Chapter 15 'The Wedding'

Upon hearing the tent flap open, Tigerlily breathed a sigh of relief. Already dressed in her wedding attire, she anxiously waited for her friend to return before the ceremony was to be held, which was in a few short moments, "Moon-Eye, thank goodness you-" she turned around and her voice was caught in her throat.

"Hello," Peter Pan entered the tent, bearing the sack Tigerlily had given to Moon-Eye. His expression was unreadable, but he had found out. He wouldn't be here if he hadn't. A new level of fear rose inside, but she kept her ground.

"A gift for the lovely bride," He tossed the sack in front of him, then crossed his arms. In a steady tone he inquired, "Who is he? Your betrothed,"

Tigerlily's eyes drifted to the floor, "Rufio," she confessed. The silence between them left Peter pondering. Over the year, Peter and Rufio had grown close. In fact, he had made the Bog Dweller an honorary Lost Boy. Tigerlily used to be on edge whenever the two hunted together or engage in conversation, the vision of Peter's reaction plaguing her mind.

"This engagement has been in the works for what? A year? Hm. Must have slipped your mind because I didn't get an invitation," he employed derisive sarcasm.

"I am deeply sorry, " she apologized, " I did not want you to find out this way, but I could not tell you before. With your tumultuous temper, I knew you will react irrationally."

"Irrational is chaining you to a tree,"

"Your irrational is massacre. Isn't that what you came for?"

"I came to see you, see what you think about all of this," He went inside and closed the tent behind him. Tigerlily kept enough distance between them.

"This is arranged. I have no say in the matter. Mine and Rufio's relationship is nothing but mutual friendship, if that's what you wanted to ask,"

"Tiger if you had told me, I would have-"

"Have done what?" she interrupted. Did he not think she had thought about other ways? "This not like contending with boars or an enigmatic cave. There is no escape, no plan B!"

What could he have done? If there had been another way then she would have chosen it. She had gone through the possibilities and there was no solution where they emerge satisfied, let alone alive

"Wrong. We could have fled! Some dust and we're off," she snorted at that. As if Peter was going to throw away immortality for her. She doubted his willingness until she saw his fingers slipping into his trouser pockets and summoned a pouch of pixie dust, "And we still can."

"No," her fingers layered on his, wrenching the pixie dust away, "You would never! Beyond Neverland there is time. It will chase after us until eventually, we grow up," her face softened, "Your father robbed you of your childhood when making you work on the streets. You loathe the idea of going back."

Peter tore away from her, "Not any more than being apart from you. We'll take it day by day,"

Sounds of drumming caused their heads to turn, "The ceremony." They barely had a minute before her father would come and collect her. The Chief wouldn't be as cordial as she was and wouldn't hesitate to run him through. She ushered the boy to the exit for his own good, but he wouldn't let up, "Peter-"

"The arrangements have been made," He pushed on, "I have the boys waiting at Panoramic Peak. I'll give the word and-"

"I am staying! And that is that,"

"Come on, Tiger" She crossed her arms and gave up. She took the sack and brought it to the table. Her back turned, she examined the symbols, ignoring his presence. In truth, she couldn't see his face anymore without being doused in grief. Any second longer than she might explode. She maintained temperance for this long. She hoped he would disappear in the silence, but three soft words sparked a fire she may never extinguish.

"I love you,"

He said it as a last resort, with much desire and desperation. Her body reacted before her mind did. The air around her seemed to be in short supply. Her lungs racked, trying to breath normally but the thought of love, love in that way, rendered her in a state of fear. Of course she cared for him, and him for her. But all that time, sneaking kisses here and there, she had thought it was one big game she enjoyed playing. She didn't want to put that word on it, otherwise it made it seem like what they had was permanent and as solid as the oath they made. But it could never be. Not when she was forced to cut off all ties with him.

