xxv. heroes destroy love, yes they do

━ ❝ slipped through your fingers like sand ❞

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warning! short chapter!

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ARABELLA RESTED HER head against the bark of the tree, sitting on the ground and staring off into space while Pan paced in front of her. He looked furious, deep in thought when it was brutally clear that their time was crunched. But little did she know, it wasn't just Henry and the heroes he was pondering about, he was worried about her. There was a sudden shift in her behavior that felt off. Sure he made-out with her and that was rather pleasant. It was just that now he could sense that there was something different about her. Something that shouldn't be there or was there before.

He stopped in his steps, looking over at her to only see her dazed expression. There was a darkness lingering in her eyes. And while earlier he didn't think anything of it, now he was concerned. Never had Arabella done anything like that before. Never had she truly wanted to harm people in such a violent way. It wasn't her. But it sure as hell was something her mother's line of sorcerers would've supported.

"Love?" She turned her attention to him, only staring, no trace of happiness on her face, only void. Pan put on a smile, going to crouch down in front of her. "Why don't we go back to the treehouse and stay there for a little while?"

She raised an eyebrow at him. "No," she told him. "Those heroes are going to burn until they are nothing but ashes." Arabella smirked at the thought. "Wouldn't you enjoy that? Then we can get Henry's heart and then we can go to the treehouse and celebrate." She leaned forward, kissing his jaw with that suggesting look in her eyes. "Perhaps some new, loyal lost boys would come in handy."

This is when he knew that this was not the woman he married or fell in love with. This person was someone entirely different and he wasn't going to allow them to stay. "While the idea does sound nice..." then he stopped talking, waving his arm so she fell to the ground unconscious. Pan sighed and then placed a magical cuff on her wrist so she couldn't pose any harm to anyone. With a frown and one last kiss to her forehead, the immortal leader waved his arm again so she vanished, appearing on the deck of the Captain's ship. And then he followed so he could get that heart he desperately needed.

Meanwhile, Regina was tucking Henry into the bed located on Hook's ship. He was giving her a look and she pulled back, smiling down at him. "Oh, I know that look. Five hours of Space Paranoids and too much pizza."

"Pizza's good," Henry replied. Regina laughed, glad to have her son back in one piece. Then she placed her hand over his chest, casting a spell on him. He winced. "It stings. What's that for?" 

The glow of the spell faded away when she answered, "A spell. So no one can ever take your heart ever again." He grabbed her hand and thanked her. Regina smiled again, bending down to kiss him on his temple. "We'll be home soon, my little prince."

She gave him one last look before leaving the room to go onto the deck where Arabella lied, the heroes standing around her looking confused. But Pan was downstairs, watching from the shadows as Henry sat up to adjust his blanket and then lied back down. Right when the boy noticed him standing there, the leader took out his blade and pointed it at him. A sense of desperation was in his eyes because he could not fail. He could not protect or save his wife without this heart. "I'm sorry it had to come to this, Henry."

———

Mary Margaret had moved the former princess but then Arabella had woken up, looking around confused. She hadn't a clue how she got there nor did she remember anything after the heroes left the Thinking Tree. Nonetheless, it seemed as though she was back to normal, standing by the heroes when Neal released Gold from Pandora's box.

Once he appeared, the father and son hugged. Arabella sighed in relief, smiling softly at the sight. "Where's Henry?" Gold asked when they pulled away.

"He's safe. He's safe," Neal told him.

The Dark One gripped Baelfire's shoulder with a smile. "I told you I wasn't gonna hurt the boy."

His son nodded with a frown. He realized that he shouldn't have ever doubted his dad and yet he did. It made him feel guilty. "I know, I'm sorry. Why didn't you tell me Pan was your father?"

Gold looked over at Arabella and saw her gentle smile. She was clutching her hand that kept shaking for an unknown reason. He smiled back at her, knowing that she was trying to be strong, and then turned to Neal. "Because I didn't want you to know I was as bad a father as he was. Because we're both the same; me and him. Because we both abandoned our sons."

"No, you're not the same. You came back for me, Papa." They hugged again and Arabella looked behind her at the lost boys who were watching the scene, waiting to see if anything would happen. Tears filled her eyes when she remembered how she had scared Jordan and the rest of them. Whoever that was, it wasn't her. And the thought terrified her. What was happening to her?

