Okay I'm going to try and keep a steady update for this fic since we have to wait until March for new episodes. *sniffles* But here's the next chapter. I hope everyone likes it.
We continued walking through the jungle towards Pan's compound. It was getting colder on the island, I'm guessing because magic was leaving it. Luckily I had my black turtleneck shirt and slipped it on. I didn't realize it until then that Regina had one just like it. I smiled to myself thinking that her fashion was rubbing off on me. Mary Margaret and David seemed to be better than they were when we found out he couldn't leave the island. "Looks live you two have buried the hatchet."
"Buried, no. But we have put it away for now." Mary Margaret and I fell a few steps behind everyone else so we could talk.
"So you're going to stay here with him?" She looked like she was about to cry.
"Emma, the thought of leaving you kills me but David can't leave the island or he'll die…"
"So you're giving up? Family means all of us…together."
"There's no other way."
"Maybe this is you rubbing off on me but, I don't believe that. There's always a way." Everyone stopped when we heard rustling in the woods. We drew our weapons as the rustling became closer. I was relieved to see Regina coming out of the trees.
"Well if this is your version of a rescue party then I got here just in time." Gold walked out behind her. A tension was emitted from him and Neal as they set eyes on each other.
"What are you doing here?" I didn't enjoy Mary Margaret's tone towards Regina but I had no choice but to deal with it.
"Same thing as you but now we have a chance. We have Pandora's box."
"He's not going anywhere near Henry."
"Neal…" I watched between Neal and Gold suspiciously. There was something they weren't telling me.
"There's a prophecy that says Henry will be his undoing. He's here to kill Henry." Rage filled me and Regina. She was holding back killing him right there.
"That's why you wanted us to find him before we met back with Neal. You knew he would spill your secret."
"That's why you left before we could get off the boat. You wanted to find Henry and kill him." I drew my sword and pointed it towards Gold. "You wanted to kill our son."
"I don't care if the boy is my undoing. I won't hurt him." Everyone else had their weapons out and pointed his way now.
"Oh because that sounds just like you."
"Look, you need me here. I'm the most powerful out of us all. If I could give you my dagger I would but I can't. You can trust me."
"Give me the box. I don't have to trust you if I can stop you." Gold handed Neal the box. "You raise one finger to do magic and I'll open this." Gold simply nodded.
"Okay, let's go." As we walked towards the compound I caught up with Hook. "There has to be a way for us to save David. Tell me about your brother. I know it's hard but…"
"It is hard. There's no way to get him off the island and keep him alive. The water is the only reason why he's not dead. Once that connection is broken he will die."
"What if we take some with us? That way he could stay connected with the water and live in Storybrooke." Hook stopped and turned towards me.
"For how long? When the water runs out he'll die then."
"Not unless there's another cure." We all looked towards Gold. "Oh now so interested in what I have to say? I thought I couldn't be trusted." God I hate when he's a smartass.
"You can't be but I'll take my chances." Rumple told us about when he was poisoned by Hook and what he learned about Dream Shade afterwards.
"I'm sure I can mix up an elixir in my shop."
"What's your price? There's always a price with you."
"Well, this is a heavy favor and task. So I'd expect one of equal weight."
"No." Neal walked towards his father. "You're going to do it because it's the right thing to do. You're going to save David when we get back to Storybrooke. No deals."
"Okay. I'll do what you ask."
"Alright then. I'll go tell David." We continued our way towards Pan's compound but this time everyone was on high alert towards Gold. I never trusted him. It didn't take us long before Tinkerbell told us we had reached Pan's compound.
"Is everyone good with the plan? Go in, get Henry, and then get out." Rumple grabbed Hook's sword and held it downward.
"You said no magic. I'm not going in with just my good looks."
"While I, on the other hand…" Hook is so full of himself.
"Here," David threw Hook his knife. "In case your looks fail you."
"Thanks mate." Everyone got in place as we watched the boys around the fire. I could hear Gold and Regina murmuring something but I couldn't understand it. A moment later, the boys fell to the ground and we moved in.
"Henry? Damn it he's not here." Regina was upset.
"Regina," I placed a hand on her arm. "We're going to find him. We're going to get our son."
"Help!" I heard a young girl's voice and went in that direction. In a small clearing there was another cadge like the one Neal was in. "You're an adult."
"Yeah. My name is Emma." I knelt beside the cadge as Neal came in behind me.
"Wendy?" He came up to the cadge and knelt down.
"Do I know you?"
"Yeah. It's me, Bealfire." The girl's face lit up. "What are you doing here?" He picked up a rock and broke the lock. When the door opened, the girl went into Neal's arms. She hugged him tight.
"I came back to save you. I couldn't stand the idea of you being alone. Especially after you told me your parents were dead."
"You told her I was dead?" Neal stood and helped the girl to her feet.
"It was easier then telling her my own father abandoned me. Wendy, do you know where Pan is? We need to find him."
"No. I have no idea."
"She's lying. I know a liar when I see it." Wendy finally told us the truth. She told us how Pan was keeping her brothers alive only if she helped him. Pan needed Henry to save the island.
"Pan told Henry he needs his heart to save the island. That's a lie; he needs his heart to save himself. Pan is dying and needs the heart of the truest believer to become immortal."
"What will happen to Henry?" Snow was worried like all of us but it showed in her voice. It was shaky and cracked when she spoke.
