“The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of place, time, or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break.”
And with our finale gift given ends my era of running Captain Swan Secret Santa.
I took over this event after only participating in it twice myself and having never run an event before. I had no idea of all the stress and challenges that came with it. But it was an experience I will soon not forget.
If anyone is willing to take over please let me know! I don't wish to see this event go but I know I cannot be responsible for it anymore.
Thank you to all the participants Santas and helper a like without you this event wouldn't happen.
This event will again not be taking place this year.
I am focusing on my, and possibly the, last year of Captain Swan Secret Santa. Which does currently have sign ups live right now. You can find that post HERE
But I want to make it clear though this event has only happened one year this event is not abandoned. The one year it did happen it was very fun and I enjoyed running it. I do hope that this event can run next year maybe we can even do a Christmas in July gift exchange so we don't have to wait for the winter season.
Summary: (s3A, "Good Form" canon divergence) Instead of David getting hit with the poisoned arrow, it's Hook. Now it's up to David to get Hook to Dead Man's Peak before Dreamshade takes Hook's life, and maybe learn, perhaps too late, that Hook is far more than just a pirate. h/c Captain Charming
AO3 (additional ending link) | AO3 (Dreamshade story link from beginning)
Additional Ending: The Cure to Dreamshade (is You) (under the cut!)
a/n: Lol so I had thought this story was over, but I was asked by many people to continue this story so that Hook got safely back to Storybrooke. So, I spent the past 3 hours writing this, which is way less time than I usually spend agonizing over a chapter, so if it's just ehh, that's why lol. But either way, here's your closure xD
The idea for how Hook is saved came from @undercaffinatednightmare and @jonesfandomfanatic, I hope I did it justice!
Okay, NOW here is the last chapter and epilogue of Dreamshade lmao.
~cosette141
They'd saved Henry.
The bloody heroes had defeated Pan, and saved Henry.
It was something Hook still couldn't quite fathom; he had yet to see any of them fail, and had grown to wonder if they ever could.
However, as the lot of them had returned to the ship, all smiles and relief, reunited with the lad, Hook had paused at the foot of the gangplank, unable to convince himself to board.
Because it seemed that he may have just found the one thing these heroes will fail to do.
And that, was to save him.
Ever since the Neverland water had cured him, since his and David's journey to Dead Man's Peak, things had been drastically different among them.
Firstly, and most notably, between himself and David.
Not only had David stopped fighting him on which paths to take and which areas to avoid, David had quite literally shifted leadership directly and solely to Hook.
And though Hook was used to being a leader, being the Captain of his crew, he was respected out of his men's fear.
It's been a very, very long time since he'd led any people by their choice of him.
The last time he'd felt that way, was when Liam was still alive, and for a short time after his death.
He and David were now past having an understanding with each other; they did feel like mates.
It had taken a week after Dead Man's Peak to save Henry, and more than one of those nights, David and Hook had shared a shift watching over the others, and slowly, mostly to pass the time, had started to talk.
The fact that David had willingly wanted to know more about him, not just to keep him awake for fear of him dying like he had that night, was still something that touched and stunned Hook all the same.
The change hadn't stopped with David, however.
The change between himself and Emma was something else entirely.
The bitter edge to Emma had very much eroded.
But Hook knew it wasn't her demeanor that had softened; it was the walls tumbling down one by one.
Ever since their kiss all those nights ago, she'd always seemed to gravitate closer to him. So far, that kiss had been a one-time thing, but mostly due to her fear for her boy taking precedence. And Hook had quite the feeling that, if they were to find a way to save him, they'd certainly have a second time. He and Emma had fought together with every other danger they'd faced, just like they had fought the giant on the Beanstalk, and just like how her parents fought. In sync, in a way of protecting the other.
The nights that Hook's and David's shifts didn't align, his and Emma's did.
And, slowly, she and he began to talk.
Gods, he never once would have believed that he could be more excited about the fact that a woman was talking and opening up to him more than he would be to wake up next to her.
However, that was an excitement all on its own, but now, standing here on the edge of his worst nightmare and his brightest dream…
He knew, with a coldness in his chest, that it would never happen.
Swallowing hard, something terribly painful in Hook's chest as he listened to the joy on deck, of Emma, her boy, and the Lost Boys they were also bringing back to Storybrooke.
Hook shut his eyes, remembering saving Henry.
Hook never would have thought that he'd be relieved to see the Crocodile.
