"Neal? That's odd, that's the second time I've heard that name today." Mary told the man, smiling up at him. He looked closer at her, and suddenly something clicked in his mind. There was a picture in Henry's room of this girl, Henry and Emma.
"Wait, aren't you friends with my son?" The man asked, full attention now focused on the girl in front of him. When she looked at him in confusion, he elaborated. "Henry, my son is Henry." The girls eyes widened in response.
"You're Neal? Henry's father? Mr. Gold's son?" The girl asked excitedly. When the man nodded, she closed the distance between them and pulled him into a hug. "Everyone thinks you're dead. Henry told me so this morning." Neal nodded sadly, hugging the young girl back.
"I thought I was dead too. But I'm okay, and I met some friends along the way. I need to find my way back to Henry and Emma. Do you want to come with me?" Neal asked the girl. She immediately nodded, happy to have some company in this strange world. The two pulled apart and Neal began leading the girl the way he had just come.
"Neal? Did where did you go?" A voice suddenly asked, making the two halt and turn around. A woman dressed in warrior clothes walked into the clearing in the woods, and smiled when she saw Neal.
"Sorry Mulan, I thought I heard something so I went exploring. I found Mary here, lying on the ground- Wait. What were you doing there?" Neal suddenly asked, turning to face the girl again. Mulan walked forward and stood next to Neal, curiously looking at the girl in front of them. Quickly, Mary told the two all that had happened back in Storybrooke. Neal seemed shocked that his dad was also the young girls Uncle, but brushed it off so the girl could continue the story. She told him how Tamara and Greg took Henry, and Neal looked angry.
"So that's why Emma is in Neverland. Pan must have taken him. My dad was telling me how Pan has become obsessed with finding some boy. It must be Henry!" Neal said angrily.
"Pan? Neverland?" Mary broke his angry ramblings.
"Neverland is an Island far from here, where boys go if they feel abandoned. I was there years ago, but I don't really remember it much. Peter Pan is the leader of the island and he had a group of boys with him called 'The Lost Boys.' I think there was a girl there too, but I don't really remember much. Just the basics. But my dad said that he's turned really cruel and evil. If he had Henry, I have to get to him. I have to save him!" Neal said, determination clear in his voice as the group walked through the woods and came up to a huge castle. Mary stared wide-eyed at it and Neal laughed at her facial expression, forgetting about his current frustration. "It's my dads old place." He explained. She nodded and followed Neal and Mulan up to the castle. Neal pushed the door opened, and they all made their way through the castle. Mary and Mulan stared in wonder around them, the castle was amazing. Neal felt bitter though, not wanting to be back in this place. But he had to find a way back to Emma, and he knew somehow he'd find it here. Neal led the group into the main room, and began looking around.
"It appears abandoned." Mulan said. Neal sighed as he walked around the room. Mary walked over to the huge window and stared down at the ground as the other two began talking. Her attention was diverted however when an arrow shot through the air by Neals head and he shouted. The group looked over to the source, Mulan unsheathing her sword in the process.
"The first was a warning m'lady." A voice spoke to Mulan, startling them all. A man stood in the room, hood up and arrow notched as it pointed towards the group in general. "Chivalry and all that."
"Who are you?" Mary asked curiously. The man jumped down from the window and pointed the arrow towards Mulan as she lifted the sword. His eyes flickered towards the young girl, whose eyes were trained on the bow and arrows longingly. Mary felt a pull towards them, but she didn't know why. She'd never held a bow and arrow in her life. At least, her Storybrooke counterpart never had. Robin smiled at the girls look of wonder and took his hood off, keeping his aim pointed at Mulan.
"The names Robin."
"No way, Robin Hood." Neal suddenly said, moving over towards the two girls in shock. Robin tilted his head to the side playfully.
"I'd bow, but this quiver is kind of tight." He said sarcastically, grin lighting up his face. Then his face got serious. "Now, what are you doing trespassing in my castle."
"This castle belongs to the Dark One." Mulan said, eyebrows raising up in a challenge. "It is you who trespasses." It was now Robin that looked confused.
"He hasn't been seen since the Queens curse. If he ever shows up I'd be happy to vacate." Robin said, shrugging in nonchalance.
"No, no need. In fact, you can have it." Neal said, honestly not caring. He never liked this castle anyway. "I just, I need to look around for a bit." He continued on.
"And who would you be to grant such title?" Robin inquired, curiosity swimming in his eyes.
"In this land I'm known as Baelfire. I'm his son." Neal admitted. Mary looked over at him, surprised that the name sounded familiar. Why did she know that name? But then the thought passed and she focused back on Robin.
"Heh." Robin snorted, lowering his bow. "My apologies." Then he gestured around the room with his hand. "Go ahead."
"You don't wanna see ID?" Neal asked sarcastically, making Mary snort in amusement. Neal looked over at her and winked.
"Who would claim to be that, and wasn't?" Robin said, making the others laugh.
"Good point." Was Neals response. The three adults continued to talk as Mary looked around the room again. Once again, she was gravitated to the window. She looked out and stared up at the sky, eyes wide with wonder. She always had a fascination with the sky. When she was locked in her room for a year, she would stare out at the stars and make wishes. Wishes for a better life, for a happy ending for not only herself, but everyone else around her. Her happy ending hadn't come yet, but she had faith that it would.
