Chapter 18 (Renewed Shall Be Sword That Was Broken)

A/N: I know, it's been like 84 years since I updated this fic. I'm sorry! I've been busy with various fic events, not to mention the fact that my unhelpful muse has been wanting to follow every plot bunny that hops by rather than actually work on this story, but I'm determined to buckle down, and actually see this thing through to the end before allowing myself to write anything else. Following this chapter, there are 4 chapters and an epilogue to go. Due to the fact that it has been such a very, very long time since this story last updated–so long that even I had to go back and reread in order to remember what's been happening–I decided to provide you with a little "previously on" section to catch you up on what's been happening with our favorites.

Previously on Until the Stars Are All Alight: Emma, Killian and newborn Henry spend seven happy, perfectly normal years in the Land Without Magic. As Emma's twenty-eighth birthday approaches, Merlin becomes concerned that Killian will fail in getting Emma to understand and accept her destiny, and so he appears to now-seven-year-old Henry, giving him the storybook and asking him to help his mother believe. Upon hearing about the encounter, Killian's resolve is renewed, but Emma only digs in her heels further. On the morning of her 28th birthday, Emma's tattoo comes off of her arm and forms itself into the dagger, but even that is not enough to pierce through her determined unbelief. Seeing this, young Henry decides to destroy the dagger himself. Taking the dagger, he runs away from home, and quickly runs into Peter Pan, who tricks him into trusting him. Pan convinces Henry to create a portal and come with him through it, but as soon as they reach the Enchanted Forest, Pan reveals he's actually the evil Malcolm. Kidnapping Henry, he takes the boy to Neverland Castle, the fortress Malcolm shares with his wife, Fiona, the Black Fairy.

Malcolm and Fiona imprison Henry with the other children they'd stolen to be their slaves and the pair try everything in their power to convince Henry to give them the dagger, but despite everything he holds firm. When the Black Fairy threatens the life of Henry's new friend and cell mate, Henry offers them a compromise. He can't give them the dagger, but he can use it to mine all of the dark fairy dust they'd been using their stolen children to mine. This fairy dust will be enough to free the Dark One from his prison.

When Emma and Killian discover Henry's run away and taken the dagger, the fear and panic is finally enough to convince Emma to believe. Using her connection to the dagger, she's able to create a portal to the Enchanted Forest. They go to Misthaven castle, and Emma is reunited with her parents. The Charmings and CS use Merlin's Mirror to figure out where Henry's been taken–and they're horrified when they realize it's Neverland. The next morning, Emma, Killian, Graham and Ruby go on a rescue mission. They succeed in rescuing Henry (and the dagger), and in the process, Emma is forced to kill the Black Fairy. Pan/Malcolm, however, escapes with the black fairy dust. He frees Rumple from his prison. Rumple, angry that the dagger was in Pan's grasp, but he failed to get it, kills Pan.

And that brings us up to speed.

Neverland Castle, present day

For a moment no one moved, afraid it was a trick; afraid the pile of ash before them would reform into the Black Fairy and be more powerful than ever, but nothing happened.

The castle was in complete silence, save for the harsh breathing of the Misthaven contingent who stood victorious.

Emma breathed a quick sigh of relief before rushing to Killian, who'd slumped to the ground, hand massaging his neck and false hand still holding Henry behind him.

"Are you okay?" She asked, letting the dagger clatter to the ground as she gathered her family into her arms.

"Fan-bloody-tastic," Killian croaked with a roll of his eyes. "Neverland Castle's hospitality is every bit as lacking as advertised. What say we leave this dismal place and never look back?"

Emma got to her feet and then offered Killian a hand up. "I say one hundred percent yes."

Taking the dagger in one hand, and Henry's small hand in the other, she turned toward the castle door, but before she could take a step, Henry tugged at her hand.

"Wait!" he said. "We can't leave yet!"

Emma looked to Killian and saw her confusion mirrored in his own eyes. "Henry, I know we defeated your captors, but this place isn't safe. We've got to go kid."

"I know!" he said, "and I want to get out of here as fast as we can too, but we can't just go!"

"Why not?" Killian asked, as Ruby returned from chasing the Lost Ones, and laced her fingers with Graham's at her side.

