A/N a few days early, but I got some wonderful news today so I'm gonna post this in honor of that! Please please please review! I really hope you like this chapter!
Chapter Three
Emma had been living with Ingrid for three years. In those years, Emma's bond with the woman whom she now regarded as her mother had grown stronger. It took time, but Emma was finally beginning to feel at home. She was finally beginning to accept that she was loved and that things were going to be OK. She didn't feel so alone anymore. She began to have hope. Ingrid accepted Emma for everything she was. She was always positive and understanding. Yet, there were still those talks of Emma's potential greatness and power. For an eight year old, it got to be annoying.
Over the years, Emma kept dreaming of that place. It wasn't quite the same as the first dream. Most of the time, she would just dream of walking along the streets of the village, exploring the forest and the docks. Sometimes she would dream she was playing with the kids again. But she never dreamed of the boy. The dreams didn't come frequently, but when they came, it was like Emma's faith was renewed. The last time she had dreamt of the village was two months ago. She was in school and a girl had made fun of her for being adopted. She remembered coming home in tears, the mean girl's words cutting her to her core. That night, she dreamt of the village. She walked along the streets and stared up at the stars once the town fell quiet. She woke feeling better about everything. The stars still sparked for her, and somehow she just knew that things were going to be OK.
Emma had spent the night with Ingrid at the fair that had come to town. It was summer, and the Minnesota air was perfect. They spent hours playing games and going on all the rides. It was the first time Emma really felt at home. It was the first time she was truly happy and at peace with her situation. It was the first time Emma truly saw Ingrid as her mom. In fact, it was the first time Emma actually called her mom. Ingrid cried, pulling Emma into a large embrace.
Emma could remember falling asleep, but the next thing she knew she was back in that seaside village. This time, she could tell things were different. The children were running inside as a man marched up the street. He wasn't large, but something was unsettling about him. He had the most ridiculous sneer on his face. It was like he was trying too hard to look tough, yet Emma knew he wasn't a man she wanted to cross. Behind the man came two boys. One was tall and lanky, and he looked to be about sixteen. The other boy was younger. He was more timid, not looking up from the ground as he walked.
As the man moved closer towards her, she moved to hide behind a stand. For some reason, her instinct kicked in, and she knew she couldn't be out in the open in front of this man. Something about him just screamed run. The man and the two boys came to a stop near her hiding spot. She wasn't fully hidden, but just enough that man didn't spot her.
"You boy," the man spoke, looking to the older boy. "Go down to the tavern and get me a wench for the night. Meet me at the inn in thirty minutes. If you are not there, it will be the lash for you."
The boy ran off without any word. Emma saw him go straight for the inn, not looking back at the man. The man laughed a bit at the scene that had just been displayed. He was getting a kick out of scaring the boys. He turned to the younger one.
"Now you, you bastard, you wait right here. Don't go running off anywhere. There is no escaping for you, you are my property now, understand. Your no good father assured me of that. I will find you if you run, and when I do, you won't be able to sit down for weeks." he cackled. The boy's head stayed hung, refusing to look the man in the eyes. He gave a slight nod and moved to sit near Emma's spot.
As the man entered into the shop, Emma took notice of the boy near her. He was skinny - too skinny really. It reminded her of the kids in the group home. No one ever had enough to eat, so everyone stayed small. His hands were shaking, in fact, his whole body was shaking. She didn't know what made her want to talk to the boy, but something in her opened her mouth.
"Hey," she whispered, " are you OK?"
The boy whipped his head around, the brown matted hair on his head moving only slightly. He needed a bath desperately, or to cut his hair. His eyes bore into her, and it was only then did she realize who she was looking at. It was the boy from all those years ago. His sea blue eyes darker now, but still the same. He had grown up a bit; he was taller, his face a bit longer and more structured. Yet his eyes were still red. He had been crying again.
"You." he said. No explanation behind it, just a statement.
