Think Lovely Thoughts
Killian watched his daughter carefully as she munched on fruit Tink gave her in some attempt to regain some energy before they stormed Pan's camp to save Henry. He knew they needed to have that conversation now, but he wanted Emer to take care of herself so badly he was willing to put their relationship on the line. As long as she was alright.
She knew his eyes were on her, but she was hungry, the fruit was good, and she needed the energy more than she had in a long time. She wasn't sure she'd ever used her magic to such an extent, and if she had, it had been a very long time ago.
Finally, Killian put his hand on her shoulder. He knew there wasn't much time before they reached the compound, and they needed to have everything all straightened up by the time they got there. "Em, are you ready to have that talk?"
She nodded slightly as she chewed her bite of fruit. She might've been living on a jungle island for the past two centuries, but she still had manners. She didn't talk with her mouth full.
The sight made Killian smile slightly before he sighed, starting the hardest conversation he'd been a part of in a very long time, if not ever. "I'm so sorry, Emerlyn. I never meant for any of this to happen. When I left Neverland so many years ago, it was to search for a way to defeat Pan and finally take you home. I never meant for it to take so long or to get so distracted along the way." He looked away from his daughter and shook his head. "I've made so many mistakes, Em, but leaving you behind is my biggest one. And you were right. Now I'm making the same mistakes with Emma."
He looked up at her again and stopped behind the moving group of heroes, his hand on Emer's shoulder as he knelt to be closer to her level. "But me loving someone else will never, ever mean that I love you any less." He brushed her tangled dark hair out of her face and ran his thumb softly across her sparsely freckled cheeks. "You're my bright star, Em. You're the best thing that ever happened to me."
Emer looked down, trying not to show her father that his near-speech had almost made her cry. "I'm just scared, Papa," she said softly, her voice dropping to almost a whisper. "You want to make Emma happy so badly that I was afraid…" She shook her head a little. The thought seemed silly now, after everything he'd just said and she knew he meant.
"Afraid of what, Em?" He asked softly, looking at her with blue eyes still completely filled with concern.
"I was afraid you'd let Emma trade me for Henry," she whispered, laughing a little. "Seems stupid now."
Killian looked at her in shock. "I would never let anyone give you to that monster," he insisted quickly, voice full of conviction. "Whether it was Emma or Charming or Poseidon himself. No one is taking you away from me again for a very, very long time."
Emer wrapped her arms around her father quickly, squeezing him tight. "I love you. And I'm sorry for what I said."
Hook returned it just as tightly before he stood, smiling at his daughter. "I love you, too. More than anything. But we should probably catch up."
Emer shrugged a little, smiling slightly. "Yeah, maybe." There was a new brightness behind her large blue eyes, a sense of mischief he recognized from long before she was trapped here.
He smiled at his daughter one more time, brighter than he'd smiled in ages. For the first time in two-hundred years, neither of them were lost.
They caught up with the others and Tinkerbell slipped Emerlyn another fruit, knowing the girl still had to be hungry and that she was still in need of energy.
Suddenly the entire group stopped at intense rustling in the brush in front of them, before Emer had even taken a bite of her fruit.
Killian, David, and Emma pulled their swords, the pirate stepping in front of his daughter with his hook in front of her to keep her back, though the sharp tip was pointed away. Mary Margaret nocked an arrow carefully. Tinkerbell pulled a small clublike object from her pouch.
Regina pushed through the brush and let out a small, surprised gasp before she huffed while Emma slowly lowered her sword. "Well," the queen said, "if this is your version of a rescue party, we got here just in time."
"What are you two doing here?" Mary Margaret asked, her bow lowered as David slipped his sword back into its sheath.
"The same as you," Regina replied easily. "Except, we actually have a chance." She motioned to a small metal box with Ancient Greek writing on it that was in the hands of the man that was behind her. "Pandora's Box. It can trap Pan for eternity simply by opening the lid."
Emer's eyes went wide. She'd read about that thing, but… trap Pan inside it? Wouldn't it just let out even more bad when it was opened?
Neal looked at Emma, his voice low as he spoke. "You didn't tell me my father was with her."
