CHAPTER SIX
Faith, Trust and Pixie Dust

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     EVEN THOUGH SHE WAS SIMPLY GOING WHERE THE OTHERS WERE GOING, Zelda still couldn't help but wonder how they all got to Neverland. She knew that they were looking for a little boy named Henry but she wondered how he got there. Was he taken by Pan's shadow like she was? She couldn't deny that she was curious but she didn't think it was her place to ask questions since she never even met him and she only spent a few hours with the people who were looking for him. She figured that if they wanted her to know, they would tell her. Was it okay for her to just assume they would tell her? It wasn't any of her business and she was basically just there for the ride so why would they tell her?

     "What's going on inside that little head of yours?" Killian asked while lightly tapping Zelda's forehead with his pointer and middle finger.

     Everybody stopped walking when Emma and Regina stayed back while talking quietly. Zelda bit her lip while looking anywhere else but where Killian was standing. She wasn't sure if she should just ask him how they got to Neverland or how Henry even got there to begin with. It wasn't any of her business but why was she so curious to know? Would he just dodge her question and tell her to mind her own business? Would she get an answer at all? She didn't think anyone willingly came to Neverland just to walk through the jungle and have a run in with Peter Pan and the Lost Boys, unless they were children who were easy to be influenced but these people were grown adults. The magic didn't have the same effect on them as it did on Zelda when she was still a kid herself.

     She lifted her head and looked at Killian dead in the eye while adjusting the strap of her overalls. "Nothing," she said as she kept walking. That was a complete lie but she couldn't bring herself to say what was really on her mind. It always had consequences when she was living in that small house in that small town and being on a magical island with other people didn't make a difference.

     "You don't need to hide, love. No one here is trying to hurt you," Killian said and Zelda turned around with a tight grip on her spear.

     "Right. It's not like Pan threatened to rip out my shadow and almost did rip it out to make a point. It's not like his Lost Boys tried to hunt me down. It's not like your friend over there tried to kill me or threaten to kill me on more than one occasion," she said. She could feel her throat close up as she recalled and listed every time someone tried to harm or kill her ever since she left her mother's clutches.

     "For the record, Regina is not a friend of mine," Killian said and Zelda scoffed as the contractions in her throat started to become more painful as she breathed.

     "Whatever, I don't care," she said as she turned away from him.

     Why did she feel like crying? It wasn't new information that many people were out to hurt her so she didn't know why she still felt like she was suffocating every time she thought about it. The people she was travelling with could turn around at any moment and show their true colours if she wasn't cautious. While Killian led the way through the jungle, Zelda stayed close to Mary Margaret. She still didn't trust any one of them but she was the only one who didn't think she was working for Peter Pan and insisted that she stayed with them. Mary Margaret was the one who gave her food and water after they found her caught in the crossfire between them and the Lost Boys. Regina tried to kill her, both her and David thought she was conspiring with Pan and Emma and Killian were just off to the sidelines while Mary Margaret welcomed her. However, that didn't mean Zelda trusted her anymore than she trusted the others.

     "Here," Mary Margaret said as she offered Zelda the canteen of water.

     Zelda looked at it and looked back at Mary Margaret before giving the woman her answer. "I'm fine," she said as she kept walking.

     "Just take it," Mary Margaret said as she grabbed Zelda's arm but the raven haired girl tugged her arm away and pointed the sharp end of her spear in the woman's face.

     Her actions did not spark anything positive as David and Emma lifted their swords and moved towards them.

     "Don't!" Killian said as he grabbed their shoulders and held them back from moving any farther.

     "Stay the hell away from me!" Zelda shouted as she gripped her weapon tightly.

     "Put it down or I swear to God I'll end you right here," David demanded.

     "Threatening her won't help in this case, mate. She's driven by survival instinct," the pirate said while Mary Margaret stood still with her hands up.

     The fact that she had a spear inches away from her throat did nothing to faze her as she stood calmly while looking at Zelda who had that driven look on her face as clear as day.

     "Don't hurt her," Mary Margaret said to the others while still looking at Zelda. "Zelda, I'm sorry I scared you. Just put the spear down," she said but Zelda didn't budge.

     "How do I know they won't slice me as soon as I put it down?" she questioned while looking at David and Emma, who still held their swords up ready to charge if necessary.

