Chapter 23

It was night time as Emma, Killian, Naomi, Nicholas, David, Henry, Belle and Regina were by the fallen clock-tower. Regina had told them that she told Zelena to try with Hades.


"You told her what?" Emma asked.


"To give him a chance," Regina said.


"And you thought that was a good idea because?" Nicholas said.


Regina looked at Nicholas, "Because we're family. And I'm trying to trust Zelena. She thinks she can change Hades," Regina said.


"I'm sorry, love, I missed the part where Zelena changed," Killian said.


"You'd think the ex-pirate with a rum habit would cut my sister some slack," Regina said.


"Well, you'd think that the Evil Queen would be smarter than to send the Wicked Witch to romance the most devious man alive," Killian said.


"Easy, guys. We're not gonna win the war against Hades if we use all our ammo on each other," Emma said.


Hades walked towards them, "The Saviour has a point," He said.



"What hell are you doing here?" Killian asked as he pushed Naomi behind him.


Emma did the same with Henry, "Get behind us, kids," Emma said.


"Oh, I didn't find you to hurt you. I came for your..." Hades sighed, "Wow, this is hard... Help," Hades said.


"W...What could you possibly want o...our help with?" Belle asked.


"Simple. I went to meet Zelena for our date and found this," Hades said as he held up a piece of parchment.


Regina stepped forward and took it, opened and read it, "No," Regina said as she handed the parchment to Emma.


Emma read it, "Zelena, she's been kidnapped by Gold and Pan," Emma said.


"Wonderful..." Naomi said and sighed.


"They're asking for a meeting tomorrow morning," Hades said.


"He wants you to tear up that contract about me," Naomi said.


Regina faced Hades, "So, do it. Meet with them. I just got my sister back. I'm not going to lose her now," Regina said.


"Neither will I. I'll give them what they want, but I know the Stiltskins and their tricks," Naomi glared at him, "Except you... They're not gonna keep their word. Not unless I have an ace up my sleeve," Hades said.


"Luckily for you, you got one," Regina said.


"I'm sorry. You've been Zelena's doting sister for all of what, three hours? No," Hades said.


"Who's going to be more motivated than me?" Regina asked.


Hades turned to face Naomi, "Naomi," Hades said.


"Huh? What? Why? Keep me out this," Naomi said.


"If Zelena gets out of this alive, I'm prepared to off you a deal," Hades said


"Don't trust a word he says, Naomi," Killian said.


"Now, I agree with the pirate," Regina said.


"You and I both know your father and grandfather will go back on their word if I'm alone... But if the one person, they both want to protect helps me. I'll offer you a deal you cannot refuse, hear me out?" Hades said.


Naomi stepped forward and Killian tried to stop her but she slapped his hand away, "What's your offer?" Naomi asked.


"I cannot wake your mother," Naomi started to turn away, "But if you help me, I will take everyone's names off their headstones," Hades said.


Naomi looked at him, "What about the contract?" Naomi asked.


"We know he will trade Zelena for me ripping up the contract but if he doesn't... I'll throw that in as well. Do we have a deal?" Hades said.


"Yeah, we do," Naomi said.


"Why Naomi?" Nicholas asked.


"No one can track her whereabouts with magic and they won't be able to sense her," Hades said.



Later, Hades hung the closed sign in the door of the Underworld Diner and he used his magic to shut the blinds.


"Show yourself," Hades said.


Mr Gold and Pan appeared in smoke in the diner, Pan was holding onto Zelena. Hades turned to face them, "Glad to see you followed instructions and came alone," Pan said.


"Zelena," Hades said as he looked at her.


"I tried to stop them, but..." Zelena said as she held up her left hand which had the magic blocking cuff on.


"It's not your fault, it's theirs," Hades said.


"Oh, is that so? Because we wouldn't be here if you'd ripped up that contract when I asked you to," Mr Gold said.


Hades magically produced the contract, "You didn't have leverage," Hades said.


"And now I do. So, you stand there and don't move except to rip up that contract. Then you get the witch," Mr Gold said.


Hades ripped up the contract, "There. Now, give her back," Hades said.


