A/N: Hey team! Thanks for the reviews, they're much appreciated! Here's the next chapter - covering a long space of time in one very long chapter. =]

Enjoy! xx

Finding Neverland

"So Indigo," Pan said, as he pulled his pants on, "I'm going to ask you a question."

"Can we talk fully clothed?" she returned as she searched for her shirt. She found it being thrown at her from Pan's side of the room. "Thank you," she grumbled. A few moments later she turned around to find him waiting expectantly for her.

"Clothed enough?" he asked, continuing without waiting for an answer. "Now, I've come up with a simple enough solution to our problems. I will tell you my plan, if you will tell me yours."

That plan was flawed and Indigo knew that he knew that. She tried to figure out what he could gain out of this but came up short. The only bonus was, both of them could lie. But somehow, she knew if she didn't, she might gain his trust faster. So a half truth was better than no truth. She already knew his stupid plan anyway.

"I came to free the lost boys," she said quickly, folding her arms defiantly. Sure, that was part of the plan. But she was just hell bent on making Peter Pan human again and if the lost boys wanted to go free, that was a bonus.

Pan nodded, "Interesting. Well, I'm waiting on the heart of the truest believer to bring magic back to the world. And you're going to help me do that."

"What kind of lame-arse plan is that," Indigo said, finally voicing what she thought of his plan. "You do know that the heart of the truest believer is in a land without magic. I'm not much help there."

Pan eyed her. He knew that the boy was there, but how did she? She had magic…surely she hadn't come from there? But he was tired of her talking, and crossed the space between them quickly, pressing his lips to hers in a crushing kiss. It was one of those 'quit-asking-questions-you-belong-to-me' type kisses that she had come to know quite well over the past few days.

"I don't know what game you're playing Pan," Indigo said weakly as he left. "But I need to know the rules."

Slipping out of the room down the ladder he said, "I'll let you know as soon as it's your turn."

Neverland - Seven hundred years ago…

"How long have we been here Felix?"

"I'd say about two years but I'm not too sure that time passes the same way here as it does back home."

"We haven't done anything here yet," Peter started, looking up at the stars beneath which they slept. "We came here to build a kingdom in a land where we never age. Instead we've learnt which berries are poisonous and which ones are safe."

"I've started figuring out how to start fires," Felix began as he rubbed his hands together and sparks lit up between them. In a moment a fire roared upon the ground.

"Yes, very well done," Peter sighed, rolling over. "There has to be a way to get those blasted tribesmen off the island. All they do is sing and dance and kill all the good food."

"Did it ever occur to you that that's all we're going to do?"

"Don't be stupid Felix," Peter responded, flipping over restlessly once more. "We're going to live as kings!"

"Sure Pan," Felix scoffed. "And I'm going to grow up to be a fairy princess."

"Just you wait Felix."

Present Day

Felix was standing on one side of the camp throwing his dagger repetitively at the target on the other side of the camp. Pan knew he only did that when he had nothing better to do, so he walked directly towards him. Felix looked up, sensing his presence, and quickly sheathed his knife. The look in Pan's eyes meant business.

"She's still lying to me," he said, sitting down next to him. "She's good, I'll give her that. She told me it was her plan to free you all." Pan scoffed, laughing at the fact that the girl even thought she could. "I told her it was my plan to find the heart of the truest believer, but she knew that. Her plan goes beyond freeing you all. It's something to do with me…but either way, she didn't seem as opposed to the idea of helping as she would have a few days ago. I think we're getting somewhere."

"You think she's ready then?" Felix enquired, keeping his sentences short and to the point.

"I let the shield down yesterday," Pan revealed, looking up at the tree house. "Which means she hasn't tried to escape because otherwise she'd be gone. I don't think she wants to leave, which means I've got her right where I want her."

"And we can work that to our advantage," Felix said.

"Indeed we can Felix," Peter answered with a small smile, clapping him on the shoulder. "Now however, I need you to do a quick scout of the island. The shadow tells me the boy's been found. It's only a matter of time before the boy comes and I want all possible traps laid out for anyone who might follow."

Felix nodded stonily, clasping Peter's arm in a handshake before taking off into the forest, two lost boys trailing behind him. The next second Peter found himself met by someone else. Meron came out of nowhere, jumping onto Peter's back. He threw him to the ground in response and Meron's smiling face suddenly became a mask of pain.

"I told you to be quieter when you're doing a surprise attack, otherwise it's not exactly a surprise," Peter said quickly, ignoring the pain that had shot up his back when Meron jumped him. It was strange that such a small thing could hurt him, and for a moment, he worried that his magical imperviousness had worn off. But that was idiotic, so he pushed it away; but the pain didn't move.

He hauled Meron to his feet, ordering him to run to the beach and back silently. The moment he was gone, he began to sidle over to his ladder, clutching at his shoulder in pain. Pan found it hard to climb his ladder for the first time in his life, and the moment he was up the stairs, he sat on the edge of the bed and took off his shirt in an effort to find out what exactly was wrong with him.

"It's the middle of the day."

Indigo's voice came from across the room, where she looked at him questioningly from over the top of Pride and Prejudice.

