For a sword that cut through flesh and bone like butter, Excalibur crumbled far too easily.

Killian reached for her, fingers brushing past hair once again long and loose. Emma barely noticed. Her attention focused on the gaping, angry wound that reappeared at the side of his neck.

"No," she gasped, hand going to the wound as realization sank in.

Tethering Killian to Excalibur only slapped a Band-Aid over a gaping wound. It had all been in vain. Excalibur did its job too well. Magic kept him alive, but once the magic was gone…this was the result.

She had never been able to save him.

He fell forward, crashing into her, hand cupping her shoulder as she caught him awkwardly. She felt the life draining out of him as they sank to the ground. The pressure in her lungs finally released and a sob broke out as his hand fell from her shoulder. She couldn't think anything but No, no, no, no, NO! Her fingers dug into the leather, clutching him close to her as she cried.

The paramedics came.

Emma was vaguely aware of her parents at her side, but only because they never stopped holding her. Because they kept her from going with him. Because in the end, it was her mother that had to take Killian's place.

It had been in vain.

There had never been anything she could do.

# # #

There was something she could do.

"Are you sure about this," Gold asked.

"Do it," Emma said, ready to carry through her threat if he changed his mind. She'd been double-crossed by Gold for the last time if she had anything to say about it. If she hadn't been so determined to do this the right way, she might have considered using his as the trade. But she'd meant it when she said she learned her lesson.

Last time, she'd saved him as a villain.

This time, she'd save him as a hero.

It was what Killian deserved.

They could deal with Gold and his renewed Dark One status later.

Gold grunted as the knife bit into his flesh. Emma allowed herself a bit of satisfaction as his blood plopped into the water, ripples spreading out. The fog rolled in and Emma looked back to her parents, to Henry and Regina and Robin.

"Shall we?" Gold asked, gesturing to the little boat floating toward them.

"Oh, we're not going in that little thing," Emma said, with a flick of her wrist, The Jolly Roger appeared off shore, blocking their view of Charon's craft. Another flick and they were on board the Jolly. Henry jumped into action as the sails unfurled. "Never rely on the mark for the getaway vehicle," she said.

A foul wind came up, filling the sails. Emma braced herself against the stench and joined Henry at the wheel.

"I will find you, Hook," she whispered. "I will always find you."

Yeah, I know, just a little canon divergent, but I've had this little three-shot sitting on my laptop for a while and I really wanted the next chapter to take place on the Jolly, so...Emma took Killian's ship to the Underworld. Next chapter, we really veer from canon, because this is definitely based more on Greek myths than OUAT (think Orpheus). But at least this part kind of fits.

This isn't actually the original first chapter, that's been completely scrapped because my theories were way off and I was just like, "Eh, I'd rather the opening stick mostly to canon". I might do a little deleted scene at the end if anyone's interested (or maybe just post it to tumblr). Anyways, chapter two is mostly done, I'll try to get it up tonight or tomorrow!