Daniel awoke when he hit the ground and pain lanced through his head. His arms were unbound and fell against his sides and someone grabbed his leg to drag him across a rough floor. Rocks bit into his skin and he opened his eyes, struggling to focus on what was around him. Everything was still dark. His leg was dropped and something heavy was wrapped around it. The person's footsteps faded away and he was left alone...or so he thought.

"Henry?" Daniel raised his head and slowly rolled onto his stomach. "Mom?" He took a deep breath and pushed himself into a sitting position. Everything ached too much to do any more than that. He took a look around and saw nothing but walls of black stone. His eyes fell on a chain attached to the center of the room and he followed it to the chain wrapped around his ankle. "Hello?" He called. There was no answer. He tried to use his magic and pain exploded in his leg, radiating from the chain. He screamed and grabbed at his ankle, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Hey, stop." A soft voice came out of nowhere and a pair of hands landed on his arm. He looked up into a pair of dark gray eyes. "Calm down. Don't use your magic. It'll only cause you pain and it's not going to help you get out of here."

"Who are you? Where am I?"

"My name's Octavia. You're in Neverland. A prisoner of Peter Pan because of your magic."

"A prisoner? Why?"

"He needs our magic to power his island until he finds what he's looking for. Something that'll power it forever. What's your name?"

"Daniel. You said "we". Who else is here?"

Octavia whistled and sat down next to him, or as close to him as she could. Her chain was attached to the wall and she was on a ledge a little ways above his own. Out of the shadows came the rattling of other chains. He looked up to other ledges around the room. On the one above Octavia's was a blonde boy whose skin had gone a ghostly pale. While he appeared handsome and athletic, he was also dirty and showing signs of being imprisoned for some time. The one above his had a girl sitting on it. A girl with long red curls that looked matted and dirty. She was curled into a little ball but he noticed that her arms were bare. Her skin...was green? Above that one, almost too far up for Daniel to see clearly, he spotted a hand waving at him from the ledge.

"That's Hector, my brother. The next one up is Eliza and the one up the farthest is Persephone. The one below is Carlos."

Daniel peered over the edge of the ledge and found another boy chained in a manner similar to the others. He was small and skinny with messy black and white hair. He smiled and waved up at Daniel and he waved back.

"Where are you from?" Hector asked.

"Storybrooke." Daniel rubbed his ankle and looked around for some sort of door or passageway.

"Don't bother." Hector said. "We've been here for days and we haven't found a way out. They only open the door to bring someone else in or food and water. Where's Storybrooke?"

"It's a magical town in Maine created by the Evil Queen."

"We're from Oz." Eliza called. "Wait, you know the Evil Queen?"

"She's my mom. How do you know her?"

"Our mom is the Wicked Witch." Eliza replied. "The Evil Queen is her sister. That means we're cousins!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Regina paced the deck of the Jolly Roger in frustration, wishing that the stupid thing would go faster. Her sons needed her. Pan needed to pay for taking them. Someone needed to pay! Flames sprang to life in her palms before she could stop them and it took everything she had to extinguish them.

"Regina!" Ruby called. Regina ran up to the upper deck and joined Ruby and Killian. "What is that?"

Neverland was in sight, but there was something surrounding it. Like a glass dome or a bubble. There was a tower of some sort rising high over the island.

"Looks like a forcefield, doesn't it?" Ruby asked.

"It does. It must be some sort of spell, a ward to keep people out."

"Is it going to let us pass?" Ruby looked at her and she shrugged.

"I don't know, but I suppose we'll find out." Regina crossed her arms, watching the shield draw near. Ruby growled slightly and Regina noticed her looking up. She followed the wolf's gaze up to the sky where something was watching them. It floated in the air and resembled a shadow of a human being. "Must be Pan's guard dog." The shadow creature raised a hand and the forcefield gave way for the Jolly Roger. "It's letting us in."

"We'll be in Neverland in a day." Killian added.

