Once Upon a Time returns tonight to tell the tale of Captain Hook’s lost year. Take to seas with our full recap of “The Jolly Roger” here!

The captain of a ship is meant to be feared, respected, and followed until death. But what happens when the life of a once villainous captain is tainted by the pangs of lost love? Captain Hook’s lost year tries to shed some light on Hook’s struggle with the love of a lady and the love a ship.

On the open road: Who says you need a ship to continue pirating? Hook and his men, all three of them, take a carriage hostage in the road and split the spoils. After a round of drinks, Hook dismisses the kind offering of an arousing evening, and is instead treated to a blow to head from a very angry Ariel.

In Storybrooke, nine months later, Regina comes up with a protection spell for David and Mary Margaret’s apartment that cannot be broken by blood magic. Emma requests that Regina train her to control her magic and perhaps use it to build a crib. Emma turns down her parents kind offer to look after Henry. According to Henry, a man in eyeliner with one hand is much more interesting than two expecting parents.

Mr. Smee inquires why the crew is sitting idly on the shores of Storybrooke instead of taking to the seas once more. Do not misinterpret his distaste for the land, frozen yogurt has its charms, but nothing compares to a pirates’ life. Hook insists the dangers on the seas, plus the missing Jolly Roger, make his reasons for staying put quite clear.

A Solid Foundation: Emma takes Henry to Hook before she goes off to Regina’s vault. Hook reads Emma’s intention to begin magical training as her embracing the life that will keep her in his company. However, Emma still believes that keeping Henry in New York is the best option. Hook reminds her that he once tried to return to the life he led before the curse. It does not work, no matter how hard you try.

In the past, Ariel accuses Hook of kidnapping her prince. But a dagger to the throat reveals that Ariel has the wrong pirate. Blackbeard, the pirate who strikes fear with just the utterance of a name becomes their common enemy. Trudging through the woods, Ariel begins to speak candidly of the whispered tails of Hook’s heroism in Neverland. Hook takes her aside and tries to convince her that he has not gone soft, but he’ll have to prove that to Blackbeard as well.

Regina begins to offer Emma magical training by the books, but a lesson in Elvish fails to catch her attention. Instead, Regina throws her into the test head first, dangling her from a bridge and forcing her to use her instincts to save herself. Emma’s powers prove to be quite remarkable and Regina chastises her for throwing away her gift.

Tracking Device: Ariel washes ashore in Storybrooke after searching the realms for Prince Eric. David tells Hook to go in search of an item of Eric’s in Gold’s shop. Hook recognizes the cloak Ariel wore during the past year and Belle sets a tracking spell on it, much to Hook’s dismay. The cloak brings the two to the docks where it disappears into the waters revealing an unfavorable fate for the prince. Ariel thanks Hook for his kindness and desire to help her, his courage will not be forgotten.

David tries to show Henry that he can be just as fun as his buddy, Hook. But teaching a young kid to drive on a busy street, is not his brightest idea.

In the year that was, Ariel and Hook find Blackbeard and the Jolly Roger where Hook is faced with an ultimatum. Either Hook admits that he has gone soft and surrenders the ship to save Eric, or he tosses Blackbeard overboard and loses the prince forever. Hook takes his ship back and Ariel cures his cowardice as a result of corrupted love and takes off to find Eric.

A Wrinkle in Time: In the present, Hook runs after Ariel to confess his selfishness and admit that he is responsible for Eric’s lost life. As Ariel curses Hook and forces him to admit the love who curses his existence, Zelena appears and admits the afternoon was a ruse. She always knew of Hook’s actions during the lost year, but she also knew that Ariel and Prince Eric are living happily ever after on an island outside the reach of the curse.

Zelena leaves Hook with a task; kiss Emma and all of her powers will disappear for good. Everything that makes the Savior special, everything that is preventing Zelena from killing Emma herself will become an obstacle of the past. If he refuses, Zelena will begin to take the lives of those around her one by one.

Hook arrives at the loft to inform Mary Margaret and David of the problem, but instead he is greeted by the entire clan of Emma’s loving comrades. Regina challenges Emma to use mirror magic to look between realms, a task Regina herself cannot complete. When Emma sees that Hook is telling the truth about Ariel and Eric’s happy ending, she tries to shower him with the credit of their reunion. Pushing Emma and the happiness of the loft away, he trails off into the town carrying the weight of the task in front of him.

Watch Once Upon a Time season 3, episode 18, “Bleeding Through,” Sunday, April 20 at 8 p.m. ET on ABC