     "No one is going to hurt you."

     "Bullshit! That's all anyone has been saying since I got here and it's been nothing but lies and I'm sick of it!"

     "I knew we should've left her behind," Regina said with her fists clenched at her sides.

     "Zelda, you're dehydrated. Just drink some water and you'll feel better," Mary Margaret said gently and she could see Zelda's hands shake as she held her spear with such a tight grip that her knuckles started to turn white. "I promise I won't let them hurt you."

     Mary Margaret held the canteen out to the small girl and she released one of her hands while still holding her spear with the other. She carefully reached out for the canteen while watching David and Emma and took it from Mary Margaret. She took a few steps back and everyone watched as she drank some of the water and closed it tightly so nothing would spill. Mary Margaret stepped closer and took the canteen from her but she still kept herself armed. After a while, she loosened her grip and she could feel the blood rushing into her fingers and she lowered her weapon and the others did the same.

     "I'm sorry," she said while avoiding eye contact with everyone else.

     "You don't need to be sorry. I shouldn't have grabbed you the way I did," Mary Margaret said as she took a step closer but Zelda took a step back to keep the space between them. "You don't have to trust me, but I promise I'm not going to hurt you and I'm not going to let anyone else hurt you either."

     Zelda hesitated but she stayed quiet as she nodded her head and they started walking again to find Tinker Bell's place. Despite her instinct to fight back when feeling threatened, she still felt guilty for aiming her weapon at the one person who never threatened her since she decided to tag along with her and the crew. She didn't say anything for the rest of the journey to their destination and when they did find Tinker Bell's place, Killian was the first to climb up the ladder. The only question in Zelda's mind was if Tinker Bell was a fairy with pixie dust, then why would she need a ladder to get into her own place?

     "Nobody's home. Come on up," Killian said from the top and the others followed him up the ladder.

     "It's pretty bare. It kind of reminds me of someplace," Emma said once she saw what it looked like.

     "For a treehouse, you'd think it would be a bit more cheery," Mary Margaret commented and Zelda followed after her.

     When she saw the treehouse, it did look bare like Emma said.

     "Now I remember. This place reminds me of where I used to live," the blonde said and Mary Margaret looked at the interior of the tree house.

     "Because it's just a place to sleep," she said.

     "At least she had space," Zelda mumbled and everyone looked at her. "Sorry, I didn't think anyone would hear me."

     "Where did you say you stayed when you were with Pan?" David asked.

     "Isolated in a wooden cage hanging ten feet above the ground," Zelda answered. "Also, if Tinker Bell is a fairy then why does she have a ladder?"

     "Fairies have wings so that's a very good question," Mary Margaret said with her arms crossed.

     "You might wanna take a look at this," David said as he held up a white handkerchief.

     "That's Regina's. What's it doing here?" Mary Margaret questioned.

     "She's tracking us, watching Regina," Emma said.

     "But if she's watching her..." Mary Margaret trailed off and everyone started to realize where this was going.

     "We're in the wrong place," Killian said.

     They all hurried down the ladder to find Regina before something bad happens.

━━━━

     AFTER SPENDING A LONG TIME LOOKING FOR REGINA, a blonde woman dressed in dark green clothing walked out of a cave and Emma, David and Killian pulled out their swords, Mary Margaret drew back an arrow and Zelda held up her spear. The woman raised her hands and looked at everybody in shock.

     "Where's Regina?" Emma asked.

     "Who the hell are you?" the woman questioned.

     "A very pissed off mother, now where is she?" Emma retaliated as she stepped closer.

     Everybody was silent until Regina walked out of the same cave. "I'm fine," she said.

     "Do you mind lowering those? You may stick me, but I'll take you down with me," the woman in green said.

     "You're Tinker Bell?" Zelda questioned as she lowered her spear.

     "In the flesh," the woman said.

     "Stand down, she's not going to hurt us," Regina said.

     "But is she going to help us?" Killian asked.

     "Look what the Queen dragged in. Hello, Hook," Tinker Bell said and Zelda looked at his hook hand.

     "That's kind of rude," she said.

     "I don't care."

     "Maybe a stick in the throat will change your mind."

     "Easy, love. No offence taken," Killian said.

     Zelda looked at Tinker Bell who only stared back. Regina sighed which grabbed Zelda's attention. "She's not going to help us," she said.

