"I guess were not the only ones in Neverland, looking for treasure". Emma stated as she looked wide eyed at an abandoned campsite.
"I'm sure whoever left this, died years ago".
"Is that supposed to be comforting"?
"No, but it shows we are on the right track".
Bags and crates of supplies strewn everywhere, noticeably items that were brought here by other enquiring minds from other words. A camp that had long since been abandoned and what remained had been left out in the weather. Many years had passed, tree roots and vines had begun to grow around and over the supplies.
"What do you think happened here?"
"I don't know, either way, someone else's loss is our gain".
"Would be nice to change out of this gown".
"I quite fancy it, besides, we can keep each other warm tonight".
"Captain let's get one thing straight here, I don't have time for romance or anything else of that nature".
"I told you princess; time doesn't pass here, leaving us all the time, we want".
"Yes, but time is moving in the enchanted forest… I just need to stay focused on the mission".
"If you're always on mission, you'll miss it".
"Miss what"?
"Well for starters, a night snuggled up next me under the stars of Neverland".
The Princess rolled her eyes as the pirate smirked back, but she frowned noticing something in his expression that he wasn't just playful. Honest in what he said, once again catching her off guard, she blushed slightly.
"I'll search these trunks, there could be a clue as to what happened to them, stop us from meeting a similar fate".
Emma stood back as the Captain began to rummage through the equipment, opening up a trunk coated in vines, that he sliced away with his Hook. As the cold night air started to roll in, Emma began opening things up as well, however the clothes in the chests, had become rags crumbling in her hands, the rains and hot sun had destroyed the integrity of most of what was left behind.
"All of these things are ruined".
"I know, we'll just have to check them all".
A sense of hopelessness washed over Emma, frustrated with herself, the weight of the task ahead beginning to crush her. Her heart started to race, but this anxiety was all too familiar, so she continued on, there was no time to pause, reflect and feel or talk about anything in her life. Frustration rising, as she pried open another trunk full of expired food.
"This is hopeless"
However, she quickly moved on, opening up another crate and was met with a hideous hissing sound, as a small snake slithered out its fangs dripping with poison.
"Don't move" Hook said as he froze in place.
"Wouldn't dare".
For the longest minute the deadly snake stared at the princess hissing, and she realised the crate had a large hole in the back, the snake had made itself a home there. Eventually it turned away from her and disappeared into the long grass, towards Captain Hook.
"Watch out!"
A burst of energy escaped her hands, a beautiful sight, within the white light was a faint rainbow, but with this beauty was danger. The blast smashing into the side of the mountain in front of her, rocks began to crumble and fall to the ground, while a small tree also toppled over, getting covered in the rubble and dust from the mountainside.
"What the bloody hell was that?"
"Sorry, that hasn't happened in so long".
"Don't be sorry, that was amazing, certainly scared off the snake".
"And made a hell of a mess".
"No this is perfect; we can build a fire with wood from the fallen tree".
The pirate began collecting wood and arranging the rocks in a circle around it, once again Emma was silenced by the captain's response to her. He was a wonder in of himself, so authentic in every choice he made. Emma stood still her eyes wide as she clinched her hands starring blanky as Captain Hook worked on a fire for them.
"What is it?"
"It's just that in the past people have… well been upset when I lose control".
"No harm was done, don't worry so much princess".
Captain Hooks lack of concern pulled Emma away from dwelling on the past, realising she was staring blankly at the pirate as he worked on the fire, she felt the need to escape.
"I'm fine, sorry, I'll go get us some water".
Emma walked along the cliffs edge in search of more supplies, it was a sheer drop and yet she continued along it, without even thinking. Looking at her hands as she went, shaken to her core by what had just happened, she felt a deep desire to get away. Focusing on calming her herself, she counted her breaths out loud trying to slow her heart rate before she lost control again.
"Come on saviour, keep it together".
Emma squeezed her hands against her palm hoping to bury the feelings slowly overcoming her, as the pressure she felt for most of her life began to build to a point, that she wondered not if, but when it would break her. Walking for ten minutes or so, Emma finally spotted something that may be of use, a crate hidden under a small section of rock protected from the elements, no signs of rotting wood or snakes.
"Please let there be pants in here".
Emma walked closer and gasped at the sight laying further into the cave was a skeleton, it wasn't her first dead body, but this one hadn't been found, left rotting away only the bones remaining. She tried to imagine the man he was, what led him to this horrible fate. Although he had no face left Emma could feel him looking at her, in her mind his expression one of judgment.
"I know… I shouldn't waste time feeling sorry for myself, not when everyone's in danger but I can't help but feel…. guilty… I shouldn't have let my guard down, caught up in a silly ballroom ritual and now I'm stuck here, my powers useless…. No way home".
The princess looked over at the bones, as if she was waiting for an encouraging response, but of course she was met with silence.
"Why am I complaining to you for, you've got bigger problems… don't suppose you could tell me, where you hid the treasure, according to Hook it's the only way off the island?".
Emma said looking glumly at the bones and tattered clothes of what once was a fearsome Pirate, wondering how he ended up here dying alone in a small cave.
"I'll find out what happened here" she said quietly to the remains of the pirate.
