I heard a pounding on the deck, signaling that someone was back from the tavern. I was obviously too young to join them so I had to stay on the ship.

        "You dare drag me onto my own ship? You're a dead man," I heard my father say as I approached the door to the main deck.

        "You listen to me. My daughter is not going anywhere near this vessel tomorrow."

        "Well, threatening me isn't gonna make her change her mind."

        I pressed my ear to the door, listening closely.

        "I don't need to change her mind, you do."

        "How's a seashell gonna help me?"

        "It's now enchanted to take away her reason to leave. . . her voice. If she can't sing, she'll return to the sea where she belongs."

        "She told me what that voice means to her. I won't betray her, not since she spared my ship." I put the pieces together. This must be the father of the mermaid that saved the ship a few days ago.

        "What if I could offer you a way to destroy the Dark One."

        "What do you know about my feud with the Crocodile?"

        "I know you've spent a lifetime searching for a way to kill him. I can offer you magic that will finally set you free."

        "What kind of magic do you mean?"

        "Squid ink. A single drop is potent enough to paralyze any being, even Rumplestiltskin."

        "And all I have to do is steal your daughter's singing voice?"

        "It's simple, Pirate. Just show her how awful humans really can be." I heard retreating steps and then approaching ones. I stepped back from the door as my father walked in, looking at me suspiciously.

        "Good evening, Love."

        "You're not going to do it are you?" I asked sadly.

        "Do what, Love?"

        "Stop calling me that. You do it to make me feel bad, you did it to Mum too. She hated it just as much as I do. I'm not stupid, I heard your talk. She saved us. We don't hurt people who don't hurt us."

        "Love-"

        "Luna," I corrected.

        "Luna," he paused, "I know you think I'm not thinking straight, but I am. How long have we been waiting to get our revenge on the Crocodile?"

        "You're the one still hell-bent on revenge, not me! Mum dying made me sad. But after Bae, I've come to terms with the fact that it wasn't all the Crocodile's fault. You and Mum made mistakes too!"

        "She left him for a reason."       

        "Exactly. She left him and she left Bae! The Dark One was acting out of anger like we do all the time. For once we have to put an end to this and do the right thing! You don't need to hurt this mermaid to get revenge. We can find another way!"

        "No, Luna. You are five. Five! You don't understand what I went through!"

        "No, Papa! You don't understand what I went through! You can fall in love again, but my mother can never be replaced. Ever! Not to mention you ran off my only chance at a brother. I may not have lost you really, but you haven't been the same. You're not my Papa, you're someone completely different. I'm mad at the Dark One, at the world, at you! But I don;t go looking for revenge and trouble. It's not what she would want! She'd want us to move on. She'd want us to be happy even if she isn't here. Being stuck like this wouldn't make her happy and you know it!" I looked him dead in the eye.

        "He breathed in sharply, collecting himself. "Go to bed," he growled, turning to leave.

        "No," I snapped.

        "I said, go to bed, Luna! I don't want to hear anymore of this!" He bellowed and stormed out of the cabin.

        "Just because she's dead doesn't mean you need to forget about her!" I wailed back.

~

        I sat beside the gorgeous mermaid as she sang. The whole crew was listening, distracted by her enchanting voice.

        "Fathoms below. . . "

        "Mr. Smee, clear the deck," my father ordered. "I'd like a moment alone with our guest." I stood up, smiling at the mermaid before leaving. I ignored my father as he walked by. "Luna. . ." I stayed silent and went below deck with the rest of the crew. I found the spot below Ursula and my father, which was some poor fellow's room. Imagine how surprised he was to see me there. Through the sound of waves crashing against the boat, I made out their conversation.

         I listened to the rest of Ursula's song, knowing she should savor her voice. "-Below. Wayward winds blow. Poseidon is king and his merpeople sing in mysterious fathoms below. Mysterious fathoms. . . " I stood on tip toes, mentally begging her to finish the song. "I hope you didn't mind. I thought your crew might like something to work by. Your daughter seemed to enjoy it very much," she apologized.

        "Aye. It's beautiful. I'm afraid I've got something to show you." I assume he held out the shell because Ursula's reaction wasn't very happy.

        "I know what that is. Why do you have that? Please don't use it."

        "Don't worry, I won't." Liar. "But you must know. . . your father gave this to me. He thought you'd return home if you could no longer sing. In exchange for helping me, he offered me squid ink. . . a weapon that would finally let me get my revenge on the Dark One."

        "And you would sacrifice that prize for me?"

        "I know that voice is the only thing you have left of your mother. Luna is the only thing I have left of my love but not even truly. . . " he trailed off, referring to the fairy incident. "Look, I may be a pirate. . . but I have a code. And I promise to never take that voice from you."

        "But that means you'll be trapped as Pan's servant forever."

        "Not necessarily. You stole that bracelet from your father's vault. I'd wager that's where he keeps the squid ink."

        "You want me to steal it for you."

