9. THE RETURN.

Killian had been right. They'd needed a year to feel they'd enjoyed Neverland enough. During that year, they'd explored almost the whole island, staying in some places for many days, specially in Pixie Hollow, where they'd made friends with some of the little fairies, and seeing a lot of animals and magical creatures. During all that time, Aurora'd missed her friends, but she hadn't wanted to return to the Fairytale Land yet. Until the year'd passed.

On that day, they packed and said goodbye to the Hangman's tree, which had been their home during all that time, the place where they'd always returned after their journeys.

"I'll miss this place" she said.

"Me too." he agreed and, taking her hand, he guided her to the secret exit door.

They needed many hours to return to the Jolly Roger and, once they were aboard, they sailed for more hours to reach the area where they'd appeared when they'd arrived Neverland a year before.

"Are you ready to return home?" he asked. She answered with a nod.

He picked up a new magic bean and threw it to the sea.

.

They couldn't believe what they saw when they arrived Fairytale Land and the Jolly Roger reached the nearest shore. They were in the same area where they'd left the rest of the group that last night, but it was different: a little village could be seen near the beach and, with the help of Hook's telescope, they could find more further villages. Many of their houses were still under construction but, taking into account that in that land they'd been missing for just a month, the reconstruction of that kingdom was going really quickly. There was also a castle, under construction too, and a lot of people: adults working and children playing.

"Well, looks like they've taken the mission seriously" commented Killian.

Aurora didn't answer. Seeing how that place was made her think about her kingdom. Was its situation similar to the one they were seeing? How much people were there if there was anyone? Was someone ruling over it? And if it was, who was that person? Killian's voice made her come back down to earth.

"We should approach the village, let's see what we can find out."

A couple of children were playing on the outskirts of the town when they saw that two strangers approach them.

"Hey lads! Do you want to make money?" asked the man who, to their surprise, had a hook instead of a hand. That couldn't be good for them. The two kids took a step backwards.

"Killian! You're scaring them." said the woman, who seemed much nicer. Then, she turned to them "Excuse him... my name's Aurora and he's Killian. We've just arrived this land and we're quite lost, so if you could answer us a couple of questions we'd be very grateful."

"And we'll give you a copper coin for each one." added the captain.

The two kids seemed to relax and finally nodded.

"So... you'll think we're crazy but, what day is today?" she asked. The answer they were given confirmed what they already knew: about a month had passed since they'd left that land.

"And... I suppose you came here from Storybrooke with the magic beans" the children nodded.

"Who's the king here?" asked Hook.

"King Nicholas, sir" answered one of the boys.

"Do you know him?" Killian asked Aurora.

"I saw him a couple of times when I was a child."

"Friend or foe?" he asked.

"Quite serious, but a friend." she answered, and turned to the children again "Do you know anything about the other kingdoms? About Snow White or her family? Or..." she was about to ask about Phillip and Mulan "doesn't matter, you're too young to know them."

"So nothing about Snow White?" asked Hook, trying to finish the conversation. The boys shook their heads "Fine, thanks for your help and here you have them" he gave a coin to each one. "Have fun." the boys waved their hands and so did Aurora.

They walked away from the children. None of them spoke until they reached the beach.

"Do you want to go to your kingdom?" he asked.

"No. There's nothing left for me there." she answered.

"Are you sure? I mean, maybe it's under construction, as this one and..." he hesitated before speaking again "and not having a family makes you the legitimate queen."

"Of a kingdom without people?"

"Damn it. I didn't remeber that." how could he have forgotten what Cora'd done to them? "I'm sorry." he said, hugging her with his right arm and kissing her forehead. She just stared at the ocean.

"I don't want to talk about it." she didn't want to think about all she'd lost in the last years. "I can't go there. Not now."

"Alright, but there's still a decision to be made."

"What do you suggest?" she asked.

"The question is if you want to visit other kingdoms, you know which ones."

"It's too soon."

"Then, my ship is ready for another adventure. Or we can stay here if you want, as two more inhabitants of this village. It's far away from... from them." he knew she was too sad to hear her friends' names and anything about her kingdom again.

"I prefer the ship..." she sighed "And so you do."

"So, do you let me guide you one more time?" he asked.

"Sure."

"Let's come back to the ship. I'll explain you what I've got in mind."

.

The night had just fallen when the couple left the Jolly Roger and walked straight to the village. The plan was to find a tavern, which, in Hook's opinion, was a simple task. Every town, even the smallest had one. Where would the workers relax after a long day of work if they hadn't one? And, being so near to the beach, was the perfect place to look for a new adventure. He remembered very well how many times he'd sat on one of them with part of his crew, waiting to hear about (and take part on) 'pirate issues': buried treasures, ships with a fortune inside, wanted criminals... if there was a new adventure waiting for them, they'd find it in the tavern. The problem (for him) was finding a suitable one for his new situation. Aurora'd been clear about that: no piracy. And he agreed with her.

