I'm glad to see that Dark Shadows Season 3 is getting off to a good start. Pan appears in this chapter and Dakota's growth spurts begin!
Zila's POV
Smaug had dropped me off close to where the others were before he left me and Dakota to go the cave where he would temporarily make his home until he got off of Neverland. When I reunited with the others they demanded to know who the dragon I was and I told them I would tell them later, since I was tired. So we all set up camp and turned for the night. I don't know how long I was asleep but when I woke I swore I heard children crying.
"What the hell?" I asked to myself as I sat up. I turned to my daughter and smiled at her. She had indeed gone through a growth spurt and she was no longer an infant. She was resembled a three year old child, her auburn hair was fully formed and she lay sound asleep in her makeshift bed. She wore a purple poet shirt with a black vest over it, along with black pants and boots. I gently shook her awake and she opened her eyes.
"What is it Momma?" she asked me still half asleep.
"I'm going to go look for something really quick so stay close to the others my love" I told her. Dakota nodded before I placed a kiss against her forehead. She then lay back down and I watched as she returned to sleep. I then got up and grabbed Masamune before walking away from the camp.
"You hear that too?" I jumped out my skin and turned around to see a teenage boy leaning against a tree. "You're Zila right? I wonder why they can't hear the crying"
"Who the hell are you?" I demanded holding Masamune out in front of me.
"Oh, did I forget to introduce myself, I'm Peter, Peter Pan"
"You son of a bitch!" I snarled before I walked forward and I punched Pan in the stomach before slamming him against a tree, Masamune at his throat. "That was for trying to make Smaug your slave"
Pan smirked evilly at me.
"You've got fire, I like fire"
"Where's Henry?" I hissed.
"Henry's still alive if that what's your worried about" Pan replied back calmly.
"I don't all of the facts why you took him but I promise you we will get him back" I growled before I released my grip on Pan. "Why are you here talking to me?"
"I came here to see who I was up against, Rumplestiltskin's fierce warrior wife, gotta say I'm not disappointed"
"I'm not sure whether I should take that as an insult or a compliment" I said.
"Make sure Emma figures out how to use that map I gave her she needs to quit denying what she really is"
He had a point earlier before we all retired to bed, Emma was visited by Pan but this was before Smaug had dropped me off.
"I'll make sure to pass the message and you keep away from Smaug" I snapped.
"That dragon is useless to me, he seems to only listen to you, but your daughter"
At that I punched him in the jaw hard. Pan laughed darkly as he wiped away the blood that came from his lips.
"You come near my child I will kill you" I threatened before I turned around and stormed away.
Next Morning
Overnight Dakota yet again had another growth spurt she now was six years old in human years. Her clothes seemed to change every time she grew. At the moment all of us watched as Emma tried to figure out how the map worked.
"Having any luck yet?" Dakota asked as she walked over to us. She had finished packing up our camping stuff with her magic. Her hair was tied back in a pony tail.
"Not yet little one" Hook said to her. He then looked to my daughter. "You do really look like your mother"
"Don't start hitting on me pirate" Dakota replied to Hook firmly. "I'm flattered by your compliments but you have affections for someone else"
Immediately Hook turned red and turned away. I smirked at my daughter's feistiness and spirit. Emma sighed as she looked at the map. Regina leaned against a tree while Snow and David sat on rocks in front of her. I stood next to Emma with Dakota next to me.
"My name is Emma Swan" Emma said out loud.
"I'd wager the solution to Pan's riddle is a bit more complicated than that" Hook said simply. I only rolled my eyes while David nodded encouragement at his daughter.
"Don't hold anything back" Snow added in.
"I'm Henry's mother, I used to live in Boston and I was a Bail Bondsperson, I'm now the sheriff of Storybrooke"
"That election was a shame" Regina interrupted. "Are we really doing this?"
"Shut it Regina" I growled at the Evil Queen. "Just be patient"
"Easier said than done Zila, imagine if Dakota was the one in Henry's place" Regina suggested. She had a point there if Dakota was in Henry's position I wouldn't be patient that was for sure.
"Perhaps your leaving some things out" Dakota suggested.
"Good idea" Emma said. "I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming which apparently makes me the product of true love, I was born in the Enchanted Forest and I was sent through a portal in a tree so that I could break the curse"
"And you were able to break the curse because" David said standing up. "You're the"
"Come on you don't need to be embarrassed to say it" Snow added.
"Say what?" Hook inquired.
"The "S" word" Regina answered looking annoyed.
