A/N: Hi Everyone! I hope you're doing well. I just wanted to take a quick moment to say thank you to all of you who read and responded to my last chapter. You guys make my day and help motivate me to finish this story. I hope you like the chapter. Afterwards, I would love it if you left me a review. I want this story to be the best it can possibly be, so any comments, suggestions, or encouragement are welcomed. Don't forget to favorite and/or follow this story if you haven't already. Well, enough about me, now onto our feature presentation—Chapter Four!
Disclaimer: If I owned anything from OUAT, I would have a royal ball every night and Killian Jones would teach me how to waltz ;-)
Chapter 4
The Enchanted Forest: Hundreds of Years Ago
The stars sparkle like diamonds above the waters as salty air permeates the village. The soft hum of the ocean's waves echoes in Milah's ears as she stares out across the horizon. The whole world waits for her, inviting her to explore its endless depths.
In the few years since Killian Jones walked into her life, he constantly sweeps her off her feet. Since the moment she stepped aboard his ship, together, the couple continue to explore strange new lands, plunder the royal navy's greatest ships, and enjoy more adventures than most people could dream of having in their lifetime.
This is the life she always wanted. Though her heart still aches at the thought of leaving her son, she knows that she couldn't stay in her home and live the life of a beggar, the wife of the village coward. In her heart, she knows she made the right decision. The sea is her home and her heart forever belongs to Killian Jones.
As the sea billows beat against the Jolly Roger's sides, Milah spies her captain returning from his night with the crew at the tavern. With their recent defeat of another notorious pirate, Blackbeard, Milah encourages Killian's desire to go and enjoy an evening drinking and spending time with his shipmates. Though she missed him, Killian's promise that they would crack open a bottle of rum together upon his return comforts her. When she hops down from the ship's wheel, Milah finds that the look on Killian's face is not one of elation or excitement. Rather, he fills his features with worry.
"Swab the decks, gentlemen," he orders his crew. "When you're done, you can start loading the supplies onto the ship."
"Captain?" she questions."What's wrong?"
"I need to speak with you alone in my quarters, now."
Anxiety builds up in Milah's chest. She knows that something is wrong, but what? Had Killian lost their gold? Had he lost the Jolly Roger in a game of cards? Though it would be difficult, Milah knows that they could easily get another ship, and there were several nearby islands they could plunder if they needed money.
Trusting her Captain, Milah obediently proceeds down below to their sleeping quarters. She paces around the room until her pirate finally appears and latches the door shut. The knots in her stomach grow.
"What's wrong, Killian?"
"My love, do you know the islands where all of my treasures are buried?"
"Yes," she answers. "Of course."
"And you know the only ports where I select the members of the crew?"
"Killian—why are you asking me this?"
"I need to know!" he shouts.
Something is terribly wrong, and Milah knows it. This is one of the rare occasions Killian ever has had an outburst toward her. Her heart begins to beat faster by the second.
"Yes—you told me a couple of months ago," she says as she cups his face. "Killian—please tell me what's wrong. Whatever it is, we can work it out."
Against her palm, Milah feels Killian's heart rate soaring. Sweat trickles down his face as he takes shallow breaths. She witnesses her love in this terrible state for the first time and it frightens her.
"I—I don't know if we can, love," he moans.
Milah presses a reassuring kiss onto the pirate's salty and rum-stained lips. Against them, the female pirate feels a thousand different emotions. They are not the sweet, gentle, or even passionate sensations now accustom to her. Instead, Killian's kiss conveys anger, agonizing fear, and pain. Milah then releases her hold and she holds her head against his.
"Tell me," she pleads in her whisper.
"It's—it's the Dark One," Killian confesses.
"Rumple?" Milah questions, as her eyes widen. "What about him?"
"I ran into him as I was leaving the tavern and returning to the ship. He stopped me and says he wants to finish our duel, the one he failed to begin when he came after you."
"Does he know about us?"
