CHAPTER TWELVE
A Very Steep Price

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

     ZELDA FLINCHED AS SHE WOKE UP WITH COLD SWEAT ON HER FOREHEAD. She looked around and realized that it was the crack of dawn and Killian was still asleep on the couch. She carefully got up and closed the bathroom door quietly once she was inside. She looked at the two taps over the sink, confused about which one to use. One was blue and the other was red. What was the difference?

     She decided to turn the blue one and cold water fell out of the pipe. She cupped her hands under the water and it felt soothing against her heated skin as it washed off the sweat. She turned the tap off and dried her face with a towel that was hanging on a rack. She noticed a pair of scissors on a small shelf and picked them up. She could see her reflection in the metal and when she looked in the mirror, she saw how much of a mess she really was. She grabbed a piece of her hair and without a second thought, she cut it off. She grabbed another piece and cut it as well. Piece by piece, her hair fell onto the floor and in the sink as she used the scissors to cut it all. Eventually, all of her hair was all over the place and she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair reached her jaw and some of it fell in front of her face. She did a side part and her hair covered the entire left side of her forehead. She cleaned up all the hair from the floor and the sink and tossed it in the small garbage can in the corner. She nearly jumped at the sound of someone knocking on the door but soon calmed down.

     "Are you alright?" Killian asked from outside the bathroom and Zelda looked at all her hair that was sitting in the garbage can.

     What would he say? What would anyone say once they saw what she did? She took a deep breath as she turned the knob and pulled the door open. Killian's eyebrows shot up to his hairline when he saw Zelda's new look. It was a little choppy but it wasn't a terrible look for her.

     "You hate it," Zelda said after five minutes of silence between them.

     "Quite the opposite, really," Killian said. "It suits you."

     Zelda smiled timidly as she left the bathroom and grabbed her shoes. Killian put on his shoes and jacket as well and the both of them left the room at the same time Tinker Bell left hers.

     "Hey, Tink. Did you sleep okay last night?" Zelda asked.

     Before she could even answer, the three of them heard a woman screaming. She ran outside of Granny's and saw Emma and David getting out of a car.

     "What the hell was that?" Emma asked.

     "We had the same question," Killian said.

     They heard the woman scream again and they followed the sound. They ran over to the woman who they assumed was the one screaming but she was running from something else. Zelda looked up and saw the Shadow as it grabbed the woman and ripped out her own shadow. As she collapsed on the ground, David checked for a pulse but he got nothing.

     "She's gone," he said.

     "Why would the Shadow kill her?" Tinker Bell asked.

     "No idea. I do know that the Shadow only takes orders from one person," Killian said.

     Zelda knew that the only person the Shadow would take orders from was Peter Pan. She knew that Gold managed to trap him inside Pandora's box after he tried to take Henry's heart again and the box was locked away somewhere safe so he couldn't get out. As Regina and Henry arrived at the scene, Emma and David were placing a sheet over the woman's body.

     "What the hell happened?" Regina asked.

     "The Shadow killed her," David replied.

     "Pan's shadow? I trapped it on the sail," Regina said.

     "Somehow, it got free," Emma said.

     "Hook, let's go back to the shop and get the candle. If it strikes again, we need to be ready," Neal said.

     Neal and Killian started heading to the ship to get the candle to capture Pan's shadow while Zelda stayed with the others.

     "If the Shadow takes orders from Pan, then that means he's behind this," she said while looking at the dead woman on the ground.

     "My thoughts exactly," Emma replied.

     "Pan is trapped in a box under the floor in Gold's shop," Regina said.

     "Who else would be doing this?" Emma questioned.

     "So, then Pan can still get to me?" Henry asked.

     "We don't know that," Regina said.

     "It's a possibility," Zelda replied.

     "We have to assume he's still a threat," Mary Margaret said.

     "And that he's after Henry," Emma added.

     "Then what am I doing here?" Henry asked.

     "Good point. It's not safe for him to be out in the open," David said and Regina and Henry left to find a safe place for Henry to hide from Pan.

     "What do we do now?" Zelda asked while looking at Mary Margaret.

