Soon enough the group on the ship came on land. Emma stepped out ahead of the rest.
"The ridge is just a few hundred paces up ahead." Killian soon said as they began to trek into the jungle of Neverland.
"A few what?!" Dee Dee suddenly cried out.
"Don't worry, Dee Dee," Evie soothed the younger girl. "We're all in this together, remember?"
"Thanks Evie," Dee Dee smiled before pouting at Harry and then pointing at the pirate teen. "Uh... Him too?" she then asked the blue-haired girl.
"Of course him too." Evie nodded and smiled in confirmation.
"Thank you kindly, Princess-I mean... Evie..." Harry smiled back before smirking and nodding at Dee Dee with his arms crossed, shooting her a bit of a "So there!" expression on his face.
"Hmph." Dee Dee firmly pouted at him in response.
"You really think we're gonna be able to see Pan's hideout?" Emma asked.
"From there, we should be able to see everything, including where he's keeping your son." Killian reassured Emma.
Harry gulped as he looked very nervous about being back in Neverland after his little incident from when he was young.
"You know, I could have just poofed us up here in an instant."
"You know, I could have just poofed us up here in an instant." Regina spoke up sternly.
"Where? Have you any idea what's up here or anywhere?" Killian retorted. "There are dangers all about. Only I can guide us PAST them."
"He's right. Hook's lived here before," Emma admitted. "If he says hiking up is the best way, then we listen."
"Thank you, Swan." Harry replied to that.
"No probem, kid..." Emma said softly before he still gave her a bit of a firm look on his face, not forgetting what happened when they all first met each other. "Hey, uh? No hard feelings about me leaving your dad behind on a beanstalk, right?"
"I'll think about it..." Harry murmured as he narrowed his eyes in response.
"Harry..." Killian called a bit sternly to his son.
"I said I'd think about it, Dad." Harry defended.
"It's okay, I understand," Emma reassured. "I'm sure I'd be the same way."
"Well... All right," Killian said softly. "Let's keep going now."
"I hope I can trust this pirate long enough to help your brother." Regina told Evie, looking stern but of course not with her daughter right now.
"Here's a thought. We could try to be friends. Put our history behind us and celebrate our differences," Evie shook her head before she tried to offer a peace offering with a small smile. "Yeah? Who wants gum?"
"Well, Evie, as a teacher, I'm required by law to ask; 'Did you bring enough for everyone?'." Mary Margaret replied.
"Yes, of course," Evie said before she took out a pack of gumballs. "These are my favorite just outside Mr. Gold's shop at the corner of Drury Street and Andover Lane."
"I could use some fresh gum." Harry admitted.
Some of the others soon decided to have some gum while hiking along the trail while Evie took one for herself and chewed on it a bit to help keep their minds preoccupied and hopefully a little more calm. Harry smiled and nodded at the gum and Evie smiled back at him, knowing that Neverland was a bit of a difficult place for the pirate teen to come back to.
"Jeez... This forest is really kinda creepy..." Dee Dee said as she stuck by Mary Margaret. "It doesn't look anything like The Land of Sweets or Swan Lake or even The Rhineland Vineyard."
"It is a lot different than I expected myself." Mary Margaret nodded, though tried to be comforting before she brought out a canteen of water for the girl. "Here, you need to stay hydrated."
"Thank you, Ms. Blanchard." Dee Dee smiled before she took a drink to relax for a bit.
"I could use some too, I think." Emma said as she looked at them.
"Of course, help yourself." Mary Margaret replied as she gave Emma another bottle.
"Thanks, Mary Margaret." Emma said and took a drink.
Mary Margaret gave a smile. "You know, 'Mary Margaret' is a bit formal. You could call me 'Mom' if you want... You've done it before." she smiled.
Emma looked uncertain. "That was... back when we-" she said uncomfortably.
Mary Margaret realized. "...we were about to die. Oh, no, I get it. " she finished and then, assured trying not to push Emma.
In the lead, David was cutting down branches blocking their pathway. He saw a patch of thorns and moved to slash them.
"Augh! Don't!" Harry cried out as he rushed over and tried to stop David before he would do that and Killian understood what his son was doing.
"I can handle a couple of thorns." David defended.
"That's dreamshade. It's not the thorns you have to worry about," Killian explained while Harry trembled a bit at the sight of the substance. "It's the poison they inject you with. This plant is the source of the toxins I used on The Dark One."
"The poison that almost killed Mr. Gold?" Evie asked.
"Indeed. I used a concentrated dose. In its natural form, death would be much slower and far more painful," Killian confirmed and explained. "I suggest we go this way." then pointed in one direction.
"We'll go this way." David soon decided, going off one way with everyone else following behind.
Dee Dee looked at the thorns, but she luckily stayed away from them and came to go along with Evie and Harry since they were the big kids and she was nervous enough as it was with her young age and her best friend was in danger at this possible second.
"Your father's a distrustful fellow." Killian soon noted to Emma.
"He's just not used to working with the bad guys." Emma reassured him.
"I can assure you, on this island, I am not the bad guy." Killian soon replied proudly.
"Yeah, well, Pan's not supposed to be one either." Emma told Killian.
"What possibly gave you that idea?" Killian wondered.
"Every story I ever heard as a child." Emma stated.
"Heh, you're not alone, Emma," Evie replied. "That was Henry's most favorite movie when he was little and we nearly watched it every night together, especially if Mom had a 'business meeting' with Graham and then Mrs. Lucas would babysit us."
"Well, they got it all wrong." Harry retorted knowingly. "Peter Pan has been my personal Boogeyman for the longest time."
"Oh, come along now..." Evie rolled her eyes, not believing that Peter Pan could be evil. "There's no way that Peter Pan could be evil."
"Uh, hello? He snatched your little brother away." Harry reminded her with a slight scoff.
"Harry's right. Pan is the most treacherous villain I've ever faced," Killian added before he looked a little hopeful and slightly self-loving briefly. "Tell me something, luv. In these stories... What was I like? Other than a villain. Handsome, I gather~" he then asked hopefully.
"If waxed mustaches and perms are your thing." Emma smirked before she stepped away from him.
"...I take it by your tone, perms are bad?" Killian soon asked wearily, feeling like he should be insulted.