~~~~~Flashback~~~~~
A young girl stared up at the stars from her window sill with a look of sadness on her face. Her one leg dangled over the side of her house, the cool air chilling her skin and leaving goosebumps. But she didn't care, this was her favorite part of her days. She didn't have a family anymore, not really. She had a father, or what people would call a father, but he wasn't really. After the girls mother died, the father became an alcoholic. He stopped caring about his children, and instead took to beating them. The girls older brother had always taken the brunt of it willingly, hoping to spare his younger sister. But the boy was now gone, vanished in the middle of the night without a trace left of him.
The girl had locked herself in her room and cried for days when her brother left her, only bothering to come out when she could no longer stand the thirst and hunger. She began sneaking out of her room in the middle of the night, avoiding her father wrath. He pounded on the door during the days, but she was always to afraid to answer. So instead she stayed hidden. Instead she was lonely.
"Girl, why are you sad?" A voice asked from outside her window, startling her so much that she jumped and lost her balance on the window sill. She began falling from her room on the second story, bracing herself for the fall. She did not scream, she did not cry, she didn't feel anything at all. When she felt like she had been falling for too long, her eyes snapped open. She gasped when her eyes met those of a green-eyed boy.
~~~~~End of Flashback~~~~~
"Stand down little John, we're fine." Robin said, snapping the girl out of her thoughts about the sky. She looked over to the door and saw four men and a little boy. The little boy peeked around a mans legs and Mary sent a smile to him. He shyly smiled back, and then moved back behind the leg. Mary couldn't help but giggle, and Robin Hood caught it. He looked back over to the boy and gestured him over. The boy ducked under the mans legs and ran over to Robin, jumping into his arms.
"Who's this?" Neal asked with smile on his face.
"Merry Men come in all sizes." Robin said, confusing Mary. Merry Men? Who are they? Mary shook her head, she must have been zoned out for a while. "This is my son, Roland." Robin continued, bouncing the boy on his hip.
"I know how to get to Neverland." Neal said, smile widening. The others looked at him in confusion as he stepped away from the door in the wall. Wait.. where did that come from? 'I really need to pay more attention.' Mary thought to her self, smiling in amusement. "I know how to get to Henry." Neal continued.
"How?" Mulan asked, watching as the rest of Robin's men left the room. The little boy was watching Mary, who in turn was watching Neal. Robin noticed his sons distraction, and smiled. He walked over to Mary, and she looked at him curiously.
"I think Roland quite likes you." Robin said with a smile. Mary looked down at the boy and smiled at him. He smiled to and reached out to touch her hair. He pulled slightly and laughed as the curl bounced. "Would you like to hold him?" Robin asked. The girl nodded, and took Roland into her arms. The boy smiled up at her, and she poked the little dimple on his cheek, making him laugh.
"Are you out of your mind?" Robin said, snapping the girls attention back to him. "He's four years old!" Robin exclaimed in exasperation.
"The shadow won't touch him, I promise." Neal reassured.
"How do you know that?"
"Because I won't let him, ok? It's taken me to Neverland before, but I can't bring him here now because I'm a grown up. All Roland has to do is summon it. That's it. I'll take it from there. I'll be the one going to Neverland, not him." Neal said, pointing to himself.
Mary then focused back on the boy, trying to distract him from the men arguing. She moved over towards the window and pointed up at the stars. She told him about the different stars, having studied them from a book she had in her room.
"What's that one?" Roland asked, pointing to the bright one up in the sky. Mary smiled, that was her favorite.
"That's the North Star. It's the brightest of the bunch. A book I read told me it used to lead sailors home. Sometimes when I look up at it, I feel like it's leading me home too." She told the boy, smiling fondly down at him. He smiled back.
"I like that one too. Maybe we can go to it together." The boy said. Mary chuckled and looked back up at the star. Robin suddenly came over and asked for his son. Mary handed the boy over and Robin smiled at her.
"I'll be right here next to the window." Mulan said, gesturing around the room. Mary's expression showed nothing but confusion, so Robin quickly explained what she had missed and that they were going to use the boy to summon Pan's shadow. "Robin and Mary, behind the table. Neal you'll be there under the sill. You'll come right up under the shadow.
"That's a good plan." Robin said, setting his son down and walking over towards Mulan.
"I know." Mulan answered, picking up a table. Robin moved over towards Neal to help him move the chair.
"Hood, man. Thanks again." Neal said genuinely.
"Thank me when your family is back together." Robin replied. Neal snorted slightly at the man's choice of words, and Robin noticed. "What?"
"I'm gonna save them, but back together.. we'll see." Neal said, sitting down on the chair.
"I thought you said you loved them." Robin said, looking at the man in confusion.
"I do, we'll see if I can get Henry back."
"Why wouldn't you?" Mary asked, joining back into the conversation.
"Because kid, I screwed up the first time." He told her with a crestfallen look on his face. "Hopefully I get another chance." He continued, looking down at the floor.
