"What are you talking about", Sara asked confused,"why are you our only hope?".
Before Cora could answer a rope dropped down from the hole in the roof. "Our leader wants to speak to you", a voice called.
Emma and Snow climbed up and Sara went last, "remember what I told you, child", Cora said.
"What ever it is", Sara spat, "I can handle it myself".
She climbed out.
"She has no idea", Cora muttered.
Snow gasped, "Lancelot", she ran and hugged him.
"Snow, if I had know that you were the prisoners than I never would have locked you up", he said.
"Lancelot", Emma said disbelievingly, "seriously?".
"He's an old friend ", Snow reassured her.
"And who are your companions?", he asked.
"Oh", Snow said,"this is my daughter, Emma and uh Sara who I am not sure exactly who she is but she ended up here trying to save Emma".
"Well", Lancelot said, "it's an honor to meet both of you".
They sat down at a table, "you don't have to worry", Lancelot said, "you are safe here".
"Yes", Snow said, "but we can't stay, we have to get back to our family".
"That will be very hard", he told them, "the Enchanted Forest is not how you remember it, the ogres have returned".
"That's alright", Sara said, "whatever is out there, I can handle it".
"Sara", Snow sighed, "you can't underestimate what the ogres can do, and you don't even know how to use you powers".
"Wait", Lancelot said confused, "what powers do you have"?
Sara sighed, "after magic came to storybrooke, I found out that I had magic within me my entire life", she paused, "but that was just yesterday and I didn't get a chance to learn to control it".
"It can still help you greatly", Lancelot answered, "but do you know were to go, there are no more portals left"?
"Yes I think I do", Snow said confidently, " but Cora's near and I don't want to say it here, she is very powerful".
"Fine", Lancelot agreed, "but on one condition, you take my bravest warrior with you and allow Mulan to protect you".
"We can protect ourselves-", Emma started.
"Deal", Snow said.
Mulan opened a chest filled with weapons, ,take you pick, to survive this with must be vigilant".
Snow took a bow and arrows and Emma picked up a sword, "I want my gun", she said.
Mulan pulled it out, "is it magic"?
Depends on who's pulling the trigger".
Sara surveyed the weapons before pulling out a bow and arrows.
"Do you know how to use that," Snow asked.
"I have a feeling I do", Sara answered. She nocked an arrow in the bow and aimed it at a target, she let it fly and it landed very close to the center.
"Wow", Emma said, "were do you learn to do that"?
"I'm not sure", Sara answered confused.
She also took a dagger in its sheath and hooked it on her waistband.
They trekked through the woods and stopped.
"We'll make camp here tonight", Mulan said, "we need to gather water and firewood".
"Wouldn't that attract the ogres"? Emma asked, "making a fire".
"No", Snow said, "ogres are blind they hunt by sound".
"Yeah because that's something everyone would know", Emma said.
"Look", Snow said, "I know that you are a little out of your element, so why don't you just stay here with Sara and Mulan and I will be back soon, okay.
"Fine", Emma said.
Sara and Emma sat in the grass while Snow and Mulan went into the woods.
"What were you doing there"?, Emma asked, "at the sheriff station last night".
I was looking for you", Sara answered, "I was trying to find August and I needed your help".
"And you ended up helping me", Emma finished.
"Yeah", Sara said, "that didn't turn out exactly the way I planned".
"Understatement".
"Talk about it".
After night had fallen, they were all sitting around the fire.
I have to get something", Snow said getting up.
She walked to the shelter and all of a sudden they heard a yelp.
"Don't move", Aurora whispered, "your the reason Phillip is dead".
Automatically Snow flipped her over her shoulder, she landed on the ground with a thump.
"You have got to find other ways to channel your anger", Snow said.
Sara got up, "hey, we are all friends now and that doesn't mean that we get to threaten each other with knives"!
She walked over to her, "although I would love to do that to a certain somebody right about now!"
"Hey", Mulan ran to them, "don't talk to her like that", she turned to Aurora, "why are you acting like this, it isn't like you".
"Considering that she was trying to kill my mother", Emma said, "we can talk to her however we want".
"Wait a second", Sara started, "that isn't like her? I think something else is happening here".
"What"?, Snow asked.
