um, first fic for this fandom. there's something about these two I can't quite explain, so I'll let the fanfic do it for me. I should warn you, I'm not a regular viewer of this show so I might've missed some references. Hope you can overlook that. enjoy:)

Hook suddenly scrunched his eyebrows in confusion. Something was not right. Emma, ever so alert, picked up on it at once.

"What is it?"

"The bracelet. It's not...working."

"What do you mean it's not working?" Emma snapped, her nostrils flaring. "Is this some sort of trick?"

"I wish. I am just as startled as you are, darling. Here let me try to put it on again," he offered, pulling it off and staring at it for a long time, turning it on each side, before trying it again on her wrist.

But no, the magic just wouldn't come. It remained sealed, so that on her arm, it was just an ordinary, not very becoming bracelet.

Emma groaned in frustration.

"Great. The one thing you were good for and you managed to screw that up too."

"It's not my fault, lass, honestly. Mine's working just fine. I've no idea what's gotten into it."

"So it's got something against me in particular?"

"Ah, surely such a fiery thing like you would bring it to life. No, it must be something else."

Emma pulled it off in frustration. "Let me have yours then. Maybe the other one will work on me."

But to no avail. Neither bracelet would do.

Mary Margaret was growing quite restless, waiting for them to be done, so when she saw that they were still arguing with each other, she approached them warily.

"Everything all right?"

"No," Emma fumed, pointing at the bracelet on her wrist. "This thing is not working. The magic is gone."

Mary Margaret looked just as baffled.

"But how?"

"I don't know yet, but I might find out. Try it on, will you?" Hook asked Mary Margaret. "I wonder if it's just Swan."

She acquiesced, though reluctantly, and slipped the bracelet on her wrist.

Hook cursed under his breath. "It's no good either."

Then, turning to Mulan and Aurora he bellowed:

"All right, ladies, gather around, both of you, and try on the glass slipper!"

"What is he talking about?" Mulan asked, frowning.

"Apparently, the magic in the bracelet is sealed off," Mary Margaret explained despondently. "You might as well try it yourself."

Mulan exposed her hand and pushed the bracelet up her wrist, waiting with bated breath to see what would happen.

Lifeless.

"Well, this thing is pretty useless then," Mulan sniffed annoyed. "But I can still go, I don't need magic to climb up that beanstalk, even if it does have a charm against intruders. What's the worst that could happen?"

"The worst? Well, you could get burnt to death or, better yet, fall down to a certain death. I suppose that's the attraction."

"So what are we going to do now? Trust you to bring the compass back?" Emma asked cynically.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I think the bracelet is working again," Aurora chimed in nervously.

Everyone turned to stare at her in astonishment.

"See?" she said, lifting her wrist, "I tried it on and I think it's fine."

Emma and Mulan's mouths had fallen open. Mary Margaret approached her and took the bracelet from her. But when she pulled it off Aurora's hand and tried it on her own, it was flat once more.

Hook, who had stood back and watched in horror as the frail little Princess had turned into the Cinderella of the story, ran a hand through his hair in frustration.

"Oh, how marvellous! How bloody marvellous. It's all clear now."

Emma frowned. "How is it clear?"

"Well, obviously, the charm can't fight off the bracelets so instead, only the weakest can wear them. I'm hand-less and Princess here is perfectly useless. It's genius, really."

"Hang on," Aurora began, starting to feel offended, " how am I perfectly useless? Isn't this good news? That someone can go up after all?"

"Oh, let's not play this game. We all know anyone else would be better suited for this job, love."

Aurora grew quite red.

"Hey! I may not look much, but I can fight and run if I have to, I'm not weak!"

"Oh, you're a strong girl, are you? Going to climb up the beanstalk with that precious diadem in your hair, are you?" Hook quipped, smirking.

Aurora was now a bright magenta. With a swift movement, she extricated the diadem and threw it on the ground angrily.

"There! Now what do you say?"

"Oh, consider me impressed! I'm sure that was a feat of great agility and prowess!"

"Hook! Stop teasing her, already," Mary Margaret intervened in a motherly fashioned, picking up her headwear. "Aurora is a brave young woman. She's proven this in the past and she's our only hope right now."

Aurora smiled gratefully in her direction. "Thank you. I know I haven't helped much, so this is my chance to change things. I'm going to do my best, I promise. I won't let you down."

Hook rolled his eyes at her little speech.

"It doesn't matter how hard you'll try, we can't let you do it," Mulan intervened upset.

"Why not?" Aurora shot back. "Do I look that fragile to you all?"

Emma winced. "She has a point, Aurora."

"No, she doesn't! You know, it takes a lot of strength to stay asleep for 28 years when you're awake on the inside!"

Hook raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What's that story about?"

"Look, Aurora, no one is denying your strength, but you have to admit you're not exactly ready to battle a giant."

"And neither are any of you. I mean have you ever fought one?"

"Aurora," Mulan warned her.

"I have no one left in this world, anyway. What's it to me? You three, however... I followed you, I stood by you, the least you could do is have some faith in me."

Hook yawned, feigning disinterest. "This is all very touching, really, but time is of the essence and I'd rather not waste it on the four of you. I'll go up the beanstalk myself, just give me back my hook. I'll bring back the bloody compass on my own, no need for someone to tag along. You can count on that."

"Like hell we will," Emma spat, annoyed.

"I think Aurora should go," Mary Margaret suddenly said. "She should go with him."

Emma and Mulan exchanged surprised looks.

Hook snorted. "I thought we'd already rejected that brilliant option."

Aurora balled her fists and walked up to him, glaring daggers at him.

"She's right. I'm not taking this off my wrist so if you want it back, you'd better start climbing."

Hook raised an eyebrow. Was the little Princess trying to blackmail him, the Pirate?

Well, well, well.

"You know you won't last five minutes up there," he replied, smiling maliciously. "You'll be begging to come down in no time."

"Well, then, you've got something to look forward to, don't you?" Aurora retorted, eyes shining.

Hook smirked. So, the little Princess had some bite in her, after all.