Killian took a deep breath, dropping his hands. Emma was gone.
The relief nearly made him weak at the knees. They'd done it. They'd gotten her out. She was safe, and back in reality again. His face broke into a smile and his eyes smarted from a sheen of unwanted moisture. He was alone here.
He was alone, and he had work to do.
He shook his head as if to clear it, realizing that he may only have minutes.
Or hours. Or weeks. Who the hell knew, in this bloody place? Whatever it ended up being, he had to set plans into motion. He wasn't entirely sure where Neville fit into the plan that was forming in his head, but Emma - and Felix - had been sure that he did.
He turned back toward the castle, and took off at a run, going over his options in his mind. Emma had been sure he was going to work this out. Now it was time to prove her right. This was all about strategy, and he was ever a man who prided himself on being one step ahead of his opponent. He'd get this done.
But first, he needed to find Neville and see where that lead him.
And then he needed to find Henry.
###
David jumped back as Emma suddenly appeared in the center of the room. She took a hesitant, staggering step, clearly reeling from the abrupt transfer, and David stepped forward, enclosing her in his arms.
"Emma!"
She looked up at him in confusion. "David?" She glanced around. "I'm here? I mean - am I back? Really back?" Her eyes darted around the room and she clung to his arms.
David gave a laugh, hugging her tight. "Yeah, you're back all right. We found the Morpheus sphere and Gold managed to pull you out."
"As much as I love a happy reunion," Gold interjected, "We need to get out of here. Morpheus has by now detected the use of the sphere and is surely on his way."
David pulled Emma toward the door. "He's right. We need to get going."
Emma glanced back over her shoulder at Regina, who was still standing in the lobby. "Regina? You coming?"
"No." Regina sat down on a couch in the waiting room, carefully straightening her skirt.
"No?" Emma said, looking up at David in confusion.
"Part of the plan," he explained. "Now come on - we've got to get out of here!"
###
The Fat Lady was kind enough to let Killian know that Neville could be found teaching an Herbology class and was about to give him directions when Myrtle appeared, volunteering to escort him personally. This led to catfight between the two women that was legendary in its proportions, bringing students and teachers alike running to the staircase.
The crowd parted as Professor McGonagle stepped forward, glaring over her spectacles.
"Don't all of you have classes to attend?" she asked severely, disbursing the crowd, before turning her attention to the Fat Lady and Myrtle. "What, may I ask, is going on here? The two of you have created an enormous spectacle! You sound like a pack of wolves!"
She turned to look at Killian. "Aren't you a bit old to be hanging about?" she inquired.
"Alumni," he explained. "I'm assisting the Auror's office in an investigation."
McGonagle looked startled. "What sort of an investigation?"
"I'm not at liberty to say," he lied smoothly. "But I do need to ask Professor Longbottom a few questions - just a formality, you understand. The school is exemplary in every way and I find no need to pursue this any further after that." He gave McGonagle his most charming smile.
"Well," she sniffed, slightly mollified. "I should think not." She pointed off toward a nearby set of doors. "The greenhouse can be found down that corridor. You'll find Professor Longbottom within."
Killian thanked her, taking off at a run. There was no time to lose.
###
"You can come out," Regina said to a patch of shadows in the corner. "It's quite all right. I'd like to talk to you."
The shadows shifted, swirled, then solidified. Morpheus stepped into the light, but he wasn't quite fully-formed. He shimmered on the edges, fading and strengthening as he stood there, staring at Regina with a wary sort of fascination.
"You want to...talk?"
"Yes," Regina said, patting the couch next to her. "Have a seat."
"I'll remain here," he said, clearly not trusting this abrupt turn-around. He looked over his shoulder at the doorway.
"We're quite alone, I assure you," Regina said.
Morpheus looked at her through narrowed eyes. "You activated the sphere," he accused.
"So I did. I needed to retrieve Miss Swan."
He tilted his head. "Why? What is she to you?"
Regina raised a brow. "To me? Nothing. But to my son - she's his second mother. A mother that he'll be needing, if you and I can strike a deal."
She had his full attention now. Morpheus couldn't help the excitement that leaped in his eyes.
