HELLO ALL!
ALAS WE ARE ALMOST NEARING THE END. THIS TIME I THINK FOR REAL. THERE IS LITTLE I CAN DO TO DRAG THIS STORY ON OR EVEN MAKE A SPINOFF. BUT WE STILL HAVE A COUPLE MORE CHAPTERS OUT THERE AND AN EPILOGUE.
IT HAS BEEN A REAL TRIP WITH THIS ONE; I SERIOUSLY NEVER EXPECTED "LILLY" TO HAVE SO MANY FOLLOWS, LIKES AND COMMENTS (SOME GOOD, SOME EXCELLENT, SOME NOT TOO GOOD, BUT ALL A PART OF DOING THIS THINGS AND I THANK YOU ALL EQUALLY). AS SOON AS I AM DONE WITH "LILLY", I ENCOURAGE YOU TO READ "ONE STEP AT A TIME". THAT ONE STILL HAS A WAY TO GO. ALSO CHECK OUT MY OTHER STORIES IN MY PROFILE, IF YOU LIKE, I AM STILL HUNGRY FOR LOVE Y'ALL!
ANYWAYS, JUST A QUICK TIP ON THE CHARACTER OF ANNE BONNY: SHE WAS ACTUALLY A REAL PIRATE LADY FROM THE SAME TIME AS BLACKBEARD AND SHE WAS A S BADASS AS THEY COME. SHE DID INDEED ESCAPE DEATH BY CLAIMING TO BE PREGNANT, BUT SINCE NO ONE KNOWS WHAT BECAME OF HER CHILD AND HERSELF, I TOOK ARTISTIC LICENSE TO INCORPORATE HER INTO THE STORY FOR A CAMEO CHAPTER. HOPE YOU LIKE WHAT I DID WITH HER!
1781, England.
Her name was Anne Bonny.
Like Edward Teach, she started off in his same realm, in Ireland to be precise, where she and her lover, Calico Jack Rackham, plundered one too many vessels (her record being over three hundred in her span as a pirate); She was captured by the British Armada in 1780; whilst in prison and awaiting a death sentence, a fellow pirate informed her of the many seas yet to be discovered, including seas that went beyond our own world. "Seas, oceans you have not even dreamed off, m'lass, places where ships may fly… And pirates who live by code."
"Names… I want names…"
"Teach."
"Blackbeard?" She sneered. "He's 'aving a kip in Davy Jones' locker!"
"Aye, alas you'd think that, girlie. But the man lives… Ahh yesss…." He spoke before her astounded gawk. "He managed to escape the realm by slipping into a Maelstrom."
"What nonsense. I know not of a single soul to have survived the Maelstrom."
"I seen it, lass, seen it with me waking eyes! I seen the Queen Anne's Revenge sail away and swirl into the hole till he was swallowed, and thus, pfsht!" He made a zapping expression with his hand. "He was gone. I've been in this business longer than you have lived, m'girl, and I speak truly: No shipwreck leaves no trail behind. A mast, a floating sail… carcasses. But Teach? He, his vessel and his whole soddin' crew vanished. Entirely."
She huffed and sat pensively. "And none alive's ever 'eard of him since?"
"Aye…. One has. One who also crosses realms back and forth, m'love. He knows the waters here, and has navigating skills that would put the most discerning Lieutenant to bleedin' shame." He giggled. "And he has the looks of the devil himself, eyes the color of the darkest seas. He and his mistress have been seen plenty of times, and then, after a violent plunder… he vanishes in plain sight. He sails, on a smaller vessel with a small crew, faster than the northern wind itself and nobody ever, ever seems to be able to apprehend him."
She rushed to the edge of her dungeon, almost spitting into the face of her neighboring pirate. "Again, you useless oaf, I need names. NAMES!"
The man chuckled. "He sails, east of the Mare Glaciaris, where the beasties dwell. I seen his vessel, m'darlin', faster than a bolt of lightning, cruising the clouds and the waters, because indeed…" He pressed his toothless, black grin against the bars. "The Jolly Roger can fly. He is known… as the offspring of Davy Jones himself: Captain Killian Jones. Aye… I seen 'im too. In the flesh. It was only out of good form 'e allowed me to live."
"Killian Jones." She swallowed. "I've only 'eard that name through the utterance of legend's lore."
"Trust me, woman, he's as real as the bars that deprive us from our freedom now…" He chuckled a dirty, toothless laugh. "The man is a dashing gentleman, quick with the sword and lethal, should he be crossed. 'E may charm the soul out of yeh, but nay should you trust 'm, he's bound to smile at you one second and stab your 'eart the next. As one of me own kind I daresay, he's the one to speak to, should you seek loot in other realms… far from the soddin' King's navy."
Anne Bonny huffed. "Well, now's a good time to find me way out then, innit?" She screamed. "GUARD!"
