Emma had only walked a little distance away to get away from Mary Margaret however she spun around swiftly when she heard the snapping of twigs only to see Hook approaching.
"Careful luv. None of us should be wandering around on our own."
"I'm not that far from camp and I'm not a damsel in distress thank you very much," replied Emma.
"Yeah, well with Pan around best not take risks." Emma sighed and in order to make sure the pirate didn't bring up what had happened with Mary Margaret asked.
"Did you really save David's life like he said?"
"Does that surprise you?" asked Hook.
"Well, you and David aren't exactly...how would you put it...mates," she said imitating his accent. Hook was surprisingly serious as he moved closer.
"It doesn't mean I'd leave your father to perish on this island."
"Thank you," said Emma genuinely. Whatever arguments she had with Mary Margaret and David she would never want to lose them.
"Well, perhaps gratitude is in order now," said Hook moving closer and tapping his lips while giving her what was undoubtedly supposed to be a flirtation look. Emma took a step back.
"That's what the thank you was for."
"Is that all your father's life is worth to you?" asked Hook with a smirk. Emma rolled her eyes deciding she needed to put a stop on this train before it left the station.
"You couldn't handle it. In any case, I'm not interested."
"Because Baelfire is alive?" asked Hook. Emma honestly wasn't sure about that.
"Because I'm not interested. It isn't a matter of you or Neal. You aren't in the running no matter what Hook. You aren't my type."
"I'm trying to be a better man."
"Good for you, but I'm not your redemption prize. Honestly right now the only person I'm choosing is Henry. So thank you for what you did for David for what you are doing for my family. We couldn't do this without you. But I'm not going to lead you on even to get your help." She gave him an apologetic look and then walked back to camp.
Emma still needed to sort out her feelings regarding Neal. But she knew where she stood on Hook.
OUAT
Henry was seated by the campfire when Pan approached him.
"Why so glum Henry?"
"I found Wendy."
"Henry, I can explain." said Pan.
"She's dying, isn't she?"
"I'm afraid she is. Like much of the island, because the magic here is slipping away. I would've told you, but I didn't want you to have that weight on your shoulders. Knowing that a young girl's life depends on you." Henry wasn't entirely sure if he bought Pan's story but what he did know what that Wendy was sick.
"But if I save magic... She'll live?"
"Yes. But more than that, Henry. If you save magic, you'll save us all. But to do it, you have to truly believe." Henry thought back to how weak Wendy was.
"I do."
"Good, because we don't have much time. Follow me." Henry followed Pan back to the main part of camp. Pan called their attention.
"My brothers! Tonight, the dream of Neverland will awaken from its slumber. Tonight, the heart of the truest believer shall fulfill its destiny, and with it our destiny. Tonight, Henry saves magic!" there was cheering and Henry wished he could feel quite as optimistic.
OUAT
The quartet of Neal, Belle, Regina, and Rumplestiltskin all made their way back to where Regina last remembered the Charming party being. Upon returning with the box Ariel had told them that a pair of men by the name John and Michael wanted them to rescue their sister Wendy. It was a punch to the gut to know despite his attempts Neal hadn't been able to save the family.
As for meeting Emma again well Neal was both looking forward to it and a tad nervous.
"You know Rumple, despite our differences, I can always count on you to get things done... Unlike the rest of them. You were right. They're just a liability."
"Talk like that and she wonders why people call her the Evil Queen?" said Neal quietly to Belle who smiled and laughed softly.
He'd meant it when he'd said he'd no issue with Belle and his father. Honestly those two getting together seemed to be the best thing his father had done in the intervening years since they'd seen each other.
"Now, now, Regina, you can't expect too much from heroes. You know they don't like stepping outside of their comfort zone," chided Rumple.
"Not everyone wants to jump to the chaotic evil option immediately," said Neal wryly resulting in a few mystified stares he shook his head. "Right remind me not to make Dungeons and Dragons jokes around fairytale characters."
They heard voices ahead and came out into a clearing to find Emma, David, Mary Margaret, Hook, and Tinkerbell.
