Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters!
Thanks to mothermckarther for beta'ing :)
"What do you mean the village was attacked!" the King roars at the messenger.
"P-p-please…my lord…" The pitiable, frightened man murmurs. "When the sun rose, we searched for her, but we did not find her. We think she escaped, my lord"
Papa-bear instinct has kicked in for James, "You THINK?" He hollers at the man, "This is MY daughter you are talking about."
"James…" Snow whispers as she tugs tenderly on the arm of her irate spouse, "Don't scream at the man…" Her tender chocolate brownish eyes look weakly at the man, "You may leave." She instructs him. The man wastes no time and runs out of the throne room.
"Charming," Snow whispers as she lures him closer to her. "You trained her well. Don't underestimate our daughter. We made that mistake once." Snow nuzzles the side of his fair-skinned face that has crimsoned from his rage.
"Emma is clever, she probably boarded another vessel or ran into the forest for safety. She knows how to survive. I taught her well with a longbow and stiletto." Snow attempts to relax her husband's apprehensions. "And you taught her well with the cutlass. She is alive. I know it." She says with assurance holding James's face close to her own.
James gazes fondly, with all fragment of fury now gone, at his dame, "I want her home, where she will be safe." He declares simply as his hands fall on the waistline of his amor.
"Oh, I know," Snow whispers as she gives him Eskimo kisses. "Faith runs in our family. I had faith in you to find me. I have faith that Emma will find us." Her voice is melodious and filled with optimism.
"What about Henry?" James says bringing up the issue of their grandson. "He is going to want to know what is going on. You know how clever he is."
"Clever, he is. However, we just need to keep this a secret until we can find Emma." Snow says mellifluously, look fixedly onto the face of her mate.
James smiles, nodding in agreement then leans down and gently kisses Snow on the lips.
On the other side of the portal, Emma looks around the indistinguishable forest.
"Are we in Neverland?" She questions as they keep strolling through the streaming creek as if they never sauntered through the portal in the first place.
"Aye. This isn't the real forest," Hook says as he keeps walking through the spring.
"It's a deception to protect the pixies from undesired companies." He had forgotten about the protection spell that was laced around the entry point of Neverland, as well as Pixie Hollow.
Being as how he had lived here for many, many years, the spell doesn't affect him because it recognizes his aura, but Emma, on the other hand, is taken as a threat.
The portal can be opened by anyone; however, if the spell does not recognize the aura it masks Neverland to what the person has already seen.
"We are undesired?" Emma asks curiously as she looks around the grove for any tears in the hallucinations.
"You are lass." Hook says without concern as if it isn't that big of a deal and keeps hiking through now waist high water.
"Me?" Emma queries, perplexed on why she would be undesirable as Hook leads her further away from the portal.
"Aye, they don't know you, and they don't—"
"KILLIAN!" A loud-squeaky yowl comes from the water that startles Emma.
Hook laughs, identifying the voice.
"Hello, Silvermist," He welcomes a radiating sky-blue sprite.
The pixie, Silvermist reshapes into her pixie form, which makes her four inches taller.
Emma stares in awe at the transformation of the sprite to pixie who now has long, glistening raven locks that swirl gently around her due to her fluttering wings and, although, Emma had caused much chaos in her younger years, has never genuinely met other creatures of the region let alone of other realms such as Neverland.
"Who's this Killian?" Silvermist questions curiously, her voice low as she glides over to Emma.
"This is Emma, she is a companion." Hook answers her as he observes her approach Emma.
"Friend, huh?" Silvermist eyes their linked forearms, "Alright," she giggles deciding not to challenge it. She will leave that up to Tinkerbell. "Hi, Emma!" she says merrily.
"Tink will be glad you are home!" Silvermist energetically changes the subject as she starts to float away to the path that leads around pixie hollow.
Once Silvermist had introduced herself, the twin woodlands had disappeared from view and reconstructed into a springtime trees with autumn red and cherry-pink trees, with the leaves gradually falling to the grassy floor. Daisies, roses, and whole other variety of wildflowers are everywhere with pint-sized pixies flying around collecting items and playing games with critters or chasing each other. Emma glimpses behind her and sees that the twin woodlands had actually been a shadowy grove full of gnarled lifeless trees that wrapped around as if to ward visitors.
