Chapter 30

Emma

"You're doing it, Swan," exclaimed Killian as he gazed at me in marvel.

I imagined the Army of Oz statue turning into a human with the stone melting away. I felt the smooth rock, which was once cold, change into cloth and warm skin beneath. I felt the man move, take a deep breath and then heard his breath move through his nose. Pleasantly surprised, I dropped my hand from him and reached for Killian's hand, who immediately took mine in his.

I watched the man go from grey stone to dark skin and brown eyes. He lifted his bright, kind eyes to me and then slowly to Killian, then back to me.

The man slowly smiled at me and said, "Well hello. Who might you be who has changed me back and given me life again?"

"Emma. This is Killian, my husband," I said kindly.

The man blinked in confusion and nodded once in greeting to Killian and said, "It is wonderful to meet you. Why are we in this war room?" He flicked his hand in the air.

Killian said, "Pleasure to meet you, Mate. We found ourselves in here when we were chased by some strange demon men on wheels."

He lifted his head slowly as if he knew what we were talking about. "Those are the Wheelers. They were the only ones who weren't turned to stone under Mombi's rise to power. Where are you two from?"

I replied, "Storybrooke. Well, the real world. Not the Enchanted Forest or any other realm like that."

Killian interjected, "We came here against our will by tornado. We haven't quite figured out how to get back home. And just what happened to you, Mate?"

The Tin Man said, "Princess Mombi, who stole the throne here in Oz. She turned me and everyone here in her city to stone, except the woman's heads."

"What?" I said. I squeezed Killian's hand, horrified. His hand wound around my waist.

The Tin Man nodded and lifted his brows as if attempting to believe his story himself. "She terrorized everyone here. After Zelena left Oz. Ozma was the new Princess of Oz, our kind ruler, until Mombi, the evil witch came here and took over. I don't know what she did to Ozma. But she started turning all of her court people, everyone that even worked for her, to stone. And stored the beautiful women's heads with magic inside the palace." He pointed to the wall where we had seen the girl in the mirror.

"Bloody hell. She's demonic. And deranged," said Killian.

I wrapped my arm around his hips and leaned against him as I watched the Tin Man.

The Tin Man nodded gravely. "She isn't one you would want to be in the same room with. When the people around me started turning to stone, I rushed to battle her. I am the Army of Oz after all. But she put me in here." He lifted his hands and looked around. "I don't know why. She forgot to turn me to stone. Princess Ozma turned me herself, she said that it would protect me and help would come one day.

But Princess Ozma, she was the one who first turned me from a Tin Man not long ago. A spell had made me turn to tin. Next thing I know, Princess Ozma was smiling at me and standing next to me. She had found me in the forest and said she would become my friend since my only friend had left me to turn to a tin man." He averted his eyes in disappointment and shook his head in dismay.

I traded a sullen look with Killian. I asked the Tin Man, "You haven't seen Ozma since?"

The Tin Man shook his head. "No. When Mombi came and cursed our Emerald City and took away all of the jewels and emeralds and sold them, she was able to take reign. She is vicious." He grimaced as if reliving horrendous memories. "She may have turned Ozma to stone, I don't know. Maybe we can find out." He glanced at the door and then back at me and Killian. "We must find her, help her."

Killian said, "We're looking for her. And we're on a mission from a fairy trapped in the bloody mirror." He waved his hand towards the mirror which had turned back to a hallow shelf in the bricks. "I believe she wanted us to change you back."

I wasn't certain if we should trust this Tin Man, but I had a gut feeling that he was on our side. "A fairy? Trapped in a mirror?" The Tin Man asked as his brow creased. "I don't remember any fairies here. But it sounds like the work of Mombi. She's a dark witch with dark powers. The Emerald City was beautiful." He strode to the door and peeked through the keyhole and shook his head slowly. "It used to be beautiful. Flowers and emeralds everywhere." He waved a glove cladded hand as if painting a picture of a horizon.

"Yeah, it's not like that anymore. It's ran down like ancient ruins," I replied. "Quite the fixer upper. She must not entertain very much."

Killian said, "We should leave before those bloody Wheelers return. If you wish to help us." Killian lifted his hand towards the Tin Man and dropped it and circled his arm around me again. I leaned into him.