"Neal!" exclaimed Emma.
"Emma." said Neal giving her a small smile. Neither of them seemed quite sure how to react.
"Henry was right you are alive," said Mary Margaret.
"Finally decided to join the party crocodile?" asked Hook.
"Please if this is your version of a rescue party then it's a good thing we showed up," said Regina.
"What are you doing here?" asked David.
"Well, it was late and we decided we might try for an evening constitutional," replied Belle sarcastically.
"The same thing you are except we might have an actual chance," said Neal's father.
"What's that?" asked Emma.
"Pandora's box apparently it can trap Pan for eternity simply by opening the lid," replied Neal, holding up the box which his father had given him, he suspected, as a gesture of good faith. For a moment Neal considered bringing up the prophecy but then thought better of it. They couldn't afford discord at the moment. And he didn't think Belle would let his father murder Henry.
"Sounds like a good plan to me," said Emma who was still trading glances with Neal.
"Can we trust them?" asked Mary Margaret.
"Yes," said Emma. "Now let's get going. Tinker Bell. You said you can lead us to the compound."
"I can," said the fairy. "Good to see you again Baelfire."
"And you, Tink," replied Bae giving the fairy who had helped him on occasion a smile.
OUAT
They began to follow the fairy Tinker Bell.
"I have to ask how a fairy ended up here?" asked Rumple.
"Former fairy thanks to her majesty," said Tinkerbell.
"Ah, well, I'm sure Regina may have done something but Blue banished you all the way out here?" he was curious if he might have found another ally against Blue.
"Blue was never the merciful type," said the green dressed blond. Out of the corner of his eye Rumple saw Snow White and Charming shift awkwardly.
"Wait, did you have a friend called Nova?" asked Belle. For once Tinker Bell smiled.
"Yes I did. She wanted to be a fairy godmother more than any of us."
"Well, that didn't quite work out, the Blue bug kicked her out for finding true love with a dwarf," said Rumple.
"What?" asked Tink in surprise.
"Don't worry she's actually quite happy now," said Belle. "She's my assistant at the library I run. I'm sure she'll be thrilled to see you when we get back."
"I suppose that will be nice," said Tinker Bell after a moment.
Rumple noticed that Hook looked exceptionally grumpy perhaps Miss Swan had turned him down. Speaking of which Emma now spoke up.
"We need to talk, Hook"
"I've found when a woman says that, I'm rarely in for pleasant conversation."
"There has to be a way for David to leave the island."
"Why can't he leave the island?" asked Rumple. Regina had not mentioned this.
"He was hit by an arrow with dreamshade. I gave him some water to cure him but it has connected him to the island. If he leaves, the connection is broken. The poison will kill him," said Hook.
"Wait did you say dreamshade?" asked Belle pausing.
"Yes," said Emma. "Why?" Rumple exchanged a look with Belle knowing what she was thinking as she began to search her bag.
"Well, what if there was a cure?"
"A cure?" asked David.
"Yes, as you might recall Rumple was stabbed by a certain cowardly pirate with dreamshade not long ago," said Belle.
"Cowardly is a matter of opinion luv," said Hook. Belle raised a brunette eyebrow.
"Ah I must have missed the memo where tormenting crippled man who was trying to get his wife back made you a brave man." Hook scowled.
"Tell me how do you know he's not going to rip out your heart someday like he did Milah?"
"Probably because I'm not idiotic enough to dump a good man when I've found one." snarked Belle. Rumple got on the defensive not know if she might have angered the man even if he was touched by her defensiveness. However Emma was a step ahead of him jumping between the two.
"Hey! Time out can we get back to this cure?"
"Oh right," said Belle. "Sorry Emma. Want to explain Rumple?"
"As Belle was saying, if you remember, I, too, was poisoned with dreamshade. And yet..." Snow White interrupted him.
"Yes, and we know how you cured yourself... with a candle that takes another person's life. David is not that selfish." Rumple rolled his eyes.
