xxii. darkness rising

━ ❝ fight for him ❞

━━━━★✼☆｡━━━━

forty votes and twenty comments for next chapter!

━━━━★✼☆｡━━━━

BECAUSE HENRY WAS now convinced that he was going to save magic, Arabella was drawn from where she laid in the treehouse, staring at the ceiling. Her dark magic had retreated and she found herself wondering why she didn't regret hurting Wendy. Speaking of which, she now stood next to Henry as Pan laid Wendy onto a makeshift bed, pulling a blanket over her. The fire ignited in her veins once she saw the Darling brush her finger against his knuckle. But Pan ignored it, pulling on a sad face for the two.

"How is she?" Henry questioned with a tone full of worry. 

"I fear she's getting worse, Henry," Pan replied as he stood up.

Henry frowned, still looking thoughtful. "But if I save magic... she'll live?" He and Arabella both looked over at Pan. For the first time in a little while, she felt uncertainty about this plan. Not because it was dangerous, but because it didn't seem right. Something was missing, Pan wasn't being truthful about something.

"Yes," the said teenager told him. "But more than that, Henry. If you save magic, you'll save us all. But to do it, you have to truly believe."

Wendy coughed and Arabella rolled her eyes, shooting her a glare. Pan saw out of the corner of his eye and smirked a tad. Henry didn't notice the two adults practically fighting with their eyes behind him. The former princess gave him the finger right before the Mills boy spoke again. Her husband had winked at her, mouthing let me bite it. "I do. I do believe." Henry looked back at the two. Arabella smiled softly at him though she did step on Pan's foot. 

"Good," the leader forced out, pretending like nothing happened. "Because we don't have much time. Follow me." He led Henry away and Arabella glared back at Wendy, smirking darkly right after before following the two boys.

She stood back and watched as Pan went to a small elevated area and called out to the Lost Boys. "My brothers!" All of the lost boys turned around and paid attention. "Tonight, the dream of Neverland will awaken from its slumber. Tonight, the heart of the truest believer shall fulfill its destiny, and with it, our destiny. Tonight, Henry saves magic!"

They all cheered and Arabella got that feeling again. Like something was missing. But what? And so when everyone cleared out, going to celebrate, she hurried over to Pan and grabbed his hand. Henry stopped but the immortal boy told him to go ahead and that he'd catch up with him. Once the believer was gone, she sighed. "Is there something you aren't telling me?"

Pan shook his head, giving her a reassuring smile when really it was just from his excitement about finally getting the heart he needed for so long. "No. I'm just anxious for Henry to save magic that's all. And then after he does, we can find out who kidnapped you. But right now, I have to go. I'll be back before you know it." He kissed her cheek and she bit her lip before smiling back.

"Okay. I love you."

"I love you too."He walked away with Henry and Arabella frowned with a sad look in her eyes. Because she had caught him this time and yet she just watched him walk away because she couldn't bring herself to get him angry. Why would he lie to her?

———

"You're making a mistake," Gold insisted as he stood before the group of heroes. Each of them pointed a weapon towards him except for Regina who just stood there with a look of disgust. They were convinced that he was going to kill Henry because of the lie Pan planted. But he wasn't. "I don't care if the boy is destined to be my undoing. I won't hurt him."

Regina scoffed. "Because that sounds just like you," she replied sarcastically. She couldn't believe that he would actually harm Henry. He was just a child. At that moment, it was as if Gold were the enemy, not Pan. That's what the immortal boy wanted.

"Without me, you will fail. I'm the most powerful amongst us."

Neal shook his head. "That's why we can't trust you." Gold frowned at him, looking pleadingly. He told him that he would give him his dagger, but he had sent that away the moment he got on the island for his own protection and for everyone else's. This way his father couldn't use it. "But you can give me Pandora's box," Neal reminded. "I don't have to trust you if I could stop you."