Evie simply snorted in response to that as they continued along the trail.
"Up here! We made it." David soon called out.
Eventually, everyone else joined him and Mary Margaret as they made it further into The Isle of the Lost Ones AKA Neverland. They could see all over and Evie could see that it was a lot different than she imagined while Harry looked already scared to death acting as though he had been in Dante's Inferno.
"Pan's lair should be just... Right..." Killian soon said as he looked around.
"Where?" Regina demanded. "All I see is jungle."
"Aye. The Dark Jungle," Killian nodded before he took out his telescope to survey the land. "It's, uh, grown so much since Harry and I last stepped foot in Neverland." he then noted.
"It looks worse than I remember..." Harry said before looking at Evie and smirking at her. "No magic. No WiFi. No way out."
"Harry, if you're trying to scare me, it won't work," Evie scoffed and put her hands on her hips. "I'm the daughter of The Evil Queen, so you're gonna have to try pretty hard to scare me."
"So this nature hike was for nothing." Regina sighed in frustration.
"Hook may have led us astray, but at least we're in a good position to start combing the jungle." David soon suggested.
"Not exactly. The Dark Jungle's the last place you wanna set foot," Killian retorted. "We'll have to go around it. In order to do that, we're gonna need our strength. I suggest we make camp." he then added.
Harry whimpered and gasped in horror before quickly covering his mouth as her eyes looked very wide.
"We're together this time, Harry... It won't be like the last time, I promise you." Killian told his son as comfortingly as possible.
Harry just gulped and shuddered while Evie rolled her eyes at the pirate teen's fear, though she did have to admit that this place looked scarier than she remembered from childhood.
"You wanna sleep while my son is out there suffering?" Regina asked the adult pirate with a scoff.
"If we want to live long enough to save the boy... Yes." Killian nodded delicately.
David sighed sharply at that. Soon, everyone gathered around and went to walk off with each other to go and set up camp after a long day of traveling on their journey to the island. Dee Dee and Mary Magaret soon noticed Emma and Evie staying behind.
"You two okay?" Mary Margaret asked softly.
"Regina's right," Emma said as she looked out into the new world. "Henry's out there somewhere."
"And Hook is right," Mary Margaret replied. "We have to survive if we're going to get him."
"I know. I just hope we're not too late." Emma sighed.
"After everything your father and I have been through, there's one thing we've learned," Mary Margaret advised with a friendly smile. "It is never too late."
"Like when Mr. Nolan kissed you when he was Prince Charming and you were Snow White after biting into my mom's poison apple?" Evie asked.
"Yes, exacty," Mary Margaret smiled and nodded at that. "Don't worry, Evie. We're gonna get your little brother back."
"I sure hope so, though I'm having a hard time believing that Peter Pan can be evil." Evie replied before shrugging.
"Well, we just have to take Captain Hook and his son's word on it, but I wouldn't worry too much," Mary Margaret advised as they soon headed off together. "After all, you're still learning and don't know better than everyone else."
"Yes, Ms. Blanchard," Evie chuckled. "I have a bit more sense than my mother."
"That's terrible~" Mary Margaret said, cupping her mouth a little as she giggled at that even though she agreed with it.
Regina glanced toward them suspiciously before she continued to follow everyone else to their new campsite for the evening.
"Okay, let's get a good night's sleep so we can get an early start in the morning." Harry suggested as they all began to get comfortable in their temporary sleeping arrangements by the campfire they had.
"I don't think we should have taken this short cut," Dee Dee shivered nervously from inside her temporary bed as she heard a spooky noise in the background. "I-I-It's too dangerous."
"Relax, Dee Dee. Nothing's gonna hurt any of us." Evie reassured.
Harry gasped as he suddenly felt something in his sleeping bag. "Huh?" he then asked before pulling out a lizard and screaming before throwing the lizard away from him. "Ah! Mini Crocodile!"
The lizard soon walked back into a bush, glaring angrily at the pirate teen.
"That's just a lizard, Harry. Not a mini crocodile." Evie reassured.
"Right... I knew that..." Harry smiled nervously.
"Now come on, we better get some sleep." Evie suggested as she brought out her sleep mask.
The young ones soon tried to settle in for the night, though Dee Dee still felt nervous as she heard an owl hooting in the trees which scared her. "Ah, uh, did you hear something?" she then asked nervously.
"Nope." Evie and Harry told her while trying to get some sleep.
"But, uh, something's out there." Dee Dee said as she shivered.
"Oh, kiddo... The only thing to fear around here is Peter Pan and if we're lucky, he won't be anywhere near us tonight." Harry said, while trying to hide his own fear.
"Oh, stop that, Harry." Evie complained before she gently patted Dee Dee on the head. "Don't worry, Dee Dee. Harry and I are right here and so are the grown-ups. Just try to go to sleep." she then advised as tenderly as she could.
"Okay..." Dee Dee said before she went to sleep, gripping tight to the cover of her sleeping bag.
Later that night, everyone was now fast asleep. Even the lizard that Harry had gotten rid of earlier was sleeping on his sleeping bag. Dee Dee hugged her nutcracker doll she brought with her for comfort and security, but soon, there was a noise that proved to be too much for Emma and Harry which woke them both up. Not too soon after they all had fallen asleep, the sounds of crying children could be heard.
Emma tossed and turned a bit. "Guys wake up!" she hissed to her parents, only for them to stay asleep. She then got up and started to look for whoever was crying.
No one else had even stirred or woken up to the rather chilling sound.
"What...? Emma...?" Harry murmured as he thought he heard something, then looked around as he began to hear a crying sound as well before going after it while Emma tended to the sound she could hear.
"You hear that, too?" A voice suddenly asked, causing the blonde woman to jolt and turn around to see a certain young looking boy there. "You're Emma, right? I wonder why they can't hear the crying?" he then added.
"Who are you?" Emma asked firmly.
"Oh, did I forget to introduce myself?" The boy replied innocently as he gave her his name. "I'm Peter. Peter Pan."
Emma lunged and pinned the boy to a tree with a sword to his throat. "Where's Henry?!" she glared.
