David's weary eyes shot up in a near panic as a torrential wave of cold water was dumped over his head. Gasping and sputtering from the shock, he quickly backpedaled to the farthest corner possible that the tube he was currently situated in provided.

"Enough!" David finally rasped out, shivering from both cold and an underlying current of fear at the same time.

"No. Not yet my precious little prince." The man-in-the-shadows said with a mirthful sadistic tone in his voice. That was all the others had ever seen of his man, their head captive and tormentor. Henry had dubbed him the Man-In-The-Shadows, and it seemed to fit.

"Reminds of he Harry Potter..." he'd remarked once, while they spent a yet another long day having their blood and energy drained from them. While those of the enchanted forest, namely Killian, Anna, and Kristoff remained terribly confused, Regina had rolled her eyes. David swore he saw a smile grace her face, while Emma congratulated her son's rather cute pop culture reference.

Unlike the popular book series, this was real, this man was real, and they were all in real danger of being placed with more pain, or being outright killed.

"So, little prince." Man-In-The-Shadows said, the sound of rubbing his hands together gleefully, "How are you feeling?"

"Pissed off." David said, using as much weight as his weak voice would muster "and trust me, you don't want to see me angry."

Nothing but the harsh sounds of the man's labored breathing could be heard. The sound of clicking behind him.

"Oh, but that's just it." the man continued. His footsteps echoed loudly in the empty room. "I enjoy your anger so very, very much." his voice took on an almost whimsical tone.

"You lot are key to my plans to becoming whole. It will be glorious! Simply glorious!" the man continued placing his hand on Emma's cell.

"Stay away from my daughter!" David roared. Emma's dull eyes looked over at the man she could not see.

"Dad, stop. Save your energy..." Emma said weakly.

"No. No. Tsk tsk. That won't do for I need your energy. All of it." the man-in-the-shadows said with a pitying voice. He walked amongst the cells, clipboard tucked underneath his arm and jotted down a few notes.

"I've dealt with a lot of sick people in my time." Regina drawled, "but you are by far the worst"

"Thank you, your majesty, or is it madame mayor? I take that as a compliment."

"Let us go!" Anna snapped, her rare temper showing itself. "This is wrong!"

"No, my dear princess. It is so, very, very, right." the man continued, stopping at her cell with a pleased smile. Anna pulled back away from the man, looking,straining for any sign of his facial features, but couldn't see anything.

"You told me once, long ago, to never give up on my dream." the man in the shadows said with a smile. "and I haven't. It's taken me nearly 30 years, but I finally have the pieces aligned! I have you all to thank, but most importantly, you, and Kristoff."

"B- but we've never met! I don't recognize you at all!" Anna said, looking at her husband's ill form.

"That is alright little princess." the man in the shadows said with a comforting, almost fatherly tone. "The fault is mine."

"You took their memories!" Ruby snapped, slamming her hands against the glass "Ours too, didn't you?!"

"Well it appears so. Although that wasn't my intention. This works out quite well for me either way." the man in the shadows said with shrug. "More than works out. It's perfect. Who knew that the experiment would have such a side effect? I must thank my brother...oh what a glorious reunion that will be."

"Ok pal. Enough with the sick mind games!" Emma shouted. "I'm the savior..." her strength lagged and she slumped to her side.

"The magical restraints will limit you I'm afraid." the man said. "Can't have you popping off spells, now can I?"

"Shut... the hell... up..." Emma said weakly.

The man continued to ignore her, and focused his attention on the strongest occupant of the cell.

"Wakey, wakey old man. I mean... this whole thing really is your fault." the man in the shadows said. " Well...sort of...but not really...Rumplestiltskin."

Gold looked up from his hunched state. "That's not my name in this world." he said weakly. The Man In The Shadows smiled sympathetically.

"No. I suppose it isn't. You did warn me, all magic came with a price. I however, plan to change that little policy."

He turned to another person, one the others could not see. "Take them to the basement. Now phase two will begin."

A loud rumbling was heard, and each prisoner braced themselves as their tube like prisons began a slow, mechanical descent into the floor.

"Now. Let us a play a game. It's called "how long does it take, to break a prince, a pirate, a savior, truest believer, the dark one, a princess, an orphan, a queen, and a werewolf, hmmm?"

David felt his stomach seize up into his heart. The endless days of waiting weren't enough, now was coming something far more wicked.

"Mom!" Henry cried out, looking through the see through floor and seeing nothing but darkness underneath him.

"It'll be alright Henry..." Regina tried to comfort him, but from the look in her eyes, David knew she felt fear. Hell, they were all feeling it.

"We'll get out of this..." Emma said to the entire group, but he own voice had a quiver.

"Be alright love. Nothing we can't face together..." Killian said in a tone, that made David's heart leap. The man, who had crossed time and realms again and again for his daughter.

"Brace yourselves everyone..." Ruby said.

"The others will find us..." Anna said. Kristoff opened his eyes momentarily and swallowed heavily.

"Thought this was still a bad dream..." he groaned.

"Oh no, my young man. You'll all find out just how very, very real everything about this all is." the man in the shadows continued with glee. "So real, you may wish you were probably dead."

The man in the shadows turned away as their tubes had nearly finished being dropped to the lower level.

"Soon brother. We shall meet again, and please...don't forget to bring...Snow White."