggers pointed straight to David, Gold flicked his wrists and the chains released off the remaining prisoners. Henry rushed to Regina's side to help her remove the chains. Bo did the same for Lauren, as Emma helped Snow out of hers before walking over and kneeling before a battered Killian. They looked sadly into each other's eyes as Emma wiped the blood from his face and helped him to his feet.

They were all startled by a sudden roar, as Marian's movement brought Cerberus back to attention. He jerked towards her again, only to be pulled back by his chain, still snarling and spitting. Gold glanced over and muttered, "sit", waving his hand. With a pathetic whimper, all three heads ducked as the beast lay down in submission quietly.

Regina shuddered a bit, watching the happy reunion between Robin and Marian out of the corner of her eye. She sighed out deeply before refocusing her attention first on Henry, then at the scene unfolding in front of her.

"Now," David refocused his attention on Bo, who was walking back towards him with Lauren in tow. "Remind me again why we can't kill him?"

"Bo stood in front of the still-bound Hades, addressing the group that was reassembling as well. "If you kill him, his godhood and rule over the Undeworld will go to his heir."

Regina furrowed her eyebrows. "You?"

Bo nodded. "Yeah. And, to be honest, that's not really the direction I want to go with my career."

"Well, we can't just let him go," Snow offered as she sidled up next to David.

"We don't have to. There is a way to relieve Hades of his power without forcing me to take over for him," Bo offered confidently. "But it comes with a price."

"You know, if I never have to hear that phrase again, it will be just fine with me," Emma quipped.

"Well, get on with it. What can we do?" Gold insisted.

"There is a Book of Tomes. Somewhere down here."

"Bo. Don't do this," Hades implored. He looked at Bo with pleading eyes. "You can't do this to me."

"To hell I can't-or...you know what I mean," Bo stuttered. She returned her focus to the group. "In this book there is a mantra, or a spell or whatever. When spoken in conjunction with enough chi-or magic or whatever, it will strip Hades of all his power and control over the Underworld."

"Isabeau." Hades said quietly. "You know this would be a death sentence for me."

Bo scoffed. Still trying to play her. "So be it."

"So, what's the price?" David asked.

Bo swallowed. "Well, someone has to rule down here, or the world would spiral into chaos. Someone has to take over willingly."

"Someone has to volunteer to become the new ruler of the Underworld?" Regina asked in disbelief.

Bo nodded. "Yes."

"But who?" Henry asked. "Who would do that?"

Without a beat lost. "I will."

Emma followed the gaze of everyone else, her eyes falling on Killian. Her jaw dropped as well as her heart.

Killian looked up sheepishly at his soon to be ex-girlfriend. "I'll do it."

Emma turned to face him fully. "Killian," she said quietly. "No. You don't have to do this. We came all this way to save you!"

"I know, love. But I wish you hadn't. You heard it from the man himself. There is no way for me to go back. Not if I'm not-"

"My True Love," Emma whispered, shoulders dropping in despair.

Hook moved closer and gripped Emma by the shoulders. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I thought, I thought that if we tried, that if I put my past behind me that we could...that I could-"

Emma was numb. She looked up shakily to meet his eyes, a single tear threatening to fall. "But we're not." She sniffled as she finally allowed herself the truth. "And we never could be, I suppose."

Hook's eyes were welling up now. He did truly care about Emma. But Milah was his True Love. No matter what he felt for Emma, nothing could change that. "I'm so sorry, Emma. I tried so hard to stay on the path of a hero, on YOUR path. But truth is...I'm no where near the man you need me to be. I've pretended to be...through half-truths and a dashing smile. I never reunited Ariel with Prince Eric." He sighed out when Emma's eyes widened. "In fact, it was quite the opposite. I betrayed her. You just assumed, and I-well I just let you believe I was the hero you needed."

Regina blew out through her nose. I knew it, she thought.

Emma reached up and gripped Killian's wrist as he held her by the nape of the neck. "I treated you horribly. I threatened your SON! Dark One or not, this is not ancient history. I want to be a better soul, Emma, but despite my trying, I still have a darkness in me that I just can't shake. There's no going back there for me. This is my last chance to finally do some good. Make this place what it's supposed to be, a place for justice, not torture for innocent souls."

"And how exactly are we supposed to believe that with all this self proclaimed darkness in you that you won't be just as bad as Hades?" Gold demanded.

Emma's head was down, tears dropping heavily onto her boots. "He won't," she said in resignation. She knew this was it. This was how things were going to end here in the Underworld. All her intentions, all her grand plans were out the window. She had dragged her family here on a fools errand. Fate was cruel, but she had accepted it. This is what needed to happen. She looked up at Killian who was waiting patiently for her answer. "Hades has turned this place of judgement into a place of torture. The leader of the Underworld must be harsh. He must be blind to mercy, cruel and quick to judge. That's the pirate. But he must also be compassionate, just and fair. That's Killian," her voice rose an octave as she spoke, sobs finally breaking out of her throat as she finished. She let Killian pull her into a tight embrace, both of them shedding tears as they said their final goodbyes.

