Deep in the bowels of Neverland, Henry was soon shown trying to get some sleep under a tree until a rooster crow suddenly woke him up which didn't actually come from a bird. When he woke up, an apple was suddenly tossed at him and in came the source of the wake-up call with a smug little smirk on his face. The other Lost Ones were by the fire, having food of fish, eggs, chips, and more as Peter had something specially planned right now.
"Wake up. Catch." Peter told the younger, more timid boy.
"I don't like apples." Henry frowned as he sat up.
"Who doesn't like apples?" Peter smirked.
"It's a family thing." Henry defended softly.
"Well, don't worry," Peter reassured before he crouched down to the same eye level as Henry. "They're not for eating. It's for a kind of game. A really fun game," he then explained as he aimed the crossbow in his hand. "I call it target practice."
Henry looked wary about that as he joined Peter by the fire as the older boy began to dip the arrow in some sort of inky black substance that the younger boy didn't recognize. "What's that?" he soon asked.
"Dreamshade. A nasty poison," Peter explained as he prepare the crossbow for shooting, but not doing that just yet. "I've heard a story about a man who once shot an apple off his son's head with an arrow. Let's find out if this is possible."
"If you're shooting the apple, what's the poison for?" Henry asked nervously.
"A motivation not to miss," Peter smirked as he playfully aimed the crossbow before calling out. "Felix! Get over here!"
"Is... is Felix good?" Henry asked as his voice cracked due to his nerves. "Is his aim good?"
"Doesn't matter. You're the one doing the shooting," Peter smirked. "Maybe you can do better than Gil who's supposed to be the son of a skilled hunter."
"I need to work on my aim." Gil admitted softly.
"But I-I don't want to shoot." Henry frowned worriedly as Felix began to put the apple on his head.
"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" The other Lost Ones began to chant for Henry.
"You won't hit him. Trust yourself," Peter reassured and grinned. "Go on. It's exhilarating. You can't possibly do worse than Gil."
Gil pouted at that, looking slightly discouraged.
"Shoot! Shoot! Shoot!" The Lost Ones continued to chant as Henry began to take the crossbow to aim at the apple.
Henry looked firmly at Felix who looked back at him without fear until Henry then suddenly changed his target and shot the arrow at Peter.
However, Peter caught the arrow in his hand before it could do him any harm as he smirked nastily at the younger boy. "Told you it was exhilarating~" he then said. "Come on, I have something to show you."
Henry looked hesitant, but he decided to go along with it for now.
"Don't feel bad, little guy," Gil coaxed Henry. "Shooting targets gets easier after the second time around... Or the third... Or the fourth..."
"Stop talking." Peter narrowed his eyes.
"Okay." Gil then said softly.
Soon, it was a time of celebration for The Lost Ones as it was night time and they all hooted and hollered by the fire after another day of victory. Henry just watched them distantly and Peter smirked at their excitement since he helped make it possible.
"Look at the fun they are having," Peter told the younger boy. "The thing with this place, Henry, is that no one tells you no. You can do as you want~"
"Do they never hurt themselves?" Henry asked with a frown.
"All the time. Sometimes I had four boys with missing fingers," Peter replied. "Cost of the game. They don't mind."
"I don't belong here." Henry frowned.
"Actually, you do. Maybe your sister could be our new mother too. I hear she has a big heart despite being the daughter of a treacherous villain," Peter countered. "We've been waiting for you a very long time, Henry. Long before you were even born."
"I don't believe that." Henry disagreed.
"You should. This place runs on imagination. On belief, but your world stopped believing," Peter insisted. "Magic is dying and you, Henry, need to save it."
"In my world, you mean." Henry defended.
"In every world," Peter huffed in response. "You need to bring it back. That's your destiny. To return the magic. To be The Savior." he then urged the younger boy.
"My mom Emma is the savior. Not me." Henry defended and frowned.
"She broke some curse, yeah." Peter then said.
Henry then looked at him questioningly.
"Oh, I know more than you think, but if breaking the curse wasn't the thing that made her The Savior? What if having you was?" Peter then continued. "Think about it. You both descend from the greatest of light and of dark. Believing that's a coincidence that the sprout of the Dark One met your mother? You were created for a reason and I can help you find it." he then added.
"So you're thinking I'm supposed to save magic?" Henry then asked.
"I'm not thinking. I believe," Peter defended. "Remember, I've said I've something to show you," he then handed Henry a piece of paper that was folded up. "Here. I had this for a very long time. Long before you were even thought about. Take a look and you'll know why I'm so sure you're the hero magic has been waiting for."
Henry sook took the piece of paper and without taking a look at it, he dropped it to the ground. "I don't believe you." he then firmly told the older boy.
