Emma ran forwards her heart racing all her fears fading away with only one remaining, her mind now focused on finding Hook. Tinkerbell reluctantly led the way to the shipwrecked cove, but there already exhausted bodies, were being pushed past their limits. The terrain extremely difficult to overcome, with large boulders that had fallen from the cliffs surrounding the water, making for dead ends and other obstacles, despite this the pair kept up a fast pace. Suddenly stopping when they reached an opening in the rock, one that had been blasted open, not recently but many years ago and now a crater was all that remained of an epic pirate battle.
"This place, it's seen such heartache". Emma stated.
"If only you knew".
Tinkerbell stopped for a moment lost in a long-forgotten memory, her ears perking up, when she overheard voices in the distance.
"Did you hear that"? Emma asked.
"Yeah, Blackbeard and his crew are in just ahead on that shipwreck".
"We need to get closer".
"Or head in the opposite direction"
"Whatever issues you have, you need to let it go, the only way you're gonna fix this mess, is to trust someone".
"Maybe your right, I've been alone for so long, because I trusted the wrong people.… but I remain here because I refuse to trust anyone else".
"Then help us, please".
"Alright, we'll need to sneak around, I know a way".
They tip toed slowly, hiding behind crates and barrels making there away across the ruins of the ships. As they creped further along in silence, Emma heard a familiar voice in the distance, pleading for understanding.
"You know it to be true, why can't you believe, after seeing this with your own eyes".
"Hook… still believing in bedtime stories".
"The city, all these ships, everything from Liam's research and more it's true".
"Maybe so, but you always knew that there was no way to leave Neverland" he said cocking his gun aiming it squarely at captain Hooks head. "And I still don't see any treasure just traps and the bodies of dead pirates".
"I can find the treasure, I'll show you, we can split it".
Blackbeard grunted his anger overtaking him, and he stepped forwards, while Hook was held down on his knees by two men, Blackbeard kicked him forcefully in the gut. Captain Hook fell to the floor heaving, Blackbeard leaned in close, the callous pirate sneered whispering in his ear.
"You know your brother was much wiser than you, he turned down my offer of a magic bean and crew, of course I shot him, much easier to get you to bring us here anyway".
Hook shuddered trying to fight Blackbeard but the other pirates grip on him was too strong, even as his anger surged. Muscles contracting as he bared his teeth, realising the truth about Liams death his grief felt fresh again.
"We don't need Hook anymore, come on kill him" one of the men yelled and the rest cheered in agreement.
Emma was about to surge forwards but found Tinkerbells hand on her shoulder, warning her with a stern look, to wait until the right moment. Emma shook her head, aware there wasn't much time but stayed still and quiet as instructed.
"You don't even know where to go next"? Hook yelled.
"He may be arrogant, truth is his right, we have been merely following his trail around this island, none of you have any idea how to find the pirates hoard, but he does". Blackbeard said turning to his crew.
Captain Hook couldn't help but smirk, he thought Blackbeards crew, would have been lost in Neverland without his guidance but now, he was sure.
"Tink, come on we need to m…" Emma began to whisper but when she turned back to where Tinkerbell hand been standing moments ago there was no one there.
"How does she do that"?
Emma's attention quickly went back to the pirates, as she now had to try and save Captain Hook on her own, without her magic.
"Stop smirking, lead us to the treasure and I might let you live".
"Is that it, that's my deal? Die now, or help you, and die later. It's a tough call, but you know what? I'll take die now".
"Well, we could just slice your skin right off, then at least we'd have our map".
The pirates grumbled, still bothered that Captain Hook had bested them making them believe they ever had the map.
"I have to find Emma first, I promised to bring her home".
"What about us, you didn't seem to mind leaving us here with no way home".
Captain Hook fell silent as he had nothing to rebut this comment, not while Blackbeard held a sword to his throat.
"You think yourself an honourable man, you're a cheat and liar just like your brother, condemned us all to die on this island".
"You know nothing of Liam, he was a hero".
"Amazing even after you've seen this treacherous place for your own eyes, a grown man still believing in stories, of the pirate eutopia".
"I will never stop believing in those I love"!