The Tin Man lifted his hand and said, "I'd love to help you both leave and go home. I also want to find Ozma. I fear for her. I hope she isn't stone, or worse, one of Mombi's heads in her palace." He glanced at the wall then back at us.

"That's just disgusting," I replied, making a face like I may throw up. "She sounds morbid and sick in the head."

Killian asked him, "Are they dead girls? Or alive?"

"Oh, they're alive with her black magic alright," exclaimed the Tin Man. "She has a crazy obsession with girl's heads. Which is why I'm afraid for Ozma." He gazed worriedly at the brick door.

"Creepy much. And disturbing. A witch who likes to steal women's heads," I said, blinking my eyes, trying to process all this.

"This is exactly why I don't want you to face her, Love," said my husband as he tightened his arm around me. I flashed him a half smile.

"I don't exactly want to," I replied. "But it may happen. So, we're up against a psychotic dark witch. Wouldn't be the first time. So, is your name just the Army of Oz? Or the Tin Man?"

He smiled at me like he enjoyed my joke, "No. I'm Stanom."

I gave Stanom a warm smile and nodded once. "Well, Stanom. Any idea what Princess Mombi's weaknesses may be or how we can defeat her?" I held up the ruby key to show him in case it sparked an idea or familiarity.

Stanom eyed it like he didn't recognize it and shook his head. "Afraid not."

I said, "Well she is after me and knows my name." I slipped the key in my back pocket.

Stanom lifted his brows and pressed his lips together. He reached behind his back and lifted a silver axe as he looked down at it. He said, "If she is after you, Emma, it's not a good idea to stay hidden in here. She'll find you. Better to move against her. Maybe I can come in handy." He held the handle in a fist.

I replied, "Right. I'm sure she wants my head. If we defeat her, we save Oz." I stared at my husband with determination. This was my calling. This was why I was here.

Killian held my hand and squeezed it. "Perhaps we should slip out of here. We're cornered as it is." He led me to the brick door. "Problem is we have nowhere to run to." My husband faced me inquisitively. "Nothing we know of to stand against her."

I said quietly, "Standing up to her is our only option to stop her and when we do, it'll break her curse. I hope." I lifted my hand to indicate the stone statues outside. "We don't even know where the portal home is."

Killian frowned pensively and then replied, "If only there was a way to wield your magic to create a portal. I don't fancy you fighting Mombi, as I've said, Love. I can't lose you. Our baby can't lose you. Nor Henry." He brushed his fingers under my chin and then stroked my cheek tenderly. He softly kissed me and whispered, "She'll take your head if she can, I reckon."

I smiled wistfully and kissed him gently. "I have to. But we'll do this together."

He nodded briskly. "Aye. You have me to protect you."

Killian slid his hand slowly down my arm and caught my hand in his and held it. "Don't say it like it's a possible goodbye." His eyes held trepidation in them as he gazed back at me in a longing way.

I tilted my head to the side and gazed into his gorgeous eyes. I sighed, feeling overcome with deep emotion, knowing I could easily lose him too. I slid my hands up to his shoulders and held them.

I whispered, "I'm saying it because I do love you. In case you are still concerned about us." I shook my head reassuringly and smiled sweetly up at him. He returned the smirk contently.

I shook my head, "No more drifting. We're close as we've ever been." I raised my brows to reassure him that I was certain about my words.

He sighed blissfully and murmured, "I love you more than my life itself. More than anything." He stared at me like we were saying goodbye. In a way, I was saying all this now in case we didn't make it through this. I didn't want him to be left uncertain about where we stood together in our relationship.

I whispered, "I'm fully in this marriage." I gazed deep in his eyes as his mouth curved into a wider smile. I ran my fingers over the side of his face and stood up tall to give him one more tender kiss on his lips and then made my way to the door. Killian hurried to walk before me.

Stanom followed us as he said, "Thank you for changing me back. I owe you my aide."

I gave Stanom a nod of acceptance.

Killian peered through the keyhole before he carefully and slowly opened the door. He said under his breath, "Coast is clear. I'm certain Mombi's men are watching."