     "Why not?" Emma questioned.

     "Tink, after all we've been through together, a little assistance?" Killian asked while pointing to everyone standing around the fairy.

     "She doesn't have any magic," Regina stated.

     "Not even pixie dust?" David asked.

     "I don't think she even has her wings," Zelda said.

     "Zelda's right. She doesn't," Regina said.

     "How?" Emma asked.

     "I guess everybody just stopped believing in me. And even if I wanted to help you, Pan is much too powerful," Tinker Bell said.

     "But you at least know where he is," Mary Margaret said. It was more of a statement rather than a question.

     "Yes, but what good would that do?"

     "Does he trust you?" Mary Margaret asked.

     "If he trusts you then you can get us inside his camp," Emma added.

     "Maybe. Why should I help you?" Tinker Bell asked with her arms crossed.

     "I think the real question is why won't you help them?" Zelda countered.

     "I can't."

     "You said even if you wanted to help, Pan is too powerful, which means even if he wasn't as powerful as he is now, would you actually have wanted to help?"

     "Listen to me," Mary Margaret said. "I believe in you."

     "Just get us inside his camp and that's it. We'll take it from there, you don't have to do anything else after that," Emma said.

     "Other than a death sentence from Peter Pan, what's in it for me when you're gone with your boy?" Tinker Bell questioned.

     "Listen here, princess. You're not the only one who might be getting a death sentence from that demon child but some of us decided to help anyway. Now shut up and help them get their kid back," Zelda said as she stepped closer to the wingless fairy.

     "What she means to say is that if you help us get Henry back, you can come with us," Emma said.

     "You do want a home, don't you?" Mary Margaret asked with a gentle smile.

     Tinker Bell was quiet for a minute and looked at everybody. "Listen carefully. Pan trusts me so he'll let me in. Just maybe, I'll leave a way in for you but you better have a good plan because you only got one shot at this," she said.

     "Come with us to our camp and we'll figure it out," Mary Margaret said.

     Every single one of them, including Tinker Bell, headed back to the camp that was set up but Zelda kept her distance between her and the fairy. Killian poked a hole into a coconut and offered it to Zelda but she only looked at it.

     "I'll pass," she said and Killian chuckled.

     "You don't trust me?" he asked.

     "I don't trust anyone," Zelda said with her spear in her lap.

     "Reminds me of someone I know," Killian said while looking at Emma who only glared at him. "Also, you can put the spear down unless it's glued to your hands."

     "I'd rather hold onto it, thank you," Zelda said as she watched the fire they started.

     The bright orange and yellow flames put her in the same trance it always did and she could feel her mind slipping away. She watched the fire intensely and nothing else seemed to matter. She thought about all those times she would light a match just to stare at the flame and feel the heat against her skin until it burned.

     "Hey. Are you alright?" Killian asked as he shook her shoulder. The physical contact of his hand on her shoulder pulled her out of her trance and she quickly pointed her spear at him out of reflex. He dodged the head and grabbed her wrists tightly and took the weapon away from her. "Easy, love."

     "Give it back," Zelda said as she stood up and reached for the stick but Killian held it far away from her reach.

     "Nothing is going to happen while I hold onto it," Killian said.

     "Please, give it back!" Zelda said and Killian looked at her.

     She would never admit it, but he could tell by the look in her eyes that she was scared. The spear she made was amateur, but it was all she had. That spear was the only thing she had to protect herself when she was alone in the jungle and on the run from Peter Pan and the Lost Boys. It was the only thing that protected her ever since she came to Neverland and without it, she had nothing. She was completely vulnerable without it and he could see that just by looking at her as she practically begged for him to give it back. Killian sighed as he gave her back the spear and Zelda didn't hesitate to take it from him.

     "I'm sorry," he said as he watched her sit back down.

     "Thank you," she said as she continued to watch the fire burn.

     Maybe if she ever got off the island and felt what it was like to be truly free, she wouldn't need the weapon anymore but it was still unclear to her if she was ever going to leave Neverland. She seriously doubted the possibility that Pan would just let her go so easily but she would rather take that chance than sit around and wait for Pan to kill her. All they needed was a plan to get in and out of Pan's camp and off the island with Henry.