"We can't just leave the others!" Henry said. "The Black Fairy has lots and lots of kids trapped in the mines. We have to free them!"

Tugging again at her hand, Henry led Emma and the others down a steep stone staircase, lit only with the occasional dim wall sconce. Once they reached the bottom, Henry led them to the left, into a large room lined with caves, each barred over, and each containing a little boy or girl, small, dirty, obviously malnourished and overworked.

But it was the look in their eyes that caught Emma's attention the most. She knew that look. It was the look she'd worn all too often in her worst days in the system. These children were afraid, but even more than that, they'd lost hope. They'd lost even the will to hope.

"Death was too good for her," Emma murmured, looking around. "She deserved to suffer, to rot in a cage like she did to these kids."

The fact that Henry had to endure this treatment at her hand, even for a mere couple of days filled her with a rage like she'd never known, but her rage wouldn't help anyone right now, so with a tremendous act of will, she put it aside, channeling the energy into magic. With a wave of her hand, the bars disappeared, leaving the children finally, finally free.

But years, in some cases decades, of abuse and sadistic games and tricks left these little ones wary, and they huddled in the back of their prisons, some trembling, others merely looking at them with wide, wary eyes.

Emma crouched down before the first child, a little boy who looked to be no more than Henry's age. "You're safe now," she crooned softly. "No one will hurt you again; I promise."

Slowly, she extended her hand, and the child looked as though he wanted to take it; wanted to believe, but long ingrained fear is hard to overcome.

"It's okay," Henry said, stepping up next to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. "This is my mom. She's a hero; she saved us. She just wants to help."

The boy looked unsure for another moment, and then rushed to Emma, falling into her arms. Her heart turned over, the tears coming to her eyes as she hugged him back.

With Henry's help, Emma, Killian, Graham and Ruby coaxed all the children from their prisons and led them out of the castle, out into the fresh clean air just as morning's first rays began painting the eastern sky.

"So what now?" Emma asked when the last child was free of the castle. "Now that we defeated Pan and Fiona. How do we defeat the Dark One?"

There was a mocking laugh behind them, and Emma spun around, dagger held before her. She found herself face to face with the boy who'd been Pan's lieutenant. Around them little boys and girls started crying; their fear of this boy palpable.

"Felix," Henry whispered, hiding behind his parents.

"Always nice to make an impression," Felix drawled.

"Felix, it seems you have chosen the wrong side," Killian growled beside her, his sword held before them, pointed directly at the teenager's heart. "Your masters have lost."

Felix laughed again. "Have they, though?" He stepped forward, getting right in Emma's face. "Pan. Never. Fails."

Behind her, Henry gasped. "He got away," Henry said softly. "After the Black Fairy dissolved, he got away."

"Exactly," Felix said with a nod. "And he didn't go empty-handed."

Henry's eyes went wide as saucers. "The dark fairy dust."

Felix nodded again with a satisfied smile. "Thanks to your boy, there, Pan has enough dust to free the Dark One. We really should be thanking him. Henry managed to do more for our cause in two days than the rest of us could do in two decades."

Behind her Henry shook his head, the tears coming to his eyes. "No! I didn't mean it! She had Gideon! She was gonna kill him!"

"Doesn't matter," Felix said nastily. "Before you know it, the Dark One will be here, and then you'll get to watch him destroy your precious parents."

"No!"

Killian roared, stepping forward, his sword mere inches from plunging into the noxious boy's chest, Graham beside him.

"I'd suggest you leave now, mate," he said in a low, deadly voice. "One more word to my wife or my son, and you'll pray for death before I'm finished with you!"

Felix merely shrugged, chuckling as he poofed away.

Emma took her son into her arms, hugging him tightly, whispering soothing words to him. "Shh, it wasn't your fault. You're not to blame. Whatever happens, this is not your fault."

After a moment, Ruby stepped up to them. "She's right, Henry. You were tricked. None of this is your fault."

"That's true," Graham said, with a troubled look in his eyes, "but it's also true that if Pan has enough dust to free the Dark One we've no time to waste. He'll be here, looking for his dagger any moment."

