Chapter Ten: The Shadow Of Neverland

AN: Enjoy this take on Dark Hallow.

~Once~

Peter's Perspective"

The party celebrating Aria's return was in full swing. A few of the Boys set the beat with hand-made drums, as dancers spun around the fire, Aria included. Her jungle flower crown was laying half-hazardly on her head as she recreated the dance of the native tribe that once resided on the island.

The boar that Jax caught was laying on display, with an apple in its mouth. The scent of it mixed in with the other food-soup, fresh bread, and the tangy starfruit. Near the cooking fires other boys were showing of their talents in various contests. Everyone was having fun, except for one glaring exception- Henry.

The boy was sitting just outside the circle of merriment, his eyes trained on my Aria. Occasionally he would shoot me glances of suspicion, but mostly the boy looked equal parts confused and angry. I could tell I was losing him, because he assumed Aria's transformation was my doing. Rightfully so, it was I who got Aria to fully reemerge. He did not seem to understand that the person he knew, didn't exist. He had been living with a shadow.

Maybe it would be a good idea to reintroduce the pair, in small increments. Just enough so Henry knows Aria is not under a spell, and short enough that guilt doesn't distract Aria from our goals.

A shiver ran down my spine, alerting me to the presence of magic on my island. I hiss sharply at the sensation.

"What is it?" Felix asked, from his seat beside me.

"Someone's leaving Neverland." I answered, taking a deep breath.

"Where?" Felix replied, reaching for his club, "How shall we stop them?"

"It's too late." I told him, "Don't worry Felix. We simply need to get word to our friends on the ground."

"In Storybrooke?" Felix asked, not sounding very impressed with the plan.

"They can handle this." I waved away his concerns, "All it does is move up our timetable a touch. We need to get Henry ready."

"Ready for what?" a voice cut in. Both of our heads shot up, and were met with the suspicious blue eyes of Aria Jones.

"Ready for bed, love." I said pushing off the log, "Isn't it rather late?"

Aria turned to look at the boy in question, he was starting to slump over sleepily even if he hadn't given up his vigil.

"Yes, he should get some rest." Aria eventually said. She cast me look, that told me she wanted to go over there.

"Why don't you put him to bed?" I suggested, "That way Felix, here, doesn't have to miss out on all the fun."

The corner of her mouth quirked at the mention of Felix and fun in the same sentence.

"I suppose so, I wouldn't want to put Felix out, I know how much he enjoys dancing."

I chuckled, and grabbed her arm so I could pull her to me. I kissed her cheek, smirking as I saw the blush creep up on her face, even after all this time.

"Go on," I urged her, "But when you come back, you owe me another dance."

She smiled and kissed my cheek before heading towards Henry. The boy perked right up when he saw her heading in his direction. I watched him frown in confusion when Aria spoke to him, but he did get up and let her herd him to the huts.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Felix asked. I looked down to see his eyes following the pair.

"If we are to get Henry on our side, he needs to know his sister, "I sneered, "is still with him and we haven't done anything to her."

"And if it gets too much for her?" Felix cautioned.

"Are you questioning her loyalty?" I turned on him. Felix rose from his seat, looking me right in the eye.

"Are you questioning mine?" He countered, "She cares for the boy, she'll want to save him."

"And you think my forbidding her from seeing the boy is going to change that?" I questioned him, "Spending time with her will keep him in line. And as for Aria, she has proven over and over again that we are her choice, her first choice."

"Yes, Pan."

"Good, now I need to have a chat with our friend in the other cage, before Aria returns. "

"She will not be pleased with you when she finds out you've kept our friend."

"And equally as pleased with the messenger." I shot back before disappearing in the jungle.

~Once~

Henry's Perspective:

"Would you like a snack before going to bed?" Mel asked as we entered our hut.

"No, I'm not hungry." I told her surly. She cast me a look over her shoulders.

"Henry, I know you haven't eaten anything since breakfast.

"How did you know that?" I asked in surprise.

"I have my ways," She said cryptically, meaning a Lost Boy probably ratted me out, "Now what do you want some bread, soup, starfruit?"

