She was running through the forest. Her feet picking up dirt as she quickly ran back to her tribe's camp. Big Chief watched as he saw his daughter run back from the jungle. He told her many times not to venture off in there, but she never once listened.
"Tiger Lily." He motioned her towards him. "What did I tell you?"
"Not to go in the jungle." She said, embarrassment evident as the tribe watched their interaction.
"Exactly. Why is it that I always tell you and you never listen?" He told her as he lead them into the privacy of the Chief's teepee.
"But I got some dream-shade and some squid ink for you! Now you can take down the invaders!" She said as she took out two pouches and handed them to her father. After all, this is going to be her tribe to command, she has to protect them.
"This isn't your worry Tiger Lily. You have to stop eavesdropping, you are going to get yourself in trouble one day." He worriedly looked down at his daughter.
"I was trying to help and protect this tribe. I am going to take your spot after-all. You told me so yourself."
"Just like your mother. So adventurous and so powerful. But-"
"I am only trying to help." She said defeated as she slumped down onto the floor.
"Child, I need you to understand that all my actions are with the utmost love and affection. That I am only trying to keep you safe and out of harms way." He said kneeling down and placing a hand on her shoulder.
"Fine," She sighed as she gestured to the two pouches. "just remember to use these. The squid ink can paralyze the most powerful of beings and the dream-shade is deadly. One drop and you die, understand?"
"Yes child." He chuckled. His daughter very much reminded him of his late wife. So much energy, so much intelligence. He never could handle her. He smiled at the times of him having to handle both girls at the same time. "Now I have an announcement for the tribe."
Big Chief got up and smiled, noticing his daughter still on the ground. Antics, exactly like her mother's.
"The announcement is for the ENTIRE tribe." He clarified to his daughter. Tiger Lily reluctantly got up and followed her father outside, where the rest of the tribe was already gathered.
Big Chief squared his shoulders looking more intimidating. This matter is involving his daughter. He needs to look frightening, even though he is like a giant teddy bear on the inside. He cleared his throat.
"Now we all know why we are gathered here today." He started, "This matter is very much vital to the survival of this tribe."
"That's why I got dream-shade and squid ink!" Tiger Lily interjected innocently. All the boys in the tribe had terrified faces.
"That's not why we are gathered here today, Tiger Lily." All the boys looked relieved. Tiger Lily had a confused look on her face then. If it wasn't about the invaders, then what was it about?
The chief took Tiger Lily's hand and held it tight. He looked at her confused face. She was thinking why was he holding her hand like life depended on it or as if she is going to run?
"We are gathered here today because I have made a decision on my daughter's husband."
He squeezed her hand reassuringly. He was afraid to look down at his daughter's face and see betrayal and hurt and overall disappointment. However though her face did show all those emotions, the most prominent one was anger. Anger at her father for not telling her. Anger at her father in general for such idea.
"I have chosen Mojag as my daughter's husband." he announced. Mojag looked smug as he proudly walked to the chief and did not maintain eye contact as a sign of respect. The look of disgust on Tiger Lily's face wiped the smug look clean off of Mojag's face. He stood besides the Chief with a smirk. He liked a challenge and he most certainly liked to have power and control. He knew the Chief knew that Tiger Lily can stand on her own and lead this tribe. He must thank the little birdy that put the thought inside Chief's head about his daughter's vulnerability.
The three walked back into the Chief's tent. That was when Tiger Lily exploded.
"How can you let this happen to me? This is exactly what you and mother wanted to prevent! This is not fair, you hypocrite! I don't want to marry anyone right now, especially not Mojag!" She honestly did not care if he heard her hatred and disgust for him, he already knew. "He would be a horrible leader. His name literally means 'never silent' and that is not a lie. He can't keep a secret, he is horrible at planning, he would be too loud for an attack, and he is a bully! How can you just do that to me?!" She finished as she felt her eyes become watery.
"Tiger Lily," Big Chief said as he took a step forward trying to comfort his little girl, with that Tiger Lily took a step back "I am doing this for your own good. Mojag can protect you. He is the best warrior in the tribe."
"He may have bronze, but he needs brains to run a tribe, which, by the way, you said I would run with or without the husband, which would be of my choosing!"
"That is why you should be married. You can be the brains, and he the bronze. It works out perfectly and you are safe and protected."
"No I am not! He won't listen to me. He will lead the tribe into a situation blindly! He will lead the tribe to turmoil! Mojag can't protect me when he gets himself killed!"
"Enough!" Big Chief said, not liking the thought of his daughter in danger, "You will marry Mojag and that is final."
"This is exactly what you and mom were trying to escape!" She yelled as she ran out of the teepee and into the jungle with tears in her eyes.
"I'm going back to Neverland." Lily said with determination.
