It was three days ride to the Duke's estate for Emma; she'd reluctantly agreed to go by carriage so she could sleep inside and even allowed Red to drive her there. Not that Red was a particularly good driver, horses were always uneasy around her because they could sense what she was. Red had been appointed chauffeur because the Snow, David, August, and Robin were needed to round up their armies and Regina had to go back to her castle and act as though nothing had changed. If The Dark One knew she changed sides then they would lose the element of surprise when they came to attack him. So Red was left and she was as unhappy about the situation as Emma was.
King David had put his foot down, assuring Emma that Hook wouldn't want her riding for three days alone and that as soon as she reached the Duke then Red would return to the others and leave Emma to her plan.
Emma wanted to tell her father that Hook didn't coddle her and would never tell her what she could or couldn't do but was too tired to argue the point further. Ultimately it made no difference if Red accompanied her for the start of her journey. It was the end destination which required her to go alone.
Her skin prickled with goose bumps just thinking about what she was going to do. Visions of Milah trapped in her golden coffin at the bottom of the ocean flashed through her mind. She squeezed her eyes tighter. That would not be Emma's fate. Her plan had to work; after all it wasn't just her life hanging in the balance.
Her body jerked. The carriage flew over another pothole; Emma decided she wasn't going to get much rest on the trip.
By the third day of being thrown around the carriage like a sack of potatoes Emma caught a glimpse of the Duke's grand estate.
The cherry blossoms that lined the road leading to the house were in full bloom. Imported from afar they were yet another stamp of the Duke's mother; trying to paint a perfect picture to the world outside.
The carriage stopped outside the front door. Emma climbed out before anyone could help her. Godfrey rushed to greet them.
"Emma! This is a surprise."
"Godfrey, where is the Duke?"
"The Duke...now let's see...last I knew he was..."
Emma didn't wait for his bumbling answer. She had a pretty good idea where to find Phillip.
She flew past the doorman and up the stone steps to the house and through the open door. She ran down the empty corridors, their walls decorated with portraits of Duke's and Duchess's from times gone by. Finally, Emma's goal was in sight. The Duke had made some changes to his personal parlour's door since Emma was last there. A wooden skull and crossbones was carved in the ornamental wood. She couldn't help but grin. She knocked and when no reply came slowly pushed open the door.
The room was exactly as Emma remembered; toys and costumes littered the floor, mostly pirate themed. On his game table a sea battle between the navy and pirate's was laid out. Books of fictional pirate tales were stacked up by a large chair positioned in front of the fire. One was open and upside down saving the place last read. However the reader was missing from the scene. The room was empty.
Just then Godfrey hurried into the room behind her. "I just remembered the Duke informed me he was going down to the tavern in town today, he spends most of his time at the port either on his ship or in the tavern."
As Emma thanked him and turned to leave her eye caught something. Smiling she picked it up gave Godfrey a wink and hurried back to the carriage.
The tavern was alive. Its energy was contagious and not only for the people inside, inanimate objects seemed to take on a life of their own too. The tables shook being beaten by fists of men playing tavern games either celebrating wins or taking out their frustration at losses. Steins of ale slid down the bar with military precision twirling into the greedy hands of patrons. A steady beat thrashed out by the elderly man playing piano and his companion on accordion permeated through the wooden floor meeting Emma's feet and continuing through her body making her feel the rhythm of their sea shanty right down to her bones. The hanging lanterns quivered as the whole building shook while a few worse for wear customers did their best interpretation of a waltz with some of the serving girls around a cleared out dance floor.
In the centre of the room she caught sight of the Duke. Endearingly he was in the midst of playing the dice game that she had taught him. Emma felt a swell of pride and emotions that she didn't expect. Shaking them away she marched across the room to his table, leaned over it and asked confidently, "What are you boys playing?"
Phillip's jaw hit the table when he saw her. The men with him, a collection of misfits and ruffians ate her up with their hungry eyes all flashing tooth deprived grins.
"Dice" one man answered gruffly, "why don't you sit here, you could be my lucky charm" he patted his lap, still warm from the barmaid he'd just nudged off.
"Actually if you don't mind I was going to play too" she flashed her eyelashes.
"I don't see a problem with that" Phillip grinned. A wink of his eye promised to keep her identity secret.