"You remind me of your father," Peter smirked at that. "I'm needed elsewhere at the moment, but you think about what I said and you'll see that I know what I'm talking about~"
Henry watched Peter go and soon waited by himself. He then looked around before he picked up the piece of paper again and opened it up to take a look at it before he gasped slightly. He was so shocked and nervous that he nearly dropped the paper to see that there was an illustration of himself somehow on the paper.
Goldie was shown to be in the forest, kneeling in front of the lake, and decided to get a drink of water. She then took some sips before splashing her face and trying to relax a little until she gasped and she thought she heard something behind her. She soon looked behind her, seeing that it was only a group of wild animals such as a fox, a rabbit, two raccoons who seemed to be twins, a bear cub, and even a skunk.
"Aww... How cute..." Goldie cooed before she smirked a little to herself. "A bunch of rodents looking for a theme park."
The animals there seemed to not notice her as they continued about.
"I thought I smelled a rat..." Goldie muttered to herself as she continued to wash up a bit by the lake.
"Goldilocks?~" A familiar voice called from right behind the young blonde woman, startling her slightly.
"Speak of The Devil..." Goldie murmured once she recognized the voice right away.
"Goldilocks... Good to see you're still sticking around Neverland..." Peter smirked as he approached her.
"Look, I've done my part, if you need any more help, you'll have to get your little Lost Ones," Goldie glared at him in response. "I'm done."
"Hm... So were Greg and Tamara and look at what happened to them~" Peter tutted and smirked. "I just need my favorite Lost Girl's help."
"Find yourself a new Lost Girl, I'm through," Goldie huffed and firmly pouted in response. "I'm done being your Lost Girl."
"Well, you know, that's good because that's what got you into the jam in the first place, isn't it?" Peter reminded her. "You and your brother were all alone in the forest and while he made new friends and connected with people, you were just on your own and you felt the most lost and out of place, so you thought running away would be what you would need to help you find your place in the world and you ended meeting me because you were all alone with no one to miss you or protect you. That hurt you real bad, didn't it, Goldilocks? When your big brother chose his new friends over his own little sister?" he then asked, pulling at her heartstrings a little. Metaphorically speaking of course.
"Look, I learned my lesson, okay?" Goldie huffed in response.
"Which is exactly why I got a feeling you're gonna leap at my new offer," Peter told her as he came to sit with her by the lake. "You give me those new soldiers you brought with you on your journey here and I'll give you the thing that you crave most in all of the realms~" he then leaned in and whispered right into her ear. "Your freedom~"
Goldie gasped with wide eyes before she bit her lip.
"Two new Lost Boys and my first Lost Girl can go free... What do you say?" Peter smirked at her. "I'll give you until sunset tomorrow to make your choice before I make it for you~"
Goldie looked very scared and worried, especially for Jay and Carlos even if she didn't know them very well, though she also desired to be free from being controlled by Peter Pan, but what could she do? This was going to be the hardest decision of her life.
Meanwhile, with the heroes at their campground, they were making a plan with each other. Carla sat close by Harry now that he felt better.
"This is where they're keeping Henry. Pan's compound," Emma started to say as she had a plan drawn out on the ground. "According to, uh..."
"Tinkerbell." The former pixie reminded.
"Yes, I know," Emma replied. "Still weird to say."
"How about Tink?" Evie suggested as she gently stroked Dee Dee's hair as the younger girl was trying to sleep.
"I quite like that nickname myself." Tinkerbell agreed.
"Not sure that's any better," Emma replied before she went back to focus on the task at hand. "Anyway, she says that there are sentries positioned across the front, which is why we are gonna come in through the back entrance here. She's gonna talk her way in. Once she makes sure the coast is clear, then we are going to sneak on in." she then pointed out.
"You'll have to be very careful, Miss Swan," Carla spoke up knowingly. "You still have to deal with any Lost Ones once you're inside."
"I think we can handle a few children with pointy sticks." Regina smirked in response.
"It's not the sticks you need to worry about," Tinkerbell cautioned. "It's the poison they're dipped in."
"Dreamshade." Mary Margaret said knowingly.
"My dad knows all about that and he told us." Harry added.
"Good. Because one nick, and you'll spend the last of-" Tinkerbell nodded as she began to remind them about the danger of Dreamshade.
"Poison sticks equal death. We got it," David interrupted abruptly. "Now when can we put this rescue mission into action?"
Evie frowned as she noticed that, but decided not to say anything.
"I'm ready to go, just as you tell me the exit plan." Tinkerbell then said.
"Erm... Uh... Exit plan?" Evie smiled bashfully.
"You do have an escape plan, don't you?" Tinkerbell asked the group then.
"It's... it's more of a last-minute trip." Mary Margaret stated nervously.
"If you don't have a way off this island, then none of this matters." Tinkerbell firmly pouted.
