Crocodile's Daughter - Magic is Coming

5 - The Doctor

"I don't know if I can do this. I'm not a very good liar," Aurora said. "Oh, it's not really a lie, Aurora. Lancelot did die an honorable death and Cora did escape. All true. Just leave the particulars to us. There's no reason to cause unnecessary panic amongst your people," Snow said. "I'm not so sure it's unnecessary--" Aurora started. "Wait," Mulan said, looking at the camp. "The tower. We always have sentries guarding the entrance. Stay close," She said, pulling out her sword.

We entered to find piles of bodies. "Oh, my God," Emma said as we looked around. "This can't be. Our land--we were protected here, hidden. How did the ogres find us?" Mulan asked. "Ogres didn't do this," I said. "What?" Mulan asked.

 "Cora did. Their hearts--they were ripped out. This was her magic--twisted and evil. We have to stop her," I said. "Too late. She killed them. She killed them all," Mulan said. "No, we have to stop her before she hurts anyone else," Snow said. "Hey," Emma called, pointing at something in the piles. "Hey. Look," Emma said.

"There's someone under there. He's alive," Aurora said, rushing over and pulling the bodies away. "Please. Please help me," He said. "It's okay. It's okay," Snow said. "You're safe now. We won't hurt you," Snow assured him. "Thank you. Thank you," He said.

 "Have you seen him before?" Emma asked. "Yes, I've seen him around. He's a blacksmith. Came to our camp a couple months ago. Said he lost his hand in an ogre attack," Mulan said. "Why would Cora leave a survivor? It's messy. Doesn't make sense," Emma said. "You think he's lying?" She asked. "I think Cora's tricked us before. I don't want that to happen again. Here you go," Emma said, giving the man a cup.

I finished up cleaning on the other side of the camp and wandered over. "I can't thank you enough for your kindness. Fortune, it seems, has seen fit to show me favor," He said. "An island full of corpses. You're the only one to escape. How exactly did that happen?" Emma asked. "She attacked at night, slaughtered everyone in one fell swoop. When she started ripping out people's hearts, I hid under the bodies of those who had already been killed. Pretended to be dead myself. Mercifully, the ruse worked," He said. "So much for fortune favoring the brave," I muttered.

"It was all I could do to survive," He said. "I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. I'm pretty good at knowing when someone is lying to me," Emma said. "I'm telling you the truth," He said. "We should leave here in case Cora decides to come back," Mulan said. "We should start searching for a new portal back to Storybrooke. I only got about 5 minutes with my husband. Not to mention, my grandson," Snow said.

"You have a grandson?" The man asked. "Long story," Snow shrugged. "Well, I know this land well. I can guide you," He said, and Emma pulled out a knife. "You're not gonna guide us anywhere until you tell us who you really are," She said, pressing the knife to his throat. We tied him to a tree.

"I already told you. I'm just a blacksmith," He said. "Sure you are. You don't want to talk to us? Maybe you'll talk to the ogres while they rip you limb from limb," Emma said, whistling. I froze up, shaking. "Come on," Emma said, grabbing her gear. "What? You--you can't just leave me here like this!" He yelled.

 "What if he's telling the truth?" Aurora asked. "He's not," Emma said. "Good for you! You bested me. I can count the amount of people who've done that on one hand," He said. "That supposed to be funny? Who are you?" I asked, walking up. "Killian Jones, but most people have taken to call me by my more colorful monkier--" He said.

 "Hook!" I said. "Check my satchel," He said, and I started digging through it. I pulled out the hook I had seen a million times. "As in Captian Hook?" Emma asked. "Ah, so you've heard of me. Surprised Reagen didn't recognize me earlier," He said, nodding towards me.

"You know him?" Emma asked. "Yep. Didn't recognize him without the leather coat and scathing look on his face, though," I said. "You better hurry up. They're getting closer. So unless you want to be dinner, you better start talking," Emma said. "Cora wanted me to gain your trust so I could learn everything there is to know about your Storybrooke. She didn't want any surprises when she finally got over there," Hook said. "She can't get there. We destroyed the wardrobe," Snow said.

"Ah, but the enchantment remains. Cora gathered the ashes. She's gonna use them to open up a portal. Now if you'll kindly cut me loose," He said. "No. We should leave him here to die to pay for all the lives that he took," Mulan said. "That was Cora, not me," He said. "Let's go," Emma said, starting to walk away. "Wait. Wait! You need me alive," He said.

"Why?" Emma asked. "Because we both want the same thing--to get back to your land," He said. "You would say anything to save yourself. Why are we supposed to believe you now?" Emma asked. "I arranged for transport with Cora, but seeing how resourceful you are,  I'll offer you the same deal--I'll help you if you promise to take me along," He said. "How are you going to help us get home?" Snow asked.

"The ashes will open a portal, but to find your land, she needs more. There's an enchanted compass. Cora seeks it. I'll help you obtain it before she does," He said. "So Cora won't make it to Storybrooke and we'll be one step closer to getting home," Emma said. "Sounds too good to be true," Snow said, and I sighed. "There's only one way to find out," He said. "You tell me one thing--and whatever you say, I better believe it--why does Captain Hook want to go to Storybrooke?" Emma asked.

"To exact my revenge on the man who took my hand--Rumplestiltskin," He said. "You mean Reagen's father?" Emma asked. "Yes," He said, and I sighed. "All right," I said. I cut the ropes, tied them to my walking stick, and we set off.

"Up ahead. We'll find the compass just over the ridge," He said. "Do you get the feeling he's leading us exactly where Cora wants us, that this whole thing's a trap?" Snow asked Emma. "It's definitely a trap. As long as we know they're trying to play us, we can--" Emma said. "Stay one step ahead of them," Snow finished. "Exactly. Let me guess. The compass is up there?" Emma asked, joining at the ridge where we were staring at a beanstalk.

"Oh, yeah," Hook said. "So how do we...get to it?" Emma asked. "You climb it, idiot," I said. "It's not the climb you need to worry about. It's the giant at the top," Hook said. We set off and arrived at the beanstalk at high noon.