"That is the thing, isn't it?" she regained enough breath to say, " No matter how many times you tell me so, love softens the heart and hinders your judgement. It-It is an inconvenience. It is a weakness," She forced herself to face him. How he went from questioning, to desperate, to heartbroken in one setting scared her. The comfort she sought in him was gone, replaced by the look of betrayal and pure sadness. She could barely choke the next words out, "I do not love you."

Peter shoved the pixie dust back into his pockets, his eyes never left hers. "So that's it? You choose them?"

"They are family,"

He laughed in dispirited fashion, "By blood, but we, the Lost Boys, are your family."

"I have my duties and for that I cannot love. Nor leave,"

"Cannot or will not?"

The music and revelry grew in volume. The tribes could wait no longer for the wedding, "You must go now or else the braves will kill you,"

Peter was adamant, "You haven't answered me,"

Tigerlily pursed her lips. How dare he come here and question her like this? How could he not see this was for the best? He was making this harder than it needed to be. When Peter hadn't moved an inch, she neared and clawed his arm. The gash seeped blood. It was a warning, "Go now, Peter Pan or else! Leave!

She swallowed the lump in her throat. She paid no mind to Peter hissing in pain as he left. If she had, then she would have seen the hurt that manifested from his heart. If she had laid her gaze on him for only a second, then she would have seen Peter clenching his heart as he wobbled out of the tent. Her words had stabbed him in the most vulnerable place. And now, mortally damaged by the girl he loved, he was crumbling. His turned to his last resort, one he promised to never use again.

If only she had spared a glance, then she would have seen Peter making for Dark Hollow.

"Tigerlily, right?", The gun pointed at her didn't provide any comfort, much less an encouragement for small talk. She found the perp responsible for the near destruction of the town. Moments ago she had been in Mary Margaret's apartment with the others. The plan was to round up the civilians in Granny's while Regina stalls the self-destruct device. She, Grace, and Henry were en route to the diner when she spotted Tamara heading for the docks.

The three of them followed her to the cannery, which explained this current encounter. With her gun held at Tamara and vice versa, Grace and Henry were behind a stack of barrels.

"Yeah. And you're Tamara," Tigerlily was going to buy the kids time. She prompted circling each other just to get Tamara's back facing the barrels.

"Tiana, actually," Ah, the Princess and the Frog. So, Princess Tiana out to destroy magic? Not as bizarre as other things she's heard.

"What's the deal? Why after magic? Why following this 'Home Office'?" She clicked her boot heels on the concrete, signaling for the kids to start heading to the exit. Henry and Grace nimbly slithered from behind the barrels. They were as silent as the grave. She had taught them well.

"Magic has done nothing but wreak havoc in our world. We're just putting it back where it belongs. I thought Neal had understood." Tigerlily stilled, tempted to shoot the lady down for killing Baelire/Neal. The kids were literally right behind her. "Magic took my fiance's life. My Naveen. If he hadn't gone consulting with the Shadow Man-"

"So, driven by sorrow and rage, you vowed to never let our worlds cross again, " she cut in to keep the focus on her, " Is that right?"

Tiana smirked, "I see what you're doing. And it isn't going to work. Greg!" From the only exit, Greg Mendel appeared with a gun. He pointed it at Grace and Henry. The sight made Tigerlily want to react, but Tamara's gun held her there.

The other princess crept closer to her, "There are some brains with the brawn. I could see why you're a threat. You see, the Home Office has a particular interest in you. We are ordered to kill you first,"

"Crazy bitch. You don't even know who you're working for. Let them go,"

"I know that they are for our cause. And you, certainly are not,"

Greg made a move to grab Henry, but Grace slid between them. She was not going to let the man take him. He ordered her to move. She wouldn't let up. The Hatter's daughter wrapped her arms around Henry, and in return he did the same for her. Tigerlily would have been smiling if Greg hadn't grabbed the both of them and hightailed out.

"No!" The sound of a gun stopped her from going out the door. Looking down, Tigerlily saw blood trickling down her arm, originating from her shoulder. Tamara had shot her. She dropped her gun and fell to the ground. She drifted off into unconsciousness.

