Hey guys! So this is by far one of the longest chapters and I apologise but there was no way to make it shorter. Finally the gang are back in Stoybrooke. I don't know about everyone else but I'm glad to leave Neverland behind. Let me know what you think. Enjoy my lovelys
Finally, the adventurers made it home. Storybrooke seemed tiny compared to the big jungle they had found themselves in. As the boat docked, they could see most the town had come out to welcome them home. As Pan stepped off the boat in Sarah's body he took in the happy faces. One by one strangers came towards him pulling his teenage victim into tight hugs. Clearly, they had missed her in her time away. After the last towns folk had hugged the girl Pan sensed the girl's blonde mother next to him.
"How does it feel to finally be home?" Emma asked the person she thought to be her daughter with a smile.
"Better than I ever imagined," Pan gave a smile before turning his attention back to the town. He was looking forward to tearing the place apart.
"Sarah!" Pan turned to see a young boy running towards him before jumping into his arms. This must be Henry he had heard so much about. "Are you okay?" He quickly asked as he pulled away from his sister.
"I'm fine," Pan smiled. Henry gave him a quizzical look, almost like he could sense that something was wrong. Before the younger boy could dwell on it any longer, he noticed his mothers.
"Mom's!" He hugged Emma first before wrapping his arms around Regina.
"I've missed you," Emma smiled. She was relieved to have her daughter back, but she had missed her son while she had been away. The family wasn't complete without him.
As the family began to catch up with Henry, Pan noticed two more boys around the teens age approach him.
"You're back," the raven-haired boy greeted him first pulling the young girl's body into a tight embrace. "Never do that to me again okay? Turns out without you this world is just full of idiots and I can't cope with that on my own."
"Gee, thanks," the second boy piped up taking a step closer. "I'm so glad you're safe," he whispered softly.
Pan could see by the look in their eyes that these two really cared about the teen. He knew he had to end the conversation fast before they soon discovered he wasn't who he was pretending to be. "Honestly, I'm fine," he said quickly. "I will catch up with you both later okay? Right now, I just want to spend some time with my family. You know catch up with Henry," he gave a tight smile but he could see the suspicion growing on the boys faces.
"Erm… sure," Sam smiled. "We have plenty of time to catch up."
Pan gave them one last smile before making his way over to Felix.
"What do you have in mind, Peter?" his friend enquired as they observed the family in the distance. "What if someone decides to open that box; let the real Sarah out?"
"That's not the problem, trust me," Pan knew they wouldn't risk letting Sarah out, not while they thought it was him.
"What's the next step?" Felix moved his attention to Pan.
"You need to be punished," Pan gave the boy a smirk before calling over to Sarah's parents. "Hey, Moms, Dad. What about Felix? He's still free," the two mothers and Zac looked over at their daughter stood next to the lost boy.
"What are you doing?" Felix whispered
"They need to trust me," Pan whispered as the family approached.
"Sarah's right," Regina agreed as they made it to the pair. "We can't just let Felix walk away free."
"Don't worry, we got plenty of cell space for this guy," David grabbed the boy by the arms leading him away to the sheriff's station.
Emma moved to stand next to her daughter, pulling her into a hug. "You're safe now, Sarah."
The parenting team and Pan made their way over to the pawn shop where Gold was studying the box.
"Once I seal the box in here, no one can break the spell but me," the box began to glow as Gold worked his magic.
"You're not going to do that?" Pan spoke before he realised what he was saying.
Gold looked over at him with confusion. "What do you mean? I want Pan trapped as much as you."
Emma took a step towards her daughter. Clearly the girl was still recovering from her ordeal. "Don't worry, Sarah."
"He's not getting out of there," Zac added.
"We won't let anything happen to you again, I promise," Regina finished.
"She's right. You needn't worry. As long as I'm alive, that boy will never see the light of day," Gold smiled but it proved to be no comfort to Pan.
That evening, Granny held a celebration in honour of having their favourite teen home safe. The party was in full swing as Emma, Henry and Sarah sat in a booth near the door. Emma thought they needed sometime just the three of them: how things used to be. Something was off with her daughter. The girl normally loved hearing Henry's story's but now she just sat with a blank look like she didn't even know him.
