As you can imagine, tensions are running high.
Chapter 44: All Aboard
The ship ended up far out at sea. Hook estimated it would take them at least a day and a half to reach Neverland which they weren't too pleased about.
"Is there any way to speed this ship up?" Emma asked frustrated that they couldn't get to Henry quicker.
"This ship is in full speed, Swan." Hook said as he was steering the ship.
"Are there any clothes on the ship we can change into?" Snow asked wanting desperately to get out of her dress.
Hook grinned. "I might have a few extra clothes lying around the cabin."
"And which of the many girls you've shared your bed with has left you their clothes?" Regina smirked.
Hook left the wheel and walked up to the Queen. "I believe you were one of those girls."
"How many people are you going to sleep with, Regina?" Emma asked rolling her eyes.
Mandy's jaw dropped. "Mom! You can't be serious! With him?"
"He's lying, it's what pirate's do." She answered narrowing her eyes on the man in front of her. "Don't believe everything he tells you."
Hook smiled. "I almost had you in my bed."
"That's what I had you believe…" She responded smiling right back at him.
"Alright, enough with this banter." Neal shouted. "We need to come up with a plan."
"Well we don't know Greg and Tamara's reason for taking Henry." David said.
"Maybe they are taking orders from someone else; someone higher up." Mandy offered.
"But why do they want Henry?" Snow asked.
"Clearly, we don't know that answer." Regina said aggravated with the situation.
"So how are we supposed to make a plan when we don't know anything about his captors or this land." David asked angrily.
"You don't know anything about this land but there are three of us here that do." Hook pointed out. "Bae, the girl, and myself."
Mandy put her hands on her hips. "I have a name, Hook."
"Make that two people." Neal spoke up. "I haven't been here in many years. I only remember a few details."
"You're awfully quiet, Gold." Regina noticed. "What are you thinking?"
"That we should let Miranda and Hook tell us more about this land." He replied. He wasn't messing around.
"Well we don't want to be traveling at night." Mandy began. "The manticore will most certainly track us down if we do."
"It has the body of a lion, the face of a man and the sting of a scorpion." Hook added. "No one has ever survived once stung."
Mandy nodded in agreement. "Besides, it can get really cold at night. During the day, we have to be on the lookout for Harpies and for Stymphalian Birds. You all know what they are right?"
They were familiar with the birds although they didn't inhabit the Enchanted Forest and she already told Emma about Neverland back in Storybrooke.
"Other than that we should be good." Hook said. "Well other than Greg and Tamara."
"I think we should all rest and resume this conversation later. Perhaps after dinner?" Snow suggested.
"What are we doing for dinner?" Neal asked rubbing his stomach.
"I'll take care of it. It should be ready soon." Hook responded. "There are two cabins down there so you can split up however you'd like, just don't take my cabin…Regina's knows which one that is." He added just to piss off the Queen.
Regina rolled her eyes before leading the group below deck. "How are we doing this?" She asked crossing her arms in front of her.
"Why don't we split up boys in one and girls in the other?" Snow suggested.
Emma shrugged her shoulders. "Yea, that's fine with me. What about the rest of you?"
"Well it's not ideal, but I guess it will do for now." Regina said before walking towards the furthest cabin.
"I'm so glad your pleased, your majesty." David yelled down the hall; Regina only ignored him. She wasn't letting him get a rise out of her.
Emma, Snow and Mandy followed Regina down the hall. She already picked her side of the room when they had walked in.
"There are clothes in that chest for you three to change into, I just checked." Regina said pointing to the chest against the wall.
Snow walked over and pulled out outfits for all three of them. They didn't quite fit Mandy so Emma cut the clothing until it wasn't hanging on her. Mandy then laid down on the bottom bunk and closed her eyes.
"Don't think that's where you're sleeping." Regina said looking at her through mirror that was on the wall.
"Why not?" She asked keeping her eyes closed.
Regina turned around to look at her. "You really expect me to climb up there?!" She asked pointing to the top bunk.
"I don't wanna sleep up there. It's too close to the ceiling." Mandy whined.
Regina pulled her off the bed. "Stop acting like a child, Miranda. You're on the top bunk."
Mandy pulled her arm away and started climbing. "Why do you have to be such a bitch?" She mumbled although it was loud enough for everyone to hear.
Emma leaned in and whispered in Snow's ear. "I've been asking myself that question since day one."
"Excuse me?!" Regina said arching her eyebrows.