"Not now Indigo," he groaned in annoyance, waving his hand to create a mirror upon the wall. Turning his back to it, he twisted over his shoulder, horrified to see the raw mess that existed on his back. His skin was torn, some already healing – but some blistering with the heat of fresh burns. He was astounded at what could have done it; that was, until he glanced over at Indigo whose neck was dotted with soft red marks that he had made and whose eyes were wide and staring guiltily at him. Looking back at the mirror, he saw the patterns of lines that existed across his back, and he matched them with her fingertips. He turned upon her in both appreciation…and anger.

"You did this?"

The Enchanted Forest - 300 years ago…

"C'mon Rumple!" Pan was saying to the boy across the field. "It'll take two minutes, honestly. Two minutes in Neverland and you'll never want to come back here."

The teenager's face almost seemed genuinely tempted by the offer. That was, until he caught sight of the boy who appeared out of the shadows next to Pan. Felix stared at Rumplestiltskin for a moment before turning around and walking away.

"You're befriending wizards now Pan!" the young Rumplestiltskin pointed at Felix's retreating back. "So this is how you repay me for carving your new flute. Were we not friends?"

"We are," Pan answered earnestly, "the best of."

"Then why do you betray me like this?"

And with those words, Rumplestiltskin turned on his heel and ran from the field, back to a house where Pan was no longer welcome.

Pan turned to Felix, who had returned once Rumplestiltskin had turned away and asked him quietly, "What did you do?"

Felix seemed extremely more morose than usual as he watched the still farmhouse. There was a moment's silence before he muttered monotonously, "I killed his grandfather."

Pan's eyebrows raised. Not in judgement, because how could he judge when he himself had killed, but questioning why his friend had never told him. "You didn't care to share this fact before I befriended the boy."

"It didn't seem relevant," Felix answered, turning round. But Pan stopped him, clutching his arm to prevent him from going anywhere.

"You may have magic Felix," Pan began, extraordinarily evenly, "But you aren't invincible. I'd advise you not to lie to me in the future."

"I wouldn't Peter," Felix replied honestly, his dark eyes wide. He turned Pan's hold on him into a firm grasp on his arm. At first it seemed like an ordinary handshake, but the next moment, Pan felt something flooding his veins. He wasn't too sure what it was at first, but it took a moment for him to realise that it was pure magic, infusing itself with his blood. After a few moments, Felix let his hand drop…and Pan felt strong.

"What was that?" he asked quickly, looking Felix dead in the eye.

"I've never tried that before," Felix replied, shaking his head as though it was all blurry. "If I did what I thought I did, I just infused my magic with your blood. It's your magic now."

"Is this what you feel like all the time?" Pan asked in astonishment, strength flowing through his veins. "It's amazing!"

Felix actually smiled for the first time in a while. "We're pretty unique Peter. It's a different kind of magic. Most magic users wield it from anything they can find but ours is better. It comes from within."

"Excellent," he smiled, waving his hands through the air with the intent of creating a small breeze. But a large gust of wind shot through the field. Felix held his ground as it subsided before muttering, "I think I gave you a lot more than I thought Peter."

"It's an extraordinary gift my friend," he replied, clapping Felix on the back. "Thank you."

But as they began to walk away, Pan spoke up saying, "One more thing Felix. Don't call me Peter."

Present Day

"I'm so sorry Pan!" she spluttered genuinely, having left the book behind and begun walking towards him. It looked horrendous – she wouldn't have wished that kind of pain upon anyone, even her worst enemy.

"I'm impervious to any kind of magic," he turned to her, swiping away the mirror. "You shouldn't have been able to burn me."

"Well..." she started, backing away slowly as he slowly stepped forward towards her. "It's a different kind of magic to yours."

"A different kind of magic?" Pan repeated, stalking forward. "Mine is a different kind of magic. So different that nothing has ever beaten me. Nothing hurts me."

"I'm sorry Pan," she repeated, finding herself backed against the desk.

"How did you do it?" he asked, meeting her there.

"When my emotions are high, my magic kind of multiplies…exponentially," she hesitated before adding quickly, "If I don't control it, but I can."

"My back says differently," Pan countered, finally leaving her to go and sit on the bed, wincing as he walked. She sighed in relief as she watched him go, but knew she couldn't leave him like that. It might help her case anyway. If he saw her do something genuinely caring, it might trigger something in him that made him remember what it meant to actually care.

At least, that was what she told herself afterwards. At that moment however, she just couldn't stand to see him so pitiful. That was the difference between them, Indigo realised suddenly. Pan wouldn't hesitate if she was in pain, he'd simply walk away and leave her. Was that what it meant not to care?

"Lie down," she said gently, sitting on the bed beside him.

"I can heal myself," Pan responded sharply.

"Not as quickly as I can do it," she answered, showing him her hands that glowed with light blue healing magic. He relented and lied down upon his stomach. The magic caused him to shiver and wince in pain, but after five minutes, the burns had turned into red skin that left only mild imprints of her fingernails. Some of the scabs turned into scars and the cuts into scabs. Finally, wearied by the exertion, she stopped. It wasn't hurting him anymore, in fact, Pan seemed to be genuinely enjoying it.