Pan had been moments from taking Henry's heart, Hook and Emma immobilized by the demon's magic, when the Crocodile had reappeared for the first time since he'd left their group when they'd arrived in Neverland.
With some long-winded speech about destroying Pan to save Baelfire's son, as his way of making up for past mistakes, Rumplestiltskin had used one of Pan's own weapons against him:
Dreamshade.
Right through his chest.
Pan had fallen, releasing himself and Emma. Emma had run to her boy, the Crocodile to replace the boy's heart, and Hook found himself watching Pan seconds from death.
"At least I know," gasped Pan, "that you aren't far behind."
Hook's eyes narrowed.
"I know you were poisoned, too," drawled Pan through a tight grimace. "You know as well as I do.. th-that you won't leave here alive." Something dark and inhuman in his eyes, he hissed with his last breath, "There is no cure to Dreamshade. Not for you."
Pan's body shuddered, then disintegrated into black ash that wisped into nothing in the air.
"Hook…"
Hook blinked, finding David on the gangplank, worried eyes on him.
Like he was realizing exactly what Hook had realized.
He wasn't going to live.
Hook smiled, but there was no warmth, no joy. "You saved your grandson. We succeeded."
David didn't smile. "No, we haven't succeeded. Not yet."
"Mate," breathed Hook, that pain in his chest burning so similarly to Dreamshade. "Thank you for… trying, but…" His voice trailed off, his chest hurting worse.
David's expression was tortured.
Footsteps jogged down the gangplank suddenly, revealing Emma. "What are you guys waiting for?" she asked, that smile still on her face. Relief. Happiness. So free.
It only made Hook's chest hurt worse.
She stopped beside him, so close to him, and it made Hook's eyes burn because why did he have to win her heart right before Dreamshade took his?
Emma seemed to sense the tension. Looking between them, her smile faltering, she said, "What?"
David looked at Hook, and Hook shut his eyes.
He hadn't wanted to tell her.
He hadn't bloody wanted to tell her.
Their silence stretched too long, and Emma crossed her arms. "Okay, you two have been… I don't know. There's something you're not telling me and I want to know what it is."
Hook's tortured gaze found Emma's hard one. As much as he didn't want her to know, he didn't want to lie to her.
He couldn't lie to her.
So, he took a heavy breath, and forced the words out to say, "I'm… I was… poisoned." He swallowed hard as Emma's eyes widened. "With… Dreamshade," he whispered.
"Wh—what? When?" she exclaimed, suddenly grabbing at his jacket, as if trying to find the injury, and Hook only felt more pain at how easily she has come to touch him.
Gently, he took her hand from his vest into his own to stop her. "I'm in no immediate danger," he said haltingly.
Emma's eyes snapped to his.
He was stunned to find the amount of panic in them.
"What are you talking about, Hook?" she demanded breathlessly.
Sighing wearily, Hook relented, "Our second night here, I… I was nicked by a Lost Boy's arrow." Emma's eyes widened even more. "I was… fading," he said, unevenly.
Emma's mind seemed to click the pieces together in seconds. "Those… those days you were drunk?"
"Not drunk, love," he whispered hollowly, eyes burning.
"But…" Her eyes found his again. He felt her free hand grab his jacket unconsciously. "But you look fine," she whispered.
"Aye…" Looking at David, who's expression was even more tortured, he looked back at Emma. "Your father… learned of my situation."
"Hook said there was this water that could save him," said David, "so… so that's where we went that night."
Emma's eyes slowly dragged from her father to Hook. Her hand released Hook's jacket in a way that felt like a physical blow. "You lied to me?"
Hook's eyes burned.
"Emma—" began David.
Hook couldn't speak.
"How could you have kept that to yourself?" exclaimed Emma. "You're telling me you were dying and you weren't even going to tell us?"
She said us, but Hook heard me.
"Emma, love, I—" began Hook, eyes burning hotter.
"He did it for you, Emma!"
Emma and Hook both looked at David.
"What?" breathed Emma.
"He did it for you," said David, with a little panicked heat in his voice. "Look, Hook didn't want you to know, but—"
"Mate—" began Hook warningly, but David didn't stop.
"—the arrow that hit Hook was the one that almost hit you." finished David.
Emma froze.
Slowly, she looked at Hook.
"What?" she asked in a tiny voice.
Feeling unbearable emotional pain, Hook said reluctantly, "I wasn't fast enough."