"Oh, how noble. The point is, after my near-death experience, Belle and I discovered much about the poison."
"And I created an antidote," said Belle. Pulling out a phial from her bag.
"What's the price?" asked David. Rumple shared a looked with Belle who had after all been the one to make the antidote.
"Normally I'd consider it quite the favor but...considering Henry undoubtedly doesn't want to lose his other grandfather. I'll simply ask you keep this in mind the next time you want to question mine and Belle's integrity."
"Done," said Snow and Rumple wondered how long that was actually going to last as Belle handed over the phial for Charming to drink from.
"Great now that that's sorted can we PLEASE get back to finding Henry?" demanded Regina.
They all fell back into following the former fairy however Rumple noticed his son looking at him almost as if he were...impressed. It seems Rumple made the right call not demanding a huge price.
OUAT
They eventually made it to Pan's compound as before with a wave of his hand all the lost boys fell asleep.
"Thanks Gold," said Emma as they entered the area and began to search it for signs of Henry.
Suddenly a muffled shout could be heard.
"Help!" heading a little farther on they found a blond girl of about twelve in a cage. She looked shocked to see them all.
"You're an... an adult."
"My name's Emma. I'm looking for my son," said the Savior stepping forward.
"Wendy?" asked Bae and Rumple stared curiously at his son along with the rest of the group. How would he know the girl.
"Do I know you?" asked the girl.
"It's Baelfire," said Bae stepping closer and breaking the cage before helping the girl out.
"You two know each other?" asked Emma. The girl gasped.
"Bae! Yeah. Yeah, we do. Can it really be you? I thought I'd never see you again." Rumple watched the pair share a hug.
"What are you... wh... what are you doing here?" asked Bae.
"Well, I... I came back to save you," said the girl.
"You did that for me?" asked Bae. Rumple remained confused.
"Well, I couldn't bear for you to be without a family, not after you told us that your mother and father were both dead."
"You told her I was dead?" asked Rumple feeling like he'd been punched in the gut. Neal shrugged.
"It was easier than telling the truth...that my father had abandoned me."
"I still think we're missing something here though," said Belle. "How are you acquainted?"
"Wendy's family the Darling's took me in when I first landed in the Land Without Magic." Rumple suddenly recalled his son's description of events back when they were in Storybrooke.
"In that case I'm grateful," he said.
"Hey, Wendy, since you've been here, have you seen my son? His name's Henry." asked Bae.
"You have a son?" asked Wendy. Bae nodded.
"Yeah. Pan needs his heart."
"Has he said anything about the heart of the truest believer?" asked Belle.
"No. I'm sorry. He never mentioned anything about a heart." Rumple didn't buy it the girl was shifting as she spoke and didn't meet Bae's gaze.
"She's lying. Where is he?" he said stepping towards her only for Charming to jump in the way.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. What the hell are you doing?"
"I've carried enough lies in my life to recognize their burden. She knows where Henry is."
"Is that true?" asked Bae looking slightly betrayed.
"You don't understand," said Wendy breaking down.
"You're helping Pan?" asked Snow.
"He's keeping John and Michael alive, only if I do as he says." Well Rumple could at least see where she was coming from there.
"Trust me, whatever he's promised, he will go back on his word."
"And why should I trust a man who abandoned his own son?" demanded Wendy.
"Because your brothers did. They trusted a woman named Piper. They helped her get this box so we can defeat Pan," said Regina.
"They're okay?" asked Wendy looking relieved.
"For now, and only if we succeed," replied Rumple.
"Wendy... we will save John and Michael, I swear to God. But right now, I really need your help. Please." begged Bae. Wendy sighed.
"Pan told Henry that... he needs his heart to save magic. But it's a lie. He needs it to save himself."
"What do you mean?" asked Hook.
"Pan's dying. He needs the heart of the truest believer to absorb all the magic in Neverland. And once he does... he will be immortal, all powerful."
"That's a scary thought," said Belle.
"And what happens to Henry?" asked Snow. Wendy looked apologetic.
"Well, it's a trade. When Pan lives, Henry will die."