"A deal?"
"Yes. I find myself in a bit of an uncomfortable situation here in Storybrooke," Regina explained. "The man I loved has recently had his wife returned to him, and I've also been replaced as mayor of the town. In short, other than Henry - who spends most of his time with Miss Swan and family - there is no one and nothing for me here."
She looked up at him, and Morpheus clearly saw the truth in her eyes. He moved carefully over to the couch and sat next to her, placing his hand over hers.
"And you want to escape," he surmised. "I can help you."
"I know you can. I also know that you know how to manipulate the dreamscape. Am I right?"
Morpheus nodded excitedly. "Yes! Yes I do. You can be anything, anywhere, whatever you want! I can help you. I can take you anywhere you want to go."
Regina folded her hands in her lap. "There have to be parameters."
He nodded again, head bobbing wildly. "Of course." His eyes were devouring her. She forced a polite smile and went on. "I'd have to be able to see Henry whenever I want."
"Whenever he dreams," Morpheus corrected. "And that can be arranged."
She looked at him distrustfully. "Are you sure? I won't go if that's not an iron-clad guarantee."
He held his hands up in a placating motion. "I give you my word it can be done."
Regina took in a breath, squaring her shoulders. "Then take me to him now. He's sleeping. Show me you can take us into his dreams, and we'll go from there. If not, I want your word that you'll bring me right back out again."
Morpheus smiled a calculated smile. "Of course."
"Swear it upon the force of your magic," she asked shrewdly.
His jaw tightened and his eyes narrowed, but he gave her a curt nod. "Done."
Regina stood. "Very well, then." She gestured over to the sphere, laying on the table next to the couch. "Shall we?"
He got to his feet quickly, moving over to stand next to her. "We need to touch the sphere at precisely the same time," he said. "Try to keep your thoughts blank and leave it up to me to direct us."
Regina nodded. "Let's do it. On three?"
Morpheus nodded back, and she commenced the countdown.
"One...two...three!"
They both reached out, placing their fingers on the sphere, but only Morpheus vanished. Regina stepped back.
"Gold!"
"I'm here," he said, stepping through the door from the back room. "We'd best move quickly."
They both extended their hands, concentrating, and a blue-ish glow extended from their fingertips, shooting out at the sphere, encompassing it until it began to glow orange-red. A moment later, it imploded with a force that sent them both staggering into the wall.
When they regained their equilibrium, Regina stepped forward to look at the shriveled fragment that was left.
"I'd say that's done it," she said.
"Indeed," Gold agreed.
"Guess I can remove the protection spell now," she remarked, passing one hand over the other. It glowed for a moment, then settled back to normal.
"He really was a lot more gullible than I'd have thought," Gold remarked.
Regina smirked. "Men usually are when they hear what they want to hear. You know that."
Gold smiled. "I've struck many a fine deal telling people what they want to hear."
She gave him a look. "I'll bet you have." She stared down at the shattered remains of the sphere. "The rest is up to Hook now."
###
Killian stepped out onto the Quidditch pitch with Henry casting a glance around at the empty stands.
"See? All alone," Henry said. "Nobody's even booked it for practice."
"Good." Killian put his hand up to shade his eyes, looking around once more.
"Are you sure you don't want my help?"
"I want you safe, as does your mother. And you'll be helping out by remembering what I told you."
Henry nodded. "I've got it. Good luck with whatever it is you're doing."
"You'll know all about it once it's done, I promise," Killian reassured. "But now I need you to not be a distraction. He'll be fixated on you, but I need you out of sight and once he arrives, I want you gone."
"Killian." Henry's voice was hushed. "Up there - in the commenter's box."
Killian stepped in front of him, blocking him from view as he stared up at Morpheus, who was looking around wildly. "Get under the stands, Henry. Now!"
Henry scurried out of sight and Killian ran for his broom, pushing off the ground and managing to fly right up to the front of the commenter's box and pull to a hanging stop.
"Well, look who's trapped in a dream," Killian taunted. "How does it feel? You didn't really think you'd be able to best me, did you?"
Morpheus curled his hands into fists, and he was beginning to shake with rage. "What have you done!"
