Embarking

Tinker Bell awoke again with the feeling that she'd been asleep for days. She felt a dull ache in her back, but she could safely ignore it. She had to figure out how to get the fairies to fly the ship to Neverland to rescue Hook. The Blue Fairy drifted over to her. "You look better," she said.

"I feel better," Tink replied.

"Good. Think you can sit up?"

Tink attempted the feat, with success, and she figured that that was the best time to broach the subject, whether or not she had the same success in that venture. "James is in the hands of a crazy kid."

"Who is this James, Miss Bell?"

This isn't going to go well. "A friend and ally in the fight against Peter Pan." The Blue Fairy laughed. This time, Tink didn't hold back. Her fist shot forward and connected with the Blue Fairy's nose. She stood and looked at the other fairies, who stared at her in shock but did and said nothing. "My friend is a captive of Peter Pan, but we have his ship, and with her and a little pixie dust, we can sail into Neverland to attempt a rescue."

"You can't seriously believe this," the Blue Fairy said to the fairies at large.

Tink turned on her superior. "Whether we succeed or no, Peter Pan needs to know that we will not stand for this any longer. We can't let him run around as he does anymore, because now a very good captain and a very good man is about to die." She too turned to the fairies. "Who will be my sister?"

"I," Nova said, floating forward.

"Nova," the Blue Fairy snapped. It came out sounding a little like a whine.

"She has a lot to lose. I should know. And your experiment can't go on like this. It's time to call it in. I just always figured you'd know that. I never thought I'd be wrong."

"What are you talking about?"

Tink suddenly wanted to punch the Blue Fairy again, and it took almost more than she had in her to restrain herself. With a deep breath, she looked over the fairies. Nova said, "I'm talking about how you let the boy run rampant and create a world where he has complete control over anyone and everyone who enters. I'm talking about the crazy kid that nearly killed his own father and is willing to do so again. I'm talking about the reason there's a ship in our realm."

"Nova," Tink said.

"Thank you," Nova squeaked. But the Blue Fairy was stunned into silence.

"Now then, who will be our sisters?"

About twenty fairies flew forward, declaring themselves with "I." Tink couldn't help but smile for a moment, and then she looked at the Jolly Roger. "We're going to Neverland," she said. The fairies joining her cheered and flew to the ship. Nova smiled to her and wrapped an arm around her waist. Tink lay an arm on her companion's shoulders, and they flew toward the ship.

The Blue Fairy was too stunned to move, much less do anything to stop them.

OUAT

Hook opened his eyes, half-expecting Peter to press his dagger to his throat, again, but instead he found Slightly gently wiping off his neck. "I just changed your stitches. You're a deep sleeper," he said. The captain's breathing caught. If he was such a deep sleeper, he could've been slain at any moment and never noticed, never even seen his attacker. Slightly knit his brow, but he left without another word.

Hook stared at the ceiling and tried to steady his breathing. Then he held up his right arm. His hook was gone. He was totally defenseless, save whatever Peter would decide to arm him with. And if Hook decided to fight his way to freedom...

He couldn't let the thought cross his mind. He needed to focus, and he needed to be cunning, if he was ever going to get out of there alive.

OUAT

Tink was looking out over the clouds when Nova landed next to her. "You're a stronger fighter than I am," she said.

"You believed her. They all do," Tink replied.

"Heh, obviously not. Look at the fairies following you."

"Because of what you said. They might not even think it's true, but I don't think they'd take the chance. Speaking of which, why did you give that speech?"

"I don't know. Once the words started coming, they wouldn't stop."

"I didn't know you had that much conviction."

"Neither did I. But I meant it when I said you have a lot to lose."

Tink sighed and leaned on the railing. "I just wish I could tell him."

"Don't give up on him. Promise me that."

"I promise."

"And when you get the chance and the moment's right, just say it."

"I'll try."

"Neverland ho," a fairy shouted from the crow's nest.

"That's our cue," Tink said.

"What now?" Nova asked.

"We can't dock near Hangman's Tree. He'll find us and stop us before our mission can get off the ground. We'll dock on the side of Neverpeak Mountain."

"Are you sure."

"It's a long way from Hangman's Tree, but we'll be safe and unseen, especially on the other side. This is about stealth more than strength, Nova. We get in, get Jas, and get out without anyone noticing us, except Slightly, since he's been complicit with us for several days now."

"You think this'll work?"

"It's our best shot, and if we don't do this now, Jas could be dead before we even get another chance." Nova nodded, and at Tink's direction, the fairies at the helm piloted the ship toward Neverpeak Mountain. They dropped anchor on the side opposite Hangman's Tree, and Nova helped Tinker Bell disembark, with the other fairies behind them.