"You remember me?" she asked.
"Aye, you were there the night my mom died. That was four years ago though. You sat with me until my dad called for me." he said as an explanation.
"Yeah, I did. I'm sorry about your mom," she said, moving to sit closer to the boy. He was in the daylight, while she stayed hidden in the shadows. She was sure if the man came back out of the shop and saw them talking, it would only lead to bad things.
"Thanks." he said, tears welling up in his eyes again.
"Who was that?" she asked, moving her head to point inside the building. A grimace appearing on her face.
"The captain." he said, with a small sob. He didn't explain anything else, but for some reason, this time, Emma couldn't help but push him for more answers.
"You work for him?" she asked.
"No, I belong to him now. When my mom died, my dad moved us away. He was gone a lot, always out to sea working. A few days ago, he came home and told me and my brother to pack up our things, that we were leaving. Two nights ago, he abandoned ship, trading Liam and myself for his safe passage." he said, tears now falling freely down his face.
"That's horrible." she said, unsure of what to say. Everything the boy said sucked. He had already lost his mother, and now his father had abandoned him. She understood what he felt, and knew there wasn't much she could say to make him feel better. It had taken her years to finally be OK with her situation. They were both orphans, left by the people who were supposed to love them and protect them.
The boy just nodded, as his tears kept falling. It was like he hadn't been able to grieve properly; it was like everything was hitting him like a bag of bricks. She reached out and grabbed the boy's hand, just holding it in hers. She knew it wasn't much, but she hoped it would help; especially since she knew it was all she had wanted when she was younger - someone to show that they cared.
"I'm Emma by the way. Emma Swan." she said, smiling at the boy.
"Killian Jones." he said, a small smile appearing on his somber face.
They sat in silence for a while, her hand in his. She knew the man would be coming out soon - remembering his words to the boy who must be Killian's brother. Too soon, he would have to leave again, back to his horrible life, back to his own personal hell.
"I know it isn't much, and I know it doesn't seem like it now, but things will get better. When I first met you, I didn't think I would ever have a family, but now I have a mom. She isn't my real mom, but she loves me. Just don't let this beat you. You aren't alone," she said, hoping to give him some of the hope she was beginning to feel again. He smiled at her, a true smile this time.
"Thanks." he whispered. As he did, the bell above the door to the shop rang out. Killian jumped up and moved away from his spot. The man came out and laughed.
"Ah good, you're still here. But I can't say I didn't wish you did run." he laughed, pushing Killian ahead of him and up the street towards the tavern.
Emma wanted to follow him, but knew it wasn't a good idea. Instead, she walked the opposite way. Praying and hoping that Killian would be OK, and that maybe she would see him again someday. She sat by the docks until the sun had set - the stars filling the sky. Bringing out hope to the people of the seaside village.
She woke with a revived hope the next morning. Now that she really looked at things - her life was pretty amazing. She only wished the boy from her dreams was real - even though she knew he wasn't - she hoped that he found his hope and happiness; the way she found hers.
It took them longer than expected to walk back to the camp. They were all tired from their previous day's activities. Aurora had thankfully found some of Snow's old clothes and wore them instead of her dress, which helped with the trek through the woods. Even though there were clothes; Emma refused to change. Putting on the clothes of the Enchanted Forest was just too much for her to handle.
They arrived back to the camp around sunset. The scene before them was different than what had greeted them when they first arrived. The tents had been burned to the ground, leaving scraps of fabric fluttering in the breeze. Bodies laid all around them. Many were bloody and mangled. Emma had seen some pretty bad things before, but nothing compared to this.
"Spread out, stay silent, but look for survivors." Mulan ordered, moving towards Lancelot's tent.
Emma stayed close to Mary Margaret though. After her confession last night, she didn't feel right walking away from her mother. Besides, she was coming to grips that her mother was their best warrior. There was no way she was going to walk away from the person that had the best chance of getting them home.