"Oh, I brought something for you," Henry suddenly piped up, placing his story book in front of his sister.
Pan stared at the book with a blank expression. What was the significance of a lousy children's book?
Emma stared at Sarah waiting for some kind of emotion. "Well, don't get too excited. Neal still had it in his room. We thought you'd want it. Especially since you just lived a fairytale of your own," she explained but still it didn't seem to register.
"Right," the teen finally spoke. "Thanks," Pan flicked through the book, feeling the pairs gaze on him.
Emma looked at her son who seemed just as confused. "Did you break her?" the young boy asked to which Emma just shrugged.
"You okay?" The blonde asked, studying the girls face.
"Yeah," Pan smiled. "Why?" Emma let the subject drop for now. Maybe the girl was just tired.
A while later Emma and Zac sat at the counter watching their daughter flick through the story book in the booth.
"How's she doing?" Zac asked the blonde, keeping his stare on his child.
"She's as good as can be expected," Emma sighed.
"Henry said she is acting weird," Zac continued.
"Did he say why?" Emma asked cautiously.
"Something about no sarcastic comments," the man explained.
"Well she has been through a lot it's enough to shake even her," Emma didn't know who she was trying to convince.
"True, but get this," Zac turned to make eye contact with the blonde. "She's been home for 6 hours and not had one cup of coffee."
"Okay, now I'm worried," the blonde couldn't remember ever seeing the teen without coffee in her hand. Before she could dwell on it further, she noticed Zac looking over her shoulder. "What are you looking at?"
"Your hopelessly devoted lovers in the corner," Emma followed Zac's gaze behind her to Neal and Hook sat further down the counter. "You know I think they are going to start singing Olivia Newton John if we're not careful."
"You are so not funny," Emma faced the man again with a glare.
"You know you are going to have to put them out of their misery at some point," Zac knew when it came to matters of the heart Emma tended to run away: scared of getting hurt.
"That is the last thing from my mind right now," Emma knew Zac would be like a dog with a bone the second the subject got brought up.
"You owe it to yourself to be happy Emma," the man said sincerely.
"I can't think about myself right now; not after what Sarah just went through," she turns her gaze back to her child. Right now, her children were her number one priority.
As the party drew to a close Emma made her way over to her daughter who hadn't moved all night. She thought her daughter would be happy to be home but she had barely said two words. She hadn't even spoke to Josh who she was normally inseparable from, and Sam had barely even got a hello. The blonde hoped a night of rest and the teen would start to get back her old self.
"Sorry, kid. It's time for something you didn't have in Neverland—bedtime," Emma waited for the sarcastic comment. For the teen to say she isn't Henry she doesn't need a bedtime but nothing came. The girl simply closed the story book and rose from her seat. "Oh, let's say goodnight to Regina," Emma led her kid over to the mayor.
"Goodnight? I didn't realize it was getting so late," Regina looked at her watch for confirmation. "It's going to be hard to let you out of my sight," she smiled at her daughter.
"Maybe you don't have to," Sarah spoke up. "Maybe I could stay with you tonight."
"Oh. Of course," a bright smile appeared on the brunettes mother face.
"Yeah, uh, just call me tomorrow and let me know what time you want to pick you up," Emma reluctantly agreed. Now that was strange. Sarah normally stuck to Emma after something traumatic. They have always found comfort in each other. As her daughter and the mayor left Emma's mother appeared next to her.
"It's okay. She probably just wants to spend her first night back without all of us fussing over her," Snow said reassuringly.
"Yeah, I'm sure that's it," Emma answered but she wasn't so sure.
Pan laid in bed in the room Regina had prepared for her daughter just in case she could ever convince the teen to spend some real time with her.
"Lights out kid," Regina appeared in the doorway.
"Mom. Your vault. Did you bring that over with you?" Pan asked getting comfy in the bed.
Regina tilted her head in confusion. She knew her daughter already knew the answer. Her kid had been to the vault countless times.
"Yes, Sarah, you know that," Regina stepped further into the room concerned her daughter was having more effects from having her heart taken then she thought.
"With all your magic?" Pan continued.
Regina folded her arms concern furrowing her forehead. "Why are you asking all these questions? You know the answers"
"Sorry I guess I'm just tired," Pan quickly began to cover his tracks. "I'm just reminding myself in case I need that stuff to protect myself from Pan."
