What Could've Been
Peter Pan's seconds before death:
A dagger in his back. A poetic way to go, for a man who had betrayed nearly everyone he knew.
As he fell, Pan caught a glimpse of what could've been. If only he hadn't ignored Rune's truthful confession...
He would've been a ruler of his New Neverland, and his Lost Family would've been elevated to heights they've only dreamed of. He'd make sure all of them were well off and never had to want.
Naturally, Pan would rule over them all. He'd make a fine king. One cunning, but just, and he'd rule with a firm hand. He'd be alone at first. Maybe not for long, but he wasn't sure.
He'd have Rune be his knight; his ruler of the armed. She's powerful and determined, and with a bit of convincing (or maybe memory altering), he could have a loyal leader over a powerful army to bend at his will. If not? Then he'd throw the Shadow Charmer somewhere in a deep, dark cell, where the only light she could ever see came from the candlelight he'd use in his monthly visits.
May would have a monument built - a giant tombstone, with a statue laying on a bed of flowers - and she'd be known as the founder of Neverland. A legend, admired and revered. He'd see to it that happened.
Felix would have something too. Maybe a grand obelisk of wood, carved with words and memories people shared with him. A giant, ever burning flame would light the top.
Emma would be killed, as would Regina. Their power would be too risky to keep around. Rumplestiltskin would spend his days locked away, until he could find a better use for him. Or, perhaps, he would just be waiting for the right day to take the Dark One's power.
And everyone else? Everyone else would be their slaves. Those running around doing dirty work, coming and going at every shout and call, regretting every instant they spoke and plotted against him.
But the Lost Family would be happy. Living in a world void of time, where there was no day, and there was no night. Just existence.
Happy existence. Peaceful existence.
But that was all slipping away.
Now Pan really was dying. He was taking his final breath, and he knew it. His side ached with the familiar ebb, like the one that used to come every three hours.
Glimpses of his life flashed before his eyes. There was his first visit to Neverland as a child. He fell in love with it the moment he saw the green trees and the foamy ocean waves. Then it skipped ahead to his wedding. His first time holding Rumple. The despair he felt when his wife ran away. His drinking. Leaving Rumple for Neverland. He was playing a flute, and boys from all over came to dance around the fire. He saw every Lost Boy's face. He remembered the times they chased and hunted Hook, and then set their eyes on the Elehorfird, and then he saw himself meeting Rune for the first time at her window. Then there was May. Henry. His failure. His first death.
And now here he was, dying.
It was quite pathetic, really. But there was nothing he could do now…
The world went black, and Peter Pan was finally dead.
Notes: Woops, so I kinda posted this later than I had planned, but now it's here! Also...yeah, it's in third person! I actually started writing out his goals way earlier while I was planning, and then it just kinda became a oneshot I was waiting to finish & publish it after Master of Time was done! To be honest, after writing this, I went "oh, this would be a fun AU of my own fanfic to write." So who knows, maybe I'll end up making it, or maybe I won't.
Like I've said before, one shots are still open for requests! For now, this is the last planned content I have to post. As always, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed!