A/N: As promised… here is the next chapter!
Disclaimer: I always forget to put these in, so yup sadly I don't own OUAT… if I did there would be a lot more shirtless Captain Hook… soo…
"It's like I have ESPN or something!" ~Mean Girls
"Well, well, dear captain. So this is who you've double crossed me for."
"Cora."
Killian's cold voice greeted her. Emma couldn't help but notice that he had inconspicuously turned Emma so that she stood behind him. A part of her wanted to slap him for thinking she couldn't take care of herself, while the other part wanted to slap him for putting himself in danger.
However inconspicuous Killian's actions might have been, it wasn't enough. Cora noticed his movement.
"Oh my, what's this? Has our beloved captain gone soft?"
Killian growled. "Don't touch her. Your fight is with me Cora. I betrayed you. Leave her out of it."
Cora's former smirk turned into a full blown, sinister twist of a smile.
"How noble of you… but where is the fun in that?"
And with another bone chilling sneer, Cora attacked. Purple tendrils of dark magic shot out of her fingertips, wrapping themselves around Snow, Aurora, and Mulan. The three princesses thrashed and wrestled to get free as the smoke dragged them back to where Killian and Emma were, but there was no fighting Cora's dark magic.
Circling around Killian and Emma, she froze them both with a simple wave of her hand.
"Now, now, don't bother fighting the spell- it won't break." She was practically giddy at the sight of all of these pesky little princesses trapped at her mercy.
"CORA! Let them go! It's me you want! I broke Emma out of your cell, I stole the compass from you, I went back on our deal. This has nothing to do with them!"
Killian was desperately trying to bargain for Emma's life. This was his fault. He should've let Emma keep him locked in the giant's castle- at least that way, Cora wouldn't be threatening to kill her because of him.
"Well captain, I do consider myself a fair fighter. You best me in a sword fight- I let her and her friends live… In exchange for your heart to control. You know, so I'll be sure I have your absolute loyalty in the future." The sneer in Cora's voice was downright murderous. "If you lose… well, I guess you'll all die and I'll still get your heart!"
"No, Killian, don't!" Emma struggled to get free. She couldn't-wouldn't- let him give up his heart for them. This was exactly what Emma had feared all her life. Every time someone got close to her, they would leave. It didn't matter if they betrayed her, or if they were forced to, or if they just plain died- everybody left her.
Hearing his name upon Emma's lips only encouraged his already made decision. She had a son to get back to, and he would be damned if his previous promise to her meant nothing.
"I'll do it."
"Wonderful!" With another wave, Killian dropped to the ground. He grabbed his sword and turned around to look at Emma.
"I'd never forgive myself if I didn't do this."
And for a brief, amazing second, Killian's lips met hers. Emma felt her lips tingling and goose bumps erupt along her skin. All too soon, his warmth was gone, the silence of the air replaced by the clashing of metal.
Killian was winning. Everyone had expected him to- but everyone also knew that Cora was the one with magic. No matter what, the outcome was inevitable. The fight went on. A series of intricate movements and slashes were performed by Killian. Each one would have sliced Cora clean and through, were it not for the fact that she had long ago abandoned her sword and simply deflected each blow with magic. Emma's eyes welled up, but she refused to let the tears fall- she wouldn't be weak when Killian was being so strong. He was fighting for her. That was all Emma had ever wanted. But now, he was going to be taken away from her too, because even if he did win, Cora would undoubtedly take his heart.
Cora's shriek of pain echoed in Emma's ears and she forced herself to clear her eyes and focus. Killian had skillfully taken Cora's dropped sword and somehow managed to successfully slash a deep, gushing gash along Cora's forearm.
What she saw next made her blood run cold.
Cora froze Killian and stalked toward him, fury emanating from her very being. Lifting his hook with magic, she dragged it roughly along his chest, pushing aside the collar of his vest and leaving a thin line of blood.
She lifted her good arm and pushed through to his heart, grasping it firmly in her hand.
No…
Not his heart. Her heart.
Emma had felt pressure building up inside her, and she didn't even know how, but she had ended up out of her bonds and shoving Killian out of the way as Cora's hand descended.
"You foolish girl!" Cora's voice was shrill and disbelieving.
Emma could only gasp in pain at the feel of Cora's hand on her heart.
"EMMA!" Killian was screaming her name from his now frozen position at Emma and Cora's feet. This was too much like the last time, with Milah… when he had been unable to do something-anything. Only now… the feeling was even worse. Because he had done something. He had just failed. And now Emma would be killed as a consequence for his actions. "EMMA!"
Snow joined the crazed pirate in crying her daughter's name. Her beautiful, wonderful daughter…
"Don't you know? Love. Is. Weakness."
With that, Cora tugged on her heart.
Except… it wouldn't come out.
"No," Emma breathed. "It's strength."
Bright light exploded from Emma's chest, sending Cora flying back. The Enchanted Forest glowed white hot for a minute- and then Emma collapsed.
"Emma!" Killian lurched towards her as the spell wore off, managing to stop her from tumbling down the ravine. However, he wasn't quick enough to stop her previously twisted ankle from bashing against a sharp rock or to keep her head from completely hitting the hard stones of the lake.
