Elle followed Mulan through the Enchanted Forest listening to Aurora hesitant on telling the people about Lancelot's fate. 

"I don't if I can do this, I'm not a very good liar," the princess said. 

"Oh it's not really a lie, Aurora," Mary Margaret assured the distressed princess, "Lancelot did die an honourable death and Cora did escape. All true. Just leave the particulars to us. There's no reason to cause unnecessary panic"

Mulan stopped them suddenly. 

"What's wrong?" Elle asked her concerned. 

"The tower," Mulan informed the group, "We always have sentries guarding the entrance."

She unsheathed her sword, "Stay close."

The group approached the safe haven and Elle widened her eyes at the sight. Corpses were on the ground. Elle collapsed to her knees horrified by the violence. Aurora helped the trembling girl to her feet and Elle bowed her head in silence.

"This can't be," Mulan said, "Our land- we were protected here, hidden. How did the ogres find us?"

"Ogres didn't do this," Mary Margaret said looking at one of the victims, "Cora did. Their hearts... They were ripped out. This was her magic, twisted and evil. We have to stop her."

"Too late," Mulan said and her voice wavered, "She killed them. She killed them all."

"We have to stop her before she hurts anyone else."

"Hey," Emma said pointing to a pile of debris.

Elle saw a hand moving and ran over towards Emma. 

"There's someone under there."

She moved the debris to the side to reveal a man in black clothes. 

"Please," the man pleaded, "Please help me."

"You're safe now, we won't hurt you," Mary Margaret assured him. 

"Thank you," the man breathed out and looked at them all. His gaze fixated on Elle as he let out a shaky breath.

"Have you seen him before?" Emma asked Mulan. 

"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."

"Why would Cora leave a survivor? It's messy and doesn't make any sense."

"You think he's lying?" Mulan asked. 

"I think Cora's tricked us before. I don't want that to happen again," Emma said walking over to the man. 

"Here you go," she said passing him a drink, "I can't thank you enough for your kindness. Fortune, it seems, has seen fit to show me favour."

He took a drink and Emma decided to interrogate him, "An island full of corpses. You're the only one to escape. How exactly did that happen?"

"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."

"So much for favouring the brave."

"It was all I could do to survive."

"I'm going to let you in on a little secret," Emma said leaning in, "I'm pretty good at knowing when someone is lying to me."

"I'm telling you the truth," the man replied.

Emma cocked her head searching his face. 

"We should leave here in case Cora decides to come back."

"We should start searching for a new portal back to Storybrooke," Mary Margaret suggested, "I only got five minutes with my husband. Not to mention, my grandson."

"You have a grandson?" The man said.

"Long story," Mary Margaret said to him. 

"Well, I know this land well. I can guide you."

Emma had a blade to his throat before he could finish speaking. 

"Emma," Elle said not wishing for there to be bloodshed.

"You're not gonna guide us anywhere until you tell us who you really are."

They dragged the man out of the massacred haven and tied him to a tree. 

"You good with a sword?" Mulan asked Elle who shrugged her shoulders.

"I don't know," Elle replied picking a blade up. 

Her hand wrapped around the handle and she felt a sense of familiarity. She blocked Mulan's own sword and pushed her back effortlessly. 

"You seem like a good swordsman if not a bit rusty," Mulan said proudly, "It could come in handy."

"Why are you being so nice to me?" Elle asked the warrior. 

Mulan gave the girl a small smile, "You remind me a little bit of myself."

"Really, how so?"

"You have a desire for justice and a longing to protect those who you care about," Mulan answered. 

"Like how you care for Aurora?" She asked and Mulan nodded her head. 

"She still has a lot to learn having woken up from a twenty-eight year slumber. Even I sometimes have trouble navigating the land."

"You seem so brave and fearless," Elle said.

"It took a me a while to get there," Mulan replied, "You'll get there too, Elle."

Elle smiled back to him and Mulan passed her a belt to sheath her sword in. The pair headed to the tree where Emma and Mary Margaret tied the man. Mulan inspected the ropes and tied more around him tightening their hold on the man. 

"I already told you. I'm just a blacksmith," The man said. 

"Sure you are," Emma said not believing him. 

She whistled and in the distance an ogre's growling could be heard in the distance. 

"You don't want to talk to us? Maybe you'll talk to the ogres when they rip you limb from limb."

The growling echoed around them and it grew louder. 

"Come on," Emma said and the group started to head out. 

"You-You can't just leave me here like this," The man cried out. 

Elle turned to face the man. The same feeling she had when they first encountered the man came to mind. She felt guilty leaving him here. 

"Elle," Emma said grabbing her hand, "Come on, we have to go."

"What if he is telling the truth?" Aurora asked Emma. 

"He's not," Emma shook her head turning back around and pulling Elle with her. 

"Good for you," the man revealed, "You bested me. I can count the number of people who've done that with one hand."

"That supposed to be funny?" Emma asked walking up to the man, "Who are you?"