"I told him you were dead, to keep you safe. But he told me that I must return at dawn and face him."
"And you will defeat him," Milah says reassuringly.
"He's the Dark One, love. Taking down the Crocodile will not be easy."
Milah finally understands why Killian worries. Though he attempts to hide it, his fear of not surviving the duel rises to the surface. With Killian dead, he will therefore, no longer be captain. Milah understands that her love won't get the chance to take her to the countless more places they planned to sail for. He won't even get to see tomorrow's sunset and all of its brilliant colors.
"Let me come with you," she pleads. "We can take him together."
"No!" Killian responds. "I will not allow that."
"I'm the best sword fighter of the crew, second to yourself. You'll benefit from my assistance."
"I said no, Milah!"
"Why not?! Are you afraid of looking weak? I thought we—"
"I'm afraid of losing you!" Killian shouts before he sighs. "I—I can't lose you. You mean everything to me, Milah. If something were to happen to you—I—I could never forgive myself."
"Killian," Milah whispers as she wraps her arms around his neck. "You don't have to worry. Nothing is going to happen. But if it will make you feel better, I will do as you have asked and stay here with the crew. After you win the duel, we'll sail to that island where all of the jellyfish like to glow at midnight."
"I know we will," he answers. "But—if something does go wrong, I'm leaving the ship and the crew to you. Even though they don't act like it, they will listen to you and respect you as captain."
"Stop talking like that!" Milah tells him. "You are not going to die."
They both fall silent as Milah sees her Captain fighting to hold back tears. Killian's hopes crumble by the second. He truly believes the Dark One will end his life and destroy his chance with Milah at a happy ending.
"Killian," she finally utters, smashing the silence. "I can't say for certain what will happen at dawn, but I am confident that you will return to me. Though, this instance does bring up an important thing we've never discussed."
"And what would that be?"
"What happens if we lose each other," she replies, staring deep into his soul.
The pirate shakes his head, "Milah, you can rest assured that I will do everything in my power to make sure that never happens."
"I know you will," she smiles as she gazes into his captivating sapphires. "But promise me something, Killian."
"Name it."
"If something ever happens and I die, promise me that you will love again. I can't bear the thought of you living your life alone and having a life full of pain."
"I won't be alone," Killian answers, nearly scoffing at Milah's absurd plea. "I will always have you by my side."
"Please promise me, Killian."
The young Captain stares into his lover's eyes, and sees the genuine concern buried deep within them. Never in his life has he known a woman so magnificent and beautiful. All he wants is to live out the rest of his days by Milah's side.
Though he remains practical and cautious, it pains Killian to have to worry Milah. He can't bear the thought of making her unhappy. After taking a moment to pause, the pirate surrenders to his lady's request.
"Alright love—I promise."
The clanging of beer glasses and cheers erupt across the room. It is a cruel joke for Hook, knowing that the beginning of the end of his life with Milah started in a tavern. He's already swallowed three whole glasses, but nothing dulls the pain. The only slight satisfaction he feels is when he imagines killing Rumplestiltskin in cold blood. Each time, the screams become louder and he buries his hook further into the demon's chest.
But before he can enact his revenge, the demon told him that he must kill someone else.
"He's an old wizard, trapped in a tree," his companion explains. "Though he's encase in magic, he is the one person who prevents you from avenging your Milah. After you crush his heart, there will be no one who can stop you."
"And what is the lad's name?" Hook asks.
"Merlin."
Since their conversation earlier, Hook dropped into the tavern of a local village to gather information on the whereabouts of the tree. He doesn't quite know where he is, but the darkness showed him the way to the village after he finally decided to embark on his quest for revenge. Though he seeks information, only the barmaid gives him an ounce of her time.
"No one seems to know where this tree is," Hook impatiently tells his constant companion, sitting across from him.
"No one knows? Well surely they will be more chatty if you rip their hearts out."
"No," the Dark One sighs, clinging to what remains of his humanity. "I'm sure I can reason with them."
