Chapter Two: Pirate's Promise
It's been said that Never Land is different to each child that wanders there in its dreams, for children are true the pioneers of the realms. Children possess the purest magic no matter the kingdom they reside, and that magic lay within their innocence of the heart. But regardless the boy, it can be established that Never Land has various prominent physical features universal to every cartographer that dare chart this mysterious island. Never Land is known for its murky lagoons and staggering mountains, its cavernous caves and its treacherous forests. The place is bright and dark all at once, every shade the most vivid color imaginable and beyond. The land is the most luscious of all the realms as if every vine and spring—the island itself seems to pulsate with a mystical life force of its very own.
The remaining passengers took in Never Land for the first time, all with the exception of its captain who scowled coldly at the familiar environment as he guided them up towards the ridge. It was up to Hook to lead them through safely, as only he was equipped to face the challenges that would lie ahead. The island was very powerful, if Pan didn't get to them first Never Land could certainly finish them off if they were anything but strenuously prepared and vigil.
Alice had the sense of déjà vu as if she had been there before, once upon a dream perhaps. But maybe, she told herself, maybe it was reminiscent of Wonderland; timelessness was indeed a rare quality.
"Do you really think we'll be able to Pans hideout from up there?" Emma asked as Hook led them through Never Land's abundant greenery.
He wacked another thick spidery vine away with his sword, "from up there, we should be able to see everything, including where he's keeping your son."
"You know I could have just poofed us up here in an instant," Regina complained.
Hook sighed, if they didn't understand the consequences of magic after all this time, how could they comprehend the implications of using it in Never Land? "Have you any idea what is up here, or anywhere? There are dangers all about, only I can guide us past them."
While Emma came to Hooks defense and the impending quarrel ensued, Alice's mind drifted off once again—as it so often did—and her part in follow the leader became mechanical.
"Sir?" Alice said as she wandered towards the strange figure she had spotted from behind the loveberry trees, as she grew closer she found that it was a man who was studying a large magic mushroom quite intensively. "Pardon me sir, might you have travelled recently to Wonderland by chance?"
Slowly the tall man adverted his gaze from the plant and at Alice. He studied her with equal interest as the mushroom. Clearly new to Wonderland, she remembered that feeling of awestruck curiosity well. He nodded and opened his sharp jaw to speak, "I have. I fear my ship had caught in a storm and tossed me into a portal," his dark eyes flashed as he spoke. "What is this world?"
"Well it's Wonderland, of course." The man stared silently at Alice. Unsure, and certainly feeling less brave, she stuck out her hand, "My name is Alice."
The man reached out but quickly retracted it and chuckled, "Hook. Captain Hook." He waved an arm with a sharp curve of metal on the end—a hook.
"Creative," Alice giggled.
"Killian Jones."
"Well Captain Hook…Mr. Jones…"
"Whatever you like, darling."
"Captain Hook—it sounds rather exciting so I do prefer it very much—the sun is setting and Wonderland is not so forgiving under the cover of night. My friends and I have a home that shelters us very nicely—they helped me when I first arrived in Wonderland myself—if you would like." Alice looked around rather uneasily, "Wonderland has a plethora of unsavory creatures who creep out at night."
The girl seemed harmless. "This realm is lovely, isn't it? Thank you for your kindness Miss Alice."
Hook followed Alice to her home in the forest of spades, it was a modest cottage in the woods well hidden by emerald tree's and poppy flowers. A security system, Hook noted. Alice smiled turned and smiled at him before pushing a large door inwards with a bit of effort. "I'm back!" Alice called into home; Hook closed the door gently behind them. He glanced around the room, a bit taken aback as the façade of the cottage had been quite deceiving. Its bland appearance outside had been made up for on the inside with checkered black & white flooring, bright purple paper on the walls, assorted bobbles and charms everywhere. And Hats. Litters and litters of hats of every shape and size scattered to-and-fro. "And I've brought back with me simply the most charming new friend."
A head popped out from the entrance into another room, "a friend?" It was a man of tall stature, he had wavy brown hair the crept out over a rather fluorescent orange top hat of sorts. His skin was tanned and his coco eyes sleepless. They narrowed, "a friend…"
Suddenly, like a crazed animal, the man rushed hooked and shoved him against the wall with both his hands locked on Hook. "TELL ME WHAT LAND YOU COME FROM."
"Jefferson!" Alice shrieked in horror.
"TELL ME WHAT LAND YOU COME FROM."
"Never Land!" Hook lied breathlessly.
