Hey guys! Two chapters in two days... wow I have even shocked myself! Hope you enjoy this chapter me. Let me know what you think my lovelys.
Pan laid a pale Wendy on her cot. Sarah noticed the sweat glistening on her forehead where a fever had took. All she could think about at that moment was Henry. How this could have been him hanging on to his last breath. Once all this was over, she would have to ask Pan if she could bring her brother to Neverland. The young boy could let his imagination run wild in a place like this.
"How is she?" Sarah asked, as a cough from Wendy brought her out of her thoughts.
"I fear she's getting worse, Sarah," Pan sighed, keeping his focus on the sick girl.
"But if I save magic, she'll live?" She gave Pan a skeptical look. Part of her was still struggling with all this. How can she save magic? She isn't gifted like the Regina or Cora. She doesn't have the cruel streak that is needed to control the craft… at least she thought she didn't.
"Yes," Peter answered simply. "But more than that, Sarah. If you save magic, you'll save us all," he finally turned his gaze to the teen. "But to do it, you have to truly believe, in yourself and your magic."
Sarah paused for a second. "I do," the young girl was finally ready to take control of her magic. This time she wouldn't rely on her dad or Emma or Regina to save her. This time she was going to save herself.
Meanwhile, Regina and Gold had finally got back into the heart of the jungle after finding what they needed to save the teen. As the mayor batted another branch out of her way, she found herself in front of her fellow towns people.
"Well, if this is your version of a rescue party, we got here just in time," she snarled.
"What are you two doing here?" Mary Margaret questioned.
"Well, same as you, except we actually have a chance," Regina smiled pointing at the object in Gold's hands. "Pandora's box. It could trap Pan for eternity simply by opening the lid."
"You didn't tell me my father was with her," Neal piped up, glaring at his father.
"I didn't know," Emma defended.
"Wait, your father is the Dark One?" TInk immediately felt her guard go up.
"Yeah, and he's not getting anywhere near Sarah," Neal growled.
Emma looked back and forth between Gold and Neal, sensing the tension. "Why? What are you talking about?"
"There's a prophecy," Neal began to explain. "That says that Sarah will be his undoing. He didn't come here to protect her. He came here to kill her."
Regina took a step away from her companion. "That's why you didn't want to find Neal before you got Sarah back? Because you knew he'd spill your secret."
"Everything I did was to protect Sarah, to rescue her from Pan," Rumple snapped.
"You left before we even made shore. You wanted to get to Sarah first, to be on her own," Snow raised her bow and arrow.
"So, no one could stop you," Hook pointed his sword.
"So, you can kill her," Regina whispered.
"It's not going to happen," Emma raised her own sword. "Not unless you go through all of us first."
Rumple sighed, sick of always being the bad guy. "I don't care if the girl is destined to be my undoing.
I won't hurt her."
"Because that sounds just like you," Regina scoffed.
"Without me, you will fail," Gold tried to reason with the family. "I'm the most powerful amongst us."
"That's why we can't trust you," Neal interjected.
"If I could give you my dagger, I would. But I can't," Gold took a step closer.
"But you can give me Pandora's box," Neal nodded to the small object in his father's hand. "I don't have to trust you if I could stop you." With a sigh of defeat Gold handed over the small box. "You so much as lift a finger to perform magic, you're going to spend an eternity in this box," Neal growled before they carried on their journey through the jungle.
After crashing their way into Pans camp only to find Wendy instead of Sarah, the group were beginning to lose their faith. How was this boy managing to always stay one step ahead of them?
"Hey, Wendy, since you've been here, have you seen Emma's daughter? Her name's Sarah," Neal asked as he knelt beside the girl.
"You have a daughter?" Wendy asked the blonde who gave a small nod.
"Technically she's my daughter," Regina intervened, earning a glare from Emma. "What? She is."
"Pan needs her heart. Has he said anything about the heart of the most powerful being?" Emma questioned from her place sitting on a log.
Wendy paused before pulling the blanket she was wearing tighter around her shoulders. "No. I'm sorry. He never mentioned anything about a heart."
Gold watched as the girl grew more tense. "She's lying. I've carried enough lies in my life to recognize their burden. She knows where Sarah is."
"Is that true?" Neal asked his friend.
"You don't understand," Wendy sighed.
"You're helping Pan?" Snow asked in disbelief.
"He's keeping John and Michael alive, only if I do as he says," the young girl explained.
"Trust me, whatever he's promised, he will go back on his word," Rumple tried to reason with the girl who quickly turned to him.
"And why should I trust a man who abandoned his own son?" she snapped.
"Because your brothers did," Regina explained calmly. "They trusted a woman named Belle. They helped her get this box so we can defeat Pan."
