The group approached the beanstalk, Aurora straggling behind, her skirts catching on anything and everything on the ground. They came to a stop near the bottom and all stared up in awe. Everyone but Killian and Anthanasia that is. "It's a little freakier than I remember from the story." Emma stated her voice wavering slightly. "Reminds me of death." Mulan added bluntly. "Encouraging." Snow mumbled sarcastically, shaking her head.
"Well your compass awaits, shall we?" Killian asked not wanting to waste time staring at it all day. "Wait...if these beans create...portals, why not just pick one and go home? Why the compass?" Emma sounded breathless trying to keep her footing on the uneven ground. Anthanasia let out a laugh drawing all eyes to her. "Because there aren't any beans left. If it were that simple we would have made it to your Storybrooke long ago." She said pointing out the obvious. When they stared at her blankly she continued, "Whatever story you think you know, my dears, is most certainly wrong."
"There was a guy named Jack, and a cow, and something about an evil giant with a treasure and a golden goose...or a harp." Emma furrowed her brows trying to remember. "Sounds like a lovely tale." Anthanasia mused. "But the truth's a little more gruesome." she leaned against the beanstalk lazily. "The giants grew the beans, but rather than use them for good, they used them to plunder all the lands. Jack was a man who fought a terrible war, defeating all but one of the evil giants. The beans were destroyed by the giants as they died, if they couldn't have their magic, then nobody could. It's really bad form." Killian recounted the tale to the listening women. "There is some debate about Jack's gender though." She added with a chuckle.
"Evil giants who made magic portal beans? Why doesn't anyone just go up and grow some more?" Emma still didn't understand. "You did hear the bit about the evil giant that survived, yes?" Anthanasia asked, growing impatient. They were so close to getting what they needed, but the women wanted to stand around receiving a history lesson instead. She suddenly was reminded why she worked alone.
Killian sighed, "Because one giant survived. The strongest and most terrible of them all. And we'll have to get past him too." He was also losing his patience. "To get to the magic compass." Snow nodded in understanding clearly catching on quicker than the others. Finally, someone was keeping up. "Indeed." Killian nodded. "The treasure remains, and amongst it is the compass. Now, it will guide us to your land. Cora has the means to open the portal with the wardrobe ashes, but she can't find your land without the compass. Once we get it, steal the ashes from her and we're on our way." Killian explained everything in hopes of avoiding more unnecessary questions.
"If we're done with the history lesson..." Mulan cut Anthansia off, "How do we know you're not just using us to get the compass from Cora?" she growled still not trusting them. ""You don't. But, so far, we have led you to the beanstalk that you had no idea existed, to obtain the compass, a vital instrument in Cora's plan, that again you had no clue about. So far we have done all the leg work. A thief and pirate of all people." Anthanasia drawled boredly pointing out the obvious once more.
Killian frowned. While normally an endearing quality, her impatience wasn't helping them. "Because you four are far from safe company. All we need is a ride back." He tried smoothing the hackles that had been raised. "We'll swear allegiance to whomever gets us there first." Anthanasia added bluntly. "Then we'd better start climbing." Emma accepted her answer far better than the others.
"Right, so we failed to mention the giant enchanted the beanstalk to repel intruders." Killian smiled sheepishly as Emma glared at him. "Alright, so how do we get up there?" she asked, agitated. "We've got a counter spell from Cora." He held up his wrist to show the glowing black leather cuff there. "I've got one more of these. Cora was to accompany us. So... Which one of you four ladies shall take her place?" he asked. He rocked up onto his toes eagerly. "Hm? Go on. Fight it out. Don't be afraid to really get into it." He encouraged flirtatiously.
"Wait, you only have two cuffs?" Mulan asked suspiciously. "Three." Anthanasia corrected pointing to her own cuff on her slender wrist. She frowned sensings a trap. "It isn't a trap warrior. Calm yourself." Mulan's eyes widened and her distrust for them only grew. "Why do two of you get to go and only one of us?" Aurora asked, pouting. "It's simple Princess. I am a thief and Killian is a Pirate, a thief by nature." Anthanasia pushed off the beanstalk crossing her arms over her chest. "Not to mention I have more skill and experience with a blade." Mulan growled but the women broke off to decide who would accompany them before she could argue.
