Chapter 2: Children of the Gods

Storybrooke

"They've released the fairies." Rumplestiltskin said to the other four villains in the cabin in the woods they were hiding out in.

"Released from where?" Victoria asked.

"The Sorcerer's Hat." Rumple said. "They used my dagger to do it. I can feel what happened."

"So what?" Ursula asked. "How does that benefit us?"

"The fairies aren't the only ones they released from the hat." Rumple said. "Jafar, the Snow Queen, and the Jabberwocky are free as well."

"So?" Maleficent asked.

"So we can recruit them." Rumple said. "They've all been tortured by fate the same way we have. They'll be happy to join us."

"When do I get to find my sister?" Victoria asked.

"When do I get to find my children?" Maleficent asked.

"Alright Maleficent." Rumple said. "If it will keep you on our side, I will tell you about them. Your children both fell through a portal, but ended up in two different realms. Your daughter ended up here. She was adopted by a family in Massachusetts and her name is Lily."

"What about my son?" Maleficent asked.

"I will tell you about him after you help us." Rumple said.

"Fine." Maleficent said.

"And Alice?" Victoria asked.

"Here's what's going to happen." Rumple said. "I'm going to find Ingrid and convince her to join us. Maleficent will seek out the Jabberwocky and Ursula will seek out Jafar. While we're gone, you and Cruella can go look for your sister."

"Is this really the best idea?" Cruella (Zelena) said. "From what I hear, the last time a group of villains attacked Storybrooke, it didn't go over too well for them."

"Yes," Rumple said, "but the Wicked Witch had one fatal flaw in her plans."

"And that was?" Cruella asked.

"I was defending Storybrooke." Rumple said. "This time, they will have no such protection."

Rumple, Maleficent, and Ursula then were consumed by magic clouds of smoke and disappeared, leaving Zelena alone with Victoria, the woman who stole her magic pendant and slippers.

Rumplestiltskin reappeared in the Snow Queen's ice cave. He assumed this is where she'd retreat to and he was right. She was sitting on the couch crying.

"What do you want?" Ingrid asked.

"I have a proposition for you." Rumple said. "I want your help."

"With what?" Ingrid asked.

"Rewriting history." Rumple said.

"What?" Ingrid asked.

"I'm looking for the Author. He has the power to give us all what we want. I want to live. You want your sisters. It's not just me either. I have a team of powerful witches at my side. We can do it, but only together." Rumple said.

"What's the point?" Ingrid asked. "It's useless. Elsa is gone and Emma hates me. Nothing can change that now."

"That's not true. The Author can rewrite your entire life, so that you never lose your original sisters. You never have powers, so you fit in. Or everyone has powers so you fit in. It's whatever you want. Isn't that worth it?" Rumple asked.

Ingrid took a moment to mull it over.

"Ok." Ingrid said. "I'll join you."

"Excellent." Rumple said.

Maleficent appeared in the forest next to Storybrooke, where the Jabberwocky was walking quietly. She stopped when she saw the dragon witch appear before her.

"Maleficent." The Jabberwocky said. "So we finally meet."

"You're the Jabberwocky?" Maleficent asked. "I must admit, I'm not impressed."

"I'm still a bit rusty." The Jabberwocky replied. "You should see me in my prime."

"You don't scare me." Maleficent said.

"I know what does scare you." The Jabberwocky said. "It practically radiates off you. You're scared you'll never find your children. When you first met Zelena while you were pregnant, she told you that you were carrying twins, a boy and a girl. Then Snow White and Prince Charming sent the egg to another world. The egg hatched in the portal and your children were separated. Your daughter Lily ended up here in this world, which gives you some hope. But your son still remains lost to you. I know why you're here. You want me to help you find the Author so he can change your fate and the fate of your children. I have no use for the Author, but I will join you anyway."

The Jabberwocky lied. She did have a use for the Author. He was more powerful than most people, including herself. If she could feed off his fears, she'd never go hungry again.

"That's good to hear." Maleficent said. "Otherwise, the result would've been...unpleasant."

Ursula appeared by a lake near Storybrooke. She saw Jafar standing over the water and looking at his reflection below.

"Jafar." She said. "I am Ursula."

"The Sea Witch." Jafar said. "I know who you are, but why are you here?"

"I've come to request your help." Ursula said.

"Funny you should say that." Jafar said. "I would like your help."

"I want you to join me and a group of others to find the Author so he can change our fates and give us what we want." Ursula said.

"Why would you go to all that trouble when I can do that for you?" Jafar asked.

"What?" Ursula asked.

"I know your story." Jafar said. "You are the daughter of Poseidon. He took away your singing voice, a very powerful voice. I need that voice for what I want to do next."

"Which is what?" Ursula said.

"I want to take back my kingdom." Jafar said. "I was the ruler of Agrabah for a brief time before I gave that up to hunt genies in Wonderland. Now I want my throne back. No doubt my sister Jasmine has taken the throne. She's probably ruling Agrabah right now with that insufferable husband of hers, Aladdin. I'm sure they've taken precautions to fight me should I return. So I propose a deal. I will help you get your voice back if you help me get my kingdom back. That should be far easier than hunting down the Author."

"Why won't you help me find him?" Ursula asked. "He could change your whole life."

"I don't want it changed." Jafar said. "I would be made to live with my father again and he would try to kill me yet again. In this life, I got my revenge on that man. I don't want that victory reversed. I've grown powerful in this life. I'm powerful enough to take on your father."

"My father is a god." Ursula said. "Poseidon is The God of the Seas."

"He's not the first god I've faced." Jafar said. "Have you ever met your uncle?"

"Which one?" Ursula asked. "Zeus or Hades?"

"Hades." Jafar said. "I remember the day he first came to Agrabah with his son."

"He doesn't have any kids." Ursula said.

"He does." Jafar said. "He just doesn't like to talk about it. Besides, you are the daughter of a god. If we work together, we can take down Poseidon."

"If Hades does have kids, they probably turned out evil like me." Ursula said. "That's good. My cousin Hercules is annoyingly nice and optimistic. I used to hate when my father and uncle Zeus made us play together."

"So will you help me help you?" Jafar asked.

"Yes." Ursula said. "I don't really trust the group I'm here with anyway. I'll cast a spell that will allow you to breathe under the sea. Then, I'll open a portal underwater. We'll swim through into my father's kingdom. Are you ready?"

"Yes." Jafar said.

Ursula then waved her arm over Jafar and assured him that he would now be able to breathe under water. She then summoned one of her long, black tentacles which launched itself into the lake. Then, the tentacle returned to the surface and re-absorbed itself into Ursula.

"The portal is open." Ursula said.

Jafar and Ursula then swam underneath the water and through the magic portal to the kingdom of a god. What Jafar did not know was that Aladdin was not in Agrabah. He had been sent to Storybrooke by Agrabah's new ruler, Jafar's former apprentice Iago.