"You must learn Captain—to get what you want, there can be no delays. People must either help you or suffer the consequences."
Though he questions the demon's intent, Hook grows more impatient. After waiting hundreds of years to get his revenge and now that he has the means to do so, he refuses to squander another moment of his precious time. With new resolve, Hook turns to find an old nobleman sauntering past him.
"You!" he calls out, which causes the nobleman to face him.
"Can I help you, sir?"
"Indeed," the Dark one answers. "I'm looking for a magical tree, one that an old sorcerer is supposedly trapped inside of. Do you know where it might be?"
"I'm sorry, but no," the man replies. The look that the pirate spies on his features is the same one he always found to be upon the faces of those who disrespected him in his younger days.
When the man turns to leave, Hook shouts, "I'm not finished with you!"
By now, he captures the entire tavern's attention. In an instant, Hook, with his magic, forces the man to kneel at his feet. Several screams erupt as tables overturn and glasses shatter against the floor.
The commotion provokes the crowd to race for the exits. "If anyone leaves, he dies!" Hook shouts, stopping the patrons in their tracks. "Now, I want the answer to my question. If I don't get my answer, it's very simple."
The Dark One proceeds to shoot daggers into the nobleman's soul. "I start by ripping your heart out, then I rip everyone else's hearts out, and then I will burn every single inch of this village. So, if you want to make it home tonight, you better start talking."
The sensation that pulses through Hook's veins is like nothing he ever felt before. It is gratifying, and eases the pain of every moment Hook ever felt powerless. It pleases every inch of his body, satisfying the emptiness in his heart. The voices in his head start to leave, one by one. He controls and commands every single patron's attention. As he watches the fear grow on the nobleman's countenance, the Dark One entertains the idea that maybe the darkness isn't so bad after all.
"I—I—I swear," the nobleman stutters. "I have no idea where this magical tree is."
"Well, you may not," Hook whispers, touching the nobleman's flushed features. "But there is probably someone in this tavern who does."
A roar of screams erupt as Hook reaches in and yanks the heart out of the nobleman's chest. Their pitiful cries meet the Dark One's malicious laughter.
"Please!" A young woman wails, pushing through the crowd and falling before his feet. "Don't kill him! He's my father and the only family I have left."
This new and interesting twist intrigues Hook. "Well, you heard the lass, mates!" he chuckles like a demon. "I tell you what. If one of you tells me where to find the tree, then I will set this man free!"
The crowd falls silent and the Dark One becomes increasingly impatient. He paces back in forth as the nobleman holds his chest and wheezes. To provoke and instill fear into their heads, the pirate squeezes the heart in his fingers tighter.
"Stop!" another man finally yells. "I will tell you where your tree is. Just let him go."
"No, no, no, no, no!" Hook smirks. "Let's make one thing crystal clear." When he gets into the face of the man, he roars, "I make the demands and you follow them! Now, I will release your friend when you tell me where it is. If you don't or you lie to me—I'll crush your heart next."
"Fine!" the villager says, shaking. "The tree is found near the kingdom of Camelot. It is in a secluded field, surrounded by middlemist flowers. Now, please let him go and be on your way."
The villager seems to tell the truth, propelling the Dark One to nod. Yet, he decides his amusing game must continue. Just as he readies himself to enact his vengeance on the villagers, the faint and haunting voice returns.
Hook! Please don't do this.
Not knowing her voice tortures him. He knows she is not in the crowd of patrons, but he still cannot put her voice to a face. Who in the world is this woman that keeps calling him back to the light? If she abandoned him at the top of a beanstalk, why was her voice like a breath of fresh air? Why did she matter to him? He never loved another woman besides Milah that he can remember. No matter how many times Hook tells himself that she is a figment of his imagination, the voice remains.
