The expected had finally came upon us: Rumplestiltskin and his pathetic excuse for back-up had arrived on Neverland, moments after Pan's minions had brought Henry, the boy with the Heart. The days prior to their arrival wasn't eventful at all: mere training and that was about it and for a while, it seemed normal...until I remembered the past, ironically in a place where time stands still. My motive was simple: get the heart and save Pan. Maybe then he'd stop playing games?

Either way, I was annoyed how Pan intended to drag this out rather than do things quickly. It didn't seem like him at all, considering he spent no time second-guessing himself when I first arrived on the island. Couldn't he just do that to Henry...or did he genuinely have some emotional connection to his son?

Yes, we could kill Henry and save the day, but I feel like there was something Pan wasn't telling me. Maybe it wasn't as easy as it all seemed? Unfortunately, I was used to keeping my mouth shut when it came to questioning Pan.

I sat at the campfire, sharpening my dagger by the orangey glow. For some peculiar reason, the sun hadn't set since everyone arrived and I no longer became drowsy. It was as if Pan forced the island to truly stop time, and I didn't know how that was even possible.

I was alone but not for long: I heard chantings and I got to my feet, anticipating their return. Bursting through the forestry barrier, I watched as they all spread out, and I stood tall and firm in my place, waiting for Pan to appear.

And he did, with Felix carrying a knocked-out boy who I automatically knew as Henry. James walked over to me, folding his arms as I kept my lips pursed and gaze coldly locked on Pan.

"Killian's not on our side. Turns out he fancies Emma, the blonde lady in the group. She's also Henry's mother," he said and I made a face; Pan walked away and my eyes turned to James, the rest of the boys resuming their usual duties and activities. "Henry's...adopted mother is also the step-mother of Snow White, who is Emma's mother, and -"

"Okay, I get the point, they're all related," I quickly cut him off, mildly disturbed at the manner. "What now?"

"The Darling brothers are at Storybrooke, which the group 'originates' from. They're attacking from inside the borders if that makes sense." I nodded once, the two of us standing in a way that all the other boys knew we had some sort of commandment power. I, for certain, did, and James was my close friend.

"What's the plan?" Over the past few days (even weeks), I was feeling less human and more like an army commander. I guess that's what I had to be if we were to win this war.

"The catch, which I'm assuming Pan hasn't told you yet -"

"Surprisingly, he hasn't told me a lot of things recently."

James chuckled once but my mouth didn't twitch once. I felt sick reminding myself, but it was true. Pan had become secretive like he once was again and I was too tired to fight. So being me, I've been there by his side and to support him. I loved him, despite everything.

"Henry needs to believe in Pan and once that's done, we win," James finished and I nodded, taking a deep sigh. I kept my arms folded, pressing them against my chest.

"I feel like it's going to harder than expected..." I mumbled and James lifted his chin a bit, looking out to the boys.

"We're ready. Peter Pan never fails," and just like that, he turned on his heels and walked over to Felix, who had recently exited Pan's tent. My stern eyes stared out over the camp, watching and analysing the boys fight and do what they usually do...and of course I started to doubt.

Were we truly ready for what was to come?

+++

Not sleeping was a new thing for me, despite not feeling drowsy. It felt odd, but we couldn't spare any moment doing something like that. Rumplestiltskin, Regina - any of them could strike while we rested, so I'm guessing that's why Pan forced the sun down: it keeps the island awake in the darkest way imaginable. I walked out from the tent to see Henry, baffled and clearly wanting to leave, but when he saw me, he looked even more confused.

"A girl," he said and I nodded, taking a seat beside him.

"Nice spotting," I smirked and his eyes narrowed.

"You're not Wendy -"

"Hell no. I'm Serena."

"You're not in any of the books..." he mumbled and I rolled my eyes, unsheathing my dagger before holding it up, showing it to him.

"Because if I was, it wouldn't be considered 'accurate' for a girl to fight so instead, they have a cute, wimpy girl like Wendy in my place," I said rather bitterly but Henry chuckled, and I felt a small sense of power over getting him to smile.

"Yeah, true..." he mumbled and I could tell he was still upset. Well, who wouldn't be? We'd kidnapped him for goodness sakes and was now trying to win over his trust so we could ultimately kill him. I had always been against that moral, but he had the heart...and we needed it. Pan needed it. "So...what are you around here?" I sheathed my dagger and leaned forward a bit, sitting how Pan would usually sit: spread legs, elbows on knees, a cold gaze.

"I love Peter. Take that as you will," and Henry narrowed his eyes once again.

"But he's -"

"He's not a bad guy." Yes, he is, but we need you to believe otherwise, Henry. "You've been fed lies."

"I trust my family."

"And look at all the secrets they've kept from you." Yes, Pan has kept secrets from me too. Henry lowered his head and after a moment, shook it gently.

"They're coming for me, I know it." Okay, my soft side is getting nowhere with this boy and we don't have time to delay things. My calmness fading, my expression turned to ice as I slowly unsheathed my dagger once again. And within a second, I pressed the tip of it against his chest, despite sitting on his right-hand side.

"Hope gets you nowhere," I sneered into his ear and I could feel his skin quiver slightly beneath the dagger. "You'll learn that soon enough but until then, you're with us and you'll learn to be one of us, got that?"

"No-"

In one swift movement, I had gotten to my feet and, using my left foot, kicked Henry in the back and projected him forward. He fell out of his position on the log and onto the dirt, a few of the boys making "ooooh" noises and whistling; Henry shuffled anxiously for a moment, leaning on his palms and staring up at me as my grasp against the dagger tightened.

"You think you have it all, a perfect family, a perfect home, but in the end, they'll always abandon you," I started, leaning down slowly onto my knees. For the first time in a while, I smirked with an evil moral behind it. "And correct me if I'm wrong, but your family tree has abandonment as a common denominator." He blinked and I saw him gulp as I got back into a standing position, towering over him.

And just like that, I turned on my feels and left the camp, disappearing into the forest.