Chapter 54: No Right Choice
1795 AD - The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Tale Realm
Liam and Killian Jones are scrubbing the deck of Long John Silver's ship
"The fish guts smell especially foul this evening" Killian said
"Killian, the harder we work, the sooner we're finished" Liam said
"I wish I had your worth ethic" Killian said "it seems I've inherited Father's"
"Don't joke about him" Liam said "he may have sold us into servitude, but tomorrow, we'll be free men" and he pulls something out of his pocket and hands it to Killian, who reads it
"You serious?" Killian asked "you want to join the king's navy?"
"There's a signing bonus of ten silver" Liam replied "on top of what we already saved, that will buy us our freedom off this bloody cargo ship"
"I know that's your dream mate, but I'm hardly naval material" Killian said
"If you served an honorable king, it would change you" Liam said "you could be a fine captain someday, I know it"
"Captain Jones does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it?" Killian said
"Captain Jones, that will be the day" Silver said and he kicks over a bucket of fish "you missed a spot there, Captain" and Killian rushes at him
"Killian, don't!" Liam warned as he restrained his brother
"C'mon, let him try" Silver taunted "it must be exhausting protecting your little brother from himself"
"It won't be your concern much longer" Liam said
"Because you're both going to be admirals in the navy, right?" Silver asked sarcastically "fine by me, as long as I get paid. The sober Jones can go and collect his money, the drunk one stays as collateral" and Killian goes at him again
"Easy brother" Liam said, restraining Killian again, "I'll be back by sunrise, and then, a proud life in the king's navy, hmm?" and Liam leaves
Later, Liam returns with the navy's papers of service
"Captain Silver" Liam said "two papers of service, I am pleased to tell you the Brothers Jones will be leaving your employ"
"Well, one of you at least" Silver said
"What?!" Liam inquires "what's happened?! What did you do to Killian?"
"All I did was offer him a drink" Silver said "the rest he did all by himself. He's not much of a gambler"
"Killian" Liam said as he rushes over to him "where's the silver, what have you done with your money?… you gambled!"
"Sorry, brother" Killian replied
"How could you?" Liam shouted at Silver
"I'm not responsible for his weakness" Silver said "and you still have your money. If you want my advice, cut anchor, leave the dead weight behind"
"Just do it, Liam, go" Killian said "I could never be the brother you deserve"
"We're about to set sail, Jones" Silver said "it's either the navy or more grain runs, with your favorite captain"
"Then grain runs it shall be" Liam said
"No!" Killian said as Liam rips up the papers of service and throws them in the sea
"Come hell or high water" Liam proclaimed "I cannot leave my brother"
Later, Silver's ship is sailing into a storm
"Captain Silver" Liam said "are you aware this ship is heading dead into a storm"
"Back to the rigging, Jones" Silver replied "leave the navigation to the officers"
"The officers are doing a poor job" Killian said "we're thirty degrees off course and headed into a hurricane"
"We're aware" Silver said "carry on"
"Are you mad?" Liam asked "what kind of captain sails into a hurricane?"
"The kind that earns his place in history" Silver said "the king has offered a mighty reward for what's inside that storm"
"This voyage was never about that grain in the hold was it?" Liam realized "you're going after the cursed sapphire, the Eye of the Storm"
"So you've heard of it" Silver said
"Every sailor has heard of it" Killian said "countless men have sailed into it looking for that bloody stone, but none have survived"
"If you don't like how I run my ship, you should've left when you had the chance" Silver replied "now move along, before I string you up for mutiny"
"Easy, Captain" Liam said, turning to Killian "I've always abhorred the idea of mutiny" and nods the Killian, who nods back. Liam grabs Silver's sword "but if that's what it takes to save these men, than so be it!"
"Now, shall we do this the easy way or the bloody way?" Killian asked as the other crew members surround the officers. Silver nods to the officers, who drop their swords.