        "I'll take you to Glowerhaven and wherever else you want to go."

        "Then we can both get what we want."

        "Aye."

        "Now you're thinking like a pirate.

~

        When I saw my father next, I ran up and hugged him. He lifted me into his arms, careful of his hook.

        "Thank you," I sighed, laying my head on his shoulder.

        "You were right. Some things are too important to let go of." He held me with his hook arm. His hand held my head, palming my already messy hair. He kissed my head. "I'm sorry, Love."

        "I know, Papa."

        "I love you, lass. And I'm gonna be that Papa you remember again."

        "I love you too, Papa. Be careful going against Poseidon. He's not just a king, he's a god. "

        "I will. I'll never leave you, remember?" He referenced our conversation with Baelfire.

        "I remember, Papa." He kissed my head again. "I'll never leave you either."

~

        My father and I waited patiently for Ursula to bring back the squid ink. She finally arrives with the stolen ink and holds it out for him.

        "I trust that you didn't run into any trouble?"

        "I've waited a century for this." I still can't believe we have been trapped in Neverland for this long. "I couldn't have done this without your help, Ursula."

        "Thank you!" I hugged her. "So where do you want to go first?" We were so busy celebrating that we didn't notice Poseidon arrive.

        "You're not taking her anywhere."

        "Of course not. Do I look like a captain? I'm a little too young, aren't I?" I joked as the crew drew their swords, ready to fight.

        "Stand down, men. This is between me and the sea king," my father ordered.

        "No, Papa!" It came out muffled because Nic pulled me away.

        "No! It's about me. Hook told me what you asked him to do. You were trying to take away the only thing I have left of Mother."

        "So I wouldn't lose you the way I lost her. You may have fooled my daughter but I know exactly what you are. You only care about one thing. . . your vengeance." He used his trident to take back the ink. "Now you'll never get it."

        "You have no idea what you've just done," my father warned angrily. He tried to pull out his sword but is frozen.

        "Let him go!" I cried breaking away from Nic. I managed to nick him with my sword. A second later, I was flying through the air. I was nearly thrown off the ship, but managed to hang off the edge.

        "Luna!" Papa screamed.

        "You dare attack a deity?"

        "I don't have to kill you to make you suffer. I know I'm not the only one consumed by vengeance."

        "No!" Ursula cried.

        "Now you'll never sink another ship with this!" He stole her voice.

        I was loosing my grip when a wave rose up out of the water. It swirled around my legs and pulled me down into the sea. I took a quick breath before I hit the surface of the water. The magical water continued to pull me down until my chest hurt. Bubbles of air left my mouth as I lost the ability to hold my breath anymore. I tried to cry for help with the last of my air but all I got was more water flooding my lungs. My vision became heavy as I lost consciousness, the last thing I saw being a shimmering mermaid tail.

~

Henry's P.O.V.

        I woke up to a loud cough next to me. McKinley and I had fallen asleep on the floor inside a blanket fort we made together. She was fine a few hours ago, but was now spasming on the ground, gasping for air, choking on nothing.

        "Mickey?" She continued to choke. "Please wake up. Don't make me get Regina," I pleaded but she doesn't stop. I knew I had to act fast. I tore down the fort so Regina could get to her easier.

        I raced out of the bedroom and down the stairs, nearly falling on a step I accidentally skipped. I knocked rapidly on her door, not bothering to be polite and give her time to wake up. The door opened to reveal a very agitated and obviously tired Regina.

        "Henry! What are you still doing up? It's . . . one A. M.!" She declared, glancing back at her alarm clock.

        "It's. . . It's-it's Mickey," I answered breathlessly. Running that fast is exhausting. "She's. . . the-the thing! It's like she's choking!" I slowly got my breath back.

        "Okay, come on." She pulled me back up the stairs. We could hear her coughing the entire time we ran up.

        We finally got back and my mom looked at her. Her coughs turned into gasps.  She gulped in copious amounts of air. The more air she took in, the more she croaked. Her gasps seemed to be giving her less air somehow.

        "McKinley! McKinley, I need you to wake up! McKinley!" Regina told her. Her voice held authority but it wasn't too loud. "McKinley!"

        Her gasps turned into squeaks and wheezes. I couldn't help but cry.

        "McKinley!"

        "Mickey, please!" I begged with teary eyes.

        After a minute or two, her spasming stopped and her head fell to the side. This time, she wasn't breathing.

        "Mickey?" I whimpered.

        "McKinley? McKinley!" She stayed silent. "Oh my God," Regina whispered.

        "No. . . No. . . no no no no no. . . No!" Regina pulled me into her arms, hushing me softly. There was no consoling me or quieting my hysteric cries.

        My best friend was dead.

(A/N) DUN DUN DUN. . . . So I'm wondering that since this chapter is so short, should I update this book again before going back to the others or should I make you all wait to find out what happens? Leave your opinion in the comments below. Love you, guys. Thank you for all the reads and hearts. See you guys soon!

Ally <3