CHAPTER SEVEN: dark hallow

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"This is so cool! The only person to ever meet a mermaid was Harry!" Evie, has practically jumped up and down.

Rumplestilskin had drawn a large map, showing the Mermaid how to get to Storybrooke. 

"That's StoryBrooke?" The mermaid, Ariel, asked.

"Can you get there?" Rumplestilskin asked.

"It's far. I'll have to cross over realms to get there, but yes, I can make it," Ariel nodded.

"If all went according to plan, Storybrooke will be surrounded by a cloaking spell. When you arrive, surface closer to the shore, then you're inside its bounds."

"And what would you like me to bring you back?"

"An object to help us defeat Pan."

Evie raised an eyebrow. "How the hell is she supposed to know what it is?"

"Well, I'm going to need a little more than that to go on."

"I'm sorry. Pan has ears everywhere. I can't risk telling you."

"Then how?" Ariel asked.

"Find a woman named Belle and then give her this," He tosses Ariel a sand dollar. "She'll know what to do."

"Belle. Storybrooke. Got it. And Eric?" She turned to Regina. "Where will I find him in this new world?"

"Well that comes after you've succeeded. Incentives are important. The bracelet will only give you legs for twenty-four hours."

"How do I know you will uphold your end of the bargain when I'm back?"

Evie looked to her mother, waiting for her answer.

"Guess you'll just have to trust me." Regina says.

Ariel turns and dives into the water.

"So, is he coming back to camp with us?" Evie questioned.  "Because Ben-"

"Would like to attack him?" Regina smiled, sarcastically.

"What?" Rumplestilskin asked.

"Why are all of you surprised that we want you hurt you? From what we understood, you all left us, didn't want us-"

"I did. I do-" Regina begins.

"That's not the point! The point is, for years, that's what we thought. So, of course we wanted you all to suffer, be in pain. And not to mention, you all came for a boy, who, isn't even your son. For a few of you."

"Henry is my grandson-" Rumple informed.

"As Mary and David are," Regina continued.

"And for Hook? Exactly! He came for a boy who isn't his son," Evie says. "Not in the family like whatsoever. I don't know how Harry still isn't trying to attack him."
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"Pan's Shadow? That's your way off the island?" Emma questioned.

"Unfortunately, that's the only way." Neal replied.

"Uh, we, thought you learned a way to navigate the stars." David speaks.

"I know how to navigate the stars, but I can't fly."

Harry almost laughed at the response.

"I'm guessing that's where the Shadow comes in," Mary says.

"That's why we have to capture it."

"Capture it? We've never been within ten feet of Pan unless he wanted us to be. Sneaking up on him to steal his shadow? That seems insane."

"Except that Pan's Shadow is rarely with him. It's an entity unto itself. It can carry out his will from miles away." Hook explained.

"What does that mean for us?" David questioned.

"It means we can get his shadow without having to be anywhere near Pan. As long as we know where to look. I know where to look." Neal says.

"Ok. You and I are on shadow duty." Emma said.

Neal and Emma stand.

"As am I. This trek won't be easy. You could use another veteran of the island." Hook quickly says.

Harry did laugh at that.

"Thanks, man." Neal says.

"Oh, I'll go," Ben smiled, brightly. Even if getting to know his older brother, right now was bad timing.

Carlos glanced at Harry, who looked uninterested (to anyone else) in what was happening. "You want me to come with you?"

"And in the meantime we'll give Tinker Bell a heads up. See if she can make good on her promise to get us into Pan's camp." David spoke, as he gestured to himself, Mary and the teens.

"Harry? Carlos?" Ben questioned, he glanced at Chad.

"Yeah. Yeah. I'm coming," Harry dismissed, purposely not looking at his father.

Hook, who was smiling.

"Okay. We meet back at Tink's, then we get Henry, and get the hell back to Storybrooke," Emma says.

So, Emma, Neal, Hook, Harry, Ben and Carlos all went in one direction. As David, Snow, Mal, Uma, Gil, and Jay went into another direction.
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"This is awkward," Uma crossed her arms.

"I can't believe Carlos went with them," Mal shook her head. "I mean, I get that he likes them-"

"It's so obvious, right?" Jay teased.

Snow and David were packing.

"Hey, you need help with--" David began.

Mary Margaret had quickly snatched up her bag. "No, I can handle my pack. Thanks." she gets up and walks away from him.

"Mary Margaret."

Mary Margaret joins Emma on the opposite side of camp.

"How long is this going to go on?" Emma asked.

"What?" Mary asked back.

