Chapter Five- Treasure Island
It was three months later, when Ingrid was seen in Phil's courtyard. She was back in her clothes she'd worn in the Enchanted Forest, facing Phil with her three friends standing off to the side. Allan was seen running over with his friend Henry since Ingrid was now 'graduating' from being Phil's apprentice. Henry and Allan had stayed in contact with her since the ball, and were thus invited to this 'graduation' of sorts.
"Well now, it seems you've managed to accomplish every challenge and task I set before you. This biggest task of all comes next," Phil was saying when they caught up to where Arjana and her brothers were standing.
"What's that, Master?" Blinked Ingrid nervously.
"Take an apple from my tree and eat it. Simple enough." Smirked Phil.
"But this tree… You said it restores what was lost to the person, and shows them their destiny…" She stared at him.
"That it does." Nodded Phil. "It can be intimidating to anyone. To the point where they refuse to take a bite from one of these apples. I've only ever had one other apprentice to do so, long ago."
"Hercules…" She looked over to the apple tree. Then over to her friends.
"That's right. He was one of my greatest pupils. Strong, talented, humble, kind… Fearless…" Phil put a little emphasis on the last word.
Ingrid looked back over to the tree.
"Careful...You may not like all that you remember." Phil warned.
"There's only one way to find out." She retorted, stepping over past him and taking one of the pink looking apples. With a spell, she cleaned it proper before looking over at her friends. "I'm tired of wondering, never knowing and feeling like I just don't belong." She added. She then took a bite.
It seemed like all of her memories coming at her from all sides. Her childhood, learning how to dance with her Grandfather Prince Charming, all the time she spent on the Jolly Roger avoiding the bullies at her school who teased her lack of magic control even though she was the daughter of the Savior…
She stumbled a little bit on the spot. Arjana, Ray and Bujune wanted to rush forward but Phil put out his arm to stop her.
"Give her a chance to collect herself." He warned.
When Ingrid looked up, her eyes first met with Allan's who looked just as surprised as she did. Then she looked over at her brother.
"H-Henry?" She asked uncertainty.
"You remember?" He blinked, before breaking into a run and giving his sister a big hug when she nodded, breaking into tears.
"You gave me the book… All this time… I had no recollection…" She cried.
"I'm so glad you're all right!" Henry almost didn't want to let go of his little sister until she herself broke the hug. "We've gotta get to everyone else now that you remember!"
Ingrid looked over at her Master.
"You've done well, My Apprentice." Phil said, actually looking proud. "You've completed your training, and may return to your family."
"Thank you for everything, Master." She walked over to him. "I'd like to give you a hug now if that's ok?"
"Oh all right, I guess so." He nodded with his old gruffness back in his voice. He gave her a hug, and patted her on the back like she was a grandchild to him. "It was a treat having you lot here. I'm going to miss having you around, and your… unique brand of chaos."
"Well… Why don't you come with us, Master?" Asked Ingrid.
"No… Thank you. My place is here. I must guard the Tree, make sure no one unworthy tries to eat or destroy it." Phil said.
"But you left before…" Blinked Ingrid, confused.
"Only for a short stretch of time. To find you. And you don't have to call me Master anymore." He added.
"You'll always be Master to me," She said with a smile.
"You and your friends will always be welcome if you need anything." He said. "No off with you lot and leave me in peace," He winked at her as he grumped at the rest.
Ingrid walked over to her friends with her brother.
"Ready to go?" Asked Allan, pointing towards the door.
"I have a better idea." Grinned Ingrid.
With a poof of magic, all the guests in Phil's courtyard vanished into thin air.
"Finally, some peace and quiet." Grumped Phil, walking back into his manor.
Reappearing in the palace courtyard, the group except for Ingrid were a little bit disoriented at first.
"Wow! You've gotten good at this!" Commented Henry, to which Ingrid smiled a little embarrassed.
"Henry!" Gasped Emma in surprise. "I wasn't expecting you back for a while yet." Rushing over with Killian and hugging her son.
"Mom." Said Ingrid quietly, and Emma looked over at her in shock. She then looked at her father. "Papa."