"Oh, honey, he can't hurt you," Regina moved over to the bed. "He's locked up in Gold's shop."
"But what if he gets out? What if... he finds a way to come after me?" Pan thought he was selling the story but anyone who knew the teen knew she didn't show her fears so openly. Luckily, Regina still didn't know the teen well enough to realise this.
Regina sat down on the bed with a sigh. "Magic isn't the answer. My vault is sealed shut for a reason. It's dangerous." She looked into the teens eyes, "I'll protect you. No matter what," the teen smiled and nodded. "Now, it's time for you to go bed," Regina tucked the child into bed, kissing the teen on the head. "Goodnight," with that the mayor left the room flicking out the light and closing the door behind her.
When the coast was clear, Pan hoped out of bed going to the bedroom window and sticking his head out. "She's wrong. Magic is the answer. It's time," he smirked into the night air, feeling Sarah's magic coursing through his veins.
Meanwhile, Emma had spent the night at the docks lost in her own thoughts. Not having her daughter at the loft made her reluctant to go home. Sher had spent so long without her daughter; she didn't think she could face another night. So, she sat near the harbor watching the sun come up on a new day. She was busy distracting herself with her phone when a voice joined her.
"You know Neal is sat on his own in Granny's," the blonde looked up to see Zac walking towards her.
"Did Neal send you?" she grumbled as he took a seat beside her.
"No, he has no idea I am here, but when I saw him sitting in that table alone, I wanted to make sure you were okay," he turned to look at his friend. "Are you?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Emma lied turning her attention back to her phone.
"You realised I've known you a long time, right? Your superpower might be guessing when other people are lying but I can always guess when you are. Talk to me Emma," the softness of the man's voice caused her to look up.
"It's not Neal, it's Sarah," Emma turned her gaze to the harbor. "She doesn't seem like herself. She barely recognized Henry's story book last night. Hell, she barely recognised Henry. She hasn't spoken to Josh or Sam."
"She went through a lot in Neverland," Zac tried to reason with the blonde.
"I know. And she asked to spend the night at Regina's," Emma still felt a slight sting about that.
"Well, she did help us save her and they haven't had chance to spend a lot of time together," Zac continued.
"I know she did, but Sarah never shuts me out like that," Emma sighed.
"Look, she probably wants to stay with you tonight. I probably wouldn't worry about it. We're all recovering. Some of us from tiny cages when someone leaves you," Zac grumbled.
"I said sorry for that," Emma insisted.
"No Neal's your favourite don't worry I know where I stand," Zac smirked at the blonde who finally flashed a smile. "Sarah will be okay."
"I know. I just can't shake the feeling something bad is still going to happen and I need to do everything I can to stop it," there was no way she was going to let anything else happen to her kid.
"Emma, you can't think like that," the man beside her sighed. "I'm the pessimist here remember?"
"But bad things do keep happening," Emma turned to look at the man.
"So do good things. But if you think like that, you'll miss out. There's more to life than living for the next fight. You know, you got to look for the moments," Zac knew just how quickly life passed you by. When Ellie had died, he realised everyday counted for something. So did everyone.
"Moments?" Emma questioned.
"Yes, life is made up of moments. Good ones, bad ones, but they're all worth living," Zac gave a small smile.
"Thanks for that yoda," Emma joked.
"Who needs Sarah's sarcasm when we've got you," the man dramatically rolled his eyes causing a laugh from his companion. "I do think you should give Neal a chance though."
"Sure you don't have other reasons for pushing me toward Neal?" Emma questioned as the pair started walking back to town arm in arm.
"Like what?" Zac retorted.
"I don't know, like, keeping me away from Hook?" Emma knew Zac wasn't a fan. Especially since he helped torture their kid.
"You think I'm interested in Hook?" Zac raised an eyebrow. "Well I suppose he is good looking in certain lights," Emma elbowed the man in his side as they both started to laugh.
Pan was awoken by a frantic Regina telling him they had to go to Granny's quick. When they arrived everyone else was already there standing over the blue fairy's lifeless body. Henry looked up as the pair entered heading to his sisters' side. He always clung to her when he was distressed but instead of the normal hug his sister would give the girl gave his shoulder an awkward tap before taking a step back.