Nevertheless, whoever she is, she wronged him. She doesn't care about him or his precious revenge. All she wants is to take away the power he now possesses. She wishes to overpower him and make him weak again, just like every other person he ever knew. The taste of darkness is so sweet, Hook craves more of it. As he stares at the girl frozen on the ground, the pirate gives a wink and smiles.
When her screams soar through the air, the sand of a crushed heart escapes the crevices of his fingers.
"Killian!" Emma screams, jolting awake. She cannot explain it, but a certain sensation vibrates through her body. Something is wrong, and she knows it. It is as if Emma hears the cries of terror and mounting pain. The nightmare leaves Emma catching her breath.
"Mom?!" Henry calls. Emma hears footsteps racing up the stairs and moments later, finds her son by her bedside. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," she pants, doing her best to ease her son's worry. "I guess so. I—I just have this really weird feeling."
"Can you tell me what it is?" Henry asks, situating himself at the foot of Emma's bed.
"Well, um—I thought in my dream, just now, I heard people screaming."
"Was it anyone you knew?" Henry questions. "Were you in Storybrooke?"
"No, I—I don't think so. Honestly, I didn't see anything. It was unlike any nightmare I've ever experienced. I just—I just heard voices and felt something."
"Well, that's strange," Henry notes, concern growing on his features.
"Yeah, maybe it's because I've been really tired," the Savior reassures her son. "You don't need to worry. I'm fine."
Emma's insides burn and it takes all of her willpower to conceal it from Henry. She decides not to tell him that the pain she feels resembles the sensation she endured when she attacked the darkness to save the Apprentice. To her, it only means one thing. The darkness wins a great battle, and Killian fades further away from her.
Time is of the essence. Every moment Emma, her family, and friends waste, Killian gets one step closer to finding Merlin and killing him. His grasp on the world dwindles, and the Savior fears that she will be too late to save the man behind the beast. With her anxiety climbing, Emma decides there is no hope of returning to her peaceful oblivion. She rises from the bed and saunters over to the dresser to lace up her boots.
When she finishes throwing Killian's jacket back on, Emma returns to the bed and collects the wand and dagger resting on the side table. Every attempt to power the wand proceeds to fail, and Emma remains unable to decipher the meaning of the Apprentice's final words. Though she's been fighting to stay focused and awake, the Savior thankfully got a little bit of rest after her mother finally managed to coax her into taking a nap.
"Have you heard from Regina or Belle?" Emma asks Henry.
Since they gathered at the library that morning, everyone spread out in different directions. Belle returned to her shop to care for Gold, Regina continues to work in her vault to find or create a portal to the Enchanted Forest, David and Mary Margaret stayed to research more about Merlin at the library, and Henry stayed at the loft to study the story book for any clues that the Apprentice might have left behind. Now, it is Emma's mission to power the wand.
"Yes," the Author replies. "Mom says she is about to take a break to go and visit Zelena."
"Okay," Emma nods before kissing his forehead. "I'm off to start the wand. See you later, kid."
"Okay, Mom. I'll call you if I find anything."
"Thanks, Henry."
As Emma heads out the door and down the street, the pressure mounts in her chest. The dagger in her hand weighs like a steel ton. Guilt and helplessness flood her soul. She knows in her gut that something terrible happened to Killian, and she couldn't stop it. More than anything, she just wants to be with him and help him fight the darkness.
During her brief breaks from reading last night, Emma tried to start the wand. She repeated every known magical saying she remembers and even tried tying her emotion into her magic like Gold taught her. But so far, her efforts prove fruitless. Now, there is only one place she knows that may hold the key to reaching her pirate.
For a man with an unspeakable amount of power, the Apprentice seems to have lived a quiet life in Storybrooke. His house stands situated on the edge of town at the corner of a neighborhood street. Unlike the Sorcerer's mansion, which is vast and elegant, the Apprentice's house lies in tatters. While its exterior is nothing to boast about, Emma hopes that she might find her answers inside.