Wendy let out a sigh of relief. "They're okay?"
"For now, and only if we succeed," Gold threatened.
"Wendy," Neal put a hand on the young girl's knee. "We will save John and Michael; I swear to God. But right now, I really need your help. Please."
Wendy thought about it for another moment before telling them what she knew. "Pan told Sarah that he needs her heart to save magic. But it's a lie. He needs it to save himself."
"What do you mean?" Hook was tired of the riddles.
"Pan's dying. He needs the heart of the most powerful being to absorb all the magic in Neverland. And once he does, he will be immortal, all powerful," Wendy explained.
"And what happens to Sarah?" Snow asked, almost terrified to hear her granddaughters' fate.
"Well, it's a trade," Wendy explained like it was simple. When Pan lives, Sarah will die."
Emma stood up, terror flowing through her body. This could not be happening. She refused to lose her daughter this way. There had to be away to stop Pan before it was too late.
"How do we stop Pan?" David piped up.
"Pan took Sarah to Skull Rock. But you haven't got much time," Wendy knew it was hopeless. Pan was going to win and there was nothing they could do to stop him.
"Then we stay behind," David sighed. "Someone needs to be here to guard the lost boys when they wake up."
"You don't need to stay behind," Emma insisted.
"David's right," Snow took a step towards her husband. "You get her home; tell her we love her."
"Tell her yourself, when you get back from Deadman's Peak. Gold can cure you back in Storybrooke.
We just need to bring some of the water with us," Snow felt happiness rush through her as she went to hug her daughter.
"Tink and I will take care of things here. Meet you back at the "Jolly Roger" when you find Sarah," Hook stated before him and Tink left the clearing.
Snow stepped out of the hug to look at her daughter. "Promise me if your father and I don't make it back, you get her home."
Emma looked deep into the other woman's eyes making sure she heard her next words. "We're all going back home. Together."
Sarah walked into the cave that seemed to go on forever. It was less creepy inside. In fact, it was kind of beautiful.
"This is it," Pan walked further into the cave. "The place where you're going to save magic."
"No pressure or anything," the young girl said more to herself then Pan. "Yep, I should have definitely had a coffee first," Pan smiled at the girls humour. He was really going to miss her sarcasm. "Why does it have to be here?"
"Well, because this is the location from which Neverland's magic emanates," Pan explained.
That was the point Sarah noticed the hourglass in the corner. It was almost mesmerizing how the gold powder fell through, showing how time was running out. "What's the hourglass for?"
"Marks how much time we have left before Neverland's magic runs out," Pan stated.
"It's almost empty," the teen observed. It was at that moment Pans face changed, a look of panic taking over. "Is something wrong?"
"No. Come with me. There's something I need to take care of before we get started, okay?" He quickly moved the girl through the cave. Nothing was going to mess up his plans. Nothing.
After getting Gold out of the way it was time to proceed with the plan. Pan felt a sense of loss about hurting his son but he had no choice. He had made his mind up a long time ago.
"It's time, Sarah," Pan watched as the girl came out of the shadows, looking at the hourglass once more. "Time to save magic, to save Neverland."
"What do I have to do?" She sighed.
"You must give me your heart, Sarah."
Sarah gave him a confused look. "Sorry, but I have a boyfriend and I don't tend to date my kidnappers as a rule."
Pan gave a soft chuckle. "No, the heart of the most powerful being."
"You mean I have to use magic?" the teen was well and truly confused.
"No, Sarah. I mean, you need to give me your heart," Pan spoke softly. He couldn't spook her now.
"But what will happen to me?" As much as she tried to stop it, fear rushed through her veins.
"You'll become the greatest of all heroes," Sarah just rolled her eyes at the cliché.
"You can tell me the truth. I know all magic comes with a price. I lost my birth father and grandmother because of it. Saving it must come with a price, too," Sarah knew her magic would cost her. She knew how dangerous it could be, but at this point, what did she have to lose.
"I would never lie to you, Sarah. I mean, you're right. There is a price. You have to stay here on the island with me. Neverland will become your home again," Pan watched as the girl debated the cost in her head. "I know it's a huge sacrifice, but isn't it worth it? Heroes have to make sacrifices all the time. Besides can't you feel how much you belong here. Neverland was your home first. It can be again."
Sarah knew this was true. There was something about the place that made her feel at ease, safe. Besides, what was really waiting for her at home? All her parents ever did was fight with her or let her down. Regina had abandoned her at birth and gone out her way to prove she loves Henry more ever since. Zac had chosen drugs before quickly deciding he only ever wanted to be a part time dad. Then there was Emma. While the blonde had made so many sacrifices for her, things weren't the same. The blonde had her real family back and with each passing day it seemed she needed the teen less and less. Sarah was sick of feeling hurt and rejected. Sick of crying out for her parents to see her. Sick of magic only ever hurting her rather than saving her. Sick of it all.