I pondered the alternative to going up against Mombi. I whispered to our new friend, "Do you happen to know a way out of Oz? Or somewhere else we can retreat?"

Stanom made a negative tsk in way of apology. "I'm sorry, I don't. Only place to retreat is the mountains past the Deadly Desert. But those mountains, they are full of dark magic too. I wouldn't go there if you can avoid it."

I rolled my eyes. "No thanks. I don't feel like crossing the desert."

We made our way down the stone corridor that led to the daylight.

I whispered, "Where is the entrance to the palace?" I side-glanced at Stanom.

He pointed his finger to the right. "The main stone doors by the two gargoyle statues that are above the main entrance that look like monkeys with wings. You guys really want to go in there now?"

Killian exhaled, "Not particularly but my wife feels strong and bulletproof."

"She's your wife?" Stanom mused as we all creeped towards the exit of the corridor. "Just exactly who are you folks anyway?"

"I'm Captain Hook," said Killian just above a faint whisper. "My wife is Emma Swan-Jones." He slid his hand on my waist.

"Emma Swan?" repeated Stanom, as he stopped dead in his tracks.

"Jones," I added with a smirk.

"I've heard of you." Stanom nodded once in reverence to me. He ticked his eyes between us in wonder as if seeing us for the first time. He gazed at me with parted lips.

"Yeah. We're both famous," I said with a bat of my hand. I squeezed Killian's hand in reassurance. I added proudly, "I'm the Savior. Another reason I feel it's my duty to help all of you." I stared back at Stanom with compassion. He seemed sullen.

Killian said under his breath, "I hear none of the Wheelers. I still wouldn't drop our guard."

We crept to the end where the opening to the vacant courtyard was. I looked up to my right at the two gargoyles. They had fangs and monkey heads with serpent limbs that wrapped all around their wings.

"Really?" I sighed when I stared at the monkeys in despair.

"Perhaps one of those is your ex, Love," said Killian as he rose his hand with mine in it.

I wrinkled my nose and stared at them carefully. "Could be," I whispered.

The gargoyles' eyes were moving as if watching the courtyard. "Except they are watching us," I replied. I felt like my blood had gone cold.

Killian said, "On the count of three, we run to the doors." He lifted his chin to indicate the entrance to the palace.

I heard the unnerving squealing of laughter and at least two sets of squeaky wheels. "Three, go!" I hissed.

"Bloody hell, the demons are back," Killian said as we rushed across the rubble and statues of people and up the flight of stone steps. At the top landing, we were greeted by double doors that had no handles. I ran my fingers of my free hand over the keyhole.

Kilian sighed. "Bloody hell." He whispered, "One of the monkey's just turned to life, Swan. Hurry."

I looked over my shoulder at a creepy monkey, yet familiar, with red eyes, gazing at us.

My breath caught in my lungs. "That's all we need," I said with a roll of my eyes.

Stanom swing his axe with a grunt at the winged monkey, who screeched at him. I narrowed my eyes and dropped my husband's hand and swiftly held up my palms as Stanom and the monkey tried to attack one another. Stanom swung at the monkey again, but the living gargoyle took flight and flew straight at Stanom and knocked him backwards on his back. I could see four Wheelers at the bottom of the steps, cackling evil inhumanly I gasped as I realized they were climbing the steps that led to us.

Killian grabbed the monkey off of Stanom and threw him down hard onto the steps and swung a fist into the monkey's face. The gargoyle let out an ear-piercing screech and showed his teeth at Killian and flew in the air, then swooped down to dive towards Killian.

"No!" I exclaimed, as I shoved my magic at the monkey to slam him down onto the steps. He flew downward and rolled a few steps and then hopped up again, glowering at me menacingly with his lips pulled back into a sneer, teeth showing.

I looked down at Stanom who scrambled to his feet and picked up his axe. By now, the Wheelers were creeping up the steps, only about four away from us. Killian held open his hand for me.

Killian asked, "Where's your key, Swan?"

I fished it out of my pocket quickly and handed it to him, just as the winged monkey screeched in my ear and pushed me backwards, landing on me. I screamed, and heard Killian shout, "Emma!"

The monkey's hands were holding me down. His strength was enough to keep me on my back as he laid on top of me. Its eyes were full of ambition to harm me.