OUAT
Wendy directed them to Skull Rock. Hook, David and Mary Margaret, stayed behind to look after the lost boys while Regina, Emma, Neal, Gold, and Belle made their way to where they could see an island in the middle of a lagoon.
"So can we just magic our way over?" asked Emma.
"No, the magic around the island is too powerful," said Gold.
"And the water is too choppy for a boat," said Bae, "Pan got in presumably through flight."
"Then how do we get across?" asked Belle.
"We have to tell our deepest secret and it should make a bridge. At least that's what I remember Pan once saying," said Neal. Emma did NOT love this idea however if it got her to Henry she'd do anything.
"Why don't I start?" said Belle. "I've probably got the least to hide but…I suppose there is one thing." She turned to look at Gold. "You've always been so impressed by how you think I've never doubted being with you but the truth is the day you let me go. I did have a moment where I considered leaving." There was a rumbling and part of a stone bridge formed.
"I'll go next," said Regina who turned to look at Emma. "I'm...angry with how you and your parents still are treating me despite me helping you. Not allowing me to see Henry and such. It makes it all the more difficult to bother fighting to remain good when it doesn't seem like I'm going to be given a fair shot for my troubles."
More rumbles and the bridge further built itself. Emma sighed that was probably a fair enough assumption. She'd been wary of Regina but after they got back from Neverland perhaps a more even custody arrangement was in order.
Then Gold spoke.
"Belle, Bae, you both know that I love you and Henry. And I want to believe that if I could I'd give up the power of the dark one. But the truth is I'm not sure that I can. Not sure if I really am strong enough. Even after all this time. Deep down. I'm still the same coward."
The bridge further built itself. They were getting close. Neal was next.
"Right, Emma. You know I love you. The truth is, I never stopped. I know I've hurt you terribly and for that I am incredibly sorry. But I'm never going to stop fighting to make it up to you and regain your trust and hopefully your love."
Emma felt her heart swell even as she remained heavily conflicted. She was already speaking even as the bridge built itself for Neals's secret. One more would complete it.
"When I heard you might be here, and that you might still be alive, I knew I should be happy. But instead I was terrified. I didn't understand why until now. From the moment I saw you in New York, in the instant you stepped back in my life, I knew. I knew I'd never stopped loving you. And before I even had a chance to take a breath, I... I lost you once more, and all that pain that I had pushed down for all those years, it just came... rushing back, and I... I didn't know if I could go through it again. I love you. I probably always will.
My secret is that a part of me wished you were gone because it would be easier for me to put you behind me than to face all the pain that we went through all over again."
To her surprise there was no hurt on Neal's face. Only understanding.
"That's fair. But we can work all that out after we've rescued our son." He nodded to the now fully formed bridge which they all hurried across.
OUAT
Belle found herself holding Rumple's hand as they hurried across the bridge. This was it. The moment they'd find out if they'd truly managed to avoid the prophecy.
They reached the island and approached a door in the rock. When they opened it they found their way blocked by a protection spell. Regina tossed a fireball at it.
"Whoa! Careful with that!" exclaimed Bae as they all ducked and the fireball ricocheted off the barrier and over their heads.
"Try all you want, but Pan's magic is too powerful. At least for you," said Rumple before stepping across the threshold.
"Wha..." began Regina.
"How did you do that?" asked Emma. Belle tried to think of what they had Rumple didn't and it came to her.
"The spell is designed to keep anyone who casts a shadow from entering right?"
"Indeed," said Rumple smiling slightly at her for figuring it out.
"And you don't have one. You were telling the truth about ripping your shadow off." said Bae. Rumple nodded.
"And Pan knows it. That's why he cast the spell he did. This isn't about keeping you out. It's about drawing me in. He knows I won't give up the chance to finish what I came here to do." Belle watched as realization seemed to hit Bae.
"You really did come here to save Henry." There was relief on Rumple's face as Bae said it.
"I did. I gave you my trust with that box. Now I need you to give it back. I swear to you I will bring back Henry." Bae and him locked eyes for a moment before his son extended the box only for Regina to grab it.
