Hook… I Will Always Find You
Chapter Nineteen
Liam walked among the heroes as they made their way back into town towards the Charmings' loft and after they had left the cemetery, Regina slowed her steps so she could walk beside Emma, then spoke up quietly saying, "I need to talk to you about something."
The Savior looked over at her as she replied, "Of course. Is everything okay? Were you able to talk with Daniel and your father?"
"Daniel has already moved on from here and he's happy," the Queen answered, then glanced over at Robin before focusing again on her friend and the road before her. "But I did speak with my father and while he's still trapped here, for the moment he's alright. However, I also saw my mother. She came to me and Robin at my father's grave and she threatened him if I didn't leave here. She's sending a boat for me and the rest of us if we wanted in about forty-five minutes now, only I know there's no way we'll find Hook in time to make it."
"Then you should go," Emma responded in sincerity when she stopped and turned to face Regina. "Take Robin and anyone else who should return to those waiting for them to come home back in Storybrooke. I know Dad won't go, and I doubt Tinker Bell or Smee will want to go back either. But you should take August and Leroy with you. They have loved ones waiting for them just like we do. You can assure Henry and Mom that we're okay and still doing all we can to find Hook."
Regina shook her head and then replied, "I wish I could take them, but Robin and I aren't leaving. My father wants me to stay. He's proud of me for fighting with you to help a friend who needs our help. I can't let him down again. I just wanted to talk to you because Robin and I have to leave again for a bit to try to save my father from my mother's wrath. I won't let him suffer like Hook is. I can't."
Emma suddenly pulled Regina into a hug while she whispered to her, "Of course I understand. Go do whatever you have to do to protect him. Come and find us again when you've saved him."
"We will," the Queen answered assuredly, then she and Robin separated from their friends once again so they could search for her parents.
"I think here's where I should separate from you as well so I can go and talk with a few people who can give us the distraction we need to help Killian," Liam said after they were gone while he turned around to face Emma, David, and the others. "There's a small rebellion who have banded together to fight against Hades' and any of those who are on his side going throughout the Underworld to do whatever's asked of them. I believe I can convince them to help me. I know where you're headed now. I will meet you there after I've spoken to…"
David interrupted, "Wait… I believe we were going to discuss this at the loft so we can make plans together. You shouldn't be going off on your own."
Emma turned to Killian's brother as she asked him, "These rebels… Do you really believe they can be trusted to do what we would need them to do?"
"I wouldn't have suggested it if I felt otherwise," the older Jones responded firmly. "If I thought they could jeopardize our efforts to save Killian, I wouldn't trust them even in the slightest. But I know a few of them. I'm friends with a few of them. And I do trust them… at least enough for this."
"All right…" the Savior stated hesitantly as she looked at Liam sternly as though she was trying to read him enough to know whether or not she could really trust him, despite him being Killian's brother. "But you're not going alone. I do trust that you will do anything to save Killian. However, you don't trust that I have his best interest at heart. You've made that pretty clear. You're wrong. I may be selfish for not being able to let him go, but if I am, then it's only because I love him so much. The only way to save him is to bring him back home with us so we can help him past his pain and regrets. If he stays here with you, he'll only continue to suffer and if you try to make him move on from the Underworld… Killian will only wind up in the worse place because he sees himself as a villain even though he isn't. Not to mention that Hades will make it so."
Liam looked into her eyes, then between the others and replied, "Fine. So who will be coming with me then?"
August stepped forward as he answered, "I will. Emma's my closest friend, which makes your brother my friend as well. Only… he's earned my friendship for a lot more than by just being her boyfriend. I hope for the chance to get to know him more than I do now."
"I'm coming too," Leroy uttered crossly.
"So am I," Tink added too, then transformed back into her fairy form as she swiftly became tiny and her wings spread out so she could fly. "In case any of you get into trouble, it will be a good idea if you have a little magic on your side. And being a fairy, I can remain hidden unless I'm needed should these rebels attack you."
The brother looked to Emma who nodded at him sternly, then he responded, "If you insist. Let's get going."
A short time later…
Liam, August, and Grumpy had begun to walk through the woods which surrounded Underbrooke, as Regina had begun to call this world's equivalent to their own town, in search of the rebellion's camp and finally the dwarf broke the silence that had fallen over them while he spoke quietly saying, "So… you're friends with some of these rebels?"
"I suppose we're more acquaintances than friends," the older Jones replied to him somberly. "No one ever really makes friends down here. Mind if I ask you guys a question? Why exactly did you insist on coming with me?"
"We're here to make sure you're not gonna do anything other than what you said you're doing," Leroy answered in frustration. "And you better not leading us into another trap either."
Liam glanced at him while he responded, "It's like I told you… I didn't know what was going to happen down at the Rabbit Hole. Emma believes me."
August nodded and replied, "Maybe so, but Emma hasn't always been the best judge of character. Despite her superpower, she's made mistakes. I know you care about your brother and that you would never willingly do anything to hurt him, but you've also been down here in the Underworld for as long as Hook's been a pirate. This world surely has a way of changing a person, and we're not willing to take any chances we could be wrong about you. Surely you can understand that."
"I do understand," the older man answered. "Really… I do. But you might not want to say so in front those we're about to meet in a minute. I mean… you should try not to sound so distrusting of everyone you meet down here. We've arrived among their camp."
"You have got to be kidding me," another woman's voice sounded before them as August, Leroy, and Liam entered the camp while Tinker Bell immediately hid herself again within August's jacket pocket so she wouldn't be seen, and it was then that they saw Tamara cautiously approach them, as well as Greg Mendell, both of whom had been killed upon their arrival in Neverland after kidnapping Henry. "August Booth and… I'm sorry, but which dwarf are you? Stumpy?"