Peter just grinned and smirked, despite the dangerous situation. "You've got fire. I like fire~" he then said, sounding sickeningly entranced by her anger.
"Where's my son?!" Emma glared.
"Henry's still alive, if that's what you're worried about." Peter retorted slightly.
"Why the hell did you take him?!" Emma glared.
"He's a very special boy, Emma," Peter stated fearlessly. "Unlike Codfish Jr back here for Round 2." he then added with a dark smirk as he taunted Harry.
"I know... That doesn't answer my question about Henry though, what do you want with him?" Emma glared.
"I came here to see who I was up against. The 'Savior'," Peter scoffed cruelly in response, ignoring her questions a bit more in a weaselly fashion. "Gotta say, I'm not disappointed."
"What do you say now?" Emma asked firmly. "You're gonna tell me how I'm never gonna see Henry again?"
"No. I'm going to help you find him. I'll give you a map," Peter replied then, still unafraid and barely fazed by her behavior. "A map that will lead you straight to your son."
"If this is some kind of trap-" Emma started, firmly.
"I may not be the most well-behaved boy on the island, but I always keep my promises," Peter retorted before he gave up the parchment to Emma. "The path to finding Henry is on this parchment."
"Why are you giving it to me?" Emma asked.
"See, it's not about finding Henry. It's about how you find him. And, Emma you are the only one who can," Peter replied before pointing at Harry's sleeping bag, thinking that the pirate teen was still asleep in it. "Unlike those folks, especially Codfish Jr over there..." he then smirked mockingly. "I'd just love to see him dangle on his hook like the little codfish he is just like his father. Maybe I'll give his hand to the sea since he wants to be like his old man so much after his father saved him from my custody in The Lost Boys."
"We will find Henry and you better leave Harry alone," Emma told him warningly. She then opened the parchment and frowned. "It's blank." she noted.
"You'll only be able to read that map when you stop denying who you really are." Peter soon told Emma before mysteriously disappearing that night.
Emma looked around, but then returned to camp.
Harry was soon wandering off on his own only to be stopped as he cried out once someone grabbed his shoulder and he soon got into a fighting stance just in case it was one of The Lost Ones.
"Whoa! Take it easy, Guyliner Jr. You hurt me and you'll really regret it." Regina warned Harry once she put her hands up innocently.
"Phew... Sorry, ma'am, but you just startled me..." Harry gasped and sighed in relief. "You shouldn't sneak up on me in a place like this."
"Yes, it's my understanding that Neverland did a number on you when you were younger." Regina noted and nodded.
"Indeed," Harry admitted before sighing sharply. "It was not a pretty picture."
"I'll take your word for it," Regina replied. "Now then, where do you think you're going on your own, huh?" she then asked as she crossed her arms. "I doubt you have enough courage in you to go up against Peter Pan all by yourself based on the way you and your father talk about him."
"I... I just heard a noise... Not too far off from here..." Harry said.
"So you decided to go and scope it out?" Regina guessed.
"Erm... Yes! ...Something like that anyway." Harry shrugged with a nervous smile.
"Hmm... Well, I don't think I feel comfortable enough to let you go off on your own," Regina suggested. "I wouldn't even trust going to get more firewood alone in a place like this by yourself whether you know it well or not."
"I suppose you have a point, Your Majesty..." Harry admitted. "So are you coming with me?"
"I might as well since I found you," Regina nodded as she came closer to him. "Besides, I have my own children to worry about, so I'd completely understand if Captain Hook were devastated if something happened to you."
"He's the only family I've got, unless you count the Smee siblings," Harry shrugged as he walked along, following the sound that he could hear. "A pirate's life is one to love after all."
"So I've heard..." Regina rolled her eyes as she continued to follow the pirate teen. "What are we looking for anyway?" she then asked him.
"...Something." Harry stated bashfully.
"Gee, that really narrows down the search, doesn't it?" Regina deadpanned in response.
"It's... Uh... Kinda personal..." Harry said nervously with a grin.
"...What's going on around here?" Regina demanded as she narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.
Harry bit his lip before looking over as they passed through the beach and soon came by a certain lagoon. It appeared to be a tropical and nearly hidden rock pool of dark blue water, containing a little waterfall and a large rock in the middle of the pool where someone was shown to be there, having dark hair with a tail fin that matched her hair before she turned around and gasped once she had been spotted.
"It's that mermaid that tried to drown us," Regina realized and grinned. "Good thinking, Harry."
"Thanks! Uh... For what?" Harry smiled before asking curiously.
"For giving me an idea on how to get Pan to do what we want... We hold one of his mermaids hostage and use her for leverage." Regina explained with a sinister smirk.
"...I came up with that?" Harry then asked out of confusion.
"Let's just say it was both our idea and get this over with, I have a plan." Regina rolled her eyes in response.
The mermaid soon jumped back into the water and swam to over behind the large rock.
"There's no use hiding, Little Mermaid... I know you're out there and you're gonna help us~" Regina taunted with a smirk before she shot some magic at the young, frightened mermaid who clearly wasn't as brave or dark as the other mermaids that tried to crash into The Jolly Roger.
The mermaid soon disappeared in a puff of smoke away from the lagoon under the moon and soon, she was shown to suddenly have legs and was wearing a tattered dress.
"You're coming with us, little lady," Regina said as she took the girl's arm suddenly. "We're going to use you for leverage."
"W-W-What? W-W-Why me?" The girl whimpered and stammered nervously.
"Because I said so." Regina replied firmly as she kept a tight hold on the girl to keep her from running away rather quickly.
Harry looked at the girl and they soon went back over to the campground while the girl struggled a little, but she looked absolutely scared to death about her situation.
Meanwhile, Goldie stepped out onto Neverland and took a look around as she brought Jay and Carlos along with her. "Here we are, boys... The Isle of the Lost Ones... AKA Neverland." she then told them.
"That's a bit of a mouthful, isn't it?" Jay scoffed in response.
"Hey, I didn't name it." Goldie defended and shrugged.
"This doesn't look at all what I expected," Carlos said as he looked around. "Looks more like the bad side of Pleasure Island when Pinocchio didn't go to school when Geppetto told him to."
"You could say that, yeah," Goldie replied. "Now boys, stay close together and whatever you do, if you hear any pipe music, don't listen to it."
