2212 Words, this chapter. It's long, but it all goes together.

Chapter Twelve, Dragon Wars

Emma was tired. She trudged in one direction so long and found no one. She channeled her magic. As she concentrated images of blue eyes and a smirk dangled in front of her.

"Dang Jones! I can't...This is what happens when I let someone in!" She shook her head. No use, she couldn't tell where the strange magic she had sensed earlier was. Again she cursed Killian.

She looked at her watch. It was time to head back in order to rendez-vous. "Damn pirate," she muttered. "Damn smirk. Stupid blue, probing eyes. And those lips, don't get me started!"

She walked on. She thought about the last night they had been intimate. She softened at the remembrance of how slow and gentle it had been.

"Why am I so mad at him, anyway? All he ever does is try to help. And...he loves me."

She sighed. She stopped and looked up at the clear, dragon-less sky. She closed her eyes as she admitted the truth. "That's the trouble. He loves me. He means something to me. He makes me want more...than the life of the savior. He makes me want to stop running. " It terrified her, the thought of a life with someone.

She thought of that horrible moment when she nearly shot him. She shuddered.

The panic crept back in to her as felt the agony of the thought of losing him. The fear was so strong. Emma had gotten used to attacking fear with anger. That was why she was mad at him. She was so scared of losing him, of his risking his life to save hers that it filled her with fury.

It wasn't his fault.

She walked on, regretting her harshness toward him. She just wanted to see him and hold him and hear his voice.

She reached the place where they parted and she did hear his voice. Instantly she smiled.

Then it faded as she heard another voice answer his.

A female voice.

What the hell?

She followed the sounds until she saw the unmistakable leather clad form relaxing on the grass disturbingly close to a pretty young woman.

"What the hell?" cried Emma, walking up from behind them as they sat beneath a large tree. She looked at Killian. "What...is going on?" she asked harshly.

He smirked at the red anger in her face. Clearly she was jealous. "In which place, Emma, your head or in reality?"

She growled with fury.

The woman jumped up, looking around to run.

Killian got to his feet and lightly grabbed her arm. "Don't. It's fine. Emma has temporarily taken leave of her senses."

"Oh, I have, have I?"

Killian walked slowly to her. "Indeed. I've done nothing but constantly assure you of my feelings...and my devotion."

Emma's face briefly fell. "Then why the heck were you...lying on the ground...with...her?" She spat the last word.

Killian couldn't help it, he laughed. "I was having an intimate discussion." Instantly Emma's hand flew up to smack his face but he grabbed it. "I'm getting offended, Swan. I have done nothing to inspire such distrust or fury."

Emma just stared at him.

Then the girl found her voice. "He...has done nothing wrong. We were speaking. She is the one?"

He nodded.

"What one?" asked Emma.

"Oh, I've been regaling the young lady with tales of you, my beloved."

Ji nodded. "Emma Swan, the savior of Storybrooke and the product of True Love. Someone who is like me, with an unasked-for destiny."

Emma's eyebrows went up.

"Swan, allow me to introduce Ji, also known as..."

"The Dragon in Human Form," said Ji shyly. "He...wants me to trust you."

Emma's face lost some of it's red color.

"I thought," began Killian, "who better to understand the predicament of the Dragon in Human Form, than the Savior?"

Emma looked at him and instantly hung her head.

Killian let out a soft chuckle. He cupped her face. "It's alright, Swan. Your jealousy informs me that you do miss my presence."

"I'm not..." She stopped when she caught his smirk. "Shut up," she said with a guilty, embarrassed grin. She sighed. "I'm sorry."

He smiled. Then he turned to Ji. "I think you two ladies need to have a little chat."

He began to move off.

"Wait," said Emma, grabbing onto him. "I...I..." she gave up trying to find words and kissed him.

He smirked. "I find the girl two realms are looking for and now you want me." She swatted him. He laughed and kissed her deeply. "I shall be nearby, as always."

She nodded. "Good."

He smiled and walked a short distance away to give the ladies privacy.

Emma sat down with Ji. "So...your life is weird too, huh?"

Ji chuckled. "Yes."

Emma laughed. "Being the chosen one sucks."

"It does."

Emma nodded. They sat in silence.

"I don't know what to do," said Ji softly. "I don't know what is expected or what will happen to me."

Emma sat quietly, playing with a strand of grass. "There is no manual or set of guidelines."

"There is not."

"And no one asked you if you wanted this."

Ji shook her head. "They did not," she said, a small tear going down her cheek.

"You wish you could run away," said Emma.

Ji nodded. "I tried. It is my fault that we were transported to this world, that you were as well."

"You didn't know."

Ji sighed. "I did not care. I am ashamed to admit it, but it is so."

Emma nodded. "You shouldn't feel guilty about trying to have a life, trying to have some control."

"But at what cost?" asked Ji.

"I understand. I'd like to give up being the savor, but not if it somehow means other people suffer."

Ji nodded. "I'm afraid that there is nowhere to run."

"Yeah," said Emma. "I've ran my whole life. It still found me: my...destiny." She said the last word uncomfortably. "Ji, it hasn't been horrible."

"But...I don't know what will happen!" cried Ji. "Will I be possessed by the Spirit? Will I still be me?"

Emma patted her on the shoulder. "I'm sorry, kid."

Ji wiped the tears. "As am I." She took a deep breath. "I have to accept it, don't I?"

Emma smiled. "Well, actually, I still fight my life as savior."

"However, you accept that you are the savior."