"Killian Jones, but most people have taken to call me by my more colourful moniker. Hook."

"Hook?" Elle gasped something about that name rang warning bells in her head. 

"Check my satchel," Hook said. 

"As in Captain Hook?" Emma asked. 

"Ah, so you've heard of me," Hook smirked. 

Mary Margaret pulled out a hook from his satchel and gawked while growling could be heard in the distance.

"You better hurry up, they're getting closer," Emma said. 

"So unless you wanna be dinner, you better start talking."

He chuckled, "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."

"She can't get there," Mary Margaret said, "We destroyed the wardrobe."

"Ah," Hook replied finding a flaw in the plan, "But the enchantment remains. Cora gathered the ashes. She's gonna use them to open up a portal."

The nearby trees rustled and everyone turned their heads in the direction the sound originated from. 

"Now if you'll kindly cut me loose," Hook said.

"No," Mulan said, "We should leave him here to die. To pay for all the lives that he took."

"That was Cora, not me."

"Let's go," Emma said and they started to walk away. 

"Wait! Wait!" Hook shouted, "You need me alive."

"Why?" Elle asked and Hook looked at the teenager before him.

"Because I'm your father," Hook said and Elle widened her eyes. 

Then she fainted. 

*****

"Elle," Mulan said picking the unconscious girl up. 

"Is she alright," Aurora asked Mulan who nodded her head. 

"What did you just say?" Emma said shocked. 

Hook looked at Emma and then to Elle, "You heard me. A man knows his own daughter."

Emma looked at Hook trying to see if he was lying, but he did not give anything away. She let out a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. 

"Even if what you say is true, you worked with Cora. We can't trust you," Emma said. 

"We both want the same thing," Hook said, "To get back to your land." 

"You would say anything to save yourself. Why are we supposed o believe you now?"

"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," Hook proposed staring at Elle. 

"How are you going to help up get home?" Mary Margaret asked skeptical.

"The ashes will open a portal," Hook revealed, "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."

"So Cora won't make it to Storybrooke and we'll be one step closer to getting home."

"Sounds too good to be true," Mary Margaret said shaking her head. 

"There's only one way to find out," Hook said. 

The Ogre's cries grew loud and the trees close to them rustled. 

"You tell me one thing and whatever you say, I better believe it," Emma said, "Why does Captain Hook want to go to Storybrooke?"

"To exact revenge on the man who took my hand and my daughter away from me," Hook told her honestly, "Rumplestiltskin."

Emma was silent as the captain took her in. She was reading his gaze and did not break from her stare. He told her everything she wished to know and it was up to her whether to believe him or not. The blonde cut the ropes loose and the group ran for their lives from the ogres. Mulan carried the unconscious Elle in her arms while Hook followed behind. 

"Let me carry her," Hook offered and Mulan shook his head.

"I still don't trust you and until I do, you are not getting near Elle."

Hook frowned at the woman's words and looked at his unconscious daughter whom he had not seen in over twenty-eight years. She hadn't changed at all. Her unique blonde hair and youthful face reminded the pirate of his daughter when she was younger. She was so grown up from when they last crossed paths, but to him, was still a child. Fear went through his eyes, would she even remember him?

They parted way long ago and when he returned to her, he was angry with what had transpired in his absence. He was led to believe all this time that his only daughter was dead thanks to the Dark One.  

"Up ahead," Hook said sighing pushing the bitter memory of his past away, "We'll find the compass just over the ridge."

They followed Hook's directions and Hook could hear the two females from Storybrooke whispering in the back no doubt questioning his motives. Hook did not let the women deter him from the path and stopped as they reached their destination. Mulan put Elle on the ground gently observing the scenery. 

"The compass is up there?" Emma asked as the adults looked up. 

"Oh yeah," Hook confirmed looking at the beanstalk in the distance. 

"So, how do we... Get to it?" Emma asked. 

"It's not the climb you need to worry about," Hook told her, "It's the giant at the top."

They looked at the beanstalk with grim expressions before Mulan picked up Elle and the group navigated their way towards the beanstalk. The structure seemed to tower more as they got closer and soon stood at the base. They hear a groan and Elle had started to come to. 

"Hey, are you alright?" Mulan asked checking Elle. 

His daughter nodded her head, "Yeah, I think I am. Just a little overwhelmed. I had this dream that we found a survivor and he claimed to be my..."

Her voice faded as her eyes settled in on Hook. She looked away nervously, "It wasn't dream, was it?"

Mulan shook her head, "I'm afraid not."

"It's a little freakier than I remember from the story. Reminds me of death," Emma said staring at the beanstalk.

"Encouraging," Mary Margaret said. 

"Well," Hook said at last breaking away from Elle, "Your compass awaits, shall we?"

He stepped forward ignoring Elle's confused face. he did however hear her whisper to Mulan, "What is he talking about? What compass?"

"It's a long story," Mulan said as she began to fill her in.

☆~~~~~☆~~~~~★~~~~~☆~~~~~☆