A uniformed navy official approached. "What, woman?"
Her bravado faded; instead, pleaded a dirty, haggard and sad young woman. "I cannot be hung, guard. I've just felt meself, 'ere…" She reached between the bars and pulled the young soldier's hand to her womb. "I'm with child and starting to feel the weight. You may condemn my soul to the burning lakes of fire, good sir, but nay, not my child, I beg of you…" She gulped. "Are you a good Christian?"
Alarmed, the guard ran to his higher ranking officers; a female nurse was called into Bonny's cell.
It was indeed no rouse; the pirate-woman was notoriously gravid.
She was released, not in accordance to the laws of men, but to the laws of god.
Not that Anne Bonny ever cared much about the laws of god, anyway.
Her child was born one day as she sailed, her new crew recruited from scratch and reputation, in a vessel called The Ranger.
She summoned Davy Jones himself in her quest for the somewhat legendary Captain Killian Jones. Her offering was the life of her newborn son.
The ghost ship known as The Flying Dutchman appeared before her, and soon after, the handsome Davy had boarded the Ranger.
"Who seeks my council that so light-heartedly wills the life of her own newborn child to parlay with me?" He hissed. "You unnatural, disheartened woman."
"So it is true…" She spoke sternly. "Davy Jones is not a ghost, but a real entity…"
"Aye and one you should reckon, Anne Bonny. I am the last person you want as a foe and hear this: one that disposes of newborns so leniently is not one that will make it to my list of friends and allies with ease, so speak woman, and be done with it."
She chuckled. "I've no care for infants. Not even me own. I've neither the time nor the propensity to become a mother. I've more important business to carry out and I need your help." She paced to the older Jones. "I've heard… this ship can sail across different realms. Is that so, Commodore?"
"Aye, that it can."
"And I've heard… of one who lives from loots, crossing seas like he owned the ocean itself… One from your own loins, I hear."
Davy pressed his lips sternly, and paced slowly to her, his boots echoing on the deck. "Have care… what you say from this point on, Anne Bonny. For it is one thing to deal with me and quite another to muddle with my only living son."
"Oh, Commodore, I wish not to cause him any harm, certainly!" She cackled. "Why would I mar the one person who seems to see eye to eye with me? One who is fiercer than all other sailing pirates, one who possesses legendary adeptness at thalassic skill and all the more, one who has the means and the adequate vessel to cross realms with ease? No, dear sir, I only wish to parlay with the Captain. I am sure you can point me in the right direction, can you not?"
Davy fidgeted with his fingernail. "I'll provide my services of assistance, Anne Bonny." He raised a cocky face to her. "But only over a winning hand of Blackjack."
"What's your wager, Davy Jones?"
"Simple enough." He raised an eyebrow. "Should you win, I will sail you and your crew to the sea where my Killian navigates. I shall make personally sure you all get to the same waters as The Jolly Roger, and as a matter of fact, I'll even throw in an additional perk: You may use the Captain's Quarters for the duration of the voyage. Now, should you fail, you join MY crew and sail within the Flying Dutchman under my command… forever."
Anne thought for a minute. "I feel I should wager myself…"
"Speak, lady…"
"Should I win, I shall personally commandeer your vessel while you navigate The Ranger."
"Alas, I cannot, by my curse's whim, leave my ship." He sighed. "But I can very well ask my trusted first mate to stir the helm of The Ranger so as to sail through the portals in unison. And what's in it for me?"
"If I lose, you get to keep The Ranger!"
"That would have been mine for the taking anyway, sweetheart…"
"Aye? Without resistance?"
Davy chuckled. "So… we've an understanding, Captain Bonny?" He reached out his hand. "Shake my hand if you be true."
She smirked wily. "We've a bargain, Jones. Now… let's play cards."
Sure enough, Anne Bonny won. She held a full ace while Jones went bust after a soft seventeen.
Nonetheless, he seemed all too courteous in keeping his end of the bargain. Anne Bonny boarded the Flying Dutchman, while Davy's first mate and half the crew commandeered the Ranger. He led her through a two day journey between realms, with her at the helm of the Dutchman.
Sure enough, they found The Jolly Roger, gently bobbing over the coast of the southern shores of Mist Haven.
Anne Bonny smiled from ear to ear. "Aye… I see it. The vessel's even more beautiful than legend tells." She turned to Davy, who looked at her as he leaned on the mast, one eyebrow quirked over his eye and the other menacingly pushing down as he smirked at her. "Very well, Jones, sail closer that my crew and I may board the ship and speak with the captain."
"You do not intend to speak" He chuckled. "I know your heart, Anne Bonny, you're treacherous and undeserving of the pirate code of honor. My son may be fierce, but he lives by the code, follows it strictly. Within his pirating ways, he's a good soul. Hence…" He stood straight. "I shall not sail another mile towards the Jolly."