Emma and Snow glanced at each other than back at the mother/daughter scene. They weren't sure how this was going to go down.
"What did you just say?" Regina asked her voice deep and menacing.
Miranda sat on the top bunk with her legs hanging over the side. She looked down at Regina. "I said….Why do you have to be such a bitch?" She repeated herself as she stared straight back at her mother with the same look of anger on her face.
Regina yanked her down from the top bunk. "Who do you think you're talking to?"
Emma stepped forward. "Wow, Regina she…" Snow pulled her back and told her to not get involved.
Miranda landed on her hands and knees before standing up facing her mother. "What's your problem?"
Regina put her hands on her hips. "My problem is that it's my wedding day…I'm supposed to be spending this time with my husband but instead I'm trying to find my son who has been kidnapped by two idiots, we don't know where they've taken him, Neverland is full of dangerous creatures, and I'm stuck on this boat with all these fucking people."
"It's not a picnic for anyone else either." She screamed back. "You think I wanna be here without daddy and Jake, rescuing Henry? I don't but you seriously need to build a fucking bridge and get over yourself because we are all putting our feelings aside to save the kid who always seems to be getting into trouble."
"Watch your mouth, young lady." Regina scolded. "I am here to save my son. Are these people going to get on my nerves? Most definitely. But I am tolerating them as best I can for Henry. That's what I'm focused on."
"Well you're gonna have to work with them in order to save Henry." She yelled. "I'm tired of you wanting things done your way. Your way isn't always the best way to get a job done. Try listening to people in the future instead of ignoring them." She stormed over to the door and looked back at Regina. "And I think you can do better." She slammed the door behind her as she walked out.
Emma followed Mandy out leaving Snow in the room with Regina.
Regina sighed and laid in the bed.
"Regina I…" Snow began but Regina put her hand up signaling her to stop talking. "Don't say anything." She warned.
"But Regina…" Snow tried to speak again but was shot down immediately. Regina held a fireball in her hand. "Don't say another word."
Snow quickly shut her mouth and laid down on the other bottom bunk. She remained frozen. She didn't want to make a wrong move that would make Regina upset so they remained silent.
Mandy pushed past David and Neal in the hall and made her way up to the deck.
"What's wrong, love?" Hook asked when he saw her emerge from below.
Mandy ignored him and walked over to the side of the boat. Emma came up next almost crashing into Hook. "Looking for the girl?" He asked.
Emma nodded. "Yea, things got a little heated down there between her and Regina."
He nodded. "I see. Well, I can certainly see where the girl gets her temper from. She's over there."
Emma walked up behind her and Mandy could hear someone approach. She assumed it was Regina. "I don't want to talk to you." She said angrily.
Emma walked beside her. "It's me."
"Oh, well I still don't wanna talk." She said.
"Fine. I'll talk and you listen." Emma said. "What you said to Regina was freakin awesome!"
Mandy looked at Emma with an amused look on her face. "Really?"
Emma nodded. "Yea, I kinda wanted to do that myself…for a while now."
"You should've…" Mandy said looking back out into the ocean.
Emma tried explaining Regina's side of the situation. "Well…I know you're a teenager and supposed to have these kinds of fights with your mom but she's trying kid. This is a lot for her to deal with…her son was kidnapped, on her wedding day no less, and who knows what they are doing to Henry."
"Yea, but everyone else seems to keep it together." Many argued.
Emma shook her head. "Yea, on the outside, but on the inside…I'm going crazy. It's eating me up that Henry is out there and I can't do anything to help him."
"But you compose yourself better than she does."
"Wrong again, kid. Regina held everything together for so long…it's about time she cracked. You shouldn't be too hard on her. She doesn't want you getting hurt either. Hell, Snow still worries about me and we're the same age."
Mandy nodded and leaned on the side of the boat. "She didn't have to be so rude about it…"
"You're right, she could've said it in a better way but…"
Their conversation was interrupted when everyone came up from below deck. "Dinner's ready." Hook called over to them.
They sat on wooden crates in a circle waiting for Hook to bring out the food. Mandy steered clear of Regina and was happy that Regina didn't try to talk to her because she just didn't have it in her to fight anymore that night.
"What are we having to eat, Hook?" David asked growing tired of waiting.
"I hope you like seafood." Hook responded bringing out a dish of fish.
"Why am I not surprised?" Regina said rolling her eyes.
"Do you have anything else?" Gold asked.
"We can't afford to be picking here." Emma said annoyed. "Either eat the damn fish, or starve. Frankly, I don't give a damn what either of you choose but don't complain."
