Henry woke up, his mind foggy, feeling groggy from his sudden sleep. He couldn't remember falling asleep, or the minutes leading up to it. Bringing his palm to his eyes and rubbing, he pulled himself up into a sitting position, hearing the familiar racket of the camp. Blinking, he noticed the figure sitting against the tree beside him, a serene expression on her face. "What happened?" he asked, trying to jog his memory. The girl turned towards him, smiling. "You fell asleep."
"I did?" He couldn't remember being tired or lying down to fall asleep, but it didn't seem like an illogical explanation.
"Don't worry, it was just a little cat nap," she assured him, "the night's still young." Henry scanned the camp, sitting by the fire was Felix, sharpening an arrow, the other boys jumping and shouting around the fire. "Wait, I- I remember something. My dad. When I was asleep. I-I could have sworn I heard him calling for me." "Really?" she questioned, surprised. "It must have been a dream," he shook his head, clearing the unwanted thoughts.
"How can you be sure?" she asked, just as Pan came out of the forest carrying a set of pipes, walking over towards them, looking between the two intensely, his smirk in place– as usual. Henry didn't (as he normally would) stop because Pan was listening, instead forging forward.
"Because, because my dad's dead," he said miserably. Pan answered this one, as though he had heard the whole conversation. "I'm sorry Henry. It makes sense for us to dream about the things we've lost and the things we hope for. Like your father being alive, or your mother coming to find you. But eventually, you'll find new things to dream about. And when you do, they'll start to come true."
"How do you know?"
"Because that's what I did. But now you're here. Neverland used to be a place where new dreams were born. You can bring that magic back, and we can be your family."
Pan smiled, almost coming off as a happy grin, enough that Henry fell for it. Pan and Reyna stood up, Reyna tucking herself into Pan's side, who put his arm around her shoulder. "I'd like to play a song," Pan said to no one in particular, looking towards Henry as he spoke again, "A song for our guest of honour." Surprisingly enough, Henry had a small, genuine smile on his face.
Pan brought the pipes upward, grasping it with both hands and beginning to blow. A slow, haunting melody began to filter through the air, filling the camp. Pan moved the flute accordingly to change the pitch and note. The song was enticing and mesmerizing, making Henry sway slightly, suddenly feeling at home in the camp of misfits.
Henry began bouncing to the music, nodding his head and picking up a few of the sticks the others were using, dancing and playing to nonexistent music. He began hopping around the fire with the rest of the boys, a bright smile appearing on his face as he finally let go.
Pan smirked as he watched, Reyna resting her head on his shoulder, a relieved expression on her face. He pulled the pipes from his mouth, turning towards his newest success. "You can hear the music now, can't you, Henry?"
"Yeah!" he shouted, continuing his wild movements around the fire.
Felix smirked at the couple, proud and appreciative to the work they had gone through to break the boy's hope. Reyna sighed as she snuggled closer to Peter. "It worked." Peter tightened his arm around her, his eyes following Henry, only to turn to smirk down at her. "He's a Lost Boy now, time for the fun to begin."
"I could think of a few ways to celebrate," she said her eyes flickering down to his lips. He smirked, "What a wonderful idea." With that, they disappeared is a cloud of smoke.
The Jones' brothers had just arrived to the odd land for their mission. Killian had to admit that it was quite the adventure to fly to the unknown territory. He followed his brother down the cost, examining his surroundings carefully. "What is it the king sent us for, captain?" he asked, looking towards Liam, who stopped, giving the island a once over before pulling a piece of parchment from his jacket.
A drawing of a plant, covered in oozing black thorns, was on the paper, the word 'Dreamshade' written above it in elegant calligraphy. He couldn't say he was impressed. "A plant? We journeyed across realms for a bloody plant?" He listened as his brother explained its uses, thinking of the genius of the king. They would never lose another soldier. They were interrupted by an accented voice.
