This is my first attempt at writing, anything. Ever. Be kind. I will continue if this receives good reviews I suppose. I have a pretty limitless amount of story in my head. Constantly imagining. Let me know what you think.

Chapter 1

The group of unlikely companions begin to walk towards the boat the heads to the underworld. It seems strange to everyone that they just finished avoiding the underworld, and now they are practically jumping at the chance to go to that very place. But Hook gave his life to end the darkness, and he shouldn't have had to. Rumple twisted his sacrifice and made it pointless. Being the savior, Emma can't simply let that happen. So, the plan is fairly simple: waltz into the underworld, find Hook, give him half of Emma's heart, skip out singing a jolly tune of heroism. Simple.

"Wait", Robin says as he stops walking.

Regina looks at him and wonders what he could possibly want to wait for (she can't read his face, he always looks confused). "What are we waiting for dear?".

"Zelena is gone, and my daughter is alone along with my son. What if something happens to me while we are trying to save Hook? I don't think he is worth the chance of my children growing up orphans".

"Hook is one of us, and Emma's true love. We are obligated to save him because of love and… duty, I think". Regina rolls her eyes and turns back towards the awaiting death boat.

Robin sort of shuffles his feet a bit but doesn't move towards the boat. "Regina…".

At this point enough time has been wasted and Henry is fairly impatient to be on their way. Henry stomps over to Robin and looks him straight in the eye "If you do not want to go, fine. Stay. But quit holding us up".

Regina turns Henry around by his shoulders and gives him a light push towards the boat "calm down Henry, Robin wouldn't let me go to the underworld alone". She gestures towards Robin and then to the boat again, "Right?".

Robin shakes his head and walks back to the bank of the pond "I'm not going. I won't risk my family for the pirate". The Charmings share a look and quietly move closer to the boat.

"Robin, you can't be serious, I thought I was also part of your family?". Regina doesn't look hurt, she just looks angry at this point. When Robin just stares at his feet Regina is done arguing with this child. "Fine. Stay here and you can be the babysitter. Pick up Neal while you're at it". And with that she walks to the boat and steps into it.

"Regina…." Snow starts with a concerned look on her face but she doesn't get to finish her sentimental; nonsense.

"Awesome, more room in the boat" Emma says as she hops in "Let's go!".

Everyone piles in the small boat and they begin to coast into the wall of fog that serves as the doorway to the underworld. They are stacked fairly close to one another, shoulder to shoulder. Except Regina who has a small empty space around herself that no one feels like intruding upon. After all, when an evil queen looks mad, you probably shouldn't bump into her.

As the tiny boat coasts through the water, the fog completely envelops the group. Everyone, with the exception of Rumple, looks rather nervous. "not to worry dearies, it's just fog. We should be through it quick enough".

It seemed to take entirely too long, but eventually the fog began to thin out. "I can see something, land I think". Henry points as he speaks and sure enough, there is a bank emerging from the fog in front of the boat. The fog seems to stop abruptly at the bank and a steep embankment can be seen through semi-darknes. "Me first!" Henry shouts as he jumps, but is stopped before both feet leave the boat by a thick purple vine of magic.

"Not going to happen" Regina sets him properly back on the boat and turns to Rumple, "well? Should we just stand here or start climbing?"

Rumple smirks at her but steps onto the bank and begins to walk up the steep incline. So far the only thing that can be seen is this one landing and steep cliffs, and of course fog behind the boat. The embankment is too steep to see over so they will just have to climb up to have a look around.

One by one the group sets off and up the bank. Emma follows Rumple, close behind is Snow and David. Regina makes Henry go in front of her because she doesn't trust the boat driver not to take him when she steps off. Finally as she reaches the top of the hill, she stands next to everyone else and looks at the land before them.

As far as the horizon goes, there is nothing. The land is mostly flat and covered in a sort of scrub grass. No trees, no mountains or hills. All the way to the dimly lit horizon. Glancing behind her she lets out a surprised gasping noise. Everyone turns to see what she is seeing and a few more gasps join in. There is nothing behind them. No cliffs, no river. No boat, no way home. Just more of the nothing flatness, all the way around them. All the way to the horizons.

