Good Form - Chapter 9
—
The storm did not stop. In fact, it got worse.
A big wave came towards them, towering over their heads.
"We'll never take magic passengers with us again," Majo decided as the ship sailed closer and closer to the gigantic wave.
Water splashed all around them as they became even wetter than the rain had already made them.
Emma had run to Killian while Snow and Regina started arguing again. Then, to Majo's shock, Snow threw a punch at the Queen and the storm got worse.
Shortly after, Charming punched Killian and the pirate punched back as Emma yelled, "Stop it!"
Majo stumbled over the ship, being blown to the side by the wind and rain, and grabbed Charmings shirt from the back, pulling him away.
"It's not the mermaids, it's us," Emma said.
"What?" Majo asked as they let go of the Saviour's father.
"No. If you don't stop fighting, we're all gonna die! Don't you see we're causing the storm?!"
Majo's eyes grew wide. She was right. "Everyone, stop fighting!" They yelled but no one listened. She was about to do something, she just didn't know what yet, as Emma jumped off-board.
"Emma!" her parents yelled.
Majo tried to teleport her up but she couldn't see her and was afraid to bring her up in pieces if she attempted to teleport the blonde.
Charming tied a rope Killian gave him around his waist and jumped into the water after his daughter.
As Killian called, "He has her! Pull!" they all started working together on pulling father and daughter out of the stormy sea.
"I've got it," Killian had hooked up the rope with one of the shrouds and used that to pull up the two.
Emma had been knocked unconscious by a piece of metal that had fallen into the water and hit her head but as her father said her name, the woman started coughing violently and spitting out water.
"I told you," the blonde said as the deep clouds shifted away and let through the light of the always full moon of Neverland.
—
As Majo stepped foot on the shores of Neverland, she had changed her clothes to fit the tropical weather. Their long-sleeved white shirt and black cincher were replaced with a simple vest to leave their arms bare. The long coat she usually wore was in one of the bags they took with them and their sword was on its belt at her left side. She had a dagger in each of her knee-high boots and some extras in their bag.
Her unglamoured eyes landed on the group of people in front of them.
"We don't have to do it this way. I can fix the Jolly Roger. My magic is powerful enough. We can execute the pirate's plan," Regina said.
Emma looked at Regina. "Sneak attack? Let's not be naive. Save your magic. We'll need it later because Pan already knows we're here." Emma looked into the small group, "It's time we stop running. Gold was right. This land is run on belief. All of us have been too busy being at each other's throats to be believers."
The Charmings were stunned silent and the pirates looked at her with each one eyebrow raised.
"I was as wrong as anyone else," Emma continued, "It's time for all of us to believe–not in magic, but in each other."
"You wanna be friends?" Regina asked, "After everything that's happened between all of us?"
"I don't want or expect that. I know there's a lot of history here and a lot of hate."
"Actually, I quite fancy you from time to time," Killian told the blonde, "when you're not yelling at me. Not that I'm not used to it," he added with a look at Majo.
"We don't need to be friends," the Saviour continued, ignoring the pirate's words, "What we need to know is the only way to get Henry back is cooperation."
"With her?" Charming asked, making a hand gesture towards Regina, "With them?" he pointed at the pirates. "No, Emma, we have to do this the right way."
"No, we don't. We just need to succeed. And the way we do that is by just being who we are—a hero, a villain, a pirate. It doesn't matter which, because we're gonna need all those skills, whether we can stomach them or not."
Regina looked at the blonde, "And what's your skill, Saviour?"
The Saviour turned to look at the dark-haired woman, "I'm a mother, and now I'm also your leader. So either help me get my son back or get out of my way."
She took her sword out of its sheath and walked into the jungle.
Snow White followed her daughter as did Charming, pulling his own blade.
Regina looked at the pirates. Killian shrugged and followed after the little family, Majo and Regina following him.
—
The little fellowship made its way through the jungle of Neverland, animal noises in the distance and leaves basically shoved in their faces.
"The ridge is just a few hundred paces up ahead," Killian told their little group.
Emma, who was at the end of the group, asked the Captain: "You really think we're gonna be able to see Pan's hideout?"
"From there, we should be able to see everything, including where he's keeping your son."
Regina looked at Majo, "You know, we could have just poofed us up here in an instant."
"Where?" Killian asked. "Have you any idea what's up here or anywhere? There's dangers all about. Only I can guide us past them."
"He's right," Emma told Regina, "Hook's lived here before. If he says hiking up is the best way, then we listen."
"What about you?" Regina asked Majo.
The warlock shrugged, "I was never really a fan of the jungle."
The little group came to a bush with thorns and Charming was about to hit it away with his sword but Majo quickly froze him, "I wouldn't do that if I were you."
She unfroze him and he turned towards her, "I can handle a couple of thorns."
Majo looked at them, "That's Dreamshade. You shouldn't worry about the thorns but the poison within them. It's deadlier than you could imagine."
Killian nodded, "This plant is the source of the toxins I used on the Dark One."
"The poison that almost killed Gold?" Emma asked.
"Indeed. I used a concentrated dose. In its natural form, death would be much slower and far more painful. I suggest we go this way," he said, pointing to the path to their right.
"We'll go this way," Not-so-Charming said, turning left instead.
—
"We made it."
The group overlooked the Dark Jungle.
"Pan's lair should be just… right… " Killian started, looking around.
"Where?" Regina asked the Captain. "All I see is jungle."
"Aye. The Dark Jungle. It's, uh, grown somewhat since I last stepped foot in Neverland.