"What happened?" Emma questioned.
"Ogres." came a whisper from Aurora who was also nearby. Looks like no one followed Mulan's rule. Aurora's face was twisted with guilt and horror.
"No," Mary Margaret interrupted. "No, this wasn't done by ogres, only made to look that way. Look."
She pointed to a corpse lying near Emma, who was faced up. The face of the man was turned, looking away from the group. He was bloody, and his scalp was covered in dirt. It was his shirt however that stood out to Emma. There was a large ring of blood that could be seen underneath the shirt, but there was no tear in the shirt or wound.
"What the hell?" Emma voiced.
"Cora." Mary Margaret explained, using only the woman's name. Aurora seemed to understand the connotation of the name, while Emma was left questioning. "She used to rip the hearts out of people, to use them and control them. I've seen something like this before."
"Shit." Emma swore, what the hell had they gotten themselves into.
"We need to leave. She could still be here." Mary Margaret said, moving back through the mess of bodies to find Mulan.
"I'm going to try and find supplies and survivors." Aurora added, moving away from Emma.
Emma looked around at the destruction that surrounded her. Cora was mad. How could she do this? She killed all of these people simply because Emma destroyed a way to get to her land? What kind of monster were they dealing with? While Emma thought about Cora, her mind also drifted back to her son. How the hell were they going to find a way back now? Things were starting to look hopeless - things were starting to look like they would be stuck here, in a crazy universes with heart stealing witches and Disney characters come to life.
She had been so caught up in her thoughts, that she hadn't noticed her mother's arrival at her side. Emma was staring off into the woods that circled the camp. She had been hoping they would calm her, but they did the opposite. They were too confining, they made Emma feel that she was truly lost.
"Emma?" she heard her mother's question.
"I'm fine." Emma lied.
"Hey, it's OK. We will find a way back to our family. We always find each other, and this time is no different, it may just take some hard work. You just need to…"
"Have hope?" Emma interjected.
"Yes, have hope." Mary Margaret insisted. "I spoke with Mulan, we will be leaving shortly. She thinks there may be another Kingdom not too far from here that can help. They are just finding supplies."
Her mother stood close to her, just standing with her while she looked out to the trees. Hope was something her mother always said to have, but didn't she realize just how pointless it was to have hope. Hope could let you down. She used to hope for a real family, she used to hope that giving Henry up was the right decision. Look where that hope got her now: stuck in a fantasyland running from a crazy witch who wanted to get back to her world and take her son.
She kept her eyes trained on the woods. Wishing that something would click inside of her, that some miracle would come. Hell, they were in a land with magic, maybe wishes did come true here; plus it was better than hope. She knew wishes were empty, but it still helped her.
The stars were out now. Her mother built up a fire while Mulan and Aurora were still looking around the camp. Emma didn't think there would be any survivors - why would Cora leave anyone alive? At least though, they could maybe find some food and they could eat for the first time since breakfast.
"I found someone." Mulan said, her voice coming closer to their area in the camp. "Move, let's go." she heard her voice call. It sounded like Mulan was having issues with their survivor. She heard the thunk of a body being pushed down onto the ground.
"Get your bloody hands off of me. Untie me now. What the hell is going on?" came the voice of their survivor. Emma was just about to turn around when the voice rang in its familiar noise. No, it can't be Emma thought to herself. There was no way in hell this was happening. She was frozen, her back to the commotion behind her.
"Mulan, why is he tied up?" Aurora questioned.
"For our protection. Cora ripped our people's hearts out, and I know she can control them with their hearts. I'm not taking a chance that this is either Cora in disguises or that she is using him." The woman explained. She had a point - it wouldn't make sense for Cora to leave anyone, and they couldn't trust those left in the camp after the reveal of Lancelot.
"Who are you? What happened here?" Mary Margaret questioned the man.