"Nighty-night Tiger," Tiana's voice echoed before everything went black.

The steady beating of the drums called her forward. The Bog Dwellers and the Picaninny unification was about to be sealed with the last leg of the ceremony. Tigerlily and Rufio were on opposite ends of the fire. They each had their symbols cradled in hand and a stoic anxiousness.

The pre-wedding conversation occupied her mind. The elders would disapprove if they found out her thoughts circled around a boy whom she wasn't engaged to. But she couldn't wipe away those three small words that were known to destroy and build. Love. He had said he loved her.

She never experienced that sensation. And if she had, then she wouldn't have known. But was that what she felt for Peter? Much to her knowledge, the boy was weakening her. Their relationship branched from one of competition, one always out to outdo the other. She felt Peter had the upperhand now, holding her heart in his hands and toying with it even if he didn't know the grief he was causing. Their dalliance had weakened her and inferiority settled in. Tigerlily's focus fluctuated when she was with him, her breathing hitched, her pulse quickened- it threw off her game.

Tonight, Tigerlily saw what her father had been telling her all along. The world belonged to the superior. She was about to become a leader for two tribes, and there was no room for a frail heart.

Both Chiefs raised their hands, indicating the start of the Sacred Fire Ceremony. Rufio was the first to step forward. In the beginning there had been three fires, two small fires and the large one in the center. The two small fires had been pushed into merging with the large one, symbolizing the joining of the bride and the groom. Now it was time to partake in the final part: the vows.

Rufio was to go in a clockwise motion and she was to go counterclockwise until they meet in the middle. With each step they take, they must set down one symbol of their love. Seven symbols for seven steps. Tigerlily moved in a certain numbness that she didn't pay attention to what Rufio's symbols were as he laid them on the ground. When it came to her turn, she bent down slowly placed hers. The first one was a rock, representing solidarity. Another step, a feather which represented truth and loyalty. She wanted it done and over with.

Minutes passed. Under the scrutiny of the tribes and her father, she had to keep this at a slow pace. Any quicker and they would think she was eager. She was coming to the end, after resting a kernel of corn for fertility. She and Rufio were face to face. They took hands and were about to conclude the ceremony when Tigerlily's sixth sense kicked in.

Like sensing the beat of a fairy's wing on a rainy day, she sensed movement behind the foliage. Even though she expected something to happen, she wasn't prepared for what exactly was going to happen. If she had, then she would have raised her arm to catch a surprise projectile shooting from the jungle.

WHOOSH

In a split second, an arrow whizzed by and struck Pine Sap in the chest. Screeches ripple through the tribes when the Bog Dweller's Chief slumped over. Tigerlily's head turned sharply at the origin of the arrow, catching sight of archers wedged between the trees. She saw that they covered the village perimeter. On leader's mark, the archers sent raining arrows upon them. They hailed, drilling the defenseless natives. The cries of the injured and dying were a definite contrast from the revelry before.

Tigerlily called for everyone to seek shelter wherever they could. Hiking up her dress, she struggled to usher women and children towards the river where it was safe. After doing that, she rallied the braves, the ones who were not harmed yet by the arrows, and gave orders to pan out and search for the archers. No mercy was to be shown.

Though it turned out, the fight was heading their way. The archers left their stations and entered the village, now wielding clubs and swords.

"Attack!" she cried. The two sides clashed. Not caring much for her attire, she dove into the battle. The warrior spirit thrived in her movements. The tallest of them nearly beheaded her with his club, but she caught the blunt end with a fist.

"Show your face!" The warrior pulled back the hood that hid his face. She stepped back in bewilderment. and he nabbed her in the gut hard.

Her head snapped up and glared, "Felix." The Lost Boy ignored her and took on the next brave he saw.. At this moment, Tigerlily became aware who she was fighting. The way their forces moved was too familiar to her. They were fighting Lost Boys, young and old, big and small. She ran away from the fight, aghast, witnessing the 6 year old Tootles take a knife out and nicking braves. It was too much. She staggered, searching the chaos for the boy responsible for this.