Regina sighed, "So this nature hike was for nothing."
"Hook may have lead us astray," Charming said, "But at least we're in a good position to start combing the jungle."
"Not exactly," all eyes were on Killian, "The Dark Jungle's the last place you wanna set foot. We'll have to go around it. In order to do that, we're gonna need our strength. I suggest we make camp."
The Queen's head turned to the Pirate. "You wanna sleep while my son is out there suffering?"
"If we want to live long enough to save the boy… Yes."
—
As Majo woke up the next day they carved a quick message into the dirt next to Killian's sleeping place and then made theri way through the forest for a perimeter check. As she had checked the surroundings of the camp, she made her way back just in time to also see Snow White and Prince Charming arrive.
"There's no sign of him anywhere. Any luck with the map?" Charming asked.
"Don't hold your breath," Regina said.
Emma, who was still looking at a blank piece of parchment, asked: "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Don't you see what he's doing? Every second we spend talking about this is another second we're not looking for my son."
"You got a better idea?" Emma asked grudgingly.
"Magic."
The entire camp–minus Majo, who still had no clue what was going on–sighed.
"If there's a lock on there, I'll find a way around it." The Queen went to grab the parchment but Emma put her hand on it, preventing her from doing so.
"Pan said it had to be me."
"I'd listen to Emma, luv," Killian said, "Breaking Pan's rules would be unwise."
"Sadly, I agree with the pirate," Charming said.
Killian smirked, "I'm winning you over. I can feel it."
"And your magic doesn't exactly have a gentle touch, Regina," Snow told the Queen.
The blond Prince made a hand gesture towards the 'map', "Use it on the map, it might blow up in all our faces."
"Well, that's a risk I'm willing to take," Regina said.
Emma stood up, "Well, I'm not. If I'm the one who's supposed to figure out this thing, I need to do what Pan said."
"Great," the queen said unenthusiastically.
"She'll get there," Snow defended her daughter.
—
"So, what's all," Majo made a gesture towards Emma and the parchment, "this about?"
Killian sighed, "Pan paid Emma a visit last night and gave her a blank map, said if she'd admit who she really is it would lead her to Henry."
The two looked towards the Saviour who was staring at the map. "My name is Emma Swan."
"I'd wager the solution to Pan's riddle is a bit more complicated than that," Killian told her.
Emma kept talking to the map and Majo grew bored of it, so she sat down against a rock and looked at their nails. They were currently painted deep red and a bit longish which wasn't very ideal for a hike through the jungle. They thought about it for a moment and then used her magic to make them short and black.
"Regina!"
Majo looked up and saw that Regina had stolen the map and was now performing a locator spell. The map turned orange and began floating off with a woosh.
"So it appears we will be venturing into the Dark Jungle after all," Killian said wrily, pointing into the darkness.
"You mean the place you told us never to set foot in?" Emma asked.
"That's the one."
Regina stepped forward, "Well, Emma, you said you wanted to be leader. Lead."
Majo stood up from the rock she was sitting against, dusted off her pants to free them from dirt and followed the wee companionship.
—
The small group stopped and Majo could hear a zing as Charming pulled his sword.
"Careful," Killian told Emma, "He may look like a boy, but he's a bloody demon." He walked off and Majo followed him sighing.
"Where's a Shadowhunter when you need one."
They continued forward and Majo could hear Snow and Regina discussing something as they came towards a small vacant campsite.
"Guys… Hold on," Emma said. She walked forward to a boy who appeared to be Henry, "Is that… Henry!"
'Henry' turned around and revealed himself to be Pan, "Hi, Emma." He smirked with a raised eyebrow.
"Where the hell is Henry?"
"You broke the rules." Pan started walking around with a smug look on his boyish face, "That's not fair. Bad form." He looked at Killian, "I expect more from you, Captain."
"Aye, and you'll get it."
"Give Henry to me," Emma said.
"Sorry. Can't. Don't you know? Cheaters never win."
At that moment, boys appeared behind him with torches in their hands. They were shouting and whooping as some of them pointed arrows at them while others had spears or clubs in hand. Soon, the clearing the little group was in was surrounded by Lost Boys and they had no way out of it.
Prince Charming lifted his sword while Snow White readied her bow with an arrow. Regina and Majo both readied their magic as Killian said, "Watch out for their arrows. They're laced with Dreamshade."
Emma had pulled her own sword as the Lost Boys attacked.
Arrows were whooshing everywhere and Majo ducked out of their ways. They tried not to hurt her opponents too seriously, as they were still children, but that was a bit difficult seeing as they definitely tried to kill them.
Majo fired sleeping spells at a few boys in front of her, then she let orange magic fly around them which then shot at the next wave of boys coming at them, knocking them down and–hopefully–unconscious.
She then looked around and saw Killian fight the blond boy that had been looking for Bae all those years ago while Regina was firing some sleeping spells of her own. Majo turned around again and stopped a knife from being flung at her with her magic.
Suddenly, a whistle was heard over the fighting noise and the boys quickly ran off towards Pan.
"Remember what I told you," Pan said to Emma, "That map will show you where Henry is… only when you stop denying who you really are. I'll make sure to send Henry your regards."
With that Peter Pan took off, his Lost Boys running after him, whooping.
"We lost him," Majo said, slightly out of breath.
"Oh really? I hadn't noticed." Regina sassed.
Majo turned to her, "That's terrible. Someone should have told you" They turned to Killian, "Tell her we lost him."