"Last night, Cora appeared. She came in so quickly, taking out half of the people with fire. Then she started to rip out their hearts. I ran to get away, and hid myself among the rubble of one of the tents. However, I must have passed out, as I don't remember anything from the day, only waking up and this lass tying me up. I was just lucky she was so enraged she didn't notice me. Please, I am not Cora and she doesn't have my heart." he explained.
"Untie him." came Mary Margaret's voice.
"No!" shouted Emma, still not turning around. She couldn't bear to witness the sight that would wait her.
"What the bloody hell?" the voice said again, and Emma knew that if she turned around she would see a face she though she had only dreamed about.
Emma turned around slowly, wishing that she would be wrong, that the voice would belong to someone else. She prayed that she wouldn't see a mess of floppy hair and bright blue eyes.
"He's lying," she said as her turn came full circle. She could finally see the body that the voice belonged to, and unfortunately her prayers weren't answered. The man was kneeling down beside the fire, his face locked on hers. The mess of brown, almost black, hair stood out first, it was shorter than the last time she dreamt of him. His eyes a bit darker, filled with anger and annoyance. Yet they still shined, there was still a sparkle in them.
When his eyes met hers, she felt the same pull to him she felt in her dreams. She couldn't wrap her mind around it. He was real. He was actually here. Believing that the world she had dreamt about was real came quite easy to Emma. But believing the man who she used to dream about was real was something much different. His eyes roamed over her body, taking her in. There was confusion behind his look, but there was also a knowledge and understanding. His eyes began to narrow to fully grasp the situation he now found himself in.
Mary Margaret had walked over to her daughter, placing a hand on her shoulder. There was a question in her eyes, trying to understand Emma's reasoning. She had told her mother once that she had a way of knowing that people were lying, and at this moment, she knew the man in front of her was lying.
"Hello Killian." she said in almost a whisper, as everyone in the group turned to look at the man.
"Emma?" he said, staring right through her.
Since the night she had met Killian officially, Emma's dreams happened more and more. Most of the time though, she dreamt of that seaside village. Playing with the local children and exploring the area. It was slowly becoming her favorite place, even if it wasn't real. Sometimes though, she would dream she was floating on the ocean, stretching out forever around her. Those dreams worried her a bit - they were weird. She was always alone, on a ship, one that would continue to sail every if she didn't do anything. She would spend her time reading the books she found on the ship and watching the sun move through the sky.
Emma was now fourteen. She was in middle school - a very trying time for young ladies according to her mother. She hadn't made many friends, preferring to be by herself. She had taken to reading to help pass the time at school during lunch and recess. She had some friends, but they weren't anything compared to the friends she had in her dreams. She kept them secret though.
Over the years she had come to accept Ingrid as her mother. She had been there for her through everything now. She was supportive and compassionate. She helped Emma with her homework and planned fun and exciting adventures on the weekend. Emma even got to visit Disney world, a surprise that Ingrid had planned for her when she graduated from the fifth grade. Emma loved every minute of it - but hated the ride of Peter Pan. That kid gave her the creeps.
While everything had been going well, there were still times when Emma's fears and doubts came crawling back to the surface, especially on days like today. Today the school held a father/daughter dance, and since Emma didn't have a father she didn't attend. It was really depressing. She was in the eighth grade and this was her last year in middle school - thank god! She couldn't wait for high school. But she did still want to enjoy all the things middle schoolers experience. So instead of attending the dance, she sat at home, in her chair that looked out at the night sky and tried to imagine a better life - one where she had a true family - one where she had a mom and a dad.
She fell asleep in that chair, and was transported to her dream world, where everything was perfect. She didn't know if she had a family there, but she felt like she did. She felt happier than she had ever felt in that world.
Once she was in her town, she felt a pull towards the tavern. She had only ever been in there once before, when she was so hungry and she hadn't eaten that day. The Inn Keeper, who also owned the tavern, gave her a meal for free - it was the best soup she had ever tasted. But today, she wasn't really hungry. But something inside of her told her to make her way to the tavern. As she entered, she took a look around. No one really looked familiar that was until she saw a man in the corner. He was familiar, and had a huge scowl across his face.