She should have seen this coming.

Leaving the battle, she headed in the direction Rufio went. She peeled back the plants and ventured into the jungle. She didn't call their names, there wouldn't have been a response. Instead, she let her instincts be her guide, and they led her to a small hill overlooking her village, Panoramic Peak. There, Peter and Rufio were battling with swords. Both of them were excellent swordsmen. They had dueled countless times, but that had been friendly competition. This, they fought with vigor and anger, both determined to kill. Rufio had stolen Tigerlily from Peter, and Peter had killed Rufio's father. Their friendship was no more.

"Stop!" she ran to put herself between the two. She tried taking a step but her feet were magically rooted to the rock. A chuckle sounded from behind her, followed by a gust of wind that sent her hair flying about in front of her.

"Let them fight. You claim the winner as yours," Ombra swooped in and laid his cold hands on her mouth, muffling her sounds of protest. His touch wasn't physical, but more similar to the crisp, winter wind that leaves one's nose scarlet. Ombra's hands felt like that, but intensified so that it burned.

She was forced to watch. It went on for a long time, an action-filled performance that stilled Tigerlily's heart at times . It was fair game, tied in skills though different styles. She wanted neither of them to die, but this would only end with the loser praying mercy from the victor.

And then it happened. Peter knelt and swiped Rufio's feet, but the Bog Dweller hopped in time and retaliated with a series of quick swordplay. Rufio edged forward, but left a huge opening. Tigerlily couldn't warn her betrothed.

Peter seized the chance. He parried then twirled the hilt of his sword to disarm Rufio. Rufio's sword flew out of his hands. Defenseless...he couldn't stop Peter from running him through.

At this point, Ombra let her go to let her scream. She dropped to her knees and wrenched out of her magical bonds. Peter retracted his sword, exposing the laceration. A growing red was seeping through, spreading around Rufio's chest. The Bog Dweller mouth opened in surprise. He swayed before he tipped over the edge. She had scrambled to the peak and saw her friend fall in the center of the battlefield below.

Rolling on her back, she was face to face with Peter. He was wiping Rufio's blood off of his sword, smiling smugly to himself. The ruthless pair of boots were back.

"You coward! Returning to your magic!" she cried. Tigerlily marched up to him and slapped the sword from his hands. He glowered at her before pushing to the ground with the use of magic.

"I am the coward?" he said through gritted teeth, "You were the one too afraid to tell me the truth! These scourges wouldn't have happened if you mustered enough courage to say it. Ombra!" The Shadow servant appeared by his master's side.

"Finish her,"

Tigerlily couldn't believe Peter sacrificed his independent nature to be immersed in the darkness of power again. Their lives had been Ombra-free for a year. How could he do this? Hours before he confessed his love for her, and now he wanted to kill her. She didn't want her life to end like this, to be remembered by her act of betrayal.

"My pleasure," Ombra raised his hands until his body made a Y-shape. The recesses of the forests darkness were summoned and they collected above the Shadow. He hurled the black cloud down.

Upon instinct, Tigerlily lifted her palms just when the black cloud covered her. With emotions reaching its maximum, the light shone more brilliantly than before. The darkness swirling her way dispersed when exposed to it. Peter looked at her in shock. She dropped her hands, but the light didn't waver.

"Stop!" She heard Peter cry out, thinking it was from the brilliance of the light. But at a closer listen, she could hear he was in pain. How could that be? The boy was standing beside her, not receiving the full blast. She turned to Ombra's direction, in front of her. He was screeching and cowering form the light. Then, his form flickered and Tigerlily thought she saw two of Ombra.

Peter's shadow. It was trying to breaking free. Was it because of her light? Maybe if she could separate Ombra from his shadow, then Peter would no longer be controlled. It was worth a try.