"Not going to pack?" Hook walked over to Harry.

Harry gestured to the sword on his hip. "Already packed."

"That's all?"

"What else is there to take?" Harry reached out, pulling Carlos into his side. As the other had gone to make sure Hook and Harry weren't arguing.  "I've got Carlos already."

"I am not part of you packing up."

"You are pocket sized." Harry smiled at him.

Uma threw her head back, turning and grabbing Mal. As Jay had with Gil. Neither wanted hear Snow and Emma talking about David hiding his injury. Or, his near, death sentence.

Hook had walked up to Neal.  Harry and Carlos walking behind him.
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They had gone to the cave, where Neal had spent his time when in Neverland.

"Something tells me we won't find Pan's Shadow in here, mate," Hook sarcastically commented.

"Yeah, we're looking for something else. It's a coconut that's carved in two. One part holds a candle, the other part goes on top--" Neal began to explain.

"Yeah, your start map." Ben nodded. "We saw it. Confusing to read it as a map, though."

"We hid it. I'll go grab it," Emma leaves.

"I owe you thanks for being so understanding," Hook tells Neal.

"Oh no," Carlos dropped his head into his hands.

"Understanding about what?" Neal asked

"Emma and me." Hook spoke, as if it explained everything.

"Emma and you?"

"Our dalliance."

Neal looks on in confusion.

"You don't know do you? Well, this is awkward. The two of us shared a kiss. Apologies, I assumed she told you."

"Honestly, it probably slipped her mind. We're kind of focused on getting our son back."

"No matter who we went with, there's going to be drama." Ben hugged, crossing his arms.

"Of course." Hook replied to Neal.

It was when Emma had walked back in, but paused when seeing the two speaking, he noticed the tense air. "Everything alright?"

Neal turns from Hook.. "Couldn't be better." he moved to take the coconut.

"Here it is: your star map."

"It's not a star map. It's what we're gonna use to trap Pan's Shadow," Neal puts it in his bag.

"What?" Carlos questioned.

"A coconut? Are you daft?" Hook asked.

"You came to Neverland on a pirate ship through a portal, but you draw the line at a magic coconut?"

"Fair enough. What's out next stop on this mission?"

"Dark Hollow."

Hook gives Neal an incredulous look.

"Really? Why couldn't it be called something like Sunshine Valley or Rainbow Cove? What exactly is it?"

"Is she not getting it?" Carlos asked.

"Just what it sounds like. The darkest spot on the entire island. Any light that makes it's way in is snuffed out by the shadows that call it home. Even I manage to avoid it." Hook answered.

"Well, time to break tradition. Dark Hollow it is. That's where we're gonna find Pan's Shadow, right?"

"Yeah, it's the only way we'll ever get back to Storybrooke."

They exit the cave.

"I'm starting to think we should have just stayed with Pan," Carlos huffed.
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David had tried to hand the canteen of water to Mary, but she had just walked passed him, in saying that she was fine.

"Are you?" David asked. "Because you've hardly said two words to me since the Caves. Hell, since yesterday. Look, I know you're upset I didn't tell you I was poisoned, and even though it might seem like it wasn't fair, that's all I was trying to do. Be fair."

Mary stops walking. "I think Tinker Bell's is that way."She starts walking again.

David pauses a moment and sighs before following after her.

"Okay, you know what?" Uma asked. "Stop with this temper-tantrum," she tells Snow. "If you want to argue once off the island, do it. But, I am not spending this entire mission, to two grown adults arguing."
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Neal had been in the front of the large line of ground, Emma behind him, and Hook behind her. Harry was behind his father, with Carlos at his side.

"Why not walk with your brother?" Carlos questioned Ben.

Ben shrugged. "I feel like it's not the time to do that."

"We're gonna have to cut our way through," Neal says.

Emma unsheathes her cutlass, nearly hitting Hook in the face. Harry, even though he laughed, had pulled his father a step back.

"Here. Use this." Emma handed it to Neal.

Neal paused when he had seen it. The carefully lived to take it, shocked at seeing it. "My cutlass. You find it in the cave?"

"No, actually, Hook gave it to me." Emma says.

"Since when are you sentimental?" Neal asked.

"I thought Emma would wish to have something to remember you by."

"Oh, thanks. She's got me now," he goes to cut through the brush.

"What was that about?"emma turned back.

"I assumed he had heard my secret. I also assumed that you'd told him of our shared moment," Hook says.

"He did, we weee there. It was awkward," Ben nods.

"Why would you assume that?" Emma asked.

"Because I was hoping it meant something." Hook replied.