"Perhaps their clothes will slip off? That would make your day wouldn't it?" Anthanasia snapped quietly as the women began to argue and Killian watched excitedly. He turned to the thief grinning slyly. "Ah, is that jealousy I detect, love?" Killian teased making her cheeks heat. "Of course not." she scoffed. "I feel sorry for any woman who gets stuck with you between her sheets. You're like a pest...impossible to get rid of." Killian chuckled. "Come lass, you know you'd love to see me between your sheets." He wiggled his eyebrows suggestively. He smiled triumphantly when he saw her shoulders shake with silent laughter.
"Feel anything of use?" Killian asked, leaning against the beanstalk beside her. "No. A few flashes here and there but nothing of importance. They all seem to have one tracked...hearts." She shook her head frustrated. "Ladies, in this world we are slaves to time. And ours is running out so in other words...tick tock." Killian called, trying to speed things along. After what felt like forever, Emma strode over to Killian stashing something inside her jacket.
"I was hoping it would be you." he grinned. "Just get on with it." Anthanasia snapped, irritated. Killian fastened the cuff on her wrist. "This will allow you to climb. But there are other dangers." Anthanasia explained. "Thankfully. You've got me to protect you." He looked down at his stump pointedly. "I cant climb one handed, can I?" Emma reached into the satchel and grabbed his hook handing it to him. "Don't think I'm taking my eyes off you for a second." She warned. "I would despair if you did." He flirted shamelessly. "Let's go!" Anthanasia yelled and they started to climb.
"First beanstalk?" Anthanasia asked climbing beside the savior trying to break the ice. "Well you never forget your first." She joked. Emma remained silent, glaring at the thief. "You know, most people would find your silence off putting, but I love a challenge." Emma rolled her eyes dramatically. "I am concentrating." She finally answered. Anthanasia smiled triumphantly. She had gotten her to speak at least. "No, you're afraid." She corrected. "Afraid to talk...to reveal yourself. Afraid that in doing so you'll reveal your deepest darkest secrets..." Emma didn't take the bait. "Trust me things will go a lot smoother if you do." Anthanasia climbed with ease and sure footing while she truly struggled to keep hold of the rough greenery. Emma glanced up at Killian who was climbing a few feet ahead of them seemingly just as at ease.
"You should be used to people not trusting you." She answered shortly. "Ah, the thief thing." Anthanasia smiled. "Well I can assure you my family is the merriest band of thieves you will ever meet." Emma's foot slipped and she had to catch herself on a vine to keep from falling. "Merriest as in merry men?" Anthanasia glanced over. "You've heard of them?" she asked surprised. While her father's name was known in some parts of the Enchanted Forest she hadn't thought his fame had grown so much to have reached their world. "I have heard stories about Robin Hood and his merry men." Emma explained pulling herself higher. "Then you have heard of my father."
"I didn't know him and Marian had a daughter." Emma's brow furrowed and Anthanasia stiffened. "They didn't. What about your family?" she asked changing the subject quickly. She was met with stony silence once more. "Well I don't need you to share. You're something of an open book for me." Emma snorted at that, skeptical. "Am I?" she challenged. "Absolutely. Let's see...you volunteered to come up here because you were the most motivated. You need to get back to a child." Anthanasia explained enlightening her. "That's not perception, that's eavesdropping." Emma corrected. "Ah, but you don't want to abandon him the same way you were abandoned." rattled off confidently. "Was I?" Emma wasn't letting on that she was right. "Like I said, open book."
"How would you know that?" Emma asked. "I lived in the Enchanted Forest most of my life and many of the merry men all share the same look you have in your eyes... the look you get when you've been left alone." Anthanasia said her voice carrying a sharp edge to it and Emma had a feeling she was also talking about herself. "Yeah. Well, my world ain't the Enchanted Forest." Emma answered defensively. "But an orphan is an orphan. Love has been all too rare in your life, hasn't it? Have you ever even been in love?" Emma could tell she was speaking from experience now, the haunted tone of her voice telling her as much. "No. I have never been in love."
They climbed the rest of the way in silence both losing themselves to their thoughts. The higher they climbed the more the wind picked up. They were almost to the top when a good gust of wind caught Anthanasia's scarf ripping it from her body. She frantically tried to grab it as it fluttered out of reach and into the clouds. "Dammit." She cursed. When they got back to the bottom she would either have to find it or deal with all the staring and gawking. Until then she had a job to do.