"Then we need a plan. I doubt Pan is going to just let us walk in there and take our sons back. If there are more people like Tamara and Mendel under his command-"

"He could have an army." Ruby growled. "Damn it. We should've brought Granny."

Regina silently agreed. She left the upper deck and headed below as the ship sailed smoothly through the forcefield. She heard a clatter and looked down as a shell landed on the deck. She went to pick it up and looked over the side of the ship and nearly fell overboard. Massive tentacles were visible just beneath the surface of the water. "Sea Bitch, is that you?"

"Yes, now go below deck and crack the shell." A familiar voice came from the shell itself. Regina arched an eyebrow as the tentacles disappeared, halting at the forcefield's boundary.

"Ruby!" Regina called. "Captain! We have a problem." She went below deck to the cafeteria area where the other idiots were and tossed the shell on the ground. "Ruby, be a dear and step on that." Ruby easily crushed the shell under her foot and smoke began to billow from the pieces.

"What is this?" Emma asked.

Regina simply held up a finger for them to wait. She watched the smoke begin to take the shapes of people she knew from a past she could never forget. One was a tall, beautiful blonde in a long black dress. She would recognize those baby blue eyes and that smile anywhere. "Hey, Mal."

"Hello, Regina."

Beside Maleficent, appeared the forms of Ursula, the Sea Witch and Cruella DeVil. Behind them appeared a pretty redhead and a brunette she didn't recognize.

"Mal?" Emma said. "As in Maleficent? I thought I killed her."

Regina laughed and nearly snorted at the ridiculous statement. "You really thought you killed the fucking Dragon Queen? And here I thought you didn't have a sense of humor, Miss Swan." She looked at Ruby. "As if I would let her try." She turned back to Mal and erased her smile. "What's going on?"

Maleficent had taken notice of the others in the room and her eyes had fallen on the Charmings, who both squirmed under the dragon's gaze. If looks could kill they both would have spontaneously combusted. Regina narrowed her eyes at the reaction and glanced at a bristling Ursula. Lily was looking forward, as if trying not to look at them at all.

"What's going on?" Regina asked again, referring to the tense atmosphere this time.

"Maleficent," Snow said. "Before you-"

"These fools stole my daughter, cursed her and banished her." Mal growled, turning back to Regina. "But I can kill them later. Peter Pan has my grandchildren."

"Grandchildren?" Regina glanced at the idiots. "Wait, you have children?! Your daughter-"

"A child." Mal gestured to the brunette. "Lilith, Regina. Regina, Lilith. She's an old friend I used to have sex with." Regina rolled her eyes and Lily smirked at her mother's bluntness. Ruby growled softly. "That's why I asked you to change your curse for me." Mal continued. "I can explain all of this at another time. Right now, I need you." Regina quickly nodded, though she was still shocked by the news. She knew that something had happened to change her old friend. She'd offered no resistance when Regina came to take the Dark Curse from her, and instead only asked to keep her memories and her resources. As soon as the curse was cast, she left Storybrooke and Regina had heard nothing from her since. Mal's voice drew her back to the present again and the pressing situation surrounding them. "Pan is losing power."

"Why?" Regina asked.

"Sooner or later, we all have to grow up." The dragon replied. "Every minute that passes, he grows weaker and his power over Neverland slips a little further from his grasp. He's looking for solutions to remedy this and he's found them in our families. Who did he take from you?"

"My sons." Regina answered.

"Emma's sons." David said. Cruella suddenly whipped out a gun and fired right at David's head. The blast shocked the man so much that he hit the ground but the gun did no damage.

The dual haired queen of darkness glared at him as Snow bent down to help him. "Just know that the only reason I haven't killed you, is because I can't in this form. Say nothing, Boy Toy."

"Do your sons have magic?" Mal asked, ignoring the exchange entirely.

"Daniel does. He's powerful for one so young. Henry, I don't think so. He's shown no signs."

Mal let out a huff and clenched her fists. "I'm afraid Daniel is being tortured."

