Author's Note: So this is based on zero spoilers, but in a SDCC interview Colin said he liked playing the dark Hook who flirted with Cora best. Colin's performance has been outstanding but the poor man doesn't get to have any fun anymore, and I miss the cocky pirate too.
...
Return
While Rumplestiltskin had been the embodiment of manic energy, Emma was always a picture of careful control, her restraint only emphasising her power. But something was different today, someone had said or done something and the Dark One was out for blood. Regina, David and Snow had been discussing their next move on contacting Merlin when Henry had called them in a panic to come to the camp of displaced Camelot citizens. Sadly their entrance had only been fuel to the fire.
As if wanting to be part of the action the wind was whipping around the campsite, sparks and coloured smoke starting to coalesce in preparation for the magic battle. Regina stood up to Emma and desperately tried to think of something to do that might actually work against her but wouldn't also destroy everything in sight.
"You feel slighted Lady Emma?" Guinevere asked from the back of the group, the title not going unnoticed. "Why not settle this the Camelot way?" The magic fizzled and Emma and Regina both turned to stare at her
"What way is that?" Emma asked pointedly.
"At the sword of course."
"Of course. Actually, You know what? That might be fun." Emma waved her hands and the ground heaved and rolled beneath their feet. Snow and Charming clung to each other to keep their balance and when the dust settled they found a large sand covered square in front of them lined by a waist high wooden railing. Emma stood at the far side leaning against the newly formed fence, a smug grin on her face.
"A fine field for a duel by sword, Lady Emma." Guinevere called over to her, sounding pretty nervous but attempting to hide it behind decorum.
"So that's what this has come to? Fine." Regina snarled. With a poof of purple smoke an ornate sword appeared in her hand.
"Wait no, you two can't fight." Guinevere said before Snow got the chance.
"What? Why not?" Regina asked her blood already pumping in anticipation.
"No, no you have to use a champion, because if you both die or if you get seriously injured we're all left with the clean up and nothing is resolved. It all ends up as a waste of time." This was clearly spoken from experience and Regina rolled her eyes.
"Face it Regina, Emma's not going to be the one that dies or is seriously injured," Snow added.
"OK, fine," Regina relented, looking to Emma who shrugged as if that had been the plan all along. Charming stepped forward and patted Regina on the arm.
"I got this Regina, call me up," he said confidently.
"OK, but you might want to wait to see your opponent first," Regina replied. Charming vaulted the fence his feet landing heavily testing the depth of the sand before straightening and taking the sword from Regina's outstretched hand. If he didn't show confidence now, whoever Emma chose would think they'd won before they got started.
"I choose Prince Charming," Regina said from behind him, only just managing to contain her sarcasm as she said his title. David felt a ripple of magic and gave only a small flinch as heavy armour chainmail settled on his shoulders. He spared Regina a grateful smile before turning back to his daughter. Emma raised her eyebrow at her father and waved her hand. A cloud of grey smoke swirled next to her.
"I choose Captain Hook," she announced.
"Of course you do," Regina said flatly. The smoke cleared and Killian stood before them, confusion creasing his face. He was back in his long black coat, his sword already slung at his waist. He did not look pleased to find himself transported from where ever he had been.
"Great now the two of them will have fun with their pointy sticks while we fragile women just watch. Wasn't this about me and Emma?" Regina grumbled, as David smiled and walked towards the pirate to explain what was going on.
"What the bloody hell?" Hook growled, David paused. He had every right to look surprised but he also looked completely livid, his eyes were bouncing around the pen and people without lingering on any of them. Before Hook looked behind behind him Emma's magic flowed over her, replacing her image with Cora's. Regina felt her blood boil and freeze at the same time. How dare she?
"What is this? Where are we?" Hook demanded of Cora, not appearing in the least surprised to see her alive and standing behind him. Snow recognised both Hook's all black leather clothes and the regal purple gown Emma had glamoured herself into.
"He thinks he's at Lake Nostros. When we came back home," she shouted to her husband who had paused in approaching the pirate. Both men turned to frown at her, neither understanding what she was on about.
"Enough," Cora's image said. "Captain, kill him." Charming eyes widened but he fell automatically into his fighting stance. Hook just cocked his head studying him before looking behind him to the group of heroes watching anxiously.
"Who is he?" He asked.
"That's none of your concern." Emma replied in Cora's clipped tones.
"Apart from the fact that I'm the one killing him you mean?" Hook replied cheekily. Emma felt her irritation growing. No wonder he'd been so worried about Cora killing him all the time if this was how he'd behaved. Taking a steadying breath she focused on replicating the smooth more sultry voice she remembered the witch using.