"I want to know what's going on!"

Mel sighed tiredly.

"I told you what's going on, Henry, I finally remember who I am."

"He's lying to you! Or has done something to you." I protested, "You dad said you never were on the island."

"No, Henry, Papa lied." She hissed, "He killed my best friend, and then tore me away from my home, my family, the person who I love the most. Papa is the one that did something to me, he's the one who stole my memories. If anyone is a monster on this island it is Killian Jones, not Peter Pan."

"B-bu-t-t."

"No, buts Henry." She stopped me, "I think we've learned that not everything is black and white, and you can't always trust the people you want to."

"So it's not one of Pan's tricks, this is really you?"

"It's really me." She said holding her arms out wide. She certainly didn't look like Mel. She wore a flower crown around her messy braid and feathers. She wore a green sleeves tunic, and brown leggings tucked into brown boots liked the Lost Boys. She had a dagger on her hip, and her favorite leather bracelet on her wrist. She looked like she belonged here.

"Okay, so this isn't one of Pan's tricks, but he's still a liar. And like you said you can't always trust the people you want to."

Mel narrowed her eyes at me.

"How is he a liar?" she asked.

"Mom's here on the island, so is Emma and Mary Margaret. Pan said they weren't here, but I saw them. I even talked to them."

"When?"

"Last night."

"How?" she asked again.

"One of the Lost Boys gave me a magic mirror, I think Mom was controlling him."

"What did they say?"

"That it was Operation: Neverland, and they were coming to get us."

A strange look appeared on her face.

"You, Henry, they're coming to get you. And I'll make sure of it."

~Once~

Pan's Perspective:

With Henry distracted by Felix and Aria overseeing the Lost Boys chores, I was free to go convince my little bird in her cage to do my bidding once more. I reached the hollow where I kept my cages, and lowered the box containing the one I wanted. I set it down a little rougher than necessary, but what would be the fun in being gentle.

I unhooked the latches, and opened the cage door. A figure scooted closer to the opening, and a blonde head stuck out.

"Am I…" she started to ask, "Am I free?"

"Not yet, Wendy," I told reaching my hand to grab hers. I pulled her out, "but that doesn't mean you can't come out and play."

"What do you need me to do?" Wendy asked trembling. So very different from the girl who came to the island centuries ago-the fawning, simpering girl, who hoped to capture my heart. It was through her that I was able to get Bae. Then a century later, for me anyway a mere year for her, she returned, once again trying to wheedle he way into my heart in an attempt to defeat me and free Baelfire. In the end, all she did was make an enemy out of me, an even bigger one out of Aria, and enslave herself and her brothers to me.

"Well for now, I need you to be very, very quiet. There's a certain mermaid on this island, who would not be pleased to see you."

Wendy's eyes grow wider in terror, well, that will certainly keep her in line. I whisked us to the cave where I was going to stage my latest ploy to convince Henry to play his role.

~Once~

"There you are, love." I greeted Aria as she exited Henry's hut. She jumped, startled by my appearance. I caught her before she could fall off the edge of the porch, "Easy there, darling."

She quickly pulled loose of my grasp, and straighten herself up. She kept her face down, refusing to look at me. I bent my knees so I would be able to see her face. The emotions she was feeling were clear as day on her face, she had never been able to hide them, especially from me. She was conflicted, angry, sad, there was a hint of determination. For a moment I feared she discovered Wendy's presence, but I looked up and saw Henry peering out of the window and knew this was something more.

"How about we call it a night?" I said to her. She nodded and I led her past the partying, to our underground home. She remained quiet until the door of our rooms were closed.

"Is Henry why you didn't come to get me sooner?" She asked.

"What?" I exclaimed spinning around.

"Is Henry why you didn't come to get me sooner?" she repeated, "Did you somehow know that he and I would meet?"

"How can you ask that?"

"Because I know how long you've been searching for him. You've been after him for centuries."

"I did not come to get you sooner because your drunken bastard of a father cloaked you," I said getting in her face, "And the moment I get close enough that bloody witch casted her curse sending you even further away from me. I did everything, everything, to find you."

