This is my first ever Captain Swan fan-fiction! Sorry if the characters aren't exactly like in the show. I'm sorry if there are any spelling/grammar mistakes. It's been a very long time since I've written a story, but I hope some of you out there enjoy it! Next few chapters will be longer than this one. Please let me know what you think. Leave a comment and rating if you can. Thanks so much for reading!

P.S. All of these characters belong to Once Upon a Time. I do not own any of them.

P.P.S. Edited a bit in this chapter and chapter 2 as well.

CHAPTER ONE: A PIRATE'S UNDYING THIRST FOR REVENGE

It was around ten o'clock at night when Hook arrived at The Three Pigs Heads pub. He looked up at a rickety faded sign that had three pigs heads painted on it - naturally - and pushed the large door open. As soon as he entered, the smell of putrid sweat and blood hit his nose. He looked around the bar, picked the darkest corner of the room and sat down in an old pine chair, observing the scene around him. The place was packed with raucous men clinking their glasses together in celebration of whatever they were celebrating that night, and many were singing merrily and drunkenly at the top of their lungs. A few men tried cupping buttocks of passing barmaids carrying trays full of liquor and ale.

I hope this man actually has some kind of valuable information, Hook thought to himself. Smee had set him up to meet a man that would supposedly provide him with information as to where the crocodile was hiding. Hook hadn't had a lead for almost two years now, so he was willing to listen to anyone who might know of his whereabouts. A few minutes passed by when a young, freckled barmaid appeared at his side with a smile plastered on her face.

"What can I get ya?" she asked, cheerfully.

"Two cups of your best ale," Hook told her and reached into his pocket to pull out a few silver coins. She came back shortly carrying two glasses on a tray and set them down on the round table. He gave her a curt, dismissive nod. His rings clinked against the glass as he picked it up and took a large sip of the honey-coloured liquid. Just as he was about to take another sip, a short, stout figure plopped down in front of him, smelling strongly of liquor.

"Yer Hook?" the stranger asked in a low, burly voice, looking down at his hooked hand.

"Aye," Hook replied, setting his glass down to observe the stranger before him. "And I'm assuming you're the man who knows where The Dark One is?" he asked, trying to get straight to the point.

"Tha's right," the man said, slurring his words. "Name's Tobias." He eyed the full glass of ale next to Hook. Hook took notice and slid the glass across the table with his hook.

"That's for you," he told him.

"Thanks, mate," Tobias said and picked up the glass with his stubby fingers. He chugged it back greedily.

Hook watched him patiently, with crossed fingers resting on the table. When the man was done emptying his glass, Hook uncrossed his fingers and leaned forward in his seat. "So, let's get straight to business. Where is The Dark One hiding?" he asked.

Tobias wiped his small mouth with the back of his torn sleeve and said, "I can show ya exactly where 'e is - 'ang on," he clumsily reached into the left pocket of his ragged coat and unfolded a large piece of parchment and spread it across the table. A beautiful, detailed map of Misthaven was drawn on it. "but, before I tell ya where 'e is, I need the gold ya promised me first," he told Hook, a mischievous smirk on his pudgy face.

Hook reached inside his black leather coat and pulled out a small sack of coins, and tossed it across the table. It landed on Tobias's lap with a clink. He untied the sack and made sure there were in fact gold coins in it. With a satisfied grin , he pointed to the top center of the map and said, "The Dark One is stayin' at a farm, not too far from the Royal Castle."

Hook nodded. "I know where the Royal Castle is, but why would the Dark One be at a farm?" he asked, suspiciously, one eyebrow raised.

Tobias shrugged. "Beats me, all I know is that 'e's there," he said with shifty eyes.

Hook looked thoughtful for a moment. "The crocodile probably wants something from Snow White and Prince Charming." Hook couldn't help but slip out his old nickname for The Dark One. He thought that The Dark One's skin resembled that of a crocodile and he loved taunting him with that name.

"Eh, crocodile?" Tobias asked, giving Hook a weird look.

"The Dark One, whatever," Hook mumbled, not caring to explain himself.

"Oh," Tobias said, still giving Hook a weird look, not quite understanding the nickname. He shrugged his shoulders and said, "the royal highness's have a daughter, maybe 'e wants 'er."