Anne paled. "We had a bargain…"
"Certainly we did, Anne Bonny… and I've kept my end of it! I let you take the helm for the duration of the trip and led you to the same waters my boy is sailing. I never… agreed… to allow you to board the Jolly Roger. And any pirate that has heard of Davy Jones would know…" He paced closer to her. "That any dark old soul that should come onboard the Flying Dutchman is instantly bound to the curse of the ship." He smiled.
"You… tricked me. Deciever!" She hollered. She then reached for the pistol on her belt and fired point blank to Jones's heart. The man staggered backwards and then smiled, laughing as he once again stood straight.
"You didn't think you could kill the dead, did you, sailor?"
Anne Bonny looked around. With horror, she saw how the moonlight suddenly disclosed the true nature of the curse: All onboard the Dutchman, the countless souls and ghosts that had not reached the afterlife or that refused to be ferried to hell, remained as crew… bones, rotting flesh and maggots.
"I've gathered plenty of able pirates to work the Dutchman, Bonny… but your soul has to be the foulest. You shall take the crow's nest. And hear this: Only a true act of bravery on your part shall release you, and your crew, to rest… for a woman that willingly kills her child needs to pay for her own redemption." He paced away. "So welcome to the crew…. Sailor Bonny."
From the distant shore, Killian Jones heard the holler of an angry woman echoing through the ripples of the coast. He hurriedly ran to the bow of the ship and scanned the waters with his spyglass… and all he saw was a single ship bobbing some four miles away.
It seemed still… and looked like a familiar pirate ship.
"Odd…" He sneered. "Jackson!"
Boatswain Jackson ran to his side. "Aye aye, Cap'n…"
With a frown, Killian handed the man his spyglass. "What do you make of that vessel, Master Boson?"
Jackson sighed and looked through the spyglass. He gasped. "I know that vessel, sir."
"You do?"
"Aye… 'Tis The Ranger. Anne Bonny's ship."
He handed the spyglass back to Killian, who looked through the lens once more. "Bonny? What the bloody hell is she doing in this realm?"
"Beats me, Cap'n. Last I heard, she'd been taken by the English Guard in the realm with no magic and was awaiting death sentence."
"Ghost ship, perhaps?"
"Nay, sir. It looks solid. But from what I saw, it seems abandoned. And if I know Anne Bonny's reputation, sir, she has a sweet tooth for silver."
Killian smirked. "Seems like fortune's showed us favor and we've made an easy day's earning!" He turned to Jackson with a confident, cocky smile. "Appearance would have it, master Boson, we may have a leisurely plunder in our hands this evening. Set sail, course due north-north east. Tonight we loot the famous Ranger. Call all hands on deck… Oh, and wake Milah. With Bonny being a female, there might just be some plunder spoils in that ship that may appeal to her personal liking." He turned, still smiling at the distant vessel, while Jackson walked down to the deck and rang the bell. "ALL HANDS ON DECK!
Anne Bonny cried for the first time in her life as she saw Killian Jones and his crew pillage through her now abandoned ship.
Davy Jones stood next to her.
"Aye, lady Bonny. It is a painful thing, losing it all. But you may still find redemption. Should this crew ever serve in an act of selfless heroism, I shall hold your oath of labor fulfilled and you may depart from the Dutchman's grasp."
"Damn you, Davy Jones…" She whispered as she saw the Ranger sink in flames.
"Darling…" He chuckled. "I am already damned. Now get to your post, sailor, we depart now."
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"You truly are a pack of cowardly dogs…" Blackbeard shook his head. "So you heard a loud conk, so bloody what? It's a bloody shore, there's bound to be maritime sounds, you imbecilic drifters! We've a town to plunder, there's one hundred and fifty of you!"
"Cap'n, don't you know what that conk is?" A shaky sailor spoke.
"Tis damnation itself, sir!" Another spoke. "We've 'ad it!"
"What in flaming hell are you blabbering about?" Blackbeard hollered.
"We speak of the vessel that can't be caught, the ship that sails unseen!"
"Our very souls are forefeit!"
"You're pirates, you 'aven't got bloody souls!" Blackbeard huffed. "The Flying Dutchman's wood is what brought us here, you pathetic piles of whale-blubber!"
The crew of the Queen Anne's revenge continued shuddering and looking about as the sound repeated itself; this time even Blackbeard himself looked around. "Cap'n, the ghost crew will finish us all! We must hence at once!"
"You wish to hence, do you, sailor?"
"Aye sir, for me very life!"
Blackbeard shook his head and swiftly produced a pistol, which he aimed at the pirate, firing unceremoniously. The man's body fell into the water. He turned to look at the others. "Anyone else wants to 'hence'? As you can see, I'll make the trip all too easy for you, lads…"
Everyone fidgeted, but no one dared speak a word.
Either way they'd meet their deaths.
