AN: Thank you for the reviews, I couldn't wait to publish this chapter; so here it is, ch36. It is the second part of the last chapter, it will contain dialogue from the episode; as well as a couple of in-between scenes, read and review please as it would be greatly appreciated. MysteryFan1997
Disclaimer, I do not own any of the characters from OUAT
Ch36 - Tougher Than The Rest Pt2
She nodded, and I turned to leave; I heard her follow me. I sighed softly, whilst silently hoping that August could help us; and that he knew me...
We walked further into the forest, making light conversation as we did; I kept glancing at Regina, as we continued walking. Her expression, giving nothing away; but I could tell, she was still thinking about Robin.
I heard voices, as we approached a small village; Regina spoke, as she made to move towards it. None of this is real, August isn't real; I had to keep reminding myself, that he wasn't real.
I wasn't a Princess, even though he would know me as one; I watched the people, sighing softly. I heard Regina, as she moved forward.
"Alright let's go"
I stopped her, what the hell; does she think she's doing? She can't be seen, they'd kill her; the second they laid eyes on her.
I kept my tone soft, and barely above a whisper; as I stopped her.
"Oh shh! Stay back, the whole kingdom; wants your head on a spike. You'll just be a liability, stay here"
She needs to stay hidden, she looked at me; I smiled softly, before leaving. He would only know me, as Princess Emma; he doesn't know the real me, so how was I going to convince him, to help?
I walked through the small village, the people; gasping, as I walked past. I heard murmuring, as I continued walking; I found August...did he go by that name here?
I approached Wish August...No Pinocchio, standing behind him; I took a breath, before I spoke.
"Hey there, Pinocchio"
He turned to face me, speaking as he did.
"Princess Emma! I'd heard terrible rumours, you were captured by the Evil Queen"He hugged me, before pulling my hood down; we laughed, before he continued. "I cannot tell you, how relieved I am to see you, what are you doing here? What happened?"
I sighed again, before answering.
"It's a long story"
He looked at me, before I spoke again.
"I promise, I'll tell you everything; but there's someone else, you need to talk to"
He looked at me, I noticed he looked slightly perplexed; before following me, he stopped in his tracks, when he spotted Regina.
"The Evil Queen, this is who; you wanted me to meet?"
Regina sighed, before speaking.
"Calm down puppet, I can assure you; I'm not the Evil Queen..."
He looked at me, as I nodded; confirming her story, he looked at us both, before speaking again.
"How do, I know; this isn't a trick?"
I sighed, before answering.
"You can trust me, she's not the Evil Queen; her name's Regina, and we're not from here. We're actually from a place, called Storybrooke"
He sighed, while looking at me; he studied my face, he sighed again, when he realised I was telling the truth. He turned to leave, only to turn back; he spoke.
"Follow me"
He walked ahead of us, before stopping outside some kind of workshop; we walked inside, he came to a stop. He stood behind a workbench, I stood at the opposite side; Regina kept her distance.
He cleared his throat, before speaking.
"Tell me again, why you are here?"
I looked at him, before answering.
"I was sent here, by the Evil Queen; she wished this, she wanted me to have the life, she thought I wanted. My real story, is awful; but I wouldn't change it, I have a life, one that's pretty good at the minute. I was under some kind of spell, but thanks to Regina; it was broken, and now we're looking for a way home and we were hoping that you could help us?"
He stood in front of me, I could see; that he was finally starting to believe me. He smiled, before speaking.
"I know, this sounds...well; crazy, long ago..." he cleared my throat, before continuing. "I desperately wanted to become a real boy, and it only took one person; my father, believing in me, making it so. I believe in you Emma"
I nodded, before speaking.
"Thank you"
He smiled, while answering.
"You're welcome"
He looked at us both again, before questioning our reason; for asking him.
"So why me? What can a simple woodcarver, do for you?"
I answered.
"Carve wood, and get us home. Your father once, made a magical wardrobe; it took me between realms"
He spoke again.
"My father passed years ago"
I spoke.
"I know, I have all of Princess Emma's memories too; and I'm sorry, I was hoping that maybe you still have that wardrobe"
He turned, his gaze drifting across the shed; before he spoke.
"I remember the one, you speak about; but I dismantled it years ago, it reminded me of darker times" He trailed off, while looking at Regina; he spoke again. "No offence"
She laughed, before answering.
"None taken. This world, became oh-so much better; after I was gone"
I sighed, while trying to think of something to say; but before I could, Wish August spoke again.