"What?!" Ruby growled. Regina put a hand on her arm to calm her down. Ruby's eyes flashed gold and for a moment, Regina thought she would go wolf.

"Not currently, thankfully. Not all the time." Mal continued. "It's the tower. Pan's keeping them locked in it. The only reason we haven't burned that fucking island down is because we can't get passed the barrier. That tower powers the whole island and he's using our children to power it and the barrier."

"Why would you say he's being tortured then?" Emma demanded. "Why would you-"

"Because he was. When the barrier opened. That's why we haven't broken through. Even touching the barrier causes them immense pain." Lilith roared. "We tried breaking in once and that was enough. We heard their screams…But he let you guys in and we need you to help us."

"Take down the tower, free the children and we'll do the rest." Mal promised.

Regina crossed her arms as she thought. It wouldn't be that simple. If Pan had guards all over that island, they were at a disadvantage. Not only that, but Pan was playing some game. He had an agenda. Why else would he let them in and not Mal and the others? Maleficent was a dragon. Her daughter was undoubtedly one too. Ursula could flood the place if she truly desired to. Cruella was harmless without her were quite dangerous, but did he think she wasn't dangerous? Did he think she was weak in comparison? She would be sure to make him pay for that.

"No." Ruby said softly, as if reading her thoughts. "He knows we won't attack unless the children are safe. We need to free them."

"Bringing down the tower should be the first objective." Emma said.

"Incorrect." Regina replied. "Getting there is the first objective."

"And if he moves the children?" David asked. "What then?"

"If he takes them out of the tower, the tower won't work, will it?" Ruby asked.

"He could just send his goons to guard it." Regina sighed. "Crossing an island and getting through an army? We need to prepare." She looked at the redhead. "And you are?"

"Wicked Witch of the West." She said. "My name is Zelena. Pan has my daughters."

"They have magic too?"

Zelena nodded. "They can defend themselves. They just need to be freed."

"Why would he go all the way to Oz to steal your daughters?"

"It's a long story. One I will tell you when they are safe in my arms again."

"If Daniel is in the tower, what is he doing with Henry?" Ruby asked, starting to pace.

Regina started rubbing her temples. Pan could've snatched any person or creature to use as a battery for his island. Why their children? Why now? He must know that he can't use the children forever so he needed a permanent solution. What could that be? She looked up at Mal. "Can you tell me about the layout of the island?"

"Get me some paper and I'll draw it for you."

Regina conjured some paper and a pencil and Ruby slid a table in front of Mal. She started drawing instantly, sketching out the entirety of the island with a quick and skillful hand, even going so far as to point out guard rotations around the tower.

"How long have you guys been here?" Ruby asked.

"Too long." Ursula answered.

"We can only watch and learn." Mal added. "And wait. This will have to do until you take down the barrier."

Regina nodded. "I'll get it done. I promise."

Mal gave her a smile. "I know. Just hurry. Please-" Mal faded into smoke and the others followed suit as the spell ended. The broken shell crumbled into dust.

"What just happened?" Snow asked.

"They were never really here." Regina scoffed. "They can't cross the barrier, remember?" She looked at Maleficent's map. Ruby came to her side. "Where are we, Captain?" Killian pointed at the south side of the island. The tower was to the north. They had to cross a lot of forest to reach it from their side and in between them were several places that Mal had marked as outposts or camps. The bigger ones she'd marked with a magical symbol that read 'danger'. They were all over the island except the eastern side where only one camp was. This was marked with a symbol that read 'lost'. She quickly explained the differences to Ruby. "This camp to the east must be the Lost Boys' main camp. The rest, I think, are camps for the army. Like Greg and Tamara."

"So we have a choice between guns and bows?" Ruby asked. "I'll take the bows."

"You think it's that simple, Wolfy? These idiots who hate magic are probably just pawns. Why else would they follow a manboy who lives on a magical island? Luckily, they're only dangerous if they see us. We should move towards the east. If Henry is being held at the Lost Boys' camp, we can stop by and grab him. Besides, it shouldn't be too difficult to take out a bunch of children. If he's not there, we keep moving to the tower."