Emma sat at the table to a chorus of laughter. It was a novelty to see a woman take part in such games. Expecting an easy conquest the men rubbed their hands with glee anticipating their money pouches expanding in no time at all. Perhaps once they relieved her of all her coins they could barter for something more enticing. The thought alone had them all sitting upright in their rickety wooden chairs.
Emma ignored their stares and sat down at their table not waiting any longer for a spoken invitation. A tall thin scruffy looking rouge stared at her ginning while he shook the small cup, made of bone, rattling the dice around. Spilling the contents onto the sticky table the numbers revealed themselves; four sixes, a four, and a five. A healthy roll. He slumped back in his seat smugly folding his arms over his chest still watching Emma intently. Next to roll was Phillip. He shook the cup briefly and then scattered the dice. Three fives, a two and two fours. Not enough to beat the man to his left. Phillip passed the cup to a small squirrely man on his right with dirty blonde curls kept somewhat under control with a black bandana tied around his head. He spat in the cup for luck and rattled it for longer than necessary. His fist met the table with a loud thud when he saw his score; three ones, a two and a five.
Finally it was Emma's turn she swirled the contents of the bone cup eyeing her opponents then tipping out its contents she let out a lofty "Ha!" She had rolled four sixes and a five beating the highest score.
The game continued on. A crowd had begun to form around their table. The novelty of a woman not only playing tavern games but giving the men a real run for their money attracted much interest. This was the most entertainment they'd seen in months. After a few hours, all but Phillip and the tall lean opponent had cut their losses and left. The latter was determined to win back what he had lost already. In a final attempt with all he had left Emma squashed him like a bug. Seeing his head drop to his chest she pitied the man and allowed him to keep what he had bet on that round. He quickly scooped up the last of his coins before she had time to change her mind.
Phillip chuckled, amused by the events, "Well m'lady, you have well and truly emptied my pockets, I would offer you a drink but…" he felt around his breast pocket coming up empty.
Emma laughed, "Allow me" she summoned the waitress over, "Two rums". The girl hurried off leaving Emma and Phillip alone.
"What brings you to Pleasure Island Emma, as lovely as it is to see you again you can't only be here to relieve me of my riches."
"I need your help" she leaned forward to speak in a hushed tone drawing him in with the urgency in her voice, mixed with the sweet song that promised an adventure.
"I'm listening…"
"Hook is in trouble, big trouble and I need you to help me save him."
"Captain Hook's in trouble!"
Emma shushed him, "No one can know what I am about to do."
His eyes widened.
"I need to use the Jolly Roger to get to Atlantis"
"Atlantis…it's real?"
"Yes, and I have a map to get there. It's the only way I can save Hook. I just need someone to take me there; I can't man the Jolly Roger alone…"
"If Hook is in trouble then I'm coming with you" a voice interrupted their conversation. Emma spun around; her face instantly broke into a wide grin at the sight of a familiar face. Smee sat down at the table with them. Concern decorated his brow. "Tell me what happened to the Capt'n"
"He has been taken by The Dark One." Emma explained.
Smee muttered a curse under his breath. "I've only sailed to Atlantis once before and it had fatal consequences."
"I know, Hook told me everything. I know what happened to Milah."
"Then tell me lass," Smee looked directly into Emma's eyes, "What's going to stop the same fate befalling you? If Hook is in trouble I want to help him too but I know whatever trouble he is in he wouldn't want harm coming to you for his sake. If he knew I allowed that he'd kill me too!"
Emma tried to reassure Smee, "you and me both know that Hook would never kill you and I have no intentions of dying myself. I know exactly what I have to do and it is Hook's only chance. If I don't do this he will die. The Dark One is merciless and time is a luxury we can't afford. Will you both help me help Hook?"
He pulled out an empty chair, "Alright lass, I think you need to fill us in."
The three friends sat hunched in together as Emma told them her tale in a hushed voice. There would be no more secrets, she needed these men to help her and she trusted them. Philip's eyes widened at Emma's revelation of who she was. He held back his chuckles just imagining his mother's horror if she ever knew she purchased a princess at the slave market and brought her into her home to be her son's mistress. His amusement came to a halt when Emma told them about her real parents and breaking the curse. Smee smiled proudly when she told them how she and Hook broke the curse with true loves kiss. His captain was a hero and now on the side of the true King and Queen, not only that but he had found love. Emma finished her story with Hook's capture and Queen Regina's revelation.