Finally, they reached the top. Killian extended his hook to Anthanasia. She smiled up at him and took it without hesitation, allowing him to pull her up onto the craggy stone ground. "Where's your hood, love?" he asked once she was on her feet. "The wind took it." She grumbled turning to take in her surroundings while Killian turned to help the savior the rest of the way up.
Emma stood panting hands on her knees, out of breath. Anthanasia turned inspecting the large statue that loomed over them and Emma caught sight of her and froze jaw falling open. It was the first time she had seen her without the hood. Her hair fell to her waist in long thick ebony curls, wild from the wind whipping through them as she climbed. Her skin was tan but her nose and cheeks had a light dusting of freckles. Her lips were full and red like blood. Her perfectly arched eyebrows were the same dark color of her hair.
But it was her eyes that stood out the most. Through her thick long lashes, peered at a set of turquoise eyes brighter than anything she had ever seen in both color and clearness. "You're..." She stammered searching for the right words. "Beautiful, yes, I know. A curse really." Anthanasia waved her hand dismissively, clearly irritated. "Hence the hood." She walked away from them to see if she could get a better look at what they were dealing with. Emma looked at Killian gaping like a cod out of water. "The lass is truly a unique treasure, love. With gifts beyond your imagination." He stated proudly watching her walk away. Emma furrowed her brows, there was something about that woman that was so familiar to her yet so unusual. She just couldn't quite place it.
"What happened here?" Emma asked looking around at the destitute looking castle that was near ruins. "It's where the final battle was." Anthanasia answered, kicking some rubble aside. "Give me your hand." Killian instructed the blonde. "What?" she asked, confused. "Your hand, it's cut. Let me help you." He explained. She looked down at her sliced palm. "No, no. It's fine." She mumbled. Killian shook his head, "No it's not." He snatched up her hand to get a better look.
"So now you're going to be gentlemen?" she scoffed. "Giants can smell blood, and I am always a gentleman." Killian answered pulling a flask from his belt and uncorked it with his teeth. Anthanasia watched as he poured its contents on her small wound. Emma cringed. "Ah, ow! What the hell is that?" she glared trying to yank her hand free but he held fast. "Rum." He answered with a shrug. "A bloody waste of it too." Anthanasia added sounding more like a pirate than a merry man. Killian finished wrapping her hand with a piece of fabric.
"Now, here's the plan; we wait for the giant to fall asleep. And when he does, we'll sneak past him into the cave. It's where the treasures are...where the compass lies." Anthanasia corrected herself. "And then?" Emma raised a brow. "And then we run like hell." Killian smiled. "I don't have time to wait for a giant to fall asleep. The powder Mulan gave me...we need to use it. We got to knock him out." Anthanasia's eyes lit up in realization. "So that's what she gave you...poppy powder." She nodded in agreement with the new plan. "Well, that's riskier." Killian argued. "Then waiting for a giant to fall asleep when we need him too?" Emma questioned. "Point taken. Oo, you're a tough lass. You'd make a hell of a pirate." Killian grinned. "Or thief." Anthanasia added.
"Who's Milah? On the tattoo." Emma asked immediately, darkening the light mood. Killian's face turned dark and he looked away with pain flickering in his eyes. "Someone from a long time ago." He answered quietly. "Where is she?" she prodded not giving up. "She's gone." Anthanasia glared at the savior. "Gold...Rumplestiltskin. He took more than your hand from you, didn't he? That's why you want to kill him." Emma concluded. Killian walked off lost in his own memories. "For someone who's never been in love, you're quite perceptive, aren't you?" Anthanasia asked, watching him sadly. "Maybe I was once." Emma admitted her hands went to the swan necklace she wore around her neck. "Right. Now let's execute this plan of yours before you shove your foot any farther in your mouth."
They moved into position. Emma was perched atop a statue near the entrance of the castle armed with the poppy powder. Anthanasia and Killian remained on the ground. Killian armed himself with a bone he found. "You ready?" Anthanasia called. "Yeah." She pulled her sword and began banging it against the shield she had taken from one of the many skeletons laying around. The sound echoed through the air as Killian mimicked her movements. The ground began to tremble beneath them. signaling that the giant was in fact there and headed their direction and fast. "He's coming!" The giant stepped out and Emma's eyes widened. He was bigger than she thought towering over even the statue she was standing on. "Oh, dammit." She cursed.