"I didn't know," Emma replied in the same tone.
"Wait, your father is the Dark One?" Tinkerbell asked in shock.
"Yeah," Neal confirmed, his tone growing louder so the man in crocodile skin could hear him. "And he's not getting anywhere near Henry."
"Bae…" the Dark One tried, his tone soft and a little desperate toward his son.
"Why?" Emma asked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"There's a prophecy that says that Henry will be his undoing," Neal explained quickly, making sure everyone in their little group heard him clearly. "He didn't come here to protect him. He came here to kill him."
Everyone slide back from him, suddenly defensive.
Regina stepped away from the Dark One, looking just as defensive as the others. "That's why you didn't want to find Neal before you got Henry back? Because you knew he'd spill your secret."
"Everything I did was to protect Henry," the man objected, his full attention focused on Regina before he turned to the others. "To rescue him from Pan."
"It all makes sense," Emma said with wide eyes as she readied her sword again. "You left before we even made shore."
Mary Margaret raised her bow again. "You wanted to get to Henry first."
David unsheathed his sword. "To be on his own."
Killian did the same, much slower and smoother about it so he didn't wave it too close to Emerlyn or Tinkerbell. "So no one could stop you."
Emer wished she wasn't so confused.
The man in crocodile skin rolled his eyes again.
"So you can kill him," Regina finished, her gaze on the Dark One growing colder by the moment.
"It's not gonna happen," the Savior told him quickly. "Not unless you go through all of us first."
"You're making a mistake," the Dark One insisted. "I don't care if the boy is destined to be my undoing. I won't hurt him."
"Because that sounds just like you," Regina all but scoffed.
"Without me, you will fail," he told the group simply. "I'm the most powerful amongst us."
"That's why we can't trust you," Neal said just as simply.
"If I could give you my dagger, I would," the Dark One promised, "but I can't."
"But you can give me Pandora's Box," Neal replied, motioning to it. "I don't have to trust you if I can stop you."
"Son…" the Dark One tried one more time before he sighed through his nose and handed the box to Neal.
"Look at me," Neal told his father quickly.
The Dark One obeyed.
"If you so much as lift a finger to perform magic, you're gonna spend an eternity in this box." Neal tucked it away in his bag.
"Let's go," Emma said quickly, and they walked off to the sound of swords being sheathed.
Emerlyn looked at her father, still holding her uneaten fruit from Tinkerbell. "That's the Dark One?"
"Afraid so," Killian replied quietly as he put his sword away.
"What's his name?" She asked, curiosity getting the better of her like it always used to.
Hook smiled a little. Some things never changed. "Rumpelstiltskin," he told her quietly. "But back in Storybrooke, they called him Mister Gold. I prefer to call him the crocodile."
Emer raised an eyebrow. "Crocodile? Because of his clothes?"
Killian couldn't stop his chuckle at her guess. He hadn't really thought of that. "Not quite," he said softly, "but it is helping now. I'll explain once we're off this island, alright?"
Emer nodded. "I'm gonna hold you to that."
"I expected nothing less."
Emer walked just in front of Killian as she heard the Savior jog forward a few steps before catching her father's attention with a hand on his shoulder.
"We need to talk," she told him quickly.
Killian hummed a little. "I've found when a woman says that, I'm rarely in for pleasant conversation."
Emer snorted. "Where'd you learn that?"
The pirate flashed his daughter a quick smile. "Your mother."
Emer couldn't help but smile back before Emma cleared her throat and continued with what she had been planning to say. "There has to be a way for David to leave the island."
"Well, there isn't," Killian replied simply as he pushed past large leaves that Emer had ducked under in front of him.
"He told me about your brother, what happened," Emma continued on. "I know it can't be easy to talk about, but—"
"Then let's not, shall we?" Killian interrupted quickly. "I'm sure Emer doesn't want to hear it again any more than I do. The water that healed David from Dreamshade has connected him to the island. If he leaves, the connection is broken, and the poison will kill him."
"What if we take some of the water with us?" Emma asked quickly, sounding almost desperate for a solution. "That way he stays connected. He can stay alive in Storybrooke."