She looked down at her feet.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. I instantly deflated, "It's just that…"

"What, love?"

"I had to ask, because the maybe I could…maybe it would be easier to hate him—or…"

"Or hate me? Is that it?"

She nodded still not meeting my eye.

"Is that what you want? To hate me?" I asked her bitterly. After all I had done.

"No, of course not." She quickly denied, "I love you. I will always love you, Peter Pan."

She finally looked me in the eye, as she cupped my face.

"Even if Henry dies?" I asked her, "Because isn't that what this is about? Henry. You're finally realizing what playing his role will mean."

"He's my brother, Peter."

"And what about the Lost Boys? Felix? Would you risk their protection for one boy? Would you risk my life on one boy?"

"There has to be another way."

"There isn't." I told her firmly, wrapping my arms around her waist, "Henry's heart is the key to keep our home, of keeping us together. I'm not just doing this for me, I'm doing this for you. Do you understand?"

She nodded reluctantly, and I used my thumb to wipe the tear threatening to fall.

"For what it's worth, despite knowing what it would do to my brother, I wish it wasn't him."

A dark smile appeared on her face.

"Say that one more time, and I'll believe you." She said. I took her chin and tipped it up, so she had a clear view of my eyes.

"I wish it wasn't him."

"I believe you." She said, but there was something that contradicted her words in her tone. Ignoring it, I kissed the middle of her forehead, before releasing her.

"Now, I believe I told you that you owed me another dance."

"But we can't hear the music down here."

"That's why I have this," I said snapping my fingers. In the other hand an emerald green music box appeared. Her eyes lit up at the new treasure. She came closer and took the box from my hands.

"It's beautiful, Peter." She exclaimed turning it over in her hands.

"Yes," I said taking back the box from her, and I began turning the key, "It was a gift I found for you, the night that your father…"

I stopped turning the key. I saw it in the window of a shop, when I was gathering new Lost Boys. I knew that it's dark green coloring with silver accents would have instantly drawn Aria's attention to it if she had been there. I obtained it for her and smugly thought to myself of how my welcome home would be much more amorous with the treasure I carried.

But all of those thoughts disappeared when I returned to Neverland to find my camp in shambles and my Lost Boys unconscious and tied to the surrounding trees. She was taken they said, no one saw it coming.

"Peter," a soft voice broke into my thoughts. I felt two hands wrap around the one with the music box. I looked down at our hands, and saw that mine was wrapped around the box, and I had broken off the turn key. She removed the pieces from my hand, and set it down on a nearby table.

Returning to me she took my hand in her face and pulled me down for a kiss. She was reminding me that she was there. Her hands slid from my face down to my arms, she then moved them to wrap around her.

My lips finally joined her in the kiss and I pulled her closer, so that she was flush against me. She wound her arms around my neck, and her fingers dove into my hair.

"I love you," I whispered against her lips, "And no one will take you away from me again."

~Once~

Henry's Perspective:

"Good Morning, Henry!" Pan hailed as he came up to me, "Care to take a stroll after breakfast? There's someplace I'd like to show."

I narrowed my eye at him, even if he didn't do anything to Mel, I still didn't trust him. He lied to me about my family, and if he lied about that what else was he keeping from me. I don't know how Mel can trust him.

"I'm not going anywhere with you." I announced. Pan sighed tiredly.

"Why not, Henry?" he asked as he took a knee.

"I think you're lying to me."

"Me? Lie?" Pan replied.

"Yes, my family, they're here, on Neverland. I know it. I told you they would come for me.

"What makes you so sure?"

"Does it matter?"

"No. It doesn't. But I'd remiss if didn't point out what does. If your family's here, Henry, why haven't they come for you?"

"Maybe you're keeping them from me." I accused him.

Peter shook his head amused.

"Henry, I promise you, I'm not holding your family prisoner."

"Then why do you keep disappearing into the jungle?" I demanded, standing up, "You're hiding something from me, and I'm gonna find out what its."

With that I stormed off, I wasn't lying to him, I was going to find out what was going on here. And then I was going to tell Mel.