"Hey! You big git! Yeah you!" Killian yelled, distracting him before he could spot the savior. "You want to kill a human? Well, I'm the worst human around! Come on. Come on, then!" he bellowed. The giant focused his attention on them and leaned down to swipe at them with his big meaty hands. But they saw the move coming and they turned and crossed in front of him running in a zigzag pattern both going opposite directions.
Emma took the distraction as her opportunity and held her hand up to her face, sucked in a breath and blew the poppy powder in his face. The giant stumbled as his eyes began to droop. It was far more effective then she thought it would be against someone his size. He wavered on his feet swaying drunkenly before he fell to the ground unconscious. The ground shook violently from the impact.
Emma looked around for the thief and pirate but didn't see either of them. "Hook? Anthanasia!" she yelled, panic building in her chest. What if the giant had landed on them? Squashed them? It would have killed them! "Hook!" she screamed frantically trying to scramble down off the statue.
Suddenly, the two appeared from behind the giant's head. Both grinning like mad men. "He's out cold." Killian confirmed. "I don't mean to upset you Emma, but I think we make quite the team!" Anthanasia called up with a laugh, grinning brightly. Emma couldn't help but return the smile relieved that they were both alive and if she took the time to admit it to herself, they did make a damn good team. "Let's go steal a compass."
The three walked into what could only be described as the treasure vault. Gold trinkets and coins were scattered all over the floor, gems sparkled in the light, along with several objects that none of them recognized. "They hoarded all their greatest stolen treasures here. Piles of jewels and every room filled with coins." Killian sang greedily. Anthansia walked under a giant chair looking around in awe. She'd never seen so much glittering gold in her life. A handful of coins would have had her and her family well off for weeks if not months.
She eyed some of the sparkling jewels, her fingers itching to grab it. "Let's go get it, the compass." Emma snapped at them, not even tempted to grab a handful for herself. "What's your rush?" Killian asked, strolling languidly through the room. Emma stopped whirling around to face them. "How long do you think magic knockout powder lasts?" she raised her brows. "I have no clue." He answered honestly. "That's my rush." Killian discreetly pocketed the jewel in his hand. "Too right, lass." Anthanasia nodded, sending him a scolding look as she pocketed her own jewel. "Come, everything we need is right in front of us."
They began to truly search for the compass. "They kill all the giant housekeepers too? How are we going to find a compass in this mess?" Emma asked with a sigh looking around feeling defeated already. "Let's not declare defeat before we begin. We will find it by looking, start searching." Anthanasia instructed beginning to sift through some coins. They had no idea what the compass even looked like. If anyone would be able to spot it, it would be Killian, being a pirate and all.
"I wonder how much treasure we could carry down the beanstalk...in addition to the compass of course." Killian wondered a sparkle in his eye. Emma stopped searching and looked down at a skeleton on the floor that held a blade with the name Jack engraved into it. "What the hell?" she asked, cocking her head to the side. "That...would be Jack." Anthanasia answered, glancing over her shoulder. "As in Jack..."she trailed off. "The giant killer." She confirmed. "With that toothpick?" Emma's brows rose in disbelief.
The sword was so small in comparison to the giant. It couldn't have possibly been used to slay all the other giants, it didn't even look like it could be more than a nuisance to one of them. "Well, it packs quite a wallop. You'd be surprised. It also has to do with who is wielding the sword." Killan moved to walk away but Anthanasia wrapped her arms around him pulling him against her. "Whoa!" she breathed. "It's about bloody time." Killian laughed cheekily, wrapping his own arms around her slender waist and pulling her even closer. She rolled her eyes. "It's a tripwire you dolt." she looked up and he followed her gaze to see a cage hanging above them, that would have trapped them inside had he actually tripped the wire.
"Well that's a plausible excuse for grabbing me, but next time don't stand on ceremony." He teased making Anthanasia blush. He smiled. That had been his new favorite game as of late, seeing what would make the little thief blush. "Like a pest Killian. Impossible to get rid of." She reminded, pulling herself from his arms. "Come on. Let's find the compass." Emma growled impatiently.