"Now… get the bleedin' cannons ready! We start with the Docks and Cannery, then the town's shore… and finally, we aim for the Dutchman and send Davey Jones and his blasted crew back to the hell hole that spawned him!" He paced along his flanks. "We then take over the town. Since this seems like a self-respecting village, I gather there won't be any willing wenches, so feel free to plunder the women, lads. And make sure the men watch to annihilate any bravado and daring-do they may feel itching their podgy little hands. We take the loot, we bring it on board and we leave before oh-seven hundred tomorrow morn. Is that clear?"
"Aye aye, sir!" responded the crew.
Blackbeard gave them a nod. "I've treasure of me own to plunder, lads, so best of luck. I will see you sharp at dawn to head back home victorious. Off with you!" Having said this, he poofed away.
Half the men hesitantly started making their way into the town while the other half went back to prepare the mighty cannons of the Revenge… unaware that they were being followed by a deadly, silent army.
"We'll 'ave the vessel, lads." Anne Bonny smirked. "You lot come with me, the rest of you, just… follow them into town and await the Commodore's orders." She smirked. "Let's do this bloody hero's deed and have done with it all!"
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"I miss you…" Emma whispered as she kissed Killian's rested, unburdened sleeping forehead. "I know you'll be upset, Killian. Trust me, I'd love it if you could be with me right now, you've no idea…" She sighed and mussed the hair from his face. "I hope you'll understand… and forgive me."
Whale walked in in a flustered state. "Miss Swan, something's going on."
Startled, Emma looked up. "Wha… Why, what…?"
The sudden sound of scuffling and shattering glass was heard around them.
"Gold…" She pressed her lips together. "He was supposed to he promised, he was under orders from the dagger! How can he..?" She looked at Killian and then turned sharply to Whale. "Lilly… oh, no…" After gulping hard, she turned and caressed Killian's cheek. "Whale…?" She spoke, her voice breaking.
"Yes?"
"You're head of this hospital… How many doctors are actively working here?"
Noise and shudder and screaming outside the facilities.
"Erm… I don't know, fifty, fifty five, maybe sixty. Why?"
She turned to him. "Stay with Killian. Yourself. I need to get my daughter to safety, he'd understand that, but… but…" Her lower lip began to quiver.
Whale sighed and nodded. "I'll remain with him as long as I can, Emma."
She nodded again and turned to him. "I hate to leave you… I really do…" She sobbed as she pressed her lips to his. Despite the cold unresponsiveness, she grinned, her tears falling from her eyes and on to his cheeks. "I love you so much… I will do everything I can to s… save you all, Killian…"
She sighed and paced back, running out of the padded cell, not before looking back at Whale. "Keep the door locked!"
Whale sighed and turned to Hook. "You're a blessed man, Captain. That woman loves you to death."
Emma ran through the hospital halls and observed with certain weariness that even though the staff and people looked alarmed and anxious, the noises and screaming came from the streets. She looked out the window and saw what had to be Blackbeard's crew, trying to break into the hospital, albeit unsuccessfully. It hurt to see, however, that the people in the streets were running around, seeking shelter, and that all hell had broken loose.
Emma radioed David. "Dad! What the hell!"
The radio buzzed back. "Emma! Are you in the Hospital?"
"Yeah! What the heck is going on out there?"
"Blackbeard's people, honey, they've taken over the dock and Main Avenue, and they're just going ballistic on everything. Stay in the hospital! Did Gold really cast a protection spell?"
"Yeah… as far as I can see! Try to get as many people as possible in here or get Regina to cast another protection spell in the town hall, try to see how many people can follow you there!"
"Got it! Are you ok?"
"I'm fine…" she ran up the hall. "Killian's still under, Whale is with him. I'm checking on Lilly right now."
"Ok, good… I have to run, Emma, the town needs all the help it can get."
"Ok… DAD?"
"Yeah…"
Emma stopped and closed her eyes as she spoke into the radio. "Please take care…"
"You too… I love you sweetheart."
"I love you too."
She had to focus all her energy in getting to Lilly's room with unshed tears.
Her condition remained the same.
She looked up to a nurse that was changing the little girl's urine bag. "How is she?"
The nurse shook her head. "She hasn't changed, but her heart rate suddenly reached an all time high. I don't know how long her body can keep this up…"
"No, no, no… Lilly…" Emma leaned into her daughter. "Honey please, mommy will fix this, I promise, don't you dare give up, ok? Don't!"
The booming sound of cannons from the coast shattered the window. Emma and the startled nurse both turned in the direction of the bay to find the Queen Anne's Revenge enthralled in Battle… with the Flying Dutchman.
Emma huffed. "Where's Davy's crew?"
"They are approaching, Miss Swan…"
Gold's voice made Emma turn sharply.
"I don't have time for a pow-wow now, Gold, what the hell do you want?"