~Once~

I hid on the edge of the camp, behind some tall grass and ferns. I was lying in wait for Pan. This time when he disappeared in the jungle, I would be right behind him. He was hiding something, probably my family. I would follow him, wait until he left, rescue them, and then we can come back to get Mel. She won't want to be with him anymore, when she finds out what he's done to our family.

I watched through the leaves of the plant in front of me as Pan leaned in and whispered something to my sister. She blushed before responding to him. Pan laughed at her and kissed her cheek before standing up. He whistled and Felix came forward, they said goodbye to Mel before walking towards the path near my hiding spot.

"—to the other side of the island and deliver the supplies," I overheard Pan say as he came closer.

"Understood," Felix replied, before stopping alongside Pan, "Just be certain Henry doesn't find out what you're up to."

I knew it. I waited until Pan left, before emerging from my hiding spot and following after Felix. I made sure to keep him in sight at all times, the last thing I wanted to do was get lost. Because then Mel would worry and Pan would know what I had been up to.

I was so caught up in keeping my eye on Felix, I didn't even notice the twig in the middle of the path until it snapped underneath my foot. Felix and I both froze. He started to turn his head and I quickly ducked behind a tree. My heart was pounding in my chest as I waited for Felix to make a move. Eventually I heard him start to walk again, and peeked around the tree. He hadn't seen me. Taking a deep breath, I headed after him. This time making sure not to follow him too closely.

I ducked behind another tree, when I noticed Felix slow down again. But he didn't turn around or anything, all he did was drop his bag of supplies and keep going. I was curious why he did that until I saw the ladder. It went up into a cave, and a soft glow was pouring out of it.

I waited a moment to make sure Felix was really gone, before going over to the supplies. I opened the sack, and saw it was only some fruit and bread, nothing sinister.

I look up from the supplies when I hear coughing. I pick up the supplies and head to the ladder, I climb up as the coughing continues. When I reach the top, I saw the last thing I had expected. The cave had been done up like a girl's room-white curtains, there was a porcelain pitcher, some books, a doll house. And in the center of the room was girl about my age, she looked rather pale and she kept coughing.

"Who are you?" I demanded, climbing into the room.

"You're not supposed to be here," she replied.

"I know," I said stopping in front of the foot of her bed, "I though Pan might be keeping my family here. Why are you so far away from the camp?"

"I'm sick," she answered, "He's afraid someone might catch it."

"Who are you?" I repeated.

"My name's Wendy."

"Wendy Darling?"

She nodded sadly. I came around the iron bed frame and sat on the corner of her bed. I swung the bag of supplies off my shoulder and put it on my lap.

"I'm Henry," I told her," What's wrong?"

"It's the island, Henry. Its power is fading. I've been here a long time…but, well for some reason it's affecting me more than the others." She explained, she then stopped and looked me hard in the eyes, "You look like him."

"Like who?"

"Your father."

"You knew my father?"

"We were friends, a long time ago." She said, "When he was just a little bit older than you. He saved my brothers from danger. He would do anything for my family."

She then started coughing again, her head lifted off the pillow trying to catch her breath."

"Are you going to be okay?" I asked her once she stopped.

"You should go," she said firmly.

"Maybe there is something I can do to help."

"Please. I don't want you to catch what I have. Pan is already doing everything that he can. But the magic here, I fear is not enough."

"There has to be a w—"

"Please go." She interrupted, "Before you too become ill."

I nodded, and place the supplies by her feet before rising from the bed. I started for the ladder, but stopped and turned around to face her.

"I'll come back for you." I told her, "I promise."

She gave me a small sad smile, before closing her eyes. I grabbed the top of the ladder and made my way down. I reached the bottom, and ran down the path to the camp.

~Once~

Peter's Perspective:

I sat beneath a tree waiting for Henry. After putting the Wendy bird back in her cage, I teleported ahead of Henry with plans on catching him before he returned to camp. I had no intention of losing Aria, just when I got Henry back in the fold.

I heard running footsteps in the distance, and waited until Henry passed right in front of me before saying a word.