"Let me go! I'm warning you; I have nothing against you but if you don't get off me, I'm going to hurt you," I said as I lifted my palms to use my power to shove him back and hopefully send him flying backwards to hurt him.

The monkey smiled at me and pushed my wrists down so I couldn't use my power to get him off of me. Its black leather-like hands squeezed my wrists and he lifted upward to take flight. I moved my legs up with my feet upward, trying to kick him off.

"No!" Killian hollered.

The monkey screeched in my ear and flapped his wings to fly upward. He lifted me above the ground, which left me feeling out of control. I kicked and grunted. I lifted my knee sharply and kicked it in the stomach twice. It screeched and shrieked in pain. It let go of me and I slammed backwards, my head hitting the concrete enough to stun me. The hard pressure of the cement contact left a painful impact that burst through my skull and head. It had knocked the wind out of me too. Behind me, I could see Stanom swinging his axe against each of the wheeled me. Killian was being cornered by two of them as well.

My head throbbed in pain so badly that I moaned and tried to lift my hands to shove the Wheelers away from my husband and Stanom, but I felt weak since my head felt like it was split open. It was the worst headache I had ever had. I whimpered as I struggled to get up but the aching pain in my head was too much. I lifted my hand to cover my face, since the monkey was climbing on me.

I tried something I hadn't done in a long time. I looked up at the monkey who was grinning maliciously down at me, knowing that it had me injured, but its eyes softened as it looked at my head and then into my eyes.

I said to him, "Please don't kill me." I winced in pain. "Or my friends." I lifted my hands again to shove the monkey off, but my hands were shaking. The pain in my head made me dizzy. I hadn't realized how hard the back of my head had smacked onto the concrete. I didn't realize how high the monkey had lifted me in the air. I gasped and sighed, unable to get the monkey off of me as I pushed my hands upward to channel my magic to shove him.

"Emma, no! Get off of her!" yelled Killian.

I reached up to push the monkey with my hands on his shoulders, but he was already climbing off of me, as if realizing who I was. His spiteful smile faded, and he stood and watched me as if stunned by wonder.

In confusion, I took the weakness from him and said, "Please help us." I looked back at Killian who was in mid kick at one of the men, but two more circled him against the door.

He said, "Emma! Key doesn't bloody work!" His voice was in a panic.

Stanom swung his axe against another Wheeler, but another crushed him down onto the steps. He grunted. Killian drove his fist into one of the men, but it swung and hit him with one of his wheels, guffawing as he did so.

My pounding head made it difficult to sit up.

The monkey reached for my hand which shocked me, but it slowly sat up and took it as a good sign. It stared at me like it was worried about me. I felt another flood of pain and hissed and reached at the back of my head and said, "Owe," as I looked over to see where my husband was. He held one of the men's shoulders and pushed him backward, which sent him spiraling into a group of other wheelers.

Killian's eyes met mine. He tried to make his way to me, but a wheeler stopped him and rammed his wheel into Killian's chest. He staggered back against the double doors.

"Killian," I said with dread.

I looked back at the monkey pleadingly. The last straw was me begging. "Please help us out of this. Don't let them die." I glanced at Killian and Stanom. "We just want to get home and thought that Mombi may have answers."

The monkey gently took my arm and tilted his head to the side as if studying me and finding me pleasant. He led me to the crowd of wheelers and shrieked at them as if in command, loud enough to stop them in their tracks with bleak glances at the monkey, but they still obeyed him. The wheelers moved backwards away from Killian and Stanom. I realized with relief that they were both alive and not bleeding.

Killian furrowed his brow at me and the monkey, who led me to the door. The money waved his other long fingers at Killian and Stanom and gestured towards the entrance. The monkey looked up into my eyes and waved a hand at the doors and they moved with a loud rumbling noise.

Killian hurried towards me and took my hand. "Emma, are you all right?" His hand gingerly touched my hair and the side of my face, his face creased with worry as his eyes ran all over me. He glared at the monkey.

