A/N: In the Tower episode, I didn't like "All the voices in my head will be quiet when I'm...dead.". Though, to me, it sounded like he said "dead" like he was asking a question not make a statement.
Chapter Nineteen
Tiger Lily looked at the figure sitting on the wooden throne as she walked closer and knelt down at the figure's feet. She knew the risks when she performed the magic to bring him back from the dead, but, at the time, it was because the Lost Boys needed him. Now she wondered if what she had brought back was Pan or was it something else?
"Where is he?" the figure growled, looking at her.
"He will come," she said.
"Not if he's dead."
"He is not dead."
"How do you know?"
"He has been seen," she said when the figure bent over and grabbed hold of her throat. She felt the foul breath on her cheek as a soft laugh filled her ear and she winced.
"You better not be lying to me or you might end up being my next meal," the figure whispered then pushed her away and she sat on her bottom, looking at the figure. She rubbed her throat then got up and ran, laughter echoing behind her.
Rumplestiltskin brushed aside some branches as they walked down the path and entered a large glade. Water from a large waterfall made a thick mist over the large lake and a large mountain rose in front of them. Snow White, Emma and Regina smiled at the sight as Rumplestiltskin walked to the edge of the large lake and knelt down on his haunches.
"Belle, please forgive me, but your husband looks so hot when he kneels down in those leather pants," Snow thought while looking at his bottom and watched him stand up.
"The water's clean," he said as they walked to the edge of the large lake and refilled the canteens Hook had given them. Rumplestiltskin looked up at the waterfall when he removed the map and opened the map. He studied the map then placed the map away and sighed.
"Don't tell me we have to go up there," Charming said as he looked at the large mountain and Rumplestiltskin cross his arms over his chest.
"I think we have no choice," he said, but not noticed Hook walking around the edge of the large lake and Baelfire and Emma followed him.
"Where are you going?" Emma asked as they walked along and Hook smiled at her. She forgot how his smile and his eyes made her melt inside as she sighed and he pointed to the large waterfall.
"I want to check something out," he said and they walked faster. A few minutes later they came to the base of the large waterfall and the water roared in their ears. The mist soaked their skin while Hook walked closer when he noticed something and smile. Wiggling his fingers for them to follow, he slid through the gap between the water and the stone and stood in the cave behind the large waterfall.
"Where did Hook, Emma and Bae go?" Snow asked when Charming saw Emma near the large waterfall and she was waving her arms then pointed to the waterfall.
"I think they're over there," he said as they ran and a few minutes later came to the base of the waterfall. Emma and Baelfire stood near the water when Rumplestiltskin walked closer and looked at them.
"Where's Hook?" he shouted over the roar of the waterfall.
"Come on," Bae said as they slid through the gap between the water and the stone and saw Hook sitting on a rock.
"Knew there had to be a passageway," he said when Rumplestiltskin took out the map and opened the map on a large rock near the cave entrance. He moved his finger along the map when he smiled and placed the map away.
"Let's go," he said with a wave of his hand and lit torches appeared in their hands. Emma saw the look in his eyes as she shrugged and they headed into the darkness.
"How did he know that cave was there?" Roland asked while he looked at the enchanted mirror and Belle fed Rose some of the pasta she had made for her for lunch.
"Pirates know where all the good hiding places are," Henry said as he rocked Duer and Bunfin sat on top of the high back chair.
"I want to be a pirate!" Roland said with a grin.
"I thought you wanted to be a wizard like my grandpa."
"I want to be a wizard pirate!" Roland said and Belle softly smiled.
"There's something I'd like to see," she said then looked at the sandwich and bowl of soup next to Roland. "Now finish your lunch."
"Ok," Roland said as he picked up half of sandwich and sat back in the high back chair.
The torchlight flickered off the walls as they moved along the trail and Rumplestiltskin led the way. He was leery of the shadows and heard the sound of water dripping somewhere in the darkness.
"Stop," he said while holding up his hand and they stopped. He listened to the darkness as he reached out with some magic then nodded his head and started walking again. They walked for a long time until they came to the cave opening and stepped outside. The sun was higher in the sky as they saw the trees and bushes spreading out before them and the torches vanished.
"Now where do we go?" Robin asked. Rumplestiltskin took out the map when he looked at the map then at the trees and bushed and sighed. He put the map away when he pointed to the left and they started walking.
The stars twinkled in the dark sky as the fire flickered in the stone circle and Tiger Lily watched the children dancing in large circles. The pan music filled the air while the children danced and hopped around and Tiger Lily sighed. She had to use three more children to satisfy Pan and was beginning to wonder what would happen if they ran out of children.