"I'm the Savior" Emma finally blurted out. The map still didn't budge. "I don't get it I said I'm the Savior there's nothing I've denied more than that"
"It's okay Emma, we'll figure it out" I placed a comforting hand onto her shoulder.
"No you won't" Regina said before walking forward and taking the map out of Emma's hands.
"Regina!" Snow and I protested.
"But I can" Regina said ignoring us. "I'm beginning to think there isn't a map on here, that doesn't mean it can't lead us to Henry"
Regina then used her magic and the map began to glow. I recognized it as a locator spell.
"What the hell are you doing?" Emma asked watching Regina.
"A locator spell" Dakota stated simply and we all looked to her. "That parchment belongs to Pan it'll lead us to him"
"Smart girl" Regina said as the map floated away from her and it began to go into the jungle.
"So it appears we will be venturing into the Dark Jungle after all" Hook growled.
"You mean the place you told us to never set foot?" David inquired looking to the pirate.
"That's the one" Hook replied.
"Well, Emma, you said you wanted to be the leader, lead"
Emma nodded and she walked forward with us following behind her. I made Dakota stay close to me; I didn't once want her out of my sight. The walk in the jungle seem to take forever and Hook had to pull Dakota out of the way of some Dreamshade plants. Dreamshade was native plant to Neverland and its poison was lethal, it was what Rumple almost died from. After walking around the jungle for an hour Snow said.
"Maybe your spell was wrong, Regina"
"Yes, blame me again"
"Will you two knock it off" I said to the two women.
"Guys hold on" Emma said nodding up ahead. We all looked forward and saw a young boy standing on a hill and he was dressed as Henry.
"Henry!" Emma shouted as she rushed forward. The moment she yelled out the boy turned around and it was Pan.
"Hi Emma, Zila"
"Where the hell is Henry?" Emma and I demanded together. Pan smirked before he began to walk and he seemed to move as though to taunt us.
"You broke the rules, that's not fair, bad form I expected more from you Captain"
"Aye and you'll get it" Hook growled to Pan.
"Give Henry to us" Emma ordered.
"Sorry, can't, don't you know?" Cheaters never win"
Then the whole gang of Lost Boys emerged from the woods behind Pan. I immediately drew Masamune from its scabbard and Dakota summoned a fireball.
"Watch out for their arrows their laced with Dreamshade" Hook warned us before the Lost Boys began to attack.
Arrows then were released and I ducked using the Masamune to deflect the arrows. Dakota threw her fireball magic at arrows that almost hit her they simply burned to a crisp. She then used more fire magic to shoot at her opponents. One lost boy came to me and his sword stabbed into my flesh.
"You little" I growled. I then pushed him away and another boy came to me. His blade met with mine, I felt power in him. He had to be Pan's second in command.
"I must say it's an honor to meet you Zila, my name is Felix"
"Not pleased to make your acquaintance" I said before I swung Masamune hard enough to send his blade into the air. I then kicked Felix in the gut and I placed Masamune against his clothes not hard enough to make him bleed.
"MOM!" screamed Dakota. Immediately I turned around and I saw a shadow with evil golden eyes trying to pull something out of her. I looked to Pan and I roared out a war cry and rushed forward. But two lost boys grabbed me and pinned me against a tree.
"Now you watch your daughter die Zila since Emma cheated"
However that never happened because a roar filled the air making the ground tremble. We all looked up to see a huge shadow coming upon the ground. The ground shook as Smaug landed and he stormed his way towards everyone.
"You dare attack my rider's youngling!" Smaug roared before he swung his powerful tail and it Pan hard in the gut. Pan went flying and the two lost boys released me and ran for it. Smaug then turned his golden eyes upon the shadow which must have belonged to Pan. His chest glowed orange and the fire drake opened his massive jaws and small stream of fire shot out. The flames made contact with the shadow, and it released Dakota. My daughter hurried over to me and she ran into my arms. I then picked her up and rushed over to Smaug who then just finished using his fire. Pan growled before he was able to get to his feet.
"So it seems that Zila is your rider Smaug" Pan said cooly.
"Smaug?!" Emma, Regina, David, and Snow exclaimed and they looked to my dragon. Smaug simply ignored them he still glared at Pan with hate. Pan then looked to Emma; some of his lost boys still remained with him.
"Remember what I told you Emma, that map will show you where Henry is only when you stop denying who you really are, you'll see, I'll make sure to send Henry your regards"
Then he turned around to leave and his followers went with him.
"Good riddance" Smaug growled and he sniffed out a puff of smoke. He then looked at Dakota.