"We'll figure it out." Regina said out of determination.
"You'll figure it out?" Tinkerbell scoffed. "No one comes and goes from this place unless he allows it. This is a waste of time."
"Hey, when it comes to family, we always find a way." David spoke up.
"That's right and that includes me as I'm part of this family too as Henry's big sister." Evie spoke up.
"You don't get it," Tinkerbell shook her head before she suddenly took out a wristwatch. "Here. Let me show you something. You know what this is?" she then asked the others.
"Aw, come now, even I know that's a clock," Harry spoke up. "A very small one though."
"I believe it's called a watch." Samantha told the pirate teen.
"What about it though, Tinkerbell?" Carla soon asked.
"I got it from the people who brought the kid here for Pan." Tinkerbell revealed.
"Greg and Tamara? Where are they?" Emma suddenly asked sharply. "Why'd they give you that?"
"I got it off the girl's body. Spent half the night cleaning the blood off it," Tinkerbell explained calmly. "And the other guy... Well, there wasn't enough left of him to find anything useful. This is what Pan does to people he employs."
"Goodness..." Evie frowned with wide eyes.
"Still think Peter Pan is cool?" Harry asked Evie.
"Not so much no." Evie admitted softly.
"What do you think he's gonna do to you?" Tinkerbell continued to the others. "I'm not sticking my neck on Pan's chopping block without a way off this island. When you figure that out, you know where I live." she then added before storming off suddenly.
"Where the hell is she going?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"I'll get her, bring her back." David decided out of determination.
"Don't. She's right," Emma advised her father. "If there's one thing I've learned, you never break in somewhere unless you know the way out."
"And where'd you get that, in bail bonds person school?" Regina scoffed in response.
"Neal taught me that." Emma defended.
"Nice." Carla commented.
"What about you, Hook?" David then asked the adult male pirate. "You got off this island before."
"Yes, aboard my ship after I found Harry and saved him from Rufio, which would require some form of magic to create a portal, which... I got from Pan in a deal I don't think he's ready to repeat." Killian explained calmly.
"So no one's ever left the island without Pan's permission?" Evie soon asked.
"One man," Killian replied as he gave a small look to Emma. "Her partner in crime. Neal."
Emma blinked with wide eyes. "How?" she then wondered.
"Maybe we can find out." Killian replied, as not even he knew the answer to that question, before he ventured out into the woods.
"We're coming too." Evie said as she stood up.
"Are you sure?" Killian asked.
"Of course she's sure," Regina spoke up for her daughter. "That punk already has one of my children and there's no way I'm letting my other child alone here and I know you're not gonna do the same."
"Please, Dad." Harry begged as he looked scared to death about being left alone in Neverland again.
"You won't ever be alone again, Harry. I promise, not in Neverland nor in Storybrooke if we're welcome there again." Killian promised his son.
"Thanks, Dad." Harry smiled in relief.
"Of course, son." Killian smiled back.
And at that, the group soon walked off together to plot their next move against the nefarious Peter Pan.
"I can't believe Mr. Gold doesn't love me back..." Dee Dee sulked. "My whole future is ruined."
Harry sighed a bit at that. "You're gonna have to give up on that crush, kid." he then advised.
"Harry..." Evie frowned.
"What? Am I wrong?" Harry shrugged.
"There's a nice way to approach that subject and that wasn't it," Evie told him before looking back at Dee Dee. "Dee Dee, I know you don't wanna hear this, but Harry's right."
"Doesn't he know that I love him?" Dee Dee frowned softly.
"I'm sure he does, but he probably doesn't want to hurt you," Evie said gently and acting like a big sister for the poor girl. "You should try to like someone closer to your own age... Like Nicholas Zimmer or maybe even Henry."
"Ew... I can't love Henry... He's my friend... It would be so weird." Dee Dee grimaced slightly.
"Well, at least try to think about it, Dee Dee," Evie advised. "I had a big crush on Chad back in the day and he turned out to be wrong for me. I'm not sure who my Mr. Right is, but it definitely isn't Chad."
"Maybe you should go out with Doug?" Dee Dee suggested.
"Doug?" Evie asked thoughtfully. "Dopey's son?"
"And my cousin," Dee Dee nodded before pausing. "...Well, technically adoptive cousin since Papa Leroy is his Uncle Grumpy in a way, but yeah, that Doug."
"Oh... I don't know about Doug, Dee Dee..." Evie smiled bashfully. "I only like him as a friend."
"Well, that's how I feel about Henry," Dee Deee reminded softly. "You could at least give him a try and he's a lot nicer and smarter than Chad, isn't he?"
"That's true," Evie nodded. "After we found out that Chad was the son of Cinderella, we realized that Chad inherited a lot of the charm, but not a lot of there there."