"What the hell happened?" Regina asked.
"The Shadow. It killed her," David explained sadly.
"Pan's shadow? I trapped it on the sail," Regina knew she had protected them from this.
"Yeah, well, it got free," Emma looked at the dead woman's body. She knew something bad was going to happen. "Told you," she mumbled to Zac.
"Congratulations you're a jinx," the man responded.
"Look, let's go back to the ship and get the candle. If it strikes again, we need to be able to capture it," Neal makes his way out of the dinner, Hook and Tink following close behind.
"Pan's behind this, I know it," Emma knew it had been too easy.
"He's trapped in a box under the floor of Gold's shop," Regina's magic may have failed but there is no way Gold's would have.
"Who else would be doing this?" Emma barked back.
"So," Pan spoke up in a quiet voice. "Pan can still hurt me."
"We don't know that," Regina wrapped an arm around her daughter. Zac and Emma exchanged a look. That wasn't like their kid. She was the bravest out of all of them.
"We have to assume he's still a threat," Snow sighed.
"And that he's after Sarah," Emma added.
"Then what am I doing here?" Pan knew this was his chance to get to Regina's vault.
"She's right," David agreed. "She's not safe out in the open."
Pan looked to Regina trying to channel his inner Sarah. "You'll protect me, right?"
"Yes, of course," Regina pulled her closer.
"You realise you have more magic than everyone put together right," Zac piped up, finally seeing what Emma was talking about.
"Go," Emma intervened. "We'll take care of the Shadow," Sarah left the dinner but Emma stopped Regina from following. "Keep a close eye on her."
"I already said I would," Regina didn't understand the blonde's point.
"I know. She just doesn't seem quite herself," Emma looked at the teen stood outside staring into space.
"Really? You mean because she asked for me?" Regina couldn't believe they were still playing these games.
"No, I didn't... I didn't mean—" Emma tried to explain but was soon cut off by Regina.
"That's exactly what you meant. You can't face the fact that I am her mother too. And maybe, just maybe, she wants me when she's frightened," Regina finally felt like she had the upper hand.
Now it was Emma's turn to interrupt. "You forget—I have a lot more years of being her mother under my belt. She is not herself. It's not about you, Regina. I just have a gut feeling."
"Well, maybe you can use that gut feeling to find the Shadow instead of obsessing over who's going to comfort our daughter," with that the mayor went to join her daughter.
"I'm with you," Emma turned to see her son. "She is definitely not herself."
Regina and Pan walked through the streets of Storybrooke. "So where are you taking me?"
"One place in Storybrooke the Shadow can never get to. The place where I keep my magic." It wasn't long till they made it to the vault unlocking the door and moving the grave that concealed the stairs. "Promise you won't touch anything?" Regina asks as they made it to the bottom of the steps.
"I promise," Regina missed the evil smile that followed.
Emma left Henry with Granny why she went to find a way to save her other kid. Her parents and Zac followed close behind as they made it to Gold's shop.
"No, I'm afraid we're closed. Whatever crisis you're dealing with, I'm done for the day," he was sick of always having to solve the family's problems.
"Rumple," Belle scolded.
"Pandora's Box," Emma stated simply. "Give it to me."
"Why would I do that?" the blonde now had the pawn brokers interest.
"We need to open it," Emma didn't have time for this.
"And let Pan escape? What are you—crazy?" the man laughed.
"Those are two very different questions," Zac soon shut up as Emma glared at him.
"Somehow he's controlling the Shadow from inside the box. Sarah's life is in danger," Mary Margaret explained getting them back on track.
"And you think letting Pan out will change that?" Rumple questioned.
"Yes. Because we can stop finally and forever," Emma needed this nightmare to come to a close.
"All due respect, Miss Swan, we barely succeeded in apprehending him the first time. If I've learned one thing, it's not to tempt fate," Rumple was running out of nice ways to put their situation.
"I am not looking to apprehend him. Wouldn't you rather be sure he's gone?" Emma knew that would sway the man.
"Well, what do you have in mind?" Gold leaned forward ready to listen.
