Felix x Reader (From Once Upon a Time)

Chapter 12.

He seemed to accept that, though I could tell he wasn't convinced. He stood up slowly and turned to look out toward the jungle. The wind rustled the leaves around us, creating a momentary distraction from the heavy weight of the conversation.

"I'm here if you ever need to talk," my father said quietly, his voice low, warm, and reassuring.

"Thanks, Dad," I said, my voice soft as I hugged him tightly.

He squeezed me back for a moment before releasing me, giving me one last look of concern. I pulled away, taking a deep breath, my mind already racing back to Henry. I had to focus. We all did.

Felix's presence, the strange pull between us, and my father's cryptic words all had to wait. There was a battle to win. And I wouldn't rest until Henry was safe.

Emma's POV:

Neal paddled vigorously as we all were aboard a tiny rowboat, heading ever so close to Skull Rock. If these were different circumstances, I probably would have pulled out my phone to take a picture of the magnificent sight but alas, it wasn't the right time for a photo shoot and I didn't bring my phone with me anyways. We decided to dock inside the cave and tied our boat down to latch next to the other rowboat already on the shore. We deboarded the tiny vessel and stepped onto the dirt ground.

"These are Henry's shoes," I said, pointing to the shoe prints on the ground. "Wendy was right. They are definitely here." I tried walking up the steps to the next area of the Island, but I immediately bounced back and fell to the floor.

"Emma," Neal said. "Are you ok?"

"I think so," I said, picking myself up from the floor.

"What was that?" Neal asked.

"Pan cast a protection spell," Rumple said.

"There has to be a way to break it," Regina said. She conjured a flaming fireball in her hand and chucked it at the protective wall. The fireball bounced off the protection spell and we all ducked, hoping not to become today's fried menu.

"Aye, be careful with that!" Neal shouted at Regina.

"Try all you want," Rumple said. "But Pan's magic is too powerful. At least for you." Rumple began walking towards the steps and easily past the protection spell.

"What?" Regina asked.

"How did you do that?" I asked.

"The spell is designed to keep anyone who casts a shadow from entering," Rumple said.

"And you don't have one," Neal said. "You were telling the truth about ripping your shadow off."

"And Pan knows it. That's why he cast the spell he did," Rumple said. "This isn't about keeping you out, it's about drawing me in. He knows I won't give up the chance to finish what I came here to do."

"You really did come here to save Henry," Neal said.

"I gave you my trust with that box," Rumple said, referring to Pandora's box. "Now, I need you to give it back." We all thought for a moment. We all didn't fully trust Rumple, but he was our only shot right now.

"You better come through Gold," Regina said. "Or I will make whatever Pan planned for you look like child's play. Do you understand me?"

"Well, a simple 'good luck," would have sufficed," Rumple said, taking the box from Regina. He then turned around and started walking up the stairs.

"So what are we supposed to do now?" Regina asked.

"What about the spell that my father used to rip off his own shadow?" Neal suggested.