"Come here wench." he barked at the passing tavern lady, and it was with that she placed the man. He was the captain who Killian was forced to serve. If the captain was back, maybe that meant Killian was back too. It had been years since she had seen him. She thought about him a lot actually. She had gained a family, but he had lost his. Emma scolded herself earlier that night when she was upset about not having a father, because at least she had a mother: Killian had neither. She looked around the tavern again, hoping to see the boy she used to know. Not seeing anyone else familiar, she moved out back. Many times the younger group would come to the alley to drink there - the servant boy who worked in the tavern would serve them the left over ale through a hole in the wall, since they weren't old enough to drink.
She was overcome with joy when she saw him sitting against a wall. He looked older, as he always did. His hair was messier than it had been the last time she saw him, and was a bit longer. In fact, it was long enough she thought it could be pulled into a ponytail. His eyes were closed and his hands were wrapped around a large cup, which Emma was sure was filled with ale. His legs were stuck out in front of him, and she wondered how much he grew since they last met. Drawing herself from her inner monologue of assessing his growth, Emma barreled towards him.
"Killian!" she yelled, making his head jerk up. His eyes were bright red, but she could tell he hadn't been crying. His eyes were hazy. Killian Jones was drunk.
"Emma?" he questioned, her name falling from his lips with the sound of shock.
"I haven't' seen you in forever." she said, bending down to look at him square in the eyes. Her hands came to rest on his hands that still held the cup. He smelled of the sea and alcohol. It wasn't something she was used to. She wouldn't say he stunk, but she would confess she never wanted to smell him like this again.
"Aye lass, it's been a while." he said, sadness spilling out.
"How are you? You look different? How long has it been actually?" she asked,
"I've been better lass. It's been six years since I last saw you. You've grow up too. Your hair is longer now," he said, reaching out with one hand to grab a strand of her hair.
"I'm fourteen now," she confessed. He chuckled at her statement. "So, what is going on Killian? Why are you drinking?"
Looking down at his mug, she could see that he wasn't drinking ale. Normally the ale the boys drank had foam on the top, or at least some bubbles. This liquid was the same color as the ale, but had a different scent.
"Ah, the rums helps." He said, moving to take another sip of the drink. Emma could already see that this was not good for him. She was only fourteen, but she already knew that drinking wasn't the answer to someone's problems. In fact, they tended to make things worse. She reached out, and took his hand again, stopping him from taking another sip.
"Helps with what?" she inquired.
"Why do you care lass, it's been six years since I've seen you? You didn't care then," he barked at her. It hurt, it wasn't her fault she could never find him.
"I care, you're my friend Killian. You've helped me more than you know. The last time I saw you, you helped me to realize something - helped me to hope again. I've tried to find you again, but you are never here when I am. I'm sorry Killian, but I'm here now." she explained. She knew deep down that this was a dream, but why should she tell him that.
"I'm sorry lass. We've actually only been in this port once after that last time. I tried to find you too, but I couldn't. The Captain had me cleaning up the ship the entire time. I didn't even make it off the ship." he confessed.
"OK, so tell me what is wrong." she said, moving to now sit beside him. She still kept hold of his hands, hoping that it would stop him from drinking.
"Well, the captain is the same, still as evil as ever. My brother and I have been trying to save our money to buy commissions in the Royal Navy. I can't live on that ship any longer lass, I can't. I can't take the torture anymore," he said, bowing his head. She wanted to ask him what he meant by torture, but she knew she didn't really want to know - all she knew was it was bad.
"Are you all close?" she asked, and when his head cocked to the side she rephrased the question. "Are you and Liam close to saving up the money? Can I help at all?' she said.