     "We go to Gold's shop, make sure Pan is really in the box and we capture his shadow," Mary Margaret said. "It's easier said than done but we can do it."

     Emma, Mary Margaret, David and Zelda ran to Gold's shop and reached him just as he was closing the store with a woman by his side.

     "Sorry, but we're closed. Whatever crises you have going on, I'm done for the day," Gold said.

     "Pandora's box. Give it to me," Emma said.

     "And why would I do that?" Gold asked.

     "We need to open it."

     "And let Pan escape? Are you crazy?"

     "Somehow he's controlling the Shadow from inside the box. Henry's life is in danger," Mary Margaret said.

     "And you think letting Pan out will change that?" Gold questioned.

     "Yes, because finally we can stop him once and for all," Emma replied.

     "With all due respect, Miss Swan, we barely succeeded in apprehending him the first time. If there's one thing I learned, it's not to tempt fate," Gold said.

     "I'm not looking to apprehend him. Wouldn't you rather be sure he's gone?" Emma asked.

     "Personally, I would like that very much," Zelda said.

     Gold agreed to get the box from his shop and they all drove to the town border, following Emma's idea to open the box outside of town where there was no magic. Once they reached the border where an orange line was spray painted onto the ground to indicate where the border was, Gold explained what would happen if they released Pan. With no magic outside of Storybrooke, Pan would be rendered powerless and unable to fight back once they let him out of the box. Emma decided to go outside the border while Gold opened the box and placed it on the ground beyond the orange line.

     "You might need this," David said as he held Zelda's spear.

     She thanked him as she took it and stood close to the others. Pan appeared on the ground and Emma cocked her gun while aiming at him. When he stood up, he seemed confused to see everyone standing there and looking at him, especially Emma.

     "Mom?" he asked.

     "What?" Emma questioned and Zelda was even more confused.

     "Shoot him," Gold said.

     "No! Please, don't. I'm Henry. Pan switched our bodies," the boy said.

     "You expect me to believe that?" Emma asked.

     "This is another one of his tricks," Gold said.

     "I wouldn't put it past him," Zelda said as she stood close to David and Mary Margaret.

     "It's not a trick. It happened right before Mr. Gold captured me in the box, I swear," Pan said as he stepped closer.

     "Don't take another step," Emma said as she kept her gun pointed at him.

     "Shoot him!" Gold demanded.

     "Maybe he's telling the truth, maybe that's why I can't shake the feeling that something's off about Henry," Emma said.

     "Maybe that's what he wants you to believe. If he steps over this line, we're all dead," Gold said.

     "If you're really Henry, prove it. Tell me something only Henry would know," Emma said while looking at Pan.

     "I got trapped in the mines. I tried blowing up the well. I like hot cocoa with cinnamon," Pan said frantically.

     "This proves nothing," Gold said.

     "Gold is right, Emma. Henry could've told Pan all of this in Neverland," Mary Margaret said.

     "No. Pan might know facts but life is made of so much more than that. There are moments and he can't possibly know all of them. The first time you and I connected. Not met, but really connected. Do you remember that?" Emma asked.

     "Yeah," Pan said while nodding.

     "Where was it?" Emma questioned.

     "In my castle right after you came to Storybrooke," Pan answered.

     "What did you tell me?"

     "That I know why you gave me up."

     "Why?"

     "Because you wanted to give me my best chance."

     Emma put her gun away and hugged Pan ─ or Henry ─ very tightly.

     "This is Henry," she said.

     The boy was really telling the truth. Pan really did switch their bodies but Zelda could only imagine what it was like for Henry to be trapped inside Pandora's box. She couldn't tell if it was worse than being trapped in Neverland but one thing she did know was that she had no interest in finding out. Emma and Henry stepped over the line and Henry tightly hugged David and Mary Margaret. Gold apologized for doubting him and putting him in the box but Zelda had one question.

     "So, if Henry is out here with us, then where is Pan?" she asked while looking at everyone.

     "Pan is in Henry's body and Regina took him with her somewhere safe," Mary Margaret said.

     "If Pan is with her then that 'safe place' isn't very safe," Zelda said. "Where did Regina take Henry ─ or Pan ─ where would she take him?"