"Of course he's there, you go to school with him, don't you?" Dee Dee asked out of confusion.
"No, Dee Dee. That's not what I mean." Evie said with an amused smile.
"Huh?" Dee Dee then asked, feeling even more confused.
"It means he's probably dumber than a codfish." Harry said to Dee Dee bluntly.
Carla giggled, unable to resist.
"Harry!" Evie glared firmly in response.
"That's what you meant though, right?" Harry shrugged in defense.
Evie sighed and rolled her eyes. "We're gonna have a long way to go if you're ever going to go to school with us in Storybrooke High." she then muttered to herself.
"I think I have a lot to learn about people too," Dee Dee commented before she sighed. "I hope that Henry and Mr. Gold are okay... Wherever they are."
"Don't worry, kid. We'll find 'em, one way or another," Emma reassured the young girl before mumbling to herself. "Even if Mr. Gold sorta abandoned us and left us for dead."
Dee Dee frowned before shrugging as she continued to follow the others while trying to get over her crush on Mr. Gold, though it was hard for her to do so and she did worry deeply about Henry. She was just glad that she wasn't lost and alone in Neverland otherwise she didn't think she would survive. Not even Clara and The Nutcracker Prince had this much trouble against The Rat King.
Meanwhile, Neal was still looking around and traveling throughout the jungles of Neverland by himself to look for Emma. However, before he did that, Rumple was shown to be wandering as well, still wearing his Dark One suit and having black war paint smeared on one side of his face. He could hear talking in the distance and soon looked through the foliage to see a pair of Lost Boys on the watch for anything or anyone suspicious. Soon, the two boys heard the foliage rustling and turned their attention to Rumple once he came out of the bushes.
"Stop! By the order of Pan!" One of the boys demanded as he held his spear up high.
Rumple then waved his hand, sending a magical powder in the two boys' faces right away, sending them down to the ground and knocking them out cold. "I don't take orders." he then snarled at the boys before he decided to approach the one with the spear and picked it up to use as his own weapon of defense against future enemies that might spring into action in his path.
Soon, there was more rustling heard. Rumple braced himself with the spear as he looked over, ready to hunt down anyone who got in his way. However, the person who tripped and stumbled soon fell down in front of him and appeared to be unarmed and it was clear who he was, much to Rumple's surprise.
"Bae...?" Rumple whispered before he suddenly narrowed his eyes in dark suspicion. "You're not real. You're dead!"
"What? Of course I'm real," Neal defended. "What the hell's going on?!"
"You're a vision, just like Belle." Rumple glared firmly.
"No. No, hey. Listen to me. It's me. I was shot. Okay? But I survived," Neal quickly defended and reassured his father. "See? I'm alive."
"My eldest son is dead!" Rumple glared, refusing to believe that. "You're just here to remind me of my failure!"
"That's not why I'm here." Neal said, trying to remain calm.
"My weakness." Rumple continued sternly as he soon pinned Neal against a tree with his spear, ready to stab at will.
"Put the spear down." Neal begged nervously.
"You're here to question my resolve, but you won't succeed," Rumple growled. "I WILL sacrifice my life for Henry. And nothing will stand in my way!"
"Please... Papa..." Neal whispered nervously and emotionally.
Rumple glared until he looked calm around his eldest son suddenly and began to realize that Neal wasn't a vision and was the real deal. "Bae? Is that really you?" he then asked softly.
"Yeah." Neal confirmed quietly.
Rumple soon dropped the spear with an emotional smile. "I thought I'd lost you forever," he then said softly before looking curious and confused. "How is it possible?" he then demanded.
"It's kind of a long story," Neal told his father calmly. "Let's just say that the debt Robin Hood owes you has been paid."
"You were back in our land?" Rumple asked out of surprise.
"Yeah, but I made it here," Neal reassured. "The only thing that matters now is that I help Emma save Henry. Where is she?" he then added.
"I left her and the rest of them aboard Hook's ship," Rumple informed. "As noble as their intentions may be, they don't have the stomach to do what needs to be done."
"Like what you did to these boys?" Neal asked, gesturing to the unconscious boys on the ground. "They're not, uh...?" he then trailed off, hoping his father didn't do what he thought he did.
"No, they're just sleeping. For now." Rumple reassured.
"Let's leave it that way, okay?" Neal suggested.
"You don't have the stomach either." Rumple scoffed slightly.
"I'll do what needs to be done, but killing Lost Boys and Lost Girls? We don't have to do that." Neal replied before he picked up one of the spears to take as his own as well as a quiver.
"We shall see." Rumple replied.
"So I take it you have a plan?" Neal then asked his father. "The whole 'sacrifice your life' thing was just you being dramatic?"
"Well, it's the only way. Pan's too powerful," Rumple explained. "You can only beat him if you're willing to die, which I am."
