I’m not really a shipper at all, but I just came up with an idea based on some of the recent spoilers that might encourage you all here. Somehow something happens to Neal where he is separated from his soul. Everyone believes he is dead, but Hook thinks he can save him based on pirate lore, which is why he is talking to Ariel. He needs a mermaid tear & Davy Jones to ferry him like POTC. The key is though when he saves him, he had to switch places with him. So Hook ends up dying to save Neal after releasing his soul.
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