As soon as Emma had finished speaking, she noticed something was rather… different about the crocodile. The man smirked and reached into his inner pea coat pocket… to produce Killian's hand.
Emma winced. "What the…?"
"I've only come to restore this to its rightful owner." He flicked his hand and the limb disappeared. "That's enough playing cat and mouse with the captain."
"What the hell are you doing?"
He walked to her with a serene smile. "I am deeply… deeply indebted to this little girl…" He turned to look at Lilly. "And to her parents, for conceiving her."
"What are you… will you stop being so goddamned cryptic? Or I'll have Belle call you and..:"
"Nothing Belle does with that dagger can or will affect me now… Emma."
The savior gulped. "Wh…. But…"
"Your daughter cured me. She cleaved me from the dagger's hold." He smiled a smile that Emma immediately saw was entirely sincere. "I've still got my power… but I've no more reason to use it for dark purposes."
Emma frowned. "Prove it."
He nodded and rolled his hand upward.
Instead of the usual burgundy cloud of smoke, a white, glittering powdery glow emerged as he produced a jar of flowers, which he placed by the child's bed. "That should lighten the ambiance a bit. Miss Swan…" He looked at her. "I owe my life to this little girl… and I am now willing to yield it to protect her, the pirate, your family… and this whole town."
To have the power of Rumplestiltskin as a true ally was as precious a commodity as Emma could think of. She swallowed and shrugged. "But how… She's unconscious, how did she…?"
"I do not know…" Rumple chuckled quietly. "All I know is she managed to touch my hand… and the next thing, I was free from the darkness."
Emma was unable to contain the proud smile on her face. "The healer…"
"Indeed."
"Fine. So, let's focus… what do we do next?"
Rumple nodded. "We find a way to protect the people… then we let Commodore Jones's cursed crew do its job… and then…" He grinned vilely. "We find Blackbeard."
"Any ideas how we can get the ring off his finger?"
Rumple nodded. "How good are you at sword fighting, Dearie?"
Emma frowned. "Killian says I suck, why?"
"The finest swordsman in the town is currently ailed. You dear husband, I mean…"
"No, he's dead!"
Rumple shook his head. "You may have fooled the pirates and even the man's father…" He laughed softly. "But foes that have chased and hunted each other for three hundred years can tell a rouse from a mile away, Miss Swan. Captain Hook lives. And he just recovered his hand. I wonder how you didn't hesitate when I made that particular transaction…"
Emma closed her eyes and internally emitted a resonant "DUH" to before rolling her eyes back to Gold. "It was the only way to save him from Blackbeard…"
Rumple laughed louder. "And I sense the Captain won't be too pleased to learn that… when I wake him up."
Emma gasped and paced to him, shaking him by his lapel. "Y… you can cure Killian?"
"I've always had the power to heal, physical injuries Dearie… I just didn't want to cure his, till now. So… Lead me to your love, Emma. We very much need his skills with the blade."
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Anne Bonny laughed hysterically when the blasts form the Revenge seemed to go through and through. "Look at that sorry old lot!" she cackled. "You'd think Blackbeard would have a wiser sense of strategy that to try and defeat the dead. Gunner Mathews, load the cannons yet again. Let's send the Queen Anne back to England where she belongs!"
"Aye mam!"
Anne laughed again. "Poor bastards…"
With a loud Boom, half the side of the massive Revenge was suddenly blown, and the cannon masters stared in horror as second loads of cannon balls flew their way.
The battle was pointless. Within the hour, the Queen Anne's Revenge was foundering and the surviving crew tried desperately to swim and board the Jolly Roger.
Just as Anne turned the mast to Starboard, the hand of Davy Jones stopped the wheel. "No… Not the Jolly Roger."
"Sentimental, as always." Anne huffed.
"That ship belonged to both my sons. I will not have it sunken it to avoid a harder task. Get the men ready… we will board the Roger and take it back."
Anne smirked. "I sense our wager's about to come to an end, Commodore…"
Davy grinned. "Should you do this right and stop these bastards from further damaging the town… Aye, Commander Anne Bonny. I will personally release you, your crew… and every pirate and sailor's spirit. No tricks this time."
Anne gave him a quick nod. "Aye aye… Commodore Jones." She turned swiftly and shouted, holding on to the hammock netting that stemmed from the foremast to the main deck. "AYEEE YOU LOOOT! Boson, turn three and ninety degrees north-west! You five, deploy the Fore-top sail and Jib sails! We're making a sharp turn, you scurvy bastards! Let's use this great bloody wind and take over the Jolly Roger… and finish off Blackbeard's scourge so we can go home!"
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Blackbeard had been warned.
He skulked around town, cloaked in the shadows, contemplating in horror as his crew fell to the hands of what seemed to be invisible pirates.
"BAD FORM, JONES!" He hollered.
"You seem to talk more than you walk…" He turned to find the (former) Dark One standing before him. "You may be able to hide from most… but certainly not from me, Dearie."
