(Enchanted Forest, Future Past)
Frozen in the act of pulling Emma upright, Killian could only curse internally as smoke enveloped Liam and Zelena. The Witch had grown so desperate, so blackened with the singular purpose of reclaiming Robyn, that Killian entertained few doubts that she could, and very likely would, end his son rather than return him. His thoughts flickered dark, to running the witch through when they caught up with her again, but movement from the little fairy brought him back to the moment.
Zarina hurled a wild blast of emerald green dust at the escaping Zelena. The swirl of smoke sucked in the dust, spinning wider and wilder until it stretched toward the sky as a cyclone. It swept up the fairy and pounded against the Jolly Roger. The ship listed sharply at the assault, but a red glow against the hull proved the blood magic held firm. Wood snapped as the dock began to rip apart under its power. Nearer the family, the edges of the fury approached, brushing against Robin's boot and Henry's arm.
For Liam's sake, Killian would have jumped in straight away and damn whatever cursed land Zelena took them to, but the freeze spell held and he could do nothing but wait for the magic to come to him.
Only it didn't.
The cyclone spun out suddenly and disappeared into the air, leaving nothing behind but splinters of the broken dock bobbing in the water. The Jolly Roger rocked hard as it found its proper seat in the harbor.
Killian felt the freeze spell break and his muscles remembered their motion. He hauled Emma to her feet and immediately pulled her into a tight hug, as if holding her could somehow bring Liam back.
"Henry!" Regina shouted, and Killian had to pull away from Emma. They turned to see Henry slumped against Robin. Robin and Regina struggled to pull Henry's arms about their shoulders to keep him upright. Strung between the archer and the queen, Henry moaned some indiscernible sentiment and opened his eyes.
Glittering gold irides snapped on Killian as Henry tried to wrench away from Robin and Regina.
At the same time, muffled shouts came from Emma's pocket. She pulled a mirror from her pocket and Tink's voice rang clear, calling for Emma.
Emma nodded toward Regina. "Get him home. Take the others. We'll get Tink. Regroup in the war room." Regina needed no further encouragement to poof the rest away, leaving Killian and Emma behind.
They found Tink trapped in the cabin, stumbling out apologies among the mess of fairy magic and the aftermath of a tale Killian would take no joy in hearing.
-0-
Killian, Emma, and Tink materialized in the war room to find Henry had broken free of Regina and Robin. Henry's hand went to his hip and Killian tensed, expecting Henry to go for his sword, but he went instead for his satchel and pulled out the Storybook. Ignoring the others, he flung it onto the table as his hand dipped into a pocket and pulled out his pen. As if in a trance, he took to a chair and began scribbling in the book, gold eyes blazing.
A panicked Regina knelt at his side, searching his face for some sign of her son or some clue as to what was happening to him.
Tink dove forward, joining the Queen at Henry's side. "No, not Henry too."
"What?" Regina snapped.
Tink took a breath. "Zarina's dust soaked up some Author magic and Liam accidentally doused himself with it. His eyes looked just like this."
"I'm sorry," said a confused Robin, "Zelena did this?"
"No, Zarina. The other fairy from the dock," Emma answered, leaning in to study Henry from behind Regina and Tink. "She found a way to mimic other magic with fairy dust."
"Mimic other magic?" Regina's voice dripped with disapproval. "When did this happen?"
"I was going to tell you but then Zelena happened."
Regina rose, shades of the Evil Queen surfacing as she rose to loom above the two women. "Tink, talk."
Tinker Bell did, explaining to all everything that Zarina had learned, all that had happened aboard the Jolly Roger, and the strange magic that possessed the prince.
Robin looked confused. "But nobody did anything to Henry, none of us got anywhere near Liam.."
"No," Regina tapped a knuckle to her lip in thought, "but Henry is the Author, he might be affected by proxy."
"I think you're right about that," Snow said. While the others watched Henry, she stared at Henry's pen as it scratched across the page. Killian moved to get a better look.
Henry had scratched out several paragraphs already, and Killian realized he knew this story: it was the night Zelena attacked the castle. Henry described how Zelena suddenly appeared, though not how she got in. Liam and Henry, who had been with Robyn at the time, were caught up in the attack. She held her own, but Liam was thrown up against a wall, breaking his leg.
"There!" Tink pointed at the line about Liam's injury. "After the magic activated, he was acting like he had a broken leg, but there wasn't a thing wrong with him, I swear."
Henry kept writing, completely ignoring Tink. The scene shifted to the Jolly Roger where Emma and Killian had brought Liam for safety. Something about the magic of the ship, the centuries-long connection it had to Killian, made it a particularly strong site to erect shields. It was only supposed to be for a few days, until they figured out how Zelena had breached the castle, but weeks went by with nary a clue and Liam, who refused to let Emma heal his leg, was forced to convalesce at sea.