"Oh, you can have her back," Mr Gold said.


Meanwhile, Naomi poofed in, in the back of Grannys and quietly made her way through to the diner front.


Back in the diner front, "But we didn't say anything about her heart, did we? You see, my body is ready to walk the earth again. Except for one thing. A living heart. So, if you don't mind," Pan said as he raised his hand.


"My heart has got a protection spell on it," Zelena said.


"You may be good at magic, but we're better," Pan said.


Pan went to remove Zelena's heart but he was suddenly blasted back by a pink yet of magic from Naomi who walked in, holding her wand.


Naomi walked to Hades, "Now, are you sure about that grandfather?" Naomi said.


"I was beginning to think you couldn't get in," Hades said.


"My father forgot, I know how to break blood magic especially when we share blood," Naomi said.


"Naomi..." Mr Gold said.


"He's ripped up the contract Papa, as we wanted, so go," Naomi said.


"Since when did my granddaughter answer to the King of Death?" Pan asked.


"Since he's the one getting my family, home," Naomi said.


"You picked the wrong team to back, Naomi. You won't get what you want from him," Mr Gold said.


"I never get what I want from you, so I'm used to being disappointed in that regain," Naomi countered, "And, it seems that you've been here longer than I and I've found us all a way home," Naomi smiled, "Now, as I can see, the contract is teared up, my life is no longer owned by Hades... So, Papa, why are you still here?" Naomi asked.


"Yeah, I suppose you have a point," Mr Gold said before he disappeared in smoke.


"Rumpel," Pan said.


"Looks like your little boy only came for what he wanted," Zelena said.


"I don't think you're gonna be that lucky," Naomi said.


Pan scoffed, he released Zelena and disappeared in smoke.


Naomi saw Hades walking up to Zelena, she turned around, giving them both privacy. Soon the entire Underworld shook.


"What was that?" Naomi asked as she looked at them.


Hades exhaled deeply, "My banishment. It's over. I can finally leave this place for good," Hades sighed, "Very soon, at the cemetery, there will be a fully formed portal back to Storybrooke, but it will close at sunset," Hades said.


"First things first. I held up my end of the deal. Now, it's your turn. We're going home through that portal, too. All of us," Naomi said.



Later, Emma, Killian, Naomi, Nicholas, Belle, Regin, Henry, Zelena and Hades were at the graveyard, somehow the fallen clock-tower was now there and the hands continuously ticked.


"How'd it get here?" Nicholas asked.


"The hands are moving. Is that a good sign or a bad one?" Naomi asked.


"It's a great one if you want to leave. When those hands spin fast enough in about an hour, it'll turn into an open portal back," Hades said.


"Which we can't go through because of those," Regina indicated to the graves with their names on, "So, let's get on with it," Regina said.


"Gladly," Hades magically removed all their names from the graves, "There. As promised. You're no longer tied to this realm," Hades said.


"I told you love could change him," Zelena said.


"I don't buy it. A man can't change that quickly," Killian said.


Emma stood in front of Killian, "We're free to go through the portal when it opens, which means it's time to split my heart so you can leave with us," Emma said.


Killian smiled, "Aye, love," Killian said.


Emma turned to Regina, "Do it," Emma said.


Regina took out Emma's heart, resulting in her groaning in pain. Regina split her heart it two, handing Emma one half and Emma attempted to put it into Killian's chest, but it didn't work and Emma fell to the ground in pain. Killian steadied Emma, whilst Regina took the other half and put the heart back together.


"Emma," David said.


"Mom!" Henry said.


Emma gasped as her heart was pushed back into her guest, "Why didn't it work?" Emma asked.


Killian got angry and looked at Hades, "I told you we couldn't trust him," Killian said.


"That wasn't me. I'm afraid there are laws of nature beyond even my control," Hades said.


"No, it should work. I died. My wife's heart brought me back," David said.


"How long were you dead?" Hades asked.


"A minute or so, maybe less," David said.


"Ah. I didn't think I recalled you entering this realm. Your soul never left your body. That's why it worked for you," Hades said.