Blackbeard sneered at the response punching Captain Hook in the face, as he stood arms held back defenceless. Seeing his face bloodied and bruised Emma couldn't stand to wait for a plan to form, running over to him standing in between Hook and Blackbeard.
"Stop, please, you don't need to do this".
"Emma, what… no"!
Captain Hook was in even more anguish now, his face in shock as he realised, Emma was about to meet the end of Blackbeards sword.
"Ha ha, to late girly this one can't be saved".
"No, in fact we all can, we just need to work together, we can all leave Neverland".
"We don't need you princess, just him".
"If you harm her, I'll never lead you to it"!
Blackbeard leant forward his sword slicing through the air, Emma slipped out of the way just in time, the blade just catching her cheek. Captain Hook surprised the two men holding him, jumping up to his feet in one quick swoop and they lost their grip on him. Hook stepped towards Blackbeard a fierce anger taking hold of him, but Blackbeard simply grinned in response, not moving an inch as Hook surged towards him. A sharp bang rang out, before a thick green smoke ingulfed the deck of the decrepit ship.
"What the"? Hook said.
Suddenly everyone was no longer able to see the objects of their anger disorientated for a moment. Before the princess and pirate could think, a hand appeared wrapping around their wrists, leading both of them to a small gap in the decking, where they could make their escape. Captain Hook and Emma led by Tinkerbell, ran as fast as they could not daring to look back at the hoard of pirates behind them. Making the way through the obstacle course of ships that had collided and broken apart. Leaving crates floating and pieces of timber in the shallow waters for them to leap across. Blackbeards crew split up, barely able to follow their trail, as even they seemed divided in which way to turn.
Where are you going? the caves straight through here"? Emma asked Hook.
"We got to get away from here, it's too dangerous".
"We can't just leave; they'll get to the treasure first".
"They outnumber us, have weapons and a ship, we won't stand a chance".
"We have to try Killian".
"Were you not paying attention back there…. I'm a pirate, not a hero love".
"Doesn't look that way to me". Tinkerbell interjected.
"And who exactly are you? Emma's friend, with the knife I presume".
"I was wrong, I have been burned before by promises from pirates who visited here, I shouldn't have put that on you".
"Come on, we can find the treasure first, stop them, go home". Emma stated hopeful.
"Ok… but you need to know the truth".
"What do you mean"?
"Blackbeard was right about me, I never saw past the treasure, how any of us would leave Neverland, I just needed to see this place, know it was real, blinded by my grief… I never wanted to entrap these men, but I didn't stop it …. Blackbeard he was the one with the magic bean and crew, I told him about Neverland and the treasure and that I had a map, he realised too late of course, that I was the map" Captain Hook explained gesturing to his many tattoos "I wanted this so badly, thought I could outsmart him, off course they turned on me once I got us through the portal to Neverland".
"I know Killian".
"What"?
As Captain Hook asked, bullets from a shotgun exploded into the panel of wood just above his head, sending splinters everywhere. He barley even flinched bewildered as he looked at the princess, wondering what she meant.
"I mean not all those exact details but...I could see it in your eyes when we met, you had no idea how to leave Neverland".
"Then... why did you come with me"?
"Honestly, it was like looking in a mirror, I could see your bluff, but I could also see your determination… a true believer, maybe not in Neverland but something stronger, I realise now that it was the faith you had in your brother".
Another shot ran out, this one coming close to Tinkerbell and she creped over to them, urgency in her expression.
"I have to confess myself princess, the moment your lips touched mine on the beach, I felt this overwhelming warmth and strength, that is what bought me back, made me realise there could be more for me then my brothers crusade…. And that I have to do everything I can, to get us home".
The shots became louder and more frequent, as Blackbeard's crew drew nearer to their location.
"Guys this is touching and all, but we need to keep moving, which way are we going"?
"To the skull cave, lets finish this". Hook said.
Captain Hook stood tall, taking Emma's hand and he led them through more obstacles and decaying ships. The leaped and crawled from ship to ship around traps and over debris left by the pirates. In the distance they could see land, having to swim the last few metres until they reached the sands surrounding the cave, but a devastating problem had arisen.
"No, it can't be".
"Nightshade, do you think it surrounds the whole cave".
"Off course, perfect way to guard the treasure, anyone who makes it inside won't live long enough to steal anything".
"Damm pirates"