"Music? Our buddy Piper back home plays a mean flute in the school band." Jay remarked.
"No, no, no, this is serious," Goldie shook her head. "If you hear music around here, it's definitely not a good sign. Trust me, you will regret it."
Jay and Carlos looked at her, then each other, and soon shrugged in response.
"Thanks for letting me come along at least." Lonnie said once she saw was shown next.
"You're welcome and good thing you brought those swords," Goldie replied. "I have a feeling that they might come in handy later."
"Really? How come?" Jay soon asked.
"Never mind how come, just listen to me, okay?" Goldie replied.
"Okay. Okay." Jay and Carlos said to her then.
"So Goldie, what should we do now?" Lonnie decided to ask the young woman since she was the adult of the group right now.
"Right now, we get settled," Goldie suggested. "I happen to know a place we can stay for now so I hope you guys don't mind hiking."
"Hiking? Well... We did tell Doug that we were going camping with Evie." Jay sighed and shrugged in response.
"Hopefully we can make it back to Storybrooke after all ofthis." Carlos added.
"We'll get out alive, I just know it." Lonnie reassured them.
"If we get out of here alive." Goldie corrected bashfully.
"If?" Carlos asked with wide eyes. "If doesn't sound very good."
"Goldie..." Lonnie firmly pouted as that didn't sound very helpful.
"I'm just being honest. This place isn't a very pretty picture," Goldie reminded and advised as she walked off with the teenagers following her. "No one knows this place better than I do, and trust me, this place feeds off of the loneliness and lostness of boys and girls everywhere and I should know."
"Because you've been here before?" Jay guessed.
"Longer than I'd be happy to admit," Goldie nodded. "Not to mention how it cost me my family... My brother... My best friend."
"Your brother?" Carlos asked curiously.
"...I don't wanna talk about it. Let's just keep going." Goldie suggested.
"All right then," Lonnie nodded. "Lead the way, Goldie."
"Thank you, Lonnie." Goldie replied as she began to do just that.
And so, the four ventured off into the unknown through the jungles of Neverland for a very life-changing experience and adventure together. However, along the way, Carlos had a very strange feeling in the sinking pit of his stomach. Jay looked strong and confident as ever as they continued along the trail.
Carlos looked to Jay. "Hey, Jay." he muttered then.
"Hey." Jay replied.
Carlos looked to him. "I have this strange feeling that someone I really care about is in trouble." he said quietly.
"Yeah, Henry is in trouble and we're gonna help him because Evie is our friend and that makes Henry like our best friend little brother," Jay reminded him. "Or have you forgotten?" he then asked.
"No, it's nothing like that... I'm not sure how to explain it, but I feel like I know this feeling and person in trouble but I'm not really sure who it's supposed to be, but I won't know unless I find them." Carlos explained as best as he could.
"What?" Jay then asked. "What makes you say that?"
"Just a feeling..." Carlos said.
"Hmm... I wish I could help you out with that." Jay shrugged modestly.
"Do you think that I should talk to someone about it?" Carlos wondered.
"Sorry Carlos, I don't really know how to help you out there, but just remember that we're all in this together," Jay suggested as he gave a shrug. "Whether you have a strange, sinking feeling or not."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Carlos nodded.
"Of course I am," Jay smirked. "I'm always right, you know."
"Yeah, yeah." Carlos smirked at that.
Jay smirked back as they continued to follow Goldie since she had her own history and knowledge of Neverland.
Eventually, the other group woke up and adjusted to a brand new day as they gathered around to talk.
"He so likes his games." Killian remarked.
"What game?" Regina scoffed. "There's nothing there."
"If he said there's a map on this parchment, then there is." Killian said.
"What game?" Regina scoffed, referring to the blank map. "There's nothing there."
"If he said there's a map on this parchment, then there is." Killian advised.
"And he would know." Samantha added once she joined the group.
"Harry, any ideas?" Evie asked the pirate teen.
"Not unless it's written in invisible ink or Pan gave Miss Swan some instructions." Harry suggested.
"Did he do that then, Emma?" Evie then asked the blonde woman. "Did Peter tell you something that could probably help you with the map?"
"Great. So if I just stop denying who I really am, whatever that means, then we'll be able to read this thing." Emma replied based on what she remembered from last night.
"But how do we know Pan won't use it to lead us straight into a trap?" Regina asked then.
"Because he doesn't need to," Killian replied. "This whole island's his bloody trap."
"Abandon all hope, ye who enter," Samantha added before she sighed. "I really wish my brother were here right now."
Killian frowned, looking empathetic for her due to what happened to Smee in Storybrooke in the hands of Mr. Gold. Just then, David and Mary Margaret came back from searching the jungle.
"Any luck?" Evie asked them hopefully.
"There's no sign of them anywhere." David regretfully replied.
"Any luck with the map?" Mary Margaret asked.
"Don't hold your breath." Regina replied bitterly.
"Mom..." Evie frowned at that.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma glared at Regina.
"Don't you see what he's doing?" Regina huffed in defense. "Every second we spend talking about this is another second we're not looking for my son."
"You got a better idea?" Emma asked.
"Magic," Regina said obviously. "If there's a lock on there, I'll find a way around it."
"That's not going to help you much." The former mermaid piped up.
"Silence, Fishbait." Regina demanded sternly.
"Pan said it had to be me." Emma told her.
"I'd listen to Emma, luv. Breaking Pan's rules would be unwise." Killian advised as he would know better than anyone else.
"Sadly, I agree with the pirate." David remarked.
"Ditto." Samantha agreed.
"I'm winning you over. I can feel it." Killian smirked hopefully at David.
"And your magic doesn't exactly have a gentle touch, Regina." Mary Margaret added.
"Use it on the map, it might blow up in all our faces." David added.
"Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take." Regina retorted.
"Mom, don't," Evie said to her mother firmly, but not in a way that would get her in trouble with her mother. "If Emma is the one who needs to figure this out, then it's probably best that she's the one who does what Peter Pan says."
"Thanks, Evie." Emma nodded.
"No problem, Emma." Evie reassured with a small smile.
"Great." Regina groaned.