"So..." Naomi held Killian's hand, "Uncle Killian's been down here too long?" Naomi asked.


"And his body's rotting away up there. Even if your soul could return to it, I doubt any of you could stomach the smell," Hades said.


Killian looked at Emma, "Well, Emma, it appears you have to return without me," Killian said.


"There has to be another way," Emma said.


"Emma, please," Killian said.


Emma looked at Hades, "You're telling me no one's gone to the Underworld and brought someone back?" Hades doesn't respond and she realised that it has happened before, "They have. Who? Who did? How?" Emma asked.


"It was a long time ago, and it was a rumour. There's no proof it actually worked," Hades said.


"Tell me everything," Emma said.



Later, Emma, Killian, Naomi, Nicholas, Belle, Henry, David, Regina, and Zelena were with Hades in his private chambers. They were looking at a myth that could help Killian and Emma.


"Orpheus and Eurydice," Hades said as he handed Belle the book.


"Ah, yes... Eurydice died and Orpheus followed her to the Underworld to get her back," Belle said.


"These are the only two souls who ever escaped my realm," Hades said.


"How? It thought you said that broke the laws of nature," David said.


"From what I recall..." Everyone looked at Belle, "Orpheus helped Eurydice escape by feeding her ambrosia, the food of the gods," Belle said.


"That's correct," Hades said with a nod.


"And where exactly do you get some of that? Because I don't recall seeing it on the menu at the Blind Witch's," Regina said.


Minutes late, the group, who were now in the library, looking at the elevator that Belle, Naomi and Nicholas saw Mr Gold walk out of when they were hiding but it was all bricked up. Hades removed the brick wall magically to reveal the elevator shaft.


Emma was holding onto Killian's hook, "An elevator? I'm the Saviour. I've got magic," Emma said.


"And I'm the Lord of the Underworld. That should tell you something. The ambrosia, it's powerful, and like a petty spoiled child, it wants all the power for itself. Everything else is shut down below. There's no hopping in and out in a puff of smoke. This is the only way and once you're down there, you're on your own," Hades said.


Emma stepped forward, "And then what? We're knee-deep in a field of ambrosia? Can't be that easy," Emma said.


"I'm not really sure. Even I've never ventured that far down," Hades said.


"So, we're going to the one place in hell where even the devil is afraid to go," Killian said.


"Not hell and not the devil," Zelena said.


"And not because I'm afraid. There's a test to ensure that only those who are worthy of eating ambrosia can reach it and it will require offering up your heart for judgement," Hades said.


"Without magic, how am I gonna take out my own.." Emma began to say.


Hades cut Emma off by taking out her heart again, "You're not," He placed her heart into a bag and held it out to Emma, "My gift to you. Take good care of it," Hades said.


Emma took the bag, "Let's have this be the last time we do this today, okay?" Emma asked.


"Just trying to help," Hades said.


"So, failing this test has, what, fatal consequences?" Emma said.


"One would think," Hades said.


Killian gently turned Emma so she was facing him, "You don't have to do this, Swan," Killian said.


"And you didn't have to sacrifice your life to save all of us from the Dark Ones. We're going," Emma said.


"We'll be right here waiting for you," David said.


Killian turned to Naomi and he walked over to her, "Naomi..." He said.


"I know..." Naomi smiled sadly, "If you're not back I'll leave with everyone and I'll make sure to make my dad sweat," Naomi said.


Killian grinned and they hugged, "That's my niece," He said and kissed her head.


"But you'll come back to Storybrooke," Naomi said.


"Have you seen it?" Killian asked.


"No, I feel it," Naomi said as they pulled away.


Killian and Emma looked at each other, Killian nodded, Emma walked to the elevator and Killian followed her in, shutting the gate, before they started to go down.


At the pawnshop, Mr Gold entered the back of the shop to where Calista was sleeping under the curse. He looked at her and leaned down, and attempted True Love's Kiss, but it failed. He looked at her disappointed in himself, knowing it didn't work because of everything he's done since Killian's death.


Mr Gold heard whooshing noise from the shop and he made his way into the main part of the shop and saw Pan standing there.