"You remember?" Stared Emma, slowly letting go of her son to walk over to Ingrid.
"Aye," Nodded Ingrid, using one of her father's phrases.
Emma and Killian rushed over to Ingrid and hugged their daughter.
"I've missed you so much." Said Ingrid, now actually crying quietly. "I wouldn't have been able to find you if it weren't for my friends, and Allan."
"Don't worry kid, you'll never have to worry about being away from us like that again." Emma said, tears in her own eyes.
"Well that's a tall promise to keep." Ka'a's voice broke up the moment. Silence seemed to fill the courtyard as the family broke apart to turn around.
Emma and Killian stood in front of Ingrid.
"Hummm… A few magic users, three wolves, a prince, a guy with a magic pen and a pirate with one hand… Hardly seems fair." Ka'a said with a tilt to her head.
"I remember now…" Muttered Ingrid. "You're the one who set that Tiger on me." She said this part a little louder.
"Oh, I see the memories are coming back. Hmm… Pity. I would've loved this little game of ours to have lasted longer." Ka'a frowned with a fake pouty lip.
"Ingrid-" Henry began as Allan hurried over to take her by the arm.
The moment he touched her arm, there was a blast of magic.
"I don't think so, Your Majesty." Said Sher Khan, seeming to creep out of the shadows as Allan hit the floor.
"Allan!" Ingrid rushed over to him, or at least tried to.
Arjana yelled out in alarm while Ray and Bujune acted fast as Ka'a took advantage of the distraction. Ka'a unsheathed her sword, striking fast and quick making to kill Ingrid, but instead she struck someone else.
Emma and Killian turned around in time to see Ka'a running her blade through the werewolf Bujune who'd jumped in between the snake and her prey.
"Well this is an unexpected twissst." Hissed Ka'a with a grin, withdrawing her sword as both Arjana and Ingrid yelled out in grief as Bujune fell, coughing up blood and holding his side.
"Enough!" Shouted Allan, raising his right hand as he stood up. Ice magic shot forth, forcing Ka'a backwards out of surprise as the sharp spikes aimed for her heart.
"Bujune!" Arjana and Ray reached their fallen brother, turning him over.
"It-it's too late for me." He coughed as Emma hurried over.
"No, I can heal you." Emma said, just as Snow, David, Regina, Gideon, Neal, Elsa, Anna and Kristof entered the courtyard.
"It's ok." Bujune reached for his neck where he fumbled a bit with the neck of his robes. There was a small snap as he pulled a small, dark pendant. "Give this to Ingrid." He coughed.
"Our family crest…" Ray said quietly.
"She may not be a werewolf like us, but she is still one of us." Said Bujune as Emma set to try to heal him.
"You're too late, Savior." said Ka'a in her annoying singsong voice. "My poison acts quicker than you can heal. Ask your daughter. Oh wait… you can't…"
"You snake, why are you doing this?" Demanded Killian.
"Snake huh? That's accurate. Quite accurate." Smiled Ka'a, directing her sword at him now, ignoring Allan's show of ice magic.
"Phil… Get Phil… He healed me before!" Shouted Ingrid, tears running down her face. Due to being abruptly magically bound to the spot, she couldn't go to Phil herself.
"I'll go." Said Regina, poofing away at once.
"So the wizard healed you? I wondered how you survived that little scuffle of ours on the boat ride over." Grinned Ka'a.
"You still haven't answered me… Why are you involving my family in this feud? Haven't you ever heard of the phrase 'don't blame the children for the mistakes of the parents?" Demanded Killian, unsheathing his own sword.
"Hmmm… Apparently not. See, pirate, it's been our goal to steal what is most precious to you since you stole what was most precious to us. Haven't I mentioned that before?" Ka'a asked, with her sword outstretched.
"And we discovered over the years what was most precious to you wasn't gold or jewels…" Sher Khan growled, walking up to Ingrid. "Patience is a most valued virtue." He added as Regina returned with Phil who rushed over to Bujune.
"You're lucky you had Regina with you to get me so quickly." Phil grunted, kneeling down by Ray who was holding the crest necklace Bujune handed him.