"Maybe I can help, I know the enchanted grove; where my father found, the wood for the original wardrobe. Perhaps, we can replicate his work"
I nodded, silently agreeing to help him; he continued.
"I kept his tools"
I spoke, this time to Regina.
"Regina, what do you think?"
I turned, my eyes widening; when I realised she was gone, I walked towards the door. I noticed a piece of paper, it was a note; from Regina, I read it.
"Do what you must, to get home; with Pinocchio, I know you'll succeed. But I can't come back, till I have a question answered. I know Robin, isn't real here; but I need to know if...like everything else, in this realm; is he better off without me?"
I sighed, knowing she needed time; Robin, meant a lot to her. I re-read the note, my heart clenching as I did; it made sense, that she would want to track him down.
She deserves to know, if this realms version of Robin; is happy, and if they will ever cross paths. I turned, facing Wish August again.
I spoke,
"She ran into someone earlier, someone she knew; back in our world"
He nodded, before speaking.
"When will she return?"
I answered.
"When she's got her answers"
He nodded, before gathering his tools; he then moved past me, opening the door. I smiled, as he held it open; I walked past him, before stopping.
I waited for him to join me, before we made the journey to the enchanted grove; we walked in a comfortable silence, I kept glancing at him.
It was still strange seeing him after all this time, but I had to remember; he's not the August, I know...knew.
He looked at me, before speaking.
"Is your friend, gonna be ok?"
I answered.
"Regina, can take care of herself; we just need to do our part"
He spoke again.
"Speaking of which, here we are"
I noticed the trees, I gasped softly; before answering.
"It's beautiful"
Wish August looked at me, before speaking again.
"It survived, the Evil Queen's reign; it's magic flourished"
I spoke.
"And this will get us home?"
He answered, his tone; one of mild uncertainty.
"We'll see"
He crouched down, while gathering his tools; I spoke again.
"So which one?"
He answered, while holding one of the tools in his hands.
"The chisel"
I nodded, as he continued speaking.
"Ordinary tools, are no good; on enchanted wood, but this one...this one, was special to my father. I just hope, I can live up to him"
He stepped towards the tree, as he examined it; he spoke again.
"He said...A true woodcarver, must always be; in conversation with his tool, and his materials"
I lifted the sword, while examining it; I wonder if I could apply the same logic to it? He glanced at me, curiosity evident in his tone; as he spoke.
"A sword, Princess?"
I lowered it, as he continued.
"The Emma I knew, was far more interested; in fancy dresses and high tea"
I answered.
"Where I come from, I'm not a Princess; I'm...a saviour"
He smiled, while speaking.
"Interesting jobs, in your world"
I nodded, as I answered.
"Yeah, I spend a lot more time; around swords, than dresses"
His expression changed, the curiosity even more evident on his face; when he spoke again.
"What exactly, does a saviour do?"
I sighed, while trying to think of what to say; I took a breath, before answering.
"A lot of things, I...protect people, it's...the gist of it, I guess"
My gaze drifted to the ground, as once more; I thought about my family, and how much I wanted to get back to them.
He spoke.
"So, why so glum? Seems like a good thing"
My gaze met his again, as I spoke.
"Because, the job comes with a destiny; I'm supposed to protect my family, but I die doing it. It's my fate...and this sword...this is what will finish me"
He opened his mouth to speak, only to have a sword held to his cheek; the person holding the sword spoke, in a familiar accent.
"Stop talking...back away from the Princess"
I peered up, my eyes widened; no it couldn't be...It was Killian, my eyes drifted as I took in his appearance.
He looked older, much older; well I suppose Killian is too, but he's not...whatever this is, I guess that's also down to the Evil Queen's wish?
She's one twisted, bitch; but I suppose, in a way he would look like this. Because in this realm I was never sent through the wardrobe, the curse was never cast; so no one left, no one was sent to Storybrooke.
As I looked at him, I couldn't help but wonder; if in this realm, did he meet Milah? Did he still go to Neverland? Did he experience, all the losses; that my Killian had experienced?
My heart clenched again, as I looked at him; I was then shaken from my thoughts, as I heard him order Wish August to drop his chisel.
I spoke, silently hoping; he'd listen to me.
"Killian?"
He answered.
