Once A Lost Girl | Once Upon A Time Story | Peter Pan

03x05 - Call to Action - Past

       The next week was just practice and planning. Planning for going after Snow and Charming. However, I wasn't allowed part in it. At least if I knew something I could, I don't know, try to warn them? Nothing too extravagant or the Queen would know it was me.

        I snapped my fingers, igniting a fire on my fingertips. I let the flame dance, moving along my fingers, intensifying it and calming it as it kept along. The heat licked my skin, but it never burned. I caught it in my palm, extinguishing the flame as quickly as I'd created it. It was a nice little control exercise I'd come up with. So far, it's worked out pretty nicely. At least, I don't just randomly set things on fire when I get frustrated.

        The moon shone high above the forest, bright and bold that night as though it was a reflection of what I wanted to be. It was neither cold nor muggy as I stepped out onto my balcony. Instead, I was met with a quiet, comfortable air. I'd never truly experienced peace, but in this moment I felt I could finally say that I had.

        "Beautiful night, isn't it?" I turned, following the voice, "How was your trip, then dearie? Was it everything you hoped?" Of course. Rumplestiltskin.

        "I didn't take a trip." I said plainly.

        "No, of course, you didn't." He took a few steps in my direction. "At least, that's what he told you to say, didn't he?"

        Fear started crawling up my spine. How could he know? "Who's 'he'?"

        "Why Peter Pan, of course! Did you really think I wouldn't know? It's not every day a girl goes to Neverland."

        "Why would you care?"

        "Let's just say I'm," He rounded to the other side of the balcony, "invested in your future."

        I looked back out to the moon, wondering what it must feel like to command rather than be commanded. "I don't have a future."

        "Well sure you do, dearie," The Dark One exclaimed, "and all you have to do to make sure you get it is listen to me."

        "Why would I take advice from you? You're the one who put me here."

        "Well, I knew you wouldn't learn to use your magic from me. No, I had to make sure you'd learn, and now you have. There's just one small thing you need to do for me."

        "No. I've heard the stories."

        "Then you know that we've already made a deal. And you owe me compensation."

        "And if I don't?"

        He leaned in, staring me down. I pulled back, unable to look away from his beady eyes. "Then let's just say you'll be involved in an accident you won't walk away from." I swallowed. "Now, then. I need you to go back."

        "Wait, what?"

        "Go back to Neverland. I know ya want to." He smirked. "You left someone there, didn't you?"

        I stared at the floor. I did leave someone. I left Baelfire. "How... how could me going back help you? And what about the Queen?"

        "Oh, don't worry about all that. I'll take care of Regina. All that you have to do is go back."

        "How am I going to get back?" I asked.

        "Fortunately for you, I have a way to make a portal." He flourished and a pouch appeared in his hand. "Now all you have to do is sprinkle some of this on the ground, and think about where you want to go. Be careful, dearie. If you aren't thinking about the exact place you wish to go, you won't end up there. There's only enough for the trip there, and the trip back." The Dark One vanished.

        I caught the pouch before it fell to the ground. The way Peter made it sound, it was like I'd die if Rumplestiltskin knew where I'd been. It turns out he knew all along. Well, I couldn't fret over it now. I have something important to do. I have to save Baelfire.

        The next few days I waited, drilling the control exercise amongst other things. I had to get stronger if Bae and I were going to make it out. Steadily, the flame grew brighter, bigger, and hotter. The heat should have melted my skin, but I could control it. It never would, not ever again.

        Every task the Queen set in front of me I conquered. Rip out a heart? Easy. Steal from the other royals? No contest. By the time I'd set out to conquer Neverland I'd done things, horrible things, that no one should ever have to do. It hurt most of the time. The sleeping spell took a while to master, but once I did that was all I used. Less chance you accidentally toss someone's guard off of a terrace that way. The Queen was a little too excited when I did that.

        Tonight was the night. I grabbed my dagger, the pouch of squid ink, and a few other essentials. I glanced over to my vanity. The flowers sat in an empty vase, still thriving. It was an experiment of mine. Put them in a vase, but don't fill it with water. One thought that crossed my mind was the possibility it was a preservation spell. When I asked, however, I got a very curt, "That spell has to be recast and maintained. It doesn't just work forever." and then a demand I continue studying a spell before I ask stupid questions. There seemed to be no other explanation than he was telling the truth. Peter Pan was in love with me.

        I examined each flower, counting petals and checking my journal to make sure the numbers were right. Rose: Healthy. Twenty-one petals. Vibrant Red. Calla Lillies: Healthy. One wrap-around petal. Still black. Violets: Healthy. Five Petals each. One short. Wait.

One Short?

        How could a petal have fallen off? I picked up the vase, checked under my jewelry box, and even checked behind my mirror. Nothing. One was missing. A petal fell off. Does this mean he's slowly falling out of love? I yanked my chair from the vanity and checked the floor. I had to know if it withered. For all I know, a maid could have pulled it off by accident.

        My hand reached for the corner and I heard a crunch. I felt something brittle in my hand. I pulled it out and sat up. It was the violet petal all shriveled and brown. Is it bad to say that hurt? That it hurt to look at the missing petal? Because it did. It stung. It shouldn't matter. I'm going back for Baelfire, not for Peter. Not for Peter. 

        I took off into the forest, slipping away. The walking robe trailed along as I took an indirect path from the forest to the main road. It was quite a ways to the nearest port town, and probably not worth the trip. Still, I needed to make sure that the Queen wouldn't catch me. I took one last look at the castle. This was it. I'm not coming back. I'm leaving for good with Baelfire. I am going to the land without magic. I'm sorry, Snow. You'll have to manage on your own.

        I took a handful of the powder and started thinking about Neverland. I focused on the lagoon, the waterfall, the beauty of the crystal water--anything I could associate with it. It started to glow. I tossed it onto the ground.

        Slowly, the ground gave way, falling piece by piece into an expanse of nothing. The powder started to glow again, shining bright green. I was sure anyone could see it if they were passing by. Too late now. No going back. The wind rushed around me, swirling into the hole. I took a deep breath and jumped in.