She sniffled and went over to her son when him and Neal pulled apart. The two of them hugged and she found herself fighting the urge to sob. "I'm so sorry."

"It's not your fault."

Arabella held him tightly but then felt him stiffen. The two pulled apart and she looked concerned for him. "What's wrong?"

Meanwhile, Henry was being apprehended by Pan. The boy's eyes widening at the sight of the knife. "Wha-what are you doing?" His words came out stuttered from his fear. Because no he knew the truth and now he knew that the teenager would do anything to get his heart back from him. He didn't want to die.

"I wanted your heart, Henry. But your mother took it away from me. Left me for dead. What a mistake." He attempted to pull out Henry's heart but is burned by Regina's enchantment. Pan recoiled with a hiss. "Ugh! Oh, how clever." His mind scrambled for a way around the spell. Then he got an idea. Reaching forward, he began to tear Henry's shadow from his back.

Before he could get far, Gold spoke up from behind him. "Blood magic works both ways, father."

Henry and Pan turned to see him. Pandora's box sat in Gold's hands and he waved his hand over it, the object opening. Pan refused to let this be his final fight. No way would he fail his wife. The box began to absorb him away but then he used his magic to switch bodies with the boy in front of him. With one whoosh, Henry, who realized what had happened, got sucked into the box, the red smoke vanishing along with Pan's body.

Regina rushed into the room with wide eyes. "Henry? Henry? Henry?"

The boy came to and blinked repeatedly. It worked. "It's okay. I'm okay." The voice was nowhere close to his and it made him cringe. Now he really did appreciate his accent and dark tone. Imagining his love's face when she found out what he had done, it nearly made him laugh but then it almost made him groan. He couldn't kiss her in a boy's body.

"Are you sure?"

"He's a strong boy, Regina. You raised him well," Gold replied for Henry.

Arabella came into the room and they all looked at her. Pan (in Henry's body) saw her red eyes and tears that were still going down her face. She opened her mouth to saw something but found no words. Her dark magic burnt her veins again, her hands closing into fist. Her husband noticed that she was back to normal, but now it was all going downhill because of the heroes.

"It's for the best Aria," Regina told her softly.

"Nothing you can say will convince me that," she snapped back. "You will regret this." And then she left the room without another word.

Gold looked at the box in his hands and sighed. He was upset that he had taken away the one person his mother loved but this was truly for the best for her, for everyone else. He had to protect her from the darkness and evil that was Peter Pan. Oh, the irony.

"Do you think she means it?" Regina questioned him suddenly, back next to Henry who was trying to hide his victorious smirk and deeply concerned expression.

"Yes. I'm afraid she does," was the answer the Dark One gave her.

———

Arabella stood by the boys who flanked her, standing so close and making sure none of the heroes took her away. They were afraid of what she had done before but they realized that she had been upset and that their mother would never harm them. She would always protect them and they would always protect her. And so the boys stood at the edge of the railing, watching as the StoryBrooke family got prepared to release the shadow onto the sail of the ship.

Neal held the coconut containing the Shadow over a cannon as Emma readied a lighter. "Ready, Regina?" the blonde called out.

Regina nodded and Emma lit the cannon fuse. Arabella held onto Curly who stood in front of her. Simon had a hold of her arm while Alex had her other arm. Nibs was beside Slightly, their hands gripping onto her as well. They really did think she was going to vanish.

Just before the cannon fired, Neal opened the coconut halves to free the Shadow, who ended up being catapulted into the air by the cannon, just as planned. Regina quickly used magic to force the Shadow into the ship sail, turning it black at the touch.

"You think it'll fly?" Emma asked as they moved to the helm of the ship.

"It has no choice," Regina told her.

"Then let's get the hell out of Neverland." 

She nodded to Killian who nodded back. "As you wish, m'lady. Weigh anchor!" he yelled.

Powered by the Shadow sail, the ship lifted into the clouds and began flying them home. Arabella sighed in a sad manner, moving away from the boys to go and stand by herself. While she did this, the boys watched her walk away and Pan entered the deck, trying to act like Henry. Before he could make it to his wife, Neal noticed him and walked over.