"Emma? Emma! Emma, love, open your eyes, please, please Emma, please, oh gods, no, no, open your eyes Emma please!" He was holding her tight, cradling her head, tears burning trails down his face as he searched frantically for her pulse. He couldn't lose her after she had saved him.
"Emma?!" Snow had rushed over too, and they sat there, feeling the greatest relief when Killian found a faint but steady pulse.
Mulan and Aurora had joined the three. "Is she alright?"
"Yes, yes she's fine, thank god, but we have to get her to the doctor in Storybrooke as soon as possible," Snow answered with authority. "Where are the wardrobe ashes?"
Mulan brought the vial over. "Here- Cora dropped them when she was blown away."
"The compass?"
Killian gently peeled the compass off Emma's neck and wordlessly handed it to Snow.
Snow spoke again. "Mulan, Aurora, will you two be coming with us?"
This time, it was Aurora who confidently stepped up and announced "No- we are going to go find Phillip's soul and return it to his body."
Snow smiled. "Thank you both for all of your help. Good luck on your journey, maybe one day, when there is peace, we will meet again."
When they finished exchanging their farewells, Mulan walked up to Killian.
"Captain," she began. "Emma has been… a respectable warrior and woman during the short time I've known her. I trust you'll be… good to her." She paused, as if contemplating something before a look of resolve colored her face.
"Take my sword- Cora destroyed yours. I have more weapons than I need. This sword deflects magic. But… it also helps you remember who you are. When I… disguised myself as a man to save my home, this sword helped me remember the reason I was there even when I nearly went insane after witnessing my first battle. This sword holds the memories you hold most dear. The inscription is Chinese for hope. Because even when you hit rock bottom in the pits of hell- this sword can remind you of everything that is good. It brings hope."
Killian was stunned. He couldn't believe Mulan of all people was giving him her beloved sword that clearly held much value to her.
"Thank you," he said sincerely. "I will keep her safe. No matter what."
"One last thing, Captain. Heed my advice: Do not confuse justice with vengeance; nor should you confuse protection with trust."
She turned, and with one final nod, disappeared into the forest with Aurora.
*BA DA BA BA BAAAA PAGEBREAK!*
(let's pretend that only Rumple and Regina are at the well)
Killian is so focused on getting Emma to a doctor, that when they climb out of a well with Emma carefully thrown over his shoulder, he doesn't even notice his crocodile eyeing him.
Snow rushes off to get a "Dr. Whale" while Regina tags along beside her, wanting to tell Henry the news before he sees Emma injured. Killian gently lays Emma on the grass and re-bandages her ankle while stopping the blood that has begun to seep through her hair.
That was, until the sound of a clearing throat and a maniacal giggle filled the silence.
Killian glanced up to see Rumplestiltskin. His blood boiled at the sight of him and the need to toss him into the well or cut him to pieces with the very sword Mulan gave him tore at his mind. The reminder of Mulan made him hesitate…
"Do not confuse justice with vengeance,"
No, Killian had to stay with Emma. He promised her revenge was second to him, and he damn well wasn't going to ruin that after she had tried to sacrifice herself for him.
Glaring coldly, he struggled to maintain his cool demeanor. "Rumplestiltskin… I advise you leave before my self control fails me." What? He never promised to be friends with the dark one. But he would not initiate attack, especially when Emma was lying vulnerably at his feet.
The thought of Emma made him immediately drop back down to his knees and continue bandaging her while maintaining a steady distance away from the dark one should he attack.
Rumplestiltskin laughed. "You- you care for- for the savior? Oh, this is just wonderful."
Killian ignored him, though he visibly tensed, remembering his promise to Emma and Mulan's wise words.
"I wonder… what would it take to get rid of you…"
Killian gritted his teeth. He wasn't sure how much longer he could continue pretending he didn't hear anything.
"Perhaps if I did… this?" All at once the well erupted again and crackling magic hit the well from all angles. Gold magically hung Emma above the well, leaving her helpless as Killian lashed out in a full fury.
"What. Are. You. Doing." He demanded. "Put Emma down. Now."
Rumplestiltskin cackled gleefully. "If you insist, dearie!"
Emma's limp body dropped down the portal.
"EMMA!" there was no way, no absolutely fucking way, he was letting her go now. "Where did you send her?!" He was shaking with fury. "WHERE DID YOU SEND HER?!"
The dark one only laughed. "A place you know quite well, don't you, Peter?"
Killian's face paled. "Neverland…" he whispered. He was desperate now. "Bring her back! She won't make it back without help! Bring. Her. Back!"
"No, I don't think I will. We both know there's only one way she'll make it out now…" Rumplestiltskin paused. "…and I'm willing to bet this way will get you to leave town and never bother me again, dearie."
Grabbing Mulan's sword, Killian recalled Emma's face- when she smiled, when she cried, when she frowned- and he remembered his promise, and after letting out a frustrated growl he shot a glare that would make even Cora cringe at the dark one before shoving him aside and jumping in after her.
A/N: WHOA DRAMAAA. I know it got kinda crappy towards the end…but I'm really tired… maybe I'll edit and repost tomorrow but for now I just really wanted to give you guys another chapter because you are all just so awesome! Thanks to those who favorite, follow, review etc!