I do not own Once Upon a Time.
Killian's eyes flew open and the first thing he noticed was the abundance of fire. Not fire to hurt, but to scare. It wasn't hot but it certainly kept him in place. So, this was the Netherworld. He had to find Tara. How big was this world?
"Killian, what the bloody hell are you doing here?" Came a voice behind a wall of flames.
"Tara, I followed you here. I had Emma put me under a sleeping spell." He called back.
Then he heard a distant annoyed sigh. "Really, you can't even let me be a hero once?"
Hero? Her? Killian hadn't considered her that when they reunited. Times had certainty changed. "Stay there, I'm coming to you."
"Where exactly would I go?" She asked.
Killian studied his surroundings, there was small opening in the flames and figure behind it. His timing was perfect, his landing wasn't, however. Killian crashed into Tara, both of them fell to the floor.
"Sorry." He said quickly.
"Graceful. And you ride a dragon." Tara commented. She actually accepted his hand to help her stand up. "So, this is the Netherworld. It's not terrible."
"Not sure I would build a summer home here." Killian remarked. "So, you saved the King."
"Don't overthink it." She shrugged her shoulders.
"Don't overthink it? You refuse to apologize to the man, yet you saved his life."
"Maybe I saw him in a different light."
"What light?"
"You weren't in the room; you didn't hear him. He was willingly to eat a poisoned apple to save his wife and daughter." Now Tara had to choke back a sudden sob. "Emma begged him not to, but he said she was more important than his own life. Who does that?"
Killian touched her shoulder. "A good man. Not every man is our father."
The moment of niceness passed. "Why are you here? How did you even get here?" Tara asked.
"Enchanted spindle, it can cause a sleeping curse. And I am here to save you."
"Save me? How?"
"I don't know yet. I couldn't save you last time I want to be able to save you now." Suddenly, Killian's small mirror began to make noises. "It still works here. The ogres are attacking again."
"Good thing you are here with me."
"Good?"
"I'm stuck here, there would be no one to ride with. And you wouldn't get hurt, again. I can't have that."
"You care about me?"
"Of course, I care about you, you're my brother. I followed your career, both yours and Liam's. I was proud when you were named Riders and when you got married."
"I never stopping thinking about you. Even after your death. I still felt like I had a sister."
Tara gave him a small smile. "Now you really do. I'm stuck here because I made a choice. Riding a dragon is team effort."
"And we are a team?"
"Yes, we are. Thank you for coming after me, Killian." She reached out to touch his shoulder. A yellow burst of magic zapped between them.
Tara jumped back. "What the hell was that?"
"I don't know. Did it hurt?" Killian asked.
Then in front of them two large windows opened. One showed the war room.
"Emma's there, she left me alone." Killian commented.
"Pretty sure she left you in capable hands." Tara assured him.
The other window showed the stables and the rest of the Riders readying their dragons. Bashful watched, his eyes scanned the stables, as if looking for Killian.
The rest of the dragons took off, leaving Bashful alone. The dragon looked lost and abandoned.
"They can do this without me, they will be fine." Killian said, more to himself than Tara.
Then the lonely dragon seemed to lock eyes with Killian and Tara through the window. Something passed between them, a connection.
The dragon took off after the others and headed towards the battle.
"Do they usually do that?" Tara asked.
"No, the dragon needs to be guided, mind connected. My head doesn't feel like it's going to explode, so we aren't connected.
Tara was thoughtful for a moment then reached out to touch his ear. Another yellow zap.
"Bloody hell." He jumped back. "How old are you?"
"You think this has anything to do with it?"
He didn't answer right away but touched her elbow. Again, yellow zap. "When did we get magic?"
"Killian, it's helping the Riders, don't ask where it came from, just say thank you." Tara said.
They saw the battle scene, seven ogres this time. The Riders were just outnumbered.
But Bashful, unmanned, took the lead, breathing fire. There was something different about the flames, they were mixed with the same yellow magic that Killian and Tara unexpectedly possessed. The magic infused fire met the nearest ogre, and shrank it, until it was no larger than an ant. One of the other dragons took the opportunity and stepped on it.
The rest of the ogres saw this and instead of fighting back began to run and escape. But that wasn't possible. Bashful was too quick with the breathing and the other dragons were too quick with the stomping.
Both the war room and the Jones' siblings watched with confusion but also joy.
Then Bashful turned and flew in an unknown direction. Soon the Dark Castle appeared in the mirror. The dragon breathed fire as it circled the castle, making sure nothing was untouched.
"I think we won the war." Killian whispered.
"There's no way she could survive that." Tara breathed.
"The war is over."
They almost hugged but a loud chiming overhead stopped them.
"What is that?" Killian yelled, hands over his ears.
The siblings are good, they do love each other. And quite funny.
Okay, yes yes, you don't understand how any of this happened. It's fine because the sequel will explain everything. There is something else going on here.
Reviews please