Neal looked thoughtful as he handed one of the spears to his father. "What if I told you there was another way?" he then offered. "I also owe a favor myself."
"What would that be?" Rumple asked.
"Delivering a childhood memento," Neal replied before he showed the stuffed toy fox. "Robin Hood told me to give this to his sister and he told me who she is and turns out I've been helping her ever since I came back into Storybrooke."
"You mean...?" Rumple began to ask.
"Yes... Goldie is Robin Hood's sister..." Neal nodded. "It really should've tipped me off when she told me her name was Goldie Locksley."
"Yes, I suppose we all should've seen that one coming," Rumple smirked. "The curse is a bit more creative than that."
"Come on then, follow me," Neal then said as he walked off. "If we're lucky, the mermaids won't be at the lagoon right now."
Rumple looked curious as they soon continued to leave the jungle and head over to the ocean of the island to get a certain tool. However, before they went there, on the rocks, there was a group of mermaids who were talking with one of them being in charge who appeared to be Magda in her true age and form as she held her own trident and she even had Scarlett and Diana with her.
"Remember to keep an eye out for anyone who's getting cold feet... They won't survive here for long." Magda commanded the other mermaids who looked up at her as she acted as their leader.
"We lost one of our own, those invaders took her." Scarlett spoke up.
"She was weak anyway," Magda tutted and shook her head. "We have to keep things alive on our end for the glory of Atlantis like he promised."
"What do we do for now?" Diana asked. "Give them a bit of chaos?"
"They'll be their own downfall, just like Rumplestiltskin in this land," Magda replied. "We won't give up until we are summoned again, now let's retire to the waters. Our stolen friend was holding us back, just like Amalie in Storybrooke."
Scarlett and Diana nodded as they agreed with Magda at that notion.
"Now, back under the sea we go," Magda soon said as she held her trident and soon zapped it into the water. "For the glory of Neverland and Atlantis!"
"For the glory of Neverland and Atlantis!" Scarlett and Diana replied before they followed Magda back under the sea, luckily not ever seeing Rumple or Neal.
"Good... They didn't see us..." Neal said to his father, looking back at him. "You can never be too careful around Neverland mermaids. They're terrible oceanic oppressors."
"Especially Princess Magdalena who posed as a student in your brother's school." Rumple nodded at his son as they continued along together.
Meanwhile, the group continued to travel through Neverland until they came to a stop at what looked like a vined and bouldered obstacle.
"What is this supposed to be?" Regina asked bitterly.
"So... What? Neal swung out of Neverland on a vine?" Evie asked curiously.
"Well, if someone would be kind enough to lend me a hand..." Killian started to say.
Harry then imitated a rimshot since his father was best known as Captain Hook who was missing his left hand.
"Yes, yes, very funny, but in all seriousness," Killian flashed his son a small smirk and glare before looking at Emma. "What do you say, Savior?" he then asked the blonde woman.
"I'll do it." David suddenly said as he walked toward Killian before his daughter could.
"You don't look so hot, mate." Killian whispered to David as they began to pull on the ropes together.
"It's a hundred degrees in this damn jungle. And I'm plenty hot." David retorted in a hushed voice.
Soon, the two pulled on the ropes and the stone scraped and moved to show a secret entrance after a few moments.
"Ladies first." Killian soon said.
The women of the group soon walked on through ahead of David and Killian before Harry trailed behind them before looking over his shoulder curiously to the two adult men of the group.
"How much longer do you think you can keep up this charade?" Killian asked David quietly. "Don't you think your family deserves to know you're gonna die?"
"What do you care?" David scoffed in response.
"Why don't you?" Killian asked cautiously.
"What is the good in telling them when there is nothing I can do to stop the poison, when there is no hope?" David retorted.
"Well, if there's one thing I've gleaned from you hero types, it's that there's always hope." Killian advised.
David narrowed his eyes in slight suspicion. "Is there something you're not telling me, mate?" he then asked the adult pirate.
"Alas, hope and reality are most often worlds apart," Killian defended. "I told you the truth. You'll never make it off this island alive. I nearly had the same scrape when Harry was held hostage here by a Lost Boy by the name of Rufio."
"Well... Then this is between us," David then told Killian firmly. "The only thing they need to worry about saving is Henry." he then added before walking off.
Killian waited a few moments before following him inside the cave, both men seeming to be unaware that they were being listened to.
"Hmm..." Harry hummed to himself in suspicion, but kept what he overheard to himself.
Everyone else began to look around curiously, alone in the dark a bit since there was barely any light aside from their lanterns.
"Hook!" Emma soon called out as her voice echoed slightly. "What is this place?"
"Yeah, what are we doing here?" Evie added.
"It's too dark~" Dee Dee pouted.