Turning away and pulling open the crate Emma found a pair of trousers with sown in padding, a tunic and most importantly a pair of boots. This was a pretty good haul, now she fashioned what was left of her gown into a sort of cloak. Utilising a rusted knife and some thread that she had pulled from her corset which she was glad to be rid of. Quickly she got herself cleaned up in a nearby stream, washing away the dirt and blood before putting on her new attire. Just as her head popped out of the cloak, she heard a crack as a twig snapped, just to the left of her in the thick bushes.
"Hello… who's there"?
There was no response, and she began to wonder if there if maybe the Jolly rogers crew had found them and quickly walk back to the camp.
"Ah Princess, I see you found a more suitable attire".
"Were you just over there, I thought I heard someone?"
"No, I've been working on building the fire, is everything alright?"
"It's fine, was probably just my imagination".
"There are many dangerous creatures out there, we should stay close to each other"
"I can take care of myself".
"I know, but two is better than one".
Emma smiled because although frustrating to admit, he made a good point, having the dashing pirate by her side was becoming increasingly helpful. Hook even managed to gather some soft leaves into a pile, so they had something to sleep on other than the hard rock.
"Ugh, why isn't this working". Captain Hook said frustrated as he failed to produce a spark, to light a fire.
"Need help?"
"It's this dam rock, not dense enough it feels like it could just crumble…. "as he said the words the rock in his hands did just that, crumbling into dust that spread over the firewood.
"That's odd"
"Yeah, this isn't like any rock I've ever held before, it's just turned to dust".
With a small shrug he moved on slashing his hook against a different stone, letting the small bit of kindling he acquired to do the rest of the work. Within minutes spark flew and flames appeared, but they were not what the pair expected.
"Beautiful". Captain Hook said.
Instead of a bright red or orange light they were met with a glowing green flame, both turned to each other through the light they smiled. The green glow was a sight to behold and certainly would keep them warm, but it could also draw unwanted attention.
"Did your stories ever speak of this?"
"There was word of an ancient magic that had faded out, maybe this is part of it".
"How is it you know so much about a place you've never been, and most have never heard off"?
"There's not much to do in the weary months out at sea, we sailors always have our stories, legends of lost treasure, not many put much faith in these legends".
"But the treasure your chasing, you believe it's real".
"I know it is, I have proof".
"Alright show me"
Killian lifted his hand up twirling a single gold coin along the tops of his fingers back and forth, it was clearly old and stained with rust. But was indeed real ancient gold, priceless. The insignia was one Emma had never seen before, a skull shaped cross and bones on both sides. Killian Suddenly stopped twirling holding it out for her to inspect. Just as Emma reached to grab it, he swiftly pulled his hand back, placing it in his pocket once more.
"From the stories I've been told there is piles of this gold somewhere on the island".
"I've never been one for stories, there always seems to be more to it, you have to read between the lines".
"Ah that's the best part, you get lost in it, interpret it in your own way, draw from it".
"So how lost have you gotten in the story of Neverland?"
"Nor nearly enough, the truth has been lost to time and the treasure hidden with many elaborate traps and secret entrances".
"Pirates" she said with a sigh.
"According to legend there was once a pirate eutopia here, Captains and their crews able to set aside their differences for a mutual goal but there was a divide, that grew worse, and they turned on each other"
"I wonder what they fought over, with so much at stake they couldn't just let it go".
"Ahh hate runs deep, they formed opposing sides and over time they'd forgotten, they were once allies".
Emma thought back went back to the man she found earlier in the cave, wondering if he lost his life in this meaningless war with pirate against pirate.
"Do, you really believe time doesn't pass here".
"The secret of Neverland, it keeps you young, so you never have to grow up. The Pirates were clever using Neverland as a sort of storage facility, traveling from here to different realms with ease. They were able to steal and make a quick getaway, leaving their stash were no one would find it, or them".
"I wonder how they managed that, traveling between realms is not easy, magic beans can no longer be grown and the only other way I've heard of is with the dark curse, but no one has ever been able to cast it, or tried after the evil queen failed to".
"There are many mysteries surrounding Neverland".
"Hopefully we can find the answers, or we'll be stuck here… Captain, I never asked you how you got to Neverland?"
"I simply had to find a crew, let them know of the possibilities in Neverland get them to bring me here".
"But not home"?
"I guess I didn't think about it, until you mentioned it, I just had to find it".
"I thought a good thief, always had an escape plan, you risk being trapped here forever, just to find some lost gold".
"It's about more then lost gold… they say Excalibur itself it amongst the stolen treasures".
"Huh that's swords been missing for centuries, still risking getting stuck here, for a mere symbol of power, doesn't seem worth it even for the most legendary of pirates".
The captain went silent rolling over onto his back, looking up at the stars above, a smile crept onto his face as he pondered the Princesses queries.
"Solving the mysteries left by those who came before us, it's how we honour them, and I'm a Damm good pirate".
"Must be nice, to just go out into the world, chase your dreams, no pressure".
The Captain fell silent because he knew his situation was much more complex, drifting through life without a place to call home. He envied a life with roots; but knew they can be restricting and she was certainly experiencing that.
"Princess?"
"Yeah"
"…Goodnight"
"Night Captain"