Chapter 1.
Tora
As day settled into night and sunlight diminished over the horizon, wind gusted and flora froze. Frost swept over the land, gifting every breath a chilled vapour.
Villagers began to put their children to rest, but many others kept working, whether that be serving at swinging taverns or fighting deadly monsters.
Trees hissed at the unwelcome chill, quaking and dying as summer eventually turned into autumn.
Beyond the forest, sat before a backdrop of ridged, snow capped mountains, was the Dark Palace. The Evil Queen's abode. Painfully sharp shards of metal conjugated together to form a foreboding figure, similar to one of a castle.
At the very top of the tall tower was where the evil sorcerous spent most of her nights, plotting the tremendously viscous murders of Snow White and everyone who protected her.
And she was meeting with an important player in making her greatest wish come true.
The Queen smugly poured out two goblets of wine, before turning and handing one off to the pirate dressed in all black leather. Dark hair messily sat on his tanned head, and his blue eyes were accentuated by the dark colour that lined them; Captain Hook.
He took it silently, and cautiously, not daring to take a sip from whatever concoction she gave to him. Surely attempting to murder one of her prisoners would at least earn him some kind of punishment.
"Things are about to change in this world. Radically. I have plans to enact a curse that will take everyone to a far-off land." She smirked, knowing the perfect way to get Hook to do whatever she asked - all it took was a little manipulation.
The pirate narrowed his eyes at the devious witch, "How will that help me?"
Her heels clacked against the floor of the tower, menacing and powerful. "This new realm; it's a land without magic. Where the Dark One will be stripped of his powers. There, you won't need any magical weapon to kill him." The hook she had stolen earlier that day was glinting as she held it up against his throat, "You can do it with a mere flick of your wrist."
"Tell me what I have to do." It had almost been too easy. The mere mention of harming The Dark One had Hook's eyes sparkling with excitement.
"There's one person I don't want following me to this new land. You're to see to it that doesn't happen."
"An assassination. Who is it you want me to dispose of?" It wasn't above his piracy ways to kill, and it especially wouldn't matter to him if it was to avenge his dearest Milah.
"My mother."
The woman waved her hand over the sharp, metal hook. It glowed as she enchanted it, letting her magic transfer into it, and then she handed it back to him. "It's now enchanted. It will enable you to rip out her heart. I believe you've seen it done before." Just one final push.
Hook appeared sullen for a second as he relived his last moments with the woman he loved. "Yes."
The queen smirked, but hid it quickly before Hook saw. "The enchantment will only allow you to rip out one heart, so make sure you do it right."
"What could she have possibly done to warrant such brutality?"
She glowers, "That's my business. Yours is to kill her, and bring her body back to me."
"Easy enough." He stepped forward, eager to get closer to destroying that bloody crocodile. "When will I set forth on this murderous journey?"
"Immediately. But you won't be going alone." She turned, suddenly, and walked over to a large box that was covered by a large black cloth. He hadn't noticed it before.
She pulled the cover back, revealing a cage instead of a box. Inside, sat a frail looking girl with dark red hair and light eyes. Except those eyes directed the darkest, yet most enticing glare he had ever seen at the Evil Queen.
"This is Tora; the Feline Assassin." Regina walked slowly around the cage, a sickly smile permanently stuck to her face, then she moved back toward the pirate, who kept his eyes on the red head trapped in the steel prison. "Or otherwise known as Puss in Boots. Do you know of her?"
Hook raked his brain and recalled quite a few times he had heard stories of the cat-like assassin that could kill a tyrant king as easily as she could catch a high-speed arrow heading directly for her heart. "Vaguely." His sight eventually was pulled up to meet the Queen's, who noted his focus on the locked up assassin as she looked between them, contemplating whether they had met before.
All Tora could do was stare back, not showing any signs of fear or helplessness. In fact, she looked like she had an escape route drawn up and perfected and she was waiting patiently for her chance to execute it. "Forgive me, but how is this girl going to help me with the murdering of your mother?"
"I banished my mother to a far-off land some time ago. You're going to need a portal to get to her." Calmly, she pulled a tattered old hat out of a box and dusted the top of it. "The rules are simple; one goes in, one comes back. Or, in this case, two in, two back. You'll arrive with Tora, and you'll return with my mother."
"And what will happen to her?" He nodded to the cage but forced his gaze not to fall on her. Why had he been so willing to rip the queen's mother's heart out with no questions asked a minute ago, but felt guilty and hesitant the second he found out the girl was involved?
"You will leave her there, with no way of returning. A punishment too merciful for her crime, I think. Some would call it killing two enemies with one spell."
He ignored her twisted version of the saying 'killing two birds with one stone', and folded his broad arms over his chest. "And what is her crime, may I ask?"
Her cold, angry eyes shot to him, "No, you may not."
The pirate eyed her warily, he needed this job in order to get his revenge. He couldn't anger her. "Well, tell me; which far-off land do I have the pleasure of visiting today?"
"Wonderland."
"Happily named, I'm sure. How will I find her?" He peaked at the odd looking top hat in her hands.
"Oh, don't worry. She'll find you." With a sly smile, she looked over to Tora, "And you too, kitten." Regina span the hat and when it landed on the floor, a purple swirling vortex was created. Hook leaned over, attempting to see if he could spot anything in there. The Queen walked to the cage, unlocked it with a flick of her wrist and pulled Tora out, who hands were bound behind her back by a powerful force. Magic.
She hadn't shouted, or spoken at all actually, which Hook found odd considering her sassy and rebellious reputation at all the taverns he had visited in this, and many other lands.
However, his confusion was answered when the queen handed a small white shell to him, "Her voice." That was all she said before shoving Tora into his arms and backing away for them to leave. And they did.
One moment they were stood in the evil queens castle, and the next they were sprawled out on a forest floor.
Hook staggered to his feet, feeling quite dizzy after the little trip. He had thought he'd be better at that since he'd spent practically his whole adult life at sea and never had to deal with seasickness.
Once he could see and stand straight, the first thing he looked for was the girl. Puss in Boots.
He found her, she had recovered quicker than he did and was running away before he had even stood up. And she had the hat.
"Hey, you little thief! Get back here!" Hook raced after Tora, who ran swiftly - as if her hands weren't magically bound behind her back - like a cat that had memorised the terrain and he was an outsider. Somehow she'd still managed to keep a firm grip on the portal back to the enchanted forest, and his revenge.
AN: I imagine Tora as either Lilly Collins (specifically from the Mortal Instruments: City of Bones movie where she has red tinted hair) or Holland Roden (who has more of a strawberry blonde hair colour). You can decide who to imagine or you can just imagine as you please. Hope you enjoyed the first chapter!