Chapter 7
Shadows
Everyone was sat in their camp as Neal told them how he got off the island. "Pan's shadow, that your way off the island"? Emma asked.
Neal answered "unfortunately it's the only way".
Tally mentioned "but Pan said he let you escape".
Neal said "but it worked, and it can work again".
David said "we thought you learnt how to navigate the stars".
"Oh I know how to navigate the stars" Neal replied "but I can't fly".
Mary-Margaret said "I'm guessing that's where the shadow comes in".
Neal said "that's why we have to steal his shadow"
"Steal it, we've never been within ten feet of Pan unless he wanted us to be" Emma replied. "Sneaking up on him to steal his shadow, that's insane and impossible".
Hook mentioned "except Pan's shadow is rarely ever with him. It's an entity on to itself. It can carry out his orders from miles away".
Tally asked "how can his shadow not be with him"?
Emma said "in the story he chased his shadow in a nursery, in a movie the actor playing Pan said "he expected he and his shadow to join together like drops of water".
Neal mentioned "but it means we can capture his shadow without needing to be anywhere near him, as long as you know where to look, I know where to look".
Emma said "looks like you and I are on shadow duty".
"As am I" Hook said inviting himself along. "This trek won't be easy you could use another veteran of the island".
David said "meanwhile we'll give Tinkerbelle a heads-up, see if she can make good on her promise to get us into Pans camp".
Emma replied "we'll get the shadow and meet up back at Tinkerbelle's. Then we'll get Henry and go home, or at least...we get Henry home. Tally you go with David and Mary-Margaret".
Tally whined "but I want to help".
Emma said "but if you go to Tinks"... Tears started forming in Emma's eyes "let's just say if you have to, I don't want you giving up the ghost sooner than necessary". Tally didn't know what that meant but she could guess.
Things didn't awkward until they were on way to Dark Hollow. To cut their way through Emma gave Neal his cutlass as he went on ahead Emma having noticed tension between Neal and Hook asked "what was that"?
Hook replied "I assumed he heard my secret, and I also assumed you had told him of our shared moment".
Emma asked "why would you assume that"?
Hook replied "I was hoping it meant something".
Emma heard a soft noise from behind her but ignoring it continued talking to Hook. "What meant something is you told us Neal was still alive, thank you. I realise you could have kept Pan's information to yourself".
Hook asked "why would I do that"?
Emma replied "maybe Pan offered you a deal, why else would he tell you.
Hook told her "it was a test to see if I would leave an old friend to die even if that man is in love with the same woman I am".
Emma said "and you chose your friend"?
When Hook asked if that surprised her she replied he was pirate but Hook declared "yeah that I am but I also believe in good form". He got nearer and added "and when I win your heart Emma and I will win it, it won't be because of any trickery, it will be because you want me".
Emma replied "this is not a contest and all I need to think of is how to save my children".
Hook said "and I know you will and when you do, well that's when the real fun starts". Emma heard another noise and this time she knew exactly what it was.
Neal came back to tell them he made a path to Dark Hollow. Emma said "first" she turned around and with her arms folded continued "come out young lady and there better be a good explanation".
Tally warily came out Neal sighed "Sugar Plum, mommy and I told you to go with David and Mary-Margaret".
Tally replied "but I want to help".
"Staying where we tell you would be a great start" Emma said.
Neal picked her up and carried her "we don't want you over exhausting yourself".
They came to an eerie dark spot on the island Tally clutched onto her daddy's shirt tighter. Neal said "Dark Hollow".
Hook asked "so this is where the victims of Pan's shadow reside". Neal answered "yeah, forced to spend eternity in this darkness. Let's be sure not try to join them".
A wind passed and blew out their lantern as they got to the centre of the cove.
Emma asked "so what we just wait for Pan's shadow to show up"?
Putting Tally down and getting out his coconut Neal answered "yeah and when it does we'll be prepared".
Emma asked "going to tell us how that coconut works"? Neal said "you light the candle and the shadows drawn to it. When it gets close enough the flame should suck it in, you put the lid on and it's trapped in here".
Hook said "fine plan except one thing, our lanterns went out so how are we supposed to ignite that thing".
Neal got a lighter from his pocket and showing it to Hook said "welcome to the twenty-first century".
He tried to light the lighter but he had trouble. When Hook tried he didn't have much better luck. Neal said "harder than it looks huh pal".
As he tried to get the lighter back it flew of out Hook's hand and into a log. Picking up the coconut Emma pointed out "we don't have time for this".
As Neal and Hook went to get back the lighter a shadow appeared. Tally screamed alerting them to the shadows presence Emma yelled "we really don't have time for this".
They all pointed their swords at the shadow when two more shadows appeared as Emma asked "is that Pan's shadow"?
Neal said "yes"
Hook asked "what about the other two"?
Neal said "they're victims, the shadow's controlling them".
The shadows dove at them and they just swung their swords and Tally hid behind her daddy.
Suddenly a shadow pinned Hook up a tree, then another one does the same to Neal. Emma quickly grabbed Tally sheilding her from the shadows and backing to a tree stump. Emma looked at Hook and Neal and called out their names. The last shadow tried getting Emma but she just kept swiping her sword.
Tally cried "mommy, somethin's bad happning to Hook and Daddy". Emma looked and saw the shadows that had them were pulling their shadows from their bodies. Neal cried "Emma, take Tally and get out of here".
Hook cried "just go".
Emma only had one idea to save them, she threw her sword down, crouched down and put her hand over the candle in the coconut. All of a sudden the candle was lit and as Neal said Pan's shadows was drawn and sucked in. The other two shadows disappeared saving Hook and Neal. Neal asked "how did you do that"?
Emma said "Regina".
Neal asked "she's teaching you magic".
Emma replied "yeah I guess she is".
On the way back Emma was annoyed at Hook and Neal for fighting over a lighter when they should be focused on saving Henry. She told them the two people she loved the most was Henry and Tally and right now are the only ones who matter. When they got to Tink's Neal said to Emma "you're right, Henry and Tally are the only ones who matter. And if they are all of what came from us being together we did a pretty good job".
Emma smiled "well now let's save our children".
Tally watched and smiled realizing her daddy had one thing Hook didn't which her mommy loved, her and Henry.
I've noticed some people have reviewed they don't want Neal to die. Being a firm Swanfire fan myself I don't want to so I'm starting a poll. Who do you want Emma with: Hook or Neal.