"For how long?" Killian asked, stopping to look at her.
Emer stopped a few feet ahead, trying to keep an eye on both halves of the traveling party.
"Once the water runs out, the Dreamshade will take his life," the pirate finished simply.
"Unless there was another cure," Rumpelstiltskin interjected from behind the Savior and the pirate.
Both looked at him in surprise.
Emerlyn raised a disbelieving eyebrow.
"You're suddenly interested in what I have to say?" The Dark One asked, the rhetorical question full of an almost mocking tone. "Thought I wasn't to be trusted."
Emer frowned slightly. She really didn't like this guy. There was something about him that was just… she couldn't find the right word to sum up what she was thinking. Was there a word that meant would-stab-you-in-the-back-without-a-moment's-notice-without-a-second-thought? Because that would sum him up beautifully.
"You're not," Emma said coldly as she watched him continue to leisurely walk forward, between the Savior and Hook. "But I'll take my chances."
Emer took a step away from Rumpelstiltskin, toward the side of the path. She wasn't sure if he'd walk over her or not, but she didn't really want to take that chance.
"Well, if you remember, I, too, was poisoned with Dreamshade," he reminded, "by a cowardly pirate—" he motioned to Killian. "—and yet…"
Emer raised an eyebrow, but didn't comment. Now she really needed to know more details about why her father seemed to hate him so much.
"Yes," the Savior interrupted quickly, "and we know how you cured yourself. With a candle that takes another person's life. David is not that selfish."
"Oh, how noble," Mr. Gold mocked. "The point is, after my near-death experience, I discovered much about the poison. I believe I could create an elixir back in my shop."
Emma's eyes narrowed at the Dark One. "What's your price?"
"Well, this is quite the favor," he pointed out with a small smirk. "I would expect one of equal weight in return." He sauntered back around slowly to continue walking forward, following the trail the others left.
"No," Neal objected, walking forward to stop his father and look him in the eye as he spoke. "When we get back to Storybrooke, you're gonna save David because it's the right thing to do. No deals, no favors. Understand?"
Emerlyn couldn't tell if Gold agreed because it was Neal that asked it of him, or because Neal held Pandora's Box, but he agreed nonetheless.
Emma couldn't stop her surprised expression before she started forward. "I'll go tell David."
The others all started forward, Killian still doing his best to stay between Emer and the Dark One when Tinkerbell, Snow, David, and Regina all came back to meet them.
"We're here," the green fairy told them quickly. "Pan's perimeter."
"It's time," Emma said simply. "Tink will sneak us in the back like we planned. We grab Henry. In and out, Simple."
Emerlyn had a feeling nothing ever went that smoothly for them, but… faith and trust, right?
The Savior looked at Neal. "You good with Pan Patrol?"
Neal nodded once. "Locked and loaded." He tapped his bag twice.
Rumplestiltskin reached over, toward Killian's belt. "You mind if I, uh, borrow this?" He freed the sword from its sheath with the song of sliding metal. "You said no magic, I agreed," he explained as the others went on the defensive, and the pirate took a protective step in front of his daughter, continuing on like he couldn't care less. He probably didn't. "But I'm not walking in there with nothing but my good looks."
"Now, I, on the other hand—" Killian started, frowning.
"Here," David called, tossing him a shorter blade. "In case your good looks fail you."
Emerlyn snorted.
"Thanks, mate." Killian caught it and nodded slightly in thanks before looking at his amused daughter. "Yes, Em?"
"Nothing," she said with a small smile she couldn't quite make go away. Adults were so weird. At least sometimes it was entertaining.
He leaned down and kissed the top of her head. "Stay close to me, Em," he whispered into her hair before he straightened.
Emer nodded slightly.
Everyone turned back to wait on the Savior's signal.
Emma nodded slightly. "Let's get Henry."
They all hid silently in the brush around the compound watching and waiting for the perfect moment. Emer was, as she promised, by her father's side while they all waited for word on what to do.
"Can I at least use magic on these boys?" Rumplestiltskin asked Neal quietly, albeit a little exasperatedly.