"She may not accept you for who you are, but I will. Despite your rude abandonment of me earlier," Pan said.


"Touching, Papa. Yes, abandonment hurts, doesn't it? But with the contract gone, I only care about two things... Getting Calista and Naomi home and having Hook wake Calista," Mr Gold said.


"I'd love to help you make the journey. But that's going to be quite difficult since Ididn'tget the heart you promised me," Pan said.


Mr Gold laughed, "Oh, there's the man I remember. Always thinking about what's in it for himself," Mr Gold said.


Pan chuckled, "There's something in it for you, too," Pan said as he magically produced Pandora's box and held it up.



"Pandora's Box. You can keep her safe in here in exchange for a heart. Otherwise, you both might lose out and miss that portal home. Opening soon, but only till sunset. So, do we have a deal? Tick, tock," Pan said.


Back with the others, they were still in the library waiting for Emma and Killian to come back and were trying to figure out what they would do if they would stand in the library and wait or if they'd try to help anyone pass on.


Henry sighed, "We can't just sit around waiting for them to get back," Henry said.


"I agree but we don't have a choice, Henry. The minute Emma and Uncle Killian get off this elevator, we're going straight through that portal," Naomi said.


"What about Operation Firebird? We can't leave the Underworld without helping the people trapped here," Henry said.


"They were trapped here because of Hades. Who, fortunately for them, will no longer be a resident," Regina said.


"She's right. The Underworld will function as it was meant to... A place for people to deal with their unfinished business without anyone getting in their way," Hades said.


"Yeah. But a lot of the people down here don't even know what their unfinished business is. Bus maybe as the Author, I can tell them," Henry said.


The door opened and Robin walked in, carrying his daughter and he saw that the others were stood with Hades and Zelena and not fighting or arguing, "What's going on?" Robin asked confused.


"Great. You got our message," David said.


Robin pointed at Zelena and Hades, "What are they doing here?" Robin asked.


"Hello to you, too. Are you just gonna stand there, or are you gonna let our darling daughter see her mommy?" Zelena said.


"Regina," Robin said.


"It's okay, Robin. As hard as this is to believe, they're actually helping us," Regina said.


"We both want the same thing... To leave this place," Hades said.


"It's true. He took our names off the tombstones. We can leave," Nicholas said.


"Well, then what are we still doing here?" Robin asked.


"Boy Scout's got a point. We could take the baby to the cemetery now and then all walk through as soon as it opens," Zelena said.


"Not without Emma and Hook," David said.


"And Henry's right. We can still help people," Naomi said and Henry smiled at her.


"Robin, take the baby to the portal," Regina said.


"No. I'm not leaving you in this place. he may be playing nice, but there's still plenty of people down here that have a grudge against you," Robin said.


"Okay, then give the baby to Zelena," Regina said.


"Are you mad?" Robin asked.


"We can trust her," Regina said.


"Maybe you can," Robin said.


"Trust me. I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't think it's what's best for your daughter," Regina said.


Robin kissed Baby Hood's head, before passing her to Zelena. Zelens stopped in front of Regina, "Thank you," She said and hugged her before she left with Hades.


Regina approached Robin, "Are you okay?" Regina asked.


Robin sighed, "I just... I need a moment," He went behind a couple of bookshelves and tried to compose himself and he stiffened when he heard the floor creak, "Who's there?" Robin said as he turned to see Mr Gold.


"It's just me, dearie. Don't worry. You'll remember none of this," Mr Gold said as he took out Robin's heart.



Later, Regina, Robin, Henry, Naomi and Nicholas were now out the front of the library. Henry was using his power as the Author to help the residents of the Underworld learn when their unfinished business is.


Henry was sat at a table as he wrote with his quill and Naomi smiled at him as she watched him finished writing Stealthy's page and handed it to him, "Here you go, your unfinished business," Henry said.


Stealthy scans the page, "Oh, wow. I hadn't realised how much resentment I held against Bashful. Thank you," Stealthy looked at them, "And, um, when you get back, can you tell my brothers I miss them?" Stealthy said.


