A/N: This started out as a simple idea for a one-shot about Ariel, but it kinda turned into more than that along the way. Other focus characters include Peter Pan, Hook, Snow, Wendy and Felix. Wish me luck with that. ;)

I wasn't too sure about the rating so I went with M to be on the safe side. It doesn't start out that way, but there will be somewhat graphic violence in later chapters.

It was a rare moment of peace and quiet they found themselves in. Peter Pan and Felix were sitting side by side, sharpening their weapons. They often did this, but with the adults on the island now, they rarely had moments like that anymore. And it seemed even this one was to be short-lived as Pan felt a jolt going through his body and he stopped his activities. Ever in tune to his leader's state of being, Felix asked him what was the matter.

"Someone's leaving Neverland."

Felix immediately wanted to spring into action, suggesting they'd stop whoever it was, but Pan knew it was already too late. The person, or rather, creature who had left Neverland was a mermaid. He had little sway over them since they could travel between realms of their own accord.

"Don't worry Felix," he said when he noticed his friend's worried expression. "We simply need to get word to our friends on the ground."

"Storybrooke?" Felix asked with disdain in his voice. That town has brought them nothing but trouble, not to mention a bunch of adults who ruin everything. It wasn't in his nature to question Peter, but he really didn't share his leader's confidence in the people working for him.

"They can handle this," said Pan, glancing up at the cage. They'd better if they wanted their darling little sister to live.

At the edge of the lake, Ariel had positioned herself on some rocks close to shore, holding the bracelet tightly in her hands, fearing that her only chance to get her wish fulfilled would somehow slip through her fingers. With great care she put it into her satchel along with the shell like item Rumpelstiltskin had given her. She was supposed to give it to a woman named Belle in a town called Storybrooke. It was all quite vague and there were no guarantees that the Evil Queen would actually honor her word this time around, but she knew herself too well, she'd do anything to find her true love again. Even take a big risk such as this.

Ariel didn't expect an honest answer, however, she had to ask whether or not she would indeed receive the location of her prince. All Regina could tell her was to trust her. Without further dialogue she slipped back into the water. No matter how hard she tried, she simply couldn't shake the feeling she was being tricked again.

She felt like a fool for trusting Regina again. The Queen had only deceived her in the past, took away her voice, her chance at happiness together with Eric and she had almost killed her only friend. And yet, in spite of all that, she hadn't been able to resist the offer. The prospect of seeing Eric, talking to him, kissing him, explaining to him that she hadn't abandoned him all those years ago, it was too tempting for words.

Finding this Belle and retrieving the box Rumpelstiltskin had asked for, would lead to her finding Eric. This thought strengthened her resolve more than anything. So she swam, she swam as fast as her fin would carry her.

Elsewhere in Neverland a girl, Wendy Darling, sat in high above the ground in a cage. Cages were for animals or so she had learned once. Not for humans, but there was this boy, who locked her up anyway. Did that mean she was an animal now? Or did the boy only view her as one.

She had wanted to save Bae, but she wasn't a very great heroine. She had been captured within minutes of touching Neverland soil. She had been scared to go back. Her first visit here was less than pleasant and she had been extremely relieved to be allowed back to her home, to her family, of which Baelfire had become a part of. He was like a big brother to not only her, but to John and Michael as well. They needed someone to look up to, she always tried her best to look after her younger siblings, but they were boys and boys were very different from girls. Very different indeed. Peter Pan was a boy, a very cruel boy. The stories she'd heard about Neverland were true, however, not all was told in these tales. Like how the leader of this place was mean and his followers weren't any nicer.

She thought she was being brave, by overcoming her fears of returning to Neverland. Turned out she was only very foolish. Not brave. She never even got the chance to search for Bae, for all she knew he could be dead by now. Wendy had lost track of the number of days she was trapped here, but she knew it was long. Her former life had begun to seem like a dream, like an unreality. It felt as though she had always been on this island. Right from the start.

Wendy was ripped out of her train of thought by a jolt of the cage. She felt it being lowered to the ground. Panic set in. Oh no, no no. It was him. He wanted something from her. He always did. He always promised her she'd go free if she'd just do him this one last favour. If she didn't agree, she would never see her brothers again, nor they her. She wasn't even close to the ground yet and already she cringed and curled up in a ball, as if somehow, that way, he would not see her. He'd overlook her and leave to go about his business. It really never worked, but her instincts were to recoil and stay safely out of his grasp.

The wooden crate hit the ground with a thud, not a smooth landing, but not all that rough either. At least they hadn't simply cut the rope so she and her cage would crash to their demise. The locks rattled as Peter opened them. That sound, it never failed to fill her with the smallest amount of hope. Hope was all she had in this place. Hope that one day he'd keep his word and let her go.

The door swung open and there he was, extending his hand for her to take it. She didn't want to touch him. Like a fool she asked him if she was to be set free. 'Not yet Wendy' were his chosen words. 'Yet', as if there would actually come a day when his answer would be a simple but certain yes. It confused her to no end. She took his hand and chills ran down her spine at the contact. As soon as she stood out of her confinement, she let go of his hand, standing before him apprehensively.

"I need you to do me a favour," he said in a tone that made it very clear he wasn't asking, he was telling her. "We have a guest, a guest that needs some incentive to believe."

Wendy stepped away from him inconspicuously. She didn't like where this was going. "We're going to play a game. Your favorite as I recall," he could hardly keep the condescension out of his voice. "The princess and the prince. I need you to be the princess in distress, so Henry, our newest recruit, can be your knight in shining armour." He was mocking her. She really didn't feel like playing games, ever, but she knew better than to refuse Peter's demands. So she asked for the rules, like she was supposed to.

"What is he rescuing me from?"

"An illness. Magic is dying and so are you," he said that last part rather menacingly. He was threatening her casually and they both knew it. What he was really saying was, if you screw this up, you die. "Oh and Wendy, let's make it convincing yes?" Wendy nodded her head and let Pan lead her by the arm towards the hut in the tree.

Once there he shoved her onto the bed. "Remember what I said..." he warned. Wendy looked at him warily. This wasn't good enough for Pan so he started towards her. "Yes," she said promptly, before he could take his second step. Keeping him as far away from her as possible was all she cared about. He stopped in his tracks and smiled.

"Good girl."