Chapter 11

Snow's eyes followed Emma, who had been pacing the length of the campsite for what felt like hours. Every once in a while she asked for the time; Mulan replied but her patience was growing thinner every time.

"You know, worrying yourself to death isn't gonna make them come back faster." Snow commented eventually.

Emma paused. "I know. But it makes me feel like I'm doing something and not just sitting here not knowing what's happening. Which is basically what we're actually doing."

"That isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes waiting is better than rushing in without a plan." Snow said.

"Doesn't feel better right now." Mulan chipped in, sighing. "I was supposed to protect Aurora, not sit here relying on some pirate to save her."

Emma couldn't help but throw her a reproachful glance. "He has a name, you know. And it's his ass on the line too. If he's not planning to betray us, that is." She added as an afterthought.

"If you're so doubtful about him, how could you just send him there alone?" Mulan asked, "All the more easier for him to switch sides as he wishes."

Emma didn't respond immediately. She didn't really know why. All the survival instincts she had built up over the years told her it was stupid to place her safety in the hands(hand and hook, rather) of someone who is likely to leave her at the first sign of danger, but there was something about him that made her want to trust him, something in his gaze that seemed to assure her that he would sooner give his life than put hers at risk. And then she saw her daughter's eyes shining out of a vaguely familiar face, like someone from a dream.

"Even if one of us goes along, we're putting that person at risk." She finally replied, "We're already at risk of losing Aurora, I don't like the thought of losing someone else. And we've got to protect the compass."

Mulan wasn't completely appeased but settled for the answer she got.

There was a rustle of bushes, causing them to immediately draw their weapons.

"It's me, Aurora." She said as she came into the clearing. They lowered their arms, relaxing.

"Thank god you're safe." Snow said, and Mulan went forward to hug her.

"Where's... Hook?" Emma asked slowly.

Aurora looked troubled. "He sent me ahead. He said he's trying to steal the ashes."

Emma's heart sank slightly. Stealing the ashes might mean encountering Cora directly, and that meant he was putting himself in a lot of danger.

"He probably has a plan." Snow reassured her.

"Which may or may not be in our favour. For all we know, he's just joined the witch to carry out her evil plan." Mulan said. "I say we go ahead and try to steal the ashes ourselves."

"He just saved Aurora. Why would her do that if he was on Cora's side?" Emma snapped. "I know he isn't exactly trustworthy, but we should at least give him a benefit of doubt. We gave him five hours, so we'll wait for those five hours. If he isn't back... We'll go ahead."

Mulan wasn't too happy with this, but accepted on Aurora's insistence.

They waited for the remaining two hours, but there was no sign of Hook.

"We have to get a move on now, or we may miss our chance altogether." Milan said.

Snow turned to Emma. Emma sighed deeply, and nodded. "Let's go. Cora's lair."

It was empty, devoid of protection spells. Clearly the queen of hearts had no intention of returning, which could only mean one thing.

"She's going to Storybrooke." Emma said blankly.

"I told you we shouldn't have trusted him!" Mulan said, frustrated.

"No, but how can she go? The compass is with me!" She pulled it out and rechecked it. Then it struck her. "Unless..."

"Unless what?"

Emma actually smiled. "He's trying to fool her. He has given her a different compass, but Cora never saw the compass, did she? So she doesn't know. She gonna jump into the portal with the fake compass, but it's not gonna lead her where she wants to go. She's gonna be lost in some different realm."

"Wow." Aurora said. "That's a really smart plan."

"And dangerous." Emma said with a tinge of worry, "If it failed, he could end up dead."

Snow chuckled. "Well, what's a pirate who doesn't love danger? For the right incentive, people can go to great lengths."

While Snow's comment did nothing to ease her worry, the fact that he was doing all this for them, for her, made her heart skip a beat.

She needed to help him.

"Where are they headed?" She asked, looking from one person to the other. "The ashes, is there, like some way to activate them or something?"

Snow was lost in thought for a moment. "Well, burning the wardrobe was kind of deactivating it, but then..." Realization dawned on her. "I know where they're headed!"

"I present to you, Lake Nostos." Cora said, gesturing at what seemed to be a barren patch of land.

Killian looked at her with a raised eyebrow. "I may be a simple pirate, but I know this much: lakes have water."

Cora sighed, and waved a hand, causing the formation of a big hole in the ground and water surging up. "After all that we've been through, you still doubt me?"

He threw her an impressed glance before getting down to business. "Now that that's settled, can I get what I am owed?"

Cora waved her hand, and a piece of paper appeared, which Killian quickly pocketed. "Your son's location. Sappy as that is, it's your great prize."

She threw the ashes into the lake, and within no time, it was swirling like a whirlpool. A portal.

Killian threw her a fake smile. "I'll take your leave, then."

"I wasn't finished." She said in a dangerous tone, making him stop, wary. She stepped over to him. "What I was saying was..." She was nearly seductive in her approach, hand crawling to find place over his heart, and dread coiled in his gut. "It's too bad you're never gonna see him again."

In a flash, he was moving backwards, and his heart was throbbing in the witch's hand.

"Come on, Saviour. It's time for you to come out now."

A/N: I'm really sorry about the long gaps between updates. Life is hell sometimes and then I lose motivation to write.

Rest assured the next update WILL be soon. Like really soon. I'm halfway through it already ;)