The drummers played their march as Hook and Emma were lead into the courtyard. King David rose as they were lead up to the executioner's block.
"Regina, my love, what is this?" David asked in confusion.
"I found them in the woods," Regina said, pouring on the fake tears. "I only asked them to come home, and this pirate tried to kill me. When I pleaded for my life, your daughter beat me in return. What did I ever do to deserve such brutality?" Regina said, dramatically throwing herself into his arms. Emma rolled her eyes at the pathetic display, and the guards pulled her harder by the ropes around her wrists. Hook jumped forward and kicked the guard dragging Emma, causing more guards to jump on top of him.
"Enough!" David said, raising his hand. He walked down the steps and went in front of Emma "Emma, is this true?"
"No, it's not," Emma said. "I've been in prison for the past day getting tortured by Regina. I have the marks to prove it. Look at her yourself, there's not a scratch on her." David turned toward Regina and then back to Emma. Anger started to fuel in his eyes. The empty heart curse had blacken his mind so much that any words against Regina would turn him further from the truth. He motioned for the guards to take them to the executioner's platform. The guards threw Hook and Emma to the polls and the archers lined up in front of them.
"Do you think your protection power will work against arrows?" Hook asked frantically as the arrows were raised.
"I don't think so," Emma said, tears forming in her eyes. This was it, she'll never see Henry again. "Wait!" King David held up his hand and the archers lowered their arrows. "Can I kiss Killian goodbye?"
"Absolutely not!" Regina said.
"Sire," said Jimney Cricket, flying up from the crowd to David. "It's your daughter's final wish." David raised his hand and turned his head away. The guards released Emma, who went to the side of Hook's post, giving him a long kiss on the cheek.
"Your dying wish and you only kiss my cheek," Hook asked, a bit disappointed. Emma smiled at him. It was then that Hook realized that his wrists had felt more free. Emma had untied the knots just enough that he could easily slip out. The guards threw Emma back to her pole and re-tied her hands. This time, when the archers raised their arrows, Hook felt a little more confident.
"FIRE!" Regina yelled. As the archers released their bows, Hook sprang from his pole and enveloped Emma in his arms, waiting for the arrows to hit. Emma focused all she could on protecting them, but she was too afraid of failing. Hook gripped her even harder, still waiting for the arrows, but nothing. He slowly released her and they looked at each other in confusion before Hook turned around to survey what had happened. Hook jumped a little as he was face to face with several arrows, but they were frozen. In fact, everyone was frozen, as if time had stopped, but both him and Emma were still moving. Hook grabbed an arrow from the air and broke it in half. He shrugged and quickly untied Emma, who quickly fell into his arms.
"I guess you're more powerful than you thought," Hook said, kissing her forehead.
"I didn't do this," Emma said, shaking her head.
"No, I did, dearies," Rumplestiltskin said, making his way through the crowd. "I thought I'd wait for a dramatic moment."
"And what a moment to wait- one second later and we'd both be dead," Emma stated.
"What do you want?" Hook said, putting his arm instinctively around Emma to protect her.
"To help you get home in exchange for the bean. Weren't you listening the first time?" Rumplestiltskin said. "Look, you even have your 'Twue Wove' with you, just like I promised. Are you ready to accept now?"
"What about the Killian and Emma of this world?" Emma asked. "Will they be okay?"
"Oh I'm sure they'll be fine," Rumplestiltskin giggled, pointing towards where the King was standing. They looked to see Killian and Swan directly behind David, about to pour the magical water over his head. "I assure you, once time resumes, all will be restored."
"And what about Regina? She's so much more powerful now. How can we be assured that everything will be set right again?" Emma asked.
"As much as I want that magic bean, I think I've been rather generous on your end," Rumplestiltskin said. "Unless you have something else to offer for their assured protection."
"Wait, after all that Regina has done to you..." Emma started, but Hook nodded to her that he had it under control.
"How about information?" Rumplestiltskin laughed at him.
"I'm the Dark One, sonny boy. What information is beyond my grasp?"
"How about Belle?" Rumplestiltskin froze and looked at him in anger.