"Kill him Hook, and you and I will continue our journey to Storybrooke, together." Hook's eyes widened just a millimetre but Emma saw it.
"No," Hook said, lengthening the vowel while squinting at her. "You kill him if it's that important. I've always wanted to see you take someone's head." His smile turned his words into something truly outrageous.
Emma groaned and felt her irritation flare brighter. She'd forgotten he could be such a pig. He was testing her. She must have said something wrong.
"Alright then," she said in her own voice. "Let's just wind you back a little further."
She engulfed the two of them in her magic again and when it cleared she had on the lanky arrogant frame of Peter Pan and her pirate was blinking at her in his delicious red vest.
"Kill him," she commanded again. This time Hook stepped out into the field before calling back.
"Who is he?" He asked again.
"Just kill him." Emma replied as Pan, her annoyance only adding to the performance. This time Hook drew his sword and David fell back into stance again, but Hook didn't seem interested in attacking, he held his sword almost lazily as he tilted his head right and left studying the prince's form.
"We don't have to fight," David said, searching the pirate's eyes for any hint of recognition. This wasn't the usual memory curse, Emma hadn't had time, maybe it wasn't as strong as the usual curses they had to deal with.
"I don't know, it looks like we do," Hook said. motioning with his sword at the dueling field and the small crowd of spectators that had gathered around the fence. "Anyway I'm not doing anything else right now."
"You'll fight a duel and risk death out of boredom?" David asked amazed at the pirate's attitude.
"No, but I will kill you. Do me a favour try to last more than a couple of strikes." David felt his hands go sweaty at the pirate's nonchalance. He'd always taken the stories of the ruthless villain Captain Hook with a pinch of salt. The man he met never quite living up to legend. Was that because he'd never really met that man?
"Gramps!" A young voice shouted. Regina and Snow made grabs for him but Henry managed to slip past both of them and ducked under the fence to run across the sand.
"Henry get back," David commanded not dropping his position.
"Begging your pardon, Captain," Henry said to Hook as he skidded to a stop next to them. "May I have a word with my grandfather?" Hook's eyes regarded them both with surprise before he shrugged and slung his sword over his shoulder.
"Be my guest lad," He said, turning away to walk to the edge of the field.
"What are you doing?" Emma demanded as Pan. "I commanded you to kill him."
"And I will Pan. Let the boy have his last words with his grandfather before the end," Hook replied as he took advantage of the delay to look at the place Pan had chosen for his games. Emma was fuming but decided not to try forcing the issue again and glared at her son and father instead.
...
"Gramps you're not going to beat him," Henry whispered desperately.
"Give me some credit Henry," David said.
"I am and you're not going to beat him. Last time you fought he'd only held a sword for like ten minutes and you were, you know, evil."
"It's not whoever is the darkest that wins a fight."
"No, it's experience, knowledge and skill, with just a little luck," Henry said as if reciting a lesson. Who'd taught him that? Had Hook been teaching Henry to fight with a sword? He felt a stab of jealousy. Looking over at the pirate captain he realised that despite his relaxed posture and blank face he was actually using this time to study the terrain and environment, probably planning out exactly how he was going disembowel him in the showiest way possible. David looked back at his family, Snow and Regina had matching expressions of tension while Guinevere looked two parts confused to three parts terrified.
"I have those things," Charming said, not willing to admit what everyone else was obviously thinking.
"Hundreds of years of fighting and killing?" Henry asked. "No you don't."
"This isn't boosting my confidence you know."
"You've only got two options Gramps. Cheat or get him onto our side."
"Our side? Why would he do that?"
"He's a pirate," Henry said grinning. "And Mom really should have stuck with Cora."
...
Emma watched as Henry and her father talked, their heads too close together to read their lips. They'd always been close, she'd been lucky her parents had taken Henry in their stride. She remembered all the emergency pow wows her family had had since she came to Storybrooke and felt a small shiver of doubt, why was she doing this again? She was sure she had a good reason.
"Focus dearie, you want that sword." Rumpelstiltskin's voice sing songed behind her.
"Enough!" She shouted in pan's voice. "That's more of a conversation than last words, I'm not that generous." Hook gave a deep throated laugh and strode back into the middle of the field swinging his blade, obviously relishing the chance for some action. His sword flashed in the light at just the right angle to dazzle David and make him blink. Bastard.
Henry had already scampered back to Regina's side but his hurried advice rang in David's head as he adjusted his grip on the sword and watched the pirate circling around.
