Emma jumps down from the beanstalk in time to stop Snow from hurting Mulan. Her landing was rough and she felt a little rattled. But not by the landing. By what she had just done. Leaving him up there might have been a mistake, but trusting him was one as well. She hated how much it hurt her to leave him behind like that. How much she wanted to go back and get him. But that would take too much time.

Snow walks over to her, "You told her to cut it down?"

Emma closes her eyes to stop the tears that threatened to fall, "Yes. If I didn't make it back down I wanted you to be able to get back home."

Snow grabs her shoulders, "We go home together or not at all!"

Emma hugs her, "Ok. I'm sorry."

Aurora looks around, "Where is Hook?"

Emma looks guiltily up the beanstalk, "I had to leave him behind."

Aurora frowns, "Why?"

Emma rolls her eyes, "Let's just go."

Snow watches as Emma hurries off ahead of them. Something was clearly bothering her.

Hook seethes as he finally breaks free of the shackles she had put him in. Why couldn't she see that he would never hurt her? Why didn't she trust him anymore? And what the bloody hell was going on? How is it she was still alive? It had been over 300 years since he last saw her. None of this was making any sense.

His mind is racing as he climbs down the beanstalk. She was so different from the person he had known, but then again so was he. He didn't know what the right thing would be. For hundreds of years all he wanted was his revenge against the crocodile and he couldn't be diverted now. No matter what she thought of him. Her opinion didn't matter.

He jumps down and turns to see Cora, "Hello, Cora."

Cora raises her brows, "Is that all you have to say after betraying me? After stealing from me?" She circles him, "I don't like being lied to."

He smirks, "Who says I was lying, lass? I was going to give you the compass after I retrieved it. Unfortunately, they are smarter than I gave them credit for."

She shakes her head, "I know of your relationship with Emma. She was like family once wasn't she? You could never cause her any harm."

He frowns, "I don't know how you know that, but I will do whatever it takes to kill my crocodile!"

Cora smiles, "Then, dear pirate, I want you to kill the Savior."

He quirks his brow questioningly, "And who the bloody hell is the Savior?"

She laughs, "Emma Swan, of course. You can do that can't you? Whatever it takes?"

He fumbles for a minute. Not knowing what to say or do. He had made a promise to his brother seconds before he died. He had promised to make sure no harm ever came her way. And though she had disappeared from his life a couple days after the burial at sea he had kept that promise until she inexplicably vanished completely. He assumed she had found a way to get home. Maybe she had. He could recall the day that she had told him she was from a different time. Maybe this is the time she meant.

He looks up at Cora and sighs, "If that's what will prove my loyalty to you then that is what I will do."

Emma studies Rumpelstiltskin's cell from top to bottom unable to find the supposed ink he had told David about. This was ridiculous. Another wild goose chase he insisted on sending her on, though she couldn't figure out how this one would benefit him. All she wanted was to go home to her son. Was that too much for the world to give?

Mulan pulls out an empty jar, "Well, there was ink in here."

Emma rolls her eyes, "Now what do we do?"

Aurora pulls something else out of another opening and opens it, "Uh, Emma I think this is for you."

Emma takes the parchment from her and unrolls it. Her eyes widen with shock as she sees that her name is written over and over again. She couldn't help but stare at every last one. It was strange to think that someone who hadn't known her could be so obsessive about her. Even stranger to think that she now knew the man.

She looks up at last, "What do we do with this?"

Snow shrugs, "I don't know, but I am sure we will figure something out."

Emma shakes her head, "I don't know about that. We have been going in circles trying to find a way home and now all we have is a compass and this stupid scroll."

Snow takes her hand, "Good always wins, Emma. You just have to have hope."

Emma laughs, "You sound like Henry."

Snow considers, "I guess optimism runs in the family."

Emma shrugs, "It must have skipped a generation."

Snow smiles at her and continues to look at the scroll with Emma's name on it. There had to be a reason he led them here and she would figure it out, but first they had to find Cora and get the ashes."

As if hearing her thoughts, Mulan asks, "So, where do you think Cora is?"

Emma bites her lip, thinking, "Somewhere that can make the ashes work, but she would need the compass too."

Snow nods, "So it is a place one of us would know. A place where she could expect us to show up."

Aurora tilts her head, "Is there any place you can think of?"

Snow grins, "One. I went there a long time ago with David and Lance-A-Lot."

Emma sighs, "Well, then, let's go."

Hook had a plan. He didn't know if it was a good plan or a bad plan, but it was a plan. He would get his revenge. Cora kept going on and on about how she was going to win her daughter back and blah blah blah. He didn't much care for her plan, but he wasn't going to argue with her. She wouldn't listen anyway.

She grins as they reach their destination, "Welcome to Lake Nostos, Captain Hook."

He looks around dubiously, "I may be a simple pirate, but shouldn't a lake have water?"

She laughs, "Not everything is what it appears." She waves her hand, "You just have to be willing to look under the surface."

Good advice for any situation, it seemed. He watches as water shoots up from the ground. Cora steps forward as it settles and holds out the ashes, "Would you like to do the honors, Hook?"

He takes the vial and pours it into the water, "Now what? It's not like we have the compass."

Cora shrugs, "We wait for them to get here."

Just as she says that Emma, Snow, Mulan and Aurora run into the clearing. Snow shouts, "We are using this portal, not you!"

Cora produces a fireball in her hand, "We will see about that."

She throws it and Mulan jumps in front of them deflecting the magic. Emma runs around one side of the portal and is blocked by Hook, who takes out his sword. Emma looks at Mulan who nods and throws Emma her sword. Emma grins when she turns back to him, "Are you sure you are ready for this, Hook."

He smirks, "I am a pirate, love. Sword fighting is my forte."

Emma laughs and they begin. After a few rounds he smiles, impressed, "Not bad, Swan." Emma's sword clashes against his again and she kicks out. He catches her foot with his hook, "But very predictable."

She falls on her back and looks up at him, "You really willing to kill me to get your revenge? Because that is the only way you are going through that portal."

He ignores that and slides his sword and hook down hers, "I usually prefer much more entertaining activities when a woman is on her back."

Emma raises a brow, "Really? You are going to flirt with me?"

He shrugs and she takes that moment to kick him so he falls back and she hops up, continuing the fight. She hits his sword with a clang and he brings it down. She grins, "Thanks." And punches him in the face. He falls back to the ground.

This was his plan. Make it look like she had over taken him so he wouldn't have to kill her. Cora would hopefully buy it and if not…His thoughts are interrupted by a scream. He opens his eyes in time to see Cora's hand go into Emma's chest.

Cora laughs, "You foolish girl. Don't you know love is weakness?"

He is about to shout when something strange happens. Cora yanks as hard as she can and nothing happens. Emma looks up and smiles, "No, love is strength." Magic knocks Cora back and he just stares in complete shock as Snow takes out the parchment.

She looks at Emma, "I figured it out. Watch." She blows on the paper and the ink flies up and hits Cora, "That way she is frozen even after we make it to Storybrooke."

Emma nods, "How long does it last?"

Snow shrugs, "I don't know but let's not stick around."

Emma holds out the compass and Snow takes her hand and they jump through the portal. Hook slowly stands up and walks over to Cora, "Well that didn't go as planned."

A/N: So the last part with the sword fighting kind of sucks. I am really bad at writing anything to do with swords, but just imagine it like it was in the show. I changed a lot from the show because i figured Emma and Hook knowing each other would make Cora try something other than taking Aurora. Let me know if you like it.

Please review. It is the fuel i need to keep going. :)

XOXO