"The ship is ours, men!" Liam exclaimed and the crew members shout in victory. Liam turns to his brother "tie the officers up and I'll go find the Captain's charts and plot a course out of this bloody typhoon"
"Thank you, Liam" Killian said "there's no one I'd rather follow into a storm"
In the Captain's quarters, Liam studies the charts.
"You know, reading without the proper light can do a real number on your eyes" a voice said and he turns to see a man
"Who are you?" Liam asked
"Who am I isn't important" the man said "what is, is I'm here to help you. Here, allow me" and he takes a match and lights a candle "there, that's better. You know, this mutiny, isn't going to look good for you. Your dreams of captaining a ship in the king's navy are over"
"My dreams?" Liam asked "how do you know about them?"
"I know a lot about you, Liam" the man replied "is it still dark in here, let's try this" and the man's head glows with blue fire as the rest of the candles in the cabin are lit.
"You're a demon!" Liam exclaimed
"Technically, I'm a god, but a lot of people make that mistake" the man said "I'm Hades, Lord of the Underworld"
"What do you want?" Liam asked
"I want the precious cargo aboard this ship" Hades replied "the beautiful, shiny, new souls, you're trying to save" and Liam grabs a sword and holds it at Hades throat "don't bother with that, you can't hurt me, I'm immortal. Lucky for you, I can't hurt you either, at least not up here, in the Overworld, that's what I call this place. My power has its limits here, which is why, I came to offer you a deal. You agree to let this ship sink, like I want, and I promise to use my magic to ensure you and your brother survive. And to sweeten the deal, I'll even throw in this" and he pulls out a sapphire
"The Eye of the Storm?" Liam asked
"You deliver this to your king, and he'll give you anything you want" Hades said "Including that navy job you've always wanted, your dreams can be fulfilled"
"I shouldn't even be considering this…" Liam thought to himself "… but I'm not sure I can save this ship, we're too close to the typhoon… if it's a choice between a chance to save everyone or the guarantee to save Killian… that's not even a choice"
Liam returns to the deck, where Killian is at the wheel.
"What course should I have my men chart?" Killian asked Liam
"Continue on our present course, dead ahead" Liam replied
"Into the storm?" Killian asked
"I'm afraid we've no choice" Liam replied "there's rocky shores on either side of us. Try to turn this ship around, the winds would tear us apart"
"You sure?" Killian asked
"I need your trust, brother" Liam said and they sail straight into the storm…
Later, Killian and Liam wash up on the shore with the remnants of the ship
"Ahoy there!" a naval man shouted as he walked up "by the king's name, what happened to you two sailors?"
"We're survivors of the tempest, that plagues these waters" Killian said
"Let me guess, you went in search of the Eye of the Storm" the man said "if you ask me, you got what you deserved"
"You may be right, but that gem is no legend" Liam said as he holds out the Eye of the Storm
"You found it" the man said
"But how?" Killian asked
"In the wreck, my brother was knocked unconscious" Liam said "I managed to swim us to a few planks of wood. Providence did the rest"
"Young man" the man said to Killian "your brother is a hero. My ship, will bring you to the king, who as offered a great reward for this stone"
"We do not seek wealth" Liam said "only honor. Perhaps his majesty might grant us a naval commission"
"Why wait for the king?" The man asked "I would be honored, to offer you both commissions on my ship. She's the flagship of the royal navy"
"She's… very pretty, what's her name?" Killian asked
"The Jewel of the Realm"
1796 AD
Rumplestiltskin returns to his home to show his wife, Milan, a piece of paper
"Milah" Rumple said "my weaving days are behind us, I've been called to the Front" and he shows her the draft notice
"The Ogres War…" Milah said
"I report for training in the morning" Rumple said
"No, Rumple, I've heard stories" Milah said "the Front is a brutal place"
"Milah, I know, I can't say I won't be frightened" Rumple said "but this is the chance I've been waiting for. All my life, you know, I've lived under the shadows of my Father's actions for too long now"
"Just because your Father was a coward, doesn't me you are" Milah said
"I know that, as do you" Rumple said "but for the world, fighting in this war is what gives me the chance to prove that to everyone else"
"Go" Milah encourages "be brave, fight honorably"
"I love you" Rumple said
