X Marks the Spot

Chapter Four

The battle between the two infamous pirates continued as their swords clashed and Henry kept backing away anytime they moved in his direction in order to keep himself out of harm's way as he promised Killian he would. Black Beard was a skilled swordsman, nearly just as good as Hook was even with only one hand. Two centuries gave his friend ample time to learn how to use his infirmity well to his advantage, for which the sixteen year old boy was grateful. The hook he wore was far more than a replacement for his hand, but a powerful weapon of its own right.

Killian defended himself against his enemy well, doing so more than charging against Captain Black Beard in effort to keep himself from falling back into the darkness that consumed him for so long. It was difficult to keep his anger for the villain at bay, but he fought all that much harder since Emma's son was there watching him.

Finally after nearly ten minutes of dueling, Hook managed to force Black Beard back against one of the sides of his ship and raised his blade to the man's throat, just as he had done before during their last duel a few years ago. Henry smiled upon seeing his friend overpower the other pirate Captain, unlike having to watch as Killian once cowered before him while they were all within the former Author's book reality. Not that Henry doubted Killian couldn't defeat Black Beard now. He was just afraid of what the cruel man was capable of doing since he didn't believe in good form as Hook did, even back when he was the villain.

"You've lost again," Killian said coldly as he glared at his enemy before him, his sword still at his throat. "And this time I didn't have to trick you into falling through a loose plank onboard my ship. Just because I'm not the villain I once was, doesn't mean that I've lost my skills with my sword. As for the Jolly Roger, you lost it when you used it to try to murder a couple of royals and our friends. I didn't seek her out to steal her away from you after we made our bargain, but she's here because she was needed. This ship is once again in the hands of her rightful owner."

"Why?" Black Beard retorted. "Because it once belonged to your dead brother?"

Hook angrily backhanded the villain using his hook when he mentioned Liam and was about to strike him again until he remembered to fight against his anger while he struggled to get it back under control, then he tightened his grip on Black Beard as he responded, "The last few men who mocked my brother are long dead and at least one of them is burning in hell for eternity."

Black Beard chortled and then asked, "So what comes of me now, Hook? You should kill me too like the rest of your enemies. Show this boy here that you will never truly be the so called hero you foolishly believe yourself to be."

"You're wrong," Henry objected strongly. "Killian is a hero. Not just to all of us here in Storybrooke, but countless others. If he wasn't, you'd be dead right now. That's the best difference between you and him."

"If you don't kill me, I will escape that brig these townsfolk call the sheriff's station and I will continue to come after you and all those you love," the other pirate cruelly replied while he looked into his nemesis' eyes and saw the fear Killian was trying to hide. "Perhaps I'll start with the Savior's whelp you're trying so hard to protect."

Killian spoke again brusquely saying, "You're not ever going to get near him again."

Black Beard smiled as he answered, "Wait and see. Do you really care to wager on that conviction of yours?"

"Killian!" Emma fearfully shouted after she unexpectedly appeared behind Killian and her son, as they turned upon hearing her cry out until Black Beard used the Savior's distraction against Hook when he pulled his gun from his belt without anyone noticing him doing so, while cocking back its hammer again and then he suddenly fired, the shot striking Killian in his upper chest forcing him to fall hard against the deck. "No!"

"Stay down!" David called out to the villain when he and the others appeared moments later, just as Emma swiftly blasted Black Beard backwards with her magic, then immediately rushed to Killian as Henry did. "I suggest you don't try to move."

Black Beard laughed haughtily as he finally relented, then knelt down on the deck despite the pain he felt in his own chest from the force of the magic that struck him down and allowed the sheriff to put the handcuffs on him, staring at Hook and the woman who loved him while he stated, "I don't plan to resist, Your Majesty. I finally succeeded in killing my oldest enemy. If I live the rest of my life in some prison, it will be worth it."

Everyone turned back to Emma worryingly once the villain was no longer a threat while the Savior struggled to regain control over the shaking in her hands when her fear began to overwhelm her so that she could heal the wound in Killian's chest, as the man she loved struggled to keep breathing and his eyes on hers. She cried openly while she held him tight against her body and Regina knelt down beside her friend, then used her own magic to pull the ball from Killian's chest before placing her own hand over Emma's to help her find the strength she needed to save him.

Finally Emma's hand began to glow bright and when Killian began to breathe with more ease after the wound was slowly healed, Emma let out a sob, then she continued to hold him tightly, as he did her. Henry placed a soothing hand on the small of her back and another on Killian's leg in an effort to comfort them.

David, August, and Regina all sighed in relief, then Emma's closest friend turned to the other pirate as he retorted, "You failed again."

"I don't believe I've found myself once again within the same realm Hook is hiding out in for nothing, boy," Black Beard responded smugly. "I don't plan to give up. So I suggest you watch his back."

"We plan to," David replied, then turned to Regina. "Do you think you can transport Black Beard to the station? I want to make sure they're going to be alright."

The former Evil Queen smiled as she grabbed the back of their prisoner's neck and answered, "That'll be no problem at all. You're going to like your new cell, Captain. It's spacious. And then you're going to get your own holding cell within the asylum beneath our hospital, where some of the worst villains will be imprisoned for the rest of their lives. You'll fit right in."

When they vanished, Henry moved to stand beside his grandfather as they kept their eyes on Emma and Hook, then Killian finally pulled away as he looked into her eyes again and whispered, "I'm alright, Swan."

"But you almost weren't… again," the Savior responded curtly. "He almost killed you and it was my fault."

"You're wrong," he replied, taking her hand in his own as he gently messaged her palm to try to reassure her so. "Black Beard was the one who pulled that trigger. He became my enemy long ago because he was a rival and I knew I could use his arrogance to my advantage, by continuously making him appear an incompetent Captain in front of his crews whenever our paths crossed. I stole away many of his men for my own crews. But the worst is that I tried to have him killed a number of times, the first time simply because he and a few men stole a chest of the King's gold from me. Black Beard is a vile human being, but he wasn't my enemy until I made him so. And now all of yours as well."

David shook his head in disagreement and answered, "Just because we've never given him reason to hate us like he hates you, doesn't mean that our paths wouldn't have crossed eventually had we all remained within the Enchanted Forest. This isn't your fault either."

Henry quickly added, "And Black Beard isn't the kind of villain who needs much of a reason to kill someone. Honestly, I was lucky that I was able to knock him unconscious when we met."

"When did you meet Black Beard before this morning?" Emma asked her son while David and August both helped her and Killian up off the floor of the ship.

"In Isaac's book," the sixteen year old responded as he looked over at Killian. "Hook was the Captain's deckhand and he treated him like a slave. Because Gold made Killian a coward, I had to defend him against Black Beard so we could take back the Jolly Roger and sail off to the tower to save you, Mom."

Killian smiled sadly as he continued, "The lad helped me by cutting through one of the riggings, causing a winch to swing down and render Black Beard unconscious. I was truly impressed. Yet terrified of the repercussions once he awoke to find his ship stolen, much like I fear what he might do now should he find a way to make good on his threat. I doubt I'm the only one in danger."

Emma leaned forward to kiss him and wrapped her arms around him, then replied, "He isn't going to hurt any of us again."

"Are you sure you're okay?" August asked Hook when he suddenly stumbled.

"I'm well, I assure you," Killian answered as he and Emma steadied him until he pulled away to head towards his ship's wheel so they could head back. "Just a little shaken is all. Let's go home."