Chapter #2: Neverland and James
" LAND HO!" Mr. Smee yelled as we reached the dock of Neverland. Rapunzel sighed and stood up from where she had been knocked over and looked over the land. It was day-time and the sand was clean and looked white. A deep forest covered most of the land, and Naveen could see many eyes peeking at the ship from the forest. She shuttered slightly as she walked out onto the deck.
Everyone else had gone somewhere deep into the forest, and Naveen was left alone. She gripped her mother's old necklace, which happened to be an old dabloon, and Rapunzel began to walk into the forest. Soon enough, though, she had gotten lost somewhere in the depths of the forest.
" No," Naveen groaned, plopping down on the ground. She was sitting on a cliff over a majestic waterfall. Curiousity got the better of her, and she got on her hands and knees and looked down at it. Naveen didn't realize a boy wandering around in the woods behind her, trying to get a better look.
Suddenly, Naveen's hand slippfed from the edge of the hill, and she nearly fell down. Expecting to land in the water, Naveen closed her eyes and waited to crash into the water. Instead of that actually happening, Naveen felt someone quickly wrap their arms around her and pull her up. She reopened her eyes to see who saved her. The person let go of her waist and stepped back.
The boy was wearing old clothes, the kind from the real world. The boy looked around seventeen. He had brown eyes that were the color of tree bark on an oak tree, with shaggy brown hair that was straight. His face was more sharp than soft, but either way, Naveen thought he was beautiful. He grabbed her arm quickly and said," What are you doing up here? Haven't you ever heard of Peter Pan?"
" Yes...I-I ended up here because I got lost...I'm sorry..." Naveen quietly replied. He let go of her arm.
" Of course you were...no one would be brave enough to come all the way up here," he said," But you really should've been careful on the hill like that." Naveen nodded, understanding that he was right.
" I'm Thomas," the boy said, letting go of Naveen's arm and looking her over.
" I'm Naveen. Everyone calls me Rapunzel, though," Naveen replied. Thomas nodded and couldn't help but smile at her. It soon vanished as he realized that Naveen needed to leave.
" Naveen-er, Rapunzel, you need to leave. Right now. You know what will happen if Peter learns that you were here. He'll rip away your shadow," James quickly said. Rapunzel nodded, but then said," How do I get back? I'm still lost, you know."
James scratched the back of his head. " Well, I guess I can help you out...but you can't tell anyone that I helped you. It's simply forbidden." Rapunzel nodded and James led her down the hill as he said," We can't ever see each other again. Peter will get angry with me and you. And please, don't come out at night."
But it wasn't the last time they would see each other. Rapunzel went back the next day. And the day after that. This continued for 2 weeks, until one night. Rapunzel could hear the innocent cries of the lost boys. Uncomfortable, Rapunzel slipped on her white dress (in which she slept) and went out to the decks of the ship from her own room (her father knew how girls were and gave her her own cabin). Rapunzel's hair was freely blowing in the wind, and she could still hear the cries.
She walked down the port and then exited the ship and went out onto the dock. She saw a figure near her; a shadowy figure. Curious, she walked closer to the shadow, unaware of anyone watching her. Just when she reached out to touch the shadow, a person jumped out from the trees of the thick forest and tackled her to the ground as the shadow flew away.
Rapunzel looked up to see who had tackled her. It was James.
" Rapunzel! What did I tell you about coming out at night?!" James whisper-yelled.
" I'm sorry. I couldn't sleep with all the cries," Rapunzel whispered back. He looked at her carefully, then got up from the ground. He held out a hand to help her, which she took thankfully.
" So you can't sleep then?" he asked.
" No. Not with all the cries and such," Rapunzel responded. James smiled, coming up with a plan.
" Come on. I want to show you something. It can help you sleep easier," James said, holding out his hand for Rapunzel to take. She took it gently and let him guide her into the forest. a few minutes of walking later, James had arrived at the grand willow tree in which he had found a year ago. Rapunzel looked at him quizzically.
" Come on," James whispered," But remain quiet." Rapunzel nodded and walked slowly beside James. The closer she got to the tree, the more she could hear a sweet tune playing. It was harmonious, a beautiful tune.
Once at the tree, James hunkered down, pulling Rapunzel with him. James pointed into the hollow trunk, and inside, were fairies. They were dancing and laughing, obviously enjoying themselves. Rapunzel stared directly at the prince and princess fairies. The princess wore a silk dress that was like a pink peony flower. The prince wore a golden outfit. He was spinning the princess around gracefully, causing her to daze slightly.
Rapunzel smiled and watched the couple with desire. James noticed this and decided to try something. He stood up and held out his hand to Rapunzel, as if asking to dance. She accepted and stood up with him. James placed his hands on her hips, her hands landing around his neck. They began to sway to the soft music.
All of a sudden, fairies flew out from the trunk and flew around them, causing dust to land on their shoulders and hair. The fairies flew faster until finally, they were dancing through the air in front of the moonlight.
Rapunzel was smiling and staring straight at James, completely unaware of her father watching them from behind a few bushes. Killian looked at James with hatred.
It was only a matter of time before Rapunzel's fate would conceal her forever, and no one knew it. No one.