"So you want to go to Atlantis to ask the god Poseidon to save the pirate who tried to take the cursed gold? Why would he help Hook?" Smee asked.
Emma thought for a moment. She wanted full disclosure on their quest but some things couldn't be said. She didn't know how much Smee knew about Hook's heritage.
"I have found a way, I think once I speak to Poseidon he will help. However I can't risk any other lives, I will need you both to stay on the Jolly Roger while I go ashore Atlantis."
"Leave you alone to face a god! No way!" Smee protested. "As long as I can remember every mortal to have set foot on Atlantis has perished one way or another…except…"
"Except for Captain Hook" Philip finished his sentence for him.
"Trust me I have a plan and it is our only hope of saving Hook. If there was any other way then believe me I wouldn't take this risk. It has to work!" Emma tried to assure herself as much as the other two men. She stood to her feet, "So what do you say men? Does the Jolly have another adventure in her?"
"If you're doing this, then I'll help you any way I can" Smee promised, rising to his feet beside her.
"A real pirate adventure to a cursed island, count me in!" Philip joined them.
"Wonderful" Emma smiled, "Because I'll need a first mate…" she smiled at Smee, "and a captain…" she pulled a pirate hat out of her bag that she'd picked up in Philip's room and handed it to the Duke.
The room spun around Hook's broken body, Pain was just a constant feeling now after days of torture from The Dark One. Bloodied and bruised he could no longer stand so had resigned to sitting, his back propped against the dungeon wall. Each breath was an effort. He'd fallen in and out of consciousness and when he was present in the moment he couldn't focus his vision. The only comfort he found was thinking of Emma and knowing that she was finally with her family surrounded by people who loved her and who would protect her. He could spend the rest of his life in this hell just knowing that she was safe. The longer Rumplestiltskin was distracted taking his anger out on him the more time he was buying Emma and her family to escape. Nothing else mattered.
He tried to move his legs but all feeling was gone in them. He tried to stay alert. He had to figure out why Rumplestiltskin wanted Emma. All his years working with Regina, why didn't he just take the princess? What was he waiting for?
His body immobile his mind did the running instead. It couldn't be as simple as wanting the throne. That was Regina's ambition, if The Dark One wanted a kingdom he could just take it. Why would he help Regina? Could this have always been about Emma? She was the one after all who broke the curse, well they both did. Could it have been any true love kiss or did Emma have to be involved? Was there more magic in Emma than she knew? It was no use asking himself these questions. He didn't have the answers, only his captor did. At the beginning of his capture Hook dreaded each time Rumplestiltskin appeared because it only meant more pain. Now he was tortured to the point that it didn't matter, pain was with him whether The Dark One was in the room or not but if he did return perhaps Hook could get some answers. Now he had a plan and a purpose.
He didn't have to wait long.
The door swung open bringing light with it, though the light was as artificial as the laugh which followed it.
"Tell me, how are you feeling, dearie?" The Dark One crowed.
"Feeling? Thanks to you and your toys I don't feel much of anything anymore."
The Dark One towered over Hook's body surveying his damage, "Perhaps I did go a little overboard, I doubt you'll walk again" he grinned.
"Here to finish the job then?"
"Not yet." He paced back and forth outside the pirate's cell. "You see not all torture is physical. I wanted to update you on our precious princess."
Hook clenched his teeth. Rumplestiltskin's lip curled up.
"It would seem that she has come to realise your situation and she has decided to rescue you, it really is so romantic…"
Hook's heart dropped. Emma was coming to this hell, the last place in all the realms he wanted her to be.
The imp wasn't done with his taunting. "While I'm sure she is a clever girl I may have helped her along a little bit, you see I left a clue for her to find…I had to do something with that ghastly hook so I left it in the woods where I knew they would stumble upon it."
Hook stayed quiet, he was quickly realising the less he spoke the more Rumplestiltskin did. The more downtrodden and broken he seemed the more The Dark One gloated. He bowed his head, trying to appear as if he was ignoring him while listening intently hanging on every word.
"Of course I could have gone out in search for the girl myself but why go to all the trouble when I could just lead her straight to my door?"
He couldn't bear to remain quiet any longer, "What do you want with her? Why Emma, why now? Isn't it enough that you have me?"
"You!" he spat, "You are just something to keep me amused until my true prize arrives; it has never been about you! All these years, all these plans…it was for her, my salvation, my eternal life, the fountain of youth."