She walked closer to the Shadow, the funnel of light penetrating Ombra's body. She was gradually destroying the bond between Ombra and Peter. Peter kept screaming in agony, the separation becoming too excruciating.

Ombra sprouted another head, and then new arms- Peter's Shadow was coming out. This could work.

But then, the light died when Tigerlily's father stumbled onto the scene. He charged at Peter, which shifted Tigerlily's focus. He pinned the boy to the ground and was ready to kill him. Forgetting Ombra, she hurled herself at the Chief. She hefted him away, giving Peter an joined his Shadow servant, who was recovering from the light. Peter's shadow was harshly pulled back onto Ombra. The boy ordered him to flee, and the Shadow obeyed, and he was left to Tigerlily and the Chief.

The Chief rose to his feet, "How dare you!," he roared at his daughter, "You keep him alive after what he had done to your betrothed! Why?"

Breathing heavily and mentally drained, Tigerlily wondered that herself. Why was she still defending Peter after what he had done today? She wasn't ready to kill him. They shared too much history. Her hands went to her black stone necklace.

Her father fumed at this, seeing it as a sign of whose side she chose. The Chief backhanded her. From the corner of her eye she saw Peter tense up and restrain his fury. What happened to wanting to kill her? Her fingers went to her lips, they bled. The Chief had never abused this harshly before.

"For years, I have been trying to tame you and you insist on defying me time after time! I raised you because it was your mother's final wish, but you are no more than an insult to her memory. You are a disappointment, Tigerlily!"he eyed Peter with an intense loathing, "It is clear you do not belong to the village. From this day forward, you are banished, never to return to the village. You are my daughter no more,"

Tigerlily nodded. She had a feeling this was how he felt about having her around. For a long time, she tried to ignore the fact her father didn't love her. She closed off her emotions, so he wouldn't be any more upset with her. She became strong, made ruthless decisions to gain his approval. But it wasn't enough. It was always never enough.

He had banished her and her soul never felt so free to feel. To feel the sadness, the joy, the anger she was supposed to experience in the 515 years of living. She was free to feel it all. But having repressed them for so long, they exploded simultaneously. She didn't know what she was supposed to be at the moment, but she knew what she must say.

"I never was,"

"She's breathing. Good,"

"Bear with us, Tigerlily,"

Tigerlily woke up in the presence of Dr. Whale, Belle, and Jefferson. She was lying on a hospital cot, and she didn't remember Dazed, she stared at her gunshot wound with mild interest, "Oh, look at that." she said as if she didn't know before.

Belle brushed some hair from her face, "You've been shot. Just lay back down,"

"No," she argued, swinging her feet to the side of the hospital bed. She ignored the protests when she touched the ground. She was lightheaded but pushed past the adults regardless. She didn't care what state she was in, there was something more important, " Where's Grace and Henry?"

She half-expected them to follow her out the door and help her look. They stayed put. Dr. Whale left the three alone in the hospital room.

"Well?"

"They've been taken through a portal yesterday,"

"What?" They went to another realm. Passage between realms were rare, not easily obtained. Grace could be lost to her forever. She found herself leaning against the door, unable to function because she was crippled with the thought of losing her sister, "Where to?"

Belle bit her lip, not wanting to be the bearer of bad news. Especially when the news was specifically bad for Tigerlily. Jefferson guided Tigerlily back to the hospital bed. She needed to sit down for this.

"They were taken to Neverland,"

A/N: Guys, I love reviews. Too bad I haven't been getting any...

I want to continue this story but it feels like people are losing interest. I want to know from you if I should kick it up a notch. I'm always looking for ways to improve my writing.

She's going to Neverland next chapter. Finally!

Tonight's episode though. Did anybody feel a pang of sadness when Charming nearly died? And when Emma said she doesn't trust Hook anymore?

Oh by the way, name change! I went back to my former pen name Bluefire510. If just feels right to change it back.

*~PanNeverFails~*