"Have I made a mistake?" she thought when the music suddenly stopped and she looked at the figure. The pan flute fell to the ground as the figure stood then walked to the fire circle and looked at the flames.
"He's here," the figure growled then looked at the sky, crowing like a rooster. The children stopped to look when the figure lowered the hood and their eyes widened. They had never seen what was under the hood as the figure looked at them and blinked. "Let's go play."
The children cheered then ran into the forest while the figure walked to Tiger Lily and held out a hand. She took the figure's hand when they walked into the darkness and vanished.
Robin felt eyes on them as they walked down the path and he held tightly onto Regina's hand. His nerves were in high alert. He wanted to climb the nearest tree to have a better look of their surroundings when he saw Rumplestiltskin had stopped and had his hand up.
"What's wrong?" Charming asked, walking closer.
"We're not alone," Rumplestiltskin said as he looked around and Charming removed the sword from the scabbard on his back. Suddenly children appeared from the bushes as the children surrounded them and Emma looked at Snow White.
"Gee, this feels familiar," Emma whispered.
"Now we know what happened to those stolen kids," Bae said and Robin nodded his head.
"Don't hurt them," Rumplestiltskin said when someone appeared behind him and laughed. An ice cold feeling numbed his heart as he turned around and looked to see Tiger Lily and the figure standing at the edge of the trees.
"Who is that?" Henry asked while looking at the enchanted mirror and Belle frowned. Roland, Rose and Duer were asleep in the nursery and she placed her hands on either side of the enchanted mirror.
"I think that's his father," she said.
The first thing Rumplestiltskin noticed was the left side of Pan's face looked like his father's face, but the right side looked like Pan's face and the skull and body were lopsided. The second thing he noticed was the eyes were shining in a red light. The last thing he noticed was his stomach churned so badly that he wanted to be sick.
"This is why you shouldn't raise the dead," he said softly and Emma, standing next to him, nodded her head.
"Who's the girl?" Robin asked, pointing to Tiger Lily.
"That's Tiger Lily," Bae said then frowned.
"Hello, Rumple," Pan said with a small nod of his head. Emma noticed that Pan had two voices, one older and one younger, and she frowned, feeling a cold chill move through her.
"Who are you?" Rumplestiltskin asked and Pan's eyes widened.
"Don't you recognize your own father?"
"My father is dead."
"Yes," Pan said as he walked closer and stood in front of him. "You killed him."
"Then what are you?"
"He is Pan," Tiger Lily said as Rumplestiltskin looked at her and she came to stand next to Pan.
"What have you done? This…thing shouldn't be here," Rumplestiltskin said, pointing his hands at Pan.
"I was hunting when this black smoke appeared and he tumbled out of the smoke. I ran to him, but, when I reached him, I found out he was dead," Tiger Lily said.
"Then why didn't you bury him?" Snow asked.
"The Lost Boys needed him."
"But he was dead," Charming said.
"Yes, and it took many months for me to heal his body…"
"He was stabbed through the heart!" Emma said.
"I gave him a new one," she said with a smile.
"You killed someone to give him a new heart?" Robin asked, making a sour face.
"Yes, then I had to find his shadow."
"How do you know you found the right shadow?" Regina asked.
"It called to me."
"That doesn't mean it was the right one, Dearie," Rumplestiltskin said.
"Why does he look like that?" Bae asked.
"His shadow fought over which version would be dominant. This is the result of that battle."
"Why did you need the children?" Emma asked as she looked at the children and saw the fear in their faces.
"And where are the Lost Boys?" Bae asked.
"I believe I know," Rumplestiltskin said as he started walking around Pan and placed his hands behind his back. "It has to do with the price of bringing someone back from the dead. The one who is brought back needs energy to survive or the spell fails and they die a second time. When she first cast the spell, he was…starving. So she had to give him the Lost Boys' energy."
"She killed them?" Robin asked.
"No…," Rumplestiltskin said, looking at Pan. "He did."
"I was hungry," Pan said, watching Rumplestiltskin walk around him.
"So you stole these children?" Charming asked.
"Yes, I sent shadows to gather them," Tiger Lily said.
"This is so sick," Emma said with a sigh when Pan growled and Rumplestiltskin stood face to face with him.
"Let's finish this," Rumplestiltskin said, locking eyes with Pan.
"You think you can take me, Boy?" Pan asked.
"Yes," Rumplestiltskin said as he stood back and drew the sword out of the scabbard. Pan's eyes widened when he smiled and flicked his wrist. A sword appeared in Pan's hand and he gave Rumplestiltskin a wide grin.