He sounded like a mad man. The Dark One's body shook with excitement. This was Hook's moment; he knew nothing could shut the beast up now. Here in his weakest state he could ask his tormentor anything and since he was no longer a threat he could finally have some answers.
"Fountain of youth, what are you talking about?"
"Emma, the product of true love. In her veins flows the elixir of life. True love is the most powerful magic of all, it survives wars, sickness, time and even death, love conquers all and she is the product of that. All I need is her blood and I will live forever and then not even the gods will be able to defeat me."
"Her blood?" Hook grimaced. "You're a monster".
Rumplestiltskin shrugged. I will do whatever it takes to achieve ultimate power. I've waited so long…I used Regina to cast the curse. I could smell her desperation a mile off. It was easy to convince her to go along with my plan. She never suspected there was more to it than just getting her the throne." He spoke quicker, walking around the dungeon faster getting more and more worked up as he recounted his tale. "I hadn't realised just how weak she was though. My plan was to take the infant while it slept under the curse, slay it and take its blood for myself then and there. But Regina pitied the child and took the princess with her to raise as her own. Her weakness worked in my favour ultimately, for I discovered a part of the legend that I had missed. The product of true love had to experience love herself for the magic to be created inside her. I knew then I would have to wait. Regina had told me she would marry the girl to the prince of my choosing. At first I thought I could trick her to fall for me." Rumplestiltskin turned his back and whispered some spell Killian couldn't make out, his body began to contort and change. Hook could hear the bones break and reform while The Dark One did no more than grunt his discomfort. He spun around and to the pirate's horror he saw Prince Derek stand before him.
"It was you all along." He gasped.
The Dark One, now transformed into the wicked prince smirked at him. "I thought I made quite the dashing prince but I wasn't good enough for her, but then I realised, I stood no chance. When I saw her with you in the dungeons of Oceania I saw it in her eyes and yours. You were in love. In this human form my powers are weakened. Her fighting back caught me off guard and I didn't have time to change back to my original state before you struck me down." He broke off, chanting his spell again and twisting and turning back into The Dark One, "Ah that's better" he cracked his neck, "Just in case you are planning another little trick like that." He laughed, knowing full well that Hook could barely raise his arm, let alone strike another person.
"By the time I came to, you were both gone. But the last part of the recipe was complete. Emma was in love and that meant she was ready for harvest. I just needed to find her and the easiest way to do that was through you. I followed the storms and found you, I knew if I took you she would come after you, so now all I have to do is wait. She is following my plan to the letter and she doesn't even know it!"
Hook felt sick, The Dark One had been right about one thing, not all pain is physical. Knowing Emma was running straight into a trap and being unable to do anything to stop it was the most excruciating pain he'd ever felt.
The waves lapped up the sides of the ship showering Emma in a light mist. The sun beat down piercing the sea mist casting a rainbow around them. Emma basked in its light taking it as a good omen that they were on the right course. She felt empowered sailing towards what she hoped would be Hook's salvation. Just knowing she was doing something to help her pirate filled her heart with a purpose that spurred her on despite her reoccurring seasickness. She pushed all discomfort aside; nothing could squash her spirits when the stony shadow kissed the horizon.
"It's Atlantis" Smee shouted from the crow's nest. "Up ahead on the starboard side"
Emma grabbed Hook's spyglass that she'd found in his cabin and pressed the cool metal to her eye. The rocky mound decorated in trees filled the circular view. Her heart skipped a beat. Now it was time. There was no turning back, she summoned all the courage inside her she could muster and walked over to where the row boat was tied up.
"Are you sure about this Emma? I've heard stories about Poseidon…they say he will only grant the wish of one who carries his blood in their veins." Philip said nervously from behind her.
Emma nodded bravely, "I know I can do this."
He rested his hand on her shoulder, "Then god speed, I'll help you ready the boat."
When they were a few miles from shore Emma shouted out "Drop the anchor!" Smee obeyed and the ship came to a halt. "This is as close as you go" she instructed, "I'll row from here."
She hopped into the small wooden row boat and steadied herself as Philip and Smee carefully lowered it down into the water.
She gave them a half smile and a wave before taking a deep breath and picking up her oar she started to row towards the ominous island cloaked in grey mist.
The next chapter will be the finale one! Make sure you check it out to see how our soulmate's story ends!