"She'll get there," Mary Margaret stated. "Hey, don't give up... He's playing a game; you can win." she then told Emma.
The others looked soft at that. The former mermaid looked over before she sat still and hugged her knees as she tried to get used to her feet.
"Sorry we had to take away your tail, but The Queen seems to have something in mind for you." Harry said to the former mermaid as he stepped over and soon sat down next to her.
"That apology doesn't exactly make me feel better." The former mermaid firmly pouted in response.
"Well, it's the best I got, okay?" Harry shrugged in defense. "Besides, I have enough to worry about other than coming back to this Hell for lost boys and girls."
"Could be worse... You could be separated from someone and then start to forget about them," The former mermaid said to him with a pout. "That's what happens to all of us eventually."
"Stop teasing us." Dee Dee pouted nearby.
The former mermaid looked over. "I'm not teasing you, I'm just telling the truth," she then insisted. "I know this world better than you do."
"How long have you been on this isle anyway?" Harry asked the former mermaid curiously. "I don't think I've noticed you here before even when I ended up trapped here when I was young after my dad and I had an argument."
"I... I don't remember actually..." The former mermaid replied softly. "It feels like I've been here before... Though we're put under a new rule from someone called Princess Magdalena of Atlantis or 'Magda the Mad'."
"Did you say Magda?" Evie suddenly asked.
"Yes..." The former mermaid nodded. "She said she could turn us into Sirens as well as another follower of hers from a place called Storybrooke named Scarlett."
"Scarlett O'Bell?" Evie then asked thoughtfully.
"I don't know her full name." The former mermaid shrugged in response.
"Magda and Scarlett had a plan back in Storybrooke... Something about the end being near before they disappeared from school, but they excluded Amalie," Evie memorized thoughtfully. "Do you know anything about that?" she then asked.
"There is some sort of plan to take over the place called Storybrooke, but I don't know much else, honest," The former mermaid replied. "That's all part of his big plan."
"His? ...You must mean Peter Pan, right?" Evie guessed.
"Yes, but that's all I can tell you," The former mermaid replied. "I might get in trouble and I don't know much of anything else going on with his and Magda's plot."
"I should've known Magda was bad news ever since she became Queen Bee of Storybrooke High." Evie firmly pouted and narrowed her eyes.
"How did she turn into an insect?" Harry asked out of confusion about the term of "Queen Bee".
"No, no, Harry," Evie shook her head. "That just basically means she acts like she's in charge and controls everybody like they're her drones in a beehive in the hallways. Heck, even I wanted to try to be part of her group The Pinkettes until I realized that they were no good." she then added as she explained to the pirate teen about the common high school trope.
"Ohhh..." Harry said, now understanding.
"Can I go now?" The former mermaid asked.
"I'm sorry, but I think my mom wants you to stay with us for a little bit longer," Evie said to the former mermaid. "I may not know what Peter Pan is capable of in the real world after watching his movie with Henry and even being in a school play for him when I was younger, but you're ours now. That's all I can really say about the matter."
"Hmph..." The former mermaid pouted.
"I'm sorry..." Evie said softly. "So, uh, do you have a name or what?" she then asked.
"Are you sure you want to befriend her after what we had just been through?" Harry asked cautiously.
"She's on our time now, she shouldn't be able to do too much damage since Mom gave her legs on land," Evie defended as she looked at the pirate teen before looking back at the former mermaid. "So what do they call you?"
The former mermaid hesitated before she sighed and decided to say her name anyway. "C-Carla..." she then said softly. "I'm Carla."
"Carla..." Evie replied thoughtfully before she smiled a little bit. "That's a nice name."
The former mermaid paused before giving a small smile back, though still unsure about the group so far, she felt a bit more comfortable around them now. Dee Dee was soon shown to be looking around in the bushes before pouting as she didn't seem to be able to find what she was looking for.
"Stay with us, Dee Dee," Emma warned the young girl. "You can't go off alone."
Dee Dee tried to act like she didn't hear Emma. Killian glanced over, then stepped into the bushes for a few moments, then began to drag Dee Dee back the back of her shirt with his hook to bring her back over to them.
"Heeeey!" Dee Dee complained as she was stuck now.
"Mr. Gold will kill us, then you, and bring us back to do again before bringing us back one last time after learning our lessons." Emna said.
Dee Dee firmly pouted a bit before Killian patted her on the head.
"It's nothing personal, luv, but Swan makes a rousing point." Killian nodded.
"No fair." Dee Dee whispered like a stubborn child in defeat.
"Even Hook wouldn't go off alone." Emma reminded.
"Especially with Harry who needs my supervision after what happened last time." Killian added.
"What is your problem?" Regina glared.
"Regina, that's not helping." David gently scolded.
"I'm sorry... I just wanted to help." Dee Dee said, sounding soft since Regina suddenly sounded stern with her.
"Well, running off on your own won't help, if you got lost we'd have to find you too." Mary Margaret told her, firm but kind.
"You can't just run off like that." David added.
"Stop treating me like a child." Dee Dee pouted at them.
"You are a child." Regina retorted sternly.
"And hey, do you really think Gold will want you disobeying him by separating from the group, or getting lost in the forest?" Emma asked.
"No... I guess not..." Dee Dee sighed in defeat.
"Then stay with us." Emma told her.
"I will..." Dee Dee said.
"No monkey business." Killian added.
"Or you'll have to answer to ME." Regina warned sternly.
"Okay. Okay. We just can't sit here though." Dee Dee said before suggesting.
"I'll try and work on the map," Emma said. She then sat on a log and looked at the map. "My name is Emma Swan." she said first.
"I'd wager the solution to Pan's riddle is a bit more complicated than that." Killian spoke up.
"Try something else?" Evie suggested. "Like maybe more about yourself?"
"Don't hold anything back." Mary Margaret suggested.
Emma nodded. "I'm Henry's mother. I used to live in Boston, and I was a bail bonds person. I'm now the sheriff of Storybrooke." she then continued.
"That election was a sham. Are we really doing this?" Regina scoffed.
"Shh... Mom~" Evie shushed and warned her mother.
"Don't you think maybe you're leaving some things out?" Mary Margaret reminded her daughter.