Both Allan and Elsa had their hands directed at Sher Khan while Killian faced off with Ka'a.
"Unfortunately for you, I'm now very grateful I saved the wizard's life." Commented Killian.
"And that's just yet another mistake you'll live to regret, pirate." Ka'a said before swinging her sword at him.
"Careful of the sword, it's poisonous!" Said Arjana, momentarily forgetting that everyone saw Bujunu almost getting killed just now.
"Yes, I gathered that much already thank you very much!" Killian said as he dodged a well aimed strike that barely missed his head. He parried to his left, kicking Ka'a's legs out from under her and she hit the ground hard.
Ingrid had been quiet while she watched her father fight the snake in the courtyard. When everyone was momentarily distracted by Ka'a's fall, Allan took advantage by sending a wave of ice spikes at Sher Khan who was forced to release Ingrid who fell with a grunt to the ground as her brother hurried over to check that she was ok.
Ka'a transformed before their very eyes into a massive snake and slithered around as Elsa aimed a powerful blast at her.
"I see Ingrid's not the only one who's gotten loads better with their magic since we last met," Commented Emma in spite of the situation.
"Sher Khan…" Hissed the snake.
"Right." He nodded.
There was a blast of powerful magic just as David rushed over to stop him. David was sent flying backwards, along with everyone else in the courtyard witnessing the fight.
"You shouldn't have involved yourselves," Snarled Sher Khan to Elsa, Anna, and Kristof.
"Wait… What're you doing?" Asked Anna. As black smoke seemed to swirl around them.
"Allan!" Shouted Kristof in the confusion before they all blacked out.
There was a large island in the middle of the great ocean in the Enchanted Realms that belonged to Sher Khan and Ka'a. A castle deep in the jungles, beaches all around. Even a massive, dormant volcano in the center covered in jungle.
Ingrid realized the spell freezing her had been lifted, and she fell on her knees once she realized what had happened.
"What in the bloody hell just happened?" Killian blinked, looking around. He could see his daughter, and Allan. Then he looked behind him to see the island they were trapped on. "Ah, brilliant. Another bleeding island." He grumbled.
"Quite the observant one, aren't you?" Sher Khan said as Allan went over to Ingrid, putting a quiet reassuring hand on her shoulder.
The trio looked over at Sher Khan, and Killian aimed his sword at him.
"Not one step closer, tiger." He snapped.
"You should be nicer to a person who invited you to live on our island." Said Sher Khan, pushing the sword aside with his fingers.
"You don't mean…" Killian began.
"Indeed. Welcome to our Treasure Island." Sher Khan gave a mocking bow. "You'll find everything you'll need to survive here. Which is quite handy, considering you'll never see your wife or the rest of your family ever again."
"We'll see about that," Retorted Allan.
"Aye, the lad's right. Where there's a will, there's a way. Neverland couldn't keep me trapped there forever, and this Treasure Island sure as hell won't keep us imprisoned forever." Said Killian.
"That will most certainly be interesting to see. Enjoy your time here." And Sher Khan vanished from the spot.
Only after he was sure Sher Khan was away did Killian sheath his sword, then walk over to Ingrid, who seemed to be in a state of numb shock.
"Come on, duckling." He said, pulling his daughter to her feet.
"Just when I thought our family would be whole again…" She muttered. "And you… You were taken from yours too. Are you ok?" She looked over at Allan.
"I will be." He replied.
"Don't worry lad, I've had my share of being trapped on a supposedly inescapable island and found a way out." Killian reassured Allan.
"So we've got ice magic, Papa and my magic…" Muttered Ingrid.
"I don't wanna jinx it, but I think we'll do ok." Allan said with a small smile. "I don't think our moms will let anything else happen to our families while we're apart."
Ingrid suddenly looked like she remembered something, and frantically dug around in her bag.
"Ingrid? What is it, love?" Asked Killian, walking over to her as she pulled out her mirror.
"Don't you think it's a little odd to think about preening yourself?" Asked Allan.
"That's no ordinary mirror lad," Killian pointed. "And quite frankly I'm impressed you still have it after all this time."
