In a Crowd of Thousands

31

ENCHANTED FOREST - PAST

Hook, wearing a cloak to disguise himself, walked up the stairs leading to a tower in the Evil Queen's castle. Along the way, he encountered a guard on the stairs who said, "Halt."

"Food for the prisoner," Hook told him.

"It's not mealtime. Who are you? Identify yourself, slave!"

Hook easily defeated the guard in a fight before saying, "Slave? I prefer Captain." He took the keys from the dead guard and continued his way upwards. At the top, he entered a room, where Belle was being held captive. "Hi... You must be Belle."

"The Queen sent you, didn't she?" Belle guessed. "She wants you to kill me."

Hook shook his head. "I'm not here to kill you, love. I'm here to rescue you." He began to unlock her shackles.

"Rescue me? Who are you?"

"A friend. We haven't much time. Your father's life is in danger. He's being attacked by the very same monster who stole you away from your family in the first place."

"What, Rumpelstiltskin?"

"The Dark One – he must be stopped. You spent more time with him than anyone. There are rumours of a magical weapon that has the power to kill him."

"No, no, no, no. Let... Let me talk to him. He's not a monster."

"Belle, your father's life hangs in the balance. I need to know what that weapon is, and where to find it."

"I don't know what you're talking about, and I have no idea how to... How to kill Rumpelstiltskin."

"You don't?"

"No. And... And nor would I."

"Hm. Then, I'm afraid I'm not here to rescue you." He backhanded Belle, rendering her unconscious. "So pretty... Yet, so useless." Hook raised his arm, preparing to kill her with his hook, but was stopped by the Evil Queen.

She entered the room and magically removed his hook before saying, "No. Not useless. She's a valuable chess piece."

"Do I look like I'm playing a game of chess? My hook, if you please."

"No."

"The asking was me being a gentleman."

"Is that any way to address a queen? Even a pirate should have better manners than that. Yes... I know who you are... Captain. I know why you came here from Neverland. And I know all about the crocodile you wish to skin."

"Then you also know, that I'll stop at nothing."

"So dedicated and resourceful. No one has been able to fight their way past my defenses before. She can't help you kill Rumpelstiltskin, Hook. But I can, if you do something for me. Care to join me for a drink?"

---

The Evil Queen poured out two drinks and handed one to Hook before saying, "Things are about to change in this world. Radically. I have plans to enact a curse that will take everyone to a far-off land."

"How will that help me?" Hook asked.

"This new realm? It's a land without magic. Where the Dark One will be stripped of his powers. There, you won't need any magical weapon to kill him. You can do it with a mere flick of your wrist."

"Tell me what I have to do."

"There's one person I don't want following me to this new land. You're to see to it that doesn't happen."