#i mean he gets beaten in a sword fight by Emma

[knight--error]

Gosh, rewatching OUAT, I love what a cringefail loser Hook is. Man got Worf Effected straight out of the gate. He's introduced all cool and suave and capable, and he proceeds to be absolutely destroyed in every fight, ever. Good grief, he's 0 for 2 against Belle of all people; not to knock my girl Belle, but she's not what I would consider a front-line combatant.

What's the percentage breakdown of scenes ending with him being knocked out? 40%? What does his MRI look like? It can't be good. Did he become redeemed purely by the power of traumatic brain injury? How many times has this man been flung fully across a room? I think his ribs are dust held together by tenacity.

[donteattheappleshook]

Not Broken At All Chapter 10/?

Summary:

A season 1 Neverland AU. Emma is still trying to adjust to her new life as Sheriff of Storybrooke and mom to Henry, who still believes everyone in town is a fairytale creature. When she finds a badly beaten, one handed man while patrolling, she’s convinced he’s crazy. He is, after all, rambling about fairies and shadows and crocodiles. But when Henry is suddenly taken out the window of a house everyone believes is haunted, the madman in the hospital might be her only hope of getting her son back. Whether he likes it or not.

Rated M

Catch up on Ao3 (where my italics work) or on Tumblr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

@kmomof4​ I really wanted to get this up Saturday for your birthday (since you yelled at me about the last one 😂) but the muse had other ideas so please accept this as a belated gift! 

Thank you thank you thank you thank you always @the-darkdragonfly and @elizabeethan for your help with this feral fic 😘

And thank you everyone for the reblogs, comments and replies that give me so much dopamine ❤️

*****

Part 10

“What the hell does that mean?” Emma demands. “How is he here because of you?” He looks at the ground again. “You better start fucking talking, Killian, or I’m going to start thinking things I don’t want to think.”

Another sigh, shameful and bracing. “I don’t think what you’re imagining can be much worse than the truth.” 

“Tell me! Why is Henry here?”

“Please know, Emma, I had no intention of hurting your boy. None of this was supposed to happen.” She waits, the fact that she wants an answer from him is the only thing keeping her from lashing out and hitting him, or worse. “I was able to leave Neverland because I made a deal with Pan. He told me where to find the Crocodile, how I could kill him, and that he would let me leave to get my revenge… so long as I returned with something that was also in the Land Without Magic - something he couldn’t find.” 

Her whole body is shaking as he reaches into his jacket, pulls out the piece of paper she’d found folded in his pocket at the hospital but hadn’t looked at. He hands it to her and Emma takes it hesitantly, fingers stiff and uncooperative. Pulling the folds apart, she feels a rush of emotions so painful and indecipherable from one another as anger, hurt, fear, and betrayal each struggle to overwhelm her. Because right there, in the centre of the page, is a drawing of her son. 

She does hit him then, slamming the paper against his chest as she pushes him back with the heels of her palms, enough to send him stumbling back a step. “What the fuck? You brought him Henry?”

“No,” he shakes his head as she backs away, staring at the drawing in disbelief. Rage, rage is what ends up winning. 

“It sure looks like you did!”

“I know.” Killian hangs his head and it pisses her off even more. She wants him to deny it, to defend himself, to give her something to be even angrier about, something to fight with him about. “But I promise you, I never planned on even finding Henry, let alone bringing him to this horrid place. I was going to kill the Dark One and then run for as long as I could. But I failed… and Henry found me.” 

Henry had told her how terrified Killian had been when he’d showed up by his bedside. She remembers how he’d frozen when her son burst into the room while he held her at sword-point. She’d felt such pity for him then, the poor, traumatized man who was so terrified of children because of the things he’d seen done to them, because of things she assumed had happened to him when he was young. She was an idiot. What she’d really seen was a man coming face to face with his end of a bargain. 

“You expect me to believe you were just going to run from Pan? That you thought he’d just let you get away with it after everything you’ve told me about him?”

“No, and I didn’t. I expected he would find me and kill me. I just didn’t care. After I killed the Crocodile nothing would matter anymore,” he admits. “I tried to warn your boy away from that house, from where I feared the shadow would hunt -” 

“But you knew he was watching you. You knew he would come for you, make sure you followed through. You knew he wasn’t safe - that you could be leading him right to my son.” 

His face hardens, body tight as she watches him decide whether to lie to her. “Yes.” 

Her knife is free of her belt before she even thinks of drawing it, knuckles white against the hilt and Killian looks at it, and at her, his face not betraying any emotion. But when he takes a step forward, his arms out at his sides in surrender, she scrambles back away from him so quickly she nearly trips over the vines and rocks beneath her feet. 

“Don’t,” she warns, knife still at her side, and he freezes. “Don’t come anywhere near me.” 

“Swan -”

“Don’t.” How dare he call her that - her name that she gave up to spare him the pain of losing the memory of someone he loved, while he was the cause of her own loss. She backs up again, needing to get away, far away from him. She trusted him. She’d believed him when he told her he cared about Henry, when he swore he would get him back. Now she knows that even if he does, it would only be to assuage his guilty conscience. 

She drops the paper, turning to head off into the jungle. “Emma, wait,” he calls and she ignores him. “It’s not safe out here.”

“And I’m supposed to be safe with you?” she spits over her shoulder, continuing through the dark foliage, looking for the path. 

“Safer than you are with Pan or the Lost Boys.” She can hear him still coming after her, leaves and dirt crunching under his feet. 

“Stop following me,” she snaps but his footsteps continue and she turns so she can face him, stare him down with all the hatred and the betrayal that burns through her. “Just get the hell away from me, Killian. I’d rather take my chances with Pan. At least he’s not pretending to be a good guy.” 

Something in her words makes him stop, face falling, hurt - good - before the guilt returns and he stays there, letting her walk away. She doesn’t look back as she continues into the jungle, forcing her way through branches and vines that snag on her shirt and hair, blind to where she’s going with the denseness of the leaves and the canopy above shrouding everything in darkness.

She doesn’t know how long she’s been walking when she finally comes to a stop. She should have reached the beach by now but the jungle’s only grown denser, ancient trees with trunks so large she can’t see around them growing closer together the deeper she goes. The paths between them become so narrow that soon Emma worries she won't be able to go any further. 

She should turn around, go back. If she retraces her steps she’ll probably at least find the cave again and then she can try to find her way from there. It’ll probably be clearer when she’s not storming off in any direction in blind fury. A small part of her thinks she should have stayed with Killian, that she should go back if only so he can take her to the ship. She may not trust him, but she trusts Wendy and she’s sure the woman would take her side if she told her that Killian had handed her son over to Pan. And Will would likely be a good ally as well.

But she can’t go back. Not to him. She trusted him. Despite herself she let herself trust him, maybe even care a little about him. And then he’d betrayed her, broken her trust and turned out to be a liar, selfish like all the others. He let his history with Gold and his thirst for revenge be more important than the life of a kid - her kid. He risked Henry’s life so he could get what he wanted, because nothing would matter anymore after he killed his crocodile, not to him anyway. No, she can’t go back. 

She finally reaches a point in the jungle where the trees won’t let her pass any further. Their roots are woven together, solid branches hanging from others like vines and rooted to the ground. It's as though willow trees had been petrified, every hanging stream of leaves turned to a new trunk that leaves a solid wall of twisting wood she can’t find a way through. The branches are thick, strong and too solid to break, the wall reaching so high she knows she could never climb it. 

Of course, Emma thinks. Of course she managed to find a dead end on an island without reaching the water like she was hoping. She sighs, sitting down at the foot of one of the trees, crossing her legs under her and looking up at the branches that climb into the sky and block out the sun. 

“Hey, Neverland,” she mutters, picking up a rock and tossing it half-heartedly at the trunk. “You suck.” 

“You’ve wandered far from your camp, Lost Boy,” a voice says behind her. 

Emma jumps to her feet, turning to face the person who spoke, and the arrow they have aimed right at her heart. Wielding it is a tall, graceful creature, strong and threatening as they eye her. 

She would almost assume they were human but they’re somehow… more - longer in height and limbs, sharper in angles, and pulsing with a magic she can see cascading across their skin. 

Indiscernibly man or woman, the edges of the stranger’s elegant features shine with gold, dusted against their dark skin beneath loose-fitting clothes. Their hair cropped so short it’s nearly shaved off completely, they watch Emma with eyes so black there’s no separating pupil from iris. 

“Wait,” Emma says, stepping forward and then freezing when they draw their bow tighter. 

“You’ve crossed the treaty line. Your kind aren’t welcome on our land.”

“I’m not a Lost Boy,” she says quickly and they look her over carefully, narrowing those dark eyes distrustfully. 

“Then what are you?”

“I’m… I’m a pirate,” she tries. Her assailant frowns, steadies their aim. Shit, wrong answer. “No, hold on, I, Captain Darling sent me, he wants to -”

“Liar.” 

“He’s with me.” 

They whirl around, arrow pointed at whoever is coming out of the woods behind them and Emma tries to scramble back against the branches, find somewhere to hide. To her unbelievable relief, Killian emerges from the darkness, hands up in a show of surrender. 

“You,” the being hisses in disbelief, and fury, fingers clearly itching to release the arrow. 

Killian nods. “Tiger Lily. It’s been a long time.” 

“As I recall, I said I’d kill you if I ever saw you again, Hook.”

He swallows. “Aye. That you did.”

“Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.”

“Because I can offer you something better than my head on a stake.” Tiger Lily cocks their head and Killian’s expression darkens, his words spoken quietly as though someone could be listening. “Pan’s.” 

The bow lowers slightly. “What do you mean, pirate? Explain yourself.”

“Things are changing, Tiger Lily. You’ve seen the jungle - when has it ever been this wild? Pan’s lost control of it.” 

“And?”

“He’s weak. Something’s happened that he’s trying to fix.”

“The child,” they agree.  

“You've seen him?” Emma demands. "Is he okay?”

Tiger Lily turns to her, raising a brow as though they forgot she was there. “Who is he to you?”

“I’m -”

“Someone who wants to see Pan dead more than either of us,” Killian cuts her off.

“A bold claim,” Tiger Lily answers, still speaking to her.

“Please.”

Tiger Lily nods slowly, clearly trying to figure out who she is. “Our scouts have seen the new child. He is unharmed.” Emma nearly sobs. It’s the first she’s heard about Henry since he disappeared two nights ago and just knowing he’s unharmed overwhelms her with relief. They turn to Killian then. “But he grows more loyal to the boy with each passing day. I fear soon he will give Pan what he wants if he is not stopped.”

“If we strike now, stop him from seeing his plan through, we could save the child and end Pan’s tyranny. For good.” Tiger Lily hesitates, considering it, bow lowered to Killian’s feet now. “This island could be yours again, the way it was before he stole it from you and forced you to retreat within your walls. We could take it back.”

“Who is this ‘we’ you speak of?”

“All of us. Every clan on the island against him and the Lost Boys.”

“And what of the Fae?”

Killian hesitates. “We’ve just come from the Lorelei and -”

Tiger Lily scoffs. “If you do not have the Fae Queen on your side then you are only dreaming as the boys do. Our knowledge will give you no power against the boy without their magic.”

“Aye, I know. But if we could get them…”

“If you manage to gain the allegiance of the Fae court, then the Constant will consider your request. We have been safe these last centuries. So long as no treaties are broken, the boy does not bother us. I will not risk the lives of my people on your desire for revenge.” 

“Fair enough,” he agrees, then gives Tiger Lily a small, cheeky smile. “So, will you let me live long enough to try, love? You can always just kill me later.”

Emma thinks Tiger Lily might be smirking when they answer, “I’ve waited a decade to send this arrow through your heart, Hook. I will wait a few days more.” 

Killian chuckles, bowing in thanks and then looking at Emma. “Come on, mate. Captain Darling will be expecting us.” 

Emma hurries to cross the space between the wall and Killian’s side. But as she passes, she can’t help herself, turning and taking hold of Tiger Lily’s arm, a look of utter disbelief on their face. “Please,” she says. “You keep watch on the Lost Boys?” Still staring as though shocked by her audacity, they nod. “The boy you said you saw, can you give him a message? Can you get close enough to him to do that without risking your people?”

“We do not meddle in the affairs of the Lost Boys,” they start but Emma cuts them off.

“Please, just, just tell him that I’m coming for him. I need him to know.” She meets the Constant’s eyes, holds their gaze. “Tell him his mother’s coming for him.” 

Tiger Lily stares at her, gaping at her words and then looking her over from head to toe. Something shifts then, their rigidness softening and they give a small tilt of their head. “The boys plan to hunt by the edge of our woods tomorrow. Should he break away from the pack, I’ll deliver your message. That’s all I can offer you.” 

“Thank you,” she says, finally releasing their arm and walking the rest of the way to Killian who is scowling at her fiercely. 

“Do you intend to reveal yourself to everyone on this island?” he hisses as they head into the jungle.

“They all hate Pan as much as we do right? Who cares if they know I’m breaking his rules. Henry needs to know I’m coming for him.” 

“The more people know a secret, the harder it is to keep.” 

“Yeah, you know a lot about keeping secrets, don’t you?”

He has the nerve to look frustrated. “I told you I didn’t mean to lead Pan to your boy.” 

“But you did,” she says, shoving a branch out of her way more aggressively than she needs to. 

“Accidentally.” 

“Deciding to ignore the consequences isn’t the same as an accident.” 

“Swan.” His hook loops around her elbow, pulling her back to face him and she feels renewed fury at the use of her name. He notices, relenting - “Emma” - but not releasing his hold on her. “I’m sorry.” Killian takes a moment to compose himself, like the words hurt him and she thinks he’s not the type to apologize very often. “I knew Pan was looking for Henry and I intended to avoid him at all costs. But Henry found me, and then I thought he would be safer under my protection, that it was better that he stay where I could keep an eye on him should Pan come looking for him.”

“But you didn’t protect him.” 

“I tried,” he urges, hook pulling her a fraction closer, making her face him. “I warned him to stay away from that house. I warned you to keep him close, that there were things you didn’t understand about this world. I told you about the bloody shadow and that I was going to try to stop it.” His voice lowering with bitter memory, he speaks the rest through clenched teeth. “And you locked me in a cell for it.” 

Emma swallows, remembering Killian’s warning from behind those bars, ones she’d taken as the ravings of a sick man. The fairytales are true, love. You best start listening to the lad or there’ll be darkness coming for all of you. He had tried to tell her - and she hadn’t believed him. 

“And still I came back to this godforsaken, wretched place to help you, to help Henry. Everything I’ve done since you came to me in that brig has been to get your boy home, to try and make up for my role in his being here in the first place.” He lets go of her arm then, expression almost pleading. “You can hate me if you want, Emma. But I swear to you I will get your son back, and put an end to Pan so no child is taken again.” 

She stares at him, searching his face for any hint of a lie, any trace of insincerity, but there is none. He’s risked everything to get her here, to save her son, was willing to give up his love's name to atone for what he’d done when he was blinded by a hatred carried for centuries. She believes him, believes that he’ll do whatever it takes to save Henry, because regardless of whatever ill feelings he has for her, he cares about her kid, about all the kids on this island, and she can’t find the anger she’d clung to before. 

“I don’t hate you.” 

Killian lets out a knowing huff, mouth curling in a sad smile. “But you don’t trust me.” The conversation is so familiar, so similar to the one they had only last night, their roles have reversed. 

“I want to,” Emma sighs. “We both have a lot of bad blood in the trust department.” 

“Aye, that we do.” He pauses for a moment, all of the betrayal and hurt between them lingering in the air. Finally, he settles on something, straightening and meeting her gaze. “Then let me earn yours back, now that there are no secrets. And I will give you mine and trust that you won’t break it now that you know the truth. We’re here for the same reason, Swan,” he says and she doesn't correct him this time. “We want the same thing. At least we can trust in that.” 

A part of her hates how easy it is to agree with him, how heedlessly her heart wants to trust this man despite how little she knows about him. But she catches herself nodding, trusting that he’s telling her the truth now, that they need to forgive each other’s missteps if they’re going to survive Neverland and save Henry. 

“Okay.” 

“Okay,” he repeats, looking relieved and letting their newfound, fragile understanding settle between them. “Let’s head back to the ship. Wendy will think we’ve been eaten by the Lorelei soon.” She nods, pensive, following him silently as he leads the way through the jungle, thinking of the mermaids, of Tiger Lily, everything that’s happened in the space of a morning. Of what she’d lost in the space of a breath. 

“How does it work?” she asks after they’ve found their way back to the Lorelei’s cave, the howling song haunting from its depths. “Will I just never be able to say my name again? Does it continue in the Land Without Magic?” 

“I’m not sure,” he confesses. “Mermaid magic is powerful - one of the only kinds that can travel across realms, so it’s possible.” 

“But is it just my name or can I talk about -” she pauses, the end of her question eluding her, like the word is stuck on the tip of her tongue, at the edge of her memory but she can’t recall it. Damn it, she’d had the word in her mind only a moment ago. But now that she’s tried to speak it, it’s as though it’s vanished from her vocabulary. “... I guess not,” she says then. Swan. That was the word. It seems she can remember it so long as she doesn’t try to voice it. 

“I’m sorry, love,” he breathes.

“It’s fine. It’s just a name. I can change it if I need to.” 

“If that were true then the Lorelei wouldn’t have taken it.” He doesn’t push her for an explanation, to know why the name means so much that it would be her most precious truth, the words only expressed as a gesture of understanding, of empathy. 

She doesn’t answer at first, not until they’ve fallen out of earshot of the sirens’ songs. “Will you… Just don’t let me forget it, okay?” The fear that the word will elude her so much that she’ll forget it all together makes her chest tighten, a fear that she’ll lose herself along with the name. 

“Aye, Swan,” he nods, the nickname spoken like a promise. “Never.” She can see in the way that he looks at her that an echo of the same fear now lives in him, realizing that if she hadn’t jumped in and taken his place, he may have lost the memory of Milah’s name, and the memory of her. Emma’s glad she did. She knows her loss is more easily born than his.  

“What was Ianeira talking about when she said 'the way that things used to be'?” It’s a question that’s plagued her since the caves, though she was too angry to turn to him for answers. 

He tenses. “When Pan first came to the island, those who already belonged did not bow gently to him at first. They resisted his rule and his tyranny, not wanting to play his games. But the more children came to Neverland, the stronger he grew, amassing a small army of loyal boys who could not be reasoned with, couldn’t see the consequences of their actions. And Pan exploited that.” 

Killian takes a breath and she worries she doesn’t want to hear what happened next. “They called it fishing. A test of strength and bravery for boys who wished to prove themselves, to catch a mermaid and bring back her tailfin.” 

Emma nearly vomits - feeling for the sirens she’d only seen as cruel until now. “Couldn’t they fight back? I mean they’re man-eating creatures with bad tempers. Even you’re scared of them.” 

He doesn’t deny it. “The boys can’t die - not unless Pan wills it. They can be wounded like Will, with a battle scar, but they’re protected by his magic, Neverland bending to keep them from death. The Lorelei couldn’t have dragged them down into the depths no matter how hard they tried. It went on for decades, hundreds of them caught and mutilated and thrown back in the sea to die - until Ianeira agreed to fall in line, to let Pan rule her and her sisters so long as he put a stop to the fishing, agreeing to kill any boy who interfered with the siren’s lives.” 

He tenses again. “There are still reminders, along the south shore of the island where they hunt, petrified tails of fallen Lorelei hung from stakes on the beach - too far inland for the sirens to reach.” 

Emma can’t answer. Too sickened, too disturbed by the gruesome history to find words. Their deal makes more sense now - a life for a life - a perceived fair trade for risking a return to the brutality of their past. “And Tiger Lily’s people, he took the island from them?” 

“Aye. The Constant were here long before any others, before sirens and fae. Children would come to Neverland in their dreams but they wouldn’t stay. The Constant filled their nights with magic and games by creating living dreams from the shadows of the island. 

“But Pan managed to stay - I don’t know how - and he took control of the island, let other boys stay as well. When Neverland’s people tried to stop him, he did as he did with the Lorelei - killed and slaughtered until they surrendered the island to him - the island he turned against them. The Constant had never known death before Pan. They were allowed to continue to live so long as they remained on the territory Pan chose for them. They built their walls to keep him and the Lost Boys out.”

“Did Tiger Lily tell you all this?”

“Aye. They and some of their people when I first found my way to Neverland.” She assumes this was before they decided they wanted to kill him. 

“In the stories,” Emma tries to remember, “Tiger Lily was a princess, the daughter of a chief…” 

“Perhaps they were, once. But there are no women allowed on the island and the Constant are too close to human for Pan’s liking. They adapted, all of them homogenous, genderless to avoid his attention. He’s still a child in many respects and his ability to distinguish man from woman is superficial at best.” 

“Why does Tiger Lily want to kill you?” Clearly they were close at some point if they shared so much of their people’s history with him. Emma wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he’d slept with them as well, she thinks with a shake of her head. 

“A simple misunderstanding,” he reiterates. 

“What misunderstanding?”

“Ah, look, there’s the beach.”

Her question goes unanswered as they climb into the little boat and he rows them back to the Jolly Roger. “We’ll have to get the Fae on our side,” he says, pulling back on the oars. “The Constant will never join us without them.” 

“Who are the Fae?” 

“Fairies. Powerful magical beings.” 

“Wait, I thought the Constant were the fairies.” 

He shakes his head. “The Fae live by the river on the far side of the island.” 

“Okay, but Tiger Lily and their people are magic immortal beings who live in the forest and have some infinite knowledge of the land and could create dreams out of nowhere?” 

“Aye.” 

“So fairies.” 

“No.”

“But they glow! Like literally their skin sparkles gold. That’s pixie dust right? That’s a fairy.”

“No.”

She scoffs, crossing her arms and looking out at the water. “Neverland is stupid.” 

“You’ll understand when we visit the Fae Court. Fairies are something else entirely,” he says with an air of respect and even admiration and she can only remember the little coffee cup fairy she’s not sure she’d really seen, who had flipped her off before flying away. 

Wendy is there to greet them when they climb back on board, the journey far easier this time with the dinghy hooked up to the little pulley system, Will steadfastly at her side. “Oh, thank god you’re alive,” she says, crossing the deck to meet them. “What happened?” She’s looking them both over, checking for injuries and breathing a sigh of relief when she finds none. 

“The Lorelei have promised us their allegiance and their silence,” Killian tells her. 

“And what did they want in exchange?” she asks, Emma’s heart racing at the answer she’s not sure she wants to give. The answer that will require explanations, that will birth questions she doesn't want to answer.

“A life for every siren killed should Pan decide to open season on them once more.” 

Wendy nods grimly. “It could have been worse.” 

“They know,” he continues, gaze casting over to Emma. “About her.”

Wendy’s eyes widen, reeling. “And you’re alive?” she demands, grabbing her arms and looking her over again. “How the hell did you manage that?” 

“She can be quite… convincing,” Killian concedes with a raised brow in her direction. 

“Tiger Lily knows too,” Emma tells her and Wendy turns on Killian this time. 

“What? How?” 

“We had a run-in with them in the woods. Swan told them.” 

“What did they say?” 

“Nothing,” Emma says. “They’re giving Henry a message for me. Tiger Lily thinks he’s becoming loyal to Pan. I can’t let that happen, not if we’re going to stop him from getting what he wants. He needed to know I was looking for him.” 

“So you just exposed yourself?” 

“That’s what I said.” 

“Listen, their whole civilization was forced to hide from Pan behind walls, to change who they were to survive. Something tells me they aren’t going to rat someone out for being a woman when they’ve been hunted for the same reason.” She gives Wendy a meaningful look and the bosun seems mollified, their shared experience shedding light on the Contstant’s understanding. 

“Are they going to help?” 

“Only if we get the Fae on our side,” Killian answers. “We need to get an audience with the Queen somehow.”

“You could send a message to the Lorelei,” Will suggests, speaking for the first time since they arrived. “If they’re on our side then they could get it to the Fae without anyone knowing.” 

“Aye, that could work,” Killian admits even though he seems to hate to say it. “Do you still have the bottle?” he asks Wendy. 

“Yeah. It’s in your desk. I held on to it in case I ever… needed to reach you.” 