"I think", Sara said, "that someone is controlling her against her will".
"How"?, Mulan asked.
"With her heart".
Sara stepped forwards and put her hand on Aurora's heart (or were it was supposed to be anyway).
"I was right", she started and turned around to face the others, "It was Cor-".
Suddenly Aurora stepped forwards, she grabbed Sara's arm and twisted it behind her back. Sara yelled in pain and surprise.
"Aurora stop!", Mulan shouted, "don't listen to that witch".
"I have to", Aurora whispered, she took out her dagger and pressed it against Sara's throat.
"Stop!", Snow screamed she tried to pull Aurora's dagger down but the princess remained steadfast.
Sara tilted her head back trying to avoid to the dagger but Aurora just pressed it closer.
She gasped, "get her off me!".
Sara focused all of her pain, and all of a sudden there was a flash of light and everyone screamed.
"What have you done to her?" Emma gasped.
Sara looked out of the corner of her eye, Aurora was glowing with pink light and was standing completely frozen, she also became aware that her hand closed on her wrist as still as stone.
"Change her back!", Mulan cried.
"I'm trying to!", Sara said trying not to swallow, "but it's kind of hard to concentrate when my arm is breaking!".
Sara closed her eyes and thought hard, she heard Aurora's body relax and she felt her moving again.
She acted quickly before Aurora could think, she grabbed the dagger from her with her free hand and blasted her backwards.
"Aurora!", Mulan rushed to her side.
"I"m sorry", Aurora said, "I couldn't control it".
"That's okay", Sara touched her throat, her fingers came away covered in blood, "we'll get your heart back".
"And meanwhile", Mulan added, "I'll watch you so that you won't bring harm to anyone".
"Thank you".
They reached the castle the next day and looking up they could see how truly magnificent it once was.
"Wow", Emma said.
"Yes", Snow said sadly, "This was supposed to be your home Emma".
Emma swallowed but didn't answer.
They reached the nursery and saw the wardrobe in the far corner and circled around.
"So how do we make it work", Sara asked, "recharge it?".
"Oh no, child", Cora stepped out of the shadow, "it's much more complected that that".
They whirled around in shock.
"You", Mulan spat, "give Aurora her heart back".
"Why would I do that?", Cora chuckled, "it's the perfect bargaining chip".
Sara strung her bow, "if you don't give it back, I'll make you give it back".
"Oh, if you think that a silly arrow can hurt me you've been mistaken".
"Really", Sara said, "we'll see about that", she let her arrow fly.
Cora waved her hand and the arrow turned to smoke and dissipated, "see", she said, "you can't defeated me".
Sara dropped her bow and delivered an punch to Cora's face, "yes I can".
She reached into her pocket while she was distracted and pulled out Aurora's heart.
"Catch", she threw it to Mulan who pushed it into Aurora's chest.
She gasped, "thanks"
"Your welcome", Mulan answered, "now let's go kill that witch".
"Too late", Cora cackled.
She threw Mulan and Aurora against the wall were they crumpled helplessly, then froze Sara and Snow in their places.
"You see", she said, "I am just too powerful for you and I will take the wardrobe and use it to go to your land".
"Nice try", Emma said as she lit it on fire.
"No", Cora yelled and she turned into smoke and disappeared.
Sara and Snow unfroze.
"Oh, Emma", Snow cried throwing her arms around her, "that was so brave".
"Yeah", Emma said, "but I think that I may have just torched our ride back home".
"It's okay", Snow assured her, "we'll find another way".
"Let's go", Sara said
They walked out together.
A few minutes after they left Cora appeared in the room, she filled up a glass vial with the ashes from the wardrobe. Before she left she smirked evilly then disappeared in smoke once again.
"There's no need to throw them into panic", Snow said as they climbed up the ridge to the haven, "it's unnecessary".
"Are you so sure it's un-", Aurora stopped when she saw a horrifying sight.
The valley was filled with bodies.
"This was Cora", Emma said as they walked down, "their hearts are ripped out".
They looked at the terrible scene with unbelieving eyes.
"Hey", Sara said suddenly, "I see something moving".
She stepped closer and lifted up some wood debris, under there was a man with black hair.
"Thank you", he said, "thank you".
Yes, Hook is finally HERE!