"We can check in on our families with this mirror. We won't be able to communicate with them, but we'll at least be able to know if they're all right. Then we can worry about the rest of what we need to do." She said, to which Allan and Killian leaned over her shoulders to watch. "Show me my mother."
The mirror glowed, flashed briefly then flickered and revealed the courtyard where everyone was waking up after being knocked out by magic. Even Bujune who'd been struck down was waking up, looking stunned at his good fortune that Phil managed to get there just in time.
"Oh thank goodness… Thank you, Master." Whispered Ingrid gratefully.
"Looks like my family are ok too." Allan commented, pointing out his mom, dad and aunt.
"Lucky for us, everyone appears just fine," Sighed Killian.
"Except for us being trapped on Treasure Island which is who knows where in the ocean, and they are all the way over in Arandale." Ingrid reminded them, lowering her arms after they'd gotten a reassuring look at their families.
"They really do care for you, you know that right?" Asked Allan. "Your family, the wolves…"
"I know that, now…" She said, having once confided in Allan during her time off that she didn't even know if her family loved her. "Thank you," She added, realizing how curt she'd sounded just then. "Things are still a bit muddled, but they are coming back." She looked over at her father. "A part of me still finds it hard to believe that Captain Hook is my papa, and the Savior my mom." She grinned at him.
"That would be hard for anyone to take in, to be honest, love." Sighed Killian, putting his arm around his daughter with the hook at her shoulder.
There was a low rumbling of thunder in the distance. Allan, Killian and Ingrid turned to see a storm approaching from the distant ocean.
"A storm is coming," Said Allan.
"Aye, we'd better find some shelter, and fast." Agreed Killian.
Ingrid put her mirror back in her bag as they began the trek from the beach into the jungle.
"It does make sense now though…" She said.
"What does, love?" Asked Killian.
"What RedBeard was saying to me, all those months ago. He said he was sure I had a connection to a pirate because of the necklace I have." She went on.
"Wait, you were friends with Captain RedBeard?" Killian paused on reflection.
"Yeah. Why?" She asked.
"Well, last I heard he wasn't the easiest person to be friends with. He was one of the legendary pirates back in the day. And the fact that you can call him your friend shows-" Killian paused.
"Papa?" She blinked, looking worried.
"It shows what kind of person you are," Allan finished. "You can make friends with anyone. It's a gift not many people can claim to their name."
"Exactly." Nodded Killian with a look at Allan 'thanks for the save'.
"I did save them from a storm Ka'a had conjured up, kept their ship the Morning Star from sinking. So I guess maybe that played a role in my befriending pirates when I didn't have any memories of who I really was." Ingrid said casually as they took the first steps into the jungle. "Great… Just when I thought I was done with these freakin' jungles." She grumbled, a little bit of her Godmother showing through.
"It's ok, duckling. This time you have your island savvy pirate papa to help us through." Smirked Killian as he unsheathed his sword. "If we can find some caves or some place safe to weather this storm, we should be all right."
They managed to find a cave, though before they stepped in, Ingrid put a hand on both Killian and Allan's shoulders.
"Wait," She commented.
"All right, what is it?" Asked Killian curiously.
She reached into her bag for something, as Allan turned to look at her. She pulled out a wand.
"Is that…?" Blinked Killian.
"My Master gave me this wand for being his apprentice. A true wizard's wand." She looked at them both. "I can use this to better channel my magic so that I won't have any of the incidents that I had before." She raised the wand, impressing her father with her new confidence as her magic briefly filled the cave. "It's safe in there, no booby traps or anything."
So they went in as the clouds above swirled, getting darker and darker.
"That's an angry looking storm." Commented Allan, looking out.
Ingrid again waved her wand and Killian looked around to watch the protective spell come over the cave.
"We should leave here as soon as the storm breaks." He commented.
"Aye, papa." She nodded, to which he gave a small little grin.
"I never thought I'd miss hearing that, duckling." He admitted.
"We didn't think a lot of things would happen, but they did…" She looked away briefly.
Ingrid had been fast asleep, dreaming she was on the deck of the Jolly Roger when someone brushed her hair out of her face.