"I love you too" Milah replied "when you return, we can start living the life you always dreamed of. We can have a family"
Later, at the training camp not far from the Front, a soldier stops Rumple
"Soldier" the man said
"Me?" Rumple asked
"I'm needed at the Front" the man said "you guard this crate with your life" pointing at a crate covered with a sheet
"What's under there?" Rumple asked
"A prisoner who can help us turn the tide against the Ogres" the man replied "careful, it's a tricky beast"
"Yes, sir" Rumple said as the man left
"Rumplestiltskin" a voice from the crate said and Rumple lifts the sheet and sees a small girl
"You're a child" Rumple said as the girl looks at him, revealing she doesn't have any eyes
"Please" the girl said, pointing at the water "I haven't had a sip in days"
"How do you know my name?" Rumple asked
"I'm a seer, I see all" the girl said, showing Rumple her hands, which have eyes in them
"No, no, no" Rumple said "that's not possible, you must have overheard someone speak it"
"Rumplestiltskin" the Seer said "the son of a coward, raised by spinsters, afraid of ending up just like his father. Did I overhear that? I told you, I see all, even what has yet to pass"
"You mean the future?" Rumple asked "you can see the future?"
"Indeed I can" the Seer said "including yours"
"No, no, no" Rumple said "I won't indulge this… dark magic"
"Even if what I say concerns your wife… Milah?" the Seer asked
"Has something happened to her?" Rumple asked
"Give me water" the Seer said and Rumple does
"Slake your thirst witch and speak what you know of my wife" Rumple said
"She's already with child" the Seer said
"I'm to be a father?" Rumple asked
"You wife will bear you a son" the Seer said "but your actions on the battlefield tomorrow leave him fatherless"
"I'm gonna die?" Rumple asked "no, no, you must tell me how I can stop that from happening"
"You can't" the Seer said
"Then I'm done helping you" Rumple said and he grabs the cup from her
"For now" the Seer said "someday you will help me again"
"I'll bet Milah isn't even pregnant" Rumple said "you just said that so I would give you water, now you're trying to trick me into deserting"
"You shall see" the Seer said "tomorrow, when you see the army ride cows into battle, you will know, I speak the truth"
"Cows?" Rumple asked sarcastically "and who's going to man the catapults, milk maids? I've heard enough of your fiendish lies"
"There's no escaping it" the Seer said "you will have a son, and your actions will leave him fatherless" and Rumple covers the Seer's crate with the sheet again
The next day, Rumple goes to meet with his unit. He sees different soldiers being brought back from the Front, maimed in different ways
"Now they're lucky" a solider said to Rumple
"I think they'd beg to differ" Rumple said
"They're not dead" the soldier said "but they can't fight, which means they get sent home. That's the only way out of here alive. When the Ogres rip you limb from limb, pray they do it quick"
"Fortune favors us" another solider said as he walked up "fresh supplies from the Duke. Today we will not be marching into battle, we'll be riding"
"Riding?" Rumple asked "riding what?"
"What kind of question is that, a horse of course" the solider said "now grab yourself a cow, get ready"
"I'm sorry what did you say?" Rumple asked
"A cow" the soldier replied "the saddles we just got in, are made from the finest leather. We call them cows, grab yours, so at least your ride of doom will be a soft one on your backside"
Rumple goes to find the Seer's crate and begins to talk to her
"So it's all true" Rumple said "I'm gonna have a son and I'm going to die" and he hears nothing back "answer me!" and he lifts the sheet to see the crate is empty. He looks to a mallet, grabs it, and then smashes it against his own foot, screaming in pain
Hall of Legends
"Ouch" Simultaneous said "and that is why you don't try to avoid your fate"
"Looks like he did" Poseidon said "he was sent home"
"I can't believe anyone actually believed that he 'accidentally' dropped a giant mallet onto his foot" Renet said
"They didn't" Simultaneous said "but they knew to him, being branded a coward for the rest of his life is worse than anything they could have done to him"
"And he has not escaped his fate" Nyx said
"What do you mean, he survived the day?" Poseidon asked
"Leaving your child fatherless has more than one meaning " Nyx said "and just because his actions today will lead to his child being fatherless, doesn't mean that child will be fatherless today. If Rumplestiltskin had been paying attention to the Seer, he would've known he wasn't going to die today. The Seer said one day he would do something for her… which he cannot do if he is dead."