"No. It's too dangerous. We can not loose another person from Storybrooke." Ruby said
"I have to go. I have unfinished business."
"What 'unfinished' business?" Belle asked.
"One that can help save everyone. I just need a couple of things and I will be on my way off tomorrow night." Lily said with full determination as she got up from her chair.
"No. You can't risk your life for my desires." Belle said.
"I'm not. I'm going for a selfish reason, for myself, which happens to be able to help you."
"How are you going to get there?" Belle asked, "They used the last magic bean."
"I have my ways." Lily said, she didn't fully know how to get back to Neverland, just something about Pan's shadow that Felix and Peter told her.
"Do you need any help?" Belle asked kindly to Lily.
Lily nodded. "I'll come to you, don't worry. Now, you two get some sleep. Don't need you two exhausted when I ask for help!" Lily said as she walked off.
"She sounds like my mother." Ruby said as she put the chairs back up.
"Well... I can tell she's been through enough in her lifetime." Belle told Ruby.
"How?"
"The way she reacted to Neverland wasn't exactly excitement."
Tiger Lily ran until she reached the cave. Baelfire was surprised to see Tiger Lily enter the cave. She usually only comes once a day and she usually is all happy and energetic. But, this time she was crying. She ran into his arms, bawling about the marriage. They sat down on the cave's ground with her in his arms crying for a while until Baelfire asked,
"What's wrong Tiger Lily?"
"My dad wants me to marry someone who I don't love. He says he is protecting me and it's for the betterment of the tribe, but I don't believe it." She sniffled.
"What do you mean?"
"I have a feeling Mojag put him up to this. Something about putting me in danger unless he lets him marry me or something like that..."
"Or it's just your imagination and he really just wants to protect you... I wish my papa will come here and protect me. Save me from this island, you know? You should feel lucky and grateful, Tiger Lily." He said
"True, I should, but... I can't afford to think like that. My tribe is on the line." Tiger Lily said to Baelfire as she got up and started to walk out of the cave.
"Where are you going?"
"I don't know, somewhere I can think."
"Don't go out there alone, Tiger Lily. It's dangerous."
"I need time alone, to think. Please don't follow me. Don't worry I'll be fine. I promise. I never break my promises."
"Okay. Just be careful okay?." He pleaded
"I will." She said as she walked away.
Lily walked in search of the Blue fairy. Not her favorite fairy, ever since she heard about Tinker Bell, but she needed her desperately.
"Mother Superior?" She asked the woman, who opened the church's door.
"Yes?"
"I'm Lily. I'm not sure if you remember me during the Miners' Day festival or not, but I helped Astrid make candles."
"Oh yes! You were plenty of help. Thank you. Now, why are you here? Shouldn't you be sleeping?" She asked concerned.
"I have to ask for a little favor and you may or may not shut the door on me. But, I have an awfully good reason!"
"What do you want, child?"
"May I have some pixie dust, please?"
"Sorry I can't give you any." As Mother Superior was about the shut the door on her face, Lily shot out her foot and hand to stop the door.
"But you didn't hear my reason!"
"We fairies are very protective of our pixie dust, we don't just give it out like that!"
"Jeez for the lady, who is supposedly head of the good magic, you sure are mean and unjust."
"Fine. Why do you want it?"
"To go to Neverland."
"No. Now leave."
"But I'm the one that can save them. I know the land and Peter Pan like the back of my hand."
"Who are you?"
"Lily-"
"No, not in Storybrooke."
"Tiger Lily. I have to take back what is mine from Pan. I need to go make sure they come back safe and sound."
"What makes you think you can come knocking on my door asking for pixie dust, when I don't even give it to other fairies?"
"Because unlike them, I have a mission that will help save lives, and unlike them I have a two tiny, minuscule vials, which all I am asking you to do, is fill them up and I will be on my way off tomorrow. You can even be there when I leave to make sure I am going to Neverland. You have my word."
"Fine. Give me the vials and I will fill them up." Lily took the chain off her neck and handed the necklace with two vials to Mother Superior.
"I'll be back in an hour."
"Where are you going?"
"To visit someone."
"Who?"
"Why are you so nosy? You should be happy. Now I won't know where you keep your pixie dust."
"Because I can be. Now, who are you going to see?"
"The Mad Hatter."
Hey you lovelies! I forgot to say this in my last chapter so...
I don't own anything that is in Once Upon A Time, I only own the ideas which come out of my head, brain, heart, and soul.
Now... Why do you think she wants to talk to the Mad Hatter? I don't even know. I just thought it would be cool because I LOVE Jefferson! Now I will stop procrastinating and work on my English essay and then watch the next OUAT because as you can tell, I love me some OUAT. So totally excited! You have no idea!