Waking up with a start, she could feel his hand pull away quickly, looked around her and saw a man standing over her. She scrambled away from him fast as she could before getting a real good look at him.
"Easy there, I'm not here to hurt you." He said, showing her his hands as an indication he was unarmed.
She blinked at him, thinking he was familiar somehow, even though she'd never seen him in person before. For he had died long before she was a figment of people's imaginations or thoughts.
Liam smiled patiently at her, knowing how confused she had to be as she looked around.
"Is this… The Jolly Roger?" She asked, recognizing the riggings and sails.
"You really are a clever one, aren't you?" He chuckled lightly. "Able to know which vessel you are on just by looking around."
"How could I not recognize it? All the hours I spent here with papa, avoiding the kids at school. She walked around some crew members she didn't recognize to find a spot with a view. She also recognized the town on the shores in the distance.
"That's right, Storybrooke. Your home." Confirmed Liam.
"Who are you? Why do you know so much about me?" She asked, looking around.
"Do you not know already? Can't you see any… Similarities between myself and my brother?" He asked.
"You're… You're him, my Uncle Liam? Papa did tell me stories whenever I was upset and lonely about you." She looked at him as it came to her. "Your bravery and courage even when it meant you might be sentenced to an eternity of a fate worse than death."
"Ah, your papa always did have a habit of making our life seem exciting." Chuckled Liam.
"Why are you here?" She asked. "After all this time, why choose now to come to me?"
"Oh I've always been here for you, ever since the day you were born." Liam walked up beside his niece. "Watching over you. How your papa and grandpa taught you two different styles of sword fighting, your papa taught you how to sail a boat at ten! And all those magic lessons you've taken. I've watched you grow up from day one."
Ingrid thought back. There had been a few times when she'd been ill, her family left her alone in the bed on the loft to rest and she felt someone sit on her bed next to her, until she'd been able to fall asleep.
Liam was smiling as though he knew what was going through her head even in the silence of the moment.
"And now we've cut to the chase," He sighed. "You know you're trapped on this island, but you don't know in how much danger you really are. The Tiger and his accomplice have plans in store for you, and an old comrade of your father's. Merlin."
"Merlin?" She blinked in alarm. "But he's dead. Died, years ago."
"Indeed. But there is a way for him to return, due to him being tethered to the Dark One dagger as he was. You, your father and friend must get off the island as quick as you can." Liam explained.
"But how? Uncle, we don't even know where to start looking for a way off." She admitted.
"Your compass will help point you the way." Liam stood in front of his niece, looking proud of her.
"The way to what?" She asked curiously.
"The Eye of the Storm. Your papa will know what it looks like. And it will be your key to getting off the island." Explained Liam patiently.
Ingrid felt like her dream was slowly coming to an end, to which she reached out for her uncle, feeling his arm solid like he really was alive and they really were on the Jolly Roger.
"Don't worry. Tell your papa that I'm in a better place, the crew and I are happy here. I am proud of the man, and father he's become." Liam gave his niece a big hug. "I'm always watching out for you lot, even if you find it annoying."
"I don't find it annoying, Uncle Liam." She muttered back. In response he chuckled.
"I was so happy to become an uncle, I just wish sometimes I could be there in person." He pulled away. "You have done your uncle proud in how you've handled the chaos in your adventures. Tell your papa his brother loves him, and your mother too. Remember… Look for the Eye of the Storm using your compass. The compass will lead you directly to it."
Liam began stepping back as the ship began to fade away around them.
"Uncle Liam, don't go!" She tried reaching out towards her uncle.
"Don't worry, you'll be able to find your way off the island with the Eye of the Storm." Liam repeated, as if he was making sure she wouldn't forget. "We'll see each other again."
Was the last thing she heard before she woke with a start.
Her eyes snapped open and for a moment, she needed to remember where she was before she sat up from a patch on the ground.
"You all right?" Asked Allan. "You were muttering in your sleep."
"Where's papa?" She asked.
"Right here, love." Killian came over from the entry of the cave. "The storm's gotten worse since we got here. What's wrong?"
