Alice's plan to overthrow the Queen of Hearts is thwarted by a dashing pirate with a hook. Years later, after the curse is broken, they reunite once again.
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I almost expected Pan to jump out of the shadows as we made our way back to camp, taking Neal with him. As hard as it was to reveal our darkest secrets to the entire group, it felt too easy walking out of there with him. But we made it back with no issues whatsoever, and Neal is telling us his grand plan to get off this island, which isn't going well.
"Pan's shadow? That's your way off the island?" Emma asks incredulously.
"Unfortunately, it's the only way," he responds from next to her. How is a shadow going to help get us home?
"I thought you knew how to navigate using the stars," David remarks.
"I know how to navigate the stars, but I can't fly," Neal responds, and realization washes over me.
"But Pan's shadow can," I surmise. He nods his head, and I shrug nonchalantly. "Sounds logical to me."
"That's why we have to capture it," he adds.
"Capture it? We've never been within ten feet of Pan unless he wanted us to be," Emma comments. "Sneaking up on him to steal his shadow? That sounds insane."
"Except Pan's shadow is rarely with him," Killian chimes in. "It's an entity unto itself. It can carry out his will from miles away." My eyes widen slightly at his explanation. I've never heard of magic like that before. How does one even go about removing their own shadow?
"That's how he gets all the lost boys, I'm guessing?" I ask, and he nods his head.
"Aye."
"So theoretically we can catch his shadow without dealing with Pan?" I ask Neal hopefully.
"If you know where to look. I know where to look," he responds, and I breathe a small sigh of relief. Emma stands up, ready to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Okay, me and Alice are on shadow duty," she says, and I nod my head in acknowledgment. I stand up with a groan. I'm going to have to sit in a hot bath for a full day to get this stiffness out of my muscles. Neal looks up at Emma incredulously.
"Alice? No offense, but she's never caught Pan's shadow before; I have," he argues.
"He's right. He should come with. I'll come along as defense, just in case," I say, compromising. I've never fought off a shadow before, but hopefully my sword will be able to ward it off.
"As will I," Killian says, stepping up. I raise a surprised brow at him. "This trek won't be easy. You could use another veteran of the island," he explains, and I give him a thankful smile.
"Good. Getting the shadow should be easy with all of us," I say through a sigh before turning my attention to David and Snow. Things have been tense between the two since the echo caves, to say the very least. "You two should find Tinker Bell in the meantime. Make sure she keeps her word. And don't kill each other in the process."