"Don't worry, Princess; I'm here to rescue you...after I kill, whoever the blazes this is"
With that, he pointed his sword at Wish August; I sighed, when he smirked. I stepped closer, to get a better look at him; his hair, was longer and was also silver, mixed with grey.
He wasn't as fit, as my Hook; this version, had a little pot belly. He sure as hell, wasn't devilishly handsome; I couldn't help but think, that if Killian was here, he wouldn't be too happy.
I raised my voice slightly, before speaking.
"I'm fine, please let him go"
He ignored me, as he continued holding his sword against Wish August's back; I sighed, before speaking.
"He hasn't harmed me, so please; let him go"
Wish Killian, or should that be; Hook? Yeah, he's definitely Hook; I noticed the way he looked at me, I'd seen that look before.
He looked at me, his tone; rough and slurred, as he spoke again.
"I shall do no such thing, I'm rescuing you; and it's bad form, not knowing the name, of the Princess I am rescuing. So, your highness; please tell me, what is your name?"
I sighed, before answering.
"Princess Emma" He nodded, I then continued. "Now, listen to me; let him go!"
He stood there, not moving from his position; he swayed, as he held his sword. Was he drunk, right now? He really needs to lay off the rum, I made a mental note; to try and get Killian to drink more water.
That was something, I wasn't looking forward to suggesting; I could picture Killian's face, he won't be too happy.
I focused on what was happening in front of me; as I watched Wish August back off. I sighed, beginning to feel even more frustrated; at the sheer stubbornness of Wish Hook.
I spoke again.
"Uh..ok, how many times do I need to ask? Please let him go"
Wish Killian, looked at me; before he spoke.
"Princess Enya, please"
Did he just call me, Enya? That's not my name, I watched as he swayed on his feet; oh yeah, he's definitely drunk.
He stared at me, as he continued.
"Leave the daring rescue, to the professionals"
Daring rescue? He doesn't even, know who he's rescuing; I mean, he didn't even call me by the right name.
I had to say something, if he was going to attempt to save me; he may as well, be told my name...again.
"It's Emma"
He looked confused, as he answered.
"Who is?"
I answered.
"My...Me. My name is Emma, and I don't need to be rescued"
He chuckled, as he spoke again.
"Not anymore, thanks to Captain Hook" he bowed, before continuing. "At your service"
Wish August took then took the opportunity, to grab the sword; Wish Hook, shouted.
"Hey!" Before groaning, he pointed at him; before continuing. "That's not very sporting mate"
Wish August answered.
"Like the lady said, she doesn't need any rescuing"
Wish Hook spoke again.
"The Royal Family, does not agree. There's a handsome reward, out for her return"
Was he serious? He's only rescuing me, for the money? Wow! Yeah he's definitely not my Killian; he continued.
"Sword please"
He lunged at Wish August, who jumped back; I spoke again.
"Oh! Hook! Hook! Please! We really don't want to hurt you!"
Wish August turned back, facing me; as he did, he then spoke.
"I'm sorry. Do you...you know him?"
I sighed, while nodding; I then answered.
"A version of him, in the other world; we sort of live together"
Wish Hook, took his chance; he moved quickly towards the tree, picking the chisel off the ground. He yelled, at the same time as Wish August.
Wish Hook, brushed his hair; out of his eyes, I smiled softly, at how cute that gesture looked. My Killian, wouldn't do such a thing; I wonder if I could persuade him, to let his hair grow out?
I laughed internally, as I pictured his face; he wouldn't do it, he'd say he's too dashing, and too devilishly handsome for that sort of thing.
Wish Hook, spoke again.
"Now...you might have my sword; but I've got your..." he gestured to the chisel, before continuing. "This thing"
Wish August answered.
"Chisel"
Wish Hook nodded, as he spoke.
"Now we duel"
Really? There was no way, that was happening; I lifted my hand, as I spoke.
"Hook! Stop!"
I blasted him back, with my magic; he landed on the ground, he was out cold. I guess, it must have been the rum; I exhaled, before speaking.
"Wow, I really need to get home; and get someone off the rum" I walked closer, inspecting his form; before continuing. "And the dessert"
I apologised, to his unconscious form.
"Sorry Hook, I think it's time to go back to the Jolly Roger"
I magicked him back to his ship, he disappeared in a cloud of smoke; when he was gone, Wish August spoke, as he looked down.
I followed his gaze, my eyes widened; the chisel, it was broken. Now how are Regina and I supposed to get home?...
TBC
I've decided to add a third part to this chapter; it will be published soon.