"Lovely place you have here Rumple," Regina arches one brow at the imp "decorate it yourself?"

Rumple is unphased and simply smiles back at her. Emma on the other hand, is not amused in the least. "What the hell is this? Where do we go?" She is frustrated and impatient and Regina finds a little pity for her. And a little irritation also.

"Did you expect the underworld to be simple Emma?" The deflated look Emma wears makes Regina feel a little bad so she walks over to the blonde and uses her finger to make Emma look at her "hey, it's not going to be simple, but we will make it work. You're a Charming remember? You have a habit of finding the people you're looking for. It's very cliché. But it's all your genetics seem to be good for, so use it." Emma smiled a little and seemed to regain a little bit of confidence.

"ok. Underworld. No problem. Let's go…. This way" she headed off in a direction exactly the same as every other one. Rumple, still wearing a tiny smile, followed so everyone else did too. After what seemed like hours of walking, nothing had changed. The scenery was the same, the dim lighting of the sky was the same. There didn't seem to be a sun or moon. But the sky wasn't exactly night or day either. More like a permanent twilight sort of lighting.

David and Snow were chatting quietly to each other, mostly about Neal from what Regina could catch of it. How nice, she thought, here we are, aimlessly wandering through the barren landscape of the underworld and those two just chat away like they are strolling through a park. Meanwhile I can't even get my true love to follow me here. She thought the last bit rather bitterly. Robin had a point, about the children. But he didn't object to Henry and Regina coming here, without him. He didn't mention Neal being without Snow and David. He did mention Zelena being gone. Hopefully he would quit talking about her now though. Regina smiled an evil little smirk remembering sending her sister to Oz. She should have done that as soon as she gave birth. So much for giving her another chance.

Emma was leading the way, the way to where she had no idea. But damn it she was leading them somewhere. Eventually, instead of following her the group was sort of spread out to either side, sometimes behind one or the other, sometimes passing each other a little. Mostly wandering idiotically with absolutely no sense of direction or accomplishment. Every now and then she glanced at the others. Henry looked determined. He was very hopeful and optimistic and for some reason seemed to think his mother knew where she was going. Snow and Charming were chatting idly about Neal and paint colors and other meaningless things. Seriously you guys? Emma mentally criticized her parents, we happen to be in the underworld here. Completely lost. Heading nowhere really, and you guys are just chatting like we're headed to Granny's for dinner? She kind of envied them though. She sort of wanted to talk to someone and maybe get some help with leading this parade. Glancing at Regina, she saw the woman had on one of her evil queen smirks, apparently lost in her own thoughts. Everyone seemed to be taking her direction in their own way.

Suddenly Emma stopped walking. So suddenly Regina nearly ran right in to her. She hadn't realized how closely she had been following the woman. As everyone looked questions at Emma, Emma was staring at someone else; Rumple. "Do you have any idea what we are doing? What do we need to be doing? Where do we go?"

Rumple was still wearing that little smug smirk he was oh so fond of. "I have no idea where we are going. I'm not leading the way. You are. So, maybe you should ask yourself where are we going?"

Regina rolled her eyes, she really wasn't in any kind of mood for this nonsense. "Please, you know exactly what she needs to do Gold. Tell her, or we will be wandering around forever waiting for her to figure it out." Emma looked a little offended by the comment so Regina smoothed it over a little "Because you have never been here, or even heard of this place before dear, not because you're an idiot."

Not sure whether that was a compliment or insult, Emma looked sideways at her and then turned to Rumple, "tell me what I need to do."

"Well it isn't difficult, I really do not understand why you haven't managed to do it by now. All you need to do it focus your thoughts on what you want and walk towards it."

Emma considered this for a moment and realized that all this time she had been thinking about the people around her already, not about Hook. Idiot, she thought. Ok, she closed her eyes and focused on thoughts about Hook. About him and his face and his, well, hook. She opened her eyes still imagining him and looked around, still nothing as far as she could see except the one mountain on the horizon. This is ridiculous, I did what he said and…. Wait… what mountain? She looked again and pointed, "look! There's, uhm, a mountain? That's new, yeah?"