"Why not let him find me?" Emma asked. "I'm supposed to defeat him, right? Since we know he's coming, why not make our stand right here? I can defeat him with the dagger and then this whole ordeal will be over."

Killian shook his head. "It won't work, love. The only way to kill the Dark One is by plunging that dagger into his heart, and if you do that, the darkness merely transfers to you."

Emma growled. "So what do we do?"

"You have to destroy the sword."

"How do I do that?"

Killian smiled, perhaps his first genuine smile since this all began. "I think a trip to Nottingham Forest is in order. It's time the broken sword was mended, and it's long past time you met my brother."

Nottingham Forest

Liam stood tall, looking out at the horizon as the first rays of the sun began to peek over the tops of the trees. For a moment, he wished he was back on his beloved ship. He was a sailor at heart and always had been, but above all that he was a man of honor, sworn to do his duty come what may, and now his duty was to guard the blade in the shire.

He felt a restlessness today, such as he hadn't felt in quite some time. Things were changing. He didn't know what, and he didn't know why he was so sure, but he was. Something momentous had happened, and it was only a matter of time before it reached the shire.

If only he knew what so he could adequately prepare.

As they had so many times over the years, his thoughts went to Killian. Was he in trouble?

Ever since the day Killian was born, nearly a decade after himself, it had been ingrained in Liam to be his brother's protector and guide.

"You're his brother, and he'll look up to you, lad," his father had said as he held the wee babe, presenting him to Liam for the first time. "Whatever happens in the years to come, you'll have each other; remember that."

He'd solemnly promised his father, and it hadn't been long before that promise had taken on a far stronger meaning.

When their parents were killed, the Jones boys were left alone, and suddenly, little more than a lad himself, Liam had been thrust into the role of father as well as brother. Killian had been his whole world, and he'd taken his task to raise him seriously.

And quite a tremendous task it was! Killian was a good lad who eventually grew into a good man. He was brave, loyal and true to a decree Liam had never seen in another. When he loved, he loved with his whole being and he loved completely.

But some of Killian's greatest strengths were also his greatest weaknesses. He was often led too much by his heart. He could be impetuous, sometimes even to the point of recklessness, and Liam had gotten more gray hairs than he cared to count worrying that that impetuosity would one day get Killian hurt or worse.

Liam had hoped to breed discipline into his younger brother by bringing him into military service with him. To an extent, his plan had worked, but though he gained discipline, Killian was still led far more by his heart than Liam would have liked.

Never had Liam worried more than during Kililan's liaison with the Dark One's wife.

Never, that is, until the Jones men learned of the prophecy concerning Killian and the Savior.

Killian had taken the prophecy to heart, becoming invested and protective of the young Emma Swan to an extent it almost became obsessive. From the first moment Killian glimpsed the small child in the mirror, he wished to go after her, and it was all Liam could do to remind his brother that they had to wait; that there were yet twenty-eight years before the prophecy was to come to pass.

Still, he'd known it was only a matter of time before Killian defied him, and so, eight years ago, when Liam had awoken to an empty tent and an apologetic note on Killian's bed, he wasn't at all surprised.

Angry, yes, but not surprised.

He'd watched through the mirror as his brother found and quickly fell in love with Emma Swan. The development troubled him. There was more at stake than merely Killian's well-being here. The whole fate of their world depended on the savior accepting her destiny and destroying the Dark One. If Killian failed in his task–if he let his love for this woman sway him into putting aside his duty–the consequences could literally be earth-shattering.

Liam should have known his first salvo at convincing his brother to leave the Land Without Magic would be unsuccessful. While Killian had always gotten along with August and the two men respected each other, Liam should have known Killian would reject his orders to leave Emma and return home.

And so Liam had gone to him himself.

It had hurt, hurt him deep to his very soul to see Killian in so much pain after Emma had run from him, but Liam knew to strike while the iron was hot–he wouldn't deny the misgivings he felt within himself at the way he used Killian's pain for his own purposes, but he comforted himself with the belief that he was doing what was best, both for Killian and for the entire realm, by convincing his brother to go into the west.

But he'd underestimated his brother. His connection to his love was so strong, he'd been granted a vision of the future, and once he'd gotten that vision–seen the son who'd be born to himself and Emma–there was no dissuading him from returning to her.