━━━━

     ZELDA STOOD OFF TO THE SIDELINES WHILE EMMA WENT OVER A MAP OF PAN'S CAMP WITH A STICK. Mary Margaret sat beside her and David, Regina and Killian sat in front of them while Tinker Bell paced around as Emma explained their plan.

     "This is where they're keeping Henry, according to uh..." Emma trailed off as she pointed at the fairy with the stick.

     "Tinker Bell," she said.

     "It's still pretty weird to say,"

     "Tink is fine."

     "I'm not sure if that's any better. Anyway, she says that there are sentries positioned across the front which is why we are going to sneak in through the back entrance here," Emma said as she pointed to the mad. "She's going to talk her way in and once she makes sure the coast is clear, we sneak in and grab Henry."

     "You're still going to have to deal with Lost Boys once you're inside," Tinker Bell said.

     "I think we can handle a bunch of children with pointy sticks," Regina said and Zelda gave her a side glance.

     "Have you ever fought one without your magic?" she asked.

     "Regardless, the sticks aren't the problem. The problem you do need to worry about is the Dream Shade they're laced with," Tinker Bell said.

     "Hook warned us," Mary Margaret said.

     "Good. Because one nick of that stuff and you'll send the last of—"

     "Poison sticks equal death. We got it," David said as he stood up. "Now when can we put this plan into action?"

     "I'm ready to go, just as soon as you tell me your escape plan," Tinker Bell said and everyone looked at each other in silence. "You do have an escape plan, don't you?"

     "It's more of a last minute trip," Mary Margaret said.

     "If you don't have a plan to get off this island then none of this whole thing matters," Tinker Bell said.

     "We'll figure it out," Regina countered as she stood up as well.

     "You'll figure it out? No one comes and goes from Neverland unless he allows it," Tinker Bell said.

     Zelda scoffed. "Trust me, he already gave me that speech the same night I got here," she said.

     "How did you escape him?"

     "Last minute trip."

     Tinker Bell rolled her eyes. "This is a complete waste of everyone's time," she said.

     "When it comes to family, we always find a way," David said.

     "You don't get it. Let me show you something," Tinker Bell said as she pulled a watch out of her bag. "You know what this is?"

     "Yeah. It's a watch," Emma said.

     "I got it from the people who brought your son here for Pan," Tinker Bell said and Emma stood up quickly.

     "Greg and Tamara? Where are they? Why did they give you that?" she asked, question after question without giving the fairy a chance to answer any of them.

     "I got it off the girl's body. I spent half the night cleaning the blood off it. As for the other guy, there wasn't anything left of him to find anything useful," Tinker Bell said and Zelda could feel her stomach churn, and not just from the lack of food. "This is what Pan does to people he employs, what do you think he'll do to you? Your friend over here is lucky she even escaped him the first time without a plan."

     "She's not our friend," Regina said with her arms crossed.

     "Whatever. I'm not sticking my neck out on Pan's chopping block if you don't have an escape plan. Once you figure that out, you know where I live," Tinker Bell said as she walked away.

     "Where's she going?" Mary Margaret asked, clearly panicked.

     "I'll get her," David said as he started following after her but Emma stopped him.

     "Don't. She's right. If there's one thing I learned, never break in somewhere unless you know the way out," Emma said.

     "And where'd you learn that, in bail bondsperson school?" Regina asked with her arms crossed.

     "Neal taught me that. Even Zelda would know something like that. She came here not knowing she wouldn't be able to leave. She was lucky enough to escape him even without a plan but that doesn't mean we'll have that same luck. Even though she did manage to escape him, you can't forget how terrible she looked when we found her," Emma said and looked at Zelda for a brief moment.

     "What about Hook?" David asked as he turned around to look at the pirate. "You got off this island before."

     "Yes, aboard my ship, which would require some form of magic to create a portal, which I got from Pan in a deal I don't think he's ready to repeat," Killian said and Zelda bit her lip.

     "So, no one's ever left Neverland without Pan's permission," Regina stated.

     "One man. Neal," Killian said while looking at Emma.

     "This is the second time I heard of someone named Neal. Who is he?" Zelda asked.

     "He was Henry's father," Emma said.

     "Was?"

     "He's dead."

     Zelda felt bad for asking and apologized as soon as Emma said he was dead.

     "Maybe we can find out how he escaped," Killian said before leading the way.