He shook his head at her question and pulled his legs up to his chest. She allowed him to put the mug to the side and wrap his hands around his legs. She placed her hand on his forearm, hoping to give him encouragement to tell the rest of his tale.
"No lass, we are not. Thanks to me. I've been drinking almost every day lately, just so I can make it through the pain. Last night, I gambled away the money that Liam asked me to watch. We were only five gold coins away from a commission for the both of us, and I stupidly gambled it away while I was drinking. The captain has our money now, and I fear his torture will get worse now." he confessed, the pain of his actions coming out in his voice.
"Well I'm sorry Killian that it happened, but at the same time you deserved It." she said, not holding back. It was time for some tough love, as Ingrid called it. A few weeks ago, Emma got into a fight with a girl, and while Ingrid was sorry that Emma had to stick up for herself, she also told her that she now had to live with the consequences. She deserved her punishment then, just like Killian deserved his now. She would never wish him to be tortured, but maybe losing his money while drunk and gambling could teach him a lesson.
"Let me explain," she started when she say the look of betrayal on his face. "You have been going about this all wrong. Drinking isn't the solution to anything Killian; in fact it is a problem. Gambling is the same. Maybe, instead of seeing this as some hell, see it as a shining light to get better, to be better. You don't have to live like this Killian. Sober up, stop gambling, and get your money back. You're only down and out if you believe it. Start living your life."
He looked at her, his eyes taking in her face. A small smile came to life on his. It wasn't like the one she had seen years prior when he was a boy, but it was still a smile.
"Do you really think so?" he asked.
"Yes. Every day I deal with crap from kids at school, and I had to learn to move on from it. I had to use the pain to get my strength. Take the pain you feel, the anger, the resentment, and use it. I believe in you," she said. She did believe in him. He had been through so much, and he was still living, that had to count for something.
"You're right lass. I just wish there was something I could do to help my brother. He is so mad at me," he explained.
"Well, you start by apologizing, and truly meaning it. Then, you stop drinking, or if you can't do that, you limit yourself. You start being the man you want to be," she stated.
"Is that what you do?" he asked.
"I'm still really young Killian, but yes. I don't let what the other kids say about me determine who I am. Sometimes, I still cry and get upset. Hell, I was just in a fight a few weeks ago I got into a fight with a girl who was mean to me. But, I used it to my advantage. I don't want to be that girl, so I won't be. I use it as a reminder." she said.
Ingrid had always said Emma was wise beyond her young years, and in this moment, Emma felt that.
"Now, get up, clean yourself up, and go for a walk. Sober up. Go and talk to your brother, and start over," she said, standing up. She reached her hand down, offering him help. He took her hand. It was the first time their hands had touched this way. Sure, she held his hands while they had a cup in them, but this was the first time their fingers intertwined. There was a spark in that touch, one that held something special. Emma looked into his blue eyes, and something stirred within her.
"Thanks Swan." he said, using her last name. She hadn't taken Ingrid's last name when she was adopted, but the schools used her mother's name, so she hadn't been called Swan in a while. She liked it. The smirk he had on his face helped too.
"You're welcome Killian. Please try to get better," she said, finally letting go of his hand.
"Aye." he said, turning to leave.
He was at the end of the alley when he turned around to look at her. His blue eyes staring into her. They were clearer now, the hazy lifting and redness subsiding.
"Do you think we'll see each other again?" he questioned, a hint of longing in them.
"I hope so," she confessed.
"Me too Swan. You're my guardian angel," he said, a large smile crossing his face, as he turned to exit the alleyway.
"Emma?" he said, staring right through her.
The name on his lips almost brought her crumbling to her knees. His voice tore a hole straight through her. It had been years since she had seen him, dreamt of him, and heard his voice whisper her name. Yet, everything seemed to fall back into place the second he said her name.
"Swan? Is that really you?" he questioned again, pulling her from her trance.