Everyone immediately began walking towards the mountain, relieved to finally have something to work towards. And yet… "It is not getting any closer! Really Miss Swan, how hard could it be to think about the pirate? Imagine his stench and the way his guyliner takes forever for him to get just right. Or imagine the time we saw him get his hook tangled in a tablecloth and ripped everything off the table trying to disentangle himself." She could go on but was interrupted.

"Alright Regina. I get it. And I am thinking about him. I swear I am. I don't know why it's not getting closer." Emma had been thinking about him, well focusing on the way he looks really. She had actually thought about the tablecloth thing, but she wasn't about to tell Regina that. It's not like it's easy focusing on him right now. I have my mom and dad and Henry and Regina to think about too. If something happens to them while we are here it will be my fault. In fact, she though, something has already happened. Robin. Regina was in a bitter mood because of him, she knew. Emma wasn't at all troubled that he didn't come. She wasn't overly fond of him. In fact, she thought he was incredibly dull. Very lack luster. What Regina saw in him she couldn't fathom. Regina needed someone more enthusiastic, more adventurous, heroic even. She definitely needed someone who would never let her go to the underworld without them. She wouldn't let Regina go without her, and she wasn't even the one picked by some cosmic fairy dust. Of course that probably wasn't fair, her and Regina had been through so much together. Robin had been around for five minutes. And one of those minutes was when he left her and impregnated Zelena. Regina shouldn't be…

Emma grunted as she ran into something and bounced to the ground. "What the hell?..." Emma looked around only to see Regina also on the ground rubbing her forehead. "Regina are you.."

"Emma! What was that all about?" Snow rushed to help Emma off the ground as David did the same for Regina.

"uhm…. What happened?" Emma asked as she dusted her clothes off.

"You happened" Regina waved off David's hand and helped herself up. "We were walking, following you as ridiculous as that sounds, and you suddenly run forehead first into me".

"Oh, yeah, my mind may have wandered off topic a bit." Regina brushed herself off and rolled her eyes at Emma, "Sorry, are you alright though Regina?"

"Yes I'm fine. Now focus on Guyliner. I want to go home."

Emma was blushing a little at her own idiocy for thinking so much about Regina instead of Hook. "Forgive me dearie," Rumple leaned in close so only Emma could hear him speak, "perhaps is you put as much emotion into thinking of Killian as you do thinking of Regina, it would be him you run in to next". He smirked a little then turned and moved back to the others in the group.

Twice more Emma tried to focus on Hook and twice more ran into Regina. Regina however had put up a small barrier in time to prevent a collision after the second time so only Emma needed help up off the ground. "I can't do this! I don't know why but I can't. Someone else think of him."

"He's your love, not ours, it wouldn't work." Rumple said matter-of-factly. "But perhaps you need a little help?" Emma nodded and Regina rolled her eyes again impatiently. "Alright then, I can summon someone to assist in our search".

"What?! Why would you wait this long to offer this?" Henry fumed at him.

"Because, the assistance is rather tiresome to summon and can be a bit much to deal with Henry. If Emma really wants help, I can get it for her, but she can't blame me later for doing this".

"Ok, Mr. Riddle. As long as it doesn't hurt anyone, I want help." Emma was still rubbing her backside from the last fall.

"As you wish dearie", there was a very devilish glint in Rumple's eye that made everyone nervous. He closed his eyes and mumbled something then there was a puff of magic smoke and when it was gone, a tiny charm was in his palm. It was silver and shaped like a violin. He smiled as he looked it over a few times. He tossed it to Emma and she examined it for a minute before asking, "now what?"

As if on cue, the trinket vibrated in her hand and surprised her enough she dropped it. It hit the ground and disappeared. "Shit". There was a strange giggle behind the group and everyone spun around at the noise.