Since he had been old enough to lift a sword, Liam had resisted letting Emma heal him. He had always said he didn't like the idea of running to magic with every bruise or break when other soldiers and sailors couldn't, which Killian believed, but he often wondered if there wasn't more to it. Liam was fair with a blade, but he wasn't his father, or even his grandfather. Killian had watched men train with a sword for hundreds of years, he knew a natural when they drew their blade. Liam was not a natural, not with a sword; not for lack of practice, and certainly not for lack of courage, but perhaps affected by an overabundance of compassion. He could no sooner run a man through than run through a wall. A man who couldn't kill and who ran to Mum with every bump didn't particularly soothe the nerves of a kingdom long pestered by the Wicked Witch.
But time at sea had a secret purpose, too. The lad had fancied Ariel's daughter, young Melody, for years, but when he had made his heart known, she had turned him down for a highly-decorated hero of a princeling who was bold and brash and buff and as far removed from the Songbird Prince as anyone ever could be.
That it was Robin and Regina's highly-decorated hero of a princeling only made it awkward, and a break from the castle seemed the best balm for his heartbreak.
The story kept on, but a knock at the door interrupted his thoughts. Killian turned as a young woman pushed in through the heavy doors, looking for Emma. She was dressed simply, nothing to really draw the eye, but tiny orbs of amber light floated around her, betraying a magical presence. As she entered, some of the little lights meandered away like lightning bugs and drifted about the chamber as if exploring.
"Damn," Emma hissed under her breath and walked over to speak with her.
Tink appeared at Killian's shoulder. "What's that about?"
"She's one of Emma's magic students," Killian replied. "She must have had a lesson scheduled."
Emma and the girl continued to speak, the girl nodding her head in quiet understanding, though the little lights around her began to multiply and pick up speed. A ring on her finger, a silver band with a bright white jewel, glittered wildly. Emma put a hand to the girl's shoulders in a reassuring gesture, speaking calmly. The girl nodded again, and the lights lessened.
"What's with the lights?" Tink asked.
He'd gotten so used to the sight of Emma's students running around the castle with their sprays of light that Killian forgot how the sight must look to their guests. "Emma makes these rings for her students. It transmutes uncontrolled bursts of magic into harmless light, lest an upset novice bring the castle down on our heads."
"How does she decide when they're ready to take it off?"
Killian lowered his eyes and his voice. "She doesn't, the ring does. That's the price of its magic: the ring mutes their powers, keeps them from harming anyone until they've mastered the emotions that fuel their magic."
"And what if they don't?"
"Then they spend the rest of their lives as a harmless firework display."
Tink looked like she meant to say more, but Henry loudly dotted a period onto the page, stealing Killian's attention back. Henry's eyes returned to a soft brown and he dropped the pen.
"You alright lad?" Killian asked as Henry leaned back from the book to rub the bridge of his nose.
"Henry?" Emma ran over from the door. The girl disappeared back into the hallway.
"I'm fine," Henry replied, blinking quickly. "So is Liam, I think. He's in my head."
Regina ran a hand through Henry's hair with one hand, checking his eyes for the slightest glint of gold. "In your head?"
"Not literally," he said, "but I've been seeing his memories like a movie I can't turn off."
Emma leaned in next to Regina. "Can you get a message to him?"
Henry shook his head."I don't think so, he doesn't seem aware of me. It's like talking to a DVD."
"What about Zarina?" asked Tink.
"I don't know," he replied. "I'm sorry."
Henry reached out and grabbed Emma's arm. "Mom, Zelena could have killed you with that blast."
"I may be old but I'm not that frail yet," Emma replied, settling her hand over his. "She caught me by surprise. I'll be ready next time."
Emma had always had the power to sense the truth, but Killian could tell when she was lying. He said nothing, however, and she kept on.
"Henry," she said, taking command, "keep looking for anything the Authors have to say." She looked to the queen and the fairy. "Regina, Tink; the three of us will keep an eye on him and figure out what this dust did to my sons. Robin, take Mom and Dad to the library. Explain everything to Belle and help her do her thing. Killian, you stay. Liam spent the last few months with you, you'll be the one to notice if his story changes."
He tugged Emma closer to kiss her forehead. "Aye, Swan."
Emma's shoulders drooped and she let out a breath. Killian frowned. Twenty-some years of marriage and he still read her like an open book. She blamed herself for not stopping the witch, for leaving Liam behind.
"This isn't your fault," he whispered.
"I should have stayed with him, or brought him with to the castle where we could keep an eye on him."
"Two blood magic shields and a sleep spell should have kept him plenty safe, Swan, but our boy has Charming blood and danger always draws Charmings out of the woodwork. Or captain's cabin, as it would seem."
Emma only managed a meager smile and Killian pulled her in for another hug.
"I should have chained him to the damn ship," she mumbled into his neck.
-0-
(Storybrooke, Present Day)
Emma set her phone on her desk to keep from dropping it. She and Killian had moved into her office to keep a closer eye on their prisoners, but she'd honestly been far too caught up in Henry's revelation to pay much attention. She had another son. Another son with Killian. A son who had been kidnapped by Zelena, who somehow knocked Emma on her ass with light magic. Oh, and Blackbeard-the-bonus-villain clearly got his evil hell-ship.