"Yes. Been a long time hasn't Jones?" she said in a simple statement, no emotion coming to her voice. She was trying to stay calm and steady, not letting on the whirlwind of emotions and thoughts that were running through her head.
Mulan moved to untie the man again. It was frustrating that the girl couldn't just listen to what she had to say. Mulan trusted Mary Margaret. Emma though didn't get the same respect from Mulan that she gave her mother.
"I said don't untie him." she barked at the warrior. Aurora jumped back at the sudden increase of Emma's voice - pain and anger coming out in the words.
"Emma please, let me go," he begged from his position on the ground.
Emma took in the sight before her. He was wearing clothes that were too big for him, that covered every inch of skin he had minus his head and hands. They were a pale color, but had dirt caked on them. There were no tears in the fabric, in fact, the outfit looked too clean if you asked her. It helped solidify her gut instinct that he was lying.
"No, not until you tell us the truth." she said, not making eye contact.
Killian didn't respond, just hung his head low, cast down towards his bent knees. It was a look Emma was used to seeing on him, as it was the look he had their first meeting. In that moment, it reminded her of the boy she used to consider her friend. Sure, an imaginary friend, but a friend nonetheless.
"Alright, fine." he sighed, his voice just loud enough for her to hear.
"Who are you?" Aurora questioned.
"Killian Jones, but you may know me better by my moniker… Hook." he began, when he said his new name, Emma actually let out a laugh. Captain fucking Hook was Killian Jones, the boy she had saved countless times according to him. The man with a perm and an ugly moustache was in fact the man sitting before them. Emma had to admit, Disney really screwed this one up.
"Cora wanted me to gain your trust, so that I could learn everything there is to know about your Storybrooke. She didn't want any surprises when she finally got there." he explained, a look of regret passed through his eyes.
"She can't get there though, Emma destroyed the wardrobe." Mary Margaret explained, looking at her daughter. Emma was glad she kept her distance. She wasn't sure if she could handle comfort from her mother right now. Emma's mind was still going a mile a minute: trying to wrap her head around what was coming to play.
"That's where you're wrong love. The enchantment remains. She collected the ashes from the rubble. She is going to use them to open a portal. Now, I think it's time you untie me!" he said, rather matter of factly. At least somethings were still the same with him. As Emma grew older, and she met him more times in her fantasies, he became more confident and authoritative. He hadn't lost that, unlike his left hand. She actually found herself wondering if the story was true, that Peter Pan had fed it to a crocodile.
"What do you think Emma?" her mother asked.
"I'm not sure, on one hand he was working with Cora, which means we can't very well trust him much. But on the other, he is telling the truth." she stated. She could see it in his eyes; he wasn't lying about Cora's plan or her use for him. However, she was scared to trust him. What if Cora did have his heart? What if he betrayed them?
"Emma, please, you need me," he begged.
"Why?" she questioned, the words coming out a bit harsher than she wanted. "Why the hell do we need you?"
"Because I can help you get back to your land. I arranged for transport to your land with Cora. However, it seems that I picked the wrong side. If I help you to get back to your land, all I ask is that you take me with you." he said, again, only truth ringing out in his words.
"Fine, we accept your help, but you have to prove to us that we can trust you, until then, you stay in cuffs. Also, you need to prove that Cora doesn't have your heart. It's the only way we will let you out of them." she said, looking to the others for approval of her plan. All nodded in response.
"What is Cora after now, in order to get back to our land." Mary Margaret asked Killian. They had been walking in the woods for a while now. The darkness surrounding them. The moon's light didn't penetrate well into the dense wood. Emma fell to the back of the pack, refusing to be near the man she once trusted, or at least she thought she trusted. She was starting to think that maybe he wasn't the same person, that maybe her version of Killian Jones was different than this version. Maybe her dreams were of a different world, where Killian Jones was a good guy.