Emma stumbled back a step. "Wait," she breathed. "So," she said hollowly, "you almost died… saving me?"
When Hook couldn't speak, David said, "Yes."
Emma looked at Hook, like the gesture was something she couldn't understand.
It reminded him of how he'd felt when David had saved him.
Seeming to shake herself out of the shock, Emma said, "B-But you're healed now." It was phrased like a very shaky fact.
Which was exactly what it was.
Taking a heavy breath, Hook said, "Not… entirely. The water David used to heal me only works in Neverland."
His unsaid words were painfully loud.
Emma's brows kneaded together in a way that looked lost. "So… if you leave…"
His voice no more than a whisper, Hook confirmed, "I'll die."
The three of them stood in the quietest silence Hook has ever heard.
"What's the hold up?"
Regina's annoyed voice cut through that silence, making the three of them flinch.
But soon, Regina and Snow were approaching.
"What are you guys doing?" asked Snow.
When Emma and Hook were quiet, David said, "Long story short, Hook was poisoned with Dreamshade and healed with water that only heals him in Neverland."
At Regina's surprise and Snow's gasp, David looked at Hook. Determination in his eyes, he said, "I promised we would save you, Hook, and that's what we're going to do." As if just thinking it— "That's it! Where's Gold?"
"Listening to the pirate's sob story."
Everyone snapped around to see the Crocodile leaning boredly against the side of the ship on deck.
David strode up to him, protective anger narrowing his eyes. "There's got to be something we can do to save him."
"As enticing as it would be to save the pirate's pathetic life," drawled the Crocodile, "ever since he poisoned me with Dreamshade, I've done my share of research on the subject."
"And?" demanded David.
"And," he said, eyes narrowing, "there might be a way to save him."
"What is it?" breathed Emma, in a voice Hook had only heard her use when they'd been looking for Henry.
Rolling his eyes, the Crocodile said, "There's a… potion I could concoct that would cure him. But it is back in my shop."
David's head snapped up. "What if we took some of that healing water with us? It could keep him alive until you make the potion?"
"I believe so," mused the Crocodile. "You're lucky, pirate, that I am in a giving mood."
Hook couldn't manage to glare.
There was a chance.
There was a chance.
"Good," said David, a relieved smile at his lips. Smiling at Hook, he said, "Got time for one more trip to Dead Guy Mountain?"
Hook smiled.
-.-.-.
The journey to and from Dead Man's Peak—including Emma this time—took far less time than it had a week ago.
But soon, they were all aboard the Jolly Roger, using Tink's pixie dust to fly back home.
The Neverland Water was now in Hook's flask, close enough to him he could feel its power radiating from it.
He was standing beside Emma and David at the helm as they crossed realms, Storybrooke's shore in the distance.
And it felt so, eerily similar, to when he'd once stood here with Liam.
When he had lost Liam.
Hook felt Emma's fingers in his, which hadn't left the entire night.
He felt David's concerned gaze on him.
Hook released Emma's hand only to take the wheel as the ship slowly descended from the sky to the water.
Everyone on deck stumbled with the landing, and Hook felt Emma's hand grab his forearm.
And Hook felt a paralyzing fear, his head snapping up.
They weren't in Neverland anymore.
Flashes of Liam dying rose sharply.
"Hook?"
Emma and David had spoken his name at once.
Hook swallowed as the ship settled.
Just as his nerves did.
He gave them a shaky smile. "I'm all right."
"You sure?" asked Emma.
"Aye," he said, smiling more at her concern. "Dreamshade took my brother the moment we landed in foreign waters." He breathed in, shutting his eyes with relief, feeling the water working to protect him. "I'm all right," he repeated, looking at her.
David clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Good. Let's make sure you stay that way."
-.-.-.-.
Once they'd docked and everyone dispersed into the cheering Storybrooke crowd, Emma had left Henry with Regina and she and David had practically dragged Hook to the Crocodile's shop, for the demon had disappeared quickly after returning home.
Kicking open the door, David called, "Gold! Is it ready?"
The Crocodile was standing behind the counter of his shop, hands clasped, smiling at them.
David's brows kneaded. "Where's the potion? Aren't you making it?"
The Crocodile smiled more. But it was sinister. "There is no potion to cure Dreamshade."
The three of them froze.
"But you said—" began David.
"I lied." said the Crocodile with another grin.
