All Souls Night

Chapter 25

Author's Notes: Good news readers! This can either be done with one long chapter and the epilogue or two chapters and an epilogue! I've not begun to work on the next chapters but in the next few weeks I'll have it done and I can finally close the chapter on this one and get started on new(er) things and older things that need to be finished. If you would prefer one long chapter and an epilogue let me know or if you'd rather have it broken up let me know that as well. I'm going to try my best to get it finished before May 5 because I am taking a bunch of summer classes to finish my Master's so I'll be busy with those. I am ready to have this complete to be honest with you. It's been hanging over my head for a while. None the less I hope you enjoy and if you feel so inclined please let me know what you think! ~ Scarlette

"So you're a Pirate and this is Neverland." Emma stated the obvious as the strange, hooked handed man turned toward her with a grin.

"It would seem that yes given that I told you where we are."

"And what would a pirate gain out of being in Neverland? I always heard it was a dreadful place ran by a fearsome creature that liked little boys."

"Pan's reputation precedes him I see." He muttered pushing aside some heavier jungle branches.

Emma rolled her eyes, "Are you going to answer my question or not?"

"Or not." Hook grinned at her and she sighed.

"How long have you been here?"

"A while." He said vaguely.

"So you know the lay of the land?"

"Enough that I can get around."

"Then I need to find someone." She stopped forcing the man in front of her to stop as well.

"If you're looking for your son, he's probably lost love. Best to give that one up before you even begin."

"My son is fine. It's his Mother that's missing."

"A woman?" He smirked a roguish smile that she was sure he assumed would make her quiver. It did nothing but annoy her truth be told.

"That's very unlike Pan."

"She wasn't taken by Pan but by another. A powerful sorceress that ruled Wonderland with an iron fist; the Queen of Hearts."

The Pirate reached up, stroking his goatee for a moment before he shook his head. "I've seen and heard nothing of a woman that was taken and brought here by another. Perhaps you came to the wrong place."

"She's here; I can feel her."

"Obviously she doesn't want to be found or she'd be fighting tooth and nail to get back to you. Assuming of course you mean so much to her."

Emma narrowed her eyes, "And what would you know about meaning so much to another?"

"Enough," The pirate turned, letting the branches he'd been holding for her in such a gentlemanly fashion, hit her in the face.

Emma frowned and sighed. "Where are we going?" She asked after a time.

"It's best in Neverland to never stay in one place for too long."

"And just how big is Neverland?"

"Big enough that finding your lass should prove interesting…especially if Cora is here."

"You know her?"

"I've dealt with her in the past. Not exactly pleasant."

"The mother of my son was taken by her. From what I've gathered she intends to use her as some sort of magical conduit to open a portal back to my realm."

"You're from the Enchanted Forest I take it."

"I thought that would be rather obvious."

The Pirate shrugged, the black leather covering his shoulders creaked ever so slightly with the movement.

"Are you going to tell me your name?"

The man turned eyeing her for a moment before he dipped into a bow. "Killian Jones but most know me by my moniker Captain Hook."

"Hook then. I'm Emma." She didn't offer her full title.

"Pleasure to meet you then lovely."

Emma rolled her eyes. "So where are we going?"

"If you're determined to find the lass you speak of then we're going to need help. There's only one person that might be able to. A shamed fairy named Tinker Bell."

"And this Tinker Bell will help us?"

"She owes me a favor."

Emma frowned as she followed Hook deeper into the jungles. It seemed like the more they walked, the less further they got.

"Are you certain this is the best way for us to go?"

"It's the only way love."

"Then can we not build a fire and use smoke signals or something to get to this Tinker Bell."

"That wouldn't be a good idea for many different reasons love. We could get caught by Peter Pan and the Lost Boys assuming their still here of course. If the Queen of Hearts is here that might be debatable but we'd still have to deal with her and I don't think you want her finding you before you find your lass."

Emma pushed a branch back as she continued to follow even though she was starting to wonder just how much her guide truly knew.

"So we just walk and walk and in the meantime the mother of my child could be dying?"

"Until we know where Cora is, there is nothing we can do to help her." Hook pointed out. "Once we find Tinker Bell, we'll have a weapon that will hopefully help us against the Queen of Hearts and between the two of us I'm sure we can find the woman you seek. You never did tell me what her name was or what she looked like."

Emma frowned, "I don't see why her name is important. As for what she looks like, I haven't seen her in years so I can only give you a rough description at best. She had long black hair and big brown eyes. Her skin looks sun-kissed. She's tiny and petite."

"Why haven't you seen her in years?"

"Is that any of your business?"

Hook shrugged, "It would help me know what I'm looking at."

"It's not relevant and I'm not in a sharing mood."

Hook's lips tilted up and he gave a small dipping bow. "As you wish. Let's try to find Tinker Bell."

"Tinker Bell?"

"What the hell are you doing here Hook?" Tinkerbelle eyed him warily as they stood toe to toe in the cave.

Emma stared at the small blonde. So this was what a shamed fairy looked like? She was almost her size. And she was holding a broken arrow to Hook's throat. She liked her, she decided.

Hook slowly shifted his sword so that he could lower it slowly. Tinkerbelle slowly did the same with her own strange weapon.

"We have a proposition for you."

"And what's that?"

"It seems as though Pan may not be here anymore."

"May not?"

"It's most likely. You see the woman behind me? Her name is Emma and she's looking for someone that was taken."

"If it was your son then he's gone." Tink offered but didn't take her eyes from Hook. She had obviously deemed him the more threatening of the two of them.

"I'm not here for my son. I'm here for his Mother."

"His Mother?" TInk finally looked at her with widened eyes. "Pan never takes women."

"I've said the same. But she says the Queen of Hearts took her and brought her here from Wonderland."

"Why does she have her? Why weren't you with her?"

"We have a complicated history. She's the Mother of my son and I need to find her. I made a promise to him."

Tinker Bell studied her for a moment before she nodded, "All right."

"I was hoping you still had a little bit of pixie dust left?" Hook looked hopeful.

Emma furrowed her brows. She'd heard about pixie dust and the dangers of it. It was extremely volatile and known to blow up at a moment's notice.

"I don't have much." Tink answered honestly.

"It won't take much will it?" Emma asked.

"No," Tink answered with a frown.

"Who is she? Your wife?"

"No, she's the Mother of my child and I owe him and her both this."

Tink's brow furrowed, "You shouldn't do something because you feel like you owe somebody."

"I love her." Emma answered. "If that's not reason enough then I don't know what it is."

Tink stared at her and nodded, "Okay."

"Have you seen anything on the island Tink?"

"No, but things have been too quiet."

"That's not good is it?"

"No it isn't."

"What does that mean exactly?"

"It's like being at sea love." Hook turned to Emma as he and Tink both frowned. "There's always a calm before the storm and it looks like this is it."