The Princess and the Pirate weren't making as much headway as they would have hoped, making their way across the damp thick fog unable to even see their feet. The days in Neverland were short and night hand come over them once more as they walked. Too occupied with not tripping in the mud, Emma failed to notice the vines creeping up closer to her, until one revealed its teeth snapping at her leg. Quickly she jumped out of the way, and it recoiled back, the teeth gone now beautiful white flowers opened up on it.
"This place it keeps surprising me, dangerous but beautiful".
"It's certainly a lot more than I ever imagined; it could be".
"The stories you were told they, weren't that detailed then".
"Some experiences are more feelings, that you can't quite be put into words".
They caught each other's eyes as they walked staring quietly for a moment, Emma felt a tingling in her hands, the same overwhelming sensation she was familiar with, the magic of true love. Captain Hook continued to lead the way the same confidence in his swagger as he did when they first met. Emma started to realise it wasn't arrogance or hatred that fuelled the pirate, to keep going after he was left to drown, he was simply more adept at letting go of his fear.
While Emma was plagued with doubt anxiety, wondering if she could make it home and now a new sense of fear, for Hooks safety. He seemed more able to focus on the where he was and what he needed to do to survive, in the moment smiling as he looked back at her admiring eyes. It was then he caught sight of her necklace against it had a slight glow, same as it did on the beach when the first crossed paths.
"That necklace it's peculiar, where did you get it"?
"I sort of made it, the string is from one of my mother's bows, these stones are from my father's sword and well the rock my friend made it, with magic".
"It's beautiful"
"Legend says and amulet like this will provide guidance, make sure you follow your true path".
"What does that mean"?
"I have no idea, it's sort of a tradition from the ball I was at, some of the younger girls were making them there supposed to help you find the right dance partner, it's more just a bit of silly fun than anything".
"That's quite the amulet".
"I wish it could guide me to a way off this island".
"I don't think it's much further, but we can find some dry ground, rest for the night".
Emma nodded and they continued trudging through a thick mud, that was becoming more and more like a swamp. With every step they had to use all their strength to pull their feet out of the sticky mud.
"It feels like were not moving forwards at all". Emma said as she struggled to get her foot free of particularly stubborn muddy puddle.
"We are, it just this fog, playing tricks on our minds".
"This is worse than the endless forest".
"You complain a lot, Princess".
"Well, I guess, I'm not used to feeling so… lost, I don't even know what we'll find when we get home".
Captain Hook paused for a moment and a smile appeared on his face as he lingered there, while the princess blushed releasing what she had said we.
"It's ok, I know where we're going".
"How? I can't even see more than a few feet in front of us".
"You're looking in the wrong direction".
Captain Hook said, pointing his hook straight up to the beautiful night sky, sparkling bright with more stars than Emma had ever seen.
"I'm sorry, I'm just feel so useless and tired" Emma paused as Killian looked at her knowing there was more on her mind "I don't, know if there ok".
"You're never lost with me to guide you, and if something had happened, you'd feel it" he said pointing at his heart.
"Yeah, I usually feel something".
"Your family has been close to death before".
"It's sort of an all-too-common thing in our lives, sleeping curses and wicked witches".
"Were on the right path, we'll be out of this fog soon enough".
He said tilting his head back and looking up at the stars with reminisce.
"How is it you even know the constellations"?
"It's always the first thing I learn about a place I'm going".
"Suppose I shouldn't be surprised, you permanently inked yourself before coming here".
"I just find peace in it, no matter what world you're in, these guiding lights will always be there".
"And there pretty"
"Yeah, that too"
Emma turned back looking upon him with a smile, his body a picture of perfection arms steady and strong he used them to balance. While his feet danced gracefully across the rocks, trying to avoid the deeper puddles of mud.
What at first looked like a rock deceived Hook and emerged from the mud, snarling at him was a large crocodile. Leaping out of the water its jaw clasping shut, just short of crushing Captain Hooks legs, this sudden movement caused the pirate to fall into the swamp.
"Where did that come from"?
"I don't know, just run".
"Not in my nature"
Emma grabbed a large branch that had fallen from a nearby tree, picking it up before slamming it down onto the crocodile's head. It snarled moving away from Captain Hook before lunging forwards onto Emma, who stepped back swinging the branch once more, but she missed.
"Careful"
Killian reached out to stop her fall, their hands just out of touch and she fell down the mountainside.
"No"
Hitting rocks and branches along the way barley dodging a large boulder gaining momentum, before a large tree branch struck her in the forehead. Knocking her out cold her body stopping just at the bottom of the hill.
"Princess"!
Killian leaped forwards climbing down to her as fast as he could, but it was a steep drop and he had to be careful, were he put his weight and what he could grab hold of next. It was a much longer way down and as he reached the bottom, a much larger issue revealed itself.
"Look at this, boys" A member of the Jolly Rodgers crew appeared pointing at Emma "a girl just fell down the side of the mountain".
"Hey, that must be the broad, that was with Hook".
"He can't be far then; we'll get him back for leading us to this hellish place" a pirate said with a smirk, while swatting away a large mosquito.
The Pirates pulled the swords from the sheath, Captain Hook stopped in his tracks quietly ducking behind a large boulder before he was seen.
"Damm, this is going to require some stealth".
Captain Hook circled back around his former crew, knowing their usual tactics helped, as he snuck around them. Squatting down in the long grass. Slowly walked around the camp, it took a while, but soon he was right alongside two men as they surveyed the perimeter.
"What are you going to do with your share of treasure?" one of them asked the other.
"Why does it matter, even if we find it, we have no way of escaping Neverland".
"The original Pirate clans got away without a magic bean, maybe the legends are true".
The taller pirate stopped in his tracks grabbing the other man's shoulder with intensity.
"Why don't we stop talking nonsense before you get hurt, you sound too much like our former Captain".
"No, no I just think now we found his companion; she might know something".
"That's funny I was thinking, we might have us some fun, with the Princess" he said before chuckling at his own joke.
Captain Hook took their distraction as an opportunity to strike, with a rock in his hand he emerged from the jungle, leaping forwards he struck the taller man on the head, and he fell to the ground.
"Hook?" the other said alarmed.
Captain Hook smirked kneeling down, he quickly grabbed the sword the unconscious man had dropped, before lunging forwards piercing through the second man's chest. Grabbing his shirt, Hook made sure he not to make any noise as he put him down on the ground slowly. Now with a weapon he made his through the camp, hiding before silently striking slicing one man's throat with his Hook. Just as he cleared an entrance three more guards made their way around the corner, and he was quickly running out of options.
"Were do these bastards keep spawning from" Hook said in a huff.
Looking around frantically for an option, he spotted a case labelled danger explosive, much like the ones used to blow up the murals earlier, with a grin he went in that direction.