Dead Reckoning

Chapter Thirty

Meanwhile, back in Storybrooke…

"Miss. Swan… you all appear to be here with a definitive purpose," Gold said sternly when he looked up at the Savior when she, Snow White, Regina, hers and her former boyfriend's doppelganger, and August all walked into his shop prepared for the coming battle. "I see you've recruited a few others that will be helpful in our endeavor to save this town and the Captain. I take it the time has come?"

"We're taking the fight to them," Emma replied crossly as she looked between the Dark One and Belle as the beauty continued to work on the cure for the waters from Neverland. "I can't just wait any longer. I can't just watch Killian wither away in front of me without doing everything I can do to save him. The fairies and the dwarfs are all at the hospital guarding Killian and the children. Henry, Neal, Robin, Violet… They can protect Belle and Gideon too."

Belle looked up from her task at hand as she stated, "I'm almost finished here. I think. Or at least I hope. If I've made it correctly, this potion will counteract the spring waters."

Emma smiled sadly as she answered, "Thank you. Thank you both."

"Gold, we were hoping you would be able to find them for us," she continued as she turned back to the shopkeeper. "You said earlier that they were hiding out in a cave within the woods somewhere. Can you be more specific?"

"Uh… Emma, I don't think he's going to have to," August answered nervously while he looked out the window down the street as far as he could see, as Archie and Marco both charged into the shop with concern on their faces.

The psychiatrist quickly spoke up saying, "They're coming. An entire army, being led by a God looking stranger and a brutish boy about Henry's age… maybe a little younger."

Emma rushed over to the window and looked towards them as well and then responded, "That would be Killian's assailant. The bastard who is stealing his life away."

"It appears they've come to us first," the Dark One replied and then turned back to his wife standing behind the counter where she was working. "If you're finished, I will transport you and our son to the hospital where you will be safe too. Like Emma said. I want you to stay there. Do you understand?"

"Of course I do," she answered sadly, quickly handed Emma the vial she finishing pouring the elixir in, then moved closer to her husband and kissed him. "I want to stay and help in this fight, but I also have to do what's right for our son. I will stay at the hospital. Just be careful."

Her husband smiled and then responded, "I always am."

Gold finally turned back to the Savior and the others as Regina summoned Pandora's Box into her hands and handed it back to him, then he nodded while he said firmly, "I suppose we ought to face them then. This battle is happening now whether we're prepared or not."

"We're as prepared as we ever will be," Snow replied in frustration, then pulled her bow from over her shoulders and an arrow from the quiver she was now wearing on her back. "It's time."

"Come on," Emma stated in frustration and then opened the door to leave, followed closely by everyone else once Gold used his magic to transport Belle and their son to the hospital.

The Savior walked out among all of those from the town to join with her in the battle, overwhelmed by gratitude for the number of people willing to risk their lives for her and the man she loved, then stepped out to stand on the front line for once the fight began while she looked out among everyone. Zelena stood with both her sisters and Robin Hood, Blue stood with Granny who was there with her crossbow, as were Prince Phillip, Prince Thomas, Clorinda and her husband Jacob, Maleficent and Lily, Frederick and Abigail, Smee and the rest of Killian's former crew, all of Liam's crew, Anton, and Keith the former Sheriff of Nottingham. Archie, August, Marco, Snow, and Gold each took their places among them as everyone looked to Emma to lead them. Then, those who had powers of their own stepped out to stand beside Emma in defense of those who didn't.

Instead of making any more of a speech than she had done in the hospital, the Savior simply spoke with sincerity saying, "Thank you. All of you."

When they all finally turned to face Zagreus, Bishop, and their own army, the deity was the first one to talk as he uttered, "This is really your army? You have a few powerful allies among you, but how do you expect to beat dozens of angry souls from the Underworld… and me?"

"You should never judge a book by its cover," Emma retorted coldly and then turned her head to glare at the brute she knew was thirty or so years older a short time ago. "You're looking pretty good for an old man."

"I feel pretty good, all thanks to Captain Hook and the youth draining from his body," Bishop cruelly answered her with an evil grin on his face. "He helped to steal my youth from me long ago. It is only fair that I steal back what is rightfully mine."