Liam had yielded to the inevitable with a heavy heart and a troubled spirit, for if merely loving Emma Swan had kept Killian from his purpose, what hope did any of them have once a son was born to them?

But fate was a fickle mistress and prophecies were rarely if ever all that they seemed. For as it happened, it was that very child, that very special little boy who was needed to get Emma to believe.

It was several days ago now that Emma had chosen to believe, since Killian and his wife had returned to this land in search of their boy. Merlin had kept Liam apprised of the situation, and so he knew that his brother was back within the Enchanted Forest. Liam could only hope that his brother was successful in rescuing his child, because if he lost his son, Liam shuddered to think what it would do to Killian.

Every fiber of Liam's body had wanted to go to Killian, to offer his assistance, to offer his sword to the rescue mission, but duty was a solemn thing, something that couldn't be shirked lightly if even at all. The broken sword still needed to be guarded, and so Liam had remained in the shire, hoping and praying that his brother would one day make it back to him.

"Strangers approaching!"

Liam stood at attention as he heard August's call. Behind him Robin and Regina emerged from their tent looking as troubled as he felt.

"Something happened," Regina said, looking in the direction August indicated. "I can tell; my dreams last night were troubled."

"As were mine, my love," Robin concurred. He turned to Liam. "What news have you?"

Liam shrugged. "All has been quiet this night," he assured, "but like you, I've been uneasy. It feels as though something momentous is coming to a head, and I feel no small amount of uneasiness in not knowing what it is or how to guard against it."

Beside them, Regina's eyes narrowed and a fireball appeared in her open hand. "Well whatever it is, whatever danger heads this way, it won't enter the shire. I'm not about to let anyone, anyone harm my family or my home."

The men flanked her, agreeing silently with her assessment. The shire had been a haven, a place of refuge for decades and none of them would allow any malevolent force to change that, not while they still had breath in their bodies.

For several moments the three stood still, tense and watchful as they waited for the announced strangers to appear over the horizon.

When they finally did, Liam relaxed, sheathing his sword and letting the relief fill him, for heading their way were none other than Killian and his savior wife. Whatever perils still lay ahead, it seemed that for the moment at least, rejoicing was in order.

The prodigal brother had returned at last.

Emma smiled to herself as she watched Killian with little Roland, the two of them brandishing tree branches like swords, engaged in what looked like a sword fight for the ages. Killian laughed as he let the little boy's "sword" connect and then fell to the ground dramatically clutching his chest.

Killian had always been amazing with children, and not for the first time Emma imagined a life after all of this; a life where they might expand their family and give Henry a sibling or two.

The past few days had been a whirlwind, and Emma felt as though she'd suddenly been thrust into the deep end when it came to all this magic and Enchanted Forest stuff. No warning, no easing into it, just right into the fray.

They'd succeeded thus far, of course. They'd saved Henry and his new friends and then sent them back to Misthaven with Ruby and Graham.

But how long could her "beginner's luck" hold out? Emma couldn't help but feel a little bit like an imposter. What did she know about magic or defeating supervillains or any of that? The whole fate of this realm (she still couldn't believe she was now thinking in terms of different realms) depended on her defeating this Dark One character who everyone spoke of in hushed tones as though he were the devil himself.

What if she failed? What if everyone was depending on her and she just…failed? She'd spent her entire life not being good enough. What if this was no different?

Roland cautiously approached the apparently "dead" Killian, and just before he reached him, Killian jumped up with a roar, pulling the little boy down and beginning to tickle him. Roland squirmed and squealed with laughter.

Emma took a deep breath, watching the nonsense, and she resolutely put her self-doubts aside. Worrying about all of it would do no good.

After sending Henry and the other children off with the Misthaven contingent, she and Killian had made their way quickly to Nottingham Forest. Killian had filled the time telling her all about the place, about his brother Liam (apparently the greatest elf ever to walk the earth, if you were to listen to Killian go on and on about him), about Robin Hood and his band of Merry Men (and woman), and about Regina, the former Evil Queen who'd been banished but then gone on to amend her life and marry Robin.