"I'll live. I think he's helping us," I replied as I allowed the monkey take us inside the palace, which now was exposed now that the doors were opened. The floor was shining gold, but no emerald. It looked elaborate and beautifully polished. The monkey led me in, followed by my husband and Stanom. The monkey still held my elbow, so I lightly shook his hold off. It looked at me, puzzled.

I said to the monkey, "I got it. I'm good." I reached back to touch the back of my head lightly. IT was tender. I looked down at my palm, but there was no blood.

The monkey's brows sunk low, and its eyes seemed soft and warm as it looked me over. He appeared concerned for me.

Killian rolled his eyes and looked around the palace. "You have a thing with monkeys, Love?"

I looked at Killian and rolled my eyes.

The monkey scramble-walked ahead towards another set of golden doors and smiled in a gruesome way.

Killian said, "I think he wants us to go in there. I wager that's where Mombi is." Killian came right beside me and slipped his arm around my waist.

Stanom was behind us. He said, "It's the royal palace."

I noticed the monkey was still staring at me, nearly expectantly.

"Um, thanks?" I told the monkey. "For not killing me but hurting my head." I gently reached back to touch the sore spot again, which was my entire back of my head and winced when I realized how tender it was.

Killian carefully reached to hold the side of my face with love in his eyes and fear in his frown. He grimaced and cut a dirty look at the monkey. "You injured her. You don't deserve a bloody thank you." Killian's hand slowly moved down my shoulder and then protectively on the small of my back.

"This monkey is stronger than he looks, I'll give him that," I said as I watched the monkey blink at me, as if entranced by me.

"I think he fancies you, Swan," said Killian as he rolled his eyes and his entire head and looked upward and then studied the ceiling for a moment and then back down at me.

I said to the monkey, "I guess I'm not sure if you're helping me or hurting me further by bringing us to her." I shot a meaningful look at the golden, shining doors, which were still closed, and then ticked my gaze back at the monkey.

All of a sudden, the monkey's face stretched and started to change color. His body gradually grew in shape, and his face transformed into light skin. His body morphed from monkey to human, a man that I knew all too well, or at least I thought I had once.

I gasped with shock that he was here in this twisted Oz. The fact that he was against me, and had not only hurt me but nearly whisked me away was frightening than all of this eerie darkness so far.

He was staring at me with guarded yet adoring eyes. His monkey and wing features were gone, and now he wore a dark green velvet suit that reminded me of a uniform with a high collar and emblem on the left side of the chest with a winged monkey in it inside of the word O and Z all weaved together in a fancy crest. His place was something important and official. He still had the same haircut and the same dark eyes.

I tensed up and squeezed my husband's hand. He wound a possessive, protective arm around my shoulders.

Killian sighed sharply, "Ah bloody hell."

I opened my mouth to speak, overwhelmed at the different emotions that stirred up in me. My first thought was that this monkey was a human man, and he had started to whisk me away outside, but stopped as he waited for my reaction. I had detected that he cared about me, but my second thought was that he hadn't exactly helped us escape either. Only from the wheelers.

Stanom interjected, "You guys know this monkey?"

Stanom was right, I knew who this monkey, no man, was. I had a gut feeling who it was right when the monkey was on top of me, searching my eyes after he whacked my head on the ground.

The monkey man smiled thinly at me and nodded once. "Hi, Emma. Didn't think I'd see you again," he said rather delightfully, mixed with pleasant surprise and a dash of pride.

I swallowed the knot in my throat as I stared back at my ex-boyfriend. I was frozen with disbelief.

"Walsh," I said in awe, realizing that this situation with him could go either way. His intensions might be harmful and not helpful, and given our past, I was willing to bet he was not on my side, just like when I last saw him.

Playlist Chapter 29 & 30 ~ (these songs help me write these chapters and are like a soudntrack)

Brand New Day – Forty Foot Echo

Under Your Scars – Gobsmack

Sorry - Buckcherry

Here By Me – 3 Doors Down

Birds and Ships – Billy Bragg, Wilco, Feat. Natalie Merchant

Zombie – Bad Wolves

Through Glass – Stonesour

Black Cat Bone - Laika

Dos It Really Matter – Theory of a Deadman

When Love and Hate Collide – Def Leppard

Ghosts – James Vincent McMorrow

I Know You – Skylar Grey