"The future is never quite what it seems, right Lord Simultaneous" Renet said
"That is correct, Renet, you are learning" Simultaneous said
The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Tale Realm
Rumple makes his way home to Milah, limping along the way, only able to walk because of a cane. He enters his home to see Milah with a baby
"Rumple" Milah said
"What's his name?" Rumple asked
"Baelfire" Milah said
"A strong name" Rumple said
"Something he'll need it" Milah said "if he's to live with the shame of being your son"
"What are you talking about?" Rumple asked
"Rumple, is it true?" Milah asked
"Is what true?" Rumple asked
"Did you injure yourself so you wouldn't have to fight, so you would be sent home?" Milah asked
"Who told you that?" Rumple asked
"Rumors travel quickly from the Front" Milah said "Rumple did you do this to yourself?! Did you do it to yourself?!"
"Yes!" Rumple exclaimed "a seer told me I was going to die in the battle"
"You did this because a seer told you to do it?" Milah asked
"She was right about everything else" Rumple said "I left the front to be with you, you and Baelfire"
"You left because you were afraid" Milah said "you became what everyone thought you would, a coward, just like your father"
"I'm nothing like my Father" Rumple said "he abandoned me, I will never ever do that to my son. That's why I did this, for him, all for the boy. To save him from the same fate I suffered. Growing up without a father"
"You sentenced him to a fate much worse, growing up as your son" Milah said
"What else could I do?" Rumple asked
"You could've fought, Rumple" Milah said "you could've died"
"You don't mean that" Rumple said "you don't mean that" and Milah hands him Baelfire and leaves and Rumple talks to him "it's alright, Bae, it's alright, your papa's here, and I promise, I will never, ever leave you"
1799 AD
Killian Jones arrives on the Jewel of the Realm to inspect the crew
"All hands on deck" Killian said as the crew assembles "the captain is in transit with orders from the king himself…" and he notices one of the crew has a bottle and grabs it from him "rum, sailor? Does anyone knows what happens to sailors who drink rum? They get drunk. Drunkenness leads to bad form. If there's one thing that won't be tolerated aboard this ship, it's bad form" and he tosses the bottle into the sea
"My ship has never been in finer hands" Liam said as he arrived
"Ay" Killian replied "we stand ready to receive the king's orders"
"To your stations" Liam commands the crew and then turns to Killian "when the king summoned me, I knew there was only one man who I could trust to navigate this difficult journey, my little brother"
"Perhaps you mean younger brother" Killian said and Liam hands him a sextant
"A gift, to commemorate our latest voyage together" Liam said
"A sextant" Killian said "you always were the sentimental type"
"Look closer, brother" Liam said and Killian examines its markings
"I've never seen markings like this, to what strange land are we headed?" Killian asked
"I'm under orders not to say until we arrive" Liam replied "brother, this is the mission of our dreams, a mission that will bring peace to the kingdom and glory to the Brothers Jones"
"A hero's journey" Killian said with a smile "that is indeed good form, brother" and he gives the order to set sail
Later, when the Jewel of the Realm was at sea, Liam hands Killian a book. Killian opens it and begins examining it
"Star charts?" Killian said "I've never seen its constellations before"
"No one has" Liam said "that's right, we're going to a new land, brother"
"Enemy sited!" one of the crew shouted
"It's a frigate and two corvettes gaining fast" Killian said "master gunner, ready the port cannon!"
