He could tell from the moment she walked into his human's office that something was off.
This woman who confidently walked into Archie's office looked like the mayor, but Pongo knew differently. He knew the mayor's scent. This one was similar—but it wasn't the same. It was foreign. Something he'd never smelled before.
Life in Storybrooke had always been predictable, routine, and Pongo loved routine. Every morning just as the sun peaked through the curtains, he woke and then fulfilled his first task—waking the human. Archie liked to grumble about Pongo waking him up with a lick to the face, but then Archie would do that thing that humans did with their faces where their lips go up. Pongo thought it was called a smile. All he knew is that humans did it when they were pleased with him and he was being a very good boy.
Later, Archie would feed him, and then they'd take their morning walk, greeting all their neighbors. Then it was off to work. While his master talked to other people and helped them to feel better, Pongo sat by in his bed, ready at a moment's notice to provide assistance if he was needed.
Every day was the same. Every scent was the same—at least until that woman, Emma, arrived. She had a different scent, but Pongo liked her. She gave him pets and sometimes even treats.
And Henry loved her. If ever Pongo was to adopt a little boy, it would be Henry. Pongo knew he'd been lonely, and he'd hoped he would someday find someone to love. This Emma was good for his favorite little boy, and that made Emma good in Pongo's book.
But this new woman who'd just walked in—the one who wore the mayor's face—she wasn't a good new scent like Emma. She was a very, very bad scent.
Pongo felt his hackles rise and he sat tall, growling menacingly as she walked in the door. Archie chided him for his reaction, but Archie didn't know, couldn't smell who this was. Humans had the worst noses!
It didn't take long for Pongo's instincts to be proven right. No sooner had the imposter walked in the door than she raised her hand, putting Archie in a choke hold. Pongo sprang to his feet, barking for all he was worth, but it was all over too soon for him to save his person. One moment the woman wearing the mayor's face was holding him, and then they both disappeared in a puff of smoke, leaving the lifeless body of a man behind.
This man looked like Archie, but it wasn't him. Pongo knew it wasn't him.
Something was very, very wrong here, and Pongo knew he needed help. Emma would help him! Emma and Henry, but how would he tell them what had happened?
Then it clicked. Ruby. She was different. She understood him. He had to find her; there was no time to lose!