The Savior raised her hands emitting her powers from them as she angrily responded, "I'll be damned if I let you take him from me! I won't let you do this. Not any of you!"

The son of Hades scoffed and then replied, "Let's just see which of our armies are stronger, hmmm? Let's fight."

All of a sudden, the army of the dead charged the heroes as everyone began battle against the opposite sides, and while doing so, the Evil Queen quickly blasted two of the brute's pirate friends who attempted to go against her, then continued fighting some of the dead men as she spoke to her other self calling out, "Try not to get yourself killed today! If you die, I die… remember?"

"I know!" Regina shouted back, striking down Bishop's first mate with her magic as she turned him into a bug, then crushed him under the heal of her red stiletto heal when he attempted to kill Zelena, who was busy fighting against one of the souls she had killed some time ago in Oz using a sword that Robin had given her to fight with now that she no longer had her own powers. "Believe me, that's not something I will ever forget."

"Can we not focus on the sisterly squabbles and just on these pests, please?" the witch retorted in frustration, though she had seen what Regina had done and quickly nodded her thanks as the original Queen just smiled.

While Robin fired two arrows to kill another of the pirates on the opposite side, the other at one of the dead to save August, Emma blasted back several of the souls at once with her powers, then quickly pulled out the sword with a ruby embedded into its hilt, which had killed her during her final battle with Gideon and the Black Fairy, as she charged against Bishop who fought her with his own sword and axe. The Savior knocked the sword from his hands with another gust of magic, then they continued as their sword and axe clashed.

August, Blue, and Granny kept close so they could defend Archie and Marco, both of whom were not fighters by any means, but both felt strongly about standing with Emma and all of those they loved for their friend lying in the hospital, their Savior who fought every day to bring them their happy endings, and for Storybrooke. The two older men only fought with a cane and an umbrella, which they carried with them whenever they left their homes and places of business. Gold, Maleficent, and Lily fought against the army from the Underworld alongside others who didn't have magic either, but who also fought with their own weapons. All of this went on, while Zagreus stood back to watch with glee, in the smug belief that the heroes will fall.

Taking out Bishop's men was easy and none of them lasted long against Hook's own band of pirates. Unfortunately, whenever one of the God's soldiers fell however, they quickly rose back to their feet and continued to charge because the dead could not be killed twice. Thankfully, there were several dead men fighting for the heroes as well. But while the villains' numbers dwindled as those who could be killed were killed, they only appeared to keep getting stronger so long as the battle raged on within the middle of the wide open street.

The Dark One fired his power at several more enemies, when he was unexpectedly struck from behind by the deity as Zagreus at last joined in the fight, moving in to strike against one of the heroes' strongest warriors, if not the strongest on account of his immortality. Neither being could kill the other. Gold immediately stood tall again, but failed to realize that when he fell, his dagger had fallen out of his coat pocket. The God saw it first and swiftly used his magic to summon the blade Gold was tethered to into his hand.

Rumple staggered back in fear upon seeing that he had lost it, but just as Zagreus was about to give the Dark One an order to kill, an arrow suddenly sailed through the air, striking the dagger and causing it to fall to the ground again, after which Gold swiftly took it back using his power to make it disappear, then reappear within his own hand. Both immortals turned to see Prince Charming with a bow in his hand until he handed it back to the Indian woman beside him, then together they, Grumpy, Liam, and Sir Morgan all continued running towards their friends and loved ones to join in as well.

"You can thank me later," David said upon glancing at Gold once he reached his wife as they quickly embraced and the older man simply nodded.

While the Dark One held his dagger in his hands, it was then that he got an idea and raised the blade out in front of him, but before he enacted his power again, he quickly turned to Liam as he called out, "Jones… I suggest you and your men go back to the hospital to wait for our return. You won't want to be here for what I'm about to do. You won't be needed in this fight any longer."

Liam looked over at David for confirmation and Emma's father, as he fought against two more souls who charged him while his wife fought against another, answered, "It's all right. You can trust him. Go!"