"Oh, my God," Harry huffed, shouldering pass the two.

He held Carlos's hand in his own, and Ben simply followed after.

"They're having a moment," Harry gagged and he neared Neal. Who frowned, sad.

"Harry," Carlos gently elbowed him. A scowl in his face as he spoke with a lecture-like tone.

"What?" Harry then looked over at Carlos.

"You can't just say things like."

"So, is Rumplestilskin on this island?" Ben asked.

Neal sighed. "Yeah," he breathed out, he racked a hand through his hair. "He's here."

Ben nodded.

"Why?" Neal asked.

"It's crazy. Isn't it?" Ben said instead. "That, we are brothers."

Neal looked to the other. "Yeah." He said, hesitate.

Oh, Ben thought. Neal didn't believe that he was his brother.

Neal had continued to walk. "Guys!" he walks over and presents the cutlass. "I think I found it."

they walk through the brush and into Dark Hollow, dead trees surround them. Wind snuffs out their lanterns. "The Dark Hollow."

"So this is where the victims of Pan's Shadow reside?" Hook asked.

"Yeah. Forced to spend eternity in this darkness. Come on. Let's be sure not to join them," Neal replied.
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"I think we're almost at Tink's. I can see why she picked this area. Nice, quiet jungle. Might make a good spot for a hut, don't you think? Or a tree house, if you'd prefer. Mary Margaret." David says.

But Mary doesn't reply.

"You sure it's a good idea to try and talk to her?"  Chad asked his father.

"I can't leave this island. I have to try and make it right before they leave. I can't leave Neverland." David spoke. "Which is why, I wanted to try and fix it now."

"Snow! When are you going to start talking to me again? When we're storming Pan's camp? When we're grabbing Henry? When? You need to say something!"

Mary Margaret pauses and turns to face him. "Why? You didn't! You didn't tell me anything!"

"At first I was hoping that I could find a cure for the poison, and if I could, then I figured there was no reason to worry you." David explains.

"Okay. But then you did find a cure, and you still didn't tell me!"

"I know."

Chad had turned to Jay and Gil.

"So what? You were afraid to worry me again?" Mary asked.

"No, I--I--I--I didn't think--" Davis shook his head.

"No! You didn't think! You didn't think I had a right to know you can never leave this island? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I was scared!"

"Did you think I wouldn't stay here with you? After everything we've been through, did you think I would ever leave your side?"

"Come on," Uma huffed, crossing her arms.

"We don't have time for this," Jay questions.

"No, I knew you wouldn't. That's what scared me. And I didn't want that for you--I didn't want you to be stuck on this island with me. The price of this cure was something I didn't want to force on you." David tells Mary.

"Love means being together."

"Okay, let's let there two talk and we'll find Tink."

The four walked pass the two adults, while they continued to speak.
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"So we just wait for Pan's Shadow to show up?" Emma asked.

" Yeah. And when it does, we'll be prepared," Neal takes the coconut from his bag.

"You wanna tell me how that coconut works?" Emma asks.

Neal began to walk away. "We light the candle and the Shadow's drawn to it." he sets it on a dead tree stump. "When it gets close enough, the flame will suck it in. We put the lid on, and it's trapped inside this bad boy."

"Sounds like a fine plan except for one thing. Our lanterns went out. How the devil are we going to ignite that bloody thing?" Hook asked.

Neal  flashes a lighter. "Welcome to the 21st century." Neal tries striking the lighter. It sparks, but it doesn't ignite.

As Emma begins to pace around, looking around at the places the three teens had momentarily stayed back.

"How's it coming over there, guys?" Emma called out.

"Hang on," Neal tries igniting it near the candle wick in the coconut.

"Let me help." Hook gestures for the lighter.

"No-u-I've got it."

"I've only got one hand. I can do better than that."

"You know what? Now's not the time to try to impress Emma." Neal says.

"Oh, bloody hell," Harry shook his head.

"Oh, you think that's what I doing?"

"Really? You're doing this now?" Emma asked, incredulous.

"You heard her. Are we gonna stand here and argue or are we gonna get the candle lit?" Hook snatches the lighter from Neal and attempts to light the candle.

"Harder than it looks, huh, pal? Let me see it.," Neal tries to take the lighter. Hook doesn't let go. They are now tug-of-warring over it. "Give it to me!"

Neal pulls and the lighter goes flying into the carcass of a hollowed out, dead tree stump.

"Okay. Enough! I'll light the candle," Carlos glared at the men. "Grown men acting like toddlers arguing over a toy."

He had immediately lifted up the lighter, only, the wind picked up, rather quickly.