A guilty expression crosses his face as anger darkens Will’s. He sighs, hanging his head, “I’m sorry I was gone so long.” 

“It doesn’t matter.” Wendy brushes off his apology, Will taking a step closer to her before she quickly adds. “I’ll go get it. We should send the message as soon as possible.” 

She hurries off towards the cabin, Will watching her go for a moment as the three of them wait in silence. When he turns back he fixes Killian with a glare that turns Emma’s blood cold. 

“Is there a problem?”

“Pretty rich apologizing for being gone so long when we both know you never planned to come back at all.” 

“Captain Darling knew of my intentions. I don’t see how that’s any of your business.” 

“Oh, aye,” he snaps, lowering his voice before continuing. “The Captain knew exactly what you had planned, to leave her here alone forever while you went off and lived your life or died. Either way you abandoned her.” 

“Watch yourself, boy,” Killian warns, lowering his voice as well so as not to be heard by the few pirates scattered around the deck. “I never abandoned anyone. Darling knew, she agreed. Let’s not start naming vices as I believe your list is as long as mine. Don’t suppose to know her when you’ve spent less than a decade on this ship and she’s been in my care for over a century.”

“Oh, you know her so well,” Will hisses. “Never did wrong by her,” he continues with anger dripping off each word. A silence hangs between them for a heartbeat before the young man speaks again, fixing Killian with a deadly look. “She hears them, you know.” Killian blinks, all emotion vanishing as he stares. “Ever since you left.”

“You lie,” he accuses but it falls short, his voice cracking. The Lost Boys cries, Emma realizes. The ones that can only be heard by those who feel abandoned and unloved. 

“I wish I was.” 

The silence hangs between them, heartbreaking on both ends, one fueled by guilt and the other by anger - both by love. Emma places a hand on Killian’s arm, an attempt at comfort that he doesn’t shrug off. She knows what it’s like to feel like you’ve abandoned someone you love, she cried over the thought that Henry could hear the Lost Boys last night. Knowing what it is to be abandoned only makes the pain and the guilt more unbearable. 

“Here it is,” Wendy says when she returns, handing him the bottle. He takes it from her, jaw clenched and watching her until he can’t seem to anymore and he avoids her gaze, looking everywhere but at the girl he left behind. “What’s wrong?” 

“Nothing,” he lies, lifting the bottle to his lips. Emma frowns at the strange, empty vial as he speaks into it, asking for the mermaids to deliver his request to the Fae Court, to return to him with an answer. He finishes by naming Ianeira and then stoppers the bottle. “That should do it,” he says tightly, turning to toss it into the sea and Emma realizes that he’s just sent an actual message in a bottle. 

“How long will it take?” she asks. 

He shrugs, distracted. “They’ll go by night, so as to avoid being seen. We won’t hear back until at least the morning. We should all be prepared.” 

“For what?” 

“The Fae Court isn’t as easily persuaded as the Lorelei,” Wendy answers. 

“Aye,” Will adds. “And they can be trusted even less.”

“Less than the mermaids?” Emma blinks and the other woman nods. “How’s that even possible?”

“Because you’ll want to trust them.” Killian is the one to answer this time. “They’re very good at luring mortals in with glamour and fine gifts. They aren’t so good at letting them leave.”

Emma sighs, not really wanting to know the answer. “Do they eat people too?” 

He smirks. “No, Swan, they don’t eat people. But they will rob you of your life without you even noticing. You’ll even enjoy it until you realize what’s happened.” 

“How?” 

“Magic. Even your realm has stories of those who step into the Fae lands and don’t return for decades or centuries, their time away having only felt like an afternoon.”

“Oh, great,” she mutters. Time is the one thing she doesn’t have to spare, not with Henry still in Pan’s clutches. 

“Don’t worry,” Wendy tells her. “We’ve fostered somewhat of a relationship with the court these past few years.” 

“You have?” Killian sounds surprised.

“Someone had to smooth things over after you left.” The other captain raises a brow and Killian shrinks with guilt - though not at whatever happened with the fairies. “You left many a disheartened fae folk in your wake when you disappeared without a trace.” 

Wendy’s fighting a mocking smile and Emma lets her head fall back in exasperation, wondering exactly how many fairies he’s slept with in this court they’re visiting. That’ll be fun to navigate on top of everything else. 

“It seems I did more damage than I ever anticipated when I pursued my revenge,” Killian sighs, the sound remorseful and Emma sees the way Wendy looks at him in confusion and Will looks at him with something besides hatred for the first time since she met him. 

“It’s fine. Like I said, we managed to patch things up fairly well. And I’ll be coming with you so I can smooth over any -”

“Absolutely not,” he interrupts, causing both women to turn and stare in disbelief. 

“Excuse me?” Wendy’s words are a warning. 

“It’s not safe.”

“And it is for you?”

“No, but you don’t know how the court can be and it’s too dangerous-”

“I know exactly how the court can be. Like I said, I spent ten years cleaning up your mess, ten years fostering friendship and tentative alliances with the Fae. And despite what you might believe, you’re not actually my father.” He flinches but covers it quickly. “After over a century, and a decade leading in your stead, I chose when I take orders, Captain.”

“And who will defend the ship should the Lost Boys attack or should Pan pay a visit if we’re both gone?” 

“Will can do it.” 

“Like hell I can,” Will snaps. Wendy turns that same warning glare on him. “If you’re going then I am too.”

“It wasn’t a suggestion. I may not be your captain anymore, but I still outrank you and -”

“You are my captain,” he challenges. “And as your right hand it’s my job to be at your side.” 

The two stare each other down with matching glares, something in their standoff feeling deeply personal and Emma jumps in to cut the tension before Killian picks up what she’s pretty sure she’s seeing. 

“We’ll all go,” she declares. “Captain Darling’s right. If you burned your bridges you need someone there to back you up. And we can always use another sword,” she nods at Will who blinks in surprise at her support.  

Killian narrows his eyes at her. “And you?” 

“Are we really going to have this conversation again? I’m his mother. I’m going. It’s not like Pan is going to attack when he just did a day ago, right?” 

He pouts, frustrated by her logic before relenting, scoffing a petulant “Fine.” He turns to Wendy. “The fairies won’t be fooled by her.”

“No, they’ll see through the disguise in a second. But they’ve kept my secret this long, and the fact that we’re bringing a mortal woman into their court may be seen as a gift.”

“A what?” Emma has no intention of being offered as a gift to a bunch of fairies. 

“Not literally,” Wendy says quickly. “The Fae are trapped here like everyone else and the Lost Boys are forbidden by Pan from entering their territory. Humans are their favourite thing and they’ve been denied them, apart from the occasional pirate, for centuries.”

“So I’m bait?” she clarifies. 

“More like enticement,” Will volunteers with a smirk. 

“Nothing will happen to you,” Killian promises quietly, with a glare at the younger man. “I’ll stay by your side and make sure you’re safe.” 

“Oh yeah?” she asks, grinning wryly even as a warmth spreads through her chest at his declaration. “And who’s going to make sure you’re safe from all those poor, heartbroken fairies?” 

He returns her smirk, cocky and suggestive. “I think you’ve seen by now just how persuasive I can be.”

Wendy gags. “Ew.” 

***

She’s woken that night by the sounds of the Lost Boys’ cries, their longing wails creeping out from the jungle and down through the deck. Rolling onto her back she stares into the darkness at the ceiling, trying to wish them away, to ignore them and everything they serve as a reminder of. They’re louder tonight than they were last time, and she hopes it’s not because more have joined in - that it’s not because Henry has joined in. 

A door creaks open in the hall, footsteps echoing silently through the narrow corridor, someone treading lightly. Another door opening, and then the sound of it clicking shut and she wonders who else is being kept awake. She can’t drown out the sound of the children crying for their mothers, the sound dragging on as she tosses and turns, pillow over her ears. 

Finally giving up, unable to lay there in the dark while the sound drowns out everything else around her, she climbs out of bed, pulling her boots on and deciding to at least find somewhere less claustrophobic to be miserable. The deck feels like a good idea, the sea and the stars more comforting than an unfamiliar, dark room that reminds her of so many other unfamiliar, dark rooms she’d been bounced between in her life, reminded of exactly why the Lost Boys sorrow makes itself known to her. 

Shutting the door quietly, Emma pauses when she hears sounds of shuffling coming from the room next to her, wondering if Wendy is laying awake like she was, if what Will said was true about her hearing the cries since Killian left. She thinks of knocking, of seeing if the other woman might want company as they both endure the restless night for however long the haunting song lasts. But before she can, another sort of sound filters out from behind the door and Emma has to slap a hand over her mouth to stop herself gasping or laughing in shock. It sounds to her like someone else had the same idea, and Wendy clearly isn’t at a want for companionship or comfort at the moment. 

She’s still trying to suppress her giggles, wondering whether it’s who she thinks it is that’s in there with her, when another door opens. Killian steps out of his room, vest and jacket discarded and hair a mess as though he’s done his own share of tossing and turning tonight. Apparently it’s a night for abandoned wandering, she thinks grimly. He looks taken aback when he sees her standing in the hall and turns towards his cabin, hand still on the knob like he might retreat right back into it. 

Emma gives an awkward wave, “Lost Boys?” and his shoulders sag. 

“Normally I can ignore them but I…” he looks towards the room beside her, where the girl he abandoned sleeps - well, not tonight she doesn’t, but usually. 

“You wanted to know if what Will said was true?” she asks, crossing the small space between them so they can speak in hushed voices. 

“Aye,” he admits, not looking her in the eye. 

“It’s not your fault, Killian. You didn’t mean to be gone for so long.” 

“No, I meant to be gone forever,” he challenges. “And she didn’t try to stop me - or I didn’t realize if she did. I didn’t even think how she might… I need to speak to her.” He brushes past and Emma panics, imagining exactly what kind of scene he might walk in on if he opens that door. She grabs his arm, holds him back and he shoots her a frown. 

“I don’t think now’s the best time.”

“Why not?” 

“Because,” Emma scrambles for a moment, ‘because she’s getting laid’ feeling like the wrong answer. So she chooses another truth. “Because she didn’t tell you.” Hurt deepens his frown. “And if you go barging in there and demanding she have this conversation she’s obviously not ready to have, you’ll only make it worse.” 

It’s a moment before the slight pull of his arm against her grip slackens, Killian bowing his head in acceptance. “Then when?”

She’s surprised by his question, by the vulnerability in it. Emma knows how it feels to let someone down, it’s part of the reason she’s avoided any real connection to anyone for so long. If nobody depends on you then you can never disappoint them. “Let her come to you.”

“And if she doesn’t?” 

“Then you just accept it, I think.” She’s not really sure herself. “And you just do whatever you can to make sure she doesn’t feel that way again.” He only watches her, like he wants to argue. “Look, I know I’m not the best person to be giving out parenting advice but -”

“No, you’re right,” Killian shakes his head. He looks off in the direction of Wendy’s room again. 

She doesn’t have words to comfort him, at least nothing he’ll listen to. She knows because she wouldn’t listen to them either. She brushes her fingers over the bruise on his cheek, now a faint yellow thanks to Neverland’s waters, the only kind of comfort she knows how to offer. Her touch draws him back to her, some of the angst replaced by surprise. Emma draws her hand back from his face, the other still holding his elbow - just in case he tries to go to Wendy’s room again. 

“You should try sleep,” he suggests, thumb brushing over her arm in a way that’s almost comforting, but leaves goosebumps in its wake. “They’ll stop soon.”

“Yeah, I’ve never been one to fall back asleep,” she shrugs. 

“Aye, me neither.” 

“I was heading up on deck. Thought things might be a little more peaceful up there.” 

He smirks. “Surrounded by a bunch of snoring or drunk pirates? I can think of far better ways to pass a sleepless night.” 

His raised brow causes the corner of her lips to tug up in amusement. “I’ll just bet you can,” she rolls her eyes, despite the fact that a part of her thinks it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. And it would definitely get her mind off the Lost Boys. His deepening smirk makes her think he knows she’s considering it.

“I was only going to offer a nightcap,” he promises innocently and she knows it’s a bad idea. 

“That’s booze right?”

Killian huffs a laugh. “Aye, Swan. Just a drink.”  

She could really go for a drink right now. After everything that’s happened the last few days a stiff one sounds amazing. 

“Yeah, okay. What have you got?” He reaches around her to open the door, leaning in and knowing exactly what he’s doing. Emma has no idea what she’s doing as she lets him use such a cliche move to close the distance between them. This is a bad idea. “Careful with the hands there, bud,” she warns as he brushes against her waist, brow raised and lip caught between her teeth against a smile. 

“I’ve no idea what you’re talking about,” he lies and she can feel his breath against her cheek. “I’ve only got the one.”  

Before his single, wandering hand can close around the doorknob though, a clattering comes from the room beside hers. It’s quiet, like something being knocked off a shelf or a table, a small cry that could be mistaken for pain but Emma knows definitely isn’t, following. When Killian raises his head, twisting towards the noise, she panics again, needing to stop him from busting in there and probably killing Will. 

So she does something unbelievably stupid. 

Grabbing the collar of his shirt, she yanks him to her, kissing him hard and sudden. He sucks in a breath, frozen, and she’s just about to pull away, realizing just how bad of an idea this was, before he sighs into her mouth, fingers tangling in her hair, and presses her back against the doorjamb. His lips tug at her own, a nip to one before his tongue flicks out to soothe it, teasing, heart racing and skin heating when he slants his mouth over hers. 

Her hand fists in his hair, holding him there, pulling him closer, forgetting this was supposed to be a distraction. No wonder every goddamn creature on this island wants to fuck him, she thinks, gasping when his tongue slides into her mouth and finds her own. His hook wanders the length of her side, catching her hips and dragging them against his and she breaks the kiss before the embarrassing sound that was forming in her chest can come out. 

His forehead falls against hers, breathing flatteringly ragged. “What was that for?” 

Emma swallows, trying to steady her own breath before shrugging. “Just wanted to see what all the fish and the fairies were so hung up about.”

He chuckles, the sound rolling through her where his chest is pressed to hers. “And?” 

“Eh,” she shrugs again, struggling not to smirk even when he does. 

“Well, perhaps you can join me for that nightcap and I can attempt to live up to my reputation.” 

She worries her lip between her teeth. It’s a really bad idea. This was just supposed to be a distraction. But her whole body is screaming at her to go into that room with him and she doesn’t say no, doesn’t pull away when he takes her hand and pushes the door open with a cheeky grin.

But before he’s even walked inside, he tenses, shoving her back away from him, outside of the room and behind the door before slamming it shut. She stands there, stunned, staring at the slab of wood she hears him lock between them. Then a voice carries over from inside. 

“Hello, Hook.”

*******

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[cadaceus]

C2E141

One last time, y’all. This campaign and these characters have meant so much to me, and this seven hour finale was definitely an emotional rollercoaster. (Yes, I shed actual tears at one point, which rarely happens to me with media. But this is a special occasion.) These liveblogs are nearly as long as the episode itself, so grab a snack! With that being said, here are my very last liveblogs for Campaign 2 of Critical Role. As always, major spoilers below, so beware. 

- Veth taking a level in Wizard, god I am really gonna cry ten minutes into this thing...  😭

- We got our first “stay with us” to Essek, I am emo...

- I was fully not expecting to say goodbye to Frumpkin, but now I’m on the verge of tears... farewell dear fey friend (Marisha saying “that wasn’t supposed to be what broke me” me too me too)

- “You’re a good person.” “I could be.” “You are.”

- “I think you’re a good person” I never thought that I’d hear Beau say that about Essek and this genuinely might be what breaks me... she thinks he’s a good person.... redemption is possible.... maybe love is real....

- If I end up crying over wizards, look away

- Jester lifting up Fjord’s arm to snuggle beneath it made me say “awww” out loud  🥺

- VETH GOING FOR A DIP IN THE POND, I AM GENUINELY SO PROUD OF HER

- “Aahhh!! It’s me! Your wife!” I am going to miss Jester’s sending so much

- Okay that accent bit was so funny, I am going to miss all of them so much

- REAL MOLLY IS BACK REAL MOLLY IS BACK REAL MOLLY IS BACK

- Oh but he doesn’t remember them... and Yasha is trying so hard to help him remember, it’s so so sweet 

- Something about the way he said “Tealeaf’s nice” made me tear up... I was neutral on Mollymauk early campaign because I went into things knowing that he passed away, but this whole conversation with the Mighty Nein is So Much. Also “Kingsley Tealeaf” 

- “Everyone should have a brother” as someone with three of them, I vouch for this  🥺

- a) I love Marion Lavorre (and Jester ofc!) so very much and b) I can’t believe that Jester’s parent trap actually worked??

- “I do not think Exandria is ready for how you’re going to change it” got to me... and it’s also so true. jester has already changed the world just by being kind.

- Good bye Marion... I love and will miss you so much! (And many thanks to Laura and Matt for creating an agoraphic single mother who raised a wonderful child <3)

- Beau and Jester teasing Marion for having a complicated relationship with Babenon reminds me of Caleb saying he has a complicated relationship with Essek...

- LEAVE CALEB ALON E FUOIKJLKGKNL 

- THIS IS ....... SO MUCH WORSE THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

- Caleb’s biggest trauma(s) coming back to haunt him, I am genuinely going to cry I’m not ready for this I’m not okay

- Beau saying to Jester “Thanks, cutie” I love themmmmm

- INITIATIVE AAGJASKHDKJ AAAAAHHHH

- Essek’s Gravity Sinkhole did nothing? uhhhhh Mr Stark...

- EADWULF???? HELLO?????

- Essek using his entire turn to save Caleb last battle 🤝 Caleb using his entire turn to save Essek this battle

- ASTRID???? I TRUSTED YOU??? WE ALL TRUSTED YOU????

- Another Counterspell chain sdfdghjkdl wizards !!!

- “It’s just business” is literally the Neutral Evil line, it always gives me chills when any character says it

- This hurts more after Liam confirming on Twitter that Astrid/Caleb/Eadwulf were all three a romantic item... please stop hurting Caleb, you loved him  😭

- THE FJORD VS EADWULF SWORD FIGHT IS SO CINEMATIC I LOVE IT HERE ACTUALLY

- Essek taking every opportunity to pull Caleb to safety makes me so emotional...  😭

- “You’re not the first student I’ve had to put down” I am burning with my anger for you, old man 

- THE DISPEL WORKED LET’S GO CALEB.....

- Remember when Matt said that Essek doesn’t openly show concern/emotion? And now he’s saying “I’m scared” in front of his closest friends and his worst enemies.... growth my love.....

- BEAU AND VETH LETS GO CHAOS CREW LETS MF GO BABEYYYY!!!

- FJORD COUNTERSPELLING THE DIMENSION DOOR..... and Matt having him describe it.... is this taking the place of a “HDYWTDT” *eyes emoji*

- CALEB GOING DOWN NO, THANK GOD FOR THAT DEATH WARD

- Veth’s illusion of Caleb’s parents flanking Caleb in the flames.... that got me too, Liam

- “Stay down.” yeah, okay, that was sexy

- ASTRID BEING THE ONE TO ACTIVATE THE COLLAR IS LITERALLY POETIC JUSTICE... Trent being beaten by the student who stuck with him longest I love this so much, she deserved that moment honestly

- Break Time, AKA Emma Makes Her Weekly Mug Brownie Interlude

- Sometimes I feel like “death is too good for you” is a copout, but in this case it fits so well, I want this mf’s reputation destroyed and the entire operation exposed and overthrown let’s goooo

- “I loved you both so much”.... Astrid and Eadwulf walking away.... oh, Blumendrei... I know this is not the end of your story. What’s past is prologue, loves

- The Empire Siblings are gonna burn down the whole system because it’s the system that enables individual corruption... I am so fulfilled by this, god i love them

- “I love you too” OH MY GOD I LOVE THEM SO MUCH, FJORESTER ARE THE CUTEST FOR REAL

- Jester and Essek’s friendship still means so much to me btw just in case anyone wanted a check-in

- Veth giving the flask to Kingsley!! Good for her, good for her!

- OH Blumenduo are back already! I truly thought that was going to be their last appearance of the Campaign, why is this taking me more by surprise than Trent’s appearance

- “[Caleb] notes how similar Eadwulf and Fjord are” this is Widofjord adjacent... this episode we have gotten Widomauk-adjacent, Widojest-adjacent, and Widofjord-adjacent (and Blumentrio ofc), now come through Shadowgast and we can get a full Bingo on the “Bisexual Maelstrom” card

- Speaking of relationships, I am lowkey into the Fjord/Jester/Kingsley dynamic LOL no one look at me I’m in hiding

- I’M NOT READY TO SAY GOODBYE TO VETH AND CAD 😭 It makes sense and the fact that they have their families back is beautiful but also consider this: I’m sad and I will miss them 

- The goodbyes to Caduceus..... I am going to cry aren’t I?

- “If he’s anything like his mom, you won’t see him until it’s too late” Okay that made me giggle, I love Veth and I love Luc and I love their little family

- IS ESSEK LEAVING TOO? THAT’S GONNA BE WHAT BREAKS ME ISN’T IT

- If Essek leaves and we never see him again, getting a triple whammy of goodbyes I will be so incredibly sad, I cannot do this  😭

- If anyone is interested, no I am not doing well

- I was lowkey ready to get an Essek’s feelings for Caleb confirmation tonight, I guess it makes sense that we didn’t but I hope that this is not the last time we see Essek... I want to write another emo post about him and about how much he means to me but I will refrain

- CALEB BEING A TEACHER IS THE ENDGAME I WANT FOR HIM PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

- Wow, I really was not ready to see Caduceus and Essek go for some reason... I really wanted this Campaign to end on the image of the Mighty Nein together as all nine of them... I’m feeling so numb right now having to say goodbye  😭

- Oh, we’re in the epilogue now!

- When Fjord said “[the sea] is my favorite place to be” I genuinely felt that on a spiritual level... the ocean is home, it truly is and always will be for me as well

- “I CAST MODIFY MEMORY” FJORD LMAOOOOOOO

- Okay, that Widobrave ending is what made me shed tears for the first time this episode... not to be Personal but my biological brother graduates High School tomorrow, and for some reason this conversation just reminded me so much of me and him and now I’m emotional

- NOT THE SYPHILIS BANDITS DSYUHDFJKLSFJ;DS OKAY I NEEDED THAT LAUGH

- “I’d like to hear about your friend” Kingsley aww

- Beau giving Kingsley her first diary to help him realize who they all are is actually so perfectly fitting, I love that!

- “The other eight and I, yes” Caleb counting all nine of them again  😭

- CALEB BEING OFFERED AN ASSEMBLY SEAT WTF AAAHHH

- Oh shit, Astrid took the Assembly seat... I’m not sure how I feel about this, I feel so bad for her for having to stay in the system that abused her for so long and I would have loved to see her burn the whole thing down, but I hope that she at least has a sense of contentment with this title

- “I go where you go, baby” Beauyasha.... my darling loves....

- Beau’s dad??? But also Beau being the one with power over her father is so Good, I’m glad that she got justice on that front as well!

- This talk with Artagan... “I didn’t want you to be a god. I wanted you to be my friend.” and in the process my love you created divinity... maybe divinity is the friends we made along the way

- OH SHIT WE ARE GETTING ALL THE VANDRAN LORE TONIGHT I’M READY LET’S GO LET’S GO

- VANDRAN AND AVANTIKA WERE AN ITEM???

- Wait crack theory: Sabian was a half elf right? Could he be the son of Vandren and Avantika? Or is that too much of a stretch? 

- Vandran going with them!!! Also I feel like that moment between Fjord and Vandran was lowkey a tease to a post-campain Uk’otoa one shot and I am ready for it already 

- THIS BEAUYASHA MOMENT... “i’ve never known anyone as deeply as i know you” & “explore every bit of you in multiple ways ;)” & “your past doesn’t scare me, it only makes you beautiful” .... this is so much they are so much i love them so much

- “I will have you and then some” Beauyasha   😭

- I’m torn between “oh my god there’s still half an hour left?” and “how is there only half an hour left??”

- “You will let this Skyspear live at least?” oh my god so Yasha killed the last Skyspear then? Oof...