"It's Uncle Liam." She said, looking up at her father.
"My brother?" He blinked, looking rather flabbergasted himself. She nodded, trying to remember it all.
"I had a sort of dream about him. We were on the Jolly Roger… I didn't recognize him at first, but when I did he explained things. He said that we need to look for something called the Eye of the Storm? And that he was proud of us, our family. Especially the man and father you've become." She said as the dream came back to her.
Killian looked like he was speechless for a moment.
"What about this Eye of the Storm? I thought it was just a thing of legend… But it's on this island?" Asked Allan, bringing Killian back to reality.
"Apparently so." Nodded Ingrid, reaching into her bag to pull out the compass. "And this will show us the way to it." She pulled out her compass from her messenger bag.
"That's the compass you got for your birthday…" Blinked Killian.
"And it's been proved right handy, too these last two years, let me tell you Papa." She smiled back. "What do you think?" She looked over at Allan who looked surprised to be included in this exchange.
"If you think it'll help us find what we need to get out of here, then lead the way." He nodded.
"All right, then." She nodded, looking down at her compass. She found due north before it started to glow.
Killian and Allan watched as the compass led her out of the caves.
"Ok… Into the gale it is then, come on then lad." Killian patted Allan on the shoulder, and the two followed Ingrid.
Along the way Killian kept an eye out for traps, poison night shade and other unpleasantries as they trudged through the sodden jungle island.
"You seem uncommonly adept at jungle trekking, love." Commented Killian some time later. "I know you had to deal with the jungles south of the Enchanted Forest… Watch the Nightshade needles there…" He added, moving it aside with his sword.
"Yeah, that's where I gained my experience." She replied. "I spent six months trapped in that jungle, I had to learn everything fast. Being under constant attack by a vicious tiger is a great motivator in learning how to survive." She was suddenly pulled back from a ledge by Allan.
"Looks like your compass is leading us across here to… More caves. Oh goody." Commented Allan, his voice laced with sarcasm.
"Well, if nothing else we'll have a chance to get dry." Killian commented back. He started looking for a way around.
"No need papa," Said Ingrid. She raised her left hand, which sent a magical pale aura out to the cave entrance. "No traps or barriers." She said when it simply vanished after a few moments of circling around. The three vanished in a cloud of smoke, and reappeared in front of the cave entrance, which was otherwise obscured by palm trees, vines and other bits of jungle foliage. Without the compass showing the way, they might never have found it.
"You've gotten better," Said Killian as Allan looked surprised to be suddenly in front of the new caves they were about to enter.
"My Master helped me a lot over the last year." She smiled.
"Exactly by how much has she improved?" Whispered Allen out of curiosity to Killian when Ingrid was just a little ways out of earshot of them.
"Put it this way, lad… last time I saw her vanishing technique she could barely make it across an empty street. Let alone stay standing." Replied Killian as they followed her.
"Well, I'd wager she's definitely improved then." Muttered Allan as Killian grinned. Allan was finding it hard to imagine a much less magically adept and more clumsy Ingrid.
Traversing deeper into the caves, Allen paused.
There seemed to be a low growling coming from somewhere nearby.
"We'll just have to be cautious. Who knows what's in here," Killian said, unsheathing his sword, and Ingrid did the same.
"Thanks, Captain Obvious." Allen said sarcastically, while Ingrid grinned and Killian rolled his eyes at the prince.
Holding one hand up high, a soft glowing golden light lit up the caves around them to reveal a stunning sight. A deep, massive cavern of crystal glowing with a light not seen for millennia. Their faces reflecting in the delicate crystal forms. Stalagmites and Stalagtites were all around them, not of water but of solid crystal. Pillars taller than the Empire State Building towered beautifully around them, and even nature made chandeliers hung all around. While it was a stunning sight, this made traversing the cavern even more difficult because none of them wanted to damage any of the crystal, as that could cause a collapse.
Again they heard the low grumbling, it echoing strangely around them in this unique cave system. The grumbles caused Ingrid to stop as they exited the exquisite room, and Allan bumped into her from behind.