"Belay that order" Liam commands as the frigate fires its first shot, which narrowly misses the Jewel of the Realm
"We'll never outrun them" Killian said
"Have faith, lieutenant" Liam said "deploy the pegasus" and the crew deploys a strange looking sail
"What is that?" Killian asked
"That is a sail woven from the last remaining feathers of the last known pegasus" Liam said
"Legend has it that horse could fly" Killian said
"Indeed" Liam said "so can we, hang on" and the Jewel of the Realm lifts into the air as the crew celebrates "set a course, lieutenant. Second Star to the Right and Straight on Til Morning"
Neverland
The Jewel of the Realm landed in Neverland. Killian and Liam go to explore while the crew stayed with the ship
"What exactly did the king expect to find on this island?" Killian asked
"A plant, potent enough to heal any injury" Liam said
"So we never have to bury another sailor at sea again" Killian said
"Now you understand the importance of our mission" Liam said
"Are you two lost?" a voice said and they turn to see a boy "you look lost to me"
"Identify yourself, boy" Liam commands
"I'm Peter Pan" Peter Pan replied "I live here. Who are you?"
"Captain Jones" Liam replied "and my lieutenant. We're here by order of the king"
"The king, huh?" Peter Pan mused "we don't have any kings in Neverland, just me"
"That's funny" Liam said and he takes out a drawing and shows it to Peter Pan "we seek this plant, now tell us boy, where can we find it?"
"Your king sent you for this plant?" Peter Pan mused
"You know it?" Liam asked
"Dreamshade" Peter Pan replied "you find it at the top of the peak" and he points them in the right direction "it's the deadliest plant on the island. Your king is really ruthless"
"Nonsense" Liam replied
"It's medicine" Killian said
"It's doom" Peter Pan countered "why fight a messy battle when you can kill an entire army with the sap of one plant?"
"Is it possible" Killian whispers to Liam "that the king would poison our enemies?"
"Don't be so gullible" Liam replied "this boy is playing games with us. And I'm quickly tiring of them. Come, we should keep moving" and they head of to look for the Dreamshade
"Don't say I didn't warn you" Peter Pan called after them
Later, Liam and Killian find the Dreamshade
"It certainly doesn't look like medicine" Killian said
"You choose to believe that boy over our king?" Liam asked
"That boy, showed us the path to the Dreamshade" Killian said "why would he lie about its nature?"
"To keep it all for himself" Liam said "do you actually think our king would send us to retrieve something so dangerous?"
"I hope not" Killian replied "this is not what I signed up for"
"You signed up to listen to your king" Liam said
"Because I thought he was a man of honor" Killian said
"He is" Liam said
"If this is poison, it won't just end the war, it will obliterate an entire kingdom" Killian said
"What do you know of any of this?" Liam asked "I'm your older brother and your captain, you should listen to me"
"No" Killian replied quietly "I'll fight our enemies, but I'll fight fair"
"Then allow you to disabuse you of that notion" Liam said as he draws his sword and cuts off a piece of Dreamshade and goes to cut himself with it
"Brother, don't!" Killian pleaded, but it's too late and Liam has cut himself with it… and is fine
"You see?" Liam said "perfectly fine. I told you, our king would never lie to us. Now let's collect our specimens and…"
"Liam?" Killian asked
"Killian" Liam said, showing him his arm, which now had black markings climbing up it
"Your arm!" Killian exclaimed as Liam collapsed to the ground
"I'm sorry brother" Liam said and he fell unconscious
"No… no… no…!" Killian exclaimed "hey, hey, stay with me. Let's get you back to the ship"
"I tried to warn you" Peter Pan said "he will die as soon as the poison reaches his heart"
"Please, he's my brother" Killian pleaded "he's all I have left"
"Well, maybe you shouldn't have goaded him into it" Peter Pan said
"He was so stubborn, I didn't mean to… can you help me?" Killian asked
"It might not feel like it, but today's your lucky day" Peter Pan replied "there is a way to stop him from dying"
"Tell me" Killian pleaded and Peter Pan waves his hand and the Dreamshade retreats, revealing a cave with a spring
"This spring, these waters are rich with the power of Neverland" Peter Pan said "it's what keeps it and what's on it so… young. If one was to drink directly from it, it's powers can cure any ill"
"Thank you" Killian said, but Peter Pan stops him
"But I must warn you" Peter Pan said "magic always comes with a price, and that spring is no exception. Don't leave the island unless you are willing to pay it"
"Of course, whatever you want, it's yours" Killian said. Killian fills a canteen with the water and gives it to Liam "Brother, brother?"
