As usual I don't own anything... but I have written a very passionate letter to Santa solo *fingers crossed*
Finally I am about caught up! Warning, this chapter is a bit AU again. But not very. I hope you enjoy.
Everyone exploded with outrage. Avery wasn't paying attention, she was just staring at her father with great intensity, and she felt he had Pandora's Box. She called to it using magic then she felt the box appear in her hand.
"Enough." Avery said loudly. "We don't have time for this, so I am going to make this crystal clear. Father…"
"Princess…" he said to her,
"No, you listen. How can you even think to betray me like that, you're my father," She took a step closer to him, "and I will protect Henry, even from you. So know this, if I feel Henry threatened, or even a trickle of magic, you will be in here." She showed him Pandora's Box.
"How did you get that from him?" Regina asked shocked.
"It knows its master." Avery said.
"Of course it would be yours."
"And to the rest of you. Like him or not, my father is useful. So I won't cut him out. Now come of we need to get Henry back, and she's going to help us." Avery pointed to Wendy.
"Henry?" Wendy asked. "Who is Henry?" The way she said it immediately put Avery on alert.
"He's my son." Neal said. "Pan wants his heart."
"Has he ever said anything about the heart of the truest believer?" Emma asked the lithe girl.
"No… I'm sorry." Wendy said, Avery thought that Emma's superpower should kick in, but to her surprise her father stepped in calling the girl out. He took towards the girl being stopped by Neal and Charming.
"I know the weight of lies!" He said.
"I don't have to take that from a man who abandoned his own son." She bit back.
"Aright…" Avery said. "I know you're lying. And I have and I thins l have an idea why." Avery kneeled to her level. "Your brothers. Pan has them and you need to do what Pan wants to keep them safe." Wendy's eyes watered.
"You don't understand he'll kill them. "She sniffed.
"I do understand. But you brothers are safe.. back in my town. And they are in the very kind and capable hands of my Mom," Wendy gave a scrunched look, "Step Mom" Avery added. "We will protect them, and we will defeat Pan. But we need your help. Please Wendy."
"Pan is dying. The needs his heart to keep himself alive, and all powerful." Wendy said.
"What will happen to Henry?" Regina asked.
"It's a trade you see… When Pan absorbs Henry's heart, Henry will die." Wendy said. The alarm spread through the entire group. "He's where the hourglass is…" the blonde girl added. Avery knew exactly where the girl was referring to. She looked around determined.
"Wendy come with us, to get Tink." Snow said.
"I'll go get the ship ready." Hook said. "Provided your brother can get us home."
"I can get us home." Neal said.
"Come on. We are going to Skull Rock. Daddy, you're coming too."
"Don't trust me dearie?" her father asked a little annoyed.
"Don't play that abandoned father bit. You and I both know if I thought you a serious threat to Henry, you'd be dead. Like Pan is about to be… shall we go family?" Avery led the way.
"What did she mean 'the hourglass'?" Emma asked.
"Exactly what she said Emma. There is a giant hourglass on the island, obviously ticking down the moment and power our dear Peter Pan has on the island. Plan b, if the box fails, is to protect Henry and let the glass empty. Although I don't think we'll need a plan b, I would rather be safe than sorry."
"Good thinking. I never realized how skilled at this you were, maybe I should have tried harder to get you on my side in our world." Regina remarked.
"Wouldn't have worked. You have been on my radar since before you were born." Her father said.
"Regina this isn't fast enough." Avery said she took her father's and brother's arm, and Regina took Emma's arm, grudgingly and they appeared outside the entrance path to skull rock. Avery didn't understand, they should be inside.
"What happened?" Regina said. Emma said something similar and went to the entrance. She immediately was flung backwards.
"Oh my god, are you okay?" Neal went to help her up.
"I know what he's done." Her father said.
"A protection spell… that's obvious." Avery said, walking up to the line in the sand. But her father walked beside her and in one stride he stepped over. "How did you do that?"
"It's enchanted, so that anyone with a shadow can't get through." Her father said.
"That stuff… about cutting your shadow off… and hiding the dagger… that was all true." Neal said.
"Yes… please trust me to save my grandson." He looked into Avery's eyes, and she wanted to relent, but she still looked to her brother, who nodded. "Go be my hero Daddy." She said, he reached over the line and took the box from her outstretched hands.
"You really trust your father?" Regina asked.
"I think of this two ways Regina. If he hurts Henry, either I will kick his ass, or my mother will. But his ass would be so kicked that he would wish that Henry was his undoing." Avery pursed her lips. "But my father isn't that stupid. He took Henry from me once, he wouldn't do it to be again."
"I can't believe my own sister adopted my son." Neal said.
"Tell me about it. I just knew I was adopting the savior's son. Him also being your son a coincidence."
Dad always said there were no coincidences, that it is fate. Written by the old gods long ago." Neal said, Avery laughed,
"My mother whole heartedly believes that no one controls her fate but her. And I believe it as well."
"It's interesting trying to follow your guy's logic." Emma said pacing.
"I can't stand here not doing anything." Regina said standing up. She looked up in despair, then her eyes widened. "Wait… wait… that barricade warded against shadows… what if we darken the moon… then we won't cast shadow and should be able to pass through. With the three of us, we should be able to do it."
"Regina… that's brilliant! And it came from you." Avery said. She joined hands with both Regina and Emma and all focused their magic. Avery loved the feel of all the power surging through her, she noticed most of it coming from her left, where Emma was. Avery looked at the moon, and saw it darken, then it was black. Avery let go, slapping both women's arms as a signal. They all got over the barrier. The success celebration was short lived, as they all broke out in a run. They reached the large part to see Henry holding his heart in his hand.
"Henry! Don't!" Emma screamed.
"Moms… Avery… Dad?" Henry said, resting his eyes on his living father.
"Yeah. I'm alive… don't do this buddy." Neal said.
"I have to… to save magic. To save all of you." Henry said.
"Henry sweetheart. That's not true. Pan is lying to you."
"No it's they who are lying to you. They're selfish… they don't want you to fulfill your destiny." Pan said.
"Shut up Pan! Henry… when have I ever lied to you?" Avery asked.
"They all have lied to you Henry…. And Avery… she left you alone.. with the evil queen!" Pan said.
"I'm sorry…. But I have to do this. To save magic." Henry shoved his heart into Pan's chest.
"NO!" they all screamed. Henry immediately fell lifeless to the ground.
Soooo in the end, yes she believed in her father's goodness. She just wanted a little insurance just on case. :D
Freaking Pan am I right?!
Thank you all for reading!