"Men!" the older Jones shouted as he relented and then looked for his crew amongst the battle. "Return to the Underworld and find Arthur. In case he isn't aware that a number of souls have escaped, he ought to be informed. Go now!"

They all quickly did as their Captain told them to do as they vanished, while Liam did the same so he could get back to the hospital to his brother. When they were gone, Gold looked down at his dagger again as red smoke engulfed the blade until his dark magic finally dissipated to reveal Excalibur once again, the Dark One now having the power to transform the dagger into its entirety whenever it was needed. As he raised the sword above his head, a small cry was heard from behind him and he turned to watch as Archie fell to the ground, having been stabbed in his stomach by one of the souls who had tried to kill Marco seconds earlier until the doctor pushed his oldest friend out of the way to protect him.

"Gold… whatever you're gonna do, just do it already and get this battle over with," the Queen from the Enchanted Forest spoke forcefully as she blasted two more dead men back in order to make her way to the wounded man's side so she could help him. "I'll take care of the cricket."

Marco and August both were kneeling above Archie when Regina's doppelganger came over to them, while Rumplestiltskin appeared once more beside the Dark One as he uttered smugly, "Do you really believe you have the power to do what you're about to do? Hook could barely hold the other Dark Ones in for a couple of minutes before he had to hand it over to his lover, just before she thrust that blade through his chest and broken heart. Remember, you still have a God to defeat as well."

Gold glanced over at the devil on his shoulder through the corner of his eyes and responded quietly, "We'll just have to see… won't we."

All of a sudden, just as Hook had done to the Dark Ones that dark night he had died, the Dark One closed his eyes and summoned all of the souls of the Underworld into Excalibur as they all cried out for help. The God among the heroes screamed in anger and attempted to strike Rumple down while he struggled against the strain, though it wasn't as difficult for him as it had been for Hook, as Gold had the power of every Dark One from before within him to help him now. However, Regina, the Blue Fairy, and Maleficent all quickly stood between Rumple and Zagreus and expelled their own powers to create a force field before them in order to give him the time he needed. They knew they wouldn't last long against the God, but so long Gold succeeded, it would be enough.

And succeeded he did when he finally lowered the sword again, when the three women were suddenly knocked off their feet as they flew back through the air until they each landed hard against the ground. Snow and David ran to Blue's side, while Zelena and Regina's doppelganger rushed over to their sister once she finished healing Archie, and Lily to her mother. All that remained standing for the villains were Hades' son and Bishop, as the battle neared its end. However, Emma was also suddenly forced back off her feet by a hard blow against her chest by the brute despite him only being a teenager again, with the size and strength of two men. Tiger Lily quickly tethered her bow and fired an arrow in order to protect the Savior, but Zagreus immediately blew the projectile into pieces before it struck its target.

Thankfully the Indian Fairy's momentary distraction gave Emma the time she needed to stand again, then she immediately summoned as much strength within her and forced it outward, knocking Bishop into one of the street lights nearby rendering him unconscious. The deity was able to stand his ground while he fought to break off the light magic still beating against him as she continued to emit her power. Upon seeing their Savior weakening, Regina and her other self, Blue, and Maleficent all moved in to stand beside her as they too released their magic within them and forced it back against the God. Zagreus stumbled back a little, but he wasn't about to lose as he strengthened his own release, causing the women to falter, but not to fall.

Lily quickly joined in with her mother, while the rest of those who joined in the fight stepped forward as they followed David's and Snow's example and laid their hands down on their loved ones shoulders to give those with the power even more strength than they already had. In the meantime, Gold summoned Pandora's Box into his hands, then got as close to Zagreus as he could without being caught in the middle of both powers and finally opened it in order to pull the deity inside like he had done to Pan, or Henry rather unknowing they had switched bodies at the time, and as Pan had done to him back in Neverland. Hades' son screamed with rage as he struggled against the powers being forced at him and the magic pulling him inside the box, but when the Dark One raised one hand to add his own dark magic in with the rest of the heroes' powers, it was enough. Zagreus was finally defeated as he became trapped within Pandora's Box per the Savior's suggestion and the heroes won again.