"Son..." Gold trailed off. But then he thought for a moment, then sighed and gave Pandora's Box to him. He looked down at the ground, not wanting to look at his son because knew didn't want to see that hurt expression. After everything he worked for, this is what happened.

"Look at me," Neal told him. He did so, bracing himself. "You so much as lift a finger to perform magic, you're gonna spend an eternity in this box." Gold said nothing in response, a pained look on his face that Baelfire didn't believe that his intentions were pure.

Emma called out and said that they should go. Everyone put their weapons away, glancing at the Dark One before starting off into the woods. Before Neal could go any farther, Gold stepped in front of him. "Look... you may think you know who you're up against, but you don't."

Neal was about to protest when he sighed, looking upset that he couldn't trust his own father. "Then tell me. What really happened between you two?"

It took a moment for him to answer, but he did. The older man took a deep breath and then replied, "Peter Pan destroyed my father."

———

Arabella ran her hair through Jordan's hair, watching as the boys danced around. She was smiling softly, too involved with the scene before her. Regina and the others were waiting around the perimeter but her back was to them. The brunette hummed softly to the boy because he was tired and she wanted to help him rest peacefully, trying so hard not to think about her husband. Suddenly air rushed through the camp, knocking all of the boys asleep. I was a weaker spell so she was not affected. Arabella turned around to see the StoryBrooke gang.

She stood up fast, setting Jordan down on the log gently. "What the hell are you doing here?" Her protectiveness for the boys was seeping through as she flexed her fingers, feel her dark magic running through her veins. "If you hurt any of these boys I will end you."

David put his hands up in surrender. Gold was the only one out of them who understood what was happening, why she was still here with Pan. His mother was always protective over kids or anyone she loved in general. "We came to save you and Henry," David explained.

"Where's Pan?" Neal asked her.

Arabella scoffed. "You really think I'm going to tell you? I'm not going to let you hurt him." She knew that the second the heroes found her husband, they would do anything they could to make sure he wasn't a problem. No way was she going to allow that. Because she could imagine what taking care of him would be. They'd kill him.

Emma sighed "Is Henry ok?"

Right before she could answer, a shrill voice yelled and Arabella rolled her eyes, wishing that the little girl would shut her bloody mouth. Perhaps she could shut it for her—Emma running towards the sound made her jump out of her dark thoughts. She bit her lip, sighing before following grudgingly. "Seriously Wendy?" was the first thing that flew out of her mouth the second she arrived to see Emma crouching down by the girl's cage.

Neal and Gold came through the trees and saw Wendy. Her grandson seemed to know her by the way he reacted, saying her name aloud. She looked over at him with a tiny frown, confused. "Do I know you?" Wendy questioned.

"Well obviously," Arabella snapped, looking back over at her. Her rude tone did not go ignored because they all looked over at her but she simply dismissed them, crossing her arms over her chest and walking away. She went back over to Jordan who still lied asleep on the log. The rest of the gang waited there. One by one they turned to watch her brush the boy's hair to the side, placing a kiss to the top of her head and then make her way around, checking on each lost boy.

Mary Margaret smiled softly, seeing the motherly look on the female's face. "You care about them don't you?"

The brunette turned to look at her. "Yeah, I do. And if you touch any of them I will end you." She smiled fakely, looking away to continue checking on her kids. "And if any harm comes to Peter, you will regret ever coming after Henry."

"Do you seriously care for that demon?" Hook questioned with a look of disbelief. "May I remind you that he—"

"And you think your opinion matters to me?" The mother fired back with a humorless laugh. She looked back at them yet again, throwing a scoff over her shoulder. "This is my family. I wouldn't expect you to understand that considering that you are convinced that they are nothing but animals. All they need is parents to raise them. All my—Peter needs is someone to understand him and to care about him."

Mary Margaret looked torn from what she said because she now understood just how much Arabella cared for the leader. Everyone deserved a second chance but she wasn't too sure that Pan would be willing to give up whatever he needed Henry for to get that second chance.