"Are you two lost?" getting their attention, he continued, "You look lost to me."The boy looked between them, both bored and amused. Liam drew his sword, Killian following his lead. 'Identify yourself," the captain of the Jewel of the Realm commanded.
"I'm Peter Pan," the boy, Peter, replied without argument, "I live here, and you are?" The boy looked confused, gesturing between the two.
"Captain and Lieutenant Jones. We are here by order of the king."
The boy smirked at this, faux impressed. "The king, huh? We don't have any kings in Neverland. Just me."
"Funny. We seek this plant," Liam held up the photo, "now tell us where to find it."
Peter reached up, jerking the parchment from his hand with a chuckle, raising his eyebrows. "Your king sent you for this plant?"
"You know it?"
"Dreamshade? It's the deadliest plant on the island. Your king is ruthless."
"It's medicine," Killian said, quick to defend his king, his honour, his brother.
Peter just shook his head. "It's doom. Why fight a messy battle when you can kill an entire army with the sap of one plant?"
Killian, uncertain because of the boys words, pulled Liam aside. When his worries were expressed, Liam revealed that he had no qualms. "This boy is playing games with us. We should continue along." He plucked the paper from Peter, who looked smug. Killian, giving one last glance at Peter, turned to follow his brother.
As parting words, Peter called, "Don't say I didn't warn you." That was the second warning for Liam. He should have listened.
Hook had just finished climbing to the ledge of Dead Man's Peak, getting ready to throw a rope over the edge to help his companion, the prince, up the steep walls.
"Don't pull him up yet." The feminine voice alone was enough to have him stop in his tracks, tensing at the sound of his sister's voice. He slowly turned to see a silhouette feet behind him, the small stature enough to convince him that it was really her, but he could never be too sure where that bloody demon was concerned. "I want to talk, alone." This surprised him.
He knew he had been a shitty brother. He hated himself everyday because of it. It was just too late when he realized it. He had been under the queen's thumb, only to be under Cora's immediately after. But it was after he left Neverland (for what he had hoped was for good– no dice) that he saw the errors of his ways. He truly did regret it, but there was no turning back time or changing it. "What do you want?" he asked, keeping up the ignorant tone, there was absolutely no tension between the two.
"To offer you a deal," a second voice said, which made Hook's eyes narrow. "I thought you said alone," he informed the girl. The boy stepped out of the forest, both feigning deafness to his comment. "Come back and work for me, like the old days."
"I don't miss the old days."
It was true. He was in a new chapter of his life. New girl, new outlook, and even trying out a new side– the light side.
"What if I were to offer you something hard to come by?" Pan teleported to appear just in front of the pirate, making him step back. "Passage off the island. For you and a friend. Emma."
"Emma would never leave her son. I'm not interested."
"We've known each other for a very long time, Killian, we've done business together, practically in-laws. And this is the perfect opportunity to continue that relationship."
"And if I'm still not interested?"
"Of course you are. Because that's what I always like about you. You're good at surviving, no matter the betrayal or cost. You always come first." A small snorted sounded behind the two males, the girl mumbling quietly, "Understatement of the century."
Ignoring her, Hook requested, "What do you want me to do?"
"Be my employee, do my dirty work."
"What dirty work?"
"When the time comes, I'll let you know. But I need to see that you've taken my deal. Your word doesn't mean much to me anymore. And," Pan disappeared, only to reappear behind Hook, "you know me, I like action. I'll know you've taken my deal when I see the prince's dead body up on that peak."
"Well you'll see that anyway. The Dreamshade has almost overtaken him."
"Oh, I know. I want to see you kill him. Before the poison can even reach his heart, I want you to take his life."
"And if I don't take your deal?"
Pan only smirked, his voice dropping quieter, more dangerous, as he leaned towards the pirate. "Remember the last time you didn't listen to me?"
Hook glared at the boy, who was gone from his sight a second later, leaving only the Jones' siblings on the mountain.
Reyna took several steps closer to Hook, a smirk on her face that could easily rival Pan's, though her eyes were filled with anger. She got closer until she was invading his space, snatching the flask from his belt.