He'd introduced her to them excitedly as they arrived, and as soon as the pleasantries were at an end, they'd gotten down to the business at hand.

"So you're telling me the Dark One is free?" Robin asked after Killian told his tale.

"We can't know for sure," Killian answered, "but we have to assume so, given the fact Pan escaped with the dust."

"And he knows the blade is here?" Liam asked, looking more than a little troubled.

"Well, given the fact that Pan or Malcolm or whatever was living here as a spy for years," Emma answered, "I'd say that's a safe bet."

"I knew I should have incinerated him the moment he showed up," Regina said with a sneer. "There was always something about that man that made me think of a weasel."

"What any of us should or shouldn't have done is immaterial now," Liam answered. "The question is how do we proceed? Even with every soldier in our battalion on high alert, I fear we'll be no match for the Dark One and his allies."

"Just how dangerous is this guy?" Emma said. "He has magic; big deal. So do I, even if I don't really know how to use it yet."

Everyone present shifted nervously, eyeing each other significantly. "Swan, he's more formidable than you could ever imagine," Killian answered, his face troubled. "Even the entire army of Misthaven and Merlin himself had difficulty containing him."

Great, so I'm supposed to vanquish the unvanquishable. Perfect.

She let out a long, slow breath. "Alright, then, so let's get this magic blade put back together then so we're at least ready for him. How do we do it? Do I use my magic or what?"

Regina had scoffed. "I hardly think you're powerful enough for that, Mrs. Jones."

Emma rolled her eyes. She'd known this woman for little more than an hour and already she was getting tired of her snark. "So what? You're powerful enough?"

Robin intervened. "I'm fairly certain none of us is powerful enough to reforge the blade, nor do any of us know how it's to be done. My advice is to summon the wizard, Merlin and seek his counsel."

And so it had been decided. They would contact Merlin, but until he answered, until he arrived, there was little to do but sit and wait, hoping against hope that the Dark One wouldn't arrive and kill them all one by one in the meantime.

Emma missed the old days when the biggest threat she had to deal with was a bad tempered bail jumper.

Someone sat beside her, and Emma looked over to find Killian's brother Liam. He smiled at her, friendly enough, but Emma could tell there was something on his mind, something that troubled him. "Emma, can we talk?"

"Is this like a protective big brother talk where you wanna make sure I'm good enough for Killlian?" Emma asked lightly.

He was silent for a beat too long, and Emma felt a pit in her stomach open up. She'd been joking, trying to disperse some of the "we're probably all going to die" tension they were all under, but maybe…maybe Liam really didn't think she was good enough.

Liam leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees as he gazed over at his brother. "There was a time, I'll admit, when I thought you weren't."

The pit widened. "Why?" The word came out harsher than she intended.

He glanced over at her, his look apologetic. "Killian is…" he began, clearly searching for words. "He's intense, passionate, fully committed to anyone and anything he gives his heart to. He'll follow his heart to the ends of the earth, making any sacrifice, giving everything of himself, even to his own detriment."

"I know what my husband is like," Emma said, voice hard. "So, what are you saying? I'm not worthy of that love? I'm a 'detriment' to him or whatever?"

Liam was silent for another long moment. "I watched through the mirror as he steadily fell deeper and deeper in love with you," he said finally. "You consumed him, became his whole world. At the same time, I saw you steadfastly refuse to believe the truth he tried to tell you. I watched as he put aside his own realm, his own duty, his own identity to please you."

Emma felt her anger growing. Yeah, she'd made mistakes, but who could have believed the apparently completely bat-shit crazy bull Killian had been telling her? "Wow, were you always this self righteous?"

He gave her a sad smile. "When it comes to my brother, yes, but that's not the point I'm trying to make, admittedly rather poorly."

Emma crossed her arms. "Yeah, so what is the point you're trying to make?"

He sat up, looking at her fully, his look intent. "I was wrong," he said simply. "Killian has often told me I can be a stubborn, self-righteous ass, and when it came to you, clearly that's precisely what I was."

"What do you mean?"

"After my failed attempt to convince my brother to move on into the west, I realized my error," Liam said. "I saw how deeply he loves you and how deeply you love him back. I saw how happy the both of you were with your son. I realized how truly unfair it was to resent you for having difficulty believing when it meant that everything you knew to be true was false. You are good enough for my brother, Emma, just as he is for you."