That shut them up quickly. Mandy shot Emma a smile which she happily returned. They ate their food in peace and decided to discuss their plans in the morning when they were closer to land. Emma and Snow tried to get Regina and Mandy talking but it was no use, neither of them was budging.
Everyone was up early the next morning except for Mandy. When she finally did wake, she was alone in the room which she was thankful for. She climbed down from the top bunk and looked in the mirror. She wanted to see Neverland again, the place where she was most happy. She just wished it was the same as before, just her, Peter and the Lost Boys going on one of their many adventures. She wanted her old gang back not this one aboard the ship. The longer she stared at herself in the mirror, she realized just how much she has grown and changed since the last time she's been here. Her eyes grew wide as an idea had suddenly come to mind. She ran out of the room, down the hall and above deck. Her eyes quickly scanned the ship for the one that could help her. She ran over to the blonde and grabbed her arm.
"What's the big idea, kid?" Emma asked as she was being dragged away from the group.
"I need your help. You need to come back to our cabin with me." She replied a little out of breath.
"What's going on?" Snow asked walking over to them. "Are you just getting up Mandy?"
Mandy ignored their questions, grabbed their hands and pulled them below deck and headed towards their cabin.
"Will you tell us what the hell is going on?" Emma said once they were all in the cabin and the door was shut.
"I was thinking we could make a type of portal, one that would show us where Henry is." Mandy said smiling.
"And how would we do that?" She asked putting her hands on her hips. Mandy nodded to the spot behind Emma. When she noticed what she was pointing to, she was confused. "The mirror?"
Snow gasped. "Of course! It will work just like a crystal ball, showing us what we desire to see."
Emma exhaled deeply. "Considering everything that's happened…it's worth a shot."
Mandy smiled and placed her hand on the mirror. Emma followed suit and held Mandy's free hand thinking it would enhance their chances of making this mirror work to their advantage. As if on cue, the mirror began to light up and an image appeared. Henry was tied up in a cave while Greg was talking to him.
"Henry." Emma whispered.
"I'm going to get the others." Snow declared and ran out of the room quickly.
Mandy and Emma continued to watch the scene in the mirror; they couldn't hear anything only watch. Henry seemed to be yelling something back to Greg only to be slapped across the face.
"When I get my hands on Greg, I am going to kill him." Emma said through gritted teeth.
The rest of the group came barging in, except for Hook who was steering the ship, wanting to see this mirror for themselves. They gathered around the mirror, watching it as if it were a movie, hanging on to every move, every detail they saw.
Regina was growing very irritated at the constant abuse her son was receiving. "Where are they?"
"If we knew we wouldn't be here, your majesty." Neal said half mockingly and half annoyed.
"Shhh!" Emma and Mandy shushed them. A new person had just entered the scene. The cloaked figure began circling Henry. He tried to hide how scared he was but Regina and Emma could both see it on his face.
The cloaked figure threw Henry against the wall. Everyone gasped. They saw Henry wince in pain when he landed against the wall. The figure removed their cloak, revealing a tall, thin, blonde woman.
Gold pushed passed everyone to get a better look at this woman. "The Enchantress."
"Who?" David asked. Everyone else seemed just as confused as he was.
"This isn't good." He said not really talking to the group.
"Who is that?" Emma asked more firmly.
"Someone we should all fear." He answered not taking his eyes off the mirror.
"Could ya explain it a little more please…" Mandy said crossing her arms.
Gold erased the image from the mirror and a new one appeared.
"What are you doing?" Basically everyone shouted which he only ignored.
A hallway appeared looking oddly like the one in Regina's house. "Cora?" He yelled into the mirror.
It only took a moment but Cora soon appeared in the mirror. "It's only been a day and you're already contacting me for help?"
"She's back." Gold said ignoring her comment.
"Care to elaborate?" She asked.
"The Enchantress."
"I thought she was dead."
"So did everyone else."
"I killed that bitch myself. How the hell is she still alive?" Cora asked dumbfounded.
"Clearly, she has regained her power. She has Henry and things are not looking good." He informed her.
"He must be the key to something…" She suggested. The group watched them go back and forth only to become more confused than before.
"Well whatever it is, we need to rescue him before it's too late." He said.
"Before it's too late?" Emma repeated. "What do you mean 'before it's too late?' You think she is going to kill Henry."
"It is a very possible scenario." Cora responded.
"Mother, what is your involvement with this woman?" Regina asked.
