A/N Well, I am back from my Xmas hiatus. Chapter's a bit rough I think but let me know what your think. Cheers!
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Storybrooke Docks
"Ready, kid?" Emma asks Henry as she joins him leaning against the railing of the Jolly Roger. Killian is steering the ship into open water in order to pass through a portal to Atlantis.
"Yeah. Thanks for letting me come to Atlantis with you guys, Mom." Henry says in an excited voice.
"No problem, kid. But remember, you're staying with Regina to help keep Belle stabilized. At least until the rest of us find out if it's safe for you." Emma replies in her best 'mom voice'.
Henry nods and rolls his eyes.
"I remember, Mom. Don't worry. I'll be fine."
Emma smirks at her son and looks up at the helm to see Killian gesture to Henry.
"Why don't you go up and help Killian sail the ship." He says with a soft pat on Henry's shoulder.
"Cool!" Henry says and he turns to climb the steps to the helm. Emma watches Killian direct Henry on a few sailing pointers and then step back to let the boy take the helm. Killian catches Emma's eye and winks at her, making her smile and sigh before turning her gaze back to the sea and wondering about what they were about to sail into.
"Any idea what we can expect in Atlantis?" Emma asks as Mr. Gold approaches her.
"None at all. I just hope the legends of these healing pools are more than just legends." He says in a biting tone as he stares out over the water with Emma.
"Me too. [leaning back to look at Gold] So, how do we get there?" Emma asks, pulling a magic bean out of her pocket. Gold straightens as well and pulls the Atlantean amulet from the inside of his jacket.
"The amulet will guide us there."
"Great. [turning to shout at Killian] READY?"
At the Captain's nod, Emma walks to the stern of the ship and tosses the magic bean as far out as she can. Gold steps up beside her and points the amulet at the portal, making the stone in the amulet glow as Killian steers the Jolly Roger towards the portal.
Emma hears her mother groan and Henry give a 'whoop' of excitement as they sail through the portal and a few moments later the ship crests over the edge of the portal and splashes down onto calm waters. Everyone takes a few minutes to steady themselves before looking around.
"There! Land!" David shouts to the others and they turn to see him pointing off the port side of the ship towards tiny speck of land in the distance. Killian turns the wheel accordingly and Emma walks over to join her father, mother and Mr. Gold, squinting at the island.
oOoOoOoOoOo
Almost an hour later, Killian pulls the Jolly Roger alongside an abandoned, ancient looking dock and hops over the side to tie off the ship as David helps roll out the gangplank. Emma walks down to stand beside Killian as the others disembark.
"Well, not exactly what I expected." She says with her hands on her hips as she studies the massive wall before them.
"I am curious to know what you expected." Says a voice from beside Emma, causing her to jump in surprise and Killian's hand to go to the hilt of his sword.
The old man in long white robes raises a staying hand towards Killian.
"There will be no need of that young man. No one here means you or yours any harm."
Emma, recovering from her momentary fright, steps forward with a tentative but friendly smile.
"Okay. Hello. I'm Emma. And you are?"
The old man smiles warmly back at Emma.
"I am Plato. Welcome to Atlantis. You have proven yourselves intellectually worthy to join our elite community of gifted and peaceful people." He says, suspiciously eyeing up Rumpelstiltskin as he disembarks the ship holding Belle in his arms and joins Emma and Killian and the others.
Killian, watching the old man closely, interjects before Emma can continue.
"Really not looking to stick around, mate. More interested in any cure you might have for the lass." He says, tilting his head towards Belle.
Plato follows Killian's gesture and narrows his weathered eyes at the unconscious woman in Rumple's arms.
"I see. How is it, that she came to be this in this condition?" he asks quickly.
Emma answers him in a tentative tone.
"She was hit with an enormous wave of magic as she gave birth."
Plato blinks several times and turns to Emma with an expression of shock.
"What did the woman give birth to?" he asks but Emma dismisses his question in favour of her own.
"That's a long story that can wait for later. Can you help her or not?" she asks in a very business-like way.
Plato takes a moment to look back and assess Belle and then look at each of the strangers in turn, his gaze resting worriedly on Rumple. With a deep breath of resignation, he speaks again.
"I believe that the healing pools will be able to help your friend. [everyone sighs with relief] However, there is an assessment of worthiness. Your friend is obviously unable to partake in this examination and so she will require a champion of unshakable character to stand in her place."
Having said his piece, Plato crosses his arms in front of him and waits for their decision.