After explaining the plan, the team drove to the town line. It was now or never. "There's no magic beyond the town line. If we release Pan outside Storybrooke, he'll be powerless to fight back," with that gold went to cross over but was soon pulled back by the sheriff.
"Uh-uh. I'm doing this," she insisted.
"I can cross the line and retain my memory," Gold raised his eyebrow
"It's not about that," Emma explained. "There's no magic over there. All due respect, the real world is my expertise," with that the blonde took out her gun and stepped across the line. "You're going to deal with Pan on my terms."
"He is my father," the man reminded the blonde.
"It's my hunch. If I fail, you're more than welcome to pick up the pieces," after everything this boy had done to her daughter, she was going to be the one to make him pay.
With that, Gold unsealed the box and placed it over the town line. After a few moments Pan's body appeared. A confused look was on the boy's face as he spun round spotting the blonde stood with a gun. "Mom?" Sarah felt like she had been in the darkness of the box for years. It was nice to finally be able to breathe fresh air again.
"What?" Something in the boy's eyes looked familiar to the sheriff.
"What are you waiting for?" Rumple yelled from the side lines. "Shoot him."
"Don't. Please. I'm Sarah. Pan... he switched our bodies," Sarah knew her mom tended to act first and think second but she really hoped this wasn't one of those times.
"You expect me to believe that?" Emma scoffed.
"Don't listen to him. This is one of his tricks.," Gold hissed.
"No, it's not. He did it right before Mr. Gold captured me in the box, I swear," she tried to take a step forward but it just caused her mom to grip the gun tighter.
"Ah, don't come any closer," Emma warned.
"Shoot him!" Gold yelled again.
"Can we calm down Mr. Creepy," Sarah turned to Gold.
That caused Emma to pause. "Creepy," Emma whispered.
"That means nothing," Gold continued. "Anyone who spends five minutes with Sarah knows that's what she calls me."
"Maybe he's telling the truth. Maybe that's why I can't shake this feeling something is off about Sarah," Emma searched Pans eyes for any glimpse of her daughter.
"Maybe that's what he wants you to believe. If he steps over this line, we're all dead," the man insisted.
"All right, if you are really Sarah, prove it. Tell me something only Sarah would know," Emma held her breath waiting for the answer.
Sarah tried to think of facts and fast. "I got trapped in the mines with Henry and banged my head. I brought you a glass swan for your last birthday in New York. I like coffee more than life," the teen rambled.
"All true," Zac piped up, starting to be convinced.
"This proves nothing," Gold growled.
"He's right, Emma. Sarah could've told Pan all this in Neverland," Mary Margaret agreed.
"Thanks Gran," Sarah sighed.
"Pan might know facts, but life is made up more than that—there are moments. He can't possibly know all of them," Emma shouted before turning back to Pan. "The first time you and I connected—you remember that?" Sarah nodded. "Where was it?"
"The police station when dad got arrested," Sarah remembered the day well.
"And the day you decided to stay with me in Storybrooke what did you tell me?" Emma was starting to get hope.
"That home isn't right without you and that if you needed to stay in Storybrooke I wasn't going to leave you behind," Sarah saw Emma begin to lower her gun.
"And when I was struggling with having to share you with Regina. What did you tell me then?" This was it. The deciding factor.
"That one thing will never change. You're my mum and I love you," Sarah gave a small smile.
"Sarah," Emma lowered her gun all the way.
"Mom," Sarah whispered as the blonde took her kid into an embrace.
"It is Sarah," Emma told the group as the pair parted. "Promise you're not going to incinerate us when we step over the line," Gold shook his head allowing the pair to cross. Zac walked straight over to take the kid in his arms, quickly followed by David and Snow.
"I'm sorry I doubted you, Sarah. And I'm sorry I put you in this box in the first place," Gold apologised and meant it.
"It's okay," the teen said softly. "I wouldn't have believed me either."
As silence took over the group Zac suddenly got a brain wave. "Not to be a buzz kill but if Sarah is here, where's Pan?"
Meanwhile in the vault Regina noticed her kid lost in thought. "What is it?"
Pan turned to the Queen. "I was just thinking how lucky I am to have you protecting me here."
"Oh, Sarah," Regina smiled, thrilled to be finally connecting with her daughter. "When all this is over, I promise I'm finally going to be the mother you always wanted me to be," with that she brought the teen into an embrace. While in the hug Pan quickly poured powder over the woman causing her to fall to the floor unconscious.