"This isn't a massage parlour," Indigo said suddenly, frowning and climbing off him.

"Come on Indie," was his response, spinning over and grabbing her by the waist. She was more shocked by what he called her than the action, and pulled herself out of his grasp easily.

"Don't call me that," she responded, feeling a pang when he did.

"Why?" Pan responded, pulling his shirt back over his head as he stared at her retreating back. "Because it's what Hook called you?"

Her eyes widened in shock as she turned to face the boy whose smug smile took up most of his face. She didn't even need to splutter out questions because Pan was already answering them. "I told you I would see through your lies. And remember, I am Neverland. I heard every word that you whispered in the night; every touch that you beheld."

"That's creepy," she let out before she could stop herself. "And it was also private."

He smirked easily saying, "I also never knew any of it." She realised that he'd just been looking for confirmation of his own musings. She berated herself inwardly; it was an easy trick – one she should have seen coming. He'd known of some of Hook's exploits, but never cared to inquire who.

"Don't think you can lie to me Indigo Garcia," he replied, referring to the first day she'd been captured. She's said she was Hook's prisoner and now, her lies were being uncovered. First the side plot to free the lost boys, and now her past with Hook…what else was Pan going to find out?

"And thanks for the scars," Pan replied with a tainted grin as he slipped down the ladder. "They may hurt now, but it was worth it."

He was playing her like a game, Indigo suddenly realised. Make her care and then drain her of what was all she had, her disguise. And it was wearing incredibly thin.

She was never going to get her turn.

Neverland - 284 Years Ago…

"The echo caves are ours boys!"

Yells erupted amongst the lost boys as Pan jumped down off the rock where he had watched the mermaids flee in terror.

"Come now Felix," Pan commented, looking at the leader of the lost boys. "You aren't still feeling the shame of your loss to the chief? We ended the tribesmen years ago."

"It hasn't been years though, has it Pan?" Felix frowned. "It's been months. And out there," he pointed beyond the horizon, "It's been centuries. We're centuries old Pan."

"Don't go sharing your musings with the world Felix," Pan responded sharply as they followed the excited lost boys back to their makeshift camp. "We don't want the lost boys to start missing their parents."

"But maybe there's a different way to go about taking over the island. I mean, look at the blood in the water." It stretched throughout the caves, dark blue tainting the light coloured ocean.

"They'll be back," Pan said with a shrug. "They aren't gone for good. Stop stressing Felix, you need to lighten up."

"Please Peter – "

Felix was cut off by the knife that Pan held to his throat. He was quicker than Felix imagined, and also much changed from the boy who had run away from a life with a Princess in Hainor. Felix saw the change that Neverland had caused him in his eyes as he said dangerously, "You may have once held the powers of Merlin, Felix, but he never taught you how to use them. He died. Therefore you can die just as easily." Pan dropped the knife from his throat as he said, "Oh, and don't forget, you gave most of your power to me."

"It wasn't supposed to be for this," Felix said as Pan walked away.

"You're free to leave whenever you want Felix," Pan brandished his hand towards the endless sea that existed beyond the caves. "But don't forget the reason you came with me in the first place, or have you forgotten the mother who threw you out on the streets."

Felix was silent as Pan looked down on him, "I'm sorry Pan," he finally sighed, knowing that he never wanted to leave his friend alone.

But within seconds Pan had his knife out again. He took two steps forward and swiped it out in front of Felix's face. The young man cried out in pain, falling to his knees as blood gushed between the fingers that clutched at the skin around his eye. Pan sheathed the dagger as he bent down to his friend's aid. There was no remorse in his face as he placed his hands on the side of his friend's face and concentrated. Immediately, Felix felt the blood pouring from his face begin to stop as the wound itself began to heal.

"Never say you're sorry Felix," Pan said, as the boy pulled his bloodstained hands away from his face. Pan's healing was good, but a scar still remained, cutting across his face, marring a once honest look. Felix stared up at Pan, drying blood upon his cheek and said nothing, but glanced over at the dagger Pan had used to attack him.

"Keep it," Pan ordered without a moment's thought, untying the belt that held it and handing it to Felix. To anyone looking on, it would have looked like recompense for his actions. But Pan only did it because he knew he couldn't be the leader of the Lost Boys. They were the ones who were lost, and had to remain so. Pan, well, he'd forgotten what it felt like to be lost.

Felix though, as he took the symbol of his leadership from Pan felt even more lost than he once had. His loyalty to his best friend remained still, but his best friend was gone. Perhaps, it was time that Felix lost himself to Neverland too. He feared he wouldn't survive if he didn't.

But as he held the dagger in his hands, he felt a surge of magic wash over him. His magic told him that the dagger wasn't ordinary, but had been forged from something else, something that the magic he had earned from Merlin told him held great power. This dagger came from the shards of Excalibur.

And as he followed Pan back to camp, he realised that it wasn't Pan's magic that left him with a scar, it was the sword that made cuts that never truly healed. His face would always carry the consequence of his apology – he would never apologise again. He would take on his role – he would train the lost boys. They would rule the island, his loyalty to them.

But Felix would not fear; he would not even fear Pan.