"That's Captain to you" Liam said with a laugh "what happened?"
"It doesn't matter" Killian said "now let's pay the boy and go. Boy what do you want?" But Peter Pan is nowhere to be found.
Later, the Jewel of the Realm begins to take off from Neverland as Liam and Killian discuss what happened in the Captain's quarters
"How are you feeling?" Killian asked
"Ship shape" Liam said "Killian, I should've listened to you"
"I'm just glad you survived" Killian said "what now, brother?"
"We reveal our king's cowardice" Liam said
"Well, let's hope the realm sides with us" Killian said
"Oh they will" Liam said "to fight battles using unholy weapons is, as you say, bad form"
"I will follow you, to the ends of the earth, brother" Killian said and then Liam collapses to the ground "Liam, no. Liam, no. No, no, no, no, no! Help! HELP!"
The Enchanted Forest - Fairy Tale Realm
After the Jewel of the Realm returns to the seas of the Enchanted Forest, Killian and the crew bury Liam at sea. A crew member hands him Liam's sextant
"This belongs to you now, Captain" the crewman said
"You'll never leave my side brother" Killian whispers to himself and then turns to address the crew "we are sworn to serve the king and the realm. They sent us to retrieve an unthinkable poison, one that killed our dear Captain. Never again shall anyone set sail to the cursed land" and he torches the Pegasus Sail "and never again shall we take such orders, serving a king, fighting his wars. That is the way of dishonor! And all you who disagree, flee now or walk the bloody plank! Those who stay, will be free men and I will be your Captain. We'll sail under the crimson flag and we'll give our enemies no quarter! And we'll take what we please and we'll live by our own rules! That is the best form of all! Our kingdom is corrupt and immoral! They took my brother from me, and now I'm going to take everything they've got! Starting with this ship! Bring the paint from below"
"Sir?" a crewman asked
"It's time we rename this vessel" Killian proclaimed "we no longer sail as the Jewel of the Realm, we now sail as the Jolly Roger" and he takes off his navy jacket and tosses it into the sea "and when they come for us, I want them to know exactly what we are: pirates! For at least among thieves, there is honor!"
"Captain Jones! Captain Jones! Captain Jones!" the crew chants
Hall of Legends
"I don't understand why Peter Pan helped them at all?" Suzu asked "it seems more like him to go along with what the king had said to cause as much death as possible"
"Peter Pan is driven by chaos, not death and deception" Sora said "if he can cause chaos by telling the truth and preventing death, he'll do that"
The Underworld
"Well I wasn't expecting to see you here so soon" is the first thing Liam hears when he wakes up and he turns to see Hades
"Hades" Liam replied
"Good, you remember me" Hades said "now you see, I've got a pub that needs a bartender, and you seem like the perfect person for the job, I know how much you love alcohol"
"Despite what you're implying, I didn't hate alcohol, I just never had any for Killian's sake" Liam said "he had trouble resisting temptation"
"Well, Killian's not here" Hades said "so you'll take the job?"
"Do I have a choice?" Liam asked
"Hey, I give everyone a choice" Hades said "people can stay in the Underworld, they can go into the River of Souls, or they can move onto the Worse Place. You can do the job I assigned to you, which comes with a place to stay, and a stipend, or you can wander aimlessly looking for a place to stay and food to eat. You no longer need to eat… but your stomach will very much appreciate it… otherwise you'll starve to death, without the whole 'death' part… so you'll starve forever"
"… I'll take the job" Liam said
"Wise choice" Hades replied