"Wait a minute!" Emma snapped. "I'm here too."

"We noticed." Ruby groaned.

"Great, now you can tell me what happens when Henry isn't at that camp and you still try to take down the tower. He'll just become a hostage. I won't let you use him as bait!"

"We're formulating ideas, Miss Swan. If you have any, then please share them. Otherwise, shut up." Regina replied.

"Why not take the ship around the island?" Killian asked.

"Because they'll just be watching us the entire time and they could easily move Henry while we're traveling. Besides, we'll need the boat to get back home and I don't want to risk it getting damaged. These people have all kinds of guns. They could have bombs or rocket launchers as far as we know."

"Boat?" He said, looking offended.

"Excuse me, I meant to say ship." She looked at Ruby. "I can prepare something for you, just in case things get dicey."

"I'll take it."

Regina made a copy of the map and handed it to Emma. "This is for you." She conjured an earpiece and handed it to her as well. "This is also for you. We can stay in contact this way."

"Wait, but-"

"Ruby and I can travel much faster on our own. Besides, I'd rather do it this way than be stuck with any of you." She threw a glare at the Charmings. "Especially those that like to steal children."

"Regina, you don't know anything about that." Snow said stiffly. "We-"

"It doesn't matter." Regina replied. "I don't care. I didn't care about you before and I care even less now." She rolled up her map and started to leave, but paused when she noticed that Ruby wasn't following. The werewolf was looking at her old friends, her former leaders with new eyes.

"We cannot do anything about Henry's desire to be with you." She said. "Nor Daniel's disinterest in you. But one thing I know for certain, we will find out the truth between you and Maleficent and her child. When we do, we will tell our sons who their grandparents are. We will tell them who you are and who you will always be." Her words echoed those spoken to Regina not long ago by the same idiots.

"Ruby, please." Snow pleaded. "Let me explain."

"We have more important things to worry about, don't you think?" Ruby growled, turning to follow Regina. They went back to their bedroom and Ruby sat down on the bed while Regina went to the small chest she'd brought with her. "You think it's true?"

"Yes and no." Regina answered. "I wouldn't believe the patrons of goodness would do something so cruel, but Maleficent isn't a liar. She didn't have a child when I cast the curse. I remember her setting a lot of things on fire around that time. I trust her word, more than I do the idiots." Regina pulled out a magic quill and some ink. "I knew that something happened, but I didn't know what. She stopped talking to me. I didn't think much of it at the time, she had the Queens to keep her company, but when I went to take the Dark Curse, she didn't put up a fight. She refused at first, then she asked me to alter it for her." Regina moved back to the bed and motioned for Ruby to lay down on her stomach. The wolf obeyed and Regina used magic to remove her shirt and bra.

"What happened then?"

"She agreed that I could cast the curse, spread it as far as I wanted to and do whatever I wanted with the people. I could make any hell I chose, so long as I made adjustments for her. She wanted her people kept safe. The Dark Curse stopped at her borders. She wanted to keep her memories and all of her resources, all of her money. As soon as we arrived in Storybrooke, she left. I guess it was to find Lilith. It seems she did."

"And you and her used to have sex?" Ruby asked.

Regina smirked. "We did. Before Ursula and Cruella laid claim to her. The three of them became inseparable. I guess they fell in love and had Lilith. Something must've happened to Ursula and Cruella for them not to be there when the curse was cast, but I'm glad they found each other. Mal was a friend before she was a lover, so I wish nothing but happiness for her."

"Wait, so all three of them had a baby?"

Regina shrugged. "I don't know." She said, dipping the quill in the ink. "To be honest, I don't know what Mal can or can't do. She's not just a dragon. She also has fae blood and is probably a thousand years old. Ursula is part god. I'm sure that just the two of them could accomplish any task. Magical or otherwise. Now, don't move."

