A/N: Normally, I like to write my stories as close to the show's timeline as possible, but I couldn't get this idea out of my head. Hope you like it!


"I don't have time for your games. I've crossed through too many worlds to be brought short at the brink of success. Who was it who bested you?" Cora demanded. Hook looked down and sighed.

"The Swan girl – Emma. Rest assured, it won't happen again," Hook replied. His time with Emma had been an adventure, but he wouldn't risk another adventure if it cost him his vengeance.

"No, it won't. You chose her, and the consequences of that decision," Cora replied cooly. Hook was instantly angry.

"Oh. Are you going to kill me, now? Go ahead. Try," he threatened.

"So brave," she said in a mocking voice. "No, I'm not going to kill you. I have something far more satisfying in mind. I'm going to leave you here with your thirst for revenge unquenched, while I complete our journey without you." Hook tensed, but quickly melted into his cool charm to win her over.

"There's no need to be rash. We can… Discuss this."

"Your pretty face buys you a lot, but not my time. It's too valuable," Cora turned her back on him, and Hook instantly felt desperation swell inside of him. He couldn't lose his revenge, not this quickly after 300 years of waiting.

"I can do this. I can get it back. You need me."

"No, I don't. You've had your chance. Now, it's my turn to do this. The right way." Hook lunged towards Cora with his hook, but she disappears in a puff of smoke. Hook laid in the mud, desperate. Cora - Emma, one of them was getting back to Storybrooke, and he needed to join one of them.


"I had no idea you had such a soft side," Emma said, pointing her sword at Hook and resuming her fight stance.

"I don't. Just like a fair fight," he responded, spinning into her with his sword raised, giving her all his flashiest moves. He attacked her with ease, and it was obvious she never had to handle a sword, but she had a natural kind of talent at it. "Good form," he said, catching her leg with his hook. "But not good enough." He flipped her on her back and slowly slid his hook down Emma's sword and pinned her to the ground. "Normally, I prefer to do other more enjoyable activities with a woman on her back," he taunted. "With my life on the line, you've left me no choice. A bit of advice? When I jab you with my sword, you'll feel it. You might want to quit." He gave her a smile to ensure he knew exactly what he was insinuating. While he was reveling in his seeming victory, Emma felt for the compass buried in the sand under her back and grabbed it quickly.

"Why would I do that when I'm winning?" she said, holding up the compass. This momentarily distracted Hook long enough for Emma to push him off of her. After executing a few more moves, Emma gained the upper hand and pinned his sword down. "Last chance, Hook. Are you coming with us or Cora?," Emma said, holding up the compass. Hook lowered his sword in confusion.

"Emma, what are you doing?" Snow asked. "He betrayed us."

"Only because I betrayed him first," Emma said to Snow. She turned back to Hook and lowered her sword. "So, are you coming?" Hook smiled and lowered his sword too.

"Good form, lass," Hook said, putting his sword away. "I'll join you."

"Emma, this is not wise," Snow said firmly. All three of them jumped as a puff of purple smoke appeared next to Snow from across the swirling pool.

"No, it's not- especially for you, Hook. I knew you'd double cross me again. I was foolish to give a pirate a second chance. I knew you choose her in the end," Cora said. She snapped her fingers and the compass reappeared in her hand. Then she raised two fingers and lowered them in a straight line motion. There was a split down behind them, like someone tore a hole in the background. Emma and Hook only had a second to register what just happened before Cora sent them flying into the split, which sealed and disappeared after they went through.

"NO!" Snow yelled, throwing herself at Cora, knocking them both into the swirling vortex of the pool.


Gold, Regina and Henry waited anxiously as a hand appeared in the wishing well. The first to appear was a face that Gold was not anticipating. "Mary-Margaret!" Henry exclaimed, running towards her. Mary-Margaret pulled herself out of the well and hugged Henry, but she did not look happy. "What's wrong? Where's my Mom?" Everyone froze as a second hand appeared out of the well. The person to emerge was everyone's worst fear.

"Mother?" Regina said in disbelief. "But I thought..." Snow clung tighter to Henry, more afraid for him than for herself.

"Where's my daughter?" Snow yelled. "What did you do to her?" Cora smiled and went over to hug Regina, who remained frozen in disbelief.

"Don't worry, darling. You're Henry's mother now," she said to Regina, ignoring Snow.

"What have you done?!" Snow screamed.

"Don't worry, dear. I actually granted her deepest wish," Cora said, turning to her in triumph. "And for what she's done to my Regina, she deserves it."


Emma and Hook landed on the ground next to Lake Nostos. They looked around confused- no swirling pit, no Cora or Snow. The lake was now lush and beautiful, as it had been long ago. In fact, everything looked different, yet it was no doubt they were still in the Enchanted Forest.

"What did you do?!" Emma yelled, pushing Hook. "We were going to go home! Where are we?!" Killian arrested her wrists with his hand and hook.

"Calm down, darling. I didn't do anything- Cora did. Look, we're obviously next to the Lake. Since we're still in the Enchanted Forest, let's just find Mulan and Aurora and find another way back to Storybrooke," Hook said firmly. He let go of her wrists and she gave him one last angry shove. Hook ignored her anger, knowing that she was more upset that her way back to her son was gone. He was angry too- his vengeance taken yet again, but it was Cora's doing, not Emma's. They went over the ridge to head back to Rumplestiltskin's cell, where they knew Aurora and Mulan would be. A little while after their journey, they heard hoofbeats.

"I thought we were alone after the massacre," Emma said, looking at Hook for an explanation. He shrugged, obviously not having one. A troop of soldiers in black robes approached them, and Hook stood in front of Emma instinctively.

"Gentlemen," Hook said with a nod and a bow. They quickly jumped off their horses and pinned Hook to the ground. He tried to fight them off, but the five of them quickly overpowered them. "Thanks for the warm welcome."
"Stop! What are you doing?! Who are you?" Emma said, trying to pull one of the soldiers off of Hook. The soldier froze when he saw her.

"Princess Emma," the soldier said in surprise. The other soldiers looked at her in disbelief as well. The first soldier bowed to her and took her arm and pulled her onto his horse with him. The other soldiers tied Hook's wrists together and lead him off on foot while the others rode.

"Wait! What are you doing?" Emma said, still completely confused.

"Taking you home," the soldier answered before urging his horse on. The soldiers rode off towards the castle, dragging Hook behind them.