"Why so glum, chum?" I asked. Henry stopped mid-step and slowly turned around. He hung his head and defeat and start to come over to me. I push myself off the tree, standing up.

"You said you weren't keeping any secrets." He came right out and said, "But you lied. I found Wendy."

"Henry, I can explain." I started my excuse.

"She's dying, isn't she?" Henry cut in.

"I'm afraid she is. Like much on the island, because the magic here is slipping away. I would have told you, but I didn't want you to have weight on your shoulders. Knowing that a young girl's life depends on you."

"So I'm the only one who can save magic?" Henry asked, acting very serious. I tried to hide the smile I could feel forming. I exhaled to cover it up.

"You are." I told him.

"How do I do it?"

"The question isn't how, Henry. It's where." I said, placing my hand on his shoulder, "Follow me."

I turned him around and led him down a path to the rock face that looked over the sea. In a few minutes, we reach our destination- Jagged Tooth. A scraggly rock-face parallel from the tiny odd shaped island that housed Neverland's power.

"Is that Skull Rock?" Henry asked.

"Yes," I answered, "Inside is where our salvation awaits. A salvation that only the heart of the truest believer can bring."

"Me?"

"That's right, Henry. But I won't lie to you. It won't be easy. It will require heroism and sacrifice." I enticed him with his dreams of being a hero, "The only question is, are you up to the task?"

"Yes." Henry answered.

~Once~

Henry's Perspective:

Pan said he needed to gather a few things before heading out to the island. We returned to camp, and I immediately went to find Mel. I couldn't wait to tell her I was going to save magic, and heal the island.

I found her overseeing some of the Lost Boys roasting some meat over the fire.

"Mel! Mel!" I called out, as I ran up to her. She looked over her shoulder, and smiled when she saw me coming.

"Henry," she greeted, "I've been wondering where you got to."

I grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the Boys, towards the tree line.

"I have something to tell you." I told her.

"What?"

"I met Wendy, the Wendy Darling." I exclaimed. A weird look appeared on my sister's face, but I kept going, "She's in a cave, that Pan's set up like a room, on the other side of the island. She's dying, Mel. Magic, the whole island is dying, and it's causing people to get sick."

"I think I'm familiar the sensation." She replied, "What else happened?"

"Pan says because I've got the Heart of the Truest Believer I can save magic, the island, and Wendy."

"Uh-huh," she said glaring at something behind me, "Henry, excuse me for a moment, I have to take care of a few things before dinner."

"Uh…okay," I said. I thought she's be more interested and excited that I was going to save her home.

"Thanks, Henry. Save me seat for dinner."

And with that she charged towards Pan, and shoved him into the wood behind him. She looked furious, I cringed. I actually felt sorry for Pan.

~Once~

Aria's Perspective:

"What was that for?" Peter demanded as he caught himself.

"I thought you sent that-that-that bloody simpering fool away." I hissed hitting his chest, "You promised me."

I went to hit him again, but he caught my hand. So, I slapped him with the other. With his free hand he touched his cheek, swished his mouth around like he was contemplating his next move.

"I deserved that." He said deciding.

"Damn right, you kept her!"

"I kept her to keep her brothers in line."

"John? Michael?"

"Yes, they are my operatives on the ground in the land without magic." Peter explained, "It's because of them that I found you. They were tracking a child who they believed had the Heart of the Truest Believer. They lost him for some time when he was adopted, but when they caught up to him…they found a familiar looking red-head."

He touched my hair, wearing a fond smile. I smacked his hand away.

"Using the our tumultuous love story is not going to get you out of this." I told him, "You kept her here on the island. And Henry said she's got a room in a cave?"

"Temporarily," Peter tried to placate me, "Normally she's in her cage, I just brought her out to play."

"Oh play, and what game do you play with her?"

His face paled knowing he should have chosen his words more carefully.

"I needed her help to convince Henry to do what I wanted," he answered, "I'm dying, Aria. My magic is running out, and when it's gone... Henry is my ticket to immortality and then we can be together for good, and no one will separate us again."