Samantha gently squeezed Dee Dee's hand, trying to protect and comfort her. Killian soon tried to shed some light on the situation, literally, though it was hard with his lack of two hands. Eventually, David stepped in and lit a torch in the cave for all of them and they saw drawings and marks all over the cave walls once they could see more properly. Harry looked wide-eyed as he saw a phrase smeared on the wall which read "BANGARANG" which caused him to nearly jump out of his skin.
"Neal... This is where he lived..." Emma whispered in realization.
"Aye," Killian nodded and confirmed. "Baelfire spent some time in Neverland as a boy. This was his home." he then explained.
"So you think he may have left a clue as to how he escaped from here, Captain?" Samantha soon asked.
"Well, let's hope so, or we'll be lost just like he was." Killian replied as he put his hand on Harry's shoulder out of comfort.
Harry flinched slightly before looking back at his father and then giving him a small smile. Killian smiled back as he tried to comfort and protect his son especially due to their last encounter in Neverland together. Carla soon looked around and began to feel thoughtful suddenly. Harry looked at her and decided to go and keep her company since she seemed to have a lot on her mind right now.
Killian looked over before smirking a bit since Carla wasn't dangerous right now and he could see a certain look in his son's eyes before he saw Emma looking thoughtful as well. "Anything important?" he then asked the blonde woman.
"I can't tell yet," Emma replied as everyone else took a look around the cave, such as opening chests, moving boat pieces, and some bags were also moved, but nothing seemed to stand out. "I didn't know he liked drawing." she then commented.
"He got it from his mother." Killian smiled wistfully in response.
Emma glanced at him curiously as she continued to look around. "I'm hoping Neal left something useful in the details of one of these," she then said. "Maybe a map? Some kind of clue."
"I think I might've found something," Evie said as she picked up a coconut shell with a candle in it. "A coconut candle?"
"Huh, whatya know?" Emma commented.
"Mom, I need to borrow a lighter, I promise I won't smoke." Evie then said.
"Of course, dear." Regina nodded as she allowed Evie to borrow a lighter.
Evie then accepted the lighter before lighting the candle inside the coconut and lifted it to look around the cave walls. "Hmm... How very curious..." she then commented before she found a drawing of what looked like a family of a mother, a father, and their children who appeared to be two sons and one daughter before looking at the marking that said "BANGARANG".
"What about you?" Emma soon asked Killian. "Any luck?"
"No potted bean plant or swirling vortex under the rug, if that's what you mean," Killian replied, sounding a bit regretful. "There may be no rug at all. There are other drawings on the far wall, but as far as I can tell, that's all they are. Probably just a way to pass the time and keep occupied."
"You knew him pretty well, didn't you?" Emma remarked thoughtfully.
"We spent some time together." Killian nodded truthfully.
Emma looked thoughtful and nodded.
"Are you feeling okay, Evie?" Dee Dee piped up. "Do you see anything important to help us find Henry?" she then asked.
"I just see a bunch of pictures and marks..." Evie replied with regret before pouting. "There's gotta be something that we're missing."
"I think you're probably right, Evie," Emma nodded before she saw her parents who had a collection of supplies on a table. "What's all this?" she then wondered.
"Uh, just some cups and bowls he fashioned from things he found here." Mary Margaret informed.
"Don't know how great a cup this coconut could make. It's filled with holes." David added as he found the second coconut half, but with the holes on the top of it.
"Uh, maybe it's a tiny colander?" Mary Margaret guessed.
"Yes, because preteen Baelfire probably made lots of pasta." Regina deadpanned.
"Mom..." Evie sighed before she suddenly had an idea as she looked at the coconut half in her hand. "Wait."
"What is it, Evie?" Regina asked her daughter.
"I think I have an idea," Evie said hopefully. "Mr. Jones, snuff out that light."
Killian looked at her before he did as she said, leaving it completely dark until Evie put the two coconut pieces together with the candlelight shining through the coconut holes.
"Am I supposed to be impressed that he made a night light?" Regina scoffed.
"No, Mom... Not a night light... Look..." Evie said as she looked up as the light soon shined on the ceiling of the cave.
Everyone else soon looked up along with the blue-haired teenage girl.
"Wow... Stars..." Dee Dee whispered in amazement.
"It's a map." Harry realized.
"To where?" David wondered.
"Home." Emma smiled knowingly.
"How can you be so sure it's a map?" Mary Margaret wondered.
"I taught you well, son," Killian told Harry before he explained his reasoning to Mary Margaret. "There was a short time in Neverland when Baelfire was aboard my ship. I taught him to navigate using the stars. What you're looking at is the fruit of my labors." he then added.
"Can you read it, Captain?" Evie asked.
"Sadly, no." Killian admitted softly.
"I thought you just said you taught him how?" David replied out of confusion.