"We were in there?" Emma examines, her voice full of doubt as she stares at the lifeless grey-trees that the creek rush into until it vanishes into the darkness.
"Aye," Hook nods and glances down at the princess. "That illusion hides the Bubbly Bog from you." He says.
"Come on, I'll take you to Tinkerbell." Silvermist volunteers as she hears the splashing of the visitors' following feet, "Oh!" She gasps as she turns around in alarm, "Mind the fish!" She exclaims towards the humans.
As Silvermist leads the way to Tinkerbell's house, and Emma uses the slightly alone time to talk to Hook.
"Killian? That had been your name before?" Emma murmurs up towards Hook the as the trio makes their way through an endless field of bright, yellow sunflowers.
"It has always been my name, love" Hook answers her with no true interest, "Most prefer to call me Hook."
"But why go by Hook? You could correct them, you know?" Emma questions to understand why Killian goes by his other moniker.
"Perhaps, dear princess." Hook leans in close to her ear. "I want people to flee in terror when they hear the name 'Captain Hook'." His humid breath stimulates the cartilage of her ear. Emma's eyes flicker up to look at the sea rover's face, which as priggish as always.
"Perhaps you do…" Emma whispers back as her eyes flutter to his lips for a moment before making eye contact again. "Or, perhaps you see yourself as wicked as the moniker is supposed to portray you as, when actually…" Emma licks her lips. "You aren't." she says.
Killian leans closer to Emma's face. "Perhaps, love" he whispers back, "or maybe—"
"KILLIAN!" Two voices rang out.
Abruptly, Emma and Killian pull away from each other, unlinking their arms, and taking two giant steps away from each other as if caught doing an unspeakable act.
Two sprites twirled around the pirate's head with merriment, hollering different things that came out as jingles, which Emma only could assume was the Pixie language.
"You came back!" The reddish-orange sprite howls in delight.
"You are home! You are home!" The virescent radiance thunders with matching joyousness.
"Tinkerbell, Fawn," Hook chuckles as he places his hand out for the two pixies to stand on, "Aye, I am home, but I am not here to stay."
"Oh why not?" Fawn huffs as her wings beating with concern, "Oh," Her eyes sweep over to Emma in shock. "Who's she?" Fawn murmurs to Tinkerbell, who now takes notice of the other blonde.
"Killian, who's she?" Tink asks as she changes into her sprite form and buzzes around Emma to assess her.
"Tink, her name is Emma." Killian says attempting to control the pixie, who is sweet to those whom she is friends with, and not so civil with those she isn't. The virid sprite jingles as it soars around Emma.
Silvermist glides near Emma's ear. "Oh, Tink," Silvermist says defensively, "quit it. She's very nice."
"What is she saying?" Emma asks as she attempts to look at the glowing orb that is flying around her head.
"She doesn't like you." Killian says coolly with a shrug. "She doesn't like anyone, really." He adds sarcastically as he leans against a tree, playing with the tip of his hook.
"She is not saying that!" Fawn and Silvermist yell in unison at the pirate.
"She is just curious on whom you are, that's all." Fawn says as she wafts away from Killian towards Emma, her long braided ponytail flowing behind her as she floats. "Pixies are very protective of their friends, you see." Fawn attempts to clarify. "And since Tink almost never sees Killian anymore, she just wants what is best for him."
Fawn grins benevolently at Emma, "I'm Fawn, by the way, and the pixie darting around your head is Tinkerbell!" Fawn says landing in Emma's opened hand. Emma looks down at the pixie whose twinkling saffron eyes sparkle up at her with warmth, her tangerine and coffee-colored dress flowing in the gentle wind.
"I'm an Animal pixie!" Fawn tells Emma boastfully. "Tink is…well a Tinker pixie!" she giggles.
"What is an animal pixie?" Emma asks as she laughs softly at the pixie that is less than five inches tall.
