Author's note: Here we go. As this chapter's title so appropriately reveals, you finally get to find out about Hook.
Chapter 30: Moment of Truth
This was it. The moment of truth. Hook thought grimly to himself as he skulked along the streets, invisible thanks to one of Rumplestilskin's spells.
Their plan was straightforward; they'd gone over it numerous times and it was fairly easy. The hard part wouldn't be pulling it off. No, the most difficult part would be to actually go through with it, for it would forever rob him of the chance to tell Emma how he really felt. That it hadn't in fact been a ruse. She'd changed him for the better, helped him heal from centuries of pain, and shown him that there was more to life than revenge. The fact that she would forever live with the false knowledge that she was incapable and undeserving of love.
What he was about to do wouldn't make up for all the pain and suffering he'd caused -no it wouldn't even come close to that. But hopefully it would be a start.
He bent over, fiddling with the latch over his trapdoor, which of course Cora had locked. Luckily, Rumplestilskin had given him a fair bit of magic, so he merely waved his hand over the lock and it easily came undone.
He was starting to see the appeal of magic.
Suddenly, his blood ran cold as he heard a soft rustle behind him. He stood up and turned to face Cora.
"What are you doing?" She frowned. "I'm aware that I told you to help me kill him, but I'm not quite done with the boy yet."
"Yes, well." Hook began, his heart pounding with trepidation. "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to deviate from the plan."
Cora's expression grew menacing. "Oh? Is that so?"
"I decided that I cannot allow you to perform such a heinous crime on an innocent young lad." Hook responded lightly.
Cora laughed. "Then, my dear Captain, I'm afraid we have a problem."
"Yes, yes, I suppose we do." He said, hand drifting casually towards his pocket.
"I'm going to give you one more chance." Cora stepped closer to him. "To take back what you said."
"Not gonna need it." He plunged his hand into his pocket, and in a fluid motion, uncapped the vial inside and threw the contents over Cora.
"What...!" She exclaimed, suddenly rooted to the spot. "Squid ink." She realized with a snarl.
Without another word, he dashed through the trapdoor, flinging it open, and launching himself below deck. The squid ink was effective, but Rumplestilskin only had a limited amount and it was only going to last so long.
He knew his ship like the back of his hand, so in no time he'd located the boy, huddled in a corner. At the sight of Hook, he immediately scooted back.
"W-what do you want?" Henry asked.
"I'm here to rescue you." Hook responded, beginning to untie the tightly knotted ropes around Henry's wrists and ankles. "Bloody hell." He muttered, stabbing at them with the sharp point of his hook. "Come on." He said, gesturing at the exit once the knots were undone.
But Henry just stared at him. "I'm not going anywhere with you." He said stubbornly, sending a fresh jolt of pain into Hook's heart, as the lad's face reminded him much of Emma's.
"We don't have much time." Hook checked over his shoulder.
"No." Henry argued. "You kidnapped me. You're working for her. Cora."
"Aye. I did. And I very much regret that." He said sadly. "But I assure you that I am risking my life to bring you back to your family."
Henry eyed him skeptically. "I don't believe you."
Hook sighed. "I was afraid this was gonna happen." With a grunt, he hoisted Henry over his shoulder fireman style, despite the boy's protests. The fists pounding on his back only made him go faster. Climbing the ladder proved to be difficult, but it was nothing Hook couldn't handle.
Above deck, Cora was waiting for them, a bone chilling sneer on her face. "You're going to pay for this."
Hook froze; he hadn't been expecting the ink to wear off so fast. He set Henry down. Henry's eyes were wide with the realization that Hook had, in fact, been telling the truth. "Run!" Hook screamed to the boy.
"I don't think so." Cora snickered as she flicked her wrist, intending to hold Henry back with the same spell she'd used on Hook before. But the pirate was much faster than her. As practiced, he waved his hand, a jet of yellow light coming out, blocking her.
"A-aren't you coming?" Henry asked, eyes zooming from Cora to Hook to Cora again.
"Go!" He cried. "I'll hold her off. Go!" He grunted with exertion. Magic was a lot harder than it looked.
Henry didn't need to be told twice; he dashed off the ship, towards the gangplank. Hook wanted to call after him to tell Emma that he was sorry, but before he could, the magic he'd been struggling to maintain was gone.
"Quite the surprise." Cora said. "Looks like your old pal Rumplestilskin has been teaching you a few tricks. But you're no match for me." She raised her hands again, but Hook blocked her.
They circled each other, both staring the other down. Drawing a large fireball out of nowhere, Cora sent it flying his way, and Hook had just enough time to dive behind a large stack of crates. He pressed his back against it, breathing heavily. A second later and he would've been reduced to ashes.
"You can't keep hiding forever." Cora said tauntingly. "Come out and maybe I'll make your death less painful."
She was right, of course. He couldn't keep hiding from his death like a lowly coward. Couldn't keep hiding from what he deserved. With a deep breath to steel himself for what was to come, he stepped out from behind the crate.
"There's a good Captain." Cora cooed in what she obviously thought was a motherly voice. "Coming out to meet your death like a man."
"Yeah, about that." Hook started.
Cora raised her hand, intending to strangle him to death as he'd seen her do to many unfortunate people before him, but at the same time, Hook raised both hands, a jet of red light coming out.
"Clever." She snickered. "But that's not going to work."
"Oh yes it is." He grunted.
This had been the plan all along. Rumplestilskin had given him enough magic to hold Cora off to rescue Henry and cast a powerful spell to destroy her.
A spell so strong it would destroy the caster, him, in the process. His life would be taken, a small price to pay.
Cora looked down, surprise crossing her face. "Oh!" She exclaimed.
Through the bright light, Hook couldn't see what she was so surprised at, but whatever it was she wasn't happy about it. Clearly the spell was working.
Just…a…little…longer Hook thought to himself, sweat breaking out in exertion. Just a little longer and it would all be over. His arms were aching and his head was pounding. He could feel himself weakening.
Can't hold on much longer. His strength was waning. But he had to continue in order for this to work.
He recalled what Rumplestilskin had said. Magic is all about emotion. Focus on what you want and who you're doing this for.
Well that was easy. He squeezed his eyes shut, picturing Emma. Saw her smile that lit up the room, her lovely laugh, the way her eyebrows scrunched together when she was thinking. And most of all, how happy she'd made him in the short time they'd been together.
I love you Emma. So much more than you'll ever know. And above all, I am so, so sorry.
With one last burst of strength he didn't know he still possessed, he forced the last bits of magic out, directing it at Cora.
There was a loud explosion, knocking both of them off their feet. In the haze, through his cloudy vision, he thought he saw her not twenty feet away, mouth wide open in a silent scream of horror. And strangely enough, Regina was with her, her expression just as shocked as Emma's. But that was probably just a hallucination of his dying mind.
Two things happened simultaneously.
Cora exploded into a pile of dust.
And Hook collapsed onto the deck.
Both never to rise again.
Author's note: Well, well, well. Hook's death? That was unexpected. Will he stay dead? Review to find out :)
In case there's any confusion: Gold's plan was to give Hook magic and have Hook use this spell that would destroy both himself and Cora. I know it's not very realistic but oh well it works for the story.