Leroy glared at her coldly as he responded, "It's Grumpy, but most people call me Leroy and I'd really rather you didn't call me either. What are you doing here?"
Before the woman could speak again, Liam looked between her and Leroy while he replied, "Tamara's a part of the rebellion. Greg and his father, Kurt Flynn are too."
"My father's one of our resistance's leaders," Greg said arrogantly, then turned to the older Jones. "Why did you bring them here, Liam? You wouldn't have known this, but we have a past with these two and it's not friendly."
"We're here because we were seeking help from those fighting to bring down Hades and Liam was good enough to direct us to you," August answered in frustration. "If we knew you would be here, we probably wouldn't have come."
Tamara spoke as she looked to August again saying, "So… you've actually died. Being made of wood had its advantages back then. What a pity you couldn't be so still. I'm surprised no one saved you this time. Not Emma… not the Blue Fairy… not your father?"
The woodcarver's son raised his chin when he faced her again and in frustration he responded, "Actually, I'm still very much alive. Despite your best efforts, Tamara. But enough about our history together. My friends and I have come down here on a rescue mission."
"A rescue mission?" Greg questioned in confusion. "There's no way to bring back the dead. Not without there being extremely dark magic involved and not without deadly consequences. Believe me, I know from all my years trying to destroy all magic. Who the hell is worth coming down here to the Underworld that would get you to risk your life for?"
"That isn't any of your business, pal," Grumpy retorted curtly, while Greg, Tamara, and August all turned to back to him.
However, it was then that Kurt Flynn walked over to them at the entrance to their camp hidden within the deep of the woods and then stated, "You're wrong, dwarf. It is our business if you wish to seek our help."
August finally relented and replied, "We've come to save Killian Jones."
"You mean, Captain Hook?" Greg scoffed in surprise at their reveal. "You're risking your life and your soul all for him? Whatever for?"
"Because he isn't the man you clearly knew him as any longer," Tink angrily retorted when she suddenly flew up from August's coat pocket and hovered above everyone's heads as she continued. "He's a good man and a close friend. And he's here because he sacrificed his life to save us all. That's why."
Tamara stepped towards the fairy while she looked up at her, then sneered, "Let me guess… you're in love with him? I think I've heard of you. From the home… the home office that of course turned out to be nothing but a lie. You're the Green Fairy."
Tinker Bell glared down at the other woman as she answered, "You would know more about me if you ever picked up a certain book. And no… I don't love him. I only care about Hook as a close friend. Emma's the one who's in love with him, and he with her. But I'm willing to risk my life to save him nonetheless."
"It's like I told my daughter and her archer just a little bit ago… trying to save Hook is a foolish endeavor you will never succeed in," Cora responded when she appeared within the camp among them, while the heroes all immediately prepared themselves to fight should she attack them upon recognizing her as Regina's mother.
"What are you doing here?" Grumpy asked curtly. "Shouldn't you be burning alive in the hellfire reserved for villains like you? Or are you working with Hades like Pan and some other villains we've sent down here?"
The Queen's mother glared coldly at the dwarf until she looked between each of them as she replied, "Actually… I've been pretending to work for Hades, while in truth I'm the leader in charge of this rebellion raised up against him."
August stared at the woman in disbelief as he uttered, "You can't be serious?"
"It is true," Flynn answered sternly. "She's helped us out quite a bit in trying to find Hades' weaknesses. We've gotten close too. Created a lot of havoc for the God to clean up."
"It appears we were wrong to come to any of you for help then," August responded in frustration, then turned back to Liam, Leroy, and Tinker Bell. "We should get back."
However, someone else also walked out among them, followed by a smaller group of rebels as well, as the familiar face said assuredly, "They might not help you, but I will. As will those standing with me."
Leroy immediately rushed towards the man to embrace him fondly while he happily cried out, "Graham?! What are…? It's so good to see you again, brother."
"It's good to see you too, Leroy," the hunter replied when he also wrapped his arms around his old friend. "Cora mentioned some of you from Storybrooke came down here to try to save a friend of yours. And I owe it to Emma to help her save the man she loves. It's about time."
"Leroy… who is this?" the fairy asked when she flew down so she was eye level with the former sheriff whom she never had the chance to meet, while Liam reached out his hand to shake Liam's making it clear that the two of them knew each other.
The dwarf looked between Tink and August while he answered, "This is Graham, a very close friend to all of ours until he was killed a few years ago by Regina… well by the Evil Queen, before the curse was broken."
Graham nodded and then responded, "It's a long story. Not all of us agree with Cora being our leader. Not all of us trust her. Flynn and I started this rebellion together, but then she came along and wormed her way in and because she has magic, Kurt sided with her as did many others. But I assure you, I am here to help you to save Hook."
"If you leave this camp, Graham… you won't be welcome back," Kurt replied crossly and then turned to Cora, who nodded in agreement. "You will no longer be under Cora's protection."
"That's fine by me," the former sheriff answered them with confidence and then before anyone could question her, Cora suddenly vanished from before them in a cloud of smoke. "I'm used to being on my own and these woods are my world. I can care for myself and for any of those who follow me just fine."
He then turned back to Liam and the rest of his friends from the world above and spoke again saying, "I'm guessing you need a distraction to keep Hades busy for awhile?"
August smiled and then he responded, "If you think you can handle it, we'd be much appreciated. It might the only chance we have to save Hook. Hades won't let him go without a fight. Also, I don't suppose you know where we can get ourselves a boat that will allow for us to escape this world… do you?"
"Actually, I believe I do," the hunter whispered smugly. "Leave the distraction and your escape from the Underworld to us. We'll take care of it."
"I know we can count on you, brother," Leroy stated with confidence, then quickly embraced his friend once again until they all finally walked away from the rebels' camp and the protection spells surrounding it cast by Cora.