She let out a breath, feeling the anger melt away. "Thank you for saying that," she said after a moment.

"I just ask one thing of you," Liam said. "Don't break his heart. As deeply in love as Killian is, I'm fairly certain it would never mend again."

Emma's first inclination was to laugh at the very absurdity of that idea, but she could see how important it was to Liam, and so she took a moment, truly thinking about the answer she'd give Killian's brother.

"Liam," she said finally, "I don't know what's going to happen in the future. I don't know how everything is going to go down with the Dark One and with everything else we have to deal with, so I can't make any guarantees that something won't happen to me, but I can promise you this. I'll never willingly hurt Killian. He's like…it's like he's a part of my very being now. Hurting him would be like hurting myself. I don't know; maybe that's what they mean by True Love."

Liam smiled fully this time. "Indeed it is, and I believe you."

He got to his feet, but then turned back to her. "Just a word of caution about the coming fight. I think perhaps you'd best prepare yourself. I believe you are capable of defeating the Dark One, but doing so won't come without a cost. I fear the cost of a task of this magnitude…it will be well nigh unbearably steep. I don't say this to scare you, only to help you steel yourself for what is to come. You must be both courageous and resolute. The likelihood of all of us coming out of this alive is…not high."

With a curse, Emma stormed out of the clearing and into the woods. Killian watched her go with a heavy heart and troubled spirit. He could feel the frustration coming off of her in waves. She was trying so very hard, but it seemed the more effort she put into it, the farther she was from achieving her ends.

Merlin had been prompt (for him at least) in answering their summons. It was midday when he appeared, no more than two hours after they'd sent their message.

If they'd had any hope that the situation wasn't as dire as they believed, one look at the wizard's face would have dispelled that notion. He looked more troubled than Killian had ever seen him. In point of fact, he looked frightened, something Killian had never seen before.

That alone left Killian bloody terrified.

"I'm afraid it is as you supposed," Merlin said by way of greeting as soon as the leaders of the group were assembled. "The Dark One has indeed escaped his prison. As we speak, he's amassing his armies, and when that task is completed, I've no doubt he will come for the blade."

That pronouncement elicited a near-unison shout of dismay from all those present. There was little the wizard could have said that would have been more dire.

"So, let's get this sword put back together and get the hell away from here," Emma had said. "There are innocents–women, children, old men–here in this camp. They don't need to be caught in the crossfire."

Robin Hood had shot her a grateful look, and Killian felt his heart swell at his wife's care and compassion for others.

"Aye," Merlin agreed with a quick nod.

"Could you give us any idea exactly how we might do that?" Regina asked dryly, crossing her arms. "Both Mrs. Jones and I have made attempts with our magic, but the blade seems impervious to it."

Merlin nodded again. "No, ordinary magic would have no effect, as it wasn't ordinary magic that broke the blade in the first place."

Merlin reached into his robes and pulled out a small, ornately decorated box, no bigger than a ring box, and held it out before the assembly. Killian eyed it, brows furrowed.

"What is that?"

"This," Merlin said, "is the flame of Prometheus. It's ancient magic, far more powerful than any magic existing in our world today. With this flame, we can renew the sword."

Emma's eyebrow raised. "Excuse my ignorance, but shouldn't a flame look a little more…fiery? Looks like a stone box to me."

Merlin nodded. "You didn't think a magic this powerful would be as easy as that to access, did you?"

"Of course not, what was I thinking?" Emma muttered under her breath. Killian felt a smile twitch at his lips, despite the precarious situation they found themselves in.

"Enough with the riddles," Liam said. "Speak plainly. Just tell us what we need to do to light the flame."

"It's not we who must do it," Merlin said, "but she." He pointed one long finger at Emma. "The savior must reach to the depths of herself and bring forth her strongest magic. Only then can the box be opened and the flame lit."

And she'd tried. With everything within her she'd tried. With every fiber of her being she'd tried. The assembled group of heroes had done all in their power to help her, offering their support, and in Regina's case, pointers on the best ways to call forth and control magic, but none of it was to any avail.