"That was NOT in the agreement. Blackbeard shouted.
"You cannot say you went unwarned, Captain." Gold replied coldly. "I did tell you… The father of Killian Jones was bound to be a little bit sore after you killed his only living son."
"WHERE'S THE BLOODY WOMAN!?" He shouted back.
He felt three taps on his shoulder. He turned and was met with Emma's fist.
The man landed square on the floor. "Come on!" She panted vigorously with a grin. "Let's see you fight a woman and win, you sick son of a bitch…"
"The savior herself..:" Blackbeard smiled, standing as he wiped his lip from the blood Emma's knuckles had drawn. "Oh, you are a fine lass, like a Jib Figure of a siren on a vessel…"
"Poetic. But if it's me you're looking for, you're in for a little bit of a struggle." She smiled. "Let's see you try and fight me without magic, because trust me buddy, I can whip your ass easily with that. It's a fairer chance if we just fight it out."
He laughed aloud. "Despite my ill repute, I'm a gentleman: I don't hit women…" He reached for his blade. "But I've no qualms with piercing their hearts!"
Just as his cutlass shot straight towards Emma's heart, it was met by another sword.
"Don't you dare lay a finger on my wife…."
Blackbeard's eyes widened. "Wh… no… NO! I saw you! I saw you lie dead and I saw your body tossed into the waters to join your dear dad's locker! This cannot be!"
Killian laughed. "Aye well, you could say I've pulled some important family strings, mate…"
As they threw themselves into battle, Emma looked around her and saw how, little by little, each and every pirate that belonged to Teach's crew started to run for the harbor.
After a twenty minute battle, Killian had managed to tire the older, heavier Edward Teach. With a single flourish of his blade, he circled the wrist and hand of the pirate, cutting it off in a fell swoop.
As Blackbeard fell to his knees with a holler, Emma ran for the hand, sneering as she pulled the ring from the still shaking, twitching finger.
Killian held the tip of his blade to Blackbeard's neck. "Bad footing, mate. Never was your forte."
"FINISH IT!" Blackbeard sneered.
"Oh, I would love to, my friend… alas… Why would I deprive another of the pleasure?" He raised his eyes and saw Davy Jones at the end of the street, staring blankly at his son.
"K… Killian…." He gasped. "You live… My son, you live!"
Killian smirked. "We will have time for a happy reunion, da… once you take over this bloody scoundrel and get him the hell away from this town, its people and MY FAMILY!"
A sudden, bright and happy smile flashed though Davy's face. "My boy… It will be my pleasure…" He turned his gaze to Blackbeard. "I've been chasing your bones for far too long, Captain Teach. You've challenged me long enough and now… you face your demise, at last. Any last words?"
Killian would have loved to have his mobile with him to photograph the moment where Blackbeard looked every bit as scared as he truly felt. The man merely shook his head as he went from the Dark One, to Emma to Killian and back to Davy. "Cursed be the Jones family! You and your offspring and their offspring for generations to come…"
A sudden flash of white light stemming from Emma's heart suddenly shone around anyone who seemed to belong in that category. It seemed curses were rather powerful in magical lands. Emma grinned. "Nice try, Blackie. Hope you enjoy your stay in hell. I'm sure they have a perfectly heated replica of your cabin in a nice shade of red."
Davy Jones stepped forward to Teach, and like many other times before, he did that which the curse enabled him to do; He ripped out Teach's heart. The gasping pirate stared in shock horror as the ferryman of the seas stared at it. "Well, will you look at that: Black hearted… And I always thought the phrase was a cliché. I've met with pirates of all denominations and never have I encountered one with a heart as darkened by evil deeds than yours. What a vile addition to hell you shall make, Captain Blackbeard."
"Shall I become another in your collection then, Jones?'" Blackbeard snarled. "Get on with it, then!"
"Nay." He chuckled. "I will do you one better… I shall set you free. But your heart will remain hidden, never again shall you come back to fetch it or find it, for the day you even breath near my son or his family again, so help me, shall be the day you die… and I shall not make it an easy death, Captain, oh no. I may have relinquished my evil side for the path of light with my family, but I am still Davy Jones and you do not want to muddle with me. Just ask the remaining bilge rats that may have survived the onslaught by the docks. Now leave… And never set foot on the Jolly Roger again. That vessel now belongs to my son once more!"
"No…"
Everyone turned their heads to Killian as he softly spoke. "I sold the vessel for the price of one bean; it was my price, I set it and I've no reason to break my code of honor… The Jolly Roger is no longer mine; it is his, even if the buyer has ill-willed the use of her for the rest of her existence." He paced to Blackbeard and grabbed his face. "Take the Jolly and sail the fuck away from this town. We will hear everything you do though that nasty looking tarred-up muscle of yours and should I even begin to suspect you intend to lay a finger on my wife, her family or my children again… I won't be so lenient with my mercies, Teach." He shoved Blackbeard back and he fell to the ground.
