*Many years ago in Neverland*
Rapunzel walked through the dark forest. She couldn't remember the last time she'd seen the sun and missed its gentle touch. What she would give for a blue sky and a cool breeze to remind her of a change of the season. Instead, the air was muggy, the night was long and any hope of having the adventure she was promised was gone.
Rumplestiltskin.
How could he do this to her?
The only saving grace she could find was Peter. He took her in. He made her feel cherished, even understood. She felt at peace when she was with him.
Unfortunately, he had business to attend to. Peter was the only one allowed to leave the island in an attempt to find the boy he was searching for.
Loneliness accompanied her on her walk. Silence had become her friend.
She didn't want to admit it to herself, but she was lost without him.
Rapunzel heard footsteps behind her, slow, thoughtful steps. She didn't sense danger nor did she feel urgency. Just someone keeping a close distance, not wanting to bother her.
But it also didn't want to be alone.
She stopped her slow walk, turning slightly, but not completely.
"Captain," she said. He stopped in his tracks.
"Your Majesty," he answered, his voice careful.
Rapunzel finally turned around. "What's the matter? Lost all of your bravado?"
Hook didn't answer. He didn't even crack a smile.
"What are you doing here?" Rapunzel continued. "I thought you were out sailing around?"
"Pan is gone," Hook said flatly. "I wanted to stretch my legs."
"And you can only do that when Peter's not here?" She asked, confused.
"It's easier. Less likely to be manipulated."
Her eyes narrowed. "What are you insinuating?" She asked.
"I'm not talking about you," he said.
Rapunzel rolled her eyes. "You may as well be," she said, leaning her back against the tree along the trail. "I think I'm missing my captor," she said with a chuckle.
"You are?" He asked.
"There will always be a part of me that loves him, Killian. That I can't control. However, I'm not stupid. I know he's draining my power."
"I was going to ask how you were feeling," he said sheepishly. She shrugged.
"How do I look?" She asked, knowing the answer.
"Exhausted."
"That's what happens when magic is drained."
"How do we stop it?" He asked, suddenly urgent.
In the past few weeks, they'd grown fond of each other. Maybe not a friendship, but they were allies. Rapunzel wasn't stupid. She couldn't understand how Pan thought her to be. She felt everything, even his slow, subtle betrayal.
All he wanted was her magic.
Just like all Hook wanted was his revenge.
And all Rapunzel wanted was her freedom.
But, in some silly, childlike way, she believed she could change Pan's heart with an act of true love. She wanted something to awaken his heart again. He was so preoccupied finding the boy, he couldn't see what was right in front of him.
If he had just let her, Rapunzel would have saved the island.
He didn't believe she was strong enough.
And it broke her heart.
"I don't mean to change the subject, but...the boy?"
"Safe," she answered with a nod. "Baelfire made it out of here safe and sound."
"And Pan knew nothing of it?" He asked.
"As far as I know, he was okay with it. Baelfire was not the boy he was looking for, but clearly there was a connection there or else he wouldn't have kept him for so long."
Hook looked down at his feet, his voice sullen. "I'll miss the lad."
Rapunzel gulped. She knew that Bae was Pan's grandson. No one else did. But it was a secret she thought best to keep to herself.
Trust between the two.
Maybe then, Pan would trust her.
They heard a rustling in the woods around him. Rapunzel met Hook's eyes.
"Maybe we shouldn't be talking so openly," she suggested.
With a simple nod, they continued to move throughout the forest, Rapunzel slower than she'd like to have been.
Hook slowed down, extending his arm as a guide for her. Normally, she wouldn't have taken the help, but she knew her strength wouldn't last long. So, she took his arm and allowed him to make a path for them.
They went right to Tink's treehouse.
"Is she here?" Hook asked.
Rapunzel shrugged. "She never stays in one place for too long during the day. She'll be back soon, I'm sure."
"Here," Hook said, guiding her to a tree stump. Rapunzel sat down, breathless. "It's getting worse."
She shook her head. "He just needed a boost before he left."
Hook's anger rushed through him. "If I could get my hands on him-"
"Why do you care so much?" Rapunzel interrupted. She didn't mean to sound ungrateful. It was a genuine curiosity she had.