- YASHA GIVING ZUALA(’S GRAVE) THE BOOK OF FLOWERS, OH DEAR HEART

- And Beau’s talk to Zuala about being the luckiest woman alive and sacrifice.... 😭  

- PLANTING FLOWERS AT ZUALA’S GRAVE... “NO BETTER GRAVE MARKER” THIS IS MAKING ME SO EMOTIONAL, I KNOW I’VE SAID THIS A LOT THIS EPISODE BUT THIS TRULY IS SO BEAUTIFUL

- So... I may or may not be crying again

- Shadowgast with a steel chair??

- Caleb’s plan for saving his parents... it’s clear he has thought of this so much, oh my darling love  😭

- Caleb burning down his chance to change his past is so symbolic and something he really needed to do, it does make me emotional though

- The other book was him writing to his parents?? Oh bby boy  😭  

- While I would have loved for Caleb to open his own magic school (especially with Essek, or the Mighty Nein, or someone else as well), I am so pleased that he stays with Veth and that their friendship continues for the rest of their life because again: they mean so so much to me, and in a way they remind me of me and my biological brother (which I never realized before this episode) and yeah. They just make me Emo

- Also. Caleb being a professor was my Number One Endgame Hope for him and the fact that it came true is just so surreal in the best way possible. I’m so used to being robbed of happy endings. The fact that the Mighty Nein all got theirs makes me incredibly happy. A story does not have to be sad to be impactful. Happy stories and happy endings, especially during a time period of tumultuous real life circumstances, have just as much value and meaning and they always will. Caleb is teaching the next generation magic, and he is teaching them to be Good, and he is nurturing them, and that just means so much

- MATT CRYING IS GONNA GET TO ME

- “Let’s do it again” Please, let’s.

- Okay, everyone. I made it all seven hours in one piece with surprisingly minimal tears (though who knows, this might all sink in tomorrow.) I already wrote my thoughts earlier today about how much the Mighty Nein mean to me and how much this show and these characters have kept me holding on during quarantine and today... I’m still not ready to let them go, but I know that I can always revisit to say hello and to say thank you for changing me. Until then though... I love you all more than you could ever know. And for the last time of Campaign 2... is it Thursday yet?

Good night 💗

[mwolf0epsilon]

PUT THE HEADCANONS IN THE BAG! Tell me everyone's height, build, and how/what they'd do in a fight.

Joey Drew - 5'11", slim build with a weakness in the right knee (carries a cane and later on is wheelchair bound). Pre-Ink, he's pretty much defenseless, you're basically bullying a crippled old man. Post-Ink, I wouldn't recommend fighting him because he knows how to control his abilities (including shapeshifting) and his cane is actually a cane sword. He will mess you up.

Henry Stein - 5'6", short and stout with very bad arthritis and back issues. Pre-Ink, you're a monster for bullying poor soft grandpa. Post-Ink, if you piss him off you're going to get beaten up. He'll let you go when he feels like you learned your lesson tho.

Linda Stein - 6'12", built like an amazon and skilled in both fencing and kickboxing. She will demolish you.

Sammy Lawrence - 6 feet exactly, human form was pretty slim but Prophet form bulked up considerably. Pre-Ink you could take him on, but he made up for lack of muscle with pure ferocity and wasn't opposed to fighting dirty (biting and scratching). Post-Ink he can easily lift a person off the ground one-handed, and he has no qualms cutting people down. Fight at your own peril.

Jack Fain - 5'4" as a human, quite chubby in build. Diminished to 3'5" as a Swollen Searcher. Pre-Ink, why would you hit Jack?! Post-Ink, what is wrong with you?! Congratulations, no matter what form you fight him in you're a monster!

Susie Campbell - 5'2" and chubby build, can pack a punch if she needs to. Grew to 6'2" and slightly slimmer build as Twisted Alice, and is a lot stronger than she looks. Pre-Ink, sure fight her but expect a broken nose, you jerk. Post-Ink, leave that to Allison maybe... Susie isn't a damsel in distress.

Norman Polk - 6'12" and build like an absolute beast, despite his age he could annihilate anyone in the studio if he felt like it. Grew up to 7'2" and bulked up even more as the Projectionist. Pre-Ink, he'll kick your ass and scold you afterwards, the shame burns worse than the bruises. Post-Ink, oh my god please be my guest and fight him! Fight him so you can fail miserably for my entertainment!

Allison Pendle - 5'9" and petit feminine build, very agile and energetic. 6'2" as Allison Angel, and somewhat more feisty. Pre-Ink, she'd talk you out of fighting her. Post-Ink, you better be good at sword fighting! She'll skewer you like a hecking kebab.

Thomas Connor - 6'2" stocky build and used to both hard labour and defending himself in a scrap. Diminished to 6 feet as Tom Boris, but has considerably enhanced strength. Pre-Ink, oh boy get ready for a walloping! Post-Ink, do you not see the gosh dang metal arm?! He'll demolish you faster than a vault door...

Wally Franks - 5'3" and stout build, a compact little unit! He's a typical lad from Brooklyn with a lot of questionable family members, and he will wrestle you to the ground if he doesn't trust you. You can take him on, but you'll not leave unscathed.

Shawn Flynn - 5'7" and slim built, but this man has the ire of the Irish on his side. As the Boss Searcher he's 6'8" at crawling height, do not test his patience! Pre-Ink, get ready for a brawl, expect it to be quite the show! Post-Ink, please leave him alone, he's just trying to defend his workshop. You can take him on but expect his fellow Searchers to be upset!

Grant Cohen - 5'11", used to be a little overweight before losing a tremendous amount of weight out of stress. He's diminished to 3'5" as a Searcher and somehow looks bony. Pre-Ink, what is WRONG with you?! Post-Ink, what is WRONG with you?! God you're just a monster, aren't you?

Buddy Lewek - 5'5" and slim, very bony build. Got up to 6 feet as a Boris and his strength has been enhanced as well. Pre-Ink, why the hell are you bullying this poor kid? Post-Ink, he'll break your hand and run for it. Just leave poor Buddy alone, he's suffered enough.

Dot - 5'6" pretty average build in general, slightly chubby. She dropped a projector on someone's head, and attacked a demon. If it means surviving she will fight dirty and maim you.

Abby Lambert - 5'9" and average build. Grew up to 6'7" as a Lost One, and is still as agile as she used to be. Pre-Ink, she can throw a good punch and she knows where to hit. Post-Ink, wow you definitely want to be a kebab! There's also the horrifying possessive monster following her around like her personal demon. For your own safety, do not fight Abby.

Doc Hackenbush - 6'3" very stocky and chubby build. Not much of a fighter though. Remained the same height as a Lost One, but appears a little chubbier. Pre-Ink, sedative time! Post-Ink, sedative time! He's a doctor, genius...

Bertrum Piedmont - 6'2" and an absolute unit of a man. God only knows how massive he is as the octopus ride. Pre-Ink, you can take him on mostly due to age advantage. Post-Ink, have fun! 50-50 with this guy!

Lacie Benton - 6'3" with an average build, strong arms and legs tho. Diminished to 6 feet as the Bendy Animatronic, but then again she's made of frigging metal. Pre-Ink, you can take her sure, her ulcer makes it a little easier on you. Post-Ink, if she's fully assembled, I'd run. She's made of metal dang it.

Emma LaMonte - 5'11" and built like a professional ballerina. Her legs are POWERFUL. As the Giant Bendy Hand she's absolutely massive. Pre-Ink, get ready for a mule kick from hell. Post-Ink, you might need a bigger boat and a bigger gun than a tommy gun. She's gonna drag you down into the inky depths.

[a-student-out-of-time]

April Fools Special Review: Part 5

Twisted Metal

Of course, Session 2 hasn’t ended but even this session had a lot of growth for Hibiki. While she has more or less accepted the true nature of her sister, and has decided to payback the kindness and support she got into helping others, there is still doubt and regret within her mind. Though Hibiki’s career is currently over, she still wants to get back into music eventually once things die down but now on her terms and not what Kanade decided, and there is still a part of Hibiki that loves Kanade like a sister. We also see that people who brush off music like a certain 11037, earn her ire as seeing him low key seeing music as a ‘easy route’ irritated her enough to confront the Future Ultimate Baseball Star himself on the matter. Despite the serious risk of exposure that she could have had, Hibiki might have been wearing a disguise at the time but there was already a scare in Session 1 when a date between her and Hajime was interrupted by a /r/niceguy fan, Leon wouldn’t have been into Hibiki’s genre of music so he didn’t realise he was actually talking to Hibiki Otonokoji. However, he was appreciative of Hibiki’s advice on the matter, and given that Sayaka would be in his class, someone who Hibiki has great respect for, she would be able to set him straight on the matter. When Hajime and co go back to school for their second semester, Hibiki, living alone in Hajime’s house decides to make an announcement on Twitter.com that she is still alive and is busy trying to sort her life out, but will go back into music eventually. The response she got was overwhelming positive as all her fans are pleased to see her alive, some apologising to her for any mean comments they might have made about her in the past, and others said they were worried that Kanade might have killed her. This brought Hibiki to tears as it’s not just the love she gets from her friends and lovers, she’s also got support from her fanbase. Her new emotional maturity is put to the test when Hajime loses his second life because a certain controversial Neurologist decides to test his time travel theory by killing him and Umeko, and of course the pain and trauma that comes from seeing a beloved friend’s dead body and himself getting stabbed. I don’t think the old Hibiki would have been able to comfort Hajime but this new and improved Hibiki was definitely able to comfort and calm him down. She’s not 100% mature yet as at one point she offers to lose her virginity to him, and despite certain lemony Anons wanting to see some spicy action, Hajime was like ‘No, just no’ and stated that no sexual matters will take place until they become 18, which in Japan is the legal age of sexual consent, and protection will be used.

Hibiki’s new fighting prowess had two intense trials throughout Session 2. The first is in Hide and Seek when she had to fight against Monaca’s robots. While she had the option of either joining Chiaki’s group in stopping Monaca from aging herself to death, or joining Hajime’s group in taking down Genocider Syo, she decided that she didn’t want to take on another serial killer, especially after being told that unlike her sister, Genocider Syo actually has some teeth to her and not just that one sprite of hers, and besides, Monaca is hellbent on making herself a adult and given her prowess in robotics, the likelihood of Team Monaca having to fend off robots are high and that group didn’t have a lot of fighters on them. She was able to seriously do a number on the robots, seeing as Chiaki and Emma get seriously injured at various points, Sora is more or less nullified due to the Anti A.I. Black boxes and Kyoji isn’t really a fighter, making her the main fighter on the team. Though like everyone, she is angry that they failed and Monaca is now a biological teenager, though thankfully not that deformed or dead, and that Emma’s and Chiaki’s injuries were for nothing. This again also showed how much she matured as while angry about it, especially about the fact that the aged-up Monaca is again taller than her, cursing her to always be the shortest female, she didn’t get too angry about it as Monaca clearly regrets her decisions and it’s a product of being in a very unhealthy environment and now that she is under Kyoji’s care, it’s not going to happen anymore.

But of course, the biggest test for her was in Twisted Sister, when Kanade was released from prison by Juu and via the aid of a mysterious person who might be a time traveller but one with darker goals then Hajime and co, was giving serious weaponry, technology and combat prowess. With this she was able to tear a bloody path through the Hope’s Peak halls and decimate any Hope’s Peak people who gets in her way. Upon finding out that her sister has broken free from prison and is on her way to ‘reclaim’ her, Hibiki’s first thoughts was to get some armour and then charge in to attack Kanade and just in time as she managed to incapacitate a grief stricken and enraged Nikei, and had just recharged herself with some Red Bull X. Not only is Kanade her own twin sister who she has zigzagged between being utterly terrified of to blaming herself for the monster she turned out to be, but thanks to the upgrades she became an equal match to Hibiki. In addition, this also says a lot about Hibiki herself because Kanade had advanced weaponry, dosed up on an addictive that could kill sleep for a week, advanced armour AND was able to defeat Sonia, Akane, Nekomaru AND Peko who all ganged on her with little to no effort, and yes she had been weakened by Nikei beforehand but said addictive rendered most of his attacks moot point, and despite ALL of that, Hibiki was able to equal with her and eventually with the help of Hajime, finally defeat her. And I didn’t mention the ‘puppet state’ because she never not even once regressed back into that, more or less confirming that is dead. Then again, the ‘puppet state’ may have not that hard to break as Kanade’s main motive for killing Setsuka in SDRA2 is that she could have reversed all the damage that Kanade had done to Hibiki and years of hard work, gone within a few weeks or so. And our lovely ronin sword-wielding vocalist had about 3 months to break the ‘puppet state’. While Kanade’s rampage was eradicated thanks to the third reset, the first one done on purpose, even in the current timeline when Kanade gets beaten deathless, Hibiki was able to knock a gun from Kanade’s hand, throw tear gas in to blind her and direct the rest of Class 77-B, and Juzo, into piling on Kanade and knocking her out, this being the last time we see old Kanade.

But despite all the carnage and pain that Kanade dealt her, there is still a part of Hibiki that cares for her like a sister and wishes for the Kanade she thought she knew back. And she got her chance when Yasuke offered to mindwipe Kanade and turn her into a gentlehearted girl. While the QC were deeply divided on the issue, when Hibiki was offered her input, she said that she was conflicted. Part of her wanted her sister back and Yasuke could quite literally grant her deepest desire at that point, but she is also aware that this is a form of execution, as while physically Kanade is still alive the Kanade that had existed prior to this is dead and never coming back, hopefully. As she isn’t a thinker like some of the QC members and understands the deep moral and ethical divides between them, she decides to hold a vote and whatever wins is the one they go for. Of course, the readers voted for Kanade to be mindwiped, and thus Yasuke got to work remaking Kanade while Hibiki helped to round up the other criminals that got out. I’m not dwelling too much on this as we’ve seen Hibiki’s greatest physical feat already and if she could take out swabs of armed headmen to some traffickers, escaped convicts shouldn’t be hard to deal with. Once the carnage dies down and we move into the Twisted Sister Aftermath Arc, Hibiki is hit with immense guilt. While she is grateful for that the sister she thought she had is back, she also knows what had to be done to ensure this occurs. But now that Kanade is back, she could make amendments as she was a rotten sister to Kanade beforehand and now she could try to reconnect with her, preventing her monstrous self from resurfacing itself. Of course, she has to juggle being with Kanade with also being a member of the Cuddle Puddle and general hero work, but life is never dull when you are with the Quantum Crew.

[walviemort]

hidden blessing (5/?)

Summary: Killian thought the only thing he was left with after Milah’s death was a broken heart and a thirst for vengeance. It’s not until he gets to Storybrooke, after so many years spent in stasis, that he discovers something else: he’s carrying her child. How does this new, tiny blessing change his path? (Canon-divergent from 2x12.)

rated T | part 1 | part 2 | part 3 | part 4 | AO3 | 3.1k

a/n: Hope I didn’t keep y’all waiting too long on this! Not sure when the next chapter will go up but hopefully not as long :) We’re into Neverland now! and, as always, dedicated to the darling @sherlockianwhovian​

Splashing down in Neverland filled Killian with an array of emotions, few of them positive. They’d made it through the portal in one piece, thankfully, but just the sight of the cursed island looming on the horizon filled him with dread. Getting here had been the easy part; gods only knew what lay ahead.

“Is that it?” Emma called out once the ship had set itself to rights (Killian was mildly jealous of it; his stomach matched the churning sea below them).

“Aye,” he confirmed. “Neverland.”

He couldn’t see her face to read her expression, but the determined set of her shoulders told him everything: she was willing to risk all to save her son. He saw similar in the fierce expression Regina wore, even in the composed and precise manner of Snow and David. And yet again he wondered: was he really cut out for parenting? 

His life was dangerous. Hell, he himself was known to be. Yet again, he’d dragged his child to this timeless realm; how long would the babe’s growth be stalled now? What if something happened to him? What if Pan found a way to use it against them?

As if to calm him down, he felt a few strong kicks just behind his navel. Well, that was a good sign, he supposed. He let out a quiet sigh of relief and set to the task of navigating them to the island.

“Why are you slowing down?” Regina snapped, suddenly at his side. “In case you didn't know, my son's life is in danger.”

He bit back a huff, only because he knew her anger was a mask for her fear. “Oh, I know, my hot-headed Queen. The plan is to bring us to the far side of the island, link up with the widest part of the river, and.. then we sail right through, take him by surprise,” he explained. “The irony…” he muttered under his breath.

“What irony?” she asked, much more calmly.

“Oh, I spent more time than I care to remember trying to leave this place to kill Rumplestiltskin. And here I am, sailing right back into its heart with him as my guest of honor.” The man in question had disappeared below deck nearly as soon as they landed. “It's not quite the happy ending I was hoping for.”

Regina seemed oddly thoughtful. “Greg Mendell said something funny to me. He said I'm a villain, and that villains don't get happy endings. You believe that?”

Weeks ago, he would have concurred; but now… “I hope not, or we've wasted our lives.”

“I thought Henry was going to be mine,” she admitted quietly. “Little did I know he’d just be the start of another adventure.” Then she smiled at him. “You’ll know what I’m talking about soon enough.”

“Assuming we all make it out of this alive,” he tossed back, expressing his own realism as he overheard a tense bit of conversation between the Charming family that seemed to revolve around the inherent optimism Emma had not inherited. “Though, I have been meaning to ask—how could you tell?”

“That you were knocked up? Please; I’m Cora’s daughter. She taught me long ago how to look for any signs of weakness. And Hook? You’re practically glowing,” she told him, smirking.

He couldn't hold back his own smile at that; while logically, he knew that put him at risk to other enemies knowing, it was also kind of nice to know his own newfound source of joy showed in his demeanor. It had been well over a century since he’d even really had anything to be happy about.

Their attention was drawn to the deck by Snow’s insistent promise to Emma of, “We'll find Henry.” Well, that was the point, wasn't it?

“No, you won't.” From nowhere, the Dark One had appeared on the quarterdeck, his earlier instruments put away and now in garb typical of the Enchanted Forest. 

“Oh, that's a great use of our time—a wardrobe change,” Killian quipped, but if Gold heard, he didn’t acknowledge it—and instead went on to lecture the group on how they would not succeed in their endeavor.

“What makes you think I'm gonna fail?” Emma bit back, angry, and he didn’t blame her. (In fact, it was rather when he liked her best—passionate.)

“Well, how could you not?” Rumplestiltskin insisted. “You don't believe in your parents, or in magic, or even yourself.”

“I slayed a dragon. I think I believe.” Now that was a story Killian needed to hear.

“Only what was shown to you. When have you ever taken a real leap of faith? You know, the kind where there's absolutely no proof?” The Dark One continued his diatribe, but Killian’s gaze was fixed on Emma—and the way he could see the doubts and fear beginning to cloud her mind.

“I'll do whatever it takes,” she insisted, but he could tell she was trying to convince herself as much as Gold.

“Well, you just need someone to tell you what that is. Sorry, dearie, our foe is too fearsome for hand-holding.” That, unfortunately, was accurate. “Neverland is a place where imagination runs wild. And, sadly, yours doesn't.” And then the bastard disappeared. Alas, it was just as well. Plus, the man was starting to make Killian nauseous.

Or perhaps that was just the babe; he’d never been one to be seasick but considering everything, he was definitely feeling a bit green. He used the silence that followed the Dark One’s departure to make sure they were set on the right course, but once that was set, he asked the Charmings to hold the helm while he sought out the ginger drops he knew were hiding in his cabin.

He was only slightly surprised to find Emma had beaten him down there, and was practicing pullups on a bar in the room. She paused when she heard his footsteps.

“Oh, don't stop on my account,” he said, admiring the view as he walked past. Her form-fitting trousers were stirring other sorts of feelings in him; goodness, these hormones were going to give him whiplash.

“Wouldn't think of it,” she replied, pretending to ignore him, and went back to it.

He easily located the drops, sitting in a pouch on his desk. “What are you doing?” he had to ask.

“Getting ready for a fight,” she bit back, pulling herself up and then landing back on the platform.

“Well, I've never known you to need to get ready for a fight. I thought it was a natural state,” he teased as he grabbed the bag, then reapproached her. “Don't let Rumplestiltskin get you down, love.”

She jumped down from the ledge and leveled a glare at him. “Why did you come down here? What is that?” she demanded, nodding at the bag in his hand.

“Ginger drops,” he said, then quickly realized he wasn’t ready to divulge his need of them. “They help with seasickness; Her Highness was looking a bit green around the gills.”

That got a bit of a smile out of her, and thankfully she bought the lie. Although, when he glanced at the shelf to the left of them, he remembered something hidden inside—something that might boost her morale. 

“Might you permit me to give you something?” he asked, not wanting to offend her. She nodded.

He pocketed the drops and fished out a key from another pocket. “You know, Baelfire and I once spent a lot of time together,” he started to explain as he unlocked a compartment built into the shelf.

“He was always Neal to me,” she replied, albeit morosely.

“Yeah. Right,” he acknowledged, then grabbed the object hidden behind the small door. “This was his.”

It was a sword—a small cutlass he had once used to teach the lad how to fight, and damn near took his own head off when things went sour. Gingerly, Emma took it from him with both hands.

“I didn't realize you were sentimental,” she said as she assessed it.

“I'm not,” he lied again, and saw another useful item sitting on the shelf. “I just thought you could use it where we're going. You know, to fight.” And then he handed her the shot glass.

“Thanks,” she said as he filled it with rum from his flask, which he then offered up in a toast.

“To Neal.” (He knew what all the books said about drinking during pregnancy, but given the current stasis, one shot likely couldn’t hurt.)

“To Neal,” she answered, and clinked the glass against the flask before downing the shot. (Guilt got the better of him, and he only had a small sip.) 

After a brief, but not uncomfortable silence, Emma asked, “How long was he with you?”

“Long enough for me to know that I miss him, too,” he answered, this time truthfully. As surreptitiously as he could, he rested his hand on his belt—because he could feel the sudden intense flutters within, as if the child somehow knew they were talking about their sibling—or perhaps was encouraging him to do something else.

Emma had shown utmost trust in him in undertaking this journey. And if they were going to get through this and achieve their goal, then that was going to have to go all directions. It would be fair of him to show he trusted her by revealing his condition, wouldn’t it?

He swallowed and was about to tell her, but the small peace they’d had was interrupted by a loud bang against the hull and sudden groaning and creaking of the ship.

“What was that?” Emma blurted out, and they quickly dashed up to the deck to see what was amiss.

Emma’s parents were struggling to hold the wheel steady, and the waves were tossing the ship about like it was a toy. Only he quickly realized—this was no natural storm, and a glance over the railing confirmed his fears.

HIs nausea would have to wait, lest none of them survive. He made a mad dash for the helm to try to wrest control of it. “Prepare for attack!”

“Be more specific,” Regina demanded, clearly not understanding the gravity of the situation.

“If you've got a weapon, then grab it,” he called out as he fought against the wheel.

“What's out there? A shark? A whale?” Emma guessed; if only she’d guessed right.

“A kraken?” her father added.

“Worse.” An unholy screeching filled the air. “Mermaids.”

The next—gods, he wasn’t even sure how long—fell into a blur of panic and anger as the vile creatures mounted their attack and his passengers made the idiotic mistake of not only bringing one on board, but angering her even more (and possibly killing her). Which of course brought on a violent storm and even more vicious emotions; it was all he could do to keep the prince’s fists away from Killian’s abdomen (again). 

And then Emma leapt into the sea, taking his stomach with her. They managed to save her but it left him with an uncomfortable amount of adrenaline in his system, even if their cooperation ended up dissipating the storm. Bloody Neverland and its odd magic.

Despite a breach in the hull, he managed to get the Roger to land, although not where he had planned. And it would need repairs before they could attempt to leave the realm. But at least they’d made it this far.

And to think—this would likely be the easy part.

To his shock, Regina voiced her support of his original plan once they made landfall, but even he knew that a sneak attack was unlikely to happen at this point; there was no way Pan didn’t know they were there, not after what had just happened on the sea. There was an aggravating omniscience about that boy.

“It's time we stop running,” Emma lectured. “Gold was right. This land is run on belief. All of us have been too busy being at each other's throat to be believers. I was as wrong as anyone else. It's time for all of us to believe. Not in magic, but in each other.”