     Everyone got inside the cars and drove to a vault, which was where Regina was keeping Pan-in-Henry's-Body. When they got there, Neal, Tinker Bell and Killian were at the door. Killian had the coconut which was going to be used to capture Pan's shadow but they still had to get inside the vault. Gold needed to use magic in order to get it open but Regina had it sealed tight so it was near impossible for anyone to get inside.

     "I can see why Regina would take Henry here," Zelda said.

     "This is going to take some time," Gold said.

     "As much as I like your new look, I'm starting to miss the old one," Killian said while Zelda stood with her arms crossed.

     "I hated it," she said.

     The reason she hated her hair? It was like she never left Neverland. Even when she was finally free, her long and messy hair was there to remind her of who she was before she came across Killian and the others. Her next step would be to find new clothes to wear. She didn't want to be stuck wearing the clothes Pan gave her since they were also a reminder of what she endured.

     "Well, once we get rid of Pan and his shadow, you won't have to worry about him ever again," Killian said and Zelda sighed.

     She never told him about the nightmare she had. Where she was back in Neverland and was once again Pan's prisoner. Just remembering the events in her dream made her tremble but she tried to hide it while Gold got the door to Regina's vault open. Most of them hurried inside to find Pan and Regina but the others stayed outside.

     "I like your new look," Tinker Bell said and Zelda looked at her.

     She pushed some of her hair out her face and looked awkwardly at the ground. "Thanks," she said.

     After a while, the others came out of the vault but Pan was nowhere to be seen. He took a scroll that had a curse written on it while Regina was knocked out and he planned to cast it. Zelda didn't know what that would mean for everybody but she was soon going to find out. She learned that there was a curse just like it before and that was how everyone got to Storybrooke. The first curse created Storybrooke so Zelda didn't know what Pan's curse would create. Mary Margaret had to fill her in about everything that happened with the first curse and keep it short but still had to make sure Zelda understood.

     "Gold, will this curse work like the last one?" Emma asked.

     "The last curse was to serve the Queen's wishes. This one will be done to serve Pan's desires. I would count on something hellish," Gold said.

     "The curse was built to be unstoppable. There's nothing that can be done," Regina said.

     "Actually, stopping the curse is possible," Gold said and everyone looked at him. "It can be undone if the person who used the scroll destroys it. That would be Regina."

     "What do I have to do?" Regina asked.

     "You have to destroy the scroll. In doing so, it will destroy your curse and Pan's curse but there will be a steep price to pay," Gold explained.

     "What do you suggest?" Regina questioned.

     "Instead of going to him, bring him to us with a spell that will switch Pan and Henry back to their own bodies," Gold said.

     "If I'm back in my own body, then I'll have the scroll and I can bring it to you guys," Henry said.

     "But even you aren't powerful enough to cast such a spell," Regina said.

     "Given the proper tool, I could be," Gold said.

     "The Black Fairy's wand. One of the most powerful fairies that ever existed. Well-versed in dark magic. The Blue Fairy exiled her but before she did, she took her wand," Tinker Bell said.

     "I assume our dearly departed Mother Superior kept it hidden in her residence," Gold said.

     David, Killian, Tink and Zelda agreed to go to the Convent to get the Black Fairy's wand. The four of them went inside once they got there and found four other women standing over an open casket where Mother Superior lied. Neal asked them for the Black Fairy's wand but the women refused.

     "It's a terrible thing but not as bad as what's coming next. Where is it?" Tinker Bell asked but before she could get an answer, there was a loud thump.

     Everyone looked up and saw Pan's shadow banging on the outside of the stained glass windows. The other women ran to hide while Killian, Zelda, Tink and David hid behind the benches. All Zelda could hear was the Shadow's roaring and shrieking but they had to capture it and get rid of it for good.

     "I'll draw its ire," Killian said.

     "That doesn't sound like a very good idea," Zelda said. "If that thing rips out your shadow you'll end up in a casket with her."

     "If it's the only way to stop this bloody curse from obliterating us all, then it's a risk I'm willing to take," Killian said as he stood up and the Shadow flew over him.