Davy and Emma turned to look at him. "Son, are you sure?"
"Killian, your ship…" Emma asked him.
The man sighed, his gaze still fixed dourly into Blackbeard's. "I made a decision. I traded her fairly. Taking her by force from him now would be looting and that would make me as much of a pirate as he is, and if one thing can be said about this bloody bastard, is that he was right: I'm no longer a pirate. I haven't been for a very long time." He raised his eyes and the huge, cerulean orbs glimmered with nostalgia, gratitude, sadness and determination as he took one final look at the safely-set ship bobbing at the docks, in front to the flames that lit the remains of The Queen Anne's Revenge. "The Jolly Roger is a pirate ship. It belongs to a pirate." He looked back at Blackbeard. "Off with you. I know you still have means to cross back to the realm from whence you came. I never want to see your sorry face again… Captain."
Davy Jones nodded and turned his head back. "Captain Bonny!"
The ragged ghostlike image of the fierce pirate woman suddenly appeared before Davy Jones. "Aye, Commodore…"
"I've one final task for you: escort this pile of human excreta and be sure he boards the Jolly Roger."
"I though you'd keep the Roger in memory of your sons." She huffed.
"No need… One of them lives…"
"And then… I will be free?"
Davy Nodded and grinned. "I shall hold your debt to me fulfilled, lass. You may leave in peace once you see him depart."
She actually grinned at Davy. "Despite our rocky beginnings… It has been a pleasure sailing under your command… Commodore Jones."
"And you have been a fine asset, captain Bonny. Thank you for helping us." He tilted his head to Killian with a smile. "Perhaps, before you leave, you might finally parlay with Killian Jones after all."
The ghostly figure of the red-headed pirate girl shrugged and sneered. "You have an ill and wicked sense of amusement, Davy Jones. What bloody good is 'e to me now?" She looked at Killian. "Although I must say, Captain Jones, the stories bar wenches told over and over weren't lying… you cut quite a dashing figure indeed." She looked at Emma. "You must be proud, girlie… His bedside manner was the stuff of legend…"
Emma blushed insanely scarlet.
Normally Killian would have lifted his chin with a smug grin in complete approval of his handsomeness, but this time he simple replied with a rather timid nod, his eyes reflecting a mix of disgust and discomfort at being complemented by a ghost.
"One day you might cross my path again, Hook…" Blackbeard sneered as three ghosts took a hold of him, dragging him back to the ship. "And when you do…"
"Oh just shut up and go to your stupid boat!" Emma snapped.
Killian cleared his throat. "Darling? For the record, she's a ship… and she was mine for hundreds of years so… please show no disrespect for her…"
"Really?" She turned her head in a snap. "You're going to get all pissy with me because I called it a boat?"
"Her… her, not 'it', Swan, you wound me."
"She's no longer yours!" Emma barked.
"Aye, and why do you think that is, then?" He smirked at her.
She huffed. "Typical, throw it in my face, why don't you…" she pointed at the ship. "She's right there! Go on, run to your baby!"
"I only ask for a wee bit of respect, Emma."
"Yeah, especially in light of the fact that, as you said, it's a friggin' PIRATE SHIP! That's pretty respect- inspiring…"
He huffed. "You are being insufferable, woman. I just saved you from Blackbeard and …"
"Yeah, well, I saved you first."
"No you did not! Gold did it! Thanks by the way mate…" He turned halfway through the argument to Gold, who simply dismissed the gesture with a hand. He continued as he turned back to Emma. "… and that would not have been necessary at all if you hadn't instructed half the staff and all the medical facility to strap my arse down and sedate me like some bloody dragon at a village fair!"
"You couldn't even walk!" she heaved angrily. "In case you missed it, you got stabbed! By THAT guy!" she pointed at Blackbeard, now a distant little spot down the road. "You would have died halfway through the battle, Hook!"
"Ugh, we're back to 'Hook' are we, Savior?"
"Do you think I'm offended by that? I am the savior, why should you even…?"
They stopped and stared at each other.
Slowly, smiles began to appear on their faces and the began chuckling.
Emma shook her head and looked down before simply walking to her pirate and hugging him to herself. "I missed you… you stupid mouthy asshole."
He huffed and felt his arms wrap around her. "It's over Swan…" He pulled away from her and grinned. "Why are we even fighting, love?"
Emma chuckled. "Adrenaline…"
"What the bloody hell is that?"
She shook her head. "Tell Whale to explain that to you… after we wake up our daughter…" She sneered at the blood stained ring.
"Ah…" Mr. Gold grinned. "If you will allow me, I know the exact counter spell. Follow me."