Emma and the others look around at each other and then Emma looks at Rumple.
"No offense but I think you're not… the best choice for a champion, Gold." She says, fully expecting to be turned into a toad or something. But Rumple lies Belle down on a nearby stone bench and turns back to Emma with a smirk.
"I happen to agree with your assessment, Ms. Swan." He says in a low voice and everyone looks around nervously until Snow breaks the awkward silence.
"Okay. Well, -" Emma cuts her off.
"It's going to be me." Emma says determinedly and Killian steps up beside her to touch her arm as he turns his head to Plato.
"Wait. What does this 'assessment of character' entail?" he asks the old man seriously.
"She would not be harmed. It is intended only to test the intentions and heart of the champion."
Killian snaps his worried eyes to Emma's and she gives him a small smile of reassurance.
"See? I'll be fine, babe." Emma says, sliding her hand over Killian's and giving it a squeeze.
Plato bows his head slightly at Emma and stretches his arm out in a sweeping welcome to direct them towards the stone archway in the gigantic wall that wasn't there before.
"You are all welcome to rest and await the outcome of the assessment." He says to Regina, Snow and the others as Emma and Killian pass through the archway. Rumple picks Belle up again and leads the way for the others to follow. Henry is nearly bouncing with excitement and Regina places a hand his shoulder and raises a manicured eyebrow at him.
"Don't get too excited. You are not leaving my sight, Henry." But Henry's grin doesn't even falter as he grabs her hand and pulls his mother through the arch with the others.
On the other side of the huge stone wall, an enormous city rises up before them. The stone wall encircles an intricate system of canals, weaving around massive marble buildings and beautifully designed gardens. The awed group absently board a small boat and without any apparent means of propulsion the boat smoothly starts moving them through the canal system towards the centre.
The overwhelming beauty of Atlantis has all of the Storybrooke people gazing around spellbound so they barely notice when the boat comes to a stop and Plato walks off and waits on the ornate wooden dock for the rest to follow him. When they finally are all assembled, the old man gestures to the small but beautiful marble building behind him up a small hill.
"There will be a place for you to be refreshed and wait for the champion to finish her assessment. Please." He says with a smile as he insistently motions for them to precede him to the building.
Snow takes a step forward and stops to look at Emma and Killian thoughtfully.
"Wait. I want to go with Emma. [she turns to Regina] Will you be alright with Henry?" she asks.
"Of course. We will wait with Belle and Gold. [directing her gaze at Emma] Good luck." Regina says before ushering Henry up the hill towards the building.
Plato looks between Emma, Killian, Snow and David and then bows slightly as he turns and whisks away down a path in another direction. Emma, Killian and her parents follow Plato silently as they look around.
The path leads through an enchanting garden and Killian's hand finds Emma's as they walk through the beauty of the Atlantean garden. After several minutes of walking they arrive at a small marbled area strewn with lounges and fountains. Waiting for them is another smiling old man in white robes. He has a long white beard, is bald and stooped over but there is a friendly twinkle in his eyes as the group approaches.
"Welcome, my friends. Welcome, welcome." He says as he shuffles forward to meet them and hurry them forward to a group of seats before him. Snow and David quickly sit on a padded bench and Emma chooses a large lounge but Killian opts to stand behind Emma, hovering with wary eyes sweeping around for any sign of a threat.
"Good. Good. I so rarely get visitors and I am just elated to meet you all. Now, my name is Socrates and I will be conducting the assessment. Which of you is the champion?" he says in an excited ramble, pausing to look around expectantly at them.
Emma smiles at the old man and raises her hand slightly.
"That's me. I'm going to be Belle's champion." She says with more confidence than she feels.
Socrates glances up at a sombre Plato and gets a short nod. Socrates claps his hands together with delight, directs his attention back to Emma and hobbles forward to clasp her hand.
"Excellent. Now we shall have a look at what's in your heart, my sweet."
Socrates says as he holds a hand out and Plato steps forward with a golden, jewelled chalice that he had not been holding a moment ago.
"You will need to drink all of the liquid in this cup and then lie down so that you do not hurt yourself."
Emma looks wary but nods at Socrates as Killian jumps slightly at the sudden appearance of a beautiful young woman beside him.
"Bloody hell. Where did you come from?" he says.
The beautiful woman just smiles sweetly at him and sits down next to Emma on the large lounge. Her long flowing white robes and long, dark, curly hair fan out around her and she looks at Emma with old, knowing eyes.