"Hey." He held back a roll of his eyes, stopping and putting on a smile. "Feelin' okay? Shouldn't you be resting? I could bring you some food if you're feeling up for it."

Henry shook his head with a forced smile. "I'm feeling much better now. I think the fresh air is good for me." Oh, how he wished he could be back in his own body. This was extremely uncomfortable for him. Not to mention that these clothes were tight.

Neal sighed, crouching down. "Henry, I know we haven't had much of a chance to be a family; not yet. I want you to know that you have a Dad now. Now and forever. I'll never leave you, okay, buddy?"

Pan nodded and then they hugged. He took the opportunity to roll his eyes, knowing that no one could see him. From over Neal's shoulder, his eyes fell upon Arabella who stood at the banister of the ship, away from everyone else, staring off into the clouds. She looked sad and he frowned, pulling away.

"Do you think Aria will be ok?" the question rolled off his tongue before he could stop it. But then he realized that it didn't matter because Henry would be concerned for her even though he didn't know her too well.

Neal pulled away from him and followed his eyes to see the former princess. "I don't know. But I hope so." All Pan did was stare at her. He wanted to go over to her but instead, he excused himself and went down the stairs, grabbing a plate of food and making his way to where Felix sat, away from everyone else as well. He held it out for him, but Felix didn't take it.

"Go away, boy. I'm not hungry," Felix spoke in a monotone voice, not so much as glancing at him.

The boy smirked. "But I came to thank you."

And that was when the second in command looked over, narrowing his eyes with a bored look. "No matter what those other traitors do, I'm on Pan's side and so is Arabella. And Pan—"

"Never fails."

The words hung in the air and Felix was taken aback at the reply. There was no way Henry could know about that. Only Pan and Felix did obviously so how was it he knew? Had he eavesdropped on them once? Had he heard it before? "What?"

Pan smirked at his best friend, thinking about how he could so easily catch people off-guard. "You heard me. Peter Pan never fails. He can't be stopped even when they think he's defeated. When they think they've won, he finds a way." Clearly, Felix still didn't understand because he looked amused and his reply did not hint at the fact that he knew. But it was a game so he wouldn't tell him upfront.

"So you think you're not safe?"

"Oh, no, I'm perfectly safe. During our struggle, my fate was sealed. The one who's in trouble is Henry."

The cogs began to work from what Pan could see. Felix rose an eyebrow, thinking deeply. He doubted his own words as he said them aloud. "But you're Henry." And yet the way the boy was acting said the total opposite. This couldn't be Henry. Henry would never act like this, which could only mean that... "You. You switched," he realized. A smirk appeared on his face.

Pan smirked even more, holding out the plate to him. "You sure you're not hungry?" 

Felix accepted the plate that time, looking at his friend. "Thank you, Pan."

"Now, let's play."

———

Emma walked over to where Arabella was and stood next to her. "Aria I'm sorry." If she weren't in such a saddened mood, she would've laughed humorlessly, telling the Savior all of her thoughts. But she couldn't, she wouldn't because if she did, she knew that her magic would take the moment to slither out and take control of her. And that would not be good for her or for anyone.

"That's the problem, Emma. You aren't sorry," she finally replied, taking a deep breath. Emma didn't say anything and Arabella shook her head in disbelief. "I love him, Emma. I lost him centuries ago. And then I got him back to only have him be taken away again."

"I can't imagine how you must feel."

Arabella laughed bitterly that time, no longer being able to hold back her anger. She turned to her. "No, no you can't. You have your happy ending, Emma. Peter was mine and you took him from me. You took my true love away." The brunette left the woman alone standing there and Emma watched her leave with a frown.

Little did both of them know, Pan had watched the scene unfold from Henry's body. And he clenched his jaw. These heroes would not win this battle.

———

I swear these two are a power couple and I love them so much ahh! It is nothing but back and forth with Pan and Arabella but this time they are together for good I can tell you that! But I did happen to fully think out the ending and I know you guys will be pissed because you will have questions and might be shocked and confused. I know I don't make sense now but I will. *evil laughter*. Anyways, have a great day/night guys! :)

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