"How much longer?" Emma called up to Hook. They had been climbing for almost an hour and she was exhausted.
"Not much farther now," Hook replied and then suddenly let out a triumphant laugh, "The clouds are beginning to clear up!"
Emma sighed with relief.
"Excellent!" she heard Hook shout, "We're here!"
Emma started climbing faster, pushing herself to reach the top. The clouds began to thin out as he had told her. Breathing began to get easier and she went even faster. Then, she could see blue sky above her and finally, the very tip of the beanstalk, thinning at the top and curling around like a great, twisted vine. Hook had already gotten off the stalk and was standing in the clouds. Emma stopped climbing and stared at him, eyes wide. "How are you doing that?!"
Hook's brow furrowed. "Doing what?"
"Standing on clouds! That's…impossible…"
Hook laughed and extended his hand to her. "Magic, Princess."
Emma stiffened. She looked at his hand then glared up at him.
"What's wrong?" He looked at her.
"Don't call me that," she told him bitterly.
"What? Princess?" he raised an eyebrow, "But you are a-"
"Don't call me that."
"Fine…if you insist, Emma. Now come, let me help you up."
Reluctantly, she took his hand. He pulled her up and touched his hook to the small of her back, helping her steady herself. Emma sort of froze at the strange feeling of standing on clouds. It felt as though she were on top of a million cotton balls. She was nervous to move; worried that she might fall through.
"Strange, isn't it? Don't worry, you 're safe," Hook smiled.
She pulled away, aware that he was still touching her, "Yeah, thanks…"
Hook looked at her for a moment, studying her.
"What?"
He nodded past her as if he hadn't been looking at her at all. "The giant's castle is behind you."
Emma furrowed her brow a bit and turned. Her jaw dropped. A few days ago Mary Margaret had taken her to their castle. Though it had been destroyed by the Dark Curse, Emma was able to tell how magnificent it had once been. But the castle before her was a hundred times larger and certainly as grand if not more so. It was monstrous, stretching far up in the sky. "Oh my god," Emma breathed.
"Incredible isn't it?" Hook grinned, coming up beside her, "Unfortunate that it must be inhabited by a giant. "
Emma looked at him. "What exactly is so awful about giants? The others said they aren't as bad as ogres."
Hook nodded. "They aren't."
"So, what? Do they grind your bones to make their bread?"
He looked at her with an amused expression. "That's the silliest thing I've ever heard. They don't eatpeople."
"I'm new to all of this, okay?" Emma snapped. She looked back to the castle. "So if they don't eat you what's wrong with them?"
"Well, truthfully they can be easy to get along with. As long as you have something they want. Giants love collectibles. In fact, this particular giant will pay you a golden egg if he likes your item. He's made a business out of it."
Emma looked at him with a bored expression on her face. "Golden eggs? Are you kidding me?"
"No, of course not. Why?"
Emma shook her head, starting to walk towards the castle. "Never mind. So do we have anything to give it for the compass?"
"I'm afraid we don't," Hook followed her.
"Then how are we supposed to get it?"
"We steal it, of course."
Emma shrugged. "Sounds easy enough. You said this would be dangerous."
"It is."
"Why?"
Hook's face darkened. "Because if there's one thing a giant hates…it's a thief."