There stood a woman. She was about as tall as Emma, athletic build. Nothing too unusual. Unless you consider the fact that her entire visible body was covered in intricate silver tattoos. They looked like tiny runes of every imaginable shape. They were silver and seemed to shine, as if they were real pieces of silver embedded somehow in her skin. Her eyes were silver, and so was her short, messy hair. She was wearing something like white shorts, but all of one piece, no seams. And her top was like a loose tank top, white and seamless. The clothes looked more like they were dropped on her accidentally instead of put on. She was standing there, seemingly posing as the group stared at her. She had a smug, "yeah I'm awesome" sort of look on her face. If she had to be described in one word, the word would have to be "confident" without a doubt.

"uhm… Hi?" David was staring at her with a slightly slack jaw and a goofy half lidded expression.

"Yeah, hi", Henry was wearing an almost identical look on his face.

Snow stopped staring at the woman long enough to see her husbands face and slapped him, rather hard, across his chest.

"Ow! What? I just …said… hi…" He trailed off as his eyes landed on the woman again, who was displaying a brilliant smile now.

Rumple cleared his throat loudly and everyone looked at him, except David and Henry, they couldn't seem to stop ogling the woman… "Before we have a case of spousal abuse on our hands…" He waved his hand over David and then Henry and a sort of transparent wave crossed over their eyes.

Both boys shook their heads a little and then just seemed confused. "Who is that?" David asked and pointed at the woman.

"Apparently a woman you can't stop yourself from drooling over!" Snow angrily spat at him.

David was genuinely confused now, he looked the woman up and down once then looked at Snow again, "She's not unattractive, but I certainly am not drooling by any means. Why would I do that?"

Rumple held up his hands as the woman giggled and crossed her arms over her chest in a powerful looking stance that seemed to be half strut even though she wasn't moving. "He couldn't help it. Neither could Henry. I admit, I could have shielded them as I did myself before she appeared but" he spread his hands in mock defense, "I have to entertain myself from time to time."

Snow looked sideways at David anyway and pursed her lips at the woman. Who, by the way, Snow still thought was impressively beautiful and strangely alluring.

The woman was still holding back a laugh but finally put her hands on her hips and focused on the group as a whole. "Hello ladies, and gentleman… And Rumple." She cocked an eyebrow at Gold before continuing. "My name is Lorelei. And I, do not like being summoned. Although I do appreciate that the summoner is quite lovely." She looked Emma up and down in a manner that actually made her blush and shift her feet a little.

Regina wasn't about to let some woman eye rape Emma. "Hey" she snapped her fingers at Lorelei twice before the woman looked at her. "Are you here to help us or sexually harass us?"

Lorelei laughed a good laugh at that one. "It's not harassment. It's a sort of payment. I eyeball whatever I damn well please and in turn, I don't kill your men."

A wave of confusion went through everyone before being replaced by being on guard for a threat.

"Please, listen." Rumple held up one hand at everyone. "Lorelei is indeed powerful enough to eliminate anyone she chooses, but she has only ever killed men. And those men have never been worth the air they breath. She does however like to threaten." He turned towards Lorelei and addressed everyone. "She is a very powerful being, she is a Siren. And she can take us anywhere in the underworld. All we have to do, is shield the men so they do not kill themselves from longing for her. Oh, and just try to ignore the intense eye-raping. She is a creature of magic, music, and passion."

Lorelei looked thrilled. She clapped her hands together and said "So! Where do you divine women need to go?"

Emma glanced at Regina who sort of shrugged and gestured in a way that said "unless you have another idea". So Emma stepped forward, but not too close to the siren. "We are looking for a man named Killian Jones. He died recently. I need to find him."

Lorelei, for some reason, looked intently at Regina before shrugging and answering Emma, "ok. But I will want something in return. Nothing much, just a ride to your world. I can't summon the boat, you can. I want out." She extended a hand to Emma to shake on the deal.

Emma didn't see this as being a good thing to unleash on Storybrooke, but really, what choice is there? Emma shook the hand and was amazed by the sense of an electric current that came from touching the sirens hand. "Take us to Hook".