A/N: Here we go, chapter 2...

I've changed the sequence of events from that in version 1, so that they meet Cora before they start on their journey, because it fitted better with some elements of the scenario.

Hope you enjoy the update!

Chapter 2

Killian waited for a few seconds to her to collect her thoughts. Patience running out, he cleared his throat, sitting down beside her.

"I understand that it's a lot to take in, but now that you believe me - finally - I think it will be a good idea to decide what you're going to do."

It took her a some time to register what he said. Once it did, she rounded on him with narrowed eyes. "And why the hell should I discuss that with you?"

Killian raised his eyebrows. "I thought it was clear enough that I offered my help to you."

At that, she gave a long drawn out "Okay" and took a deep breath, to give Killian, what seemed to him, a I'm-a-strong-girl-and-need-no-ones-help look. "Look buddy, thanks for offering, but no thanks. I don't need your help. And even if I do need help, I'm sure gonna find someone better, who can just - I don't know - poof me back to Phoenix or somewhere. On second thoughts, Storybrooke will be a better place, gotta drop this one off." She added in monologue.

He scrutinized her for a second, lips curved up slightly, before bursting into full blown guffaws. "Well, good luck finding someone. Someone awake, at least."

"Funny." Emma said sourly, "Wait - You're not serious, are you?"

"As serious as I ever will be." He replied.

"While that might mean not at all serious, I'm gonna take a chance and believe you are." she shot back with a hint of sarcasm. "What happened? The Evil Queen poisoned all the apples in the land? Or was Maleficent extra angry and shot everyone with a sleeping curse?"

At that Killian had to stop and look at her in bewilderment. "Tell me, lass, how is it that you're from another realm, apparently unknowing about even this realm's existence, and yet you know so much about it?"

She shrugged. "I'm still half convinced that this is a weird dream I'm having, so being in a dream probably means I'll know about it."

"Lass, you're not dreaming." Killian said patiently, though his voice was bordering on impatience. "And you didn't answer me..."

"I know because this 'realm' of yours seems to be the place of all the fairytale bullshit." Emma replied almost hysterically. "You know, the stories they tell kids to make them believe that one day they will grow up to meet their prince or princess and 'true love' will happen, and their story will end with a 'happily ever after' for heroes and the villains getting defeated or banished or... you get the idea."

"You mean to say... the people here, the lives they lead, you-you know it all as children's stories?" Killian asked.

"Well, yes." Emma said, feeling oddly better for being the one doing the explaining for a change. "You were saying something about you being the only one awake here?"

"Aye, but not exactly." He replied, fidgeting.

"Because he essentially forgot to mention me." a voice spoke from somewhere to Emma's right. Killian stood up immediately. Emma recoiled even before facing her; the voice was filled with malice, and a threatening tone that she could associate with those in power. She was not disappointed, as the woman's face and her ability to materialize out of thin air reflected the same.

She turned directly to Emma, sparing barely a glance at Killian, as if reserving her verdict for him for later.

"Hello dear." she said, smiling at Emma. "It seems our dear Captain Hook forgot to introduce us, but no worries, I have gathered the gist of the matter from our conversation here. I'm Cora, by the way, and I'm probably the best person - and only person, for that matter - to help you in this situation."

Cora gestured her to get up, but Emma just pointed to her ankle. Cora sighed and waved her hand, Emma found her ankle back to normal.

"Do you know how to send me back?" Emma asked, getting up, hope flickering through her, though she still remained wary. "Why am I here in the first place? And why is no one else here?"

"One question at a time, little girl, I can't answer them all at once." Cora said with an air of pleasantness, though all Emma could feel was dread. She got nothing but negative vibes from her, and subconsciously, she knew Cora was about to do something bad, and was yet was helpless to do anything but watch. "Let's start with the last. This place was once ruled by Queen Regina, my daughter, it that's worth mentioning. She had this long drawn feud with Snow White, but you'd know about that, of course, from those stories of yours?"

"Uh-yeah..." Emma said awkwardly, not knowing how to feel about discussing fairytales with 'Evil Queen's mother, who seemed no less a potential villain. "she hated Snow White for looking fairer than her?"

At that she burst into laughter. "Oh, they do dilute it so much for kids. For looking fairer, indeed."

Emma waited for her the recover, raising her eyebrows.

"So as I was saying," Cora continued, "Regina couldn't stand it when Snow White won the kingdom back from her, essentially the ending of their story with Snow White getting her 'Happy Ending' and leaving Regina defeated and infuriated. So Regina cast a curse, and not just any curse, but the dark curse, which took them all to another land, where they all lost their memories and their happy endings, a land with no magic. Which, I'll take a guess, is where you're from."

"I-I guess?" Emma said.