Minutes after arriving the village, he found what they'd been looking for.

"Here it is." he said "Let me warn you, in this hours it's not a place for a princess. Don't separate from me." she took him by his arm and they entered the building.

Many heads turned to see them.

"It's something I was expecting" he commented. "We are the unknown ones from the pirate ship. What a gossip!"

They sat on a table and looked around. There were groups of people talking and drinking while some musicians were playing their instruments, nothing special. The waiter approached them:

"Goodnight." he made a pause before going on "Sir, I've got a message from that man" he pointed at a corner, where there was someone they hadn't noticed before. He was alone and his head was covered with a hood.

"Who's him?" Killian asked.

"Nobody knows, sir. He came here one night, a couple of weeks ago and told everyone that he needed someone who had a ship ready to go to a mission. He also said he'd put the money and would come every night until he'd find the person he was looking for."

"And during all this time, hasn't anybody seen his face?"

"Nobody. He would like to share a drink with you... If you agree."

"Interesting" Killian's eyes sparkled with excitement and curiosity. He turned to Aurora "Come with me, we'll have a talk with him."

When they arrived the stranger's table, he made a gesture, inviting them to sit down. The shadow of the hood didn't allow them to see any part of his face.

"Goodnight." the misterious man spoke with a soft voice. Before the couple could answer, he spoke again "Captain Hook."

"How do you know who I am?" the person in question asked.

"I heard about you in Storybrooke. You're quite easy to identify." there was something in his voice that made Aurora think she'd heard it before. Killian looked at his hook.

"You're right. So, now that you know me, I want to know who I am speaking with."

"I'm someone who needs a ship."

"Why?" the captain asked.

"I'm looking for someone. Someone who was taken from me and brought to a far away land by a vengeful creature."

"If we helped you, what would we get?"

"Adventure for sure. And I'll pay for everything: food, weapons, the crew's salaries... and your comission, of course. I think it's a good offer."

"It is." of course it was, but he had to think about a lot of stuff, specially the dangers of the mission "What land is that and what kind of creature do you want to face?"

In response, the stranger gave him a map and a ripped page from an old book.

"Are you crazy?" Hook asked wide-eyed. He'd heard about that creature and its powers. And the place that 'being' was known to live in wasn't exactly easy to reach.

"I lost her once, and I'm not going to lose her again." the stranger made a pause and kept talking "If she were taken from you, wouldn't you go anywhere to find her?" he asked, pointing at Aurora with his head. She could distinguish a blue eye under the shadow.

"Without any doubt, but I'm not putting her in danger." he answered. The princess looked at the two men and the papers without understanding anything.

"I'm not going to let anyone die for my cause. That's for sure. There are good creatures in that land too. Creatures that can help us."

"Why would I trust you?" Killian asked.

"You know you can" was the brief answer. And he was right, that man seemed trustful, althought he didn't know exactly why. But the dangers were still there. "Come with me outside. I'll show my face and tell you everything you need to know. If after my story you don't want to make the deal, I won't oblige you."

The three went out of the tavern. The night was cold and the full moon illuminated the little village. The stranger guided them to a desert alley (Killian was ready to defend himself and Aurora just in case it was a trap). When the man stopped, he took the hood off. On that moment, Aurora realized how he hadn't wanted anyone to see his face. She looked at him, surprised and unable to say a word for a couple of seconds.

"I know you,- she managed to say "You're the king's son."

"Call me Eric."

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

The sun was disappearing behind the mountains while a blue-eyed young man was staring at it, lost in his thoughts. That was his favourite moment of the day, when he finally could disconnect from all the work he'd had to do since he'd returned to Fairytale Land and think about himself and his new situation. His bedroom, as the rest of his palace was in silence, which was just broken by a knock on his door.

"Come in" he said. A servant entered the room.

"Your majesty, I've got some news." he said after bowing to his king.

"Tell me."

"She's been seen." that simple sentence made him stand up and approach the messenger.

"Where?" he asked when he was only a feet of distance from the servant.

"In King Nicholas' kingdom. She appeared a few days ago. Nobody knows where she came from."

"Are you sure it's her?"

"Absolutely."

"Then, what are you waiting for? Go and tell them to bring her here."

The servant bowed one more time and left him alone again. He looked through the window, as he'd been doing before being interrupted. That would be another cold night.