Everyone either collapsed to the ground in exhaustion or simply doubled over while they fought to get their breathing back under control, but Emma didn't waste any time as she stood over the still unconscious brute and pulled him over onto his stomach so she could grab the steel brand she had seen within the quiver he wore on his back, then quickly glanced over at her parents before running back towards the hospital to get back to the man she loved. The Charmings, Tiger Lily, Leroy, and Sir Morgan were the first to follow after her, then a few others did the same including Regina and her other self, Robin, Zelena, August, Archie, Marco, Anton, Blue, and Gold, while the rest either remained or returned home to recuperate.

When everyone arrived, both Henry and Violet happily raced over to their parents to embrace them upon seeing they had survived, while Emma rushed into the room upon seeing Dr. Whale leaning over her husband again as he was using his stethoscope to listen to his heart until he saw the Savior enter the room. Neither she nor her mother could stifle their gasp this time as she saw how much more Killian's body had deteriorated since she had left him nearly an hour ago. Were it not for the ring that matched her own, the lack of his hand, or the fear that gripped her heart upon seeing him, Emma wouldn't have recognized him. The bones within his face, chest, arms, and his hand could be seen protruding from beneath his extremely pale skin, the green striations had risen past his neck and into the lower half of his face, as well as below his stomach, and all of his hair had turned to white. Liam stood away from his brother's bed and stared at David when they entered while tears fell from his eyes.

"I'll never know how, but Hook's still with us," Whale uttered despondently as he slowly rose when they came in. "Barely. He's more of a corpse than he is alive. His heart is barely beating and his vital signs are beyond weak. Unless you can save him right now…"

"We defeated the God and the bastard who did this," Emma interrupted as she struggled to hold back her own tears falling down her cheeks as well, then quickly raised the brand in her hand and the vile Belle had given her at the pawnshop. "But I… I'm not sure how to…"

Tiger Lily slipped through the crowd of people and stepped in front of Emma as she took the brand from her, then replied, "If you'll allow me, I can help you to save him."

The Savior stared at her while she answered, "You're Tiger Lily. I saw you… when I came through the doorway to Neverland so I could save Killian then. He briefly fought to help you to escape from the Lost Boys before following me back through."

"That's right," the Indian Fairy responded as she raised the ancient steel before her, then looked between those who most loved him. "I saw a different man in Hook that night, then the man I knew long ago. He was changed. Good and foolishly brave, yet broken. He fought to get back to you more than anyone's ever fought to protect someone they've loved, without becoming a great evil as Fiona had when she fought for her son. Hook has become a true hero, something I never believed possible and that is why I've come."

"What can I do?" Emma asked while she looked down at Killian again, wiping away the tears from her eyes the best she could.

The other woman smiled sadly and replied, "Lay your hand gently over his chest above his heart and pour all of your healing power and love you have for him into him. Then, allow me to do the rest. Is the man who touched the brand to Hook here?"

Robin and Grumpy pushed their way through everyone as they pulled Bishop into the room with them, then shoved the brute to the floor as Regina stepped forward and used her magic to conjure chains around him to keep him from fighting. Then, while Emma emitted her power into Killian like the Indian woman told her to do, as Tiger Lily raised the brand higher and suddenly, yet carefully blew out a breath of fire as if she were a dragon like Maleficent and Lily, and the flames consumed the brand until it disintegrated into a pile of ash on the floor at her feet.

Doing so caused her to collapse to the floor as the fire burning up within her was finally expelled from her body, having taken it into herself while she and the heroes were still in Neverland to serve as a vessel for the flames. David immediately rushed to her to help her, then everyone turned to the villain when he began to gasp in pain and they all saw his body begin to age again. Emma turned her attention back on Killian, as did Liam and everyone else, and all of a sudden, the youth that had been drained from his body began to be restored while the deadly striations slowly faded. The older Jones finally let out a sigh of relief upon seeing the youth being expelled from Bishop and returned to his brother, while Emma fell into the chair at his bedside as she began to cry again, though this time it was more out of liberation and joy than grief.

While everyone watched the magic work to save Killian, Snow finally spoke again with happiness saying quietly, "Look at that. We did it."