"No," Neal said simply.
"I'll do it," Regina volunteered quickly.
"No, wait," Neal ordered softly before leaning around to look for the former Lost Girl. "Emer?"
The teen in question peeked around her father. "Yeah?"
"Can you do it? Put them to sleep?"
Emer nodded.
"Do it."
"Why her?" Regina asked in confusion, and slight offense.
"Because her magic is less likely to hurt them," Neal said simply.
Regina couldn't help but agree. Her magic wasn't made to be gentle.
"Plug your ears," the teen said to all of the adults. "Just in case."
Everyone obeyed, except Killian. He wasn't exactly able to.
Emer looked at him apologetically.
He nodded at her reassuringly.
She took a deep breath, and slowly began humming a lullaby, making sure it was loud enough for the Lost Boys to hear all through the camp.
It was obvious when they started to feel the enchantment. They began swaying on their feet, eyes heavy, some even laid down completely. Before her hummed song was finished, the entire camp of Lost Boys was laying on the ground, sound asleep.
Emerlyn took a deep breath after she was finished, looking at her father in concern. His eyes looked heavy, but he was far from asleep.
He smiled at her proudly before they stepped into the compound. "Good job, Em."
The adults quickly scoured the compound, looking for any sign of Pan or Henry.
"Where's Pan?" Neal asked, voice full of concern.
"I don't know," Emma said quickly, voice just as concerned and filled with even more urgency. 'Henry?"
"He's gotta be here somewhere," David said quickly, searching trees.
"Where?" Mary Margaret asked in an urgent tone of her own.
"Help!" A young female voice that wasn't Emerlyn called quickly, sounding a little groggy from Emer's lullaby.
Emma rushed over to her, followed by Neal and Rumplestiltskin.
Emerlyn knew exactly who that was. And that she would be working for Pan. It wasn't like she had a choice. Her brothers we as much Pan's prisoners as she was.
Wendy Darling.
Emer sat on a log beside Tinkerbell in the compound as she listened to Wendy's story, picking out all of the forgeries that Pan had told her to tell. All of the other adults were listening, too, though they had no reason to suspect she was lying.
Except it looked like the Dark One had a few suspicions of his own. Like why Pan had left her so far away from the others.
Emer knew the answer. It was because Wendy was his second most powerful chess piece, his Rook, and had been for years. The only piece he'd had that was more influential and powerful for his game was her, and she'd been taken from him. The dark-haired teen hated the fact that being the most powerful piece in his chess game made her his Queen.
It was almost enough to make her shudder.
But Neal, as trusting as he was, was prepared to believe whatever came out of Wendy's mouth. She was an old friend after all.
Neal knelt beside the newly blanketed blonde teen. "Hey, Wendy, since you've been here, have you seen my son? His name's Henry."
Wendy looked at him in surprise. "You have a son?"
Emer noted that. Another lie. She had still been at the compound when Henry first arrived, and she saw when Henry's curiosity had gotten the better of him, and he neared the cage. There was no way Wendy wouldn't have noticed.
"Yeah," Neal said softly, still explaining. "Pan needs his heart."
"Has he said anything about the heart of the truest believer?" Emma asked from where she sat, watching carefully.
Emerlyn knew Wendy would lie over this one to protect her brothers. She had to. Pan had been mentioning the heart of the truest believer since he sent his lackeys in the land without magic to grab Henry, long before the boy had actually arrived. It was impossible to overhear him telling Felix. Or when he'd told Emer herself.
He'd once told her everything too, when he was convinced she'd truly become lost.
Too bad he hadn't ever been correct.
Wendy shook her head slightly as she gave the answer Emer had expected. "No. I'm sorry. He never mentioned anything about a heart."
"She's lying," Rumplestiltskin said suddenly, sword pointed her direction, though it wasn't close enough to be a true threat to her.
Neal turned to look at his father with a raised eyebrow.
"Where is he?" The Dark One demanded, starting forward to close the distance he needed to use that sword.