"Um, what is this?" Ruby asked, turning her head to look over her shoulder.

Regina moved her hair off of her back. "Do not move, my love. I am writing a few magical symbols on your back that will protect you and give you a little boost. It'll allow me to share my magical strength with you."

"Is that dangerous?"

"Only if we die." Regina climbed on top of Ruby and leaned forward to carefully write the symbols. Two she wrote on the back of Ruby's shoulders. "Lintie for speed and Poldore for strength. Noldorin for stamina. Turum for protection." She wrote the third and fourth in the center of Ruby's back.

"Perhaps you should teach me some elvish when we get home." Ruby suggested.

"I'd be happy to." Regina smiled. "Or you can ask Daniel. He's nearly mastered it already."

"Do you think...you can use a symbol for my wolf?"

"I might be able to, but in doing so, you could lose all of the qualities that make you a werewolf. Qualities we need right now. I could…" She dipped the quill in the ink again and wrote one final symbol on the back of Ruby's neck. "Eresse."

"What does that mean?" Ruby asked as Regina moved to put the quill and ink away. She picked up a knife off the nearest table and pricked her thumb with it.

"Unity. I don't know if it will work, but it wouldn't hurt to try." She pressed her thumb to each of the symbols and each one began to glow. Ruby let out a gasp and Regina healed her finger and put the knife away. She felt the loss of magic as each of the symbols were activated. She could sustain them as long as she had the energy to do so. As great as Ruby was as a commander and a warrior, Regina knew that she needed a little more for this fight. And she had a feeling they were in for a real fight…

/

"Keep running. Come on!" Henry could barely hear the boy's words, but he kept running, kept following. Branches and bushes whipped his arms and his legs burned. He didn't even know where he was and he wondered desperately where Daniel was. Had he been captured? Was he hurt? And Ruby...she fought so hard to protect them. What if she was hurt too? A hand suddenly grabbed him and dragged him behind a tree. The boy clamped his hand over Henry's mouth.

"Over there!"

"This way!"

Their pursuers crashed through the undergrowth after them, passing by the tree in their haste. One of them stopped and Henry struggled to calm his breathing. Could he see them? What would happen if they were caught? He couldn't stop trembling.

"I found a trail!" One of the others called and the man who'd stopped took off in that direction.

The hand came away from Henry's mouth. He looked up at the tall, blonde haired boy who'd been leading him to safety. He was older than him and wore dark clothes to better hide himself in the dark of the forest.

"Come on, we have to keep moving. They might double back."

"Where are we going?" Henry asked, following as the boy began running again.

"A safe place. They won't find us there."

"But my parents...My brother! They have my brother!"

"And they have guns. Neither do we know where your brother is." The boy said, pausing to look at him. "These people are bad people. They don't care that you're a child."

"My brother has magic. I saw him protect my mom. He's studied magic."

The boy tilted his head. "Your mom? Who is your mom?"

"Well, she's not...It's complicated." Henry said. He wondered if Regina was looking for him. He knew she would do everything to find Daniel. Maybe Emma and his grandparents could find him.

"I think I heard something!" A voice called in the distance.

The blonde boy grabbed Henry's arm and started running again. Henry could do nothing but struggle to keep up. He didn't know how his companion knew where to go. Everything looked the same to him. There were no markers, no paths, not even any light to see besides the moon. They were being chased again. He could hear more people on their tail.

"I think it's this way." The boy abruptly turned and they burst out of the trees and found themselves at the edge of a cliff. Below them was a massive forest and beyond that a vast ocean. Tamara was telling the truth when she said they were in Neverland and there was no way to get home. "We have to jump."

"What?! Are you crazy?!"

"I stole something that could help." The boy reached into a pouch hanging from his belt. "It's called pixie dust."

"You mean like Tinker Bell pixie dust?"

"Who is Tinker Bell?" He asked.

"Never mind. Just use it so we can get away."