The rest of the group appeared with Wendy in tow, seating her against one of the trees. Emma brought a blanket over to her, handing it to her to which the girl wrapped herself in it. Almost instantly the interrogation began. "Guys, where's Henry?" Neal asked.

"You have a son?" Wendy replied with fake confusion.

Arabella only rolled her eyes, listening as Neal fell for the lie and told her that Pan needed his heart for some reason unknown to them. "To save magic," she told them before Wendy could speak. "There's no harm in that."

They all exchanged looks, uncertainty. If that were the case, why would the teenage boy go through all of this trouble? Why make it so Henry believed in him and no one else? Why attempt to break up the StoryBrooke group so they weren't in his way? No longer was this some game, Hook knew for a fact that something else was at play, something that hadn't been set on the tab;e.

Emma then turned to Wendy, "Has he said anything about the heart of the truest believer?"

"No. I'm sorry. He never mentioned anything about a heart," Wendy lied.

Arabella looked annoyed. "Seriously? You do realize that I just said—"

"She's lying. Where is he?" Gold growled, cutting her off mid-sentence. He brought out his sword and pointed it at her. David and Neal moved in front of Wendy to protect her. The Dark One's mother rolled her eyes, wishing that her husband would appear so they could teach all of these heroes a lesson. "I've carried enough lies in my life to recognize their burden. She knows where Henry is."

It seemed as though everyone believed his words, turning to look at the Darling who struggled to play the innocent act. Neal questioned her and she bit her lip, then sighed, going on to explain. "You don't understand. He's keeping John and Michael alive, only if I do as he says. "

"Trust me, whatever he's promised, he will go back on his word." A secret meaning lingered behind his words. Arabella looked over at her son and smiled softly, a reassurance that she was here and that she'd never do that to him.

Wendy responded with a bitter attitude. "And why should I trust a man who abandoned his own son?"

The former princess bit back a sarcastic comment on her words. Regina was the next to speak. "Because your brothers did. They trusted a woman named Belle. They helped her get this box so we can defeat Pan." It was one of the first times Arabella had ever heard her speak so softly and well, kind. Perhaps it was because she was imagining what her son was going through while they wasted their time standing around the camp like idiots.

"They're okay?"

Gold nodded once. "For now, and only if we succeed."

She stared long and hard at the group, relaxing her shoulders because now she realized that they could be trusted. But the only problem they had was Arabella who would never betray Pan. Her loyalty ran deep into the soil of Neverland. Neal crouched down in front of Wendy. "Wendy... we will save John and Michael, I swear to God. But right now, I really need your help. Please."

"Pan told Henry that... he needs his heart to save magic. But it's a lie. He needs it to save himself," Wendy explained.

Arabella scoffed. "What do you mean save himself? He said he needed Henry's heart to save magic." She shook her head a bit as she spoke, showing that she didn't believe a word coming out of the younger girl's mouth. But then she felt that feeling, the feeling like something was missing. Then she remembered the lie Pan told her.

Everyone became confused, glancing over at her. Gold looked away because he knew what was happening. Pan kept a secret from her. Wendy herself looked surprised. "He didn't tell you?" Arabella couldn't form words. "Pan's dying. He needs the heart of the truest believer to absorb all the magic in Neverland. And once he does... he will be immortal, all-powerful."

She felt her throat clench up and she put a hand over her mouth in disbelief. He lied to her? This entire time he was talking to her as if everything would be perfect. All Henry needed to do was believe in them and then his heart would save the island. No. Why would it be that easy? But how could he lie to her like this? 

They all exchanged fearful looks. Mary Margaret asked, "And what happens to Henry?"

"Well, it's a trade. When Pan lives, Henry will die," Wendy explained. Emma stood up in horror and Arabella felt tears leave her eyes. How could you, Malcolm?