Regina had to look away. The scene was too heartbreaking, and as her own tears threatened to fall for not only Emma's heartbreak, but also her own, Regina wiped away a traitorous tear that crested her eyelid. She looked over and tentatively met Robin's eyes. He had Marian in his tight embrace, but looked at Regina regretfully. He cocked his head to the side as if to say I'm sorry. She could have been bitter. She could have let the last time she saw him be spiteful and cruel. Instead she swallowed down her pride. She gave him a smile and curt nod before turning back to Emma.

Bo and Lauren tangled themselves into each other for a moment, empathizing with the scene playing out before them. They looked at each other with hope, however, knowing that neither Emma nor Regina's love stories ended here.

Killian pulled back, slowly letting Emma go. He turned and looked at this strange woman about to change his fate. "Now. Where is this bloody book?"

Without even waiting to be asked, Gold snapped his fingers and a large book appeared on a pedestal in front of Bo. She stepped up to it and looked up, taking a long deep breath. When she heard chuckling out of Hades, she narrowed her eyes and looked over at him.

"It doesn't matter. Even the Dark One doesn't have enough power to pull this spell off."

Gold stepped forward. "You're right. I don't have enough power. Not on my own."

Without missing a beat, Regina stepped up next to Gold, rolling up her sleeves. She rather enjoyed seeing the grin leave Hades' face.

With one last slight smile at Killian, Emma slowly walked over and stood next to Gold as well. With two of the most powerful magic makers in all the lands flanking his sides, Gold stood at attention, nodding at Bo to begin.

As Bo began to recite the ancient tome, wind filled the cavern, Gold, Regina and Emma aimed their powerful magic at Hades, who began to cry out in agony. The words in conjunction with the triple band of magic electrified the entire cavern, and a bright light started glowing all around Hades. Bo was shouting now, all three magic makers straining. Suddenly Hades screamed as he erupted into a blue flame, his entire body engulfed. His body slowly disintegrated just as Cora's had, leaving only the glowing blue flame. Still reciting the mantra, Bo nodded at Killian who took a deep breath. One final glance at Emma, and he walked forward, stepping in and allowing the flame to engulf him. All at once the flame exploded, knocking everyone back onto their rears.

Bo sat up and looked at where the explosion had receded, revealing Killian standing alone. Emma scrambled to her feet, eyes wide. Killian was still Killian, only his entire body was glowing with a slight blue haze. He looked down at himself, and slowly the blue faded away. He took a deep breath, closing his eyes and smiling. He could feel the power coarsing through him. His bruises had been healed and his clothes like brand new. He looked down at his shiny hook. "Well, first things first!" He waved his hand over his hook, testing out his new abilities. Just like that the hook was replaced by a hand long missed. He grinned and cackled looking proudly over at his friends. "Now that's more like it!" His smile faded as he looked at the faces of his people, knowing that this was goodbye. His gaze held on Emma a moment extra when he cleared his throat. "Right then. Well, I've got some work to do. It's time you lot got back to the land of the living."

The group gathered together, each ready to go home. Robin and Marian both cried through their goodbyes as Emma clung to Killian one last time. He pulled back and smiled at her. "Go on, love. Tallahassee is still out there waiting. I promise to do right down here." He looked over at a distraught Robin, then back to both Marian and Regina. "I promise to help him find his peace."

Both women nodded solemnly and took deep breaths.

"So what do you say?" Bo asked gently. "Let's get the hell out of hell."

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Once his friends had gone back where they belonged, Killian sighed out a deep sigh. Suddenly the memories of his torture returned. It hasn't been his torture...not directly...it was hers. He clenched his jaw before finally waving his blue glowing hand...his eyes remaining closed. He paused, his work done, but his eyes still closed. Finally, he felt her presence. His long lost love. He knew she was there without opening his eyes. And then her voice.

"Killian?"

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Once back on the shore of the pond, the Stoeybrooke crew stood in shock. Lauren looked around and was shocked to finally see the town Bo had been describing. Bo nudged her, motioning towards the two grieving women. Emma and Regina stood feet apart, both dumbstruck by the events that had just transpired. Lauren looked at Bo and they immediately knew what the other was thinking.

Lauren walked up to Snow and waited.

Snow rubbed Lauren's arm affectionately up and down as she felt her daughter's pain. She looked up thankfully at the woman's warm eyes "We can't thank you enough. Will you be headed back to wherever it was you came from?"

Lauren smiled, glancing over at the grieving women "I think we'll be staying for a bit."