"It's not that simple. It only works if you believe in it. Really believe. And you have to trust me."

Henry looked over the edge of the cliff again. Of course he believed in magic. He believed in magic before anyone else, before his brother even. He felt that he could trust this boy. He was the reason he escaped from Tamara after all, but what then? "Alright. Let's do this before they find us." He watched the boy reach into the pouch and pulled out a handful of something sparkly and green. It looked like glitter until he poured over them and it dissolved into a green mist. They both jumped off the cliff with no hesitation.

For a moment, nothing happened and they just fell… Henry closed his eyes, expecting a lot of pain. Then the boy grabbed his shoulder and he opened his eyes to find that they were flying. He was flying! The island passed below them quickly, the trees only a blur. In the distance, he noticed a dark tower that stretched high over the island. He was about to ask what it was when he noticed that they were descending. Fast.

They fell swiftly, barely managing to avoid the tree branches in their descent. Henry hit the ground and rolled to dull the fall. Wind rushed out of her lungs and he fell into a coughing fit. "We did it." He looked at his friend, who smiled as he got to his feet and offered his hand. Henry took it and stood up. He ran his hands down his body and was pleased to find no injuries. "You said to believe. I guess when you do, anything is possible."

"You couldn't be more right, Henry." The boy's smile fell and Henry took a step back.

"How-how'd you know my name? I never told you." He started to back away.

"Let's make it a game. A puzzle to solve." The boy took a threatening step forward, a sinister smile starting to grow on his face.

"You lied to me! You are a lost boy, you work for Pan!"

"Not exactly. I am Peter Pan."

Henry shook her head. "But you told Greg and Tamara and all those other people that you hated magic, that you'd help them destroy it."

"They're idiots." Pan laughed. "I needed their help and it is so much easier to get people to hate something than to believe."

"Why did you bring me here?" Henry demanded. "Where's my brother?!"

Pan ignored his question. "For quite some time I've been searching for something, Henry. Something important. Something more elusive than the greatest of all mysteries. The heart of the truest believer." He walked around the clearing and knocked on a tree. "When you jumped off that cliff, Henry, you confirmed that you had it, this miraculous heart. And now," Pan grinned. "You and it are mine."

"You'll never get away with this. My mom is coming. She'll save me."

"I know that she'll try." Peter Pan drew a dagger from his belt and twirled it around his fingers. "Believe me, heroes are quite predictable." He chuckled to himself as he raised the dagger. "Come on, boys!" Out of the shadows came dozens of hooded figures, some with drawn bows, others with swords. Henry spun around, searching for a way out, but they were all around him. Peter Pan laughed at the panicked boy, a sound that made Henry's skin crawl. "Let's play a game!"

A pair of hands grabbed Henry from behind. He knew better than to fight back and he knew he wouldn't make it far if he ran. At that moment an explosion rocked the island. The Lost Boys grabbed onto the nearest object and Henry fell to his knees at the rush of vibrations that cracked the earth beneath his feet. For a moment he was free and he took the opportunity.

Pan scowled as he floated into the air. "Find him and bring him back to the camp." He commanded his men before ascending above the trees. Who the hell was making all of that noise? He could hear gunshots in the distance as those idiots with their irritating weapons opened fire. He soared higher, searching for the cause. Scanning the quiet forest, he finally saw it. A ghost of a flame, just a flicker in the foliage and the next thing he knew an entire section of his forest, leading all the way to one of the idiot camps had exploded into flames. He scowled. Who was ruining his plans? The flames roared and devoured his precious forest, reeking of foreign magic. Surely it wasn't the Savior?

Pan flew down to where he'd seen the flicker and with a wave of his hand, snuffed out all of the flames. He landed in the grass and searched the ground. There, he found two sets of prints. One he decided was a pair of shoes. High heeled shoes. The other prints were paw prints. Big ones. Oh? Have the Evil Queen and the Big Bad Wolf come out to play? Didn't they want to play his game? Oh well, they'll have fun either way...

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