This day just kept getting better.
"The only way to destroy the ship is to kill the captain," Henry said, the phone on loudspeaker for Killian's sake, "but you can't-"
The line suddenly went silent.
"Henry?" Emma grabbed the phone to check the screen.
Call ended, it read.
"No no no."
"Swan?"
She looked up from her palm to an equally worried Killian.
"The line dropped," she said, hovering a thumb over the call button. "I'll redial."
"No!" Killian's deft hand snatched the phone away.
The mother in her reared up and she opened her mouth to curse him for keeping her from Henry, but sense kicked in a second later and she realized what he didn't have to say.
If Henry had been made, her phone call couldn't help him. Worse, if he hadn't been made, her call might only expose him. Best case scenario, the Queen Anne's Revenge had simply drifted out of cell range, in which case, her call would do nothing. Worst case scenario, well, Emma didn't want to think worst-case-scenario.
As much as it killed her, she'd have to wait on him.
Emma sagged and Killian must have caught her change of heart because he handed her phone back without ceremony. She stared at his wedding ring as she took the phone from him and guilt surged in her. Of course Killian would protect her son as he would protect their own son.
Their own son.
A son who might very well be aboard the future ship outside Storybrooke harbor, with a town line, an untouchable witch, and decades of hate between them. Emma went cold in a place in her gut normally reserved for Henry.
At the thought of the ship, Emma's eyes darted to the cell, where Angelica remained, fuming. A cloudy barrier surrounded her cell, and the cell of her would-be rescuer, to block the rest of the station from the prisoners' sight. Emma could see them, but they saw nothing. Mother Superior stood just outside Emma's office, examining their belongings.
"Emma?" Snow's voice ran out and Emma saw her parents emerge from the file room, harried, with Robin and Regina in tow. Granny followed with her crossbow. Emma pushed out of her office to meet them. Killian followed. "Granny said Henry called? Is he okay?"
"He was," Emma answered, "but we got cut off. We don't know why. It could be that the ship drifted out of cell range, or-"
"Or Captain Dead Man is torturing our son as we speak," Regina stepped forward. "We need to act, now."
Emma let out a slow breath. How could she tell them that future Emma already went up against this Zelena and lost? "Without a way over the town line, we're at Zelena's mercy."
"We might have a break there," said Mother Superior, pointing to two strips of worn rope on the desk in front of her.
"Are you suggesting we strangle Zelena with a noose?" David asked.
"Rigging," Killian corrected, and stepped forward to inspect them. "From the Queen Anne's Revenge, I'd wager."
David frowned. "Why bring those here?"
"Because they're enchanted to nullify magic," Mother Superior explained.
Emma's eyes widened a little and she too leaned over the desk. "That's why I lost my powers when Blackbeard attacked."
"And why none of our spells worked against our uninvited guest," growled Regina, then a light seemed to go off in her mind and the tension in her stance eased. "That's it!"
Snow's brow furrowed. "What's it?"
"If these are from the Queen Anne's Revenge, he must have come over the town line."
"Indeed," agreed Mother Superior. "The counter-magic in these ropes are strong enough to pass through the town line."
A dark grin spread across Regina's leaned closer to her. "Are you aware you're wearing your 'brainstorming an evil plan' face?"
"It's not evil," she retorted, "but it is a plan."
Emma's heart swelled at the first bit of hope they'd had since the Revenge surfaced. "What do you have?"
"Hook keeps his agreement with Zelena," Regina said, "or at least the appearance of it. If the ropes work, I can get Robin and me across the line and onto the Queen Anne's Revenge. We get aboard, get Henry, leave, and rendezvous with the Jolly Roger as it crosses the town line. With Zelena powerless, us three against those two are much better odds."
"If properly repaired," said Killian, "the Jolly Roger should be able to outrun any fight the Revenge has left in her."
"Shouldn't David and I come with?" Said Snow. "You can't say we aren't helpful in a fight."
Regina's hands found her hips. "No, the fewer that go the better. Someone has to distract Zelena before she suspects what we're up to."
"I'm coming," Emma stated flat out.
"No." Regina lifted a hand to still any argument. "You're still Storybrooke's best defense against Zelena. You need to be here if things go badly. "
"They're my sons at stake," Emma spat back, lunging into Regina's space. Beside her, Killian winced. The others stared.
Of course, she realized, because only the two of them had actually heard the phone call.
Mary Margaret's hand crept up over her heart, gazing warmly at Emma. "Your sons…?"
David's hand crept to his holster, glaring at Killian. "Sons?"
Regina and Robin blinked back their surprise, but remained silent. A hand squeezed Emma's shoulder and Killian eased her to his side. He placed a kiss to her hairline.
"Aye," he added, "Henry told us a few things you all should hear."