Hook felt every hope disappear in an instant.
"Gold—" said Emma in a shaky voice that she intended to be strong.
"Why the hell would you lie?" demanded David.
"The question," he said, eyes narrowing, "is more, why would I save him?" The evil in his smile growing, he said, "He took my wife and hurt my Belle. It was simply a serendipitous situation. I can kill him without lifting a finger." He grinned again. "But I can speed it up."
He flicked his wrist, and suddenly—
—Hook's flask appeared in the Crocodile's hand.
The effect was instant.
Hook gasped at the pain in his side, the shock of it buckling his legs.
"Hook!"
He felt Emma catch him before he hit the ground, slowly helping him to the ground.
"Hook," whispered Emma, a tear slipping down her cheek. "Killian," she whispered.
Knees hit the ground on Hook's other side—David. "Hook!"
But Hook's panic suddenly paused.
Because although his side hurt, it didn't burn.
With shaking fingers, he yanked up his shirt.
And there, was the slice from the arrow.
However…
It wasn't black.
"It's not there," breathed David. "The Dreamshade. It's gone!"
"Impossible," whispered Hook, his heart still slamming in his chest.
But there was nothing more than a cut.
No burn.
No Dreamshade.
"No!"
And suddenly the Crocodile was glaring at them, furious.
"There should be no way for you to have survived that," he growled. "The only cure to Dreamshade is trading lives with the candle or True Love! None of which you have!"
The Crocodile stalked toward him, hand lifted as if in attack, but Emma stood quickly, with fury of her own, and her hands suddenly glowed white, and a blast shot from her fingers, crashing the Crocodile into the counter, leaving him unmoving in the broken glass and debris.
"That's my girl," said David with a grin.
Emma stared at her hands, like she hadn't meant to do that.
But also, wasn't too upset about it.
Hook sat up, and Emma knelt next to him. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," he said. "Yet I haven't the faintest idea why."
"Gold…" said David. "What he just said…" He looked between Hook and Emma.
And again.
And smiled.
And suddenly, Hook understood.
"The only thing able to cure Dreamshade is trading lives with the candle or True Love!"
Hook's eyes snapped to Emma's.
"You kissed me," he breathed.
"What?" she said, brows shooting up.
"Emma, after I was healed by the water that night… you kissed me."
That tingle at his lips when she'd kissed him.
That feeling that had felt more euphoric than the water.
It wasn't just chemistry.
It was True Love's Kiss.
"Wait," said Emma suddenly. "You… you mean..?"
"Aye," he said with a grin.
And not a moment later, she was kissing him again.
His eyes shut, that euphoria sent through him once again.
But they pulled away quickly, for David was right beside them, and Hook saw Emma smile.
The three of them stood, giving one more look to the unconscious Crocodile before walking outside.
Emma pulled him into her arms. "Don't scare me like that," she whispered.
David clapped a hand on Hook's shoulder, giving him a little squeeze. "Glad you're okay.
"Mate," said Hook. "David." He smiled. "Thank you. For… everything."
Emma smiled at them. "I still can't believe you saved Hook," she said to her father. "You kinda seemed like the last person to do that when we got to Neverland."
David looked at Hook, letting out a breath, a hint of a smile at his lips. "He saved you. The least I could do was save him."
But he and Hook both knew, that his reasons for saving Hook had only piled up the longer their journey had gone.
"Well, you've developed quite the bromance," joked Emma, tightening her arms around Hook with a grin.
"Bromance?" echoed Hook confusedly.
"I'll explain it to you later," said David with a grin. "I'll go tell Snow everything's all good. Meet us at Granny's later, we'll celebrate many things," he said with another smile.
Emma and he smiled as he left, and she pressed her forehead to Hook's. "You saved me," she whispered.
But he smiled, his hand holding her face gently, like he knew he would for the rest of his days, and he whispered, "And you saved me."
His True Love.
And from the look in her eyes now, she was just as happy about that news as he was.
A trip back to Neverland, that had seemed like a nightmare, had now given him a brother, some sort of a "bromance", and Emma.
It had given him something even more than that.
Something he thought he'd never have again.
Something that made his eyes burn with a good kind of hurt.
So since it’s been awhile since the last time I posted anything I thought that I would share my tag list and ask that if you have either changed your username, recognize anyone on this list that’s not in the fandom anymore or simply if you do not wish to be tagged anymore please let me know. Thank you!