Emma glanced at her. "I'm the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, which apparently makes me a product of true love," she said. "I was born in the Enchanted Forest and I was sent through a portal in a tree so that I could break a curse." she added.
"And you were able to break the curse because you're the..." David prompted her.
"Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it." Evie and Harry urged Emma as they leaned in eagerly.
"Come on. You don't need to be embarrassed to say it~" Mary Margaret smiled.
"Erm... Say what exactly?" Samantha wondered as Killian shrugged in response as he was lost as well.
"The 'S' word." Regina urged Emma.
"Yes, of course!" Dee Dee also realized. "That's gotta be what we're missing! ...Right?" she then wondered.
"I'm the savior," Emma then said, though she looked down and the map was still blank much to her disappointment. "...I don't get it. I said I'm the savior. There's nothing I've denied more than that." she then noted.
Mary Margaret had a soothing smile. "No, it's okay. We'll figure it out." she assured.
"No, you won't." Regina retorted before suddenly grabbing the parchment.
"Mom!/Regina!" Evie and Emma both complained.
"Ms. Mills, Miss Emma couldn't figure out what to do." Dee Dee reminded the former Evil Queen.
"But I can," Regina retorted. "I'm beginning to think there isn't a map on here. That doesn't mean it can't lead us to Henry." she then added.
"I thought we decided that using magic was a bad idea." David told Regina.
"Besides, this is for Emma to solve and Emma alone." Evie added to her mother.
"For once, I agree with the prince and Evil Princess." Killian suddenly said.
David and Evie then both gave the adult pirate a bit of a look.
"Well, I told you we're getting along." Killian then added as a defense.
Regina soon used magic on the map.
"Mom! What are you doing?!" Evie cried out, feeling worried about the sudden use of magic.
"The locator spell," Regina explained. "This parchment belonged to Pan. It'll lead us to him."
"So it appears we will be venturing into The Dark Jungle after all." Killian soon collected.
"No..." Harry whispered and gasped.
Carla looked at Harry and then found herself taking his hand out of comfort.
"You mean the place you told us never to set foot?" Emma asked Killian.
"That's the one." Killian nodded.
"Well, Emma, you said you wanted to be the leader. Lead." Regina soon said.
"In the meantime, I'll plot out the funerals," Harry groaned. "Who wants open caskets and who wants closed caskets?" he then asked before looking over to see that Carla had his hand suddenly. "Erm... Hi." he then said to her.
"Hello~" Carla greeted innocently.
"We're all going." Mary Margaret told Harry.
"Oh... I knew that..." Harry blinked in response.
"Sure you did," Regina said before she moved on ahead of the others. "Well, let's go. We're burning daylight."
Emma went along, though was wary in case it didn't work.
"D-Dad... Rufio..." Harry whimpered as Killian came to collect his son for safety.
"Rufio isn't going to hurt you anymore, I took care of him," Killian gently reminded his son. "Now it's going to be okay, Harry. I'm with you this time and we aren't going to be separated again nor will we get in a fight. I won't let anything bad happen to you around here even if you've befriended a mermaid."
"Promise?" Harry asked with a pout.
"I promise," Killian reassured with a nod. "And what does Captain Hook never do?" he then prompted.
"Smile at a crocodile?" Harry guessed.
"Well, there's that, but what else?" Killian then asked.
"Break a promise." Harry memorized with a small smile.
"Exactly, my lad," Killian smiled back. "Now come along, let's follow Swan and the others before we get left behind or in any more trouble."
"Aye-Aye, Dad." Harry nodded in response.
And so, Harry took Carla with him as he followed his father after the group as they began their hike through Neverland once the map was leading them to where they needed to go next to find Henry.
"Ready to thank me?" Regina asked the others boastfully.
"Actually, yeah." Emma agreed.
"If you'd let me do it sooner, maybe we'd have found him by now," Regina then said as she suddenly sensed something through her magic. "Wait. He's there. Pan. I can feel his smugness." she then warned the others.
Harry gasped and yelped in response.
"I'm right here, Harry. It's going to be okay." Killian reminded his son.
Harry gulped before he nodded, trying to remain calm but it was a little hard.
"Shall we?" David suggested to the others as he pulled out his sword. "While we still have the element of surprise on our side?"
"Careful," Killian warned. "He may look like a boy, but he's a bloody demon."
"Hey... We can do this," Mary Margaret soothed. "You can do this." she then assured Emma.
They soon trekked further into the jungle. Ominous sounds could be heard as the group got closer and closer only to see no one there.
"Uh, Mom? No one's here." Evie pointed out.
"Maybe The Evil Queen's spell was wrong?" Samantha guessed.
"Yes... Blame me... Again." Regina deadpanned.
Emma soon saw a familiar looking figure just above them. "Guys... Hold on. Is that... Henry!" she then called out and moved forward.
"Henry, it's me! Evie!" Evie also called out.
However, the figure turned around to reveal a sickeningly smug smirk on their face as it was not Henry, but it was actually the horrible Peter Pan. "Hi, Emma~" he then greeted.
Suddenly, everyone stopped in their tracks, afraid and alarmed at who they saw in the one they were looking for's place.
"Where the hell is Henry?" Emma demanded.
"You broke the rules. That's not fair. Bad form," Peter smirked at all of them as he paced around. "I expect more from YOU, Captain." he then glanced at Killian.
"Aye, and you'll get it." Killian retorted bravely.
"Give Henry to us." Evie demanded.
"Sorry. Can't. Don't you know?" Peter taunted as Carla began to hide within the group around her. "Cheaters never win."
"Oh, yeah?" Evie smirked, trying to look as dark and frightening as her mother. "You and what army?"
"Oh, I'm so glad you asked~" Peter smirked back.
Then suddenly, The Lost Boys came from behind him, shooting arrows and whooping. They surrounded the group armed with bows and arrows as Peter looked on. The group soon began to prepare themselves.
"...I really should've seen that one coming." Evie then said weakly.
"Yes, you should've... Petty... You seem like a smart girl," Peter taunted Evie before he left in the shadows. "A lot smarter than Codfish Jr over there at least~"
"I'm not a codfish!" Harry called out and pouted in defense.
"You sure fight like one!" Peter mocked as he kept going until he seemed to suddenly disappear while The Lost Boys attacked.