"I am Delphi. I will be your interpreter and guide during the assessment."
Emma is getting more and more apprehensive but studies the woman for a moment and then sighs.
"Okay. Let's do this." She says and holds a hand out for the chalice. Killian moves in and places a soft kiss on Emma's lips, making her smile up at him before he steps back again to stand by her side. Snow and David grasp hands and watch Emma put the cup to her lips and start chugging the contents as fast as she can.
Draining the cup, Emma swallows the last of the liquid and hands the chalice back to a grinning Socrates before leaning back to lie across the large padded lounge. Delphi scoots closer to her and places a delicate hand on Emma's temple.
"Tastes like boozy root beer." Emma says, licking her lips.
"Sleep now, champion. It will all be over when you wake." Delphi says and Emma wriggles around a bit to get comfortable.
After a few minutes, Emma drifts into a drug-induced slumber and after a few minutes more, she begins moaning softly in her sleep. Delphi, eyes closed and hands both placed on Emma's temples, speaks.
"She is beginning the dream. She is with her love." She says bluntly and Plato and Socrates simply nod their heads as if this is expected.
Killian raises an eyebrow as Emma's moans start getting louder and it becomes obvious that she is having an extremely good dream about him. Snow and David start looking around awkwardly as Emma starts moving around on the lounge and murmuring in her sleep.
Emma moans Killian's name loudly as she writhes around and starts sliding her hands over her body. Delphi pops one eye open and grins widely at Killian who smirks back as the tips of his ears turn a bright pink. Plato pointedly clears his throat and Delphi closes her eyes and goes back to her task before she speaks again.
"There is much love and passion for him. l will now guide her to her choice." She says and Emma stills suddenly. Slowly, Emma's head turns and her hand reaches out for something only in her mind.
"Neal?" she says in dreamy disbelief and Killian, Snow and David all tense and exchange a wary look before going back to watching Emma.
Socrates speaks softly to Killian, Snow and David.
"She will be given a choice: the choice between her present love or one that has been lost to her." He says in explanation.
"But Neal is dead." David says worriedly.
"It matters not. In her mind, the choice is very real. She can save the life of the one she used to love or the life of the one she loves now."
"But she's the bloody saviour. She will fight to save both Neal and myself. She won't choose." Killian says angrily until Plato's head snaps around to face him.
"Saviour? Is this woman the saviour of a realm?" he says frantically as Socrates starts fretting beside him.
Snow and David stand and approach the old men.
"Yes. She is the saviour of our realm. Is that a problem?" Snow asks apprehensively.
"The saviour's soul can never choose. She will forever try to save both and the test will not end until she chooses." Socrates says in a sad voice.
Killian steps in threateningly close to the old men.
"So, how the blazes do we wake her?" he asks in a dangerous tone as Emma starts shouting Neal's name, tears rolling down her face. She whips her head around and shouts Killian's name, then starts thrashing back and forth.
Plato and Socrates have gone pale and speechless as they watch Emma flail on the lounge.
Killian suddenly turns and sits next to Delphi and Emma. Delphi opens her eyes and looks at Killian before removing one shaky hand from Emma's temple and placing it on Killian's. Before anyone can stop it, Killian's mind is jerked forward into Emma's dream and he finds himself standing on one side of a distraught Emma with Neal standing on the other side of her.
"Emma, Love, you need to wake up. This test has gone awry, darling." He says, taking her hand.
Neal takes her other hand and says,
"Save me Emma. Only you can save me."
Emma's tear streaked face turns to Neal.
"Emma? Love, look at me." Killian says gently and Emma turns to him.
"It isn't real, Love. This is all the that blasted test. You can't save Baelfire, darling. He is gone." Killian's voice cracks at the end but he looks Emma in the eye with the truth.
"Please Emma. I need you to wake up darling. It is all a dream. Come back to me, Love." Killian begs and Emma pauses before he turns to Neal again.
"I'm sorry." She whispers to him and she drops her hand from his to grasp Killian's other hand.
Emma and Killian jolt awake to find several faces hovering above theirs but Emma immediately turns to roll into Killian's waiting embrace. Everyone backs away to give the lovers some privacy and Emma dissolves into tears in Killian's arms. He rubs small circles into her back as Emma sobs.
"It wasn't real, Love. Baelfire was never here." He murmurs into her hair as he hugs her fiercely and fights back tears of his own.