Neal and David quickly moved to step between him and the light-haired teen.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," David said quickly, pushing the crocodile back. "What the hell are you doing?"
"He's right," Emerlyn called, looking over at Neal and David. "She is lying."
The two younger men looked between the Neverland teens in shock.
Wendy looked at her desperately. "Emer, please, my brothers…"
Emer moved toward her and sat in front of her, taking Wendy's hands in her scarred, tan ones. "We can help your brothers. We can stop Pan, and save Henry, but we need your help, Wendy. Where did Pan take him?"
"How can we trust them?" Wendy whispered.
"Your brothers trusted them," Emerlyn told her softly. "John and Michael trusted a woman named Belle. She's one of them, loves Bae's father. Please, Wendy, and they'll get us all out of here. We can take you back to your brothers."
Wendy smiled slightly and nodded. "Okay."
Emerlyn stepped back to let the other girl speak, sliding back to her place beside Hook and Tink.
Killian put his hand on her shoulder when she sat back down, squeezing it softly. She continued to impress him with what she could do and how she acted.
"Wendy," Neal said as he knelt beside her again. "We will help John and Michael, I swear to God. But right now, I really need your help. Please."
Wendy looked away from him for a moment before she answered. She was still so afraid of what would happen to her brothers if they didn't succeed. But, just like them, it was a chance she had to take. "Pan told Henry that he needs his heart to save magic. It's a lie. He needs it to save himself."
Emer looked at Wendy with wide, shocked blue eyes. "It's true? I thought they were just rumors."
"What do you mean?" Killian asked, looking between both teens with a furrowed brow.
The two girls traded looks again before Wendy continued. "Pan's dying. He needs the heart of the truest believer to absorb all of the magic in Neverland. And once he does, he will be immortal, all powerful."
Fear crawled up Emerlyn's throat and clamped her there so tightly it became hard to breathe. All of the magic in Neverland. Did that include hers? Her magic didn't originate there, so maybe she was safe, but she'd been there so long, how could she know? All-powerful Peter Pan. That was worse than she could've imagined, even in her nightmares.
She felt her father's hand tighten slightly on her shoulder, pulling her back to reality. He wasn't going to let anything happen to her. Not now, not then, not ever.
"And what happens to Henry?" Mary Margaret asked slowly.
"Well, it's a trade," Wendy continued slowly, almost stammering. "When Pan lives, Henry will die."
"How do we stop Pan?" David asked urgently after what looked like a small family conference that Emer, Tink, and Hook weren't privy to.
"Pan took Henry to Skull Rock," Wendy told them quickly. "But you haven't got much time."
"Then we stay behind," David decided quickly. "Someone needs to be here to guard the Lost Boys when they wake up."
"You don't need to stay behind," Emma protested.
"David's right," Mary Margaret said quickly. "If you get him home, tell him we love him."
"Tell him yourself," Emma said, "when you get back from Dead Man's Peak. Gold can cure you back in Storybrooke. We just need to bring some of the water with us."
Mary Margaret marched forward and grabbed her daughter in a hug, chuckling softly. "You didn't give up." She looked at Gold. "Thank you."
Well, apparently that's the only thanks I need these days," Rumplestiltskin said almost bitterly.
"Tink, Emer, and I will take care of things here," Hook told them simply, "and meet you back at the Jolly Roger when you find Henry."
Emer nodded slightly. She could help them keep the Lost Boys in check. She'd been doing it for decades anyway.
Mary Margaret turned back to Emma and whispered, "Promise me if your father and I don't make it back, you get him home."
"We're all going home," Emma swore, "together."
David and Mary Margaret left the camp for Dead Man's Peak.
Emerlyn hoped the group going to save Henry was enough. The Savior, the Evil Queen, the Dark One, and the Dark One's son. But if Pan tricked them, it didn't matter how much magic they had, losing was still a strong possibility.
A green wave of magical energy spread through the island, knocking Killian, Tink, and Emer back a step before the Lost Boys woke up.
Emerlyn looked at her father with wide blue eyes. That couldn't have been anything good. In fact, she had a sick feeling she knew exactly what it was.
And it meant they were doomed.