"Watch out for their arrows," Killian advised the rest of the group. "They're laced with dreamshade. Harry, stay close to your father."
"Aye-Aye, Dad." Harry nodded in response.
The fight soon began as the Lost Boys started shooting their arrows. Mary Margaret started to shoot arrows too once the 'fighting' started. Samantha began to try to protect Dee Dee from the chaos. Arrows ricocheted as David blocked them with his sword while Mary Margaret shot arrows herself. A boy then shot an arrow at Mary Margaret and David noticed.
"Mary Margaret!" David cried out before pushing Mary Margaret out of the way and got nipped instead of her.
"David!" Mary Margaret cried out worriedly.
"I'm good," David reassured Mary Margaret before he saw a boy taking aim at her. "Behind you!" he then warned her.
Mary Margaret shot an arrow back and pinned the boy to a tree. Harry was soon surrounded by a bunch of boys who crowded him. Evie then saw that and soon electrocuted the boys to keep them away from Harry and she smiled at her use of magic, feeling glad to have some as The Evil Queen's daughter.
"It's been a while, Captain." Felix smirked as he soon approached Killian.
"Not long enough," Killian retorted before they soon got into a sword fight together. "You remember what I did to Rufio? Well, it's a far worse fate for you." he then challenged.
"Now for you..." Evie glared as she soon raced towards Peter, pushing charging boys to the side as she did so.
"Oh, dear... I seem to have angered The Evil Princess~" Peter smirked.
"Where's Henry?! Where is he?!" Evie demanded as her big sister instincts flared up.
"What wrath you have, my dear~" Peter smirked. "Besides, I already told the so-called Savior. That map will show her where Henry is... Only when you stop denying she really is. I'll make sure to send Henry your regards." he then said before he suddenly whistled, assembling the Lost Boys to get away.
"Evie, what happened?" Emma asked as she came over.
"Evie, are you alright?" Mary Margaret asked Evie.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine..." Evie told the adult women as she tried to settle down. "That Monkey Boy was just invading my personal space."
"Monkey Boy?" Emma asked at that, smirking with slight amusement.
"Yeah, he looks like a monkey, all he needs is a tail." Evie replied.
Mary Margaret chuckled before she tried to cover her mouth so she wouldn't be seen as rude, though Peter probably deserved that.
"I don't think he saw me." Carla said nervously.
"I don't think he did either," Harry said as he checked over her for any scars or bruises. "Are you all right though, lass?"
"I'll be fine, really," Carla replied softly before she smiled at him. "You were pretty brave out there at least."
"I'm not so sure, but... Thanks." Harry smiled back before blushing at her compliment.
"Come along, Harry," Killian told his son. "We're out of here."
Harry nodded at that as he took Carla's hand and began to lead her back over to their campsite. They soon ventured off back to their campground.
David soon tried to get settled as he got hit due to one of the Lost Boys hitting him while everyone else got comfortable.
"You sure you don't want me to take a look at that?" Mary Margaret asked her husband.
"I was lucky. My jacket wasn't," David reassured his wife. "Don't worry about it. I think we have bigger issues." he then added, suggesting that they go over and check on their daughter.
"Don't let him shake your confidence, we've all had moments where we thought we couldn't prevail." Mary Margaret told Emma softly.
"She's right." David added.
"Guys, not now... Please." Emma replied and then walked off.
"Emma, wait." David said, about to go after her.
Mary Margaret stopped her husband before going to speak to Emma herself. David nodded in agreement as he decided to wait with the rest of the group.
Mary Margaret spoke to Emma a bit. "Please talk to me." she then gently requested.
"There's nothing to talk about. We had our chance and we lost," Emma frowned. "I lost."
"Then you have to keep fighting." Mary Margaret advised warmly.
"You heard what Hook and his son said," Emma reminded her mother. "Pan is a demon."
"And you are a-" Mary Margaret gently prompted.
"What? A savior?" Emma replied, sounding frustrated suddenly. "Because if that were true, this map would have shown us the way already!"
Mary Margaret then suddenly received a revelation. "Maybe who you think you are isn't who you really are." she then suggested to her daughter.
"What do you mean?" Emma asked wearily.
"Sometimes we think we know ourselves, but we need a push to show us the reality," Mary Margaret suggested. "That boy with the knife; you stopped fighting him. Why?" she then asked.
"'Cuz he was... just a boy." Emma murmured.
"No. There was something else. I saw it in your eyes," Mary Margaret clarified maturely. "Why did you stop? Why?"
Emma paused before answering. "Because when I looked at his face, I saw me."
"Go on." Mary Margaret nodded at that.
"That look in his eyes... the despair," Emma memorized with a deep sigh. "I had it back when I was in the foster system. Just a lost little girl who didn't matter and didn't think she ever would. A little girl who cried herself to sleep at night 'cuz... she wanted her parents so bad. And could never understand... why they gave her up." she then added as her voice broke a bit from her sudden sadness at the memories.
"And then you found us. It was too late." Mary Margaret reminded with comfort.
"It's just, on this island... I-I don't feel like... A hero or a savior, I just feel like what I have always been... An orphan. " Emma admitted with a sniffle.
Mary Margaret looked at her then down. "Emma." she drew her attention.
"What?" Emma asked.
"Look," Mary Margaret whispered.
Emma gasped as the map appeared. "What happened?" she asked.
Mary Margaret looked soft and sad. "You accepted who you are," she said.
Emma exhaled sharply. "...I'm sorry, " she told her mother.
Mary Margaret shook her head then smiled. "It's okay... It's the truth," she said softly. "You were an orphan... It's my job to change that." she then gave a soothing smile.
Suddenly, the map began to change after Emma and Mary Margaret's talk.
"Hey, uh, are you guys okay?" Harry asked as he came by.
"The map is working," Emma then spoke up and nodded to Harry. She laid the map down so everyone could see. "We know where Henry is." she said.
"Oh, thank goodness." Evie said as she put her hand to her heart in relief.
"Where?" Regina soon asked.
"Uh... We're here at the southern tip of the isle, in the middle of the Dark Jungle, and Pan's camp lies due north." Killian said as he pointed out on the map for all of them due to his legacy.