"Before you turn him down, have a drink," she forcefully shoved it into his chest, her voice strained as she ground her teeth, "you and I both know how it always helped you think."
It was just as she finished that groaning and panting wafted towards their ears. The girl only spared one last glance at the pirate, a warning, before she disappeared in a cloud of dark smoke, leaving Hook to face the prince. They needed to get to that cure, and quick.
"Liam! Come on! Liam!" Killian shouted over his unconscious brother, praying that he was not dead. He couldn't lose him, he was all he had left.
"I tried to warn you," a calm voice said. Killian looked up to see the boy, Peter Pan, leaning against a pile rocks near the edge of the peak. "He'll die as soon as the poison reaches his heart," he informed the navy man.
"Please, he's my brother; he's all I have left." Had Peter known then how untrue that was, he would have killed the soon to be pirate right then, no one (in present day) got away with speaking (or lack of) about Reyna that way. Killian should have realized what he had (it worked out in Peter's favor though).
"Well maybe you shouldn't have goaded him into it," Peter said incredulously, this was Killian's own fault, why was he trying to blame him?
"He's so stubborn," it must run in the family, "I di-didn't mean.." he trailed off, at a loss for words. "Can you help me?"
Peter pretended to weigh his options before sighing, the sound exasperated. "It might not feel like it, but today is your lucky day. I'm feeling generous. There is a way to stop him from dying."
"Tell me," Killian commanded, only able to think of saving Liam, the last of his family.
Peter, rather than answering, looked towards the growth of the plant, looking back at Killian, before waving his hand in front of it. Killian was confused, thinking the boy was mental, for only about five seconds. The plants split, revealing an entry way, in which some sort of falls resided, the water clear and pure as it cascaded into a small pool in the cavern.
"This spring, these waters, are rich with the power of Neverland. It's what keeps the land and all its residents so… Young. If one were to drink the waters, its powers could cure any ill."
"Thank you." Killian started towards the waterfall, only to be stopped by a hand on his shoulder, turning to face the adolescent once more.
"But, I must warn you. All magic comes with a price, and that spring is no exception. Don't leave the island unless you willing to pay it," the message was cryptic, Peter's face completely serious, conveying the weight of Killian's impulsive actions.
"Whatever you want, it's yours." Killian said without a moment's hesitation. He turned, going to collect the magical water. When his back was turned, Peter smirked, knowing the man was a fool.
A throat cleared, catching the pirate captain's attention. He turned, finding his little sister leaned against a tree, arms crossed, face apathetic. He knew that she hadn't aged living on Neverland, but it was odd nonetheless to see her frozen at sixteen.
"You should have taken Peter's deal," she said coldly, shrugging off the tree's trunk.
"Well it's not like I needed his help with Emma in the end, lass."
Reyna snorted, suddenly looking amused. "You think that kiss actually meant something?" She looked at him with fake pity, she was actually enjoying taunting him and his suffering.
"Aye, it means she is finally starting to see me for the man I am."
"What? A one handed pirate with a drinking problem? A man-whore? A bastard of a brother? Selfish?" she named off several descriptions that fit her brother, who couldn't stop the grimace at her accusations, most of which had some degree of truth. "I'm not grown-up, as Peter would say, but that is in no way appealing, to any woman I would hope. Or is the savior just a desperate shag?"
"I am a man of honour," Hook replied simply, offering an overly sweet smile that quickly faded. This made the girl chuckle darkly.
"Be glad I talked Peter into letting me speak to you, he would have snapped. Now, back to the matter at hand. What would a man 'of honour', such as yourself, do with a beastly secret?"
Hook sighed, of course his sister was being used for Pan's dirty work. He truly hated that she was too blind to see that the demon did not have the capacity to love anything, let alone her.
"Depends on what the secret is."
"Neal. Baelfire. Whatever name you wish to call him. Emma's lover and the father of her child."