"You better come through, Gold. Or I'll make whatever Pan has planned for you look like child's play. You understand me?" Rumple took the box.
"Well, a simple "good luck" would've sufficed." Belle moved towards him and Rumple stepped back over the barrier so that she could touch him. She reached up and ran a hand through his hair the other cupping his cheek.
"Be careful. I believe you can come back to me. This won't be the end."
"Ever my optimist," said Rumple leaning down to kiss her briefly. Then he pulled away looking between his son and wife.
"Whatever happens I love you both." Then he turned and headed inside skull rock.
OUAT
"So what are we supposed to do now?" demanded Regina.
"I agree we can't just stay here doing nothing," said Belle who was examining the barrier hoping for a clue on how to breach it.
"What about the spell my father used to rip off his shadow? Belle, Regina do either of you know it?"
"You think if I knew how to do that, I wouldn't have done it already?" scoffed Regina. Belle shook her head.
"I just saw him cut it off with his dagger I didn't hear the incantation. No what we need to do is find another way for us to meet the conditions of this barrier. Something outside the box."
"How do we lose our shadows?" asked Bae. Then it hit her.
"The moon."
"The moon?" asked Regina.
"The moon is what causes our shadows. Without it we meet the conditions to pass the barrier." said Belle. Emma nodded catching on.
"So we just need to find a way to block it out using magic."
"What, you mean like an eclipse? Is that even possible?" asked Bae
"Maybe," said Regina.
"So?" asked Emma.
"I need help." said Regina.
"With magic?" queried Emma in surprise.
"It requires a lot. I guess we're about to find out how much those lessons I gave you paid off. Follow my lead."
"She's not wrong they are trying to alter the very forces of nature," said Belle stepping back to allow the magic users to do their thing.
"Do you think it will work?" asked Bae.
"It'd better. I don't like the idea of your father and Henry all alone up there with Pan."
OUAT
Pan led Henry to a place called skull rock inside of which was a gigantic hourglass of trickling golden sand.
"This is it. The place where you're going to save magic." said Pan.
"Why does it have to be here?"
"Well, because this is the location from which Neverland's magic emanates."
"And what's the hourglass for?" asked Henry who was still unsure about this. On the one hand he wanted to help Wendy who might die before his family had a chance to save him.
"Marks how much time we have left before Neverland's magic runs out."
"It's almost empty." Pointed out Henry. Pan looked around.
"Is something wrong?" asked Henry suspicion niggling at him.
"No. Come with me." He led Henry further in before sitting him down in an alcove.
"There's something I need to take care of before we get started, okay?"
OUAT
Rumple's heart hammered in his chest as he mounted the stairs to face his father. There was no doubt in his mind but it didn't mean that he was excited to properly face the man that abandoned him. He came out into a large room with an hourglass where Pan stood waiting.
"Hello, laddie. Oh, I see you've come bearing gifts."
"Where's Henry?" demanded Rumple not in the mood for Pan's games.
"Oh, you mean my great-grandson? You still haven't told the others who I really am? Not even your own son. Why?" Rumple chose not to enlighten the man that he had in fact told Bae who he was. The less Pan knew the better. So he simply replied.
"Because you're nothing but a coward to me."
"We both know if that were true, I'd already be in that box." Rumple scoffed.
"You don't think I can do it? You let me inside just to, uh, taunt me?" Pan shook his head a look of earnestness crossing his face.
"No. To see you again, to give you one last chance. Stay with me. Let this go. Let's start over," at this Rumple actually laughed.
"Do you think I want to be with you? Setting aside the fact I have someone far better who actually cares for me. Do you truly think that I could ever forgive you after you abandoned me?"
"I'm disappointed, Rumple. After all these years, I thought you'd be more... understanding, considering you did the same thing to your son. You traded Baelfire for the power of a dagger, and I traded you for youth. We're a lot more alike than you care to admit." Rumple shook his head reminding himself of Belle's words.
"We are nothing alike!"