"I work best with animals! So, say, when it is time to send the animals into hibernation for the winter season, I help them cross over into the Winter Woods! I can also speak in the different languages of the animals!" Fawn laughs, "My favorite is Burping-Toad-Tongue!"
Emma laughs at the delightfulness of Fawn. In the books that Emma has read, pixies aren't friendly at all, and if you meet one you better be polite because they are the worst pranksters out there, just under leprechauns who are down right cruel.
Tink whizzes in front of Emma, out of her sprite form, "How do you know Killian?" she demands with an intense frown as she floats in front of Emma's nose.
"We are friends…" Emma says while staring, flustered, at the fiery pixie.
"Yes," Tink says sneeringly, "but how did you meet him?"
"At a village!" Emma exclaims in defense as Tinkerbell speedily flies off in a fit of agitation.
Ow!" Emma exclaims as Tink tugs on her hair, "What was that for?" Emma demands she as rubs the spot on her head.
"I wanted to." Tink giggles, her old habits coming back.
"Tinkerbell…" Killian says sternly and gives her a fixed stare. "She is a friend. Behave." He has seen Tink 'torment' other's before and it never bothered him since it is in the pixie bloodline, but he is here on business.
Tink looks back at her old friend before peeping back at Emma.
"Fine." She hollers at him. "Alright! I'm sorry, Emma." Tink announces apologetically as she stands in Emma's hand.
Emma stares down at the flushed face blonde pixie. Tinkerbell's once simple bun has become messy with the green leafs of her clothes have become somewhat a mess.
"It's alright…" Emma glances at Killian who nods with encouragement at her, "I'm Emma…it's nice to meet you." Emma smirks awkwardly at the pixie clad in green.
Tink nods.
"I'm Tink. It's nice to meet you too." She grins at Emma and then to Killian, who nods in approval.
"Anyway," Killian says interrupting the moment, "Ladies, I came here for a reason."
All four women look towards the pirate as he explains to the pixies what he is in need of.
"Alright," Tink agrees as she glances at the other two pixies. "I think we can manage that. We will need some more pixies though!" Tink exclaims with giggling.
Together the five of them walk towards the towering oak tree in the heart of Neverland that shines gold with magic.
"So," Emma looks towards Fawn, who is floating up on her left side, "I'm in Neverland right now?" Fawn starts to fly closer to Emma.
"Yup!" She says excitedly. "Pixie Hollow is in the center of Neverland." Fawn begins to explain how Neverland is an island and that Pixie Hollow is actually on top of the mountain way, high up in the sky to where the clouds and land meet.
"Then how do others get to Neverland?" Emma asks as she looks to Killian who is walking ahead of them, chatting with the green pixie, Tinkerbell.
"Different ways, really." Fawn says. "The portals are the most common but, like, when Killian first came here, Peter and Tinkerbell brought him from the mainland."
"Wait…" Emma interrupts the animal pixie, "Killian has been here before? Before Milah?"
"Oh, yes!" Fawn giggles, "Peter brought him over with Tink's pixie dust!" Fawn seems oblivious to Emma's surprise.
"Oi!" Hook yells from the front, "What are you to chatting about?" He had heard something about pixie dust, which peaked his intrusiveness. Fawn just giggled at him.
"I'm just telling her about Pixie Hollow and Neverland." Fawn recognized the shock in Emma's eyes when she told her that Killian had lived here, which meant he hadn't told her much about his past.
Killian stares back at the two females before looking away and resuming the conversation between him and Tinkerbell.
"Phew!" Fawn lets out a laugh, "I guess he hasn't told you! He didn't bring Milah here, so I just thought you two were…closer." Fawn looks up at Emma, "I mean even Tink noticed it."
"Noticed…what?" Emma asks as she stares baffled at the pixie.
"The attraction between you two!" Fawn hums as if it is visible as a sunshiny day.
"Oooh…" Emma stares at Fawn, "No, no, no. There isn't any 'attraction' between us !" Emma exclaims with high-strung laughter
'Sure, we flirt, but it's just that, flirting!' Emma thinks as a soft pink blush forms across her cheeks.