———

Meanwhile, Pan was steering a boat toward Skull Rock, Henry in front of him and gazing at the rock in wonder. It was very similar to the movie and it made him smile. The immortal boy in front of him was hiding his victorious smirk. Because this was it. He could taste his victory. He could see himself going back to Arabella, wiping out the heroes and then kissing her. Because he would live forever alongside her.

The boat stopped once they reached the inside and Pan tied the boat to a rock. Both of them exited and he sighed. "Ah, it's been a long time since I stepped foot on this shore." It was yet another lie. He visited this place whenever he knew that his Thinking Tree was too obvious. Leaning down to grab a stick, he stood back up and drew a line in the sand with it, dropping it to the ground before waving his hand over it. Henry asked him what it was. "It's a protection spell. Now let's go. It's time."

Pan led him up the stone stairs, casting a glance back at the shore before smirking widely. He was so close to finally being able to have his wife back for good. This was his chance to make things right.

———

The news slowly settled and the group was still in shock. Arabella had moved next to Regina as they all tried to come up with ideas to save Henry. But now she was stuck. What was she to do now? Her own husband planned to murder an innocent child. Malcolm was still her true love and yet she did not know what to do. Help him and live on knowing Henry is dead because of her? Or help and lose her love forever?

"How do we stop Pan?" David asked.

Arabella took another deep breathe, rubbing her own shoulders in the hopes of calming herself down. The StoryBrooke gang thought they knew why she was acting like this. They are sorely mistaken. However, Gold obviously knew and felt for his mother, knowing how heartbroken she must be over learning his father's intentions.

"Pan took Henry to Skull Rock. But you haven't got much time," Wendy told them. And may she mention the fact that Wendy knew a hell of a lot more than she did about this? It was like Peter spilled his secrets to her more than he did to her. She was his wife, not that stupid pathetic waste of space who liked playing the victim.

David nodded at Wendy's words. "Then we stay behind. Someone needs to be here to guard the lost boys when they wake up."

"These boys won't harm a hair on your hero hair, no need to fret. Just tell them that their mother will ground them if they do," Arabella shrugged. "They are sweet but they have their moments." Then she sighed. "Children."

Mary Margaret smiled at her reply, then looked over at Emma when the savior voiced her thoughts, saying that they didn't need to stay behind. But the former bandit was quick to argue, "David's right. You get Henry home, tell him we love him." That's when Emma revealed that Gold could cure David's dreamshade. Arabella found herself grinning in content at the family, adoring the fact that they were all so close to one another. "And you... you didn't give up."

She looked over at Gold and thanked him. Arabella threw her son a smile, giving him a quick nod. "Yes, that was very kind of you, Rumple."

"Well, apparently, that's the only thanks I need these days," he replied with a tight smile.

"Tink, Arabella, and I will take care of things here," Hook spoke up to the group. "Meet you back at the Jolly Roger when you find Henry."

Arabella opened her mouth because she wasn't about to leave her husband alone against these heroes. While they may be kind, no way would she allow them to hurt him. Those from the group who were going to save Henry left and before Gold did, she spoke up. "Wait!" They turned to her and she went over to her son. "Let me come with you," she pleaded.

Gold sighed. "Mother—"

"I need to understand, Rumple. And I can't leave him. Please."

He closed his eyes for a moment to think and then nodded, opening his eyes back up. "Very well." The Dark One was not too thrilled that she was coming alone because their plan was to take Pan down. But they would have to find a way around that. No way would the leader rest until he got that heart. Arabella was just too stubborn and she loved him a lot. However, she was hurt; hurt because he didn't trust her enough to tell her the truth. Still, she loved him and was willing to fight for him.

———

This chapter was interesting to write because I included some dark undertones that hint to future chapters. I don't really have much to say about this chapter other than it was longer than usual! So anyway, have a great day/night guys :)

Remember To Vote On This Chapter

Comment Your Thoughts

And Follow Me For Updates!