Chapter 28
Close Behind
We sat in there….empty handed. "I'm so sorry," Aurora replied, softly.
"Don't be. It's my fault." I replied. "Emma," Mary Margaret said.
"It is. If I hadn't acted like that, we'd still have the compass." I said.
"But, you're married to the guy. You didn't want him to be hurt, there's no shame in that," Mary Margaret replied. "At least you have your true love."
I sighed. "Yeah, enough with the drama, how do you expect to get out of here?" Mulan asked. "I don't….know." Mary Margaret replied, she went over to the side of the cell, and picked up a letter.
"The ink," She said, she then blew it out. The bars began to disappear, and we smiled. We were free. We were going home! "Let's go." She said, Mary Margaret and I headed back.
"Wait," I said, turning. "What are you guys doing?" I asked.
Mulan sighed, as she finished tying Aurora to the pole. "I can't go with you, Cora could use me against you, I'm sorry." She said.
I nodded. "Good luck," She called. Mary Margaret turned, and smiled. "Good luck to you, too."
We all headed toward Lake Nostos.
My head spun when I saw Killian there. With Cora.
###
"Hey!" Mulan shouted, as she began to fight Cora. Killian went behind, and looked like he was hiding something. I ran towards him, suddenly feeling better than I had in days. I smiled. "Does she still have your heart?" I asked.
Killian looked up at me.
"I'm afraid so, love," He said. "I wish it wasn't true."
I gulped. "I can't fight you." I said. He looked at me, with an honest smile. "I know you can't. I can't fight you either." He said.
I smiled, lightly. Just then, I noticed a sandy brown tote bag beginning to fall into the spiraling lake. Killian took three big strides and held out his hook.
He grabbed it, and opened it. "Our hearts are in it!" He cried, in happiness. I smiled, as I took one out. "Is this one's yours?" I asked, holding it up for him.
"I think so, put it in!" He said. I smiled, as I placed the heart inside his chest. It felt weird. But, it went in. I slowly moved my hand away. "Are you okay?" I asked.
He smiled. "Yes," He whispered, before kissing me. "Mulan!" I shouted, she was right beside us. "Take this." I said. "It's Aurora's heart."
She frowned, and looked inside. "Go, now!" I cried. Mulan smiled, and she came towards me. "Take this, this will help you defeat Cora." She said, handing me her sword. It was heavy, and I barely could hold with two hands. Killian helped me lift it up. But, by the time I got to where Mary Margaret and Cora was, she was already losing.
Cora, with a flick of her hand, knocked Killian out. "No!" I cried. But, she then eyed my mother down, like she was some kind of food. Some kind of play thing she could mess with.
"You know, my daughter was never successful." She said.
"What makes you say that?" Mary Margaret asked, cautiously.
"She could never get your heart…so, to teach her lesson, I'll do the one thing she couldn't do…" she said, walking towards her. But, I saw what she was going to do. I ran forward, blocking my mother's body with my own.
Cora must have known this was going to happen, because this time, she could pull it out. I could only stare in disbelief. I thought she couldn't do it. I breathed in slowly, and still watching my heart. "Oh, you silly little girl!" She exclaimed.
"Emma?" I heard a dull voice say. But, I didn't pay attention. "Emma!" Mary Margaret responded. Mary Margaret came from behind me. "It's my heart you want, take mine." Mary Margaret replied. Just then, Cora squeezed my heart, making me cringe and bend over in pain.
"This must be hurting the baby, too." Cora said, with a smile. "Baby?" Mary Margaret asked.
"A baby?" Killian asked, as he stumbled across to us.
I frowned. I didn't know if what Cora said was true, and I didn't want to believe her. "Give her heart back, Cora, and take mine." Killian said. "Killian," I said.
Killian glared at me.
I didn't know what to say. His icy glare made me shut up. "Ooh, why would I do that?" Cora asked.
"Because, I'm asking you to, and I will go to Storybrooke with you…I'll help you." Killian said. "No, Killian," I stammered.
"Emma," He warned. Cora sighed. "Fine," She said, as she placed the heart back into my chest. I could breathe better.
Then, she went towards Killian and before I could scream in protest, she took away Killian's heart, and Killian stumbled to the ground. "Now, let's go." Cora called to Killian. Killian turned to face the water.
"I'm sorry, Emma," Mary Margaret replied, but she ran to Cora, and I did, too. We punched her back towards the forest. "Emma, go, I'll try to hold her back." He said, I dug in Cora's cloak to get Killian's heart.
"I'm not leaving without you." I said.
He frowned. "But, Cora," He replied.
"I don't care." I replied, placing Killian's heart where it rightfully belonged. Then, suddenly we all forced to the ground on our backs.
"Well, well, well, no one deserves passage to Storybrooke," Cora said, walking in front of us. "I would kill you all, but I won't…it'd be too easily." She said, smiling. "Good-bye, Emma, I'll make sure I'll say hi to Henry, for you." She said, with an evil smile.
She then turned to Killian with an evil grin. She then grabbed him by the forearm, and together they jumped into the portal. "No!" I screamed, watching them disappear.