“You want to be friends? After everything that's happened between all of us?” As inclined as he was to agree with Emma, Regina had a point; he had not one but two sore spots on his face from David.

“I don't want or expect that. I know there's a lot of history here, a lot of hate,” Emma countered.

“Actually, I quite fancy you from time to time, when you're not yelling at me,” Killian quipped in a lame attempt to lighten the mood. And then immediately regretted it; gods, did pregnancy brain also mean he blurted out his every thought? He’d need to sharpen that, and quickly.

“We don't need to be friends. What we need now is the only way to get Henry back, which is cooperation.”

“With her? With him?” the prince protested, gesturing Killian’s way. “No, Emma. We have to do this the right way.” Killian did manage to bite back a comment on the prince’s self-righteousness.

“No, we don't. We just need to succeed. And the way we do that is by just being who we are—a hero, a villain, a pirate.” He had to admit the slight thrill it gave him when Emma’s gaze lingered on him. “It doesn't matter which, because we're going to need all those skills, whether we can stomach them or not.”

“And what's your skill, Savior?” Regina tossed back.

“I'm a mother. And now I'm also your leader. So either help me get my son back or get out of the way.” And without waiting for a reply, she turned on her heel and headed towards the jungle. 

Gods, he loved it when she was fired up like that.

Snow was quick to follow Emma, as was David, who cast an oddly inviting look Killian’s way, as if challenging him to turn back now. Which, of course, he wouldn’t. 

Killian didn’t hesitate to fall in line, but not before throwing a glance at Regina; she was still put out, it seemed, by Emma’s take charge attitude. Someone had to, though. And Henry was her son, too.

She wasn’t far behind him.

It quickly became apparent that, as the only one who had any idea where they were, Killian should lead; he knew there was a ridge not far up that would give them a decent view of the island and hopefully reveal Pan’s hiding spot. Regina balked at the idea of hiking, but was convinced otherwise when they reminded her of the dangers at every turn.

“He’s right,” Emma told her. “Hook's lived here before. If he says hiking up is the best way, then we listen.” He wasn’t expecting the vote of confidence, but it was nice to have; he wasn’t naive enough to think that perhaps his attraction was reciprocated, but it was an extra reminder that he had Emma’s trust—which wasn’t easy to come by.

But of course, the wriggling thing in his belly was a reminder that he needed to place equal trust in her.

At least—after he saved the idiot next to him from slashing his way to death.

He saw the vines before he saw David swing back to slice at them and was able to shout a warning and get his hook around the man’s bicep before he could make contact.

The prince shook him off angrily. “I can handle a couple of thorns.”

“That's dreamshade,” Killian explained, nodding toward the demonic plant. “It's not the thorns you have to worry about. It's the poison they inject you with. This plant is the source of the toxins I used on the Dark One.”

They were all familiar, it seemed, with his failed assassination attempt—but were aware of its potency, and seemed to take his message about its effects to heart. Killian wasn’t about to lose another ally to that venom, even if they weren’t exactly on friendly terms.

“I suggest we go this way,” he directed, nodding down the path to the right of the bush.

David glanced at it, then looked the other direction. “We'll go this way.” Bloody obstinate arse. But Snow followed him, and then it was Regina’s turn to throw a wry glance his way.

Emma came up behind her and he fell into step with her. “Your father's a distrustful fellow,” he observed.

“He's just not used to working with the bad guys.”

“I can assure you, on this island, I am not the bad guy.”

“Yeah, well, Pan's not supposed to be one either,” she countered.

“What possibly gave you that idea?” The concept of that demon be considered remotely good turned his stomach (unless that was just the usual nausea stirring up again).

“Every story I ever heard as a child,” she explained, oblivious to his discomfort.

“Well, they got it all wrong. Pan is the most treacherous villain I've ever faced.” He tried to swallow down the bile that was churning inside, and decided to change the subject slightly. “Tell me something, love. In these stories...what was I like? Other than a villain. Handsome, I gather?”

She smirked, but not necessarily in a good way. “If waxed mustaches and perms are your thing.”

Sometimes, it felt like they were speaking different languages. “I take it by your tone, perms are bad?”

She just laughed a bit as they continued on, but they didn’t get much farther before the contents of his stomach came up with little warning. He managed to bite out an “excuse me” before ducking alongside a tree and retching. Ugh, he’d hoped with things in stasis, this part of pregnancy would be on pause, too; apparently not.

“Woah, Hook—are you okay?” Emma asked, hovering near his side. “You’re not hungover or something, are you?”

It took a moment to catch his breath. “Far from it,” he replied.

“Did you catch some rare Neverland stomach bug or something? Is that something else we need to worry about?”

He chuckled humorlessly. “I suppose you could call it that, but it has nothing to do with Neverland.”

He straightened from his hunched-over position to find her staring at him with her brow furrowed, both assessing him and confused at the same time. “What is going on, then? It’s going to be hard for you to guide us if you’re not 100%.”

Well, it looked like she was going to force his hand. “If you must know,” he started, then leaned in closer and lowered his voice to a whisper. “I’m pregnant.”

------------------------

thanks for reading! tagging  @cocohook38​​​​ @wyntereyez​​​​ @jennjenn615​​​​ @superadam54​​​​ @ashley-knightingale​​​​ @justsomewhump​ (let me know if you want a tag!)

[swanqueeneverafter]

The Once & Future Queen Pt.36

The Crystal Cave. (The group continue their journey. Upon entering the cave, Morgana conjures two torches and hands one each to Xena and Gabrielle. Seeing this, Regina conjures a fireball to light her way while Emma simply pulls a small flashlight from her pocket. As everyone continues on through the cave, Zelena produces her own green fireball and walks alongside Morgana.) Zelena: "So we can't use magic to get here, but it's fine once we're inside?" Morgana: "Apparently so. I didn't make the rules." Zelena: "Hm. You've been here before then?" Morgana: "No, but my sister visited from time to time. It was here where she used to watch me through the crystals." Zelena: "Well I'd call that creepy, if I didn't do something similar with Regina." Morgana: (Smiles:) "Seems we're a lot alike." Zelena: (Stares at Morgana a moment, then gruffly:) "Maybe we can paint each other's toenails and share stories after we rescue my niece?" (Zelena picks up her pace, leaving Morgana to trail behind.) Morgana: (Calling after her:) "I had nothing to do with Mordred kidnapping the child!" Zelena: "Do you mean this time or does that include the time before as well?" Morgana: "Both. Whatever dark deeds I may have done in my past, none of them included harming innocent children." Zelena: (Sighs and allows Morgana to catch up to her:) "Her name is Maria." Morgana: (Nods:) "I know." (Listening to their conversation, Xena's memories return her to the time of her own redemption.)

Many, Many Years Ago. (Xena walks through the wreckage of a village to see everything destroyed.) Xena: (Marching up to her second in command:) “What have you done?!” Darphus: “A message, to those who defy us.” Xena: “You killed women and children?” Darphus:  “If this doesn’t strike fear into the hearts of the northern villages, nothing will.” Xena: “You’re a butcher. Your disobedience will not go unpunished!” Darphus: “I expected as much.” (A few feet away, a baby starts crying. Xena walks over and picks up the child.) Cretus: (To Darphus:) “I thought I killed them both.” Darphus: “Kill it!” (Cretus draws his sword and approaches.) Xena: “Stop! (Points at Cretus with menace:) You kill this baby, you die next. (Stares at Darphus:) Contrary to what some might think, I still lead this army.” The Crystal Cave. Present. (Gabrielle, like the true bard she is, continues the story while the group walks along through the darkness.) Gabrielle: “The child should have meant nothing. But it was the beginning for Xena. The past is a harsh and unwilling mistress to change and so her own men put her through a gauntlet of death.” (Images of Xena being brutally beaten by members of her own army flash through Xena’s mind’s eye. Left for dead, the soldiers begin to disperse but Xena’s indomitable spirit pushes her to get to her feet and walk away.)

Gabrielle: “But now that good had taken root, the will to survive was too great. Her destiny now was to fight for the innocent. And that is what she’s done. And with that, Xena became good.” (Morgana smiles as Gabrielle finishes her story, realising perhaps for the first time that she’s surrounded by others who have dark pasts.) Morgana: “And you’ve never been tempted back to the darkness since?” Xena: “Oh, there have always been temptations, but somehow I just seem to resist them.” (Xena smirks at Gabrielle.) Gabrielle: (Rubbing Xena’s back:) “Yes, I don’t know how she does it sometimes.” Zelena: (Rolls her eyes:) “Oh please. While these two may need each other to keep on the straight and narrow, there are those of us who have no problem doing it by themselves.” Regina: (Joining them:) “What are you talking about? Zelena, you have spent most of your life looking for acceptance from others. The whole point of your obsession with going back in time was so you could have people around you to love and support you.” Zelena: “Yeah, and you certainly put a stop to that, didn’t you?” Storybrooke. Past. Barn. (Zelena turns her magic on Regina. Lifting her up, Zelena begins strangling her sister.) Zelena: (Pleased:) “Only light magic can harm me. And you’re as dark as they come. It was your destiny to be this way. And it’ll also be your undoing.” Regina: (With a strained voice:) “Don’t tell me what I can be.” Zelena: (Chuckles:) “I tried to be good once, but it wasn’t in the cards. This is who I am and it’s who you are.” Regina: “You’re wrong, Sis.” (Now, white light emerges from her hands.) Zelena: “What are you doing?” Regina: (Smiles:) “Changing.” (With a sudden burst of strength, Regina forcefully pushes her sister back.) Zelena: (Angry:) “How?” Regina: “I make my own destiny.” Zelena: “So, now you’re a hero?” Regina: (Smiles:) “Today I am.”

The Crystal Cave. Present. (Zelena glares at her sister, then turns at the sound of laughter coming from Morgana.) Morgana: "I'm sorry, but the Wicked Witch was defeated by the Evil Queen's use of light magic. That's hilarious." Zelena: "Oh, well thanks very much. And I thought you and I were just starting to get along. (Morgana continues to chuckle:) Need I remind you that Morgause didn't find my time travel spell a laughing matter? Or that out of the six of us, I am the only one who has defeated Mordred not once, but twice?" Mordred: (Unseen:) “There will not be a third time. (Xena and Gabrielle’s torches extinguish and everyone draws their weapons trying to find Mordred:) Over here.” (Zelena conjures another fireball, walking forward.) Zelena: “Show yourself, Mordred.” Mordred: “How has it come to this? Betrayed by my truest ally.” Morgana: (Speaking up:) “I have not betrayed you, Mordred. (She listens for a response:) Please, face me.” (Mordred’s voice sounds as if it’s coming from different directions. The group keep turning, trying to pinpoint where he is.) Mordred: “Who would of thought it, the great and powerful Morgana joining forces with those who would have seen her dead mere days ago.” Morgana: “Face me.” Mordred: “But you cannot stop me now. You cannot even help yourself.” Zelena: (Having heard enough:) “Why are you hiding? You still afraid of me?” (She turns back to face the way they came. Mordred comes through the passageway behind them.) Mordred: “I fear no one. Least of all you. (Mordred swings the sword towards Zelena but it is blocked by Xena who points her sword at his throat. Mordred laughs at her:) You have defied me for the last time, Xena.” Xena: “Oh no, you and I are just warming up.” (When Xena starts to back him up, Mordred walks back through the passageway and utters a spell, causing rocks to fall and block the way forward.) Mordred: “Stanas ahreosath!” (As the dust settles, the group has been cut in half. Gabrielle, Regina and Emma stand on one side of the rock fall while Xena, Zelena and Morgana's conditions are unknown.)

Gabrielle: "Xena! (She hurls herself at the rock wall, attempting to move a large rock but it is stuck fast. Gabrielle reaches higher up and pulls some small rocks away. She tries frantically to pull the rocks down but nothing happens. She slides to the ground, and turns to the others:) A little help?!” Regina: “But we don’t know-” Emma: (Steps forward:) “I’ve got this.” Regina: “Emma, wait!” (Emma takes aim at the wall and blasts it with a pulse of magic, blowing a sizeable hole in the rocks before more begin to fall on top of them. On the other side of the rockfall we see Zelena flying through the air, having been knocked backwards by the force of the blast. Gabrielle covers her head with her arms until the rocks cease falling.) Gabrielle: (Looking up at Emma:) “Thanks anyway!” (Gabrielle returns to digging by hand while Regina pulls Emma aside.) Regina: “I was going to say that we can’t just blast our way through because we don’t know who’s on the other side of that wall.” Emma: “Our daughter’s on the other side! Mordred has her and unless we do something about it real soon-” Regina: (Cutting her off:) “I know, Emma. Trust me, I know.” (Regina walks over and joins Gabrielle.) Emma: (Incredulous:) “We can’t just sit here clearing rocks while Mordred’s getting away from us!” Regina: “Well unless you want to kill us all with another rock slide, we don’t have another option.” (With her heart racing and her frustration mounting, Emma has no choice but to put her feelings aside and aid with the excavation effort.)

(Meanwhile on the other side of the wall, Xena, having recovered from the initial rockfall, dusts herself off and continues further into the cave. Elsewhere, Zelena looks all around her. With her path blocked at every turn except for one, Zelena takes a deep breath and walks along the passageway and out of sight.) Centre of the Cave. Alcove. (Although not having seen a single crystal so far, Morgana is first to find Mordred’s hideout within the cave. Following the illuminated pathway, Morgana enters an alcove where a child’s cradle rests upon a makeshift altar. Walking towards it, Morgana’s attention is caught by Mordred, who steps out of the shadows.) Mordred: “Welcome, My Lady.” (Morgana glances at the cradle containing Maria and then back to Mordred as slowly, she gives him a warm smile.)

[intothewickedwood]

Once Upon A Time Rewatch: 4x22 Operation Mongoose Part II

I wonder if Emma had 28 years + of memories of being in the alternate realm like the others do.

Horsey! Horsey! Clop, clop, clop! 

Is that baby Neal Belle’s calling her kid? Surely the Author can’t create new life. Oh! According to wiki it is him. Tell me Rumple didn’t make that decision!

I wouldn’t say Neal’s death was Rumple’s fault. It was Neal’s decision to resurrect him.

Lol. Poor Blackbeard.

Look at Henry being a little hero.

The Author can take away the Saviour’s magic? Wow!

Oh Snap!

Scary dragon bitch! 

Umm. Is Lily gonna be okay??

Evil Snow’s so softly spoken. It’s unnerving!

Poor Doc!

Oh good. Lily’s alright!

Lily’s really getting beaten up today, huh. First hit in the face by the hilt of Henry’s sword, then hit by a cannonball and then a load of sandbags fell on her. Ouchie!

Come on Charming! Mess him up! I’m sorry but I’ve wanted a Charming vs Hook sword fight for years. I just wish Hook was at his best. But in a fair fight Charming would win! You cannot change my mind! He managed to cut Rumple’s face while Rumple used magic.

I looooove Emma’s outfit

Stabbed in the back. And as if he could take on a magic wielding Snow.

And the Author managed to seemingly turn Rumple’s magic to light magic. That’s powerful stuff.

That’s a different cup, isn’t it?

Regina changed her mind quickly.

I wish Zelena was getting married to Archie here. Wicked Cricket!

She looks so beautiful, as always.

Regina only spoke to Robin for like 1 minute, as far as she knows!

Woah! Go Emma! I like to think her Dad taught her how to sword fight.

Rumple, cheating as always with magic.

Lol. Imagine just staring really obviously at someone else at your wedding.

Ow. Right across the boobs! Poor Regina.

Zelena: *swishes dress over Regina’s face* “oh no! I’ve got blood on my dress.” Lmao!!

Henry’s the Author! Cool!

“In this world we don’t need a Dark Savior. We need a light one.” Who is somehow Regina, who doesn’t even have magic. BULL CRAP! How frickin convenient! Just use Lily’s blood! Regina has nothing to do with the Savior. It makes no sense whatsoever. Oh my God.

Also, ewww.

Oh dear. Emma’s having trouble getting up, it seems. Someone help her!

Robin just ran past her and the old man.

Belle’s fuming. It was pretty bad of him to force them to be in a relationship in the other world when she didn’t want to be.

Honestly, they might as well have just let Isaac leave Storybrooke. It wasn’t like he could hurt anyone anymore.

Isn’t the Sorcerer’s Apprentice lying here? Didn’t Cruella say he could bring back the dead?

Okay Harry Potter. Snap the elder wand- I mean Author’s pen then.

I live for Mama Snow hugs.

Oh, Lily does stick around Storybrooke!

And then we never see Lily or Mal again.

Doesn’t Zelena owe Rumple the elixir? Couldn’t that help?

Uh oh. 

The darkness is escaping!

How crap that’s creepy.

How come the darkness didn’t turn the Sorcerer’s Apprentice into the Dark One?

Also, why didn’t they try and control the darkness with the dagger? Or did they?

Why was there no mention of a Guardian at this point?? They could have really done with one! Is it because Alice and Anastasia weren’t born yet, and they are the only Guardian’s in history or something? 

You do not want a freaking Evil Queen Dark One! Oh my God! Can you imagine??!

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice did not tell you to tether it to a person, Emma!

Oh God! I can’t! Don’t do it, Emma!!

Poor Emma!

And then we never saw her again. Her character completely changed, she became unrecognisable and was never the same again. I miss her already.

Not looking forward to season 5 at all. I hate it. But I’ll try to look for the good things in it.

[ambssssssssss]

The Swan-Mills Family Discovers Kingdom Hearts

Part 1 of ?

I don't go here but anyway

One day, after the last curse is broken by True Love's Kiss shared between Emma and Regina, the two of them are at the Mills household with a tumbler of apple cider split between them debating on letting Snow plan them a huge extravagant wedding or just sneaking off to the courthouse one day, when Henry comes home. He's absolutely buzzing with excitement as he walks straight into the den and turns on his PS4 (he's probably more than a little spoiled by now, which annoys Regina to no end but he's still her little prince so she actually doesn't mind all that much) without so much as a hello to his mothers.

Emma and Regina follow him and blink curiously as the opening credits for a game they don't recognize begins to play. The style is a little outdated but it looks like the animation had been updated recently based on Emma's very limited video game knowledge. Curious, Regina picks up the case the game came in and turns it over in her hands.

"Kingdom Hearts?" She reads the title aloud, her inflection morphing as the words change into a question. Henry hums.

"I know everyone is pretty tired of the fairytale thing but I couldn't resist getting this. It looked like so much fun."

"I don't really think we can get tired of fairytales considering the fact that we're living one," Emma says, but her curiosity is peaked and she seats herself on the arm of the couch next to Regina. "But this game is about fairytales?"

"Kinda. It's hard to explain Ma," Henry eyes don't leave the screen as he sets the brightness, difficulty level, and controller vibration intensity. "But there's a ton of save slots if you want to play too."

"We'll just watch for now kid," Emma tells him , absently rubbing Regina's back with one hand. Henry nods and presses the button to start the game.

The family of three all find themselves almost immediately engrossed in the story of the game. The beginning is a little slow, though the choices and questions are interesting. Henry had accepted the staff and given up the sword, leaving the shield alone. The Heartless, the enemies Henry had to defeat, were actually pretty cute. At least, they were until an enormous, shadowy figure of the main character, Sora, appeared. Henry made a few comments on how the fighting style would improve as Sora gained more skills but Regina was more interested in the surface the character stood on. Each one depicted a different princess and Regina wondered what they might symbolize.

Another round of questions and Henry was told that his journey began at dawn and then the game finally, truly began. As Henry directs Sora to explore the place called Destiny Islands, Emma repositions herself so she's sitting on the couch cushion instead of on the arm. Regina settles against Emma's side with her legs tucked underneath her and her head against Emma's shoulder as they continue to watch. Henry, seated on the other end of the couch closer to the television, is leaving forward with the controller in his hands. His brow is furrowed in concentration as he races against Riku, for the 7th time, and loses again. Emma has to hold in a chuckle as Henry groans and begins the race again. Regina is relaxed in her arms and if not for the way she had maneuvered their hands together and was absently playing with Emma's fingers, Emma would have thought she had dozed off. Henry let out a little cheer as he finally beat Riku in the race and the family watched the next cutscene with interest. There seemed to be quite the mystery to solve, people in strange robes, and even the makings of a love triangle between Sora, Riku, and Kairi.

By the time Emma remembered that they were supposed to meet up with her parents for dinner like they did every Tuesday, Henry had already beaten the huge shadow figure for a second time, gotten a weapon called the Keyblade, and was wondering around a world called Twilight Town after a long cutscene that revealed more familiar Disney characters in the game. Thankfully, these were characters that Emma was certain were just fictional. She had no idea what she would do if she ever met a real Donald Duck or Goofy.

"Time's up, kid. We've gotta meet you're grandparents for dinner." Emma called when Henry found a save point and he groaned good naturedly but complied. After donning shoes and jackets, the Swan-Mills family made their way to Granny's diner chatting about the game.

"I think we should restrict this to a non-school night game," Regina commented as they stepped through the door to Granny's. Charming and Snow had already claimed a table for the whole family so they made their way over. "Clearly it is easy to lose track of time playing this."

That was an understatement. Regina and Emma hadn't noticed the hours passing, three of them to be exact, and they were only watching Henry play.

"What's this?" Snow asked curiously after pulling each of then into a hug one by one. Charming did the same for Emma and Regina but traded a fist bump with Henry instead as Emma greeted her baby brother.

"A new game Henry is playing," Regina answered as they all took their seats again.

Henry launched into a startlingly in depth run down of how the game came into existence, its reputation of having a hopelessly convoluted storyline, several branch off games that were not necessary to play but would fill in a lot of gaps outside the two main games, and the much anticipated release of the third game in the main franchise, Kingdom Hearts III.

"Sounds interesting," Charming said after Henry finished his long winded explanation and began to devour his food. Regina was glad that the explanation was over if only so Henry could eat his food while it was still somewhat warm. "And it's about fairytale characters?"

"Sort of. The game was developed by Square Enix but they collaborated with Disney for this. Most of the characters are either from Disney or another video game series called Final Fantasy."

Snow asked about the plot of the game but Henry shrugged his shoulders. In it's most basic form, the game was simply about light versus dark, good versus evil. Henry didn't know how much this game would delve into the shades of grey between good and evil but he was eager to find out.

"You'll have to let us know how the game goes," Snow said after they finished their meal and were walking out. Henrt nodded enthusiastically as he gave his grandmother a parting hug.

"I thinks its gonna be awesome," Henry said as he pulled away. Then he looked over his shoulder at his moms and smiled his most charming smile. "Even if nothing can be as great as your story."

Emma chuckled. "Nice try kid, but you're not getting extra game time tonight."

"As soon as we get home its homework, shower, then bed. You have school tomorrow," Regina completed, taking Emma's hand in her own as they walked out.

Charming laughed as Henry shrugged his shoulders, "Worth a shot."

The Swan-Mills family walked back to Mifflin street and Henry, as instructed, grabbed his bookbag and went up to his room to complete his homework for the night as his moms retreated to the study to finish the cider they had started earlier.

"He's right you know," Emma commented sometime later from her spot on the couch in the study. Regina, sitting at her desk and reviewing a few documents she would need for a meeting the next day, looked up curiously.

"What are you talking about darling?"

"Henry," Emma rose from the couch and made her way to Regina's side as she spoke. "He was right about us. No story will ever be better than ours."

"He was sucking up so we would let him play more video games," Regina rolled her eyes but still put the papers she was reviewing down in favor of pushing away from the desk and pulling Emma down into her lap.

"Doesn't mean he was wrong," Emma placed her arms around Regina's shoulders, one hand tangling in long, dark hair as the other caressed Regina's cheek.

"I suppose so," Regina tilted her head back slightly to look Emma in the eyes. "As long as our story has a happy ending, I think it will be the best one ever told."

"Our story has the happiest ending of all because it's not an ending. It's a beginning. The beginning of us."

Emma leaned down and kissed Regina then, slowly and surely and with the confidence that she'd get to do so every day for the rest of her life. As Regina poofed them up to their bedroom in a cloud of light purple magic, videogames could not have been further from Emma's mind.

[lotornomiko]

Dark Enchanted Forest AU That I don't Yet Have A Title For One

Gift fic for my best friend....she fangirls the darkness from my fic, Beyond Here Lies Darkness. It's a dark dark fic meant to cheer her up.