"I will," Henry said with a smile.


"And um, you know... Grumpy... He talks about you a lot," Naomi said and Stealthy smiled at them before he walked away.


David and Belle exited the library and walked up to them, "Any sign of Mom and Hook?" Henry asked him.


"No, but we still have some time before the portal even opens," David said.


"Don't count on it!" Cruella walked towards them angrily as she pushed people aside, "That's right, vermin. Scatter!" Cruella said before she stopped in front of them.



"Sorry, Cruella, but I don't think your unfinished business is going to take you to any place you'd like," Regina said.


"Oh, I'm not here to collect my story. I want to stay in this marvellous realm. You see, with Hades departing, the Underworld is going to need a new ruler," Cruella said.


"You?" Belle said surprised.


Cruella chuckled, "It's the only upside to Emma sentencing me to this fate. But the job would be meaningless without a citizenry to torment," Cruella said.


"Cruella, we're not gonna let you harm these people," David said.


"Oh, you think I'm just going to keep here? Oh, no," Cruella looked at Regina, "I'm going to keep all of you here. It's only fair, considering it was your son who refused to write me back to life, and you," Cruella looked at David, "You dissolved my James, the best toy in the whole playpen," Cruella said.


"I'm still waiting to hear how you're going to stop us from leaving, Fuzzy. Because all your magic can do is make a rollover and beg," Regina said.


"True. I don't have the magic to keep you all penned in here," Cruella said.


The Blind Witch walked up beside Cruella, "But I do," The Blind Witch said and used her magic to open the library doors and forced them all into it before she locking them in.


David went to try and open the doors, "Our of the way, David," Regina created a fireball, "You forced my hand, kid eater!" Regina said as she threw her fireball, but it failed to open the door.


"Regina!" Robin said.


"Regina, together," Naomi said pulling her wand from her boot.


"Alright," Regina said and nodded and they threw their combined magic at the door but it failed to open.


"What on earth?" Naomi said.


"That's right. No one's getting out before sunset when the portal closes, and then no one's getting out," Cruella said.


"Consider it payback, Regina! For tricking those children into burning me in my own oven!" The Blind Witch said.


"Ta-ta! Oh, it's going to be a nice eternity after all. At least for us," Cruella said as she chuckled before leaving with The Blind Witch.


Naomi took a deep breath, "David, Robin, move," Naomi said and they moved from the door then Naomi waved her wand, blasting the door with a pink jet of magic.


"Naomi?" Henry said.


Naomi nearly slipped back as he magic started pushing her back at the door wouldn't open then she got bounced back into the elevator door, "Ah!" Naomi screamed and fell to the ground.


"Naomi!" Belle yelled and ran over to her, helping her up with Nicholas.


Naomi exhaled heavily, "I'm okay," Naomi said as she panted.


David started to try and get out by the window while Regina looked at the door, "I don't get it. The Blind Witch's spells are always half-baked," Regina said.


"Unless this isn't her spell... It felt powerful," Naomi said.


"Hades. He wants us trapped in here," Regina said and the ground shook.


"It's opened," Belle said.


"We don't have long," Naomi said.


At the pawnshop, Mr Gold walked into the shop to see Pan was still waiting for him.


"Where have you been? We're running out of time," Pan said.


"Still can't bring yourself to trust little Rumpel, can you, Papa?" Mr Gold said.


"You always were a touchy boy," They heard rumbling, "I take it that means it's not going to be open much longer," Mr Gold peers in at the heart in the punch, "Shall we?" Pan said.


"Not quite yet. Timing is everything. Have patience, Papa," Mr Gold said and the rumbling continued and Pan looked around slightly anxiously.


Back at the library, Naomi and Regina kept trying to work together to open to the doors but they kept failing. Naomi fell to the ground, panting and sweating.


"Naomi," Regina crouched down to her, "This... This is why you have the wand... Your magic is..." Regina said.


"It's too much for me, yeah," Naomi said and slowly sat up, "Sorry... I don't think I can keep trying," Naomi said.


The elevator doors opened and they all looked to see Emma walking out alone, she was upset.