"We really don't have time for this! Is that Pan's Shadow?" Emma questioned aloud. She had drawn her cutlass, pointing it a the shadow of Pan.

Immediately, Harry reached for both Carlos and Ben. Hook reached for Harry to pull him back. And as Harry had gathered a hold of Carlos and Ben. The two had been pulled back as well.

"No! It's the blue fairy having a bad day!" Harry sarcastically called out to Emma.

"Yeah, that's Pan's Shadow!" Neal tells Emma, ignoring the sarcastic response.

Hook draws his blade. "What about the other two?"

The shadows fly around them, the wind pushes all of them off balance and separates the group.

"Harry!" Hook called out, when seeing Harry stumbled into one of the trees.

"He's controlling them!" Neal tells Emma.

Hook moved forward to check on Harry, only to be swept up by the third shadow, and slammed into the wall.

Carlos pulled at Harry, momentarily covering him when the Shadow flew pass them.

Neal gets swept up by the third shadow.
"Emma!"

There weee three shadows, a three adults, Carlos realizes. Either Pan hasn't realized that the group was working with them, or, he didn't view them as threatening enough to separate.

Pan's shadow flies by Emma's face. Emma swipes at it with the cutlass to keep it away. The other two shadows start ripping Hook's and Neal's shadows from their bodies. Both men are screaming in pain.

"Emma! Take the kids! Get out of here!" Neal yelled.

"Just go!" Hook yells.

Immediately, Carlos tried to use the lighter, but it continued to immediately be put out. It was Ben who noticed that, as Hook and Neal screamed in pain, Emma had opened up the coconut.

Carlos is suddenly swooped up, but doesn't get very far as Harry slashed his sword at the shadow. The shadow instead lifts Harry, pinning him to the tree.

"Harry!"

Harry feels a sudden, sharp, terrible pain. He yelled out in pain.

Emma holds her hand above it, trying to use magic to ignite the flame. The wick ignites and Pan's shadow takes notice. It drops Harry, who fell to the ground with a thud, as Carlos immediately had tried to catch him, and failed, as he too ends up collapsing to the ground.

The shadow struggles to try and avoid capture but gets sucked in anyway. Emma puts the lid on it. The other two shadow's disappear, dropping Neal and Hook as their own shadows re-enter their body.

"Are you okay, Harry?" Carlos questioned in worry.

"How did you do that?" Neal asked Emma.

"...Regina..."

"She's teaching you magic?"

"Yeah, I guess she is."

When Hook caught his breathe, and could stand up, he immediately went to Harry, who Carlos had tilted his head to check for any injured to the back of his head and neck.

When a hand pressed to Harry's cheek, bringing his face up. "Are you alright?"

The answer was clearly no. Because Harry didn't make a comment to insult Hook, nor did he remove his head from Hook's hand.

"He doesn't have any injuries," Carlos spoke.

Except maybe a hit to the head, a since he hadn't moved from his father.

"Relax, Car, you worry to much," Harry turned his head to the other. Turning his hand palm up, so that, he could hold Carlos's hand.

"Stop giving me so many reasons to," Carlos clearly tried to go for a lecture tone trying to tell the boy how he was idiotic. But, is stopped by the smile of Harry.

He stared momentarily.

Hook looked in between the two, a look of realization.
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"You really believe Belle can succeed?" Regina questioned Gold.

"Yes, I do." Gold said.

Before, less than an hour ago, the two had bene questioning Evie, about their apparent kids. And Evie had asked her own questions.

"Are you sure it's not your feelings blinding you?" Regina questioned Rumplestilskin.

"Or perhaps it's my feelings illuminating me."

"You really love her."

"Is that jealousy?"

Evie made a disgusted face. "Gross. I should've stayed with the others."

Regina scoffs. "Of Belle? I think not."

"No, no. Of having someone."

"You're a bitch," Evie immediately tell Gold.

Before Regina can think of a response, Ariel pops out of the water. "Sorry I'm late. We ran into a few... complications."

The three walked up to the after, at the shoreline as Ari swam to it.

"Did you get it?" Gold asked.

Ariel reaches into her pouch and pulls out Pandora's Box. She places it on the rocky shore.

"Excellent. You fulfilled your end of the bargain." Regina said.

Ariel then retrieves the bracelet and holds it up. Regina waves her hand and it glows as the spell takes effect. "Now you can have legs whenever you want. Or a fin. Whatever Eric's into these days."

Evie laughed at that.

"Thank you."

"When you return to Storybrooke, seek him out. The rest is up to you." Gold says.

