No More Pirates (Book Two)

Chapter 15- Found

Storybrooke...

"Why didn't I think to bring a torch?" Elizabeth groans, squinting through the darkness.

Emma pulls her iPhone out of her back pocket and presses the flashlight button. "Welcome to the 21st century."

"What is--" Elizabeth stammers. "You know what? Nevermind. I don't want to know."

Suddenly, there's a scream in the distance. "EMMA!!"

"Killian!!" Emma screams back. "Elizabeth, where did that come from!?"

She hears it again. The two women exchange a glance before sprinting in the direction of the scream.

"HELP!!" He screams again. Only now, the sound is coming from where they just came from.

"There!" Emma takes off running again with Elizabeth following closely behind.

Killian screams again, and the sound is coming from a completely different direction.

Elizabeth grabs Emma, preventing her from running. "Emma, wait!"

"It's Killian! He needs help!" Emma stuggles against her grip desperately.

"No! Emma, it's one of Blackbeard's tricks! He's trying to lure us away!"

"No!! It's him!!" She starts to cry.

"Emma, listen to me! I've dealt with him before! I know his tricks!"

Emma's knees give out, and she sinks to the ground. Elizabeth kneels with her. "We can find him. The two of us need to channel our magic, and we can get past Blackbeard's spell."

Emma sniffs, wiping her tears. She puts on a firm expression and stands with Elizabeth. "Okay," she whispers. Behind her, Killian screams once more, but she resists.

"Take my hands," Elizabeth instructs. She complies. "Now close your eyes. Think about nothing but Killian. Visualize him. Turn your feelings into power."

Emma nods, eyes already closed.

Between Emma's light magic and Elizabeth's dark magic, a bright blue glow forms. "It's working," Elizabeth whispers.

The glowing grows stronger and stronger until finally, a blast of white light surrounds them.

They hold onto each other tightly still. "What the hell was that?" Emma asks, eyes still closed.

"That was true love..." Elizabeth mutters. "The most powerful thing in the word."

"Wait," Emma lets go and opens her eyes. "I hear him. I hear him breathing."

"Aye. As do I."

"It's coming from over there!" They take off running once more, sure of their course now.

The Enchanted Forest; 5 Years Earlier...

"You want to teach me magic?"

"That is my intention," Cora grins slyly.

"And why me? I'm but a simple pirate."

"Well I am in need of someone with your specific set of skills."

"What am I needed for? What will you have me do?" Elizabeth raises her eyebrows skeptically.

"That, my dear, you will come to learn." Cora stretches a wrinkled hand out to touch Elizabeth's shoulder. She shrugs it away.

"Now," Cora continues. "I hear tell that you are in possesion of a ship. One that can cross realms. Am I correct?"

"That, my dear," she mocks Cora's tone. "You will come to learn in time. Now, why don't we get started?"

Storybrooke...

"Emma, stop." The pirate and the princess grind to a hault.

"There," Elizabeth whispers.

They listen closely as they draw their weapons.

50 yards ahead, lit by the rising sun, Blackbeard wakes Killian.

"Wake up!!" He growls.

Killian groans as he comes to, beginning to struggle against his magical bonds. He sits on the ground, legs extended, against a large tree.

"What do you want," Killian snaps, voice cracking and hoarse.

"Stop!!" Emma sprints at them, voice booming. Elizabeth follows closely behind her.

Emma suddenly softens as she takes in Killian's face. He's pale and tired looking with deep circles under his eyes. "Killian," she whispers.

"Swan," Killian smiles, so wide that his dry lips crack.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth locks eyes with Blackbeard. He smiles wickedly with a deep, thundering growl.

"Hello, beautiful. Long time,"