"Mom," Henry said.


Emma hugged him, "Henry," Emma's voice broke.


"Emma's, where's Uncle Killian?" Naomi asked worriedly.


"I...I'll explain later. We have to hurry to get to the thing," Emma said.


"We can't. The Blind Witch cast a spell trapping us here," Regina said as she helped Naomi to her feet.


"Let me guess, she got it from Hades," Naomi and Regina nodded, "This whole thing has been a setup to keep us trapped in the Underworld," Emma said.


"You mean, the ambrosia..." David said.


"It wasn't there," Emma said.


"So, Uncle Killian... He... He can't leave?" Naomi asked.


"He can move on. But he wanted to make sure that we all got out even if he couldn't," Emma said.


"Well, then, let's give him his wish," Regina looked at Naomi, "Can you do it once more?" Regina said.


"Yeah," Naomi said and she, Emma and Regina used their magic and managed to blast open the library doors.


"You did it," Henry said.


Naomi began to fall to the ground and Nicholas grabbed her then picked her up, "I got you," Nicholas said as he looked at Naomi who was now unconscious.


"Will she be okay?" Emma asked worriedly.


"She just needs sleep," Regina said.


"Come on, it's getting late," David said.


"Let's get out of here," Emma said.


Henry grabbed his backpack, and picked up the book with all the finished loose pages, he set it down on a trolley, "People will find them," Henry said.


Back at the pawnshop, Pan and Mr Gold were still inside the shop.


"It's nearly time. We should go. We don't want to miss our ticket home," Pan said.


Mr Gold pulled out the heart from the pouch, "Now... Are you ready?" Mr Gold asked.


"Yes. Thank you, son," Pan said.


"Pleasure's all mine, Papa," Mr Gold said as he pushed the heard into Pan's chest.


Pan panted in pain as he leaned on Mr Gold for support, "Wait, something... Wait, something's wrong," Pan said.


"Does it feel different than you remembered?" Mr Gold asked.


Pan coughed, "What's happening? What did you do?" Pan said.


"That wasn't really Robin Hood's heart I put inside you. I knew you or your shadow could be watching. Whilst you were otherwise distracted, I returned Robin's heart to him," Mr Gold said.


"What did you put in me?" Pan asked.


Mr Gold chuckled, "A wine-skin I glamoured, filled with water... From the River of Souls," Mr Gold said.


"No, why?" Pan asked.


"Villains don't get happy endings, Papa. And I'm here to make sure you never get yours," Mr Gold said as he pushed Pan to the ground.


After a few more moments of Pan panting in pain, his body began to slowly disappear and turn into greet water which floated away.



"Goodbye, Papa. For good this time," Mr Gold said as he picked up Pandora's box and made his wat back to where Calista laid sleeping. He unlocked Pandora's box and Calista disappeared in a cloud of red smoke and was transported into the box.



Mr Gold disappeared in red smoke to the cemetery and he walked towards the portal, he looked behind him hoping to see Naomi. He waited a little bit before he heard footsteps and sensed Naomi's magic drawing closer before he climbed through the portal, hoping she'll follow straight away.


Emma, David, Henry, Belle, Robin, Regina and Nicholas ran towards it, Naomi was still unconscious in Nicholas's arms.


"The portal is closing! Henry! Nicholas! Hurry! Go!" Emma said.


Henry, Nicholas carrying Naomi, Belle, Regina and Robin climbed through the portal. As David was about to go through, he noticed that Emma had stopped and taken a step in the direction they just came from.


"Emma," David sighed, "I'm sorry there wasn't some other way," David said.


"When I bought this jacket, it was meant to be armour to protect me from getting hurt by those I love. But now it's just a reminder that I have to protect those I love," Her voice started to break, "Nothing's more important," Emma said as she sobbed.


"You did your best for Hook," David said.


"I don't know. Did I? All I know is, I can't lose anyone else... Let's go," Emma said.


David went through the portal, Emma paused once more to look at the Underworld before she turned and went through the portal. The portal closed and the clock hands spun around until they stopped on 8:15 before ticking away.

Comment