"You will Neal, I know you will." Mary told him, sitting down on the couch next to him. He smiled at the girl, wrapping his arm around her shoulders as Robin started talking to his son.
"You're a good kid, you know that? Henry's lucky to have you as a friend." Neal told the girl.
"No, I'm the lucky one." Mary replied, a small smile on her face as she thought of the boy she grew up with. She then grew serious as she looked over at Neal. "Please find him Neal. Please. Henry is like my little brother, he means so much to me. Your father won't let me go, and it's killing me. Please bring Henry back to me." She asked him desperately. Neal stood up and brought the girl with him.
"Hey, hey! I will." He said, pulling the girl into his arms. "I'll bring him back. I promise." He told her.
"Neal, we have to get ready." Mulan said, getting into her position. Neal nodded as he pulled away from the girl. She sent him a weak smile, and he sent one in return. Mary walked over and stood next to Robin by the table.
"Robin." Neal said suddenly, making everyone look over at him. Robin nodded for him to continue. "Take care of her, will you?" He said, gesturing with his head to Mary.
"Of course." Robin responded, nodding with a stern look on his face. He then pulled the girl down beside him as they all got ready to bring the shadow here. Little Roland stood in front of the wide window, the shadow of the trees casting eery shapes.
"Ok Roland." Robin sighed, closing his eyes briefly hoping for the best. "Say it."
"I believe." The little boy said, and everyone's heads snapped towards the window in anticipation. But nothing happened.
"Maybe if he says it again, just once more." Neal said, determined to get to Neverland.
"Nope. I'm sorry mate." Robin said, quickly walking over to his son, nerves fried with worry. "That's it." Just as Neal was ready to give up, the window burst open and air rushed into the window. The group watched as a shadow as black as night made its way into the room, eyes glowing brightly at the little boy. Robin quickly picked up his screaming son and held on tightly as the shadow tried to take him away. Neal ran forward and tried to get the shadows attention, but it ignored him.
"I got it!" Mulan exclaimed, bringing her sword down over the shadows arms. The shadow retreated as it screamed, but before it could leave, Neal ran to the window and jumped out. His hand just barely latched around the shadow, flying over the trees of the forest, leaving the group of four to stare after him in victory. Neal felt himself soaring higher, up into the stars. They headed straight for the brightest star in the sky, and went straight through it. Then they began their descent, the island now clear to Neal. He sighed, happy yet sad to be back. As a boy, he always wished to go back after his father stole him from there. But now after hearing what Neverland had become, he never wanted to go back. But this was Henry's life at stake, and Neal would do anything to keep him safe.
The shadow dropped him to the ground, Neal rolling through the dirt. He was shocked how dark and dreary the island was. It used to be light, full of color and creatures. But now it was dark and filled with silence. He found that he didn't like it.
"Welcome home, Baelfire." A voice called from behind him. Neal picked himself up to his knees and looked at the boy approaching him from behind. "Pan will be so happy to see you." The boy said with a smirk.
"Felix." Neal said, remembering the boy from so many years ago. His memories were a little clearer being back on the island, but a lot of things were still dull.
"Get up." Felix demanded, taking the mans shoulders and pulling him to his feet. Neal stumbled a bit, and Felix took that time to tie a rope around his hands. Neal mentally laughed, the boy still didn't know how to tie knots! "Now move." Felix said, turning Neal around and pushing him forward. "Feels like just yesterday I welcomed you to the island the first time, Baelfire." Felix chuckled darkly. "Never thought I'd see you again."
"Maybe Pan shouldn't have taken my son. I'm gonna get him back."
"You really believe that? I'm sure your father-" Neal was shocked to hear the viciousness with which Felix talked about Rumpelstiltskin. "has told you all about Pan. Do you really believe he'll just give him back to you?"
"Maybe if I ask nicely." Neal responded, working on the knots around his wrist. Felix chuckled darkly again.
"You may have grown up Baelfire. But it would appear you have grown up stupid." Felix said with dark humor in his voice. This wasn't the Felix he remembered, not at all. What had happened to him? Was Pan like this too? All of the Lost Boys?
"I remember you being a lot nicer. You always had that sister of yours to keep you in check." Felix growled out from behind him, anger obvious in his voice. Neal started remembering the young girl that lived on the island and took care of all the Lost Boys, he was always fond of her. But he couldn't seem to remember her face. "Where is she? Surely she wouldn't let things get like this." Neal stated, finally working the knot undone.
"She's gone." Felix seethed out. This was good. If Felix was angry, he'd be distracted.
"Sorry to hear that. You must miss her." Neal said. But before Felix could respond, he spun around and hit the boy with his hands. Felix fell to the ground, unconscious. Neal took off his jacket and laid it down next to the blonde boy. With one finally glance, he took off into the forest.
"I'm coming for you Henry."
YOU ARE READING
where darkness goes, light follows | PETER PAN ✔️
FanfictionWhat if Peter Pan wasn't always evil? What if something, or someone, was stolen from him? What if the reason Peter Pan was dying, was because he lost hope? Mary Gold was the niece of Rumplestiltskin, or so she believed. She was treated poorly b...