They resumed their search, Anthanasia pocketing what she could without being noticed by the savior who would no doubt have a lecture for her that they simply just didn't have time for. "So, it's just...in here...somewhere?" Emma was clearly getting discouraged. "Allegedly. Give me a boost, love." Anthanasia ignored the two bickering and continued to sift through all the glittering bits and bobs. She stopped when the ground shook slightly beneath her feet. The giant was awake.
"Quickly get under something!" Anthanasia hissed, grabbing Killian's arm as they slipped behind a pillar. Emma dove under a chair pressing herself against the leg and hiding herself in the shadow. The giant charged into the room stomping in a fit of rage. The walls rattled and debris fell from the ceiling in large chunks. Anthanasia noticed too late as a large piece of stone fell. She pushed Killian out of the way just in time but felt the stone strike her before everything went black. "Hook? Anthanasia?"
Killian regained consciousness as he felt someone pulling him out from under the debris that had buried him. "Hook." He opened his eyes blinking slowly to come face to face with Emma who didn't appear overly concerned about the giant who had only moments ago charged into the room wanting to crush them to dust. "Where's Nasia?" he asked, sitting up, worry filling his voice. "She's right here." He spotted her lying on the ground unmoving. Killian scrambled over to her and pressed his fingers against her neck. He could feel her pulse, strong against his fingers and his shoulders sagged.
"She's fine, just knocked out." Emma assured him her voice softened seeing his worry for her. He looked back at her and saw the compass in her hand. "You are bloody brilliant! Amazing! May I see it? The compass." He asked excitedly standing up. Emma held it out so he could get a better look at it but did not hand it over. It's more beautiful than legend." He commented as Emma tucked it into her pocket. Killian bent down and lifted the unconscious woman up into his arms, cradling her head gently against his shoulder. "Come on, let's go!" He started to stride off toward the exit.
"Wait!" Emma put her hand on his wrist to stop him and he heard the sound of shackles slamming together and the lock clicking into place. He looked down to see a shackle in place of her hand. "What are you doing?" Emma backed away slowly. "What are you doing?" she was double crossing them. "Hook...I...I...I...can't." She whispered wide eyed. "Emma, look at me. Have we told a lie? We brought you here. We risked our own safety to help you. The compass is in your hands. Why do this to us now?" Killian asked, trying to convince her to rethink her choice and unchain him. "I can't take the chance that I am wrong about you...both of you. I'm sorry." Emma apologized, continuing to back away.
"You're sorry? You're sorry? We got you here! We got you the bloody compass!" he bellowed becoming irate. He couldn't believe this was happening. A hero double crossing them. "I got the compass." She corrected calmly. As if she wasn't condemning them both to death by leaving them there. "You're just going to leave us here to die? Have that beast eat us, to crush our bones?" his voice grew louder with each word until his voice echoed throughout the room. "He's not a beast, and you're not going to die. I just need a head start...that's all." She turned on her heel and rushed out of the room. "Swan! Swan! Swan!" she ignored his yells echoing through the castle.
Hours passed and Anthanasia had yet to wake. Killian was beginning to worry, he had seen her take blows to the head before but none had rendered her unconscious for so long. Growling he pulled on the chain again using all his strength but it wouldn't budge. He had been switching between trying to escape and watching over Anthanasia. "Ugh." He looked up when he heard her groan. "Love?" he asked, moving back over to her side. Slowly she sat up gripping her head that was pounding. The movement made her stomach churn and she turned away from him emptying the contents of her stomach onto the floor. Great, she had a concussion.
"What happened?" she asked, wiping her mouth and looking around for the giant and the blonde. "Where's Emma?" Killian growled at her name. "Betrayed us. Got the compass and chained me to the bloody wall!" He yelled, rattling the chains angrily. Anthanasia stood shakily, still holding her head. "How long ago did she leave?" she asked digging in the pouch that hung from her belt. "A few hours." She found what she was searching for and knelt beside him grabbing his wrist that was shackled. "We won't be able to catch up with them, but..." Killian heard the sound of the lock giving way and looked down to see his wrist free.
"We can get ahead of them." She finished. "How did you do that?" he asked, rubbing at his sore and bruised wrist. She held up a hair pin she had lifted off of the unsuspecting Princess Aurora. "Thief." She reminded with a smile. "You're bloody brilliant, love!" she held out her hand and he clasped it letting her pull him to his feet. "Come on, love, we have a portal to catch!"