Cora exhaled deeply. "She came to Wonderland long ago. She hailed from this world and I took her under my wing. I realized this young girl had potential of becoming a great sorceress so I began to teach her. One day she decided to overthrow me and take my place as Queen. Of course that didn't happen because I killed her during our battle. I thought I had killed her but apparently she was strong enough to remain alive, waiting years as she grew stronger and stronger until her powers were fully restored."
"I'm assuming she wants something other than your thrown this time?" Snow questioned.
Cora nodded. "It would appear that way, yes."
"What was her name?" Neal asked out of curiosity.
"Alice." Cora answered bitterly.
"You have got to be fucking kidding me." Emma threw her hands up. "Alice is evil? You guys are really ruining my childhood fairytales here."
"How do we stop her?" David asked.
"We need to find her first." Snow pointed out.
Hook came into the very crowded room. "I think you would all be happy to know that I just dropped the anchor. We can see the shore."
"Great. Let's go!" Neal exclaimed pushing Hook out the door.
"We need to pack a few things first." Snow replied following him out.
"We will gather the things we will need for the journey and the rest of you gather the rest of the information." David said before exiting the cabin as well.
"What else can you tell us about her Cora?" Mandy asked.
"She will look for your weakness and use it against you."
"I see you taught her well, mother." Regina smirked.
Cora rolled her eyes. "Is there any way to keep in contact with you while you are traveling through Neverland?"
"I'm sure the pirate has a small traveling mirror. We may be needing you Cora, so be ready to go just in case." Gold informed. "The beans should be ready in a few days, am I right?"
Cora nodded. "Just keep my posted. I also performed the cloaking spell. The town should be fine from outsiders and your precious Belle is safe as well."
"Great….and thank you Cora." He said sincerely which Cora caught. "You're welcome, Rumple." She said with a genuine smile.
"Mother, is Daniel there?" Regina asked hoping he was. She desperately wanted to see him.
Daniel's head popped in next to Cora's. "Right here, Regina."
"I think we should give them time alone." Emma said to Gold ushering him out of the room. Cora also left the picture.
Regina smiled. "Hi, my love. I miss you."
"I miss you too. How are things going?" He asked.
Regina sighed. "It could be better."
"Hi daddy." Mandy said moving in front of Regina.
Daniel chuckled. "Hi Princess."
"I wish you were here daddy."
He gave her a reassuring smile. "Me too, Angel but we are only going to be separated for a little while. You'll be back before ya know it. Both of you."
He noticed the lack of affection between Regina and Mandy. "Is everything alright between you too?"
"We're not talking to each other." Mandy told him.
"More like she's ignoring me." Regina corrected.
Mandy rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
This made Daniel chuckle. "You two are more alike than you realize. You two should be working together, not fighting with each other. I know you'll work it out, I'm sure it was over something stupid to begin with."
They both gave Daniel the same angry look. "You two should see yourselves right now, making the same face without even realizing it. Do me a favor and work this out…please?"
Mandy sighed. "Fine daddy."
"Thank you, Princess. Someone would like to speak with you."
Hi Mands." Jake said popping up in the mirror beside Daniel.
Mandy smiled wide. "Jake! I'm so happy to see you!"
Daniel could see how happy this kid made his daughter and Regina could see the same expression on Jake's face. The older couple smiled at each other, knowing that what their daughter found was true love.
They talked for a couple more minutes before having to join the rest of the group.
Regina grabbed Mandy's arm just before she left the cabin. "Are we going to talk about this?"
"Wasn't planning on it." Mandy responded.
"You promised your father we would work this out." Regina said.
"Well I lied. I didn't want him trying to get us to make up." Mandy said angrily.
"Just apologize, Miranda."
Mandy gave her a fake smile. "Sorry…happy now?" Regina sighed. "You're the one who should be apologizing anyway." Mandy pointed out.
"And how do you figure that?" She asked putting her hands on her hips.
Emma appeared in the doorway. "Look I know you two are still fighting but we are ready to leave. Let's go."
Mandy quickly ran past Emma to join the rest above deck. Emma looked at Regina. She saw how sad she looked and tried to cheer her up. "She'll come around, give her some time."
Regina nodded. She knew Daniel was right that she and Miranda were a lot alike. They were definitely both very stubborn and neither one would give in too easily. She sighed and followed Emma out the door.
Sorry for the delay. School has been crazy! I know this chapter isn't much but I just wanted to give you all something. Thoughts?