"That's no beast…" She muttered.
"What do you reckon it is then, love? A creature of some kind?" Asked Killian.
She knew the sound Sher Khan made, having spent months living in terror that she'd hear it approaching her in the jungles south of the Enchanted Forest. This wasn't it.
"I know what a bloody tiger sounds like… But this isn't it." She stepped forward ahead of the two.
"Easy, love." Killian said. There was something different about his daughter, something else he couldn't put his finger on from the last time he'd seen her in person.
Almost instinctively Ingrid sheathed her sword.
"Papa, sheath yours too. Your making this creature nervous." She advised.
"Oh now you're taking after your grandmother…" He commented, reluctantly lowering his sword. "Acting like you can talk with creatures…"
"Fine, if you want your face clawed to death so mom won't be able to recognize you next time we see her, be my guest." Said Ingrid impatiently.
Killian and Allan exchanged looks and Killian reluctantly sheathed his sword. He knew enough about unpredictable creatures in the Enchanted Realms not to tempt fate. He wondered how his daughter learned about this fact of life in the Enchanted Realms. As the two men watched, Ingrid stepped forward a little more cautiously, then knelt down slowly as the light revealed two creatures.
"Lions…" Whispered Allan.
"What in the bloody hell are lions doing all the way from Africa?" Asked Killian. "Is there any way we can talk to them?"
"There may…" Replied Ingrid, still kneeling. The Lionesses were in a defensive position, surrounding one of their own. "Shhh...Shhh...It's ok." She said quietly.
Killian and Allen took steps forward abruptly, causing the Lionesses to step back. Ingrid held out her left hand to stop the two from advancing.
"Papa, I got this." She said confidently.
"You sure, love? These creatures are unpredictable…" Killian said, looking like the concerned father he was.
"We won't know until she tries whatever it is she's going to try…" Allan said reasonably.
The Lionesses watched warily as Ingrid reached into her bag slowly, pulling out something Killian had never seen his daughter use before. A magic wand, which was pure black except for spiraling gold arching up around it in a thin line.
"Easy… I'm not going to hurt you…" Ingrid assured the Lionesses. Her wand then emanated a gentle, calming blue glow as she waved it over the pack of Lionesses. Killian and Allan also felt the gentle power emanating from not just her wand, but from Ingrid herself. It was a warmth that Killian knew too well, and Allan had never sensed something like it before. It seemed to fill the whole cave.
"There… now we can communicate without having to play radio." Said Ingrid.
"We've never been able to communicate properly with humans before…" Said the Alpha Lioness of the pack.
"Well, now's a good time to start… Who are you? Where are you from?" Ingrid asked, staying in a kneeling position.
"Only if you tell us first who you are and where you're from." Said the Lioness shortly.
"My name is Ingrid, this is my Papa Killian, and my friend, Prince Allan. My Papa and I are from a different realm, a small town called Storybrooke… And Prince Allen is from the Kingdom of Arandele…" Ingrid indicated the two men behind her. "We were separated from our friends and family by Sher Khan and his companion, Ka'a."
"You are enemies of the tiger and snake then?" Asked the Alpha Lioness.
"Indeed," Nodded Killian. "Very much so."
"My name is Nala, I am Queen of Pride Rock. My clan and I were captured and trapped here when the Tiger and his Snake friend passed through our lands." Nala explained. "And they injured our king. He has been unable to heal." The Lionesses stepped aside to reveal what they were guarding so possessively. "If you could help Simba in any way… We would be forever grateful."
Ingrid stood up, walking over to the injured king of the pride, kneeling down.
"Easy, Your Majesty." She said soothingly, seeing the wounds. "I guess in non humans the poison reacts differently." She could see the strike marks.
"Poison?" Asked another Lioness in fear.
"Lucky for you I carry the antidote…" Ingrid held up her wand. "This wand is imbued with many forms of magic, including the antidote to the snake's venom."
"That wand is an incredibly powerful object…" Allan commented quietly. It wasn't necessarily stating an obvious fact, but rather commenting in awe that she could wield it with such ease.