"I know. That's why this was so easy," Pan laughed.
The family made their way to Regina's vault with Emma leaving Regina another message. "Regina's still not answering," the blonde grumbled.
Sarah turned to Gold. "When we find Pan, remember he's still in my body. So, if you have to throw fire or something, at least avoid the face. The face is my money maker, it's how I get free coffee at Granny's."
"I'll do my best.," Gold laughed.
On arrival they found Hook, Neal and TInk waiting for them.
Neal slowly made his way over. "Is it really you?"
"Course it is, I don't get defeated that easily," Sarah smiled as she hugged the man.
"Did you find the Shadow?" David questioned the trio.
"Not yet," Tink said sadly.
"Well, we'll be ready for him when we do," Hook nods with determination.
"I think it's Pan we should be concerned about now. Why are we still up here?" Gold questioned as to why they hadn't gone inside.
"It's locked up tight," Neal explained to his father.
"Really?" Gold tried to blast the door to no avail.
"Told you," Neal wished his father would listen.
"Fair enough. This is going to take some time," he turns to the teen. "Care to help?"
"I'm not in my body," the teen explained looking down at herself.
"Well you could at least try," the man mumbled to himself as he tried to break the magic.
Emma moved off to the side needing a second to breathe. Noticing her departure her parents quickly followed.
With her mother distracted the teen approached the dark one. "I know by the way."
"Know what?" Gold asked as he tried to keep his focus on the vault.
"That you took away my magic and sent me to this world," Gold briefly glanced at the teen. "Don't worry I won't say anything," the teen gave the man a tight smile. "For now," with that she moved away leaving a nervous Gold in her wake.
Meanwhile, Snow and David were trying to comfort their child. "It's going to be okay. Everything's going to be okay," Mary Margaret insisted.
"No, it's not. Even if Pan's down there, I can't use my gun. He's in Sarah's body," all Emma wanted was that creep to get out of her child.
"Then we'll get him out. We'll save Sarah," David knew they could do this.
"Will we?" Emma wasn't convinced.
"Yes, and because of you, you were right about Pan just like your mother was about Regina all those years ago. We'll stop him and then you can—" David tried but was soon cut off by his daughter.
"You're great parents, but you're wrong. I'm the... saviour. I don't have the luxury of having moments. It's just not my life. Every time I think I'm going to sit back and enjoy myself, I can't because it's never going to stop," Emma sighed.
Before much more could be said, Gold had made his way through the magic allowing the group to enter. Mary Margaret soon spotted an unconscious Regina on the floor rushing to her side. "What? What happened?" Regina questioned as she began to wake up noticing Pan standing nearby.
"It's Sarah," Emma quickly explained. "Somehow Pan switched bodies with her."
Regina sighed. "And I fell for it."
"We all did," Snow tried to comfort the mayor.
"I wanted to believe what she was saying so badly I missed all the signs. I just wanted to believe she still needed me to be her mother," Regina said sadly.
In Pan's body, Sarah moved over to her brunette mother. "I still do," she said truthfully
"Sarah?" the mayor seemed unsure.
"It's me just in a gross boy body," the teen cringed. Regina laughed hugging her child.
"So, what exactly did Pan come down here to get?" David asked looking around.
Gold looked around before coming to a very unsettling conclusion. "Please tell me you didn't keep it down here."
"Where else would I keep it?" Regina sighed.
"What is it? What did Pan take?" Emma questioned suddenly nervous.
Meanwhile Pan had made his way back to Felix. "A curse?" Felix wasn't sure he understood.
"No, Felix, the curse. The curse that tore everyone from the Enchanted Forest and dropped them here," Pan smiled.
"You broke me out of jail to tell me how everyone got to this town?" The boy was officially confused.
Pan laughed. "I broke you out cause this spell is going to give us everything we always wanted. Everyone will forget who they are. Time will stand still. And Felix, we will be in charge."
Felix looked around the town like a kid in a sweet shop. "This whole place?"
"Yes," Pan nodded. "And when we're done with it, it's going to be the new Neverland."
Please leave a comment and be ready for the drama to explode in the next chapter!