"How you ended up here," Cora continued, apparently without taking notice, "is probably by a magic portal, and the only place you have the slightest possibility of getting that is where the people who came from the Enchanted Forest are. Which brings me to your first question, and at a point where you will answer some of mine."

When she didn't say anything for a while, Emma asked again, "Can you-Do you know how to send me back home?"

"Do I know how? Yes, I do," she said with the malicious smile Emma was getting familiar with, "But will I? That depends on you, my dear. If you expect me to help you, you must help me in return."

"H-How can I help you?" Emma said, incredulously. Cora's smile widened, and she paced a few steps to stand behind Emma before answering.

"This place where my daughter has taken everyone, you've obviously been there." Cora turned back to Emma, "I need to know what it's like."

"I... don't know," Emma started, "I wasn't there for much time, and-and I certainly didn't put in much time to observe. It was just another quiet little town."

"The town, what was it's name?" Cora asked, patiently.

"Storybrooke." Emma replied, "I, uh, basically broke into the mayor's house and ended up kidnapping her son, and then I was running away, I fell down, and ended up here."

Cora's gaze briefly went to the baby cradled in Emma's arms (who was, surprisingly, still sleeping), before she perked up, "Mayor, did you say?"

"Yeah, uh, town head of sorts?" Emma replied.

"That has to be Regina." Cora surmised, murmuring more to herself. "Then this is Regina's child," a look of confusion passed her face, but she regained composure the next moment, having decided something. She smiled again, "So this is my grandchild..." she said, reaching for the baby, but Emma pulled him closer to herself, taking a step back.

Cora raised her eyebrows. "May I?" she asked, nevertheless.

Emma looked from the baby to Cora, and took another step back. "What do you want to do with him?"

Cora rolled her eyes impatiently. "Why do you care, anyway? It's not as if it's your child... Now, be a good girl, and give him to me."

An emotion flickered across Emma's face, but the next moment her eyes were steely again. She held the baby firmly to herself, "No."

Cora was surprised.

"Let it be, Cora, what good will the little lad be to you be anyway?" Killian, who had till now thought better of participating in the conversation, interrupted.

"I'd rather you let me decide that." Cora said coldly. "Now you, young lady, I'm asking you a simple thing and in return giving you what you all that yo need. If you know what's good for you, give the baby to me."

"I won't!" Emma said firmly.

Cora almost growled, fury written on her face, and advanced on Emma.

"Don't!" Killian shouted, a strange fear and repulsion on his face. "It's just a baby."

Cora rounded on him, plunging a hand into his chest. He grunted in pain.

"Why don't you mind your own business, pirate? This habit of meddling in other's business is what has now twice put you in this position." Cora said menacingly.

Emma looked on in horror, before gathering her wits about her and running, the baby clutched to her chest.

"Not so fast," Cora said, appearing before her in a puff of smoke. "I gave you a chance, but you leave me no choice."

Just like with Killian, Cora pluged her hand into Emma's chest, making her cry out in fear. Fear, not pain, because that never came. Realizing this, Emma spoke out, "You can't."

A burst of white light originated from where Cora had pluged her hand, and pushed her away and onto the ground, knocked out.

Killian yelled from behind her, "Quick, before she wakes up, run!" Emma followed without hesitation.

"Where to?" Emma gasped out while running.

"My ship," Killian replied, "She's docked a little further."

As she ran along the coast she could soon see what the dark curse had done. Beyond a certain, well-defined, stretch of it, the entire land seemed charred, destroyed. She wondered why that stretch had been spared, but quelled her curiosity as it was certainly not the time. Soon, they seemed to be entering a town, or at least what was left of it.

"Here," Killian said when they reached the docks, pointing to one of the ships. "There she is, the Jolly Roger."

"Of course." Emma muttered to herself before turning to him. "So what now? We reached your ship, but this place is a ghost town. What are we going to do, live at sea in a boat until someone suddenly finds us and takes pity?"

"Ship," he corrected, offended, "And no, that's not what I'm planning. The Enchanted Forest is nearly destroyed, but the lands beyond it remain. We have to get to one of them and get you a place to live until we figure things out."

"So... we're going through some portal again? On a ship?" she asked clearly confused.

"No," Killian said, a little impatient, "I'll explain it later. First, we need to board the ship and get going. If you please, milady?" he said holding out his hand.

Emma considered him tentatively, hesitating for a moment, before taking his hand. He grinned. She gave a small smile as well.

He led her to the ship. "You haven't given me your name yet, lass." Killian said, glancing at her as if expecting an answer.

"Emma." she said after a pause, "Emma Swan."

"Emma Swan." he repeated, "That's a nice name."

Aboard the ship, a surprise was waiting for them.

"Well, welcome aboard, Captain." Cora said, chuckling, "We have a lot to talk over tea, or maybe, rum."