"Whenever you're ready," Pan said as he swished the sword side to side and Rumplestiltskin gave him a small bow.
"This is going to be a little one-sided," Charming whispered. "He's really good."
They watched as Pan roared then charged at Rumplestiltskin when Rumplestiltskin got out of the way and smacked the blade against Pan's backside. Giggling, Rumplestiltskin watched as Pan swung the sword, but Rumplestiltskin blocked his move then swung the sword, slicing a large gash in Pan's side.
"Wow, Grandpa's good," Henry said with a grin and Belle nodded her head.
The sound of metal clashing echoed through the forest while they fought when Pan's hand started glowing in a red light and he grinned at Rumplestiltskin.
"What's so funny?" he asked when Pan waved his hand and a large pit appeared under Rumplestiltskin's feet. Looking down, Rumplestiltskin sighed then fell into the pit.
"No!" Belle shouted as well as Regina, Robin, Charming, Hook and the others and Henry looked at the enchanted mirror.
Rumplestiltskin felt his stomach drop to his feet while his heart slammed in his chest and blood pounded in his ears.
"All the voices in my head will be quiet when I'm...dead," filled his head then a giggle and he frowned.
"Who's there?" he thought.
"Who do you think?"
"I don't have time for this."
"You're right. Do something about it."
"I'm trying, but I'm sort of limited."
"No, you're not. You just need to unlock what is hidden."
"I don't need riddles. I need magic."
"Then you need the key."
"What key?"
"The key, you see, is thee," the voice said then giggled.
"What are you talking about?"
"You've always had magic inside you."
"No, I only had magic and power when I was the Dark One."
"That was my magic. Yours is different."
"If I had magic, why didn't I know?
"How should I know? All I know is it's there."
"How do I unlock it?"
"Who are you?"
"Enough riddles!"
"Who are you?"
"Shut up!"
"Who are you, Dearie?"
"Wait, words are power and so are names. Is that the key?"
"Say your name and find out," the voice said then giggled.
"I am Rumplestiltskin!" he shouted when the golden light surrounded him and he stopped falling. He looked up when he balled his hands into fists and flew up then out of the pit. He landed lightly on his feet as the others looked at him wide eyed and Pan dropped the sword.
"Whoa!" Henry said and Belle smiled.
The wind blew through the long white hair as the golden light flickered in his eyes and Rumplestiltskin was wearing golden scaled armor, boots and headband. He had dropped the sword, but purple light swirled around his hands and he glared at Pan.
"Now that's impressive," Charming said and Regina nodded her head. Pan saw the anger and hatred in Rumplestiltskin's eyes as Pan backed up and Rumplestiltskin growled.
"Answer one question. Did you know I had magic?" he asked.
"Why should I tell you?"
"Answer me!"
"Of course I did," Pan said with a snort. "Your mother was a witch."
"She was?" Emma asked.
"Yes," Pan said, looking at her. "She tried to keep it a secret, but she finally confessed to me. I demanded she use her power to make us rich, but she refused. I kept on her, but she died during childbirth and left me with him."
"How did you find out he had power?" Regina asked.
"One of those women I left him with told me. She also told me that his magic had been locked by his mother while he was inside her and I needed a key to unlock his magic. I had no idea what the key was. So here I was with a useless piece of rubbish…."
"He is not!" Emma shouted and Rumplestiltskin smiled.
"He was to me!" Pan shouted and Rumplestiltskin growled, held out his left hand and wiggled his fingers.
"Regina, I know you have it. Give me Pandora's box," Rumplestiltskin said.
"I thought you gave it back to Baelfire," Robin said, looking at her.
"I thought I might need it one day," Regina said as she waved her hand and the small, black box appeared in her right hand. She tossed the small, black box to him as Rumplestiltskin caught the small black box in one hand and Pan glared at him.
"Do you really think I'm going to let you use that on me again?" Pan roared when a red light flared around his right hand and the red light sailed at the small, black box, knocking it out of Rumplestiltskin's hand, The small, black box sailed through the air when Emma caught the small, black box then smiled. "What are you going to do? You don't know magic."
"A lot you know," Emma said when she waved her hand over the jewel on the lid and the jewel on the top of the small, black box popped up. Pan and Tiger Lily screamed as they were pulled into the small, black box and the jewel on top of the small, black box slid down and clicked with a soft thud. She walked to Rumplestiltskin as the golden light faded and he returned to normal. Both of them felt tired, but happy as she handed him the small, black box and he moved closer, hugging her.
"Now what do we do?" Regina asked and Rumplestiltskin looked at the small, black box.