"Are you alright little one?" he asked Dakota.
Dakota nodded and Smaug nodded before he looked to me. But before we could exchange dialogue the others began to burst out with questions. Like how Smaug was real? How did he get here? How did I know him?
"Hey one question at a time!" I yelled and everyone shut up.
"Zila is that really the dragon from the Hobbit?" Emma asked her eyes not once leaving Smaug's.
"Yes it is, before the curse Smaug survived death and managed to come through a portal, I nursed him back to health and overtime I became his rider"
"Dragons can cross realms on their own free will" Regina said suddenly and Smaug looked to her. "I'm surprised you didn't know that, why can't you just use your magic to get home?"
"Because this is Pan's domain and I cannot leave it without his consent" Smaug hissed at Regina. "You haven't changed one bit Regina"
Regina narrowed her eyes at the fire drake.
"Neither has your attitude" Smaug said back.
"Regina quit pissing him off" I warned the queen. I didn't want my dragon to kill her with his wrath.
"You have our gratitude Smaug for coming when you did" David said to Smaug. Smaug turned to Emma's father.
"Don't be rude" I gave Smaug a warning growl. Smaug looked to me before he looked back to David. The dragon simply grunted before his golden eyes went to Emma.
"I can feel great magic coming from you Savior, however Pan is right if you want to see your hatchling again you must accept whatever Pan was talking about, and I will only say this once the way you dove off of the Jolly Roger to stop Pan's storm was smart, but it was also foolish you could have been killed"
Emma's face turned red and I chuckled.
"Consider that a compliment from Smaug" I told her. "He only likes me, Rumple, and Dakota"
"We can certainly see that" Regina growled. Smaug shot her one last annoyed look before he turned to me.
"I will return if you need aide again" I nodded and Smaug opened up his wings and we all got out of the way so he could take flight. Like before he used his powerful back legs to do this, and shortly he was in the air once more.
Later
Emma, Snow, Dakota, and I sat together with our eyes still eying the map.
"Please talk to us" Snow said to her daughter.
"There's nothing to talk about" Emma replied to her mother. "You heard from Hook Pan is a demon"
"And you are" Snow replied but Emma interrupted her mother.
"A what? A Savior, because if that were true this map would've shown us the way already" Emma snapped before she placed the map down beside her in frustration.
"Maybe who you think you are isn't who you really are" Dakota suggested. We all turned to her.
"What do you mean kid?" Emma inquired.
"Sometimes we think we know ourselves, but we need to push to show us the reality, that boy with the knife you stopped fighting him"
"Yeah why did you do that Emma?" I asked the blonde. Emma shrugged.
"Because when I looked at his face I saw me, that look in his eyes, the despair, I had back when I was in the foster system, just a lost little girl who didn't matter and didn't think she ever would, a little girl who cried herself to sleep at night cause she wanted her parents so bad, and could never understand why they gave her up"
"And then you found us" Snow said.
"It was too late, it's just on this island I don't feel like a hero or a savior, I just feel what I've always been an orphan"
My heart broke for Emma, then suddenly Snow and I noticed the map was acting up.
"Emma look at the map" I said to the Savior and she looked down. The map's magic finally took effect and the whole island looked back at us.
"Well done Savior" Dakota praised Emma. Emma blushed and she thanked all of us for helping her finally accept what she was denying and now because she no longer held back her denial we would now be able to find Henry.
Near Bedtime
Everyone had just finished eating dinner and we were settling in for another night. Dakota was hanging out with Emma while I practiced training with my sword. I was so focused I didn't realize I would have company.
"Smaug seems very protective of you" Pan said and I growled. I opened my eyes to see the little brat standing in front of me.
"What do you want?" I demanded at him.
"Just to give you a warning"
"I will be the one warning you" I hissed. "The next time you try and kill my daughter, I will kill you myself after we find Henry"
"I'm no longer interested in your precious child Zila, I'm here to tell you that soon you will be embraced by darkness"
This made me give him a WTF look.
"I don't know what you mean" I said which was true.
"The darkness I talk about is the power of a Dark One Zila Night"
This made me drop Masamune.
"I don't need the power of a Dark One"
"Now you may not, but in time you will take Athena's place as the female Dark One and once you wield its power you will crave to keep it"
With that Pan disappeared and I was left alone to think about he just told me.
Hmmm.
I wonder what Pan is talking about Zila becoming a Dark One. Only I know the answer to that!
Neal returns in the next chapter because I'm going to skip episode 3 since its not a favorite of mine. Smaug will also make more appearances!