"Alright…" Fawn laughs softly as if she already knows something, "If you say so!" She giggles as she flies off to Silvermist, who is far ahead from the rest of the group, leaving Emma as she follows slowly behind Tink and Killian.
Emma stares at the interaction between Tinkerbell and Killian; there is no jealously, only interest of the two. It is clear that the two have been friends for a long time as seeing how relaxed Killian is around the pixie.
"Come on, slowpoke!" Tink shouts with a giggle at Emma, who realizes how far away she was.
Emma doesn't answer, but smiles sweetly before running after the group.
"Please, please, please!" All three pixies solicit their Queen, Queen Clarion, to assist in helping Killian.
"He is doing good, Queen Clarion!" Tinkerbell exclaims, "He is going to lock that man away!"
"Forever!" Silvermist and Fawn added on. Queen Clarion stares down at the three pixies that are standing before her.
"Is he going to hurt him, is he Tinkerbell? Pixies, though in the business of mischief, do not support in those who harm other." She says as her golden, sparkling gown glitters like pixie dust as she hovers back and forth.
"Yes!" Tinkerbell says in a loud voice before looking around to make sure Killian and Emma weren't near the oak tree. She pauses, "Emma won't let him…" Tink whispers as quiet as a mouse. "They have something special." She emphasis.
The Queen looks down at the little Tinker pixie debating.
"I saw it too, Queen Clarion!" Silvermist advocates. "Even before she knew she was in Neverland!"
"Me too!" Fawn exclaims in agreement.
"I don't know…" Queen Clarion whispers, "there is something unsafe about this."
"Please, Queen Clarion." Tinker pleads. "That man stole his happiness! He took Milah away from him! We have heard through the whispering of the leaves that this man is a dreadful, terrible man!" Tink pauses and looks up with eyes wide.
"You said that pixies are born out of laughter, and that happiness brings us here, to Pixie Hollow, to Neverland! It is our job to make sure that happiness is always around!" Tink exclaims as she breathes slowly trying to catch her breath.
The Queen stares down quietly at the pleading pixie.
Sighing, "All right. We will assist him in his quest," the Queen whispers softly.
Tinkerbell shoots up, "Thank you Queen Clarion!" she smiles as she looks back at her friends, "Let's go tell them!"
"So…" Emma starts as she stares at Killian, who is stretched out restfully in a bed of cotton shrub.
"Did you know, lass, that the cotton grown by these pixies is the softest kind of cotton you can ever feel?" Killian says as he pulls a head of cotton out from one of the shrubs.
"You were a lost boy." Emma says abruptly before looking down, not in shame, but because she doesn't always have a filter from her mind to her mouth. Killian stares at her blankly, almost pale.
"How do you know that?" His voice is hard, but not aggressive.
"Fawn told me…sort of…" Emma says, "She said you were brought here by Tinkerbell and Peter..." She shrugs and rolls her eyes, "She didn't realize you hadn't told me. I put two and two together…"
"What else did she tell you, lass?" Killian asks as he stands up from the bed of cotton and swaggers over to Emma, who is standing with her arms crossed.
"Nothing." Emma shrugs again and looks up at Killian. His face is guarded, and it is clear that he is not happy that Fawn at told Emma of his past. Killian is determining on how to respond to Emma knowing something that deep about him, considering Milah didn't even know that he had been a lost boy. Emma knits her eyebrows together and looks at the pirate.
"Can you tell me about your adventures?" She asks. "I've never really been out of my realm, until now. I've never met a mermaid or even a pixie before...all this is my first experience."
A spark flashed in Killian's eyes from the request of the little princess. He smirked with arrogance and pride.
"You want to hear my tales of adventure, love?" He strolls back over to the patch of cotton and pats an empty area meant for Emma.
"Take a seat, lass!" He grins, "I'll tell you some of my adventures! I heard, you never forget your first." He winks at Emma as he begins the tales of his adventures on the Jolly Roger as well as his exploits of when he was a lost boy.
Well how was it? I just have a feeling if and when Emma asks him about his adventures he would just turn into a little kid that gets uber excited.
Let me know how you think of it!