The man now presumably identified as Jefferson relaxed his hands and lowered his voice, "how did you get to Wonderland?"
Hook, regaining his confidence, shoved Jefferson off a few steps backwards and straightened his jacket.
"I'm so sorry," Alice apologized, obviously upset, "I should have thought this might distress him—but I didn't think—no I never think."
"Tell me how you arrived here," Jefferson said again his eyes still trained on Hook with a gnashing animal-like gleam.
"A portal, mate! How else do you think?" Hook looked at Alice and back at Jefferson. Killian was feeling he should take the girl, finish his mission, and get them the hell out of Wonderland but the pirate in him shouted forget the girl and run. After all, she had pronounced him Captain Hook herself, she preferred the pirate.
Jefferson calmed himself down quite a bit and looked at the now distraught Alice who had backed herself shamefully into her own little corner. "What business have you in Wonderland," he gazed back at the stranger Alice had brought into their home. The scruffy hair, leather jacket, queer injury covered with a hook, and the dead giveaway, a garnet jeweled earring. "Pirate?"
Hook snorted back laughter. "I'm here on a mission, a matter of rather personal business. I seek an audience with your Queen."
"I have no Queen," Jefferson snarled.
"Ah, of course you do. I've heard all about her, this lovely Queen of Hearts."
"She is the Queen of this realm," said Alice just above a whisper.
Hook smiled. "You seem quite interested in the travelling of realms. I tell you, get me an appointment with your Queen and I'll take you wherever you would like to go, fellow."
Jefferson was about to agree but Alice intersected him, "no Jefferson, let me do it for you! She's already chopped of your head once."
"My dear, you're but a girl. This is men's business," Hook chuckled.
Alice straightened up with new determination; she had always wanted to help Jefferson. "I slayed that Jabberwocky once, ask anyone, I can handle the Queen."
Hook cocked an eyebrow. "It's true," Jefferson said dejectedly. "Bravery and planning is more of Alice's forte."
"Well then, Miss Alice, great slayer of the Jabberwocky," Hook was skeptical, "you get me to your Queen and I'll get you and your friend into the portal of your choice."
Pirate's Promise.
"The jungle's grown somewhat since I last set foot into it," said Hook as they gathered together and gazed into the overgrown mass of tropical forest.
The group decided to set up camp for the night, according to Hook that was the most dangerous time to be out and about hunting for Henry. Now Alice knew precisely why that sounded so familiar. As they set up their sleeping areas for the night Charming paired up with Snow, Emma nearby close to Hook, so Alice instinctively linked up with Regina.
Alice gathered leaves and tied them together with vines; she made pillows for she and Regina's corner.
As the night settled in and sleep weighted down their eyes, the camp drifted off into a dreamless sleep. Alice pretended the forest was silent, she believed in lying to herself until she believed it. Eventually, she fell asleep with everyone else.
Except for one blonde sheep. Emma gave up as she listened to the cries of ghosts float through the air and began to pace on the edge of the campsite, nearest to Alice and Regina. Emma rubbed her hands together, partially for warmth but too out of anxiety when suddenly a figure appeared before her, his back facing the forest. "You're Emma, right? I wonder why they can't hear the crying."
"Who are you?" Emma asked, she pointed a sword very dangerously at the form of a boy. It was dark; features were hard to make out in the blackness she was so unaccustomed to. But the boy could see quite clearly.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Did I forget to introduce myself? I'm Peter. Peter Pan."
Emma lunged at Pan.
"Henry's still alive, if that's what you're worried about."
"What are you gonna tell me now, that I'm never going to see him again?"
Peter laughed quietly, "No. I'm going to help you find him. I'll give you a map, a map that will lead you straight to your son."
"If this is some kind of trap…" Emma warned.
"I may not be the most…well behaved boy on the island, but it's yours… just do me a favor, Emma?" Peter had been watching their camp the entire time in the way that Peter has a tendency to look in on people, waiting for them to fall asleep.
"What?"
Peter's grin spread wider, "tell me who that is," his eyes flickered at Alice and back.
"Why? What could you want with her?"
"I just noticed she had a bit more trouble falling asleep unlike the rest," he said feigning innocence. "Besides, she's the odd one in the group, isn't she? If she has to lye with the 'Evil Queen' she must be at the bottom of the order, the outcast shall we say?"
Emma grabbed at the map in Peter's hand but he was far too quick. "Ah ah ah, I don't like cheaters, Emma. Name."
"Alice."
"Alice? Well I think I quite like the sound of that," he handed over the map and began to walk back into the trees. "Alice," Pan mused. He vanished.