"Yes, but I also taught Neal something else," Killian replied before looking at his son. "Harry, what did I tell you one of the biggest keys to being a pirate?" he then quizzed.
"Secrecy?" Harry replied.
"Exactly," Killian nodded. "The best captains conceal their maps in a code and he was an apt pupil." he then told the others.
"So you're saying the only person who can read this map is Neal?" Mary Margaret asked softly.
Killian looked regretful, but he silently admitted that was true.
"Which means the only person who can read it is dead." Emma realized with a frown before she walked off suddenly.
David and Mary Margaret also frowned before going after their daughter.
"Oh... Poor Miss Emma..." Dee Dee frowned.
"You have a good heart, kid." Samantha coaxed.
"Papa Leroy and Mama Nova help make sure I do." Dee Dee nodded.
Samantha smiled a little at that, admiring Dee Dee's spirit.
"Emma, wait!" David called out.
"Now is not the time." Emma replied firmly.
"I can't imagine even imagine the sadness you must be feeling." Mary Margaret frowned at her daughter.
"I'm not sad. I'm pissed. Yes, Neal just died, but I lost him years ago," Emma defended as her voice began to break as she tried to avoid crying. "All that time thinking that he didn't love me, only to find out that he did, and it was too late. I can't even tell him how angry that makes me, or how much it hurt when he left, or how terrified I was when he came back, because... I knew the moment I saw him, I never... I never stopped loving him." she then admitted.
Killian looked soft as he happened to overhear that before Emma soon went to be alone and away from her parents.
"She'll be okay." David soothed his wife.
"Really?" Mary Margaret asked, almost not believing that.
"We have done everything we can." David insisted with a nod.
"But that's the problem," Mary Margaret replied as she began to feel devastated. "I have no idea how to comfort my own daughter. It is the first thing a mother learns, and I don't know how. Regina might have been a wicked step-mother to me, but she still loves her own daughter very much."
"I know. I feel the same way, but she is so upset, we have to get-" David replied, trying to help.
"How can we even blame her?" Mary Margaret frowned sadly. "If you died, I would not be able to move on."
"You must," David told her, though kept trying to hide a certain secret from her. "I-I-I'm just saying. Every day we're here, something bad could happen. And if it did to me, I'd want you to move on, to continue, to be happy." he then added tenderly.
"That's really sweet, but nothing is going to happen to you," Mary Margaret promised before hugging him, unaware of the secret he was keeping from her. "Not while I'm here."
Harry looked at the couple before looking a little soft as Carla came by his side as she had something else on her mind. "Carla... Are you okay?" he then asked the dark-haired girl softly.
"I-I remember... I'm starting to feel something..." Carla said to him.
"About your past?" Harry guessed.
"Yes," Carla nodded. "I don't have a full feeling, but it's getting stronger now after I left those mermaids, almost like a blocked memory is waking up again."
"What do you feel?" Harry asked with a hopeful smile for her.
"I remember being in a closet somewhere and being surrounded by bear traps... I sometimes got my leg caught... I felt so alone." Carla started to tell him.
"Oh, my..." Harry frowned in empathy for her pain.
"There was only one thing that kept me going," Carla then added softly. "I had someone with me who I shared a lot of things with... Space, bed, board, food... Family."
"You mean like a brother?" Harry guessed.
"Yes, I think that was it," Carla nodded. "But... They left me... He probably left me... He abandoned me." she then glared at the ground.
"And you feel angry now?" Harry then asked.
"Yes, I do..." Carla replied. "I'm not fully sure who I'm angry at, but I wanna make them pay for what happened."
"Well, until you know who it is you're angry with, I want you to channel that anger..." Harry advised, trying to help her get in touch with her feelings to go against Peter Pan eventually. "We'll need that for the big battle of Neverland against that Shitweasel. Pardon my language."
"All right, Harry, I'll try to do that," Carla nodded. "Just help me out a little? I don't think I've ever felt angry before."
"I'll do whatever it takes to help you because I hate this Peter Pain in the Neck more than anyone," Harry reassured as he narrowed his eyes. "We'll take him down together until the night falls."
"I like the sound of that." Carla agreed.
"Normally it's bad luck to have a lady at sea with you, but I would gladly make an exception for you when I become the next Captain Hook." Harry soon told her.
"I would gladly go out to sea with you, Harry," Carla smiled. "If you would let me even if your father doesn't trust me."
"It doesn't matter what my father thinks... I love him with all my heart and I wanna grow up to be just like him, but my Jolly Roger will gladly welcome you aboard, mermaid or not." Harry vowed.
"Oh, Harry~" Carla blushed at that.
Harry smiled as he soon put his arm around her as he tried to comfort her the best that he could as another night in Neverland began to end until they went back into the cave to see if they could find anything else important.