Everlasting night has fallen over the land, and been that way for centuries, courtesy of the Dark One, who demands a monthly tribute of female flesh. Princess Emma doesn't think this or the fact no one has tried to fight the darkness, right, and decides to go to it, as its monthly tribute, but really goes with the intention of being the savior that vanquishes the darkness once and for all. She's about to find herself vastly outmatched.

Even in the darkest hour, there is always some light, as Emma is about to discover first hand the truth behind the tributes, and just what that power inside her is, and what it means to the Darkness...

No Storybrooke, it's an Enchanted Forest AU...dark dark fic as my friend wanted.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/26137747/chapters/63588682

This here is a gift fic dedicated to my bestie, Huntress...Recently I inadvertently spoiled something that has to do with the planned ending for my Beyond Here Lies Darkness fic. She was pretty devastated about it, to the point to try and cheer her up, I am trying to do a fic where the Darkness wins. It’s meant to be a dark fic, but it’s not set in Storybrooke, as I couldn’t see Emma Swan as ever truly giving in and submitting to the dark or forgiving it...however I started brainstorming, and thought maybe some crazy Enchanted Forest AU, where the curse was never cast, so Emma grew up a Princess..

This is meant to be a dark fic, so please be advised, there will be rape/non con/forced seduction (Whatever flavor you prefer to call it personally), and violence among other themes. If blatant dark themes are not your cup of tea, I strongly advise you to turn back. The first chapter may start off somewhat light, but I can guarantee it won’t STAY that way for long….

----Michelle

There’s the mad stampede of what had to be over one thousand hooves hitting dirt, stone, and whatever else lay covering an ill repaired and not often used path. Easily close to five hundred horses pounding down that shamble of a road, splitting the long abandoned pavement further apart. They brought with them the sound of thunder, and the desperate fury of the King and Queen’s army, that bright regime colored in soft blues and golds, and armed to the teeth for the war they were prepared to wage. For beneath the thin fabric of their kingdom’s color, lay the glint of the metallic, the armor each man wore, many covered from head to toe, the steel and iron painted with symbols that had nothing to do with their country, and everything to do with being wards of protection.

Those wards extended from every known corner of the land, some dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years in age. Dark inks and in some cases actual blood, used to create those desperate symbols in which they all pinned their hopes on, that desperate army continued on, pushing down that pathway that was looking more and more like the forest ahead of them was hell bent on reclaiming it entirely, the horses were worked to the fine lather of their limits, and beyond, several of the magnificent steeds suddenly just dropping down abruptly.

No one turned, no one even paused, horses made to go around, even jump over the obstacles of their brethren. With snorts of exhaustion, and even the occasional whinny of fear, these fine examples of flesh, were made to run, to give chase even at the personal cost to themselves. Those few horses who dared tried to slow down, were whipped by merciless hands, no quarter or rest given by an army in so fervent a pursuit.

Their quarry, not more than a few dozen kilometers away, flew with the grace and speed of something unholy. It was more than a self righteous fury, or that need to self sacrifice for the good of the people. It wasn’t even that self possessed determination, the woman already half caught and she just didn’t have the good sense to realize it. Her horse ran and it ran without tiring, the long bright gold of the woman’s hair streaming out behind her like a beacon, the only source of light in an otherwise in a never ending black that was the eternal night of this world.

That night had blanketed the world on a day none living had ever had the privileged to have seen. Not this generation, or the last, or the many that preceded them. The sun in all its rumored glory, had been lost, the world cast into this void of cold and dark, where each soul had been left, battered and afraid, clinging to what they could for comfort and warmth. They weren’t a forsaken people, though abandoned by all that was holy they were, the one being they could dare to compare to God, the very creature who had plummeted them all into this eternity of madness.

The Dark One.

It was a whispered thought in all their minds, that being of pure evil, a creature none had lived to see and talk about. Its menace however, was felt throughout the world, and not just for the sun it had stolen from them. The famine and the desperation, the sacrifices made, the tribute it demanded on a monthly basis, all the lives lost as a result. There was nothing but despair to be found, and yet a determined people kept trying, living and adapting through the many horrors, clinging to one another in these desperate moments, whole civilizations worth of people working to get by as best they could. Even with that horrible price looming over their heads, daughters, sisters, even wives, lost to that darkness.

No one knew WHY the dark demanded a new female be brought to it each month, just that it did, a life sacrificed every month for hundreds of years, so that everyone must else might keep on surviving.  It was a necessity that no one much liked, but the cost against going against the Dark One, had already proven time and time again too high. The greater good of the many was bought on the backs of that monthly tribute.

It was disgusting! Her stomach curled with just the thought of it, with how beaten down everyone, including her parents, were. A King and A Queen, not even they tried to defy the Dark One. They, ALL of them, just went on living that bleak existence, bartered off of a sacrifice that brought nothing but misery and more tears, no one was left unaffected, not a single family, not even that of the nobility. But the princess’ time had never come, not in all of her twenty one years of life. She was told to be grateful for the miracle of being overlooked, to just keep on living her life for as long as she still had it, but the princess simply couldn’t. She had seen the devastation done to those called upon, to the pain and heartbreak of their family and loved ones, to the resignation of the one marked for sacrifice. She couldn’t, wouldn’t feel grateful for being spared that, not when everyone should be doing more than just accepting the tribute as a permanent part of life. That it had been centuries however, since anyone had thought to hunt down and fight the Dark One, didn’t much matter. If everyone, including her parents, were too cowardly to face it, then let the princess herself be the one to put an end to this madness!

With that thought, that DESIRE in mind, she felt bouncing at her back, the stuffed quiver of her mother’s best made arrows. The princess was good with a bow, and stood a better chance of winning with that than with the sword she had stolen from her father’s armory. She had brought it all the same, though the young woman didn’t expect to win if it came down to a clashing of swords. The Dark One was fast, this ancient, evil entity one of magic and cruelty. The princess’ best chance, was to strike from a far, an arrow to that black heart that felt and knew nothing of love and good.

Behind her in vigorous pursuit was an army, the men that her parents had dispatched to stop her. She couldn’t help feel a small smidge of resentment that they could send out the military for this, for her, but not let loose the soldiers to take down the dark menace who had terrorized the world for centuries. She couldn’t hate them for it though, for no parent had ever found it easy to send a daughter off to the Dark One’s forest.

Her parents no different, no less loving than any other who had lost a daughter as tribute, not even their heart break could get the princess to stop. Her ambition, as mad as it was, was also an act of desperate and determined heroics, a savior needing to bring to end this never ceasing cycle of terror and cruelty, and with none in sight, the princess had appointed the only one who was still willing to try! It did not make for her being any less nervous and afraid, every step forward one step closer to what might be her spectacular victory, or an equally as unimpressive a failure.

The dark forest loomed in the distance, all gnarled wood, and menacing atmosphere. A bolt of stray lightning seemed to split the sky, but any rumble of thunder was lost to the sound of all those horses running. She urged her own ride faster, the stallion whinnying in a distress that didn’t have all to do with the fact they have been journey for more than two nights worth of time. He too was nervous, nostrils flaring as though the animal scented something foul. The princess could only whisper a prayer, fervently hoping she wasn’t about the be thrown from his back or worse.

Never once did it cross her mind, that there might be one more pair of eyes watching. Narrowed with a considering gleam that compelled the horse forward. The beast snorted and whined with its fear, its legs moving not of its own accord, bringing the princess, the tribute, closet to her ultimate destiny. The stallion picked up speed, the distance widening between it and the army in pursuit, and this time when lightning flashed, it struck down on the ground directly behind her, splintering it in such a way, that the first of the horses reared up in alarm.

The princess heard the cry, heard the man shouting in an effort to calm his horse down. She might have even spared a glance back over her shoulder, but the mist was upon her, swallowing her and her steed up. It was the shock of wet ice upon her, and impossible to see through, but the stallion kept plowing forward. Fear of a different kind caused her to try and pull on the beasts’ reins, the princess fearing they would stumble headfirst into the border of the Dark One’s forest, and smash against one of the many thick trees.

The horse seemed to ignore her, running forward even faster now. Long gone was the sound of the pursuit, the eerie quiet of the mist disrupted only by a night hawk’s screeching overhead. One hand’s fingers still tangled upon the reins, the princess began to unfasten the delicate in appearance cross bow from the topmost saddle bag. An arrow was quickly slid into slot, wires primed and made ready, the princess wide eyed and alert, fearing as though the entire forest would hear the terrified beat of her heart.

Abruptly, both wet and shaking from the mist, they found themselves THERE, not at its borders, but inside the deepest part of the woods. The princess couldn’t quite contain her gasp, the trees that surrounded her so tightly knitted together, that there was only one path, with no room for maneuvering, the horse padding to a stop. It panted from its exhaustion, pushed beyond the limits of its endurance, the horse’s legs actually shaking.  The princess had no way of knowing that the horse’s deathly pallor, wasn’t entirely all her own fault, but that a dark magic had also been at work. She just heard the tired exhale, the stallion close to breathing out its last breaths, and found herself to blame.

“I am sorry.” The princess whispered, stroking the horse’s coarse mane one last time, before sliding off its back. “And thank you...” She didn’t make to remove any of the saddle bags, knowing she needed to be light on her feet to be quick enough to stand a chance against that which she was hunting.

Her eyes used to the dark of night, were in no way prepared for the sudden burst of light in the distance. It wasn’t the sun though, wasn’t even the blaze of a fire, or the soft illumination of the kingdom’s many lamps. Each one was barely bigger than her thumb, and so low to the ground, as though to light the way for her feet. She thought that strange, and was made leery, realizing that someone, or rather some THING was expecting her now.

The shiver that went through the princess, didn’t have all to do with the cold left over from the mist. She found herself shaking with every step, though never once did she hesitate. It was simply too late for any second thoughts, and she was about to die a hero, not run away sniveling and crying like a coward. She followed the light, that continued to pop up just ahead of her. It was never enough to get her bearings, though it did keep her from tripping over the gnarled and exposed roots of several trees. She never once saw sign of a living thing, though she heard it all the same. Howls of what had to be wolves, sharp squawks of birds, even the buzz of insects. And larger yet, something big and heavy crashing about, something so immense in size, she hoped that it wasn’t the Dark One that she had to face.

She kept walking, her unease building from all the noise that the princess was hearing. It was making her border on hysteria, the princess starting to take aim in the direction of the worst sounds. She was no longer watching the light that guided her, the tip of her boot hitting something solid. She quickly spun in its direction, ready to fire off an arrow, and realized nothing was in front of her. Nothing that is, except for the half formed skull of some long dead human. Was it from the monthly tribute, or was it even older than that, some hero who had once sought to put an end to the very creature she too now hunted? It was too dark to say, and she was in no condition to want to truly contemplate either answer for neither would bring her any solace.

She moved on, stepping over the remains of the skull, but also keeping attuned to the sounds. It was so noisy, the loudest of sounds to perhaps cover what might already be upon her. She led with her crossbow, the pointed tip of the arrow ready and willing to spring free at a split second’s notice. It was getting harder and harder to NOT let loose with an arrow, her fear almost palpable, worries and insecurities trying to lay into her like a heavy cloak.

“This was a mistake.” They said. “You should have never have come. You’re not strong enough to do what needs to be done. You will NEVER be strong enough. No one will.”

She tried not to give in, didn’t so much as lower her crossbow, not certain if that was her fears talking, or that of the Dark One messing her with mind.

“I am not afraid of you!” She cried out in bold face lie.

“But you will be.” Immediate was her answer, the arrow flying towards the direction of that voice. She heard a telling thunk, realized it had not struck whoever had spoken, but instead had slammed into the bark of a tree. The princess swore in a way most unbecoming of a lady, and quickly reached towards the quiver on her back.  Laughter accompanied her movements, low but decidedly male sounding, and ever so amused. She loaded and primed the crossbow, shot it off in the direction where she thought the laughter originated from. That one went further, whistling through the air, until it abruptly went silent. As though it had been pluck mid flight, with no rhyme or reason as to what might have happened to it. The same result would follow with the next arrow the princess fired off, and the next, until soon all she had left was an empty quiver, the now made useless crossbow, and her father’s stolen sword at her hip.

She closed her eyes briefly for one moment, made dizzy and further afraid. She was certain she stood no chance at winning, not with a blade as her one and only defense. She reached for it all the same, the young woman determined to go down fighting rather than just lay down and die. It was a scream not a whimper, that escaped her, the princess charging blindly forward, swinging wildly. She was not expecting the metal to meet with her sword, or the sparks that resulted from the two connecting. It still wasn’t enough light, but she caught the shadowy figure of what had to be a man. The Dark One!? Or someone pretending to be him!? She wasn’t even sure the latter was possible, no one could be so daring, so INSANE!

The sword pushed at hers, the princess forced back several steps. With the connection broken, so too did the sparks leave them, that form once again lost to the darkness of the forest. She was literally left fighting blind, swinging her father’s sword about wildly, hoping against hope to hit against something. The only time that she did, was to meet that metal blade once more, sparks flying up to reveal bits and pieces of that shadowy form that advanced upon her unrelentingly. It never once made the starting move, always leaving the young woman to advance with the offensive,

“Stop toying with me!” She snapped, furious to realize that creature was only PLAYING with her. “Fight me fair, and fight me real!”

“Fair it can never be...” Came the dismissal. “But if it is real you be wanting, that I can do.” The satisfaction that slithered in that voice, was accompanied by the first true offensive move, the princess just barely getting her sword up in time. Her arms HURT from the effort, the blow that struck her father’s sowrd, felt to the marrow of the young woman’s bones. There was no time to recover, or reconsider her words, another attack coming, and another, her sword making desperate but ultimately paltry attempts at fending off the barrage. She was being driven back, step by step, and sapped of her strength and bravado bit by stinging. Worse, the only light that now was, came from the sparks of the two blades clashing, steel against steel grinding together, and each time her sword was a little slower, her arms just that much more tired.

She was LOSING. She felt it every time she got cut, small slices here and there that bled thickly, and strung sharply, but weren’t ultimately killing blows. It made her angry, and it made the princess ever more desperate, the young woman suddenly abandoning her defense, to stab her sword downwards, towards what she hoped was the man---the creature’s thigh. She heard a hiss, hers and his, each strike landing true. The princess fell back against a tree for support, her breath coming out in wild pants that were just short of hyperventilating. She had been stabbed, as effectively as he---IT had been, but only one of them was the worse for wear.

“Good form.”

“Go rot in hell.” Is what she spat out at it. There was a long beat of anticipation, one that went on for much too long. “What are you waiting for!?” The princess demanded, and pained as she was, she still managed to let the defiance gleam in her expression. “DO IT!” She had meant the last as a means to goad him into ending her at long last, and not the kiss she received instead.

She still couldn’t see him---it truly, but she felt it all the same, a hot heavy mouth pressing down against hers, lips that were firm and cruel, and unrelenting in their need to absolutely dominate. They didn’t ask, and they certainly didn’t beg, her surrender a demand it expected her to heed. The princess started to gasp in response, skin crawling in unease, and then thought better of it, biting down hard on the lip. She tasted the coppery tang of blood, heard a grunt that wasn’t wholly dissatisfied, the kiss continuing unabated.

Desperate, and panicked in a way that was wholly new to her, the princess tried to shove her attacker off balance. A growl was her reward, a body pressing against hers with an urgent grind that couldn’t hide the weapon still stuck inside. She let him have the kiss, let him think he was victorious, while surreptitiously making her move. This time when her hands landed on him, it wasn’t to push him away, but to signal her acceptance of the situation. Her soft little lips voiced a sigh, letting his tongue slip inside. It was her first experience with such a kiss, and she was charmingly clumsy in her deceit, her fingers stroking down, down his body, searching and exploring, and he didn’t seem to suspect a thing. Not until after her fingers closed around the hilt of her father’s sword, the princess somehow managing to wrench it free of the man—the monster’s leg in a less than fluid like motion.

There was a snarl, more furious surprise than any true pain voiced, the sword’s bloodied tip being pressed to the creature’s chest. The princess grip was a white knuckled one, her sword arm shaking from the effort to keep it up. “Any last words, monster!?”

The laugh that followed such words, was darkly sinister, rolling through her. She shivered in response, but did not let it destroy her defiance and determination. “So be it then!” She said, and used the last of dwindling strength to piece the Dark One’s heart.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

To Be Continued….

Hmm….can’t really think of much to say at the moment.  Got a lot going on in real life, though I suspect we all do, cause of the virus...been trying to find my writing muse, but not having much luck on that front. This be a gift fic for my best friend, and I think I covered what I wanted to say in the author’s note before the fic started….

Later…

Michelle

]

[hookedonapirate]

The Princess and Her Sultan

Summary: Crown princess Emma of Misthaven is second in line to the throne, her brother Leopold ll being the first, but her parents see her with a future as a great ruler. King Rumpelstiltskin of neighboring land, strikes a deal with King David, promising to uphold the peace between the kingdoms if Emma marries Prince Baelfire. With the promise of his daughter becoming future queen of the Dark Kingdom, David accepts reluctantly.

Before her wedding day, the princess is kidnapped and taken overseas. She is sold as a slave to a palace where Crown Prince Killian of Neverland ascends his father’s throne and is sworn in as Sultan. Meanwhile, Killian’s mother pressures him to sire a prince and presents him with gifts for his birthday, one of them including a blonde princess from Misthaven. Dazzled by Emma’s charm, intelligence and beauty, he summons her to his bedchambers every night and eventually finds himself casting aside his harem and centuries of tradition.  

A/N: I wanted to clear something up because I think people may have misinterpreted what I wrote, which is my fault because of what POV it was in and the order of the scenes, but I promise there is a reason to my madness. So, what I'm talking about it is, a reviewer had said my notes about Killian taking sterile concubines didn't match what I wrote in the last chapter. That may be true, but what was said about it in the chapter was not coming from me as the narrator, it came from James in Emma's POV. Just because Kira thinks Killian would ask the concubines to become sterile doesn't mean he would, it was just one of her fears because normally she brings him what he wants, and now she wants him to sire a prince, and she doesn't want anything to get in the way of her plans. There is a scene in the next chapter where this is clarified, but because I think I had upset a few over this issue and probably lost some readers because of it, I felt it needed to be said. Honestly, I didn't think really think about it when I wrote it, and anyone who reads my other stories knows that I always have a tendency to write Killian as over the top perfect because that's how I view him, so I never intend to write him as a character who puts a bad taste in anyone's mouth. 

Hopefully, this puts people who were concerned about it at ease, but if anyone has questions about this or anything else regarding this fic, please don't hesitate to leave a comment or shoot me a pm. I had originally wanted to write the women to be naturally sterile, but that was something rare back then, but I realize that sometimes sticking to writing what is realistic is not always the best route to take. 

Thank you @gingerchangeling for your wonderful suggestions and ideas for this story, and also @ilovemesomekillianjones for gifting me with your wonderful editing skills at. I also want to give a shout out to @onceuponaprincessworld for being my sounding board, constant cheerleader and good friend, thank you, darling! This story wouldn’t be the same without these lovely ladies!

And all of you have been so supportive and awesome, thank you all for following along and for your feedback!

Rated: Explicit

AO3 l FF.N I Prologue l Ch 1 l Ch 2 l Ch 3 l Ch 4

Chapter 5

When Emma rushes back to the women’s quarters before she has to be present at dinner with the other concubines, she’s completely and utterly smitten for the Sultan. She’s never felt like this, her skin is flushed, her heart doing a pitter-patter in her chest and her head is spinning. She may have to change her strategy a bit because she knows she won't have to fake any affection she shows the Sultan. The intensity of their kiss is something she couldn't fake if she had truly tried. A passionate, toe-curling kiss was something she’d only heard about from her mother and the maids at the castle. It was something Emma had only dreamt about. And the fact that the Sultan is genuinely kind and sweet and the most handsome man she's ever seen, is a complete game changer. He is all the things Baelfire is not. She'd expected the Sultan to treat her as his property, she could've only imagined that if he'd seen a naked concubine outside of the women's quarters, he'd have raped her and had her beaten, but instead he had asked permission to kiss her and promised to only have her in his bedchambers when the time was right. Emma is still perplexed by this. Obviously, she has formed a very false and narrow-minded opinion about him before ever meeting him.

She has to banish the smile from her lips when she slips into her oda to change out of her damp clothes. She's relieved to find it empty, but to her surprise, Elsa emerges from the curtain before Emma can fetch a dry outfit.

“Where have you been, Emma?” Elsa asks curiously, scanning her clothes and hair before meeting Emma’s gaze.

“Oh, I was just in the bathing area,” Emma replies nonchalantly as she retrieves some dry clothes from her cupboard which is located behind the bottom half of the wall paneling next to her bed where her personal belongings are stored. “I was afraid I'd be late for dinner, so I left in a hurry without even bothering to dry off.” When she turns to face her roommate again, she fears the silver blonde is on to her, judging by her narrowed eyes and questioning half-smirk.

Elsa crosses her arms over her chest, casually making her way towards Emma. “So, what's it like to bathe outside the harem?”

Emma gapes at her friend in surprise. She thought she'd been careful enough to not be seen whenever she'd snuck off. “How do you know I left the harem?”

Elsa gives a soft, casual shrug. “I just assumed since I saw you leaving one day. I followed you to a room and you disappeared into it, so I crept up to the door and saw you at a chess table.”

Emma’s heart flutters in panic “You saw that?”

Elsa nods. “I thought it was odd because there was no one else in the room with you. Were you playing against yourself?”

Emma shakes her head, her eyes laced with apology for not telling Elsa of her escapades. “No, I’ve been playing against the Sultan,” she murmurs, placing the fresh clothes on the bed. She sits next to the neatly folded fabrics, sighing as she looks up at Elsa in shame. “I have been playing chess since I was young so when I saw the chessboard for the first time, it tempted me. Only then did I find out it was the Sultan’s chess game, for it is in his study.” Emma looks down, fingering the material of the dress she will be changing into. “You will not tell anyone, will you?”

Elsa shakes her head. “Of course not. You’re my friend and I do not wish for you to get into trouble,” she assures Emma and lays a hand on her arm. Emma peers up at her, offering a gracious smile.

“Thank you, Elsa.”

“Of course.” A wide grin blossoms over Elsa’s lips, her eyes lighting up with intrigue. “Have you met the Sultan since you’ve been going into his study? Have you ever caught him in there, or has he ever caught you?”

Emma blushes and smiles, shaking her head. “No, he is never around when I enter the room.”

Elsa quirks a brow, a mixture of curiosity and confusion etched in her features. “If you’ve never met him, then why were you smiling when you returned?”

Emma was hoping her friend would not inquire about that, but Emma doesn’t see any reason not to tell her, about the pool anyway. “You promise you won’t say anything?”

“I promise I won’t.”

“I was smiling because I felt freer than I had in months,” Emma claims, which isn’t a complete lie. “I was in one of the gardens when I found a pool. I bathed by myself for the first time since we were brought here.”

Elsa’s mouth opens in a gasp as she plops on the bed, sitting next to Emma. “So that's why your clothes are damp?! Oh, how lucky you are!” Elsa chants enthusiastically. “Where is this pool? Perhaps I will go, too.”

“But you might get in trouble,” Emma laughs.

“So will you!” Elsa exclaims, playfully swatting her shoulder.

“Okay, maybe I will show you one day.”

Elsa claps her hands in excitement. “Thank you, Emma, I look forward to it.”

They’re so immersed in conversation they do not realize someone is listening on the other side of the curtain. The eavesdropper casts a shadow over the red fabric, which goes unnoticed by the gediklis because they are facing away from the curtain. The shadow disappears once they change the topic of conversation and get ready for dinner.

~*~

The early autumn sun is strong, and the fresh breeze does nothing to cool him down or help with the sweat forming at his hairline. The unabating sounds of metal clanging against metal resonate throughout the courtyard, the sunlight’s reflection bouncing off the blades as the two men attack and parry, swinging and blocking, jabbing and thwarting each other’s movements. They move with expert precision, each ducking and twisting when necessary to avoid the path of the other blade.