"That's where he's keeping Henry." Emma nodded.
Harry gulped and shivered suddenly.
"It's okay, Harry," Evie reminded gently as she put her hand on his shoulder out of comfort. "We're all in this together, you're not alone."
Carla looked soft about that as she looked scared about helping the others.
"What are we waiting for?" Regina soon asked rhetorically.
"Well, the terrain's not easy," Killian replied. "There will undoubtedly be some nasty impediments along the way."
"We should prepare. We only made it out of our last encounter because Pan let us," David suggested. "We need a new plan."
"And fast." Carla added.
"Agreed," Emma stated. "It's time we stop playing his game and he starts playing ours." she said.
"And if I disagree?" Regina soon retorted.
"Mom, come on." Evie frowned at her mother's behavior.
"Go ahead, but I think you know our best chance is together." Emma said firmly.
"She's got ya there, Mom." Evie admitted.
Regina soon looked annoyed at both. "You better be right." she soon said in defeat to Emma.
"Excellent show of patience, luv," Killian told Emma as he soon brought out a bottle. "And that's what defeats a nasty little boy."
"We better hope so." Samantha soon said.
"Yes." Emma agreed.
Killian then took out a bottle and soon tried to keep Harry from trying some as he looked rather thirsty. "No, Harry, you don't want any of this." he then gently chided his son.
"I could really use something to calm my nerves to keep that Neverland Monkey off my back." Harry pouted and crossed his arms.
Carla giggled a little from that.
"You'll think of something." Killian replied as he decided to keep his rum away from his teenage son.
"Is rum your solution to everything?" Emma asked Killian.
"It certainly doesn't hurt," Killian said before taking a drink. "Mmm. Hmm?" he then offered her some.
Emma took it and had a drink.
"So just how did you unlock the map?" Killian then asked as he let her have a drink.
"I did what Pan asked." Emma told him.
"And just who are you, Swan?" Killian soon asked.
"Wouldn't you like to know?" Emma told him, handing back his rum.
"Perhaps I would." Killian insisted before they soon walked away.
"What do you think of that Carla girl?" Regina asked her daughter.
"I don't know, but we should probably keep an eye on her," Evie suggested. "She doesn't seem as bad as those other mermaids we saw in The Jolly Roger."
"Hmm... Okay, but if she slips up, she's Sharkbait. Understand?" Regina warned her daughter.
"Yes, Mom, but I don't think we have to worry about that." Evie reassured her mother based on how she interacted with Carla so far.
"Just let me know if she does anything to you or anyone else." Regina then said.
"Of course, Mom." Evie nodded and promised.
"Hey, Evie, you wanna come pick some berries with us?" Emma offered to the blue-haired girl as she took Dee Dee's hand.
"Uh, sure, Emma. That sounds like fun." Evie nodded.
Emma smiled and soon walked along with Evie and Dee Dee to go and pick some berries.
"Oh, Henry... I really hope that you're okay out there..." Evie whispered in concern.
Dee Dee then gently patted Evie's hand with a small smile. Evie smiled back at the girl as they soon continued along. Dee Dee looked around the many berries to see what would be good before she gasped and flinched as a voice startled her suddenly.
"Don't eat the blue ones," A voice warned suddenly before showing it was Peter, back in his regular clothes. "Congratulations. You did it... Orphan. You don't mind if I call you a Lost Girl, do you?" he then asked Emma.
"Buzz off, Fly Boy!" Evie rolled her eyes in disgust.
"Besides, you can call us whatever you want," Emma added firmly while Dee Dee pouted. "It won't stop us from finding Henry."
"Oh, I'm counting on that~" Peter chuckled. "There's a reason I tested you~"
"Really?" Emma asked.
"You haven't forgiven your parents for abandoning you. Don't deny it. You haven't," Pan taunted Emma. "That's good. Really good. 'Cuz when you find Henry, you'll understand him. Not to mention your parents abandoned you too and so did your father." he then added to Dee Dee and Evie.
"Leave me and Dee Dee out of this!" Evie narrowed her eyes firmly while Dee Dee suddenly looked sad because it was true.
"My parents left me, Evie~" Dee Dee pouted.
"You still have Mr. Leroy and Miss Nova." Evie gently coaxed the girl.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Emma soon demanded from Peter.
"Henry hasn't forgiven you either, Emma," Peter soon taunted the blonde woman. "By the time you get to him, he'll never want to leave this island."
"We'll see," Emma retorted as she collected more berries before she faced Evie and Dee Dee. "Let's go, girls." she then told the two younger ones.
"It doesn't change that the little one was all alone with no one else in the world for her... Also, Evie's father perished... And as for you, Emma... when we're finished, you won't just feel like an orphan. You'll be one." Peter told them just before they were out of earshot.
Dee Dee whimpered in response while Emma and Evie continued to take her back to the campground.
Goldie soon found a certain treehouse in Neverland where she allowed Jay, Carlos, and Lonnie to sleep in for the night after a rather long journey. She tried to reassure herself that things were going to be different from now on now that she was an adult in Neverland. She soon decided to leave the treehouse to go and get some water while the kids were asleep. She then splashed herself with some water before looking into her reflection underneath the moonlight and soon saw her younger self and how she ended up getting separated from her family, especially with the sounds of angry bears. She then covered her eyes.
"Now, now, Goldie, you're all grown up now... You can't get hurt in this place..." Goldie to herself before she got back up and suddenly tripped on the ground, landing flat. "Ugh!" she then got back up and looked over. "I must've tripped over a rock or a-" she then gasped with wide eyes.
Instead of a rock that might have tripped her, Goldie could see what looked like an old teddy bear from a very, very long time ago.
"What the...?" Goldie muttered before she suddenly felt chills down her spine, much to her horror "No..." she then whispered. "T-T-There's no way he could know..."
"Oh, but I do..." A familiar, haunting voice called from behind Goldie, scaring her to death suddenly as she felt as vulnerable and scared as a timid little girl like she was in Neverland many years ago, showing it to be none other than Peter Pan. "Hello, Goldilocks... We meet again~" he then greeted with a nightmare fuel-infested grin on his face that cold scare even the bravest of men.