"They did what I told them to do - they got Emma out and they trapped you in here," Killian explained. "Let me guess - without the sphere, you can't navigate out of here, can you? You'll be at the whim of wherever the dreamscape sends you."
"And you'll be trapped with me," snarled Morpheus. "Something you'll be regretting for the rest of eternity!"
Morpheus lifted his arms, raising a giant wall of fire and sending it straight at Killian, who wheeled his broom around and flew swiftly out of its path. He glanced back over his shoulder and bit back a triumphant smile when he saw Morpheus pursuing on a broom of his own. Killian dipped down, flying through the support structures on the stands, then twisting out in a barrel roll and zooming out toward the lake. He felt the explosions as curses hit the air around him, and he nearly lost his grip when a sectum sempra curse split his shoulder open, leaving him trailing blood behind him.
He threw a redacto curse over his shoulder, nearly catching Morpheus and causing him to go off balance. Morpheus spun out of control for a moment, then began to fall down toward the lake. The water churned beneath him as the giant squid began to surface, it's tentacles whipping the water, as if sensing its prey. Morpheus managed to pull out of the spiral at the last moment, leveling a blast at the squid with his wand that sent it shrieking back to the depths of the lake.
Killian made the most of his inattention, turning his broom around and heading back toward the castle grounds, keeping low and making a sharp turn around the parapets, weaving right to left and up and down to avoid the curses breaking all around him. He was getting closer, and he slowed almost imperceptibly, letting Morpheus close the gap before he shot forward, right under the branches of the tree.
The Whomping Willow reacted immediately, its branches and leaves slapping and rustling as it struck out, knocking Morpheus from his broom. Killian circled back, letting out a loud bark of laughter before a branch caught him squarely in the back, knocking him to the ground as well.
He scrambled to his feet, running hard in a zig-zag to avoid the branches slapping down around him, heading straight for the castle doors. He ran through, feeling a curse rebound off the wall next to him, sending shards of stone everywhere, cutting his face - and still he ran. Killian made it into the great hall and turned in panic just as Morpheus ran through the door. His eyes narrowed and he skidded to a halt when he saw Killian.
"Enough!" Morpheus shouted, waving his wand in a series of intricate designs. Suddenly, the air got markedly colder, frosting the tall windows and misting Killian's breath. His eyes grew wide as he saw them floating in through the door, their scabby hands reaching for him, their pull on him freezing him where he stood. He needed to think of something happy, she'd said. He forced his mind to work in the face of his overpowering fear and dread. His happiest memory...
A minivan. A house in the suburbs. A sign shop in Portland. A beach, with their children. Dinner with Emma and Liam. That night in Agrabah...he had lifetimes of memories and so many of them happy. He pooled them all together, feeling them warm him inside with a force that chased the darkness away, and his hand lifted, pointing the wand as he shouted "Expecto Patronum!"
A swan burst from the end of his wand, silver and fluid and beautiful beyond words, gliding in circles as the dementors scattered, shooting out the door. He only had a moment to savor it, however.
"There's only one door in or out," Morpheus crowed. "You have nowhere to run now!" He threw an incendio charm that lit the podium on the raised platform into flames, and Killian dived beneath a nearby table. He took a breath, and then shouted:
"Myrtle!"
She flew in on the instant, straight at Morpheus, sending his arms flailing as she passed through him.
"Leave him alone!" she shrieked.
"Stay out of this!" Morpheus snapped, waving his wand in an effort to dispel her. Something he did sent her backwards, end-over-end and when she recovered, she put her hands into fists and screamed "Peeeeeves!" at the top of her lungs.
Morpheus whirled to take on the new threat, but he was assaulted from above by a handful of snargaluff pods, writhing and twisting all over his head and face. He slapped at them, howling as Myrtle's tinkling laughter rang out and Peeves hovered above him making rude noises. Killian had almost made it to the door when Morpheus disentangled himself, sending out out a blast from his wand that caught Killian in the back and lit up the room with a brilliant flash of light and a deafening crack.
When the spots cleared from Morpheus's eyes, there was nothing left of Killian Jones but a pile of smoldering robes.