Once Killian was healed enough so he was no longer so frail, as the handsomeness of his face slowly returned and the true black of his hair overshadowed the white, Liam pulled the flask containing the magical waters from Neverland and gently lifted his brother's head to pour the waters past his lips in order to heal the burns, as well as the gash left behind by the God from his earlier attack. Emma then did the same with the elixir Belle had made in order to counteract the price to be paid from one drinking from the dark island's spring.

"We'll leave so that the two of you can be with him alone," David said quietly to both Emma and Liam, as he and his wife gently helped Tiger Lily to stand, while everyone else finally left the room.

"I want to thank you, Emma," the older Jones whispered, even though his brother had yet to awaken while he continued to heal. "Were it not for you and your family's vigor to fight for Killian, I would have had to take him back with me to the Underworld and honestly… I'm not so sure he would have been able to move on even this time. He truly loves you wholeheartedly and you're everything to him. I've seen how broken he is without you."

Emma tenderly caressed her husband's face while she kept her eyes on him, but answered, "I'm just as lost and broken without him, even though I do have the rest of my family here with me."

Liam finally sat down across from her and then responded, "Yes, but it isn't just that. Despite both of our efforts to try to help him to forgive himself for his entire past, especially because it keeps returning to haunt him, Killian never has. He has a little thanks to you. However, I fear he never will fully. We can all say two hundred years is a long time, but none of us lived it… except for the Dark One actually. That's not the point. My point is…"

"Believe me, I understand exactly what you mean," the Savior sadly replied. "Killian was still a villain nearly four years ago. While we all know it's impossible to change and learn how to forgive ourselves in a matter of days for a few short years of mistakes, surely it's even more impossible to forgive oneself in a few years after centuries of living the life he did. It will take a long time, but one day he will be able to forgive himself for all of it. And I'm going to help him."

"Can I ask you something?" he asked. "When was it you first saw the good in Killian? I mean the very first time, even if you didn't trust him just yet?"

She raised her head to look over at Liam after she thought for a moment and then answered, "Actually, it wasn't necessarily anything he said… at first. It was more of a look he gave me. A look of complete trust in me… until I was the first one to break that trust. Killian and I had just finished climbing a beanstalk to a giants' castle, where we first met Anton who was helping us earlier, as we were looking for a magical compass to help me and my mother get back home."

The Savior's thoughts drifted off to an earlier time between her and Killian when she had hurt him then as she had done so now, remembering as she pulled Hook out from under the debris within the giants' castle after Anton had awakened and charged at them while she whispered, "Hook."

"You are bloody brilliant," the Pirate Captain responded as he laughed. "Amazing. May I see it? The compass."

"It's more beautiful than legend," he continued when Emma held the compass out for him to see until she suddenly grew suspicious of Hook's motives as he started to reach out to take it from her, then Emma withdrew her hand and quickly pocketed the compass. "Come. Let's go."

Killian chuckled again as he extended his hand to her in order to help her up, but instead of taking it, Emma immediately grabbed hold of a shackle lying on the ground nearby and swiftly chained Hook to the wall by his wrist, then backed away from him out of fear of his reaction while he looked at her in confusion as he stood up after her while he asked, "What are you doing? What are you doing?"

"Hook, I…," Emma struggled to reply as she turned away for a moment out of guilt upon seeing the hurt in his eyes. "I… I can't…"

"Emma, look at me," Killian pleaded with her. "Have I told you a lie? I brought you here. I risked my own safety to help you. The compass is in your hand. Why do this to me now?"

She turned back to him and answered worryingly, "I can't take a chance that I'm wrong about you. I'm sorry."

The Savior finished sharing what happened between them, then she spoke again saying, "I knew I was wrong to leave him chained up there the moment I did it. I won't ever forget that moment. And though I've apologized to Killian for doing that to him, I'm not so sure I've forgiven myself."

"But clearly he has," Liam responded with a smile. "As he has for everything else you might still blame yourself for."

"All sins can be forgiven when someone loves you," Emma whispered. "Killian told me that to show me he still loved me, despite me being a Dark One. One day he will believe that about himself."