The box remained resolutely shut, the flame nowhere in sight.

Finally, in frustration, Emma had stormed off. Regina began to follow after, but Merlin stopped her with a gentle hand to her arm.

"Lieutenant Jones," he said, "I believe you are the one who can best help your wife right now."

Killian nodded, already turning to follow the path Emma had trod. His heart ached for her. He cursed the fates, or whatever it was that had put such a burden on the woman he loved. It was not fair, and she did not deserve any of it.

But what was fair, what was just didn't matter now. What mattered was her; only her.

By the time he reached her, the tears had crested and spilled from her eyes. She hurled the box to the forest floor uttering another curse. "It's useless," she spat. "No matter what I do, I can't get this damn thing to open. I'm useless!"

Killian rushed to her, taking her in his arms and rubbing a soothing hand down her back. "Breathe, Swan," he murmured. "Relax."

She pulled away, frown darkening her face. "How can I relax, Killian when the strongest evil force ever known is about to come attack us, and I'm the only one who can stop him?"

Killian led her over to a downed tree trunk, sat her down and then pulled her to him with an arm around her shoulders and a gentle kiss to the top of her head. "You are not alone, Swan," he said softly. "You will never be alone. I'll be here with you, beside you every step of the way."

Turning her head, she kissed him softly. "And you'll never know how much that means to me, but it still doesn't change the fact that I can't get this flame lit. What good am I anyway? What good have I ever been? Sometimes it feels like the only use I am to anyone is as the savior, and if I can't even do that…"

Killian turned her to him, gently raising her chin until she met his eyes. "I want you to listen, Swan, and I want you to listen well," he said, voice grave. "I didn't fall in love with the Savior. I fell in love with Emma Swan. I fell in love with your strength, your courage, your resilience, your heart that remained open to love and hope even despite all the adversity you had to endure. You, my love, are a survivor, and you are, without a doubt, the best woman I've ever known. You are an exemplary wife and mother, and Henry and I could want for no better person in our lives. I loved you before you showed the first hint of magic, and I'll continue to love you no matter what happens. You, Emma Swan, are enough. Just you. Not your magic. Not your title. You."

Emma's tears began flowing in earnest at this, but a new look came into her eyes as she listened to his words.

Hope.

"Do you really think I can do this, Killian?" she asked, looking deeply into his eyes in the way he knew meant she was searching him for a lie. He kept his expression open and honest, willing her to see his absolute sincerity.

"There is not a shadow of doubt in my mind," he answered firmly.

She smiled fully then, reaching a hand up behind his neck to bring him down for another long drugging kiss. When they pulled back, Killian looked down and smiled.

"What?" she asked.

"Look down, love," he said, pointing to the box she'd tossed to the forest floor.

Only it was a cold, stone box no longer. It had opened to reveal a strong, flickering white-hot flame. They'd done it.

With the attaining of the flame, the mending of the sword was a simple thing. Merlin pulled the flame from its box, held it before him until it transformed into a swirling, magical sphere between his outstretched hands. Having been instructed what to do next, Emma held the two ends of the sword into the heart of the magical fire, and with a bright flash of magic, the broken ends fused together, sealing themselves so completely there was no seam and it was impossible to see where the break had been.

They'd done it. They'd mended the broken sword, and now all that remained was to journey to the heart of the Underworld to destroy it–and its Dark master–once and for all.

Notes:

–Thanks for sticking with me over this looooooooong delay. As mentioned above, the muse has been quite the fickle mistress as of late, but I hope it's back to stay now. I am determined to finish this story before I do anything else fanfiction related, and to that end, I plan to devote time every single work day toward this story. The good news? I've already gotten a start on the next chapter, so you won't have to wait long for the next installment.

–I didn't finish everything I wanted to in this chapter, but it was already getting really long, so I decided to break it up into two.

–Up next: Emma, Killian, Liam, Merlin, Robin and Regina, as well as a contingent of elves and Merry Men set out for the Underworld, but their way is not smooth, and they find themselves confronted with some rather formidable foes. I feel compelled to give you the same warning Liam gave Emma. Steel yourself. Of the six named characters above, two will not survive the next chapter…