Killian remembers when he’d held his first sword in his hands, even though he was too young to truly learn much—he was not yet five years old, and he was clumsy back then, for his fingers were small, his muscles weak and the sword heavy. But Killian was the grandson of a Sultan and if Sultans knew anything, it was determination, strength—both physically and emotionally—and how to wield a sword. Killian not only wanted to learn how to use it, but he also needed to learn it.

It meant that for his weakness as a young lad, he had quickly learned what to do with a sword. He quickly learned what it meant to become strong and fight like a Sultan. And yet, at the moment, he feels very weak, though not physically weak; his mind is constantly drifting off to visions of green eyes and golden hair. Emma’s vibrant smile, her beautiful breasts, her alluring scent and the taste of her lips drown him, weakening every part of him.

James swings his sword so quickly, Killian doesn't have enough time to block him, and instead, the Sultan’s sword is knocked out of his hand. Soaring through the air, it lands in the grass as Killian leaps back to avoid the end of James’ blade, falling to the ground with a groan.

James stands over him, holding the point of the blade at Killian’s neck as the Sultan raises his hands in surrender. “You were great with a sword when you were a child.”

Killian frowns at him. “Your words cut like a sword.”

James offers a grin as he removes the blade from the Sultan’s neck and extends his hand, helping Killian off the ground. “You’re still pretty great at it.”

Killian gives in to a laugh. “You’re not so bad yourself. No other man would be able to send me to my back. This moment makes me glad I am not your enemy.”

“I am glad as well,” his concierge chuckles. “Normally, I would not be so lucky to send you on your back. That is what your concubines are for, Your Majesty, is it not?” he teases as they sheath their swords and find a shady spot underneath a fig tree. They relax in the grass where Pages bring them olives, cheese and sherberts. Every day, he and James either engage in sword practice at the palace or travel to the Meydan with their arrows and spears for target practice.

“Indeed you're right,” Killian chuckles, anxious for one concubine, in particular, to have him on his back as she rides him into oblivion.

James drains his silver goblet and selects an olive, chewing it slowly and childishly spitting out the pit into the chalice. “Your Majesty, tell me what troubles you.”

Killian glances at James, catching a knowing smirk on his face. A rosy blush spreads over the Sultan’s cheeks as he scratches behind his ear, a smile threatening his lips. “What gave me away?”

There’s mirth dancing in James’ eyes as he regards the Sultan with a quirked brow. “The better question is what hasn’t given you away .”

Killian takes a sip from his chalice, deciding what he shall divulge to his concierge. The most James knows at this point is that Killian has been playing anonymous chess with one of his concubines, and there is really no reason not to tell him, except he isn't fond of anyone knowing how much Emma has affected him over such a short period of time.

“Since when are you hesitant?” he asks playfully, mocking Killian’s words during a conversation they had a while back.

Killian chuckles and shakes his head. “I am not hesitant… it’s just…”

James playfully cocks a brow and waits for him to speak, but Killian is still uncertain as to how he can precisely explain in words the thoughts endlessly roving his mind. He’s not really sure what to say, which is unheard of for him. He is never at a loss for words like this. He speaks with such confidence and passion at the council meetings in front of his army officers. Killian had told them not too long ago he would one day rule the seven seas, and yet here he is, hesitant to speak of his feelings for a woman to his closest friend. “My apologies, you are so confident today,” James jokes with a soft chuckle.

Killian sighs in defeat as the soft breeze washes over him. “I met the woman I’ve been playing chess with.” The words leave his lips much more weakly than he had intended, and he looks down, picking up an olive and studying it carefully to avoid eye contact with James.

“So she is indeed a woman?”

Killian lifts his gaze and pops the olive in his mouth, carefully removing the pit and discarding it on the silver tray. “She is. Her name is Emma.”

“Ah, yes, I’ve heard of her from Ruby. She is the one who challenged your partisan policy.”

Killian’s eyes dart to his concierge, although he shouldn’t be surprised. Of course, a woman who dares enter his study would also be daring enough to speak against his policies. “She is the same person?”

“Yes, she is one of the lush gifts your mother will present to you on your birthday.”

“Ah, I see,” Killian nods, trying to remain impassive when in reality, he already knows of his gifts and is beyond excited to have the honor of being graced with his blonde concubine’s presence at his birthday fete.

Nemo had informed him of the virgin gifts the Valide Sultan had requested from him and the great lengths the Chief Eunuch had gone to procure them. He had ensured Killian they were not sterile. Other than that small bit of information, Nemo hadn’t said much about them, only that they were four new gediklis in training, and Killian would not meet them until his birthday. At first, the Sultan had not been very welcoming to the idea of taking concubines who were capable of bearing children, to his bed; he would’ve rather gone to his bed alone to save himself from another possible heartache. He also hadn’t shown favor to the idea of his mother making decisions for him and putting more pressure on him to sire an heir, but that was before he’d met Emma and had come to the conclusion that he wants to start a family.

“Does it disappoint you knowing she is challenging your policies?” James asks, pulling Killian from his revery.

“Not in the least.” A smirk threatens Killian’s lips; if possible, he is even more intrigued by his swan.

James studies him with curiosity. “Do tell how you met her in person, Your Majesty.”

Killian blushes profusely, a bashful smile spreading across his lips as he casts a timid glance at James. “You cannot tell anyone else of this.”

His concierge shakes his head. “Of course I won’t, Your Majesty.”

Killian’s breath quivers as he exhales slowly. “I met her yesterday, she was outside the harem, swimming in the pool.”

A mixture of shock and fascination washes over his face. “Is that so? She does like to test the limits of the palace, does she not?”

“Aye, she does.”

“And what happened when you found her in the pool? How did you know it was your mystery opponent?”

Killian smirks. “I had the privilege of joining her and we spoke briefly before she gave her identity away. She mentioned the gardens, so I told her gardening was my favorite pastime, and she let it slip that she thought chess was my favorite pastime instead.”

James opens his mouth, his eyes dancing with bemusement. “And how did you respond?”

“She feared I would punish her, and perhaps I should have, but James, how could I punish someone who challenges me at a very compelling game of chess? She is currently winning, so I took a break from the game to consider my next move carefully.”

“She is very brave, I'll give her that.”

“She is,” Killian nods in agreement, a small smile tugging the corner of his lips, “and I must admit, her bravery is very attractive. Where did she come from?”

“She’s from Misthaven.”

“Misthaven?” Killian asks, a slow smile curving his lips. “From your homeland?”

James gives a nod. “Yes, and she's a princess, Your Majesty, or so I was told. I was taken from Misthaven long before she was born.”

“A princess?” he parrots, arching a brow. It seems his swan continues to surprise him.

“Yes.” James sends a questioning glance, scrutinizing the Sultan carefully. “So tell me, Your Majesty, how do you feel about the princess?”

Killian’s smile widens, taking over his entire face. “She is beautiful and charming and smart.”

“That I’ve gathered, but how do you feel about her?” James asks again.

“You would really like to know?”

James gives a nod, a smile gracing his lips. “Do tell, Your Majesty.”

Killian has to sift through his thoughts a moment before he can possibly begin to supply an answer. He’s not even entirely sure how he feels about the blonde temptress, or at least he’s not sure how to describe his feelings in words. He lets his mind drift off to the previous afternoon when he’d seen her naked in the pool, and how it felt to be in the presence of his mysterious opponent upon discovering this lovely woman was the same person. He also thinks about his moment of clarity in the pool when she’d left.

“Well…” Killian pauses when his voice cracks, and he runs a hand through his hair, clearing his throat, hoping he can compose himself as he speaks of his feelings for her. “When I saw her, she was naked and her body was exquisite.” A smile pulls at his lips as he stares off into space with visions of her stunning figure on his mind. “My heart was racing, and I felt as if I was drowning. Even though I was above water, I could not breathe. Now I can’t stop thinking about the lovely curves of her body, but I know I must wait to have her until my birthday, out of respect for my mother.” Killian looks over at James and sees him shifting uncomfortably. The Sultan frowns in confusion. “Tell me, my head concierge, why does this topic discomfort you so? Are you not the one who inquired about it?”

James blushes, offing a small smile. “Apologies, Your Majesty, but since she was brought here to the palace as not only a gift for you, but a possible future Kadin, I have no doubt she is exquisite, so I wish to hear more of how you feel about her, rather than her physical beauty.”

Killian nods in understanding, and suddenly the blush floods his cheeks once again.

“There you are blushing again,” James taunts him. “Tell me why she makes you blush.”

The Sultan chuckles. James is right; Killian seems to blush every time he thinks about how he feels about her. He takes a deep breath before answering. “We shared a kiss,” he admits, suddenly becoming shy again. “It was…” He blows out a breath, his mind frazzled from simply thinking about it. “It was life-changing,” is the only way Killian can honestly describe it. “And since then, I have felt… I've felt like for the first time since Milah, I can find love again. I can finally begin to think of starting a family.” He tears up at the idea and looks over at James, afraid of his concierge’s reaction, although he shouldn't be. He knows James only wants him to be happy.

A slow grin creeps across James’ lips. “You can, Your Grace, and you are on your way there. This woman is already affecting you, I could tell before you spoke a word of her.”

Killian raises a brow, surprised. “You could?”

“Well yes,” he chuckles. “I have known you for many years, and never have you allowed me to win at sword practice. Nor have you ever been at a loss for words, so yes I could sense a change.”

“Apologies, my friend.”

Both men push themselves up, ready to head inside the palace.

“Please, do not apologize, I am glad you are finally opening your heart up to the possibilities that await you.”

“Thank you, James.” Killian smiles appreciatively and draws his concierge into a hug. He is grateful for James and the brotherhood they have formed. He is thankful he still has someone to lean on after losing his blood brother and father, and he hopes that one day, the Sultan after him will also have a brother to lean on, whether he is blood or not.

He pats his concierge on the back, and James’ features are creased with confusion as they break the hug. “I would like to say you’re welcome, but I’m not so sure what you are thanking me for, Your Majesty.”

“For making me see clearly again. I have done everything in my power to avoid getting close to a woman again, but you have reminded me why it is important to start a family... and not because I do not yet have an heir, but because I want my children to become as close as you and I are, as close as Liam and I were. I want them to lean on one another, not start rivalries for the throne.” He looks at James and smiles. “You have always been there for me, and I want my children to be there for one another, too.”

“And I will always be there for you,” James promises sincerely, raising his hand to gently squeeze the Sultan’s shoulder. “You will be an amazing father, so I have no doubt you will teach them the importance of family.”

“Thank you, James.”

They walk casually inside the palace, discussing another hunting trip to occupy Killian so he can think of his swan without being tempted to seek her out before his birthday. But before they go their separate ways to prepare for the trip, James turns to look at Killian once more.

“Tell me one more thing, Your Majesty.”

Killian looks over at him, lifting a brow. “What is it you wish to know?”

“How will you continue the chess match?”

A mischievous smile crosses Killian's lips. That is a question he can easily answer, for he knows precisely how to continue it.

~*~

After Emma’s schooling for the day, she heads to the Sultan’s study with butterflies fluttering around her stomach. It’s been three weeks since she had seen the Sultan at the pool, but she hadn’t been able to find an opportune time to leave the harem without anyone seeing her, and she is hoping—hoping might be an understatement—no, she is beyond anxious to see whether the Sultan has finally responded to her previous move or not. She had been too enamored by him and not brave enough, if she’s being honest, to ask why he has not made his next move yet.

Emma steps into the room and approaches the chessboard. Her eyes widen as she scans the board. She is amazed beyond belief, her mouth falling agape, and she has to blink a few times to make sure she is seeing the board correctly. He has left his king wide open for her. Normally she'd think it’s a trap, but once Emma makes this move, the Sultan will be done for, since she can easily sweep in and checkmate his king, claiming her victory. He has let her win. But why? For what purpose? Could he be trying to send her an abstruse message? But what message? Perhaps he is trying to tell her he surrenders to her? And by that, he is also telling her he is surrendering his heart? Or perhaps he is testing her to see if she is willing to surrender herself to him by not taking his king, and then he will sweep in and take her king after she leaves his white one be.

Emma is confused as to how to proceed. She thinks about it for a long while, her lips pursing together as she ponders what to do. If Emma surrenders to him, he will have the upper hand and all of her efforts will have been wasted, but if she wins, she will prove to him she has power over him, and perhaps he will be turned off by her insolence, and he will seek out another concubine? Shall she take that risk? After all, she doesn't wish to be intimidated by him nor feared by him. As James had said, if Killian does not see what value she possesses then he is foolish.

Emma is not vain by any means, but she is well aware of the effect she’s had on men in the past. They had desired her and would’ve gladly taken Baelfire’s place to be married to her. She even thought, at one point, Graham was one of those men. He was a friend or at least pretended to be, but she’d often wondered whether his feelings for her were purely platonic or something more. Emma’s features grow solemn. Thinking about the man who’d betrayed her makes her shiver.

The last time she’s trusted a man, he had let her down. She has put much faith in her uncle and sees her father in him, yet she still doesn't know if he is truly trustworthy or not, though she really wants to believe he is. Emma is not one to back down from a challenge though. Her uncle is challenging her to steal the Sultan’s heart and the Sultan is challenging her to steal his king and simultaneously his own heart. Or so she hopes.

After several moments of internal debate, Emma finally makes a decision. She reaches for her black queen, and as she starts to move the piece, the door flies open, causing Emma to whirl her head around.

Standing at the doorway are Nemo and two guards. Emma releases the game piece, her eyes widening as she stands up. How did they know she was in here? “My apologies for leaving the Harem, I’m afraid I have gotten lost.”

“I’m sorry Emma, but we have been ordered to bring you to the Valide Sultan.”

She nods cooperatively, swallowing thickly. She’d expected this would happen eventually; it's the risk she’s been taking by leaving the harem and entering the Sultan’s study. “Of course.” She quickly moves to the corridor, and with a guard on each side and the chief eunuch following behind her, she wonders how the Valide Sultan knew she was not in the harem. She thought Elsa was the only one who knew. Perhaps someone had noticed she was missing and went searching for her. Emma's thoughts are put on pause for the time being as they reach the harem courtyard where Kira appears to be very angry.

“My Sultana, I am very sorry,” Emma apologizes sincerely, bowing her head. “I wandered off too far and lost my way.”

The woman moves swiftly and lifts Emma’s chin to look her in the eye. “That is enough lies. You have intentionally disobeyed the rules bestowed upon you. Leaving the harem, walking down the golden road without my son’s summons and entering his study?” Kira scoffs, her features twisting in disgust as she releases Emma's chin. “You may be beautiful, but beauty fades over time. And Nemo tells me you have a razor-sharp mind and have excelled in your studies, but intelligence will not warm the Sultan’s bed. We don’t need clever, we need well-behaved, and you are certainly not.”

“But I am well-behaved, Your Majesty, I am just not accustomed to the cloistered life of the palace. I will try harder, I promise.”

“I don’t care for your excuses!” she shouts, her sharp tone startling Emma. “You have no doubt been drummed with the expectations of the palace and are clearly aware of what is forbidden, where you can go and where you cannot! You want to venture off wherever you please, perhaps you will enjoy venturing off to the dungeon.” She looks at the guards and tilts her head towards Emma. “Get rid of her.”

Panic is rippling through her as the guards grab her arms. If Emma's in the dungeon, how is she supposed to dance for the Sultan on his birthday, which is in two days? If she's not there for the ceremony, he will undoubtedly choose someone else to take to his bed, someone who could potentially give him a prince, and her plans will be ruined. Emma's eyes widen in panic as she looks around, seeing Mother Superior and other servants and eunuchs who, judging by their puzzled expressions, clearly do not agree. There is a woman standing beside the Sultana, whom, as her elegant clothing suggests, Emma presumes is the sister of the Sultan she’s heard about, but the young woman appears to be impassive to the whole situation.

“But Your Majesty, she is a gift for the Sultan’s birthday, as you have asked me to procure.” Nemo reminds her in a stern tone, and although he is questioning her orders and has a very strong position as Chief Eunuch, Emma can sense he is afraid of Kira. A smile almost graces Emma’s lips as she looks at him, thankful he is speaking up for her. She prays this will convince Kira, for the Chief Eunuch is correct—the entire reason for Emma being here is so she can be presented on the Sultan’s birthday with hopes of giving him a prince.

“I asked you to bring me the best concubines you could find and you have done a fine job with the others, but unfortunately you have selected this woman poorly. Find an odalisque to take her place.”

Nemo’s fear floats to the surface as he looks at Emma, for he knows she will be impossible to replace. “But my Sultana—”

“Do not argue with me!” Kira snaps angrily. “Take her down to the dungeon and lock her up, or your manhood will not be the only thing you are missing!”

Nemo looks like he has just swallowed his tongue as he nods his compliance. “Yes, my Sultana.” He turns to the guards, gesturing for them to move. “You heard our Sultana, take the girl to the dungeon.”

Emma squirms against them as they pull her out of the courtyard.

“No, you can’t do this to me!” she screams. “Pleeeease! Let me go!”

The Valide Sultan pays her no mind and dismisses the staff from the courtyard. Following behind her mother, Regina has the hint of a smirk on her face, for she is the one who had overheard Emma’s conversation with another concubine about leaving the harem, and waited to witness her leaving with her own two eyes before informing her mother. If this little slave girl thinks she can come and go from the harem and do as she pleases, she is sadly mistaken.

~*~

The day has finally come. It's his birthday, and he's not sure he's been this excited in all his existence. Not only of the possibilities of a future with the swan girl from his harem but also the conclusion of the chess game they've been engaging in. He is anxious to see how she's responded. He had made the move weeks ago before fleeing from the palace for another hunting trip with James. He had been too afraid he’d be tempted to seek her out after their encounter at the pool. Furthermore, he doesn't wish to take another woman to his bed in order to cool the lust he feels for Emma.

As a young Neverland prince, he had been taught the ways of women and had grown to be a healthy and virile man, as Sultans normally are, but unlike his father, Killian has sustained some self-control and discipline when it comes to physical intimacy. Thank the Gods he has, because, after the pool incident with Emma, his patience to take her to his bed is wearing thin. And he had arrived at the stark conclusion that no other concubine will be enough to quell the ache he feels for the blonde houri, so why bother trying when he knows all attempts will prove to be futile? He’d made a promise to himself that not only will Emma be the first maiden he will take to his bed as Sultan, but she will be his first wife, and he doesn’t plan on breaking that promise.

Killian steps into his study and strides over to the chess board, scanning it over. His heart sinks when he sees all of the black pieces are still intact, apart for one piece that is slightly off-kilter. He wonders what had happened. Did she hear someone coming and pause the game to hide? Has she been unable to return from the harem since then? Or did she simply decide not to continue the game with him?

He moves to the door, hauling it open, but pauses before he leaves, turning towards the chess table once more, his eyes studying the piece that had been slightly moved. He’d left his king open, simultaneously laying his heart on the line for her, and returned, hoping she would have responded, hoping she would have laid her heart on the line for him as well. What holds her back from doing so?

Killian steps out of the room and heads down the corridor to his private bath to wash off the smell of sweat, horses and forest from his skin as he ponders the question eating at him. Perhaps it’s the first scenario, and she's been too busy preparing for the ceremony that requires his presence in the Imperial Hall tonight, to return to the game. His mother has, undoubtedly, imposed a mountain of pressure on Emma, the other maidens as well as the servants of the palace to make the event seamless. And perhaps Emma has been too overwhelmed with the expectations of the ceremony and the events that may proceed. Though he is hardly present in the harem, he knows very well of the responsibility drummed into every concubine who enters the harem, to please the Sultan. For someone who’s never been intimate with another, let alone a Sultan, the prospect of the first time can be very frightening to think about. He imagines Emma’s mind is too frazzled with all of these things to worry about a silly chess game.

Yes, he's sure, or at least hopes those are the reasons why his lovely swan has not returned to finish the move.

Tagging: @courtorderedcake@teamhook @onceuponaprincessworld @nikkiemms @followbatb @resident-of-storybrooke @hollyethecurious @snowbellewells @artistic-writer @ultraluckycatnd @kmomof4 @darkcolinodonorgasm @lovepurplepumpkins @kiwistreetswan @therooksshiningknight @deathbycaptainswan @tiganasummertree @superchocovian @emeraldwitches

[stahlop]

Once Upon a Time 1x03 “Snow Falls” Review

Review 1x01 1x02

This is one of my favorite episodes.  This is the episode where Snow and Charming meet and we learn the origins of their backstory.

Synopsis:

Henry finds a John Doe at the hospital and is convinced it is Prince Charming.  Emma convinces Mary Margaret to read to the man from the storybook to show Henry that he is just a regular coma patient, but it ends with him actually waking up! In the Enchanted Forest, we see how Snow White and Prince Charming first meet.

Opening: A troll in the forest.

New Characters:

Dr. Whale: We first meet him on a date with Mary Margaret and he’s obviously a cad.  While Mary Margaret is talking to him he is blatantly checking out Ruby in the background.  He also seems to be the head doctor in the hospital, and he’s in Regina’s pocket as he lies to Mary Margaret about David’s readings but lets Regina know that things have changed. We are not given any indication who he was in the Enchanted Forest.

Kathryn Nolan/Princess: Supposedly David’s wife in Storybrooke.  We don’t learn much about her except that her memories tell her that she and David fought before he left and fell into a coma and she thought he had left her.  She also says that the fight was all her fault, which makes her seem quite weak. In the Enchanted Forest she seems to be a princess that Prince James was engaged to.  She’s very haughty and doesn’t seem to have much interest in James.  She’s also very damsel in distress when Snow steals from the carriage, simply screaming instead of making any attempt at stopping her.

Character Observations:

Snow/Mary Margaret: Snow is a forest bandit and a real tough woman, a far cry from the meek Mary Margaret that we have seen. She is stealing to survive and knows her way around the Enchanted Forest. She is tough, as she decks Charming with a rock, and witty, she starts calling James, Charming, because of the way he speaks to her. She’s also resourceful; she knows she can sell the jewels to the trolls and she has the dark fairy dust to eventually take the Evil Queen out with. Mary Margaret, on the other hand, is very docile. She doesn’t seem to have a mean bone in her body and pretty much goes along with everything everyone tells her. She cowers in Regina’s presence and doesn’t have much of a voice around her. She’s also very unsure of herself. She also believes in hope and love, while Snow has been beaten down enough that she is very cynical and has no hope.  Mary Margaret starts to believe that John Doe could be her Charming soulmate as shown in Henry’s book, right up until Kathryn shows up.  Snow just sees Charming as the way out of the Enchanted Forest, but realizes she can’t leave him when he’s attacked by the trolls. It’s his attempt at saving her twice (once from the queen’s guards and once from the trolls) that opens up her heart to him.  

Regina/Evil Queen: Regina is her spectacular, horrid self as usual in this episode. While not in it much, we see her control over Dr. Whale as he calls to tell her about John Doe’s readings, and that it was Mary Margaret that set them off. And while she seems to have her eyes and ears everywhere, she does not seem to know where Henry is most of the time.  She’s so busy trying to hold her curse together that she is not being a good mother. But she still technically has Henry, so her dig towards Emma and Mary Margaret at the end “Not having someone is the worst curse imaginable” is very cruel. We don’t actually see the Evil Queen in this episode, but we are told that she blames Snow for ruining her life.  Most likely referring to whomever she loved that Snow somehow took from her.

Emma: Emma may not be trying to undermine Henry as blatantly as Regina is, but she is trying to show him that fairy tales don’t exist in more subtle ways.  Henry comes up with the plan for Mary Margaret to read to John Doe to ‘wake’ him up, but Emma goes a step further by having Mary Margaret go along with it with the intention that it won’t work and it will help Henry believe that his fairy tales aren’t real. It may not be as manipulative as Regina, but she’s still letting Henry go through with the plan with the intention that he will be disappointed and will possibly question the storybook. Imagine Emma’s surprise when John Doe not only moves, but ends up awake.  Emma, of course, will just sweep this under the rug as coincidence, because she can’t possibly believe in fairy tales. Emma, at this point is also living in her car, after having been kicked out of Granny’s due to the felony law. Because of her need to be independent and non-reliant on anyone, she turns down Mary Margaret’s offer to stay with her. After the whole search for David, Mary Margaret’s hope getting torn out from under her, and Regina’s not having someone comment, Emma decides to take Mary Margaret up on her offer.  So they are now officially roommates.