Emma sighed. "Yeah...I've found that even though I still want to fight it, denying it is..."

"Useless."

Emma looked at her and smiled sadly. "We're not normal, Ji. It's not fair and it's not our fault, but we can't...have a normal life."

Ji looked over at Hook. "You have more normal a life than I fear I shall have. You have him."

Emma chuckled. "Trust me, it's not normal, and he's had to give up a lot to be with me. Sometimes I think it was too much, what he sacrificed."

"Yet he accepts it."

"I guess."

"He is still beside you."

Emma stared at him with a fond smile. "Yeah, even when I don't want him to be," she said with a grin.

Ji didn't return it. "He is like Wang. I worry for him. Wang will suffer, I fear."

Emma sighed. "He loves you."

"He should not."

"He can't help it."

"I know," said Ji. "I wish I was alone. I should face my destiny without endangering anyone."

"I get it," said Emma. "Doesn't work that way." She laughed. "I think you're stubborn, like me. We tend to draw equally stubborn people to us."

Ji smiled slightly. "We do."

"Ji, we don't have to face our fates alone, even if sometimes it might make it easier. It wouldn't make their lives better."

She looked at Emma. "Do you truly believe that? Do you think Killian would not be better off with someone else?"

Emma winced at the words. That was partly why she pulled from Killian. She wasn't sure she could have a life with him. She wasn't sure that it was fair to him to try. Could she have a normal life with anyone? Maybe she should just run away like she was often tempted to do and just let Killian find someone normal.

Then she laughed out loud. She saw his hook, his eyeliner, his crazy jewelry, his out-of-time pirate garb. No, someone normal was not in the cards for Captain Hook.

Emma smiled. "No. First off, he is not normal himself. Second, we need each other. We make each other better. We help each other through the tough times, through the pain. We..."

"Bring balance to each other," answered Ji.

Emma smiled. "Yes."

Ji nodded. "Perhaps. It is not fair, though. Wang will have to sacrifice much. We may have to sacrifice each other, the life we had hopes of having." She sighed. "I was right to leave him."

Emma was still. "I don't know, Ji. I don't know if you will be able to be together, or what you should do, what you can do. I only know it isn't fair."

"You are not here to tell me what to do?"

Emma laughed. "No."

Ji sighed. "Everyone has an opinion. No, it is more than that. The Wisdom Clan insist I embrace the Spirit. The Rider Clan will use me to control all the dragons and turn them to weapons for the Clan's use. Even Wang has his own desires. He wants me to run away with him."

"And you?"

She shook her head. "I do not know. I have no wish to ally myself with the Rider Clan. The Wisdom Clan appear to want balance and order. Wang...he wants to protect me. I want to help the world but...I want a life."

"Of course you do."

"It is selfish."

"Sure," said Emma with a chuckle. "It's your life. You have the right to be selfish and want it."

Ji smiled. "Killian Jones was right. You do understand."

Emma smiled. "Could you not tell him that he's right?"

Ji giggled softly.

They sat silently then smiled sadly at each other.

Just then there was a loud boom, followed by a large cloud of fire as thick black smoke darkened the sky in the distance.

"Things become worse," said Ji.

Emma sighed. "Yes. They're still fighting."

"The dragons continue to change back into primitive killing creatures. Neither Clan will have control. Nor will the dragons. It will be total chaos." She took another deep breath. "Order is needed."

She stood up. She beckoned for Killian to come closer. "Thank you, both," she said. She turned to Emma. "You have helped me find clarity." She smiled. "I needed someone to help me see through my fears and selfish desires."

"Nothing wrong with a bit of selfishness, Love."

Ji smiled at him. "Says a man who selflessly risked his life for me."

Emma smiled proudly at him. Of course he did.

Ji sighed. "It is time. I am ready to fulfill my destiny."

Killian and Emma exchanged glances. "Are you sure, Ji?" asked Emma.

"Yes."

"No!" cried a voice as Wang ran into the clearing.

Ji walked to him. "I have no choice."

"We'll find a way," he said, stroking her face.

"There is none."

She looked at Killian and Emma. "I am glad you have each other. I wish you much happiness."

"You too, Ji," said Emma.

"May whatever power you possess watch over you," said Hook with a bow.

Ji smiled sadly at them then turned to Wang. "I am sorry. I love you." She kissed him.

"Don't do this, Ji."

She smiled as she stroked his hair. "Goodbye. Please, do not come after me." She walked away.

"Ji, no!" he cried, beginning to run after her.

"Easy, Mate," said Killian, grabbing his arm. "Sometimes you have to let her go."

Wang shook him off. "You don't understand! Your woman is standing beside you!"

"Now, I am, yeah," said Emma. "He did let me go, Wang. He knew he had to for the sake of my son."

"Can you really condemn two worlds of people to die?" asked Killian.

Wang hung his head.

"I'm sorry," said Emma.

Wang shook his head, crying.

Killian gently put his arm around him. "I know it seems hopeless, but...well, I've learned there is always a chance. Maybe we have to let this play out but.. don't give up." He smiled helplessly.

Wang looked at him. He studied the pirate's face, then looked to Emma. He turned back to Killian, taking in a sniffle. "How did you get her back?"

"He sacrificed a lot to get to me," she said, taking and holding his hand.

"It was worth it," said Killian softly.

Emma smiled sadly.

Wang sighed. "I'd sacrifice anything to be with Ji. Anything. I must go to her." He took off after his love.

"He's liable to do anything," said Emma.

"Aye." They ran after him.

End of Chapter Twelve