"She said she needed to find a compass in order to travel within the portal. The wardrobe can't direct itself, so something needs to be used to plot the course. During the first curse, it drew its destination from the curse that was surrounding it. A hat uses the people who travel in it, and their minds. A bean is similar to a wardrobe, it needs to be guided. Cora is looking for a special compass, one that leads to a person's heart's desire," he explained. He had been leading them through the woods. They still didn't trust him, but something told Emma that he wasn't leading them into immediate danger.
"And where might this compass be? Is that where we are headed?" Aurora asked. She spoke to Killian with a bit of remorse.
"Aye lass, hopefully we are able to get the compass before Cora, and make it back to your land in time to stop her." he added.
Mary Margaret fell back, coming to pace with her daughter. Emma could tell she had many questions. She wasn't sure if she would be able to answer them all. Not without revealing too much. She wasn't prepared to tell her mother everything, not yet.
"So, you know him?" her mother asked.
"Yes, at least I'm pretty sure I do." Emma said, rather quickly.
"How?" the question from Mary Margaret was one Emma wished she knew the answer to. She had dreamt of this place since she was a kid. She never thought it was real. How was she able to dream of people and places she had never been to or seen? How was she able to create relationships with them through a dream?
"I don't know," she confessed.
"Well maybe Regina or Gold will know once we get home. Hopefully they will have some answers for you." For the first time since she arrived in the enchanted forest, Emma did have hope. Hope that she would get some answers she had been waiting for her entire life.
"Up ahead. We'll find he compass just over that ridge." Hook said, pointing with his conjoined hands before him.
They had stopped walking about two hours after leaving the camp, putting enough distance between the carnage and themselves in order to sleep. Each person took a turn watching Killian and the surrounding area. Emma had the third watch, right after Aurora and right before her mother. Thankfully when Aurora woke her, Killian had fallen asleep, allowing Emma some peace, some time to think.
She had stared at him for a while, taking in his features. Just like when she found him in that alleyway, his features had changed, but he was still Killian. His hair was still a mess, but Emma would be lying if she said it didn't suit him. He had a beard as well, framing the hard structure of his face. He was taller, even compared to the last time she saw him. Could he really have kept growing? He had shed his get up before Mulan took the first watch, and seeing him in leather did something to her. It always had.
Once they awoke the following morning, Emma tried hard to keep in check her emotions. She still wasn't sure if Cora had his heart or not. She hoped, for her sake, she didn't. She hoped that the man in front of her was truly there, helping them without a hidden agenda.
Mary Margaret was again walking in the back with Emma, while Mulan walked beside Hook. Aurora was between them, acting as a buffer.
"Do you get the feeling he's leading us exactly where Cora wants us? That this whole thing is a trap?" she asked, worry lacing her voice.
Emma had thought about that, and truthfully was OK either way. If it was a trap, she knew what was coming. If it wasn't a trap, it was icing on the cake.
"I have thought of that. As long as we know it maybe a trap, then we can stay one step ahead of them. The Killian I know would do anything to protect those around him, and if he gave you his word, he meant it. I am hoping it is the same Killian, but if not, at least we knew it ahead of time. Cora isn't going to get what she wants either way." Emma said. She meant it too. Cora wasn't going to be winning any battles. Emma would stop at nothing to get back to Henry.
As they came to the edge of the forest, a large area spread out before them. Farms scattered the area, breaking it up into little squares. However, what Emma saw in the middle was what made her jaw drop.
A giant beanstalk rose from the ground and ascended into the sky. Shit she thought.
"Let me guess - the compass is up there?" she said, throwing a look at Killian, one normally reserved for annoying men at bars or teenagers in the supermarket.
"Aye love." he added, looking at her for the first time that morning.
"So what do we do?" she questioned, a bit sarcastically.
"We climb it of course. But it isn't the climb that we should worry about. It's the giant at the top." he said with a grin. Emma rolled her eyes and walked out of the tree line with a determination. She was going to get that compass and get back to her son. Nothing was going to stand in her way.