     He continued to antagonize it until it pushed him to the ground and David pulled him back behind the benches. They needed to trap it but it was too high and none of them could fly. Tinker Bell was the only one with pixie dust and magic so Neal gave her the coconut. Once the candle was lit and the pixie dust was working, she flew closer to the Shadow and the light drew it in and trapped it. When she landed, she tossed the coconut into the fire and black smoke rose into the air as the Shadow was gone for good.

     "Look who's still a fairy," Killian said while holding his side where the Shadow hit him.

     "Look who's still a pirate," Tinker Bell laughed.

     Mother Superior stood there and everyone was confused about how she was alive when they just saw her body in a casket. The woman explained how destroying the Shadow returned her own and that was how she was standing in front of them now. After giving Tink her wings back and letting her back in with the Fairies, Mother Superior gave them the Black Fairy's wand and they hurried back to Gold's shop. Once they were inside, Zelda got sidetracked with all the stuff Gold had in his shop.

     "I'd appreciate it if you do not touch anything," Gold said while looking at the small girl.

     "I'm not," she said with her hands in her pockets.

     While she was looking around, Gold casted the spell that would switch Pan and Henry back to their own bodies. Once that was done, everyone left the shop to go find Henry but Gold decided to stay behind with Pan. They found Granny and asked her to help them find Henry. Mary Margaret explained how she was a werewolf and was able to pick up the boy's scent. The trail led them to the clock tower and Henry ran right out.

     "It worked!" he said as he ran over to Regina and Emma and hugged them tightly.

    He gave them the scroll and Regina held it in her hand. She only held it for a moment before she collapsed and everyone was shocked. They all tried to wake up but their efforts were useless. After a while, she woke up and Emma helped her stand.

     "What happened?" Mary Margaret asked.

     "I saw what needed to be done," Regina said as she looked at the scroll.

     "Mom, are you gonna be okay?" Henry asked.

     "The important thing is that you will be okay," Regina said.

     "No, he won't!"

     The scroll was no longer in Regina's hand and Pan was standing right there. Zelda saw the scroll in his hand and she could feel the anger rising to the surface again. She ran towards him and tried to stab him with her spear but he grabbed it and snapped it in two. He tossed the pieces onto the ground and a force pushed Zelda back and onto the road. Killian helped her up but suddenly, none of them could move anymore. They could still see and hear everything but they were unable to even lift a finger.

     "You really tried, but I have the curse. I could just play with you like a pack of dolls, couldn't I?" Pan asked.

     Zelda wanted so badly to move and make him feel everything she was feeling. Unfortunately, she already tried and failed. Another problem was that she was frozen like a statue and couldn't move even if she wanted to.

     "I think I'll start with these two," Pan said as he stood in front of Neal and Belle. "You two look so adorable I can't tell which one I should kill first."

     As soon as he said that, Zelda started to panic. Pan planned to kill them all and they were unable to stop it or even fight back.

     "Actually, I'll start with you," Pan said while looking at Neal but Gold grabbed his shoulder and pulled him away from them.

     "Stay away from them," he growled.

     "Looks like the worm has teeth," Pan said as he cocked an eyebrow. "Here to protect your loved ones?"

     "I'm not going to let you touch either one of them."

     "I'd like to see that."

     Gold was willing to do whatever it took to defeat Pan once and for all. But not before letting Neal and Belle know how much he loved them. A shadow appeared holding a dagger with a wavy blade and Gold used it to stab Pan in the back. Black smoke surrounded them and when it cleared, Pan was no longer a young boy. Zelda could see that he was struggling to breathe with a dagger in his back as he tried to get Gold to remove it with a promise that they could have a happy ending.

     "I'm a villain. Villains don't get happy endings," Gold said before a bright light blinded everyone.

     Once it was gone, so were Gold and Pan and all that was left was the scroll with the curse. The spell Pan casted on everyone to freeze them was lifted and everyone seemed to be in shock about what they just witnessed. Belle collapsed on the ground in tears and Regina picked up the scroll.

     "He's gone," Belle sobbed and Zelda sighed.

     Pan was gone but it came with a price. Just like everything else.