"Oh, of course we are. And it's nothing to be ashamed of. Neither one of us was cut out to be a father, m'boy," said Pan with a smile.
"I regretted leaving my son the moment I let him go. I spent my life trying to find him, to get him back. And what did you do? You forgot about me," he told Pan vehemently.
"I never forgot about you! Why do you think I call myself "Peter Pan"?!" exclaimed his father. But Rumple wasn't going to fall for the manipulation.
"Don't think for a moment I believe it's because you care for me."
"But I do. All you have to do is put down that box, and you'll see it's true. We can make the fresh start you always wanted, together, just as we planned." But it was too late for that. It had been too late the day Malcom had traded Rumple to the shadow.
"Oh, I'm gonna make a fresh start. Just not with you." He waved his hand over Pandora's box to open it but nothing happened.
"I don't understand."
"Cause you don't have it," said Pan smirking as he held up an identical box to Rumple's horror.
"You switched them?"
"Follow the lady. Still having trouble believing. In Neverland, all you have to do is think of something to have it. Even something fake. But the real one... Well, let's see what it can do." Pan opened the box a red mist coming out.
"No!" cried Rumple he'd failed.
OUAT
Belle watched as Emma and Regina successfully created an eclipse blocking their shadows and allowing them to enter Skull Rock. They raced up the steps and into a chamber with a giant hour glass where they found Henry standing with Pan holding his own heart in his hand. Rumple was nowhere to be found.
"HENRY NO!" they all yelled and the boy stopped.
"Dad! Moms! Grandma!"
"We're here buddy. And I need you to listen to me. Pan is lying to you." Pan scoffed.
"Oh, pleasure to see you, too, Baelfire, not to mention the Savior, the Evil Queen, and the wife of the Dark One."
"Henry, you need to get away from him now. He's trying to hurt you," warned Emma.
"No. The heart of the truest believer. It's what's gonna save magic and save Wendy."
"No, it's not. Wendy is just fine. She was lying because Pan blackmailed her. This was never about magic, Henry. You have to believe us. The only person Pan's interested in saving is himself." said Regina. Henry looked unsure.
"That's not true," said Pan.
"Oh really? Henry who is more likely to be lying your family who loves you or the fiend that kidnapped you?" asked Belle.
"Belle's right. Pan can't live without you dying. If you give him your heart, it's gonna kill you," said Bae.
"They're trying to stem your belief, Henry. But don't let them. Remember, every hero gets tested." Hissed Pan.
"Henry... I know what being a hero looks like, and this isn't it." said Emma.
"Why would they lie?" asked Henry.
"Because that's what adults do, Henry. You know that better than anyone."
"Well then that outs you as a liar too Malcom? You're hardly a child. Did you tell Henry about how you abandoned his grandfather for eternal youth? Speaking of which where is your son? We all saw Rumple come up here to save Henry."
"What have you done with my grandpa?" asked Henry now looking exceptionally wary. Pan's eyes narrowed.
"Always the clever one daughter in law. My darling son has been...contained. As for you Henry. I wanted this to be your choice. To let you feel like the hero. It would have been more powerful if you shoved it in. Even better to see the despair of your family as you did yourself in. But really, I just needed you to remove your own heart." And with that he grabbed Henry's hand and pulled it towards him forcing the boy to push the heart into Pan's chest.
"NO!" the adults yelled as Henry collapsed and Pan laughed floating up into the air.
Author's Note: So a few changes. Emma straight up turns down Hook here. Like I said this isn't gonna even be a possible CaptainSwan. Hook get's called out for his atrocious behavior towards Spinner!Rumple which I felt was never properly addressed. I moved the truth bridge to the end here because I do love that idea. I hope you like the truths I came up with. Pan ends up just needing Henry to remove his own heart because while I needed to stick to the OG script to a degree as said I've been making him a tad less gullible. Also Belle calls out her father-in-law again which is always delightful! Thanks as usual to my readers and commentors if you like the story PLEASE take a moment to leave a note with your thoughts on it below!