For a moment, the VKs, the guardian, and the knight stood there in confusion as they watched Karayan disappear from sight, taking an army of black knights and Dival with him.
   "What the heck?!" Elsa asked, confusion coloring her tone.
   "Was that Karayan?" Ruby added.
   "Unfortunately, yes." Merlin answered. "And, even worse, he's helping Vor to escape. They just stole my mother's heart box!"
   Merlin then quickly explained what Fairy Godmother had told him and the Royal family that day in the museum.
   "That means there's only one way to stop them then." Nico added. "We'll need my dad's Olympian Crystal. The only problem is that it was stolen...by the Dark One."
   "I can help with that!" Cecilia said. "I have a key to get into his castle. My dad keeps it hidden in his secret voodoo room."
   "You," Merlin pointed to Cecilia, "are coming with us."
   "But I just got here!" She protested.
   "I'll go too!" Nico said. "I'm pretty much the only one who can keep ahold of that thing anyway without... y'know...disinegrating."
   "Great. Gideon, Elsa, Ruby, I'll need you guys too...just in case. Jack, Percy, I need you two to stay here with Gregory and Elene, just to keep an eye on things. Karayan's gonna try to get the Wicked Nine and you guys need to make sure he doesn't get them."
   "Who's gonna open the portal?" Gideon asked.
   "Don't worry. I've already thought about that."
                            * * * * *
   "You want me to do what?" Fairy Godmother asked.
   "Please, Blue." Merlin said. "This is important! The last time we managed to get to the Isle by having Lacey use the Black Fairy's wand. I know you have the power to do this with yours."
   "This is a bad idea, Merl! You're just children!"
   "The VKs and I haven't been kids in years. We saved Storybrooke twice in two years and now we have to do it again. You know what will happen if Karayan releases Vor from her prison."
   "Fine." Blue relented. "I don't like it but you have point. We need to stop them. Just remember, I can only hold the portal open for an hour. After that, you're on your own."
   "Thank you, Blue."
                              * * * * *
  A few minutes later, Blue stood at the border with the group. The group had split into two smaller groups, one on either side of Blue.
  Merlin stood by Kilgharrah, dressed back in the worn clothes, ridiculous boots, and patchwork leather jacket he'd worn back on the Isle. Gideon stood beside him dressed in his black robes, Elsa beside Gideon dressed in her original ice dress, and Ruby beside Elsa in her lace and leather dress and red hood. Cecilia and Nico stood beside Ruby, still in the clothes they'd worn when they left the Isle.
   On the other side of Blue, stood Percival in full armor with his sword at his side, Gregory dressed in the same clothes as when he left the Isle and holding his version of his mom's staff in his hand, Elene also wearing the same clothes as when she left the Isle, and Jack in his usual blue hoodie and brown pants with his ice staff in hand.
    "Before we start," Blue said, pulling out the Black Fairy's wand, "Gideon, I want you to take this." Gideon nodded as he stuck the wand up the sleeve of his robes. 
    With that, Blue spoke the spell to open the barrier. Seconds later, Merlin, Kilgharrah, Gideon, Elsa, Ruby, Cecilia, and Nico stepped through the portal. The Isle of the Lost was just as they left it, all graffiti-covered allies and abandoned-looking shops. 
    Merlin then checked his wrist to find the leather cuff had simply vanished and his magic had returned. "Well, at least "no magic allowed" also applies to magic-suppressing cuffs." He said.
    Unfortunately, at that moment, a voice sounded, "Well, well, well! The famous Merlin has returned!"
   Turning, the group was dismayed to find a familiar black haired female pirate wannabe was leading an entourage of also familiar VK wannabes.
    "Merlin, just take Cici and Nico and get what we came here for! The girls and I can handle these idiots."
    "We'll meet you at the rendevous point!" Merlin agreed.
   Then, grabbing Cecilia and Nico's hands, the trio disappeared.
                              * * * * *
   Right after the first group had disappeared, Blue turned toward the second. 
   "Ok, they're off on their mission. Now, we have ours." She turned towards Jack, "Jack, I need you to go to the cottage of the three good fairies and make sure to protect Maleficent's spinning wheel."
   "Shouldn't I do that since she's my mother?" Gregory asked.
   "No." Blue said, turning to him. "I need you to go to the cottage of the crazy witch and help her to protect Mor'du's claw." She then turned to Elene, "I need you to go to Ella's shop and help her to protect Lady Tremaine's key." Finally, she turned to Percival. "I have a special job for you that I need your help with. First, we have to find another couple of people to help us then I'll have somewhere to take you too."
   Then, with that, they ran off in separate directions.
                           * * * * *
   Karayan looked into the orb of Maleficent's staff. "So now we know where she has hidden three of the Wicked Nine." he told Vor.
   "Good." she said. "That's a start." 
   "Let's go cause some chaos."
                         * * * * *
   Lacey's birthday party was underway. Guests were enjoying cake and dancing but the birthday girl seemed upset.
   This was supposed to be a special birthday! She was turning 18! Yet, neither her mother nor her boyfriend seemed to have bothered to show up!
   Just as she was thinking about going out to look for them, a puff of black smoke revealed a surprising sight: Karayan, dressed all in black with Maleficent's staff in hand and the King's crown on his head.
   "Wow, K! Loving the new look!" Kiara said sarcastically.
   Karayan turned a piercing gaze onto Kiara. "Thanks. I aim to please." Then he turned his attention to the group. "Friends! You know me! Dear old Karayan, your friend, whom you all grew up with for years, who was with you through everything and knows everything about all of you! Yet, when the time came, YOU CHOSE A VILLAIN TO YOUR KING!" Karayan shouted. He paused to take a breath and, a second later, a smirk adorned his face. "You all want a villain as your King? Well that is exactly what you'll get!"
   Karayan snapped his fingers and Regina's spell book appeared in his hands. Speaking a spell, a sudden pink powder, like dust and sparkling began pouring off the page and filling the clearing where the party was being held. Immediately, the guests began falling asleep. 
   Suddenly, at that moment, Blue literally popped in. "Karayan, stop this foolishness!" She shouted.
    "Foolish? Me? You're mistaken, Fairy Godmother."
    He waved the staff and the pink powder spread. Blue panicked and shouted at the guests to run. Some did while others weren't fast enough and fell unconscious. Blue grabbed her daughter's hand and the pair ran, jumping into the Lake of Avalon, just in time for the pink powder to appear above their heads. 
    Karayan laughed as the remainder of the guests succumbed. He swept over their sleeping forms, heading towards the woods when a familiar golden flower caught his eye. 
    "Mother Gothel's healing flower." he smirked as he knelt down and plucked it from the ground. "Two down, seven to go." 
    Then he swept away, into the woods, to find the others...