His famous smirk appeared across his lips. "Let's just say I've grown fond of you and hate Pan."
"I wouldn't say that so loudly. What with Felix always lurking about," Rapunzel reminded.
"Aye, but the worst Pan would do is banish me from Neverland."
"Can I come with you?"
Hook kneeled down beside her. "You don't have to do this," he said gently.
"It's the only way to destroy that hourglass," she said.
"And you think this is the best way to do so? By killing yourself?" Hook asked.
"I'm not," she contested. "Ever since Tink made the connection to the poison on the island, and figuring out that he's draining me, I've been careful."
"That was a week ago, Rapunzel," Hook reminded her.
"I know," she said, her voice growing agitated. "He hasn't noticed anything. If I'm going to do something, I need to work quickly."
"Not if you're going to die," he said.
"Especially if I'm going to die," Rapunzel almost shouted, standing up from the stump. Hook slowly lifted himself from the ground. "What if this is the exact moment I was made for? What if this is what protects that boy, whoever he is, from dying?"
"That's a lot of what ifs," he said.
"It's all I have right now. I'm just trying to convince myself that this is right, that I'm okay to die."
"He may want you to," he said. He wasn't trying to worry her, he was trying to warn her.
"It doesn't feel that way," she said.
"How reliable is your magic?"
"Very," she said. She could always count on her empathy. "It still feels like he loves me."
"Okay, so let's say he doesn't want to kill you. What happens when you do die?"
She looked up at him. "The Lost Boys," she said.
"Think he'll take it out on them?"
She grabbed her head, squeezing her eyes shut and began to pace in a circle. "This is pointless."
"We might be able to get you off the island. Bae did it."
She shook her head. "It won't work," she said, defeated. "There's only one thing to do. I have to get him to take me to the hourglass. I have to destroy it."
"No," Hook said, grabbing her shoulders. "He'll surely kill you."
"Then that's my fate," she said. "But if I can destroy it, you can get some of his magic and take it to get your revenge."
He stopped, his face softening. "You want me to get my revenge? You're okay with me killing the Dark One?"
"The Dark One banished me to this island knowing exactly what lived here. I care about him as much as he cares about me."
"You care for me more?" He asked.
"I want you to have what you want. If that's Rumplestiltskin, then have him. And if I make it out alive, I may even be inclined to help you."
Hook looked down at the dirt, letting go of Rapunzel's shoulder.
He felt grateful.
Also afraid.
"The last person I ever really considered a friend, stupidly enough, was my brother," he said softly.
"Liam," she whispered, remembering the tragic story of his brother.
"Liam," he repeated with a smile. Then, he met her gaze. "Rapunzel, you are one of the strongest people I've had the pleasure of knowing. And a good friend."
Rapunzel chuckled. "A friend," she said. "I've never really had one of those."
"Me either," he said.
"Well, friend, wish me luck. Because when Pan is back, I'm getting to that hourglass. And we're ending this here."
With his only hand, he reached out and grabbed Rapunzel's hand.
"Do you want backup?" He asked.
She shook her head. "No. I want you to get to your ship and be ready for anything. And if I don't make it, run like hell."
After he let go of her hand, she looked at him for a moment. It was the most sincere moment they had ever shared. A friendship between a pirate and a bastard. She felt gratitude toward him for giving her hope one last time before entering what could essentially seal her fate.
She embraced him. Hugging wasn't something she did often, but it felt right in the moment. And he hugged her back.
"I'll see you again," he said when he pulled away from her. "I'm sure of it."
"Sure, Killian," she said with a nod of her head.
"And Rapunzel," he said, "I'll always have your back. No matter what. You can trust me."
A smile came to her face as she nodded once more, then made her way to the beach, knowing Pan would be back soon.
Of course, her plan failed, but instead of him hurting her, he banished her from the island, sending her right back to the Enchanted Forest.
In the few years she was trapped in the tower, she thought of Captain Hook often. He probably assumed she was dead. And she wondered if he ever missed her like she missed him.
Being trapped and lonely will make you miss anyone, really.
But she always remembered his promise: You can trust me.
She had no idea that just as few years later, he'd break that promise and so many others.
Also, he'd break her heart...