"If you'll allow me, I can save your King." Said Ingrid to the Lionesses. They all looked at each other for a moment before Nala nodded.
Ingrid waved her wand over the King's injury marks. The Lion's breaths slowed down, evened out. Even some color was coming back to his fur, and his mane seemed to regain it's fluff as he slowly stood up once more.
"You're certainly handling the recovery from being bitten by the snake much better than I did, Majesty." Smiled Ingrid, leaning back as the King looked around, finding his footing once more.
"Simba!" Nala exclaimed, rushing over to him, nuzzling her King for joy.
"Nala…" He said wearily. "It's good to be back." He said, looking over at the human who saved his life. "Thank you. I will forever be in your debt."
Ingrid smiled.
"That won't be necessary, Your Majesty." Ingrid stood up, stowing her wand away back into her bag.
"Now that this crisis is over, we really should get back on our quest." Commented Killian.
"Quest? What quest?" Asked Simba.
"To find a way off this bleedin' island. My daughter's compass was leading us into this cave system." Killian replied.
"Perhaps we could help. I remember the Tiger mentioning something about a terror in the underground lakes that's guarding something precious…" Simba said.
"The Eye of the Storm…" Breathed Killian.
"If that's the case then we need to get down there, get the crystal and find out exactly why it's needed to get off this island." Allan said.
Ingrid wasn't listening. After Simba spoke to them, she heard something. A voice from deep within the cave singing a soft, haunting melody.
"Ingrid…?" Killian looked when he saw his daughter standing up.
"Can you hear it?" She asked.
"What?" Asked Allan.
She stood up, walking past the lions with intent.
"Duckling?" Asked Killian again. He and Allan weren't hearing what Ingrid was hearing.
"I hear it too now…" Said Nala, standing next to Ingrid.
Feeling a warmth in her messenger bag, Ingrid reached in to find the compass was nearly searing hot. Almost dropping it in surprise, she went to grab it again. But this time it felt a normal temperature as the song grew louder in hers and Nala's ears. Pulling out the compass from her bag, everyone saw that it was glowing.
"What's that?" Asked Simba.
"This is a magical compass… Apparently it's showing us the way to the Crystal." Said Ingrid, looking over at her father, who nodded.
So the three humans took the lead of the group while Simba and Nala were directly behind with the other Lionesses close by in the cave which steadily widened out to a hall with Ingrid's magical light illuminating the way. Until it abruptly came to an end, a wall blocked by a rock wall. Only now, Killian and Allan could both hear the siren's song.
"Now I can hear it…" Killian looked around the ceiling, leading back to the barrier. "Beyond this wall."
Ingrid touched the rock wall with her free right hand. Everyone present saw the glow of her magical aura permeate through the entire cave in that instance.
"Allan… How strong is your ice magic?" She asked.
"Strong, like my aunt's." He replied.
"Strong enough to cut through solid rock?" Asked Killian, catching on at once.
"I'm not sure about that." He replied.
"Well… can't blame the lad for not being honest at least." Muttered Killian.
"What about if I used my magic to make sure these caves didn't come down on us and whatever's on the other side there?" Asked Ingrid after a few moments of thought.
"I might be able to do it then." Nodded Allan.
At once Ingrid put the compass back into the messenger bag, and pulled out her wand with her right hand. With everyone watching, Ingrid raised the wand high to generate a pillar of light which created a net like barrier to the ceiling, and walls all around them.
"Beautiful…" Commented Sarabi of the Lionesses.
"All right, stand back everyone…" Said Allan, to which Killian took Ingrid by the arm leading her away while the Lions all stepped back as well. Ice magic seemed to emerge from his hands as he directed his palms flat at the cave wall. In a blast that echoed like a continuous canon in the confined space, he his the solid rock wall with everything he had while Ingrid worked to keep a steady flow of magic going as the walls and ceiling trembled around them.
Killian and the Lions watched as the two types of magic- ice and Ingrid's Light Magic- swirled around them. It had been a while since he had seen what he considered to be true magic at work, thought Killian.
With an explosion that shook the whole cave system violently as possible, the cave wall was blown apart, rocks and smoke filling the cave halls around them…