Killian acts impulsive but he always has a plan. Try to work out what it is. Well duh, but OK.
He'll keep the hook back to start, but don't forget about it. He will use it. Don't forget his opponent has a weapon for a hand. Why was he taking advice from his teenage grandson again?
Take out his right arm. OK that was good advice. If Hook couldn't hold a sword he'd have to forfeit right? But everyone tries that so he knows how to defend it and remember to say the stuff. He wasn't used to talking while fighting but he knew he just had to keep it up long enough to break the spell clouding the pirate's memories.
For all Henry's coaching he hadn't mentioned the main problem, David didn't want to hurt Killian while Hook was going to try to kill him. David steadied his breathing, Hook would forgive him he got a couple of nicks while Charming defended himself.
"Ready? I guess we should announce ourselves. Captain Hook," Hook declared mockingly, before swinging his sword in a perfect duel salute. Charming was amazed and hurriedly repeated the gesture himself.
"I know who you are, where did a pirate learn proper decorum?" He asked.
"Where does a knight get such pretty armour? Custom is it?" Hook sneered. David knew he was just trying to distract him and he congratulated himself on keeping the pirate's eye and not glancing down at his chainmail. As Hook moved he puffed out his chest, leaving it exposed as if daring David to aim for his heart, which meant he wanted him to move forward and up. David spun left leading with his sword, aiming for Hook's upper right arm. But Hook saw the move coming and surged forward and left, increasing their distance and flicking his sword toward David's unprotected stomach as he ended the turn, David was forced to deflect his swing down to parry.
"I'm not a knight and that's not Pan." He said evenly although the close call had sent a jolt of adrenaline through him. Hook swung for his head and then his neck, David easily defending but not getting the chance to attack. The clash of their swords reflected off Hook's manic eyes as he laughed.
"I know, I've never seen that demon without his smug grin before," He said.
"Then why?" David asked, not able to manage more as he deflected more swings to his abdomen. This time he didn't allow Hook full control, pressing forward and thrusting with strikes aiming for Hook's arms and legs.
"Obey? Nothing better to do, remember?" Hook actually shrugged after a vicious parry that sent David back a step. "I don't piss people off until I know who they are." Well that just was not true, David thought, hoping his disbelief showed on his face.
Neither one of the combatants was making headway, David felt some pride as he saw the pirate reanalysing his strategy in the face of David's skills. Knowing he shouldn't give Hook the chance to form a new plan of attack, he threw himself into his own offensive. Gripping his sword with both hands he swung in a vicious slice that would take a man's arm off at the shoulder, hoping the pirate would back away, but Hook caught the strike on the edge of his blade sending Charming's strength dissipating on a slide down his sword instead of his flesh. The blades locked together at the handle and the only warning David got was a glint of light as Hook brought his namesake into play. The tip of the hook slid in between the links of his armour near his neck, wrenching him sideways and down while he felt the bite of the point begin tearing his skin. He followed the movement, using his momentum to shake himself free and minimise the damage as he dropped into a roll and came up a few feet away. Hook actually looked impressed.
"This is very different to the last time we fought isn't it?" David called out, taking opportunity of their new distance to catch his breath.
"Have we done this dance before mate?" Hook asked. "I'm afraid it wasn't as memorable for me." Hook seemed content to wait for David to make the next move and David was happy oblige.
"You were a hero," he said firmly, taking on a one handed stance he hoped the pirate would recognise from their time fighting together in Neverland.
"Did I get you in the head? I'm not a hero, I'm nothing but a pirate." Hook spoke in a snide imitation of a courtly voice, unknowingly mimicking David's own words from two years ago, but it was entire worlds away from then and nowadays he could recognise the slight undertones of self loathing in Hook's pronouncement.
"We both know that's not true, Killian," David replied. Hook blinked, totally affronted at the use of his real name. Then he was lunging forward, refusing to let Charming say anything more. Even though he had time to prepare, the violence of Hook's attack had David on the back foot, defending his neck from both sword and hook. Metal screeched in protest as Hook locked their blades together with his hook, the steel shaking with each man's efforts to gain control over their position. A flash of panic must have shown on David's face because Hook brought his face closer to the prince, a mocking smile cutting across his features.
"You could always try a kiss Charming. Doesn't that normally work for you?" Hook leered, his eyes flicking to David's lips and back to his eyes. Great now he was heckling him. Wait how did he know who he was or about about true love's kiss? David grinned, he knew Emma's memory spell couldn't be solid. Time for the secret weapon.