As she ambles through the unlocked door, she becomes surprised by what is before her. Unlike Gold's shop, filled with a hodgepodge of magical objects, the Apprentice's living space looks quite simple. A couch with a coffee table greets the Savior near the entrance and the kitchen lies tucked in the back corner. Though there are probably a couple of rooms in the back, it is still a tight and confined space, too claustrophobic for Emma.
It saddens her that she finds no personal effects, photographs, or decorations sprawled out across the space. To Emma, it signifies that though the Apprentice was powerful, he lived a very lonely life. Though she discovers no obvious clues of magic being present in the house, the Savior remains undeterred. As a bail bondsperson, she trained herself to sniff out the hidden secrets and find people who do not want to be found.
Searching the house, Emma tears apart every nook and cranny. Perhaps, the Apprentice kept all of his magic hidden to protect it from prying eyes. She slaps the walls and removes every book from the bookshelf to search for a secret compartment or hidden chamber. When her idea fails, the Savior skims the collection of books to find they are nothing that helps.
When Emma tosses the last book over her shoulder, the alarms in her head go off. She hears the front door open, and knows she is no longer alone. With no one calling out her name and the sound pattern of the footsteps suggesting that it is not Henry, the sheriff springs into defensive mode. Paranoid, she silently places the dagger in her pocket and retrieves her pistol. Her pulse climbs as she cowers behind a corner in the hallway. When the footsteps increase, Emma draws her gun.
"Freeze!" she shouts. Instantly her worry and paranoia subside as Emma stares at the person before her. "Lily?"
"Geez, Emma! Were you really going to shoot me?! Your oldest friend?" Lily questions. "You better not. If you do, just remember that my mother will probably come after you and burn you to a crisp. And we both know that wouldn't be pretty."
"Sorry, it's a habit of mine," Emma apologizes, lowering her weapon and returning it to its holder. "What are you doing here?"
"I meant what I said, last night, Emma," she replies. "I'm here for answers. I want to know who my father is."
"Right—I forgot about that,"
"Well, I could say you've looked better," Lily remarks.
"A lot happened since we talked."
"Care to give me all the juicy details?" she asks, only to find Emma flash a scowl. "I guess not, then?"
"Nope."
"Emma, come on. I know we've had our differences. But can we at least act like we were once friends?"
"I—I'm sorry. It's just—a lot's happened."
"Yeah, of course that's your excuse." Lily exclaims, rolling her eyes. "You know, Emma, I may not be your best friend anymore, but I know you, perhaps even better than you know yourself. You always shut people out. I know you grew up in the system, and that stinks. But at some point, you've got to realize that not every person you meet will drop you and abandon you like your foster parents did. If you don't watch yourself, you're going to end up all alone."
"Can we please not talk about this right now?" Emma asks. "I've got a thousand other things I need to do."
Emma grows more annoyed by the second. While she does want Lily to find her answers, she's not ready to juggle one more problem. Being the Savior everyday challenges her enough. Now, she must save Killian, free Merlin, and protect Storybrooke from the powerful darkness that threatens to destroy the realms. Everytime she checks her schedule, Emma doesn't find where confronting her personal attachment issues fits in.
"Right," Lily nods, clearly disappointed. "It's not my problem if you ruin your life. Anyway—Sheriff, I'm not stealing anything so don't even try to arrest me."
"That's not why I'm here."
"Then why are you here?" Maleficent's daughter asks. "To keep a watch on me?"
"I'm looking for some magic," Emma answers.
"I thought you were the Savior and had magic."
"Apparently, not the kind that will power this," she replies, holding up the Apprentice's wand.
"Gee, nice wand. I never knew you were a Harry Potter fan."
"Very funny," Emma says, sarcastically.
"Where did you get it?"
"From here, or at least, the Apprentice. But so far, it's been useless."
"Mind if I take a look? Maybe, it could work for the both of us. With it, you get whatever you want, and I find my father."