Henry: He is more of the catalyst for this episode rather than the narrator.  He’s still telling us things about the curse, but he’s the one who discovers Charming in the hospital and gets the ball rolling to have him wake up. We also see that he lies to Regina, a lot, as she doesn’t seem to know where he is half the time. His main purpose right now suggests that he is just guiding Emma (and the viewers) through Storybrooke but has no real purpose of his own.  He is not in any danger from Regina.  He sees through most of her lies and manipulation anyhow.

James “Charming”/David Nolan: We learn a lot about both Charming and David in this episode.  Charming is brave; he goes after the bandit despite the guards there to protect him, and he fights the trolls with Snow, risking his life; resourceful; he manages to catch Snow in a trap, knows she is wanted by the queen and uses that to his advantage in him helping her, is good, not only with a sword, but with a bow and arrow as well (as evidenced from his Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves moment); and, of course, charming; he’s sentimental about the engagement ring because it belonged to his mother. Charming is a real go getter, except for the fact that he has to marry the princess to merge their kingdoms together. We don’t know a lot about David’s personality yet.  He has amnesia, so he doesn’t remember anything about his life (or possibly Regina never invented a backstory for him because she thought he was dead), and he’s definitely attracted to Mary Margaret, but he’s married to Kathryn.

Questions:

What’s up with the feathers again? So far we’ve seen them on two of Snow’s outfits in the Pilot, Regina’s curse outfit, and now on the princess’s dress. Is this an Enchanted Forest thing, or do the bird feathers mean something?

Why does David’s scar still have blood on it?  He received it from Snow at least a year before the curse hit. It should not have blood on it, especially since he’s technically been in a coma for 28 years.

How much time is supposed to have passed between Snow robbing Charming and him tracking her down? I really don’t think he would have had enough time to build a freaking net trap without her knowing.  Did she go to her tree trunk dwelling before going to the trolls and now she’s come back?  If he just discovered her there, how did he set it up without her hearing him?

How does John Doe  wake up from a coma and walk out of a hospital? His muscles should be atrophied.  I guess this is another thing we can say is because of the curse.  Instead of his muscles atrophying they reset themselves every night since time didn’t move. And where are all the nurses? Because David was hooked up to machines yet none of them alerted anyone in the hospital that they weren’t hooked up to anyone anymore? It should have indicated he was dead since it wasn’t registering a heartbeat or brain activity. Emma had to look at the video surveillance to see what time he got up and left.

Why do trolls need money or jewels?

Was that water deep enough for David to drown in?  I know they say you can drown in an inch of water, but he wasn’t even face down in the water, he was on his side. I just feel like he should’ve been face down in the water if we were to believe he had drowned.

How does this curse work?  I know I asked this in the Pilot, but did Regina have contingencies built in for if time started moving, or does the curse adapt to things like that?  Did Kathryn have memories of her husband, David, before he woke up, or were those built in after?  

Observations:

David’s scar is from Snow hitting him with a rock.  Ouch!

I know it’s a television show, but Snow looks pretty good for living out in the forest.  She apparently has perfectly fitting clothes, can bathe often, and still wears makeup.

Charming tells Snow that he will find her, but it’s much more menacing than when he woke her up in the Pilot.

Whale tells Mary Margaret that John Doe has been in a coma for as long as he can remember.

We see the flying monkeys in the storybook again.

Snow’s wanted poster says she is wanted for crimes again the queen; murder, treason, and treachery.

The security guard was Sleepy.  We’ve now been introduced to Sleepy and Grumpy from the seven dwarfs.

The trolls climbing up the bridge reminded me of the trolls in the movie Willow.

The old Toll Bridge sign in Storybrooke has an R graffitied on it so it says Troll Bridge.

Mary Margaret’s version of CPR is basically a long smooch. Was it True Love’s Kiss that actually revived David?

The ring Mary Margaret wears is the engagement ring Charming was going to give to the princess.

Names:

James - English form of the Hebrew name Jacob, which means supplanter.  He was a twin who deprived his brother his rights as the firstborn son

David - Beloved.  Also known as the famous king in David vs. Goliath.

Kathryn - pure

Nolan - derived from the Irish, Nuall, which means noble.  Fitting as both David and Kathryn were nobles in the Enchanted Forest.

Ruby - red stone

I love learning the backstory of Snow and Charming.  It’s nice to see that it was not love at first sight and from what we see in the Pilot, they eventually do find their way back to each other. It’s also nice to see Snow as someone not to be trifled with, as in the stories and movies she is the epitome of innocence. Regina is a loathsome as ever, but it’s nice to see her reactions to her carefully constructed facade crumbling and now she’s attempting to deal with it.  She is someone who needs to be in control and she is having a hard time staying in control with her world, literally, falling apart.

As usual feedback is welcome.  Please let me know your thoughts about anything: the episode, the characters, the formatting, etc.

@searchingwardrobes @thisonesatellite@justbecauseyoubelievesomething@laschatzi @profdanglaisstuff@mariakov81

[aprilqueen84]

When You Least Expect It (5/?)

A/N: Here is the next chapter, this is probably my favorite chapter so far and I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it. Also a huge thanks to @hollyethecurious for being my new beta.

Summary: Killian and Emma had been wanting to start a family for a while now but not had any luck. Soon they would learn that the best things happen when you least expect it. Except not everything is as is seems.

Tag List: @hollyethecurious, @xemmaloveskillianx, @resident-of-storybrooke, @winterbaby89, @nikkiemms, @jennjenn615, @kymbersmith-90, @kmomof4, @lieutenantpirate, @teamhook, @ilovemesomekillianjones

“The Calm”

Two days later on a beautiful Saturday morning, the three of them were on their way to the docks to begin their voyage. As soon as Emma pulled into the lot, Henry was out of the Bug before it was even in park. “Someone’s excited,” Emma chuckled as she and Killian got out of car.

“Aye love, it’s not everyday that a young man gets to sail a fine vessel like the Jolly Roger by himself,” Killian said giving her a cheeky grin as they made their way hand in hand down the docks.

Henry was waiting for them impatiently at the bottom of the gangplank. “Finally! Come on let’s go,” he said as he raced up to the deck.

When Killian and Emma made it onto the deck, Killian walked over to Henry and clasped him on his shoulder, “Henry lad, calm down. it’s not wise for a captain to be impatient because-”

“Because impatience make for mistakes, I know. I guess I’m just a little nervous,” Henry said. Contrite in his behavior, he looked over to Emma. “Sorry, mom.”

Emma smiled at him and put a hand on his arm. “It’s ok, kid. It’s alright to be a little nervous, but we know you are going to do great, and just know that Killian will be right there if you need him, okay?” He nodded his head at her and she gave his arm a squeeze. “Alright, let’s get ready.”

After they prepared the Jolly to set sail, they were off with Henry at the helm. He guided them smoothly out of the harbour and into open waters. Their destination was a small stretch of beach about ten miles down the coast, isolated but still within Storybrooke’s limits.

Emma stood by the railing staring out at the water when Killian came up behind her and slipped his arms around her middle. She smiled and leaned back against him. “Hey! How is everything going?”

“Fantastic, love He’s such a natural,” Killian said with pride in his voice.

Emma turned to face him, looping her arms around his neck. “Well of course he is. He was taught by a former Royal Naval lieutenant and pirate.” She said, beaming up at him.

He gave her one of his bashful smiles. “You flatter me, Swan. But honestly, he is such an amazing sailor, just like a Jo-” he stopped, catching himself before he could finish his sentence. “Sorry love, I almost misspoke,” he said with his head downcast.

Emma brought her hands up to his cheeks, and lifted his head to have him meet her eyes. “Hey, it’s okay. He is just as much of a Jones as he is a Swan, a Mills, and a Charming.” She pulled him into a hug, stroking the back of his neck soothingly. After they pulled away from each other Emma said, “I am so happy that you think of Henry as your son, okay, and I am so glad he has you in his life.”

He looked at her tenderly “I am so grateful to have both of you in my life.” He leaned forward and captured her lips, their arms tightening around each other as they completely lost themselves in the moment.

“Oh come on guys! Really?” Henry called out to them in disgust.

They broke apart looking sheepishly at Henry. “Sorry, lad,” Killian said. Though, he anything but.

Henry just shook his head and pointed out in front of him. “We’re here. Killian, is this a good place for us to anchor?” he asked as he began to steer the ship parallel to the shore.

“Aye Henry, keep the old girl steady and I’ll drop the anchor.” Killian moved over and pulled the lever that dropped the anchor, while Emma went below deck to collect their bags.

Sometime later, after they had some lunch, Emma sat on a blanket that they had placed on the sand and watched Killian and Henry sword fight. She smiled fondly at them, always amazed at how much Henry had learned from Killian over the years. The two of them made a flurry of movements that ended in Henry disarming Killian with a twirl of his sword.

Henry stared down at Killian’s sword laying on the ground before he gave a excited shout, while Killian let out a hearty laugh. “Excellent, my boy! First rate technique.” He picked up his sword from the sand and sheathed it then walked over to Henry and gave him a clap on the back. They spoke quietly to each other before they both nodded their heads and turned to Emma. “Did you see that, Swan? The perfect disarming.”

“It was amazing, kid,” Emma praised.

“Oh it was nothing,” Henry stated with a shrug of his shoulder.

“Now don’t be modest, lad. You bested me, and not many people can say they have beaten Captain Hook in swordplay,” Killian said beaming with pride.

“Killian’s right you were excellent, Henry.”

“Thanks mom, Killian,” he paused, looking down the beach then back to them. “Hey, I’m going to take my sketch book and go draw for awhile.” Henry bent down to open his backpack and pulled out his book and pencils.

“Okay, kid but stay kind of close alright? We are going to be heading back soon,” Emma told him as Kilian settled down next to her on the blanket. Henry nodded his head before heading down the beach.

Killian turned to Emma with a devilishly handsome grin as soon as Henry was out of sight. “Alone at last.” Leaning forward, he caught her lips in a passionate kiss, his hand cupping the back of her head as he pulled her flush against him.

Emma let out a muffled gasp of surprise, not expecting him to be so bold with Henry so close. “Mm... Killian, wait a minute.” She pulled back slightly breathless, but that didn’t deter Killian. He began placing feather light kisses to her cheek then started down her neck. “Hey easy tiger, what about Henry?” she said, putting a hand to his chest and pushing him gently back.”

“Don’t worry, love. Henry is not going to bother us,” he said playing with a lock of her hair.

Emma gave him a confused look. “What do you mean?”

“That my gracious step-son is giving his mother and I a little alone time,” he informed her with a raise of his eyebrow.

Emma stared at him for a minute before remembering the two of them talking after their sword practice. Suddenly, her eyes went wide, “Oh God! Please tell me you two didn’t agree to-”

Killian stopped her with a wave of his hand. “Swan stop, it’s not like that. This was all Henry’s doing. He wanted us to have some alone time together today,” he told her hoping to calm her.

She relaxed a little. “Really?”

“Aye, it was a bit of a surprise to me as well, love. Why do you think he brought his drawing supplies?” He stood suddenly and held his hand out to her. “So, how about it Mrs. Jones, care to go for a romantic stroll with your husband?”

She smiled at him and placed her hand in his to allow him to pull her to her feet. “Lead the way, Captain.” He lifted her hand and placed a kiss to her knuckles before tucking it into the crook of his arm, leading them down the beach, arm in arm.

xx

When they eventually made their way back, Henry was waiting for them by the blanket. “Hey kid. You weren’t waiting very long, were you?”

Henry shook his head. “Nah, I just got back myself,” he said as he put his things back into his backpack.

They decided it was time to head back home. As they were packing up, Emma noticed that Killian kept looking off into the distance. “Killian what’s wrong?”

“There’s storm clouds rolling in,” he said pointing to the sky.

Emma turned to look in the direction he was pointing. Dark, almost pitch black clouds could be seen on the horizon, and were coming toward them fast. “I thought it wasn’t supposed to rain today.”

“It’s not,” he said concerned. “We need to get back to the Jolly, now!” They hurried and gathered the rest of their things.

When they made it back to the to the ship the wind had picked up, and rain was just starting to come down. “Henry! Help me tie everything down. Emma, go below deck and close the portholes,” he commanded, going into full captain mode.

When Emma came back up, Killian and Henry were tying the last rope to the wheel. While she had been below deck the weather had gotten worse. The rain was now coming down in sheets, hitting her skin like shards of glass, and the waves were beating against the sides of the ship with enough force to rock it.

Killian spotted her by the hatch, holding on to it after a gust of wind engulfed them. “Emma!” He called out to her, but it was obvious she could not hear him over the howling winds. He grabbed Henry by the arm, and they made their way over to her. “Are you alright, love?” She nodded her head and held onto him tightly.

“Killian, what’s going on?” Emma shouted over the deafening wind.

“I don’t know love, but you and Henry need to get below deck,” Killian said while gently pushing Henry towards the open hatch.

Emma shook her head. “What about you?”

“There are still a few things I need to tie down, and then I’ll follow,” he explained, turning her towards the hatch as well.

As Henry started down the stairs, Emma faced Killian. “No! You can’t stay up here, this storm is getting worse.” No sooner had the words left her mouth, a bolt of lighting came out of nowhere and struck the bow of the ship, the force of which sent them falling onto the deck.

Killian rolled, taking the brunt of the impact. “Are you are alright, Swan?” he asked as they slowly made their way to their knees, his hand going to her cheek.

Emma nodded her head. Her eyes suddenly widened and she scrambled over to the hatch door that had slammed shut. Yanking it open, she yelled, “Henry!” as Killian came to her side.

There was silence for a second until Henry’s voice called out “Yeah mom, I’m fine!”

Both their bodies sagged in relief that their son was okay. “Stay there lad, we’re coming down.” When Killian faced Emma, he saw her eyes wide with fear at something behind him. He turned, and what he saw made his blood run cold.

Coming toward them, almost in slow motion, was a wall of water about one hundred feet high. They both sprang to their feet.

“Bloody Hell!” he exclaimed.

Emma looked to him. “Killian, what do we do?” she asked, her voice trembling in fear.

Killian looked at Emma, then to the wall of water that was getting closer. “Nothing more we can do but brace ourselves” he said as he pulled her closer.

They heard the sound of rapid foot falls on deck. “Mom! Dad!” Henry yelled as he reached them, “I saw it coming through the window.”

The three of them huddled together on the deck, arms around each other, not knowing if this was going to be their final moments together. Emma looked at the two most important men in her life and pressed a hand against each of their cheeks. “I love you both so much,” she said tearfully.

She pulled them close, eyes tightly shut, waiting for the impact when suddenly everything, the rain, the wind stopped. They lifted their heads and watched in amazement as the wall of water disappeared, and the sky became clear right before their eyes.

They looked at each other in shock. There was absolutely no trace of the storm. Other than being soaked to the bone, it was like it never happened.

“What the hell just happened?” Emma asked in disbelief.

Killian stared out in front of them, thinking. He had seen many storms over his long life, and there was only one reason for a storm to appear and disappear like this one had. He looked over to Emma and Henry, “Magic.”

xx

“No!” The cloak figure yelled in anger as she stood over a bowl sitting atop the table. She had been so close to getting The Savior and The Pirate removed from the picture. She didn’t know how it happened. The spell was perfect and undetectable, it should have worked. She was running out of time, she needed the child’s magic, and she would get in no matter what.

The End

[cianmars]

#34: Charming Family please!!!

“That is the most thoughtful gift anyone has got me.”

AO3FF

 Once they got back home David took Emma from the of the carbefore Snow could, she stayed fast asleep as he carried her to the door andunlocked the lock before he led his wife and Neal inside.

Emma stirred as he walked up the stairs which were lit bythe dimmed lights in the hallways on the first and second floors. “Daddy?” Shemumbled blinking her eyes slowly.

“Hey baby.” David said soothingly as he continued up thestairs. He could hear Snow starting to walk up with Neal too. “You can go backto sleep Emmy, daddy’s going to get you changed into your jammies and put youto bed, you’ve had a very long and fun day you need to get some sleep so thatwe can have another good day tomorrow.”

Emma rubbed her eyes trying to get them open once more whenthey fell shut but she couldn’t. “Mommy ‘n’ daddy’s bed.” She said through ayawn.

“Where else?” David chuckled. Since she had deaged she had barely spent a night in the toddler bed they hadbought her, he didn’t even need one hand to count the nights she had and eventhen she had ended up in their bed by five am, so she had only technically spent the night in it. Notthat he or Snow minded, they had always expected to have a bed full of childrenand toys, just because they were now in a different realm that didn’t change.

He walked into their bedroom and turned on one of lampsbefore turning on Emma’s nightlight, he grabbed Emma’s pyjamas and a goodniteand changed her into them before holding her to his chest. He stood and rockedher for a little while, singing a lullaby his own mother used to sing for him,he loved these moments of peace where he was able to just cuddle his littlegirl. He looked over and saw Snow watching him and Emma with a loving andslightly faraway smile on her face. He smiled back at her softly as he leantdown to place Emma down in the bed. He stopped his singing to press a kiss tothe sleeping girl’s forehead. “Night, night princess.” He said softly.

He started to walk out of the room passing by Snow, hewrapped his arm around her waist and dipped his head down to kiss her lips, hefelt his heart flutter as she mirrored his actions, her arm around his waist,and she deepened the kiss. He managed to pull back after a little while. “Meetme downstairs? I have a surprise for you.”

“It’s not Christmas yet.” She murmured kissing him again.Their kisses were slow and loving, nothing like the quick and heated kissesthey used to have to give each other between defeating villains and in battletents, David worried about the dwarves catching them as they already didn’t likehim. They had all the time in the world.

“It doesn’t have to beChristmas, my love.” He told her pecking her lips before leaving.

They met in the living room, David kissed Neal goodnight inhis room and got downstairs first, Snow took a bit longer but he had expectedthat, and it gave him a little more time to make sure he had the present ready.

Snow walked into their living room, David had lit some ofthe candles around the room, the fire was lit, and the fireguard they had forthe children had been moved. They didn’t yet have their Christmas tree but itfelt cosy and Christmassy despite that. David was sat in one of the armchairsand he beckoned her over, when she was there he tugged her down so she was saton his lap. “I thought that you weren’t surprising me with something Christmassy?Because this seems very Santa Clause like to me.”

David chuckled before kissing his wife again. “I love youSnow White.”

“I love you too, Prince Charming.” She kissed him againbefore just laying her forehead against his, their arms were wrapped aroundeach other, and although they weren’t kissing it was clearly an intimatemoment.

“I know what’s been on your mind,” David said eventually, hesaw Snow look as though she was about to protest it and he shook his head, “andit’s okay, I get it, I’ve been feeling like it too. You aren’t being ungrateful.We have Neal, and Emma’s a little kid again, but we lost our big adult Emma.She changed to a child, and she’s the same in so many ways, but it’s still likewe lost her.” His voice reflected the loss he felt and his wife’s eyes startedto tear up.

“If she had been born on time in the Enchanted forest, itwould have been her birthday today in this world.” Snow whispered. “I love her,no matter her age, just as much as I love Neal. But even now she’s a childagain… we didn’t get to raise her. Every year, on this date… I just rememberthat we never got to raise either Emma from birth, even though she has us now…she still has all of the nightmares, all the bad memories of a terrible start.She wasn’t born on time, she didn’t get to have the life we wanted for her,where she would have wanted for nothing. She would have been a princess, or aknight.”

David moved his hand from her hip to her cheek, his thumbwiped away the tears which fell. “I think our Emmy definitely would have been aknight, like her daddy, and she would have beaten me in every sword fight, justlike her mommy.”

Snow smiled gently and led her head against his. She felt aweight lift from her shoulders after having been able to talk about it to David.“I just miss her.” She told him quietly, her eyes closed, but she could feelhim nod in agreement. “I wish we could have both Emmas.”

“Only if adult Emma would listen to me like our little Emmydoes, I’d ban her from putting herself in dangers, and constantly sacrificing herself.”David smiled despite the tears rolling down his own cheek.

They sat there for a little while, only the flickeringcandles and burning fire making noises as they rested their heads together withtheir eyes shut, with each tear rolling down their cheeks they felt theirhearts feel just a touch lighter.

“I have a present for you.” David said eventually makingSnow open her eyes as they stayed curled up together in the arm chair.

“Do I have to move from where I am?” Snow asked himreluctantly. “Because as much as I love gifts, it can wake, I’m comfortablehere.”

David smirked at his sleepy wife, he kissed her temple. “No,I have it right here, you don’t have to move.”

Snow watched as he picked up a box shaped gift from thetable next to the chair, wrapped in shiny gold wrapping paper, she could seethe trepidation in his movements and she placed her hand onto his chest, his movementsbecame more confident, assured. They shared her certainty that he hadn’t doneanything wrong, he had never before, and she didn’t believe that he ever would.

“I…. I had Henry’s help with some of it, and Regina, and therest of the town… But it was mostly me, I wanted it to be personal, I don’tthink anyone else could properly be able to understand.” David said as hepassed it over. He bit his lip.

Snow took the gift but paused seeing his face. She tippedher head up and kissed him. Slowly. Lovingly. “I love you.” She told him. Threewords but so many meanings. I trust you. You don’t need to worry. You couldnever do anything wrong. I love you. She took his and wrapped it around her so that his hand was resting on herstomach, her fingers brushed against his wedding ring, she felt her husbandrelax his muscles.

Snow turned over the box shaped present in her hands, thebrushed gold wrap had subtle shiner stars hidden on it, they caught the lightof the candles and the fire and shined, little star shaped lights danced acrossher face. She found the tape and carefully undid the paper.

Inside the wrapping paper was a leatherbound book, about thesize of a picture book, like the many in the bookcases for the kids. It wasplain bar two things, a gold swan silhouette, and some words which ran alongthe bottom. Snow read it out loud. “Emma Ruth Swan. October twenty-second,nineteen-eighty-three.”  She looked athim.

“I can’t do anything about us not raising her from birthlike Belle and Gold can do with Gideon, or her not being born on time in the EnchantedForest and us raising her, even you not getting to come through the wardrobewith her… But I can try to help with missing our adult Emma…. It helped me, abit, being able to put this together.”

Snow opened the book and was met by photographs on one sideand writing on the other side. The photographs were of average size, two aboveeach other, but they were moving like a video. When she placed her hand on the top one andsuddenly sound came out of it. It was clearly from David’s view, his hand on her stomach as they stood in Emma’s nursery. “Ourbaby will never be bored.” David’s voice was full of laughter. “Our little prince or princess.” She watched the past version of herself say. “They’ll be a knight.” David said certainly. His hand went up in front of theview, holding a toy sword which had been a gift from the head guard, Snowwatched picture her laugh and her hand went to her stomach as David dramaticallyplayed out a fight with a toy sword.She remembered that moment. On the other side of the book was the start of Emma’s life story. She turnedthe page. She read Emma’s story and watched the pictures, some pictures stayed static,they had been actual photographs taken from Emma’s file, or ones Snow hadtaken, or David, or Henry. Some were from videos the family had taken. Snow watched one that she had taken whenshe and Emma were roommates. She videoed as Emma sang along to a song stuck inher head, Emma suddenly noticed her and stuck her middle finger up at theteacher. “Emma!” Mary Margaret had admonished in a motherly fashion, Emma laughedand beamed at her roommate’s reaction then started to sing louder. There were pictures and videos of the good times from their family and friends’memories, and the bad, photos and stories he had gotten from children in thegroup homes she grew up in, bits in Emma’s own writing about her time in jail.They all wove into a story of Emma’s life, good and bad, the final picture was theblinding light in the street and Emma turning into a child. “Mommy? Daddy?”. “And Emma Swan turned into Emma Charming, who she had been all along. Shegained another chance at living happily ever after.” Snow read out.

Snow’s cheeks were streaked with dried tears which had ranas she had read the book. Her hand stayed on the last image. Emma. Their Emmawho was peacefully sleeping in their bed upstairs, with her blankie and herteddy, who would no doubt wake up with a careless smile as she always did.

David watched her look through the book and her face as shestared at the final image. “Is it… is it okay?” He asked hesitantly.

“This is the most thoughtful gift anyone has got me. Ever.”Snow told him, she looked at him with tears in his eyes again, but this timethey were good ones. “How did you get all of these?”

