The Lost Realm (Once Upon a Time/Peter Pan)

Chapter 33

Wait, what happened to Floristian then?" Drew asks.

Everyone's eyes light up with curiosity, the spark of the moment must've refrained all of our brains from asking the very question that seemed to be the source of all this chaos.

Peter takes a deep breath, exchanges glances with Graham, and begins his explanation.

"When the evil queen found out about Floristian, she grew upset, as you can tell. So she found me and ordered me to open a Djoiak portal."

"A what?" I ask.

"A Djoiak portal. It's a portal created from the darkest of magic. It destroys things by seeking out light, and pushes it away. To where? Well I guess we know now."

"How come you can open one, and is it reversible? If Drew and our parents survived, surely there must be something left?" Ana asks.

"The portal is created from the stone of Skull Rock. Prior to Floristian I had never tried to open one. Of course I knew how, I know everything about Neverland, but I had never attempted it nor had a reason to. However, there may still be a chance your realm still exists, like I said there has never been another Djoiak, so no one knows what happens when a realm is consumed by one."

"Well, we went to a land of complete and darkness want to explain what that was?" Papa Charming challenges.

"Hmm, well Drew ended up in Neverland, which means the portal has some sort of scattering method. I can only assume you two ended up in a nether, somewhere between two realms."

"Wait how did you escape?" I ask.

"Apparently we bothered some of the dark spirits, they offered their assistance in our passage, and we got transported home," Snow answers gently. I guess the dark spirits don't enjoy positivity, especially the intense form brought forth by my parents. I don't blame the dark entities, they sound like me on a bad morning. Okay, every morning.

"They're called Goliaks, I've had the wonderful pleasure of coming across them. So yes you were definitely in a nether." When was Peter in a nether? Sometimes I forget he knows my past, but I hardly know any if his. Sure in our "cave talks" he told me about his past, but he never went into detail of how he got to Neverland, or became the powerful sorcerer he is.

"I know this is probably way over due, and I know it won't mean much," Graham begins, "but I would like to apologize for any pain I've caused you all."

"Aww Graham, you don't owe us anything," Snow responds sweetly, "You saved me from the queen, and you saved our family from her. Plus she had your heart, you had no choice-"

"Wait what do you mean she had your heart? Please tell me we are talking emotional sense not actually organs," Sam interjects.

Everyone except my sisters and I laugh.

"Haha no, people with magic who wish can steal a person's heart from their chest. It gives them complete control over the person if they wish, and they reserve the right to crush it at any moment," Charming explains.

"C'mon let's sort through this castle, I'll bet we can find her evil stash, and maybe even improve the decor of this place," Snow cringes and we all laugh.

We spend the rest of the day walking through the castle. Altering things, as well as exploring the massive building. Eventually we all grow hungry and enjoy a feast in the gorgeous dining hall.

We sit and share funny stories. Hook and Peter tell us about all their disputes, which now seem childish but apparently were very heated in the moment. My sisters and I tell of our Earthly lives. Sylvia shares a story of an ex-boyfriend, which causes Hook to start a mini question and answer session of almost every guy Sylvia has dated. She hasn't dated many, but everyone could sense Hook's jealousy. An emotion that earned him a glare from Papa Charming. Though my seat next to Ana and Graham makes me question their relationship. The two laugh at each other the whole dinner, and exchange what I assume are "flirtatious glances." They're relationship I will need to watch a lot more closely. Ana is my twin, and I won't have this hunter shooting love arrows at her.

What is it with my sisters and falling for super attractive guys from strange lands? Then again the same could be said of me. Must be a genetic thing, or maybe Earth has crappy guys. Either one works.

Eventually we all finish eating, and the lost boys, shockingly, suggest a bonfire. My sisters and I eagerly agree and soon we are dancing around the flames.

I go to sit when I feel an arm wrap around my shoulder.

"Well hello love, haven't talked to you since the whole near death experience thing," Peter sits next to me pulling me towards him. It was true, we hadn't had a one on one conversation since the cave.

I rest my head on his shoulder and watch the party.
"You know," I start, "I was thinking. You never told me how Neverland came into existence. Or how you're life began."

A scowl reaches across his face. "It isn't a very happy tale."

"Sad tales are the ones that need to be told the most," I lock eyes with him. "Cause keeping them to yourself, can make a sad story turn into a nightmare."

He smiles, "Follow me, I want to show you something."