"Do they now?" Hook asked, his curiosity piqued. "I didn't know that. How old's the lass?"

"Twenty-three or sumfin'," Tobias went to scratch his head, forgetting he had a hat on. It tumbled to the ground, and he bent down to reach for it, revealing his backside.

Only four years younger than myself, Hook thought, looking away. "Interesting. Why go after her though?" he asked, confused.

"It's rumoured she 'as strong magic," Tobias's eyes widened as he put his hat back onto his head. He lowered his voice to an excited whisper, "rumour also 'as it that she was taught by the greatest wizard of all time - Merlin!"

Hook frowned, not very impressed. He didn't care much for magic, not since the crocodile used magic to rip his beloved Milah's heart out all those years ago. The memory still cut him like a sharp sword. Trying to change the topic, Hook asked, "how do you know the crocodile is at the farm for sure?"

"A member of me gang saw 'im a few days ago and followed 'im there. That's 'ow I know." Tobias told him.

"A few days ago? So he might not even be staying there anymore?" Hook asked, beginning to feel irritated.

"No, no, 'e is stayin' there," Tobias insisted, raising his hands up. "I atually 'av proof, but it'll cost ya some more gold if ya want it. I coulda easily taken this information to the Charmin's, for a hefty reward, but I've heard tales of ya seeking revenge on The Dark One, so I'm offerin' it to ya instead," he said, flashing a large smile. A few of his teeth were missing and the rest looked like they were starting to rot.

So this was the game the man was going to play, acting like he didn't have much information, then trying to bribe Hook for more gold for information that might not even be true. Hook could play this game, too. He could play it very, very well.

"Oh, how kind of you to bring this information to me," he said sarcastically. He leapt forward in his seat suddenly, catching Tobias by surprise, and grabbed him by the collar of his coat with his hand. His eyes smoldered into Tobias's with an intense fury as he placed his hook against his throat. "I just paid you a 'hefty amount,' Hook spat, "are you telling me it's not good enough?"

"W-wha? No-" Tobias sputtered, but was cut off by Hook's threatening words.

"Do you know who you're dealing with, mate? Surely you must have heard of my reputation?"

"I-I- 'ave 'e-'eard, y-yes," Tobias stuttered, shaking out of fear.

"You have heard? Yet, you threaten to run to the little queen and king if I don't pay you more. We agreed on a price, I paid it, and you got your gold, did you not?" He asked, making himself sound dangerous.

"Y-yes, but-" Tobias started to protest, but once again was cut off by Hook.

"You know, you're quite brave for even suggesting I pay you more, I'll give you that, but it's also quite foolish of you at the same time," he told him, still clutching his collar, amusement in his voice, "I don't think you understand how this deal works, do you?" He asked, pulling Tobias's face closer to his own. Before Tobias could respond, Hook said nonchalantly, "Allow me to explain it simply; you give me the proof, or I rip your throat out, understand?"

The man shook his head, 'yes.' Hook released him and sat back down.

"That's what I thought," he said with a smug look on his face. Threatening people always seemed to work in Hook's favour. His reputation made him sound more vile and cruel than he actually was, and he took complete advantage of that. He tried to avoid killing people when he could, but, well, sometimes it just couldn't be avoided, especially if he needed something out of them very badly and they weren't complying in any way, shape or form.

Tobias rubbed his neck where Hook's hook had been, and reached his hand inside his coat again. He pulled out another piece of folded parchment and handed it to Hook with a trembling hand. Hook took it warily and unfolded it. Upon it was a message scrawled in messy, black cursive ink that read:

July 10th

Princess Emma's engagement party at The Royal Castle

Starts - 8:00 P.M. in main hall

"What is this?" Hook asked, pointing at the writing with his hook.

"One of me men found it layin' on a table at the farm," Tobias told him timidly, still rubbing his neck, "We think The Dark One wrote it and is plannin' on attackin' the castle."

Hook read the note again and a joyous feeling started to swell up in his chest. A feeling he hadn't felt in a long, long time. After two years of pointlessly traveling through different realms in hopes of trying to track down the crocodile, he finally had some kind of proof. It wasn't the most solid, concrete proof ever, but it was at least something. He tucked the note away in his inside pocket, and looked down at the map of Misthaven spread across the table.

"So, how exactly do I reach this farm?"