"But Henry has to die."

"I'm sorry, love." He apologized, placing a hand on either cheek. But I didn't believe him. I may be in love with him, but I was aware how vindictive he can be. He was happy that the Henry was the one destined to save him. If he could have chosen the person to carry the very special heart it would still be Henry. His familial connections made sure of that. And my indecision and feelings for Henry were only a hitch in his carefully constructed plans.

I pushed his hands off my face, and walked away. Suddenly being home wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.

"Aria?" Peter called after me. I stopped, "What can I do? Tell me what I need to do?"

I wanted to tell him to find another way, but I know he's probably thought of a few ways during the dark times when he felt like he would never find the Heart. And most likely they all failed.

I wanted to tell him to let Henry go, but then Peter would die along with Neverland I knew. And as much as I loved Henry, I would always love Peter more. Always.

"I want her gone." I told him.

"Done." He agreed.

"I mean it Peter," I spun on him, "I don't want her here. And if I find out you lied to me again, the consequence will be severe."

"You'll punish me for being a bad boy?" He asked trying to light the mood.

"No," I responded, "I'll leave."

The smirk on his face instantly disappeared.

"Anything else?" He asked, his tone sour.

"Yes, Henry said our family was here. Does that mean…"

"Yes."

"Take me to him."

~Once~

Hook's Perspective:

Upon our return from the miserable pit of a hollow, I offered to get firewood. It gave me a chance to escape Bae and cool off from our confrontation from earlier. I gathered some sticks and placed them in a pile on the ground while I fetched some more.

In the middle of my search a crack of thunder shook the island. I looked up and saw a brilliant light show paired with angry, churning clouds. It looks like we were in for quite a storm. I needed to get back before the wood became absolutely useless.

I returned to my horde, and bent down to pick up. There was some rustling near me just before a pair of brown boots appeared in my vision. As I scanned up the figure I noted the green and browns of the Lost Boy uniform.

"Bloody hell," I said to myself, but the face of the figure stopped me from drawing a weapon, "Aria."

She was shaking like a leaf and was wearing an odd look on her face.

"How could you!" She screamed at me. The wind picked up speed around us. The force of it caused me to drop the firewood.

"Aria, calm down yo-."

"CALM DOWN! CALM DOWN! YOU TOOK EVERYTHING FROM ME!"

"I'm sorry; I thought I was doing the right thing." I yelled over the wind.

"SORRY! Sorry is not going to fix the lifetime you stole from me. You didn't do it for me, you did it for yourself so don't you dare lie to me." she raved as thunder began to rumble in the distance.

"I-I-I…" I started but I couldn't find any words to say.

"You killed my best friend. My. Best. Friend. And I hated you for it, but I would have eventually forgiven you for it., because I know it was an accident. You're my father and I loved you as much as I hated you. Don't you understand we could have still been a family? But this…taking my memories, taking me from my only home, from Peter… I will never forgive you for this. Never!

As she spoke rain had begun to fall down hard, her raging emotions had created a storm as angry as she. My heart broke with each sentence she uttered; I knew she spoke the truth. I would never have a relationship with my daughter again, and it wasn't Pan's fault, it was mine. Nonetheless I felt the need to comfort her and I take a few steps closer to her, she backs up and held her hands up to stop me.

"Please," I begged her, "What can I do? Tell me what I need to do? And I swear it to you, Aria, I will do it."

"Save them both, Papa. I need you to save them both."

"Save them both?" I repeated, "Save who?"

"Peter, I'm ready!" she called out. Pan appeared in less than a second and he was blown back a bit by the force of the storm Aria had created. He managed to right himself, and walk over to her. He cups her face, getting her to focus on him. She nods at something he says and Peter looks at me over his shoulder. Instead of seeing triumph in his eyes, I see something akin to understanding. He nods at me and then they both disappeared. Aria's storm raged, and every crackle of thunder seemed like an accusation.

"Save who?" I asked the storm.

~Once~

Dun. Dun. Dun…. Seemed about time for Aria to confront the men in her life. I hope it came out okay. Please review.