"You want to know something really funny, Captain Hook?" David asked, keeping his face close to the other man's. "Peter Pan is really Rumpelstiltskin's father." Hook shoved him hard and took two paces backwards, his face going slack. "Think about it, all that time in Neverland? He was just keeping you prisoner. You only learned the truth after you returned with us to save Henry." David continued.
"That's ridiculous," Hook said, but he didn't raise his sword and David knew he'd won. There was an odd look passing over Hook's face, like he had eaten something he wasn't sure he liked.
"What's going on?" Pan's voice called from the far side of the pen.
"Shut up." Hook shouted back, David winced.
"What did you say to me?" Emma asked, her normal voice returning. Her glamour must have been linked to Hook's memory as it fell away as she angrily strode across the sand towards them. Hook stared at her appearance in amazement, the last piece clicking into place in his mind, before he turned to face her fully and threw his sword in the sand.
"I forfeit." He announced earning a ripple of anxious whispers from the watching crowd. Emma slowed to a stop. "I am not a toy to be played with." The growl was the same but there was an added sadness tinting his voice that told David the arrogant villain he had been fighting was gone.
"Killian -" Emma started.
"I don't want to hear it." Killian snapped cutting her off. David expected Emma to get angry again but was surprised to see she looked sincerely regretful. "Dave. You have to finish." Killian said his back still towards the prince, causing Charming to flinch. The sword hung heavy in David's hand as the memory of plunging a smaller blade into the pirate's heart swamped his mind.
"In the name of her Majesty Queen Regina, I accept your forfeit," He said, only slightly unsteadily. Instantly the ground shook and the grey magic clouds returned, when they faded the camp was back to normal and so was he and Hook. Emma was nowhere to be seen. Snow and Henry rushed across to them, Regina and Guinevere following at a much more stately pace. Killian stayed still, looking towards where Emma had been standing.
"Are you alright?" David asked. Hook turned and gave him a wide fake smile.
"I've had worse days. What of you?" David reached into his shirt collar and his fingers came out stained with blood. Hook winced. "Sorry mate."
"It's fine, you weren't yourself."
"You know that's not true." Killian replied, consciously repeating the prince's previous words. David knew he should say something to reassure the pirate, but his mind was frustrating blank.
"Gramps, Killian, that was amazing!" Henry shouted as he reached them. Both men shared a look of disbelief at the young boy's excitement, but as ever Henry's smile was infectious and Hook felt his resentment and shame at the return of his past self fading as he watched the Author hug his grandfather, before the two of them were enveloped by Snow White's arms. Henry stepped back and let his grandma check Charming's wound. "I totally thought you were going to win."
"Thanks," Charming said.
"Naturally." Killian replied at the same time. Both men frowned squinting at each other.
"He's talking to me." David said. "I'm the victor."
"Only because my memories returned and I forfeit," Killian replied. "I'm not the one that's bleeding mate."
"Getting you to remember which side you're on was the plan all along, so I am the winner." David said smartly. Killian looked like he was going to say more but his eyes wandered over the family before him and he just nodded instead.
"Aye, you are correct. You bested me once more your highness. I'm glad I'm still standing this time." The defeat in his tone makes his joke fall flat and Charming's good mood evaporate.
"Hey, don't do that," he says, batting away Snow's hands and stepping towards Hook.
"I'm not doing anything. I'll be getting back to my ship now, I was in the middle of securing the rigging when Emma... when I was brought here." Hook turned his back on the royal family and started walking away. David's tired mind scrambled for something to say.
"I've never given you credit for how much you've changed," he found himself saying. "Whoever that was I was just fighting, I can't say I ever met him before."
"Your daughter has." Hook shouted back. He barely looked over his shoulder and continued out of the campsite without missing a step. David felt Henry grip his sleeve.
"Don't worry Henry. Give him some time. I'm sure he'll be back to normal later. If he's not we'll force him to join us at Granny's anyway. We won't leave him alone." He said, patting his grandson on the shoulder. He caught Regina's eye, which promptly rolled at him, but her smile congratulated him for winning. He'd even hazard a guess that she was relieved he was OK. Two years ago would that have been a possibility either?
If this little game had been Emma wanting them to think past darkness was inescapable, all she'd really done was prove the light was always waiting, even within the darkest hearts, and given the chance anyone can cast away the darkness and become a hero. Regina knew it and was proving it each new day, Hook would see it too.
...
Author's note: I hope everyone is enjoying these little pieces I'm writing. Thanks so much for the reviews and follows. Please leave me more! This was my first proper go at some action, let me know if it was easy to follow.