"Are you thinking about your family?" The look on the girl's face confirmed she was. "Then they'd be proud if they could see you now, because you're about to save them all. Now are you ready?"
Sarah soon felt her fear leave. This is what she was destined for. She was finally going to find a place she belonged. "Yes."
Pan gave a soft smile taking a step forward. "Then let me help you." Pan took the girls hand letting their magic combined together. With a nod, Sarah realised it was time. She moved her hand to her chest reaching in to grab her beating heart. Pain rushed through as she slowly removed the organ from her chest. She could see the edges turning black as magic rushed through the beating object. This was the right thing to do. Just as she was about to hand it over to Pan, she heard a familiar voice call her name.
"Sarah, wait! Whatever Pan's telling you to do, don't do it," Neal yelled as him, Emma and Regina rushed into the cave.
"Neal? You're alive?" Sarah asked in shock.
"I am," Neal smiled.
"Well it's a good job we didn't cremate you isn't it," she commented as all three adults smiled, at least somethings didn't change.
"I need you to listen to me," Neal got back to the topic at hand. "Pan is lying to you."
"Oh, pleasure to see you, too, Baelfire, not to mention the Savior and the Evil Queen," Pan smiled. He knew Sarah was too far gone. She would never believe them now.
"Sarah," Emma spoke softly trying to resist the urge to run and hug her child. It felt like years since she had last seen her and the reality of it was hitting her like a ton of bricks. "You need to get away from him now. He's trying to hurt you."
"No," Sarah insisted. "The heart of the most powerful being. It's what's going to save magic," Sarah then shifted her gaze to Regina. "Isn't that all you care about anyways?"
"No, it's not," Regina insisted taking a step forward. "This was never about magic, Sarah. You have to believe us. The only person Pan's interested in saving is himself."
"What and you are so much more selfless? All you guys care about these days are yourselves," the teen snapped. Not having her heart made her mean. Less caring. Darker.
"Pan can't live without you dying," Neal tried again. "If you give him your heart, it's going to kill you."
Pan grabbed the teen by the shoulders to get her to focus on him. "They're trying to stem your power, Sarah. But don't let them. Remember, every hero gets tested."
Emma saw her daughter about to cave and quickly chimed in. "Sarah, I know what being a hero looks like, and this isn't it. You eating that apple to save me, that's being a hero. You always taking care of Henry and giving all of us more chances then we deserve, that's being a hero."
Sarah looked into her blonde mothers' eyes. Sure, Emma hadn't been the most honest in recent times, but surely she wouldn't lie about this. Them two had always been there for each other no matter what. The teen looked back at Pan. "Why would they lie?"
"Because that's what adults do, Sarah. You know that better than anyone. How many times have they hurt you and let you down? Made you feel like you weren't good enough?" Pan was getting desperate.
"Sarah you have to believe us," Regina was not about to have her daughter ripped from her again.
"Your parents don't care about Neverland, Sarah," Pan continued. "They don't care about you. They know if you give your heart to save it, then you'll have to stay. They're being selfish because they don't want to lose you," Pan turned to the adults. "Or should I say they don't want to lose your magic."
"Sarah, you have to trust us. Come on kid. Remember you and me against the world," Emma refused to back down. She made herself a promise in that moment. Once she got her daughter back, she would never let her go again.
"Trust?" Pan scoffed. "I'm the only one who's ever been honest with you, Sarah. The only one who has ever cared. The only one who ever believed in you," he knew that got the girls attention. "This is your choice. Not theirs," Pan turned to the hourglass that had almost ran out of sand. "You have to choose now. We're running out of time."
"We believe in you, Sarah," Neal looked at the kid with honest eyes.
"Because we love you," Emma added.
"More than anything," Regina finished. All three adults could see the conflict in the child's eyes. Emma thought she looked exactly how she did at 6 years old. Alone.
Sarah looked at her moms and spoke the truest words she knew she could say. "I love you, too," the adults began to smile thinking they had finally managed to break through. Suddenly a cold look came over the teens eyes. "But I have to save magic. I'm sorry."
"No! Sarah!" All three adults screamed, but it was too late. She had already pushed her heart into Pans chest. The teen fell to the floor. All three adults ran to the girl's side trying to see any form that she was still there but she didn't move. She just lay there. Lifeless. She was gone.
Finally! I feel like we are getting somewhere. Stay tuned for the next chapter.