This made Hook get to his feet, walking closer to the small girl, surprise and apprehension on his face. "What of him? He's dead."
The girl shrugged, a smirk in place. "Afraid not, Hook, He's alive. And the best part?" she turned, starting to walk away, turning as she put distance between them. With a dramatic spiel of hand gestures that would make even Rumplestiltskin jealous of the theatrics, she finished with, "He's in Neverland."
"You're bloody mental! I mean- you- I. You're serious?" He asked when he saw that she continued to look him dead in the eye.
"But of course. I mean, I thought you should know, what with the budding romance and all." She smirked at Hook's flabbergasted face, turning and walking a little farther. "We decided to leave it up to you to tell her or not, of the love of her life, her possible Happy Ever After, her True Love." With a pause, a taunting look crossing her features as her smirk only grew, "Let's see you prove me right after all. Let's see what kind of man you really are."
She was teleported away by a cloud of smoke, appearing all the way across the island, ending up just beside Peter, who was authorizing hanging the second cage next to their other prisoner. He began pulling her away from the immediate area as soon as she realized just where they were, that Peter had been in such close proximity (any distance between the two was too little) with their long-time prisoner, her face becoming irritated. "Jealous, love?" Peter couldn't help but joke, simply earning him a glare.
The girl landed on the beach, worry and fear coursing through her body. She knew that she shouldn't have come back, but she had to save her friend, who had sacrificed himself for her brothers. She had finally realized why the deal had pertained to her. One of her brothers was supposed to take her place.
She looked around the beach the shadow had dropped her off at, the darkness that surrounded Neverland so late into the night frightening her. She did not want to encounter Pan after the way they left their first, and last, meeting. The Fates weren't on her side.
"Couldn't stay away could you?" a cold, mischievous voice said behind her, making her spin around. Standing there was Peter Pan, smirking darkly, several Lost Boys flanking him.
"W-Wh-Where's B-Baelfire?" she stuttered fearfully, all the courage she had worked up disappearing. The boy sneered, ignoring her question. "We had a deal; you weren't supposed to come back." His tone progressively got angrier, thinking of the effect that she had on Reyna. He was glad to be rid of her, why couldn't it last?
"I-I a-asked- w-where B-Bae i-is." She replied, not wanting to be ignored, though her fear was quickly consuming all her senses. "I always thought that the stereotyping of blondes being unintelligent wasn't true, but it seems in your case, it is. I told you to never return. You agreed to my terms, I just collected where payment was due."
"I didn't know what I was agreeing to!" she shouted, managing not to stammer, though her voice did shake considerably. "And that's my fault?" Pan asked in disbelief.
"Just g-give Bae b-back, and I won't come back!"
"You had your chance with that deal, it is too late. The good thing is that you may be of some use to me. Boys! Grab her, take her to the cages."
Wendy Darling moved away from the boys as they advanced on her, though they easily grabbed her, her strength nothing compared to theirs.
Pan was disappointed to see just how weak Wendy was, nothing like Reyna, who was strong and didn't back down. He couldn't help but compare the two girls, though Wendy was beyond dull in comparison.
Wendy was weak, and didn't hold up well during torture, nor did she seem to understand the business of both his deal and keeping her locked up. It was clear to him that she had been spoilt and rich at her home in England, expecting everything to be handed to her and nothing bad to ever happen in the world. She was in for a big shock.
The majority of the horrible treatment she received was because of the way Reyna had reacted upon meeting her. He did not like anything that upset her, and it seemed Wendy was a good number of those things that she didn't like. Some of it was also to vent his anger about her no longer spending time with him, and instead running it to the arms of the very reason Wendy was back in Neverland: Baelfire.
He had enjoyed how easy it was to make her scream during the first few torture sessions, but it quickly got old. It was obvious that she had a very low pain tolerance, much to his disappointment. Still, he knew she could be of use later on. Bored of her, he left her hanging in a wooden cage, only pulling it down when it was an absolute necessity.