After a brief kiss and grin, Emma followed Gold and Killian was a mere two steps behind when he felt a hand on his shoulder. "Killian…"
He turned to find his father, teary-eyed, inches away from him. Without warning, he threw his arms around him. "My son, I thought you dead."
It took Killian a few seconds before he felt his hands wrap around his father's back. "Aye mate… I suppose you're cursed again…"
Davy pulled away, smiling. "I shan't be for long. After Anne Bonny is released and she and all those who have sailed the Dutchman have finally fled to peace…"
"Or hell…" Killian interjected, walking after Gold and Emma with his dad by his side.
"Aye, there's that… after that is said and done, the Dark One shall once again free me."
Killian shook his head. "He did restore my hand again and healed me; apparently my little girl once again did her thing and cleaved him from the darkness of the dagger." He looked at his father. "Should we still be calling him Dark One?"
"What would you suggest, son?"
Killian shrugged. "I still think Crocodile suits him well…"
That brought a laugh out of Davy, who stopped and placed both hands on his shoulders. "I only wish your brother were here, Killian. He would be proud."
Killian actually swallowed a large lump before mustering up a meek smile. "Aye… I wish that too."
Emma's radio sounded with David's voice. "Emma, I think it's over. Are you ok? Come in, over…"
Emma turned back to Killian and smiled. "We're fine… better than fine. We won."
David heaved with relief. "Never doubted you for a second, sweetheart."
"Oi! Tell your father I had a hand… or two of them in it two!" Killian joked.
Emma laughed with a smile. "We're about to get Lilly back, Dad, meet us at the hospital?"
"Sure. Can we get your mom back now, though?"
"Hell yeah… I miss everyone."
They all gathered around the still little girl, her heart once again beating at a normal rate.
Gold walked to her and caressed her forehead. "What I do now, little girl, I do with the utmost pleasure and gratitude…" He placed the ring on his finger and ran his hand over her face, hovering a few inches above her nose. An eerie, silvery glow began to surround Lilly, before it exploded into a burst of light.
Emma and Hook stared at their daughter attentively.
The color slowly returned to her ashen little face and the plump little lips were once again granite red.
When she blinked her eyes open, a collective sigh of relief was heard as Emma and Killian simultaneously ran to her bead and hugged her, weeping, smiling… relieved and happy to have their little angel back.
Gold nodded. "She was ill for a few days. It might take her some time to recover, she may be a little bit weak for a while… But she'll make a full recovery."
Not one minute later, David, Regina, Robin and Belle were in the room.
A weakened "I love you mommy" put a smile of the faces of all that stood there.
Belle and Rumple exchanged stares. She held up the dagger. "I command you now to…"
"Belle…" Rumple smiled. "I don't need that anymore."
"What?"
"He is good now." Lilly exclaimed from her bed. Emma and Killian laughed.
"Aye… aye that he is…" He raised his face to Belle. "I may attest to that, milady. Who else might you trust better than a former mortal foe to tell you that this man saved the day? He saved me, he helped Emma defeat Blackbeard…" He looked back at his daughter, still cradled in her mother's arms. "My daughter cleaved him from the blackness of the dagger's hold. She's the healer in more ways than any of us dared believe." He paced to her. "I encourage you to have words with him."
Belle blinked a few tears as she lowered her gaze to the dagger.
There was no name on it. The days of the Dark One's curse were finished.
She once again looked at Rumple and chuckled through her tears. "It… really is true…"
He nodded back, his eyes also watering as he smiled at her. "It is… Belle. No more lies, Never again."
They embraced in a kiss that made everyone smile… Except Regina.
She never smiled at those things.
Davy Jones tapped Rumple on the shoulder. "I believe you still owe me a favor, though, mate…."
Rumple chuckled. "I do not. I never cursed you again, Commodore…"
Davy frowned. "What?"
"What just went on… went on because of the love you feel for your family. Like I said to you all… Love is a very, very powerful type of magic. You were able to not only summon the crew of your ship… but set them free. You are a free man, Commodore."
After Whale gave the girl a thorough examination, he figured she was only undergoing the effects of exhaustion and would be good to keep her only for the night for observation.
Killian and Emma stayed the night, curled up together on a couch that was definitely small to hold even one, and were delighted when, at the first light of dawn, Killian slowly woke to find Lilly silently sitting upright on her bed, oxygen catheter still placed around her nose, creating little pink figures and sparkly things with her hands as she sang to herself, 'So sailor sail swiffly. And turn back the sail…."
Killian would always be proud he taught her that shanty. He may no longer be a pirate, but he would always be a sailor and a Captain.
He grinned and gently nudged Emma. She moaned softly and also blinked in the direction her husband's eyes were staring, and both parents were content to secretly observe her playing with her skills, singing and humming before she finally caught on to the fact that she was being watched. She looked at them with stunned eyes and then gave them her classing wrinkle-nosed grin. "I wanna go home."
"Sounds like a plan…"
"I concur, darlings…"