David soon lit the torch again so that they could continue looking through Neal's hideout. They soon found chalk markings on the wall as Emma removed some pillows in order to examine them more closely and Killian watched her.
"You need a hand, luv?" Killian offered to her.
"Is that a joke?" Emma scoffed and smirked since he was the infamous Captain Hook.
"No, I'm being quite serious." Killian reassured as he was about to move a pillow.
"...Hook, may I ask you a question?" Emma asked softly.
"Certainly, luv." Killian nodded and allowed.
"...How long after you lost... Harry's mother... Did you feel any desire?" Emma began to ask softly.
"Well... Harry's mother was actually a complicated story... I'm not sure if I can say right now... Even with Harry being a teenager now, but I know I have to tell him sometime about what happened to his mother... If she's even still out there..." Killian replied.
"...His mother isn't Neal's mom, is she?" Emma then asked.
"No, no, that's a different story," Killian chuckled softly. "You see, I met Harry's mother a long time ago... She was with a crew as they had special plans to discover worlds beyond one's imagination even beyond the sea, even if she was working with a horrible man who had dangerous plans for the world they were after... I eventually had to leave and I never saw her again, but she gave me something to remember her by... I thought maybe she loved me, but I'm not sure."
"What did she give you?" Emma wondered.
"What do you think? She gave me Harry and I never saw her again," Killian explained with a sad smile. "I wouldn't worry about it though, Swan. You're a strong woman, even if you were given Henry to remember Neal by when he vanished on you."
Emma frowned as she looked unsure about that a little before she looked away thoughtfully.
"Don't worry about it though... I'm sorry, I wish I could be more help... That's just the mystery about Harry's mother though," Killian replied. "I still love my son very much and I did whatever I could to be mother and father to him for the past 16 years... Maybe you could help me out with that though?" he then asked with a hopeful smirk.
"Hmm... Maybe, if he ever forgives me for that beanstalk incident." Emma replied.
"Perhaps." Killian chuckled and nodded.
Emma hummed thoughtfully in response.
"Hey, guys... I found something..." Dee Dee spoke up.
"What is it, kid?" Emma asked before they looked to where Dee Dee was looking. "Wow..." she then whispered.
"What is it?" David asked.
"Tally marks, just like you used to teach us." Dee Dee told Mary Margaret.
"You're right, Dee Dee." Mary Margaret smiled proudly.
"It appears Neal marked his days trapped on this island." Killian noted.
"Sure are a lot of them... Though I guess he stopped after a while." Harry noted.
"Yeah... He did..." Emma added, sounding a little dejected in tone.
"So what's wrong with that?" Mary Margaret asked Emma, concerned about her tone of voice.
"You heard Harry, he stopped counting." Emma pointed out.
"Well, maybe it's because he got off of the island?" Dee Dee suggested.
"No, because he was here longer." Emma countered.
"Then, why would he-" David started to ask.
"Because he lost hope." Emma interrupted since she had a pretty good idea of why.
"You got that from scribbles?" Regina asked thickly.
"I got that because it's what I did," Emma explained softly. "Every time I went to a new foster home. I counted days until counting seemed pointless."
"You don't think the same thing happened to Henry, do you?" Evie asked Emma out of concern.
"Pan said it would." Emma stated.
"Hey, we're gonna rescue him." David reminded his daughter strongly.
"Yeah, I know that. And you know that, but Henry doesn't know that," Emma explained. "Pan wants him to lose faith."
"So, what? You want to send him a message?" Regina scoffed in response. "Because I haven't seen a Neverland post office. What are you suggesting?"
"We take a page from Pan and we start being clever," Emma advised. "We need to send a simple sign. A sign that we're coming."
"With Lost Boys running around trying to kill us all?" Harry reminded nervously while Carla tried to comfort him.
"Maybe it's time we use that to our advantage." Mary Margaret suddenly said as she sounded determined.
"How?" Regina asked.
"Follow me, I'll show you." Mary Margaret replied.
"Following the leader~" Dee Dee giggled as they began to leave the cave suddenly.
Emma was about to follow only to be stopped by Killian.
"Swan?" Killian spoke cautiously.
"What? We're wasting time." Emma asked impatiently.
"I... I just wanted to let you know that I do know what it feels like," Killian said to her softly. "To lose hope."
"I know what this is. This... you...you know, trying to bond with me," Emma frowned firmly in response before she walked off again. "So, save your breath. I'm not in the mood."
Killian frowned as he watched her go suddenly.
David then approached the adult pirate. "Let me give you a bit of advice, Hook. She's never gonna like you." he then said, almost firmly.
"Is that so?" Killian smirked confidently in reply.
"How could she? You're nothing but a pirate." David scoffed in response before walking away ahead of Killian, leaving the pirate to look a little broken inside.