"Are you guys giving a mermaid relationship advice?" Evie asked is disbelief.

"Before I go, Belle wanted me to let you know that Pan has a prisoner on the island. A girl named Wendy. Her brother's are back in Storybrooke. Belle doesn't want to let them down. She wants you to make sure that Wendy is okay." Ariel says.

Regina shakes her head. "All that matters is Henry."

"And now you have a chance to save him. Thanks to me and Belle. So rescuing that girl is the least that you can do."

"I like her," Evie smiled.

"We'll do our best." Gold replied, which made Regina gasps in protest. He turned back to the girl. "Look, um, when you return... tell Belle I love her. And that she was right. I will see her again."

Ariel smiles and then dives in the water to return to Storybrooke.

"You know, I really can't see how Ben in your son," Evie tilted her head, as if examining the man will made it all make sense.
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"Hey, hey, hey, I'm sorry." Neal followed after Emma. "I know I screwed up."

Emma stops walking and turns to Neal. "Yes, you did. You both did. We almost lost our shot at capturing the Shadow because you two were fighting over a lighter."

"It wasn't the lighter we were fighting over, love." Hook says.

Carlos feel anger rise at that. The two had bene stupid enough to fight over a girl, and almost risked thier own souls, but, much more important; Harry's soul getting taken. Or, well, Shadows.

"Okay!" Emma snapped. "Let me be very clear about something: If I had to choose someone... I choose Henry. He's the only love I have room for in my life." she keeps walking.

"You're an idiot," Carlos tells Hook.

"Excuse me?" Hook asked, eyes moving to the other.

Harry glared at his father.

"You're both idiots. You risked, getting your shadows; no-fuck that. Pan could torture you and peel your skin off with a cheese grater, and light your bones to fire, for all I care. But, you both risked Harry and Ben getting either souls taken! For what? A girl? That's the dumbest shit I've ever heard!" Carlos snapped.

"Come on, Harry, Ben," Carlos jerked his head to the side.
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"I was wondering when I would see you again," tinker bell tells; snow, charming, Uma, Gil and Jay. "But, if you've come to talk me into helping you before you've found a way off this island I still-"

"We found one." David quickly interrupted. "Or we're about to."

"I'm not sure I like the sound of: 'about to'," Tinker bell says.

"Pan's shadow," Snow speaks up. "Emma went with Hook and Neal-" she paused. "As well as Harry, Carlos and Ben, to capture it. That's like way off the island."

"Why would you tell her that?" Uma asked.

"Capture Pan's shadow? Yeah, I'm not lifting a figure until I see some proof you've actually succeeded."

"You know, normally I would agree with her, but being on this side of things, i want to punch her," Jay says.

"Hey," the sound of Neal panting was heard. He held up the coconut. "Here's all the proof you need. Been a long time, Tink."

"Bae, is that really you?" The fairy smiled as she walked closer.

"How the hell does everyone know this guy?" Jay asked, incredulous.

"Most people call be Neal now," the man replied.

"We did it," Hook suddenly speaks. "Are you finally ready to do your part, Tink?"

"Yes. Yes I am." The fairy nodded. And less then in a direction.

As everyone walked off, Hook paused when Harry went to walk past him. Killian, despite himself let his hook way from his body, catching onto Harry's jacket. "I need to speak to you."

"No thanks," Harry smiled.

"Harry," Hook says, a pleading voice.

Harry tilted his head, confusion laced in his face as to his father's reaction. "What? You injured from having your shadow ripped from you?"

"I hadn't realized that, you-you have to understand, had I know you were here, I would have came back for you." Hook tried.

Harry rolled his eyes, he scoffed, crossing his arms. At points, it was like he believed what his father was saying. Times where his father seemed to actually care about him. But, then Harry was reminded that he was on Neverland, and his father never came back for him.

Harry could see how Carlos was acting as if he wasn't paying attention, but he clearly was. In case Hook did anything that Harry didn't what. (Like, try to hug him again.)

"You know what? Let's just stop. We'll talk about this later, your girlfriend will be upset do we delay saving her son because you wanted to talk."

"Later? When?"

"When we get off this island," Harry moved to turn around.

"Off this island? So you will be coming with?" Hook, couldn't help but smile. Even if his son hated him, he had a chance to see him again. He had a chance to live in the same town as him.

Harry briefly closed his eyes. "Well, Carlos, Mal, Jay, Ben, Gil and Uma still need to find their parents. And I promised I would help them. No matter what."

No matter if he had to spend time with a man he hated. Hook realizes.
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