"She's dead."
"No, she's not. Or at least she wasn't when I saw her 28 years ago. Regina was holding her captive right before she was going to enact the curse."
"In our world, she's alive. She might be here too," Emma added. Hook pointed to the highest point in the tower of the castle.
"She should be right up there," Hook said. "Under heavy guard and even heavier magical defenses." Rumplestiltskin looked furious, but nodded to both of them.
"Alright," he said. "I will take care of Regina and make sure she pays for her crimes and more in return for their safety." He stretched out his hand. "Now, the bean, please."
"And you'll get us to Storybrooke?" Emma asked.
"As I told you, dearie, I can get you back to your Enchanted Forest. Your Storybrooke is a bit out of my reach," Rumplestiltskin said. Hook's mind was spinning. He had to get Emma back to her son, but how? It was then he remembered something and turned to Emma.
"Emma, I promised I would get you home. Do you trust me?" Even though Emma's first thought was fear that she'd never see Henry again, she'd learned by now that Hook was one to put her trust in. When she nodded, he brought her hand to his lips in a silent promise that he would get her back to her boy. He took the bean out of his satchel and dropped it into Rumplestiltskin's hand. The imp giggled with glee and slit open the portal. Emma and Hook could see Lake Nostos on the other side, still just a small glimmer of what it used to be. Emma wrapped her hand around Hook's hook and they both stepped through the portal. Rumplestiltskin sealed the portal and snapped his fingers and time resumed.
Regina looked shocked as the arrows hit empty beams. "Guards! Where did they go?"
"Right here," Killian said, standing next to Emma in triumph next to a very wet David.
"How did you do that?" Regina asked in confusion. "And since when did you have an eye patch?"
"I think that's the least of your problems now," Emma said as David's memories began to come back.
"Guards! Arrest this woman for the murder of Queen Snow White!" King David ordered. Regina sent the guards flying backward, but in seconds was completely immobilized.
"What?" she said in surprise. Rumplestiltskin appeared in a puff of smoke, next to a more older-looking Belle. Regina's expression collapsed in defeat. "Rumple."
"It appears as if your happy ending is up, dearie," Rumplestiltskin said. "You're highness, if you please, I would be more than happy to lock this woman up," he said to David. The King nodded and Rumplestiltskin sent her to Belle's cell, completely cut off from the world, sealed with the strongest enchantments he could conjure. "And now, if you'll excuse me, I've got a long overdue journey to make." Rumplestiltskin tossed the bean in the air and jumped through the portal with Belle in tow. The guards started to chase after the closing portal, but David held up his hand.
"Let him go," David said. He turned to Killian and Emma, embracing them both. "Emma, I am so sorry." Emma let the tears fall as she held her father, with Killian close beside her. David released them both and held their hands up to their subjects. "From this day forward, Princess Emma and Prince Killian will rule by my side, and will regain their place as my successors." The court cheered and news quickly spread throughout the kingdom- the evil reign of Regina was over.
Emma and Hook fell onto the beach of Lake Nostos. They were back in their Enchanted Forest. Hook and Emma helped each other up and embraced each other. Emma grabbed his face and pulled him into a passionate kiss.
"I don't know what that was for, but I'll take it." Hook said with a wink.
"Just a small thank you for staying with me," Emma said. "And taking advantage of a quiet moment before anything else crazy happens." Hook smiled and returned her kiss with equal passion. "Now, how do we get back to Storybrooke? I think this land is out of magic compasses and wardrobe dust." Hook pulled the dried up bean from around his neck.
"It was my backup plan in case Cora left without me. And since she was so kind as to dig up the magical water for us," he said, bending over and dipping the bean into the water. "I think it'll be enough to get us back to Storybrooke."
"But how will we get there? We don't have the compass." Hook stood up and held up the bean, which glowed white until it restored to it's original sparkly blue form.
"It seems you have forgotten about the most magnificent ship in all the realms. Care to go sailing, m'lady?" Hook said, bowing and offering his arm. Emma instead took his hook and started running in the direction of the sea.