No Quarter For Heroes

Chapter Four

"I can't believe this is happening again," Emma said angrily as she slammed her fists down on the bar, while Regina came up behind her and laid a gentle hand down on her shoulder without saying a word.

"I'm so sorry, Emma," Robin responded with worry. "I was standing right beside him. I should have been able to help him, but I didn't. I failed."

The Savior looked over at him as her eyes softened and she replied, "You couldn't have done anything. None of us could have, I know that. I'm just angry, and afraid for him. First Hades enlists this enchantress to abduct him and now he's returned Pan's soul back here for Killian too. I don't understand Hades' endgame. Why does he want Killian so badly?"

Regina crossed her arms as she answered, "It's because Hades hates to lose, plain and simple. Think about it, Emma. We all went down into the Underworld to save Hook and we actually succeeded in doing so, by you catapulting Hades into his own river of lava with your light magic. Then, Hades uses the Enchantress to do his dirty work after he sends her some kind of psychic message. You defied and defeated him once again, by killing her and by rescuing your husband. You are the Savior, Emma. And you have found your true love, which Hades has done everything in his power to sever because he cannot stand it. Right now, you're too powerful for him or his minions to defeat, but by hurting and killing the man you love, that is how he will defeat you if he succeeds. That is his endgame."

"I won't let him succeed," Emma responded curtly.

"Of course not, but the real question we should be asking ourselves here is what is Pan's endgame?" Regina replied as Robin took her hand.

All eyes turned to Henry as he answered quietly, "Exactly what it was before when he kidnapped me, then traded our bodies. He wants to live forever, or in this case, again. But Hades won't have given Peter Pan a free pass to the living world without requesting something from him in return. Hades must need something here. And Pan is going to use Killian to get it."

It was then that Ruby rushed inside the diner again, followed closely by Snow and David, who stated worryingly, "Sorry we're late. We came as soon as we could. Emma, are you okay?"

"No," she responded coldly as tears threatened to fall. "No, I'm not okay. We defeated Pan. There's no way he should have been able to return and now he has Killian, again. How many times will this keep happening? How many times, will Killian be able to keep surviving these attacks? Hades is a God for crying out loud! He's immortal, we can't kill him like we did Pan and he will never stop."

"There's a way, Emma," Mary Margaret replied, trying to sound assuring for her daughter while she wrapped her arms around Emma to hold her. "There has to be a way. We can't give up."

Ruby spoke up then saying, "If you have something of Hook's, I can sniff him out for you. Hopefully, I can lead you right to him and therefore Pan too."

Robin looked at her as he asked with surprise, "You can really do that?"

"That's right, we haven't properly met," she answered as she reached out her hand to shake his. "Ruby Lucas, also known as Little Red Riding Hood; half human, half wolf. It's good to meet you, Robin Hood. And yes, I can track anyone, anywhere."

"I'm afraid that's not true this time, sweetheart," a voice sounded behind everyone as they all spun around to find Peter Pan standing among them, leaning up against the jukebox with a smug smile on his face. "Because where I've had my shadow stash my dear old friend, Captain Hook, it's someplace that you lot are unable to follow."

Emma pushed through her family and friends as she stormed toward the arrogant boy and asked angrily, "Where is he? What have you done to him?"

Pan stood up straight as Emma tried to grab him, only to have her hands phase right through him as he was still nothing more than a spirit, then he responded, "Don't worry, Emma. I haven't done anything to him yet, at least nothing for you to worry about too much. However, he won't remain unharmed forever so I suggest you do what I want and you will get to see him again. I have to admit, I never thought you would ever actually fall in love with that pirate, let alone marry him. He's a weak fool and a scoundrel, no matter what he thinks he done to redeem himself. But you can't ever truly change the kind of man you really are deep down. I guess that's proof that the Savior might not be all she's cracked up to be."

"We defeated you once," she replied in frustration, trying to ignore his taunts and cruelty in regards to Killian. "We will do it again."

"Actually, it was my own son who defeated me," Peter retorted. "I didn't think Rumple had the guts to do what needed to be done, but I underestimated him, as I underestimated the rest of you as well. You broke free of my curse and found your way back here, together again, but I won't act so hastily this time. You see, I've got time. It's Killian who doesn't."

David moved to stand beside his daughter as he asked steadily, "What do you want? And what does Hades want? We all know that you wouldn't be able to be here without his help in getting you released from the Underworld and we know that he wouldn't do so out of the goodness of his heart. So, what do we have to do to get Hook back?"

The man who looked like a boy smiled smugly once again as he answered, "I am glad you asked. What I want is currently not of any importance, but what he wants, is. Hades has a plan, though what that plan is, he didn't say, but in order for him to enact whatever it is, he needs you, Emma. Or rather, he needs your magic. He needs all of your power and he's given me a way to do it, but I can't take it from you. You have to give it up willingly. Do that, and I will return your true love to you, relatively unharmed. If you don't, Killian will die a very slow and excruciating death that will make dying of dreamshade feel like nothing more than being stung by a bee or getting a papercut. You remember how it feels to be dying of dreamshade poisoning, don't you Dave? If it wasn't for Hook, you would have died in Neverland. It's your choice, Emma. I have a feeling that you'll make the right one and when you're ready, I'll return. See you soon."

"Wait!" the Savior shouted when he disappeared. "No, we have to find Killian. I refuse to believe Pan's put him someplace we can't go. He's around here somewhere. He's got to be."

"I can still try to track him for you, Emma," Ruby responded nervously, seeing the fear on her friend's face. "Do you have something of his on hand? A handkerchief, a piece of jewelry he wears, a jacket?"

She shook her head as she replied, "I think that the only thing of his I have is his ring he gave me, but I've been wearing it since he gave it to me back in Camelot months ago. My scent is probably more dominant. Actually, I think that his coat is still in my car from last night. I'll be right back."

As Emma ran out of the diner, Robin asked, "So, that was Peter Pan? You all told me about him, but…"

"Don't let his looks fool you," Regina answered angrily as she thought about all he had done to her son. "Trust me, he may look like a child, but he's pure evil. He's also Rumpelstiltskin's father. To be honest, I can't begin to decide which one of them I hate more."

"It's definitely a toss-up," David said curtly.

Emma ran back inside as she held up her husband's coat and ran over to Ruby while she called out, "I've got it! This should work. Even I can smell him on this. Killian wears a very distinctive cologne. I can also still smell the rum I accidentally spilled on it a few nights ago."

Red took it from Emma and smelled it closely as her eyes dilated, then she answered quietly, "His coat will work just fine. I have his scent. So long as he's still here in Storybrooke, I should be able to find him."

"Pan has to be holding him here somewhere," the former Evil Queen responded as everyone followed after Ruby as she began their search. "He wouldn't be able to exist outside of Storybrooke."

"Regina's right, but I have a nagging feeling that this is too easy," Mary Margaret replied nervously. "Pan might not have known about Ruby, or her ability, but surely he's prepared for anything."

Ruby looked back at her friends as she asked quickly, "Do any of you know if there was a place that Pan paid particular attention to when he was here, a place where he might keep his prisoner? I have Hook's scent, but something is somehow preventing me from pinpointing which direction it's coming from. Hook could be anywhere."

Emma answered in frustration, "Pan needs us to accept his deal. If it comes down to saving Killian or keeping my magic… I will save my husband no matter what, just like I did before back when Zelena threatened him for my powers as well."