“I went through her file, I chose some of those pictures andnotes about her, I got in contact with people from her past. Some of the thingsshe had told Henry, or she had left in some dream catchers when she was theDark One, August had memories of her which he added. Henry and I went aroundtown asking people for their stories and memories. I went through the videosand million pictures we have finding them, and the stories I already knew,there’s some spaces for you to add your own… if you like.” David sighed outwith relief that he hadn’t upset her, he knew that it had helped him to be ableto work through his own memoires, but that hadn’t necessarily meant it wouldhelp her, he had hoped it would though.

“Thank you. This is… this is perfect. I love it so much.”She closed the book and held it to her chest. “I can’t believe you managed todo this.”

“I’d do anything to make you smile.” David told herwholeheartedly.

Snow kissed him, gently, as though either of them wouldbreak if they kissed too hard. “I love you with all my heart, David RobertCharming.”

[captainoftherollyjoger]

The Eye of Storm: Chapter Five

  Warning! This chapter is quite dark, it involves quite graphic violence.

Prologue : Chapter One : Chapter Two : Chapter Three : Chapter Four

Ao3

  Hook paced his cabin, he had heard the stumblings of some of his crew returning from the tavern, his cabin was lit with moonlight and the lights from the port.

 “A princess. Of course she’s a bloody princess. How was I so foolish?” He muttered to himself. He had always liked her, always thought she was cunning, but to hide such a fact from him. He was losing his touch. At least she could help him, she knew what the Eye of the Storm was, and she had a rough idea of where it was. Maybe it was time for him to be slightly more civil towards this Emma.

  “Attention, mates!” Shouted Killian, he was halfway up some rigging so the entire crew could see him, the sun was glaring down on them all. They had all been hard at work, moving barrels and new supplies for the next journey, many already looked exhausted, the heat didn’t help. Smee was at the helm looking confused, the captain never addressed the crew without informing her first. “I have decided to make some slight changes to how things will be run on this ship.” He spotted Emma, like the rest of the crew she looked tired and sweaty, her white shirt clung to her and he noticed a few less buttons fastened. “Things have gotten a bit stale around here, and quite frankly. It’s boring.”

 “What are you suggesting, Capt’n?” Asked Smee. He jumped down from the rigging and walked over. The crew were all listening intently.

 “It’s time for a change of command.” Smee looked at him confused. “Swan! Get up here!” He commanded. Emma also looked at him in confusion, but did as she was told. “Let me introduce you to your new first mate.” He shouted to them all. They all cheered, none of them dared to ask why, other than Smee who looked to be in complete shock.

 “Urm, sir? What about me?” She asked, he could tell she wasn’t happy. “After all this time, you’re just replacing me?”

 “Certainly looks that way.” He smiled, unapologetically. The crew stood awkwardly, no one questioned him, but Smee was.

 “What about everything I’ve done for you?”

 “Tell me, Smee. When did you last organise a good raid? When was the last time this crew had a good old pillage, because it’s been quite stagnant here for a while. Hasn’t is, mates?” They all cheered.

 “But… her. Why her?” She questioned.

 “I don’t have to explain myself to you. Now, before I kick you off this ship for disrespect, I suggest you go find something to do.” He went quiet then, and that’s when Smee knew she should back off, but she was too angry. She pulled her sword from her side and pointed it at Emma.

 “I’m not losing my position to this wench.” She spat. “We’ll fight for it.”

 “I suggest you put your sword away before I make you walk the plank for mutiny.” His voice was low, his shouting the crew could deal with. When he whispered was when fear struck them.

 “Captain.” Emma stepped forward and placed a hand on his upper arm. He looked down at her hand, and Smee didn’t miss the exchange either. Hook wasn’t even bothered that she had laid a hand on him, was that a smile? The touch only fuelled Smee’s jealousy, she wanted to attack, but she couldn’t risk hurting Hook. “I can do this.”

 Hook looked from where her hand still was to her eyes, he was confident Swan could beat her, plus it would entertain the crew. He nodded at her and she nodded back.

 “Be my guest.” He smirked, he stepped back and rested on the side of the ship. The crew had all got closer and gathered around.

 Emma pulled out her sword and Smee immediately attacked, Emma was too quick and moved out the way. The crew cheered and even Hook was amused. Emma was graceful where Smee was sloppy, if he didn’t know any better, he would say Swan was enjoying herself, if the sly smile had anything to say. He watched her form, dance across his ship, Smee was breathing hard, but Emma had hardly broke a sweat. He never made advances towards his female crew members, never even gave the innuendos, but Swan was different. He enjoyed seeing her annoyed features when he whispered in her ear, he knew he got under her skin just as much as she got under his. Though she didn’t even try.

Smee was relentless, but she was angry. Her emotions were causing her to make mistakes, which Emma noticed was a weakness in many people. She had beaten many a soldier because they got angry that she was winning. Emma noticed Hook leaning back nonchalantly, his arms folded and a smirk on his face. Then she felt a fist hit her nose. Damn, she had got distracted.

 “Serves you right, bitch.” Laughed Smee. Emma touched her nose, blood dripped onto her fingers, she’d had worse. Emma smiled and kicked her shin, then punched her across the cheek.

 “Woah, oh!” She heard Killian gasp, then he laughed. “Nice one, Swan.” He wouldn’t distract her again.

 Hook’s support made Smee even more jealous. The crew were still cheering. Emma felt the force of Smee’s blows, but she was tiring now, and Emma had plenty left in her.

“I bet you’re bedding him, aren’t you? That’s why he’s giving you this position.” Spat Smee, she was trying to rile Emma by changing tactics. If she wasn’t good enough skills wise, she could always annoy Emma. “You’ve tricked him with your blonde hair and your witty comments, you’re a siren. That’s what you are. Admit it, you sneak into his quarters every night.”

 Hook frowned but didn’t do anything. It wasn’t like Smee to say something like that, she knew his code. He had certainly thought about Emma being in his bed, but he had never shared that information with Smee.

 “Wouldn’t you like to know.” Emma smirked, he hadn’t expected that. “Does that make you jealous, Smee? Knowing he’s with me and not you, do you wish it was you down there with him? Everyone can see you love him. But, he doesn’t feel the same, does he?” What was she doing? This was mean, and she knew it. Using someone’s feelings against them, maybe there was some pirate in her afterall. “Does it make you jealous to know that I get sinful things whispered in my ear?” In all fairness, she did. Even if it was to annoy her. “That he screams my name, and not yours.” The words coming out of Emma’s mouth had completely surprised him, surely this wasn’t how a princess should act? Surely she was taught better, maybe she was learning from him. That made him smirk. Did she want the things she was saying? He certainly wouldn’t mind her screaming his name.

 Smee screamed in frustration and knocked Emma to the floor. They dropped their swords, and Smee punched Emma’s face, she did deserve it, she was struggling to push her off, and the blows were getting harder and harder. She felt her face start to swell and she was sure she had blood all over her face, from her nose and lips. She would certainly feel them tomorrow. If she lived that long. As Smee continued to punch her, she grasped for the dagger she kept at her back. As she found it she brought it to Smee’s stomach and thrust it forward, an audible gasp came from the entire crew. Smee faltered and coughed up blood onto Emma’s face. That’s when she noticed. Hook had impaled his sword into her back, she felt the weight move off her as he pulled his sword out, Smee fell to the side, the stab wounds didn’t kill her instantly. She was panting and crying. Emma was exhausted, she saw Hook kneel down next to Smee and support her head. Her hand grabbed his coat.

 “That’s what you get for mutiny.” She heard the woman crying. “I didn’t want to lose you, Smee. You were a loyal friend, it’s a shame it wasn’t until the end.” He sounded, gentle. After all, Smee had been there for him when no one else had. “I can’t watch you suffer, lass.” He picked up Emma’s dagger, Smee gripped him tight and tensed.

 “I’m sorry, Capt’n.”

 “I’m sorry too.” He meant it. “I promise, you will have an honourable burial. Rest in peace, love.” She smiled at him, she’d always wanted to hear him call her that. Killian brought the dagger to her throat and slit it. Smee immediately went limp in his arms. He closed her eyes and laid her down gently. The crew took of their hats as a sign of respect. Hook walked over and offered a hand.

 Emma was annoyed. She picked herself up and ignored his offering.

“Why did you do that? I had her! You made me look like an idiot!” She shoved him hard in the chest, her whole body screaming in pain. He grabbed her harshly by the arm where she had a cut.

“She deserved a quick death. I wanted it over and done with. I knew she was going to die, I didn’t want to prolong it. She deserved more than what she got.” He spat. “I might be ruthless, but she was loyal. I’m not the heartless bastard you think I am, Swan.” He let go and stormed off.

 Smee was placed in a body bag, everyone gathered around the edge of the ship, her body was sent into the water. Emma felt ashamed of herself, Smee was just being protective. Her feelings for Hook had cost her her life. She didn’t cry. She couldn’t show that weakness, but she certainly felt miserable. As soon as her body was gone, Hook stomped up to the helm. Hook had given the crew the rest of the day off to mourn her, she was a big part of the ship, but none of them felt different about Emma. It had been Smee’s feelings that got in the way.

 The ship was very quiet, they were deep in the ocean, it was going dark and only the moon offered light. The whole crew had gone to bed early, all of them in the bunks, the day’s activities had been too much for most of them. No one had stayed on deck, apart from Emma. Emma and Smee’s blood was still stained on the wood, no doubt it was some poor soul’s job to clean it up. That wouldn’t be fair. She would do it herself, tomorrow. Right now, she was in too much pain. Her whole face felt swollen, her knuckles were all cut, she had a few knicks from Smee’s sword on her shoulders, but at least she would be alive. Smee wasn’t so fortunate. The blood had dried on her face, she hadn’t bothered to clean herself up.

 “Swan.” He sounded tired. She was sitting on some boxes and was looking at the moon. She hadn’t forgot that he had done part of the job too, he had ran a sword through her back.

 “Aye, sir?” She sounded deflated.

 “Come with me.” He walked off and down to his cabin. She sighed. She pulled herself up and limped towards his cabin, her ribs had been bruised too.

 Hook’s cabin was well lit, his desk had been cleared of papers and now it held a few bowls of water and some towels. He was rummaging in a chest for something, whilst she stood at his door.

“Sit.” Emma limped into his quarters and sat in his chair. He strolled over to her, he had a flask in his hand and some cloths and bandages. He looked her over and she was certainly a sorry sight. Her hair was matted with blood that had run off Smee, her lips and nose were covered in her own, her shirt was filthy, it had gashes and was crimson stained. He came behind her with a wet cloth. “Put your head back.” She did. He took the hair ties from her hair, and her blonde locks cascaded down her back. He squeezed the cloth onto her scalp, the water was warm with some soap. He gently scrubbed the blood from her hair. He dried it with a towel, then she put it back up into a high ponytail.

 “I’m sorry.”

 “It’s not your fault, lass. It was hers. She challenged you.” They were silent again.

 Hook pushed Emma’s chair back and leant on the table, he put a fresh cloth in the bowl then squeezed it out. He leant forward and softly started to wipe the blood from around her eyes and nose. She winced in pain.

 “Shh. It’s okay, Emma.”

 “Emma?” He didn’t reply to her. He continued wiping away the dried blood. Her lip was busted, her eyebrow was cut and she had a nasty bruise on her cheek, but her nose wasn’t broken and she had been lucky. He put the cloth to one side and moved a strand of her fringe out of her eyes, his hand cupped her cheek. Why was he being so tender?

 “Take off your shirt.” He said, quietly, removing his hand. He poured the liquid from the flask into a bowl and soaked a cloth in it.

 “I beg your pardon?”

  He tutted at her, “Not for that. We can’t have those wounds getting infected. I need you alive.” She eyed him suspiciously. “I will do my very best not to look, you have under garments on, yes?” She nodded. “I’ll be a gentleman. Promise.”

 Emma lifted her blood stained shirt off herself. Her bra was fine, thankfully. She felt exposed in front of him, the women including herself, often walked around like this anyway. Especially on the hot days, but this felt too intimate. He held out his Hook, which she grabbed onto. He extended her arm and with the cloth he wiped her arm.

 “What the hell is that?!” She shouted. Her whole arm went numb with pain.

 “It’s rum, and a bloody waste of it.” He passed her the flask. “Drink, it will make you feel better.” She huffed and snatched the bottle from him. He moved onto her other arm and she winced. “You shouldn’t have shouted at me like that.”

 “I’ll pour rum into your wounds, see how you like it.”

 “I don’t mean then. I meant after I killed Smee. It was disrespectful. Not just to me.” Then she felt guilty.

 “I know, I just felt a lot of emotions.”

 “I know you’re a good fighter, Swan. But, have you ever killed someone before? It can have quite the effect on people.”

 “I have, but never a woman. I just didn’t think it would be something I would ever had to do.” She sighed. They were silent again. He bathed her shoulders and checked her over for any other wounds, then he bandaged up her arms and hands.

 Once he had finished tending to her, he handed her one of his black shirts.

 “Here, it’s yours. We’ll have to find you some more when we get to the next port.” She nodded appreciatively and threw it over herself. “Suits you.” He smiled. She rolled her eyes and looked around, she saw a book on the side and picked it up. She started reading through it, just some fiction he seemed to enjoy. “You should sleep here tonight, it’s the cleanest place you’ll get.”

 “Thanks.” She kicked off her boots and hopped onto his bed. She continued reading the book, and Hook just sat in his chair with amusement. No protests? He smiled at how comfortable she looked, lying on his bed.  

 Hook was humming and looking over some maps when he heard the book fall to the floor. Emma had fallen asleep and her arm was hanging off the bed. He picked up the book, then pushed her over, he blew out the candles and took off his leather vest and his own boots. He lay next to her, grabbed the bridge of his nose and sighed. She curled into and snuggled into his chest. He wasn’t expecting that. He wrapped an arm around her and pulled the covers up.

 Emma woke up, it was just getting light. Her whole body ached, but she was thankful for the comfortable bed. What she didn’t expect was her comfortable pillow. It was Hook. He had an arm around her and was snoring lightly. This was wrong. Being so close to him wasn’t right, but he had shown a different side to himself that night. They had both been through a traumatic experience and the comfort of each other probably helped them. She didn’t want to be there when he woke up, she slipped out of his embrace and carefully left the bed. The cold air hit her straight away, it would have been nice to stay there, but she was getting too close. She carried her boots and went to the top deck. None of the crew were awake, she got a bucket of water and started on the blood stain left from the day before.

 Hook woke to find Emma was no longer there. Of course she wasn’t. He heard a scratching from above deck, someone was working on the blood stains. He had to admit he wasn’t keen on seeing those. He sighed and threw his legs over his bed. The previous night had been too intimate, but he didn’t seem to mind, she did though. She was a princess after all, she couldn’t exactly fall in love with a pirate. Woah. Where had that come from? He certainly didn’t feel that strongly about her. Her old shirt was resting on his table, he picked up and smiled. She looked good without it, but he had to admit she looked better with his. He tossed it to the side and cleaned up his quarters. He had no Smee anymore, and he highly doubted Emma would work as his dogsbody. Though he looked forward to her being his first mate.

[awwcxxffee-blog]

Just a heads up, trigger warning for child abuse. If you still want to read if but can’t read about that, let me know and I can send you an edited version <3

THE BASICS

What is your full name? Clinton Francis Barton

Where and when were you born? Waverly, Iowa. June 18.

Who are/were your parents? Harold & Edith Barton. 

Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like? An older brother, Charles Barney Barton. He taught Clint how to fight, but their relationship, like everything Barton related, is dysfunctional. He became jealous and bitter, later becoming Trickshot and is now at literal blows with Clint. 

Where do you live now, and with whom? In an apartment building in Brooklyn Clint owns. 

What is your occupation? Avenger and teacher.

Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses? Clint is deaf.

Are you right- or left-handed? Ambidextrous. Primarily right handed.

What do you have in your pockets? A couple quarters, kibble, keys, batteries for hearing aids, band-aids, loyalty card to local cafe.

Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? Tilts his head when talking a lot, subtly trying to get better angles to hear what the other person is saying - especially if they have an accent. Rubs back of his neck when nervous. Drinks straight out of coffee maker with no thought to anyone else that may use it. Is a slob because he doesn’t have the energy to clean. 

GROWING UP

How would you describe your childhood in general? Traumatic. He and his brother were abused by Harold while Edith did nothing to stop it from happening, Clint went temporarily deaf thanks to his father, they became orphans, sent off to foster homes, ran away and joined the circus-- Clint doesn’t talk about it. 

What is your earliest memory? Playing sword fighting with sticks outside his childhood home with Barney, before being called into dinner with their parents. The rest, Clint can’t remember. 

While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family? Clint despised Harold, was angry toward Edith but didn’t hate her the same way. If Harold ever tried to touch her, Clint would attack him and end up worse off for it. Was close with his brother even thought they fought all the time. 

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? A firefighter. 

As a child, what were your favorite activities? Sports, anything that got him out of the house. 

As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display? Restless, impulsive, fiery, compassionate, vulnerable. 

When and with whom was your first kiss? He was thirteen, it was right before he and Barney ran away for good. He was only in this foster family for three months, but there was a girl in his grade he spent the last few weeks trying to impress. He was angry and distant, she was the only one that took the time to get to know him. He lied and said he was being moved to another foster family (instead of telling her he was running away) and he got a kiss. Barney teased him about it. 

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity? He has kids. But Clint’s first time was while he was training under the circus. He was eighteen, so was she. By this point he had muscles and was able to keep up with the circus acrobats. He managed to impress this girl, it was the first time he actually tried flirting properly. A few hours of tension and he took her amongst hay bales nearby the circus grounds. 

PAST INFLUENCES

What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Becoming a father. It’s something he never thought he would be, but here he is. 

Who has had the most influence on you? It’s a toss up between Steve and Nat. He looked up to and respected Steve, but Nat was also able to sway him into working with her when she was a Russian spy, cementing his debut into the hero world as a bad guy. For both these people, he drops everything. 

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Not turning into Harold Barton. 

What is your greatest regret? Failing to be a good dad. 

What is the most evil thing you have ever done? Attempting to murder Tony Stark. 

Do you have a criminal record of any kind? Yes. It was all expunged, but plenty have inclinations of what it contained. 

When was the time you were the most frightened? When he lost his hearing. Both times. 

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why? Screwing things up with his family. All of them. He’s made too many mistakes, he pushed his brother away, he ruined his marriage, he’s screwed up all his other relationships, he wasn’t there for his kids. Nobody wants to live with that on their shoulders, knowing it was their fault. 

What is your best memory? Realising he had people that had his back, despite his character. 

What is your worst memory? Being shot and beaten by Trickshot only to discover it was his brother who patronised him and declared one of them would have to kill the other. 

BELIEFS AND OPINIONS

Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic? Pessimistic. 

What is your greatest fear? His kids growing up to be like him. 

Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? Yes. Clint has killed before. The lines are never black and white. 

Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love? No. People are people, there’s no one person for someone. 

What do you believe makes a successful life? Luck, a strong moral compass, and skill.

How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings? Clint prefers just not to talk about them in general. He will actively avoid talking about them. When he voices his thoughts, however, they’re generally honest. Or sarcastic bullshit. 

Do you have any biases or prejudices? Plenty. 

Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)? The Avengers and his family. He’s almost been killed by Emma Frost, before, and he knew it was likely his actions would cause his death, yet he persisted to try to buy the rest of the team time. 

RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS

Who is the most important person in your life, and why? For so long, it was his brother. He was the only person that actually knew what Clint had gone through. But that ship sailed. He still cares for him, but he has kids now. If anyone touches a hair on their head, god help Clint’s career. 

Who is the person you respect the most, and why? Steve Rogers. He’s Captain America, he’s tactical, he embodies what strong morals should look like. He holds his ground, he gets back up, he’s skilled. They may have had differences once upon a time, with Clint’s lack of planning and impulsive tendencies, but Steve holds Clint’s respect. 

Have you ever been in love? Yes. 

How close are you to your family? Very distant. He doesn’t know what his daughter’s favourite colour is, or what his son’s favourite food is. 

Who would you turn to if you were in desperate need of help? Nat. Always. 

Do you trust anyone to protect you? Who, and why? The Avengers. They’ve had each other’s backs before, but Clint wouldn’t go to them unless more than his own life was at stake. He’s stubborn in thinking he can take care of things on his own. 

If you died or went missing, who would miss you? Lucky.  Someone’s gotta feed the dog. Probably his tenants in his apartment building, too. 

Who is the person you despise the most, and why? The Swordsman from the Circus, for using him and making him shoot his brother, then later turning his brother against him. Trickshot simultaneously gave Clint the ability to do something with his life, and helped ruin his relationship with Barney. 

Do you tend to argue with people, or avoid conflict? Argues. Straight up. He’ll only avoid conflict if he’s tired and needs a nap, aka he’s too depressed to care. 

Do you care what others think of you? Yes and no. He doesn’t care what anyone thinks unless he cares about them. If his team start treating him the way everyone else does, he has a problem with it. 

LIKES AND DISLIKES

What is/are your favorite hobbies and pastimes? Archery, naps, throwing knives at walls, eating, training, watching tv, imposing himself onto the lives of others.

What is your most treasured possession? His bow. It’s unique, it’s special, the draw strength required to pull it is outrageously high for a human. Students do not have the strength required to draw it back unless they have superhuman strength, or have trained since they were a child. He would say Lucky, but Lucky isn’t a possession. 

What is your favorite color? Purple.

What is your favorite food? Pizza. 

What is your idea of good entertainment (consider music, movies, art, etc.)? Tv shows, he hasn’t seen many movies and doesn’t really listen to music, especially now that it means having hearing aids in to do so. 

Do you smoke, drink, or use drugs? If so, why? Do you want to quit? He’s dabbled here and there, but nothing ever stuck. He used to hate drinking, because of his dad. But his fridge always has beer in it, if nothing else. 

How do you spend a typical Saturday night? Laying around on his couch, eating pizza, drinking beer, watching tv with his dog. 

What makes you laugh? It depends.

What, if anything, shocks or offends you? He likes to think he’s pretty immune to shock, after what he’s gone through over the years. But anyone talking shit about him offends him, he worked hard to get where he is, just because he doesn’t have powers doesn’t mean he’s worth less than his fellow Avengers. Also when someone hits someone and it isn’t for sparring or fighting in general. 

How do you deal with stress? Sleep and laying face down on his bed, face buried in Lucky’s fur. Also target practice. 

Are you spontaneous, or do you always need to have a plan? Spontaneous, what are plans?

What are your pet peeves? Masks that cover mouths, on the off-chance he either doesn’t have his hearing aids, or they aren’t working for whatever reason, he has no idea what the person’s saying if he can’t read their lips. At least Wade is courteous and lifts his mask up for him. 

SELF IMAGE

What is your greatest strength as a person? His loyalty.

What is your greatest weakness? Not being able to relate to people easily, he doesn’t know when he’s doing something that’s going to piss someone off unless he does it on purpose. He’s a pro at screwing relationships up.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? The ability to tell how you’ve pissed someone off, it would come in real handy. 

Are you generally introverted or extroverted? Bit of both, maybe more introverted. 

Are you generally organized or messy? Messy. So... so messy...

Name three things you consider yourself to be very good at, and three things you consider yourself to be very bad at. Archery, acrobatics, lip reading. Bad? Technology, cooking, languages.

Do you like yourself? Not particularly. 

What goal do you most want to accomplish in your lifetime? Getting rid of as many bad guys as possible and realistically prepare the kids at Scions for hero-work. Injuries, agony and pain come with the job description. Either teach them how to avoid that, or how to handle that.

If you could choose, how would you want to die? In a blaze of glory, self sacrifice for the greater good - or to protect someone. 

If you knew you were going to die in 24 hours, name three things you would do in the time you had left. Write a will consisting on someone to look after the dog, the apartment building, and his special bow. Write a letter to his kids. Get drunk with Nat or Bobbi, whoever answers first. 

What is the one thing for which you would most like to be remembered after your death? As a hero.

What three words best describe your personality? Loyal, choleric, realistic. 

What three words would others probably use to describe you? Sarcastic, dysfunctional, unlucky.