For a millisecond, Emma contemplates whether or not to hand over the wand. She knows that she and Lily have their fair share of differences, but the Savior realizes that she meant what she said last night. Even though she occupies her time with rescuing Killian at the moment, she truly wants to mend their broken bridge.
Though she hesitates to admit it, Lily strikes a deep chord. Emma does push people away. She does shut people out. Anytime someone gets too close, Emma feels butterflies churn in her stomach and her walls shoot straight up. Only Henry manages to always find a way over those walls, and Killian always just breaks them down.
Despite her reservations, the sheriff takes a leap of faith and hands the wand over. As she presses it into Lily's hand, the wand suddenly bursts to life. A wave of magic spreads through the house as a blinding light gushes from the wand's tip. The ground begins to shake, causing Emma to lose her footing and crash onto the floor. She looks up to find that her oldest friend stands frozen in place, barely keeping her balance. The wand in Lily's hand shakes violently, causing the entire structure to quake.
"Lily, what the heck?!"
"What is happening!" she screams, the panic in her voice mounting.
"What did you do?!"
"I don't know! Nothing!" Lily answers.
Emma stands up and snatches the wand out of Lily's hand, but no matter what she tries, she cannot turn it off. She even tries to conceal it in Killian's jacket, but the light sparkles through and the wand still vibrates. Suddenly, Emma feels the structure being ripped from its foundation.
As a strong storm-like gale throws her back onto the ground, Emma observes the furniture colliding with the walls. In the background, she hears China dishes and glasses explode into thousands of pieces as they smash against the kitchen tiles. The force of the wind causes the house to tilt to a sharp angle, tossing Lily down next to her. Emma feels the structure rotating at what feels like a thousand miles an hour. This cannot be happening, not now.
"Emma!" Lily shrieks as she begins sliding down the hallway. "Help me!"
Grabbing the dagger from her pocket with one hand, the Savior catches the her friend's wrist with the other. To save them both, she stabs the weapon into the wooden planks and holds on for dear life.
Her arms burn as they stretch between the opposing amounts of weight. It takes all of her strength to maintain her grasp on Lily's hand. As they swirl in the air, Emma attempts to process what is happening. After the images of the wand flashing, the darkness' burning pain pounding in her chest, and the Apprentice's death flashing before her eyes, she finally understands what the Apprentice's final words, "light and dark", mean.
After what feels like an eternity, the house crashes against the earth. Emma lets go of Lily and goes airborne until she smacks the wall. The moment she regains her senses and footing, she races out the front door to find her suspicions confirmed. No longer does she see the buildings of Storybrooke, the cloudy sky, or the neighborhood. Surrounded by overgrown trees and birds chirping, Emma finds no civilization in sight.
"Oh you have got to be kidding me!" she grumbles, shaking her head.
"Emma—" Lily groans, stumbling out onto the porch and holding her forehead.
"Lily!" she responds, hurrying over to her. "Are you alright?"
The incident dishevels Lily's hair and clothes as a trickle of blood drips down from her forehead. Besides any superficial cuts, she seems to be unharmed. Emma's condition remains only slightly better. She isn't bleeding, but her sides hurt like hell. She knows that bruises and a goose egg will eventually form on the back of her skull.
"I've been worse," Lily jokes, before surveying her surroundings. "Where in the world are we?"
As Emma looks around, she finds the answer to her oldest friend's question.
"We're in the Enchanted Forest."
A/N: Hooray! Chapter Four is complete! I hope you liked it. I really want to incorporate Lily in this story because I'm disappointed with how OUAT has handled her character after the S4 Finale. I truly believe she has much more to offer and is an important part of helping Emma find herself. By the way, if you ever have any questions about this story, please feel free to PM me or place them in a review and I will do my best to answer them. Don't forget to favorite and/or follow this story if you haven't already! Reviews are welcomed and appreciated! Next time, we find out how everyone reacts to Emma missing, along with a few more fun scenes. You're not going to want to miss it! So, until next time!
-C.M. Singer:)