"It's a trade. Pan will live and Henry will die." Rage filled all of us. Regina and I especially.
"Okay, so Regina, Neal, Gold, and I will go to Dead Man's Peak to get Henry and meet everyone else back at the Jolly Rodger when we're done. Then when we get back to Storybrooke Gold will heal David but before then bring some water with you.
"Good luck mate." Hook looked at me and he knew I was willing to die to save my son. He also knew I was willing to die to save the woman I love also. "Don't die on us."
"I won't." As Regina and I sat in a rowboat heading to Skull Island we were quiet. Neal paddled the boat and had his back facing us. I wanted so badly to comfort Regina. I didn't know how. Her leg was so close to mine and I wanted to place my hand on hers. "We will get Henry back." I placed my hand on top of hers and she just turned her head to look at me.
"I know." We arrived at the island a few minutes later. I saw the tracks of Henry's shoes and was relieved. He was here. "Those are Henry's shoe tracks. That means he up those stairs." I tried to walk up them but was flung backwards.
"Are you okay?" Neal tried to help me up. The air was knocked out of me.
"Yeah, I think so." I got to my feet but was still a little winded.
"What the hell was that?"
"A protection spell Pan set. It's was set to keep us out." Gold inspected the invisible barrier.
"There has to be a way to break it." Regina, as always, created a fireball and hurled it towards the staircase.
"Be careful with that!" Neal jumped a good foot behind us when the barrier flamed up.
"It's no use. Pan's magic is too strong for you." He walked through the barrier. "It's meant to keep anyone with a shadow out. He used this spell to draw me in because he knew I wouldn't stop until I saved Henry."
"You really did come to save Henry." Neal looked at his father in a way I had never seen before. He was starting to trust him again.
"I need the box." Neal took the box from his bag and started to hand it over but Regina grabbed it. "Hey!"
"You better come through Gold or I'll make whatever Pan has planned for you look like child's play. Do you understand me?" Gold took the box.
"A simple good luck would've worked." With that, he turned and walked away. Regina passed back and forth and I stood still with my arms crossed. Neal just sat on a rock and was useless. Like most male race.
"What are we going to do now?" Regina was upset and I felt bad. I didn't know what to do and our son was just behind that barrier.
"What about the spell my father cast to get rid of his shadow?"
"Do you honestly think if I knew how to do that I wouldn't have done it by now?" Yup. She was upset. Regina's getting snappy.
"Regina…the moon." She stopped and looked towards the moon with me.
"What about it?"
"That's what's causing our shadows right? What if we could block it somehow with our magic…I mean with magic." Regina grinned a moment when she heard my slip up.
"Like an eclipse? Is that even possible?" Oh right. Neal is here. I forgot.
"I don't know. Maybe." Regina started to rub her hands together. "I'll need your help." That threw me off.
"With magic?" Regina closed her eyes and sighed.
"It takes a lot of magic. And you said you wanted to use our magic." She shot me a look from the corner of her eye and I felt my cheeks turn a little red. "I guess we're about to see how much those magic lessons you asked for paid off. Follow my lead." Regina raised her hands towards the moon and focused on it. I did the same. Her words ran through my head. Magic is made with emotion. Strong emotion. I thought back to all the times Regina and I used magic or when there was strong emotions between us. At the mines, at town hall, at the well…as we focused clouds started to cover the mood and erase our shadows.
When we ran up Henry was standing in front of pan. Henry had already ripped his heart out and it was gold. He was the truest believer. "Henry wait! Whatever pan is telling you is a lie!"
"Dad? You're alive?" Pan was irritated to see us. It was clear on his face.
"Pleasure to see you Bealfire, the Savior, the Evil Queen." I wanted to beat him for tricking our son and speaking to Regina in that tone of voice.
"Henry, you need to get away from him." I tried to keep my voice steady and keep my distance from Pan. I didn't know what he would do if any of us got closer.
"No. The heart of the truest believer is going to save magic and save all of you."
"No it's not Henry." Regina's voice cracked. "This was never about magic. You've got to believe us. The only person Pan is interested in saving is himself."
"That's not true!" Pan moved to stand in front of Henry and put his hands on his shoulders.
"He can't live without you dying Henry." Oh now Neal decides to speak up?
"That's not true Henry! Every hero is tested. You know that."
"I know what it's like for a hero to be tested and this isn't it." My voice was close to cracking but I had to be strong for Regina and for our son.
"Henry, you have to believe us." Regina was close to tears and it was breaking my heart.
"They don't care about Neverland Henry. They know if you save it then you have to stay here. They're being selfish." Pan was really starting to piss me off.
"You have to trust us kid." I could tell Henry was torn between helping pan and believing us.
"Trust?!" Pan moved beside Henry again. "I've the only one who's been honest with you. I've believed in you. It's your choice Henry. But you have to choose now."
"We believe in you Henry." Regina took a step forward.
"More than anything." I stepped forward also.
"And we love you." Once again, Regina and I spoke in unison.
"I love you too but I have to do this. I have to save magic. I'm sorry."
"Henry!" He turned and shoved his heart into Pan's chest. As soon as he removed his hand a green burst of magic emitted itself from Pan and pushed everyone backwards. As pan rose in the air Henry fell. Regina and I ran towards our son first. Neal was always the last to be there….